VICTORY AT SEA: CHS 158;sjohnson(J)vs Spruance(A)

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 15TH-18TH, 1943


SWPAC:

General Mac Arthur sends in the calvary as the US Army 1st Calvary Division and the 112th Calvary Regiment capture Sarmi.


Meanwhile, Japanese shipping is spotted in the Palaus....the fast carriers of Task Group 58 are sent to investigate but miss IJN shipping by one day.

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 19TH-20TH, 1943


THE EASTERN PACIFIC: APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST.......


Don and I have been playing cat and mouse in the eastern Pacific all game. He floods the "Black Hole" area that is out of PBY2 search range from both Hawaii and California with 10-20 subs and then I flood the area with ASW TFs.

I place "picket" ships on the boundary between the NE Temperate and East Temperate weather zones to cover the area out of PBY2 search from Midway and Dutch Harbor/Kodiak and Don sends his subs out to sink them.


The first time Don tried to push IJN CVs through the PBY "search gap" between Midway and Alaska his picket CLs ran into my picket AKs and he sent his CVs back home. The 2nd time Don tried to send his CVs through the search gap into the Allied convoy lanes in the eastern Pacific he found nothing and turned them around(he just informed me of this BTW).

The 3rd time Don sends his CVs through the PBY search gap he hits the jackpot. Dont know how my picket subs and AKs missed his naval search (unless he turned naval search off and Ive been too predictable with my placement of pickets) but he catches 4 massive convoys with multiple ASW TFs, surface escorts with 2 BBs, and 2 CVEs flying ASW patrols approximately 1000 miles west of San Francisco.

CVE Corregidor and CVE Anzio put up a heroic fight but are quickly overwhelmed and sunk....I gave up counting IJN torpedo bombers at 250 but CVL Ryujo was positively IDed and I estimate the IJN force to consist of at least 4-5 CVs and 1-2 CVLs.....meanwhile the USN CVs and CVLs are away supporting our offensives along the northern coast of New Guinea.

Besides the 2 CVEs, Japan sinks BB West Virginia, over a dozen ASW ships, and over a score of AKs and TKs. BB Warspite is repeatedly torpedoed and heavily damaged but she and her escorts CA Baltimore and CL Helena manage to sink 6 IJN DDs in repeated surface engagements during the melee.

The Allied convoys are ordered to disperse...the easternmost heading towards San Francisco while the remainder flee to the south behind a cover of USN ASW and CA Baltimore and CL Helena attempting to blow a hole through the IJN subs and surface TFs.....if Don pursues my shipping to the south he will be moving farther away from his route of escape as Allied CVs are hurriedly recalled from the SW Pacific.

Over 50 subs from Hawaii and the US west coast are ordered to flood the area while hundreds of PBY4 Liberators stand ready if Japan decides to move out of the Black Hole to pursue shipping towards San Francisco or Hawaii.

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 21ST-22ND, 1943



THE EASTERN PACIFIC:


Allied convoys scatter and USN subs flood the area but the IJN CVs disappear as suddenly as they arrived. A few USN subs to the west of the sea area shown in the attachment below are spotted by Jills as the IJN carriers run to the west. Don is evidently concerned that the Allied CVs might cut his escape route back to Japan so he gets out while the getting is good. Nonetheless, BB Warspite and another dozen AKs/TKs are lost at sea.

With the sudden withdrawal of the IJN CVs the Allied CV interception is called off. CENTPAC instead decides to accelerate their timetable and assault Truk and the rest of the Carolines whlie the the IJN CVs are out of position.

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER23RD-DECEMBER 8TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

With the diversion of IJN CVs to the eastern Pacific to attack Allied convoys, the central Pacific becomes wide open and the Allies accelerate their advance across the Pacific. I wasnt anticipating any futher advances here until late in the 1st quarter of 1944 but the opportunity presented itself and was too good to pass up.

Japan had massed a large concentration of AC in the Marianas and the threat of land based air in combination with IJN carrier air was rather daunting. Inexplicably, Japan had withdrawn most of their 30,000 stong garrison in Truk after SOPAC captured Rabaul and the Admiralties and was within 4E range of Truk.

After a week of heavy naval bombardments and minesweeping with over 50 MSWs the US Army stormed ashore and liberated Truk in short order. Truk is the most powerful naval base/airbase between Japan and Pearl Harbor and is just as capable of supporting operations to the north for the Allies as she was to the south for Japan. Now CENTPAC has a base that can project 400 plus 4E bombers throughout the Marianas.
Truk also provides a malaria free base to stack the hundreds of thousands of assault troops, seabees and aviation engineers that will be massed for the Marianas operations.

In addition, the capture of Truk unhinges Japan's position in the rest of the Carolines.....the US Navy is now bombarding and minesweeping Woleai for an amphibious assault tomorrow. Possession of Woleai will allow CENTPAC to project land based fighters throughout the Marianas in addition to Palau and the rest of the Carolines.

Already, Japan has largely withdrawn her air forces from the Marianas due to the threat of the heavy bombers.....if IJN CVs show up now the odds have changed to favor Allied land based and carrier airpower. With 10 seabee units working round the clock, Truk will be a level 9 airbase within a week. Woleai will be a level 4 airbase. Then the capture of Yap and Ulithi will give CENTPAC another level 4 and a level 5 airbase.....enough for the Allies to base 1100 fighters and bombers to reduce the Marianas and Palau.


SEAC:

SEAC's most forward airbase in Burma at Rangoon is out of fighter range of the only remaining operational IJA airbase left in Indochina at Saigon. A couple months ago, I tried converting all my SEAC USAAF heavy bomber units to B-17s and then sent them to bomb the airfield at Saigon at 36,000 feet. Although my losses were acceptable the bombing altitude was too high to inflict significant damage.

The USAAF heavy bomber units were converted back to B-24Ds and B-24Js and were rested along with the RAF Liberator IIIs until their morale was into the high 80s and 90s. Then a massive raid was sent over Saigon at 21,000 feet without fighter escort.. The SEAC heavy bombers mostly flew through the Japanese CAP and leveled the airfield at Saigon. Well over 100 Japanese AC were destroyed at Saigon over 2 turns. Then the nearly 400 SEAC heavies were rested for a turn and then were turned loose to city bomb Saigon's resources...over 100 resources were destroyed at Saigon last turn.

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 9TH-12TH, 1943


CENTPAC:


After nearly a week of minesweeping and aerial and naval bombardments, the US Army 24th RCT and 102nd RCT storm ashore and capture the airfield on Woleai after a 2 day battle:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/11/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1125 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

Allied Ships
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Mirimichi
MSW Bombay
MSW Wollongong
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Stawell
MSW Shepparton
MSW Lismore
MSW Launceston
MSW Inverell
MSW Horsham
MSW Gympie
MSW Echuca
MSW Cessnock
MSW Bundaberg
MSW Armidale
MSW Bathurst

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

Allied Ships
MSW Goulburn
MSW Matai
MSW Kelowna
MSW Guysborough
MSW Bayfield
MSW Quatsino
MSW Madras
MSW Whyalla
MSW Junee
MSW Bobolink
MSW Whippoorwill
MSW Robin
MSW Tern
MSW Pelican
MSW Quail
MSW Tanager
MSW Bittern
DMS Lamberton
DMS Long
DMS Hovey
DMS Elliot
LCI LCI-448, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1067 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

Allied Ships
DMS Boggs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1220 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

Allied Ships
DD Edwards
DD Monssen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1324 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham
DD Nizam, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Express
DD Nestor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Woleai (59,73)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Woleai, 59,73


Allied Ships
MSW Goulburn
MSW Matai
MSW Kelowna
MSW Guysborough
MSW Bayfield
MSW Quatsino
MSW Madras
MSW Whyalla
MSW Junee
MSW Bobolink
MSW Whippoorwill
MSW Robin
MSW Tern
MSW Pelican
MSW Quail
MSW Tanager
MSW Bittern
DMS Lamberton
DMS Long
DMS Hovey
DMS Elliot
APD King
LCI LCI-447, Mine hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
APD Stewart


Allied ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Coastal Guns at Woleai, 59,73, firing at TF 1132
47 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCI LCI-447, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Goulburn, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCI LCI-436
LST LST-483, Shell hits 1
LST LST-468
CL Concord, Shell hits 1
LST LST-240, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS Lamberton, Shell hits 1
LST LST-179
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST LST-117, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
AP Van Diemen, Shell hits 1
MSW Matai

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1022 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Woleai

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9180 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 272

Defending force 1186 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Allied max assault: 242 - adjusted assault: 87

Japanese max defense: 19 - adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 9)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
326 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/12/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1010 troops unloading over beach at Woleai, 59,73



Allied ground losses:
739 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Woleai, 59,73



Allied ground losses:
165 casualties reported


Ground combat at Woleai

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13184 troops, 135 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 280

Defending force 1037 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Allied max assault: 520 - adjusted assault: 637

Japanese max defense: 18 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 637 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Woleai base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
737 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


The US Army troops are ordered to mop up the remnants of the Japanese garrison tomorrow.


Seabees and aviation personel are immediately offloaded on Woleai and search planes and fighters are staged in. Wolei will be built up into a level 4 airbase over the next couple of weeks. With the establishment of a forward fighter field Japan withdraws virtually the remainder of their air forces from the Marianas, Carolines and Palau.

In addition, Allied naval search from PBY2s now extend deep into the Philippine Sea.



CBI:

Don had placed bombers in Gergetown to interdict our shipping going from Calcutta into Rangoon. B-24s are staged into Rangoon and they shut down Gergetown after 2 days of bombing:


Day Air attack on Georgetown , at 23,44

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 5
B-24D Liberator x 117
B-24J Liberator x 11
IL-4c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed
G5N Liz: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
242 casualties reported

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 126

Day Air attack on Georgetown , at 23,44

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 3
B-24D Liberator x 118
B-24J Liberator x 12
IL-4c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 8 destroyed
G5N Liz: 6 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 84



Meanwhile, Japan disbanded over a half dozen ships in Cam Ranh Bay with fighter CAP so Liberator IIIs were staged into Nanning and with cover provided by P-47Bs both the airfield and the port are hit hard:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Camranh Bay , at 34,45

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 12
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 12

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 238
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 21
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-47D Thunderbolt x 65

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 6 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 14 damaged
Ventura G.R.Mk V: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
P-47D Thunderbolt: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Gotake Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azuchi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Yamakisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
243 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 51
Port hits 1


Day Air attack on Camranh Bay , at 34,45

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 3

Allied aircraft
P-47D Thunderbolt x 3
A-29 Hudson x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D Thunderbolt: 3 damaged
A-29 Hudson: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Nagaragawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Hokumyo Maru, Bomb hits 1


Japan loses 79 AC today vs 15 Allied AC. In the largest air to air battle in several months in the sky over CamRanh Bay the losses are even more lopsided: 23 Japanese AC are lost including 10 Tojos, 4 Irvings and 3 Tonys vs 2 P-47Ds in A2A combat.

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 13TH-20TH, 1943



CENTPAC: INVASION YAP!

USN bombardment forces pound the coastal defenses of Yap and then the MSWs go to work clearing the ridiculously thick minefields surrounding Yap.


Then the entire operation goes completely FUBAR!

TF 1008 carrying the 2nd echelon forces....the seabees and aviation engineers disobeys "Do not unload " orders and lands forces before the deadly minefields are cleared:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1007 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
C-46 Commando: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Schley, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1027 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
MSW Matai
DMS Lamberton
MSW Kelowna
MSW Guysborough
MSW Junee
MSW Bayfield
DMS Long
MSW Punjab
MSW Warnambool
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Glenelg
MSW Ballarat
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1125 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Mirimichi
MSW Bombay
MSW Wollongong
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Stawell
MSW Shepparton
MSW Lismore
MSW Launceston
MSW Inverell
MSW Horsham
MSW Gympie
MSW Echuca
MSW Cessnock
MSW Bundaberg
MSW Armidale
MSW Bathurst

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1134 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Wickes
DD Luce, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Erben
DD Bell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1251 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Sigsbee
DD John Rodgers, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Harrison
DD Daly

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1324 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham
DD Nestor
DD Express
DD Paladin, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Yap, at 55,68

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Northampton
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Oklahoma
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
1270 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 28
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1027 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
MSW Matai
DMS Lamberton
MSW Kelowna
MSW Guysborough
MSW Junee
MSW Bayfield
DMS Long
MSW Punjab
MSW Warnambool
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Glenelg
MSW Ballarat
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle


TF 1198 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
AK Empire Torrent, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1218 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD LaVallette
CVE Altamaha, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1220 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD Van Galen
DD Gillespie
DD Nicholson


TF 1008 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Yap, 55,68


Allied Ships
MSW Cowra
PC PC-586
DE Greiner
PC PC-579
PC PC-571
APD Stringham
AK Mintaka, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Arkansan, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Serpens, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Sea Thrush, Mine hits 1
AK Fort Stikine, Mine hits 1
AK Charles Robinson, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Stephen J. Field, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Coastal Guns at Yap, 55,68, firing at TF 1008
66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
1383 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


The USN suffers heavy losses in the premature landing before the minefields are swept.


But now things only get worse. Up until now, both Steve and Don used long range transport AC to evacuate Japanese troops from isolated islands once the Allies brought overwhelming force. But here at Yap for the first time in the war Don uses his transport AC to reinforce the defenders. What was once a 3,000 strong garrison is now 16,000 strong and the Allies are faced with some 350 Jap AV opposing 20 AV worth of seabees and aviation personnel. The assault troops are now forced to go in regardless of the minefields to save the 2nd echelon troops from certain annihilation:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1126 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Yap, 55,68


Allied Ships
MSW Goshawk
MSW Curlew
MSW Catbird
MSW Caraquet
MSW Fremantle
APD Litchfield
DD Hazelwood
AK Fort Stikine, Mine hits 1, on fire
APD Hatfield
LST LST-479, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST LST-341, Mine hits 1, on fire
AVD Coos Bay, Mine hits 1
APD Brooks
AK Mintaka, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Coastal Guns at Yap, 55,68, firing at TF 1126
44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LST LST-203

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1885 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1107 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Ammen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Yap, at 55,68

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Northampton
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Oklahoma
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
230 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Yap, at 55,68

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
464 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 64
Port hits 17
Port supply hits 16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Yap, at 55,68

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
CL Glasgow
CL Capetown
CL Ceres
CL Enterprise
CA Devonshire
CA Canberra
CA Shropshire

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1126 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Yap, 55,68


Allied Ships
MSW Goshawk
MSW Curlew
MSW Catbird
MSW Caraquet
MSW Fremantle
APD Hatfield
APD Litchfield
DD Hazelwood
APD Brooks
LST LST-399, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Admiral Laws, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Fort Stikine, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Stephen J. Field, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Yap, 55,68, firing at TF 1126
18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Hazelwood, Shell hits 2


Allied ground losses:
570 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1126 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Yap, 55,68


Allied Ships
MSW Goshawk
MSW Curlew
MSW Catbird
MSW Caraquet
MSW Fremantle
APD Brooks
APD Litchfield
DD Hazelwood, Mine hits 1, on fire
LST LST-203, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sea Thrush, Mine hits 1, on fire
APD Hatfield
LST LST-449, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Coastal Guns at Yap, 55,68, firing at TF 1126
19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1027 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
MSW Matai
MSW Kelowna
MSW Guysborough
MSW Bayfield
MSW Punjab
MSW Warnambool
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Junee
MSW Glenelg
MSW Ballarat
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle
DMS Lamberton
DMS Long
DMS Hovey

Naval bombardment of Yap, at 55,68

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Nevada

Japanese ground losses:
292 casualties reported

Runway hits 4
Port hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1126 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Yap, 55,68


Allied Ships
MSW Goshawk
MSW Curlew
MSW Catbird
MSW Caraquet
MSW Fremantle
APD Hatfield
APD Litchfield
DD Hazelwood
AK Empire Summer, Mine hits 1
APD Brooks

Coastal Guns at Yap, 55,68, firing at TF 1126

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1125 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Mirimichi
MSW Bombay
MSW Wollongong
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Stawell
MSW Shepparton
MSW Lismore
MSW Launceston
MSW Inverell
MSW Horsham
MSW Gympie
MSW Echuca
MSW Cessnock
MSW Bundaberg
MSW Armidale
MSW Bathurst

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1213 encounters mine field at Yap (55,68)

Allied Ships
DD Perkins
DD Warrington


Numerous Allied ships suffer damage to the thick Japanese minefields....this is just a foretaste of what is to come in the Marianas.



As the damaged Allied ships at Yap desperately attempt to make port at Truk for repairs, Don stages bombers and fighters up to Guam and Saipan to pick off stragglers. USAAF heavy bombers from Truk work over Guam:

Day Air attack on Guam , at 63,66

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 1
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24D Liberator x 98
B-24J Liberator x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 73


USN Task Group 58 fast carriers sortie to the north to pound the airstrips on Saipan:

Day Air attack on Saipan , at 64,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
TBF Avenger x 18
TBM Avenger x 112

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 60


An all out shock attack is ordered on Yap for tomorrow.

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 21ST-24TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

The Allied noose around the Carolines slowly tightens as Japan goes on a land grab across the Pacific.

A nasty battle developes on Yap as the Allies relentlessly attack:

Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37435 troops, 521 guns, 27 vehicles, Assault Value =
796

Defending force 10398 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 299

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8

Allied max assault: 1372 - adjusted assault: 861

Japanese max defense: 233 - adjusted defense: 539

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 8


Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
493 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 1


Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37983 troops, 536 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value =
747

Defending force 10247 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 285

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied max assault: 1286 - adjusted assault: 882

Japanese max defense: 211 - adjusted defense: 647

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
581 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1


Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37585 troops, 522 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value =
693

Defending force 9838 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Allied max assault: 1200 - adjusted assault: 589

Japanese max defense: 173 - adjusted defense: 207

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5


Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
660 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 1


Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37578 troops, 514 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value =
652

Defending force 9664 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 248

Allied max assault: 1020 - adjusted assault: 861

Japanese max defense: 182 - adjusted defense: 487

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4


Japanese ground losses:
360 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


Meanwhile, Japan attempts to distract us by attacking undefended islands across the Pacific. Last turn Japan captures Papeete in Tahiti(recon shows a single ship moving at 29 knots.....probably a CL that can carry 500 infantry). This turn, Japan invades Attu, Kiska, Adak and Amchitka.,..dont really care about this....wasnt trying to do a northern strategy.....Ive been building up Cold Harbor and staged in heavy bombers to hit the Jap invaders:

Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amchitka Island at 94,37


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kunishima Maru
AK Yuki Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24D Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
APD Akikaze
AP Kisaragi Maru
AK Cirebon Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 6


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Mikazuki


Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 1


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Taganoura Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD Akikaze
AK Konsan Maru
AK Mikage Maru #20

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
1 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 5
B-24D Liberator x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mikazuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amchitka Island at 94,37


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Akagane Maru


So when Cold Bay builds up to level 5 most of these new Jap bases will be isolated...dont quite understand what Japan is doing unless Don is just trying to distract me....doesnt really matter....I just need to take the PI, Okinawa, Iwo Jima or the Marianas and then Japan will be bombed back into the stone age courtesy of the B-29s....Truk rendered the Carolines defenseless and the Carolines will render the Marianas defenseless....hope that Japan at least builds a couple of tourist resorts in the Aleutians....

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 25TH-26TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

After 6 consecutive days of assault the US Army finally captures the bases on Yap:

Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37290 troops, 499 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value =
613

Defending force 9085 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 230

Allied max assault: 958 - adjusted assault: 926

Japanese max defense: 159 - adjusted defense: 267

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37044 troops, 483 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value =
599

Defending force 7958 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 207

Allied max assault: 942 - adjusted assault: 969

Japanese max defense: 145 - adjusted defense: 151

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Yap base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
401 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


It will take some time before the remaining 8,000 or so Japanese on Yap are mopped up but CENTPAC can now go forward with their Carolines offensive. Next objective will be Ulithi....4-5 bombardment TFs will hit Ulithi tomorrow to knock out the CD guns and then the MSWs will start clearing the extensive minefields.

Seabees rapidly repair the airfield damage on Yap and 4 squadrons of fighters are staged in to provide additional CAP. In addition, the PBY2 Coronadoes can now patrol most all of the Philippine Sea. Japanese airbases on Guam and Saipan have now been virtually 100% suppressed by USN Avengers and heavy bombers based at Truk. Once we capture Ulithi and construct a level 5 airfield there to complement the soon to be built level 4 airfields at Woleai and Yap the entire Mariana chain of islands will be subject to a merciless aerial bombardment.



AUSTRALIA:

Australian armor captures Derby on the northern coast.

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 31ST, 1943

Ive attached a map of the entire Pacific to show the relative positions of Japan and the Allies as we are about to begin 1944. The red line shows the "High water mark" of Japan....their point of maximum conquest in the Pacific which occurred in July 1942. At this point in the war Japan controls most of Burma, all of New Guinea, all of the Solomons, all of the Gilberts, all of the Marshalls, 2/3rds of Australia and Wake Island.

The purple line shows the current front line as of 12/31/43. The neon green lines show the axis of advance of each Allied command:



SEAC:

SEAC has recaptured most of Burma including Rangoon and everything west of the Salween River.


AUSTRALIA COMMAND:

Australia COMMAND has recaptured all of western and northern Australia save for Exmouth and Broome(Broome will be retaken in the next few days) and is building up in Darwin for an advance into the SRA.


SWPAC:

SWPAC has captured over 2/3rds of New Guinea and is poised to invade the Philippines and the SRA.


SOPAC:

SOPAC has taken the Solomons, New Britain with Rabaul, the Bismarcks and Admiralties and now assists the amphibious arm of SWPAC.


CENTPAC:

CENTPAC has advanced from Canton Island to take the Gilberts, Marshalls, Wake, Truk and and most of the Carolines with an assault expected any day in Ulithi.


CHINA COMMAND:

Probably more savage and desperate land combat here with more AV involved than the rest of the Pacific commands put together yet not one major city has changed hands in the last 18 months. All front line Chinese cities under Allied control are heavily entrenched with level 9 forts.
Steve let this front go quiescent for over a year but since Don took over command as Japan he has repeatedly probed in the north and the center for a weak spot in the Chinese lines.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 1ST-7TH, 1944


CENTPAC:

After a week and a half of naval bombardments and minesweeping by 4 MSW TFs the massive minefields at Ulithi have finally been swept. The cost has been significant...BB Nevada, CA New Orleans and CA Cornwall have all hit mines and have been withdrawn for major repairs. Another 4 DDs have been damaged by mines here and DD McCall and a MSW have been sunk by mines.

Heavy bombers from Sarmi have pounded the Jap airfield at Palau while Truk based heavy bombers have completely suppressed Guam and Saipan. Woleai has just built a level 4 airfield and B-25s were staged in to participate in the aerial assault.

Invasion transports form up at Woleai and D Day for Ulithi is near. After taking the Gilberts, Marshalls, Wake, Ponape, Truk and Woleai this will be CENTPACs final amphibious assault of the war on an atoll. Recon shows around 15,000 toops on Ulithi so the invasion wont be near the size of the Wake Island operation(over 5 US divisions) but as usual with atoll combat we want to get it right on the first day. After 10 days of naval and aerial bombardment the CD guns on Ulithi should not be a problem for the assault transports.


SEAC:

SEAC just received its first Mosquito recon squadron....these guys have a 20 hex range and now we can recon deep inside Japanese territory. SEAC just reconned Singapore the last few days and the Allies are amazed at the Japanese buildup here....over 1200 AC in Singapore alone. Evidently Don is either planning an operation here or this will be his rapid reaction force in case SEAC attempts any amphibious operations. Notice especia;lly the 550 auxilliary AC....there are enough transport AC here to airlift entire divisions to interfere with Allied offensive operations.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 8TH-9TH, 1944


CENTPAC: INVASION ULITHI....D-DAY MINUS 2


The amphibious assault transports leave Woleai today for Ulithi. D-Day for Ulithi is set for pre-dawn on 1/11/44. Ulithi will be hit by 2 bombardment TFs with 7 BBs tomorrow while nearly 100 B-25s from Woleai work over the defenses on Ulithi.As usual, the fast carriers of Task Group 58 stand by to provide cover for the invasion and keep an eye out for KB. Every major Japanese airfield within 600 miles of Ulithi has been suppressed.


Meanwhile, the land battle still rages on Yap with the stubborn IJA defenders.




SOPAC:

Japan captured Papeete a couple of weeks ago with a fast transport ship moving at 29 knots that eluded my PBYs. The 4th USMC Division was just arriving in the south Pacific from the west coast so was diverted here along with 2 CVEs and BB Mississippi that were all also just arriving from US ports. Papeete was recaptured today, and now the 4th USMC Division and all the support ships will continue their voyage to the war zone.


SEAC:

I enlarged the Chinese airfield at Pakhoi to level 2 and was just waiting for some good weather to hit Saigon again. Today we finally got it!
72 P-38Js were staged into Pakhoi from Nanning to first sweep the skiies over Saigon, then nearly 400 Liberator IIIs and B-24Ds based at Rangoon will level the airfield. Recon show 120 Jap fighters and over 100 transports in Saigon so there should be a good show today. Those transport AC were just moved into Saigon today so either Don is flying troops out of Moulmein in a withdrawal or he is flying supply in.

After tomorrow it wont really matter....

[racndoc]

JANUARY 10TH-11TH, 1944


CENTPAC: INVASION ULITHI!


USN bombardment TFs give Ulithi a "Spruance haircut" on D-Day minus one:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/10/44


Naval bombardment of Ulithi, at 57,68

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Northampton
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Oklahoma
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
528 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 36
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Ulithi, at 57,68

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 5


The CENTPAC assault troops rendezvous 60 miles offshore of Ulithi. Commanded by NOPAC HQ and XIV Corp HQ, the invasion forces include the veteran USMC 1st Division, US Army 41st Division, USMC 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Raiders, US Army 298th RCT, 1st Marine Medium Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Arm Amphibious Battalion and the US Army 34th Combat Engineers.

The troops swarm ashore just before dawn on D-Day:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/11/44


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ulithi, 57,68, firing at TF 1126
TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Ulithi, 57,68


66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes
LST LST-42
CL Richmond

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1084 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ulithi, 57,68, firing at TF 1126
TF 1126 troops unloading over beach at Ulithi, 57,68


24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ulithi, 57,68, firing at TF 1188
TF 1188 troops unloading over beach at Ulithi, 57,68


47 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LST LST-169

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1645 casualties reported


The Japanese defenders are pounded by land based air from Truk, Woleai, Sarmi and Hollandia:

Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 57,68


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 24
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 11
B-25J Mitchell x 17
B-25G/H Mitchell x 24


Allied aircraft losses
B-25G/H Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 57,68


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 51


Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Day Air attack on 64th/C Division, at 57,68


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 8
B-25G/H Mitchell x 14


Allied aircraft losses
Ventura G.R.Mk V: 2 damaged
B-25G/H Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported


Day Air attack on 64th/C Division, at 57,68


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 71


Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported


The airfield on Ulithi is captured by the end of D-Day:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ulithi

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7181 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 221

Defending force 56596 troops, 455 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value =
1249



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ulithi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 49052 troops, 454 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value =
1248

Defending force 9055 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 221

Allied max assault: 1566 - adjusted assault: 835

Japanese max defense: 149 - adjusted defense: 56

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 9)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ulithi base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1476 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
1779 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 12


An all out shock attack is ordered on the remaining defenders for tomorrow.



SEAC:

The Allied fighter sweep over Saigon is very effective:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Saigon , at 31,45

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 6
J1N1-S Irving x 12
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 51
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 68

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
J1N1-S Irving: 6 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 16 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged


The heavy bombers from Rangoon then go in almost unopposed:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Saigon , at 31,45

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 3
J1N1-S Irving x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 34
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 211
F-5C Lightning x 1
B-24D Liberator x 128

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 9 destroyed
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 38 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 49 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
417 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 102


Day Air attack on Saigon , at 31,45

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 1
J1N1-S Irving x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 167
F-5C Lightning x 1
B-24D Liberator x 95

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed
J1N1-S Irving: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 81


The airbase at Saigon is leveled and Japan evacuates the remnants of their air force from there. The air exchange would have been exceedingly lopsided this turn except Don ambushed my pilot training flights over Thailand and roughed up a bunch of my rookies. Still, 89 Jap AC were destroyed this turn vs 58 Allied AC and many veteran Japanese "Sons of Heaven" pilots were sent to the wrong address.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 12TH-19TH, 1944


CENTPAC:

The remnants of IJA forces are finally mopped up on Yap and Ulithi. Woleai and Yap are now level 4 airfields. The US Navy burned up a lot of fuel taking Truk, Woleai, Yap and Palau and now CENTPAC grinds to a halt as additional reserves of supply and fuel must be brought up to the front for the next thrust forward.



SWPAC:

MacArthur swings into gear as SWPAC prepares to continue its advance into NW New Guinea. A bombardment TF hits Biak hard as MSWs assemble to sweep the inevitable minefields:

Naval bombardment of Biak, at 48,77

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
2012 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 78
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 17


The Biak invasion force is commanded by the !st Australian Army HQ and US Army III Corp HQ. Combat elements assembling off the north coast of New Guinea include the US Army 6th Division, US Army 33rd Division, 9th Australian Division, US Army 58th RCT, US Army 153rd RCT, US Army 18th CBT Engineers, 30th Australian Brigade, 193rd US Tank Battalion, 641st US Tank Destroyer Battalion and the US 147th Field Artillery Regiment. D-Day is planned for 1/20/44 on Biak.



CHINA:

Im not feeling too good about the situation in central China now. Don suddenly showed up with 115,000 troops and routed 4 Chinese corps on the Nanchang/Shanghai road. Japan also has a stack of 29 LCUs in Kiukiang waiting to cross the river, 21 LCUs in Hankow with another 10 LCUs across the river west of Hankow and another 17 LCUs in Sinyang.

This is a really _BIG_ Japanese force and I dont know if I can stop it even with my level 9 forts at Nanchang. Evidently Don has "bought" a lot of Manchukuo troops with PPs or he has committed a lot of SRA troops. Im throwing a lot of Allied air at the 115,000 strong force outside of Nanchang to try to slow them down.

Yikes....

[anarchyintheuk]

Great movie reference. [:D]

[racndoc]

JANUARY 20TH-21ST, 1944


SWPAC: INVASION OF BIAK


After several days of minesweeping and both naval and aerial bombardments, SWPAC troops storm ashore at Biak:

Naval bombardment of Biak, at 48,77

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
478 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 59
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Biak (48,77)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Biak, 48,77


Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Starling
DMS Elliot


Allied ground losses:
1464 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/21/44


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Biak (48,77)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Biak, 48,77


Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Starling
DMS Elliot


Allied ground losses:
1262 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Biak (48,77)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Biak, 48,77


Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Starling
DMS Elliot
AK Siberoet, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
1269 casualties reported


60,000 assault troops out of the 90,000 strong army make it ashore on the first 2 days of the invasion. There will be 2-3 more days of unloading on the beach and then a deliberate attack will be ordered.


Meanwhile, farther to the west, the US Army 503rd Parachute Regiment captures recently evacuated Kai Island in an airborne assault.



CENTPAC:

USAAF medium and heavy bombers based at Truk, Woleai and Yap hammer away at the Marianas and Palau on a daily basis:

Day Air attack on Saipan , at 64,64


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 22
B-24D Liberator x 98
B-24J Liberator x 83


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 186


Day Air attack on Tinian , at 63,65


Allied aircraft
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 16
P-38G Lightning x 24
P-38J Lightning x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 33
B-25G/H Mitchell x 72


Allied aircraft losses
Ventura G.R.Mk V: 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 6 damaged
B-25G/H Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 60


Day Air attack on Palau , at 51,68


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 31
B-25J Mitchell x 7
B-25G/H Mitchell x 78


Allied aircraft losses
B-25G/H Mitchell: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 84




AUSTRALIA:

Aussie armor units recapture Broome....now only Exmouth remains in enemy hands.




SEAC:

The war against Japan's economy continues as RAF and USAAF heavy bombers based at Rangoon level the HI at Saigon.



CHINA:

The "telephone pole" of Japanese units at Kiukiang grows to 37 units...the cross river attack could occur at anytime.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 22ND-25TH, 1944


SWPAC:

MacArthur lands 90,000 plus troops on Biak and scores a suprisingly easy victory...originally there were over 14,000 IJA troops entrenched on Biak....Don withdrew some forces and only 10,000 IJA troops were present at the time of invasion....but the Japanese AV was only one at the time of assault so obviously the supply situation had deteriorated some time ago....although the USN BB bombardments might have had a little to do with that...LoL...

Now, the Allies have gained another level 5 airfield within easy range of Palau....and it will be rapidly enlarged into a level 7 airfield.



CHINA:

The Japanese now have a 45 unit "telephone pole" at Kiukiang and a 27 unit "telephone pole" at Hankow. Cant wait for the fireworks to start. I can only hope that the Allies create more havoc in the rest of the PTO than Japan creates in China.....and remember...the title of this thread is
"Victory in the Pacific"...not Victory in Asia.....



VICTORY POINTS:

When Don inherited this game he had a 10,000 victory point advantage.....now Don has expanded his lead to 11,300 points...the score now stands at 28,893 Japan to 17,575 Allies. I want to give Don all the credit due....he annihilated convoys in the Indian Ocean and the eastern Pacific and sunk over 100 AKs/TKs and 2 BBs and 2 CVEs....but thats not the whole story.

Japan had an 11,000 point advantage in Army loss points back in June 1943 and that has been cut back to 9,000 points with recent Allied conquests. In addition, when Don took over this game back in 6/1943 the AC losses were virtually even for both sides. Im not trying to win the game....Im trying to win the war so I am suppressing several Japanese bases every turn and lose an average of 15-30 AC every turn to AA and ops(2 day turns so I lose 300-400 extra AC each month from base suppression) so now Japan has a 1000 AC advantage on the Allies. The A2A losses are virtually even....1597 Allied to 1481 Japanese. The AC destroyed on the ground reflects the overwhelming Allied airpower that they are able to project.....904 Allied AC vs 2621 Japanese AC. Since we are playing the CHS Nik MOd with the out-of-control AA the Allies are losing in AA losses...1404 to 630 Japanese and in Op losses.....4201 to 2481 Japanese. Im suffering heavy losses keeping the Marianas suppressed....but I figure if I lose an extra 1000 AC suppressing the Marianas I can make that up in one or 2 strategic bombing attacks on Japan.



LOGISTICS:

Again I cannot overemphasize the importance of Truk. I had stacked 1000's of AV in Noumea(the only malaria free base in the region) for future employment in the Philippines, Carolines and Marianas but now with the capture of Truk all of the LCUs are being moved 1000's of miles closer to the front. In addition, I will build up supplies in Truk to over 1,000,000 and fuel to 400,000 to support the next wave of advances. In RL, the US had noted the unique topography of the anchorage at Ulithi and had noted the value of capturing that atoll in case hostilities broke out with Japan. Now, we are expanding the port at Ulithi to level 8 and Truk and Ulithi will provide safe harbors for severely damaged Allied ships in future offensives in the western Pacific. Four ARs and naval HQs are being moved to both ports to assist in ship repairs.

Don's convoy raids had sunk scores of British TKs in the Indian Ocean and US TKs in the eastern Pacific. Now, the Allies have dedicated a 100 AK convoy of British ships and a 100 AK convoy of US ships to help transport vital fuel to the front...each of the 100 AK convoys can load 200,000-250,000 fuel at a time.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 26TH-FEBRUARY 2ND, 1944


SWPAC:

SWPAC had planned massive assaults at Noemfoor, Kai Island, Koepang and Amboina over a period of several months but with the rapid pullback by Japan SWPAC has scrapped its original plans and is conducting a series of ad hoc invasions to step up the tempo.

On New Guinea, Noemfoer and Manokwari were bypassed and a single RCT leapfrogged all the way up to Weda to capture a level 4 airfield against minimal opposition....now the Allies can project naval search across the Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea and the southern half of the Philippines. Bypassed Noemfoor and Manokwari will be mopped up later.

Farther south, the original 12,000 man garrison on Amboina has been pulled out by barge convoys so that only 1000 IJA troops remain. Amboina was bombarded and the minefields were swept today and the bombardment TF ran into some Jap barges that were attempting to evacuate troops:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 40,74

Japanese Ships
AG AG-102, Shell hits 5, heavy damage
AG AG-359, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-5051, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-5069, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-5091, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-5114, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-5162, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-5165, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG AG-2050, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AG AG-2054, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AG AG-2061, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG AG-2084, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2095, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AG Kaijo Torakku SD-23, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB Massachusetts
BB Alabama
CA Houston
CA Louisville
CA Astoria
CA San Francisco
CA Quincy
CA Indianapolis
DD Aulick
DD Blue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Amboina, at 40,74

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 93
Port hits 21
Port supply hits 24


Amboina will be invaded tomorrow and will prove to be only a speed bump to the Allied advance.


Farther to the southwest, SWPAC invades Koepang:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1094 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

TF 1094 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 29,77



Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1094 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

TF 1094 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 29,77



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported

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TF 1145 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

TF 1145 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 29,77



Allied ground losses:
151 casualties reported

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TF 1293 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

TF 1293 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 29,77


Allied Ships
AP Van Landsberge, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Allied ground losses:
174 casualties reported

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TF 1285 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

Allied Ships
MSW Gozo
MSW Vestal

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TF 1073 encounters mine field at Koepang (29,77)

Allied Ships
DE Spey
DE Findhorn
DE Derg

A few Bettys get through our carrier CAP here and manage to put a torpedo in an AK....fortunately the torpedo that hit CL Biloxi only scratched the paint:

Day Air attack on TF at 31,77

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 16

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 17
F6F Hellcat x 12
Corsair III/IV x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 3 damaged
Corsair III/IV: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Biloxi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Ariadne Moller
AK Alchiba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 32,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Mercury


I believe that Japan has made a mistake in not putting up a stronger defense of the southern SRA. Steve originally saw the danger in an Allied counterattack from northern Australia into the soft underbelly of the SRA and sent most of the SAA to take western and northern OZ in 1942 to provide a buffer.

Now that the Allies recaptured northern OZ in 1943, Japan has pulled back its defenses from Kai Island, Timor and Amboina to the SRA itself.
Kendari has been the linchpin of the Japanese defense in the southern SRA...throughout most of 1943 there were over 100 transports in the port there, 100's of AC on Kendari's level 5 airfield and some 20 LCUs...Japan's rapid reaction force for that part of the SRA. Now the ships are gone from Kendari port and the LCUs have been reduced to 13.

Now the Allies will capture Koepang tomorrow and Amboina will be invaded tomorrow.....within a week Kendari will be completely neutralized and the whole Japanese defense in the southern SRA will collapse....like a house of cards.

The Allies will need to conduct a series of lightning thrusts here to fully exploit the situation.

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 3RD-6TH, 1944


SWPAC:

SWPAC operations now are stepped up into high gear. Amphibious assaults secure the level 4 airfields at Koepang and Amboina.....hordes of seabees were dropped off on both islands so we should see level 5 airfields here in a few days. As predicted, the capture of these 2 airfields forced Japan to withdraw their air force from Kendari(after we flew a large fighter sweep over the base last turn) so it is now effectively neutralized.

USMC paratoopers unloaded in Amboina were paradropped the next day on both Bali and Makassar. USMC paratroops captured the level 3 airfield on Bali with no opposition. Unfortunately on Makassar, Japanese reinforcements arrived by fast transport on 2 DDs on exactly the same phase that the paratroops were dropped so the Allies were treated as the attackers:

Ground combat at Makassar

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 540 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 578 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Allied max assault: 20 - adjusted assault: 18

Japanese max defense: 23 - adjusted defense: 10

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported



The 2 IJN DDs on fast transport were subsequestly punished by Alled air with 1 DD sunk and one DD heavily damaged:

Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 12
B-24D Liberator x 18
B-24J Liberator x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Namikaze


Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 11
P-38J Lightning x 22
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minekaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage


Makassar is an incredibly important objective for SWPAC with its potential to build up into a level 6 airfield so the US Army 138th RCT will be rushed there next turn by fast APs with the US Army 6th Division standing by on reserve (also on fast APs) if needed.

Meanwhile, the US Army 1st Calvary Regiment completes the mop up on the northern coast of New Guienea by taking both Noemfoor and Manokwari.



CHINA:

Things continue to deteriorate here for China Command as Japan suddenly launches a successful attack in the south for the first time in the war and advances within 60 miles of Wuchow:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 109216 troops, 558 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
3202

Defending force 35544 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
1038

Japanese max assault: 5196 - adjusted assault: 4702

Allied max defense: 1023 - adjusted defense: 381

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1861 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Allied ground losses:
1002 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Recon shows another telephone pole here of 34 IJA LCUs...must have snuck them in through Hong Kong and Canton.

Meanwhile, the Japanese advance continues in the center and it appears the main IJA stacks(47 LCUs) are heading for Changsha with another 20 LCUs approaching Nanchang and an additional 8 LCUs(probabaly armored regiments) marching cross country to try to cut the Nanchang/Changsha road.

Looks like its time to pull back in China....Ive never seen this much Japanese AV in China in stock scenario 15 or CHS before.

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 7TH-8TH, 1944


CHINA: JAPS GONE WILD!

13 IJA Divisions break through the Chinese center 120 east of Changsha:


Ground combat at 47,36

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 260098 troops, 1574 guns, 688 vehicles, Assault Value = 10807

Defending force 75689 troops, 326 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2314

Japanese max assault: 10550 - adjusted assault: 7767

Allied max defense: 2339 - adjusted defense: 1279

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
8661 casualties reported
Guns lost 94
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
3067 casualties reported
Guns lost 59


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Japan has broken through Chinese lines in both southern China and central China. Most of the Chinese army is massed at Nanchang and will now have to fight their way through Japanese armor to retreat to Changsha. Wuchow is invested by IJA units and Hengchow and Changhsa will soon be attacked. All available SEAC transport AC are utilized to fly reinforcements into Hengchow and Changsha.