Rising Sun over the Rockies - F.K. vs OSO - Wake captured by US

[FeurerKrieg]

September was relatively quiet. The Allies seem reluctant to push on in the north, which is good because if they don't do it now, it will be much harder for them at least until March 44.

We still have the edge in air to air losses, but the ratio isn't nearly as good as August. Thankfully the overall numbers are lower. Also, for us (and maybe the enemy), a good chunk of the losses are low experience pilots in China where the P-40N's were flying.

Lost 2 subs, but killed 2 subs as well.

No land changed hands.


[center]
October 1, 1943

















[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

October 1st, 1943
Near Shikuka, the SS Tambor attacked one of our two ASW groups in the north. It suffered from dud torpedoes and in retaliation our ships hit the SS Tambor with depth charges and signs of heavy damage were noted on the surface.

[center]
Enemy sub is hit[/center]

At Chungking, there were no enemy fighters present again, and our bombers destroyed 1 SB-2c on the ground.

The airfield at Cotabato in the Philippines, was expanded today. (size 3)

[FeurerKrieg]

October 2nd, 1943
It was quiet everywhere except Burma today. It has been almost a month since a major air battle, but the Allies finally came back to tangle in the air again. It was bloody, and with the help of their new generation of fighters, the Allies are doing better than previously. That being said, our boys performed well and those who didn't make it will be missed.

The first wave consisted of a sweep by 41 P-38G Lightnings, 36 P-38J, 14 P-47C Thunderbolts and 13 P-47D. Against this we had up 8 N1K1-J Georges, 72 J2M Jacks, 33 Tojos, and 27 Tonys. We lost 4 George, 9 Jack, 13 Tojo and 18 Tony on this one, but took down 24 P-38G, 24 P-38J, 12 P-47C and 11 P-47D.

[center]
Enemy sweep comes in first[/center]

Weakened by that attack, our resistance against the next wave was much less. 59 B-24D and 51 B-24Js, escorted by 26 Kittyhawk III and 21 P-38Gs flew in to bomb the airfields. We took down 16 Kittyhawks, 13 P-38Gs, 3 B-24D and 1 B-24J, but lost 4 jacks, 4 Tojos and 8 Tonys. The bombers wrecked the airfield badly.

[center]
Then an escorted bomber run[/center]

For the next wave our fighter defense was unable to return to the air due to the damage to the airfield, so 98 Liberator III and 57 B-17E had a free ride in to further damage the airfield.

Overall stats of the battle at Meiktila today:

Japanese Losses: A2A(Ground)
J2M Jack: 13 (41)
Ki-61-1b Tony: 26 (4)
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 17 (10)
N1K1-J George: 4 (0)

Total: 60 (55)

Allied Losses: (all A2A)
P-38G Lightning: 37
P-38J Lightning: 24
Kittyhawk III: 16
P-47C Thunderbolt: 12
P-47D Thunderbolt: 11
B-24D Liberator: 3
B-24J Liberator: 1

Total: 104

Our pilots losses are estimated at 13 Naval pilots and 29 Army pilots. So while the Allies took some good losses, we lost nearly a month worth of trained pilots in this fight. We will pull our fighters back to Rangoon, Moulmein, Raheng, Bangkok and Hanoi for now. If the enemy begins to regularly bomb our airbases, then maybe I can set up some ambushes now and then. But given the range of the P-47D and P-38G/J, we need to make them fly a long way so we can get some advantage over them. If the enemy begins a ground offensive in Burma, we may also return to these frontline bases.

[thegreatwent]

Yikes, still the losses to the allied pilots must be high. Hopefully the cost slows them down.

I know "famous last words for Japan"[:)]

[FeurerKrieg]

Yes, GW, hard to say if any cost if too high for those pesky Allies.

October 3rd, 1943
Mandalay is hit hard by three big waves of enemy bombers. All we had there were recon planes though, so although the fields are completely wrecked, all we lost were 15 assorted recon aircraft. Our flak did bring down 4 Liberator III, 1 B-25G and 1 Vengeance, plus damaged many more of the enemy bombers. I wonder if the Allied planes are going to try to bomb all of the airfields out and keep them shut down with rotating bombing attacks? Hopefully the weather will get worse and that will make it harder for them to do that.

[center]
First wave at Mandalay[/center]

At Chungking our bombers destroyed 2 SB-2c and 1 IL-4c.

The port facilities at Iwo Jima were expanded today. (sz 3)

[FeurerKrieg]

October 4th, 1943
Today 35 Wellington III and 38 Blenheim IVs from Imphal flew down to Kunming in China to bomb resource center there. Damage was light. No other air attacks today, so maybe the Allied bombers are worn out a bit.

Near Attu Island, the I-123 was hit by an enemy patrol plane, but damage was light and the ship should easily return to base.

At Chungking, we destroy 1 SB-2c.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 5th, 1943
Today, it is 33 B-24D and 31 B-24J Liberators that hit Kunming. The inflict more damage on our resource production there. I'm not overly concerned as the resources produced there don't seem to move out of base very easily anyway.

At Chungking, another SB-2c is hit on the ground.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 6th, 1943
Pretty quiet today. Legaspi airfield expanded to its target size today. (sz 4)

[FeurerKrieg]

October 7th, 1943
Another quiet day as the Allies seem to not be following up in Burma to my retreat. Perhaps they don't want to fight at Rangoon due to the 200-250 fighter CAP that is in the air most days.

Our planes hit Chungking, but miss the few aircraft on the ground.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 8th, 1943
Due to several enemy submarines being spotted in the airgap between Wake, Marcus and Eniwetok, a group of ASW ships was dispatched to find and destroy enemy subs a few days ago. Today the PC Oki was less than successful as it fell victim to the SS Bluefish.

Our planes hit Chungking again, but all quiet otherwise.

[center]
Etorofu class escort - the same as PC Oki[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

October 9th, 1943
At OJ, a Lily I, hits the SS Cachalot.

The big news of the day was the spotting of one of our AMCs as it heading east between Midway and the Aleutians. With luck, the sighting of one ship will be chalked up to sighting error and it will be assumed that it is a submarine. For now, both pairs, north and south will continue to press onward.

[center]
Our surface raiders will push on despite the risk[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

October 10th, 1943
The luckless SS Cachalot strikes a mine a PJ, sinking a short while later.

Our airfield at Dadjangas expands today. (sz 3)

[FeurerKrieg]

October 11th, 1943
Another day another sub. Today the SS Tambor was reported sunk near Attu Island.

Our bomber hit Chungking again as now enemy fighters are there at the moment.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 12th, 1943
Enemy bombers hit Akyab today, mostly Blen IV's and Wellington IIIs.

On the same note, our bombers again hit Chungking.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 13th, 1943
Very quiet. We again swap bombers - I hit Chungking, enemy hits Akyab.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 14th, 1943
Enemy planes take a breather in Burma, but our bomber continue to hit Chungking. Today one SB-2c is destroyed on the ground there.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 15th, 1943
News of enemy troops on the move in Australia towards Coen prompted a recon/bombing run by our Bettys at Port Moresby. Enemy armor were indeed spotted rolling up the trails, but unfortunately some Kittyhawk IIIs were on patrol over them. 7 of our Bettys did managed to toss some bombs on the enemy armor, damaging some vehicles.

[center]
Enemy armor heads north[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

October 16th, 1943
All today brings us is another easy attack on Chungking.

Halfway through October now, and still no sign of an attack on the Kuriles. OJ and PJ both expand their ports today. (Sz 2 and sz 3 respectively)

[FeurerKrieg]

October 17th, 1943
After several quiet days, we get some surprises today.

In Burma, Akyab is hit by enemy bombers.

In China, our intel had noted recently that the unit count of the enemy has been declining. It is highly unlikely that these units are starving to death, so the assumption has to be made the enemy is flying out Chinese units to fight with the British in Burma. Based on that assumption, our fighters were ordered to patrol over Chungking looking for transport planes. They found them and shot down six C-46 Commando aircraft.

In the Pacific, Iwo Jima airfield expanded today. (sz 5)

Farther south, one of our loaded AO's was hit by the SS Wahoo, creating a massive fuel fire. Although the ship is likely to return to Truk and not sink, the ship will be under repair for some time. (Sys damage 98)

Nearby, where our ASW ships are hunting enemy subs, the SS Herring hit one of our 10 DC APDs with two torpedoes sinking the ship.

The big news of the day though, is that the northern AMC raider team ran into an enemy convoy in the middle of the night. Because the ships were somewhat north of the expected enemy convoy routes (between Pearl Harbor and San Fran/Los Angeles), where we were not expecting to find enemy ships, the TF commander was slightly surprised. Two enemy AK's were pounded by the Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru's 5.5" and 4.7" guns. One AK was hit 17 times, the other 5 times. Both ships were burning and heavily damaged when the ships retired from battle. Both AMCs took a 5" shell hit from the enemy cargo ships. The Aikoku will be fine (14/0/0), but Hokoku is in rougher shape due to a lucky shot by the enemy(32/5/7).

[center]
Our raiders find a target[/center]

This encounter was earlier than expected and our submarines will now rush north to surround the AMCs and to see if they can spot this convoy again or other convoys in the area. The AMCs will head southeast to try and meet up with the subs and the southern pair of raiders. Once they do, Hokoku Maru will head south and home, while the other three will join up and continue hunting. There are 3 Glen subs in a triangle pattern around the raiders, both to spot potential targets, as well as spot enemy surface or carrier force coming to shut down our operation.

An appearance by enemy carriers will of course negate these plans and send the AMCs running in multiple directions.

[FeurerKrieg]

October 18th, 1943
More C-46 transports are intercepted over Chungking, 5 are shot down.

Otherwise a quiet day.