Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

A new strategy was chosen for the defence of Hawaii. Only Emilies and Zeroes will remain in PH, Betties, Vals and Kates will fly to Midway, Johnston and Palmyra. 133 Zeroes were in PH in the evening of the 23, including 26 just arriving from Wake.

Interesting...

Though my favorite tactics (and using it I won many UV PBEMs - since UV was "short" such decisive victory meant defeat/surrender for my opponent) was to move my Japanese CVs "behind" defended island and then in careful coordination strike first with land based aircraft (few bombers but massively escorted) to "break the back" of my enemy's CV CAP and only then attack with my CV based aircraft en masse.

This tactics is almost perfect for your defence of Hawaii because he can't commit his land based aircraft at all!

Therefore why would you miss the opportunity to seriously harm him with land based bombers / torpedo bombers heavily escorted by land based fighters and after that kill him with your CVs?


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Though my favorite tactics (and using it I won many UV PBEMs - since UV was "short" such decisive victory meant defeat/surrender for my opponent) was to move my Japanese CVs "behind" defended island and then in careful coordination strike first with land based aircraft (few bombers but massively escorted) to "break the back" of my enemy's CV CAP and only then attack with my CV based aircraft en masse.

This tactics is almost perfect for your defence of Hawaii because he can't commit his land based aircraft at all!

Therefore why would you miss the opportunity to seriously harm him with land based bombers / torpedo bombers heavily escorted by land based fighters and after that kill him with your CVs?

That was the plan, but in October 1942... Right now I have no Air HQ in PH, and my CV forces are one week away, and weaker than the enemy forces. Also there is the possibility that all of this is just a feint, and that Allied CVs are full of fighters. In this case sending a raid of 100 Zeroes will just result in 100 Zeroes getting lost to shot down some tens of Allied Wildcats that will be replaced in one week.

My current plan is to remain "passive" until I have enough CV and BB in the area to be able to defeat the Allied fleet. Before this date I won't risk my LBA into suicide attacks.... especially when most of my LBA are carrier-trained units.

24-25 July 1942

Central Pacific

During the night of the 23-24, the SS I-17 was chased by 3 DDs 1000 miles NE of PH but survived. The next day all Japanese warships in the area except the CL and 6 DD in PH received orders to concentrate in Palmyra, while the last Vals, Nates and Betties left PH for Palmyra and Johnston. Five 9000-ton TK started loading fuel in Kwajalein for Palmyra.

An Allied submarine was seen this day off Midway and all AC in the atoll (62 Betties and 20 Vals) were ordered to fly ASW the next day, but saw nothing.

On the 25 the Allied fleet sailed more south than west and was seen at 540 miles of PH and 480 of Hilo. It was now well in range of Hawaii patrol planes, that reported seeing 2 CVs and 4 BB, two of them being identified as the Idaho and the New Mexico. The fleet may sail to Hilo, or it may just be a feint to draw Japanese warships from Fiji area, but just arriving too late.
16 more Zeroes arrived in PH from Wake on the 25, while the KB launched 27 A6M3 that flew to Palmyra.



Southern Pacific

During the night of the 23-24, 6 MSW swept all Allied mines off Pago-Pago.

Another shock attack was launched on the 24 in Suva, with the usual support of 9 Betties and 7 Nells of Pago-Pago bombing the airfield (5 men and 1 gun hit, 6 holes on the runway) and 17 Vals from Nandi bombing the 2nd USMC Div, hitting 10 men and 1 gun. And then the attack was launched and the last Allied defences crumbled. The garrison surrendered when the Japanese entered the inner zone sheltering the hospitals (attack at 2 to 1, fort 0). The 2nd USMC Div, 8th NZ Bde, 2nd USMC Para Bn, 26th USA FA Bde, 193rd and 754th US Tank Bn, 101st USN BF, No 115 RAF BF and an unknown HQ surrendered. Total Allied losses were 42 855 men, 175 guns and 67 vehicles, opposed to 736 Japanese men and 9 guns. The base was wrecked (damage 75/38/23) but had huge stocks: 111 000 supplies and 99 000 fuel.
The victorious Japanese troops then received new orders. A Naval Guard will march back to Nandi and reinforce the defences here, the South Seas Detachment, 3 SNLF and 1 Eng Rgt will remain in Suva and fortify and defend the base, two naval units will sail to Funifuti and Baker and garrison these atolls. The most wrecked division, the 4th (30/90), received orders to prepare for Noumea but will be shipped to a big base, or even Japan, for R&R. The 2nd and 48th Div and the 3rd Eng Rgt received orders to prepare for Lahaina, to be able to counterland in Hawaii, while the 16th Div and 2nd Eng Rgt received orders to prepare for Auckland. Also two of the 3 base forces in Nandi received orders to march to Suva.
There will be much troop moves in the area in the next months and 12 APs left Tokyo for Kwajalein to assist them.

The same evening, the American submarine S-32 was chased by three TF off Nandi and hit by a Type 91 depth charge dropped by a PG.

An Allied surface TF was seen this afternoon west of Nandi and estimated as 3 CA, 1 CL, 1 DD, 1 DE and 1 MSW. It was at 360 miles and so able to attack Nandi the next night. So all Japanese ships were ordered to leave and sail for Suva or wait in open sea, while all aircraft left too for Pago-Pago and Tongatapu.
Shortly after midnight this Allied Tf reached Nandi, but the DD USS Balch was heavily damaged by a Mk 10 mine. Then the CA Chicago and Pensacola and the CL Nashville and Phoenix bombarded, hitting 528 men and 10 guns and scoring 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies, 5 on runways and 1 on a fuel dump.
At the same time the SS S-39 tried to attack south of Nandi one of the Japanese TF leaving the area but was detected and sunk by the APD-46 with a concentrated depth charge attack. In the morning these ships reached Suva and ran into a minefield. An AK was slighty damaged by a Mk 10 mine before 3 MSW swept all Allied mines.

Japanese ships will remain at sea one more day to be sure that Allied warships are gone, and then most will sail to Suva and start to load troops.

Solomons-New Guinea

Four DD arrived in Truk on the 24 but were disbanded and will repair SYS damage (between 4 and 7) before being used for FT missions.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

These two days were peaceful. Two TF carrying fuel (combined more than 50 000 tons) will arrive tomorrow in Kendari and then more FT TF may be launched from here.

Burma

A convoy carrying 35 000 supplies arrived on the 24 in Rangoon. All bases had already enough (Rangoon had 45 000) and they will be used to repair Mandalay oilfields, at least until the next Allied air raid.

Philippines

On the 24 bad weather again covered Manila and only the airfield was bombed by 23 Ki-21s, that hit 20 men and scored 1 supply hit and 13 runway hits. Weather was better the next day and while 20 Ki-21s again bombed the airfield (6 cas, 1/2/3 hits), 56 Ki-48s, 34 Ki-21s, 32 Ki-49, 31 Vals, 9 Zeroes and 3 Kates bombed the 2nd and 11th PA Div, hitting 154 men and 1 gun.

Japanese artillery fire hit 243 men in two days

China

Homan was bombed on the 24 and 25 by respectively 9 and 8 Ki-51 from Kaifeng, that scored a total of 1 airbase, 3 supply and 15 runway hits. One Ki-51 was lost in a crash on the 24.
On the 25 Allied airmen were active in the north, 23 Hurricane II and 5 P-40B from Lanchow attacked the 36th Div in Kungchang, hitting 54 men and 2 guns, while a Regiment of the 27th Div was bombed at Luchow by 29 Hurricane II from Sining and lost 18 casualties.

Japanese artillery fire hit in two days 119 men in Homan, 8 in Kungchang and 42 in Wuchow while Chinese guns hit 59 men and 2 tanks in Lanchow. On the 24 the 30th Chinese Corps tried to bombard the Japanese unit facing it 120 miles SW of Yenen but hit nothing and lost 8 men and 3 guns to counter-battery fire, and stopped it.

Troops in Lanchow are out of supply and can’t move. SE of Kungchang the 7 Chinese that were NW of Sian all marched to the hex held by the Japanese (40th and 41st Div and one half brigade). Yenen bombers have been ordered to bomb these troops to disrupt a potential Chinese attack.

[aztez]

It looks like that CenPac might be in flames soon [:)]

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

That was the plan, but in October 1942... Right now I have no Air HQ in PH, and my CV forces are one week away, and weaker than the enemy forces. Also there is the possibility that all of this is just a feint, and that Allied CVs are full of fighters. In this case sending a raid of 100 Zeroes will just result in 100 Zeroes getting lost to shot down some tens of Allied Wildcats that will be replaced in one week.

My current plan is to remain "passive" until I have enough CV and BB in the area to be able to defeat the Allied fleet. Before this date I won't risk my LBA into suicide attacks.... especially when most of my LBA are carrier-trained units.

RGR and best of luck!

BANZAIII!!!


BTW, how many combat rounds of AA ammo can he sustain so far away from his nearest port (and one and only source)? [;)]


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

Leo, my estimates are that between 300 and 500 Allied ships are sailing more or less together, so I will run out of bombers before they run out of AA ammo. And I think that in 2 or 3 days the Allied will have a port in Hawaii...

BTW what means RGR ?

26-27 July 1942

The 26th was quiet, the 27th saw 97 Allied AC losses against 15 Japanese, with the main actions over Kendari and .. Pearl Harbor !!! I think the Allid CVs in this area have already lost 15% of their aircraft complement.

Central Pacific

The Allied fleet slowed on the 26th, only advancing 120 miles towards Hawaii and so allowing most TFs to join the main body 420 miles E of PH, and 360 miles off Lahaina, Hilo and Moloaki. Japanese Emilies identified the CV Hornet, Saratoga and Indomitable and the BB Arizona and Mississipi. The CAP shot down two of them but the gunner of another H8K shot down a F4F-4 Wildcat.

In the evening the Emily Chutai of Lahaina left the base for PH and was ordered to fly night torpedo attacks. Other air moves saw 27 A6M3 arrive in PH from Palmyra, they were ordered to rest one day, PH having already 151 A6M2 flying 90% CAP.
More south 14 A6M2 flew from Pago-Pago to Plamyra but one pilot disappeared enroute. 21 Betties flew from Pago-Pago to Johnston and one was destroyed in a landing accident but the crew was safe.

On the 27th the Allied fleet sailed 240 miles towards Hilo or Lahaina. It saw the small Japanese TF off Pearl Harbor (CL Sendai and 5 DD) and sent in the morning 30 TBF Avenger (I believe it is their first action) and 26 SBD escorted by 15 F4F-4 Wildcat and 5 Fulmar. This raid ran into a wasp nest and was intercepted by 99 A6M2. The escort sacrificed itself to allow some bombers to get trough and in the air battle 15 SBD, 13 TBF, 13 F4F-4, all 5 Fulmars and 2 Zeroes fell... the remaining 28 Allied bombers that get trough scored two torpedo hits on the Sendai and a DD, but both torpedoes didn't explode, and the only damage was done by a 500 lb bomb on the Sendai (damage 10/18/2). At least one of the two Japanese pilots shot down was rescued, while an ace of AII-1 scored his 17th kill in this battle.
During the routine patrols of the day, the Japanese CAP over PH shot down a Kingfisher and 2 SBD, while the Allied CAP over the CVs shot down a Pete from Hilo and an Emily. Also a barge was sunk off Lahaina by 3 SBD and a Kingfisher, but a SBD was lost in an accident.

Two new Allied BB (North Carolina and California) were identfied by Japanese pilots, bringing the total of identified BBs with this fleet to six... And they were now in range of PH for a night bombardment run. So two CV Zero units (EII-1 and DIII-1) left PH for Palmyra, and will return to the battle area aboard CVs. The main defence against the Allied bombardment will be minefields. Two open sea minefields are in the probable path of any bombardment TF, and another will be laid this night by four fast ML sent from PH. Then 23 700 mines are defending PH, and 57 CD guns (of 5.5 and 4.7 inches) are waiting behind them, so it is hoped the damage to the airfield this night will be minimal. 36 Ki-51 that were sent to PH to fly ASW will be ready to attack any cripple in range tomorrow (naval attack range 1).
The SS I-122 relaoded mines tonight in PH and sailed north to evade Allied AC and ships. And four DD of the PH covering force will sail east during the night to try to hit a late Allied convoy at sea, and then will return to PH. The Sendai and the last DD were disbanded in PH port.



Southern Pacific

On the 26th, 6 MSW swept all Allied mines off Tongatapu, while no trace was seen of the Allied ships that bombed Nandi. In the evening Japanese aircraft (9 Nells, 9 Ki-46s, 6 Emilies) arrived in Suva, where the first Base Force had marched from Nandi.

The next night, 6 MSW and two ASW groups swept Suva waters and destroyed all Allied mines, but one PG hit a Mk 10 mine. Hopefully it was not seriously damaged and wad docked in the port for emergency repairs. In the evening some barges unloaded 200 men of a SNLF in Vanua Levu, north of Suva, with 11 landing casualties. This small island will be occupied tomorrow.

Also tomorrow the Japanese transports that were cruising at sea until Allied ships and mines were no more a problem off Fiji will sail to Suva and load troops to bring them mostly towards Hawaii.
A small convoy (a CS with 22 Jakes, an AR, a MLE, a DD and a PC) left Kwajalein towards Palmyra.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Timor was bombed in the afternoon of the 26th. 44 B-25C from Derby attacked Koepang, hitting 16 men, 1 gun and scoring 4 hits on the base, 1 on supplies and 20 on runways but losing 3 B-25Cs in accidents. At the same time Lautem was crushed by a huge raid from Darwin (103 B-17E, 70 B-25C, 30 LB-30 and 7 T.IVa) that hit 53 men, 14 airbase buildings, 7 supply dumps and left 95 holes in the runway. One B-17E was lost to engine failure. Allied engineers expanded Wyndham aifield to size 7 this day.

The morning of the 27th was again quiet, before a new serie of raids in the afternoon. The main raid was against Kendair and was flown by 75 B-17E and 20 LB-30. The crews were probably tired from the Timor operation the day before and the raid was a costly failure. It was intercepted by 34 A6M2, 32 Nates, 30 Oscars and 13 A6M3. The Japanese pilots shot down 23 B-17E and 5 LB-30, while 18 more B-17E turned back and 8 B-17E and 2 LB-30 hit by fighters crashed later. 49 bombers reached the target and attacked at 7000 feet but were welcomed by veyr heavy AA fire that shot down 4 B-17E. The bombs only hit 19 men and 2 guns and scored 3 runway hits. Japanese losses were 8 fighters shot down by US gunners (3 A6M3, 2 A6M2, 2 Nates and 1 Oscar) and 2 A6M3 lost in a collision during the scramble.
As usual Timor was bombed, 50 B-25C from Derby scoring 3 runway hits and wounding 2 men in Koepang while 67 B-25C and 7T.IVa from Darwin attacked Lautem, scoring 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on suplies and 30 on runways and doing 6 casualties while losing a B-25C in a crash.

A solitary AP will sail from Sorong and try to reach Kai Island and pick up the last troops here. 3 CA, 2 CL and 5 DD left Kendari to patrol NW of Kai to cover her.

Southern Ressource Area

A Const Bn arrived in Bankha from Japan and will expand the port here.

Burma

Allied units are marching back to India 120 miles of Akyab, Japanese patrols reported only 3 Allied units here compared to 5 some days ago.

The 26th was quiet but Allied airmen returned over Burma on the 27th. In the morning 63 Blenheim IV, 40 B-17E, 16 Il-4c and 11 Wellington III from Dacca bombed Taung Gyi ressources and claimed 6 hits (exact damage not yet known) while losing an Il-4c in a crash. In the afternoon, 60 SB-2c, 18 Beaufort V-IX and 14 Beaufort I from Chandpur attacked Akyab and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 5 on runways. Two Beaufort Is were lost in a collision.

Tomorrow will be the first good weather day for more than 10 days and 27 A6M2 wil lfly LRCAP from Rangoon over Akyab to catch Allied bombers.

Philippines

On the 26th, Manila airfield was bombed by 21 Ki-21 that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 15 on runways, disabling 24 men and 1 gun. Japanese guns then hit 98 more men.

But the next day the Japanese offensive was restarted in Manila. It opened with a massive air attack (57 Ki-21, 46 Ki-48, 44 Zeroes, 38 Ki-49, 32 Vals and 27 Kates) against the 41st PA Div, but she was well entrenched and only lost 55 men and 2 guns. Japanese engineers managed to reduce the fort level to 8 and the attack achived a 1 to 1 ratio (1500 vs 1200 ajusted points), better than the last attempt. Japanese losses were heavy (3561 men, 182 guns, 10 tanks) but Allied also lost 1924 men, 33 guns and 1 vehicle and can't replace them. The attack will be continued tomorrow by a shock attack.

China

The main activity had been in the north and in the air. On the 26th, 44 Ki-48s, 23 Ki-49s and 16 Ki-21s from Yenen escorted by 2 Ki-44s attacked the 8th Chinese Corps SE of Kungchang but 6 P-40B of the AVG/B and 1 Hurricane came to the rescue of the Chinese troops. The Flying Tigers shot down a Ki-21 but one of their pilot bailedo ut from his burning P-40B and another wrecked his fighter in a force-landing after running out of fuel. 74 Chinese men were hit by the bombing.
The next day, it was the turn of Japanese troops to be bombed, the 110th Div lost 30 men at Kungchang under attack by 23 Hurricanes and 5 P-40B from Lanchow, while 14 Hurricane II from Sining bombed a regiment of 27th Div in Lanchow and hit 11 men and 1 gun.
Both days, 8 Ki-51s from Kaifeng hit Homan airfield and scored 3 airbase, 2 supply and 10 runway hits in 2 days.

Japanese artillery continued to pound Chinese at Homan (71 men hit), Kungchang (27 men hit) and Wuchow (66 men hit) while Chinese guns retaliated at Lanchow, hitting 14 men and 1 tank, all these numbers being for two days. Starting on the 27th, the Chinese troops that advanced SE of Kungchang (5 Corps and 2 HQ) bombed the two divisions and the half-brigade blocking the Sian-Kungchang road but they hit nothing in two days (48 000 Chinese vs 48 000 Japanese here).

Tomorrow will be a clear day over Homan and the shock attack delayed there will be launched by the Japanese troops (5.33 divisions, 1.5 Bde and 1 Army HQ) against the Chinese garrison (3 Corps and 1 HQ) with the support of bombers from Wuhan, Yenen, Chengting and Kaifeng.

Japan

Convoys are loading 41 000 tons of fuel for Johsnton Island, 68 000 for Batavia (TK will return from DEI with oil) and 28 000 supplies for Truk.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

BTW what means RGR ?

RGR = Roger (old military term)

Code: Select all

 rog-er (roj'uhr)  interj. 
                   1.  Informal. all right; OK.
                   2.  message received and understood (a response to radio communications).
              [1940-45; from the name Roger; in def. 2 repr. received]
 

Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

28 July 1942

Central Pacific

The four ML sent laying a minefield NE of Moloaki met during the night an Allied surface TF (4 CA, 1 CL and 5 DD) and were all sunk before laying their miens at the planned spot. They managed to hit four times with their 3in guns, the only penetrating hit being scored on a DD.
At the same time an Allied convoy arrived off Hilo and started to unload troops. 1 MSW, 9 DMS and 4 DD swept about half of the 2000 mines off this base during the night and the day but the CA New Orleans, the AK Alcyone and the DD Allen were damaged by mines. The Allied troops suffered 1580 landing casualties but in the evening 5 units (23 700 men) were ashore.

In the morning two other DMS swept part of 4 of the dozens of minefields off Lahaina. And two bombardment TF arrived off PH but wandered into the 24000 mines protecting the base. A DMS and several DD swept some but the DD Benham sank after hitting two, the CA Astoria fell out of the line after also hitting two and the BB West Virginia, CA San Fransisco, CL Helena and four DD hit one each.
Japanese air patrols reported that the Allied CVs were 60 miles NE of Hilo, with most of the Allied TFs. The Allied CAP only shot down an Emily during the day.
The four DD sent chasing a convoy east of Hawaii, the Yugumo, Makigumo, Shigure and Yudachi, didn't find it and didn't return either. They paid the price after dawn and were sunk by Allied airmen in the morning. Four raids were launched against them with 62 SBD, 50 Swordfish, 29 TBF, 19 F4F-4 and 12 Fulmars. At least now I know that 3 US (Hornet, Saratoga and Wasp) and at least 3 UK (only Indomitable identified by name) CVs are there. One Sworfish was lost in an accident.

In the afternoon, 20 SBD and 6 F4F-4 from the Wasp bombed the airfield of Lahaina but the local commander managed to call to the rescue 18 Zeroes of the PH CAP and they shot down 5 Wildcats and 1 SBD without loss. The divebombers scored 3 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 4 on runways.

Both bombardment TFs sent to PH bombarded without escorts. First the BB California, West Virginia, Colorado and Maryland (last two had not been identified before, bringing the number of BBs in the invasion TF to at least 8) and then the CA San Francisco, Louisville, Northampton and the CL Helena. The airfield escaped relatively lightly, while most shells hit the CD defences and the port. 3 A6M2 and 1 Emily were destroyed, while the ML Ninoshima was sunk into the port, the CL Sendai, 2 ML and 1 PC heavily damaged, 2 AK and 1 PC left on fire and 1 DD, 1 MSW and 1 AK also hit. 717 men and 33 guns were hit, and a total of 5 hits were scored on the airbase, 2 on runways, 3 on the port, 1 on port supply and 1 on a fuel dump.

A count of the mines in the evening showed still 23 546 off PH, 13 150 off Lahaina, 2 135 off Kona and 906 off Hilo. The PH airfield is thought secure enough to let all air units here remain in place. 20 Betties from Johnston Island were ordered to fly unescorted naval attacks and will hopefully target cripples and other undefended targets if they ever flew.
The rescue will arrive shortly. The CV TF will gather and refuel tomorrow in Palmyra and then sail towards Hawaii. It is now probably stronger than the Allied CVs.

Southern Pacific

The was no action, except the Kure 3rd SNLF occupying the empty ilet of Vanua Levu north of Suva, but the DD USS Balch that hit an American mine off Nandi two days ago sank east of Noumea.

The Japanese transports arrived off Suva and began loading the 2nd and 48th Div and the 3rd Eng Rgt for Hawaii, and the 4th Div for a R&R center (still undetermenied, this TF will sail north first towards Japan).

Timor-Amboina-Australia

The solitary AP sent to Kai will arrive tomorrow and will probably be coverd by thunderstorms. The surface TF ordered to assist her will sail to 120 miles NW of Kai and be ready to react. If nothing happens, it will be in range to bombard the seaplane base of Tenimbar Island north of Darwin.

Southern Ressource Area

A convoy was created in Singapore with ships coming from several bases of the area and sailed for Japan with 101 000 tons of oil and 21 000 of ressources.

Burma

In the morning Taung Gyi was again bombed by Dacca bombers (45 Blenheim IV, 39 B-17E, 13 Il-4c and 11 Wellington III) that scored 25 ressource hits. Only 8 ressource centers remained operationnal in the evening, against 82 two days ago. At the same time 48 SB-2c from Chandpur bombed the Yokosuka 4th SNLF in the jungle NE of Akyab and hit 111 men and 2 guns.

In the afternoon 24 Beaufort I from Chanpur attacked Akyab and were intercepted by 12 Zeroes flying LRCAP¨from Rangoon, that shot down two bombers without loss. The RAF crews then scored 2 hits on the airbase and 5 on the runways.

Philippines

The Japanese shock attack in Manila was not supported by air and was extermly bloody, even if it managed to achieve a ratio of 1 to 1 and knock down another fort level. Allied losses were only 764 men and 26 guns while Japanese ones were 9190 men, 204 guns and 6 tanks. For one of the first times in this game the Japanese troop points losses were higher (24) than the Allied (5). The offensive will be stopped and all troops will revert to bombardment. The 20th Div, 35th Bde, 3 naval units and the 4 Eng Rgt will go to Clark Field for R&R.

China

In the north, 23 Hurricane II and 5 P-40B from Lanchow again bombed troops near Kungchang, hitting 54 men and 1 gun of the 26th Div. 29 Hurricanes from Sining attackeda Rgt of 27th Div near Lanchow and hit 31 men. Japanese guns hit 32 men in Kungchang and Chinese ones 21 men and 2 tanks in Lanchow.
Tomorrow the Zeroes of Yenen will fly LRCAP over Kungchang in the hope of shooting down both Allied fighter-bombers and transport AC that probably still bring supplies to the besieged city.

But the main action here was the all-out Japanese attack against Homan. Two of the 3 Corps defending the town, the 53rd and 54th were bombed by a total of 64 Ki-48s, 48 Nells, 25 Ki-49, 18 Ki-51, 16 Ki-21 and12 Betties from Wuhan, Yenen, Kaifeng and Chengting, and lost 257 men and 6 guns. The shock attack achived a ratio of 5 to 1 and reduced the fort level to the expected level of 9 to 4. Losses were 2257 men, 80 guns and 2 tanks for Japan against 1463 Chinese men and 7 guns. The attack will continue tomorrowwith the same conditions, except that 12 Ki-43 and 5 Ki-44 will fly escort from Kaifeng in case Allied fighters flew LRCAP over the battlefield.

In the south Japanese guns hit 10 men in Wuchow. This city is probably lacking supplies and the number of defenders is slowly decreasing.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

He is invading Hilo?!?!

Interesting...


BTW, as far as I remember, you decided not to defend anything else than Pearl harbor and Lahania...


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

29 July 1942

My plan was to defend PH and Lahaina, but right now only PH is really defended. All other bases in Hawaii will be taken by a division in two days.

Central Pacific

During the night, three American CAs (Louisville, Northampton and San Francisco) bombarded again Pearl Harbor, destroying 8 A6M2, 2 H8K, 1 A6M3 and 1 Ki-51 on the ground, disabling 617 men and 22 guns and scoring 4 hits on the airbase and 18 on the runways. As they didn’t move the mines hadn’t a chance to main them. Later in the day the ML Toshima capsized and sank in Pearl Harbor port. In the morning 33 Ki-51 of 67 Sentai took off from PH and attacked the CA sitting off the base. They scored two hits on the Northampton, destroying an AA position, and one on the DD Shaw, destroying a 5in turret, while losing 3 of their number to AA fire. Eleven Ki-51s were sent in the afternoon but didn’t find their target.

More south some DMS and MSW swept mines off Lahaina and Hilo, while Allied troops landed in Hilo from two convoys during the night and three after dawn. Allied troops suffered 4050 casualties in landing, while the AVD Chinconteague hit two Type 93 mines and an AK hit one. 11 Betties from Johnston Island attacked in the morning in two groups and attcked two BBs and one CA. AA fire shot down 4 and one crashed later but the BB Arizona was hit by a torpedo. In the afternoon, 5 Betties took off from Johnston for another raid but three get lost and the two remaining found 11 F4F-4 and 7 Fulmars over Hilo and turned back.
The 120th IJA Base Force that held Hilo was overwhelmed (at 232 to 1) by Allied forces (I US Corps, 40th Div, 26th and 102nd RCT, 112th USA Cav Rgt, one FA Bde, one Air HQ and several Base Forces and engineers units) and retreated to Kona, losing 300 men and 5 guns in the battle and around 200 men during the retreat Allied losses were 53 men and 1 gun.

In the morning a patrolling SBD sank an AG off Lahaina. Allied CAP over the CVs shot down during the day two Jakes and an Emily.

But now the Japanese forces are ready to fight. The Kido Butai gathered and refueled in Palmyra (sucking the island dry but only one BB is not at 100% fuel, but at 90%) and sailed in the evening toward Hawaii with 4 CV, 4 CVl, 1 CVE, 5 BB, 5 CA, 3 CL, 1 CS and 26 DD. It carried 172 Zeroes, 89 Vals and 90 Kates, all pilots and crews being experienced. They will engage the Allied forces in 2-3 days.
Coordinated with them around 120 Betties and Nells will fly to PH and fly naval attack. 54 arrived this evening and were ordered to fly naval attack at range 1 in case some Allied ships continued to sit off PH.
Two Allied ships were reported NE of Hawaii sailing NE and were probably damaged ships sailing back to West Coast. Eight of the dozen of submarines cruising east of Hawaii wer ordered to chase them.

Southern Pacific

One Japanese AK that hit a mine off Pago-Pago was not disbanded (my mistake) and tried to return alone to PH, it sank south of Canton. By chance it was empty.

All three convoys loading troops in Suva did it in strange ways and sailed with very few men aboard (it was a bad idea to use Marine POWs as stovedores….). All were recalled to Suva and ordered to unload and reload troops.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Clouds covered the area and allowed the small AP sent to Kai Island to load the last men on this island without being attacked and then sail for Kendari. The Cruiser TF covering her also sailed to Kendari, the planned bombardment of Tenimbar being cancelled to save fuel.

Southern Ressource Area

Two 16 000-ton TK are loading oil in Singapore and Palembang and will bring it to Saigon and Haiphong (Hanoi) as these two industrial centres are probably out of fuel. Two ressource-laden Aks were diverted from a Japan-bound convoy and will unload in Taiwan, Formosa.

Burma

NTR

Philippines

Japanese guns hit 217 men and at the end of the day only 69 299 able men defended Manila. The Japanese airmen didn’t fly again and all level bombers received the order to bomb the airfield tomorrow. Maybe they will fly more than with ground attack orders.

China

Homan base was bombed by 18 Ki-51s from Kaifeng with an escort of 10 Oscars and 5 Tojos that didn’t report any Allied CAP. Then the 54th Chinese Corps was bombed by 18 Ki-48s from Chengting (one lost in a crash) and 41 Nells and 12 Betties from Wuhan, and lost 89 men and 2 guns. The Japanese shock attack then reduced the forts to 2 and achieved a ratio of 2 to 1, storming the base. The 27th Group Army and the 20th, 53rd and 54th Corps lost only 260 men and 8 guns in the battle but more than 3000 men (25 troop points) during the retreat. Japanese losses were 2133 men, 54 guns and 2 tanks. Ot the attacking troops, the 6th and 35th Div received immedialty orders to prepare for Lanchow and left Homan for Chengting, then Yenen and Lanchow.

More north 6 Zeroes from Yenen flew LRCAP over Kungchang and intercepted in the morning 23 Hurricanes and 5 P-40B from Lanchow, hitting 3 Hurricanes but shooting down none, while the 37th Div lost 44 men and 1 tank under the bombs. They did better in the afternoon and shot down one Dakota I and one C-47 bringing supplies to Kungchang. Japanese guns here hit 27 men while Chinese guns hit nothing in Lanchow. 9 Vals arrived in Yenen from Japan for operationnal training.

In the south Japanese guns hit 13 men in Wuchow.

[AmiralLaurent]

30 July 1942

Central Pacific

During the night the three same CA (USS Louisville, San Francisco and Northampton) bombarded another time Pearl Harbor, destroying 3 A6M2, 3 A6M3 and 1 Betty on the ground, hitting 592 men and 12 guns and leaving 17 holes on the runway. They then left the area so the Betty crew in PH had no more target in range.

During the night and day 11 DMS and 2 MSW swept mines off Lahaina and Hilo. There was no more activity during the day.

In the evening 26 more Betties and 25 Nells arrived in PH. The range for this bomber will remain at 1 tomorrow. The Kido Butai will reach a point 420 miles SW of Kona tomorrow and all air units received orders to be ready to engage enemy CVs.
Allied aircraft allready were based in Hilo (now size 2) and a Pete from Lahaina was ordered to recon the base.

Southern Pacific

North of Suva the Dutch SS O23 tried to attack one of the convoys recalled to Suva but was unable to reach a good firing position. All three convoys returned to Suva and began to unload.
During the day a Nell from Suva flew a recon over Noumea and reported no CAP.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was bombed by 35 B-25C from Derby (3 men and 1 gun disabled, 1 hit on the airbase and 30 on runways) and Lautem was attacked by 47 B-17E, 43 B-25C, 20 LB-30 and 7 T.IVa from Darwin, that hit 57 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 44 on runways. One LB-30 and one B-25C were lost in accidents.

Four Japanese barges evacuated 200 men from Aru Island.

Southern Ressource Area

The last Dutch unit in Sumatra disappeared. Neither ground patrols or air recon couldn’t find it. Either it was evacuated bu submarines or all men died of disease and hunger in the jungle.

Burma

59 SB-2c from Chandpur bombed the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF NE of Akyab and hit 145 men and 2 guns. This unit reported that only one Allied unit remained 120 miles N of Akyab, the Allied retirement continued.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Diamond Harbor to size 7.

Philippines

66 Ki-21, 59 Ki-48 and 45 Ki-49 from Clark Field bombed Manila airfield, hitting 65 men and scoring 12 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 110 on the runways. They were followed by 41 Zeroes, 29 Vals and 24 Kates that attacked the 2nd PA Div that lost 117 men and 1 gun. Japanese guns hit 170 more men, while 529 more were disabled by the lack of supplies.

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Tugueragao to size 2, to allow faster loading of the ressources produced here.

China

9 Vals from the operationnal training Chutai that arrived in Yenen bombed and missed the 30th Chinese Corps 120 miles SW of their base.

Artillery fire hit 75 Chinese in Kungchang and 39 in Wuchow, and 23 Japanese in Lanchow. Southeast of Kungchang, one Chinese unit retired toward Sian, leaving only 6 in front of the 40th and 41st Div and the 5th half-Bde. Japanese troops were ordered to attack tomorrow to try to hit Chinese troops retreating.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfields of Wuhan and Hsinyang respectively to size 8 and 2.

[ny59giants]

This AAR is now my second favorite behind PzB vs Andy epic battle now in 1944. I always wanted a "what if" the Japanese invaded Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor and your's is the best I have found. I am surprised the Allies have struck back so soon. It must be almost the complete Allied fleet in this one operation. [X(]
The naval battle will be the Japanese version of Midway and you have the LBA to assist you. Too bad this AAR doesn't have Fast Forward so I can see what happens...[;)][;)]

[AmiralLaurent]

31 July 1942

Well, tomorrow will be THE day. You remember the decisive battle of the pre-war Japanese plan ? It will probably happen tomorrow, but not as I planned it....

Central Pacific

It was another quiet day, with tension building on both sides. On the anectodic side, 11 DMS and 2 MSW continued to sweep some percent of the huge minefield off Lahaina, and 3 Emilies were shot down by the Allied CAP, a Fulmar pilot scoring his second kill of the campain. But the important thing was that an Hilo-based Coronado saw the Japanese CV fleet in the morning around 500 miles SW of Kona. A Pete flew in the afternoon a recon of Hilo but had just time to report a CAP of 12 F4F-4 and one P-39D (probably brought in by AKs) before being shot down by a pilot of VMF-224.

In the evening, after much thoughts and hesitation, the admiral Yamamoto exposed his plan to his commanders. It will be a sword and shield operation. The shield will be the Kido Butai, that will probably draw Allied aircraft, and the sword will be Pearl Harbor, from where all aircraft will be used to attack Allied ships.

The details are the following: the Kido Butai will sail 60 miles SW of Pearl Harbor. The 164 carrier-trained Zeroes aboard have orders to fly 90% CAP. 64 Kates were sent to PH to join the attack forces, the Vals and some Kates remaining aboard the CVs have naval attack orders but with range 1 (so may hit ships off PH but not much farther).
The main attack force will be launched from Pearl Harbor with 80 Betties, 25 Nells and 64 Kates escorted by 100 A6M2s and 23 A6M3s. Kates have a range of 4, Betties, Nells and Zeroes of 6. 15 other A6M2 will open the day by a high-altitude sweep over Hilo. 26 Ki-51s that overcrowded Pearl Harbor transferred to Lahaina and will also bomb ship at range 1, so will probably attack ships off Hilo. It is a sacrifice mission but any fighter fatigue or ammunition expended to chase them will save more valuable crews.
By the way the forecast for the weather is clear.

What is expected is that raids from Allied CVs and Hilo will crash against the CAP of Kido Butai, while the PH raid will manage to get trough the Allied CAP and disable at least part of the Allied CVs. At the end of the day most if not all Japanese CVs should be OK, while most Allied CVs should be hit. Then the Kido Butai will close for the kill, and the intact Val may have a field day against fleeing Allied transports once the faster Allied warships will be gone.
Then the Army bombers and possibly Navy reinforcements from China, and the BBs will be used to blast Hilo airfield to dust until ground reinforcements arrived to take it back.
Well that is the plan. We will see tomorrow what happens.

One of the main defects of the current situation is that there is no Air HQ in PH. I saw this before the first signs of the Allied invasion but the transports didn't arrive in time and were rerouted to Midway, that they will reach in 1 or 2 days. The HQ will be carried to PH by air transport (I just hope it won't disappear), and 8 Tinas and 13 Mavis transports arrived in Midway this evening from Japan and Tarawa. 17 other Tinas flew from Camranh Bay to Japan and will join them in some days.

Southern Pacific

The convoy were busy unloading and reloading in Suva.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, 72 B-17E, 66 B-25C, 32 LB-30 and 7 T.IVa from Darwin blasted again Lautem (3 airbase hits, 8 on supplies and 118 on runways), doing 75 casualties but losing a B-17E, a LB-30 and a B-25C in crashes.

Southern Ressource Area

A convoy left Singapore to carry 96 000 tons of oil and 28 000 ressources to Japan.

Burma

35 SB-2c from Chandpur attacked the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF NE of Akyab but missed. A Mavis flying recon over Jamdeshpur (sp? the town NW of Diamond Harbor) identified the 20th Indian Division. And Allied engineers expanded Imphal airfield to size 5.

Philippines

The usual Manila raids from Calrk Field continued. 67 Ki-21s, 57 Ki-48s and 45 Ki-49s attacked the airfield and scored 17 airbase hits, 4 supplies hit and 177 runway hits, disabling 82 men and 1 gun, and 45 Zeroes, 31 Vals and 23 Kates continued their operational training by bombing the 2nd PA Div, hitting 79 men. Japanese guns hit 112 more men, lack of supplies disabled 296.

In the evening the routine was broken when orders arrived in Clark Field for the 3 most experienced bomber units to fly to Japan and then to Hawai to help to neutralize Hilo airfield. 48 Ki-21s and 27 Ki-49s left at once for Osaka.

China

9 Vals from Yenen escorted by 5 Oscars bombed the 30th Chinese Corps 120 miles SW of the town and hit 21 men and 1 gun. Japanese guns hit 14 men and 1 gun in Kungchang and nothing in Wuchow, Chinese ones hit 29 men and 2 tanks in Lanchow.

The Chinese troops SE of Kungchang all retreated in order before the Japanese attack might be launched. These Japanese troops will now wait to see if the Chinese troops will retreat to Sian or not.

Japan

A convoy loaded 35 000 tons of fuel in Sasebo for Soerabaja. Despite the tension in Hawaii it is business as usual in Japan.

[AmiralLaurent]

Here is the economical and score report for the month of July 1942.

Monthly report July 1942

Japanese score: 30 998 (+ 3 099)
Bases 9 036 (+ 1 315)
Aircraft 4 569 (+ 358)
Army 12 066 (+ 1 358)
Ship 5 140 (+ 103) 307 ships sunk (+ 10: 3 SS, 2 DD...)
Scuttled ships 13 (- 45)
Strategic 174 (+ 0)

Allied score: 6 708 (+ 509)
Bases 3 155 (+ 15)
Aircraft 2 100 (+ 188)
Army 485 (+ 117)
Ship 968 (+ 189) 99 ships sunk (+ 28: biggest a CA, 4 DD, 5 ML, a dozen AP off Kai Island)
Strategic 0

Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 3 580 000 (bases) + around 280 000 (TFs) = around 3 860 000 (+ 95 000)
Fuel : 4 090 000 (bases) + around 377 000 (TFs) = around 4 467 000 (+ 155 000)
Ressource centers : 17 918 (- 60) (first sign of Allied bombing, in Amboina and Burma)
Ressources : 1 157 000 (bases) + 206 000 (TFs) = 1 363 000 (+ 5 000)
Oil centers : 2 603 (+ 55)
Oil: 1 318 000 (bases) + 238 000 (TFs) = 1 556 000 (+ 61 000)
Manpower centers : 811 (+ 1)
Manpower pool : 433 000 (+ 62 000)
Heavy industry: 13 611 (+ 45)
Heavy industry pool: 166 000 (+ 9 000) (less than former months but Hanoi, Saigon and Formosa are lacking oil or ressources)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 898 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 638 (+ 30)
Armament stock: 67 000 (+ 5 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 14 200 (+ 3 400)
Aircraft engine factories: 1567 (+ 29)
Aircraft frames factories: 941 (+ 99)
Aircraft research: 139 (- 71) (Ki-61 and Ki-44 entered service)

Aircraft production:
168 A6M2 Zero (capacity 247, partly suspended), 76 A6M3 Zero (capacity 72), 48 G4M1 Betty (46), 46 Ki-48 (40), 41 D3A Val (41), 36 Ki-46 Dinah (31), 30 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (123), 25 Ki-49 Helen (23), 19 B5N Kate (28), 8 MC-21 Sally (5), 6 L3Y Tina (5), 5 H6K2-L Mavis (4), 4 C5M Babs (4), 0 Ki-51 Sonia (45, stopped), 0 H8K Emily (32, suspended), 0 E13A1 Jake (28, suspended), 0 Ki-21 Sally (20, suspended), 0 A6M-2 Rufe (14, suspended), 0 Ki-57 Topsy (10, suspended), 0 L2D2 Tabby (10, suspended), 0 E7K2 Alf (5, suspended), 0 E14Y1 Glen (4, suspended), 0 Ki-43-Ib Oscar (0, converted to Ki-61)

Total: 504 aircraft (266 fighters, 119 level bombers, 41 divebombers, 40 recon, 19 torpedo bombers, 19 transport)

On a strictly economical topic, Japanese industry is still able to compensate the losses (except the CA...) but has only a very small extra production of ressources, so will repair some in DEI and continue to try to seize others in China. No such problem for oil.

I won't comment the strategic situation while waiting for the result of the CV battle off Hawaii.... I will make new plans once it is done. For the immediate future the plan is to crush the Allied forces in Hawaii.

Edited: I forgot to put the following screen, showing the score, economical, and best pilots screen, and the state of my CV fleet (it was really needing a pause, Kaga has been at sea almost non-stop since November 1941...)

[1275psi]

On tenter hooks!!!!!

THE DECISIVE BATTLE


how perfectly delicous![:'(]

[jrcar]

Hurry up and get the turn done..... stop sleeping, work etc

cheers

Rob

[AmiralLaurent]

You know what ? I ran the turn this morning before going to work... just generating the replay and see the carnage. I didn't take the time to give orders, just watching the replay took almost one hour and I was already late....

Just to tease you one side won and the other lost [:'(]

I will have time to finish my turn and write the report this evening (European time). Thanks for support and reading.

And now, back to work

[veji1]

from the Smiley I guess you won ??

Eh bien si c'est le cas t'auras eu chaud quand même !!

And if you lost....

Anyway, the battle will still continue for awhile...

[Tom Hunter]

Just to tease you one side won and the other lost [:'(]

I will have time to finish my turn and write the report this evening (European time). Thanks for support and reading.

And now, back to work

You saw the Combat report so you won, we are hanging around waiting so we lost. [8|]

[Fishbed]

Allez, du sang par tonneaux!!!! [:D][;)]

Everyone holds his breath, don't kill us furthermore Admiral!!!

[Ron Saueracker]

All I know is that it is going to be gruesome and very lopsided as these large monster battles tend to play out. No subtlety here. Going to be interesting none the less.[X(]