The sub war against the IJN Merchant Arm continued in ernest today when 2 Oil laden Tankers were heavily damaged. 1 by SS Grunion (TK Bokuei Maru) NW of San Marcelino and the 2nd by SS Thresher in the middle of the South China Seas (TK Nissho Maru).
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Bad weather across Burma again only allows Dimapur to fly against Myitkyina.
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Here's a sit rep of the main fleet moving towards Midway..........
LOL Mike. Patience young Padawan, patience.............[:'(]
A quiet day all round. The weather clears over Imphal allowing my heavies to bomb Pagan's resources. Down to 25% production now like the rest of the area. I'm now swirtching to Mandalays airfields to disrupt supply provision...........
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CVE Prince William arrives in San Francisco. This baby is a replenisment type carrying FM-2's and TBF's.
On a serious note Mike and all I could just wait until getting Hellcats before sending Falcon in but i'm relishing a fight to be honest and want to give him a chance. Hence i'm going in before Hellcats are on the scene.
One thing I should have mentioned is that yesterday I sent 7 Subs from Midway to form a picket line 1/2 way between Wake and the Mariana's. I appear to have missed Faber's picket line (see attached screenshot). I have ASW forces moving to the 2 known sub positions east of Midway.
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SS S-27 has reportedly sunk a Patrol Craft (CH24) inbetween Marcus Island and Iwo Jima. Well done lads. It all counts [8D]
SS Capelin had just arrived on station 180 miles ESE of Batan Island when she spotted a small convoy heading west. She fired at but missed the freighter Tyoko Maru.
SS Swordfish missed TK Gen'yo Maru 180 miles east of Palembang. In return MSW w.11 dropped some well placed DC's. She's heavily flooding but will make Darwin. SS Trident is en route to replace her from Columbo.
SS Silversides also missed a tanker in the middle of the Sulu Sea - TK Nissan Maru.
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The main fleet should arrive at Midway tomorrow. Time for fueling, loading troops at Midway and waiting for CVL Monterey. Then we go to Wake......
Tomorrow an AK, MSW and DE arrive at San Francisco.
I too am looking forward to it and to see how Faber responds..........
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SS Herring put a torpedo into the bow of AP Kotobuki Maru. Unfortunately she was an empty ship. She was attacked inbetween Guam and Truk. DD Shiratsuyu dropped some DC's near Herring causing minor damage.
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I'm thinking of Burma again now. My forces at Myitkyina have reorganised faster than expected with most at 95% of readiness! Crucially my combat engineers are all ready to go. I may attack again soon with the Japanese forces initial assault value at almost 2800:
Ground combat at Myitkyina
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 101914 troops, 964 guns, 477 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 2499
Defending force 148204 troops, 918 guns, 10 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 2808
Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
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Frenetic activity has been initiated at Midway. With CVL Monterey reportedly 2-3 days away empty transports, AK's and LCI's moved into position to load the remaining combat formations: 1/2nd Marine Division, Americal Divisioon, 14th NZ Bde, 112 US Cav Rgt, 2 x ARM Bns..............
On the 22nd the Dutch minelaying sub O19 carefully laid her mines around Saipan's harbour. She was chased off by APD's though which dropped DC's in her vicinity. The APD's clearly alerted the port authorities since 3 x MSW's began sweeping the minefield.
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Intel received reports of I-16 sinking in the Indian Ocean. It is deduced this was the boat attacked and reportedly heavily damaged by British ASW vessels on 9th June.
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CVL Monterey arrived at Midway today. She has been refueled and joined the Lexington/Saratoga battlegroup.
About 1/2 of the Midway based troops have been loaded on board. Probably a couple more days and then we leave for Wake.
All of the Biritsh CV's now have Corsair IV's on board.
Tomorrow SS Ray and 2 x AK's arrive at San Francisco.
Geez Speedy, pay your longshoremen more. Get them working. We can't wait forever. We need to experience the mother of all battles.
IIRC, this happened to the 1st Marines historically when they were loading up for Guadalcanal. Eventually the Marines themselves pushed the longshoremen aside -- and paid for it later when some important supplies were found to be at the bottom of the holds, with no time to get to them before the ships had to leave after the disaster at Savo Island.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
LOL Mike.....never fear. Tomorrow is the day when the 100's of ships assemble into their proper formations.......tomorrow the final checks will be made and on the 25th the ships will leave for Wake Island.................
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Today saw clearish weather over Burma allowing several bombing runs to be made.
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The only sub success today was scored by SS Muskallunge who attacked AK Glasgow Maru on the surface. She raked the deck with 20 and 40mm fire before putting a torpedo in the the freighter leaving her listing and heavily damaged. The attack took place 60 miles SW of Tori Shima.
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Tomorrow a P40E FG arrives at Karachi as do 2 x AK and 2 x LST at San Francisco.
The 24th saw a Midway based ASW group find an I-Boat (I-26) 480 miles east of Midway. DD Benham dropped several DC's some of which may have hit.
No sub contacts on my side today.
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Looking at Myitkyina my troops have almost recovered to a very high readiness level. I think i'll attack again sometime in the next week. Attrition is having it's toll on the Japanese:
7th June 1943: Defending force 153841 troops, 1064 guns, 11 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 2934
24th June 1943: Defending force 146977 troops, 886 guns, 9 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 2780
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Operation Falcon was launched on the evening of 24th June 1943. The largest Allied operation to date! I'll tally up the ship totals etc tomorrow but it has been launched. Several fleets are moving towards Wake Island. I wonder how it will go. Have I brought enough troops? Will Faber react?[8D]
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SS Apogon and a DD arrive at San Francisco tomorrow.
SS Ray and Raton left San Francisco today bound for duties around the Mariana's.
Details Speedy, details.[:D] This is very exciting, especially reading both AARs. It's like being a fly on the wall plus being in your and the penguin's (eeewww) head. It's very interesting to read what you think the other side is doing while knowing what actually is happening. Lots of fun.
I plan on posting regular screenies charting their progress and what-not. I'll also list the full OOB for invasion, ship numbers etc, leaders of TF's etc...........
That would be great, Speedy. If you have the time, can you list the number and types of aircraft available to the operation too? I'm into numbers and love to track that kind of stuff.
