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

[goodboyladdie]

This is still my favourite AAR. I am very pleased you are back. How happy are you with the state of your pilot pools?

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

This is still my favourite AAR. I am very pleased you are back. How happy are you with the state of your pilot pools?

Thanks for the kind world.

As for the pilot pool, the IJNAF pool is empty since January or February but the average experience of the KB units and of Betties/Nells units is around 75, and for the land-based Zero around 70, so that's Ok for me. My own training program is far more important than the pilot pool.

The IJAAF pool is not empty yet, but is at 12, so will not last long. The level of experience of IJAAF units is very variable, from 55 to 90. On the whole the best units (flying with Ki-61 and Ki-44) have exp above 70, and most of the bomber units have above 80.

[AmiralLaurent]

17-18 November 1942

Southern Pacific

All Japanese TF gathered on the west coast of the Northern Island of New Zealand and sailed southward together. In two days, four PBY Catalina were shot down near the fleet, all by Japanese aces. There is again no more CAP over Auckland, and Allied aircraft were reported in Wellington and Christchurch.

The map below will show the current situation and the Japanese plan (comments below):



The fleet will sail together following the red arrow then will scatter there. Troops will be landed simultaneously just north of Wellington (W Group, 5 reinforced divisions), 120 miles more north (A Group, 2 reinforced divisions) and on the northern end of the railway line on the Southern Island (C Group, 2 divisions, 1 brigade and support troops). The reserve convoy, the supply/fuel convoy, the replenishment TF and all CV TF will remain on the end of the red arrow. From there Zeroes should be able to cover all TFs from Allied aircraft. Wellington will also be bombarded by Vals and Kates.
The goal of the A Group is to stop Allied troops coming from Auckland. The W Group will surround Wellington and then take it. The C Group will march to Christchurch, surround it and take it. Once a base will be taken, air reinforcements (A6M2, Nells, Betties) will come in from Suva.
The second phase will see the C Group marching to Dunedin, while the W Group will join the A Group and then assault Auckland.
It seems to me that New Zealand hadn’t been reinforced by US troops and so should be an easy target.

Solomons-New Guinea

Barges carrying 250 men of the 4th NLF left Kavieng on the 17th and unloaded them the next day on Emirau Island, that will be occupied tomorrow. The convoy bringing AA and CD guns to Rabaul arrived on the night of the 17th-18th and will finish to unload tomorrow.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Bad weather hampered Allied raid on Timor. On the 17th, only 18 of the 38 B-25 sent from Derby to Koepang found the target and scored 2 runway hits, wounding 6 men, while 20 B-25 from Darwin scored only 1 runway hit on Lautem runway. In these raids a B-25C hit by AA ditched on return and another was lost in a crash.
The next day, only Koepang was bombed, and only by 6 B-25 that hit nothing. Two B-25C were lost in crashes over Australia. 7 Brewster 339 from Darwin attacked barges off Lautem and sank one but one of their number disappeared in the bad weather.

Southern Resource Area

Some more convoys were created and will carry 48k oil from Palembang to Japan, 14k supplies from Toboali to Rangoon and 14k resources from Kendari to Japan.
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Bankha, Sumatra, to size 3, that will allow to load the local oil faster.

Burma

The only activity in two days were raids each day by 6 Hurricanes from Imphal against troops SE of the town, hitting 18 men, and the shooting down of a Ki-46 on the 18th by Allied fighters.

Several convoys had unloaded supplies in Rangoon or are underway and the supply situation in Burma is again correct, so orders were issued again to repair some of the oilfield in Mandalay.

China

In the north, the RAF pilots continued to attack Japanese troops in Sining and NE of Lanchow and reported no more Japanese LRCAP. In 48 Hurricane sorties (escorted by 9 Spitfires) they hit 39 men and 1 gun without loss. But the Japanese airmen were not on holidays. They were preparing a big raid against Lanchow airfield that was launched on the afternoon of the 18th from Yenen. 55 Ki-21 and 26 Ki-49 escorted by 85 A6M2 (but 18 got lost en route), 36 Ki-44, 32 Ki-43 and 7 Ki-61 were sent to attack this target. They met over the area 8 Spitfire Vb and 6 Hurricane II. The escort shot down 7 Spits and 5 Hurris for 9 losses (4 Ki-43, 2 Ki-44, 2 Ki-61 and 1 Zero) and repulsed the other away from the bombers that destroyed on the ground 8 Hurricane II, disabled 5 men and 1 gun and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 40 on the runway. Also a Spitfire, an A6M2 and a Ki-21 were lost in crashes. The raid will be repeated tomorrow but without the Oscars.
On the ground they were also moves. The 37th Div was scheduled to cross the river NE of Lanchow (from the south) on the 18th (with air support, that was then used to raid Lanchow) but marched faster than planned and crossed on the 17th, launching alone a shock attack that achieved 3 to 1 ratio (losing 308 men, 9 guns and 2 tanks while hitting 54 Chinese and 2 guns). But the Chinese troops having nowhere to retreat remained there… It was then decided to continue to attack here (deliberate attacks) until this Chinese Corps will be reduced. The first attack on the 18th achieved a ratio of 6 to 1. Japanese losses were 151 men and 8 guns, Chinese ones 258 men and 4 guns.
Japanese guns in Kungchang hit 75 men in two days. The 15th Div will arrive tomorrow and the 3rd Tank Div is 120 miles east of the city and driving fast to join the battle. As soon as it will arrive the assault will be launched.

In Central China, things continued to be very quiet. Japanese troops here have not seen a Chinese soldier since December 1941 and are only busy expanding bases (all bases have fort level 9). The airfield of Nanchang just reached size 8.

In the south, Japanese airmen from Wuhan, Wuchow, Amoy and Canton flew in two days 228 sorties (112 Ki-27, 54 Ki-48, 20 Ki-21, 16 Ki-51, 14 A6M2, 12 Betties) against Chinese troops in the Wuchow-Kweilin-Kweiyang and suffered no losses but only hit 65 men and 1 gun.
Japanese recon aircraft reported 9 Chinese units and 50 000 men in Kweiyang, too much to attack the city while covering the flank in the Kweilin direction. So orders were given (on the 17th, but troops received them only on the 18th) to march eastward from the crossroad and attack once again the retreating Chinese troops if possible. The 60th division will march to attack the troops in the woods between Wuchow and Kweilin (3 units, a Div and a Corps identified). Then Japanese troops will march back to Wuchow and later will advance on the railway toward Kweilin.

Japan

The ASW group sent to Iwo Jima area (2 DD, 1 PG, 3 MSW) after airmen reported two submarines in the area arrived there during the night of the 16th-17th and was patrolling when just before dawn lookouts of the DD Ushio reported incoming torpedoes. The skipper had not enough time to dodge them and they went under the hull… and didn’t explode, another failure of the American magnetic torpedoes. The group deployed but couldn’t find the submarine. In the afternoon, the PG reported an asdic contact and dropped depth charges but in fact the American submarine in the area, the SS Gurnard was never threatened.

A convoy left Sasebo laden with 28k supplies for Rangoon.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Best of luck in NZ opration!!!

The Emperor will love the new defensive (and scout) perimeter the conquest of NZ would allow since the Australia will be almost completely cut out!


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Best of luck in NZ opration!!!

The Emperor will love the new defensive (and scout) perimeter the conquest of NZ would allow since the Australia will be almost completely cut out!

Leo "Apollo11"

Hi Leo, well the NZ operation will be a huge milk run probably, the islands had not received any reinforcement and the RNZAF is unable to slow the Japanese juggernaut. Once NZ is Japanese Australia will be totally cut of America but Japanese submarines and Glens have reported no shipping in this area for months anyway. I think I will have for home rule that Allied convoys may sail following the border of the map (that is far too small IMOO).

In fact the invasion will be delayed by only one thing: my holidays starting this Friday for two weeks.

19 November 1942

Central Pacific

SIGINT reported 49 Allied units in San Francisco.

Southern Pacific

The Japanese convoys sailed south along the western coast of the Northern Island of New Zealand. Hudsons units of the RNZAF took off in force from Christchurch to attack them but were unescorted and decimated. The main Japanese concentration was 180 miles SW of Auckland, with some late convoys 60 miles to the NE. In the morning, 7 small groups of Hudson I, for a total of 38 bombers, tried to attack the main concentration but met 148 A6M2 flying CAP and were all shot down while only one A6M2 was lost to return fire. The only Allied crews to see a Japanese ship were 3 Hudson that attacked one of the late convoys. They were only intercepted by 19 A6M2 that down one of them and the two other missed an AP.
The raid continued in the afternoon with 4 small groups. Two targeted the main force and were annihilated by the CAP of 133 A6M2 (6 Hudson shot down). The other five bombers (2 and 3) attacked the late convoy and 2 were shot down by Zeroes but three bombed APs (and missed).
Also during the day, a Hudson and 3 PBY on patrol were shot down by the Japanese CAP that lost two A6M2 in accidents, a Hudson hit by AA fire from an AP crashed on return and Japanese floatplanes flew extensive recon over Auckland and Wellington. In the former the 1st and 2nd NZ Bdes were identified. The second was protected by 31 Kittyhawk I flying CAP (they shot down a Jake), and occupied by 3 units, including the Wellington Fortress.
So the final score at the end of the day was 52 to 4 in Japanese favor and no damage to Japanese ships.

The Japanese convoys will continue to sail south but the lead TF will slow down to wait the slower convoys. The day after tomorrow, they will reach the scattering point NW of Wellington and if CAP is still over Wellington this airfield will be attacked. And the day after Japanese troops will land on both sides of the strait.

Solomons-New Guinea

The new AA guns in Rabaul scored the day after their arrival, downing a Hudson I flying the afternoon recon over the base.

The troops of the 4th NLF landed in Emirau Island finished to occupy the empty island. The other part of the 4th NLF boarded too barges in Kavieng and will sail to occupy Admiraly Islands.

Betties from Truk will start to recon Port Moresby.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was bombed by 15 B-25C from Derby (16 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 10 on runways) and Lautem by 24 B-25C from Darwin (4 wounded, 3 runway hits).
Good weather was forecast over Timor for tomorrow and Ki-61s from Maumer will fly LRCAP over Koepang.
The Zeroes of F2/1st Daitai left Kendari for Tarakan and will upgrade to A6M3a here.

Southern Resource Area

A convoy was created to carry 40k of oil from Batavia to Singapore.

Burma

Three oil centers had been repaired in Mandalay and the repairs were stopped, but were restarted on resources in the same city (0 center now working) and Taung Gyi (8 centers working). The idea here is to keep the output small so Allied bombers may not come too fast.

China

Yenen airfield was closed by bad weather so the raid on Lanchow wasn’t repeated but Japanese airmen will attack it tomorrow. Lanchow Allied airmen didn’t fly but 28 Hurricane from Sining attacked Japanese paratroops near their base and hit 32 men.
The 15th Div arrived in Kungchang, where Japanese gunfire hit 19 Chinese. Current force ratio was 3492 Japanese ASS points facing 2807 Chinese ones, but the 3rd Tk Div will arrive in 1-2 days and the attack won’t be launched before it will be there.
NE of Lanchow, another Japanese deliberate attack achieved a 3 to 1 and cost 140 Japanese casualties and 9 guns while the Chinese lost 263 men and 2 guns.
120 miles S of Kungchang, another Chinese unit arrived in the mountain hex on the other side of the river from the Kungchang-Sian road.

In Central China, all was quiet again. Japanese engineers reported that fortifications in Homan were finished (level 9) and were ordered to expand the local airfield from size 4 to 7.

In the south, Japanese troops W and NW of Kweilin were attacked by 56 Ki-27 (one lost in a crash) and 4 A6M2 from Canton and 16 Ki-51 from Wuchow and lost 32 men.

Japan

In the evening the American submarine S-27 was unsuccessfully searched by an ASW group (1 DD, 3 PG, 2 PC) NE of Tori Shima.

Three TK with 5-6 SYS damage were docked in Osaka for small repairs.

In Tokyo, two Area Armies (the 2nd and the 8th) that were in reserve received orders. The first will sail to Hawaii and take command of the archipelago, where there is only an Army Command (range 1) at PH for the moment. The second will prepare for Rabaul and will be shipped there in 1943 but right now it was ordered to board ships for Canton. From there it will go to Wuchow to draw supplies unloaded in Canton to this base so that HI and resources will be repaired.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Hi Leo, well the NZ operation will be a huge milk run probably, the islands had not received any reinforcement and the RNZAF is unable to slow the Japanese juggernaut. Once NZ is Japanese Australia will be totally cut of America but Japanese submarines and Glens have reported no shipping in this area for months anyway. I think I will have for home rule that Allied convoys may sail following the border of the map (that is far too small IMOO).

RGR!

BTW, you can use house rule that no aircraft stationed there use full range (i.e. you lessen the range for them so that enemy convoys can trawel unnoticed following the map edge)...

In fact the invasion will be delayed by only one thing: my holidays starting this Friday for two weeks.

Have a nice vacation and when you get back the new victories await - BANZAI!!!


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

BTW, you can use house rule that no aircraft stationed there use full range (i.e. you lessen the range for them so that enemy convoys can trawel unnoticed following the map edge)...

It is what I plan to do, leave 2-3 hexes outside naval search for the convoys to get trough... with of course no right to come for a counter-landing in this area.

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Have a nice vacation and when you get back the new victories await - BANZAI!!!


Leo "Apollo11"

Thanks... Well, Wellington and Kungchang may fall before I leave, depending of my opponent schedule.

[AmiralLaurent]

20 November 1942

Well I have two PBEM running, one with an invasion of NZ underway and the other with a moving situation in China and a big assault on Perth, with Kido Butai N of the city and Allied CV seen south of it (but neither side closing the range), and my two opponents just didn't send a trun for two days... Notice to self: avoid opponents that have a life outside WITP.

Southern Pacific

Garbled orders again… two of the three CV TF were following a TF while most of the other Japanese were following another. In the end, fleet ended in two hexes 180 and 240 miles NNW of Wellington. Allied crews didn’t launch raids but flew extensive naval search and if the CAP shot down 4 Hudson I and a PBY Catalina during the day, a patrolling Hudson attacked and hit the AE Kashino sailing with the logistical train. She was the first Japanese ship hit during the battle but damage is small enough (20/8/9) to allow her to follow the fleet, as she was still able to do 11 knots.

Japanese floatplanes continued to fly recon over the Northern Island of New Zealand and reported that still 38 Kittyhawk I flew CAP over Wellington, where the 2nd NZ Cav Bde was identified. A Bde here was not excepted after having identified two in Auckland, but as the initial land force send to take Wellington has four divisions it won’t be a problem.
The Kittyhawk over the base are a more immediate concern and a BB TF (Yamato, Ise, CA Kako, CL Yura and 6 ASW DD) was ordered to bombard Wellington during the night. I would like them to remain there, and AFAIK the only way to do that is to give the bombardment TF follow orders so I sent an ASW TF (6 DD) and the BB following them, all with patrol/no retire orders. They should so remain outside Wellington during the day, under LRCAP by 17 Zeroes, and with the Japanese fleet 120 miles to the north (at the ‘scattering point’) may have more CAP if needed, but the Allied LBA had not proved dangerous until now.
In the afternoon, Wellington AF will be attacked by the airmen of 2 of the 3 TF of the Kido Butai to deal with the survivors of the night bombardment.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

In the afternoon, a Betty from Truk flew a recon flight to PM and reported that 50 P-40E flew CAP over the base.

A convoy loaded 6k supplies and 14k fuel in Truk to bring them to Rabaul.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, as usual Koepang and Lautem were bombed. The latter was attacked by 29 B-25C from Darwin that disabled 13 men and 2 guns and scored 1 hit on supplies and 6 on the runway. 19 B-25C from Derby were sent against the former, but they were intercepted by 9 Ki-61 of the 68 Sentai flying LRCAP from Maumere and all turned back. There was no loss for any side in air battle, but a B-25C was lost in a crash. Bad weather was forecast for tomorrow and the Tonies of Maumere will remain there but not fly LRCAP.

Burma

Thunderstorms continued here and Japan didn’t play any operations, as for the last days. 8 Hurricanes from Imphal attacked Japanese troops SE of their base but missed.

China

In the north, 31 Hurricane from Sining attacked paratroops near their base, hitting 31 men and 1 gun, while the Japanese raid from Yenen to Lanchow was again cancelled by bad weather. Air units had been ordered to try again tomorrow.
On the ground, Japanese guns hit 32 men in Kungchang. The 3rd Tk Div arrived 30 miles E of the town and should be there tomorrow and then the assault will be launched. NE of Lanchow, the daily deliberate attack was more successful than before, achieving a ratio of 14 to 1. Japanese losses were 192 men and 5 guns, Chinese ones 314 men and 2 guns. More important, the ASS value of the Chinese units is dropping by 5-10% each day while the Japanese forces keep the same level. The latter are supplied, the former probably not.

In the south, Chinese troops NW and W of Kweilin were attacked by 55 Nates and 7 A6M2 from Canton and 16 Ki-51 from Wuchow and lost 27 men, while 3 Ki-27 were lost in crashes.

Japan

An animated meeting at the War Production Ministery saw partisans and opponents of an increase of the production of the J1N1-R Irving discuss for hours. Finally the proposal (to increase the factory of size 8 to 16) was rejected, as only 3 Chutais will use it, and for the moment all three are in reserve, so the need of the Irving is not immediate.
(NB: this has been included just to show one of the many details I try to monitor in this game…. I know I am crazy, I just hope other people don’t see it…)

[AmiralLaurent]

21 November 1942

Japan still rules the air!!! Ok, the Allied airmen were outnumbered, inexperienced and probably demoralized but the scoreboard reminds me of the good old days of December 1941: 71 Allied aircraft losses against 12 Japanese ones.

Central Pacific

A Daitai of A6M2 upgraded to A6M3a in Pearl Harbor. About 200 elite airmen still kept the area just in case, and constitute a strategic reserve for other theaters.

Southern Pacific

The night was uneventful but Allied dawn patrols reported two surface TF (an ASW group lading a BB TF) off Wellington, while all other Japanese TF were gathered 120 miles north of it. Hudson continued to fly extensive naval search and four were shot down during the day over the Japanese fleet, one by AA and three by Zeroes.

Japanese recons were also active. They reported that Allied aircraft had left Christchurch, probably for Auckland where CAP was back (11 Kittyhawk I) but the CAP over Wellington was as strong as before (39 Kittyhawk I). They also counted 10 000 Allied men in Wellington and 40 000 in Auckland. Tomorrow they will extend their recons to Christchurch.

The BB TF being late, the first attack on Wellington was launched in the afternoon by the KB with 114 Kates and 105 Vals escorted by 103 A6M2. They met over the target 32 Kittyhawk I that were all shot down by the Japanese fighters, that suffered five losses. The bombers then attacked and reported weak AA defences that shot down none of them. They destroyed 6 more Kittyhawk on the ground, and scored 27 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 158 on the runways. The base was still burning when the BB Yamato and Ise, the CA Kako and the CL Yura closed the coast and pounded it again, destroying 7 more Kittyhawk, disabling 877 men, 29 guns and 5 vehicles and scoring 7 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies, 110 on the runways and 1 on a fuel dump in the port.

And this concluded another bad for New Zealand defenders. At dusk, both surface TF off Wellington sailed north to join the main fleet. At the same time, landing orders were confirmed and while most of the Japanese TF didn’t move from the ‘scatterring point’, three big convoys broke formation and sailed respectively SW to land 72k men on the northern tip of the Southern Island railway, SE to land 120k men just north of Wellington and NE to land 72k men on the railway to Auckland. Each of these convoys will be LRCAPed by 15-20 Zeroes tomorrow.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

During the night the SS USS Sargo tried to attack a Japanese convoy NW of Rabaul but was seen and chased by two MSW. The convoy reached the base with 21k supplies and started to unload. A Ki-61 flying CAP over the port later shot down a Catalina I getting too close.

In the afternoon, half of the 4th NLF was landed by barges on Admiralty Islands and reported them empty. They will be occupied tomorrow.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In bad weather 29 B-25C took off from Derby to attack Koepang but only 9 found it and they only scored one hit on the runway.

Southern Resource Area

A convoy started to load 21k supplies in Toboali for Rangoon.

Burma

7 Hurricane from Imphal attacked troops SE of their base and hit 24 men and 1 gun. Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Diamond Harbor to size 9.

China

In the morning another aid was launched from Yenen against Lanchow with 54 Ki-21 and 27 Ki-49 escorted by 81 A6M2, 36 Ki-44 and 11 Ki-61. 8 Hurricane II and 4 Spitfire Vb scrambled to oppose them but were all shot down by the escort, that lost only 3 Ki-44 in the battle. The bombers then hit hard the runway, destroying 7 Hurricanes and 1 Spitfire, doing 20 casualties and scoring 12 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 80 on the runways. A Ki-49 and a Ki-61 were lost in accidents during this operation.
At the same time, 12 Hurricane and 4 Spitfire Vb from Lanchow escaped the raid as they were bombing the 37th Div NE of their base, hitting 24 men. This attack was not enough to stop the Japanese attacks in this place, and once again the Chinese situation deteriorated fast. The deliberate attack of the day achieved a 39 to 1 ratio, with 156 Japanese losses and 5 guns opposed by 331 men and 2 guns lost by the Chinese. The 69th Chinese Corps (that fought in three independent parts) will probably start to collapse in some days.
But a far more important Chinese collapse is hoped for a little more south, in Kungchang. Japanese gunfire hit 94 men here and 18 Chinese ASS points were lost, leaving 84 000 men (2792 ASS) facing 160 000 Japanese (3880 ASS), as the 3rd Tk Div just reached the city. It reported low fat and good morale, as other Japanese units and all (7 Div, 1 big Bde, 1 Tk Div and support units) were ordered to attack tomorrow. Yenen airmen will support the attack with level bombers and Oscars flying ground attack with the other fighters escorting them. Logically the attack should fail, especially as no Eng Rgt remains under the walls of Kungchang, but the situation here is comparable to Wuchow where the Chinese collapsed in one day after months of siege, and their supply situation was probably better there.

In the south, the Japanese troops pursuing Chinese NW of Kweilin continued to advance really slowly along the muddy roads. Troops in the are were attacked by 57 Nates, 7 A6M2 and 16 Ki-51 from Wuchow and Canton and lost 39 men and 1 gun.

Japan

Two ASW groups will operate south of Japan, where 3-5 Allied submarines were reported daily all the last days. A convoy formed in Tokyo to bring fuel to the bases in Bonins area so the ASW groups may refuel here rather than returning to Japan.

An A6M2 Daitai having finished its basic training (exp 45) in Osaka left Japan for China where it will fly operational training.

A convoy left Nagasaki with 14k fuel for Balikpapan. The DEI are the part of the Empire where fuel reserves are the lowest and stock will be made in Soerabaja, Balikpapan, Davao, Palau and Kendari in the next months.

[AmiralLaurent]

22 November 1942

Southern Pacific

During the night, the three Japanese convoys reached the beaches and the landing began in the pre-dawn hours. There was no opposition, as all New Zealand troops were kept into the cities. In fact the landing on the southern island was only seen in the afternoon by the patrolling Hudson, two of them were shot down, one by a Zero and the other by AA fire.
Japanese recon flights continued and targeted also Christchurch today where the 3rd NZ Bde was identified. Four units held the city, more than 10 000 men. This confirms that Wellington is probably the easiest target between the three main cities of New Zealand. Wellington airfield was still closed and only 3 aircraft were seen here, while a little more than 30 were reported in Auckland, with 10 Kittyhawk flying CAP. A Mavis from Norfolk Island was shot down by AA fire over Auckland and this unit received orders to stop recon flights.

Landing continued all days and at dusk the three planned beachheads were constituted, but landing was slower than planned. Only 8 of the 72k men planned to land on Beachhead South (Southern Island, NW of Wellington), 16 of the 120k planned for Beachhead East (NW of Wellington) and 12k of the 72k for the Beachhead North (S of Auckland) had already landed. No unit had finished landing, but the first orders were issued. A Naval Unit was ordered to march from Beachhead N to E to take control of the railroad in this area, while a small Tk detachment (10 tanks) was ordered to drive from Beachhead S toward Christchurch.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

The 4th NLF occupied the empty Admiralty Islands.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, 26 B-25C from Derby bombed Koepang, scoring 1 hit on a building and 6 on the runway.

Southern Resource Area

A convoy started to load 21k resources in Kuala Lumpur for Japan.

China

Bad weather reduced flying activity over the whole country. In the south, only 16 Ki-51 from Wuchow attacked troops NE of Kweilin, hitting 27 men. In the north, 32 Hurricanes attacked paratroops near their base and hit 7 men. Both sides lost one aircraft in an accident.
The main attack of the day was the start of a new offensive in Kungchang. Yenen was closed by bad weather so there was no air support, but troops had been told of the easy victory in Wuchow and everybody was confident Chinese will collapse there too. Well, they didn’t. The attack (183 000 Japanese vs 83 000 Chinese) wasn’t a complete failure, as it achieved a 1 to 1 ratio and a fortification level was destroyed by engineers but Japanese losses were heavy: 4862 men, 54 guns, 3 tanks, compared to 1567 men and 13 guns lost by Chinese. Japanese troops were badly disrupted and the attack was called off for some days… A reason of the failure may be the lack of support personnel and the HQ of the China Expeditionary Army, currently in Yenen (to draw supplies) will march to the Kungchang battlefield.
NE of Lanchow another deliberate attack led by the 37th Div continued to disrupt the 69th Chinese Corps, at 27 to 1. Japanese losses were 95 men and 4 guns, while the Chinese lost 144 men.

Tomorrow, the Yenen airmen will mainly support the 37th Div, as it seems it may win here faster than in Kungchang. Two A6M2 Daitais will fly LRCAP respectively NE of Lanchow and over Kungchang.

Japan

In the evening, the SS Shard was chased by an ASW group (1 DD, 3 PG, 2 PC) 120 miles NE of Tori Shima but escaped without being depth charged.

The pic of the day: attack in Kungchang

[AmiralLaurent]

23 November 1942

Central Pacific

I just discovered I had three Cons Bn doing nothing in PH and formed a convoy to carry them to Kona.

Southern Pacific

The Japanese landing operations continued without incident, except the flying over of some Hudson I, one of them being shot down by the CAP. The map below will show the current situation.



Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

In the afternoon, Allied heavy bombers returned to Rabaul in force. 68 B-17E and 44 B-25C were intercepted by 25 Ki-61 and 18 A6M3. Japanese pilots did wonder, shooting down 16 B-17E and 3 Liberators for only 3 losses (2 Ki-61 and 1 A6M3) but were unable to stop the armada that pounded their base, destroying 6 A6M3 and 2 Ki-61 on the ground, disabling285 men and 7 guns and scoring 11 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 93 on the runway. AA shot down a B-24D, and a Ki-61 was wrecked in an accident.

At midnight, the Rabaul base commander reported that the runway was usable but only 17 Ki-61 and 5 A6M3 were operational. All were sent to Kavieng, with orders to LRCAP Rabaul tomorrow.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

An usual day in the area. B-25C bombed Koepang (16 AC, 20 casualties, 11 runway hits) and Lautem (1 hit on the base and 1 on the runway). In the evening two small APs left Kendari to bring supplies to Koepang.

Burma

Allied airmen were active again over Burma. In the morning, Myitkyina was bombed by 64 B-25C and 39 Blenheim IV from Dacca, escorted by 32 P-40B, that hit 35 men and 2 guns and scored 8 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 56 on the runway. At the same time 6 Hurricane from Imphal bombed and missed troops SE of their base. In the afternoon, 25 Vengeance I and 14 Beaufort I from Chandpur attacked Myitkyina and scored 1 hit on a building and 9 on the runway. AA shot down a Vengeance and another was lost in an accident.

The daily of recon reported that the airfield now received heavy reinforcements. Former reports reported there 30 fighters and 100 auxiliaries (thought to be transport AC flying to China), last one showed 50 fighters, 60 bombers and 150 auxiliaries…

China

In China the main focus was on the road NE of Lanchow. Both sides flew CAP over the battlefield and both sent raids to bomb enemy troops. 35 Ki-21, 25 Ki-43 and 24 Ki-49 escorted by 22 Ki-44 and 3 A6M2 attacked the 69th Chinese Corps defended by 8 Hurricane while 14 Hurricane escorted by 3 Spitfire strafed Japanese troops and were intercepted by 9 A6M2. 4 Hurricanes, 2 A6M2 and 1 Tojo were shot down in the air battles, 1 A6M2, 1 Ki-21 and 1 Spitfire lost in accidents. 70 Chinese and 17 Japanese were hit by bombs. On the ground the Japanese attack continued and again was successful (at 55 to 1) and a part of the 69th Chinese Corps surrendered. The Japanese lost 116 men and 3 guns, the Chinese 1830 men and 4 guns. The assault will continue tomorrow without air support, the Yenen airmen being granted a day of rest.

Other places in China were as usual. Japanese guns pounded Kungchang, hitting 97 men (the ASS value of the Chinese defenders had fallen by 111 points in two days due to the attack, but Japanese troops lost 394 points…). Zeroes flew CAP over the city and reported no Allied AC. More north 33 Hurricane from Sining attacked nearby paratroops and hit 10 men. In the south, 53 Nates and 7 A6M2 from Canton attacked a Corps W of Kweilin and hit 36 men.

In the evening, both Ki-27 Sentai in Canton left the base, their training finished (with exp 72 and 75). The base will be used now by A6M2 and Kate op training units (right now 45 A6M2 are there).

Japan

During the night and the morning three American submarines reported contacts with Japanese ships in the Bonins area. The SS Shad tried to attack an ASW group (1 DD, 3 PG, 2 PC) 120 miles NW of Tori Jima but was unable to reach a firing position. The SS S-27 and S-30 both saw the same ASW group (2 DD, 1 PC, 3 MSW) 60 miles SE and 120 miles S of the same island. The Japanese ships detected none of the three submarines.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

The Japanese landing operations continued without incident, except the flying over of some Hudson I, one of them being shot down by the CAP. The map below will show the current situation.

How do you guestimate your troops would fare by trawelling so far to their destination (i.e. NZ cities)?

How many days it would take them to get there (and in what shape)? What aboit supply?


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

How do you guestimate your troops would fare by trawelling so far to their destination (i.e. NZ cities)?

How many days it would take them to get there (and in what shape)? What aboit supply?

All travel will be done on railroad so troops should go fast and not be very tired... And the whole plan is to take first Wellington (120 000 men will attack 10 000 Allied with BB and KB support) so that the huge convoy carrying supply will then unload there and so troops besieging Auckland will be supplied normally.

The army will take 5-6 days to land, then 1-2 days to reach Wellington and then the battle will start. But after my holidays

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

How do you guestimate your troops would fare by trawelling so far to their destination (i.e. NZ cities)?

How many days it would take them to get there (and in what shape)? What aboit supply?

All travel will be done on railroad so troops should go fast and not be very tired... And the whole plan is to take first Wellington (120 000 men will attack 10 000 Allied with BB and KB support) so that the huge convoy carrying supply will then unload there and so troops besieging Auckland will be supplied normally.

The army will take 5-6 days to land, then 1-2 days to reach Wellington and then the battle will start. But after my holidays

Thanks for info!

BTW, back from vacation (2 weeks have passed)? [8D]


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

Yes, yes, I'm back but I had not the time to upgrade the AAR.

24-25 November 1942

Central Pacific

The moves of the last weeks had left only some floatplanes in Midway, leaving a dangerous gap in the Japanese maritime frontline, as convoys sailing from and to Hawaii sail past this island and may be attacked by the US Navy from Aleutians bases. Also Midway is in my own opinion the place I will try to retake if I was the Allied commander, and the garrison is too weak to repulse an attack. So 16 Betties flew from China to Midway and will be used for naval search from the atoll.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers in Tarawa (an Eng Rgt and five naval Const Bns) increased the level of fortifications to 9. The Eng Rgt will be shipped to Pago-Pago to expand fortifications here (currently level 5), while the Const Bn will first remain in Tarawa and expand the base to its full size (port 4, AF 6, currently port 3, AF 4).

New Zealand

The landings in New Zealand continued without much action. KB airmen shot down three Hudson I in two days in routine CAP patrol, while one Pete crashed during a patrol. On the 25th, 50 A6M2 were sent to sweep Auckland, base of the last RNZAF units. 16 Japanese pilots get lost, the other met 10 Kittyhawk I and shot down 3 for one loss.

On the evening of the 25th, 60 000 men had landed in the northern beachhead, 43 000 in the southern and 88 000 in the eastern, north of Wellington. Two divisions were complete here and immediately started towards Wellington with HQ and ART units. Four AK were detached from the supply convoy to unload supplies in eastern beachhead.

A Glen-carrying submarine sailed close to Dunedin and sent here floatplane to recon the base, reporting two Allied units holding it.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

Allied airmen from Port Moresby continued to attack the evacuated airfield of Rabaul and destroyed numerous Japanese fighters on the ground. Both Japanese fighter units were now in Kavieng and flew LRCAP over Rabaul, where a convoy was unloading supplies and fuel.
On the 24th, 7 Ki-61 and 3 A6M3 intercepted 33 B-17E and 31 B-24D and shot down respectively 3 and 1, while losing 1 Ki-61 and 1 Zero in crashes. The next day, 6 Ki-61 and 3 A6M3 attacked 30 B-17E and 26 B-24D but without success or loss. Both raids destroyed on the ground 9 A6M3 and 7 Ki-61, disabled 233 men and 5 guns and scored 7 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 78 on runways. Also in the afternoon of the 25th the convoy unloading off Rabaul was attacked for the first time, by 3 B-24D that evaded the CAP and then missed an AK. The base having now 4k fuel and 13k supplies, the convoy left immediately to return to Truk without having fully unloaded.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

On the 24th, Koepang was bombed by 32 B-25C from Derby that scored 17 hits on the runway and disabled 27 men and 1 gun.
The next day, 15 B-25C returned to this base but met over the target 7 Ki-61 of 68 Sentai flying LRCAP from Maumere. One B-25 was shot down and 2 turned back the other bombed the base and scored 1 hit on a building and 6 on the runway, doing 52 casualties. The same day 33 B-25C from Darwin bombed Lautem, scoring one hit on the airbase, one on supplies and 4 on runways and wounding 13 men. In these both raids, one B-25C was lost to engine failure and another ditched during the return leg due to AA damage.

On both days, 7 Brewster 339D from Darwin attacked barges in Lautem area and heavily damaged one.

Southern Resource Area

The following convoys were created in two days: 45k oil from Palembang to Japan, 14k resources from Tarakan to Japan, 33k oil from Singapore to Japan and 17k resources from Amoy (China) to Japan.

Burma

In the morning of the 24th, Myitkyina was bombed by 53 B-25C and 37 Blenheim IV from Dacca, escorted by 31 P-40B. AA fire shot down one bomber of each type, and another B-25 and a P-40B were lost in crashes. The bombers scored 4 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 23 on the runways, doing 11 casualties.

On both days, 6 Hurricane from Imphal attacked Japanese troops SE of their base, hitting a total of 19 men and 1 gun. On the 25th the Japanese CAP over Rangoon shot down a F-5A Lightning.

China

Bad weather seriously reduced the flying activity on this area during these two days.

Things became faster in Northern China. In Sining, the Chinese 8th Air Base Force started on the 24th to attack the Japanese paratroops stranded here, achieving 3 to 1 ratio without repulsing them, and continued on the 25th with the support of 33 Hurricanes of the local base, reaching 4 to 1 but still without effect. Total losses were 64 men and 1 gun on the Japanese side and 63 men and 1 gun on the Chinese side.

More south, Japanese troops continued to attack the remains of the 69th Chinese Corps NE of Lanchow. The surrounded Chinese resisted on the 24th (at 70 to 1) but all surrendered the next day (at 118 to 1). Total Japanese losses were 132 men and 2 guns, while the Chinese lost 3476 men and 12 guns.

In Kungchang, Japanese units only bombarded the Chinese lines, hitting 280 men and 1 gun in two days. Assault valued fell by 30 for Chinese and rose by 39 for Japanese in two days, finishing at 2651 vs 3525 in Japan favour.

The elimination of the Chinese roadblock NE of Lanchow enabled again supply to reach the troops in Lanchow, and they were ordered to bombard Chinese defenders until Japanese reinforcements arrived from the battlefield NE of the city. The 37th Div and an half Bde will march to Lanchow, while another half Bde will march trough to the woods to cut the Sining-Lanchow road again but will take a month to do that, so may arrive after the battle. This delay by marching trough the woods was the main reason to scrap another plan, to send all Japanese troops NE of Lanchow to take Sining before Lanchow.

In the south, the Chinese troops (3 Corps, 2 HQ) retreating from Wuchow were caught on the 24th NE of Kweilin by the 116th Division, that bombed them the next day, hitting 36 men and 1 gun, while 15 Ki-51 from Wuchow also attacked them, hitting 19 men and 1 gun. More Japanese troops reached the area on the 25th (3 more Div, 1 Tk Rgt, 1 Army HQ, 1 ART unit) and all were ordered to attack the Chinese troops and repulse them to Kweilin tomorrow with all available air support. The Japanese 60th Div left the crossroads and marched in the woods W of Kweilin, where three Chinese units were reported. It will bombard them tomorrow to identify them.

Japan

The escort TF bringing the heavily damaged BB Mutsu and CA Aoba from Suva to Japan entered Bonins waters, where Allied submarines became active some weeks ago. The TF was diverted to sail more east than originally planned, and two ASW groups left Japanese ports to reinforce the escort.

A convoy with 42k supplies left Tokyo for Southern Pacific.

The War Production Ministry conducted a survey of the naval shipyards. Months ago, RO boats under construction were cancelled but 4-5 more have entered the shipyard in the mean time and were all stopped too. With the extra points liberated, the CL Yahagi (excellent AA escort cruiser) and several DDs were accelerated.

[AmiralLaurent]

I'm afraid this post is too long and confuse, but I wanted to explain what I am doing in China and my strategy here is just that: confuse.
In fact, China is using a lot of troops and air unit of the Southern Army command. They are not needed in New Zealand, where I'm confident to have enough power (maybe too much in fact), but they will be useful to defend other parts of the Japanese Empire... I'm still hesitating to continue the offensive in China at the current (slow) pace, or if I will withdraw troops and air units and send them to "defensive areas" in Timor or in Pacific.

26-28 November 1942

A little change in the structure of the reports as China and Burma become interrelated and so will be described together. Bombers from Ledo attacked Japanese troops in Northern China, prompting Japanese air units based in Rangoon to plot to raid Ledo, but India-based Allied bombers blasted N Burma airfield to prevent this.

New Zealand

There was still no Allied offensive operations in this area except the sighting of an Allied submarine on the 27th off the southern beachhead. Japanese airmen flew no raid and the CAP only shot down a Hudson I in 3 days. On the other hand a Glen reported on the 27th an AK off Dunedin, the southernmost NZ base, and two DDs were sent to attack her. They sailed the next day in broad daylight off Dunedin and sank the British AK Empire Resistance with torpedoes and shells. They then turned back to the fleet, lacking fuel after their full speed dash southwards.

Japanese convoys continued to unload troops. 4 AK laden with 7000 tons of supplies each were also sent to each beachhead to provide troops with enough supplies. In the evening of the 28th, the situation was the following.
On southern Island, 61 000 Japanese had landed. The 56th Bde and 53rd Div being complete were already marching towards Christchurch. Recons have shown 4 Allied units here and 2 in Dunedin, more than what was expected.
On northern island, 62 000 men had landed in beachhead N and 99 000 in beachhead E. The second group, reinforced by some Art and Eng units of the first will attack Wellington, that was reached on the 27th by the first troops and bombarded the next day. Japanese artillery fire had been far more bloody than expected, hitting 306 men, 18 guns and 1 vehicle for 6 casualties and 1 gun. The city was held by the Wellington Fortress, the 2nd NZ Cav Bde and the 102 RNZN BF, 10 450 able men (162 ASS) and is already besieged by two reinforced Div (1061 ASS). They will continue to bombard until a third division and the HQ Southern Army arrive here. Then the high artillery casualties may be a sign that fortifications are not high in the city.
More north, troops of the northern group advanced on the railway up to 120 miles south of Auckland and will wait for the end of the battle of Wellington, their goal being only to keep an eye on the Auckland garrison.

Tomorrow Auckland airfield, the only New Zealander active air base, will be bombed by the Kates of the KB under strong Zero escort.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

The raids against Rabaul continued. Japanese fighters flew LRCAP from Kavieng. On the 26th, 4 Ki-61 and 3 A6M3 shot down in the morning a Hudson I flying a recon flight and intercepted in the afternoon 30 B-17E and 20 B-24D, damaging a B-17E enough that it ditched on return. But this raid destroyed on the ground the last crippled Japanese fighters in Rabaul (5 Ki-61 and 4 A6M3), disabled 67 men and 2 guns and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 40 on the runways. In the evening both fighter units in Kavieng flew to Truk to receive replacement aircraft. Both have 90% of their pilots but only 20-30% of their aircraft.
The same evening the convoy sailing back to Truk from Rabaul received orders to sail to Lunga and unload fuel and supplies here.

The next day Rabaul was bombed without opposition by 27 B-17E and 18 B-24D from Port Moresby that disabled 93 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 37 on runways while losing a Liberator to engine failure. On the 28th, only 8 B-24D raided the base, scoring 6 hits on the runways and doing 12 casualties.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Raids on Timor continued. The Maumere-based 68 Sentai continued too to fly LRCAP over Koepand and turned back on the 26th with 9 Ki-61 a raid by 24 B-24C (no combat losses, but a Ki-61 and a B-25 were lost in crashes) and on the 27th intercepted with 5 Tonies 13 B-25C, shooting down 2 and turning back one with suffering two op losses. This time some bombers got trough and scored 2 hits on the runway. The next day both sides rested and there was no raid on Koepang. The runway here is now usable (damage 39) but the base is still wrecked (damage 100).
On the other side of the island, Lautem was raided daily, for a total in 3 days of 93 B-25C sorties from Darwin (20 get lost) that scored only 1 hit on supplies and 1 on the runway, doing 12 casualties. On the 27th 7 Brewster 339D from Darwin attacked barges off this base and sank one but lost one of their number in a crash.

Southern Resource Area

Some more convoys left the port of the area, carrying 15k resources from Toboali to Singapore, 21k supplies from Soerabaja to Kendari, 18k oil from Brunei to Hong Kong, 35k supplies from Singapore to Rangoon and 10k fuel from Saigon to Toboali.

Burma-China

The victory NE of Lanchow on the 25th was immediately followed by a defeat in Sining the next day. The three parachutist units (1st, 2nd and 3rd Yokosuka SNLF) stranded there were bombed by 33 Hurricane of the local airfield and then by 28 B-17E, 11 Il-4c and 9 Wellington III from Ledo, Burma. They were then attacked by the Chinese garrison (8th Air BF) and defeated at 16 to 1 retreated eastwards, losing more than 200 men while hitting 42 Chinese men and 1 gun.

Both next days saw Allied airmen hit Japanese troops in Lanchow and NE of the city (the troops that destroyed the roadblock and now mainly marched to Lanchow). These troops were hit by a total of 41 Hurricane and 7 Spitfire from Lanchow, 30 Hurricane from Sining and 25 B-17E, 13 Il-4c and 8 Wellington III from Ledo and lost 373 men, 8 guns and 1 tank.

The first reaction of the Japanese command after the raids from Ledo on the 26th was to raid this airfield from Rangoon, but there were not enough escort fighters available and the Allied CAP (35 Spitfire) had shot down the Ki-46 of the afternoon recon over this base, reducing the chance of a successful raid. Also more Zeroes were available in Yenen and it was decided to raid Sining airfield in the afternoon of the 27th.
This raid was flown by 52 Ki-21 and 50 Ki-49 escorted by 81 A6M2 from Yenen. 21 Hurricane II were flying CAP over the target but were reinforced by scrambling fighters as a total of 27 Hurricanes were shot down by the escort, that lost 12 A6M2 in the battle. Still some RAF pilots reached the bombers and one shot down a Ki-49. Japanese bombers were inefficient, only destroying a Hurricane on the ground and scoring 6 hits on the base, 3 on supplies and 39 on the runway, doing 10 casualties. 2 A6M2, 1 Ki-21 and 1 Ki-49 were also lost in crashes.
More west the 27th saw in the morning a raid by 63 B-25C and 39 Blenheim IV escorted by 33 P-40B from Dacca against the airfield of Myitkyina. They disabled 21 men and 2 guns and scored 14 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 60 on the runways at the lost of 2 P-40B and 1 B-25C lost in accidents.

Next morning Myitkyina was again raided by 57 B-25C and 38 Blenheim IV escorted by 28 P-40B from Dacca that hit 73 men and 1 gun and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 45 on the runway but again suffered losses. Two B-25C hit by AA crashed in the jungle during the return leg and a third and a P-40B were lost in crashes.
The Allied offensive intensified in the afternoon when 28 Vengeance I, 26 Beaufort I and 25 Beaufort V-IX from Chandpur escorted by 24 P-40B raided Mandalay, scoring 4 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 23 on the runway and doing 25 casualties for one operational loss (a Beaufort I).
The Japanese Command had anyway decided the day before to not try to attack Ledo (that would have required to move fighters in the advanced bases of Mandalay and Myitkyina) and in the morning of the 27th sent 59 Nells escorted by 25 A6M3s (first action of the model) and on A6M2 to Calcutta. They met no opposition and disabled 32 more resource centers (bringing the total disabled here to 115) but two Nells were lost in a collision.
In China, Yenen airmen were rested and only recon flew to Sining reporting a CAP by 15 Hurricane II that shot down a Ki-46.

On a side note, Hurricane from Imphal flew 12 sorties in 3 days against the troops in the jungle SE of their base and hit 36 men.

Most of the above air activity is linked to the land campaign in northern China and the last days saw only routine artillery fire (hitting 730 Chinese and 2 guns in Kungchang and 31 men and 1 gun in Lanchow) while Japanese reinforcements marched to Lanchow and Kungchang before attacks will be launched in both places. Chinese situation is still deteriorating fast in besieged Kungchang but the victory of Sining had probably reopened the supply road between this town and Lanchow and the Chinese garrison of the latter town is increasing its ASS value.
Yenen airmen will support the action first by flying LRCAP over Lanchow, starting tomorrow, then by bombing troops during the assaults.
In Burma, an air attack against Ledo (271 Allied aircraft reported here by recon) seems to be a bad idea but in some days a good part of the fighters based in Rangoon will be sent to Mandalay to ambush Allied medium bombers. Another A6M3a unit (a Zero veteran unit having fought in Kendari and converted in Tarakan) arrived in Rangoon in the evening of the 27th.

A last thing: 15 barges were launched in Rangoon or sailed from Sumatra and will be used to supply Akyab, that is always in pink status.

In Southern China, the 25th saw an attack by 5 reinforced Japanese divisions (17tyh, 69th, 70th, 104th and 116th) against 3 Chinese Corps and 2 HQ NW of Kweilin. These Chinese forces, remnants of the garrison of Wuchow that were beaten all the way back, were first bombed by 48 Ki-48, 31 A6M2 and 11 Ki-21 from Canton and 15 Ki-51 from Wuchow and lost 150 men and 2 guns for one op loss (a Ki-51), and then were defeated at 114 to 1, fleeing to Kweilin. They lost 934 killed and wounded, 7 guns and more than 1000 POWs, while Japanese lost 267 men and 7 guns. The main body of the Japanese forces then advanced towards Kweilin and will besiege the city. Once they will be there, a supply road will be open on the railway south of the city and the road north of it will be abandoned by Japanese troops. Part of the troops used here (17th Div and 22nd Bde) are under orders of the Southern Army and will be of more use elsewhere.
Anyway in the period, the 60th Japanese division bombarded Chinese troops in the woods W of Kweilin (2 Corps and a Div) with air support (54 Ki-48, 32 A6M2 and 11 Ki-21 from Canton and 30 Ki-51 from Wuchow in 2 days) and the Chinese lost 111 men and 2 guns in 3 days.

Japan

Most ASW escorts in the area were escorting the Mutsu/Aoba TF (that wasn’t attacked and now sailed off Tokyo). So only one small convoy left Japan, carrying 7k supplies from Hamamatsu to Manila.

The last A6M2 factory finally auto converted to produce A6M3a.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Great to have you back!

Keep us informed about NZ operation... I am sure that dominions would soon turn their backs on Winston (they are fighting in the desert whilst their homes are ransacked)... German allies would also appreciate your help as Allied war effort is dwindling due to serious blows you gave them in the Pacific... [;)]


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

29-30 November 1942

On the 30th, the IJAAF pool finally reached 0. IJAAF units will now be managed as IJNAF are, ie by disbanding units and reforming them with bottom-low exp pilots that are trained in Japan until exp reaches 40-45 and then go to China to fly operational training (ground attack).

Central Pacific

An AP loaded in Wake the 51st Naval Guard Unit and will carry it to Midway, that is IMOO the most vulnerable point of Japanese empire for the moment.

New Zealand

On the 29th, the Kido Butai launched a raid against Auckland in the afternoon with 144 Kates escorted by 100 A6M2. Eleven Kittyhawk I were flying over CAP over the city, and had shot down a Jake in the morning. This time they were all shot down for the loss of 2 Zeroes. The Kates then bombed the airfield, destroying 5 more Kittyhawk on the ground, disabling 20 men and 2 guns and scoring 27 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 59 on the runways. One Kate and one Zero were lost in crashes during this raid.

This same day both sides exchanged shells in Wellington with Japan winning, hitting 210 men and 7 guns for only 6 men and 1 gun lost). A third division arrived on the Japanese side and Japanese now had ten times more ASS points than the defender, so an attack was ordered for the next day with full air and naval support.

During the night, the BB Musashi and Kirishima, 3 CA, 3 CL and 6 DD left the concentration point 120 miles N of Wellington to bombard the city, led by an ASW TF of 6 DD. Both TF sailed off the beachhead S on the way and reported some Allied mines but no ship was harmed. The fleet reached Wellington that was bombarded by the capital ships that were not damaged by the weak CD fire. They hit 262 men and 11 guns, and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 4 on runways, 2 on port, 1 on a fuel dump and 3 on port supplies.
This same night Allied submarines that had been reported in the area for some days now finally attacked. SS Grayback tried to attack a convoy sailing north in error and was seen and chased by 6 PG. SS Trigger had reached the concentration point and tried to attack a CV TF but was seen and chased by the CL Agano (that has DC) and 6 DD, and heavily damaged by two hits scored by the Agano and the DD Natsugumo. The same Japanese ships then searched her for a second time but without success.
After dawn the Dutch submarine O21 that had also reached this area saw the CV Soryu and tried to get into firing position. The CV was too far but the submarine was close enough to the CA Chikuma to attack her. All torpedoes missed but the submarine then escaped the 6 DDs of the escort without being detected. Later during the day this submarine was detected and depth charged by 3 DDs and was lightly damaged by near misses.
Wellington defenders were bombed by 150 Kates and 136 Vals launched by the KB (with a small escort of 7 A6M2, but there was no Allied CAP) that all attacked the 2nd NZ Cav Bde, hitting 153 men and 2 guns. One Val was hit by AA fire and later ditched. Japanese CAP shot down a Hudson I getting too close from the ships.
And then the Japanese forces (2nd, 21st and 48th Div with support units) launched a deliberate attack against Wellington and took it at 60 to 1 (fort 8). The New Zealander garrison (Wellington Fortress, 2nd NZ Cav Bde, 102 RNZN Base Force) surrendered after destroying 21 unserviceable Kittyhawk I stranded on the airfield. Japanese lost only 36 men and 2 guns while Allied losses were 8689 men and 19 guns. The base was moderately damaged (port 15, airfield services 54, runways 14).

I have decided to consider that NZ cities need garrisons as Chinese cities did. Calculation for Wellington show a need of 120 ASS points and a Naval Garrison unit and an Eng Rgt will remain there. All other troops will march north to Auckland. A total of seven divisons will attack this city.
Before sailing to Wellington, Japanese TF will wait for the two MSW TF to check is mines still are on the way (off beachhead S, see map some posts above). Half a dozen AK will sail immediately to Wellington to unload badly needed supplies.
In the mean time, the concentration point will be moved 60 miles westwards to avoid Allied submarines. And the Vals of the KB will fly naval search 60% to chase them.

Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

The Japanese convoy rerouted from Rabaul reached Lunga in the morning of the 29th but was at once seen by a Hudson I flying patrol from Luganville and attacked shortly later by 8 Hudson from this same base. No ship was hit, but the unloading orders were cancelled before it began and the convoy sailed north to unload in Shortlands.

On the 27th, Japanese AA shot down one of the Hudson flying recon over Rabaul from Port Moresby, while in Solomon Islands a dozen barges reached Shortlands and began to load troops of the local garrison (Sasebo 6th SNLF). They will land them tomorrow in Buin, Torokina and Vella Lavella to occupy these undefended bases.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Allied forces seemed to rest. Only one raid was launched against Timor, 27 B-25C from Darwin attacking Lautem in the afternoon of the 29th and scoring 3 hits on buildings, 1 on supplies and 5 on the runway.

Southern Resource Area

In two days the following convoys were formed or started to load: 10k fuel from Bangkok to Kuching, 26k resources from Camranh Bay to Japan, 14k resources from Batavia to Singapore, 24k resources from Soerabaja to Singapore, 10k resources from Manila to Japan.

Burma

Mandalay was again bombed on the afternoon of the 29th by 25 Beaufort V-IX, 24 Beaufort I and 23 Vengeance I from Chandpur escorted by 23 P-40B that scored 7 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 20 on the runway, doing 13 casualties for the loss of a Vengeance in a crash.

The next day was more quiet with a raid by 5 Hurricane from Imphal against troops in the jungle SE of their base (21 men hit) and a new Ki-46 shot down over Ledo by the Allied CAP.
In the evening, 54 A6M3 and 36 Ki-61 flew from Rangoon to Mandalay to try to intercept an Allied raid. F-5A flew over Rangoon daily and will probably report tomorrow the weaker CAP so these fighters will come back to Rangoon in all cases after one day if this base is reconned. The Allied air force had already proven that it may crush Japanese fighters trying to defend Mandalay.

China

In the north, the 29th was a quiet day but on the 30th it was planned that the 37th Div and half of the 3rd Bde will cross the river to enter Lanchow from the NE. So Yenen airmen were ordered to fully support the attack by flying LRCAP over the hex and bombing Chinese troops.
Next morning, 39 Ki-48, 28 Ki-43 and 22 Ki-21 took off from Yenen to attack Chinese troops under escort by 33 A6M2, 26 Ki-44 and 10 Ki-61. They met a Cap of 9 Hurricane II and 4 Spitfire Vb and the air battle was even with 7 losses on each side: 3 A6M2, 3 Ki-44 and 1 Ki-49 vs 4 Hurricane and 3 Spitfire. Also 3 A6M2, 1 Ki-21 and 1 Ki-43 were lost in accidents. The Japanese airmen bombed the 9th Chinese Corps and hit 31 men and 1 gun.
Troops already in Lanchow had not received the order to attack. The day didn’t turn into a complete disaster just because finally the 37th Div didn’t manage to advance enough, maybe because it was bombed by 19 Hurricane and 5 Spitfire from Lanchow during the day, losing 17 men. Only the half of the 3rd Ind Bde crossed and launched a shock attack alone… at 0 to 1 of course, but that enabled to have a good view of the Chinese position: the 9th Corps and a Base Force (total 374 ASS) held the base behind fortifications level 7. The cost was 230 Japanese casualties and 10 guns, while Chinese lost 26 men and 2 guns.
The 37th Div will cross the river tomorrow. This time the forces already in Lanchow (3 Div, 2 Eng Rgt, 2 Tk Rgt and a half Bde, all in rather bad shape) will join the attack that will again be supported by Yenen airmen. No LRCAP will be flown to have more escort fighters.
More south Kungchang saw only Japanese artillery fire that hit 169 men and 1 gun in two days. Chinese forces lost 18 ASS points, Japanese won 41 and ratio is now 2583 to 3641 in Japanese favor. The HQ China Expeditionary Army will arrive in 2-3 days and with the extra support the Japanese troops will launch a new series of attacks.

In the south Chinese troops in the woods west of Kweilin were bombed on the 29th by 62 Ki-48s, 35 A6M2 and 17 Ki-21 from Canton and lost 103 men. But these routine missions were then stopped when 3 Chinese units were reported the same day SE of Kweilin, and 10 in the city.
Japanese intelligence was unable to say if these units were leaving Kweilin, or coming from Hengchow as reinforcements. The rail next SW of Kweilin was held by a Japanese SNLF, that received orders to march SW to the crossroads held by a regiment of the 51st Div. All aircraft in the area received orders to bomb or recon this Chinese move. And the bomber units in Wuhan (70 AC) received orders to bomb Hengchow airfield.
So the next morning Hengchow was bombed by 41 Ki-48 and 21 Ki-21, that scored 3 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 20 on the runway without loss. And troops SW of Kweilin were bombed by 52 Ki-48, 35 A6M2 and 17 Ki-21 from Canton and 15 Ki-51 from Wuchow and lost 94 men and 1 gun.
The good news was that this day confirmed that Chinese were in fact leaving Kweilin rather than reinforcing it or counterattacking. Only 5 units were reported in Kweilin, 7 SE of it and 1 on the road to Hengchow. The main Japanese army in the area currently NW of Kweilin was still marching to this city but should be too late to catch any Chinese unit. Just in case the SNLF SW of Kweilin was ordered not to move and may advance west in the next days to disrupt the Chinese retreat.
Chinese troops in the woods west of Kweilin (2 Corps and a Div) on the other hand will probably not have time to escape. The 60th Div that is currently pinning them and hit 51 men in two days of artillery fire will be reinforced after the fall of Kweilin and this pocket will be eliminated.
The Chinese retreat off this area will allow the Japanese Command to disengage the 17th Div and 22nd Bde, both of them attached to the Southern Army, from this area. No operation will be launched in the near future against Hengchow or Kweiyang.

Japan

The damaged BB Mutsu and CA Aoba reached Japanese repair shipyards, respectively in Osaka and Okayama.
The ASW ships that escorted them were so available again and some convoys were formed in Tokyo, to carry 14k fuel to Wake, an IJN Base Force to Christmas Island and two small BF to Canton (for service in Wuchow and Kweilin).

Japanese engineers advanced the Ki-43-II one more month on the 29th, setting his date of release as November 1942… That means that one day of production was gained. Hurrah! Five Oscar II were produced on the 30th.
Japanese shipyards had some extra output and I hesitated to accelerate a fourth Unryu CV. Finally I decide to accelerate the CL Noshiro, that will provide a good escort to Japanese CVs.

[AmiralLaurent]

Monthly report November 1942

Japanese score: 39 855 (+ 1 362)
Bases 9 925 (+ 280)
Aircraft 6 569 (+ 468)
Army 15 977 (+ 563)
Ship 7 160 (+ 35) 389 ships sunk (+ 4: 3 SS, 1 AK)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 224 (+ 16)

Allied score: 8 014 (+ 375)
Bases 3 195 (+ 104)
Aircraft 3 103 (+ 232)
Army 709 (+ 39)
Ship 1007 (+ 0) 104 ships sunk (+ 0)
Strategic 0

Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 3 833 000 (bases) + around 794 000 (TFs) = around 4 627 000 (+ 169 000)
Fuel : 4 383 000 (bases) + around 187 000 (TFs) = around 4 570 000 (- 105 000) (operations off New Zealand are costly)
Ressource centers : 18 214 (+ 141)
Ressources : 1 171 000 (bases) + 165 000 (TFs) = 1 336 000 (- 21 000, still decreasing with HI running at full power, repairs of resource centers will continue)
Oil centers : 2 609 (+ 2)
Oil: 1 310 000 (bases) + 423 000 (TFs) = 1 733 000 (+ 35 000, still climbing, but as for resources consumption has increased again)
Manpower centers : 814 (+ 1)
Manpower pool : 674 000 (+ 44 000)
Heavy industry: 13 690 (+ 8)
Heavy industry pool: 187 000 (+ 20 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 898 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 114 000 (+ 7 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 3 900 (- 7 300) (formation of a new Tk Div)
Aircraft engine factories: 1567 (+ 0)
Aircraft frames factories: 1146 (+ 190) (Ki-43-II and Ki-45 enter production)
Aircraft research: 35 (- 148) (all former research finished, new factories for Zeke)

Aircraft production:
155 A6M3a Zero (capacity 245, all running to replace A6M2 in frontline units), 125 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (123), 60 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 47 D3A Val (41), 39 B5N Kate (40), 24 Ki-49 Helen (23), 23 G4M1 Betty (46, partly stopped as stock is around 400), 17 A6M2 (capacity 0, all factories converted to A6M3a), 10 J1N1-R Irving (8), 8 H6K2-L Mavis (4), 7 MC-21 Sally (5), 5 Ki-43-IIa (capacity 159, one day of production), 2 L3Y Tina (5), 0 A6M3 Zero (capacity 72, suspended), 0 Ki-51 Sonia (45, stopped), 0 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (capacity 43, factory just starting), 0 Ki-48 (capacity 40, stopped), 0 H8K Emily (32, suspended), 0 Ki-46 Dinah (31, 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)

Total: 522 aircraft (362 fighters, 47 level bombers, 47 divebombers, 39 torpedo bombers, 17 transport, 10 recon)

A strategic analysis will be done on Dec 7th, 1942, first anniversary of the start of the war.



Note: only accelerated ships are shown
Edited: and I cut badly the screen.... 4 DD and 4 more TK are also accelerated

[AmiralLaurent]

1 December 1942

New Zealand

During the night a dozen MSW swept all Allied mines off the southern beachhead. At the same time the Japanese fleets moved 60 miles westwards, leaving only in the old concentration point 120 miles N of Wellington an ASW group of 6 destroyers. During the day, three Allied submarines (Dutch O-21 and American Grayback and Grampus) were reported in this area and attacked by Vals, and the Grayback was hit once. Later the ASW group detected the Grampus but launched depth charges far away from her real position.

Now that the way was clear, the Japanese fleet will sail tomorrow to Wellington and unload here supplies, fuel and base forces. At this point, the Japanese High Command, too busy to find geishas for the party that will celebrate the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, realized that nobody had sent orders to concentrate aircraft on Suva so they may be flown to New Zealand. Only an A6M2 and two Betties Daitais and two Emilies Chutais were already there. So orders were sent immediately. 23 A6M3 left Truk fro Kwajalein, 27 A6M2 PH for Palmyra, 24 Ki-49 PH for Johnston Island and 19 Ki-21 Canton, China, for Davao. All will in the end fly to Suva. From there only Betties and Emilies will have the range to reach NZ, but Zeroes will use a CVE at sea as intermediary stop, while Army bombers will be shipped by AKs.

Also several TFs left Suva with supplies, fuel and forgotten parts of divisions to bring them to New Zealand. They will sail south until arriving east of Wellington and then turn west, so avoiding Allied aircraft based in Auckland. I doubt that Allied warships will attack them in this area, as they will have to come from the West Coast, but just in case three submarines were sent to patrol this area.

On the ground the 56th Bde reached the Japanese outpost just north of Christchurch and continued to march to the town. The map below will show you the situation:



Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea

During the night, detachments of the Sasebo 6th SNLF brought by barges from Shortlands landed in Buin, Torokina and Vella Lavella and will occupy tomorrow these empty bases. A total of 77 men were disabled during the landing operations.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

There was again no raid against Timor. Seven Brewster 339D from Darwin attacked and missed barges off Lautem in the morning but one of these barges was sunk by a patrolling Hudson I in the afternoon.

Southern Resource Area

A tanker started to load 9k of oil in Miri to bring them to Formosa.

Burma

At dawn, a F-5A flew over Rangoon. The local Japanese air commander now knew that he will have to retire fighters from Mandalay this evening, and hoped a raid will target the city today. But in the morning, only Myitkyina was attacked, by 57 B-25C and 34 Blenheim IV from Dacca escorted by 28 P-40B. They scored 3 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 42 on the runway.
But in the afternoon, Mandalay tower reported a raid incoming, a bloody air battle and then bombs hitting the base. Final reports showed a great Japanese victory. 27 Vengeance I, 25 Beaufort V-IX and 24 Beaufort I from Chandpur escorted by 24 P-40B of the AVG were intercepted by a CAP of 30 A6M3a and 26 Ki-61, out of 54 A6M3a and 36 Ki-61 available on the airfield (orders CAP 100%). The air battle was very one-sided. The AVG pilots shot down only a Tony and lost 15 of their number. The bombers also shot down a Tony with their return fire but 14 Beaufort I, 9 Beaufort V-IX and 9 Vengeance were shot down. The survivors nevertheless reached the airfield and bombed it, destroying an A6M3a (the first lost) and a Ki-61 on the ground and scoring 4 hits on buildings, 1 on supplies and 5 on runways. Operational losses of both sides (1 Beaufort V-IX, 1 P-40B and 1 Ki-61) brought the total score to 49 Allied losses against 5 Japanese ones. Two of the most experienced land-based IJNAF units, the F1/3rd and F2/1st, both with the new A6M3a, participated in this battle and scored respectively 10 and 16 victories, while the less experienced 78 Sentai scored 18 with its Tonies. The Japanese top ace, Ens Sugio S of F1/3rd, claimed his 29th and 30th victories during this battle.
Last victory of this type over Mandalay had then turned to the loss of tens of fighters on the ground when all available Allied bombers attacked the airfield. So this time the airfield was evacuated while the Allied wrecks still burned around it. The Ki-61 were evacuated by rail (so taking even the damaged aircraft with them) to Singapore, while both Zero units flew back to Rangoon, leaving behind them seven unserviceable fighters.

This day saw also the first barge convoys reaching Akyab from Rangoon and unloading 700 supplies.

A Tk Rgt patrolling the railway in the north reported low morale (24) and was ordered to Rangoon for R&R. In Bangkok, a C5M Chutai was the first to convert to the brand new J1N1-R Irving, whose greater range and speed will be useful over India.

China

In the north, the 37th Div crossed the river at Lanchow and all troops there launched a shock attack. But sadly Yenen airmen were grounded by bad weather, while 27 Hurricane and 3 Spitfire took off from the local base and hit 11 Japanese. The attack was a failure at 0 to 1 (still vs. fort 7) and cost 1943 men and 39 men to the Japanese forces while Chinese losses were limited to 362 men and 8 guns. 95 000 Japanese attacked 13 000 Chinese, the unmodified ASS value was 1928 vs. 373 but the modified ratio was 764 vs. 921. The day before when all Yenen bombers attacked the only Corps in Lanchow (the other unit being a Base Force), the Allied modified BF was around 400… Anyway the Japanese forces were now highly disrupted and were ordered to rest and recover.

In the south, Japanese airmen bombed Chinese troops SW of Kweilin (with 15 Ki-51 from Wuchow, hitting 29 men) and reported that the Chinese retreat to Hengchow continued but that still 5 Chinese units were in Kweilin. So a plan was made to try to surround at least these ones. It required to liberate some of the troops holding the roads and the Base Force in Wuchow (40 ASS) was ordered to leave the town and hold a road hex. So the Ki-51 also moved back to Canton.
West of Kweilin, the shells fired by the 60th Japanese Div hit seven Chinese.

Japan

A convoy with 49k supplies left Aomori for Southern Pacific.
The production of the Ki-45 KAIa Nick was launched in Kyoto while a Ki-61 factory (size 34) in the same city was stopped, as the Tony stock was high enough.
The construction of the CVE Kaiyo was accelerated.