43 - The Mouse bites back. Rob vs Littlejoe 43+

[Rob Brennan UK]

OK .. been a while since the last update.

Had a turn yesterday but couldn't get into the forums .. anyhoo it was a quiet day,

Today wasnt !

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/27/43

Raids from 60 B24's stike Wake island with limited results :-

Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 47

It's good for 60 a/c .. hehe .. plenty more flew down from the north pac to help out in
a day or 2. also Joe is convinced im planning an invasion here. And thats just what i wanted to
hear hehe .. misinformation is your freind [;)]

else where the pacific is quiet ..

SW Pac was a differant story.

PM fell faster than a fast car with high octane fuel being towed by an F15 [:D]

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68029 troops, 733 guns, 314 vehicles, Assault Value = 1702

Defending force 14544 troops, 67 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied max assault: 1543 - adjusted assault: 2320

Japanese max defense: 168 - adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 210 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1973 casualties reported
Guns lost 45

Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

BLIMEY ! .. and here i was thinking that it would take a week or 2 to reduce the forts.
several planes flown in immediately for cover as the CV's are heading south to cover the
gili-gili invasion. many eng and base forces are ready to unload immediately. one div
and some tanks will persue to buna over the owens stanley mountains. What to do with the
rest ? Ill think of something.

also some naval bombardment went in on time and with effect from the RN in the indian ocean.

Geaorgetown was flattened :-

Naval bombardment of Georgetown, at 23,44

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 15 destroyed (30 listed)
A6M3 Zero: 6 destroyed (15 listed)

Allied Ships
CL Glasgow
CL Kenya
CL Enterprise
CL Sumatra
CL Achilles
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Dorsetshire
BB Valiant
BB Warspite

Japanese ground losses:
3816 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 156
Port fuel hits 1

BOOM ! ..

2nd smaller raid hit Moulmein the following day

Naval bombardment of Moulmein, at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham
DD Nizam
DD Nestor
DD Roebuck
BB Royal Sovereign

Japanese ground losses:
1116 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 73

Nice going Royal sovereign .. operating from andaman islands gives a wide range of targets.

also Japan decided to hit my troops just arrived in medan ( the next base down the
sumatran peninsule)

Naval bombardment of Medan, at 20,45

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Chokai
CA Kako
DD Kuri
DD Amatsukaze
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Tachikaze
BB Musashi
BB Hyuga


Allied ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

considering thats one indian brigade it took a walloping.. unfortunately bad weather
prevented air strikes from Kuala .. I've decide to withdraw the land torp bombers from
china for use in sumatra. (6 days for transfer).

Moulmein also got visited by some bombers now based in Rangoon

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 30
Wellington III x 27
B-25J Mitchell x 62

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 46

More a/c moved down to rangoon including the B17's from mandalay.

Allied bombers still causing disruption at tassaforonga point. should invade in 6-8 days.

Day Air attack on Sasebo 1st SNLF, at 66,97


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 1
Kittyhawk I x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 28


Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Actually thinking about last turn the only interesting thing was a japanese Tanker convoy
(fully loaded)hit by B25s from china.

caught 2 stragglers today

Day Air attack on TF at 37,46


Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 15
B-25J Mitchell x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
TK Omurosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Rikko Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Meanwhile Allied subs hit 2 Jap merchantmen.. one with shells 120 miles off singapore
somewhat dangerous imo given the enemy airpower in the area , but the sub slipped off.

then day 2 Blackfish got the most torps hit in one salvo record !

Sub attack at 38,49

Japanese Ships
AK Azumasan Maru, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage SUNK with bit raining down on
nearby Manilla [:D]

Allied Ships
SS Blackfish

OK Tomorow

Medan , indians will go for an assault .. they have poor disruption however so i'm not
holding out for a great success. and Japan has been flying in more men to help
the defenders ( including some of the 2nd Para and the flipping south seas detachment ! )
Isn't that unit in G-G ? must be reconstituted fragments , and it does bode well for the
state of the japanese defenders in south new guinea.

well thats it for todays update, hopefully get a turn off Joe this evening too.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Its almost the end of august 43 .. So time for a small theatre by theatre progress report.

North Pacific.

All B24's transferred to midway to strike at wake island tomorrow, the PB4Y's in the north
remain on naval attack duty from kiska island. lots of sundry other plane type as well
just on the off chance Joe raids the place. I seriously doubt he will but i'll need the
fighters for a rapid transfer when/if i take the north kuriles. units are prepping away
and are at roughly 20% .. they will be ready just in time for winter [;)].. also i'm starting to
build up a small island dot base called Komandurski island .. never even heard of it before now.
Several seebees are tasked with making this place an airbase as it's 9 hexes from
the kuriles and therefore in P38 range (just).. the weather is causing havoc among the P47's
flying CAP over this remote base to cover the transports unloading .. 4 pilots have died in as
many days due to landing accidents/bad weather etc. nasty environment this.






Central Pacific.

Transports have arrived at PH to be sent out and collect up the divided 25th Division for a
future Wake island landing. Still a while away as i need more preperation time and more
importantly the carriers.

South Pacific.

allied recon shows heavy japanese fighter presence in the Marshall islands. best to be avoided
in my opinion (so far). scraped up a few units for the wake island show and they are in transit to
PH right now. HUMM .. might have spotted japanese CV's near Tarawa too. american sub hit by
a kate earlier and recon is showing the ubiquitous CA CA etc at Tarawa. convoy raiding perhaps?
I hope not as several plane loaded AK's are heading to Pago and the LCI;s at baker are loading
up another american inf div for wake island ops.

SW Pacific

Both Tassafonga and gili gili will be invaded tomorrow ! .. Land based air can support the
gili move and F4F's from 2 CVL's and 2 CVE's and F6F's from the saratoga will fly LR CAP
over the GG landings (weather permitting). The engineer and aviation TF didn;t unload at
PM last turn and instead followed the CV's south ?? .. turned round and sent back
pronto. GG is a bit of an unknown and my Mine warfare a bit low also no idea
of any coastal batteries either so it could get very messy indeed.

did a bit of a McArthur in PM too. sent the 1st australians up the kokoda trail. feel a bit
ashamed of that but they were in better condition than anyone else. The merchantmen at PM will
remain on station (ie not retire) when emptied , just in case i need more men for GG.

So thats Operation Horus (2nd Part) and operation Ooze ( one of many) continuing well so far.

US heavies escorted by warhawks from PM hit Lae with good results. looks like he was moving
the airforce back in.

Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 46
B-17E Fortress x 57
B-24D Liberator x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 15 destroyed
MC-21 Sally: 5 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
742 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 90

Extra lightnings will escort tomrrows raid just in case.

Sumatra.

Well the main event was the dismal indian attack on medan :-

Ground combat at Medan

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9962 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Defending force 8000 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Allied max assault: 55 - adjusted assault: 42

Japanese max defense: 100 - adjusted defense: 439

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


Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

good news - no forts
Bad news - need more men ? or bomb the stuffing out of the japs.

Vengance DB's are tasked with just that job :-

Day Air attack on 5th South Seas Det. , at 20,45


Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 15
Spitfire Vb x 25
Vengeance I x 39


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Joe also informed that there is more than one south seas detachment .. boo hiss .. facing a
full unit here rather than a fragment. need rest as it was an improvised assault.

Experianced PBM Mariner a/c are flying ASW ops and have reported 3 japanese subs hit
in the past week. one definately sank , 2 others remain unknown.

RN surface fleet is to move down to Kuala as it's now a size 3 port. will be used as a
reaction force if japan tries to shell me at medan again , and its closer to the malayan
peninsula for further shore attacks. meny spits patrol the skies so i am not unduly
worried about japanese torp bombers (although they are much on my mind ).

Burma etc.

stable realy. allied bombers again hit moulmein airfield and took out several more
japanese a/c on the ground 2 days running . they are so close the bombers have
little fatigue and can do this at leisure.

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 23
Wellington III x 26
B-25J Mitchell x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 7 destroyed
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 23

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 24
Wellington III x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 7 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 5 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 58

With Rangoon in allied hands, all sorts of amphib operations are possible. I'd like to
spook joe into retiring his large army blocking the river by fakeing a landing at
Tavoy, its close enough for him to react to help and it would give me a 'free' river crossing
without the annoying forced shock attacks. Also there are 6 very experienced and very
depleted british units at mandalay that are just not getting any better, sending all bar
1 down to rangoon and sending up a rubbish chinese div as garrison fodder (replaced the
rather good commander with a rear area gimp).

I'm also tempted to scale down the ops in sumatra and transfer over 2 commonwealth divs
from sabang, this really would give me a large army in the area. I'll still go for medan
and (the next one). just do it on a shoestring and send the hammer to the main
theatre.

that is it for today folks

[Rob Brennan UK]

Quick update as life is hectic to say the least !

Landings at GG and Tass caught Joe by suprise ! .. hehe .. fake attacks on wake worked
out rather well.

oddly the landing at tass caused most casualties

Coastal Guns at Tassafaronga, 66,97, firing at TF 1068
TF 1068 troops unloading over beach at Tassafaronga, 66,97


120 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Kingfisher, Shell hits 5
SC SC-517
LCI LCI-331, Shell hits 3


Allied ground losses:
3423 casualties reported YIKES

against

Coastal Guns at Gili Gili, 56,94, firing at TF 1167
TF 1167 troops unloading over beach at Gili Gili, 56,94


78 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD McCall


Allied ground losses:
685 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I'm assuming its because Tass is mostly AK's (very unsuited to landings) while GG is LCI and
AP based.

Japan did 2 sneaky air raids at advancing allied troops in sumatra, allied air completely
failed to provide cover ( no idea why).

Day Air attack on BFF Brigade, at 20,44

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 107

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Day Air attack on IND III Corps, at 20,44

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 107
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
260 casualties reported


OUCH , thats slowed down the men somewhat ! and no recovery in the malarial hell that is
sumatra ! .

Meanwhile allied air destroyed the last vestiges of moulmein runways

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 36
Wellington III x 27
F-5A Lightning x 4
B-25J Mitchell x 119
B-17E Fortress x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 18 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
217 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 296 [:D]

and also clobbered Lae @-

Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 41
F-5A Lightning x 6
B-17E Fortress x 51
B-24D Liberator x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
MC-21 Sally: 6 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
702 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 113


For a comparison of opposing forces GG first

Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6191 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Defending force 28384 troops, 267 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 885

Ground combat at Tassafaronga

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4759 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Defending force 15492 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 528


Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported


Japan didnt fire shells on day 2 ( bad supply ?) .. so the 2 divs have landed more than listed
above.

ok thats it .. had to be quick ..

PS Churchill wants a carrier back ! (NOPE) .. Political points could get very tight for the
next few months

[Rob Brennan UK]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/02/43

OOH .. good turn .. and rather bloody ..

1st off the US BB's shelled gili gili

Naval bombardment of Gili Gili, at 56,94

Allied Ships
CL Helena
CA Australia
CA Vincennes
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
BB West Virginia

Japanese ground losses:
537 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 45
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 12

softened it enough as will be revealed later on .

Japan sent in a large troopship convoy to Slamaua (next to Lae). 1st allied raid
was the new b25's based in PM ..

Day Air attack on TF, near Salamaua at 54,88


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 27
P-47C Thunderbolt x 31
B-25J Mitchell x 34


Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Yoshino Maru
AP Karimo Maru
AP Keisyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Kureha Maru #3, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toko Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Heizan Maru

Next up was the elite 4E bombers from thursday island. Yes its a LOT of hits from 11k alt.
But they are ELITE (late 80's and 90's exp)

Day Air attack on TF, near Salamaua at 54,88


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 29
B-17E Fortress x 35
B-24D Liberator x 39


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Victoria Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akashisan Maru
AP Keisyo Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Uga Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Heian Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kureha Maru #3, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Karimo Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage


next day the b25's returned and hit the retreating units :-

Day Air attack on TF at 56,88


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 25
P-47C Thunderbolt x 30
B-25J Mitchell x 45


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Heizan Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kureha Maru #3, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Karimo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Uga Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toko Maru #2, heavy damage
AP Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Keisyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogi Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:

That thst for the troop ships .. 80% sunk and the rest heading down to davy Jones locker
pronto.

Meanwhile japanese bombers tried to hit the allied landings at tassaforonga point.

Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Ki-48 Lily x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Kittyhawk I x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Colorado
CL De Ruyter
CL Cleveland

many more to come :-

Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-48 Lily x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
Kittyhawk I x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged

The next one was hard to watch .. the betties made it through ok ..

Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 5
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
Kittyhawk I x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed


Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Northampton has moderate damage .. all ships to retire to rennel island as japanese
scary looking TF coming down from the North East. Rennel just made a port size 3 (just
in time for the CA).

still time for 3 more attacks .. fortunately no torpedoes (whew)

Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
Kittyhawk I x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Edward Luckenbach

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
Kittyhawk I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Kittyhawk I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
BB Colorado
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 4

the last one was close .. Nevada lost 2 5inch gun mounts and an AA Battery ..

Japan also sent a landing craft down at GG.. only ship lost in the op..

Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 13
Ki-49 Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 61
F6F Hellcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed, 12 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-461
LCT LCT-154
LCT LCT-365, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

definately not Uber -Hellcats .. must have been fatigue and poor pilots

Allied subs caught a couple of japanese ships in the china sea. I have been slowly
concentrating subs here as japan seems to be sending convoys north of the Philipines
Oddly this is placing them in B25 range from china ( and PBY search a/c more importantly).

Chinese B25's have been sent back to chungking to attack japanese resources inland, as i had assumed
that Japan would stop sending merchantmen in range of the china coast ( i was wrong). I have left
16 a/c just in case the weather clears.

then GG fell ! .. tass will be attacked tomorrow .

Ground combat at Gili Gili

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32285 troops, 299 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 904

Defending force 7529 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Allied max assault: 668 - adjusted assault: 1136

Japanese max defense: 143 - adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 103 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1


oddly the japanese retreated south ?? .. time for a small training camp

Meanwhile the brits hit the japanese forces at Medan :-

Day Air attack on 5th South Seas Det. , at 20,45


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 35


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th South Seas Det. , at 20,45


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 7
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 32
P-40B Tomahawk x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet

while japan hits the british troops advancing to help the beleagured indians.

even with LR CAP the betties made a dent.
Day Air attack on BFF Brigade, at 20,44

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 87

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
Hurricane II x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 6 damaged
Hurricane II: 10 damaged


Allied ground losses:
218 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Day Air attack on 15th UK Field Artillery Regiment, at 20,44

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 22

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
Hurricane II x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


LR CAP was flying too high think .. 15 k vs the japs flying in at 6k .. lowered the ceiling
in case he comes back .

Meanwhile japanese betties tried to get through to the merchantmen delivering more combat
troops to kuala.

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuala at 20,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 26

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 38
Kittyhawk III x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 2 damaged


Japanese morale eventually broke and they turned back.

Piccie .. CV's ?? i suspect so and have ordered the ships back to rennel. even though
i can only have 200 a/c here ( and 80 are bombers hitting tass). i dont think he will risk LBA.

also shown are the main air attacks detailed above.

[Rob Brennan UK]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/04/43

2 updates in one afternoon , life's busy and i'm moving house on tuesday so not updates
till i get re-connected to the interweb thingy[;)]

I did start hitting japanese resources with very mixed results.

in china -- very bad e.g

Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36


Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 69
B-25J Mitchell x 47


No Allied losses

Resources hits 2

lack of recon a/c .. really shows.

however bandou in malaya ( i think). hit hard

Day Air attack on Bandou , at 25,41


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 25
P-40N Warhawk x 71
F-5A Lightning x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 127
B-17E Fortress x 63


No Allied losses

Resources hits 30

2nd day finished it off ( for all intents and purposes, unless futher recon tells
me otherwise is non-functional i.e down to 5-10 resources and thats useless)

American heavies continue to hit wake island .. long prelude to the invasion so Joe
isn't completely wrong about my intentions here.

Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63


Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 60
B-24D Liberator x 93


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 97
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3


British airpower in sumatra is trying to hurt the japanese defenders at Medan
with good results when they fly but as often as not they are grounded due to bad
weather.

Day Air attack on 5th South Seas Det. , at 20,45


Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 6
Vengeance I x 32


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Finishing off that troops convoy legging it from new guinea.. still just in range

Day Air attack on TF at 58,88


Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 45


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Heian Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toko Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogi Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Victoria Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground attack on tassaforonga point .. reduced forts to nil but failed to
make headway (i.e no 2-1) .. resting next turn while b25's continue to hit the
defenders .

Ground combat at Tassafaronga

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22305 troops, 218 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

Defending force 7843 troops, 10 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 165

Allied max assault: 481 - adjusted assault: 216

Japanese max defense: 131 - adjusted defense: 151

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Remember that possible CV stack ? well it was CV's .. and the amberjack had a great shot !
and missed !

Sub attack at 66,92

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho
DD Yugumo
DD Usugumo
DD Uzuki
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack


Seeing that screen flick up makes this game all worthwhile [:D].
He since retired as i pulled back from tassafaronga. however the
japanese air followed the BB's to rennel and he even re-stocked lunga
for a punch at the old girls.

Day Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 66,99

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
G3M Nell x 20
G4M2 Betty x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 9
Ki-49 Helen x 8

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 30
Kittyhawk I x 4
P-38G Lightning x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 13 destroyed
G3M Nell: 12 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 7 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 5 damaged

#Have to be happy with result like that. the 17's will hit lunga fields again tomorrow
to extract a price for that audaciuos move.

and final attack on Tass

Ground combat at Tassafaronga

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21935 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 514

Defending force 7438 troops, 8 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Allied max assault: 397 - adjusted assault: 365

Japanese max defense: 111 - adjusted defense: 184

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
338 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

365-184 .. Soooooooo close.. rest for 2 days and try again.

[Rob Brennan UK]

I have to give Joe credit for his defence of the malayan coast . 1st a sub damages a BB
Then Mines ! .. bummer .. wasn't expecting off shore heavy ships to be affected but they
were . 2 ships is really unlucky imo.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/06/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1052 encounters mine field at Georgetown (23,44)

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Mine hits 1
BB Warspite, Mine hits 1


however a measure of revenge was attained :-

Naval bombardment of Georgetown, at 23,44

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 14 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 9 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Valiant
CA Dorsetshire
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Exeter
CL Achilles
CL Sumatra
CL Enterprise
CL Kenya
CL Glasgow

Japanese ground losses:
3301 casualties reported
Guns lost 31
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 245

thats a good attack ! .. load more nukes pls mr master gunnery sergent [;)]

as to the mine damage .. CA Cornwall .. no damage .. must have been a dud
BB warspite .. 29 sys 1 flood .. back to sabang-ceylon for repair. Wish winnie
had asked for a BB instead of a CV this month.

The 17's hit lunga at first light ..

Day Air attack on Lunga , at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17E Fortress x 110

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 4 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed
G3M Nell: 6 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 68

not enough to close the field as sneaky old Joe sent some bombers to harass the troops landed
at tassaforonga .. minumal damage but did disrupt a bit .. will still attack tomorrow though.

Commonwealth mediums and heavies hit the japanese road block on the burmese border. with good
results but japan did have a few fighters in the air and cost me 3 planes downed .. escort was
pathetic .

Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 9
Wellington III x 14
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-25J Mitchell x 86
B-17E Fortress x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 10 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 1


Follow up raid the next day was similar but better hits on the imperial guard division.

Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 6
Wellington III x 9
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 36
B-17E Fortress x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
261 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

need more escorts .. not a problem as 72 P40N's were resting.Not any more

With medan being a tougher cookie than expected alied raids from sabang were
ordered with some heavies transferred from Akyab and the Beaufighter FB's doing
mud moving duty.

Day Air attack on 5th South Seas Det. , at 20,45


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 7
Wellington III x 16
Liberator VI x 33
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 32
P-40B Tomahawk x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
189 casualties reported Nice
Guns lost 5

Vengences tore into a base force the following day .. maybe try a new attack ? or wait for
more men ? (long wait though). any ideas?

Japanese bombvers contine to harass rennel shipping from Munda ..

2 attacks .. both similar to this

Day Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 66,99

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 21
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 8 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LSD Belle Grove
AK Bootes



Rescource bombing in china still a dud .. the b25's will run recon duty for a while over several
targets ..

oddly .. 32nd division on tassaforonga has left its commander in rennel ?? .. 1 LCI will run him and
his 2 support squads up overnight. and the attack will proceed as planned .. fingers crossed.
If i cant dislodge him .. another div and 2 tank brigades are at rennel for more ooomph.
all prepped for lunga so i'd rather avoid the landing losses if possible. LCU (size150) are running supply to the 2 divs and while one has more than ample supply the other is a bit short ..
the mysteries of the AI dividing supply is unfathomable.

ANyway .. any one got an opinion on sumatra ? its going slower than i want it to. should
i send back the brit CV's with maybe an essex for more power ? .. all CV's now almost at
townsville and operation horus is well and truly over ,, not to mention succesful.

Piccie .. commonwealth theater .. as this has been the only real active front for a while
with no CV's in the pacific for a long time, i'm rather attached to it .. and want it
to succeed and be the equal of the american thrust, not to be a backwater in most history
texts as the real war here was. ( Patriotic feeling creeping in )[;)]

I also feel the need to credit Joe with a very good defence of the malayan peninsula.
2 battleships badly damaged and i am still fearful of hitting his fields from sumatra
as he has definately NOT run from an airwar which has seen very high japanese losses over
friendly allied territory. My only caveat would be imo he should have counter invaded
sabang asap .. as TBH i didnt land with much and air cover was abysmal .. maybe his
CV's were a long way away ?

anyhoo .. a most enjoyable game not to mention the longest lasting .. we are planning a
reverse game after we finish this one too. Lokks like we both like each others style and
that seems to count for a lot in this game.

bye bye ..

hopefully get one more turn in before moving .

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Vengences tore into a base force the following day .. maybe try a new attack ? or wait for
more men ? (long wait though). any ideas?

Depends on the amount of disruption/fatigue your units have by now. Anyway, I would try to get a 'nuke' bombardment with the BBs in before attacking, this should push the Japanese troops over the edge. And maybe you can fly in or fast transport some fresh combat squads into Medan, too.

hopefully get one more turn in before moving .

Good luck! Hope to hear from you soon.

[aztez]

Hopefully the move went ok! [:)]
 
Keep up the good work. I think Joe might have one hell of an headache soon enough! [;)]
 
 

[tiger111]

Hello to Little Joe and all followers of this AAR

Hope everybody had a happy Christmas.

Rob has still to be connected to internet. His move went OK but TeleWest ( ISP/cable in England )screwed up,despite confirming connection the day before his move, it transpired that they wouldn`t because it would cost too much to fix the alleged damage in the piping !!! This is the sort of consumer service we get in the UK. After all it`s not that he`s out in the sticks but in central London. Anyway he`s trying to get a new ISP and should be back with a vengeance sometime soon.

Thought you all should have an update in case you thought he had fallen off the edge of the world.

P.S.  I`m his brother and introduced him to UV many moons ago-so blame me !

[aztez]

Nice to hear that Rob is well.
 
ISP's can be pain in the ass sometimes! [8|]

[Rob Brennan UK]

Yep Jamie it's all your fault [;)].

Aztez. thanks .. might be temporary though[:@]. p.s its spelled arse .. not ass .. Ass is a hybrid donkey/horse . arse is your backside .. ( unless your american then ass=mule and arse=fanny.. that confuses me in so many ways [;)])

VSWG.. humm .. nuke attack would be nice. only one operational BB in kuala though, several CA's
mind you. turn after next we'll give it a go. my men are as well as can be expected in jungle
i.e c 10% dis and 30% fatigue.

The commander of the infantry div at tassafaronga and his 20 odd med jumped off the LCU transport
and watched a few more unload a few tins of bully beef and bullets. then as they sailed away
the entire japanese navy decended on them ! ..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Yamato
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
CL Kinu
CL Tenryu
CL Yubari
DD Shigure
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
LCI LCI-221, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCI LCI-222, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
LCI LCI-223, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCI LCI-330, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
LCI LCI-331, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCI LCI-332, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

they subsequently made a very small dent in allied troops, i must move a BF here to absorb
this kind of attack as it does badly disrupt the troops if no rear area targets available.

Naval bombardment of Tassafaronga, at 66,97

Japanese Ships
DD Matsukaze
DD Asakaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Umikaze
DD Shigure
CL Yubari
CL Tenryu
CL Kinu
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
BB Yamato
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Still it was enough to make the attack fail badly . :-

Ground combat at Tassafaronga

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21518 troops, 170 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 501

Defending force 6832 troops, 7 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Allied max assault: 162 - adjusted assault: 114

Japanese max defense: 96 - adjusted defense: 139

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


Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
341 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


Close , but no bananas .. anyway multiple AKS loading up the 2 tank brigades and a NZ inf
brigade for transport. to be covered by 2 USA BB groups and LR Cap from rennel island.

After last turns japanese attempt at air combat ( not fair imo [:)]) over burma. this paid
the airfield a visit .. hehe

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 28
Wellington III x 24
F-5A Lightning x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 116
B-17E Fortress x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 15 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
226 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 171

NICE ! .. tomorrow they go for bangkok resources as intel only shows 13 japanese fighters
at fields there. Only 6 hexes away we should have good escort too.

also in the news. american fighters and FB#s unloading at colombo for re-building and
transfer into front line duty.. more details tomorrow as they are still on-board right now.
This should allow me to maximise my airfields (esp in burma) where i have spare capacity.
Quite unlike the SW Pac where i have 100's of spare a/c just sitting waiting for bases
to become available.

Regarding the CV's to the RN .. Decision is to send back the 3 RN CV's and 4 american fast
CVL's . these have a nice fighter heavy load to complement the excellent british torpedo
bombers. ( i.e capacity 30 a/c 21 F6F and 9 TMB's).

Pissie of the group sailing to sydney-Perth-SriLanka.

Rest of the CV's are to sail to noumea as a possible band aid for the guadalcanal ops. Else
to go to PH for the wake island invasion- then if weather permits .. invasion of the
northern kurile islands.

And its good to be back !

P.S I'm using my 'old' account which looks like it hasnt been cancelled as my modem went live
(unexpectedly) lunchtime today. No Idea if this will last .. proper installation isn't due till
thursday 11th .. but i'm definately not complaining.



.

[VSWG]

Good to see you around again. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Pissie of the group

Sounds naughty... [:'(]

P.S I'm using my 'old' account which looks like it hasnt been cancelled as my modem went live
(unexpectedly) lunchtime today. No Idea if this will last .. proper installation isn't due till
thursday 11th .. but i'm definately not complaining.

This might be a bad idea: your old ISP could use this opportunity to force you into another contract, since you keep using its services. At least that's how it works in Germany...

Oh, and I would send that Townsville screenshot to your opponent, the sight of 7 AC TFs docked at Townsville should be demoralizing. [;)]

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

Good to see you around again. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Pissie of the group

Sounds naughty... [:'(]

P.S I'm using my 'old' account which looks like it hasnt been cancelled as my modem went live
(unexpectedly) lunchtime today. No Idea if this will last .. proper installation isn't due till
thursday 11th .. but i'm definately not complaining.

This might be a bad idea: your old ISP could use this opportunity to force you into another contract, since you keep using its services. At least that's how it works in Germany...

Oh, and I would send that Townsville screenshot to your opponent, the sight of 7 AC TFs docked at Townsville should be demoralizing. [;)]

My typing hasn't been improved by alcohol over the holidays. [8D]

humm .. didnt think about using my old account that way ?? humm .. tad late now though.
We will see how i goes, basically both are with the same provider so i dont see it'll be
a major problem hopefully.

[ctangus]

Good to see you back Rob. [:)]

[tiger111]

HOORAY IT`S BACK.

GOD WHAT AN ORDEAL

Doubt if you`ll have a prob-after all they connected you and know about thursday. ( Just to be on the safe side phone the bank and get them to send you a list of Direct Debits and Standing Orders - never abad idea just to make sure you arn`t paying for things you don`t need or forgotten about )

[pauk]

yes, nice to see you again, Rob!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Thank you all for a nice new year welcome back, getting that warm fuzzy feeling [;)]

On with the war .. theatre by theater this time

NorPac

Komandorski island (dot base) is building up with 270 eng squads and 250 eng vehicles it'll
be ready soon ish, being a 0/0 it'll never be a main base BUT i think it'll be useable
as a fighter base against the kuriles. all else is quiet, PB4Y patrol the seas and plenty
of local fighters just in case he re-appears here.

CentPac.

The build up on PH for the wake invasion continues apace. I'm dragging in all i can scrape
together in cent and south pac, inc arm/arty and plenty of eng and BF's all prepping for
wake . best is at 40 ish so at least one month before we commence. in the meantime B24's and
Pb4Y's alternate 2 day cycles of hitting the runways and ports on wake. the odd Emily
and nell are getting blown up but i'm definately damageing faster then he can repair.
US Subs patrol around wake to try and intercept any re-supply groups. (none seen).

south Pac

Getting raped for wke island operation, many a/c from baker/canton/pago-suva on hevy recon
and defensive fighters are plentyful.

SW Pac.

Ah, an interesting theatre. 2 ARM brigades and the NZers are unloading at rennel. losses are
bad (c1000) as not prepped for here( the more i think of this the more i wish i'd just hit
lunga full on ). BB's escort the still full transports while the empty ones are sent home
pronto. in 2 days F4U's and P38's on LRCAP have downed several Lilys (many sent home bad morale).
and 20 odd betties( many broke through so mush be elite ones). any jap fighter escort from
munda island was brushed aside. fortunately the betties went for the men on the ground
rather then the troop ships or escorts. should be unloaded next turn. meanwhile 64 mitchells
will pay munda AF a visit with kittyhawk and F4F escort. The B17's at muganville have been
hitting the jap ground forces at rennel and have been reinforced by PB4Y's from nuomea, allowing
them a rest turn after next. ( they badly need it). american subs are swarming in the solomons
but none as yet seen anything for a while. The main US CV's heading to noumea to assist on the
final attack on lunga. from there i should have enough LBA to withdraw the CV@s for wake island ops.

On the other side of the coral sea japanese bombers from rabaul and shortlands sink 6 barges
unloading at gili gili for a heavy toll of japanese bombers and fighters. the F4s especially
did a good job on the escorting fighters ( suprisingly). Gili needs more aiation support and
more should arrive next 2 days this will make the place almost bullet proof bar brave jap
bombardment attacks.

Lae is being kept close by allied 4E a/c flying from thursday island and bombers and FB's in PM
are harassing the retreating japs heading over the owens stanly to buma, aussies are chasing them.
The USMC divs will be withdrawn to OZ for a brief refit. then maybe hit Buna/Lae under LBA cover.

North australia and the south DEI.

Very quiet, allied subs patrolling from darwin find nowt and the dummy attack on timor
is now a waste of effort as my hand was shown earlier. Still B24's will harass enemy bases
and we may try a creep toward north PNG, LBA Permitting.

South China Sea

US Sub Bowelfish(?) hit 2 AK's about 240 miles southwest of HK. Japanese B25's alerted and
more US Subs vectored in. however US SS steelhead and Bowfin were hit by ASW A/c badly and must
retire to Midway ( hopefully they will make it .. flooding is bad on both boats). Other chinese
B25's will target jap resources after 6 days recon work. hopefully better results as no
japanese a/c detected.

SEAC (Burma+north sumatra included)

heavy raid on bangkok resources netted 115 hits ! wayhay ! only one mission flown due to weather
and no attacks at all on the japanese on sumatra. however i have taken the advice to bombard
them from the sea with BB Valient and 3 CA's ( only 2 hex range so safe enough). also sending
out fighter sweeps from andaman to the malayan coast. Mainly just caretaking and running supply
forward. Only one aside really , 2 divisions are unloading at chandpur and might well get
prepped for a diversionary landing. the newly arrived fighters and 64 dakotas from america
are getting ready in colombo and will come in very handy.

Piccie of the 2nd raid on gili gili

[Rob Brennan UK]

Joe has been a busy of late but we can hopefully get a bit more regular from now on (fingers crossed).

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/10/43

SS Tullibee had a good 2 days, hitting 2 japanese merchants south of china.

Sub attack at 38,45

Japanese Ships
AK Sydney Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Kinko Maru
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS Tullibee

Sub attack at 38,45

Japanese Ships
AK Pacific Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AK Tairyu Maru
AK Kotoku Maru
AK Kosei Maru
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS Tullibee

She avoided a meagre ASW effort and will withdraw for new torps at best speed.

Of note in the sub war is that i can find and attack japanese merchantmen in the south china sea.
but they seem to evaporate when they near the Phillipines[&:], the formosa straights are plugged
full of subs who are getting harassed by ASW a/c in a badly one sided exchange thats costing
me a few damaged subs. Strted to up the sub numbers around manilla but still nothing found.
v odd.

anyhoo ..

The usual air encouters tassfaronga point again heavily favour the allies and c20 betties are
downed for 2 allied F4's. Lokks like i have enough men here now , one more days re-organising
and finally get a foot hold on Lunga (hopefully).

Over in gili gili japanese air attacks from Rabaul and shortlands sink 4 allied LCI's unloading
supply in GG harbour (now a size 3 ). P38's and F4's extract a hefty toll hoever.

e,g

Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
G3M Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 8
G4M2 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
P-38G Lightning x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 9 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-141, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-135
LCT LCT-63

The above must be unsustainable for Japan, and when more AV support arrives the allies
can double the AC in the base (size4).(i,e 200)

This landing at tassaforonga point is becoming a royal pain the backside (and quite possiby
a dumb move on my part). More allied troops keep falling out of boats or stabbing themselves
due to no-one actually giving them maps of the area (i.e no prep).

Coastal Guns at Tassafaronga, 66,97, firing at TF 1006
TF 1006 troops unloading over beach at Tassafaronga, 66,97


38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
PT PT-180
PT PT-126
DD Radford
PT PT-123
DD Bailey


Allied ground losses:
1216 casualties reported OUCH
Guns lost 1

This should be last unloading.

OK thats about it for this turn, hopefully get more regularly soon.

bye

[pauk]

hi,

Joe making a mistakes, IMHO - he shouldn't attack your ships at the GG - you are too strong for that and it is better for him (and his Samurais[;)]) to restrain from such kamikaze actions...

why his torp bombers attacking your barges? Are you mixing them with another type ships (not that is wrong, i consider gamey only mixing PTs with other type ships - just curious)?

Oh, just one small remark for you lazy old chap... Why don't you bold headlines (theatres)? it will cost you a few seconds more, but it will be much more eye-friendlier (hehe, when Pigin Croat tries to speaks/write in English[:D])

Other than that, very good... and I don't want to be in Joe's shoes...

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: pauk

hi,

Joe making a mistakes, IMHO - he shouldn't attack your ships at the GG - you are too strong for that and it is better for him (and his Samurais[;)]) to restrain from such kamikaze actions...

why his torp bombers attacking your barges? Are you mixing them with another type ships (not that is wrong, i consider gamey only mixing PTs with other type ships - just curious)?

Oh, just one small remark for you lazy old chap... Why don't you bold headlines (theatres)? it will cost you a few seconds more, but it will be much more eye-friendlier (hehe, when Pigin Croat tries to speaks/write in English[:D])

Other than that, very good... and I don't want to be in Joe's shoes...

I think both Joe and I have goten a tad lazy due to the gaps between turns, He really shopuldnt be
attacking gili gili and I really should have paid more attention to lifting in more troops and
frankly being organised.

I find transport TF's made up of LCI (1000 ton capacity) make good supply haulers as they
have a nice range (albeit slow). The computer can and does seem to treat these as normal
merchant shipping and deals with it accordingly ( i dislike 'barges' being immune air attack
as a rule of thunb anyway). Maybe because i dont make Barge groups but use Transport groups
this happens.

OK I will try and make this more visually friendly ( not in VSWG League though). and use bold
and even Underlining! in future [;)], Less of the old too, Lazy i'd agree with [;)]