The Northern Fleet Sortied and cover capped Adak, which has been a popular bombing target for American planes. This is about the only kind of ambush the Japanese can do, due to the various air intel advantages had by the Allies. We clobbered the milk runs to Adak and also decimated an unescorted level bomber counterattack on the fleet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adak Island , at 98,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 28
A6M3a Zero x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 43
SBD Dauntless x 23
Hurricane II x 11
The air war took a decided "IJA" twist today as many Allied planes are standing down. And for once our Tony group at Mandalay, which has been on 3 hex range LR CAP commanders discretion without flying for two turns, finally earned their pay and came up against multiple bombing missions against our troops trying to block the trails.
Blocking all access to the Mandalay/Mytchina railline is now the hottest priority. We have 2 more tank units approaching Mandalay and they will provide the initial pinning forces for the two most vulnerable hexes.
We will counter-attack the 14th Chindit Bde with an Armored Rgt, and IER and an RCT of the 55th Div.
And the Western Fleet will bombard the 8 Allied units bearing down on Akyab.
The Western Fleet reinforcements are arriving. 7xBB, 1xCL, 8xDD will dock at Singapore this turn. The Junyo/Hiyo group are moving through the Java Sea and will dock on the next turn. The Cruiser/DD group should be back at Singapore by then and we will regroup for anothoer sortie into the Gulf of Martaban.
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One of our most important activities is the IJA fighter training lifecycle.
Groups which have been beat up in Burma are sent back to Manilla (several hops) and transitioned to Nates, accept replacements and train up on the San Jose training range. Once they reach 75 EXP they are sent back to Burma. The cycle continues indefinitely.
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WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Well Moses left his merchant ships to unload, and there was some "unloading" on both sides as his "kamikaze" merchants ships unloaded their cargo and our Pilots unloaded their bombs.
I have to head to the airport in a few minutes, so no time for screen shots, but the CENPAC carriers (Shokaku, Zuikaku)(Zuiho, Ryuho)(Shoho, Ryujo) are 2 hexes WNW of Nanomea. The fleet train will arrive this turn and we do have some of the short legged DDs in the red. We will hang around for another couple of days and are also detaching a few cruisers to go in a disturb the busy Americans. In the short run Moses will get the Island and will unload enough stuff to build a level-1 and get some fighters aboard, etc. It was too late to stop that from the moment he landed, if he was willing to lose the ships, which he obviously is. So I'm hoping Andy is correct in that the pay back comes in '44 when the Allies have a big AK shortage!!
We send the Abukuma in to Nukufetau ( 2 hexes South of Nanomea) to knock off the seaplane tender Moses was using to support his PBYs and this was accomplished, but it seems there is an LCU there now, so probably a BF and so we're already too late. He could fly Av Spt in with PBY as well. We are cover capping Nanomea this turn to intercept such, but I'm sure he has unloaded enough stuff to get the Level-1 AF built, so our "fun" won't last too long. And we will run out of bombs soon enough at this rate anyway!
Combatreport snipped only to show action around Nanomea ...
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 88,102
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 43
A6M3a Zero x 33
B5N Kate x 41
Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Benham, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
G4M1 Betty x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Sidney Hauptmann
AK Peter Kerr
AK Donald McKay, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
Allied Ships
AK West Cactus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Peter Kerr, Torpedo hits 1
AK Manukai
Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Lynx, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Arided, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cetus
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 88,102
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 18
A6M3a Zero x 31
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Malama, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Hammann, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 88,102
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Nukufetau island at 87,103
Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
Allied Ships
AVD Childs, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Nukufetau island at 87,103
Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
Allied Ships
AP Hunter Liggett, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 38
A6M3a Zero x 35
B5N Kate x 45
Allied Ships
AK West Cactus, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Peter Kerr, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Forbes Hauptmann, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK American Builder, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sidney Hauptmann
AK Admiral Halstead, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Admiral Wiley, Torpedo hits 1
AK American Press
AK Wallingford, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK West Camargo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 89,103
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Mount McKinley, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koolama, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 89,103
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
B5N Kate x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Naos, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 89,103
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N Kate x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 87,104
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AVD Childs, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3a Zero x 11
B5N Kate x 48
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AK American Packer, Torpedo hits 1
AK Admiral Halstead, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hollywood, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Wallingford, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Forbes Hauptmann, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK American Leader, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Peter Kerr, on fire, heavy damage
AK American Builder, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Manukai, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK West Camargo, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A Val x 20
A6M3a Zero x 45
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Carina
AK Albireo, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cetus, Bomb hits 4, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Funafuti island at 88,104
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AP Hunter Liggett, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 89,103
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AP Koolama, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mount McKinley, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 86,98
[:D][:D][:D] ..."Well Moses left his merchant ships to unload, and there was some "unloading" on both sides as his "kamikaze" merchants ships unloaded their cargo and our Pilots unloaded their bombs." [:D][:D][:D]
That unloading/loading would have resulted in Commodore 64 terms --> "Syntax error" for allied side! [;)]
Moses mostly bugged out with his merchants. We sent in some cruisers to shove what was left in the hex out and they duly did so and we knocked off a few more.
The CenPac carrier group will now shift up towards Baker to escort in the resupply convoy that had been first destined for Nanomea. Given the non-defensibility of Baker, I'm sure it is a target on Moses list. And it would fall just as easily and likely with less consequence as it is farther away from our normal operating areas. We will also lay on one more big ML run to Baker at the same time.
In Burma we are preparing for one of our rare air raids. We are staging forward 90 Lily's and we will hit Imphal next turn.
In China we are moving all the Armor and a new HQ to Ichang. Moses has a few screening units out to the West and NW of us, so we will send the Armor out there to try to bash a few of those guys and then return before any of Moses large stacks can come threaten our rear areas. The 3rd Armored Division has joined the 1st Armored now, so we have both of these in addition to half a dozen tank regiments.
At Soerabaja, 4 Zero groups are trying to train up to 80 (or at least high 70s) before the Jacks arrive in January. We will commit four groups at one time to attempt to change the pattern for a brief time in Burma.
Our Nanomea related attacks from the combat report.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Nanomea Atoll at 87,101
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
Allied Ships
AK Wallingford, and is sunk
AK American Press, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 86,99
Japanese Ships
DD Kiyonami
DD Onami
DD Takanami
DD Teruzuki
Allied Ships
SS Pollack, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 88,103
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
D3A Val x 21
A6M3a Zero x 36
B5N Kate x 20
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Manukai, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Forbes Hauptmann, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK American Packer, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Cactus, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 88,103
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 12
A6M3a Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK American Packer, on fire, heavy damage
AK Forbes Hauptmann, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Cactus, on fire, heavy damage
AK Manukai, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,100
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 39
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Carina, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Admiral Wiley, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sidney Hauptmann, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,100
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK American Leader
AK Sidney Hauptmann, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
I've been traveling and we've been doing turns - but I haven't had time to update AAR. We're almost at the end of 1942 and the Japanese are still in the game!
CENPAC:
Our CenPac Carrier force is covering the unloading of supplies at Baker. In the mean time the Americans are building up Nanomea. We are sending in a small surface force to disrupt their supply unloading operations.
Aleutians:
Our force has sortied. After this sortie we will pull back the 4xCVE Group (Hosho, Unyo, Chuyo, Taiyo) for refit. This will leave the Hiryu/Soryu group and the Akagi/Kaga group on station.
China:
Things are too quiet. We have massed our Armor at Ichang and are preparing to head West and find some folks to beat up on!
Burma:
The air attrition battles continue, we win some, they win some. Our Western Fleet is putting the finishing touches on maintenance activities at Singapore. The fleet is ready to sortie as soon as the Allies enter the Akyab hex with their LCUs (well if they do). We have 9xBB and the Hiyo/Junyo group as well as 50+ Cruisers and Destroyers. Enough to be a nuissance to Allied attempts to support Akyab by sea.
The 20ID and IG ID are enroute to Burma and will arrive within about a week. The 11th ID has been released from Manchuko. This unit will also be sent to Burma.
Training:
Many IJA Fighters groups cycling through the training cycle at Manilla. The IJN Fighter groups are training at Soerabaja. The Jack production should begin just after the new year. Our capacity is 209, so by mid-month we should be able to introduce the first four Jack groups into Burma. The EXP of the groups will be 80+ or worst case high 70s. We will send the best four groups from Soerabaja.
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Production:
Well somehow the Jack production actually kicked in about 6 days ago in late December !? So we already have 76 Jacks in the pool! I don't want to commit them until I have 4 full units. There are two zero units at Soerabaja that are at 80+ EXP so I can starting moving them up to Burma. There are two more in the upper 70s ... I give them a couple more rounds of training before I move them up.
Burma:
Moses seems to be resting his planes in anticipation of the Jacks!? So that's actually good, takes the pressure off our bases. But what we will do is commit a batch of new Tony/Tojo units for several days to force Moses to commit his P-38s ... get them a bit tired and then toss in the Jacks. But all this won't happen for a couple of weeks. In the mean time, we'll enjoy his "stand down".
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Production:
Jacks are up to 105. Looks like production is several days ahead of unit deployment. Two of the "to be converted" four LB zero units are at Singapore, the other two are at Palembang. We will probably do the conversions at Bangkok. So it will be "a week plus" before we are in action.
Burma:
In the mean time we have committed one new Tojo unit and have two new (i.e. retraining complete up to EXP 75) Tony units deploying in about 4 more days. This will be the "pre-spike" to spice things up - and heat up the air war - a turn or so before the Jacks arrive.
China:
The Armor are heading West of Ichang to beat up on some Chinese units sitting out there. We've staged forward some Sally's and Transport aircraft to support. This is just a "raid" .. but we're worried about the lack of activity, so figured we'd generate some.
Aleutians:
The Hosho/Unyo/Chuyo/Taiyo carrier group has now entered home waters and they will port at Maizuru next turn. They will be in refit/upgrade. Then they will probably head South to relieve some of the CenPac carriers.
Burma:
Our Western Fleet is starting to sortie. A group of 3 slow 14" BB (Yamashiro/Ise/Hyuga) have sailed as have the Junyo/Hiyo group and an ASW path clearing group. Over the next turn or so additional units will sortie. The fleet will cover the landing of the two divisions (the 20 ID and the IG ID) at Rangoon and try to lay on some bombardments of the enemy LCU which have reached Akyab.
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Yes, whenever a new plane type comes on line, I try to get some "first use" bonus my using them in some quantity. So we plan to introduce 4x27 plane units of Jack's together and then bring in a couple of more within a week to "spell" the first four. I expect some heavy air battles in Burma over the next couple of weeks.
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Burma:
One Bde of Chindits got behind our lines on the rail between Mandalay and Mytchina. We pinned this unit with the reserve Bde (22 IMB) from Mandalay. Next we will surround the hex and then we will attack. Mitchina and the other front line jungle hexes will be loosing supply - but we have planes flying supply to Mytchina and lots of reserves moving to clear the supply line. So this should be more of an opportunity to kill one Chindit than any other outcome.
The Jacks are transitioning at Bangkok and will enter the fray in a few days. The initial fleet elements will refuel at Rangoon this turn and be ready to intervene at Akyab if necessary. I don't think Moses brought enough stuff to Akyab to attack yet.
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Historically, FWIW [:'(], severe teething problems and the need to give primacy to the A6M, kept Raiden production low. 14 Raidens, including prototypes, were produced to 3/43. Production remained so limited that the first combat unit to operate the Raiden - 381 Kokutai - wasn't formed until 10/43. Furthermore, this was the 2x7.7mm MG + 2x20mm cannon J2M2 rather than the 4x20mm cannon J2M3 as portraited in stock.
Who does one have to bribe around here to get this changed? [:)]
Burma:
Probably 3 more turns before the 4x27 plane Jack units will be in action. The 20 ID has unloaded at Rangoon and is moving forward to Mandalay. The 25th Army HQ convoy tagged a mine of Kuala Lumpur and will stop off at Georgetown for repairs. The IG ID is at Singapore enroute to Rangoon.
11 ID at Pusan preparing to load, enroute to Burma.
Home Islands:
Taiyo, Unyo, Chuyo, Hosho group is refitting at Maizuru.
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Four 27 plane Jack units have staged forward to the Burma front. One unit to Akyab, one to Mandalay and two to Lashio. We've seen P-38s over Akyab and Mytchina, so we are going after these and Mandalay is key because it is the supply hub for the activities related to clearing the rail to Mytchina and operates a number of transport units flying supplies to Mytchina.
We have begun the reduction of the Chindit unit that is blocking the Mandalay-Mytchina rail. The 20 ID is involved in this now. The IG ID arrives at Rangoon this turn. The 11 ID is loading at Pusan enroute to Burma.
CENPAC:
Our carrier group apprached Nanomea to attack US shipping in the area. But whether blocked all attacks. The Betty's flying from Tarawa were not bothered by the weather and continued their attrition attacks on the merchants and ASW craft in the area.
WITP Admiral's Edition - Project Lead
War In Spain - Project Lead
Our carrier group apprached Nanomea to attack US shipping in the area. But whether blocked all attacks.
One could almost see how a bad spell of weather could block all attacks there....
<rimshot on the snare drum>
"Thanks, I'll be here all week and make sure to tip your waitress; I like to tip mine sideways, myself..."
Sing to the tune of "Man on the Flying Trapeze" ..Oh! We fly o'er the treetops with inches to spare,
There's smoke in the cockpit and gray in my hair.
The tracers look fine as a strafin' we go.
But, brother, we're TOO God damn low...
