VICTORY AT SEA: CHS 158;sjohnson(J)vs Spruance(A)

[racndoc]

APRIL 2ND-8TH, 1943


SEAC:

The P-38 escorted bomber attacks on Hanoi at 22,00 feet are incredibly effective.....Steve informs me that 162 resource points are destroyed over a 2 day period. Unfortunately, the 2 SEAC P-38 groups are shot up and require several days to recover and take on replacements. In addition, switching over to city bombing allows the Hanoi airfield engineers to effect significant repairs.

Then SEAC switches back over to high altitude airfield bombing at Hanoi but can barely keep it at 30% suppression.....bad weather only allows us to hit it every other day:


Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 19
A6M3a Zero x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 49
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 10
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 25

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 135
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 86

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 4 destroyed, 12 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed, 29 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 32 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 52 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38




Japan has staged in several fresh fighter groups and our heavy bombers have lost a lot of morale from flying so many missions to Hanoi . Im going to send a few low altitude bombers at night to see if that will help to suppress the airbase there.




CENTPAC:

It took some 20 MSWs over a week to sweep all the minefields around Tarawa but now the waters have been cleared for some extracurricular activities:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tarawa, at 84,95

Allied Ships
CL Columbo
CL Capetown
BB Warspite
BB Washington
BB North Carolina

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 41
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 13


SBDs from Makin and multi-engine bomers from Abemama hit Tarawa every day:

Day Air attack on Tarawa , at 84,95


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34
P-40E Warhawk x 23


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tarawa , at 84,95


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 50
B-25C Mitchell x 43
PB4Y Liberator x 12


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4


The USNs first amphibious assault TF made up entirely of LSTs has just finished loading assault troops and will hit Tarawa atoll within the week.

The Allied CVs stand by to cover the assault.

[racndoc]

APRIL 9TH-14TH, 1943


CENTPAC:


Led by a pre-dawn bombardment, US Army and Marine troops storm ashore Tarawa and capture the island after facing minimal resistance:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tarawa, at 84,95

Allied Ships
CL Caledon
CL Enterprise
CA Cornwall
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tarawa, at 84,95

Allied Ships
CL Columbo
CL Capetown
BB Warspite
BB Washington
BB North Carolina

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 84,95



Allied ground losses:
518 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 84,95



Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported



Day Air attack on 24th Aviation Unit , at 84,95


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 21
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32
Kittyhawk I x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 21


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 24th Aviation Unit , at 84,95


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 29
B-24D Liberator x 15


Day Air attack on Tarawa , at 84,95


Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 19
PV-1 Ventura x 55
B-25C Mitchell x 45
PB4Y Liberator x 12


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 64


Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 84,95

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
Kittyhawk I x 5
P-38G Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Trenton


Ground combat at Tarawa

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3644 troops, 0 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 323

Defending force 80 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied max assault: 184 - adjusted assault: 182

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 182 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported



Japan had already built a level 3 airfield at Tarawa and our seabees should enlarge it into a level 5 4E base within a week. With level 5 airfields at Abemama and Tarawa and a level 4 airfield at Makin, our USAAF medium and heavy bombers should be able to dominate the entire Marshal Islands archipelago.


With Japan playin a "Sir Robin" strategy and using transport AC to withdraw their troops right before we deliver overwhelming force, the Allied offensives in the SWPAC, SOPAC and CENTPAC are all at least 9-12 months ahead of the RL schedule. Instead of withdrawing for refit and repair, CENTPAC CINC Admiral Chester Nimitz orders 5th Fleet to stay at sea. With the Gilberts Campaign now completed, the US Navy will support additional offensives prior to withdrawing for routine ship maintenance and upgrades. When it became apparent that Japan had withdrawn most of their forces from Tarawa, the USMC 1st and 2nd Divisions were given new objectives and withdrawn from combat. Tarawa was captured with smaller Marine Raider Battalions and US Army combat engineers while the USMC divisions prep for new objectives.



SEAC:

After 3 weeks of trying to shut down the large airbase at Hanoi, RAF and USAAF heavy bombers were withdrawn to India due to fatigue. The night bombing attacks proved to be futile and the stacking of base units and AA units at Hanoi forced Allied bombers to fly at altitudes that minimized their effectiveness. Indeed, after 300 4E bombers flying at 31.000 feet score less than 30 hits on Hanoi, Japan comes back with 27 Jills at 27,000 feet and scores enough damage on Mandalay to kill way more Ac on the ground....gotta love the weapons effects of those 800 KG ship busting bombs that IJN torpedo bombers carry:

Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,29

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 2 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 3 destroyed
Beaufighter VIF: 2 destroyed
P-66 Vanguard: 2 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19


SEAC knew that the IJN bomber attack was coming from Rangoon and tried to pre-empt it only to commit Hari Kari on the AA guns there and fail to destroy a single Jill:

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 18
A-20G Havoc x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 23
A-29 Hudson x 25
P-66 Vanguard x 11


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A-20G Havoc: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
A-29 Hudson: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9


I was anticipating an overwhelming Japanese fighter sweep on Mandalay and grounded my CAP ....expecting my AA to take care of the situation. Instead, I lost some 36 AC on the ground as the AA at Mandalay is strangely ineffective......possibly this is related to low morale as SEAC flak and base units have been in the malarial jungles of Burma since the beginning of the war... whereas Rangoon and Hanoi are both in malaria free zones and their flak is always murderous. Guess I need to move another half dozen base units to Mandalay to put a little more oomppf into my flak barrages.


Due to a lack of long range Allied fighters and overwhelming Jap AA at Rangoon, Bangkok and Hanoi from stacking AA and base units....SEAC bombers are withdrawn to India for rest and reorganization.


Oh did I mention....I have over 100 Allied medium bombers grounded at Alice Springs due to the 90% casualties suffered over Tennant Creek...gotta love the AA in the CHS Nik Mod.

[racndoc]

APRIL 15TH-20TH, 1943


CENTPAC: THE MARSHALLS CAMPAIGN

With Japan apparently only lightly defending the Marshall Islands, CENTPAC changes gears and accelerates the offensive here before the CVs withdraw for maintenanace and upgrades.

US Army troops wade ashore at undefended Mili and immediately the seabees go to work on laying out an airstrip here.

In a few days, additional US Army troops will storm nearby Majuro....which appears to be only lightly defended. A level 5 airbase will be constructed here to help reduce Kwajalein.



AUSTRALIA:

Another Allied assault is launched at Tennant Creek:

Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 223275 troops, 2366 guns, 568 vehicles, Assault Value =
4998

Defending force 120540 troops, 783 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value =
2267

Allied max assault: 4830 - adjusted assault: 3933

Japanese max defense: 2002 - adjusted defense: 4999

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
3903 casualties reported
Guns lost 114
Vehicles lost 22

Allied ground losses:
7789 casualties reported
Guns lost 230
Vehicles lost 53


When Steve and I had a RL 3 week break in our game, there were several on going Allied operations that i had forgotten about....one of them was bombing the airfield at Tennant Creek and this allowed Japan to rebuild their fortifications to level 5. The Allies appear to stalemated here ...Im going to ship some combat engineers here but it will take awhile for them to arrive.



SEAC:

I got tired of butting my head against the brick wall that is Hanoi....so I changed gears and sent the RAF and USAAF heavy bombers against soft targets...undefended resource centers at Tavoy and Ban Don. 100 reource points are destroyed at Tavoy and another 50 at Ban Don.



CHINA:

Japan has really stepped up the tempo of her air ops here. In addition, an offensive pushed the Chinese back on the Hankow-Kaifeng highway...Japan appears to be attempting to open this vital road.

Steve has really been moving his troops around here recently....after months of inactivity. He has basically stripped out most of the toops that were defending around Hangchow and has built up troop levels to 160,000 in Hankow, 14 LCUs in Kiukiang and 20 LCUs in Kaifeng. Perhaps Japan is planning an offensive with either Homan or Changsha as the primary objective.

[racndoc]

APRIL 21ST-22ND, 1943


CENTPAC:

Allied medium and heavy bombers based in the Gilberts hit Kwajalein on a daily basis:

Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 13


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17


Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 38


Kwajalein is now 48% damaged and will be completely suppressed for the remainder of the Marshalls Campaign.


Meanwhile, Admiral Hill assembles his assault transports in the Gilberts in preparation for the amphibious invasion of Majuro.


A level 1 airstrip is completed on Mili and 2 squadrons of F4U-1s are flown in to provide CAP for the unloading transports.




SEAC:


RAF and USAAF HQs put the final touches on their joint plan for resumption of the heavy bomber campaign against Japanese airfields, resources, oil and HI in SE Asia. All of the 4E squadrons are R&Ring at Dacca and Calcutta....regaining lost morale from the last heavy bomber blitz and resting up for the next one. SEAC fighters are training by attacking IJA LCUs in Burma so that they can take on the 2nd generation IJA and IJN fighters.


NEW HOUSE RULES:

My recent posts may have seemed a bit rantish as I have been frustrated by the effects of massed AA in this CHS Nik mod and also by the general futility of Allied sub warfare against massed IJA and IJN naval search and ASW AC missions. In fact, Ive lost another 3 subs to AP bombs in the last 2 turns...that makes 29 subs lost to AP bombs out of 38.

My response to the AA and sub issues was to commence a campaign of unrestricted heavy bomber attacks on Japanese resources and after destroying over 400 resources in the last month we have managed to bring Japan to the negotiating table. Steve proposed several new house rules to reduce the lethality of Japanese naval search and ASW including restrictions on the numbers of IJA bombers placed on ASW and naval search as well as keeping search and ASW altitudes at at least 6000 feet(the Allies have done this the entire game). In addition, Steve proposed stacking limits of no more than 4 AA and 4 base units per hex(the small IJA and IJN base units count as one half for this purpose).

In return, the Allies agree to restrict resource bombing to 50% of the resources present in a hex(to reflect the difficulties in totally destroying all resources in a 60 mile wide hex). In addition, ASW escorts of transports will be limited to only one ASW Tf of 6 ASW ships(I had been attaching 2 ASW TFs to some of my larger convoys). We will see if some of these rules help to soften some of the rough edges of this game.

Japan had mainly focused their sub efforts earlier in the war to the area I call the "Black Hole of the Eastern Pacific"...this is the area midway between Hawaii and the west coast that is beyond the search radius of Allied patrol planes. After losing a bunch of transports in early 1942 I started forming huge convoys of up to 100 ships with embedded ASW ships, embedded CLs with float planes on ASW and naval search, and up to 2 attached ASW escort TFs of 6 ships apiece. After sinking or damaging a half dozen IJN subs over a 2 month period they were largely withdrawn. Now, the turn after I agree to the new House Rules, 4 IJN subs show up in the "Black Hole"" area creating havoc and damaging an AK and a TK while having 3 subs hit in return....Lol. Guess its time to fire up all the hunter/killer groups again.

Here is a screenshot of the sub/ASW action in the eastern Pacific:

[racndoc]

APRIL 23RD-26TH, 1943



CENTPAC:

The CENTPAC assault on Majuro begins with a pre-dawn bombardment by BBs:

Naval bombardment of Majuro, at 84,88

Allied Ships
CL Caledon
CL Enterprise
CA Cornwall
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 22
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 6



Then the MSWs come in to sweep lanes through the minefields:

TF 1132 encounters mine field at Majuro (84,88)

Allied Ships
MSW Whyalla
MSW Warnambool
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Glenelg
MSW Oracle


Meanwhile, heavy bombers from Abemama and medium bombers from Makin completely suppress the airbase at Kwajalein and remove it from the amphibious assault equation that is Majuro:

Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 36
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24D Liberator x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 63


Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 51


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23



US Army troops storm ashore at daybreak:

TF 1132 encounters mine field at Majuro (84,88)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Majuro, 84,88


Allied Ships
MSW Whyalla
MSW Warnambool
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Glenelg
MSW Oracle
AK American Packer, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
884 casualties reported


US Army troops take the Majuro airfield in the initial assault....the remnants of the Japanese defenders will be mopped up later:

Ground combat at Majuro

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4670 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 138

Defending force 251 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied max assault: 118 - adjusted assault: 18

Japanese max defense: 7 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Majuro base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
83 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 2



Farther east, the IJN appears to be adopting wolfpack tactics in the eastern Pacific between Hawaii and the US west coast. Initially after we revised the house rules regarding sub rules, subs I-37, I-28, I-153 and I-25 were encountered in the "Black Hole " that Allied patrol AC cannot search. This turn, subs I-170, I-174, I-159, I-156, I-180, I-24, I-177, I-36 were also encountered in the "Black Hole". Fortunately, only 2 TKs have been sunk during this IJN sub blitz. During the last IJN sub blitz in spring 1942, not only were dozens of transports lost but IJN subs seemed to usually get the 1st shot off against USN ASW TFs. Now, USN ASW hunter/killer TFs seem to usually find the IJN subs first AND get off the first shot....no IJN subs are being killed but they arent obtaining too many firing solutions either.....dont know if this is due to better USN ASW experience, upgraded mousetrap and hedgehog capabilities, or a combination of the two.

For now, several small Allied convoys have been recalled to the US west coast where they will be reformed into large convoys with internal and external ASW ships and embedded CLs with both naval search and ASW float planes.

[racndoc]

APRIL 27TH-MAY 2ND, 1943


CENTPAC: INVASION OF WOTJE


The US Army 27th Infantry Division storms ashore at Wotje as the Allies capture a level 3 airfield in the Central Pacific. The Central Pacific is looking mighty green now as the noose tightens around Kwajalein.

The Allies now control half of of the buildable islands in the Marshalls. One more island remains.....Kwajalein.....before 5th Fleet retires for R&R.

Maloelap will be bypassed and used to train Allied fighter pilots.


In the last 2 moinths, the Allied front line has been pushed 1500 miles to the north from Funafuti to Wotje....Allied convoys to New Guinea have now reduced their round trip mileage by over 2000 miles.


The Kwajalein assualt should be spectacular...several veteran USMC formations are getting ready to start loading.


Farther east, CENTPAC decides that the best response to the Japanese sub blitz between Hawaii and the west coast is to simply cancel ALL convoys. Eventually a large convoy will be sent to Hawaii with embedded CLs with ASW and naval search float planes, internal and external ASW.....we will not try to bypass the mass of Jap subs but go simply right through them hoping to draw as much contact as possible...with several ASW TFs sailing just in front . Hopefully the hedgehogs, mousetraps, advanced sonar and radar perform as advertised.

[racndoc]

MAY 3RD-8TH, 1943.....OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER


QUESTION:....


How do you shut down a level 7 Jap airbase at Hanoi that is 8 hexes from Mandalay and outside the range of all Allied fighters except 2 squadrons of Beaufighter VICs and 2 squadrons of P-38s????????

[racndoc]

MAY 3rd -8TH, 1943



SE ASIA:.....OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER


With the arrival of several USAAF aviation groups in Chungking the RAF and USAAF are able to use Chinese airfields to backdoor Hanoi:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 44,80

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 28
A6M3a Zero x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 9
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 66
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 13

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 66
Spitfire Vb x 70
Liberator III x 35
Hudson I x 15
P-40N Warhawk x 9
B-17E Fortress x 25
B-24D Liberator x 100
P-43A Lancer x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 14 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 62 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 14 destroyed, 38 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 8 destroyed, 39 damaged
Liberator III: 1 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 5 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 24 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 90

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
4 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
4 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
6 x Hudson I bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
6 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
2 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
2 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 23000 feet
2 x Liberator III bombing at 23000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 23000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 11
A6M3a Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 20
P-40N Warhawk x 23
P-38G Lightning x 24
P-66 Vanguard x 74

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 25 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 4 damaged
P-66 Vanguard: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged


Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 5
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 19
Liberator III x 190
Beaufighter VIC x 24
P-40N Warhawk x 1
B-24D Liberator x 23
P-43A Lancer x 3
P-38F Lightning x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 10 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged
Liberator III: 10 damaged
Beaufighter VIC: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30



Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 10
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 33
Spitfire Vb x 37
Liberator III x 28
Hudson I x 13
P-40N Warhawk x 2
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-24D Liberator x 84
P-43A Lancer x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 7 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 15 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 4 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Liberator III: 3 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 77


Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 36
P-40N Warhawk x 16
P-38G Lightning x 21
P-66 Vanguard x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 damaged


270 Jap AC are destroyed this turn vs 95 Allied AC including 19 A6M3as, 19 Hurricanes, 60 Jacks, 28 Oscars, 135 Tojos, 21 Tonys, 26 Lancers and 12 Spitfires.


We have a house rule of no more than a 10 hex AC transfer and then AC must rest so sjohnson saw all the Allied AC massing last turn at Chengtu and Kunming and pulled back from Kaifeng, Kiukiang and Hangchow,,,,,,NP.... we will hammer Shanghai tomorrow....

[EUBanana]

Nice AAR, just read it all in one sitting.  [:D]

I presume with Palembang he took his sweet time because he knew that Allied coolies would be happily pumping oil which sooner or later was going to be in his hands.  So why hurry?  May as well let the Allies pump until August and then go pick it up.  [:D]

I find it quite surreal he threw everything including the kitchen sink at Mandalay, into a massively entrenched and reinforced Allied position, over the Irrawaddy, without air superiority, within easy range of massed Allied transport aircraft, and with a tenuous supply line.  And he didn't give it up even after Somme-esque casualties. 

And Mandalay is of questionable importance, as you found out, you couldn't bomb Indochina from there anyway. 

[&:]

Weird.

[wneumann]

If you can spare some fighter planes, I'll loan you some submarines....

[racndoc]

Thanks for the comments guys!


EUBANANA......actually the battle for Mandalay was a "close run thing" when the forts got knocked down but the AC transports got the reinforcements airlifted in just in time. After that, the Japanese casualties did resemble WW I type carnage.


wneumann.....I just might take you up on a trade of fighter AC for subs.....I seem to have a lot of fighters in this mod(except for Spitfires and P-38s) although most of them are 1st generation. My fighter AC pools now include: 273 HurricaneIIbs, 108 F3F-3s, 436 P-39Ds, 248 P-40Es, 749 F4F-4s, 290 Kittyhawks, 110 P-400s, 238 HurricaneIID/IVs, 396 FM-2 Wildcats, 121 F4U-1s, 173 Mohawks, and of course 617 Wirraways to name a few.




MAY 9TH-10, 1943: OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER....

RAF and USAAF heavy bombers based at Nanning stage to Nanchang and put a hurt on Shanghai:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Shanghai , at 52,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 24

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 33
Hudson I x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 33
P-40N Warhawk x 17
P-38G Lightning x 16
A-20G Havoc x 15
B-25C Mitchell x 21
B-17E Fortress x 22
B-24D Liberator x 94
P-38F Lightning x 14
IL-4c x 7
P-66 Vanguard x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 22 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 5 destroyed
Ki-27 Nate: 8 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 12 destroyed
Ki-48-II Lily: 2 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 7 damaged
Hudson I: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 2 damaged
IL-4c: 2 damaged
P-66 Vanguard: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
486 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Airbase hits 52
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 189

105 Japanese AC are destroyed today vs Allied losses of 50 AC.

4Es based at Mandalay continue to pummel a now deserted Hanoi:

Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 166
Beaufighter VIC x 18
B-24D Liberator x 24


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 10 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34


Japan has now withdrawn from all their frontline airfields in China. The Allied bombers at Nanchang will be withdrawn to India while the 4Es at Mandalay will now target HI at Hanoi for a couple of days before Operation Rolling Thunder is wrapped up.

[wneumann]

You'd have to see my aircraft replacement pools to believe them (there's a post covering this in my AAR) - some of your plane pools are (literally) 10 times bigger than mine.

As for the subs in my fleet... lots of mileage and been through the repair shop a few times. I've had relatively few subs sunk, lots of damaged ones. Damaged in action, repaired, damaged in action again, repaired again... I probably have subs that "sunk" and returned to action three, four, maybe five times.

[racndoc]

wneumann....yes, I noticed a while ago from reading your thread that you were having a severe shortage of P-40Es due to having the setting of "replacements on" and upgrades on. I didnt comment on it but my thought at the time was that you should get some Kittyhawk I groups from Canada and New Zealand over to OZ as the Kittyhawk replacement rate exceeds that of the P-40E.....Canadian Kittyhawks have saved me on more than one occasion.



MAY 11TH-16TH, 1943......CENTPAC.....MARSHALLS CAMPAIGN: INVASION KWAJALEIN


After a 10 day bombardment, US Marines storm ashore Kwajalein today in CENTPAC's largest invasion of the war. First, the BBs give Kwajalein a "Spruance Haircut":

TF 1080 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

Allied Ships
DD Porter, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1092 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

Allied Ships
DD Balch
DD Warrington, Mine hits 1


Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 81,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Caledon, Shell hits 3
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 3
CA Cornwall
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 23
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 81,84

Allied Ships
CL Columbo
CL Capetown
BB Warspite
BB Washington
BB North Carolina

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 3


Then land based bombers from Tarawa, Majuro, Makin and Mili pound away at Kwajalein's dug in defenders:

Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 42


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 1
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-17E Fortress x 12
LB-30 Liberator x 33
PB4Y Liberator x 34
B-24D Liberator x 93


No Allied losses

Port hits 5
Port supply hits 8



At dawn on D-Day, May 16th, assault transports pass through the thick minefields surrounding Kwajaein to drop the troops off on the beaches:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Kwajalein, 81,84


Allied Ships
MSW Katoomba
MSW Whyalla
MSW Lithgow
MSW Warnambool
MSW Glenelg
MSW Whippoorwill
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Bobolink
MSW Punjab
MSW Broome
MSW Quail
MSW Oracle
MSW Tern
MSW Strive
AK Fort Rupert, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Thomas Nelson, Mine hits 1
LST LST-446, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK George Vancouver, Mine hits 1
AK William M. Stewart, Mine hits 1
LST LST-482, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported


Allied ground losses:
2203 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Kwajalein, 81,84


Allied Ships
MSW Katoomba
MSW Whyalla
MSW Lithgow
MSW Warnambool
MSW Glenelg
MSW Whippoorwill
MSW Wallaroo
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Bobolink
MSW Punjab
MSW Broome
MSW Quail
MSW Oracle
MSW Tern
MSW Strive
AP Mijer, Mine hits 1
LST LST-454, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Fort Rupert, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported



In a brief but vicious firefight, the starving Jap defenders are annihilated before noon:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kwajalein

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 22684 troops, 148 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value =
550

Defending force 332 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Allied max assault: 640 - adjusted assault: 746

Japanese max defense: 4 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 746 to 1 (fort level 9)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kwajalein base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kwajalein Base Force Wiped Out at Kwajalein by attrition!!!



The Marshalls are looking mighty "green" now....the level 4 Jap airfield at Maloelap will be supressed and bypassed AND will serve as a training site for all of CENTPAC's fighter squadrons. That leaves only the level one airfield at Eniwetok and the level 2 airfield at Ponape as the other remaining Japanese bastions in this region of the Pacific.



AUSTRALIA:

The Allies launch another futile frontal attack at Tennant Creek only to suffer WW I level casualties:

Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 236108 troops, 2168 guns, 594 vehicles, Assault Value =
4955

Defending force 119560 troops, 759 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value =
2286

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied max assault: 4813 - adjusted assault: 4030

Japanese max defense: 2258 - adjusted defense: 6180

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
3575 casualties reported
Guns lost 140
Vehicles lost 24

Allied ground losses:
11649 casualties reported
Guns lost 264
Vehicles lost 56



At least the fortifications were reduced one level.

Even with 400 medium and heavy bombers and 240,000 troops the Allies cant seem to make a dent on the 120,000 Jap defenders. Truth be told though.....virtually all of my casualties are being taken by restricted Anzac troops and Id rather have these 120,000 Jap troops here than in New Guinea, the Marianas or the Philippines.



OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER:

Operation Rolling Thunder is drawing to an anticlimactic close after initially destroying 400 Japanese AC in the first 4 days. Initially intended to achieve Allied air superiority over SE Asia and China, Steve withdrew all his AC out of range of Allied AC to northern and eastern China. With no airfields left to bomb, RAF and USAAF planners shifted targets to city bombing and now have knocked out 174 HI at Hanoi.

The RAF and USAAF fighters held their own against the Japanese even though it was mostly 1st generation Allied AC against 2nd generation Japanese AC....the Allied experience levels were all at least in the mid 70's and equaled or even maybe exceeded those of the Japanese pilots.

What this operation showed was that the arrival of only 3 US SEAC aviation units in China has radically altered the calculus of the balance of power between the opposing air forces. Now the Allied bombers will be withdrawn to India to rest and re group. Many of the fighters will stay behind in China to continue training the green pilots. The bulk of the fighting was done by Hurricanes, Lancers and Vanguards....the Lancers in particular suffered heavy losses. Now, the new P-40Ns, Spitfires and P-47s are arriving daily.

The key here will be to get additional SEAC aviation units to China....particularly to Sian and Homan and Yenan.....from these bases the RAF and USAAF can drive Japanese air completely out of China.

The plan is now to set up for another air offensive in late 1943. Four to six additional SEAC aviation units in India will move to Ledo for air transport to Chengtu and thence on to Homan, Sian other important airbases. By late 1943, P-38Js and newer versions of the P-47 and Spitfire will be available and an all out blitz can be launched on Japanese air.

And that doesnt even address the hordes of SEAC LCUs accumulating, resting and refitting in Calcutta that will be eventually unleashed on Burma.......

[racndoc]

MAY17TH-26TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

After sweeping the minefields at Kwajalein, seabees and aviation personel are rushed ashore and the airfield there is quickly reopened... fighters and medium bombers quickly stage in and fill up the level 4 airfield there.

Farther south, Majuro is enlarged to a level 5 airfield, 4Es are staged in, and a new bombing campaign is launched on Ponape and Eniwetok from the Allied bases at Kwajalein and Majuro. USN AKs and LSTs damaged in the assault at Kwajalein barely make Makin where they are disbanded and ARs are rushed in to help with the flotation damage.



AUSTRALIA:

The war of attrition continues at Tennant Creek as the Aussie-American forces launch 3 major deliberate attacks over an 8 day period:

Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 231946 troops, 1971 guns, 671 vehicles, Assault Value =
4626

Defending force 117444 troops, 712 guns, 232 vehicles, Assault Value =
2248

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied max assault: 4421 - adjusted assault: 3092

Japanese max defense: 2158 - adjusted defense: 5402

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
4591 casualties reported
Guns lost 138
Vehicles lost 16

Allied ground losses:
8008 casualties reported
Guns lost 95
Vehicles lost 60



Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 231366 troops, 1893 guns, 753 vehicles, Assault Value =
4500

Defending force 113287 troops, 642 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value =
2187

Allied max assault: 4070 - adjusted assault: 4461

Japanese max defense: 1830 - adjusted defense: 2553

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
5078 casualties reported
Guns lost 101
Vehicles lost 22

Allied ground losses:
5149 casualties reported
Guns lost 141
Vehicles lost 45


Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 222656 troops, 1714 guns, 678 vehicles, Assault Value =
3981

Defending force 105168 troops, 481 guns, 168 vehicles, Assault Value =
2010

Allied max assault: 3022 - adjusted assault: 2937

Japanese max defense: 1531 - adjusted defense: 2068

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
4618 casualties reported
Guns lost 91
Vehicles lost 13

Allied ground losses:
2216 casualties reported
Guns lost 63
Vehicles lost 47


I had been using the "wash, rinse and repeat" method of land combat here to let my forces rest up and draw additional supply. Now with the forts reduced to level one and the Japanese assault values greatly reduced, we will launch an immediate attack again next turn without waiting to reduce our disruption or gain additional supply.

[Jaroen]

Dear Admiral, I've been following this AAR since the start and I'm very much impressed with the apparently great planning of the South and South-West Pacific offensive. All troops required, meaning engineers mostly, seem to be available when and where needed. Along with enough fuel and supplies it seems. Could you comment on preparations done on such offensives around the Gilbert's, Marshall's, Solomon's and on New Guinea? Did you prepare and direct troops towards those regions before actual opportunities occured??? Great foresight!  

[racndoc]

Jaroen...

I could probably write a multi-page paper on buildup and logistics but I will try to summarize.

Japan initially had the initiative and captured half of Australia, all of New Guinea including Port Moresby and Milne Bay, and all of the Solomons. In response, the Allies built up LCUs, aviation engineers, construction engineers, supply and fuel in SE OZ, New Caledonia and the New Hebrides to resist their advances. When the Allies turned the tide and regained the initiative in summer 1942, it was logical for SWPAC and SOPAC to begin their counteroffensives in New Guinea and the Solomons due to their proximity to the Allied buildups and logistical base.

I spent 9 months building up supply and fuel reserves in SE OZ, New Zealand, New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. At the start of the SOPAC offensive into the Solomons in 9/42, I had something like 500,000 fuel points in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, 250,000 fuel points in New Zealand, and 750,000 fuel points in SE OZ.

The initial advances into the Solomons and SE New Guinea had plenty of fuel and supply reserves, but as I advanced NW past Lae into central New Guinea my AOs were running dry and my fuel reserves in New Caledonia/New Hebrides were almost exhausted. I had an emergency TK convoy that sortied from the west coast US that brought badly needed fuel into Milne Bay that supported the final SWPAC push into Saidor, Madang and Hanse. By then , most of 5th Fleet was running on fumes and I had exhausted my supply of available aviation engineer units so it was a natural time to halt the offensive and rebuild depleted reserves of aviation engineers, supply and fuel. Coincidently, I didnt want SWPAC to push any farther NW into New Guinea or SOPAC to push into the Bismarck archipelago until my F4F-4 Wildcats upgraded to Hellcats because any further advance in this theatre will need to deal with the 400 Japanese AC at Truk as well as KB.

In the meantime, while SWPAC and SOPAC were advancing in New Guinea and the Solomons, CENTPAC was quietly building up LCUs, aviation engineers, seabees, supply and fuel at Canton for the Gilberts offensive. Once the SWPAC and SOPAC offensives halted in New Guinea and New Britain, 5th Fleet sailed to the central Pacific for the Gilbert operations.I had only intended to take the Gilberts and maybe Mili and Majuro
in the central Pacific and then I was going to retire 5th Fleet to Pearl Harbor and the west coast for maintenance and the 10/42 and 4/43 ship upgrades but opportunity presented itself. The Gilberts and the Marshalls were lightly defended by Japan so I decided to take out all the Marshalls before returning 5th Fleet to port. It wasnt that hard to change my plans and accelerate the offensive here as the supply line from the west coast to Canton is much shorter than the supply line from the west coast to New Guinea. Additional aviation engineers and seabees were brought in but even now I am reaching the end of my tether in the central Pacific.

Currently, while we are advancing in the central Pacific, SOPAC and SWPAC are now rebuilding their logistical base in New Guinea and the Solomons. I have 500,000 fuel and 750,000 supply points stocked up now in New Guinea and both will be over 1,000,000 before the SWPAC offensive is resumed. Similarly, SOPAC is building up in the Solomons before they break out into the Bismarcks in a few months.

Ive got 2 aviation engineers en route to the SWPAC now but it will be a good time to pull 5th Fleet back into ports for maintenanace and upgrades after the Marshalls Campaign is completed. 5th Fleet will probably be out of action for a couple months as they complete repairs but this will allow all of my commands to take on additional aviaition engineers and prep for the next round of offensives. Also, all of 5th Fleet CVs will upgrade to Hellcats while they are in port and the British CVs will upgrade to Corsair Is. The next round of offensives will like carry the Allies the entire length of New Guinea, isolate Rabaul and Truk, and set up for the Marianas offensive.

For most of my invasions, the LCUs are 100% prepped and the larger assaults against more heavily defended positions have 100% prepped command and corps HQs.

The logistics eventually begin to be a nightmare for the Allies as their forces grow throughout the war. I have finished one game of WitP....the AAR was entitled "THEY WERE EXPENDABLE" where the war ended with Japanese surrender on 1/1/45. By late 1944, I had something like over 20 CV/CVLs, 60 CVEs, 20 BBs, 5 assault transport TFs of 100 ships apiece, plus transport TFs carrying 2nd echelon troops, supplies, fuel etc. Before my last amphibious assault....at Okinawa....I think it took something like 650,000 fuel points to top off the fuel on all my ships involved in the invasion. I was using AKs to help move fuel around at the end as my TKs were being overtaxed.

So yes....there is a LOT of planning involved and that planning gets more demanding as the game goes on. If you run out of fuel, everything stops immediately.

Whew....



MAY 27TH-28TH, 1943


AUSTRALIA:

After 8 months of alternating siege and vicious street by street combat, Tennant Creek finally falls to the Allies after a 2 day assault:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7964 troops, 118 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value =
1835

Defending force 225513 troops, 1641 guns, 618 vehicles, Assault Value =
3675

Japanese max assault: 10 - adjusted assault: 8

Allied max defense: 3239 - adjusted defense: 3906

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2520 casualties reported
Guns lost 59
Vehicles lost 21

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 217293 troops, 1641 guns, 618 vehicles, Assault Value =
3675

Defending force 93811 troops, 262 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value =
1807

Allied max assault: 2670 - adjusted assault: 2519

Japanese max defense: 1372 - adjusted defense: 1375

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
4359 casualties reported
Guns lost 54
Vehicles lost 17

Allied ground losses:
3044 casualties reported
Guns lost 59
Vehicles lost 23


Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 214949 troops, 1592 guns, 607 vehicles, Assault Value =
3511

Defending force 88569 troops, 198 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value =
1664

Allied max assault: 2558 - adjusted assault: 2486

Japanese max defense: 1403 - adjusted defense: 1113

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tennant Creek base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
4975 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
Vehicles lost 18

Allied ground losses:
2845 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 17


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


Curiously, Japan launched a Banzai attack on us just before the assault was launched...must of been due to some garbled communication.


Nearly a quarter of a million Allied troops faced off against some 130,000 IJA troops here at Tennant Creek for some 8 months. Now Japan will
probably try to dig in behind level 9 forts at Daly City and begin the whole process over again. In additon, Japan has several large airfields in northern Oz so it will be difficult for the Allies to gain complete air superiority up here. We are going to try to pursue the IJA forces as they retreat to the north and fix them in place to rough them up a couple more times. Hopefully we can disrupt them enough to prevent them from putting up an effective defense in Daly City.

[wneumann]

Tried taking a look at your submarine ops in here, didn't seem to be covered very extensively.

Several questions that quickly come to mind... Manual or auto sub ops? Where are you employing your subs? How many, what types of subs are being used? Type(s) of sub missions you are doing?

FYI: Just posted a write-up of my own sub operations. If it's of any value, welcome to look at it for comparison purposes.

Your operations in Northern Australia and SW Pacific are interesting - will have to refer back to them when the time comes (my road being much longer to travel).

[racndoc]

JUNE 2ND-3RD, 1943.........MARSHALLS CAMPAIGN:INVASION OF ENIWETOK


After a weeklong aerial bombardment of Eniwetok and Ponape from newly acquired airbases at Kwajalein and Majuro, the invasion of Eniwetok commences with a naval bombardment on D-Day minus one:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/02/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1092 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (77,78)

Allied Ships
DD Stuart, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cassin, Mine hits 1
DD Beale, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Eniwetok, at 77,78

Allied Ships
CL Columbo
CL Capetown
BB Warspite
BB Washington
BB North Carolina

Japanese ground losses:
343 casualties reported

Runway hits 7



CENTPAC airpower continues to suppress the Japanese airfields at Eniwetok and Ponape:

Day Air attack on Eniwetok , at 77,78


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 55


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 1
PV-1 Ventura x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed


Runway hits 11


Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 1
LB-30 Liberator x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed


Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29



Then on D-Day, June 3rd, the MSWs go in to clear paths through the extensive minefields that surround Eniwetok:

TF 1098 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (77,78)

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze, and is sunk

Allied Ships
MSW Goshawk
MSW Curlew
MSW Catbird
MSW Killegray
MSW Sanda
MSW Inchkeith

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported


TF 1207 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (77,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Whyalla
MSW Lithgow
MSW Katoomba
MSW Bobolink
MSW Whippoorwill
MSW Tern
MSW Quail


Then in the early dawn, 2 more bombardment TFs soften up the defenses on Eniwetok:

Naval bombardment of Eniwetok, at 77,78

Allied Ships
CA Portland
BB Revenge
BB Arizona
BB Oklahoma

Japanese ground losses:
420 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Eniwetok, at 77,78

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise
CA Cornwall
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
216 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 4


Finally the amphibious assault ships close in on the beaches and the Marines storm ashore to root out the shell shocked Jap defenders:

TF 1132 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (77,78)

TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 77,78


Allied Ships
MSW Canso
MSW Dubbo
MSW Tanager
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Starling
DMS Chandler
DMS Perry
DMS Dorsey
DMS Hopkins

Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 77,78, firing at TF 1132
21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins
LCI LCI-216
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
1525 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2



The Marines capture the airfield from the stunned Japanese:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21162 troops, 102 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value =
721

Defending force 1826 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied max assault: 706 - adjusted assault: 387

Japanese max defense: 38 - adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 193 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
616 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 5


The Marines set up a perimeter around Eniwetok airfield as seabees repair the runways and F4F-Us stage in to provide CAP as well as close air support. The Marines will unload supplies and get the rest of the 762nd Tank regiment ashore before they launch a final attack to mop up the demoralized Japanese.





NORTHERN AUSTRALIA:

American and Aussie tank formations and a motorized brigade race north on the road from Tennant Creek towards Daly Waters to punish the rear guard of the Japanese as they withdraw to the north:

Ground combat at 35,94

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20011 troops, 19 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value =
357

Defending force 5068 troops, 0 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Allied max assault: 318 - adjusted assault: 107

Japanese max defense: 138 - adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 26 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1156 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 27

Allied ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 13


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bulk of the 100,000 IJA troops have gotten away to the north and are digging in at Daly Waters. American/Aussie troops will rest up for a few days at Tennant Creek before they resume their drive to the north.



CHINA:

Massive air war here as SEAC and China Command try to exchange hammer blows with the IJA airforce. Allied air hits Canton for the first time:

Day Air attack on Canton , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 28
Spitfire Vb x 11
SB-2c x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged
SB-2c: 16 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 41



Japan had largely withdrawn most of their air force from southern China. A large concentration of IJA AC was spotted at Samah on Hainan Island and RAF and USAAF heavies were staged into southern China from India to lend a hand:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Samah , at 37,41

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 18
A6M3a Zero x 14
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 55

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 49
Spitfire Vb x 47
P-40E Warhawk x 22
P-40N Warhawk x 39
A-20G Havoc x 10
B-25C Mitchell x 20
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-24D Liberator x 6
P-66 Vanguard x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 9 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 37 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed, 18 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 6 destroyed, 13 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
P-66 Vanguard: 9 destroyed, 18 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Taigen Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Toshi Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
Port supply hits 1


Day Air attack on Samah , at 37,41

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 5
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 97
P-38G Lightning x 22
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 55
P-38F Lightning x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 13 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 20
Runway hits 162


69 Japanese AC are destroyed in A2A combat today vs 50 Allied. Altogether, Japan loses 105 AC today vs 76 Allied AC.



USAAF bombers hit mainland Japan for the first time in the war as long range A-29s based at Nanchang hit IJN shipping in port at Nagasaki:

Day Air attack on Nagasaki , at 59,42

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 29

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-29 Hudson: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Wakazuki, Bomb hits 1
AE Kashino, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port supply hits 1


Day Air attack on Nagasaki , at 59,42

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 23

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-29 Hudson: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Saigon Maru, Bomb hits 1


USAAF medium bombers based in China can now interdict the South China Sea and the East China Sea.....and even hit the Home Islands.



wneumann...in response to your questions on my sub deployments, I was able to use my subs on patrol successfully for about the first 5-6 months of the war.....even torpedoing(but not sinking) 2 IJN CVs.

However, once Japan got their Army bomber net up over the approaches to the DEI by late spring 1942, it was suicide to use any Allied subs around the SRA. I stopped putting subs on patrol missions and instead was doing heavy mining of of ports and sealanes where oil and resources were likely to be shipped. But even my supposedly less detectable transport and mining missions were getting hammered by the Sallies and Helens so I eventually withdrew my subs completely from India/Ceylon and redeployed them to Australia and used them mainly for scouting and recon in the central Pacific. Ive lost 40 subs so far.....30 of them to AP bombs while at sea....with probably another 100 or so heavily damaged that made it back to port.

My opponent agreed to keep his ASW and naval search AC at 6000 ft or higher and use a lower percentage of Army bombers on ASW in exchange for me to use only one ASW TF to escort my transport TFs....now the losses to enemy AC dropping AP bombs is greatly reduced.

[wneumann]

The air opposition your subs are facing is considerably different from mine - many of Pillager's IJA bombers in my game are engaged in bombing land targets rather than naval search or ASW.

Jap ASW aircraft I've mostly encountered include some IJN bombers (Nell & Betty) and patrol planes (H8K Emily, etc) with another large component of Pillager's air ASW consisting of (ship-based) E13A1 & F1M2 floatplanes. For much of 1942, Pillager also employed large numbers of Kates and Vals from KB carriers sitting in Kwajalein, though this practice has stopped in '43. Jap aircraft types used for ASW does appear to be a significant factor in the effectiveness of ASW and Naval Search air missions vs Allied submarines.

[racndoc]

JUNE 4TH-5TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

I forgot about how atoll combat worked.....the Marines on Eniwetok launch another shock attack on their own to mop up the remaining Japanese defenders:

Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23578 troops, 130 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value =
720

Defending force 1272 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Allied max assault: 636 - adjusted assault: 814

Japanese max defense: 16 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 814 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1435 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 1



Farther south, USMC 1st Paratroop Battalion is dropped on unoccupied Kusaie:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kusaie Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 820 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 38 - adjusted assault: 21

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kusaie Island base !!!



This completes CENTPACs Gilberts/Marshalls offensive. Kusaie and Eniwetok will both be built up into level 4 airifelds and the bypassed Japanese bases at Maloelap and Ponape will be used to train green Allied aircrews.


Task Group 58 remains on station off Eniwetok to cover the transports still unloading seabees, aviation engineers and supplies. As soon as the transports have all been unloaded Task Group 58 will be withdrawn to Pearl Harbor abd the west coast for much needed maintenance and upgrades.



Just to show how effective sjohnson's ASW AC have been against my subs Ive included last turn's operations report. Even with him flying his naval search and ASW AC at higher altitudes and limiting the number of army AC on ASW I still suffer 3 sub hits last turn....2 on SS Cabrillo which sinks immediately with all hands.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR 06/05/43


Sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 62,90 , Speed 13 , Moving Northwest
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 64, 59
G3M Nell reports periscope at 59, 44
H8K Emily sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 86,80 , Speed 16 , Moving East
H8K Emily has spotted Tennessee at 86,80
H8K Emily sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 77,78 , Speed 7 , Moving Northwest
E13A1 Jake reports shadow in water at 59, 44
F1M2 Pete attacking Sawfish at 59,44
H8K Emily reports radio transmissions at 65, 70
E8N Dave reports diving submarine at 59, 44
G4M2 Betty reports shadow in water at 65, 70
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Hanoi
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Exmouth
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Tennant Creek
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Nanking
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Nanchang
F-4 Lightning takes recon photos of Hankow
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Changsha
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Chungking
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Lanchow
Catalina I takes recon photos of Moulmein
Catalina I takes recon photos of Moulmein
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Bangkok
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Sarmi
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Hollandia
F-4 Lightning takes recon photos of Biak
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Noemfoor
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Maloelap
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Maloelap
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Maloelap
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Ponape
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Ponape
PBM Mariner takes recon photos of Aitape
Catalina I takes recon photos of Wewak
Catalina I takes recon photos of Port Moresby
Sunderland takes recon photos of Port Moresby
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Rabaul
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Kavieng
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Emirau Island
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Torokina
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Munda
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 59, 44
Ki-49 Helen attacking Sawfish at 59,44
Sawfish is reported HIT
Ki-21-II Sally reports suspected submarine at 59, 44
Ki-30 Ann reports periscope at 59, 44
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 59, 44
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 59, 44
G5N Liz reports shadow in water at 59, 44
G5N Liz reports periscope at 59, 44
G5N Liz reports shadow in water at 59, 44
E13A1 Jake reports shadow in water at 59, 44
D1A Susie reports suspected submarine at 59, 44
B5N2 Kate reports periscope at 65, 69
E13A1 Jake sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 52,68 , Speed 11 , Moving West
E7K2 Alf reports shadow in water at 52, 68
E13A1 Jake reports diving submarine at 52, 68
E13A1 Jake attacking Cabrilla at 52,68
Catalina I has spotted AG-364 at 48,77
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 52, 68
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 59, 44
Ki-49 Helen attacking Cabrilla at 52,68
Cabrilla is reported HIT
Ki-49 Helen attacking Cabrilla at 52,68
Cabrilla is reported HIT
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Exmouth
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Tennant Creek
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Hengchow
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Nanking
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Honan
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Wuchow
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Nanning
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Lanchow
Catalina I takes recon photos of Moulmein
Catalina I takes recon photos of Moulmein
Catalina I takes recon photos of Rangoon
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Bangkok
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Sarmi
F-4 Lightning takes recon photos of Biak
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Noemfoor
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Maloelap
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Ponape
PBM Mariner takes recon photos of Aitape
Catalina I takes recon photos of Wewak
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Kavieng
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Admiralty Islands
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Emirau Island
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Torokina
PBY Catalina takes recon photos of Munda


Sawfish has 51% system and 70% flotation damage so Im not sure that she will make it bacxk to port.