Central Pacific: Except for contacts with Jap aircraft at Canton, U.S. subs reporting no Jap air patrol activity in the Central Pacific area or off Japanese home islands. It appears that Pillager has moved virtually all Japanese LBA previously in the Central Pacific theatre southward to reinforce Jap air opposition to the Pago Pago invasion.
SS Snapdragon reports contact with Jap TF south of Funafuti in a night action. SS Sturgeon also has contact with a Jap TF SE of Nanumea. AAR's follow.
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Sub attack at 86,111
Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki
DD Ikazuchi
CL Nagara
Allied Ships
SS Seadragon, hits 1 (no damage)
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ASW attack at 86,104
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 24
PC Ch 15
PC Kyo Maru #7
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Shinko Maru #5
PG Shinko Maru #3
PG Choan Maru #2
Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon, hits 1, heavy damage (system damage 22, float 52)
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F-5A recon over Canton Is reporting no fighters on CAP, no Jap TF's, 35 aircraft, 15 Jap LCU's.
56 Japanese ships detected at anchor in Kwajalein base, no report of ships at anchor in Truk. (no change from last game turn's reports)
South Pacific: Again quiet other than Pago Pago invasion ops.
Day 8 of the Pago Pago Invasion - Latest situation map follows at end of this report. Nearly all U.S. TF's in the long string extending between Pago Pago and Penhryn on the situation map below are empty transports (moving E) that are returning to Penhryn. Despite the expected heavy ship losses, most of my transport force is returning home relatively unscathed.
Weather forecast for Pago Pago area remains overcast.
With yesterday's capture of Pago Pago and Savaii bases by U.S. landing forces, the Upolu landing force (1 Cavalry & Americal divisions) has been committed to action. Orders were issued on 9/22 for this force to proceed with landing on Upolu. A minesweeping TF was formed from U.S. MSW's at Pago Pago and dispatched to Upolu to support amphibious ops there. Light damage to U.S. ships in the Upolu landing force reported from mines. While most elements of 1 Cavalry and Americal Divisions have landed on Upolu, many elements of both LCU remain aboard ships in the landing force.
AAR of landing ops at Upolu follow.
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TF 1052 encounters mine field at Upolu (95,113)
TF 1052 troops unloading over beach at Upolu, 95,113
Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Dorsey
APD Stringham
DE Burden R. Hastings
DD Monaghan
AP Zeilin, Mine hits 1, on fire (system damage 55, float 24, fire 30)
PC Seminole, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (system damage 59, float 85, fire 21)
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Upolu, 95,113, firing at TF 1052
468 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LST LST-484, Shell hits 2 (system damage 13, float 9, fire 6)
LST LST-483, Shell hits 1, on fire (system damage 44, float 8, fire 12)
LST LST-482, Shell hits 2, on fire (system damage 22, float 15, fire 18)
LST LST-479, Shell hits 2, on fire (system damage 31, float 9, fire 33)
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 4, on fire (system damage 29, no float, fire 8)
LST LST-467
LST LST-466, Shell hits 1 (system damage 19, float 3, fire 4)
LST LST-464, Shell hits 2, on fire (system damage 45, float 32, fire 16)
LST LST-463, Shell hits 3, on fire (system damage 90, float 78, fire 28)
DMS Wasmuth, Shell hits 1 (no damage)
AVD William B. Preston, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage (system damage 51, float 20, fire 26)
AP Mormacwren, Shell hits 2 (system damage 24, no float, fire 4)
AP Van Overstraten, Shell hits 1, on fire (system damage 5, no float, fire 12)
AP Van Cloon, Shell hits 2, on fire (system damage 16, no float, fire 9)
AP Barnett, Shell hits 2 (system damage 5, no float, fire 3)
AP Largs Bay, Shell hits 2 (no damage)
AP Zeilin, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wharton, Shell hits 1 (system damage 2, no float, fire 6)
APD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage (system damage 92, float 90, fire 49)
Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
3238 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Appears that substantial Jap minefields remain at Pago Pago, Savaii, and Upolu even after extensive U.S. minesweeping ops at all three locations.
AK Stanley Matthews confirmed sinking this game turn after ship damage adjustments for previous damage.
Two Japanese DD's entered Pago Pago base hex and attacked several U.S. transports in night actions. AAR's follow.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Pago Pago at 96,113
Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Arare
Allied Ships
AK Luther S. Kelly, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Pago Pago at 96,113
Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Arare
Allied Ships
AK Floyd B. Olson, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage (system damage 90, float 78, fire 28)
AK Glenn Curtiss is sunk
AK John H. Rosseter
AK M. H. De Young
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Japanese air attacks continue. A substantial contingent of Japanese LBA (mainly fighters, some B6N2 Jill) are based on Upolu. Other Japanese LBA attacks originating from Wallis Is, Suva, and Tongatapu. Jap carriers detected SSW of Pago Pago near Tongatapu.
Japanese LBA air attacks against U.S. held base facilties on Pago Pago and Savaii. AAR's follow.
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Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 38
A6M3a Zero x 9
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 22
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 6 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 6 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 35
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-61-Ib Tony bombing at 2000 feet
22 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
9 x A6M3a Zero bombing at 2000 feet
8 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
8 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Savaii , at 95,112
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 25
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
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Japanese naval air strikes mainly against ships in the Upolu landing force. AAR's follow. BB Tennessee was sunk in what was probably an action it never should had been sent on (20-20 hindsight being the wonderful thing it is).
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Day Air attack on TF, near Upolu at 95,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 34
D4Y Judy x 19
A6M3a Zero x 16
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
MSW Starling, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (later sinks)
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Upolu at 95,113 (probable KB attack)
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 58
B6N2 Jill x 85
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 6 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (later sinks)
APD Little, Bomb hits 1, on fire (system damage 18, float 5, fire 11)
LST LST-484
AK Libra
AP Mormachawk, Torpedo hits 1, on fire (system damage 40, float 25, fire 17)
APD John D. Edwards, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (system damage 92, float 90, fire 49)
LST LST-462
Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Pago Pago at 96,113
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4
G4M2 Betty x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Benjamin Franklin
AK Juan Cabrillo
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 97,114
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK James M. Goodhue, Bomb hits 1, on fire (system damage 16, float 10, fire 13)
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 97,113
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Admiral Nulton, on fire
AK Admiral Y. Williams, Bomb hits 1 (system damage 20, float 2, fire 6)
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Pago Pago at 96,113
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK John Drake Sloat, Bomb hits 2, on fire (system damage 43, float 15, fire 21)
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
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U.S. Main Carrier Force turns NE to engage unidentified Jap TF's moving SW from Canton Is area (see 9/22 game turn situation map). Jap TF's turn out to be picket MSW. AAR's follow.
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Day Air attack on TF at 98,108
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 49
Corsair III/IV x 6
SB2C Helldiver x 26
TBM Avenger x 17
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
MSW Kyo Maru #5, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (confirmed sunk)
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 98,108
Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 31
TBM Avenger x 13
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 17, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (confirmed sunk)
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese ground bombardment against U.S. landing force on Upolu. Mopping up attacks on Pago Pago and Savaii against remaining Jap ground forces. AAR's follow.
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Ground combat at Upolu
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 6868 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 260
42nd & 61st Naval Gd, 140 IJN Base Force, 9 AF Const Bn
Defending force 20575 troops, 135 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 632
1st Cavalry & Americal Divisions
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Pago Pago
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 45669 troops, 300 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 940
3rd Marine Division, 41st & 43rd Infantry Divisions, 193 Tank Bn, 11 & 50 CBT Engineer Rgts, HQ IX Corps
Defending force 8025 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 133
51 Independent Mixed Brigade, 46 & 52 Naval Gd, 1 AA Rgt, 127 IJNAF Base Force, 5 Naval Construction Bn,
5 AF Construction Bn, 60 Construction Bn
Allied max assault: 531 - adjusted assault: 354
Japanese max defense: 100 - adjusted defense: 40
Allied assault odds: 8 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
1113 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 10
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Ground combat at Savaii
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 31285 troops, 358 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 702
6th & 27th Infantry Divisions, HQ XI Corps
Defending force 6819 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 38
5 NLF, 52 Naval Gd, 10 Special Base Force
Allied max assault: 700 - adjusted assault: 162
Japanese max defense: 28 - adjusted defense: 93
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
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