...how will I survive? [X(]
Here's the situation as we leave the game for a bit.
Mines in the Pacific
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Mines in the Pacific
My honourable opponent is having a 2 week holiday somewhere so he's away from AE for a bit.
...how will I survive? [X(]
Here's the situation as we leave the game for a bit.
...how will I survive? [X(]
Here's the situation as we leave the game for a bit.
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RE: Mines in the Pacific
We're back!
December 31st 1942
BURMA/INDIA
Not much. Quiet around Ceylon. In the Burma/India area of the theatre the Allies have been pressing the attack in the air while staying put on the ground. Heavy bombing of Rangoon and Magwe has been the main story, in general things go my way but he did succeed in setting a CAP trap at Magwe, which along with losses in SOPAC meant him shooting down 10 B24s in one day. Ouch. The Allies have switched to night bombing. The IJAAF has been fielding Nicks finally too but only in small numbers so far (the IJAAF looks to be about 30% Zeroes, 30% Oscars, 30% Tojos and 10% Nicks).
SOPAC
Looks like the situation in the Solomons is well under control. A tiny hop forward to the first island NW of Guadalcanal with SeaBees provoked Jap paras to land and try and saw them off, I responded by moving up a USMC raider squadron and now he's trying to pull them back via air, and being shot down by LRCAP. Lots of Jap ships sighted this week, convoys at Buna and Shortlands, 12 Allied Mitchells from Cooktown hit the convoy and Buna, heavy damage to 4 APs and the trained Aussie pilots really are shining with multiple hits. Aussie Beaufighters at Tulagi didnt do quite as well hitting shipping at Shortlands but did OK given there was a Zero CAP, they lost 4 of their number, shot down a Zero and strafed and bombed 3 APs, one for heavy damage. Then they shot up a Japanese DD that was hanging around north of Guadalcanal.
Been some naval action too, a Jap DD sent to Lunga to look for easy kills or to scout ran into a USN cruiser force and was sunk, meanwhile USN cruisers raided Shortlands and sank a couple of DDs, however in the morning CL Tromp was Nettied and left on 74 floatation damage which does ruin the week a bit.
In the air things are very much going my way lately in a week of naval strikes for both sides, LRCAP over my juicy targets inflicted heay damage to his bombers, while the Beaufighters actually seem pretty good at dodging small CAP.
CENTPAC
Kinda quiet, we've disengaged successfully. The first USN ships in need of refit are straggling in to Pearl Harbor. A convoy at Ocean Island carrying supplies was bombed lightly and I've withdrawn it to Ndeni, its mission successful. The AV at Ocean Island was also damaged and I'm in the process of replacing it with two AVDs - I'm really going to need a baseforce there tho for it to have any solidity as a Catalina base, tenders are just too vulnerable.
The three carriers still available are headed to SOPAC, going to see what opportunities present themselves there while their compadres are being fixed.
NORPAC
Normally quiet here but two USN DDs raided the Kuriles, managing to get in, sink two SCs and two APs, and get out again without being caught. Apparently he forgot to remove the search arcs for his aircraft up there. nice. [:)]
December 31st 1942
BURMA/INDIA
Not much. Quiet around Ceylon. In the Burma/India area of the theatre the Allies have been pressing the attack in the air while staying put on the ground. Heavy bombing of Rangoon and Magwe has been the main story, in general things go my way but he did succeed in setting a CAP trap at Magwe, which along with losses in SOPAC meant him shooting down 10 B24s in one day. Ouch. The Allies have switched to night bombing. The IJAAF has been fielding Nicks finally too but only in small numbers so far (the IJAAF looks to be about 30% Zeroes, 30% Oscars, 30% Tojos and 10% Nicks).
SOPAC
Looks like the situation in the Solomons is well under control. A tiny hop forward to the first island NW of Guadalcanal with SeaBees provoked Jap paras to land and try and saw them off, I responded by moving up a USMC raider squadron and now he's trying to pull them back via air, and being shot down by LRCAP. Lots of Jap ships sighted this week, convoys at Buna and Shortlands, 12 Allied Mitchells from Cooktown hit the convoy and Buna, heavy damage to 4 APs and the trained Aussie pilots really are shining with multiple hits. Aussie Beaufighters at Tulagi didnt do quite as well hitting shipping at Shortlands but did OK given there was a Zero CAP, they lost 4 of their number, shot down a Zero and strafed and bombed 3 APs, one for heavy damage. Then they shot up a Japanese DD that was hanging around north of Guadalcanal.
Been some naval action too, a Jap DD sent to Lunga to look for easy kills or to scout ran into a USN cruiser force and was sunk, meanwhile USN cruisers raided Shortlands and sank a couple of DDs, however in the morning CL Tromp was Nettied and left on 74 floatation damage which does ruin the week a bit.
In the air things are very much going my way lately in a week of naval strikes for both sides, LRCAP over my juicy targets inflicted heay damage to his bombers, while the Beaufighters actually seem pretty good at dodging small CAP.
CENTPAC
Kinda quiet, we've disengaged successfully. The first USN ships in need of refit are straggling in to Pearl Harbor. A convoy at Ocean Island carrying supplies was bombed lightly and I've withdrawn it to Ndeni, its mission successful. The AV at Ocean Island was also damaged and I'm in the process of replacing it with two AVDs - I'm really going to need a baseforce there tho for it to have any solidity as a Catalina base, tenders are just too vulnerable.
The three carriers still available are headed to SOPAC, going to see what opportunities present themselves there while their compadres are being fixed.
NORPAC
Normally quiet here but two USN DDs raided the Kuriles, managing to get in, sink two SCs and two APs, and get out again without being caught. Apparently he forgot to remove the search arcs for his aircraft up there. nice. [:)]
RE: Mines in the Pacific
As its the end of 1942, time to consider the submarine war I think.
Allied submarine losses stand at a heavy 21 boats lost. [X(] 6 to depth charges, 7 to mines (some of those were my own stupid fault), 6 to bombs, and two to torpedoes in sub vs sub.
Allied sub successes - 27 Japs sunk by Mark 10 torpedoes from S-boats, almost all AKs or AKLs. 55 Japs sunk by Mark 14 torpedoes. Other Allied sub torps accounted for 11. The vast majority were merchants, but of note - two AOs are reported sunk, 5 TKs, one CVE, a CA and a CL. On top of that, several carriers were hit and damaged but not sunk. These are reported losses and so maybe be somewhat inaccurate.
For the Japanese submarine arm. There are 20 reported Japanese submarine losses but chances are that is wildly overstated. Allied ASW in the first half of 1942 was terrible but the kitchen sink has been thrown at the hotspots in the last half of '42, with some limited success.
Allied losses to Japanese subs tot up to a heavy 92 ships lost. Quite a few warships are included in that tally, while the Allied sub kills are very heavily slanted towards merchants. CV Wasp is the heaviest loss, she was torped and then chased and torped again. Several cruisers were lost as well, and even a couple of BBs though the subs didnt claim them on their own unaded, they were joint efforts.
But anyway. The sub war is pretty damn lethal, alright. So far in the Japanese favour though I suspect that will change in 1943.
Allied submarine losses stand at a heavy 21 boats lost. [X(] 6 to depth charges, 7 to mines (some of those were my own stupid fault), 6 to bombs, and two to torpedoes in sub vs sub.
Allied sub successes - 27 Japs sunk by Mark 10 torpedoes from S-boats, almost all AKs or AKLs. 55 Japs sunk by Mark 14 torpedoes. Other Allied sub torps accounted for 11. The vast majority were merchants, but of note - two AOs are reported sunk, 5 TKs, one CVE, a CA and a CL. On top of that, several carriers were hit and damaged but not sunk. These are reported losses and so maybe be somewhat inaccurate.
For the Japanese submarine arm. There are 20 reported Japanese submarine losses but chances are that is wildly overstated. Allied ASW in the first half of 1942 was terrible but the kitchen sink has been thrown at the hotspots in the last half of '42, with some limited success.
Allied losses to Japanese subs tot up to a heavy 92 ships lost. Quite a few warships are included in that tally, while the Allied sub kills are very heavily slanted towards merchants. CV Wasp is the heaviest loss, she was torped and then chased and torped again. Several cruisers were lost as well, and even a couple of BBs though the subs didnt claim them on their own unaded, they were joint efforts.
But anyway. The sub war is pretty damn lethal, alright. So far in the Japanese favour though I suspect that will change in 1943.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
11th January 1943
BURMA/INDIA
First week of January saw Tojos sweep Ledo from forward Burmese bases to great effect, shooting down many P40s and Hurricanes without serious loss. This was getting quite serious until the heavies were deployed to counter, after some recon worked out what was going on.
Allied heavy bombers have been pulverising Japanese forward bases in Burma this last week as a result. This has meant he's pulled his Tojos back to Rangoon (where there are 400 reported Japanese a/c!) where its safe.
This means my Dakotas have been transporting to China unmolested, and my battered fighters at Ledo have rearmed and re-equipped.
At Ceylon I'm being hounded by a bug. It must be a bug. I've had bombers set to bomb Koggala for every turn since the last update, and they've not flown once. Sweeps do fly, but the bombers won't. This is a bummer because Koggala is being built up into a massive Japanese airbase unmolested as a result. It's not the weather - rain or shine, they don't fly. [8|]
SOPAC
Gearing up for an assault on Milne Bay, the required assets wont be in place until the second half of January. This will threaten the already bombed to tar Port Moresby and allow short range bombers to hit Rabaul. The Jap held Solomons bases have been heavily suppressed already, as have Port Moresby and Buna. Rabaul itself is being saved until closer to D-Day.
Looks like the IJN is welded quite firmly to the Gilberts right now according to Catalina recon, the buildup at Tabiteaua and the clashes around there have put the wind up him a bit. But I currently lack the CVs to go toe to toe, so I'm looking for alternative avenues of advance with the use of plenty of LBA. The Solomons has been firmed up by the Japanese but Milne Bay and the environs are still empty, so it's looking like the logical next step forward from Guadalcanal right now.
CENTPAC
Quiet, though Catalinas are picking up a lot of Japanese activity on the atolls north of Tarawa. Looks like that open door is closing as he's reinforcing, though fortunately Tarawa alone I think is probably sufficient to seriously put the twist on the Japs here and he can't reinforce Tarawa easily now the Allies are ready with two big airbases nearby.
Sub War
A quick note as 1943, I was expecting better results from both my subs and Jap ASW. Neither has really happened so far. Still masses of duds. There have been several Japanese ASW attacks but only one has been effective and forced a retirement - not any different from 1942, really.
That said, Allied subs did bag a PB and an AK since the last update.
Significant Allied submarine reinforcements are arriving though so I think sinkings will go up anyway. Another 3 Gato class subs arrived at Attu Island on the 10th, ready to be used against the Straits of Formosa which has seen rich pickings lately, and 3 more left Auckland after being refitted.
Japanese subs have been mastered for now, they're all pulling back. Wonder where they'll show up next.
BURMA/INDIA
First week of January saw Tojos sweep Ledo from forward Burmese bases to great effect, shooting down many P40s and Hurricanes without serious loss. This was getting quite serious until the heavies were deployed to counter, after some recon worked out what was going on.
Allied heavy bombers have been pulverising Japanese forward bases in Burma this last week as a result. This has meant he's pulled his Tojos back to Rangoon (where there are 400 reported Japanese a/c!) where its safe.
This means my Dakotas have been transporting to China unmolested, and my battered fighters at Ledo have rearmed and re-equipped.
At Ceylon I'm being hounded by a bug. It must be a bug. I've had bombers set to bomb Koggala for every turn since the last update, and they've not flown once. Sweeps do fly, but the bombers won't. This is a bummer because Koggala is being built up into a massive Japanese airbase unmolested as a result. It's not the weather - rain or shine, they don't fly. [8|]
SOPAC
Gearing up for an assault on Milne Bay, the required assets wont be in place until the second half of January. This will threaten the already bombed to tar Port Moresby and allow short range bombers to hit Rabaul. The Jap held Solomons bases have been heavily suppressed already, as have Port Moresby and Buna. Rabaul itself is being saved until closer to D-Day.
Looks like the IJN is welded quite firmly to the Gilberts right now according to Catalina recon, the buildup at Tabiteaua and the clashes around there have put the wind up him a bit. But I currently lack the CVs to go toe to toe, so I'm looking for alternative avenues of advance with the use of plenty of LBA. The Solomons has been firmed up by the Japanese but Milne Bay and the environs are still empty, so it's looking like the logical next step forward from Guadalcanal right now.
CENTPAC
Quiet, though Catalinas are picking up a lot of Japanese activity on the atolls north of Tarawa. Looks like that open door is closing as he's reinforcing, though fortunately Tarawa alone I think is probably sufficient to seriously put the twist on the Japs here and he can't reinforce Tarawa easily now the Allies are ready with two big airbases nearby.
Sub War
A quick note as 1943, I was expecting better results from both my subs and Jap ASW. Neither has really happened so far. Still masses of duds. There have been several Japanese ASW attacks but only one has been effective and forced a retirement - not any different from 1942, really.
That said, Allied subs did bag a PB and an AK since the last update.
Significant Allied submarine reinforcements are arriving though so I think sinkings will go up anyway. Another 3 Gato class subs arrived at Attu Island on the 10th, ready to be used against the Straits of Formosa which has seen rich pickings lately, and 3 more left Auckland after being refitted.
Japanese subs have been mastered for now, they're all pulling back. Wonder where they'll show up next.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Mini update for January 14th 1943, just in SOPAC.
2 Jap ships were reported at Torokina on the 12th (1 hex NW of Shortlands). Accordingly bombers at Guadalcanal and Tulagi were ordered in, along with some P38G sweeps as I assumed there'd be LRCAP.
Turned out this was something of a CAP trap as there was indeed CAP - 50+ Tojos! 4 P38s were shot down for 2 Tojos on the 13th, the bombers fortunately didn't launch at all.
On the 14th though the Allies had hatched dastardly plans. Four DDs were peeled off of the naval assets at Lunga, and sent in at full speed. This was possible now as a TK convoy arrived at Tulagi only last week, so there's a bit of a fuel at the front lines now - and no Japanese warships were evident, just a couple of AKs. Meanwhile the USAAF was detailed to bomb the tar out of Rabaul. 400 reported a/c at Rabaul, in the past the CAP has been too heavy, but I reasoned that a lot of it would be LRCAPping Torokina and so not present.
Looks like I was bang on the money. The four DDs raided Torokina and found a single AK, which they sank with torpedoes and gunfire. They were fast enough to get out of Dodge by daytime, so that part of the operation went smoothly.
Then the heavies hit Rabaul and really did a number on it. SMACK.
The only bad thing is that I neglected to properly stand down the RAAF Beaufighters and on the 14th they had a crack against a LRCAPped destroyer some way NE of Torokina, several were lost.
But overall a damn good day for the Allies, and it possibly opens up the Rabaul defences just at a perfect time for this Milne Bay op.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
AK Sasako Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Dunlap
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 46% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages AK Sasako Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Drayton engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
AK Sasako Maru sunk by DD Dunlap at 3,000 yards
AK Sasako Maru sunk by DD Dunlap at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 15
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 9 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 3 destroyed on ground
H8K1 Emily: 5 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 9 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 71
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12810 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
50th Sentai/A with Ki-61-Ia Tony (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 37730 , scrambling fighters to 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
251 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12810 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
202 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 36000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
68 Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground at Rabaul. Total losses from all causes for both sides today - 23 Allied for 83 Japanese.
[:'(]
2 Jap ships were reported at Torokina on the 12th (1 hex NW of Shortlands). Accordingly bombers at Guadalcanal and Tulagi were ordered in, along with some P38G sweeps as I assumed there'd be LRCAP.
Turned out this was something of a CAP trap as there was indeed CAP - 50+ Tojos! 4 P38s were shot down for 2 Tojos on the 13th, the bombers fortunately didn't launch at all.
On the 14th though the Allies had hatched dastardly plans. Four DDs were peeled off of the naval assets at Lunga, and sent in at full speed. This was possible now as a TK convoy arrived at Tulagi only last week, so there's a bit of a fuel at the front lines now - and no Japanese warships were evident, just a couple of AKs. Meanwhile the USAAF was detailed to bomb the tar out of Rabaul. 400 reported a/c at Rabaul, in the past the CAP has been too heavy, but I reasoned that a lot of it would be LRCAPping Torokina and so not present.
Looks like I was bang on the money. The four DDs raided Torokina and found a single AK, which they sank with torpedoes and gunfire. They were fast enough to get out of Dodge by daytime, so that part of the operation went smoothly.
Then the heavies hit Rabaul and really did a number on it. SMACK.
The only bad thing is that I neglected to properly stand down the RAAF Beaufighters and on the 14th they had a crack against a LRCAPped destroyer some way NE of Torokina, several were lost.
But overall a damn good day for the Allies, and it possibly opens up the Rabaul defences just at a perfect time for this Milne Bay op.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
AK Sasako Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Dunlap
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 46% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages AK Sasako Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Lamson engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Drayton engages AK Sasako Maru at 3,000 yards
AK Sasako Maru sunk by DD Dunlap at 3,000 yards
AK Sasako Maru sunk by DD Dunlap at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 15
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 9 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 3 destroyed on ground
H8K1 Emily: 5 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 9 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 71
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12810 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
50th Sentai/A with Ki-61-Ia Tony (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 37730 , scrambling fighters to 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
251 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12810 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
202 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 36000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
68 Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground at Rabaul. Total losses from all causes for both sides today - 23 Allied for 83 Japanese.
[:'(]
RE: Mines in the Pacific
20th January 1943
BURMA/INDIA
Fairly quiet. Been some sparring in the air over Burma but nothing too serious.
Ceylon, he has a huge airfield at Koggala but there's a bug stopping me from bombing it I think - so it's been quiet here too as I stubbornly leave all my bombers in the area set to bomb Koggala and they never fly.
CHINA
Stalemate continues for now, but when 3/4 of Chinese forces are on 0 supply, I'm not quite sure how.
SOPAC
Bad weather for several days after the solid hit on Rabaul gave the Japs time to fix the runway and their damaged a/c, unfortunately, but that didn't stop a small Allied push.
Very much the active theatre this week. The Allies made a move on Vella Lavella before the Japanese did, it was a bit of a shoestring operation done in a hurry with ill prepared troops.
The NZ N Force Detachment was sent on the grounds that it was available and was a mixed unit containing engineers, aviation support and a decent number of combat troops. A SAG based around CA San Francisco and CA Salt Lake City was provided as escort. The Japanese airbases in the Solomons had been put of action the week before, the B24s were sent in against Rabaul to do what they could - not much as it happened due to bad weather.
N Force was successfully put ashore at Vella Lavella but Japanese CVs moved in and trashed the transport ships as they lingered for far too long trying to get supply ashore - half a dozen xAPs were sunk, including some big 30 VP ships, but really, there are no shortage of Allied APs. Heavy damage was done to the Japanese by P38 and P40K LRCAP, 25 Vals in particular were shot down - land based Vals from Rabaul unfortunately.
Then I decided to attack the Japanese CVs with the SAG, bit of a gamble. It did work however in that the CVs were found and engaged. Things looked good for a while as all the USN heavy ships were blazing away at CV Zuikaku at 3000 yards after the T was crossed, unfortunately the USN gunnery was terrible, they just couldn't hit squat though they certain fired off plenty of salvoes. Helpless CVs at 3000 yards being blasted by 2 CAs and a CL and the end result was one 8 inch shell hit. [8|]
Not so the Japanese, who when they got their act together, blew the hell out of CA San Francisco, who sank by daybreak. CA Myoko did all the damage. Not the USN's finest hour.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Feni Islands at 113,126, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Shell hits 1
CV Shokaku, Shell hits 1
CV Zuikaku
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko
CLAA Tatsuta
DD Kazegumo
DD Hayashio
DD Hatsushima
DD Usugumo
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio
DD Nagatsuki
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Nashville
DD Hammann
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Inconstant
Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 96% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
McMorris, Chas H. crosses the 'T'
CA San Francisco engages CV Zuikaku at 6,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
That right there was a lot of salvoes with truly bloody awful accuracy...
DD Hammann engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Nagatsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Ushio at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Shokaku at 3,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CV Soryu at 3,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Nagatsuki at 3,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages DD Hammann at 3,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Zuikaku at 7,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 7,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Inconstant at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 7,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Hammann at 7,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Inconstant at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Kazegumo at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Tone at 13,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 13,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CV Zuikaku at 13,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Myoko at 13,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 13,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
DD Inconstant engages DD Murakumo at 13,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Hatsushima at 13,000 yards
DD Inconstant engages DD Hayashio at 13,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Inconstant at 13,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
Still it was worth a shot, and it might make him wary around Allied operations in the future. That 8 inch shell hit might mean some yard time as well, not sure.
He countered with paratroopers at Vella Lavella but the Kiwis so far have held them off. The Russell Islands airfield and the new F4 Corsair are almost ready for action, which should mean that Vella Lavella can be supported adequately with LBA.
Overall, well, the loss of CA San Francisco is painful but the xAPs I dont care about so so long as I can keep Vella Lavella I guess it was a success.
Milne Bay will be invaded a few days, there is 100 AV of Aussies ready, and an understrength Aussie division if they aren't enough. This op won't be in range of LBA fighter cover - it will however have 3 CVEs and 2 CVs covering them - a grossly inadequate force to meet his CVs but I was not greatly impressed with the firepower coming out of Rabaul in the Vella Lavella operation, and with his CVs running away back to Truk (through a massive swarm of submarines incidentally) i got a brief window I think.
CENTPAC
All quiet, the available APs and AKs (as opposed to xXX) are all at Townsville now ready for Milne Bay. But, landing ships are starting to roll off the production lines so I think Allied sealift will soon be at the point where I can keep SOPAC and CENTPAC active at the same time...
BURMA/INDIA
Fairly quiet. Been some sparring in the air over Burma but nothing too serious.
Ceylon, he has a huge airfield at Koggala but there's a bug stopping me from bombing it I think - so it's been quiet here too as I stubbornly leave all my bombers in the area set to bomb Koggala and they never fly.
CHINA
Stalemate continues for now, but when 3/4 of Chinese forces are on 0 supply, I'm not quite sure how.
SOPAC
Bad weather for several days after the solid hit on Rabaul gave the Japs time to fix the runway and their damaged a/c, unfortunately, but that didn't stop a small Allied push.
Very much the active theatre this week. The Allies made a move on Vella Lavella before the Japanese did, it was a bit of a shoestring operation done in a hurry with ill prepared troops.
The NZ N Force Detachment was sent on the grounds that it was available and was a mixed unit containing engineers, aviation support and a decent number of combat troops. A SAG based around CA San Francisco and CA Salt Lake City was provided as escort. The Japanese airbases in the Solomons had been put of action the week before, the B24s were sent in against Rabaul to do what they could - not much as it happened due to bad weather.
N Force was successfully put ashore at Vella Lavella but Japanese CVs moved in and trashed the transport ships as they lingered for far too long trying to get supply ashore - half a dozen xAPs were sunk, including some big 30 VP ships, but really, there are no shortage of Allied APs. Heavy damage was done to the Japanese by P38 and P40K LRCAP, 25 Vals in particular were shot down - land based Vals from Rabaul unfortunately.
Then I decided to attack the Japanese CVs with the SAG, bit of a gamble. It did work however in that the CVs were found and engaged. Things looked good for a while as all the USN heavy ships were blazing away at CV Zuikaku at 3000 yards after the T was crossed, unfortunately the USN gunnery was terrible, they just couldn't hit squat though they certain fired off plenty of salvoes. Helpless CVs at 3000 yards being blasted by 2 CAs and a CL and the end result was one 8 inch shell hit. [8|]
Not so the Japanese, who when they got their act together, blew the hell out of CA San Francisco, who sank by daybreak. CA Myoko did all the damage. Not the USN's finest hour.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Feni Islands at 113,126, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Shell hits 1
CV Shokaku, Shell hits 1
CV Zuikaku
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko
CLAA Tatsuta
DD Kazegumo
DD Hayashio
DD Hatsushima
DD Usugumo
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio
DD Nagatsuki
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Nashville
DD Hammann
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Inconstant
Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 96% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
McMorris, Chas H. crosses the 'T'
CA San Francisco engages CV Zuikaku at 6,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
That right there was a lot of salvoes with truly bloody awful accuracy...
DD Hammann engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Nagatsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Ushio at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Shokaku at 3,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CV Soryu at 3,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Nagatsuki at 3,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages DD Hammann at 3,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CV Zuikaku at 7,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 7,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Inconstant at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 7,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Hammann at 7,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Inconstant at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Kazegumo at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Tone at 13,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Zuikaku at 13,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CV Zuikaku at 13,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Myoko at 13,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
CLAA Tatsuta engages CA San Francisco at 13,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
DD Inconstant engages DD Murakumo at 13,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Hatsushima at 13,000 yards
DD Inconstant engages DD Hayashio at 13,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Inconstant at 13,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
Still it was worth a shot, and it might make him wary around Allied operations in the future. That 8 inch shell hit might mean some yard time as well, not sure.
He countered with paratroopers at Vella Lavella but the Kiwis so far have held them off. The Russell Islands airfield and the new F4 Corsair are almost ready for action, which should mean that Vella Lavella can be supported adequately with LBA.
Overall, well, the loss of CA San Francisco is painful but the xAPs I dont care about so so long as I can keep Vella Lavella I guess it was a success.
Milne Bay will be invaded a few days, there is 100 AV of Aussies ready, and an understrength Aussie division if they aren't enough. This op won't be in range of LBA fighter cover - it will however have 3 CVEs and 2 CVs covering them - a grossly inadequate force to meet his CVs but I was not greatly impressed with the firepower coming out of Rabaul in the Vella Lavella operation, and with his CVs running away back to Truk (through a massive swarm of submarines incidentally) i got a brief window I think.
CENTPAC
All quiet, the available APs and AKs (as opposed to xXX) are all at Townsville now ready for Milne Bay. But, landing ships are starting to roll off the production lines so I think Allied sealift will soon be at the point where I can keep SOPAC and CENTPAC active at the same time...
- Attachments
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- sopac2.jpg (112.54 KiB) Viewed 117 times
RE: Mines in the Pacific
25th January 1943
BURMA/INDIA
Finally got the bombers to hit Koggala! 60 Mitchells and 30 Wellingtons wreck the place utterly. P38 escorts set to target Koggala were apparently key. HMP Ceylon has been bombed back into the stone age without any Japanese defence.
Japanese Tojo sweeps over Ledo are a pain in the arse though, every sweep nets him 12 fighters for 3 Tojos, on average. Unacceptable attrition. Allied heavy bombers bomb the tar out of Burmese air bases, every so often they find where he is, but he moves frequently and he has the upper hand for now as a result.
I may shift level bombers from Ceylon to Dacca/Calcutta to increase the pressure on Burma. Ceylon has gone a long time with me bombing seven bells out of it and no sign of a supply convoy.
CHINA
Stalemate continues, minor victory on one side of the main front line where a single regiment was hit by 1000 AV of reasonably well supplied Chinese. A single regiment being gutted isn't going to make much odds overall but in this theatre I take whatever I can get.
SOPAC
The active theatre. The Battle of Milne Bay was the highlight. Milne fell on the 25th.
On D-2 a major Allied force of warships (3 CVE, 2 CV, 6 BB, ~15 transports, + cruisers and escorts) was spotted by Japanese aircraft en route to Milne Bay. Allied bombers bombed Lae and Port Moresby out of Townsville.
D-1 - Allied forces are now one hex from Milne Bay. CL Java is torpedoed by an S-boat. 100 or so Netties attack the convoy from Lae and Rabaul but they have no escort at all and are butchered by Wildcat CAP - 70 shot down in one day for almost no Allied loss.
D-0 - Allied forces land at Milne Bay. They manage to get all ashore in a single turn, along with 6000 supply. II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion, 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, Kanga Force Battalion and 140th USA Base Force are landed with differing levels of preparation, the commandos make it ashore intact, the engineers take 50% casualties. Half of the BBs shell the place, Allied aerial bombardment switches to the SNLF garrison defending Milne Bay.
D+1 (January 24th) - The other half of the Allied BBs shell the place overnight before retiring. Japanese CVs are sighted NE of Lae but the Allied fleet is already some distance SW of the target and are out of range. 50 odd bombers target the SNLF defenders and then the troops attack. Of 120 AV of Allies 90 are still in one piece after the landing but after the vast amount of high explosive allocated to the invasion the Japanese defenders are left on 6 AV and are booted out. The Allies have enough engineers to start developing the place immediately.
A little risky given KB intruded - though a day too late - but pretty much a textbook operation I think!
In the Solomons some Tulagi based divebombers/Wildcats are moved to Russell Island, and more Wildcats and a B26 squadron are brought up from Luganville. Landing craft are getting ready to ship some SeaBees to Vella Lavella where fighting is ongoing still, artillery is being shipped up to Lunga to assist in the assault on the Japanese division cut off at Tassafaronga, and in a couple of days USMC raiders will be en route to Vella Lavella as well, which should be enough firepower to crush the SNLF there.
Fascinating little exercise in which I chose to leave the division behind, the commandos did a fine job on their own and the shipping proved more than adequate. if any of those were not true I'd be in deep by now so I think - good call!
Fighting is fierce and the Allies have lost significant material, as the Japanese are trying quite hard but they've had a tough month, losing 120 Netties in January 43 alone by my reckoning.
CENTPAC
He's busy fortifying the islands north of Tarawa, not much I can do - I'm not overly bothered just yet though as Tarawa is, IMHO, a pretty solid base from which heavies can hit as far as Kwajalein.
LSIs/LSTs are building up at pearl, these will be used to reactivate this theatre ASAP.
NORPAC
2 US DDs raided Paramashimo Jima but ran into two Japanese DDs - an ambush no doubt given what happened before where some DDs raided a convoy. The Japanese damage them and drive them off but damage is light, some yard time at Vancouver is all.
BURMA/INDIA
Finally got the bombers to hit Koggala! 60 Mitchells and 30 Wellingtons wreck the place utterly. P38 escorts set to target Koggala were apparently key. HMP Ceylon has been bombed back into the stone age without any Japanese defence.
Japanese Tojo sweeps over Ledo are a pain in the arse though, every sweep nets him 12 fighters for 3 Tojos, on average. Unacceptable attrition. Allied heavy bombers bomb the tar out of Burmese air bases, every so often they find where he is, but he moves frequently and he has the upper hand for now as a result.
I may shift level bombers from Ceylon to Dacca/Calcutta to increase the pressure on Burma. Ceylon has gone a long time with me bombing seven bells out of it and no sign of a supply convoy.
CHINA
Stalemate continues, minor victory on one side of the main front line where a single regiment was hit by 1000 AV of reasonably well supplied Chinese. A single regiment being gutted isn't going to make much odds overall but in this theatre I take whatever I can get.
SOPAC
The active theatre. The Battle of Milne Bay was the highlight. Milne fell on the 25th.
On D-2 a major Allied force of warships (3 CVE, 2 CV, 6 BB, ~15 transports, + cruisers and escorts) was spotted by Japanese aircraft en route to Milne Bay. Allied bombers bombed Lae and Port Moresby out of Townsville.
D-1 - Allied forces are now one hex from Milne Bay. CL Java is torpedoed by an S-boat. 100 or so Netties attack the convoy from Lae and Rabaul but they have no escort at all and are butchered by Wildcat CAP - 70 shot down in one day for almost no Allied loss.
D-0 - Allied forces land at Milne Bay. They manage to get all ashore in a single turn, along with 6000 supply. II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion, 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, Kanga Force Battalion and 140th USA Base Force are landed with differing levels of preparation, the commandos make it ashore intact, the engineers take 50% casualties. Half of the BBs shell the place, Allied aerial bombardment switches to the SNLF garrison defending Milne Bay.
D+1 (January 24th) - The other half of the Allied BBs shell the place overnight before retiring. Japanese CVs are sighted NE of Lae but the Allied fleet is already some distance SW of the target and are out of range. 50 odd bombers target the SNLF defenders and then the troops attack. Of 120 AV of Allies 90 are still in one piece after the landing but after the vast amount of high explosive allocated to the invasion the Japanese defenders are left on 6 AV and are booted out. The Allies have enough engineers to start developing the place immediately.
A little risky given KB intruded - though a day too late - but pretty much a textbook operation I think!
In the Solomons some Tulagi based divebombers/Wildcats are moved to Russell Island, and more Wildcats and a B26 squadron are brought up from Luganville. Landing craft are getting ready to ship some SeaBees to Vella Lavella where fighting is ongoing still, artillery is being shipped up to Lunga to assist in the assault on the Japanese division cut off at Tassafaronga, and in a couple of days USMC raiders will be en route to Vella Lavella as well, which should be enough firepower to crush the SNLF there.
Fascinating little exercise in which I chose to leave the division behind, the commandos did a fine job on their own and the shipping proved more than adequate. if any of those were not true I'd be in deep by now so I think - good call!
Fighting is fierce and the Allies have lost significant material, as the Japanese are trying quite hard but they've had a tough month, losing 120 Netties in January 43 alone by my reckoning.
CENTPAC
He's busy fortifying the islands north of Tarawa, not much I can do - I'm not overly bothered just yet though as Tarawa is, IMHO, a pretty solid base from which heavies can hit as far as Kwajalein.
LSIs/LSTs are building up at pearl, these will be used to reactivate this theatre ASAP.
NORPAC
2 US DDs raided Paramashimo Jima but ran into two Japanese DDs - an ambush no doubt given what happened before where some DDs raided a convoy. The Japanese damage them and drive them off but damage is light, some yard time at Vancouver is all.
- Attachments
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- milnebay.jpg (115.29 KiB) Viewed 117 times
RE: Mines in the Pacific
3rd February 1943
February 43 is a big big month for the Allies - B24 production steps up to 33 heavy bombers per month, plus a few other sundries besides but the B24s are the biggies. For the first time in the war we should have adequate bomber reinforcements. Fairly soon ground reinforcements, especially much needed Indians, steps up significantly too.
BURMA/INDIA
Allied forces (2 British and one American division) arrived at Kalemyo which had been mostly evacuated by the Japanese, found a regiment + artillery support and threw them out with heavy casualties. This means the Japs don't hold a single Indian base now, they are entirely back over the Burmese border. There has been some bombing of Burmese airfields but the IJ airforce have been shy this last week.
Been bombing the tar out of Ceylon, ground attack, airfield attack. One day I took a snapshot of the entire island to see what strength is there - 24,000 reported troop at Colombo, 20,000 at Koggala, 5000 at Trimcomalee. No airfarce of note, just floatplanes. Intelligence bombs reveal two divisions at Colombo plus tanks, we're probably talking 4 divisions on the entire island, at least.
I'm desperate to revitalise the SEAC theatre and get the Commonwealth back into the war. I don't like leaving so many troops and aircraft essentially passive when they should IMHO be applying pressure. However an attack into Burma seems hopeless with so many IJA units there. I think a more naval approach might be possible (though it would need USN backing), however Ceylon (and Port Blair) are prerequisites of any such approach, so this leads me to consider the reconquest of Ceylon. I booted out the remaining Japs at Kalemyo to allow me a freer hand in shifting LCUs around. I think we need five or six divisions to have a serious effort at taking Ceylon back, I'm in the process of seeing if that sort of force is available. There's certainly no shortage of an LBA umbrella, or merchant ships (xAKs mostly unfortunately, but in huge numbers). If at all possible I'd like this to happen without CVs, preferably at the same time as something big is going down in CENTPAC/SOPAC, and with thunderclap surprise to borrow Monty.
I Australia Corps - 60,000 crack troops - are en route from Cape Town to Perth, they'll be used to invade Port Moresby probably when they get into position.
SOPAC
Heavy fighting around Milne Bay, with the Allies getting the worse of it. IJN and USN forces clashed around Milne, with 2 Japanese DDs and CA Kako being trashed in surface combat, while the USN lost two CAs and a CL and a couple of DDs. The Japanese have landed about 120 AV of troops at Milne Bay and shelled the crap out of them (Yamato made an appearance), but the Aussie commandos and American tanks have proven hard to dislodge. The combat engineers who were landed to build up the airfield have whipped up fortifications in the blink of an eye too, the place is a fort 2 already. So so far... it's still mine I think. I have the option of airlifting another 150 AV worth of paras to Milne Bay in a pinch, so I'm not panicking just yet.
The bombers at Cooktown are supporting by bombing his Helen base at Lae, mostly.
Two SeaBees units have been moved to Vella Lavella by barge from Tulagi without any casualties, though a couple of barges were damaged while empty and returning to Tulagi. Russell Islands now holds 24 Dauntlesses, 24 Avengers and 24 Wildcats, so the air power at the SE end of the Solomons is really building and building. Japanese Tojos have been very active around Shortlands though, in 40+ numbers - they've been causing a bit of a headache, ruling out long range bomber strikes. The middle Solomons is definitely "contested" territory.
Trying to annihilate the Japanese division at Tassafaronga, which is now well and truly cut off, but it's proving a tough nut to crack even with no supply. The single division worth of Americans is proving inadequate, even with plenty of supply and support. I've moved up some artillery from Noumea, and I think I'll probably grab a couple of army regiments too, before continuing to try and reduce them.
CENTPAC
Kinda quiet, but LSIs and LSTs are arriving in ever greater numbers and are being ordered to Pago Pago. Looking to reopen a Tarawa landing as soon as poss. Ocean Island has been reinforced with a baseforce while the IJN is busy in SOPAC, I think I'm going to try and load up at Pago Pago and hit Tarawa again with thunderclap surprise, preferably while something is going on in SOPAC. Going to be a while before this can happen though, I'd guess a month before the required assets are in position.
The USN CV force is en route to Noumea from Townsville, I declined to get them involved in the Milne Bay battles. 3 CVE and 2 CV, not enough for major clashes. But in about a month they'll be up to 4 CV. It's kinda tempting to wait for the Essexes given how soon they arrive...
I'll never manage to keep still that long tho.
February 43 is a big big month for the Allies - B24 production steps up to 33 heavy bombers per month, plus a few other sundries besides but the B24s are the biggies. For the first time in the war we should have adequate bomber reinforcements. Fairly soon ground reinforcements, especially much needed Indians, steps up significantly too.
BURMA/INDIA
Allied forces (2 British and one American division) arrived at Kalemyo which had been mostly evacuated by the Japanese, found a regiment + artillery support and threw them out with heavy casualties. This means the Japs don't hold a single Indian base now, they are entirely back over the Burmese border. There has been some bombing of Burmese airfields but the IJ airforce have been shy this last week.
Been bombing the tar out of Ceylon, ground attack, airfield attack. One day I took a snapshot of the entire island to see what strength is there - 24,000 reported troop at Colombo, 20,000 at Koggala, 5000 at Trimcomalee. No airfarce of note, just floatplanes. Intelligence bombs reveal two divisions at Colombo plus tanks, we're probably talking 4 divisions on the entire island, at least.
I'm desperate to revitalise the SEAC theatre and get the Commonwealth back into the war. I don't like leaving so many troops and aircraft essentially passive when they should IMHO be applying pressure. However an attack into Burma seems hopeless with so many IJA units there. I think a more naval approach might be possible (though it would need USN backing), however Ceylon (and Port Blair) are prerequisites of any such approach, so this leads me to consider the reconquest of Ceylon. I booted out the remaining Japs at Kalemyo to allow me a freer hand in shifting LCUs around. I think we need five or six divisions to have a serious effort at taking Ceylon back, I'm in the process of seeing if that sort of force is available. There's certainly no shortage of an LBA umbrella, or merchant ships (xAKs mostly unfortunately, but in huge numbers). If at all possible I'd like this to happen without CVs, preferably at the same time as something big is going down in CENTPAC/SOPAC, and with thunderclap surprise to borrow Monty.
I Australia Corps - 60,000 crack troops - are en route from Cape Town to Perth, they'll be used to invade Port Moresby probably when they get into position.
SOPAC
Heavy fighting around Milne Bay, with the Allies getting the worse of it. IJN and USN forces clashed around Milne, with 2 Japanese DDs and CA Kako being trashed in surface combat, while the USN lost two CAs and a CL and a couple of DDs. The Japanese have landed about 120 AV of troops at Milne Bay and shelled the crap out of them (Yamato made an appearance), but the Aussie commandos and American tanks have proven hard to dislodge. The combat engineers who were landed to build up the airfield have whipped up fortifications in the blink of an eye too, the place is a fort 2 already. So so far... it's still mine I think. I have the option of airlifting another 150 AV worth of paras to Milne Bay in a pinch, so I'm not panicking just yet.
The bombers at Cooktown are supporting by bombing his Helen base at Lae, mostly.
Two SeaBees units have been moved to Vella Lavella by barge from Tulagi without any casualties, though a couple of barges were damaged while empty and returning to Tulagi. Russell Islands now holds 24 Dauntlesses, 24 Avengers and 24 Wildcats, so the air power at the SE end of the Solomons is really building and building. Japanese Tojos have been very active around Shortlands though, in 40+ numbers - they've been causing a bit of a headache, ruling out long range bomber strikes. The middle Solomons is definitely "contested" territory.
Trying to annihilate the Japanese division at Tassafaronga, which is now well and truly cut off, but it's proving a tough nut to crack even with no supply. The single division worth of Americans is proving inadequate, even with plenty of supply and support. I've moved up some artillery from Noumea, and I think I'll probably grab a couple of army regiments too, before continuing to try and reduce them.
CENTPAC
Kinda quiet, but LSIs and LSTs are arriving in ever greater numbers and are being ordered to Pago Pago. Looking to reopen a Tarawa landing as soon as poss. Ocean Island has been reinforced with a baseforce while the IJN is busy in SOPAC, I think I'm going to try and load up at Pago Pago and hit Tarawa again with thunderclap surprise, preferably while something is going on in SOPAC. Going to be a while before this can happen though, I'd guess a month before the required assets are in position.
The USN CV force is en route to Noumea from Townsville, I declined to get them involved in the Milne Bay battles. 3 CVE and 2 CV, not enough for major clashes. But in about a month they'll be up to 4 CV. It's kinda tempting to wait for the Essexes given how soon they arrive...
I'll never manage to keep still that long tho.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
11th February 1943
The Tojo is really giving me headaches. Can't wait for the P47 and Hellcat to show up!
BURMA/INDIA
Still gathering up land forces for Ceylon adventurism. Basically I scour the map for spare units and order them to Karachi, in a couple of weeks I'll look at Karachi and see what I got in the way of unallocated units, and then we can decide on adventurism. I think at a guess that I will have possibly adequate forces to at least make a credible partial invasion of Ceylon possible.
In southern India ~50 Mitchells and ~30 Wellingtons have been still bombing Ceylon back to the stone age day by day.
Tojo sweeps from Burma over Ledo have been continuing and doing heavy damage to the Allied P40Ks and Hurricanes there - I think the kill ratio is 2:1 in his favour, though I'm hoping that the pilot attrition is significant. This isnt a daily thing, these are hit and runs - the next day he moves his Tojos back for fear of the wrath of the heavy bombers at Diamond Harbor/Calcutta. I keep the CAP flying though as Ledo houses 100 transport aircraft and if he decides to bomb it one day instead of sweep it it would really hurt.
For my part, I've noticed that Rangoon is horribly overstacked - recon is telling me there are 400 Japanese aircraft there! - so the heavies have been night bombing it relentlessly. One night I bagged 10 Tojos alone, and given we're talking about 35 heavy bombers I think thats pretty good going. He's got 2 or 3 fighter squadrons on night CAP but its hard enough shooting down heavies during the day, let alone at night, so I'm not worried.
CHINA
Yet another Japanese offensive began this week on a new axis, up from the Hong Kong direction towards Changsha in the middle. Chinese units (on 0 supply of course) are being driven forward. This is bad because the terrain is not very defensible, lots of plains hexes. I've actually ordered some engineers down there and am building fortifications but the Chinese only have a week or two tops I think as three Japanese divisions pour along the road. Due to the lack of supply involved those 3 Jap divisions will need to be countered by about 10 Chinese corps so this is serious - it could unhinge the entire Chinese centre. On the plus side it looks like he's given up pressing forward on any of the other fronts.
With the exception of a couple of divisions pressing towards Tibet. There's almost no Chinese units there - and no supply of course - so he'll end up capturing all the way to the Soviet border, I'm sure. But as it's just desert and mountains over there, I'm not too bothered. And the Himalayas blocks off any Indian backdoors. It's just barren space. In 1945 there might be an interesting Soviet drive through there is all. China's post war future looks pretty bleak. [;)]
SUB WAR
Allied submarines at present are concentrated around Truk and in the waters between Formosa/China and Japan, with a few more around Hokkaido. A half dozen short range boats prowl the Bay of Bengal and a handful of boats are prowling the Dutch East Indies. Allied submarine bases are Attu Island, Townsville, Suva, Port Hedland on the north coast of Australia, and Cochin on the SW coast of India. Quite a few Allied subs were in the yards for the 43/1 upgrade but they are starting to get into the combat zones in large numbers finally with semi-functional torpedoes, and the number of sinkings has gone up and up - one a day, at a minimum, sometimes as many as four. The Straits of Formosa and Truk are the busiest areas. The Allied subs arent shy, they've sunk a couple of PBs, a DD and even an E in the last week, as well as a TK off Port Blair which was interesting. Allied sub damage is noticeably worse than in 1942 but it's not really that bad, certainly given the large number of Allied subs on the prowl.
Aces are SS Snook in the Straits of Formosa commanded by Reich, she fired every torpedo she had in the space of a couple of weeks and most of them hit something and exploded, shes' en route to Attu Island now for resupply, SS Flying Fish commanded by Mush Morton who has also been doing good work near Japan, and SS Amberjack who sunk a few near Rabaul before being heavily damaged by depth charged, she's en route to Sydney now.
The lone Japanese submarine success was a torpedoing of a laden AK off Karachi - unescorted convoy, my fault.
SOPAC
Milne Bay has been clinging on, by the fingernails. He reinforced with another full regiment as well as the SNLF he landed right away, bringing up the Japanese AV to 100 or so as the SNLF unit was badly mauled. However the Aussies and US tanks took the time to dig in, fort 2 now. He attacked and got 1:2 odds against and a serious beating - the Allied units must have much higher firepower, it is noticeable in the results as our AVs are about equal now. 10 dead and 20 disabled Japanese squads in one attack, that hurts given the small size of the engagement. The airfield at Milne is now 80% on the way to level 1. Supply is constant at 1000 points or so, C-47s are flying daily from Cooktown and he's not done anything about this yet. Instead he bombs daily with Helens and does massive Tojo/Nick/Zero sweeps, damage is light though and there are no Allied fighters for the sweeps to find. To my surprise the AA guns of the RAN baseforce have done pretty good work, every day he loses a Helen.
In the Solomons Vella Lavella now has an airfield 1 and a Spitfire squadron. Aggressive use of Tojos has worn down the Allies here though, 50 Tojo sweeps or CAP is par for the course at the moment and the Allies are outnumbered and pretty much qualitatively at parity. Japanese tactics involve presenting naval targets with massive CAP to try and lure out Wildcats and Corsairs on escort to be shot down, combined with massive Tojo sweeps over the more forward Allied islands at Russell Islands and Vella Lavella. Allied tactics involve stratospheric P38 sweeps which still work against Tojos, bombing the tar out of Solomons airfields with heavies, and aggressive PT boat patrols. A couple of Japanese barge TFs were wiped out in their entirety by PTs when they tried to resupply Munda.
At one point CL Yubari bombarded Vella Lavella with some DDs at one point but got attacked by Avengers and Beauforts - the Avengers hit again and again, but each one was a dud, four out of four! the Beaufort torpedoes do work though, she took two of those, and a third torpedo from a submarine finally sank her but christ. That means, when you include duds, that it took 7 torpedo hits to sink one 5000 ton Japanese light cruiser. Allied weapons suck.
The B24D1 is arriving in large numbers now and the Lunga squadrons are being upgraded. It's going to take a while to uncrate but by the end of February I think we'll have the heavy squadrons all at full strength - some of them are down to 3 or 4 B17s atm, so this is the difference between having 30 heavies and having 60 odd.
A major headache for me in SOPAC atm is the fact that the USMC has run out of fighter pilots. High intensity combat (the Allies lose 15-20 a/c a day lately) and the fact that in 1942 there are not enough USMC squadrons for a major training program have meant they are pretty much tapped out, 1943 has seen some major reinforcements so i got a lot of Wildcats at San Diego training now but it'll be a while before they get into the fray. Fortunately the USMC only has 2 squadrons in the Solomons while the USAAF, who have masses and masses of trained pilots, have six, so it's not that bad. But still a pain.
CENTPAC
Trying to move a couple of regiments from Tabiteaua to Pago Pago. These guys are bound for Tarawa but I don't want to load them up in full view of him at Tabiteaua, I want the amphib force to have some surprise by being loaded up well beyond Japanese search range. He tried to intervene with 2 DDs in a quick raid - they ran into 3 American DDs and were chased off with a few shell hits. 25 Airacobras and 15 Marauders bombed and strafed to no avail, though a couple of 37mm hits were achieved. Then a Jap CA showed up some way away, but in the event pulled back. I've still not got my regiments out of there though so it's not over yet.
The fleet is gathering at Pago Pago meanwhile, got the APs that were used at Townsville plus the new landing craft. I think Tarawa should be a breeze if I can actually land, I estimate he's got no more than 40 AV there by now and there are 3 USMC regiments fully prepped if need be. The problem is having a window of sea superiority in which to land them...
The Tojo is really giving me headaches. Can't wait for the P47 and Hellcat to show up!
BURMA/INDIA
Still gathering up land forces for Ceylon adventurism. Basically I scour the map for spare units and order them to Karachi, in a couple of weeks I'll look at Karachi and see what I got in the way of unallocated units, and then we can decide on adventurism. I think at a guess that I will have possibly adequate forces to at least make a credible partial invasion of Ceylon possible.
In southern India ~50 Mitchells and ~30 Wellingtons have been still bombing Ceylon back to the stone age day by day.
Tojo sweeps from Burma over Ledo have been continuing and doing heavy damage to the Allied P40Ks and Hurricanes there - I think the kill ratio is 2:1 in his favour, though I'm hoping that the pilot attrition is significant. This isnt a daily thing, these are hit and runs - the next day he moves his Tojos back for fear of the wrath of the heavy bombers at Diamond Harbor/Calcutta. I keep the CAP flying though as Ledo houses 100 transport aircraft and if he decides to bomb it one day instead of sweep it it would really hurt.
For my part, I've noticed that Rangoon is horribly overstacked - recon is telling me there are 400 Japanese aircraft there! - so the heavies have been night bombing it relentlessly. One night I bagged 10 Tojos alone, and given we're talking about 35 heavy bombers I think thats pretty good going. He's got 2 or 3 fighter squadrons on night CAP but its hard enough shooting down heavies during the day, let alone at night, so I'm not worried.
CHINA
Yet another Japanese offensive began this week on a new axis, up from the Hong Kong direction towards Changsha in the middle. Chinese units (on 0 supply of course) are being driven forward. This is bad because the terrain is not very defensible, lots of plains hexes. I've actually ordered some engineers down there and am building fortifications but the Chinese only have a week or two tops I think as three Japanese divisions pour along the road. Due to the lack of supply involved those 3 Jap divisions will need to be countered by about 10 Chinese corps so this is serious - it could unhinge the entire Chinese centre. On the plus side it looks like he's given up pressing forward on any of the other fronts.
With the exception of a couple of divisions pressing towards Tibet. There's almost no Chinese units there - and no supply of course - so he'll end up capturing all the way to the Soviet border, I'm sure. But as it's just desert and mountains over there, I'm not too bothered. And the Himalayas blocks off any Indian backdoors. It's just barren space. In 1945 there might be an interesting Soviet drive through there is all. China's post war future looks pretty bleak. [;)]
SUB WAR
Allied submarines at present are concentrated around Truk and in the waters between Formosa/China and Japan, with a few more around Hokkaido. A half dozen short range boats prowl the Bay of Bengal and a handful of boats are prowling the Dutch East Indies. Allied submarine bases are Attu Island, Townsville, Suva, Port Hedland on the north coast of Australia, and Cochin on the SW coast of India. Quite a few Allied subs were in the yards for the 43/1 upgrade but they are starting to get into the combat zones in large numbers finally with semi-functional torpedoes, and the number of sinkings has gone up and up - one a day, at a minimum, sometimes as many as four. The Straits of Formosa and Truk are the busiest areas. The Allied subs arent shy, they've sunk a couple of PBs, a DD and even an E in the last week, as well as a TK off Port Blair which was interesting. Allied sub damage is noticeably worse than in 1942 but it's not really that bad, certainly given the large number of Allied subs on the prowl.
Aces are SS Snook in the Straits of Formosa commanded by Reich, she fired every torpedo she had in the space of a couple of weeks and most of them hit something and exploded, shes' en route to Attu Island now for resupply, SS Flying Fish commanded by Mush Morton who has also been doing good work near Japan, and SS Amberjack who sunk a few near Rabaul before being heavily damaged by depth charged, she's en route to Sydney now.
The lone Japanese submarine success was a torpedoing of a laden AK off Karachi - unescorted convoy, my fault.
SOPAC
Milne Bay has been clinging on, by the fingernails. He reinforced with another full regiment as well as the SNLF he landed right away, bringing up the Japanese AV to 100 or so as the SNLF unit was badly mauled. However the Aussies and US tanks took the time to dig in, fort 2 now. He attacked and got 1:2 odds against and a serious beating - the Allied units must have much higher firepower, it is noticeable in the results as our AVs are about equal now. 10 dead and 20 disabled Japanese squads in one attack, that hurts given the small size of the engagement. The airfield at Milne is now 80% on the way to level 1. Supply is constant at 1000 points or so, C-47s are flying daily from Cooktown and he's not done anything about this yet. Instead he bombs daily with Helens and does massive Tojo/Nick/Zero sweeps, damage is light though and there are no Allied fighters for the sweeps to find. To my surprise the AA guns of the RAN baseforce have done pretty good work, every day he loses a Helen.
In the Solomons Vella Lavella now has an airfield 1 and a Spitfire squadron. Aggressive use of Tojos has worn down the Allies here though, 50 Tojo sweeps or CAP is par for the course at the moment and the Allies are outnumbered and pretty much qualitatively at parity. Japanese tactics involve presenting naval targets with massive CAP to try and lure out Wildcats and Corsairs on escort to be shot down, combined with massive Tojo sweeps over the more forward Allied islands at Russell Islands and Vella Lavella. Allied tactics involve stratospheric P38 sweeps which still work against Tojos, bombing the tar out of Solomons airfields with heavies, and aggressive PT boat patrols. A couple of Japanese barge TFs were wiped out in their entirety by PTs when they tried to resupply Munda.
At one point CL Yubari bombarded Vella Lavella with some DDs at one point but got attacked by Avengers and Beauforts - the Avengers hit again and again, but each one was a dud, four out of four! the Beaufort torpedoes do work though, she took two of those, and a third torpedo from a submarine finally sank her but christ. That means, when you include duds, that it took 7 torpedo hits to sink one 5000 ton Japanese light cruiser. Allied weapons suck.
The B24D1 is arriving in large numbers now and the Lunga squadrons are being upgraded. It's going to take a while to uncrate but by the end of February I think we'll have the heavy squadrons all at full strength - some of them are down to 3 or 4 B17s atm, so this is the difference between having 30 heavies and having 60 odd.
A major headache for me in SOPAC atm is the fact that the USMC has run out of fighter pilots. High intensity combat (the Allies lose 15-20 a/c a day lately) and the fact that in 1942 there are not enough USMC squadrons for a major training program have meant they are pretty much tapped out, 1943 has seen some major reinforcements so i got a lot of Wildcats at San Diego training now but it'll be a while before they get into the fray. Fortunately the USMC only has 2 squadrons in the Solomons while the USAAF, who have masses and masses of trained pilots, have six, so it's not that bad. But still a pain.
CENTPAC
Trying to move a couple of regiments from Tabiteaua to Pago Pago. These guys are bound for Tarawa but I don't want to load them up in full view of him at Tabiteaua, I want the amphib force to have some surprise by being loaded up well beyond Japanese search range. He tried to intervene with 2 DDs in a quick raid - they ran into 3 American DDs and were chased off with a few shell hits. 25 Airacobras and 15 Marauders bombed and strafed to no avail, though a couple of 37mm hits were achieved. Then a Jap CA showed up some way away, but in the event pulled back. I've still not got my regiments out of there though so it's not over yet.
The fleet is gathering at Pago Pago meanwhile, got the APs that were used at Townsville plus the new landing craft. I think Tarawa should be a breeze if I can actually land, I estimate he's got no more than 40 AV there by now and there are 3 USMC regiments fully prepped if need be. The problem is having a window of sea superiority in which to land them...
RE: Mines in the Pacific
18th February 1943
Extremely heavy fighting in SOPAC.
BURMA/INDIA
Not much change, Ceylon is being bombed into the stone age, thats about it really.
SOPAC
Heavy, heavy fighting! We've each been losing an average of 50 a/c a day since the last update and its going on down here.
He has reinforced Milne Bay with another regiment and has been bombing round the clock with Helens. Allied aircraft have been skip bombing his transports to great effect now his BBs pulled back after bombardment, I think I've sunk a half dozen, some of them laden. My trained B25s are earning their keep but even untrained Liberators are effective against transports - easy targets.
So now we have 100 AV of Allies versus almost a whole Japanese division, yet the Japanese are still getting their ass kicked. Looks like the Japs have supply issues, but I'm not sure why, they have complete naval superiority for now and they will still have it for a good couple of weeks.
Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6690 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 197
Defending force 3913 troops, 11 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 113
Japanese adjusted assault: 56
Allied adjusted defense: 57
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
822 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Assaulting units:
49th Infantry Regiment
Guards Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
Defending units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
Kanga Force Battalion
140th USA Base Force
So they are still hanging on by a fingernail. i've evacced a cadre of II Aus Engineer Battalion though just in case...
Vella Lavella has unfortunately reconquered by the Japanese, he landed a full regiment there and booted out the Allies with massive naval support - Yamato and Musashi showed up. A cadre of the Kiwi N Force Detachment was evacuated to Tulagi, but two SeaBees units were lost. I really really wanted a marine defence detachment there but none was nearby and available - looks like the door to easy conquests in the Solomons was closed.
USMC Avengers and Dauntlesses from Munda hurled themselves at the Japanese shipping but were slaughtered, three 24 plane units are down to a half dozen a/c each. However, Yamato was hit by two torpedoes, one from the Avengers and one from the RAAF Beauforts at Tulagi, and was reported at being at heavy damage. She's limping away at a very slow speed so I believe that report. Allied subs have been converging on her route to Truk, one already torpedoed her - but with duds. Yamato might not make it out of there...
In later days my Corsairs are finally getting into the fray having taken their time being uncrated, 18 Corsairs swept Shortlands and must have shot down 18 odd fighter for no loss of their own. Tojos mostly, too. They did have the dive dive dive, but even so. Impressive. Their short range means I'd like to keep the main effort in the Solomons in SOPAC really.
Still trying to clear out the Japanese division at Tassafaronga, I got 16 Mitchells bombing them every day without fail, and I've reinforced with arty. in a few days a fourth regiment will arrive and then I'm going to start deliberate attacking again.
CENTPAC
Assault forces are unloading at Pago Pago in readiness to be transferred to my new landing craft. Carriers and surface forces are in position. Replenishment TFs are ready. Tarawa is being bombed by 10 Marauders, 10 Bolos and 10 B17Fs daily and the casualties are vast, they must be in a very bad way. A Marine regiment and some tanks are the chosen units, I think they are going to roll right over the defenders who must be in a dire state. Hopefully the IJN will still be busy in SOPAC and I will have that window I need.
I got AKLs readying at Townsville to convoy supply to Milne Bay - if they make it, great, but I think he'll cut Milne off with his fleet when he sees them coming in. If so, Tarawa will be mine, mwahaha.
Extremely heavy fighting in SOPAC.
BURMA/INDIA
Not much change, Ceylon is being bombed into the stone age, thats about it really.
SOPAC
Heavy, heavy fighting! We've each been losing an average of 50 a/c a day since the last update and its going on down here.
He has reinforced Milne Bay with another regiment and has been bombing round the clock with Helens. Allied aircraft have been skip bombing his transports to great effect now his BBs pulled back after bombardment, I think I've sunk a half dozen, some of them laden. My trained B25s are earning their keep but even untrained Liberators are effective against transports - easy targets.
So now we have 100 AV of Allies versus almost a whole Japanese division, yet the Japanese are still getting their ass kicked. Looks like the Japs have supply issues, but I'm not sure why, they have complete naval superiority for now and they will still have it for a good couple of weeks.
Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6690 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 197
Defending force 3913 troops, 11 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 113
Japanese adjusted assault: 56
Allied adjusted defense: 57
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
822 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Assaulting units:
49th Infantry Regiment
Guards Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
Defending units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
Kanga Force Battalion
140th USA Base Force
So they are still hanging on by a fingernail. i've evacced a cadre of II Aus Engineer Battalion though just in case...
Vella Lavella has unfortunately reconquered by the Japanese, he landed a full regiment there and booted out the Allies with massive naval support - Yamato and Musashi showed up. A cadre of the Kiwi N Force Detachment was evacuated to Tulagi, but two SeaBees units were lost. I really really wanted a marine defence detachment there but none was nearby and available - looks like the door to easy conquests in the Solomons was closed.
USMC Avengers and Dauntlesses from Munda hurled themselves at the Japanese shipping but were slaughtered, three 24 plane units are down to a half dozen a/c each. However, Yamato was hit by two torpedoes, one from the Avengers and one from the RAAF Beauforts at Tulagi, and was reported at being at heavy damage. She's limping away at a very slow speed so I believe that report. Allied subs have been converging on her route to Truk, one already torpedoed her - but with duds. Yamato might not make it out of there...
In later days my Corsairs are finally getting into the fray having taken their time being uncrated, 18 Corsairs swept Shortlands and must have shot down 18 odd fighter for no loss of their own. Tojos mostly, too. They did have the dive dive dive, but even so. Impressive. Their short range means I'd like to keep the main effort in the Solomons in SOPAC really.
Still trying to clear out the Japanese division at Tassafaronga, I got 16 Mitchells bombing them every day without fail, and I've reinforced with arty. in a few days a fourth regiment will arrive and then I'm going to start deliberate attacking again.
CENTPAC
Assault forces are unloading at Pago Pago in readiness to be transferred to my new landing craft. Carriers and surface forces are in position. Replenishment TFs are ready. Tarawa is being bombed by 10 Marauders, 10 Bolos and 10 B17Fs daily and the casualties are vast, they must be in a very bad way. A Marine regiment and some tanks are the chosen units, I think they are going to roll right over the defenders who must be in a dire state. Hopefully the IJN will still be busy in SOPAC and I will have that window I need.
I got AKLs readying at Townsville to convoy supply to Milne Bay - if they make it, great, but I think he'll cut Milne off with his fleet when he sees them coming in. If so, Tarawa will be mine, mwahaha.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
28th February 1943
BURMA/INDIA
Not a day passes when 50 bombers minimum do not darken the skies over Ceylon and wreck something. No Japanese opposition. I've raised the bombing altitude from my favourite 8000' to 12000' to cut down a bit on the flak which is fairly heavy over Colombo - it has done that slightly but the damage has gone right down, I think you need to be under 10k if you want to do more than harassment. Which is fine, thats all I do want to do atm.
Looks like the spare AV at Karachi will be about 2400. I got 65 AKs there too and more coming in - the Bay of Bengal looks bare, so I might just go for a reconquista. I suspect there are IJN CVs at Singapore, but its a fair steam from Singers to Colombo and there is a lot of LBA there.
In Burma I've been night bombing Rangoon every turn, seems to get 5 Tojos a day. It adds up, I hope. He's been trying desperately to stop this, but nothing has worked, when he tried a massive Tojo nightcap the Tojos got reamed (lost 15 in one day and about half were to heavy bombers!). I think this may be a little cheap... but then I look at how China has been bombed flat and how the Chinese army was vaporised by bugged artillery - the consequences of which I am still living with as the long drawn out collapse of China continues - and figure, c'est la vie.
CHINA
Stalemate everywhere again aside from the Jap divisions racing towards Tibet. Not too bothered about them. He's back to city bombing, he's tried firebombing Changsha, and now he's going for whats left of the light industry - the final point here and there.
150 transports at Ledo resupplying nowadays, i've noticed the Chinese army in some areas isnt all at 0, so I guess it might even be helping, slightly.
SOPAC
Milne Bay is in a parlous state, I think it'll fall very soon. With cadres evacuated, I'm kinda assuming it'll happen before the USN can intervene. Unfortunate really, it means the Allies will be back to the starting line! The Japanese managed to resupply the place partially but at the cost of half a dozen AKs lost to Allied skip bombing (the attack bombers seem to work alright now!), still, it's been enough to get the better of the defenders and their AV is dangerously low now. USN attempts to intervene didn't work out very well, two CAs and a CL were sunk in combat with Japanese cruisers/BBs around Milne Bay - the USN just got completely schooled again in a night encounter, though at least a DD managed to hit BB Yamashiro with a torpedo at night so thats a BB out for a while, and CV Zuikaku was torpedoed by an S-boat near Lae.
However, the strategic situation will be much improved in March 1943 and I'm confident we can start pushing again so it's only a temporary setback. By then Tarawa should be mine and USN CVs can be deployed fully in SOPAC for a while, and the USAAF is expanding out of all recognition to its 1942 shadow.
Allied bombers at Cooktown have been trying to help the guys at Milne out by bombing Japanese bases - mostly fruitlessly but one day they bagged 46 a/c on the ground, mostly Netties, when I picked right one day.
The Japanese division at Tassafaronga is being reduced, enormous Allied bombing runs, the presence of a corps HQ (3rd NZ Div HQ) at Lunga massively helped the AV there too. It's down to 100 AV and the marines/US Army are attacking relentlessly with massive support, I want them out of the way and annihilated before moving on. I guess it'll be a week or two before the stubborn Japs give it up. Seems fairly quiet at the northern end of the Solomons aside from Japanese barge activity, and Beaufighters have done some sterling duty there on barge busting. Japanese air superiority seems to have suffered a bit, I guess the focus is on Milne - there are some Zeroes and Oscars around but the Corsairs at Lunga eat them for breakfast.
Japanese carriers are hanging around Lae and have been there for a good week. I keep feeding in unfortunate expendables to Lae (AKLs and SCs) to keep the IJN busy. The reason being, the USN is about to bag Tarawa! Seems to have worked, I think the fleet was spotted by Tarawa today by the Japanese so this next turn is the first turn he'll have had to react to that, and I think he's too out of position to intervene.
CENTPAC
The fleet is two days out of Tarawa, so should be landing on March 3rd. I'm very confident that it'll be bloody but short, and the Allies will win it. The Japanese garrison at Tarawa is surely screwed. The only worry is the three IJN submarines in the vicinity, I know that the loss of a CV or especially a CVE seems to be practically guaranteed with those little gits out there. This time, given I know KB is far away, a big chunk of Avengers is set to ASW patrol, as are the nearby Catalinas and B24s at Tabiteaua. ASW TFs are in the hex following the fleet, and there are a lot fo DDs around. I can do no more, but am still bracing myself.
A Marine defence battalion is on standby to secure Tarawa as soon as its taken, that should make the inevitable counterinvasion bloody...
Notes and Learning
So, setbacks in SOPAC. I think I have to acknowledge that the tactic of attacking along three axes to try and keep the Japanese stretched didn't work - I feel that concentrating on one would have probably been better. Still, the Allies are broadly speaking on schedule or somewhat ahead of schedule, so not a big problem. Due to the small size of the Allied advances, essentially battalion level, not much has been lost either in terms of LCUs. Though the USN has suffered horribly trying to go toe to toe with Japanese surface forces, I don't have any confidence at all in the US ability to fight the Japanese at sea with anything other than CVs - their surface forces just get creamed, without fail it seems.
The situation in SOPAC especially is getting more favourable nevertheless though as big LCUs are now available to the Allies here, and for the first time I don't really want for ground troops. In addition the Allied sealift ability has rocketed since 1/1943, I must have about 40 landing craft and APs/AKs available in the Pacific now, so I can move a division around easily enough.
Plans : if Milne Bay is still around when the CVs are done in CENTPAC, I will support it. I assume Milne will fall though.
If so the plan is to leave Tarawa alone for a while for it to build up an airfield, which will probably be usable by April 1943. Assuming all goes well. The US will concentrate its efforts entirely on the Solomon chain in the meantime, with divisional size landings rather than these little mini invasions I've been doing. Munda will be objective 1, Shortlands objective 2. I'll have to reassess around April time to see what next.
If the Ceylon invasion is ever going to happen, it'll happen during these busy times in SOPAC, it certainly seems a possibility though and everything is almost ready.
BURMA/INDIA
Not a day passes when 50 bombers minimum do not darken the skies over Ceylon and wreck something. No Japanese opposition. I've raised the bombing altitude from my favourite 8000' to 12000' to cut down a bit on the flak which is fairly heavy over Colombo - it has done that slightly but the damage has gone right down, I think you need to be under 10k if you want to do more than harassment. Which is fine, thats all I do want to do atm.
Looks like the spare AV at Karachi will be about 2400. I got 65 AKs there too and more coming in - the Bay of Bengal looks bare, so I might just go for a reconquista. I suspect there are IJN CVs at Singapore, but its a fair steam from Singers to Colombo and there is a lot of LBA there.
In Burma I've been night bombing Rangoon every turn, seems to get 5 Tojos a day. It adds up, I hope. He's been trying desperately to stop this, but nothing has worked, when he tried a massive Tojo nightcap the Tojos got reamed (lost 15 in one day and about half were to heavy bombers!). I think this may be a little cheap... but then I look at how China has been bombed flat and how the Chinese army was vaporised by bugged artillery - the consequences of which I am still living with as the long drawn out collapse of China continues - and figure, c'est la vie.
CHINA
Stalemate everywhere again aside from the Jap divisions racing towards Tibet. Not too bothered about them. He's back to city bombing, he's tried firebombing Changsha, and now he's going for whats left of the light industry - the final point here and there.
150 transports at Ledo resupplying nowadays, i've noticed the Chinese army in some areas isnt all at 0, so I guess it might even be helping, slightly.
SOPAC
Milne Bay is in a parlous state, I think it'll fall very soon. With cadres evacuated, I'm kinda assuming it'll happen before the USN can intervene. Unfortunate really, it means the Allies will be back to the starting line! The Japanese managed to resupply the place partially but at the cost of half a dozen AKs lost to Allied skip bombing (the attack bombers seem to work alright now!), still, it's been enough to get the better of the defenders and their AV is dangerously low now. USN attempts to intervene didn't work out very well, two CAs and a CL were sunk in combat with Japanese cruisers/BBs around Milne Bay - the USN just got completely schooled again in a night encounter, though at least a DD managed to hit BB Yamashiro with a torpedo at night so thats a BB out for a while, and CV Zuikaku was torpedoed by an S-boat near Lae.
However, the strategic situation will be much improved in March 1943 and I'm confident we can start pushing again so it's only a temporary setback. By then Tarawa should be mine and USN CVs can be deployed fully in SOPAC for a while, and the USAAF is expanding out of all recognition to its 1942 shadow.
Allied bombers at Cooktown have been trying to help the guys at Milne out by bombing Japanese bases - mostly fruitlessly but one day they bagged 46 a/c on the ground, mostly Netties, when I picked right one day.
The Japanese division at Tassafaronga is being reduced, enormous Allied bombing runs, the presence of a corps HQ (3rd NZ Div HQ) at Lunga massively helped the AV there too. It's down to 100 AV and the marines/US Army are attacking relentlessly with massive support, I want them out of the way and annihilated before moving on. I guess it'll be a week or two before the stubborn Japs give it up. Seems fairly quiet at the northern end of the Solomons aside from Japanese barge activity, and Beaufighters have done some sterling duty there on barge busting. Japanese air superiority seems to have suffered a bit, I guess the focus is on Milne - there are some Zeroes and Oscars around but the Corsairs at Lunga eat them for breakfast.
Japanese carriers are hanging around Lae and have been there for a good week. I keep feeding in unfortunate expendables to Lae (AKLs and SCs) to keep the IJN busy. The reason being, the USN is about to bag Tarawa! Seems to have worked, I think the fleet was spotted by Tarawa today by the Japanese so this next turn is the first turn he'll have had to react to that, and I think he's too out of position to intervene.
CENTPAC
The fleet is two days out of Tarawa, so should be landing on March 3rd. I'm very confident that it'll be bloody but short, and the Allies will win it. The Japanese garrison at Tarawa is surely screwed. The only worry is the three IJN submarines in the vicinity, I know that the loss of a CV or especially a CVE seems to be practically guaranteed with those little gits out there. This time, given I know KB is far away, a big chunk of Avengers is set to ASW patrol, as are the nearby Catalinas and B24s at Tabiteaua. ASW TFs are in the hex following the fleet, and there are a lot fo DDs around. I can do no more, but am still bracing myself.
A Marine defence battalion is on standby to secure Tarawa as soon as its taken, that should make the inevitable counterinvasion bloody...
Notes and Learning
So, setbacks in SOPAC. I think I have to acknowledge that the tactic of attacking along three axes to try and keep the Japanese stretched didn't work - I feel that concentrating on one would have probably been better. Still, the Allies are broadly speaking on schedule or somewhat ahead of schedule, so not a big problem. Due to the small size of the Allied advances, essentially battalion level, not much has been lost either in terms of LCUs. Though the USN has suffered horribly trying to go toe to toe with Japanese surface forces, I don't have any confidence at all in the US ability to fight the Japanese at sea with anything other than CVs - their surface forces just get creamed, without fail it seems.
The situation in SOPAC especially is getting more favourable nevertheless though as big LCUs are now available to the Allies here, and for the first time I don't really want for ground troops. In addition the Allied sealift ability has rocketed since 1/1943, I must have about 40 landing craft and APs/AKs available in the Pacific now, so I can move a division around easily enough.
Plans : if Milne Bay is still around when the CVs are done in CENTPAC, I will support it. I assume Milne will fall though.
If so the plan is to leave Tarawa alone for a while for it to build up an airfield, which will probably be usable by April 1943. Assuming all goes well. The US will concentrate its efforts entirely on the Solomon chain in the meantime, with divisional size landings rather than these little mini invasions I've been doing. Munda will be objective 1, Shortlands objective 2. I'll have to reassess around April time to see what next.
If the Ceylon invasion is ever going to happen, it'll happen during these busy times in SOPAC, it certainly seems a possibility though and everything is almost ready.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
The combat report can do the talking here...
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 01, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Balikpapan at 66,98
Japanese Ships
TK Tonan Maru #2
TK Akatsuki Maru
DD Shirayuki
Allied Ships
SS KXVIII
SS KXVIII is sighted by escort
KXVIII diving deep ....
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,125, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
CL Montpelier
CL Denver
DD O'Brien
DD Lang
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Selfridge
Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Leach, J.C. crosses the 'T'
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
Sakai W. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages BB Prince of Wales at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages CL Montpelier at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Lang at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages DD Hamakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,124, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kasumi
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Denver, Shell hits 4
DD O'Brien
DD Lang, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin
DD Downes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 3, on fire
Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Cassin engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
DD Lang engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 3,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards
DD Downes engages DD Shiranui at 3,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards
CL Denver engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 4,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 4,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 6,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Shiranui at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 10,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Downes engages DD Akizuki at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
DD Downes sunk by DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 13,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 13,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 13,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 11,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Lang at 11,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 11,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 9,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 9,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
Mori, Tokuji orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages BB Prince of Wales at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Shiranui at 9,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 10,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 10,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Kasumi at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
Leach, J.C. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarawa at 137,127
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61, hits 1
Allied Ships
xAP Rooseboom, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Suva
xAK Royal T. Frank
APD McKean
Allied ground losses: (II Amphibious Corps HQ)
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS RO-61 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Rooseboom
RO-61 diving deep ....
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean attacking submerged sub ....
APD McKean cannot reach attack position over SS RO-61
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Blair at 46,58
Japanese Ships
xAK Kuwayama Maru
PC Sumire
PB Shinko Maru #5
PB Choun Maru #18
xAK Yuzan Maru
xAK Uyo Maru
xAK Kuretake Maru
xAK Jinshu Maru
xAK Izan Maru
xAK Sumatra Maru
xAK Burma Maru
DD Asanagi
DD Kamikaze
Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 5
SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kuwayama Maru
Trusty bottoming out ....
DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 15,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
Allied Ships
LCT-128, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-129, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-130, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-131, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-133, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-134, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-136, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCT-137, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-138, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-139, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 27,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 15,000 yards
LCT-139 sunk by DD Hakaze at 15,000 yards
DD Hakaze fires at LCT-136 at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
LCT-130 sunk by DD Hakaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-136 at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-134 at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
LCT-138 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
LCT-137 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
LCT-129 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
LCT-133 sunk by DD Hakaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
LCT-136 sunk by DD Hakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-128 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
LCT-134 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-131 at 2,000 yards
LCT-128 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
LCT-131 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,129, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
DD Teruzuki
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
SC-645, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
SC-646, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC-699, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 20,000 yards
BB Yamashiro fires at SC-699 at 20,000 yards
BB Yamashiro fires at SC-646 at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 16,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages SC-646 at 16,000 yards
SC-645 sunk by BB Yamashiro at 16,000 yards
SC-646 sunk by DD Teruzuki at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards
SC-699 sunk by DD Shikinami at 14,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tokara Retto at 99,63
Japanese Ships
MTB G-7
MGB G-4
Allied Ships
SS Tarpon
SS Tarpon is sighted by escort
Tarpon diving deep ....
MGB G-4 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Tarpon eludes ASW attack from MGB G-4
MGB G-4 loses contact with SS Tarpon
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay at 99,137
Japanese Ships
SS I-170
Allied Ships
CM Kung Wo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (en route to mine Milne Bay, caught in the Coral Sea, kinda bad luck)
SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes
I-170 diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 38,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Light Industry hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 38
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 58
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 39000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20
No Japanese losses
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 81,32
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1
SB-III x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SB-III bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 15
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
[X(]
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
PBY-5A Catalina x 5
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 10
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 4
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 3
P-40K Warhawk x 13
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 25
Wellington Ic x 17
B-25C Mitchell x 16
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Runway hits 4
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-26 Marauder x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 12
No Allied losses
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 87th Naval Guard Unit, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 6
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2
BB Mutsu, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
TBF-1 Avenger x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Akizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kasumi, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Momi class DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Haguro
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kasumi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 12 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Mutsu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
TBF-1 Avenger x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Yugiri
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tientsin Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kazan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Tientsin Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
TBF-1 Avenger x 14
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Akizuki, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires
DD Teruzuki
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 10
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Hatsuharu
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
LB-154, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-155, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-152, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-153, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
(attack bombers in action, they were ordered at 1000' incidentally)
Port hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 14800 troops, 333 guns, 350 vehicles, Assault Value = 495
Defending force 7267 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 182
Allied adjusted assault: 1102
Japanese adjusted defense: 10
Allied assault odds: 110 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
949 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
164th Infantry Regiment
7th Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
10th Division
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 01, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Balikpapan at 66,98
Japanese Ships
TK Tonan Maru #2
TK Akatsuki Maru
DD Shirayuki
Allied Ships
SS KXVIII
SS KXVIII is sighted by escort
KXVIII diving deep ....
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,125, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
CL Montpelier
CL Denver
DD O'Brien
DD Lang
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Selfridge
Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Leach, J.C. crosses the 'T'
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
Sakai W. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages BB Prince of Wales at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages CL Montpelier at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Lang at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages DD Hamakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,124, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kasumi
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Denver, Shell hits 4
DD O'Brien
DD Lang, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin
DD Downes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 3, on fire
Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Cassin engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
DD Lang engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 3,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards
DD Downes engages DD Shiranui at 3,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards
CL Denver engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 4,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 4,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 6,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Shiranui at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 10,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Downes engages DD Akizuki at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
DD Downes sunk by DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 13,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 13,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 13,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 11,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Lang at 11,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 11,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 9,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 9,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
Mori, Tokuji orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages BB Prince of Wales at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
DD Cassin engages DD Shiranui at 9,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 10,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 10,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Kasumi at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
Leach, J.C. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarawa at 137,127
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61, hits 1
Allied Ships
xAP Rooseboom, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Suva
xAK Royal T. Frank
APD McKean
Allied ground losses: (II Amphibious Corps HQ)
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS RO-61 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Rooseboom
RO-61 diving deep ....
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD McKean attacking submerged sub ....
APD McKean cannot reach attack position over SS RO-61
APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Blair at 46,58
Japanese Ships
xAK Kuwayama Maru
PC Sumire
PB Shinko Maru #5
PB Choun Maru #18
xAK Yuzan Maru
xAK Uyo Maru
xAK Kuretake Maru
xAK Jinshu Maru
xAK Izan Maru
xAK Sumatra Maru
xAK Burma Maru
DD Asanagi
DD Kamikaze
Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 5
SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kuwayama Maru
Trusty bottoming out ....
DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 15,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
Allied Ships
LCT-128, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-129, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-130, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-131, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-133, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-134, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-136, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCT-137, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-138, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-139, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 27,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 15,000 yards
LCT-139 sunk by DD Hakaze at 15,000 yards
DD Hakaze fires at LCT-136 at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
LCT-130 sunk by DD Hakaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-136 at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-134 at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
LCT-138 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
LCT-137 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
LCT-129 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
LCT-133 sunk by DD Hakaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
LCT-136 sunk by DD Hakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-128 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
LCT-134 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages LCT-131 at 2,000 yards
LCT-128 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
LCT-131 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,129, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
DD Teruzuki
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
SC-645, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
SC-646, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC-699, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 20,000 yards
BB Yamashiro fires at SC-699 at 20,000 yards
BB Yamashiro fires at SC-646 at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 16,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages SC-646 at 16,000 yards
SC-645 sunk by BB Yamashiro at 16,000 yards
SC-646 sunk by DD Teruzuki at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards
SC-699 sunk by DD Shikinami at 14,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tokara Retto at 99,63
Japanese Ships
MTB G-7
MGB G-4
Allied Ships
SS Tarpon
SS Tarpon is sighted by escort
Tarpon diving deep ....
MGB G-4 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Tarpon eludes ASW attack from MGB G-4
MGB G-4 loses contact with SS Tarpon
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay at 99,137
Japanese Ships
SS I-170
Allied Ships
CM Kung Wo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (en route to mine Milne Bay, caught in the Coral Sea, kinda bad luck)
SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes
I-170 diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 38,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Light Industry hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 38
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 58
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 39000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20
No Japanese losses
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 81,32
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1
SB-III x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SB-III bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 15
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
[X(]
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
PBY-5A Catalina x 5
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 10
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 4
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 3
P-40K Warhawk x 13
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 25
Wellington Ic x 17
B-25C Mitchell x 16
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Runway hits 4
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-26 Marauder x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 12
No Allied losses
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 87th Naval Guard Unit, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 6
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 23rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2
BB Mutsu, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
TBF-1 Avenger x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Akizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kasumi, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Momi class DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Haguro
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kasumi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 12 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Mutsu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
TBF-1 Avenger x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Yugiri
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tientsin Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kazan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Tientsin Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
TBF-1 Avenger x 14
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Akizuki, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires
DD Teruzuki
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 10
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Hatsuharu
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
LB-154, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-155, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-152, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-153, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
(attack bombers in action, they were ordered at 1000' incidentally)
Port hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 14800 troops, 333 guns, 350 vehicles, Assault Value = 495
Defending force 7267 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 182
Allied adjusted assault: 1102
Japanese adjusted defense: 10
Allied assault odds: 110 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
949 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
164th Infantry Regiment
7th Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
10th Division
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Day 2 and looks like hopefully the final day of the Battle of Tarawa... good win for the Allies though the IJN punched above its weight given the fairly meagre strength it had to throw against almost the entire USN. PoW is looking at a months yard time and 3 old Pearl BBs are out for I'd guess six months or more. Yamashiro proved inferior to the old US battleships, her shells were bouncing off belt armour while the American shells were penetrating.
On the other hand the marines had a good time, it was every bit the walkover I thought it would be from their point of view.
First real victory against the IJN in the whole war I think, and the first time IJN BBs have been confirmed sunk. He's handled his fleet very well in this game.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 02, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 9,000 Yards
(Yamashiro slips past the covering force but is held off by the US battleships in the amphibious TF, all of whom sustain moderate damage).
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Teruzuki
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Arizona, Shell hits 11, heavy fires
BB California, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
DMS Southard
DMS Chandler
AM Swallow
SC-634
AP George F. Elliot
AP Fuller
AP William P. Biddle
AP John Penn
AK Bellatrix
AK Libra
AK Betelgeuse, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Titania
AK Alcyon
LST-18
LST-19
LST-446
LST-447
LST-448
LST-449
LST-450
LCI-21
LCI-22
LCI-23
LCI-24
LCI-62
LCI-63
SC PC-1077
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1079
xAP Macdhui
Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 9,000 yards
BB Arizona engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB California at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 3,000 yards
BB Colorado engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages AK Betelgeuse at 3,000 yards
Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage
BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards
BB Colorado engages DD Shikinami at 3,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DMS Southard at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Colorado at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages LCI-22 at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Donggala at 69,96
Japanese Ships
E Chidori
Allied Ships
SS Permit
SS Permit is located by E Chidori
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 10,000 Yards
(Yamashiro then gets caught by the cover force and sent to the bottom in a hail of 14 and 16 inch shells. The US battleships proved their superiority here, Yamashiro's shells were unable to penetrate at 10-12k yards. Allied radar popped up too so I guess that helped. No damage to the US fleet.)
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
BB Indiana, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City
CL Nashville
DD Duncan
DD Bancroft
DD Frazier
DD Mustin
Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Nashville at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro sunk by DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
DD Bancroft engages DD Shikinami at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shikinami at 8,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Teruzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
DD Bancroft engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage
DD Shikinami engages DD Frazier at 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Yokohama/Yokosuka at 114,62
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-35
SC CHa-36
Allied Ships
SS Finback
Captain of SS Finback elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Finback bottoming out ....
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tarawa
9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB California
BB Colorado
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LCI-21
LCI-23
Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
BB California firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
BB Colorado firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
CA Quincy firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
CL Richmond firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tarawa
TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 136,128
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 9th Marine Rgt
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 9th Marine Rgt /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tarawa
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LCI-21
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tarawa at 136,128
(After the debacle of the first Tarawa invasion I brought an ASW TF to cover!)
Japanese Ships
SS I-6
Allied Ships
DD Radford
DD Bailey
DD Grayson
DD Waller
SS I-6 is sighted by escort
DD Bailey fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Grayson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Waller fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 29,000 Yards
(My honourable foe is taking a leaf out of my book I think with a DD raid. he must've timed it wrong though, DDs in daylight versus battleships are dead meat. At night maybe he would have Long Lanced an old, slow target.)
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Uranami, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
BB Indiana
CA Salt Lake City
CL Nashville
DD Duncan
DD Bancroft
DD Frazier
DD Mustin
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 29,000 yards
Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages BB New Mexico at 22,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 22,000 yards
DD Uranami engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 24,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Sagiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards
Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 24,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Uranami at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Hatsuharu at 25,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Sagiri at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 22,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 27,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 112,114
Japanese Ships
DD Ariake
Allied Ships
SS Spearfish
SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes
Spearfish diving deep ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119
Japanese Ships
PB Hirotama Maru
SC Ch 20
xAK Urato Maru
xAK Kashu Maru
PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Hake
SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Hirotama Maru
Hake diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake
PB Naruto Maru #3 loses contact with SS Hake
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119
Japanese Ships
PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Hirotama Maru
SC Ch 20
xAK Urato Maru
xAK Kashu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Hake
SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Tokotsu Maru
Hake diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru attacking submerged sub ....
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 40,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 47
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 20
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 66
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
CAP engaged:
12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 39000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20
No Japanese losses
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 82,32
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
(USMC bombers from Tabiteaua pick off stragglers)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 18
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
PBY-5A Catalina x 5
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5A Catalina: 2 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 28
P-40K Warhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 93
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Wellington Ic x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 37
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 29,48 (Colombo)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Wellington Ic x 9
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 21
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-26 Marauder x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 12
No Allied losses
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 5
B-17F Fortress x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
P-40K Warhawk x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
LB-158, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-149, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 134,124
(More stragglers picked off, this time by carrier air)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 25
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Teruzuki, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Akitsuki class DD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 37,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-29A Hudson x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 5
Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 49th Infantry Regiment, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 8
B-24D Liberator x 14
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 49th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15
Blenheim VD x 14
Hurricane FR.IIb x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 61
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 25
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
No Allied losses
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Karachi at 38,8
Japanese Ships
SS I-162
Allied Ships
AMc Ahmedabad
AMc Karachi
SS I-162 is sighted by escort
I-162 diving deep ....
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tarawa
12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LST-446
LCI-21
BB California
LST-450
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
LST-446 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
(Chinese fighting, note that the Chinese have a trickle of supply, enough to cling on by the nails)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 60299 troops, 638 guns, 361 vehicles, Assault Value = 2038
Defending force 48372 troops, 382 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1786
Japanese adjusted assault: 805
Allied adjusted defense: 3436
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
5761 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 392 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 305 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled
Vehicles lost 34 (5 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1244 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Assaulting units:
27th Division
35th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
15th Division
41st Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
(Constant airlifting seems have to picked things up a bit here, Milne may hold after all but only after a supreme effort of endurance)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7302 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 232
Defending force 3700 troops, 20 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 100
Japanese adjusted assault: 75
Allied adjusted defense: 95
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
773 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
87th Naval Guard Unit
49th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
Defending units:
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Kanga Force Battalion
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
140th USA Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
(What's left of the Japanese at Tarawa have no chance. I assume a lot were bombed out of existence or evacuated by submarine)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 546 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Defending force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Defending units:
193rd Tank Bn /10
9th Marine Rgt /11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14532 troops, 333 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 476
Defending force 6556 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 132
Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
164th Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
7th Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
10th Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Defending force 520 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Allied adjusted assault: 26
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
540 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
193rd Tank Bn /10
9th Marine Rgt /11
Defending units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
On the other hand the marines had a good time, it was every bit the walkover I thought it would be from their point of view.
First real victory against the IJN in the whole war I think, and the first time IJN BBs have been confirmed sunk. He's handled his fleet very well in this game.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 02, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 9,000 Yards
(Yamashiro slips past the covering force but is held off by the US battleships in the amphibious TF, all of whom sustain moderate damage).
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Teruzuki
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Arizona, Shell hits 11, heavy fires
BB California, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
DMS Southard
DMS Chandler
AM Swallow
SC-634
AP George F. Elliot
AP Fuller
AP William P. Biddle
AP John Penn
AK Bellatrix
AK Libra
AK Betelgeuse, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Titania
AK Alcyon
LST-18
LST-19
LST-446
LST-447
LST-448
LST-449
LST-450
LCI-21
LCI-22
LCI-23
LCI-24
LCI-62
LCI-63
SC PC-1077
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1079
xAP Macdhui
Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 9,000 yards
BB Arizona engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB California at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 3,000 yards
BB Colorado engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages AK Betelgeuse at 3,000 yards
Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage
BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards
BB Colorado engages DD Shikinami at 3,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DMS Southard at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards
BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Colorado at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages LCI-22 at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Donggala at 69,96
Japanese Ships
E Chidori
Allied Ships
SS Permit
SS Permit is located by E Chidori
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Chidori attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 10,000 Yards
(Yamashiro then gets caught by the cover force and sent to the bottom in a hail of 14 and 16 inch shells. The US battleships proved their superiority here, Yamashiro's shells were unable to penetrate at 10-12k yards. Allied radar popped up too so I guess that helped. No damage to the US fleet.)
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
BB Indiana, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City
CL Nashville
DD Duncan
DD Bancroft
DD Frazier
DD Mustin
Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Nashville at 9,000 yards
BB Yamashiro sunk by DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
DD Bancroft engages DD Shikinami at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shikinami at 8,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Teruzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
DD Bancroft engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage
DD Shikinami engages DD Frazier at 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Yokohama/Yokosuka at 114,62
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-35
SC CHa-36
Allied Ships
SS Finback
Captain of SS Finback elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Finback bottoming out ....
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tarawa
9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB California
BB Colorado
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LCI-21
LCI-23
Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
BB California firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
BB Colorado firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
CA Quincy firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
CL Richmond firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tarawa
TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 136,128
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 9th Marine Rgt
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 9th Marine Rgt /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tarawa
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LCI-21
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tarawa at 136,128
(After the debacle of the first Tarawa invasion I brought an ASW TF to cover!)
Japanese Ships
SS I-6
Allied Ships
DD Radford
DD Bailey
DD Grayson
DD Waller
SS I-6 is sighted by escort
DD Bailey fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Grayson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Waller fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 29,000 Yards
(My honourable foe is taking a leaf out of my book I think with a DD raid. he must've timed it wrong though, DDs in daylight versus battleships are dead meat. At night maybe he would have Long Lanced an old, slow target.)
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Uranami, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
BB Indiana
CA Salt Lake City
CL Nashville
DD Duncan
DD Bancroft
DD Frazier
DD Mustin
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 29,000 yards
Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages BB New Mexico at 22,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 22,000 yards
DD Uranami engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 24,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Sagiri at 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards
Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 24,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Uranami at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Hatsuharu at 25,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Sagiri at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards
CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 22,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 27,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 112,114
Japanese Ships
DD Ariake
Allied Ships
SS Spearfish
SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes
Spearfish diving deep ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119
Japanese Ships
PB Hirotama Maru
SC Ch 20
xAK Urato Maru
xAK Kashu Maru
PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Hake
SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Hirotama Maru
Hake diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake
PB Naruto Maru #3 loses contact with SS Hake
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119
Japanese Ships
PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Hirotama Maru
SC Ch 20
xAK Urato Maru
xAK Kashu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Hake
SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Tokotsu Maru
Hake diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru attacking submerged sub ....
SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Tokotsu Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 40,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 47
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 20
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 66
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
CAP engaged:
12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 39000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20
No Japanese losses
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 82,32
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
(USMC bombers from Tabiteaua pick off stragglers)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 18
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
PBY-5A Catalina x 5
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5A Catalina: 2 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 28
P-40K Warhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 93
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Wellington Ic x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 37
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking Colombo ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 29,48 (Colombo)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Wellington Ic x 9
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 21
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-26 Marauder x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 12
No Allied losses
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 5
B-17F Fortress x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
P-40K Warhawk x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
LB-158, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-149, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 134,124
(More stragglers picked off, this time by carrier air)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 25
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Teruzuki, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Akitsuki class DD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 37,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-29A Hudson x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 5
Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 49th Infantry Regiment, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 8
B-24D Liberator x 14
P-38G Lightning x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 49th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15
Blenheim VD x 14
Hurricane FR.IIb x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 61
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 25
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
No Allied losses
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Karachi at 38,8
Japanese Ships
SS I-162
Allied Ships
AMc Ahmedabad
AMc Karachi
SS I-162 is sighted by escort
I-162 diving deep ....
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tarawa
12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC PC-1079
SC PC-1078
SC PC-1077
SC-634
LST-446
LCI-21
BB California
LST-450
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
LST-446 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
(Chinese fighting, note that the Chinese have a trickle of supply, enough to cling on by the nails)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 60299 troops, 638 guns, 361 vehicles, Assault Value = 2038
Defending force 48372 troops, 382 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1786
Japanese adjusted assault: 805
Allied adjusted defense: 3436
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
5761 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 392 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 305 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled
Vehicles lost 34 (5 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1244 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Assaulting units:
27th Division
35th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
15th Division
41st Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
(Constant airlifting seems have to picked things up a bit here, Milne may hold after all but only after a supreme effort of endurance)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7302 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 232
Defending force 3700 troops, 20 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 100
Japanese adjusted assault: 75
Allied adjusted defense: 95
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
773 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
87th Naval Guard Unit
49th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
Defending units:
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Kanga Force Battalion
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
140th USA Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
(What's left of the Japanese at Tarawa have no chance. I assume a lot were bombed out of existence or evacuated by submarine)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 546 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Defending force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Defending units:
193rd Tank Bn /10
9th Marine Rgt /11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14532 troops, 333 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 476
Defending force 6556 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 132
Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
164th Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
7th Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
10th Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Defending force 520 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Allied adjusted assault: 26
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
540 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
193rd Tank Bn /10
9th Marine Rgt /11
Defending units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Also notice attack bombers at 8000', that was my little test. They do indeed double as level bombers if you order them to do so.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Gotta love a screenshot like this.
Things are desperate for 10th Division...
Things are desperate for 10th Division...
- Attachments
-
- banzai.jpg (64.46 KiB) Viewed 117 times
RE: Mines in the Pacific
5th March 1943
We've had quite a few screenshots and battle reports lately so you have an idea of what the big news is already for this period!
BURMA/INDIA
The forces earmarked for Ceylon are of the order of 2400 AV. The RN has a number of cruisers and DDs at Karachi - enough for a covering SAG but I'm a bit leery about sending out such a vast and irreplaceable force without any CV cover. Unfortunately its a hell of a long trip to bring the US CVs over just for this op - its a months sailing I would guess, at least. Mini KB is at Singapore I think.
DId a full recon of Ceylon again - about the same number of troops but he's spread out across the island now and left Colombo with only 3 units. I've been wrecking Colombo regularly with ground bombing, as its a clear hex - the only clear hex base on Ceylon in fact - this has been doing horrible things to his forces, no doubt the reason why he has split up. With a reported strength of only 12,000 men in Colombo - thats probably a couple of brigades and a baseforce - it does seem like we could be in there like a shot if we want. And then with a baseforce we could transfer significant air assets to Ceylon and maybe we won't need naval air support...
hmm, going to think on this one I think. Seems feasible to me though with the IJ eye attracted to SOPAC/CENTPAC.
Night bombing of Rangoon continues, no real change on the Burmese border.
CHINA
Heavy fighting just by Changsha, not sure if the Japanese intend to cross the river though? There are plenty of Chinese units fleeing to Changsha but plenty more solidly dug in on the far side of that river. Have to see what he does here.
SOPAC
He's been bargebusting off Milne Bay with single DDs - a single DD has more than enough firepower to send a whole TF of barges to the bottom. Meanwhile Beaufighters have been bargebusting in the Solomons, they are almost as deadly to barges.
10th Japanese Division was finally destroyed on Tassafaronga, as the screenshot shows - I've got troops preparing for Munda and Shortlands now, with Munda next on the list. Munda has had plenty of time to starve so I think the Japanese garrison must be quite withered by now and it's probably ripe for the picking. Allied heavy bombers have been splattering Shortlands/Torokina and to an extent Vella Lavella, which are currently the most active Japanese bases in the Solomons. It's all going my way in the air again lately.
Milne Bay's garrison is on 94 AV and all the LCUs are in the white on supply. P-38s from Townsville are doing an OK job of keeping the Tojos thinned and USMC air transports are doing the rest. I guess the current stalemate is likely to continue but given Japanese naval superiority they are still in a very precarious position. The Jap airforce pastes the tiny airfield there every day, too, so the only thing I can do is use CVs to reinforce I think - an AA unit, a regiment, plenty of supply and some SeaBees would turn the tide probably.
CENTPAC
The Battle of Tarawa happened over the last week, and its detailed in the above posts. Bottom line, bloodless victory for the Allies though four BBs are going to be in the yard for a lesser or greater amount of time. A significant number of Japanese surface warships sunk. A coda - on March 3rd and 4th Japanese Netties and Emilies from I would guess Kwajalein hit reinforcing transports, 30 were shot down, one transport was bombed.
The Catalinas at Ocean Island have spotted KB incoming with a reported 400 aircraft - at a guess, we're talking 5 Japanese CVs. Allied strength is 4 American and one British CV - I could 'go for it' and reasonably expect mutual destruction but with CV Essex now 3 months away it seems a waste, and will sentence Milne Bay to destruction. Accordingly the Allied fleets have moved back...
...aside from half a dozen xAPs and xAKs carrying Marine Defence Detachment guns and a small USAAF base force. They have partially unloaded but need more time. Tomorrow morning they will all be sunk by KB, guaranteed, but with the majority of their cargo ashore - thats a price I'm willing to take to ensure Tarawa's reinforcement.
We've had quite a few screenshots and battle reports lately so you have an idea of what the big news is already for this period!
BURMA/INDIA
The forces earmarked for Ceylon are of the order of 2400 AV. The RN has a number of cruisers and DDs at Karachi - enough for a covering SAG but I'm a bit leery about sending out such a vast and irreplaceable force without any CV cover. Unfortunately its a hell of a long trip to bring the US CVs over just for this op - its a months sailing I would guess, at least. Mini KB is at Singapore I think.
DId a full recon of Ceylon again - about the same number of troops but he's spread out across the island now and left Colombo with only 3 units. I've been wrecking Colombo regularly with ground bombing, as its a clear hex - the only clear hex base on Ceylon in fact - this has been doing horrible things to his forces, no doubt the reason why he has split up. With a reported strength of only 12,000 men in Colombo - thats probably a couple of brigades and a baseforce - it does seem like we could be in there like a shot if we want. And then with a baseforce we could transfer significant air assets to Ceylon and maybe we won't need naval air support...
hmm, going to think on this one I think. Seems feasible to me though with the IJ eye attracted to SOPAC/CENTPAC.
Night bombing of Rangoon continues, no real change on the Burmese border.
CHINA
Heavy fighting just by Changsha, not sure if the Japanese intend to cross the river though? There are plenty of Chinese units fleeing to Changsha but plenty more solidly dug in on the far side of that river. Have to see what he does here.
SOPAC
He's been bargebusting off Milne Bay with single DDs - a single DD has more than enough firepower to send a whole TF of barges to the bottom. Meanwhile Beaufighters have been bargebusting in the Solomons, they are almost as deadly to barges.
10th Japanese Division was finally destroyed on Tassafaronga, as the screenshot shows - I've got troops preparing for Munda and Shortlands now, with Munda next on the list. Munda has had plenty of time to starve so I think the Japanese garrison must be quite withered by now and it's probably ripe for the picking. Allied heavy bombers have been splattering Shortlands/Torokina and to an extent Vella Lavella, which are currently the most active Japanese bases in the Solomons. It's all going my way in the air again lately.
Milne Bay's garrison is on 94 AV and all the LCUs are in the white on supply. P-38s from Townsville are doing an OK job of keeping the Tojos thinned and USMC air transports are doing the rest. I guess the current stalemate is likely to continue but given Japanese naval superiority they are still in a very precarious position. The Jap airforce pastes the tiny airfield there every day, too, so the only thing I can do is use CVs to reinforce I think - an AA unit, a regiment, plenty of supply and some SeaBees would turn the tide probably.
CENTPAC
The Battle of Tarawa happened over the last week, and its detailed in the above posts. Bottom line, bloodless victory for the Allies though four BBs are going to be in the yard for a lesser or greater amount of time. A significant number of Japanese surface warships sunk. A coda - on March 3rd and 4th Japanese Netties and Emilies from I would guess Kwajalein hit reinforcing transports, 30 were shot down, one transport was bombed.
The Catalinas at Ocean Island have spotted KB incoming with a reported 400 aircraft - at a guess, we're talking 5 Japanese CVs. Allied strength is 4 American and one British CV - I could 'go for it' and reasonably expect mutual destruction but with CV Essex now 3 months away it seems a waste, and will sentence Milne Bay to destruction. Accordingly the Allied fleets have moved back...
...aside from half a dozen xAPs and xAKs carrying Marine Defence Detachment guns and a small USAAF base force. They have partially unloaded but need more time. Tomorrow morning they will all be sunk by KB, guaranteed, but with the majority of their cargo ashore - thats a price I'm willing to take to ensure Tarawa's reinforcement.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
To my surprise it looks like he was intent on declining battle as well. His CVs have hung back out of range of Tarawa, and so my reinforcements are all ashore, aside from SeaBees which is a bummer. Fortunately I'm not totally devoid of engineers.
I'm assuming a counterinvasion is quite likely given past performance. I think it'd be suicide against an atoll, but you never know. Therefore for now Tarawa is set to build fortifications and nothing else, when they get to level 3 they'll switch to an airfield and then we can put some Wildcats or Corsairs there.
I'm assuming a counterinvasion is quite likely given past performance. I think it'd be suicide against an atoll, but you never know. Therefore for now Tarawa is set to build fortifications and nothing else, when they get to level 3 they'll switch to an airfield and then we can put some Wildcats or Corsairs there.
RE: Mines in the Pacific
March 22nd - a bad day for the Allies, putting it mildly.
The month has been quiet up till now in all sectors, but Milne Bay was the festering sore that dominated all the last turns. It's still stalemate on the ground but the Japanese are slowly getting the upper hand.
So an Allied fleet tried to resupply it, and ran into the Japanese fleet. 8 Allied flight decks versus 9 Japanese flight decks,I was prepared for a bit of MAD, but what actually happened was a reverse Midway.
The CVs reacted all over the place, thus conveniently dispersing the Allied firepower for the Japanese to destroy in detail. The Allied fleet, after reaction movement, consisted of three blobs - 3 CVEs, Saratoga/Enterprise, and Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown. Saratoga/Enterprise's blob was in the middle, but was covered by bad weather all day so was out of the battle, and it meant that Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown and the 3 CVEs basically met the entire Japanese carrier force on their own and entirely separated from one another.
9 flight decks met 8, and the tally so far is 4 to 1 in the Japanese favour. Yorktown/Hornet/Victorious were annihilated completely, and one CVE was sunk. The Allied return strike consisted basically of 3 flattops versus 9, so didn't do very well, for obvious reasons.
I am stunned and a bit narked, as the Allied fleets have been acting like the Three Stooges all through this game, and this is just the latest caastrophe in a rather long line of them. Why, why, why, did the CVs split up all over the place to be wiped out almost without Japanese loss? They weren't ordered to. And then the bad luck of the weather removing the two biggest Allied CVs from the fray completely.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3a Zero x 62
B5M1 Mabel x 55
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 66
D3A2 Val x 55
D4Y1 Judy x 13
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed
B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conyngham
DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conway
DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Caldwell
DD Abbot
DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3a Zero x 82
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 46
SBD-2 Dauntless x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
CV Soryu
CA Mikuma
CVL Zuiho
CV Hiryu
CV Kaga
CA Tone
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3a Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Junyo, heavy fires
CV Hiryu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5M1 Mabel x 34
B5N1 Kate x 11
D3A1 Val x 2
D3A2 Val x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Sangamon
DD Waller
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Strategically it's bad of course but Sara/Enterprise are totally OK at least, and it's not too long before there are replacement CVs for those lost, as well as better fighters. But to be honest. It doesn't really offer much cheer, because if the Essexes and Independences behave in the same way as the Allied fleets have up till now, they'll also be staring, hypnotised, like a rabbit at an oncoming freight train, to be slaughtered by an equal Japanese force.
...It does mean that in SOPAC I'll be sticking religiously to the plan of advancing along the Solomons axis where the not so incompetent Allied LBA will dominate. Milne Bay was a very bad move, in hindsight, it basically meant a CV battle as soon as I decided on it,and given what had happened in prior naval battles I really should have avoided that at all costs.
I've been Andy Macced. [:(][;)]
The month has been quiet up till now in all sectors, but Milne Bay was the festering sore that dominated all the last turns. It's still stalemate on the ground but the Japanese are slowly getting the upper hand.
So an Allied fleet tried to resupply it, and ran into the Japanese fleet. 8 Allied flight decks versus 9 Japanese flight decks,I was prepared for a bit of MAD, but what actually happened was a reverse Midway.
The CVs reacted all over the place, thus conveniently dispersing the Allied firepower for the Japanese to destroy in detail. The Allied fleet, after reaction movement, consisted of three blobs - 3 CVEs, Saratoga/Enterprise, and Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown. Saratoga/Enterprise's blob was in the middle, but was covered by bad weather all day so was out of the battle, and it meant that Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown and the 3 CVEs basically met the entire Japanese carrier force on their own and entirely separated from one another.
9 flight decks met 8, and the tally so far is 4 to 1 in the Japanese favour. Yorktown/Hornet/Victorious were annihilated completely, and one CVE was sunk. The Allied return strike consisted basically of 3 flattops versus 9, so didn't do very well, for obvious reasons.
I am stunned and a bit narked, as the Allied fleets have been acting like the Three Stooges all through this game, and this is just the latest caastrophe in a rather long line of them. Why, why, why, did the CVs split up all over the place to be wiped out almost without Japanese loss? They weren't ordered to. And then the bad luck of the weather removing the two biggest Allied CVs from the fray completely.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3a Zero x 62
B5M1 Mabel x 55
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 66
D3A2 Val x 55
D4Y1 Judy x 13
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed
B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conyngham
DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conway
DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Caldwell
DD Abbot
DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3a Zero x 82
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 46
SBD-2 Dauntless x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
CV Soryu
CA Mikuma
CVL Zuiho
CV Hiryu
CV Kaga
CA Tone
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3a Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Junyo, heavy fires
CV Hiryu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5M1 Mabel x 34
B5N1 Kate x 11
D3A1 Val x 2
D3A2 Val x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Sangamon
DD Waller
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Strategically it's bad of course but Sara/Enterprise are totally OK at least, and it's not too long before there are replacement CVs for those lost, as well as better fighters. But to be honest. It doesn't really offer much cheer, because if the Essexes and Independences behave in the same way as the Allied fleets have up till now, they'll also be staring, hypnotised, like a rabbit at an oncoming freight train, to be slaughtered by an equal Japanese force.
...It does mean that in SOPAC I'll be sticking religiously to the plan of advancing along the Solomons axis where the not so incompetent Allied LBA will dominate. Milne Bay was a very bad move, in hindsight, it basically meant a CV battle as soon as I decided on it,and given what had happened in prior naval battles I really should have avoided that at all costs.
I've been Andy Macced. [:(][;)]
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Right, just done the next turn.
Things are not as bad as first thought, though they are pretty bad.
After the Battle of Milne Bay the Allies have lost Yorktown and Victorious, and BB Massachusetts will almost certainly be lost or if not will be out of the war probably. But Saratoga/Enterprise survived untouched (due to not participating in the battle, grr!) and Hornet is not as bad as first though. She's now 3 hexes from Tulagi and is safe enough, and is looking at, I would guess, 2-3 months yard time. Coincidentally this is when the Essexes will arrive.
I ordered everything to get out of Dodge basically with the exception of a DD flotilla and a 3 CL/3 DD SAG, which were sent into the straits between Milne Bay and Gasmata, just in case he wanted to pursue. Pucker factor was a bit high but I decided to let the Munda invasion continue, as I felt it was close enough toe strong LBA to be well covered.
He did not pursue, he was fairly cautious - KB hung back around Lae, while a couple of AKs and some cruisers moved cargo to Milne Bay.
The Allied surface ships near Milne/Gasmata didnt find anything to engage, and four DDs were damaged to varying extents (most will probably make it) by air attacks. But the air attacks were a bit gutless, I suspect the Japanese fleet is more messed up than I thought?
Allied bombers from all around were set to naval attack and there was a big big raid on his cruisers at Milne Bay, with one CA and a CL taking multiple 500lb bomb hits as well as a few cargo ships being wrecked. The fleeing CVEs, which were headed for Townsville, managed to score a few 1000lb hits with refugee Dauntlesses even. And CV Junyo was found at Gasmata and hit twice by 500lb bombs from B24s out of Cooktown.
Japanese LBA hit Munda but there were no torpedoes, and so the BBs there absorbed a lot of bombs harmlessly for the team. Still, half a dozen transports were hit, some of them laden with Marines. What did not help was bad weather over Lunga, so for the second day running bad weather let some valuable units swing in the breeze, but as KB wasnt around and he seems to be short on torpedoes I got away with it here.
Still unloading at Munda, the forecast is clear at Guadalcanal so I'm assuming it'll be OK. I also think the spectacle of 50 heavy bombers all bombing warships and scoring hits will keep him away from Munda.
in other news, the Ceylon invasion is on, my units are en route. We know where KB is, so off we go.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 23, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC-744
SC-634
LCI-21
AM Moa
DMS Chandler
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Milne Bay at 101,134
Japanese Ships
SS I-175
Allied Ships
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CVE Chenango is sighted by SS I-175
SS I-175 launches 6 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hengchun at 84,68
Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
Allied Ships
SS Hoe
SS Hoe launches 6 torpedoes at DD Kisaragi
Hoe diving deep ....
DD Kisaragi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 3
B-17E Fortress x 7
B-24D Liberator x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 17 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 10 on standby, 4 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 114,65
Japanese Ships
TK Takane Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Ceram Maru
PB Tokotsu Maru
Allied Ships
SS Pompon
SS Pompon launches 4 torpedoes at TK Takane Maru
Pompon diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC-744
SC-634
LST-450
LST-449
LST-18
LCI-63
LCI-24
LCI-21
AM Moa
DMS Chandler
SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
LST-450 fired at enemy troops
LST-449 fired at enemy troops
LST-18 fired at enemy troops
LCI-63 fired at enemy troops
LCI-24 fired at enemy troops
LCI-21 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 13
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Quincy
BB Idaho
BB Indiana
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 5
B5M1 Mabel x 3
D4Y1 Judy x 10
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
LST-450, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Am. Packer, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Rona, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Time, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-450
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
B5M1 Mabel x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 35,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3a Zero x 6
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 32810 feet *
6 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 32810 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD LaVallette
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
DD Carmick
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 3
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 5
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Wellington Ic x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 35
P-39D Airacobra x 9
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 38
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 22
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 18
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 40,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Arare
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Conyngham
DD LaVallette
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 3
TBF-1 Avenger x 6
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9
B5M1 Mabel x 10
D3A2 Val x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Carmick
DD Monssen, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 1
DD Conway
DD Buchanan
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied APD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 3, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Jenkins, Bomb hits 1
DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cushing
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
G3M2 Nell x 11
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 1
BB Indiana
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 6
D3A2 Val x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Conway
DD Jenkins
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 4
D4Y1 Judy x 10
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LCI-62, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Cycle, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Macdhui, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AP John Penn, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Macdhui
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 105,132
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 3
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.30 Sqn RAAF with Beaufighter VIc (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 9
B5M1 Mabel x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Carmick
DD Cushing
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Hammann
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
P-38G Lightning x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kitakami
DD Arare
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 38740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
P-38G Lightning x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 3
TBF-1 Avenger x 6
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Myoko, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Myoko
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ominato at 121,54
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-27
SC CHa-3
Allied Ships
SS S-46
SS S-46 is located by SC CHa-27
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,40
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31340 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098
Defending force 67334 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842
Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
38th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1773
Defending force 53026 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1981
Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
35th Division
15th Division
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
27th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
95th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Munda (111,134)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 5723 troops, 152 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 210
Defending force 2598 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Allied adjusted assault: 112
Japanese adjusted defense: 19
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Munda !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
713 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
6th Marine Regiment
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd Marine Rgt /1
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment
Defending units:
30th Infantry Rgt /6
5th Naval Construction Battalion
52nd Const Co
6th JNAF AF Unit /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 82,23
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166
Defending force 339 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Assaulting units:
36th/A Division
Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Seperate Brigade
8th Chinese Base Force
6th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
Lusu War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
15th Chinese Base Force
56th AT Gun Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52nd Const Co Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!!
Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!!
Things are not as bad as first thought, though they are pretty bad.
After the Battle of Milne Bay the Allies have lost Yorktown and Victorious, and BB Massachusetts will almost certainly be lost or if not will be out of the war probably. But Saratoga/Enterprise survived untouched (due to not participating in the battle, grr!) and Hornet is not as bad as first though. She's now 3 hexes from Tulagi and is safe enough, and is looking at, I would guess, 2-3 months yard time. Coincidentally this is when the Essexes will arrive.
I ordered everything to get out of Dodge basically with the exception of a DD flotilla and a 3 CL/3 DD SAG, which were sent into the straits between Milne Bay and Gasmata, just in case he wanted to pursue. Pucker factor was a bit high but I decided to let the Munda invasion continue, as I felt it was close enough toe strong LBA to be well covered.
He did not pursue, he was fairly cautious - KB hung back around Lae, while a couple of AKs and some cruisers moved cargo to Milne Bay.
The Allied surface ships near Milne/Gasmata didnt find anything to engage, and four DDs were damaged to varying extents (most will probably make it) by air attacks. But the air attacks were a bit gutless, I suspect the Japanese fleet is more messed up than I thought?
Allied bombers from all around were set to naval attack and there was a big big raid on his cruisers at Milne Bay, with one CA and a CL taking multiple 500lb bomb hits as well as a few cargo ships being wrecked. The fleeing CVEs, which were headed for Townsville, managed to score a few 1000lb hits with refugee Dauntlesses even. And CV Junyo was found at Gasmata and hit twice by 500lb bombs from B24s out of Cooktown.
Japanese LBA hit Munda but there were no torpedoes, and so the BBs there absorbed a lot of bombs harmlessly for the team. Still, half a dozen transports were hit, some of them laden with Marines. What did not help was bad weather over Lunga, so for the second day running bad weather let some valuable units swing in the breeze, but as KB wasnt around and he seems to be short on torpedoes I got away with it here.
Still unloading at Munda, the forecast is clear at Guadalcanal so I'm assuming it'll be OK. I also think the spectacle of 50 heavy bombers all bombing warships and scoring hits will keep him away from Munda.
in other news, the Ceylon invasion is on, my units are en route. We know where KB is, so off we go.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 23, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC-744
SC-634
LCI-21
AM Moa
DMS Chandler
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Milne Bay at 101,134
Japanese Ships
SS I-175
Allied Ships
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CVE Chenango is sighted by SS I-175
SS I-175 launches 6 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hengchun at 84,68
Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
Allied Ships
SS Hoe
SS Hoe launches 6 torpedoes at DD Kisaragi
Hoe diving deep ....
DD Kisaragi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 3
B-17E Fortress x 7
B-24D Liberator x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 17 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 10 on standby, 4 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 114,65
Japanese Ships
TK Takane Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Ceram Maru
PB Tokotsu Maru
Allied Ships
SS Pompon
SS Pompon launches 4 torpedoes at TK Takane Maru
Pompon diving deep ....
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
SC-744
SC-634
LST-450
LST-449
LST-18
LCI-63
LCI-24
LCI-21
AM Moa
DMS Chandler
SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
LST-450 fired at enemy troops
LST-449 fired at enemy troops
LST-18 fired at enemy troops
LCI-63 fired at enemy troops
LCI-24 fired at enemy troops
LCI-21 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 13
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Quincy
BB Idaho
BB Indiana
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 5
B5M1 Mabel x 3
D4Y1 Judy x 10
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
LST-450, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Am. Packer, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Rona, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Time, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-450
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
B5M1 Mabel x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 35,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3a Zero x 6
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 32810 feet *
6 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 32810 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD LaVallette
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
DD Carmick
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 3
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 5
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Wellington Ic x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 35
P-39D Airacobra x 9
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 38
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 22
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 18
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 40,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Arare
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Conyngham
DD LaVallette
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 3
TBF-1 Avenger x 6
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9
B5M1 Mabel x 10
D3A2 Val x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Carmick
DD Monssen, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 1
DD Conway
DD Buchanan
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied APD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 3, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Jenkins, Bomb hits 1
DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cushing
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
G3M2 Nell x 11
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 1
BB Indiana
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 6
D3A2 Val x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Conway
DD Jenkins
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 4
D4Y1 Judy x 10
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LCI-62, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Cycle, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Macdhui, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AP John Penn, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Macdhui
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 105,132
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 3
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.30 Sqn RAAF with Beaufighter VIc (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 9
B5M1 Mabel x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Carmick
DD Cushing
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Hammann
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
P-38G Lightning x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kitakami
DD Arare
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 38740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
P-38G Lightning x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 3
TBF-1 Avenger x 6
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Myoko, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Myoko
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ominato at 121,54
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-27
SC CHa-3
Allied Ships
SS S-46
SS S-46 is located by SC CHa-27
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,40
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31340 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098
Defending force 67334 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842
Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
38th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1773
Defending force 53026 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1981
Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
35th Division
15th Division
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
27th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
95th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Munda (111,134)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 5723 troops, 152 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 210
Defending force 2598 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Allied adjusted assault: 112
Japanese adjusted defense: 19
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Munda !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
713 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
6th Marine Regiment
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd Marine Rgt /1
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment
Defending units:
30th Infantry Rgt /6
5th Naval Construction Battalion
52nd Const Co
6th JNAF AF Unit /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 82,23
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166
Defending force 339 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Assaulting units:
36th/A Division
Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Seperate Brigade
8th Chinese Base Force
6th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
Lusu War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
15th Chinese Base Force
56th AT Gun Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52nd Const Co Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!!
Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!!
RE: Mines in the Pacific
Going back in time a day, this is the big scrum.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 22, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ominato at 121,54
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-50
SC CHa-25
Allied Ships
SS S-47
SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at SC CHa-50
S-47 diving deep ....
SC CHa-50 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hachijo-jima at 114,64
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-45
SC CHa-47
Allied Ships
SS Pompon
SS Pompon is located by SC CHa-15
Pompon diving deep ....
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 99,126
Japanese Ships
E Kiji
Allied Ships
SS Pollack, hits 4
SS Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at E Kiji
Pollack bottoming out ....
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji attacking submerged sub ....
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128
Weather in hex: Extreme overcast
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Light rain
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 21
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 3 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Deboyne Islands at 103,134
Japanese Ships
SS I-17, hits 4, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Chicago
CL Honolulu
CLAA Atlanta
DD Woodworth
DD Lardner
SS I-17 is sighted by escort
I-17 diving deep ....
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Lardner fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tawi Tawi at 70,93
Japanese Ships
xAK Kokai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Take
Allied Ships
SS KXVIII
SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Kokai Maru
KXVIII diving deep ....
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 26000 feet
CAP engaged:
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
G3M3 Nell x 3
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
2 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Tjisaroea, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Chaumont
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 1 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAP Monterey
xAP President Taylor
Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
xAK Admiral Chase
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
DD Fletcher
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar sweeping at 32810 feet *
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
xAK Coast Farmer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Poelau Laut
DD Sims
Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 34th Seperate Brigade, at 82,23
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 4
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Naval Construction Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 30th Infantry Rgt /6 ...
Also attacking 5th Naval Construction Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 36,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 10
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 57
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
21st Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
70th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
87th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
Spc.Attck.Unit with Ki-45 KAIb Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters to 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 64 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
D3A1 Val x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Woolgar, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AP President Monroe, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Anglo Indian, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 41,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 1 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 10 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3a Zero x 62
B5M1 Mabel x 55
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 66
D3A2 Val x 55
D4Y1 Judy x 13
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed
B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conyngham
DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conway
DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Caldwell
DD Abbot
DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3a Zero x 82
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 46
SBD-2 Dauntless x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
CV Soryu
CA Mikuma
CVL Zuiho
CV Hiryu
CV Kaga
CA Tone
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3a Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Junyo, heavy fires
CV Hiryu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5M1 Mabel x 34
B5N1 Kate x 11
D3A1 Val x 2
D3A2 Val x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Sangamon
DD Waller
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-43, hits 8, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Saufley
DD Grayson
DD Waller
SSX Ha-43 is sighted by escort
DD Grayson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Waller fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Waller attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-40, hits 1
Allied Ships
AK Cassiopeia
xAK Michael Goulandris
xAK Barossa
xAK Munlock
xAK General Fleisher
AM Motive
SSX Ha-40 is sighted by escort
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive attacking submerged sub ....
AM Motive cannot establish contact with SSX Ha-40
AM Motive loses contact with SSX Ha-40
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
DD Van Ghent
SC-744
SC-634
LCI-21
LCI-23
LCI-22
DD Dent
LCI-24
Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
BB New Mexico firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
BB Idaho firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
CA Quincy firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
CL Richmond firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
DD Van Ghent firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Munda
TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134
Allied ground losses:
578 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 58 (0 destroyed, 58 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (0 destroyed, 30 disabled)
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 6th Marine Rgt /11
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt /6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,40
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31332 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098
Defending force 67344 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
81st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
38th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1740
Defending force 52824 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1963
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
35th Division
15th Division
27th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
13th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 82,23
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166
Defending force 344 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Assaulting units:
36th/A Division
Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Seperate Brigade
6th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
8th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
Lusu War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 22, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ominato at 121,54
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-50
SC CHa-25
Allied Ships
SS S-47
SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at SC CHa-50
S-47 diving deep ....
SC CHa-50 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hachijo-jima at 114,64
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-45
SC CHa-47
Allied Ships
SS Pompon
SS Pompon is located by SC CHa-15
Pompon diving deep ....
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 99,126
Japanese Ships
E Kiji
Allied Ships
SS Pollack, hits 4
SS Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at E Kiji
Pollack bottoming out ....
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji attacking submerged sub ....
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128
Weather in hex: Extreme overcast
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Light rain
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 21
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 3 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Deboyne Islands at 103,134
Japanese Ships
SS I-17, hits 4, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Chicago
CL Honolulu
CLAA Atlanta
DD Woodworth
DD Lardner
SS I-17 is sighted by escort
I-17 diving deep ....
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Lardner fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tawi Tawi at 70,93
Japanese Ships
xAK Kokai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Take
Allied Ships
SS KXVIII
SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Kokai Maru
KXVIII diving deep ....
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 26000 feet
CAP engaged:
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
G3M3 Nell x 3
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
2 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Tjisaroea, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Chaumont
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 1 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAP Monterey
xAP President Taylor
Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
xAK Admiral Chase
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico
DD Fletcher
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar sweeping at 32810 feet *
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
xAK Coast Farmer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Poelau Laut
DD Sims
Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 34th Seperate Brigade, at 82,23
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 4
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Naval Construction Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 30th Infantry Rgt /6 ...
Also attacking 5th Naval Construction Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 36,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 10
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 57
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
21st Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
70th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
87th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
Spc.Attck.Unit with Ki-45 KAIb Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters to 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 64 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
D3A1 Val x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Woolgar, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AP President Monroe, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Anglo Indian, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 41,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 1 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 10 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3a Zero x 62
B5M1 Mabel x 55
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 66
D3A2 Val x 55
D4Y1 Judy x 13
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed
B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conyngham
DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Conway
DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Caldwell
DD Abbot
DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 26000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3a Zero x 82
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 46
SBD-2 Dauntless x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Takao
CV Soryu
CA Mikuma
CVL Zuiho
CV Hiryu
CV Kaga
CA Tone
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3a Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Junyo, heavy fires
CV Hiryu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
Wellington Ic x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5M1 Mabel x 34
B5N1 Kate x 11
D3A1 Val x 2
D3A2 Val x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Sangamon
DD Waller
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-43, hits 8, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Saufley
DD Grayson
DD Waller
SSX Ha-43 is sighted by escort
DD Grayson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Waller fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Waller attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-40, hits 1
Allied Ships
AK Cassiopeia
xAK Michael Goulandris
xAK Barossa
xAK Munlock
xAK General Fleisher
AM Motive
SSX Ha-40 is sighted by escort
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive attacking submerged sub ....
AM Motive cannot establish contact with SSX Ha-40
AM Motive loses contact with SSX Ha-40
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Munda
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
CA Quincy
CL Richmond
DD Van Ghent
SC-744
SC-634
LCI-21
LCI-23
LCI-22
DD Dent
LCI-24
Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
BB New Mexico firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
BB Idaho firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
CA Quincy firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
CL Richmond firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
DD Van Ghent firing at 30th Infantry Regiment
SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-634 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Munda
TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134
Allied ground losses:
578 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 58 (0 destroyed, 58 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (0 destroyed, 30 disabled)
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 6th Marine Rgt /11
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt /6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,40
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31332 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098
Defending force 67344 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
81st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
38th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,41
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1740
Defending force 52824 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1963
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
35th Division
15th Division
27th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
13th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 82,23
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166
Defending force 344 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Assaulting units:
36th/A Division
Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Seperate Brigade
6th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
8th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
Lusu War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment