Summary of Operations 11/01/42
Japanese Home Islands: US sub Tuna intercepts a rather large Jap transport TF south of Kyushu. No information available on the movement heading of the Jap TF. SS Tuna was damaged by a rather persistent ASW attack from the two Jap escorts (E’s). AAR follows.
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Sub attack near Daito Shoto at 103,68
(ESE of Okinawa)
Japanese Ships
AK Yodogawa Maru
PB Yamabato Maru
PB Kensin Maru
AK Koei Maru
AK Yamazuki Maru
AK Yamaura Maru
AK Tacoma Maru
AK Seattle Maru
xAK Teihoku Maru
xAK Taketoyo Maru
xAK Matumoto Maru
xAK Natisan Maru
xAK Senko Maru
DD Tsuga
E Sagi
E Hato
Allied Ships
SS Tuna, hits 2
(System damage 14, float 27, engine 2 – now returning to base at 14 kts)
SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at AK Yodogawa Maru
Tuna diving deep ....
DD Tsuga fails to find sub and abandons search
E Sagi attacking submerged sub ....
E Hato attacking submerged sub ....
E Sagi attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
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Eastern US: Fast transport convoy EX-21 (23 ships, 16 kt speed or better) departing this game turn for Australia via Capetown.
Central Pacific: Several reports from the Tabitueua area… Sigint entry for 10/31 reports heavy volume of intercepted radio transmissions from Tabiteuea. Detected status of Tabiteuea base shows undetermined aircraft based on the island, also ship(s) in port. Jap LCU’s known to be in Tabiteuea include two HQ (6th Fleet & 4 Air Division) as well as several base force and engineer units. There is little question that Tabiteuea plays a significant role in Pillager’s operations along the southeastern “corner” of the Japanese outer perimeter line.
What is probably two separate Jap transport TF’s were spotted or engaged this game turn by US submarine patrols operating along the sea route between Kwajalein and Tabiteuea.
US sub Stingray intercepted this Jap transport TF northwest of Tabiteuea. No information is available on the TF’s movement heading, though it’s likely the TF is either heading for Tabiteuea or returning from there. AAR follows. Note: this TF is not shown as detected on the situation map below.
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Sub attack near Abemama at 134,130
(NW of Tabiteuea)
Japanese Ships
xAK Otori Maru
PB Kyo Maru #5
xAK Shikano Maru
xAK Neikai Maru
xAK Toho Maru
PB Seki Maru
Allied Ships
SS Stingray
SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Otori Maru
Stingray diving deep ....
PB Seki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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A second Japanese transport TF consisting of 8 ships (2 CM, 4 TK, 2 unknown) was detected by US sub Snapper off Tabituea – this TF shown detected on the situation map. Reported movement of the Jap TF is SE, probably heading into Tabiteuea base to deliver fuel supplies. SS Snapper also reported air attack by a D3A1 Val at its current position off Tabiteuea. No engagement between SS Snapper and the Jap TF was reported.
A third Japanese transport TF was intercepted this game turn SSW of Ponape, reported moving on a SE heading. Possible destinations of this TF include Tabiteuea but could easily be going elsewhere. AAR follows.
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Submarine attack near Ponape at 117,122
(SSW of Ponape, not shown on situation map)
Japanese Ships
AK Arimasan Maru
Allied Ships
SS Blackfish
AK Arimasan Maru is sighted by SS Blackfish
SS Blackfish launches 2 torpedoes at AK Arimasan Maru
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I was aware for some time that Pillager had the two Jap HQ identified above and the other LCU’s located at Tabiteuea, and suspected something rotten in that part of paradise. The picture is gradually becoming clearer. My estimate is Pillager has set up Tabiteuea as a naval replenishment base to support submarine operations and/or KB sorties into the South Pacific theatre as well as against sea communication routes between the mainland US and the South Pacific. I also consider it likely that Tabiteuea was used by the KB on its last “outing”. The forward and rather remote location of Tabiteuea makes it a somewhat vulnerable base for US carrier and surface naval attacks, hence its airfield size and what is very possibly a sizeable (though unconfirmed) contingent of Japanese LBA on Tabiteuea. Situation map of the Tabiteuea area follows.
This plot is so thick one could stick a spoon in it and it will stand upright, legend having it that USN shipboard coffee in the day often had a similar character. Stay tuned…
South Pacific: Daily coastwatcher entries from 10/31 Operations report follow.
Coastwatcher Report: 16 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 5 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher sighting: 4 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed 14, Moving Northwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed 3, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Ndeni
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed 5, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 4 Japanese ships at 107,126 near Rabaul, Speed 13, Moving Southeast
US submarine Salmon on patrol in the southern sea approaches to Rabaul reports contact with a possible Jap surface ASW TF (4 ships) at hex location 107, 127 – reported moving SE. This contact may have also been reported in one or more of the preceeding coastwatcher report entries above.
DEI: Dutch sub patrol operating near southern exit of Sunda Straits between Java and Sumatra continues contact with same Jap surface ASW. Latest AAR follows.
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ASW attack near Oosthaven at 46,97
(S of Oosthaven)
Japanese Ships
PB Choyo Maru #2
PB Higashiyama Maru
PB Chitose Maru
Allied Ships
SS KXVI
SS KXVI is located by PB Choyo Maru #2
PB Higashiyama Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Chitose Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, one Jap TF in harbor (-1 from last report), 32 aircraft (32 fighters, no bombers), 8 Jap LCU’s. The Jap TF departing Rangoon appears to be the transport TF detected in Rangoon last game turn (4 ships, at least 2 TK).
India: Japanese air sweeps and an airfield bombing raid return over Ledo. Allied fighter squadrons in Ledo remained stood down awaiting replacement planes. Ledo appears to be a more important objective for Pillager to launch a Japanese air offensive against it than it is an objective for me to mount an Allied air defense of it. Considering there is no ongoing airlift of supplies from Ledo to China - given the volume of supply that can be transported to China via Ledo and the scale of the general supply point shortage within China (supply point stocks being virtually non-existent), it isn’t worth attempting a supply airlift into China, the amount of supply needed in China grossly exceeds the available air transport capacity. However, Ledo is the “port of call” for evacuation of Chinese AF squadrons to India as well as air transport operations to extract the few remaining Chinese LCU that can be evacuated from China by air. Japanese air activity over Ledo is having no significant effect on these operations. AAR’s follow.
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Morning Air attack on Ledo, at 65,38
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 37
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
37 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Ledo, at 65,38
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet
4 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Ledo, at 65,38
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 9
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 6 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed on ground
C-47 Skytrain: 6 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Ledo, at 65,38
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet
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China: Japanese ground bombardment attacks continue along the southern approaches to Chungking and Chengtu. AAR’s of these actions show no change from last game turn.
Japanese reinforce ground bombardment at Sining in the far western area. A second unidentified Jap LCU is detected in the adjacent hex E of Sining and appears that it will join this action as a reinforcement shortly. AAR follows.
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Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 25756 troops, 243 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 1301
Defending force 16683 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 586
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
6th Division
15th Tank Regiment
(this unit joining the attack this game turn as a reinforcement)
17th Division
37th Division
12th Army
1st Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
9th Separate Brigade
259th Brigade
17th Chinese Corps
303rd Brigade
82nd Chinese Corps
8th War Area
5th Chinese Base Force
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John