December 4th 1943
NorPac: Staggered sub patrols leave for Japan
CenPac: CVLs from OpWood arrive with the remainder of the LSTs.
SwPac-SoPac: Three IJN BBs appear off the coast near Kavieng. SBDs attack (they have poor experience ratings) and score two hits for minimal damage to the monsters. Infantry one mile from Kavieng and will join the armor tonight. Evacuation of Namatanai ordered for naval assets. Raids planned on Kavieng tomorrow by Mitchells and Libs. We also plan to hit Taberfane again to prevent LYB buildup. Bettys arrive at night over Namatana; little damage.
2nd wave of SBDs score a couple of small hits:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 107,122
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 12
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
Burma: Massive sweep day ordered tomorrow with a sprinking of bombing on the menu.
Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
Ki-61-Ic Tony x 4
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ic Tony: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
Thinz2 vs Zuluhour
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Battle of the Northern Solomons
Nice hit on the Musahi. Where are u at in the Marshall islands?
RE: Battle of the Northern Solomons
The damage Musashi and Yamato can do to a port is insane. I've taken to posting subs in coastal waters near any potential bombardment TF. The hit on Musashi was a huge moral boost for me. The tactic prevents little but can disrupt a milk run. Thanks for the pat on the back, always good. I'll post a map of CenPac shortly before I leave for the beach. I am going to shut it down for a week while I eat, sleep, drink and ogle for a week.[;)] I am now reconning the northern Marshalls regularly with some Navy Liberator raids here and there, but my main focus is to get Kavieng in our hands, build that base, and begin the reduction of Truk and finish the cordon of New Guinea and the Solomons. The Americal Division looks like it will be performing the mop up Ops in the SwPac. Five divisions are prepping for Operation Triple PLay. The Marianas.
RE: Away message
It's time to take the tribe to the ocean for a summer break. Posts/turns will continue next weekend.
The Game: The wiley THINZ has suffered only one naval defeat. This IMHO was only due to force imbalance as I am quite sure I had 2:1 odds in aircraft and possibly ships. He no longer holds a 2:1+ advantage in VPs but it is still close to that margin. I have learned a great deal of detail about the forces involved in the conflict as I can't help but look up so many unit histories as we sail along. With that said, the second half of the war, our two year Pearl Harbor anniversery, and some really neat reinforcements are now close at hand. The Iowa and New Jersey, more Essex class CVs, P51Ds, and the B29 are becoming a reality. My fathers ship will enter the war. The US Navy will assume the offensive and Empire of Japan will be forced to fight on our terms.
The AAR: I have had some fun here, retelling the war from Zulu HQ. Comments are always welcome. No question is taboo or stupid; after all the war is being run by TWIT. If you are new and reading this I suggest you pay close attention to Alfreds posts. If you are a VET your comments are most welcome as well or just have a laugh on TWIT.
The Game: The wiley THINZ has suffered only one naval defeat. This IMHO was only due to force imbalance as I am quite sure I had 2:1 odds in aircraft and possibly ships. He no longer holds a 2:1+ advantage in VPs but it is still close to that margin. I have learned a great deal of detail about the forces involved in the conflict as I can't help but look up so many unit histories as we sail along. With that said, the second half of the war, our two year Pearl Harbor anniversery, and some really neat reinforcements are now close at hand. The Iowa and New Jersey, more Essex class CVs, P51Ds, and the B29 are becoming a reality. My fathers ship will enter the war. The US Navy will assume the offensive and Empire of Japan will be forced to fight on our terms.
The AAR: I have had some fun here, retelling the war from Zulu HQ. Comments are always welcome. No question is taboo or stupid; after all the war is being run by TWIT. If you are new and reading this I suggest you pay close attention to Alfreds posts. If you are a VET your comments are most welcome as well or just have a laugh on TWIT.
RE: Away message
Have a safe trip. Drink one for me. I enjoy the Twits.
RE: Away message
Theatre Wide Intelligence Troop
TWIT
TWIT HQ has retuned from leave and refreshed. There was much time for reflection in the sun and much needs to be done.
NorPac: SubDiv A has been reinforced as has SubDiv B doubling both bases to twelve boats. The final six boats to arrive at their new bases in 7-10 days. Fuel and supply as well as ground reinforcements have reached NorPac.
CenPac: Yorktown will be ready to sail within the week as the rest of the fast carriers get in some airgroup training for Operation Triple Play, the details of which we are still working on. An old yet heavy hitting surface attack group is scheduled out of port tonight to join Mac's command in SwPac. Additional base forces and support personel for Triple Play are due in Pearl in 48 hours. Large fuel and supply "lifts" will arrive within two weeks with a new fast carrier, CVL, and CVEs. Only smallish airgroups are left available to us on the west coast, mostly raw recruits, as we have no political "ins" left in Washington for the foreseable future.
SwPac-SoPac: Kavieng's airfield and naval base was taken yesterday leaving an ungodly amount of nips running around the jungle. They are cut off with no retreat available to them and we begin the mop up tomorrow. Night attacks by Bettys from Truk arrive to flak and night CAP over Nanatanai. The airfield goes to level 3. In the interest of rounding up construction and defense units in SoPac TWIT HQ forms TF "FAT-1" or forward area transport TF-1. The TF can pick up two of the Bns at a time and has escorts to get them to the new forward area, front line trace. FAT-1 debarks for the "rear area fuel dump" at Hiva Ova to pick up engineers finished with the expansion there. They are needed in the northern Solomons. Additional surface assets flagged by an Australian cruiser depart for SwPac and Mac's command from Suva.
Burma: New large transport groups are arriving in India. We are mulling over the offensive possibilites there. A full theater wide tour by TWIT to follow before new years.
China: Since the large carrier action in the northern Solomons the IJAF has made a dramatic increase in bombing in China. Both tactical and strategic targets are being hit. Another theater visit after the Burma stop for CnC Zulu.
TWIT
TWIT HQ has retuned from leave and refreshed. There was much time for reflection in the sun and much needs to be done.
NorPac: SubDiv A has been reinforced as has SubDiv B doubling both bases to twelve boats. The final six boats to arrive at their new bases in 7-10 days. Fuel and supply as well as ground reinforcements have reached NorPac.
CenPac: Yorktown will be ready to sail within the week as the rest of the fast carriers get in some airgroup training for Operation Triple Play, the details of which we are still working on. An old yet heavy hitting surface attack group is scheduled out of port tonight to join Mac's command in SwPac. Additional base forces and support personel for Triple Play are due in Pearl in 48 hours. Large fuel and supply "lifts" will arrive within two weeks with a new fast carrier, CVL, and CVEs. Only smallish airgroups are left available to us on the west coast, mostly raw recruits, as we have no political "ins" left in Washington for the foreseable future.
SwPac-SoPac: Kavieng's airfield and naval base was taken yesterday leaving an ungodly amount of nips running around the jungle. They are cut off with no retreat available to them and we begin the mop up tomorrow. Night attacks by Bettys from Truk arrive to flak and night CAP over Nanatanai. The airfield goes to level 3. In the interest of rounding up construction and defense units in SoPac TWIT HQ forms TF "FAT-1" or forward area transport TF-1. The TF can pick up two of the Bns at a time and has escorts to get them to the new forward area, front line trace. FAT-1 debarks for the "rear area fuel dump" at Hiva Ova to pick up engineers finished with the expansion there. They are needed in the northern Solomons. Additional surface assets flagged by an Australian cruiser depart for SwPac and Mac's command from Suva.
Burma: New large transport groups are arriving in India. We are mulling over the offensive possibilites there. A full theater wide tour by TWIT to follow before new years.
China: Since the large carrier action in the northern Solomons the IJAF has made a dramatic increase in bombing in China. Both tactical and strategic targets are being hit. Another theater visit after the Burma stop for CnC Zulu.
RE: Away message
December 10th 1943
CenPac: Convoys arrive with aircraft and engineers. SS Puffer is spotted by BB Kirishima, CA Kinugasa, CA Aoba and DDs SSW of Truk. She is hit causing light system damage but Kavieng is on alert.
SoPac-SwPac: We form FAT-2. The TF will deliver a USA base force and an engineer Rgt to Nanatanamai before working on bringing in Seabees from KiraKira. Supply is an issue on New Ireland and there are mines in the straights so we bring up some air transports for now. We order the mop up around Kavieng to continue tomorrow after resting for a day. FAT-1 is well to sea and making good time. TWIT CO orders Mac to send a cruiser TF to the Solomons for support in the forward area as the fleet carriers are 3-5 days from making blue water depending on the "return to service" time after repairs. Moral in all groups in SwPac and SoPac is high. B24s will raid Taberfane again tomorrow hoping to catch some IJN aircraft on the ground and burn supply. Its only a matter of hours before VMF-221 will be required to depart the AO. It was the leading squadron for many weeks, home to half a dozen elite marine aviators and the corner stone of the CAP at Port Morseby in the dark days of 1942.
China: Some house cleaning in preperation for Zulu HQ tour.
Burma: There is only an air war and we trade evenly lately over central Burma. Spitfires and P38s will return tomorrow. Yesterday we get some good licks in with B24s over Meiktila. While intel is often un reliable we think we got a dozen Tonys on the ground and damaged 35 more aircraft while damaging the facilities. Transport aircraft squadrons are expanding rapidly. We did not see this coming and is a nice surprise. We will allow this force to build through December and see what we have.
Question: Do the same pilots return with withdrawn squadrons when they reenter the war?
CenPac: Convoys arrive with aircraft and engineers. SS Puffer is spotted by BB Kirishima, CA Kinugasa, CA Aoba and DDs SSW of Truk. She is hit causing light system damage but Kavieng is on alert.
SoPac-SwPac: We form FAT-2. The TF will deliver a USA base force and an engineer Rgt to Nanatanamai before working on bringing in Seabees from KiraKira. Supply is an issue on New Ireland and there are mines in the straights so we bring up some air transports for now. We order the mop up around Kavieng to continue tomorrow after resting for a day. FAT-1 is well to sea and making good time. TWIT CO orders Mac to send a cruiser TF to the Solomons for support in the forward area as the fleet carriers are 3-5 days from making blue water depending on the "return to service" time after repairs. Moral in all groups in SwPac and SoPac is high. B24s will raid Taberfane again tomorrow hoping to catch some IJN aircraft on the ground and burn supply. Its only a matter of hours before VMF-221 will be required to depart the AO. It was the leading squadron for many weeks, home to half a dozen elite marine aviators and the corner stone of the CAP at Port Morseby in the dark days of 1942.
China: Some house cleaning in preperation for Zulu HQ tour.
Burma: There is only an air war and we trade evenly lately over central Burma. Spitfires and P38s will return tomorrow. Yesterday we get some good licks in with B24s over Meiktila. While intel is often un reliable we think we got a dozen Tonys on the ground and damaged 35 more aircraft while damaging the facilities. Transport aircraft squadrons are expanding rapidly. We did not see this coming and is a nice surprise. We will allow this force to build through December and see what we have.
Question: Do the same pilots return with withdrawn squadrons when they reenter the war?
RE: Away message
December 11th 1943
Ref: The question, as I posted the question to close to the withdrawl date, I had to make a decision. I took the elite 6 minus the CO and sent them to the reserves. I would have preferred to have them reappear as a unit.
CenPac: radio silence
SwPac-SoPac: Kirashima arrives off Kavieng and causes 5 casualties! The rest of the IJ garrison is wiped out in the last assault there. Poor planning has plenty of the forces necessary prepped for the new base but far to sea or still at bases elsewhere. We are learning. While we do suffer from lack of APAs we now have ample transports, ie xAPs in theater. We also have, and are receiving many escorts. Unfortunately they are to concentrated in CenPac and are being judiously apportioned now. The Hornet II was renamed Enterprise before her arrival at Balboa. The air raid on Taberfane goes in unopposed one group of B24s does extensive infrastructure damage. Liberators will hit by passed garrisons in the Solomons now.
China: More shuffling, particularly engineers, in advance of the return of the CAF. I want to accumulate at least two spares for the squadrons and complete training before deployment. I also need a plan to go along with it for any hope of making a difference with them. They are well trained and it would be a capital offense to waste them for the sake of using them.
Burma: It appears there is parrity in the air when it comes to sweeping. IJAF pilots must be well trained and the Tojos seem to absorb punishment well. He has at least 2nd generation Tojos. It is the follow up airbase raids by B24s which deliver the disparrity in numbers as we slowly catch up in the total ratio of aircraft lost.
Joe: Map of Marshalls to follow soon as well as the CBI as I try to build some momentum now.
Ref: The question, as I posted the question to close to the withdrawl date, I had to make a decision. I took the elite 6 minus the CO and sent them to the reserves. I would have preferred to have them reappear as a unit.
CenPac: radio silence
SwPac-SoPac: Kirashima arrives off Kavieng and causes 5 casualties! The rest of the IJ garrison is wiped out in the last assault there. Poor planning has plenty of the forces necessary prepped for the new base but far to sea or still at bases elsewhere. We are learning. While we do suffer from lack of APAs we now have ample transports, ie xAPs in theater. We also have, and are receiving many escorts. Unfortunately they are to concentrated in CenPac and are being judiously apportioned now. The Hornet II was renamed Enterprise before her arrival at Balboa. The air raid on Taberfane goes in unopposed one group of B24s does extensive infrastructure damage. Liberators will hit by passed garrisons in the Solomons now.
China: More shuffling, particularly engineers, in advance of the return of the CAF. I want to accumulate at least two spares for the squadrons and complete training before deployment. I also need a plan to go along with it for any hope of making a difference with them. They are well trained and it would be a capital offense to waste them for the sake of using them.
Burma: It appears there is parrity in the air when it comes to sweeping. IJAF pilots must be well trained and the Tojos seem to absorb punishment well. He has at least 2nd generation Tojos. It is the follow up airbase raids by B24s which deliver the disparrity in numbers as we slowly catch up in the total ratio of aircraft lost.
Joe: Map of Marshalls to follow soon as well as the CBI as I try to build some momentum now.
RE: Away message
December 12th 1943
West Coast-CenPac: radio silence
SwPac-SoPac: Organizing the build up of Kavieng. FAT-1 and FAT-2 were created 30 days, at least, to late. Additional transport being allocated to this task delaying OpLatch and OpBlade. I believe at this point I may combine the remainder of operation Jigsaw and Triple Play into a large sweep encompassing five landings within a 10 day period.
CBI: We wait for Chinese units to take up their new positions. By withdarwing a unit early I was able to get enough PPs to exchange a Chinese fighter squadron CO to somebody with better skills for training as well as air skills. In Burma we order a strike against Rabaul by Brittish heavies and a Strike against Magwe by American Libs. P38s (50+-) will sweep Magwe in advance of the strike (we hope, they are based far forward of the heavies).
West Coast-CenPac: radio silence
SwPac-SoPac: Organizing the build up of Kavieng. FAT-1 and FAT-2 were created 30 days, at least, to late. Additional transport being allocated to this task delaying OpLatch and OpBlade. I believe at this point I may combine the remainder of operation Jigsaw and Triple Play into a large sweep encompassing five landings within a 10 day period.
CBI: We wait for Chinese units to take up their new positions. By withdarwing a unit early I was able to get enough PPs to exchange a Chinese fighter squadron CO to somebody with better skills for training as well as air skills. In Burma we order a strike against Rabaul by Brittish heavies and a Strike against Magwe by American Libs. P38s (50+-) will sweep Magwe in advance of the strike (we hope, they are based far forward of the heavies).
RE: Away message
December 13th 1943
West Coast: Fleet HQs begin railhead to departure ports for CenPac. CV Intrepid ordered to the west coast from Balboa.
CenPac: Refreshing sub patrols. Yorktown finishing repairs in dry dock. Large fuel and support forces disembark on Oahu.
SwPac-SoPac: Yorktown II gathers escorts and is ordered to sea. She can cruise at 8 knots and should reach dry dock in 38 days. Fingers crossed. The Alabama is 79 days away from the sea, port side in Austrailia; she will have an even longer and more dangerous voyage owing to damage and distance. Yorktown must cover 7240nm but can abort to Pearl which is only 4800nm. Forces at Kavieng recover quickly from fatigue and disruption; HQ is several days away. A construction Rgt begins the trek down New Ireland towards the heavily damaged port and airfield complex there. Supply is in route as well as some additional surface assets. Fuel is beginning to flow more consistantly in Australia as we unload fuel at a better distribution point.
Burma: Late model Zeros sweep Akyab and prove to be more than a match for the local CAP. Its been awhile since we lost an air to air engagement so lopsided.
West Coast: Fleet HQs begin railhead to departure ports for CenPac. CV Intrepid ordered to the west coast from Balboa.
CenPac: Refreshing sub patrols. Yorktown finishing repairs in dry dock. Large fuel and support forces disembark on Oahu.
SwPac-SoPac: Yorktown II gathers escorts and is ordered to sea. She can cruise at 8 knots and should reach dry dock in 38 days. Fingers crossed. The Alabama is 79 days away from the sea, port side in Austrailia; she will have an even longer and more dangerous voyage owing to damage and distance. Yorktown must cover 7240nm but can abort to Pearl which is only 4800nm. Forces at Kavieng recover quickly from fatigue and disruption; HQ is several days away. A construction Rgt begins the trek down New Ireland towards the heavily damaged port and airfield complex there. Supply is in route as well as some additional surface assets. Fuel is beginning to flow more consistantly in Australia as we unload fuel at a better distribution point.
Burma: Late model Zeros sweep Akyab and prove to be more than a match for the local CAP. Its been awhile since we lost an air to air engagement so lopsided.
RE: Away message
December 14th 1943
TWIT HQs feels the might of the US kicking in:
CA Maya is reported to have been sunk near Lihir on Nov 12, 1943[/b another confirmed kill from the massive naval action in November.
CL Biloxi arrives at Balboa
DD Charles Badger arrives at Eastern USA
DD Cogswell arrives at Eastern USA
DD Colahan arrives at Balboa
DD Dortch arrives at Balboa
DD Haggard arrives at Seattle
DD Hailey arrives at Seattle
DD Lewis Hancock arrives at Balboa
DD Healy arrives at Eastern USA
DD Hickox arrives at Balboa
DD Hunt arrives at Balboa
DD Ingersoll arrives at Balboa
DD Johnston arrives at Seattle
DD Knapp arrives at Balboa
DD McCord arrives at San Francisco
DD Miller arrives at San Francisco
DD Mullany arrives at San Francisco
DD Picking arrives at Balboa
DD William Porter arrives at Eastern USA
DD Stephen Potter arrives at San Francisco
DD The Sullivans arrives at San Francisco
DD Young arrives at Eastern USA
DD Quiberon arrives at Aden
DD Quickmatch arrives at Aden
DD Queensborough arrives at Aden
DD Quilliam arrives at Aden
DE Greenwood arrives at Eastern USA
DE Harmon arrives at Eastern USA
DE Bangust arrives at Los Angeles
DE Brackett arrives at Seattle
DE Eisele arrives at Mare Island
DE Lovering arrives at Seattle
DE Sederstrom arrives at Mare Island
DE Tisdale arrives at Mare Island
AR Vulcan arrives at San Francisco
AS Anthedon arrives at Cristobal
AS Apollo arrives at Balboa
AM Saunter arrives at Seattle
AM Buoyant arrives at Portland
SS Bashaw arrives at Eastern USA
SS Bluegill arrives at Balboa
SS Gabilan arrives at Balboa
SS Lancetfish arrives at Balboa
SS Ling arrives at Balboa
SS Golet arrives at Balboa
SS Guavina arrives at Eastern USA
SS Bang arrives at Eastern USA
SS Pilotfish arrives at Balboa
SS Truculent arrives at Aden
SS Tactician arrives at Aden
SS Stonehenge arrives at Aden
SS Sea Rover arrives at Aden
LST-81 arrives at Balboa
LST-82 arrives at Balboa
LST-83 arrives at Cristobal
LST-84 arrives at Cristobal
LST-85 arrives at Balboa
LST-86 arrives at Balboa
LST-87 arrives at Cristobal
LST-88 arrives at Cristobal
LST-175 arrives at Cristobal
LST-176 arrives at Balboa
LST-177 arrives at Balboa
LST-179 arrives at Cristobal
LST-180 arrives at Cristobal
LCI-521 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-522 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-523 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-524 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-525 arrives at San Francisco
xAK Mary Bickerdyke arrives at Portland
xAK Hampstead Park arrives at Victoria
xAK Fort Wayne arrives at Aden
VMF-112 arrives at San Diego
VMB-413 arrives at Eastern USA
VMB-423 arrives at Eastern USA
No.19 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Christchurch
No.31 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Gisborne
No.548 Sqn RAF arrives at Brisbane
No.549 Sqn RAF arrives at Brisbane
347th FG/339th FS arrives at San Francisco
805/1878th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco
West Coast: Many escorts arrive to help ensure safe delivery of another massive resupply to CenPac.
CenPac: More sub patrols are sent west. The sinking of the Maya is toasted at Pearl.
SoPac-SwPac: Yorktown II makes good time, she makes 200nm from Australia. She has 38F (major) and 17Engine. FAT-1 is 7 days out from picking up engineers deep in SoPac. FAT-2 is still loading at Suva. Army Corp engineers make 12mi north on New Ireland, their fatigued and a little disrupted. Swatting mosiquitos and removing infectious ticks along the way. Kepp your civies on and your boots bloused. The 1st Australian Div combines and prepares begins training for '44.
Burma: IJAF fighters perform a good sweep at Akyab and IJAF has spotted 2 of 3 supply convoys trying to make port there. We send in another squadron to help CAP.
TWIT HQs feels the might of the US kicking in:
CA Maya is reported to have been sunk near Lihir on Nov 12, 1943[/b another confirmed kill from the massive naval action in November.
CL Biloxi arrives at Balboa
DD Charles Badger arrives at Eastern USA
DD Cogswell arrives at Eastern USA
DD Colahan arrives at Balboa
DD Dortch arrives at Balboa
DD Haggard arrives at Seattle
DD Hailey arrives at Seattle
DD Lewis Hancock arrives at Balboa
DD Healy arrives at Eastern USA
DD Hickox arrives at Balboa
DD Hunt arrives at Balboa
DD Ingersoll arrives at Balboa
DD Johnston arrives at Seattle
DD Knapp arrives at Balboa
DD McCord arrives at San Francisco
DD Miller arrives at San Francisco
DD Mullany arrives at San Francisco
DD Picking arrives at Balboa
DD William Porter arrives at Eastern USA
DD Stephen Potter arrives at San Francisco
DD The Sullivans arrives at San Francisco
DD Young arrives at Eastern USA
DD Quiberon arrives at Aden
DD Quickmatch arrives at Aden
DD Queensborough arrives at Aden
DD Quilliam arrives at Aden
DE Greenwood arrives at Eastern USA
DE Harmon arrives at Eastern USA
DE Bangust arrives at Los Angeles
DE Brackett arrives at Seattle
DE Eisele arrives at Mare Island
DE Lovering arrives at Seattle
DE Sederstrom arrives at Mare Island
DE Tisdale arrives at Mare Island
AR Vulcan arrives at San Francisco
AS Anthedon arrives at Cristobal
AS Apollo arrives at Balboa
AM Saunter arrives at Seattle
AM Buoyant arrives at Portland
SS Bashaw arrives at Eastern USA
SS Bluegill arrives at Balboa
SS Gabilan arrives at Balboa
SS Lancetfish arrives at Balboa
SS Ling arrives at Balboa
SS Golet arrives at Balboa
SS Guavina arrives at Eastern USA
SS Bang arrives at Eastern USA
SS Pilotfish arrives at Balboa
SS Truculent arrives at Aden
SS Tactician arrives at Aden
SS Stonehenge arrives at Aden
SS Sea Rover arrives at Aden
LST-81 arrives at Balboa
LST-82 arrives at Balboa
LST-83 arrives at Cristobal
LST-84 arrives at Cristobal
LST-85 arrives at Balboa
LST-86 arrives at Balboa
LST-87 arrives at Cristobal
LST-88 arrives at Cristobal
LST-175 arrives at Cristobal
LST-176 arrives at Balboa
LST-177 arrives at Balboa
LST-179 arrives at Cristobal
LST-180 arrives at Cristobal
LCI-521 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-522 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-523 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-524 arrives at San Francisco
LCI-525 arrives at San Francisco
xAK Mary Bickerdyke arrives at Portland
xAK Hampstead Park arrives at Victoria
xAK Fort Wayne arrives at Aden
VMF-112 arrives at San Diego
VMB-413 arrives at Eastern USA
VMB-423 arrives at Eastern USA
No.19 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Christchurch
No.31 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Gisborne
No.548 Sqn RAF arrives at Brisbane
No.549 Sqn RAF arrives at Brisbane
347th FG/339th FS arrives at San Francisco
805/1878th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco
West Coast: Many escorts arrive to help ensure safe delivery of another massive resupply to CenPac.
CenPac: More sub patrols are sent west. The sinking of the Maya is toasted at Pearl.
SoPac-SwPac: Yorktown II makes good time, she makes 200nm from Australia. She has 38F (major) and 17Engine. FAT-1 is 7 days out from picking up engineers deep in SoPac. FAT-2 is still loading at Suva. Army Corp engineers make 12mi north on New Ireland, their fatigued and a little disrupted. Swatting mosiquitos and removing infectious ticks along the way. Kepp your civies on and your boots bloused. The 1st Australian Div combines and prepares begins training for '44.
Burma: IJAF fighters perform a good sweep at Akyab and IJAF has spotted 2 of 3 supply convoys trying to make port there. We send in another squadron to help CAP.
RE: Away message
December 15th 1943
Very little to report; SwPac we get a fish into a IJN CS and sink a large xAK off Japan. The IJAF has been quite in China for 48 hours. Yorktown II makes another 100nm to sea. Large TFs are still unloading at Pearl. I should mention IJN subs got a tanker and an LST in the Solomons last week and what I suspect are SSTs are frequent visitors to Guadalcanal, Rossels, and Tulagi in the southern Solomons. FAT-2 is still loading supplies and FAT-1 is prodding towards the rear.
Very little to report; SwPac we get a fish into a IJN CS and sink a large xAK off Japan. The IJAF has been quite in China for 48 hours. Yorktown II makes another 100nm to sea. Large TFs are still unloading at Pearl. I should mention IJN subs got a tanker and an LST in the Solomons last week and what I suspect are SSTs are frequent visitors to Guadalcanal, Rossels, and Tulagi in the southern Solomons. FAT-2 is still loading supplies and FAT-1 is prodding towards the rear.
RE: Away message
December 16th 1943
Mostly logistics and planning now. We plan to relieve the 1st Marines on Makin soon and sortie on Truk. I would like to get in recon range of the place first ergo Kavieng must get operational. In that vain we are lifting some construction Bns close by which have not completed work in the Solomons leaving the final build outs to base engineers and small Seabee outfits. Yorktown II suffers no additional damage, now at sea for 48 hours. I feel better.
BB Revenge repairs its third hull damage point; she now stands at 73F. All carriers in CenPac are operational now. Supply in CenPac for the opening 1944 offensives should stand at 1,5oo,ooo pts supply and 8oo,ooo pts fuel by Christmas, not including forward areas (perhaps another 75,oooS and 30,oooF). Suva has ample stores should we require a quick "shot in the arm". We drive some Bettys off over Akyab trying to get at our supply ships and escorts. Chinese squadrons are staging into Ledo. We have some expanding C-46A Sqds at Ledo; Tsuyung shows 263 supply today; we order 1,ooo pt supply cache; 30 Commandos (C-46As) will transport tomorrow and will see where we are.
Mostly logistics and planning now. We plan to relieve the 1st Marines on Makin soon and sortie on Truk. I would like to get in recon range of the place first ergo Kavieng must get operational. In that vain we are lifting some construction Bns close by which have not completed work in the Solomons leaving the final build outs to base engineers and small Seabee outfits. Yorktown II suffers no additional damage, now at sea for 48 hours. I feel better.
BB Revenge repairs its third hull damage point; she now stands at 73F. All carriers in CenPac are operational now. Supply in CenPac for the opening 1944 offensives should stand at 1,5oo,ooo pts supply and 8oo,ooo pts fuel by Christmas, not including forward areas (perhaps another 75,oooS and 30,oooF). Suva has ample stores should we require a quick "shot in the arm". We drive some Bettys off over Akyab trying to get at our supply ships and escorts. Chinese squadrons are staging into Ledo. We have some expanding C-46A Sqds at Ledo; Tsuyung shows 263 supply today; we order 1,ooo pt supply cache; 30 Commandos (C-46As) will transport tomorrow and will see where we are.
RE: Away message
Man thats a nice reinforcemnt list. Your going to land on Truk?
How many carriers do you have now?
How many carriers do you have now?
RE: Away message
I have 5 CVs and an armfull of CVLs. CVEs are best described as numerous. They are also concentrated and all ready to put to sea as of yesterday. Truk. hmmm. I want a recon first but I plan to strike it with 450 aircraft from the carriers after a mega airfield raid by Liberators. It looks as though Kavieng will not be ready to support the B24s until after new years so I'm looking at quick island grab or quick in and out by a seaplane tender in the area to get some ariel shots of the airfield and port. I have eight Divisions between Mac and CenPac which I plan to employ in a new Operation which will replace OpJigsaw's final two objectives and add OpTriplePlay (the Marianas) in one large "flowing" attack. I have the tenders and oilers, transports, and merchantmen. Planning for most of the units is far progressed. CV Intrepid should reach Pearl with 1 more CVL and 3 CVEs and a great deal of the escorts above around Christmas. Truk will be bypassed but hammered and isolated unless I see under 200AV from the air there. I plan to use it as target practice for the Superforts while the B24s work over the Philipines. In short I'm working on a recon Op for Rabaul now as Kavieng is still heavily damaged with no engineers present (yet!) and want to strike any shipping there as soon as possible. He should have some juicy targets there from the naval battle off New Ireland last month. I hope three cruisers and a CVL and CV. He also has had 3 Kongo class BBs hit in the last thirty days in the AO.
RE: Away message
Ok, Truk has some big CD guns if I remember correctly.
RE: Away message
I spent some serious time tonight looking how best to isolate as many Japanese as posible while establishing a base for the B29s and threatening the home islands. Not much happened in the war today at the fronts.
Sub attack near Guam at 105,92
Japanese Ships
xAP Konron Maru, Torpedo hits 1
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
SS Kingfish
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
A very rare daylight raid:
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 29
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44
Sub attack near Guam at 105,92
Japanese Ships
xAP Konron Maru, Torpedo hits 1
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
SS Kingfish
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
A very rare daylight raid:
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 29
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44
RE: Away message
December 19th 1943
SwPac-SoPac: Yorktown II incurs 6 floatation damage so I route her to the nearest friendy port. the next day the crew fixes 2 points so I route her due east again. We'll see. TFs leave for New Ireland. FAT-1 should reach the rear area fuel depot in 24 hours and begin loading construction engineers for New Ireland also.
CenPac: New command ships for amphibious HQs depart Pearl to pick up their respective HQs. Ghormly will remain in Pearl. He will not lead from the front. We are unloading HUGE quanities of fuel and supplies for '44 in Pearl. The fast attack carriers await Intrepid. We are still fiddling around with our plans.
Burma: RAF DBs make a nice showing in central Burma even while trained for naval attack. Supply to China is going well with the new transports. Tsutung is well over 1,ooo pts in 72hours.
China: We snuck a Chinese Mitchell squadron into China and it won't fly. The CO is horrible and there are Japs moving in the open.
SwPac-SoPac: Yorktown II incurs 6 floatation damage so I route her to the nearest friendy port. the next day the crew fixes 2 points so I route her due east again. We'll see. TFs leave for New Ireland. FAT-1 should reach the rear area fuel depot in 24 hours and begin loading construction engineers for New Ireland also.
CenPac: New command ships for amphibious HQs depart Pearl to pick up their respective HQs. Ghormly will remain in Pearl. He will not lead from the front. We are unloading HUGE quanities of fuel and supplies for '44 in Pearl. The fast attack carriers await Intrepid. We are still fiddling around with our plans.
Burma: RAF DBs make a nice showing in central Burma even while trained for naval attack. Supply to China is going well with the new transports. Tsutung is well over 1,ooo pts in 72hours.
China: We snuck a Chinese Mitchell squadron into China and it won't fly. The CO is horrible and there are Japs moving in the open.
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RE: Away message
I have some thoughts on Truk in my ol' AAR but ..
1. 3 - 4 ACM's . figure 400 mines. When I thought about it .. Alfred commented that either bombing the port and fuel to zero and/or hitting these ACM's is critical.
2. In the process Truk has real 88mm flak batteres in the fortress unit .. it is in my opinion one of the few places IJ flak works .. the IJ also have fighters ..
3. The base has to be reduced as that same fort has 8 inch naval guns that will likely rip apart any naval invasion.
Thus like history .. Truk might be better to just bypass ..
1. 3 - 4 ACM's . figure 400 mines. When I thought about it .. Alfred commented that either bombing the port and fuel to zero and/or hitting these ACM's is critical.
2. In the process Truk has real 88mm flak batteres in the fortress unit .. it is in my opinion one of the few places IJ flak works .. the IJ also have fighters ..
3. The base has to be reduced as that same fort has 8 inch naval guns that will likely rip apart any naval invasion.
Thus like history .. Truk might be better to just bypass ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
RE: Away message
Thanks Aces, advice well taken.