[font="Times New Roman"]27 - 29 September 1943[/font]
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SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Jocke sent more small landing vessels to Terapo on the 27th and our strikes take out a few during these two days.
First Jills did a good job of going in low under the CAP and took out one loaded LST, (actually only one made an attack run, but it was on the mark!). Next a few Jakes went in low and also get a small bomb hit on an LST. Later 3 more escorted Jills went in and again only one gets an attack run but does hit an LST. Good shootin!
He also sends 4 minesweeping DMS into Port Moresby, indicating he'd like to send more here by sea. That's a good thing, as there are still a good number of mines present and this is a much easier area to strike in proximity to the big air bases in the area. A new HQa is unloading in Rabaul and will be stationed there so I can host more fighters and keep that base open, or at least make it very costly to close.
On the 28th more planes are sent and get attacks on the ships at Terapo after subs finish a few off during the night. The sweeps also include my first use of the Tojo IIc! Glad it's in the arsenal now. It does well in combo with some Tojo IIa sweeping the layered CAP, mostly hitting the low Spits and P-39N1s. Several more LSTs are finished off, but it looks like they're just unloading engineer vehicles and the lack of a port might be slowing things down. More of the same if they stay through tomorrow.
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SUBS: [/font] The I-2 has a field day on the 28th after I sent it to Terapo. It hits several LSTs and even shells one from the surface, landing a few 14cm hits. I've sent in four more subs to the area and a few on the retreat path in case he cuts losses and gets out. He does get a million LSTs, but now he'll have a million minus a few. [:D]
Also lost another Aden class xAK, the Liverpool Maru near Ulithi, thanks to the Grouper.
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NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] No movements. Two days from the goal of getting to winter 43. [8D]
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WEST OZ: [/font] Finally we know what we're facing at Exmouth. It looks like the Allies did not bring enough. After arriving in the hex they bombarded immediately and got poor results. The Americal division looks a bit down-trodden after naval bombardments. I've got another moving in hopefully tomorrow.[:)]
So he has 4 divisions, 4 tank units of 60AV each, 4 Arty units and 1 HQ. Even if healthy these will not be over 2k AV, but they'll be attacking level 5 forts and about 1250 AV before adjustments. Not much terrain bonus though.
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BURMA: [/font] Still no movement. Not that I want him to go, but what is he waiting for?
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CENTRAL PACIFIC:[/font] Baker Island is now nearly to 150 AV as another Naval Guard is setting up there. More troops arrive in the next month that will fill out other bases that are light on units now. Everything that is an atoll will have at least 150 AV I hope, some of the bigger ones will be at 300 AV.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 27, 43
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TF 282 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)
Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Lamberton
DMS Boggs
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
19 mines cleared
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TF 79 encounters mine field at Terapo (96,127)
Allied Ships
AM Lark
AM Gladstone
6 mines cleared
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Sub attack near Port Moresby at 97,131
Japanese Ships
SS RO-63
Allied Ships
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Lamberton
SS RO-63 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Trevor
DMS Wasmuth fails to find sub and abandons search
DMS Lamberton fails to find sub, continues to search...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 6
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LST-465, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Gladstone
Allied ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VRF-2F with F4U-1 Corsair (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters to 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LST-464, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
B6N2 Jill x 3
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LST-466, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 28, 43
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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-2
Allied Ships
LST-459, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST-459 is sighted by SS I-2
SS I-2 launches 2 torpedoes at LST-459
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Sub attack near Ulithi at 102,96
Japanese Ships
xAK Liverpool Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Teiryu Maru
xAK Konan Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
PB Shonon Maru #11
Allied Ships
SS Grouper
SS Grouper launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Liverpool Maru
Grouper diving deep ....
PB Shonon Maru #11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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TF 282 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)
Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Lamberton
DMS Boggs
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
45 mines cleared
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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-2
Allied Ships
LST-24, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-24 is sighted by SS I-2
SS I-2 attacking LST-24 on the surface
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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-2
Allied Ships
LST-464, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST-464 is sighted by SS I-2
SS I-2 launches 2 torpedoes at LST-464
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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-2
Allied Ships
LST-466, heavy damage
LST-466 is sighted by SS I-2
Captain of SS I-2 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
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Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 42
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 22
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-39N1 Airacobra x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VRF-2F with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39N1 Airacobra (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (3 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters to 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 27
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-39N1 Airacobra x 7
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 3 destroyed
P-39N1 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VRF-2F with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (3 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39N1 Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (3 airborne, 4 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 33000 , scrambling fighters between 26760 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 9
N1K1-J George x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 4
P-39N1 Airacobra x 7
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LST-462, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-463, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VRF-2F with F4U-1 Corsair (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39N1 Airacobra (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters to 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-2
Allied Ships
LST-466, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
LST-466 is sighted by SS I-2
SS I-2 launches 2 torpedoes
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Ground combat at Exmouth (50,129)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 48668 troops, 698 guns, 1024 vehicles, Assault Value = 1883
Defending force 37641 troops, 426 guns, 415 vehicles, Assault Value = 1270
Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
7th Australian Division
2/7th Armoured Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
2/8th Armoured Regiment
3rd Australian Division
5th Australian Division
4th Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Engineer Aviation Battalion
4th RAN Base Force
III Australian
7th RAAF Base Force
113th Australian Lt AA Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment
Defending units:
4th Tank Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
9th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
56th Division
16th Naval Guard Unit
6th RF Gun Battalion
6th Field AF Construction Battalion
47th Field AA Battalion
7th RF Gun Battalion
23rd AA Regiment
3rd RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th JAAF AF Bn
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
44th Field AA Battalion
17th Army
6th JNAF Coy
97th JAAF AF Bn
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Reinforcements: For merchant ships I'm getting to the point where only TKs will be turned on now. After the ones building now I will only turn on xAKs if they are needed.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]TK Eiho Maru arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo
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Losses: I've been only lightly escorting Aden convoys with supply, realizing that with their slow speed and low value I'd rather have the US subs go after these than any of the more valuable shipping in the area.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Liverpool Maru[/font]
Ships Sunk: This time there is a cost to landing troops, even if it's a small one. Also, it's one of the few times during the game that I've hit troops on Allied ships.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]LST-465 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 27, 1943
LST-24 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 28, 1943
LST-462 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 28, 1943
LST-463 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 28, 1943
LST-464 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 28, 1943
LST-466 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Sep 28, 1943[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Liverpool Maru. This ship is listed on wrecksite.com as part of the Taifuku Maru No.1 class built in 1919 in Kobe. [/font]
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill