Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[JocMeister]

Nice work! [:)]

Kongo will certainly be in the yard for some time! Corsairs will be nice too! I found them to do better on the offensive then on the defensive. However you use them they are a blessing. Superior to anything else on map at this time, Jap or Allied! [:)]

[witpqs]

Thanks!

The Corsairs I plan to use on the offensive when I get into the Solomons. I have no immediate plans for the Marshalls, so the unit en route to Abemama/Tarawa might be more for show. I suppose that might have a small chance of providing some degree of misdirection about the next primary axis of advance in the Pacific. But until the drop tanks are produced for that model I don't think they can reach the nearest >1 Imperial airfield.

For sure I plan to grab Nauru and Ocean Island before any thought about the Marshalls.

We have more subs along her path, so Kongo might yet sleep with the fishes!

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

We have more subs along her path, so Kongo might yet sleep with the fishes!

IRL Kongo was sunk by a mere two torp hits. Your in-game Kongo also had a mine hit. Unless it finds safe harbour soon it is in dire straits. Still, your sub skippers need the practice![:D]

[princep01]

BBFanboy called it right...Tarawa was a push over.  Of course a lot of that was your careful planning and execution of the invasion.  Well  done.
 
Also, I agree that BC Kongo may not make it home.  If both torps from S-41 did actual hit the vessel, that along with the mine hit, 2 1000# bombs and 4 shell hits (against the Dutch) may do her in.  She is not the stoutest of capital ships.

[witpqs]

1943 February 16

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Marching and Imperial air attacks in China. In the Gilberts we lost a DD but claim a sub in return. Tarawa base is completely operational and expansion of the airfield is underway. We get long range recon of Shortlands and find 2 ships in port - let's say Kongo and her escort - and a TF of 2 x SC and 2 x AS. Let's call those the other Kongo class battleships.

Here is a look at Burma. The main actors in Operation Wedge are working their way through the jungle. Soon several regiments will begin moving into northern Burma, either a little behind or on pace with the main advance.

[witpqs]

1943 February 17

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Two attacks in China.

Ground combat at 77,49 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6722 troops, 38 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 207

Defending force 28548 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

Japanese adjusted assault: 39

Allied adjusted defense: 339

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 8

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
51st Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
20th Group Army
29th Group Army
30th Group Army
23rd Group Army
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34772 troops, 268 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 964

Defending force 34708 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 504

Japanese adjusted assault: 592

Allied adjusted defense: 763

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1818 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1246 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
110th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army

A Glen was shot down over Bombay. We lost an AM on ASW duty near Ndeni. At Tarawa an IJN sub was hit by an SBD. A portion of the Australian 2/7 Commando Bn (parachute capable) leaves under cover of darkness tonight from Normanton aboard Narwhal and Nautilus to seize Gove. Argonaut will follow with another contingent but a second run by all three subs will be needed. C-47 transports are standing by to drop supplies. Now a third Imperial unit has appeared in the jungle across the river from the two demonstrating regiments in Burma. In two days they will cease moving and head south past Kalemyo along the same side of the river. In their place two battalions will take up their positions and continue the demonstration so that the unit count is the same.

Tabiteuea suddenly scouts as empty, so it is possible that the Imperial forces have been air lifted and or sea lifted out. Tomorrow is D-1. If recon shows an empty island the bombardment will be canceled.

Lexington, Yorktown, and Hornet are heading to Pearl Harbor along with a number of cruisers and destroyers to undergo refit. Some additional destroyers will accompany them simply due to maintenance needs. The rest of the fleet will remain in the Gilberts until the movement of ground forces in completed to provide cover from raids. With two fleet carriers and nine escort carriers, they will not accept a major carrier engagement.

There is a TF of 6 ships including a CM heading east from the Solomons.

[JocMeister]

You are certainly gaining momentum! I wish I was doing half as good as you are! [:)]

How are the naval losses for both sides at this point?

[GreyJoy]

Very strange attacks in China. why is he keeping on attacking against those horrible odds?
 
Have you reconned the jungle hexes in Burma south of Kalemyo? Are they really empty?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

You are certainly gaining momentum! I wish I was doing half as good as you are! [:)]

How are the naval losses for both sides at this point?

This one from post #817 should still be really close. I can pull ships by type or something from Tracker.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Very strange attacks in China. why is he keeping on attacking against those horrible odds?

Have you reconned the jungle hexes in Burma south of Kalemyo? Are they really empty?

Well, there are two things. First I think that many of the really strange attacks are being made by only armored units in the hex. The infantry mostly just protect the armor until things break.

In other cases where the infantry is involved I think he is trying to break through and is willing to accept some level of losses to do so. Sometimes my guys do OK but on the whole that's working pretty well for him. Of late there are signs of the Allies holding the line, but then he brings in more troops at the points he is trying to force and the equation changes.

I'm not certain that those hexes directly SW of Kalemyo (where the two regiments will soon begin advancing) are empty, but they are secondary anyway. It's the next diagonal hex row, to the left of Kalemyo, that is important. And those hexes are all adjacent to Allied units for some time now so I know they are empty. Once my units in that hex row are spotted it will be the job of the air forces to slow down Imperial troops enough that our boys can win the race. Also, if the troops in-hex with the Australian division and the ones across from Akyab do begin moving, they lose their fortification bonus. They are the targets.

[JocMeister]

Wow. You are already close to even in ship losses! Don´t know if you have posted any screens of the capital ship losses. If not I would certainly be interested in seeing one! [:)]

[witpqs]

I'll work on one.

---

1943 February 18

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Imperial advances near Chungking.

Ground combat at 72,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1524 troops, 0 guns, 277 vehicles, Assault Value = 587

Defending force 27554 troops, 177 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 838

Japanese adjusted assault: 54

Allied adjusted defense: 1163

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 21

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
55th Infantry Brigade
104th/B Division

Defending units:
14th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/A Corps
4th Construction Regiment
1st Construction Regiment
6th Construction Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 79,45 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23262 troops, 176 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 712

Defending force 14293 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 333

Japanese adjusted assault: 519

Allied adjusted defense: 87

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
678 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4463 casualties reported
Squads: 155 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 133 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
41st Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th/A Division

Defending units:
22nd Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Division
12th Group Army
10th Group Army
39th Group Army

A tale of two subs. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Submarine attack near Milne Bay at 101,133

Japanese Ships
xAKL Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 40, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sealion, hits 1

xAKL Heiwa Maru is sighted by SS Sealion
SS Sealion attacking on the surface


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bombay at 35,23

Japanese Ships
SS I-9, hits 26, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Napier
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Norman
DD Nizam

SS I-9 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Napier
I-9 bottoming out ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Norman attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Norman fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Norman fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-9 forced to surface!
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Norman firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Norman firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Norman firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Norman firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nizam firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

Tabiteuea still looks empty, so no bombardment. The troops go ashore tomorrow. The fleet will cover, as there will be no transports/merchants near Tarawa or Abemama. But in three days the Corsairs will be unloaded at Abemama (which just built port size 1) and a merchant convoy with supplies will arrive the same day. And the day before (in two days) a USMC Def Bn will arrive at Tarawa.

Here is a look at the desperate situation in China. The mouse-over you see is of the hex with the armor-only assault of today. 13 hexes from Ledo. No anti-aircraft guns noted. All 4EB squadrons (3 x B-17E, 2 x B-17F, 1 x B24D, 2 x Liberator II) and all B-25 and Wellington squadrons (4 x B-25C and 3 x Wellington Ic) have transferred to Ledo. Rain is predicted tomorrow and they will rest. The day after, regardless of weather, they will make a 5,000ft attack on those tank formations. Most likely only the one day as the risk to the bombers based at Ledo is too great to stay.

[witpqs]

1943 February 19

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Tabiteuea
Gove

Quiet on the ground in China. Tomorrows forecast is "Overcast" but the strike is ordered.

We lost an AM on ASW near Tarawa. Calling off the bombardment at Tabiteuea was an error as the recon reports were wrong!

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 873 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Defending force 1745 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 98

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
18th Naval Guard Unit

The bottom line appears to be that our troops were better and at least aided to some degree by naval gunfire. They are in good shape but disrupted and will wait a couple of days before beginning to advance on the base.

Tarawa has been mined with 200 x Mk 6 mines. One USMC Def Bn should begin landing tomorrow, and so most of the Battle Fleet is moving to cover.

The defenders appear to outnumber our troops on Tabiteuea, but they don't stand a chance.




Edit to Add: Our Commandos probably land at Gove this day but I can not find mention of it in any reports. Gove was occupied the following day.

[witpqs]

1943 February 20

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Gove

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Tabiteuea

More progress for the Empire in China. Chihkiang is doomed, and the troops nearby will be lucky to get out semi-intact. With Chihkiang and the positions around it, Tuyun and Kweiyang are more likely to fall.

Ground combat at 78,49 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 374

Defending force 47144 troops, 141 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1251

Japanese adjusted assault: 16

Allied adjusted defense: 3133

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 195

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd/B Division
12th Tank Regiment
51st Engineer Regiment
15th/A Division

Defending units:
73rd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
6th War Area
19th Group Army
9th War Area
32nd Group Army


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 77,49 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26432 troops, 151 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 802

Defending force 27570 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 484

Japanese adjusted assault: 674

Allied adjusted defense: 101

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
696 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8964 casualties reported
Squads: 163 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 476 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 34 (30 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 11

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
61st Infantry Brigade
51st Infantry Brigade
57th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
7th Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
30th Group Army
29th Group Army
20th Group Army
23rd Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment

The air attacks went well, but in spite of many other types of casualties noted, there were no vehicle casualties.

Morning Air attack on 104th/B Division, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 3
Wellington Ic x 15
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Liberator II bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 5th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 9th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 104th/B Division ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 104th/B Division ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Tank Regiment, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 3
Wellington Ic x 4
B-17E Fortress x 14

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator II bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Wellington Ic bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 23rd Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 104th/B Division ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 104th/B Division ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 9th Tank Regiment, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 9
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator II bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 9th Tank Regiment ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 36

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 3rd Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 104th/B Division ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Tank Regiment, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 72,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Tarpon was hit twice south of Rabaul, but the Allies did better off of Bombay.

ASW attack near Bombay at 34,24

Japanese Ships
SS I-157, hits 26, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DE Encounter
DE Express

SS I-157 is located by DE Encounter
I-157 bottoming out ....
DE Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Express attacking submerged sub ....
DE Express attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-157 eludes DE Express by hugging bottom
SS I-157 eludes DE Express by hugging bottom
DE Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bombay at 34,24

Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 2

Allied Ships
DE Express

SS I-158 is sighted by escort
DE Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Express attacking submerged sub ....
DE Express loses contact with SS I-158
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Express attacking submerged sub ....
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express attacking submerged sub ....
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
DE Express is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

The USMC Raider Bn on Tabiteuea has 19 disruption, higher than I would like, but an attack is ordered for tomorrow anyway. The Combat Eng Bn has only 5 disruption, 3 x CA + 2 x DD will bombard, and 18 x dive bombers from Tarawa will strike. Those factors, plus the revealed inexperience of the Japanese defenders (see (-) from landing day combat) should make the difference.

It looks like CL St Louis and DD Tucker collided while escorting Lexington. The two will separate from the carrier TF and have to make their own way back to Pearl Harbor.

Here is Central China after the latest set back.

[witpqs]

1943 February 21

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Tabiteuea

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Tabiteuea

Massive air attacks prior to this overwhelming assault illustrated the old saw that a lion uses all his might to catch a rabbit.

Ground combat at 79,44 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18377 troops, 136 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 523

Defending force 6324 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89

Japanese adjusted assault: 524

Allied adjusted defense: 6

Japanese assault odds: 87 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2822 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 64 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division

Defending units:
60th Chinese Corps

Tabiteuea is ours. The naval bombardment was a smashing success even though I had the float planes on day recon and the bombardment happened at night, aborting their use.

Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA New Orleans
CA Salt Lake City
DD Hobby
DD Woodworth

Japanese ground losses:
501 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 5

CA Vincennes firing at 18th Naval Guard Unit
CA New Orleans firing at 18th Naval Guard Unit
CA Salt Lake City firing at 18th Naval Guard Unit
DD Hobby firing at Tabiteuea
DD Woodworth firing at Tabiteuea


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 7

Allied Ships
DD Hobby

SS I-21 is sighted by escort
I-21 bottoming out ....
DD Hobby fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hobby fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hobby attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hobby fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hobby fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 137,134 (Tabiteuea)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
1 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1389 troops, 4 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Defending force 1179 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Allied adjusted assault: 25

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tabiteuea !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
18th Naval Guard Unit

Even the submarine attack failed. There are still believed more than 2,300 Imperial soldiers on the island.

Our brand new mine field just below Rabaul has been found and cleared. However the mine field at Rabaul has yet to be detected.

In spite of this air attack at Abemama being intercepted they still managed to make an attack run on a supply laden Merchant.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Abemama at 136,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK Admiral Cole

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 13000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

The Corsairs were winched off the AKV in flying condition and transferred immediately to Tarawa.

Lots of little activity going on throughout the Pacific as units, supplies, fuel, support ships and more move around. Just about all the AP are heading to ship yard equipped ports for their conversions to APA. With that, any major invasions will have to wait until they are back at the front, probably early April. The AK are still available as the ones that convert do so in June. Along with the increasing number of LST arriving in theater, perhaps we can pull off something sooner. Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

OK, as part of stretching my brain to get back into Intel Monkey programming I put together a routine to clean up the Sunk Ships list from Tracker. Presently it is somewhat basic, in that what it does is take the .CSV file that tracker creates (in Tracker you Export a CSV file of the SunkShips list) and makes a .txt file with the columns nicely aligned.

Here is the current sunk ships list from Tracker, so formatted.

Edit to Add: As before, the esiest way to view it is click on the link to the attachment, then click on the file name in the pop up window. The file will come up inside the window which is of course too small. Click on the little square near the upper right corner to maximize the window and the file will look pretty.

[BBfanboy]

That list makes it very clear how well you have done! You wiped out mini KB without losing any of your carriers. You have sunk 8 of 18 CAs, about twice as good as IRL. You have taken a heavy toll of his precious DDs. The only major category you are lagging in is BBs sunk - historic for Feb./43 was 2, you have sunk one. We'll put it down to the bombs-that-don't-penetrate nerf. [:)]
OTOH, you have lost a lot of APDs. Do you get many more in this scenario?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

That list makes it very clear how well you have done! You wiped out mini KB without losing any of your carriers. You have sunk 8 of 18 CAs, about twice as good as IRL. You have taken a heavy toll of his precious DDs. The only major category you are lagging in is BBs sunk - historic for Feb./43 was 2, you have sunk one. We'll put it down to the bombs-that-don't-penetrate nerf. [:)]
OTOH, you have lost a lot of APDs. Do you get many more in this scenario?

Hmm? I thought I only lost 5 x APD. I have a bunch in play now, although I think it's sometime in '44 before any more come in. Because of all the 4-stacker conversions I have enough APD. Without counting I figure about half of them are upgraded. I'll do the rest when I can (the surface search radar sounds important!) but I don't want to let up on moving things to the front and that's where they are helping so far. I should be able to get the rest upgraded during March.

Edit: Yeah, about + 8 or 9 to that 5. Tracker doesn't fully sort the list, which threw me off.

[princep01]

Admiral, don't forget that you can convert certain older DD types to APD.  That is a worthwhile investment.  You are starting to get a lot of new DDs as reinforcements so you'll not feel the loss of those old tincans.  I'd convert just aboit all the old Clemson Class DDs to APD.  The APD is a very useful vessel.

[witpqs]

I converted every one of them as soon as I could. [:)]