2nd-3rd May -44
New Guinea
The expected bombardment revealed itself as just that:
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
DD Kishinami
DD Maikaze
DD Michishio
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
Very strange TF composition. Looks like he is indeed short on DDs. Pretty annoying that despite having 15+ subs covering the approaches and the apparent lack of ASW in the TF no subs make contact. My 2 DD TFs connect and the ensuing battle costs me 2 Fletchers from direct BB hits. One Jap DD is heavily damaged and is probably sunk. The losses arn´t in vain though as the BBs are almost out of ammo when the bombard Biak. 63 allied troops are lost in the bombardment. Disruption is raised slightly (5-10) across the board. An attack is ordered on the 4th. This will be an important attack. If I can secure Biak easily he has nothing between me and the Philippines! [X(]
This TF raises some problems though. I "only" have 3 modern BBs and 4 modern CAs in the area. The South Dakota and Richelieu will arrive shortly to add some punch. But should I risk 5 fast BBs against the Yamatos? I need my fast BBs here and don´t want to risk having to send them to the yard. The Iowas won´t be back until early 45. Hmmm...
Burma
I´m feinting movement all across the board. I see some indication Erik is trying to cut my troops off by moving out from Prome. Be my guest. I have 800 transports ready to airlift supply. Erik is striking at Akyab going to great length trying to nail a few xAKs unloading supply. Fine by me! [:D]
I did a night bombing of Rangoon nailing a good number of planes (100-120) on the overcrowded AF. I´ll do it one more time before closing it for good by sweeps and daylight raids. In return Erik does a daylight attack on Akyab AF nailing 20 2Es on the ground despite a 200 plane CAP. P40s did better this time around getting just slightly worse off against his Franks. I sent 50 Corsairs to Akyab to stabilize the situation.
Darwin
Calling it a strategic victory might be a bit too grand. But I now have 35k supply at Darwin and AF is 8.27. This is the beginning of the end for the nearby bases in the DEI. Once it hits level 9 I will move 300 2Es here to blast everything in range. I have 2000 AV prepped for various bases. Erik has no significant forces in the area.
KB
Location is still unknown. Probably somewhere around the Celebs.
Wake
Finally fell! As Bullwinkle guessed I could probably have captured it a day earlier. But better safe then sorry? [:D]
Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3739 troops, 48 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 165
Defending force 1546 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34
Allied adjusted assault: 63
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 63 to 1 (fort level 6)
Allied forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
835 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 130 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
192nd Tank Battalion
159th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
40th JNAF AF Unit
The fleet retires for PH for replenishment and repair. We will return shortly for Eniwetok. With 2 divisions 100 prepp already we will not need 2-3 week of pre bombardment before moving in. Everything is still on schedule for and late July or August landing in the Marianas. More on that in a separate post.
Air War
Erik unwillingness to lose planes is a blessing. My fighter pools are recovering nicely and my latest bunch of 50 EXP pilots are approaching 60 EXP. As it is right now I think my pools can sustain 2-3 days of heavy fighting. I only have to rely on crap airframes (P40s) in Burma while most other squadrons field the very latest air frames. 5/44 also gives the RAF a good offensive fighter with 40 Thuds per month! [&o] The RZNAF can now also enter the war in earnest with 25 Corsairs per months. USAAF fighter pools continue to be a massive worry. I hope the added USMC squadrons in Burma can ease some of the pressure.
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