Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[zuluhour]

August 1, 1942
Saturday: 16:15 hours: Hawaii
Daily report: all fronts

NorPac: Zeros sweep again today and down three more P40s at Dutch Harbor. The 18th fighter squadron is combined as the last detachment from Anchorage arrives. The 11th Air HQ boards for the tiny base from mainland Alaska. The 30th AA boards in Seatle.

CenPac: The Long Island is unspotted and steams back to Pearl to pick up VMF-213 and deliver them to Tabiteuea. Supply and fuel eclipse 9oo,ooo pts each today. The Kittyhawk arrives with VP-62. This will allow us to station some CATs in the REEF Islands as soon as the support TFs arrive there.

SoPac: The second opposed amphibious landing of the war by the allies is less than 24 hours away. The 205th and 134th field artillery units load at Pago Pago for the beaches.

Indian Ocean: The IJN must have decided to retire as we hit Diego Garcia and surprise a small IJN task force in the harbor. The Royal Navy still has real concerns as its battered fleet is still at sea. Extra escorts are being sent to them from Colombo. There have been some IJN sub spots.

Burma: The 20th and 26th Indian smash into the IJA artillery unit which crossed a branch of the Chindwin and throw it back across. A major RAF effort is planned tomorrow for the Akyab sector. P38s and Hurries on cover. The B17s need several days rest. SS Trusty returning from a mining mission in the Rangoon delta happen upon the cruiser Isuzu and park two fish in her.

China: Chinese units are forced out of their positions on the central Yangtze line. This was a mistake. They could have easily been surrounded and destroyed.


Night Time Surface Combat, near Diego Garcia at 11,62, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Eiko Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PB Kure Maru #5, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Tonan Maru
xAK Africa Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PB Yamahagi Maru #3, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
PB Hakata Maru #2, Shell hits 11, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Shell hits 1
CL Caradoc

Ground combat at 77,49 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 58222 troops, 494 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1877

Defending force 16599 troops, 127 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 627

Japanese adjusted assault: 1827

Allied adjusted defense: 455

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3556 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 258 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8044 casualties reported
Squads: 216 destroyed, 198 disabled
Non Combat: 193 destroyed, 94 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 58 (18 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Units retreated 5

[zuluhour]

August 2, 1942
Sunday:

NorPac: Zeros sweep daily over Dutch Harbor. The P40s are grounded for now.

CenPac: A seaplane tender and escort reach the Reef Islands and find a quiet leeward lagoon. They await AVP Thrush. A detachment of CATS is ordered in tomorrow. There is a large volume of radio traffic in the Marshalls and merchant Maru’s at Tarawa. Wildcats will CAP Tabiteuea Monday.

SoPac: The vast majority of three infantry Rgts and one tank Bn land at Nadi. Coastal guns do no damage though we lose some men and equipment off the beach. Reco shows a shade over 3,ooo IJA defenders which could be more than 100av, but more likely 40-60av as I believe many are support troops. A deliberate assault is ordered for Monday. Our artillery support is two days out. I break out a small cruiser surface attack group and order a patrol 100-120nm NNW and the fast attack groups NW 40nm from the beachhead. It would be nice to clear Nadi by Tuesday and begin repairs on the port and airfields. No sign of the Kido Butai or any IJN assets as yet. Navy fliers claim 9 Mavis search aircraft on D-Day. Fuel is fine with the carriers and I am considering a more aggressive patrol zone for Tuesday and Wednesday when our support, command, and additional troops should arrive. Noumea operations continue unnoticed. I should have enough support to get Hudson’s flying soon. The North Carolina will rearm at Sydney (I hope she can, I have to pull the manual in a sec) and return to the Fiji’s for a support mission then head east for repairs. I FUBAR this up as no yards can handle her in SoPac.

Burma: The largest number of bomber sorties in one day are flow by the RAF due east of Akyab. There is no CAP but the results are dismal. 12 casualties. The Chinese are scoring better with 8 bombers. The Indian Ocean is still quiet. The yards at Colombo are going to be full for awile.

[zuluhour]

August 3, 1942

CenPac: Wildcats circle Tabiteuea. A detachment of CATs fly under the IJN nose in the Solomons.

SoPac: Nadi is freed by the Americal Division. A Rgt loads at Pago Pago to help with the island assault.

Burma: IJA forces withdrawing from the Akyab mountains?

China: Second day of very light IJAF activity.

[DOCUP]

Nice job with the Brit BB.

[zuluhour]

August 4, 1942

NorPac: Zeros sweep Dutch Harbor Daily. P40s ordered to watch from the ground.

CenPac: The Long Island will arrive tonight, refuel, and return with another marine squadron to Tabiteuea which was attacked by Zeros today. The fighters tried to get at the PT boats operating as security. We claim six of them for two shot up Wildcats.

SoPac: No advance from the bridgehead is ordered at Nadi. Support troops are unloading all day. The fast attack groups still circle just off shore. Noumea begins expanding as more New Zealanders are scheduled to arrive over the next couple of days.

SwPac: The Japanese attack Alice Springs and Darwin at night. Large jap formations are spotted in the north and a unit is spotted in the Victoria Desert, trying to cut supply to Alice? A New Zealand brigade with armor is dispatched to the desert.

Colombo: Repulse ekes into port with flooding moving to critical over the last 50nm. A RN BF is loaded in Aden for transfer to Ceylon. 100 more naval support squads will be a big help.

Burma: P38s sweeping Rangoon are met by 50 Zeros and a dozen Tojos. We lose none and knock down a lot of A6M2s. The forts will be ready to fly in 48 hours.

China: The Chinese make another stand up north of Chungking but are hammered by the IJAF on the Yangtze.

It felt good to put in the last lick in the Indian Ocean Joe, it was luck as the mission for Valiant was chosen in Africa before any spots were made.

[zuluhour]

August 5, 1942

NorPac: The Zeros must be getting tired with the long flight into Dutch harbor, not to mention a bit frustrated. I may post a CAP tomorrow with the feeling he may send the bombers. The 11th Army Air Corp HQ departs Anchorage tonight. I have talked the Canadians into a squadron of Kittyhawks and the west coast command into some P39s to get a good layered CAP at Dutch harbor. I estimate ten days to get it all up and running. Forts should go to five soon, triple A is solid and going to be better as the 30th AA Rgt is at sea on the way.

United States: Some indecision here during the last week. Fuel and supply convoys continue to CenPac and SoPac but little else as troops and aircraft crowd the ports. Half a dozen escorts should arrive in the next 72 hours to make it easier to pull the trigger on some large transport convoys. I may wait ten days or so for a new CVE finishing up her build. I Corp HQ sails for SoPac.

CenPac: Zeros sweeping Tabiteuea daily. The Wildcats are comforting. The Long Island picks up VMF-213 and puts to sea to reinforce them from Pearl. A spot on showing a destroyer in an overcast NNW of the newly established seaplane base in the Reef Islands sparks general quarters as a USAF base force closes on the Gilberts. Seaplanes have been redistributed to take advantage of our new front line trace. Note to self: build an airfield with a base force at baker and Palmyra early.

SoPac: Nadi builds as three task forces unload. A squadron of P40s stages in to the liberated aerodrome. Due to the sighting of the destroyer heading east from the southern Solomons, the fast attack groups are ordered NNE. Oilers from Pago Pago are sent NNW to be available in the Ellice Islands should the need arise. The 161st Rgt prepares to board at Pago Pago for Nadi. Three of the most valuable Aps are scheduled to withdraw soon and are broken off at the Nadi beachhead and diverted to Sydney under escort. I just spent around 2500 PPs and can’t afford a misstep. No attack on Suva or move towards the port until two more Rgts arrive and one more armor unit. Some bombers stage out of Pago Pago into Australia to make room for more coming from CenPac and Hiva Oa. B26s, B25s, and LB40s will take over pounding Suva from the Fortresses. The P38 squadron, so effective thus far at Eua will transfer to the mainland and switch to the “F” model.

SwPac: The IJA are going to take Darwin. I can’t stop it. I can bleed him though and I will. I have no plans at present to retake northern Australia nor the western coast. I am getting strong but not enough to mount anything more than a local counter attack. There is contact in the Victoria Desert today and I order our armor into a deliberate attack against an unknown strength unit. B26s will try and soften them up. Artillery landed at Melbourne railheads for the front lines.

Burma: Pilots for the B17s arrived from the States are in good order but lack any visible target worth losses to them. The P38s still need rest and maintenance, so we will hold off for now. The RAF will attack Mandalay to keep the Japs guessing.

China: There have been some changes in the front lines. It is still precarious, but it is curious as well and will post tomorrow. The Chinese and USAF combine to take down some more meatballs today. China has a double ace.

[Quixote]

China has a double ace.

Now there's something you don't hear every day. Or any day, really....
Nice job by you!

[zuluhour]

The Chinese hang by a thread, but the fight goes on. It's summer and the US Army Air Corp has been flying the hump. The operational losses are huge but some supply does make it through. I horded quite a bit in Chungking from the outset and gathered some 28,ooo pts. Its kept 70 odd aircraft flying and given the ground troops a couple of small victories. I am not going to post on the last turn as little has transpired. The IJN "recon" in the Victoria desert was humiliated by a small Aussie recon unit and forced to retreat. The IJAF is long range night attacking the fields at Alice Springs and suffering Ops losses for little gain. The Large IJA force makes another 46m towards the road to Darwin but takes another 400 casualties for their effort. The raid on Mandalay comes off clean, few losses, little damage. Their is an unusual development in China as a large 1300av+ stack of IJA troops retreats back across the Yangtze on the right flank (your military right). The spot on IJN ships NNW of the Reef Islands passes the seaplane base heading ESE and shows 6 ships, two DDs now, was 1 DD and 4 ships yesterday.

[zuluhour]

August 8, 1942

NorPac: 11th USAF HQ reaches Dutch Harbor. The Houston will provide local naval protection while P40s of the Army Air Corp provides air cover.

CenPac: The fast attack groups reach the Gilberts from the Ellice Islands and locate the IJN to their north west and south east. The cruiser force is attacked just north of the Ellice Islands but claim no sinkings. The IJN battleships spotted to the northwest are the target for tomorrow. A valuable army air corp unit is unloading over the beach at Tabiteuea. Wildcats flew today and accounted themselves well. Their diminished numbers will have to hold through tomorrow. The Long Island is still two days out from a launch of an additional squadron. I will keep the fast attack group aircraft aboard in case the KB shows up tonight.

SoPac: The beachhead is crowded with allied shipping in the Fiji’s.

SwPac: Bombing is ordered to resume on the IJA in the Victoria Desert and the northern plain on the 9th.

Burma: B17s ordered to bomb Rangoon air fields on the 9th following sweeps by P38s.

China: The far right of the Yangtze line is attacked. The Chinese hold.

[zuluhour]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Vaitupu at 137,145

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 64
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Isokaze

Morning Air attack on TF, near Vaitupu at 137,145

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vaitupu at 137,145

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 50
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44568 troops, 616 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 2912

Defending force 53693 troops, 357 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1758

Japanese adjusted assault: 388

Allied adjusted defense: 3853

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9

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

Japanese ground losses:
5400 casualties reported
Squads: 174 destroyed, 166 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 44 (6 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
554 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)

[zuluhour]

August 9-10, 1942

NorPac: The 11th USAF HQ arrives Dutch Harbor. There are now plenty of ground personnel for aircraft. No Zeros are sighted for the past two days. Additional AA is 48 hours away. Two older destroyers are dispatched from Pearl to augment the USS Houston on station. RCAF Kittyhawks are at sea to boost fighter cover.

CenPac: At Tabiteuea the fast attack groups are ordered to swing to the west at night and come about to the north during the day. Several BBs are still spotted to the northwest along with more than half a dozen BBs sighted 160nm ENE from Rekata Bay. Supplies and men are dropped on the beachhead on the 9th allowing the marines some needed Wildcat replacements. The Long Island closes on her launch point to the east. The additional marine squadron is anxiously awaited. The sub cordon is collapsed on the island, with the entire force within 80nm of the island. On the eve of the 9th, the fast attack groups are ordered to take station SSE of Tabiteuea to exact revenge on any bombardment attempt and put a little more distance between the carriers and Tarawa, recently reinforced. Morning on the 10th is ominous as PBYs and SBDs sight Japanese carriers of Kido Butai just 80nm NNW of the beaches. The fast attack groups on react 1 close to within 200nm at general quarters. Transports weigh anchor in the darkness and set a course at flank to the SSW. They will escape the carnage today. The IJN strikes first.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 138,138

This raid is against Fast Attack groups 2 and 3
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 112
B5N2 Kate x 118
D3A1 Val x 106

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 39
F4F-4 Wildcat x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 15 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 4, on fire
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ralph Talbot
CLAA San Juan
DD Gridley
DD Maury
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 1
CA Astoria
DD McCall
CA New Orleans

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp
Ammo storage explosion on CV Lexington

The USN responds shortly after:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tabiteuea at 136,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 98
E13A1 Jake x 1
F1M2 Pete x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 49
F4F-4 Wildcat x 101
SBD-3 Dauntless x 181
TBF-1 Avenger x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 destroyed, 31 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Shokaku
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Mikuma
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Kumano
DD Hagikaze
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2
DD Naganami

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
Ammo storage explosion on CV Soryu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Soryu
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Zuiho
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Zuiho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Zuiho
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo

Two more USN attacks by separated squadrons will be unable to penetrate the thick swarm of Zeros and lose 50% of their number. Neither side can mount an afternoon attack.

[zuluhour]

evening of the 10th off Tabiteuea.

[SuluSea]

Hi Zulu , looking at your screens posted I'd think I'd take that as an Allied player.

What's the damage state of your carriers?

I usually like to wait until I get some September upgrades before tackling the KB but it looks like you may have faired well all things considered.


Question do you max out your CV groups so the carriers fit 115%?


Best of luck!! [:)]

[zuluhour]

The overall situation, while I sort out this mess.

China: The IJAF comes back to Chungking today and are met with everything left flying in China. The four counter attacks all go off with one huge defeat on the Yangtze and three revealing ones. In the mountains be Ankang, I should be able to close the door. In the north I may be able to retake the northern outposts. I give it 50-50 with nothing to lose.

Burma: P38s fly over Rangoon a day late and trade blows. The Tojo is by far more durable than the A6M2s. The RAF hits IJA forces retreating from Akyab. I think he is scared I'll land on Ramree. It's still empty and I recon it often. Nice way to force the Japs back.

SoPac: The Nadi beachhead continues to swell. He would have to bring everything in the Solomons to make me leave.

Australia: The IJA has cut the north south road to Darwin.

[zuluhour]

I'll get back to you SuluSea. I've got my calculator going full tilt. [:D]

[obvert]

Wow. Big and early. You're a bold man. [:D]

Looks decent though. You lose three big boys? He loses 2 CV and 3 CVL?

I think Akagi and Soryu are gone this far out.

His fast BBs might come right at you tomorrow though. What is the status and the plan?

[KenchiSulla]

How is the Lexington doing, looks like at least a couple of those torpedoes were duds?

[Quixote]

Wow. Big and early. You're a bold man. [:D]

Obvert has it right. You do not lack for cojones, senor.

(I think Obvert also has the analysis right. I would call this a win for the Allies at this stage of the game, too.)

[zuluhour]

SitRep: Fast Attack group 1: Enterprise and Yorktown are unscathed. Fast Attack Group 2: Lexington and Saratoga:
Lexington: 38s-48f-7e-2f
Saratoga: 40s-79f-45e-1f
Fast Attack Group 3: Wasp (gone)
Hornet: 37s-30f-42e-0f
There are over 330 aircraft on Tabiteuea. The airfield will go to 2 tonight but only has enough support for 32 odd planes.

Observations: He could not mount an afternoon air attack yesterday. He has a large surface force to my west. Will he stay put or attempt to follow with the Kido Butai? Will he risk surface forces in pursuit of my carriers passing by Tabiteuea? Do I try and cover Wasp and Hornet with the Fast Attack Group-1? Do I try a destroyer screen to cover an egress? Those are valuable Aps between the carriers and his BBs, do I have them follow the carriers, ie. Cheap screen move? Or move them at flank out of the area? Current thinking has me ordering a large portion of aircraft to Baker (no support, Lv-1 field) leaving some SBDs and Wildcats, 3-5 squadrons set for naval attack on Tabiteuea. Ordering Big E and Yorktown east at flank while asking Hornet and Lex to make mission speed to the SE covered by a small destroyer and light cruiser screen. Anyone want to hazard another option?

[zuluhour]

SuluSea, I don't recall my exact dispositions on the carriers at the time of the affair, they have been at sea for well over a month. They did put to sea with "spares" aboard, maybe 5-6 aircraft each carrier. With the exception of Wasp and Hornet, I think they were used up by the time of the battle. In regards to the IJN damage, I sure hope I at least bagged one fleet carrier and a CVL or two. Hoping against hope a sub can put a fish into one of them leaving the AO tonight.