Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[Alfred]

What you need is to reemploy the complementary talents of the TWITS to plan the nitty gritty of your future operations. That would leave you, as CinC, more time to contemplate the big picture down at the O Club. Great leaders delegate.

With the TWITS in charge, the enemy will never crack your Top Secret codes and discover what your future plans are. After all, in your last game the TWITS did manage to force the enemy to resign even though they were well ahead of you.

Alfred

[zuluhour]

August 20, 1942

China: The right flank of the Yangtze comes under some of the heaviest aerial bombardment of the war. Casualties are not as high as expected. 337 sorties, 178 casualties. The IJA is pushing hard.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 48343 troops, 446 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Defending force 31333 troops, 205 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 633

Japanese adjusted assault: 677

Allied adjusted defense: 773



Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3340 casualties reported
Squads: 122 destroyed, 159 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Vehicles lost 164 (84 destroyed, 80 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2160 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 172 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

CenPac: Ominous sighting of many IJN capital ships approaching Tabiteuea.

SwPac: Terapo hit again by cruisers.

SoPac: The Americal is ordered in again at Suva tomorrow. Time to finish this.

[zuluhour]

Nuff said...

[zuluhour]

August 21, 1942

Suva falls and the flag changes but the VPs do not and the IJA is still in residence.

[zuluhour]

August 22, 1942

yikes..

Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 61 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 10 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 9 damaged
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Maya
CL Yura
CL Nagara
CL Naka
CL Sendai

Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (9 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 21

[zuluhour]

August 25, 1942

NorPac: Recon photos of Adak show building we cannot at present interrupt. The RCAF squadron is comforting and some very highly cross trained Marauder squadrons await expanded facilities at Dutch Harbor. Another Seabee unit is in rout.

United States: Tired amphibious gaggles begin to enter ports for repair and refit as well as cruisers and destroyers. Within a week task forces will again head west with full cargos of men and material. Sub chasers arriving for coastal escort relieving much needed ocean going destroyers.

CenPac: Tabiteuea is low on supplies after several visits by Yamato and company. The Kido Butai cruises just off shore. Mine layers depart Pearl for the unenviable mission of mining the island. Many submarines recalled last week enter port for repair and refit. Ground crews reach Baker yesterday and a Seabee unit should land tonight to get an airstrip up. Marines on Tabiteuea shoot down an entire Betty raid today. Eighteen raiders.

SoPac: Resistance ends at Suva. The Fiji’s are freed.

SwPac: A different IJA recon unit is spotted on the coast road in the Victoria Desert. USAF heavies continue to hit IJA positions south of Darwin. Two full groups will be available in days.

Burma: I still have no idea why the IJA units withdrew from the Akyab. P38s ordered over Rangoon tomorrow.

China: The right flank on the Yangtze holds another day despite heavy bombing. Today, in China, we down two dozen bombers for a cost of two of our own Chinese fighters.


Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 94398 troops, 1124 guns, 1022 vehicles, Assault Value = 2720

Defending force 124223 troops, 893 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3811

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 767

Allied adjusted defense: 5657

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
9783 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 490 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 123 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 149 disabled
Guns lost 108 (7 destroyed, 101 disabled)
Vehicles lost 131 (5 destroyed, 126 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2433 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 204 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13103 troops, 253 guns, 529 vehicles, Assault Value = 603

Defending force 2811 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied adjusted assault: 312

Japanese adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 62 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
936 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 152 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

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

[zuluhour]

August 26, 1942

CenPac: Tabiteuea is creamed by Yamato and friends. Supply 0.

IJAF has an uppity day as well (is that a word?). Sweeping Zeros do well although they fail to oppose against the P38s in Burma.

Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 49 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 36 damaged
PBY-5A Catalina: 2 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Maya
CL Yura
CL Nagara
CL Naka
CL Sendai

Allied ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 91
Port hits 1

Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 33,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
I-16-III x 1
I-15-III x 2
P-43A-1 Lancer x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-16-III: 1 destroyed
I-15-III: 1 destroyed
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
P-66 Vanguard: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 32810 feet *

SoPac: Halsey, CnC SoPac Air transfers to Suva.

[SuluSea]

Hi Zulu Hour, regarding those planes at Tabiteuea do you have plans to syphon off the pilots that are decent or better? No use getting them killed on the ground.

[DOCUP]

Stay strong the good times are coming in about a year.

[zuluhour]

Hey Sulu, The groups were all disbanded today. I managed to get a few squadrons out in tact before the whole house of cards caved. I did not expect to be facing elimination so quickly though. Sharks on blood. I can't post any details on planning until I get a handle on the shipping. This whole affair has me way out of position.

Joe, I feel like I'm in "the chair" and Paul is fooling around with the fuse box.

August 28, 1942

CenPac: Tabiteuea hit again by Yamato and Co. Where is he rearming that fast?! It does not matter. Our subs are kept hugging the bottom, PT27 the sole survivor of the small flotilla, is sunk and the support ship critically damaged. The Japanese began landing today. Orders on the eve of the 29th disband the remaining air groups while the marines concentrate on the landings. Baker is operational and supply and support diverted from the Gilberts to its defense.

SwPac: The IJA armor on the coast road is hammered. The IJA is now on the outskirts of Darwin and a large raid of heavies is ordered to hit them at very long range. I expect Tojo CAP. So be it. Terapo is swept for naught as the P39s finished staging out yesterday. A fresh group of P40s flew in today. The supply ship has been unloading for two days and supply has reached normal allowing some fort building.

Burma: B17s hit the IJA in the open in the central plains. It is a victory for moral, more exciting is the supply route is closed to the northern Arakan.

China: swarms of bombers and fighters, bombardments, and encirclements.


Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 30 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 4 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Maya
CL Yura
CL Nagara
CL Naka
CL Sendai

Allied Ships
AG Aldebaran, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 8

Pre-Invasion action off Tabiteuea (137,134) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

198 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
CL Kuma
DD Hokaze
DD Shiokaze
xAP Huzi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
355 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Amphibious Assault at Tabiteuea (137,134)

TF 122 troops unloading over beach at Tabiteuea, 137,134

Japanese ground losses:
446 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)

19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div

The 4th Division took Port Morseby, he better have left it well defended. F4s are in position to recon when the time is right.

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1379 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 10629 troops, 243 guns, 272 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 200

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
514 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
4th Div /4

Defending units:
7th Marine Regiment
4th USN Naval Construction Battalion
64th Coast AA Regiment
106th USN Base Force
118th USAAF Base Force
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion

[zuluhour]

August 29, 1942

NorPac: Quiet. More artillery and air defense in route. Airfield slooowly expanding.

CenPac: Pearl Harbor busy with repairs, refits, and aircraft upgrades. Several CATs escaped the Gilberts and turn up on Oahu. Submarines arriving over the past week finish up pier side and wait orders. The long Island cruises close inshore qualifying new naval aviators. Some merchants are given orders to sail deep into hostile waters with supply. They will travel alone once they leave the ASW zone. At Tabiteuea a strange and wonderful thing occurs. The IJN shows up with more landing ships, the marines watch from their slit trenches and foxholes as the regimental artillery scores several hits on the Jap Maru’s. More than 300 more japs fall in the surf…..as they embark! The marines are alone at nightfall. Baker Island is FUBAR with so many partial squadrons and support running around the atoll trying to turn it into a small bastion.

SoPac: CnC SoPac Air HQ, Halsey will be the first to use the port facilities at Suva since its relief. The CO is due in port tomorrow. Air defense artillery is close to 100 protecting Hornet and Lex in their lagoon lair. Hornet could sail today, but I want to let the crew get the system damage down as far as they can first. Lexington is in worse shape but there is still much the crew can do to make her sea worthy. 200 naval support squads are in support now. Most of the heavies and recon squadrons are on the mainland now, preparing to help defend Australia.

SwPac: This is a busy war zone. While not a lot of dramatics there is action in three distinct areas. At Terapo, the Zeros have been sweeping daily. Tomorrow a fresh P40 squadron will take to the skies. If I can keep rotating them in and out, keep the IJAF bombers off the base long enough, I can unload more supply. I would like to keep this toe hold in New Guinea, especially since I know the 4th IJA division which took Port Morseby just got whooped at Tabitieuea. The kitchen sink was thrown at the IJA outside Darwin and the olio of aircraft I managed to get at them score OK. Intel suggests upwards of another 500 dead. On the coast road in the Victoria Desert B26s and Dutch piloted Mitchells hit the IJA armor again and claim another 28 vehicles. I cannot spot them at dusk.

Burma: The RAF with USAF top cover hit the IJA in the open again today for some payback.

India: IJN TF spotted NNW of Colombo, just past the reefs. The only ID is on a CS. I have tankers and transports at sea. General Quarters!!

China: Kweiyang: The IJA is actually operating in huge stacks now. I may have a chance to cut off more supply axis. They do keep up the pressure.

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 86899 troops, 1124 guns, 1025 vehicles, Assault Value = 1960

Defending force 122033 troops, 881 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3588

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 852

Allied adjusted defense: 1983

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
8751 casualties reported
Squads: 259 destroyed, 398 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 64 disabled
Guns lost 81 (4 destroyed, 77 disabled)
Vehicles lost 87 (5 destroyed, 82 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2047 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 37 (1 destroyed, 36 disabled)

[zuluhour]

Map time:

[zuluhour]

Map time:

[zuluhour]

August 30, 1942

NorPac: No action. The japs appear to be building like men possessed. The USA is taking a more leisurely approach in this theater. A field artillery Bn and more Seabees are due in port over the next seven days to bolster the defense at Dutch Harbor.

CenPac: A lot of pilot shuffling was required today. Some of the squadrons were “thin” on personnel and aircraft. This was rectified. The merchantmen sent to Tabiteuea was sunk on its last leg in, another is loaded for the mission. Transport subs will try and get some in. The 102nd USN BF is being transferred to Pearl from the outer Hawaiian island’s to get naval support over 1000 again. Supply and fuel is ordered to the Line Islands along with support from the west coast. Supply and Fuel at Pearl are at 1,ooo,ooo+.

United States: The 27th infantry Div and support load transports for SwPac. The 40th is next. Another three days and all the transports and support ships from Operation DROPSHOT and VOLLEY should be back in port for repair and refit.

SwPac: V Bomber command arrives and is ordered to railhead to Alice Springs to support the Liberators and Fortresses there.

India: The 75th fighter squadron uncrates P38s and will bring the total to 50 operational for Burma.

China: The IJA abandons the siege of Chengtu! It is unclear why.


Ground combat at 77,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 85386 troops, 1127 guns, 296 vehicles, Assault Value = 1733

Defending force 64984 troops, 413 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1983

Japanese adjusted assault: 725

Allied adjusted defense: 2848

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
8909 casualties reported
Squads: 166 destroyed, 174 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 85 disabled
Guns lost 87 (20 destroyed, 67 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1397 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled

[zuluhour]

Action on the 31st.

[KenchiSulla]

Zuluhour, do you have any idea what he is trying to accomplish of the coast of India?

[zuluhour]

I thought back in May and June he was coming at Madras and Ceylon. There were almost daily over flights by aircraft, the capture of Diego Garcia, and the halt of their advance in Burma. Then several weeks ago he began a rapid withdrawal from the Akyab sector. Intel showed units prepping for India and Ceylon. The action off Diego during the summer reinforced my belief he was going to try and cut off Burma and southern India. I have reinforced Ceylon and kept large formations in coastal locations throughout the summer in the belief he was not satisfied with the territory seized thus far. Only recently my views have begun to shift, now this. I cannot get a decent look at the forces at sea off India. I have neglected to post suitable numbers of patrol aircraft. I also see I need to post some off shore seaplane bases in the future. My first thought when I spotted IJN ships two days ago, was an attempt to intercept tankers and reinforcements at sea off the west coast of India. There were significant TFs at sea. Some 50,ooo pts of fuel, 6500 pts of oil, an entire division, and several squadrons on transports. But he could not have known that. Then the uneasy prospect of a large incursion into my rear entered my mind. Now I think it’s just the Kaigun looking for trouble. They have not lost a naval confrontation for months and Paul knows he crippled me off Diego Garcia this summer. In short, I have to wait and see. I do not want to risk my remaining surface assets with unknown naval air in the area.

[zuluhour]

An overview of SwPac:

[JocMeister]

Nice pictures and maps zulu! [:)]

[zuluhour]

Thanks Joc, It hurts to post that big IJN flag! The IJA is to strong for the Darwin defenses. I hope they can hold for few days and give the japs a bloody nose. The Liberators have to stand down, they are tired. B17s will hit their forward positions today. Nells try again at night over Alice Springs. They find it CAP'd.

September 1, 1942

SwPac: Liberators hit the IJA at Darwin but can do little. Terapo gets a little more supply. Sweeping Zeros don't seem to spot the big AK unloading there for the past three or four days.

Indian Ocean: The IJN must have headed to deep water. No contact again today.

China: We down 30 more bombers at no loss. A P40 squadron, now over 100 kills flying out of Chungking is relieved. They will get some new P40Ks once back in India. A P39 squadron, recently arrived back at Ledo gets their first two new Warhawks.