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

[witpqs]

As of orders for the next turn, we upgraded to the new aircraft file.

[witpqs]

1943 September 28

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Truk

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Royal Navy outdid itself.

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Fuji Maru #3, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Tokuwa Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAK Shinshui Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Bunzan Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Fuyukawa Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAK Kuramasan Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shino Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Fukuyo Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Gyoku Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAK Hachirogata Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinrei Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Yuki Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nagaragawa Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAK Tonegawa Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Miyako Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Ina Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Junpo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1
DD Nestor

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Shinrei Maru at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Shinshui Maru at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 14,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 14,000 yards
DD Nestor engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 14,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Shino Maru at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 12,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 12,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Shinrei Maru at 12,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Bunzan Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages PB Fuji Maru #3 at 11,000 yards
PB Fuji Maru #3 sunk by CA Hawkins at 11,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 11,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Shinrei Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Bunzan Maru at 11,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Junpo Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Junpo Maru sunk by DD Nestor at 9,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Miyako Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Fuyukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Bunzan Maru sunk by DD Arunta at 8,000 yards
xAK Shinshui Maru sunk by CA Frobisher at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Ina Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Ina Maru at 9,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Yuki Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 9,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Shino Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Ina Maru at 10,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Miyako Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Ina Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Yuki Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fuyukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Shinrei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Fuyukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Fuyukawa Maru collides with xAK Shinrei Maru at 54 , 54
CA Frobisher engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Ina Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fuyukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Miyako Maru at 10,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAK Miyako Maru
CA Hawkins engages xAK Miyako Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Miyako Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 10,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Fuyukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
xAK Miyako Maru sunk by DD Nestor at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 7,000 yards
xAK Shinrei Maru sunk by DD Nestor at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Yuki Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Hachirogata Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Shino Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Tonegawa Maru at 5,000 yards
xAK Tonegawa Maru sunk by CA Hawkins at 5,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 5,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Shino Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 5,000 yards
Phillips, Tom S.V. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 4,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAK Nagaragawa Maru
CA Hawkins engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 4,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 4,000 yards
xAK Shino Maru sunk by DD Arunta at 4,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Tokuwa Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Yuki Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Arunta engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Nagaragawa Maru at 12,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Hachirogata Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Gyoku Maru at 12,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Fukuyo Maru at 12,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 12,000 yards
xAK Tokuwa Maru sunk by CA Hawkins at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Yuki Maru at 17,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Hachirogata Maru at 17,000 yards
xAK Gyoku Maru sunk by CA Frobisher at 17,000 yards
xAK Fukuyo Maru sunk by DD Nestor at 17,000 yards
DD Nestor engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Kuramasan Maru at 20,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages xAK Yuki Maru at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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As some retreating forces were again battered on their way back to Allied lines, Lanchow continues to resist.

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

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44250 troops, 352 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 1164

Defending force 32885 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 429

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 628

Allied adjusted defense: 461

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
757 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 175 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1431 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (6 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
102nd Infantry Regiment
34th/C Division
37th Division
104th/A Division
59th Infantry Brigade
41st/B Division
110th/A Division

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
8th War Area
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
8th Chinese Base Force


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

The USN laid some more hurt on Biak.

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Night Naval bombardment of Biak at 87,110

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 damaged
N1K1-J George: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Birmingham
DD John Rodgers
DD McKee
DD Fullam
DD Bullard

Japanese ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

CL Birmingham firing at Biak
DD John Rodgers firing at Biak
DD McKee firing at Biak
DD Fullam firing at Biak
DD Bullard firing at Biak


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

We lost an LST and 2x xAK off of Truk. More are in danger of sinking, but the CD guns are silent.

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

Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36572 troops, 577 guns, 687 vehicles, Assault Value = 989

Defending force 16314 troops, 215 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Allied adjusted assault: 2030

Japanese adjusted defense: 748

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Truk !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2173 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 146 (120 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1807 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 31 (12 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (8 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pacific Ocean Areas
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
48th Naval Guard Unit
46th Naval Guard Unit
30th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 5th SNLF
42nd Naval Guard Unit
41st Infantry Rgt /2
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Base Force
4th Port Unit


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Stacking at Truk: >54,000; stacking at Pearl Harbor: >52,000. Support troops are on the way as are convoys to take off troops. We will have to leave at least the 24th ID in place to clean out the die hard defenders.

As you can see from the 'after' pic of the troops, Truk was hard won.

[Quixote]

Congratulations on Truk! [:)] I think you earned your merit badges for both tenacity and patience here.

[witpqs]

Thanks! At least I got in the lessons learned without interlocking airfields in opposition.

[witpqs]

1943 September 29

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got two xAK over night, and we lost an xAK and an LST at Truk. An APA that looked sure to sink has not sunk but is still in grave condition.

Lanchow is doomed. Doomed I tell you! (That's for Walter when he finally reads this.)

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Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43078 troops, 352 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 1053

Defending force 31236 troops, 92 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Japanese adjusted assault: 436

Allied adjusted defense: 183

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1249 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1677 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 137 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
59th Infantry Brigade
34th/C Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
104th/A Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
37th Division
41st/B Division
110th/A Division

Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
5th War Area
8th War Area
22nd Group Army
72nd Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Base Force

The RN hit Moulmein. Force Z is ordered to make an appearance tonight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Moulmein at 55,55

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Sussex
CA Dorsetshire

Japanese ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Manpower hits 1
Fires 340
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 10
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2

CA Cornwall firing at Moulmein
CA Sussex firing at 4th RTA Division
CA Dorsetshire firing at 25th Army


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

CV Bunker Hill has arrived at Kavieng and will wait there for the fleet carriers, which are in need of replenishing their air groups. The defenders at Truk are still cheeky.

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Night Naval bombardment of Truk at 112,108 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Portland

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
CA Salt Lake City firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Salt Lake City
CA Portland firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Portland


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Morning Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 112,108 (Truk)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 16
B-25G Mitchell x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
FM-1 Wildcat x 8
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 damaged
B-25G Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-25G Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25G Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 41st Infantry Rgt /2 ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ...
Also attacking 41st Infantry Rgt /2 ...


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

Their flak fired at all the other raids too, damaging various aircraft.

Below you can see the troops at Truk. Tomorrow some of them will make an attack - the two shore party units will not attack, nor will the 1st USMC Div. I'm actually not sure that any of the defending units were destroyed when the base fell. Another 80,000 tons of supply will begin unloading tomorrow from two convoys. And while the base at Truk is still massively damaged, the bureaucracy is up and running:
"1st Marine Division takes replacements from Truk"

[witpqs]

Here is a look at Truk Base. The 1st Fleet Adv Base Force will begin landing as soon as troops begin coming off. Naval search begins tomorrow from Truk's seaplane base even though support is a few days behind. 600 defensive mines will be laid tomorrow. Enemy mine field(s) discovered yesterday were swept today.

[JocMeister]

Congrats on finally getting Truk! Hard won battle!

[witpqs]

1943 September 30

The Empire captured:
Lanchow

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


An xAK, a tanker, and a PB were torpedoed by Allied subs.

Lanchow has fallen.

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

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 42210 troops, 352 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 966

Defending force 29503 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 203

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 515

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lanchow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
43664 casualties reported
Squads: 1354 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2192 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 72 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 104 (104 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 9

Assaulting units:
37th Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st/B Division
59th Infantry Brigade
104th/A Division
34th/C Division
110th/A Division

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
85th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
8th War Area
8th Chinese Base Force


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

Our troops will cross the river to Rangoon tomorrow. Many of our front line fighter units have been getting their pilots' experience up (aiming for 70), after seeing that performance of our best planes was lacking against the George fighter. Undoubtedly they are flown by well experienced pilots. Ours are all >=70 Air and 50s or 60s or better defensive skill, but experience was all over the map. The groups are not ready in that respect but many will join to make a massive LRCAP over Bassein for protection of the crossing troops. Since seeing the movement toward Rangoon DAW HQ has ordered many sweeps to clear the way for Helen raids on our advancing troops. The sweeps and raids have been unopposed, but were noticeably smaller today and yesterday after the naval bombardments on Moulmein (where only fighters are seen by recon). Tonight another RN CA force will bombard Rangoon. Recall that both support troops and air groups are very vulnerable to morale suppression from naval bombardment.

Meanwhile we have not had a good look at Rangoon in the last couple of days as the DL has slipped to 5/12. A second recon group has been tasked to Rangoon for tomorrow. I presume Rangoon was the destination for the 30,000 or 40,000 troops seen leaving Moulmein within the last few days, but so far recon does not show them at Rangoon. If they show up tomorrow, things could be interesting indeed! The crossing will be >2,000 AV, including 7x armoured units. One Imperial unit is seen heading toward the front line just south of Toungoo.

Truk is a grind, but at least the base is ours now.

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Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24648 troops, 397 guns, 574 vehicles, Assault Value = 917

Defending force 14762 troops, 134 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 263

Allied adjusted assault: 622

Japanese adjusted defense: 397

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
730 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (4 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
617 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (24 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Assaulting units:
762nd Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
3rd Marine Division
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pacific Ocean Areas
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
48th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
Guards Mixed Brigade
46th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
30th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Rgt /2
4th Base Force
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Port Unit

The troops will rest, while aerial and naval bombardment will go on. 20% repairs were performed on the runways (now at 50%), so 2.5 days more, plus 5 days each for the air service and port repairs. the fleet carriers are heading back to Kavieng to replenish those air groups.

[witpqs]

Here are the troops crossing from Bassein to Rangoon (except for the HQ units prepared for Moulmein). Also, 14th Army command HQ is 100% prepped at Prome.

[princep01]

Glad that the Truk base is, at last, yours.  The LYBs will have a much harder time recovering disruption and fatigue w/o that large base.  Go crush the remanent quickly and then onward to the west.
 
Curious.  Did you capture any supply at Truk ?
 
Nice AF and port.  That 7 port will really come in handy as you move forward in the Central Pacific.  Adm Wa cannot be happy with this.  I would not want to be the officer announcing to him that Truk Harbor and AF had been taken by the foreign devils.

[witpqs]

He said the base was down to 11,000 from a start of 60,000 IIRC. Presuming that some of that was used up or destroyed in the final day of fighting then we got some. Our troops were also fully (and a bit over-) supplied as well. Merchant convoys were standing by for the fall of the base (those hulls got rusty!) so now supply is pouring in.

This turn PacAO and the two shore party units are pulling out just to make some room (to lessen supply usage) because I would like to get that fleet adv base force in. I think pulling them out and adding it in is about a net 2,000 stacking increase, so the place will still be packed until I can start pulling out divisions.

Although the port is 100% damaged, the AEs are allowing the heavy cruisers to rearm at Truk, so no more 'shuttle diplomacy' for daily bombardment. Which means a lot more of it.

The troops for Rota are roughly half-prepped. So the question now is, do I get them into Rota as soon as I can gather them (maybe they'll be 70% to 80% prepped) or do I hit Babeldaob first. Troops for there are 100% ready. No interlocking airfields out there and I think there is only a regiment plus little do-dads in place. It is clearly serving as a fleet base and staging area for strengthening the Marianas Islands.

I'm thinking seriously about Babeldaob. It is likely to incur the wrath of the Empire, and anything thrown at it will not be hitting forces going into the Marianas. Babeldaob can be a drop and move on operation, with Rota coming short on its heels as long as the troops on Babeldaob are left with a huge pile of supply.

[witpqs]

1943 October 01

The Empire captured:
Nadzab

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The CAP protected the crossing into Rangoon from air strikes very well, but the Imperial reinforcements arrived just in time and the shock attack went badly.

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Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 42988 troops, 451 guns, 1398 vehicles, Assault Value = 2036

Defending force 59234 troops, 451 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 1718

Allied adjusted assault: 961

Japanese adjusted defense: 9797

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
925 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
12046 casualties reported
Squads: 503 destroyed, 635 disabled
Non Combat: 216 destroyed, 101 disabled
Engineers: 97 destroyed, 52 disabled
Guns lost 182 (59 destroyed, 123 disabled)
Vehicles lost 662 (416 destroyed, 246 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
16th LRP Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
72nd British Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
44th Indian Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
255th Armoured Brigade
Americal Infantry Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
14th LRP Brigade
23rd LRP Brigade
XV Indian Corps

Defending units:
16th Garrison Unit
63rd Inf Group Brigade
1st RTA/A Division
3rd Division
40th Inf Group Brigade
9th Division
1st RTA/B Division
1st RF Gun Battalion
211th Ship Eng Coy
18th JNAF AF Unit
1st Air Army
311th Ship Eng Coy
34th Field AA Battalion
62nd JAAF AF Bn

At this point it will be all we can do to hold on to avoid a disastrous retreat. The 4EB are mostly re-targeted on Rangoon, and the next RN CA force, too far away for a night bombardment, will rely on the heavy LRCAP over the troops to protect them in daylight. The 4th USMC DIV and the 3 newly arrived USA armor units, all 1 or 2 hexes past Lashio, are being recalled.

The next attack at Truk will go in tomorrow. The fleet CVs are lower on sorties than I had realized, probably used up by fighters escorting CVE and LBA raids. We will also do an experiment to see if an Essex class can upgrade at Manus, a size 7 port. Supposedly no shipyard required and only 10 days out of action. Not so lucky with the Lexingtons and Yorktowns.

Here is a look at the shattered force at Rangoon. I decided against moving any of them out because maximum defense requires not moving, and they can not outrun the counter attacks anyway.

[JocMeister]

Ouch, thats bad news. I was just about to warn you about the Indian BDEs when I saw what you had crossing. Sadly I´m too late it seems...

They are brittle like there is no tomorrow. In my game they take heavier losses than even the Chinese. [:(]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Ouch, thats bad news. I was just about to warn you about the Indian BDEs when I saw what you had crossing. Sadly I´m too late it seems...

They are brittle like there is no tomorrow. In my game they take heavier losses than even the Chinese. [:(]

It wasn't that really, just the timing. I knew about BDE vs Div, he just got lots of stuff in there in the nick of time. The fat lady has not sung yet, though. No attack this turn, but he wishes he had ordered it. There is a sliver of hope.

[witpqs]

1943 October 02

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs continue to torpedo the Empires vessels, hitting an xAK and a mine layer, then a TK confirmed sunk (possibly hit earlier). This night an IJN sub was spotted and pounded by escorts at Truk. Its work was discovered as sweepers found and cleared a new minefield.

Bombardments were made at Biak and Truk (several). Then fighter sweeps over Biak scored well, but the Empire's boys there are still tough customers. There was also the bombardment - in daylight - at Rangoon and surely enough the CAP did protect the ships, although torpedoes were launched against them. The seas were busier than scouting had shown, however.

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Matsuwa, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
E Hayabusa, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAK Arizona Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Katuragi Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Myoko Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 1
CA Sussex
CA Cornwall
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos
DD Thanet

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages E Hayabusa at 7,000 yards
CA Sussex engages E Hayabusa at 7,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Myoko Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Arizona Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Manila Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Sussex engages E Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CA Sussex engages E Matsuwa at 6,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Manila Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Sussex engages E Matsuwa at 6,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Arizona Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Manila Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages E Matsuwa at 6,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Myoko Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Arizona Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
E Hayabusa sunk by CA Cornwall at 5,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Arizona Maru at 5,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire engages xAK Myoko Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Myoko Maru at 5,000 yards
xAK Arizona Maru sunk by CA Dorsetshire at 5,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Manila Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
E Matsuwa sunk by CA Sussex at 3,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Katuragi Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Sussex engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Myoko Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages xAK Manila Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
xAK Myoko Maru sunk by CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
DD Thanet engages xAK Manila Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
xAK Manila Maru sunk by CA Cornwall at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


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With luck that convoy was chock full of supply and had just arrived at Rangoon, no time to unload its valuable cargo. The bad news is that after bombarding following this combat the cruisers are sitting ducks for the battleship & heavy cruiser IJN force that is 80 nm away.

The IJA made what might have been a tanks-only attack SE of Kunming.

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Ground combat at 69,49 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12921 troops, 113 guns, 514 vehicles, Assault Value = 589

Defending force 30278 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 925

Japanese adjusted assault: 120

Allied adjusted defense: 1198

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9

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

Japanese ground losses:
757 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 98 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 49 (6 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Vehicles lost 158 (3 destroyed, 155 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1506 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
14th Tank Regiment
Kanno
17th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
104th/B Division
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
21st Chinese Cavalry Division
32nd Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
27th Group Army


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

They also battered the retreating troops NE of Kunming, forcing all but 2 units to retreat. 9th Australian Division has made it to Tsuyung and is moving on to Kunming. The defense at Kunming will have to do with little or no air support for now. Four days until 9th Aus arrives at Kunming.

No counter attack at Rangoon today, and our troops repaired 92 AV overnight. Disruption is still sky high, but maybe they can hold? We have some reinforcements on the way, but with interior lines the Imperials have the advantage. Newspaper accounts indicate that DAW HQ regrets not having ordered the attack.

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

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2066 troops, 29 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 1661

Defending force 33515 troops, 401 guns, 1142 vehicles, Assault Value = 685

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

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Garrison Unit
9th Division
63rd Inf Group Brigade
3rd Division
40th Inf Group Brigade
1st RTA/A Division
1st RTA/B Division
18th JNAF AF Unit
311th Ship Eng Coy
211th Ship Eng Coy
1st Air Army
34th Field AA Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
62nd JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
Americal Infantry Division
44th Indian Brigade
72nd British Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
150th RAC Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
255th Armoured Brigade
14th LRP Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
23rd LRP Brigade
XV Indian Corps
45th Indian Brigade
16th LRP Brigade

The fight in the air was intense and costly. Both Helens (ground attack) and Bettys (naval attack) pressed home their bomb runs despite heavy losses. Allied 4EB did little better, with most attacks greatly disrupted but hopefully disrupting their targets.

The attack at Truk got good odds but achieved poor casualty results. The troops will rest for two days while the air and sea forces keep up the pressure. No Allied aircraft were lost to flak today, a good sign in the skies over Truk. The supply (-) can only get worse for the defenders, and our merchants continue to unload massive stockpiles.

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

Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34111 troops, 573 guns, 616 vehicles, Assault Value = 843

Defending force 13754 troops, 129 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 210

Allied adjusted assault: 920

Japanese adjusted defense: 217

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Squads: 67 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
529 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (4 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
46th Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
30th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Rgt /2
4th Base Force
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Port Unit


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The fleet carriers are now at Manus, and several upgraded their dive bomber squadrons. One Essex class is disbanded in port and set to upgrade for that experiment.

Here are the troops at Rangoon, awaiting the Empire's counter attack.

[witpqs]

Here are today's air losses. The battle over Biak is mixed with the battles over Rangoon, but most losses are from Rangoon.

[witpqs]

And here is a look at that IJN TF near Rangoon.

[JocMeister]

Fingers crossed for tomorrow then. Doesn´t look good for the poor allied troops. But if the Americal is upgraded to 43 squads and Armor is upgraded to heavies I think you have a good chance. [:)]

You might not do to bad with the Brits CAs against his BBs if you get a night engagement at close range. How is the moonlight?

[witpqs]

Here are the first six units at Rangoon.

[witpqs]

And the next six.