Mar 05, 06, 07, 1944
Lots of action!
The allies attack at Pantar and got a bloody nose

A Naval Guard unit and a base force managed to keep at bay a reinforced Australian Division [:'(] We won't last long...but it doesn't matter.
On the the allies arrive at Roti. A HUGE fleet!!! CVs, CVEs, BBs, several SAGs in cover and lots of APA/AKA etc... they do not land immediately, while they land a brigade at Sawo-Enlanden (NW of Roti).
The KB was lurking north of Makassar...waiting....
We decided to try our luck once again.
Ordered the KB to steam south of Makassar for the 7th.
50 DBs and 30 Zeros are transferred at Roti, while 120 N1K1s are moved to Lautem-Dili (strange enough Brad forgot to suppress those AFs...).
To Alor (another "forgotten" AF) were moved 100 DBs, 30 Kamis and 30 Zeros).
At Makassar I moved 45 TBs and 60 Frances.
The 7th begins with a massive BB bombardment of Roti..closing the AF and any chance for the airgroups there to take off the next day.
Then the landings begin... another reinforced division lands at Roti, from where we managed to extract the 77th Inf Regiment just in time!
Then the day arrives and the dance begin.
The allied CVs are positioned 1 hex south of Roti, providing LRCAP.
Our CVs arrive unmolested by the hundreds of subs infesting the waters around Makassar... we end up 9 hexes far from the allied CVs...but in range of the Roti and Sawo-Enlanden landings....
At the same time 125 P-47s sweep Sorong, obtaining a HUGE 10-1 result, while an allied bombardment TF ruins my day north of Biak, destroying several planes on the ground...
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Amphibious Assault at Roti (67,116)
TF 299 troops unloading over beach at Roti, 67,116
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 7th Australian Div /2
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 7th Australian Div /6
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Night Naval bombardment of Roti at 67,116
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 13 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y4 Judy: 13 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 2 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 43 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 5 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB Valiant
BB Indiana
Japanese ground losses:
406 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32
Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 1
BB Valiant firing at Roti
BB Indiana firing at Roti
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Night Naval bombardment of Manokwari at 85,109
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 22 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 17 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
D3A1 Val: 51 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 2 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 27 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 20 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 45 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M3 Jack: 15 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CL Perth
DD Reid
DD Ellet
DD Baldwin
DD Dyson
DD Charles Ausburne
Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 69
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Vincennes
CA Vincennes firing at Manokwari
CA Minneapolis firing at Manokwari
CL Perth firing at Manokwari
DD Reid firing at Manokwari
DD Ellet firing at Manokwari
DD Baldwin firing at 17th/A Division
DD Dyson firing at 17th/A Division
DD Charles Ausburne firing at Manokwari
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Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 54
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 28
Ki-84r Frank x 19
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 7 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet *
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Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 41
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 14
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 22
Ki-84r Frank x 17
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 7 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed
...it goes on like that until I don't have any plane in the air anymore over Sorong....[:o]
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Then at Koepang, my LRCAP were supposed to be on Roti...while they stopped at Koepang to counter the bandits there...this will change the course of the battle later on....
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 116
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 10
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 4 destroyed
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From Alor the DB took off and attack the allied CVs... a slaughterhouse[8|]
Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,117
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 100 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 26
D4Y3 Judy x 28
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 21
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
F4U-1A Corsair x 40
F6F-3 Hellcat x 88
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 15 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 21 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 6 destroyed
No Allied losses
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,117
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 30
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 17
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 7
F4U-1A Corsair x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 72
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 19 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 81
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4
Allied aircraft
Boomerang C-12 x 23
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
B-24J Liberator x 3
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 22
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang C-12: 11 destroyed
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 19
[:D]...but my George would have a better use if they stayed over Roti as ordered....
Then the KB attacked...from 8 hexes...very few Judys...[:o] but the CAP is somehow lighter than usual....even if the flak is mourderous
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 112
B6N2 Jill x 49
B7A2 Grace x 35
D4Y4 Judy x 58
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 26
F4U-1A Corsair x 33
F6F-3 Hellcat x 55
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 10 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak
B7A2 Grace: 9 destroyed, 11 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y4 Judy: 16 destroyed, 8 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 6 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
APA Leonard Wood
CL Santa Fe
LSI(M) Prince Henry
APA Harry Lee, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
APA Hunter Liggett
CA Boise, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DD Porterfield
DD David Taylor, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AGC Rocky Mount, Bomb hits 1
APD Gregory
APD Colhoun, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Talbot
APD Crosby
DD Swanson
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
10 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
7 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4U-1A Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(34 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 17 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
17 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VC(F)-41 with FM-1 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
VOC(F)-1 with FM-1 Wildcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(17 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(19 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Nothing spectacular...and losses are HIGH....
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Sawoe-eilanden at 65,115
The other amphib TF is left without air cover....[:'(]
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 5 damaged
Allied Ships
LSI(L) Manoora, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Acree, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LSI(L) Denbighshire, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116 (FROM MAKASSAR)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
B6N2 Jill x 35
P1Y1 Frances x 10
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 9
F4U-1A Corsair x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 24 destroyed, 1 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
APD King
APA Elmore
AKA Electra
APD Crosby
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116 (FROM THE KB)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4
B6N2 Jill x 6
D4Y4 Judy x 20
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 5
F4U-1A Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y4 Judy: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe
DD David Taylor, on fire
AKA Centarus, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
Then the afternoon arrive...skies are clear over Roti...and the KB launches another strike! BANZAI
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 92
B6N2 Jill x 79
B7A2 Grace x 34
N1K2-J George x 9
Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 23
F4U-1A Corsair x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 56
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 10 destroyed, 11 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
B7A2 Grace: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
APD Crosby
CL Santa Fe, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Boise, and is sunk
LSD Carter Hall, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LSD Belle Grove, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APA Hunter Liggett
LSI(M) Prince Henry
APA Elmore, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Swanson, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AKA Centarus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APA Fayette
APA Harry Lee
APA J. Franklin Bell, Torpedo hits 1
APA Leonard Wood, Torpedo hits 1
APD King, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Talbot
APA Zeilin, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Not bad. This time the escort did wonders in keeping the CAP busy...LoBaron is right: having highly experienced pilots on escort helps...even if they die like flies
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sawoe-eilanden at 65,115
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 18
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LSI(L) Manoora, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Klang
DE Acree
LSD Lindenwald
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
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Ground combat at Roti (67,116)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1969 troops, 32 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 79
Defending force 15963 troops, 218 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 390
Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
14th Naval Guard Unit
1st RF Gun Battalion
4th JNAF AF Unit
20th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
7th Australian Division
II Australian
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
24th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
He landed in force here...
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Ground combat at Sawoe-eilanden (65,115)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4328 troops, 68 guns, 29 vehicles, Assault Value = 124
Defending force 6 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Allied adjusted assault: 104
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 104 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Sawoe-eilanden !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
13th Australian Brigade
30th Base Group
Defending units:
16th Garrison Unit /1
So the allies are conquering the whole area of Timor. I will just hold Koepang (wanna deny him as long as possible the AF level 9)... the rest can be conquered at this stage. We have already created our second line
Pretty proud to see the KB still able to surprise the enemy...it's almost impossible to catch them while at sea...those transports are always empty when I get on them...but still for every inch of ground he gains
I'm making him pay a price. And that's all about playing Japan.
Air losses of the day were horrendous...450 planes lost and 280 pilots [X(]...Empty pools of Grace, Zeros and Judys...
was it worth? Hard to tell....
