[font="Times New Roman"]June 4 - 6, 1943[/font]
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SUBS: [/font] I hate the 'elects not to fire' bit when a sub encounters small shipping. In this case the Grayling near Hokkaido deciding a few small yard oilers moving between islands weren't worthy. [:@]
Seahorse does get a TK in the DEI. The Pogy sends a few fish at a DD in a nice cruiser TF that includes the slow Mizuho.
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INDIA: [/font] Kohima is abandoned and Allied troops occupy the base. We'll march to Imphal and attack regardless of numbers to make sure the overstacked Japanese run very low on supply for their walk through the jungles.
Flights from Ledo, Jorhat and Dimapur are all involved in supplying a struggling and besieged Chungking now.
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CHINA: [/font] SE of Chungking the Japanese attack and have another tough go against the dug in Chinese. I'm nearly able now to get under the 160k troop limits with 7k to spare for incoming zombie Corps. It'll be about 3-4 more days before enough free troops are flown out and unfortunately in the meantime several Corps and other units are arriving. I'll get them out quick but this has to be remedied. I'm looking at non-essential troops here and the construction units, the non-AA base forces and several HQs are moving out too. I have to do it slowly so as not to overstack the 76, 46 hex.
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CENT PAC: [/font] Majuro falls easily! The embedded BB/CA bombardment was highly effective and thankfully disabled most of the defenders. I only sent some engineers here and I'm amazed they did so well.
Unfortunately I didn't get a LR CAP over some LCIs sneaking up to land a USMC raider unit at Ailinglaplap and a flight of Kates sent most of the boats to the bottom. Luckily two boats remained and I sent them to continue since they were only one hex out. It looked like they picked up a good amount of the swimmers and again, surprisingly, the assault won the base and destroyed the Japanese support troops there! [&o]
I'd sent two Fletchers to protect the final run in and the Kates again struck, fought through the fairly strong LR CAP, and hit both DDs. One sank before the turn was out and the other should make it. A number of Kates and escorts were lost though in an afternoon strike, so on the day it's a VP wash.
I'll now be softening up Maleolap while keeping the defenders of Roi Namur honest with an occasional strike there. He's keeping 40-50 fighters there with the 36 strong, (now depleted) Kate group, plus Rufe's at Kawaeijalein. I've now got Hellcats I can send in plus a good number of Wildcats and some old P-40s and P-39s. There are three USN 4E groups and four B-25 groups in the area.
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SW PAC/SO PAC: [/font] Still facing off in the Solomons, with the navies eyeing each other and feinting occasionally. The real battle is happening slowly at Lae, where our troops are sonly wearing down the defenders and have forts to level 2. Unless he reinforces I think we'll win this soon, what I consider a very major base as it opens the path to Nadzab. That base can go to level 9 and control the entire area, and it should be fair game once Lae is in Allied hands. Buna is inching toward level 9 already, and with the flank secured at PM and Terapo, the stage is set for the major battles to push through Umboi Island into Northern New Guinea.
I had always considered this historical approach boring and slow. I'm really enjoying it now that I'm playing this side and the benefits are easily noticed. There really isn't a need for CVs on this route, at least yet, and the bulk of ops can be small and low cost/risk. I like fighting this way, much more conscious of the VPs and preciousness of airframes and army devices especially, and it just makes a lot of sense. i can keep moving while he has to wonder where my CVs are and where they might strike.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 4, 43
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Sub attack near Wakkanai at 123,48
Japanese Ships
YO J-3879
YO J-3999
YO J-3884
PB Odatsuki Maru
Allied Ships
SS Grayling, hits 3
Captain of SS Grayling elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Grayling bottoming out ....
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Pre-Invasion action off Majuro (136,119)
14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
CA Quincy
PG Charleston
APA Bolivar
CVE Barnes
Japanese ground losses:
644 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
BB Pennsylvania firing at Majuro Base Force
CA Quincy firing at 47th Naval Guard Unit
PG Charleston firing at 47th Naval Guard Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
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Ground combat at Lae (99,126)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3547 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121
Defending force 2820 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62
Allied adjusted assault: 88
Japanese adjusted defense: 52
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/1 NAOU Det.
Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
58th Construction Battalion
18th Garrison Unit /3
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Ground combat at Majuro (136,119)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 2851 troops, 17 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
Defending force 1987 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45
Allied adjusted assault: 26
Japanese adjusted defense: 4
Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Majuro !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1042 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (24 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
4th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USN Naval Construction Regiment
Defending units:
47th Naval Guard Unit
Majuro Base Force
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 5, 43
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ASW attack near Babeldaob at 97,84
Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
CA Kako
CS Mizuho
DD Hamanami
DD Hatakaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
Allied Ships
SS Pogy
SS Pogy launches 4 torpedoes at DD Oboro
Pogy diving deep ....
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailinglaplap at 134,117
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 28
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AVD San Pablo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
LCI-22, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
LCI-62, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
LCI-85
PC Onondaga
LCI-63, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LCI-24, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 6, 43
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Sub attack near Pamekasan at 58,105
Japanese Ships
TK Kinmo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Choan Maru #2
TK Okuni Maru
TK Chuko Maru
TK Yamamiya Maru
PB Zuiko Maru
PB Seikai Maru
PB Nishho Maru
PB Kanko Maru
Allied Ships
SS Seadragon, hits 1
SS Seadragon launches 4 torpedoes at TK Kinmo Maru
Seadragon bottoming out ....
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailinglaplap at 133,117
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 36
Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Saufley, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Beale, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-124 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead
VMF-216 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 6000.
Raid is overhead
318th FG/73rd FS with P-40B Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Saufley
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Morning Air attack on 47th Naval Guard Unit, at 133,117 (Ailinglaplap)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 15
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 10
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Mitchell II bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 14 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
934 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
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Ground combat at 76,46 (near Chungking)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30944 troops, 502 guns, 1345 vehicles, Assault Value = 958
Defending force 40447 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1210
Japanese adjusted assault: 580
Allied adjusted defense: 1525
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Vehicles lost 67 (1 destroyed, 66 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1068 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
1st Tank Division
3rd Division
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Army
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
73rd Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
7th War Area
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Ground combat at Lae (99,126)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3502 troops, 48 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 113
Defending force 2672 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54
Allied adjusted assault: 10
Japanese adjusted defense: 40
Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/1 NAOU Det.
Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
58th Construction Battalion
18th Garrison Unit /3
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Ground combat at Ailinglaplap (133,117)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 258 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12
Defending force 117 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Allied adjusted assault: 7
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Ailinglaplap !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
Defending units:
47th Naval Guard Unit
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Taking out a lot of recon and search planes lately too.[/font]
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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