Pistol Pete - Lam0ttePicquet (J) vs rook749 (A)

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-06

After several days of waiting in the middle of the Ocean, I-168 has torpedoed BB Maryland during the night, 400 miles East of Hawaii.
After eluding ASW attack, the sub followed several hours the ennemy fleet. During afternoon, another too good opportunity for I-168: 3 more torpedoes to the battleship, which was probably sunk.

BB Prince of Wales was sighted at Batavia. A group of G3M2 and G4M1 attacked the ship near the harbour. 19 ennemy fighter were protecting the fleet (B-339D x 8, CW-21B Demon x 6, 75A-7 Hawk x 5). 2 of them were shot down by A6M2 (12 of them were escorting the torpedo bombers). Intesive flak of PoW destroyed 3 G4M1. Launching torpedoes was too imprecise and none of them reached the battlship. One additional G4M1 was shot down by ennemy fighter.

[1EyedJacks]

Can I ask what your naval search patrols look like on the map during this early stage of the war?

[Lam0ttePicquet]

Here are Nav Search of 42-01-12 (I have a delay of 1 week with AAR):

After seeing this map, I should place some float planes / naval pickets near Wake [;)]

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-07

xAKL Tamaki Maru, navigating alone near Chiba, sunk by SS Tarpon attacking on surface.

No other events on the seas.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-08

Allied seemed to start mine warfare. Singkawang was a target. DMS W-17 cleared several mines.

Ambon amphibious landing: xAP Hakone Maru, APD Hagi and Fuji were hit by 180 mm shells [X(].

Lae was captured this day by III./4th Infantry Battalion, which defeated A Coy/NG Rifles.
At same time, a new assault at Rabaul marked time.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-09

Zero over Singapore cleared the sky much more efficiently than Ki-43. 6 Buffalo were shot down for 1 A6M2 lost.

Rabaul defense cracked ! Several support troops who were waiting for several days in ships have been ordered to land.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-10

Awakening of submarines:
- SS I-124 attacked on surface xAKL Taurus SE of Port Moresby
- SS KXIV placed a torpedo on xAK Fukko Maru, returning to Saigon after supplying Singkawang ; PB Rokko Maru claimed 7 hits on sub
- SS Shark torpedoed xAK Oigawa Maru near Fukue-Jima

During afternoon, ACM Colonel Harrison was sunk by G4M1 near Manado. That ship was probably leaving Philipines.

Tarakan amphibious landing: here also coastal defense were well trained: xAK Fushimi Maru and Toho Maru hit.

Cotabato was captured by Miura detachment. Defenders were completely disrupted and did not really want to fight: all of them captured without any IJA loss.

Nauru was also captured this day. Only a small allied detachment was there.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-11

Sub attacks of the day:
- SS RO-62 probably sank xAKL Bintoehan near Port Moresby.
- SS I-173 was attacked by 2 DD. Ennemy depht charges did few damages.

Battle of New Hebrides
Kido Butai was sent forward an amphibious landing force heading to Luganville. Patrol aircraft had sighted some cruisers there during morning. Nagumo didn't hesitate and 36 B5N2 + 36 D3A1 escorted by 48 A6M2 attacked them. Results were very good:
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 8
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 2

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-12

Second amphibious wave at Ambon received shells from ennemy coastal defense: APD Nadakaze and Shimakaze hit.
However, the assault allowed a reduction of fortifications.

Mine warfare: Jolo targeted by ennemy sub.
Near Jolo, CA Moganmi received a torpedo. Crew managed to prevent flooding and the effect of this fish was not critical.

Over Singapore, Buffalos made resistance: after a combat opposing 36 Ki-43 versus 32 Buffalos, 3 Ki-43 were destroyed for 1 Buffalo.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-13

A new attack against surface fleet at Batavia was launched. 20 allied aircraft protected them, and destroyed 1 A6M2. They lost 1 B-339D. All the 23 G4M1 failed to torpedo the cruisers Marblehead and Java.

Several assaults were launched at Clark field, Tarakan and Ambon. All of them were stopped.
It should take time to capture these places...

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-14

New Hebrides - New Caledonia

I-16 attaked a transport fleet near Noumea during the night:
xAP Van Imhoff, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage.

Near Efate, 13 B5N2 launched from Kido Butai sank xAP Dardanus with bombs, and hit xAP Silksworth and AM Warrnambool. Pilots reported that these ship were loaded with troops.
Later during the day, another group of 27 B5N2 finished the job:
xAP Silksworth and AM Whyalla sunk.

West of Noumea, 62 B5N2 attacked the same transport fleet already attacked by I-16:
xAP Van den Bosch, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAP Van der Lijn, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAP Van Heemskerck, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mijer, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

This should have chilling effect on Allies !

Covered by KB, Sasebo 8th SNLF and Yokosuka 4th SNLF set foot on Luganville beaches:


Armed Merchant Cruiser action - Pacific Ocean North East:
AMC Kiyosumi Maru met a fleet of light tankers sailing to West. PC Bonham screened them at a cost of 1 shell received. AMC failed to hit more ennemy ships...

Air combat over Singapore: 40 Ki-43 aainst 41 Buffalo. 5 Ki-43 lost for 3 Buffalo... hoping attrition will hit British first.

Another attack on surface fleet at Batavia. This time a HDML P14 was sunk, and 2 ennemy aircrafts in CAP were destroyed. 1 A6M2 and 2 G4M1 were also lost.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-15

Dogfights over Rangoon opposed 12 P40E + 27 H81-A3 against 23 A6M2. 1 zero lost for 1 P40E

Air combat over Singapore: 40 Buffalo against 26 Ki-43. Hayabusa were sweeping at their best altitude: 9000 feet. 2 Hayabusa were lost for 5 Buffalo !
Another Hiko-Sentai with also 26 Ki-43 came a little bit later at same altitude. 15 Buffalo were remaing in the air. The combat turned at Japanase pilot advantage: 6 Buffalo destroyed. No loss registered on japanese side.

On seas, AMC Kiyosumi Maru followed the allied fleet already encountered, which managed to escape.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-16

Batavia: in a effort for clearing Java sky, 13 A6M2 were sent over there. They destroyed 3 B-339D, 1 CW-21B and 1 75A-7. All zero went back to Singkawang.

Combats continued over Rangoon: 20 A6M2 were opposed to 5 H81-A3 and 10 P40E. 5 allied planes were destroyed.

Over Singapore, 24 Ki-43 met 7 Buffalo and destroyed one of them.

11 ennemy fighter shot down for no loss [:)]

Luganville was captured after defeating an australian battalion.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-17

Allied fighters disappeared from Singapore sky.

No other specific event to report this day.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-18

Over Rangoon, allies reinforced fighters: 31 H81 were opposed to 19 Ki-43. 1 loss on each side.

No ennemy fleet sighted. Only some subs detected. The desire to reduce surface combat escorts could affect IJN...

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-19

During night, ennemy subs placed mines near Singkawang. DMS W17 cleared all of them.

South of Fiji, AMC Aikoku Maru met xAKL Atlantic at night, but the small cargo escaped.

In Burma, British forces stopped IJA at Pegu. 7 A6M2 in sweeping mission met 9 H81 over there. 1 plane lost on each side.

Another assault was launched at Ambon, but it failed again. This place should fall by attrition.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-20

Wake Island: after several days of mutual observation, allies decided to reinforced defense with a new battalion.

No other significant events.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-21

Lurking in the waters near French Frigate Shoal, I-171 surprised an ennemy fleet and placed 3 torpedoes on CM Oglala.

In the afternoon, xAKL Sarpen was sunk in strait of Malacca by 18 G3M2. This isolated ship tried probably to supply Singapore.

6 G4M1 (of a group of 19) were destroyed over Batavia by ennemy CAP. Lack of escort over target was not explained.

Near Noumea, midget sub SSX Ha-5 torpedoed xAP Macdhui. [:)]

Several ground attack this day...

At Pegu, 15th Army launched an attack. Despite low ennemy morale and experience, this combat was a draw.

At Clark Field, 14th Army also launched a deliberate attack. The cost was 1000 troop loss on each side.

At Tarakan, attacks of I/124th Infantry Battalion and 91st Naval Guard Unit have come up against the defenses.

At Ambon, assault also failed.

At Taung Guy, III./143rd Infantry Battalion, which get around Rangoon defense from Chiang Mai, crushed Mandalay BMP Battalion, and secured the area for a JAAF Coy arrival by plane.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-22

Air combat over Rangoon have resumed this day: 25 H81 and 7 P40E were waiting for 19 A6M2. The opponents didn't dogfight and shot down 7 zero for the loss of 3 H81...

Another isolated small cargo was sunk in Strait of Malacca: xAKL Prominent received 3 torpedo from G3M2.

9 G4M1 freshly deployed at Rabaul were sent in the afternoon near Cooktown where an ennemy transport fleet was detected. 2 ennemy transport were sunk with torpedos: xAP Tambua and xAP Iron Crown.

At Pegu, 15th Army received some significant reinforcements and continued assault for a second day. Result was again a draw.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-23

Ground combats:

Rabaul (!): previously defeated australian troops went back. Maizuru 1st SNLF and Kure 1st SNLF counterattacked them. Lark force resisted, inflicting 40 casualties at IJN troop for 181 men loss on its side.

Ambon: assault was stopped. Fatigue affected troops on both side.

Pegu: assault was also stopped. Fresh british units were sent from Rangoon for strengthening defense.