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

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-24

Main event of the day was capture of Toungoo. 4th Burma Rifles Battalion was defending the town whereas II./143rd Infantry Battalion launched its attack. These well trained battalion pushed away burmese troops without suffering any loss.

At Rabaul, Lark force, probably out of supply, was obliged to retreat during this second day of combat.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-25

Air combat over Rangoon: successively, 36 and 26 Ki-43 attacked allied CAP made by 19 H81, 4 Buffalo and 9 P40E. 3 Ki-43 were lost for 5 H81 and 1 P40E.

Bombardment of Singapore fortress started at 17000 feet. However, even at high altitude, flak was efficent, damaging several Ki-21 and destroying one of them.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-26

Port Moresby landing
IJA 16th Army wait for 6 weeks before starting operations. After preparation, it was moved by sea to New Guinea coasts.
A fleet of 33 ships around BB Nagato was screened by 3 cruisers and 4 DD. A small cargo - xAKL Minnipa - was sunk by CA Myoko during night. At dawn, troops set foot on the beach.

Wake reinforcements:
CL Nagara and 2 DD bombarded the island in preparation for reinforcements.

Air combat over Batavia: 18 A6M2, equiped with drop tanks, take off from Singkawang runway in direction of Java. Over Batavia, 19 Buffalo probably withdrawn from Singapore, 25 B-339D, 6 CW-21B and 6 75A-7 Hawk were engaged. 4 zero were shot down for 5 allied fighters.

Air combat over Rangoon:
(morning) 26 Ki-43 performed a new sweep mission. Ennemy (16 H81, 7 Buffalo and 10 P40E) was reinforced by 9 Hurricane ! One of it was destroyed but 4 Hayabusa were left behind...
(afternoon) 25 other Hayabusa were launched in the battle. But 6 of them were lost for only 3 allied fighters.
10-4 for this day: some rest, pilots and planes replacement will be needed.

Clark Field combat: a new bloody assault failed this day, with almost 3000 IJA troops lost for 1200 allied troops.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-27

Port Moresby - day 2
22000 troops launched a deliberate attack. 38th IJA division was the main body. Opposed to them, almost 4000 australians troops defended the area. These troops were not prepared for such landing. They were defeated in few hours and half of them retreated inland to Kokoda.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-28

Wake (Nagara come back): as an ennemy fleet was sighted near Wake the previous day, IJN surface fleet - that had bombarded Wake 2 days ago (but had spent only half of shells)- was sent back there at high speed.
The ennemy fleet was made of 2 APD, 1 xAP and 1 AMC. During morning, they were surprised during unload of supply. The battle turned immediatly to the advantage of IJN:

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied Ships
APD Lawrence, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Rathburne, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAP President Coolidge, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Monowai, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Later durinf this day, II/81st Naval Guard Unit was landed there. A shock attack was launched immediatly but almost 900 japanese troop were lost because of this banzai attack.

Fiji operations
Kido Butai was sent in front of several amphibious task forces. Planes from Hiryu and Soryu bombarded Suva and Nadi airbases.

Burma
III./143rd Infantry Battalion continued its advance in central Burma. The IJA battalion captured Meiktila, which was poorly defended by 9th Burma Rifles Battalion and Mandalay BMP Battalion. No loss for IJA for 450 troops for Allied.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-29

New Caledonia operations
Launched in parallel of Fiji operations, right flank was secured by the following actions:
. I-22 attacked on surface and spent all available shells on xAKL Patras.
. CA Tone escorted by 2 DD met (and sank) xAKL Atlantic
. 144th Infantry Regiment was landed at Noumea

During this day, troops at Ambon were reinforced. But coastal defense were still very active there. xAKL Nanko Maru was severely damaged.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-30

At Ambon, landing of supply was disturbed by 75 and 150 mm dutch costal guns. xAKL Nanko Maru and Sasago Maru didn't resist to these big shells and sank during this day. The fleet was also attacked by an allied submarine. A torpedo sank xAKL Ryoyu Maru, but crew of several patrol boat reported hits on the sub. However, ground attack started to turn at IJN troop advantage.

Near Fraser Island, RO-63 was surprised by 3 APD and was sunk by their guns.

At Wake, CVE Hosho was attacked by 8 F4F-3. Fortunately, 5 A6M2 were in patrol and engaged combat. 2 ennemy planes were shot down for the loss of one zero, but the ennemy attack failed.

An assault at Singapore finished in blood: 10.000 IJA men lost for 2400 British.
At Tarakan, an assault also failed, but with few losses.
At Noumea, 144th I.R. started its attack. Only 900 mens of Free French Force defended the island.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-31

Fiji Operations
53rd Naval Guard unit was landed. However, defenses of this island were much more important than expected: one brigade supported by several battalion of artillery.

On the flank of these operations, Noumea was captured this day.

Near Yokohama, PB Nikki Maru was sunk by ennemy sub torpedo.

An air superiority action was launched over Rangoon. 21 zero + 26 Ki-43 were sent against 21 H81-A3 + 9 Hurricane IIa + 12 P-40E.
Losses: 2 zero, 3 Ki-43 for IJA and 1 Hurricane + 4 H81-A3 + 2 P40E for Allied air force.

At Ambon, ground assault progressed. Despite this, xAKL Higari Maru was still reached by coastal defense.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-01

11 G4M1 attacked Batavia overnight. Several ennemy planes were damaged, but one IJN bomber was destroyed by flak.

Fiji operations
IJN troop at Nadi didn't try to advance inland. Despite the scheduled arrival of reinforcements, decision was taken to reembark troops.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-02

Sub vs sub ! I-156 patrolling near Billiton attacked SS K XI. This old submarine, launched in 1924, was probably sunk by one torpedo.
Poor quality picture below:



Fiji operations
6 Vincent tried to disturb withdrawal operation. But 2 A6M2 protected the fleet and shot down 3 of them.
Suva and Nadi airfields were attacked by some Kido Butai bombers.
Ennemy ground units were content to bombard. They probably didn't realize that a withdrawal took place.

At Ambon, attack was a success but still some dutch defended some key points.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-03

New air offensive at Rangoon: during morning, 19 H81-A3 and 10 Hurricane remained were in defense. 22 A6M2 fall on them. Lost planes: 2 A6M2 for 4 H81-A3
However, 8 G3M2 were shot down by those ennemy fighters while attempting to bomb ennemy ground unit at Pegu. Escort was absent, probably because of weather (severe storm).
Ground attack, despite balanced odds, lead to high number of japanese casualties: 2500 IJA troops for 280 burmese troops.

Withdrawal continued at Nadi, without noticeable issues.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-04

Near Java coast, I-162 sighted CL Durban and didn't fail to place a torpedo on allied ship !

Over Pegu, 27 Ki-43 tried to avenge the bombers shot the day before. 29 ennemy fighters were on patrol and they destroyed 5 Ki-43. 2 P-40E claimed by japanese pilots.
7 ki-51 attacked ground units at Pegu few hours later, but 5 of them were destroyed by remaining fighters, despite an escort of 14 Ki-43.
8 zero entered the dance. 1 zero was lost for 1 Hurricane.

Ambon was finally captured this day after more than 3 weeks of efforts !

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-05

Singapore combats: despite previous failures, another attack was launched but stopped. 1700 british casualties reported for 4000 japanese.

No other significant event this day.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-06 : nothing to report
42-02-07

Another successfull submarine attack near Java: I-155 torpedoed CL Sumatra.

After some rest at Manado, Kure 2nd SNLF landed at Kendari. Weak defenses gave hope for a quick victory.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-08

An allied task force made of several cruisers was sighted at Brisbane during the morning. 44 A6M2 escorting 63 B5N2 were launched from Kido Butai. However 52 P40E were waiting for them.
B5N2, equipped with bombs, were not efficient. But such number of ennemy fighters was a worst new: 2 of them were shot down but 8 A6M2 and 15 B5N2 didn't return to carriers.

Picture below for the Australian air victory.


Elsewhere, attack at Kendari continued.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-09

Strait of Malacca: another cargo navigating alone was spotted by a G3M2. This ship, xAK Jaladurga, was sunk during afternoon by an air attack of 13 G3M2.

Aleutians: IJN troops unloaded at Amchitka Island.

Central Burma: I./143rd IR continued its advance and took Magwe.

Kendari was captured this day by Kure 2nd SNLF. Fortunately, it took much less time than other place in DEI.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-10

At Magwe, RAF decided to counter-attack. 32 Blenheim and 12 Hudson bombed airfield, in which 12 Ki-27 were just arriving. A kind of welcome commitee for them. No loss on allied side, but one fighter was shot down.

Raid on Melbourne
In order to strike at the heart Australia, Kido Butai was engaged in the Bass Strait. 40 A6M2, 22 B5N2 and 62 D3A1 Val took off from carriers in the afternoon and attacked Melbourne. 15 P-40E were protecting the area when japanese plane were detected. For the loss of one A6M2, one P-40E was destroyed and several ships were sunk:
HDML P 4, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
ARD Tjilitlap Kv, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CMc Soemenep, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APD John D. Ford, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Vyner Brooke, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Ballarat, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD Tandjong Kv-2, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AMc Enggano, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Ceram, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Karangi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Olive Cam, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk


In China, Loyang was captured. 4 divisions were involved there.
In Borneo, III/124th Infantry Battalion marched to Pontianak. As an assault against a KNIL Battalion failed, it was decided to wait for reinforcement.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-11

Air combat around Rangoon resumed this day. In order to clear the sky for bombers over Pegu, 24 A6M2 attacked 20 Hurricane + 11 P-40E. 1 reisen lost for 1 Hurricane and 2 P-40E.
Following IJN planes, 34 Ki-43 attacked also the remaining ennemy fighters (16 Hurrican + 3 P-40E). 3 Hayabusa lost for 2 Hurricane and 1 P-40E.

However, at the same time, 9 G3M2 were destroyed over Mandalay by Hurricane which were protecting their airfield.

At Palembang, 9 G3M2 attacked a group of ML. One of them was sunk.

Raid on Melbourne
9 A6M2 were sent in sweep mission over the city in front of a new raid. 30 P-40E were in the sky. Losses: 1 reisen and 1 P-40E.
Few minutes later, 22 B5N2 and 35 D3A1 decided a city attack, whereas 26 other Val attacked anchored ships. 4 Kate and 3 Val were destroyed, but escorting zero (29) shot down 2 P-40E. 1 hit was reported on Industry and 3 AM received bombs from dive bombers:
AM Abraham Crijnssen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Jan van Amstel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AM Pieter de Bitter, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Several ships were spotted between Tasmania and Australia. Some torpedo bombers - kept on carrier for any possible naval attack - were launched toward their objectives:
. 17 B5N2 sank AVP Fazant , AG Albatros and AGP Eridanus
. 25 B5N2 sank PC Wilcannia and xAK Peisander

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-12

Rangoon: no better place to fight for japanese and british pilots...
This time 32 Hurricane and 20 H81-A3 were in protection of the city. One can notice a kind of rolling allied squadrons: no more P-40E this day.
24 A6M2 fighted the "fresh" british pilots but lost 4 of them, whereas 2 Hurricane and 3 H81-A3 were claimed.
26 Ki-43 arriving sometimes later did not better: 3 of them lost for 1 H81-A3. Morale was very low for them after this attempt.
31 other Ki-43 finished the job: one Hayabusa was destroyed but 2 more Hurricane and 1 H81-A3 were also.
Total losses: japan 8 - allied 9.

The day didn't finish on it. 56 Ki-21 bombed Rangoon airfield. 3 bombers and one escorting Ki-43 were destroyed. 1 Hurricane on the other side. Runway was damaged.

Raid over Hobart: after the tour of the island, Kido Butai attacked Hobart. 27 B5N2 did some port damage and sank AMc Bombo.
Moreover, some spotted ennemy ships were also sunk near Hobart:
YO-41, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AG Carolinian, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
YO-42, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-02-13

After 70 days of war, here is an overview of Japan strategic reserves: