Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Patience, and Firepower

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Even though the odds were heavily in my favor, you just never know if Long Lances will find their mark early on in the battle and sink a cruiser or two.

Not at 24,000 yards! [:D]

Good point. Sometimes I forget that Allied radar sometimes actually works with USN CAs in a surface engagement! So far 8 inch Allied guns are credited with sinking only 2 CLs, 3 DDs, and 1 TB (5 inch guns were credited for sinking that CA). Against that I have lost 11 USN CAs. Not a good ratio...

[Sangeli]

Disaster in the Pacific

Today I had the largest defeat of the war. Huge setback caused by my "victory disease" in not providing proper SCTF protection to invasion and CVE fleets:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 72,117, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
xAP Princess Charlotte, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Olopana, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 23 disabled
Vehicles lost 79 (79 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 14
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shigure, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kiri
DD Momi

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 6
CL St. Louis
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
DD Swanson
DD Monssen
DD Walke
DD Dunlap
DD Ellet
DD Downes, Shell hits 2
DD Hull
DD Van Galen
DD Redoubt


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CL Noshiro, Torpedo hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Isonami
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon
CVE Anzio, Shell hits 1, on fire
CVE Manila Bay
CVE Gambier Bay, Shell hits 7, on fire
CVE Tulagi, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Shell hits 2
CVE Neosho, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA San Juan, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ward
DE James E. Craig
DE Parks, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
DE Wyman
DE William C. Miller
DE Wileman, Shell hits 3
DD Gilmer, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Isonami
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
KV La Gracieuse, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
AP William Ward Burrows, Shell hits 1
APA Callaway, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA Du Page, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Gainsar
AK Ascella, Shell hits 1
AK Cheleb
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 5
AKA Thuban
AKA Electra
SC PC-581, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
SC PC-1080, Shell hits 1
PC Sennen, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Launceton
AM Madras, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Princess Elaine
xAP Princess Adelaide
xAP Baranof, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Yukon
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 6
xAP Raranga
LSI(L) Brisbane Star
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Shell hits 10, on fire
LSI(L) Empire Pride, Shell hits 69, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSI(L) Glenstrae
LSI(L) Empire Silver, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 2
xAP Kota Baroe
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAP Mildura
xAP Mungana
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 3
xAK San Gabriel, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (4 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (23 destroyed, 17 disabled)


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Redoubt


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
AP William Ward Burrows, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Gainsar, Shell hits 6
AK Ascella, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cheleb, Shell hits 1
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Thuban, Shell hits 2
AKA Electra, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
SC PC-1080, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PC Sennen, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AM Launceton, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Princess Elaine
xAP Princess Adelaide
xAP Baranof, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Yukon
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 2
xAP Raranga
LSI(L) Brisbane Star, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Empire Pride, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LSI(L) Glenstrae, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Empire Silver, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 1
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mildura
xAP Mungana, Shell hits 2
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK San Gabriel, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (14 destroyed, 15 disabled)


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
AK Ascella, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Baranof, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
4335 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 207 destroyed, 182 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 104 (92 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 88 (82 destroyed, 6 disabled)


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,117, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL St. Louis
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Swanson
DD Monssen
DD Walke
DD Dunlap
DD Ellet, Shell hits 1
DD Downes
DD Hull
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 14 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
CVE Tulagi, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ward


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 67,117, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Anzio, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Manila Bay, Shell hits 4
CVE Gambier Bay, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Shell hits 4, on fire
DE James E. Craig, Shell hits 1
DE Wyman, Shell hits 1
DE William C. Miller, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Wileman, Shell hits 3, on fire


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,117, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
DD Isokaze
DD Urakaze
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
AK Gainsar, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
AK Cheleb, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Thuban, Shell hits 43, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elaine, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Princess Adelaide, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAP Yukon, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Raranga, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAP Mildura, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAP Mungana, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
3322 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 187 disabled
Engineers: 60 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (10 destroyed, 12 disabled)

The only consolation prize was taking out a pair of Japanese cruisers:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,118

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 41
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isokaze



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 67,115

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
SBD-5 Dauntless x 31

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Absolutely awful. More LSI(L), AKA, APA sunk today than the entire war before this. Three or four CVEs destroyed. Numerous cruisers sunk. Thousands of troops sunk aboard ship. And now the Koepang invasion might not have enough enough to take the base:

Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10706 troops, 72 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Defending force 12724 troops, 216 guns, 310 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
7th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
12th JAAF Base Force

Defending units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
159th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
8th Australian Division
34th Combat Engr Rgt /2
24th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /5
141st USA Base Force /3

Definitely the biggest defeat of the war so far. Lesson learned: keep a strong SCTF guarding vulnerable fleets even if that means keeping air bases unsurpressed. This mistake likely cost me 1500 VPs...never again.

[Bif1961]

The difference between a lesson observed and lesson learned is if you apply the lesson to future operations. Sounds like you plan to make amends for taking the Japanese too lightly. I hope I can do the same to my allied opponent in my game at some point.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The difference between a lesson observed and lesson learned is if you apply the lesson to future operations. Sounds like you plan to make amends for taking the Japanese too lightly. I hope I can do the same to my allied opponent in my game at some point.

Yes, lesson learned. 842 VPs of ships sunk last turn and likely to rise this coming turn. At least none of my CVs were sunk, though by now that isn't as important.

[Bif1961]

I did do something like that to my opponent yesterday, I sank 4 of the pirates favorite Battleships the British RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Class. He sent them without air cover within Japanese torpedo armed LBNA range and mini-KB threw in a strike for good measure. What wasn't sunk that day was hunted down the next by a cruiser TF.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

I did do something like that to my opponent yesterday, I sank 4 of the pirates favorite Battleships the British RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Class. He sent them without air cover within Japanese torpedo armed LBNA range and mini-KB threw in a strike for good measure. What wasn't sunk that day was hunted down the next by a cruiser TF.

I don't think that's quite the same. Sounds like your opponent didn't have control of the air AND the sea. I wish the Japanese had sent LBA or the KB at my ships...I had the air well covered! Really I paid too much attention to the air aspects and it cost me by using my fleets to bombard air bases rather than protect fleets. Sending in BBs into LBA range without fighter cover is just a terrible idea....I don't blunder that badly!

[Bif1961]

He has lost 15 BBs to my three. he has been very aggressive which has paid off with a almost 1-for-1 trade in carriers but not in BBs, 5-1, CAs 2-1, and CLs 2-1. With my reinforcements in early 1943, I get four new carriers when he gets 1, I can keep parity until late 1943- early 1944.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961
He has lost 15 BBs to my three. he has been very aggressive which has paid off with a almost 1-for-1 trade in carriers but not in BBs, 5-1, CAs 2-1, and CLs 2-1. With my reinforcements in early 1943, I get four new carriers when he gets 1, I can keep parity until late 1943- early 1944.

I see. I for one am not a fan of committing BBs to the fray as the Allies until much later. Those BBs are invaluable for shore bombardment but they are only good in surface engagements against other BBs. If you risk them in surface engagements maybe you get lucky but maybe you won't, and given the cost of a BB the cost of being wrong is much higher than being right. I believe I have lost only about 8 BBs sinking 4-5. Not the best ratio but in the key category of CVs and CVLs, I'm way ahead. USN has lost only about 140 planes in capacity of fast carriers, and 90 of those were lost in the first 10 days of war. Pretty good considering how many IJN CVs I sunk and that it's spring 44!

[Sangeli]

April 1st 1944

I accidentally sent a transport fleet carrying some engineers to their death near Timor:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CL Sakawa
DD Tamanami
DD Fujinami
DD Kiyonami
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SC-522, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Doumer, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Idomeneus, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Tjitjalengka, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Lancaster, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Dorothy Philips, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
3483 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 204 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 90 destroyed, 104 disabled
Vehicles lost 113 (69 destroyed, 44 disabled)

That was just a mistake pure and simple. And more free VPs to Japan. At least I have plenty of transports and engineers to make good on the losses.

In covering my landing at Boela, a couple of Japanese fleets of transports and cruisers came under attack. But for some silly reason my dive bombers were set to 6,000 feet. So rather than diving and dropping bombs at 1-4k feet, they dropped their payload at 6k feet. The result was undoubtedly lower accuracy, though my torpedo bombers did even worse:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 8
E7K2 Alf x 2
N1K1-J George x 34
N1K2-J George x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 120
SBD-5 Dauntless x 58
TBF-1 Avenger x 18
TBM-1C Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 4 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 23 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami
CA Hikari, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Akatsuki
CA Kurama, Bomb hits 1



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 6
N1K2-J George x 18
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 31
SBD-5 Dauntless x 46
TBF-1 Avenger x 16
TBM-1C Avenger x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 11 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Haruna Maru
DD Akatsuki
CA Hikari, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kurama
LSD Akitsu Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Ariake
DD Hatsuharu
xAP Teiko Maru
AK Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 84,106

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Maebasi Maru, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
AK Yamahuku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

A lot of Hellcats shot down. There is a reason why I am so loathe to send my CVs to raid shipping...air to air losses are just too damn high. I'm having to use a lot of 60 exp USN fighter pilots because of the influx of CVEs in 1944. Losing a few CVEs is almost a blessing of sorts in that I have more fighter squadrons I can use for training. In any case, I did shoot down a number of fighters in the first attack and it looks like I sunk the CA Hikari after hitting it with five 1000 lb bombs. I think the IJN is probably feeling a real pinch on the number of available cruisers left after I knocked out three in the last week or so.

But the landing at Boela went smoothly enough and I easily have enough to take the base quickly:

Ground combat at Boela (80,110)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 962 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Defending force 20212 troops, 497 guns, 237 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Para Assault/A Division
1st Naval Construction Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
30th Australian Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Div /11
131st Field Artillery Battalion
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Mountain Gun Regiment
I Australian Corps /1

Overall things in the eastern DEI aren't going as great as I would have hoped. Unlike in the SoPac, the Japanese have made a real effort to defend the area. Heavy ship, air, and troop losses aboard ship have gifted the Japanese a good deal of VPs while blunting some of my offensive capabilities. I'm bogged down in Koepang until I can land another infantry regiment which was pulled back after my defeat there. And while I've inflicted some losses on the Japanese, the Japanese have clear and away come out ahead. To compound my issues, supply is becoming a problem here as my bombers are using supply at a prodigious rate. I have plenty of supply in Sydney but everything has to be shipped from Townsville and I did not allocate enough cargo ships to keep up with my usage. I'm slowly getting more merchant ships involved in resupply here but many are still a long ways away from reaching their destination. So it looks like my supply issues are going to get worse before they get better. But despite all my issues, the brute force of Allied should still allow me to take my objectives.

[KenchiSulla]

You get plenty of Hellcats, if you sunk a cruiser, it is worth it....

[Bif1961]

It would make sense he fights to and nail in DEI since you are so close to major oilfields while he expended little to defend the SoPac attacks. When you prevail in DEI it will be the beginning of the end since it will signal his losing access to his oilfields.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961
It would make sense he fights to and nail in DEI since you are so close to major oilfields while he expended little to defend the SoPac attacks. When you prevail in DEI it will be the beginning of the end since it will signal his losing access to his oilfields.

Very true. Oil is very important.

[Sangeli]

April 2nd 1944

Having landed enough troops at Boela to take the base, I decided to pull my navy back save for a cruiser fleet which I sent to bombard Ternate. They didn't actually bombard the base because they encountered Japanese ships:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batjan at 78,105, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu
DD Ariake
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Canberra II, Shell hits 2
CL Richmond, Shell hits 1
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2
CL Columbia
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Picking
DD Pringle
DD Remey
DD Gansevoort, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Frankford, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards

Not a very good outing for my cruiser fleet as once again radar failed to detect the Japanese at range. But they would redeem themselves against those IJN destroyers:

ght Time Surface Combat, near Batjan at 78,105, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Ariake
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isonami, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Canberra II
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
CL Columbia, Shell hits 1
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Picking
DD Pringle
DD Remey, Shell hits 1
DD Frankford

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Batjan at 78,104, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Ariake, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Canberra II, Shell hits 1
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
CL Columbia
DD DeHaven, heavy fires
DD Picking
DD Pringle
DD Remey
DD Frankford, on fire

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards

Even though they smashed the IJN fleet here, the performance of my radar was abysmal. Three encounters with the Japanese and not once did my radar detect them. Pretty pathetic.

After destroying this fleet, they encountered a convoy unloading at Ternate:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ternate at 78,102, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kenkon Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PB Taiko Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAK Ume Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Yuzan Maru, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
xAK Yosida Maru #3, Shell hits 28, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Canberra II
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
CL Columbia, Shell hits 1
DD DeHaven, heavy fires
DD Picking
DD Pringle
DD Remey
DD Frankford, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
3127 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 89 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 74 (47 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards

This time radar worked and I easily sunk all ships and passengers onboard.

My subs also helped out today:

Sub attack near Tockangbesi-eilanden at 71,109

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki, Torpedo hits 2
DD Samidare
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
SS Sealion, hits 1

Doubtful the CA Iwaki is sunk but as I've mentioned before, putting a ship into the shipyard for months is almost as good at this point.

And Boela fell easily on the first attack:

Ground combat at Boela (80,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19226 troops, 497 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Defending force 2710 troops, 41 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Allied adjusted assault: 1026

Japanese adjusted defense: 19

Allied assault odds: 54 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Boela !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
761 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 38 (3 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Division
30th Australian Brigade
4th Field Artillery Battalion
I Australian Corps
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st Para Assault/A Division
1st Naval Construction Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn

[Sangeli]

April 3rd 1944

Relatively quiet day but my subs crippled another Japanese cruiser:

Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 78,97

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

The IJN cruiser fleet is starting to bleed in the DEI. Over the last week or so I've counted 5 IJN cruisers that have been sunk or taken heavy damage requiring shipyard repairs. Hard to say exactly now my cruisers the Japanese have operational but I would be surprised if it were more than 15.

[jwolf]

Disappointing start for your surface fleet but they more than redeemed themselves by the end. I guess it was too dangerous for the Japanese to send any bigger warships?

Edit: in view of your latest post maybe the Japs were trying to send 1 or 2 cruisers but your subs got them first?

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Disappointing start for your surface fleet but they more than redeemed themselves by the end. I guess it was too dangerous for the Japanese to send any bigger warships?

Edit: in view of your latest post maybe the Japs were trying to send 1 or 2 cruisers but your subs got them first?

Given that a transport fleet was unloading at Ternate, I find it more likely to believe that Rev Rico didn't think I would sortie my cruisers in that direction. His cruisers have been bombarding Timor recently but other than that I'm not sure what he's planning on using them for. And speaking of those bombardments, I have sent a large Fletcher TF to guard Lautem against bombardment. It won't have dedicated air cover but Fletchers seem to do alright even without it.

[Sangeli]

April 4th 1944

Today had some ups and some downs. It started off well by putting a torpedo into the CV Kaga:



But later the remaining CVs launched some effective attacks against a cruiser fleet of mine:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kai-eilanden at 81,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 152 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 36
B6N2 Jill x 18
D4Y1 Judy x 12
D4Y3 Judy x 23
N1K2-J George x 103

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 13
P-40N1 Warhawk x 10
P-40N5 Warhawk x 13
F6F-3 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 7 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40N1 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK M. H. De Young
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dunlap
PC Ariadne, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Swanson
DD Walke
DD Downes

The CA New Orleans would sink while the CA Shropshire limped away.

[KenchiSulla]

Any indication of damage to Kaga? In my experience it could be anything from 1 to 20 major float...

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla
Any indication of damage to Kaga? In my experience it could be anything from 1 to 20 major float...

No idea.

[Sangeli]

April 5th 1944

Today was a big day. I launched an all out attack on Kendari's air base and port. First it was proceeded by a pair of bombardments:

Night Naval bombardment of Kendari at 70,106 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 59 damaged
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 363 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 8 destroyed on ground
N1K2-J George: 128 damaged
N1K2-J George: 5 destroyed on ground

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
CL St. Louis
CL Leander
DD Worden
DD Clark
DD Gridley
DD Halligan
DD Gatling

Japanese ground losses:
475 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled

Airbase hits 63
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 134


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Kendari at 70,106 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 44 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 36 damaged
N1K2-J George: 36 damaged
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed on ground

30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Wickes
DD Taylor
DD Strong
DD Stembel
DD Stanly
DD Sproston
DD Spence
DD Sigsbee
DD Caperton
DD Bush
DD Bullard
DD Black

Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 50

That smashed the air base enough such that CAP would not fly. I sent every 4E to hit the air base and all my carrier aircraft to attack the port. It was truly devastating:

Afternoon Air attack on Kendari , at 70,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 96
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 30
SBD-5 Dauntless x 110
TBF-1 Avenger x 114
TBM-1C Avenger x 16

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 20 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS I-121, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Heiei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Hitati Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1
E Aguni, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Nitian Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kure Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

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

Port hits 8



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kendari , at 70,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 89
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27
SBD-5 Dauntless x 25
TBF-1 Avenger x 40
TBM-1C Avenger x 16

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kiyozumi Maru, Bomb hits 1
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Naruto Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Liverpool Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port fuel hits 1



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kendari , at 70,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 29,690 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 31
SBD-5 Dauntless x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 16

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kendari , at 70,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 1



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kendari , at 70,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 27

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Tone, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 1

That's a really big coup for me to take out those IJN CAs sitting in port without any real losses. And to add insult to injury, my subs put a torp in another BB:



The Japanese fleet is melting away. Given my previous losses at Koepang, this whole DEI is turning into a bloody affair for both of us. The difference of course is that I can replace my losses

The air war today was as lopsided as every. Most of the 100+ planes at Kendari were destroyed on the ground. With PDU on, inflicting high losses on advanced fighters will prevent more Japanese squadrons from being equipped with them. I have more ideas on this for later...