8 July 1943
RUSSIA
Well here we go. A 1943 invasion of Petropavlovsk. I predicted a hard time and so it would be. First up Yamato and Musashi underwhelm me with their performance. Hopefully they contributed so some lowering of morale.
Night Naval bombardment of Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
120 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 2
BB Yamato, Shell hits 1
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Pre-Invasion action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
465 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
DD Hayate
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Aikoku Maru, Shell hits 34, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite
E Yaeyama
APD Aoi
AMC Kinryu Maru
Japanese ground losses:
320 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
I have kept the following reports to give an indication of the CD guns firing back at my ships.
180mm B-1-K CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
130mm B-13 CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
E Yaeyama firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
180mm B-1-K CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
130mm B-13 CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
APD Aoi firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
180mm B-1-K CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
130mm B-13 CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
100mm B-24 DP Gun Battery engaging xAP Aikoku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Oite firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
DD Hayate fired at enemy troops
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
TF 38 troops unloading over beach at Petropavlovsk.
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Pre-Invasion action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
445 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 18, on fire Yamashiro soaks up a lot of shells.
CL Kashii, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
CL Kashima, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Katori, Shell hits 9
xAK Momoyama Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire
xAK Koki Maru, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Taikei Maru
PB Sensan Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Togo Maru
xAK Naniwa Maru
Japanese ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
TF 156 troops unloading over beach at Petropavlovsk.
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Pre-Invasion action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
228 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 12, heavy fires
xAK Belgium Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Kuroshio
xAK Florida Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Midori Maru, Shell hits 2
SC CHa-45
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-9
SC CHa-6
xAK Shozan Maru
Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
TF 313 troops unloading over beach at Petropavlovsk, 141,44
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
185 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
DD Hayate, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
xAP Terukuni Maru, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Yaeyama
xAP Aikoku Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Chidori
APD Aoi
E Sanae
AMC Kinryu Maru
DD Nowaki, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
186 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Katori, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Momoyama Maru, Shell hits 25, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kashii, heavy fires
CL Kashima, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Koki Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Taikei Maru
PB Sensan Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Togo Maru
xAK Naniwa Maru
Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
137 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Belgium Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Midori Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Kiso, heavy fires
SC CHa-45
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-9
SC CHa-6
xAK Shozan Maru
Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Morning Air attack on Blagoveshchensk
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 37
Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 7
MiG-3 x 27
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
I-15bis: 1 destroyed
MiG-3: 2 destroyed
Japanese morning Air attack on 103rd Rifle Division at 109,25 near Shilka.
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 6
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 30
Allied aircraft
I-153 x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged
No Allied losses
Japanese morning Air attack on 104th Region Fortress at 127,42 near Shikuka]
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 12
Allied aircraft
I-153 x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Japanese morning Air attack on 57th Motor Rifle Division at 109,25 near Shilka – 7 casualties.
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20
Allied aircraft
I-153 x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 11 damaged
No Allied losses
Japanese morning Air attack on Blagoveshchensk.
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 1
MiG-3 x 6
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese afternoon Air attack on 198th Rifle Regiment at Petropavlovsk – 6 casualties.
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 58
B5N2 Kate x 56
B6N1 Jill x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
72 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AMC Kinryu Maru
DD Nowaki
DD Oite
Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Daijukyo Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
BB Yamashiro
PB Syozui Maru
xAK Cheribon Maru
xAK Kyokko Maru, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Togo Maru
PB Taikei Maru
PB Sensan Maru
xAK Naniwa Maru
Invasion Support action off Petropavlovsk
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Florida Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso
SC CHa-45
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-9
SC CHa-6
xAK Shozan Maru
Allied bombardment at Petropavlovsk.
Attacking force 5653 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 142
Defending force 11173 troops, 112 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 500
Allied bombardment at Skovorodino – J 32 casualties.
Attacking force 540 troops, 42 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 1108
Defending force 15863 troops, 165 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 436
Allied deliberate attack at 109,25 near Shilka.
Attacking force 11239 troops, 263 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 2204
Defending force 18616 troops, 304 guns, 772 vehicles, Assault Value = 677
Allied adjusted assault: 142
Japanese adjusted defense: 1163
Allied assault odds: 1 to 8
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
662 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
103rd Rifle Division
61st Tank Division
111th Tank Division
36th Motor Rifle Division
298th Rifle Division
57th Motor Rifle Division
1st Motorized Rifle Regiment
267th Cannon Regiment
1233rd Cannon Regiment
390th Cannon Regiment
36th Army
177th Mortar Regiment
Defending units:
19th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field AA Battalion
CHINA
Tuyun is bombed – 5 runway hits.
Japanese morning Air attack on 21st Chinese Corps at 85,58 near Foochow – 16 casualties.
Kunming is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 7 runway hits.
Japanese morning Air attack on 59th Chinese Corps at 78,38 near Tienshui – 18 casualties (1 engineer squad destroyed).
Japanese morning Air attack on 18th Chinese Corps at 77,44 near Chungking – 30 casualties (1 non-combat squad destroyed).
Kukong is bombed – 5 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 6 runway hits.
Japanese deliberate attack at Kunming.
Attacking force 26046 troops, 236 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 957
Defending force 18861 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 525
Japanese adjusted assault: 709
Allied adjusted defense: 967
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1659 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 179 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
270 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
34th Division
14th Division
Defending units:
52nd Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
11th Group Army
NCAC
16th Chinese Base Force
Japanese bombardment at 77,44 near Chungking – A 124 casualties (3 combat squads destroyed).
Attacking force 440 troops, 55 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 621
Defending force 38150 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 881
Japanese bombard at Kukong – A 9 casualties.
Attacking force 9397 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 331
Defending force 36064 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1219
HOME ISLANDS
Allied morning Air attack on TF near Shikuka at 126,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 1 destroyed
Allied afternoon Air attack on TF near Shikuka at 126,43.
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 3
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Repairs completed on APD Fuji at Hiroshima/Kure, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on APD Hagi at Hiroshima/Kure, ship returned to service
PO1 Takagi C. of 252 Ku S-1/A is credited with kill number 5
PO1 Takagi C. of 252 Ku S-1/A attains ace status!!
PO1 Takagi C. of 252 Ku S-1/A is credited with kill number 6
Pumps having difficulty controlling flooding aboard CL Katori
Decks awash aboard CL Katori, order given to Abandon Ship
CL Kashima sinks at sea
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard DD Kuroshio
xAK Momoyama Maru sinks at sea
xAK Koki Maru sinks at sea
xAP Aikoku Maru sinks at sea
xAP Terukuni Maru sinks at sea
xAK Belgium Maru sinks at sea
So, at the end of the day we have sacrificed 2 old light cruisers, 3 xAK and 2 xAP. A couple more xAK are destined to go down. A good VP haul to Todd but at this stage they have little relevance. We have a number of ships which may make it to Paramushiro but then again are likely to be gobbled up by fire or fall prey to those lurking submarines. Yamashiro is not too badly knocked around and the trick will be to get her home without running into submarines. Some destroyers needing attention but generally they are of the older generation. I will, however, be looking to keep them in the game.
56 Division has most of the combat squads ashore. The support squads and supply are still to be unloaded. We shall have to stick around for another day in order to get as much of this off as we possibly can. It is going to mean more ships lost for sure but the end result will be a decent and well supplied force on the ground. We have one more division still to come and it should hit the beach head in a couple of days. Losses incurred as expected but not bad in the warship department. When weighed up against the positive result of getting the LCUs ashore in good order I am so far satisfied that the loss will be worth the gain of securing Petropavlovsk.
Attached is a screen shot [ships in red rectangles only] of the damage to ships which did not sink during the day.

Kido Butai, although powerful, was a raiding force, and this is exactly how the Japanese understood its usage. 'Shattered Sword'