[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 22, 1945[/font]
Up North on the 21st the DS stays away and the strikes I sent found some targets. Nice to see after a long hiatus of hitting anything on the oceans. It looks like the ships unloading in the clear had some guns and motorised support for the Marine divisions now at Bihoro, so that is doubly good, to nail their rear elements. It would be nice if some of these were the AA guns that are embedded in these divisions too.
I also did get one of the single DD raiders this turn, and surprisingly it was an Jill TB with one fish that sent the Nestor under immediately. I’ll restrict range a bit more next turn but keep these flying.
The ground strikes hit mostly the Marines as well, getting good results. The 1st division will have some filling out to do now and shouldn’t be very resilient if this is a long term battle at Bihoro. Now that Kushiro is winding down I see a movement icon in the direction of Bihoro from Kushiro. I don’t see any others, so I’m going to divert all troops in their set up blocking hexes back and around to Bihoro, leaving only 500AV in the x3 terrain on the road to Muroran and another 500AV in the hex next to Asahikawa. I can always bring a bit more in if he moves that way with some force.
I just realised there are also some 15cm guns of the 31st Special Base Force at Ominato, and I might bring those over to use at Bihoro. That would give a little bit of extra punch. I do have the Wake unit for any future landings on Honshu.
I tried to pull a fragment of the Wake unit off of Paramushiro to get it sunk and thus be able to rebuild it all back on Honshu. I’ll see tomorrow if it got loaded or not in time before the Allies noticed and sunk those ships.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 22, 1945
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Sendai at 119,58, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-15, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC CHa-24, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
SC CHa-55, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-76, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Nestor
Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
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Night Air attack on Bihoro , at 123,51
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 5
Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 14
Liberator GR.VI x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 11 damaged
Liberator GR.VI: 4 damaged
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Liberator GR.VI bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Etorofu , at 128,52
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 43,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 17
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
FM-2 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on Kushiro , at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 42,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 21
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet
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Morning Air attack on Kushiro , at 123,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 19
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet
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Morning Air attack on 1st Regiment, at 122,53 , near Kushiro
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 40
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 45
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 31 (4 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on 6th Ranger Battalion, at 122,53 , near Kushiro
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 17
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 49
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 27
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Bihoro , at 123,51
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 50
B-29-1 Superfort x 21
B-29-25 Superfort x 49
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 6
P-51D Mustang x 26
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 17
PBJ-1J Mitchell x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 35 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-29-1 Superfort: 17 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 12 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 13 damaged
PBJ-1J Mitchell: 9 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Airbase hits 16
Runway hits 13
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PBJ-1J Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Bihoro , at 123,51
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 18
F-6D Mustang x 16
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 18
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 8
PV-1 Ventura x 39
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 14 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 3 damaged
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 3 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 27 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Combined 8th SNLF , at 123,51 (Bihoro)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 6
PV-1 Ventura x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 5 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
PV-1 Ventura: 2 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 17
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 20
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAP Pijnacker Hordijk
xAP Siberg, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Darvel, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Camphuys, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Woolgar, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 43 (39 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,53
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 19
B5N2 Kate x 18
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
xAP Kwangtung, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Anshun
xAP Rochussen, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Van Riebeek
xAP Pijnacker Hordijk, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 17 (10 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 124,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 44
A6M8 Zero x 39
D4Y4 Judy x 37
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAK John Lykes, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
xAP Nurmahal, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Steel Worker, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 124,52
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 16
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 35
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DE Roberts, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Joliet Victory, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 23 (21 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (28 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 123,56
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Nestor, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on 1st Marine Division, at 124,52 , near Kushiro
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 81
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 48 (15 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (10 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on 1st Marine Division, at 124,52 , near Kushiro
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 54
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Ground combat at Kushiro (123,53)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 130822 troops, 2219 guns, 3655 vehicles, Assault Value = 4103
Defending force 22854 troops, 118 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 32
Allied adjusted assault: 4149
Japanese adjusted defense: 19
Allied assault odds: 218 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
13612 casualties reported
Squads: 372 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 807 destroyed, 120 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 96 (90 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (19 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
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Ground combat at Bihoro (123,51)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 804 troops, 3 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 1260
Defending force 67615 troops, 1055 guns, 477 vehicles, Assault Value = 809
Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Div /12
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
5th Marine Division
81st Infantry Div /8
Defending units:
3rd Amphibious Brigade
61st Division
7th Division
52nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
57th Ind.Mixed Brigade
56th Div /3
Combined 8th SNLF
28th Division
50th Ind.Mixed Brigade
53rd Ind.Mixed Bde /2
14th Ind.Mixed Regiment
77th Division
10th Ind.Infantry Bde /2
27th Air Flotilla
7th Base Force
23rd RF Gun Battalion
6th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
177th JAAF AF Bn
27th Army
22nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
134th AA Regiment
4th Medium Mortar Battalion
12th Field AF Construction Battalion
73rd Field AA Battalion
3rd Medium Mortar Battalion
5th Area Army
6th Medium Mortar Battalion
7th Medium Mortar Battalion
35th Army
2nd RF Gun Battalion
1st Base Force
5th RF Gun Battalion
37th Ind. Engr Rgt /1
7th Area Army /2
58th Field AA Battalion
12th RF Gun Battalion
25th RF Gun Battalion
77th JAAF AF Bn
5th Medium Mortar Battalion
6th Ind.Infantry Bde /2
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In a few days there is an influx of divisions arriving, about 15 in total, on the Home Islands. This comes at a crucial time when I can now afford to send any free units to Hokkaido to shore up defenses there.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
