21 Feb 43
Troops continued to unload off of burning and sinking ships at Babar. There was no interference by air or sea, so a good number of troops got to land. Several ships sank, though, and there's just two left unloading. They'll sink soon too, so they stay, and will continue to try to unload troops. A fair number of troops and tanks have been lost. An attack may still be possible, though, except for the fact that the partial division has no supplies. A task force of xAKLs will return to Babar today to unload supply. The mostly undamaged transport made it to near Darwin. The few damaged ships, with men, will continue to Darwin and unload. The undamaged transports will head back towards Babar, and will stop one hex from the island. The carriers will cover the move back to Babar. I hope to be able to unload these xAPs and get some support and artillery devices there for the division. A minefield at Babar was detected but not run into.
British cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire bombarded Tavoy, doing excellent work on the runway, damaging 17 Sallys and causing 414 casualties.
I got ambushed a bit in Burma. OPilot moved 2 Oscar squadrons into Burma. I've been bombing just about everything that moves in the open, and rarely sweeping. He downed 8 B-25s and 7 B-26s. He's been playing a shell game with the Oscars, basing them at any of his bases, including size 1 airfields. Most days, the Oscars aren't in Burma at all. Then they appear, unpredictably. He's done well with this strategy. I don't have the planes to cover every hex, and don't want to. I also don't want to just hit one or two targets, with protection, a day. I want to slow the exodus of units across the Burma plain. I'm doing lots of damage to his ground units, but today it was at a cost.
13 Liberator IIs flew from Chungking to Hong Kong and bombed the port. They hit nothing in thunderstorms.
Here's the order of battle on Babar. I think an attack is possible after a bit of reinforcement and landing of supply. Over half of Americal's combat squads are there, but only a handful of the other devices.
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1982 troops, 33 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 95
Defending force 2789 troops, 39 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 215
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
1st Engineer Co
16th Naval Guard Unit
61st JNAF AF Unit
7th Port Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
44th Field Const Co
4th Field Construction Battalion
106th JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Bn /1
97th Field Artillery Battalion
154th FA Bn /1
US attack on Kusaie barely misses 1 to 1 odds but the casualties are incredibly lopsided. Disruption is getting high, especially with the tank unit, but with those casualties, and so many squads destroyed, I think the enemy defense is crumbling and the combat units are melting away. We attack again today. The nice thing about Kusaie is that all of the support units are already there.
Ground combat at Kusaie Island (125,118)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 10318 troops, 203 guns, 199 vehicles, Assault Value = 308
Defending force 8326 troops, 69 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 82
Allied adjusted assault: 107
Japanese adjusted defense: 111
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
960 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 18 (8 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
214th Coast AA Regiment
10th US Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Sasebo 6th SNLF
48th JNAF AF Unit
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
7th Naval Construction Battalion
54th JNAF AF Unit
Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
You episode at Babar reminds me of the Tokyo Express that was made up of 11 transports and 4 escorting DDs command by Admiral Tanaka. After a day long series of air attack he had 7 sunk out right and the remaining 4 damaged, he decided to ram the four damaged merchant vessels ashore and let them offload and sink in place. Of the 7,000 troops in the convoy only 2,000 made it ashore without most of their heavier equipment and supplies. Unlike the Japanese, that was their last major attempt to get troops ashore, you plan on following up with more troops, equipment and supplies covered by carriers.
Sorry to see the Sam Adams went down with all the beer aboard.
Sorry to see the Sam Adams went down with all the beer aboard.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
22 Feb 43
I don't know whether to wax poetic about losing Edgar Allen Poe, or drown my sorrows over the loss of Sam Adams.
US ships bombard Kusaie Island.
Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
DD Monaghan
DD Maury
DD McCall
DD Gridley
Japanese ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 11
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1
Dutch sub O19 hits small tanker TK Samui Maru with 3 torpedoes. One is a dud. The ship is empty but sinking audio heard immediately after combat.
Well north of Miri, Harder spots a convoy of huge tankers. 2 torpedoes are fired at San Ramon Maru but miss. It appears that the big tanker convoys from Singapore are still moving through the middle of the South China Sea.
Back at Kusaie Island, during the day, enemy ships appear.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
DD Akigumo
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
Allied Ships
SC-751, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Koonda, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAKL Mortlake Bank, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Mulcra, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAKL Noora, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
The cargo task force was unloading supply. There is no bombardment by the battleships after this, either by plan, timing, or by luck. The battleships stayed at Kusaie. Catalinas sortie from Nauru.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 7 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Yamashiro
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
US troops attack at Kusaie.
Ground combat at Kusaie Island (125,118)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 10317 troops, 203 guns, 199 vehicles, Assault Value = 309
Defending force 6989 troops, 64 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 41
Allied adjusted assault: 95
Japanese adjusted defense: 23
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kusaie Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1093 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 21 (19 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
214th Coast AA Regiment
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
10th US Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Sasebo 6th SNLF
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
7th Naval Construction Battalion
48th JNAF AF Unit
54th JNAF AF Unit
Finally! The second battle for Kusaie is essentially over. Troops will rest and wait for the enemy battleships to leave.
At Babar, some troops are still unloading from two burning and sinking transports. In the morning, 42 Oscars, probably from Koepang, sweep. 32 Wildcats are on ranged CAP from the southeast. The Oscars get the better of the Wildcats. 13 Bettys then arrive, escorted by 35 A6M5 Zeros. This time, the CAP gets past the escorts quickly, without engaging most of them. 10 Bettys are downed. 3 drop torpedoes but miss. 23 Lilys then appear, without escort. 37 Wildcats intercept, but the raid isn't spotted till late and no bombers are engaged, before or after bombing.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 23
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAP Takliwa, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Rufus King, Bomb hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
996 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 19 (10 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (12 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Then 29 Sallys arrive at Babar, with no escort. This time, the Wildcats do engage, to some extent. 6 Sallys are downed. 25 Sallys drop bombs on the US troops on Babar.
I noticed at Babar that some xAKLs there that were unloading supply were now also unloading troops from Americal. I guess they plucked some men out of the sea, and are now landing them. I hadn't seen previously loaded ship do that before.
Near Prome, northwest of Rangoon, there's a stack of isolated enemy troops. Nothing substantial, but I sent a small unit to clean them up. Odds were terrible. Results were fine.
Ground combat at 54,50 (near Prome)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2176 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
Defending force 3854 troops, 26 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Allied adjusted assault: 6
Japanese adjusted defense: 169
Allied assault odds: 1 to 28
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Regiment
Defending units:
211th Ship Eng Coy
311th Ship Eng Coy
18th JNAF AF Unit
15th JAAF AF Bn
32nd Special Base Force
204th Ship Eng Coy
3rd Air Div /1
On the day, air losses were 12 F4F-4s and 5 Catalinas versus 10 Bettys, 7 Oscars, 6 Sallys and 1 Zero.
I don't know whether to wax poetic about losing Edgar Allen Poe, or drown my sorrows over the loss of Sam Adams.
US ships bombard Kusaie Island.
Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
DD Monaghan
DD Maury
DD McCall
DD Gridley
Japanese ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 11
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1
Dutch sub O19 hits small tanker TK Samui Maru with 3 torpedoes. One is a dud. The ship is empty but sinking audio heard immediately after combat.
Well north of Miri, Harder spots a convoy of huge tankers. 2 torpedoes are fired at San Ramon Maru but miss. It appears that the big tanker convoys from Singapore are still moving through the middle of the South China Sea.
Back at Kusaie Island, during the day, enemy ships appear.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
DD Akigumo
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
Allied Ships
SC-751, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Koonda, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAKL Mortlake Bank, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Mulcra, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAKL Noora, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
The cargo task force was unloading supply. There is no bombardment by the battleships after this, either by plan, timing, or by luck. The battleships stayed at Kusaie. Catalinas sortie from Nauru.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 7 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Yamashiro
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
US troops attack at Kusaie.
Ground combat at Kusaie Island (125,118)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 10317 troops, 203 guns, 199 vehicles, Assault Value = 309
Defending force 6989 troops, 64 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 41
Allied adjusted assault: 95
Japanese adjusted defense: 23
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kusaie Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1093 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 21 (19 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
214th Coast AA Regiment
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
10th US Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Sasebo 6th SNLF
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
7th Naval Construction Battalion
48th JNAF AF Unit
54th JNAF AF Unit
Finally! The second battle for Kusaie is essentially over. Troops will rest and wait for the enemy battleships to leave.
At Babar, some troops are still unloading from two burning and sinking transports. In the morning, 42 Oscars, probably from Koepang, sweep. 32 Wildcats are on ranged CAP from the southeast. The Oscars get the better of the Wildcats. 13 Bettys then arrive, escorted by 35 A6M5 Zeros. This time, the CAP gets past the escorts quickly, without engaging most of them. 10 Bettys are downed. 3 drop torpedoes but miss. 23 Lilys then appear, without escort. 37 Wildcats intercept, but the raid isn't spotted till late and no bombers are engaged, before or after bombing.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 23
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAP Takliwa, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Rufus King, Bomb hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
996 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 19 (10 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (12 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Then 29 Sallys arrive at Babar, with no escort. This time, the Wildcats do engage, to some extent. 6 Sallys are downed. 25 Sallys drop bombs on the US troops on Babar.
I noticed at Babar that some xAKLs there that were unloading supply were now also unloading troops from Americal. I guess they plucked some men out of the sea, and are now landing them. I hadn't seen previously loaded ship do that before.
Near Prome, northwest of Rangoon, there's a stack of isolated enemy troops. Nothing substantial, but I sent a small unit to clean them up. Odds were terrible. Results were fine.
Ground combat at 54,50 (near Prome)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2176 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
Defending force 3854 troops, 26 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Allied adjusted assault: 6
Japanese adjusted defense: 169
Allied assault odds: 1 to 28
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Regiment
Defending units:
211th Ship Eng Coy
311th Ship Eng Coy
18th JNAF AF Unit
15th JAAF AF Bn
32nd Special Base Force
204th Ship Eng Coy
3rd Air Div /1
On the day, air losses were 12 F4F-4s and 5 Catalinas versus 10 Bettys, 7 Oscars, 6 Sallys and 1 Zero.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Nice to see Kusaie Island finally change hands again.
Good move having torpedo armed Cats standing by on naval attack - putting enemy BBs in the shipyard is second only to putting them under.
Glad to see your crippled BB is still afloat, but it is currently 5 hexes from that IJ sub and will be 4 hexes tomorrow. If that is a Glen sub your BB may get spotted. Can you do anything to suppress that sub?
Good move having torpedo armed Cats standing by on naval attack - putting enemy BBs in the shipyard is second only to putting them under.
Glad to see your crippled BB is still afloat, but it is currently 5 hexes from that IJ sub and will be 4 hexes tomorrow. If that is a Glen sub your BB may get spotted. Can you do anything to suppress that sub?
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
There's more than just one sub in the area, as today's map shows. I'm sure that I'm not seeing all of them.
23 Feb 43 - Part One - The Marshalls
DMS Southard is escorting 3 xAKs carrying the armor unit from Kwajalein. Southard sweeps some mines at adjacent Namu, but hits the last one. Southard returned to Kwajalein while the cargo ships diverted towards Nauru Island, and Southard dodged 4 torpedoes at Kwajalein from RO-67. I order the xAKs to Tarawa and hope for the best, with no escort.
Not in the Marshalls, but at Port Moresby, OPilot sent 27 Bettys on a night strike. A few planes were destroyed on the ground. I'd reply in kind with my own much bigger night strike, but my aircraft have more important things to do right now.
The four enemy battleships at Kusaie Island did bombard and left.
Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Nowaki
DD Akigumo
Allied ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 1
B-24s continue to bomb Roi-Namur.
23 Feb 43 - Part One - The Marshalls
DMS Southard is escorting 3 xAKs carrying the armor unit from Kwajalein. Southard sweeps some mines at adjacent Namu, but hits the last one. Southard returned to Kwajalein while the cargo ships diverted towards Nauru Island, and Southard dodged 4 torpedoes at Kwajalein from RO-67. I order the xAKs to Tarawa and hope for the best, with no escort.
Not in the Marshalls, but at Port Moresby, OPilot sent 27 Bettys on a night strike. A few planes were destroyed on the ground. I'd reply in kind with my own much bigger night strike, but my aircraft have more important things to do right now.
The four enemy battleships at Kusaie Island did bombard and left.
Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Nowaki
DD Akigumo
Allied ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 1
B-24s continue to bomb Roi-Namur.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
23 Feb 43 - Part Two - Babar
Troops continue to unload, slowly, at Babar. The plan is to finish unloading, then split off some battleships from the carriers and bombard Babar, combined with a ground assault. Darwin is capable of rearming all of my ships.
I-122 hit xAKL Loa Koeloe with a torpedo at Babar. The ship had mostly supply, but had picked up a few support squads from a sinking transport. Which had picked up squads from another sinking transport. Maybe some of these squads got picked up today. Tough couple of days for those guys.
B-17s hit Babar. Did a fighter sweep of Koepang. 23 P-38Gs went up against 32 A6M5 Zeros and 37 Oscars. About 8 P-38s were lost, while about 4 Zeros and 12 Oscars were downed. I didn't check the numbers before this went to press.
Troops continue to unload, slowly, at Babar. The plan is to finish unloading, then split off some battleships from the carriers and bombard Babar, combined with a ground assault. Darwin is capable of rearming all of my ships.
I-122 hit xAKL Loa Koeloe with a torpedo at Babar. The ship had mostly supply, but had picked up a few support squads from a sinking transport. Which had picked up squads from another sinking transport. Maybe some of these squads got picked up today. Tough couple of days for those guys.
B-17s hit Babar. Did a fighter sweep of Koepang. 23 P-38Gs went up against 32 A6M5 Zeros and 37 Oscars. About 8 P-38s were lost, while about 4 Zeros and 12 Oscars were downed. I didn't check the numbers before this went to press.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
23 Feb 43 - Part Three - Burma
British cruisers bombarded Port Blair. 253 casualties, including 10 destroyed non-combat squads. We attack there today.
Corsairs swept Taung Gyi, finding no CAP. Now I see Oscars there. P-38s swept Rahaeng, finding no CAP.
Typical enemy bombing in China, especially up north by Ningsia. Changsha has been getting more attention, with enemy units now in town, coming in from the woods to the northeast. Chinese defenses are strong enough to hold in the urban terrain. I will try to spring a trap and move all four Chinese fighter squadrons from the capital to Changsha.
British cruisers bombarded Port Blair. 253 casualties, including 10 destroyed non-combat squads. We attack there today.
Corsairs swept Taung Gyi, finding no CAP. Now I see Oscars there. P-38s swept Rahaeng, finding no CAP.
Typical enemy bombing in China, especially up north by Ningsia. Changsha has been getting more attention, with enemy units now in town, coming in from the woods to the northeast. Chinese defenses are strong enough to hold in the urban terrain. I will try to spring a trap and move all four Chinese fighter squadrons from the capital to Changsha.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Really like how you are poking holes in the Japanese perimeter in multiple places. Shows how hard it is for Japan to handle multiple fronts.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Troops are completely prepped for Koepang, which was to follow taking Babar. But I've reconsidered. I had prepped a large force, including 4 artillery units, a Marine HQ, 2 armor units, combat engineers and the 3rd USMC Division. But I don't think that's enough infantry. It looks like a division plus of defense at Koepang. So I've postponed that for a bit, and have assigned the division that had gone to Buna from Port Moresby, and is now walking back to Port Moresby. It's about halfway from Kokoda to Port Moresby, but has a significant number of disabled squads. We'll wait a bit on Koepang.
The attention will be at Ponape for awhile. Ponape is only 10 hexes from Truk. The Bettys that will be coming from Truk will be escorted by Zeros. My covering force is the CVEs plus Yorktown plus Hermes. I don't know if the CAP will be strong enough. I want to start pounding Truk from Kusaie, using heavy bombers, but Kusaie is just a size 2 airfield and needs work. It could be argued that I should wait on Ponape, but we're going, using the good APs to land 2 divisions.
The attention will be at Ponape for awhile. Ponape is only 10 hexes from Truk. The Bettys that will be coming from Truk will be escorted by Zeros. My covering force is the CVEs plus Yorktown plus Hermes. I don't know if the CAP will be strong enough. I want to start pounding Truk from Kusaie, using heavy bombers, but Kusaie is just a size 2 airfield and needs work. It could be argued that I should wait on Ponape, but we're going, using the good APs to land 2 divisions.
-
CaptBeefheart
- Posts: 2623
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 2:42 am
- Location: Seoul, Korea
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
I just caught up after a two-week hiatus. Great job on the super BBs. I've never played as Japan, but those beasts seem more trouble than they're worth, what with the fuel consumption and difficulty in re-arming them.
Any idea where the KB is hanging out? That could make the Ponape invasion a bit problematic.
Cheers,
CB
Any idea where the KB is hanging out? That could make the Ponape invasion a bit problematic.
Cheers,
CB
Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
I lost track of KB awhile ago, when it went south after sending sweeps over Rangoon. It's been gone long enough to be just about anywhere. I did get a small detection level on a sub awhile back, in the middle of the South China Sea, which was an interesting place for that. There a chance that KB, or part of it, went back to Japan. Maybe for an upgrade. Maybe for action in the Aleutians. I've had SigInt for a long time about troops readying for Kiska and Attu and the dot base adjacent. It's still February, so winter, but in March, it won't be. I think it's unlikely, and wouldn't accomplish anything, in my opinion, but maybe the Japanese want to attack somewhere where they'd succeed.
But I think KB is out there. It could go after the big US carriers at Babar or the CVEs (an easier target) heading to Ponape. Of course, he doesn't know where the CVEs are, just that they were in the Marshalls a couple of weeks ago.
But I think KB is out there. It could go after the big US carriers at Babar or the CVEs (an easier target) heading to Ponape. Of course, he doesn't know where the CVEs are, just that they were in the Marshalls a couple of weeks ago.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
24 Feb 43
Herring fired 2 torpedoes at destroyer Hagikaze near Ponape. They missed. This is the battleship task force retiring to Truk.
Ponape will be invaded. The plan for carrier support is altered.
Herring fired 2 torpedoes at destroyer Hagikaze near Ponape. They missed. This is the battleship task force retiring to Truk.
Ponape will be invaded. The plan for carrier support is altered.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
It's nice to see that the New Mexico made it to safety. It will probably be out of action for 9 months or more but that is better than the alternative.
As for "rolling the dice a bit more than planned" that should be interesting to see and I am anxious to see the results. It's an aggressive move for this time in the war, IMHO. Good luck.
As for "rolling the dice a bit more than planned" that should be interesting to see and I am anxious to see the results. It's an aggressive move for this time in the war, IMHO. Good luck.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
24 Feb 43 - Part Two - Babar
[EDIT: graphic should say xAPs, not Fast APs. The fast APs are in use at Ponape. Here, the regular xAPs are being used.]
[EDIT: graphic should say xAPs, not Fast APs. The fast APs are in use at Ponape. Here, the regular xAPs are being used.]
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
First, something I forgot to mention in the Marshalls. The 3 xAKs running to Tarawa from Kwajalein without an escort were spotted by I-27. 2 torpedoes were fired at xAK Jefferson Myers but missed. No engagement on the surface. Lucky. The ships, loaded with an armor unit, made it safely to Tarawa.
24 Feb 43 - Part Three - Burma and China
British cruisers bombarded Port Blair. Bombers bombed. Troops attacked.
Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 15175 troops, 262 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 377
Defending force 5585 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Allied adjusted assault: 308
Japanese adjusted defense: 329
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
304 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
111th LRP Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
111th LRP Bde /2
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
112th RN Base Force
111th RN Base Force
16th USN Special Construction Battalion
Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
303rd Ship Eng Coy
1st Base Force
302nd Ship Eng Coy
5th JAAF AF Coy
Troops will rest a day or two. Cruisers will continue to bombard. The enemy is taking lots of destroyed squads and devices now, so the base should fall soon, if not for the high disablements for the attackers. But I think we'll take the base soon.
I guessed right at Changsha. 7 P-43s and 18 P-66s intercepted 24 Lilys and 27 Oscars. 13 Lilys and 10 Oscars were shot down. 1 P-66 was lost. FO. A. Chong became the first Chinese ace of the war.
24 Feb 43 - Part Three - Burma and China
British cruisers bombarded Port Blair. Bombers bombed. Troops attacked.
Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 15175 troops, 262 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 377
Defending force 5585 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Allied adjusted assault: 308
Japanese adjusted defense: 329
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
304 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
111th LRP Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
111th LRP Bde /2
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
112th RN Base Force
111th RN Base Force
16th USN Special Construction Battalion
Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
303rd Ship Eng Coy
1st Base Force
302nd Ship Eng Coy
5th JAAF AF Coy
Troops will rest a day or two. Cruisers will continue to bombard. The enemy is taking lots of destroyed squads and devices now, so the base should fall soon, if not for the high disablements for the attackers. But I think we'll take the base soon.
I guessed right at Changsha. 7 P-43s and 18 P-66s intercepted 24 Lilys and 27 Oscars. 13 Lilys and 10 Oscars were shot down. 1 P-66 was lost. FO. A. Chong became the first Chinese ace of the war.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
25 Feb 43 - Ponape
4 US cruisers and 4 destroyers go to Ponape and sink SC Ch 27. 8 other US ships bombard Ponape. It becomes obvious that the Ponape Naval Fortress is formidable.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged
127 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville, Shell hits 2
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1
CL Detroit
DD Monaghan
DD Maury
DD McCall
DD Gridley
Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
AP McCawley is slower than the other APs in this operation, moving 6 hexes a day instead of 8. I'd put McCawley in a separate task force, with a DMS, for the run into Ponape, so that I could put it at full speed and not have to use full speed on the many other ships. That part of the plan worked. The part about confronting big and many coastal guns did not.
Invasion Support action off Ponape (119,113)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP McCawley, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DMS Zane
Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
12.7cm/50 T03 DP Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
12.7cm/50 T03 DP Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
McCawley is SYS 59/FLOT 22-13/ENG 16-4/FIRE 56. The ship may burn up. All of the troops did unload, at least.
Southeast of Ponape, I-18 spots the slow US battleships.
Sub attack near Ponape at 121,116
Japanese Ships
SS I-18
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1
BB California
DD Gillespie
DD MacDonough
DD Porter
SS I-18 launches 8 torpedoes at BB Mississippi
There was a dud torpedo hit also. Mississippi is SYS 3/FLOT 37-33/ENG 0/FIRE 0. It will stay with California and bombard, then head to Nauru.
In the morning, 36 Wildcats swept Truk, finding 36 A6M3a Zeros. Losses were heavy on both sides, and fairly even. 30 B-17s then bombed Ponape's airfield, finding 25 A6M3a Zeros. A couple of planes on both sides were lost. Minor damage to the airfield.
Carrier aircraft flew to Truk in the afternoon.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD-3 Dauntless x 92
TBF-1 Avenger x 35
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2
BB Ise
AO Ondo, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Sata, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
YO J-3852
AO Shiriya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 3
PB Fumi Maru
PB Myoken Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Iro, Bomb hits 3, on fire
PB Shinkyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB Fuso
AO Notoro, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Kyo Maru #8, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Planes were lost, but not terribly. The bombers mostly ignored the battleships, finding the AOs to be juicier targets, and also paid more attention to patrol boats than I would have liked. No torpedo hits. Some planes were lost to flak. The AOs, unfortunately, had just unloaded their fuel, as confirmed in a conversation with OPilot. All would have been sunk if they had been loaded. Now many could survive at the big port. A good strike, I think. Results were unexpected. I hadn't seen AOs there. There are a lot of juicy targets disbanded in port, like AKEs and AS, but you can't go after everything.
Most important, the carriers were not engaged and will head away from Truk.
The main landing force then arrived, and the fortress got a bunch of hits.
Pre-Invasion action off Ponape (119,113) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
208 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Richmond, Shell hits 18, on fire
DD Dale, Shell hits 8, on fire
AP Arthur Middleton
Here's the order of battle at Ponape. We attack today, despite high fatigue.
Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3294 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
Defending force 15974 troops, 365 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 824
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 6th SNLF
64th Naval Guard Unit
Ponape Naval Fortress
57th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
34th Cmbt Engr Rgt /1
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
27th Infantry Div /5
40th Infantry Div /3
763rd Tank Bn /1
4 US cruisers and 4 destroyers go to Ponape and sink SC Ch 27. 8 other US ships bombard Ponape. It becomes obvious that the Ponape Naval Fortress is formidable.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged
127 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville, Shell hits 2
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1
CL Detroit
DD Monaghan
DD Maury
DD McCall
DD Gridley
Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
AP McCawley is slower than the other APs in this operation, moving 6 hexes a day instead of 8. I'd put McCawley in a separate task force, with a DMS, for the run into Ponape, so that I could put it at full speed and not have to use full speed on the many other ships. That part of the plan worked. The part about confronting big and many coastal guns did not.
Invasion Support action off Ponape (119,113)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP McCawley, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DMS Zane
Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
12.7cm/50 T03 DP Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
DMS Zane firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards
12.7cm/50 T03 DP Battery engaging AP McCawley at 14,000 yards
McCawley is SYS 59/FLOT 22-13/ENG 16-4/FIRE 56. The ship may burn up. All of the troops did unload, at least.
Southeast of Ponape, I-18 spots the slow US battleships.
Sub attack near Ponape at 121,116
Japanese Ships
SS I-18
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1
BB California
DD Gillespie
DD MacDonough
DD Porter
SS I-18 launches 8 torpedoes at BB Mississippi
There was a dud torpedo hit also. Mississippi is SYS 3/FLOT 37-33/ENG 0/FIRE 0. It will stay with California and bombard, then head to Nauru.
In the morning, 36 Wildcats swept Truk, finding 36 A6M3a Zeros. Losses were heavy on both sides, and fairly even. 30 B-17s then bombed Ponape's airfield, finding 25 A6M3a Zeros. A couple of planes on both sides were lost. Minor damage to the airfield.
Carrier aircraft flew to Truk in the afternoon.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD-3 Dauntless x 92
TBF-1 Avenger x 35
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2
BB Ise
AO Ondo, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Sata, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
YO J-3852
AO Shiriya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 3
PB Fumi Maru
PB Myoken Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Iro, Bomb hits 3, on fire
PB Shinkyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB Fuso
AO Notoro, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Kyo Maru #8, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Planes were lost, but not terribly. The bombers mostly ignored the battleships, finding the AOs to be juicier targets, and also paid more attention to patrol boats than I would have liked. No torpedo hits. Some planes were lost to flak. The AOs, unfortunately, had just unloaded their fuel, as confirmed in a conversation with OPilot. All would have been sunk if they had been loaded. Now many could survive at the big port. A good strike, I think. Results were unexpected. I hadn't seen AOs there. There are a lot of juicy targets disbanded in port, like AKEs and AS, but you can't go after everything.
Most important, the carriers were not engaged and will head away from Truk.
The main landing force then arrived, and the fortress got a bunch of hits.
Pre-Invasion action off Ponape (119,113) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
208 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Richmond, Shell hits 18, on fire
DD Dale, Shell hits 8, on fire
AP Arthur Middleton
Here's the order of battle at Ponape. We attack today, despite high fatigue.
Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3294 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
Defending force 15974 troops, 365 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 824
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 6th SNLF
64th Naval Guard Unit
Ponape Naval Fortress
57th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
34th Cmbt Engr Rgt /1
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
27th Infantry Div /5
40th Infantry Div /3
763rd Tank Bn /1
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
25 Feb 43 - Part Two - Babar
Allied big boys split off from the carriers and bombard Babar.
Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
DD Nepal
DD Clark
DD Lamson
DD Cummings
Japanese ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
An xAKL task force continues to unload supply at Babar. AMc Bombo arrived to sweep all of the bombo's. Allied bombers hit Babar's airfield and troops. US troops attack.
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5285 troops, 88 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 299
Defending force 6291 troops, 49 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Allied adjusted assault: 232
Japanese adjusted defense: 111
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
1st Engineer Co
16th Naval Guard Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
44th Field Const Co
61st JNAF AF Unit
4th Field Construction Battalion
7th Port Unit
106th JAAF AF Bn
Good result. With almost continuous bombardments from Darwin possible, Babar will be taken. US troops are ordered to attack again.
Allied big boys split off from the carriers and bombard Babar.
Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
DD Nepal
DD Clark
DD Lamson
DD Cummings
Japanese ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
An xAKL task force continues to unload supply at Babar. AMc Bombo arrived to sweep all of the bombo's. Allied bombers hit Babar's airfield and troops. US troops attack.
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5285 troops, 88 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 299
Defending force 6291 troops, 49 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Allied adjusted assault: 232
Japanese adjusted defense: 111
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
1st Engineer Co
16th Naval Guard Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
44th Field Const Co
61st JNAF AF Unit
4th Field Construction Battalion
7th Port Unit
106th JAAF AF Bn
Good result. With almost continuous bombardments from Darwin possible, Babar will be taken. US troops are ordered to attack again.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
25 Feb 43 - Part Three - Burma
TF 41 encounters mine field at Port Blair (46,58)
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
Fortunately, no task forces unloading at Port Blair when what appeared to be 8 destroyers arrived. Port Blair was bombarded by 3 British cruisers, though, immediately after the enemy mine hit. Leaves open the possibility that it wasn't a supply drop, and was just a raid looking for targets.
British roaming destroyers find a subchaser near Victoria Point and sink it.
Near Prome, a small Allied force is cleaning up a small isolated and out of supply enemy force.
Ground combat at 54,50 (near Prome)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2742 troops, 15 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 111
Defending force 3712 troops, 25 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Allied adjusted assault: 51
Japanese adjusted defense: 73
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Defending units:
18th JNAF AF Unit
311th Ship Eng Coy
204th Ship Eng Coy
211th Ship Eng Coy
15th JAAF AF Bn
32nd Special Base Force
3rd Air Div /1
TF 41 encounters mine field at Port Blair (46,58)
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
Fortunately, no task forces unloading at Port Blair when what appeared to be 8 destroyers arrived. Port Blair was bombarded by 3 British cruisers, though, immediately after the enemy mine hit. Leaves open the possibility that it wasn't a supply drop, and was just a raid looking for targets.
British roaming destroyers find a subchaser near Victoria Point and sink it.
Near Prome, a small Allied force is cleaning up a small isolated and out of supply enemy force.
Ground combat at 54,50 (near Prome)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2742 troops, 15 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 111
Defending force 3712 troops, 25 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Allied adjusted assault: 51
Japanese adjusted defense: 73
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Defending units:
18th JNAF AF Unit
311th Ship Eng Coy
204th Ship Eng Coy
211th Ship Eng Coy
15th JAAF AF Bn
32nd Special Base Force
3rd Air Div /1
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
26 Feb 43 - Part One - Ponape
Ponape is bombarded, and the coastal guns there again get some hits.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
116 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB California, Shell hits 2
DD MacDonough, Shell hits 1
DD Porter, Shell hits 2
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Gillespie is SYS 54/FLOT 17-1/ENG 3-1/FIRE 1 and should survive.
US cruisers then bombard Ponape. Fewer coastal guns fire and all miss.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
77 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Northampton
CA Portland
CL Marblehead
CL Concord
DD Jarvis
DD Henley
DD Helm
DD Blue
Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 3
Corsairs and Lightnings fly over Ponape but find no enemy aircraft. B-17s do almost no damage to the airfield and troops in severe storms. Carrier aircraft hit enemy troops on Ponape in the afternoon, but cause only 30 casualties in light cloud. 80 SBDs and 33 TBFs participated.
xAKLs land supply on Ponape, and take fire from the coastal guns. xAKL James Cook is hit by 3 14cm shells. Damage is SYS 27/FLOT 31-13/ENG 0/FIRE 58. Troops attack.
Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16006 troops, 365 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 828
Defending force 4469 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Allied adjusted assault: 562
Japanese adjusted defense: 33
Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied forces CAPTURE Ponape !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed
J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1284 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (16 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Assaulting units:
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
27th Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
40th Infantry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 6th SNLF
Ponape Naval Fortress
57th JNAF AF Unit
Things go much more smoothly when you bring a big enough hammer. Ponape will be the new point of focus for the enemy in the area, being just 10 hexes from Truk. Meanwhile, Kusaie Island will be off the hook, and once the enemy is cleared from the island, more support troops will be brought in, and the airfield will be expanded to the limit. Truk is in heavy bomber range from Kusaie. The days for Truk to be a safe haven for shipping are counting down.
Ponape is bombarded, and the coastal guns there again get some hits.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
116 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB California, Shell hits 2
DD MacDonough, Shell hits 1
DD Porter, Shell hits 2
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Gillespie is SYS 54/FLOT 17-1/ENG 3-1/FIRE 1 and should survive.
US cruisers then bombard Ponape. Fewer coastal guns fire and all miss.
Night Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
77 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Northampton
CA Portland
CL Marblehead
CL Concord
DD Jarvis
DD Henley
DD Helm
DD Blue
Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 3
Corsairs and Lightnings fly over Ponape but find no enemy aircraft. B-17s do almost no damage to the airfield and troops in severe storms. Carrier aircraft hit enemy troops on Ponape in the afternoon, but cause only 30 casualties in light cloud. 80 SBDs and 33 TBFs participated.
xAKLs land supply on Ponape, and take fire from the coastal guns. xAKL James Cook is hit by 3 14cm shells. Damage is SYS 27/FLOT 31-13/ENG 0/FIRE 58. Troops attack.
Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16006 troops, 365 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 828
Defending force 4469 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Allied adjusted assault: 562
Japanese adjusted defense: 33
Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied forces CAPTURE Ponape !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed
J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1284 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (16 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Assaulting units:
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
27th Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
40th Infantry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 6th SNLF
Ponape Naval Fortress
57th JNAF AF Unit
Things go much more smoothly when you bring a big enough hammer. Ponape will be the new point of focus for the enemy in the area, being just 10 hexes from Truk. Meanwhile, Kusaie Island will be off the hook, and once the enemy is cleared from the island, more support troops will be brought in, and the airfield will be expanded to the limit. Truk is in heavy bomber range from Kusaie. The days for Truk to be a safe haven for shipping are counting down.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
26 Feb 43 - Part Two - Babar
Canberra and Hobart and escorts bombard Babar, doing minor base damage and causing 132 casualties. DMS and AMc continue to clear mines there. Weather prevents any bombing. US troops attack.
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5179 troops, 88 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 282
Defending force 5638 troops, 48 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Allied adjusted assault: 103
Japanese adjusted defense: 29
Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
311 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
16th Naval Guard Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Field Construction Battalion
44th Field Const Co
7th Port Unit
61st JNAF AF Unit
106th JAAF AF Bn
The base is getting close to falling. Fragments of units at Babar will be brought from Darwin after the base falls. Many support units will be coming also. The one thing the US does have in numbers, all over the map, is engineers. New bases can get a bunch of engineers now.
Some US carriers went to Darwin for fuel. The real reason they went there was to be seen, as Darwin gets recon every day. Now spotted, they'll leave and head to Townsville, where the SBD realignments will take place. The US ships needing refit are already headed out of the area, headed to Sydney. This includes 2 carriers and 3 fast battleships. 3 slow US battleships are near Townsville and will be heading to Darwin to support future operations.
Canberra and Hobart and escorts bombard Babar, doing minor base damage and causing 132 casualties. DMS and AMc continue to clear mines there. Weather prevents any bombing. US troops attack.
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5179 troops, 88 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 282
Defending force 5638 troops, 48 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Allied adjusted assault: 103
Japanese adjusted defense: 29
Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
311 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
16th Naval Guard Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Field Construction Battalion
44th Field Const Co
7th Port Unit
61st JNAF AF Unit
106th JAAF AF Bn
The base is getting close to falling. Fragments of units at Babar will be brought from Darwin after the base falls. Many support units will be coming also. The one thing the US does have in numbers, all over the map, is engineers. New bases can get a bunch of engineers now.
Some US carriers went to Darwin for fuel. The real reason they went there was to be seen, as Darwin gets recon every day. Now spotted, they'll leave and head to Townsville, where the SBD realignments will take place. The US ships needing refit are already headed out of the area, headed to Sydney. This includes 2 carriers and 3 fast battleships. 3 slow US battleships are near Townsville and will be heading to Darwin to support future operations.