Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

16 Oct 43

Battleships Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona and West Virginia bombarded mine-free Manado in two bombardments. A total of 734 casualties, almost all non-combat squads. Minor base damage and 2 Bettys destroyed. RO-37 got a shot at West Virgina but missed. The sub then got hit by a depth charge from destroyer O'Brien, and many near misses.

B-24s hit Ambon, Manado and Palembang. British long range bombers tried to drop mines at Miri at night. I got messages that planes had turned back. Apparently they all did, as no mines were dropped. I order them to go back today, in daylight. Night is more realistic, since bombers dropping mines don't ever get intercepted. But the mining must be done. Miri continues to have tankers, with a very heavy CAP.

Growler got two torpedo hits on xAK Keisyo Maru near Daito Shoto, south of Japan. One hit was a dud.

Allied forces work on clearing out the enemy at Batavia. Just a matter of how many days it will take and how many Allied squads will get disabled. That will affect preparations for Luzon. All bases on Java, including Batavia, are Allied. The only enemy left are at Batavia.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 61225 troops, 1109 guns, 950 vehicles, Assault Value = 1723

Defending force 20574 troops, 226 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Allied adjusted assault: 1022

Japanese adjusted defense: 157

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2173 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 48 (12 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (34 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
532 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
37th Infantry Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
2/9th Armoured Regiment
144th RNZA Bty
602nd Field Artillery Battalion
34th MAG
Sixth US Army
225th Field Artillery Battalion
10 Group RAAF
2nd RAA Jungle Field Artillery Regiment
145th Field Artillery Battalion
17th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
58th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment
12th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
16th Division
12th Garrison Unit
203rd Ship Eng Coy
11th Special Base Force
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
53rd JNAF AF Unit
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
19th Army
1st Ind.Tank Co
30th Field AA Machinecannon Company
84th JAAF AF Bn

A US Marine division will cross the river into Tarakan today. Defenses seem light, with a good chance that enemy troops are being airlifted out, seeing fewer troops there over time. It's no surprise that I'm coming.

Landing at Sidate is complete. Carriers and transports head to Makassar to make ready for the next operation. Troops at Sidate are heading into Manado on a good road.

[apbarog]

Burma and Thailand

[apbarog]

17 October 43

US ships continue sweeping mines at Ternate and Batavia.

The Chinese stack near Sian is bombed heavily. 4 C-47s are shot down trying to supply them. Enemy reinforcements are approaching and the Chinese are too slow to retreat across the river into the woods.

More cleanup at Batavia. Lots of enemy dying here.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 62101 troops, 1114 guns, 1147 vehicles, Assault Value = 1743

Defending force 18929 troops, 216 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Allied adjusted assault: 907

Japanese adjusted defense: 61

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2039 casualties reported
Squads: 113 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 95 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 44 (15 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Marines cross into Tarakan. 2 combat engineer units will join the Marines in a few days.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13362 troops, 208 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 382

Defending force 4256 troops, 57 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Allied adjusted assault: 79

Japanese adjusted defense: 106

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
517 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
67th Field AA Battalion
4th Field Construction Battalion
30th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Construction Battalion
9th Port Unit
30th JNAF AF Unit /1

[apbarog]

18 Oct 43

Enemy minesweepers go to work immediately at Miri.

Growler hit xAK Risshun Maru with two torpedoes near Iwo Jima. The ship probably sunk. Growler hit another xAK yesterday.

Australians landed at Bandjermasin. Attack today.

The destroyers near Puerto Princesa appear to be on ASW duty.

Another cleanup attack at Batavia. The enemy is disappearing.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 62073 troops, 1117 guns, 1155 vehicles, Assault Value = 1736

Defending force 16856 troops, 194 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 98

Allied adjusted assault: 745

Japanese adjusted defense: 39

Allied assault odds: 19 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2720 casualties reported
Squads: 197 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 97 (59 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (7 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

The first US attack at Manado wasn't great but was acceptable. They'll attack again, with 4 slow US battleships bombarding tonight.

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28630 troops, 475 guns, 527 vehicles, Assault Value = 910

Defending force 17137 troops, 138 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 400

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 527

Japanese adjusted defense: 533

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1198 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (10 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1087 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (1 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
131st Cmbt Engineer Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
154th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
30th Recon Regiment
74th Infantry Regiment
77th Infantry Regiment
30th Engineer Regiment
80th JAAF AF Bn
15th Port Unit
201st JAAF AF Bn
64th JNAF AF Unit
32nd Special Base Force
30th Field Artillery Regiment
39th Field Const Co
25th Air Flotilla /1

Allied attack at Palembang had poor odds but acceptable results.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33019 troops, 548 guns, 788 vehicles, Assault Value = 1073

Defending force 14999 troops, 160 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 411

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 796

Japanese adjusted defense: 3622

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
779 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
487 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
18th British Division
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
5th Indian Division
77th Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Division
3rd Ship Engineer Regiment
91st JAAF AF Bn /1
7th Field Construction Battalion
32nd Port Unit
108th JAAF AF Bn /1
35th Field AA Battalion
14th JAAF AF Bn /1
40th Field AA Battalion
23rd JAAF AF Bn /1

[apbarog]

19 Oct 43

Sub Aspro sank subchaser CHa-62 near Amami Oshima.

4 US battleships bombarded Manado, causing over 600 casualties and doing minor damage to the already damaged base.

Enemy air pummeled the Chinese near Sian. Four Allied fighter groups will LRCAP them today and hope for the best.

13 Bettys with 14 Zeros flew from Sorong to Ternate to attack 2 YMS sweeping mines there. All torpedoes missed. I was fortunate that they didn't go after the 4 slow battleships just to the west. They had been spotted by the enemy also, and didn't have CAP. Sidate just became a level one airfield, so that'll help the battleships the next time they go to Manado.

Another cleanup attack at Manado. Enemy units being destroyed by combat and attrition.

Japanese ground losses:
4115 casualties reported
Squads: 177 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 123 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 39 (37 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (16 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Good attack at Manado, with battleship support. The forts prevented capture.

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27726 troops, 475 guns, 527 vehicles, Assault Value = 792

Defending force 15650 troops, 135 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 319

Allied adjusted assault: 724

Japanese adjusted defense: 161

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1375 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
987 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled

Bandjermasin was captured by the 19th Australian Brigade.

[apbarog]

20 Oct 43

No enemy air over the Chinese by Sian, so my LRCAP found nothing. They'll stay there for today. I expect action. Another enemy unit arrived, and it looks like the last one coming. The Japanese will attack today and kick the Chinese out. I expect enemy air to support.

More cleanup at Batavia. 5883 enemy casualties today, and just a few units left.

US troops rested at Manado, except for the 131st Combat Engineer Regiment, that didn't get the orders. They attacked alone and were wrecked. The rest of the stack will attack today. I ordered the battleships to go to Makassar to support the next round of invasions.

Good attack at Palembang. They go again today. If the results worsen, the 2 divisions will be rotated out.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32824 troops, 548 guns, 788 vehicles, Assault Value = 1041

Defending force 13333 troops, 163 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 364

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 936

Japanese adjusted defense: 253

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
960 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
779 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 42 disabled

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
18th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
5th Indian Division
77th Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Division
91st JAAF AF Bn /1
32nd Port Unit
40th Field AA Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn /1
35th Field AA Battalion
7th Field Construction Battalion
3rd Ship Engr Rgt /1
14th JAAF AF Bn /1
23rd JAAF AF Bn /1

Loading at Makassar for the Zamboanga area invasions has begun.

[BBfanboy]

You reduced Palembang's forts and he lost a much higher proportion of his AV than you did. Two more rounds should do it.

[apbarog]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You reduced Palembang's forts and he lost a much higher proportion of his AV than you did. Two more rounds should do it.

Palembang's troops rested, but will attack today. A fresh US division is moving into Palembang, willing to overstack if the base isn't taken first. Those troops will definitely tip the scales to victory.

21 Oct 43

In a night attack, Bettys from Davao and Sorong attacked four US destroyers near Manado. The DDs were looking for subs. The Bettys were probably looking for my slow battleships, which could have been coming back to Manado, but weren't. All torpedoes missed. Four Bettys were shot down by flak.

Skipjack sank E-boat Tsubame west of Bataan. Two torpedoes did the job. Blackfish hit medium tanker Ogura Maru #2 near Balabac. The tanker was burning but wasn't loaded. It was heading west towards Miri.

Approximately six enemy destroyers showed up at Ambon during the night, and stayed during the daylight. No enemy fighters at Ambon, but some appeared at Boela, and were probably LRCAP over the ships. I would have had some targets if I'd had some naval bombers in the area. Didn't expect ships to go back to Ambon. Namlea is an Allied base, right next door, and has a size 2 airfield. I moved some SBDs and F6Fs in for today. The enemy may be pulling out troops, sensing what is happening up north at Manado. If he had been resupplying, they would have dropped off troops at night and left.

A reinforced enemy attacked the Chinese again near Sian. It was a tough fight.

Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33084 troops, 272 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 994

Defending force 24696 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 579

Japanese adjusted assault: 507

Allied adjusted defense: 418

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1698 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1085 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 44 (39 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
35th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Division
North China Area Army
1st Army

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army

Lots of destroyed Chinese squads from the corp that is completely disabled. But they held and dished out some punishment.

The last enemy was eliminated at Batavia. Another 6000 enemy casualties. Allied forces begin to rest for Luzon.

Manado is finally captured. Several enemy subs just dropped mines there.

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26334 troops, 467 guns, 503 vehicles, Assault Value = 750

Defending force 14940 troops, 135 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 238

Allied adjusted assault: 860

Japanese adjusted defense: 211

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Manado !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1189 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 64 (50 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (42 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
635 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
193rd Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
41st Infantry Division
131st Cmbt Engineer Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
XIV US Corps
97th Field Artillery Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
77th Infantry Regiment
74th Infantry Regiment
30th Engineer Regiment
30th Recon Regiment
64th JNAF AF Unit
80th JAAF AF Bn
30th Field Artillery Regiment
32nd Special Base Force
201st JAAF AF Bn
15th Port Unit
39th Field Const Co
25th Air Flotilla /1

And the Allies pulled off a rather daring attack at Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. All of the transports normally flying the Hump went to Rangoon and dropped the Indian 77th LRP Brigade, at least most of it. Big para drop on a fortified base in jungle terrain, and it worked. The big Chinese corp helped too. This attack occurred only because the enemy drew down its strength here, sending units south. They depended on a Thai division.

Ground combat at Chiang Mai (58,53)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 28743 troops, 197 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 1074

Defending force 7080 troops, 65 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Allied adjusted assault: 1734

Japanese adjusted defense: 334

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Chiang Mai !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2311 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 26 (20 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
1039 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 153 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Chinese Corps
77th LRP Bde /1
134th Field Artillery Battalion
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
4th RTA Division
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
67th Construction Battalion

Loading still occurring at Makassar and Balikpapan for the next invasions. An amphtrak unit arrived at Darwin. It is notable as the first unit to begin preparing for Formosa, an invasion which is several steps in the future.

[apbarog]

21 Oct 43 - Burma and Thailand

[apbarog]

22 Oct 43

42 Franks from Singapore swept Palembang. 32 P-47s were there, with a mix of LRCAP and ranged CAP. 17 Franks were shot down for the cost of 13 P-47s. Bettys with Zeros followed. 2 Bettys were downed. Sallys bombed next. Flak got a couple.

The Japanese finally pushed the Chinese back over the river near Sian.

Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 31778 troops, 272 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 851

Defending force 23459 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 551

Japanese adjusted assault: 762

Allied adjusted defense: 135

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
10241 casualties reported
Squads: 239 destroyed, 133 disabled
Non Combat: 214 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 46 (20 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
26th Division
North China Area Army
1st Army

Defending units:
61st Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army

With reinforcing Australians, Mergui is taken.

Ground combat at Mergui (53,62)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7674 troops, 130 guns, 200 vehicles, Assault Value = 277

Defending force 1857 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Allied adjusted assault: 172

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mergui !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
24th Australian Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade

Defending units:
6th RTA/B Division

Invasion shipping now leaving Makassar and Balikpapan, with loading at Samarinda continuing. Followup troops now loading at Makassar.

[apbarog]

23 Oct 43

Sturgeon hit xAK Chihaya Maru with a torpedo near Tablas, in the Philippine islands.

36 Zeros from Davao swept Sidate, next to Manado. 18 Corsairs were on CAP. They hadn't moved to Manado yet because of the high base damage there. Zeros were downed. Then 36 Tonys came from the damaged base at Ternate. About even losses. 29 Bettys with 27 Zeros were next, against just 5 Corsairs. The Bettys, interestingly, went after the size 0 port at Sidate. I have an AVD there, supporting Catalinas. Sallys then bombed Manado, doing minor base damage.

Major enemy effort at Praboemoelik, next to Palembang. 30 Tojos swept, finding 21 P-47s. The Tojos did well. 29 Bettys with 36 Zeros arrived from Singapore. Flak did better than the Thunderbolts. Then 26 Sallys with 42 Oscars, against just 4 Thunderbolts. Flak did the good work again. Minor base damage. Severe storms helped. Then 32 Franks.

In China, B-24s from Kunming hit Canton and Wuchow's airfields, doing minor damage and destroying a few planes.

P-38s tangled with some Oscars over the lone Chinese corp stuck on the wrong side of the river near Sian. Equal losses, before the Chinese corp was forced to surrender. 4698 Chinese casualties.

Then Palembang was taken. One Brit division just arrived and did not participate.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30254 troops, 548 guns, 751 vehicles, Assault Value = 1327

Defending force 11864 troops, 165 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Allied adjusted assault: 721

Japanese adjusted defense: 232

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Palembang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
558 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 66 (66 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
836 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 26 (8 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
18th British Division
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
254th Armoured Brigade
5th Indian Division
77th Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Division
3rd Ship Engr Rgt /1
14th JAAF AF Bn /1
32nd Port Unit
7th Field Const Bn /1
40th Field AA Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn /1
35th Field AA Battalion
91st JAAF AF Bn /1
23rd JAAF AF Bn /1

The reinforcing Brit division will stay to clean up. The others will move out to Oosthaven to rest and prepare. Palembang's oil and refinery was damaged in the attack. Palembang has 513 of the 900 oil damaged, and 427 of the 750 refinery damaged. This isn't a big deal for the Allied player, but I'd like to repair both. Fuel closer to the front, in large quantities, is a good thing. I will repair them, just not immediately. Not until I can properly protect the facilities with fighters. If OPilot sees me repairing, he'll know that I value the oil enough to burn supply, and he'll bomb. He hasn't so far. Djambi has no damage to its oil, with no fighter protection, and it hasn't been hit. Supply isn't a problem. I have plenty. Just need to get more to Sumatra, in time, to make it happen.

Total air losses were 25 A6M5 Zeros, 14 Tojos, 6 Tonys, 5 Oscars and 5 Sallys, for the cost of 15 P-47s, 8 P-38s and 5 F4U-1s.

[CaptBeefheart]

Great progress. Lucena on Luzon is a good place to drop a para and then unload an army if it's not garrisoned.

Cheers,
CB

[apbarog]

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

Great progress. Lucena on Luzon is a good place to drop a para and then unload an army if it's not garrisoned.

Cheers,
CB

We're thinking alike CaptBeefheart. If my Java troops have recuperated before they are as prepped as I'd like them to be for Luzon, I've planned a para drop on Lucena, and then land everything there. If Lucena is found to be occupied beforehand, I'd drop somewhere that isn't occupied.

[apbarog]

24 Oct 43

British sub Trusty missed xAK Ryoyo Maru north of Miri. Miri is still being used by the enemy, being one of the few oil production facilities still in enemy hands. It probably has mines. It definitely has about 100 enemy fighters.

Seal hit tanker Eiyo Maru near Kuantan, northeast of Singapore in the shallow water. The tanker is burning but was empty, so at least some tankers are still traveling to Singapore.

A cleanup attack at Palembang caused 169 enemy casualties. Just one division participated, with another resting and another leaving the area. The enemy is isolated here and out of supply. Will be eliminated by being worn down.

The next big invasion step is in progress, with ships headed north along the eastern coast of Borneo. Lots of subs expected, and starting to be spotted. OPilot has been using his subs as defensive barriers for much of the war. I've had little to worry about with my reinforcement convoys coming from the US. I use a single escort as part of a huge convoy, just in case, but they never see a sub. I continue to use the same classified convoy routes.

[apbarog]

25 Oct 43

7 Japanese destroyers encountered 6 PT boats at Namlea. The DDs were just passing through, apparently going to Boela. The fight was during the day, and the enemy attempted to evade combat. So the DDs weren't there for combat. Maybe doing troops or supply movement. Anyhow, the range never closed lower than 16,000 yards, and no shells hit the PT boats.

Enemy fighters swept over advancing Allied units in the jungle northwest of Bangkok. No CAP.

13 Bettys from Davao attack several US subchasers near Tawi Tawi. All torpedoes missed.

US carrier aircraft hit Japanese shipping at Zamboanga.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Zamboanga at 75,89

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24
SBD-5 Dauntless x 72
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

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

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 31, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Buyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Nanei Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Hiyori Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC Ch 29, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL Yanagigawa, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Just small targets. A small minesweeper was then torpedoed at Jolo.

Cleanup attack at Manado. The end is near for the Japanese stranded there.

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26193 troops, 467 guns, 503 vehicles, Assault Value = 731

Defending force 13292 troops, 93 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Allied adjusted assault: 772

Japanese adjusted defense: 141

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1853 casualties reported
Squads: 116 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 30 (10 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
304 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
4th Marine Division
131st Cmbt Engineer Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
154th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
74th Infantry Regiment
77th Infantry Regiment
30th Engineer Regiment
201st JAAF AF Bn
32nd Special Base Force
30th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Port Unit
39th Field Const Co
64th JNAF AF Unit
30th Recon Regiment
80th JAAF AF Bn
25th Air Flotilla /1

Slow going at Tarakan. Working on the high fort levels.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14556 troops, 216 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 411

Defending force 3545 troops, 57 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 67

Allied adjusted assault: 167

Japanese adjusted defense: 106

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
389 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
9th Port Unit
30th JNAF AF Unit /1
67th Field AA Battalion
4th Field Const Bn /1
30th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Const Bn /1

And cleanup continued at Palembang.

Today Zamboanga and Jolo will be invaded. Lots of enemy planes at Cotabato and Davao. Will be interesting to see if they go after the carriers. From where the carriers are today, and the fact that no other task forces were spotted, it won't be expected that they'll move to Zamboanga today.

[apbarog]

26 Oct 43

Dutch subs reacted to an enemy sub near Samarinda, at night. The sub took minor damage. This got my attention because I house rule myself against using reaction ranges for ASW task forces. I don't think they need this added ability and do just fine with proper placement and air support. I don't remember if I made this a house rule at the beginning of the game. The task force had been made as a combat task force initially, with a reaction range. At some time I changed it to ASW, but didn't notice the reaction range setting. I apologized for the oversight.

Haddock missed a big transport, xAP Miike Maru, near Swatow, hugging the coast.

Basilan, Jolo and Zamboanga were invaded.

The Japanese launched two big air strikes against the invasion armada near Zamboanga. The first came from Davao, and consisted of 59 Bettys escorted by 26 Jacks. On CAP were 12 Sea Hurricanes, 36 FM-1 Wildcats and 187 Hellcats. Most of the enemy were shot down. 4 Bettys dropped torpedoes, targeting Wasp and Saratoga. All missed. More Bettys were downed by flak.

The second strike came from Cotabato, and consisted of about 30 Lilys escorted by 32 Tojos. About half of the Tojos were downed, and every Lily was shot down. No Lily survived long enough to drop bombs.

Total air losses were lopsided. The enemy lost 65 Bettys, 32 Lilys, 23 Jacks and 18 Tojos. The Allies lost 2 FM-1s, 1 F6F-3 and 1 Sea Hurricane. 11 naval pilots became aces today.

CAP was good enough for these strikes. If the escorts had been doubled, things could have been different. Remember, I'm using just 3 US CVs, and lots of CVEs and a couple of CVLs. Not the whole carrier fleet. 6 US CVs are still refitting at Colombo. They are due out within a week. The point is that this isn't the "Death Star". That will form when the carriers return from Ceylon and we go to Luzon.

Cleanup continued at Manado. 1046 enemy casualties. At Palembang, same story. More cleanup. 544 casualties for the enemy and mounting.

US forces attacked at Tarakan. It will be taken very soon.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14422 troops, 216 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Defending force 3263 troops, 57 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Allied adjusted assault: 143

Japanese adjusted defense: 61

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
290 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
219 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled

Assaulting units:
134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
67th Field AA Battalion
30th JNAF AF Unit /1
4th Field Const Bn /1
30th Fld AA Gun Co
9th Port Unit
3rd Const Bn /1

[apbarog]

27 Oct 43

Lots of action today.

The Chinese stack that came out of the woods near Wuchow and had moved into a clear hex was spotted today. They still need a few days to get into the lightly defended town. Fighters are moved to Kweilin to try and protect them.

Swordfish hit PB Seki Maru #2 near Iba, probably sinking the boat. Skipjack hit ACM Wa 18 near Bataan, also probably sinking it.

Five Australian destroyers moved to Sorong to try and intercept the seven or so enemy destroyers that moved there yesterday. The enemy has been moving from Sorong to both Boela and Ambon. Not sure if they are delivering supply or picking up men. The enemy moved a couple of hexes to the west, as if to set up a fast transport mission today. So the Australians missed the destroyers, but found a patrol boat and two xAKs, and sank all three ships. Interestingly, 8 torpedoes contributed to the sinkings, with the fight at 2,000 yards, being at night and 0% moonlight. A light cruiser force will move from Kendari to Ambon tonight to try to intercept the enemy there.

Troops continued to land at invasion spots. No interference. An LST grounded at Zamboanga and sank.

Battleship Alabama and heavy cruiser Frobisher bombarded Iloilo, destroying two Sonias on the ground and doing very minor base damage. A poor bombardment really.

Slow battleships Oklahoma and Nevada bombarded Zamboanga, causing 96 casualties to the garrison unit there, and moderate base damage.

Prince of Wales, two heavy cruisers, six light cruisers and four destroyers moved to Cagayan, and sank a patrol boat there. Then they bombarded, and I'll declare it to be nuclear.

Night Naval bombardment of Cagayan at 79,89

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 13 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground [2 actual]
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 107 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 5 destroyed on ground [10 actual]
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 129 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 7 destroyed on ground [14 actual]
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 51 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground [8 actual]
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground [2 actual]

Japanese Ships
AG Columbia Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CL Hobart
CL De Ruyter
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CL Achilles
CL Leander
DD Dyson
DD Conway
DD Claxton
DD Charles Ausburne

Japanese ground losses:
321 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (10 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Airbase hits 68
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 132

20 Hellcats from a CVE swept Davao, finding about 38 Zeros. More enemy were downed than Hellcats lost. B-24s then hit Davao, doing minor damage in thunderstorms.

More cleanup at Manado and Palembang. The enemy is about gone at both.

The first attack at Zamboanga easily clears out the enemy. I'll probably start ferrying the divisions to Oroquieta when I can.

Ground combat at Zamboanga (75,89)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25595 troops, 454 guns, 406 vehicles, Assault Value = 828

Defending force 4488 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Allied adjusted assault: 897

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 35 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Zamboanga !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2271 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion
7th Infantry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment
1/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
82nd Mortar Battalion
XI US Corps
601st Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
13th Garrison Unit

Tarakan was captured.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14308 troops, 216 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 377

Defending force 2993 troops, 56 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 295

Japanese adjusted defense: 31

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 47 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (23 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
30th JNAF AF Unit /1
30th Fld AA Gun Co
67th Field AA Battalion
9th Port Unit
4th Field Const Bn /1

Jolo was not captured, but it should fall soon. I originally had 2 divisions going to Jolo, but sent them to Oroquieta when I saw few enemy at Jolo. I think things will work out here. A bombardment is added at Jolo for tonight.

Ground combat at Jolo (74,90)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4051 troops, 8 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Defending force 1415 troops, 4 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 45

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
21st USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
7th JNAF Coy
19th Port Unit

The 1st Australian Para Battalion dropped on an empty Oroquieta and took the base. Reinforcements coming by sea tonight, with carrier escort. Another para unit will drop on the base just to the south of Oroquieta, cutting off any escape by the enemy retreating through the jungle from Zamboanga.

[apbarog]

27 Oct 43 - China

[apbarog]

28 Oct 43

More unloading at Jolo, including lots of support troops. Oklahoma and Nevada bombarded and did a good job. 202 casualties with just two tiny enemy units there. Jolo was taken easily. Unoccupied Sandakan on Borneo was also captured, as was Dumanquilas, south of Oroquieta on Mindanao. It was taken by paras.

APD Whipple was torpedoed once by I-175 near Jolo and sunk. It was returning to Balikpapan with a big transport convoy.

I guessed right at Ambon.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 3
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Detroit, Shell hits 1
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1
DD Hughes
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1
DD Ellet
DD Stack
DD Sterett
DD Phelps
DD Clark

Another nice bombardment of Cagayan, this time by slow US battleships.

Naval bombardment of Cagayan at 79,89

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 4 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 24 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 21 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 5 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
AG Columbia Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB West Virginia
DD Cummings
DD Smith
DD Mahan

Japanese ground losses:
803 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Manpower hits 4
Fires 8896
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 53
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 2

They didn't make it to Cagayan at night as planned, but weren't engaged sitting at Cagayan during the day.

More cleanup at Manado and Palembang.

[apbarog]

29 Oct 43

More cleanup at Manado. Just one enemy unit left. Same for Palembang.

Most of the valuable APAs are now leaving the Mindanao area invasion areas. The carriers will escort them, and the slow battleships, back towards Balikpapan, at least for a day. The carriers will probably remain near Jolo after that. I am going to go for Puerto Princess and Taytay next, as soon as some APAs get to Soerabaja to start loading. I also think that I will load up for Luzon as soon as the US carriers get back from Ceylon. There's still 4 days or so left before all of the carriers and battleships that got refit at Colombo will be ready to leave. Even with that time, and the week or so for the fleet to get to Soerabaja, the troops slated for Luzon will not be completely recovered from the Java campaign. I think we're going anyway. I want to press the advantage, and I think I'll be bringing enough troops to do the job, even with some disabled squads. I will wait for the carriers, though. I'll feel better about going so close to Manila and Clark with six more big carriers.