THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 7-18-42 The Gilberts Campaign: Battle of the Eastern Gilberts

JUDGEMENT DAY

The fully replenished US CVs arrived in the AM and launched a huge strike with 25 F4F and 159 SBD against the depleted KB CAP of 75 Zeros. 102 SBDs survived CAP to launch a devastating strike agaist KB:

CVL Zuiho 1000 lb bomb...penetrating....fuel storage explosion....heavy damage
CV Zuikaku 2 1000 lb bomb.....penetrating...ammo storage explosion
CV Akagi 1000 lb bomb penetrating
CVL Shoho 2 1000 lb bomb penetrating
CV Shokaku 2 1000 lb bomb penetrating
CV Kaga 3 1000 lb bomb penetrating.....heavy damage


PM
LBA hit KB with 12 SBD, 11 A-20, 15 B-25, and 21 TBD against 44 Zero CAP:

CV Kaga 2 torpedoes.

A huge victory bigger than RL Midway. The sacrifice of the BBs had been justified,

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 7-18-42(Evening) The Gilberts Campaign

CINCPAC was estatic as he read through the days combat reports. Admiral Nimitz requested further information on that afternoons LBA srike on KB......he wanted to know how serious the torpedo hits were on the Kaga.

The new reports from the Gilberts astounded him! In the AM strike, only 69 SBD survived CAP instead of the 102 that was previously reported. The only hits confirmed now were 2 hits on BB Haruna, 2 hits Kaga and 1 hit Akagi.....of these 5 hits only 1 penetrated and that was on Kaga. Further .....there was NO PM LBA strike on KB....they worked over the transport TFs instead. There was however an unescorted PM strike of 50+ SBDs and they were butchered to a plane. And the TBFs had gone in piecemeal throughout the day and were obliterated.

Now the USN CVs were again denuded of bombers and were forced to retreat towards Palmyra to rebuild their bomber complements. What had previously been regarded as a stunning victory was only another hollow defeat.

How could the battle reports have been so different? How could the 1st report have been so inaccurate? How could the 2nd report have been so minimal....69 SBDs ...a RL sized Midway strike package scoring only 3 hits on the CVs of which only one penetrated the deck? The attrition of KB aircraft and the sacrifice of the BBs had all been in vain.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: Late July, 1942 The Gilberts Campaign

USN BBs and CV air had been defeated. But the brave defenders of Tarawa were unbowed and had to be supported. CAP over Tarawa had been primarily provided by P-40Bs, P-39s , and Marine F4F squadrons. But the P-40s had yet to recover their losses from the drubbing they took at the hand of KB in the DEI back in April 1942. The losses they took over Tarawa couldnt be replaced. With CAP severely compromised all surface forces had to be withdrawn. The damaged BBs tried to make it back to Canton but all sank on the way except for BB Colorado(now in LA undergoing repairs and will be out of the war for several months). Kittyhawks and new Marine F4F squadrons were rushed to the Gilberts. A load of Hurricanes was actually boated in to Tarawa under hostile fire.

Meanwhile the Japanese had captured Makin (only 100 mi from Tarawa) and dropped off 25 LCUs there and was preparing it as a forward base to stage transport and surface TFs into Tarawa. Allied intelligence believes that KB had to temporarily withdraw to rebuild its own air formations. The IJA continued their daily assaults with their fresh arrivals on Tarawa but the desperate defenders managed to hang on to the airfield there.

The USN was down to its last 3 BBs....Arizona, Pennsylvania and brand new fast BB North Carolina. Two surface TFs were put together around the BBs and CAs and sent to escort more transport TFs carrying arty and armor formations and more elite Marines and of course supplies to reinforce Tarawa. CAP over Tarawa was again restored with the new plane types. The USN once again commanded the sea around the island. Even with 2 powerful surface TFs and 2 PT TFs and Marine SBDs protecting Tarawa the IJN continued to reinforce Tarawa with unprotected transports in a "Chinese Hordes" strategy. The Allies could sink 30 transports in a day as long as another 50 made it through.


2nd Naval Battle of Tarawa

Allied intell showed an IJN TF with 3 BBs and 7 CAs forming up on Makin. The 2 US surface TFs were combined with a total of 3 BBs and 11 CAs. In the ensuing melee the IJN got surprise(as they ALWAYS do) 1 US CA was sunk along with BB North Carolina(sunk by 14" shells no less). BB Arizona and CA Portland were reduced to floating hulks with 99% and 98% damage respectively but were able to anchor in the newly opened size 3 naval base at Tarawa and avoid sinking for the time being. Several other USN CAs were heavily damaged all at the cost of 1 IJN CA sunk. Remarkably BB Pennsylvania was unscathed and became the last USN BB operational in the Pacific.

[String]

expendable indeed..

Jesus christ.. if this continues the allies are going to lose the war..

edit: oh and could you post current ship losses?

[racndoc]

String.....Ship and plane losses for both sides as of 8-24-42 were listed in a post halfway down page 3 of this thread.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: Early August, 1942 The Gilberts Campaign

Both the USN and the IJN were compelled to withdraw their damaged ships from the waters around Tarawa. BB Pennsylvania and the CAs were put on patrol 300 mi south of Tarawa to intervene if absolutely necessary. Apamama was still not operational and Tarawa could service only 115 AC but the aviation regiments were still on the way.

The USN CV TF again rushed into action off Apamama to attempt to interdict the IJN transports. CINCPAC did not want to risk a fight with KB at this critical time so the airgroups were ordered to only attack targets within a 100 mi radius. Unfortunately, CINCPAC forgot that TF commander Admiral Spruance had been left with standing orders to engage any IJN TFs within 300 mi. When KB showed up the USN CV TF reated by moving 100 mi north to attack. This time the planes really went in piecemeal with the fighters escorting 15 TBF and the 150 SDBs unescorted. Needless to say no hits were scored but surprisingly many of the SBDs and TBFs survived. Still Admiral Spruance felt compelled to retreat yet a 3rd time to replenish his air groups.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 8-10-42 The Gilberts Campaign

The long bloody battle of the Gilberts was about to reach its horrific climax. A large transport TF with 72nd Aviation Regiment and 5th AF was scheduled to reach Apamama tonight. Another large transport TF with the 112th Calvary Regiment was scheduled to reach Tarawa also tonight and a 2nd transport TF carrying 52nd Aviation Regiment and 7th AF was scheduled to reach Tarawa tomorrow night. Intell reported a massive IJN TF with 5 BB and several CA forming up on Makin and poised to bombard Tarawa tonight. BB Pennsylvania and the CAs could not be committed against this size force. A ragtag force of some DDs, PGs, and MSWs was formed up to help protect the transports that would be arriving at Tarawa. Also 2 PT TFs were stationed off the island. Finally, the floating hulks of BB Arizona and CA Portland were towed by tugs out of the harbor to meet their destiny.....maybe they could get a shot off before sliding beneath the waves.

THEY WERE EXPENDABLE.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 8-11-42 The Gilberts Campaign

The Apamama TF got through and offloaded the 72nd Av Reg and 5th AF. Apamama with a size 5 airfield was now fully operational and 500 AC were immediately flown in and assigned naval bombing duty. The IJN BB force did sortie to Tarawa overnight but the Allied screen did its job.....BB Arizona and CA Portland were sunk as were several PTs, MSWs and other auxilliary ships but the transports got through. Now the IJN BB TF rested at port on Makin refueling and waiting for tonights festivities. The Gilberts Campaign would hinge on whether or not the aviation troop TF could land at Tarawa tonight.

The US CV TF had reloaded and was rushing back to the battle.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 8-12-42 The Gilberts Campaign

The IJN BB TF did not sortie last night. Radio intercepts show confusion on the part of high ranking IJN commanders as to why the BBs stayed in port. But the transports with 52nd Av Reg and 7th AF made it through to Tarawa and are currently offloading. 250 AC are immediately flown in to Tarawa and now with the arrival of the USN CV TF we would throw 1200 AC at KB tomorrow. Payback time.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 8-13-42 The Gilberts Campaign

Unfortunately KB withdrew out of range but the BB TF and all the transport TFs within 150 mi of Tarawa were plastered by 1200 AC. DDs, PGs, PCs, MSWs, AKs, APs, TKs were sunk by dozens. Initially Allied AC scored 4 hits BB Yamato, 5 hits BB Ise and 5 hits BB Kongo but over a 3 day running air battle they would suffer 18 bomb hits BB Yamato, 30 bomb hits BB Ise, 22 bomb hits BB Kongo, 5 hits CA Chikuma, 1 bomb hit CA Kako, 4 bomb hits CA Tone, 1 bomb hit CA Aoba, and 2 bomb hits CA Mikuma.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 8-16-42 The Gilberts Campaign

The IJN BBs ran away along with the lightly damaged transports but 50 plus DDs, AKs,APs etc tried to hide in Makin Port along with 2 damaged CAs protected by 100 Zeros. Allied fighters blew through the CAP like a speed bump while medium bombers and naval AC worked over Makin for 3 days until ALL were sunk in Port. At the same time, 350 heavy bombers worked over and sank another 28 ships ships in Jaluit port.

Remnants of the IJN withdrew to Kwajalein and beyond. Intell believes that there are currently 2 undamaged IJN BBs, Hiei and Kirishima which have been escorting KB. No intell available on undamaged CAs.

[Alikchi2]

At this rate, both navies will cease to exist by October. Utterly insane.

[Bison Frontier]

Situation update August 1st to 27th, 1942

On August 1st, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Hirohito bestowed an Imperial Rescript upon Kido Butai for its services rendered to the Empire (read: for sinking all those big bad Allied ships and shooting down countless hundreds of enemy aircraft). Vice-Admiral Nagumo was also promoted to full admiral for his inspired command of said force.

That same day, Prime Minister Tojo addressed the Diet. After acknowledging the great accomplishments of the imperial armed forces, the premier adopted a slightly more somber tone in his appraisal of the strategic situation. While Japan retains the strategic initiative on all fronts, there is no questioning the enemy’s resolve and increasing ability to defend his remaining possessions in the south and central Pacific. The heavy battles in the Gilberts and Marshalls amply demonstrated that. To counter the enemy’s reliance on the proverbial “wall of steel”, it is no longer pragmatic to merely rely on yamatodamashii. Spiritual vigor must be accompanied by industrial/economic prowess. Going forward, Japan’s economy must be placed on a “total war” footing – full mobilization, especially of hitherto untapped resources, and also increased production of more and better armaments. Only then can we be assured of final, total victory.

By the first week of August, Imperial General Headquarters assessed that the enemy had (despite suffering unbelievable losses) over 80,000 troops on Tarawa, backed up by at least a thousand land-based aircraft on Tarawa (including over 250 heavy bombers), Apamama and Baker. In light of such strength, Tokyo has decided to postpone the invasion of the Gilberts until such time as conditions warrant a resumption of offensive moves there. While the troops that managed to land at Tarawa are very badly outnumbered and outgunned, we are nonetheless confident that they will give the enemy forces an endless headache with their resourcefulness and valor.

In the meantime, the fighting around Tarawa was winding down but wasn’t quite over.

Despite long lines of communication and supply, and many of our valiant crews’ exhaustion, our forces still had plenty of fight left in them. On Aug 1st, USN and IJN carriers clashed for the third time. This time, however, the enemy had the invaluable assistance of the hundreds of land-based planes at Tarawa and Apamama to further distract Kido Butai’s harried pilots. Superb coordination and tactics helped our fighters destroy some 240 aircraft, including 115 SBDs, 68 Wildcats and 42 TBFs. By this time however, Kido Butai’s own Val and Kate groups had become quite worn down and were only able to mount a relatively weak counterblow, which was defeated by the enemy’s fighters.

At sea, the opposing fleets clashed yet again. On Aug 5th, Admiral Tanaka’s battleship TF (including the unsinkable Yamato) attacked the enemy at Tarawa, quickly sinking the damaged (from earlier battles) BB Arizona and the heavy cruiser Portland. A day later, not having quite recovered from the third clash with enemy carriers, Kido Butai’s Zeros destroyed another 100 enemy aircraft in fierce air battles near Tarawa and Apamama. Before retiring, KB’s Kates put an end to DMS Long and DMS Elliot, and a stray enemy transport.

From Aug 9th to 10th, our surface forces braved incessant enemy LBA attacks to sink enemy heavy cruisers Chester and Vincennes, DD Waters and also 13 transports at Tarawa. CA Northampton was also hard hit. Our own losses from enemy air and sea action included two light cruisers and eight destroyers. Again, our LRCAP from the Marshalls made the enemy LBA pay a heavy price for their success. Almost seventy aircraft were shot down.

By mid-August, Tokyo decided on a temporary disengagement from the Gilberts. While Tarawa remained in enemy hands, our forces had inflicted severe air and naval losses on the enemy, including savaging the USN carrier air arm three times. Our forces took losses too, but since the bulk of our losses was in destroyers, transports and light craft (all easily replaceable), we must conclude that the Gilberts campaign was on the whole a stunning strategic and operational victory for Japan.

Meanwhile, throughout our newly won empire, Imperial forces continued their consolidation moves, taking Kuala (Aug 8), Singkawang (Aug 12), Gasmata (Aug 15), Russell Islands (Aug 20).

Major combat vessels confirmed sunk during the Gilberts campaign (July 7th to to August 27th, 1942)


Allied: 8 BB (New Mexico, Idaho, Maryland, Tennessee, Mississippi, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona), 6 CA (Pensacola, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, Chester, Vincennes), 2 CL (Hobart, Concord), 30 DD, 4 DMS

Japan: 2 BB (Mutsu, Hyuga), 3 CA (Takao, Suzuya, Kinugasa), 4 CL (Sendai, Tama, Yura, Natori), 37 DD

[Bison Frontier]

ORIGINAL: Alikchi

At this rate, both navies will cease to exist by October. Utterly insane.

You're absolutely right. If we keep up this "insane" pace, there will be no ships left to sink by end-1942, which is why both forces have declared three whole months of R&R for all major units [:D]

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 9-2 -42 The Gilberts Campaign: Final Analysis

While the IJN could conceivably perform suicide transport missions and the IJA troops on Tarawa still need to be liquidated the Gilberts campaign is pretty much over for all intents and purposes. Out of the approximately 100,000 IJA troops landed on Tarawa about 40,000 effectives remain....soon to be liquidated. Makin with another 80,000 IJA troops will become the largest unguarded POW camp in the Pacific. Jaluit with over 100,000 IJA troops is virtually cut off and the entire KB will need to be committed to withdraw any troops there.

Fighting has quieted down a bit over the last week. 1000 AC are roto-tilling IJA forces on Tarawa daily but ship losses are minimal. Current ship losses include:

Allies: 11 BB, 8 CA, 5 CL, 1 CLAA, 52 DD, 16 MSW, 4 PG, 2 PC, 18 SS, 2 AO, 8 TK, 2 ML, 3 APD, 3 DM, 1 MLE, 32 PT, 23 AP, 72 AK

Japan: 2 CS, 3 BB, 4 CA, 7 CL, 62 DD, 37 MSW, 19 PG, 17 PC, 30 SS, 2 AO, 10 TK, 5 ML, 83 AP, 90 AK

It was probably a strategic error for the Allies to extend themselves into the Gilberts this early in the war. There was plenty of airbase capacity and AC available but there was a definite shortage of aviation personel to provide an effective defense. On the other hand, the Gilberts Campaign has been a huge battle of attrition and the Allies should be able to replace most of their losses over the next year. Both sides will have their repair shipyards maxed out for some time.

[Capt. Harlock]

On the other hand, the Gilberts Campaign has been a huge battle of attrition and the Allies should be able to replace most of their losses over the next year. Both sides will have their repair shipyards maxed out for some time.

The Allies will be able to replace much of what sank, but those battlewagons are gone for good. Also, isn't it interesting that nearly every other ship type suffered major losses, but not one carrier went down?

[racndoc]

Capt. Harlock......you are right about the lack of CV losses. This is what happens when the IJN stacks 8 CVs and 3 CVLs in KB and flies 90% CAP with 200+ Zeros. I lost 400+ land based AC in the DEI /OZ theatre in April 1942( my P-40 groups are still trying to rebuild as of Sept. 1942) and 600+ Naval AC in the Gilberts campaign( I actually ran out of naval pilots). And there is a problem with the game design if ALL the CAP flies EVERY time regardless of altitude or direction of attack while the attackers always go in piecemeal.

[Capt. Harlock]

And there is a problem with the game design if ALL the CAP flies EVERY time regardless of altitude or direction of attack while the attackers always go in piecemeal.

Wow -- I didn't realize that was happening. Pacific War incorporates command difficulties in launching CAP. (The Allied player needs to wait until 1944 until four-carrier TF's put up full CAP most of the time.) How did we go backwards on the game engine?

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 9-24-42

After 3 months of continuous assaults, Mandalay falls to the IJA in early Sept. The 150,000 IJA assault force forces the 60,000 defenders back toward Lashio. The Imperial Guards SS Panzer Division leads the irresistable assault against Lashio which capitulates on 9-23-42. Remnants of Allied formations are now fleeing towards Chinese and Indian borders.

On a happier note, Tarawa was completely secured by mid Sept. I give the IJA some style points for launching a suicide Banzai attack the night before their final liquidation. 1000+ AC are carpet bombing Makin on a daily basis. Things are quiet with regards to naval forces....both sides are repairing and re-equiping for the next major engagement.

[Luskan]

Interesting reading. Normally I would say that the allies have come out on top in the exchange rate (especially against the jap DDs!!! This is going to make the allied sub arm very dangerous in the late game) but the allies have lost 11 BB. In sinking those 11 BB the japs look like they've damaged KB enough to loose their good pilots - but on the other hand, they've just reduced a whole dimension of allied surface firepower.

Means that for isolated atolls, the allies will need to bring in CVs to pound the place, and fihgt air to air without being able to bombard with BBs.