Not too much different from what has been said before, bad weather has limited air ops. But, some pictures of the two interesting areas.
EUB vs Sprior - see who gets his banana straightened
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: The gamble pays off!
2nd December 1942
Not too much different from what has been said before, bad weather has limited air ops. But, some pictures of the two interesting areas.
Not too much different from what has been said before, bad weather has limited air ops. But, some pictures of the two interesting areas.
RE: The gamble pays off!
4th December 1942
BURMA/INDIA
Trimcomalee continues to be pounded daily. This is typical.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/04/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 2
Hurricane II x 4
Vengeance I x 2
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 9
Blenheim IV x 20
Wellington III x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 49
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
5 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
24 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
25 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 9
Hurricane II x 28
Vengeance I x 10
Beaufort I x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 18
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 71552 troops, 486 guns, 1468 vehicles
Defending force 57054 troops, 174 guns, 17 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
567 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Ouch!
There are another 64 Mitchells destined for SEAC now at Perth, and about to make the final leg of their long trip from the West Coast - to Madras. Then we'll have 100 quality US medium bombers in theatre. Their short range doesnt matter so much here, as six hexes is plenty to reach out and touch Burma from Akyab, not to mention cutting Rangoon off from naval relief.
Rangoon got butchered yesterday, 64 a/c destroyed on the ground for almost no Allied loss. Problem is any adventurism will have to wait until Trim is reduced, and its gonna take a while.
CHINA
Communist Chinese front is again on the verge of collapse. He reinforced his units on the road east of Kunchang and has achieved his 2 to 1 in troop ratio though not in AR value. I'm retreating to Kunchang proper where 2 corps have been recovering and there are forts.
Elsewhere its static war, not much has changed. Supply remains good. Heavy Allied fighter CAP over Chengtu and Chungking - 40 frames each or so - has given him pause with his bombing.
DEI
Bali airfield now at 100% damage according to recon. Switched the heavy bombers over to port bombing. The place will be well and truly softened by the time any invasions in 43 happen.
Three convoys near the northern Australian coast from Karachi - another quarter million supply points, about 200k in fuel and some unloaded APs to add to the transport fleet. The logistics of any operations seem to be doing fine.
SOPAC
Bad weather has called off the assaults but I've now amassed 60 Lightnings and 100 heavy bombers at Cooktown with an HQ unit. The Lightnings arent very experienced, in the 50s, a bit green in fact, but they got 0 fatigue and outnumber the enemy 3 to 1. Orders are given to unleash the dogs of war, the weather is clear - hopefully they will go kick some ass.
Barges are prepared at Lunga to continue the supply of Vella Lavella. Avengers are now in place there. Lunga only has 4000 fuel though, I set up a 100k fuel convoy from San Fran to Noumea, with plans on distributing that fuel from Noumea to the SOPAC theatre.
CENTPAC
Beefed up Tarawas minefields a bit. Aside from that quietish, Kwajalein has had some respite as I moved bombers to SOPAC for our op against Port Moresby. The whole USN fleet at Pearl pretty much has set sail for Noumea at cruising speed though. Now this is a mighty armada indeed, it must be almost 100 warships of all types.
40 days to Essex.
CVE Chenango just arrived, CVE Sangamon isnt far away.
Masses and masses of engineer units in the post. My av support problems should wither when those are where they need to be.
PPs now +270 and climbing!
BURMA/INDIA
Trimcomalee continues to be pounded daily. This is typical.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/04/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 2
Hurricane II x 4
Vengeance I x 2
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 9
Blenheim IV x 20
Wellington III x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 49
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
5 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
24 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
25 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 9
Hurricane II x 28
Vengeance I x 10
Beaufort I x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 18
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 71552 troops, 486 guns, 1468 vehicles
Defending force 57054 troops, 174 guns, 17 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
567 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Ouch!
There are another 64 Mitchells destined for SEAC now at Perth, and about to make the final leg of their long trip from the West Coast - to Madras. Then we'll have 100 quality US medium bombers in theatre. Their short range doesnt matter so much here, as six hexes is plenty to reach out and touch Burma from Akyab, not to mention cutting Rangoon off from naval relief.
Rangoon got butchered yesterday, 64 a/c destroyed on the ground for almost no Allied loss. Problem is any adventurism will have to wait until Trim is reduced, and its gonna take a while.
CHINA
Communist Chinese front is again on the verge of collapse. He reinforced his units on the road east of Kunchang and has achieved his 2 to 1 in troop ratio though not in AR value. I'm retreating to Kunchang proper where 2 corps have been recovering and there are forts.
Elsewhere its static war, not much has changed. Supply remains good. Heavy Allied fighter CAP over Chengtu and Chungking - 40 frames each or so - has given him pause with his bombing.
DEI
Bali airfield now at 100% damage according to recon. Switched the heavy bombers over to port bombing. The place will be well and truly softened by the time any invasions in 43 happen.
Three convoys near the northern Australian coast from Karachi - another quarter million supply points, about 200k in fuel and some unloaded APs to add to the transport fleet. The logistics of any operations seem to be doing fine.
SOPAC
Bad weather has called off the assaults but I've now amassed 60 Lightnings and 100 heavy bombers at Cooktown with an HQ unit. The Lightnings arent very experienced, in the 50s, a bit green in fact, but they got 0 fatigue and outnumber the enemy 3 to 1. Orders are given to unleash the dogs of war, the weather is clear - hopefully they will go kick some ass.
Barges are prepared at Lunga to continue the supply of Vella Lavella. Avengers are now in place there. Lunga only has 4000 fuel though, I set up a 100k fuel convoy from San Fran to Noumea, with plans on distributing that fuel from Noumea to the SOPAC theatre.
CENTPAC
Beefed up Tarawas minefields a bit. Aside from that quietish, Kwajalein has had some respite as I moved bombers to SOPAC for our op against Port Moresby. The whole USN fleet at Pearl pretty much has set sail for Noumea at cruising speed though. Now this is a mighty armada indeed, it must be almost 100 warships of all types.
40 days to Essex.
CVE Chenango just arrived, CVE Sangamon isnt far away.
Masses and masses of engineer units in the post. My av support problems should wither when those are where they need to be.
PPs now +270 and climbing!
RE: The gamble pays off!
First Lightning escorted heavy bomber strike of the war.
Bit bloody late, I tell ya.
The Lightnings performed well, the bombers didnt though. Cooktown is level 4, maybe they are half load Forts?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3a Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 3
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-17E Fortress x 90
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19
Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
46 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bit bloody late, I tell ya.
The Lightnings performed well, the bombers didnt though. Cooktown is level 4, maybe they are half load Forts?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3a Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 3
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-17E Fortress x 90
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19
Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
46 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Rob Brennan UK
- Posts: 3685
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 8:36 pm
- Location: London UK
RE: The gamble pays off!
Yup need a size 5 for B17 and liberators .. size 7 i believe for B29's. Trying to upgrade cooktown is a real pain in the behind. Malarial too doesnt help 
got to say you are doing very well, Im kind of suprised your opponent hasnt thrown in the towel, fingers crossed he never will
got to say you are doing very well, Im kind of suprised your opponent hasnt thrown in the towel, fingers crossed he never will
sorry for the spelling . English is my main language , I just can't type . and i'm too lazy to edit
RE: The gamble pays off!
Simon got a pretty bloody nose when he attacked Java in around May/June. KB lost about 100 planes. By the time he conquered Java Koepang had 250 fighter aircraft and thats what made him back off.
Then he slung four divisions against Ceylon, supported by his light carriers, but then Warspite got lucky and broke the attacking navy up in surface combat, sinking one CVL and messing up another. By the time he was in a fit state to try again I'd put all of Ceylon in Beaufort airspace due to building up Mannargudi and now he's trapped.
Not all gone my way though. No fleet carriers have been lost on either side so KB is intact though minus some pilots. Not seen KB for months so I presume its trained. And China is in pretty dire straits.
Then he slung four divisions against Ceylon, supported by his light carriers, but then Warspite got lucky and broke the attacking navy up in surface combat, sinking one CVL and messing up another. By the time he was in a fit state to try again I'd put all of Ceylon in Beaufort airspace due to building up Mannargudi and now he's trapped.
Not all gone my way though. No fleet carriers have been lost on either side so KB is intact though minus some pilots. Not seen KB for months so I presume its trained. And China is in pretty dire straits.
RE: The gamble pays off!
8th December, 1942
A bad few days for the Allies.
BURMA/INDIA
Rangoon airfield was showing 100% damage so I figured lets administer some pain and sent Warspite and Valiant in. The recon lied. 16 Betties put 1 torp into Warspite and 2 into Valiant. Though I did get in a bombardment first, a nuclear one doing 5000 casualties.
I was a bit surprised. Warspite is on <20 sys and could be pressed into service if need be, Valiant is in Akyab harbour on the verge of sinking. I think she may well be lost.
More pain at Trimcomalee, the Jap numbers are starting to noticeably thin. I've killed off 10,000 of them in the Trimcomalee pocket it would seem.
I moved 50 Tomahawks to Akyab, planning on some fighter sweeps over Rangoon, and then I'm going to squash Rangoons resources. That'll mean Burma is a desert for him.
As for me... CV Illustrious will be ditching the dire Fulmars and getting Wildcat Vs soon. Which is good, but as Illustrious is going to be Indias sole naval force thats not that good. [:(]
CHINA
Pulled back to Kunchang in good order. He's blowing the hell out of me with 200+ bomber raids, doing 250 runway hits a time. Just to suck up supplies.
Its working!
Might have to evacuate the whole northeastern corner of China in the next three months or so.
DEI
Put some Catalinas on an island he failed to grab right by Soerabaja. Hee. Wangainu or whatever its called on Sumba is about to have three baseforces, a significant number. I think when it can support it we'll start 70 Lightning sweeps over Soerabaja. I'm eager to get stuck in.
Lots of fast transport activity in the area, I moved up more engineers and an NZ Brigade to Sumba. A US division is at Perth, on the way to Darwin, giving me significantly more offensive power.
Bali is still being bombed horribly by my heavies. 250k of supply just arrived at Derby, I'm bouncing it over to Koepang which should then have 500k. Bit short of fuel but its not so bad and tankers are not far away.
All is well here.
SOPAC
Well, you see the results of my attempts to bomb Cooktown above. It won't take long to get it to AF 5, there are over 100 engineer vehicles there. Why not eh?
Over in the Solomons things have gone tits up meanwhile. 100 Betties from Rabaul (feck! 100! I told you he overgarrisoned SOPAC) wiped my APs from the map around Vella Lavella. On the plus side they did manage to land their troops. My 24 Wildcats were blown away by 60 Zero escorts, there are only 5 left on Vella Lavella now.
So much for my advancement on a shoestring. In future all movement will be done by barge or by fast transport. Where we come to problem #2, Lunga is out of fuel. I've got AKs drafted to move fuel from Noumea, which is very plentifully supplied, to the front lines where its needed. Fast transport has its disadvantages.
I'm just gonna try and cling on to Vella Lavella until greater numbers of fighter a/c can be brought to SOPAC. There are the odd Wildcat squadron in transports headed south but it'll be a few months yet.
CENTPAC
Gone quiet here. Too quiet. No Jap activity detected. 21 submarines are at Pearl having radars bolted on. When they are unleashed they'll kick the sub war into high gear, as I'll have about 30 or so boats around Japan, all with radar sets, and in 1943 as well with better torpedoes.
Ramilles is down to 9 sys at Seattle. A CVE is leaving SF and headed for Pearl.
....I think I'm going to use my two combat CVEs (not Nassau, thats a replenishment CVE) in the Solomons while the fleet carriers fight for Java.
...recon suggests 120 Jap ships at Singapore meanwhile. KB must be there.
A bad few days for the Allies.
BURMA/INDIA
Rangoon airfield was showing 100% damage so I figured lets administer some pain and sent Warspite and Valiant in. The recon lied. 16 Betties put 1 torp into Warspite and 2 into Valiant. Though I did get in a bombardment first, a nuclear one doing 5000 casualties.
I was a bit surprised. Warspite is on <20 sys and could be pressed into service if need be, Valiant is in Akyab harbour on the verge of sinking. I think she may well be lost.
More pain at Trimcomalee, the Jap numbers are starting to noticeably thin. I've killed off 10,000 of them in the Trimcomalee pocket it would seem.
I moved 50 Tomahawks to Akyab, planning on some fighter sweeps over Rangoon, and then I'm going to squash Rangoons resources. That'll mean Burma is a desert for him.
As for me... CV Illustrious will be ditching the dire Fulmars and getting Wildcat Vs soon. Which is good, but as Illustrious is going to be Indias sole naval force thats not that good. [:(]
CHINA
Pulled back to Kunchang in good order. He's blowing the hell out of me with 200+ bomber raids, doing 250 runway hits a time. Just to suck up supplies.
Its working!
Might have to evacuate the whole northeastern corner of China in the next three months or so.
DEI
Put some Catalinas on an island he failed to grab right by Soerabaja. Hee. Wangainu or whatever its called on Sumba is about to have three baseforces, a significant number. I think when it can support it we'll start 70 Lightning sweeps over Soerabaja. I'm eager to get stuck in.
Lots of fast transport activity in the area, I moved up more engineers and an NZ Brigade to Sumba. A US division is at Perth, on the way to Darwin, giving me significantly more offensive power.
Bali is still being bombed horribly by my heavies. 250k of supply just arrived at Derby, I'm bouncing it over to Koepang which should then have 500k. Bit short of fuel but its not so bad and tankers are not far away.
All is well here.
SOPAC
Well, you see the results of my attempts to bomb Cooktown above. It won't take long to get it to AF 5, there are over 100 engineer vehicles there. Why not eh?
Over in the Solomons things have gone tits up meanwhile. 100 Betties from Rabaul (feck! 100! I told you he overgarrisoned SOPAC) wiped my APs from the map around Vella Lavella. On the plus side they did manage to land their troops. My 24 Wildcats were blown away by 60 Zero escorts, there are only 5 left on Vella Lavella now.
So much for my advancement on a shoestring. In future all movement will be done by barge or by fast transport. Where we come to problem #2, Lunga is out of fuel. I've got AKs drafted to move fuel from Noumea, which is very plentifully supplied, to the front lines where its needed. Fast transport has its disadvantages.
I'm just gonna try and cling on to Vella Lavella until greater numbers of fighter a/c can be brought to SOPAC. There are the odd Wildcat squadron in transports headed south but it'll be a few months yet.
CENTPAC
Gone quiet here. Too quiet. No Jap activity detected. 21 submarines are at Pearl having radars bolted on. When they are unleashed they'll kick the sub war into high gear, as I'll have about 30 or so boats around Japan, all with radar sets, and in 1943 as well with better torpedoes.
Ramilles is down to 9 sys at Seattle. A CVE is leaving SF and headed for Pearl.
....I think I'm going to use my two combat CVEs (not Nassau, thats a replenishment CVE) in the Solomons while the fleet carriers fight for Java.
...recon suggests 120 Jap ships at Singapore meanwhile. KB must be there.
Slow, slow progress
18th December 1942
BURMA/INDIA
Combat reports indicate he's down to 47,000 men at Trimcomalee now, so we've shaved off almost a fifth of his force. Its good practice for my men, I have a lot of crack bomber pilots there now and the ground unit experience is very high as well. These guys are going to be solid when its time for Allied offensives in this theatre.
BB Valiant, on 60 flot, has been holed up in Akyab for weeks. Too badly damaged to go to sea, but he knows she's there and every few days Betties come along and drop 800kg bombs on her. So far the Betties havn't really done so well but the prognosis is poor. I dont think Valiant will be making it out.
CHINA
Kunchang is besieged, he attacks but the level 7 forts throw him back.
He's trying infiltration tactics as well. He's cut off the Sian/Chungking road with his own guerillas. Supply is so bad I have no confidence in my ability to dislodge them.
Simon is really trying hard in China, I think he knows its his best chance.
DEI
We've begun Lightning sweeps over Soerabaja now from my forward base. Kill ratio is about 1.5:1 in my favour, which is fine for me. Going to give him a week or two more of this and then try the bombers.
Bali is wrecked, port and airfield destroyed.
However, problems. He has another L4 airfield on Borneo, I forget the name, opposite Soerabaja. He's not been idle, defence in depth is his game. Its a long way from Koepang as well so a difficult target. I know about it cuz Betties tried to torpedo one of my APDs at Sumta but missed.
SOPAC
Lunga is now packed. Vella Lavella is reasonably well supplied by barges and by air support. I'm pondering a para drop on Shortlands from Lunga with 3 paratrooper units. Is that enough to move along an SNLF garrison?
Port Moresby is feeling the burn. Almost all his fighters have been stripped by Lightning sweeps from Cooktown. The Lightnings are doing a much better job still than the bombers tho even tho Cooktown is now AF5. PM is far from closed. He probably has a lot of engineers there.
My CVs are now between Pago Pago and Fiji.
CENTPAC
The theatre has gone almost entirely quiet now. I'm sure this worries Simon. It means I'm going somewhere else.
25 days to CV Essex.
BURMA/INDIA
Combat reports indicate he's down to 47,000 men at Trimcomalee now, so we've shaved off almost a fifth of his force. Its good practice for my men, I have a lot of crack bomber pilots there now and the ground unit experience is very high as well. These guys are going to be solid when its time for Allied offensives in this theatre.
BB Valiant, on 60 flot, has been holed up in Akyab for weeks. Too badly damaged to go to sea, but he knows she's there and every few days Betties come along and drop 800kg bombs on her. So far the Betties havn't really done so well but the prognosis is poor. I dont think Valiant will be making it out.
CHINA
Kunchang is besieged, he attacks but the level 7 forts throw him back.
He's trying infiltration tactics as well. He's cut off the Sian/Chungking road with his own guerillas. Supply is so bad I have no confidence in my ability to dislodge them.
Simon is really trying hard in China, I think he knows its his best chance.
DEI
We've begun Lightning sweeps over Soerabaja now from my forward base. Kill ratio is about 1.5:1 in my favour, which is fine for me. Going to give him a week or two more of this and then try the bombers.
Bali is wrecked, port and airfield destroyed.
However, problems. He has another L4 airfield on Borneo, I forget the name, opposite Soerabaja. He's not been idle, defence in depth is his game. Its a long way from Koepang as well so a difficult target. I know about it cuz Betties tried to torpedo one of my APDs at Sumta but missed.
SOPAC
Lunga is now packed. Vella Lavella is reasonably well supplied by barges and by air support. I'm pondering a para drop on Shortlands from Lunga with 3 paratrooper units. Is that enough to move along an SNLF garrison?
Port Moresby is feeling the burn. Almost all his fighters have been stripped by Lightning sweeps from Cooktown. The Lightnings are doing a much better job still than the bombers tho even tho Cooktown is now AF5. PM is far from closed. He probably has a lot of engineers there.
My CVs are now between Pago Pago and Fiji.
CENTPAC
The theatre has gone almost entirely quiet now. I'm sure this worries Simon. It means I'm going somewhere else.
25 days to CV Essex.
RE: Slow, slow progress
22nd December, 1942
BURMA/INDIA
4 ARs got moved from Diamond Harbour to Akyab in an attempt to save Valiant. Supply at Akyab was low so 4 AKs went over too to bump that up, and the fighter defence was reinforced with a crack squadron of Spitfires.
Today he had a go at the transports there with Betties and Zeroes, and the AKs got greased. However, the Zeroes proved completely unable to cope with the Allied fighters, specially the Spits. End result - 6 Allied a/c shot down for 39 Jap in air to air.
The bomber got through this time but surely his fighters cant take this sort of damage.
CHINA
He trains Tojos and Tonies here, I fear when these quality interceptors are brought to bear against me elsewhere. He's got a lot of them too, 100 or so.
The squeeze is being put on in the NE still, Sian and Kunchang are both under siege. They may well fall this time, supply is tight.
DEI
He's been busy hoovering up the Dutch bases he didnt bother to capture around the Java Sea, Sampit on Borneo and Pamakasen just outside Soerabaja. I think he's too late though. These bases need developng to be useful and I'm almost in position. I would estimate that we will make our move in January 1943, which is too early for those bases to intervene much.
Where his fighters arent my bombers smite at will. So aside from Soerabaja, which is being steadily chipped by my Lightnings, everywhere is wrecked. Macassar and Bali are smashed and wont be recovering for some time. My heavies are working on these new bases he's creatign on Borneo with similar effect. When we move I think Soerabaja will be the only major Jap airbase capable of intervening.
SOPAC
Reinforcing Lunga. Need more fighters especially, so I can nudge them up to Vella Lavella. Air superiority is the first requirement. Wildcats that were in Centpac are slowly moving south. Gimme a week or so and I should have sufficient force to base 3 Wildcat squadrons at Vella Lavella, triple what we had before with my abortive convoy. Then we try a few more AKs, as bait as much as anything, and see if we can cut into his crack pilots at Rabaul when they come looking.
CENTPAC
All quiet. CVEs ply the waters, moving Wildcats around.
Beaufighters in a few days. Essex <25 days.
BURMA/INDIA
4 ARs got moved from Diamond Harbour to Akyab in an attempt to save Valiant. Supply at Akyab was low so 4 AKs went over too to bump that up, and the fighter defence was reinforced with a crack squadron of Spitfires.
Today he had a go at the transports there with Betties and Zeroes, and the AKs got greased. However, the Zeroes proved completely unable to cope with the Allied fighters, specially the Spits. End result - 6 Allied a/c shot down for 39 Jap in air to air.
The bomber got through this time but surely his fighters cant take this sort of damage.
CHINA
He trains Tojos and Tonies here, I fear when these quality interceptors are brought to bear against me elsewhere. He's got a lot of them too, 100 or so.
The squeeze is being put on in the NE still, Sian and Kunchang are both under siege. They may well fall this time, supply is tight.
DEI
He's been busy hoovering up the Dutch bases he didnt bother to capture around the Java Sea, Sampit on Borneo and Pamakasen just outside Soerabaja. I think he's too late though. These bases need developng to be useful and I'm almost in position. I would estimate that we will make our move in January 1943, which is too early for those bases to intervene much.
Where his fighters arent my bombers smite at will. So aside from Soerabaja, which is being steadily chipped by my Lightnings, everywhere is wrecked. Macassar and Bali are smashed and wont be recovering for some time. My heavies are working on these new bases he's creatign on Borneo with similar effect. When we move I think Soerabaja will be the only major Jap airbase capable of intervening.
SOPAC
Reinforcing Lunga. Need more fighters especially, so I can nudge them up to Vella Lavella. Air superiority is the first requirement. Wildcats that were in Centpac are slowly moving south. Gimme a week or so and I should have sufficient force to base 3 Wildcat squadrons at Vella Lavella, triple what we had before with my abortive convoy. Then we try a few more AKs, as bait as much as anything, and see if we can cut into his crack pilots at Rabaul when they come looking.
CENTPAC
All quiet. CVEs ply the waters, moving Wildcats around.
Beaufighters in a few days. Essex <25 days.
RE: Slow, slow progress
29th December, 1942
BURMA/INDIA
He's down to 40,000 troops at Trimcomalee now. By my reckoning we've killed or disabled 20,000 Japs here now in the last two months. I'm keeping mostly to bombardments as they seem to do the most damage, weirdly. 500 casualties a bombardment is typical. 60 more Mitchells just unloaded at Colombo, so we'll have about 150-200 medium bombers going at him day after day now.
He seems to evacuated Rangoon after a month of heavy bomber strikes. The airfield is a wreck there for sure.
This makes me ponder an attack on Rangoon aimed at the end of January, by which time my thrust at Java should be just about beginning. 2 fresh divisions and a brigade are available, and a single British CV, and maybe Hermes too if we press her into service on 10 Sys. We'll have Wildcat Vs on CAP.
I'm convinced KB is at Singapore, which will make an adventure in Java risky, seems to me a spoiling attack is in order.
CHINA
No change. Thank god. I cling on to my six cities doggedly.
DEI
A DD on fast transport caught a 250lb bomb from a Betty launched a -long- way away. Singers I think it came from !!!
He has a lot of bases in the area but I think I've done a good job of reducing them with my heavies. The only powerful, well equipped base able to intervene in the upcoming battle is Soerabaja. I soften it with Lightning sweeps but he has crack Zeroes there and the kill ratio is in his favour. Its a long way to fly as well.
Almost got the PPs scraped up to free up an Aussie division, which means we're talking about a 2 Div + 1 Bde landing on Bali. Should be plenty, he's got 1 unit there maximum and I dont think it must be heavily fortified, with him being bombed so.
SOPAC
More troops flood into Lunga. I accidentlaly landed 2 engineer vehicles on Mendo and found it defended by a single baseforce so crap, it cant even take out the engineer vehicles. [:D]. I will paradrop and land a marine raider force on there simultaneously tomorrow. Mendo is a 0 (2) airfield, so valuable, its in Lightning range of Rabaul too.
Port Moresby has been trashed, and keeps being trashed. I have about 20-30 APs slipping past now towards Darwin, no Jap recon has found them yet, so it looks like the plan is working!
The carriers are at Brisbane. Sys damage on some is up to 2 already.
CENTPAC/NORPAC
All quiet.
BURMA/INDIA
He's down to 40,000 troops at Trimcomalee now. By my reckoning we've killed or disabled 20,000 Japs here now in the last two months. I'm keeping mostly to bombardments as they seem to do the most damage, weirdly. 500 casualties a bombardment is typical. 60 more Mitchells just unloaded at Colombo, so we'll have about 150-200 medium bombers going at him day after day now.
He seems to evacuated Rangoon after a month of heavy bomber strikes. The airfield is a wreck there for sure.
This makes me ponder an attack on Rangoon aimed at the end of January, by which time my thrust at Java should be just about beginning. 2 fresh divisions and a brigade are available, and a single British CV, and maybe Hermes too if we press her into service on 10 Sys. We'll have Wildcat Vs on CAP.
I'm convinced KB is at Singapore, which will make an adventure in Java risky, seems to me a spoiling attack is in order.
CHINA
No change. Thank god. I cling on to my six cities doggedly.
DEI
A DD on fast transport caught a 250lb bomb from a Betty launched a -long- way away. Singers I think it came from !!!
He has a lot of bases in the area but I think I've done a good job of reducing them with my heavies. The only powerful, well equipped base able to intervene in the upcoming battle is Soerabaja. I soften it with Lightning sweeps but he has crack Zeroes there and the kill ratio is in his favour. Its a long way to fly as well.
Almost got the PPs scraped up to free up an Aussie division, which means we're talking about a 2 Div + 1 Bde landing on Bali. Should be plenty, he's got 1 unit there maximum and I dont think it must be heavily fortified, with him being bombed so.
SOPAC
More troops flood into Lunga. I accidentlaly landed 2 engineer vehicles on Mendo and found it defended by a single baseforce so crap, it cant even take out the engineer vehicles. [:D]. I will paradrop and land a marine raider force on there simultaneously tomorrow. Mendo is a 0 (2) airfield, so valuable, its in Lightning range of Rabaul too.
Port Moresby has been trashed, and keeps being trashed. I have about 20-30 APs slipping past now towards Darwin, no Jap recon has found them yet, so it looks like the plan is working!
The carriers are at Brisbane. Sys damage on some is up to 2 already.
CENTPAC/NORPAC
All quiet.
The War In Summary Up till Now
As its now the end of 1942, I thought it would be a good idea to summarise the progress of the war to date.
December 1941 sees heavy Japanese attacks in the Philippines, Malaya, and up as far as Tarawa and Wake Island in CentPac, and down as far as Lunga in the south Pacific. Simon lands a force at Johore Baru in Malaya with the intention of cutting the British off from Singapore. While he succeeds in this goal, Swordfish wreak devastation on his exposed battleships as they sit in the harbour at Johore Baru, sinking at least 2, and Force Z manages to engage as well, sinking the Nagato. Pearl gets three days of carrier bombardment. The waters around Pearl are infested with Jap subs but the US Navy manages to sink almost every single one by February, and since then the Japanese submarine arm seems to have effectively ceased to exist. Aggressive use of Allied cruisers in the Dutch East Indies mean almost every allied CA is sunk by Christmas, though an 8" shell from Houston eventually sinks Kongo (lucky hit!). The remnants fall back to SOPAC. Near Christmas time KB raids Noumea, and sinks almost the entire Aussie navy as well as the well 'ard French DD Le Triomphant. By the end of 1941 ships lost look like this :-
6 BB (5 at Pearl + Prince of Wales)
5 CA
7 CL
11 DD
1 DM
2 MSW
1 PC
2 SS
2 TK
8 PT
4 AK
1 AP
Japanese ship losses (all hail to the Silent Service)
661 points
2 BB (Fuso and Ise, Kongo also on heavy damage, one other on heavy damage Kirishima I think)
1 CL
4 DD
1 APD
3 PC
2 PG
2 TK
1 MSW
14 SS
6 AK
9 AP
In January, Jap troops pour into Vigan despite the best efforts of the Dutch. Dutch T.IVs prove useless but the Dutch submarines exact a toll, including a hit on a battleship off the northern coast of Borneo. The Aussies at Rabaul have stubbornly refused to surrender, and in January Japanese battleships begin to work on the place while KB raids around Fiji. An Allied cruiser force manages to defeat a greatly superior Japanese invasion fleet off Rabaul, thus buying some more time for the beleaguered Aussie garrison. US submarines manage to pick off some stragglers on the way back to Truk. Rangoon falls, and he begins to work up into Burma proper, while in the PI, Manila falls early on the 18th. In Malaya some British units are evacuated by the RN from Georgetown but at the end of January all British units in Malaya have surrendered, with Singapore falling on the 31st. At the tail end of January KB raids Canton Island but obsolete Bolos see him off.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/14/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 61,88, firing at TF 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 19 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88)
TF 19 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 61,88
18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 61,88
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 5
CA Takao, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 14, on fire
DD Oshio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 2
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 61,88
Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Africa Maru
AP Anrugu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Teiryu Maru
AP Tenryu Maru
AP Toyo Maru #2, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Ujigawa Maru
AP Yamafuku Maru
AP Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Chinko Maru
AP Daitei Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 3
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2
CL Boise, on fire
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, on fire, heavy damage
In February he begins probing attacks on Java and Sumatra. A surprise is laid for him, the Royal Navy and two US CVs begins to concentrate at Soerabaja. Japs attempt to land at Baker Island but a US carrier raid devastates their transport fleet while KB is in the Coral Sea, the remnants manage to capture the island for the Empire.
In the Solomons an attempted landing with 2 NZ Bdes at Lunga similarly suffers when KB turns up and trashes them badly. Remnant Kiwis slink back to Noumea and eventually reconstitute, where they become important units in the Solomons campaign in late '42.
In Burma, Mandalay falls early, but he leaves Myritkina alone, instead heading over the trail towards Imphal.
And in China the entire front collapses as he clears the railroad almost without effort.
The hammer really falls on the 15th February. Massive Japanese air attacks on Palembang quickly wipes out the Dutch airforce there, including most of the Dutch torpedo bombers in theatre. The Japanese thrusts on northern and southern Borneo and Sumatra soon follow, but the Allied ambush works fine. Anglo-American carriers venture into the Java Sea and inflict massive damage to his invading forces - at least 50 ships are sunk in just three days, including another Jap battleship. British battleships chop up would-be invaders at Balikpapan as well, inflicting heavy damage with their 15" guns. By the end of February the high intensity warfare has subsided, the Allied navy has fled Japanese reinforcement but the Japs have sustained extremely heavy losses.
By March almost every Allied Dakota on the map is at Ledo or going to Ledo. A warm welcome is prepared at Jorhat, checking the Imperial Guards advance on the Indian border. Japanese paratroops are repulse from Ledo, and the Imperial Guard ends up surrounded and cut off, where it gets mauled by British Indian units 60 miles from Jorhat. Myritkina receives the Chinese SEAC divisions, meaning the pooch really got screwed for Japan in this theatre.
He starts nosing around Lae in SOPAC but bombers from the hastily garrisonned Port Moresby mess 'im up. 3000 Aussies are still holding off 15k Japs at Rabaul. BC Repulse tries to aid them as the Japs are funnelling in supplies, but KB shows up and sinks Repulse. Rabaul surrenders soon after but only after months of heroic resistance. Then KBs attentions turn to Port Moresby and Gili Gili, both of which have been garrisoned, and completely trash them both, shutting down both airfields completely.
In the DEI he's landed on Sumatra and works on cleaning out all the small pissant bases, but Java remains untouched, the AVG at Batavia and the KB being busy elsewhere having held him off.
April. Major battles break out in Burma as he tries to break through at Jorhat again and finally makes an assault on Myritkina. Too late though, the Chinese divisions there, supplied by Dakotas from Ledo, see him off. An Allied counteroffensive pushes him back to Mandalay but the ill equipped Chinese can't break the fortifications there and eventually back off, while the British crush his attacks at Jorhat (the Chinese cutting his supply route helped). By the end of April 7th Armoured has cut a swathe through the japs and recaptured Imphal.
Reduction of Batavias defences are begun in earnest now with Zeroes out of Palembang, the AVG doesnt die easily but after a few weeks - it does die, and Batavia is evacuated of aircraft. Dutch PT boats continue to fight doggedly at northern Java.
The Japs start bombarding Port Moresby and Gili Gili with battleships, and soon after invade. Both bases fall disappointingly quickly, but unsurprising. The upstarts at Rabaul have made the Japs attack with four divisions, and the Aussies are quickly overwhelmed, leaving New Guinea in his hands.
May... Baby KB is now in the Java Sea, and he finally lands at Merak after a months softening. No mistakes are made this time given what I did to him when he invaded Sumatra. [:D]. His Java campaign on land is cautious however despite his massive ground superiority, and most of the Dutch units I want are evacuated in good order from Soerabaja and taken to Koepang. Attempts to destroy the oil as he captures it with Fortresses fail miserably, but baby KB in the Java Sea suffers to Fortresses and Beauforts and CVE Hosho and CVL Zuiho are sunk.
Fearing an attack on India the Allies work feverishly on turning Bangalore into a huge airbase which can react to an invasion at just about any part of the Indian coast. Units on the Burmese border are withdrawn, letting the trapped Imperial Guard go in the process.
SOPAC becomes a backwater as the whole thing is now in Jap hands, the Allies having had to fall back to Noumea and Luganville.
The British CVs are now, all bar 2, in the Central Pacific to concentrate force.
June. KB raids around Soerabaja and Koepang at the end of June, trashing Soerabaja, which is now the only major Allied base left on Java. At Koepang however just about every USAFFE and ABDA survivor is now based. A 200 fighter mega cap rips KB up when it tries to sink the 3 British R class battleships prowling around Koepang harbour. Over a few days KB loses about 140 pilots though the British Rs are all heavily damaged. (They eventually make it to Seattle and are still being patched as of 1943). Lack of Beauforts means no carriers are hit though.
Soerabaja finally falls in early June, it would have fallen much earlier but for Jap timidity.
An Allied counteroffensive in SOPAC by Kiwi survivors of the earlier debacle and the 1st USMC recaptures Lunga. Recon over Port Moresby indicates vast forces, so with that small victory SOPAC goes quiet for months.
In June he besieges Chungking, this heralds six months of complete WW1 style deadlock in China - his farthest advance. 150 Dakotas and the Burma Road keep China hanging by a thread.
July
The war mostly goes into a lull. Except at India, where IJN units are seen on the prowl in the Bay of Bengal, including CVs. Soon after, Jap forces land on Trimcomalee, and rapidly take it by the 5th. Trimcomalee has been deemed expendable by the Allies and was lightly defended, but Colombo has huge fort levels and a division and a brigade defending it, and it doesnt crack to the Jap first wave. Monsoons mean that aircraft almost have nothing to do with the battle. The two British carriers nevertheless dance around KB which is in the area seeking an opportunity to strike, but none presents itself for either side.
A hurried offensive in the Central Pacific is begun to try and distract him from India. Lack of supply hinders the Allied effort, and but fortunately the USA is nearby.
August
His offensive on Ceylon is stalled at Colombo. Monsoons mean KB isnt as dangerous as it should be. Stalemate ensues on the island. I begin building up Mannargudi, which is just 2 hexes from Trimcomalee - meaning the entirety of Ceylon can be put under Beaufort blockade, but it takes a while as Mannargudi is 0 (0). He builds up Trimcomalee with Japanese aircraft, Oscars and Sonias mostly, but the Oscars are woefully inadequate to stop the 100 Fortresses at Bangalore from promptly wrecking the airfield. Japanese convoys begin supplying Trimcomalee, the only a/c in range to prevent this are the Fortresses, they do the occasional hit but the Jap supplies get through. KB almost gets Warspite, catching her at maximum range in the Bay of Bengal, but the bombs just bounce off the heavily armoured battleship, whiich slinks back to Diamond Harbour and a heavy Spitfire CAP. As the month wears on the weather improves, and the Fortresses inflict a steady rate of attrition on Japanese transports. KB raids Karachi, sinking BB Resolution in the harbour, but the Fortresses blow the crap out of several Jap AOs which were following KB around for replenishment.
The Central Pacific offensive picks up steam when some more supplies from Pearl Harbour are diverted to the place. USN carriers raid around Kwajalein, sinking many Jap ships in port, and some which were apparently moving garrisons hurriedly around the Marshalls for defence in depth. Jap anti ship defences seem light.
USN battleships using Canton Island with an AE as a base bombard Tarawa repeatedly. Marines storm first Baker Island, and then immediately afterwards successfully capture Tarawa in a lightning attack.
Towards the end of August I move my Dakotas from Ledo to Bangalore and begin slowly drip feeding Colombo with air transported units, keeping the place just about afloat despite Jap reinforcements landing on the island.
I begin to eye up Bali, and start moving SWPAC units to Northern Australia.
September
He's finally had enough of my Bangalore airfield and moves KB up to the coast to go toe to toe with it. Unfortunately massed Spitfires see him off, inflicting more heavy casualties to his by now presumably barren pilot pool. Again, a lack of torpedo bombers mean his carriers are untouched however. US a/c begin to be allocated to India, over the next few months 60 Tomahawks, 60 Mitchells and 50 Liberators arrive.
In CentPac the offensive continues, Wake Island falls to the US, but lack of prep points and not much softening up means casualties are heavy, effectively ending the Allied mini-offensive. Most of the divisions are pulled back to Pearl for R&R, some of them down to half normal assault points. Tarawa becomes a heavy bomber base and works on returning Kwajalein to the stone age.
Mannargudi is raised to a level 4 airfield at the end of September.
October
The beginning of October sees a decisive, and lucky, battle off Trimcomalee. Beauforts and Vengeances are now based at Mannargudi, thus putting Ceylon under an aerial blockade in effect. Another Jap convoy is sighted headed for Ceylon, and Warspites battle group is sortied. Thunderstorms mean a/c have little effect, but Warspite finds the convoy, escorted by four Japanese CVLs/CVEs. One CVL eats 15" and sinks immediately, another is sunk by the Beauforts right after being turned into a flaming wreck by Warspite. Then the British warships get stuck into the convoy, tearing it to pieces. And then the Beauforts at Mannargudi mop up the remains.
Warspite flees fearing his carriers but its all over, the Japs retreat, and the convoy has been driven off with heavy losses. Figuring this is the turning point, the British begin a massive reinforcement of Colombo with the Dakotas and break the siege there with two reinforcement divisions.
Then a lull sets in. The British force him back to Trimcomalee over the month, and eventually recapture the city, and its supplies. Elsewhere there are no major moves, though the USN heavy bombers stay engaged throughout, inflicting heavy damage to his aircraft pools.
November
60,000 Japs are now trapped on Ceylon. By 1943 they are reduced to 40,000 by constant aerial attacks and bombardment by massed British artillery. He begins a massive air offensive in China, which the Allies try various things to counter but basically give up on couintering after a while. Soon the NE theatre of China is a wasteland, all resources, heavy industry and oil destroyed. A lot of US heavy bombers are fruitlessly moved to Chengtu where they get massacred by Tonies and Tojos trying to attack. Later on Spitfires are diverted from India to provide fighter shields over the key Chinese cities, and this at least inflicts some attrition on him.
The Royal Navy raids Rangoon in daylight, clearing out the remaining IJN ships assigned to the Bay of Bengal. Heavy bombers at Chandpur keep Rangoon closed so the Betties cannot counter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Michishio, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Yugure, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 6
BB Valiant, Shell hits 3
CL Emerald
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Paul Jones
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Electra, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Fortune
DD Griffin
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
Similarly in the Marshalls, with Kwajalein out of action, Allied cruisers intercept a Japanese convoy unloading at Eniwetok and inflict heavy damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74
Japanese Ships
MSW Fuji Maru
MSW Fukeui Maru #7, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
MSW Keinan Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
PG Magan Maru, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PG Shinko Maru #2, Shell hits 4
PG Yoshida Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PG Zuiko Maru
AK Taki Maru
AK Katsukawa Maru
AK Arisan Maru
AK Teikai Maru
Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Nicholas
DD Phelps
DD Lawrence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74
Japanese Ships
MSW Fuji Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PG Shinko Maru #2, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
PG Zuiko Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AK Taki Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Katsukawa Maru, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AK Arisan Maru
AK Teikai Maru, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Boise
DD Nicholas
DD Phelps
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 1
In the Solomons Vella Lavella is taken and reinforced, with great difficulty due to Betties at Rabaul, from Lunga. Thus begins a tentative opening of the SOPAC theatre.
December
The offensive into Java is now coming together. Port Moresby is reduced by escorted bombers from Cooktown, allowing Allied shipping through to Darwin. With Ceylon back in British hands convoys of fuel and supplies reach North Australia from Karachi. Warships of all types are slowly gathered at Derby and Darwin, and US and Australian forces begin to slowly encroach on the island chain towards Java. Heavy bombers at Koepang wreck most of the airfields in range bar Soerabaja which has heavy CAP, and forward based Lightnings work on chipping away at that CAP with long range sweeps.
The calm before the storm?
December 1941 sees heavy Japanese attacks in the Philippines, Malaya, and up as far as Tarawa and Wake Island in CentPac, and down as far as Lunga in the south Pacific. Simon lands a force at Johore Baru in Malaya with the intention of cutting the British off from Singapore. While he succeeds in this goal, Swordfish wreak devastation on his exposed battleships as they sit in the harbour at Johore Baru, sinking at least 2, and Force Z manages to engage as well, sinking the Nagato. Pearl gets three days of carrier bombardment. The waters around Pearl are infested with Jap subs but the US Navy manages to sink almost every single one by February, and since then the Japanese submarine arm seems to have effectively ceased to exist. Aggressive use of Allied cruisers in the Dutch East Indies mean almost every allied CA is sunk by Christmas, though an 8" shell from Houston eventually sinks Kongo (lucky hit!). The remnants fall back to SOPAC. Near Christmas time KB raids Noumea, and sinks almost the entire Aussie navy as well as the well 'ard French DD Le Triomphant. By the end of 1941 ships lost look like this :-
6 BB (5 at Pearl + Prince of Wales)
5 CA
7 CL
11 DD
1 DM
2 MSW
1 PC
2 SS
2 TK
8 PT
4 AK
1 AP
Japanese ship losses (all hail to the Silent Service)
661 points
2 BB (Fuso and Ise, Kongo also on heavy damage, one other on heavy damage Kirishima I think)
1 CL
4 DD
1 APD
3 PC
2 PG
2 TK
1 MSW
14 SS
6 AK
9 AP
In January, Jap troops pour into Vigan despite the best efforts of the Dutch. Dutch T.IVs prove useless but the Dutch submarines exact a toll, including a hit on a battleship off the northern coast of Borneo. The Aussies at Rabaul have stubbornly refused to surrender, and in January Japanese battleships begin to work on the place while KB raids around Fiji. An Allied cruiser force manages to defeat a greatly superior Japanese invasion fleet off Rabaul, thus buying some more time for the beleaguered Aussie garrison. US submarines manage to pick off some stragglers on the way back to Truk. Rangoon falls, and he begins to work up into Burma proper, while in the PI, Manila falls early on the 18th. In Malaya some British units are evacuated by the RN from Georgetown but at the end of January all British units in Malaya have surrendered, with Singapore falling on the 31st. At the tail end of January KB raids Canton Island but obsolete Bolos see him off.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/14/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 61,88, firing at TF 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 19 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88)
TF 19 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 61,88
18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 61,88
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 5
CA Takao, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 14, on fire
DD Oshio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 2
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 61,88
Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Africa Maru
AP Anrugu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Teiryu Maru
AP Tenryu Maru
AP Toyo Maru #2, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Ujigawa Maru
AP Yamafuku Maru
AP Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Chinko Maru
AP Daitei Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 3
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2
CL Boise, on fire
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, on fire, heavy damage
In February he begins probing attacks on Java and Sumatra. A surprise is laid for him, the Royal Navy and two US CVs begins to concentrate at Soerabaja. Japs attempt to land at Baker Island but a US carrier raid devastates their transport fleet while KB is in the Coral Sea, the remnants manage to capture the island for the Empire.
In the Solomons an attempted landing with 2 NZ Bdes at Lunga similarly suffers when KB turns up and trashes them badly. Remnant Kiwis slink back to Noumea and eventually reconstitute, where they become important units in the Solomons campaign in late '42.
In Burma, Mandalay falls early, but he leaves Myritkina alone, instead heading over the trail towards Imphal.
And in China the entire front collapses as he clears the railroad almost without effort.
The hammer really falls on the 15th February. Massive Japanese air attacks on Palembang quickly wipes out the Dutch airforce there, including most of the Dutch torpedo bombers in theatre. The Japanese thrusts on northern and southern Borneo and Sumatra soon follow, but the Allied ambush works fine. Anglo-American carriers venture into the Java Sea and inflict massive damage to his invading forces - at least 50 ships are sunk in just three days, including another Jap battleship. British battleships chop up would-be invaders at Balikpapan as well, inflicting heavy damage with their 15" guns. By the end of February the high intensity warfare has subsided, the Allied navy has fled Japanese reinforcement but the Japs have sustained extremely heavy losses.
By March almost every Allied Dakota on the map is at Ledo or going to Ledo. A warm welcome is prepared at Jorhat, checking the Imperial Guards advance on the Indian border. Japanese paratroops are repulse from Ledo, and the Imperial Guard ends up surrounded and cut off, where it gets mauled by British Indian units 60 miles from Jorhat. Myritkina receives the Chinese SEAC divisions, meaning the pooch really got screwed for Japan in this theatre.
He starts nosing around Lae in SOPAC but bombers from the hastily garrisonned Port Moresby mess 'im up. 3000 Aussies are still holding off 15k Japs at Rabaul. BC Repulse tries to aid them as the Japs are funnelling in supplies, but KB shows up and sinks Repulse. Rabaul surrenders soon after but only after months of heroic resistance. Then KBs attentions turn to Port Moresby and Gili Gili, both of which have been garrisoned, and completely trash them both, shutting down both airfields completely.
In the DEI he's landed on Sumatra and works on cleaning out all the small pissant bases, but Java remains untouched, the AVG at Batavia and the KB being busy elsewhere having held him off.
April. Major battles break out in Burma as he tries to break through at Jorhat again and finally makes an assault on Myritkina. Too late though, the Chinese divisions there, supplied by Dakotas from Ledo, see him off. An Allied counteroffensive pushes him back to Mandalay but the ill equipped Chinese can't break the fortifications there and eventually back off, while the British crush his attacks at Jorhat (the Chinese cutting his supply route helped). By the end of April 7th Armoured has cut a swathe through the japs and recaptured Imphal.
Reduction of Batavias defences are begun in earnest now with Zeroes out of Palembang, the AVG doesnt die easily but after a few weeks - it does die, and Batavia is evacuated of aircraft. Dutch PT boats continue to fight doggedly at northern Java.
The Japs start bombarding Port Moresby and Gili Gili with battleships, and soon after invade. Both bases fall disappointingly quickly, but unsurprising. The upstarts at Rabaul have made the Japs attack with four divisions, and the Aussies are quickly overwhelmed, leaving New Guinea in his hands.
May... Baby KB is now in the Java Sea, and he finally lands at Merak after a months softening. No mistakes are made this time given what I did to him when he invaded Sumatra. [:D]. His Java campaign on land is cautious however despite his massive ground superiority, and most of the Dutch units I want are evacuated in good order from Soerabaja and taken to Koepang. Attempts to destroy the oil as he captures it with Fortresses fail miserably, but baby KB in the Java Sea suffers to Fortresses and Beauforts and CVE Hosho and CVL Zuiho are sunk.
Fearing an attack on India the Allies work feverishly on turning Bangalore into a huge airbase which can react to an invasion at just about any part of the Indian coast. Units on the Burmese border are withdrawn, letting the trapped Imperial Guard go in the process.
SOPAC becomes a backwater as the whole thing is now in Jap hands, the Allies having had to fall back to Noumea and Luganville.
The British CVs are now, all bar 2, in the Central Pacific to concentrate force.
June. KB raids around Soerabaja and Koepang at the end of June, trashing Soerabaja, which is now the only major Allied base left on Java. At Koepang however just about every USAFFE and ABDA survivor is now based. A 200 fighter mega cap rips KB up when it tries to sink the 3 British R class battleships prowling around Koepang harbour. Over a few days KB loses about 140 pilots though the British Rs are all heavily damaged. (They eventually make it to Seattle and are still being patched as of 1943). Lack of Beauforts means no carriers are hit though.
Soerabaja finally falls in early June, it would have fallen much earlier but for Jap timidity.
An Allied counteroffensive in SOPAC by Kiwi survivors of the earlier debacle and the 1st USMC recaptures Lunga. Recon over Port Moresby indicates vast forces, so with that small victory SOPAC goes quiet for months.
In June he besieges Chungking, this heralds six months of complete WW1 style deadlock in China - his farthest advance. 150 Dakotas and the Burma Road keep China hanging by a thread.
July
The war mostly goes into a lull. Except at India, where IJN units are seen on the prowl in the Bay of Bengal, including CVs. Soon after, Jap forces land on Trimcomalee, and rapidly take it by the 5th. Trimcomalee has been deemed expendable by the Allies and was lightly defended, but Colombo has huge fort levels and a division and a brigade defending it, and it doesnt crack to the Jap first wave. Monsoons mean that aircraft almost have nothing to do with the battle. The two British carriers nevertheless dance around KB which is in the area seeking an opportunity to strike, but none presents itself for either side.
A hurried offensive in the Central Pacific is begun to try and distract him from India. Lack of supply hinders the Allied effort, and but fortunately the USA is nearby.
August
His offensive on Ceylon is stalled at Colombo. Monsoons mean KB isnt as dangerous as it should be. Stalemate ensues on the island. I begin building up Mannargudi, which is just 2 hexes from Trimcomalee - meaning the entirety of Ceylon can be put under Beaufort blockade, but it takes a while as Mannargudi is 0 (0). He builds up Trimcomalee with Japanese aircraft, Oscars and Sonias mostly, but the Oscars are woefully inadequate to stop the 100 Fortresses at Bangalore from promptly wrecking the airfield. Japanese convoys begin supplying Trimcomalee, the only a/c in range to prevent this are the Fortresses, they do the occasional hit but the Jap supplies get through. KB almost gets Warspite, catching her at maximum range in the Bay of Bengal, but the bombs just bounce off the heavily armoured battleship, whiich slinks back to Diamond Harbour and a heavy Spitfire CAP. As the month wears on the weather improves, and the Fortresses inflict a steady rate of attrition on Japanese transports. KB raids Karachi, sinking BB Resolution in the harbour, but the Fortresses blow the crap out of several Jap AOs which were following KB around for replenishment.
The Central Pacific offensive picks up steam when some more supplies from Pearl Harbour are diverted to the place. USN carriers raid around Kwajalein, sinking many Jap ships in port, and some which were apparently moving garrisons hurriedly around the Marshalls for defence in depth. Jap anti ship defences seem light.
USN battleships using Canton Island with an AE as a base bombard Tarawa repeatedly. Marines storm first Baker Island, and then immediately afterwards successfully capture Tarawa in a lightning attack.
Towards the end of August I move my Dakotas from Ledo to Bangalore and begin slowly drip feeding Colombo with air transported units, keeping the place just about afloat despite Jap reinforcements landing on the island.
I begin to eye up Bali, and start moving SWPAC units to Northern Australia.
September
He's finally had enough of my Bangalore airfield and moves KB up to the coast to go toe to toe with it. Unfortunately massed Spitfires see him off, inflicting more heavy casualties to his by now presumably barren pilot pool. Again, a lack of torpedo bombers mean his carriers are untouched however. US a/c begin to be allocated to India, over the next few months 60 Tomahawks, 60 Mitchells and 50 Liberators arrive.
In CentPac the offensive continues, Wake Island falls to the US, but lack of prep points and not much softening up means casualties are heavy, effectively ending the Allied mini-offensive. Most of the divisions are pulled back to Pearl for R&R, some of them down to half normal assault points. Tarawa becomes a heavy bomber base and works on returning Kwajalein to the stone age.
Mannargudi is raised to a level 4 airfield at the end of September.
October
The beginning of October sees a decisive, and lucky, battle off Trimcomalee. Beauforts and Vengeances are now based at Mannargudi, thus putting Ceylon under an aerial blockade in effect. Another Jap convoy is sighted headed for Ceylon, and Warspites battle group is sortied. Thunderstorms mean a/c have little effect, but Warspite finds the convoy, escorted by four Japanese CVLs/CVEs. One CVL eats 15" and sinks immediately, another is sunk by the Beauforts right after being turned into a flaming wreck by Warspite. Then the British warships get stuck into the convoy, tearing it to pieces. And then the Beauforts at Mannargudi mop up the remains.
Warspite flees fearing his carriers but its all over, the Japs retreat, and the convoy has been driven off with heavy losses. Figuring this is the turning point, the British begin a massive reinforcement of Colombo with the Dakotas and break the siege there with two reinforcement divisions.
Then a lull sets in. The British force him back to Trimcomalee over the month, and eventually recapture the city, and its supplies. Elsewhere there are no major moves, though the USN heavy bombers stay engaged throughout, inflicting heavy damage to his aircraft pools.
November
60,000 Japs are now trapped on Ceylon. By 1943 they are reduced to 40,000 by constant aerial attacks and bombardment by massed British artillery. He begins a massive air offensive in China, which the Allies try various things to counter but basically give up on couintering after a while. Soon the NE theatre of China is a wasteland, all resources, heavy industry and oil destroyed. A lot of US heavy bombers are fruitlessly moved to Chengtu where they get massacred by Tonies and Tojos trying to attack. Later on Spitfires are diverted from India to provide fighter shields over the key Chinese cities, and this at least inflicts some attrition on him.
The Royal Navy raids Rangoon in daylight, clearing out the remaining IJN ships assigned to the Bay of Bengal. Heavy bombers at Chandpur keep Rangoon closed so the Betties cannot counter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Michishio, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Yugure, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 6
BB Valiant, Shell hits 3
CL Emerald
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Paul Jones
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Electra, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Fortune
DD Griffin
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
Similarly in the Marshalls, with Kwajalein out of action, Allied cruisers intercept a Japanese convoy unloading at Eniwetok and inflict heavy damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74
Japanese Ships
MSW Fuji Maru
MSW Fukeui Maru #7, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
MSW Keinan Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
PG Magan Maru, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PG Shinko Maru #2, Shell hits 4
PG Yoshida Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PG Zuiko Maru
AK Taki Maru
AK Katsukawa Maru
AK Arisan Maru
AK Teikai Maru
Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Nicholas
DD Phelps
DD Lawrence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74
Japanese Ships
MSW Fuji Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PG Shinko Maru #2, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
PG Zuiko Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AK Taki Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Katsukawa Maru, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AK Arisan Maru
AK Teikai Maru, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Boise
DD Nicholas
DD Phelps
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 1
In the Solomons Vella Lavella is taken and reinforced, with great difficulty due to Betties at Rabaul, from Lunga. Thus begins a tentative opening of the SOPAC theatre.
December
The offensive into Java is now coming together. Port Moresby is reduced by escorted bombers from Cooktown, allowing Allied shipping through to Darwin. With Ceylon back in British hands convoys of fuel and supplies reach North Australia from Karachi. Warships of all types are slowly gathered at Derby and Darwin, and US and Australian forces begin to slowly encroach on the island chain towards Java. Heavy bombers at Koepang wreck most of the airfields in range bar Soerabaja which has heavy CAP, and forward based Lightnings work on chipping away at that CAP with long range sweeps.
The calm before the storm?
-
Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
Very nice write up
Can you post the intel screen? It would be very interesting to see the losses and score.
Thanks
Can you post the intel screen? It would be very interesting to see the losses and score.
Thanks
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
As an idle comment, looking over that summary, battleships feature quite a lot, surprisingly. [:D]
-
Cap Mandrake
- Posts: 20737
- Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 8:37 am
- Location: Southern California
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
Wow...somebocy actually sank a carrier with a BB (battle for Ceylon)[:)]
Cool defence of Rabaul too.
Cool defence of Rabaul too.
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
5th January, 1943
BURMA/INDIA
Trimcomalee continues to be pounded, but thunderstorms have effectively grounded the heavy bombers in theatre here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 99330 troops, 762 guns, 1470 vehicles
Defending force 39065 troops, 105 guns, 6 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
590 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
He's definitely melting under the onslaught though. A lot of my British units at Trim are on 90+ experience, I notice. Crack divisions.
HMS Victorious arrives in a month, meaning the British Indian fleet will be up to 2 CV, 1 CVL, 1 BB + assorted lessers.
Speaking of the lessers, all my DDs were set to upgrade so I got a lot of J and Electra class destroyers on 13+ sys. Due to the lack of decent shipyards I guess they'll be on 13+ sys for some time unfortunately.
Valiant is on 6 flot and 68 sys at Akyab, bad weather has protected her. She's trying to dash for Diamond Harbour today at a speed of 7 knots.
No more offensive moves from me until the Japs at Trimcomalee have been killed to the last man.
DEI
Plenty of submarine action around the Home Islands, I now have 20 subs or so on fairly close (3-4 hex) blockade of the major Jap ports, one in a barrage to the west of Japan, another one in a barrage south of Osaka. Two tankers got torpedoed by subs in the past week alone, there has even been the odd surface attack. USS Snook, in particular, deserves medals. 23 more subs are in refit at Pearl.
My carriers have slunk past Port Moresby on cruise speed, I don't think he saw them, though its been so long since I used my carriers he probably assumes they are just about anywhere by now. It looks like the assault force will consist of 40 APs and 60 AKs, with 3 battleships in support. I didnt forget a few DMSes and MSWs as well. [:D]. An Aussie division has 100 prep points for Bali and will be first to hit, I have two more divisions, one Aussie, one US, ready to rumble as well. Pondering how many to load in the first wave. One, or two divisions? I want a baseforce with them too so fighters can be put into position at Bali ASAFP.
I've been chipping at Soerabaja with Lightnings, I estimate he's lost about 40 aircraft in air to air combat in about a week. Today I tried the heavy bombers in conjunction with a Lightning sweep which went to perfection, the Lightnings hit first and knocked down 12 Zeroes, then the heavies hit and destroyed 70 a/c on the ground of all types. Unfortunately morale is beginning to fall, I'm givnig both Lightnings and heavies a week off to recover before what I expect to be high intensity combat.
SOPAC
Sub commando reconnaissance of Port Moresby reveals he has finally reduced the garrison there, I was wondering what the December convoy was doing. Now it looks like he has about 1 divisions worth of troops there (2/3rds of a div + naval guard). I have 2 divisions at Noumea which are free for attacks, they are set to prep for Port Moresby. Lack of transport ships means it won't be happening soon but may as well prep in readiness.
Munda was taken today by two batches of Marine raiders, they suffered 30% casualties though and will be taken back to Noumea for recovery. (the SC thinks nothing of slaughter of American servicemen, all my battles so far have sustained very high casualties I've noticed, far more than historical. Some divisions suffered 50% casualties in my CentPac campaign, though they are now back up to strength at Pearl). The Japanese baseforce at Munda was destroyed.
I've got a lot of fighter aircraft in the Solomons but its still not enough. I need 100 fighter CAPs really to stop him, his Rabaul garrison is extremely impressive.
Some goals I've set upon in the SOPAC theatre.
a) Recapture of Port Moresby and Gili Gili
b) ...requiring the ability to heavily crater airfields at Port Moresby, Gili Gili and Rabaul
c) ...the ability to make resupply of Rabaul difficult by putting Rabaul in range of US medium bombers
b) is half complete, when more Lightnings arrive I should be able to hit Rabaul more or less at will as well. c) I've been working on at Vella Lavella.
CENTPAC
CentPac and NorPac is now a backwater. I've shifted to more or less defensive measures here. I dont expect a Jap counteroffensive now but you never know. My minelayers have been busy. Midway Island is the weak point as far as mines are concerned, a Dutch ML is doing runs between Pearl and Midway to make up.
However, three DMs and an MLE are being sent to Lunga to begin mining operations in the Solomons.
8 days to CV Essex.
~30 days to CVL Independence
~15 days to another CVE
30 days to CV Victorious
BURMA/INDIA
Trimcomalee continues to be pounded, but thunderstorms have effectively grounded the heavy bombers in theatre here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 99330 troops, 762 guns, 1470 vehicles
Defending force 39065 troops, 105 guns, 6 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
590 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
He's definitely melting under the onslaught though. A lot of my British units at Trim are on 90+ experience, I notice. Crack divisions.
HMS Victorious arrives in a month, meaning the British Indian fleet will be up to 2 CV, 1 CVL, 1 BB + assorted lessers.
Speaking of the lessers, all my DDs were set to upgrade so I got a lot of J and Electra class destroyers on 13+ sys. Due to the lack of decent shipyards I guess they'll be on 13+ sys for some time unfortunately.
Valiant is on 6 flot and 68 sys at Akyab, bad weather has protected her. She's trying to dash for Diamond Harbour today at a speed of 7 knots.
No more offensive moves from me until the Japs at Trimcomalee have been killed to the last man.
DEI
Plenty of submarine action around the Home Islands, I now have 20 subs or so on fairly close (3-4 hex) blockade of the major Jap ports, one in a barrage to the west of Japan, another one in a barrage south of Osaka. Two tankers got torpedoed by subs in the past week alone, there has even been the odd surface attack. USS Snook, in particular, deserves medals. 23 more subs are in refit at Pearl.
My carriers have slunk past Port Moresby on cruise speed, I don't think he saw them, though its been so long since I used my carriers he probably assumes they are just about anywhere by now. It looks like the assault force will consist of 40 APs and 60 AKs, with 3 battleships in support. I didnt forget a few DMSes and MSWs as well. [:D]. An Aussie division has 100 prep points for Bali and will be first to hit, I have two more divisions, one Aussie, one US, ready to rumble as well. Pondering how many to load in the first wave. One, or two divisions? I want a baseforce with them too so fighters can be put into position at Bali ASAFP.
I've been chipping at Soerabaja with Lightnings, I estimate he's lost about 40 aircraft in air to air combat in about a week. Today I tried the heavy bombers in conjunction with a Lightning sweep which went to perfection, the Lightnings hit first and knocked down 12 Zeroes, then the heavies hit and destroyed 70 a/c on the ground of all types. Unfortunately morale is beginning to fall, I'm givnig both Lightnings and heavies a week off to recover before what I expect to be high intensity combat.
SOPAC
Sub commando reconnaissance of Port Moresby reveals he has finally reduced the garrison there, I was wondering what the December convoy was doing. Now it looks like he has about 1 divisions worth of troops there (2/3rds of a div + naval guard). I have 2 divisions at Noumea which are free for attacks, they are set to prep for Port Moresby. Lack of transport ships means it won't be happening soon but may as well prep in readiness.
Munda was taken today by two batches of Marine raiders, they suffered 30% casualties though and will be taken back to Noumea for recovery. (the SC thinks nothing of slaughter of American servicemen, all my battles so far have sustained very high casualties I've noticed, far more than historical. Some divisions suffered 50% casualties in my CentPac campaign, though they are now back up to strength at Pearl). The Japanese baseforce at Munda was destroyed.
I've got a lot of fighter aircraft in the Solomons but its still not enough. I need 100 fighter CAPs really to stop him, his Rabaul garrison is extremely impressive.
Some goals I've set upon in the SOPAC theatre.
a) Recapture of Port Moresby and Gili Gili
b) ...requiring the ability to heavily crater airfields at Port Moresby, Gili Gili and Rabaul
c) ...the ability to make resupply of Rabaul difficult by putting Rabaul in range of US medium bombers
b) is half complete, when more Lightnings arrive I should be able to hit Rabaul more or less at will as well. c) I've been working on at Vella Lavella.
CENTPAC
CentPac and NorPac is now a backwater. I've shifted to more or less defensive measures here. I dont expect a Jap counteroffensive now but you never know. My minelayers have been busy. Midway Island is the weak point as far as mines are concerned, a Dutch ML is doing runs between Pearl and Midway to make up.
However, three DMs and an MLE are being sent to Lunga to begin mining operations in the Solomons.
8 days to CV Essex.
~30 days to CVL Independence
~15 days to another CVE
30 days to CV Victorious
Attack on Bali
Been a while since the last update. I was a bit concerned about security given this is the first Allied offensive against a non-trivial target, so it took a while to update.
18th January, 1943
BURMA/INDIA
He has evacuated Rangoon of aircraft due to my heavy bombers at Calcutta hitting him. He's down to about 33k troops on Ceylon, and the RAF is beginning to upgrade to Beaufighters, which are nice machines indeed. I had a poke at Hanoi's heavy industry from India - it was undefended, but the ops losses and fatigue were crippling so I'm not doing that again. Still, maybe it made him a bit wary.
The more I take in the situation here the more optimistic I become. I'm really eager to to get the Brits rolling here. I have my eye on Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, they'd make a stonking Beaufighter/Mitchell base. He's pulled out or I have sunk every warship north of Malaya, and the Jap airforce has gone to China.
CHINA
No change here, thank god. He's building up pressure at Chungking again. I'm moving one of my Chinese corps at Calcutta which was recuperating to Ledo to be airtransported over to Chengtu. A lot of British fighters are holding him off of Nat China, its the communist part which is getting used as training for him.
DEI
Here is the interesting part.
My fleet is now off Bali. Heavy bombers and Lightning sweeps effectively neutralised Soerabaja the day before the landing took place, but he has Betties on Borneo still capable of striking, which they did try - and got sliced up by CAP. Only a half dozen Betties anyway.
The landing force consists of an Aussie division, an Aussie HQ unit, and a USAF baseforce (I want to put fighters there ASAFP). In one day about half of the full load managed to get ashore, I guess it'll be a 3 day unloading.
My carriers sunk two Jap MLs in Soerabaja harbor. In turn a US fast battleship, USS Washington, got mined, and is on 30 flot damage.
Tomorrow will be more interesting I think as I set the carriers into offense move and I presume he will do likewise.
SOPAC
Another offensive is building here, aimed at Port Moresby, I want it back. And Gili Gili, too, so I can more easily supply offensives into the DEI. US submarines have been interdicting supply to Port Moresby by hanging on the south coast of New Guinea for some time - yesterday USS Trout torpedoed two Jap MLs near the place. Fortresses at Cooktown have kept up a steady bombardment. At Noumea a warfleet is being assembled to land the troops. The Americal division is going to be the one to hit the beaches first. It'll take about a month to get ready I think. Air power will be provided by USS Essex and three US CVEs. We'll angle at PM from the southwest and Rabaul will get some Lightning attention from Vella Lavella.
In the Solomons I've now got enough fighter aircraft at Vella Lavella to bring in AKs without them getting mauled. 60,000 supply points are currently being unloaded. Lunga is brimming with aviation support, engineers, and more besides. I suspect I'll have to move it to Port Moresby fairly soon, but such is life.
CENTPAC/NORPAC
All quiet!
18th January, 1943
BURMA/INDIA
He has evacuated Rangoon of aircraft due to my heavy bombers at Calcutta hitting him. He's down to about 33k troops on Ceylon, and the RAF is beginning to upgrade to Beaufighters, which are nice machines indeed. I had a poke at Hanoi's heavy industry from India - it was undefended, but the ops losses and fatigue were crippling so I'm not doing that again. Still, maybe it made him a bit wary.
The more I take in the situation here the more optimistic I become. I'm really eager to to get the Brits rolling here. I have my eye on Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, they'd make a stonking Beaufighter/Mitchell base. He's pulled out or I have sunk every warship north of Malaya, and the Jap airforce has gone to China.
CHINA
No change here, thank god. He's building up pressure at Chungking again. I'm moving one of my Chinese corps at Calcutta which was recuperating to Ledo to be airtransported over to Chengtu. A lot of British fighters are holding him off of Nat China, its the communist part which is getting used as training for him.
DEI
Here is the interesting part.
My fleet is now off Bali. Heavy bombers and Lightning sweeps effectively neutralised Soerabaja the day before the landing took place, but he has Betties on Borneo still capable of striking, which they did try - and got sliced up by CAP. Only a half dozen Betties anyway.
The landing force consists of an Aussie division, an Aussie HQ unit, and a USAF baseforce (I want to put fighters there ASAFP). In one day about half of the full load managed to get ashore, I guess it'll be a 3 day unloading.
My carriers sunk two Jap MLs in Soerabaja harbor. In turn a US fast battleship, USS Washington, got mined, and is on 30 flot damage.
Tomorrow will be more interesting I think as I set the carriers into offense move and I presume he will do likewise.
SOPAC
Another offensive is building here, aimed at Port Moresby, I want it back. And Gili Gili, too, so I can more easily supply offensives into the DEI. US submarines have been interdicting supply to Port Moresby by hanging on the south coast of New Guinea for some time - yesterday USS Trout torpedoed two Jap MLs near the place. Fortresses at Cooktown have kept up a steady bombardment. At Noumea a warfleet is being assembled to land the troops. The Americal division is going to be the one to hit the beaches first. It'll take about a month to get ready I think. Air power will be provided by USS Essex and three US CVEs. We'll angle at PM from the southwest and Rabaul will get some Lightning attention from Vella Lavella.
In the Solomons I've now got enough fighter aircraft at Vella Lavella to bring in AKs without them getting mauled. 60,000 supply points are currently being unloaded. Lunga is brimming with aviation support, engineers, and more besides. I suspect I'll have to move it to Port Moresby fairly soon, but such is life.
CENTPAC/NORPAC
All quiet!
RE: Attack on Bali
Combat report was fairly full so I include it all today, 1st day of the Battle of Bali.
Note the subs. Seen a lot more action since 43. I've been putting the most aggressive captains I have into my Gato class submarines, all upgraded and with torpedoes that actually work on occasion now. This is the second TK sunk in a week.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/17/43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 54,95
Japanese Ships
ML Shirataka
Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 54,94
Allied Ships
SS Dolphin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 61,46
Japanese Ships
TK Kaizyo Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Hake, hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
Japanese Ships
TK Kaizyo Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Arunta
BB Washington, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 171
Ki-48 Lily x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 16 destroyed
I-16c: 2 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
169 casualties reported
Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 105
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15
Liberator VI x 9
B-17E Fortress x 61
B-24D Liberator x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15
Liberator VI x 9
B-17E Fortress x 61
B-24D Liberator x 34
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
(See? Only patrol frames at Rangoon)
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3
Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Catalina I x 1
Mohawk IV x 10
Hurricane II x 27
Vengeance I x 12
Beaufort I x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
8 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
13 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
8 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
Catalina I x 1
Mohawk IV x 2
Hurricane II x 4
Beaufort I x 6
Beaufort V-IX x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 33
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
(These British/US bombers are all crack now, after months of pounding those poor Japs at Trim)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 82
SBD Dauntless x 99
TBF Avenger x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Yaeyama, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ikitsushima, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 58
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 10 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
MSW Heed
MSW Swallow
DMS Perry
PG Auricula
DD Van Ghent
DD Worden
DD Preston
DD Shaw
DD Duncan
DD Buchanan
DD Laffey
DD Fletcher
AP Bloemfontrin, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Clark
DD O'Bannon
DD DeHaven
DD Chevalier
PG Nigella, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Reid
DD Conyngham
DD Case
DD Aaron Ward
DD Grayson
DD Gwin
AP Empire Trooper, Mine hits 1
Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Chevalier
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
1025 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lanchow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 41721 troops, 451 guns, 10 vehicles
Defending force 12925 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 716 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 230283 troops, 800 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1174 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 260386 troops, 1201 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 40617 troops, 442 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 59964 troops, 381 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bali
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2792 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 16349 troops, 76 guns, 3 vehicles
(Looks like Bali is mine)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 100680 troops, 824 guns, 1474 vehicles
Defending force 32993 troops, 48 guns, 4 vehicles (slowly dying)
Japanese ground losses:
524 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 56440 troops, 366 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 71299 troops, 581 guns, 3 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 178850 troops, 1094 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 287143 troops, 1957 guns, 154 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Note the subs. Seen a lot more action since 43. I've been putting the most aggressive captains I have into my Gato class submarines, all upgraded and with torpedoes that actually work on occasion now. This is the second TK sunk in a week.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/17/43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 54,95
Japanese Ships
ML Shirataka
Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 54,94
Allied Ships
SS Dolphin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 61,46
Japanese Ships
TK Kaizyo Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Hake, hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
Japanese Ships
TK Kaizyo Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Arunta
BB Washington, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 171
Ki-48 Lily x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 16 destroyed
I-16c: 2 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
169 casualties reported
Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 105
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15
Liberator VI x 9
B-17E Fortress x 61
B-24D Liberator x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15
Liberator VI x 9
B-17E Fortress x 61
B-24D Liberator x 34
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
(See? Only patrol frames at Rangoon)
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3
Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Catalina I x 1
Mohawk IV x 10
Hurricane II x 27
Vengeance I x 12
Beaufort I x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
8 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
13 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
8 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
Catalina I x 1
Mohawk IV x 2
Hurricane II x 4
Beaufort I x 6
Beaufort V-IX x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 33
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
(These British/US bombers are all crack now, after months of pounding those poor Japs at Trim)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 82
SBD Dauntless x 99
TBF Avenger x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Yaeyama, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ikitsushima, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 58
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 10 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
MSW Heed
MSW Swallow
DMS Perry
PG Auricula
DD Van Ghent
DD Worden
DD Preston
DD Shaw
DD Duncan
DD Buchanan
DD Laffey
DD Fletcher
AP Bloemfontrin, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Clark
DD O'Bannon
DD DeHaven
DD Chevalier
PG Nigella, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Reid
DD Conyngham
DD Case
DD Aaron Ward
DD Grayson
DD Gwin
AP Empire Trooper, Mine hits 1
Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Chevalier
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
1025 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lanchow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 41721 troops, 451 guns, 10 vehicles
Defending force 12925 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 716 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 230283 troops, 800 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1174 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 260386 troops, 1201 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 40617 troops, 442 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 59964 troops, 381 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bali
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2792 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 16349 troops, 76 guns, 3 vehicles
(Looks like Bali is mine)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 100680 troops, 824 guns, 1474 vehicles
Defending force 32993 troops, 48 guns, 4 vehicles (slowly dying
)Japanese ground losses:
524 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 56440 troops, 366 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 71299 troops, 581 guns, 3 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 178850 troops, 1094 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 287143 troops, 1957 guns, 154 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
-
Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
If you send Valiant to the US West Coast you will get her back near the end of the year. Otherwise she is out of the war.
RE: The War In Summary Up till Now
Day 2 of the Battle for Bali.
No sign of Jap carriers yet and he's not been able to break my CAP.
As there were a lot of ships in Soerabaja harbour I had a go at it, and the result was messy. Looks like one more day will be needed to get the last ANZACs and chunks of baseforce ashore, so I'm risking one more day in the firing line. I'm sure KB is headed my way. His minefields are really burning me - 3 MSWs was not enough!
Other things of note - heavy fighting over Vella Lavella as he tries for my transports, and it looks like the Japs at Trimcomalee have been finally broken - they've been reduced to banzai charges. 4 Jap divisions are about to go into the bag!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/18/43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
DMS Perry
PG Auricula
DD Clark
DD Phelps
DD Aaron Ward
DD Monssen
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
DD Case, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent
DD Preston
DD Shaw
DD Meredith
DD O'Bannon
PG Nigella, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
CA Minneapolis
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
420 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 53,93
Japanese Ships
ML Kamome, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Grouper
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Bali, at 24,68
Allied Ships
CL Danae
CA Exeter
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
BB Arizona
Japanese ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
DMS Perry
PG Auricula, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps
DD Reid
DD Smith
DD Conyngham
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
DD Aaron Ward
DD Monssen
DD Grayson
DD Gwin
DD O'Bannon
AP Empire Chivalry, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Worden
DD Tucker
DD Case, on fire, heavy damage
DD Meredith
DD Fletcher
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1123 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
Allied Ships
MSW Swallow
MSW Heed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 60,47
Japanese Ships
TK Azuma Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 60,46
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 23
PC Ch 19
PC Ch 2
PG Chitose Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
Allied Ships
SS Haddock, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 181
Ki-48 Lily x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 7 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 23
Runway hits 204
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 7
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 71
TBF Avenger x 65
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Sanfuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shikano Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Tomozono Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sangetsu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kakyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinano Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Toroshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sumanoura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 4
P-38G Lightning x 72
B-17E Fortress x 63
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 14
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 2
Hurricane II x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 35
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
10 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 11
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 48
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
48 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Mohawk IV x 12
Hurricane II x 32
Vengeance I x 12
Beaufort I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 21
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Macassar at 30,69
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 22
Hudson I x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Getuyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 34
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
P-38G Lightning x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 8 destroyed, 18 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Java, Torpedo hits 1
CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Voyager
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD Dauntless x 100
Swordfish x 15
TBF Avenger x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Shinano Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kakyu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Otake Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryoyu Maru #21, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tatsujin Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW Wa 19, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Siraha Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taiho Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichiran Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinwa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sumanoura Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Miyadono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hatakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Toroshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sasago Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Seizan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
32 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
14 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
P-38G Lightning x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Empire Defiance
AK Empire Wagtail
AK Empire Lynx
AK Peter Silvester
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lanchow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 41579 troops, 453 guns, 9 vehicles
Defending force 12990 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 716 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 229479 troops, 799 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1174 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 260504 troops, 1200 guns, 0 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 40637 troops, 442 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 60009 troops, 385 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bali
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2649 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 20193 troops, 116 guns, 4 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 101790 troops, 829 guns, 1473 vehicles
Defending force 32313 troops, 38 guns, 4 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 172 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
10820 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Allied ground losses:
1390 casualties reported
Guns lost 50
Vehicles lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 56586 troops, 372 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 71189 troops, 584 guns, 3 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 178924 troops, 1093 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 288336 troops, 1982 guns, 154 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bali
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 12468 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 3887 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
No sign of Jap carriers yet and he's not been able to break my CAP.
As there were a lot of ships in Soerabaja harbour I had a go at it, and the result was messy. Looks like one more day will be needed to get the last ANZACs and chunks of baseforce ashore, so I'm risking one more day in the firing line. I'm sure KB is headed my way. His minefields are really burning me - 3 MSWs was not enough!
Other things of note - heavy fighting over Vella Lavella as he tries for my transports, and it looks like the Japs at Trimcomalee have been finally broken - they've been reduced to banzai charges. 4 Jap divisions are about to go into the bag!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/18/43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
DMS Perry
PG Auricula
DD Clark
DD Phelps
DD Aaron Ward
DD Monssen
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
DD Case, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent
DD Preston
DD Shaw
DD Meredith
DD O'Bannon
PG Nigella, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
CA Minneapolis
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
420 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 53,93
Japanese Ships
ML Kamome, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Grouper
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Bali, at 24,68
Allied Ships
CL Danae
CA Exeter
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
BB Arizona
Japanese ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1075 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68
Allied Ships
MSW Rail
DMS Perry
PG Auricula, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps
DD Reid
DD Smith
DD Conyngham
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
DD Aaron Ward
DD Monssen
DD Grayson
DD Gwin
DD O'Bannon
AP Empire Chivalry, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Worden
DD Tucker
DD Case, on fire, heavy damage
DD Meredith
DD Fletcher
Coastal Guns at Bali, 24,68, firing at TF 1075
Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1123 encounters mine field at Bali (24,68)
Allied Ships
MSW Swallow
MSW Heed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 60,47
Japanese Ships
TK Azuma Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 60,46
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 23
PC Ch 19
PC Ch 2
PG Chitose Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
Allied Ships
SS Haddock, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 181
Ki-48 Lily x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 7 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 23
Runway hits 204
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 7
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 71
TBF Avenger x 65
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Sanfuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shikano Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Tomozono Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sangetsu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kakyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinano Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Toroshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sumanoura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 4
P-38G Lightning x 72
B-17E Fortress x 63
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 14
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 2
Hurricane II x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 35
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
10 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 11
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 48
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
48 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Mohawk IV x 12
Hurricane II x 32
Vengeance I x 12
Beaufort I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 21
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Swordfish bombing at 10700 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Vengeance I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hurricane II bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 15,25
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Macassar at 30,69
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 22
Hudson I x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Getuyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 34
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
P-38G Lightning x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 8 destroyed, 18 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Java, Torpedo hits 1
CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Voyager
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD Dauntless x 100
Swordfish x 15
TBF Avenger x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Shinano Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kakyu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Otake Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryoyu Maru #21, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tatsujin Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW Wa 19, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Siraha Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taiho Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichiran Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinwa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sumanoura Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Miyadono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hatakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Toroshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sasago Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Seizan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
32 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
14 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,68
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
No Allied losses
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Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
P-38G Lightning x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Empire Defiance
AK Empire Wagtail
AK Empire Lynx
AK Peter Silvester
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Ground combat at Lanchow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 41579 troops, 453 guns, 9 vehicles
Defending force 12990 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Sian
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 716 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 229479 troops, 799 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Chungking
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1174 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 260504 troops, 1200 guns, 0 vehicles
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Ground combat at Kungchang
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 40637 troops, 442 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 60009 troops, 385 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Bali
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2649 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 20193 troops, 116 guns, 4 vehicles
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Ground combat at Trimcomalee
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 101790 troops, 829 guns, 1473 vehicles
Defending force 32313 troops, 38 guns, 4 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 172 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
10820 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Allied ground losses:
1390 casualties reported
Guns lost 50
Vehicles lost 3
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Ground combat at Kungchang
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 56586 troops, 372 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 71189 troops, 584 guns, 3 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Ground combat at Chungking
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 178924 troops, 1093 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 288336 troops, 1982 guns, 154 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Bali
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 12468 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 3887 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 2