16 June 1942
Hi, Redd. My opponent is not interested in writing an AAR. He is not complaining either and fighting everywhere he can. I think he is tough and experienced, and knows things can only improve from the Allied point of view. This turn should raise a bit his morale, with a Japanese CVE sunk and 35 Japanese aircraft losses against 29 Allied.
Central Pacific
The Allied convoy seen yesterday sailed more east and slower than expected and the surface interception was missed. Tomorrow another attempt will be made by 2 submarines and the two CL to intercept the convoy in daylight.
The SS I-122 left Pearl Harbor to lay mines off San Francisco.
Southern Pacific
During the night, 6 APD chased unsuccessfully the SS Saury off Nandi.
During the morning, finger trouble hit me hard. Last turn the 3 Chutais of F1/Tainan had been united in Nandi, flying 90% CAP. I rebuilt the unit but forgot to check its order. It was training and so only 8 Zeroes based aboard the CVE Unyo were flying CAP over Nandi. The Suva commander seized the opportunity and sent 13 B-26B, 11 B-25C and 5 F4F-4 to attack Japanese ships. The CAP was out of position and only shot down a B-26B. The other bombers hit the CVE Unyo with 7 bombs, closing her to any air activity, and heavily damaged an AK with 2 other bomb hits. The Zeroes landed on Nandi while a F4F-4 was destroyed on a landing crash. Three other B-26B attacked this morning another AP off Nandi but missed while 3 B-26B and 3 B-25C attacked the BB Yamato and Hiei west of Tongatapu but missed too.
In the afternoon there were no more CAP over Nandi. American patrols flew over the numerous ships here and a B-26B bombed and hit an AP. Then four waves of bombers attacked. First 3 B-26B missed a MSW, and then 5 B-26B and 8 B-25C were sent to finish the ships hit in the morning. The Unyo was hit by 10 more bomb, the Lima Maru by one. Then 2 B-26B missed an AP and 3 B-26B attacked the ASW group and hit the APD-46, doing medium damage. By some miracle the Unyo was still afloat in the evening, with damage 99/88/33, and the dozen of Zeroes and pilots still aboard were transfered to Nandi before she was scuttled. A 3000-ton AP, the Atuta Maru, was also scuttled in the evening off Nandi.
In nearby Suva the artillery duel turned fully in Allied favor. They suffered no loss and hit 223 men, 15 guns and 2 tanks.
Both BB TF allready west of Tongatapu received orders to sail to Suva and bombard the airfield tomorrow in daylight. Both Zero units in Nandi will fly CAP over the ships here. Other Japanese TF are still returning to Pago-Pago, that was reached by one of the two Japanese CV TF, that refuelled today.
A Glen reported 3 TFs off Noumea, for a total of 6 CA, 3 DD and 1 APD. SIGINT reported 17 ships in the port, including 4 APs.
Solomons-New Guinea
The afternoon raid by 14 Hudson from PM against Saidor hit nothing and suffered no loss.
A convoy (a 16000-ton TK and several AK) loaded fuel in Truk to bring it to Southern Pacific. Six barges were unloaded in Truk and will be used in the Solomons and the Bismarck Sea.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
I have probably become too confident there. A Zero unit had recently moved from Kendari to Tarawa and transport aircraft doing nothing were based there for no reason. In the afternoon 106 B-17E from Darwin attacked at 7000 feet. Even if the CAP had been reduced the raid was still intercepted by 26 A6M2, 18 Nates and 13 A6M3. The air battle saw 7 B-17E, 4 A6M2, 2 A6M3 and 1 Nate fall, with 7 more damaged B-17E crashing during the return leg being credited to Japanese CAP. But all bombers reached the target and destroyed 26 aircraft on the ground (11 Ki-57-II, 7 A6M2, 5 MC-21, 1 A6M3, 1 Emily, 1 Ki-15), hitting 95 men and 2 guns and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways. AA fire shot down a B-17E and hit many others, four of them crashing on the return leg. A last B-17E was lost to engine failure, bringing the losses of the raid to 20 B-17E. The airfield was quickly repaired and all tranport aircraft left for Singapore and Balikpapan, another Topsy being lost in a crash. 36 Oscars arrived from Soerabaja to reinforce the CAP and all fighter units will fly 90% CAP over Kendari from now. Total losses are 20 B-17E against 34 Japanese losses, but 17 of the latter were transport aircraft that had nothing to do there. If the raid is repeated I am confident it will be more costly to my opponent than to me.
Southern Ressource Area
Belitung Island, near Toboali, surrendered to a Japanese patrol.
The 4th Bde finished landing in Lombok (248 casualties) during the night and the morning and then launched a deliberate attack that succeeded at 29 to 1 against fortifications level 2. The Prajoda Garrison Bn holding the island surrendered. There were 24 Japanese and 1204 Dutch losses.
In Sumatra, the last Dutch base, Padang, also fell this day. Its garrison, the 1st WS Garrison Bn, was first bombed by 45 KI-21 from Palembang, losing 59 men, and then was attacked by the a part of the 35th Bde at 22 to 1 and surrendered. Japanese lost 7 men and counted only 271 Dutch POWs, so it is probable that part of the unit was extracted by submarines to be rebuilt.
Both the 4th and 35th Bde then collected prisonners and reboarded ships to sail back to Java.
Burma
There was no air activity outside the usual Japanese recons. Artillery fire hit 24 Allied men in Akyab. In Rangoon the surface TF turned into a Fast Transport TF and loaded a SNLF to land it NE of Akyab in 2 days.
Philippines
Manila was bombed by 95 Ki-21, 52 Ki-48 and 43 Ki-49 from Clark Field, that killed or wounded 42 men and scored 8 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 64 on the runways. Japanese artillery fire hit 53 men. Six Japanese artillery units landed in Naga and left at once for Manila.
Their training finished, the Nates of 204th Sentai left Davao and flew to Java to fly local defence.
China
In the north, Japanese artillery fire continued in Kungchang but the city received 3 more Chinese units, bringing the total in the town to 18, and with more guns on Chinese side, Chinese losses were reduced to 9 men. The decisive action of the day was east of the town, on the road to Yenen, where at the end of a rather bad turn for me until now Japanese forces (41st Div, 2/3 of 27th Div, hald of 6th Ind Bde and 2nd Eng Rgt) launched a shock attack against 4 Chinese units (14th Group Army, 98th Chinese Corps, 1st Cavalry Corps and a Chinese Temp Div) without the planned air support. The attack was a success at 10 to 1 and the Chinese retired southward. Japanese lost 600 men, Chinese 347 in the battle and around 2000 in the retreat. This road is now probably secure. After the battle both 27th Div regiments and the Eng Rgt were ordered again to march NW towards Lanchow.
More north, a Japanese Tk Rgt may reach Lanchow alone tomorrow and will probably be unable to hold until reinforcements arrived. Yenen bombers will hit Lanchow airfield tomorrow to collect recon data and will then be asked to bomb the Chinese Corps holding the city.
Japan
The Fiji operation is proving costly in AP losses, and big AP fleets are needed for New Zealand and Australia operations. On the other hand no TK or AO had been lost until now. So the priority of merchant shipyards was changed from TK/AO (that were all accelerated, and will now be built at normal pace) to APs (that were accelerated if possible).
Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
17-18 June 1942: two quiet days
17-18 June 1942
Central Pacific
Allied submarines laid a new minefield off Lahaina that was detected during the night of the 16-17. 9 MSW were used to sweep it and it was finished at dawn on the 18.
Far south of California, the Allied convoy again sailed more east than planned on the 17 and the interception failed again. Maybe a good thing as in the afternoon the CL saw a Seagull flying close to them, so there was at least one Allied cruiser in the area. Both CL received orders to return at full speed to Pearl Harbor while the submarines were ordered to try to learn more. On the 18 they saw nothing and the CLs weren't attacked or seen either. They will refuel to the AO cruising in the area and return to PH with her.
Southern Pacific
On the 17, patrolling B-25C from Suva managed to hit two ships off Nandi (an AK in the morning and one AP in the afternoon) but one was shot down by a Zero, while a LB-30 was lost in an accident. Two raids were launched from Suva in the morning, the biggest saw 14 B-25C and 9 B-26B attack a BB TF (two were closer but were not attacked) 180 miles west of Tongatapu. They scored only one hit, destroying an AA position aboard the Yamashiro. AA fire shot down a B-25C. The other raid was flown by 2 LB-30 escorted by 3 F4F-4 against transports off Nandi and was intercepted by 27 Zeroes. 1 F4F-4 and 1 LB-30 were shot down, the last bomber missed an AP. In the afternoon 5 B-26B and some F4F-4 attacked Japanese ships NW of Nandi and one B-26B scored a bomb hit on an AP.
The same day the Dutch minelayer SS O19 that was hit on the 10th by a Val off Nandi finally sank 180 miles ESE of Noumea.
In the evening, porbably most Allied aircraft left Suva. During the night, the base was bombed by two Japanese TF (total 3 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL, 12 DD) but only 7 aircraft were destroyed (3 LB-30, 2 B-25C, 1 B-26B and 1 F4F-4) and none by the second TF. 309 men, 7 guns and 2 vehicles were hit by the bombardement, that scored 22 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies, 78 on runways and 3 on the port, where the damaged SS S-31 was hit once.
The same night the SS Saury tried to attack the MSW TF off Nandi but was chased. The day was peaceful.
Two days of artilley fire in Suva costed the Allied 65 men and the Japanese 426 men, 17 guns and 1 tank.
Both Japanese CV TFs refueled in Pago-Pago. I was also hoping to remplace lost AC here but the BBs suck most of the supplies and there were no more enough to have new planes. Both CV TF returned toward Fiji on the evening of the 18 and will cover the convoys bringing more troops, first the South Seas Detachment that is already N of Tongatapu. A convoy with 70 000 supplies sailing from Japan to this area had been ordered to sail to Pago-Pago but will arrive in 2-3 weeks. Two AO are reloading fuel in Pago-Pago, where 5 TK are unloading it. 4 other AO are fully loaded and available near Tongatapu.
The second phase of Fiji invasion was started. One BB TF will bombard again Suva during the night, anotehr will patrol there and the 3rd will go to Nandi, where a huge convoy started to load Japanese combat troops (2nd Div, 24th Eng Rgt, 3 SNLF) to land them in Suva in 2 days.
Solomons-New Guinea
The daily afternoon raids from Hudson from PM against Saidor (14 and 11 sorties) hit nothing and suffered no loss.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 17, 11 Martin 139 and 74 B-25C from Derby attacked Koepang and hit 57 men and 3 guns ,scoring 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 44 on the runway. One B-25C was lost in a crash.
Southern Ressource Area
Seven 3500-ton AK began to load ressources in Toboali on the 18 to bring them to Japan. Two AP will wait off the island that the 5th Eng Rgt finished to expand the port to size 2, and then will bring it south to Maumere to help to build the airbase.
In Singapore the HQ 3rd Fleet boarded APs to sail to Palembang, while other ships took aboard parts of two Base Forces which main parts are on Java and that will be reunited there.
Burma
There were no raids for two days. The Akyab operation was delayed because the FT TF left without troops on the 17... It returned to Rangoon, refueled and loaded correctly troops in the evening of the 18 before sailing again to sea. Landing will take place NE of Akyab on the night of the 19-20.
Allied reinforcements arrived 120 miles north of Akyab, leaving railway for the trail. One unit arrived on the 17, another on the 18 but they will probably be too late. In Akyab, two days of Japanese artillery fire hit 27 men and 1 gun.
Philippines
Manila was bombed on the 18 by 95 Ki-21, 49 Ki-48 and 43 Ki-49 from Clark Field. They disabled 53 men and 3 guns and scored 5 hits on the base, 3 on supplies and 58 on runways. AA fire shot down 3 Ki-48s despite the higher alt of the attack. Next day bad weather cancelled the raid. Artillery fire hit 141 Allied men in 2 days.
The last Japanese reinforcement units, the 23rd Eng Rgt, arrived off Naga on the 18 from Java and will join the forces at Manila. The attack will start here on the 21. Tens of APs and AKs in the area received orders to gather in Lingayen and will bring troops away after Manila fell.
China
In the north, one more Chinese unit arrived S of Kungchang on the 18, bringing the total here to 6. 21 other units are in Kungchang (15 Corps, 4 HQ, 1 Div, 1 Base Force) and lost 87 men and 2 guns under the fire of the Japanese guns in two days. Two Chinese units are in Lanchow, two in Sining, and in both cases at least one is a Corps. The Japanese Tk Rgt rushing toward Lanchow finally decided to wait its comrades and the city hasn't been reached yet.
In the south, the only action was the Japanese artillery fire in Wuchow, that hit 68 men and 1 gun in 2 days.
Japan
A TF was formed in Tokyo with the CVL Ryuho and Ryujo, CVE Hosho and 6 DD and sailed south on the evening of the 18 with many AC aboard: 32 A6M2, 27 A6M3, 27 Vals and 21 Kates, all with trained crews.
In Japan three northern bases, Ominato, Sapporo and Aomori all have more than 100 000 ressources, while most other cities have around 10 000. I sent three TFs of 7000-ton AKs to bring part of these ressources to Southern Japan.
Central Pacific
Allied submarines laid a new minefield off Lahaina that was detected during the night of the 16-17. 9 MSW were used to sweep it and it was finished at dawn on the 18.
Far south of California, the Allied convoy again sailed more east than planned on the 17 and the interception failed again. Maybe a good thing as in the afternoon the CL saw a Seagull flying close to them, so there was at least one Allied cruiser in the area. Both CL received orders to return at full speed to Pearl Harbor while the submarines were ordered to try to learn more. On the 18 they saw nothing and the CLs weren't attacked or seen either. They will refuel to the AO cruising in the area and return to PH with her.
Southern Pacific
On the 17, patrolling B-25C from Suva managed to hit two ships off Nandi (an AK in the morning and one AP in the afternoon) but one was shot down by a Zero, while a LB-30 was lost in an accident. Two raids were launched from Suva in the morning, the biggest saw 14 B-25C and 9 B-26B attack a BB TF (two were closer but were not attacked) 180 miles west of Tongatapu. They scored only one hit, destroying an AA position aboard the Yamashiro. AA fire shot down a B-25C. The other raid was flown by 2 LB-30 escorted by 3 F4F-4 against transports off Nandi and was intercepted by 27 Zeroes. 1 F4F-4 and 1 LB-30 were shot down, the last bomber missed an AP. In the afternoon 5 B-26B and some F4F-4 attacked Japanese ships NW of Nandi and one B-26B scored a bomb hit on an AP.
The same day the Dutch minelayer SS O19 that was hit on the 10th by a Val off Nandi finally sank 180 miles ESE of Noumea.
In the evening, porbably most Allied aircraft left Suva. During the night, the base was bombed by two Japanese TF (total 3 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL, 12 DD) but only 7 aircraft were destroyed (3 LB-30, 2 B-25C, 1 B-26B and 1 F4F-4) and none by the second TF. 309 men, 7 guns and 2 vehicles were hit by the bombardement, that scored 22 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies, 78 on runways and 3 on the port, where the damaged SS S-31 was hit once.
The same night the SS Saury tried to attack the MSW TF off Nandi but was chased. The day was peaceful.
Two days of artilley fire in Suva costed the Allied 65 men and the Japanese 426 men, 17 guns and 1 tank.
Both Japanese CV TFs refueled in Pago-Pago. I was also hoping to remplace lost AC here but the BBs suck most of the supplies and there were no more enough to have new planes. Both CV TF returned toward Fiji on the evening of the 18 and will cover the convoys bringing more troops, first the South Seas Detachment that is already N of Tongatapu. A convoy with 70 000 supplies sailing from Japan to this area had been ordered to sail to Pago-Pago but will arrive in 2-3 weeks. Two AO are reloading fuel in Pago-Pago, where 5 TK are unloading it. 4 other AO are fully loaded and available near Tongatapu.
The second phase of Fiji invasion was started. One BB TF will bombard again Suva during the night, anotehr will patrol there and the 3rd will go to Nandi, where a huge convoy started to load Japanese combat troops (2nd Div, 24th Eng Rgt, 3 SNLF) to land them in Suva in 2 days.
Solomons-New Guinea
The daily afternoon raids from Hudson from PM against Saidor (14 and 11 sorties) hit nothing and suffered no loss.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 17, 11 Martin 139 and 74 B-25C from Derby attacked Koepang and hit 57 men and 3 guns ,scoring 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 44 on the runway. One B-25C was lost in a crash.
Southern Ressource Area
Seven 3500-ton AK began to load ressources in Toboali on the 18 to bring them to Japan. Two AP will wait off the island that the 5th Eng Rgt finished to expand the port to size 2, and then will bring it south to Maumere to help to build the airbase.
In Singapore the HQ 3rd Fleet boarded APs to sail to Palembang, while other ships took aboard parts of two Base Forces which main parts are on Java and that will be reunited there.
Burma
There were no raids for two days. The Akyab operation was delayed because the FT TF left without troops on the 17... It returned to Rangoon, refueled and loaded correctly troops in the evening of the 18 before sailing again to sea. Landing will take place NE of Akyab on the night of the 19-20.
Allied reinforcements arrived 120 miles north of Akyab, leaving railway for the trail. One unit arrived on the 17, another on the 18 but they will probably be too late. In Akyab, two days of Japanese artillery fire hit 27 men and 1 gun.
Philippines
Manila was bombed on the 18 by 95 Ki-21, 49 Ki-48 and 43 Ki-49 from Clark Field. They disabled 53 men and 3 guns and scored 5 hits on the base, 3 on supplies and 58 on runways. AA fire shot down 3 Ki-48s despite the higher alt of the attack. Next day bad weather cancelled the raid. Artillery fire hit 141 Allied men in 2 days.
The last Japanese reinforcement units, the 23rd Eng Rgt, arrived off Naga on the 18 from Java and will join the forces at Manila. The attack will start here on the 21. Tens of APs and AKs in the area received orders to gather in Lingayen and will bring troops away after Manila fell.
China
In the north, one more Chinese unit arrived S of Kungchang on the 18, bringing the total here to 6. 21 other units are in Kungchang (15 Corps, 4 HQ, 1 Div, 1 Base Force) and lost 87 men and 2 guns under the fire of the Japanese guns in two days. Two Chinese units are in Lanchow, two in Sining, and in both cases at least one is a Corps. The Japanese Tk Rgt rushing toward Lanchow finally decided to wait its comrades and the city hasn't been reached yet.
In the south, the only action was the Japanese artillery fire in Wuchow, that hit 68 men and 1 gun in 2 days.
Japan
A TF was formed in Tokyo with the CVL Ryuho and Ryujo, CVE Hosho and 6 DD and sailed south on the evening of the 18 with many AC aboard: 32 A6M2, 27 A6M3, 27 Vals and 21 Kates, all with trained crews.
In Japan three northern bases, Ominato, Sapporo and Aomori all have more than 100 000 ressources, while most other cities have around 10 000. I sent three TFs of 7000-ton AKs to bring part of these ressources to Southern Japan.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
19 June 1942: Japan on the move
19 June 1942
This AAR needs some maps again, sorry I forgot to take capture screens. Tomorrow a map of China & Burma will show the situation there.
Southern Pacific
Suva was bombed during the night by the Yamato, a CL and 7 DD, that allready pounded it the night before. Despite the lack of heavy shells, the destroyed 4 B-25C on the ground, disabled 93 men and 1 gun but only scored 1 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies, 12 on runways and 1 on the port.
No raid flew from Suva during the day. The SS USS Saury was hit by a Pete off Nandi in the morning and then chased by 6 DD in the afternoon and hit by a Type 95 depth charge fired by the Oyashio, but wasn’t heavily damaged.
In Suva, the artillery duel continued. 38 Allied men were hit while Japanese lost 97 men and 2 guns.
In the evening, the Japanese combat troops had finished boarding ships at Nandi and the convoy, joined by 3 CA and 2 CL to fire counterbattery, sailed to Suva. In my new Allied AAR, I just realized but too late that a road existed between Nandi and Suva… No need of landing but it will be done tomorrow as the turn was already gone. Pago-Pago bombers will support the attack by bombing Suva airfield.
Solomons-New Guinea
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the afternoon, 108 B-17E and 14 Hudson I from Darwin bombed Lautem, disabling 81 men and 1 gun and scoring 5 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 50 on the runways.
Allied engineers expanded Derby airfield to size 6. A Japanese AP convoy left Kendari to Menado, where are two Const Bns that will be more useful more south.
Southern Ressource Area
A Glen saw 3 Allied ships (a “CA”, an “AP”) 720 miles west of Medan, Sumatra. It was probably a British TF sent to chase Allied transports on the western coast of Sumatra but they are already back in Batavia with the 35th Bde.
Burma
After several quiet days, the 55th Div near Akyab was again bombed but only by 35 unsercorted bombers (17 SB-2c, 12 Beaufort I and 6 Beaufort V-IX) that hit 38 men and 1 gun. One SB-2c and one Beaufort V-IX were lost in crashes. Japanese artillery fire hit 15 men in Akyab.
To the great surprise of the Japanese command, an Allied unit appeared NE of Akyab. It should have been brought here by ship or submarine but none had been seen by Japanese airmen (a Chutai flew naval search from Rangoon, it may be not enough). More air recons were ordered in this area, and the Sasebo 8th SNLF will land there as planned.
Philippines
Manila was again bombed by 94 Ki-21s, 50 Ki-48s and 44 Ki-49s (1 Ki-48 lost to AA, 43 men and 1 gun hit, 8 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies, 52 on the runways) and then by Japanese guns (160 men and 1 gun hit).
The last Japanese artillery unit should arrive in Manila in 2 days. All troops have been ordered to bombard one more day, while Clark Field bombers will target Allied troops for the first time. The first deliberate attack will be launched on the 21st.
China
In the north, 40 Ki-48s from Yenen bombed Lanchow airfield, scoring 6 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 15 on the runways. Japanese artillery fire hit 55 men and 1 gun in Kungchang.
The 40th Div arrived in the hex east of Kungchang and will march SW with the 41st Div to attack the 6 Chinese units holding the Kungchang-Sian road. At the same time 2 divisions and a brigade will advance in the hex SE of Homan as a diversion (later joined by another brigade) to keep the Chinese units currenlt in Homan here.
Japanese engineers increased the level of Yene fortifications to 6 and received orders to stop working on them and work again to expand the airfield, currently size 6, to size 9. Japanese air units here are lacking an air HQ and the HQ 13th Air Army, recently created in Tokyo, will be shipped to North China and march to Yenen.
In the south, Japanese artillery fire hit 63 men in Wuchow. This city is only helf by 6 Corps, 2 Base Forces and 3 HQ, and besieged by 4 divisions, 1 Army HQ and some artillery units. I can add to this 1 more division, half of a Bde and 2 Eng Rgt and this may be enough to take the place. I will try in the next weeks and gave orders to units to move in position.
Manchuoko
Japanese plans to invade Siberia are more and more abandonned but Japanese engineers are busy here expanding bases to score some easy points (and also built fortifications just in case). In the last two days, 3 or 4 bases were expanded and as SIGINT indicated that a Soviet unit is on a border hex and wasn’t seen before, I decided to launch a small psychological operation with Japanese units approaching in force the Soviet border. The first goal of the manoeuver is to draw the attention of my opponent, the second to have a look on Soviet border defences.
This AAR needs some maps again, sorry I forgot to take capture screens. Tomorrow a map of China & Burma will show the situation there.
Southern Pacific
Suva was bombed during the night by the Yamato, a CL and 7 DD, that allready pounded it the night before. Despite the lack of heavy shells, the destroyed 4 B-25C on the ground, disabled 93 men and 1 gun but only scored 1 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies, 12 on runways and 1 on the port.
No raid flew from Suva during the day. The SS USS Saury was hit by a Pete off Nandi in the morning and then chased by 6 DD in the afternoon and hit by a Type 95 depth charge fired by the Oyashio, but wasn’t heavily damaged.
In Suva, the artillery duel continued. 38 Allied men were hit while Japanese lost 97 men and 2 guns.
In the evening, the Japanese combat troops had finished boarding ships at Nandi and the convoy, joined by 3 CA and 2 CL to fire counterbattery, sailed to Suva. In my new Allied AAR, I just realized but too late that a road existed between Nandi and Suva… No need of landing but it will be done tomorrow as the turn was already gone. Pago-Pago bombers will support the attack by bombing Suva airfield.
Solomons-New Guinea
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the afternoon, 108 B-17E and 14 Hudson I from Darwin bombed Lautem, disabling 81 men and 1 gun and scoring 5 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 50 on the runways.
Allied engineers expanded Derby airfield to size 6. A Japanese AP convoy left Kendari to Menado, where are two Const Bns that will be more useful more south.
Southern Ressource Area
A Glen saw 3 Allied ships (a “CA”, an “AP”) 720 miles west of Medan, Sumatra. It was probably a British TF sent to chase Allied transports on the western coast of Sumatra but they are already back in Batavia with the 35th Bde.
Burma
After several quiet days, the 55th Div near Akyab was again bombed but only by 35 unsercorted bombers (17 SB-2c, 12 Beaufort I and 6 Beaufort V-IX) that hit 38 men and 1 gun. One SB-2c and one Beaufort V-IX were lost in crashes. Japanese artillery fire hit 15 men in Akyab.
To the great surprise of the Japanese command, an Allied unit appeared NE of Akyab. It should have been brought here by ship or submarine but none had been seen by Japanese airmen (a Chutai flew naval search from Rangoon, it may be not enough). More air recons were ordered in this area, and the Sasebo 8th SNLF will land there as planned.
Philippines
Manila was again bombed by 94 Ki-21s, 50 Ki-48s and 44 Ki-49s (1 Ki-48 lost to AA, 43 men and 1 gun hit, 8 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies, 52 on the runways) and then by Japanese guns (160 men and 1 gun hit).
The last Japanese artillery unit should arrive in Manila in 2 days. All troops have been ordered to bombard one more day, while Clark Field bombers will target Allied troops for the first time. The first deliberate attack will be launched on the 21st.
China
In the north, 40 Ki-48s from Yenen bombed Lanchow airfield, scoring 6 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 15 on the runways. Japanese artillery fire hit 55 men and 1 gun in Kungchang.
The 40th Div arrived in the hex east of Kungchang and will march SW with the 41st Div to attack the 6 Chinese units holding the Kungchang-Sian road. At the same time 2 divisions and a brigade will advance in the hex SE of Homan as a diversion (later joined by another brigade) to keep the Chinese units currenlt in Homan here.
Japanese engineers increased the level of Yene fortifications to 6 and received orders to stop working on them and work again to expand the airfield, currently size 6, to size 9. Japanese air units here are lacking an air HQ and the HQ 13th Air Army, recently created in Tokyo, will be shipped to North China and march to Yenen.
In the south, Japanese artillery fire hit 63 men in Wuchow. This city is only helf by 6 Corps, 2 Base Forces and 3 HQ, and besieged by 4 divisions, 1 Army HQ and some artillery units. I can add to this 1 more division, half of a Bde and 2 Eng Rgt and this may be enough to take the place. I will try in the next weeks and gave orders to units to move in position.
Manchuoko
Japanese plans to invade Siberia are more and more abandonned but Japanese engineers are busy here expanding bases to score some easy points (and also built fortifications just in case). In the last two days, 3 or 4 bases were expanded and as SIGINT indicated that a Soviet unit is on a border hex and wasn’t seen before, I decided to launch a small psychological operation with Japanese units approaching in force the Soviet border. The first goal of the manoeuver is to draw the attention of my opponent, the second to have a look on Soviet border defences.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
20 June 1942: surprise in Burma
20 June 1942
Northern Pacific
During the night, two Japanese minelayer submarines laid a minefield off Cold Bay. The base is (AFAIK) unoccupied but a passing ship may hit one. These submarines are based in Tokyo.
Central Pacific
1200 miles SE of Hawaii, the Japanese AO refuelled both raider CLs and then all ships returned to PH. CAs are far better than CLs for such raids. I am wondering if I will risk a Bismarck-style raid with a fast BB later in the war. Probably not, but it will be fun.
Southern Pacific
The troop convoy arrived off Suva in the morning and ran in a new Allied minefield, laid by submarines. Two escorts destroyed some of them but then an AK hit a Mk 10 mine. That was enough for the task force commander to delay unloading operations and no troops were landed on Suva. A good thing as Japanese officers had just discovered that, contrary to what their 1890's maps say a raod existed between Nandi and Suva.
During the day, Suva airfield was bombed by 13 Nells and 7 Betties from Pago-Pago, that destroyed on the ground 4 B-25C and 1 B-26B and scored 2 airbase, 1 supply and 11 runway hits. In the morning 3 F4F-4 took off from Suva and bombed an AP off the island but missed. No raids were flown in the afternoon (anywhere on the map, fpr the matter).
At Suva for the first time Japanese gunners won the day, hitting 109 men and 1 gun while losing 24 men and 2 guns.
The convoy will return to Nandi and unload troops that will then march overland to Suva. 5 MSW will sail from Nandi to Suva to sweep mines there. The convoy carrying the South Seas Detachment and 2 BFs will also sail to Nandi and will arrive close to Fiji tomorrow. The whole KB is following it and Vals will fly 50% naval search to chase submarines.
Six damaged ships having had their FLT damaged reduced to 0 in Pago-Pago (3 AP, 1 AK, 1 DD, 1 PC) left the island for Japan and more extensive repairs. The AR based in Pago-Pago really helped to save ships hit off Suva.
Solomons-New Guinea
Nothing to report again. The convoy carrying the 5th Div and an Eng Rgt will arrive in Truk in some days but the Rabaukl operation won't be launched immediatly. I would like to have support of part of the Japanese CV for the operation and so will wait for the fall of Fiji.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Kai Island operation will start soon. The island is held by a Dutch Rgt and an Allied Base Force and will be invaded in force, the main problem being probably Darwin bombers. The troops and ships began to gather in the SRA and will be descibed below.
Southern Ressource Area
An Allied TF (10+ ships, 3 AP and 2 CA "identified") was seen by a Mavis 600 miles WNW of Sabang. It may be the Allied TF seen yesterday west of Sumatra, or another as this TF was reported to sail SW (as did the TF seen yesterday). Anyway I have still nothing to attack it.
Toboali port was expanded to size 2 and the 5th Eng Rgt began to board transports to sail south for the Kai Island operation. The same day the Imperial Guard Division also began to board ships in Batavia for the same operation. And 4 BBs and 8 DD left Soerabaja for Kendari, the meeting point of all TFs for this operation.
Burma
The FT TF was delayed and only landed the Sasebo 8th SNLF just before dawn. The troops knew they will meet opposition on the beaches, but were surprised by the fire falling on them. 210 shells were fired by the defending Allied unit, that was the full 251st UK Bde, and the SNLF lost 539 men and guns in the landing. It was then pounded all day by the British and lost 60 more men and 1 gun, while hitting 1 gun and 2 men by return fire. Half of the SNLF was disabled in the evening leaving 800 able men to face 4500 British.
The Burma Naval Squadron had no more time to retire and was at dawn 120 miles W of Akyab, fully in range from Indian bases, but Dacca was covered by clouds the whole day and Chandpur still targetted the 55th Div in Akyab, sending 43 SB-2c, 16 Beaufort I and 15 Beaufort V-IX escorted by 22 P-40B. The 55th Div lost 107 men and 4 guns but one SB-2c and one Beaufort were lost in crashes. The 55th Div avenged itself by bombing Allied troops and hit 5 men.
In the evening the commander of the Burma Naval Squadron sent to Rangoon his four DD with the less fuel and then ordered to sail to Chandput to bombard the airfield here. But he cancelled the order shortly afterwards, because of the CD defences and lack of recon of Chandpur, and also because the unexplained arrival of the 251st Bde NE of Akyab, the only possible explanation being an Allied FT TF able to bring it on one night. And this TF should still be in the area. The Squadron (now 2 CA, 1 CL, 5 DD) will bombard instead Akyab during the night, chance of Allied reaction are smaller and there is no CA defence, even if the target is less interesting. 26 Zeroes will fly LRCAP from Rangoon over the TF tomorrow (it should be an overcast day).
In Akyab, I can order the 55th Div to attack and I have all chances that it will be done before the fight NE of the base and if the base fell, Allied troops won't be able to retreat and will surrender. That was the plan with an empty hex NE of Akyab but with a British Bde in it I find it gamey and so won't attack. I said my opponent that if he didn't manage to chase my SNLF tomorrow (I doubt it will fail, but why not), I will consider that the SNLF, despite being inferior in number, managed to establish a road block and then will launch an attack in Akyab. A SNLF is in my own opinions enough to block the retreat of an Indian Bde that was already defeated 2 or 3 times. Whatever will be the result of tomorrow battle NE o Akyab, the 55th Bde will attack Akyab the next day, either to capture the garrison or to take the base and chase Allied troops before reinforcements arrived.
Philippines
In Manila, the first Allied unit hit by a ground attack from Clark Field was the 21st PA Div. 80 Ki-21, 42 Ki-48 and 23 Ki-49 bombed it and disabled 162 men and 5 guns while losing a Ki-49 to AA fire. Japanese artillery hit 103 more men.
Clark airmen will continue to target the troops tomorrow and the Japanese troops will launch the first deliberate attack against Manila. 3 Japanese Army HQ, 5 divisions, 2 brigades, 6 naval units, 3 Eng Rgt (a 4th is unloading in Naga) and 4 ART units (2 more will arrive tomorrow) will take part in this attack. 35 Allied units are holding Manila but will probably be outnumbered at 2 to 1 for the number of able men and are out of supply or really close to be. On the other hand the Japanese Army has not enough support squads despite the 3 HQs.
China
In the north, Japanese guns hit 64 Chinese in Kungchang. One Japanese unit marching to Lanchow did 59 miles, the two other 40. The units following them marched 20-25 miles from the hex E of Kungchang, while the 40th and 41st Div marching SW from this same hex both advanced 5 miles today.
The Japanese troops sent near Homan reported that the town was still held by 12 units and 140 000 Chinese men.
In the center, good weather was predicted and Wuhan bombers will attack Chengtu ressources, the main supply source in China now.
Japanese guns hit 12 Chinese in Wuchow. The 19th Eng Rgt finished to expand the airfield of HongKong to size 6 and then left and marched north to join the Army that will attack Wuchow as soon as Manila fell, with the support of the bombers currently used on Luzon.
Kwantung
Japanese units will advance on all border hexes with road or rail to have a look on Soviet units and let them have a look on our manoeuvers.
The map
It shows Asia with 3 interesting parts: 1) the Burma front, with the Akyab action 2) the Chinese remaining ressources 3) the Kungchang front. Allied units are in blue, Japanese in red.
Northern Pacific
During the night, two Japanese minelayer submarines laid a minefield off Cold Bay. The base is (AFAIK) unoccupied but a passing ship may hit one. These submarines are based in Tokyo.
Central Pacific
1200 miles SE of Hawaii, the Japanese AO refuelled both raider CLs and then all ships returned to PH. CAs are far better than CLs for such raids. I am wondering if I will risk a Bismarck-style raid with a fast BB later in the war. Probably not, but it will be fun.
Southern Pacific
The troop convoy arrived off Suva in the morning and ran in a new Allied minefield, laid by submarines. Two escorts destroyed some of them but then an AK hit a Mk 10 mine. That was enough for the task force commander to delay unloading operations and no troops were landed on Suva. A good thing as Japanese officers had just discovered that, contrary to what their 1890's maps say a raod existed between Nandi and Suva.
During the day, Suva airfield was bombed by 13 Nells and 7 Betties from Pago-Pago, that destroyed on the ground 4 B-25C and 1 B-26B and scored 2 airbase, 1 supply and 11 runway hits. In the morning 3 F4F-4 took off from Suva and bombed an AP off the island but missed. No raids were flown in the afternoon (anywhere on the map, fpr the matter).
At Suva for the first time Japanese gunners won the day, hitting 109 men and 1 gun while losing 24 men and 2 guns.
The convoy will return to Nandi and unload troops that will then march overland to Suva. 5 MSW will sail from Nandi to Suva to sweep mines there. The convoy carrying the South Seas Detachment and 2 BFs will also sail to Nandi and will arrive close to Fiji tomorrow. The whole KB is following it and Vals will fly 50% naval search to chase submarines.
Six damaged ships having had their FLT damaged reduced to 0 in Pago-Pago (3 AP, 1 AK, 1 DD, 1 PC) left the island for Japan and more extensive repairs. The AR based in Pago-Pago really helped to save ships hit off Suva.
Solomons-New Guinea
Nothing to report again. The convoy carrying the 5th Div and an Eng Rgt will arrive in Truk in some days but the Rabaukl operation won't be launched immediatly. I would like to have support of part of the Japanese CV for the operation and so will wait for the fall of Fiji.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Kai Island operation will start soon. The island is held by a Dutch Rgt and an Allied Base Force and will be invaded in force, the main problem being probably Darwin bombers. The troops and ships began to gather in the SRA and will be descibed below.
Southern Ressource Area
An Allied TF (10+ ships, 3 AP and 2 CA "identified") was seen by a Mavis 600 miles WNW of Sabang. It may be the Allied TF seen yesterday west of Sumatra, or another as this TF was reported to sail SW (as did the TF seen yesterday). Anyway I have still nothing to attack it.
Toboali port was expanded to size 2 and the 5th Eng Rgt began to board transports to sail south for the Kai Island operation. The same day the Imperial Guard Division also began to board ships in Batavia for the same operation. And 4 BBs and 8 DD left Soerabaja for Kendari, the meeting point of all TFs for this operation.
Burma
The FT TF was delayed and only landed the Sasebo 8th SNLF just before dawn. The troops knew they will meet opposition on the beaches, but were surprised by the fire falling on them. 210 shells were fired by the defending Allied unit, that was the full 251st UK Bde, and the SNLF lost 539 men and guns in the landing. It was then pounded all day by the British and lost 60 more men and 1 gun, while hitting 1 gun and 2 men by return fire. Half of the SNLF was disabled in the evening leaving 800 able men to face 4500 British.
The Burma Naval Squadron had no more time to retire and was at dawn 120 miles W of Akyab, fully in range from Indian bases, but Dacca was covered by clouds the whole day and Chandpur still targetted the 55th Div in Akyab, sending 43 SB-2c, 16 Beaufort I and 15 Beaufort V-IX escorted by 22 P-40B. The 55th Div lost 107 men and 4 guns but one SB-2c and one Beaufort were lost in crashes. The 55th Div avenged itself by bombing Allied troops and hit 5 men.
In the evening the commander of the Burma Naval Squadron sent to Rangoon his four DD with the less fuel and then ordered to sail to Chandput to bombard the airfield here. But he cancelled the order shortly afterwards, because of the CD defences and lack of recon of Chandpur, and also because the unexplained arrival of the 251st Bde NE of Akyab, the only possible explanation being an Allied FT TF able to bring it on one night. And this TF should still be in the area. The Squadron (now 2 CA, 1 CL, 5 DD) will bombard instead Akyab during the night, chance of Allied reaction are smaller and there is no CA defence, even if the target is less interesting. 26 Zeroes will fly LRCAP from Rangoon over the TF tomorrow (it should be an overcast day).
In Akyab, I can order the 55th Div to attack and I have all chances that it will be done before the fight NE of the base and if the base fell, Allied troops won't be able to retreat and will surrender. That was the plan with an empty hex NE of Akyab but with a British Bde in it I find it gamey and so won't attack. I said my opponent that if he didn't manage to chase my SNLF tomorrow (I doubt it will fail, but why not), I will consider that the SNLF, despite being inferior in number, managed to establish a road block and then will launch an attack in Akyab. A SNLF is in my own opinions enough to block the retreat of an Indian Bde that was already defeated 2 or 3 times. Whatever will be the result of tomorrow battle NE o Akyab, the 55th Bde will attack Akyab the next day, either to capture the garrison or to take the base and chase Allied troops before reinforcements arrived.
Philippines
In Manila, the first Allied unit hit by a ground attack from Clark Field was the 21st PA Div. 80 Ki-21, 42 Ki-48 and 23 Ki-49 bombed it and disabled 162 men and 5 guns while losing a Ki-49 to AA fire. Japanese artillery hit 103 more men.
Clark airmen will continue to target the troops tomorrow and the Japanese troops will launch the first deliberate attack against Manila. 3 Japanese Army HQ, 5 divisions, 2 brigades, 6 naval units, 3 Eng Rgt (a 4th is unloading in Naga) and 4 ART units (2 more will arrive tomorrow) will take part in this attack. 35 Allied units are holding Manila but will probably be outnumbered at 2 to 1 for the number of able men and are out of supply or really close to be. On the other hand the Japanese Army has not enough support squads despite the 3 HQs.
China
In the north, Japanese guns hit 64 Chinese in Kungchang. One Japanese unit marching to Lanchow did 59 miles, the two other 40. The units following them marched 20-25 miles from the hex E of Kungchang, while the 40th and 41st Div marching SW from this same hex both advanced 5 miles today.
The Japanese troops sent near Homan reported that the town was still held by 12 units and 140 000 Chinese men.
In the center, good weather was predicted and Wuhan bombers will attack Chengtu ressources, the main supply source in China now.
Japanese guns hit 12 Chinese in Wuchow. The 19th Eng Rgt finished to expand the airfield of HongKong to size 6 and then left and marched north to join the Army that will attack Wuchow as soon as Manila fell, with the support of the bombers currently used on Luzon.
Kwantung
Japanese units will advance on all border hexes with road or rail to have a look on Soviet units and let them have a look on our manoeuvers.
The map
It shows Asia with 3 interesting parts: 1) the Burma front, with the Akyab action 2) the Chinese remaining ressources 3) the Kungchang front. Allied units are in blue, Japanese in red.
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AmiralLaurent
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21 June 1942: failure in Manila
21 June 1942
Central Pacific
SIGINT reported 19 ground units and 172 ships (3 CA, 1 AVD, 2 AP, 1 AK) in San Francisco.
Southern Pacific
The day was really quiet in Fiji. A Japanese recon reported 4 F4F-4 flying recon over Suva and the only activity was artillery fire. Allied troops lost 32 men, Japanese 211 men, 8 guns and 2 tanks.
The surprise of the day was the arrival of two Allied TFs (10 AP and 3 AP) 420 and 480 miles SE of Pago-Pago, sailing west. Either they are lost, or they are hoping to get trough in part and supply Suva, or they are a diversion to draw KB there. In all cases, I decided to attack. The KB is between Tongatapu and Suva, and hadn’t been seen today, or even the last week. It will sail east and engage the convoys, tomorrow if they continue westward or the next day in other cases. Pago-Pago Nells and Betties were also ordered to attack them.
The South Seas Detachment convoy will then continue alone to Nandi. To protect it, two BB TF will pound Suva during the night (both having allready sued a part of their shells) and a Zero Daitai will LRCAP the convoy.
In Nandi, engineers had no orders and were doing nothing. They received orders to expand the airfield.
Solomons-New Guinea-Timor-Amboina-Australia
Nothing to report in this area
Southern Ressource Area
The Allied convoy seen yesterday was really sailing southwest and was seen today again by a Mavis, west of Sabang, having moved 300 miles SSW. The fast BB Kongo and 5 Kuroshio-class DDs left Soerabaja to intercept this convoy west of Java in some days. Four submarines, three of them with Glens, will assist them.
A Japanese aircraft reported for the second day in a row a British submarine 120 miles NE of Batavia and 6 PCs were sent to the area to deal with her.
Burma
During the night Akyab was bombarded by 2 CA, 1 CL and 5 DD, as planned without opposition. 3 (probably unserviceable) Hurricane II were destroyed on the ground, 95 men, 3 guns and 1 vehicle hit and 4 hits scored on the airbase, 26 on runways, 2 on port and 19 on port supplies.
In the morning, the 55th Div was again bombed by 54 SB-2c and 16 Beaufort I from Chandpur escorted by 20 P-40B that hit 73 men and 1 gun. One SB-2c and one P-40B were lost in crashes.
In the afternoon for the first time since more than one week a raid was launched from Dacca. 47 Blenheim IV, 40 B-17E, 15 Il-4c and 8 Wellington III escorted by 20 P-40B attacked Mandalay, hit 37 men and 3 guns and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 21 on the runways. Operationnal losses were a P-40B, an Il-4c and a Blenheim IV.
Japanese recons continued to identify Allied units in Asansol. The 18th UK Div and 5th Indian Div were seen there this week and today the 93rd Chinese Div was identified here.
The Japanese artillery fire in Akyab hit nothing, but the decisive battle of the day was fought NE of the town. The Sasebo 8th SNLF was well supplied and managed to establish good defensive positions before being hit by a shock attack of the 251st UK Bde that failed at 0 to 1. Only 2 Japanese were lost, while 186 British were killed or wounded.
So I consider that this SNLF managed to cut the road NE of Akyab. The 55th Div will attack Akyab tomorrow with the support of 27 Ki-21 that flew in the evening from Bangkok to Rangoon as usual. The 55th Div had 6 or 7 times more able troops than its opponents and is 100% prepared for Akyab and highly experienced, so it is hoped that the base will fall on first attack.
Philippines
The first deliberate attack was launched against Manila, supported by Clark Field bombers. The 1st PA Div was bombed by 22 Ki-48, 19 Ki-21 and 9 Ki-49 and lost 58 men, the 31st USA RCT was attacked by 56 Ki-21, 24 Ki-49 and 21 Ki-48 and lost 118 men and 5 guns. Allied AA fire shot down 2 Ki-49 and 1 Ki-48.
Then 171 000 Japanese attacked the Allied lines, helf by 99 000 men in fortifications level 9. The attack was a complete failure, not even lowering the fort level by 1. Japanese losses were 6931 men, 163 guns and 13 tanks, Allied ones 1762 men, 46 guns and 3 tanks. In points Japan lost 10 troop points this turn (usually 1/turn) and Allied 7 (usually 2-3/turn).
Japanese troops had all replacements turned on and will rest, bombard and continue to prepare for Manila. Clark Field bombers will bomb Manila airfield to destroy more supplies.
China
In the morning, 45 Betties and 27 Nells from Wuhan bombed Chengtu and disabled 56 of the 203 remaining ressource centers. A Betty hit by AA over the target crashed during the return to base. Japanese bombers will rest tomorrow.
In the north Japanese artillery fire hit 119 men and 1 gun in Kungchang. Japanese troops marching to Lanchow will arrive in between 2 and 4 days and Yenen bombers were ordered to bomb again Lanchow airfield.
In the south, 41 Chinese and 1 gun were hit by Japanese shells in Wuchow.
Central Pacific
SIGINT reported 19 ground units and 172 ships (3 CA, 1 AVD, 2 AP, 1 AK) in San Francisco.
Southern Pacific
The day was really quiet in Fiji. A Japanese recon reported 4 F4F-4 flying recon over Suva and the only activity was artillery fire. Allied troops lost 32 men, Japanese 211 men, 8 guns and 2 tanks.
The surprise of the day was the arrival of two Allied TFs (10 AP and 3 AP) 420 and 480 miles SE of Pago-Pago, sailing west. Either they are lost, or they are hoping to get trough in part and supply Suva, or they are a diversion to draw KB there. In all cases, I decided to attack. The KB is between Tongatapu and Suva, and hadn’t been seen today, or even the last week. It will sail east and engage the convoys, tomorrow if they continue westward or the next day in other cases. Pago-Pago Nells and Betties were also ordered to attack them.
The South Seas Detachment convoy will then continue alone to Nandi. To protect it, two BB TF will pound Suva during the night (both having allready sued a part of their shells) and a Zero Daitai will LRCAP the convoy.
In Nandi, engineers had no orders and were doing nothing. They received orders to expand the airfield.
Solomons-New Guinea-Timor-Amboina-Australia
Nothing to report in this area
Southern Ressource Area
The Allied convoy seen yesterday was really sailing southwest and was seen today again by a Mavis, west of Sabang, having moved 300 miles SSW. The fast BB Kongo and 5 Kuroshio-class DDs left Soerabaja to intercept this convoy west of Java in some days. Four submarines, three of them with Glens, will assist them.
A Japanese aircraft reported for the second day in a row a British submarine 120 miles NE of Batavia and 6 PCs were sent to the area to deal with her.
Burma
During the night Akyab was bombarded by 2 CA, 1 CL and 5 DD, as planned without opposition. 3 (probably unserviceable) Hurricane II were destroyed on the ground, 95 men, 3 guns and 1 vehicle hit and 4 hits scored on the airbase, 26 on runways, 2 on port and 19 on port supplies.
In the morning, the 55th Div was again bombed by 54 SB-2c and 16 Beaufort I from Chandpur escorted by 20 P-40B that hit 73 men and 1 gun. One SB-2c and one P-40B were lost in crashes.
In the afternoon for the first time since more than one week a raid was launched from Dacca. 47 Blenheim IV, 40 B-17E, 15 Il-4c and 8 Wellington III escorted by 20 P-40B attacked Mandalay, hit 37 men and 3 guns and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 21 on the runways. Operationnal losses were a P-40B, an Il-4c and a Blenheim IV.
Japanese recons continued to identify Allied units in Asansol. The 18th UK Div and 5th Indian Div were seen there this week and today the 93rd Chinese Div was identified here.
The Japanese artillery fire in Akyab hit nothing, but the decisive battle of the day was fought NE of the town. The Sasebo 8th SNLF was well supplied and managed to establish good defensive positions before being hit by a shock attack of the 251st UK Bde that failed at 0 to 1. Only 2 Japanese were lost, while 186 British were killed or wounded.
So I consider that this SNLF managed to cut the road NE of Akyab. The 55th Div will attack Akyab tomorrow with the support of 27 Ki-21 that flew in the evening from Bangkok to Rangoon as usual. The 55th Div had 6 or 7 times more able troops than its opponents and is 100% prepared for Akyab and highly experienced, so it is hoped that the base will fall on first attack.
Philippines
The first deliberate attack was launched against Manila, supported by Clark Field bombers. The 1st PA Div was bombed by 22 Ki-48, 19 Ki-21 and 9 Ki-49 and lost 58 men, the 31st USA RCT was attacked by 56 Ki-21, 24 Ki-49 and 21 Ki-48 and lost 118 men and 5 guns. Allied AA fire shot down 2 Ki-49 and 1 Ki-48.
Then 171 000 Japanese attacked the Allied lines, helf by 99 000 men in fortifications level 9. The attack was a complete failure, not even lowering the fort level by 1. Japanese losses were 6931 men, 163 guns and 13 tanks, Allied ones 1762 men, 46 guns and 3 tanks. In points Japan lost 10 troop points this turn (usually 1/turn) and Allied 7 (usually 2-3/turn).
Japanese troops had all replacements turned on and will rest, bombard and continue to prepare for Manila. Clark Field bombers will bomb Manila airfield to destroy more supplies.
China
In the morning, 45 Betties and 27 Nells from Wuhan bombed Chengtu and disabled 56 of the 203 remaining ressource centers. A Betty hit by AA over the target crashed during the return to base. Japanese bombers will rest tomorrow.
In the north Japanese artillery fire hit 119 men and 1 gun in Kungchang. Japanese troops marching to Lanchow will arrive in between 2 and 4 days and Yenen bombers were ordered to bomb again Lanchow airfield.
In the south, 41 Chinese and 1 gun were hit by Japanese shells in Wuchow.
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AmiralLaurent
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22-23 June 1942: Akyab fell
22-23 June 1942
Bothsides suffered relatively heavy losses in two days: 71 Allied aircraft (31 A2A, 23 ground, 4 AA, 13 ops) and 33 Japanese (13 A2A, 12 ground, 2 AA, 6 ops).
Central Pacific
A convoy of 4+ APs was seen on the 22 2400 miles S of California, sailing north, and again seen the next day. There are probably empty ships returning home and won’t be chased.
Southern Pacific
During the night of the 22-23, Suva was bombarded by two TFs (total 3 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL, 12 DD) vut both had already used part of their shells and they did little damage: 117 men and 2 guns disabled, 1 hit on supplies, 17 on runways and 1 on port. That was not enough to close the airfield and a Ki-46 reported 3 F4F-4 flying CAP over the base in the morning.
This day Pago-Pago bombers continued to screen the convoy seen the day before and in the afternoon 2 Betties attacked it 600 miles SE of thei base. One was shot down by the convoy’s AA fire and the other missed a TK.
The South Seas Detachment convoy was covered during the day by LRCAP from Nandi but 3 Zeroes were lost in accidents.
On the 23, the Yamato TF sailed back toward Pago-Pago for rearming and refueling. The Kido Butai continued to chase the Allied convoy SE of Pago-Pago but it continued to flee SE and will probably be attacked only in 2 days if it didn’t change course. Suva airfield was again open and 3 Allied bombers (2 B-25C and 1 B-26B) flying naval search from here were shot by Zeroes over Nandi.
In Suva, artillery fire these two days costed the Allied 165 casualties and the Japanese 449 men, 26 guns and 1 tank. Two BB, 1 CA and 5 DD will again bombard Suva tonight and Zeroes will fly a sweep from Nandi later.
Troops from Nandi are marching to Suva to join the battle here. The South Seas Detachment and two base forces are unloading in Nandi and the first will also march to Suva.
Solomons-New Guinea
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Truk to size 7.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the afternoon of the 22, 126 B-17E of Darwin bombed Amboina, hitting 148 men and 1 gun and scoring 9 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 39 on runways for one operationnal loss. At the same time 11 Hudson I from Darwin bombed Lautem and scored 2 runway hits.
The 23 saw another raid against Kendari. 97 B-17E met over the target 36 A6M2, 32 Nates, 18 Oscars and 13 A6M3. The battle was bloody. 12 Japanese fighters were shot down (5 A6M2, 3 Nates, 2 A6M3, 2 Oscars) but they shot down 28 B-17E. A total of 38 bombers turned back under attack and only 46 reached the target, bombing at 7000 feet. AA shot down one but they destroyed 12 aircraft on the ground (4 A6M2, 4 Oscars, 2 A6M3, 2 Ki-46). 47 men and 4 guns were disabled, 4 hits scored on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 7 on runways. Among the prisonners a new US group (the 43rd BG) was identified for the first time.
Here is the details of the achievements of the fighter groups in Kendari:
11 Sentai (Ki-27 Nate): 3 aircrafts lost in the air, 2 pilots lost, 2 victories
59 Sentai (Ki-43-Ib Oscar): 2 aircrafts lost in the air and 4 on the ground, 2 pilots lost, no victory
F2/Kanoya (A6M2 Zero): 4 aircrafts lost in the air and 3 on the ground, 4 pilots lost, 10 victories
F2/Ominato (A6M2 Zero): 1 aircraft lost in the air and 1 on the ground, 1 pilot lost, 2 victories
F1/6th (A6M3 Zero): 2 aircrafts lost in the air and 2 on the ground, 1 pilots lost, 11 victories
Note: 3 B-17E shot down were credited to no Japanese pilot, the latter being killed before they crashed
I will reinforce the position with a Const Bn and an AA Bn, that boarded ships in Singapore in the evening of the 23 and will be brought here.
The same afternoon Koepang was bombed by 75 B-25C and 11 Martin 139 from Derby. 76 men and 1 gun were hit, 1 hit socred on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 27 on the runways.
Supply situation is now critical in all Timor bases and barges were sent from Soerabaja and Menado and will bring supplies to Timor. FT TF will also be used but there is no fuel in Kendari. 6 3500-ton AK received orders to load fuel in Soerabaja and bring it there. CLs will be used for the FT missions.
Supply situation in Amboina is better but not good and a 7000-ton AK will try to sail alone to the base and unload, in the hope that Allied LBA will ignore it.
Southern Ressource Area
In the evening of the 22, the SS HMS Truant tried an approach on a Japanese ship 120 miles NE of Batavia but realised it was part of an ASW group and dived, evading it, and then sailed north. The next morning, this submarine was attacked north of Muntok by a Ki-21 and hit.
In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarines and aircraft continued to screen the Allied convoy west of Sumatra. It was confirmed to sail SW, doing 240-300 miles a day. BB Kongo and escort are now west of Java and will sail west to attack this convoy. The naval search was reinforces by 21 Nells that flew from Balikpapan to Java on the 22. Another Allied convoy should be more south and two submarines received orders to search it NW of Australia.
In Soerabaja, 5 barges loaded men of the 4th Bde and will land men on Pamakasan, the last Dutch base in the area.
TK are loading oil in Palembang, other were sent to Medan and Bankha to load here and then all will sail to Japan together. A convoy left Singapore with Aks carrying 21 000 ressources and 2 damaged CLs that will be repaired in Japan.
Burma
Thunderstorms raged over Burma on the 22 but in the afternoon a small Allied raid (16 B-17E, 14 Blenheim IV, 3 Wellington III and 2 Il-4c escorted by 23 P-40B) from Dacca managed to reach Lashio and scored 1 hit on the base, 1 on supplies and 2 on runways. The price was high with 3 Blenheim IV shot down by AA fire and 2 other colliding in clouds and crashing.
This day the 55th Div launched a deliberate attack against Akyab and took it (5 to 1, forts level 3). The 16th Indian Bde and the 105 RAF BF surrendered (4051 Allied casualties against 30 Japanese, around 100 more troop points) and 23 unserviceable Hurricanes were seized on the airfield.
This victory ended the Burma campain. Nine Allied units have been captured (4 Chinese divisions, 3 RAF base forces, 1 Indian Bde and 1 Burmese Bde) and around 20 others defeated several times and chased with heavy losses, part of them being pushed in China that was already starving.
The Burma Army will now defend Burma with 2 Div (33rd and 55th), 2 Bdes (21st and 23rd), the 4th Rgt, four Tk Rgts and auxiliary units (SNLF and ART). The planned deployement is as follows: Akyab will be held by the 55th Div. The SNLF being in the jungle NE of the base will remain there to keep an eye on the trail from India. The 33rd Div will be in reserve in Rangoon and will protect the base against an Allied landing. The 21st Bde will hold Myitkyina, the 23rd Mandalay and the 4th Rgt Lashio. The artillery and tank units will be in reserve in Mandalay ready to march in all directions. The Naval Guard unit guarding the railway Mandalay-Myitkyina will remain there. Pagan and Taung Gyi will be held by SNLF and base forces, that should be strong enough to repulse para attacks. Any Allied land offensive will have to march trough jungle and then reserves will be deployed to stop it.
On the 23, the Sasebo 8th SNLF NW of Akyab started to march to the city, while the 251st UK Bde was still recovering from its failure on the 21st. In the afternoon a first Allied raid hit Akyab airfield with 56 SB-2c, 14 Beaufort V-IX, 14 Beaufort I and 20 P-40B from Chandpur that scored 1 hit on the airbase and 20 on the runways. A Beaufort V-IX was lost in a crash. A Ki-46 was shot by Hurricanes flying CAP over Ledo.
In the evening of the 23 26 Zeroes flew from Rangoon to Mandalay. One crashed en route with its pilot. They will be used to fly sweeps over India.
Philippines
Manila was bombed on the 22 (99 Ki-21, 55 Ki-48 and 45 Ki-49) and the 23 (100 Ki-21, 54 Ki-48, 44 Ki-49). In two days, 95 men and 1 gun were hit and 18 hits were scored on the airbase, 13 on supplies and 110 on runways. Losses were only sufferd on the 22, a Ki-48 falling to AA fire and a Ki-21 to engine failure. Japanese artillery hit 368 men and 2 guns in 2 days.
The 23rd Eng Rgt finished to land in Naga and started marching to Manila. It will arrive in 2 days and a new attack will then be launched.
China
On the 22, Lanchow airfield was bombarded by 57 Ki-48, 27 Ki-21 and 26 Ki-49 that scored 16 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 73 on the runways. Nobody was seen on the airfield and the two units in the city are probably combat units (Corps or Div) rather than base forces. Bombers were then ordered to bomb ground troops in Lanchow but were grounded on the 23 by bad weather. The Japanese troops (1 Eng Rgt and 2 Tk Rgt) will reach Lanchow tomorrow.
A Chinese HQ moved in Kungchang on the 22, bringing the total of Chinese units here to 22. The city was bombed both days by Japanese guns, that hit 31 men and 1 gun.
In central China, all available Wuhan aircraft (48 Nells, 47 Nates, 45 Betties and 22 Ki-51) were ordered to bomb the remaing ressources in Changsha (179 centers).
In the south, nothing moved and the only activity was the Japanese artillery fire in Wuchow, hitting 83 men and 1 gun.
The Oscars of the 65th Sentai left China in the evening of the 23, their training finished (exp 76) while 27 Vals (exp 44) arrived in Canton from Japan to fly operationnal training missions against Chinese troops.
Chinese engineers expanded Chengtu airfield to size 4.
Japan
A base survey on the 22 showed that some bases are lacking supplies : all Timor bases, Akyab (that fell the same day), Sabang and both bases on Hainan Island (Taan and the other one). A convoy was formed to carry 14 000 supplies to the latter from Hiroshima. The same day a convoy loaded 56 000 supplies in Takamatsu to carry them to Java.
Bothsides suffered relatively heavy losses in two days: 71 Allied aircraft (31 A2A, 23 ground, 4 AA, 13 ops) and 33 Japanese (13 A2A, 12 ground, 2 AA, 6 ops).
Central Pacific
A convoy of 4+ APs was seen on the 22 2400 miles S of California, sailing north, and again seen the next day. There are probably empty ships returning home and won’t be chased.
Southern Pacific
During the night of the 22-23, Suva was bombarded by two TFs (total 3 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL, 12 DD) vut both had already used part of their shells and they did little damage: 117 men and 2 guns disabled, 1 hit on supplies, 17 on runways and 1 on port. That was not enough to close the airfield and a Ki-46 reported 3 F4F-4 flying CAP over the base in the morning.
This day Pago-Pago bombers continued to screen the convoy seen the day before and in the afternoon 2 Betties attacked it 600 miles SE of thei base. One was shot down by the convoy’s AA fire and the other missed a TK.
The South Seas Detachment convoy was covered during the day by LRCAP from Nandi but 3 Zeroes were lost in accidents.
On the 23, the Yamato TF sailed back toward Pago-Pago for rearming and refueling. The Kido Butai continued to chase the Allied convoy SE of Pago-Pago but it continued to flee SE and will probably be attacked only in 2 days if it didn’t change course. Suva airfield was again open and 3 Allied bombers (2 B-25C and 1 B-26B) flying naval search from here were shot by Zeroes over Nandi.
In Suva, artillery fire these two days costed the Allied 165 casualties and the Japanese 449 men, 26 guns and 1 tank. Two BB, 1 CA and 5 DD will again bombard Suva tonight and Zeroes will fly a sweep from Nandi later.
Troops from Nandi are marching to Suva to join the battle here. The South Seas Detachment and two base forces are unloading in Nandi and the first will also march to Suva.
Solomons-New Guinea
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Truk to size 7.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the afternoon of the 22, 126 B-17E of Darwin bombed Amboina, hitting 148 men and 1 gun and scoring 9 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 39 on runways for one operationnal loss. At the same time 11 Hudson I from Darwin bombed Lautem and scored 2 runway hits.
The 23 saw another raid against Kendari. 97 B-17E met over the target 36 A6M2, 32 Nates, 18 Oscars and 13 A6M3. The battle was bloody. 12 Japanese fighters were shot down (5 A6M2, 3 Nates, 2 A6M3, 2 Oscars) but they shot down 28 B-17E. A total of 38 bombers turned back under attack and only 46 reached the target, bombing at 7000 feet. AA shot down one but they destroyed 12 aircraft on the ground (4 A6M2, 4 Oscars, 2 A6M3, 2 Ki-46). 47 men and 4 guns were disabled, 4 hits scored on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 7 on runways. Among the prisonners a new US group (the 43rd BG) was identified for the first time.
Here is the details of the achievements of the fighter groups in Kendari:
11 Sentai (Ki-27 Nate): 3 aircrafts lost in the air, 2 pilots lost, 2 victories
59 Sentai (Ki-43-Ib Oscar): 2 aircrafts lost in the air and 4 on the ground, 2 pilots lost, no victory
F2/Kanoya (A6M2 Zero): 4 aircrafts lost in the air and 3 on the ground, 4 pilots lost, 10 victories
F2/Ominato (A6M2 Zero): 1 aircraft lost in the air and 1 on the ground, 1 pilot lost, 2 victories
F1/6th (A6M3 Zero): 2 aircrafts lost in the air and 2 on the ground, 1 pilots lost, 11 victories
Note: 3 B-17E shot down were credited to no Japanese pilot, the latter being killed before they crashed
I will reinforce the position with a Const Bn and an AA Bn, that boarded ships in Singapore in the evening of the 23 and will be brought here.
The same afternoon Koepang was bombed by 75 B-25C and 11 Martin 139 from Derby. 76 men and 1 gun were hit, 1 hit socred on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 27 on the runways.
Supply situation is now critical in all Timor bases and barges were sent from Soerabaja and Menado and will bring supplies to Timor. FT TF will also be used but there is no fuel in Kendari. 6 3500-ton AK received orders to load fuel in Soerabaja and bring it there. CLs will be used for the FT missions.
Supply situation in Amboina is better but not good and a 7000-ton AK will try to sail alone to the base and unload, in the hope that Allied LBA will ignore it.
Southern Ressource Area
In the evening of the 22, the SS HMS Truant tried an approach on a Japanese ship 120 miles NE of Batavia but realised it was part of an ASW group and dived, evading it, and then sailed north. The next morning, this submarine was attacked north of Muntok by a Ki-21 and hit.
In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarines and aircraft continued to screen the Allied convoy west of Sumatra. It was confirmed to sail SW, doing 240-300 miles a day. BB Kongo and escort are now west of Java and will sail west to attack this convoy. The naval search was reinforces by 21 Nells that flew from Balikpapan to Java on the 22. Another Allied convoy should be more south and two submarines received orders to search it NW of Australia.
In Soerabaja, 5 barges loaded men of the 4th Bde and will land men on Pamakasan, the last Dutch base in the area.
TK are loading oil in Palembang, other were sent to Medan and Bankha to load here and then all will sail to Japan together. A convoy left Singapore with Aks carrying 21 000 ressources and 2 damaged CLs that will be repaired in Japan.
Burma
Thunderstorms raged over Burma on the 22 but in the afternoon a small Allied raid (16 B-17E, 14 Blenheim IV, 3 Wellington III and 2 Il-4c escorted by 23 P-40B) from Dacca managed to reach Lashio and scored 1 hit on the base, 1 on supplies and 2 on runways. The price was high with 3 Blenheim IV shot down by AA fire and 2 other colliding in clouds and crashing.
This day the 55th Div launched a deliberate attack against Akyab and took it (5 to 1, forts level 3). The 16th Indian Bde and the 105 RAF BF surrendered (4051 Allied casualties against 30 Japanese, around 100 more troop points) and 23 unserviceable Hurricanes were seized on the airfield.
This victory ended the Burma campain. Nine Allied units have been captured (4 Chinese divisions, 3 RAF base forces, 1 Indian Bde and 1 Burmese Bde) and around 20 others defeated several times and chased with heavy losses, part of them being pushed in China that was already starving.
The Burma Army will now defend Burma with 2 Div (33rd and 55th), 2 Bdes (21st and 23rd), the 4th Rgt, four Tk Rgts and auxiliary units (SNLF and ART). The planned deployement is as follows: Akyab will be held by the 55th Div. The SNLF being in the jungle NE of the base will remain there to keep an eye on the trail from India. The 33rd Div will be in reserve in Rangoon and will protect the base against an Allied landing. The 21st Bde will hold Myitkyina, the 23rd Mandalay and the 4th Rgt Lashio. The artillery and tank units will be in reserve in Mandalay ready to march in all directions. The Naval Guard unit guarding the railway Mandalay-Myitkyina will remain there. Pagan and Taung Gyi will be held by SNLF and base forces, that should be strong enough to repulse para attacks. Any Allied land offensive will have to march trough jungle and then reserves will be deployed to stop it.
On the 23, the Sasebo 8th SNLF NW of Akyab started to march to the city, while the 251st UK Bde was still recovering from its failure on the 21st. In the afternoon a first Allied raid hit Akyab airfield with 56 SB-2c, 14 Beaufort V-IX, 14 Beaufort I and 20 P-40B from Chandpur that scored 1 hit on the airbase and 20 on the runways. A Beaufort V-IX was lost in a crash. A Ki-46 was shot by Hurricanes flying CAP over Ledo.
In the evening of the 23 26 Zeroes flew from Rangoon to Mandalay. One crashed en route with its pilot. They will be used to fly sweeps over India.
Philippines
Manila was bombed on the 22 (99 Ki-21, 55 Ki-48 and 45 Ki-49) and the 23 (100 Ki-21, 54 Ki-48, 44 Ki-49). In two days, 95 men and 1 gun were hit and 18 hits were scored on the airbase, 13 on supplies and 110 on runways. Losses were only sufferd on the 22, a Ki-48 falling to AA fire and a Ki-21 to engine failure. Japanese artillery hit 368 men and 2 guns in 2 days.
The 23rd Eng Rgt finished to land in Naga and started marching to Manila. It will arrive in 2 days and a new attack will then be launched.
China
On the 22, Lanchow airfield was bombarded by 57 Ki-48, 27 Ki-21 and 26 Ki-49 that scored 16 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 73 on the runways. Nobody was seen on the airfield and the two units in the city are probably combat units (Corps or Div) rather than base forces. Bombers were then ordered to bomb ground troops in Lanchow but were grounded on the 23 by bad weather. The Japanese troops (1 Eng Rgt and 2 Tk Rgt) will reach Lanchow tomorrow.
A Chinese HQ moved in Kungchang on the 22, bringing the total of Chinese units here to 22. The city was bombed both days by Japanese guns, that hit 31 men and 1 gun.
In central China, all available Wuhan aircraft (48 Nells, 47 Nates, 45 Betties and 22 Ki-51) were ordered to bomb the remaing ressources in Changsha (179 centers).
In the south, nothing moved and the only activity was the Japanese artillery fire in Wuchow, hitting 83 men and 1 gun.
The Oscars of the 65th Sentai left China in the evening of the 23, their training finished (exp 76) while 27 Vals (exp 44) arrived in Canton from Japan to fly operationnal training missions against Chinese troops.
Chinese engineers expanded Chengtu airfield to size 4.
Japan
A base survey on the 22 showed that some bases are lacking supplies : all Timor bases, Akyab (that fell the same day), Sabang and both bases on Hainan Island (Taan and the other one). A convoy was formed to carry 14 000 supplies to the latter from Hiroshima. The same day a convoy loaded 56 000 supplies in Takamatsu to carry them to Java.
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Oleg Mastruko
- Posts: 4534
- Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:00 am
RE: 22-23 June 1942: Akyab fell
Cought up again with this AAR after many weeks of not reading it (I watched it closely up to when you captured PH).
Do you think you're going to win by AV? Obviously Noumea will be the key (as it always is).
Also, it appears to me your PH plans (around which whole Japanese strategy revolved) would have failed miserably IF ONLY your opponent did one of two things (not to mention both):
a) Reinforced PH with another division
b) Unloaded CV airgroups and used them in defense of PH
You retired KB and gave him generous window of opportunity somewhere late Dec 41-early Jan 42 to do both.
Oleg
Do you think you're going to win by AV? Obviously Noumea will be the key (as it always is).
Also, it appears to me your PH plans (around which whole Japanese strategy revolved) would have failed miserably IF ONLY your opponent did one of two things (not to mention both):
a) Reinforced PH with another division
b) Unloaded CV airgroups and used them in defense of PH
You retired KB and gave him generous window of opportunity somewhere late Dec 41-early Jan 42 to do both.
Oleg
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
Hi Oleg,
well this PH plan was used in the first time in this game, I haven't tested it against the AI before and yes retiring KB to Midway had allowed my opponent to send a convoy here from West Coast, but he sent CD and Eng units rather than a division. On the other hand, you have to retire one day to restaure air operations and I wanted to cover my troop convoys.
Had my opponent dropped one more division, yes the battle will have been longer and I would have probably to bring another division there rather than to Manila... and Manila hasn't fallen yet. The plan will only be over once this will have been done. Also I was excepting that my opponent will not take the risk of sending a division in these dangerous waters.
As for basing the CV groups here I was excepting it and was ready to take some damage to the KB, but the USN airgroups will be crushed like were every air unit going to PH by BB and aerial bombing.
As for the automatic victory don't repeat it but I don't think I will need to take Noumea to achieve it. Current score if 27500 to 6100 and with the fall of Manila and Suva should reach 30000 to 5500. I will then scout Noumea but I guess it is strongly held, or maybe not, and only in this last case I will invade. On the other hand I have agreed with my opponent that if I take Noumea we will still add 1200 points to his score, as I don't understand the point value of the base.
24-25 June 1942
Central Pacific
The SS I-122 will lay a minefield off San Francisco next night
Southern Pacific
During the night of the 23-24, 2 BB, 1 CA and 5 DD bombard Suva, destroying a LB-30 on the ground, wounding 10 men and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 12 on the runways and one on a fuel dump in the port. These ships were still off Suva in the morning and were attacked by 2 B-25C and 4 B-26B. One BB was hit by a 1000lb bomb but not damaged while a B-26B crippled by AA fire ditched off Suva during the return leg. This BB TF left the area in the evening for Pago-Pago. Artillery fire this day hit 70 Allied men and 4 guns, while the Japanese lost 117 men and 5 guns.
The same day a convoy with 2 SNLF aboard arrived in Nandi without having been attacked on the way from Kwajalein and began to unload troops.
The next night was quiet but in the morning another BB TF was approaching Suva and 2 B-25C and 2 B-26B attacked them. 15 Zeroes were covering the ships but only damaged 2 bombers. These missed a BB and a DD, and the latter shot down a B-26B with AA fire.
In the late afternoon this Japanese TF (3 BB, 6 DD) bombarded Suva but hit only 245 men, 4 guns and 1 vehicle, scoring 1 hit on supplies and 15 on runways. That was maybe enough to reduce the Allied artillery fire that hit only 10 men during the day while Japanese guns hit 45 men and 1 gun.
The South Seas Detachment finished to disembark on Nandi this day and joined all troops marching to Suva.
Southeast of Tongatapu the Kido Butai was still chasing the Allied convoy reported some days ago. It wasn’t seen on the 25 and in the evening the KB recived order to sail at full speed to catch it. The result was that the next day the KB was scattered and sailed slower than the other days… but this day the Allied convoy had sailed west and in the afternoon was seen by a Jake. Both CV divisions will sail independently tomorrow to be sure to engage this convoy.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The BBs sailing from Soerabaja arrived off Kendari on the 24 and 13 B-17E from Darwin tried to attack them the same morning but were intercepted by 34 A6M2, 19 Nates, 17 Oscars and 11 A6M3. After a short aerial battle in which aircraft of both sides were damaged all bombers turned back and reached their base, while a damaged Oscar crashed shortly after.
This afternoon Koepang was bombed by 67 B-25C and 10 Martin 139 from Derby, that killed or wounded 42 men and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 48 on runways. A Martin 139 badly hit by AA fire ditched during the return to base and two B-25C were lost in a collision.
On the 25 Koepang was again bombed by 63 B-25C and 10 Martin 139 from Derby. 65 men and 4 guns were hit, 4 hits were scored on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 60 on the runways but AA fire shot down 2 Martin 139.
Both days Ki-46s flew recon over Wyndham and reported a CAP of 13 Hurricanes, 5 units (15 000 men), 4 anchored ships (2 APD) and 56 aircraft on the airfield (23/6/27). This Ki-46 was ordered to fly recon over Darwin tomorrow.
Southern Ressource Area
In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarines and aircraft continued to follow the Allied convoy sailing south. The BB Kongo and her escort will try to intercept it tomorrow afternoon west of Java.
Barges unload some hundred of men of the 4th Mixed Bde on the 24 on Pamakasan, SE of Soerabaja, and the undefended base was occupied the next day.
The first Japanese TK arrived in Bankha and started loading oil on the 25.
Burma
On the afternoon of the 24th, 60 Blenheim IV, 43 B-17E, 14 Il-4c and 11 Wellington III escorted by 20 P-40B from Dacca attacked Pagan but the raid was a complete failure, with only 1 hit on supplies and 1 on the runway, while two P-40B and 1 Blenheim IV were lost in crashes.
The next day 25 Zeroes of F2/Genzan took off from Mandalay before dawn and flew a sweep to Asansol where they met 14 Mohawks of 146 Sqn RAF. They shot down 2 without loss, then returned to base and flew in the evening back to Rangoon.
Philippines
The preparation of the next Japanese attack in Manila continued with aerial raids (102 Ki-21, 54 Ki-48 and 45 Ki-49 on the 24, 104, 56 and 49 on the 25) and artillery. Total Allied losses were 347 men and 3 guns. 12 hits were scored on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 155 on runways in two days, while a Ki-48 and a Ki-21 hit by AA fire over the city crashed before returning to base on the 25.
The last Japanese unit, the 23rd Eng Rgt, arrived on the evening of the 25 and now there are enough support squads to support all units (maybe because of the losses of the first attack…) and a new attack will be launched tomorrow with air support from Clark Field.
China
In the north, the first wave of Japanese troops (2 Tk Rgt and 1 Eng Rgt) reached Lanchow on the 24 and reported facing 2 Chinese units (17 000 men). Both sides remained quiet the next day on the ground but one of the Chinese units, the 69th Corps, was bombed by 46 Ki-48, 19 Ki-21 and 19 Ki-49 from Yenen and lost 88 men and 3 guns, while one Ki-48 was lost in a crash. The second wave of Japanese troops (2 regiments of the 27th Div and another Eng Rgt) will arrive in 10-15 days, having been heavily delayed by the battles E of Kungchang, and Lanchow will only be attacked once these troops will be there.
In Kungchang, only Japanese guns fired both days, hitting 38 Chinese men. More south the 40th and 41st Div should reach the Sian-Kungchang road in 2 days.
The 30th Chinese Corps 120 miles SW of Yenen was bombed on the 25 by 22 Zeroes and 18 Ki-27 from Yenen and lost 15 men. It used its guns the same day to bombard the regiment of the 27th Div facing it but hit nothing. A Ki-27 was lost to engine failure during this mission.
In the south, Wuchow was still pounded by Japanese guns that hit 30 Chinese men in 2 days.
well this PH plan was used in the first time in this game, I haven't tested it against the AI before and yes retiring KB to Midway had allowed my opponent to send a convoy here from West Coast, but he sent CD and Eng units rather than a division. On the other hand, you have to retire one day to restaure air operations and I wanted to cover my troop convoys.
Had my opponent dropped one more division, yes the battle will have been longer and I would have probably to bring another division there rather than to Manila... and Manila hasn't fallen yet. The plan will only be over once this will have been done. Also I was excepting that my opponent will not take the risk of sending a division in these dangerous waters.
As for basing the CV groups here I was excepting it and was ready to take some damage to the KB, but the USN airgroups will be crushed like were every air unit going to PH by BB and aerial bombing.
As for the automatic victory don't repeat it but I don't think I will need to take Noumea to achieve it. Current score if 27500 to 6100 and with the fall of Manila and Suva should reach 30000 to 5500. I will then scout Noumea but I guess it is strongly held, or maybe not, and only in this last case I will invade. On the other hand I have agreed with my opponent that if I take Noumea we will still add 1200 points to his score, as I don't understand the point value of the base.
24-25 June 1942
Central Pacific
The SS I-122 will lay a minefield off San Francisco next night
Southern Pacific
During the night of the 23-24, 2 BB, 1 CA and 5 DD bombard Suva, destroying a LB-30 on the ground, wounding 10 men and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 12 on the runways and one on a fuel dump in the port. These ships were still off Suva in the morning and were attacked by 2 B-25C and 4 B-26B. One BB was hit by a 1000lb bomb but not damaged while a B-26B crippled by AA fire ditched off Suva during the return leg. This BB TF left the area in the evening for Pago-Pago. Artillery fire this day hit 70 Allied men and 4 guns, while the Japanese lost 117 men and 5 guns.
The same day a convoy with 2 SNLF aboard arrived in Nandi without having been attacked on the way from Kwajalein and began to unload troops.
The next night was quiet but in the morning another BB TF was approaching Suva and 2 B-25C and 2 B-26B attacked them. 15 Zeroes were covering the ships but only damaged 2 bombers. These missed a BB and a DD, and the latter shot down a B-26B with AA fire.
In the late afternoon this Japanese TF (3 BB, 6 DD) bombarded Suva but hit only 245 men, 4 guns and 1 vehicle, scoring 1 hit on supplies and 15 on runways. That was maybe enough to reduce the Allied artillery fire that hit only 10 men during the day while Japanese guns hit 45 men and 1 gun.
The South Seas Detachment finished to disembark on Nandi this day and joined all troops marching to Suva.
Southeast of Tongatapu the Kido Butai was still chasing the Allied convoy reported some days ago. It wasn’t seen on the 25 and in the evening the KB recived order to sail at full speed to catch it. The result was that the next day the KB was scattered and sailed slower than the other days… but this day the Allied convoy had sailed west and in the afternoon was seen by a Jake. Both CV divisions will sail independently tomorrow to be sure to engage this convoy.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The BBs sailing from Soerabaja arrived off Kendari on the 24 and 13 B-17E from Darwin tried to attack them the same morning but were intercepted by 34 A6M2, 19 Nates, 17 Oscars and 11 A6M3. After a short aerial battle in which aircraft of both sides were damaged all bombers turned back and reached their base, while a damaged Oscar crashed shortly after.
This afternoon Koepang was bombed by 67 B-25C and 10 Martin 139 from Derby, that killed or wounded 42 men and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 48 on runways. A Martin 139 badly hit by AA fire ditched during the return to base and two B-25C were lost in a collision.
On the 25 Koepang was again bombed by 63 B-25C and 10 Martin 139 from Derby. 65 men and 4 guns were hit, 4 hits were scored on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 60 on the runways but AA fire shot down 2 Martin 139.
Both days Ki-46s flew recon over Wyndham and reported a CAP of 13 Hurricanes, 5 units (15 000 men), 4 anchored ships (2 APD) and 56 aircraft on the airfield (23/6/27). This Ki-46 was ordered to fly recon over Darwin tomorrow.
Southern Ressource Area
In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarines and aircraft continued to follow the Allied convoy sailing south. The BB Kongo and her escort will try to intercept it tomorrow afternoon west of Java.
Barges unload some hundred of men of the 4th Mixed Bde on the 24 on Pamakasan, SE of Soerabaja, and the undefended base was occupied the next day.
The first Japanese TK arrived in Bankha and started loading oil on the 25.
Burma
On the afternoon of the 24th, 60 Blenheim IV, 43 B-17E, 14 Il-4c and 11 Wellington III escorted by 20 P-40B from Dacca attacked Pagan but the raid was a complete failure, with only 1 hit on supplies and 1 on the runway, while two P-40B and 1 Blenheim IV were lost in crashes.
The next day 25 Zeroes of F2/Genzan took off from Mandalay before dawn and flew a sweep to Asansol where they met 14 Mohawks of 146 Sqn RAF. They shot down 2 without loss, then returned to base and flew in the evening back to Rangoon.
Philippines
The preparation of the next Japanese attack in Manila continued with aerial raids (102 Ki-21, 54 Ki-48 and 45 Ki-49 on the 24, 104, 56 and 49 on the 25) and artillery. Total Allied losses were 347 men and 3 guns. 12 hits were scored on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 155 on runways in two days, while a Ki-48 and a Ki-21 hit by AA fire over the city crashed before returning to base on the 25.
The last Japanese unit, the 23rd Eng Rgt, arrived on the evening of the 25 and now there are enough support squads to support all units (maybe because of the losses of the first attack…) and a new attack will be launched tomorrow with air support from Clark Field.
China
In the north, the first wave of Japanese troops (2 Tk Rgt and 1 Eng Rgt) reached Lanchow on the 24 and reported facing 2 Chinese units (17 000 men). Both sides remained quiet the next day on the ground but one of the Chinese units, the 69th Corps, was bombed by 46 Ki-48, 19 Ki-21 and 19 Ki-49 from Yenen and lost 88 men and 3 guns, while one Ki-48 was lost in a crash. The second wave of Japanese troops (2 regiments of the 27th Div and another Eng Rgt) will arrive in 10-15 days, having been heavily delayed by the battles E of Kungchang, and Lanchow will only be attacked once these troops will be there.
In Kungchang, only Japanese guns fired both days, hitting 38 Chinese men. More south the 40th and 41st Div should reach the Sian-Kungchang road in 2 days.
The 30th Chinese Corps 120 miles SW of Yenen was bombed on the 25 by 22 Zeroes and 18 Ki-27 from Yenen and lost 15 men. It used its guns the same day to bombard the regiment of the 27th Div facing it but hit nothing. A Ki-27 was lost to engine failure during this mission.
In the south, Wuchow was still pounded by Japanese guns that hit 30 Chinese men in 2 days.
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Oleg Mastruko
- Posts: 4534
- Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:00 am
RE: 24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
As for the automatic victory don't repeat it but I don't think I will need to take Noumea to achieve it. Current score if 27500 to 6100 and with the fall of Manila and Suva should reach 30000 to 5500. I will then scout Noumea but I guess it is strongly held, or maybe not, and only in this last case I will invade. On the other hand I have agreed with my opponent that if I take Noumea we will still add 1200 points to his score, as I don't understand the point value of the base.
How will you add 1200 VPs to his score? If you get 4:1 and date is beyond 1.1.43. game should end automatically no matter what you agree to add?
O.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
RE: 24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko
How will you add 1200 VPs to his score? If you get 4:1 and date is beyond 1.1.43. game should end automatically no matter what you agree to add?
O.
Even if automatic victory is reached, the game may continue. And will continue in this case, I will let my opponent take his revenge (and will try to imitate PzB successful defence). Automatic victory will only be a moral victory, but won't end the game. So to the actual game score, we will add 1200 VPs to Allied score if I hold Noumea at the start of 1943. But that is not in my plans...I will like better to see Australian and NZ units holding a strong Noumea, as I plan to invade NZ and Australia.
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Oleg Mastruko
- Posts: 4534
- Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:00 am
RE: 24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
Even if automatic victory is reached, the game may continue. And will continue in this case, I will let my opponent take his revenge (and will try to imitate PzB successful defence). Automatic victory will only be a moral victory, but won't end the game. So to the actual game score, we will add 1200 VPs to Allied score if I hold Noumea at the start of 1943. But that is not in my plans...I will like better to see Australian and NZ units holding a strong Noumea, as I plan to invade NZ and Australia.
Frankly, I don't understand this logic at all - but by all means continue [8D]
To me the whole point of doing highly risky and crazy stuff is to end the war QUICK and by AV (that is what Japanese wanted historically after all). I mean if you don't plan to end the war, why don't switch to defense by mid-late 42 and simply wait?
OK; this is just my empty rhetoric - no need to answer.
O.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
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RE: 24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
Yes, the historical Japanese wanted AV but they strongly underevaluated the American will to fight. There could not have been automatic victory in RL.
Of my score the only part really valuable is the non-base points (troop, ships, aircraft and strategic points) and this part is already over 20 000. My goal at short term is to achieve AV in game terms, but the Allied won't surrender... In long term (I'm Yamamoto and I don't share the government's views about the American weak spirit) it is to score as much unlosable points as possible while I still have superiority.
Of my score the only part really valuable is the non-base points (troop, ships, aircraft and strategic points) and this part is already over 20 000. My goal at short term is to achieve AV in game terms, but the Allied won't surrender... In long term (I'm Yamamoto and I don't share the government's views about the American weak spirit) it is to score as much unlosable points as possible while I still have superiority.
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Oleg Mastruko
- Posts: 4534
- Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:00 am
RE: 24-25 June 1942: quiet days again
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
Yes, the historical Japanese wanted AV but they strongly underevaluated the American will to fight. There could not have been automatic victory in RL.
I am not so sure. Had there been reverse Midway instead of historical Midway who's to say there wouldn't be some sort of political conclusion to the war? It's easy to say after PH American will to fight was very high (and it was) but had they lost *another* 6-8 major ships (+ say Guadalcanal campaign) they would lose the will to fight quickly.
Maybe US and Japan would fight again in couple years after rebuilding their navies and after US developed atomic bomb (could make for good hypothetic campaign) - maybe they wouldn't at all. With unstoppable rise of communism in East Asia perhaps US would be happy to have semi-friendly Japan "policing" East Asia. (Thus, no Korean war, no Vietnam etc - I am sure with hindsight many Americans would be quite happy to avoid those inconclusive, tragic and bloody conflicts.)
But OK I am rabling. Long and short of it is that I am BIG AV fan - it is the most important feature that makes this game both historical and ultimately interesting (from both sides). I see absolutely no point in playing games that would ignore this, most important feature of any WITP campaign. It's all about getting or avoiding auto victory baby! [8D]
Of my score the only part really valuable is the non-base points (troop, ships, aircraft and strategic points) and this part is already over 20 000. My goal at short term is to achieve AV in game terms, but the Allied won't surrender... In long term (I'm Yamamoto and I don't share the government's views about the American weak spirit) it is to score as much unlosable points as possible while I still have superiority.
Interesting, and noble goals [:D] But IMO they go against "sane" strategic and historical premises of the game. (Now that's strictly my private opinion anyway.)
O.
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AmiralLaurent
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- Location: Near Paris, France
26 June 1942: convoys under attack
26 June 1942
This day saw Japan lose more AC (27) than Allied (19), and also more troops (7 pts vs 4) but the sinking of 5 ships and damage done to many other, that will probably be sunk next turn, compensates. The use of a BB against an Allied convoy was very unsuccessful, and is considered as a waste of fuel.
Northern Pacific
Allied enginners were busy today and expanded Adak pot to size 2 and port and airfield in Sitka to size 4.
Central Pacific
The SS I-122 laid a minefield at the western entrace of San Francisco port during the night but was seen in the morning by a Coronado and then attacked and hit by a B-26B Marauder. The heavily damaged submarine (37/84/0) will try to reach Pearl Harbor but will certainly sink in the next days.
Southern Pacific
South of Tonga, the Japanese CV airmen found not one, but two Allied convoys. In the morning, both CV TF attacked a convoy of 5 AK 840 miles SSE of Tongatapu. These ships were attacked by 5 waves of aircraft, for a total of 112 Vals, 74 Kates and 54 Zeroes. The most impressive result was the attack by 8 Kates of EI-3 flying with bombs at maximal range that scored 8 hits (100%) on a damaged AK. Four AK (Sea Trush, Empire Ortolan, Potter and Sawolka) were sunk, the only survivor, the Jeff Davis was hit 17 times according to Japanese airmen but was only reported "on fire". A more juicy target was a big TF convoy 180 miles more south, but only one of the two Japanese CV TF was able to attack it.
This convoy was protected by clouds in the morning but in the afternoon was attacked by 57 Vals, 23 Kates and 26 Zeroes. They reported at least 12 TK and hit 9 of them, all laden with fuel that burned when they were hit. 5 TK were heavily damaged and 4 other left burning but none was seen sinking.
Opeartions of the days costed 3 Vals and 3 Zeroes lost in accidents. Tomorrow both CV TF will chase westward the Allied survivors of today's attacks, one DD will try to finish the damaged AK that remained of the northern group during the night.
In Suva Japanese guns hit nothing while Allied guns hit 130 men, 9 guns and 1 tank. A 3500-ton AK hit last week was scuttled off Nandi when flooding increased to 90. Nandi airfield will be expanded to size 2 tomorrow.
More reinforcements are coming to Fiji. 8 3500-ton AK left Tarawa with supplies, and AP convoy Kwajalein with 4 Naval Garnison aboard and 4 TK are loading fuel in Kwajalein. All will sail to Fiji.
Solomons-New Guinea
Nothing to report
Timor-Amboina-Australia
A Ki-46 flying a recon to Darwin reported no more Allied warships off the base but a strong CAP (26 Kittyhawks, 19 P-40E, 13 Hurricanes).
In the afternoon, Darwin heavy bombers launched another raid against Kendari, sooner than expected. 56 B-17E and 35 LB-30 (of 7th BG, coming from Pacific) flew the mission and met over the target 37 A6M2, 21 Ki-27, 20 Ki-43 and 11 A6M3. All B-17E turned back under attack, losing three of their number to A6M2 while shooting down 2 Oscars. The LB-30 were green in this theater and had probably a better morale, having rested in Australia after their heavy losses in the Pacific. 9 LB-30 were shot down by Japanese CAP bu they shot down 3 A6M2, 2 A6M3, 1 Oscar and 1 Nate and reached the airfield. AA fire shot down four bombers but they destroyed on the ground 5 Nates, 1 A6M2 and 1 Oscar, disabeld 12 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on the base, 1 on supplies and 19 on the runways. One B-17E and one LB-30 were lost to engine failure during the raid, and the overall result was 18 Allied and 16 Japanese AC losses.
At the same time bad weather disrupted badly the daily raid on Koepang, that was only reached and missed by 3 Martin 139.
Southern Ressource Area
In the afternoon, the BB Kongo and her escort (5 DD) intercepted as planned the Allied convoy followed since several days by Japanese submarines. The convoy was composed of 57 unescorted AKs and was engaged between 23 000 and 19 000 yards by the Japanese warships, but managed to escape without much losses. The AK Paul Luckenbach was sunk by 2 14in shells and 1 torpedo, the AK Steel Inventor was heavily damaged by 2 14in shells and several smaller shells and will probably sink, and seven other transports were hit by 6in or 5.5in shells but not heavily damaged. The Kongo and escort will search the convoy tonight and then sail to Batavia and later to Rangoon to join the Burma Naval Squadron.
Three 3500-ton AK are loading supplies in Singapore to bring it to Sabang, Sumatra. TK are loading oil in Medan and Bankha now.
Burma.
A Ki-15 Babs was shot down by a Hurricane flying CAP over Imphal. Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Diamond Habror to size 5.
Philippines
A new Japanese attack in Manila was preceded by an aerial preparation from Clark Field. The 21st PA DIv was bombed by 75 Ki-21, 47 Ki-48 and 44 Ki-49 and lost 112 men and 5 guns while shooting down a Ki-48 with AA fire. The nearby 1st PA DIv was bombed by 12 Ki-21 and 10 Ki-48 and lost 13 men. 1 Ki-21 was lost in an accident. Then the Japanese troops (168 000 men) attacked the Allied ones (94 000 men) and engineers managed to reduce the forts to level 8. Japanese losses were 3679 men, 131 guns, 9 tanks, Allied losses 1050 men, 24 guns. Both troops and bombers will revert to the usal bombardment for some days to prepare the next attack.
China
In the morning, Changsha was bombed by 47 Nells, 47 bomb-carrying Nates, 43 Betties and 12 Ki-51 from Wuhan. They scored 26 hits on the ressources of the town and disabled 35 centers, leaving only 144 running. One Nell was lost in a landing accident.
In the north, the 30th Chinese Corps was bombed 120 miles SW of Yenen by 22 Zeroes and 17 Nates from this base and lost 14 men. Yenen sent another raid, 35 Ki-48s, 18 Ki-49 and 14 Ki-21 attacking the 69th Chinese Corps at Lanchow and hitting 10 men and 1 gun.
Japanese guns hit 28 men in Kungchang and 28 men in Wuchow while the guns of the 30th Chinese Corps hit 8 Japanese and 3 guns 120 miles SW of Yenen.
This day saw Japan lose more AC (27) than Allied (19), and also more troops (7 pts vs 4) but the sinking of 5 ships and damage done to many other, that will probably be sunk next turn, compensates. The use of a BB against an Allied convoy was very unsuccessful, and is considered as a waste of fuel.
Northern Pacific
Allied enginners were busy today and expanded Adak pot to size 2 and port and airfield in Sitka to size 4.
Central Pacific
The SS I-122 laid a minefield at the western entrace of San Francisco port during the night but was seen in the morning by a Coronado and then attacked and hit by a B-26B Marauder. The heavily damaged submarine (37/84/0) will try to reach Pearl Harbor but will certainly sink in the next days.
Southern Pacific
South of Tonga, the Japanese CV airmen found not one, but two Allied convoys. In the morning, both CV TF attacked a convoy of 5 AK 840 miles SSE of Tongatapu. These ships were attacked by 5 waves of aircraft, for a total of 112 Vals, 74 Kates and 54 Zeroes. The most impressive result was the attack by 8 Kates of EI-3 flying with bombs at maximal range that scored 8 hits (100%) on a damaged AK. Four AK (Sea Trush, Empire Ortolan, Potter and Sawolka) were sunk, the only survivor, the Jeff Davis was hit 17 times according to Japanese airmen but was only reported "on fire". A more juicy target was a big TF convoy 180 miles more south, but only one of the two Japanese CV TF was able to attack it.
This convoy was protected by clouds in the morning but in the afternoon was attacked by 57 Vals, 23 Kates and 26 Zeroes. They reported at least 12 TK and hit 9 of them, all laden with fuel that burned when they were hit. 5 TK were heavily damaged and 4 other left burning but none was seen sinking.
Opeartions of the days costed 3 Vals and 3 Zeroes lost in accidents. Tomorrow both CV TF will chase westward the Allied survivors of today's attacks, one DD will try to finish the damaged AK that remained of the northern group during the night.
In Suva Japanese guns hit nothing while Allied guns hit 130 men, 9 guns and 1 tank. A 3500-ton AK hit last week was scuttled off Nandi when flooding increased to 90. Nandi airfield will be expanded to size 2 tomorrow.
More reinforcements are coming to Fiji. 8 3500-ton AK left Tarawa with supplies, and AP convoy Kwajalein with 4 Naval Garnison aboard and 4 TK are loading fuel in Kwajalein. All will sail to Fiji.
Solomons-New Guinea
Nothing to report
Timor-Amboina-Australia
A Ki-46 flying a recon to Darwin reported no more Allied warships off the base but a strong CAP (26 Kittyhawks, 19 P-40E, 13 Hurricanes).
In the afternoon, Darwin heavy bombers launched another raid against Kendari, sooner than expected. 56 B-17E and 35 LB-30 (of 7th BG, coming from Pacific) flew the mission and met over the target 37 A6M2, 21 Ki-27, 20 Ki-43 and 11 A6M3. All B-17E turned back under attack, losing three of their number to A6M2 while shooting down 2 Oscars. The LB-30 were green in this theater and had probably a better morale, having rested in Australia after their heavy losses in the Pacific. 9 LB-30 were shot down by Japanese CAP bu they shot down 3 A6M2, 2 A6M3, 1 Oscar and 1 Nate and reached the airfield. AA fire shot down four bombers but they destroyed on the ground 5 Nates, 1 A6M2 and 1 Oscar, disabeld 12 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on the base, 1 on supplies and 19 on the runways. One B-17E and one LB-30 were lost to engine failure during the raid, and the overall result was 18 Allied and 16 Japanese AC losses.
At the same time bad weather disrupted badly the daily raid on Koepang, that was only reached and missed by 3 Martin 139.
Southern Ressource Area
In the afternoon, the BB Kongo and her escort (5 DD) intercepted as planned the Allied convoy followed since several days by Japanese submarines. The convoy was composed of 57 unescorted AKs and was engaged between 23 000 and 19 000 yards by the Japanese warships, but managed to escape without much losses. The AK Paul Luckenbach was sunk by 2 14in shells and 1 torpedo, the AK Steel Inventor was heavily damaged by 2 14in shells and several smaller shells and will probably sink, and seven other transports were hit by 6in or 5.5in shells but not heavily damaged. The Kongo and escort will search the convoy tonight and then sail to Batavia and later to Rangoon to join the Burma Naval Squadron.
Three 3500-ton AK are loading supplies in Singapore to bring it to Sabang, Sumatra. TK are loading oil in Medan and Bankha now.
Burma.
A Ki-15 Babs was shot down by a Hurricane flying CAP over Imphal. Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Diamond Habror to size 5.
Philippines
A new Japanese attack in Manila was preceded by an aerial preparation from Clark Field. The 21st PA DIv was bombed by 75 Ki-21, 47 Ki-48 and 44 Ki-49 and lost 112 men and 5 guns while shooting down a Ki-48 with AA fire. The nearby 1st PA DIv was bombed by 12 Ki-21 and 10 Ki-48 and lost 13 men. 1 Ki-21 was lost in an accident. Then the Japanese troops (168 000 men) attacked the Allied ones (94 000 men) and engineers managed to reduce the forts to level 8. Japanese losses were 3679 men, 131 guns, 9 tanks, Allied losses 1050 men, 24 guns. Both troops and bombers will revert to the usal bombardment for some days to prepare the next attack.
China
In the morning, Changsha was bombed by 47 Nells, 47 bomb-carrying Nates, 43 Betties and 12 Ki-51 from Wuhan. They scored 26 hits on the ressources of the town and disabled 35 centers, leaving only 144 running. One Nell was lost in a landing accident.
In the north, the 30th Chinese Corps was bombed 120 miles SW of Yenen by 22 Zeroes and 17 Nates from this base and lost 14 men. Yenen sent another raid, 35 Ki-48s, 18 Ki-49 and 14 Ki-21 attacking the 69th Chinese Corps at Lanchow and hitting 10 men and 1 gun.
Japanese guns hit 28 men in Kungchang and 28 men in Wuchow while the guns of the 30th Chinese Corps hit 8 Japanese and 3 guns 120 miles SW of Yenen.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
RE: 26 June 1942: convoys under attack
It seems that the convoy attacked by the Kongo on the border of the map, from the Indian Ocean side, has disappeared. That is 55 missing AK for my opponent that shouldstill be there. He nevertheless sent the turn back to me but if at the end of this turn the convoy hadn't returned from the twilight zone we will return to the order phase of the evening of the 25th and do a restart from here.
Attacking a convoy with surface ships on the border of the map was apparently a bad idea. I don't do that usually, finding all usages of map borders to be gamey, but in this case the convoy was not sailing along the border but had just reached it this turn, as my surface TF did, and I "allowed" it. It won't be repeated in the probable restart.
Attacking a convoy with surface ships on the border of the map was apparently a bad idea. I don't do that usually, finding all usages of map borders to be gamey, but in this case the convoy was not sailing along the border but had just reached it this turn, as my surface TF did, and I "allowed" it. It won't be repeated in the probable restart.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
Restart from the evening of the 25th of June
My opponent confirmed that his whole convoy (55 ships) is still missing and so we agreed to redo the 26 June turn (we also do the 27 June turn that saw me sink 6 TK and damage about ten, but I am excepting this to not be changed by the restart). The only significant change will probably be that the Indian Ocean convoy won't be attacked by my warships.
As for what happened, my guess is that the convoy fled from the hex it was attacked, as transport TF do, and went to an hex of the border of the map. But these hexes are not complete hexes and their final fate is shown by the pic above:
As for what happened, my guess is that the convoy fled from the hex it was attacked, as transport TF do, and went to an hex of the border of the map. But these hexes are not complete hexes and their final fate is shown by the pic above:
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Tom Hunter
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Ron Saueracker
- Posts: 10967
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- Location: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
RE: Restart from the evening of the 25th of June
Amiral Laurent, any chance you could post your elements of your supply states given your successes and obvious maximum effort? Maybe even some production figures (supply spent improving factories/repairing resource/oil centres etc)? Basically your assesment of the supply situation. Thanks, Ron.
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
RE: Restart from the evening of the 25th of June
Hi, RonORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
Amiral Laurent, any chance you could post your elements of your supply states given your successes and obvious maximum effort? Maybe even some production figures (supply spent improving factories/repairing resource/oil centres etc)? Basically your assesment of the supply situation. Thanks, Ron.
Here is the economic report of the end of May 1942 (each first day of month in the game I posted here the economical situation)
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 3 224 000 (bases) + around 500 000 (TFs) = around 3 724 000 (+ 159 000)
Fuel : 3 982 000 (bases) + around 383 000 (TFs) = around 4 365 000 (+ 56 000)
Ressource centers : 17 065 (+ 1 123)
Ressources : 1 229 000 (bases) + 70 000 (TFs) = 1 299 000 (- 35 000)
Oil centers : 2 486 (+ 202)
Oil: 1 340 000 (bases) + 127 000 (TFs) = 1 467 000 (+ 54 000)
Manpower centers : 808 (+ 4)
Manpower pool : 326 000 (+ 75 000)
Heavy industry: 13 497 (+ 0)
Heavy industry pool: 130 000 (+ 28 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 863 (+ 62)
Armament industry: 600 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 62 000 (+ 12 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 7 400 (+ 2 000)
Aircraft engine factories: 1508 (+ 31)
Aircraft frames factories: 842 (+ 0)
Aircraft research: 175 (+ 38)
You will have to wait for some days to have the report of end June 1942. Ressources will be artificially boosted by the capture of Toboali this month. This month saw the first fall in armament pool (as more and more units have replacement turned on) and the first increase in HI in this game (as now the Japanese Empire is producing more ressources than what it is using), and also some increase of armament factories
And here is the changes from the start of the war:
Supplies : + 724 000
Fuel : - 135 000
Ressource centers : + 4945
Ressources : - 501 000
Oil centers : + 1736
Oil: - 333 000
Manpower centers : + 27
Manpower pool : + 226 000
Heavy industry: + 242 (all by conquest)
Heavy industry pool: + 130 000
Naval shipyard: + 104
Merchant shipyard: + 0
Repair shipyard: + 328 (125 by conquest)
Armament industry: + 99
Armament stock: + 42 000
Vehicles industry: + 23
Vehicles stock: + 7 400
Aircraft engine factories: + 143
Aircraft frames factories: + 158
Aircraft research: + 175
So a total of 104 (shipyards) + 203 (repair shipyard) + 99 (armament) + 23 (vehicles) + 143 (engines) + 158 (aircraft) + 175 (aircraft research) = 905 industry upgrades, for about a million supplies (with the cost of expanding, main cost being repairing) in 6 months
I have no supply shortages, except in places where shipping supplies is risky (like Timor). Between 50 000 and 100 000 supplies are sent from Japan each week to support operations (especially in Pacific and in Burma), build stocks in big bases (Singapore, Kwajalein, PH) and repair oilfields (this last part will be finished shortly). Having enough AK to ship supplies and ressources is not yet a problem but my AK losses are rather small (and AKs are scarcely used for invasions).
I think that starting from July, my supply production will allow me to send supplies to places like Mandalay or Amboina to repair oilfields that will be bombed as soon they will be repaired by Allied heavy bombers, but they will still produce some more oil points... I also expect to capture Lanchow oil sometimes in the summer and this extra oil will need extra ressources so I may repair ressource centers here and there.
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Ron Saueracker
- Posts: 10967
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2002 10:00 am
- Location: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
RE: Restart from the evening of the 25th of June
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
Hi, RonORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
Amiral Laurent, any chance you could post your elements of your supply states given your successes and obvious maximum effort? Maybe even some production figures (supply spent improving factories/repairing resource/oil centres etc)? Basically your assesment of the supply situation. Thanks, Ron.
Here is the economic report of the end of May 1942 (each first day of month in the game I posted here the economical situation)
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 3 224 000 (bases) + around 500 000 (TFs) = around 3 724 000 (+ 159 000)
Fuel : 3 982 000 (bases) + around 383 000 (TFs) = around 4 365 000 (+ 56 000)
Ressource centers : 17 065 (+ 1 123)
Ressources : 1 229 000 (bases) + 70 000 (TFs) = 1 299 000 (- 35 000)
Oil centers : 2 486 (+ 202)
Oil: 1 340 000 (bases) + 127 000 (TFs) = 1 467 000 (+ 54 000)
Manpower centers : 808 (+ 4)
Manpower pool : 326 000 (+ 75 000)
Heavy industry: 13 497 (+ 0)
Heavy industry pool: 130 000 (+ 28 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 863 (+ 62)
Armament industry: 600 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 62 000 (+ 12 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 7 400 (+ 2 000)
Aircraft engine factories: 1508 (+ 31)
Aircraft frames factories: 842 (+ 0)
Aircraft research: 175 (+ 38)
You will have to wait for some days to have the report of end June 1942. Ressources will be artificially boosted by the capture of Toboali this month. This month saw the first fall in armament pool (as more and more units have replacement turned on) and the first increase in HI in this game (as now the Japanese Empire is producing more ressources than what it is using), and also some increase of armament factories
And here is the changes from the start of the war:
Supplies : + 724 000
Fuel : - 135 000
Ressource centers : + 4945
Ressources : - 501 000
Oil centers : + 1736
Oil: - 333 000
Manpower centers : + 27
Manpower pool : + 226 000
Heavy industry: + 242 (all by conquest)
Heavy industry pool: + 130 000
Naval shipyard: + 104
Merchant shipyard: + 0
Repair shipyard: + 328 (125 by conquest)
Armament industry: + 99
Armament stock: + 42 000
Vehicles industry: + 23
Vehicles stock: + 7 400
Aircraft engine factories: + 143
Aircraft frames factories: + 158
Aircraft research: + 175
So a total of 104 (shipyards) + 203 (repair shipyard) + 99 (armament) + 23 (vehicles) + 143 (engines) + 158 (aircraft) + 175 (aircraft research) = 905 industry upgrades, for about a million supplies (with the cost of expanding, main cost being repairing) in 6 months
I have no supply shortages, except in places where shipping supplies is risky (like Timor). Between 50 000 and 100 000 supplies are sent from Japan each week to support operations (especially in Pacific and in Burma), build stocks in big bases (Singapore, Kwajalein, PH) and repair oilfields (this last part will be finished shortly). Having enough AK to ship supplies and ressources is not yet a problem but my AK losses are rather small (and AKs are scarcely used for invasions).
I think that starting from July, my supply production will allow me to send supplies to places like Mandalay or Amboina to repair oilfields that will be bombed as soon they will be repaired by Allied heavy bombers, but they will still produce some more oil points... I also expect to capture Lanchow oil sometimes in the summer and this extra oil will need extra ressources so I may repair ressource centers here and there.
Thanks for your efforts!
[X(] This is what I suspected. You are basically swimming in supply despite having geared up production, repaired captured centres and conducted intensive and far flung operations.
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan