Shattering the Sword. Cantona2 (a) vs Herbiesan (j)
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
Search Areas
Heres a screenie of the search plane density in the main US-Fiji-Oz shipping lanes.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Search Areas
The Japanese bombers came over again, their fighter escort blackening out the sky. The paltry 2 fighter screen the surviving Dutch pilots put up was brave but foolish. They lasted 5 minutes against 70 Ki-43 fighters. Wave after wave of Ki-48 and Ki-49 bombers pounded the installations at Sabang mercilessly. Fuel stocks, already sparse, went up in flames, the runway was cratered and the three anti-aircraft positions around the main runway blasted. The casualty wards of the four field hospitals in the town were overflowing and the writing was clearly on the wall even though the closest Japanese soldier was nearly 900 miles away at Padang.
Yet despite all this, and in probably the last flight that Sabang aerodrome could sustain, scout planes of VkAfdleing-1 spotted a massive Japanese force and with it the carrier Zhiukaku. The news was quickly relayed to Colombo which immediately gave orders for its two carriers to steam away from the area. As the day progressed more reports came in with more sightings of ships. The presence of the carrier was confirmed when D3A2's and B5N2's attacked submarines in and around Sabang harbour. Then came the news from the SS Spearfish that it had unsuccessfully engaged a Japanese transport in the Straits. Followed by the signal from the SS Porpoise that it had sighted a further two carriers hugging the coast line off Georgetown. Sabang was doomed but the efforts of the Dutch pilots had in all probability spared the Royal Navy aircraft carriers from a watery grave.
Yet despite all this, and in probably the last flight that Sabang aerodrome could sustain, scout planes of VkAfdleing-1 spotted a massive Japanese force and with it the carrier Zhiukaku. The news was quickly relayed to Colombo which immediately gave orders for its two carriers to steam away from the area. As the day progressed more reports came in with more sightings of ships. The presence of the carrier was confirmed when D3A2's and B5N2's attacked submarines in and around Sabang harbour. Then came the news from the SS Spearfish that it had unsuccessfully engaged a Japanese transport in the Straits. Followed by the signal from the SS Porpoise that it had sighted a further two carriers hugging the coast line off Georgetown. Sabang was doomed but the efforts of the Dutch pilots had in all probability spared the Royal Navy aircraft carriers from a watery grave.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Search Areas
The main weapon against Herbs subs. They find them, the destroyers kill them.
Catalina being launched from Canton Island.
Catalina being launched from Canton Island.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Enter the 48th Fighter
War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron.
The 48th Fighter Squadron was the USAAF’s first unit to be equipped with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. It received a first batch of 18 aeroplanes in January 1942 and formed in San Diego. Colonel T.S.Olds was appointed as the units first commander. Old was a typical fighter pilot. Brash, cocky, and eager for action. Yet he was also a pragmatist and a realist. Two things were at the forefront of his mind. Firstly the welfare of the machines in his command, secondly the welfare of the young pilots under his command. His superiors had told him that the 18 planes he had were the only planes the USAAF had and he “was to take good damn care of them!” He also resolved to take good care of the men that sat and flew those machines as without them the aircraft would be useless.
His first impression was favourable. Though she was an ugly bird she was fast, very fast. She packed a punch with her 20mm cannon and 4 50 cals. She had an extremely long range that would come very useful in the area of operations she was to be deployed in. For 6 weeks his young pilots grew accustomed to their new aircraft. They sped across the Californian sky with abandon, typical cocky pilots of 19 years of age. Olds was forced more than once to reprimand their carefree attitude to their expensive new machines. Flight time was coupled to hours of theory and studying battle techniques and tactics. Still, nothing was better than the real thing and Olds pestered his HQ to transfer the 48th closer to the frontline in order to better establish the P-38’s combat capabilities. His request was granted mid February 1942 and the 48th was soon embarked on several transports heading to Canton Island.
There his squadron began to practice flying in teams and engaged each other in mock dogfights. The closest they came to the enemy was a suspected sighting of a submarine one morning. Training was constant but morale begun to suffer as Canton Island did not offer an off duty young pilot the distractions that San Diego did. New orders had the 48th move to Suva, a flight that tested both the endurance and the long legs of the p-38 as the island hop, as 1LT Harper called it, was done in one single flight. All aircraft had reported an uneventful flight and all planes reached Suva safely. Two days later they repeated the move, only this time to Noumea and a day after that to Brisbane. It was a testament of their planes’ durability when the pilots were more worn out than the engines that had taken them almost half way around the world.
The 48th would spend two weeks at Brisbane completing its training. Wary of the finite number of planes that he had, Olds worked out a detailed training schedule that always had at least one third of his planes on the ground being serviced, the mechanics and ground crew also had to familiarise themselves with the P-38. March 1942 finally brought the news each man in the 48th wanted to hear, a posting to an active frontline deployment. It had been ordered to Townsville in response to increased air activity around Port Moresby. SWPAC HQ felt that the Lightning’s range would prove useful in covering the approaches to Townsville and also aid the search efforts in the Western Coral Sea.
These first few missions were just as boring to the pilots as the training was as the only things they saw in the air were seagulls and clouds. Yet the war would catch up with the men of the 48th soon enough. Colonel Olds was ordered to fly his unit to Port Moresby itself on the 18th March 1942. The unit’s first mission was to fly LRCAP over TF 1211, a resupply convoy that consisted of the AK Murada and AK Matefele. Enemy G3M and G4M1 bombers had already operated from Rabaul and could directly threaten the much need supply convoy. The P-38’s punching power, it was thought, could help deter Japanese efforts to interdict the convoy. By the 20th of March the men of the 48th had been flying over the ships of TF 1211 for two days. They flew alongside their comrades of the 9th Fighter Squadron flying the P-40e Warhawk. The 20th also signified the first day that the real war caught up with Colonel Olds and his men.
P-38 of 48th Fighter Squadron leaving Townsville Air Field for Port Moresby 18th March 1942
The 48th Fighter Squadron was the USAAF’s first unit to be equipped with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. It received a first batch of 18 aeroplanes in January 1942 and formed in San Diego. Colonel T.S.Olds was appointed as the units first commander. Old was a typical fighter pilot. Brash, cocky, and eager for action. Yet he was also a pragmatist and a realist. Two things were at the forefront of his mind. Firstly the welfare of the machines in his command, secondly the welfare of the young pilots under his command. His superiors had told him that the 18 planes he had were the only planes the USAAF had and he “was to take good damn care of them!” He also resolved to take good care of the men that sat and flew those machines as without them the aircraft would be useless.
His first impression was favourable. Though she was an ugly bird she was fast, very fast. She packed a punch with her 20mm cannon and 4 50 cals. She had an extremely long range that would come very useful in the area of operations she was to be deployed in. For 6 weeks his young pilots grew accustomed to their new aircraft. They sped across the Californian sky with abandon, typical cocky pilots of 19 years of age. Olds was forced more than once to reprimand their carefree attitude to their expensive new machines. Flight time was coupled to hours of theory and studying battle techniques and tactics. Still, nothing was better than the real thing and Olds pestered his HQ to transfer the 48th closer to the frontline in order to better establish the P-38’s combat capabilities. His request was granted mid February 1942 and the 48th was soon embarked on several transports heading to Canton Island.
There his squadron began to practice flying in teams and engaged each other in mock dogfights. The closest they came to the enemy was a suspected sighting of a submarine one morning. Training was constant but morale begun to suffer as Canton Island did not offer an off duty young pilot the distractions that San Diego did. New orders had the 48th move to Suva, a flight that tested both the endurance and the long legs of the p-38 as the island hop, as 1LT Harper called it, was done in one single flight. All aircraft had reported an uneventful flight and all planes reached Suva safely. Two days later they repeated the move, only this time to Noumea and a day after that to Brisbane. It was a testament of their planes’ durability when the pilots were more worn out than the engines that had taken them almost half way around the world.
The 48th would spend two weeks at Brisbane completing its training. Wary of the finite number of planes that he had, Olds worked out a detailed training schedule that always had at least one third of his planes on the ground being serviced, the mechanics and ground crew also had to familiarise themselves with the P-38. March 1942 finally brought the news each man in the 48th wanted to hear, a posting to an active frontline deployment. It had been ordered to Townsville in response to increased air activity around Port Moresby. SWPAC HQ felt that the Lightning’s range would prove useful in covering the approaches to Townsville and also aid the search efforts in the Western Coral Sea.
These first few missions were just as boring to the pilots as the training was as the only things they saw in the air were seagulls and clouds. Yet the war would catch up with the men of the 48th soon enough. Colonel Olds was ordered to fly his unit to Port Moresby itself on the 18th March 1942. The unit’s first mission was to fly LRCAP over TF 1211, a resupply convoy that consisted of the AK Murada and AK Matefele. Enemy G3M and G4M1 bombers had already operated from Rabaul and could directly threaten the much need supply convoy. The P-38’s punching power, it was thought, could help deter Japanese efforts to interdict the convoy. By the 20th of March the men of the 48th had been flying over the ships of TF 1211 for two days. They flew alongside their comrades of the 9th Fighter Squadron flying the P-40e Warhawk. The 20th also signified the first day that the real war caught up with Colonel Olds and his men.
P-38 of 48th Fighter Squadron leaving Townsville Air Field for Port Moresby 18th March 1942
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Enter the 48th Fighter
War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron
20th March 1942
Aircraft on Patrol 12
Aircraft in Reserve 4
Aircraft Unserviceable 2
Pilots 18
12 aircraft flying CAP over ships. 12 aircraft returned safely to base. In our absence base was swept by 150 A6M2’s, no losses. At around 13:00 an air raid coming in from Rabaul comprising of G3M’s and A6M2 escorts hit Port Moresby air strip. Hits reported on runway, signal hut and fuel dump. 2 aircraft destroyed on ground, 2LT Lopez lightly wounded by bomb splinters. 2 A-24’s, 1 P-40e and 1 B-25c also destroyed. No Japanese planes seen shot down. At least the ships weren’t hit.
Destroyed P-38 on Port Moresby's airstrip 20th March 1942.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Andaman Ops
Three different carrier groups stand just off the Nicobar Islands. It seems that Port Blair is the intended target with two groups heading north east. The other group seems intent in pushing into the Indian Ocean. Colombo has been emptied of all heavy surface units and carriers should he try to raid the naval installations there. B-17's have flown into Trincomalee from the sub continent as their range can hit the carriers were they stand now or if they push in closer. Swordfish planes have flown into Port Blair from Diamond Harbour and hopefully can hit the Japs. If not they will be pulled out again, well those that survive that is. 7 subs are converging on the area and his transports have already been hit.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Andaman Ops
State of Operation Exodus 22-3-1942
Safe
AS Otus docked at Midway Island
AK Paz docked at Pearl Harbour
AK Corregidor docked at Pearl Harbour
Safe
AS Otus docked at Midway Island
AK Paz docked at Pearl Harbour
AK Corregidor docked at Pearl Harbour
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Andaman Ops
Elsewhere in the theatre:
Two of his minelayers were sunk. One hit a mine a Johore Bharu (divine justice) and sunk immediately the other was reported sunk at Rabaul, a victim of the A-24's at Port Moresby. An AP also hit one of the Johore mines (sub laid). One of the troop carrying AP's involved in the Andaman operations was hit by SS KXVII and the Dutch submarine carried on stalking the convoy. More sub contacts in the US-Fiji-Oz shipping lines. DD King was able to scare away an attacker while the SS I-153 was hit by depth charges. SS RO-67 missed TK Warwick and she continues safely back to Los Angeles. The introduction of B-17 bombers and their longer legs has increased the number of spotted subs and made interception better.
The IJAAF in China has begun a massive bombardment programme. Luichow was hit and so was Sinyang, esepcially the elite 21st Fighter. Both this unit and the 2nd AVG have been retreated to Chungking to replace lost frames. Luckily no pilots were lost. The bad weather meant the Jap bombers came in undisturbed as the fighters could not scramble from their sodden fields.
Port Moresby was also subject to another massive bombardment. The Lightinings were shredded, but ill let Colonel Olds tell that particular story, by anotehr 150 zero sweep while 98 Nells hit the base hard. The position there is becoming very fragile and i assuming that this is a softening up before a main assault on Port Morseby.
Two of his minelayers were sunk. One hit a mine a Johore Bharu (divine justice) and sunk immediately the other was reported sunk at Rabaul, a victim of the A-24's at Port Moresby. An AP also hit one of the Johore mines (sub laid). One of the troop carrying AP's involved in the Andaman operations was hit by SS KXVII and the Dutch submarine carried on stalking the convoy. More sub contacts in the US-Fiji-Oz shipping lines. DD King was able to scare away an attacker while the SS I-153 was hit by depth charges. SS RO-67 missed TK Warwick and she continues safely back to Los Angeles. The introduction of B-17 bombers and their longer legs has increased the number of spotted subs and made interception better.
The IJAAF in China has begun a massive bombardment programme. Luichow was hit and so was Sinyang, esepcially the elite 21st Fighter. Both this unit and the 2nd AVG have been retreated to Chungking to replace lost frames. Luckily no pilots were lost. The bad weather meant the Jap bombers came in undisturbed as the fighters could not scramble from their sodden fields.
Port Moresby was also subject to another massive bombardment. The Lightinings were shredded, but ill let Colonel Olds tell that particular story, by anotehr 150 zero sweep while 98 Nells hit the base hard. The position there is becoming very fragile and i assuming that this is a softening up before a main assault on Port Morseby.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Back to the 48th Fighter
War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron
22nd March 1942
Aircraft on Patrol 4
Aircraft in Reserve 0
Aircraft Unserviceable 4
Pilots 13
Disastrous day for the squadron. 10 planes shot down. 5 pilots listed as MIA. Expect ass chewing to come down the line. 80 Zero sweep of base met by 12 planes on patrol. Inexperience of pilots show as all training efforts had been in vain. Wingmen did not accompany each other. Seems pilots overconfident of P-38’s ability. I do not question the planes ability one to one with a Zero but at odds of 8-1 the men should have known better. 5 of them have not come back the others pulled out and only 4 operational planes remain. 2 more are unserviceable while two have been damaged by air raids. Ordered to Townsville for debrief.
A6M2 flying victory loop over Port Moresby air strip 22nd March 1942
22nd March 1942
Aircraft on Patrol 4
Aircraft in Reserve 0
Aircraft Unserviceable 4
Pilots 13
Disastrous day for the squadron. 10 planes shot down. 5 pilots listed as MIA. Expect ass chewing to come down the line. 80 Zero sweep of base met by 12 planes on patrol. Inexperience of pilots show as all training efforts had been in vain. Wingmen did not accompany each other. Seems pilots overconfident of P-38’s ability. I do not question the planes ability one to one with a Zero but at odds of 8-1 the men should have known better. 5 of them have not come back the others pulled out and only 4 operational planes remain. 2 more are unserviceable while two have been damaged by air raids. Ordered to Townsville for debrief.
A6M2 flying victory loop over Port Moresby air strip 22nd March 1942
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Back to the 48th Fighter
Theres been a dramatic shift in air power in two theatres recently. With the wind up of ops in Luzon and Malaya the IJAAF has begun massive bombing raids in China, Chungking was hit hard and so was Port Morseby. I simply do not have enough air power to adequately garrison out these theatres.
Massive transports steam to Rangoon, covered by the vast majority of Jap carriers, that are parked about 120miles off Port Blair. They are probably reinforcements for Herbs push in Burma and no doubt invasion forces for Sabang and Port Blair. B-17's have been put on Naval attack at Trincomalee and Chittagong, as they have the legs to reach Port Blair. I lost nearly 30 planes last turn, about half to air-air. Still the Swordfish at Port Blair were able to seriously damage a transport at Victoria Point. They have now rebased at Diamond Harbour as i expect the KB's air arms to plaster Port Blair in a day or two. Two brave Dutch subs are tailing the carriers and heres to some luck and a good torpedo strike.
Another Manila refugee docked at Pearl Harbour yesterday and despite the loss of one AS the operation has been deemend a success!
Massive transports steam to Rangoon, covered by the vast majority of Jap carriers, that are parked about 120miles off Port Blair. They are probably reinforcements for Herbs push in Burma and no doubt invasion forces for Sabang and Port Blair. B-17's have been put on Naval attack at Trincomalee and Chittagong, as they have the legs to reach Port Blair. I lost nearly 30 planes last turn, about half to air-air. Still the Swordfish at Port Blair were able to seriously damage a transport at Victoria Point. They have now rebased at Diamond Harbour as i expect the KB's air arms to plaster Port Blair in a day or two. Two brave Dutch subs are tailing the carriers and heres to some luck and a good torpedo strike.
Another Manila refugee docked at Pearl Harbour yesterday and despite the loss of one AS the operation has been deemend a success!
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Back to the 48th Fighter
Herb is causing mayhem in the US-Oz shipping lanes. His subs sank a small AK carrying 12 Kingcobras, and there has been an increase in the number of subs being spotted by aircraft. He has also been trying to infiltrate his armed raiders into the convoy routes but one was sunk by the Enterprise while another was sunk by a group of DD's on ASW duty, and according to the combat text the US radar played a crucial role in this particular victory.
As expected the KB plastered Port Blair with a full strike. The subs tailing the KB failed to make any attacks but they remain on station trying to get in among the heavier ships of the Kito Butai. B-17's attacked transports at Rangoon and my hunch that he was reinforcing his BUrma push was proved to be correct. We shall see what happens in the coming turns.
Herb has also successfully suppressed Port Moresby and i shall fight with what i have there. What i aim to do is mount some sort of operation elsewhere while his main carrier groups are in the Indian Ocean. In a few turns i should have CV's Hornet, Enterprise and Yorktown as well as the 2nd Marine and Americal Divisions in the New Caledonia area. Maybe a push onto Shortlands or Guadalcanal might make him reasses his overall strategy.
As expected the KB plastered Port Blair with a full strike. The subs tailing the KB failed to make any attacks but they remain on station trying to get in among the heavier ships of the Kito Butai. B-17's attacked transports at Rangoon and my hunch that he was reinforcing his BUrma push was proved to be correct. We shall see what happens in the coming turns.
Herb has also successfully suppressed Port Moresby and i shall fight with what i have there. What i aim to do is mount some sort of operation elsewhere while his main carrier groups are in the Indian Ocean. In a few turns i should have CV's Hornet, Enterprise and Yorktown as well as the 2nd Marine and Americal Divisions in the New Caledonia area. Maybe a push onto Shortlands or Guadalcanal might make him reasses his overall strategy.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Port Blair Nuked
I'm so glad that shore bombardments will be fixed in AE. 2,000+ casualties in Port Blair, in a hex that wasnt too densely populated and 1,600 mines in it. There didn't seem to be any minesweeps by the Japs but in storm several BB's and CA's and not a single mine hit! Maybe i'll be luckier when he steams transports into Port Blair to capture it. Not a happy bunny [:@]
A second BB force was spotted yesterday to the south west of Baker Island,an AV providing support there and a troop convoy unloading an AA unit scattered northwards and search planes spotted this BB task force steaming westwards today, i am assuming back to Kwajelein after an unsuccessful cruise. Yet again his subs strike again and they are seriously beginning to piss me off [:@] Hes paying me back with my own medicine really!
Other than that its been a quiet turn with the usual displays of power by the IJAAF in China, can aynthing be done to stop them? Hornet and the Americal Division get closer to the frontlines and ships are gathering in New Zealand and Australia should an opportunity in the Southern Solomons arise.
A second BB force was spotted yesterday to the south west of Baker Island,an AV providing support there and a troop convoy unloading an AA unit scattered northwards and search planes spotted this BB task force steaming westwards today, i am assuming back to Kwajelein after an unsuccessful cruise. Yet again his subs strike again and they are seriously beginning to piss me off [:@] Hes paying me back with my own medicine really!
Other than that its been a quiet turn with the usual displays of power by the IJAAF in China, can aynthing be done to stop them? Hornet and the Americal Division get closer to the frontlines and ships are gathering in New Zealand and Australia should an opportunity in the Southern Solomons arise.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Port Blair Nuked
Failed Jap raid on Baker Island?
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Port Blair Nuked
Summary of Japanese Operations in Port Blair area 25th/27th March 1942.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
China
A new front has opened up in China. An infantry Corps has entered Nanchang outflanking the units on the Nanchang-Kanshein road that have been trading shells with a Chinese army for a few weeks. Nanchang, as can be appreciated below is very lightly garrisoned with two engineer units. Another infantry corps is 6 miles out of the city and will driectly assault the engineers as soon as its in position. Herb was not expecting this move and hopefully it will have its double desired effect of cutting supply to the Jap units on the Kanhsein road and blunt his central offensive by diverting troops to counter this move. If he doesnt he'll run the risk of losing Nanchang. This might also relieve the aerial pressure thats been asserted on the southern Chinese flank.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: China
Elsewhere in the theatre:
Two more of Herbs subs attacked and missed a damaged transport and an AK returning to San Francisco. There are now four 6 DD ASW TF's patrolling the main US-OZ-Fiji lanes and i am sure there has to be at least one sub per hex in these areas, they're over (under!) the sea like a rash!
SS O-20 hit an empty transport leaving Rangoon and is tailing this group south westwards. Oscars and Warhawks tussled over Lashio and 2 of each fell from the sky. The other air-air kill yesterday was a Zero that was claimed by a chinese fighter pilot in a Lancer over Hengchow! Bad weather has given the chinese some respite as most of the Japanese airfields were socked in with rain and fog.
An airfield base force is being transferred from Suva to Luganville as its basic landing strip has been upgraded and it can sustain fighter ops. The 51st aviation regiment is now providing logistical and aviation support for all the aeroplanes based at Suva, freeing up other base forces. An AVD is moving from Palmyra to Funafati to further choke the space Japanese submarines have to patrol in.
Two more of Herbs subs attacked and missed a damaged transport and an AK returning to San Francisco. There are now four 6 DD ASW TF's patrolling the main US-OZ-Fiji lanes and i am sure there has to be at least one sub per hex in these areas, they're over (under!) the sea like a rash!
SS O-20 hit an empty transport leaving Rangoon and is tailing this group south westwards. Oscars and Warhawks tussled over Lashio and 2 of each fell from the sky. The other air-air kill yesterday was a Zero that was claimed by a chinese fighter pilot in a Lancer over Hengchow! Bad weather has given the chinese some respite as most of the Japanese airfields were socked in with rain and fog.
An airfield base force is being transferred from Suva to Luganville as its basic landing strip has been upgraded and it can sustain fighter ops. The 51st aviation regiment is now providing logistical and aviation support for all the aeroplanes based at Suva, freeing up other base forces. An AVD is moving from Palmyra to Funafati to further choke the space Japanese submarines have to patrol in.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Sub Payback
The increased combined arms ASW efforts have began to pay off. 3 Japanese subs were repeatedly and heavily hit by ASW TF's made up of a mixture of old and new destroyers, as can be seen below:
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ASW attack at 92,105
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 12, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough
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ASW attack at 92,110
Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 3, on fire
Allied Ships
DD Case
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Maury
DD O'Brien
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ASW attack at 90,105
Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough
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Hopefully thats 3 less of the buggers i have to worry about. Unfortunately the AO Platte was hit twice as she was returning to Los Angeles. Surprisingly enough she only has 30 flotation and is heading to Canton for emergency repairs. Still 2 subs sunk and one probably out of action should help ease the situation. The DD Kennsion totally exhausted her complement of DC's!
Herb has also begun to pound the unit at Nanchang with his bombers. I have been able to put about 40 Warhawks on CAP over Nanchang tomorrow as the Chinese troops try to storm the city. With some luck i can keep the bombers away and win the fight.
B-17's out of Chittagong put a bomb into the BB Fuso as she and her TF hugged the Burmese coastline heading SW. Subs have been rerouted to the shallow coastal waters in the hope of striking at any Japanese ships in the area. Recon over Rangoon still suggests a large number of ships unloading there so targets may still be aplenty. As such a sub minelayer group is enroute to leave Herbie some belated Christmas presents in the harbour.
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ASW attack at 92,105
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 12, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough
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ASW attack at 92,110
Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 3, on fire
Allied Ships
DD Case
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Maury
DD O'Brien
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ASW attack at 90,105
Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough
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Hopefully thats 3 less of the buggers i have to worry about. Unfortunately the AO Platte was hit twice as she was returning to Los Angeles. Surprisingly enough she only has 30 flotation and is heading to Canton for emergency repairs. Still 2 subs sunk and one probably out of action should help ease the situation. The DD Kennsion totally exhausted her complement of DC's!
Herb has also begun to pound the unit at Nanchang with his bombers. I have been able to put about 40 Warhawks on CAP over Nanchang tomorrow as the Chinese troops try to storm the city. With some luck i can keep the bombers away and win the fight.
B-17's out of Chittagong put a bomb into the BB Fuso as she and her TF hugged the Burmese coastline heading SW. Subs have been rerouted to the shallow coastal waters in the hope of striking at any Japanese ships in the area. Recon over Rangoon still suggests a large number of ships unloading there so targets may still be aplenty. As such a sub minelayer group is enroute to leave Herbie some belated Christmas presents in the harbour.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
End of March 42 SitRep
March has seen the falls of Manila, Bataan, the rest of the DEI and the mopping up of several isolated outposts. It has also seen an increased effort on Herb's part ot interdict my shipping lanes with his subs. Though they enjoyed a 'Happy Time' at first, they have come of worse off late due to a massive increase in ASW resources being pumped into the area. March has also soon a protracted increase in Japanese air presence in China nad my air forces are gradually being pushed back by sheer weight of numbers! At the moment Port Blair and Sabang are the obvious targets and his supression of Port Moresby suggests and attack here too. Recon flights over Wake Island continue but its is heavily fortified and garrisoned. Herb has also begun to make anti-shipping raids into the Indian Ocean with aircraft based on Burmese fields.
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: End of March 42 SitRep
Strategic Map of the Pacific Theatre of Operations, 31st March 1942
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Port Blair Invaded
Herb finally launched his attack on Port Blair. One division and one engineer unit made landfall last night at Port Blair but the landings went far from smoothly. The extensive minefields greatly impeded the Japanese transports and escorts with a few hitting the mines and casuing casualties. The coastal guns that had been installed in Port Blair also racked the Japanese ships with fire leaving some on fire and the waters of the beaches strewn with Japanese dead. Heres the summary of the action so far:
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TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)
TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Yamakisan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Nichiryu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Zuiho Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
AP Nichiryu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)
TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Takunan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Tenran Maru, Mine hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
In Burma a combined USAAF and RAF strike on Magwe airfield resulted in 14 Oscars destroyed on the ground. I had planned for this raid on the previous turn as Betties from Magwe had hit shipping unloading at Diamond Harbour. Unfortunately the Indian airfields were socked in. Yet an effective coordinated raid went in today with very good results. 14 destroyed aircraft, 57 airfeild damage (according to intel), several air base and supply hits for two damaged aircraft. His Reisen were flying a sweep over Imphal, so the 2 Hurricanes lost there were good trade. The other theatres are going thorugh a quiet period especially that the bulk of the USN is going in for 4/42 upgrades. I shall rotate the carriers so that i have 3 on station and 3 in dry dock receiving the very useful AA upgrades. Likewise most of my submarine fleet will rotate to home ports to receive their radar upgrades before being unleashed on the Japs again.
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TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)
TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Yamakisan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Nichiryu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Zuiho Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
AP Nichiryu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
---------------------
TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)
TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Takunan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Tenran Maru, Mine hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
In Burma a combined USAAF and RAF strike on Magwe airfield resulted in 14 Oscars destroyed on the ground. I had planned for this raid on the previous turn as Betties from Magwe had hit shipping unloading at Diamond Harbour. Unfortunately the Indian airfields were socked in. Yet an effective coordinated raid went in today with very good results. 14 destroyed aircraft, 57 airfeild damage (according to intel), several air base and supply hits for two damaged aircraft. His Reisen were flying a sweep over Imphal, so the 2 Hurricanes lost there were good trade. The other theatres are going thorugh a quiet period especially that the bulk of the USN is going in for 4/42 upgrades. I shall rotate the carriers so that i have 3 on station and 3 in dry dock receiving the very useful AA upgrades. Likewise most of my submarine fleet will rotate to home ports to receive their radar upgrades before being unleashed on the Japs again.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born