VICTORY AT SEA: CHS 158;sjohnson(J)vs Spruance(A)

[wneumann]

I've noticed the Ki-49 Helen being one of the more effective Jap ASW planes.

Aside from the number of planes flying ASW or search and their altitude, the only other factors I can think of experience level of the Jap pilots and the leaders assigned to those squadrons. Both the last two factors have to be significant to some degree, the question being how much of a degree.

[racndoc]

JUNE 6TH- JULY 25TH, 1943


There was a RL break in this game from last August until nearly Thanksgiving as Steve became very busy with his business and was unable to continue with WitP.

Don and I were going to start a new game of WitP. Don wanted to play the CHS Nik Mod so with WitP AE coming out in the near future(yeah right) we decided to continue on with this game so Don will now be running Imperial Japan instead of Steve.

Don inherits a pretty intact Japan....no capital ships larger than a CL have been lost. Both sides have ALL their CVs intact. Don will have some issues with his resources however as the Allies have bombed out much of the resources available in SE Asia. We now have a house rule that resources can only be bombed out to 50% outside of the Home Islands.

So without further ado we resume this game......

[racndoc]

JUNE 6TH- JULY 25TH, 1943


Don and I have blazed through 7 weeks of the war in about 10 days of RL as the Allies are mostly resting and building up after their massive advances across the Pacific in the first half of 1943.


CENTPAC:

After capturing the Gilberts and the Marshalls CENTPAC has been quietly building up and reinforcing their new bases at Kwajalein and Eniwetok. USAAF heavy bombers based at these 2 islands have flattened Japanese bases at Wake and Ponape. Truk and Marcus Island are the only front line Japanese bases in the central Pacific that are operational now.

After being continuously at sea from Sept. 1942- June 1943, the USN has now mostly retired to west coast ports and Pearl Harbor to effect repairs and complete the 10/42 and 4/43 upgrades. The CVs will upgrade their fighters to the new Hellcats while in port and as soon as repairs are complete the advance across the Pacific can resume.

Most of the current action in this theatre has been centered aound the sub/ASW conflict.....Don flooded the area 1000 miles SW of Los Angeles with 10-12 subs and a massive sub/ASW battle raged on for a week. About a half dozen Allied TKs/AKs were hit along with 4-5 IJN subs but things have been mostly quiet for the last week or so....Allied ASW seems to be greatly improved since the beginning of the war.



SOPAC:

SOPAC is now building up men and materiel in the Solomons, New Hebrides and New Caledonia for the next offensive. Convoy routes from the west coast US have been shortened by over 1000 miles with the capture of the Gilberts and the Marshals so convoy turnaround times have been greatly reduced.

The next advance here will focus on completing the encirclement and isolation of Rabaul.



SWPAC:

SWPAC is building up in central and eastern New Guinea for the next offensive which is planned to complete the conquest of northern and western New Guinea and put the Allies within striking distance of the SRA and the Philippines.



SEAC/CHINA:

China was supposed to be a back water for the Allies as they focused on leapfrogging across the Pacific to hit Japan. Don has so far decided to make China the focal point of his air. The Chinese air force is now mostly flying P-40Ns and Vanguards, the RAF is still mostly flying Hurricanes although a half dozen squadrons have upgraded to the new Spitfire vbs, and the AVG is now flying P-38Fs and P-38Gs although the new P-47c has just become available. The Chinese fighters and the Hurricanes are no match for the 2nd generation Japanese fighters....the Tonys and Jacks and Oscar IIs so SEAC has flown in the USAAF and RAF heavy bombers from India to even the score.


Last turn the Allied heavy bombers hit Japanese airfields at Canton, Hankow and Naha(on Okinawa):

Day Air attack on Naha , at 54,46

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 23
A-29 Hudson x 10
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-24D Liberator x 79
IL-4c x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 11 destroyed
Ki-48-I Lily: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 7 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 104


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Canton , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 56
P-40N Warhawk x 10
P-47C Thunderbolt x 5
A-29 Hudson x 9
B-24D Liberator x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 9 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 96


Day Air attack on Hankow , at 48,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 16
Liberator III x 82
B-24D Liberator x 8
P-43A Lancer x 6
P-66 Vanguard x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 36 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 95


Nearly 100 Japanese AC were destroyed at a cost of 24 Allied AC.



AUSTRALIA:

This is area of the most violent fighting of the war now. The 250,000 strong Australian 1st Army had finally liberated Tennant Creek in early June from 120,000 IJA defenders after 8 months of house to house combat. After resting and taking on replacements for about a month, the Aussie 1st Army has resumed its northward advance and has now invested Daly Waters:

Ground combat at Daly Waters

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 205882 troops, 2310 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value =
5453

Defending force 111651 troops, 640 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value =
2285


Japanese ground losses:
1007 casualties reported
Guns lost 7


Ground combat at Daly Waters

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 205930 troops, 2316 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value =
5457

Defending force 104133 troops, 605 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value =
2129


Japanese ground losses:
595 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


2 Allied divisions that refused to advance into Daly Waters have instead been sent to outflank the Japanese there in an end around manuever.
Hundreds of Allied bombers based at Tennant Creek and Alice Springs pound Daly Waters on a daily basis.

An assault on Daly Waters will be ordered in a few days.

[racndoc]

JULY 26TH-31ST, 1943


AUSTRALIA:

The Australian 1st Army launches a massive attack on Daly Waters only to inflict WWI level casualties:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Daly Waters

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 241498 troops, 2324 guns, 1107 vehicles, Assault Value
= 5456

Defending force 94006 troops, 508 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value =
2062

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8

Allied max assault: 5053 - adjusted assault: 3984

Japanese max defense: 1772 - adjusted defense: 4670

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
8044 casualties reported
Guns lost 157
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
6728 casualties reported
Guns lost 162
Vehicles lost 73


Looks like Japan is beginning to evacuate from northern OZ.....Allied subs and sub laid mines off Darwin are scoring every turn.




CENTPAC:

The sub/ASW war rages off the west coast of the US as 5 Allied ships are torpedoed over the last 2 days:

[racndoc]

AUGUST 1ST-6TH, 1943


AUSTRALIA:

Japan suddenly withdraws from Daly Waters just as the Allies launch another attack. The Australian 1st Army pursues the Japanese northward towards Katherine.

Looks like Don may about to evacuate the entire Japanese army in northern Australia. Unfortunately my CVs are still repairing in the west coast shipyards or I would commit them off Darwin to interdict the massive Japanese withdrawal operation that appears imminent. Looks like it will be up to my subs and land based air to hit the IJN transports if Don decides to withdraw.



SEAC:

The offensive in northern OZ has been merely a diversion for the largest Allied effort of the war to date....the SEAC liberation of Burma. Seac has massed an offensive force of 12 divisions and 23 brigades in Mandalay for a drive on Rangoon. Another 8 SEAC brigades advance from Akyab.

Today, the 14th British Army with some 90,000 troops spearheads the SEAC assault across the Irrawaddy:

Ground combat at 33,30

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 93690 troops, 615 guns, 839 vehicles, Assault Value =
2139

Defending force 42252 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 796

Allied max assault: 2230 - adjusted assault: 1279

Japanese max defense: 809 - adjusted defense: 719

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
845 casualties reported
Guns lost 31

Allied ground losses:
2497 casualties reported
Guns lost 85
Vehicles lost 15


Another 100,000 troops should assault across the Irrawaddy tomorrow.

If SEAC can take Meiktila quickly enough we can isolate 32,000 IJA troops currently holed up in Taung Gyi.

[racndoc]

AUGUST 7TH-8TH, 1943



SEAC:

260,000 SEAC troops fight their way across the Irrawaddy River:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 33,30

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 261728 troops, 1773 guns, 1529 vehicles, Assault Value
= 5785

Defending force 9717 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 152

Allied max assault: 5790 - adjusted assault: 5778

Japanese max defense: 143 - adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 385 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1547 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Allied ground losses:
692 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allied troops are immediately ordered to advance on Meiktila.




AUSTRALIA:

The Australian 1st Army closes in on Katherine. Meanwhile, Japan stays busy sweeping minefields and suppressing Allied subs in the waters off Darwin as they attempt a massive evacuation:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/08/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 24 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 102 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 129 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
APD Tachikaze
DD Hokaze
APD Akikaze
APD Hakaze
DD Satsuki
DD Karukaya
DD Hiyodori
DD Nokaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Minazuki
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
SS S-37, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 137 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84)

Japanese Ships
AK Keiyo Maru, and is sunk
DD Shikinami
APD Patrol Boat No. 1
APD Patrol Boat No. 31

Allied Ships
SS S-37, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 31 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.6
DD Makigumo
DD Oboro
DD Kikuzuki
DD Kuretake

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2090, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,83

Japanese Ships
MSW W.22, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Porpoise

[racndoc]

AUGUST 7TH-14TH, 1943



AUSTRALIA:

The Australian 1st Army overruns a deserted Katherine. Aviation base units are immediately rushed up to Daly Waters and Katherine but Japan has apparently evacuated northern Australia before Allied LBA can intervene. After a year and a half of Japanese invasion and occupation of nearly half the continent Australia has been mostly liberated save for a couple of small towns on the NW coast. ANZAC forces will liberate Darwin while the SWPAC toops will be withdrawn and prepped for future assaults.

Darwin will be fully developed as an airbase and then we will begin rototilling all the oil and resources of the SRA that are in range of the heavy bombers.



SEAC:

After routing an IJA brigade attempting to delay us in a rear guard action, the massive SEAC army rolls into Meiktila. A deliberate assault is ordered for tomorrow.


DISASTER IN THE INDIAN OCEAN:

Learned a valuable but expensive lesson in the Indian Ocean this week. With no current amphibious operations and most of the Allied naval activity limited to some backwater comvoys, I skipped most of the combat replays and sighting reports as we raced through several turns of play relying mainly on the info from the combat report.txt. Evidently Japan spotted some British convoys in the Indian Ocean and sortied part of KB to intercept. With 2 day turns, Japan was able to work over my convoys for 2 days before I could react. Some 25-35 ships have been sunk so far with probably another 10 or so to be sunk next turn. Fortunately the majority of the sunken TKs were pre-war Dutch TKs withdrawn from the SRA at the start of the war but still it is really painful. Wont affect the war effort but it gives Japan another 400-500 VPs.

[racndoc]

AUGUST 15TH-18TH, 1943


AUSTRALIA:

Australian 1st Army rolls into Darwin unopposed as IJA troops have been rapidly withdrawn from northern Oz. Aviation engineers and base forces are sent towards Darwin to begin the buildup of northern Australia.



SEAC:

Meiktila proves to be little more than a speedbump as SEAC troops continue their advance into Burma:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Meiktila

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 253599 troops, 1901 guns, 1464 vehicles, Assault Value
= 6302

Defending force 32440 troops, 116 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 690

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied max assault: 5596 - adjusted assault: 8972

Japanese max defense: 512 - adjusted defense: 543

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Meiktila base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1738 casualties reported
Guns lost 85

Allied ground losses:
3028 casualties reported
Guns lost 100
Vehicles lost 3


The road to Rangoon looks to be wide open as Japan appears to be digging in on the far side of the river at Moulmein.....Japan has already massed 35 LCUs at Moulmein.


SEAC troops capture Lashio and invest Taung Gyi.....the Burma Road has now been reopened after having been cut for over a year and a half and now an 500 supply/day reaches China.

[racndoc]

AUGUST 19TH-26TH, 1943



SEAC:


All of the action last week was in Burma as the rest of the Pacific Theatre of Operations remains ominously quiet.


The British 14th Army captures Rangoon as other SEAC troops capture Magwe and Taung Gyi. IJA troops (35 LCUs) remained entrenched across the Salween River in Moulmein. SEAC engineers will now build up the airfields at Magwe, Meiktila and Rangoon to support the continuing aerial offensives.

I was a bit surprised at the rapidity of the SEAC advance in Burma......SEAC has basically reached its planned 1944 start line as I thought it would take 3-4 months to overrun everything west of the Salween. Now that SEAC has all of Burma except Moulmein, Im not so sure I want or need Moulmein any longer. When I played the scenario 15 WitP on the stock map SEAC was able to blitzkrieg their way through Moulmein into Thailand and then Malaya and Indochina thanks to the helpful railroads and highways. In CHS, Burma is almost an "island" with jungle tracks stretching east and west that hinder movement of supply. This slows down Japan's westward expansion in 1942 and later on it impedes the Allies advance into SE Asia.

I think that almost any further signicant advance for SEAC would need to be amphibious to overcome the supply line issues. Unfortunately, I sent over 500,000 SEAC shipping points to the US west coast in early 1942 including the majority of the APs. This has really helped facilitate the USA build up and offensives in 1942-1943 in the south and central Pacific. This shipping will need to be returned to SEAC if we are to achieve any further advances though amphibious assaults in the Far East.

As far as the air war in SE Asia is concerned, the capture of Rangoon puts the Allies in easy reach of Bangkok...we can close the airbase down there any time we choose now. The Allies previously shut down Hanoi and Haiphong from airfields in China so the closure of Bangkok would leave Japan with Saigon as its only remaining major airbase in the region. The capture of Moulmein would not help Allied air to close down Saigon so I now wonder if capturing Moulmein is even worthwhile.

In the meantime, most of the SEAC army will R&R at the Rangoon Ramada while across the Salween the IJA rots in the sticking malarial jungles of Burma....they will grow weaker as the SEAC forces grow stronger. Keeping all those IJA troops supplied in Moulmein will tax the limit of the Japanese transport AC. The Allies will begin bombing Moulmein every day to knock out its supply and I think that eventually the continuing effort to supply the Japanese forces in Moulmein is a battle that they cant win.

[racndoc]

AUGUST 27TH-SEPTEMBER 3RD, 1943


CENTPAC: INVASION WAKE ISLAND!

Three 100 ship amphibious assault convoys from Eniwetok, Kwajalein and Oahu converge on Assembly Point X-Ray approximately 60 miles off the coast of Wake Island. The assault forces loaded to attack Wake include the US Army's 27th and 41st Infantry Divisions, the USMC 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions, 1st Raiders, 2nd Raiders, 3 Raiders, 4th raiders, 2nd Paratroop, 3rd Paratroop, 762nd Tank and the 1st Marine Tank. The 1st Marine Division will serve as a floating reserve and will be unloaded over a 4 day period, while all the rst of the troops should hit the beaches on D-Day.....3 days from now.

The assault forces are covered by the largest Allied naval air umbrella of the war.......11 CVs, 7 CVLs and 10 CVEs carrying nearly 1500 AC.

The bombardment forces include 19 BBs and 20 CAs. The first 2 bombardment TFs hit Wake today:

Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72

Allied Ships
CL Capetown
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
CL Enterprise
CL Java
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
BB Revenge
BB Warspite
BB Prince of Wales

Japanese ground losses:
893 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 67
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/03/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72

Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau
CLAA Atlanta
CA Canberra
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB Colorado

Japanese ground losses:
836 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 29
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2


Heavy bombers based at Kwajalein and Wotje have worked over Wake island around the clock since June and today was no exception:


Day Air attack on South Seas Det. , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
LB-30 Liberator x 12
PB4Y Liberator x 13
B-24D Liberator x 27


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported


Day Air attack on 5th Base Force, at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
LB-30 Liberator x 14
PB4Y Liberator x 27
B-24D Liberator x 49


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported


Day Air attack on 5th Base Force, at 85,72


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 61
B-24D Liberator x 79


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Naval bombers are also working over the Japanese defenders:

Day Air attack on South Seas Det. , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
TBF Avenger x 82
TBM Avenger x 97


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Day Air attack on 5th Base Force, at 85,72


Allied aircraft
Corsair III/IV x 2
Avenger I/II x 62


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported


Recon shows the presence of some 26,000 Japanese troops on Wake Island probably sitting in level 9 fortifications.


The Allies launched a week long diversion over New Guinea with some 1500 AC bombing Wewak, Aitape, Hollandia, Biak and Noemfoer. Wewak was hit particularly hard with heavy and medium bombers and fighterbombers striking airfield, port and ground units in an attempt to make it look as if an invasion was imminent. Hopefully this diversion lures the IJN CVs away from Wake. The Wake assault was rushed a couple of weeks early after Don committed at least haf a dozen IJN CVs, CVLs, CVEs to the southern Indian Ocean to hit my transport TFs. Not all of the US CVs have upgraded their fighter complements from Wildcats to Hellcats but this will be finished after the Wake invasion is wrapped up. In speeding up the Wake invasion, several convoys were rushed across the central Pacific without adequate ASW protection and Don sank probably another half dozen transports before USN PBYs finally sunk a couple of subs.

Wake will be hit with additional naval and aeriual bombardments on September 4th-5th and D Day is scheduled for September 6th.

[racndoc]

SEPTEMBER 4TH-7TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

D-Day for the Wake Island assault has been pushed back 2 days until September 8th as one of the amphibious assault TFs reached the assembly point X-RAY and then headed back towards Hawaii.....sigh.

Allied naval and aerial bombardments continue around the clock however:

Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Pensacola
CA Northampton
CA Houston
BB Arizona
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
405 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 35
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 3


Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 61


No Allied losses

Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1


Day Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 54


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported


Day Air attack on 5th Base Force, at 85,72


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 6
TBF Avenger x 12
TBM Avenger x 6


No Allied losses

Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 5
B-17E Fortress x 12
LB-30 Liberator x 33
PB4Y Liberator x 60


No Allied losses

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1


Day Air attack on South Seas Det. , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 33
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
TBF Avenger x 94
TBM Avenger x 102
Avenger I/II x 62


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported




CHINA:

Don has been pretty active here over the last month or so. First, he used around 110,000 IJA troops to push the Chinese troops outside of Hankow back into Ichang. Supply(or a lack of it) was a real problem for Chinese troops in this area so all of the supply transport AC in the theatre have been airlifting supply into Ichang for the last couple weeks or so and the situation appears to have stabilized.

The main Japanese thrust in China appears to be aimed at Homan. Two IJA armored regiments cut the Homan-Sian road in an attempt to isolate Homan. We have been busy moving up reserves but our attack on the 2 tank regiments barely missed 1:1 odds this turn:

Ground combat at 48,31

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23348 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 674

Defending force 16385 troops, 62 guns, 310 vehicles, Assault Value =
423

Allied max assault: 1300 - adjusted assault: 572

Japanese max defense: 272 - adjusted defense: 577

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


Farther north, 2 IJA divisions (38,000) troops stand poised to cross the Yellow River to help cut the Sian-Homan road while at Kaifeng some 20 IJA LCUS look ready to cross the Yellow River in a massive shock attack.

Don has focused the major part of the IJA troops in China to isolate and capture Homan while the bulk of the Chinese armies are in southern China concentrated around Changsha and Nanchang. Not being able to send any reserves to northern China in a timely matter, Chinese troops will instead launch an offensive down from Nanchang down the Hangchow/Shanghai highway yo try to take some pressure off the north.

[racndoc]

SEPTEMBER 8TH-9TH, 1943


CENTPAC: D-DAY AT WAKE ISLAND!



Following a massive pre-dawn bombardment, USMC and US Army assault troops storm ashore:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/08/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
BB Massachusetts
BB Washington
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
517 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 45
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Minneapolis
BB California
BB Pennsylvania
BB Oklahoma

Japanese ground losses:
316 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 55
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1002 encounters mine field at Wake Island (85,72)

TF 1002 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 85,72


Allied Ships
MSW Bantam
MSW Pieter de Bitter
MSW Jan van Amstel
MSW Chevreuil
MSW Moa
MSW Kiwi
MSW Canso
MSW Outarde
MSW Kapunda
MSW Fremantle
MSW Dubbo
MSW Bunbury
MSW Turkey
MSW Penguin
MSW Kingfisher
MSW Tanager
MSW Finch
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Heed
MSW Starling
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Chandler
DMS Perry
DMS Dorsey
DMS Trevor
DMS Hopkins
DD Piet Hein
DD Voyager
DD Downes
APD Dickerson
DD Kortenaer
DD Van Galen
APD John D. Edwards
DD Arunta
DD Ellet, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
1709 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1002 encounters mine field at Wake Island (85,72)

TF 1002 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 85,72


Allied Ships
MSW Bantam
MSW Pieter de Bitter
MSW Jan van Amstel
MSW Chevreuil
MSW Moa
MSW Kiwi
MSW Canso
MSW Outarde
MSW Kapunda
MSW Fremantle
MSW Dubbo
MSW Bunbury
MSW Turkey
MSW Penguin
MSW Kingfisher
MSW Tanager
MSW Finch
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Heed
MSW Starling
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Chandler
DMS Perry
DMS Dorsey
DMS Trevor
DMS Hopkins
DD Witte de With
APD Dickerson
DD Ellet, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
383 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 85,72



Allied ground losses:
1979 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1133 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 85,72



Allied ground losses:
1384 casualties reported



Allied land based and naval bombers work over the Japanese defenders on Wake all day and by dusk the Allies secure the islands airfield and port facilities:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wake Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 90375 troops, 779 guns, 290 vehicles, Assault Value =
2347

Defending force 14811 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied max assault: 3346 - adjusted assault: 2411

Japanese max defense: 74 - adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 344 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wake Island base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Japanese ground losses:
1524 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
2113 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 27


Another attack is launched the following day on the fanatical Japanese remnants:

Ground combat at Wake Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 101867 troops, 893 guns, 442 vehicles, Assault Value =
2209

Defending force 11785 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Allied max assault: 3426 - adjusted assault: 4764

Japanese max defense: 31 - adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 1191 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1995 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
600 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 6


Due to a lack of supply from the constant bombardment of the island over the last 3 months, the remaining Japanese forces are wiped out by nightfall:

53rd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

South Seas Det. Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5th Base Force Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!


5th Coastal Gun Regiment Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!


I didnt realize that Don's troops were so low on supply....the bombed out airfield and port at Wake seemed to be repairing itself every day.

I was expecting severe ship losses to both minefields and the CD guns of the 5th Coastal gun regiment but only 3 ships were hit by mines over the last 8 days.....none have sunk yet.....and no hits were registered by the island's CD guns....the 19 BBs must have done their job. The USA LCUs are pretty chewed up however with some of the USMC Raiders suffering as much as 80% casualties....these boys will be on R&R for quite some time.



CHINA:


Big day of combat in China as well. The Allies desperate attempt to re-open the Homan/Sian highway is finally successful:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,31

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 65705 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
1990

Defending force 16004 troops, 51 guns, 308 vehicles, Assault Value =
424

Allied max assault: 3446 - adjusted assault: 3683

Japanese max defense: 253 - adjusted defense: 81

Allied assault odds: 45 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
685 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The 2 defeated IJA armored regiments retreat to Nanyang where there are now some 30,000 troops.


I ordered the blocking forces on the Yellow River SE of Homan to retreat last turn. Don ordered an attack with his 46,000 troops already across the Yellow River and roughed up my rear guard:


Ground combat at 50,32

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 46887 troops, 220 guns, 206 vehicles, Assault Value =
1085

Defending force 11796 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 294

Japanese max assault: 2164 - adjusted assault: 1978

Allied max defense: 247 - adjusted defense: 60

Japanese assault odds: 32 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
699 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
292 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


Worse still, an IJA armored regiment had been ordered to advance after combat and followed the defeated Chinese into Homan......a massive shock attack will be ordered for tomorrow to drive the IJA troops out of the city.


I have some serious decisions to make here in China. The Homan/Sian highway has been temporarily re-opened. Do I stay in Homan entrenched behind my level 9 fortifications and risk encirclement and destruction or do I conduct a pullback into Sian? Several hundred thousand IJA troops sit on all sides of Homan and Im not at all certain I can keep the lines of communication into the city open. But pulling back into Sian is a pretty long retreat. Hmmm....

[racndoc]

SEPTEMBER 10TH-27TH, 1943



THE AIR WAR:

For most of the war the Allies have been overmatched in terms of quality of AC vs Japan in the Far East and China. The Chinese Air Force(CAF) has been flying Vanguards and Lancers for the most part and several squadrons have upgraded to P-40Ns recently.. The RAF has been flying mostly Hurricanes although a few squadrons have upgraded to SpitfireVBs with the limited number available. For the USAAF, the AVG squadrons had upgraded to P-38Gs. Opposing these AC were 2nd generation Japanese AC including Tonys, Jacks and Tojos. Obviously, the Allies were bringing knives to a gunfight.

In the last couple of months, the Allied AC have dramatically upgraded with what could be termed "wonder weapons". Recently available are P-38Js(11 hex range), P-47Ds(10 hex range), Thunderbolt IIs and even limited P-51Bs. With the new long ranged fighters the Allies are able to extend their aerial offensive into the heart of SE Asia.

After waiting several weeks to upgrade their squadrons and build up Rangoon airbase to level 9, , the SEAC RAF and USAAF finally decided to take out Bangkok. Don had some 250-300 fighters grouped at Bangkok with approximately 150 flying CAP every turn. Two days ago, the Allies sweeped Bangkok with some 150 P-38Gs and P-38Js and another 48 P-47Ds along with 200 heavy bombers for airfield suppression. Don somehow decided not to fly CAP over Bangkok on the turn we attacked.....but still the heavy bombers destroyed some 90 fighters on the ground. Don then evacuated Bangkok and the Allies went to work on city bombing Bangkok:


Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,39


Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 55


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 3 damaged

Resources hits 11


Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,39


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 2
Catalina I x 5
A-29 Hudson x 6
IL-4c x 7


Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 2 damaged
Catalina I: 1 damaged
A-29 Hudson: 2 damaged
IL-4c: 1 damaged

Resources hits 4


Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,39


Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 146
Beaufighter VIC x 19
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 24
A-20G Havoc x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 24
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 93
B-24J Liberator x 37


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 9 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged

Resources hits 89


Some 220 resources out of 300 were destroyed.


With the new Allied airbase in northern Australia at Darwin we are now able to project airpower into the southern SRA. All of the resources at Boela were destroyed by heavy bombers. Japan attempted to pull some resources and oil out of Amboina and an air battle developed over the airfield there. Today the Allies completely shut down the airfield at Amboina:

Day Air attack on Amboina , at 40,74

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 16
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-24D Liberator x 150
B-24J Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 17
Runway hits 186


The Allies will now bomb out every resource and oil hex within 14 hexes of Darwin.




THE STRATEGIC WAR:

Currently, the Allies are "winning the war" but "losing the game" . I normally lose 10-15 AC per turn to flak and operations attempting to suppress Japanese bases and this more than offsets the Allied aerial offensives where I take out a Japanese airbase and destroy 100 AC in a day.

At sea, the Allies are hopelessly outmatched in the sub/ASW war. Im getting 1-2 subs hit by AP bombs from Helens every day and 36 subs have been lost to AP bombs so far. My subs are lucky to survive Japanese ASW AC let alone even attack Japanese shipping...they are spotted multiple times per turn even when not attacked and so are neutralized in an anti-shipping role. After losing 5 subs to AP bombs in a 2 turn period I have mostly withdrawn Allied subs from Japanese waters.

On the other hand, Japan has flooded the "Black Hole"(the area out of range of naval search AC between Hawaii and the US west coast) with 10-12 subs and has been torpedoing 1-2 Allied ships per turn. Ive embedded ASW in every transport TF, embedded CLs with both naval search and ASW float planes in every TF, have attached ASW TFs to every transport TF and then send an ASW TF out in front of the transport TFs but still the IJN subs get through with impunity. An ASW TF recently lost 3 out of 6 SCs to IJN subs without firing a shot even though I had placed an aggressive admiral in charge of the TF.

Im lucky if my subs have sunk more than a dozen Japanese TKs, AKs and APs(although I have torpedoed 2 CVs this game) while I have lost over 50 subs and have 1-2 ships torpedoed every turn. Obviously, the strategic war is not working for me now. This same sub/ASW problem arose some 6 months ago when sjohnson was running Japan and I resolved the issue by other means.

My main goal as the Allies is to crash the Japanese economy to win the war. In CHS Japan has a critical shortage of resources so the easiest way to do this is to city bomb all the resources in range of the heavy bombers. I did just that to sjohnson and he came to the negotiating table right away to propose ASW/sub rules that were more palatable to the Allies....ie putting restrictions on IJA bombers on ASW. We reached a gentlemen's agreement that Don and I have mostly followed. I agreed to stop bombing resouces in a hex when more than 50% destroyed to take some of the heat off of Japan.

If my subs cant sink Japanese shipping, then I have to win with my air power and I will need to bomb every resource possible. I am going to inform Don of my disatisfaction of the ASW/sub war and then I am going to bomb the holy hell out of Japan and see if that brings some reasonable restrictions on the ASW effects of the Helens and the Liz's. Meanwhile, I am going to park my subs at Pearl and San Diego to keep them out of harm's way...no more sub patrols and maybe a few sub mining missions.


CHINA:

Most of tha action has been here the last couple of weeks as Japan has repeatedly cut the Sian/Homan highway and Chinese troops have counterattacked to re-open it. On the other hand, Chinese troops have launched counteroffensives to advance on Hangchow and Hankow:

[racndoc]

SEPTEMBER 28TH-OCTOBER 5TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

Covered by Allied CVs and CVEs, 2 US Army RCTs storm ashore at Ponape and capture the island against minimal Japanese opposition. With all the USN CVs now upgraded from Wildcats to Hellcats, the Allies conduct their first amphibious operation of thge war that is within A6M2 range of the great Japanese naval and airbase at Truk.

Taking Ponape now puts Truk within range of Allied land based fighters so I believe that Japan will be forced to evacuate most of their air force from that island. Japan's front line now in the central Pacific are the islands of Truk and Marcus.....everything to the east of that line is now under Allied control.



SOPAC:

With the Allied CVs committed in the central Pacific, SOPAC continues its advance with an airborne drop on Rabaul. Rabaul became untenable for Japan after SOPAC established 2 fighter strips on New Britain in early 1943 and virtually all the IJA defenders of the once large garrison on Rabaul were evacuated by air transports AC. SOPAC USMC paratroops dropped unmolested into Rabaul and now the Allies have a free level 7 airfield that puts us within heavy bomber range of Truk. Minesweepers immediately cleared the large minefields at Rabaul the next day and then aviation engineers and seabees were dropped off to get the airbase operational. Three squadrons of Corsairs and P-38Gs were immediately flown in to provide air cover.



THE AIR WAR:

SEAC heavy bombers continued their offensive to take out Japanese resources by hammering Singora:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singora , at 24,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 3

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 222
P-38J Lightning x 4
P-47D Thunderbolt x 12
A-29 Hudson x 12
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-24D Liberator x 90
B-24J Liberator x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 3 damaged
P-47D Thunderbolt: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Resources hits 47

[racndoc]

OCTOBER 6TH-13TH, 1943


Lots of action this week across the Pacific Theatre of Operations.


SEAC:

In an audacious move, Japan sorties KB towards Burma to launch a devastating strike on the SEAC airfield at Rangoon:

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
A6M5 Zeke x 19
A6M3a Zero x 43
B6N2 Jill x 205

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 12
P-38J Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 11 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 8 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 4 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
P-47D Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
B-24J Liberator: 4 destroyed
Liberator III: 11 destroyed
A-29 Hudson: 3 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
624 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 4

Airbase hits 40
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 109

Don timed this attack rather well. When I was bombing airfields I had all my bombers on naval strike/airfield but with my concentration on city bombing resources KB was able to sail in unmolested and launch from the Gulf of Siam at 6 hex range. Unfortunately this wasnt the only Allied air debacle of the week.


SWPAC:

Again I get carried away with city bombing resource hexes from my airbase at Darwin and Japan launches a long range strike from Kendari to hit the Darwin airfields:

Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 65
G4M2 Betty x 64
G5N Liz x 90
Ki-46-III Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 4 damaged
G5N Liz: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 7 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 24 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 3 destroyed
F-5A Lightning: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 120


Altogether the Allies lose 170 AC on the ground from these 2 attacks. The Allies are really on the move now in the SWPAC and SOPAC and I got careless with protecting my bases while focused on moving ships, troops and materiel around.


Japan withdrew from Rabaul in early 1943 as SWPAC established airbases at Milne Bay, Buna and Lae and SWPAC airdrops the 503rd Paratroop regiment to secure the base there.


SOPAC:

USMC paratroops capture Kavieng and Allied CVs cover the landing of the 8th New Zealand Brigade at Emirau:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/13/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1133 troops unloading over beach at Emirau Island, 61,86



Allied ground losses:
590 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naval bombardment of Emirau Island, at 61,86

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Minneapolis
BB California
BB Pennsylvania
BB Oklahoma

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 38
Port supply hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1133 troops unloading over beach at Emirau Island, 61,86



Allied ground losses:
351 casualties reported


A deliberate assault will be ordered for tomorrow.


SOPAC will then invade Admiralty Island and construct level 5 airfields there and at Emirau. These airbases will shut down Truk and provide air cover for SWPAC's advance along the northern coast of New Guinea. Following capture of Admiralty Island SOPAC command will be folded into SWPAC command as the south Pacific has been mostly liberated by the Allies.

[racndoc]

OCTOBER 14TH-23RD, 1943


SOPAC: INVASION ADMIRALTY ISLANDS

SOPAC captures Admiralty Islands and the Bismarck Sea is turned into an Allied pond.

Admiralty Island and Emirau currently have level 3 airfields on their way to level 5. Meanwhile, 4E's based at Rabaul put Truk out of business.



SWPAC:

SWPAC 4E bombers inflict 100% damage on IJA airfields at Wewak, Aitape, Hollandia, Biak and Noemfoor. With Japanese airpower neutralized in New Guinea, the way is now open for MacArthur to drive along the northern coast of New Guinea towards the SRA and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Don sends in most of the IJN to neutralize Darwin:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei


Allied ground losses:
4511 casualties reported
Guns lost 102
Vehicles lost 4

Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 5 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Ashigara
CA Myoko
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
3123 casualties reported
Guns lost 33

Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 186
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 7 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Yamato
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
1797 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 219


CHINA:

Allies give payback for Darwin by staging 4E's into Nanchang and Changsha to hammer the Japanese airfield at Shanghai:

Day Air attack on Shanghai , at 52,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 16
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 10

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 15
Liberator III x 108
P-38G Lightning x 46
P-47D Thunderbolt x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 17 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 1 damaged
Liberator III: 2 destroyed, 42 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 9 damaged
P-47D Thunderbolt: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 68

Day Air attack on Shanghai , at 52,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 3

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 123
P-38G Lightning x 46
P-47D Thunderbolt x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 7 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 48 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 108

With Shanghai neutralized the Allied bombers in China hammer on IJN shipping throughout China, Okinawa and the South China Sea:

Day Air attack on Shimonoseki , at 60,41

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-29 Hudson: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Shosei Maru, Bomb hits 1

Day Air attack on Moppo , at 58,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 28
J2M Jack x 7
A6M3a Zero x 15
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 32

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 8
IL-4c x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
J2M Jack: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-29 Hudson: 4 destroyed
IL-4c: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Argun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Day Air attack on Shanghai , at 52,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 15
Beaufighter VIC x 36
B-25C Mitchell x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
Beaufighter VIC: 28 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Shingetsu Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Day Air attack on Naha , at 54,46


Allied aircraft
Ventura G.R.Mk V x 17


Allied aircraft losses
Ventura G.R.Mk V: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AR Asahi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Choyo Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Taimei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Choun Maru #18, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Choun Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[racndoc]

OCTOBER 24TH-31ST, 1943


SWPAC: INVASION WEWAK

General Douglas MacArthur resumes his advance up the northern coast of New Guinea as 2 US Army divisions capture Wewak. The 3500 hapless remnants of the IJA garrison are forced to retreat northward into the jungle towards Aitape.

All Japanese airfields on the north coast of New Guinea, Aitape, Sarmi, Biak, Hollandia and Noemfoor are virtually 100% suppressed as well as is Truk. Minimal interference from Japanese land based air is expected here as SWPAC continues its drive into north western New Guinea.


HOUSE RULES:

Don feels that a CV vs CV battle may be imminent regarding the defense of New Guinea. We didnt want "ubercap" like in John 3rds game where 700 AC are on CAP so we made the rule of CV stacking of 350 fighters max in a hex and NO LRCAP is allowed over CVs from outside the hex....I feel that this rule favors Japan going forward as the Allies will always be on the offensive and will be attacking Japanese bases where their CAP will be halved but Japan will be able to fly unlimited land based fighters to attack and also CV fighters that arent halved but having this rule is better than the "ubercap" option.....hopefully ubercap is fixed in AE. This resulted in a _MAJOR_ reorganization of Allied CV Task Groups and leaves us much more vulverable to massed land air and CV air attacks.

The sub/ASW war is completely jacked up in this game as IJA Helens are all 90% experience by this point of the war and any Allied sub movement into Japan's backyard sea lanes is virtually suicidal. If the subs arent sunk by the Helen's AP bombs they are at least spotted and suppressed so they dont make attacks and are sitting ducks for IJN ASW TFs. Meanwhile Japan had been scoring repeatedly on Allied convoys in the large "Black Holes" in the eastern Pacific where Allied ASW AC cant reach. I finally was able to counter the audacious IJN sub wolfpacks...maybe 10-15 subs on contiguous hexes.... with upgraded ASW TFs with the new DDs and DEs with upgraded weapon systems and higher experience and embedded CVEs on ASW and now the IJN subs are at risk when they attack. Don wants some house rules to limit ASW TFs...this will only help Japan as Allioed subs are worthless at this point in the war so I say no dice...as long as Japan flies army bombers on ASW the Allies will ground their own subs in port and will take whatever ASW TF countermeasures they deem necessary to combat the IJN subs. BTW, I havent flown a single USAAF bomber on ASW the entire war.

Meanwhile, if we cant destroy the Jap economy from the sea we will burn it from the air....here is where the USAAF bombers will come into play.

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 1ST-7TH, 1943


SWPAC:

MacArthur's drive continues up the northern coast of New Guinea as I Amphib Corps with the US Army 7th and 40th Infantry Divisions captures Hollandia. In so doing, IJA troops at Aitape are bypassed and cut off. Lots of seabees are dropped off here....Hollandia will soon become a level 7 airbase and a level 6 port.


In just 2 months, the Allies have captured Ponape in the central Pacific, Rabaul, Kavieng, Emirau and Admiralty Islands in the south Pacific, and Wewak and Hollandia in the south west Pacific.




COMMENTS:

I was a bit bored over New Year's waiting for a turn so I re-read some of my early posts from this thread on the start of the war. At the beginning of the war, the Allies were short on AC, ships and troops and I made every one count with numerous ambushes on Japan. I constantly tried to analyze what Japan was up to.

Now, I am moving thousands of AC, scores of LCUs, and hundreds of ships every turn so I am no longer able to micromanage and as a result I am succeptible to Japanese ambushes....Kudos to Don for planning these ops and pulling them off.

In addition, I no longer attempt to analyze what Japan may be planning....the Allies have the initiative in all theatres(except China) and I am only focused on what I am planning.

And the tenor of my posts on this thread reflect this.


CHINA:

The ground war has really heated up here. I was so focused on the war in the south and central Pacific that I nelected this theatre...and I was surprised and amazed at the rate of off road movement of IJA armor as 6 armored regiments moved cross country to cut the Nanchang/Shanghai highway and isolate over 100,000 Chinese troops....an attached map on this is soon to follow....

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 9TH-12TH, 1943


CHINA:

The situation in northern China has quieted down a bit as the Sian/Honan highway remains open and our units in Homan remain in supply.

The south is a different story however. My southern army of 6 Chinese Corps and 5 artillery regiments was poised to enetr Hangchow when six IJA armored regiments raced cross contry to cut the nanchang/Hangchow highway and isolated my troops. I was asleep at the wheel again.....focused on my offensives into the Bismarks and New Guinea when this disaster hit.....still cant believe how fast that Jap armor moves crosscountry. I finally amassed 11 Chinese Corps to fight the 6 IJA armored regiments and an all out shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.


China has a fair amount of supply art Nanchang, Changsha and Chungking but it doesnt seem to travel down the roads very well....so I can defend pretty well but its difficult to attack.....I moved 300 4Es into Chungking last turn and have all the 4Es plus every transport AC SEAC owns dropping supply on my 11 assault corps....we will see what happens tomorrow.

[racndoc]

NOVEMBER 13TH-14TH, 1943


CHINA:

The 11 Chinese corps shock attacking to reopen the Nanchang/Hangchow road amass an assault value of 7000 while the 6 IJA tank regiments muster only an assault value of 120 after a week of heavy aerial bombardment:

Ground combat at 49,39

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 117717 troops, 434 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
3731

Defending force 17428 troops, 12 guns, 437 vehicles, Assault Value =
443

Allied max assault: 7338 - adjusted assault: 6109

Japanese max defense: 382 - adjusted defense: 121

Allied assault odds: 50 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
723 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 18

Allied ground losses:
2007 casualties reported
Guns lost 31


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The 6 IJA armored regiments are forced to retreat towards Anking.


With the 6 Chinese corps in front of Hangchow relieved its time to pull everybody back towards Nanchang and Changsha where they will be in better supply and less likely to get cut off.



AUSTRALIA:

Aussie 1st Army armor drives crosscountry from Katherine to liberate Wyndham....now deserted by Japan.