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Saipain Invasion D+3[/font]
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Day of the landing!
During the night several Jap subs interact with the various TFs. As seen in the screenshot I´m relying a lot on movement as Allied ASW seems absolutely toothless when it comes to protecting CVs. Three Jap subs are almost certainly sunk during the night for the cost of a xAP unloading at Tinian.
The first wave is approaching the shores after a very ineffectual bombardment. I am extremely glad put more BBs on protecting the landing!!! [&o]
Pre-Invasion action off Saipan (108,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
782 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. [X(]
Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 21
BB Nevada, Shell hits 6
CL Leander, Shell hits 5
AKA Alcyon
AKA Fomalhaut
AKA Bellatrix
DE Richard M. Rowell
AKA Alhena
LCI(G)-82
LCI(G)-81
LCI(G)-80
LCI(G)-79
LCI(G)-78
LCI(G)-77
LCI(G)-76
LCI-69
LCI-68
LCI-67
LCI-66
LCI-65
LCI-64
LCI-61
APA Bowie
DE Encounter
DE Whitehurst
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Pre-Invasion action off Saipan (108,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
815 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. [X(]
Allied Ships
BB California, Shell hits 5
BB Maryland, Shell hits 2
CL Richmond, Shell hits 4
CL Hobart, Shell hits 3
AK Lesuth
AK Menkar
AK Azimech
LCI(G)-468
LCI(G)-467
LCI(G)-466
LCI(G)-465
LCI(G)-464
LCI(G)-463
LCI(G)-462
LCI(G)-401
LCI(G)-398
LCI(G)-397
LCI(G)-396
LCI(G)-373
LCI(G)-372
LCI(G)-366
LCI(G)-365
LCI(G)-220
AP Gen. A.W.Greely
DE Lawrence
AP Gen. W.M.Black
Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 40 (1 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Invasion Support action off Saipan (108,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
386 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 9, on fire
BB Nevada
CL Leander, Shell hits 3
AKA Bellatrix, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Alhena, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCI(G)-82
LCI(G)-81
LCI(G)-80
LCI(G)-79
LCI(G)-78
LCI(G)-77
LCI(G)-76
LCI-69
LCI-68
LCI-67
LCI-66
LCI-65
LCI-64
LCI-61
APA Bowie
DE Encounter
DE Whitehurst
Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Dawn does not lessen the fire the least!
Invasion Support action off Saipan (108,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
742 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. [X(]
Allied Ships
BB California
BB Maryland, Shell hits 42, on fire
CL Hobart, Shell hits 10, on fire
AK Menkar, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CL Richmond
LCI(G)-468
LCI(G)-467
LCI(G)-466
LCI(G)-465
LCI(G)-464
LCI(G)-463
LCI(G)-462
LCI(G)-401
LCI(G)-398
LCI(G)-397
LCI(G)-396
LCI(G)-373
LCI(G)-372
LCI(G)-366
LCI(G)-365
LCI(G)-220
AP Gen. A.W.Greely
DE Lawrence
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 79 (1 destroyed, 78 disabled)
After this it seems the opposition lessened a bit. The BBs did their job and everything unloaded in very good order! [&o] The BBs are in no danger at all with 5-15 SYS damage and some knocked out AA guns. This will of course require some time in the yard but since this was only a stop for the Fleet on the way to Pearl for Upgrades we don´t lose much time in the Combat Zone.
The automated Jap counter bombardment reveal Erik true to his habit continues to rely on small combat units without much staying power. I´m going to risk Murphy here by predicting this will be pretty short work! [:D]
Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 20390 troops, 308 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 769
Defending force 60407 troops, 971 guns, 1394 vehicles, Assault Value = 1885
Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Regiment
42nd Recon Regiment
10th Ind.Mixed Regiment
53rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
50th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th JAAF Base Force
31st Army
11th JAAF Base Force
4th JNAF AF Unit
32nd Air Defense AA Battalion
33rd JNAF AF Unit
22nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
Saipan Naval Fortress
55th Field AA Battalion
18th Army
5th Air Division
19th RF Gun Battalion
47th JNAF AF Unit /1
Defending units:
81st Infantry Div /8
194th Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Bn /3
98th Infantry Division
3rd Marine Division
34th Combat Engr Rgt /3
766th Tank Bn /3
33rd Infantry Div /6
97th Coast AA Regiment
12th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Eng Amph Bde
Eighth US Army
Pacific Ocean Areas
11th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
4th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
V US Amphib Corps
8th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Eng Amph Bde
I have another USMC Division (5th) is sitting on Tinian with 48 prep. I decided not to land them yesterday. They are ready if needed. Tomorrow the first attack goes in. With the HQ bonus and over twice the raw AV I don´t think Erik will hold here very long. With a division or two things would certainly be different but Erik has not changed his ways. I don´t know if he is still stuck on looking at AV alone or if he simply don´t have the IDs to spare.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow! [&o]
The Fleet will start to retire a bit towards Wake. I think LBA can handle its own now. The BBs will remain at Tinian to soak more hits on Guam before retiring.
Some offensive sweep are ordered over Guam and Rota by CV planes to allow the LBA at Tinian to rest fatigue a bit. Some of the CVE groups will fly off their CVEs and take station on Tinian and hopefully soon Saipan.
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