The 14th of October will be remembered as the day Truk was bombed!
312 heavies escorted by 97 long range P-38J's hit our base in force.
I've been expecting something like this and only a few weeks ago the Fleet abandoned
Truk as their main base and moved back to Ulithi. There were only some transports,
auxiliaries and 2 training cruisers in port and a handful of them suffered damage.
I didn't keep my air reserves over Truk and that was just as good since it would be all but
impossible to stop 300 heavies and 100 P-38's. Quite a few fighters were destroyed in the air
and on the ground, but again it was my air transport corpse that paid the heavies price. Some
126 transports were torched.
There are relatively few enemy heavy bombers in northern Australia and in the Gilberts/Marshalls so
the good thing about all this is that our invasion of Kai is more likely to succeed. Andy is playing
very well - but he's doing a lot of things simultanously and it's difficult for him to committ 100% to
all these operations. His carriers raided the Admiralities today - and that suits me very well! I don't
have many valuable assets in the area and my fleets around Kwajalein and Timor can now continue to operate
with impunity.
Operation Kai-ten had a good start and more than 10k troops unloaded on the first day. Enemy subs were diverted
and we managed to shoot down almost a 100 enemy ac that tried to intervene. Our Escort Carrier division performed
well and our bombardment fleet neutralized the Spits and Corsairs on Kai Island itself. Tomorrow we got t-storms
coming and it's uncertain how effective the enemies LBA will be. Our own LBA will now join the battle and a strong
LRCAP will be placed over Kai Island as our bombers are ordered to attack.
On Maloelap another enemy attack was repulsed: so things are going well on 2 out of 3 fronts.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/14/43
Sub/ASW Attacks
Several enemy subs around Kai Island tried to intercept the invasion force!
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Sub attack near Kai Island at 39,78
Japanese Ships
AP Taibun Maru
PC Ch 3
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Seki Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #6
PG Shinko Maru #2
PG Muro Maru
PG Tamo Maru #6
Allied Ships - Gato herself receives a trashing!
SS Gato, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
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ASW attack at 43,45
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 30
PC Ch 11
PC Ch 9
PC Takuna Maru #7
PG Yoshida Maru
Allied Ships
SS Raton
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ASW attack at 38,77
Japanese Ships
DD Kuretake
DD Minekaze
DD Naganami
CL Tama
Allied Ships
SS Balao
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Bombardments
Snake eyes! A second bombardment run against Kai demolish the place [8D]
Not a single Corsair or Spitfire remained on CAP!
Naval bombardment of Kai Island, at 39,78
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses - 16 Spits and 11 Corsairs torched on the ground!
Spitfire Vb: 8 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 6 destroyed
Sunderland: 1 destroyed
F-5A Lightning: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
Allied ground losses: [:D]
2022 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 2
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 78
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Invasions
Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 6
TF 6 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78
26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Victoria Maru
Japanese ground losses:
327 casualties reported
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Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 6
TF 6 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78
16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
415 casualties reported
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Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 38
TF 38 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)
TF 38 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78
149 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Sozan Maru, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
1420 casualties reported
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Air Combat
An air strike on Chungking runs into a bunch of aggressive I-16's. Have to continue
to suppress them.
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 47
Ki-21 Sally x 78
Ki-48 Lily x 39
Ki-49 Helen x 23
Allied aircraft
I-16c x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Resources hits 7 - keeping the Chinks out of supplies is objective nr 1, 2 and 3!
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Here comes the steamroller! Gawd I'm glad I evacuated my fleet from Truk in time.
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78
Japanese aircraft - a mix of green, semi and trained pilots
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M5 Zeke x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 23
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 97 - nasty!
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-17E Fortress x 87
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24D Liberator x 148
B-24J Liberator x 77
Japanese aircraft losses [8|]
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 13 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 24 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 35 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 19 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 42 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 5 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 10 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 12 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 3 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 3 destroyed
L3Y Tina: 11 destroyed
J1N1-R Irving: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 10 destroyed, 10 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 19 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 23 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Kinjosan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Kashii, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Otori Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Arizana Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Katsura Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kikukawa Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Shoto Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Katori, Bomb hits 1
MSW W.3, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
799 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Airbase hits 75
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 372
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
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Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81 - the enemy at Maloelap is not allowed to rest!
Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
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Strikes against the Kai invasion fleet!
Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78
Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
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The poor Beaufighters struggles against the Zeke and 48 are lost!
Day Air attack on TF at 38,77
Japanese aircraft - I put my Escort Carrier Division fighters on 90% CAP!
A6M5 Zeke x 88
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 56
P-40N Warhawk x 64
B-25J Mitchell x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 34 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 32 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 27 destroyed, 10 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVE Hosho
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78 - the battleships attract most of the enemy bombers!
Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 7
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 2
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78
Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 9
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 8
P-40N Warhawk x 7
B-25J Mitchell x 42
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 5, on fire
AP Imizu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Day Air attack on TF at 38,77
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 48
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 19
P-40N Warhawk x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 11 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Chiyoda
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
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The follow up waves achieves a few successes!
Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78
Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 7
P-40N Warhawk x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 32
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Niizuki
CL Oi, Bomb hits 1
CL Noshiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78
Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, on fire
AP Taizin Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein at 79,79 - our semi trained fighters over Kwajalein struggles gainst T-bolts!
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 17
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 14
Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 15
PB4Y Liberator x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 9 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-47C Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
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Enemy carrier strike!
Day Air attack on TF, near Emirau Island at 60,84
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 47
SBD Dauntless x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Melbourne Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
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Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 58,84
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 124
TBM Avenger x 97
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBM Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 13
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein at 79,79
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 26
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 50
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 12
Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 22
PB4Y Liberator x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 14 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 10 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-47C Thunderbolt: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
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Ground Combat
The enemy is not getting anywhere on Maloelap!
Ground combat at Maloelap
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15043 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 12048 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)
Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Allied ground losses:
320 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
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Ground combat at Rabaul
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 38910 troops, 262 guns, 10 vehicles
Defending force 19282 troops, 33 guns, 128 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
171 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 2
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The Allies got lots of engineer units on Kai supported by an Oz regiment and some Marine
special forces. I'm confident about the prospects of bagging them all [:D]
Ground combat at Kai Island
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2889 troops, 46 guns, 7 vehicles
Defending force 10808 troops, 129 guns, 4 vehicles - 10k troops ashore after the first day [8D]
Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Situation Map: Enemy carriers raid Admiralities - Truk bombed!
Todays casualty list includes 432 Jap and 172 Allied ac. A 2.5 to 1 loss ratio isn't too
bad when you consider that the destructive raid against Truk demolished my transport fleet.
115 Allied and 169 Jap ac were lost in A2A combat.
29 Allied and 259 Jap ac were destroyed on the ground.
9 Allied ac were destroyed by flak.
19 Allied and 5 Jap ac were op losses
We can break the losses down:
Japanese
84 Topsy
22 Tina
20 Tobby
7 Dinah
6 Jake
5 Alf
74 Zeke
17 Zero
55 Tojo
47 Nick (night fighters)
31 Oscar
27 Sally
22 Tony
11 Sonia
Allied
48 Beufighters
35 Warhawks
16 Spitfires
14 Thunderbolts
12 P-38s
11 Corsairs
11 B-24s
5 B-17s
7 B-25s
