July 18, 1942
Yamato Gone; Fish in the Marshalls
1) The retreat from the Marshalls continues. At this point I will declare Operation SNAGGLEPUSS over in its offensive phases. But for the loss of three fleet carriers I would judge it a success: Eniwetok taken, attrition of Japanese naval air, a hit on Shoho, a reaction to moves in Burma that cost the IJN significantly, a toe-hold in the Marianas, several Marshalls dot bases taken that will need to be retaken else they become patrol bases, lots of fuel burned, time eaten up. But three carriers is an "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln . . . " event. Not wholly fatal to 1942 efforts, but no help either. The huge loss of DBs is particularly hurtful right now, as decent pieces of the air wings survive on Eniwetok and Wake, but have no replacements.
The map is a crazy-quilt today as escorts are routed to pick up escort-less charges heading back to the sub zones around Pearl. The Lex/Sara pick up a huge escort of BBs, CAs, and DDs and re-establish CAP. The KB is heading SW and should not be a factor in the retreat.
2) Speaking of the KB, those crappy MK14s do sometimes work. USS Pollack, one of my least favorite sub names of all time, puts one where it does the most good. Underwater belt penetration, critical engine damage text message.
Sub attack near Wotje at 134,115
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chikuma
DD Kawakaze
DD Yudachi
Allied Ships
SS Pollack
A second attack by an S-boat inside Kwajalein harbor misses. But Kwaj can be penetrated, and there are a few 4Es at Wake. Parking a carrier at Kwaj is a bad idea. For that matter Truk isn't real safe right now either.
Submarine attack near Kwajalein Island at 132,115
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
Allied Ships
SS S-35
CV Zuikaku is sighted by SS S-35
SS S-35 launches 4 torpedoes
3) In the IO the Japanese finds and creams a small supply-only TF bringing supplies to the lodgment at Tavoy. Again, here I don't mind that much as it keeps the torpedo Netties off the Wasp, which hangs around another day.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 50,57
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
Allied Ships
xAKL Hermelin, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Kwai Sang, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Illinoian, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Chaksang, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Later, the xAPs which were finishing the unload at Tavoy itself are hit again. One un-hit ship is formed into a 1-ship TF and ordered to flee alone, another example where 1-ship TFs are completely legit. Its two sisters had Fire levels in the mid-70s and were just trying to dump whatever they could at Tavoy before sinking at the piers without this additional help.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 53,60
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G3M3 Nell x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 7 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Rajula, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Malda, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
4) Farther west it's a bad day for the IJN. Wasp and the RN have stayed another day, despite Wasp having 17 System and 9 Flooding, and the RN two days from the withdrawal date. No sign of either Junyo or Hiyo. I hope they sank, and Hiyo should have from the animation, but the plane totals don't indicate they did. Although, again, Sabang is in range for a bingo base. I'm afraid a big surface response is screaming in on me from Singers or near Rangoon, and Japan in this era has an amazing intercept ability on carriers. But I hang another day, shift a bit west and south, and adjust search. Glad I did.
The LBA from Port Blair comes in first at long range. Only 500-lb bombs, but they add to the system and fire problems.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Great Nicobar at 39,66
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 6
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
CA Mikuma
Then the main event.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Great Nicobar at 39,66
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oshio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Mikuma
But wait! There's more!
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Great Nicobar at 39,66
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 12
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Oshio, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
(Five were 1000-b armor penetrations. She's toast. I hate CAs!!)
Wasp and Co. combine into one large TF with two BBs now plus two carriers, and will head for the barn after a jog west. The Stringbag pilots will be unable to pay for a drink on the island of Ceylon
5) On land things progress.
-- Sweeps and bombing at Palembnag are medium-bad, but the new AA from 32nd ID and the retreated Dutch base forces continues to chew. AF damage is down to 16; Fort building should resume tomorrow.
--Eniwetok is swept unsuccessfully. It will be important to see how much Japan fights this base, and how much they just accept it. IMO it's always an important base for a Mid-Pac strategy, but combined with Wake it's a GREAT base to hold early. It is not well-defended right now, but it would take about a division to re-capture. I suspect Japan will build Ponape to counter it; Kwaj might stay about where it is now. Kwaj will take 1-2 divisions for me as well. Someday . . .
--The air war over Rangoon is where it's at now. As the Big Stack moves ever closer to the railhead at Lashio (I hope he does not notice it) the siege at Rangoon hangs on. Full supply occurred today putting the entire stack in the white. This is encouraging as I think he's got bigger supply woes in the city, and possibly at Pegu, than I do out in the suburbs.
The Allies have been getting up a motley CAP over Rangoon from Prome. Not enough to stop the troop bombing, but enough to hurt. Thare were many misisons today; this is just a sample. And they cost supply when they come from the "Rangoon Ring." Those from Chiang Mai and points south don't cost in that way, but are at extreme range. Ops losses continue to build for Japan.
Morning Air attack on 75th Indian Brigade, at 54,53 (Rangoon)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 14
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
Mohawk IV x 3
P-38E Lightning x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--There is still no sign of troops moving on either Pbang from Benk., or Soerbaja from the SE side of the island. Soerbaja still has a lot of planes, but nothing in the yards. It goes to Forts 6 in four days or so. I will stop there and try to build a little supply.
--Allies AF bomb Makasar and Kendari for light damage. Also Rangoon with B-17s for the same. AF damage at Rangoon is now between 5 and 10%.
--One Refinery hit at Tjepoe. The oil industry there is essentially gone. Both Oil and Refineries are in low single digits.
6) Ledo AF goes to Level 5 and continues to build. Transport efforts there are all focused on Paoshan. I have ordered all Supply=0 LCUs at Paoshan to move to Lashio, which has lots of supply. Paoshan will still have a solid garrison, but the horde at Tsuyung could take it. Lashio will be a different animal with Forts already 6, a huge Chinese stack, and 15,000 supply easily maintained during the monsoon from Mandalay. What stays at Paoshan is whatever can be air-supplied from Ledo. Once the Big Stack gets east of Lashio there might be some land flow to Paoshan from there. I hope so.
7) The B-17s at Rabaul stand down for repairs. Recon of Truk shows 44 ships in, and a fighter force of about 16. The AF at Rabaul has grown to 25% of Level 5 in two days. Every B-17 I can spare is there or headed there. I expect Rabaul to be a battlefield in the back half of the year, or Truk is going to be OOC.
No Night Bombing Today