[font="Times New Roman"]20 - 21 September 1944[/font]
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SUBS: [/font] A clutch of about 6-8 subs is shadowing my SAGs near Lomblen. I've had them down here in search range for a while, but move them daily. I'm sending in mines to Lomblen to hopefully lure the subs in. Two ASW air units, expert Kates and Sallys, are now in the area and Jakes are flying night patrols, plus all of the ships are sending their own planes on ASW missions. All subs are lit up daily it seems, and attacks have come again DDs only so far.
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PI:[/font] The unstoppable approach of the Allies continues. The dot next to Jolo was landed by the Rangers and taken. Busuan was overrun by a full US infantry division (against a 15 AV naval guard unit), and Cagayan is on it's last legs. Zamboanga is invested and the first attack came in at a 1:1. it'll fall in a few days.
I've got an interesting plan to try a full retreat from Cagayan to Davao where there is supply and where another 700 AV could help hold off the US troops while I fly more back to Luzon. It's almost pointless, but still I'll try, as getting another few brigades and possibly even the beat-up division back could really help out there. I am pulling from both Luzon and Babeldaob. I'm still amazed at how long I've had the luxury of using these bases when his 4Es could have closed every one for weeks and then just made the rounds to do it again once I got them working again. Davao especially has been unprotected for weeks and wide open. I occasionally drop fighters in and then pop them back out.
I have just a few troops on one of the Borneo bases near Tarakan. It's called Tawao. I'm going to fly them out and possibly those at Tawi Tawi as well. Tawao is exactly 20 hexes from Saigon (but doesn't look it, so keep quiet!). [;)] I want the kami activation to happen now. Please.
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S/SW PAC:[/font] Yap is still fighting and getting 1:3 results but the defenders are still getting wiped out by the tanks there. Guess thats what I've heard about late war Allied firepower. It's pretty amazing to watch. Note to self. Find all remaining 47mm anti-tank gun units in the HI and Manchuria, if the are any, and send to Luzon, Tainan, Okinawa and the Bonins.
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NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] Still nothing happening up here. One month until the winter again. I am getting nervous now that something major will go in for the Kuriles before then. I've allocated some subs to deep Pacific scouting, not that I could do much if he came, but since I know some CVs are in the DEI, then all can't be in another op. All bases up there are garrisoned, most are level 5-6 forts. Two have air HQs. If they aren't attacked now though I will add more troops to all over the winter.
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S DEI: [/font] Still no more movements.
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BURMA: [/font] Just some bombings at Moulmein and that's all. The Allied stack is still crossing the river one hex north of our stack. All infantry and tanks have built level 2 forts, and some arty and AA are getting fortified now as well. Looking forward to his first air strike here. Another supply convoy reaches Bangkok and the area is flush for now. Troops have recovered about 70-80 AV per day. All units are in the 80-99 moral range and have 6-8 fatigue. Not bad for jungle warfare.
I've reinforced Chang Mai with a division and a brigade. Another division is moving up to add in if he diverts and goes for that base. In the jungle rough with 6 forts though he'd need almost that whole stack to take on even just 3-4 reinforced divisions and would have little supply flow.
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CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Still moving troops out of the South Pacific. Truk and Rabaul are now emptying out. I've left some infantry to prevent an easy grab, and some good arty, but a lot of engineers and base forces moved to the Marianas and beyond.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 20, 44
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Night Air attack on Tarakan , at 67,91
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 39
No Allied losses
Oil hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
ASW attack near Lomblen at 68,112
Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio
Allied Ships
SS Guavina, hits 2
SS Guavina launches 4 torpedoes at DD Oyashio
Guavina diving deep ....
DD Natsushio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Morning Air attack on 56th Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 79,89 (Cagayan)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 24
B-24D Liberator x 7
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 43
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-25G Mitchell x 3
B-25H Mitchell x 15
B-25J1 Mitchell x 12
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 15
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 47765 troops, 827 guns, 1975 vehicles, Assault Value = 1947
Defending force 31476 troops, 331 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 909
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4
Allied adjusted assault: 494
Japanese adjusted defense: 1263
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
3540 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 187 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 162 disabled
Guns lost 76 (6 destroyed, 70 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (4 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
970 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 42 disabled
Guns lost 38 (2 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (1 destroyed, 36 disabled)
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Ground combat at Jolo (74,90)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 10291 troops, 190 guns, 179 vehicles, Assault Value = 398
Defending force 10560 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 296
Allied adjusted assault: 92
Japanese adjusted defense: 431
Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
376 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1523 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
112th Cavalry Regiment
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
30th Australian Brigade
131st Field Artillery Battalion
109th Tank Attack Regiment
Defending units:
3rd Garrison Unit
9th Garrison Unit
25th Ind.Mixed Regiment
7th Garrison Unit
88th Infantry Rgt /1
48th JAAF AF Bn
4th Bde /3
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Ground combat at Butuan (80,89)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 9356 troops, 213 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 348
Defending force 384 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Allied adjusted assault: 349
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 349 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Butuan !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)
Japanese ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
Defending units:
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
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Ground combat at Yap (96,97)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6328 troops, 89 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 396
Defending force 4072 troops, 53 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 109
Allied adjusted assault: 201
Japanese adjusted defense: 339
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
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Ground combat at Tapul (73,90)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 450 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Allied adjusted assault: 7
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tapul !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)
Assaulting units:
6th Ranger Battalion
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 21, 44
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ASW attack near Lomblen at 68,112
Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
Allied Ships
SS Apogon, hits 1
SS Apogon is located by DD Shiokaze
Apogon diving deep ....
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shiokaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
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Night Naval bombardment of Zamboanga at 75,89
Allied Ships
CL Mjollner
CL Valkyria
CL Biloxi
CL Columbia
DD Spence
DD Radford
DD Kimberly
DD DeHaven
DD Cony
DD Conway
DD Chevalier
DD Charrette
DD Bennett
DD Abbot
Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Light Industry hits 1
Manpower hits 12
Resources hits 2
Fires 913
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 67
Port hits 55
Port supply hits 3
CL Mjollner firing at 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy
CL Valkyria firing at Zamboanga
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Ground combat at Yap (96,97)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6287 troops, 88 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 398
Defending force 3810 troops, 40 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 100
Allied adjusted assault: 66
Japanese adjusted defense: 197
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
401 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (4 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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Ground combat at Zamboanga (75,89)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 1078 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 176
Defending force 1287 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24
Allied adjusted assault: 17
Japanese adjusted defense: 10
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /1
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
111th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /19
Defending units:
1st Sasebo SNLF Coy
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy
142nd JAAF AF Bn
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Reinforcements: Overflowing with Es now. Sending more to the area off Manila where Allied subs are making appearances lately.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]E No.51 arrives at Tokyo
LST T-145 arrives at Nagoya
37th Army arrives at Brunei[/font]
Losses: Another sub down. I've lost around 65 and have around 55 active.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS I-121 on Sep 21, 1944 is admitted[/font]
Ships Sunk: none.
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]This is probably what Cotabato field looks like right now. I wish there was something I could do there, but alas, with 500 fighters in the base, it's locked up tight. [/font]
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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