[font="Times New Roman"]21 - 22 October 1944[/font]
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SUBS: [/font] I've broken my sub routine rules a bit in the South DEI trying to overload one hex as Jocke moves TFs around to Lautem. It's confirmed what I've thought for a while. Letting any sub sit in one hex is entirely counter productive. I lost one and had another damaged for no hits on the big transport TF moving in the area. So now I'll reduce coverage but hopefully increase chances for sneaking in and getting to something.
Two subs are lost here for no gain. Grrrr.
The Allied subs have returned en masse near Lomblen and one puts a TT into Kiso which has fairly severe damage and can only makes 3 hexes a day. All surface forces will move back until the ASW search can reduce the effectiveness of these subs.
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PI:[/font] At Leyte the strikes are mostly thwarted by very strong flak. The escorts get the bombers by the LR CAP of Corsairs both times thought, which bodes well for the future!
One strike goes for the combat ships, unfortunately, hitting a wall of flak and fast moving ships and getting nothing. About 20 more get to the transports and get damage to five APA/AKA, with two hits on the Athene. All of these are 800kg bombs from Judys, which should really sink any one of these, but I didn't hear any sounds during the turn.
All planes now head back and the remainder of the groups caught on mostly abandoned islands will likely be lost. I flew in a bit of sir support just in case he does attend to them.
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NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] Things are going to most likely get fun up here tomorrow. So far there is no CV presence in sight, but the Allies seem to be pushing ahead again with two TFs moving to near Cold Bay and showing continued movement West. The kami G3M3s are at Kamchitka, Peggy (T) are at Adak with low naval training, and another BIG surprise is moving forward to within three hexes of Dutch tomorrow. [:)]
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S DEI: [/font] The Kiso will tryo to limp to Soerabaja for a patch job. The other SAGs will steam back a few hexes, likely retreating altogether tomorrow. Tranports dropped more troops at Dili, which is fine, as this means a land advance on Timor. Takes time to walk. [:)]
A bunch of Frances flew without their escort, which sat happily in Lomblen doing nothing. no reason. Only a 4 hex distance to target. Just didn't go, and 18 planes lost.
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BURMA: [/font] Ok. I've made a choice. Mergui has fallen, so I need to ensure my bigger stack of troops near Moulmein aren't caught out completely. A rear guard will likely be shattered, but could ensure the advance forces make it back to Thailand and Indochina. I'll begin to retreat across the river to Moulmein soon. Supply is tough right now around there, but in the field strops are drawing better than in the base. I may leave 3k AV plus some big siege guns there to make that crossing painful should he choose it.
The rest will move slowly with a big stack of AA down the long road to Bangkok. I envision daily 300 bomber ground strikes, Jocke's favorite tool, but he'll pay with the AA that's here. Every time he sends them in he loses 12-15 planes. That's a lot per month. The 4Es are worth a lot of VPs. I need all I can get right now. Plus if they are bombing the troops they are not going for Bangkok itself, so maybe I can hold out there with a big CAP until the new Franks and Sams get online. I think Jocek is very confident in his bombing, judging by how he uses it around Bangkok now at first Tavoy and now at Mergui. I'd like to keep him feeling like he can control the air right up until he finds out the hard way that he might not be able to in the same way he has before. [;)]
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CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] no new attacks in the Marianas today. This is becoming a better situation now than I'd anticipated. Saipan still hasn't folded, Guam is at better than 1:3 AV ratio, which means he'll take good losses even while moving forward in his attacks. Time. It's all about time.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 21, 44
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Submarine attack near Lautem at 73,115
Japanese Ships
SS RO-110, hits 38, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
DE Coolbaugh
DE J. Douglas Blackwood
AM Colac
APA Cambria
APA President Adams
APA John Penn
APA George F. Elliot
AKA Oberon
AKA Algorab
AKA Algol
DD Hammann
DD Sims
DD Satterlee
DD Meade
SS RO-110 is sighted by escort
DD Hammann attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-110 forced to surface!
DD Hammann firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Sims firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
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Morning Air attack on Eniwetok , at 127,108
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 11
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 damaged
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B7A2 Grace releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 72,115
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 20
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 14 destroyed [:@]
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
VF-37 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
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Morning Air attack on 36th Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 53,62 (Mergui)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 44
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 89
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Ground combat at Tawi Tawi (72,90)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3088 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 113
Defending force 2772 troops, 42 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 109
Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
88th Infantry Regiment
227th Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
111th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
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Ground combat at Mergui (53,62)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5737 troops, 18 guns, 485 vehicles, Assault Value = 369
Defending force 5911 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 84
Allied adjusted assault: 288
Japanese adjusted defense: 27
Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied forces CAPTURE Mergui !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2496 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 92 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (15 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
18th Cavalry Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
Defending units:
36th Ind.Mixed Brigade
23rd JNAF AF Unit
72nd JAAF AF Bn
53rd Const Co
62nd Infantry Brigade
1st JAAF AF Coy
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 22, 44
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ASW attack near Lautem at 73,115
Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 10
Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
DE Coolbaugh
DE J. Douglas Blackwood
AM Colac
APA Cambria
APA John Penn
APA Joseph T. Dickman
AKA Oberon
AKA Algol
DD Hammann
DD Sims
DD Satterlee
DD Meade
SS I-158 is sighted by escort
I-158 diving deep ....
DD Hammann fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sims fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Meade attacking submerged sub ....
DD Meade cannot establish contact with SS I-158
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Submarine attack near Lautem at 73,115
Japanese Ships
SS RO-111, hits 15, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DE J. Douglas Blackwood
CL Phoenix
CL Ceylon
DE Coolbaugh
AM Colac
APA Cambria
APA John Penn
APA William P. Biddle
AKA Oberon
AKA Algol
DD Hammann
DD Sims
DD Satterlee
DD Gillespie
SS RO-111 launches 2 torpedoes at DE J. Douglas Blackwood
RO-111 diving deep ....
DD Hammann attacking submerged sub ....
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Sub attack near Lomblen at 69,112
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu
CL Naka
DD Okikaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Nokaze
DD Hokaze
DD Akikaze
Allied Ships
SS Grayback, hits 1
SS Grayback launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kiso
Grayback diving deep ....
DD Nokaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Guiuan at 82,85
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 105 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 21
D4Y4 Judy x 25
J2M3 Jack x 17
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 16
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 51
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 9 destroyed
D4Y4 Judy: 6 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 10 destroyed by flak
J2M3 Jack: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CL Birmingham
DD Hale
DD McNair
CL Miami
DD Daly
DD Frazier
DD Ammen
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
15 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Guiuan at 82,85
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 37
J2M3 Jack x 17
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 12 destroyed, 9 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
J2M3 Jack: 6 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
AKA Andromeda, Bomb hits 1
AKA Athene, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD O'Brien
APA Bolivar
DE Thomason
APA Barnstable
APA Cavalier, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LSI(L) Empire Star, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
11 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Dumaguete at 78,86
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 2
D4Y4 Judy x 4
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y4 Judy: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Dumaguete at 78,86
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 9
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 5 destroyed
No Allied losses
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Afternoon Air attack on 23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 79,91 (Davao)
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
B-24J Liberator x 30
B-25C Mitchell x 10
B-25D1 Mitchell x 35
FM-2 Wildcat x 24
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 32
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 13
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cotabato at 78,90
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 113 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 6
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 13
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 38
FM-2 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
F4U-1A Corsair x 10
F6F-5 Hellcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 4 destroyed
No Allied losses
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guiuan at 82,85
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 13
J2M3 Jack x 9
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed
J2M3 Jack: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed
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Ground combat at Davao (79,91)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 23978 troops, 690 guns, 617 vehicles, Assault Value = 731
Defending force 14416 troops, 117 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 355
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
38th Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
XI Corps Artillery
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
147th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd RAA Jungle Regiment
X Corps Artillery
251st Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment
Defending units:
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
68th Brigade
25th Ind. Engr Rgt /2
9th Fleet /2
6th Div /4
188th JAAF AF Bn
23rd Ind. Engr Rgt /2
180th JAAF AF Bn
30th Special Base Force /1
89th Field AA Battalion
48th Ind.Mixed Bde /2
217th Naval Const Bn /2
148th JAAF AF Bn
206th Naval Const Bn /3
205th Naval Const Bn /1
244th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /2
216th Naval Const Bn /2
24th Field AF Construction Battalion
248th JAAF AF Bn /3
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Ground combat at Akutan Island (171,49)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 758 troops, 14 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Defending force 664 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19
Assaulting units:
Rocky Mountain Rger Battalion
Defending units:
53rd Nav Gd /2
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Reinforcements:
[font="Trebuchet MS"]ML G-423 arrives at Hakodate
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy arrives at Tokyo
MTB G-1004 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
ML G-424 arrives at Sapporo
ML G-425 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
I.31-1 arrives at Haiphong
I.37-1 arrives at Haiphong
I/84th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo[/font]
Losses: Bad day for subs. My own fault here.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS I-44 on Oct 08, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SS RO-110 on Oct 21, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SS RO-111 on Oct 22, 1944 is admitted
E Yaku arrives at Tokyo
E No.138 arrives at Tokyo[/font]
Ships Sunk: Hitting a transport with two 800kg bombs should do it, right? [:)]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]AKA Athene?[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I'm not expecting anything from this kami group. Only about 1/3 of the pilots are low naval trained. I do want extra search in the area though, and I do want warning of anything else coming, so I kept them on max range here, likely reducing their effectiveness as well. Fun to try though even if nothing happens. [/font]
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill