PM i isolated and bombed almost daily. My recon reports some 5000 troops left of the garrison. A much latger force was there initialy, but most of it Raver succeded to "evacuate" to Australia[:D]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/11/43
AUSTRALIA:
Air attacks on the beleguered defenders:
Day Air attack on 2nd Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 83
Ki-49 Helen x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged
Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 3rd Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 44
Ki-49 Helen x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Arty:
Ground combat at Brisbane
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 335077 troops, 3422 guns, 263 vehicles, Assault Value = 6582
Defending force 99374 troops, 510 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 2153
Allied ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
I decided to go for another assult. Although most of my units has rcovered fully, and the engineers are in terrible condition, I decided to press on. Still I don't do it because it will be hard on me, I'm doing it because it will be even harder on my enemy. A good part of my engineer corps has been given r&r tomorrow...With the odds in my favour, I feel that they have done their job.
INDIA:
Night Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 6
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 5 damaged
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/12/43
AUSTRALIA:
Many things came together for today's assult, and it all started with the naval bombardment. Two in fact, and the most efficent ones so far:
Naval bombardment of Brisbane, at 46,114
Japanese Ships
DD Kikuzuki
DD Minazuki
DD Kisaragi
DD Uranami
DD Oshio
CL Tatsuta
CA Aoba
CA Haguro
CA Chokai
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
Allied ground losses:
4662 casualties reported
Guns lost 55
Vehicles lost 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Brisbane, at 46,114
Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Fubuki
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Arashio
CL Tenryu
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
Allied ground losses:
2327 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 42
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2
Close Air Support:
Day Air attack on 2nd Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 42
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 86
Ki-49 Helen x 49
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged
Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
And the assult:
Ground combat at Brisbane
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 354057 troops, 3466 guns, 530 vehicles, Assault Value = 6674
Defending force 92382 troops, 443 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 2096
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese max assault: 6513 - adjusted assault: 7593
Allied max defense: 1348 - adjusted defense: 3349
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Japanese ground losses:
9225 casualties reported
Guns lost 217
Vehicles lost 21
Allied ground losses:
1425 casualties reported
Guns lost 57
Vehicles lost 4
Another success. efenders are now trapped in a small pocket and their elimination is imminent within the next 10 days. That's a guarantee! One or two more attacks like this one and...
INDIA:
Night Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 7
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 5 damaged
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/13/43
Wow, what a day! Raver's on the move and it's been a while since we had such action...
NEW CALEDONIA:
With no previous warning from patroling aircraft, a huge fleet appeared off Noumea. At least 3 CVs and 3 CVEs, 8 BBs, 10 CA/CLs and numerous DDs. And something else, but we'll cross that bridge when we reach it...So what happened?
The first new of enemy ships came during the night and it was on mutual surprise. Two enemy fleets sailed into minefields:
TF 1047 encounters mine field at Noumea (68,113)
Allied Ships
CA Quincy, Mine hits 3, on fire
CL Columbia, Mine hits 1
DD Frazier, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cony, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Indiana, Mine hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1035 encounters mine field at Noumea (68,113)
Allied Ships
DD Radford, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Mine hits 1
DD Saufley, Mine hits 2, on fire
CL Cleveland, Mine hits 1
Morning brought a nasty surprise for me - enemy CVs. All the attacks were aimed at the only ships saild the waters around New Caledonia - MLs...
Day Air attack on TF, near Koumac at 67,111
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 40
SBD Dauntless x 38
TBF Avenger x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Ishizaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Hirashima, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ukishima, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ML Hoko, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 68,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
ML Ashizaki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Kuroshima, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
The two attacks above came from USN CVs near Noumea. Probably 2 of them. The next two attacks came from a task force some 200 miles east of Noumea. The task force consists of CV Illustrious and at least 2 USN CVEs.
Day Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 68,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 19
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
Swordfish x 12
TBF Avenger x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
ML Saishu, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ML Kuroshima, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ashizaki, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 68,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 8
TBF Avenger x 8
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Katsuriki
ML Kurosaki, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Then came a counterattack with what I had based in Noumea:
Day Air attack on TF at 72,114
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
D3A Val x 18
G4M1 Betty x 15
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
D3A Val: 9 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 1
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 1
Unfortunatly, the bomb tha hit Illustrious bounced of the deck. CVE Chenango was hit by 2 250kg bombs, both of which penetrated and caused damage, but the ship doesn't seem to be in trouble. Maryland was hit by a torpedo which failed to do any damage. So although the this attacks looks nice on paper, it's a dud...
In the afternoon, the USN CVs finished what they started in the morning:
Day Air attack on TF, near Koumac at 67,111
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60
SBD Dauntless x 44
TBF Avenger x 17
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
ML Ukishima, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 68,113
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
Swordfish x 12
TBF Avenger x 22
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
ML Ashizaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
The remains of the japanes air forces in Noumea tried their luck in the afternoon also, but to no avail:
Day Air attack on TF at 72,114
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 11
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 72,114
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 4
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
A single surviving ML was then sunk by a formidable USN TF:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 68,113
Japanese Ships
ML Katsuriki, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
BB South Dakota
BB Indiana
CA Wichita
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Juan
CLAA Oakland
CL Columbia
CL Montpelier
That same TF bombarderd Noumea:
Naval bombardment of Noumea, at 68,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed
130 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Canton Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arare, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 5
SS RO-63, hits 1
AP Tensyo Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Hidaka Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Kaishi Maru, Shell hits 2
AK Dori Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Tazan Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Tatuho Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
AK Yamaura Maru, Shell hits 1
SS RO-68, hits 1, on fire
DD Hato, Shell hits 1
AK Kennichi Maru, Shell hits 1
SS RO-67, hits 1
AP Mitsu Maru #3, Shell hits 1
AP Kyuden Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Hiyori Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 19
CL Columbia
CLAA Oakland, Shell hits 5
CLAA San Juan
CLAA Atlanta, Shell hits 5
CA Wichita, Shell hits 15
BB Indiana, Shell hits 3
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 5
BB Washington, Shell hits 8
BB North Carolina
Japanese ground losses:
367 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 20
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1
At the end of the day, this was the situation:
Along with the Illustrious TF in the east, there is a TF containing AKs according to my patrols. That is a possible invasion fleet!
AUSTRALIA:
A nice bombardment:
Naval bombardment of Brisbane, at 46,114
Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
DD Murakumo
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
Allied ground losses:
1697 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 7
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 30
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Air strikes:
Day Air attack on 2nd Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 81
Ki-49 Helen x 33
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 29
Ki-49 Helen x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th Australian Division, at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 36
Ki-49 Helen x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Arty:
Ground combat at Brisbane
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 327065 troops, 3210 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 6141
Defending force 89821 troops, 393 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 1990
Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/14/43
NEW CALEDONIA:
And as soon as we got the action started, Raver goes into a retreat. I have a feeling it's a aborted invasion attempt. The day was marked by thunderstorms that allowed just one mission from Noumea - an attack on DD Radford, damaged by mine yesterday:
Day Air attack on TF at 72,115
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Radford, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Another DD (Frazier) sinks from mine damage
AUSTRALIA:
Ground combat at Brisbane
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 328907 troops, 3242 guns, 255 vehicles, Assault Value = 6262
Defending force 90771 troops, 416 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 2023
Allied ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1
TRUK:
This ASW group has been hunting Gar for days now ad still no success:
ASW attack at 64,80
Japanese Ships
MSW W.19
MSW W.18
MSW W.9
DD Hatakaze
DD Akebono
DD Murasame
Allied Ships
SS Gar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 64,80
Japanese Ships
MSW W.19
MSW W.18
MSW W.9
DD Hatakaze
DD Akebono
DD Murasame
Allied Ships
SS Gar
