Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[zuluhour]

July 5, 1942

NorPac: 9th PRS ordered to recon Adak on the 6th. 36th bomb squadron combines and will shift from ASW to possible base attacks. The xAP slated for NorPac cleared repair and went to refit. She will finish in 72 hours.

CenPac: Radio Silence

SoPac: Raids do not fly over Fiji. The raids are ordered again for tomorrow. Three more squadrons will stage in shortly and up the ante.

SwPac: I am sending some B17s out to long range to check on the Jap armor in the Victoria Desert. IJN transports at Port Moresby. B17s return with all ships and crews but cause little damge.

Burma; Little action

China: Yangtze: left flank: 78-48: 5 raids: 225 sorties: 525 casualties. I’m keeping track of this because it hurts so much. The range to interdict is just to long for the Chinese. I am sending USA help soon.

[zuluhour]

July 6, 1942

NorPac: 9 PRS squadron flies recon over Adak. 53 assorted bombers and auxiliary aircraft. AF-1 and expanding. 5 units (11,860) 50 guns, 7 AFV. More than I thought. He’s not done here. Two understrength B18 squadrons prepare a run over the airfield at long range.

CenPac: Radio silence.

SoPac: transports and supply arriving daily to support operations. No IJN sub activity, anywhere. P38s sweep Nadi, IJAF wisely stands down. Libs and Forts apply some damage to the fields.

SwPac: We find and weakly hit the Japs in the Victoria Desert whereupon we lose contact again today. DD transports sighted off of Darwin.

Burma: small air actions. Fortresses are nearing the continent. 11th fighter squadron stages into China to help the small Chinese aircraft fend off the massive air raids on the Yangtze left flank.

China: Left flank, Yangtze river positions. Loc: (78-48) raids: 5, sorties: 255, casualties: 724. The CAF does get 2 kills and damages half a dozen more. The little guys are still assembling H83s in Chungking. Chinese fighter reserves are nil, in fact there are no pilot reserves.

notes: Situation maps and progress on CROSSCOURT in 72 hours WWII time. Observations from Signet and recon has revealed possible trouble in the CenPac area and I have taken measures.

[zuluhour]

June 7-8, 1942

Overview: The IJAF is scoring exceedingly well regardless of weather over the Chinese. For the past several days some CAF fighters have shown up and downed one or two but have not been able to curb either the casualties or the sortie levels. Some Americans have arrived and will attempt to bolster the effort. IJN subs have begun to show up for the first time in quite a while. What is disturbing is where. The buildup on Adak is also troublesome. There are fifty aircraft plus on the island on a level one strip which I cannot bomb by land based air. The B18s will not fly from our level one. There are also a lot of people there.

NorPac: Submarines have been spotted operating in Alaskan waters. In response to the buildup on Adak where recon reveals the airfield is expanding I have sent some P40s to Dutch Harbor and a Seabee battalion is on the way to accelerate our own aerodrome.

CenPac: Radio intercepts and submarine activity suggests Japan may be anticipating our move into the Gilbert group. This makes the operation scheduled there far more complex. Submarines, PTs, and support vessels have arrived in the area of operations and begun to deploy. Current maps to be posted when I feel it’s time. On the 7th I-171 sinks a slower AO full of fuel off Baker, cutting in half our reserve for the operation.

SwPac: On the 7th, destroyers attack the port of Darwin sinking some ASW and minesweeper assets. On the 8th Horn Island is invaded. Also on the 7th we lose a B17 over Port Moresby, our first Fortress loss over New Guinea. As the allies have been unable to achieve any kind of results like Japan as far as bombing goes, it will not be long before the B17s are reassigned in SwPac and naval aviators will take over defense of NE Australia. On the 8th the Japanese are repulsed on Horne taking over 1200 casualties between the landings and the follow on attack.

SoPac: Raids over the Fiji’s continue. Zeros refuse to rise and meet our fighters and Liberators continue to hit the fields. I wish the bombings were more successful at reducing the fields though.

Burma: The 7th saw a huge reduction in RAF bomber command as over thirty are lost outside Akyab. Even escorted raids are chewed up and spit out. It will not be long before USAF bombers are brought to bear here.

China: The bombing continues harshly on the Yangtze’s left flank. In the far north we hold. On the 7th: location: 78-48: 5 raids: 296 sorties: 736 casualties. On the 8th: 8 raids: 296 sorties: 1,035 casualties.

[zuluhour]

Chinese counter attack on the Yangtze: June 9, 1942

[zuluhour]

Operation VOLLEY: day 1

submarines reach the Gilberts with support ships in the van.

[zuluhour]

June 9-10, 1942

NorPac: The Houston is spotted on the way to Adak, orders stand, bombard! Some P40s over Dutch Harbor fly CAP now. Seabees are at sea on the way to speed up field construction before winter.

CenPac: Submarines reach patrol areas in preparation for VOLLEY. Transports and fast attack groups depart Pearl on the evening of the 10th.

SoPac: I-6 takes major damage trying to get at shipping to Pago Pago. Air raids ordered for the Fiji’s again tomorrow.

SwPac: Horn Island falls to the IJA 4th division, reinforced. Wyndham is attacked by air then invaded from the sea and secured. No sign of IJA units in the Victoria Desert. New Zealanders take up positions at the edge of the desert.

Burma: P38s fly over Moulmein to empty air. I cannot find the Jap air fields.

India: B17s unload in India.

China: massive bombings continue at 78-48: Yangtze sector: on the 10th: 6 raids: 787 casualties. 291 sorties.

[zuluhour]

map:

[KenchiSulla]

Hi Zulu,

Is that single regiment enough to take the base or are you sure it is empty?

[zuluhour]

Currently it is a "green" dot hex. I will overfly it in 48 hours by a dozen CATS on Baker. Twelve more CATS will stage in to the advanced seaplane base established yesterday. I have two reinforced reg's in reserve which will put to sea tomorrow with another bombardment TF (Obj.Tarawa) and the fleet oilers. In a worse case scenario where Japan shows itself with Kido Butai or lands on the objective, I will proceed SSW and land on Lunga Point or Ndeni and attack with my fast carrier group. I have well over 500 a/c and would gladly engage them if the amphibious assault force is safe.

[KenchiSulla]

Sounds like a plan. To be honest, I doubt that he will react. It is kind of OK to let the allied player build up in the area..

[zuluhour]

edit

[zuluhour]

July 11, 1942

China: NO air raids over the Yangtze line, only some very small raids. Less than eleven sorties counted.

Burma: Recon over Ramree (D/L 9/10) shows no occupation forces. The first two B17 squadrons unload in India.

SwPac: Quiet for the day.

SoPac: Annoying IJN sub attacks, however a fine raid over the Fiji’s produces some base hits and all the boys make it home.

CenPac: The amphibious TFs heading for Objective VOLLEY make 320nm into blue water. Submarine screen is up. Seaplane base is operational and should begin naval searches tomorrow. Battleship Division 1 is reconstituted with Colorado, Idaho, and Mississippi. The old BBs make for open water tonight for a follow up attack on Tarawa following the fast BB TF by 72 hours.

[zuluhour]

July 12, 1942

NorPac: Quiet

CenPac: Amphibious force undetected. USS North Carolina engaged. Battleship Division 1 at sea. Long Island puts to sea. Forward area seaplane base spots IJN warships in the Gilberts.

SoPac: Libs stand down tomorrow. IJN subs at Pago Pago attacked and damaged.

SwPac: Waiting for the IJA in the desert.

Burma: A couple of dozen Zekes located at Prome. I order a sweep, doubt they will rise. B17s are unpacking quickly in India. There should be 32 ready shortly. Reserve frames of the E model are plentiful when it’s time to expand to 12 per squadron in August.

China: Stalemate up north continues. Air raids resume today over the left flank on the Yangtze. 10 raids: 378 sorties: 790 more casualties.

[zuluhour]

SITREP:

[zuluhour]

July 13, 1942

China: Northern Frontier: The 11th Chinese Corp is 2mi outside Hami and no IJA units spotted. I hope to retake tomorrow. On the Yangtze the IJAF returns. 9 raids: 266 sorties: 968 casualties. The Americans arrive in Warhawks over the beleaguered souls on the left flank of the river defenses, and with some crack Chinese pilots in their new planes down 18 a/c outright and damage more. It’s a start. Tally for A2A today was 30+ IJAF to 2. Two IJA reinforced divisions assault the hex for a 1-1. The Chinese hold. Good leadership and terrain help. The 34th Army Group, currently with five corps will be reinforced in several days if they can hold. If not the, the reinforcements will try and cut off the JAPs in the woods.

Burma: Staging aircraft and assembling B17s. I order recon to stand down, (not local Lysander supplied) tomorrow to rest up for another “push” by air.

SwPac: A small detachment of Japanese is now in contact SSW of Darwin. Some of the smaller bombers will fly tomorrow and see what’s what. SW Australia quiet. USA anti-tank units are closing on Australian ports.

SoPac: DMS-2 on mine sweeping duty at Pago Pago clears over 30 mines today. IJN sub spotted but we cannot pin it. IJ recon has probably noted the buildup of shipping in the port and lagoons. I order a heavy raid on Suva for Tomorrow.

CenPac: Amphibious force is undetected. The North Carolina is attacked by a handful of Jakes in the morning with 60kg bombs (2 hit for no effect) and 9 Betty in the afternoon. The Betty miss. Both the Oklahoma and New Mexico are nearing readiness. That will give me battleship division 2.

[DOCUP]

Do you have any CD units heading to Op Volley?

[zuluhour]

July 14, 1942

China: Yangtze line: Left flank: Air raids: 6, sorties: 213, Casualties: 408. A bombardment as usual, Direct assault: Shock attack achieves 3:1 odds and demolishes the front line. 13,ooo plus Chinese lost. Just over 2,ooo Japanese. The disorganized gaggle retreats south west. None of the corps will be of significant value for a long time. The Chinese do arrive in Hami. No IJ. They will secure the city tomorrow. The papers in Chungking tout 2 new Chinese aces to cover the defeat. They meet the first Tojo today.

Burma: Recon ordered over Prome. Over 100 fighters shown on the ground now. They have not risen to meet the P38s. I order a sweep again tomorrow followed by a small squadrons of Hudson’s to see if we can get some on the ground. At night, everything I have with two radial engines is ordered to hit it at night.

SwPac: RAAF planes do not attack the IJ formation SW of Darwin. I order it again tomorrow. Still no sign of Japanese in the Victoria Desert.

SoPac: TFs successfully navigate through IJN subs again to Pago Pago. I-2 is spotted today. ASW escorts fail to make contact after attacks.

NorPac: The Seabees are well on the way to the Aleutians.

CenPac: North Carolina changes course and loses the IJN TF to it’s north. The amphibious and fast attack groups are 1280nm out and just past half way to VOLLEY.

[zuluhour]

I wish Joe. I wanted a force to be able to unload all personnel within 24 hours. I had / have a CD unit prepped but it did not make wave one or two. I would have needed something like two dozen more freighters to ensure they could get off the ships before the Kido Butai and IJN surface TFs show up. In hind sight, I wish I had risked it. The jig is up I think as the North Carolina was attacked for two days along with tenders in the Gilberts. If he caught a glimpse of the subs deploying it might have also given him a clue. I still don't believe he knows Tarawa is not the objective, but we may be heading into a "show" shortly.

[zuluhour]

July 15, 1942

China: The Chinese retake Hami and rest, it was a long walk. On the left flank of the Yangtze front IJAF targets 77-49 and come in unmolested. It’s another massacre. 8 raids: 253 sorties: 1078 casualties. The Chinese scramble to set up a new river line.

NorPac: The 2nd USN Seabee Bn arrive Dutch Harbor. Recon over Adak reveal 50 a/c. A squadron of the 28th Composite Group upgrades to B26Bs filling out the squadron. The CO is relieved and I expect some action out of the unit. SS Cuttlefish fires lots of torpedoes and frustrated, surfaces and sets a Maru on fire outside Adak.

Indian Ocean: The Royal Navy pounces on Diego Garcia with four old BBs and hammers the island.

Burma: No Bomber missions fly. The P38s meet no opposition. Word from India reaches the front lines that the full group of B17s has arrived safely and the first squadron will begin staging in shortly.

Australia: No bombers fly again.

SoPac: quiet

CenPac: D-Day VOLLEY is close. IJN is spotted from the advanced seaplane base just to the west of the submarine screen. 10 ships no IDs.

[DOCUP]

Trouble on the horizon.