IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

[racndoc]

4/23-4/26/43



SUBS


SS Guardfish pumps 41 shells into AKL Tatsushiro off Fukue-jima.

SS Peto sinks AO Iro near Aogashima.

SS Lapon is hit by 9 DCs from IJN ASW by Utonomiya.

SS KXIII sinks AMc Ataka Maru off Raba.



CBI


The 5th Indian Division arrives in Aden. We are sending this division to Karachi where it will march overland to Indochina. Once 5th Indian Division reaches Indochina we will be able to withdraw the remainder of the Ist Australian Corps for redeployment to the DEI.



CENTPAC.......MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


For whatever reason the LSTs at Mili are unable to completely load the 766th and 767th Tank Battalions. We postponed the invasion of Maloelap for 2 days to allow additional loading and now Maloelap has some 8700 troops....looks like StoneAge is sending in 400 troops /day by transport AC. The 3rd Marine Division will go in tomorrow with the 2 partially loaded tank battalions. The CVEs will fly CAP over Maloelap to prevent further reinforcement by transport AC.

At least this gave CENTPAC 2 additional days for the B-17s, B-24s , B-25s and TBFs to work over the ground troops and the port facilities. We have reconned every air field in the area and Japan apparently has withdrawn all their fighters and bombers from the Marshalls...only auxilliary AC remain. While the invasion goes in tomorrow at Maloelap the fast carriers of TG 58 will sweep around to the north of the Marshalls to interdict the steady stream of minelayers that are arriving from the north and also to get away from the IJN sub wolfpacks.

[racndoc]

4/27-4/28/43



SUBS


SS S-42 sinks TK Nisho Maru off Davao.



CENTPAC........INVASION MALOELAP


The day begins with an USN bombardment TF giving Maloelap a "Spruance haircut":


Naval bombardment of Maloelap at 136,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

67 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 8
BB Idaho, Shell hits 5
BB Arizona, Shell hits 3
CA Canberra
CA New Orleans
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
CL Boise
CL Phoenix

Japanese ground losses:
312 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 21 (14 destroyed, 7 disabled)



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 57
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 4

BB Massachusetts firing at Maloelap
BB New Mexico firing at Maloelap Naval Fortress
BB Idaho firing at Maloelap Naval Fortress
BB Arizona firing at Maloelap Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Maloelap
CA New Orleans firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
CA Indianapolis firing at Maloelap
CA Portland firing at Maloelap Naval Fortress
CL Boise firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
CL Phoenix firing at 52nd Naval Guard Unit


Im pretty happy with the results of the aerial and naval bombardments as losses were very light to Japanese CD guns:


Pre-Invasion action off Maloelap
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
DD Flusser
DD Preston
DD Taylor
LST-16
LST-17
AM Swallow
LST-19
LST-18

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CL Concord firing at Maloelap Naval Fortress
CL Raleigh firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
DD Flusser firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
DD Preston firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
DD Taylor firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
DD Flusser fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
DD Flusser firing at enemy troops
DD Preston firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Maloelap

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Maloelap, 136,117


Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 3rd Marine Div /118


Invasion Support action off Maloelap
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
DD Radford
LST-16
DD Flusser
LST-19
LST-18
AM Swallow
LST-17


Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


CL Concord firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
CL Raleigh firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
DD Radford firing at 1st JNAF AF Unit
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
DD Flusser fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
DD Flusser fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
DD Radford firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 51st Naval Guard Unit, at 136,117 (Maloelap)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 7



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
TBF-1 Avenger x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
5 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 28300 feet
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Maloelap , at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 14
B-24D Liberator x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 20


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Maloelap ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Maloelap ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Maloelap ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Maloelap , at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9


No Allied losses



Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 51st Naval Guard Unit, at 136,117 (Maloelap)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 7


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Afternoon Air attack on 52nd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,117 (Maloelap)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
TBF-1 Avenger x 72


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 28300 feet
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 51st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 51st Naval Guard Unit, at 136,117 (Maloelap)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 24
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
B-26 Marauder x 11


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Maloelap
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

47 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-28
LST-24, Shell hits 1
LST-21
LST-32
LST-454
LST-22



1st JNAF AF Unit firing at LST-28
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-24 at 5,000 yards
LST-28 firing at enemy troops
LST-32 firing at enemy troops
LST-454 firing at enemy troops
LST-28 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Maloelap

TF 316 troops unloading over beach at Maloelap, 136,117


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)


By the end of the day the Marines are engaged in a desperate struggle with the well entrenched Japanese garrison:


Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2603 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Defending force 12053 troops, 234 guns, 266 vehicles, Assault Value = 510

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Assaulting units:
52nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Naval Fortress
Maloelap Base Force
1st JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
767th Tank Bn /118
3rd Marine Div /129
766th Tank Bn /118


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12038 troops, 234 guns, 265 vehicles, Assault Value = 510

Defending force 4032 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Allied adjusted assault: 41

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
608 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1006 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 67 (44 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Div /129
767th Tank Bn /118
766th Tank Bn /118

Defending units:
52nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Naval Fortress
Maloelap Base Force
1st JNAF AF Unit


The fighting at Maloelap rages on for 2 days. By the end of the 2nd day Japanese resistance is finally crushed:


Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1531 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Defending force 10997 troops, 232 guns, 230 vehicles, Assault Value = 441

Japanese ground losses:
337 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
52nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Naval Fortress
Maloelap Base Force
1st JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
767th Tank Bn /118
3rd Marine Division
766th Tank Bn /118


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10997 troops, 232 guns, 230 vehicles, Assault Value = 441

Defending force 2513 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Allied adjusted assault: 58

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 58 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2944 casualties reported
Squads: 134 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 286 destroyed, 186 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 135 (128 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units destroyed 5


Allied ground losses:
610 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
767th Tank Bn /118
766th Tank Bn /118

Defending units:
52nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Naval Fortress
Maloelap Base Force
1st JNAF AF Unit


The 3rd Marine Division is pretty chewed up.....they will be out of action for awhile. Im relieved that the battle only lasted 2 days....the Marines are very fatigued and heavily disrupted.

Transports stand by to the east of Maloelap ready to unload seabees, aviation engineers, base units, supplies and 13th AF HQ. We hope to have the level 4 airfield at Maloelap fully operational within 4 days.

Supported by a nearby AV, PBYs fly in imeediately to the lagoon at Maloelap to extend Allied naval search.

The fast carriers of TG 58 will move to the SW to cover an invasion of Kusaie in about 4 days.

Im moving the USN BBs back to Makin to see if they can fully rearm there....its a level 4 port with 3 fully loaded AKEs.....if they cant they will need to sail b ack to Pearl Harbor to rearm.

Recon now show some 50 fighters and bombers on Roi-Namur and around 75 auxilliary AC. Level bombers at Makin and Tarawa will hit the airfield at Roi-Namur tomorrow in addition to the TBFs of TG 58.

[racndoc]

4/29-4/30/43



SUBS


SS S-42 sinks TK Nisho Maru off Davao.

SS Sturgeon sinks TK San Luis by Tawi Tawi.

SS Haddock sinks CMcMa3 near Ominato.

SS O21 sinks AK Yamaura Maru off Jolo.

It seems as if the Allied subs are doing better in the waters around the Philippines than off the Japanese home islands.....there certainly is a lot less Japanese ASW air flying in the Philippines.



CENTPAC......CARRIER BATTLE OF WESTERN MARSHALLS


The turn starts off pretty well as Allied medium, heavy and naval bombers put a hurt on the japanese airfield at Roi-Namur:


Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 8
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 71

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 22
B-25D1 Mitchell x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged



Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead


Afternoon Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57
TBF-1 Avenger x 54


Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb


After 2 days of this aerial bombardment the airfield at Roi-Namur is 75% damaged and 25 Japanese AC are destroyed on the ground.

On April 30th PBYs detect what seems like the bulk of the Japanese Imperial Fleet 150 miles north of Ponape and 200 miles west of Eniwetok. There arte at least 3 large IJN task forces heading SE at high speed towards the US naval forces in the marshalls and the Gilberts.

CV Saratoga, CV Enterprise, CV Hornet and CV Yorktown had just completed bombing of the airfield on Roi-Namur on April 29th and were stationed 100 miles north of Kusaie to cover the amphiboius assault scheduled there for May 1st.


Several waves of carrier planes were launched at the Japanese TFs in the morning:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,109

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 23



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
TBF-1 Avenger x 35


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
CA Chikuma
BB Haruna
CA Maya
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,110

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 18


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze, Bomb hits 1
DD Urakaze
DD Kuroshio



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,109

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
DD Makigumo
BB Haruna
BB Musashi
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,109

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3a Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
DD Takanami
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead


The first raid was a nice combined arms attack but the rest of the raids went in piecemeal without fighter escort. Out of some 83 SBDs and 53 TBFs not one hit is scored in the thunderstorms.

USN carrier aircraft get a positive ID on BB Musashi, BB Hiei, BB Haruna and BB Kirishima. They also tangle with IJN CAP from CVL Shoho, CVL Ryujo, CVL Zuiho and CVE Hosho.


The USN carriers launch a series of attacks in the afternoon as the weather finally clears:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,109

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3a Zero x 21



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 28


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 28 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
CL Oyodo
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 1
CA Chokai
CA Takao
CA Atago



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 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 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 121,109

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3a Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 15


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Maya
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead


After the smoke clears it appears as if the US Navy has suffered a stunning naval defeat....it almost seems like the reverse of the RL Battle of Santa Cruz. The Allies lose 104 AC overall to 39 Japanese. In A2A the US Navy loses 37 AC to 5 IJN AC.....thanks mainly to all the raids that went in unescorted.

The SBDs suffer the worst.....57 SBDs....40% of 4 USN carriers' total SBD complement are lost......38 SBDs to AAA. This would be something Id expect from Vals attacking BB South Dakota off Santa Cruz....not SBDs in 1943.

I noticed horrific SBD losses when StoneAge bombarded my airfields at Mussau Island and Kavieng 2 months ago....something like 25% of 2 USMC SBD squadrons were lost to AAA without scoring hits(12 out of 48) but I chalked it up to relatively inexperienced Marine pilots(low to mid 60s).

Here in the Western Marshalls I was using my "Top Gun" navy pilots(hi 60s-hi 70s experience) and it was just as bad if not worse. 13 TBFs and 21 F4F-4s were
also lost in this fiasco. I think that USN naval bombers maybe scratched the paint on a couple of BBs.

With a replacement rate of 21 SBD-3s per month, it will take nearly 3 months for the navy to replace its divebomber losses.

Here is the current situation......the Japanese Navy is approaching the Marshalls/Gilberts from the NW with at least 4 BBs, 3 CVLs and a CVE. Their air complements are almost completely intact.

CV Saratoga somehow exhausted her carrier ops with the attacks on Roi-Namur and the IJB BBs......so she is out of the battle.
That leaves CV Enterprise with 10 available SBDs out of 20 total and 14 TBFs out of 17 total....... CV Hornet with 10 SBDs out of 22 total and 7 TBFs out of 13 total.......and CV Yorktown with 12 SBDs out of 15 total and 7 TBFs out of 13 total. Together the USN fast carriers can put up a total of 32 SBDs and 28 TBFs tomorrow.......not enough to get into another pitched battle with Japanese naval forces.

The invasion of Kusaie is now postponed and the amphibious transports will be turned back. The 4 USN CVs will cover the transports as they fall back on the Gilberts. I just realized this turn that Maloelap has a max capacity of 6000 troops and I now have 17000 troops on that tiny atoll....so they are way overstacked and out of supply.....so all unloading operations here are cancelled until we can find some empty transports to pull 3rd Marine Division off the island. Unloading will continue on Mili as we bring more seabees and aviation personel on shore.

Fortunately the USN SAG with 4 BBs was able to completely reload at Makin....so they are ready to go and can cover the transports unloading at Mili. Most transport TFs in the area will fall back to the Gilberts where they will be under the cover of the land based air. B-17s and B-24s based at Tarawa will continue to neutralize Roi-Namur while USAAF B-25s and B-26s and USMC SBDs and TBFs based at Makin will be poised to resist any naval incursions.

I think that the Marshalls campaign will need to be delayed for a couple of weeks to allow for the USN carriers to sail back to Pearl Harbor to replenish their carrier ops and their replace their AC losses. Nearly 100 Hellcats are available now to swap out the aging F4F-4s and I think that is now needed given the Wildcats poor performance in the Carrier Battle of the Western Marshalls.

[racndoc]

5/1-5/2/43



SUBS


StoneAge moved a wolfpack of 4 subs to Maloelap and feasted on Allied shipping:

SS I-170 sinks AG Regulus at Maloelap.

SS I-174 lands a torpedo on AK Arkansan at Maloelap.

SS I-177 finishes off AK Arkansan with 2 more torpedoes at Maloelap.

SS Shad sinks PB Shoei Maru off Niigata.



CENTPAC......NAVAL BATTLE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS


USAAF heavy bombers based at Tarawa continue to pound the Jap airfield at Roi-Namur and leave it 95% damaged. StoneAge apparently used some of his precious carrier fighters in an attempt to stop the onslaught:


Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 14
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 120

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground




Runway hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 23
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9
B-26 Marauder x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 66

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged



Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb


StoneAge managed to move a few Nells to Wotje but without a HQ unit there they were reduced to dropping bombs:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,121

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 4



Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Alchiba, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Alchiba


Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
G3M3 Nell x 3



Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LST-457



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Majuro at 138,120

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
G3M3 Nell x 3



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Arkansan



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..



The USN carriers managed only a single small strike against the marauding Imperial Navy:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 129,119

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3a Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Musashi



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes


Again the SBDs score no hits in the thunderstorms and 4 of 18 are lost......however this time a mere 16% are shot down by the dreaded battleships AA fire(3 out of 18).


Allied medium bombers again attack the IJN SAG and even resort to strafing:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 129,119

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3a Zero x 20



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 5
B-26 Marauder x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
BB Haruna
CA Tone, Shell hits 5



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
12 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes


The screenshot below gives a view of the somewhat confused situation in the Marshalls now.

StoneAge has 3 seperate TFs in the Marshalls. The most northern TF.......approximately 80 miles NW of Roi-Namur....is apparently a bombardment TF with a probable destination of Maloelap. In the center.......about 200 miles SW of Kwajalein....are the IJN CVLs and CVEs. In the south....about 120 miles NW of Namorik....is the main bombardment TF I have been bombing for the last 4 days with BB Haruna, BB Musashi, BB Hiei and BB Kirishima.

The southern IJN bombardment force with the 4 BBs could theoretically strike Mili, Makin or Tarawa. I doubt that it would go as far south as Tarawa as it would be going deep into the Allied air cover in the Gilberts.

Im not going to worry about the northern IJN TF....I cant defend Maloelap by either sea or air and its overstacked anyway so I stopped unloading there last turn.
All Allied transport convoys in the Marshalls/Gilberts in and around Maloelap, Mili, Makin and Tarawa are ordered to stop unloading and are sent east towards Hawaii.

Im not sure why StoneAge is doing all this action here in the Marshalls with evidently much of what is left of the Japanese navy. There is no strategic victory to be achieved here. If the Allies were in the middle of a massive invasion against a heavily defended island I could understand Japanese naval intervention.
But here in the Marshalls there are no active invasions...only some scttered transports unloading supplies and materiel that can easily raise anchor and disappear to the east. StoneAge is risking all and the most he can gain from it is a couple of damaged airfields with some busted up aircraft.

I thought about the Allies tactical options here in the Marshalls/Gilberts last night after I sent my previous turn to StoneAge and I figured out a possible solution and resolved to stay and fight.

Last turn the 4 USN CVs were able to put up a total of 32 SBDs and 28 TBFs. CV Saratoga was out of carrier ops so this turn I transferred Sara's SBDs to CV Enterprise and the TBFs to CV Hornet. In addition, I staged a Marine SBD squadron to CV Yorktown. US carriers currently have operational:

CV Saratoga......27 F4F-4s
CV Yorktown......35 F4F-4s, 27 SBDs, 11 TBFs
CV Hornet..........23 F4F-4s, 37 SBDs, 26 TBFs
CV Enterprise....12 F4F-4, 45 SBDs, 17 TBFs.


Thats a far cry from last turn. So the US navy will stay and fight.

Mili and Makin remain the most likely targets for bombardment by the BB Musashi SAG. Medium bombers were transferred from Makin to Tarawa and the Allies now have some 130 AC on Makin(mostly fighters, and Marine SBDs and TBFs) and 230 AC on Tarawa(fighters and USAAF medium and heavy bombers).
Another 130 P-38Fs, Mitchell IIs, Hudson III(LR) and TBFs were staged into our level 5 airfield at Nauru.

The 3 CVEs with 70 F4F-4s and 18 TBFs will take up station mid way between Mili and Makin. The USN SAG at Makin was placed in command of none other than Admiral Bull Halsey on flagship BB Massachusetts......there are also 3 old BBs, 4 CAs, 5 CLs and 11 DDs in the SAG. Most of the DDs carry 16 torpedoes and all of the BB comanders have been upgraded to the best available. The USN SAG is placed on a 6 hex reaction range....so can react to an attack at Mili, Makin or Tarawa.

StoneAge has repeatedly naval bombarded my airfields at Koepand, Batavia, Kavieng and Mussau Island.....the stealth IJB BBs have evidently perfected their Romulan cloaking device as I have never spotted him coming or going except after the fact when there is a surface combat.....and when there was a surface combat I lost all 3 of my BBs while scratching the paint on BB Mutsu.

The SBDs are like mosquitoes around the BBs.....they buzz around till they get shot down by the AA fire and even when they land a bomb it merely scratches the paint. StoneAge has his Air Combat TF several hexes behind the BBs to fly LRCAP over the bombardment TF while keeping the carriers out of range of my land based air at Makin and Tarawa.

The 4 USN carriers are presently 180 miles NW of Makin. They are ordered 240 miles to the NW where they will be 200 miles S of the IJN carriers last reported position. Maybe I cant hurt the BBs but I can sure annihilate the last remaining IJN carriers tomorrow. The IJN BBs may annihilate Admiral Halsey's BBs at either Mili or Makin just as the USN BBs were destroyed at Batavia....but hopefully there will be some IJN cripples left over that the USN carriers can finish off at their leisure. The IJN bombardment TF is 320 miles off Mili and 400 miles off Makin. If Mili is the target it will get hit tomorrow night. If Makin is the target then the bombardment wont happen until night of the 2nd turn and the TF should only be 2-3 hexes east of its current position tomorrow. Maybe bombardment TFs are mostly immune to naval search but Im going to send a few DDs out for a surface intercept that should hopefully illuminate their position.

In addition, the SAGs and Air Combat CVEs of MacArthur's Navy have completed their escort of the Hollandia reinforcement/resupply operation and have refueled back at Rabaul. CV Victorious is also about a one day sail out of Rabaul.They will be sent towards the Marshalls as we hope to catch the catch the Imperial Navy in a vise.

[racndoc]

5/3/43



SUBS


SS Halibut sinks AK Toyooka Maru off Torishima.

SS KXIV sinks fully loaded AO Notoro Maru near Talaud Island.



CENTPAC.......CARRIER BATTLE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS


May 3rd starts off as DD Hobby makes a successful daytime surface intercept of the BB Musashi Bombardment TF near Namorik:


Day Time Surface Combat, near Namorik at 130,120, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CA Aoba
CL Oyodo
CL Agano
CL Kiso
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Yugumo
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Takanami
DD Naganami
DD Tamanami
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Yukikaze

Allied Ships
DD Hobby, Shell hits 5, and is sunk



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Hobby at 28,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Hobby at 28,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Hobby at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Hobby at 27,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Hobby at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Hobby at 23,000 yards
CA Chokai engages DD Hobby at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Hobby at 20,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Hobby at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Hobby at 17,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Hobby at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
CA Chokai engages DD Hobby at 16,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Hobby at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Hobby at 14,000 yards
CL Kiso engages DD Hobby at 14,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Hobby at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Hobby at 11,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Hobby at 11,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Hobby at 11,000 yards
DD Hobby engages DD Hatsuzuki at 11,000 yards
Carey F. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Hobby sunk by BB Kirishima at 9,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


Now the position of the IJN bombardment TF is known even if not detected by Allied naval search. I had thought that the IJN Bombardment Tf would move 2 hexes to the SE if Makin was the target but they moved only a single hex......the IJn TF must have a max movement rate of 9 hexes (I thought that it would be 8).

The USN and IJN carrier forces spot each other early in the morning and the USN fast carriers react by closing the range to only 120 miles......by doing this the USN carriers also closed within 40 miles of the BB Musashi Bombardment TF.....close but fortunately not close enough for StoneAge to engage in a surface battle.


The IJN carriers launch the first stirke:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,120

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3a Zero x 19
B5N1 Kate x 23
B5N2 Kate x 9



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 14 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed



CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 15 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28300 , scrambling fighters to 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 27300 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 28300.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers


The F4F-4s on CAP decimate the Japanese airstrike and the USN carriers are unscathed.


The retaliatory USN carrier strike crushes the remainder of Japanese carrier forces:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 128,117

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3a Zero x 17



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 43
SBD-3 Dauntless x 60
TBF-1 Avenger x 54


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 39 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed, 28 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kitakami
CS Nisshin
DD Asanagi
DD Natsugumo
CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Michishio
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Maikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Hosho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Zuiho


With the IJN carriers crippled there is no longer any LRCAP over the BB Musashi Bombardment TF. The Allied land based bombers start homing in on the Japanese battleships......1st up is an incoming strike by medium bombers from Nauru:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 8
Mitchell II x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 3 damaged
Mitchell II: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Musashi



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Mitchell II bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



Then medium and heavy bombers based at Tarawa take some target practice:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
B-25C Mitchell x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CL Agano



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Musashi



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



Finally some TBFs and SBDs based at Makin score some bomb hits from long range:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 8


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2
BB Haruna



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 19 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi
BB Hiei
CA Takao



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 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


More medium bombers from Tarawa attack the IJN BBs:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 8


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Shell hits 4
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



In the afternoon more medium bombers from Nauru ineffectually drop their ordnance on the BB Musashi Bombardment TF:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10


Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Kirishima
CA Chokai
BB Haruna



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Mitchell II bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


With the Japanese Air Combat TF effectively neutralized in the morning attack the USN carriers are able to focus their attention on the marauding Japanese BBs.
I have to think that the constant land based attacks must have caused a great expenditure of AA ammo from the IJN Bombardment TF because the afternoon
USN carrier strike finally broke through and caused significant damage:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
SBD-3 Dauntless x 33
TBF-1 Avenger x 12


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 26 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
BB Hiei
CA Atago
BB Kirishima
CA Aoba
CA Maya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Oyodo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Chokai



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb



Land based TBFs from Makin also land a couple more bombs on the IJN BBs:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namorik at 130,119

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
TBF-1 Avenger x 7


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 4, on fire
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



May 3rd closes as a small USN carrier strike applies the coup de grace to CVL Ryujo:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 128,117

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo


With the IJN carriers annihilated the USN carriers will be able to devote their full attention to the IJN surface forces tomorrow.

[racndoc]

5/4/43



CENTPAC.....CARRIER BATTLE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS: DAY 2


May 4th begins with the northern IJN Bombardment TF hammering Maloelap:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 04, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Maloelap at 136,117

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Myoko
CL Kinu
CL Natori
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
AV Curtiss, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD Hulbert, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Swan, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
745 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 25 (7 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 29
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2

BB Hyuga firing at Maloelap
BB Ise firing at 3rd Marine Division
BB Fuso firing at 3rd Marine Division
BB Nagato firing at 3rd Marine Division
CA Kako firing at 3rd Marine Division
CA Furutaka firing at 3rd Marine Division
CA Kinugasa firing at Maloelap
CA Myoko firing at 3rd Marine Division
CL Kinu firing at Maloelap
CL Natori firing at 3rd Marine Division
CL Nagara firing at 3rd Marine Division



The remnants of the IJN Air Combat TF and the BB Musashi Bombardment TF are scattered throughout the waters of the Marshall Islands.Some long range USAAF bombers based at Tarawa begin the day by hitting the BB Musashi TF:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 130,116

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
CL Oyodo, heavy damage
CA Atago



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


At this point in the day BB Musashi appears to be in pretty decent shape.


Then the USN carrier planes find BB Musashi and work her and her escorts over:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 130,116

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Oyodo, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Musashi



Even a B-24 flying at 15,000 feet scores a hit on the mortally wounded BB:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 130,116

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Musashi


In the afternoon the USN carrier aircraft work over scattered groups of IJN ships:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 129,114

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 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 a Japanese CA
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kitakami


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 130,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CA Atago



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Chokai



By the end of the day the remaining elements of the Imperial Navy are steaming north out of the Marshalls.

The USN carriers.... completely exhausted......cannot pursue and must retire to Pearl Harbor. CV Saratoga, CV Enterprise and CV Yorktown all have zero sorties remaining. CV Hornet has but 96 sorties remaining and a total of 18 F4F-4s, 13 SBDs and 14 TBFs operational. The 4 carriers will return to Oahu to replenish their sorties, rebuild their shattered air groups and replace the obsolescent F4F-4s with the brand new Hellcats.

With the destruction of the IJN Air Combat TF and one of the bombardment TFs the invasion of Kusaie is back on......the US Marines will land tomorrow supported
by the arrival of MacArthur's SWPAC Navy.....an Air Combat TF with 5 CVEs and CV Victorious and 2 SAGs with 6 BBs. They will be joined by CENTPAC's 3 CVEs. Admiral Hills Amphibious TF 86 will pull 3rd Marine Division off Maloelap(after engaging the 4 IJN subs still parked there) to reduce the overstacking and allow more engineers to be offloaded.

Admiral Halsey breathes a sigh of relief that he did not have to engage BB Musashi and 3 other IJN BBs in a night action with BB Massachusetts and 3 pre-war BBs.


Japanese carrier airpower has been broken once and for all.

[DanielAnsell]

Well done, Admiral!

[racndoc]

Thanx Carny!



5/5-5/8/43



SUBS


SS Drum sinks PB Hakozake Maru off Jesselton.

SS I-170 attacks Amphibious Assault TF 86 at Maloelap and is hit by 6 DCs from the escorts.

SS I-174 is hit by 11 DCs from USN ASW at Maloelap.

SS I-5 is hit by 15 DCs from USN ASW at Maloelap.

What had been an IJN wolfpack of 4 subs at Maloelap is now only one.

SS Cisco sinks AK Shinryu near Shanghai.

S Puffer is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW by Aogashima.

SS S-36 sinks E Shimushu off Donggala.

SS Albacore sinks AKL Daiju Maru by Moppo.



CENTPAC.....MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


US Marines capture Kusaie.....the amphibious transports are covered by newly arriving CV Victorious, 5 CVEs and 2 SAGs with 6 BBs.
Kusaie will be biult up into a level 6 airfield to cover CENTPAC's flank in the Marshalls.

The 4 USN fast carriers depart the Marshalls and head back to Pearl to replenish and replace.

USAAF medium and heavy bombers based at Tarawa have neutralized the Japanese airfields at Roi-Namur and Wotje.

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 86 begins embarking 3rd Marine Division from Maloelap. I didnt realiize that Maloelap was a "very small" atoll with a stacking limit of only 6000 troops. I had over 30,000 troops there after the assault and everyone is starving due to lack of supplies. Once 3rd Marine Division is gone we will be under 6000 troops and then we can land support forces to repair the port and airfield.

I will need to be more careful when attacking atolls in the future and look up their stacking limits before I invade. My final objective in the Marshalls is Roi-Namur....another very small atoll with stacking of only 6000. Recon show 10,000 Japanese troops there so they must be rapidly using up supply. I should probably just isolate Roi-namur and let them all starve before attacking. At any rate, I had prepped 2 divisions and an infantry regiment on Oahu to assault Roi-Namur.....but with the stacking limits I guess that I will only send one division plus some armor so that Im not even more grossly overstacked....this will be a difficult battle.

Three USN CVEs stand by to cover the loading and unloading transports at maloelap. TBFs flying from the CVEs find some IJN cripples leaving the battle area and increase their misery:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Roi-Namur at 131,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Chokai



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roi-Namur at 131,112

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Chokai


The 2 IJN bombardment TFs give the Allied base at Wake a parting shot as they retire towards Japan:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Myoko
CL Kinu
CL Natori
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
AVD San Pablo, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage



Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 36
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 6

BB Hyuga firing at Wake Island
BB Ise firing at Wake Island
BB Fuso firing at Wake Island
BB Nagato firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CA Kako firing at Wake Island
CA Furutaka firing at Wake Island
CA Kinugasa firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CA Myoko firing at Wake Island
CL Kinu firing at Wake Island
CL Natori firing at Wake Island
CL Nagara firing at Wake Island


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

25 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 2
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna
CA Aoba
CA Maya
CA Takao
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Kiso
CL Agano

Allied Ships
AVD San Pablo, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 22
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 4

BB Kirishima firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
BB Hiei firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
BB Haruna firing at Wake Island
CA Aoba firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CA Maya firing at Wake Island
CA Takao firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CA Chikuma firing at Wake Island
CA Tone firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CL Kiso firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
CL Agano firing at Wake Island


Even without BB Musashi thats still an impressive display of naval gunnery.

[racndoc]

5/9-5/10/43



SUBS


SS Snapper spots heavily damaged CA Chokai near Truk.....attempting to make it back to port after suffering heavy damage in the NAVAL BATTLE OF THE MARSHALLS....puts a fish in her and sends her out of her misery.

SS I-5 attacks AdmHill's Amphibious TF 86 and is hit by 6 DCs from the escorts.

SS Albacore sinks AK Yamahagi Maru by Moppo.




CENTPAC.....MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


USN CVE SBDs and TBFs attack IJN shipping off Ponape:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Aratama Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Aratama Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3a Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Aratama Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Hagikaze
DD Hayashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring


Admiral Hill's TF 86 completes loading of 3rd Marine Division at Maloelap and now seabees and aviation personel as well as supplies can be dropped off.

TF 86 will drop off 3rd Marine Division at Makin and then offensively load 1st Marine Division for the assault on Ponape.

[racndoc]

5/11-5/12/43



SUBS


SS Herring sinks PB Ogashima Maru off Sadogashima.

SS Billfish is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Aogashima.

SS Albacore sinks AK Taian Maru by Saishu To.

SS Albacore lands a fish on AK Kinkansan Maru by Saishu To.



CENTPAC.....MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


Maloelap is now under the 6000 man stacking limit and is gaining supplies and has repaired its airfield damage. US Marine SBDs stage to the Maloelap and the new level 3 airfield at Mili to continue pounding Japanese installations on Roi-Namur and Wotje. Im going to send the SBDs in at 22,000 feet to see if they level bomb instead of divebomb.

Kusaie reaches level 1 AF and port and PBY's are flown in to increase the Allies search range in the central Pacific.

At Makin, elements of the 1st Marine Division begin loading on amphibious transports for the invasion of Ponape.

The 4 USN fleet carriers reach Pearl and begin replenishment and repair of minor damage.

[racndoc]

5/13-5/16/43



SUBS


SS I-177 attacks the USN SAG at Maloelap and suffers no less than 25 DC hits before sinking.

SS Flying Fish sinks PB Urashio Maru off Aomori.

SS Sturgeon puts a torpedo in AK Tokiwa Maru near Puerto Princessa.

SS Guardfish puts a fish in heavily loaded TK Ayazona Maru by Shanghai.....she lights up like a torch before sinking.

SS S-37 sinks TK Yuho Maru near Soerabaja.

SS Tautog sinks AK Akagisan Maru off Toyohara.

SS Thresher is hit by 16 DCs from 2 IJN EW boats near Miyake-jima....she has 55 sys and 65 FLT and is now dieseling back to Midway.

SS Wahoo puts a torpedo in AK Zuiho Maru by Shikuka.

SS Pompom sinks PB Mikitade Maru off Aogashima.



CENTPAC.......MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


XIV Corps......24th Division, 762nd Tank Battalion and 763rd Tank Battalion......completes assault loading at Pearl Harbor and leaves Oahu .....destination Roi-Namur. CV Yorktown CV Hornet and CV Enterprise escort the transports west from Hawaii. CV Saratoga waits in Pearl for her sister ship....CV Lexington....to complete her repairs in 3 days.

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 86 completes laoding of the 1st Marine Division at Makin and shoves off for Ponape. The assault on Ponape will be covered by no less than 8 CVEs, CV Victorious and 3 SAGs with 10 BBs.

Heavy bombers at Tarawa, medium bombers at Makin and Marine SBDs and TBFs based at Mili and Maloelap hammer Roi-Namur and Wotje on a daily basis.....Roi-Namur now has 75% AF and 72% port damage.

Kusaie is now a level 2 AF and 2 squadrons of TBFs are staging in to begin softening up Ponape.

[racndoc]

5/17-5/20/43



SUBS


SS Saury puts 2 torpedoes in AK Utide Maru off Shikuku.

SS Grampus finishes off AK Utide Maru off Shikuku.

SS Peto sinks DD Hokaze near Tanegashima.

SS S-46 lights up TK Ogura Maru by Jolo and watches her burn into oblivion.

SS Barb sights IJN SAG with BB Kongo off Pagan and lands a fish on CS Nishin.

SS Plunger puts a torpedo in CL Kashima by Siargao and is hit by 2 DCs from the escorts.

SS RO-107 lands a torpedo on BB Massachusetts at Ponape.

SS Sunfish is hit by 16 DCs from IJN ASW TF and sunk off Tokara Retto.



CENTAC......MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN


1st Marine Division aboard Amphibious TF 86 will assault Ponape tomorrow after a heavy naval bombardment.

TBFs based at Kusaie continue to bomb Ponape defensive installations around the clock.

CV Hornet, CV Yorktown and CV Enterprise arrive back in the Marshall Islands after upgrading their fighter complements to the US Navy's newest fighter......the
Hellcat.

[racndoc]

5/21-5/22/43



SUBS


SS Trout sinks PB Koei Maru off Saipan

SS Whale sinks AK Sekiho Maru by Toyohara.

SS I-38 takes 3 DCs from USN escorts as she attacks invasion fleets at Ponape



CENTPAC.....INVASION PONAPE


The invasion of Ponape begins with USN BBs delivering a massive pre-dawn bombardment:


Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

530 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho, Shell hits 44, on fire
BB Arizona, Shell hits 24
CA Canberra
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CA Houston, Shell hits 3
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 4
CA Portland
CL Denver, Shell hits 2
CL Montpelier
CL Columbia, Shell hits 6
CL Cleveland
CL Boise
CL Phoenix

Japanese ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)



Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 32
Runway hits 525
Port hits 23
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

BB Massachusetts firing at Ponape
BB New Mexico firing at Ponape
BB Idaho firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
BB Arizona firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Ponape
CA New Orleans firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CA Houston firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CA Indianapolis firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CA Portland firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit
CL Denver firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CL Montpelier firing at Ponape
CL Columbia firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CL Cleveland firing at Ponape
CL Boise firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
CL Phoenix firing at Ponape


BB Idaho suffers 18 SYS damage from the CD guns but will stay in the fight for the Marshalls. The bombardment TF will sail to Makin to reload and then head up to Roi-Namur. BB Massachusetts has 26 FLT damage from a sub launched torpedo the previous turn and will be detached from the bombardment TF to return to Pearl for repairs.


The CD guns then direct their fire to the assault transports as the 1st Marine Division storms ashore:


Pre-Invasion action off Ponape - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
DD Preston, Shell hits 3, on fire
LST-19, Shell hits 1
LST-16
AM Finch
DD Flusser
LCI-62
LCI-63, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
LST-18, Shell hits 1, on fire
AM Revenge


Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CL Concord firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit
CL Raleigh firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit
DD Preston firing at Ponape Naval Fortress
14cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-19 at 15,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
AM Finch fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
DD Flusser fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-63 at 15,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-18 at 15,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Ponape

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Ponape, 119,113


Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)


10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Marine Div /139


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Ponape
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCI-63, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
LCI-62
AM Revenge


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-63 at 17,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards
CL Raleigh fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards
CL Concord fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


LCI-63 is sunk by Japanese gunfire.


After 2 days of landings the entire 1st Marine Division is ashore in good order with 14,000 supplies. A deliberate assault is ordered for tomorrow.

CV Yorktown, CV Enterprise and CV Hornet take up position north of Roi-Namur and will add their TBFs to the daily aerial assault on Tarawa.

The assault on Roi-Namur will be a very difficult attack for CENTPAC. Recon now show 11,500 Japanese on the very small atoll that has max stacking of 6000. The airfield and port at Roi-Namur seem to be repairing every turn so the Japanese must have a lot of supplies there. Three more squadrons of B-24s are staged into Tarawa to assist with the reduction of Roi-Namur. The assault on Maloelap was a close run thing.....1 Marine Division and 2 tank battalions against 8500 Japanese behind level 5 forts.....and I was so overstacked that I was out of supply by day 3 and unable to raise the supply level there until the Marine division was withdrawn. I had originally prepped 2 US Army divisons and 2 tank battaloins for Roi-Namur but was so concerned by the supply issues from Maloelap that Ive reduced the assault on Roi-Namur to one division and 2 tank battalions against a stronger foe(11,500 Jap troops) and possibly(probably) stronger fortifications. I will have XIV Corps land at Roi-Namur and CENTPAC HQ will be within range at Mili so hopefully Allied assault value will be doubled for Roi-Namur by the command bonus.

About the only other thing I can do at Roi-Namur to help out the odds of the assault forces will be multiple naval bombardments and the heaviest aerial bombardments of the war.

CV Lexington has finally completed her repairs from the torpedo damage suffered during the Carrier Battle of the Bismarcks in 12/42 and now leaves Pearl Harbor with her sister ship CV Saratoga to join the other USN fast carriers in the Marshalls.

[moses195th]

when you say AV what do you mean?

[Swenslim]

AV = assault value.
 
 
 
P.S. Just read your AR.... what can I say, you japan player is awefully weak.

[Grit]

Very well written AAR.

I like that you include the names of your LCU's.

Every new player in the game should read this.

[racndoc]

moses195th....I use AV as shorthand for assault value.
Swenslim.....StoneAge lost 4 IJN carriers in a 4 on 4 carrier ambush in 2/42 and has been behind the eight ball ever since
Grit,,,,,thanx for your comments



5/23-5/26/43



SUBS


SS Peto attacks Japanese convoy off Kanoya and is hit by 2 DCs from the escorts.

SS Herring sinks PB Hokoyu Maru by Sadogashima.

SS I-18 attacks USN amphibious transports at Ponape and is hit by 2 DCs from the escorts

SS I-22 attacks USN amphibious transports at Ponape and is hit by 3 DCs

SS S-33 hits loaded AO Hayamoto near Kragan and torches her befor sinking.

SS S-33 lights up and sinks loaded AO Narutoby Maru near Kragan.

SS Lampon sinks in the mid Pacific from damage suffered off the coast of Japan.

SS I-8 sinks DD McCall at Maloelap.



CENTPAC.....INVASION PONAPE

In a brief but vicious 2 day battle the 1st Marine Division routs the Japanese defenders on Ponape:


Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12254 troops, 301 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 419

Defending force 1133 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Allied adjusted assault: 367

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 33 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ponape !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division

Defending units:
5th Indpt SNLF Coy
Ponape Naval Fortress
35th JNAF AF Unit


Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12258 troops, 301 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 419

Defending force 667 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 364

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 364 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1017 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 84 destroyed, 88 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division

Defending units:
35th JNAF AF Unit


Seabees and avaiation personel begin to unload immediately after the base is secured.

CV Lexington and CV Saratoga rendezvous with CV Hornet, CV Enterprise and CV Yorktown north of Roi-Namur. The carriers were stationed well north of Roi-Namur while bombardment and assault TFs arrive just in case the IJN BBs show up again.

Well show up again they did......BB Haruna and BB Kongo arrive 1 hex from the USN fast carriers. Fortunately for StoneAge the inclement weather mostly covers his surface TF from the hordes of USN naval bombers:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Mitchell II bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo


Morning Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 96
SBD-3 Dauntless x 49
TBF-1 Avenger x 36


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 38 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1
CL Natori
CA Furutaka
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Kiso
CA Kinugasa



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
16 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 31,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 28300 feet
19 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 28300 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 27000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18


Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Mitchell II bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
F6F-3 Hellcat x 60
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34
TBF-1 Avenger x 42


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
BB Haruna
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CL Nagara
CL Natori
DD Shimakaze
CL Kiso
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb


With thunderstorms in the area I cant be sure that the carrier AC will spot the IJN SAG next turn. I also dont want to take a chance that the IJN SAG could defeat an Allied SAG covering USN amphibious assault transports....and then render those transports hor's de combat like at Batavia...so the transports carrying XIV Corps and the carriers will be pulled back a bit and the invasion of Roi-Namur will be delayed until the IJN SAG (or SAGs) is dealt with.

CV Lexington and CV Saratoga already have exhausted their torpedo supply so that reduces them to just bouncing bombs off the IJN BBs.

[racndoc]

5/27-5/28/43



SUBS


SS Barb sinks AP Terukuni Maru off Pagan.

SS Peto sinks TK Kotai by Tanegashima

SS Gunnel is hit by a 250 kg bomb from IJN ASW AC near Hakodate and is sunk.



CENTPAC.....SECOND NAVAL BATTLE OF THE MARSHALLS


After suffering multiple torpedo hits on 5/26/43 heavily damaged BB Kongo is detached from the IJN SAG north of Roi Namur.

StoneAge charges forward with his SAG with BB Haruna hoping to engage the USN fast carriers in a night engagement.

The 5 USN CVs along with Amphibious Assault TF 86 withdraws to the south to a point due east of Namu....Admiral Halseys's SAG with 3 slow pre-war BBs is tasked with escorting the USN CVs and transports off Namu.

The IJN SAG first reacts and attacks an USN ASW TF north of Roi-Namur:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 27, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rongelap at 133,111, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CA Myoko
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
CL Agano
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Kinu
CL Kiso
DD Shimakaze
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Samidare
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Hatsuharu
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
DD Radford, Shell hits 1
DD Sterett, Shell hits 1
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning



Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 39% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 39% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Fanning at 2,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Radford at 2,000 yards
DD Sterett engages DD Akizuki at 2,000 yards
CA Myoko engages DD Radford at 2,000 yards
DD Sterett engages DD Akizuki at 2,000 yards
Conolly, Richard L. orders Allied TF to disengage
BB Haruna engages DD Fanning at 2,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Dunlap at 2,000 yards
DD Sterett engages DD Akizuki at 2,000 yards
CA Myoko engages DD Radford at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...


Just to the NW of Roi-Namur an USN SAG with 3 fast BBs and a RN/USN SAG with BB Pow, BC Repulse and a fast USN BB stand by but do not react to the IJN BB Haruna SAG.

Instead, 160 miles to the south, Admiral Halsey's SAG with 3 slow pre-war BBs reacts to the IJN SAG and leaves behind the USN carriers and the loaded transports and races north to engage the Japanese SAG in a vicious night action at 2000 yards:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Rongelap at 133,111, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Tone, Shell hits 2
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 30, heavy fires
CA Myoko
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 68, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Furutaka
CL Agano, Shell hits 9, on fire
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara
CL Natori, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Kinu
CL Kiso
DD Shimakaze
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Samidare
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 6
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Houston
CA New Orleans
CA Canberra
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 2
CL Boise
CL Cleveland
CL Columbia
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CL Denver, Shell hits 1
DD Saufley
DD Bagley, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Mugford
DD Henley
DD Patterson, Shell hits 3
DD Gridley



Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 39% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 39% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 2,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at BB Haruna at 2,000 yards
BB Idaho fires at BB Haruna at 2,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
BB Idaho fires at CA Chikuma at 2,000 yards
CA Houston fires at CA Chikuma at 2,000 yards
CA Indianapolis fires at CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
CA Portland fires at CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
CA Houston fires at CL Natori at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier fires at CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
CL Columbia fires at CA Chikuma at 2,000 yards
CL Columbia fires at CL Agano at 2,000 yards
CL Boise fires at CL Natori at 2,000 yards
CL Phoenix fires at CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Suzukaze sunk by DD Patterson at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson launches Torpedoes at DD Samidare at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson launches Torpedoes at DD Niizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Bagley launches Torpedoes at DD Samidare at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages BB New Mexico at 2,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Haruna at 2,000 yards
CA Portland engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA New Orleans at 2,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CL Agano at 2,000 yards
CA Portland engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Tone at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Natori at 2,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Denver at 2,000 yards
CL Agano engages CL Cleveland at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Patterson at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Patterson at 2,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Samidare at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Bagley at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Niizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Hatsuzuki at 2,000 yards
DD Bagley sunk by DD Niizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Haruna at 6,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Haruna at 6,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards
CL Agano engages CA Canberra at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Indianapolis at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CA Canberra at 6,000 yards
CL Agano engages CA Portland at 6,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Denver at 6,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Phoenix at 6,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Agano at 6,000 yards
CL Agano engages CL Boise at 6,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages CL Phoenix at 6,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Gridley at 6,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Patterson at 6,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Niizuki at 6,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Patterson at 6,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Saufley at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...


Sensing a chance to destroy the IJn SAG Admiral Halsey re-engages in a daylight action:


Day Time Surface Combat, near Rongelap at 133,110, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 36, and is sunk
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
CL Agano, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 2
DD Niizuki
DD Umikaze
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 1
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis
CA Houston
CA New Orleans
CA Canberra
CL Phoenix
CL Boise
CL Cleveland
CL Columbia
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 1
CL Denver
DD Saufley
DD Mugford
DD Henley
DD Patterson
DD Gridley



Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 4,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at CA Chikuma at 4,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at CL Agano at 4,000 yards
BB New Mexico fires at DD Hatsushima at 4,000 yards
CA Houston fires at BB Haruna at 4,000 yards
CA Portland fires at CL Agano at 4,000 yards
CL Montpelier fires at BB Haruna at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages BB Haruna at 2,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Haruna at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna sunk by BB Arizona at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsushima sunk by BB New Mexico at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages BB New Mexico at 2,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages BB New Mexico at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB New Mexico at 3,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages BB New Mexico at 3,000 yards
CL Agano sunk by CL Montpelier at 3,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu sunk by BB New Mexico at 3,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma sunk by CA Houston at 3,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages CL Jintsu at 5,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Gridley at 5,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages BB Arizona at 5,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Jintsu at 5,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CL Jintsu at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages CL Jintsu at 10,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Gridley at 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Cleveland at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...


BB Haruna, CA Chikuma, CL Agano, DD Suzukaze, DD Hatsuhara and DD Hatsushima are all sunk.

DD Bagley is also lost. BB New Mexico's damage control parties struggle with the flooding throughout the day but by the afternoon she is abandoned.

USN carrier pilots spot BB Kongo leaving the scene of the crime and finish her off:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 132,110

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 49
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
DD Yugure



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb


BB Kongo slowly settles beneath the waves and another 2500 "Sons of Heaven" are sent to the wrong address.


In the afternoon the SBDs finish off BB Kongo's escort:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 132,110

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 49
SBD-5 Dauntless x 26


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yugure, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
20 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugure

[racndoc]

5/29-5/30/43



SUBS


SS Grouper sinks SC CHa-30 off Hakodate.

SS Nautilus sinks AMcWa 8 near Aogashima.

SS Gunnel sinks off Hakodate from a 250 KG bomb dropped by IJN ASW AC. That makes 3 subs(along with SS Haddock and SS Grenadier) sunk by ASW AC over the last 6 days. StoneAge must have trained his ASW AC to have enough experience to score hits on Allied subs on a regular basis. I had been scoring hits on IJN subs with highly trained TBFs even before the last couple of patches...now that they increased the effect of ASW AC on subs I truly hope AE doesnt become as lethal to subs as stock WitP was.



CENTPAC.....INVASION ROI-NAMUR: D-DAY MINUS ONE


After a month of round the clock bombing of Roi-Namur from aircraft based throughout the Gilberts and Marshalls CENTPAC steps up the tempo by committing the carrier air to the fray:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th Air Flotilla , at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 31
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 18


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 13th Naval Construction Battalion, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 28
B-25D1 Mitchell x 14


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Fleet /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 43rd Naval Guard Unit, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th Air Flotilla , at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th Air Flotilla , at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 13th Naval Construction Battalion, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 83
TBF-1 Avenger x 48


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 72
SBD-5 Dauntless x 24


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 41 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Roi-Namur ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Roi-Namur ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Roi-Namur ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Roi-Namur ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Roi-Namur ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 43rd Naval Guard Unit, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 75
TBF-1 Avenger x 40


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 43rd Nav Gd /2 ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 6th Base Force, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 48


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 6th Base Force, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 9
Mitchell II x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18


Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
8 x Mitchell II bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...
Also attacking 13th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 6th Base Force ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 6th Base Force, at 132,114 (Roi-Namur)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb


The actual losses are light for the Japanese defenders due to the poor weather conditions but the repeated attacks over the last few weeks have got to affect their disruption and morale levels.

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 86 stands by 40 miles NW of Roi-Namur ready to land XIV Corps tomorrow at dawn following naval bombardments by 2 separate SAGs.

StoneAge sends a bombardment TF to hit Ponape but fortunately the Allied transports have already offloaded their cargoes and have departed:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Ponape at 119,113

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Myoko
CA Tone
CL Kiso
CL Kinu
CL Natori
CL Nagara


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

CA Furutaka firing at 1st Marine Division
CA Myoko firing at 1st Marine Division
CA Tone firing at 1st Marine Division
CL Kiso firing at 1st Marine Division
CL Kinu firing at 1st Marine Division
CL Natori firing at Ponape
CL Nagara firing at 1st Marine Division

[racndoc]

5/31-6/1/43



SUBS


SS Tautog puts a fish in AK Tarushima maru off Toyohara.




CENTPAC......INVASION ROI-NAMUR


The assault on Roi-Namur begins with a massive pre-dawn naval bombardment....2 USN SAGs give the battered atoll a "Spruance haircut"


Naval bombardment of Roi-Namur at 132,114

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
CA Canberra
CA New Orleans
CA Houston
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
CL Denver
CL Columbia
CL Cleveland
CL Boise
CL Phoenix

Japanese ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)



Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 597
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

BB Arizona firing at Roi-Namur
CA Canberra firing at Roi-Namur
CA New Orleans firing at Roi-Namur
CA Houston firing at Roi-Namur
CA Indianapolis firing at Roi-Namur
CA Portland firing at 6th Base Force
CL Denver firing at Roi-Namur
CL Columbia firing at Roi-Namur
CL Cleveland firing at 6th Base Force
CL Boise firing at Roi-Namur
CL Phoenix firing at Roi-Namur


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Roi-Namur at 132,114

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
CA Australia
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Astoria
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CL Marblehead
CL Trenton

Japanese ground losses:
346 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 624
Port supply hits 1

BB Indiana firing at Roi-Namur
BB Washington firing at Roi-Namur
BB North Carolina firing at Roi-Namur
CA Australia firing at Roi-Namur
CA Vincennes firing at Roi-Namur
CA Quincy firing at Roi-Namur
CA Astoria firing at 6th Base Force
CA Salt Lake City firing at Roi-Namur
CA Chicago firing at 6th Base Force
CA Louisville firing at Roi-Namur
CA Chester firing at Roi-Namur
CL Marblehead firing at Roi-Namur
CL Trenton firing at Roi-Namur


By the time Amphibious TF 86 sends the assault transports ashore it seems as if the Japanese defenders are too shell shocked to resist:


Pre-Invasion action off Roi-Namur
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
DD Flusser
LCI-21
LCI-23
AM Revenge
LCI-22


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CL Concord firing at 24th Air Flotilla
CL Raleigh firing at 6th Base Force
CL Richmond firing at 6th Base Force
CL Adelaide firing at 6th Base Force
DD Flusser firing at 6th Base Force
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Roi-Namur

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Roi-Namur, 132,114


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of XIV US Corps
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 24th Infantry Div /166


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
DD Flusser
DD Ellet
LCI-22
LCI-21
AM Revenge



CL Concord firing at 6th Base Force
CL Raleigh firing at 6th Base Force
CL Richmond firing at 6th Base Force
CL Adelaide firing at 6th Base Force
DD Flusser firing at 6th Base Force
DD Ellet firing at 6th Base Force
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCI-21
AM Revenge
LCI-22
LCI-75


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 42949550 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards




Under the umbrella of another huge aerial attack the soldiers of the US Army 24th Division wade ashore along with the 732nd and 733rd Tank battalions.

After 2 days of shock attacks its all over on Roi-Namur:


Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12627 troops, 228 guns, 528 vehicles, Assault Value = 517

Defending force 3249 troops, 21 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Allied adjusted assault: 213

Japanese adjusted defense: 34

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
709 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 74 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 30 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (10 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
763rd Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Div /207
225th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps /173

Defending units:
43rd Nav Gd /2
13th Naval Construction Battalion
24th Air Flotilla
6th Base Force




Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12317 troops, 228 guns, 521 vehicles, Assault Value = 506

Defending force 2338 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Allied adjusted assault: 670

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 670 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Roi-Namur !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2402 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 265 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 18 (18 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (21 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
763rd Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
225th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps /173

Defending units:
24th Air Flotilla
6th Base Force


The result here really left me surprised. On Maloelap the 3rd Marine Division was heavily mauled......it suffered something like over 20% casualties and they will be out of the war for some time. I expected worse for the 24th Division as there were more Japanese troops here with better defenses but the 24th Division lost only 8 squads with another 4 squads disrupted.....the month long aerial bombardment must have had a huge effect on Japanese disruption and morale. The amphibious transports of TF 86 will now quickly reload the 24th Division and the tank regiments as Roi-Namur is grossly overstacked(20,000 troops on a very small atoll rated for 6000 troops) and will redeploy the troops to Rabaul for R&R.

This wraps up the MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. Japan is left with 8000 troops and a level 3 airfield on Wotje(100% damaged) and level 1 airfields at Eniwetok and Kwajalein. Level 5 Allied airfields at Mili, Tarawa and Makin along with level 4 airfields at Maloelap and Roi-Namur will keep all 3 of these Japanese bases suppressed, isolated and out of supply....they will turn into prisoner of war camps for some 15,000 Japanese troops.

Ponape and Kusaie will be built up into level 6 airfields to help neutralize Truk and CENTPAC will now shift from an offensive role to a concentration and buildup at Rabaul for the Marianas Campaign in Sept.-Dec. 1943.

SWPAC has been concentrating and building up in Rabaul for several months and will now unleash its long awaited offensive across the remainder of New Guinea into the Paulaus and Carolines during June-August 1943.

Meanwhile, CV Essex has left the Panama Canal and is headed to the central Pacific to join the other fast carriers of TG 58.

For Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 86 there is no rest.