AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 18, 43
ok, first we sent the naval bombardment groups to Auki, Rekata and Munda, in order to close them down temporarly or at least to damage as much as planes as possible...i feared Rader had come out to cover at least Rekata and Munda like he had already done in the past.... delightly he didn't this time [:D]
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Night Naval bombardment of Auki at 115,136
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 24 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 10 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
DD Aylwin
DD Shaw
DD Mahan
DD Gwin
DD Taylor
DD Renshaw
DD Radford
DD Eaton
Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 87
Port hits 37
Port supply hits 10
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Night Naval bombardment of Rekata Bay at 113,134
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 76 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 42 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 14 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 9 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 22 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K1 Rex: 8 damaged
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CA Hawkins
CL Richmond
CL Leander
DD Foote
DD Dyson
DD DeHaven
DD Dashiell
DD Converse
Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 18
Runway hits 66
Port hits 29
Port supply hits 7
The Hawkins TF was the one who acted as a bait yesterday at Thousands...it deserved this price!
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Night Naval bombardment of Munda at 111,134
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 9 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 2 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Perkins
DD Cushing
DD Conyngham
DD Case
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
Then, when the morning comes, i understand i made a terrible mistake...the Hawkins TF was set to "do not retire" [:@]...but yesterday defeats must have distrupted Netties efficiency and in 2 days they weren't able to score a single hit...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,134
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 105 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
N1K1-J George x 2
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8 (leaky CAP from my CVEs at Auki)
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CL Richmond
CL Leander
DD Converse
And here it comes...the Netties and Frances always target my ships at Lunga...while my landing fleet is under a a terrible storm that blinds the attackers...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 192 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
N1K1-J George x 45
P1Y1 Frances x 13
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 11
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
Hurricane XIIb x 7
P-38H Lightning x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 13
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 65
F4U-1 Corsair x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Case
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 137 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 17
N1K1-J George x 8
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 5
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
Hurricane XIIb x 6
P-38H Lightning x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 12
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 36
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 5 destroyed
No Allied losses
I cut most of the attacks cause they can be boring....however always the same story...my Lunga CAP fought hard and well
Then, in the afternoon, the landings take place...and they go particularly well...months of bombings have clearly softened the defenders...
At dawn the japs come out of their holes and make a bombardment...we already have 1240 AVs on the beaches!!!!!!!!
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Ground combat at Auki (115,136)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1511 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 159
Defending force 31380 troops, 562 guns, 861 vehicles, Assault Value = 1237
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
16th Engineer Regiment
14th Garrison Unit
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
55th JAAF AF Bn
108th JAAF AF Bn
45th Const Co
36th Const Co
34th Ind. Engineer Regiment
36th Const Co
55th Construction Battalion
70th JAAF AF Bn
51st Construction Battalion
72nd JAAF AF Bn
62nd JNAF AF Unit
15th Naval Const Bn /2
Defending units:
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Div /1
754th Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engr Rgt /1
4th Marine Raider Battalion
34th Combat Engr Rgt /1
4th Marine Div /1
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1/151st Combat Engr Bn /3
A Det USN Port Svc /1
257th USAAF Base Force /1
10th Marine Def Bn /1
C Det USN Port Svc /1
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 19, 43
Then, on the second day, again...landings landings and landings....uncontested...
My BBs remained only the first night at Auki and then retired...was a right and fortunate choice...
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Invasion Support action off Auki (115,136)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
53 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
PC Travis
SC PC-777
SC PC-599
SC PC-598
SC PC-596
SC PC-579
SC PC-578
APA Warren
DD Warrington
DD Benham
Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
PC Travis fired at enemy troops
SC PC-777 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-599 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-598 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-596 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-579 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-578 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
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Invasion Support action off Auki (115,136)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Portland
DD Sampson
SC PC-1081
SC PC-1079
SC PC-781
SC PC-780
SC PC-779
SC PC-778
SC-750
SC-749
SC-706
SC-703
SC-700
SC-648
SC-646
SC-645
APA Custer
DD Hammann
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
CA Portland firing at 72nd JAAF AF Bn
SC PC-1081 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-781 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-780 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-779 fired at enemy troops
SC PC-778 fired at enemy troops
SC-750 fired at enemy troops
SC-749 fired at enemy troops
SC-706 fired at enemy troops
SC-703 fired at enemy troops
SC-700 fired at enemy troops
SC-648 fired at enemy troops
SC-646 fired at enemy troops
SC-645 fired at enemy troops
DD Sampson fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
etc etc etc etc etc.....
Today the japs attacked really hard at Lunga...look at the numbers!!![X(]
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 195 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 58 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 19
N1K1-J George x 67
P1Y1 Frances x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 42
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 137
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 41
Ki-84a Frank x 53
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 5
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
Hurricane XIIb x 7
P-38H Lightning x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 12
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 35
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane XIIb: 2 destroyed
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 124 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
H6K4 Mavis x 2
N1K1-J George x 63
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 39
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 127
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 38
Ki-84a Frank x 48
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Hurricane XIIb x 4
P-38H Lightning x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 30
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 196 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 58 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 54
P1Y1 Frances x 11
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 31
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 108
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 38
Ki-84a Frank x 44
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
Hurricane XIIb x 1
P-38H Lightning x 5
P-40K Warhawk x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AM Pirie
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 174 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 61 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
N1K1-J George x 46
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 97
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 35
Ki-84a Frank x 43
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 1
P-38H Lightning x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AM Wollongong
AM Gladstone, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Shepparton, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Wallaroo
These are the only ships i lost today...not bad[;)]
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Ground combat at Auki (115,136)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1497 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 158
Defending force 36813 troops, 676 guns, 988 vehicles, Assault Value = 1258
Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
16th Engineer Regiment
14th Garrison Unit
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
55th JAAF AF Bn
72nd JAAF AF Bn
51st Construction Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn
70th JAAF AF Bn
45th Const Co
62nd JNAF AF Unit
34th Ind. Engineer Regiment
36th Const Co
55th Construction Battalion
36th Const Co
15th Naval Const Bn /2
Defending units:
754th Tank Battalion
1/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
4th Marine Raider Battalion
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
4th Marine Division
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
168th Field Artillery Regiment
I US Corps
257th USAAF Base Force
A Det USN Port Svc
10th Marine Defense Battalion
181st Field Artillery Regiment
C Det USN Port Svc
We got a couple of AKs damaged and some LCIs that collided...but for the rest the landings went in the best possible way...
