Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[Lowpe]

Okinawa has another weakness, Naha's terrain is only rough.[;)]

And a final weakness, it is under the Southern Army chain of command.[:)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Okinawa has another weakness, Naha's terrain is only rough.[;)]

And a final weakness, it is under the Southern Army chain of command.[:)]

I don't know what that implies. Do you mean fewer units are available as choices to defend it?

I have lots of stuff going into Naha and less into Nago. The main idea is sort or hammer and anvil, with the Nago force being strong enough to withstand any attack while denying combat retreat from Naha to Nago.

[Lowpe]

By now, there are probably a lot of units that are available to garrison Okinawa, but if it were under General then you could fly in restricted troops saving the free troops for elsewhere.

I am not sure how you are going to deny a retreat from one base to the other.

[witpqs]

1944 September 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Sandakan

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs had a quiet day.

Victory in China!

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Ground combat at 67,51 (near Mengtze)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17587 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 492

Defending force 4401 troops, 34 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Allied adjusted assault: 476

Japanese adjusted defense: 157

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1550 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Cavalry Division
78th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
104th/B Division


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The retreat was SE, and our troops will move straight east to entrap other Imperials (if they dally).

Continuing near Chiang Mai.

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Ground combat at 60,51 (near Chiang Mai)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21770 troops, 393 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 470

Defending force 6745 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied adjusted assault: 306

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 76 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
17th Indian Division

Defending units:
29th Division


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Ground combat at 59,53 (near Chiang Mai)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9334 troops, 110 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 286

Defending force 7176 troops, 3 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 148

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 37 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2/15 Punjab Battalion
2nd Burma Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
1st Burma Brigade
14th LRP Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Division


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It looks like 3 more days until cleanup attacks begin north of Saigon.

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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6085 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2620 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3033 troops, 46 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 1821 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/C Division

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division


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

The Empire's former main defensive position has been abandoned and there are now about 52,000 troops in Lang Son itself and about 3,500 on the road behind to the east. A single unit is still NW of Lang Son, and all of our armor will move against it while waiting for the infantry to catch up and move into Lang Son with the artillery. Our armor will attempt to retreat the lone unit into Lang Son, then move in from that direction. Smaller infantry units (Rgts, Bdes) will secure the flank.

Sandakan is free.

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Ground combat at Sandakan (70,88)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1238 troops, 18 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Defending force 63 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 42

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 42 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sandakan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

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

Assaulting units:
Torres Strait Battalion

Defending units:
554th Ind.Infantry Battalion


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Probolinggo is seeing the first arrival of Allied ships since Java fell. The sweeps against Manila went OK but nothing to write home about. DAW HQ, however, saw the opening in our plans and sent the divine wind against our intrepid sailors.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Taytay at 75,82

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 101 NM, estimated altitude 33,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Kamikaze hits 3
CL Honolulu, Kamikaze hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x A6M5 Zero flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.79 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taytay at 75,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire
CL Honolulu, Kamikaze hits 2
DD Thatcher

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.79 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes



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In response our own droppers of doom found that Imperial convoy, which evidently sailed right past Singapore.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Lingga at 51,87

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24B Banshee x 22
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Sumanoura Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Amagisan Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Taifuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Tuyama Maru
xAK Akasisan Maru
xAK Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Sumanoura Maru


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Lingga at 51,87

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24B Banshee x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Akasisan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lingga at 51,87

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 19

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Amagisan Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tamashima Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Belgium Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Ujigawa Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Toryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



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Damage to our cruisers is shown below. Although some yard time will be needed, they can actually remain on station and will do so for the moment. I dare say we got the better of it.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra. From recon it looks like Medan is empty and Langsa has less than 200 troops. A Bde and a Div are unloading now at Sabang. They will wait there to rail down to Langsa when the 81st West African Division gets there.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

By now, there are probably a lot of units that are available to garrison Okinawa, but if it were under General then you could fly in restricted troops saving the free troops for elsewhere.

I am not sure how you are going to deny a retreat from one base to the other.

By having our troops in both bases. Combat retreats do not go into hexes with enemy troops present. They can move from Naha to Nago before being retreated, but that will make taking Naha easier.

[BBfanboy]

Looks like Samah on Hainan has a ship or more in port. Easy reach from Hue ....

[Lowpe]

Damage to our cruisers is shown below?[&:]

Andav does well with kamikazes...he has them figured out pretty well.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Damage to our cruisers is shown below?[&:]

Andav does well with kamikazes...he has them figured out pretty well.

Oops.

[witpqs]

I think Helena has a bank of 5 inchers knocked out too.

[witpqs]

Andav does well with kamikazes...he has them figured out pretty well.

Yes, the bugger! [:D]

I'm just glad those weren't 2EB that went in - 5 hits on one ship and 3 hits on the other!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Looks like Samah on Hainan has a ship or more in port. Easy reach from Hue ....

It's something tiny. I forget what at the moment.

One of the divisions in the main drive is prepared for Samah, but it looks like Kiungshan has a very small body of troops. Maybe I'll prepare one of the LRP Bde.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Looks like Samah on Hainan has a ship or more in port. Easy reach from Hue ....

It's something tiny. I forget what at the moment.

MTB

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Looks like Samah on Hainan has a ship or more in port. Easy reach from Hue ....

It's something tiny. I forget what at the moment.

MTB

Dispatch the B29s! [:D]

[witpqs]

Forming Okinawa op troop convoys now. Will know soon if there is enough attack transport on scene.

[witpqs]

Well, so far two divisions for Naha are being left behind for the second wave. An army HQ will be aboard LST. The amphibious tractor Bns (one for each to help speed unloading) will be on LCI. I have more LCI and lots of LST, but I think it's better to bring in those two divisions fresh in a second wave. Their presence will increase the over stacking and so they would be less likely to recover from fatigue and disruption caused by landing craft journeys.

[witpqs]

1944 September 27

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments
Singkawang

Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs skirmished along the China coast.

Quiet in China but our first movement in a while is underway. At 2 miles per day they won't be sneaking up on anybody.

More progress near Chiang Mai.

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Ground combat at 60,51 (near Chiang Mai)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21747 troops, 393 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 467

Defending force 6487 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 214

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 53 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
17th Indian Division

Defending units:
29th Division


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Ground combat at 59,53 (near Chiang Mai)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9348 troops, 110 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 295

Defending force 6969 troops, 3 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied adjusted assault: 107

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 26 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
341 casualties reported
Squads: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Burma Brigade
2/15 Punjab Battalion
22nd (East African) Brigade
1st Burma Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
14th LRP Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Division


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Valiant and Queen Elizabeth have finished upgrades and are heading to Victoria Point from Colombo.

In three more days until the first pocket north of Saigon will be attacked.

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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6087 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2600 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3025 troops, 46 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 1789 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/C Division

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division


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All our armor is in contact NW of Lang Son and will attack tomorrow. The B-24 groups will re-target in support. Our sweeps of Hong Kong were highly successful. P-51B engaged first and came out a little ahead. Then P-47D25 moved in like Godzilla. Meanwhile our main body NE of Hanoi was hit by a Helen raid, but they - without escort - were caught on the way out by P-47D who extracted revenge. See air losses below.

The IJN made another stealthy appearance.

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Night Naval bombardment of Singkawang at 56,88

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Oyodo

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 21
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

CA Furutaka firing at Singkawang
CL Oyodo firing at Singkawang


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 55,87, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 5
CL Oyodo, Shell hits 6

Allied Ships
DD Cogswell
DD Cony
DD Picking, Shell hits 1
DD Halsey Powell
DD Pringle
DD Norman Scott, Shell hits 1, on fire

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Shannon M. crosses the 'T'
CA Furutaka engages DD Norman Scott at 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Picking at 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cogswell at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Norman Scott at 12,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cony at 12,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Halsey Powell at 12,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cony at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Cony engages CA Furutaka at 10,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Pringle at 10,000 yards
DD Halsey Powell engages CA Furutaka at 10,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 10,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cogswell at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Norman Scott engages CL Oyodo at 8,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Pringle at 8,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Picking at 8,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 8,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cogswell at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 13,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Norman Scott at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Pringle at 17,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Pringle at 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Halsey Powell at 17,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Picking at 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 20,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Halsey Powell at 20,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Picking at 20,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Cony at 20,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cogswell at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Norman Scott at 22,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Picking at 22,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cony at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Norman Scott at 24,000 yards
Araki, Tsutao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 27,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Norman Scott at 27,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Picking at 27,000 yards
CL Oyodo engages DD Cogswell at 27,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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The cruisers then disappeared and escaped the wrath of Allied air power. Two destroyers need repairs but they did their job perfectly. Singkawang was empty. The convoy appears to be headed toward Java and was hit again.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 52,92

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 21

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 3 damaged
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamaura Maru
xAK Ikoma Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2
xAK Kimishima Maru
xAK Tatuno Maru, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 1
xAK Tyuwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Miyadono Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



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We have a couple of DD TF angling to intercept them from the other end of the Java Sea. Reinforcement of Probolinggo is going well and the airbase is building.

South Dakota has finished repairs and will head for Guam. The convoys are formed for all Nago and Naha forces save two divisions for Naha. It looks like those will have to go in a second wave. The convoys are moving to their assigned units, all in the Marianas.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

Air Losses.