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Surf is unusually heavy and the enemy gunners are putting up a furious fight!

Amphibious Assault at Palembang (48,91)

TF 334 troops unloading over beach at Palembang, 48,91

Japanese ground losses:
727 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 2nd Div /1
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 2nd Div /2
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost in surf during unload of 2nd Div /2
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd Div /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 2nd Div /3
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd Div /4
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 5th Div /1
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Div /1
20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad lost overboard during unload of 5th Div /2
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 5th Div /3
20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad lost in surf during unload of 5th Div /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Div /3
70mm T92 Howitzer lost in surf during unload of 2nd Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd Div /7
70mm T92 Howitzer accidentally lost during unload of 2nd Div /7
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 38th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 38th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 38th Div /3
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost overboard during unload of 38th Div /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 38th Div /4
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 38th Div /4
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 38th Div /5
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 5th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Div /5
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 5th Div /5
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 5th Div /5
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 5th Div /6
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /6
20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /6


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Invasion Support action off Palembang (48,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

202 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CL Oi
CL Tama
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 1
CL Yura
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 5
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Matsukaze
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Bankok Maru
APD Nadakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
APD Shimakaze, Shell hits 1
xAK Alaska Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
xAK Saiho Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
PB Eiko Maru
DD Sazanami
DD Namikaze

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

Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Mikuma
CL Tama firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CL Abukuma
CL Jintsu firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CL Jintsu
DD Nokaze firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Nokaze
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Sagiri
DD Sagiri firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Wakaba
DD Wakaba firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
AMC Saigon Maru firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at AMC Saigon Maru
APD Nadakaze firing at Palembang Base Force
Palembang Base Force firing at APD Nadakaze
APD Shimakaze firing at Palembang Base Force
Palembang Base Force firing at APD Shimakaze
75mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Alaska Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Abukuma firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
75mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Alaska Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Tama firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
75mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Saiho Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Tama firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
PB Eiko Maru fired at enemy troops
DD Wakaba fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

The first of many air attacks...Carrier Division two is one hex away supporting the landings...can they last the day?

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Brazil Maru

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

After several waves of misses, the first bomb hits are reported. All ships are reporting losing men because of the raids...

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 7
Mitchell II x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Mitchell II: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD Hagi
xAK Montreal Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD Fuji

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Sometimes the Fighters show up for CAP, and other times they don't, but the desperate maneuvering to avoid bombs causes chaos and lost men on the beaches...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 29

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane IIa Trop x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Rakuyo Maru
xAP Kasado Maru
xAK Nojima Maru
xAP Kobe Maru
xAP Naminoue Maru

Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

As the morning wears on, some enemy bombers target Carrier Division 2...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CV Hiryu

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

The first torpedo carrying planes start to arrive mid morning. Can our fighters hold them off?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Do-24K-2 x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-2: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Do-24K-2 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 21in Mk VIII Torpedo

Our fighter cover is getting exhausted...but the enemy keeps coming and coming.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
Vildebeest III x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

The altitude of attacks is all over the place...our fighters are getting pulled out of position chasing high flying bombers that pose little risk...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAP Horai Maru

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 19000 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

North of the KB, a torpedo boat that struck a minefield early, is targeted, but out fighters are needed over the carriers...a good decision here by the air traffic commander.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Muntok at 49,89

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 2
Vildebeest III x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
TB Kasasagi, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
2 x Blenheim IV bombing from 17000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

More bombers score hits!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kolaka at 67,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Katori

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Raid is overhead

We are simply being worn down...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kolaka at 67,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Nosiro Maru
xAK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

But then, a respite, and the fighters are hastily put up for the afternoon attacks...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Haruna

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

The heavy clouds, do they help or hurt?

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Vildebeest III x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 2 destroyed

The attackers are worn out too and fragmented.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 2

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Beaufighters, come screaming in just above the waves...rockets!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 49,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Beaufighter VIc: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Beaufighter VIc bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb, 8 x 3" Rockets

And then it is over...and the Allied defenders launch an artillery bombardment...

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6078 troops, 93 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Defending force 37701 troops, 402 guns, 313 vehicles, Assault Value = 1317

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

Assaulting units:
Kendari Garrison Battalion
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
Swan Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Base Force

Defending units:
2nd Div /6
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
38th Div /2
2nd Tank Regiment
5th Div /4
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

A bloody day...but the vast majority of troops are ashore. The bombardment really saved the invasion fleet...sure did miss not having Carrier Division 1 present...but we will retire all shipping to Singapore or Singkep.

Hurricane 1F

that is a fast float fighter [X(]

and Palembang should now fall quickly

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

that is a fast float fighter [X(]

and Palembang should now fall quickly

Forts are decent I bet, and it is nasty terrain. Now thinking I will prioritize taking it and heading south to Oosthaven and entering Java from there. Allied Air strength is pretty nasty.

120mm cd guns at Palembang were nasty, not sure I will land a 2nd wave, although I am there now without AA or HQ.