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

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:24 pm

9/8-9/9/43

SUBS

SS KXVI is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Bintan.

SS Scorpion is hit by 4 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Hachijo-jima.

SS O24 sinks AG Noshiro by Lingga.

SWPAC:INVASION BABELDAOB.....D-DAY

A Royal Navy SAG including BB Royal Sovereign and BB Ramilies makes a final pre-dawn naval bombardment at babeldaob:

Naval bombardment of Babeldaob at 90,97 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Ramillies
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Frobisher
CA Hawkins
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 1
CA Sussex
CA Shropshire
CL Caradoc
CL Danae
CL Perth
CL Tromp
CL Java

Japanese ground losses:
320 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 98
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 10
Port supply hits 1

BB Ramillies firing at Babeldaob
BB Royal Sovereign firing at Babeldaob
CA Frobisher firing at Babeldaob
CA Hawkins firing at Babeldaob
CA Suffolk firing at Babeldoap Naval Fortress
CA Sussex firing at Babeldaob
CA Shropshire firing at Babeldaob
CL Caradoc firing at Babeldaob
CL Danae firing at Babeldaob
CL Perth firing at Babeldaob
CL Tromp firing at Babeldaob
CL Java firing at Babeldaob

CD guns open up on the amphibious transports of TF 86 as they head in towards shore:

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

243 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 6
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
CL Sumatra
LCI-21
AM Daring
LCI-62, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LCI-22
AM Grebe
LCI-219, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AM Sage
LCI-217
LCI-75
LCI-84

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (0 destroyed, 16 disabled)

CL Trenton firing at Babeldoap Naval Fortress
CL Richmond firing at Babeldoap Naval Fortress
CL Adelaide firing at 7th JNAF AF Unit
CL Sumatra firing at 7th JNAF AF Unit
AM Daring fires to suppress enemy guns at 11,000 yards
CL Trenton fires to suppress enemy guns at 11,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-21 at 11,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy troops at 11,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-62 at 11,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 11,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-22 at 11,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy troops at 11,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-219 at 11,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 11,000 yards
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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Babeldaob

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Babeldaob, 90,97

Allied ground losses:
191 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (0 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 503rd Parachute Rgt
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of Americal Infantry Div /360
10 troops of a US Cmbt Eng Sqd 43 lost in surf during unload of Americal Infantry Div /361
Motorized Support lost overboard during unload of Sixth US Army
Motorized Support lost overboard during unload of Sixth US Army /358

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Invasion Support action off Babeldaob - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

251 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
CL Sumatra
DD Sands, Shell hits 8, on fire
LCI-22
AM Sage
LCI-21
LCI-62, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

CL Trenton firing at Babeldoap Naval Fortress
CL Richmond firing at 40th JNAF AF Unit
CL Adelaide firing at 40th JNAF AF Unit
CL Sumatra firing at 40th JNAF AF Unit
DD Sands firing at Babeldoap Naval Fortress
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

149 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCI-75
LCI-21
AM Sage
LCI-22
LCI-84

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 42949572 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

After 2 days of unloading over 35,000 combat troops are ashore with tens of thousands of supplies:

Ground combat at Babeldaob (90,97)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7665 troops, 87 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 361

Defending force 32765 troops, 659 guns, 771 vehicles, Assault Value = 1252

Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
85th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
86th Naval Guard Unit
4th Engineer Co
Kure 5th SNLF
19th Naval Guard Unit
Babeldoap Naval Fortress
26th Air Flotilla
42nd Road Const Co
10th Special Base Force
7th JNAF AF Unit
40th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
503rd Parachute Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
8th Australian Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
40th Infantry Division
2nd/102nd Infantry Battalion
Sixth US Army
148th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps /363

Im pretty happy with the CD gun suppression here....I have a screenshot attached below of damaged assault ships and I think the losses are completely acceptable.

StoneAge had a couple of comments for me after the Babeldaob invasion. First, he was surprsed that I invaded at Babeldaob....he was expecting an attack at Jolo after SWPAC captured Morotai and Talaud-eilanden. Secondly, he was amazed that the Allies were able to land over 40,000 troops in one turn. I told StoneAge that Allied amphibious lift capability was really ramping up as we hit mid 1943.

I wonder if StoneAge will be surprised when CENTPAC unleashes the Marianas offensive later this month.

Sixth Army is ordered to conduct a deliberate attack at Babeldaob next turn.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:58 am

9/10-9/11/43

SUBS

SS Grayback sinks TK Azumi Maru off Miri.

SS KXIV sinks TK Zuiyo Maru by Bintan.

SWPAC: INVASION BABELDAOB

Looks like I spoke too soon about the acceptable loss of ships during the assault on Babeldaob. Naval bombardments on D-Day minus one and on D Day suppressed the CDs guns a bit on D-Day but they roared back to life this turn:

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-26, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
LCI-218, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Tern
LCI-333, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Sumatra
LST-28
LCI-85, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Daring

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-218 at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-333 at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
AM Tern fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-85 at 12,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-85 at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards

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Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCI-85, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Tern
CL Sumatra
LCI-218, on fire, heavy damage
LCI-333, heavy fires, heavy damage

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-85 at 17,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-26, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Richmond
CL Adelaide
LST-30, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Sumatra
LCI-334
LCI-218, heavy damage
LST-28

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 15,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-30 at 15,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 11, 43

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Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-28
AM Tern
CL Richmond
LCI-334, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Daring
CL Adelaide
LST-26, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra
LCI-218, heavy damage

8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-28 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy troops at 10,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-334 at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LCI-334 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 10,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy troops at 10,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

34 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-28, Shell hits 3, on fire
AM Swallow
CL Richmond
LST-30, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Tern
LCI-218, heavy damage
LST-26, heavy damage

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-28 at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-30 at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards

The invasion of Babaledaob has now cost the Allies 11 LCIs....every one used during the assault.....and a LST. Evidently for the LCIs its "use 'em and lose 'em.
All remaining empty LSTs are detached from Amphibious TF 86 and sent back to Rabaul to keep them out of harm's way.

Sixth Army launches a couple of bloody assaults at Babeldaob:

Ground combat at Babeldaob (90,97)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26714 troops, 659 guns, 534 vehicles, Assault Value = 1260

Defending force 12813 troops, 128 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 355

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 585

Japanese adjusted defense: 557

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2195 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 121 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
495 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 30 (0 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
503rd Parachute Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
8th Australian Division
2nd/102nd Infantry Battalion
Sixth US Army
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps /363

Defending units:
19th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 5th SNLF
86th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
4th Engineer Co
85th Naval Guard Unit
Babeldoap Naval Fortress
7th JNAF AF Unit
10th Special Base Force
42nd Road Const Co
26th Air Flotilla
40th JNAF AF Unit

Ground combat at Babeldaob (90,97)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25995 troops, 659 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value = 1202

Defending force 11312 troops, 133 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 246

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 430

Japanese adjusted defense: 381

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2416 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
269 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Assaulting units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
503rd Parachute Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
8th Australian Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd/102nd Infantry Battalion
Sixth US Army
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps /363

Defending units:
Kure 3rd SNLF
86th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 5th SNLF
4th Engineer Co
85th Naval Guard Unit
19th Naval Guard Unit
Babeldoap Naval Fortress
7th JNAF AF Unit
42nd Road Const Co
10th Special Base Force
26th Air Flotilla
40th JNAF AF Unit

The Japanese fortifications are reduced to level 2. Another deliberate attack is ordered for next turn.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:13 pm

9/12-9/13/43

SUBS

SS Steelhead sinks SC CHa-33 off Ominato.

SS Searaven is hit by 2 DCs from IJN ASW TF by Tandjoengelar.

SS Steelhead is hit by 8 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Ominato.

SS Sculpin sinks AK Kashiwara Maru near Amami-Oshima.

SWPAC: INVASION BABELDAOB

Allied amphibious transports contin ue to be hit by the accurate CD gunfire at Babeldaob:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 12, 43
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Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-26, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Adelaide
CL Richmond
AK Serpens, Shell hits 1
CL Sumatra
AM Grebe
APA Du Page

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Serpens at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy troops at 10,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 10,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-26 at 10,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy troops at 10,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

69 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Murzim, Shell hits 5, on fire
AM Daring
CL Sumatra
AK Serpens, Shell hits 1
AK Sterope, Shell hits 2
AM Tern
APA Du Page
APA Hunter Liggett

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Murzim at 17,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Serpens at 17,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Sterope at 17,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 17,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Babeldaob
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

39 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Murzim, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CL Adelaide
CL Richmond
AM Daring
CL Sumatra
APA Du Page

12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Murzim at 16,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
12.7cm 3YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Murzim at 16,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
AM Daring fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards

AK Murazim is sunk at Babeldaob....thats 14 ships lost to CD guns at Babeldaob.

Sixth Army overruns the airfields on Babeldaob in a 3:1 deliberate assault:

Ground combat at Babeldaob (90,97)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25907 troops, 659 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value = 1188

Defending force 9173 troops, 133 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 134

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 474

Japanese adjusted defense: 155

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Babeldaob !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2225 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 63 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (15 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
503rd Parachute Regiment
8th Australian Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
2nd/102nd Infantry Battalion
Sixth US Army
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps /363

Defending units:
19th Naval Guard Unit
86th Naval Guard Unit
85th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 5th SNLF
Kure 3rd SNLF
Babeldoap Naval Fortress
4th Engineer Co
10th Special Base Force
42nd Road Const Co
7th JNAF AF Unit
26th Air Flotilla
40th JNAF AF Unit

We now have control of the bases on Babeldaob with over 90,000 supplies. It will probably take a couple more weeks to mop up all the remaining Japanese troops on the island.

Seabees and base forces will now be landed on the island. Babeldaob is already a level 6 airfield so we will start flying heavy bomber missions against the Marianas from here as soon as the damaged airstrips are repaaired.

Over at Woleai we engage in A2A combat with the new model A6M5s for the first time:

Morning Air attack on Woleai , at 101,103

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
A6M5 Zero x 13
G4M1 Betty x 17

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AVD Whipple, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
318th FG/73rd FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 14 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

Morning Air attack on Woleai , at 101,103

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 10
A6M5 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 20

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
318th FG/73rd FS with P-38G Lightning (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 10 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 1:42 am

9/14-9/15/43

SUBS

SS Gudgeon sinks TK Meisan Maru off Puerto Princessa.

SS Thresher sinks AK Kozan Maru by Sapporo.

SS RO-37 sinks DMS Hopkins at Yap but is hit by 6 DCs from the escorts and is sunk.

SWPAC

Sixth Army launches 21:1 and 32:1 attacks and inflicts another 4000 casualties on the Japanese at Babeldaob. I think that the Japanese troops remaining on Babeldaob must be out of supply as several units seemed to disintegrate from attrition this turn:

4th Engineer Co Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
42nd Road Const Co Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
Kure 3rd SNLF Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
19th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
85th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
Babeldoap Naval Fortress Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
40th JNAF AF Unit Wiped Out at Babeldaob by attrition!!!
Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Babeldaob

What had been 25,000 Japanese troops at Babeldaob a week ago is now down to 8000 troops.

The Seventh Air Force HQ is unloaded at Babeldaon along with base forces and now Babeldaob has exceeded the "magic level 10" size for conducting unlimited flight ops. Another Air HQ will be dropped off at Yap next turn along with base forces and as soon as Yap reaches a level 5 airfield it will also attain that "magic level 10" status.

Heavy bombers will be staged into Babeldaob and B-25s into Yap as soon as the Yap airstrips reach level 5(level 10 with air HQ) and then the Japanese airfields in the Marianas will be hammered simultaneously......this aerial offensive will be called OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER.

CapAndGown · Post by **CapAndGown** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:00 am

When you say it has reached "size 10" you mean for administration purposes, yes? The airfield can still only hand 300 engines, yes?

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 1:27 am

cap_and _gown.....I posted a question about this in the Air Thread just prior to the release of AE. I was concerned that Tinian had a maximum airfield level of size 7 and according to the "engine" rule would only be able to handle 85 B-29s. I was assured by someone on the Air Team that the Allies would be able to stack unlimited bombers on Tinian. Tinian's North Air Field had 20 miles of runways and held the 313th Bomb Wing....the 6th, 9th, 504th and 505th Bomb Groups. Tinian's West field had just under 20 miles of runways and held the 58th Bomb Wing....the 40th, 444th, 462nd and 468th Bomb Groups.

For 9 months starting in 12/44 Tinian was the largest and busiest airbase in the world.....pretty impressive for a level 7 airfield rating.

So to answer your question its been my understanding and experience that if the combination of airfield size plus command radius of your Air HQ is equal to or greater than 10 you have unlimited stacking of ac and engines and unlimited administrative/airgroups.

9/16-9/17/43

SUBS

SS O20 is hit by 3 DCs from IJN SAG near Truk.

SS I-2 is hit by 2 DCs from convoy escorts by San Luis Obispo...thats the 1st IJN sub spotted of the California coast since early 1942.

SS I-40 is hit by 8 DCs from USN CV TF escorts at Yap.

SS Barb sinks AK Myoko Maru by Pagan.

SS I-16 is hit by 33 DCs from USN ASW TF at Yap and sunk.

SS I-24 is hit by 3 DCs from BB PoW SAG at Yap.

SWPAC

A final 320:1 assault at Babeldaob eliminates all remaining Japanese resistance on the island.

Apparently StoneAge sends a small SAG over to investigate the Allied transports unloading at Yap and they are greeted by USN carrier bombers:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ulithi at 99,97

Weather in hex: Overcast

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

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 19
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30
SBD-5 Dauntless x 30
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 21 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze
DD Yukikaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze
DD Oshio

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-5 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
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
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
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
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
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
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Oi

The 2 USN CVEs that were damaged during the invasion of Ulithi just completed repairs at the Sydney shipyard and make their way to rejoin the fleet at Rabaul.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:33 am

9/18-9/19/43

SUBS

SS Billfish sinks E Tomozuru off Tanegashima.

SS Trusty sinks AK Sugiyama Maru by Muntok.

SS Corvina is hit by 4 DCs from IJN convoy escorts by Hachijo-jima.

SS Albacore sinks AK Ryuyo Maru off Sapporo.

SS Saury sinks AK Kyokko Maru off Sapporo.

JAPANESE NAVAL DOCTRINE REGRESSES TO PRE-WAR DOGMA

Evidently the IJN TF commanders never got the memo that enemy aircraft are capable of sinking ships from a great distance. This turn IJN SAGs attempt to bombard and engage in surface combat in the face of complete Allied air superiority in separate actions in the CBI, the DEI and the central Pacific.

SWPAC

The IJN SAG that was hit by USN carrier air last turn off Ulithi continued on without flagship CL Oi and engaged the BB PoW SAG at Yap:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 18, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ulithi at 99,97, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Asashio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
BB Alabama, Shell hits 1
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CA Houston
CA Quincy
CA Dorsetshire
CA Cornwall
CL Achilles
CL Hobart
CL Kenya, Shell hits 1
CL Newcastle
CL Boise
DD Grayson, Shell hits 1
DD Scout
DD Tenedos
DD Thanet
DD Thracian, Shell hits 1
DD Express
DD Norman
DD La Triomphant

To add insult to injury the IJN DD squadron is then attacked by carrier air for the 2nd turn in a row:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ulithi at 102,98

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
SBD-3 Dauntless x 24
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 24 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze
DD Oshio
DD Tanikaze
DD Yukikaze

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 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
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ulithi at 102,98

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oshio
DD Hagikaze
DD Tanikaze

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

-----------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ulithi at 102,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 26
SBD-3 Dauntless x 41
SBD-5 Dauntless x 26
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 25 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Tanikaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oshio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Asashio

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
5 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
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
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
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
10 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
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet
8 x SBD-5 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

CAP engaged:
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Tanikaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ulithi at 102,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5
SBD-5 Dauntless x 17

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oshio, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Tanikaze, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Oshio
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Tanikaze

DD Oshio is sunk.

CBI

The BB Yamashiro/BB Mutsu SAG sails into the Andaman Sea to bombard Tavoy. Sure, the Allied medium bombers are worthless and 100 miss for every hit but eventually a couple of Beauforts land torpedoes on BB Mutsu:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mergui at 52,61

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 3
Hudson IIIa x 7
Hurricane IIb Trop x 10
Hurricane IIc Trop x 47
Liberator II x 10
Wellington Ic x 5
Kittyhawk III x 7
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 2 damaged
Hudson IIIa: 3 damaged
Liberator II: 2 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
DD Sagiri
CL Tama
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 2
BB Yamashiro

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

The IJN SAG manages to sink a couple of AKLs at Tavoy before launching a naval bombardment:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tavoy at 53,60, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
CA Nachi
CL Isuzu
CL Yura
CL Tama
DD Shikinami
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite

Allied Ships
xAKL Bordvik, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAKL Proteus, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 71% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAKL Proteus at 8,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages xAKL Proteus at 8,000 yards
xAKL Proteus sunk by BB Mutsu at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages xAKL Bordvik at 5,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages xAKL Bordvik at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages xAKL Bordvik at 7,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages xAKL Bordvik at 7,000 yards
DD Oite engages xAKL Bordvik at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages xAKL Bordvik at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
xAKL Bordvik sunk by BB Yamashiro at 12,000 yards
xAKL Bordvik sunk by BB Yamashiro at 12,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

Naval bombardment of Tavoy at 54,60

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington B.X: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
CA Nachi
CL Tama
CL Yura
CL Isuzu
DD Oite
DD Yuzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Shikinami

Allied ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 33
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 128
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

BB Yamashiro firing at Tavoy
BB Mutsu firing at Tavoy
CA Nachi firing at Tavoy
CL Tama firing at Tavoy
CL Yura firing at Tavoy
CL Isuzu firing at Tavoy
DD Oite firing at Tavoy
DD Yuzuki firing at Tavoy
DD Kikuzuki firing at Tavoy
DD Fumizuki firing at Tavoy
DD Minazuki firing at Tavoy
DD Oboro firing at Tavoy
DD Sagiri firing at Tavoy
DD Shikinami firing at Tavoy

DEI

Another brave IJN SAG sails through scores of Allied bombers based at Ambon on its mission to bombard Sorong. Eventually some SBDs, TBFs and Beauforts score a few hits:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 42
Mitchell II x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 destroyed, 38 damaged
Mitchell II: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Naganami

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Mitchell II bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
10 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 27
Mitchell II x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed, 26 damaged
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Takanami
CA Kumano, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugumo

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Mitchell II bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

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

CA Kumano is sunk. The IJN SAG then bombards Sorong after sinking a couple of PTs:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
DD Ikazuchi
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
PT-36
PT-37
PT-38
PT-39
PT-40, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-43
PT-44
PT-45
PT-46
PT-47
PT-48
PT-59, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 71% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Berg I. gains tactical advantage
CA Mikuma engages PT-59 at 8,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-48 at 8,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-44 at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-59 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Isonami engages PT-48 at 6,000 yards
DD Isonami engages PT-48 at 6,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-39 at 6,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-59 at 6,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages PT-37 at 6,000 yards
PT-46 engages DD Ikazuchi at 6,000 yards
PT-45 engages CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-44 at 6,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-39 at 6,000 yards
PT-36 engages CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
PT-59 sunk by DD Usugumo at 7,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-46 at 7,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-45 at 7,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-44 at 7,000 yards
PT-40 sunk by CA Mikuma at 7,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-38 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages PT-48 at 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-46 at 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-45 at 11,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-47 at 11,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-48 at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages PT-38 at 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-36 at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Naval bombardment of Sorong at 82,107

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 66

CA Mikuma firing at Sorong
CA Mogami firing at Sorong

CapAndGown · Post by **CapAndGown** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:43 am

Looks like desperation.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:54 pm

9/20-9/23/43

SUBS

SS Capelin sinks TK Komaki Maru by Taihoku.

SS Apogon sinks PB Nanei Maru off Amami Oshima.

SS Wahoo puts a fish in AK Nichibi Maru near Shikuka.

SS KXIV takes 3 DCs from IJN ASW by Lingga.

SS Truant is hit by 4 DCs from convoy escorts off Muntok.

SS I-121 sinks AK Aldinga but takes 3 DCs in return from escorts by Ambon.

SS Mingo sinks AK Nichibi Maru off Wakkanai.

SWPAC: OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER will commence next turn with the objective of total destruction of ALL Japanese air forces throughout the Marianas and neutralization of Japanese airbases at Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Successful completion of OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER is a necessary prerequisite for the CENTPAC Marianas Offensive to kick off in October.

The SWPAC offensive to capture Babeldaob, Yap, Woleai and Ulithi was needed to provide bases for USAAF fighters and bombers to engage and destroy the Japanese air forces in the Marianas. The seabees at Yap just built up the airfield to level 5 this turn and the US 7th Air Force HQ is now activated there.
The 1 Group RNAF Air HQ is now activated at Babeldaob.

Over 250 heavy bombers are staged into Babeldaob and are targeting the airfield at Tinian. Over 230 B-25s and heavy bombers are staged into Yap and are targeting the airfield at Guam.....they will be escorted by 2 squadrons of the brand new P-38H long range fighters.

Task Group 58....8 CVs and 3 CVLs....sails to their launch point some 160 miles S of Guam......Hellcats from TG 58 will fly early morning sweeps at Guam, Tinian and Saipan prior to the arrival of the land based bombers. TG 58 is responsible for neutralization of Saipan....some 250 SBDs and 150 TBFs are put on naval/airfield attack. Recon shows an IJN SAG at Truk......if they retreat towards either Japan or the Marianas they will be caught in the crosshairs of TG 58 naval bombers.

Recon show the presence of nearly 300 Japanese aircraft thoughout the Marianas.

CBI: JAPAN INVADES INDOCHINA

I thought that I was crazy about worrying of a Japanese invasion of a coastal port in Indochina. StoneAge had been flying recon and ground bombing attacks against all of the ports on the Indochina coast and in response I garrisoned every level 2 port or larger with a brigade.

Well this turn Japan invades at not one but TWO separate ports. The IJA 12th Division storms ashore at Cam Ranh Bay while the IJA 14th Division attacks at Soc Trang.

Allied divebombers, medium and heavy bombers throughout Indochina attempt to repel the invaders:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 7
Hudson IIIa x 6
Liberator II x 14
Wellington Ic x 4
B-17F Fortress x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Teikyo Maru
xAP Oryoku Maru
xAP Yoshino Maru
xAP Kokuryu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Wellington Ic bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Beaufighter VIc sweeping at 5000 feet *
7 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 13

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Beaufighter VIc sweeping at 5000 feet *

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Oryoku Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Yoshino Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 4

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Oryoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Suwa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Kokuryu Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 7
Hudson IIIa x 4
Liberator II x 14
Wellington Ic x 6
B-17F Fortress x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Akasisan Maru
xAP Oryoku Maru
xAP Atsuta Maru
xAP Yoshino Maru
xAP Husimi Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington Ic bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x Beaufighter VIc sweeping at 5000 feet *
9 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Teikyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Vengeance I bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamo Maru
xAP Suwa Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Husimi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Oryoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Beaufighter VIc sweeping at 5000 feet *

By the end of the turn over 7000 IJA troops are ashore at Soc Trang and over 8000 IJA troops at Cam Ranh Bay. I originally had 2nd UK Division and 7th Australian Division in reserve at Saigon for just such a contingency....but the Allies were consumed with "victory disease" and 7th Aussie was sent to the DEI while 2nd UK was sent to back up the assault at Prachuap Khiri Khan. Now 2nd UK Division, 2 armored brigades, 2 Chindit brigades and a Gurkha brigade will be sent towards Saigon. The East African Division in transit just arrived at Moulmein by railroad and it too will be diverted to Saigon.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 4:35 pm

9/24-9/25/43

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER commences on 9/24/43 with Hellcats from the fast carriers of Task Group 58 sweeping Guam at high altitude:

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
A6M5 Zero x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
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 6 minutes
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 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 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 36750.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

Then the land based fighters and bombers at Yap and Babeldaob take over:

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 15
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 18
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 20
B-25D1 Mitchell x 31
B-25G Mitchell x 9
P-38H Lightning x 46
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 7
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 9
PV-1 Ventura x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed on ground
H6K5 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
P-38H Lightning: 5 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 57

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 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
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 17

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/A 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 14000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead

Afternoon Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 97
B-24J Liberator x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 41
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 163

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 8 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 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

At Saipan its an all Navy show:

Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 34

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 17 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 34

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 16 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
A6M5 Zero x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 15

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
SBD-5 Dauntless x 86
TBF-1 Avenger x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 26 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 52
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
SBD-5 Dauntless x 23
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze
DD Hamakaze

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

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

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

Also attacking Saipan ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD
Also attacking Saipan ...
Also attacking Saipan ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 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
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4-L Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

Carrier bombers pummel an IJN DD squadron off Saipan:

Afternoon Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 52
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
SBD-5 Dauntless x 23
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze
DD Hamakaze

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

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

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M3a Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32810
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

Also attacking Saipan ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD
Also attacking Saipan ...
Also attacking Saipan ...

On 9/25 the IJN SAG that had been at Truk is spotted as it heads back north and is hit by carrier bombers:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,104

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
SBD-5 Dauntless x 67
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 20 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Yamakaze
DD Kiyonami
DD Hayanami

Japanese ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Takao class CA
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,104

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 10

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
CA Maya, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso, heavy fires

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Furutaka class CA
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,104

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, heavy fires
DD Yamakaze

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso

CL Kiso is reported sunk.

After 2 days of continuous aerial attacks on the Marianas recon reports that Guam is 53% suppressed, Tinian is 52% suppressed and Saipan is 39% suppressed.

CBI

Allied land based bombers hammer Japanese assault shipping as they continue their invasions at Soc Trang and Cam Ranh Bay:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
Hurricane FR.IIb x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Brazil Maru
xAP Kamakura Maru
xAP Haruna Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 16

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Atsuta Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Hiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAP Kamo Maru

Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Hiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sumanoura Maru, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hiyoshi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamakura Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire
xAP Haruna Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kongo Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 13

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kongo Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Haruna Maru, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kongo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Tatsuta Maru

Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Haruna Maru, on fire

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

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamo Maru
xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Husimi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane FR.IIb x 12
P-40N5 Warhawk x 11

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Haruna Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Kamakura Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tatsuta Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 6
Vengeance I x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Husimi Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
xAP Kamo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Sumanoura Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Akasisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Akasisan Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 9
P-40N5 Warhawk x 21

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamakura Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Koan Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
572 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kamakura Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Tatsuta Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Tatsuta Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Tatsuta Maru

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 22

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 17 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Atsuta Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kamo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
PC Sumire, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Atsuta Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kamo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Yoshino Maru

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamo Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kamo Maru

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Brazil Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Brazil Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 11

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Brazil Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Koan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Brazil Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Koan Maru

With complete Allied air supremacy over Indochina Allied medium and heavy bombers pound the IJA troops that have landed at Soc Trang and Cam Ranh Bay. The IJA 14th Division defeats the 1st Burma Brigade and captures Soc Trang. At Cam Ranh Bay the IJA 12th Division is defeated by the 15th Indian Brigade.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:13 pm

9/26-9/27/43

SUBS

SS Amberjack sinks TK Tonan Maru #3 off Naga.

SS Kingfish sinks E Matsuwa by Aogashima.

SS Gudgeon sinks PB Sureboko Maru near Culion.

SS Drum is hit by 4 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Bintan.

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

After 4 days of OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER Guam is 60% neutralized and Tinian is 56% neutralized. The fast carriers of Task Group 58 have caused 97% damage at Saipan.....the USN carriers will now return to Rabaul to take on AC replacements and replenish their armaments.

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER will turn the Marianas into a Japanese "No Fly Zone".....with only 8 CVs and 3 CVLs the Allies cant afford a RL Marianas Turkey Shoot here. Four days ago there were some 300 Japanese AC in the Marianas....now there are only 35 AC remaining of which 14 are auxilliary AC.

TG 58 spots and sinks DD Hamakaze off Saipan.

CBI

The IJA 12th Division can only muster a 1:2 assault at Cam Ranh Bay. The 3rd Carabiniers Regiment rails in to Cam Ranh Bay from Haiphong.

Allied air continues to pound the IJA troops at Soc Trang and Cam Ranh Bay.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:26 am

9/28-10/1/43

SUBS

SS I-37 is hit by 5 DCs from a USN SAG near Mussau Island.

SS Shad sinks off the Japanese coast from a bomb hit by IJN ASW AC.

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

After a week of OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER Saipan and Tinian are completely neutralized. Guam is a bit tougher to suppress....there are probably more construction engineers here repairing damage....but Guam will be the 1st invasion in the Marianas and consequently the first place to undergo naval bombardment so complete neutralization here is not as critical....as long as the rest of the Marianas is shut down.

Babeldaob ....with over 250 heavy bombers.....is probably the Allies most exposed airbase. With StoneAge's propensity to send IJN SAGs to bombard our airfields Im sending a USN SAG commanded by Adm Halsey to cover Babeldaob....they will be escorted by 6 CVEs.

The fast carriers of Task Group 58 return to Rabaul and take on AC replacements and replenish their armaments.

Amphibious transports at Rabaul begin loading assault troops for Guam.

CBI

The Allied garrison at Cam Ranh Bay continues to hold out.

The IJA 14th Division at Soc Trang begins to advance on Saigon.

INTEL SCREEN

Every 2 months StoneAge and I post all of our ship and AC losses. Here is the intel screen for 10/1/43:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:54 pm

10/1/43

THE AIR WAR

The Allies seem to be getting the upper hand now in A2A combat....A2A losses are 2549 Allied AC vs 3291 Japanese AC.

For total AC losses the Allies are pulling ahead of Japan.....7692 Allied AC vs 7164 Japanese AC. Allied AC losses to flak and ops are skyrocketing as the Allies attempt long term suppression of Japanese airfields at Wotje, Roi-Namur and Truk and short term base suppression at Babeldaob, Yap, Guam, Tinain and Saipan. If you try to play historically and bypass certain Japanese bases while attempting neutalization by air power, high flak and op losses are unavoidable.

Here is a screenie of Japanese AC losses:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:10 pm

10/1/43

THE AIR WAR....CONTINUED

Here is a screenshot of Allied plane losses. Not surprsingly, the C-47 transport aircraft takes the lead....465 have been lost.......... all to ops. I had put all these C-47s on supply transport from India to Burma probably a year ago and havent touched them. Im grounding all of these transport AC as I can ship in supply by sea now to Rangoon, Moulmein and Tavoy.

Moving up to 2nd place on the loss list are the SBD-3s with 458 losses.....222 to flak.

Interestingly, the TBF-1 Avengers have moved up to 6th on the loss list with 228 losses.....76 to flak and 107 to ops.

F6F Hellcats make the list for the first time as they become the predominate US Navy carrier fighter.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:23 pm

10/1/43

THE AIR WAR....CONTINUED

Here is a screenshot of the top Allied pilots.......this has changed quite a bit in the last few months. Now 5 of the top 11 pilots are US Navy......3 of the top ten pilots are from VF-6.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:54 pm

10/1/43

THE AIR WAR......CONTINUED

And finally here is a screenshot of the pilot pools......the US Army graduating pilots reach their nadir of the war....an average experience of just 23 which is the 2nd worst after China.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:45 am

10/1/43

THE NAVAL WAR

Ship losses as of 10/1/43 include:

ALLIED

4 CV; 1 CVL; 3 CVE; 6 BB; 2 CA; 4 CL; 2 CLAA; 23 DD; 1 DE; 2 APD; 12 AP; 102 AK/AKL; 11 AO; 19 TK; 27 SS; 4 DMS; 1 LSD; 5 LST; 15 LCI

JAPANESE

8 CV; 4 CVL; 3 CVE; 7 BB; 9 CA; 12 CL; 1 CS; 28 DD; 5 APD; 5 AP; 247 AK/AKL; 5 AO; 41 TK; 66 SS; 9 SSX; 20 SC; 8 E; 85 PB; 1 LSD

10/3/43: NAVAL BATTLE OF BABELDAOB

I was expecting StoneAge to naval bombard the important airbase at Babeldaob so a SAG commanded by Adm Halsey with 3 fast BBs and a CV escort TF with 6 CVEs was sent to help protect the island.

Sure enough, the BB Yamato SAG showed up at Babeldaob the day after Allied surface forces arrived. The BB Yamato SAG was tracked all day on 10/2/43 by PBYs and was repeatedly attacked by horizontal bombers based at Babeldaob and by the CVE torpedo bombers and divebombers:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 88,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 41
P-38H Lightning x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Yamato
CL Natori

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 88,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 19
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 7

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CL Sendai
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
BB Yamato
CL Kinu

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 88,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 4

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 88,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 4

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara

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

Most of the CVE torpedo bombers became lost/detached due to the rainy weather and missed attacking the BB Yamato SAG.

Despite being tracked and attacked by Allied AC all day on the 2nd of October, the BB Yamato SAG was able to engage in a daylight gunnery battle with USN CVEs at Babeldaob while Adm Halsey's SAG sat by idly:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Babeldaob at 90,97, Range 20,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato, Shell hits 1
CA Ashigara
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Kinu
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Tamanami
DD Onami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Isokaze
DD Harusame, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CVE Santee, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CVE Nassau, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CVE Copahee, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
CVE Casablanca, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CVE Natoma Bay, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Beale
DD Braine, Shell hits 4
DD Brownson, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Converse, Shell hits 1
DD Terry, Shell hits 3
DD Thatcher, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Phelps, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 5, on fire
CLAA Prince Robert, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 20,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CLAA Prince Robert at 20,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Nassau at 20,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Santee at 20,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Sangamon at 20,000 yards
CLAA Prince Robert engages CL Sendai at 20,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Converse at 20,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Braine at 20,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Braine at 20,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Converse at 20,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Terry at 20,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Braine at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Nassau at 18,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CLAA Prince Robert at 18,000 yards
CLAA Prince Robert engages CA Ashigara at 18,000 yards
CL Natori engages CVE Sangamon at 18,000 yards
CLAA Prince Robert engages CL Nagara at 18,000 yards
CLAA Prince Robert engages CL Sendai at 18,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Terry at 18,000 yards
DD Converse engages DD Harusame at 18,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Maikaze at 18,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Beale at 18,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Brownson at 18,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Wakazuki at 18,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Converse at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Natoma Bay at 16,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CLAA Prince Robert at 16,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CLAA Prince Robert at 16,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CVE Nassau at 16,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages CVE Santee at 16,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages CVE Sangamon at 16,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CLAA Prince Robert at 16,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CLAA Prince Robert at 16,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Terry at 16,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Brownson at 16,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Converse at 16,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Hatsuyuki at 16,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Braine at 16,000 yards
DD Converse engages DD Onami at 16,000 yards
DD Converse engages DD Tamanami at 16,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Wakazuki at 16,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Terry at 16,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Braine at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages CVE Natoma Bay at 12,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CLAA Prince Robert at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages CVE Copahee at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Nassau at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages CVE Santee at 12,000 yards
CL Natori engages CLAA Prince Robert at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CLAA Prince Robert at 12,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Terry at 12,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Harukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Terry at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Converse at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Brownson at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Braine at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Braine at 12,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Brownson at 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Braine at 12,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Terry at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages CVE Natoma Bay at 8,000 yards
CLAA Prince Robert sunk by BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CVE Santee at 8,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 8,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Phelps at 8,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Converse at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Phelps at 8,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Converse at 8,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Brownson at 8,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Braine at 8,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Onami at 8,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Niizuki at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Natoma Bay at 9,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CVE Casablanca at 9,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Copahee at 9,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CVE Nassau at 9,000 yards
DD Onami engages CVE Santee at 9,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages CVE Sangamon at 9,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CVE Natoma Bay at 9,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Terry at 9,000 yards
DD Converse engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Brownson at 9,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Braine at 9,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Terry at 9,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Braine at 9,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CVE Copahee sunk by BB Yamato at 12,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CVE Casablanca at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Natoma Bay at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages CVE Nassau at 12,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages CVE Santee at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages CVE Sangamon at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Isaac Sweers at 12,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CVE Natoma Bay at 12,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Thatcher at 12,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Terry at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Converse at 12,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Brownson at 12,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Onami at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Beale at 12,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Phelps at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Phelps at 12,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Casablanca at 13,000 yards
CVE Casablanca sunk by BB Kirishima at 13,000 yards
DD Harusame engages CVE Santee at 13,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Hatsuyuki at 13,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Phelps at 13,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Thatcher at 13,000 yards
DD Converse engages DD Matsukaze at 13,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Brownson at 13,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Hatsuyuki at 13,000 yards
DD Beale engages DD Hatsuzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Converse at 13,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Braine at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Santee at 15,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CVE Santee at 15,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Santee at 15,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CVE Santee at 15,000 yards
CVE Santee sunk by CL Kinu at 15,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Matsukaze at 15,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Braine at 15,000 yards
DD Beale engages DD Akizuki at 15,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Beale at 15,000 yards
DD Beale engages DD Onami at 15,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Phelps at 15,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Braine at 15,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Akizuki at 15,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Hatsuyuki at 15,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Thatcher at 15,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Brownson at 15,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Terry at 15,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Beale at 15,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Beale at 15,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Converse at 15,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Maikaze at 15,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Onami at 15,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Niizuki at 15,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Thatcher at 15,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 15,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Terry at 15,000 yards
DD Harusame engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CVE Sangamon at 15,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Harusame at 15,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Converse at 15,000 yards
CVE Sangamon sunk by CL Sendai at 15,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Brownson at 15,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Harukaze at 15,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Wakazuki at 15,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Converse at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages CVE Nassau at 11,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Maikaze at 11,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CVE Nassau at 11,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CVE Nassau at 11,000 yards
CL Natori engages CVE Nassau at 11,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Brownson at 11,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CVE Nassau at 11,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Beale at 11,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CVE Nassau at 8,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Phelps at 8,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Matsukaze at 8,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Matsukaze at 8,000 yards
CL Natori engages CVE Nassau at 8,000 yards
CVE Nassau sunk by CL Nagara at 8,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Thatcher at 8,000 yards
DD Terry engages DD Harukaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Thatcher at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Thatcher at 10,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Harusame at 10,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Thatcher at 10,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Terry at 10,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Thatcher at 10,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Brownson at 10,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Onami at 10,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Beale at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Isaac Sweers at 10,000 yards
DD Braine engages DD Isokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Onami at 10,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Terry at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Converse at 10,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Braine at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Phelps at 12,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Maikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Terry at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Thatcher at 12,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Brownson at 12,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Thatcher at 12,000 yards
DD Beale engages DD Onami at 12,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Harukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Isokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Brownson at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Converse at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 19,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Thatcher at 19,000 yards
DD Thatcher engages DD Maikaze at 19,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Terry at 19,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Braine at 19,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Thatcher at 19,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Beale at 19,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Beale at 19,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Susuzuki at 19,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Akizuki at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Isaac Sweers at 24,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Phelps at 24,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Thatcher at 24,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Terry at 24,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Brownson at 24,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Braine at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Thatcher at 30,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Phelps at 30,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Thatcher at 30,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages DD Thatcher at 30,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Brownson at 30,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Braine at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

This was the 2nd time this game that an IJN SAG was able to attack USN CVEs while the USN SAG was asleep at the wheel. All six CVEs were sunk....then the CVE TF finally withdrew from combat. Adm. Halsey is the Allies most aggressive commander....with an aggressiveness rating of 90.....AND the USN SAG was set to react at 6 hex range AND the IJN SAG had been spotted AND it was done in broad daylight. If surface TFs will not protect air combat TFs in the same hex then I dont know what to say.

After the annihilation of the USN CVEs then Adm Halsey's SAG finally engaged the BB Yamato SAG in naval gunnery combat:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Babeldaob at 90,97, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 7, on fire
BB Yamato, Shell hits 13, heavy fires
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Sendai, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Nagara, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Natori, Shell hits 9, on fire
CL Kinu, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tamanami
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 2
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 13, on fire
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Northampton, Shell hits 4
CA Louisville, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Chicago, Shell hits 3
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 3
CA New Orleans
CA Astoria
CA Wichita, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 2
DD Blue, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mugford, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Henley, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Gridley, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Maury, Shell hits 1
DD Ellet, Shell hits 2

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo crosses the 'T'
BB Hiei engages BB Massachusetts at 18,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Hiei at 18,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Sendai at 18,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Wichita at 18,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Wichita at 18,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Salt Lake City at 18,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Chicago at 18,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Sendai at 18,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages DD Hatsuyuki at 18,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Sendai at 18,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Ellet at 18,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Ellet at 18,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Wakazuki at 18,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Henley at 18,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Wakazuki at 18,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Blue at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB South Dakota at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 12,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Chicago at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Louisville at 12,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Natori at 12,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Nagara at 12,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Chicago at 12,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Sendai at 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Isokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Maikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Tamanami at 12,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Wakazuki at 12,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Patterson at 12,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Isokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Maikaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB South Dakota at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Washington at 8,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Ashigara at 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Chicago at 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Salt Lake City at 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Chicago at 8,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Sendai at 8,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Hatsuyuki at 8,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Isokaze at 8,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 8,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Ellet at 8,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Henley at 8,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Henley at 8,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Susuzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hatsuyuki at 8,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Niizuki at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Massachusetts at 7,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 7,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 7,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA New Orleans at 7,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 7,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Louisville at 7,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Chicago at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Louisville at 7,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Patterson at 7,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Ellet at 7,000 yards
DD Maury engages DD Susuzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Mugford at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hatsuyuki at 7,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Isokaze at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 11,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Kirishima at 11,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Washington at 11,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Natori at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 11,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA New Orleans at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Sendai at 11,000 yards
CA Louisville engages DD Matsukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Hatsuyuki at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Nagara at 11,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Ellet at 11,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Patterson at 11,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Wakazuki at 11,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Mugford at 11,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB South Dakota at 13,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Hiei at 13,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Sendai at 13,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Kinu at 13,000 yards
CL Natori engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Salt Lake City at 13,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Sendai at 13,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Matsukaze at 13,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Northampton at 13,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Patterson at 13,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Wakazuki at 13,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Patterson at 13,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Henley at 13,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Matsukaze at 13,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Wakazuki at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Massachusetts at 16,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 16,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 16,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Ashigara at 16,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Northampton at 16,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Natori at 16,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Nagara at 16,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Chicago at 16,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Sendai at 16,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Maury at 16,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Tamanami at 16,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Tamanami at 16,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Wakazuki at 16,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Maury at 16,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Mugford at 16,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Susuzuki at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Massachusetts at 20,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB South Dakota at 20,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Hiei at 20,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Salt Lake City at 20,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Kinu at 20,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Salt Lake City at 20,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Kinu at 20,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Northampton at 20,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Boise at 20,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages DD Maikaze at 20,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Niizuki at 20,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Henley at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Massachusetts at 21,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 21,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Wichita at 21,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Astoria at 21,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Kinu at 21,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Salt Lake City at 21,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Chicago at 21,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Sendai at 21,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Boise at 21,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Maury at 21,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Wakazuki at 21,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Patterson at 21,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Hatsuzuki at 21,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Niizuki at 21,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Mugford at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 20,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB South Dakota at 20,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Washington at 20,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Louisville at 20,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 20,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Salt Lake City at 20,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Salt Lake City at 20,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Boise at 20,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages DD Matsukaze at 20,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Sendai at 20,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Isokaze at 20,000 yards
CA Louisville engages DD Maikaze at 20,000 yards
DD Hatsuzuki engages DD Maury at 20,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Wakazuki at 20,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Mugford at 20,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hatsuzuki at 20,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Gridley at 20,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hatsuzuki at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Massachusetts at 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Massachusetts at 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB Washington at 17,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Astoria at 17,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA New Orleans at 17,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Salt Lake City at 17,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Wichita at 17,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Matsukaze at 17,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Mugford at 17,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Maury at 17,000 yards
DD Maury engages DD Wakazuki at 17,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Isokaze at 17,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Henley at 17,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 17,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Isokaze at 17,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Blue at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Yamato at 15,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 15,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB South Dakota at 15,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Ashigara at 15,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Astoria at 15,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA New Orleans at 15,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Salt Lake City at 15,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Chicago at 15,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Mugford at 15,000 yards
DD Maury engages DD Hatsuyuki at 15,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CL Boise at 15,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Ellet at 15,000 yards
DD Maury engages DD Isokaze at 15,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hatsuzuki at 15,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Ralph Talbot at 15,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Mugford at 15,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Matsukaze at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Massachusetts at 11,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Hiei at 11,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Hiei at 11,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Northampton at 11,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA New Orleans at 11,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Natori at 11,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Louisville at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Isokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Isokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Wakazuki engages DD Gridley at 11,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Susuzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Mugford at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Yamato at 7,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB South Dakota at 7,000 yards
BB Hiei sunk by BB Washington at 7,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Wichita at 7,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Astoria at 7,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Natori at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Salt Lake City at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Louisville at 7,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Wakazuki at 7,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Patterson at 7,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hatsuzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Susuzuki at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Yamato at 8,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Kirishima at 8,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Astoria at 8,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Kinu at 8,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Ashigara at 8,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Nagara at 8,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Natori at 8,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CA Ashigara at 8,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Ashigara at 8,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Natori at 8,000 yards
CL Natori engages CL Boise at 8,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Ellet at 8,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Maury at 8,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Tamanami at 8,000 yards
DD Susuzuki engages DD Blue at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 13,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages BB Kirishima at 13,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Chicago at 13,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Kinu at 13,000 yards
CL Natori engages CA Astoria at 13,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Nagara at 13,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Salt Lake City at 13,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Chicago at 13,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Isokaze at 13,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Gridley at 13,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Tamanami at 13,000 yards
DD Maury engages DD Wakazuki at 13,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Gridley at 13,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Patterson at 13,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hatsuzuki at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Massachusetts at 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages BB South Dakota at 17,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Northampton at 17,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Kinu at 17,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Natori at 17,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Natori at 17,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Henley at 17,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Patterson at 17,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Northampton at 17,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Kinu at 17,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Maikaze at 17,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Wakazuki at 17,000 yards
DD Gridley engages DD Hatsuyuki at 17,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hatsuzuki at 17,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Susuzuki at 17,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Hatsuzuki at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages BB Yamato at 21,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Chicago at 21,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Wichita at 21,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CL Kinu at 21,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CL Nagara at 21,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CA Ashigara at 21,000 yards
BB South Dakota engages DD Matsukaze at 21,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages DD Hatsuyuki at 21,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Northampton at 21,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Susuzuki at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Washington at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Kirishima at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Kirishima at 26,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CL Kinu at 26,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA New Orleans at 26,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Kinu at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Matsukaze at 26,000 yards
CA Louisville engages DD Hatsuyuki at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Maikaze at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Tamanami at 26,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Hatsuzuki at 26,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Henley at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Massachusetts at 29,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Yamato at 29,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CL Natori at 29,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Nagara at 29,000 yards
CA Chicago engages DD Matsukaze at 29,000 yards
CA Chicago engages CL Nagara at 29,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Niizuki at 29,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Ralph Talbot at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

BB Washington sinks BB Hiei(for the 3rd time this war) so now the Japanese are down to BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu, and damaged BB Yamato and BB Kirishima. BB Yamato has huge durability so I imagine she will be spending a lot of time in the shipyard to repair her damage.

Just in case the battle damage has slowed the IJN BBs down I staged 2 squadrons of TBFs and 2 squadrons of Beaufort VIII(torpedo range of 8 hexes) into Babeldaob.

Here is a screenshot of the damaged US ships following the Naval Battle of Babeldaob:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:04 am

10/2-10/3/43

SUBS

SS O16 is hit by 4 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Kangean.

SS Escobar sinks TK Haldo Maru by Amami Oshima.

SS RO-108 is hit by 8 DCs from USN convoy escorts at Ulithi.

SS Steelhead is hit by 7 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Sapporo.

CBI

The IJA 14th Division marches on Saigon. I had the 2nd UK Division and the 268th Motorized Brigade boarding railcars in Bangkok to be railed to Phnom Penh but StoneAge dopped paratroops into Kompong Chhnang and cut the railroad. Now these troops will need to march into Kompong Chhnang and clear out the IJA paratroops before reinforcing Saigon.

Meanwhile, the 23rd Chindit Brigade reached Cam Ranh Bay today by railroad and it will be railed into Saigon next turn.

Allied medium, heavy and divebombers pummel IJN assault shipping off Cam ranh Bay and Soc Trang:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 2
Hurricane FR.IIb x 6
Vengeance I x 20
P-40N5 Warhawk x 15

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CM Itsukushima, Bomb hits 11, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Itsukushima

Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane FR.IIb x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane FR.IIb: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Shirakumo caught transferring cargo ...
Sawakaze caught transferring cargo ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 24
Beaufort VIII x 3
P-40N5 Warhawk x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami, Bomb hits 1
DD Shirakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
E Fuyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Asagao

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Naganami caught transferring cargo ...
Shirakumo caught transferring cargo ...
Fuyo caught transferring cargo ...
Asagao caught transferring cargo ...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
DD Sawakaze
DD Shirakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Naganami caught transferring cargo ...
Sawakaze caught transferring cargo ...
Shirakumo caught transferring cargo ...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane FR.IIb x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
E Fuyo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Naganami caught transferring cargo ...
Fuyo caught transferring cargo ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 13
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Yachiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Sawakaze
E Asagao, Bomb hits 1
DD Shirakumo, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Yachiyo Maru caught transferring cargo ...
Sawakaze caught transferring cargo ...
Asagao caught transferring cargo ...
Shirakumo caught transferring cargo ...

CapAndGown · Post by **CapAndGown** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:57 am

What's happening over on Java? Haven't seen a report on that in quite some time.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:45 am

cap_and _gown.....Java is a fairly sleepy backwater now. I have some 1300 Dutch AV behind level 5 forts at Batavia with 34,000 supplies. The last time I tried to resupply Batavia I lost 3 BBs and over 20 AKs. I used to base a fair amout of air at Batavia but the fairly regular bombardment runs by thge IJN forced me to relocate them.

I have the Ist Australian Corps and 18th UK Division on Timor and I had been thinking of using them to help liberate Java.

Now......Im planning on using the Ist Australian Corps and 18th UK to invade southern Luzon in early 1944 while SWPAC invades northern Luzon. I think that its more productive to completely isolate Japan from the SRA that to reconquer the SRA one island at a time.

10/4-10/5/43

SUBS

SS Dragonet sinks AK Chihaya Maru off Ningpo.

SS Grayback sinks TK Teiyo Maru near Miri.

CBI

Allied air continues to hit IJN invasion shipping at Soc Trang:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Soc Trang at 58,73

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane FR.IIb x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Tokuho Maru #5, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hurricane FR.IIb bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Tokuho Maru #5 caught transferring cargo ...

The IJA 12th Division appears to be pinned on the beach at Cam Ranh Bay.

The IJA 14th Division is now mired down in the swamp just outside of Saigon....its being hit repeatedly by Allied bombers every day its disruption is skyrocketing while morale is plummeting:

Ground combat at 59,71

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7404 troops, 84 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Defending force 907 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese adjusted assault: 50

Allied adjusted defense: 34

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
14th Division

Defending units:
1st Burma Brigade

Ground combat at 59,71

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7199 troops, 84 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 856 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 11

Allied adjusted defense: 58

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5

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

Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
14th Division

Defending units:
1st Burma Brigade

The lowly 1st Burma Brigade has stopped 14th Division in its tracks.

The 2nd UK Division and the 268th Motorized Brigade rail in to Battambang from Bangkok.....here they will unload and march overland to Kompong Chhnang to overrun the roadblock of IJA paratroopers.

SWPAC

Inclement weather helps the BB Yamato SAG to escape frpm the wrath of Allied torpedo bombers:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Siargao at 86,90

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Siargao at 86,90

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Ive attached a screenshot that shows the BB Yamato SAG retiring NW into the central Philippines......StoneAge will probably try to get his cripples into port at Manila and then maybe a Chinese shipyard for repairs.....USN subs are pulled off their convoy patrols and directed to the passages through the central Philippine islands and will guard the entrance to ports at Manila and on the Chinese coast.

StoneAge moves acouple of cruiser SAGs N of Babeldaob/Yap/Ulithi for naval bombardment runs next turn. TBFs score hits on one of the IJN cruiser SAGs:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 93,89

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Hayashio
DD Namikaze
DD Fujinami
DD Amatsukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
9 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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Tenryu class CL

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 93,89

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Namikaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Umikaze

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Nagara class CL

PTs are on patrol off all 3 bases and 2 more squadrons each of SBDs and TBFs are staged into the area.

Amphibious TF 86......covered by 5th Fleet.....is one day's sail out of Rabaul heading north towards Guam.

StoneAge was basing fighters in Rota to intercept OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER attacks against Guam and Tinian so heavy bombers based at Babeldaob are now hitting Rota.

Allied bombers at Ambon hit IJN DDs off Bara:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 73,106

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 12
A-24 Banshee x 12
P-38H Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 12 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Uranami
DD Akatsuki

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
251 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
251 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 73,106

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 6
Vengeance I x 9
P-38H Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Uranami
DD Ayanami

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Mitchell II bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
9 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 69,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

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

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

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

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE

RE: SWPAC SUMMER 1943 OFFENSIVE