43 Dec 20 thru 24: No longer boring....Death Star reappears off Tabiteuea!!
Subs:
23rd - Gudgeon is run over by part of KB and later the Combat Replay announces "enemy carriers." Bugger!!
CVs:
20th - TF shows up 3 NE of Baker Island. Looks like transports, but turns out it's not.
21st - Three TFs are now 6 east of Tabiteuea = 329F, 202B, 23Aux & 116F, 37B, 18Aux, & SC TF
22nd - DS is now 2 NE of Tabiteuea
23rd - See screen shot for positions of KB & DS
Aleutians:
Sitkinak - I have a group of Frank and George sweep on 22nd with mixed results.
Morning Air attack on Sitkinak Island , at 180,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 27
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 29000 feet
CAP engaged:
VF-38 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 24 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 34550.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Sitkinak Island , at 180,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 9
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VF-38 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
20 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Sitkinak Island , at 180,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 9
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 16
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
VF-38 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 27530.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Sitkinak Island , at 180,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 30
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 29000 feet
CAP engaged:
VF-38 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
Losses are 19F, 14G vs 17HC, 9P-38
China:
Chungking - My second attack occurs on 22nd...
Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 139693 troops, 1383 guns, 1050 vehicles, Assault Value = 4457
Defending force 452410 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11255
Japanese adjusted assault: 2092
Allied adjusted defense: 3277
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
13790 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 1571 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 36 destroyed, 209 disabled
Guns lost 134 (2 destroyed, 132 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (7 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
22090 casualties reported
Squads: 1185 destroyed, 505 disabled
Non Combat: 1158 destroyed, 189 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 21
All the division are divided and once they recover, I'll do it again.
CenPac:
Nonouti - 20 Jill & 25 George attack his troops on 20th.
Tabiteuea - busy day on the 23rd as Amphib TF and BB TF hit base.
Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H8K1 Emily: 15 damaged
H8K1 Emily: 2 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 18 damaged
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed on ground
A6M3b Zero: 25 damaged
A6M3b Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 1
BB Indiana
CA Rome
CA Wichita
CA Astoria
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 3
CA Northampton
CA Indianapolis
CL Mobile
CL Birmingham
CL Richmond
Japanese ground losses:
720 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 25
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 2
Pre-Invasion action off Tabiteuea (137,134) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
299 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
BB Arizona, Shell hits 1
CL Jeanne d'Arc, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Cleveland
CL Boise
CLAA Prince Robert
DD Gansevoort
DD Frazier
DD Laffey
AP Gen. T.H.Bliss, Shell hits 3
CVE Tangier
AMC Victor Schoelcher
DD Gillespie
Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
BB Pennsylvania firing at 46th Division
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment firing at BB Arizona
BB Arizona firing at 2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
CL Jeanne d'Arc firing at 2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment firing at CL Jeanne d'Arc
CL Cleveland firing at 46th Division
CL Boise firing at 2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment firing at CL Boise
CLAA Prince Robert firing at 2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment firing at CLAA Prince Robert
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment firing at DD Gansevoort
DD Gansevoort firing at 2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
DD Frazier firing at 43rd Division
DD Laffey firing at 43rd Division
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging AP Gen. T.H.Bliss at 12,000 yards
CVE Tangier firing to suppress enemy battery at 12,000 yards
DD Gansevoort fired at enemy troops
DD Frazier fired at enemy troops
DD Laffey fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
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Amphibious Assault at Tabiteuea (137,134)
TF 343 troops unloading over beach at Tabiteuea, 137,134
Allied ground losses:
328 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 106 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (2 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)
14 troops of a USMC 43 Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 1st Marine Div /2
81mm M1 Mortar accidentally lost during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt
12 troops of a M1917 MMG Section lost from landing craft during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /1
20mm Mk4 Oerlikon lost overboard during unload of 1st Fleet Advn Base Force
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 1st Fleet Advn Base Force /7
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /5
15 Naval Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Fleet Advn Base Force /8
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt /5
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 1st Marine Div /7
Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 76321 troops, 1329 guns, 957 vehicles, Assault Value = 2642
Defending force 35810 troops, 286 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 923
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5
Allied adjusted assault: 858
Japanese adjusted defense: 696
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1749 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 68 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
8601 casualties reported
Squads: 612 destroyed, 305 disabled
Non Combat: 206 destroyed, 132 disabled
Engineers: 202 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 168 (114 destroyed, 54 disabled)
Vehicles lost 282 (169 destroyed, 113 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
25th Infantry Division
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
1st Marine Div /8
3rd Marine Division
767th Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
112th Cavalry Regiment
24th Infantry Division
22nd Marine Regiment
33rd Infantry Div /9
225th Field Artillery Battalion
55th Coastal Artillery Battalion
1st Fleet Advn Base Force
3/593rd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
1st Pioneer Battalion
1st US Naval Construction Battalion
46th US Naval Construction Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
1/593rd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
42nd MAG
21st Base Group
249th Field Artillery Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion
7th USN Naval Construction Regiment
Defending units:
7th Indpt SNLF Coy
46th Division
2nd ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
43rd Division
3rd Naval Pioneer Battalion
2nd JNAF AF Unit
12th Air Flotilla
5th Naval Construction Battalion
16th JNAF AF Unit
SL is ONLY 40k and he is way, way over!! I hope he learns how to conduct invasions real soon. <wink> [:-]
Notes:
D4Y4 Judy to 3/44
Screen shot - I've removed Judy & Jill from two of my Shokaku-kai CVs and added 2 x 45 plane George groups. Going fighter heavy as I've ordered my Judy & Jill to stand down. Plans are to move down to off Ocean Is. next turn, if still present, I'll order 2 x SC TF to Full Spd to hit his TFs at Tabiteuea. The turn after will be KB moving in provide LRCAP over a third SC TF formed from KBs screen.
The four Kongos with DDs are now two days north of Truk after finishing upgrades.
I have 6 CV and 3 CVL less than 10 days until upgrades completed at Yokohama. Once they join KB in month, I'll go after DS.
