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So, who has the turn? Faber ain't talking.

Hi all,

Wow. This is getting fun[8D]

Today my CAP and fleet co-ordination worked very well.

Betties and Nells from Wake attacked my fleet heading for the Atoll. Between 100-290 Wildcats and 20ish Hellcats were on CAP during the day. Not 1 enemy plane succeeded on dropping ordinance on my ships. An example of the Wake Turkey Shoot:

Day Air attack on TF at 87,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 29
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 288
F6F Hellcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 29 destroyed
G3M Nell: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 29 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed, 28 damaged

In total 104 enemy planes were lost throughout the day (46 Betties, 43 A6M3a, 9 Nells) to my 19 (15 F4F).

I think the effects of the Aleutians campaign are being felt here. My fighter boys had a good working over up there and now most VF's have experience between 70 and 80 with 100+ kills per squadron.

WELL DONE LADS[8D]

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The IJN sub arm also had a bad day. Faber has clearly vectored in several boats to intercept my fleet. The day started well for them when the Mahan Class destroyer Preston was hit by I-164. The destroyer is heading back to Midway with severe flooding.

From then on it was all bad for them:

I-177 was caught on the surface and DD Phelps broke the submarine in 2 with a torpedo.

I-19 was probably on the radar screens of 40 destroyers throughout the day. Despite skillfully evading 10's of DC's she eventually succumbed and sank........

I-164, I-159 and RO-64 were also damaged by DC's.

My sub arm was also in action in the SRA. SS Drum damaged AK Olympia MAru with a torpedo 180 miles east of Tarakan.

Unfortunately SS Narwhal and SS Hoe missed their targets; a freighter and ML Wakatake respectively.

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Tomorrow orders for Falcon involved units. Nearing the target now. It is estimated if Fabrer sends the Combined Fleet the earliest that could be om station would be another 2-3 days. This is assuming they are based in the Mariana's or Truk. If in Home Waters, even longer! Torpedo bombers are to fly against Wake tomorrow.

Spruance's are to hit the airfield
Mitscher's are to hit the port
Bellinger's are to hit the ground units
Kinkaid's are to hit the port

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Interestingly guys not 1 of the ships hit by submarine or LBA torpedo's has sunk yet! Some may well do but nothing as yet.

Mike - Could not find LST-66 in the game i'm afraid[:(]

Note on the screenie below my sub picket line to the west of Wake. I also have a smaller line to the south west covering Truk.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

So, who has the turn? Faber ain't talking.

Faber has had it for 30 mins.

LST-66 doesn't exist in the game... Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

LST 66 not in the game?! That sucks. That needs to be fixed.[X(]

Builder: Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Commissioned: 12 April 1943

Assigned to: LST Flotilla 11, Group 31, Division 61

Decommissioned: 26 March 1946

Disposition: Sold for scrap on 7 April 1948, to Kaiser Company, Inc., Seattle, Washington.

Length: 327' 9"' oa

Beam: 50'

Draft: 1' 6" bow, 7' 5" stern (unloaded); 8' 2" bow, 14' 1" stern (loaded -- at sea); 3' 1" bow, 9' 6" (loaded -- beaching)

Displacement: 1,625 (light); 4,080 (w/ full load of 2,100 tons)

Propulsion: 2 x General Motors 12-567 diesels, twin shafts/rudders

Range: 24,000 nm @ 9 knots

Top Speed: 11.6 knots

Complement: 111 (including one Rudolfo Solli)

Troops: 163

Initial Armament: 7 x 40mm (single mount); 6 x 20 mm (single mount); 2 x .50-caliber mgs; 4 x .30-caliber mgs

USS LST-66
LST Flotilla 11, Group 31, Division 61

The Coast Guard-manned USS LST-66 was laid down at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company and commissioned on 12 April 1943 with a complement of 8 officers and 66 enlisted men of the U. S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. She was sponsored by Mrs. A. D. Landwehr. Her first commanding officer was LT Howard A. White, USCG. In April 1943 she proceeded down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and dry-docked on 15 May 1943, at New Orleans for final inspection, painting and repairs.

On May 21, 1943, she sailed from New Orleans for Brisbane, Australia via the Panama Canal, arriving there August 1, 1943 and being assigned to LST Flotilla 7, Seventh Fleet on October 10, 1943. Her first mission was the support landing at Finschafen, New Guinea, on October 25, 1943. She was in the landing at Lee, New Guinea, on December 7, 1943, and at Cape Gloucester, New Britain on December 26, 1943. In this engagement two men were killed and seven wounded from near miss bombs during an enemy air raid. The LST-66 was officially credited with shooting down three Japanese planes.

On January 19, 1944, the LST-66 was engaged in landing first support forces at Saidor, New Guinea. On completion of this mission she was ordered to join Group 21, Division 41, LST Flotilla 7 as of 1 February 1944. From then until August 1944 she was engaged in the following operations:

9 March 1944: first assault landing, Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands
23 April 1944: first support landing, Tanah Merah Bay, New Guinea
16 May 1944: first support landing, Aitape, New Guinea
19 May 1944: first support landing, Wakde Island, Dutch New Guinea
8 June 1944: first reinforcement landing, Biak Island, Schouten Islands
16 July 1944: first reinforcement landing, Noemfoor Island
30 July 1944: first assault landing; Cape Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea
After the Sansapor landing and, returning with reinforcements, the LST-66 was dry-docked at Alexishafen, New Guinea, from 20 - 23 August 1944, and on the completion of repairs participated in the first reinforcement landing on the south coast of Morotai, in the Moluccas. On 20 October 1944, she participated in the assault landing on Leyte, Philippine Islands. On 12 November 1944, following the landing a Japanese suicide plane crashed on the boat deck, starboard side aft, killing eight men and wounding 14 of the gun crews.

On 11 January 1945, the LST landed a part of the first reinforcements at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, one of the Army troops being wounded during the landing by artillery fire. On 5 March 1945, an Army enlisted man fell overboard from an LCM being towed by the LST-66 and was lost at sea. On March 10, 1945, she participated in the first assault landing at Zamboanga, Mindanao, and on completion of the mission, returned to Leyte, being dry-docked for repairs on 19 - 20 March 1945. From March to June 1945 she was employed in transporting troops equipment and supplies from rear bases being evacuated in the Solomons and New Guinea to the forward areas in the Philippines. In July 1945 she participated in the first support landing at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherland East Indies, the last engagement of the war.

During August and September, 1945, she was again employed in transporting troops, equipment and supplies from rear areas in the New Guinea area to forward areas in the Philippines, being dry-docked from 15 - 18 September 1945, for hull repairs and returning to transport troops and equipment from Morotai to Leyte. She then sailed to Zamboanga, arriving on 9 October 1945.

On 11 October 1945 she departed Zamboanga for Morotai, arriving there on 14 October. For the next few weeks she continued to sail between Zamboanga, Morotai, Leyte and other ports in the Philippines until she received orders to return state-side. She departed Manila on 7 November 1945 for San Francisco, via Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor, arriving at San Francisco on 19 December 1945, reporting to Commandant, 12th Naval District, for disposal. She was decommissioned and her Coast Guard crew removed at Mare Island, California on 26 March 1946.

The USS LST-66 earned nine battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for her service during World War II.

I just read the NavSource page on her, and she should be put in the game. I think I'll stick her in my mod...

I have my Uncle's dixie cup and his copy of the Navy Unit Commendation. He was pretty proud of that to his dying day.

Thanks, T. He joined the Coast Guard in 1941 to avoid being drafted.[:D] He was a plank owner (can you be a plank owner of an LST?[&:]). The 8 guys who died were on the bow 40mm mount. He was on that mount until about 5 minutes before the kamikaze hit. He was shifted to the stern mount because some guys there were wounded.

Sorry Speedy. Now back to the action.[:D]

Just entered LST-66 in my mod. We now return to the Wake Massacre-a-thon, already in progress...

Good luck speedster ! .. looking much better today

that turkey shoot must be a relief, i am suprised none got throught though .. nice going all the same

Long live the invasion of Wake !

Tapping feet.........looking at watch............(sigh)

Hi all,

You know what they say about a picture speaking a thousand words.....look at rhe screenie below. SS Tullibee gave her life today but radioed off the contact. I can only assume it is the Combined Fleet. Let's dance....Spruance, Mitscher and Bellinger are ordered west to engage...............

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Wake was bombed throughout the day. 29 enemy planes were destroyed to my 5. Also an I-boat (I-28) that was moored in port is now at the bottom of the ocean.

If all goes well my troops may well begin unloading in late afternoon 29th June 1943. 2 of my BB Divisions are to bombard theAtoll tomorrow and stay on station. The 3rd, and comprising the most modern BB's, are to remain and protect the transports on their way in.

My CVE group will hopefully launch TBF's agains Wake tomorrow.

Rain is forecast in the area.

Tomorrow could prove the most decisive of the war so far depending on Faber's actions, the weather and the Gods...........

Hi all,

Wow. The sh*t hit the fan at Wake today. I have probably never so eagerly watched or been so nervous at watching a combat replay.............

The initial landings occured at Wake Island. My God what murder.......as is to be expected from almost any Japanese held island I imagine 1000's of mines were laid there. The 2 x CD units played hell with my transports. In total I lost 29 ships today! Sounds dramatic I know but 11 of those were MSW's, 10 were LCI's (all troops disembakred before sinking), an AP (7th ID elements rescued), 4 x DMS etc etc.

From looking at the ships sunk screen the main cause of sinkage appears to have been the darned 5.5" CD gun........

Approximately 40% of my forces are ashore, battered and disrupted. Hmm. This will be a tough nut to crack with level 9 forts.

The 2 x SC groups that bombarded did not cause heavy damage unfortunately. Example:

Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 82,63 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

148 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 16
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy, Shell hits 29, on fire
CA Louisville
BB California, Shell hits 9
BB Nevada
BB Colorado, Shell hits 11
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
409 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

An example of the landing carnage:

TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 82,63


576 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Oriole, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Motive, Shell hits 1, on fire
MSW Sage, Shell hits 60, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Deloraine, Shell hits 41, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Lamberton, Shell hits 33, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Boggs, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hamilton, Shell hits 63, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Trevor, Shell hits 76, on fire, heavy damage
DE Austin
DD Litchfield
DD John D. Ford, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Barton
DD Hughes
DD Caldwell
CL Detroit, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Fox
DD Edwards
LCI LCI-221, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Henry T. Allen, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP President Garfield, Mine hits 1
LCI LCI-332, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
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Under the sea I-29 sank DD Case 180 miles east of Wake with 2 torpedo's. The responsive DC's caused minor damage.

Strange....SS Cachalot was reported sunk by a torpedo in the ship list but was only reportedly hit by 2 x DC's from DD Wakaba 420 miles west of Wake.........

SS Capelin has probably sunk PG Kozan Maru 120 mils ESE of Batan Island wit ha torpedo.

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The expectant CV strikes did not occur today[:(]

Faber did not advance further east as I expected. I wonder if these are just SC groups. Hmm. Accordingly i'm moving my CV forces 120 miles further NW to move within hopeful attack range.

The lack of ability in using LBA to help the invasion is making me nervous. I want to get rid of the Combined Fleet presence and then bomb Wake and it's defenders back to the stone age with CV air. Hopefully tomorrow i'll force a battle and then my CV's can support my battered LCU's.........

The first days combat at Wake:

Ground combat at Wake Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 32424 troops, 628 guns, 97 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1867

Defending force 56417 troops, 471 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 899

Allied max assault: 1640 - adjusted assault: 385

Japanese max defense: 683 - adjusted defense: 635

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
1049 casualties reported
Guns lost 36

Allied ground losses:
4737 casualties reported
Guns lost 124
Vehicles lost 20

Looks like you might actually need all those soldiers, Speed...

I agree with T .. just as well you brought a big hammer

gripping stuff .. i'll be interested to see how this goes. i'll be doing similar soon.

I will succeed Rob, i'm pretty confident of that. Provided my CV's don't get wiped out I will prevail. Once I can supress his men and destroy his guns I can IF NEEDED land another 2 divisions within a week or 2. The key's are:

1. To get my men ashore ASAP with as little disruption as possible (this will not be possible due to the number of active CD guns). Some of hem are already in bad shape (40% disruption etc), few combat engineers ready etc!

2. To wipe out (preferably) or at worst see off any IJN intervention. Quickly.

3. Keep Wake surpressed and his men disrupted and disabled. The key unit (as gathered beforehand) is the IGD. If that goes, Wake goes.

One thing I hope to be able to do in further operations - This operation was supposed to be a surprise. IF I can achieve such superiority in disposition then in the future I will supress the target for weeks on end BEFORE the landings go in = fewer casualties and crazy losses in LC's and AP's etc..........

Its hard to attain suprise with emilys flying about. 2-3 turns notice is your best bet on long invasions, unless he's really careless about patrolling the interior of the perimiter. (which i doubt )

I'm amazed he even FOUND Wake. Everyone knows Brits suck at geography. [:D]