1944 November 09
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
Allied forces CAPTURE Kiungshan !!!
There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:
There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Imperial Naval Bombardments
Allied Naval Bombardments:
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Nago
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Our subs ran interference for the convoys at Kiungshan.
China saw the lion's share of the action today, including sea battles!
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kiungshan at 71,61, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hamanami, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 2
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD McNair, Shell hits 3
DD Stephen Potter
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 35% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 35% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Santa Fe at 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami fires at CL Denver at 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami fires at DD McNair at 2,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages DD Hamanami at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages DD Hamanami at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages DD Hamanami at 7,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 7,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages DD Hamanami at 7,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kiungshan at 71,61, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E No.5, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
E No.11, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Denver
DD McNair
Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
CL Denver engages E No.11 at 4,000 yards
Massive explosion on E No.5
E No.5 sunk by CL Denver at 4,000 yards
Fujinaga, M. orders Japanese TF to disengage
CL Denver engages E No.11 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
E No.11 sunk by CL Denver at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kiungshan at 71,61, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hamanami, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 1
DD McNair, Shell hits 2
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
DD McNair engages DD Hamanami at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 5,000 yards
DD McNair engages DD Hamanami at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 8,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 8,000 yards
Niwa, W. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 13,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 14,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 14,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Hamanami at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD McNair at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Hamanami sunk by CL Denver at 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kiungshan at 71,61, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Amakusa, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
E Nomi, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
E No.7, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 4
DD McNair, Shell hits 3, on fire
Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 4,000 yards
E No.7 fires at CL Denver at 4,000 yards
E No.7 fires at DD McNair at 4,000 yards
E Amakusa fires at CL Denver at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
E No.7 sunk by CL Denver at 2,000 yards
DD McNair engages E Nomi at 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages E Amakusa at 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages E Nomi at 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages E Amakusa at 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages E Nomi at 2,000 yards
DD McNair engages E Nomi at 2,000 yards
Short B. orders Allied TF to disengage
Mihori, C. orders Japanese TF to disengage
E Nomi sunk by CL Denver at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kiungshan at 71,61, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
Allied Ships
AM Conflict, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 9,000 yards
Massive explosion on AM Conflict
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 10,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AM Conflict at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Hamanami went down fighting, smashing a cruiser with an opening torpedo salvo on her last day. One of the convoys had to land a little remaining supply but - perhaps thanks to delays imposed by our subs - both convoys were able to make it away before IJN surface forces arrived. Replacement surface forces are on the way. Tomorrow we will have 1x CL (Denver does have a couple of 5 inch guns knocked out but what are you gonna do?) + 1x DD in TF patrol Kiungshan and the two Dutch DD on ASW duty will change hats and sweep through Kiungshan. The USA 475 Rgt is loading to reinforce the assault (overland) on Samah, but will delay sailing to Kiungshan for a day or two until things settle down at sea. PT boats are on the way from Haiphong to both Kiungshan and Kwangchowan.
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Ground combat at Kiungshan (71,61)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3691 troops, 18 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 183
Defending force 434 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5
Allied adjusted assault: 120
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 120 to 1 (fort level 1)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kiungshan !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Assaulting units:
776th Amphib Tank Battalion
Lushai Brigade
Defending units:
7th JAAF AF Coy
12th JAAF AF Coy
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Ground combat at 74,58 (near Pakhoi)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7572 troops, 24 guns, 1258 vehicles, Assault Value = 723
Defending force 8448 troops, 70 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 274
Allied adjusted assault: 366
Japanese adjusted defense: 65
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
4611 casualties reported
Squads: 126 destroyed, 190 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 35 (9 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (14 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
706th Tank Battalion
775th Tank Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2/6th Armoured Regiment
Defending units:
32nd/A Division
36th/A Division
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Ground combat at 69,49 (near Kunming)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 51971 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 772
Defending force 7227 troops, 76 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 202
Allied adjusted assault: 348
Japanese adjusted defense: 517
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2081 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Assaulting units:
73rd Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
Defending units:
36th/B Division
41st/C Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
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The armor will move NW to join the three divisions there in expelling those three enemy units. Recon is beginning on them plus the divisions will perform a recon bombardment tomorrow.
The slippery Imperials have exited Georgetown, except for 2 units that appear to be staying. So it turns out that the insertion of the paras and commandos at our loyal enclave of Utan Melintang is crucial to derailing the IJA delaying plans. With enough supply at Utan Melintang until the convoy makes it there (enemy action allowing!), air transport at Victoria Point is switching from moving supply to moving the 14th Air Landing Bde to Utan Melintang. And the 50th Para will not enter Taiping, instead sit on the road/rail SW of Taiping.
There is, according to naval search, a lone fleet CV 1 hex NW of Utan Melintang. Burnett with the slow BBs is diverting there from his route to Georgetown. Willis and the fast BBs just replenished at Victoria Point and will head there as well. Rawlings will take the carriers to a point 2 hexes SW of Sabang in case strikes can be launched. CV Indefatigable, with partially trained air crew, will leave Colombo and head for the west coast of Sumatra where her Avenger II can carry torpedoes into the Strait of Malacca. A British FAA squadron of Avengers (21 planes) has been moved from Rangoon to Alor Star, where the 14th Army command HQ can provide torpedoes (in lieu of an air HQ).
Lang Son bombardment.
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Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4920 troops, 416 guns, 220 vehicles, Assault Value = 1989
Defending force 22448 troops, 156 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 131
Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
96th Chinese Division
8th New Chinese Corps
23rd LRP Brigade
36th Chinese Division
111th LRP Brigade
4th Armoured Brigade
23rd Australian Brigade
I Corps Engr Grp
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
88th Chinese Division
3rd New Chinese Corps
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
9th Australian Division
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
87th Medium Regiment
85th Medium Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
14th RAAF M/W Sqn
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Southwest Pacific
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
417th Base Group
1st Medium Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
18th SP Field Artillery Regiment
134th (East Ang) Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
312th Base Group
II Australian Corps
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
27th Division
37th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
34th/A Division
2nd Ind. Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
59th Infantry Brigade
31st Mountain Gun Regiment
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The troops recovered much more quickly this time, possibly because supply at the base has built up and now meets forecast demand. Next attack tomorrow. Most of the units at Lang Son reducing the pocket are beginning to prepare for Nanning.
Java moves continue. The secret Imperial base has been located:
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Cocos Islands (33,101).
The 2/7 Cdo Bn is loading back aboard APD for the invasion of Oosthaven. They are only 58% prepared but Oosthaven is open terrain and attack bombers are now beginning to prepare the target. We also have landing craft moving an RAAF base force from Sampit to Singkawang, covered by two destroyer TFs. After tomorrow they enter the danger area where forces that sortie from Singapore could attack them.
Naval strikes and kamikazes tried for our DD TF again north of Daito Shoto.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Tokunoshima at 98,66
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
B6N1 Jill x 15
Ki-84a Frank x 2
Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 14
F4U-1A Corsair x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 8 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 3 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Bradford
DD Smalley
DD Stembel
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-214 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
VMF-221 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
VMF-324 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
15th FG/45th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
15th FG/47th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tokunoshima at 98,66
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 53 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 12
Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
VMF-214 with F4U-1A Corsair (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
15th FG/45th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
15th FG/47th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
VMF-221 with F4U-1A Corsair (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tokunoshima at 98,66
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 9
Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
VMF-324 with F4U-1A Corsair (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
VMF-214 with F4U-1A Corsair (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
15th FG/45th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
15th FG/47th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
VMF-221 with F4U-1A Corsair (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
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The troops at Naha are recovering well but need more time. AV is 2,211. Weather was very bad so the B-29 groups did not fly. The Avenger horde was set back to naval attack to save sorties for attack days. The bombardments looked good.
China.
