Matrix Games Forums

I've been lurking here for some time, trying to decide whether to buy the game. After reading your report of the US CVEs being destroyed in broad daylight under the noses of an aggressive and superior US BB taskforce, I think I'll give it a pass. There's just too much wonky about the game engine at this point, it seems to me, and I'm not up for the frustration! You appear to have done everything right, but gotten this inexplicable and implausible outcome... you have more patience than I would in the situation!

Buddy, if you pass on this game, there is nothing better out there!

Trust me, I've searched for a long time, and nothing, nothing at all matches this game in terms of depth and realism. Sure, there are some odd things, no one says its perfect, but almost everything else is so much worse. I cannot play HOI3 after playing this game, because the minimal level of detail and unrealistic gameplay of HOI3 are so disappointing after WITP.

AE is also better than the original WITP, trust me on that point as well. I could not return to the old game without the very useful added features of this game.

You know, the people who post on the forum here are very experienced, and they pick out the smallest bugs and issues (and complain about them sometimes), but really, those issues are minuscule compared to the overall scope and excellent quality of the game.

So please, if you buy any game for its realism and historically accurate detail, BUY THIS GAME!! It is so, so, so superior to all other war games I have ever seen. Yes the price tag is high, but this is the best game I have ever played, bar none! It is worth every penny. I would pay twice as much if I had to buy it again!

sourdust.....Im a bit frustrated by having my surface TFs sit back and let the CVEs get crushed since it has happened in 2 of my last 3 amphibious assaults but at this point in this game I guess the Japanese player needs all the help(luck) he can get. In retrospect I wonder if my surface TF didnt react to the IJN bombardment TF because the range was zero....maybe I would have been better off by having my surface TF stand off one hex from Babeldaob and then maybe it might have reacted to the the IJN bombardment TF.



10/6-10/7/43


SS RO-64 sinks AK George Livanos but is hit by 8 DCs in return at Woleai.

SS Truant sinks AK Meiyo Maru near Muntok.

SS Sworfish sinks SC Ch 7 by Hengchun.



CENTPAC: MARIANAS OFFENSIVE


Fifth Fleet will sail to a point 40 miles SW of Guam this turn. Adm Hill's Amphibious TF 86 is carrying Ist Amphibious Corps and will pause with the rest of Fifth Fleet off the coast of Guam for about a week while the island is subjected to a horrific aerial and naval bombardment. The BB Pennsylvania/BB Tennessee SAG will begin the naval bombardment festivities tomorrow.

Seventh Air Force will continue to suppress the Japanese airfields on Rota, Saipan and Tinian while carrier bombers, medium and heavy bombers pound Guam from above.

Three separate USN SAGs will take turns bombarding Guam, retiring to the level 6 naval base at Ulithi, refueling and reloading and then will return to Fifth Fleet in the Marianas.

I think StoneAge figured out what I had been planning....he hit Ulithi last turn with 3 separate IJN DD/Cruiser SAGs and caused 80% airfield damage while destroying over 40 Corsairs/P-38s/PBYs on the ground.....the IJN SAGs made their bombardment run the turn before the Fifth Fleet arrived on station. I had to withdraw the AE/AKE/AR/AD/AV ships from Ulithi when the IJN SAGs were spotted 2 turns ago but they will return this turn and the seabees on Ulithi should quickly repair the facilities there.

The RN BB PoW/BC Repulse SAG will sail to Babeldaob to protect against future IJN SAG naval bombardments there...this time they will be covered by land based air instead of CVEs.

XIVth Corps will assault Tinian in late October and XIth Corps will invade Saipan in mid November.

Somewhat belatedly, Im sending CD units to Ulithi, Yap and eventually Babeldaob.

This can happen if Surface Combat TF is set to follow CV TF and not vise versa. One should always have the other TFs follow SC TF, to maximize chances of it getting to combat first. I don't know if that was the case, but that helps.

Also, IIRC, game checks combat based on TF number, so if possible, create your SC TFs first and then CV TFs etc. Lower number will get checked for combat first.

Sardaukar....you may be right....I didnt check the TF number sequence before combat that turn so it is possible that the CVE TF had a lower TF number than the surface TF. I think what irritated me here was that the incoming IJN SAG was spotted and tracked for 3 days but was basically protected by bad weather....it even paused for an entire turn in the hex adjacent to the USN surface TF and CVE with a nice cloud over it. The majority of CVE torpedo bombers got lost or detached and didnt attack and the few who did attack didnt achieve anything due to the inclement weather. And of course the scores of medium bombers based on Babeldaob and Yap were completely ineffectual against naval targets.

Sometimes it feels like we are playing WitP Warplan Orange where the BBs rule the seas and aircraft are only useful for search.



SUBS


SS Trespaser sinks TK Bokuei Maru off Muntok.

SS Tuna takes 5 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Naga.



CBI


268th Motorized Brigade reaches the Jap paratroop roadblock at Kompong Chhnang.....after a massive aerial bombardment they will shock attack to eliminate the IJA paratroops there so the UK 2nd Division can march to Phnom Penh.



CENTPAC: MARIANAS OFFENSIVE


An IJN SAG bombards Talaud:


Naval bombardment of Talaud Island at 79,97

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 3 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:
272 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Airbase hits 41
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 319

BB Yamashiro firing at Talaud Island
BB Mutsu firing at Talaud Island
CA Nachi firing at Talaud Island
CL Tama firing at Talaud Island
CL Yura firing at 14th Canadian Brigade
CL Isuzu firing at Talaud Island
DD Oite firing at 14th Canadian Brigade
DD Yuzuki firing at Talaud Island
DD Kikuzuki firing at Talaud Island
DD Fumizuki firing at Talaud Island
DD Minazuki firing at Talaud Island
DD Oboro firing at Talaud Island
DD Sagiri firing at Talaud Island
DD Shikinami firing at Talaud Island



The Allies lose a half dozen fighters in the bombardment.


The CENTPAC MARIANAS OFFENSIVE kicks off with a naval bombardment of Guam:


Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed on ground
H6K5 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

140 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania
CA Vincennes
CA San Francisco
CA Chester, Shell hits 6
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland, Shell hits 6

Japanese ground losses:
386 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 16 (5 destroyed, 11 disabled)



Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 153

BB Tennessee firing at Guam
BB Pennsylvania firing at Guam
CA Vincennes firing at Guam
CA San Francisco firing at Guam
CA Chester firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Indianapolis firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Portland firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion


TF 227....the BB Tennesee/BB Pennsylvania TF will sail to Ulithi to rearm/refuel..and then they will rejoin Fifth Fleet off Guam.

The RN Bombardment TF with 2 "R" class BBs will bombard Guam next turn.

And USN fast BBs will bombard Guam the turn after that.

10/10-10/13/43



SUBS


SSX Ha-25 is sunk by bombardment TF escorts at Guam.

SS S-35 is hit by 4 DCs from IJN convoy escorts off Muntok.

SS RO-106 is hit by 9 DCs from USN ASW TF at Ulithi.

SS Swordfish is hit by 15 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Hong Kong.

SSX Ha-28 is sunk by bombardment TF escorts at Guam.

SS Runner sinks off the coast of Japan from damage caused by ASW AC.

SSX Ha-26 is sunk by bombardment TF escorts at Guam.

SSX Ha-27 outs a fish in BB Oklahoma at Guam.




CBI


The 268th Motorized Brigade crushes the IJA paratroops at Kompong Chhnang and the rail line is now open from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. Six brigades in Bangkok can now rail down to Phnom Penh next turn.

The IJA 12th Division is still trapped on the beaches at Cam Ranh Bay while the IJA 14th Division is bogged down in the swamp next to Saigon.

More Japanese troops invade at Rachgia on the Indochina coast.



CENTPAC: INVASION GUAM.....D-DAY MINUS ONE



Allied bombardment TFs pound Guam for the 3rd turn in a row but an IJN mini-sub puts a torpedo in BB Oklahoma.

Two bombardment TFs are reloading and refueling at Ulithi and will rejoin Fifth Fleet in the Marianas next turn.

Allied land based and carrier air has now shut down the 5 Japanese airfields in the Marianas at Guam, Tinian, Rota, Saipan and Pagan so Fifth Fleet has little to fear from Japanese bombers.

An incoming IJN surface TF or transport TF is spotted north of Pagan.

Amphibious TF 86 will begin landing Ist Amphibious Corps early tomorrow after a final pre-dawn naval bombardment. This will be the largest amphibious assault by the Allied forces to date and the Order of Battle includes:


Ist Amphibious Corps

2nd USMC Division
4th USMC Division
37th Division
102nd CBT ENG Reg
22nd USMC Reg
147th Regiment
4th USMC Raiders
1st USMC Tank
2nd USMC Tank
1st USMC Corps Tank
193rd Tank
754th Tank
640th Tank Destroyer
223rd FA

10/14-10/15/43



SUBS


SSX Ha-32 is hit by 8 DCs from Allied bombardment TF at Guam and is sunk.

SS RO-106 is hit by 10 DCs from USN ASW TF at Ulithi.

SS I-20 is hit by 7 DCs from USN air combat TF escorts at Guam.

SS I-11 is hit by 18 DCs from USN air combat TF escorts at Guam.

SS O21 sinks TK Zuiyo Maru off Bintan.

SS I-22 is hit by 8 DCs from USN ASW TF at Guam and is sunk.

SS RO-44 is sunk by Allied bombardment TF at Ulithi.

SS I-176 is hit by 20 DCs from USN ASW TF at Guam.

SS I-10 is sunk by USN ASW TF at Ulithi.

SS I-169 is sunk by USN ASW TF at Guam.



CBI


The IJA paratroops that were defeated at Kompong Chhnang retreated to Phnom Penh where they were annihilated this turn:

Ground combat at Phnom Penh (58,69)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13887 troops, 320 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 821

Defending force 358 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 213

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 213 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
458 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
2nd British Division
77th Chindit Brigade
224 Group RAF
RAF 221 Group Base Force

Defending units:
2nd Raiding Regiment


Allied troops will now retake Rachgia and Soc Trang cutting off the IJA 14th Division outside of Saigon from supply. Then the IJA 14th Division will be surrounded and destroyed.

StoneAge orders a couple of shock attacks from 14th and 12th Divisions here hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat:


Ground combat at Cam Ranh Bay (64,72)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7168 troops, 32 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Defending force 5883 troops, 62 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 302

Japanese adjusted assault: 13

Allied adjusted defense: 379

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 29 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), morale(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1864 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 119 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 64 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
12th Division
93rd JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
15th Indian Brigade
23rd Chindit Brigade


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 59,71

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6611 troops, 84 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 163

Defending force 4488 troops, 22 guns, 282 vehicles, Assault Value = 297

Japanese adjusted assault: 3

Allied adjusted defense: 985

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 328

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

Japanese ground losses:
1576 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 64 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (0 destroyed, 9 disabled)



Assaulting units:
14th Division

Defending units:
254th Armoured Brigade
2nd Burma Brigade


With the Allies having complete and total air superiority over Indochina the IJA troops are too disrupted and demoralized to continue their offensive...they should instead be planning retreat or withdrawal before its too late.



CENTPAC: INVASION GUAM.....D-DAY


The BB PoW SAG was pulled out of the line at Babeldaob to unleash a final naval bombardment at Guam before Ist Amphibious Corps storms ashore:


Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed on ground

217 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CA Cornwall
CA Suffolk
CA Sussex, Shell hits 2
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Newcastle
CL Kenya
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 245
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1

BB Prince of Wales firing at Guam
BC Repulse firing at Guam
CA Cornwall firing at Guam
CA Suffolk firing at Guam
CA Sussex firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Dorsetshire firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Newcastle firing at Guam
CL Kenya firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Danae firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Achilles firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion


As the assault transports of Amphibious TF 86 make their way towards shore the battered but unbowed Jap CD guns open up at point blank range:


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

377 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Adelaide
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1
DD King
LST-27
LST-335, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAP President Taylor, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST-30
AM Sage
LST-32
LST-34


Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)


CL Marblehead firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Richmond firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Adelaide firing at 113th JAAF AF Bn
CL Sumatra firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
DD King firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-335 at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-335 at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
DD King firing at enemy troops
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
12cm 10YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Guam

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 106,95


Allied ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)


10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 4th Marine Div /395
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 4th Marine Div /389
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 2nd Marine Div
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 2nd Marine Div /390
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 4th Marine Div /391
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 37th Infantry Div /384
Motorized Support lost in surf during unload of 2nd Marine Div /386


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

253 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 3
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2
DD King, Shell hits 1
xAP President Taylor, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-27
CL Richmond, on fire
AM Heed
AM Sage
LST-461
LST-32


Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


CL Marblehead firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Adelaide firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Sumatra firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
DD King firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 10,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
12cm 10YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAP President Taylor at 10,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
DD King firing at enemy troops
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
12cm 10YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD King at 3,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

107 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-27, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CL Sumatra
CL Adelaide
LST-32, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond
AM Sage
LST-30


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)


20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-32 at 13,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 13,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

126 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-27, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond
AM Chevreuil
DD King
LST-461, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-335
AM Sage
LST-32, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-30
LST-34


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)


20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-27 at 10,000 yards
DD King fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-461 at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-30, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
LST-32, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Sumatra
CL Adelaide
AM Chevreuil



15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-30 at 16,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-32 at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
12cm 10YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-32 at 16,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-30 at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-32 at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

37 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-335, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Adelaide
CL Marblehead
LST-32, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-30, on fire
CL Sumatra
LST-462



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-335 at 15,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-32 at 15,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-30 at 15,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards


Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

59 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-34, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra
CL Adelaide
LST-30
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
LST-462
LST-335, heavy damage
LST-463



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-34 at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards



After 2 days of landings over 4 Allied divisions are ashore:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7281 troops, 110 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Defending force 51745 troops, 989 guns, 1293 vehicles, Assault Value = 2018

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


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
48th Naval Guard Unit
63rd Naval Guard Unit
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
8th RF Gun Battalion
Southeast Area Fleet
15th Base Force
11th JNAF AF Unit
111th Naval Construction Battalion
3rd JNAF AF Unit
38th Field AA Battalion
113th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
37th Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
4th Marine Raider Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
640th TD Bn /394
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion




The Allies lose AP President Taylor and 3 LSTs with another half dozen LSTs heavily damaged.


I dont know about physical damage but the naval bombardments are having an obvious psychological effect on StoneAge....he said that he sent me the wrong files this turn because he was "too shell shocked".


There were so many ground troops involved in the Guam invasion....Amphibious TF 86 was maxed out at 100 ships...that I was a bit deficient on supplies. Another amphibious TF will depart from Rabaul next turn to bring in another 40,000 supplies. A deliberate attack is ordered for next turn...just after 2 more naval bombardments.

Airpower is great for suppressing airfields and ports....but the developers have totally nerfed it for ground combat in hexes with doubling or tripling terrain and forts. Here at Guam.....just like at Babeldaob.....and just like I will face at Tinian and Saipan....the Japs have level 6-8 forts in jungle terrain. I sen in over 110 carrier bombers for virtually no effect:


Afternoon Air attack on 144th Infantry Regiment, at 106,95 (Guam)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 13
F6F-3 Hellcat x 69
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 24
SBD-5 Dauntless x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 58


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 6 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 28 damaged

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



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x FM-1 Wildcat sweeping at 22000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
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
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 63rd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 63rd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...


Wow...here I actually cause 5 casualties and some disruption. I had been bombing Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand for several weeks with virtually the entire SEAC/Eastern Command Air Force....over 200 tactical/medium and heavy bombers on a daily basis and more AC were lost than were casualties inflicted...I was lucky if 200 bombers could inflict a dozen casualties or if the equivalent of 6 divisions and 6 artillery regiments could inflict a 40-50 casualties so I finally shut down the offensive there and grounded the Allied air force.

Here is the next aerial attack on Guam:


Afternoon Air attack on Wake Coastal Gun Battalion, at 106,95 (Guam)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M3a Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
FM-1 Wildcat x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 23
SBD-5 Dauntless x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 56


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 13 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 7 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 41 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
253 Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes

Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 63rd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 48th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Southeast Area Fleet ...
Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 63rd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Wake Coastal Gun Battalion ...


43 of 56 TBF-1s are either damaged or destroyed and not one casualty is inflicted.....all Im doing is using up my carrier ops and killing my experienced pilots.....and to disagree with previous posters in this thread my DBs and TBs were set at 16,000-19,000 feet and they still came in at low altitude.....my only recourse is to naval bombard.


Speaking of naval bombardment......StoneAge sends a small cruiser TF in to bombard Babeldaob while my BB PoW surface TF is away. First the IJN SAG hammers a small Allied surface TF and sinks CL Emerald:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Babeldaob at 90,97, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Yugumo
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Takanami
DD Tamanami
DD Maikaze

Allied Ships
CL Emerald, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Waller
DD Hammann



Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 96% moonlight: 1,000 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...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CA Mikuma engages CL Emerald at 1,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Emerald at 1,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages CL Emerald at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Emerald engages CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
CL Emerald sunk by CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DD Waller at 2,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages DD Waller at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...


Then the IJN SAG engages and destroys 2 PT TFs:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Babeldaob at 90,97, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, on fire
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Yugumo
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Takanami
DD Tamanami
DD Maikaze

Allied Ships
PT-60, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT-61
PT-63, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-66, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT-67, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-68, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-73, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PT-74, Shell hits 1
PT-75, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-76, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-77
PT-78, Shell hits 12, and is sunk



Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 96% 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
PT-78 sunk by DD Makigumo at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-76 at 2,000 yards
PT-74 engages DD Takanami at 2,000 yards
PT-73 sunk by CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages PT-66 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
PT-66 sunk by CA Mikuma at 5,000 yards
PT-68 sunk by CA Mikuma at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
PT-76 sunk by DD Maikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages PT-74 at 3,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-63 at 3,000 yards
PT-75 engages CA Mogami at 3,000 yards
PT-63 sunk by DD Tamanami at 3,000 yards
PT-60 sunk by CA Mikuma at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-77 at 5,000 yards
PT-75 sunk by DD Maikaze at 5,000 yards
PT-67 sunk by DD Niizuki at 5,000 yards
orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Niizuki engages PT-77 at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...


Night Time Surface Combat, near Babeldaob at 90,97, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Yugumo
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Takanami
DD Tamanami
DD Maikaze

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-21, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-22
PT-23
PT-24
PT-25
PT-26, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-27, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
PT-28, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT-29, Shell hits 2, on fire
PT-30
PT-42



Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% 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
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
Szukalski, H.O. gains tactical advantage
PT-27 sunk by DD Tamanami at 2,000 yards
PT-26 sunk by DD Makigumo at 2,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages PT-25 at 2,000 yards
PT-21 sunk by DD Makigumo at 2,000 yards
Szukalski, H.O. orders Allied TF to disengage
PT-29 engages DD Maikaze at 2,000 yards
PT-28 sunk by DD Maikaze at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...



15 USN PTs are sunk....I dont know why I even bother to built them...maybe I should just build barges instead because they fight just as well and dont cause any victory points. Initially in AE PT boats were effective but too many people complained and now they are worthless.


So after annihilating an Allied surface TF and two PT TFs the IJN SAG still had enough operation points to put the hammertime on Babeldaob:


Naval bombardment of Babeldaob at 90,97

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed on ground
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 5 destroyed on ground
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami


Allied ground losses:
240 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 34

CA Mikuma firing at Babeldaob
CA Mogami firing at Babeldaob


So 2 IJN CAs inflicted more casualties on Allied ground troops that did a RN BB, BC, 4 CAs and 4 CLs at Guam.......and thats after fighting 3 separate Allied TFs. Nice.

To add insult to injury Ive attached a screenshot that shows the IJN SAG ending its turn 7 hexes from Babeldaob. The IJN SAG was not hit either on the way in or way out by Allied air at Babeldaob or at Yap. At Yap there were over 100 B-25s and Venturas on naval attack with 14 hex range.

More importantly....at Babeldaob there were 24 Helldivers with 11 hex range, 24 TBFs with 8 hex range and 12 Beauforts with 9 hex range...and they all just sat back and watched the IJN bombardment TF...... just like the USN surface TF did at Babeldaob a few turns ago.

10/16-10/17/43



SUBS


SS Barb sinks TK San Clemente Maru off Amami Oshima.

SS RO-101 is hit by 32 DCs from bombardment TF escorts at Guam and is sunk.

SS I-154 is hit by 7 DCs from amphibious TF escorts at Guam.

SS Tuna is hit by 6 DCs from IJN SAG near Naga.

SS Sculpin sinks PB Eifuku Maru by Amami Oshima.



CENTPAC: INVASION GUAM


Two more Allied bombardment TFs hit Guam in an effort to suppress the CD guns:


Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

328 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 4
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 4
CA Vincennes
CA San Francisco
CA Chester, Shell hits 3
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland

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



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 59

BB Tennessee firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
BB Pennsylvania firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Vincennes firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA San Francisco firing at Guam
CA Chester firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Indianapolis firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Portland firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

301 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Ramillies, Shell hits 5
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 2
CA Frobisher, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Hawkins
CA Shropshire
CL Caradoc
CL Perth
CL Tromp
CL Java

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



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 107
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

BB Ramillies firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
BB Royal Sovereign firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Frobisher firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Hawkins firing at Guam
CA Shropshire firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Caradoc firing at Guam
CL Perth firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Tromp firing at Guam
CL Java firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion


Japan attacks Adm Halsey's surface TF at Guam with a barge:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
LB-117, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
CA Quincy
CA Wichita
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
DD Preston



Low visibility due to Rain with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 92% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Halsey, Wm F "Bull" crosses the 'T'
LB-117 sunk by BB North Carolina at 2,000 yards
LB-117 sunk by BB North Carolina at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


Allied amphibious transports continue to unload at Guam under the withering fire of the CD guns:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 16, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Cetus
CL Sumatra
CL Adelaide
LST-335, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
AK Mintaka, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST-34, on fire, heavy damage
APA Custer



CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-335 at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Mintaka at 16,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 16,000 yards


Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

34 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Cetus, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Adelaide
CL Marblehead
CL Sumatra
LST-34, heavy damage
APA Custer



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Cetus at 19,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 19,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Cetus at 19,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 19,000 yards
CL Adelaide fires to suppress enemy guns at 19,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 19,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-34, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Strive
CL Sumatra
AK Mintaka, Shell hits 1
CL Adelaide
CL Marblehead
APA Custer



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-34 at 10,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Mintaka at 10,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LST-34 at 10,000 yards
CL Marblehead fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards


An AKA and 2 more LSTs are lost to the CD guns.

Japan launches a surprise banzai attack at Guam:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7261 troops, 110 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Defending force 51766 troops, 989 guns, 1293 vehicles, Assault Value = 2019

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 5569

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
3574 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 115 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (0 destroyed, 13 disabled)



Assaulting units:
48th Naval Guard Unit
63rd Naval Guard Unit
144th Infantry Regiment
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
15th Base Force
3rd JNAF AF Unit
Southeast Area Fleet
111th Naval Construction Battalion
8th RF Gun Battalion
11th JNAF AF Unit
113th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
22nd Marine Regiment
4th Marine Raider Battalion
2nd Marine Division
37th Infantry Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion


Ist Amphibious Corps follows up with 2 deliberate attacks:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49966 troops, 989 guns, 1293 vehicles, Assault Value = 2019

Defending force 12699 troops, 192 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied adjusted assault: 4165

Japanese adjusted defense: 589

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7

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

Japanese ground losses:
1597 casualties reported
Squads: 65 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 65 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
424 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 67 (1 destroyed, 66 disabled)


Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
4th Marine Raider Battalion
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
37th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
63rd Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit
144th Infantry Regiment
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
8th RF Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
11th JNAF AF Unit
111th Naval Construction Battalion
15th Base Force
3rd JNAF AF Unit
Southeast Area Fleet
113th JAAF AF Bn


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49314 troops, 989 guns, 1292 vehicles, Assault Value = 1985

Defending force 11910 troops, 193 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Allied adjusted assault: 3452

Japanese adjusted defense: 531

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
1709 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 14 (4 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (9 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
501 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (1 destroyed, 28 disabled)


Assaulting units:
4th Marine Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
4th Marine Raider Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
63rd Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit
144th Infantry Regiment
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
11th JNAF AF Unit
8th RF Gun Battalion
111th Naval Construction Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
Southeast Area Fleet
15th Base Force
3rd JNAF AF Unit
113th JAAF AF Bn


The Japanese fortification level on Guam is reduced to level 6 and Ist Amphibious Corps will launch a shock attack tomorrow.



THE NAVAL BATTLE OF GUAM


Admiral Tanaka takes on Admiral Halsey's BB surface TF with a cruiser SAG:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 17, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 3
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1
DD Fujinami
DD Hayanami
DD Kiyonami
DD Hamanami
DD Kuroshio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nenohi
DD Wakaba
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 2
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
CA Quincy, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Wichita, Shell hits 3
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw, Shell hits 1
DD Perkins
DD Preston, Shell hits 2, on fire



Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo crosses the 'T'
BB North Carolina engages CA Myoko at 12,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Myoko at 12,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Wakaba at 12,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Kuroshio at 12,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Hamanami at 12,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Hayanami at 12,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Drayton at 6,000 yards
CA Quincy engages DD Nenohi at 6,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Preston at 6,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Preston at 6,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Preston at 6,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Kuroshio at 6,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Hamanami at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Preston at 6,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Drayton at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Washington engages CA Myoko at 4,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Quincy at 4,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Myoko at 4,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Wakaba at 4,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Atago at 4,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Umikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Shaw at 4,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD Case at 4,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Case at 4,000 yards
DD Hayanami engages DD Preston at 4,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Mugford at 4,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA New Orleans at 4,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Wichita at 4,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Atago at 4,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Atago at 4,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Shaw at 4,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Umikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Hatsukaze at 4,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Preston at 4,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD Case at 4,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Kiyonami at 4,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Hayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Preston at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Myoko at 7,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Wichita at 7,000 yards
DD Ariake engages CA Wichita at 7,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Wakaba at 7,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Nenohi at 7,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Wakaba at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Case at 7,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Kuroshio at 7,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Case at 7,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Kiyonami at 7,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Drayton at 7,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Shaw at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages CA Atago at 12,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA Wichita at 12,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Kuroshio at 12,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Hatsukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Shaw at 12,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD Drayton at 12,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Lamson at 12,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Umikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Fujinami at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...


The good news is that Admiral Halsey actually stepped up to fight this time. The bad news is evidently Admiral Halsey lost the battle as the USN surface TF retreated towards Rabaul.....now Amphibious TF 86 is vulnerable to naval attack.

IJN surface TFs hit the USN ASW TFs at Guam either destroying them or forcing them to reteat towards Rabaul:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 1
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Asanagi
DD Yukaze
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
DD Ammen, Shell hits 1
DD Meredith
DD Conyngham
DD Smith



Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages DD Smith at 11,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Yukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Ammen at 11,000 yards
DD Ammen engages DD Yamagumo at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ammen at 11,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Meredith at 11,000 yards
DD Michishio engages DD Smith at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Smith at 7,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Arashio at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Conyngham at 7,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Nagatsuki at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Conyngham at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Smith at 7,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Conyngham at 7,000 yards
DD Michishio engages DD Smith at 7,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Ammen at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Ammen engages DD Nagatsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ammen at 6,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Arashio at 6,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Michishio at 6,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Urakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Meredith at 6,000 yards
DD Ammen engages DD Arashio at 6,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ammen at 6,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Michishio at 6,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Numakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Conyngham at 9,000 yards
DD Ammen engages DD Asanagi at 9,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Ammen at 9,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Conyngham at 9,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Natsugumo at 9,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Smith at 9,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Meredith at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Smith at 13,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Yukaze at 13,000 yards
DD Michishio engages DD Meredith at 13,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Ammen at 13,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Conyngham at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ammen at 13,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Smith at 13,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Michishio at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Smith at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arare, Shell hits 1
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Akebono
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nokaze
E Karukaya
E Tsuga

Allied Ships
DD Baldwin, Shell hits 30, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE John D. Edwards, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
DE Gilmore, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
DE LeHardy, Shell hits 12, and is sunk



Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Hara, Tameichi crosses the 'T'
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Baldwin at 12,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DE LeHardy at 12,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DE Gilmore at 12,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DE LeHardy at 12,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Yamakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Asagumo at 12,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Baldwin at 12,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Baldwin at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Minegumo at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DE Gilmore at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Baldwin at 9,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Yukikaze at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 5,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Baldwin at 5,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Baldwin at 5,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Kawakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DE LeHardy at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Baldwin at 5,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Minegumo at 5,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Hayashio at 5,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DE LeHardy at 3,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DE LeHardy at 3,000 yards
DD Arare engages DE Gilmore at 3,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DE Gilmore at 3,000 yards
DD Arare engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 3,000 yards
Lee K. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Kasumi at 2,000 yards
DE LeHardy sunk by E Tsuga at 2,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DE Gilmore at 2,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Minegumo at 2,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DE Gilmore at 2,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Minegumo at 3,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Akebono at 3,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Amatsukaze at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DE Gilmore at 2,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 2,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DE Gilmore at 2,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Kasumi at 2,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
DE Gilmore engages E Tsuga at 2,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Arare at 3,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DE John D. Edwards at 3,000 yards
DD Arare engages DE Gilmore at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Karukaya at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DE Gilmore at 2,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DE John D. Edwards at 2,000 yards
DE Gilmore sunk by DD Kasumi at 2,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Baldwin at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Yukikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages E Tsuga at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DE John D. Edwards at 3,000 yards
DD Arare engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Asagumo at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Baldwin at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DE John D. Edwards engages DD Okikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Baldwin engages DD Kawakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Baldwin at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Minegumo collides with DD Arare at 106 , 95
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 7,000 yards
DD Arare engages DD Baldwin at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Baldwin at 11,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DE John D. Edwards at 11,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Baldwin at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...



Now Amphibious TF 86 is alone and is hit by the IJN surface TF:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 7,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Asagumo
DD Arare, Shell hits 5
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Akebono
DD Okikaze
DD Nokaze
E Karukaya, Shell hits 2
E Tsuga

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 2
CL Richmond, Shell hits 6
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Fox
APD Litchfield
APD Manley
APD Colhoun
APD Gregory
APD Little
APD McKean
APD Stringham
DD King
DMS Hovey
DMS Trevor
DMS Hamilton, Shell hits 1
DMS Boggs, Shell hits 1
DMS Lamberton
DMS Long
DMS Chandler, Shell hits 2
AM Sage
AM Swallow
AM Heed
AM Motive
AM Champion
AM Sheldrake
AM Strive, Shell hits 1
APA Neville
APA Harry Lee
APA U.S. Grant, Shell hits 2, on fire
APA President Jackson, Shell hits 8
APA President Adams
APA Bolivar
APA Callaway
APA Cambria
APA Custer, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
AK Cetus
AK Mintaka, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Leonis
AK Ascella
AK Cheleb
AK Pavo
AK Livingston
AKA Betelgeuse, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage



Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CL Marblehead engages DD Arare at 7,000 yards
CL Marblehead engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD Arare engages CL Marblehead at 7,000 yards
CL Marblehead engages DD Minegumo at 7,000 yards
CL Marblehead engages DD Hayashio at 7,000 yards
CL Marblehead engages DD Yukikaze at 7,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages APA Custer at 7,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages APA U.S. Grant at 7,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages APD Fox at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
APD Fox collides with APA Callaway at 106 , 95
CL Marblehead engages DD Nokaze at 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Kasumi at 4,000 yards
CL Marblehead sunk by DD Akebono at 4,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Arare at 4,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DMS Chandler at 4,000 yards
DMS Long engages E Tsuga at 4,000 yards
DMS Lamberton engages E Tsuga at 4,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages AKA Betelgeuse at 4,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages AK Cheleb at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Arare at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Okikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Kasumi at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Kawakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Yamakaze at 2,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DMS Long at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Arare at 2,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages CL Richmond at 2,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DMS Hamilton at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Amatsukaze at 2,000 yards
AM Sheldrake engages E Tsuga at 2,000 yards
CL Richmond engages E Karukaya at 2,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages APA President Jackson at 2,000 yards
E Karukaya engages APD Manley at 2,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages AKA Betelgeuse at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Nokaze at 4,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Asagumo at 4,000 yards
DD Arare engages DD King at 4,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Chandler at 4,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Long at 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Arare at 4,000 yards
DMS Boggs engages E Karukaya at 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Minegumo at 4,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Trevor at 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Hayashio at 4,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Yukikaze at 4,000 yards
E Karukaya engages AM Champion at 4,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages APA U.S. Grant at 4,000 yards
E Karukaya engages APD Stringham at 4,000 yards
DD Arare engages AK Mintaka at 4,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages AK Cetus at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Nokaze at 5,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Amatsukaze at 5,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Akebono at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Kawakaze at 5,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Chandler at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Kasumi at 5,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Lamberton at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Asagumo at 5,000 yards
DMS Hamilton engages E Karukaya at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Amatsukaze at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Hayashio at 5,000 yards
CL Richmond engages E Tsuga at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DMS Chandler at 7,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD King engages DD Kawakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD King at 7,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DMS Long at 7,000 yards
DD Arare engages DMS Lamberton at 7,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Boggs at 7,000 yards
DD King engages DD Minegumo at 7,000 yards
DD King engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DMS Hovey at 7,000 yards
E Karukaya engages AM Strive at 7,000 yards
CL Richmond engages E Tsuga at 7,000 yards
E Tsuga engages AM Motive at 7,000 yards
DD Arare engages AK Pavo at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD King engages DD Nokaze at 9,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Kasumi at 9,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD King at 9,000 yards
DD Arare engages DD King at 9,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Yamakaze at 9,000 yards
DMS Long engages E Karukaya at 9,000 yards
DMS Lamberton engages E Tsuga at 9,000 yards
DMS Hamilton engages E Tsuga at 9,000 yards
DMS Trevor engages E Tsuga at 9,000 yards
DD King engages DD Hayashio at 9,000 yards
AM Strive engages E Karukaya at 9,000 yards
AM Sheldrake engages E Tsuga at 9,000 yards
E Tsuga engages AM Champion at 9,000 yards
E Tsuga engages AM Motive at 9,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages APA Harry Lee at 9,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages APD Litchfield at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD King at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Kasumi at 12,000 yards
DD King engages DD Kawakaze at 12,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Chandler at 12,000 yards
E Tsuga engages DMS Long at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Arare at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DMS Boggs at 12,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DMS Hamilton at 12,000 yards
E Karukaya engages DMS Trevor at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Hayashio at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
CL Richmond engages E Tsuga at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages APA Callaway at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages AK Pavo at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...



Now Amphibious TF 86 is also forced to retreat towards Rabaul.


The IJN surface TFs then bombard Allied troops on Guam......the US Marines actually do more damage to the IJN bombardment TFs than the US Navy:


Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

297 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Okikaze
DD Akebono, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 3
DD Yamakaze
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 3
DD Arare
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 5
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1
E Tsuga
E Karukaya, Shell hits 1



DD Nokaze firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Okikaze firing at 37th Infantry Division
DD Akebono firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Kawakaze firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Yamakaze firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Kasumi firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Arare firing at 37th Infantry Division
DD Asagumo firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Minegumo firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Amatsukaze firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Hayashio firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Yukikaze firing at 4th Marine Division
E Tsuga firing at 2nd Marine Division
E Karukaya firing at 4th Marine Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

204 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Yukaze
DD Asanagi
DD Nagatsuki
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Michishio
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 3



DD Numakaze firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Yukaze firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Asanagi firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Nagatsuki firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Yamagumo firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Natsugumo firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Arashio firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Michishio firing at 2nd Marine Division
DD Urakaze firing at 4th Marine Division



Another IJN SAG attacks at Yap:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Yap at 96,97, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Sazanami
DD Satsuki
DD Hakaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
PT-107
PT-108
PT-109
PT-110
PT-115
PT-116



Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages PT-116 at 12,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-115 at 12,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-115 at 12,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-107 at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-110 at 8,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-116 at 8,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Satsuki engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-109 at 8,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages PT-116 at 8,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-115 at 8,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-116 at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages PT-108 at 11,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-115 at 11,000 yards
DD Satsuki engages PT-107 at 11,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages PT-108 at 11,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages PT-107 at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Yap at 96,97, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Sazanami
DD Satsuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hakaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
PT-119, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-120, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-122, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-123, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT-124, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-125, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-126, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PT-127, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-128, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-129, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT-130, Shell hits 2, and is sunk



Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages PT-130 at 12,000 yards
PT-127 sunk by DD Namikaze at 12,000 yards
PT-130 sunk by DD Shinonome at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages PT-129 at 9,000 yards
DD Satsuki engages PT-129 at 9,000 yards
PT-124 sunk by DD Satsuki at 9,000 yards
PT-122 sunk by DD Shinonome at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
PT-129 sunk by DD Namikaze at 5,000 yards
PT-128 sunk by DD Satsuki at 5,000 yards
PT-119 sunk by DD Satsuki at 5,000 yards
PT-125 sunk by DD Sazanami at 5,000 yards
PT-120 sunk by DD Usugumo at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT-126 sunk by DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
PT-123 sunk by DD Shinonome at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PT-121 sunk by DD Namikaze at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Yap at 96,97, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Sazanami
DD Hakaze

Allied Ships
xAK Mana, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manulani, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Cape Isabel, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
YMS-314, Shell hits 2, and is sunk



Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAK Manulani at 9,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages xAK Manulani at 9,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages xAK Manulani at 9,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages xAK Manulani at 9,000 yards
xAK Manulani sunk by DD Usugumo at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages xAK Cape Isabel at 7,000 yards
YMS-314 sunk by DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
xAK Cape Isabel sunk by DD Usugumo at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
xAK Mana sunk by DD Usugumo at 4,000 yards
xAK Mana sunk by DD Usugumo at 4,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


All 12 PTs are sunk but at least one a torpedo hit is scored on an IJN DD.


The the IJN TF bombards Yap:


Naval bombardment of Yap at 96,97

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed on ground
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
DD Sazanami
DD Usugumo
DD Shinonome


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


Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30

DD Hakaze firing at Yap
DD Sazanami firing at Yap
DD Usugumo firing at Yap
DD Shinonome firing at Yap



At daylight on 10/17 there are IJN surface ships scattered throughout the Marianas but the medium and carrier bombers turn in a less than stellar performance:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Rota at 107,95

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 32
SBD-5 Dauntless x 25


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
LB-122, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LB-124, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LB-119, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-123, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LB-118



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
10 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
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 TF, near Saipan at 108,93

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 11


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LB-113, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LB-116, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
LB-114, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

LB-116 dead in the water ...
LB-114 dead in the water ...



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

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
PV-1 Ventura x 6


Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mikazuki
DD Yakaze



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



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

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Kawakaze, on fire
E Ishigaki
E Hasu
DD Suzunami



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kawakaze



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Pagan at 107,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M5 Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 31
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 38


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 8 destroyed, 30 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
CA Atago
CA Myoko
DD Nenohi
DD Hamanami



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet *
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
1 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead


Hmmmm....every single Helldiver in that attack is damaged or destoyed.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Almagan at 109,90

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
TBF-1 Avenger x 11


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Arashio
DD Nagatsuki
DD Urakaze



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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 107,94

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 14
SBD-5 Dauntless x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze, on fire
E Tsuga



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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yamakaze
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akebono


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

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes


Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 7
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBF-1 Avenger x 5


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
E Kunashiri



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



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

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
FM-1 Wildcat x 7
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kawakaze


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Pagan at 107,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko



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

CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Almagan at 109,90

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 10


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Michishio
DD Yukaze



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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yap at 96,92

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
TBF-1 Avenger x 17


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

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze
DD Satsuki, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 106,95

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15
FM-1 Wildcat x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Kawakaze
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yap at 98,87

Weather in hex: Overcast

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


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pagan at 107,89

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M5 Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14
SBD-5 Dauntless x 26


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Atago



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

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (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 14000
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes


All 26 SBDs are damaged or destoyed.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Almagan at 109,90

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
TBF-1 Avenger x 27


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 20 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yukaze
DD Nagatsuki
DD Yamagumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Asanagi
DD Urakaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Numakaze



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 107,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
SBD-5 Dauntless x 11


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayashio
DD Okikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yamakaze


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pagan at 107,89

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 10
SBD-5 Dauntless x 27


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SB2C-1C Helldiver bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pagan at 107,89

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 20


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 17 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Myoko
DD Umikaze
DD Nenohi
DD Hayanami
DD Hamanami



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



Again, all 20 Helldivers are damaged or destroyed.


Today 121 divebombers attack CA Myoko and CA Atago and 100 of them are either damaged or destroyed with nary a single bomb hit being scored.
Gee, I wonder if IJN AA is overated here.


In the NAVAL BATTLE OF GUAM the Allies lose 12 PT, 3 xAK, 1 YMS, 1 AKA, 2 DE, 1 CL, 1 DD and 2 LST while Japan loses 4 DDs and an E boat.

In addition, the Allies have 2 CAs and another 2 CLs heavily damaged.

The 8 CVs and 3 CVLs of Task Group 58 are ordered to sail 500 miles north tomorrow in an effort to cut off withdrawing IJN surface units.




[img]https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfi ... 13FB48.jpg[/img]

10/18-10/19/43



SUBS


SS I-154 is hit by 12 DCs from USN bombardment TF at Guam.

SS Triton puts a fish in AK Marei Maru off Naha.



CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN


The BB Oklahoma/BB Idaho bombardment TF engages the IJN DD TFs remaining at Guam:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzunami, Shell hits 1
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 1
DD Shigure, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Ushio, Shell hits 1
DD Mikazuki
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 1
E Hasu
E Kiji

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
CA Houston
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Baltimore
CL Concord
DD Mustin
DD Stack, Shell hits 1
DD Sterett
DD Wilson, Shell hits 2, on fire



Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Scott, Norman crosses the 'T'
DD Mustin engages DD Yakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Mikazuki at 12,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Wilson at 12,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Wilson at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Wilson at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Suzunami at 12,000 yards
DD Sterett engages DD Mikazuki at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Mikazuki at 7,000 yards
DD Shigure engages CA Baltimore at 7,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Shigure at 7,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages CA Houston at 7,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Ushio at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Suzunami at 7,000 yards
E Kiji engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Suzunami at 7,000 yards
Arima, Tokiyoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Yakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Mikazuki at 4,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages CA Minneapolis at 4,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Mustin at 4,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages CL Concord at 4,000 yards
DD Suzunami engages DD Wilson at 4,000 yards
E Kiji engages CA Baltimore at 4,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages E Hasu at 4,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Mustin at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Ushio engages BB Idaho at 7,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Mikazuki at 7,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Shigure engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Shigure at 7,000 yards
DD Suzunami engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
DD Sterett engages E Kiji at 7,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages E Hasu at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Shigure at 9,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Stack at 9,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages DD Shigure at 9,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Suzunami at 9,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Shiratsuyu at 9,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Oyashio at 9,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Wilson at 9,000 yards
CA Houston engages E Kiji at 9,000 yards
CL Concord engages E Hasu at 9,000 yards
DD Suzunami engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Oyashio at 11,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Wilson at 11,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Wilson at 11,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Wilson at 11,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Wilson at 11,000 yards
CA Houston engages E Kiji at 11,000 yards
BB Idaho engages E Hasu at 11,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Mustin at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
BB Idaho
CA Houston
CA Minneapolis
CA Baltimore
CL Concord
DD Mustin
DD Stack
DD Sterett
DD Wilson, on fire



Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 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...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Sterett at 12,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Stack at 11,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Stack at 11,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Kawakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze sunk by BB Idaho at 9,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Wilson at 9,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Kawakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Stack at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Kawakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Kawakaze at 8,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Kawakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Kawakaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Kawakaze at 10,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Kawakaze at 10,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages DD Kawakaze at 10,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Sterett at 10,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
BB Idaho
CA Houston
CA Minneapolis
CA Baltimore
CL Concord
DD Mustin, Shell hits 1
DD Stack
DD Sterett
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1, heavy fires



Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Wilson at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Shigure at 11,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Shigure at 11,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Shigure at 11,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Stack at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Sterett at 10,000 yards
BB Oklahoma engages DD Shigure at 10,000 yards
CA Baltimore engages DD Shigure at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Yakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Shigure at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Wilson at 7,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Yakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
CL Concord engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Sterett at 12,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Shigure at 12,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


The bombardment TF lays down another naval gunnery barrage on Guam but the islands CD guns continiue to fight back:


Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

181 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 5
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 13
CA Baltimore, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA Houston, Shell hits 5
CL Concord

Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 95
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
BB Oklahoma firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Baltimore firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA Minneapolis firing at Guam
CA Houston firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CL Concord firing at Guam



Admiral Halsey's surface TF is ordered back to Guam and this time they remain on station and take on the deadly IJN DDs:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Kunashiri, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
E Ishigaki, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins




Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Shaw engages E Ishigaki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Washington engages E Ishigaki at 9,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages E Kunashiri at 9,000 yards
DD Shaw engages E Ishigaki at 9,000 yards
DD Drayton engages E Kunashiri at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
E Kunashiri sunk by BB Washington at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages E Ishigaki at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
E Ishigaki sunk by BB Washington at 5,000 yards
E Ishigaki sunk by BB Washington at 5,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins




Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Halsey, Wm F "Bull" crosses the 'T'
DD Nokaze engages DD Lamson at 12,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Drayton at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Lamson at 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Kawakaze at 10,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Shaw at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Nokaze at 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Kawakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Perkins at 6,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Lamson at 6,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Mugford at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Kawakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Perkins at 4,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Shaw at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Nokaze at 7,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Kawakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Kawakaze at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Kawakaze sunk by BB Washington at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 11,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Nokaze at 11,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins




Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Yakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Case at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Case at 9,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Case at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Case at 6,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Yakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Yakaze at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Yakaze at 5,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Yakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Yakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Yakaze at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Yakaze at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Yakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Yakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Drayton at 11,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins




Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Nokaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 7,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Nokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Shaw at 7,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Nokaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 6,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Nokaze at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Mugford at 9,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Nokaze at 9,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Drayton at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Shaw at 13,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 106,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Washington
CA New Orleans
DD Mugford
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Perkins




Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Shaw at 11,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages DD Nokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Nokaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Perkins at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Nokaze sunk by BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
DD Nokaze sunk by BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...


The fast carriers of Task Group 58 run into an IJN DD squadron in a confused night action:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 105,95, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzunami
DD Oyashio, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Ushio
DD Mikazuki
E Hasu
E Kiji

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CV Enterprise
CVL Princeton
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA Juneau
CL Nashville
CL Santa Fe
DD Daly
DD Dashiell
DD DeHaven
DD Eaton
DD Fullam, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD O'Bannon
DD Philip
DD Renshaw



Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Renshaw at 11,000 yards
DD Fullam engages DD Ushio at 11,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages DD Oyashio at 11,000 yards
DD Suzunami engages DD Renshaw at 11,000 yards
CLAA Atlanta engages DD Oyashio at 11,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Philip at 11,000 yards
DD O'Bannon engages DD Suzunami at 11,000 yards
DD Fullam engages DD Suzunami at 11,000 yards
DD DeHaven engages DD Mikazuki at 11,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


The USN carriers are unscathed but instead of sailing 500 miles north of Guam to engage retreating IJN surface units as ordered they reset their orders and head back towards Rabaul.



A followup amphibious TF attempting to unload additional supplies on Guam is engaged by the CD guns:


Pre-Invasion action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

76 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Leonis, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Richmond
DMS Chandler
AK Cheleb
DMS Lamberton
DMS Hamilton
DMS Trevor
DMS Hovey



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
CL Richmond fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Cheleb at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 10,000 yards
DMS Chandler firing at enemy troops
DMS Lamberton firing at enemy troops
DMS Hamilton firing at enemy troops
DMS Trevor firing at enemy troops
DMS Hovey firing at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Guam

TF 130 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 106,95





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Guam
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AK Leonis, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Richmond
DMS Chandler
AK Ascella, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Cheleb, Shell hits 1
DMS Lamberton
DMS Hamilton
DMS Trevor, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS Hovey



20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 15,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Leonis at 15,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Ascella at 15,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Cheleb at 15,000 yards
DMS Chandler fires to suppress enemy guns at 15,000 yards
DMS Chandler firing at enemy troops
DMS Lamberton firing at enemy troops
DMS Hamilton firing at enemy troops
DMS Trevor firing at enemy troops
20cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS Trevor at 2,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS Trevor at 2,000 yards
12cm 10YT DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS Trevor at 2,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS Trevor at 2,000 yards
DMS Hovey firing at enemy troops


AK Leonis is sunk by the CD guns.


The BB Pennsylvania/BB Tennessee bombardment TF runs into another IJN surface TF as they approach Guam:


Day Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 104,95, Range 28,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzunami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Ushio
DD Mikazuki
E Hasu
E Kiji

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
BB Tennessee
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis
CA Chester
CA San Francisco
CA Vincennes
DD Aaron Ward
DD Frankford
DD O'Brien
DD Walke



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 27,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Oyashio at 27,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Oyashio at 27,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Oyashio at 27,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages E Hasu at 27,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Oyashio at 29,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Ushio at 29,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Oyashio at 29,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Oyashio at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Ushio at 28,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Shiratsuyu at 28,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages E Hasu at 28,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 29,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Ushio at 29,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Oyashio at 29,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Oyashio at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Ushio at 28,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Oyashio at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 26,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Shiratsuyu at 26,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Oyashio at 26,000 yards
DD Oyashio sunk by CA Chester at 26,000 yards
Arima, Tokiyoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Mikazuki at 23,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Ushio at 23,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages DD Suzunami at 23,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Suzunami at 23,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages E Hasu at 23,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Suzunami at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Suzunami at 22,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages DD Suzunami at 22,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Suzunami at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages DD Ushio at 21,000 yards
CA Chester engages E Kiji at 21,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Suzunami at 21,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Suzunami at 21,000 yards
Task forces break off...



US carrier bombers engage the remaining IJN surface units in the Marianas as the daylight arrives:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
SBD-5 Dauntless x 26


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 17 damaged

Japanese Ships
E Kiji, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ushio
E Hasu
DD Shiratsuyu



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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 104,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 35
SBD-5 Dauntless x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 29


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Suzunami, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Mikazuki



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rota at 107,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 14


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
LB-118, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
2 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
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,94

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet *
1 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet

CAP engaged:
261 Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 9 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes




Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,94

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 43
SBD-5 Dauntless x 21


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, on fire
E Kiji, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
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 E Kiji
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Ushio
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Shiratsuyu


Japan loses 10 DDs and 3 E boats from the surafce and aerial combat. As the attached screenshot shows the Marianas are now devoid of IJN ships save for the sub wolfpack still lurking at Guam.


The Ist Amphibious Corps launches a shock attack that overruns the airfields on Guam:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 48785 troops, 989 guns, 1291 vehicles, Assault Value = 1947

Defending force 10805 troops, 185 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 4606

Japanese adjusted defense: 351

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Guam !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
1918 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 85 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 64 (64 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
650 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 74 (2 destroyed, 72 disabled)


Assaulting units:
193rd Tank Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Marine Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
4th Marine Raider Battalion
37th Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
48th Naval Guard Unit
63rd Naval Guard Unit
144th Infantry Regiment
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
111th Naval Construction Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd JNAF AF Unit
8th RF Gun Battalion
11th JNAF AF Unit
15th Base Force
Southeast Area Fleet
113th JAAF AF Bn


A 2nd shock attack surrounds the Japanese defenders on Guam and they begin to disintegrate from attrition:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 48126 troops, 989 guns, 1292 vehicles, Assault Value = 1916

Defending force 9525 troops, 121 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Allied adjusted assault: 3895

Japanese adjusted defense: 43

Allied assault odds: 90 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1526 casualties reported
Squads: 112 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 120 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 68 (2 destroyed, 66 disabled)


Assaulting units:
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
4th Marine Raider Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Marine Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
223rd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
63rd Naval Guard Unit
144th Infantry Regiment
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Machinecannon Company
38th Field AA Battalion
15th Base Force
Southeast Area Fleet
111th Naval Construction Battalion
11th JNAF AF Unit
8th RF Gun Battalion
3rd JNAF AF Unit
113th JAAF AF Bn


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

38th Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8th RF Gun Battalion Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

111th Naval Construction Battalion Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

38th Field AA Machinecannon Company Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wake Coastal Gun Battalion Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3rd JNAF AF Unit Wiped Out at Guam by attrition!!!


Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Guam



What had been a defensive force of 30,000 Japanese 4 days ago is now down to 13,000....it will take about a week to mop up the remaining pockets of resistance.

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance
Today 121 divebombers attack CA Myoko and CA Atago and 100 of them are either damaged or destroyed with nary a single bomb hit being scored.
Gee, I wonder if IJN AA is overated here.

They would have been nailed except he attack under Thunderstorms...

bklooste.....I dont have a problem with the inclement weather affecting my bombing accuracy but I would think that the weather would also affect the AA accuracy.....83% casualties out of 121 divebombers is ridiculous. Remember that during RL Midway on 6/4/42.......the day that all 4 IJN CVs were fatally damaged....exactly one SBD was shot down by ship AA.



10/20-10/21/43



SUBS


SS Puffer puts a fish in AK Amagiri Maru off Hakodate.

SS I-179 is hit by 19 DCs from USN ASW TF at Guam.

SS I-155 is sunk by Allied bombardment TF escorts at Guam.

SS I-43 is hit by 5 DCS from USN ASW TF at Guam.

SS RO-42 is sunk by USN surface TF escorts at Guam.

SS RO-102 is hit by 3 DCs from USN surface comnat TF at Guam.

SS Halibut sinks AK Merei Maru by Naga.



CENTPAC: INVASION GUAM


StoneAge tries to reinforce Tinian but the carrier bombers of USN fast carriers are waiting for them:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 50
SBD-5 Dauntless x 40
TBF-1 Avenger x 40


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 9 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Hoten Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Akitsu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Shimakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kasado Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Tsingtao Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ussuri Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Palau Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Taizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Teika Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Ural Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kowa Maru

Japanese ground losses:
1182 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 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
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 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
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Palau Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Keihuku Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Tsingtao Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSD Akitsu Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Shimakaze
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Taizan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ural Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Teika Maru


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

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 17


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kowa Maru
xAP Kasado Maru, heavy fires
xAP Ural Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tango Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Rakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Tsingtao Maru, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
918 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CL


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

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 14


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kasado Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Shimakaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ural Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Teika Maru, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
741 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
2 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
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Shimakaze
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ural Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Teika Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 44
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 19
SBD-5 Dauntless x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 43


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 12 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Rakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kasado Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kowa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Taizan Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Dairen Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirakami
xAP Ussuri Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Palau Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Nigitsu Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
E W-28
CL Kashii, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
1814 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 118 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
12 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
1 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 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
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet *
7 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
16 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 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
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Rakuyo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kasado Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kowa Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Palau Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ussuri Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Dairen Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSD Nigitsu Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CL
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Taizan Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 11


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
E W-28
xAP Rakuyo Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Nigitsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ussuri Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
353 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)



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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Rakuyo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSD Nigitsu Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ussuri Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 16


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Taizan Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CS Nisshin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Palau Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ussuri Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirakami
xAP Kowa Maru, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Taizan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Palau Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ussuri Maru



Morning Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21
TBF-1 Avenger x 37


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
E W-28, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kashima, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CS Nisshin, Torpedo hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 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 GP Bomb




Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 49
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 14
TBF-1 Avenger x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 12 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
E Shirakami
CL Kashii, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CS Nisshin, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (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 13000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
13th Sentai Det with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Tenryu class CL


Japan loses another 4 AP; 1 AK; 2 CL and a CS from USN carrier planes this turn.



The BB Yamashiro/BB Mutsu SAG shows up in the Marianas and gets a warm welcome from the fast carriers of Task Group 58:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 106,93

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 11
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28
TBF-1 Avenger x 58


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 28 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 8, on fire
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CA Nachi
CL Isuzu
DD Sagiri
DD Shikinami
DD Teruzuki
DD Harukaze
DD Yuzuki
CL Tama, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 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
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 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 BB Yamashiro



The USN amphibious transports complete their unloading at Guam and head back towards Rabaul. Six of the 8 USN CVs are out of torpedoes so all carriers/surface TFs/replenishment TFs in the vicinity of Guam will retire 160 miles to the SE......dont want to take a chance on a naval engagement with an IJN SAG possibly led by Adm Tanaka....he kicks all Allied butt...even Halsey's.

Most of 5th Fleet will now return to Rabaul for rearming and repairs....the Allies have a lot of shot up BB/CA/CL from the Guam invasion and will probably need to complete a lot of repairs before Tinian is assaulted.

The Japanese airfields at Tinian/Rota and Saipan are all over 90% damaged so we focus a bit more attention at Pagan.

The seabees and aviation engineers are all ashore now at Guam with over 75,000 supplies so airbase construction will begin as soon as the current airstrips are repaired.

Ist Amphibious Corps launches 2 more deliberate attacks on Guam:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 47776 troops, 989 guns, 1293 vehicles, Assault Value = 1937

Defending force 5107 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Allied adjusted assault: 2431

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 221 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
761 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 314 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
37th Infantry Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Marine Raider Battalion
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
255th USN Base Force /399
7th USN Naval Const Rgt /399
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
41st Aviation Base Force
42nd Aviation Base Force
45th USN SeaBees /399
179th USAAF Base Force /399
331st Const Rgt /399
42nd Const Rgt /399
46th USN SeaBees /399

Defending units:
15th Base Force
Southeast Area Fleet
113th JAAF AF Bn



Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 47846 troops, 989 guns, 1296 vehicles, Assault Value = 1939

Defending force 3192 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied adjusted assault: 1725

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1725 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5138 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 436 destroyed, 227 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 45 (44 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


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


Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
4th Marine Raider Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
4th Marine Division
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
37th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
42nd Construction Regiment
46th USN Naval Construction Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
42nd Aviation Base Force
331st Construction Regiment
41st Aviation Base Force
I US Amphib Corps
255th USN Base Force
179th USAAF Base Force
45th USN Naval Construction Battalion
7th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
Southeast Area Fleet
15th Base Force


The Japanese are now down to 5,000 troops left on Guam.

10/22-10/23/43



CENTPAC: INVASION GUAM


The USN surface TF that had been covering that had been covering Guam and was ordered to withdraw to the SE with the CVs instead gets into a naval gunnery duel with the BB Yamashiro/BB Mutsu surface TF:



Day Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 105,95, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 1
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA Nachi, Shell hits 10, on fire
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Yura, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tama, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Onami
DD Shikinami
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 2
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Oite

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 2
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 2
BB Alabama, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Portland, Shell hits 2
CA Indianapolis
CA Chester, Shell hits 3
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 1
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CA Canberra
DD Aaron Ward, Shell hits 1
DD Frankford
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 2
DD Walke, Shell hits 1
DD Mahan



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
BB Alabama engages CA Nachi at 24,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Australia at 24,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Canberra at 24,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Isuzu at 24,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Isuzu at 24,000 yards
CA Portland engages CL Yura at 24,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Fumizuki at 24,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Walke at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages CA Nachi at 18,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages BB Pennsylvania at 18,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Isuzu at 18,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Vincennes at 18,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Nachi at 18,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Walke at 18,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Portland at 18,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD O'Brien at 18,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Minazuki at 18,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD O'Brien at 18,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Walke at 18,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Sagiri at 18,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Frankford at 18,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Teruzuki at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 14,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Tennessee at 14,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages BB Yamashiro at 14,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 14,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Yura at 14,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Isuzu at 14,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Oite at 14,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Chester at 14,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Yuzuki at 14,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 14,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Mahan at 14,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Walke at 14,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD O'Brien at 14,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Walke at 14,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Aaron Ward at 14,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Onami at 14,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 14,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Frankford at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 11,000 yards
CA Nachi engages BB Tennessee at 11,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Portland at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Vincennes at 11,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Yura at 11,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA San Francisco at 11,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Oite at 11,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Chester at 11,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CL Yura at 11,000 yards
CA Portland engages CA Nachi at 11,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Mahan at 11,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Walke at 11,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Onami at 11,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Mahan at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Aaron Ward at 11,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD O'Brien at 11,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD O'Brien at 11,000 yards
Hirata, Noboru orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Alabama engages CL Yura at 9,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Chester at 9,000 yards
CA Chester engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Australia at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA San Francisco at 9,000 yards
CA Chester engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Indianapolis at 9,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Frankford at 9,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Mahan at 9,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Walke at 9,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD O'Brien at 9,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Sagiri at 9,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Oite at 9,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD O'Brien at 9,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 9,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Akizuki at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 12,000 yards
BB Alabama engages BB Mutsu at 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 12,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Australia at 12,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Isuzu at 12,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Aaron Ward at 12,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Portland at 12,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Mahan at 12,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Minazuki at 12,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Sagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Alabama engages BB Yamashiro at 16,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Pennsylvania at 16,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Nachi at 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 16,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Indianapolis at 16,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CL Isuzu at 16,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Oite at 16,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Nachi at 16,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Portland at 16,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Mahan at 16,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Minazuki at 16,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 16,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Harukaze at 16,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 19,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Alabama at 19,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages CA Nachi at 19,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 19,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Australia at 19,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 19,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Oite at 19,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Harukaze at 19,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Yuzuki at 19,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Walke at 19,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD O'Brien at 19,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Frankford at 19,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD O'Brien at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 23,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Alabama at 23,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Portland at 23,000 yards
CA Chester engages CL Tama at 23,000 yards
CA Australia engages CA Nachi at 23,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Harukaze at 23,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Indianapolis at 23,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Minazuki at 23,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Aaron Ward at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 25,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Tennessee at 25,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages BB Mutsu at 25,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Tama at 25,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Australia at 25,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Isuzu at 25,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Harukaze at 25,000 yards
CA Portland engages CL Yura at 25,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Fumizuki at 25,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Minazuki at 25,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Sagiri at 25,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Teruzuki at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Alabama at 29,000 yards
BB Tennessee engages BB Yamashiro at 29,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Nachi at 29,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 29,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Isuzu at 29,000 yards
CA Chester engages CL Yura at 29,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Nachi at 29,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Kikuzuki at 29,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages DD Mahan at 29,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Minazuki at 29,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD O'Brien at 29,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Shikinami at 29,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Akizuki at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...



BB Alabama takes a bit of damage but the USN combat ships are able to retire towards Rabaul without the threat of Japanese naval air attacks.


For the IJN surface TF there is no such luck.....USN carrier bombers are all over them:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,94

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 46
SBD-5 Dauntless x 24
TBF-1 Avenger x 39


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, on fire
DD Fumizuki, on fire
CL Yura, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Oite
CL Isuzu, on fire
DD Minazuki
CA Nachi, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
19 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Yura


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,93

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
DD Akizuki



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,93

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 7


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire



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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,93

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 8


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 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



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 7
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18
TBF-1 Avenger x 38


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 5 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 12 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tama, heavy fires
DD Kikuzuki
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Yura, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Oite
DD Harukaze, on fire
DD Minazuki



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
14 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
10 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
5 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 35000 feet
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP 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 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 GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Sentai Det with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,93

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 11


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Onami
DD Teruzuki
DD Sagiri
DD Akizuki



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 105,93

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 8


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 2, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 32000 feet
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes



Allied intel reports that the IJN ships BB Mutsu, CA Nachi and CL Isuzu were all sunk this turn......if true, then Japan is down to 3 damaged BBs.

Even with Rota and Saipan airfields 90% damaged Japan is putting up CAP over Tinian and Pagan. The 8 USN CVs, 4 CVLs and 6 CVEs will move north to a point 160 miles east of Guam and send high altitude sweeps over Tinian and Pagan for a couple days before returning to Rabaul.


The final Japanese stragglers on Guam are mopped up:


Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48057 troops, 989 guns, 1296 vehicles, Assault Value = 1949

Defending force 436 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 2521

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2521 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:



Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
4th Marine Raider Battalion
37th Infantry Division
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
4th Marine Division
2nd Marine Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
42nd Aviation Base Force
45th USN Naval Construction Battalion
179th USAAF Base Force
41st Aviation Base Force
331st Construction Regiment
255th USN Base Force
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
46th USN Naval Construction Battalion
42nd Construction Regiment
7th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
Southeast Area Fleet



PBYs and a squadron of P-38s are staged in to Guam this turn.



CBI


The IJA 12th Division is still pinned on the beach at Cam Ranh Bay while the 14th Division is still bogged down in the swamp next to Saigon.

Two Allied armor brigades and an infantry brigade destroy the IJA unit at Rachgia and will now head towards Soc Trang to cut off the 14th Division from supply. Meanwhile, 4 Allied brigades and 2nd UK Division are poised to reinforce the Allied defenders in the swamp next to Saigon.

Looking at the reports, I highly doubt Mutsu sank. Depending on the hits in the surface fight. The bombs did very little to her, damage wise. She might be slowed down a bit. I'd try to get her as a priority, if she's still afloat tomorrow. The game makes IJN surface ships into gods. Only your TBF's can sink them. Try to do so when they're slowed down a bit (helps with hitting with the torps.).

(I'm not reading StoneAge's AAR, so don't worry about intel from me. It's just guessing on my part.)

Often this: Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro

indicates that ship is goner, so it may well be that Yamashiro sinks too. Or that she and not Mutsu sank.

Bradley 7735.....all of my carriers are out of torpedoes now so unfortunately they will need to return to port.



10/24-10/25/43



SUBS


SS Trout sinks AK Tusima Maru off Miri.

SS Trout puts a fish in AK Yomei Maru off Miri.



CENTPAC MARIANAS OFFENSIVE



Hellcats from Task Group 58 decimate Jap CAP over Tinian and Pagan:


Afternoon Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M5 Zero x 5
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 3



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
19 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 32000.
Raid is overhead
253 Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 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 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
13th Sentai Det with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Raid is overhead


Morning Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 38,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 37800 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 13 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
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
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 41,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 26


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
26 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 37800 feet

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes


The results here make me think that the experience of the Japanese replacement pilots has been greatly diminished.

All of the USN CVs/CVLs/CVEs will now return to Rabaul to rearm and take on replacements.

A squadron of P-47s and another of P-38s based at Guam will now fly sweeps over Japanese bases in the marianas.



CBI


StoneAge realized that I withdrew a couple divisions from Prachuap Khiri Khan to beef up the defenses in Indochina so he orders a deliberate attack:


Ground combat at Prachuap Khiri Khan (54,64)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 51627 troops, 493 guns, 228 vehicles, Assault Value = 1913

Defending force 31983 troops, 491 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 904

Japanese adjusted assault: 2238

Allied adjusted defense: 2575

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
3673 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 96 destroyed, 86 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1891 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 129 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Assaulting units:
81st Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
18th Division
5th Division
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
7th RTA Division
56th Division
1st RTA/B Division
84th JAAF AF Bn
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
32nd Field AA Battalion
25th Army
92nd JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
46th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
5th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Army
XV Indian Corps
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment


The Japanese were pretty close to getting 1:1 odds here....fortunately I have 2 newly purchased divisions from India on the march here from Moulmein.


The 268th Motorized Brigade will invest Soc Trang next turn.

10/26-10/29/43



SUBS


SS Tullibee puts a torpedo in BB Mutsu off Aogashima.....well the previous report of the demise of BB Mutsu obviously was inaccurate but she may sink now:


Submarine attack near Aogashima at 113,66

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Tullibee



BB Mutsu is sighted by SS Tullibee
SS Tullibee launches 6 torpedoes at BB Mutsu



SS Batfish sinks SC CHa-21 near Hakodate.

SSX Ha-27 is sunk by USN ASW TF at Guam.



CENTPAC: MARIANAS OFFENSIVE


Task Group 58.....8 CVs and 4 CVLs....returns to base at Rabaul. On the way TG 58 expends the remainder of their ordnance on an IJN SAG near Truk:


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

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 35
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 18
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18
TBF-1 Avenger x 52


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DD Hamanami
DD Hayanami
DD Fujinami
DD Wakaba
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Kuroshio
DD Ariake
DD Hatsukaze
DD Kiyonami



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SB2C-1C Helldiver 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
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Myoko



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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
FM-1 Wildcat x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 40
SBD-5 Dauntless x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 59


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 13 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 23 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Umikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Hamanami
DD Fujinami
DD Nenohi
CA Atago, Torpedo hits 1
CA Myoko, on fire
DD Ariake
DD Kiyonami
DD Hayanami
DD Kuroshio



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Umikaze



Didnt expect to find an IJN TF on the way back to base......StoneAge told me that they were supposed to bombard Ponape but for some reason were on the wrong side of Truk.


CENTPAC land based fighters at Guam fly high altitude sweeps over Pagan and Tinian and were just as effective as the Hellcats were the turn before:


Morning Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
201 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes



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

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zero x 1
J2M2 Jack x 5
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 40000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
801 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
253 Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
381 Ku S-1/A with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 37450 , scrambling fighters between 36000 and 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
281 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
331 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
13th Sentai Det with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35200
Raid is overhead



I think this confirms that the quality of Japanese pilots is at an all time low.


USAAF nightfighters engage in combat for the 1st time:


Night Air attack on Babeldaob , at 90,97

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9


Allied aircraft
PV-1N Ventura x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF(N)-531 with PV-1N Ventura (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes


All of 5th Fleet is now back in port at Rabaul.....there are a _LOT_ of banged up ships from the Guam invasion....6 of 8 CVs need repairs as do 9 BBs and 13 CAs. 5th Fleet will have a smaller contingent of surface ships for the invasion of Guam due to needed repairs but then so will the IJN. Several damaged CAs/CLs/DDs are sent to Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland to take some of the pressure off Rabauls repair facilities. Several damaged APA/AKA/AK/LST are sent back to Oahu for repairs.

BB Arizona and BB Nevada should complete their repairs in Pearl Harbor in a couple days and then they will rejoin 5th Fleet. With so many CVs down now it looks as if the Tinian assault will now be pushed back another 10-14 days.




CBI


Japan launches another deliberate attack at Prachuap Khiri Khan:



Ground combat at Prachuap Khiri Khan (54,64)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13126 troops, 141 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 1739

Defending force 30823 troops, 491 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 828

Japanese adjusted assault: 760

Allied adjusted defense: 3635

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
1450 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (0 destroyed, 13 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Assaulting units:
18th Division
56th Division
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
81st Naval Guard Unit
5th Division
7th RTA Division
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st RTA/B Division
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
84th JAAF AF Bn
32nd Field AA Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion
92nd JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
8th Indian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
46th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
5th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Army
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XV Indian Corps
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
85th British AT Gun Regiment



Allied reinforcements including a motorized brigade should start arriving at Prachuap Khiri Khan next turn.


Eastern Command troops capture Soc Trang:


Ground combat at Soc Trang (58,73)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5019 troops, 64 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 368

Defending force 176 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 322

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 322 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Soc Trang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


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


Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
77th Chindit Brigade

Defending units:
C./50th JNAF Coy



Now the IJA 14th Division next to Saigon is cut off from supply. Eastern Command just reinforced there with 4 brigades and the 2nd UK Division. The IJA 14th Division has been pounded unmercifully from the air for 3 weeks in its current position....now it will be attacked by over 1400 Allied AV next turn.

10/30-11/2/43



SUBS


SS Growler sinks E Tsubame off Bintan.

SS Cisco sinks SC CHa-38 near Hakodate

SS Guardfish sinks DD Hayanami by Aogashima.

SS I-138 puts a torpedo in xAK Kansan at Guam but the convoy escorts land 18 DCs on the hapless sub.



CENTPAC: CALM BEFORE THE STORM


The anchorages and docks at Rabaul all filled to overcapacity as 5th Fleet returns to port. All shore leave is cancelled for the personel of 5th Fleet HQ, 7th Fleet HQ and the naval engineers of the Cebu Naval Base Force as the sailors work around the clock to effect all the ship repairs needed for the next thrust forward.

I expected the highly trained and experienced Hellcat drivers of Task Group 58 to put a hurt on Jap CAP over the Marianas but I am astounded by the performance of the USAAF pilots in their newest fighters....the P-38 H and the P-47D2.

I had been very disappointed with the performance of previous versions of the P-38 in A2A combat but the P-38H seems to be a war winner.

15th FG/72nd FS.....a squadron of P-38Hs on Guam.....is flying sweeps at 39,000 feet over Pagan WITH drop tanks. So far they have 31 kills in 1 week of A2A combat while losing 7 of their own. This FS has an average experience of 70.

Even more impressive is the performance of 348th FG/340th FS....a squadron of P-47D2s on Guam.....they are flying sweeps at 40,000 feet over Tinian without drop tanks. So far they have 35 kills in 1 week of combat and have suffered no losses. This squadron has an average experience of 62. The pilolts with experience in the high 60's and 70's are getting all the kills but even the pilots with experience in the low 50's are surviving their A2A combat and gaining experience every turn.


These 2 fighter squadrons are facing Japan's newest fighters including the A6M5, Jacks, KI-44-IIb Tojos and KI-45-KAIc Nicks. Either StoneAge is throwing undertrained pilots into the fray or these 2 USAAF high altitude fighters are definite war winners.



CBI


StoneAge stops attacking at Prachuap Khiri Khan....we seem to have a stalemate their.

The IJA 14th Division, bombed heavily for over 3 weeks just outside of Saigon.....demoralized, disrupted and out of supply.....is overrun and completely destroyed in an Allied deliberate attack:


Ground combat at 59,71

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32230 troops, 495 guns, 625 vehicles, Assault Value = 1449

Defending force 2202 troops, 36 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1130

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1130 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2787 casualties reported
Squads: 237 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 156 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 90 (44 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
2nd Burma Brigade
2nd British Division
16th Chindit Brigade
111th Chindit Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
6th Indian Division
48th Gurkha Brigade

Defending units:
14th Division


What was over 14,000 troops a month ago is completely destroyed in a single attack......Ive never seen this before in either stock WitP or AE.....I think its a testament to the value of airpower in AE.

Now all 1400 Allied AV outside of Saigon will march to Cam Ranh Bay and deal with the IJA 12th Division.

11/3-11/8/43



SUBS


SS Salmon sinks SC Ch37 off Shikuka.

SS Batfish sinks AK Izan Maru near Kushiro.

SS KXIV sinks PB Keika Naru by Muntok.

SS Tallyho is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Djemadja.



CBI


Allied reinforcements arrive at Cam Ranh Bay......Eastern Command now has over 1600 AV massed to attack the IJA 12th Division. The only problem here for the Allies is the lack of supply draw to Cam Ranh Bay.

I set the supply draw of the base next to Cam Ranh Bay......Dalat......to max supply draw of 25,000 and SEAC HQ is on the way to help draw supply. A ground bombardment is ordered next turn at Cam Ranh Bay.



CENTPAC


VIIth Bomber HQ is activated at Guam this turn and over 160 medium and heavy bombers are staged in. It wil really help now to have a 3rd level 10 airfield.....besides Babeldaob and Yap.....to help neutralize Tinian, Saipan, Pagan and Rota.


Meanwhile, 14th Corps begins assault loading in ampihibious transports at Rabaul for the invasion of Tinian.

4 bombardment TFs covered by 4 CVs and 2 CVLs leave Rabaul this turn to begin the softening up of defenses at Tinian. The 4 bombardment TFs will alternate at bombarding Tinian and then sailing to Ulithi to rearm and refuel before heading back to rejoin 5th Fleet in the Marianas. I plan on round the clock naval and aerial bombardment of Tinian for 6-8 days before 14th Corps storms ashore.

11/9-11/12/43



SUBS


SS O23 is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW TF off Sepandjang.

SS Perch sinks SC CHa-64 near Sapporo.

SS Guardfish is hit by 6 DCs from IJN ASW by Moppo.



CENTPAC


XIV Corps is fully loaded on Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 290 amnd departs Rabaul for Tinian.

Meanwhile, 5th Fleet reaches the coast of Tinian and carrier Hellcats begin to add their weight to the air battles over Tinian, Saipan, Rota and Pagan.

Float planes from 4 bombardment TFs begin flying recon over Tinian. Two bombardment TFs are ordered to hit Tinian next turn.

USAAF nightfighters score their first kills of the war over Babeldaob and Talaud:


Night Air attack on Babeldaob , at 90,97

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11


Allied aircraft
P-70 Havoc x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
15th FG/6th NFS with P-70 Havoc (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Talaud Island , at 79,97

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 12


Allied aircraft
PV-1N Ventura x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF(N)-531 with PV-1N Ventura (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes



StoneAge has been flying a lot of night bombing attacks over Allied bases since 12/7/41 and now we can finally make him pay.



CBI

XXXIII Corps bombards Cam Ranh Bay for one turn and then rests the following turn. Next turn the 1900 AV of XXXIII Corps are ordered to conduct a deliberate attack against the IJA 12th Division.

11/13-11/14/43



CBI


StoneAge must have figured that the big assault was coming at Cam Ranh Bay....Japan launches a pre-emptive banzai attack:


Ground combat at Cam Ranh Bay (64,72)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5508 troops, 26 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 90

Defending force 47339 troops, 664 guns, 947 vehicles, Assault Value = 2049

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 5206

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
7739 casualties reported
Squads: 349 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 273 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 68 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:
12th Division
93rd JAAF AF Bn /393

Defending units:
23rd Chindit Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
2nd British Division
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
2nd Burma Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
111th Chindit Brigade
16th Chindit Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade
6th Indian Division
77th Chindit Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
XXXIII Indian Corps



When XXXIII Corps gets around to launching their attack its almost over before it starts:


Ground combat at Cam Ranh Bay (64,72)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 42251 troops, 628 guns, 887 vehicles, Assault Value = 2049

Defending force 0 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied adjusted assault: 1534

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1534 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
2nd Burma Brigade
16th Chindit Brigade
111th Chindit Brigade
77th Chindit Brigade
6th Indian Division
2nd British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
23rd Chindit Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
XXXIII Indian Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
93rd JAAF AF Bn /393


The IJA 12th Division is totally destroyed. Now most of the 2000 Eastern Command AV will be redeployed to the front at Prachuap Khiri Khan.



CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN......PRE-INVASION NAVAL BOMBARDMENT


StoneAge and I just upgraded to the v1.04.1106d beta patch. Im not exactly sure how naval bombardments will work out so Im going to use the Tinian invasion as a learning experience. Now you can set your standoff distance during naval bombardments in thousands of yards. I checked the data base for the range of the Japanese CD guns Ive encountered so far in the war....the 15cm 41YT, 14 cm 3YT, 12.7cm 3YT, 12cm T88 DP etc. and they max out at 22,000 to 23,000 yards.

I send in both the BB PoW bombardment TF and the BB Tenessee/BB Pennsylvania bombardment TF at 24,000 yards......its a night bombardment and the rules read that night bombardments begin at 15,000 yards so we will see what happens:


Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CA Cornwall
CA Suffolk
CA Sussex
CL Newcastle
CL Kenya
CL Danae

Japanese ground losses:
206 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)



Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 165
Port hits 20
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 10

BB Prince of Wales firing at Tinian
BC Repulse firing at Tinian
CA Cornwall firing at Tinian
CA Suffolk firing at Tinian
CA Sussex firing at Tinian
CL Newcastle firing at Tinian
CL Kenya firing at Tinian
CL Danae firing at Tinian


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania
CA Australia
CA Baltimore
CA Salt Lake City

Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)



Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 63
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 1

BB Tennessee firing at Tinian
BB Pennsylvania firing at 30th Division
CA Australia firing at Tinian
CA Baltimore firing at 30th Division
CA Salt Lake City firing at Tinian



Im kinda liking these new naval bombardment rules....the Allied ships stand off at 24,000 yards and dont suffer even a single hit. These 2 bombardment TFs end their turn at Ulithi where they rearm and refuel.....and next turn they will rejoin 5th Fleet off Tinian.

Next turn Im sending in another bombardment TF at 14,000 yards so that all of the 5" guns can join in.

Japanese fighters in the Marianas are overwhelmed by the both the carrier Hellcats and the land based P-38Hs and the P-47D2s. USAAF bombers based at Yap, Babeldaob and Guam can now go in on "milk runs"....Rota, Tinian, Saipan and Pagan are all over 65% suppressed.

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 290 continues its slow journey north from Rabaul as XIV Corps is about to meet its destiny on Tinian.