Matrix Games Forums

CL Perth, sunk

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/15/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100 [8|]

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 9
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Haguro
DD Oyashio
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
DD Ellet, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Mahan, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Porter, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Balch, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Stuart, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

This looks like a really desperate attack already. The DDs were surprised and shot to pieces. Even at 2000 yards they were still hit by the BB´s main armament.




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ASW attack at 24,34

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
APD APD-35
APD APD-34
APD APD-32
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

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Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
AK Honan Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 2

we will lose surely another half a dozen merchants in this area to subs. They are sitting in my port next to DDs, CLs, CAs, BBs and attack my merchants on the surface...

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ASW attack at 24,34

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
APD APD-35
APD APD-34
APD APD-32
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

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ASW attack at 24,34

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
APD APD-35
APD APD-34
APD APD-32
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

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ASW attack at 24,34

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
APD APD-35
APD APD-34
APD APD-32
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

[8|][8|][8|] 4 tries, not a single DC dropped...

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Ground combat at Charter Towers

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23309 troops, 267 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 982

Defending force 36206 troops, 304 guns, 346 vehicles, Assault Value = 374



Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69421 troops, 807 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1607

Defending force 60167 troops, 519 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 1469



Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102336 troops, 675 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8919

Defending force 102061 troops, 1220 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2134


Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/16/42

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Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Yukikaze
DD Kagero
DD Makinami

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 1

O20 scores again sitting at Cairns...

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Sub attack at 49,100

Japanese Ships
AK Taki Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Searaven

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Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 115

No Japanese losses

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,103

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 43
Ki-49 Helen x 45

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 2
Hurricane IIb x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 destroyed, 37 damaged [8|][8|][8|]

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage ----> should be already sunk [&:]
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

no comment on flak...

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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 45,101

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
F.K.51 x 1

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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Day Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Hurricane IIb x 11
Beaufort V-IX x 12
A-20B Boston x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Tama
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet

once again the game shows how good it works. Have set all my Tojos to escort 80% Cap but while 43 Tojos were on escort only 10 show up on Cap... [8|] The bombers attack my CLs instead of my BBs...

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ASW attack near Maloelap at 82,81

Japanese Ships
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Heijo Maru
PG Hakkaisan Maru
PG Fukui Maru
PG Edo Maru
PG Daido Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-31


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Ground combat at Charter Towers

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23328 troops, 271 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 984

Defending force 32093 troops, 248 guns, 342 vehicles, Assault Value = 364



Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 47,102

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1901 troops, 0 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 189

Defending force 4282 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Japanese max assault: 120 - adjusted assault: 20

Allied max defense: 95 - adjusted defense: 182

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

oops, I thought I would attack a base force but there´s an Australian bgd now. We take nearly no losses though...

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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69384 troops, 807 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1937

Defending force 60052 troops, 520 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 1465



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102370 troops, 672 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8913

Defending force 101997 troops, 1216 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2132


Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/17/42

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ASW attack near Maloelap at 82,81

Japanese Ships
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Heijo Maru
PG Hakkaisan Maru
PG Fukui Maru
PG Edo Maru
PG Daido Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-31, hits 3

1 hit, 2 near misses...

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Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS O20

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ASW attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS O20

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Sub attack at 48,100

Japanese Ships
AK Shinsoku Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KIX

Swift´s subs have never been so succesfull like they are now near Cairns. Hopefully this won´t convince him to use them on sub patrol and he keeps on using them 100% on mine laying in the future...

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Sub attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
AK San Francisco Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Searaven, hits 1

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Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 85

No Japanese losses

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 8 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet

Swift moved in hundreds of aircraft to Southern India yesterday and now tries to attack Akyab. Most of his bombers fail to find the target though.

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 destroyed, 13 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 45,102


Allied aircraft
F.K.51 x 1


No Allied losses

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ASW attack near Maloelap at 82,81

Japanese Ships
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Heijo Maru
PG Hakkaisan Maru
PG Fukui Maru
PG Edo Maru
PG Daido Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-31


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Ground combat at Charter Towers

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31381 troops, 308 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 986

Defending force 21357 troops, 216 guns, 324 vehicles, Assault Value = 283



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69346 troops, 807 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1937

Defending force 59792 troops, 514 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 1462



Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102390 troops, 670 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8919

Defending force 101990 troops, 1214 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2132


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/18/42

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TF 54 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
AK Hiyori Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

the MSW there seems to do nothing...

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Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Asagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Michishio
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
SS Finback, hits 2

this had to happen sooner or later. Swift has at least 4 subs sitting in my base hex, the DDs and air ASW are doing nothing. Hyuga is heavily damaged with 34 sys, 32 flt and 8 fire... [8|]

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Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 92

No Japanese losses

Port hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 53
LB-30 Liberator x 44
B-24D Liberator x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

next Allied target is Midway it seems...

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Ground combat at Charter Towers

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 53205 troops, 537 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 1473

Defending force 15879 troops, 94 guns, 325 vehicles, Assault Value = 252

Japanese max assault: 1736 - adjusted assault: 852

Allied max defense: 272 - adjusted defense: 814

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 6


Japanese ground losses:
920 casualties reported
Guns lost 66
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 1

Charter Towers will fall...
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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69396 troops, 806 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1939

Defending force 59634 troops, 515 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 1460



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97940 troops, 601 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9013

Defending force 102043 troops, 1218 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2131


Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/19/42

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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Sub attack at 55,96

Japanese Ships
AP Ayato Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Shark

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported

the hits on my merchants bringing troops and supplies to Cairns won´t stop before I won´t stop the convoys... have to live with it...

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 54

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 destroyed

seems like Swift starts an air offensive...

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 54

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 7
B-26B Marauder x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 4 destroyed, 19 damaged

no idea what he´s doing. He must have some 400 bombers and 500 fighters in India but he starts such an attack? Serves me good...

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Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 41
LB-30 Liberator x 37
B-24D Liberator x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 54

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

too late already to send fighters to Midway. Base will be abandoned of all aircraft and the defenders will wait for the Allied attack. Guess soon we will see BB bombardments also... Midway is one of the outlying bases that I won´t defend with force, so the losses to enemy ships won´t be high, the 400 assault points on the atoll could wreck a couple of ground units though, escpecially if it´s such a bad invasion like on Johnston.

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Day Air attack on TF at 48,100


Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 18
A-20B Boston x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged
A-20B Boston: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 1
BB Ise

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 11000 feet

got a message that this TF retreated out of Cairns due to an enemy surface combat TF. Is the game nuts????????? [8|]

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100 [8|][8|][8|][8|]

Japanese Ships
AK Ganges Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Hankow Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Hikosan Maru, Shell hits 4
AK Isin Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Iwashiro Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Misaku Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Nittei Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sugiyama Maru
AK Takao Maru, Shell hits 2
AK Toei Maru

Allied Ships
PT PT-146
PT PT-156
PT PT-165
PT PT-168
PT PT-169
PT PT-172, Shell hits 1

enemy PTs are going in in daylight without fuel... but the joke is that my BB TF retreated out of the hex... joke? [8|]

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
AK Tatsuura Maru
AK Tatuno Maru
AK Tazima Maru
AK Terukawa Maru
AK Toyooka Maru
AK Yahiko Maru
AK Shinamogawa Maru
AK Oyashima Maru

Allied Ships
PT PT-78, Shell hits 6, on fire


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Ground combat at 47,102

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 22027 troops, 212 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 557

Defending force 4198 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Japanese max assault: 876 - adjusted assault: 469

Allied max defense: 88 - adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 24 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
529 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
521 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The defending Australian bgd retreats to Townsville.

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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69415 troops, 806 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1938

Defending force 59530 troops, 515 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 1459



Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97699 troops, 597 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9006

Defending force 102043 troops, 1219 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2131


Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/20/42

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Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Gato

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Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 46,103


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 8 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 4 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed
F.K.51: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso


Allied ground losses:
7801 casualties reported
Guns lost 119
Vehicles lost 25

Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 85

wanted to catch the four cruisers that are disbanded at Townsville but instead we nuke the airfield... oh well...

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ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
MSW Shawa Maru #10
MSW Musashi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Truant

mine laying mission...

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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TF 108 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
MSW Shawa Maru #10
MSW Musashi Maru

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TF 32 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
DD Ariake
DD Nenohi
DD Yudachi

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Sub attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
AP Arizona Maru

Allied Ships
SS Shark

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Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 170

No Japanese losses

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 6 destroyed

like yesterday, the attack is only half hearted... [&:]

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
B-26B Marauder x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

I don´t understand Swift...
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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 30

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 10
Wellington III x 46
IL-4c x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 7 destroyed
Wellington III: 4 destroyed, 38 damaged
IL-4c: 3 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x IL-4c bombing at 19000 feet

another strike from a different base, most bombers make it through but hit nothing. A good number of enemy aircraft are lost today for nothing...

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Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 35
LB-30 Liberator x 30
B-24D Liberator x 48


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 84

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 47,106

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Achilles is fleeing South now, again she seems not to be sunk... damn, only 30% of my torp bombers launch...



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ASW attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Gato, hits 1


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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69400 troops, 807 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 1605

Defending force 59411 troops, 512 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1462



Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97778 troops, 600 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9019

Defending force 101974 troops, 1218 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2130


Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/21/42

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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TF 1 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
APD APD-35
APD APD-31

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Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 174

No Japanese losses

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 25
LB-30 Liberator x 28
B-24D Liberator x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

Expect Midway to be Allied again within the next couple of weeks...

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Day Air attack on TF at 47,105

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Marblehead was retiring from Townsville and my Navy bombers succesfully attack the light cruiser. CL Marblehead confirmed sunk. Another cruiser lost. In the last 5 weeks, Swift managed to lose one third of his heavy cruisers.

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ASW attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Gato, hits 1


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Ground combat at Charter Towers

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73846 troops, 734 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 1377

Defending force 1286 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese max assault: 1238 - adjusted assault: 2156

Allied max defense: 7 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 2156 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Charter Towers base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1360 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Charter Towers was only defended by the Townsville CD unit (static). Must have moved in without heavy equipment and then got replacements. The unit surrenders and Charter Towers fell... Looks like Swift is also abandoning Townsville now, retreating his base forces and small units (about 25) South towards Brisbane. Excellent, now I can wear down and destroy his major inf units in the pocket two hexes West of Charter Towers. Some 1500 assault points are trapped there.

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Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69401 troops, 806 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 1606

Defending force 59461 troops, 509 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 1466



Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

this is the Allied Army I´m talking about...

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Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97757 troops, 598 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9012

Defending force 102004 troops, 1217 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2130


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/22/42

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
CA Haguro
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-146
PT PT-156
PT PT-165
PT PT-168
PT PT-169, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

the PTs are used offensively now and we probably lose a DD (71 sys 83 flt 12 fire) for one PT sunk. The PTs were surprised...[8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
CA Haguro
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-146
PT PT-156
PT PT-165, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-168, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
CA Haguro
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-146
PT PT-156, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 4
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
CA Haguro
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-146, Shell hits 15, and is sunk

the last PT in this TF is sunk, we have spotted the next 6 already moving North... [:(] This one was hit by a dozen 14 inch shells from 1000 yards...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 108 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
MSW Shawa Maru #10
MSW Musashi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 177

No Japanese losses

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20
LB-30 Liberator x 18
B-24D Liberator x 30


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 45

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69416 troops, 807 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1608

Defending force 59397 troops, 508 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1460



Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97566 troops, 595 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9008

Defending force 102107 troops, 1221 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2131


Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/23/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Akebono
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Shark, hits 3

4 or 5 subs are sitting in Cairns at the moment. Doesn´t Swift know that it doesn´t help him to have 5 subs in one hex. He should place them in my shipping lane to Cairns, like he did with great success in the past.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34
LB-30 Liberator x 12
B-24D Liberator x 25


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 48,100

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
CA Haguro
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Michishio
DD Natsugumo

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-62, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCM 532B, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

we move our BBs out to do another bombardment tomorrow, they end up with some barges one hex off Cairns. Couple of barge convoys going North to Cooktown, probably to evacuate the base force there...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69384 troops, 808 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 1606

Defending force 59156 troops, 508 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 1446



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97345 troops, 593 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8999

Defending force 102073 troops, 1220 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2130


Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

CL Marblehead sunk!


USS Marblehead (CL-12), 1924-1946
USS Marblehead, a 7050-ton Omaha class light cruiser built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in September 1924. She made her shakedown cruise to Europe and in 1925 steamed through the South Pacific on a voyage to and from Australia. During 1927-28, Marblehead served off troubled Nicaragua, crossed the Pacific to war-torn China and returned to Nicaragua during that nation's elections. The cruiser served with the U.S. Fleet in the Atlantic and Pacific during the remainder of the 1920s and most of the 1930s.

Marblehead was assigned to the Asiatic Fleet from early 1938 until early 1942. During most of that time, as tensions rose over Japan's aggression in China, she cruised through Far Eastern waters in support of U.S. interests. After the Pacific War began in December 1941, Marblehead operated in the Netherlands East Indies as part of a greatly outnumbered Allied naval force. On 24 January 1942 she covered the Battle of Balikpapan, in which U.S. destroyers made a daring and successful attack on Japanese invasion shipping off Borneo. While steaming in the Java Sea on 4 February, en route to again attack the Japanese, Marblehead was hit and near-missed by several enemy bombs. With great difficulty the severely damaged ship was able to make port at Tjilatjap, Java, for immediate repairs, then went back to the U.S. by way of Ceylon and South Africa.

Following several months of shipyard work at New York, in the autumn of 1942 Marblehead went to the South Atlantic, where she patrolled between Brazil and Africa until February 1944. Convoy service in the North Atlantic followed. In July and August 1944 she was in the Mediterranean Sea to participate in the invasion of Southern France, during which her six-inch guns bombarded German defensive positions ashore. Marblehead's final active service, in mid-1945, was as a training ship for Naval Academy midshipmen. She was decommissioned at the beginning of November 1945 and scrapped in 1946.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 27,33

Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi
DD Shiratsuyu
APD APD-31
APD APD-35
APD APD-34
APD APD-32

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 1

one near miss, Trusty moves to Rangoon to lay mines I guess...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PG Seisho Maru
PG Seiko Maru
PG Santo Maru
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 7
PC Ch 2

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 2, on fire

two hits!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 46,103


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
569 casualties reported
Guns lost 27

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

We don´t do that much damage but Pensacola is hit again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
MSW Shawa Maru #10
MSW Musashi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, heavy damage

Trusty shows up as heavily damaged now. Perhaps we can sink the bastard...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 2

Allied Ships
SS Gato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 178

No Japanese losses

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
LB-30 Liberator x 12
B-24D Liberator x 30


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PG Seisho Maru
PG Seiko Maru
PG Santo Maru
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 7
PC Ch 2

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, heavy damage

another hit would kill the sub...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Townsville [:D]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6554 troops, 5 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Defending force 1228 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Japanese max assault: 374 - adjusted assault: 146

Allied max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 146 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Townsville base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
1098 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Excellent, Swift abandons Townsville and we only face the static Darwin CD unit! [:D] Must have been mobile to move here and then got a replacement that made it static again. The unit surrenders. In port CL Leander and CA Pensacola (which I thought was sunk before) were scuttled. Another two cruisers lost! [:D] The enemy troops are retreating South. Don´t know if I should keep on attacking South or just build up my positions here (after destroying the trapped Army) or if I should even move back to the North Coast. CL Achilles was confirmed sunk also... [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69424 troops, 808 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1608

Defending force 59079 troops, 509 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 1444



Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 97141 troops, 588 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8994

Defending force 101993 troops, 1219 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2127


Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

CL Achilles sunk...


H. M. S. A C H I L L E S

"LEANDER" Class cruiser ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead on 16th February 1931. The ship was laid down on 11th June that year and launched on 1st September 1932 as the 9th RN warship to carry the name. It was previously used for a cruiser sold in 1923 and had been introduced in 17??. After completion on 10th October 1933 she served with the Home Fleet until 1935 and attended the Silver Jubilee Review by HM King George V. In November 1935 she refitted at Chatham for service with New Zealand Division and re-commissioned with a New Zealand crew from HM Cruiser DIOMEDE on 31st March 1936. Before arriving in New Zealand in September 1936. she worked-up in the Mediterranean during the Abyssinian crisis. This ship had a very long association with New Zealand and was formally transferred to the RNZN on its formation in July 1941. She was damaged by SS RANGATIRA on 14th April 1938 and had to return to UK for repair at Portsmouth. The ship re-commissioned in March 1939 and returned to New Zealand.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s

BELLE ISLE 1761 - TRAFALGAR 1805 - LEOPARD Action 1917 - RIVER PLATE 1939 - GUADALCANAL 1942-43 - OKINAWA 1945

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, the head of Achilles helmeted all Gold.



M o t to

Fortiter in Re: 'Bravely in action'



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 3 9



August Transferred to RN control..

29th Sailed from Auckland for war deployment on the America and West Indies Station.



September Deployed at Balboa for interception of German shipping.

(Note: The only RN warship off the west coast of the American continent.

13th After refuelling at Valparaiso continued patrol off Chilean coast.

16th Unable to intercept German ships which escaped in territorial waters.

30th Escorted liner ORDUNA from Buenaventura, Columbia to Callao, Peru



October

5th Transferred to Force "G" in South Atlantic for defence of trade and interception of enemy shipping.

10th Took passage to meet Join Force G after self maintenance period in Valparaiso.

19th Passed through Straits of Magellan.

23rd Sailed from Port Stanley after refuelling.

26th Met HM Cruiser EXETER off Lobes Island.

27th Joined HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and EXETER and carried out joint patrol.



November

11th Carried out patrol with Force G after call at Rio de Janeiro

Returned to Plate estuary.

22nd Unsuccessful search for German shipping with HM Cruiser AJAX.

26th Patrolled off Brazilian coast.





December

3rd Called at Recife..

10th Joined HMS AJAX at Plate estuary.

12th Met HMS EXETER and began Joint patrol off estuary.

13th Took part in Battle of River Plate with HM Cruisers EXETER and AJX against the German

battleship GRAF SPEE.

(For further details see THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE by Dudley Pope and Naval Staff

History).

Shadowed GRAF SPEE after action until enemy ship entered Montevideo.

17th Patrol terminated after GRAF SPEE scuttled.

21st Landed wounded at Port Stanley and deployed on local patrol.

30th Returned to Plate estuary for interception patrolled with IMS AJAX



1 9 4 0



January

5th Sailed for Falklands after transferring Flag to HMS AJAX.

16th Sailed for patrol off Rio de Janeiro.

29th After visit to Montevideo inspected wreck of GRAF SPEE before taking passage to Port Stanley.



February

2nd Took passage to New Zealand from Port Stanley.

23rd Reverted to service in New Zealand Division after arrival at Auckland.

Taken in hand for refit and damage repair.



March Under refit.

to

May



June Carried out post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

14th Deployed for Sea Trials and work-up in Hauraki Gulf.

18th Despatched to assist survivors of ss NIAGARA which had struck mine laid by the German raider

KONDOR.

Located lifeboats and towed these towards Hauraki Gulf.

22nd Deployed for search near Kermadac Islands.

28th Returned to Auckland.



July

20th Embarked Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff for passage to Fiji

Passage to Fiji for Defence conference.

23rd Arrived at Fiji.

26th Passage to Tonga.

28th Arrived at Tonga.

31st On return to Auckland became Flagship for Commodore NZ Division.



August

20th Deployed in search for German raider ORION after sinking of ss TURAKINA in Three Kings

Island area.

25th After refuelling in Auckland deployed to continued search off Campbell Island in Southern Ocean

27th Escorted mv ORCADES from Wellington to Lyttleton.

28th Escorted troop convoy to Melbourne.

(Note: Convoy include mv ORCADES, ss EMPRESS OF JAPAN and rms MAURETANIA).



September

2nd Return passage to Auckland.

6th Embarked NZ Government officers for passage to Tahiti for conference.

15th Passage to Cook Islands with officials for conference.

21st Passage to Auckland from Raratonga.



October

21st Deployed for interception patrol off North Cape..



November

7th Escorted Military Convoy US7 for passage to Sydney.

16th Deployed for patrol off Auckland Island and Campbell Island.

28th Searched for raider after report from ss RANGATANE which was subsequently sunk.

Located wreckage.

30th Interception patrol continued off Auckland.



December

1st Escorted mail steamer from North Cape to Tasman Sea.

5th Escorted mv DOMINION MONARCH to Wellington.

8th Carried out search for raider in Tasman Sea.

Returned to Auckland when operation cancelled.

20th Escorted Military Convoy US8 to Sydney

23rd At Sydney.

30th Escorted US Military Convoy T1 for passage to Auckland.



1 9 4 1



January

2nd Detached to escort Convoy VK1 to Auckland.

6th Escorted as EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA for passage to Fiji and returned to Auckland.

10th Routine docking.



February

7th Escorted liner for part of passage to Panama and detached at Chatham Island.

12th Escorted Convoy ZT2 to Sydney.

18th Detached for escort of liner to Cap Maria Van Diemen, North Island NZ.

26th Escorted Convoy AP13 on passage to Panama to position 450 miles N of Chatham Is.



March

3rd Escorted Convoy APP14 to same area.

6th Deployed on escort of Panama convoys towards Chatham Island.

20th Released from convoy defence in Pacific.



April

7th Escorted military convoy to Australian coast with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and

HOBART.

10th Detached for escort of rms QUEEN MARY to join Convoy US10 from Sydney to Aden.

11th Joined Military Convoy US10 which included rms QUEEN ELIZABETH, ss ILE DE

FRANCE, ss MAURETANIA and ss NIEUW AMSTERDAM.

12th Detached and returned to Auckland after refuelling in Sydney.



May Passage to Fiji with escort of liner to position 500 miles SE of East Cape, North Island NZ.

14th On return passage rescued 'survivors of HMNZ Minesweeper PURIRI which had sunk during

minesweeping operation to clear mines laid by raider ORION off Hauraki Gulf.

20th Escorted mv RANGATIRA from Wellington to Fiji.



June

2nd Returned to Wellington after 26 days at sea steaming 9875 miles).

10th Escorted Convoy AP41 (Ex VK12) to Chatham Island.

12th Detached and escorted ship during return passage to Wellington.

14th Further convoy escort duty Convoy to Chatham Island.

15th When detached escorted ship for passage from Noumea

20th Returned to Auckland.

23rd Escorted liner to North Cape and returned with another ship to Vfeellington.

27th Escorted ss AQUITANIA to Bass Strait.

30th Joined HM Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA for escort of Military Convoy US11A for part of

passage to Aden. Convoy included as AQUTTANIA, rms QUEEN MARY and rms

QUEEN ELIZABETH.



July Detached from convoy and returned to Auckland for refit

Taken in hand on arrival.

(Statistics: Miles steamed since 9/39: 133,327

Miles steamed since last docking: 41,937).

Transferred to Royal New Zealand Navy on formation and became HMZNS ACHILLES.



August Under refit and carried out post refit trials.

29th Resumed escort duty and escorted rms RIMUTAKA from Cape Palliser to Chatham Island.



September When detached escorted mercantile to Wellington.

15th Deployed as Ocean Escort for Convoy US12B.

18th On relief by HMAS ADELAIDE and HMAS SYDNEY returned to Auckland.



October Deployed for interception duty in Pacific.

3rd Carried out raider search in Tasman Sea with HMAS ADELAIDE and an HM New Zealand

Armed Merchant Cruiser MONOWAI.

10th Returned to Auckland with HMNZS MDNOWAI of New Zealand Division.

14th Relieved HMAS ADELAIDE in Tasman Sea as escorted for liner to Auckland.

20th Escorted US liner from Auckland for part of passage to USA as far as Equator.

27th Detached and took passage to Suva.



November Passage to Auckland arriving on 4th.

8th Escorted US Liner for passage to Australia.

22nd Took over escort of Convoy VK21 in Bass Strait from HMAS ADELAIDE.

24th Detached east of Chatham Island.

27th Escorted convoy from Cape Brett to Navalu Passage.

30th Passage from Suva with HM Cruiser LEANDER to Auckland.



December

5th Deployed on escort of ships between New Zealand and Fiji..

8th Transferred to Eastern Fleet after outbreak of war with Japan.

Took passage from Suva for Port Moresby.

11th Order to join HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES and HM Battlecruiser REPULSE in the

Eastern Fleet as part of Force "Z" cancelled after loss of these two ships.

Released from Eastern Fleet duty and returned to Auckland.

16th Passage from Auckland to join US Convoy for New Caledonia from Brisbane.

19th Joined US Cruiser US S PENSALCOLA for escort of convoy which later was reinforced

by HM Australian Cruisers CANBERRA and PERTH.

22nd Detached and took passage to Sydney with HMAS CANBERRA and HMAS PERTH.

28th Escorted Convoy ZK5 including ss AQUITANIA, ss SARPEDON and ss HERSTEIN, taking

troops and stores from Sydney to Port Moresby, with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS

CANBERRA and HMAS PERTH.



1 9 4 2



January

4th Detached to escort ss SARPEDON and ss HERSTEIN to Noumea.

9th Escorted NZ military convoy to Suva.

11th Joined HM Cruiser LEANDER to escort three freighters to Auckland.

15th Covered passage of freighters to Suva with HMS LEANDER, HMAS AUSTRALIA and

HMAS PERTH.

17th Under routine docking

25th Resumed operational duty.

27th Escorted US military convoy to Suva with US Cruiser USS PHOENIX.

29th Detached when relieved by HMS LEANDER.



February

12th Joined HMAS AUSTALIA, HMNZS MOINOIWAI, US Cruiser USS CHICAGO and US

Destroyers USS LAMSON and USS PERKINS in ANZAC Squadron at Suva with HMS

LEANDER.

14th Deployed with Squadron for patrol between Fiji and New Caledonia.

18th Squadron joined US Task Force 11 for defence operation off Rabaul.

(Note: TF11 included aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON, cruisers USS INDIANAPOLIS,

USS MINNEAPOLIS, USS PENSACOLA and USS SAN FRANCISCO) with

screen of US Navy destroyers.)

20th Under air attack and need for high speed manoeuvres reduced fuel stock. ,

Withdrew from area to refuel and rejoined on 22nd.



March

3rd Relieved US Cruiser PORTLAND with HMS LEANDER as escort for Convoy PW2034

during passage to Brisbane.

16th Deployed at Noumea.

17th Escorted HM Australian Armed Merchant Cruiser WESTRALIA with HMS LEANDER for

passage to Epata.New Hebrides with US personnel and equipment for construction of an

airstrip.

18th Returned to Noumea.

28th Deployed with ANZAC Squadron for escort of convoy taking US troops to Vila, New

Hebrides.

Returned to Suva on release..



April

1st Sailed from Noumea to meet Convoy PW2055.

3rd Escorted rma QUEEN ELIZABETH, ss MARIPOSA and ss PRESIDENT COOLIDGE from

Kermadoc Islands during passage to Sydney.

6th Mountings for seven single 20am Oerlikon mountings fitted in Sydney to supplement defence

against close range air attacks.

18th Deployed as escort liner on passage from Melbourne to San Francisco as far as a position NE

of Samoa.

29th Joined US Destroyers USS HELM and USS HELMSEY to meet US destroyer HEMSLEY and

HMS LEANDER to form Task Group 12.2

Escorted Convoy PW2059 for passage to Vila.



May

4th Arrived at Vila with convoy.

5th Joined US Task Force 17 with HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS HOBART for the support of

US amphibious operations in SW Pacific.

20mm Oerlikon guns fitted (Ex HMS LEANDER).

6th Commenced series of night patrols off New Hebrides.

25th Escorted US ships to Wallis Island.

29th Deployed for further escort of US ships to Wallis Island.



June Deployed as Guardship at Wallis Island.

20th Returned to Suva and rejoined TF17.



July Deployed with TF17.

9th Escorted military convoy from Bora Bora to Wellington.

11th Arrived at Wellington.

28th Passage to Pago Pago from Auuckland with transports.

31st Arrived at Pago Pago with transports.



August Deployed at Pago Pago for convoy defence and support duties.

2nd Escorted US convoy on passage from San Francisco to Suva.

12th Convoy defence and support in continuation.

22nd Deployed at Noumea.



September

2nd Escorted ships to Tonga from Noumea and Niue.

16th Passage to Auckland for refit.

20th Taken in hand for refit at Auckland.



October Under refit.

to

November



December Carried out post refit trials.

12th On completion escorted ss AQUITANIA from Wellington to Tasmania.

Relieved off Tasmania by HMAS ADELAIDE.

17th After refuelling in Melbourne took passage to Noumea

21st On arrival at Noumea joined US Task Force 65.

30th Transferred to US Task Force 67 at Espiritu Santo. New Hebrides.

(Note: TF 67 included US cruisers USS HONOLULU, USS COLOMBIA,



1 9 4 3



January

3rd Escorted military convoys to Guadalcanal with ships of TF67.

4th Deployed off Solomons and bombarded airfield at Munda, New Georgia.

5th Whilst providing naval gunfire support off Guadalcanal hit on "X" turret during

air attacks and badly damaged.

8th Under temporary repair at Espiritu Santo by US repair ship VESTAL.

On completion of repair took passage to Melbourne.



February

1st Passage from Melbourne to Auckland.

3rd Arrived at Auckland.

4th Repair arranged in UK and prepared for passage.

19th Took passage to UK via Panama call with calls at Bora Bora and Bermuda.



March On passage to UK.

22nd Arrived at Portsmouth and Paid-off.



April Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Portsmouth,

to

May



June

22nd Explosion in 'empty’ fuel tank killed several dockyard workers and caused very

extensive structural damage.



July

Refit completion deferred from September 1943 to May 1944.



August Under refit.

to One 6" mounting ("X") removed

December Single 4" AA mountings replaced by Twin 4" mountings.

Additional 20mm Oerlikons fitted.



1 9 4 4



January Under refit at Portsmouth.

to Surface warning, combined surface and aircraft warning radars fitted.

April Fire control radars fitted for 6" and AA armament installed.

(For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by

D Howse).



May

23rd Commissioned for service with RNZN.

Not ready for operational deployment.

Ordered to leave Portsmouth because of requirements for planned Normandy

landings.



June

2nd Sailed for Scapa Flow via Irish Sea.

Machinery defects during passage.

Allocated for service with 4th Cruiser Squadron in Eastern Fleet.

3rd Taken in hand for repair at Greenock.



July Under repair.

On completion of repair work took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up.



August Worked-up with for operational service with ships of Home Fleet.

16th Took passage for Gibraltar.

19th Embarked 300 troops.

20th Took passage to Algiers and disembarked troops.

22nd Passage to Alexandria with call at Malta.

30th Sailed from Alexandria for Ceylon.



September

5th Boiler Room fire caused damage needing repair.

13th Under repair at Trincomalee after call at Bombay.



October Under repair.



November Under repair

22nd Transferred to BPF on formation.



December Carried out harbour trials.

4th Joined Squadron at Colombo on completion of trials.

9th Sailed from Colombo with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ATHELING, BATTLER,

HM Destroyers WAGER and WHELP for passage to Australia.

10th Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers FENCER, STRIKER, HM Cruiser

SWIFTSURE, HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT, WAKEFUL and WESSEX.

16th Detached with HMS SWIFTSURE for visits to Fremantle and Hobart.



1 9 4 5



January At Hobart.

9th Sailed from Hobart with HM Destroyers QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH as

escort for three liners on passage to Indian Ocean.

14th Detached when relieved by HM Cruiser LONDON and took passage to

Fremantle.

21st Joined escort for mv RIMUTAKI taking Governor General Designate of Australia

(HRH The Duke of Gloucester) to Sydney as relief for HM Cruiser SUFFOLK,

HM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN and HM Destroyer ULSTER.

27th Arrived at Sydney with mv RIMUTAKI, HMS QUIBERON and HMS

QUICKMATCH.

31st Passage to Auckland with HM Battleship HOWE, HM Destroyers QUADRANT,

QUALITY and QUICKMATCH for visit by CinC British Pacific Fleet.



February

5th Arrived at Auckland

6th Taken in hand for refit.



March Under refit.

Single 20mm mountings replaced by twin Oerlikon mountings.



April Carried out post refit trials.

26th On completion took passage to Australia for work-up prior to BPF service.



May

2nd Worked up with BPF ships in Sydney and Jervis Bay exercise area.

11th Sailed to join BPF at Manus.

22nd Joined Task Force 57 in Replenishment area COOTIE off Okinawa.

23rd Deployed with screen during flying operations off Sakishima Gunto.

(Operation ICEBERG).

30th Arrived at Manus and remained when other BPF ships went to Australia..



June Operational deployment in SW Pacific with 5th US Fleet.

12th Transferred to Task Unit 111.2 for series of air attacks on Truk by HM Aircraft

Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Escort Aircraft Carrier RULER, HM Cruisers

SWIFTSURE, UGANDA and NEWFOUNDLAND screened by HM Destroyers

TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS, TEAZER, TERPSICHORE and TERMAGANT.

(Operation INMATE).

(For details of operations in Pacific see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray,

TASK FORCE 57 by P Smith and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

13th Detached with cruisers during flying operations.

14th Bombarded island of Dublon with UGANDA and TENACIOUS.

17th Began Self Refit on return to Manus.

28th Resumed operational service at Manus.



July Transferred to 3rd US Fleet for duty in Task Force 37 with BPF ships.

6th Rejoined 4th Cruiser Squadron when British Pacific Fleet returned to Manus

from Australia.

16th Deployed with BPF as redesignated TF37 in operations off mainland of Japan.

Acted as Screen and used for shore bombardment with BPF

(Preliminary phase of Operation OLYMPIC).

20th Refuelled from USN tankers of Task Unit 30.8 with HM Cruisers UGANDA

and GAMBIA in order to continue participation in joint RN/US operations off

Japan.

24th Covered carrier flying operations against targets in Kure, Miko, Kobe, Nagoya

and Tokyo.

31st Stationed between US Task Force 37 and British Task Force 38 during

refuelling of USN ships to act as voice communication link between allied

ships.



August BPF deployment in continuation.

6th Remained in operational area with TF37 during final air operations.

11th Returned to Manus with HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE, IMPLACABLE,

VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and EURYALUS screened by eight

destroyers.

24th Passage to Auckland to rejoin RNZN.



P o s t W a r N o t e s



HMS ACHILLES was deployed as Guardship at Tokyo in October 1945and returned to New Zealand in March 1946. She took passage for UK in August 1946 and reverted to RN control. After a refitting this ship was transferred to the Royal Indian Navy as INS DELHI on 5th July 1948. She represented the RIN at the Coronation Review in 1953. From 1958 she was used for training duties until being scrapped after 1976.

CL Leander sunk...


H. M. S. L E A N D E R



"LEANDER" Class cruiser ordered under the 1930 programme from HM Dockyard Devonport on 18th February 1930. The ship was laid down on 8th September that year and launched on 24th September 1931 She was the 5th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1780 for a 4th Rate and last used for a cruiser in 1882 which was sold in 1920. Build was completed on 28th March 1933 and she commissioned for service in the 2nd Cruiser Squadron Home Fleet. Although nominated for transfer to the New Zealand Division in 1936 the ship did not go to New Zealand until the next year due to the outbreak of the Spanish civil war. After attending the Coronation Review in 1937 HMS LEANDER took passage to New Zealand via the Panama Canal and was serving in the Pacific in September 1939.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s



TENERIFFE 1797 - NILE 1798 - ALGIERS 1816 - BLACK SEA 1854-55 - KULA GULF 1943



H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue. an arm in armour holding a lance proper, between

two lotus flowers Silver, over wavelets gold and green.

(Note: In a Circular frame).



M o t t o

Qui Patitur Vincit : 'Who suffers conquers’



. D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 3 9



September Deployed with New Zealand Division.

3rd On passage to Fanning Island in mid Pacific (Part of Gilbert and Ellis Group, south

of Hawaii with 35 troops to protect cable installation.

13th Landed troops with stores and returned to Auckland.

25th Sailed to Auckland Islands and Campbell Islands in Southern Ocean to investigate the

likelihood of their use by Germany for bases.

October

1st Called at Wellington during return passage to Auckland.



November Deployed for further visit to Auckland and Campbell Islands.



December On return remained at short notice for sea in Auckland.

24th Transferred to Wellington and remained at short notice.

Nominated for escort of military convoy.



1 9 4 0



January

5th Escorted troopships DUNERA II and SOBIESKI to join Convoy US1

6th Joined HM Battleship RAMILLIES as escort for US1 during passage to Australia with NZ

Army contingent.

(Note: mv CANBERRA and other troops ships were in US1)

11th On relief by HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and SYDNEY too return passage to

Auckland



February Deployed at Auckland.

6th At Waitanga for anniversaries marking New Zealand foundation.

23rd At Auckland when HMNZS ACHILLES arrived on return from River Plate victory.



March Deployed in New Zealand waters.



April Nominated for escort of military convoy.

24th At Wellington waiting for departure of military convoy



May

2nd Escorted troopships AQUTTANIA, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN and EMPRESS OF JAPAN

during passage to Australia as Convoy US2 taking second batch of troops of 1st NZ Army

Division for active service.

(Note: HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA also escorted US2).

5th Convoy US2 joined by rms QUEEN MARY, MAURITANIA and another liner.

(Note: HM Australian Cruiser PERTH also part of escort of redesignated convoy now

identified as US3).

Detached on arrival at Sydney.

12th Rejoined Convoy US3 to escort troopships in Indian Ocean from Australia after call at

Fremantle.

15th Convoy destination of Ceylon changed.

Diverted to Cape of Good Hope in case Italy entered war

16th Re-deployed and transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.

Detached from US3 and took passage to Colombo. Arrived at Colombo.

21st Passage to Alexandria with call at Aden.

26th Arrived at Alexandria and joined HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, NEPTUNE and

SYDNEY in 7th Cruiser Squadron.

31st Transferred to East Indies Squadron.



June

1st Took Passage to Port Sudan to join Red Sea Force.

8th During Red Sea Patrol intercepted Italian liner UMBRIA which was being shadowed by

HM Sloop GRIMSBY.

11th Took off crew of UMBRIA which scuttled at Port Sudan.

12th Passage to Aden and patrol.

16th Searched with aircraft for Italian submarine off Aden.

(Note: This submarine GALILEO GALILEI was later captured by HM Trawler

MOONSTONE and taken as Prize to Aden).

27th Deployed with HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON in search for submarine

reported aground in Red Sea.

Located Italian TORRICELLI which was engaged and sunk by gunfire.

Under air attack on return passage during which two aircraft were destroyed.



July Red Sea Force deployment in continuation.

to Escorted convoys from Men to Port Sudan area and Suez convoys to Bombay into the Indian

August Ocean south of Men, with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART, HM Australian Sloops YARRA

and PARRAMATTA.



September Red Sea Force deployment in continuation.

6th Under air attack during escort of Convoy BNW with HM Sloop AUCKLAND.

Two aircraft destroyed.

20th Stood by merchant ship damaged during attacks on Convoy BN5 with HMS AUCKLAND

One aircraft destroyed.

24th Under air attack in Red Sea.

Deployed as escort for Convoy BN6 44 ships).



October Escorted Convoy BN7 (32 ships) with HMS KIMBERLEY, HMS AUCKLAND, HMAS

YARRA and HM Indian Sloop INDUS.

20th Under air attack without damage.

21st In action against Italian destroyers LEONE, NULLO, PANTERA and SAURO in defence of

Red Sea convoy.

Enemy ships escaped under cover of smoke screen.

(Note: Italian NULLO was later intercepted by HMS HMBERLEY and sunk by torpedoes

when under fire from shore batteries off Horni Island.

HMS KIMBERLEY hit in boiler room and disabled.

22nd Towed HMS KIMBERLEY back to convoy and transferred tow to HM Destroyer KINGSTON.

29th Ship’s aircraft used to bomb Italian positions at Mogadishu.



November Red Sea convoy defence in continuation.

Escorted Convoys BN8 and BN9.

26th Relieved in Red Sea Force by HM Australian Cruiser HOBART.

Transferred to Indian Ocean for support of military operations in Somaliland.

28th Deployed in Indian Ocean.

29th Aircraft launched for attack en factory at Banda Abula, Italian Somaliland.

After recovery bombarded shore targets firing 98 rounds of 6".



December Deployed for trade defence in Indian Ocean.

Passage to Bombay for routine docking.

27th On completion prepared for trade defence duties.

28th Joined escort of Indian Ocean convoy to Aden.



1 9 4 1



January Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.

14th Deployed on interception patrol in Indian Ocean during passage to Colombo.

21st Joined 4th Cruiser Squadron at Colombo.

24th Deployed in search for ss MANADOR after distress call from position 150 miles west

of Seychelles.

30th Returned to Colombo without success having refuelled at Addu Atoll.

31st Resumed Indian Ocean patrol.



February

9th Returned to Colombo after patrol.

10th Joined escort of military Convoy US9 as relief for HM Australian Cruiser CANBERRA

in position 150 miles south of Ceylon.

(Note: Convoy included troopship AQUITANIA, MAURITANIA and NIEUW AMSTERDAM).

22nd Deployed in search for German warship ADMIRAL SCHEER off Maldives.

25th Escorted coastal convoy from Colombo to Bombay.

27th Resumed interception patrol and sighted unknown vessel off Maldives.

Ship proved to be Italian raider RAMS I that opened fire when at 3,000 yards range and shots

fell short.

Engaged enemy ships which was hit and them scuttled. Rescued survivors and took passage to

Addu Atoll.

28th Landed prisoners and resumed patrol



March

2nd Joined HMAS CANBERRA for joint search.

4th Detached from HMAS CANBERRA but rejoined to assist in rescue of survivors from two

German supply ships intercepted by CANBERRA.

On completion continued Joint search.

(Note: German Supply COBURG and KETTY BROVKK (captured Norwegian tanker)

scuttled on approach.).

8th At Mauritius with HMAS CANBERRA to refuel.

10th Sailed from Mauritius with HMAS CANBERRA to meet H M Armed Merchant Cruiser CITY

OF DURBAN for a combined search in area 400 miles SE of Madagascar for commerce raiders

and supply ships.

20th Detached to refuel in Mauritius.

21st Resumed search between Mauritius and Madagascar.

23rd Intercepted Vichy French merchant ship CHARLES LD (5267 grt) and boarded.

Scuttling charges thrown overboard and ship taken to Mauritius by naval party.

27th Located tanker TROCAS reported missing and escorted her to Mauritius.

29th Passage to Colombo.



April

2nd Arrived at Colombo.

11th Escorted convoy from Madras to Singapore

12th Relieved by HM Cruiser CERES and returned to Colombo.

14th Deployed for support of military operations in Persian Gulf.

Escorted convoy BM7 to Basra.

18th Joined HM Cruiser EMERALD on arrival in Persian Gulf.

19th Covered landings at Shatt el Arab.

22nd When released from support duties took passage to Colombo to Join Hunting Group V.

(Note: Group comprised HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers CORNWALL and

HAWKINS to search for raiders operating in Indian Ocean).

29th Took part in search for German raider PINGUIN south of Maldives.



May

3rd Arrived at Colombo.

6th Escorted military Convoy US10B in Indian Ocean.

(Convoy included troopships AQUITANIA, ILE DE FRANCE and MAURITANIA).

7th Detached for interception patrol duty.

14th Returned to Colombo

Nominated for service in Mediterranean.

23rd Took passage to Aden

29th At Aden.



June

1st. Took passage to Alexandria to join 7th Cruiser Squadron.

(Note: This deployment was made necessary because of heavy losses sustained during

operations off Crete. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MDRE CLOSELY by C Barnett

and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002)

4th On arrival 2 pdr pom-pom fitted (Ex HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL)

13th Relieved HM Cruiser AJAX in support duty of military operations in Syria.

(Operation EXPORTER

Deployed with HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM Destroyers JACKAL, JANUS, KANDAHAR and

KIMBERLEY.

Bombarded shore targets in Sidon.

14th Repeated bombardment of shore targets.

Carried out search to north near Beirut with HM Cruiser COVENTRY and destroyers

Intercepted two Vichy French GUEPARD Class destroyers which withdrew at high speed.

Under fire, liable to overtake and withdrew.

15th Resumed patrol with HMS PHOEBE, HMS COVENTRY and destroyers.

Provided further gunfire support to military advance.

22nd Deployed with HM Cruiser NAIAD, HM Destroyers JAGUAR and KINGSTON in search close

inshore north of Beirut.

Engaged Vichy French destroyers GUEPARD and VALNY which withdrew.

Sustained slight damage from unexploded 6" shell.

25th Repeated offensive sweep north of Beirut with HM Destroyers DECOY.HAVOCK and

NORMAN

26th HM Cruisers PERTH and CARLISLE joined as reliefs.

Took passage with COVENTRY to Alexandria.



July Deployed for transfer of Army and RAF personnel to reinforce garrison in Cyprus.

(Operation GUILLOTINE).

Took passage to Haifa.

19th Embarked Army and RAF personnel at Haifa for passage to Cyprus with HMS KINGSTON.

20th Embarked troops at Port Said for passage to Cyprus.

21st Passage to Haifa from Cyprus.

(Note: Other ships deployed on GUILLOTINE included HM Cruiser NEPTUNE, destroyers

of 14th Flotilla, HM Sloops PARAMATTA(RAN) and FLAMINGO.

22nd Deployed with HMS AJAX, HM Destroyers JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR and

KINGSTON for patrol south of Crete as part of Mediterranean Fleet operation.

24th Detached with HMS JAGUAR to embark troops for Cyprus at Port Said.

26th After disembarking passengers returned to Port Said.

31st Took passage to Colombo for return to New Zealand after embarking RNZVR personnel.

(Note: Signal from Admiralty to NZ Navy Board was sent in appreciation of the very

significant contribution made by this cruiser during service with the fleet in the

Mediterranean at a very crucial stage).



August Docked in Colombo for routine inspections.

On completion took passage to Fremantle.

Escorted ss CERAMIC from Fremantle to Sydney.

28th On arrival in Sydney rejoined New Zealand Division. September



September

5th Escorted troopship AQUITANIA to Wellington

Passage to Auckland.

8th Arrived at Auckland.

12th Taken in hand for refit in HM Dockyard Auckland.

(Note: Aircraft facilities removed and additional close range AA armament fitted.



October Under refit.

1st Royal New Zealand Navy formed and ship became HMNZS LEANDER.



November Carried out Post refit trials.

8th On completion deployed for escort of ships on passage between New Zealand and Equator,

Two successive trips were made before redeployment.



December Escorted two military convoys to Suva.



1 9 4 2



January

10th Deployed on escort and cover of military convoys to Suva with HMAS AUSTRALIA,

HMNZS ACHILLES and HMAS PERTH.

19th Returned to Sydney with HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS PERTH.

29th Passage to Melbourne with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS PERTH, HMAS ADELAIDE

and USN ships.

31st Nominated to join ANZAC Squadron with HMAS AUSTRALIA for joint operations in

South West Pacific with US Navy.



February

3rd Relieved HMNZS ACHILLES in escort of convoy to Brisbane.

On arrival took passage to Suva.

12th Joined ANZAC Squadron at Suva with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS ACHILLES, HM

Australian Armed Merchant Cruiser MONOWAI, US cruiser USS CHICAGO and two US

Navy destroyers.

14th Deployed on patrol between Fiji and New Caledonia.

18th Deployed with all Squadron to join Task Force 11 for assault on Rabaul.

20th Under intense Japanese air attacks which seriously reduced fuel and ammunition supply.

Returned to Suva to re-arm and refuel.



March

3rd Escorted Convoy PW3034 to Brisbane from Suva with HMNZS ACHILLES and US cruiser

USS PORTLAND.

17th On return from Brisbane took passage with HMNZS ACHILLES as escort for

ss WESTRALIA to Etape, New Hebrides with stores and personnel to build airstrip.-

18th Remained at Etape with ss WESTRALIA during unloading of stores and personnel.

Sailed for Noumea on completion.

28th Deployed with Squadron as escort for military convoy to Suva.



April

1st Joined Convoy BT 201 during passage from Panama and escorted it to Brisbane.

8th Arrived at Brisbane.

10th Took independent passage to Noumea.

28th Joined Task Group 12.2 with USS LAMSON, HMNZS ACHILLES, US Destroyers USS

HELM and USS HENLEY.

Escorted Convoy PW2059 off Pago Pago for passage to Vila.



May

5th Carried out night patrols in New Hebrides.

19th Re-deployed for support of planned assault operations.

28th Landed troops troops from Vila at Espiritu Santo to occupy island.



June

1st Sailed from Vila with US destroyers to join SW Pacific Force at Suva.

4th Joined Convoy PW2076 and escorted some ships to Suva.

11th Deployed for escort of convoys from Auckland and Fiji.



July Pacific convoy escort in continuation.



August Transferred to Pago Pago and escorted convoy from San Francisco to Noumea.



September Transferred to Task Force 64 based at Espiritu Santo.

Passage to join Task Force.

12th Joined Task Force on arrival.

14th Deployed on escort duty with convoy to Tonga.

18th Carried cut patrol off Guadalcanal anchorage off Lung Point with TF64 ships.

Escorted enpty merchant ships from Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo.



October Task Force 64 convoy escort and support in continuation.

10th Joined convoy south of Fiji and escorted to Auckland.



November Passage from Auckland to Noumea.



December

6th At Auckland.

16th Passage from Noumea to Espiritu Santo to join TG16.6.

19th Withdrawn from operational service for repair of cracked plating of fuel tank.

Took passage to Auckland.

On arrival, taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Auckland.



1 9 4 3



January Under repair

to

February



March Post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

Took passage to Espiritu Santo to rejoin US Task Force.



April Deployed on escort duty between Pearl Harbour, Bora Bora and Noumea

to

May



June Nominated for transfer to Task Force 18.

17th Passage to Espiritu Santu. Joined Task Force at Espiritu Santo.



July Task Force deployment in continuation.

7th Replaced US cruiser USS HELENA after she had been lost in Battle of Kula Gulf.

11th Rejoined TF18 off Savo Island and deployed on patrol off Guadalcanal for the interception

of Japanese troopships attempting to reinforce garrison on Munda, New Georgia.

12th Refuelled at Tulagi and joined USS HONOLULU, USS ST. LOUIS and destroyers for

continuation of interception patrol off Guadalcanal.

13th During deployment in Guadalcanal area took part in Battle of Kolambangara in Gulf

Casualties: 3 killed; 24 Missing and 8 injured).

14th Arrived at Tulagi.

15th Under temporary repair off Tulagi with combined US/RAN force.

Engaged Japanese cruiser JINTSU and destroyers HAMAKAZE, KIYONAMI, MIKAZUKI,

YUGURE and YUKIKAZE.

(Note: Although JINTSU was sunk the torpedoes fired failed to hit any destroyer.)

Hit by 24" LONG LANCE torpedo on port side amidships causing extensive damage and

wrecking No 1 Boiler Room.

Considerable flooding and fuel supply contaminated by sea water.

Good damage control enable steam to be maintained from No 3 Boiler Room and ship was

able to return to base.

(Note: Hole in A Boiler Room measured 3m x 6m.



21st Passage to New Zealand via Espiritu Santu.

29th Arrived at Auckland for further repair.



August Permanent repair arranged in US Navy Dockyard, Boston, Mass.

to Under repair to allow passage.

October



November

23rd Took passage via Panama for refit and repair.



December

14th Panama Canal transit.

23rd Arrived at Boston for repair and refit



1 9 4 4



January Under repair.

to (Note: Reverted to RN control in May)

December "X" Turret was removed and replaced by Quadruple Pom-Pom mounting)

Some preparatory work to fit new radar and change secondary armament was done.)



1 9 4 5



January Under repair and refit

to

June



July Carried out Port Refit trials



August Prepared for return passage to UK on completion of trials.



P o s t W a r N o t e s



HMS LEANDER sailed from Boston on 27/8/45 and after call at Montreal to embark gold reserves took passage to UK. She arrived at Rosyth in September and refit work was continued in a Tyneside shipyard during 1946. Further work was undertaken at Portsmouth before she was re-commissioned in September 1946 for service in 1st Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet. The ship escaped with no damage when, in company with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS, HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ and VOLAGE, the ships entered an Albania minefield off Corfu. Fleet service in the Mediterranean ended in December 1947 when she returned to pay off at Chatham and reduce to Reserve status. Placed on the Disposal List she was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow in December 1949. Before being towed to the breaker’s yard the ship was used as a trials target and arrived at the Blyth in January 1950.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/25/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus, hits 5, on fire

Nautilus now joins the other subs at Cairns, she´s welcomed with 5 near misses...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus, hits 2, heavy damage

one real hit, the sub is sinks immediately... [&o]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 75 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34
LB-30 Liberator x 13
B-24D Liberator x 30


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

we have spotted a TF consisting of lots of AKs/CAs 6 hexes South East of Midway. I guess this is a bombardment TF consisting of CAs and DDs that will hit Midway tomorrow. Would be really surprised to see the invasion without a dozen bombardments before. Midway is on its own, no aircover or support from the Navy. Perhaps we can move out some fragments with subs, but they will probably again turn into ghosts anyway...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 7
PC Ch 2
PG Seisho Maru
PG Santo Maru
PG Seiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 8, heavy damage

Trusty still not sunk... 8 near misses... [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69424 troops, 808 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1548

Defending force 58931 troops, 501 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 1442



Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96654 troops, 578 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8990

Defending force 101973 troops, 1221 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2126


Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/26/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 7
PC Ch 2
PG Seisho Maru
PG Santo Maru
PG Seiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, heavy damage

Trusty is still afloat and she´s still sitting in Rangoon port...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 2

Allied Ships
SS Gato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS Haddock, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS Haddock, hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 97
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 179

No Japanese losses

Port supply hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69394 troops, 808 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 1457

Defending force 58815 troops, 500 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 1440



Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96489 troops, 572 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8989

Defending force 102013 troops, 1221 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2126


Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported


the enemy troops in Eastern Australia are on full retreat South. Only the enemy subs are still causing trouble, my ASW forces only achieve pathetic results...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/27/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 2

Allied Ships
SS Gato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 48,99

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
CL Isuzu
CL Abukuma
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
LCM 532A
LCM 532C, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCM 532E, Shell hits 1
LCVP 532G
LCVP 532J
LCVP 532K, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCVP 532L
LCVP 532M

we´ve sent out a small SC TF to force a mid ocean intercept with some barges that are probably trying to evacuate the enemy base force from Cooktown. Only 2 are shot to pieces...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 24 encounters mine field at Cairns (47,100)

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 2

Allied Ships
SS Gato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
AK Hoeisan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

Haddock has been sitting in port a long time already and she was attacked a couple of times, still she´s able to attack my shipping...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33
LB-30 Liberator x 15
B-24D Liberator x 34


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69422 troops, 807 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1944

Defending force 58706 troops, 500 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 1442



Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96312 troops, 569 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8994

Defending force 102018 troops, 1220 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2129


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

turns are done in no time at the moment...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/28/42

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TF 75 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2

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Sub attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11
PC Ch 29
PC Ch 24
PC Ch 12
PC Ch 10
PC Ch 6

Allied Ships
SS Haddock, hits 2, on fire

Haddock is still sitting at Takao...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,102

Japanese Ships
AK Kirisima Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KIX

and we still lose ships that are going to or coming from Townsville...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
AK Kirisima Maru, and is sunk
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 28
LB-30 Liberator x 14
B-24D Liberator x 32


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Australian AT Regiment, at 44,103

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 57

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,103

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2977 troops, 0 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Defending force 976 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese max assault: 95 - adjusted assault: 34

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 34 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

1st Australian AT regiment is forced to retreat...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69408 troops, 805 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1943

Defending force 58521 troops, 496 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1441



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96129 troops, 565 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8983

Defending force 102000 troops, 1221 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2130


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/29/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 99
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 180
Ki-30 Ann x 9

No Japanese losses

Port hits 4
Port supply hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 25
LB-30 Liberator x 12
B-24D Liberator x 32


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th Australian Division, at 44,102

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 123

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged


Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

we begin our A2G attacks on the cut off Army West of Charter Towers. No base forces there but the inf units have flak guns too... we have to adjust the attack alt...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69388 troops, 805 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1942

Defending force 58340 troops, 497 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 1430



Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96008 troops, 567 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8974

Defending force 101939 troops, 1222 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2125


Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/30/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 20 encounters mine field at Townsville (46,103)

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2
MSW Wa 19
MSW Wa 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,103

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS KIX

the enemy subs are even going after my ASW forces near Townsville, my DDs have achieved nothing so far...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pakhoi , at 39,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 98
B5N Kate x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 178
Ki-30 Ann x 9
Ki-32 Mary x 11

No Japanese losses

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 31
B-24D Liberator x 36


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,104

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 77211 troops, 871 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2239

Defending force 561 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Japanese max assault: 1698 - adjusted assault: 1229

Allied max defense: 12 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 1229 to 1



Allied ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

another unit in Australia is forced to retreat...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 44,102

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69411 troops, 806 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1943

Defending force 58207 troops, 495 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 1432



Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 95840 troops, 563 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8978

Defending force 101985 troops, 1222 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2128


Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported