IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:42 pm

11/15-11/16/43

SUBS

SS Perch sinks SC CHa-40 off Sapporo.

SS Tullibee sinks AMcWa12 near Aogashima.

SS Perch is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW off Sapporo.

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

This turn the USN bombardment TF stands off at 14,000 yards:

Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts
BB Idaho
CA Canberra
CA San Francisco
CA Chicago
CA Northampton

Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Port hits 1

BB Massachusetts firing at 30th Division
BB Idaho firing at Tinian
CA Canberra firing at Tinian
CA San Francisco firing at 30th Division
CA Chicago firing at Tinian
CA Northampton firing at Tinian

The good news is that the USN bombardment TF takes no gun hits.....evidently there are no CD guns on Tinian......my bombardment TFs have had ships damaged from return fire at virtually every previous amphibious assault so far in the war. The bad news is not one 5" gun was fired on the bombardment TF.

Next turn the USN bombardment TF will standoff at 10,000 yards.

Pagan and Rota are completely neutralized so all USAAF bombers on Guam and Babeldaob will now conduct ground attacks on Tinian while the bombers on Yap will continue to suppress Saipan. Im not using any carrier bombers to hit the ground troops at Tinian this time as they are virtually ineffectual against fortified troops in jungle terrain and its not worth the cost in DBs and TBs...even when you set them at 18k or 20k altitude they still go down to 3-4k and get destroyed by AA. The USAAF medium and especially the heavy bombers are not nearly as succeptible to AA.

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 290 will arrive off Tinian next turn. For the 1st time this war the USN assault forces will be escorted by a 2nd amphibious TF with an AGC.......none other than RADM Richmond Kelly Turner will be directing the massive XIV Corps assault from the bridge of AGC Rocky Mount. In stock WitP the IJN subs always attacked the AGCs and the AGCs were always the ones to hit mines during invasions....it will be interesting to see if that still occurs in AE.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:49 am

11/17-11/18/43

CENTAC: INVASION TINIAN.....D-DAY MINUS ONE

Two more USN bombardment TFs work over Tinian from 10,000 yard range:

Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31
Port fuel hits 1

BB Tennessee firing at Det. 3rd Special Base Force
BB Pennsylvania firing at Tinian
CA Australia firing at Tinian
CA Baltimore firing at Tinian
CA Salt Lake City firing at Tinian

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

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Nevada
CA Shropshire
CL Caradoc
CL Perth
CL Tromp
CL Java

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18
Port hits 2

BB Arizona firing at Tinian
BB Nevada firing at Tinian
CA Shropshire firing at 88th Infantry Regiment
CL Caradoc firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
CL Perth firing at Tinian
CL Tromp firing at Tinian
CL Java firing at 30th Division

We finally get a response from a Japanese CD gun. Unfortunately the 2 bombardment TFs sailed to Ulithi and rearmed so I cant tell if the 5" guns took part in the bombardment.

As noted before, the aerial bombardment of Tinian leaves much to be desired against fortified LCUs in jungle terrain....over 120 USAAF bombers cause a grand total of 11 casualties on Tinian:

Morning Air attack on Det. 3rd Special Base Force, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 1
Wildcat V x 2
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 27
B-24J Liberator x 10
B-26 Marauder x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 83
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 12th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 3rd Base Force ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 10th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 12th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 3rd Base Force ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 12th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 3rd Base Force ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 88th Infantry Regiment, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 1
Wildcat V x 2
B-26B Marauder x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 83
PV-1 Ventura x 41

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 62nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 65th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 62nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 65th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 62nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 65th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 62nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 65th Naval Guard Unit ...

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 290 joins 5th Fleet off the coast of Tinian this turn. Tomorrow XIV Corps will storm ashore at dawn following a final naval bombardment at 10,000 yard range.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:13 am

11/19-11/20/43

SUBS

SS Searaven is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW off Wenchow.

SS Trout sinks TK Mirii Maru near Miri.

SS Searaven sinks AK Belgium Maru off Wenchow.

CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN.....D-DAY

AdmHalsey's SAG lays down a final bombardment on Tinian before XIV Corps storms ashore:

Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CA Louisville
CA Houston

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Runway hits 24
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

BB Washington firing at 30th Division
BB North Carolina firing at Tinian
CA Astoria firing at 30th Division
CA New Orleans firing at 30th Division
CA Louisville firing at Tinian
CA Houston firing at 30th Division

I can now confirm that even at 10,000 yard range only the ships main guns fire.....no 5" ammo is expended.

Amphibious TF 290 moves in to land the assault troops but the Japanese defense guns appear to be thoroughly neutralized:

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

337 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
CA Vincennes
CL Concord
CL Trenton
CL Adelaide
DD Kane
DD Hatfield
LST-22
LST-20
LST-19
LST-21
LST-23
DD Rathburne
LST-24

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

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

BB Oklahoma firing at 88th Infantry Regiment
CA Vincennes firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
CL Concord firing at 30th Division
CL Trenton firing at 3rd Base Force
CL Adelaide firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
DD Kane firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
DD Hatfield firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
DD Kane fired at enemy troops
DD Hatfield fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tinian

TF 290 troops unloading over beach at Tinian, 108,94

Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)

75mm Pack Howitzer lost overboard during unload of 3rd Marine Div /2
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost in surf during unload of 3rd Marine Div /4
Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 3rd Marine Div /7
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of XIV US Corps
0.5in M2HB AAMG x4 lost overboard during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /2
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost in surf during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /6
0.5in M2HB AAMG x4 lost overboard during unload of 25th Infantry Div /2
57mm M1A3 AT Gun lost in surf during unload of 25th Infantry Div /3
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 25th Infantry Div /5
Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 25th Infantry Div /7
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of XIV US Corps /3
Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 2/151st Combat Engr Bn
Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 25th Infantry Div /9

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

173 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
CA Vincennes
CL Concord
CL Trenton
CL Adelaide
DD Rathburne
DD Kane
DD Hatfield
LST-21
LST-20
LST-19
LST-24
LST-23
LST-22

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Oklahoma firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
CA Vincennes firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
CL Concord firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
CL Trenton firing at 30th Division
CL Adelaide firing at 30th Division
DD Rathburne firing at 88th Infantry Regiment
DD Kane firing at 30th Division
DD Hatfield firing at 12th JNAF AF Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Tinian
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-23
LST-19
LST-20
LST-22
LST-21

LST-23 fired at enemy troops

Allied airpower is completely borked against fortified LCUs in jungle terrain:

Morning Air attack on 88th Infantry Regiment, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 2
Wildcat V x 5
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 14
B-24J Liberator x 3
B-26 Marauder x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
FM-1 Wildcat x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 120
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...

Morning Air attack on 30th Division, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 4
Wildcat V x 2
B-26B Marauder x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
FM-1 Wildcat x 22
F6F-3 Hellcat x 122
PV-1 Ventura x 19

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 8th Area Army ...
Also attacking Det. 3rd Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 8th Area Army ...
Also attacking 30th Division ...
Also attacking 8th Area Army ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Det. 3rd Special Base Force, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 3
Wildcat V x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
FM-1 Wildcat x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 96
PV-1 Ventura x 9

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 65th Naval Guard Unit, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 2
Wildcat V x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
FM-1 Wildcat x 21
F6F-3 Hellcat x 127
PV-1 Ventura x 9

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Construction Battalion, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 4
Wildcat V x 1
B-24J Liberator x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
FM-1 Wildcat x 24
F6F-3 Hellcat x 123

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 62nd Naval Guard Unit, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 4
Wildcat V x 1
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
FM-1 Wildcat x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 103

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 62nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Regiment ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 88th Infantry Regiment, at 108,94 (Tinian)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 4
Wildcat V x 2
B-26 Marauder x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
FM-1 Wildcat x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 115

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

133 bombers hit Tinian in clear weather and dont cause a single casualty.

For the first time during an opposed invasion during the war no Allied ships are sunk or damaged from enemy CD guns or mines.

After 2 days of landings XIV Corps is ashore:

Ground combat at Tinian (108,94)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10577 troops, 159 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 442

Defending force 41860 troops, 716 guns, 1109 vehicles, Assault Value = 1611

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
88th Infantry Regiment
62nd Naval Guard Unit
30th Division
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
65th Naval Guard Unit
6th Air Division
10th RF Gun Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
60th Field AA Battalion
55th Construction Battalion
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
63rd Field AA Battalion
3rd Base Force
61st Field AA Battalion
8th Area Army
12th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
3rd Marine Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
XIV US Corps
165th Field Artillery Battalion
154th FA Bn
198th Field Artillery Battalion

A deliberate attack is ordered for tomorrow.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:51 am

11/21-11/22/43

SUBS

SS unny sinks SC Ch18 off Toyohara.

SWPAC

USMC SBDs based at Sorong sink an IJN E boat NE of Kendari:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Batjan at 78,104

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 25
SBD-5 Dauntless x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
E Hatsukari, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

I just read in the forums that Japanese fighters in kamikaze mode have such high manuverability that they are not affected by Allied AA. Ive decided to invasion of the accelerate SWPAC's invasion of Mindanao to 12/43 to capture more airfields to support the invasion of the central Philippines and Luzon in early 1944.

CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN

5th Fleet orders another naval bombardment of Tinian:

Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts
BB Idaho
CA Canberra
CA San Francisco
CA Chicago
CA Northampton
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (9 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 32
Port hits 2

BB Massachusetts firing at 30th Division
BB Idaho firing at Tinian
CA Canberra firing at 88th Infantry Regiment
CA San Francisco firing at Tinian
CA Chicago firing at Tinian
CA Northampton firing at Tinian
DD Drayton firing at Tinian
DD Cummings firing at Tinian
DD Mahan firing at Tinian
DD Fanning firing at Tinian
DD Dunlap firing at Tinian

XIV Corps launches 2 deliberate attacks on Tinian:

Ground combat at Tinian (108,94)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39348 troops, 720 guns, 1111 vehicles, Assault Value = 1613

Defending force 20237 troops, 250 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 436

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 2407

Japanese adjusted defense: 803

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5

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

Japanese ground losses:
4074 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 190 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 304 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
393 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 32 (4 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
25th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
165th Field Artillery Battalion
154th FA Bn
XIV US Corps
198th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
88th Infantry Regiment
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
62nd Naval Guard Unit
30th Division
65th Naval Guard Unit
61st Field AA Battalion
63rd Field AA Battalion
8th Area Army
3rd Base Force
56th Construction Battalion
55th Construction Battalion
6th Air Division
60th Field AA Battalion
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
12th JNAF AF Unit

Ground combat at Tinian (108,94)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38862 troops, 720 guns, 1108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1585

Defending force 17688 troops, 259 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 284

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 2647

Japanese adjusted defense: 347

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tinian !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
3604 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 183 destroyed, 184 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 86 (83 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 128 (128 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
309 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (3 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
165th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
154th FA Bn
198th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
62nd Naval Guard Unit
88th Infantry Regiment
30th Division
65th Naval Guard Unit
56th Construction Battalion
55th Construction Battalion
60th Field AA Battalion
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Base Force
63rd Field AA Battalion
8th Area Army
6th Air Division
61st Field AA Battalion
12th JNAF AF Unit

XIV Corps captures the bases on Tinian. It will probably take another week to wipe out Jap resistance on the island. Adm Hill's Amphibious TF 290 will now return to Rabaul to load the assault troops for Saipan while seabees, base forces, aviation engineers and an air HQ debark on Tinian. 5th Fleet took _NO_ damage during the Tinian assault and will remain on station off Tinian until Adm Hill returns with Amphibious TF 290 for the Saipan invasion.

Bradley7735 · Post by **Bradley7735** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:24 am

Congrats on a well planned invasion.

How's Stoneage doing on BB's? He still has 5?, all damaged? I think you had two of them close to sinking a while back. A sub even got a hit on one as he was fleeing. Did either of them sink?

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:17 pm

Bradley7735......thanx for the comments. StoneAge has either 3 or 4 BBs left....BB Yamato, BB Nagato and BB Yamashiro are all in the body shop as we speak. The 1 BB Im not sure about is BB Mutsu....was heavily damaged by 16" shells in a naval gunnery battle battle in the Marianas and then the Silent Service put a fish in her off Aogashima as she limped back to the Home Islands.....my Intel screen lists her as sunk off Aogashima.

11/23-11/24/43

SUBS

SS Dace sinks TK Ogura Maru off Tanegashima.

SS Flasher sinks AK Hakkaisan Maru by Iriomote.

SS Darter sinks TK Chiyoda maru near Iriomote.

SS Sand Lance is struck by 5 DCs from IJN ASW TF near Iriomote.

SS Trout sinks TK Ayayuki Maru off Sampit.

SS O16 sinks TK Gyoshia Maru off Sampit.

Allied subs pick off 4 TKs this turn....lots of activity around Iriomote and Sampit.

CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN

XIV Corps launches a couple of devastating attacks on the Japanese defenders at Tinian:

Ground combat at Tinian (108,94)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38491 troops, 721 guns, 1108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1597

Defending force 13558 troops, 185 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 151

Allied adjusted assault: 3499

Japanese adjusted defense: 101

Allied assault odds: 34 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2348 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 84 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (9 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Assaulting units:
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
25th Infantry Division
3rd Marine Division
33rd Infantry Division
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
XIV US Corps
USN AirSoPac
8th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
165th Field Artillery Battalion
43rd Aviation Base Force
228th USN Base Force /3
198th Field Artillery Battalion
58th Aviation Base Force
12th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
154th FA Bn
180th USAAF Base Force /3
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1

Defending units:
62nd Naval Guard Unit
30th Division
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
88th Infantry Regiment
65th Naval Guard Unit
55th Construction Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
3rd Base Force
6th Air Division
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
61st Field AA Battalion
8th Area Army
63rd Field AA Battalion
60th Field AA Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
12th JNAF AF Unit

Ground combat at Tinian (108,94)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38344 troops, 721 guns, 1111 vehicles, Assault Value = 1586

Defending force 11364 troops, 184 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Allied adjusted assault: 1778

Japanese adjusted defense: 59

Allied assault odds: 30 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2283 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 146 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (2 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
25th Infantry Division
3rd Marine Division
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
33rd Infantry Division
4th USMC Tank Battalion
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
154th FA Bn
228th USN Base Force
12th USN Naval Construction Regiment
8th USN Naval Construction Regiment
43rd Aviation Base Force
180th USAAF Base Force
XIV US Corps
165th Field Artillery Battalion
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
USN AirSoPac
15th USN Naval Construction Regiment
58th Aviation Base Force
198th Field Artillery Battalion
C Det USN Port Svc

Defending units:
30th Division
62nd Naval Guard Unit
88th Infantry Regiment
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
65th Naval Guard Unit
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
3rd Base Force
63rd Field AA Battalion
8th Area Army
61st Field AA Battalion
60th Field AA Battalion
55th Construction Battalion
6th Air Division
10th RF Gun Battalion
12th JNAF AF Unit

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

30th Division Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

60th Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

61st Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

63rd Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

Det. 3rd Special Base Force Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

10th RF Gun Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

62nd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

55th Construction Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

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

56th Construction Battalion Wiped Out at Tinian by attrition!!!

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Tinian

The remaining Japanese troops are surrounded in a pocket and are beginning to disintegrate from attrition.

The seabees quickly repair the heavily shell pocketed runways on Tinian and the Hellcats of VF-33 stage in to provide local air cover. Now all the engineers can begin construction of the 20 miles of runways at North Air Field and and just under 20 miles of runways at West Air Field.....historically each field based 4 bombardment groups or 256 B-29s apiece.

Rabaul remains the hub of of US activity in the Pacific as it has non-stop since the 1st of the year. The Allies have amassed 3.7 million supplies and 1.7 million fuel even while supplying multiple invasions and meeting the refueling needs of thirsty 5th Fleet. The docks and wharves of Rabaul are earmarked strictly for incoming troops, fuel and supply....everything that is outbound from Rabaul has to be loaded by amphibious transports( with the single exception of replenishment TFs). Still, Rabaul cannot keep up with the incoming traffic and fuel/supplies are being redirected to Babeldaob, Yap and Ulithi.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:44 pm

11/25-11/28/43

SUBS

SS Robalo sinks PB Ichiyo Maru off Naha.

SS Rasher sinks SS RO-113 near Torishima....thats the 3rd IJN sub sunk by Allied subs during bthe war.

SS Burrfish is hit by 23 DCs and sunk off Aogashima by an IJN ASW TF with 3 E boasts....the deadliest ASW attack of the war by an IJN ASW TF.

SS Cero sinks TK Tonan Maru #3 by Tokara Retto.

SS Searaven sinks PB Chohakusan Maru near Wenchow.

SS Flasher sinks AK Seikai Maru off Miyako-jima.

SS KXIV sinks AK Kano Maru near Muntok.

SS Scamp puts 2 fish in CA Tone by Ishigaki.

CENTPAC: MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

Four more days of deliberate attacks by XIV Corps finish off the final pockets of Japanese resistance on Tinian.

XI Corps begins embarkation on Amphibious TF 290 at Rabaul for the assault on Saipan.

5th Fleet now has over 1100 AC in the Marianas......over 850 AC in Task Group 58 aboard 8 CVs and 5 CVLs and another 260 AC aboard 9 CVEs.

Fifth Fleet will launch the 1st naval bombardment of Saipan next turn....Im sending in the slow pre-war USN BBs first....if there is significant CD gun return fire Id rather have the old BBs in the body shop than the new BBs. BB Pennsylvania and BB Tennessee will initiate the proceedings at Saipan from a distance of 25,000 yards...then the standoff range will be gradually reduced as the CD guns are suppressed. Saipan will be bombarded for at leat a week before XI Corps storms ashore.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:50 pm

11/29-11/30/43

SUBS

SS Scorpion sinks SC Ch41 off Ishigaki.

SS Scamp sinks E Aotaka by Miyako-jima.

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

BB Pennsylvania/BB Tennessee TF bombards Saipan from 25.000 yards:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 29, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

109 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 2
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Baltimore
CA Salt Lake City

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

BB Tennessee firing at Saipan
BB Pennsylvania firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Looks like there is some return fire from Saipan's CD guns so next turn BB Arizona/BB Nevada TF will also bombard from a range of 25,000 yards.

At Rabaul, XI Corps continues to load on Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 254. There seems to be a bug in the game now with the latest patch regarding forming TFs or transfering ships....many ships at anchor are "invisable"(ie dont appear on the screen) when you attempt to form new TFs or transfer ships so I was forced to disband several TFs(including Amphibious 290) so I could form a proper amphibious TF with just the ships I wanted.....doesnt seem to be affecting air combat/surface/repleenishment TFs, so far is only affecting transport/amphibious TFs.

INTEL SCREEN

Every 2 months StoneAge and I post our AC/ship losses and pilot pools.

Here is a screenie of the current points and losses:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:14 pm

12/1/43

THE NAVAL WAR

Lots of surface combats since we last reported on 10/1/43 so ship losses have really ramped up:

ALLIED LOSSES

4 CV; 1 CVL; 9 CVE; 6 BB; 2 CA; 6 CL; 3 CLAA; 25 DD; 30 SS; 3 DE; 2 APD; 13 AP; 106 AK/AKL; 11 AO; 19 TK; 1 LSD; 10 LST; 15 LCI

JAPANESE LOSSES

8 CV; 4 CVL; 3 CVE; 9 BB; 12 CA; 17 CL; 3 CS; 43 DD; 84 SS; 16 SSX; 5 APD; 12 AP; 263 AK/AKL; 5 AO; 51 TK; 134 PB/E/PC/SC

Numbers that jump out at you are the IJN subs(84) and TK(51). The IJN TK losses have ramped up since 2 months ago and the 84 destroyed subs must represent over 3/4 of the entire IJN sub force.

THE AIR WAR

Overall. the Allies have lost 8991 AC to 8114 Japanese AC.

In A2A the Allies have lost 2804 AC to 3684 Japanese AC.

Ive attached a screenshot of Japanese plane losses by type. Two months ago Japan had lost a total of 783 A6M2.....now A6M2 losses have nearly doubled to 1517...that cant be right but if it is its incredible.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:17 pm

12/1/43

THE AIR WAR....CONTINUED

Here is a screenshot of Allied plane losses. The TBF-1 have shot up into 4th place. Interestingly only 1 of the top 4 models of planes lost is a fighter.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:00 am

12/1/43

THE AIR WAR.....CONTINUED

Here is a screenshot of the top Allied aces. This has changed dramatically over the last 2 months. The top 3 pilots are US Navy. Six of the top 10 pilots still alive are USN.

I think that as recently as 4 months ago there was only 1 USN pilot in the top 10.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:04 am

12/1/43

THE AIR WAR....CONTINUED

And finally here is a screenie of the Allied pilot pools:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:46 am

12/1-12/4/43

SUBS

SS Truant sinks DD Asakaze but is hit by 5 DCs in return from convoy escorts off Muntok.

SS Gudgeon sinks CS Mizuho but is hit by 9 DCs in return from escorts by Biliton.

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

The BB Arizona/BB Nevada TF throws up an ineffective bombardment of Tinian from 25,000 yards:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

153 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Nevada
CA Shropshire
CA Boston
CL Caradoc
CL Perth
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Java, Shell hits 1

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

Runway hits 4
Port hits 1

BB Arizona firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Caradoc firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Perth firing at Saipan
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Next turn, the BB Pennsylvania/BB Tennessee TF laid down an ineffective bombardment from 15,000 yards:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 03, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

105 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Baltimore
CA Salt Lake City

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

BB Tennessee firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Pennsylvania firing at 59th JNAF AF Unit
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Im not sure why the naval bombardments are suddenly so ineffective. Next turn Im setting the standoff for the bombardment TFs at 10,000 yard range. Im trying to stagger the bombardments from various hexes in an attempt to stage a daytime bombardment butb they almost always seem to go in at night.

Meanwhile, Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 254 completes loading of XI Corps at Rabaul and begins the journey to the Marianas.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:01 am

12/5-12/6/43

SUBS

SS Jack puts a torpedo in AK Yamazato Maru off Aogashima.

CENTPAC: SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS AGAINST VS THE WORLD

Ok....the Allied bombardment TFs didnt do much damage to Saipan at 25,000 yard and 15,000 yard standoffs so this turn 3 bombardment TFs are sent in to bombard from 10,000 yards:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 05, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

870 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 38, on fire
BB Nevada, Shell hits 19, on fire
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 1
CA Boston, Shell hits 1
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 3
CL Perth, Shell hits 8, on fire
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Java

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 1

BB Arizona firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Caradoc firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan

The BB Arizona/BB Nevada TF caused the most damage of all 3 TFs.....14 casualties to the Saigon Naval Fortress and 1 runway hit......the funny thing about this....
not one ship expended _ANY_ ammo.

OK...so the next 2 bombardment TFs bombard at 10,000 yards also:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

720 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 23, on fire
BB Idaho, Shell hits 20, on fire
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Chicago, Shell hits 4
CA Northampton, Shell hits 4

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

BB Massachusetts firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Chicago firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

484 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 11
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 40, on fire
CA Australia, Shell hits 4
CA Baltimore, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 5

BB Tennessee firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Pennsylvania firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

OK...these last 2 TFs DID use ammo and caused exactly 5 casualties. So a total of 6 BBs, 9 CAs and 4 CLs firing from 10,000 yards cause a grand total of 19 casualties to the Saipan naval Fortress and 1 runway hit.

Meanwhile 5th Fleet is devastated.....the Saipan Naval Fortress achieved what the Imperial Japanese Navy was unable to.......cripple nearly half of 5th Fleet. Now I have 5 banged up BBs and a half a dozen burning cruisers.

Im not certain of what just transpired here. Naval bombardments at Guam with the Wake CD gun unit and at Babeldaob with the Babeldaob Naval Fort went just fine. Im not sure if the new beta patch nerfed naval bombardment, or if the terrain at Saipan is something other/better than the advertised jungle, or is the Saipan Naval Fortress the 8th Engineering Marvel of the world? Looks like the Saipan Naval Fortress is stronger than even Eben Emael. I wonder how it compares to the CD gun defenses at Pearl Harbor, Manila or Singapore?

No matter......its time to unleash the 5th Air Force on the Saipan Naval Fortress:

Morning Air attack on Saipan Naval Fortress, at 108,93 (Saipan)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 16
B-24D1 Liberator x 32
B-24J Liberator x 65
P-38G Lightning x 16
P-38H Lightning x 18
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 80

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Morning Air attack on Saipan Naval Fortress, at 108,93 (Saipan)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan Naval Fortress, at 108,93 (Saipan)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan Naval Fortress, at 108,93 (Saipan)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 18

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Ok....so now some 250 heavy bombers cause a grand total of 17 casualties. So 6 BBs, 9 CAs, 6 CLs and 250 heavy bombers inflict 36 casualties on the Saipan
Naval Fortress.

Im more concerned about losing APA/AKAs at this point in the war than BB/CAs. I cant possibly take a chance on an amphibious assault of Saipan and have all my
APA/AKA/AP/AKs shot up......that would stop the Allied drive to Tokyo dead in its tracks. But if CENTPAC doesnt capture Saipan, Tinian alone will not be sufficient to wage a bomber campaign against Japan.

Im seriously considering detaching XI Corps from CENTPAC and transfering it to SWPAC for an immediate assault on the PI. I could build bases in northern Luzon
that could base B-29s for the firebombing of Japan.

I will try one more week of aerial/naval bombardment of Saipan to see if more neutralization of the CD guns can be achieved. Two more bombardment TFs will bombard Saipan next turn from 15,000 yards....they will include the newly repaired BB Alabama and BB South Dakota.

SOPAC Forward Air HQ was activated on Tinian this turn and some 250 medium bombers were staged in. Now from "Level 10" airfields on Babeldaob, Yap, Guam and Tinian, 5th Air Force will unleash its first 1000 plane raid of the war on Saipan. Historically, 1000 plane raids were capable of creating a massive firestorm in both Hamburg and Dresden.....over 100,000 people died at Dresden from the 1000 plane raid.

Lets see if a 1000 plane raid can cause even a little disruption on the impregnable Saipan Naval Fortress.

Here is a screenie of a ship from the BB Arizona/BB Nevada TF that didnt use any ammo in its bombardment:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:46 am

12/7-12/8/43

SUBS

SS Cisco sinks SC CHa-21 off Hakodate.

CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN....SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

Newly repaired BB Alabama and BB South Dakota launch a decent(compared to last turn) bombardment from 15,000 yards:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

126 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Alabama, Shell hits 2
BB South Dakota
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Minneapolis
CA Portland

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

Airbase hits 1

BB Alabama firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB South Dakota firing at Saipan
CA Wichita firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Vincennes firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Quincy firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Portland firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

The previously battered BB Nevada bombardment TF(sans heavily damaged BB Arizona which is on the way back to the body shop) also unloads on Saipan from 15,000 yards:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Nevada
CA Shropshire
CA Boston
CL Caradoc
CL Perth
CL Tromp
CL Java, Shell hits 1

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

Runway hits 2

BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan
CL Caradoc firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Thats a total of 41 casualties on the Saipan Naval Fortress.....double what we achieved the previous turn!

5th Air Force orders a thousand plane raid on Saipan but only 750 heavy bombers fly....its close enough for government work:

Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 77

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 38000 feet
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet
4 x FM-1 Wildcat sweeping at 27000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 39,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 9

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5

No Allied losses

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

Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 3
PV-1 Ventura x 10
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-17F Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 40
B-24D1 Liberator x 94
B-24J Liberator x 97
B-25C Mitchell x 17
B-25G Mitchell x 3
P-38G Lightning x 16
P-38H Lightning x 23
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 2
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 99
PV-1 Ventura x 15

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 283
Port hits 36
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 3
B-24D Liberator x 16
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-24J Liberator x 15
B-25G Mitchell x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21
PV-1 Ventura x 23

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 20
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 8
PV-1 Ventura x 9
B-17D Fortress x 12
B-17E Fortress x 18
B-24D1 Liberator x 11
B-25D1 Mitchell x 27
B-26 Marauder x 11
B-26B Marauder x 3
P-38G Lightning x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6
PV-1 Ventura x 13

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 58
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
18 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 9
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 12
P-38H Lightning x 1

No Allied losses

Runway hits 7
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 9
B-25G Mitchell x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 9

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saipan , at 108,93

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 3

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

The runways and port on Saipan now closely resemble the lunar surface. 5th Air Force will target the omnipotent Saipan Naval Fortress next turn via a ground attack.

WitP and all its various iterations over the years has always favored the "Law of large numbers" for combat. Next turn Im consolidating 3 bombardment TFs into 2 to get more firepower in each bombardment and the standoof range will be reduced to 14,000 yards.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:43 pm

12/9-12/10/43

SUBS

SS KXVIII puts 3 torpedoes in TK Otowasan Maru off Hengchun.

SS Swordfish lands another fish on TK Otowasan Maru off hengchun.

SS KXVIII applies the coup de grace with a final torpedo into TK Otowasan Maru off Hengchun....must have been a large tanker...it took a pounding before it sank. Also, it must have been empty.

CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN....SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

I posted in the tech thread about some of my issues with both naval bombardment and the uber Saipan naval fortress.....ie 3 bombardment TFs with 6 BBs, 9 CAs and 4 CLs cause a grand total of 19 casualties and 1 runway hit while 5 BBs and a half dozen cruisers are hammered....and one bombardment TF was thrashed in a bombardment yet not one ship expended any ammo. Michaelm informed me that its possible for a ship not to fire in a bombardment if it has a _lot_ of unlucky
die rolls......well I must have had a plethora of unlucky die rolls as not a single gun on 14 ships fired during the bombardment. Michaelm also informed me that I would have better results in a night bombardment if I had recon floatplanes flying at night.....evidently even though air missions dont fly until AFTER the bombardment mission the bombardment attack runs a check to see if there is any recon ordered to fly. Interesting.....didnt know that before. So I put 2 ships in both TFs on day and night recon each for Saipan and tried it again:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 10, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

104 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB Tennessee
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chicago, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 31
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Tennessee firing at Saipan
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
CA Canberra firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan
CA Baltimore firing at 5th Base Force
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
CA Chicago firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

188 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 1
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1
CA Portland, Shell hits 1

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

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15

BB Alabama firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Massachusetts firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB South Dakota firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Wichita firing at Saipan
CA Vincennes firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Quincy firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Portland firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

That seems to have worked well...almost tripled the damage on the Saipan Naval Fortress. I tried to do a thousand plane raid on the Saipan Naval Fortress but only a couple hundred bombers flew in the bad weather and they hit the 87th Regiment instead of the preferred taget:

Morning Air attack on 87th Infantry Regiment, at 108,93 (Saipan)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 10
B-17E Fortress x 34
B-17F Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 21
B-24D1 Liberator x 52
B-24J Liberator x 33
P-38G Lightning x 12
P-38H Lightning x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
19 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 41st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Ind.Tank Co ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 11th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th Fleet ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 5th Base Force ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 41st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Ind.Tank Co ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 11th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Ind.Tank Co ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 11th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 41st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Ind.Tank Co ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 87th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 11th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking Saipan Naval Fortress ...

I'll try it all again next turn...hopefully the weather is better.

Here is a screenshot of a partial listing of 5th Fleet trashed by the Saipan Naval Defense Fortress...these ships are remaining in the battle....the really damaged ones like BB Arizona returning to the body shop.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:41 pm

12/11-12/14/43

SUBS

SS Bluefish sinks AK Kotohira Maru off Ningpo.

SS Scorpion sinks E W-1 by Iriomote.

CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN.....SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

Another bombardment TF with 2 night spotters is sent in to hit Saipan from 14,000 yards:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

212 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
CA Dorsetshire
CA Australia
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 1
CA Boston
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chester
CA Indianapolis
CL Perth

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

Runway hits 31
Port hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Dorsetshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Boston
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Chester firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Indianapolis firing at 33rd JNAF AF Unit
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

The next turn I send in the bombardment TFs from 14,000 yards but this time EVERY ship is using all their floatplanes to fly night recon:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

356 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Northampton
CA Portland
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 5
CL Ceylon, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp
CL Java, Shell hits 1
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 11
Port hits 1

BB Alabama firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB South Dakota firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Wichita firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Vincennes firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Quincy firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Saipan
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Northampton
CA Portland firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Caradoc firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Ceylon firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Patterson firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Ralph Talbot firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 14, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

293 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 2
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada
CA Dorsetshire
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Shropshire
CA Boston
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chester
CA Indianapolis
CL Perth
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 13
Port fuel hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Tennessee firing at 87th Infantry Regiment
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Nevada
CA Dorsetshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Chester firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Indianapolis firing at Saipan
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Indianapolis
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Dunlap firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Having all the bombardment ships fly night recon doesnt appear to help so I will go back to having just a couple of ships flying night recon in future bombardments.

Ive hit Saipan around the clock with naval and aerial bombardments now for 16 days with little effect. The airfields and port on Saipan have been 100% damaged for over a week and I dont see the point of continuing the pyrotechnic display. The air force has been so focused on neutralizing Saipan that Pagan has repaired much of its airfield damage and is now only 31% suppressed.

StoneAge took advantage of this and just staged in over 100 fighters and 100 auxilliary AC to Pagan. Im not sure what he is planning but obviously there is going to be a Japanese operation here. He could be using the fighters for LRCAP for an incoming IJN surface combat TF or he could be setting up a LRCAP trap over Saipan to pick off my hundreds of bombers that fly daily. The large number of auxilliary AC makes me think that he will be trying to fly transport AC into Saipan.
With 26,000 troops on the ground I dont see any reason for StoneAge to be reinforcing Saipan but maybe he is running out of supply from the Allied bombardments.

In addition to the usual land based fighters, I will be using carrier fighters next turn to counter the Japanese buidlup on Pagan....120 Hellcats will sweep Saipan while another 70 Hellcats will LRCAP over the island. Another 60 Hellcats will sweep Pagan while the 250 bombers on Tinian try to close the Pagan airfield down again.

I think its time for XI Corps to hit the beach on Saipan....to paraphrase Adm Farragut "Damn the CD guns....full speed ahead!". Admiral Hill"s Amphibious TF 254 will start landing troops on the beach next turn after a final night naval bombardment. I know that the amphibious TF is going to get shot up pretty bad.....at this point Im much more concerned about the CD guns than mines so I swapped out 12 minesweepers from Amphibious TF 254 for DDs. The 64 transports of Amphibious TF 254 are covered now by 34 escorts incliding BB Oklahoma, 4 CLs, 17 DDs and 8 DMS. The DDs should provide more suppression fire and be a bit more resistant to CD gunfire than the minesweepers.....and I will need the minesweepers for future invasions.

Besides, if there is any ship class that is expendable for the Allies at this point of the war its the DDs.

I guess that this thread will finally live up to "They were expendable".

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 4:42 pm

7/15-7/16/43

SUBS

Two Allied subs attack an IJN tanker convoy and get hammered by escorts:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 15, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bintan at 51,86

Japanese Ships
E Nuwashima
E Kuretake
TK Takane Maru
TK Jinei Maru
DD Uzuki
DD Yayoi

Allied Ships
SS Templar, hits 10, heavy damage

SS Templar is sighted by escort
Templar bottoming out ....
DD Uzuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yayoi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yayoi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yayoi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yayoi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yayoi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yayoi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bintan at 51,86

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
E Nuwashima
E Kuretake
TK Takane Maru
TK Takekun Maru
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Trident, hits 11, heavy damage

SS Trident launches 6 torpedoes at DD Mutsuki
Trident bottoming out ....
DD Uzuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mutsuki is out of ASW ammo
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

IJN ASW seems to have gotten a lot better suddenly.....not a good sign.

CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN.....D-DAY

Two more bombardment TFs hit Saipan from 13,000 yards:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

637 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada, Shell hits 3
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 1
CA Australia, Shell hits 2
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 1
CA Boston
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 5
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 3
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1
CL Perth, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 37
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Tennessee firing at Saipan
BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Dorsetshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Chester firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Indianapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

480 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 4
CA Canberra
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Northampton
CA Portland
CL Caradoc
CL Ceylon
CL Tromp
CL Java
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

BB Alabama firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Massachusetts firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB South Dakota firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Saipan
CA Wichita firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Vincennes firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Quincy firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Saipan
CA Portland firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Caradoc firing at 59th JNAF AF Unit
CL Ceylon firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Patterson firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Ralph Talbot firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Admiral Hill's Amphibious TF 254 faces off against the Saipan Naval Fortress as the transports approach the beach:

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

1173 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 11
CL Boise, Shell hits 2
CL Concord
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 3
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
DD Pope, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Worden, Shell hits 1
DD Terry, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Saufley, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD McKee, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Eaton, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Abbot
LST-18
LST-40
LST-17
LST-28
LST-29
LST-31
DD Clark
DD Monaghan

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

BB Oklahoma firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Boise firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Concord firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Raleigh firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Achilles firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Pope firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Worden firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Terry firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Saufley firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD McKee firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Eaton firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Abbot firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-18 at 10,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
BB Oklahoma firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-17 at 10,000 yards
DD Worden fired at enemy troops
DD Eaton fired at enemy troops
DD Abbot fired at enemy troops
20cm Short Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD Abbot at 3,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Saipan

TF 254 troops unloading over beach at Saipan, 108,93

Allied ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 7th Infantry Div /7
Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 158th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /3
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 24th Infantry Div /4
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Marine Div
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost in surf during unload of 1st Marine Div /5
0.5in M2HB AAMG x4 lost overboard during unload of 1st Marine Div /6
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 7th Infantry Div /5
Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 1st Marine Div /9
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost in surf during unload of 7th Infantry Div /2

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

647 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 25
CL Boise
CL Concord, Shell hits 7
CL Raleigh
CL Achilles, Shell hits 13
DD Gilmer, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Parrott, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Worden, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Clark, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Schroeder, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Kidd, Shell hits 2
LST-28
LST-18
LST-17
LST-29
LST-40
DD Monaghan
LST-469

BB Oklahoma firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Boise firing at 115th JAAF AF Bn
CL Concord firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Raleigh firing at 115th JAAF AF Bn
CL Achilles firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Gilmer firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Parrott firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Worden firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Clark firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Schroeder firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Kidd firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
DD Kidd fired at enemy troops
20cm Short Gun Coastal Battery engaging DD Kidd at 3,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Saipan
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

189 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-41
LST-17
BB Oklahoma
LST-28
LST-18
DD Clark
DD Monaghan

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (12 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Saipan
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

64 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-17, Shell hits 3
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
LST-18
LST-45
LST-122
LST-119
LST-41
LST-29
BB Oklahoma
LST-28
LST-40

15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-17 at 19,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-18 at 19,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-17 at 19,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-45 at 19,000 yards
LST-122 fired at enemy troops
LST-119 fired at enemy troops
LST-41 fired at enemy troops

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

44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-40, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Dale
DD Crosby
LST-18, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Concord
CL Boise
LST-17, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Raleigh
LST-28, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST-466
LST-350
LST-119

15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-40 at 15,000 yards
DD Crosby firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-18 at 15,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-17 at 15,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
CL Raleigh firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-28 at 15,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
LST-466 fired at enemy troops
LST-350 fired at enemy troops
LST-119 fired at enemy troops

Invasion Support action off Saipan
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-40, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ellet
DD Gilmer
LST-18
CL Concord
CL Boise
LST-28
DD Dale
LST-344
LST-41

15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-40 at 15,000 yards
DD Gilmer firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-18 at 15,000 yards
CL Boise firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
12cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-28 at 15,000 yards
DD Gilmer firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
CL Concord firing to suppress enemy battery at 15,000 yards
LST-344 fired at enemy troops
LST-41 fired at enemy troops

Invasion Support action off Saipan
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

69 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-28, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Raleigh
CL Boise
LST-40, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Concord
LST-469
LST-29
LST-18
BB Oklahoma
LST-41

15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-28 at 14,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-40 at 14,000 yards
14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-28 at 14,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-28 at 14,000 yards
LST-469 fired at enemy troops
LST-29 fired at enemy troops

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

61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-45
CL Raleigh
LST-344
LST-40, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-122
LST-18, Shell hits 1
LST-350
LST-28, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma
LST-29
LST-41

14cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-45 at 20,000 yards
LST-344 fired at enemy troops
LST-122 fired at enemy troops

After 2 days of landings XI Corps is ashore:

Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6776 troops, 96 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 318

Defending force 43547 troops, 813 guns, 1226 vehicles, Assault Value = 1652

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
41st Naval Guard Unit
1st Ind.Tank Co
64th Naval Guard Unit
Saipan Naval Fortress
87th Infantry Regiment
66th Nav Gd /208
5th Base Force
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
33rd JNAF AF Unit
115th JAAF AF Bn
37th Const Co
11th RF Gun Battalion
4th Fleet
59th JNAF AF Unit
8th Fleet /375

Defending units:
1st Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
766th Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
209th Field Artillery Battalion
XI US Corps
225th Field Artillery Battalion

The Allied air force pummels Saipan and the airfield at Pagan but the Japnese fighters and auxilliary AC on Pagan are nowhere to be found.

Im pretty happy with the results of the amphibious landings on Saipan. I still dont see how 3 bombardment TFs can get so severely shot up by CD guns when at 10,000 yard range while a soft target like Amphibious TF 254 takes much less damage at point blank range. 4 LSTs were sunk and several DDs and LSTs were heavily damaged but these ships were expendable. The critically important APA/AKA/AP/AK transports were relatively unscathed...one AKA has 74% flotation damage and Im gonna try to get her to the level 6 port at Uilthi if she doesnt sink first.

Here a partial list of ships damaged during the amphibious assault:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:38 pm

12/17-12/18/43

SUBS

SS KXIII sinks PB Chiyo Maru off Pamakasan.

CENTPAC: INVASION SAIPAN

5th Fleet sends in 2 more bombardment TFs and the Saipan Naval Fortress is still dishing out punishment:

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

576 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 9
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 7
BB Nevada, Shell hits 4
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 1
CA Boston
CA Baltimore, Shell hits 1
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chester, Shell hits 3
CA Indianapolis
CL Perth

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Idaho firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
BB Tennessee firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
BB Nevada firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Dorsetshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Australia firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Shropshire firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Boston firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Baltimore firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA San Francisco firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Minneapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Salt Lake City firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Chester firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Indianapolis firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Perth firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

94 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 1
BB South Dakota
CA Canberra
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Northampton
CA Portland
CL Caradoc
CL Ceylon
CL Tromp
CL Java
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9

BB Alabama firing at Saipan
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Canberra firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Wichita firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Vincennes firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Quincy firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CA Portland firing at Saipan
CL Caradoc firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Ceylon firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Tromp firing at Saipan Naval Fortress
CL Java firing at Saipan
DD Patterson firing at 115th JAAF AF Bn
DD Ralph Talbot firing at Saipan Naval Fortress

XI Corps launches a couple of deliberate attacks and captures the runways on Saipan:

Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41853 troops, 820 guns, 1228 vehicles, Assault Value = 1657

Defending force 14261 troops, 179 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 319

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 2895

Japanese adjusted defense: 411

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
2226 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (15 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
473 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 62 (2 destroyed, 60 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
766th Tank Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
767th Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
209th Field Artillery Battalion
XI US Corps
225th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
1st Ind.Tank Co
41st Naval Guard Unit
87th Infantry Regiment
Saipan Naval Fortress
64th Naval Guard Unit
66th Nav Gd /208
11th RF Gun Battalion
115th JAAF AF Bn
33rd JNAF AF Unit
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
4th Fleet
59th JNAF AF Unit
5th Base Force
37th Const Co
8th Fleet /375

Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41107 troops, 820 guns, 1226 vehicles, Assault Value = 1622

Defending force 12452 troops, 179 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 220

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 2115

Japanese adjusted defense: 219

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Saipan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2068 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 45 (45 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (19 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
188 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 77 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 59 (2 destroyed, 57 disabled)

Assaulting units:
767th Tank Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
1st Marine Division
766th Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
7th Infantry Division
XI US Corps
209th Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
87th Infantry Regiment
Saipan Naval Fortress
66th Nav Gd /208
115th JAAF AF Bn
11th RF Gun Battalion
5th Base Force
33rd JNAF AF Unit
37th Const Co
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
59th JNAF AF Unit
4th Fleet
8th Fleet /375

The best thing about this is that the Saipan Naval Fortress is finally neutralized. Now, seabees and aviation personel can offload to get the airstrips up and running on Saipan. It will take a few days to mop up the remaining Japs but at this point its inevitable.

All the remaining damaged bombardment ships now go back to port and 5th Fleet begins to refuel and replenish at Guam and Ulithi for redeployment to SWPAC and its upcoming invasion of the Philippines.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:05 pm

7/19-7/20/43

CENTPAC: MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

XI Corps launches 2 more assaults on Saipan:

Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40827 troops, 821 guns, 1227 vehicles, Assault Value = 1645

Defending force 10184 troops, 141 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Allied adjusted assault: 2550

Japanese adjusted defense: 155

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
606 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (1 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
766th Tank Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
45th Aviation Base Force
18th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
17th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
209th Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
183rd USAAF Base Force /1
USMC AirFMFPac
XI US Corps
229th USN Base Force /1

Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
Saipan Naval Fortress
87th Infantry Regiment
41st Naval Guard Unit
66th Nav Gd /208
33rd JNAF AF Unit
37th Const Co
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
4th Fleet
11th RF Gun Battalion
59th JNAF AF Unit
115th JAAF AF Bn
5th Base Force
8th Fleet /375

Ground combat at Saipan (108,93)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40539 troops, 821 guns, 1229 vehicles, Assault Value = 1634

Defending force 9418 troops, 136 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Allied adjusted assault: 2012

Japanese adjusted defense: 169

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
786 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (1 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
1st Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
225th Field Artillery Battalion
183rd USAAF Base Force
XI US Corps
209th Field Artillery Battalion
17th USN Naval Construction Regiment
USMC AirFMFPac
18th USN Naval Construction Regiment
45th Aviation Base Force
229th USN Base Force
20th USN SeaBees /1

Defending units:
Saipan Naval Fortress
41st Naval Guard Unit
87th Infantry Regiment
64th Naval Guard Unit
66th Nav Gd /208
5th Base Force
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
115th JAAF AF Bn
33rd JNAF AF Unit
11th RF Gun Battalion
59th JNAF AF Unit
4th Fleet
37th Const Co
8th Fleet /375

The ground war on Saipan isnt the biggest story of the day. Two IJN SAGs.....one with BBs and the other with cruisers.....appear 40 miles off the coast of Guam anbd spend the entire day there. I just happened to send Task Group 58......8 CVs and 5 CVLs to Guam last turn to refuel and rearm. Now all my fast carriers are a mere 40 miles from the IJN battle fleets. Task Group 58 has over 250 SBDs with 20% on search....over a dozen Allied AC spot the IJN SAGs adjacent to Guam...
in fact 4 of the SBDs on naval search score bomb hits on an "APD", a "CA", a "DD" and a Mutsuki Class DD.

The weather over Guam, Tinian and Saipan is clear but evidently its heavy rain over the IJN SAGs justb off the coast of Guam. The 250 SBDs and 250 TBF Avemngers on the 8 CVs, 5 CVLs and 10 CVEs do not launch a strike on the IJN SAGs due to bad weather in the IJN SAG hex. It looks like next turn the IJN SAGs will bombard Guam and maybe Tinian. I ordered all the USN Air Combat TFs to vacate Guam at full speed for next turn but one Air Combat TF with CV Yorktown II,
CV Lexington II, CVL Independence and CVL Monterey was still refueling and rearming as the turn started....so they have already used 200 operation points and will still be at Guam when the IJn SAG(s) arrive. I have a flotilla of 8 DDs and a squadron of 3 CLs and a PT TF in the hex and hopefully they intercept the IJN SAG(s) first so the carriers can escape. Six of the damaged BBs that had been at Guam were sent back to port for repairs and 2 BBs were sent ahead to babeldaob to support the upcoming SWPAC offensive in the Philippines.

That leaves AdmHalsey"s SAG with BB Washington/BB North Carolina covering the transports at Saipan.....they are ordered to Guam at full speed....its a distance of 3 hexes and they have a top speed of 9 hexes so if movement and time are linear they will arrive at Guam at the time 333 opeatiuon points have been expended. 100 SBDs and 50 Avengers are staged onto the newly opened airfield at Saipan. When daylight arrives after the night time gunnery action the IJN SAGs will have to face a total of 350 SBDs, 300 Avengers and some 250 medium bombers at Tinian on naval attack.....unlees of course they continue to have their lucky rain squall overhead.

Just in case the IJn SAGs have any ammo left for a bombardment following the surface combat 250 heavy bombers on Guam were staged to the new level 7 airfield on Morotai where they will beging bombing Japanese airfields on Mindanao.

IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN

RE: CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN

RE: CENTPAC: INVASION TINIAN

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

SAIPAN NAVAL FORTRESS VS THE WORLD

INVASION SAIPAN: D-DAY

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE

RE: CENTPAC'S MARIANAS OFFENSIVE