THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-11-44


SWPAC:

SWPAC forces capture Sansapor and the remnants of the Japanese defenders are forced to retreat into the interior jungles of New Guinea:

Ground combat at Sansapor

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 52804 troops, 456 guns, 135 vehicles

Defending force 2388 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied assault odds: 732 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sansapor base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


SWPAC has completed offensive operations in New Guinea and now prepares for the Philippines.

Curiously, a flight of Emilys attacks the Allied transports off Sansapor. This could be possibly the 1st Japanese kamikaze attack of the war:

Day Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 44,74

Japanese aircraft
H8K Emily x 8

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 8
F6F Hellcat x 4
Hellcat II x 5
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
Spitfire Vb x 2
Kittyhawk III x 6
Mosquito FB.VI x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 1 damaged


CENTPAC:

Allied heavy and medium bombers continue to work over the defenders on Guam from their bases in the Palaus and the Caroline Islands:

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 2
P-38J Lightning x 32
PB4Y Liberator x 28
B-24J Liberator x 186


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
565 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 58
B-25J Mitchell x 149


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 5 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

The IJA 7th Division suffers nearly 1000 casualties.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-17-44 SOUTH CHINA SEA


A brutal ASW/SUB confrontation has been raging for the last 2 weeks in the South China Sea and surrounding waters:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/17/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,65

Japanese Ships
AK Shinsei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,66

Japanese Ships
AK Sinno Maru

Allied Ships
SS KVII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,53

Japanese Ships
TK Kokuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Amakusa
PC Oki
APD APD-36
APD APD-32
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
SS Guavina

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 46,54

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

Allied Ships
SS Tang

No quarter is asked for or given by either side.

Finally the weather clears enough for the naval bombers at Saigon to seek retribution on an IJN ASW TF:

Day Air attack on TF at 35,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 24
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 42
B-25J Mitchell x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW W.10, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-2
DD Wakaba, Bomb hits 3, on fire
APD APD-38, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 13
PC Kyo Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, on fire

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-20-44


SEAC:

In a scene eerily reminiscient of December 7th, 1941.....only the starting positions are virtually reversed.....SEAC commences the long awaited offensive to capture The Malay peninsula with a powerfull deliberate assault on heavily fortified Alor Star:

Ground combat at Alor Star

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 177257 troops, 1530 guns, 1140 vehicles

Defending force 58499 troops, 523 guns, 120 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4


Japanese ground losses:
1786 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
2975 casualties reported
Guns lost 99
Vehicles lost 9

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-21-44


SEAC:

On the 2nd day of the battle for Alor Star SEAC breaks through the defenses and captures the base....albeit with heavy casualties. 63,000 IJA retreat towards Georgetown:

Ground combat at Alor Star

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 171794 troops, 1383 guns, 1131 vehicles

Defending force 55745 troops, 437 guns, 115 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Alor Star base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1006 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
4877 casualties reported
Guns lost 122
Vehicles lost 6


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-25-44


SEAC:

SEAC troops bulldoze their way through Taiping to capture the base. The IJA retreats towards Georgetown to cut their own lines of communication.

The 33,000 IJA isolated in Georgetown will now be annihilated.

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 100521 troops, 733 guns, 659 vehicles

Defending force 3452 troops, 7 guns, 46 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2949 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Taiping base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
970 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 40

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-27-44 SOUTH CHINA SEA

The battle for the South China Sea rages on both above and below the surface as Japan desperately attempts to maintain its line of supply to its oil production centers:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/27/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,59

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 104
MSW Wa 102

Allied Ships
SS Scamp

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 34,54

Japanese Ships
AK Morioka Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,54

Japanese Ships
TK Itsukushima Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Peto

Day Air attack on TF at 33,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 23
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kogane Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Morioka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tempei Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nekka Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tsuiba Maru
AP Ronsan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 33,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 14
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Ronsan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tempei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nekka Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogane Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 33,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 17
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Morioka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nekka Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ronsan Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogane Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[Belphegor]

With the fall of Saigon I've been reduced to a very small corridor, loaded with subs. My ASW has been working overtime the last few months and many need time in port to recover. I've lost a lot of shipping to subs, and now to aircraft as well. It is only a matter of time until the DEI is closed to me as the Malaya campaign has started.

A new feature in this battle... the Allies have started to mine my routes and ports. I have had at least 4 tankers damaged by mines (none sunk but out of action). I've had to add more minesweepers and more air cover to my transports. I'm running in as much oil as I can.

One more Allied sub sinks. My 'safe transit area' is the area inside the red where I don't have to worry about too much aircraft, but there are tons of subs in there. I don't always use that area as his air gets in there too.

[Belphegor]

ORIGINAL: Belphegor

ORIGINAL: Belphegor

To date Mid May '43 45 Allied subs confirmed sunk.

Salmon went down yesterday near port, Whale and Tambor hit and sunk near Formosa.

It is now 5 months later... 74 confirmed Allied sub kills. It has been one heck of an ASW fight between Luzon and Formosa, and just off the Japanese Home Islands. I've lost a lot of tankers, and had many damaged.

5 more months. 106 confirmed Allied sub kills. That's 61 subs in 10 months... mostly near the PI, and on my resource shipping routes. About 1 sub every 5 days. It hasn't been enough.

[racndoc]

WARPLANS: SPRING 1944 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN


With the first B-29s scheduled to roll off the assmbly lines in the near future, USAAF General Hap Arnold has insisted that suitable bomber bases be secured within range of Japan.

In a joint operation, CENTPAC and SOPAC will combine assets to capture the Mariana Island group. Less heavily defended Guam and Tinian will be taken 1st. Then air and naval bases will be built up to reduce Saipan. Recon has identified over 25 seperate units based at Saipan and an additional 2-3 months will be required to prepare that island for invasion.

Covering the invasion force will again be the job of Admiral Spruances' 5th Fleet consisting of Admiral Mitscher's Fast Carrier TF 58 with 8 CVs and 8 CVLs and Admiral Lee's BB TF 54 with 15 BBs and 22 CAs.

Direct air support for the invasion will be provided by 15 CVEs in Admiral Turner's Escort TF.

With the threat of massive kamikaze intervention, heavy bombers based at Palau and Ulithi have suppressed the airfields on Saipan and Tinian while medium bombers from Woleia have worked over the ground units on Guam.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-5-44 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN...INVASION OF GUAM: D-DAY- ONE


The action started early when Bombardment TF #1038 ventured into a minefield leaving 2 CAs damaged:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/05/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1038 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
DMS Zane
CA Salt Lake City, Mine hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Mine hits 1


Then the Bombardment TF worked over a hapless AK before shelling the island:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese Ships
AK Toyohasi Maru, Shell hits 39, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Colorado
BB Warspite
BB Revenge
BC Repulse
CA Indianapolis
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City, on fire
CA Quincy
CA Suffolk
CA Exeter
CL Mauritius
CA New Orleans
DD Porter
DD Isaac Sweers
DMS Zane

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Guam, at 62,66

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CL Mauritius
CA Exeter
CA Suffolk
CA Quincy
CA Salt Lake City, on fire
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
BC Repulse
BB Revenge
BB Warspite
BB Colorado

Japanese ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 79
Port hits 16
Port supply hits 37

Allied heavy bombers based at Ulithi continued to suppress the airfield at Saipan:

Day Air attack on Saipan , at 63,64


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 12
PB4Y Liberator x 29
B-24J Liberator x 205


Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 12 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 302

while bombers based at Palau continued to pummel the airfield at Tinian:

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 2
PB4Y Liberator x 58
B-24J Liberator x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 182


Admiral Mitscher' Fast Carrier TF 58 worked over Japanese shipping off Tinian:

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F6F Hellcat x 20
TBM Avenger x 34


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC PC-2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kashiwara Maru
AP Hikawa Maru
AP Ayato Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Kurahashi

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 12


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC PC-2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Nomi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
F4U-1D Corsair x 3
TBM Avenger x 42


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC PC-2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ayato Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kashiwara Maru
PC Nomi, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Kurahashi

Japanese ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

and off Saipan:

Day Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 63,64


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F6F Hellcat x 25
TBM Avenger x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yae Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


SEAC:

SEAC troops continued to reduce the Japanese pocket at Georgetown killing another 3500 IJA:

Ground combat at Georgetown

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 132007 troops, 879 guns, 977 vehicles

Defending force 21465 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 169 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3564 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 1

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-6-44 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN...INVASION OF GUAM: D-DAY


The invasion commenced with Allied Mine Warfare TFs beginning to clear out the massive minefields:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/06/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1230 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
MSW Caraquet
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Nipigon
MSW Bungaree
MSW Mildura
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle
MSW Starling
MSW Horsham
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
MSW Kalgoorlie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1230 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
MSW Caraquet
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Nipigon
MSW Bungaree
MSW Mildura
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle
MSW Starling
MSW Horsham
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
MSW Kalgoorlie
DD Nizam, Mine hits 1, on fire

Then the Japanese 7th Division at Guam was worked over by both naval air:

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 27
F6F Hellcat x 5
Hellcat II x 5
F4U-1D Corsair x 2
TBM Avenger x 24
Avenger II x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported

and land based air:

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 3
P-38J Lightning x 31
PB4Y Liberator x 27
B-24J Liberator x 152


Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
382 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

TF 58 finds more shipping off Saipan to interdict:

Day Air attack on TF at 62,63


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F6F Hellcat x 39
TBM Avenger x 28


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kashiwara Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Kurahashi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 62,63


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
F6F Hellcat x 37
TBM Avenger x 10


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kashiwara Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Assault TF #1291 carrying SOPAC troops goes ashore:

TF 1291 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

TF 1291 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois
MSW Guysborough
MSW Wasaga
MSW Quatsino
MSW Cairns
MSW Tern
MSW Rail
MSW Turkey
MSW Tumult
MSW Token
MSW Chief
MSW Sage
MSW Pursuit
MSW Whyalla
MSW Ararat
MSW Pirie
DD Isis
DD Pope
DD Sterett
DD Edwards
DD Barton
DD Monssen
DD Nicholson
DD Alden
DD McCalla
AP Van Landsberge, Mine hits 1, on fire
APD Overton
APD Crosby
APD Gregory
DD Benham
DD Hughes
DD Pillsbury


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1291
106 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Monssen
LST LST-452
CL Richmond
DD Edwards
DD Laffey

Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2994 casualties reported

Curiously, Assault TF 1292 carrying CENTPAC troops decides to refuel 120 miles east of Guam missing D-Day all together.

The Japanese response is muted as SOPAC puts 25,000 troops ashore:

Ground combat at Guam

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10260 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 25364 troops, 311 guns, 63 vehicles



SEAC:

The naval bombers based out of Saigon continue to interdict Japanese transport TFs in the South China Sea:

Day Air attack on TF at 27,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 14


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Syozin Maru
AK Ryuzin Maru
AK Onoe Maru
AK Nitiran Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 27,54


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 10
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 14
B-25J Mitchell x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Onoe Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Nitiran Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Ryuzin Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Syozin Maru

An Allied shock attack at Georgetown reduces the Japanese pocket by another 10,000 troops:

Ground combat at Georgetown

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 131810 troops, 869 guns, 977 vehicles

Defending force 17532 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 116 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
10804 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
432 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

The end is near in Georgetown.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-7-44 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN...INVASION OF GUAM


The CENTPAC troops aboard TF 1292 finally show up at Guam a day late for the invasion.
Over 70 Allied MSWs are trying to clear the minefields around Guam but by the end of the day DD Nizam falls victim to the mines:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/07/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1291 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

TF 1291 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois
MSW Guysborough
MSW Wasaga
MSW Quatsino
MSW Cairns
MSW Tern
MSW Rail
MSW Turkey
MSW Tumult
MSW Token
MSW Chief
MSW Sage
MSW Pursuit
MSW Whyalla
MSW Ararat
MSW Pirie
DD Alden
DD Barton
DD Monssen
AP Van Landsberge, Mine hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
APD Gregory
DD Duncan
DD Laffey
APD Overton
DD Hughes
APD Crosby
DD McCalla
DD Nicholson
DD Pillsbury
DD Edwards
DD Isis


Allied ground losses:
84 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1291
69 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Laffey
DD Duncan
CL Richmond


Allied ground losses:
263 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1230 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
MSW Caraquet
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Nipigon
MSW Bungaree
MSW Mildura
MSW Strive
MSW Oracle
MSW Starling
MSW Horsham
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
MSW Kalgoorlie
DD Fox
DD Nizam, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Mine Warfare TF 1275 somehow strays into the coastal guns at Tinian while attempting to clear minefields at Guam:


TF 1275 encounters mine field at Tinian (62,65) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

398 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Courtenay, Shell hits 28, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lockeport, Shell hits 26, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ungava, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lark, Shell hits 34, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Vigilance, Shell hits 31, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Motive, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Impeccable
MSW Herald, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Swallow, Shell hits 1, on fire
MSW Wollongong
MSW Wagga, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Strahan, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lithgow, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Meanwhile, MSWs continue to clear minefields at Guam:

TF 1292 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
MSW Robin
MSW Townsville
MSW Penguin
MSW Oriole
MSW Buoyant
MSW Saunter
MSW Salute
MSW Triumph
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Competent
MSW Prevail
MSW Spear
MSW Revenge
MSW Requisite
MSW Lismore
MSW Gladstone
MSW Echuca
MSW Dubbo
MSW Cootamundra
DMS Howard
DMS Palmer
DMS Dorsey
DMS Southard
DD Caldwell
DD Halligan
AP Van Neck, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1136 encounters mine field at Guam (62,66)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DD Aulick, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Abbot

Now the 2 brand new Iowa Class BBs....BB New Jersey and BB Iowa employ their 16"/50
main batteries for the 1st time by bombarding Guam:

Naval bombardment of Guam, at 62,66

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CL Marblehead
CL Perth
CA Pittsburgh
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa
BB Massachusetts

Japanese ground losses:
258 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 48
Port hits 19
Port supply hits 15

Guam's coastal guns continue to fire as 65,000 Allied troops make it ashore by the end of the 2nd day:

Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1291
TF 1291 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


Allied Ships
DD Duncan


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1292
TF 1292 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


68 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Caldwell


Allied ground losses:
1777 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Task Force 58 finds more shipping for target practice off Tinian:

Day Air attack on TF at 62,61


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
F6F Hellcat x 121
SB2C Helldiver x 71
TBM Avenger x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PC Nomi, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kashiwara Maru, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage


SEAC:

18,000 IJA are killed as the Georgetown pocket is liquidated. After losing nearly 40,000 troops at Georgetown the back of the Japanese defense in Malaya is nearly broken.

[Belphegor]

I missed that part. I wondered why your minesweepers were suddenly sinking all over the place.

TF 1275 encounters mine field at Tinian (62,65) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

398 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Courtenay, Shell hits 28, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lockeport, Shell hits 26, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ungava, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lark, Shell hits 34, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Vigilance, Shell hits 31, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Motive, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Impeccable
MSW Herald, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Swallow, Shell hits 1, on fire
MSW Wollongong
MSW Wagga, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Strahan, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lithgow, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-8-44....GREAT MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT


Evidently, the Japanese partially repaired the airfield at Saipan and staged in several hundred aircraft to mount their largest kamikaze attack of the war. In coodination with the massive kamikaze strikes, a powerful surface TF built around BB Yamato, BB Musashi and BB Ise sortied to the Marianas to attempt to intercept the Allied transports unloading off Guam.

Fast Carrier TF 58 was under a rain squall for the entire day and not only was not spotted by the kamikaze pilots but was unable to launch any offensive strikes on the BBs or provide LRCAP to support the invasion forces at Guam for most of the day. Instead the invasion forces covered by 15 CVEs were spotted and targeted by the multiple kamakaze waves and over 230 Japanese planes were shot down:

Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 13
A6M5 Zeke x 23
J2M Jack x 32
Ki-21 Sally x 19

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 117
F6F Hellcat x 7
Hellcat II x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 51
F4U-1D Corsair x 19
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 13 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 21 destroyed
J2M Jack: 31 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 19 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Hellcat II: 1 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 26
D4Y Judy x 6
G4M2 Betty x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 3
Ki-48 Lily x 7

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 114
F6F Hellcat x 7
Hellcat II x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 49
F4U-1D Corsair x 17
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 26 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 6 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 damaged
Hellcat II: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 damaged

Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 21

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 114
F6F Hellcat x 56
Hellcat II x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 49
F4U-1D Corsair x 17
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 21 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 6 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 5 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 18

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 114
F6F Hellcat x 101
Hellcat II x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 48
F4U-1D Corsair x 17
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 18 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged

Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3
J2M Jack x 4
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 32

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
FM-2 Wildcat x 114
F6F Hellcat x 121
Hellcat II x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 48
F4U-1D Corsair x 17
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
J2M Jack: 4 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 32 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed

Multiple Allied Bombardment TFs pound Guam while the coastal guns continue to fire back:

Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1292
TF 1292 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


62 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCI(G) LCI-64
DD Halligan, Shell hits 1
DD Jenkins
CL Sumatra


Allied ground losses:
1858 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 5

Naval bombardment of Guam, at 62,66

Allied Ships
CA Concord
CL Glasgow
CL Leander
CA Australia
CA Boston
CA Wichita
CA Astoria
CA Northampton
BB Alabama
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 113
Port hits 22
Port supply hits 25

Naval bombardment of Guam, at 62,66

Allied Ships
CA Hobart
CL Newcastle
CL Emerald
CL Java
CA Frobisher
CA Hawkins
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Sussex
CA Shropshire
BC Renown
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Prince of Wales

Japanese ground losses:
340 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 96
Port hits 17
Port supply hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Guam, 62,66, firing at TF 1292
TF 1292 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 62,66


43 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Jenkins
CL Sumatra
CL Raleigh


Allied ground losses:
1065 casualties reported


Land based bombers continue to work over the defenders on Guam:

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 3
P-38J Lightning x 27
PB4Y Liberator x 30
B-24J Liberator x 163


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 12
F-5C Lightning x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 42
B-25J Mitchell x 177


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported

With over 100,000 troops ashore the Allies order a shock attack and capture the base:

Ground combat at Guam

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9885 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 102760 troops, 1088 guns, 568 vehicles



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Guam

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 99440 troops, 1088 guns, 568 vehicles

Defending force 11734 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Guam base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
956 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Allied ground losses:
789 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 8


Admiral Spruance calculates that the powerful Japanese surface TF with the super battleships Yamato and Musashi will retreat since they have been detected and so consequently orders Admiral Mitschers' Task Force 58 due north at full speed in an attempt to intercept tomorrow.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-9-44 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN....THE END OF BB MUSASHI


Fast Carrier TF 58 races north and catches the retreating Japanese BBs. A massive naval strike is launched but BB Yamato and BB Ise slip under a rain squall just before the bombers arrive. BB Musashi and BB Haruna suffer the full fury of the strike:

Day Air attack on TF at 64,57


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
F6F Hellcat x 108
SB2C Helldiver x 182
TBF Avenger x 13
TBM Avenger x 131


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 20, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

BB Haruna sinks quickly but BB Musashi remains afloat to absorb incredible punishment. Finally after taking 20 direct hits with 1000 lb bombs and 6 torpedoes, BB Musashi rolls over and slides beneath the surface taking all hands with her.

Day Air attack on TF at 64,57


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
TBM Avenger x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, on fire, heavy damage


Allied heavy bombers seek retribution for yesterdays kamikaze attack by pounding the airfields at Saigon:

Day Air attack on Saipan , at 63,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 19
PB4Y Liberator x 33
B-24J Liberator x 206

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 15 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 20 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 6 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 4 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 216

Additional heavy bombers work over a troop transport TF off Saipan:

Day Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 63,64


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 12
B-24J Liberator x 41


Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Daigen Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Fusemi Maru, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
AP Burisuben Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru
AP Bokuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Batavia Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Buenos Aires Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
621 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Meanwhile the ground battle rages on on Guam:

Ground combat at Guam

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 100366 troops, 1082 guns, 559 vehicles

Defending force 11261 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 61 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
748 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
801 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 11

[Bradley7735]

Thanks for keeping up this AAR. It's almost like a great novel.

[racndoc]

Bradley....thanks for your comments. This AAR is more an "Action" report than a "Strategy" report since both sides are using it. Belphegor and I are both having a great time with it.


SITUATION REPORT: 3-10-44 MARIANAS CAMPAIGN...BATTLE FOR GUAM


The fast carriers of TF 58 race back south in an attempt to intercept the increasingly large numbers of Japanese transports heading towards Saipan and Tinian .....evidently a full scale IJN operation is under way to reinforce the Marianas. unfortunately, TF 58 is again hidden in a rain squall and misses most of the action.

Allied subs and surface ships are sent to Saipan to intercept the transports. An Allied sub finds some prey there:

Sub attack near Saipan at 63,64

Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-23

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saipan at 63,64

Japanese Ships
AK Kenkon Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-23

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported

....but the RN Surface TF sent to Saipan finds only a minefield:


TF 1182 encounters mine field at Saipan (63,64)

Allied Ships
DD Vampire
CA Shropshire, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied land based air locates and attacks the transports:

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kiyoshima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 7
B-24J Liberator x 22


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Reiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Katsukawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Taikei Maru, Bomb hits 1
AK Teisen Maru
AP Taijima Maru
AP Nissho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Taiko Maru #3
AK Fukuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Enju Maru
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied land based air also works over the kamakaze groups based at Saipan:

Day Air attack on Saipan , at 63,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 14
B-24J Liberator x 111

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 10 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed
J2M Jack: 9 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 6 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 95

and the IJA 7th Division at Guam:

Day Air attack on 7th Division, at 62,66


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 12
F-5C Lightning x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 40
B-25J Mitchell x 188


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported

The Allies continue to wear down the Japanese ground forces at Guam:

Ground combat at Guam

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 99510 troops, 1061 guns, 558 vehicles

Defending force 9226 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 189 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
983 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 1


SEAC:

SEAC troops led by their armored spearhead easily push aside the IJA roadblock at Kuala Lampur and continue to race south towards Singapore:

Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 80470 troops, 601 guns, 508 vehicles

Defending force 2921 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3368 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1083 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 3-11-44 THE GREAT MARIANAS TRANSPORT SHOOT


Evidently the massive kamikaze and surface TF intervention by the IJN were meant to cover an even larger IJA transport reinforcement operation of the Mariana Islands. While the USN CVs raced north to pummel the IJN BBs, the IJN transports were heading south towards Saipan and Tinian....opposed only by Allied land based air. ALL USN CVs, CVLs and CVEs were now ordered to strike the scores of transports and the RN BB TF was ordered to Tinian where a series of surface actions continued throughout the night:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AP Hakozaki Maru, Shell hits 49, and is sunk
AP Fukko Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 1
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Kenkon Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AK Chile Maru, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
AP Heito Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 1
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Huso Maru, Shell hits 36, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Kiyoshima Maru, Shell hits 47, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK China Maru
AK Clyde Maru, on fire
AP Kitano Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AK Naples Maru, on fire
AP Nissho Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
AK Menado Maru
AK Bisaku Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AP Taijima Maru, on fire
AK Tsukuba Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Sansho Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shino Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Naruo Maru
AK Junpo Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AP Burisuben Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AP Hakuyo Maru, Shell hits 44, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Kenkoku Maru, Shell hits 63, and is sunk
AK Minato Maru, Shell hits 61, and is sunk
AK Kakuzan Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Taikei Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex, Shell hits 1
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 1
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Koho Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Katsukawa Maru, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Reikai Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Tsurushima Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 1
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Kinmo Maru, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
AK Rokkosan Maru, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
AK Oita Maru
AK Shinshu Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Bunzan Maru, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 2
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Horei Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Narita Maru
AK Teisen Maru, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
AK Arisan Maru, Shell hits 2
AK Misaki Maru, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 1
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart
DD Gillespie
DD Vampire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
AK Nissyo Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
AP Reiyo Maru, Shell hits 47, and is sunk
AP Sanko Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AK Thames Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Royal Sovereign
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Java
CL Newcastle
CA Hobart

23 Japanese APs and AKs sink during the night. As dawn arrives, the Allied naval and land based bombers gather to continue hammering the transports:

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 124
TBM Avenger x 118


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Taijima Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sansho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK China Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Clyde Maru, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shino Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Menado Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Naples Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Naruo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tsukuba Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 2
TBM Avenger x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Clyde Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 3
TBM Avenger x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Menado Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 20


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Menado Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
F6F Hellcat x 31
SB2C Helldiver x 14
TBM Avenger x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF at 63,65


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Tsurushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Oita Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Misaki Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Horei Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 27
TBM Avenger x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Thames Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 45


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Batavia Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Buenos Aires Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 18
B-24J Liberator x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Sanwa Maru, on fire
AK Taiko Maru #3, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Noborikawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 12
B-24J Liberator x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Risen Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Eizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Fukuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Chosen Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 62,64


Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 17
TBF Avenger x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nissyo Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 62,65


Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 38
F6F Hellcat x 3
Hellcat II x 2
F4U-1D Corsair x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Shinshu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 66,66


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
FM-2 Wildcat x 29
F6F Hellcat x 36
Hellcat II x 1
F4U-1D Corsair x 6
SB2C Helldiver x 185
TBF Avenger x 12
TBM Avenger x 192


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Enju Maru, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Bokuyo Maru, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daigen Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Fusemi Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 66,66


Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 4
TBM Avenger x 4
Avenger II x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 66,66


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Another 22 Japanese transports sink throughout the day and many more will continue to sink over the next few days. Interestingly, the P-38s drop 1000lb bombs while the Corsairs and the heavy bombers drop 500 lb bombs.

Ground combat on Guam is again inconclusive but the airfield there is now operational:

Ground combat at Guam

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 100008 troops, 1058 guns, 569 vehicles

Defending force 7671 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 260 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
254 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 4

[Belphegor]

My surface combat TF was there for two reasons:

1. To try to disrupt the landings on guam
2. To distract the Allies from the approaching transport TFs.

I knew there would be casualties. It was painful to see all 4 battleships of the surface TF lost without even coming close to scoring any hits. I thought they might make it in under cover of the bad weather; making it out would have been difficult and I knew that. In the event they were discovered just prior to making their attack run, bombed and forced to turn back. They did succeed beyond my wildest dreams in mission 2 however.

73 IJN transports loaded with 2 full strength Bdes + some other things were missed in the bad weather and the pursuit of my surface forces. These transports were loaded lightly so they could completely unload in one phase (all the leeway I expected to get), I lost very little coming in and even the scores of bombers overhead had so many targets that no ship suffered fatal damage prior to unloading.

It was short lived however. Once discovered the response, as I expected, was overwhelming. I lost every transport sent to surface forces redirected from Guam, and to constant air attack... but they had their one phase of unloading and 95% of them were empty when sunk. Was it worth it? I certainly hope so. I sacrificed a lot of naval power to get those needed troops there. We shall see in the coming month or so if they will cost the Allied player in time as well as casualties to take Tinian and Saipan.

[Capt. Harlock]

73 IJN transports loaded with 2 full strength Bdes + some other things were missed in the bad weather and the pursuit of my surface forces. These transports were loaded lightly so they could completely unload in one phase (all the leeway I expected to get), I lost very little coming in and even the scores of bombers overhead had so many targets that no ship suffered fatal damage prior to unloading.

That explains why so few Japanese troops were lost when the transports were hit. Nice move!