Psych Ops: BTS "Lite" NY59Giants (A) vs John 3rd (J)

[ny59giants]

1943 March 10th & 11th - action begins to heat up

Aleutians:
10th: [>:]
11th: Rather than sweep Dora Harbor where recon shows over 100 fighters, I go with Cold Bay to get leakers. 25 P-38Gs vs 34Z & 25 Tojo = 7J:1A; 25 P-38s vs 11Z & 11 Tojo = 5J; 25 P-38s vs 2Z, 2 Tojo = 2J. 32 P-40Ks get 2 more.

SE Pacific:
10th: BB Fuso & Yamashiro, CL Naka, 4 DDs bombard (bb) Tahiti = 163c; 4 of 26 Betty shot down by 4 P-38s on LRCAP from Makatea (4 hexes NE); 38Z, 6 Kate, 6 Jill, 24 Val hit troops
11th: These ships hit Makatea = 19c, 5s, 3r, 1p; However, some CLs and DDs are only 1 west of Makatea and too close to the growing base at Rangoria...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Makatea at 174,175

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

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

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Aoba, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Mikazuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Makatea at 174,175

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, on fire
CL Aoba, on fire
DD Kasumi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Arashi

India/Burma:
10th: Action at three places.
275 bombers and 110 heavies hit troops to NE of Akyab b4 ground attack.

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43343 troops, 889 guns, 964 vehicles, Assault Value = 1217

Defending force 13348 troops, 113 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 382

Allied adjusted assault: 714

Japanese adjusted defense: 203

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
4898 casualties reported
Squads: 117 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 124 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 28 (11 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
563 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
18th British Division
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
17th Indian Division
217th Coast AA Regiment
8th Marine Defense Battalion
III Indian Corps
168th Field Artillery Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
85th British AT Gun Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
188th Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
55th Division

At 57,45 (2 due north of Magwe) we have some A2A...Hurricanes vs Tony. Only 1 Tony is shot down, but I now know that 10th ID is trying to move into jungle hex to NW.
Akyab sees my Brit Vengence DBs get some easy action as AMC and 2 xAKs are hit
11th: 2 No Magwe sees a few furballs as I face Tojo, Zeros, and Tony. P-40Ks and Hurricanes carry the load as the P-38s come in after the skies are cleared. [&:] Over 300 bombers and 130 heavies hit the 10th ID and 18th Tank Rgt that has NO AA units present!!

Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 57,45 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 48
Blenheim VD x 32
Wellington Ic x 16
DB-7B x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 27
P-40K Warhawk x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
409 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (3 destroyed, 24 disabled)
An example of what Allied medium bombers can do in clear terrain with no AA present.

CV/CVL/CVE:
10th: [>:]
11th: CVEs at 172,166 (3 west of Flint Island) 54F, 71B, 11Aux

Notes:
I'm glad to see John fighting so hard way down in SE Pacific. Burn that fuel, baby!!

Air losses for 11th are 13A to 69J and I lose only 1 pilot. I now have 15 double aces ALL flying those nasty P-38s. [&o]

[ny59giants]

1943 March 12th & 13: John being John means attack

Aleutians:
12th: Chirikof sees 13 Kates get by my 24 P-40 to sink a PC and xAK. Later, 11 P-40s are still airborne to get 3 of 13 Vals. Two more xAKs are sunk.
13th: [>:]

SE Pacific:
12th:The damaged SC TF just to west of Makatea doesn't head west to safety. Since this is John, he sends them to bombard Rangoria.

Night Naval bombardment of Rangiroa at 177,174

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 10 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 11 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-2 Dauntless: 5 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
CL Isuzu
CL Aoba
DD Kasumi
DD Arashi
DD Hayashio

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 37
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 2

Tahiti sees 33 Betty that cannot do any damage in the heavy rains.
The retreating TF doesn't get out of SBD range with drop tanks. 7 hexes NW sees 22 WC escort in 7 SBDs who get a 1000lb bomb hit on CL Isuzu and CL Natori while another 7 SBDs get two more 1000lb on Natori (total is 4 x 1000lb on her). 12 SBD then find DD Mikazuki, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk to west of Rangoria.
13th: [>:]

India/Burma:
12th: 2 No Magwe sees my 14 Hurricanes vs 8 Tojo, 10 Zero, 1 Tony = 2J:1A. Another 14 Hurricanes get 2 more. A third group of Hurricanes get another two. The fourth group of Hurricanes and the 75 P-38s find the skies clear. I shifted my bombers to hit the 65th Brigade at 57,44 (1 NW of the 10th ID and Tank Rgt). Over 300 medium and 130 heavy bombers prepare the way.

Ground combat at 57,44 (near Chittagong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15242 troops, 316 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Defending force 5329 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Allied adjusted assault: 184

Japanese adjusted defense: 67

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1445 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division

Defending units:
65th Brigade

13th: More action 2 due north of Magwe. The just defeated 65th Brigade joins the 10th ID and 18th Tank Rgt. The little arrow is now pointed SE across the Irrawaddy River and safety. John puts up minimal LRCAP. The first group of 14 Hurricanes vs 10 Tojo, 8 Zero, 3 Tony = 3J:1A, the second 14 get 3J, then medium bombers...

Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 57,45 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16
Blenheim VD x 16
139WH-3 x 3
DB-7B x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 63

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
558 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

another 200 medium 130 heavies follow

CV/CVL/CVE:
12th: CVEs are 11 NW of Tahiti
13th: CVEs at Aitutaki probably to replenish and refuel

Notes:
I see John's action in SE Pacific as delaying actions only. Right now, my xAKs and xAPs are head towards Port Stanley for more troops and supplies.

[ny59giants]

1943 March 14th & 15th:

Aleutians:
14th:
Cold Bay - 10 P-40s are not enough vs 47 Zeros & 41 Tojo = 2A; My 25 P-38s are up for job vs 46 Zeros & 38 Tojo = 9J:2A; The second group of 25 P-38s do even better vs 36 Zero & 14 Tojo = 11J:1A; 5 P-40s lose one; the final 22 P-40s get 5J:1A.
15th:
Chirikof Island - 23 P-40Ks & 5 Canadian Kittyhawks vs 20 Zeros & 14 Kates = 17J:0A as my little APc unload supplies. 20 P-40s & 5 Kitty vs 8 Zero & 7 Kate = 8J:1A.

SE Pacific:
14th: [>:]
15th:
Grayback is run over by 2 APDs & 3 DDs 6 west of Tahiti
Tubuai - Numerous B-17/24s fly out, but cannot hit any warships.
Japanese Ships - CVE Brazil Maru, CVE Kamakura Maru, CVE Ibuki, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hosho

Ground combat at Tahiti (173,178)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5403 troops, 51 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 10198 troops, 184 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

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

Assaulting units:
1st Maizuru Assault Division
16th Div /6
47th JNAF AF Unit
49th JNAF AF Unit /4

Defending units:
32nd Infantry Division

India/Burma:
14th:
DE Isis hits I-11 off Cochin on her way to Bombay to be withdrawn.
15th:
2 No Magwe - John has withdrawn his LRCAP. Sweeps precede 316 medium and 121 heavies hit his battered troops some more.

Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 57,45 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 32
Blenheim VD x 16
Wellington Ic x 32
B-25C Mitchell x 36

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
621 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

CV/CVL/CVE:
14th: CVEs are 10 W of Tahiti
15th: CVEs are 6 W of Tahiti (64F, 83B, 13Aux)

Notes:
Intel still shows 16th ID and 2 ADU to Tahiti. Coastwatchers report both Suva and Rabaul are empty.

Cape Town - 131 ships still under repairs from upgrades. 6 days until most of them are done and "The Armada" begins loading for first major operation.

[ny59giants]

1943 March 16th & 17th:

Aleutians:
16th: [>:]
17th:
I-20 is sunk off Bella Bella

SE Pacific:
16th:
Gudgeon is sunk 4 west of Tahiti by 2 APDs and 4 DDs
Tahiti - Even when the numbers are about even, my P-38s continue to prove they are still the uber-fighters for early '43 as 22 go up against 19 Zeros and losses are 9J:1A. In the afternoon, 12 Zeros come in with 25 Vals & 43 Judy to hit 32nd Div
17th:
Tubuai - 10 of 12 PT Boats are sunk as John's BB come calling

Night Naval bombardment of Tubuai at 168,187

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
DD Shiranui

Allied Ships
xAK Makua, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 2

Tahiti - Sweet!!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tahiti at 173,178

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 50
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Tenzan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Uranami
APD Aoi, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shigure, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze
xAK Aden Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APD Nadakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

India/Burma:
16th:
2 No Magwe - 4 Hurricane and 3 P-38 groups sweeps the empty skies; 170 medium bombers hit his defenseless troops in clear terrain
Akyab - a mix of Hurricanes and P-40s sweep the empty skies

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30659 troops, 647 guns, 604 vehicles, Assault Value = 965

Defending force 31949 troops, 400 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 712

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

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

Assaulting units:
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
18th British Division
17th Indian Division
188th Field Artillery Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
8th Marine Defense Battalion
85th British AT Gun Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
168th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
55th Division
48th Division
Imperial Guards Division
10th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
47th Field AA Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
5th Field Construction Battalion
15th Const Co
23rd AA Regiment
15th JAAF AF Bn /1

All three of his divisions have been roughed up defending NE of base.

17th:
Akyab - Two Hurricane and two P-40 groups ensure the skies remain clear
2 No Magwe - Over 150 fighters sweep before 300 medium bombers hit hit troops with clear weather...Ouch!

Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 57,45 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 16
139WH-3 x 3
DB-7B x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 72
B-25C Mitchell x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
522 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (4 destroyed, 13 disabled)

CV/CVL/CVE:
16th: CVEs are 4 WSW of Tahiti
17th: CVEs are 4 WSW of Tahiti (36F, 94B, 8Aux) - my fighters have taken a bite out of his over last few days

Notes:
Intel shows CV Akagi at Midway - big news as I don't see this important info very often. Even more so as Cape Town is about to have some very busy dockworkers.

Cape Town - 132 ships still under repairs from upgrades. 4 days until most of them are done and "The Armada" begins loading for first major operation.

[ny59giants]

1943 March 18th & 19th:

Aleutians:
18th: [>:]
19th: [>:]

SE Pacific:
18th:
Stingray sinks an xAK with 3 TT hits west of Tahiti
Growler gets another xAK with 4 TT hit 4 west of Tahiti
Tahiti - 11 P38s sweep
Makatea (4 NE of Tahiti) -

Night Naval bombardment of Makatea at 175,175

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 13 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Aoba
DD Kamikaze
DD Uranami
DD Arashi
DD Hayashio

Allied ground losses:
257 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 21
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 1

19th:
Tahiti -

Ground combat at Tahiti (173,178)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7116 troops, 114 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 257

Defending force 10297 troops, 184 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 321

Japanese adjusted assault: 62

Allied adjusted defense: 1081

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 17

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

Japanese ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (7 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Tank Regiment
1st Maizuru Assault Division
16th Div /6
47th JNAF AF Unit
49th JNAF AF Unit /4
2nd ADU Cst Gun Rgt /4

Defending units:
32nd Infantry Division

India/Burma:
18th:
Akyab -

Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Kumano
CL Suzuya
CL Mikuma
CL Mogami
DD Shinonome
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze

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

CL Yubari firing at 18th British Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CL Kumano
CL Kumano firing at 17th Indian Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CL Suzuya
CL Suzuya firing at 18th British Division
CL Mikuma firing at 18th British Division
CL Mogami firing at 18th British Division
DD Shinonome firing at 17th Indian Division
DD Shiratsuyu firing at 18th British Division
DD Isokaze firing at 17th Indian Division
DD Maikaze firing at 18th British Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
DD Yuzuki
DD Nenohi
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame

CL Kitakami firing at 18th British Division
DD Yuzuki firing at 17th Indian Division
DD Nenohi firing at 18th British Division
DD Yudachi firing at 18th British Division
DD Harusame firing at 18th British Division
DD Murasame firing at 18th British Division

No reaction by me yet. I still have the 3 "R" BBs at Diamond Harbour with 4 DDs and 4 CLs and DD at Calcutta. DBs and TBs are sharpening their swords at Diamond for when I show my cards.

19th:
Akyab - My fighters ensure the skies are mine before my Vengeance DBs go to work

Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Vengeance I x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Okuyo Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
PB Fuji Maru #4, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
PB Rokko Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Vengeance I x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Meiko Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Columbia Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Daiya Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kasuga Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

CV/CVL/CVE:
18th: CVEs are 3 ESE of Aitutaki (Cook Islands)
19th: CVEs are at Aitutaki with most of his ships that have been active down here for days.

Notes:
Coastwatchers report no ships at Perth and 5 at Albany.
Intel reports 1st Tank Rgt 2 ESE of Imphal and 22nd Tank at Suva. Meanwhile the 19th ID is at Singapore.