Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

Somewhere in the Celebes Sea our naval search is failing...put in another squadron of Cats and some Venturas.

IJN raiding again from Celebes...

A20BismarckSea.jpg (701.33 KiB) Viewed 1251 times

[Lowpe]

Little raid to garner intel at Jesselton, doesn't really provide much except that two squadrons of Hellcats on 40% can close escort at 9k and the other Hellcat sqdrn can sweep ahead (sweep target Jesselton) at 38k in a coordinated raid. A tactic I haven't used much as Japan. So on a CV battle you could possibly allocate a squadron at say 25k sweep (commanders target) and maybe degrade the enemy CAP or pull it out of position? Is there a chance you could sweep your on base using this tactic? Will be experimenting a lot in the future here, but it certainly works on bases. As Japan I don't think I ever pulled that off, I certainly have used it in attacks at Pearl.

I suspect the downside is greater raid warning time.

Morning Air attack on 24th JAAF AF Bn , at 68,86 (Jesselton)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 38000 feet

[Lowpe]

An interesting raid at Morotai...still experimenting with altitudes and frames. I have noticed the Spitfires are able to fly high CAP against sweepers but also intercept low flying bomber attacks. Not in great numbers but it is impressive. Impressed with Corsair performance today, too.

Most of our CAP was high to prevent George sweeps...but the planes still intercepted the low flying torpedo bombers.

VMF422 got 10 kills, the Warhawk flying at a much lower altitude got 8 kills. Raid warning time wasn't great. Air search radars present: 4 ground and 3 ships.

VMF 221 only got 2 kills and they were out of position...caught with planes on standby.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 20
B6N1 Jill x 8

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 5 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VMF-422 with F4U-1 Corsair (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 36000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-221 with F4U-1 Corsair (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
No.457 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 37000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
51st FG/26th FS with P-40K Warhawk (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

A20BismarckSea.jpg (97.28 KiB) Viewed 1233 times

Look at those Betty Op losses...a consequence of flying from small runways and often times damaged ones.

PS: We are getting in position to set up the slow BBs as targets in these ports...high AAA. None present at Morotai today, but two squadrons of them are just south at Sansapor and Sorong.

[RangerJoe]

Remember that you can't sweep your own base unless the enemy has ground units there.

[Lowpe]

Remember that you can't sweep your own base unless the enemy has ground units there.

I think the above technique might work too.

[Lowpe]

July 8th, 1943

Yesterday we spotted a 2 ship TF about 5-6 hexes east of Morotai...so started to coordinate some response. I need to learn lessons on protecting my LOC with land based air power.

PT boat squadrons were set to investigate...and there was two encounters but no combat.

Three small destroyer squadrons were sent out to skirmish and patrol.

Several squadrons along our supply line have night naval attack orders to increase detection levels.

First contact is north of Manokwari...were a PT boat TF triggers the combat graphic during replay, but no actual fight. Quite a few reactions during movement...

Then two squadrons attack in the bad weather. I have torpedoes available but selected bombs for flavor.

Night Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 6 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Asagao

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-20A1 Havoc x 4

Allied aircraft losses
A-20A1 Havoc: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Asagao

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-20A1 Havoc bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Then one of our small destroyer task forces catches them during the day...and the IJN Task Force picked up the E at Manokwari...and turned back north a few hexes where they were caught.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Manokwari at 86,107, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asagao
E Tsuga, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Case
DD Voyager

Then a little better destroyer group engages in the same hex. Destroyer engagements are never really fatal unless there is a lucky torpedo hit. Both fights are possible due to large reaction ranges and patrolling. Plus good DL.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Manokwari at 86,107, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze, heavy fires
DD Asagao, Shell hits 1
E Tsuga, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Baldwin

Reduced visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards

[Lowpe]

And the end of the story....those destroyers definitely took a lot of hits. All air attacks escorted, with the Jugs flying very high...not close cover. Gratifying to see.

a.jpg (449.64 KiB) Viewed 1140 times

Don't often see Banshees and Boomerangs making attacks in 1943.

[BBfanboy]

Nice! Just a coincidence that someone mentioned on the previous page that you should go after his raiding warships to save your transports ...
If that made you set up that coordinated detection/engagement/destruction trap, kudos on the suggestion and your response.

[Lowpe]

Nice! Just a coincidence that someone mentioned on the previous page that you should go after his raiding warships to save your transports ...
If that made you set up that coordinated detection/engagement/destruction trap, kudos on the suggestion and your response.

Managed to have the airfields available to create a better defense. Can't really do it on the forward edge. A lone size two AF just can't get it done...mainly because you are flying LRCAP over your forward fleets. Mindanao is now setup that way with three size four AF now...and getting bigger. Need five for the beasts.

More happened on the turn, favoring Japan tactically but maybe not strategically.

Depleting IJN destroyers has always been a high priority.

I wonder if the PT boat faux encounters helped to delay the destroyers?

[Lowpe]

As Japan, I dislike the aggressive Commanders, but always fought Chin and Burke in every naval fight against the Allies it seemed. They would teleport all over the place.

I can't afford right now to get my fast battleships dinged up, and Chin did his job fighting to the last. He didn't order a retreat till being pummeled in the sea...but the 147th Regiment unloaded at Kudat securing the base. Probably shouldn't have had Denver in that TF though.

Venturas do a great job at naval search and are now flying all along our LOC.

a.jpg (781.63 KiB) Viewed 1073 times

[Lowpe]

Now is the transition from Regiment sized fighting, to Divisions! We have got five divisions close by: 1st Marine Div arrives today at Hansa Bay joining the 2nd Marines already here. 7th USA Div arrives today at Shortlands, 8th Aus Div is at Biak on ships, 1st Aus is at PM and Sansapor. I have four tank btlns at Mindanao and more coming, half dozen artillery btlns...

Not sure how we will order our invasion...but it is happening.

30+ Liberty ship conversions are all at sea carrying troops forward....tracker tells me I have converted 88...so fifty more in the yards converting. Some roll in almost every day.

a.jpg (221.75 KiB) Viewed 1068 times

[Lowpe]

Chungking deliberate attack:

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 113654 troops, 1484 guns, 2610 vehicles, Assault Value = 3721

Defending force 150217 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4007

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 3200

Allied adjusted defense: 4555

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
10605 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 1108 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 84 disabled
Guns lost 118 (3 destroyed, 115 disabled)
Vehicles lost 188 (24 destroyed, 164 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5840 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 467 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 147 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division
32nd Division
3rd Tank Regiment
1st Tank Division
116th Division
15th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
15th Division
11th Tank Regiment
39th Division
27th Division
9th Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
36th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
Guards Tank Division
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Army
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
North China Area Army
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment

[BBfanboy]

Who is "Chin"? "Ching" Lee? Real name Willis A. Lee. He called himself Ching in his famous message "This is Ching Chong China Lee. Get out of the way, I'm coming through". (IIRC he was on BB Washington at Second Guadalcanal and was telling damaged BB South Dakota to leave a path for him between shore and S.D. so he could continue the battle.)

[Lowpe]

Who is "Chin"? "Ching" Lee? Real name Willis A. Lee. He called himself Ching in his famous message "This is Ching Chong China Lee. Get out of the way, I'm coming through". (IIRC he was on BB Washington at Second Guadalcanal and was telling damaged BB South Dakota to leave a path for him between shore and S.D. so he could continue the battle.)

Ooops, missed a letter.

[Lowpe]

Who is "Chin"? "Ching" Lee? Real name Willis A. Lee. He called himself Ching in his famous message "This is Ching Chong China Lee. Get out of the way, I'm coming through". (IIRC he was on BB Washington at Second Guadalcanal and was telling damaged BB South Dakota to leave a path for him between shore and S.D. so he could continue the battle.)

I am not going to edit it.

[Lowpe]

July 10th, 1943

USN lost 2 CLs (one modern) and 1 Destroyer securing Kudat while it seems Japan lost 2 scuttled here. Brunei invasion is ready at 38 prep. Tarakan invasion is only at 18 prep. Will recon Palawan and others today. Hoping I can take one or more with paratroops.

Planes on Deathstar are well and truly run down.

a.jpg (449.3 KiB) Viewed 956 times

[Lowpe]

Moluccas...

a.jpg (669.06 KiB) Viewed 952 times

[Lowpe]

Amazing air losses today for no actual air to air combats.

a.jpg (197.58 KiB) Viewed 951 times

[Lowpe]

July 11, 1943

Quiet turn...the IJN SAGs near Morotai head northeast back to base...avoiding my subs...

Continue building bases and moving troops and materials forward.

Japan raids the port at Talaud....as luck would have it I just moved a squadron of P40s forward and the Spitfires did get work...but the Bettys get thru damaging several minor craft.

[Lowpe]

July 12, 1943

Sandwiched in by the IJN SAGs at Luzon, Babeldaob, and Balikpapen!

As always, moving forward...a 36AV slug on Combat Engineers and bulldozers landing at Kudat tomorrow...

Taytay taken on Palawan...Allies control all runways bordering the Sulu Sea.

Tarakan weakly held.

a.jpg (690.11 KiB) Viewed 815 times