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February 20, 1943

Nothing

February 21, 1943

Namatanai falls to the Allies.

Ground combat at Namatanai (107,125)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4768 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 67

Defending force 17065 troops, 302 guns, 504 vehicles, Assault Value = 552

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

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

Assaulting units:
15th GEACPS Brigade
47th Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
11th NZ Brigade


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


Ground combat at Namatanai (107,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13817 troops, 257 guns, 366 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Defending force 4752 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Allied adjusted assault: 304

Japanese adjusted defense: 46

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Namatanai !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
11th NZ Brigade

Defending units:
15th GEACPS Brigade
47th Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit

Still in the process of repairing ships, rebuilding air groups, and another small round of ship upgrades will start in a few days.
At first glance recon showed Canton Island empty of enemy troops. I am sending another recon mission to make sure, and if
it is I will send out a USA Regiment, a SeaBee unit, and 2 or 3 AVPs to take the base, build forts, and support a PBY squadron.

February 22, 1943

Not much. Second recon shows no enemy troops on Canton Island so time to load up and move out.

I did pound an SS pretty hard at Namatanai. I wonder if the sub was dropping off mines or trying to attack.
Two of the hits were reported as direct hits, so maybe enough damage to actually sink it. It is reported as
sunk in the ship sunk list in game, but we all know how reliable that is.

ASW attack near Namatanai at 107,125

Japanese Ships
SS I-7, hits 10, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Patterson

SS I-7 is sighted by escort
DD Patterson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Patterson attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

Ground combat at Namatanai, one unit destroyed by attrition, others reduced

I bombed ground troops in PNG and New Britain.

February 23, 1943

Recon still shows Canton Island unoccupied, so my invasion fleet has set sail. It will take close to 2 weeks to get there.

The second Naval Guard unit at Namatanai is wiped out.

Two thirds of 5th Australian Division unloaded at Woodlark Island.

Bombing of troops continues

February 24, 1943

It appears that there is more at Woodlark Island than recon indicated. More Troops on the way
Naval Bombardment sent, may take two days to get there

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7634 troops, 51 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 264

Defending force 5482 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied adjusted assault: 143

Japanese adjusted defense: 319

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

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

Japanese ground losses:
380 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
336 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
5th Australian/A Division
5th Australian/B Division

Defending units:
4th GEACPS Brigade

More troop reduction at Namatanai

Troop bombing on PNG and New Britain.

February 25, 1943

Not a lot. SS Whale put a Mk-14 into an xAK near Toyohara, no sinking sounds, probably will make it to port.

Xargun again did a naval bombardment of Akyab, 1 hurricane destroyed, some damage, some facility damage, no real problem.

More elements of the 15th GEACPS Brigade destroyed at Namatanai.

Bombing of Japanese troops in PNG and New Britain continues.

February 26, 1943

Another xAK is hit near Toyohara. I had not seen any shipping in this area for a long time, now it seems to be
picking up. I guess he needs the resources and oil from Southern Sakhalin.

Sub attack near Toyohara at 126,46

Japanese Ships
xAK Teisin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Delagoa Maru
xAK Toyohasi Maru
xAK Tatuno Maru
PB Okuyo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Trigger

SS Trigger launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Teisin Maru
Trigger diving deep ....
PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

All enemy units have been eliminated at Namatanai

Air bombarding continues in PNG and New Britain

February 27, 1943

Not much. A naval bombardment of Woodlark Island, aerial bombing. Same, same.

February 28, 1943

Some good surface action, well good for me

Night Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
CA Atago, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Tatsukaze
DD Urukaze, Shell hits 2
DD Tawakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Eiko, Shell hits 1
DD Zuiho, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 4
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
DD Saufley
DD Ashley, Shell hits 2
DD Copsy, Shell hits 1
DD Wyrick
DD Peasley, Shell hits 1
DD Compare, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Even thought BB North Carolina is listed as taking a Torpedo hit, she has minimal damage, 2 sys, 6 float and 1 engine.

DD Compare is in some trouble. she has fires of 4 and extensive damage, though mostly minor damage, but with 67 system damage she
might have a problem. DD Compare and DD Peasley split off into an escort TF. They are two hexes from Long Island that has a size 2 port
and 115 Naval Support. If they cane make it there DD Compare should be repairable, if she can get the small fires out.

As an added attraction, the cherry on top if you will

Night Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kyo Maru #10, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB North Carolina
DD Saufley
DD Ashley
DD Copsy
DD Wyrick
DD Peasley
DD Compare, on fire, heavy damage

Some nice experience gains by most of the ships engaged, that is always important at this stage of the game.
For everyone's information, BB Mississippi was upgraded to a New Jersey model. And 5 of the DDs are part of the
special that Xargun and I agreed on, 2 new DDs per month during 1942. So if you see DDs with strange names,
that is what they are, Fletcher DDs

More troops landing on Woodlark Island and more troops bombed in the area.

March 1, 1943

SS Sturgeon finds a working Mk-14

Sub attack near Truk at 112,109

Japanese Ships
xAK Sakido Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Takunan Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

More troops land on Woodlark Island

More troops bombed by the Allies.

DD Compare made it to Long Island and put out her fires. She will be there a good while repairing damage enough to move to a repair shipyard

March 2, 1943

About a week ago I got this sigint

Radio transmissions detected at 130,72.

So I sent a sub off to investigate since it is in a location I would expect a picket
And today

Sub attack near Marcus Island at 130,72

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shino Maru, Shell hits 6

Allied Ships
SS Steelhead, hits 2

SS Steelhead attacking on the surface
Whelchel, D.L. decides to submerge SS Steelhead due to damage

I am not sure how much damage I did, but SS Steelhead did not take much damage at all and will remain to see what happens

The last of the IJA 4th Division is eliminated from New Britain

Ground combat at 102,125 (near Talasea)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25580 troops, 499 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 817

Defending force 1386 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 809

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 809 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1690 casualties reported
Squads: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
35th Infantry Division

Defending units:
4th Division

More troops land at Woodlark Island and more bombing of troops on PNG

My B-17Es at Rabaul have been stood down to repair fatigue and damage, I flew them pretty hard for 3 weeks.

March 3, 1943

SS Steelhead is still trying. Four torpedoes fired, 2 misses and 2 DOINKS.

More troops land at Woodlark Island. They are landing from xAPs so it is slow going.

More bombing of Japanese troops on PNG

March 4, 1943

Two Dutch subs took shots at a CA/DD TF West of Rangoon, but both subs missed. The TF ended up in the Bay of Bengal, West of Prome.
I am not sure what his plans are, I have a couple of TFs in the area and some TBs set for Naval Attack. He is a bit far out to do a night
time naval bombardment of anywhere.

More troops landed at Woodlark Island, some of the last ones unloaded have somewhat high disruption and fatigue.

More aerial bombing of Japanese troops on PNG.

Amphibious TF is about 2-3 days out from Canton Island.
Recon is showing that most of the Southern Marshall Islands are devoid of troops. My long range recon can see up to Tarawa and so far no troops
have been found.

March 5, 1943

SS Haddo working between Shanghai and Nagasaki finds a target

Sub attack near Fukue-jima at 99,58

Japanese Ships
xAK Hauraki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAK Daibu Maru
xAK London Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK Syoan Maru
xAK Meiyo Maru
xAK Kasuga Maru #2
PB Konsan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Haddo

SS Haddo launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Hauraki Maru
=============================================

Submarine attack near Fukue-jima at 99,58

Japanese Ships
xAK Hauraki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Haddo

Sinking sounds later in the turn tend to indicate it sank

More troops land on Woodlark Island and bombs fall on Japanese troops in PNG

March 6, 1943

Nothing much.

March 7, 1943

Nothing much happened.

March 8, 1943

Intriguing turn.

I had a 2 DD SCTF at Aitape that I thought I had given orders to return to Rabaul. either I didn't actually give the orders
or they reacted, or something.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Tatsukaze
DD Urukaze
DD Mike Solli
DD PaxMando
DD Shimushu
DD Port Moresby
DD Gentai
DD Daitei

Allied Ships
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

DD Chevalier will be able to make a full speed run back to Rabaul, no fires on board and enough speed to make it in one turn.

Then KB showed up NW of Kavieng. There was no morning attack but an afternoon attack. I do not know why there were no
fighters in the strike, but I like the result.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 106,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 19
D3A1 Val x 34

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 25
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40B Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 20 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
TK Angelina
PF Louisianan
xAKL Magallanes
xAKL Mortlake Bank

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
12th FS with P-39D Airacobra (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (8 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
18th FG/78th FS with P-40B Warhawk (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Tracker lists 35 Val and 16 Kate bombers were downed in air-2-air combat.

Troops landed and took Canton Island, there was no opposition.

March 9, 1943

Nothing to report

Nomad wrote: Sat Sep 10, 2022 7:44 pm March 9, 1943

Nothing to report

Cant you make some thing up?

March 10, 1943

Not much into making things up, sorry.

The last unit, the 53rd Division, that was in Port Moresby has been eliminated.

Ground combat at 97,128 (near Terapo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12770 troops, 155 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 480

Defending force 220 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 223

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 223 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
312 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
8th Australian Division

Defending units:
53rd Div /1

All the troops scheduled to land on Woodlark Island have landed, a DA tomorrow.