21-23 March 1943
Northern Pacific
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Paramushiro Jima to size 2.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
The preparation of the landings in Efate and Luganville continued on the 21st with a raid of 89 Ki-21, 26 Betties and 16 Ki-49 from Noumea escorted by 11 A6M2 that attacked Efate, destroying a P-40E on the ground and scoring 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 85 on the runways. One Ki-21 was shot down by AA fire and another lost due to engine failure.
For an unknown reason, both transport TF that had been ordered to leave Noumea with the invasion troops didn’t leave on the 21st. The orders were repeated this evening, while all AO in the port (all empty) left for Suva and then Japan.
The next day, Efate was again bombed in the morning by 76 Ki-21, 25 Betties and 15 Ki-49 from Noumea escorted by 10 A6M2, that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 100 on the runways. Allied losses were 40 men, 1 gun and 1 vehicle, Japanese lost a Ki-21 in an accident.
In the afternoon, the Kido Butai sent 48 Kates escorted by 4 A6M3a to bomb Luganville. They destroyed a B-24D on the ground and scored 7 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 31 on the runways. AA fire shot down a Kate.
This day, the troop convoys in Noumea still didn’t leave…. I cancelled orders and gave them again. The next day the convoys finally sailed. The landings are planned to start on the night of the 24th-25th.
The wreck of the scuttled tanker Axtell J Byles was identified in Noumea port.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
Japanese engineers started working on the second defence line in this area last month, and expanded Baker Island airfield to size 2 on the 23rd. They are mainly building fortifications.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
On the 21st, Japanese engineers expanded both the port and the airfield of Rabaul to size 5. They then received orders to work only on fortifications (now level 5, 57%) but the next day the Allied reacted by sending a raid of 87 B-24D against this base. They scored 16 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 60 on runways, and disabled 64 men and 3 guns, but AA fire shot down two of them.
Training missions from PM to Goodenough Island were flown on the 21st and 22nd with a total of 27 Beaufort V-IX and 30 P-40E.
Some barges landed on the 22nd a part of the Sasebo 6th SNLF on Rossel Island (62 casualties) and the empty island was occupied the next day.
The same day a dozen barges left Rabaul with troops of the 5th Div to occupy the New Guinea coast from Dobadura to Finschhafen.
Japanese engineers also expanded Lunga port to size 2.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 21st, Kendari airmen flew recon over Darwin. They saw no Allied ships but reported 32 Allied fighters on CAP, that shot down an Emily in the afternoon, and the recons were stopped this evening. The same day, a Mariner sank the abandoned barge off Lautem. Nothing happened the two next days.
Southern Resource Area
A convoy loaded 25k oil in Brunei for Hong Kong.
Burma
On all three night, Beaufighter VIF from Imphal attacked Rangoon without any success (total of 22 sorties).
The only important Allied raid was launched on the 22nd against Mandalay. 30 B-17E, 29 B-25J, 15 Blenheim IV and 15 Beaufort I from Imphal escorted by 41 P-40B attacked the airfield and scored 16 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 51 on the runways. Japanese losses were 92 men and 52 guns. The AA reinforcements did nothing good and only 3 bombers were damaged by AA fire (they probably flew too low for the heavy AA to fire…).
In the north, 1st Tk Rgt was bombed on the 21st and 22nd by Imphal airmen (each time 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I, escorted by 36 P-40B on the 21st and 8 Spitfire Vb on the 22nd) and lost 92 men and 5 vehicles. A P-40B and a Spitfire Vb were lost in crashes.
On the evening of the 22nd, 32 Ki-44 left Rangoon for Myitkyina (one crashed on the way) and the next day they flew LRCAP over the 1st Tk Rgt but there was no raid.
One Irving was shot down over India on the 21st by fighters.
On the 22nd, the 81st Naval Guard Unit (that had spent several months near Imphal as a practice target for Allied airmen, but had been rested and recompleted for 2 months in Rangoon) boarded barges and AP in Rangoon and was sent to reinforce the garrison of Andaman Islands.
China
The Japanese general offensive on the 21st was a total success (see the map on the previous post).
West of Sian, two Chinese Corps were isolated and were attacked by 2.33 Div and 1.5 Bde. On the 21st the attack was supported by 50 Ki-51 from Sian (that hit 46 men) and achieved a ratio of 97 to 1, enough for the 1st New Chinese Corps to surrender. The attack continued the next day, this time without air support, and was a success at 374 to 1, so the remaining Chinese unit, the 8th Corps, also surrendered, and the road was reopened for Japanese supplies. This two-day battle cost the Japanese forces 402 men and 18 guns, while the Chinese lost 17540 men.
Sixty miles more east, the main body of the North China Army (5 Div) launched on the 21st an attack on the 9th Chinese Corps that went out of the mountains the day before. Beaten at 2347 to 1, the Chinese lost 908 killed and wounded and more than 200 POWs, and retreated westwards. Japanese losses were 262 men and 4 guns. Of these Japanese troops, two divisions were ordered to remain here while the other will march SW, but the next day more Chinese got out of the mountains again, and these moves were cancelled. So the Japanese Command decided to drop the surrounding plan (units moving more north were recalled to Kungchang) and the troops 120 miles W of Sian will just train against passing Chinese, defeating each unit coming out of the mountains. The first such attack was launched on the 23rd, with the same 5 divisions against two Chinese Corps (5th New and 28th) that were defeated at 55 to 1 and also fled westwards, losing 534 killed and wounded and more than 750 POWs.
120 miles NE of Chungking, the twelve Chinese units holding the mountain pass (8 Corps, 1 Cav Corps, 1 Air base force and 2 HQ) were bombed on the 21st by 24 Ki-21, 21 Betties and 18 Ki-49 from Lanchow and lost 221 men. Then they were attacked by the 3rd Tk Div and the 34th, 35th and 37th Div and defeated at 12 to 1. They retreated SW towards Chungking. Japanese losses were 732 men and 16 guns, Chinese ones 347 killed and wounded and more than 2700 POWs. Japanese troops didn’t pursue. The 37th Div received orders to keep the mountain pass, while the 3 others divisions returned eastwards to join the surrounding battle. The next day, when the surrounding plan was dropped, these troops received orders to go to Hanchow, on the coast.
This move to Hanchow is the first step for the summer offensive, that will start from Wuchow and take Kweiyang, Kunming and Yunan. Japanese troops will leave N China to Hanchow then march along the coastal road to Canton. All troops W of Sian received orders to prepare for Kweiyang, and allready 6 Div received march orders for Hanchow. Six more will follow, once all Chinese units will have gone out of the mountains and will have been chased of the road.
In the last three days, I scored 168 points for destroyed Allied troops, probably all in China.
The operational training units in Wuhan were grounded these 3 days, but on the 22nd, Yunan and Chengtu were both LRCAPed each by two Chutais of Oscar II chasing Allied transports. They were found over Chengtu and 2 C-47 and 2 Dakota I were shot down. One Oscar II was lost to engine failure during this operation.
Japan
For the second time, the convoy supposed to bring 112k of supplies to Rangoon was found sailing empty. This time it had left since 3 days when I saw it… It was recalled to Osaka, and another convoy was ordered to load 56k supplies there to bring them to Rangoon (it will work, this time).
Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)
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AmiralLaurent
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AmiralLaurent
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24-26 March 1943: Efate and Luganville invaded
24-26 March 1943
Northern Pacific
Daily recon continued over Amchitka Island and reported on the 25th 7 P-40E flying CAP, probably scrambled from nearby Adak Island. Several Allied aircraft also reconned daily the empty Kiska Island.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
On the 24th, all Japanese convoys and combat TF gathered 120 miles west of Efate (and 120 miles S of Luganville) where the last orders were given, and then two big troop convoys, each carrying around 100 000 men, sailed respectively towards Efate and Luganville. Each was followed by a bombardment TF, an AK TF carrying supplies and a MSW TF. The landing began the next night in Luganville and the next afternoon in Efate.
Luganville was bombarded on both nights (24-25 and 25-26) by the BB Ise and Musashi, 2 CA and 3 CL (joined by 9 DD on the second night). They hit a total of 745 men, 9 guns and 5 vehicles and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies, 33 on runways, 10 on port, 7 on fuel and 16 on port supplies.
The landing itself in Luganville met some mines (an AP hit a VH2 mines there on the second night). In two days, the Allied defenders fired 2810 shells, setting on fire 2 AP and a PC, and hitting 6 AP, 2 APD and a PC more lightly. Japanese casualties were 6407 men, 27 guns and 9 vehicles. Allied troops also use artillery against the landed troops (hitting 11 men), that replied on the 26th, hitting 17 men and 1 gun. In the evening of the second day, the able landed troops numbered in Luganville 59 319 men, 544 guns and 148 vehicles (ASS 1470) and faced 19 508 able Allied men, 207 guns and 19 vehicles (ASS 382). See the pic below to have the list of the units.
It was the same thing at Efate, except that the landing began later, and that there were more mines, two of them critically damaging the AP Peking Maru, so 6 MSW kept in reserve with the KB sailed there in the night of the 25th-26th. Here the bombardment was done by the BB Hiei, 1 CA and 3 CL (DDs were not used because of the stronger CD defences) and hit in two days 117 men and 3 guns, scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on the port and 3 on supplies.
In two days, the Allied defenders fired 5891 shells, heavily damaging an AP, setting on fire 1 AP and 1 AK, and hitting 1 CL, 3 DD and 1 PG more lightly. Japanese casualties were 7290 men, 35 guns and 58 vehicles. Allied artillery fire against the landed troops was inefficient, only hitting 35 men and 3 guns, and return fire on the 26th hit 105 men, 2 guns and 1 vehicle. In the evening of the second day, the able landed troops numbered in Efate 57 921 men, 518 guns and 477 vehicles (ASS 1436) and faced 21 978 able Allied men, 199 guns and 57 vehicles (ASS 350).
On both days, Kido Butai airmen and Noumea bombers were supposed to support the operations by attacking Allied troops in both islands, but almost all flights were cancelled by bad weather. The only bomber raid sent was by 13 Ki-49 from Noumea on the morning of the 26th, but they didn’t find their target in the clouds and came back with bombs. The only contribution of the KB was to fly LRCAP over both beachheads, but there was none Allied air activity and the only incident was the loss of an A6M3a in a landing accident (the pilot, an ace, was rescued wounded).
In the evening of the 26th, some damaged ships left Efate (1 AP, 1 AK and 1 DD, under escort by 1 DD) and Luganville (3 AP and 1 APD, under escort by a DD) to sail to Noumea for emergency repairs. Both BB TF were also ordered to sail there to replenish ammunitions. The Kido Butai received orders to remain at the same place, and to try again to bomb Allied troops in co-ordination with Noumea LBA. LRCAP patrols over both beachheads were judged useless and were stopped this evening.
Landing operations on both islands will last one or two more days.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
Three damaged but patched DDs left Suva on the 24th for Japan.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
On the 24th, the barges bringing troops of the 5th Div to New Guinea were seen by Allied airmen but not attacked. The next night and day, they landed some hundred men in Lae, Buna and Salamaua (total 45 landing casualties) under harassing attacks by patrolling Allied bombers that sank two empty barges off Salamaua and Lae. On the 26th, the three empty bases ware taken, while another empty barge was sunk west of Salamaua by a Liberator. In the evening the barges that were cruising off the coast were ordered to return to the taken bases. They will refuel with the captured dumps and reload troops to occupy Finschhafen and Dobadura, or return them to Rabaul. The coast won’t be occupied.
During these three days, Allied airmen from PM didn’t sent raids against barges or troops but continued to fly training missions against Goodenough Island (total of 27 Beaufort V-IX and 2 P-40E sorties).
Timor-Amboina-Australia
A barge convoy sailing from Kendari to Lautem was unsuccessfully attacked on the 24th and the 25th by 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin. The barges had then unloaded, but rather than sailing north as usual, received orders to remain off Lautem. This evening 11 Oscar II arrived from Kendari to try to catch the attacking Dutch fighter-bombers. They flew CAP over the area the next day but no raid came. Barges were ordered to remain off Lautem until the next air attack.
Southern Resource Area
The following convoys were created in these 3 days: 3500 supplies from Singapore to Sabang, 18k oil from Miri to Formosa, 28k resources from Canton to Japan, and 7k resources from Rangoon to Singapore.
Burma
On the 24th, 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I escorted by 37 P-40B of the AVG and 8 Spitfire Vb took off from Imphal to attack the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles SE. This unit was defended by 14 Tojos from the 87 Sentai flying LRCAP from Myitkyina, but they were decimated by the AVG. The Sentai lost 9 Ki-44 and 7 pilots and claimed only two Beaufighter VIC shot down and a Vengeance damaged. The attack hit on the ground 12 men and 1 tank. One more Beaufighter VIC and a P-40B were lost in accidents. Another aircraft from the Myitkyina base was lost when a Dinah II was shot down by the Allied CAP over Imphal. In the evening, the 87 Sentai flew back to Rangoon.
The attacks on the 1st Tk Rgt continued the next two days with a total of 35 Beaufighter VIC, 18 Mk 21 and 20 Vengeance I sorties, escorted by 73 P-40B. They hit 76 men and 6 vehicles, while a Beaufighter VIC and a P-40B were lost in accidents.
The only other air activity was another inefficient raid on Rangoon by 7 Beaufighter VIF from Imphal on the night of the 25th-26th.
China
More Chinese went out of the mountains on the 24th and the 16th Corps (only having 671 able men) arrived on the road 120 miles west of Sian. It was attacked the next day by the 5 Japanese divisions holding this area and defeated at 1327 to 1, and retreated westwards. Japanese losses were 10 men and 2 guns, while the Chine lost more than 400 killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 26th, two more Chinese units arrived here, and will be chased on the same way tomorrow.
Training missions from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha were flown on 3 days for a total of 523 sorties (172 Ki-44, 96 Oscar II, 89 Oscar I, 75 A6M3 and 71 A6M3a). 2 Oscar II, 2 Oscar I and 2 A6M3a were lost in accidents, while 49 Chinese were hit.
Japanese engineers expanded Kweilin airfield to size 6.
Japan
Two supply convoys left Japanese ports, one bringing 35k supplies to Singapore, the other 10k to Bonins Islands.
An escort TF arrived in Tokyo with 4 ships damaged in the Southern Pacific (CA Kinugasa, CL Tama, a DD and a PG) and was disbanded. The Kagero-class DD escorting it were also docked and will receive the 1/43 upgrade.
Northern Pacific
Daily recon continued over Amchitka Island and reported on the 25th 7 P-40E flying CAP, probably scrambled from nearby Adak Island. Several Allied aircraft also reconned daily the empty Kiska Island.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
On the 24th, all Japanese convoys and combat TF gathered 120 miles west of Efate (and 120 miles S of Luganville) where the last orders were given, and then two big troop convoys, each carrying around 100 000 men, sailed respectively towards Efate and Luganville. Each was followed by a bombardment TF, an AK TF carrying supplies and a MSW TF. The landing began the next night in Luganville and the next afternoon in Efate.
Luganville was bombarded on both nights (24-25 and 25-26) by the BB Ise and Musashi, 2 CA and 3 CL (joined by 9 DD on the second night). They hit a total of 745 men, 9 guns and 5 vehicles and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies, 33 on runways, 10 on port, 7 on fuel and 16 on port supplies.
The landing itself in Luganville met some mines (an AP hit a VH2 mines there on the second night). In two days, the Allied defenders fired 2810 shells, setting on fire 2 AP and a PC, and hitting 6 AP, 2 APD and a PC more lightly. Japanese casualties were 6407 men, 27 guns and 9 vehicles. Allied troops also use artillery against the landed troops (hitting 11 men), that replied on the 26th, hitting 17 men and 1 gun. In the evening of the second day, the able landed troops numbered in Luganville 59 319 men, 544 guns and 148 vehicles (ASS 1470) and faced 19 508 able Allied men, 207 guns and 19 vehicles (ASS 382). See the pic below to have the list of the units.
It was the same thing at Efate, except that the landing began later, and that there were more mines, two of them critically damaging the AP Peking Maru, so 6 MSW kept in reserve with the KB sailed there in the night of the 25th-26th. Here the bombardment was done by the BB Hiei, 1 CA and 3 CL (DDs were not used because of the stronger CD defences) and hit in two days 117 men and 3 guns, scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on the port and 3 on supplies.
In two days, the Allied defenders fired 5891 shells, heavily damaging an AP, setting on fire 1 AP and 1 AK, and hitting 1 CL, 3 DD and 1 PG more lightly. Japanese casualties were 7290 men, 35 guns and 58 vehicles. Allied artillery fire against the landed troops was inefficient, only hitting 35 men and 3 guns, and return fire on the 26th hit 105 men, 2 guns and 1 vehicle. In the evening of the second day, the able landed troops numbered in Efate 57 921 men, 518 guns and 477 vehicles (ASS 1436) and faced 21 978 able Allied men, 199 guns and 57 vehicles (ASS 350).
On both days, Kido Butai airmen and Noumea bombers were supposed to support the operations by attacking Allied troops in both islands, but almost all flights were cancelled by bad weather. The only bomber raid sent was by 13 Ki-49 from Noumea on the morning of the 26th, but they didn’t find their target in the clouds and came back with bombs. The only contribution of the KB was to fly LRCAP over both beachheads, but there was none Allied air activity and the only incident was the loss of an A6M3a in a landing accident (the pilot, an ace, was rescued wounded).
In the evening of the 26th, some damaged ships left Efate (1 AP, 1 AK and 1 DD, under escort by 1 DD) and Luganville (3 AP and 1 APD, under escort by a DD) to sail to Noumea for emergency repairs. Both BB TF were also ordered to sail there to replenish ammunitions. The Kido Butai received orders to remain at the same place, and to try again to bomb Allied troops in co-ordination with Noumea LBA. LRCAP patrols over both beachheads were judged useless and were stopped this evening.
Landing operations on both islands will last one or two more days.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
Three damaged but patched DDs left Suva on the 24th for Japan.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
On the 24th, the barges bringing troops of the 5th Div to New Guinea were seen by Allied airmen but not attacked. The next night and day, they landed some hundred men in Lae, Buna and Salamaua (total 45 landing casualties) under harassing attacks by patrolling Allied bombers that sank two empty barges off Salamaua and Lae. On the 26th, the three empty bases ware taken, while another empty barge was sunk west of Salamaua by a Liberator. In the evening the barges that were cruising off the coast were ordered to return to the taken bases. They will refuel with the captured dumps and reload troops to occupy Finschhafen and Dobadura, or return them to Rabaul. The coast won’t be occupied.
During these three days, Allied airmen from PM didn’t sent raids against barges or troops but continued to fly training missions against Goodenough Island (total of 27 Beaufort V-IX and 2 P-40E sorties).
Timor-Amboina-Australia
A barge convoy sailing from Kendari to Lautem was unsuccessfully attacked on the 24th and the 25th by 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin. The barges had then unloaded, but rather than sailing north as usual, received orders to remain off Lautem. This evening 11 Oscar II arrived from Kendari to try to catch the attacking Dutch fighter-bombers. They flew CAP over the area the next day but no raid came. Barges were ordered to remain off Lautem until the next air attack.
Southern Resource Area
The following convoys were created in these 3 days: 3500 supplies from Singapore to Sabang, 18k oil from Miri to Formosa, 28k resources from Canton to Japan, and 7k resources from Rangoon to Singapore.
Burma
On the 24th, 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I escorted by 37 P-40B of the AVG and 8 Spitfire Vb took off from Imphal to attack the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles SE. This unit was defended by 14 Tojos from the 87 Sentai flying LRCAP from Myitkyina, but they were decimated by the AVG. The Sentai lost 9 Ki-44 and 7 pilots and claimed only two Beaufighter VIC shot down and a Vengeance damaged. The attack hit on the ground 12 men and 1 tank. One more Beaufighter VIC and a P-40B were lost in accidents. Another aircraft from the Myitkyina base was lost when a Dinah II was shot down by the Allied CAP over Imphal. In the evening, the 87 Sentai flew back to Rangoon.
The attacks on the 1st Tk Rgt continued the next two days with a total of 35 Beaufighter VIC, 18 Mk 21 and 20 Vengeance I sorties, escorted by 73 P-40B. They hit 76 men and 6 vehicles, while a Beaufighter VIC and a P-40B were lost in accidents.
The only other air activity was another inefficient raid on Rangoon by 7 Beaufighter VIF from Imphal on the night of the 25th-26th.
China
More Chinese went out of the mountains on the 24th and the 16th Corps (only having 671 able men) arrived on the road 120 miles west of Sian. It was attacked the next day by the 5 Japanese divisions holding this area and defeated at 1327 to 1, and retreated westwards. Japanese losses were 10 men and 2 guns, while the Chine lost more than 400 killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 26th, two more Chinese units arrived here, and will be chased on the same way tomorrow.
Training missions from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha were flown on 3 days for a total of 523 sorties (172 Ki-44, 96 Oscar II, 89 Oscar I, 75 A6M3 and 71 A6M3a). 2 Oscar II, 2 Oscar I and 2 A6M3a were lost in accidents, while 49 Chinese were hit.
Japanese engineers expanded Kweilin airfield to size 6.
Japan
Two supply convoys left Japanese ports, one bringing 35k supplies to Singapore, the other 10k to Bonins Islands.
An escort TF arrived in Tokyo with 4 ships damaged in the Southern Pacific (CA Kinugasa, CL Tama, a DD and a PG) and was disbanded. The Kagero-class DD escorting it were also docked and will receive the 1/43 upgrade.
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AmiralLaurent
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27-29 March 1943: landings continued
27-29 March 1943
Central Pacific
On the 27th SIGINT signalled an Allied convoy 500 miles south of Los Angeles but two submarines patrolling nearby and sent to this area found nothing.
Allied submarines were reported off Niihau, Hawaii, but MSW sent there found no miens and returned to PH without seeing anything.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Finally landing operations were slower than planned and only finished on Luganville on the 29th while some damaged APs still had some troops off Efate at the end of these three days. There was no air, naval or submarine attack against the landings and I will keep the same format at the last post to describe landing operations.
At Luganville, in three days, the Allied defenders fired 1103 shells, setting on fire 3 AP and a PC, and hitting 3 AP, 1 APD and 2 PC more lightly. Japanese casualties were 1401 men. Ashore both sides exchanged artillery fire and Allied losses were 202 men and 3 guns, while Japanese lost 6 men. There was no Japanese air raid on Luganville in this period. In the evening of the 29th, the Japanese troops in Luganville numbered in Luganville 79 667 able men, 681 guns and 159 vehicles (ASS 1548) and faced 19 579 able Allied men, 200 guns and 22 vehicles (ASS 382).
A total of 6 damaged ships (5 AP and 1 PC) left the convoy here to sail to Noumea for emergency repairs.
Efate having the weaker garrison (in ASS value, even if it had more men) was designated on the 27th as target number one (while the original plan was to take Luganville first). So it was the only target of Allied airmen for these three days and the 32nd US Div was bombed by Noumea airmen on 3 days, and by KB airmen on the 27th and 28th, for a total of 471 bombers sorties (188 Kates, 114 Ki-21, 92 Vals, 44 Betties, 33 Ki-49) escorted by 10 A6M3a, and lost 273 men and 6 guns, while the 31st Naval Base Force here was also bombed on the 29th by 14 Ki-21, 9 Betties and 3 Ki-49 and lost 20 men, but Japanese losses were heavy. On the 28th and 29th the 1st Lt Billing L of 55th FG patrolled over the island with the last P-40E available and shot down 2 Kates and 1 Pete (kills 5-7 for him) while avoiding the few Zeroes in the area, and was chased in the afternoon of the 29th by a sweep of 20 A6M3a but survived. AA fire of the 32nd Div shot down in 3 days 2 Kates, 2 Vals, 2 Betties, 2 Ki-49 and 1 Ki-49, while three more Japanese aircraft (1 Kate, 1 Betty and 1 Ki-21) were lost in accidents.
Landing operations continued during this time in Efate. In three days, the Allied defenders fired 4283 shells, hitting 1 CL, 2 DD, 1 AP and 1 PG. Japanese casualties were 2352 men, 2 guns and 9 vehicles. The 3000-ton AP Peking Maru that was critically damaged by two mines sank off the beachhead on the 29th. Ashore both sides exchanged artillery fire and Allied losses were 483 men, 15 guns and 6 vehicles, while Japanese lost 81 men and 7 guns. In the evening of the 29th, the Japanese troops in Luganville numbered in Luganville 78 554 able men, 542 guns and 578 vehicles (ASS 1523) and faced 21 287 able Allied men, 198 guns and 55 vehicles (ASS 340).
During these 3 days, both Japanese BB TF reloaded shells in Noumea port and sailed both north. In the evening of the 29th, the Hiei TF was off Efate and was ordered to bombard it the next night. All Japanese airmen were ordered to bombard troops here, and the KB was divided in two groups to be sure to not be covered by clouds entirely. Japanese troops will launch tomorrow a shock attack on the Allied base.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
Barges continued to move troops along the New Guinea coast, and 5th Div men occupied Dobadura (on the 29th) and landed in Finschhafen (21 casualties), that will be taken tomorrow. Bad weather covered most of this activity but a barge was heavily damaged on the 28th and two sunk on the 29th. By chance all were empty, and three more were sent from Rabaul to help to evacuate the troops now.
Allied airmen continued to fly daily training missions against Goodenough Island (total of 36 Beaufort V-IX and 61 P-40E sorties in 3 days) but the 29th saw a more noticeable mission, when 86 B-24D from PM laid mines off Buna. It was the first aerial minelaying mission of the war. Two Liberator were lost in crashes.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 27th, 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin were sent to chase barges off Lautem. It was a routine task for them but this time they had the surprise to be bounced by 8 Oscar II of 77 Sentai. One Dutch fighter was shot down, two damaged and the other missed their target. In the evening the Japanese fighters returned to Kendari, as did the barges. An insignificant victory, but each kill scored by an Oscar II is worth the effort!
The Allied commander was planning in the area operations on a bigger scale. On the 29th, 144 B-17E from Darwin attacked Amboina and bombed the oilfields, leaving only 2 operational (more than 20 before the attack). One Fortress was lost to engine failure.
Allied engineers opened an airfield on Tenimbar Island, north of Darwin.
Southern Resource Area
Three convoys were created in 3 days: 10k resources from Toboali to Singapore, 14k supplies from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon and 56k resources from Kuala Lumpur to Japan.
Burma
The only important Allied raid in 3 days was on the 29th, an attack on Mandalay resource centers by 29 B-17E, 27 Blenheim Iv, 29 B-25J and 16 Beaufort I from Imphal escorted by 35 P-40B. They scored 20 hits, and after the raid 19 centers remained workable (probably around 30 before). AA fire shot down 1 B-25J.
SW of Imphal, the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked on the 27th and 29th, both time by 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I, and lost 97 men and 6 vehicles while 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and an escort P-40B were lost in crashes on the 27th.
Beaufighter VIF from Imphal raided Rangoon on two night (11 sorties) but hit nothing and one was lost in a crash.
Japanese airmen only flew recon and suffered no loss. In Myitkyina, the 4th Rgt was ordered to go by train to Rangoon for a R&R period (morale was at 19). The city will be held by the 17th Div in the meantime.
In the evening of the 29th, 35 Ki-61, 25 Ki-44 and 23 A6M2 flew from Rangoon to Mandalay to lay an ambush here by flying 100% CAP.
China
Chinese units continued to go out of the mountains on the rod 120 miles W of Sian and continued to be defeated there by the 5 Japanese divisions waiting them. The 40th Chinese Corps and the HQ Red Army were defeated on the 27th, and the 14th Corps on the 29th. In both battles, Japanese lost 248 men and 14 guns, Chinese 650 killed and wounded and 750 POWs.
On the 29th there was good weather over China and while 158 fighters from Wuhan flew a training mission against troops NW of Changsha, hitting 39 men without loss, Oscar II again flew LRCAP over Chinese cities: 2 Chutai over Chengtu, 1 over Yenen, another over Kunming and a last over Chungking. Transports were found and attacked by 24 Sentai pilots over Yunan. 2 C-47, 1 Dakota I and 1 C-60A Lodestar were shot down, and 2 Dakota I and 1 C-47 crashed in the confusion. An Oscar II was lost to engine failure during this operation. Contrary to the usual plan, LRCAP won’t be stopped totally tomorrow but a Chutai will continue to LRCAP Chengtu.
Japanese engineers expanded Wuchow airfield to size 6.
Japan
The CV Junyo received her 3/43 upgrade in Osaka.
Central Pacific
On the 27th SIGINT signalled an Allied convoy 500 miles south of Los Angeles but two submarines patrolling nearby and sent to this area found nothing.
Allied submarines were reported off Niihau, Hawaii, but MSW sent there found no miens and returned to PH without seeing anything.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Finally landing operations were slower than planned and only finished on Luganville on the 29th while some damaged APs still had some troops off Efate at the end of these three days. There was no air, naval or submarine attack against the landings and I will keep the same format at the last post to describe landing operations.
At Luganville, in three days, the Allied defenders fired 1103 shells, setting on fire 3 AP and a PC, and hitting 3 AP, 1 APD and 2 PC more lightly. Japanese casualties were 1401 men. Ashore both sides exchanged artillery fire and Allied losses were 202 men and 3 guns, while Japanese lost 6 men. There was no Japanese air raid on Luganville in this period. In the evening of the 29th, the Japanese troops in Luganville numbered in Luganville 79 667 able men, 681 guns and 159 vehicles (ASS 1548) and faced 19 579 able Allied men, 200 guns and 22 vehicles (ASS 382).
A total of 6 damaged ships (5 AP and 1 PC) left the convoy here to sail to Noumea for emergency repairs.
Efate having the weaker garrison (in ASS value, even if it had more men) was designated on the 27th as target number one (while the original plan was to take Luganville first). So it was the only target of Allied airmen for these three days and the 32nd US Div was bombed by Noumea airmen on 3 days, and by KB airmen on the 27th and 28th, for a total of 471 bombers sorties (188 Kates, 114 Ki-21, 92 Vals, 44 Betties, 33 Ki-49) escorted by 10 A6M3a, and lost 273 men and 6 guns, while the 31st Naval Base Force here was also bombed on the 29th by 14 Ki-21, 9 Betties and 3 Ki-49 and lost 20 men, but Japanese losses were heavy. On the 28th and 29th the 1st Lt Billing L of 55th FG patrolled over the island with the last P-40E available and shot down 2 Kates and 1 Pete (kills 5-7 for him) while avoiding the few Zeroes in the area, and was chased in the afternoon of the 29th by a sweep of 20 A6M3a but survived. AA fire of the 32nd Div shot down in 3 days 2 Kates, 2 Vals, 2 Betties, 2 Ki-49 and 1 Ki-49, while three more Japanese aircraft (1 Kate, 1 Betty and 1 Ki-21) were lost in accidents.
Landing operations continued during this time in Efate. In three days, the Allied defenders fired 4283 shells, hitting 1 CL, 2 DD, 1 AP and 1 PG. Japanese casualties were 2352 men, 2 guns and 9 vehicles. The 3000-ton AP Peking Maru that was critically damaged by two mines sank off the beachhead on the 29th. Ashore both sides exchanged artillery fire and Allied losses were 483 men, 15 guns and 6 vehicles, while Japanese lost 81 men and 7 guns. In the evening of the 29th, the Japanese troops in Luganville numbered in Luganville 78 554 able men, 542 guns and 578 vehicles (ASS 1523) and faced 21 287 able Allied men, 198 guns and 55 vehicles (ASS 340).
During these 3 days, both Japanese BB TF reloaded shells in Noumea port and sailed both north. In the evening of the 29th, the Hiei TF was off Efate and was ordered to bombard it the next night. All Japanese airmen were ordered to bombard troops here, and the KB was divided in two groups to be sure to not be covered by clouds entirely. Japanese troops will launch tomorrow a shock attack on the Allied base.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
Barges continued to move troops along the New Guinea coast, and 5th Div men occupied Dobadura (on the 29th) and landed in Finschhafen (21 casualties), that will be taken tomorrow. Bad weather covered most of this activity but a barge was heavily damaged on the 28th and two sunk on the 29th. By chance all were empty, and three more were sent from Rabaul to help to evacuate the troops now.
Allied airmen continued to fly daily training missions against Goodenough Island (total of 36 Beaufort V-IX and 61 P-40E sorties in 3 days) but the 29th saw a more noticeable mission, when 86 B-24D from PM laid mines off Buna. It was the first aerial minelaying mission of the war. Two Liberator were lost in crashes.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 27th, 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin were sent to chase barges off Lautem. It was a routine task for them but this time they had the surprise to be bounced by 8 Oscar II of 77 Sentai. One Dutch fighter was shot down, two damaged and the other missed their target. In the evening the Japanese fighters returned to Kendari, as did the barges. An insignificant victory, but each kill scored by an Oscar II is worth the effort!
The Allied commander was planning in the area operations on a bigger scale. On the 29th, 144 B-17E from Darwin attacked Amboina and bombed the oilfields, leaving only 2 operational (more than 20 before the attack). One Fortress was lost to engine failure.
Allied engineers opened an airfield on Tenimbar Island, north of Darwin.
Southern Resource Area
Three convoys were created in 3 days: 10k resources from Toboali to Singapore, 14k supplies from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon and 56k resources from Kuala Lumpur to Japan.
Burma
The only important Allied raid in 3 days was on the 29th, an attack on Mandalay resource centers by 29 B-17E, 27 Blenheim Iv, 29 B-25J and 16 Beaufort I from Imphal escorted by 35 P-40B. They scored 20 hits, and after the raid 19 centers remained workable (probably around 30 before). AA fire shot down 1 B-25J.
SW of Imphal, the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked on the 27th and 29th, both time by 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I, and lost 97 men and 6 vehicles while 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and an escort P-40B were lost in crashes on the 27th.
Beaufighter VIF from Imphal raided Rangoon on two night (11 sorties) but hit nothing and one was lost in a crash.
Japanese airmen only flew recon and suffered no loss. In Myitkyina, the 4th Rgt was ordered to go by train to Rangoon for a R&R period (morale was at 19). The city will be held by the 17th Div in the meantime.
In the evening of the 29th, 35 Ki-61, 25 Ki-44 and 23 A6M2 flew from Rangoon to Mandalay to lay an ambush here by flying 100% CAP.
China
Chinese units continued to go out of the mountains on the rod 120 miles W of Sian and continued to be defeated there by the 5 Japanese divisions waiting them. The 40th Chinese Corps and the HQ Red Army were defeated on the 27th, and the 14th Corps on the 29th. In both battles, Japanese lost 248 men and 14 guns, Chinese 650 killed and wounded and 750 POWs.
On the 29th there was good weather over China and while 158 fighters from Wuhan flew a training mission against troops NW of Changsha, hitting 39 men without loss, Oscar II again flew LRCAP over Chinese cities: 2 Chutai over Chengtu, 1 over Yenen, another over Kunming and a last over Chungking. Transports were found and attacked by 24 Sentai pilots over Yunan. 2 C-47, 1 Dakota I and 1 C-60A Lodestar were shot down, and 2 Dakota I and 1 C-47 crashed in the confusion. An Oscar II was lost to engine failure during this operation. Contrary to the usual plan, LRCAP won’t be stopped totally tomorrow but a Chutai will continue to LRCAP Chengtu.
Japanese engineers expanded Wuchow airfield to size 6.
Japan
The CV Junyo received her 3/43 upgrade in Osaka.
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
30 March 1943: Efate fell, another US division destroyed
30 March 1943
Central Pacific
Two Naval Guard Units being in PH and prepared at 100% for Lahaina boarded ships that will bring them to this base (bringing the ASS value of the Lahaina garrison to over 450, while keeping the PH garrison over 1000 with two Div here).
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
The last troops landed in Efate during the day and the morning and suffered 52 casualties under 151 shells fired by defenders. Far more explosive ordnance was going the other way. The base was bombarded during the night by the BB Hiei, 2 CA, 4 CL and 9 DD that hit 182 men and 4 vehicles and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies, 23 on runways, 21 on port and 8 on port supplies. After dawn, a sweep of 23 A6M3a from the KB searched the last P-40E defending Efate but didn’t find it and a Zero was lost in a landing accident. But this lonely fighter couldn’t then nothing when three waves of bombers totalling 104 Vals, 63 Kates, 32 Ki-21, 22 Betties and 4 Ki-49 launched form two CV TF and Noumea attacked the 32nd USA Div, hitting 108 men and 5 guns. Two Betties and 1 Ki-21 were lost in accidents. By the way the troublesome P-40 pilot, 1LT Billings L. of 55th FG, nevertheless shot down a Dinah III as his 8th victory, and attacked a Kate during one of the above raid, but missed it.
And then the Japanese troops (3 Div, 1 Tk Div, 1 Tk Rgt, 4 Eng Rgt, 2 ART units) attacked. Engineers reduced two fort levels (from 9 to 7) and the attack achieved a ratio of 13 to 1. Efate fell at the first attempt ! Japanese casualties were limited to 954 men, 24 guns and 4 vehicles. Allied losses were reported as 11 410 men, 117 guns and 25 vehicles, strange figures as the combat report indicated 20 210 men, 164 guns and 46 vehicles when the attack was launched, and all units (32nd USA Div, 31st Naval Base Force and 1st and 2nd Seabees). Troop points scored this turn indicated Allied losses of around 20 000 men (+ 544 points). Efate base was damaged at 100/22/53.
All troops in Efate were immediately ordered to prepare for Luganville, in case they will be needed here. All support (BB TF, KB and Noumea LBA) was now ordered to pound this base and the troops holding it. The ground attack will be launched here in two days. A part of the supply-laden AKs off Efate were also ordered to go to Luganville beachhead and unload there.
In Luganville activity today was limited to artillery fire by both sides. 65 Allied men were hit for no Japanese loss.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
In the evening, 35 Tinas left Suva for Noumea, but one crashed on the way. The other will be used to ferry air support personnel to Efate in some days, if the attack of Luganville fails. In this case, the bombers based in Noumea will be moved to Efate to provide better support.
A convoy loaded 14k supplies in Suva for Tongatapu.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
A detachment of 5th Div occupied the empty base of Finschhafen, while 12 Beaufort V-IX and 16 P-40E from PM flew a training mission against Goodenough Island and lost a P-40 in a crash.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the morning, 93 B-17E from Darwin raided again Amboina oilfields and scored 20 hits, but did no new damage. One bomber was lost to engine failure.
Southern Resource Area
Four convoys received loading orders this turn. The biggest will carry 96k oil and 56k resources from Singapore to Japan, other will carry 21k resources from Kendari to Japan, 28k resources from Canton (China) to Japan and 7k supplies from Soerabaja to Koepang, Timor.
Burma
There was no raid, and the ambush over Mandalay didn’t work. 9 Ki-44 leaking from there tried unsuccessfully to intercept a F-5A over Pagan.
In the evening, civilian engineers were ordered to repair both resource (19 OK) and oil (5 OK) centers in Mandalay, so the CAP here will be useful.
China
A new Chinese unit went out of the mountains 120 miles W of Sian and will be attacked tomorrow as usual.
The Oscar II Chutai flying patrol over Chengtu reported Allied transport aircraft flying in and shot down a Lodestar, while a Dakota I was lost in a crash. Tomorrow Oscars will patrol over Chengtu, Chungking and Yunan.
55 Ki-44, 29 Oscar I, 25 A6M3a, 24 A6M3 and 18 Oscar II flew a training mission from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha and hit 49 men but lost two Tojo and one A6M3 in crashes.
Japan
A new convoy will sail from Osaka to Canton to bring 70k supplies to continue to repair resource centers in Wuchow.
As the merchant shipyard point pool was falling, about ten AK were stopped today.
Central Pacific
Two Naval Guard Units being in PH and prepared at 100% for Lahaina boarded ships that will bring them to this base (bringing the ASS value of the Lahaina garrison to over 450, while keeping the PH garrison over 1000 with two Div here).
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
The last troops landed in Efate during the day and the morning and suffered 52 casualties under 151 shells fired by defenders. Far more explosive ordnance was going the other way. The base was bombarded during the night by the BB Hiei, 2 CA, 4 CL and 9 DD that hit 182 men and 4 vehicles and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies, 23 on runways, 21 on port and 8 on port supplies. After dawn, a sweep of 23 A6M3a from the KB searched the last P-40E defending Efate but didn’t find it and a Zero was lost in a landing accident. But this lonely fighter couldn’t then nothing when three waves of bombers totalling 104 Vals, 63 Kates, 32 Ki-21, 22 Betties and 4 Ki-49 launched form two CV TF and Noumea attacked the 32nd USA Div, hitting 108 men and 5 guns. Two Betties and 1 Ki-21 were lost in accidents. By the way the troublesome P-40 pilot, 1LT Billings L. of 55th FG, nevertheless shot down a Dinah III as his 8th victory, and attacked a Kate during one of the above raid, but missed it.
And then the Japanese troops (3 Div, 1 Tk Div, 1 Tk Rgt, 4 Eng Rgt, 2 ART units) attacked. Engineers reduced two fort levels (from 9 to 7) and the attack achieved a ratio of 13 to 1. Efate fell at the first attempt ! Japanese casualties were limited to 954 men, 24 guns and 4 vehicles. Allied losses were reported as 11 410 men, 117 guns and 25 vehicles, strange figures as the combat report indicated 20 210 men, 164 guns and 46 vehicles when the attack was launched, and all units (32nd USA Div, 31st Naval Base Force and 1st and 2nd Seabees). Troop points scored this turn indicated Allied losses of around 20 000 men (+ 544 points). Efate base was damaged at 100/22/53.
All troops in Efate were immediately ordered to prepare for Luganville, in case they will be needed here. All support (BB TF, KB and Noumea LBA) was now ordered to pound this base and the troops holding it. The ground attack will be launched here in two days. A part of the supply-laden AKs off Efate were also ordered to go to Luganville beachhead and unload there.
In Luganville activity today was limited to artillery fire by both sides. 65 Allied men were hit for no Japanese loss.
New Zealand- Southern Pacific
In the evening, 35 Tinas left Suva for Noumea, but one crashed on the way. The other will be used to ferry air support personnel to Efate in some days, if the attack of Luganville fails. In this case, the bombers based in Noumea will be moved to Efate to provide better support.
A convoy loaded 14k supplies in Suva for Tongatapu.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
A detachment of 5th Div occupied the empty base of Finschhafen, while 12 Beaufort V-IX and 16 P-40E from PM flew a training mission against Goodenough Island and lost a P-40 in a crash.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the morning, 93 B-17E from Darwin raided again Amboina oilfields and scored 20 hits, but did no new damage. One bomber was lost to engine failure.
Southern Resource Area
Four convoys received loading orders this turn. The biggest will carry 96k oil and 56k resources from Singapore to Japan, other will carry 21k resources from Kendari to Japan, 28k resources from Canton (China) to Japan and 7k supplies from Soerabaja to Koepang, Timor.
Burma
There was no raid, and the ambush over Mandalay didn’t work. 9 Ki-44 leaking from there tried unsuccessfully to intercept a F-5A over Pagan.
In the evening, civilian engineers were ordered to repair both resource (19 OK) and oil (5 OK) centers in Mandalay, so the CAP here will be useful.
China
A new Chinese unit went out of the mountains 120 miles W of Sian and will be attacked tomorrow as usual.
The Oscar II Chutai flying patrol over Chengtu reported Allied transport aircraft flying in and shot down a Lodestar, while a Dakota I was lost in a crash. Tomorrow Oscars will patrol over Chengtu, Chungking and Yunan.
55 Ki-44, 29 Oscar I, 25 A6M3a, 24 A6M3 and 18 Oscar II flew a training mission from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha and hit 49 men but lost two Tojo and one A6M3 in crashes.
Japan
A new convoy will sail from Osaka to Canton to bring 70k supplies to continue to repair resource centers in Wuchow.
As the merchant shipyard point pool was falling, about ten AK were stopped today.
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
31 March 1943: preparations
31 March 1943
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Bad weather cancelled all flying, and it was a day of preparation for the Japanese forces. The only activity was artillery fire in Luganville, with 48 Allied casualties.
Tomorrow, the Japanese forces in Luganville will launch a shock attack and try to repeat the success in Efate yesterday. They will be supported by two BB TF, KB airmen and Noumea-based bombers.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
The main Allied activity here was minelaying off Buna by 81 B-24D from PM, while Goodenough Island was the target of a new training raid by 12 Beaufort V-IX and 23 P-40E. One Liberator was lost in an accident.
Patrolling bombers sank two barges during the day, one empty and one laden with troops. Until now Japanese troops had been lucky, their barges were always sunk once they had landed.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Nothing to report
Burma
During the night, Rangoon was attacked by 7 Beaufighter VIF from Imphal that did no damage.
In the morning, Lashio was bombed by 30 B-17E, 28 B-25J, 27 Blenheim IV and 15 Beaufort I escorted by 39 P-40B from Imphal and reported 12 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 59 on the runway, and 22 casualties. One b-17, one Beaufort and one Blenheim were lost in crashes.
More north the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked SE of Imphal by 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb and lost 36 men and 1 vehicle.
Japanese engineers finished to build the base of Taung Gyi (AF 4 and fort 9). The three Const Bn that worked here will be scattered, one will go to Lashio, one to Rahaeng and one to Tavoy. The last two will take part in the building of the next defensive line, in Thailand.
China
120 miles west of Yunan, the 50th Chinese Corps was attacked by 5 Japanese Div, defeated at 1223 to 1, and retreated westwards. It lost 319 killed and wounded, and more than 200 POWs, while Japanese losses were 64 men and 2 guns.
Oscars of the 24 Sentai flying LRCAP over Yunan intercept Allied transport and shot down 2 C-47 and 1 Lodestar. An Oscar II and a Dakota I were lost in crashes.
Another training raid by 145 fighters from Wuhan targeted Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and lost a Ki-44 in a crash. In Lanchow, an A6M3a Daitai reduced to 9 pilots received 18 rookies and will train them here.
New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Bad weather cancelled all flying, and it was a day of preparation for the Japanese forces. The only activity was artillery fire in Luganville, with 48 Allied casualties.
Tomorrow, the Japanese forces in Luganville will launch a shock attack and try to repeat the success in Efate yesterday. They will be supported by two BB TF, KB airmen and Noumea-based bombers.
Bismarcks-Solomons-New Guinea
The main Allied activity here was minelaying off Buna by 81 B-24D from PM, while Goodenough Island was the target of a new training raid by 12 Beaufort V-IX and 23 P-40E. One Liberator was lost in an accident.
Patrolling bombers sank two barges during the day, one empty and one laden with troops. Until now Japanese troops had been lucky, their barges were always sunk once they had landed.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Nothing to report
Burma
During the night, Rangoon was attacked by 7 Beaufighter VIF from Imphal that did no damage.
In the morning, Lashio was bombed by 30 B-17E, 28 B-25J, 27 Blenheim IV and 15 Beaufort I escorted by 39 P-40B from Imphal and reported 12 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 59 on the runway, and 22 casualties. One b-17, one Beaufort and one Blenheim were lost in crashes.
More north the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked SE of Imphal by 18 Beaufighter VIC, 9 Mk 21 and 10 Vengeance I escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb and lost 36 men and 1 vehicle.
Japanese engineers finished to build the base of Taung Gyi (AF 4 and fort 9). The three Const Bn that worked here will be scattered, one will go to Lashio, one to Rahaeng and one to Tavoy. The last two will take part in the building of the next defensive line, in Thailand.
China
120 miles west of Yunan, the 50th Chinese Corps was attacked by 5 Japanese Div, defeated at 1223 to 1, and retreated westwards. It lost 319 killed and wounded, and more than 200 POWs, while Japanese losses were 64 men and 2 guns.
Oscars of the 24 Sentai flying LRCAP over Yunan intercept Allied transport and shot down 2 C-47 and 1 Lodestar. An Oscar II and a Dakota I were lost in crashes.
Another training raid by 145 fighters from Wuhan targeted Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and lost a Ki-44 in a crash. In Lanchow, an A6M3a Daitai reduced to 9 pilots received 18 rookies and will train them here.
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
March 1943 monthly report
Monthly report March 1943
Japanese score: 51 349 (+ 3 542)
Bases 14 523 (+ 932)
Aircraft 8 859 (+ 574)
Army 19 914 (+ 1 931)
Ship 7 335 (+ 105) 454 ships sunk (+ 23: 14 PT, 6 SS...)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 718 (+ 0)
Allied score: 7 463 (- 1 518)
Bases 1 234 (- 1 910)
Aircraft 4 162 (+ 280)
Army 887 (+ 42)
Ship 1180 (+ 70) 128 ships sunk (+ 10)
Strategic 0
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 4 573 000 (bases) + around 265 000 (TFs) = around 4 838 000 (+ 42 000)
Fuel : 4 493 000 (bases) + around 57 000 (TFs) = around 4 550 000 (+ 23 000)
Ressource centers : 18 893 (+ 171)
Ressources : 1 189 000 (bases) + 175 000 (TFs) = 1 364 000 (+ 20 000)
Oil centers : 2 771 (- 25)
Oil: 1 737 000 (bases) + 278 000 (TFs) = 2 015 000 (+ 75 000)
Manpower centers : 817 (+ 0)
Manpower pool : 872 000 (+ 37 000)
Heavy industry: 13 846 (+ 28)
Heavy industry pool: 275 000 (+ 22 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 905 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 160 000 (+ 11 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 2 900 (+ 600)
Aircraft engine factories: 1587 (+ 20)
Aircraft frames factories: 1171 (+ 12)
Aircraft research: 173 (+ 57) (both versions of A6M5, Judy and Jill)
Aircraft production:
218 A6M3a Zero (capacity 246, partially stopped at end of the month), 161 Ki-43-IIa (159), 61 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 51 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (43), 50 Ki-46-III Dinah (48), 46 G4M1 Betty (46), 28 Ki-45 KAIb Nick (25), 22 Ki-49 Helen (23), 20 Ki-21 Sally (20), 18 E13A1 Jake (20), 16 J1N1-R Irving (16), 14 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 10 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 6 L3Y Tina (5), 0 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (123, stopped), 0 A6M3 Zero (72, suspended), 0 Ki-51 Sonia (45, stopped), 0 D3A Val (41, stopped), 0 Ki-48 (capacity 40, stopped), 0 B5N Kate (40, stopped), 0 H8K Emily (32, suspended), 0 L2D2 Tabby (10, suspended), 0 MC-21 Sally (5, suspended), 0 E14Y1 Glen (4, suspended), 0 H6K2-L Mavis (4, suspended)
Total: 721 aircraft (450 fighters (including 10 Rufes), 88 level bombers, 66 recon, 51 night-fighters, 28 fighter-bombers, 20 transport, 18 floatplanes, 0 divebombers, 0 torpedo bombers)
All indicators are on the green, exceot the number of open oilfields (due to Allied bombing raids on Mandalay and Amboina) but the oil production is still far superior to the needs, so this is not a problem.
In fact the limiting factor is still the resource number. Repairs will continue in Wuchow and the production should rise. The current production is allowing an increase of HI by 600 points. To remain conservative, and build up stocks, I will increase HI during April by 300 points (well launch the expansion, as repairs should last until July).
This extra HI will be used to accelerate the research of the Judy and Jill, and by expanding a little the naval shipyards.
Japanese score: 51 349 (+ 3 542)
Bases 14 523 (+ 932)
Aircraft 8 859 (+ 574)
Army 19 914 (+ 1 931)
Ship 7 335 (+ 105) 454 ships sunk (+ 23: 14 PT, 6 SS...)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 718 (+ 0)
Allied score: 7 463 (- 1 518)
Bases 1 234 (- 1 910)
Aircraft 4 162 (+ 280)
Army 887 (+ 42)
Ship 1180 (+ 70) 128 ships sunk (+ 10)
Strategic 0
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 4 573 000 (bases) + around 265 000 (TFs) = around 4 838 000 (+ 42 000)
Fuel : 4 493 000 (bases) + around 57 000 (TFs) = around 4 550 000 (+ 23 000)
Ressource centers : 18 893 (+ 171)
Ressources : 1 189 000 (bases) + 175 000 (TFs) = 1 364 000 (+ 20 000)
Oil centers : 2 771 (- 25)
Oil: 1 737 000 (bases) + 278 000 (TFs) = 2 015 000 (+ 75 000)
Manpower centers : 817 (+ 0)
Manpower pool : 872 000 (+ 37 000)
Heavy industry: 13 846 (+ 28)
Heavy industry pool: 275 000 (+ 22 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 0)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 905 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 160 000 (+ 11 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 2 900 (+ 600)
Aircraft engine factories: 1587 (+ 20)
Aircraft frames factories: 1171 (+ 12)
Aircraft research: 173 (+ 57) (both versions of A6M5, Judy and Jill)
Aircraft production:
218 A6M3a Zero (capacity 246, partially stopped at end of the month), 161 Ki-43-IIa (159), 61 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 51 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (43), 50 Ki-46-III Dinah (48), 46 G4M1 Betty (46), 28 Ki-45 KAIb Nick (25), 22 Ki-49 Helen (23), 20 Ki-21 Sally (20), 18 E13A1 Jake (20), 16 J1N1-R Irving (16), 14 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 10 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 6 L3Y Tina (5), 0 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (123, stopped), 0 A6M3 Zero (72, suspended), 0 Ki-51 Sonia (45, stopped), 0 D3A Val (41, stopped), 0 Ki-48 (capacity 40, stopped), 0 B5N Kate (40, stopped), 0 H8K Emily (32, suspended), 0 L2D2 Tabby (10, suspended), 0 MC-21 Sally (5, suspended), 0 E14Y1 Glen (4, suspended), 0 H6K2-L Mavis (4, suspended)
Total: 721 aircraft (450 fighters (including 10 Rufes), 88 level bombers, 66 recon, 51 night-fighters, 28 fighter-bombers, 20 transport, 18 floatplanes, 0 divebombers, 0 torpedo bombers)
All indicators are on the green, exceot the number of open oilfields (due to Allied bombing raids on Mandalay and Amboina) but the oil production is still far superior to the needs, so this is not a problem.
In fact the limiting factor is still the resource number. Repairs will continue in Wuchow and the production should rise. The current production is allowing an increase of HI by 600 points. To remain conservative, and build up stocks, I will increase HI during April by 300 points (well launch the expansion, as repairs should last until July).
This extra HI will be used to accelerate the research of the Judy and Jill, and by expanding a little the naval shipyards.
- Attachments
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RE: March 1943 monthly report
Your opponent is really valorous to keep playing despite the odds - two thumbs up! [&o]
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Hi all,
Long long long time without updates... is everything OK?
Long long long time without updates... is everything OK?
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!
A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Laurent is having difficulty with his internet provider, they dropped his service. He is looking for a new one.
ORIGINAL: Apollo11
Hi all,
Long long long time without updates... is everything OK?
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Hi all,
Thanks for info (I must have missed that) - let's hope he will be back on-line soon!
Leo "Apollo11"
ORIGINAL: denisonh
Laurent is having difficulty with his internet provider, they dropped his service. He is looking for a new one.
Thanks for info (I must have missed that) - let's hope he will be back on-line soon!
Leo "Apollo11"
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!
A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Hi all,
Very long time passed... <SIGH>
Leo "Apollo11"
Very long time passed... <SIGH>
Leo "Apollo11"
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!
A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Hi, guys
Well, as said above, my Internet provider dropped me (saying it was not their fault, but that of the historical French phone operator) and I tried to pick a new one, but my line was so messy that it took nearly two months (by the way I hadno phone at all for one month, even if I never resigned it...). Then I realized that my old PC was not able to cope with up-to-date internet boxes because it was still running with Windows 98. I tried to upgrade it and something went wrong, it never came back to life after formatting... So I bought a new one (a laptop) and finally reconnected to Internet today. Horray !!!
So, now, I have to download again WITP and the various patches, and install them, but I hope the war will restart tomorrow.
By the way I wish to all my readers a belated happy new year...
Laurent
Well, as said above, my Internet provider dropped me (saying it was not their fault, but that of the historical French phone operator) and I tried to pick a new one, but my line was so messy that it took nearly two months (by the way I hadno phone at all for one month, even if I never resigned it...). Then I realized that my old PC was not able to cope with up-to-date internet boxes because it was still running with Windows 98. I tried to upgrade it and something went wrong, it never came back to life after formatting... So I bought a new one (a laptop) and finally reconnected to Internet today. Horray !!!
So, now, I have to download again WITP and the various patches, and install them, but I hope the war will restart tomorrow.
By the way I wish to all my readers a belated happy new year...
Laurent
RE: 31 March 1943: preparations
Hi all,
Great to have you back!!!
Leo "Apollo11"
P.S.
Happy New Year and Christmas to you too... [:D]
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent
Hi, guys
Well, as said above, my Internet provider dropped me (saying it was not their fault, but that of the historical French phone operator) and I tried to pick a new one, but my line was so messy that it took nearly two months (by the way I hadno phone at all for one month, even if I never resigned it...). Then I realized that my old PC was not able to cope with up-to-date internet boxes because it was still running with Windows 98. I tried to upgrade it and something went wrong, it never came back to life after formatting... So I bought a new one (a laptop) and finally reconnected to Internet today. Horray !!!
So, now, I have to download again WITP and the various patches, and install them, but I hope the war will restart tomorrow.
By the way I wish to all my readers a belated happy new year...
Laurent
Great to have you back!!!
Leo "Apollo11"
P.S.
Happy New Year and Christmas to you too... [:D]
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!
A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
1-2 April 1943: Luganville fell too
OK, this AAR is restarting. Sorry for the long delay.
1-2 April 1943
Burma
On both nights, Beaufighter VIF from Imphal (respectively 7 and 10) raided Rangoon. The second night saw the first use at night of the new Nick nightfighter. Eight were flying over the target area but there was no interception.
Day fighters were also patrolling over Burma, as 90 had moved to Mandalay some days ago. Allied recons still had not detected them but on the morning of the 1st the Allied target was Lashio. 27 B-25J, 25 Blenheim IV, 24 B-17E and 10 Beaufort I escorted by 40 P-40B. On the way they were attacked by 10 Ki-61 leaking from Mandalay CAP. The Japanese pilots bounced the escort and shot down two P-40B before escaping after losing two of their own number in the battle. The raid then hit Lashio without more trouble, scoring 7 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 32 on runways and doing 36 casualties. A Blenheim was lost in a crash.
The next day the main Allied raid again avoided Mandalay (hitting instead Taung Gyi with 28 B-17, 26 B-25J and 26 Blenheim IV escorted by 37 P-40B, scoring 3 hits on the base, 4 on supplies and 59 on the runway, and doing 36 casualties) but a F-5 flew to this city and reported a CAP of 60+ Japanese fighters. The Japanese plan was to ambush a small or medium raid, not to try to resist to the whole Allied airpower in the area, and once the fighters had been seen, it was no more possible. So all fighters flew back to Rangoon in the evening of the 2nd.
On both days, Allied airmen also flew tactical missions against the 1st Tk Rgt in the jungle, flying in two days 90 sorties (36 Beaufighter VIC, 20 Vengeance I, 18 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 16 escorting Spitfire Vb) and hitting 78 men and 4 tanks while losing a Beaufighter Mk 21 in an accident.
Southern Ressource Area
NTR
Timor-Australia
Nothing happened too here, but in the evening of the 2nd, 11 Oscar II flew from Kendari to Lautem to cover barges that will unload there tomorrow.
The Kendari air commander asked for reinforcements and two units were ordered to join this area: 26 Betties from Japan (one crashed on first leg of the transit) and 9 experienced Dinah III from Truk.
New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands
Japanese barges continued to sail off New Guinea in small numbers to pick up the detachments of the 5th Div that occupied bases from Dobadura to Finschhafen. A drifting damaged barge was sunk by a Hudson. Other than that Allied air activity from Port Moresby was limited to a mining operation off Sag Sag by 86 B-24 and a training raid by 11 Vengeance I escorted by 12 P-40E against Salamaua.
New Zealand-New Caledonia-New Hebrides
These two days saw the fall of Luganville after a two day attack. The Japanese ground forces (2nd, 18th, 48th and 53rd Div, 4th Tk Rgt and 27th Eng Rgt, 3300 ASS) were supported on both days by two bombardment TF (BB Musashi, Hiei and Ise, 4 CA, 7 CL and 14 DD), by KB airmen, who flew in two days 291 sorties (160 by Vals, 121 by Kate and 10 by escorting A6M3a) against US troops, and by land-based units from Noumea, who also attacked US troops on both days with a total of 150 Ki-21, 35 Betties and 21 Ki-49 sorties. Only two Ki-21 were lost in two days, both in crashes, as there was no Allied CAP and no AA fire.
The Allied troops (27th USA Div, 810th EAB and 116th USN Base Force) were able to repulse the first shock attack that nevertheless achieved a ratio of 4 to 1 and reduced the fortification level from 9 to 5. The next attack enabled Japanese troops to take the base (at 8 to 1). Total Allied casualties in two days of bombings and ground battles were 25 925 men, 147 guns and 14 vehicles, while the Japanese lost only 1439 men, 41 guns and 9 tanks. An unserviceable B-25 was also captured on the battered runway.
This success (that enabled the destruction of a new US division) was already evident on the evening of the 1st , and Japanese headquarters didn’t wait for the end of the battle to give redeployment orders to various Japanese units. For example, BB TF sailed north to Lunga after their second night of bombardment, while the KB also sailed a little north of Luganville to launch its raid the second day, and so was ready to sail northwards at the end of the battle.
The troops that took Efate some days before had received orders to be ready to be shipped to Luganville if needed, and as they will not be needed here, received orders to prepare to the bases they will defend according to the 1943 plan (see my next post below). The 20th, 21st and 38th Div will go to Hawaii (respectively to Lahaina, Kona and Hilo) with the HQ 13th Army and 3 artillery units, while the 1st Tk Div and an artillery regiment will sail to Tavoy, Burma, to act as a theatre reserve while protecting the southern flank of the Burma Army.
In fact the Japanese staff officers were so busy drawing long range plans and discussing strategic ideas that they didn’t realize there was an immediate concern that became evident in the evening of the 2nd. There was not enough fuel in the area for all ships. The plan was to send all capital ships and a good part of their escort northwards to Truk, but they had low fuel tanks and will find little on the way: 10k in Lunga and 7k in Shortlands. So orders were given to be sure the CV will have priority. Two CV TF will sail to Lunga and refuel there, while the BB TF will dock in Tulagi and wait for an AK convoy from Truk, that started to load 28k fuel. The 3rd and last CV TF was ordered to sail to Luganville and use 3k fuel captured with the base. Small ships with nearly full tanks (3 CA, 1 CL, 1 DD) were ordered to leave their formations and sail directly to Truk.
While Japanese troops were celebrating their victory and counting their prisoners in Luganville, their commanders received also new orders. The 53rd Div will defend Luganville with 2 Rgts and Efate with one, while the 2nd, 18th and 48th Div will be deployed in South Pacific (respectively Canton, Pago-Pago and Suva) and the 4th Tk Rgt to Java.
Reorganization was also taking place in Noumea. Three Zero Daitai respectively reduced to 8, 8 and 4 pilots took off and landed aboard KB CVs to be brought back to Japan and China and be recompleted and trained there. Also two TF composed of ships damaged off Noumea, Luganville and Efate (1 CL and 7 DD in the first, 9 AP, 4 AK, 2 DD, 1 PC and 1 PG in the second) left the port towards Japan. Two transports and a PG were still fighting against flooding and remained there.
Lastly two ML busy laying mines around Auckland received orders to sail north and will now be based at Noumea. And the main combat unit remaining in New Zealand, the 56th Bde that was currently at Christchurch and 100% prepared for this base, received orders to prepare for Auckland and will move in some days to Northern Island.
Southern Pacific
Japanese engineers expanded Funafuti airfield to size 2.
Central Pacific
NTR
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Amchitka Island to size 5.
China
West of Sian, three more Chinese units marched out of the mountains and reached Japanese positions on the 1st. A fourth Chinese Corps joined them the next day, in time to be defeated by an attack of the five Japanese divisions holding this part of the road. The battle was less easy than the last (at 17 to 1) and Japanese forces lost 875 men, 14 guns and 1 tank. Chinese losses were 786 killed and wounded and more than 1700 POWs.
The other main action of the theatre also took place on the 2nd, and saw Oscar II of the Kungchang-based 54 Sentai intercept Allied transports over Chengtu and shot down 3 C-47, one Dakota I and one Lodestar at the cost of one of their number.
Wuhan airmen continued to fly training missions (152 sorties in two days) against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 18 men while losing an A6M3a in a crash.
Japan
After the Japanese headquarters realized the lack of fuel in Southwestern and Southern Pacific, several convoys were created in Japanese ports and will carry 96k fuel and 56k supplies to Kwajalein and 64k fuel and 42k supplies to Truk.
1-2 April 1943
Burma
On both nights, Beaufighter VIF from Imphal (respectively 7 and 10) raided Rangoon. The second night saw the first use at night of the new Nick nightfighter. Eight were flying over the target area but there was no interception.
Day fighters were also patrolling over Burma, as 90 had moved to Mandalay some days ago. Allied recons still had not detected them but on the morning of the 1st the Allied target was Lashio. 27 B-25J, 25 Blenheim IV, 24 B-17E and 10 Beaufort I escorted by 40 P-40B. On the way they were attacked by 10 Ki-61 leaking from Mandalay CAP. The Japanese pilots bounced the escort and shot down two P-40B before escaping after losing two of their own number in the battle. The raid then hit Lashio without more trouble, scoring 7 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 32 on runways and doing 36 casualties. A Blenheim was lost in a crash.
The next day the main Allied raid again avoided Mandalay (hitting instead Taung Gyi with 28 B-17, 26 B-25J and 26 Blenheim IV escorted by 37 P-40B, scoring 3 hits on the base, 4 on supplies and 59 on the runway, and doing 36 casualties) but a F-5 flew to this city and reported a CAP of 60+ Japanese fighters. The Japanese plan was to ambush a small or medium raid, not to try to resist to the whole Allied airpower in the area, and once the fighters had been seen, it was no more possible. So all fighters flew back to Rangoon in the evening of the 2nd.
On both days, Allied airmen also flew tactical missions against the 1st Tk Rgt in the jungle, flying in two days 90 sorties (36 Beaufighter VIC, 20 Vengeance I, 18 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 16 escorting Spitfire Vb) and hitting 78 men and 4 tanks while losing a Beaufighter Mk 21 in an accident.
Southern Ressource Area
NTR
Timor-Australia
Nothing happened too here, but in the evening of the 2nd, 11 Oscar II flew from Kendari to Lautem to cover barges that will unload there tomorrow.
The Kendari air commander asked for reinforcements and two units were ordered to join this area: 26 Betties from Japan (one crashed on first leg of the transit) and 9 experienced Dinah III from Truk.
New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands
Japanese barges continued to sail off New Guinea in small numbers to pick up the detachments of the 5th Div that occupied bases from Dobadura to Finschhafen. A drifting damaged barge was sunk by a Hudson. Other than that Allied air activity from Port Moresby was limited to a mining operation off Sag Sag by 86 B-24 and a training raid by 11 Vengeance I escorted by 12 P-40E against Salamaua.
New Zealand-New Caledonia-New Hebrides
These two days saw the fall of Luganville after a two day attack. The Japanese ground forces (2nd, 18th, 48th and 53rd Div, 4th Tk Rgt and 27th Eng Rgt, 3300 ASS) were supported on both days by two bombardment TF (BB Musashi, Hiei and Ise, 4 CA, 7 CL and 14 DD), by KB airmen, who flew in two days 291 sorties (160 by Vals, 121 by Kate and 10 by escorting A6M3a) against US troops, and by land-based units from Noumea, who also attacked US troops on both days with a total of 150 Ki-21, 35 Betties and 21 Ki-49 sorties. Only two Ki-21 were lost in two days, both in crashes, as there was no Allied CAP and no AA fire.
The Allied troops (27th USA Div, 810th EAB and 116th USN Base Force) were able to repulse the first shock attack that nevertheless achieved a ratio of 4 to 1 and reduced the fortification level from 9 to 5. The next attack enabled Japanese troops to take the base (at 8 to 1). Total Allied casualties in two days of bombings and ground battles were 25 925 men, 147 guns and 14 vehicles, while the Japanese lost only 1439 men, 41 guns and 9 tanks. An unserviceable B-25 was also captured on the battered runway.
This success (that enabled the destruction of a new US division) was already evident on the evening of the 1st , and Japanese headquarters didn’t wait for the end of the battle to give redeployment orders to various Japanese units. For example, BB TF sailed north to Lunga after their second night of bombardment, while the KB also sailed a little north of Luganville to launch its raid the second day, and so was ready to sail northwards at the end of the battle.
The troops that took Efate some days before had received orders to be ready to be shipped to Luganville if needed, and as they will not be needed here, received orders to prepare to the bases they will defend according to the 1943 plan (see my next post below). The 20th, 21st and 38th Div will go to Hawaii (respectively to Lahaina, Kona and Hilo) with the HQ 13th Army and 3 artillery units, while the 1st Tk Div and an artillery regiment will sail to Tavoy, Burma, to act as a theatre reserve while protecting the southern flank of the Burma Army.
In fact the Japanese staff officers were so busy drawing long range plans and discussing strategic ideas that they didn’t realize there was an immediate concern that became evident in the evening of the 2nd. There was not enough fuel in the area for all ships. The plan was to send all capital ships and a good part of their escort northwards to Truk, but they had low fuel tanks and will find little on the way: 10k in Lunga and 7k in Shortlands. So orders were given to be sure the CV will have priority. Two CV TF will sail to Lunga and refuel there, while the BB TF will dock in Tulagi and wait for an AK convoy from Truk, that started to load 28k fuel. The 3rd and last CV TF was ordered to sail to Luganville and use 3k fuel captured with the base. Small ships with nearly full tanks (3 CA, 1 CL, 1 DD) were ordered to leave their formations and sail directly to Truk.
While Japanese troops were celebrating their victory and counting their prisoners in Luganville, their commanders received also new orders. The 53rd Div will defend Luganville with 2 Rgts and Efate with one, while the 2nd, 18th and 48th Div will be deployed in South Pacific (respectively Canton, Pago-Pago and Suva) and the 4th Tk Rgt to Java.
Reorganization was also taking place in Noumea. Three Zero Daitai respectively reduced to 8, 8 and 4 pilots took off and landed aboard KB CVs to be brought back to Japan and China and be recompleted and trained there. Also two TF composed of ships damaged off Noumea, Luganville and Efate (1 CL and 7 DD in the first, 9 AP, 4 AK, 2 DD, 1 PC and 1 PG in the second) left the port towards Japan. Two transports and a PG were still fighting against flooding and remained there.
Lastly two ML busy laying mines around Auckland received orders to sail north and will now be based at Noumea. And the main combat unit remaining in New Zealand, the 56th Bde that was currently at Christchurch and 100% prepared for this base, received orders to prepare for Auckland and will move in some days to Northern Island.
Southern Pacific
Japanese engineers expanded Funafuti airfield to size 2.
Central Pacific
NTR
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Amchitka Island to size 5.
China
West of Sian, three more Chinese units marched out of the mountains and reached Japanese positions on the 1st. A fourth Chinese Corps joined them the next day, in time to be defeated by an attack of the five Japanese divisions holding this part of the road. The battle was less easy than the last (at 17 to 1) and Japanese forces lost 875 men, 14 guns and 1 tank. Chinese losses were 786 killed and wounded and more than 1700 POWs.
The other main action of the theatre also took place on the 2nd, and saw Oscar II of the Kungchang-based 54 Sentai intercept Allied transports over Chengtu and shot down 3 C-47, one Dakota I and one Lodestar at the cost of one of their number.
Wuhan airmen continued to fly training missions (152 sorties in two days) against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 18 men while losing an A6M3a in a crash.
Japan
After the Japanese headquarters realized the lack of fuel in Southwestern and Southern Pacific, several convoys were created in Japanese ports and will carry 96k fuel and 56k supplies to Kwajalein and 64k fuel and 42k supplies to Truk.
RE: 1-2 April 1943: Luganville fell too
Welcome back admiral [:)]
Passé à la Freebox? [8D]
Passé à la Freebox? [8D]
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
New plans
First a personnal message
(Salut, Fishbed, et meilleurs voeux. Euh, oui, je suis chez Free maintenant.)
And then what I promised some days ago: the Japanese plans for the next month.
The idea is simple: there is no more easy target, so there will be no more major Japanese offensive, except in China with local forces.
The Allied side will become stronger and stronger, but the lack of CV and LCU (after the destruction of half a dozen US divisions, and tens of support units) will probably delay a major offensive until late summer or fall 1943 in the Pacific.
The Imperial Navy and Air Force will appreciate a break of 3 months to recover from the almost non-stop operations since the start of the war. Almost all major Japanese warships will go to Japan for repairs and upgrades, and air units will be recompleted, upgraded and trained in Japan and China.
Also reinforcemenents will arrive in this period: a lot of air and land units in June, and in July the two first Unryu CV and the converted Chitose and Chiyoda, that will strongly reinforce the Kido Butai.
In the meantime, the idea is to be ready to repulse local Allied attacks. So the first line of defence (Hawai - Suva-Noumea-Lunga-Rabaul-Hollandia-Timor-DEI-Burma) will be held in force, each major base holding a division with fort level 9. If no major Allied operation is launched until fall 1943, the main line of resistance may be shortened.
You may notice that New Zealand is not included... the reason is simple: it is too far away from other Japanese bases, and from the heart of the Empire. Once KB will be ready again to sail, it will be based somewhere between Suva and Jonhson Island, and sailing to NZ will be too long. So only a Bde and a dozen of small units will be left here, just to be sure that the Allied will need a major effort to come back.
The other place where the Allied may advance in the near future is Burma. But Japanese outposts will enable Japanese HQ to have a two-months warning, and so to send reinforcements from other places (SIngapore for example, where 104th Div will remain in reserve ready to go north or south in case of Allied advance).
The map below will show you the planned disposition of all major units of the Southern and Burma Armies.
(Salut, Fishbed, et meilleurs voeux. Euh, oui, je suis chez Free maintenant.)
And then what I promised some days ago: the Japanese plans for the next month.
The idea is simple: there is no more easy target, so there will be no more major Japanese offensive, except in China with local forces.
The Allied side will become stronger and stronger, but the lack of CV and LCU (after the destruction of half a dozen US divisions, and tens of support units) will probably delay a major offensive until late summer or fall 1943 in the Pacific.
The Imperial Navy and Air Force will appreciate a break of 3 months to recover from the almost non-stop operations since the start of the war. Almost all major Japanese warships will go to Japan for repairs and upgrades, and air units will be recompleted, upgraded and trained in Japan and China.
Also reinforcemenents will arrive in this period: a lot of air and land units in June, and in July the two first Unryu CV and the converted Chitose and Chiyoda, that will strongly reinforce the Kido Butai.
In the meantime, the idea is to be ready to repulse local Allied attacks. So the first line of defence (Hawai - Suva-Noumea-Lunga-Rabaul-Hollandia-Timor-DEI-Burma) will be held in force, each major base holding a division with fort level 9. If no major Allied operation is launched until fall 1943, the main line of resistance may be shortened.
You may notice that New Zealand is not included... the reason is simple: it is too far away from other Japanese bases, and from the heart of the Empire. Once KB will be ready again to sail, it will be based somewhere between Suva and Jonhson Island, and sailing to NZ will be too long. So only a Bde and a dozen of small units will be left here, just to be sure that the Allied will need a major effort to come back.
The other place where the Allied may advance in the near future is Burma. But Japanese outposts will enable Japanese HQ to have a two-months warning, and so to send reinforcements from other places (SIngapore for example, where 104th Div will remain in reserve ready to go north or south in case of Allied advance).
The map below will show you the planned disposition of all major units of the Southern and Burma Armies.
- Attachments
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- 19430331_D..ivePlans.jpg (123.83 KiB) Viewed 134 times
RE: New plans
Ah yes best wishes of happiness, health and success! [8D]
Didn't realize we didn't see you for such a long time [:o]
Didn't realize we didn't see you for such a long time [:o]
-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
3-5 April 1943: filling problems
Well the game has advanced up to 20 April, but I have had no time to fill in this AAR. I will try to catch up this evening. As I planned a 3-month pause, I was thinking there will be a boring phase but my opponent seems to have other plans (more later).
3-5 April 1943
Northern Pacific
The Glen-carrying SS I-36 was sent in Aleutians waters from Japan. Only one of her sister ships was already there, the I-25, that reported on the 5th a convoy 500 miles south of Anchorage but was unable to attack.
Central and Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
While all three divisions in Efate finished to board ships and sailed on the 4th for Hawaii, the situation in Luganville was more confuse. Three divisions were also boarding ships here to man Pago-Pago, Canton and Suva, but one convoy, supposed to carry the 48th Div, sailed almost empty on the 4th and returned to the port only the next day.
Barges were sailing from Noumea to Luganville to load troops of the 53rd Div and occupy the various dots north and south of this island. The nearby village of Malabate Island surrendered officially to a patrol on the 5th.
In Christchurch, the 56th Bde boarded a convoy that will carry it to the Northern Island. In a first time it will remain in Wellington to help with fortification building and then it will march north to garrison Auckland.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
One of the last Japanese barges leaving New Guinea shores was heavily damaged by a patrolling B-24D and 6 Beaufighter off Sag Sag. Another was damaged by a Hudson off Rabaul, but all troops aboard were unloaded safely there. The last Japanese troops on New Guinea (in Finschhafen) were picked up by barges in the evening of the 5th.
Port Moresby airmen laid mines off Finschhafen on the 3rd with 87 B-24D, losing one in an accident. The next minelaying operation was done at night (a new home rule) off Salamaua the next night and accidental losses increased to 4 of the 65 B-24D dispatched. The next night 21 Liberators laid more mines off Salamaua without loss.
From Port Moresby were also flown training missions against Finschhafen and Sag Sag for a total of 71 sorties (38 Vengeance I (one lost in a crash) and 33 escorting P-40E)
For the Japanese side, the main activity here for these three days was to refuel the fleets sailing through the area so they might reach Truk. The map below will show you the situation in the evening of the 3rd. In the next two days, the Japanese BB TFs moved to Shortlands and Buka and used all fuel here and were ordered to sail to Rabaul to refuel again before sailing for Truk. The fuel situation of the Japanese CV was less critical, and two were able to sail directly to Truk while the two with the less fuel arrived in Lunga on the 5th and used all fuel available here.
After the Noumea operation, the empty tankers in the area had orders to sail to the DEI. I didn’t realize at the time but their path was taking them between New Guinea and Australia, in the middle of the most powerful Allied bases… They were rerouted (while they were still S of the Solomon Islands) and will sail north of New Guinea, via Truk.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 3rd, Amboina was raided by 111 B-17E from Darwin that disabled 122 men and 1 gun and scored 19 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 129 on runways, for the loss of two of their number in accidents. Only some floatplanes were based in Amboina.
The same day, the dozen of Oscar still based at Lautem scrambled twice but failed to intercept first 13 PB4Y from Wyndham laying mines there, then 7 Brewster 339 from Darwin that attacked barges, sinking one. Another one was sunk by a patrolling Mariner the same day. Japanese fighters returned to Kendari this evening.
In the afternoon, 47 B-25C from Derby attacked Koepang and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 28 on runways, doing 28 casualties. A bomber was lost to engine failure.
There was no activity on the 4th in the area. The next night, 9 PB4Y from Wyndham laid again mines off Lautem.
Southern Resource Area
Only one convoy loaded in the period: it will carry 9k oil from Medan to Singapore. The three ML that were based in Soerabaja received orders to sail to the Pacific, via Palau and Truk. They will lay mines off Kendari on the way.
Burma
For a change, Beaufighter VIF attacked Akyab on all three nights, scoring a runway hit in 29 sorties. This base was also attacked on the afternoon of the 4th by 9 Beaufort V-IX from Chandpur escorted by 9 P-40B that scored one hit on a building.
As supplies were falling there, 20 barges loaded supplies in Rangoon to bring them to Akyab.
More north the 1st Tk Rgt holding a road block on a trail 120 miles S of Kohima was attacked on the 3rd and 4th by a total of 36 Beaufighter VIC, 18 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 19 Vengeance I from Imphal escorted by 35 P-40B and lost 89 men and 6 tanks, while a Beaufighter was lost in a crash.
On the 4th, patrols of the 8th Tk Rgt that hold a beachhead on the Chinese side of the Salween reported that a Chinese unit had left Yunan towards them (and was in the hex SE of them). The Rgt was ordered to march back to Burma. The task of these regiments is to forewarn the Japanese High Command, not to hold some acres of jungle.
In Rangoon the best A6M2 unit, the F2/1st Daitai, received brand-new A6M3a.
China
Chinese units continued to march out of the mountains NW of Sian. The 95th Corps marched out on the 3rd and was defeated the next day by the five divisions holding the road at 1648 to 1. It fled westwards. Japanese lost only 12 men, Chinese 354 killed and wounded and some hundred of prisoners. The next day another unit reached the road, and it will be attacked tomorrow.
The only activity in the air were training missions flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops more west on the 3rd and 4th for a total of 176 sorties, hitting only 8 men and suffering 6 operational losses (2 A6M3, 2 A6M3a and 2 Oscar II). After these losses all these units were grounded for some rest until better weather will arrive.
The first units sent south after the end of the Northern campaign reached Hangchow on the 4th. While most of them (3rd Tk Div, 13th Tk Rgt, 36th Div) were ordered to march to Canton by the coastal road, the 41st Div was ordered to Shanghai and will be shipped to Paramushiro Jima to reinforce the garrison.
Japan
An AP convoy was sent from Tokyo to Shanghai to pick up the 41st Div that will garrison Paramushiro Jima.
The BB Yamato finally received her 12/42 upgrade in Osaka.
3-5 April 1943
Northern Pacific
The Glen-carrying SS I-36 was sent in Aleutians waters from Japan. Only one of her sister ships was already there, the I-25, that reported on the 5th a convoy 500 miles south of Anchorage but was unable to attack.
Central and Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
While all three divisions in Efate finished to board ships and sailed on the 4th for Hawaii, the situation in Luganville was more confuse. Three divisions were also boarding ships here to man Pago-Pago, Canton and Suva, but one convoy, supposed to carry the 48th Div, sailed almost empty on the 4th and returned to the port only the next day.
Barges were sailing from Noumea to Luganville to load troops of the 53rd Div and occupy the various dots north and south of this island. The nearby village of Malabate Island surrendered officially to a patrol on the 5th.
In Christchurch, the 56th Bde boarded a convoy that will carry it to the Northern Island. In a first time it will remain in Wellington to help with fortification building and then it will march north to garrison Auckland.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
One of the last Japanese barges leaving New Guinea shores was heavily damaged by a patrolling B-24D and 6 Beaufighter off Sag Sag. Another was damaged by a Hudson off Rabaul, but all troops aboard were unloaded safely there. The last Japanese troops on New Guinea (in Finschhafen) were picked up by barges in the evening of the 5th.
Port Moresby airmen laid mines off Finschhafen on the 3rd with 87 B-24D, losing one in an accident. The next minelaying operation was done at night (a new home rule) off Salamaua the next night and accidental losses increased to 4 of the 65 B-24D dispatched. The next night 21 Liberators laid more mines off Salamaua without loss.
From Port Moresby were also flown training missions against Finschhafen and Sag Sag for a total of 71 sorties (38 Vengeance I (one lost in a crash) and 33 escorting P-40E)
For the Japanese side, the main activity here for these three days was to refuel the fleets sailing through the area so they might reach Truk. The map below will show you the situation in the evening of the 3rd. In the next two days, the Japanese BB TFs moved to Shortlands and Buka and used all fuel here and were ordered to sail to Rabaul to refuel again before sailing for Truk. The fuel situation of the Japanese CV was less critical, and two were able to sail directly to Truk while the two with the less fuel arrived in Lunga on the 5th and used all fuel available here.
After the Noumea operation, the empty tankers in the area had orders to sail to the DEI. I didn’t realize at the time but their path was taking them between New Guinea and Australia, in the middle of the most powerful Allied bases… They were rerouted (while they were still S of the Solomon Islands) and will sail north of New Guinea, via Truk.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 3rd, Amboina was raided by 111 B-17E from Darwin that disabled 122 men and 1 gun and scored 19 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 129 on runways, for the loss of two of their number in accidents. Only some floatplanes were based in Amboina.
The same day, the dozen of Oscar still based at Lautem scrambled twice but failed to intercept first 13 PB4Y from Wyndham laying mines there, then 7 Brewster 339 from Darwin that attacked barges, sinking one. Another one was sunk by a patrolling Mariner the same day. Japanese fighters returned to Kendari this evening.
In the afternoon, 47 B-25C from Derby attacked Koepang and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 28 on runways, doing 28 casualties. A bomber was lost to engine failure.
There was no activity on the 4th in the area. The next night, 9 PB4Y from Wyndham laid again mines off Lautem.
Southern Resource Area
Only one convoy loaded in the period: it will carry 9k oil from Medan to Singapore. The three ML that were based in Soerabaja received orders to sail to the Pacific, via Palau and Truk. They will lay mines off Kendari on the way.
Burma
For a change, Beaufighter VIF attacked Akyab on all three nights, scoring a runway hit in 29 sorties. This base was also attacked on the afternoon of the 4th by 9 Beaufort V-IX from Chandpur escorted by 9 P-40B that scored one hit on a building.
As supplies were falling there, 20 barges loaded supplies in Rangoon to bring them to Akyab.
More north the 1st Tk Rgt holding a road block on a trail 120 miles S of Kohima was attacked on the 3rd and 4th by a total of 36 Beaufighter VIC, 18 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 19 Vengeance I from Imphal escorted by 35 P-40B and lost 89 men and 6 tanks, while a Beaufighter was lost in a crash.
On the 4th, patrols of the 8th Tk Rgt that hold a beachhead on the Chinese side of the Salween reported that a Chinese unit had left Yunan towards them (and was in the hex SE of them). The Rgt was ordered to march back to Burma. The task of these regiments is to forewarn the Japanese High Command, not to hold some acres of jungle.
In Rangoon the best A6M2 unit, the F2/1st Daitai, received brand-new A6M3a.
China
Chinese units continued to march out of the mountains NW of Sian. The 95th Corps marched out on the 3rd and was defeated the next day by the five divisions holding the road at 1648 to 1. It fled westwards. Japanese lost only 12 men, Chinese 354 killed and wounded and some hundred of prisoners. The next day another unit reached the road, and it will be attacked tomorrow.
The only activity in the air were training missions flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops more west on the 3rd and 4th for a total of 176 sorties, hitting only 8 men and suffering 6 operational losses (2 A6M3, 2 A6M3a and 2 Oscar II). After these losses all these units were grounded for some rest until better weather will arrive.
The first units sent south after the end of the Northern campaign reached Hangchow on the 4th. While most of them (3rd Tk Div, 13th Tk Rgt, 36th Div) were ordered to march to Canton by the coastal road, the 41st Div was ordered to Shanghai and will be shipped to Paramushiro Jima to reinforce the garrison.
Japan
An AP convoy was sent from Tokyo to Shanghai to pick up the 41st Div that will garrison Paramushiro Jima.
The BB Yamato finally received her 12/42 upgrade in Osaka.
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AmiralLaurent
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6-7 April 1943: moves in N Burma
6-7 April 1943
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers expanded the port of Amchitka Island to size 2.
Central & Southern Pacific
Two long-range ML, the Tsugaru and Onomisha(?), have laid mines off Midway, Christmas, Palmyra and Johnston for months while being based in PH. left this base for Southern Pacific. Their orders were to lay mines off Canton and then sail to Suva where a MLE will wait for them, and then to lay mines in the area. Ten short- and medium-range ML remained in PH to lay mines in Hawaii Islands.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
The reorganization of this area continued. The 48th Div continued to have loading problems in Luganville. A possible reason was the presence of an APD in the escort, after this third try it seemed to me that when the APD was full the convoy stopped loading troops ? Anyway I detached the APD and ordered the division to board ships again….
Still in Luganville the 53rd Div was divided in 3 RCT and one boarded ships to go to Efate and defend the island. Four barges TF loaded some troops of this division on the 7th and will occupy the small islets north and south of Luganville. A village close of this base, Aoba Island, surrendered the same day.
Five air units depleted in the last campaigns (a Betty Daitai reduced to 7 crews, a Dinah Chutai to 1, a Ki-49 Sentai to 15 and two Ki-21 Sentai to 20 and 21) left Noumea for R&R and training more north (in Truk or Clark Field) and will arrive there in some days.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
During both nights, B-24D from Port Moresby laid mines off Lae, for a total of 31 sorties without loss. During the days, Port Moresby sent 10 Beaufighter Mk 21 chasing barges off New Britain. Two were sunk, and two more sank from previous damage. The main Allied raid was an attack on Rabaul on the 6th with 38 B-24D that met only AA fire and suffered one loss in an accident while scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 22 on runways and disabling 34 men and 1 gun. The same day a training mission was flown against Finschhafen with 13 Vengeance I and 14 P-40E.
The daily recon of PM showed that the CAP (usually 25-30 P-40E and some Beaufighter) had been reinforced by 14 F4F-4.
On the Japanese side, the focus was still on the warships sailing north. On the 6th, a Val and an US submarine met east of New Ireland, giving a clue to the Allied that the KB or at least part of it was here. The next day the BBs were supposed to refuel in Rabaul and a Nick Sentai was sent there in the evening of the 6th to defend them. The ships only stayed in port during the night, using all available fuel and then sailed north. There was no raid during the 7th and the Nicks returned to Truk in the evening.
Minor Japanese operations included the departure from Truk of an AK with 7k supplies for Rabaul and of 3 ML that will lay a minefield off Lunga and then sail to Noumea to be based there.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Amboina was attacked again on the 6th, this time by 157 B-17E that scored 9 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 153 on runways and disabled 130 men and 2 guns for two operational losses. 157 B-17E was the biggest number seen so far, and Kendari was thought to be a possible target. Anyway 201 IJAAF fighters (Oscar, Tony and Tojo) and 33 Nick defended it and will make it expensive for Allied bombers to come by. Just to be sure the “useless” units (a recon and a Betty Chutai) currently in Kendari were moved to rear area bases.
Kendari was not attacked on the 7th, only Koepang, by 54 B-25C from Derby. Concentrated AA fire shot down one and damaged 9, 3 of them ditching on the return. A fifth bomber was lost in a crash. Japanese losses were 61 men and 1 gun and they reported 2 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 33 on the runways. At the same time 7 PB4Y from Wyndham bombed and missed Lautem.
Also on the 7th, a Betty flying recon over Darwin was shot down by the CAP. These recons failed so far to report any Allied ship over the base. The current plan was to refuel the KB in Truk then bring it to this area to raid Darwin, sink the Dutch Navy and hit hard the airfield, but it seemed that the main target was gone. To be sure a Dinah III unit arrived in Lautem on the evening of the 7th to fly recon over Darwin on the next days.
Southern Resource Area
On the 6th two Allied submarines were reported in the Macassar Straits. Two ASW groups were formed in Singapore to chase them, while ASW air patrols were reinforced by 8 Betties and 28 Lilies in the area.
The next night the SS USS Barb going out of the straits met one of these ASW groups and tried to attack but was detected and depth charged by two PG, that scored only a near miss. In the afternoon of the 7th she was less lucky and she was damaged 120 miles SW of Singapore by a Ki-30 flying an ASW patrol.
The only convoy activated in two days loaded 10k resources in Toboali for Singapore without taking notice of the submarine activity.
Burma
On the night of the 5th-6th, 9 Beaufighter VIF from Chandpur attacked Akyab but did no damage. The day was quiet, but brought unexpected news. The 1st Tk Rgt holding a road block 120 miles south of Kohima reported that 3 Allied units appeared on the trail north of its position. Extensive recon of the area was ordered while the fighters units of Rangoon (78 A6M3a, 69 Tony, 67 Oscar II and 25 Tojo) were ordered to fly max CAP over their base.
The next day 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima attacked the 1st Tk Rgt and hit 20 men and 2 vehicles. Japanese recon flights reported 3 units south of Kohima (one being the NCAC HQ), 4 in Kohima and 1 in Jorhat: not enough for an offensive in Burma, maybe just a probing advance against the 1st Tk Rgt that was ordered to march back to the railway. Anyway just in case battles were coming, a convoy loaded 28k supplies in Kuala Lumpur and will ship them to Rangoon. And the 104th Division in reserve in Singapore boarded trains to be carried to Rangoon.
The barge convoy sent from Rangoon with supplies reached Akyab on the afternoon of the 7th but was attacked by 23 Beaufighter VIC et 10 Mk 21 from Imphal that sank 5 of the 20 barges.
China
On the 6th, as usual, Japanese troops defeated (at 1771 to 1) the Chinese unit (the 27th Corps) that marched the day before to the road 120 miles W of Sian. The Chinese fled westwards losing 604 killed and wounded and hundred of prisoners while the Japanese had no loss. The next day 3 more Chinese units arrived there from the mountain and they will also be attacked tomorrow.
There was no flying on the 6th and 3 training courses graduated in Wuhan. A Tojo Sentai was sent towards Burma, another to Kendari and an Oscar Sentai left for Truk. All units have exp between 70 and 75. The next day training missions were restarted and 79 fighters and 20 Ki-48 attacked without loss troops NW of Changsha, hitting 46 men.
On the 7th both Yunan and Chengtu were LRCAP each by two Chutai of Oscars but no Allied transport were met.
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Ichang to size 3.
In the south more troops from the Northern Army arrived in Hangchow and were ordered to march to Canton by the coastal road.
Japan
Two convoy left Japan for Truk, one with 72k fuel, the other with a Special Base Force and an Air HQ.
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers expanded the port of Amchitka Island to size 2.
Central & Southern Pacific
Two long-range ML, the Tsugaru and Onomisha(?), have laid mines off Midway, Christmas, Palmyra and Johnston for months while being based in PH. left this base for Southern Pacific. Their orders were to lay mines off Canton and then sail to Suva where a MLE will wait for them, and then to lay mines in the area. Ten short- and medium-range ML remained in PH to lay mines in Hawaii Islands.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
The reorganization of this area continued. The 48th Div continued to have loading problems in Luganville. A possible reason was the presence of an APD in the escort, after this third try it seemed to me that when the APD was full the convoy stopped loading troops ? Anyway I detached the APD and ordered the division to board ships again….
Still in Luganville the 53rd Div was divided in 3 RCT and one boarded ships to go to Efate and defend the island. Four barges TF loaded some troops of this division on the 7th and will occupy the small islets north and south of Luganville. A village close of this base, Aoba Island, surrendered the same day.
Five air units depleted in the last campaigns (a Betty Daitai reduced to 7 crews, a Dinah Chutai to 1, a Ki-49 Sentai to 15 and two Ki-21 Sentai to 20 and 21) left Noumea for R&R and training more north (in Truk or Clark Field) and will arrive there in some days.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
During both nights, B-24D from Port Moresby laid mines off Lae, for a total of 31 sorties without loss. During the days, Port Moresby sent 10 Beaufighter Mk 21 chasing barges off New Britain. Two were sunk, and two more sank from previous damage. The main Allied raid was an attack on Rabaul on the 6th with 38 B-24D that met only AA fire and suffered one loss in an accident while scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 22 on runways and disabling 34 men and 1 gun. The same day a training mission was flown against Finschhafen with 13 Vengeance I and 14 P-40E.
The daily recon of PM showed that the CAP (usually 25-30 P-40E and some Beaufighter) had been reinforced by 14 F4F-4.
On the Japanese side, the focus was still on the warships sailing north. On the 6th, a Val and an US submarine met east of New Ireland, giving a clue to the Allied that the KB or at least part of it was here. The next day the BBs were supposed to refuel in Rabaul and a Nick Sentai was sent there in the evening of the 6th to defend them. The ships only stayed in port during the night, using all available fuel and then sailed north. There was no raid during the 7th and the Nicks returned to Truk in the evening.
Minor Japanese operations included the departure from Truk of an AK with 7k supplies for Rabaul and of 3 ML that will lay a minefield off Lunga and then sail to Noumea to be based there.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Amboina was attacked again on the 6th, this time by 157 B-17E that scored 9 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 153 on runways and disabled 130 men and 2 guns for two operational losses. 157 B-17E was the biggest number seen so far, and Kendari was thought to be a possible target. Anyway 201 IJAAF fighters (Oscar, Tony and Tojo) and 33 Nick defended it and will make it expensive for Allied bombers to come by. Just to be sure the “useless” units (a recon and a Betty Chutai) currently in Kendari were moved to rear area bases.
Kendari was not attacked on the 7th, only Koepang, by 54 B-25C from Derby. Concentrated AA fire shot down one and damaged 9, 3 of them ditching on the return. A fifth bomber was lost in a crash. Japanese losses were 61 men and 1 gun and they reported 2 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 33 on the runways. At the same time 7 PB4Y from Wyndham bombed and missed Lautem.
Also on the 7th, a Betty flying recon over Darwin was shot down by the CAP. These recons failed so far to report any Allied ship over the base. The current plan was to refuel the KB in Truk then bring it to this area to raid Darwin, sink the Dutch Navy and hit hard the airfield, but it seemed that the main target was gone. To be sure a Dinah III unit arrived in Lautem on the evening of the 7th to fly recon over Darwin on the next days.
Southern Resource Area
On the 6th two Allied submarines were reported in the Macassar Straits. Two ASW groups were formed in Singapore to chase them, while ASW air patrols were reinforced by 8 Betties and 28 Lilies in the area.
The next night the SS USS Barb going out of the straits met one of these ASW groups and tried to attack but was detected and depth charged by two PG, that scored only a near miss. In the afternoon of the 7th she was less lucky and she was damaged 120 miles SW of Singapore by a Ki-30 flying an ASW patrol.
The only convoy activated in two days loaded 10k resources in Toboali for Singapore without taking notice of the submarine activity.
Burma
On the night of the 5th-6th, 9 Beaufighter VIF from Chandpur attacked Akyab but did no damage. The day was quiet, but brought unexpected news. The 1st Tk Rgt holding a road block 120 miles south of Kohima reported that 3 Allied units appeared on the trail north of its position. Extensive recon of the area was ordered while the fighters units of Rangoon (78 A6M3a, 69 Tony, 67 Oscar II and 25 Tojo) were ordered to fly max CAP over their base.
The next day 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima attacked the 1st Tk Rgt and hit 20 men and 2 vehicles. Japanese recon flights reported 3 units south of Kohima (one being the NCAC HQ), 4 in Kohima and 1 in Jorhat: not enough for an offensive in Burma, maybe just a probing advance against the 1st Tk Rgt that was ordered to march back to the railway. Anyway just in case battles were coming, a convoy loaded 28k supplies in Kuala Lumpur and will ship them to Rangoon. And the 104th Division in reserve in Singapore boarded trains to be carried to Rangoon.
The barge convoy sent from Rangoon with supplies reached Akyab on the afternoon of the 7th but was attacked by 23 Beaufighter VIC et 10 Mk 21 from Imphal that sank 5 of the 20 barges.
China
On the 6th, as usual, Japanese troops defeated (at 1771 to 1) the Chinese unit (the 27th Corps) that marched the day before to the road 120 miles W of Sian. The Chinese fled westwards losing 604 killed and wounded and hundred of prisoners while the Japanese had no loss. The next day 3 more Chinese units arrived there from the mountain and they will also be attacked tomorrow.
There was no flying on the 6th and 3 training courses graduated in Wuhan. A Tojo Sentai was sent towards Burma, another to Kendari and an Oscar Sentai left for Truk. All units have exp between 70 and 75. The next day training missions were restarted and 79 fighters and 20 Ki-48 attacked without loss troops NW of Changsha, hitting 46 men.
On the 7th both Yunan and Chengtu were LRCAP each by two Chutai of Oscars but no Allied transport were met.
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Ichang to size 3.
In the south more troops from the Northern Army arrived in Hangchow and were ordered to march to Canton by the coastal road.
Japan
Two convoy left Japan for Truk, one with 72k fuel, the other with a Special Base Force and an Air HQ.
RE: 6-7 April 1943: moves in N Burma
Hi all,
Great to read you again!
Leo "Apollo11"
Great to read you again!
Leo "Apollo11"
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!
A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE