Thanks, Leo. I'm still late on this AAR but I'm writing now 2-3 days of it every turn I do so should pick up on Monday or the day after. I think I will now show you my defensive skills (the first one being to find a hole and remaining hidden inside).
8-9 April 1943
Northern Pacific
Japanese submarines confirmed daily that there was more activity both in the sea and air in Aleutians but nothing serious.
At Paramushiro Jima Japanese engineers expanded the port to size 3. The local commander received news that the 41st Div will reinforce the garrison and replace two of the three naval infantry units holding the island. These two units will be shipped to Hawaii and received orders to prepare for Lihu and Molokai (two small and yet undefended bases besides PH).
Central and Southern Pacific
NTR (again)
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Two escorts TFs with damaged transports left Noumea for Japan. And the 48th Div finally boarded correctly the convoy that will bring it to Suva.
On the 9th barges unloaded small detachments of the 53rd Div in the small islands of Lifou, Vanikolo and Mare’ for a total of 137 amphibious casualties. All will be occupied tomorrow (they are not atolls in the game).
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
During the night of the 8th-9th, 36 B-24D from PM laid mines off Rabaul. At dawn 22 Beaufighter Mk 21 left the same barge to chase barges. They found one off Talasea and sank her but one of them was lost to engine failure.
The next day, 25 Beaufighter were sent and they bagged again the only barge seen, off Kiriwima Island this time. A training mission was flown against Sag Sag by 13 Vengeance I and 11 P-40E.
All TF of the KB had reached Truk on the evening of the 9th and were refuelled at at least 90%, by using all the fuel of the base. Anyway more was on the way and it was time to decide what to do with this gang of ships. Recon of Darwin had confirmed the Allied ships were no more there, so the KB had no good reason to stay here and left for Japan. A powerful surface force made of ships with no or little SYS damage remained in Truk: the BB Haruna, 5 CA, 2 CL and 11 DD. All other ships (7 CV, 4 CVL, 1 CVE, 1 CS, 4 BB, 7 CA, 9 CL and 27 DD) were organized in 3 TFs (according to their speed) and sailed north for repairs and upgrades in Japan.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The only Allied raid was on the 8th when 9 PB4Y from Wyndham bombed Lautem and left two holes on the runway.
Japanese airmen flew several recon over Darwin and reported a weak CAP (20-25 P-40E and Kittyhawk) and no ship at all. They reported it to the Combined Fleet HQ, that scrapped all plans for action in the area (see above).
Southern Resource Area
Burma
Japanese recon crew continued for two days to fly recon around Kohima meeting some Allied fighters over Allied troops. There was no combat loss but an Irving and a Spitfire were lost in crashes. The number of Allied units rose to 8 south of Kohima and 5 in the town itself. It was judged now to be a serious offensive. The 6th Tk Rgt holding the trail north of Myitkyina was also ordered to march south, even if no activity had been reported in this area.
Allied airmen attacked on the 8th Mandalay with 46 B-25J, 32 B-17E and 24 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B, scoring 5/7/68 hits on the airfield and disabling 69 men and 3 guns. The next day, the same target attacked by the same units (42 B-25J, 27 Blenheim IV, 25 B-17E and 39 P-40B) and reported 7/11/121 hits on the airfield, 2 disabled guns and 135 casualties. AA fire shot down a Blenheim this time.
The barge convoy returning from Akyab was attacked on the 8th by 33 Beaufighter from Imphal and lost four barges sunk by bombs and two heavily damage by strafing. This trip proved costly and won’t be repeated, Akyab will be supplied by the overland trail.
China
The battle continued 120 miles west of Sian. An Army HQ and two Corps were defeated by 5 Japanese divisions on the 8th at 194 to 1 and fled westwards while losing 1014 killed and wounded and more than 500 POWs. Japanese losses were 201 men and 8 guns. The next day another Chinese unit arrived there from the mountains and will also be attacked tomorrow.
On the 8th, Oscar II flew LRCAP over Yunan, Kunming, Chengtu and Chunkging. The lucky pilots were those of the 54 Sentai flying over Chengtu, who found plenty targets and shot down 3 C-47, 3 Dakota I and 1 Lodestar without loss. Another Dakota was lost in a crash over the Hump.
.
Operational training units in Wuhan flew 181 sorties in two days, hit 73 Chinese and lost an Oscar II in a crash.
On the 8th the 41st Div changed command in Shanghai. Newly affected to the Northern Force, it boarded ships to go to Paramushiro Jima.
Japan
Given the excellent economic situation, an industrial expansion program was ordered. The naval shipyard in Kitakyushu will be increased (+22) and will be used to accelerate DD and PC. Three towns saw their HI increased: Hiroshima (+100), Pusan (+100) and Hungnam (+100), the last two being in Korea.
Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
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AmiralLaurent
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AmiralLaurent
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10-11 April 1943: waiting
10-11 April 1943
Northern, Central and Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Detachments of the 53rd Div occupied the small islands of Ndini (50 landing casualties), Vanikolo, Mare’ and Lifou, and then reboarded barges to occupy the nearby islands.
Japanese SIGINT reported 2 contacts at sea around 1000 miles W of New Zealand. It might be an Allied counterlanding, or just a convoy returning to the States along the map border. NZ was very weak in aircraft, having only 8 Mavis, and 17 Betties were sent from Noumea to reinforce naval search patrols and at least see the Allied come back if they do.
On the 11th new orders were issued in Noumea to organize the area. The 3rd Base Force boarded ships to go to Luganville, an IJNAF BF did the same to go to Efate while the HQ Southern Area Army and the 6th Air Division HQ will sail to Suva.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the morning of the 10th, Rabaul was attacked by 82 B-24D from PM escorted by 8 P-38G. For the loss of one Liberator in an accident, they destroyed two unserviceable Ki-45s on the ground, disabled 152 men and 5 guns and scored 17 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 69 on the runways. They came back on the afternoon of the 11th with 68 B-24D and 18 P-38G and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 45 on the runways, disabling 55 men and 3 guns, but this time AA fire shot down 3 bombers.
Minor Allied air operations saw 13 Vengeance I and 13 P-40E fly a training mission against Sag Sag on the 10th and 28 Beaufighter Mk 21 sink two barges off Talasea on the 11th. A Beaufighter was lost operationally.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Timor suffered again. On the 10th, Lautem was bombed by 150 B-17E from Darwin and then by 8 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 52 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 10 hits on buildings, 6 on supplies and 52 on the runway. A Fortress was lost to engine failure. The Ki-46 based in Lautem moved to Koepang in the evening, sending to HQ a final report revealing in Darwin 12 Allied units (93 000 men, 536 guns, 111 vehicles) 28 docked ships (mostly transports) and 489 aircraft (101/139/249).
The next day, Koepang was the target of 31 B-25C from Derby and 8 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported the loss of 12 men and 2 guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 19 on runways. Dinah flew the other way to Derby and reported a CAP of 30-35 fighters. At the same time Darwin B-17E attacked Sorong, 132 of them pummelling the oil centers. There were about ten running before the raid, all were disabled.
Southern Resource Area
On the 11th, the SS USS Barb tried to attack an ASW TF of 6 ships NE of Muntok but was unable to reach a firing position. She wasn’t detected either.
Burma
The 10th was very quiet. In the evening 27 A6M3a flew from Rangoon to Myitkyina to fly a sweep over Asansol where recon had reported 15-20 I-16c flying CAP. A Zero pilot was lost in the ferry flight. Next day 23 Zero flew the sweep and met over Asansol 19 I-16c, shooting down 4 without loss. But at the same time Myitkyina was bombed by 46 B-25J, 31 B-17E and 27 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 38 P-40B that destroyed one of the unserviceable A6M3a, disabled 23 men and 1 gun and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 54 on the runways. The Zeroes flew back to Rangoon this evening.
The ground situation became more serious: there were now 9 Allied units south of Kohima. On the other hand the 31st Japanese division had finished to unload in Rangoon on the 10th and the next day received orders to march to Mandalay. The map below will show you the situation on this theatre.
China
On the 10th the 99th Chinese Corps was defeated as usual 120 miles west of Sian by 5 divisions. The ratio was 1908 to 1, Japanese losses were 11 men and 1 gun, Chinese ones 399 killed and wounded and more than 700 prisoners.
Oscars flew LRCAP on the 11th over Yunan and Chengtu and found targets over the latter. A C-47 was shot down, a Lodestar was lost in a crash. The LRCAP will be continued tomorrow over Yunan in case the transports shift of destination.
A training sortie by 100 aircraft from Wuhan on the 11th hit 13 Japanese and cost 5 operational losses: 2 A6M3a, 2 Ki-48 and 1 Oscar II.
Japan
A convoy left Osaka to bring 32k fuel and 56k supplies to Noumea.
The A6M3a factory of Gumma (capacity 65) was stopped, as the pool of available A6M3a was now over 500.
Northern, Central and Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Detachments of the 53rd Div occupied the small islands of Ndini (50 landing casualties), Vanikolo, Mare’ and Lifou, and then reboarded barges to occupy the nearby islands.
Japanese SIGINT reported 2 contacts at sea around 1000 miles W of New Zealand. It might be an Allied counterlanding, or just a convoy returning to the States along the map border. NZ was very weak in aircraft, having only 8 Mavis, and 17 Betties were sent from Noumea to reinforce naval search patrols and at least see the Allied come back if they do.
On the 11th new orders were issued in Noumea to organize the area. The 3rd Base Force boarded ships to go to Luganville, an IJNAF BF did the same to go to Efate while the HQ Southern Area Army and the 6th Air Division HQ will sail to Suva.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the morning of the 10th, Rabaul was attacked by 82 B-24D from PM escorted by 8 P-38G. For the loss of one Liberator in an accident, they destroyed two unserviceable Ki-45s on the ground, disabled 152 men and 5 guns and scored 17 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 69 on the runways. They came back on the afternoon of the 11th with 68 B-24D and 18 P-38G and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 45 on the runways, disabling 55 men and 3 guns, but this time AA fire shot down 3 bombers.
Minor Allied air operations saw 13 Vengeance I and 13 P-40E fly a training mission against Sag Sag on the 10th and 28 Beaufighter Mk 21 sink two barges off Talasea on the 11th. A Beaufighter was lost operationally.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Timor suffered again. On the 10th, Lautem was bombed by 150 B-17E from Darwin and then by 8 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 52 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 10 hits on buildings, 6 on supplies and 52 on the runway. A Fortress was lost to engine failure. The Ki-46 based in Lautem moved to Koepang in the evening, sending to HQ a final report revealing in Darwin 12 Allied units (93 000 men, 536 guns, 111 vehicles) 28 docked ships (mostly transports) and 489 aircraft (101/139/249).
The next day, Koepang was the target of 31 B-25C from Derby and 8 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported the loss of 12 men and 2 guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 19 on runways. Dinah flew the other way to Derby and reported a CAP of 30-35 fighters. At the same time Darwin B-17E attacked Sorong, 132 of them pummelling the oil centers. There were about ten running before the raid, all were disabled.
Southern Resource Area
On the 11th, the SS USS Barb tried to attack an ASW TF of 6 ships NE of Muntok but was unable to reach a firing position. She wasn’t detected either.
Burma
The 10th was very quiet. In the evening 27 A6M3a flew from Rangoon to Myitkyina to fly a sweep over Asansol where recon had reported 15-20 I-16c flying CAP. A Zero pilot was lost in the ferry flight. Next day 23 Zero flew the sweep and met over Asansol 19 I-16c, shooting down 4 without loss. But at the same time Myitkyina was bombed by 46 B-25J, 31 B-17E and 27 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 38 P-40B that destroyed one of the unserviceable A6M3a, disabled 23 men and 1 gun and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 54 on the runways. The Zeroes flew back to Rangoon this evening.
The ground situation became more serious: there were now 9 Allied units south of Kohima. On the other hand the 31st Japanese division had finished to unload in Rangoon on the 10th and the next day received orders to march to Mandalay. The map below will show you the situation on this theatre.
China
On the 10th the 99th Chinese Corps was defeated as usual 120 miles west of Sian by 5 divisions. The ratio was 1908 to 1, Japanese losses were 11 men and 1 gun, Chinese ones 399 killed and wounded and more than 700 prisoners.
Oscars flew LRCAP on the 11th over Yunan and Chengtu and found targets over the latter. A C-47 was shot down, a Lodestar was lost in a crash. The LRCAP will be continued tomorrow over Yunan in case the transports shift of destination.
A training sortie by 100 aircraft from Wuhan on the 11th hit 13 Japanese and cost 5 operational losses: 2 A6M3a, 2 Ki-48 and 1 Oscar II.
Japan
A convoy left Osaka to bring 32k fuel and 56k supplies to Noumea.
The A6M3a factory of Gumma (capacity 65) was stopped, as the pool of available A6M3a was now over 500.
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RE: 10-11 April 1943: waiting
Laurent,
The pictures aren't showing up.
The pictures aren't showing up.
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC
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AmiralLaurent
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11 April 1943: Burma map
I didn't manage to correct the above post, so I will try to post the Burma map here:
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AmiralLaurent
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12-13 April 1943: a new Allied army coming
12-13 April 1943
Northern Pacific
On the 12th, the SS I-25 met a convoy 500 miles SE of Anchorage, reporting it as 2 AP and 3 “CA”. The next day, the same submarine, still at the same place, reported Allied warships probably searching her and was ordered to move south. Still on the 13th a Glen of another submarine detected ships off Dutch Harbor.
The Allies were doing something in the area but sadly the local command couldn’t do much against it. To make things worse, the Northern Area command learned on the 13th that given the situation in Burma (see below) the 41st Division that was sailing from Shanghai to Paramushiro Jima to reinforce the defence of the base had been rerouted to Bangkok, from which the troops will march to Burma.
Central Pacific
The SS I-7 cruising off California was ordered to close San Francisco and launch a recon flight with her Glen to try to detect Allied CVs.
Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Troops of the 53rd Division occupied the islets of Utupau and Ouvea and landed on Reef Island for a total of 70 casualties.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
There was no raid on the 12th, and two from PM on the 13th. Rabaul was attacked by 35 B-24D escorted by 18 P-38G and reported 17 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 5 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 26 on the runways, while a training sortie was flown by 11 Vengeance I and 20 P-40E against Sag Sag.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
These two days saw no activity at all. 26 Tojos arrived in Kendari after completing training in China.
Southern Resource Area
Allied submarines were back in this area. Two were seen on the 12th in Tarakan area, two others in the Palembang-Singapore-Kuching triangle. One of the latter, the USS Barb, attacked the next night an ASW group sent after her and targeted the DD Hagikaze but her torpedoes failed to explode. A PC dropped DCs on her supposed location but she escaped undamaged.
Three convoys were organized in the period to carry 17k resources from Toboali to Singapore, 9k oil and 9k resources from Rangoon to Singapore and 27k oil from Brunei to Japan.
Burma
On the 12th, a new Allied thrust was detected south of Ledo. Japanese armored patrols reported 16 units there. The next day they were 25, and an air recon identified the III Indian Corps HQ. The updated below will show you the new situation. It now seems that the main Allied axis will be directed against Myitkyina, with a secondary push to cut the railway east of it. This was now a serious offensive and more troops were needed, so the 41st Div was ordered to Burma rather than to Northern Area (see above).
The Allied air offensive against Japanese airfields paused. The only raid was on the morning of the 12th: Myitkyina was attacked by 42 B-25C, 32 B-17E and 24 Blenheim IV escorted by 39 P-40B and reported the loss of 40 men and 2 guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 72 on runways. A P-40 and a Blenheim were lost in accidents.
Japanese engineers finished to build fortifications in Lashio (level 9) and will now expand the airfield from size 2 to 4.
Rangoon had no bombers for a long time. 9 Nells arrived from Palembang on the 12th and will be used against Allied troops, mostly to identify them rather than doing real damage.
China
A new Chinese unit, the 15th Air Base Force, marched out of the mountains NW of Sian on the 13th and was defeated by Japanese troops holding the road the next day at 1700 to 1. There were no Japanese casualty, Chinese lost 55 killed and wounded and some tens of POWs.
Wuhan operational training units flew on both days against Chinese troops, hitting 63 men in 206 sorties and losing 3 Oscar II and 1 A6M3 in crashes.
Japanese engineers expanded Kungchang airfield to size 6.
Northern Pacific
On the 12th, the SS I-25 met a convoy 500 miles SE of Anchorage, reporting it as 2 AP and 3 “CA”. The next day, the same submarine, still at the same place, reported Allied warships probably searching her and was ordered to move south. Still on the 13th a Glen of another submarine detected ships off Dutch Harbor.
The Allies were doing something in the area but sadly the local command couldn’t do much against it. To make things worse, the Northern Area command learned on the 13th that given the situation in Burma (see below) the 41st Division that was sailing from Shanghai to Paramushiro Jima to reinforce the defence of the base had been rerouted to Bangkok, from which the troops will march to Burma.
Central Pacific
The SS I-7 cruising off California was ordered to close San Francisco and launch a recon flight with her Glen to try to detect Allied CVs.
Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Troops of the 53rd Division occupied the islets of Utupau and Ouvea and landed on Reef Island for a total of 70 casualties.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
There was no raid on the 12th, and two from PM on the 13th. Rabaul was attacked by 35 B-24D escorted by 18 P-38G and reported 17 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 5 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 26 on the runways, while a training sortie was flown by 11 Vengeance I and 20 P-40E against Sag Sag.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
These two days saw no activity at all. 26 Tojos arrived in Kendari after completing training in China.
Southern Resource Area
Allied submarines were back in this area. Two were seen on the 12th in Tarakan area, two others in the Palembang-Singapore-Kuching triangle. One of the latter, the USS Barb, attacked the next night an ASW group sent after her and targeted the DD Hagikaze but her torpedoes failed to explode. A PC dropped DCs on her supposed location but she escaped undamaged.
Three convoys were organized in the period to carry 17k resources from Toboali to Singapore, 9k oil and 9k resources from Rangoon to Singapore and 27k oil from Brunei to Japan.
Burma
On the 12th, a new Allied thrust was detected south of Ledo. Japanese armored patrols reported 16 units there. The next day they were 25, and an air recon identified the III Indian Corps HQ. The updated below will show you the new situation. It now seems that the main Allied axis will be directed against Myitkyina, with a secondary push to cut the railway east of it. This was now a serious offensive and more troops were needed, so the 41st Div was ordered to Burma rather than to Northern Area (see above).
The Allied air offensive against Japanese airfields paused. The only raid was on the morning of the 12th: Myitkyina was attacked by 42 B-25C, 32 B-17E and 24 Blenheim IV escorted by 39 P-40B and reported the loss of 40 men and 2 guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 72 on runways. A P-40 and a Blenheim were lost in accidents.
Japanese engineers finished to build fortifications in Lashio (level 9) and will now expand the airfield from size 2 to 4.
Rangoon had no bombers for a long time. 9 Nells arrived from Palembang on the 12th and will be used against Allied troops, mostly to identify them rather than doing real damage.
China
A new Chinese unit, the 15th Air Base Force, marched out of the mountains NW of Sian on the 13th and was defeated by Japanese troops holding the road the next day at 1700 to 1. There were no Japanese casualty, Chinese lost 55 killed and wounded and some tens of POWs.
Wuhan operational training units flew on both days against Chinese troops, hitting 63 men in 206 sorties and losing 3 Oscar II and 1 A6M3 in crashes.
Japanese engineers expanded Kungchang airfield to size 6.
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AmiralLaurent
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14-15 April 1943: reinforcements
14-15 April 1943
Northern Pacific
Given the rising level of Allied activity in the area, a Mavis from Paramushiro Jima was ordered to recon Amchitka Island on the 15th. All what it saw was a new Allied fighter, the P-40N, 17 of them flew CAP over the base. The Mavis evaded them and one P-40N was lost in bad weather trying to pursue it.
Central Pacific
At dawn on the 14th the Glen of the SS I-7 took off for a recon of San Francisco. They flew on the desk over the coast to come from the land and surprise the defences. That enabled them to fly first above the US Army bases and report 80 land units in the base. When they approached the port they reported a CAP of 76 F4F-4, 1 Wildcat IV, 14 Spitfire Vb, 11 P-35A and 11 P-36A. And then they were shot down by one of these fighters. From the above number it was judged fairly possible but not sure that the Allied CVs were still there. These Wildcats might be Marine units or survivors of sunk CVs. After waiting some hours the I-7 left for Pearl Harbor for a badly needed overhaul.
Southern Pacific
NTR (as usual)
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
A company of the 53rd Div reported Reef Island clear of any enemy. It was the last dot in the area still controlled by the Allied. All troops now boarded barges again to come back to Luganville.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 14th by 42 B-24D and 18 P-38G that scored 12 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 28 on the runway. Japanese losses were 55 men and 5 guns, Allied ones two B-24D shot down by AA and a P-38G lost in a crash. The supply situation in Rabaul was now serious (orange) and several 7000-ton AK were loaded in Truk and will sail independently to bring them to this base.
Japanese engineers expanded Lunga port to size 3.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 14th the CAP of Derby shot down a Dinah III while 157 B-17E from Darwin bombed Lautem, disabling 29 men and 1 gun and scoring 9 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 56 on the runway for two operational losses.
The next day Lautem was again attacked by 150 B-17E from Darwin and 9 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 58 casualties, 10 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 35 on the runway, while 57 B-25C from Derby raided Koepang and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 20 on the runways, doing 46 casualties. In the evening 36 Ki-61 flew from Kendari to Koepang to intercept these medium bombers if they come back.
The same day, the SS USS Sculpin attacked an ASW TF of 6 ships searching her 240 miles NE of Kendari but missed her target, the PC Ch 4, that then counterattacked her with depth charges and scored one hit with a Type 91 DC. Sculpin was not seriously damaged and escaped. The ASW group sailed south to try to pursue her.
Southern Resource Area
Now that Allied submarines were again active in the area, it was decided to turn Kuching into an active ASW base. The port has enough fuel to base ASW ships here but the airfield has few supplies. So a convoy was sent from Singapore with 21k supplies and once it will be there a Ki-48 group will fly ASW from this base. By the way a Palembang-based Ki-48 bombed and hit the SS Gunnard NW of Kuching in the morning of the 15th.
The only convoy created in the period will bring 35k resources from Tarakan to Japan.
Burma-China
For once, there was no action at all for two days on both these theatres. The Allied threat in Northern Burma was serious enough for the Burma Army to ask for more reinforcements and more were granted. The 3rd Armored Division was one of the first units of the former Northern China Army that had reached Canton via Hangchow and the coastal road. It was preparing for the offensive against Kweiyang and Kunming planned for this summer, when it received new orders on the 15th. It will be affected to the Burma Army, should prepare for Myitkyina and will be shipped to Bangkok as soon as a convoy will arrive from Japan.
This will bring the Burma Army strength to 5 Inf Div (17th, 31st, 33rd, 41st and 104th, not counting the 55th in Akyab), 2 Armd Div (2nd and 3rd), 2 Inf Bdes (21st and 23rd), the 4th Inf Rgt and four Tk Rgt. This should be enough to stop the Allied offensive.
Japan
Three convoys left Japanese ports: one with 25k fuel for Tarakan (TK will come back with oil), another with 63k supplies for Truk and the last one 10 empty AK and escort sailing for Hong Kong where they will load the 3rd Armd Div and bring it to Bangkok from where it will roll to Burma.
The 14th saw the creation of 5 new air units, including two being the first using a new aircraft type: a Sentai of Ki-45b (the fighter-bomber version), two Daitais of Betty, one of Zero and one of Irving night-fighter. There were two problems: first there were only 13 Irving available and the last unit was so created at 50% OOB. Then all pilots were not well experienced (mean level 58-63 for IJNAF and 52 for Army) and all will require training in Japan and China before being used on the frontline.
Northern Pacific
Given the rising level of Allied activity in the area, a Mavis from Paramushiro Jima was ordered to recon Amchitka Island on the 15th. All what it saw was a new Allied fighter, the P-40N, 17 of them flew CAP over the base. The Mavis evaded them and one P-40N was lost in bad weather trying to pursue it.
Central Pacific
At dawn on the 14th the Glen of the SS I-7 took off for a recon of San Francisco. They flew on the desk over the coast to come from the land and surprise the defences. That enabled them to fly first above the US Army bases and report 80 land units in the base. When they approached the port they reported a CAP of 76 F4F-4, 1 Wildcat IV, 14 Spitfire Vb, 11 P-35A and 11 P-36A. And then they were shot down by one of these fighters. From the above number it was judged fairly possible but not sure that the Allied CVs were still there. These Wildcats might be Marine units or survivors of sunk CVs. After waiting some hours the I-7 left for Pearl Harbor for a badly needed overhaul.
Southern Pacific
NTR (as usual)
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
A company of the 53rd Div reported Reef Island clear of any enemy. It was the last dot in the area still controlled by the Allied. All troops now boarded barges again to come back to Luganville.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 14th by 42 B-24D and 18 P-38G that scored 12 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 28 on the runway. Japanese losses were 55 men and 5 guns, Allied ones two B-24D shot down by AA and a P-38G lost in a crash. The supply situation in Rabaul was now serious (orange) and several 7000-ton AK were loaded in Truk and will sail independently to bring them to this base.
Japanese engineers expanded Lunga port to size 3.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 14th the CAP of Derby shot down a Dinah III while 157 B-17E from Darwin bombed Lautem, disabling 29 men and 1 gun and scoring 9 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 56 on the runway for two operational losses.
The next day Lautem was again attacked by 150 B-17E from Darwin and 9 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 58 casualties, 10 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 35 on the runway, while 57 B-25C from Derby raided Koepang and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 20 on the runways, doing 46 casualties. In the evening 36 Ki-61 flew from Kendari to Koepang to intercept these medium bombers if they come back.
The same day, the SS USS Sculpin attacked an ASW TF of 6 ships searching her 240 miles NE of Kendari but missed her target, the PC Ch 4, that then counterattacked her with depth charges and scored one hit with a Type 91 DC. Sculpin was not seriously damaged and escaped. The ASW group sailed south to try to pursue her.
Southern Resource Area
Now that Allied submarines were again active in the area, it was decided to turn Kuching into an active ASW base. The port has enough fuel to base ASW ships here but the airfield has few supplies. So a convoy was sent from Singapore with 21k supplies and once it will be there a Ki-48 group will fly ASW from this base. By the way a Palembang-based Ki-48 bombed and hit the SS Gunnard NW of Kuching in the morning of the 15th.
The only convoy created in the period will bring 35k resources from Tarakan to Japan.
Burma-China
For once, there was no action at all for two days on both these theatres. The Allied threat in Northern Burma was serious enough for the Burma Army to ask for more reinforcements and more were granted. The 3rd Armored Division was one of the first units of the former Northern China Army that had reached Canton via Hangchow and the coastal road. It was preparing for the offensive against Kweiyang and Kunming planned for this summer, when it received new orders on the 15th. It will be affected to the Burma Army, should prepare for Myitkyina and will be shipped to Bangkok as soon as a convoy will arrive from Japan.
This will bring the Burma Army strength to 5 Inf Div (17th, 31st, 33rd, 41st and 104th, not counting the 55th in Akyab), 2 Armd Div (2nd and 3rd), 2 Inf Bdes (21st and 23rd), the 4th Inf Rgt and four Tk Rgt. This should be enough to stop the Allied offensive.
Japan
Three convoys left Japanese ports: one with 25k fuel for Tarakan (TK will come back with oil), another with 63k supplies for Truk and the last one 10 empty AK and escort sailing for Hong Kong where they will load the 3rd Armd Div and bring it to Bangkok from where it will roll to Burma.
The 14th saw the creation of 5 new air units, including two being the first using a new aircraft type: a Sentai of Ki-45b (the fighter-bomber version), two Daitais of Betty, one of Zero and one of Irving night-fighter. There were two problems: first there were only 13 Irving available and the last unit was so created at 50% OOB. Then all pilots were not well experienced (mean level 58-63 for IJNAF and 52 for Army) and all will require training in Japan and China before being used on the frontline.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
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- Location: Near Paris, France
16-19 April 1943: four quiet days
16-19 April 1943
Northern Pacific
On the 16th the daily Mavis recon from Paramushiro over Amchitka was shot down by one of the 9 Kittyhawk I on CAP. Then nothing happened before the afternoon of the 18th that saw 30 B-26B from Amchitka escorted by 12 Kittyhawk I bomb the empty base of Kiska, scoring 28 hits on the airfield. On the 19th Allied engineers expanded Amchitka port to size 3.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific
The three convoys bringing each a division arrived off their destinations, Pago-Pago, Canton and Suva, and unloaded their troops.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 16th by 45 B-24D and 11 Hudson I from PM escorted by 20 P-38G and reported 9 hits on the base, 4 on supplies and 56 on runways. There was no Allied day, but the next day when 12 Hudson I and 3 P-38G returned alone to this target AA was far more efficient and shot down 3 Hudson, a fourth being lost operationally. This raid scored 2 hits on buildings and 10 on runways and did 10 casualties. The next two days were uneventful.
Rabaul repaired in 1-2 days after each Allied raid but was low on supplies so about 4-5 AK sailed independently, one each day, from Truk to this base with supplies and some fuel.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 17th and 18th 27 Brewster 339D from Darwin attacked barges near Lautem but without success. The only loss of this barge operation was one sunk by a patrolling B-24D.
Japanese engineers expanded Maumere airfield to size 3.
Southern Resource Area
On the 16th the SS USS Runner attacked an ASW group 180 miles north of Singkawang (Borneo) but missed the DD Hatakaze and then was herself damaged by a Type 95 DC dropped by the MSW W.7. Then all was quiet until the evening of the 19th that saw the first American successful attack in Japanese inner lines of the war… 180 miles SW of Davao two Japanese empty AK were attacked by the SS USS Grunion and the 7000-ton AK Tosan Maru was seriously damaged (39/34/20) by a torpedo hit. She should make it to Davao, with her luckier convoy mate. 21 experienced Ki-21 flew from Palau to Davao to fly ASW missions from this base.
Two convoys were organized in the period: one will bring 10k supplies from Toboali to Soerabaja, the other 14k resources from Kendari to Japan.
Burma
The first three days were totally quiet and on the 18th Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Pagan to size 4, thus finishing the base (already having fort level 9). The three Const Bn working here were sent to bases of the third line of defence, 2 to Rahaeng and one to Tavoy.
This pause finished the next day that saw 270 Allied sorties over Burma. First 24 Liberator VI from Dacca attacked Mandalay (6 more didn’t find it) and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 29 on the runways, disabled 62 men and 2 guns and lost one of their number to AA fire. Then 42 Vengeance I, 41 Hurricane II and 18 Beaufighter VIC escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb from Kohima raided the 1st Tk Rgt on the trail 120 miles S of their base and hit 163 men and 8 vehicles, while the 6th Tk Rgt 120 miles south of Ledo was attacked by 12 B-25J coming from this base under escort by 2 Spitfire and lost 63 men and 3 tanks. Lastly, in the afternoon, 57 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25J escorted by 19 P-40B from Chandpur attacked Pagan, did 58 casualties, disabled 3 guns and scored 9 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 69 on the runways. There was no air opposition and few AA to the last three raids but 4 Hurricane II, 1 Beaufighter VIC, 1 B-25J, 1 B-25C and 1 P-40B were lost operationally, mostly to bad weather.
Japanese activity was reduced to recon flights with one loss on the 19th, a Dinah II shot down by Allied fighters over Kohima. The Nell Chutai that had arrived in the last days in Rangoon was ordered first to fly daylight raids on Allied troops in the jungle but that didn’t work, and so it was switched to night raids on Kohima in the evening of the 18th but bad weather still grounded them.
China
There was no ground battle in the period, none Chine unit got out of the mountains NW of Sian, even if three were still there.
Oscar II again flew LRCAP over Chinese bases on the 17th and 18th. The first days pilots of the 54 Sentai shot down 4 C-47 over Chengtu. An Oscar and a C-47 were lost in crashes. The next day the 24 Sentai shot down 3 more C-47 over Yunan without loss.
The only training mission from Wuhan was flown on the 19th with 117 aircraft, hit 35 men and lost a Ki-44 in an accident.
Japan
The three TF of the KB reached Japan on the 16th and 17th and ships scattered in the ports of Maizuru, Okayama, Hiroshima, Osaka and Tokyo, where the biggest repair shipyards were located. A total of 7 CV, 3 CVL, 1 BB, 2 CL and 12 DD were scheduled to receive upgrades, while almost all the other ships needed SYS repairs. It was planned that the KB will be out of the war for two months.
This will also include the retraining and completing of its air units. Two decimated Zero land-based units brought back by the KB were flown to China and will be reformed there. Some units having finished training in Japan (exp between 55 and 59) flew also to China on the 18th, a Ki-49 and an A6M3 being lost in crashes on the way.
Also on the 18th the last factories producing the A6M3a were ordered to stop. More than 500 were in stock and that should be enough to last until the release of the A6M5. One of the small A6M3a factories in Sasebo (16) was converted for A6M5 research and increased to size 40. Already 115 factories research the A6M5 and it is hoped that it will be available at least one month ahead of schedule, in August.
Northern Pacific
On the 16th the daily Mavis recon from Paramushiro over Amchitka was shot down by one of the 9 Kittyhawk I on CAP. Then nothing happened before the afternoon of the 18th that saw 30 B-26B from Amchitka escorted by 12 Kittyhawk I bomb the empty base of Kiska, scoring 28 hits on the airfield. On the 19th Allied engineers expanded Amchitka port to size 3.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific
The three convoys bringing each a division arrived off their destinations, Pago-Pago, Canton and Suva, and unloaded their troops.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 16th by 45 B-24D and 11 Hudson I from PM escorted by 20 P-38G and reported 9 hits on the base, 4 on supplies and 56 on runways. There was no Allied day, but the next day when 12 Hudson I and 3 P-38G returned alone to this target AA was far more efficient and shot down 3 Hudson, a fourth being lost operationally. This raid scored 2 hits on buildings and 10 on runways and did 10 casualties. The next two days were uneventful.
Rabaul repaired in 1-2 days after each Allied raid but was low on supplies so about 4-5 AK sailed independently, one each day, from Truk to this base with supplies and some fuel.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 17th and 18th 27 Brewster 339D from Darwin attacked barges near Lautem but without success. The only loss of this barge operation was one sunk by a patrolling B-24D.
Japanese engineers expanded Maumere airfield to size 3.
Southern Resource Area
On the 16th the SS USS Runner attacked an ASW group 180 miles north of Singkawang (Borneo) but missed the DD Hatakaze and then was herself damaged by a Type 95 DC dropped by the MSW W.7. Then all was quiet until the evening of the 19th that saw the first American successful attack in Japanese inner lines of the war… 180 miles SW of Davao two Japanese empty AK were attacked by the SS USS Grunion and the 7000-ton AK Tosan Maru was seriously damaged (39/34/20) by a torpedo hit. She should make it to Davao, with her luckier convoy mate. 21 experienced Ki-21 flew from Palau to Davao to fly ASW missions from this base.
Two convoys were organized in the period: one will bring 10k supplies from Toboali to Soerabaja, the other 14k resources from Kendari to Japan.
Burma
The first three days were totally quiet and on the 18th Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Pagan to size 4, thus finishing the base (already having fort level 9). The three Const Bn working here were sent to bases of the third line of defence, 2 to Rahaeng and one to Tavoy.
This pause finished the next day that saw 270 Allied sorties over Burma. First 24 Liberator VI from Dacca attacked Mandalay (6 more didn’t find it) and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 29 on the runways, disabled 62 men and 2 guns and lost one of their number to AA fire. Then 42 Vengeance I, 41 Hurricane II and 18 Beaufighter VIC escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb from Kohima raided the 1st Tk Rgt on the trail 120 miles S of their base and hit 163 men and 8 vehicles, while the 6th Tk Rgt 120 miles south of Ledo was attacked by 12 B-25J coming from this base under escort by 2 Spitfire and lost 63 men and 3 tanks. Lastly, in the afternoon, 57 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25J escorted by 19 P-40B from Chandpur attacked Pagan, did 58 casualties, disabled 3 guns and scored 9 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 69 on the runways. There was no air opposition and few AA to the last three raids but 4 Hurricane II, 1 Beaufighter VIC, 1 B-25J, 1 B-25C and 1 P-40B were lost operationally, mostly to bad weather.
Japanese activity was reduced to recon flights with one loss on the 19th, a Dinah II shot down by Allied fighters over Kohima. The Nell Chutai that had arrived in the last days in Rangoon was ordered first to fly daylight raids on Allied troops in the jungle but that didn’t work, and so it was switched to night raids on Kohima in the evening of the 18th but bad weather still grounded them.
China
There was no ground battle in the period, none Chine unit got out of the mountains NW of Sian, even if three were still there.
Oscar II again flew LRCAP over Chinese bases on the 17th and 18th. The first days pilots of the 54 Sentai shot down 4 C-47 over Chengtu. An Oscar and a C-47 were lost in crashes. The next day the 24 Sentai shot down 3 more C-47 over Yunan without loss.
The only training mission from Wuhan was flown on the 19th with 117 aircraft, hit 35 men and lost a Ki-44 in an accident.
Japan
The three TF of the KB reached Japan on the 16th and 17th and ships scattered in the ports of Maizuru, Okayama, Hiroshima, Osaka and Tokyo, where the biggest repair shipyards were located. A total of 7 CV, 3 CVL, 1 BB, 2 CL and 12 DD were scheduled to receive upgrades, while almost all the other ships needed SYS repairs. It was planned that the KB will be out of the war for two months.
This will also include the retraining and completing of its air units. Two decimated Zero land-based units brought back by the KB were flown to China and will be reformed there. Some units having finished training in Japan (exp between 55 and 59) flew also to China on the 18th, a Ki-49 and an A6M3 being lost in crashes on the way.
Also on the 18th the last factories producing the A6M3a were ordered to stop. More than 500 were in stock and that should be enough to last until the release of the A6M5. One of the small A6M3a factories in Sasebo (16) was converted for A6M5 research and increased to size 40. Already 115 factories research the A6M5 and it is hoped that it will be available at least one month ahead of schedule, in August.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
20 April 1943: Allied landing in Kiska
20 April 1943
Northern Pacific
Something was really brewing in this area since some days. During the night, an Allied TF arrived off Kiska and began to unload troops. A second TF joined it in the morning and unloaded more troops. The island was undefended but the stormy conditions cost 1309 landing casualties while 4 units and 8000 men had landed at dusk. Eight P-38Gs flew LRCAP over the landing.
There was no immediate Japanese reaction but in the evening the SS I-36 patrolling 240 miles south of Dutch Harbor attacked a group of 4 SC and sank one with a torpedo, then escaping southwards without being detected.
In the evening, the Japanese Command finally reacted. 9 Betties were sent from Tokyo to Paramushiro Jima to fly recon and naval search over the area. The main reaction was sending a surface TF (BB Haruna, 1 CA, 2 CL and 6 DD) from Tokyo to Etoforu Jima, in the Kuriles. This TF may then raid the beachhead if the situation allows it.
A survey of the defences in the area was also done. On Sakhalin Island, the Karafuto Bde was holding Shika but Toyama had few troops. The Bde was divided and ordered to hold both bases until reinforcements will be available in the summer.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific
The three AP convoys off Pago-Pago, Suva and Canton had finished unloading troops and supplies and were ordered to sail to Kwajalein and Japan.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the afternoon, 61 B-24D from PM escorted by 22 P-38G raided Rabaul, scoring 8 hits on the airbase and 72 on runways. Japanese losses were 216 men and 5 guns, Allied ones one B-24 lost in a crash.
An AP carrying a part of the 21st Special Base Force left Truk for Kavieng, while a convoy with 7k fuel left Palau for Hollandia.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the afternoon, 56 B-25C left Derby for a routine raid against Koepang airfield but they had the bad surprise to find 22 Ki-61 defending it. The pilots of 68 Sentai shot down 8 bombers without loss and all remaining Allied crews turned back. The Japanese unit then returned to Kendari, leaving 9 damaged fighter behind.
At the same time 149 B-17E and 43 B-24D from Darwin and 10 PB4Y from Wyndham raided Lautem, disabled 144 men and 1 gun, scored 12 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 157 on runways and lost 2 B-17 and a B-24 operationally.
In the evening, a Pete was sent to Dili to “occupy” the airfield, and eventually draw bombers. Two small AK will bring individually supplies to Koepang (a routine operation) and Dili (a new one).
Twelve submarines were based in Batavia and Soerabaja, all fully repaired. Two with Glens were ordered to patrol on both sides of NW Australia, one NW of Broome and the other between Darwin and Port Moresby. Four other submarines will be used to lay mines off Timor.
Southern Resource Area
Four convoys were organized today to carry 93k oil from Palembang to Japan, 49k resources from Palembang to Singapore, 107k oil from Balikpapan to Japan and 9k oil from Bankha to Singapore.
Burma
During the night, Rangoon-based Nells finally flew. 3 of them raided Kohima but didn’t hit the airfield.
The Allied air force continued its effort over Burma today with 357 sorties against Japanese troops and airfields. Mandalay was attacked in the morning by 8 Beaufighter VIF escorted by 18 P-40B from Chandpur and in the afternoon by 60 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 16 Beaufort V-IX and 15 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B and by 43 Liberator VI and 18 P-40B from Dacca. The base reported a total of 12 hits on the base, 7 on supplies and 69 on the runways, and the loss of 62 men and 1 gun. The 1st Tk Rgt was attacked by 42 Vengeance I, 41 Hurricane II and 19 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 12 Spitfire Vb and lost 98 men and 6 tanks, while the 6th Tk Rgt was bombed by 13 Hurricane and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 10 Spitfire and reported that 39 men and 2 tanks were hit. The CAP of Ledo (around 30 fighters) shot down a Dinah II during the day. Allied losses were a Beaufighter VIF and a Liberator VI shot down by AA and another Liberator, a Vengeance, a Beaufort V-IX and a P-40B lost in accidents.
In the evening, the 27 A6M3a of the F2/1st Daitai flew from Rangoon to Lashio and will fly LRCAP tomorrow over the 1st Tk Rgt. Recon units were ordered to fly over Chandpur, Imphal and Dacca to check if an attack will be possible against them to destroy Allied bombers on the ground.
China
Wuhan airmen flew without loss 116 training sorties and hit 34 Chinese men.
Tomorrow Lanchow bombers will bomb Chengtu resources (the biggest pool remaining in Nationalist China, with 145 able centers). And Oscar II will LRCAP Chengtu, Chungking and Yunan.
Manchoukuo
Even if the Kwantung Army had still as much aircraft as at the start of the war (personal home rule), it had far more air support than what was needed, especially a great number of IJAAF Air Rgt. Two were ordered to join other commands today, one will go to Yenen, China, (it was attached to Burma Army) and the other to Paramushiro Jima, Kurils (attached to Northern Force).
Northern Pacific
Something was really brewing in this area since some days. During the night, an Allied TF arrived off Kiska and began to unload troops. A second TF joined it in the morning and unloaded more troops. The island was undefended but the stormy conditions cost 1309 landing casualties while 4 units and 8000 men had landed at dusk. Eight P-38Gs flew LRCAP over the landing.
There was no immediate Japanese reaction but in the evening the SS I-36 patrolling 240 miles south of Dutch Harbor attacked a group of 4 SC and sank one with a torpedo, then escaping southwards without being detected.
In the evening, the Japanese Command finally reacted. 9 Betties were sent from Tokyo to Paramushiro Jima to fly recon and naval search over the area. The main reaction was sending a surface TF (BB Haruna, 1 CA, 2 CL and 6 DD) from Tokyo to Etoforu Jima, in the Kuriles. This TF may then raid the beachhead if the situation allows it.
A survey of the defences in the area was also done. On Sakhalin Island, the Karafuto Bde was holding Shika but Toyama had few troops. The Bde was divided and ordered to hold both bases until reinforcements will be available in the summer.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific
The three AP convoys off Pago-Pago, Suva and Canton had finished unloading troops and supplies and were ordered to sail to Kwajalein and Japan.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the afternoon, 61 B-24D from PM escorted by 22 P-38G raided Rabaul, scoring 8 hits on the airbase and 72 on runways. Japanese losses were 216 men and 5 guns, Allied ones one B-24 lost in a crash.
An AP carrying a part of the 21st Special Base Force left Truk for Kavieng, while a convoy with 7k fuel left Palau for Hollandia.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the afternoon, 56 B-25C left Derby for a routine raid against Koepang airfield but they had the bad surprise to find 22 Ki-61 defending it. The pilots of 68 Sentai shot down 8 bombers without loss and all remaining Allied crews turned back. The Japanese unit then returned to Kendari, leaving 9 damaged fighter behind.
At the same time 149 B-17E and 43 B-24D from Darwin and 10 PB4Y from Wyndham raided Lautem, disabled 144 men and 1 gun, scored 12 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 157 on runways and lost 2 B-17 and a B-24 operationally.
In the evening, a Pete was sent to Dili to “occupy” the airfield, and eventually draw bombers. Two small AK will bring individually supplies to Koepang (a routine operation) and Dili (a new one).
Twelve submarines were based in Batavia and Soerabaja, all fully repaired. Two with Glens were ordered to patrol on both sides of NW Australia, one NW of Broome and the other between Darwin and Port Moresby. Four other submarines will be used to lay mines off Timor.
Southern Resource Area
Four convoys were organized today to carry 93k oil from Palembang to Japan, 49k resources from Palembang to Singapore, 107k oil from Balikpapan to Japan and 9k oil from Bankha to Singapore.
Burma
During the night, Rangoon-based Nells finally flew. 3 of them raided Kohima but didn’t hit the airfield.
The Allied air force continued its effort over Burma today with 357 sorties against Japanese troops and airfields. Mandalay was attacked in the morning by 8 Beaufighter VIF escorted by 18 P-40B from Chandpur and in the afternoon by 60 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 16 Beaufort V-IX and 15 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B and by 43 Liberator VI and 18 P-40B from Dacca. The base reported a total of 12 hits on the base, 7 on supplies and 69 on the runways, and the loss of 62 men and 1 gun. The 1st Tk Rgt was attacked by 42 Vengeance I, 41 Hurricane II and 19 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 12 Spitfire Vb and lost 98 men and 6 tanks, while the 6th Tk Rgt was bombed by 13 Hurricane and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 10 Spitfire and reported that 39 men and 2 tanks were hit. The CAP of Ledo (around 30 fighters) shot down a Dinah II during the day. Allied losses were a Beaufighter VIF and a Liberator VI shot down by AA and another Liberator, a Vengeance, a Beaufort V-IX and a P-40B lost in accidents.
In the evening, the 27 A6M3a of the F2/1st Daitai flew from Rangoon to Lashio and will fly LRCAP tomorrow over the 1st Tk Rgt. Recon units were ordered to fly over Chandpur, Imphal and Dacca to check if an attack will be possible against them to destroy Allied bombers on the ground.
China
Wuhan airmen flew without loss 116 training sorties and hit 34 Chinese men.
Tomorrow Lanchow bombers will bomb Chengtu resources (the biggest pool remaining in Nationalist China, with 145 able centers). And Oscar II will LRCAP Chengtu, Chungking and Yunan.
Manchoukuo
Even if the Kwantung Army had still as much aircraft as at the start of the war (personal home rule), it had far more air support than what was needed, especially a great number of IJAAF Air Rgt. Two were ordered to join other commands today, one will go to Yenen, China, (it was attached to Burma Army) and the other to Paramushiro Jima, Kurils (attached to Northern Force).
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AmiralLaurent
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21-22 April 1943: Kiska gone, Attu to follow
21-22 April 1943
Northern Pacific
On the 21st Allied troops continued to land on Kiska (459 casualties) and in the evening the 198th RCT and 3 Seabees units occupied it. There still was no Japanese reaction. Three P-38G flying LRCAP over the island were lost due to bad weather.
The next night and day a TF unloaded Allied troops on Attu (225 casualties). The daily recon of Kiska showed that the airfield was already occupied by Allied aircraft and reported a CAP of 18 F4F-4 and 11 Kittyhawk I.
The Haruna TF was still sailing north towards Etorofu Jima, where one of the two Rufe Chutai of Paramushiro Jima was sent to provide air cover.
Allied engineers expanded Unmak Island airfield to size 2.
Central & Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Luganville to size 3.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
On the 22nd, a Betty flying the daily recon over PM was shot down by the Allied CAP.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
After the ambush over Koepang the day before, a reprisal raid was expected but the Allied command probably considered that the base had been LRCAPed from Maumere (that recently was extended to AF 3) and this base was raided on the 21st and 22nd by Darwin heavy bombers, 138 B-17E, 40 B-24D and 11 PB4Y on the first day and 116 B-17E and 39 B-24D. The base was held by an IJNAF BF and had one floatplane based here, it reported in two days 21 hits on airbase, 9 on supplies and 138 on runways, 118 casualties and 2 disabled guns, and was effectively wrecked. Allied losses were 1 B-24D shot down by AA and 6 B-17E and 1 B-24D lost operationally.
In Koepang the mechanics repaired the damaged Tonies left behind but the base was attacked in the morning of the 22nd by 47 B-25C from Derby that destroyed a Ki-61 on the ground, did 18 casualties and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 11 on the runways for the loss of one of their number to AA fire. In the afternoon 7 PB4Y from Wyndham attacked Dili but scored only one hit on a building and one on the runway and lost one bomber to engine failure.
Allied submarines activity was also rising in this area. During the night of 21st-22nd, the Dutch SS KIX was chased twice by an ASW group 180 miles west of Amboina but escaped undamaged. After dawn the SS USS Tautog chased unsuccessfully a Japanese TF south of Menado.
Southern Resource Area
NTR
Burma
On both nights Nells from Rangoon bombed Kohima airfield, evading a dozen of patrols by Beaufighter VIF. The first night one bomb hit a dispersal and destroyed two Beaufighter VIC, the next there were no hit and a Nell was shot down by AA fire.
By day the Allied air offensive continued against Japanese troops and airfields, with 485 sorties on the 21st and 463 on the 22nd.
On the 21st, there was some Japanese opposition as 15 A6M3a from F2/1st Daitai flying LRCAP from Lashio defended the 1st Tk Rgt against 39 Vengeance I, 39 Hurricane II and 20 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 15 Spitfire. The Spitfire shot down 2 Zero but the Japanese pilots shot down 4 Hurricane, 4 Vengeance, 2 Spitfire and 1 Beaufighter. The bombing was disrupted and only hit 28 men and 1 tank. The successful Zero unit flew back to Rangoon in the evening.
The other Allied targets this day were Mandalay (raided by 48 B-24J, 47 B-25J, 33 B-173, 28 Blenheim IV and 44 P-40B from Imphal in the morning and by 50 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 14 B-25J and 18 P-40B from Chandpur and 29 Liberator VI from Dacca in the afternoon, for a total of 17 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 222 on the runways, 333 casualties and 4 disabled guns), Lashio (by 9 Liberator VI and 18 P-40B from Dacca, only 2 runway hits) and the 6th Tk Rgt (by 12 B-25J and 11 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 5 Spitfire, for the loss of 23 men and 1 tank). During these raids, a B-25C was shot down by AA fire and 2 other and a Blenheim were lost in crashes.
Also on the 21st Japanese recon aircraft checked the various Allied airfields and reported CAP of 40+ at Imphal, 30+ at Dacca, 45+ at Chandpur and 50+ at Ledo. These defences are too high to launch a Japanese raid against these bases.
The next day, the Allied targets were Lashio (raided by 42 B-24J, 41 B-25J, 28 B-173, 15 Blenheim IV and 42 P-40B from Imphal in the morning, 10 hits on the base, 6 on supplies, 60 on runways, 59 casualties), Mandalay (by 47 B-25C, 21 Blenheim IV, 14 B-25J and 18 P-40B from Chandpur in the afternoon, 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 34 on the runways, 40 casualties), the 1st Tk Rgt (by 36 Vengeance I, 38 Hurricane II, 33 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima escorted by 20 Spitfire, lost 188 men and 12 vehicles) and the 6th Tk Rgt (by 10 B-25J and 15 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 10 Spitfire, no Japanese loss). Allied losses for this day were a F-5A shot down by AA fire over Lashio, and a Hurricane and a Blenheim lost in accidents.
In the evening, the airfield of Mandalay was still badly damaged and empty. Myitkyina had been repaired and 3 recon aircraft flew back to this base, while 31 Oscar II also left Rangoon and flew for Pagan, from where they will LRCAP tomorrow the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles S of Kohima.
China
On the 21st, 30 Ki-21, 22 Ki-49 and 21 Betties from Lanchow escorted by 26 Oscar II and 6 Tonies raided Chengtu and disabled 11 of the 145 remaining resource centers. Three Oscar II were lost in crashes during this raid and the LRCAP patrols over Chinese bases that found no transport AC this day.
The next day another Oscar II was lost when a training sortie by 119 aircraft from Wuhan attacked Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hitting 34 men.
Northern Pacific
On the 21st Allied troops continued to land on Kiska (459 casualties) and in the evening the 198th RCT and 3 Seabees units occupied it. There still was no Japanese reaction. Three P-38G flying LRCAP over the island were lost due to bad weather.
The next night and day a TF unloaded Allied troops on Attu (225 casualties). The daily recon of Kiska showed that the airfield was already occupied by Allied aircraft and reported a CAP of 18 F4F-4 and 11 Kittyhawk I.
The Haruna TF was still sailing north towards Etorofu Jima, where one of the two Rufe Chutai of Paramushiro Jima was sent to provide air cover.
Allied engineers expanded Unmak Island airfield to size 2.
Central & Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Luganville to size 3.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
On the 22nd, a Betty flying the daily recon over PM was shot down by the Allied CAP.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
After the ambush over Koepang the day before, a reprisal raid was expected but the Allied command probably considered that the base had been LRCAPed from Maumere (that recently was extended to AF 3) and this base was raided on the 21st and 22nd by Darwin heavy bombers, 138 B-17E, 40 B-24D and 11 PB4Y on the first day and 116 B-17E and 39 B-24D. The base was held by an IJNAF BF and had one floatplane based here, it reported in two days 21 hits on airbase, 9 on supplies and 138 on runways, 118 casualties and 2 disabled guns, and was effectively wrecked. Allied losses were 1 B-24D shot down by AA and 6 B-17E and 1 B-24D lost operationally.
In Koepang the mechanics repaired the damaged Tonies left behind but the base was attacked in the morning of the 22nd by 47 B-25C from Derby that destroyed a Ki-61 on the ground, did 18 casualties and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 11 on the runways for the loss of one of their number to AA fire. In the afternoon 7 PB4Y from Wyndham attacked Dili but scored only one hit on a building and one on the runway and lost one bomber to engine failure.
Allied submarines activity was also rising in this area. During the night of 21st-22nd, the Dutch SS KIX was chased twice by an ASW group 180 miles west of Amboina but escaped undamaged. After dawn the SS USS Tautog chased unsuccessfully a Japanese TF south of Menado.
Southern Resource Area
NTR
Burma
On both nights Nells from Rangoon bombed Kohima airfield, evading a dozen of patrols by Beaufighter VIF. The first night one bomb hit a dispersal and destroyed two Beaufighter VIC, the next there were no hit and a Nell was shot down by AA fire.
By day the Allied air offensive continued against Japanese troops and airfields, with 485 sorties on the 21st and 463 on the 22nd.
On the 21st, there was some Japanese opposition as 15 A6M3a from F2/1st Daitai flying LRCAP from Lashio defended the 1st Tk Rgt against 39 Vengeance I, 39 Hurricane II and 20 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 15 Spitfire. The Spitfire shot down 2 Zero but the Japanese pilots shot down 4 Hurricane, 4 Vengeance, 2 Spitfire and 1 Beaufighter. The bombing was disrupted and only hit 28 men and 1 tank. The successful Zero unit flew back to Rangoon in the evening.
The other Allied targets this day were Mandalay (raided by 48 B-24J, 47 B-25J, 33 B-173, 28 Blenheim IV and 44 P-40B from Imphal in the morning and by 50 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 14 B-25J and 18 P-40B from Chandpur and 29 Liberator VI from Dacca in the afternoon, for a total of 17 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 222 on the runways, 333 casualties and 4 disabled guns), Lashio (by 9 Liberator VI and 18 P-40B from Dacca, only 2 runway hits) and the 6th Tk Rgt (by 12 B-25J and 11 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 5 Spitfire, for the loss of 23 men and 1 tank). During these raids, a B-25C was shot down by AA fire and 2 other and a Blenheim were lost in crashes.
Also on the 21st Japanese recon aircraft checked the various Allied airfields and reported CAP of 40+ at Imphal, 30+ at Dacca, 45+ at Chandpur and 50+ at Ledo. These defences are too high to launch a Japanese raid against these bases.
The next day, the Allied targets were Lashio (raided by 42 B-24J, 41 B-25J, 28 B-173, 15 Blenheim IV and 42 P-40B from Imphal in the morning, 10 hits on the base, 6 on supplies, 60 on runways, 59 casualties), Mandalay (by 47 B-25C, 21 Blenheim IV, 14 B-25J and 18 P-40B from Chandpur in the afternoon, 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 34 on the runways, 40 casualties), the 1st Tk Rgt (by 36 Vengeance I, 38 Hurricane II, 33 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima escorted by 20 Spitfire, lost 188 men and 12 vehicles) and the 6th Tk Rgt (by 10 B-25J and 15 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 10 Spitfire, no Japanese loss). Allied losses for this day were a F-5A shot down by AA fire over Lashio, and a Hurricane and a Blenheim lost in accidents.
In the evening, the airfield of Mandalay was still badly damaged and empty. Myitkyina had been repaired and 3 recon aircraft flew back to this base, while 31 Oscar II also left Rangoon and flew for Pagan, from where they will LRCAP tomorrow the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles S of Kohima.
China
On the 21st, 30 Ki-21, 22 Ki-49 and 21 Betties from Lanchow escorted by 26 Oscar II and 6 Tonies raided Chengtu and disabled 11 of the 145 remaining resource centers. Three Oscar II were lost in crashes during this raid and the LRCAP patrols over Chinese bases that found no transport AC this day.
The next day another Oscar II was lost when a training sortie by 119 aircraft from Wuhan attacked Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hitting 34 men.
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AmiralLaurent
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23-24 April 1943: Attu falls
23-24 April 1943
Northern Pacific
The 37th US RCT continued to land on Attu on the 23rd (116 casualties) and occupied it completely in the evening. This same evening 10 more Betties arrived in Paramushiro Jima to fly more naval search and recon over Kiska and Attu. And the Haruna TF refuelled in Eforotu Jima and then sailed NE with orders to bombard Kiska (3 nights later due to the distance).
The next night the I-177 attacked SE of Kiska a group of 4 SC but her torpedoes failed. She escaped undetected. During the day all three submarines in the area were seen several times by Allied aircraft, including a Kingfisher floatplane. This last sighting was the probable sign at least one US BB was in the area and the Haruna TF was recalled this evening.
Allied engineers expanded the airfields of Cold Bay and Kiska to size 2.
Central Pacific
The convoys brining the 21st and 38th Div arrived respectively to Hilo and Kona and started unloading troops. The 20th Div will arrive in Lahaina in some days.
Southern Pacific
Japanese airmen expanded the port of Tongatapu and Pago-Pago respectively to size 2 and 5.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
The 23rd was quiet. In the afternoon of the 24th Rabaul was bombed by 81 B-24D and 23 PB4Y from PM escorted by 21 P-38G and reported the loss of 135 men and 5 guns, 15 hits on the port, 1 on a fuel dump and 7 on supplies. AA fire hit 23 bombers but none crashed and the only Allied loss was a PB4Y in an accident.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 23rd, Maumere was again bombed by 55 B-17E and 9 B-24D from Darwin and reported 14 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase and 35 on the runways, while a B-17E was lost to engine failure. Koepang was raided by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham that disabled 14 men and 1 gun and scored 2 hits on buildings, 1 on supplies and 2 on the runway.
The next day saw a new form of attack when at dawn 3 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin strafed Lautem doing 7 casualties. In the afternoon the bomber targets were the same as the day before, 100 B-17E and 35 B-24D attacking Maumere and scoring 8 hits on buildings, 4 on supplies and 100 on the runway, doing 36 casualties for another B-17E lost operationally, and 6 PB4Y from Wyndham attacked Koepang, scoring 2 hits on buildings and 4 on runways and doing 28 casualties.
Southern Resource Area
Two Allied submarines were reported again on the 24th east of Palembang. An ASW group was sent there from Singapore and the ASW air patrols flown in the area by Ki-30, 32, 48 and floatplanes were reinforced by an experienced Betty unit.
The 4th Tk Rgt that was aboard a convoy bringing it from Luganville to Java for garrison duties was rerouted towards Bangkok and will then go to Burma.
Two convoys were organized in the period, one will bring 14k supplies from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon, the other 18k oil from Brunei to Formosa.
Burma
During the night of the 22nd-23rd, 6 Nells took off from Rangoon to raid Kohima but didn’t find their target.
In the morning, the 6th Tk Rgt north of Myitkyina was bombed by 15 Hurricane II and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 8 Spitfire Vb and lost 9 casualties. More west the 1st Tk Rgt was the target of 40 Beaufighter VIC, 39 Hurricane II, 34 Vengeance I and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and Imphal escorted by 40 P-40B and 34 Spitfire Vb. That was just too much for the 15 Oscar II of the 50 Sentai flying LRCAP over this unit. All 15 Japanese fighters were shot down (2 pilots were unhurt, at least one was just wounded) but they still downed 5 Spitfire and 3 P-40B, not too bad with Oscars… The Tk Rgt lost 121 men and 8 tanks, while a Hurricane and a P-40 were lost in accidents.
In the evening, the 50 Sentai flew back to Rangoon. A recon this day had shown 20 I-16c flying CAP over Asansol and 27 A6M3a flew to Akyab to fly a sweep over this town and score some easy kills. Patrols now reported 26 Allied units south of Ledo.
On the 24th, Akyab airmen were grounded by bad weather while both Tk Rgt in N Burma were attacked, the 1st losing 139 men and 8 tanks when attacked by 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 19 Beaufighter VIC from Imphal escorted by 31 P-40B, the 6th reporting 9 casualties under bombs of 14 B-25J and 14 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 4 Spitfire Vb. A Beaufighter VIC and a P-40 were lost operationally, while a pilot of the 23rd FG shot down a Ki-15 recon aircraft over Dacca.
In the evening the 6th Tk Rgt got out of the jungle and reached Myitkyina with the following state: morale 17, disruption 72, fatigue 67, effective 95/100. It was ordered to go to Rangoon for R&R. More south the 104th Div coming from Singapore as reinforcements reached Moulmein.
China
The only operation in two days on this theater was an operational training raid by 118 aircraft from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, doing 25 casualties. Four new units arrived in Wuhan in the evening of the 24th to fly training from here. One of the units that were already there, a Zero unit with had now 72 exp, was ordered to fly escort to cover the others.
Tomorrow Lanchow bombers will raid again the resource centers of Chengtu.
In Canton the 3rd Tk Div was officially allocated to the Burma Army and was sent to Hong Kong to board ships to be brought to this area.
Japanese engineers scored some points by expanding the airfield of Nanning to size 5 and of Kweilin and Wuchow to size 7.
Japan
Four submarines of the class I-49 to I-53 were stopped on the 24th and that freed enough space to accelerate the building of the CL Yahagi and 3 DD.
Northern Pacific
The 37th US RCT continued to land on Attu on the 23rd (116 casualties) and occupied it completely in the evening. This same evening 10 more Betties arrived in Paramushiro Jima to fly more naval search and recon over Kiska and Attu. And the Haruna TF refuelled in Eforotu Jima and then sailed NE with orders to bombard Kiska (3 nights later due to the distance).
The next night the I-177 attacked SE of Kiska a group of 4 SC but her torpedoes failed. She escaped undetected. During the day all three submarines in the area were seen several times by Allied aircraft, including a Kingfisher floatplane. This last sighting was the probable sign at least one US BB was in the area and the Haruna TF was recalled this evening.
Allied engineers expanded the airfields of Cold Bay and Kiska to size 2.
Central Pacific
The convoys brining the 21st and 38th Div arrived respectively to Hilo and Kona and started unloading troops. The 20th Div will arrive in Lahaina in some days.
Southern Pacific
Japanese airmen expanded the port of Tongatapu and Pago-Pago respectively to size 2 and 5.
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
The 23rd was quiet. In the afternoon of the 24th Rabaul was bombed by 81 B-24D and 23 PB4Y from PM escorted by 21 P-38G and reported the loss of 135 men and 5 guns, 15 hits on the port, 1 on a fuel dump and 7 on supplies. AA fire hit 23 bombers but none crashed and the only Allied loss was a PB4Y in an accident.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
On the 23rd, Maumere was again bombed by 55 B-17E and 9 B-24D from Darwin and reported 14 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase and 35 on the runways, while a B-17E was lost to engine failure. Koepang was raided by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham that disabled 14 men and 1 gun and scored 2 hits on buildings, 1 on supplies and 2 on the runway.
The next day saw a new form of attack when at dawn 3 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin strafed Lautem doing 7 casualties. In the afternoon the bomber targets were the same as the day before, 100 B-17E and 35 B-24D attacking Maumere and scoring 8 hits on buildings, 4 on supplies and 100 on the runway, doing 36 casualties for another B-17E lost operationally, and 6 PB4Y from Wyndham attacked Koepang, scoring 2 hits on buildings and 4 on runways and doing 28 casualties.
Southern Resource Area
Two Allied submarines were reported again on the 24th east of Palembang. An ASW group was sent there from Singapore and the ASW air patrols flown in the area by Ki-30, 32, 48 and floatplanes were reinforced by an experienced Betty unit.
The 4th Tk Rgt that was aboard a convoy bringing it from Luganville to Java for garrison duties was rerouted towards Bangkok and will then go to Burma.
Two convoys were organized in the period, one will bring 14k supplies from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon, the other 18k oil from Brunei to Formosa.
Burma
During the night of the 22nd-23rd, 6 Nells took off from Rangoon to raid Kohima but didn’t find their target.
In the morning, the 6th Tk Rgt north of Myitkyina was bombed by 15 Hurricane II and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 8 Spitfire Vb and lost 9 casualties. More west the 1st Tk Rgt was the target of 40 Beaufighter VIC, 39 Hurricane II, 34 Vengeance I and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and Imphal escorted by 40 P-40B and 34 Spitfire Vb. That was just too much for the 15 Oscar II of the 50 Sentai flying LRCAP over this unit. All 15 Japanese fighters were shot down (2 pilots were unhurt, at least one was just wounded) but they still downed 5 Spitfire and 3 P-40B, not too bad with Oscars… The Tk Rgt lost 121 men and 8 tanks, while a Hurricane and a P-40 were lost in accidents.
In the evening, the 50 Sentai flew back to Rangoon. A recon this day had shown 20 I-16c flying CAP over Asansol and 27 A6M3a flew to Akyab to fly a sweep over this town and score some easy kills. Patrols now reported 26 Allied units south of Ledo.
On the 24th, Akyab airmen were grounded by bad weather while both Tk Rgt in N Burma were attacked, the 1st losing 139 men and 8 tanks when attacked by 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 19 Beaufighter VIC from Imphal escorted by 31 P-40B, the 6th reporting 9 casualties under bombs of 14 B-25J and 14 Hurricane II from Ledo escorted by 4 Spitfire Vb. A Beaufighter VIC and a P-40 were lost operationally, while a pilot of the 23rd FG shot down a Ki-15 recon aircraft over Dacca.
In the evening the 6th Tk Rgt got out of the jungle and reached Myitkyina with the following state: morale 17, disruption 72, fatigue 67, effective 95/100. It was ordered to go to Rangoon for R&R. More south the 104th Div coming from Singapore as reinforcements reached Moulmein.
China
The only operation in two days on this theater was an operational training raid by 118 aircraft from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, doing 25 casualties. Four new units arrived in Wuhan in the evening of the 24th to fly training from here. One of the units that were already there, a Zero unit with had now 72 exp, was ordered to fly escort to cover the others.
Tomorrow Lanchow bombers will raid again the resource centers of Chengtu.
In Canton the 3rd Tk Div was officially allocated to the Burma Army and was sent to Hong Kong to board ships to be brought to this area.
Japanese engineers scored some points by expanding the airfield of Nanning to size 5 and of Kweilin and Wuchow to size 7.
Japan
Four submarines of the class I-49 to I-53 were stopped on the 24th and that freed enough space to accelerate the building of the CL Yahagi and 3 DD.
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AmiralLaurent
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25 April 1943: Allied bombing raids
25 April 1943
Northern Pacific
The Haruna TF returned to Etorofu Jima, refuelled and received orders to continue to Ominato. Four ML arrived in Etorofu from Japan and will lay mines off Paramushiro in the future (a MLE was based in Etorofu). A convoy left Tokyo with 18k fuel for Etorofu.
Allied engineers continued to be active in the area, expanding airfields in Umnak Island (size 3) and in Atka Island (size 2).
Central & Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
NTR
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied airmen had another busy day. In the morning, Koepang was raided by 73 B-25C and 12 B-25J from Derby and reported 15 casualties, a disabled gun, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 55 on runways. 3 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem, scoring a runway hit, while another flew LRCAP over the base (but the base was supplied by barges, not from the air, so no success here) and 14 Brewster 339D attacked barges off the base but missed. In the afternoon, two other raids left Darwin. 62 B-17E and 11 B-24D attacked Maumere, scoring 4 hits on the airbase and 49 on runways and doing 33 casualties, while Dili was bombed by 21 B-17E that scored 2 hits on supplies and 2 on the runway. Allied losses were a B-25C to AA fire and 2 B-17E and another B-25C in accidents.
Southern Resource Area
Three convoys were organized this day to carry 49k resources from Palembang to Singapore, 35k resources from Batavia to Japan and 18k oil from Miri to Hong Kong.
Burma
During the night, the 3 Nells sent from Rangoon evaded the 6 Beaufighter VIF defending Kohima and destroyed a Beaufighter VIC on the ground.
A dawn sweep by 27 A6M3a from Akyab to Asansol didn’t go as planned. The Japanese pilots met 21 I-16c but shot down only 3 and lost themselves 3 Zero and 2 pilots, including a 13-kill ace who was captured. Japanese fighters returned to Rangoon in the evening.
The usual Allied raids then took place, unopposed, and hit four airfields and one unit. Lashio was bombed by 48 B-24D, 46 B-25J, 24 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 38 P-40B and reported 77 casualties, 17 hits on the airbase, 19 on supplies and 110 on runways. Myitkyina was attacked by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E that scored only 1 hit on supplies and 4 on the runways. Pagan was attacked by 34 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 15 B-25J and 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 19 P-40B and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 42 on runways. And Mandalay was raided by 41 Liberator VI from Dacca that disabled 36 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on supplies and 21 on runways. In the jungle, the 1st Tk Rgt lost 120 men and 7 vehicles under attack by 46 Hurricane II, 37 Vengeance I, 34 Beaufighter VIC and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima escorted by 16 Spitfire Vb. Allied operational losses were 2 B-24D, 1 B-17E, 1 B-25J, 1 P-40B, 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 1 Liberator VI. A Japanese Dinah II was shot down by the Allied CAP over India.
China
30 Ki-21, 22 Ki-49 and 21 Betty from Lanchow escorted by 14 Oscar II and 6 Tony attacked Chengtu and disabled 6 more resource centers, but lost a Ki-21, a Ki-49 and 1 Oscar II in accidents.
As said in the last post, more units were now flying operational training from Wuhan and today 200 sorties were flown against Chinese troops, hitting 86 men. A Val and an A6M3 crashed.
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Hsinyang to size 5.
The 3rd Tk Div finished boarding ships in Hong Kong and sailed for Bangkok to be engaged in Burma.
Manchukuo
Three Nate units of the Kwantung Army were upgraded to Oscar II.
Northern Pacific
The Haruna TF returned to Etorofu Jima, refuelled and received orders to continue to Ominato. Four ML arrived in Etorofu from Japan and will lay mines off Paramushiro in the future (a MLE was based in Etorofu). A convoy left Tokyo with 18k fuel for Etorofu.
Allied engineers continued to be active in the area, expanding airfields in Umnak Island (size 3) and in Atka Island (size 2).
Central & Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
NTR
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied airmen had another busy day. In the morning, Koepang was raided by 73 B-25C and 12 B-25J from Derby and reported 15 casualties, a disabled gun, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 55 on runways. 3 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem, scoring a runway hit, while another flew LRCAP over the base (but the base was supplied by barges, not from the air, so no success here) and 14 Brewster 339D attacked barges off the base but missed. In the afternoon, two other raids left Darwin. 62 B-17E and 11 B-24D attacked Maumere, scoring 4 hits on the airbase and 49 on runways and doing 33 casualties, while Dili was bombed by 21 B-17E that scored 2 hits on supplies and 2 on the runway. Allied losses were a B-25C to AA fire and 2 B-17E and another B-25C in accidents.
Southern Resource Area
Three convoys were organized this day to carry 49k resources from Palembang to Singapore, 35k resources from Batavia to Japan and 18k oil from Miri to Hong Kong.
Burma
During the night, the 3 Nells sent from Rangoon evaded the 6 Beaufighter VIF defending Kohima and destroyed a Beaufighter VIC on the ground.
A dawn sweep by 27 A6M3a from Akyab to Asansol didn’t go as planned. The Japanese pilots met 21 I-16c but shot down only 3 and lost themselves 3 Zero and 2 pilots, including a 13-kill ace who was captured. Japanese fighters returned to Rangoon in the evening.
The usual Allied raids then took place, unopposed, and hit four airfields and one unit. Lashio was bombed by 48 B-24D, 46 B-25J, 24 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 38 P-40B and reported 77 casualties, 17 hits on the airbase, 19 on supplies and 110 on runways. Myitkyina was attacked by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E that scored only 1 hit on supplies and 4 on the runways. Pagan was attacked by 34 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 15 B-25J and 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 19 P-40B and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 42 on runways. And Mandalay was raided by 41 Liberator VI from Dacca that disabled 36 men and 1 gun and scored 1 hit on supplies and 21 on runways. In the jungle, the 1st Tk Rgt lost 120 men and 7 vehicles under attack by 46 Hurricane II, 37 Vengeance I, 34 Beaufighter VIC and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima escorted by 16 Spitfire Vb. Allied operational losses were 2 B-24D, 1 B-17E, 1 B-25J, 1 P-40B, 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 1 Liberator VI. A Japanese Dinah II was shot down by the Allied CAP over India.
China
30 Ki-21, 22 Ki-49 and 21 Betty from Lanchow escorted by 14 Oscar II and 6 Tony attacked Chengtu and disabled 6 more resource centers, but lost a Ki-21, a Ki-49 and 1 Oscar II in accidents.
As said in the last post, more units were now flying operational training from Wuhan and today 200 sorties were flown against Chinese troops, hitting 86 men. A Val and an A6M3 crashed.
Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Hsinyang to size 5.
The 3rd Tk Div finished boarding ships in Hong Kong and sailed for Bangkok to be engaged in Burma.
Manchukuo
Three Nate units of the Kwantung Army were upgraded to Oscar II.
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AmiralLaurent
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26-27 April 1943: Japanese AA scoring!
26-27 April 1943
Northern Pacific
The 26th was quiet, the 27th saw the SS I-178 engage 4 times Allied ASW groups (each time of 3-4 SC) just east of Attu. The first time was during the night and saw the Japanese torpedoes fail, while the submarine was then depth charged and damaged by 3 near-misses. Just before dawn, she sank the SC 708 with a torpedo and escape this group, and then another searching her. Just after dawn 3 SC again found her and scored 2 more near misses. The I-178, now with damage 11 and no more torpedoes, sailed back to base in the evening. The other submarine in the area, the I-177, was ordered to sail directly to Kiska to attack the numerous Allied ships there.
Allied engineers expanded Kiska airfield to size 3 and the port of Amchitka Island to size 4. Japanese recon reported 7 units in Kiska and 83 aircraft (32/14/37).
On the Japanese side, the 6th Aviation Regiment boarded ships in the Korean port of Hungnam and will sail to Paramushiro Jima. And the Haruna TF arrived back in Onimata and was disbanded here
Central Pacific
Minelayers continued to be active in the Hawaii archipelago. A survey on the evening of the 27th counted around 55 000 mines in the area, 50% of them off Pearl Harbor.
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
There was no activity. In the evening of the 27th, three submarines left Truk southwards. They will refuel in Shortlands and then sail south of New Guinea to operated against Allied ships off Australia and between this country and Port Moresby.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Starting from the 26th, Allied floatplanes (PBM and PBY) began to fly recon on the Japanese bases in the area, flying daily over Kendari, Amboina, Maumere, Koepang, Dili and Lautem. On the 27th, two PBM were lost, one to AA fire and another in an accident.
Allied airmen were very active on the 26th, and Japanese AA was more efficient than usual, scoring 3 victories. Koepang was bombed in the morning by 72 B-25C and 15 B-25J from Derby and in the afternoon by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 168 casualties, 3 disabled guns, 8 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 68 on the runways. Lautem was strafed by 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin that scored 2 runway hits. Maumere was attacked by 20 B-24D that scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 14 on the runways, while 73 B-17E raided Dili but only scored 2 hits on the airbase and 8 on the runways, doing 27 casualties. Allied losses were 1 B-25C, 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and a PB4Y, all to AA fire.
The next day the only Allied raid saw 9 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attack Lautem but hit nothing. In the evening, the Dutch submarine KIX was attacked by an ASW group 120 miles SW of Menado and heavily damaged by 2 hits and 7 near misses scored by the APD-46. This ASW group was ordered to sail south to try to chase the damaged submarine, while 27 Ki-30 flew from Tarakan to Amboina to join the chase.
Southern Resource Area
Two convoys were organized during the period, one to carry 21k supplies from Singapore to Rangoon, the other 17k resources from Toboali to Singapore.
Burma
During the night of the 25th-26th, 3 Nells from Rangoon bombed without success Kohima, evading the 6 Beaufighter VIF on CAP but losing one of their number to AA fire.
After dawn, 47 B-24D, 43 B-25J, 31 B-17E and 10 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B attacked Lashio, destroying two Dinah II on the ground, hitting 65 men and 1 gun and scoring 8 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 86 on the runways. Myitkyina was attacked by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and by 25 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 Beaufighter VIC from Imphal and reported two more Dinah II destroyed on the ground, 7 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 18 on the runways. Then the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked by 48 Hurricane, 40 Vengeance I and 20 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb and reported 72 casualties and 2 disabled tanks. In the afternoon, Pagan was bombed by 48 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV, 16 B-25J and 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B and reported 20 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 40 on the runways. Allied losses during the day were 1 B-25J and 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 shot down by AA and 2 Hurricane, 2 Vengeance and 1 P-40B in accidents.
In the evening, both recon units badly hit during the day flew to Rangoon to receive replacement aircraft there. Two fighter units flew north to provide LRCAP over the 1st Tk Rgt. To reduce the probability of being caught on the ground, they were sent to two bases, 34 Tojos to Mandalay and 24 A6M3 to Taung Gyi.
Next night 3 Nells again raided Kohima without success, reporting 9 Beaufighter VIF on CAP.
There was no raid on the 27th against Japanese airfields but 42 Hurricane II, 39 Vengeance I and 15 Beaufighter VIC escorted by 36 Spitfire Vb took off from Kohima to attack again the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles south of their base, but this day 11 Tojos and 9 A6M3 flew LRCAP over this unit. Losses in the air battle were 4 Tojos and 1 A6M3 on the Japanese side, and 10 Spitfire Vb, 7 Hurricane II, 7 Vengeance I and 3 Beaufighter VIC on the Allied one, so a clear Japanese victory, even if another Ki-44 and an A6M3 were also lost operationally. Both fighter units flew back to Rangoon after the battle.
In the evening, a new recon unit (having lost a Ki-15 in bad weather during the day) also flew to Rangoon to receive replacement, leaving only the airfields of Pagan and Akyab still occupied by small recon units.
China
Nothing happened in two days, except some troop moves west of Sian. The five divisions that held the road 120 miles west of the city and defeated all Chinese units going out of the mountains were finally able to leave the area as several days went on without any Chinese unit arriving in their hex. A regiment of the 27th Div was ordered to replace them and arrived on the 27th, the same day a new Chinese unit went out of the mountains (where two other still were). The Japanese regiment will attack it tomorrow with air support from Sian.
Japanese engineers expanded Lanchow airfield to size 8, scoring some more points.
Japan
Two escort TF arrived in Tokyo from Noumea, both of damaged ships hit during operations off New Zealand and New Caledonia. One was made of AP, the other of 7 DD and 1 CL. These ships will be scattered in various Japanese ports.
Northern Pacific
The 26th was quiet, the 27th saw the SS I-178 engage 4 times Allied ASW groups (each time of 3-4 SC) just east of Attu. The first time was during the night and saw the Japanese torpedoes fail, while the submarine was then depth charged and damaged by 3 near-misses. Just before dawn, she sank the SC 708 with a torpedo and escape this group, and then another searching her. Just after dawn 3 SC again found her and scored 2 more near misses. The I-178, now with damage 11 and no more torpedoes, sailed back to base in the evening. The other submarine in the area, the I-177, was ordered to sail directly to Kiska to attack the numerous Allied ships there.
Allied engineers expanded Kiska airfield to size 3 and the port of Amchitka Island to size 4. Japanese recon reported 7 units in Kiska and 83 aircraft (32/14/37).
On the Japanese side, the 6th Aviation Regiment boarded ships in the Korean port of Hungnam and will sail to Paramushiro Jima. And the Haruna TF arrived back in Onimata and was disbanded here
Central Pacific
Minelayers continued to be active in the Hawaii archipelago. A survey on the evening of the 27th counted around 55 000 mines in the area, 50% of them off Pearl Harbor.
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
There was no activity. In the evening of the 27th, three submarines left Truk southwards. They will refuel in Shortlands and then sail south of New Guinea to operated against Allied ships off Australia and between this country and Port Moresby.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Starting from the 26th, Allied floatplanes (PBM and PBY) began to fly recon on the Japanese bases in the area, flying daily over Kendari, Amboina, Maumere, Koepang, Dili and Lautem. On the 27th, two PBM were lost, one to AA fire and another in an accident.
Allied airmen were very active on the 26th, and Japanese AA was more efficient than usual, scoring 3 victories. Koepang was bombed in the morning by 72 B-25C and 15 B-25J from Derby and in the afternoon by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 168 casualties, 3 disabled guns, 8 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 68 on the runways. Lautem was strafed by 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin that scored 2 runway hits. Maumere was attacked by 20 B-24D that scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 14 on the runways, while 73 B-17E raided Dili but only scored 2 hits on the airbase and 8 on the runways, doing 27 casualties. Allied losses were 1 B-25C, 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and a PB4Y, all to AA fire.
The next day the only Allied raid saw 9 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attack Lautem but hit nothing. In the evening, the Dutch submarine KIX was attacked by an ASW group 120 miles SW of Menado and heavily damaged by 2 hits and 7 near misses scored by the APD-46. This ASW group was ordered to sail south to try to chase the damaged submarine, while 27 Ki-30 flew from Tarakan to Amboina to join the chase.
Southern Resource Area
Two convoys were organized during the period, one to carry 21k supplies from Singapore to Rangoon, the other 17k resources from Toboali to Singapore.
Burma
During the night of the 25th-26th, 3 Nells from Rangoon bombed without success Kohima, evading the 6 Beaufighter VIF on CAP but losing one of their number to AA fire.
After dawn, 47 B-24D, 43 B-25J, 31 B-17E and 10 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B attacked Lashio, destroying two Dinah II on the ground, hitting 65 men and 1 gun and scoring 8 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 86 on the runways. Myitkyina was attacked by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and by 25 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 Beaufighter VIC from Imphal and reported two more Dinah II destroyed on the ground, 7 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 18 on the runways. Then the 1st Tk Rgt was attacked by 48 Hurricane, 40 Vengeance I and 20 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb and reported 72 casualties and 2 disabled tanks. In the afternoon, Pagan was bombed by 48 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV, 16 B-25J and 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B and reported 20 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 40 on the runways. Allied losses during the day were 1 B-25J and 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 shot down by AA and 2 Hurricane, 2 Vengeance and 1 P-40B in accidents.
In the evening, both recon units badly hit during the day flew to Rangoon to receive replacement aircraft there. Two fighter units flew north to provide LRCAP over the 1st Tk Rgt. To reduce the probability of being caught on the ground, they were sent to two bases, 34 Tojos to Mandalay and 24 A6M3 to Taung Gyi.
Next night 3 Nells again raided Kohima without success, reporting 9 Beaufighter VIF on CAP.
There was no raid on the 27th against Japanese airfields but 42 Hurricane II, 39 Vengeance I and 15 Beaufighter VIC escorted by 36 Spitfire Vb took off from Kohima to attack again the 1st Tk Rgt 120 miles south of their base, but this day 11 Tojos and 9 A6M3 flew LRCAP over this unit. Losses in the air battle were 4 Tojos and 1 A6M3 on the Japanese side, and 10 Spitfire Vb, 7 Hurricane II, 7 Vengeance I and 3 Beaufighter VIC on the Allied one, so a clear Japanese victory, even if another Ki-44 and an A6M3 were also lost operationally. Both fighter units flew back to Rangoon after the battle.
In the evening, a new recon unit (having lost a Ki-15 in bad weather during the day) also flew to Rangoon to receive replacement, leaving only the airfields of Pagan and Akyab still occupied by small recon units.
China
Nothing happened in two days, except some troop moves west of Sian. The five divisions that held the road 120 miles west of the city and defeated all Chinese units going out of the mountains were finally able to leave the area as several days went on without any Chinese unit arriving in their hex. A regiment of the 27th Div was ordered to replace them and arrived on the 27th, the same day a new Chinese unit went out of the mountains (where two other still were). The Japanese regiment will attack it tomorrow with air support from Sian.
Japanese engineers expanded Lanchow airfield to size 8, scoring some more points.
Japan
Two escort TF arrived in Tokyo from Noumea, both of damaged ships hit during operations off New Zealand and New Caledonia. One was made of AP, the other of 7 DD and 1 CL. These ships will be scattered in various Japanese ports.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
28-30 April 1943: pause in Allied raids
28-30 April 1943
Northern Pacific
After midnight on the 28th the I-177 arrived off the Allied base of Kiska and attacked a transport, heavily damaging with a torpedo the AK William B Ogden, doing 39 casualties among the troops aboard. This submarine having no more torpedo remained there to report Allied activity but was damaged (19/25/0) in the afternoon by a patrolling PB4Y. In the evening she received orders to return to Japan, as did the Glen-carrying I-36 more NE.
Allied engineers opened an airfield (size 1) on Attu island.
Central Pacific
A strange event occurred in Pearl Harbor on the 28th where Betties crews training (carrying supplies) reported being intercepted by P-40B!!!! The Allied nearest base being in Alaska, that was rather unexpected. By the way there was no loss. It was discovered that some repaired P-40 were test flown this day, and will be sent to Japan to act as an “aggressor” squadron to help train pilots (in fact the game resurrected the 18th FG in Pearl Harbor with 5 P-40B and 5 pilots… I was able to access this unit, ground it and send it to Midway. I will try to send it to an Allied base, but first it should be flown to Japan. If transferring it will show impossible, it will spend the rest of the war in Manchoukuo).
More normal events saw all three Japanese divisions finish to unload in Kona, Hilo and Lahaina. A convoy was formed in PH to carry 25k supplies to Kona, the only of these 3 bases to not have at least 20k.
On the 30th a convoy (of 9 AP) was seen by a Glen 600 miles SSW of Los Angeles and 3 submarines cruising in the area were ordered to try to pursue it.
Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
In New Zealand, the 23rd Eng Rgt finished building fortifications in Christchurch (level 9) and boarded ships to sail to Dunedin.
Fortifications also reached level 9 in Noumea. The 3 Const Bn of the base marched to La Foa and will build fortifications here (note that Koumac won’t be defended or fortified). The three Eng Rgt at the base will go elsewhere: one to Norfolk Island, one to Lunga and another to DEI via Truk.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
After an uneventful day on the 28th, the next day saw a Betty shot down by Allied CAP during a recon of Port Moresby and in the afternoon Rabaul was attacked by 83 B-24D and 35 PB4Y from PM escorted by 21 P-38G that disabled 126 men and 4 guns and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 114 on the runways for the loss of a PB4Y lost to AA fire and a B-24D lost in an accident.
The next day Rabaul was attacked again by 59 B-24D and 24 PB4Y escorted by 21 P-38G and reported 39 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 11 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 62 on the runways. This time Japanese gunners destroyed 2 B-24D and a PB4Y, with another PB4Y being lost operationally.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied attacks on Japanese airfields in the area were reduced for the period by daily attacks of Beaufighter Mk 21 on Lautem (7 on 28th, 2 on 29th and 3 on the 30th) for a total of 9 casualties, 1 hit on supplies and 5 on the runway. In the evening of the 30th, 11 Tonies were sent from Kendari to Lautem to try to intercept these raids but during the flight two collided and crashed, only one pilot being recovered.
Allied seaplanes continued to recon Japanese bases each day but suffered. A PBM was shot down by a Japanese fighter over Kendari, another and a Catalina were destroyed by AA fire and one of each type were lost operationally.
On the 29th a small AK arriving with supplies in Dili was attacked by a patrolling B-17E and damaged (42/9/16) and left the base for Kendari without unloading.
On the 28th, four Allied submarines were reported around Amboina. The next day the Japanese submarine patrolling between Darwin and Port Moresby was seen by an Allied aircraft.
On the 30th a convoy started loading 14k supplies in Palau to bring them to Amboina to repair oil centers here.
Southern Resource Area
On the 29th, the SS USS Sunfish attacked twice an ASW group 120 miles SE of Muntok, first missing a MSW and then hitting a DD but the torpedo fail to explode. In both cases she escaped undetected.
Burma
On the two first nights, Nells from Rangoon raided Kohima airfield without loss, scoring only one runway hit in 8 sorties and damaging by return fire one of the Beaufighter VIF trying to intercept them (14 sorties).
Allied air raids continued on a reduced scale. On the 28th, Myitkyina was raided by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and 27 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B and reported 69 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 2 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 68 on the runways. A Beaufighter of each variant was lost in accidents. In the afternoon, 16 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B attacked Pagan but scored only 2 runway hits and lost a Beaufighter shot down by AA.
The next day only Myitkyina was attacked, by 7 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and 27 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 37 P-40B, and reported 23 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 33 on the runways. A Beaufighter Mk 21 was lost to AA fire. This evening Japanese recon AC returned to the bases of Taung Gyi, Mandalay and Lashio, leaving only the wrecked airfield of Myitkyina empty.
On the 30th, Myitkyina was raided again, by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 19 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B, and reported 10 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase and 21 on the runways, while Pagan was in the afternoon the target of 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 22 P-40B that hit 22 men and 1 gun and left 5 holes in the runways.
This evening, 72 Tony and 27 A6M3a moved from Rangoon to Mandalay airfield that had been fully repaired. They should be able to decimate any Allied raid, giving the strength of the attacks of the last weeks. And 3 Ki-46 flew to Myitkyina.
On the ground, the two last Tk Rgt still in the jungle, the 8th on the Salween and the 1st south of Kohima both marched backwards to Burma. The 8th was followed by a Chinese Corps that reached the Chinese bank of the Salween. The 1st reported a bad state (39/96 OOB, morale 28, disruption 56, fatigue 74) and will go to Rangoon for some R&R. The 31st Div will leave Mandalay northwards to defend the railway line where it meets the trail from Kohima. More south the 104th Div reached Rangoon by train and road on the 28th and was ordered to rest there for some time before moving north.
In May, the Royal Navy will have to send back a CL and two DD.
China
On the 28th, the 79th Chinese Corps 120 miles W of Sian was bombed by 51 Ki-51 from this base and lost 90 men and was then attacked by the regiment of the 27th Div now holding this road and defeated at 38 to 1, retreating westwards after losing 5 killed and wounded and more than 600 prisoners, while Japanese losses were 61 men and 3 guns.
A training mission was flown from Wuhan on the 28th by 198 aircraft and hit 133 men of a Chinese Corps NW of Changsha for only one loss, an A6M3a lost to engine failure. On the 30 one of the Ki-36 flying a routine recon was shot down by Chinese AA fire, a rare event.
Training mission will continue from Wuhan under escort by the Zero unit having reached 70 exp, and will also be flown from Kungchang. Tomorrow Oscar will fly LRCAP over Yunan, Kunming, Chengtu and Chungking.
Japan
A survey of the military forces in the country was done on the 28th. Several air units (45 A6M2, 27 Kate and 9 Val) with exp between 60 and 65 were sent to China for operational training, while 27 experienced A6M3 (exp 77) left Osaka for Burma. Also all warships in Japanese ports were checked and the missing Jake, Alf and Dave were replaced (Pete were not).
Also troops training and completing ranks in Tokyo received orders to board ships and move: an Air Fleet HQ and an IJN BF to Paramushiro Jima, an IJN BF to Wallis Island (Southern Pacific), an IJNAF BF to Thailand and an IJAAF to Luang Prabang (Indochina).
The Jill factory of Tokyo (size 23) was ordered to double its production.
A convoy left Tokyo with 80k fuel for Kwajalein.
Northern Pacific
After midnight on the 28th the I-177 arrived off the Allied base of Kiska and attacked a transport, heavily damaging with a torpedo the AK William B Ogden, doing 39 casualties among the troops aboard. This submarine having no more torpedo remained there to report Allied activity but was damaged (19/25/0) in the afternoon by a patrolling PB4Y. In the evening she received orders to return to Japan, as did the Glen-carrying I-36 more NE.
Allied engineers opened an airfield (size 1) on Attu island.
Central Pacific
A strange event occurred in Pearl Harbor on the 28th where Betties crews training (carrying supplies) reported being intercepted by P-40B!!!! The Allied nearest base being in Alaska, that was rather unexpected. By the way there was no loss. It was discovered that some repaired P-40 were test flown this day, and will be sent to Japan to act as an “aggressor” squadron to help train pilots (in fact the game resurrected the 18th FG in Pearl Harbor with 5 P-40B and 5 pilots… I was able to access this unit, ground it and send it to Midway. I will try to send it to an Allied base, but first it should be flown to Japan. If transferring it will show impossible, it will spend the rest of the war in Manchoukuo).
More normal events saw all three Japanese divisions finish to unload in Kona, Hilo and Lahaina. A convoy was formed in PH to carry 25k supplies to Kona, the only of these 3 bases to not have at least 20k.
On the 30th a convoy (of 9 AP) was seen by a Glen 600 miles SSW of Los Angeles and 3 submarines cruising in the area were ordered to try to pursue it.
Southern Pacific
NTR
New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
In New Zealand, the 23rd Eng Rgt finished building fortifications in Christchurch (level 9) and boarded ships to sail to Dunedin.
Fortifications also reached level 9 in Noumea. The 3 Const Bn of the base marched to La Foa and will build fortifications here (note that Koumac won’t be defended or fortified). The three Eng Rgt at the base will go elsewhere: one to Norfolk Island, one to Lunga and another to DEI via Truk.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
After an uneventful day on the 28th, the next day saw a Betty shot down by Allied CAP during a recon of Port Moresby and in the afternoon Rabaul was attacked by 83 B-24D and 35 PB4Y from PM escorted by 21 P-38G that disabled 126 men and 4 guns and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 114 on the runways for the loss of a PB4Y lost to AA fire and a B-24D lost in an accident.
The next day Rabaul was attacked again by 59 B-24D and 24 PB4Y escorted by 21 P-38G and reported 39 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 11 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 62 on the runways. This time Japanese gunners destroyed 2 B-24D and a PB4Y, with another PB4Y being lost operationally.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied attacks on Japanese airfields in the area were reduced for the period by daily attacks of Beaufighter Mk 21 on Lautem (7 on 28th, 2 on 29th and 3 on the 30th) for a total of 9 casualties, 1 hit on supplies and 5 on the runway. In the evening of the 30th, 11 Tonies were sent from Kendari to Lautem to try to intercept these raids but during the flight two collided and crashed, only one pilot being recovered.
Allied seaplanes continued to recon Japanese bases each day but suffered. A PBM was shot down by a Japanese fighter over Kendari, another and a Catalina were destroyed by AA fire and one of each type were lost operationally.
On the 29th a small AK arriving with supplies in Dili was attacked by a patrolling B-17E and damaged (42/9/16) and left the base for Kendari without unloading.
On the 28th, four Allied submarines were reported around Amboina. The next day the Japanese submarine patrolling between Darwin and Port Moresby was seen by an Allied aircraft.
On the 30th a convoy started loading 14k supplies in Palau to bring them to Amboina to repair oil centers here.
Southern Resource Area
On the 29th, the SS USS Sunfish attacked twice an ASW group 120 miles SE of Muntok, first missing a MSW and then hitting a DD but the torpedo fail to explode. In both cases she escaped undetected.
Burma
On the two first nights, Nells from Rangoon raided Kohima airfield without loss, scoring only one runway hit in 8 sorties and damaging by return fire one of the Beaufighter VIF trying to intercept them (14 sorties).
Allied air raids continued on a reduced scale. On the 28th, Myitkyina was raided by 12 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and 27 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B and reported 69 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 2 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 68 on the runways. A Beaufighter of each variant was lost in accidents. In the afternoon, 16 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 18 P-40B attacked Pagan but scored only 2 runway hits and lost a Beaufighter shot down by AA.
The next day only Myitkyina was attacked, by 7 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and 27 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 37 P-40B, and reported 23 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 33 on the runways. A Beaufighter Mk 21 was lost to AA fire. This evening Japanese recon AC returned to the bases of Taung Gyi, Mandalay and Lashio, leaving only the wrecked airfield of Myitkyina empty.
On the 30th, Myitkyina was raided again, by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 19 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Imphal escorted by 39 P-40B, and reported 10 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase and 21 on the runways, while Pagan was in the afternoon the target of 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 22 P-40B that hit 22 men and 1 gun and left 5 holes in the runways.
This evening, 72 Tony and 27 A6M3a moved from Rangoon to Mandalay airfield that had been fully repaired. They should be able to decimate any Allied raid, giving the strength of the attacks of the last weeks. And 3 Ki-46 flew to Myitkyina.
On the ground, the two last Tk Rgt still in the jungle, the 8th on the Salween and the 1st south of Kohima both marched backwards to Burma. The 8th was followed by a Chinese Corps that reached the Chinese bank of the Salween. The 1st reported a bad state (39/96 OOB, morale 28, disruption 56, fatigue 74) and will go to Rangoon for some R&R. The 31st Div will leave Mandalay northwards to defend the railway line where it meets the trail from Kohima. More south the 104th Div reached Rangoon by train and road on the 28th and was ordered to rest there for some time before moving north.
In May, the Royal Navy will have to send back a CL and two DD.
China
On the 28th, the 79th Chinese Corps 120 miles W of Sian was bombed by 51 Ki-51 from this base and lost 90 men and was then attacked by the regiment of the 27th Div now holding this road and defeated at 38 to 1, retreating westwards after losing 5 killed and wounded and more than 600 prisoners, while Japanese losses were 61 men and 3 guns.
A training mission was flown from Wuhan on the 28th by 198 aircraft and hit 133 men of a Chinese Corps NW of Changsha for only one loss, an A6M3a lost to engine failure. On the 30 one of the Ki-36 flying a routine recon was shot down by Chinese AA fire, a rare event.
Training mission will continue from Wuhan under escort by the Zero unit having reached 70 exp, and will also be flown from Kungchang. Tomorrow Oscar will fly LRCAP over Yunan, Kunming, Chengtu and Chungking.
Japan
A survey of the military forces in the country was done on the 28th. Several air units (45 A6M2, 27 Kate and 9 Val) with exp between 60 and 65 were sent to China for operational training, while 27 experienced A6M3 (exp 77) left Osaka for Burma. Also all warships in Japanese ports were checked and the missing Jake, Alf and Dave were replaced (Pete were not).
Also troops training and completing ranks in Tokyo received orders to board ships and move: an Air Fleet HQ and an IJN BF to Paramushiro Jima, an IJN BF to Wallis Island (Southern Pacific), an IJNAF BF to Thailand and an IJAAF to Luang Prabang (Indochina).
The Jill factory of Tokyo (size 23) was ordered to double its production.
A convoy left Tokyo with 80k fuel for Kwajalein.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
April 1943 monthly report
The game reached 11 May 1943, doing my best today to catch up in this AAR
Monthly report April 1943
Japanese score: 52 784 (+ 1 435)
Bases 15 095 (+ 572)
Aircraft 9 128 (+ 269)
Army 20 506 (+ 592)
Ship 7 337 (+ 2) 456 ships sunk (+ 2: 2 SC)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 718 (+ 0)
Allied score: 7 631 (+ 168)
Bases 1 263 (+ 29)
Aircraft 4 280 (+ 118)
Army 910 (+ 23)
Ship 1180 (+ 0) 128 ships sunk (+ 0)
Strategic 0
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 4 547 000 (bases) + around 255 000 (TFs) = around 4 802 000 (-36 000) (industrial expansion)
Fuel : 4 299 000 (bases) + around 222 000 (TFs) = around 4 521 000 (-29 000) (huge consumption in Truk...)
Ressource centers : 19 010 (+ 117)
Ressources : 1 276 000 (bases) + 110 000 (TFs) = 1 386 000 (+ 22 000)
Oil centers : 2 788 (+ 17)
Oil: 1 838 000 (bases) + 246 000 (TFs) = 2 084 000 (+ 69 000)
Manpower centers : 817 (+ 0)
Manpower pool : 954 000 (+ 82 000)
Heavy industry: 13 934 (+ 88)
Heavy industry pool: 296 000 (+ 21 000)
Naval shipyard: 1299 (+ 21)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 905 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 177 000 (+ 17 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 3 800 (+ 900)
Aircraft engine factories: 1587 (+ 0)
Aircraft frames factories: 1156 (- 15) (conversion to research)
Aircraft research: 236 (+ 63) (both versions of A6M5, Judy and Jill)
Aircraft production:
161 Ki-43-IIa (capacity 159), 85 A6M3a Zero (230, totally suspended at end of the month), 59 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 51 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (44), 49 Ki-46-III Dinah (48), 42 G4M1 Betty (46), 27 J1N1-S Irving (23, new model), 26 E13A1 Jake (20), 25 Ki-45 KAIb Nick (25), 24 Ki-49 Helen (23), 20 Ki-21 Sally (20), 19 J1N1-R Irving (16), 18 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 13 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 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: 625 aircraft (323 fighters (including 18 Rufes), 86 level bombers, 78 night-fighters, 68 recon, 26 floatplanes, 25 fighter-bombers, 19 transport, 0 divebombers, 0 torpedo bombers)
Monthly report April 1943
Japanese score: 52 784 (+ 1 435)
Bases 15 095 (+ 572)
Aircraft 9 128 (+ 269)
Army 20 506 (+ 592)
Ship 7 337 (+ 2) 456 ships sunk (+ 2: 2 SC)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 718 (+ 0)
Allied score: 7 631 (+ 168)
Bases 1 263 (+ 29)
Aircraft 4 280 (+ 118)
Army 910 (+ 23)
Ship 1180 (+ 0) 128 ships sunk (+ 0)
Strategic 0
Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 4 547 000 (bases) + around 255 000 (TFs) = around 4 802 000 (-36 000) (industrial expansion)
Fuel : 4 299 000 (bases) + around 222 000 (TFs) = around 4 521 000 (-29 000) (huge consumption in Truk...)
Ressource centers : 19 010 (+ 117)
Ressources : 1 276 000 (bases) + 110 000 (TFs) = 1 386 000 (+ 22 000)
Oil centers : 2 788 (+ 17)
Oil: 1 838 000 (bases) + 246 000 (TFs) = 2 084 000 (+ 69 000)
Manpower centers : 817 (+ 0)
Manpower pool : 954 000 (+ 82 000)
Heavy industry: 13 934 (+ 88)
Heavy industry pool: 296 000 (+ 21 000)
Naval shipyard: 1299 (+ 21)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 905 (+ 0)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 177 000 (+ 17 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 3 800 (+ 900)
Aircraft engine factories: 1587 (+ 0)
Aircraft frames factories: 1156 (- 15) (conversion to research)
Aircraft research: 236 (+ 63) (both versions of A6M5, Judy and Jill)
Aircraft production:
161 Ki-43-IIa (capacity 159), 85 A6M3a Zero (230, totally suspended at end of the month), 59 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 51 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (44), 49 Ki-46-III Dinah (48), 42 G4M1 Betty (46), 27 J1N1-S Irving (23, new model), 26 E13A1 Jake (20), 25 Ki-45 KAIb Nick (25), 24 Ki-49 Helen (23), 20 Ki-21 Sally (20), 19 J1N1-R Irving (16), 18 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 13 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 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: 625 aircraft (323 fighters (including 18 Rufes), 86 level bombers, 78 night-fighters, 68 recon, 26 floatplanes, 25 fighter-bombers, 19 transport, 0 divebombers, 0 torpedo bombers)
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AmiralLaurent
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1 May 1943: bloody air battle over Mandalay
1 May 1943
Northern Pacific
The daily recon over Kiska was the first Japanese aircraft to see the new Allied fighter: a Corsair squadron apparently moved in. Allied engineers expanded Kiska port to size 2 today. Recons reported 10 TF and 9 units in Kiska, and 4 TF and 4 units in Attu that was now protected by P-40E flying CAP.
Central Pacific
The convoy seen yesterday south of California was lost and submarines took again a line formation.
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the afternoon, 48 B-24D and 22 PB4Y from PM escorted by 20 P-38G attacked Rabaul, disabled 46 men and 3 guns and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on airfield supplies, 18 on the runways, 4 on the port, 1 on a fuel dump and 7 on port supplies. One PB4Y crippled by AA fire crashed on the way out, another and a P-38G were lost in accidents.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Six Tonies were airborne over Lautem when the daily dawn attack by 4 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin arrived but they failed to intercept them. The raiders scored 3 runway hits.
In the afternoon, Amboina was attacked by 119 B-17E and 45 B-24D and reported the loss of 63 men and 1 gun and 16 hits on the airbase, 12 on supplies and 120 on the runways. Two B-17E were lost in accidents. At the same time Koepang was bombed by 118 B-25C and 42 B-25J (about twice more bombers than before) and reported 85 casualties, 6 disabled guns, 18 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 90 on the runways.
In the evening, the Tonies based in Lautem returned to Kendari (leaving one unserviceable fighter behind) while the 27 Ki-30 based in Amboina moved back to Menado, still not believing they had escaped without loss a raid by 160 heavy bombers (they were on 100% ASW).
Southern Resource Area
Three Allied submarines were reported between Muntok and Kunching. The plan to turn the latter base into a major ASW base was delayed by the fact that the planned supply convoy never arrived there (it was probably rerouted to Burma when Allied troops were spotted here). A new convoy was created in Singapore and will carry 21k supplies to Kuching.
Burma
The air ambush over Mandalay worked on its first day. 48 B-24D, 47 B-25J, 34 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV escorted by 36 P-40B from Imphal attacked and were intercepted by 48 Ki-61 and 18 A6M3a. The American escort pilots were overwhelmed. They shot down 3 Tony and 2 Zero but 13 of them were shot down. The Japanese pilots then decimated the Allied bombers, shooting down 18 B-25J, 10 B-24D, 6 Blenheim IV and 4 B-17E but the battle was not one-sided and return fire shot down 5 Ki-61 and 1 Zero. No bomber turned back and they reached the airfield. AA fire shot down one more B-25J but the airfield was hit hard: 9 Tony and 4 Zero were destroyed on the ground, 84 men killed or wounded, and 1 gun disabled. The bombers scored 18 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 119 on the runways. Shortly after 45 Liberator VI from Dacca attacked the same target and were intercepted by 20 Ki-61 and 7 A6M3a but suffered only one loss in the air battle while shooting down 2 Zero and a Tony. AA shot down then two of the Liberators while they bombed the resource centers of the town, disabling 16 of them.
With some more operational losses (a B-24D, a Liberator VI, a Ki-61 and a Zero) the final score of these battles was 57 Allied losses vs 29 Japanese. Detailed reports for the 3 Japanese units involved were:
_ 65 Sentai lost 12 Ki-61 and 5 pilots, and claimed 5 victories
_ 78 Sentai lost 7 Ki-61 and 2 pilots, and claimed 36 victories
_ F2/Genzan lost 10 A6M3a and 5 pilots (at least one was only WIA), and claimed 8 victories
Other Allied targets this day were Lashio, that was attacked by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 15 Mk 21 from Imphal (3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 13 on the runways), Myitkyina, raided by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 8 B-25J from Imphal and Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E (7 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 27 on the runways, 1 Beaufighter shot down by AA) and the 31st Division bombed north of Mandalay by 36 Vengeance I from Imphal (27 men and 1 gun lost).
In the evening all remaining fighters left Mandalay for Rangoon or Singapore by air or by train. The leader of the 65 Sentai was sacked due to the bad performance of his unit and replaced by a better leader.
Mandalay still had in the evening 27 oil and 11 resource centers working. All repairs were stopped on them to keep supplies for the incoming battles.
The convoy carrying the 41st Div from China arrived in Bangkok and the troops began to disembark there.
China
The first units of the final group (5 Div) of the Northern China Army transferred to S China for the Kweiyang-Kunming-Yunan offensive in the summer arrived by train at Hangchow and received orders to march to Canton via the coastal road.
In Northern China, the 3 parachutist SNLF that were badly decimated in the battle of Sining had been reconstituted in Yenen and received orders to march to Kungchang. From there plans were prepared to drop them on Allied rears in Northern Burma at the peak of the Allied offensive.
Two Japanese training sorties were flown, one by 49 aircraft from Kungchang against Chinese troops NW of Sian and another by 184 from Wuhan NW of Changsha, hitting a total of 80 Chinese for only one operational loss, an A6M2.
Japanese engineers expanded Kaifeng airfield to size 6.
Northern Pacific
The daily recon over Kiska was the first Japanese aircraft to see the new Allied fighter: a Corsair squadron apparently moved in. Allied engineers expanded Kiska port to size 2 today. Recons reported 10 TF and 9 units in Kiska, and 4 TF and 4 units in Attu that was now protected by P-40E flying CAP.
Central Pacific
The convoy seen yesterday south of California was lost and submarines took again a line formation.
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
In the afternoon, 48 B-24D and 22 PB4Y from PM escorted by 20 P-38G attacked Rabaul, disabled 46 men and 3 guns and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on airfield supplies, 18 on the runways, 4 on the port, 1 on a fuel dump and 7 on port supplies. One PB4Y crippled by AA fire crashed on the way out, another and a P-38G were lost in accidents.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Six Tonies were airborne over Lautem when the daily dawn attack by 4 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin arrived but they failed to intercept them. The raiders scored 3 runway hits.
In the afternoon, Amboina was attacked by 119 B-17E and 45 B-24D and reported the loss of 63 men and 1 gun and 16 hits on the airbase, 12 on supplies and 120 on the runways. Two B-17E were lost in accidents. At the same time Koepang was bombed by 118 B-25C and 42 B-25J (about twice more bombers than before) and reported 85 casualties, 6 disabled guns, 18 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 90 on the runways.
In the evening, the Tonies based in Lautem returned to Kendari (leaving one unserviceable fighter behind) while the 27 Ki-30 based in Amboina moved back to Menado, still not believing they had escaped without loss a raid by 160 heavy bombers (they were on 100% ASW).
Southern Resource Area
Three Allied submarines were reported between Muntok and Kunching. The plan to turn the latter base into a major ASW base was delayed by the fact that the planned supply convoy never arrived there (it was probably rerouted to Burma when Allied troops were spotted here). A new convoy was created in Singapore and will carry 21k supplies to Kuching.
Burma
The air ambush over Mandalay worked on its first day. 48 B-24D, 47 B-25J, 34 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV escorted by 36 P-40B from Imphal attacked and were intercepted by 48 Ki-61 and 18 A6M3a. The American escort pilots were overwhelmed. They shot down 3 Tony and 2 Zero but 13 of them were shot down. The Japanese pilots then decimated the Allied bombers, shooting down 18 B-25J, 10 B-24D, 6 Blenheim IV and 4 B-17E but the battle was not one-sided and return fire shot down 5 Ki-61 and 1 Zero. No bomber turned back and they reached the airfield. AA fire shot down one more B-25J but the airfield was hit hard: 9 Tony and 4 Zero were destroyed on the ground, 84 men killed or wounded, and 1 gun disabled. The bombers scored 18 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 119 on the runways. Shortly after 45 Liberator VI from Dacca attacked the same target and were intercepted by 20 Ki-61 and 7 A6M3a but suffered only one loss in the air battle while shooting down 2 Zero and a Tony. AA shot down then two of the Liberators while they bombed the resource centers of the town, disabling 16 of them.
With some more operational losses (a B-24D, a Liberator VI, a Ki-61 and a Zero) the final score of these battles was 57 Allied losses vs 29 Japanese. Detailed reports for the 3 Japanese units involved were:
_ 65 Sentai lost 12 Ki-61 and 5 pilots, and claimed 5 victories
_ 78 Sentai lost 7 Ki-61 and 2 pilots, and claimed 36 victories
_ F2/Genzan lost 10 A6M3a and 5 pilots (at least one was only WIA), and claimed 8 victories
Other Allied targets this day were Lashio, that was attacked by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 15 Mk 21 from Imphal (3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 13 on the runways), Myitkyina, raided by 24 Beaufighter VIC and 8 B-25J from Imphal and Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E (7 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 27 on the runways, 1 Beaufighter shot down by AA) and the 31st Division bombed north of Mandalay by 36 Vengeance I from Imphal (27 men and 1 gun lost).
In the evening all remaining fighters left Mandalay for Rangoon or Singapore by air or by train. The leader of the 65 Sentai was sacked due to the bad performance of his unit and replaced by a better leader.
Mandalay still had in the evening 27 oil and 11 resource centers working. All repairs were stopped on them to keep supplies for the incoming battles.
The convoy carrying the 41st Div from China arrived in Bangkok and the troops began to disembark there.
China
The first units of the final group (5 Div) of the Northern China Army transferred to S China for the Kweiyang-Kunming-Yunan offensive in the summer arrived by train at Hangchow and received orders to march to Canton via the coastal road.
In Northern China, the 3 parachutist SNLF that were badly decimated in the battle of Sining had been reconstituted in Yenen and received orders to march to Kungchang. From there plans were prepared to drop them on Allied rears in Northern Burma at the peak of the Allied offensive.
Two Japanese training sorties were flown, one by 49 aircraft from Kungchang against Chinese troops NW of Sian and another by 184 from Wuhan NW of Changsha, hitting a total of 80 Chinese for only one operational loss, an A6M2.
Japanese engineers expanded Kaifeng airfield to size 6.
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AmiralLaurent
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2 May 1943: more bombs on Timor
2 May 1943
Northern Pacific
Japanese engineers finished to build the base of Paramushiro Jima as the port reached size 4. The 22nd Eng Rgt will wait one week and then board the convoys that will land more air support units here and leave the base with them.
Allied engineers were also active and expanded Attu airfield to size 2.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Tongatapu to size 3, and will now expand the airfield from size 2 to 4.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was again attacked in the afternoon by 30 B-24D and 21 PB4Y from PM escorted by 16 P-38G that scored 1 hit on airbase supplies, 31 on the runways, 6 on port and 2 on fuel dumps. Japanese losses were 73 men and 1 gun, Allied ones one B-24D shot down by AA fire.
One of the Betties flying recon over PM was shot down by the Allied CAP.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Timor suffered again. Lautem was attacked by 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin that left 6 hols on the runway, then 14 Brewster 339D attacked barges off this base and sank one. In the afternoon Koepang was bombed by 120 B-25C and 41 B-25J from Derby and reported 13 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 93 on the runways with the loss of 106 men and 2 guns, while Dili was the target of 117 B-17E and 35 B-24D from Darwin and reported 6 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 69 on the runways with the loss of 67 men and 1 gun. Allied operational losses were 1 B-24D, 1 B-17E and 1 B-25J.
In the evening the High Command planned to send forward fighters from Kendari for another ambush but all 3 Timor airfields and Maumere were all too wrecked to send there aircraft and the orders were cancelled.
A PBM Mariner flying recon over Kendari was shot down by AA fire.
Southern Resource Area
The SS USS Sunfish was still 120 miles SW of Muntok and tried to attack an ASW group but was unable to reach a firing position. She slipped away undetected.
A convoy loaded 49k supplies in Palembang and will bring them to Rangoon.
Burma
During the night Kohima was missed by 3 Nells from Rangoon that also evaded 8 Beaufighter VIF on CAP. During the day the only Allied raid targeted Myitkyina and was flown by 10 B-25J and 22 P-40E from Ledo that scored 1 hit on supplies and 21 on runways.
The Allied troops continued to march forward and contact, that had been broken when Japanese Tk RGt rolled south to the railway, was again established this day. Three units were reported north of Myitkyina and 2 on the trail north of the 31st Div that was holding the railway bend.
More south the 41st Div finished landing in Bangkok and boarded trains that will bring it to Mandalay.
China
The daily training mission from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha was flown by 188 aircraft and was covered by a sweep of 46 Zero in case Alleid fighters tried to intercept. 104 Chinese soldiers were hit while a Ki-44 and an A6M3 were lost in accidents. Another training mission was flown from Kungchang by 41 A6M2 and 9 Val against troops in the mountains NW of Sian and hit 33 men.
Northern Pacific
Japanese engineers finished to build the base of Paramushiro Jima as the port reached size 4. The 22nd Eng Rgt will wait one week and then board the convoys that will land more air support units here and leave the base with them.
Allied engineers were also active and expanded Attu airfield to size 2.
Central Pacific
NTR
Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Tongatapu to size 3, and will now expand the airfield from size 2 to 4.
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was again attacked in the afternoon by 30 B-24D and 21 PB4Y from PM escorted by 16 P-38G that scored 1 hit on airbase supplies, 31 on the runways, 6 on port and 2 on fuel dumps. Japanese losses were 73 men and 1 gun, Allied ones one B-24D shot down by AA fire.
One of the Betties flying recon over PM was shot down by the Allied CAP.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Timor suffered again. Lautem was attacked by 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin that left 6 hols on the runway, then 14 Brewster 339D attacked barges off this base and sank one. In the afternoon Koepang was bombed by 120 B-25C and 41 B-25J from Derby and reported 13 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 93 on the runways with the loss of 106 men and 2 guns, while Dili was the target of 117 B-17E and 35 B-24D from Darwin and reported 6 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 69 on the runways with the loss of 67 men and 1 gun. Allied operational losses were 1 B-24D, 1 B-17E and 1 B-25J.
In the evening the High Command planned to send forward fighters from Kendari for another ambush but all 3 Timor airfields and Maumere were all too wrecked to send there aircraft and the orders were cancelled.
A PBM Mariner flying recon over Kendari was shot down by AA fire.
Southern Resource Area
The SS USS Sunfish was still 120 miles SW of Muntok and tried to attack an ASW group but was unable to reach a firing position. She slipped away undetected.
A convoy loaded 49k supplies in Palembang and will bring them to Rangoon.
Burma
During the night Kohima was missed by 3 Nells from Rangoon that also evaded 8 Beaufighter VIF on CAP. During the day the only Allied raid targeted Myitkyina and was flown by 10 B-25J and 22 P-40E from Ledo that scored 1 hit on supplies and 21 on runways.
The Allied troops continued to march forward and contact, that had been broken when Japanese Tk RGt rolled south to the railway, was again established this day. Three units were reported north of Myitkyina and 2 on the trail north of the 31st Div that was holding the railway bend.
More south the 41st Div finished landing in Bangkok and boarded trains that will bring it to Mandalay.
China
The daily training mission from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha was flown by 188 aircraft and was covered by a sweep of 46 Zero in case Alleid fighters tried to intercept. 104 Chinese soldiers were hit while a Ki-44 and an A6M3 were lost in accidents. Another training mission was flown from Kungchang by 41 A6M2 and 9 Val against troops in the mountains NW of Sian and hit 33 men.
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AmiralLaurent
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3 May 1943: Kendari under attack: a bad idea for B-17E
3 May 1943
Northern Pacific
Fighters appeared over Attu, the daily recon reporting a CAP of 17 P-38G (and 4 units on the island, and 15 in Kiska). Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Cold Bay to size 3.
A Glen reported two Allied TF, one with two BB, 360 miles SSE of Kodiak Island. These ships were moving NW, and may support more Allied operations in Attu-Kiska area.
Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was still receiving supplies and fuel by transports sailing alone from Truk. In the evening the SS USS Pike saw one of these ships NW of the base but was unable to attack her as she disappeared in a tropical storm.
The last part of the 21st Special Base Force boarded in Truk an AP that will bring it to Kavieng. To check if Allied submarines may attack her, 6 DD were ordered to do an ASW sweep to Kavieng and back.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the morning, 31 B-17E from Darwin attacked Kendari at high altitude but not enough to evade all Japanese CAP. They were intercepted by 51 Ki-44, 36 Oscar II and 19 Oscar I that shot down 11 bombers and damaged most of the others. The raid turned back and 7 damaged B-17E crashed on the way home. Japanese pilots claimed only 14 of the 17 kills (8 by Tojo and 6 by Oscar II) for 3 losses (2 Tojo and an Oscar II). It was a really good day for Oscar pilots. 18 Ki-61 and 24 Nick also flew CAP but didn’t engage the B-17, the first because they were too high, the second because the bombers turned back before they reached them. A Tony pilot managed to calm his nerves by shooting down a PBM Mariner on a recon mission. Two more other PBM Mariner were shot down by AA fire during the day.
This raid on Kendari might have been a test done by the Allied command, or a mistake by the unit commander. This days saw the usual attacks on Timor continue with 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin hitting Lautem (8 casualties, 1 runway hit), 117 B-25C and 32 B-25J from Derby bomb Koepang (a Dinah II destroyed on the ground, 118 casualties, 8 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 128 on the runways) and 79 B-17E and 26 B-24D from Darwin and 8 PB4Y from Wyndham raid Dili (10 casualties, 11 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 35 on the runways).
The Dinah unit of Koepang was reduced to one aircraft for 6 crew and flew back to Kendari to receive replacement aircraft. Two Emilies were sent from Kendari to relieve them but one crashed with the loss of its crew.
Southern Resource Area
A tanker left Medan with 9k oil and will bring them to Singapore.
Burma
There was no raid on the Japanese airfields but the 31st Div was bombed 120 miles SE of Imphal by 40 Hurricane from this base escorted by 24 P-40B. 38 Japanese soldiers were hit.
More Allied troops were reported today: 7 north of Myitkyina, 4 north of the 31st Div. The local Japanese commander wondering if these troops were supplied by air had asked for an Oscar II unit to be able to fly LRCAP over these troops. In the evening the 204 Sentai flew from Singapore to Rangoon with 36 Oscar II and will fly such missions in some days. Oscar II from Hanoi will fly tomorrow such LRCAP over the Chinese corps on the Salween front.
China
NTR
Northern Pacific
Fighters appeared over Attu, the daily recon reporting a CAP of 17 P-38G (and 4 units on the island, and 15 in Kiska). Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Cold Bay to size 3.
A Glen reported two Allied TF, one with two BB, 360 miles SSE of Kodiak Island. These ships were moving NW, and may support more Allied operations in Attu-Kiska area.
Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was still receiving supplies and fuel by transports sailing alone from Truk. In the evening the SS USS Pike saw one of these ships NW of the base but was unable to attack her as she disappeared in a tropical storm.
The last part of the 21st Special Base Force boarded in Truk an AP that will bring it to Kavieng. To check if Allied submarines may attack her, 6 DD were ordered to do an ASW sweep to Kavieng and back.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
In the morning, 31 B-17E from Darwin attacked Kendari at high altitude but not enough to evade all Japanese CAP. They were intercepted by 51 Ki-44, 36 Oscar II and 19 Oscar I that shot down 11 bombers and damaged most of the others. The raid turned back and 7 damaged B-17E crashed on the way home. Japanese pilots claimed only 14 of the 17 kills (8 by Tojo and 6 by Oscar II) for 3 losses (2 Tojo and an Oscar II). It was a really good day for Oscar pilots. 18 Ki-61 and 24 Nick also flew CAP but didn’t engage the B-17, the first because they were too high, the second because the bombers turned back before they reached them. A Tony pilot managed to calm his nerves by shooting down a PBM Mariner on a recon mission. Two more other PBM Mariner were shot down by AA fire during the day.
This raid on Kendari might have been a test done by the Allied command, or a mistake by the unit commander. This days saw the usual attacks on Timor continue with 6 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin hitting Lautem (8 casualties, 1 runway hit), 117 B-25C and 32 B-25J from Derby bomb Koepang (a Dinah II destroyed on the ground, 118 casualties, 8 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 128 on the runways) and 79 B-17E and 26 B-24D from Darwin and 8 PB4Y from Wyndham raid Dili (10 casualties, 11 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 35 on the runways).
The Dinah unit of Koepang was reduced to one aircraft for 6 crew and flew back to Kendari to receive replacement aircraft. Two Emilies were sent from Kendari to relieve them but one crashed with the loss of its crew.
Southern Resource Area
A tanker left Medan with 9k oil and will bring them to Singapore.
Burma
There was no raid on the Japanese airfields but the 31st Div was bombed 120 miles SE of Imphal by 40 Hurricane from this base escorted by 24 P-40B. 38 Japanese soldiers were hit.
More Allied troops were reported today: 7 north of Myitkyina, 4 north of the 31st Div. The local Japanese commander wondering if these troops were supplied by air had asked for an Oscar II unit to be able to fly LRCAP over these troops. In the evening the 204 Sentai flew from Singapore to Rangoon with 36 Oscar II and will fly such missions in some days. Oscar II from Hanoi will fly tomorrow such LRCAP over the Chinese corps on the Salween front.
China
NTR
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AmiralLaurent
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4 May 1943: submarine actions
4 May 1943
Northern Pacific
One of the Betties flying a routine recon mission over Kiska was shot down by an Allied fighter.
Central Pacific-Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed by 13 B-24D, 5 PB4Y and 3 Hudson I from PM escorted by 19 P-38G. They scored 17 hits on the runways and did 21 casualties but lost one B-24D and a Hudson to AA fire while a P-38G was lost to engine failure.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied air attacks continued on Lautem, attacked by 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin (3 runway hits), Koepang, target of 117 B-25C and 39 B-25J (16 casualties, 13 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 118 on the runways), and Dili, hit by 70 B-17E and 24 B-24D from Darwin and 9 PB4Y from Wyndham (51 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 13 hits on the airbase and 61 on the runways). Allied floatplanes continued to fly recon over Japanese bases and a Mariner crew shot down over Kendari an Oscar II trying to intercept it.
Southern Resource Area
During the night, the SS USS Gurnard tried to attack an ASW group 180 miles NW of Kuching but was seen and depth charged by the DD Usugomo that scored a near miss. In the evening the same ASW group again chased this submarine but she escaped.
A really extensive submarine action opposed near Menado two American submarines, the Sturgeon and Steelhead, an ASW group of 6 Japanese ships and a convoy of two empty AK sailing to Kendari under escort by a DD. First during the night the Steelhead was seen by the ASW group but escaped. Then the Sturgeon attacked the convoy and heavily damaged the AK Naruto Maru and escaped the only escort easily. She then returned to attack again the damaged ship but was unable to find a good firing postion. Just after dawn the convoy was attacked by the Steelhead and the remaining AK was hit by a torpedo but it failed to explode. The submarine retired, wandered on the damaged AK and launched another salvo of torpedoes against her but missed. The Naruto Mura, heavily damaged (76/40/17), will sail to Menado (port 3).
ASW groups are now active off Menado, Kuching and Tarakan.
A convoy was formed in Kuala Lumpur and will carry 28k resources to Japan.
Burma
During the night 3 Nell from Rangoon raided Kohima that was defended by 9 Beaufighter VIF. Neither side found its target.
After dawn, 24 Beaufighter VIC and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 22 on the runways. AA fire shot down a Beaufighter. More west the 31st Div was bombed by 42 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 26 P-40B and by 38 Vengeance I, 28 Beaufighter VIC and 22 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and lost 197 men and 5 guns.
The evening report showed 8 Allied units north of the 31st Div, 11 north of Myitkyina and 1 east of the Salween. The Oscar II of 64 Sentai flew to Taung Gyi and will fly tomorrow LRCAP over these three locations to check if they are supplied by air.
The commander of the Burma Army finally devised the final version of his battle plan for North Burma. See the map below for details.
China
The main body of the Chinese Army defeated in the north of the country was now in the mountains 180 miles NE of Chungking and marching SW towards this city but the 37th Japanese city was holding the road 120 miles NE of the city and had orders to defeat them as they moved in. Today the first Chinese unit reached its position and will attack it tomorrow.
42 A6M2 and 8 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against troops NW of Sian and hit 11 Chinese.
Japanese engineers expanded Ichang airfield to size 4.
Japan
Two convoys left Tokyo to prepare the second defence line in the Pacific, one carrying 72k fuel to Johsnton Island, the other 14k supplies to Marcus Island.
Northern Pacific
One of the Betties flying a routine recon mission over Kiska was shot down by an Allied fighter.
Central Pacific-Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed by 13 B-24D, 5 PB4Y and 3 Hudson I from PM escorted by 19 P-38G. They scored 17 hits on the runways and did 21 casualties but lost one B-24D and a Hudson to AA fire while a P-38G was lost to engine failure.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
Allied air attacks continued on Lautem, attacked by 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin (3 runway hits), Koepang, target of 117 B-25C and 39 B-25J (16 casualties, 13 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 118 on the runways), and Dili, hit by 70 B-17E and 24 B-24D from Darwin and 9 PB4Y from Wyndham (51 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 13 hits on the airbase and 61 on the runways). Allied floatplanes continued to fly recon over Japanese bases and a Mariner crew shot down over Kendari an Oscar II trying to intercept it.
Southern Resource Area
During the night, the SS USS Gurnard tried to attack an ASW group 180 miles NW of Kuching but was seen and depth charged by the DD Usugomo that scored a near miss. In the evening the same ASW group again chased this submarine but she escaped.
A really extensive submarine action opposed near Menado two American submarines, the Sturgeon and Steelhead, an ASW group of 6 Japanese ships and a convoy of two empty AK sailing to Kendari under escort by a DD. First during the night the Steelhead was seen by the ASW group but escaped. Then the Sturgeon attacked the convoy and heavily damaged the AK Naruto Maru and escaped the only escort easily. She then returned to attack again the damaged ship but was unable to find a good firing postion. Just after dawn the convoy was attacked by the Steelhead and the remaining AK was hit by a torpedo but it failed to explode. The submarine retired, wandered on the damaged AK and launched another salvo of torpedoes against her but missed. The Naruto Mura, heavily damaged (76/40/17), will sail to Menado (port 3).
ASW groups are now active off Menado, Kuching and Tarakan.
A convoy was formed in Kuala Lumpur and will carry 28k resources to Japan.
Burma
During the night 3 Nell from Rangoon raided Kohima that was defended by 9 Beaufighter VIF. Neither side found its target.
After dawn, 24 Beaufighter VIC and 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 22 on the runways. AA fire shot down a Beaufighter. More west the 31st Div was bombed by 42 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 26 P-40B and by 38 Vengeance I, 28 Beaufighter VIC and 22 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and lost 197 men and 5 guns.
The evening report showed 8 Allied units north of the 31st Div, 11 north of Myitkyina and 1 east of the Salween. The Oscar II of 64 Sentai flew to Taung Gyi and will fly tomorrow LRCAP over these three locations to check if they are supplied by air.
The commander of the Burma Army finally devised the final version of his battle plan for North Burma. See the map below for details.
China
The main body of the Chinese Army defeated in the north of the country was now in the mountains 180 miles NE of Chungking and marching SW towards this city but the 37th Japanese city was holding the road 120 miles NE of the city and had orders to defeat them as they moved in. Today the first Chinese unit reached its position and will attack it tomorrow.
42 A6M2 and 8 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against troops NW of Sian and hit 11 Chinese.
Japanese engineers expanded Ichang airfield to size 4.
Japan
Two convoys left Tokyo to prepare the second defence line in the Pacific, one carrying 72k fuel to Johsnton Island, the other 14k supplies to Marcus Island.
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AmiralLaurent
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5 May 1943: bad day for Allied submarines
5 May 1943
Northern Pacific - Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
The daily afternoon raid from PM to Rabaul was flown by 29 B-24D, 13 PB4Y and 9 Hudson I escorted by 20 P-38G. They disabled 78 men and 3 guns and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 38 on the runways, but Japanese gunners had a very good day and shot down 2 B-24D and 2 PB4Y. A last loss was suffered when a P-38G flew into a mountain on the way back.
The three submarines sent from Truk refuelled in Shortlands and separated. The RO sub will try to attack Allied shipping S of Port Moresby, a Glen sub will patrol S of Gili Gili and another more south off Australia to see any move pointing towards New Caledonia.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Allied airforce continue to roam freely over Timor. 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem and hit 4 men and 1 gun, leaving 2 holes on the runway. There was no raid on Koepang but a small AK unloading supplies in the port was bombed and damaged by a patrolling B-25C. In the afternoon 94 B-17E and 30 B-24D raided Dili but because of an error of the leading bomber all bombs missed the target while a B-17 was shot down by AA fire and a Liberator lost operationally.
The last unit of IJAAF to use Oscar I, the 59 Sentai in Kendari, upgraded to the Oscar II.
Southern Resource Area
The ASW group had a successful day. During the night, an ASW group attacked 60 miles SE of Menado the SS USS Steelhead and scored two near-misses. After dawn the SS Kingfish was tracked SW of Muntok by another group and was depth charged by 2 DD that scored 6 near-misses. At the same time the Dutch submarine KXI was also attacked by an ASW group 180 miles east of Tarakan and was destroyed by a direct hit from the PG Koei Maru.
The convoy attacked yesterday near Menado was again targeted by a submarine, the Dutch KXV, 180 miles SW of this base but the escorting DD saw and chased her.
A convoy was formed in Toboali to carry 10k resources to Formosa.
Burma
During the night, 7 Nell from Rangoon raided Kohima, evading the CAP of 9 Beaufighter VIF but failing to score any hit and losing one of their number to AA fire.
Daylight saw the Allied airmen return in force to Burma skies after some quieter days. Lashio was bombed by 44 B-24D, 44 B-25J, 30 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal under escort by 29 P-40B and reported 101 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways. The 31st Div was attacked by 40 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb and by 41 Vengeance I, 45 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and lost 92 men and 8 guns. Pagan was strafed and bombed by 16 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur that left 4 holes on the runway. Coming from the same base, 62 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV and 15 B-25J escorted by 9 P-40E raided Akyab and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways. Five Allied aircraft didn’t return, a Beaufighter Mk 21 being shot down by AA fire and 2 B-25C, 1 P-40E and 1 Beaufighter VIC being lost in accidents.
The Oscar unit in Taung Gyi wasn’t affected by this activity and if patrols sent north of the 31st Div and east of the Salween reported no Allied activity, pilots sent north of Myitkyina intercepted C-47 dropping supplies to Indian troops and shot down four of them. All Oscars returned to Rangoon in the evening.
The convoy bringing the 3rd Ard Div arrived in Bangkok and started unloading it.
China
120 miles NE of Chungking, the 37th Div defeated the 28th Chinese Corps (at 63 to 1) that was chased SW. Japanese losses were 16 men and 1 gun, Chinese ones 136 killed and wounded and more than 300 POWs.
43 A6M2 and 9 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against troops NW of Sian and hit 67 Chinese.
The last unit of the Northern China Army planned to be transferred south, the 68th Div, reached Hangchow and will as the other march to Canton via the coastal road.
Northern Pacific - Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
The daily afternoon raid from PM to Rabaul was flown by 29 B-24D, 13 PB4Y and 9 Hudson I escorted by 20 P-38G. They disabled 78 men and 3 guns and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 38 on the runways, but Japanese gunners had a very good day and shot down 2 B-24D and 2 PB4Y. A last loss was suffered when a P-38G flew into a mountain on the way back.
The three submarines sent from Truk refuelled in Shortlands and separated. The RO sub will try to attack Allied shipping S of Port Moresby, a Glen sub will patrol S of Gili Gili and another more south off Australia to see any move pointing towards New Caledonia.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Allied airforce continue to roam freely over Timor. 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem and hit 4 men and 1 gun, leaving 2 holes on the runway. There was no raid on Koepang but a small AK unloading supplies in the port was bombed and damaged by a patrolling B-25C. In the afternoon 94 B-17E and 30 B-24D raided Dili but because of an error of the leading bomber all bombs missed the target while a B-17 was shot down by AA fire and a Liberator lost operationally.
The last unit of IJAAF to use Oscar I, the 59 Sentai in Kendari, upgraded to the Oscar II.
Southern Resource Area
The ASW group had a successful day. During the night, an ASW group attacked 60 miles SE of Menado the SS USS Steelhead and scored two near-misses. After dawn the SS Kingfish was tracked SW of Muntok by another group and was depth charged by 2 DD that scored 6 near-misses. At the same time the Dutch submarine KXI was also attacked by an ASW group 180 miles east of Tarakan and was destroyed by a direct hit from the PG Koei Maru.
The convoy attacked yesterday near Menado was again targeted by a submarine, the Dutch KXV, 180 miles SW of this base but the escorting DD saw and chased her.
A convoy was formed in Toboali to carry 10k resources to Formosa.
Burma
During the night, 7 Nell from Rangoon raided Kohima, evading the CAP of 9 Beaufighter VIF but failing to score any hit and losing one of their number to AA fire.
Daylight saw the Allied airmen return in force to Burma skies after some quieter days. Lashio was bombed by 44 B-24D, 44 B-25J, 30 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal under escort by 29 P-40B and reported 101 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways. The 31st Div was attacked by 40 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb and by 41 Vengeance I, 45 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima and lost 92 men and 8 guns. Pagan was strafed and bombed by 16 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur that left 4 holes on the runway. Coming from the same base, 62 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV and 15 B-25J escorted by 9 P-40E raided Akyab and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways. Five Allied aircraft didn’t return, a Beaufighter Mk 21 being shot down by AA fire and 2 B-25C, 1 P-40E and 1 Beaufighter VIC being lost in accidents.
The Oscar unit in Taung Gyi wasn’t affected by this activity and if patrols sent north of the 31st Div and east of the Salween reported no Allied activity, pilots sent north of Myitkyina intercepted C-47 dropping supplies to Indian troops and shot down four of them. All Oscars returned to Rangoon in the evening.
The convoy bringing the 3rd Ard Div arrived in Bangkok and started unloading it.
China
120 miles NE of Chungking, the 37th Div defeated the 28th Chinese Corps (at 63 to 1) that was chased SW. Japanese losses were 16 men and 1 gun, Chinese ones 136 killed and wounded and more than 300 POWs.
43 A6M2 and 9 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against troops NW of Sian and hit 67 Chinese.
The last unit of the Northern China Army planned to be transferred south, the 68th Div, reached Hangchow and will as the other march to Canton via the coastal road.
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AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
6-7 May 1943: another ambush
6-7 May 1943
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers continued to work hard and expanded the port of Kiska to size 3 and of Unmak Island to size 2.
Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 6th by 29 B-24D, 21 PB4Y and 13 Hudson I from PM escorted by 36 P-38G that scored 2 hits on supplies and 59 on the runways and did 159 casualties. A Hudson was shot by AA fire while two B-24D and a PB4Y were lost in accidents. The next day a Betty flying the daily recon over PM was shot down by an Allied fighter and the unit received orders to stop these daily recons.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Allied air offensive paused over Timor. On the 6th, a PBM Mariner was shot down by AA fire over Kendari, a patrolling B-17E again hit the small AK Kinugasa Maru unloading supplies off Koepang (that caught the message this time, left without finishing unloading with damage 48/14/0 and will unload remaining supplies in Maumere) and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem and scored 1 hit on a building and 2 on the runway, doing 9 casualties. There was no action at all on the 7th.
Fifteen new barges were launched in Kendari, bringing to 30 the number affected to supply Lautem.
Southern Resource Area
On the 6th a convoy sailing between Formosa and Luzon was attacked by two American submarines, the Gunnel and Grunion, but both submarines were chased by the escort without damage to any side. The same day the SS USS Cisco was chased by an ASW group SE of Menado but escaped. In the evening the Dutch SS KIX, damaged by a Japanese APD on 27 April, reached Darwin but in such a bad state that it was declared beyond repair and scrapped (sank in game).
A convoy with supplies having finally reached Kuching, a Sentai of Ki-30 moved there on the 7th.
Four convoys were formed during these two days and will carry 17k supplies from Toboali to Rangoon, 25k oil from Tarakan to Japan, 14k resources from Kendari to Japan and 32k oil and 42k resources from Soerabaja to Japan.
Burma
On the 6th, Allied raids hit the 31st Div (that lost 139 men, 5 guns and 1 tank under attacks by 46 Beaufighter VIC, 39 Vengeance I and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima), Pagan (that reported 40 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 3 on the runways scored by 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 2 P-40E) and Akyab, attacked by 56 B-25C, 22 Blenheim IV and 15 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 9 P-40E and that reported 9 hits on buildings and 47 on runways. Allied losses were 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 shot down by AA fire and a Blenheim IV and a Beaufighter VIC lost in accidents.
Both raids launched from Chandpur had few escort and the Japanese Command decided to exploit this. 31 Tojos of 85 Sentai flew from Rangoon to Pagan to defend this base, while both A6M3a units in Rangoon were ordered to fly LRCAP over Akyab.
So the next day saw several air battles over Burma. Pagan was not attacked but 12 Tojo flew as far as Mandalay when this base was attacked by 48 Liberator VI from Dacca and shot down five heavy bombers for one loss to return fire and two in accidents (one of the 3 pilots bailed out unhurt). AA fire shot down a 6th Liberator but the other disabled 144 men and 2 guns and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 61 on the runways.
Then Lashio was attacked by 46 B-25J, 40 B-24D, 30 B-17E and 12 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 28 P-40B and reported 110 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 100 on the runways, while the 31st Div was attacked by 42 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb and 48 Beaufighter VIC, 42 Vengeance I and 28 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima without escort and lost 208 men, 4 guns and 1 tank.
The expected raid on Akyab arrived in the afternoon. 62 B-25J, 21 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25C escorted by 15 P-40E came from Chandpur and were intercepted by 22 A6M3a. For the loss of two aircraft and one pilot, the Japanese shot down 5 P-40E, 5 Blenheim IV, 1 B-25J and 1 B-25C. The Allied airmen hit 14 men and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 60 on the runways and then returned to base, losing two more aircraft (a P-40E and a Blenheim IV) in accidents.
In the evening, all Japanese fighters were back in Rangoon and flying local CAP at 90%.
Allied units continued to march southwards in the jungle. In the evening of the 6th, 10 units were north of the 31st and 15 north of Myitkyina. There was no report in the evening of the 7th.
An AA Bn sent from Mandalay to provide cover to the 31st Div reached it in the evening of the 7th.
China
A training sortie was flown on the 6th from Kungchang and another the next day from Wuhan for a total of 254 sorties, 167 Chinese casualties and 3 operational losses (a Nick, a Kate and a Val).
Japan
An Allied submarine was seen on the 6th 60 miles SE of Tokyo and an ASW group was sent to chase her but saw nothing the next day.
Northern Pacific
Allied engineers continued to work hard and expanded the port of Kiska to size 3 and of Unmak Island to size 2.
Central Pacific - Southern Pacific - New Zealand - New Caledonia – New Hebrides
NTR
Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea
Rabaul was bombed on the 6th by 29 B-24D, 21 PB4Y and 13 Hudson I from PM escorted by 36 P-38G that scored 2 hits on supplies and 59 on the runways and did 159 casualties. A Hudson was shot by AA fire while two B-24D and a PB4Y were lost in accidents. The next day a Betty flying the daily recon over PM was shot down by an Allied fighter and the unit received orders to stop these daily recons.
Timor-Amboina-Australia
The Allied air offensive paused over Timor. On the 6th, a PBM Mariner was shot down by AA fire over Kendari, a patrolling B-17E again hit the small AK Kinugasa Maru unloading supplies off Koepang (that caught the message this time, left without finishing unloading with damage 48/14/0 and will unload remaining supplies in Maumere) and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin attacked Lautem and scored 1 hit on a building and 2 on the runway, doing 9 casualties. There was no action at all on the 7th.
Fifteen new barges were launched in Kendari, bringing to 30 the number affected to supply Lautem.
Southern Resource Area
On the 6th a convoy sailing between Formosa and Luzon was attacked by two American submarines, the Gunnel and Grunion, but both submarines were chased by the escort without damage to any side. The same day the SS USS Cisco was chased by an ASW group SE of Menado but escaped. In the evening the Dutch SS KIX, damaged by a Japanese APD on 27 April, reached Darwin but in such a bad state that it was declared beyond repair and scrapped (sank in game).
A convoy with supplies having finally reached Kuching, a Sentai of Ki-30 moved there on the 7th.
Four convoys were formed during these two days and will carry 17k supplies from Toboali to Rangoon, 25k oil from Tarakan to Japan, 14k resources from Kendari to Japan and 32k oil and 42k resources from Soerabaja to Japan.
Burma
On the 6th, Allied raids hit the 31st Div (that lost 139 men, 5 guns and 1 tank under attacks by 46 Beaufighter VIC, 39 Vengeance I and 24 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima), Pagan (that reported 40 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 3 on the runways scored by 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Chandpur escorted by 2 P-40E) and Akyab, attacked by 56 B-25C, 22 Blenheim IV and 15 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 9 P-40E and that reported 9 hits on buildings and 47 on runways. Allied losses were 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 shot down by AA fire and a Blenheim IV and a Beaufighter VIC lost in accidents.
Both raids launched from Chandpur had few escort and the Japanese Command decided to exploit this. 31 Tojos of 85 Sentai flew from Rangoon to Pagan to defend this base, while both A6M3a units in Rangoon were ordered to fly LRCAP over Akyab.
So the next day saw several air battles over Burma. Pagan was not attacked but 12 Tojo flew as far as Mandalay when this base was attacked by 48 Liberator VI from Dacca and shot down five heavy bombers for one loss to return fire and two in accidents (one of the 3 pilots bailed out unhurt). AA fire shot down a 6th Liberator but the other disabled 144 men and 2 guns and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 61 on the runways.
Then Lashio was attacked by 46 B-25J, 40 B-24D, 30 B-17E and 12 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 28 P-40B and reported 110 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 100 on the runways, while the 31st Div was attacked by 42 Hurricane from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb and 48 Beaufighter VIC, 42 Vengeance I and 28 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kohima without escort and lost 208 men, 4 guns and 1 tank.
The expected raid on Akyab arrived in the afternoon. 62 B-25J, 21 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25C escorted by 15 P-40E came from Chandpur and were intercepted by 22 A6M3a. For the loss of two aircraft and one pilot, the Japanese shot down 5 P-40E, 5 Blenheim IV, 1 B-25J and 1 B-25C. The Allied airmen hit 14 men and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 60 on the runways and then returned to base, losing two more aircraft (a P-40E and a Blenheim IV) in accidents.
In the evening, all Japanese fighters were back in Rangoon and flying local CAP at 90%.
Allied units continued to march southwards in the jungle. In the evening of the 6th, 10 units were north of the 31st and 15 north of Myitkyina. There was no report in the evening of the 7th.
An AA Bn sent from Mandalay to provide cover to the 31st Div reached it in the evening of the 7th.
China
A training sortie was flown on the 6th from Kungchang and another the next day from Wuhan for a total of 254 sorties, 167 Chinese casualties and 3 operational losses (a Nick, a Kate and a Val).
Japan
An Allied submarine was seen on the 6th 60 miles SE of Tokyo and an ASW group was sent to chase her but saw nothing the next day.