Home Islands west. A busy day! First off, the landings went well. In spite of the fact that two AKA convoys will begin landing tonight (they had not been ordered to leave Naha with the rest), and that the entire USA 38th Division was left on the docks at Taihoku staring at their ships waiting for the order to load. They are loading now, and will land as soon as possible. No matter, that will simply serve to confuse the Imperial Intel analysts. Taihoku is a large port but cannot dock the convoy in question, still let's call it one day to load (I'll cancel any additional supply loading), 2 to 2.5 days in transit with unloading commencing on that third day.
In keeping with my inovative use of B-29 to sweep away enemy fighters, I have decided to use CVE to clear mines.
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TF 9 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
DD Hudson, Mine hits 1
DD Isherwood, Mine hits 1
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TF 74 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
CVE Liscome Bay, Mine hits 1
CVE Gambier Bay, Mine hits 2, heavy damage
CVE Kitkun Bay, Mine hits 1
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TF 80 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
CVE Nehenta Bay, Mine hits 1
CVE Marcus Island, Mine hits 1
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TF 105 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
CL Miami, Mine hits 1
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TF 130 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
DD Farenholt, Mine hits 1
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TF 270 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
CVE Casablanca, Mine hits 1
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TF 286 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
APA Henrico, Mine hits 1
APA Knox, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
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TF 288 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59)
Allied Ships
APA Freestone, Mine hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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TF 295 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AM Skylark, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Skylark
AM Skylark firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Skylark
AM Skylark firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
13 mines cleared
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TF 316 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AM Swallow, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Triumph, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Swallow
AM Swallow firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Triumph
AM Triumph firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Swallow
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Triumph
22 mines cleared
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TF 345 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AM Heed, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Spear, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Heed
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Spear
AM Spear firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
13 mines cleared
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TF 370 encounters mine field at Kumamoto (102,59) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DMS Palmer, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Impeccable, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at DMS Palmer
DMS Palmer firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
Tachibana-wan Fortress firing at AM Impeccable
AM Impeccable firing at Tachibana-wan Fortress
17 mines cleared
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TF 505 encounters mine field at Nagasaki/Sasebo (102,58)
Allied Ships
DD Whelp, Mine hits 1
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There were also many encounters with MTB, but no Allied injuries were suffered and the several bombardment task forces thus intercepted were not deterred. Speaking of which, all bombardments were effective. In particular, the supporting strikes against Nagasaki/Sasebo put some hurt on air operations there, which was the primary objective.
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Night Naval bombardment of Nagasaki/Sasebo at 102,58
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 24 damaged
J1N1-S Irving: 8 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 41 damaged
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 6 destroyed on ground
J2M5 Jack: 37 damaged
J2M5 Jack: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 28 damaged
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 4 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
Japanese Ships
xAK Mikasa Maru, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
BB Richelieu
BB King George V
BB Howe
BB Prince of Wales
BC Renown
Japanese ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 19 (7 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 55
BB Richelieu firing at 12th Division
BB King George V firing at Nagasaki/Sasebo
BB Howe firing at 12th Division
BB Prince of Wales firing at Nagasaki/Sasebo
Walrus II acting as spotter for BC Renown
BC Renown firing at 12th Division
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Night Naval bombardment of Nagasaki/Sasebo at 102,58
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 11 damaged
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 3 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
J1N1-S Irving: 30 damaged
J1N1-S Irving: 5 destroyed on ground
J2M5 Jack: 8 damaged
J2M5 Jack: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 7 damaged
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Valiant
BB Nelson
Japanese ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (4 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
Port hits 1
BB Queen Elizabeth firing at 12th Division
Walrus II acting as spotter for BB Valiant
BB Valiant firing at Nagasaki/Sasebo
BB Nelson firing at Nagasaki/Sasebo
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Meanwhile the IJN took a stab at shipping at Saishu To, but no go.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Saishu To at 99,55, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Kikuzuki
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Balch
DD Clark
Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 96% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
McGovern, J.B. crosses the 'T'
DD Clark engages DD Nagatsuki at 8,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Nagatsuki at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 5,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Kikuzuki at 5,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 3,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 6,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Balch at 6,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Kikuzuki at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 11,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Balch at 11,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Nagatsuki at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Nagatsuki at 15,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Balch at 15,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Phelps at 15,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Saishu To at 99,55, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Kikuzuki
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Phelps, Shell hits 1
DD Balch
DD Clark
Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 92% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Clark at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 5,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Clark at 5,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 4,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Balch at 4,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Nagatsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Balch at 6,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Clark at 10,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Kikuzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DD Clark engages DD Nagatsuki at 15,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Nagatsuki at 15,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Phelps at 15,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fukuoka at 103,57
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 4
N1K2-J George x 6
Ki-84r Frank x 34
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 131
F6F-5 Hellcat x 38
SBD-5 Dauntless x 21
TBM-3 Avenger x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 14 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
23 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
15 x TBM-3 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
5 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x F6F-5 Hellcat sweeping at 10000 feet
3 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
5 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
6 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
2 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
13 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
8 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 10000 feet
8 x F6F-5 Hellcat sweeping at 10000 feet
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/A with Ki-84r Frank (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 19000.
Raid is overhead
S-301 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
5th Sentai/B with Ki-84r Frank (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 19000.
Raid is overhead
Akagi-1/C with A7M2 Sam (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 19000.
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(22 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 22 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Nagatsuki
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Back at Kumamoto there were a number of night air strikes at our fleet, but no damage was taken. Of the convoys present, all but one completely unloaded troops and equipment and that one almost. Supply continues to unload but already beans, bullets, and bandages ashore are plentiful.
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Ground combat at Kumamoto (102,59)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 33082 troops, 355 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1695
Defending force 56890 troops, 914 guns, 1396 vehicles, Assault Value = 1841
Japanese ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Assaulting units:
126th Ind.Mixed Brigade
98th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Tank Division
312th Division
146th Division
80th Infantry Brigade
107th Ind.Mixed Brigade
206th Division
212th Division
156th Division
46th Division
109th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Ind Engineer Regiment
22nd Ind.AA Gun Co
44th IMB Artillery Battalion
80th Field AA Battalion
Tachibana-wan Fortress
14th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
64th Field AA Battalion
100th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
20th AA Regiment
Waifu JAAF Base Force
Defending units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
6th Infantry Division
41st Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
5th Marine Division
670th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Sixth US Army
82nd Mortar Battalion
XIV US Corps
226th Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
7th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
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We have 4x USA tank Bns and 5x USMC artillery units landing tomorrow, and the additional USA division in a few days as noted above.
I know this comes under the heading of "Other News" with a landing on Kyushu today, but the entire of Shikoku is now secured.
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Ground combat at Matsuyama (105,59)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23924 troops, 405 guns, 255 vehicles, Assault Value = 1547
Defending force 2322 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Allied adjusted assault: 325
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 325 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2902 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 226 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
77th Infantry Division
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment
25th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
Defending units:
66th Ind.Mixed Brigade
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