Ocean of (Allied) Blood.

[bigred]

43-9-16:  Midway has fallen to a 20prep amphib force. Took about a week. surprised the KB did not show up and blast my ships. Guess IJN was looking for my CVs who did not show.

[bigred]

Lahani and Molokai are next up for conquest. Consideration is made for skipping these outpost and moving on. They make good bombing ranges.

[bigred]

SWPAC:  big fight has developed at Milni Bay.  Japs are reinforcing the outpost.  Note the use of PBs w/ BBs. 2 turns ago we para droped a sqd into milne w/ a ground attack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5968 troops, 87 guns, 418 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

Defending force 12350 troops, 192 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Allied adjusted assault: 567

Japanese adjusted defense: 665

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 14 (4 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
367 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)


Assaulting units:
4th Armoured Brigade
1st Motor Brigade
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /3
1st Australian Para Bn /3
2/8th Armoured Regiment
30th Australian Bde /3
F Det USN Port Svc
1st RAA Jungle Mountain Gun Regiment
II Australian Corps
53rd Australian Lt AA Rgt /1

Defending units:
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
64th Infantry Group /1
38th Field AA Battalion
54th JNAF AF Unit
15th Base Force
2nd Army
5th Air Defense AA Regiment
28th JAAF AF Bn
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
31st Fld AA Gun Co
2nd Naval Const Bn /1


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

[bigred]

Looking at the Perth front, FatR has a fortified line behind his MLR.

[bigred]

Further to the east a look at South Java.

[bigred]

Here is north Java:

[bigred]

South Sumatra:

[bigred]

Andamans:

[bigred]

Boots on the ground at Lahani. did not wait 30 days to get prepped.

[bigred]

43-10-6: IJN Resupply TF caught at Rangoon harbor unloading. Good job by the Royal Navy.



Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Fukui Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
PB Keijo Maru, Shell hits 37, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kohuku Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Takaoka Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Taketoyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Toyohasi Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Teihoku Maru
xAK Durban Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Hauraki Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Kenya
DD Hughes
DD Hammann
DD Craven



Poor visibility due to Rain with 39% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 39% moonlight: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 6,000 yards
CL Kenya launches Torpedoes at PB Keijo Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Hobart launches Torpedoes at PB Keijo Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Hobart launches Torpedoes at PB Fukui Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann launches Torpedoes at PB Keijo Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Hughes launches Torpedoes at xAK Durban Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Hughes fires at xAK Toyohasi Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Hobart launches Torpedoes at xAK Takaoka Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Hobart engages PB Keijo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Craven engages PB Fukui Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages PB Keijo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Hughes engages PB Keijo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Craven engages PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Hauraki Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Toyohasi Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Kenya engages PB Kohuku Maru at 3,000 yards
CL Hobart engages PB Keijo Maru at 3,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru sunk by CL Hobart at 3,000 yards
CL Hobart engages xAK Hauraki Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Taketoyo Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Craven engages xAK Hauraki Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages xAK Durban Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Keijo Maru sunk by DD Hughes at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Asanagi
E Karii
E Yanagi, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Mogamigawa Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
AK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
AK Koryu Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Kosei Maru
AK Kotoku Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
CL Kenya, Shell hits 2
DD Hughes
DD Hammann
DD Craven, Shell hits 3



Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Low visibility due to Rain with 39% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 39% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages CL Kenya at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Craven at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Craven at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Yanagi at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages AK Kotoku Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Kosei Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Koryu Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Craven engages DD Asanagi at 4,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Craven at 4,000 yards
CL Hobart engages E Yanagi at 4,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Hammann at 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Hammann at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Kotoku Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Kosei Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Koryu Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Asanagi at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Kotoku Maru at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 13 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 12 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 30 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Kenya
CL Hobart

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 40
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

CL Kenya firing at Rangoon
CL Hobart firing at Rangoon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 4, on fire
E Karii
E Yanagi, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Mogamigawa Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Koryu Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AK Kosei Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Kotoku Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Kenya, Shell hits 2
DD Hughes, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hammann
DD Craven, Shell hits 2, on fire



Reduced visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 27,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 15,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Uzuki at 15,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Uzuki at 15,000 yards
DD Hammann engages E Karii at 15,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Asanagi at 15,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 15,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Kotoku Maru at 15,000 yards
CL Kenya engages AK Kosei Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 15,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Asanagi at 13,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Uzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Craven at 13,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hammann at 13,000 yards
CL Kenya engages AK Kosei Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Uzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Craven at 10,000 yards
DD Craven engages DD Asanagi at 10,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 10,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Kotoku Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Kosei Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Koryu Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hammann at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages DD Asanagi at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages AK Kosei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Koryu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hughes at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Yanagi at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hammann at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Kosei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Koryu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Asanagi at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages E Yanagi at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hughes at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Koryu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Asanagi at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Craven at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages E Karii at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Kosei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Koryu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Craven at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Uzuki at 7,000 yards
CL Kenya engages E Karii at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Kotoku Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Kosei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Koryu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 7,000 yards
Moorhead G. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CL Kenya engages DD Uzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Uzuki at 8,000 yards
CL Hobart engages E Yanagi at 8,000 yards
Magazine explodes on DD Uzuki
DD Uzuki sunk by DD Hammann at 8,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Kosei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Shinanogawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Asanagi at 14,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Hammann at 14,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Kosei Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Koryu Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Hughes engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
DD Craven engages E Karii at 18,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Asanagi at 18,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Asanagi at 18,000 yards
DD Hammann engages AK Koryu Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Craven engages AK Mogamigawa Maru at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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

[bigred]

43-10-10: Lahani base falls to the allied push.


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

Ground combat at Lahaina (182,108)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 38465 troops, 697 guns, 1847 vehicles, Assault Value = 1835

Defending force 15516 troops, 203 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Allied adjusted assault: 1716

Japanese adjusted defense: 101

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied forces CAPTURE Lahaina !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3009 casualties reported
Squads: 118 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 122 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 104 (71 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 69 (69 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
492 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

[bigred]

43-10-10: FatR has started a fighter offensive at PM and Ramree island seems to only want to attrit the allies. I moved all my ftrs to night cap an now he is daylight pasting my AFs close to shut down by damage. I may have to evac PM AIR if he continues ops. Hopefully his OP losses are rising. He is destroying a lot of planes but the pilots are unhurt.
Cloud art by Omat.

[bigred]

Excellent night bombing results.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 54 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23



Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged



Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[bigred]

43-10-10: A DD flotilla was attacked south of Gasmata by P1y1. Sank one DD. looks like the Frances was operated out of Kavieg.

[bigred]

43-10-14: What started as a small resupply mission to milne Bay has turned into a horiffic daylight surface action. It all began two days ago when IJ recon spotted my barge resupply mission to MB. I placed Arleigh Burke as commanding officer of DD flotilla TF246. I figured something was up when I recived this message from FatR w/ the replay.

I expected a mighty airstrike against my fleet at Milne Bay, and was afraid of walking into a carrier trap...

I had been dropping b25 sea mines at MB for about a week and was pleased w/ this report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 230 encounters mine field at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo, Mine hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then---

[bigred]

Next My DDTF hung around...and got destroyed.

[bigred]

Then, FatR unleashed all his naval torpedo air, my cap did not perform very well, but somehow the naval air went after some transports at PM w/ 60kg bombs...hehehe that was funny.

[bigred]

Not sure the Haruna went down, did enjoy the plane loses. all things considered this was a good outcome.

[bigred]

Finally, the IJN stayed at milne bay in Daylight... Probably will be gone next day. But w/ a wounded BB....hmmmm.

[janh]

Things are really heating up here!  I am surprised FatR is willing to turn Milne Bay into his "Iron Bottom Sound", but well... just makes the match more interesting. Do you have an idea of the whereabouts of the rest of the IJN?  What is left in the Singapore AO presently?  And what FatR might be up to here?  Something tells me that he wouldn't just send the remainder of this already somewhat decimated BB and CA body for a delaying action?