What a turn...dunno were to start [:'(]
Todays actions can be divided into 5 different parts:
Naval battle outside of Lautern
Anti shipping strikes of Lautern
Naval battles outside Karachi
Anti shipping strikes outside of Karachi
Air battles over Tjilitjap and Karachi
A large airstike against Tjilitjap destroyed many Allied ac on the ground. Good one as it didn't
cose me anything.
I deliberately sent 2 half trained Zero Daitais on LRCAP over Karachi in order to reduce the Allied
fighter strength here. I expected it to be costly, and it was. Spitfires claimed many killes, but I'm not
displeased since there were quite a few poorly trained pilots on my roster. Wobbly once told me that
there wasn't many UK pilots left in the pools, and I expect that there are only untrained replacements
available.
My fast transport group of Timor again went head to head with 2 US battleships! Usually I wouldn't
have bothered to much, but today the big guys hit all and everything. Good results for David as I lost
1 destroyer and had 3 heavily damaged. Medium bombers also succeeded in hitting two of the damaged
ships later on in the day, and I expect them to sink. The ships will try to unload at Lautern tomorrow before
returning to base.
The naval battles around Karachi must be deemed a success! Only one of my 3 TF's suffered damage and
many Allied ships were destroyed. The only major IJN ship to be lost was the heavy cruiser Tone which was
damaged by the battleship Valiant and sunk by torpedo bombers in the evening (I usually use this ship
as a carrier escort, but I had several Furutaka class cruisers with sys damage in their teens to use for this
purpose).
Jap losses:
1 ca
1 dd
Allied losses:
1 ca
2 cl
5 dd
There were also dozens of Allied msw's and transports around: guess David placed them there to prevent bombardments!?
We sank most of them including:
MSW Cairns, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Patna, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
MSW Romney, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Bendigo, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
MSW Burnie, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW Pieter de Bitter, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AK F.J.Luckenbach, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AK Empire Rennie, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Haven, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Empire Barracuda, Shell hits 50, and is sunk
AK Empire Adur, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Taw, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Bunting, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
AK Empire Buckler, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AK Empire Geraint, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
AK Empire Standard, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Nile, Shell hits 40, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Elaine, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Tennyson, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Empire Gareth, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Boswell, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Spey, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
AK Shinai, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Tai Sang, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Pintail, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
AK Munlock, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AK Tantalus, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Tjisaroea, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
AK Langkoeas, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Herstein, Shell hits 5, on fire
AK Lematang, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Meroendoeng, Shell hits 11, on fire
AK Pasir, Shell hits 2
AK Siberoet, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Sipora, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Halldor, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
AK Herleik, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ngow Hok, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
AK Nord, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Solviken, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
AK Woolgar, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Gandara, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Federlock, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
AK Hosang, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Soochow, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Beatrice, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
AK Ban Ho Guan, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
That's 6 msw's, 36 transports sunk [:)]
Tomorrow the Army will move in, thought they would arrive today - but traffic jams
caused a delay! The KB will move to a position just 4 hexes out from Karachi and more
surface combat tf's will be sent in. There are still 1 bb, 3 ca/cl and 10 Allied destroyers
left.
The anti shipping strikes form Karachi only managed to sink the heavily damaged cruiser
Tone - a few sorties flew against the KB, but 136 Zeros made short process of them. It's
a risk to move the fleet closer tomorrow, but it should be possible to cut down Allied attack
planes in droves. I got a scear today as a recon plane hit the Zuikaku, damage was limited
to 1 sys fortunately - I've had enough bad luck with just such chance attacks earlier!!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/01/42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78 - today's least fortunate naval battle!
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Asanagi
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiokaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuri, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 4
BB Idaho, Shell hits 3
DD Monssen
DD Sims, Shell hits 2
DD O'Brien
Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Chikuma
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
CL Natori, Shell hits 1
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 3
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 2
DD Hayashio
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Nowaki
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba
DD Ariake, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Uzuki
Allied Ships - unfortunately the Valiant is left alone!
BB Valiant, Shell hits 1
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Express, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Isis, Shell hits 4
DD Panther, Shell hits 1
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Myoko
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro
Allied Ships - this fleet was surprised and didn't put up much resistance
CL De Ruyter
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Fortune, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Torpedo hits 1
CA Atago
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro
Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 4
DD Barker
DD Stewart
DD Vampire, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
DD Paladin
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami
CL Jintsu
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro
Allied Ships - another surprise attack and the Allied fleet was annihilated!
CA Exeter, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Danae, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
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Air Combat
Here comes the IJNAF contribution to the battle, it was bloody!
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
Wirraway x 5
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 23
Spitfire Vb x 21
Kittyhawk I x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 70 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Wirraway: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Mohawk IV: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 17 destroyed, 4 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 15 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
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Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62 - another large strike against Java!
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 166
Ki-49 Helen x 18
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed, 14 damaged
A-20B Boston: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 12 destroyed, 8 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96 - af damage was reported to be 17 - US engineers are great...
Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 32,79 - anti shipping strike of Lautern
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 17
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Nokaze, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuri, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuretake, on fire
DD Hatsushima
Aircraft Attacking:
All Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 32,79
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 4
Hudson I x 20
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi
DD Manazuru
DD Okikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
All Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 20,4 - anti shipping strikes of Karachi Over 150 Allied ac took part but didn't hit much.
Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
Swordfish x 9
Wirraway x 2
Mohawk IV x 20
Hurricane II x 27
Spitfire Vb x 29
Kittyhawk I x 14
Vildebeest IV x 2
Beaufort I x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 23
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
All fighters Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
All Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
All Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 16,3 - the strikes against the KB were fended of
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 136
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 4 destroyed
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Day Air attack on TF at 16,3
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 136
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 7 destroyed
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Ground Combat
Ground combat at 23,8
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 22175 troops, 112 guns, 145 vehicles
Defending force 1916 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 216 to 1 - don't tell me that it's only Jap troops that can resist heavy odds [:'(]
Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
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Situation Picture: Naval battle of Karachi
