Rising Sun over the Rockies - F.K. vs OSO - Wake captured by US

[FeurerKrieg]

June 20th, 1943
Enemy planes returned to Kiska today, aiming for our supply ships. 3 PV-1 and 9 B-25Cs, escorted by P-38's fought past our Tonys, but missed their targets. No losses on either side. Most of our ships have unloaded now and are working on heading back to the Home Islands.

Closer to the Home Islands, PC Sado was torpedoed by SS Haddock. The ship should make it back to port at Sendai. Unfortunate given that Sado is one of our newer anti sub ships.

Akyab was again attacked by enemy medium bombers.

[center]
A sub hunter is caught by a sub[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

June 21st, 1943
Akyab is hit by two waves of bombers today.

SS Guardfish is chased away from a convoy, and SS Barb is hit by a Ki-30 Ann dive bomber in the Kuriles. Seems like there are a lot of subs in the Kuriles, probably hunting for damaged AKs returning from the Aleutians.

Attu Island airfield is usable again so our fighters have retreated back to that base. (58/23)

The airfield at Amami was expanded today. (sz 3)

[FeurerKrieg]

June 22nd, 1943
Today 34 B-24D Liberators, escorted by P-38Gs, hit Kiska doing light damage, but destroying 8 bombers on the ground. The airbase is still function, but many of the planes there are damaged. I might need to pull back, but we'll see if the attacks continue, the weather is pretty bad after all. Attu: 58/8, Kiska:27/16

Akyab is hit again by two waves of medium bombers.

Aparri in the Philippines expanded its airfield today. (sz 2)

[FeurerKrieg]

June 23rd, 1943
60 B-24D's hit Kiska destroying 2 Ki-32 Mary dive bombers on the ground. The airbase remains operational though. (36/37). Attu continues to repair. (51/0)

Akyab is also hit again today.

The regular bombing of our bases up north may not have had anything to do with our recent resupply mission at all, as numerous ships were spotted south of Adak. This could be the American fleet that intel reported back on June 7th (or so). If it is an invasion of the Aleutians, I would expect to see Adak hit first and turned into a solid airbase from which the other two main bases could be pounded. With that in mind, two sub minelayers that were returning from Dutch Harbor will head to Adak to begin evacuating troops. A couple of other subs will be sent as well and I'm sure they will get there before Adak falls. Hopefully the level 7 forts and mountain terrain will mean that even the meager amount of troops (280 assault points) there will put up a good fight. Unlikely that I will commit KB since it would take a bit to get there, and it is still somewhat far from friendly ports that can save damaged carriers if we get hit. Fighting in Kuriles would be much better than the Aleutians.

[center]
Enemy fleet spotted[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

June 24th, 1943
At Chungking our planes attacked and destroyed an SB-2c on the ground.

At Burma, the enemy hit Akyab.

North Pacific:
In the night, the AK Si Kiang struck one of our recently laid Type 88 submarine mines at Umnak.

When the sun came up, a large attack on Adak was launched destroying Jakes and Judy's on the ground. The airfield took some damage but still operates. (19/27) Given the proximity of a potentially large fleet, and the fact that enemy fighters can sweep here, our planes will start evacuating from Adak.
[center]

Attack on Adak[/center]

Then Liberators hit Attu but our fighters were there to extract some payment. Various planes were lost on the ground, and the airfield is non-operational (62/58). Our fighters will move to Kiska where the airfield is still in good shape.

[center]

Attu fights back a bit[/center]

Overall for the day we lost 21 planes on the ground. We did take down 11 Liberators at Attu though which is good. The Allies are taking a lot of ops losses at the moment, probably because they are flying missions in thunderstorm weather in the NoPac.

[FeurerKrieg]

June 25th, 1943
Our attack on Chungking took out another SB-2c today.

The US hit Adak Island from the air as their fleets moved farther north. Damage was moderate and 2 Jakes and 2 Alf floatplanes were destroyed.

Half way back to Sendai, PG Chokai Maru and AK Nankai Maru #2 both sunk.

[center]
Enemy air attack as their fleet approaches[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

June 26th, 1943
Our attack on Chungking hit no aircraft on the ground today.

Enemy medium bombers hit Adak, but destroyed none of the few floatplanes and recon planes remaining there. Most of the planes there have been pulled back to Attu or the Kuriles.

Enemy carrier aircraft flew a sweep over Kiska, meeting no resistance. Afterward, approximately 110 enemy heavy bombers, in two waves, hit the island destroying 7 Jakes, 4 Judys and 1 Mary. Although the base is still functioning, I think we will evacuate it as well. Attu has a sizable force there, and that is probably where the enemy will hit next.

[center]
Enemy carrier presence is confirmed[/center]

The airfield at Tarakan was finished today. (sz 4)

[FeurerKrieg]

June 27th, 1943
In the nighttime, the island of Adak was blasted by 5 enemy battleships. The airfield was completely wrecked and all bu t2 of the remaining planes there were destroyed (1 Alf and 5 Dinah IIIs). I-123 spent a dangerous night, dodging two ASW patrols and taking some light damage in order to reach Adak and retrieve some members of the IJN Base Force present.When the sun rose, both carrier aircraft and land based air units attack the island, causing further destruction. As of yet, no landing, but it would seem Adak is to be the target.

Kiska was not ignored, as 50 B-24D Liberators bombed the airfield there. Attu was spared, and the airfield there remains operational.

Akyab in Burma was bombed, as it has been for the last few days.

The airfield at Weda in the DEI expanded today also. (sz 3)

[center]
Enemy planes hit Adak[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

June 28th, 1943
Aside from some attacks against Akyab, and Sendai airfield expanding (sz 8), all the action was in the North Pacific today.

Adak
In the evening, 5 battleships and some cruisers shelled the island, keeping the coastal guns quiet while a small number of enemy troops began to come ashore. Recon indicated the unit is the 150th US RCT. During the day, approximately 50 medium bombers attacked our troop positions inflicted some casualties.

Kiska
Two groups of enemy ships shelled this island. First was a group centered around 3 Battleships, and then a group with 5 battleships. One Judy dive bomber was destroyed and the airfield is definitely closed. Given the bombardments, it is likely enemy troops are heading to this island also. I wonder if the US has so many units it can take all three islands at once? Perhaps the enemy will get bogged down long enough for the KB to attack the fatigued enemy, for now the KB will stay put and see how this develops.

Attu
In the morning, a few dozen F4F-4 Wildcats flew a sweep mission over the island. Our Tojos and Tonys put up a fight, taking down 5 of the enemy carrier fighters while losing 12 of their own number. Later in the day, a large strike came in and again our fighters attempt to defend. Massively outnumbered, they managed to take out 4 Wildcats, 5 SBD-5 and 1 SBD-3. The base was hit pretty hard and 39 assorted planes were destroyed on the ground. The airfield is closed as well, and given the proximity of enemy battleships and bombers, it is unlikely to reopen anytime soon. The planes that can still fly are loading up as much as possible from each flight unit and heading out to the Kuriles.
[center]

Large carrier attack on Attu[/center]

[Alikchi2]

Oh my - that IS a lot of combat power. But diffused over three different targets.

[thegreatwent]

Hopefully the planes in the Attus were able to bundle up some extra pilots as they bug out.

[FeurerKrieg]

Indeed they did - five pilots riding on each wing. [:D]

[FeurerKrieg]

June 29th, 1943
Akyab is attacked, but the real action continues in the Northern Pacific.

Attu
3 Battleships bombard this island, finishing off any hope of the airfield opening soon.

Kiska
5 Battleships pound this place and afterward enemy troops begin to unload on the rocky beaches. Our shell shocked gunners offer little resistance to the landings.

Adak
Like Kiska, this island is pounded by 5 battleships and enemy troops continue to unload.

Atka
This unoccupied island is landed on by some Sea Bees who probably plan to turn it into an airfield.

Amchitka
Although only help by a token SNLF force (that has already been partially evacuated by Emily flying boats), they managed to inflict some casaulties on the light enemy forces unloading here. Give the lack of any major mountain terrain on this island, our troops will likely not be able to resist the enemy long.

For tomorrow:
A highly experienced group of ships with hand picked leaders has managed to reach a position off Attu and will attempt to move in at night and put some torpedoes into the enemy battleships pounding Attu. It is just 1 CL and 5 DDs but a torpedo is still a torpedo. Unfortunately, the task force was spotted by enemy floatplanes today, so it is possible that the enemy carriers will guess our intention and move to attack us on our return trip to the Kuriles.

[center]
Attack plans for tomorrow[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

Sorry for the slow updates gang - Close Combat - The Longest Day has been eating up my evening AAR time.

June 30th, 1943
June comes to a close with the Allied attack on the Aleutians in full swing.

At Adak, thousands of enemy troops disembarked from landing craft under the cover of 5 Battleships. The big ships were firing smaller caliber ammo, but it forced our men to keep their heads down regardless. We still got a few hits on some enemy ships and many enemy troops were wounded or killed in the landings. During the day, three waves of enemy planes from Umnak and Dutch Harbor pounded our troops positions on the mountains of Adak. A total of 57 two engined bombers and 52 four engined bombers attacked.

Farther west at Kiska, enemy troops began unloading there as well, although not in the same numbers as at Adak. More are probably on the way. Five battleships covered the landings there also. 74 four engined bombers added to the suppression effort when the sun came up.

Landings continued at Amchitka and there are now two RCT units present versus our SNLF unit. Our troops will likely be wiped out tomorrow, as the terrain provides little cover (clear) and their are no fortifications present.

The 79th Sea Bees group captured an unoccupied Atka island.

[center]
Enemy token forces secures an island[/center]

Our cruiser force visited Attu, but the enemy ships had fled. Not a bad result - 1 light cruiser and 4 destroyed chasing away several enemy battleships and heavy cruisers. The troops at Attu were thankful for sure. The cruiser led TF then ran to the Kuriles at full speed and ended up about 60 miles out of range of the enemy carrier bombers. During their run, the SS Haddock was detected and hit with two depth charges, although a sinking was not confirmed. The TF will head back to Paramushiro Jima, restock and refuel and await another opportunity.

[center]
Enemy sub is hit[/center]

Light air attacks hit Akyab also.

[FeurerKrieg]

A quiet month before the campaign in the Aleutians really gets rolling.

Although we still have control of the islands, the enemy is beginning to land so next months map may lose some red in the northeastern corner...

[center]













[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

July 1st, 1943
The assault up north continues.

Adak, Kiska and Attu all suffer through bombardments from enemy battleships. Landings also continue at those three plus Amchitka. Although most of the islands fire back little due to enemy suppression fire, the guns at Attu manage to get some minor hits in and damage 2 PCs, 1 MSW and 1 LST.

An air attack of 38 medium bombers hits Adak island, but bad weather in the area keeps most airplanes from flying. I-123 is hit by a Kingfisher floatplane near Attu and I-28 is hit by destroyers while attempting to evacuate troops from Adak. I-28 is in rough shape, but I-123 should be able to make it.

Enemy troops continue to bombard, but no major pushes are made against our troops yet. If the bad weather continues our troops will benefit as the enemy planes won't be able to pound our positions.


[center]
Situation in the Aleutians[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

July 2nd, 1943
A busy day!

Our Nells and Lilys hit Chungking as the weather cleared somewhat to Overcast. Usually when the weather clears our friends pay a visit in Burma and this time was no different.

Two strikes hit Meiktila today, but the weather favored us by raining out the airbases at Imphal and Kohima, so the only fighter escorts for the first strike were 20 Beaufighters. The second strike had no fighter escort at all! So our fighters did well to say the least, details below. The P-47Cs flew a sweep in the afternoon but by then the airbase was closed (63/86).

Strike 1:
7 Beaufighter VIF, 12 B-26B Marauder, 29 B-25G/H Mitchell, 58 Liberator III escorted by 20 Beaufighters VIC
vs
4 Nick 'b', 15 A6M3 Zero, 50 J2M Jack and 46 Ki-61 Tony.

[center]
First strike against Meiktila[/center]

Strike 2:
12 B-17D, 40 B-17E, and 87 B-24D
vs
2 Nick-b, 7 A6M3, 24 Jack and 22 Tony

Also in the afternoon, at Mandalay 21 Hurricanes and 16 Spitfire flew a sweep mission and met 10 Tony fighters. Our fighters did well, taking down 4 Spitfires for the loss of only 1 Tony.

[center]
We can still do well against the RAF[/center]

Air to Air Losses in Burma today were:
Allies
24 Liberator III
21 B-25G/H Mitchell
20 B-24D Liberator
16 Beaufighter VIC
11 B-26B Marauder
9 B-17E Fortress
4 Spitfire Vb
2 Beaufighter VIF
Total: 117

Japan
6 Ki-61-1b Tony
4 J2M Jack
2 A6M3 Zero
Total: 12

Probably our best day against enemy bombers yet! We did also lose 35 fighters on the ground - across the war air losses were 114 Allied to 52 Japan - still a great day for us.

All the fighting today pushed a new pilot to the top of the leader board. Warrant Officer J Hirusawa, with 111 missions flown now holds the record of 14 kills and he is currently flying a Jack.

Back to the Aleutians!
All four islands again saw troops landing today. The three biggies - Attu, Adak and Kiska all were shelled by battleships again. At Adak and AK and PC were both hit by our CD guns. 69 heavy bombers pounded our unit at Amchitka which was then promptly overrun by enemy forces. The unit is now rebuilding on OJ. Still no major attack on the other islands.

[center]
Our SNFL is wiped out in glorious battle[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

July 3rd, 1943
In Burma, 32 B-17's paid a follow up visit to Meiktile, but our planes had all left to other bases while the airfield gets fixed up.

At Mandalay, 8 Spitfires flew a sweep against 2 Jack and 12 Tonys. We shot down 3 Spitfires and lost none of our planes.

A transport in the convoy carrying an Infantry Division to Onnekotan Jima was hit by SS Blackfish. It was a big transport liner, so it is unlikely to sink and it will be safely in port tomorrow. We have a lot of DBs on ASW in the area, as well as a couple active anti-sub groups sailing around.

[center]
Enemy sub scores a hit [/center]

Kiska, Adak and Attu all were bombarded. Adak and Kiska saw continued landings. A SeeBee Engineer unit was dropped off on Ogliuga island, which is unoccupied and will likely be secured by tomorrow.

Six enemy RCT's at Attu tried to push off the beachhead and were soundly repulsed by our infantry dug into the mountain island.

[center]
Enemy is held at bay[/center]

Given the ease with which our troops at Attu repulsed the enemy, the KB is going to organize and sail to Eniwetok for a slow sail north. Several cruisers and destroyers were just upgraded and are at Japan, they may need to sail soon and rendezvous with the fleet in the middle of the Pacific.

Since there are stronger enemy forces at both Kiska and Adak, we will see how the enemy does at those island before send the farther north than Eniwetok. If they defend well, then the enemy carriers will need to stay on station and some opputunities might present themselves given the distance from Attu to Adak.

[FeurerKrieg]

July 4th, 1943
All the action is up north today.

Attu is merely bombarded by 3 battleships - all small caliber shells. No additional enemy troops land there.

At Adak, 5 battleships shell the place and the enemy troops charge our positions. They do manage to gain some ground, but we inflict heavy casualties on them, in the range of 4.5 to 1, and many enemy guns and tanks are damaged or destroyed. (1:1, forts 7 -> 6)

At Kiska, 5 more battleships shell the island at night. During the day, 122 SBD-3 carrier dive bombers hit our positions. The enemy troop here also launch a shock attack, but even with all the naval and air power against our troops, the enemy only makes minor gains and takes casualties of about 3:1. (1:1, forts 7 -> 6) Also at Kiska, I-28 is hit by a Kingfisher floatplane. The sub is hurting quite a bit now.

[center]
Enemy carrier planes hit Kiska[/center]

[center]
Ground fighting on the islands[/center]

The SeaBees at Ogliuga finish securing the island, giving the Americans another place to work their engineering miracles.

The battles at Adak and Kiska are encouraging. Even with all the supporting firepower it might be possible for our troops to last for several more days - enough to to possible get the KB into position and more importantly, more time to prepare the Kuriles for the possibility of assault.

[bigbaba]

congratulation for the great defensive succes over burma. i am realy a fan of your "north burma air force", krieg.[:D]

this guys are still doing very well against the best of allied aviation (spitfires, P-47, 4mot. bombers).