A most interesting turn!
We harass Perth, sinking a dozen enemy ships and bomarding the city and airfields.
In the Central Pacific a picket destroyer and patrol boat is sunk by enemy CAG.
The Mini KB is pulling away though and reinforcement Zero's landed on the Junyo.
We now got something like 50 fighers on the 2 remaining carriers.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 13, 42
Surface Combat
A prolonged engagement between crack British and Jap combatants.
Our superior force sends the enemy fleeing after sinking a large destroyer and putting 2 others on fire.
This was the Perth guard force; removing it opened the way to the other ships in port and for our bombardment group!
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Atago
CL Naka
CL Natori, Shell hits 2
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Mikazuki
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Stuart, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Express
DD Norman, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Paladin, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 3% moonlight: 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 9,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CA Atago launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Norman at 9,000 yards
CA Takao launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Norman at 9,000 yards
CL Natori launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Norman at 9,000 yards
CL Naka launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Norman at 9,000 yards
DD Uzuki launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Norman at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Paladin at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
CL Natori engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Paladin at 2,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
CL Natori engages DD Norman at 2,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Stuart at 2,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Mochizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 2,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Paladin at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Paladin at 5,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages CL Natori at 5,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
DD Paladin sunk by DD Mochizuki at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 5,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Yayoi at 8,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Stuart at 8,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Express at 8,000 yards
Harrington U. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yayoi at 9,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Express at 11,000 yards
CL Natori engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yayoi at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Mochizuki at 11,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Uzuki at 10,000 yards
CL Natori engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Mochizuki at 10,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 9,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Express at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yayoi at 9,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Norman at 9,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Norman at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Norman at 12,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Norman at 12,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Mikazuki at 12,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Norman at 12,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Uzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Express at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 pesky PT boats put a torp into the Atago. They're sunk and the cruiser returns to base with
some 24 sys and some float damage. Nothing critical.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago, Torpedo hits 1
CL Naka
CL Natori
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Mochizuki
Allied Ships
PT-43, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-45, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
PT-45 sunk by DD Mochizuki at 2,000 yards
PT-43 engages CA Atago at 2,000 yards
PT-43 sunk by DD Yayoi at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A nice prize; 6 merchantmen sent to the bottom!
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CL Naka
CL Natori
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
Allied Ships
xAK Egra, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAK El Madina, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Jalabala, Shell hits 38, and is sunk
xAK Jalaputra, Shell hits 37, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Jalarashmi, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Jalavihar, Shell hits 56, and is sunk
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bombardment group nails a DE and a tanker!
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Furutaka
CL Isuzu
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
Allied Ships
TK Ferncastle, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE Jumna, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continued engagements to finish of the fleeing destroyers and the Express is sunk while the Stuar is finished by a sub.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CL Naka
CL Natori
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
Allied Ships
DD Express, Shell hits 2, on fire
Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CL Naka
CL Natori
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
Allied Ships
DD Express, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 49,147, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CL Naka
CL Natori
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
Allied Ships
DD Express, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bombardments
Then the heavy goes in and bombards Perth. Results were ok, not great but we close the place and destroy
25 ac on the ground, including 5 new recon P-38's.
2 battleships engage Freemantle Fort and are met by a hailstorm of buck shot!
The Hyuga takes 102 hits and suffers 22 sys damage. All fires out at daybreak.
Naval bombardment of Perth at 49,147 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 4 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
F-4 Lightning: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 2 destroyed on ground
354 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 102, heavy fires
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso, Shell hits 7
BB Haruna
CA Furutaka
CL Isuzu
Allied ground losses:
443 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 24 (4 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Airbase hits 45
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 245
BB Hyuga firing at Freemantle Fortress
BB Yamashiro firing at Perth
BB Fuso firing at Freemantle Fortress
BB Haruna firing at Perth
CA Furutaka firing at Perth
CL Isuzu firing at Perth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub Attacks
A sub finish of the Stuart, adding to the tally!
Sub attack near Perth at 49,147
Japanese Ships
SS I-19
Allied Ships
DD Stuart, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Express
SS I-19 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Stuart
I-19 bottoming out ....
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Combat
We sweep and attack shipping at Akyab. Very good performance by the Oscars today.
13-2 in A2A losses!
Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet
CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
AVG/2nd Sqn with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 8
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
PG Moresby, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Allied air power from Perth and north so we continue to harass the Allied troops now retreating south.
Morning Air attack on 255th Armoured Brigade, at 49,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 damaged
Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 255th Armoured Brigade, at 49,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enemy carriers are still moving south by east; now ESE of Christmas Island.
Our pickets were sunk; the destroyer had been dispatched on a direct RTB as it was low on fuel.
The ships that went further south got away cleanly.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Eiao at 194,146
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Nenohi, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Nenohi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island at 188,140
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
PB Santos Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 5
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AM Toowoomba, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Combat
Continue to clean up....
Ground combat at 77,57
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 17682 troops, 142 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 613
Defending force 6078 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 201
Japanese adjusted assault: 460
Allied adjusted defense: 187
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2266 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 93 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Units retreated 2
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
104th Division
Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battle Collage
Todays tally:
Air: 36 Allied - 6 Jap ac
Sea:
1 Jap destroyer and 1 patrol boat.
Allies: 3 destroyers, 1 DE, 1 PG, 1 AM, 1 TK, 6 AK, 2 PT boats.
1 Jap cruiser and 1 battleship moderately damaged by CD fire and a torpedo strike.
