Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: Zhukov43

Have never played WITP but read a few AAR's because they are so good like reading a war diary. I just spent about 2 and half weeks reading the 29 pages of Admiral Laurent's AAR and I am now sitting here stunned to find that it has ended without a conclusion. I feel like somebody kicked my dog! Does anyone now if there is any chance that Laurent will give a final synapsis of this game? Admiral Laurent if you see this thank you for the first 29 pages of this AAR it has been amazing, what a story!

Cheers,
Zhukov43

The good news is that their game is actually still going on (albeit slwer) - unfortunately AdmiralLaurent lacks time for AAR now... this is all according to what his worthy opponent in this AAR (Pompack) wrote in one other thread...


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

Well, hi all...

As said above, I have been suffering from a great lack of time, and so this AAR and our PBEM game have been set on the side for months...

But now I have both the intention and the time to restart both of them. The game itself is now on the 20th December 1943, that is two months latter than the AAR. But the good news is that I never stopped taking notes and so the AAR may continue with the same level of details than before. What is lacking in my notes is the sum-up of what happens in the turn, but all my orders and impressions are available...

So here the AAR starts again. My objective is to do 3-4 turns per week, and to post one day of AAR daily to catch up.

[AmiralLaurent]

A point on the situation :

The Japanese Empire had entered the war on 7th Dec 1941 and had been on the winning side for the 16 following months. The main strategic idea of this plan was to take Pearl Harbor in a powerful attack with maximum naval support and that was done from December 1941 to March 1942, with a first carrier battle that occurred near Christmas Island in February and saw a Japanese victory. Once the Hawaii Islands were secured, the Japanese forces continued south-westerly across the Pacific, taking island after island in a succession of not always easy battles… The plan was to bypass heavily defended New Caledonia and to take New Zealand in fall 1942.

The occupation of the Southern Ressource Area was delayed by this strategy but was nevertheless done in 6 months, the last operations planned in this area (capture of Akyab in Burma, reduction of the surrounded Allied troops in Manila, capture of the islands north of Darwin and occupation of Rabaul and the Solomons) taking place in the summer.

The first major diversion of the plan was when the united Allied navies tried a counter-landing on Hawaii Islands in July-August 1942. The Allied fleet was defeated by the KB and Japanese LBA in the second carrier battle of the war and fled to the west coast, suffering heavy losses. The Allied troops that had retaken Hilo were then crushed by troops brought back from Fiji.

With its western flank secure, the Japanese Navy after a pause resumed the plan, took New Zealand in a massive assault, and then raided SE Australia in January 1943 with the KB. The outcome of this battle was not as good as planned, and was the clear sign that Japanese offensive will soon be over. The IJN then decided to use the powerful KB and the mass of troops available in the Southern Pacific to take new Caledonia, Efate and Luganville. After a difficult battle it was done at the start of April 1943.

The KB and most of the Japanese Navy then sailed to Japan for weel-earned R&R while Japanese troops were shipped to defensive positions all over the Empire. All areas of the Empire adopted a defensive stance that had been in place in Burma or north of Australia for almost a year now.

The doctrine in these areas was to keep a main base out of range of enemy fighters (Rangoon in Burma, Kendari in the DEI) and well defended by Japanese fighters. In both cases, Allied heavy bombers were unable to reduce these bases and eventually left then unhurt. On the other hand most of the Japanese bases in these areas were not defended by fighters. But the Japanese commanders were keeping an eye on Allied activities and were always ready to exploit Allied weaknesses by launching air raids or setting air ambushes above usually undefended bases.

By the way China has not been evocated so far. Japanese forces had slowly gained ground there. Each Japanese offensive was well prepared by a concentration of forces and Chinese cities fell one after the other. Today, in October 1943, the Chinese government only held 4 cities: Chungking, Chengtu, Yunan and Kunming that had already repulsed a Japanese attack.

Outside China spring 1943 went by with Japanese forces preparing to defend against Allied offensives and wondering where they will strike. The first moves were done in North Burma with tens of Allied units moving south along jungle trails from Kohima and Ledo. The Japanese Command was still waiting, wondering if this was a diversion or not.

At this time Allied forces based in Australia also began to advance. Japanese strength in the attacked area was very weak and the Allied troops took a number of undefended locations with very few opposition from the air or the sea. As more and more ships, aircraft and troops were sent to the two critical fronts of the Empire (more below), SWPAC’s limited forces had been able to occupy Kai Island north of Darwin and the whole Papua area of New Guinea, their northernmost bases being Madang and the Admiralty Islands by October 1943.

The summer 1943 crisis began in July 1943 when a massive Allied fleet was seen sailing for the Kuriles. The Japanese positions were not as strong as it could have been, as a Division planned to go to Paramushiro Jima (PJ), the main Japanese base, had been sent as reinforcement to… Burma, but were strong enough to resist to the invasion. And the Kido Butai was close to the attacked area and in full strength with fully-repaired and upgraded ships and fully-manned and experienced air units. And so started three months and a half of hard land, sea and air battles… Carrier fleets of both sides clashed three times while huge surface battles took places in the icy seas around the besieged base… Each time the Allied fleet was defeated and lost some carriers and many other ships, retreated to the Aleutians… allowing Japanese transports to bring badly needed reinforcements and supplies to PJ enabling to stop the Allied attacks. And then the exhausted Japanese combat fleet sailed to its base to refuel, replace damaged or sunk warships and rebuild its decimated air units… allowing the Allied fleet to come back with new carriers, new warships and more ground units to be landed and so the cycle restarted… At this rate Japanese assets were lost far faster than they could be replaced, even if almost all major warships based in other parts of the Empire were one after the other sent there. No Japanese carrier was sunk in these battles but several were damaged, their air groups lost hundreds of experienced airmen and tens of destroyers went down, with a BB and several cruisers. The Kuriles were a meat grinder for both sides.

After each battle the Japanese Command thought the situation was stabilized and at one time during the summer the main source of concern shifted from Northern Pacific to Burma…. The Allied advance here was definitely not a diversion. A big Army attacked directly Myitkyina while a smaller line cut the railway line to Mandalay 120 miles more west (at a point near the IRL city of Katha, and so called like that in this AAR). The Japanese Army plan a massive counter-offensive to repulse this Army and then even made plans to pursue it to India and cut the Army besieging Myitkyina. After a hot debate, it was authorized to send to Burma troops that were supposed to garrison important places in the DEI, New Guinea and the Pacific. But when the offensive was launched Allied forces had had the time to build strong field fortifications and the offensive was a bloody failure. Myitkyina had no more supply line and was living on its (hopefully huge at the start of the battle) local stock. Japanese units were also sometimes able to go back to Central Burma for R&R and receiving supplies, and the battle here is still raging. The city still holds despite the almost total Allied air superiority over this area of Burma.

And then the main focus came back to the Kuriles. The last Allied fleet dropped on PJ more troops than the Japanese HQ thought it could, and more important it landed troops on the island west of PJ, Onnekotan Jima (called thereafter OJ). This island was undefended… as the troops scheduled to defend it had been shipped instead to Burma… Despite Japanese bombardments, the Allied engineers managed to open an airfield there and very soon tens of Corsairs were based there and decimating Japanese airmen…

At this stage, the danger of losing the Kuriles bases and so to see very soon Sakhalin and the north of Japan bombed and invaded. But the Japanese HQ decided to throw all available forces against the island in one last battle. And so began the most important week of the war… from 8th to 16th October, 1943. It began with a disaster for the Japanese surface fleet with three battleships sunk among many cruisers and destroyers on 8th and 9th, continued with OJ-based Corsairs shooting down hundred of Japanese aircraft in one day but then 200 Japanese transport ships arrived off OJ and unloaded 4 divisions that stormed the Allied base in two days, before the Allied fleet might react

And so this AAR restarted there… right after the Japanese victory of Onnekotan Jima… victory given at the cost of horrible losses in the Japanese Navy and in the air units of the area… Both sides are exhausted again in this area… In Burma there is also a bloody “status-quo”, Japanese units in Myitkyina still holding despite the losses, the waning supplies and the constant pounding by Allied airmen… In the South Allied forces will very soon have to bypass or assault places really held by the Japanese… In China Japanese forces are consolidating the last conquests… And in the Pacific all is still quiet but more and more Japanese troops are moved out of their paradisiacal garrisons… At home the industry is still going well… Allied submarines so far have been fairly unsuccessful against interior shipping lanes of the Empire, as the Japanese convoy system was able to counter them efficiently…

[AmiralLaurent]

17 October 1943

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Flasher chased on the surface the scattered Japanese transports off PJ with success. She sank the AK Tsukubasan Maru with 2 torpedoes and some shells, and heavily damaged the AK Teikin Maru with one torpedo and 4 shells. The SS USS Tambor chased at the same time barges off Kemoi Jima but was unable to close.

Three B-24J from Kiska bombed PJ airfield and scored 4 hits on the runways, doing 25 casualties.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 21 men, Japanese ones 97 men and 1 gun. Allied troops on the island numbered 229 851 men (-5625 in two days), 2112 guns (-209 in two days) and 531 vehicles (-15 in two days) for 3983 AV (-488 in two days) against 94 475 men (-3154 in two days), 652 guns (-114 in two days) and 5 tankettes (-1 in two days) for 1694 AV (-88 in two days).

The evening report of PJ showed no more damage and fortification of level 4, 28% (+1%), 425 engineers (+1), and 25 274 supplies (+3509, 5 AK unloaded today). At the end of the day PJ had 14 aircraft, all available. The small AK Teikin Maru was scuttled in the port in the evening. All transport aircraft based in Toyohara will restart tomorrow to carry the remaining elements of the 21st Div to this base.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 1, 2% (+76%)). It had 22 098 supplies (+769, again probably coming from PJ).

Two Japanese submarines patrolling E of the Kuriles were ordered to sail east to chase a reported damaged AK and will try to achieve her 300 miles west of Attu.

Two more damaged DD reached Shikka and were disbanded here. The BB Kongo was now at 120 miles from this port, had FLT 66 (+6) and was considered as safe (no Allied submarine had ever been seen so close of Shikka).

The KB refuelled and received replacement aircraft at Shikka but also unloaded 5 units having no more AC or crew that will be rebuilt as training units. A sixth unit reduced to 4 Judy, another reduced to 5 Val were also unloaded and ordered to train newbies. Also two training fighter units embarked for the battle updated to A6M5 when arriving in port and were unloaded. The KB had so only 221 fighters, 106 dive bombers and 61 torpedo bombers aboard in the evening…

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

In the afternoon 9 B-25C from Kiriwima and 16 B-24D, 7 B-17E and 3 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 10 casualties, and scored 4 hits on the base, 1 on supplies and 28 on the runways, while 12 B-25C from Madang escorted by 5 Kittyhawk I attacked Wewak and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 13 on the runways.

During the day Kiriwima sent 20 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 3 B-25J against barges off Kavieng: two were sunk and another heavily damaged.

Three Allied MSW swept the last Japanese mines off Admiralty Islands while a PT TF arrived off the base to cover it. The damaged AK Gran, hit two days ago by Betty, sank off the base in the evening.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/82/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 1047 supplies (-79) for 4648 (-9) required, Kavieng had still no damage and was building fortifications (6, 68%, +4%) and Wewak had no more damage but still zero remaining supplies.

Truk-based Dinah will start to fly recon over Admiralty Islands to check the CAP.

Nine Tabby based in Palau will start tomorrow to pick up one of the two IJA BF in Wewak.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Goodenough Island to size 4.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 3% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 65/16/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/0/0, Lautem 77/44/38, other bases undamaged.

A convoy bringing two Const Bn from Southern Pacific refuelled in Palau and will carry them to Morotai.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 752 sorties today, all in Myitkyina area: 43 B-25J and 50 escorts from Ledo, Imphal, Jorhat and Kohima on the airfield (126 casualties, 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 53 on the runways), 299 fighter-bombers, 263 bombers and 97 escorts from Imphal, Jorhat, Ledo, Kohima, Dimapur and Dacca against 3 divisions of the garrison (464 men and 6 guns hit). Two Liberator VI, a P-40N, a B-25C, a B-25J, a P-47C and a Beaufighter VIC were lost in accidents.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 84 men and 2 guns at Myitkyina (where 2064 Japanese AV (-21) faced 3153 Allied (+25)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (128 Allied men hit), where 1086 Japanese AV (+3) faced 2006 Allied (+190). The Chinese unit that held the mountain SE of Imphal marched to Katha. A Japanese Garrison Unit in the jungle SW of these mountains and W of Katha was ordered to march there to surround Allied troops in Katha.

The evening report showed damage of 95/89 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were still zero supplies for needs of 11 441 (+226). Lashio was damaged at 21/0 (airbase/runway), other bases were undamaged.

Two Thora Chutai arrived in Bangkok and will be used to pick up a Const Bn in Akyab and bring it back to Rangoon.

China

19 Ki-21 from Hanoi bombed Yunan airfield and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways.

140 training and 42 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 36 men for no loss.

Bombers will be grounded tomorrow to be ready to move to Burma. But tomorrow Oscar will chase Allied transport over Yunan (a Chutai from Kweiyang) and Chengtu (a Sentai from Lanchow).

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Well, hi all...

As said above, I have been suffering from a great lack of time, and so this AAR and our PBEM game have been set on the side for months...

But now I have both the intention and the time to restart both of them. The game itself is now on the 20th December 1943, that is two months latter than the AAR. But the good news is that I never stopped taking notes and so the AAR may continue with the same level of details than before. What is lacking in my notes is the sum-up of what happens in the turn, but all my orders and impressions are available...

So here the AAR starts again. My objective is to do 3-4 turns per week, and to post one day of AAR daily to catch up.

Welcome back!!! [:)]


Leo "Apollo11"

[jumper]

It is great to see this AAR continue!

[FeurerKrieg]

Excellent - the Admiral is back!! SOO glad to see this AAR continue. I've picked up several good defensive ideas from this game.

[khyberbill]

I agree that this AAR is a gem, and instructive to both an empire of the sun player and an allied player. I cant wait for the next installment.

[AmiralLaurent]

18 October 1943

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Bonefish attacked a Japanese ASW groups 120 miles west of OJ, set on fire the DD Hatsuharu with one torpedo and escaped before the other ships reacted. On the other side of the Kuriles, the Japanese submarine I-178 sank the damaged AK Allegan with 3 torpedoes 240 miles east of PJ.

During the day, patrolling Allied bombers hit two of the AK unloading off PJ. In the afternoon, two B-24J from Kiska bombed PJ airfield and scored 2 hits on the runways, doing 11 casualties.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 11 men, Japanese ones 167 men and 6 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 230 980 men (+1129), 2145 guns (+33) and 533 vehicles (+2) for 4056 AV (+73) against 96 149 men (+1674), 683 guns (+31) and 7 tankettes (+2) for 1756 AV (+62).

The evening report of PJ showed no more damage and fortification of level 4, 41% (+13%), 425 engineers, and 28 109 supplies (+2835). At the end of the day PJ had 13 aircraft, all available. One of the four AK off the island will continue to unload. The damaged DD Kishinami (SYS 96, FLT 55) left the port and will try to reach Shikka. In PJ, as both other DD here, her situation was slowly worsening rather than increasing.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 1, 51% (+49%)). It had 21 623 supplies (-475).

The torpedoed DD Hatsuhara will return to Shikka tomorrow and reported damage of 63/42/22. The remaining DD of her ASW TF will sail SW of Ketoi Jima from where they will be able to sail at full speed and engage a SC TF seen today chasing Japanese submarines 240 miles ESE of PJ.

The BB Kongo reached Shikka with damaged 80/67 and was docked there… One week ago she was given up as lost when she was heavily damaged off PJ… 13 damaged ships (8 AP and 5 PC/PG) also reached Shikka but none had FLT damage and they were sent back immediately and will sail south to Shanghai for repairs.

It was now time to rebuild the air units decimated in the last weeks. Four units (3 of Kate and 1 of Judy) annihilated in the last battle and a Val unit reduced to 6 crews were flown to Mukden or Mutanchiang in Manchoukuo and rebuilt with rookie pilots. A Chutai of A6M3a was also flown to Tokyo to be rebuilt but its last pilot crashed on the way… Also degraded to training status were a Judy unit (3 crew for 24 allowed), a Tony Sentai (5 pilots for 36) and a Tony Chutai (1 for 12). Both last units disbanded before all fragments into 68 Sentai, bringing it back to 31 experienced pilots (for a maximum size of 36).

Japanese intelligence confirmed today that the destroyer USS Smith, heavily damaged in the surface battles off PJ on the 8th, was scuttled by her crew.

Southern Pacific

The three ML coming from Noumea arrived in Kwajalein (via Tarawa) and joined the ML squadron based here. They received mines from the local MLE and sailed to lay them off Jaluit. Their arrival brought the number of ML based here to twelve, that were used to lay mines off all islands in the area.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

In the afternoon 11 B-25C from Kiriwima and 16 B-24D, 7 B-17E and 5 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 20 casualties, and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 29 on the runways, while 14 B-25C from Madang escorted by 7 Kittyhawk I and 36 B-25J from Lae attacked Wewak, did 30 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 8 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 28 on the runways. A B-25C was shot down by AA fire over Rabaul.

A barge damaged yesterday off Kavieng sank there, another was sunk E of Emirau Island by 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kiriwima.

Japanese recon reported that 10 P-38G were flying LRCAP over Admiralty Islands during the day.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/80/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 977 supplies (-70) for 4640 (-8) required, Kavieng had still no damage and was building fortifications (6, 73%, +5%) and Wewak had damage 12/0/0 and 31 supplies (+31).

Tomorrow a Ki-21 Sentai from Truk will raid Admiralty Island port to slow the building of the airfield here. It will be escorted by 50% of the Zero and Oscar based here that should decimate the P-38G flying LRCAP here.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 14 B-25C from Derby that did 11 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 12 on the runways.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 8% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 63/0/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 57/0/0, Lautem 77/37/38, other bases undamaged.

SRA

A patrolling Ki-48 bombed and hit the submarine USS Grampus west of Batan Island, between Luzon and Formosa.

Burma

Due to bad weather, allied airmen only flew 105 sorties today, all in Myitkyina area: 40 B-25J and 59 escorting P-40N from Ledo and Imphal attacked the airfield (57 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 29 on the runways), and 6 P-40N flew LRCAP over the battlefield.

Despite the lack of air support Allied troops attacked again in Myitkyina and breached one of the Japanese defensive lines (3182 (+ 29) AV vs 1524, adjusted to 2860 vs 1703, fortifications level 5 reduced to 4). Allied losses (3906 men, 148 guns and 17 vehicles, 18 troop points) were again higher than the Japanese (1737 men, 40 guns, 4 vehicles, 3 troop points) but this renewed Alleid success was the worst piece of news of the day.
More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (90 Allied men and a gun hit), where 1083 Japanese AV (-3) faced 2006 Allied (+0).

The evening report showed damage of 98/94 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were still zero supplies for needs of 13 967 (+2526). Lashio was damaged at 12/0 (airbase/runway), other bases were undamaged.

A Chinese Corps advanced from the hex SE of Myitkyina to the mountain SW of the city. This advance blocked the Japanese 28th Army going the other way but had a very good side effect: Japanese units ordered to get out of Myitkyina were again marching west, so taking the railway, rather than going SW through mountain without trail or road. So this Corps should be kept here. The 28th Army will attempt to open a supply path to Myitkyina but by another way… The 23rd Bde will remain in the mountain to pin down the Chinese Corps, while the rest of the 28th Army (HQ, 3rd Tk Div, two Tk Rgt) will march south to Lashio and then advance eastwards. By the way a Const Bn was also ordered to march this way to cut the supply trail from Yunan and left Lashio in the evening.

The main units defending Myitkyina will go to Katha one per one to receive supplies.

The following units were ordered to leave Myitkyina westwards: the 17th Div (state 49/86, 0 supplies), the 4th Eng Rgt, a Tk Rgt, two ART units, all three IJA small base forces in the city, the HQ of the 15th Army (that was 100% disabled) and a Const Bn.

From Mandalay the 1st Tk Div, the HQ 17th Army and an AA Bn were ordered to go to Myitkyina. From Katha the 46th Div was ordered to march to Myitkyina.

The Burma Army HQ will move from Lashio to Mandalay.

China

39 training and 10 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 18 men for no loss.

48 Val crews and 25 Kate crews having finished operational training left China for Japan. 53 Val from Maizuru, 48 A6M3a from Osaka, 13 Kate arrived from Mukden and 12 from Japan to start op training.

[AmiralLaurent]

19 October 1943

Northern Pacific

In the afternoon, the submarine RO-66 was attacked and badly damaged (52/83/0) by a patrolling PB4Y 360 miles west of Kiska. She will try to reach PJ for emergency repairs.

In the afternoon, three B-24J from Kiska bombed PJ airfield and scored 2 hits on the airbase and one on a runway, disabling a gun and doing 3 casualties.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 2 men, Japanese ones 219 men and 9 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 232 371 men (+1391), 2177 guns (+32) and 539 vehicles (+6) for 4137 AV (+81) against 97 151 men (+1002), 703 guns (+20) and 7 tankettes (+2) for 1800 AV (+44).

The evening report of PJ showed no more damage and fortification of level 4, 57% (+16%), 425 engineers, and 29 983 supplies (+1874). At the end of the day PJ had 14 aircraft, all available. One of the four AK off the island had finished unloading but will wait for the other before leaving. The damaged DD Kishinami that left the port yesterday sailed 120 miles and now had FLT 60 (+5). Five Allied submarines were seen today off PJ and both other damaged DD in PJ, the Murakumo (damage 98/60/0) and the Amagiri (damage 97/64/0) left tonight and will also try to reach Shikka. They have all a slight chance to reach it, and then the four AR in the size 8 port should save them.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 2, 0% (+49%)). It had 21 174 supplies (-449).

Seven more damaged ships reached Shikka and were docked here. An escort TF made of 10 damaged ships (CVE Kaiyo, 3 CA, 1 CL, 3 DD, 1 AK, 1 PC) having 0 FLT, sailed from this port towards Japan under escort by a DD, 3 PC and 3 MSW.

An AR under escort by four MSW will sail from Toyohara to Etoforu Jima. The ASW TF siling south of Ketoi Jima will also sail there, as no more SC were seen SW of PJ today, and will escort to Japan the damaged ships docked here (among them the CVL Shoho).

In Wakkanai, the two decimated A6M3 Daitai were rebuilt as one front-line unit (with 16 experienced pilots) and one training unit (with two experienced instructors and 25 rookies). Two Oscar II units (a Sentai and a Chutai) transferred in Shikka most of their pilots to another Sentai to rebuild it and then flew to China to be rebuilt with rookie pilots.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

In the morning, 27 Ki-21 from Truk raided Admiralty Islands to slow the building of the Allied base here. An escort was planned but didn’t fly and the bombers were intercepted by 4 P-38G that shot down two of them. A third was lost to AA fire. The raid scored one hit on the port and another on supplies, did 39 casualties and disabled a gun.

In the afternoon 11 B-25C from Kiriwima and 18 B-24D, 7 B-17E and 6 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 11 casualties, and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 33 on the runways, while 20 B-25C from Madang escorted by 4 Kittyhawk I and 39 B-25J from Lae attacked Wewak, did 4 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 48 on the runways.

One of the Emily based in Norfolk Island was shot down by AA fire during a recon flight over Townsville.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/77/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 977 supplies for 4632 (-8) required, Kavieng had still no damage and was building fortifications (6, 78%, +5%) and Wewak had damage 21/0/0 and again no more supplies (-31).

The reason why Ki-21 flew unescorted to Admiralty Islands was that fighters were limited to range 6… Ki-21 will again attack the same target but at night now, while Zero and Oscar will defend Truk. Four Allied units were reported in this base today, the two new ones probably being construction troops brought in by a second wave convoy.

For some days raids to Rabaul were no more escorted probably because Allied fighters were used more north. 32 Ki-61 flew in the evening to Kavieng and will LRCAP Rabaul tomorrow.

An AP carrying a SNLF from Southern Pacific arrived off Satawal, NW of Truk, and started to unload it.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Madang to size 5.

Timor-DEI-Australia

A sweep was flown over Kendari by 98 P-38J from Kai Island. They met no Japanese aircraft but suffered four operational losses.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 13% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 44/0/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/49/0, Lautem 79/31/38, other bases undamaged. A blockade runner reached Koepang without being attacked and unloaded 350 supplies here.

24 transport AC arrived in Balikpapan from Singapore and will start to evacuate base force troops from Kendari in some days.

SRA

The ML squadron based in Kuala Lumpur just laid there more than 10 000 mines and received orders to move to Penang where it will continue to lay mines. It was just realized that this squadron had two MLE to service four ML, while in the Pacific one MLE was servicing 12. So the available escort will escort the ML squadron to Penang and then escort one of the two MLE to the Pacific.

Four transport and four escorts left Balikpapan and will sail to Brunei to pick up here two Const Bn. Balikpapan had no engineers and still no fortifications and will the Allied advance it was urgent to build some there.

Most pilots of 70 Sentai were reallocated in this base to the 29 and 47 Sentai and the 70 Sentai flew to Singapore and was degraded to training unit status.

A blockade runner sailed from Soerabaja to Kendari to load some of the resources stocked here.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 829 sorties today, 799 of them in Myitkyina area: 42 B-25J and 58 escorts from Ledo, Imphal, Jorhat and Kohima on the airfield (47 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 63 on the runways), 309 fighter-bombers, 301 bombers and 89 escorts from Imphal, Jorhat, Ledo, Kohima, Dimapur and Dacca against 3 divisions of the garrison (436 men and 7 guns hit). And 13 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 17 P-40N raided the 46th Div in Katha and hit 25 men. A P-40N, a Lysander I, a P-35A and a Beaufighter Mk 21 were lost in accidents.

During the day a Dinah III was shot down by an Allied fighter during a recon flight over Ceylon.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 96 men and 1 gun at Myitkyina (where 1753 Japanese AV (-311 in two days) faced 2733 Allied (-420 in two days)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (68 Allied men and a gun hit), where 609 Japanese AV (-474) faced 2002 Allied (-4), while SW of Myitkyina 28th Army troops (867 AV) pounded the Chinese unit facing them (296 AV) and hit 6 men.

The evening report showed damage of 100/98 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were still zero supplies for needs of 9 737 (-4230). Lashio was damaged at 3/0 (airbase/runway), other bases were undamaged.

The 17th Div left Myitkyina, and should arrive in Katha tomorrow with the 1st Tk Div coming from Mandalay, so any Allied attack will be rejected. The 46th Div coming from Katha will reach Myitkyina tomorrow with its 2000 supplies.

China

149 training and 40 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 34 men for no loss.

[AmiralLaurent]

20 October 1943

Northern Pacific

Two B-24J from Kiska bombed PJ airfield and scored two hits on the runways. AA fire missed them but shot down a PBM Mariner flying recon over the base.

Japanese airmen flew many recon and naval search missions over the Aleutians and Allied fighters shot down in the area a Dinah III, an Emily and a G4M2 Betty. Two more Japanese aircraft were lost when two of the Topsy ferrying reinforcement troops to PJ collided in the air and crashed.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 18 men, Japanese ones 103 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 233 875 men (+1504), 2207 guns (+30) and 545 vehicles (+6) for 4215 AV (+78) against 98 153 men (+1002), 718 guns (+15) and 7 tankettes for 1838 AV (+38).

The evening report of PJ showed no more damage and fortification of level 4, 75% (+18%), 425 engineers, and 30 852 supplies (+869). At the end of the day PJ had 14 aircraft, all available. The four AK off the island had all finished unloading and will sail to Shikka, one with damage 56 will sail alone while the three other will sail together. Most of the Allied submarines in the area were just off PJ anyway.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 2, 38% (+38%)). It had 19 076 supplies (-2098). Engineers will now start to expand the port too (to size 3 to be protected against Allied submarines).

The damaged Japanese ships continued to sail west. The damaged DD Kishinami again sailed 120 miles and now had FLT 64 (+4) and was 300 miles from Shikka. Both other damaged DD that left PJ today, the Murakumo (FLT 68, +8) and the Amagiri (FLT 78, +14) also sailed 120 miles but their survival probability was now smaller. East of PJ the badly damaged RO-66 now had FLT 89 (+6) and will reach PJ in two days.

Eight damaged transports having 0 FLT left Shikka towards Japan under escort by a damaged DD also needing repairs.

And the Japanese fleet left again Shikka to return to OJ to pick up most of the troops landed there. 100 transport in two TF (with a total of 21 escorts) and a third TF of 8 small AK laden with supplies for PJ and 6 escorts sailed, covered by the KB, still organized in two TF (with 225 fighters, 106 dive-bombers and 62 torpedo bombers), and an ASW TF of 6 ships.

Of the troops in OJ, all parachute units (1st Rgt and the three IJN Yokosuka SNLF) will be returned to the reserve. The 2nd Div will also be retired and will go to Marcus Island, as planned before the crisis in the north. The 48th Div and the 21st Eng Rgt will go to PJ as the final reinforcement of this base (that should be enough to mark the end of the Allied push in the area). The 116th Div and the 25th Eng Rgt will remain on OJ to build and defend this base against another Allied attack. That leaves only the 18th Div that will send a regiment to hold Ketoi Jima (120 miles SW of OJ) and then go to the Bonins.

South of Alaska the I-7 saw three AP sailing west but was also seen by an Allied land-based aircraft. She will nevertheless follow the convoy towards Anchorage and try to attack it tomorrow.

Reorganisation of the air units continued. In Toyohara two units (an Oscar Sentai and a Betty Daitai) were downgraded to training status and gave most of their experienced airmen to other units. That allowed a G4M1 Daitai to be at full strength again and it was upgraded to G4M2.

Southern Pacific

Norfolk Island-based Emily continued to fly recon over Australian ports but for small results and one was shot down by AA fire today.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night 18 Ki-21 from Truk bombed Admiralty Islands airfield but missed. One was hit by AA fire and ditched on the way back but its crew was saved. During the day Japanese recon showed that 11 P-38G flew LRCAP over the island. Allied engineers opened an airfield there during the day.

In the afternoon, the daily raids against Rabaul (today 6 B-25C from Kiriwima and 14 B-24D, 7 B-17E and 3 B-25C from Dobadura) met for once fighters in the air. 16 Ki-61 from 203 Sentai flying LRCAP from Kavieng missed the first raid but intercepted the second but with bad results: they only shot down a B-25C while losing a Tony shot down by return fire and another in an accident. AA fire shot down a B-24D and the base reported for both raids 19 hits on the runways and 3 casualties.
At the same time 18 B-25C from Madang escorted by 5 Kittyhawk I and 40 B-25J from Lae attacked Wewak, did 6 casualties, and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 58 on the runways. A B-25J was lost operationally.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/75/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 977 supplies for 4608 (-24) required, Kavieng had still no damage and was building fortifications (6, 83%, +5%) and Wewak had damage 29/0/0 and still no supplies.

Ki-21 from Truk will again attack Admiralty Islands tonight but will target the new airfield. The Tony Sentai sent to Kavieng flew back to Truk, leaving behind 7 damaged aircraft. It lost two today but no pilot.

One of the new A6M5 units recently created in Japan reached Palau (losing a pilot in the sea during the last jump from Saipan) and will be used in some days for an ambush over Madang.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 15 B-25C from Derby and by 35 B-17E and 24 B-24J from Darwin that did 52 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 66 on the runways, Dili was attacked by 15 B-24D from Darwin escorted by 19 Kittyhawk III that disabled 12 men and scored 6 hits on the runways, and Lautem was attacked by 13 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 6 Kittyhawk III that disabled 17 men and scored 3 hits on the airbase and 9 on the runways. A B-25C was shot down by AA fire over Koepang and a B-17E was lost operationally.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 17% (+4%)), Koepang had damage 55/48/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/42/0, Lautem 82/33/38, other bases undamaged. A blockade runner unloaded its last 400 supplies in Koepang and sailed back to Java in the afternoon.

A convoy with two Const Bn aboard reached Morotai and the Oscar II based in Menado will again LRCAP this base tomorrow.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 578 sorties today, all in Myitkyina area: 42 B-25J and 48 escorts from Ledo, Imphal, Jorhat and Kohima on the airfield (21 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase and 45 on the runways), 270 fighter-bombers, 217 bombers and 51 escorts from Imphal, Jorhat, Ledo, Kohima and Dacca against 2 divisions of the garrison (223 men and 5 guns hit). Two Liberator VI, a P-40N, a B-24D, a P-40E and a Beaufighter VIC were lost in accidents.

The Allied CAP shot down a Dinah III over Jorhat, India.

On the ground Allied troops again launch an attack against Myitkyina but hadn’t enough time to recover from the disruption of the last one two days before. And the Japanese garrison was reinforced before the attack by the fresh 46th Div. The Allied engineers failed to reduce the fortifications (now level 4) and the deliberate attack was a 0 to 1 failure (2479 Allied AV vs 1659, adjusted to 1917 vs 4971). Allied losses (4469 men, 106 guns and 22 vehicles, 12 troop points) were again far higher than the Japanese (715 men, 27 guns, 3 troop points).
More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (78 Allied men and a gun hit, 8 Japanese men and a gun hit by return fire), where 832 Japanese AV (+223) faced 1995 Allied (-7), while SW of Myitkyina 28th Army troops (868 AV (+1)) pounded the Chinese unit facing them (295 AV (-1)) but hit nothing.

The evening report showed damage of 100/88 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were still zero supplies for needs of 13 019 (+3282). Lashio had finished repairing damage, other bases were undamaged.

The 17th Div reached Katha, received supplies and was sent back to Myitkyina. The bad news was that the fact that the Chinese unit left the hex SE of Myitkyina “opened” it for the game path drawing algorithm (even if the hex was still under Allied control) and now units marching out of Myitkyina will go there rather than taking the railway again… Grr… So no unit may leave again.

A Const Bn marched east from Lashio and reached the western bank of the Salween. It will now march NE to try to open a supply path from Lashio to Myitkyina… or at least that was the plan. It will in fact cross the river eastwards and then march to the NE… so taking one more month to do that… and leaving enough time for more Chinese to come from Yunan… Did I say already I hate the way ground movement is managed in WITP?

China

26 training and 10 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of the base and hit nothing but suffered no loss.

The 47th Div, one of the units holding the frontline west of Changsha, received orders to prepare for Davao. In one month enough PP will be available to move it out of China and sent it to Mindanao. No offensive will be launched in China until well into 1944.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Thanks for all new updates! [:)][&o]

BTW, in order to speed up the things (and for AAR to catch up the actual game) would you consider posting "combined" AAR entries for multiple days if nothing special is going on?


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

Hi Leo,

It's a pleasure to see again my greatest fan [:)]

Actually, as I have written the AAR day per day, I will continue with this format. And to catch up with the game, the latter is now running at 2-3 turns a week, so the AAR will slowly catch up.

21 October 1943

Northern Pacific

In the morning, an Allied fighter shot down a Dinah III trying to recon Attu. In the afternoon three B-24J from Kiska bombed PJ airfield, did 12 casualties and scored four hits on the runways.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. There was no Allied loss, Japanese ones were 155 men and 5 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 234 966 men (+1091), 2236 guns (+29) and 546 vehicles (+1) for 4293 AV (+78) against 98 962 men (+809), 733 guns (+18) and 7 tankettes for 1877 AV (+39).

The evening report of PJ showed no more damage and fortification of level 4, 94% (+19%), 425 engineers, and 29 716 supplies (-1136). At the end of the day PJ had 13 aircraft, all available.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 2, 57% (+19%)) and the port (size 1, 16% (+16%)). It had 18 658 supplies (-418).

The damaged Japanese ships continued to sail west. The damaged DD Kishinami now had FLT 70 (+6) and was 180 miles from Shikka. Both other damaged DD, the Murakumo (FLT 85, +17) and the Amagiri (FLT 84, +6) were 300 miles from Shikka and will probably be scuttled tomorrow. East of PJ the badly damaged RO-66 now had FLT 92 (+3) and will reach PJ tomorrow but will probably be lost too.

In Etoforu Jima the CVL Shoho had repaired all FLT damage and sailed (with SYS 56) to Wakkanai under escort by 7 DD (and 2 cruisers).

One of the Tospy units flying from Toyohara to bring the last troops of the 21st Div to PJ will now bring a small BF to OJ.

Tomorrow the PJ-based Dinah will recon Kiska to check if the Allied CVs were still there, while 24 G4M2 flew from Toyohara to PJ to fly naval search.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

During the night, the submarine USS Tunny met a convoy of Japanese barges 120 miles SE of Truk and tried unsuccessfully to attack them on the surface, losing them in fog. These barges were evacuating troops to Truk.

During the night 18 Ki-21 from Truk bombed Admiralty Islands airfield but missed.

In the afternoon 9 B-25C from Kiriwima and 16 B-24D, 4 B-17E and 7 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 30 casualties, and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 29 on the runways, while 34 B-25C from Madang escorted by 10 Kittyhawk I, 7 Corsair and 5 P-38G attacked Wewak, did 4 casualties and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 28 on the runways. 47 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng, destroyed on the ground 3 damaged Ki-61 left behind when Japanese fighters flew to Truk yesterday evening, did 9 casualties, and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 5 on the runways. A B-25J was shot down by AA fire over Kavieng, another and a B-25C were lost operationally while an Allied fighter shot down a Dinah III over New Guinea.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/78/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 977 supplies for 4586 (-22) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was building fortifications (6, 85%, +2%) and Wewak had damage 22/0/0 and still no supplies.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 4 B-25C from Derby and by 36 B-17E from Darwin that did 32 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 4 hits on the airbase and 31 on the runways, and Lautem was attacked by 10 B-25J from Darwin escorted by 15 Kittyhawk III that scored 6 hits on the runways.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 22% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 58/55/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/31/0, Lautem 82/29/38, other bases undamaged.

31 Tojo flew from Balikpapan to Maumere and will fly local CAP and rest, and then fly LRCAP over Koepang in some days.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 411 sorties today, all in Myitkyina area: 24 B-25J and 26 escorts from Imphal and Kohima on the airfield (2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 34 on the runways), 150 fighter-bombers, 185 bombers and 26 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Dimapur and Dacca against 2 divisions of the garrison (477 men, 1 tank and 25 guns hit). A Liberator VI, a B-25J, a P-40N and a P-35A were lost in accidents.

In the afternoon, a Dinah II flew a recon to the Indian port of Chandpur and reported 14 Hurricane II flying CAP before one of them shot it down.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 132 men and 1 gun at Myitkyina (where 2022 Japanese AV (+280 in two days) faced 2391 Allied (-342 in two days)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (83 Allied men, 7 Japanese men and a gun hit by return fire), where 1300 Japanese AV (+468) faced 1996 Allied (+1), while SW of Myitkyina 28th Army troops (870 AV (+2)) pounded the Chinese unit facing them (297 AV (+2)) and hit 28 men but lost 7 men and 1 gun to return fire.

The evening report showed damage of 100/94 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were still zero supplies for needs of 11 003 (-2016). Other bases were undamaged.

One more Allied unit left Myitkyina northwards. On the other hand an Allied unit was reported 120 miles north of Akyab by patrols of the SNLF holding the trail north of Akyab. This SNLF was ordered to march back to Akyab while recon aircraft will identify this unit.

Tomorrow Japanese airmen will raid Chandpur, defended by a Hurricane squadron since two days. First 29 Tony will fly a sweep from Akyab and then 36 Ki-21 escorted by 30 Tony will bomb the airfield.

China

273 training and 39 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 28 men for one operational loss (an A6M5c).

Japan

The MSW Kyo Maru 5 was commissioned in Tokyo.

[AmiralLaurent]

22 October 1943

Northern Pacific

During the night, the Japanese submarine I-7 was detected by the escort of an Allied convoy 420 miles ESE of Anchorage, chased by 8 DE and sunk by 5 hits and 13 near-misses scored by three of them, the USS Parks, Acre and Jaccard.

In the afternoon PJ airfield was bombed by 58 B-24J and 40 B-24D from Attu escorted by 45 P-38J, and then by 32 B-24D and 2 B-24J from Kiska. Both attacks destroyed on the ground two G4M2 Betty and a Dinah III, disabled 344 men and 7 guns and scored 15 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 43 on the runways. A B-24J and a P-38J were lost operationally.

Outside this raid the air activity was limited to naval search and recon for both sides. A PB4Y found the KB 120 miles NW of OJ, while Japanese airmen reported that the Allied CV were still off Kiska. A PBM Mariner flying recon to PJ was shot down by AA fire.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. There was no Allied loss, Japanese ones were 194 men and 1 tank. Allied troops on the island numbered 236 167 men (+1201), 2260 guns (+24) and 553 vehicles (+7) for 4366 AV (+73) against 99 011 men (+49), 729 guns (-4) and 7 tankettes for 1889 AV (+12).

The Japanese submarine RO-66, badly damaged three days ago by an Allied patrol aircraft, sank in the evening off PJ.

The evening report of PJ showed damage 48/5/0 (airbase/runway/port) and fortification of level 4, 94% (+0%), 425 engineers, and 28 541 supplies (-1175). At the end of the day PJ had 34 aircraft, and 29 available.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 2, 76% (+19%)) and the port (size 1, 32% (+16%)). It had 18 234 supplies (-424). Transport aircraft brought 28 air support squads here during the day.

The damaged Japanese ships continued to sail west. The damaged DD Kishinami now had FLT 78 (+8), was now at 60 miles from Shikka and was considered safe. Both other damaged DD, the Murakumo (FLT 88, +3) and the Amagiri (FLT 95, +11) were 180 miles from Shikka and still sinking slowly. The Amagiri was scuttled this evening, the Murakumo had still a small chance to survive.

The three transport TF coming from Shikka (one laden with 28k supplies and two empty) will arrive tomorrow off OJ. The KB will sail 60 miles west of the island and cover it with 18 A6M5 on LRCAP, its 252 other fighters being used to defend itself in case the Allied CV came to attack it (the 106 dive-bombers and 62 torpedo bombers being used to chase submarines). 26 Oscar II flew to OJ to fly local defence and 31 Ki-61 and 25 Ki-44 flew to PJ and will fly tomorrow LRCAP over OJ too.
Off OJ the supply convoy will unload (supplies should reach PJ as it is the nearby hex, once OJ will have a size 3 port IIRC) while the other ships will load troops to evacuate them.

ESE of PJ four Japanese submarines were deployed on the probable path of the Allied CV if they leave Kiska.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

During the night 11 Ki-21 from Truk bombed Admiralty Islands airfield but missed.

In the afternoon 12 B-25C from Kiriwima and 15 B-24D, 6 B-17E and 5 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 64 casualties, and scored 1 hit on the airbase and 30 on the runways, 33 B-25C from Madang escorted by 10 Kittyhawk I, 8 Corsair and 8 P-38G attacked Wewak, did 27 casualties and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 11 on the runways and 40 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng and scored 5 hits on the airbase and 7 on the runways.

Japanese airmen reported around 30 Allied fighters, including a dozen Corsair, on CAP over the Admiralty Islands. A Dinah III was shot down by one of these.

An Emily flying recon to Australia was shot down by AA fire.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/76/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 977 supplies for 4571 (-15) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 86%, +2%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

58 Betty flew from Palau to Hollandia in the evening. Despite being in range from Allied bases in New Guinea this airfield had not been attacked so far, and bombers will rest one day before flying to Cooktown, Australia, the day after to attack Australian resource centers.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The only Allied raid was launched by 14 B-25C from Derby against Koepang that reported 13 casualties, one hit on the airbase, one on supplies and 11 on the runways. An Allied patrol aircraft reported 19 Ki-44 flying CAP over Maumere, another (a PBM Mariner) flying recon to Kendari was shot down by AA fire.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 27% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 60/33/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/20/0, Lautem 82/21/38, other bases undamaged.

The Tojo Sentai sent to Maumere had been seen by PBY flying recon and flew back to Macassar. 12 Thora transport aircraft also reached Macassar and will begin tomorrow to pick up Base Force personnel in Kendari.

A big blockade runner reached Kendari and started to load some of the 47k resources still in this base.

Burma

36 Ki-21 escorted by 30 Ki-61 of the 78 Sentai took off at dawn from Pagan to raid Chandpur. As the day before this city was defended by 14 Hurricane II. Four were shot down by the Tony but they themselves shot down a Japanese fighter and 4 Ki-21. The other scored 15 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 29 on the runways. Two more Japanese aircraft were lost on the way back: a Ki-21 damaged by AA fire ditched near Akyab and a Tony was lost operationally.

On the Allied side, almost all bases were closed by bad weather and only seven sorties were flown over Burma, LRCAP missions by P-40N over Myitkyina.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 8 men and 2 guns at Myitkyina (where 2024 Japanese AV (+2) faced 2429 Allied (+38)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (101 Allied men and 2 gun hit), where 1002 Japanese AV (-298) faced 1991 Allied (-5), while SW of Myitkyina 28th Army troops (869 AV (-1)) pounded the Chinese unit facing them (294 AV (-3)) and hit 6 men and a gun but lost 5 men and 1 gun to return fire.

The evening report showed damage of 100/93 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were now 20 supplies (+20) for needs of 9688 (-1315). Other bases were undamaged.

Again another Allied unit left Myitkyina northwards, reducing the number of Allied units there to 23. With the Allied assault power being reduced there, and the fact that units could no more exit the city westwards on the railway, the 17th Div coming back to the city was stopped west of it and ordered to go back to Katha to rebuild its strength there. If the Allied withdrawal will continue in Myitkyina, it will go to Rangoon for R&R.

North of Akyab the Allied unit reported yesterday by Japanese patrols reached today the position of the Japanese SNLF 60 miles north of Akyab. Ki-49 and Ki-48 from Rangoon will bomb it tomorrow.

Air units sent to Pagan and Akyab (the latter having been grounded by bad weather) flew back to Rangoon in the evening.

China

149 training and 31 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 27 men for three operational losses (two A6M5c, an A6M5).

[AmiralLaurent]

23 October 1943

Northern Pacific

Allied airmen launched another heavy raid against PJ from Attu, with 38 B-24J and 33 B-24D escorted by 43 P-38J but this time they met over the target 51 Zero (43 A6M5, 4 A6M3 and 4 A6M3a) coming without orders from the nearby KB. The P-38J managed to open the way to their charges and won the air battle. 29 Japanese fighters (22 A6M5, 4 A6M3 and 3 A6M3a) and 15 Allied aircraft (8 P-38J, 5 B-24J and 2 B-24D) were lost in the battle. Bombers then attacked the airfield, losing one more B-24D to AA fire but destroying on the ground 4 Ki-44 and 3 Ki-61, disabling 58 men and 1 gun and scoring 1 hit on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 44 on the runways. Two more A6M5 were lost in accidents.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 7 men, Japanese ones were 109 men and 5 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 237 534 men (+1367), 2298 guns (+38) and 557 vehicles (+4) for 4429 AV (+63) against 99 529 men (+518), 747 guns (+18) and 7 tankettes for 1894 AV (+5).

The evening report of PJ showed damage 55/1/0 (airbase/runway/port) and fortification of level 4, 94% (+0%), 425 engineers, and 27 618 supplies (-923). At the end of the day PJ had 80 aircraft, and 72 available.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 2, 95% (+19%)) and the port (size 1, 48% (+16%)). It had 19 763 supplies (+1529).

The damaged DD Kishinami finally reached Shikka, was disbanded there in the morning and now had FLT 74 (-4) and will be saved. The Murakumo (FLT 92, +4) will reach Shikka tonight and might be saved too. Seven more damaged ships having now 0 FLT (BB Kongo (SYS 80), CA Mogami (82), CVE Shinyo (44), DD Hatsuharu (73) and three AP (58, 44 and 10)) left Shikka under escort to return to Japan for extensive repairs.

The three transport TFs coming from Shikka were now off OJ. One had already unloaded 2000 supplies here. In the evening a TF loaded 95% of the 48th Div and 21st Eng Rgt and will sail back to Shikka (these troops were preparing for PJ but will wait for the Allied submarines concentrated here to move), another loaded the other troops planned to be deployed elsewhere (2nd and 18th Div, and all four parachute units) and loaded between 60% (18th Div) and 100% (all parachute units) of them. Both of these TF stopped loading at midnight and sailed west to escape a possible raid by Allied CV. The KB will follow these TF and so go farther from PJ and stop sending fighters to oppose P-38J. The supply convoy will continue to unload off OJ and will stip be covered by IJAAF fighters based in OJ and PJ.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

During the night 6 Ki-21 from Truk bombed Admiralty Islands airfield and scored one hit on the airbase.

A damaged barge was sunk by a patrolling B-25C off Hollandia.

In the afternoon 16 B-25C from Kiriwima and 17 B-24D, 6 B-17E and 8 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 4 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 42 on the runways, 35 B-25C from Madang escorted by 10 Kittyhawk I and 8 P-38G attacked Wewak, did 7 casualties and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 21 on the runways and 37 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng and scored a hit on the airbase and 6 on the runways. Two B-25C were lost operationally.

A Dinah III was shot down by an Allied fighter during a recon flight over Madang and two Tina transport aircraft were lost in accidents while ferrying troops from Kwajalein to Truk.

In the evening the submarine USS Scorpion fired torpedoes at an AP west of Ulithi, but missed. The only Japanese escort, a PC, was unable to find her.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/77/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 878 supplies (-99) for 4542 (-29) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 90%, +4%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

Many Allied TF were seen at sea and an operation to take Emirau Island, or even Kavieng, was suspected. Off Admiralty Islands, 3 LCM TF and 2 PT TF were seen. 120 miles more SW a convoy was sailing NE under escort by a surface TF. It could be a convoy to the Admiralties but the presence of the surface TF was unusual for such convoy.

So orders were given to act on the hypothesis that these ships will sail to Emirau Island. 20 Ki-21 arrived in Truk and with the 25 already there will fly naval attack at range 6 (so able to strike off Emirau Island) under escort by A6M3a and Oscar. 34 A6M5 arrived also in Truk from Palau to reinforce the local CAP, while 29 Tony flew to Kavieng to ambush the unescorted Allied bombers attacking it daily.

At Hollandia the 59 Betties won’t be moved to react to this possible Allied advance but will attack the city of Cooktown as planned.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Admiralty Islands to size 2 and the port of Madang to size 2.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 15 B-25C from Derby and by 36 B-17E from Darwin that did 22 casualties, disabled 2 guns and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 44 on the runways, and Lautem was attacked by 10 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 9 Kittyhawk III that scored 6 hits on the runways and did 5 casualties. A B-17E was lost operationally.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 31% (+4%)), Koepang had damage 62/34/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/11/0, Lautem 82/21/38, other bases undamaged.

12 Tabby and 12 Topsy based in Balikpapan will begin tomorrow to pick up Base Force personnel in Kendari.

Two more blockade runner reached Kendari, a big AK and a small AP. The first will load resources, the other will evacuate a part of a Special Base Force.

The CA Furutaka and the 9 DD with her in Davao sailed to Palau, that now had an AD and two AR. From there they may attack Allied ships on both sides of New Guinea if necessary.

SRA

An AP convoy left Singapore under escort and will sail to Palembang to load the Bde that will be created here in about one week. In Palembang port a small convoy started to load 27k oil and 14k resources to bring them to Singapore.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 579 sorties today, all in Myitkyina area: 24 B-25J and 14 escorts from Imphal and Jorhat on the airfield (1 hit on the airbase and 34 on the runways), 196 fighter-bombers, 237 bombers and 101 escorts from Imphal, Jorhat, Ledo, Dimapur and Dacca against 2 divisions of the garrison (315 men , 1 tank and 15 guns hit), and 7 LRCAP sorties by P-40N over the battlefield. Three P-35A, a Liberator VI, a B-25C, a P-40N, 1 P-47C, a Beaufighter Mk 21 and a Beaufighter VIC were lost in accidents.

18 Ki-49 from Rangoon bombed the 9th Chinese Corps NW of Akyab and hit 16 men and 1 gun.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 115 men and 5 guns at Myitkyina (where 1999 Japanese AV (-25) faced 2476 Allied (+47)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (54 Allied men and a gun hit), where 1004 Japanese AV (+2) faced 1992 Allied (+1), while SW of Myitkyina 28th Army troops (867 AV (-2)) pounded the Chinese unit facing them (296 AV (+2)) but hit nothing and lost 6 men and 1 gun to return fire.

The evening report showed damage of 100/99 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were again zero supplies (-20) for needs of 10816 (+1128). Other bases were undamaged.

Bombers from Rangoon will rest tomorrow while recon will check to see if Allied fighter will fly LRCAP over Chinese troops NW of Akyab. 24 Thora transport aircraft arrived in Rangoon from Bangkok and will pick up a Const Bn in Akyab.

China

271 training and 45 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit nothing for three operational losses (two A6M5c and a Val).

Japan

A convoy left Takamatsu to carry 14k supplies and 10k fuel to Guam.

[AmiralLaurent]

24 October 1943

Northern Pacific

In the morning, a Val bombed and hit the submarine USS Scamp off PJ. An air recon to Kiska confirmed that the Allied CV fleet was still docked there despite the Japanese naval activity off OJ.

In the afternoon, PJ was again attacked, by 29 B-24J, 22 B-24D and 9 PB4Y from Attu escorted by 43 P-38J and by 32 B-24D and 3 B-24J from Kiska. Nine Ki-61 of 68 Sentai intercepted them and shot down 2 P-38J, a PB4Y and a B-24D for one loss but the bombers hit hard the airfield, destroying on the ground 7 Ki-44, 4 Ki-61 and 3 G4M2, disabling 154 men and 4 guns and scoring 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 34 on the runways. One more B-24D was lost to engine failure.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 12 men, Japanese ones were 155 men and 1 gun. Allied troops on the island numbered 238 614 men (+1080), 2337 guns (+39) and 559 vehicles (+2) for 4488 AV (+59) against 99 514 men (-15), 753 guns (+6) and 7 tankettes for 1895 AV (+1).

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Toyohara to size 4 today. More north the heavily damaged DD Murakuno capsized and sank in the port of Shikka.

The evening report of PJ showed damage 61/0/0 (airbase/runway/port) and fortification of level 4, 94% (+0%), 425 engineers, and 26 572 supplies (-1046). At the end of the day PJ had 72 aircraft, and 53 available. In the evening the Betty Daitai and both IJAAF Sentai (of Tojo and Tony) left the base, leaving 19 damaged aircraft behind. A Tojo and a Tony were lost on the relocation flight with their pilots.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 2% (+7%)) and the port (size 1, 55% (+7%)). It had 27 872 supplies (+8109). Japanese engineers will stop increasing fortifications to concentrate on the port.

A transport TF with 44 000 men of the units that should be redeployed to other theatres will sail to Shikka but the other with the 48th Div and 21st Eng Rgt (that will be landed in PJ) will sail to a position 60 miles NW of PJ and will be joined there by the KB whose aircraft AC will chase Allied submarines. Thunderstorms were forecast so it was hopped that Allied AC won’t be a big nuisance tomorrow. The next night the troop convoy and an ASW TF will sail to PJ. The supply convoy will continue to unload at OJ under cover of the local Oscar II and will also sail to PJ the next night to unload more supplies here.

The SS I-174 cruising north of OJ was ordered to sail there and will be used to ferry troops (fragments) to PJ.

Southern Pacific

Norfolk Island-based Emily continued to fly recon over Australian ports but for small results and another one was shot down by AA fire today.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Before dawn, 33 G4M1 and 19 G4M2 took off from Hollandia and flew to the southeast, reaching Cooktown in the morning. There was no Allied fighter in the air and the weak AA fire didn’t hit any of the attackers that dropped their load on the resource centers of the town, disabling 20 more of them (leaving 269 running, and scoring 40 more strategic points).

In the morning 16 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Lae attacked a barge convoy NE of Kavieng and sank two.

The daily afternoon raid on Kavieng by 36 B-25J from Lae wasn’t a milk run as usual but was intercepted over the target by 18 Ki-61 of the 203 Sentai. Japanese airmen shot down 3 bombers and lost one of their number to return fire. The bombers pressed on and hit the airfield, destroying a second Tony on the ground and scoring 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 15 on the runways.

At the same time 19 B-24D, 6 B-17E and 12 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 30 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 30 on the runways, and 18 B-25C from Madang escorted by 10 Corsair, 5 Kittyhawk I and 5 P-38G attacked Wewak and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 5 on the runways. A B-25C was lost operationally.

A Dinah III was shot down by an Allied fighter over New Guinea.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Admiralty Islands to size 3 today.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/72/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 786 supplies (-92) for 4521 (-21) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 90%, +0%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

Finally the Allied TF seen yesterday all sailed to Admiralty Islands and were probably destined to turn it into a major airfield. Allied engineers expanded it to a size 3 AF today. So the bomber of Truk received new orders, half going to Ponape as a reserve, the other half preparing to bomb the Admiralty tonight. All fighters were ordered to fly CAP in case of an Allied sweep, including the Ki-61 Sentai that returned from Kavieng (except 7 damaged AC).

At Hollandia the 59 Betties that raided Cooktown all flew back to Palau without loss.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the afternoon, Amboina was attacked by 27 B-24J and 7 B-24D from Darwin that did 18 casualties and scored 7 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 13 on the runways, Koepang was attacked by 12 B-25C from Derby and by 15 B-17E from Darwin that did 47 casualties and scored 1 hit on supplies and 18 on the runways, and Lautem was attacked by 4 B-25C from Darwin (8 more got lost on the way) escorted by 9 Kittyhawk III that missed the target.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 36% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 63/24/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 68/2/0, Lautem 82/13/38, Amboina 23/27/0, other bases undamaged.

The 31 Ki-44 of Macassar flew in the evening to Maumere and will fly LRCAP over Koepang tomorrow.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 581 sorties today, 532 of them in Myitkyina area: 30 B-25J and 31 escorts from Imphal and Kohima on the airfield (3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 30 on the runways), 199 fighter-bombers, 210 bombers and 62 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Ledo, Dimapur and Dacca against three divisions of the garrison (562 men and 11 guns hit), and 12 P-40N from Dacca escorted by 22 other tried unsuccessfully to bomb the SNLF retreating NW of Akyab, while 15 other P-40N were LRCAPing the area. Two P-40N, a Liberator VI, a B-25J, a Vengeance I and a Beaufighter Mk 21 were lost in accidents.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 85 men and 1 gun at Myitkyina (where 1971 Japanese AV (-28) faced 2515 Allied (+39)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (70 Allied men and a gun hit), where 1242 Japanese AV (+238 with the arrival of the 17th Div) faced 1995 Allied (+3).

The evening report showed damage of 100/98 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were zero supplies for needs of 10495 (-321). Other bases were undamaged.

120 miles north of Akyab a second Allied unit was seen today on the trail coming from India.

The HQ 15th Army, an IJA BF and two artillery units having reached Mandalay from Myitkyina were ordered to go to Rangoon for R&R.

China

236 training and 39 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 14 men for two operational losses (an A6M5c and an A6M5).

[AmiralLaurent]

25 October 1943

Northern Pacific

Japanese airmen reported that the Allied CVs were still off Kiska but the cost was a Dinah III shot down by an Allied fighter. On the Allied side a PBM Mariner was shot down by AA fire over PJ.

In the afternoon 44 B-24D and 26 B-24J from Attu escorted by 28 P-38J attacked again PJ and were intercepted by 39 A6M5 of five units coming without orders from the nearby KB. As two days before, the P-38J managed again to win the air battle and open the way to their charges. 18 A6M5 and 10 Allied aircraft (7 P-38J, 2 B-24D and 1 B-24J) were lost in the battle. Bombers then attacked the airfield and destroyed on the ground 6 Ki-61, 2 Ki-44, 1 G4M2 Betty and 1 Emily, disabled 92 men and 1 gun and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 54 on the runways. A B-24J was lost operationally.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 12 men, Japanese ones were 62 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 239 492 men (+878), 2365 guns (+28) and 558 vehicles (-1) for 4540 AV (+52) against 99 648 men (+134), 765 guns (+12) and 7 tankettes for 1898 AV (+3).

The evening report of PJ showed damage 60/0/0 (airbase/runway/port) and fortification of level 4, 94% (+0%), 425 engineers, and 25 595 supplies (-977). At the end of the day PJ had 18 aircraft, and 9 available.

OJ was fully repaired and engineers continued to the port (size 1, 68% (+13%)). It had 31 759 supplies (+3887).

The transport TF sailing west with 44 000 men of the units that should be redeployed to other theatres was now out of range of Allied aircraft and was redirected to Toyohara. The other with the 48th Div and 21st Eng Rgt (that will be landed in PJ), the supply-laden AK convoy currently off OJ and an ASW TF will sail tonight to PJ and unload there under covers of the thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow. With P-38J in range it would be too costly to cover the ships with CAP and the KB was ordered to sail back to Shikka while the Oscar based in OJ were ordered to fly back to Toyohara and Sapporo for R&R. One of the experienced Val units of the KB (24 crew with a mean exp of 76) left the fleet to go to OJ and fly naval search against Allied submarines from this base.

The SS I-174 cruising north of OJ was ordered to sail there and will be used to ferry troops (fragments) to PJ.

Southern Pacific

In Efate two AK arrived from Suva and will load supplies to bring them to Noumea.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

During the night, the submarine USS Sunfish sank a barge with gunfire off Kavieng just after midnight and reported it to the Admiralty Islands naval base that sent 8 PT to investigate. They met off Kavieng 10 barges and sank two of them (one with a torpedo), heavily damaged another and set four on fire. Later during the day this barge convoy was attacked by patrolling aircraft, 12 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Lae and 12 other from Kiriwima and five more barges sank.

In the afternoon 14 B-25C from Kiriwima and 21 B-24D, 5 B-17E and 8 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 12 casualties and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 40 on the runways, and 36 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng, did 12 casualties and scored a hit on the airbase, 2on supplies and 6 on the runways. A B-25J was shot down by AA fire over Kavieng and another was lost operationally. On the Japanese side a Dinah III was shot down by an Allied fighter in the area and a Tina was lost ferrying troops from Kwajalein to Truk.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/84/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 618 supplies (-168) for 4531 (+10) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 93%, +3%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

Several Japanese transport left Palau southwards to reinforce Japanese positions in New Guinea. Two will bring SNLF to Sarmi and Noemfoor, other will bring supplies to Noemfoor, Sarmi and Hollandia, the last one probably being too close from Allied bases for the AK to survive.

On the other side from the Allied thrust, a small convoy left Kwajalein to bring fuel and supplies to Ponape.

Emily recon flights over Australia were stopped to reduce losses.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning, a Dinah III flying recon to Kai Island reported a CAP of 17 fighters (P-38J and Kittyhawk III) before being shot down by one of them. Another Dinah III was sent for the same mission in the afternoon and suffered the same fate.

The 47 Sentai flew LRCAP over Koepang from Maumere but bad weather was responsible for the loss of 4 Tojo that disappeared in clouds and reduced the number of fighters on station to only 6 when the Allied bombers attacked in the afternoon. The first to arrive were 15 B-25C from Derby that turned back after being bounced by the Tojo that shot down 4 of them. A PBY Catalina was following them to take pictures of the attack. It evaded the Japanese fighters but was then shot down by AA fire. Shortly after 22 B-17E arrived over Koepang from Darwin. The 6 Tojo intercepted them and shot down 2 bombers but lost half of their number to return fire. The airfield was this time bombed and reported 18 casualties, a disabled gun, one hit on the airbase and 10 on runways.

At the same time, Amboina was attacked by 31 B-24D and 29 B-24J from Darwin that did 30 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 57 on the runways, and Lautem was attacked by 11 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 18 Kittyhawk III that did 22 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 10 on the runways.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 40% (+4%)), Koepang had damage 64/3/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 61/0/0, Lautem 84/17/38, Amboina 41/52/0, other bases undamaged.

The Ki-44 sent to Maumere again flew back to Macassar for some rest.

SRA

The Gold Convoy was now north of Jolo and before leaving Philippines waters split. Eleven tankers and six escorts sailed for Brunei and Miri while the main part of the convoy sailed to Tarakan.

A small convoy arrived in Brunei and loaded both Const Bn working there to bring them to Balikpapan to build fortifications.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 246 sorties today, 219 of them in Myitkyina area: 117 fighter-bombers and 102 bombers from Kohima and Dacca against two divisions of the garrison (562 men and 11 guns hit), and 6 P-40N from Dacca escorted by 21 other tried again unsuccessfully to bomb the SNLF retreating NW of Akyab. A Thunderbolt II and a Beaufighter Mk 21 were lost in accidents. On the Japanese side a Thora transport aircraft was lost in an accident while flying troops out from Akyab.

On the ground Allied artillery hit 186 men and 6 guns at Myitkyina (where 1952 Japanese AV (-19) faced 2910 Allied (+395)). More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (162 Allied men and a gun hit), where 1254 Japanese AV (+12) faced 1996 Allied (+1).

The evening report showed damage of 100/96 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were zero supplies for needs of 10531 (+36). Other bases were undamaged.

120 miles north of Akyab a third Allied unit was seen today on the trail coming from India. One of this unit was identified as the 23rd Indian Division.

China

274 training and 41 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 12 men for three operational losses (two Oscar II and an A6M5c).

Last offensive plans in China were scrapped today and the local command received orders to list units that might be shipped overseas. The 16th Mixed Bde was in Homan and was not needed for garrison purposes. It received today orders to prepare for Manila and to march to the port of Amoy on the Chinese coast.

Japan

A new Japanese light cruiser, the Yahagi, was commissioned in Tokyo.

[AmiralLaurent]

26 October 1943

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Flasher missed an AK off PJ and then escaped her escort (2 DD, 2 PC and 1 PG). The Japanese convoys unloading supplies and troops in the base were then covered by bad weather the whole day and were only attacked by a patrolling PBM Mariner that hit the AP Hakka Maru and wrecked his bridge (damage 33/0/4). Another Mariner was shot down by AA fire in the area. In the afternoon 22 B-24D and 19 B-24J from Attu escorted by 25 P-38J flew to the area but were unable to see the ships and bombed by radar the airfield, destroying on the ground 2 G4M2 Betty, doing 33 casualties and scoring 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 33 on the runways.

An Emily was shot down over the Aleutians by an Allied fighter.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 5 men, Japanese ones were 63 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 240 551 men (+1059), 2391 guns (+26) and 563 vehicles (+5) for 4607 AV (+67) against 119 775 men (+20127), 897 guns (+132) and 9 tankettes (+2) for 2339 AV (+441).

The evening report of PJ showed damage 41/0/0 (airbase/runway/port) and fortification of level 4, 94% (+0%), 532 (+107) engineers, and 26 186 supplies (+591). At the end of the day PJ had 15 aircraft, and 9 available.

At OJ engineers continued to the port (size 1, 82% (+14%)). It had 31 577 supplies (-182).

The troop convoy sent to PJ had still 4340 men aboard. All ships having finished unloading sailed back to Shikka with the slow CL and half of the ASW escort, while the other will probably finish to unload during the night. The supply-laden AK will be scattered in one-ship TF and their ASW escort will chase submarines during the night and sail to Shikka at dawn. Five submarines were seen off PJ, and two other off OJ, where another ASW TF will do a sweep during the night.

The SS I-174 arrived at OJ and loaded a squad of the 21st Eng Rgt left behind and will bring it to PJ.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

In the afternoon 14 B-25C from Kiriwima and 20 B-24D, 8 B-17E and 11 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 37 casualties and scored 4 hits on the airbase and 43 on the runways, 27 B-25C from Madang escorted by 13 Kittyhawk I and 8 P-38G attacked Wewak, did 25 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 18 on the runways and 35 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng and scored a hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 10 on the runways. During the day Allied patrol aircraft and 17 Beaufighter Mk 21 (10 from Kiriiwima and 7 from Madang) sank 2 barges off Rabaul and 2 off Emirau Island. Two Dinah III were shot down in the area by Allied fighters.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/86/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 610 supplies (-8) for 4501 (-30) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 95%, +2%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

Timor-DEI-Australia

A huge sweep was sent from Kai Island to Kendari with 103 P-38J but they met nothing in the air and returned to base minus one of their number, lost after engine failure. All was not bleak for Kai Island Allied fighters anyway, as they repeated the success of the previous day, shooting down both Dinah III sent to recon their base.
In the afternoon, 12 B-24D and 6 B-24J from Darwin raided Kendari (while at least as many got lost in clouds and turned back), did 13 casualties and scored 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 12 on the runways. Koepang was bombed by 16 B-25C from Derby and 15 B-17E from Darwin and reported 13 casualties, 4 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 24 on the runways, while Lautem was attacked by 14 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 4 Kittyhawk III that did 19 casualties and scored 1 hit on supplies and 11 on the runways. Japanese AA fire shot down a B-24J over Kendari and a PBY over Koepang.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 45% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 69/4/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 51/0/0, Lautem 86/23/38, Amboina 41/45/0 and Kendari 12/0/0, other bases undamaged.

A convoy will arrive tomorrow in Wasile (south of Morotai) with a Base Force prepared to hold this base. The Oscar of Menado will LRCAP the convoy.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 499 sorties today, 465 of them in Myitkyina area: 30 B-25J and 40 escorts from Imphal and Kohima on the airfield (35 hits on the runways), 145 fighter-bombers, 219 bombers and 31 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Ledo and Dacca against two divisions of the garrison (588 men and 14 guns hit), and 12 P-40N from Dacca escorted by 22 other attacked again the SNLF retreating NW of Akyab and scored this time (14 men and a gun hit). A B-24D, a B-17E, a B-25C and a Blenheim IV were lost in accidents, while a Dinah III was shot down over India by an Allied fighter.

And then the Allied troops launched another attack on the besieged city. For once they had received air support and the lack of supply finally undermined the resistance of the Japanese garrison. The Allied attack was cautious (deliberate) and so only advanced a little but could have achieved more, as their engineers blasted several Japanese strong points (reducing the fortification level to 3), opening the way to a successful attack (2863 Allied AV vs 1277 Japanese, adjusted to 2320 vs 593, ie 3 to 1). The defeated Japanese still suffered less losses (1046 men, 14 guns and 2 vehicles) than the attackers (3366 men, 110 guns and 8 vehicles) but two or three attacks like that will suffice to repulse them out of the city.
More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (26 Allied men hit), where 1258 Japanese AV (+4) faced 1997 Allied (+1).

The evening report showed damage of 100/99 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were zero supplies for needs of 12225 (+1694). Other bases were undamaged.

The new crisis in Myitkyina asked immediate counter-measures. The Japanese High Command hesitated in not sending reinforcements and fight at Katha with available troops (where fortifications won’t be reduced and troops will be supplied) while troops currently in Myitkyina will retreat SE, and so spend at least two months in the jungle before reaching Lashio. Finally it decided to try to hold Myitkyina and ordered the 17th Div and the 1st Tk Div to leave Katha and go to Myitkyina. An IJA BF left Mandalay to go also to the city and provide some AA defence (and also 30 more AV points).

24 Tabby flew to Mandalay and will carry supply to Myitkyina. And the IJAAF planned to fly over the threatened city in two days. Five Sentai of bombers will bomb Allied troops while both Tony Sentai based in Rangoon were rested today and will LRCAP Myitkyina from Lashio.

China

130 training and 31 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit 14 men for three operational losses (an A6M3a, a Kate and an Oscar II).

The 16th Mixed Bde that just received orders to go to Luzon received new orders given the new situation in Burma. It will prepare for Mandalay and go to Shanghai to be loaded in ships. Enough PP will be available to transfer it to Burma Army in ten days.

A Ki-48 Sentai will bomb tomorrow Yunan from Kweiyang to hinder Chinese operations SE of Myitkyina.

Japan

20 big and medium AP left Osaka with four escorts and sailed to Kwajalein. From there they will continue south and pick up two divisions in Luganville, Efate and Noumea and bring them to more important sectors.

The BB Yamashiro returned today in Tokyo with a TF mainly made of damage ships. She now was the last fully operational Japanese battleship and will wait here the KB.

There were now less than 100 Ki-44 Tojo in stock to replace losses and the factories in Gumma (size 38) and Tokyo (size 19) were ordered to restart production.

[String]

Could you give a short report on the strategic situation?

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: String

Could you give a short report on the strategic situation?

Hi String, nice to see you again here [:)]

There is a report of the strategic situation (with maps) on the page 29 of this AAR, posted when I restarted it. And there will be another on 1st November 1943.

27 October 1943

Northern Pacific

Japanese airmen flying recon and naval search confirmed that Allied CV were still there but suffered: two Dinah III and a G4M2 were shot down by Allied fighters in the area during the day.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 27 men, Japanese ones were 252 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 241 520 men (+969), 2404 guns (+13) and 565 vehicles (+2) for 4673 AV (+66) against 123 947 men (+4172), 1030 guns (+133) and 11 tankettes (+2) for 2377 AV (+38).

The evening report of PJ showed that damage had been repaired and that 619 (+87) engineers restarted building fortifications (now level 5, 7% (+13%)). The base had 31 840 supplies (+5654), 12 aircraft, and 10 available.

At OJ engineers continued to the port (size 1, 96% (+14%)). It had 31 358 supplies (-219).

As planned the troop convoy finished to land the last troops during the night and was now retiring to Shikka. Both ASW groups in the area will again sweep OJ waters tonight in the hope of catching an Allied submarine.

More west the other troops convoy reached Toyohara. Ships carrying troops of the 18th Div, 1st Parachute Rgt and all three Yokosuka parachute SNLF unloaded there, but those carrying troops of the 2nd Div instead loaded supplies and will sail to Marcus Island, the place this division was prepared to defend.
Both CV TF of the KB refuelled in Shikka and then sailed for Onimato. The KB will be rebuilt in the next months.
Four small AK started to load fuel in Toyohara and will bring it to OJ.

Japanese intelligence confirmed that the MSW USS Token, torpedoed on 30 August off PJ by KB airmen, had been scuttled.

Southern Pacific

As said yesterday, units holding Noumea, Luganville and Efate received new orders. The last two bases will only keep a small Base Force to defend themselves, Noumea will have the 65th Bde and a small Base Force.

All other forces (14th and 17th Army HQ, 53rd and 56th Div, a Tk Rgt, an Eng Rgt, an Aviation Rgt, two artillery units, three Const Bn) will prepare to move to Marianna Islands, except the Tk Rgt that will be sent to Burma.

All available transports in Noumea (seven small AP, under escort by the only available escort, a MSW) started to load two Const Bn, the Av Rgt and a part of the 17th Army HQ) and will bring them to the Mariannas via Tarawa.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

During the night 6 Ki-21 from Truk bombed Admiralty Islands airfield and were very successful: they destroyed a PB4Y on the ground, scored one hit on the runway, did 13 casualties and disabled a vehicle. Allied engineers expanded the size of this airfield to size 4 this day.

In the afternoon 23 B-25C from Kiriwima and 20 B-24D, 7 B-17E and 9 B-25C from Dobadura bombed Rabaul, did 5 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 53 on the runways, 36 B-25C from Madang escorted by 18 Corsair, 8 Kittyhawk I and 3 P-38G attacked Wewak and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 20 on the runways and 39 B-25J from Lae attacked Kavieng, wounded 6 men and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 7 on the runways. During the day Allied patrol aircraft sank a barge off Kavieng and damaged another off Rabaul while a Dinah III was shot down in the area by Allied fighters. On the other hand Japanese AA fire shot down a B-25C over Rabaul and a B-25J over Kavieng while two other B-25J were lost operationally.

Rabaul reported damage of 100/84/28 (airbase/runway/port) and 877 supplies (+267) for 4492 (-9) required, Kavieng repaired all damage and was still building fortifications (6, 97%, +2%) and Wewak also repaired all damage but still had no supplies.

Seven barges off Rabaul loaded 600 men of an Eng Rgt and will bring them to Green Island. The 16 Mavis transport seaplanes based in Ponape will start tomorrow to evacuate the Eng Rgt working in this base.

An ASW group was formed in Palau and will chase an Allied submarine seen today west of Ulithi, 120 miles east of Palau, with the help of all Betty based in the latter base.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 104 P-38J flew a sweep from Kai Island to Kendari, saw nothing and returned without one of their number lost to engine failure. In the afternoon, 25 B-24J, 24 B-24D and 19 B-17E from Darwin raided Kendari, destroyed on the ground two G4M1 Betty, did 100 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 12 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 74 on the runways. Koepang was bombed by 9 B-25C from Derby and reported 17 casualties, one hit on the airbase and 6 on the runways, while Lautem was attacked by 14 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 14 Kittyhawk III that did 30 casualties and scored 1 hit on the airbase and 12 on the runways. A B-24J was lost operationally, while Japanese AA fire shot down 2 PBY flying recon over Amboina and Timor.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 5, 50% (+5%)), Koepang had damage 56/0/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 41/0/0, Lautem 90/28/38, Amboina 41/38/0 and Kendari 28/48/0, other bases undamaged.

SRA

The Gold Convoy reached Tarakan, left there enough ships to load 64k oil and 49k resources and sailed to Balikpapan.

A convoy loaded 21k supplies in Taipei and will bring them to Mindanao.
Two small AK loaded supplies in Toboali and will bring them to Bali and Maumere.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 404 sorties today, 374 of them in Myitkyina area: 29 B-25J and 37 escorts from Imphal and Kohima on the airfield (2 hits on supplies and 18 on the runways), 122 fighter-bombers, 165 bombers and 21 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Ledo, Dimapur and Dacca against three divisions of the garrison (337 men and 3 guns hit), and 10 P-40N from Dacca escorted by 20 other bombed and missed the SNLF retreating NW of Akyab. A P-40N, a P-40E, a B-25J, a Vengeance I and a Thunderbolt II were lost in accidents.

The successful Allied troops didn’t stop after their advance of the day before and continue their attack on the besieged city. Allied engineers had suffered too far losses to continue to destroy Japanese fortifications but the Allied infantry managed to take some more hills (1887 Allied AV vs 1158 Japanese, adjusted to 1216 vs 1137, so 1 to 1, reducing fortifications level tp 2). These hills were taken after bloody hand-to-hand battles that saw the Japanese lose 1828 men, 22 guns and 2 vehicles and the Allied 2204 men, 60 guns and 18 vehicles.
More west Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (197 Allied men and a gun hit), where 874 Japanese AV (-384, as the 1st Tk Div had moved east towards Myitktyina) faced 1994 Allied (-3).

The evening report showed damage of 100/99 (airbase/runway) in Myitkyina. In this town there were zero supplies for needs of 12456 (+231). Other bases were undamaged.

The 1st Tk Div will reach Myitkyina tomorrow. Engineers here should rebuild fortifications (level was indicated as 2, 158% at the end of the turn, and was 2, 122% the turn before..) at least if the Allied attack fails or stops for one day.

Tomorrow the IJAAF will fly over Myitkyina. 63 Ki-61 flew from Rangoon to Lashio and will LRCAP the city and its defending unit. 48 Ki-49 and 23 Ki-21 also arrived in Lashio and will bombard Allied units near Myitkyina, together with 31 Ki-21 from Mandalay (that arrived this evening from Rangoon).

The 24 Tabby sent to Mandalay to carry supply to Myitkyina couldn’t fly there due to the state of the runway (and won’t drop supplies as there is a friendly base in the hex, grrr…). To try to win some days they will drop troops of the 2nd Para Rgt on the trail from Ledo to cut the Allied supply path. Recon aircraft flew over this area today and counted 7 Allied units just north of Myitkyina and 12 more north, so the drop will be done just north of the city.

More south the Const Bn of the Akyab garrison finished to be evacuated by air to Rangoon and will go to Bangkok to build fortifications. The two Thora Chutai that flew this evacuation flew back to Bangkok too.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Rahaeng, in northern Siam, to size 3 today.

China

138 training and 31 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, and hit nothing for three operational losses (two A6M3a and an A6M5).

Japan

The Emily factory in Osaka was restarted as there was almost no more replacement aircraft in the reserve (only 8 remaining).

A convoy left Nagoya with 72k fuel and will bring them to Saipan and Guam.