1942 July 02
INVADED
Amphibious TF 50 offshore of Bara
Amphibious TF 114 offshore of Misool
Changsha, Mengtze, Urumchi are invested.
CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Port Blair is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sian !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pamekasan !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sinabang !!!
Overall
• KB2 3 hexes WSW of Darwin: 4x CVL, 1x CVE; 10F, 27B.
• Upgraded the Hornet torpedo group to Avengers; the only Devastator group remaining is on board Wasp.
• We're sending a SCTF to test of Imperial search up to Midway and straight west to 11 hexes from Wake Island. 3 old CL and 4 old DD.
• An AP at Pearl Harbor is ordered to withdraw in 42 days, as is another in 47 days, and another in 70 days. One replacement arrives in 67 days. The scale of Cantankerous Olfactory would start to be crimped if we cannot commence in time. Where is KB1?
West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near Pearl Harbor, San Francisco. At least two sub TF's near SF,
• All convoys but one report no contacts.
• These two fast movers came home with no escort and got lucky!
Submarine attack near San Francisco at 216,73
Japanese Ships
SS I-6
Allied Ships
xAP President Coolidge
xAP President Coolidge is sighted by SS I-6
SS I-6 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP President Coolidge
Pacific
• No enemy sub activity reported.
• All convoys report no contacts.
New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Sydney, Melbourne, Aoba Island.
• All convoys report no contacts.
• Losses today 4x Zero's, 1x Nick versus 1x B-17 (written off, crew safe). I looked it up: that model of the Nick has 7 hex normal range without drop tanks (believed unavailable this date) so the Nick's on CAP here could be coming from Wyndham in addition to Katherine. Wyndham is a size 1 airbase and I'm not certain if LRCAP is even allowed to function from size 1.
Morning Air attack on 8th Cav Recce Regiment, at 76,126 (Fenton)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Morning Air attack on Katherine RAAF Base Force, at 76,127 , near Katherine
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 10
D3A1 Val x 5
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking 19th Australian Battalion ...
Also attacking Katherine RAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 19th Australian Battalion ...
Morning Air attack on 4th Division, at 76,128 (Katherine)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 12 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
16th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
Also attacking 8th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 47th Infantry Regiment ...
Morning Air attack on 4th Division, at 76,128 (Katherine)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 102 minutes
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Raid is overhead
16th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
• Could have sworn one went right under the carrier...
Sub attack near Darwin at 73,125
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo
DD Minegumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Shikinami
DD Hibiki
Allied Ships
SS Seawolf, hits 1
SS Seawolf launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo
Seawolf bottoming out ....
DD Shikinami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hibiki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hibiki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hibiki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hibiki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hibiki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hibiki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
• Although I had hoped the infantry would retreat to force a later battle the destruction of both defenders was the most likely outcome. The surprise here was the infantry regiment accompanied the division; apparently there will be no defense of Katherine by the Empire, at least not with forces now in the vicinity.
Ground combat at 76,127 (near Katherine)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 15505 troops, 123 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 468
Defending force 1143 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22
Japanese adjusted assault: 162
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 162 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
326 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
709 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Assaulting units:
4th Division
47th Infantry Regiment
Defending units:
19th Australian Battalion
Katherine RAAF Base Force
• The Imperial tanks at Katherine continue to show movement NW; with all the Imperial infantry across the river our two nearby armour units are moving in as fast as possible; the B-17's will recalibrate to ensure all target the armoured unit still in Katherine. Maybe we can give them a bloody nose.
• At Port Hedland is a 3-ship TF with 1x CS; just passing Broome heading west is a 6-ship convoy with 2x CA, 2x APD, 2x xAP.
• It looks like the Empire is counting on an easy capture of Darwin (a good bet) and supplying/evacuating via sea. After we liberate Katherine fighter support for their forces closing on Darwin will primarily be from KB2. With KB2 promised to be tethered to the coast for even longer we have dispatched additional subs to hunt carriers. Some left yesterday but with today's developments all remaining long range subs at Brisbane have sortied and several subs already on patrol have been re-tasked.
Philippines
DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya
• Radio Pamekasan has gone off the air!
Ground combat at Pamekasan (57,105)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 9272 troops, 101 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 256
Defending force 611 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 123
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 123 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pamekasan !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
873 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
38th Division
Defending units:
III/IV Barisan Cdo
China
• Disaster.
Ground combat at Sian (83,41)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 95679 troops, 932 guns, 1013 vehicles, Assault Value = 2726
Defending force 90248 troops, 202 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1432
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 2116
Allied adjusted defense: 504
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sian !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
4319 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 334 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 171 (8 destroyed, 163 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
41935 casualties reported
Squads: 992 destroyed, 276 disabled
Non Combat: 1570 destroyed, 146 disabled
Engineers: 73 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 59 (32 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Units retreated 46
Units destroyed 4
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment
36th Division
15th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
17th Division
41st Division
25th Division
37th Division
34th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Division
11th Tank Regiment
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
16th Chinese/B Corps
81st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese/C Corps
12th Chinese/C Corps
12th Chinese/B Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry/B Corps
93rd Chinese/B Corps
57th Chinese/A Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry/A Corps
27th Chinese/B Corps
57th Chinese/B Corps
51st Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
38th Chinese/C Corps
98th Chinese/A Corps
93rd Chinese/A Corps
92nd Chinese/B Corps
16th Chinese/A Corps
93rd Chinese/C Corps
27th Chinese/A Corps
61st Chinese/C Corps
12th Chinese/A Corps
38th Chinese/A Corps
98th Chinese/B Corps
61st Chinese/A Corps
16th Chinese/C Corps
88th Chinese/B Corps
35th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
33rd Chinese/A Corps
33rd Chinese/B Corps
88th Chinese/A Corps
27th Chinese/C Corps
9th Chinese/A Corps
9th Chinese/B Corps
92nd Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese/C Corps
4th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force
38th Chinese/B Corps
15th Chinese Base Force
120th Red Chinese Division
61st Chinese/B Corps
Red Chinese Army
13th Group Army
98th Chinese/C Corps
9th Chinese/C Corps
33rd Chinese/C Corps
37th Group Army
4th Chinese Cavalry/C Corps
569 AV remains and all units are marching SW to the forest and friendly forces holding passage. Most or all will not make it.
• They almost held...
Ground combat at 81,43 (near Ankang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 42115 troops, 348 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 1695
Defending force 7 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1193
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 1193 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:
Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
32nd Division
61st Infantry Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Division
24th Division
Defending units:
5th New Chinese Corps
• Supply airlift formerly to Sian is shifting to Ankang. C-47 unit which participated is moving back to Ledo.
India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• Enemy sub activity near Karachi.
• A sub mine laying mission has been dispatched to Rangoon.
Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia
Complete combat report attached.