Today we really traded blows.
The first day saw failed surface action from my two SCTFs. Then the KB cleaned out the seas around Fiji. My Wildcats did put up a fight and we managed to shoot down 15-something Vals and Kates, but we were unable to protect the convoy unloading at Suva. All transports were sunk and they had not unloaded any heavy equipment. Losses were severe in support troops and guns. But we did get the sharp end of the regiment ashore, around 150 AV or so.
By that time, the turn looked grim. Then, a sub put a torpedo into the Akagi (unconfirmed). But what really changed was when my carriers swung around in behind the KB and found a really big troop transport. The Jap losses seem to be at least a regiment. Meanwhile 25th Army division finished unloading at Pago-Pago. Im starting to feel more secure there now with over 500 AV.
Perhaps he will take Fiji in the end, but the cost for it will be heavy indeed.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 22, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Yasawa Islands at 128,157, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
CA Kinugasa
CL Abukuma
CL Oi, Shell hits 2
DD Kagero
DD Shiranui
DD Tanikaze
DD Hatsuharu
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
DD Lamson
DD Crane, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kilty
Low visibility due to Rain with 28% moonlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Yasawa Islands at 128,156, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Yugure
DD Ariake
E Hachijo
E Kunashiri
E Ishigaki
DMS W-7
PB Chiyo Maru #4
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DD Lamson
DD Crane, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kilty, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Yasawa Islands at 129,156, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1
DD Ariake
E Hachijo
E Kunashiri
E Ishigaki
DMS W-7, Shell hits 1
PB Chiyo Maru #4
Allied Ships
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CA Chicago, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lamson, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Crane, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kilty, Shell hits 1
Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 12,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CL Kashima fires at CA Chester at 12,000 yards
DD Yugure launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Chicago at 12,000 yards
DD Shigure launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Crane at 12,000 yards
DD Crane sunk by DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 126,155
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A1 Val x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Anderson
CL Trenton, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
DD Sims, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N1 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Mustin
xAP President Tyler, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP President Fillmore
AP Henderson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP President Buchanan, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
Allied ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 130,156
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 25
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kilty, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 131,156
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A1 Val x 17
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
CA Chester, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 126,155
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
D3A1 Val x 36
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Hammann, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Anderson, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Trenton, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sims, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hughes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 126,155
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Hammann, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Hughes
DD Sims, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 126,155
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 25
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Allied Ships
DD Hughes, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Trenton, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Sims, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Anderson, heavy fires
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A1 Val x 12
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Russell
xAP President Tyler, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mustin
Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 126,155
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A1 Val x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Anderson, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 56
D3A1 Val x 35
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAP President Taylor, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP President Fillmore, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Russell, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Henderson, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP President Buchanan, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP President Tyler, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Mustin
Allied ground losses:
2332 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 146 destroyed, 268 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 140 (100 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (32 destroyed, 11 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 38851 troops, 195 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1401
Defending force 11282 troops, 102 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 393
Allied adjusted assault: 1241
Japanese adjusted defense: 427
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
3227 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 16 (9 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Allied ground losses:
2030 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 205 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 182 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
88th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
Bataan USN Base Force
32nd Group Army
25th Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force
Defending units:
22nd Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 23, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Nadi at 130,160
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1
BB Hiei
DD Oboro
DD Asagao
DD Okikaze
DD Sazanami
Allied Ships
SS Triton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A1 Val x 12
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Mustin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Funafuti at 129,147
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
SBD-2 Dauntless x 41
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17
TBD-1 Devastator x 25
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
E Ishigaki, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu
xAK Josho Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hoten Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tomitu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-7
xAK Midori Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Iwaki Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Manila Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Nichiyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shigure
xAK Teisen Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Hokuroku Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Ariake, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Hoko, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Taito Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
2418 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 232 destroyed, 141 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 88 (73 destroyed, 15 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 129,150
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Funafuti at 129,147
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 13
Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAP Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAP Hoten Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Montreal Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire
xAK Taito Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
3632 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
