Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Darwin recaptured [closed]

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 18/19, 1943

Highlights: Wyndam recaptured, Darwin bombarded

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Wyndham !!!

Enemy ships sunk:
PB Ansyu Maru is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Jan 19, 1943
PB Senyo Maru is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Jan 19, 1943

Japanese Home Islands:
SS Tuna has found a fat convoy including huge Tonan Maru class tankers near Saishu To, but heavy escort (including a CS) prevented a success. She encountered a second convoy and torpedoed xAK Calcutta Maru.

Northwestern Australia:
Night-bombing Dutch B-25 destroyed a Zero on the ground at Broome.
The RN bombarded Broome with 1 BB, 4 CA and 2 CL with good results.

Northern Australia:
A USN cruiser SAG (CA, 5 CL, DDs, 2 DMS) have bombarded Darwin, sinking two PBs on the way in and giving the base a good pasting.
The 194th Tank Battalion has captured virtually undefended Wyndam - only remnants of an airbase service coy encountered. Recon had shown minimum forces present so the Tank Bn raided the place on its own.
Gove expands airfield to size 3

SWPac:
Milne Bay bombing runs surprised by Japanese LRCAP - Tojos and Nicks. A dozen B-17s damaged, one Wirraway lost.
Port Moresby expands airfield to size 8

SoPac:
Efate bombarded by five CAs

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

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Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 41 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-48-IIa Lily: 80 damaged
      Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 35 damaged
      Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground
      E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged
      E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      CA Wichita
      CL Nashville
      CL Phoenix
      CL Honolulu
      CL Helena
      CL St. Louis
      DD Maury
      DD Gridley
      DD Jarvis
      DD Patterson
      DD Blue
      DD Bagley
      DMS Perry
      DMS Boggs
      DMS Zane
 
Japanese ground losses:
      328 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 34 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
 
Resources hits 4
Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 62
Port hits 38
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 4
 
CA Wichita firing at Darwin 
CL Nashville firing at Darwin 
CL Phoenix firing at Darwin 
CL Honolulu firing at Darwin 
CL Helena firing at Darwin 
CL St. Louis firing at Darwin 
DD Maury firing at Darwin 
DD Gridley firing at Darwin 
DD Jarvis firing at Darwin 
DD Patterson firing at Darwin 
DD Blue firing at Darwin 
DD Bagley firing at Darwin 
DMS Perry firing at Darwin 
DMS Boggs firing at Darwin 
DMS Zane firing at Darwin 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Broome at 62,127
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 7 damaged
      Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      BB Resolution
      CA Hawkins
      CA Exeter
      CA Devonshire
      CA Dorsetshire
      CL Birmingham
      CL Adelaide
 
Japanese ground losses:
      385 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
 
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 14
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2
 
BB Resolution firing at Broome 
CA Hawkins firing at Broome 
CA Exeter firing at 56th/C Division
CA Devonshire firing at Broome 
CA Dorsetshire firing at Broome 
CL Birmingham firing at Broome 
CL Adelaide firing at Broome 

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 20/21, 1943

Highlights: Enter F4U Corsair

Japanese Home Islands:
Lots of ASW attacks by alert escorts, no success.

Japanese SRA:
SS Trusty lays minefield at Bengkalis ( 48 , 82) and sets course for Colombo

CBI:
Another Allied DA near Kalemyo resulting in almost equal casualties on both side. Ground war clearly stalled in Burma.
I have a full Corps in reserve at Colombo, maybe a landing at Ramree could break the stalemate. However, that would require the transfer of numerous USN assets into the IO - mmh...

Northern Australia:
Gove expands port to size 3

SWPac:
Combat debut of the F4U Corsair over Milne Bay against the Japanese LRCAP - one Tojo and one Nick downed, no losses.

SoPac:
Allied Ships Bombarding Efate
Pago Pago expands airfield to size 6
Tahiti expands airfield to size 6

Intel:
2nd Tank/A Division is planning for an attack on Port Hedland.
33rd/A Division is planning for an attack on Akyab.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Efate at 120,154
 
Allied Ships
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
 
Japanese ground losses:
      59 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 1
 
CA Quincy firing at 88th Naval Guard Unit
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA San Francisco
CA San Francisco firing at 88th Naval Guard Unit
CA Minneapolis firing at Efate 
CA Astoria firing at 88th Naval Guard Unit
CA New Orleans firing at Efate 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 58,44 (near Kalemyo)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 34196 troops, 507 guns, 638 vehicles, Assault Value = 1160
 
Defending force 12996 troops, 100 guns, 99 vehicles, Assault Value = 420
 
Allied adjusted assault: 788 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1141 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      646 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 63 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 41 (1 destroyed, 40 disabled)
 
Allied ground losses:
      710 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 144 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Engineers: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
      Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    22nd (East African) Brigade
    268th Motorised Brigade
    46th Indian Brigade
    9th Indian Division
    75th IAC Regiment
    26th Indian Division
    IV Indian Corps
    6th Medium Regiment
    28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    XXXIII Indian Corps
    21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
 
Defending units:
    14th Tank Regiment
    Imperial Guards/B Division
    33rd/C Division
    Imperial Guards/C Division

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 22/23, 1943

Highlights: Milne Bay invaded

Enemy ships sunk:
xAK Burma Maru is reported to have been sunk by a sub near Tourane on Jan 23, 1943

CBI:
Warazup expands airfield to size 4, increasing the potential supply draw to 500.

Northwestern Australia:
Escorted Vals have attacked the RN retiring from Broome to Port Hedland - LBA or CV air is not known. Three Vals splashed by AA and one bomb hit one BB Resolution.
Alas, this was followed-up by Betties which added two torpedo hits on Resolution, one on CA Hawkins and another on CL Adelaide.
SS RO-62 then added another torpedo hit on CA Hawkins just off Port Hedland.
The cripples hide under CAP at Port Hedland.

Northern Australia:
While tanks chase a lone IJA Inf Bn (the ex-garrison of Gove) east of Katherine, the main force has reached Fenton.

SWPac:
Milne Bay invaded by the Australian 8th Division plus support with heavy escort including BBs Maryland and Colorado and several CVEs. Enemy subs tried to interfere numerous times but in vain.
P-38s swept Gasmata in support, 5 Tojos downed for 1 P-38 lost. B-17s followed-up, cratering the runway and destroying two Val and two Kates on the ground.
A FUBAR in planing sent the medium and light LBA bombers to Lae instead of Milne Bay - unescorted. Or was it a not-so-clever deception plan? In any case, 23 bombers lost - as well as the head of the staff member responsible.

SoPac:
Luganville has been bombarded by 5 CAs with excellent results - six planes destroyed, numerous airbase and port hits, 500 men killed.
Tanna expands airfield to size 5

Intel:
2/4th/B Division is loaded on xAP Hikawa Maru moving to Lae.
DD Shiratsuyu is reported to have been sunk near Lifou on Dec 04, 1942

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

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Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 94 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed on ground
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 24 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 9 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 14 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
 
Japanese ground losses:
      494 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 54 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
      Guns lost 25 (5 destroyed, 20 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 64
Port hits 28
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 2
 
CA Quincy firing at Luganville 
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA San Francisco
CA San Francisco firing at Luganville 
CA Minneapolis firing at Luganville 
CA Astoria firing at Luganville 
CA New Orleans firing at Luganville 

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 24/25, 1943

Highlights: Allies advancing in small steps

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!
Allied forces CAPTURE Fenton !!!

Enemy ships sunk:
Agent report that PB Ichiyu Maru has hit a mine at Bengkalis, leaving the ship dead in the water and burning - it has most likely gone down

CBI:
Bhamo on the Ledo Road expands airfield to size 3 - more for the supply cap than for air ops.
Another DA near Kalemyo ended in disaster with heavy Allied losses, despite all the air support in theatre.

Northwestern Australia:
Zeros swept Port Hedland, 2 Zeros downed for 1 Spitfire lost

Northern Australia:
Fenton falls in the second DA. Next stop Darwin!

SWPac:
A few Betties and Kates have night-attacked the invasion force at Milne Bay without success.
Several IJN subs tried their luck as well for naught and some depth charges for good measure
LBA and carrier air pounded the enemy ground forces at Milne Bay and the Australians had little trouble to take the base, the defenders have been bombed and shelled into submission.

Homefront / Rear areas:
VMSB-143 attains carrier trained status on Copahee

Intel:
56th/C Division is located at Broome(62,127) - not for long I hope.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 11882 troops, 293 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 366
 
Defending force 5825 troops, 45 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 172
 
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2
 
Allied adjusted assault: 578 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 67 
 
Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), supply(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      690 casualties reported
         Squads: 5 destroyed, 42 disabled
         Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 10 (7 destroyed, 3 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
Allied ground losses:
      118 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
    8th Australian Division
    2/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
    II Australian 
    21/22 Field Regiment
    13th Field Regiment
    1st Medium Regiment
    3rd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
    2nd Medium Regiment
    208th Coast AA Regiment
    2/1st Med Regiment
    22nd Base Group 
    34th Australian Lt AA Regiment
 
Defending units:
    Kure 5th SNLF
    18th/C Division
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 58,44 (near Kalemyo)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 33683 troops, 507 guns, 638 vehicles, Assault Value = 1090
 
Defending force 12847 troops, 100 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 389
 
Allied adjusted assault: 748 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1133 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      128 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
      Vehicles lost 32 (24 destroyed, 8 disabled)
 
Allied ground losses:
      1242 casualties reported
         Squads: 28 destroyed, 137 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    46th Indian Brigade
    268th Motorised Brigade
    9th Indian Division
    22nd (East African) Brigade
    75th IAC Regiment
    26th Indian Division
    XXXIII Indian Corps
    6th Medium Regiment
    IV Indian Corps
    25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
 
Defending units:
    14th Tank Regiment
    Imperial Guards/B Division
    33rd/C Division
    Imperial Guards/C Division	
	
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Fenton (76,126)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 5895 troops, 92 guns, 515 vehicles, Assault Value = 329
 
Defending force 4937 troops, 27 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 72
 
Allied adjusted assault: 295 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 35 
 
Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Fenton !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1773 casualties reported
         Squads: 74 destroyed, 17 disabled
         Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 9 disabled
         Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units retreated 2
 
Allied ground losses:
      43 casualties reported
         Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)
 
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
    637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
    2/9th Armoured Regiment
    2/7th Armoured Regiment
    6th Aus Cav Brigade
    2/16th Field Regiment
    109th Anti Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    II/124th Infantry Battalion
    56th/A Division
    8th Field Construction Battalion

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 26/27, 1943

Highlights: Very quiet!

Allied ships lost:
Loss of xAPc MMS-107 on Jan 27, 1943 is admitted, sunk by SS I-22 near Cochin

Northern Australia:
Armoured forces continue to harass the IJA Inf Bn east of Katherine.

SWPac:
Mopping-up at Milne Bay, surprisingly weak reaction, just a dozen Zeros sweeping.

Intel:
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Tulagi (114,137).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Truk (112,108).
Mmh, Combined Fleet getting ready to counter-attack at Milne Bay?

Selected action reports:
-

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 28/29, 1943

Highlights: Lots of action in NW Australia

Allied ships lost:
Loss of LCM-89 on Jan 28, 1943 is admitted
Loss of LCM 532A on Jan 28, 1943 is admitted
Loss of LCM 532B on Jan 28, 1943 is admitted
Loss of AM Pieter de Bitter on Jan 28, 1943 is admitted
AM Abraham Crijnssen sunk by I-172 near Port Hedland

Northwestern Australia:
Vals surprised a coastal convoy shuttling supplies to the Australians near Broome, sinking some small fry and a Dutch minesweeper. Spits on CAP extracted some revenge, 3 Zeros and 2 Vals downed.
Another Dutch minesweeper fell victim to a sub off Port Hedland.
At Exmouth, a midget sub attack - probably looking to finish-off the RN ships recently damaged by bombs and torps - failed in the protective minefields.

Northern Australia:
Gove expands airfield to size 4.

SWPac:
Mopping-up continues - Kure 5th SNLF wiped out at Milne Bay by attrition.
SS S-18 has torpedoed SS I-23 near Umboi Island, but the big sub may have survived (once again).
Milne Bay expands airfield to size 1.
Port Moresby expands airfield to size 9.

SoPac:
Just some sub contacts, while the invasion force for Efate is preparing.

Intel:
Previous report of sinking of SS I-23 incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 100, 125
8th/C Division is loaded on xAP Atsuta Maru moving to Rabaul.
1/8th/C Division is loaded on xAP Ussuri Maru moving to Rabaul.
Agents report that DD Hokaze has hit a mine off Balikpapan, suffering heavy damage.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 58,128
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M5 Zero x 6
      D3A1 Val x 5
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied Ships
      LCM-89, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LCM 532B, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      AM Pieter de Bitter
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 58,128
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M5 Zero x 12
      D3A1 Val x 5
 
Allied aircraft
      Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
      D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed
 
No Allied losses
 
Allied Ships
      LCM 532A, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      AM Pieter de Bitter, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
			   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub vs Sub: SS S-18 attacking SS I-23  at 100,125  - near Umboi Island
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-23, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
      SS S-18
 
SS S-18 launches 4 torpedoes at 4,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Hedland  at 58,128
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-172
 
Allied Ships
      AM Abraham Crijnssen, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
      LCM 532E
      LCT-61
      LCVP 532P
      LCVP 532G
      PC Carroo
 
SS I-172 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Abraham Crijnssen
PC Carroo fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Carroo fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Carroo fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Carroo fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Carroo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 138 encounters mine field at Exmouth (50,129)
 
Japanese Ships
      SSX Ha-24, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 138 encounters mine field at Exmouth (50,129)
 
Japanese Ships
      SSX Ha-24, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage

[LargeSlowTarget]

January 30/31, 1943

Highlights: Bad turn for the Japanese air forces

Allied ships lost:
Loss of AVD Gillis on Jan 31, 1943 is admitted, sunk by SS I-19 near Tanna.

CBI:
Katha expands airfield to size 4 - again for increasing the supply cap.
The usual Allied sweeps and bombing attacks at 58,44 near Kalemyo have encountered LRCAP this turn, the Japanese lost 25, the Allies 15 planes.

Northwestern Australia:
Near Broome, the Australian troops have destroyed an IJA tank regiment.

SWPac:
The Japanese have launched an aerial counterattack against Milne Bay with Zeros, Oscars, Nells and Betties. 11 fighters and 24 bombers splashed for 5 Allied fighters lost, no damage to shipping.
Ground combat at Milne Bay ended with the elimination of the last remnants of the Japanese garrison.
4 B-26s lost over Lae due to botched orders.

SoPac:
Luganville bombarded with great effect by 5 CAs.
Efate bombed by four squadrons of B-24 in order to soften-up the defenders.

Intel:
Previous report of sinking of SS I-174 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
2/8th/C Division is loaded on xAP Atsuta Maru moving to Kavieng.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M5 Zero x 45
      G4M1 Betty x 20
      Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 42
 
Allied aircraft
      P-39D Airacobra x 8
      P-40E Warhawk x 23
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 63
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
      G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed
      G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
      Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      BB Mississippi
      CVE Sangamon
	  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 62,128 (near Broome)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 9914 troops, 141 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 348
 
Defending force 324 troops, 0 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
 
Allied adjusted assault: 190 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1 
 
Allied assault odds: 190 to 1 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 95 (95 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
Allied ground losses:
      83 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    13th Australian Brigade
    3rd Motor Brigade
    3rd Australian Brigade
    III Australian 
 
Defending units:
    4th Tank Regiment
	
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 11 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 12 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 59 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed on ground
      D3A1 Val: 11 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
 
Japanese ground losses:
      361 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
      Guns lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 26
Port hits 23
Port supply hits 4
 
CA Quincy firing at 14th/B Division
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA San Francisco
CA San Francisco firing at Luganville 
CA Minneapolis firing at Luganville 
CA Astoria firing at Luganville 
CA New Orleans firing at 14th/A Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 12782 troops, 300 guns, 225 vehicles, Assault Value = 329
 
Defending force 2576 troops, 13 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
 
Allied adjusted assault: 257 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1 
 
Allied assault odds: 257 to 1 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
 supply(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      3623 casualties reported
         Squads: 91 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 185 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
Allied ground losses:
      7 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
    8th Australian Division
    208th Coast AA Regiment
    21/22 Field Regiment
    2/1st Med Regiment
    2/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
    34th Australian Lt AA Regiment
    II Australian 
    13th Field Regiment
    1st Medium Regiment
    3rd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
    22nd Base Group 
    2nd Medium Regiment
    18th US Naval Construction Battalion
 
Defending units:
    18th/C Division

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 01/02, 1943

Highlights: Efate invaded

Bases liberated:
Goodenough Island is occupied by the Allies

Allied ships lost:
SS Trout bombed and sunk.

Enemy ships sunk:
PB Hakkaisan Maru is reported to have been sunk near Santa Maria on Feb 01, 1943
xAK Mantai Maru is reported to have been sunk near Shanghai by SS Whale on Feb 02, 1943
TK Taijima Maru is reported to have been sunk near Singkep by SS Searaven on Feb 02, 1943

Japanese Home Islands:
SS Whale in form off Shanghai, four hits in three attacks on two ships, sinking one.

Japanese SRA:
SS Saury collected 7 hits in an ASW attack off Soerabaya - survival in doubt.

CBI:
Lilies bombed Chinese troops west of Mandalay, causing 200 casualties.
SE of Lashio, Chinese troops and an Indian Bn shock-attacked two-thirds of the Thai 6th Division without much success. The attempt to outflank Lashio from the south has been stalled.

Northwestern Australia:
I-9 collected 6 hits trying to attack what's left of the RN near Carnarvon.

Northern Australia:
III/124th Infantry Battalion eliminated by 2/11th Armoured Car Regiment in the open terrain east of Fenton.

SWPac:
Buna expands airfield to size 1
Milne Bay expands port to size 1
Allied Ships Bombarding Fergusson Island (CA, 4 CL, DDs) causing 79 casualties.
Milne Bay swept by Zeros, one Zero downed for 3 Allied fighters lost.

SoPac:
Focus Efate:
Bombed by four squadrons of Liberators.
Bombarded by 5 CA causing 64 casualties.
Finally invaded by a reinforced US RCT.
Transports flying to Efate intercepted by VMF-123 - probably attempts to evacuate or to send supplies for a last stand.
DM Tracy layed minefield at Vanua Lava north of Luganville, sinking a PB on the way near Santa Maria

Intel:
Previous report of sinking of SS I-5 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
xAP Naminoue Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Sep 30, 1942

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

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Sub attack near Shanghai  at 95,55
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Mantai Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
      SC Ch 11
      xAK Heian Maru
      xAK Enzyu Maru
      xAK Bengal Maru
      PB Shirogane Maru
 
Allied Ships
      SS Whale
 
SS Whale launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Mantai Maru
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Shanghai  at 95,55
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Mantai Maru, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
      SS Whale
 
xAK Mantai Maru is sighted by SS Whale
SS Whale launches 2 torpedoes
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Shanghai  at 95,55
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Kasagi Maru, Torpedo hits 1
      xAK Toyama Maru
      xAK Tasmania Maru
      SC Ch 32
 
Allied Ships
      SS Whale
 
SS Whale launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kasagi Maru
Whale bottoming out ....
SC Ch 32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 03/04, 1943

Highlights: Efate taken

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Efate !!!

Allied ships lost:
Loss of xAK Robert Luckenbach on Feb 03, 1943 is admitted
SS Whale sinks at sea, victim of enemy ASW

CBI:
Despite heavy air support, the British-Indian troops in the jungles south of Kalemyo made little progress against the enemy, a deliberate attack failed with twice as much losses suffered than inflicted.

Northwestern Australia:
Port Hedland expands airfield to size 7
The Australian near Broome suffer from enemy air attacks, but they are too far for LRCAP and have to bear it. I hope this will motivate them to capture Broome quickly!

SWPac:
Salamaua bombed repeatedly, a deliberate attack resulted in equal losses in this war of attrition.
Milne Bay expands airfield to size 2

SoPac:
Efate bombed, bombarded and taken easily.
Six Kates tried a counter-attack at night without success.
Luganville bombarded by CAs in support with good results.
SS I-6 found lurking off Tahiti the hard way, sinking a large xAK.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Salamaua (98,127)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 22408 troops, 385 guns, 463 vehicles, Assault Value = 761
 
Defending force 16883 troops, 108 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 493
 
Allied adjusted assault: 342 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 3796 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 11 (fort level 3) 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      647 casualties reported
         Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Engineers: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
 
Allied ground losses:
      617 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 94 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
      Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 71 (11 destroyed, 60 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    763rd Tank Battalion
    27th Infantry Division
    193rd Tank Battalion
    754th Tank Battalion
    7th Australian/A Division
    7th Australian/B Division
    131st Field Artillery Battalion
    260th Field Artillery Battalion
    134th Field Artillery Battalion
 
Defending units:
    2nd Raiding Regiment
    11th Tank Regiment
    4th/B Division
    18th/B Division
    4th/C Division
    2nd Army
	
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 58,44 (near Kalemyo)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 25942 troops, 413 guns, 545 vehicles, Assault Value = 1007
 
Defending force 12916 troops, 100 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 398
 
Allied adjusted assault: 537 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 753 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      289 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      567 casualties reported
         Squads: 7 destroyed, 172 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
      Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 33 (3 destroyed, 30 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    9th Indian Division
    46th Indian Brigade
    75th IAC Regiment
    22nd (East African) Brigade
    268th Motorised Brigade
    26th Indian Division
    XXXIII Indian Corps
    6th Medium Regiment
    21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    IV Indian Corps
    25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
    26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
 
Defending units:
    33rd/C Division
    Imperial Guards/B Division
    14th Tank Regiment
    Imperial Guards/C Division
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 73 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
      D3A1 Val: 13 damaged
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 21 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
      DD Perkins
      DD Cushing
      DD Conyngham
      DD Lamson
      DD Mahan
      DD Lang
      DD Wilson
      DD Sterett
      DD Stack
      DD Fanning
      DD Ellet
      DD Benham
      DMS Hopkins
      DMS Trevor
 
Japanese ground losses:
      284 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 55 disabled
         Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
      Guns lost 39 (13 destroyed, 26 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 58
Port hits 11
 
CA Quincy firing at Luganville 
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA San Francisco
CA San Francisco firing at Luganville 
CA Minneapolis firing at Luganville 
CA Astoria firing at Luganville 
CA New Orleans firing at Luganville 
DD Perkins firing at Luganville 
DD Cushing firing at Luganville 
DD Conyngham firing at Luganville 
DD Lamson firing at 23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
DD Mahan firing at Luganville 
DD Lang firing at Luganville 
DD Wilson firing at Luganville 
DD Sterett firing at Luganville 
DD Stack firing at Luganville 
DD Fanning firing at Luganville 
DD Ellet firing at Luganville 
DD Benham firing at 14th/A Division
DMS Hopkins firing at Luganville 
DMS Trevor firing at 14th/B Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 62,128 , near Broome
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied ground losses:
      120 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 13th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking 13th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Brigade ...
  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 62,128 , near Broome
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 13
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied ground losses:
      100 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
			   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Efate (120,154)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 2712 troops, 56 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 152
 
Defending force 1266 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
 
Allied adjusted assault: 29 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1 
 
Allied assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 1) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Efate !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
 fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      120 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      24 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    112th Cavalry Regiment
    35th Base Group 
    8th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
    22nd US Naval Construction Battalion
    1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
    19th US Naval Construction Battalion
    23rd US Naval Construction Battalion
    21st US Naval Construction Battalion
    76th Coast AA Regiment
    12th Marine Defense Battalion
    24th US Naval Construction Battalion
 
Defending units:
    88th Naval Guard Unit
    III/84th Nav Gd /1

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 05/06, 1943

Highlights: Air battles in Burma and PNG

Bases liberated:
Ambrym is occupied by the Allies

CBI:
Chinese troops operating between Shwebo and Magwe are being threatened by enemy armor, air strikes in ground support have met a robust CAP of A6M5, Ki-43-IIIa and Ki-44-IIb.
Escorts downed 10 enemy fighters, the Allies lost 4 fighters and 19 bombers. Surprisingly, the Chinese managed to beat-off a shock attack.

SWPac:
Milne Bay expands airfield to size 3
Milne Bay expands port to size 2
Fur-ball over Salamaua as Allied sweeps tangle with enemy CAP - the Lightnings carry the day, losses 19:3 and a couple of fresh aces:
2LT Edwards K. of 49th FG/9th FS attains ace status!!
2LT Houseman, E. of 49th FG/9th FS attains ace status!!
2LT Anderson L. of 35th FG/39th FS attains ace status!!
1LT Donahue H. of 35th FG/39th FS attains ace status!!
2LT Wang, K. of 35th FG/39th FS attains ace status!!

SoPac:
Efate expands port to size 2
Mopping-up on the ground continues
A Zero sweep over Efate has cost the Allies a Wildcat on CAP provided by CVEs offshore.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 57,45 (near Magwe)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 2541 troops, 43 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 103
 
Defending force 3424 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 159
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1 
 
Allied adjusted defense: 138 
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 138 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      414 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
      Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
 
Allied ground losses:
      23 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    2nd Tank/A Division
 
Defending units:
    7th New Chinese Corps

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 07/08, 1943

Highlights: Saw sub, sank same

Bases liberated:
Nookanbah is occupied by the Allies

Allied ships lost:
AMC Pansy sunk by I-22 near Karachi
TK Petronella sunk by I-22 near Karachi

Enemy ships sunk:
SS I-175 is reported to have been sunk near Milne Bay on Feb 08, 1943

CBI:
The enemy tank unit fighting the Chinese west of Shwebo has suffered heavy air attacks, no CAP protection this time. Elsewhere only the usual fruitless artillery duels all along the front.

Northwestern Australia:
Found some Beaufighters which have the range to LRCAP the Australian troops near Broome from Port Hedland - 5 Nells shot-down.

Northern Australia:
Recon bombardment at Darwin reveals two infantry brigades and assorted base, Eng and AA units. Need to wait for more infantry, I only have one Australian Cav Bde at hand, but with ample tank support.

SWPac:
Terapo expands airfield to size 8
Milne Bay expands airfield to size 4
Fergusson Island invaded by Australian Commandos ferried by APDs, 11 Betties and 3 Kates shot-down by LRCAP from Milne Bay - no escorts?
Escorts of an amphib TF heading for Milne Bay found a Japanese sub, forced it to the surface and than back to the depths for good.

SoPac:
Efate expands airfield to size 1.
Luganville bombarded again with good results by 5 CAs.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 29 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 15 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
      D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
      DD Perkins
      DD Cushing
      DD Conyngham
      DD Lamson
      DD Mahan
      DD Lang
      DD Wilson
      DD Sterett
      DD Stack
      DD Fanning
      DD Ellet
      DD Benham
      DMS Hopkins
      DMS Trevor
 
Japanese ground losses:
      278 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 54 disabled
         Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
      Guns lost 29 (5 destroyed, 24 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 50
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 3

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 09/10, 1943

Highlights: Enemy BBs spotted SE of Java

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Fergusson Island !!!

Allied ships lost:
Loss of xAK Pasha on Feb 10, 1943 is admitted - sunk by I-25 near Addu.

Japanese SRA:
Submarine Sculpin has found a sizeable part of Combined Fleet near Denpasar and has put two fish into CA Ashigara.

Northwestern Australia:
I expected that the successful interception of the Nells last turn would discourage further raids, but they came back this turn with Zero escort.
However, the Beaufighters had switched to escort duty themselves for B-25 bombing Broome, but other Zeros on CAP downed two escorts - the might be "beau" but they're not "fighters".
A small RN cruiser force has bombarded Broome but didn't kill any planes on the ground.

SWPac:
Milne Bay expands port to size 3
The Australian Commandos captured Fergusson Island against light resistance.

SoPac:
Efate expands airfield to size 2
ACM Obstructor lays defensive minefield at Noumea

Intel:
Previous report of sinking of SS I-3 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Fergusson Island (102,132)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 1555 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 57
 
Defending force 533 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15
 
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0
 
Allied adjusted assault: 48 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 19 
 
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Fergusson Island !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      100 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Units destroyed 1
 
Allied ground losses:
      34 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    2/6 Commando Battalion
    2/9 Commando Battalion
 
Defending units:
    I/19th Naval Guard Unit
    46th Field Const Co 
	
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Denpasar  at 55,115
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Ashigara, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage
      BB Hyuga
      BB Nagato
      CA Haguro
      CA Myoko
      CLAA Tenryu
      DD Tanikaze
      DD Asagiri
      DD Isonami
      DD Yugure
 
Allied Ships
      SS Sculpin
 
SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at CA Ashigara
Sculpin diving deep ....
DD Asagiri fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugure fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Broome at 62,127
 
Allied Ships
      CA Frobisher
      CL Birmingham
      DD Arunta
 
Japanese ground losses:
      10 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Vehicles lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1
 
CA Frobisher firing at Broome 
CL Birmingham firing at Broome 
DD Arunta firing at Broome 

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 11/12, 1943

Highlights: Kiriwina Island and Normanby Island invaded

Enemy ships sunk:
xAK Yamahagi Maru is reported to have been sunk by SS Tarpon near Toyohara on Feb 11, 1943
xAK Kurohime Maru is reported to have been sunk by SS Sturgeon near Soc Trang on Feb 12, 1943

Northwestern Australia:
Australians near Broome still advancing despite continued enemy air attacks.

SWPac:
Kiriwina Island has been invaded by an Australian Bde. Japan lost 5 sweeping Zeros for nothing.

SoPac:
Efate expands airfield to size 3.
I-19 tried to attack a reinforcement convoy at Efate but collected 8 hits.
Luganville bombarded again, this time with two BBs in the lead.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 8 damaged
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
      J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
      J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed on ground
      D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
      A6M5 Zero: 28 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      BB North Carolina
      BB Idaho
      CA Chicago
      CA Chester
      CA Portland
      CL Columbia
      CLAA San Juan
      CLAA San Diego
      CLAA Juneau
      CLAA Atlanta
      DD Tucker
      DD Reid
      DD Downes
      DD Case
      DD Drayton
      DD Smith
      DD Benham
      DD Dunlap
      DD McCall
      DD Craven
      DD Mugford
 
Japanese ground losses:
      404 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 36 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
      Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 26
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 4
 
BB North Carolina firing at Luganville 
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Idaho
BB Idaho firing at Luganville 
CA Chicago firing at 14th/A Division
CA Chester firing at Luganville 
CA Portland firing at 14th/A Division
CL Columbia firing at Luganville 
CLAA San Juan firing at Luganville 
CLAA San Diego firing at Luganville 
CLAA Juneau firing at Luganville 
CLAA Atlanta firing at Luganville 
DD Tucker firing at Luganville 
DD Reid firing at Luganville 
DD Downes firing at 14th/A Division
DD Case firing at Luganville 
DD Drayton firing at Luganville 
DD Smith firing at Luganville 
DD Benham firing at Luganville 
DD Dunlap firing at Luganville 
DD McCall firing at Luganville 
DD Craven firing at Luganville 
DD Mugford firing at Luganville 

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 13/14, 1943

Highlights: Naval and air actions off Lae

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Kiriwina Island !!!
Allied forces CAPTURE Broome !!!

Allied ships lost:
Loss of LCT-136 on Feb 14, 1943 is admitted, sunk by SS I-33 near Bathurst Is. while landing supplies over the beach for the Darwin siege.
SS Haddock died of wounds inflicted by air attack near Feni Island. That is already the 5th sub lost this year! I have not reported sub losses systematically and frankly I don't even follow them closely - but may be I should pay more attention, Japanese aerial ASW is savage! 21 US subs lost to 250kg GP bombs so far, 2 Dutch and 2 US subs lost to torpedoes, 3 Dutch and 3 US subs lost to depth charges, and SST Narwhal lost after grounding on a reef.

Enemy ships sunk:
DMS W-21 is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943
PB Kaikei Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943
PB Okuyo Maru #2 is reported to have been sunk near Toyohara on Feb 13, 1943
AV Kamikawa Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943
AMC Bankok Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943
PB Kogane Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943
PB Taian Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 13, 1943

Northwestern Australia:
Our ground forces took Broome in a hurry despite enemy bombing attacks, even catching enemy planes on the ground in the process. The local airfield will be repaired as quickly as possible to provide CAP.

Northern Australia:
Our ground forces at Darwin suffered a bombardment by Japanese battleships, but got away lightly.

SWPac:
Milne Bay expands airfield to size 5.
With air cover established, time to initiate offensive actions from this pivot point of the PNG campaign. Two cruiser SAGs raided Lae, finding two convoys with easy victims followed by a nuclear bombardment which destroyed three dozen enemy fighters on the ground.

Despite this, Lae remained a hornet's nest, Allied fighter sweeps by P-40s and Corsairs suffered until P-38 and the 4E bombers saved the day:

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 destroyed
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed

Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed

The 12th Australian Brigade had no troubles taking Kiriwina from a Japanese SNLF Coy and Eng Coy. The base has a potential for a size 4+3 airbase and will be build-up.
Normanby Island has been invaded by Australian Commandos to clean-out the weak enemy presence.

SoPac:
Koumac expands airfield to size 5
Efate expands airfield to size 4
Fighter sweeps from Efate over Luganville pitted Wildcats versus A6M5 Zeros - the Wildcats suffered.
Follow-up strikes by B-24s, Dauntless and Avengers plus escorts lost some and killed some - overall about a dozen Allied palnes lost for half that number downed on the Japanese side.

Homefront / Rear areas:
Finally time for some refits:
BB Maryland begins refit while under repair at Sydney
BB Colorado begins refit while under repair at Sydney
BB South Dakota begins refit while under repair at Sydney
BB Indiana begins refit while under repair at Sydney
DD Conway beginning refit in shipyard at San Diego
DD Meredith beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Gwin beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Grayson beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Aaron Ward beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Laffey beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Duncan beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Lansdowne beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Lardner beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD McCalla beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Farenholt beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Barton beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Woodworth beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Bailey beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Bancroft beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Caldwell beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Gansevoort beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Gillespie beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
DD Meade beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
SS Gato taken out of commission to begin refit at Midway Island

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lae at 99,126, Range 11,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      DMS W-21, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
      AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
      PB Kogane Maru, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      CA Wichita, Shell hits 1
      CL Cleveland
      CL Montpelier
      DD Bagley
      DD Blue
      DD Patterson
      DD Jarvis, Shell hits 1
      DD Gridley
      DD Maury
 
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 60% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Gridley engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Maury engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Gridley engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Blue engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Bagley engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Wichita engages PB Kogane Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Gridley engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Blue engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages PB Kogane Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Maury engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Bagley engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages PB Kogane Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages DMS W-21 at 2,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages AV Kamikawa Maru at 2,000 yards
AV Kamikawa Maru sunk by DD Jarvis at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DMS W-21 at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages PB Kogane Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages DMS W-21 at 2,000 yards
Massive explosion on DMS W-21
DMS W-21 sunk by DD Jarvis at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson engages PB Kogane Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages PB Kogane Maru at 3,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages PB Kogane Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Maury engages PB Kogane Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PB Kogane Maru sunk by CA Wichita at 2,000 yards
PB Kogane Maru sunk by CA Wichita at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lae at 99,126, Range 9,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      DD Wakaba, Shell hits 1
      DMS W-13, Shell hits 6,  on fire
      AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      CA Wichita
      CL Cleveland
      CL Montpelier
      DD Bagley
      DD Blue
      DD Patterson
      DD Jarvis
      DD Gridley
      DD Maury
 
 
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 60% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AMC Bankok Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages AMC Bankok Maru at 9,000 yards
CA Wichita engages DMS W-13 at 9,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DD Maury at 9,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AMC Bankok Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Bagley engages AMC Bankok Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AMC Bankok Maru at 5,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DD Patterson at 5,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages DMS W-13 at 5,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DD Gridley at 5,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DD Jarvis at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Maury at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages AMC Bankok Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Blue engages AMC Bankok Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages AMC Bankok Maru at 2,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru sunk by DD Gridley at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita engages DMS W-13 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Patterson at 3,000 yards
CA Wichita engages DMS W-13 at 3,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages CL Cleveland at 3,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Maury at 3,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Jarvis at 3,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lae at 99,126, Range 11,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Taian Maru, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      CL St. Louis
      CL Helena
      CL Honolulu
      CL Phoenix
      CL Nashville
      DD Farragut
      DD Aylwin
      DD Monaghan
      DD Dale
      DD Worden
      DD MacDonough
      DD Dewey
      DD Hull
      DMS Litchfield
      DMS Zane
      DMS Boggs
      DMS Lamberton
 
Japanese ground losses:
      79 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 86 (40 destroyed, 46 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)
 
 
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 60% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Nashville engages PB Taian Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Nashville engages PB Taian Maru at 10,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages PB Taian Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Nashville engages PB Taian Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages PB Taian Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Aylwin engages PB Taian Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PB Taian Maru sunk by CL Nashville at 2,000 yards
PB Taian Maru sunk by CL Nashville at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Yamashiro
      BB Fuso
      CL Nagara
 
Allied ground losses:
      143 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 32 (5 destroyed, 27 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 40 (2 destroyed, 38 disabled)
 
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 6th Aus Cav Brigade
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at 2/16th Field Regiment
CL Nagara firing at 6th Aus Cav Brigade
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Lae at 99,126
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 120 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 21 destroyed on ground
      Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 30 damaged
      Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 5 destroyed on ground
      Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 63 damaged
      Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed on ground
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 28 damaged
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 destroyed on ground
      Ki-61-Ia Tony: 30 damaged
      Ki-61-Ia Tony: 2 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      CL Nashville
      CL Phoenix
      CL Honolulu
      CL Helena
      CL St. Louis
 
Japanese ground losses:
      431 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 32 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 67
Port hits 2
 
CL Nashville firing at Lae 
CL Phoenix firing at 38th Division
CL Honolulu firing at Lae 
CL Helena firing at Lae 
CL St. Louis firing at Lae 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Broome (62,127)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 11769 troops, 243 guns, 419 vehicles, Assault Value = 499
 
Defending force 5176 troops, 46 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 83
 
Allied adjusted assault: 389 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 26 
 
Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 3) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Broome !!!
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
      A6M5 Zero: 9 destroyed
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+)
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1305 casualties reported
         Squads: 10 destroyed, 46 disabled
         Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 13 disabled
         Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 23 (16 destroyed, 7 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 27 (27 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 2
 
Allied ground losses:
      127 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    2/6th Armoured Regiment
    13th Australian Brigade
    2/10th Armoured Regiment
    2/5th Armoured Regiment
    3rd Motor Brigade
    3rd Australian Brigade
    III Australian 
    2/9th Field Regiment
    2/11th Field Regiment
    108th Anti Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    56th/C Division
    42nd Field Const Co /1
    36th JAAF AF Bn 
    97th JAAF AF Bn 
    6th Field Const Bn /1

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 15/16, 1943

Highlights: Lae is becoming an aircraft graveyard.

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Derby !!!
Allied forces CAPTURE Normanby Island !!!
Epi is occupied by the Allies

Enemy ships sunk:
PB Muro Maru is reported to have been sunk by Dutch sub O20 near Oosthaven on Feb 16, 1943
TK Kyoko Maru is reported to have been sunk by Wahoo near Namlea on Feb 16, 1943
TK Terukawa Maru is reported to have been sunk Wahoo near Namlea on Feb 16, 1943

CBI:
Bhamo expands airfield to size 4.
Liberators night-bombed Magwe, killing two Nicks on CAP and that's all.

Northwestern Australia:
Allied forces CAPTURE Derby - the attacker was a lone US Tank Bn on a recon-in-force mission, but the defending Naval Guard promptly folded and fled.
Enemy bombers however destroyed two tanks.
Mopping-up at Broome.

SWPac:
Allied forces CAPTURE Normanby Island - the 2/7 Commando Bn had to problems routing a splinter of a Naval Giard unit.
P-38 returned to Lae, killing 14 Zeros for one Lightning lost and producing a few more aces. I remember the P-38s well from my last game ("Lighting sweeping, LST weeping") - nice to have them on my side this time.
The bombers returned as well, destroying 7 planes on the ground.
Crusier returned to Lae as well, delivering more shells to the enemy airbase and destroying 3 fighters on the ground.
Unescorted Betties attacked PT boats near Goodenough Island, 3 P-40s on leaking CAP splashed three bombers - good enough.

SoPac:
Allied DDs bombarded Luganville with little effect.
B-24 bombed Luganville, destroying 6 Zeros, a Nick and a Val on the ground - no CAP?
Vanua Lava has been invaded - it is a base NE of Luganville. In fact, I have decided to leave the 20k enemy troops reported at Luganville on that island and to capture a neighbouring island in order to isolate the base. Either they will die of hunger or my opponent must try an evacuation in face of my LBA. Or take Vanua Lava back, which is also an option.

Intel:
CA Kinugasa is reported to have been sunk near Noumea on Dec 01, 1942
Intel reports many enemy ground units moving by ship to Fukuoka these last weeks - must be maskirovka via waypoints.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Lae at 99,126
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 21 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-61-Ia Tony: 3 damaged
      Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 7 damaged
      Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 7 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Takunan Maru #5, Shell hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      LB-120, Shell hits 1,  heavy damage
      LB-116, Shell hits 1,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
      CA Wichita
      CL Montpelier
      CL Cleveland
 
Japanese ground losses:
      217 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 13 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
      Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 23
Port hits 5
 
CA Wichita firing at Lae 
CL Montpelier firing at 38th Division
CL Cleveland firing at Lae

[LargeSlowTarget]

February 17/18, 1943

Highlights: Darwin recaptured, heavy air losses on both sides

Bases liberated:
Allied forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!
Vanua Lava is occupied by the Allies

Allied ships lost:
AP Glenorchy sunk by SS I-25 near Addu

Enemy ships sunk:
DMS W-19 is reported to have been sunk by SS KX near Bathurst Island on Feb 17, 1943
ACM Seki Maru #3 is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 17, 1943
AMc Tamazono Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lae on Feb 17, 1943
PB Naruto Maru #3 is reported to have been sunk by SS Stingray near Umboi Island on Feb 17, 1943 - to the chagrin of my son who is a fan of Naruto.

CBI:
The "milk run" bombing of enemy ground troops between Kalemyo and Magwe encountered a CAP trap - 4 P-40s, 8 P-43 and 8 B-25 lost for one Tony and one Tojo downed.
Two British CLs have bombarded Cocos Is. in the Indian Ocean.

Northern Australia:
With the arrival of US infantry, the combined Australian-American force has launched a deliberate attack at Darwin - the Japanese had little to offer against the heavy tank support and folded so quickly that the Allied managed to capture or destroy numerous enemy planes on the ground.

SWPac:
I/66th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Normanby Island by attrition.
Buna expands airfield to size 2.
Milne Bay expands port to size 4.
Task Force 382 lays defensive minefield at Kiriwina Island ( 102 , 131) and sets course for Townsville.
P-38s sweep Lae again, killing 15 Zeros and 5 Tonies for one losses. Op losses and maintenance requirements are also reducing the number of operational P-38s. P-39s added two Zeros downed.
A port strike on Lae sank some minecraft and a dozen barges.
Unescorted Nells attacked landing craft near Fergusson Island, losing 3 bombers to leaking CAP from Milne Bay.
In order to show that the Japanese have no monopoly on such follies, unescorted Beaufort torpedo bombers attacked enemy shipping near Umboi Island, losing 10 to Zeros on CAP.
Next came A-20s on low naval attack - losing 12 (!) - and the first B-25D1 with the same mission, losing 3.
The only success came from B-25D1s skip-bombing and probably sinking PB Kyo Maru #8 and setting AK Tamagawa Maru on fire, and a Beaufort obtaining a torpedo hit on AK Kinugawa Maru.
The Allied low-level strafers are gutted and need to be rebuild - but production of 2E air frames is low.
The enemy airforce in PNG is not dead yet - and to drive the point home, enemy LRCAP ambushed the Australian Wirraways on their daily bombing routine at Salamaua, killing 5.

SoPac:
Efate expands airfield to size 5
SS I-8 managed to torpedo CM Terror short of Vanua Lava, ending the attempt to establish a defensive minefield at that base. Too bad.
Luganville bombed bombarded heavily to keep the airfield closed, 2 Vals destroyed.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 damaged
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
      A6M5 Zero: 15 damaged
      A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      BB Idaho
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
      CA Chicago
      CA Chester
      CA Portland
      CL Columbia
      DD Tucker
      DD Reid
      DD Downes
      DD Case
      DD Drayton
      DD Smith
      DD McCall
      DD Craven
      DD Mugford
 
Japanese ground losses:
      439 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 29 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
      Guns lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
 
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126 
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 15
      B-17E Fortress x 21
      B-17F Fortress x 9
      B-24D Liberator x 9
      B-24D1 Liberator x 4
      B-25C Mitchell x 15
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
      B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
      B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
      B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      LB-114, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      ACM Seki Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-105, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-109, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-102, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-117, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-108, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-118, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      AMc Tamazono Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-123, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-110, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-101, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-113, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-122, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-119, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-121, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      LB-111, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 11736 troops, 188 guns, 723 vehicles, Assault Value = 586
 
Defending force 7249 troops, 96 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 152
 
Allied adjusted assault: 750 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 51 
 
Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 4) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed
      Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 19 destroyed
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: 
Attacker: 
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1012 casualties reported
         Squads: 13 destroyed, 92 disabled
         Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 21 disabled
         Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 40 (27 destroyed, 13 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
Allied ground losses:
      265 casualties reported
         Squads: 9 destroyed, 24 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Guns lost 30 (15 destroyed, 15 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 34 (4 destroyed, 30 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
    34th Infantry Regiment
    637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
    2/4th Armoured Regiment
    632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
    2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
    2/7th Armoured Regiment
    2/9th Armoured Regiment
    6th Aus Cav Brigade
    2/16th Field Regiment
    109th Anti Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    11th Garrison Unit 
    56th/A Division
    18th Port Unit /1
    20th AA Regiment
    42nd Ind.AA Gun Co 
    8th RF Gun Battalion
    22nd Port Unit /1
    32nd Field AA Battalion
    8th Field Construction Battalion
    92nd JAAF AF Bn 
    II/124th Infantry Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Cocos Islands at 33,101
 
Allied Ships
      CL Birmingham
      CL Mauritius
 
Japanese ground losses:
      156 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
 
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 13
Port hits 7
 
CL Birmingham firing at Cocos Islands 
CL Mauritius firing at Cocos Islands 

[LargeSlowTarget]

FYI, the game has gone on indefinite hiatus over half a year ago with a game date of March 05, 1943. My cherished opponent Ed does not enjoy playing the Japanese side as much as he likes playing the Allies and he feels he has had an overdose of WitP-AE - so we have decided to take a break which may or may not be definite. On the bright side, almost 10 years after starting our first game - and our internet friendship - in September 2014, we plan to meet each other for the first time for real this year during the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.