wneumann
Posts: 3768
Joined: 11/1/2005 From: just beyond the outskirts of Margaritaville Status: offline
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Summary of Operations 5/22 - 5/24/42 Central Pacific: Numerous air patrols by Val DB's reported at Kwajalein - it now appears that the KB task forces (CV's Shokaku & Soryu) contacted on 5/21 were entering not departing Kwajalein. U.S. submarine S-28 was sunk at Kwajalein by Val air patrols on 5/24. At least five Jap ML's have been spotted in TF's operating "at sea" in the Kwajalein hex over the last three days. Japanese ships damaged or sunk at Kwajalein include one ML (Katoku) torpedoed and sunk on 5/24 by the S-28, a second Jap ML (Okinoshima) along with PC Ch-29 struck and damaged by mines. Combat reports appear that at least some of these ships were being deployed for ASW ops. A Japanese surface combat TF appeared at Palmyra during 5/23 turn night phase - surprise attack on two U.S. PC's (both on a minesweeping op) and one AK docked and in the final stage of unloading. All three ships were sunk. AAR's follow. Myoko was trailing a small quantity of smoke in the surface combat display (ship had minor system damage prior to this action?). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 110,90 Japanese Ships CA Myoko DD Kuroshio DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1 (no significant damage) DD Tsuga DD Hasu DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships PC Ontario, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk PC Navajo, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 110,90 Japanese Ships CA Myoko DD Kuroshio DD Natsushio DD Tsuga DD Hasu DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships AK Challenger, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Pacific: Koumac (New Caledonia) captured by Japanese forces on 5/22. AAR follows. Given that at least most of the KB is reported at Kwajalein, a British/ANZAC surface TF (Force "Z" and friends) has been sortied from Sydney to Noumea to intercept and attack any Japanese ships it can find in this area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Koumac Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3877 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 117 Kure 7 SNLF, 86 Naval Guard Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese max assault: 97 - adjusted assault: 49 Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 49 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Koumac base !!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: Japanese air raids continue on Coen (5/22,23,24) and Darwin (5/22 & 24). Light casualties reported. Most of the excess Allied ships in Australia ports have now departed for either India or the U.S. Weather conditions over the Indian and the southern Pacific Ocean have been improved over the last several days. While interception of these ships by other Japanese naval forces remain a possibility, the KB's latest move to Kwajalein at least eliminates the possibility of attack on these ships from Jap fleet carriers. Nearly all Allied ships leaving Australia are moving in single-ship TF's though in some cases TF's of two ships (one "short range" ship together with a "long range" ship to share fuel). The longer range ship in the two ship TF's does lose some of its cruising range and speed in the process of keeping the shorter range ship refuelled, but this "tactic" seems well suited for moving ships with short (5000 mi or less) cruising range over long distances. I'm also deploying small replenishment TF's in safer locations to cover any shortfalls (in fuel) with the two ship TF's. India/Burma: Sigint (on 5/23) reported HQ Japanese 15th Army is located in Mandalay. Jap air raid on Port Blair (5/24) - little damage reported. China: Ground combat continues at Sian and hex 47,32 (near Honan). AAR's follow. Most Chinese ground forces remaining east of the river line between Ichang and Changsha are withdrawing behind this river line - leaving rear guard forces in the bridgeheads. Chinese LCU's east of Changsha (the right flank of this line) are pulling back through Changsha across the river, some of these units are being moved into the interior behind the front lines outside Ichang to cover any possible Japanese advance on the Chinese left flank towards Chungking. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Sian (5/23/42) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 140101 troops, 528 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 2546 26th, 32nd, 35th, 37th, 41st, 59th & 110th Infantry Divisions, 5 & 13 Independent Brigades, 15 Mixed Brigade, 6 FA Rgt Defending force 81059 troops, 399 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 2342 3rd, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 33rd, 61st, 80th & 90th Chinese Corps Allied ground losses: 223 casualties reported Guns lost 9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Sian (5/24/42) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 140818 troops, 529 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 2581 26th, 32nd, 35th, 37th, 41st, 59th & 110th Infantry Divisions, 5 & 13 Independent Brigades, 15 Mixed Brigade, 6 FA Rgt Defending force 80774 troops, 393 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 2347 3rd, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 33rd, 61st, 80th & 90th Chinese Corps Allied ground losses: 51 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 47,32 (SW of Honan) 5/22/42 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 21997 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 908 13th Infantry Division, 11 & 14 Independent Brigades Defending force 20860 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 679 18th, 67th & 85th Chinese Corps Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 47,32 (SW of Honan) 5/23/42 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 22074 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 910 13th Infantry Division, 11 & 14 Independent Brigades Defending force 20835 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 676 18th, 67th & 85th Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 47,32 (SW of Honan) 5/24/42 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 22070 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 908 13th Infantry Division, 11 & 14 Independent Brigades Defending force 20864 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 679 18th, 67th & 85th Chinese Corps
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