AmiralLaurent
Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
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GoobBoy I think you're a bit too harsh for my opponent... although I can understand that reading last report was frustating for an AFB.
I think my opponent did a strategic mistake by attacking an objective out of range by his land-based fighters too early. His advance in Burma was perfectly timed to draw ground troops here - and it worked. What he did not was to draw my Navy away. Maybe his operations off New Guinea were designed for that, but I ignored them more or less totally. And so 80% of the IJN was ready to fight in Japan with no SYS damage and full air units aboard.
Then once the battle was started I guess my opponent didnt' realize how strong I was until it was too late and he had lost the first CV battle. Again it was too early and he should have wiated for more CV and F6F but I understand that time was fleeing for him, with mid-1943 and almost a 6 to 1 ratio for Japan. I think in such a situation (after this ifrst battle) I will have evacuated my troops rather than sending more to the battleground. It is not his style... and the battle is not over.
So the tactical situation now was that he is running out of able CV and BB... faster than I an running out of them. He used his CVs to draw attacks, not to cover other TF, and so had to concentrate CAP. But I didn't play along his rules and ignored CVs this time, while I had attacked them on two other occasions they came. By the way with a little more luck on his side some leaking CAP will have covered his BB at the good time.
As for keeping BB in CV TF, I think the main objective of my opponent now is to take PJ and so he preferred to use his BB to cover the transports and troops off the island. At this stage I doubt he has many reserves and all he can achieve in this mess is to take PJ and then use its AF while he will reorganise troops for the next step. I'm quite sure that the troops currently landing on PJ were preparing for the next step (Shikka?) some weeks ago.
31 August 1943
Northern Pacific
During the night Allied ships continued to land troops on Paramushiro and Onnekotan Jima. Two TF were off the first and received 301 CD shells that set an AK on fire while 1 MSW and 2 DMS swept the last Japanese mines but not before another AK was heavily damaged by one. Allied landing casualties were 133 men and 3 guns here, and 257 men in OJ where landing was uncontested. At least from the ground.
Because as planned a Japanese BB TF attacked ships off both islands. Off PJ arrived the BB Kongo and Kirishima with 3 CL, 3 CL and 7 DD. They met off the beachhead a surface TF of 6 US CA, 7 US DD and 2 Australian DD and fought them between 7000 and 10000 yards before the Japanese ships broke contact. In this initial shock the DD USS John Rodgers was sunk by a spread of torpedoes fired by the CL Oi, the CA Baltimore and the DD USS Radford and Gansevoort were heavily damaged by a torpedo each and shellfire, and more Japanese shells set on fire the CA Indianapolis (hit by two 14in shells) and the DD USS Caldwell and Downes and HMAS Nestor. On the Japanese side two ships were on fire: the CL Sendai (hit by three 8in shells) and the DD Hayashio (hit by two 5in shells).
The Japanese admiral had orders to reach the transports and so retreated and tried to bypass the Allied warships but they engaged him again. The second round of the battle was fought at closer range, between 5 and 8000 yards. Fewer torpedos were used and the only hits were on the DD HMAS Nestor that sank some hours later and on the CA USS Raleigh (on fire). If both Japanese BB had no problem with their opponents, hitting them with several 14in shells (CA Indianapolis heavily damaged, CA Northampton on fire), two of the Japanese CA (Suzuya and Haguro) were hit repeatedly by Allied cruisers and heavily damaged. In fact the Suzuya and the CA Baltimore pummeled each other at close range and both were wrecked. The third Japanese CA, the Atago, was undamaged and heavily damaged the CA Houston with several 8in shells. A new American destroyer, the Sampson, was hit by shells and set on fire. But the Japanese warships were repelled and retired without having reached the transport fleet. The damaged CA Baltimore and DD Radford sank later during the day, so bringing the Allied losses in this battle to 1 CA and 3 DD sunk, 2 CA and 2 DD heavily damaged, 2 CA and 3 DD on fire, while the Japanese left behind the wrecked CA Suzuya and had three other ships damaged, 1 CA, 1 CL and 1 DD. The SS USS Apagon saw before dawn the burning Suzuya still in the area and attacked her but missed.
This Allied surface TF had been seen and attacked yesterday off OJ, and was sent to PJ probably to replace the BB TF badly hit by Betties. The remains of the Allied CA TF (4 CA, two heavily damaged and one on fire, and 6 DD (1 heavily damaged, 3 on fire)) tried to bombard PJ before retiring from the area but between disorganization and Japanese return fire of the CD defenses were unable to reach the airfield and only hit 59 men and 2 guns.
And so the Allied transport off OJ had no more covering surface TF and was surprised by the second Japanese BB TF (Haruna, Hiei, 3 CA, 1 CL and 7 DD). The convoy was composed of 1 LSD, 15 AK and 17 LST escorted by 3 British DD, 2 old US DD, 3 DMS and 6 MSW. A part of these escorts had been damaged the day before by KB airmen and Japanese warships had no problem dealing with them but the heroic Allied crews managed to cover the transports. While four escort were sunk (DD HMS Encouter and USS Chew, DMS USS Wasmuth and Dorsey) and two MSW damaged, only one AK was hit by one shell that did 58 casualties aboard her. The Allied ships then retreated… SW of the island. The Japanese ships were undamaged (only two shells hit a BB and a CA and bounced on their armor).
During this night the KB CV TF moved to their planned patrol area, 120 miles WNW of OJ. They were welcomed by two American submarines, the Bonefish and the Rasher. The first made two attempts to attack, saw the CV Amagi, and missed the DD Oyashio. The second also made two approaches, saw another CV, the CVL Ryuho, and attacked an escort, the DD Amagiri, but her torpedo failed. Each time these submarines were chased away by DDs but slipped away undamaged.
After dawn submarines off both sides tried to attack the retiring warships and for one Japanese submarines were more efficient than the enemy. The SS USS Redfin and Growler attacked the retiring Japanese surface ships 180 miles WNW of OJ. Both submarines missed each a DD, and then the Redfin also missed the unescorted damaged CA Haguro having failed behind her TF. Japanese DD searched both submarines unsuccessfully after their attacks.
On the other hand the Allied CA TF was attacked 180 miles ESE of PJ by the SS RO-105 that hit the CA Raleigh with one torpedo (she already took one during the night off PJ) and reported her on fire. The Allied escort (now reduced to 5 DD) didn’t find her.
Two other Japanese submarines attacked this morning a TF of 4 APD bringing fuel from Kiska, probably to OJ for PTs. The I-156 was the first and sank the APD Herbert with two torpedoes 360 miles west of Kiska but was then damaged by a hit and a near-miss scored by the Kane. 60 miles more west the same TF was attacked by the RO-33 but her torpedo missed. She was depth charged but escaped undamaged.
The main battles of the day took place over PJ that was heavily attacked (more or less as planned) by Allied heavy bombers. Japanese fighters had orders to fly 90% CAP but I had forgotten that Nicks were fighter-bombers, not fighters, and gave them no orders, so they remained on the ground today… Their fellow pilots missed them, but not Allied bombs…
In the morning PJ was attacked by 67 PB4Y and 4 B-17E from Kiska. 72 Japanese fighters intercepted them (23 Ki-44, 17 Ki-61, 13 A6M2, 11 A6M3 and 8 Rufe) and shot down 20 PB4Y and all four B-17E. AA fire then shot down twice more PB4Y and ten hit by fighters in the battle will crash on the way back, so bringing the losses for this raid to 36 heavy bombers (51%). But they still reached the target. Only 3 Japanese aircraft were shot down by return fire (2 A6M2 and 1 Rufe) but 17 were destroyed on the ground: 5 A6M3, 4 Ki-45, 3 A6M2, 3 Ki-61 and 2 Ki-44. The base reported 34 casualties and 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 17 on the runways.
In the afternoon another raid hit the base, this time from Attu with 91 heavy bombers (39 PB4Y, 28 B-24D and 24 B-17E) that were intercepted by 44 fighters (13 Ki-44, 9 A6M2, 9 Ki-61, 7 A6M3 and 6 Rufe). For two losses to return fire (an A6M3 and a Rufe) the CAP shot down or damaged enough for them to crash on the way back 20 bombers (10 PB4Y, 7 B-24D and 3 B-17E). So 56 Allied heavy bombers were lost today over PJ. But this second raid also bombed the airfield and destroyed 40 aircraft on the ground (14 Nick, 9 Tony, 8 Tojo, 4 A6M3, 3 A6M2, 1 Rufe and 1 Helen). The base reported this time 68 casualties and 5 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 49 on the runways.
Four more Japanese fighters (2 Ki-61, 1 Ki-44 and 1 Rufe) were lost in accidents on the cratered runways of the base, bringing the Japanese losses here to 66 aircraft destroyed today.
The detailed unit situation in PJ was the following:
246 Sentai scored 14 kills and lost 11 Ki-44 and 1 pilot
244 Sentai scored 15 kills and lost 14 Ki-61 and 2 pilots
13 Sentai scored no kill (didn’t fly) and lost 18 Ki-45 and 1 pilot
F4/Toko scored 5 kills and lost 8 A6M2 but no pilot
F1/2nd scored 7 kills and lost 10 A6M3 but again no pilot
FF1/452nd scored 3 kills and lost 3 Rufe and 2 pilots
FF2/452nd scored 5 kills and lost 1 Rufe and 1 pilot
Off this base both Allied convoys continued to unload troops during the day. Coastal defenses fired 130 shells and hit 26 men and 1 gun. In the afternoon both convoys were attacked by Toyohara airmen, one with 9 Nell, 4 G4M1 and 2 G4M2 escorted by 17 Oscar II, the other by 12 G4M2 and 4 G4M1. Four AK were torpedoed (two in each convoy) and set on fire (and heavily damaged for one) for the loss of a Nell to AA fire and of an Oscar II to engine failure. None of these ships sank, but the AK Virgo badly hit yesterday by KB airmen sank off the beachhead in the evening.
By the way what did the KB today? She cruised 120 miles WNW of OJ with max CAP, waiting an attack by Allied CV airmen. She was in range of the Allied CV that were now 60 miles west of PJ, but was not attacked due to clouds in its area all the day. The Japanese CAP anyway scored today 8 victories against Allied patrol aircraft shooting down 6 SBD, 1 TBM and a Mariner. In the evening the SS USS Rasher tried to attack one of the Japanese TF but was chased by 5 DD. She anyway escaped undamaged again.
The Allied CV preferred to launch in the afternoon a huge raid (127 SBD, 65 TBM, 17 TBF and 17 Barracuda escorted by 32 F6F, 20 F4F-4 and 7 Hellcat II) against the burning CA Suzuya 60 miles NW of PJ. She took 3 bombs and 3 torpedoes before breaking in half and sinking. A SBD, a TBM and a Barracuda were lost operationally.
The afternoon was not as good as the morning for Japanese submarines between PJ and the Aleutians. Three of them (I-156, I-166 and RO-105) were seen and chased by Allied DD or SC, but only the last was lightly damaged by 6 near-misses. At the end of the day the damaged RO-105 (12/9) and I-156 (33/71) sailed for base. Five other submarines remained on station to chase damaged Allied ships, especially the BBs. Another submarine with a Glen was patrolling south of the PJ-Kiska path while five other refueled in Etorofu Jima and sailed eastwards in the evening.
Onnekotan Jima was expected to fall today but the Allied troops didn’t move, maybe because some disorganization after the convoy fled. The battered TF was attacked again SW of the island in the morning by 51 G4M1, 31 G4M2 and 18 Nell from Toyohara escorted by 14 Oscar II, and in the afternoon by 3 more Nell from this base. For only one loss (a G4M1 lost in an accident) Japanese pilots sank 3 AK, 2 LST and 1 MSW, heavily damaged two more AK and 2 LST, set on fire an AK and torpedoed once the LSD Belle Grove. Some troops were still aboard and reported the loss of 234 men, 2 guns and 3 vehicles. Men of a Seabee Battalion were saved from one of the sunk AK.
The Allied plan was apparently to take OJ today and to immediately unload fuel there to support PT coming from the Aleutians. This fuel was carried by an AO TF that arrived off OJ in the afternoon…. and saw no other Allied ship in the area, and no sign of Allied troops in the tiny port, from which the Japanese mayor radioed their arrival. 13 G4M2 and 2 G4M1 from Toyohara escorted by 3 Oscar II attacked this TF and set on fire a DE and an AO, each being hit with a torpedo.
To finish a bad day for the Allied navies, the AO Lackawanna torpedoed by KB Kate on 29 July during the 3rd battle of PJ, sank in Attu port. This king of “late sinking” is more usual for Japanese ships.
On the ground at PJ, both sides only exchanged artillery fire as Allied forces were still organizing after their landing. Allied losses were 56 men and 1 gun, Japanese ones 307 men, 2 tanks and 5 guns. Reports showed 195 994 Allied men (+ 1907), 2229 guns (+84) and 424 vehicles for 3914 AV (+ 14), against 78 555 Japanese men (+386), 694 guns (+22) and 4 tankettes for 1504 AV (+16). The evening report of the base listed damage of 57/22/5 (base/runway/port), 387 engineers (+12) and 39 546 supplies (-1962). An attack is expected for tomorrow. To answer to Leo’s question about the AV ratio, Allied forces may reach 1 to 1 ratio in their next attack or not… fresh engineers squads will probably reduce fortifications anyway. The next attack will be critical. With fort, mountains and better commanders than at start of the battle, it is fairly possible that Japanese lines held. A failed Allied attack will probably give me enough time to send more reinforcements here. A 1 to 1 attack will probably allow Allied troops to continue attacking and may seriously threaten the base.
On PJ airfield remained at the end of the day 98 fighter and Nick and only 53 were serviceable. Anyway the airfield should be defended at all cost and reinforcements were sent. 37 Oscar II (another was lost with pilot during the ferry flight), 22 A6M3a and 8 Rufe arrived from Toyohara, Shikka and Etorofu Jima.
Tomorrow the Kb will sail to a spot 60 miles west of OJ and will set range of its attack aircraft at 1 to be able to attack Allied ships off the island… that should fall tomorrow logically. Before that during the night a CL and 5 DD will sweep waters off OJ, excepting to meet some damaged ships, while Tanaka with 4 CA, 4 CL and 6 DD will go to PJ to chase Allied ships and cover the base from bombardment TF.
Both BB TF engaged last night were relatively fresh. The three damaged ships (CA Haguro (57/35/9), CL Sendai (36/50/23) and DD Hayashio (46/24/14)) will sail to Shikka with an escort DD, but all other ships won’t go back to Shikka for rearming but will rather join the KB west of OJ. As soon as OJ will be in Allied hands these BB will bombard it to wreck as many engineers as possible and delay the building of the base.
In the rear area the 44 Topsies based in Omanato stopped flying air support personnel to Shikka (where AS increased from 30 to 74 today) and were sent to Toyohara (8 AC) and Wakkanai (36). The first will join the air bridge carrying troops of the 21st Div to PJ, the other will carry the 23rd Eng Rgt to Shikka to accelerate the expansion of the port (currently size 6).
New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands
Allied airmen continued to attack Rabaul in dwindling numbers: 84 sorties today. The airfield was attacked by three waves of aircraft coming from Kiriwima, Gili Gili and Port Moresby for a total of 43 Beaufighter Mk 21, 7 PB4Y and 12 B-25J escorted by 22 P-38G and reported 42 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 25 on the runways. Rabaul AA gunners continued their amazing scoring and shot down 3 B-25J and 3 Beaufighter Mk 21, bringing their score to 44 victories in 7 days. Another Beaufighter and a P-38G were lost in accidents. Rabaul reported in the evening damage of 100/88 (airbase/runway). Kavieng was still building fortification (now level 5, 34%).
The blockade runner cruising east of Kavieng was still waiting for bad weather to come closer, but the weather forecast was still sunny. She launched 5 barges that sailed to Green Island to load supplies for Rabaul.
More south the damaged ML Okinoshima finally repaired all breeches in her hull in Lunga port and sailed for Kwajalein. With SYS 40 it has not been decided yet if she will be used in the Marshalls or sent to Japan for repairs.
Allied engineers expanded the port of Dobadura to size 2.
Timor-DEI-Australia
The barge convoy unloading supplies at Lautem lost a barge sunk by an attack by 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin and another sunk by a patrolling B-17E.
In the afternoon Koepang was attacked by 14 B-25C from Derby and 21 B-24D from Darwin. There was no more LRCAP. The base reported 9 casualties, 5 hits on the airbase and 24 on runways. Dili was attacked by 76 B-17E from Darwin escorted by 7 P-40N that scored 4 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 49 on the runway and disabled 61 men and 1 gun, while 10 B-25C from Darwin raided Lautem and did 9 casualties while scoring 1 hit on a building and 8 on the runway. There was no Allied loss during these raids but two seaplanes were lost during recon of Japanese bases in the area. A PBY Catalina was shot down by AA fire over Koepang and a PBM Mariner was shot down near Kendari by an Oscar II of 59 Sentai.
The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere OK (fort 2, 7%), Koepang 37/30/0 (system/runway/port), Dili 88/75/0, Lautem 89/52/38, other bases undamaged.
Recons to Tenimbar showed no change there: Allied ships were still there under CAP by 9-10 Kittyhawk. They will be attacked tomorrow. First 33 A6M3a and 12 Oscar II will fly a sweep to this base to engage and decimate the CAP, then 28 G4M1 and 23 bomb-carrying Oscar II (their first-use in this role, will serve as a test) will attack ships under escort by 44 more Oscar II.
SRA
The “Gold Convoy” arrived at Soerabaja and left there 3 TK and 7 AK to load 48k oil and 49k resources. It then sailed to the next stop, Batavia.
A small convoy loaded 21k supplies in Taipei and will carry them to Canton, China. Formosa produced supplies during all the war and didn’t ship many overseas. Now that Japan will support mainly the Kuriles campaign, Formosa supplies will be shipped to China to support Japanese troops and rebuild Changsha.
Burma
Allied airmen flew sorties: 8 B-25J from Ledo and 38 B-24D from Imphal with a total of 63 escorts on Myitkyina airfield (146 casualties, 11 hits on the airbase and 62 on runways), 172 fighter-bombers (Vengeance included), 106 bombers and 59 escorts against 3 divisions in Myitkyina (329 men and 7 guns hit) and 119 Dacca bombers and 42 escorts against 3 units in Katha. But the latter raid met over their target 54 Ki-61 flying LRCAP from Lashio and Mandalay and suffered badly. Before describing these actions, it should be added that the Myitkyina raids cost 1 Vengeance I and 1 Lysander I shot down by AA and a Blenheim IV and a Beaufighter Mk 21 lost in accidents. Both sides flew tens of supply sorties for their troops and 1 Topsy and 3 US and RAF C-47 were lost in accidents (these losses were probably in Burma but I can’t be sure).
The three raids sent to Katha area (120 miles west of Myitkiyna, where the railway turned south towards Mandalay, for the new readers) all came from Dacca. The first was flown by 31 Liberator VI and 25 B-25C escorted by 3 P-40N. 54 Ki-61 intercepted it and for the loss of 7 of their number to return fire shot down 18 Liberator VI, 3 P-40N and 2 B-25C. The B-25 turned back as soon as they were attacked, while only few Liberator imitated them. The other surviving RAF crews bombed the 4th Mixed Rgt and hit 27 men, but lost two more Liberator to AA fire.
The next raid (20 Liberator VI and 7 B-25C) had a better escort (21 P-40N of 23rd FG) and losses were more even. 7 more Ki-61 were shot down against 12 Allied aircraft (8 P-40N, 4 Liberator and 1 B-25C). Most bombers turned back and only 9 Liberator reached the 46th Div and hit 16 men and 1 tank.
18 Chinese P-40N escorted the third and last raid of 25 Liberator VI and 11 B-25C but were no match for the Japanese pilots, even tired. Five more Ki-61 were shot down but the 3 Sentai scored 15 more victories (11 P-40N, 3 Liberator VI and 1 B-25C). Most of Allied bombers turned back again and only 13 Liberator bombed a regiment of the 30th Div, hitting 55 men and 2 guns.
Three more Ki-61 were lost operationally during these LRCAP flights, bringing the total losses of the 3 engaged Sentai to 22 aircraft against 52 Allied losses. All three returned to Rangoon in the evening. Details of their achievements were as follows:
65 Sentai: 7 Ki-61 and 6 pilots lost, 12 kills
68 Sentai: 11 Ki-61 and 8 pilots (including at least one WIA) lost, 27 kills
78 Sentai: 4 Ki-61 and 2 pilots lost, 10 kills
In the afternoon a Dinah III was shot down by an Allied fighter while taking pictures of Ledo.
On the ground Japanese guns pounded Allied troops in Katha (no casualty) and Allied guns Japanese lines in Myitkyina (90 men and 3 guns hit).
The evening report showed still that Myitkyina was damaged at 22/59 (airbase/runways). In this town there were 4646 remaining supplies (+113) for needs of 11583 (+71). 1525 Japanese AV (+8) faced 1421 Allied (+3) in Katha, and 2053 Japanese AV (-16) faced 2998 Allied (+28) in Mytkyina.
Next month the Royal Navy should withdraw a CA and two destroyers.
China
Training raids continued to target 50th Chinese Corps NW of Changsha. 88 training sorties were flown from Changsha and 83 from Wuhan (+33 escort) and hit 103 men without loss.
A Southern Area Army IJNAF BF relieved of garrison duty by a China Force unit arrived at Hong Kong and boarded a transport that will bring it to Shikka.
Japanese engineers finished to build Kweiyang fortifications (level 9) and will now concentrate on the airfield.
Edited: to add the map
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< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 7/3/2007 10:14:24 PM >
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29 August 1943: 1500 more Allied AV landed on PJ - 
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