wneumann
Posts: 3768
Joined: 11/1/2005 From: just beyond the outskirts of Margaritaville Status: offline
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Summary of Operations 4/26/43 - the Florida Monsoon season edition. Countdown to CV Essex arrival: 21 days. U.S. carrier TF's now on the U.S. west coast to refit ships (minor system damage) and also for 4/43 upgrades. This upgrade is not as major a one for the carrier forces as 10/42 - though the 4/43 upgrade includes CV Wasp, significant AA increases on escort BB's and some cruisers, some DD's receive improved ASW capability. A small number of carrier dive bomber squadrons upgrading during this refit from SBD-3's to SBD-5's. More DB squadrons will upgrade to SBD-5's as sufficient numbers of replacement pool planes become available. F6F Hellcats do not become available until 7/43, so carrier fighter squadrons continue operating F4F Wildcats. Completion of ship refits and 4/43 ship upgrades for U.S. carrier TF's expected to roughly coincide with arrival of CV Essex. Carrier forces will be reorganized to add CV Essex and four Independence CVL's - this will bring strength of the U.S. carrier force to 7 CV's, 4 CVL's. In addition to U.S. forces, a British air combat TF (one Illustrious CV, BB Prince of Wales and escorts) is now refitting its ships in the U.S. At last... the KB has something to reckon with. Central Pacific: Light Jap air patrols (G4M Betty & E13A1 Jakes) reported near Kwajalein, several G3M Nell air patrols at Pago Pago. No significant Jap air activity detected in the Canton Is area or off the Japanese home islands. Also no reported contacts between U.S. subs and Japanese surface ships. SS Porpoise at Truk in several actions against Jap transport shipping. AAR's follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Truk at 66,78 Japanese Ships AK Heiei Maru #7, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (confirmed sunk) Allied Ships SS Porpoise -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Truk at 66,78 Japanese Ships AK Fuki Maru Allied Ships SS Porpoise -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PB4Y Liberator spots and attacks Japanese sub I-10 in hex 111,66 (NNW of Lihue). The I-10 was reported hit, no confirmation of damage or sinking. South Pacific: Jap recon flights over Norfolk Is and Auckland. Unidentified Jap sub remains at Rarotonga. Base construction at Bora Bora is proceeding at a very good rate. Landing of U.S. troops and base construction at Bora Bora was decided upon as a last-minute alternative to Rarotonga - supply and Seabees originally ordered to Rarotonga were landed instead on Bora Bora. Developments are making it more desirable that I keep Pillager's attention focused on events (or possible ones) to the north, leaving the southern areas as quiet as possible. The decision to leave Rarotonga vacant for the time being is part of this policy. Australia: Jap recon flight over Tennant Creek, no reported ground or air combat. Allied recon flights over Port Moresby, Darwin, and Exmouth all report fighters on CAP, no detected activity or change in Jap forces. India/Burma: Jap recon flights continue over Calcutta, Dacca, Asansol. No reported ground or air combat. F-5A recon over Rangoon reporting no Jap TF's or disbanded ships in port, 279 aircraft (104 fighters, 55 bombers), 16 Jap LCU's, heavy industry 37(156). Dutch sub O-24 reported three Jap TF's off Rangoon. The O-24 appears to have engaged all three TF's and reported to be sunk in action. AAR's follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 29,34 Japanese Ships DD Kawakaze PG Kogyoku Maru DD Inazuma DD Yugure Allied Ships SS O24 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 29,34 Japanese Ships DD Shinonome DD Yuzuki DD Oboro DD Fubuki DD Ariake DD Oshio Allied Ships SS O24, hits 9, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 29,34 Japanese Ships PG Hayakafuku Maru DD Sagi DD Kikuzuki DD Michishio Allied Ships SS O24, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China: Jap recon flights over Chungking, Tuyun, Liuchow, Chengtu. Light ground strike bombing attacks by both Chinese and Japanese air forces continue. Continued ground attack by Japanese forces at Kweilin. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kweilin Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 100796 troops, 450 guns, 244 vehicles, Assault Value = 2277 6th, 22nd, 34th & 40th Infantry Divisions, 3rd Tank Division, 13 & 15 Tank Rgts, 27 Engineer Rgt, 2 Mountain Gun Rgt Defending force 42505 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1191 37th, 74th, 79th & 99th Chinese Corps, HQ 20 Group Army Allied ground losses: 79 casualties reported Guns lost 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LT Zuolin's 8th CAF "Den of Thieves" fighter squadron remains in action over areas in northern China, current experience level has reached 55 (a considerable jump). Our lieutenant and his men may yet fight as good as they steal.
< Message edited by wneumann -- 8/19/2008 3:15:18 PM >
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