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30 November 1943: Allied reinforcements were met by heavy fire at PJ

 
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30 November 1943: Allied reinforcements were met by hea... - 4/13/2009 9:45:45 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		30 November 1943: Allied reinforcements were met by heavy fire at PJ

Northern Pacific

During the night the Allied fleet arrived off PJ and while transports anchored, 6 MSW and 3 DMS started to sweep barges helped by 6 DD and 2 DE. The SS Tarpon patrolling in the are reported seeing three barges that escaped her, but then met a heavy surface TF (BB Colorado and New Mexico escorted by 13 DD) and were all quickly sunk.

At dawn, the last Japanese mines were swept by 6 MSW, 3 DMS, 5 DE and 1 DD. Two LCI had hit mines and sunk so far, but now the way was clear for Allied troops to land at two spots on the coast. But by that time the Japanese defenders were fully prepared to receive them and a rain of shells greeted the landing troops: 6466 shells were fired against the first Allied landing. Another LCI was sunk outright, four other, two LST and 2 MSW were heavily damaged, 3 LCI, a LST and a MSW set on fire, and 4 LCI, a LST, a LSD, a DMS and a MSW lightly hit. The Allied escort tired to counter fire but was also targeted and 2 DD and 3 DE were set on fire, and 4 other DE were slightly hit. Allied losses were 9740 men and 38 guns, while Japanese lost 10 men and 1 gun. The second Alleid landing point was better protected from enemy guns and “only” received 1942 shells that hit slightly 3 DE, 1 DD and 1 MSW. Allied ground losses there were limited to 1602 disabled men.

The Japanese air force launched no raid during the day against this fleet, their orders being to report how well they were covered by Allied fighters. First reports set the number of CAP fighters to over 100. More precise numbers were given in the afternoon, showing the CAP as 35 FM-2, 27 F4U-1, 9 F4F-4 and 8 F6F, while a new CVE, the USS Casablanca, was reported. During the day Allied fighters shot down there an Emily, a Jake and a Val.

The CVE cruising off PJ launched in the afternoon a raid against this base with 50 TBM and 8 TBF escorted by 10 F6F and 8 FM-2. PJ reported 22 casualties and one hit on the airbase, one on supplies and 14 on the runways.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 6 men, Japanese ones 58 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 265 872 men (+7331), 2904 guns (+93) and 595 vehicles (-1) for 5188 AV (+175) against 124 411 men (-174), 1082 guns (-12) and 7 tankettes (-1) for 2380 AV (-2). So more than half of the Allied troops that landed today were disabled one way or the other (total landing casualties were 11 342 men, while only 7 331 able men were added to the Allied army).

In the evening the SS USS Sand Lance attacked a barge on the surface NW of OJ and set it on fire with gunfire.

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 89/59/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 engineers repairing it and building fortifications (level 5, 62% (+0%)). The base had 33 594 supplies (-498), and 5 aircraft (none available). No more mines were remaining off the base.

At OJ engineers finished to work on the port expansion (size 3 (+2%)) and will now build more fortifications (level 3). The base had 25 214 supplies (-265). 69 mines were remaining off the base.

If the Allied amphibious fleet anchored off PJ as planned, the number of available CVE and so the CAP was far higher than planned. A daylight attack was so suicidal with the air units of this area and such plans were scrubbed. Instead a night attack was ordered. 110 G4M2 were ready in Toyohara, and also 58 Ki-49 in Shikka, but the latter could only reach OJ in case an Allied fleet ventured there during the night. To guide the bombers, barges were ordered to sail to OJ and PJ during the night.

Another surprise was the retirement of the main Allied CV fleet that sailed back towards Kiska, maybe because of garbled orders… Anyway this fleet was seen and reported by a surprised Glen crew 240 miles west of Kiska, just before it was shot down by an Allied fighter. So the plan to move north the five submarines gathered in the area was delayed, as the ASW escort of the CV TF was too powerful if it sailed back again westwards. Only a RO submarine was sent on the way back from PJ to Kiska to chase cripples, the other sailed just south of it, ready to advance if the Allied CV moved to another area. By the way, at least one SC TF was searching these submarines in the area.

The Allied reinforcements were not enough to threaten PJ in the High Command opinion, so the chosen strategy was to not waste ships and airmen in desesperate attacks.

Central Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded Saipan airfield to size 5.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 176 sorties today, again all against Wewak, with one operational loss (a B-25C): the base was attacked by 74 B-25C, 39 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 12 B-25J and 14 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 15 P-38J and 6 Kittyhawk I, and reported 11 casualties, one hit on the port, 2 on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 40 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 29/0/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 2733 (-193) required, Wewak 100/22/2 and had 0 (-41) supplies for 2248 (-7) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 358 (-23) required and Truk had damage 93/5/0.

The convoy sent from Kwajalein reached Ponape and began to load troops evacuated by air from the Solomons, Rabaul and Kavieng to this base: an Eng Rgt, part of a second, a Const Bn and half, a Fleet HQ and parts of an Air HQ. They will be carried to Saipan and then dispatched where needed.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 186 sorties today with two losses (a B-25C shot down by a Japanese fighter and a B-17E operationally):
_ Amboina was attacked by 36 B-17E, 15 B-24J, 20 B-24D, 3 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 10 B-25C from Kai Island escorted by 21 P-38J and reported 15 casualties, a disabled gun, 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 74 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 22 B-25C from Derby that were intercepted by 5 Ki-44 of the 47 Sentai flying LRCAP from Maumere. They shot down one bomber and suffered one operational loss, but the pilot was saved. All other bombers reached the target, did 6 casualties, and scored 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 2 on the runways.
_ Sorong was attacked by 12 Beaufighter MK 21 from Kai Island escorted by 33 P-38J that scored one hit on the runway.
_ a barge was sunk west of Bulla by 5 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai island. The Oscar II from Menado flew LRCAP over other barges north of Amboina but met no Allied aircraft and one was lost in an accident.

A Japanese recon showed that 41 Allied fighters flew CAP over Maumere.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 6, 98% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 34% (+4%), Dili was OK, Kendari reported damage 6/0/0 (system/runway/port), Amboina 82/99/0, other bases were undamaged.

The Ki-44 Sentai left Maumere and flew to Macassar for some rest.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 327 offensive sorties today and lost 8 aircraft operationally (two Spitfire Vb, a B-25J, a Blenheim IV, a Beaufighter VIC, a Lysander I, a P-40N and a P-40E):
_ 36 B-17E, 31 Blenheim IV, 29 B-24D and 29 B-25J from Imphal escorted by 9 fighters bombed Mandalay, doing 54 casualties and scoring 7 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 69 on the runways
_ 51 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 12 Spitfire VIII attacked two Japanese units at Katha and hit 57 men and 3 guns.
_ 24 Vengeance I and 19 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 23 men and 2 tanks.
_ 51 fighter-bomber and 16 escort from Imphal and Kohima attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 10 men.
_ 14 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur attacked the 55th Div holding Akyab and hit 3 men.
_ 6 fighters flew LRCAP over Katha and SE of Imphal.

On the ground there was no firing at Katha, but in Akyab Japanese guns hit 6 Allied men.

Mandalay reported damage 100/92 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/65, Akyab 69/58, Lashio 43/38 and Taung Gyi 72/86.

The two Allied units that reached Akyab yesterday were identified as a Chinese Corps and a HQ. The 55th Div was far more powerful than them (477 AV vs 174) and it was decided to launch a shock attack against these Allied units before the arrival of the 3rd Allied unit advancing on the trail. Rangoon airmen were ordered to provide support for this attack. 108 G4M2 and 31 Ki-21 were ready for that and will be escorted by several tens of fighters, even if the majority of the Rangoon-based fighters will remain on CAP over their base.

On the northern front, the situation was improving. The 26th Ind Mxd Bde reached Katha and began immediately to build field fortifications. Another unit of the 28th Army, the 6th Tk Rgt, marched out of the jungle and reached Lashio, and was ordered to go to Katha too.

China

Japanese airmen supported the offensive against Kunming by bombing the base and the Chinese troops. 18 Ki-49 from Kweiyang escorted by 41 A6M3a and 22 A6M5 attacked the airfield and scored 2 hits on the airbase and 22 on the runways, while 65 bombers (31 Ki-21, 20 Ki-48 and 14 Ki-49) and 36 A6M5c fighter-bombers from Kweiyang escorted by 10 fighters (3 A6M3a and 7 Oscar II) bombed 2 Chinese corps and hit 75 men and 2 guns for two losses (one A6M5c shot down by AA fire and a Lily lost operationally).

After their successes of the last days, the Japanese troops now launched a banzai charge against the Chinese defences and overwhelmed them. Chinese troops collapsed and had to retire from their first and second lines before the attack slowed down and was stopped (3618 Japanese AV vs 2052, adjusted to 2927 vs 1089, 2 to 1 ratio reducing the fort level from 5 to 3). Japanese losses were not so heavy for a schock attack (2354 men, 89 guns and 9 tanks), while the Chinese lost 1682 men and 32 guns.

45 training and 27 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit 6 men and suffered no loss.

After the success of the last attack, the Japanese troops besieging Kunming were closing to victory and will again launch a shock attack tomorrow, and even the Eng Rgt that were ordered to leave will join the attack with their few available squads. The air support will be the same as today, but two Ki-57 Sentai will also drop on Chinese lines a part of the 1st Parachute Rgt just brought in Canton by the “Emily flying bridge” from Hokkaido to confuse the defenders.

Japan

The production of the P1Y Frances was launched. Despite a strong research (134 points) the launch date hadn’t been advanced by Japanese engineers.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 931
RE: 30 November 1943: Allied reinforcements were met by... - 4/14/2009 9:21:45 AM   
traskott


Posts: 1546
Joined: 6/23/2008
From: Valladolid, Spain
Status: offline 		The allied is "your best friend" by putting troops in the wrong places..isn't?

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 932
1 December 1943: good news in Katha, failure in Kunming... - 4/14/2009 10:19:52 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		"My best friend"... I don't know if his choice of the attacked locations is so bad, but it is sure that the way he is throwing troops at PJ for little result is helping me. Its main error in this area IMOO is that he is not using his fleet to stop the supplies to reach the island, so enabling it to last longer.

Another thing I would have done at his place will be to invade several nearby locations around the main target: in this case, it should have invaded OJ earlier, when I had not enough troops to invade it. But I think he was excepting less opposition... and he could not know that the KB was sailing to the area BEFORE the invasion force was detected.

One month ago, I would have said the Allied troops were unable to take Myitkyina without reinforcements. Well, they did. On the other hand, I would have sent Allied troops against Akyab before targetting central Burma.

1 December 1943: good news in Katha, failure in Kunming, disaster in Akyab




Northern Pacific

During the night an Allied surface TF (5 CA and 10 DD) sank two barges off PJ and then two old American battleships, the Colorado and the New Mexico, bombarded the Japanese base, hitting 43 men and 3 guns.

Both Allied convoys off PJ continued to unload during the whole night and day. Japanese guns fired a total of 1586 shells on them but were less efficient than the day before. They hit slightly 3 LCI, 2 DMS and 1 DE. Allied landing casualties were 1832 men and 1 gun. Three ships heavily damaged the day before by Japanese guns sank during the day: the MSW Tern and Vireo, and the LST-456.

At dawn a Japanese recon showed no Allied CAP over the Allied ships off PJ but no Japanese unit was able to exploit this Allied mistake, as all were ordered to attack by night.

The Allied main CV fleet sailed again to a position just east of PJ and PJ suffered heavily in the second half of the day. It was first bombed by Allied CV airmen (195 TBM, 100 SB2C, 96 SBD, 27 TBF and 18 Barracuda escorted by 38 F6F), then by Attu airmen (74 B-24D and 66 B-24J escorted by 48 P-38J) and at dusk by four Allied cruisers (CA Marblehead and Chester and CL Honolulu and Hobart). All these attacks destroyed on the ground 2 Dinah III, a Ki-49 and a Jake, did 502 casualties, disabled 9 guns and scored 13 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 325 on the runways. Japanese AA fire shot down one Barracuda while two P-38J and a TBF were lost in accidents.

Allied also continued to chase barges in the area. Two submarines sank two and damaged another with gunfire north of OJ and PJ, and two other were sunk off OJ by patrolling Allied CV aircraft.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 132 men and one gun. Allied troops on the island numbered 267 229 men (+1357), 2913 guns (+9) and 597vehicles (+2) for 5192 AV (+4) against 123 603 men (-798), 1057 guns (-25) and 7 tankettes (-) for 2380 AV (-). For the second day in a row, more than half of the Allied troops that landed today were disabled one way or the other (total landing casualties in two days were 13 174 men, while only 8 688 able men were added to the Allied army).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/95/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 engineers repairing it and building fortifications (level 5, 62% (+0%)). The base had 32 122 supplies (-1472), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers were now building more fortifications (level 3, 13% (+13%)). The base had 24 972 supplies (-242). 65 mines were remaining off the base.

The CAP over the Allied CV or the convoys was too high to attempt anything in daylight and so the Toyohara airmen were still ordered to try night attacks. And again, barges were ordered to sail to OJ and PJ during the night.

Four of the five submarines between the Kuriles and the Aleutians were ordered to sail north to try to pick up retreating damaged ships. The last one was ordered to use its Glen floatplane, the last remaining in the area, to search them. A sixth submarine will arrive in the area in some days.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 317 sorties today with three operational losses (a B-25J, a Beaufighter VIC and a P-40E):
_ Truk was attacked by 55 B-24D and 29 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 23 P-38J and reported 100 casualties, a disabled gun, 3 hits on the airbase and 86 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 53 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 Corsairs and reported 21 casualties, 8 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 47 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 71 B-25C, 48 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 Beaufighter VIC, 13 B-25J and 14 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 17 P-38J and 8 Kittyhawk I, and reported 18 casualties, 2 hits on port supplies, 3 on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 68 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 21 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 3 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng but missed it.

Rabaul reported damage of 30/46/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3120 (+387) required, Wewak 100/32/7 and had 64 (+64) supplies for 2235 (-13) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 509 (+151) required and Truk had damage 96/36/0.

An AK left Palau for Hollandia with supplies. Two other were still unloading there without being detected. Off Green Island an AP loaded a NLF and left to evacuate it to Kusaie Island

Timor-DEI-Australia

Bad weather grounded almost all aircraft today in the area. The only events were the sinking of a barge off Amboina by a patrolling B-24J and the loss of a Dinah III sent to Darwin for a recon and shot down near the target by Allied fighters.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 2% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 38% (+4%), Dili and Kendari were OK, Amboina reported damage 82/98/0 (system/runway/port), other bases were undamaged.

SRA

A convoy with 35k supplies aboard left Toboali for Soerabaja.

Burma

During the day a British fighter shot down a Dinah III flying a recon over Ceylon.

Bad weather reduced the Allied activity to 178 offensive sorties today. Two P-40N were lost operationally:
_ 85 bombers and 43 fighter-bombers from Dacca escorted by 13 Spitfire VIII attacked three Japanese units at Katha and hit 162 men and 9 guns.
_ 37 fighter-bombers from Kohima attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 14 men.

Two decivise battles were fought today in Burma.

The first was the daring attack launched by the 55th Div against the Allied troops marching on Akyab. The plan was to attack with all availables troops between the advanced Chinese Corps and the troops following it. The Japanese officers were sure that the Chinese will collapse and flee in the jungle once they will know they were surrounded. But all went wrong, because the Allied reinforcements, a full Indian Division, were closer than expected and the troops of the 55th Div were caught between the two Allied forces while crossing a swanp. Their commanders gave the orders to charge but the mud slowed the attack and the heavy Allied fire turned the swamp red with Japanese blood. None of the Japanese soldiers was able to reach the Allied lines (417 Japanese AV * 2 for the shock attack = 834 vs 508 Allied, adjusted to 0 (!!!!) Japanese vs 313). The 55th Div was slaughtered and lost 5253 men (including more than a thousand dead), 74 guns and 2 tanks. Allied losses were limited to 35 men and one gun.

The second battle was the first Allied attack in Katha. The troops that marched there five or six months ago to cut the railway and that held their positions against the failed Japanese counter-attack had been joined by the Allied Army victorious in Myitkyina. They faced a mix of troops having fought there for months too, of some units having managed to retreat from Myitkyina without being surrounded by the Allied tanks and of reinforcements units rushed there. The Allied troops were far more powerful (4056 AV) than the Japanese (1195 AV), but the latter had used the time won by their comrades west of Myitkyina to build field fortifications. They also knew that behind them there was …. nothing until the Chinese border. The fate of the Japanese Empire was in their hands.
And they held their grounds, but some of the reinforcements units that had no time to build good positions were very close to be repulsed (adjusted AV was 2591 Allied vs 1341 Japanese, 1 to 1, but close to 2 to 1). Japanese losses were 2510 men, 27 guns and 2 tanks, Allied ones 5057 men, 149 guns and 6 tanks.

Thanks to the Allied more cautious tactics, they only lost some hundred dead during these two battles (+ 7 troop points) while Japan lost around 1500 dead at the same time (+ 20 troop points).

Mandalay reported damage 100/91 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/59, Akyab 69/55, Lashio 43/31 and Taung Gyi 72/84.

The troops in Katha were in a rather good shape, except two HQ units, that were sent back to Mandalay for R&R and both Ind Bde that arrived in the last weeks from Palembang and were lacking both experience and time to build convenient field fortifications.

But in Akyab the situation was far worse. The decimated 55th Div could only muster a company of able riflemen in the evening, after the awful losses suffered in the disastrous attack launched today… The reduced SNLF that had been repulsed from the trail NW of the base some weeks ago and that was now marching out of the base had no more strength than the Div and was ordered to stop marching and reinforce the defence, but the support troops will be the most powerful part of it… For the Japanese command, the base was now doomed, as no reinforcement were available to be sent here by sea or air… Launching an attack had been a fatal mistake… All Rangoon-based bombers will bomb tomorrow the Allied troops there to try to delay their attack… But Akyab will very probably be soon in Allied hands, and then if will be very difficult to keep the airport of Rangoon open… Japanese aircraft will probably withdraw to Bangkok and the Burma theater will become even more difficult than it was…

China

Bad weather grounded all air support scheduled for the Kunming offensive. The transports bringing paratroops managed to reach the target but were scattered by clouds and the drop was inefficient, while a Topsy was lost in an accident. The tired Japanese troops were stopped cold by the Chinese units that had well reorganised during the night (2574 Japanese AV vs 1962 Chinese, adjusted to 2015 vs 3976, 0 to 1) and losses were heavy: 4338 men, 55 guns and 8 vehicles. Chinese losses were 2602 men and 32 guns.

45 training and 31 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit 17 men and suffered one operational loss (a Kate).

Japanese troops in Kunming reverted to R& R and pounding the Japanese lines. Bombers supporting them will attack the airfield tomorrow.

Japan

Four first Frances were produced today.

The PC Awaji was commissioned in Tokyo, and the large AK Chosen Maru was launched in Kure.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 4/14/2009 10:22:27 PM >

(in reply to traskott)
Post #: 933
2 December 1943: the Allied attack started in Akyab - 4/15/2009 10:53:31 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		2 December 1943: the Allied attack started in Akyab

Northern Pacific

One of the two Allied convoys off PJ had finished unloading troops yesterday, the other finished during the night (avoiding 54 shells fired by the defences, and reporting 43 Allied casualties).

During the night three Allied surface forces were active in the area. The BB Colorado and New Mexico and the 13 destroyers escorting them patrolled off PJ and sank three barges there. Five CA (Australia, Concord, New Orleans, Salt Lake City and Vincennes) and 10 DD sailed to PJ, sank a barge and then bombed the base, disabling 266 men and one gun and scoring one hit on the airbase, 4 on the runways and 1 on port supplies. The third TF bombarded PJ with the CA Marblehead and Chester and the CL Honolulu and Hobart, hitting 102 men, 1 gun and 1 vehicle.

The Japanese submarines sent to chase cripples between the Kuriles and the Aleutians had no success and two were hit today. Around dawn, the SS I-174 saw a convoy of damaged ships 120 miles ESE of PJ but was detected by the two escorting DD and damaged by four depth charges exploding near her. In the afternoon, the I-15 was attacked and hit by a PB4Y some hundred of miles west of Kiska.

PJ was again bombed twice in the afternoon, first by CV airmen (198 TBM, 97 SBD, 70 SB2C, 27 TBF and 17 Barracuda escorted by 46 F6F) and then by Attu airmen (62 B-24D and 36 B-24J escorted by 22 P-38J). These two attacks did 391 casualties, disabled 2 guns and scored 18 hits on the airbase, 11 on supplies and 291 on the runways. Japanese AA fire shot down one Helldiver while a B-24J was lost operationally.

Some barges remained SW of PJ but one was sunk by the SS Sand Lance and another by a SBD during the day.

On the ground at PJ, both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 516 men and 7 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 268 162 men (+923), 2926 guns (+13) and 599 vehicles (+2) for 5201 AV (+9) against 123 136 men (-467), 1060 guns (+3) and 6 tankettes (-1) for 2377 AV (-3).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/87/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 engineers repairing it and building fortifications (level 5, 62% (+0%)). The base had 30 471 supplies (-1651), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers were now repairing the damage of today’s attack (damage 2/1/1) ans stopped building more fortifications (level 3, 13% (+0%)). The base had 25 105 supplies (+133). 61 mines were remaining off the base.

The Allied main CV fleet was still just east of PJ. Toyohara airmen had been unable so far to launch night attacks, distance being too great. So most of the Betties were ordered south to Mindanao where it was hoped they will be more useful (see below).

Both submarines hit today were not too badly damaged, I-15 (33/34/0) and I-174 (22/33/0), both being ordered to return to Japan for repairs. Another submarine was running out of fuel and also left the area. Two remained on the Allied retirement path from PJ to Kiska and Attu.

Eastern Pacific

The submarine patrol south of the California failed to see any Allied shipping in the area, and the three shorter-range submarines were now sailing back to PH. The three other were ordered to sail to waters south of Alaska and will join there the two submarines already in the area. With the Allied activity in the Kuriles, it was hoped targets would be found there.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 181 sorties today with three losses: a PBY Catalina shot down by AA fire over Truk and two operational (a P-40E and a F4U-1):
_ Truk was attacked by 45 B-24D and 22 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 22 P-38J and reported 148 casualties, one disabled gun, 5 hits on the airbase and 65 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 45 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 6 P-40E and 2 Corsairs and reported 5 casualties, 8 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 35 on the runways.
_ 17 F4U-1 Corsair and 20 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 2 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 14 men.

Rabaul reported damage of 58/41/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3570 (+450) required, Wewak 91/0/7 and had 64 (+0) supplies for 1982 (-253) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 496 (-13) required and Truk had damage 100/53/0.

The SS I-176 left Noumea to patrol on the Allied shipping lane south of Gili Gili.

Allied airmen expanded the port of Emirau Island to size 2.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 188 sorties today with five losses: three to AA fire (a B-17E over Sorong, a B-25C over Koepang and a PBM Mariner during a recon) and two operational (a P-38J and a Kittyhawk III):
_ Sorong was attacked by 29 B-24J, 24 B-24D, 14 B-17E, 15 B-25C and 5 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 56 P-38J and reported 14 casualties, 10 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 39 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 21 B-25C from Derby that did 14 casualties, and scored 4 hits on supplies and 16 on the runways.
_ 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island attacked a barge convoy off Amboina and sank two of them.
_ 10 Allied fighters flew LRCAP over Dili but reported nothing.

The small AP Arizana Maru had managed to reach Koepang on the 29th of November and to unload there 500 tons of supplies without being attacked. But its charmed life ended in the evening when she sailed close to Maumere on her way back to Java. She was then seen by the Dutch submarine KXVIII that sank her with three torpedoes. The only good news were that the AP had not evacuated troops before sailing from Koepang, and so only her crew was lost.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 6% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 40% (+2%), Amboina reported damage 82/93/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 26/22/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

An Allied convoy (10 AP) was still off Lautem, another convoy, a surface TF and an APD TF off Darwin, and some PT off Kai Island. The Japanese Command was thinking that the next Allied move in the South will be in this area and so ordered the KB to leave Palau westwards and sail to a waiting position between Morotai and Davao. The current KB had 9 CV and 3 CVL carrying 297 A6M5, 194 Judy and 165 Jill and escorted by 3 CA, 7 CL and 33 DD. A laden AO with 6 escorting PC/PG will follow it from Palau and the AO TF based in Saipan (5 AO and 2 escorts) was also ordered to join the fleet.

To help them defeat an Allied landing force, 83 G4M2 Betty flew during the day from Toyohara to Davao (an 84th was lost during the ferry flight with its crew). They were useless in the north and may help in the south.

15 new barges were launched in Menado and joined the 8 allready going back and forth to Amboina. Two were off this base and loaded some troops before saling north. Menado-based Oscar will LRCAP them tomorrow. And some AK were also ferrying troops from the 15th Av Rgt from Menado (where transport aircraft were still evacuating them from Amboina) to Davao.

SRA

A convoy with 28k resources aboard left Bangkok for Hong Kong. Another started to load 31k resources in Toboali. Other small convoys started to load 31k resources in Toboali and 28k in Balikpapan, the idea being to evacuated as much goods as possible before Allied bombers start to reach these areas.

The last 7000-ton AK available in Soerabaja sailed SE to try to sneak to Kendari and pick up more resources.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 544 offensive sorties today and lost 7 aircraft: a Catalina I shot down by an A6M3a during a recon sortie to Rangoon, two to AA fire (a Blenheim IV over Mandalay and a F-5A Lightning over Katha) and 4 operationally (a Liberator VI, a Spitfire VIII, a P-47C and a P-40E):
_ 47 B-17E, 40 Blenheim IV, 33 B-24D and 31 B-25J from Imphal escorted by 11 fighters bombed Mandalay, doing 116 casualties, disabling a gun and scoring 11 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 236 on the runways
_ 136 fighter-bombers, 97 bombers and 13 escorts from Jorhat and Dacca attacked three Japanese units at Katha and hit 459 men and 9 guns.
_ 26 Vengeance I and 19 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 14 men.
_ 47 fighter-bomber and 18 escort from Imphal and Kohima attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 20 men.
_ 16 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur attacked the 55th Div holding Akyab and hit 5 men.
_ 10 fighters flew LRCAP over Katha and SE of Imphal.

After their defensive success of the day before, the Allied troops in Akyab (an Indian Div and a Chinese Corps led by an Indian HQ) launched their attack and the exhausted Japanese troops (the decimated 55th Div, a SNLF badly needing rest and an understrength small base force) did their best to delay their advance (473 Allied AV vs 22 Japanese, adjusted to 93 vs 23). The cautiousness of the Allied generals was their doom as their troops won much ground during the day against the disorganized defense, but retreated in the evening to the best positions, enabling the Japanese to retake ground without a shot (the deliberate attack at 4 to 1 only reduced the fortifications from 9 to 8). On the other hand Allied losses (57 men and 2 guns) were smaller than the Japanese ones (220 men and 2 guns).

More east, Allied guns restarted to pound Japanese positions in Katha and hit 691 men and 8 guns. 1324 Japanese AV (+151 since the 29th November) faced 4074 Allied (+2 in the same time).

Mandalay reported damage 100/99 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/53, Akyab 69/52, Lashio 43/25 and Taung Gyi 72/82.

Akyab held better than planned and the 55th Div troops recuperated slowly… very slowly but the situation was better than expected. The 34th Ind Mxd Bde that was marching towards Moulmein was today in Rahaeng and was ordered to stop there. 23 Thora and 11 Tabby were sent there and will ferry these troops to Akyab. Rangoon airmen were again ordered to support Japanese troops by bombing Allied ones, and recon units were ordered to help them by flying over Allied lines here. And the 46 A6M3a of F1/331st Hikotai were ordered to fly LRCAP over the battlefield from Rangoon. They were expected to face either unescorted Beaufighters or Spitire and P-40N in equal numbers.

A new unit got out of the jungle between Myitkyina and Lashio: the 1st Tk Rgt. It was ordered to go to Katha as fast as possible.

China

During the day, Kunming base was bombed by 125 bombers from Kweiyang (65 Ki-21, 40 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-49) with 80 escorts (41 A6M3a, 22 A6M5 and 17 Oscar II) that did 115 casualties and scored 14 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 113 on runways. Other units had not received the last orders and continued to bomb Chinese troops. Two Corps were attacked by 32 A6M5c from Kweiyang and 28 Ki-48 from Hanoi escorted by 3 A6M3a and lost 31 men. During these attacks an A6M5c was shot down by AA fire while a Ki-48 and an A6M5 were lost operationally.

On the ground, the Japanese Southern China Army rested and bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 43 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2328 (-852 since the start of the last offensive on the 29th) and the Chinese one 1946 (-338 in the same time).

53 training and 58 escort sorties were flown from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit 14 men and suffered no loss.

All air units still having not received word that the Japanese offensive in Kweilin was stopped received orders to stop operations.

Two Oscar Chutai based in Kweiyang will fly LRCAP over Kunming and Yunan to intercept Allied transport aircraft possibly flying supplies to these bases.

Japan

Two small factories producing Irving recon aircraft were restarted in Gumma and Nagasaki

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 934
3 December 1943: Allied troops attacked everywhere, but... - 4/19/2009 10:17:01 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		3 December 1943: Allied troops attacked everywhere, but Japan resisted

Northern Pacific

The night in the Kuriles was quiet with only two surface battles between American submarines and barges (the Tarpon sank one, the Sand Lance missed another) west of OJ. The Sand Lance chased the barge that escaped during the day and attacked it twice but only managed to set it on fire and was herself hit once. This barge crew served well the Emperor.

During the day the Allied fleet remained in place. Transports unloaded supplies at PJ undisturbed. The CV fleet was not attacked either and launched in the afternoon a new raid against PJ with 199 TBM, 97 SBD, 73 SB2C, 27 TBF and 17 Barracuda escorted by 48 F6F, doing 153 casualties, disabling 4 guns and scoring 13 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 240 on the runways. The CV fleet lost during the day a SBD and a TBM shot down by AA over PJ and a F4F-4 and a Corsair in accidents.

On the ground, Allied troops on the island numbered 269 003 men (+841), 2932 guns (+6) and 599 vehicles (-) for 5221 AV (+20) against 122 501 men (-635), 1058 guns (-2) and 7 tankettes (+1) for 2377 AV (-).
Japanese CD guns pounded the Allied beachhead, hitting 19 men, while the reinforced Allied troops launched a new deliberate attack, the first since the 16th of October, six weeks ago. Allied enginners had weel used this time to prepare the assault of the Japanese fortifications and managed to blow up most of the first lines positions rebuilt by the Japanese (reducing again the fortification level from 5 to 4) but the Japanese troops had also well used this rest period and were ready to repulse the attack, that was a bloody failure (4948 Allied AV vs 2048 Japanese, adjusted to 3616 vs … 13738!!!). Japanese losses were 1747 men, 3 tanks and 122 guns while the Allied lost 7557 men, 413 guns and 19 vehicles.

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/79/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 613 (-8) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (-88%)). The base had 29 003 supplies (-1468), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers repaired all damage and resumed building more fortifications (level 3, 25% (+12%)). The base had 23 309 supplies (-1804). 58 mines were remaining off the base.

The Allied main CV fleet was still just east of PJ. More east Japanese submariners only reported a small SC group chasing them and so moved to escape them.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 155 sorties today with the loss of two B-24D during the Truk raid (one shot down by AA fire and one operationally):
_ Truk was attacked by 44 B-24D and 21 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 22 P-38J and reported 19 casualties, 8 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 44 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 45 B-25J from Admiralty Islands and reported 3 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 42 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 19 B-25C, 2 Beaufighter VIC and 2 B-25J from Madang, and reported one hit on supplies and 6 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 64/56/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3384 (-186) required, Wewak 68/0/7 and had 32 (-32) supplies for 2215 (+233) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 389 (-107) required and Truk had damage 100/65/0.

Both blocade raiders off Hollandia will finish to unload tonight and return to Palau. They brought a total of 10500 supplies here, tripling the stock of the base.

Four small AP and a MSW left Tinian and sailed towards Truk. They will scatter near this base and enter the rade to pick up troops that will be more useful elsewhere.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 201 sorties today with five losses: three to AA fire (a B-25C over Koepang, a F-5A Lightning over Kendari and a PBM Mariner during a recon) and two operational (two Beaufighter Mk 21):
_ Sorong was attacked by 27 B-24J, 27 B-24D, 12 B-17E, 15 B-25C and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 53 P-38J and reported 17 casualties, 6 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 50 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 26 B-25C from Derby that scored one hit on the airbase and 8 on the runways.
_ Kittyhawk III from Lautem flew LRCAP over the Japanese airfield of Dili (10 sorties) where a Japanese base force of the garrison was bombed and missed by 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 5 Spitfire Vb.

The Menado-based 77 Sentai flew LRCAP barges north of Amboina but met no Allied aircraft. Two of its Oscar II get lost and ditched but both pilots were saved.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 9% (+3%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 43% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/87/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 48/44/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

North of this area the KB was now 180 miles NE of Morotai and received orders to sail north, just south of Mindanao, and wait there out of range of Allied bombers based in Kai Island. It was thought that the next Allied target will be Sorong.

SRA

A small convoy started to load 21k resources in Tarakan. Another left Brunei with 66k oil and will sail to Japan via Guian, Philippines.

The damaged PC Fukue arrived in Takao port with damage 71/89/0 and was docked to try to save her.

Burma

As planned, Japanese airmen based in Rangoon did their best to support the troops in Akyab and flew 190 sorties:
_ the daily raid by 13 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur against the 55th Div was intercepted by 19 A6M3a of the F1/331st that shot down 3 of the attackers (a fourth crashed on the way back but was not claimed) and scattered the other that hit nothing. One A6M3a was lost operationally, but its pilot was saved.
_ the main Allied unit, the 23rd Indian Div, was bombed by 92 G4M2 Betty and 27 Ki-21 escorted by 52 fighters (33 Tony, 9 A6M5, 5 A6M3, 3 Tojo and 2 A6M3a) and lost 159 men and 5 guns. One Tojo was lost operationally.

This support enabled the garrison of Akyab to recover and to slow the Allied attack, but not to stop it (232 Allied AV (-241) vs 28 Japanese (+6), adjusted to 108 vs 83, 1 to 1 ratio reducing the fortifications to level 7). And this time Allied losses (158 men and 4 guns) were higher than the Japanese ones (21 men and one gun).

Allied airmen flew 433 offensive sorties today and lost 14 aircraft: four Beaufighter VIC shot down by Zeroes over Akyab, three to AA fire (a B-17E and a B-24D over Mandalay and a Liberator VI over Katha) and 7 operationally (2 Liberator VI, 2 P-40E, a B-25C, a Thunderbolt II and a P-40N):
_ 41 B-17E, 36 Blenheim IV, 29 B-24D and 30 B-25J from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire VIII bombed Mandalay, doing 30 casualties, and scoring 12 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 156 on the runways
_ 37 fighter-bombers, 108 bombers and 13 escorts from Dacca attacked two Japanese units at Katha and hit 180 men and 10 guns.
_ 23 Vengeance I and 18 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 48 men and 1 gun.
_ 49 fighter-bomber and 17 escort from Imphal and Kohima attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 42 men.
_ 13 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur attacked the 55th Div holding Akyab (see above)
_ 10 fighters flew LRCAP over Katha.

The Allied troops in Katha launched a second attack. Once again they were very close to overwhelm some of the Japanese positions, but the relative lack of air support might have made the difference and after bloody close battles, the Allied troops took some ground but retired on their departure lines on all important spots (3597 Allied AV vs 1086 Japanese, adjusted to 2576 vs 1349, 1 to 1, again close to 2 to 1). Japanese losses were 1180 men, 51 guns and 2 tanks, Allied ones 4403 men, 167 guns and 6 tanks.


Mandalay reported damage 100/81 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/47, Akyab 69/47, Lashio 43/18 and Taung Gyi 72/80.

The air transport brought 440 men of the 34th Bde to Akyab and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 29 able infantry squads compared to 18 the day before). After their maximum effort today, Rangoon airmen will tomorrow not fly over Akyab, but rather rest for the bombers and fly CAP over Rangoon for the fighters. Only recon and transport aircraft will fly to Akyab.

In Katha the situation was apparently stabilized and the Allied advance checked for a while. All Japanese troops lost in the jungle NE and NW of Lashio will now probably have enough time to go out and organize strong defensive positions in Central Burma.

China

During the day, Kunming base was bombed by 120 bombers from Kweiyang (67 Ki-21, 33 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-49) with 96 escorts (47 A6M3a, 23 A6M5c, 21A6M5 and 5 Oscar II) that did 89 casualties, disabled 2 guns and scored 9 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 99 on runways. A Ki-48 was lost operationally.

The Oscar II flying LRCAP over Kunming and Yunan reported no Allied transport AC there, and one Oscar II and its pilot were lost operationally.

53 training and 58 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit 5 men and suffered no loss.

On the ground, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 190 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2377 (+49) and the Chinese one 1967 (+21).

Japanese recon reported that the airfield of Kunming was damaged at 59%. Two Chinese units were reported NW of this city and were probable reinforcements coming from Chungking. Hanoi Ki-48 were ordered to bomb them tomorrow.

Oscar II based in Kweiyang were ordered to stop flying LRCAP over Yunan and Kunming, but another Chutai based in Sian will do the same tomorrow over Chengtu.

Japan

The SS RO-101 was commissioned in Tokyo and sailed southwards to Palau.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 935
4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuriles ... - 4/22/2009 7:32:22 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuriles waters

Northern Pacific

During the night the SS I-40 was chased 360 miles west of Kiska by 7 SC and lightly damaged (20/3/0) by some near-misses scored by the SC-634.
60 miles more west, the SS RO-63 was detected during the morning by the escort of the US CV fleet, chased by 8 DD and damaged by a hit scored by the DD Black, before being again chased in the evening by 10 DD and sunk by the DD Kidd and Izard.

This sudden naval activity in these waters was due to the fact that the whole Allied fleet, CV, transports and auxiliary TF, were sailing back to Kiska. In the afternoon, the CV launched a last raid on PJ with 199 TBM, 95 SBD, 97 SB2C, 27 TBF and 17 Barracuda escorted by 20 F6F, doing 398 casualties, disabling 2 guns and scoring 11 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 184 on the runways for the loss of a TBF shot down by AA and another and a TBM lost operationally. A Dinah III shadowing the fleet was shot down by Allied fighters.

On the ground at PJ, both sides reverted to the usual artillery fire. Allied losses were 22 men, Japanese ones 101 men and one gun. Allied troops on the island numbered 253 777 men (-15 226 compared to before the attack of yesterday!!!), 2401 guns (-531) and 584 vehicles (-15) for 4372 AV (-849) against 117 879 men (-4622), 906 guns (-152) and 3 tankettes (-4) for 2259 AV (-118). It seems that the Allied losses were underestimated in yesterday reports!! Most important, while 15% of the Allied combat troops are disabled after this attack, only 5% of the Japanese are. Even if some fortifications were lost, this battle went rather well for Japan. It once again proved that with supplies, PJ will hold. Now the difficulty will be to keep it supplied.

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/93/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 (+8) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 30 049 supplies (+1046), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued building more fortifications (level 3, 25% (+12%)). The base had 23 309 supplies (-1804). 58 mines were remaining off the base.

The last two Japanese submarines in the area, including the damaged I-40, were ordered to leave and sail SW.

On the other hand, now that the Allied ships were leaving the area, Japanese transports were ordered to sail again to the Kuriles. 5 AK loaded with 35k supplies left Aomori with 6 escorts, while a similar convoy left Sapporo with 25k supplies.

The main danger for these ships, that will as usual scatter when close to the Kuriles, were the Allied submarines (four were seen today in the area) and aircraft were ordered to fly ASW patrols to try to chase them. The Ki-49 based in Shikka received this order while 16 Pete and 18 Betty were sent to the Kuriles to fly patrols. The Betty flew to OJ while the Pete were compelled by their short range to stop in Etorofu Jima.

Central Pacific

The preparation of Japanese defensive positions in the Marianas continued. Today a Const Bn landed on Pagan to fortify it, while the number of IJN vessels laying mines in the area was now 8 ML and 8 SS (but none of the minelayer type). 13500 mines had already been laid off the islands of the group. In the next few days, several convoys bringing a total of 53 000 troops from Southern Pacific will arrive in the area to strengthen the garrison.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 227 sorties today with the four operational losses (a B-25C, a Beaufighter VIC, a Beaufighter Mk 21 and 1 P-38J):
_ Wewak was attacked by 83 B-25C, 46 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 15 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 22 P-38J, and reported 84 casualties, one hit on the port, 4 on port supplies, one on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 58 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 28 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 B-25C and reported 2 hits on the airbase and 19 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 66/45/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3545 (+161) required, Wewak 71/19/10 and had 0 (-32) supplies for 2332 (+117) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 341 (-48) required and Truk had damage 100/42/0.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 147 sorties today with two operational losses (both P-38J):
_ Sorong was attacked by 26 B-24J, 27 B-24D, 9 B-17E and 14 B-25C from Kai Island escorted by 57 P-38J and reported 48 casualties, a disabled gun, one hit on the airbase, one on supplies and 45 on the runways.
_ 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island attacked a barge convoy north off Amboina, sank one and damaged another.

A Dinah III was shot down by the Allied CAP over Lautem.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 13% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 47% (+4%), Amboina reported damage 82/80/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 50/62/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

A convoy left Soerabaja with 10k supplies and will try to reach Koepang by sailing south of Sumba Island. Koepang had only 2200 remaining supplies and needed 1400 per month

The KB was now in place SE of Mindanao and was now waiting for AOs to join it before refuelling at sea.

SRA

Off the western coast of Malaya the submarine HMS Tally Ho saw in the morning a convoy of barges (doing routine trips to bring supplies to Sumatra bases) but was unable to attack.

Three blockade runners arrived in Banjarmasin, Borneo, gathered and sailed to Soerabaja. They will carry there 10k resources coming from Kendari. One had been damaged and will dock there for repairs, the two others will redo a run to Kendari.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 521 offensive sorties today and lost 12 aircraft: four to AA fire (a B-25J, A Blenheim IV and a Vengeance I over Mandalay and a Catalina I during a recon flight) and 8 operationally (2 Spitfire Vb, a B-17E, a Liberator VI, a B-25J, a Thunderbolt II, a Spitfire VIII and a P-40N):
_ Mandalay was their primary target with 127 fighter-bombers, 74 bombers and 74 escorts from Kohima and Jorhat attacking the HQ of the 17th Army in the city, hitting 33 men, and 37 B-17E, 38 Blenheim IV, 20 B-24D and 30 B-25J from Imphal escorted by 11 Spitfire VIII bombed the airfield, doing 114 casualties, and scoring 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 130 on the runways
_ 24 Vengeance I and 19 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 33 men.
_ 49 fighter-bomber and 18 escort from Imphal and Kohima attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 22 men.

On the ground, the Allied troops didn’t launch another attack in Akyab and only pounded the base, hitting nothing. 60 Japanese AV faced 484 Allied (at the start of the battle Japan had 477 and the Allied 508…).

More east, Allied guns restarted to pound Japanese positions in Katha after their new failure the day before and hit 317 men and 8 guns. 1300 Japanese AV (-24 in two days) faced 3685 Allied (-389 in the same time).

The damaged destroyer HMS Nepal, the only survivor of the flotilla slaughtered by Japanese airmen off Burma ten days ago, had been patched in Chandpur and was now sailing alone along the Indian coast towards a repair yard, but she was seen in the evening by the Japanese submarine I-154 that sank her with two torpedoes.

Mandalay reported damage 100/79 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/41, Akyab 69/40, Lashio 43/12 and Taung Gyi 72/78.

The air transport brought 350 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 42 (+13) able infantry squads). Two transport aircraft (a Tabby and a Thora were lost in accidents) during these flights.

Allied raids today on Mandalay were maybe preparation for a paratroop attack, so the Japanese HQ made a review of the garrison of the rear area bases:
_ Rangoon 192 AP
_ Taung Gyi 26 AP
_ Pagan 14 AP
_ Lashio 46 AP
_ Mandalay 609 AP (two Bde arrived from the south today, and a Tk Rgt from Lashio…)

With the stabilization of the frontline in Katha, it was decided to keep more troops in the rear. From Mandalay, only one brigade will go north to Katha, the other will defend the city and the Tk Rgt will go to Pagan.

Both submarines cruising on the Indian coast received orders to return to Rangoon to evade the Allied reaction and refuel.

China

During the day, Kunming base was bombed by 101 bombers from Kweiyang (56 Ki-21, 32 Ki-48 and 13 Ki-49) with 68 escorts (47 A6M3a and 21A6M5) that did 106 casualties, and scored 8 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 104 on runways without loss.

On the ground, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 264 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2467 (+90) and the Chinese one 1990 (+23).

The Oscar II flying LRCAP over Chengtu from Sian met Allied transport AC flying there, and a Dakota I was shot down over Chengtu by the Wt Off Miyajima S. of 54th Sentai. These LRCAP missions were temporally stopped the same evening.

56 training and 58 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit 13 men and suffered no loss.

NW of Kunming were now two Chinese units that came from Chungking and that were followed for a week by Japanese recon airmen. Both were second line troops, apparently base forces, probably sent to the besieged city to bolter the AA defence, or prepare a mass arrival of Allied fighters. Anyway the Japanese command saw there an opportunity to cut the Allied supply line. In Canton was a good part of the 1st Parachute Rgt (brought by air from Hokkaido) and several tens of transport aircraft. By sending there several units resting or training in China, Kwantung or Japan, the total raised to 69 serviceable transports (61 Topsy and 8 Tabby), and 77 total. A Tabby was lost operationally during the gathering phase. These aircraft will drop the Japanese paratroops (1280 men) on the road NW of Kunming, over the two Chinese units.
To support them, aircraft from Kweiyang (67 Ki-21, 35 A6M4c, 34 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-49) and Hanoi (48 Ki-48) will bombard these troops before the attack.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 936
RE: 4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuri... - 4/28/2009 8:45:05 PM   
traskott


Posts: 1546
Joined: 6/23/2008
From: Valladolid, Spain
Status: offline 		Nice !! You're holding the "allied guy" very nice. If he doesn't became more active, he won't be able to turn the balance on time.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 937
RE: 4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuri... - 5/1/2009 9:41:30 AM   
Alfred

 

Posts: 6685
Joined: 9/28/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: traskott

Nice !! You're holding the "allied guy" very nice. If he doesn't became more active, he won't be able to turn the balance on time.



Actually, AmiralLaurent "won" this game on VPs quite some time ago and his opponent also offered to resign.

Alfred

(in reply to traskott)
Post #: 938
RE: 4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuri... - 5/2/2009 4:22:49 PM   
traskott


Posts: 1546
Joined: 6/23/2008
From: Valladolid, Spain
Status: offline 		yes, I know, but, with time on his side, Allied should be able to launch a counter attack, and looks like he is having a lot of troubles to engage the Combined Fleet. 

(in reply to Alfred)
Post #: 939
RE: 4 December 1943: the Allied fleet retired from Kuri... - 6/12/2009 8:17:00 AM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

"AmiralLaurent" did't login or post in long time... I guess that RealLife (TM) caught up again...

I hope that the game is still on and that with upcoming WitP-AE we will see another great AAR from him!


Leo "Apollo11"

_____________________________



Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE

(in reply to traskott)
Post #: 940
5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China - 6/17/2009 10:05:45 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Hi Leo,

Yes, I'm sorry, but Real Life struck again... I had to struggle to keep my job, but it is now done, and I can come back to this AAR. By the way the game didn't stop in the meantime, but was of course slower.

5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China

Northern Pacific

The day was perfectly quiet in the Kuriles now that the Allied fleet had left again, and the only martial activity was artillery fire at PJ. Allied losses were 58 men and 2 guns, Japanese ones 213 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 255 305 men (+1528), 2437 guns (+36) and 593 vehicles (+9) for 4452 AV (+80) against 118 531 men (+652), 929 guns (+23) and 4 tankettes (+1) for 2271 AV (+12).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/70/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 620 (-1) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 30 124 supplies (+75), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued building more fortifications (level 3, 32% (+7%)). The base had 23 813 supplies (+504). 52 mines were remaining off the base. 9 Emily arrived in this base to fly naval search and detect an eventual return of the Allied fleet.

The ML squadron formerly based in Etorofu Jima (a MLE and 6 ML) was now in Sapporo. Three ML were docked for some basic repairs, while the three other were busy laying mines off nearby bases.

Japanese intelligence confirmed that the AK Ascella, heavily damaged by KB dive bombers off OJ on the 13th of October, was then scuttled by her crew.

Eastern Pacific

A brand new submarine arrived in Midway from Japan, refueled and sailed NE to join the pack south of Alaska, bringing it to 6 submarines.

Central Pacific

A convoy bringing from the Southern Pacific the main part of the 53rd Div, the HQ of the 14th Army and the 27th Eng Rgt arrived in Saipan and started to unload these troops to bolter the garrison.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

The Allied air activity increased in the area and reached today the number of 496 sorties with six losses: two to AA losses (a Beaufighter VIC over Wewak and a PBY Catalina over Truk) and four operational (two Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 41 B-24D and 19 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 169 casualties, 4 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 43 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 83 B-25C, 43 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 Beaufighter VIC, 13 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 17 P-38J and 5 Kittyhawk I, and by 56 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J, and reported 107 casualties, one hit on port supplies, 4 on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 88 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 50 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 9 P-40E and 2 Corsairs, and by 38 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 43 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 51 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 19 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 3 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 7 men.

Rabaul reported damage of 72/60/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3459 (-81) required, Wewak 86/42/14 and had 0 (+0) supplies for 2212 (-120) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 448 (+107) required and Truk had damage 100/49/0.

The Japanese Command had less and less info on the Allied activity in the area and ordered a renewed effort of recon flights over Allied bases in the area. Dinah and Betty based in Hollandia, Palau, Woleai and Lunga were so ordered to fly to Madang, Lae, Admiralty Island, Emirau Island and Gili Gili. It was feared that the increased Allied air activity was the start of a new Allied amphibious operation, and the Japanese High Command wanted to see the Allied ships as soon as possible to lay a successful ambush with the KB waiting at Palau.

Three AP with escort left Kwajelein towards Ponape to evacuate again troops brought back by air transports from Rabaul and Kavieng.

During a local flight a Jack crashed in Palau. It was the first loss for this new fighter.

Allied engineers expanded the port of Emirau to size 3.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 67 sorties today with 2 losses: one to AA fire (a PBM Mariner during a recon) and one operational (a Spitfire Vb):
_ Koepang was attacked by 17 B-25C from Derby and reported 14 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 3 on the runways.
_ Kittyhawk III from Lautem flew LRCAP over the Japanese airfield of Dili (10 sorties) where a Japanese base force of the garrison was bombed and missed by 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb.
_ 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island attacked a barge convoy off Amboina, and sank three of them. Allied patrol aircraft sank two more during the day.

A Dinah III was shot down by the Allied CAP over Darwin.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 17% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 49% (+2%), Amboina reported damage 82/73/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 50/41/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

32 Ki-30 flew from Balikpapan to Macassar to try to chase the Allied submarine cruising off this base. More east four (!) Allied submarines were seen today off Buru Island ! Two other were patrolling off Kendari and Maumere.

Six barges loaded 420 more air support personnel in Amboina to bring them to Menado (again under LRCAP by Menado-based Oscars). Off this latter base, two AK were loading another part of the 15th Aviation Rgt to bring it to Davao.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 551 offensive sorties today and lost 3 aircraft: one to AA fire (a Blenheim IV over Katha) and 2 operationally (2 Thunderbolt II):
_ after concentrating on Mandalay the day before, the Allied attacked in force the Japanese positions in Katha (516 sorties): 290 fighter-bombers, 183 bombers and 43 escorts from Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal and Jorhat attacked two Japanese brigades at Katha and hit 873 men and 19 guns.
_ 24 Vengeance I and 2 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 55 men.
_ 9 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and missed it.

On the ground, despite these heavy attacks, there was no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 401 men, one tank and 11 guns. 1372 Japanese AV (+72) faced 3761 Allied (+76).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit 2 men. 81 Japanese AV (+21) faced 486 Allied (+2).

Mandalay reported damage 100/58 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/35, Akyab 69/25, Lashio 43/1 and Taung Gyi 72/76.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 58 (+16) able infantry squads). It was now thought possible that this base may hold for a moment. But a new Allied units was reported today NW of the base, on the trail coming from India.

The 3rd Tk Div finally rolled out of the jungle NE of Lashio and arrived in this city. It was ordered immediately to go to Katha to reinforce the main front. There was only one Japanese unit still in the jungle NE of Lashio, the 23rd Bde, and it will reach the city in 7-10 days, and then stay here to defend it.

Between Katha and Myitkyina, two more units were reported, bringing the number of units there to 3. They were 42 other Allied units in Katha itself, and 6 in Myitkyina , where recon reported 40 Allied aircraft and a CAP of 16 fighters.

China

Bad weather disrupted Japanese air support for the paradrop NW of Kunming that was reduced to 31 A6M5c from Kweiyang escorted by 7 A6M3a and 35 Ki-48 from Hanoi that bombed one of two Chinese Base Forces holding this part of the road and hit 65 men and 1 vehicle while losing two Ki-48 and one A6M5c to AA fire, and another A6M5c in an accident. The powerful AA fire didn’t lessen when the transport aircraft arrived and shot down 10 Ki-57 and 1 Tabby, and damaged many other. Around 630 Japanese paratroops landed and gathered, but they faced close to 11 000 Japanese, even if the infantry strength was the same for both sides. The Japanese tried to take a position enabling to hold the road under fire but were overwhelmed by numbers and finished by retreat on a hill at some distance (8 Japanese AV * 2 for the shock attack against 8 Chinese, adjusted to 14 vs 58, 0 to 1). 102 Japanese fell in the battle while the Chinese lost 11 men and 2 guns.

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 455 men and a gun. The Japanese AV here was now 2531 (+64) and the Chinese one 2009 (+19).

34 training and 26 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit nothing and suffered an operational loss (an A6M3a).

The weather forecast for tomorrow was very bad (thunderstorm) and so the local command decided to not launch another offensive against Kunming as the air support was not guaranteed. So bombers based in Kweiyang and Hanoi were ordered to bomb the troops facing the paratroops NW of the city. These troops won’t receive more reinforcements but the transport aircraft based in Canton will drop supplies for them.

(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 941
RE: 5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed i... - 6/18/2009 12:30:08 AM   
Fishbed

 

Posts: 1822
Joined: 11/21/2005
From: Beijing, China - Paris, France
Status: offline 		Bravo amiral, bon retour parmi tes fans!! 

_____________________________


(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 942
6 December 1943: increasing activity on the New Guinea ... - 6/18/2009 7:21:26 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		6 December 1943: increasing activity on the New Guinea sector

Northern Pacific

In the afternoon, 49 B-24D and 32 B-24J from Attu escorted by 23 P-38J raided PJ, did 101 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies, 45 on the runways, 5 on the port and 5 on port supplies. A B-24D was lost operationally.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 175 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 257 004 men (+1699), 2471 guns (+34) and 596 vehicles (+3) for 4540 AV (+88) against 118 736 men (+205), 936 guns (+7) and 4 tankettes (-) for 2272 AV (+1).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/40/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 617 (-3) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 28 151 supplies (-1973), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued building more fortifications (level 3, 35% (+3%)). The base had 22 636 supplies (-1177). 51 mines were remaining off the base. Four barges were launched in this port and joined the 3 that survived the last days to bring supplies to PJ. And the 16 Pete that spend the night in Etoforu Jima arrived today to fly more ASW patrols from this base.

The reinforced ASW patrols reported today seven Allied submarines in the area (4 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). Both convoys bringing supplies to these last bases were ordered to sail past them.

The American LST-473, heavily damaged by coastal defences off PJ on the 30th of November, reached Attu but was judged damaged beyond repair.

Central Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Funafuti to size 4.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

The Allied air activity continued to be heavy in the area: 405 sorties today with 4 losses: two to AA losses (a B-24D and a B-17E over Truk) and two operational (a Beaufighter Mk 21 and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 41 B-24D and 18 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 136 casualties, a disabled gun, 3 hits on the airbase and 54 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 78 B-25C, 44 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 Beaufighter VIC, 14 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 17 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I and reported 38 casualties, one hit on the port, 5 on port supplies, 2 on the airbase, one on supplies and 71 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 42 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 P-40E and 6 Corsairs, and by 38 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 5 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 4 casualties, 6 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 45 on the runways.
_ 17 F4U-1 Corsair and 18 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 9 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 11 men.

Rabaul reported damage of 79/68/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3375 (-84) required, Wewak 89/42/16 and had 32 (+32) supplies for 2183 (-29) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 431 (-17) required and Truk had damage 100/62/0.

Allied fighters shot down a Betty flying recon to Admiralty Island. All targeted bases (Madang, Lae, Gili Gili and Admiralty Islands) had weak CAP (a dozen or less fighters of old type, F4F-4 or Kittyhawk I).

Several Allied TF were reported during the recon missions flown today:
_ off Admiralty Islands, a surface TF (a “CA” and a “DD”), a LCM TF and a PT TF
_ off Lae, a TF with 2 “BB” and 6 unidentified ships
_ off Gili Gili, 3 TF, one with a “BB” and a “CA”, one with an “AP” and one with two “APD”

Given the weak CAP over these bases, a Betty raid may do some interesting damage, especially from Lunga to Gili Gili. But it should be launched with enough strength to sink ships, so a Betty concentration was ordered in the Mariannas. 83 Betty arrived here from Rangoon, Bangkok and Marcus Island this evening (another was lost with its crew during the ferry flight).




Timor-DEI-Australia

During the night the submarine USS Skipjack attacked on the surface and sank a barge just SE of Menado.

Allied airmen flew 185 sorties today with 3 losses: two to AA fire (a B-25C over Koepang and a F-5A Lightning over Kendari) and one operational (a P-38J):
_ Sorong was attacked by 28 B-24D, 26 B-24J, 8 B-17E and 9 B-25C from Kai Island escorted by 56 P-38J and reported 11 casualties, one hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 51 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 16 B-25C from Derby and reported 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 2 on the runways.
_ 18 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 4 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili and hit 11 men.
_ the Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island flew 20 sorties against a barge convoy off Amboina, and with Allied patrol aircraft sank five of them during the day.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 20% (+3%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 52% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/67/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 58/59/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

The KB will wait a little more. If a small convoy was reported off Kai Island (a transport and a “CA” seen) there was still in Darwin the surface TF and the APD TF reported here those last days.

On the other hand, on Timor, an Allied unit reached Dili by the trail coming from Lautem. Almost all the Japanese garrison of Dili had been evacuated by air, only 900 men remained. Under almost constant bombing since it was occupied by Japanese forces twenty months ago, this base had no fortifications and so will fall very probably tomorrow. So the Tabby Chutai that was used to evacuate the base force holding the base was ordered to rather fly supply to Koepang. The three small AK sent to this base were now south of Bali and scattered to try to reach it undetected, while their escort returned to Soerabaja.

The three remaining barges off Amboina loaded 200 more men and sailed north back to Menado.

SRA

The tanker convoy coming from Japan arrived in Saigon and began to unload the 152k fuel that it carried.
A convoy of 9 small AK left Toboali for the Philippines with 31k resources.
In Soerabaja a small convoy started to load 21k resources and 18k oil.

Japanese airmen detected today 3 Allied submarines west of Macassar and 5 between Luzon and the Chinese coast. Apparently they were attempting to strike Japanese shipping lanes.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 471 offensive sorties today and lost only one aircraft operationally (a P-40N):
_ the Allied attacked again in force the Japanese positions in Katha (453 sorties): 233 fighter-bombers, 184 bombers and 36 escorts from Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal and Jorhat attacked four Japanese units at Katha and hit 671, one tank men and 14 guns.
_ 18 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and missed it.

On the ground, there was again no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 84 men and 7 guns. 1357 Japanese AV (-15) faced 3914 Allied (+153).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit 10 men. 107 Japanese AV (+26) faced 485 Allied (-1).

Mandalay reported damage 100/42 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/29, Akyab 69/7, Lashio 38/0 and Taung Gyi 72/74.

The air transport brought 400 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 1550) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 71 (+13) able infantry squads). The Allied units reported yesterday NW of the base was identified by air recon as a Tk Rgt, probably not enough to take the base…

In the evening, they were 43 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), 7 in Myitkyina (+1) and 3 (+1) on the road between them.

A small AK arrived in Rangoon and will load 3500 resources to bring them to Singapore. The port had 30k oil and 14k resources to take away.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 296 men and a gun. The Japanese AV here was now 2597(+66) and the Chinese one 2020 (+11). NW of the city ther was no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

77 training and 58 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 6 men without loss.

The weather forecast was still bad for tomorrow so troops in Kunming were again ordered to rest, while airmen were ordered to try to support the paratroops NW of the city. NE of it two more Chinese units were coming from Chungking and one was identified as the 42nd Chinese Corps.

In Wuchow the repairs of the resource centers continued and with them the number of Chinese workers increased. The local commander reported today that he had not enough troops to deal with communist agitators and that an insurrection was possible, as the garrison was too weak. An half-brigade was ordered to leave the quiet front west of Changsha and will go to this city as fast as possible, but it will take more than one week. In the mean time the part of the 1st Parachute Rgt still in Canton will go to Wuchow to reinforce the garrison, while repairs will be stopped.

Japan

A convoy with 325k oil and 294k resources arrived in Osaka from SRA and started to unload there.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Fishbed)
Post #: 943
RE: 5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed i... - 6/18/2009 7:47:12 AM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Real Life struck again... I had to struggle to keep my job, but it is now done, and I can come back to this AAR. By the way the game didn't stop in the meantime, but was of course slower.


Hard times...

Please teake care (and I hope it all went OK)!

Thanks for AAR updates!


Leo "Apollo11"

_____________________________



Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 944
7 December 1943: the KB met a submarine off Mindanao - 6/19/2009 10:46:38 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		7 December 1943: the KB met a submarine off Mindanao

Northern Pacific

During the night and the evening the SS USS Scorpion chased unsuccessfully barges off OJ. It was the only « action » in the area outside artillery fire at PJ. There Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 230 men, 1 tankette and 7 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 258 247 men (+1243), 2497 guns (+26) and 599 vehicles (+3) for 4619 AV (+79) against 118 813 men (+77), 946 guns (+10) and 4 tankettes (-) for 2272 AV (-).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 84/0/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 617 (+0) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 27 910 supplies (-241), and 1 aircraft (unavailable). Three air units without aircraft all received a crated aircraft to try to fly them out.

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 42% (+7%)). The base had 22 281 supplies (-355). 50 mines were remaining off the base.

The reinforced ASW patrols reported today six Allied submarines in the area (3 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). Both convoys were not attacked today and will reach both islands in two days.

Central Pacific

A convoy bringing from the Southern Pacific a part of the 56th Div arrived off Tinian and started to unload. Another arrived in Saipan with elements of a Fleet HQ, 2 Eng Rgt and 2 Const Bn, all units evacuated from Solomons by air and sea and scattered all over the area. The Fleet HQ disembarked there, the engineer units were all sent to Guam, the only main island of the group that had not yet finished building fortifications. A third convoy arrived at Saipan and unloaded the last part of the 53rd Div and two artillery units.

Southern Pacific

Japanese patrols reported Allied convoys sailing south of New Zealand towards Australia. The CL Naka and a DD left Auckland to patrol south of Australia to try to intercept them when they will turn northwards. Three submarines were ordered to join them.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

For the third day in a row Allied airmen pounded Japanese bases with all their might: 396 sorties today with 4 losses: one Beaufighter VIC shot down by AA over Wewak and four operational (a Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C, a F4U-1 Corsair and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 31 B-24D and 15 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 22 P-38J and reported 70 casualties, one hit on the airbase and 36 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 73 B-25C, 42 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 15 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 15 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I, and by 40 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 61 casualties, 6 on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 87 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 45 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 Corsairs, and by 32 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 7 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 52 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 64 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 83/81/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3320 (-55) required, Wewak 100/40/16 and had 0 (-32) supplies for 2177 (-6) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 336 (-95) required and Truk had damage 100/75/0.

Recon of the Allied main bases continued and showed increased CAP over Lae and Admiralty Islands, but not over the most interesting target, Gili Gili, that had no CAP in the morning and 3 F4F-4 in the afternoon. There were still 3 TF there, one with a “BB”, a “DE” and two unidentified ships, one with an “AP” and one with four “APD” and two “AP”.

So the planned raid was ordered. Today the concentration of air units was finished with the arrival of the Betty units from Palau and Mariannas, bringing the number of bombers in Lunga to 66 G4M2 and 38 G4M1. Two bombers were lost in crashes during the ferry flights, and only one crew was saved.

With the growing damage of Rabaul airfield, evacuation pick-up flights from Ponape had to be stopped and the transport aircraft received new orders. They will evacuate in the next days troops from Kavieng, Green Island and Shortlands.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 166 sorties today without loss:
_ Sorong was attacked by 30 B-24J, 27 B-24D, 15 B-25C, 9 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 54 P-38J and reported one hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 40 on the runways.
_ 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 5 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili but missed.

In the afternoon, the submarine USS Skipjack was chased SE of Davao by a Japanese ASW TF (4 PG and 2 PC) but escaped easily... to run into another Japanese TF. This time it was chased by 9 DD but escaped again undamaged. The second Japanese TF was one part of the KB cruising there and waiting for targets. It was unknown if the Allied submarine had seen any other ship than Dds but it was feared she did.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 24% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 57% (+5%), Amboina reported damage 82/61/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 62/71/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

After its close call with the Allied submarine, the KB was probably identified and had to move. The opportunity to surprise an Allied invasion force was probably lost. It sailed east to return to Palau.

On Timor, another Allied unit reached Dili by the trail coming from Lautem. The base wasn’t attacked today but will probably fall tomorrow.

The three small AK sent to Koepang with supplies will arrive tomorrow. To cover them and to intercept the daily B-25 raid, 30 Ki-44 arrived from Balikpapan (another was lost on the way) and will fly LRCAP over the port tomorrow.

A blockade runner reached Kendari and started to load resources this evening. Three small AK and seven escorts left today Balikpapan towards Macassar. There the small ASW ships will chase the Allied submarine camping there while the AK will also sail to Kendari.

SRA

In Saigon port a convoy from Toboali and another from Rangoon gathered and sailed together for Hong Kong with 63k resources.

The three small TFs in Balikpapan port finished to load, merged in one convoy and sailed for Tarakan with 63k oil and 28k resources aboard.

In the Philippines, two convoys met in Guian: one with 66k oil was sailing to Japan while the other with 27 empty transporst (15 AK and 12 TK) sailed for Brunei.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 443 offensive sorties today and lost 3 aircraft: a Blenheim IV shot down by AA fire over Katha and a Beaufighter VIC and a P-40N in accidents:
_ 275 fighter-bombers, 119 bombers and 21 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Ledo and Jorhat attacked the 26th Ind. Mixed Brigade at Katha and hit 464 men and 10 guns.
_ 18 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 9 men.
_ 10 fighters flew LRCAP over Katha.

On the ground, there was again no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 66 men and 3 guns. 1687 Japanese AV (+330) faced 4160 Allied (+246).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit nothing. 130 Japanese AV (+23) faced 486 Allied (+1).

Mandalay reported damage 100/18 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/23, Akyab 57/0, Lashio 32/0 and Taung Gyi 72/71.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 1910) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 81 (+10) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 45 Allied units reported in Katha (+2), 6 in Myitkyina (-1) and 2 (-1) on the road between them. On the Japanese side, the 16th Mixed Bde arrived today.

Air recon reported that the rear base of Asansol, in India, was no more defended by Allied airmen and the 68 G4M2 Betty based in Rangoon were ordered to bomb it tomorrow. 112 of the 480 resource centers of the city had already been damaged by previous raids.

China

The Kweiyang airmen attacked both Chinese Base Forces holding the road NW of Kunming, to support the Japanese paratroops isoldate there. 53 Ki-21, 29 Ki-48 and 18 Ki-49 flew these attacks under escort by 10 A6M5 and 3 A6M3a, but they met over the target 8 P-40N flying LRCAP. These fighters shot down 4 Ki-21, 2 Ki-48, 2 A6M3a and 1 Ki-49 at the cost of two P-40N shot down. AA fire then shot down 4 more bombers (2 Ki-21 and 2 Ki-48) and another Lily was lost operationally. Against these 14 losses, the Japanese airmen hit 265 men, 6 guns and 1 vehicle.

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 266 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2667 (+70) and the Chinese one 2036 (+16). NW of the city there was no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

80 training and 51 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and one A6M3a was lost operationally.

The weather forecast was still bad for tomorrow so troops in Kunming were still ordered to wait and rest. After the losses suffered today Japanese bombers were also ordered to rest, and only fly recon. 30 more Ki-48 arrived in Hanoi.

Japan

The new DD Akishimo was commissioned in Tokyo.

A convoy started to load 84k supplies in Tokyo to bring them to the Mariannas. A smaller one loaded 21k supplies in the same port for Palau. And another loaded 10k supplies in Aomori and will bring them to Midway.

The size 30 merchant shipyard of Hiroshima/Kure was ordered to convert to a naval shipyard and will be fully operational in one month.

(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 945
8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV r... - 6/23/2009 10:36:45 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Scorpion sank two barges off OJ with gunfire and after dawn a PB4Y sank another off PJ. On the other side a patrolling Ki-49 found the SS USS Cisco east of Shikka and damaged her.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 98 men and a gun, Japanese ones 136 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 259 493 men (+1246), 2534 guns (+37) and 601 vehicles (+2) for 4695 AV (+76) against 118 723 men (-90), 943 guns (-3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2271 AV (-1).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 79/0/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 620 (+3) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 27 492 supplies (-418), and 4 aircraft (all unavailable). Three air units without aircraft all received a crated aircraft to try to fly them out.

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 48% (+6%)). The base had 21 547 supplies (-734). 47 mines were remaining off the base.

The reinforced air patrols reported today seven Allied submarines in the area (4 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). But the main piece of news was the sighting of a CV TF 240 miles west of Kiska and sailing west. The Allied CV TF was returning to the Kuriles after refuelling… Both Japanese supply convoys were now in range to their destination, but were ordered to retreat to escape the Allied CV. One was ordered to go to Etorofu Jima and disband here, the other will go to Toyohara.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 165 sorties today with two operational losses(a B-17E and a Beaufighter Mk 21):
_ Truk was attacked by 20 B-24D and 12 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 19 P-38J and reported 45 casualties, a disabled gun, and 19 hits on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 44 B-25J from Lae escorted by 21 P-38J and reported 2 hits on the airbase and 33 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 3 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 7 Corsairs, and by 32 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 7 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported one hit on supplies and 32 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 84/83/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3329 (+9) required, Wewak 100/23/16 and had 64 (+64) supplies for 2167 (-10) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 285 (-51) required and Truk had damage 100/82/0.

Recon today showed two TF off Gili Gili (5 APD and an AP in one, 2 DE and 2 unidentified ships in the other) and also determined that the F4F-4 flying CAP sometimes over the port were based in Goodenough Island. These two TFs were probably the ASW groups that destroyed several Japanese submarines south of Gili Gili some time ago. Their loss could so be avenged. Bombers in Lunga will again rest and wait for a good weather day (rain were forecast for the next day).

Recon also showed a concentration of shipping in Lae, with two surface TF (one with 2 BB) and three convoys. The KB returning to Palau from Mindanao waters will refuel there and then sail to a waiting position north of New Guinea to see where this fleet will go.

Three small AP arrived off Truk and will load parts of two Aviation units and a Fleet HQ and carry them to the Mariannas. Another transport, a small AK, arrived off Hollandia and began to unload its 3500 supplies undetected by Allied airmen. At Ponape a small convoy arrived from Kwajalein, loaded parts of two Eng Rgt and a Fleet HQ brought there by air transports from the Solomon Islands, Kavieng and Rabaul, and will bring them to Guam.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 184 sorties today with two losses: a B-25C shot down over Koepang by Japanese fighters, and one operational (a B-24D):
_ Sorong was attacked by 23 B-24D, 28 B-24J, 12 B-25C, 9 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 54 P-38J and reported 39 casualties, 5 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 28 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 10 B-25C from Derby but met over the target 15 Tojo of 47 Sentai. Four bombers were hit and turned back, one crashing on the way (the 3rd victory of WO Hayashi W.). The six bombers bombed the base, disabled 22 men and scored one hit on supplies and 3 on the runways.
_ 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 8 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili and hit 13 men.
_ the Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island flew 14 sorties against a barge convoy off Amboina, and with Allied patrol aircraft sank three of them during the day.

A Dinah III shot down by Allied CAP over Darwin.

Two regiments of the 43rd US Div took easily Dili, as it was now only defended by a part of a small base force, 278 men and 3 guns (205 Allied AV vs 9 Japanese, adjusted by 102 vs 1). 47 Japanese and 14 American fell in the battle.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 28% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 61% (+4%), Amboina reported damage 82/55/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 68/75/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

The 620 survivors of the garrison of Dili were ordered to march to Koepang.

The three small AK sent to Koepang with supplies didn’t reach it today but will arrive tonight. The Ki-44 will remain one more day to defend them and the base, even if the risk of a massive air attack was serious.

A Dinah identified today the Allied submarine surveying the port of Macassar as an old Dutch submarine. An ASW group of 6 ships will chase it tomorrow. 34 Ki-44 arrived in Macassar from Balikpapan to cover them.

Central Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Tinian to size 3.

SRA

A big tanker convoy, having finished to load 243k oil, left Palembang for Singapore.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 461 offensive sorties today and lost 4 aircraft: two to AA fire (a Vengeance over Katha and a Catalina I during a recon sortie) and two operationally (a LiberatorVI and a B-25C):
_ 223 fighter-bombers, 185 bombers and 33 escorts from Dacca, Imphal, Kohima, Ledo and Jorhat attacked four Japanese units at Katha and hit 709 men, 2 tanks and 22 guns.
_ 20 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal but missed.

On the ground, the activity activity was limited to Allied artillery fire at Katha that hit 537 men, 1 tank and 17 guns. 1692 Japanese AV (+5) faced 4263 Allied (+103).

Mandalay reported damage 99/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/17, Akyab 38/0, Lashio 26/0 and Taung Gyi 72/68.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 2270) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 93 (+12) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 46 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), 8 in Myitkyina (+2) and 2 (+0) on the road between them.

The planned raid on Asansol was cancelled by bad weather, but will again be attempted tomorrow.

Both submarines returning from the Indian coast arrived in Rangoon and were docked for repairs. A Glen-carrying submarine left today Singapore to replace them on the Indian coast.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 623 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2739 (+72) and the Chinese one 2049 (+13). NW of the city there was still no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

59 training and 27 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit nothing and suffered no loss.

No change today. The weather forecast was still bad and both ground and air units were still resting and preparing for another offensive on Kunming. NW of the city the paratroops were still facing only two base forces and a recon reported today that there was no Allied LRCAP over them. Given the state of the Eng units in Kunming, an offensive will be launched in two days, whatever the weather will be.

Japan

The “Gold Convoy” having finished to unload in Osaka left again for the SRA via the Philippines with 2 CS, 22 TK, 40 AK and 6 PC/PG. Six ships having arrived with this convoy (4 TK and 2 AK) having SYS damage 3 or higher were docked for repairs.

A convoy was formed in Kitakyushu and will bring 45k fuel to Guian and 56k supplies to Mindanao.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 946
RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied ... - 6/24/2009 10:19:44 PM   
06 Maestro


Posts: 3989
Joined: 10/12/2005
From: Nevada, USA
Status: offline 		I love this AAR.


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(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 947
RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied ... - 6/27/2009 4:18:58 PM   
Fishbed

 

Posts: 1822
Joined: 11/21/2005
From: Beijing, China - Paris, France
Status: offline 		So do I

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(in reply to 06 Maestro)
Post #: 948
RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied ... - 6/28/2009 9:55:34 AM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

We all do love this AAR!


Leo "Apollo11"

_____________________________



Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE

(in reply to Fishbed)
Post #: 949
RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied ... - 6/28/2009 1:13:10 PM   
Fishbed

 

Posts: 1822
Joined: 11/21/2005
From: Beijing, China - Paris, France
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

We all do love this AAR!


Leo "Apollo11"


If you're looking for a promotion from SRA to Home Island Command, it is not going to happen, you despicable boot-licker! Pick up a rifle and go get Dili back will you!!!


_____________________________


(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 950
9 December 1943: OJ under heavy air attack... once again - 6/30/2009 7:28:06 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Taking back Dili is an idea. Leo, please prepare this operation. You can use the remains of a defeated base force, three barges and three floatplanes, and you only have to defeat two US regiments. Banzai !

9 December 1943: OJ under heavy air attack... once again

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Scorpion chased unsuccessfully a barge, and then was bombed and damaged after dawn by a Ki-49 from this base. At the same time Allied airmen began to fly over the area and a barge was sunk off OJ and another damaged off PJ by SBDs and PB4Y.

The US CV fleet arrived today at 180 miles ESE of PJ. Japanese airmen reported seven TF: 3 CV TF (12 CV were counted), 3 surface TF (one with 2 BB, the other with cruisers) and replenishment TF. No convoy was seen in the area. The Allied CAP shot down a G4M2 Betty coming too close.

In the afternoon, this fleet launched a raid on PJ with 173 TBM Avenger, 100 SB2C Helldiver, 99 SBD Dauntless and 27 TBF Avenger escorted by 20 F6F. They pounded OJ airfield, destroying a Emily on the ground, disabling 496 men and 4 guns and scoring 18 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 156 on the runways. But Japanese AA fire shot down 2 SB2C, 1 TBM and 1 SBD, and 3 other TBM were lost in accidents.

An hour later 74 B-24D and 71 B-24J from Attu escorted by 48 P-38J attacked the same base, doing 172 casualties, and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 78 on the runways, but also 3 on the port and 11 on the port supplies. This time the AA gunners didn't score but 2 B-24D, 2 B-24J and 2 P-38J were lost operationally.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 2 men, Japanese ones 181 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 260 852 men (+1359), 2573 guns (+39) and 601 vehicles (-) for 4776 AV (+81) against 118 251 men (-472), 940 guns (-3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2273 AV (+2).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/83/24 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 (+1) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 29 030 supplies (+1538), and 3 aircraft (all unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 51% (+3%)). The base had 16 248 supplies (-5299, most transferred to PJ). 45 mines were remaining off the base.

Of the two convoys that turned back yesterday, one reached Etorofu Jima and disbanded here, also reporting an Allied submarine off the port, while the other will reach Toyohara tomorrow.

A part of the aircraft based in OJ moved to avoid being blasted by US CV airmen. The Pete flew to Etorofu Jima and the Betty returned to Toyohara.

Central Pacific

A new convoy arrived at Saipan from the Southern Pacific with an Air HQ and a SNLF.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 314 sorties today with four operational losses (two Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C and a P-38J):
_ Truk was attacked by 5 B-24D and 2 B-17E from Admiralty Islands and reported 12 casualties and 6 hits on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 75 B-25C, 47 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 14 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 20 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I and reported 38 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies, 48 on the runways, one on the port and one on the port supplies.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 34 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 3 P-40E, and by 33 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 8 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 23 casualties, a disabled gun, 7 hits on the airbase and 60 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 19 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 3 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng but missed it.

Rabaul reported damage of 88/95/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3319 (-10) required, Wewak 100/21/18 and had 0 (-64) supplies for 2163 (-4) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 60 supplies (+18) for 358 (+73) required and Truk had damage 100/59/0.

Bombers in Lunga were now well rested and ready to attack… but recons showed no more Allied shipping off Gili Gili… Anyway crews received orders to fly naval attack up to 800 miles from Lunga (so being able to reach Gili Gili, but not further).

On the other hand, the shipping concentration in Lae was still there, and Allied recon aircraft flew over Wewak and Aitape, the latter being undefended. The KB arrived today in Palau, refueled and was ordered to sail 120 miles south of Palau, just outside the Allied air patrols, and wait until something happens.

A fourth small AP arrived off Truk and started to load another part of the 4th Fleet HQ. A Saipan-based submarine also arrived off the base, laid some mines and loaded 30 men to evacuate them to Guam too.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the early hours, the Dutch submarine KXVII was chased off Macassar by an ASW of 6 ships but escaped undamaged.

Allied airmen flew 134 sorties today and lost a P-38J operationally:
_ Sorong was attacked by 29 B-24J, 18 B-24D, 11 B-25C, 10 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 46 P-38J and reported 12 casualties, 4 hits on the airbase and 60 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 13 B-25C from Derby but met over the target 13 Tojo of 47 Sentai. Three bombers were hit and ten turned back, but their return fire shot down a Tojo. The three remaining bombers bombed the base, scored 3 hits on the runways and killed another pilot of the 47 Sentai on the ground.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 31% (+3%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 64% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/49/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 72/93/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

Two small AK reached Koepang and unloaded 700 supplies, the third will arrive tonight. The Ki-44 Sentai left for Macassar, leaving 4 damaged aircraft behind, after a very unsuccessful show…

The ASW group sent off Macassar will remain there. West of the port, the small convoy sent to Kendari scattered and each of the three small AK will try to reach the base alone.

SRA

A small convoy arrived in Batavia and started to load 32k oil and 7k resources.

The convoy coming from Balikpapan arrived in Tarakan, integrated several ships that had loaded there 28k resources and 9k oil, and sailed towards Guian and then Japan.

In Luzon, 25 Val of a trained unit kept in reserve to replace KB losses moved from Clark Field to Legaspi and will begin to fly ASW patrols from there to assure that Allied submarines will not remain in this area where most of Japanese convoys sail trough.

Burma

Bad weather grounded most Allied airmen in the area and they flew only 152 offensive sorties today and lost one B-25C operationally:
_ 38 fighter-bombers, 90 bombers and 14 escorts from Dacca attacked the 25th Ind Mixed Bde at Katha and hit 215 men and 6 guns.

On the ground, the activity was limited to Allied artillery fire at Katha that hit 349 men and 7 guns. 1696 Japanese AV (+4) faced 4314 Allied (+51).

Mandalay reported damage 81/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/10, Akyab 18/0, Lashio 19/0 and Taung Gyi 72/65.

The air transport brought 440 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 2710) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 105 (+12) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 46 Allied units reported in Katha (+0), 10 in Myitkyina (+2) and 2 (+0) on the road between them.

The planned raid on Asansol was again not launched. It was discovered that bomber units had not received all needed orders and they received a new set that will allow them to bomb the planned target.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 262 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2802 (+63) and the Chinese one 2068 (+19). NW of the city there was still no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

103 training and 54 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and one Oscar II and a Judy were lost operationally.

NW of Kunming, the Japanese paratroops reported the arrival of one of the two Corps coming from Chungking and will so very probably be repulsed or annihilated tomorrow. As the weather forecast was only “rain” for tomorrow, and not thunderstorms, the Japanese Command ordered a new attack on Kunming. All troops were ordered to attack, except two of the three Eng Rgt available. Only one of these regiments will attack each day. Japanese airmen from Kweiyang (where 25 Ki-51 arrived as reinforcements) and Hanoi were ordered to support the attack, with one Ki-21 Sentai bombing the airfield that was almost repaired. Also an Irving Daitai will use its nightfighters to attack Kunming airfield tonight from Nanning.

On the Chinese side, the troops NW of Changsha moved again. One unit marched northwards, and two of the 16 units holding the road to Kweiyang more west joined the 9 remaining units holding the river banks.

(in reply to Fishbed)
Post #: 951
RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied ... - 6/30/2009 3:05:51 PM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

quote:

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

quote:

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

We all do love this AAR!


If you're looking for a promotion from SRA to Home Island Command, it is not going to happen, you despicable boot-licker! Pick up a rifle and go get Dili back will you!!!


Shame on you!


Leo "Apollo11"

_____________________________



Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE

(in reply to Fishbed)
Post #: 952
10 December 1943: Allied troops suffered bloody defeats... - 7/4/2009 8:55:56 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		10 December 1943: Allied troops suffered bloody defeats in Katha (attacking) and Kunming (defending)

Northern Pacific

A bombardment TF made of the BB Colorado and New Mexico, the CA Australia and Concord and 11 DD arrived during the night off PJ, sank a barge drifting off the base, and then pounded the base, disabling 384 men and 6 guns, and scoring 7 hits on the runways, one on the port and 2 on port supplies.

During the day the pounding of OJ continued with first a raid launched by the Allied CV with 170 TBM Avenger, 97 SB2C Helldiver, 69 SBD Dauntless and 27 TBF Avenger escorted by 41 F6F, and then by 61 B-24D and 58 B-24J from Attu escorted by 43 P-38J. A Dinah III and a Jake were destroyed on the ground, 102 men and 2 guns were disabled and the base reported 6 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies, 200 on the runways, 6 on the port and 7 on the port supplies. Japanese AA defences were now badly organized, but three Allied aircraft (a B-24J, a TBM and a F6F) were lost operationally.

Two Emily were shot down by the CAP of the Allied CV 180 miles E of PJ, but others identified the CVL Princeton and the CVE Anzio and Nassau (two recent additions of the Allied fleet).

The only Japanese success during the day in the area was when a Ki-49 bombed and hit the SS USS Finback off Etorofu Jima.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 18 men, Japanese ones 23 men. Allied troops on the island numbered 262 227 men (+1375), 2612 guns (+39) and 605 vehicles (+4) for 4854 AV (+78) against 117 106 men (-1145), 943 guns (+3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2267 AV (-6).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/94/36 (airbase/runway/port) and 619 (-2) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 28 361 supplies (-669), and one aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 51% (+0%)). The base had 15 595 supplies (-653). 43 mines were remaining off the base.

Of the two convoys that turned back yesterday, one reached Etorofu Jima and disbanded here, also reporting an Allied submarine off the port, while the other will reach Toyohara tomorrow.

A part of the aircraft based in OJ moved to avoid being blasted by US CV airmen. The Pete flew to Etorofu Jima and the Betty returned to Toyohara.

Southern Pacific

One of the convoys reported by Japanese airmen south of New Zealand now sailed northwest towards Australia. Two submarines and the CL and DD sent to chase it will be able to intercept it, or the next one.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 444 sorties today with three losses: a PBY Catalina shot down by AA over Truk and a B-25C and a P-40E lost in accidents:
_ Truk was attacked by 33 B-24D and 7 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 20 P-38J and reported 28 casualties, a disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase and 30 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 71 B-25C, 46 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 13 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 20 P-38J and 8 Kittyhawk I, and by 42 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J, and reported 23 casualties, one hit on the airbase, 52 on the runways and 2 on the port.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 33 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 Corsair, and by 36 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 9 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 6 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 45 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 18 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 8 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 6 men.

Japanese airmen as usual only flew naval patrol and recon flights. A Dinah III was shot down by Allied fighters over Lae.

Rabaul reported damage of 99/95/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3293 (-26) required, Wewak 100/43/20 and had 32 (+32) supplies for 2285 (+122) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 60 supplies (+0) for 345 (-13) required and Truk had damage 100/46/0.

Air patrols reported four “APD” off Gili Gili but Lunga bombers didn’t attack. More crew received orders to fly recon and naval search in the area, so hoping to have enough data to launch an attack on this TF.

The shipping concentration in Lae was still there, with probably one surface TF, two convoys and an ASW TF. The KB was now in place south of Palau and was joined by the repleshniment TF, so refueled at sea.

The first evacuation operation of Truk so far was uneventful and the four AP and the submarine carried away 5699 men.

Allied engineers expanded Hansa airfield to size 2 and Lae port to size 5.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 134 sorties today and lost a Mariner shot down by AA over Maumere:
_ Sorong was attacked by 31 B-24J, 18 B-24D, 12 B-17E, 6 B-25C and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 48 P-38J and reported 6 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 50 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 12 B-25C from Derby and reported 6 casualties, one hit on the airbase, another on supplies and 4 on the runways.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 35% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 67% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/43/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 76/94/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

The three small AK off Koepang unloaded 1750 supplies during the night and day.

The ASW group sent off Macassar will remain there, even if no submarine was seen there today. It probably went to Kendari. In this port a big AK had loaded 6k resources and was ordered to move out, while 3 small AK will arrive tonight. Three other small AK left tonight Soerabaja to go there too.

Six new barges were launched at Menado and will join the Amboina shuttle service. 11 Thora arrived from Macassar (where they were used to evacuate troops from Dili before it fell) and will evacuate troops from Amboina.

SRA

An AK convoy started to load 35k resources in Kuala Lumpur.

Burma

Allied airmen were mainly grounded by bad weather today, only flew 205 offensive sorties and lost 2 aircraft operationally (a B-17E and a P-40N):
_ 98 fighter-bombers, 83 bombers and 2 escorts from Imphal and Jorhat attacked two Japanese units at Katha and hit 224 men and 13 guns.
_ 14 fighter-bomber and 9 escorts from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 6 men.

Allied troops in Katha attacked the Japanese lines but without their usual air support suffered a bloody setback (4293 Allied AV vs 1810 Japanese, adjusted to 2020 vs 2497, 0 to 1). While the Japanese lost 1049 men, 67 guns and 11 tanks, the Allied losses were far higher: 6381 men, 131 guns and 5 tanks.

Mandalay reported damage 62/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/3, Akyab 0/0 (and fortifications 7, 0%), Lashio 4/0 and Taung Gyi 72/62.

The air transport brought 450 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 3160) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 114 (+9) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 47 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), an unknown number in Myitkyina (?) and 4 (+2) on the road between them.

The 23rd Mixed Bde finally marched out of the jungle between Myitkyina and Lashio and reached the latter city, that it will defend again Chinese troops in the area.

The planned raid on Asansol was again not launched. Orders were again repeated.

A convoy (3 AP and a DD) was reported off Diamond Harbour, and both submarines docked yesterday for repairs in Rangoon were ordered to sail at full speed to positions south of the Indian port of Yanam to intercept them on the way back.

China

During the night, 15 J1N1-S Irving from Nanning tried to attack the airfield of Kunming but didn't hit it. After dawn, 20 Ki-21 escorted by 17 fighters bombed the base, did 58 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 23 on the runways, and then 28 A6M5c, 20 Ki-51, 14 Ki-21, 13 Ki-48 and 7 Ki-49 with 7 escorts attacked one of the Chinese Corps defending the base and hit 77 men and 2 guns. Two Ki-21 were lost operationally during these missions.
And then the Japanese Southern Army launched a new attack against the Chinese defences and managed to break a new defence line, coming closer to the city (2757 Japanese AV vs 2146 Chinese, adjusted to 2387 vs 2376, reducing fortifications from level 3 to 2). The attack was close to failure, but the Chinese counter-attacks ended in a bloodbath, and Chinese casualties (3216 men and 45 guns) were higher than those of the attacking troops (1493 men, 55 guns and 2 tanks lost).

After the success of the first Japanese attack, the offensive will continue tomorrow, again with maximum air support.

NW of the city, the Japanese paratroops were not attacked but reported the arrival of the 2nd Chinese Corps coming from Chungking.

105 training and 54 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and five aircraft (2 A6M3a, an Oscar II, a Kate and a Judy were lost operationally.

NW of Changsha, Japanese recon flights confirmed that Chinese forces were moving towards Chungking. Today only 6 units were reported on the road to Kweiyang (-8), 16 on the river bank (+5) and four more north marching to Chungking (+3).

By the way, Chinese had now apparently enough supplies to restart the expansion of their remaining bases, and Chungking airfield was expanded to size 6 today.

The half brigade sent from the front to Wuchow reached the city and so the risk of an insurrection was over, and order was given to restart the repairs of the resource centers of the city.

Japan

The SS RO-109 was commissioned in Tokyo, and with another RO submarine repaired there sailed for Singapore to operate on the Indian coast.

The small AK Higane Maru was launched in Osaka.

(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 953
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