wneumann
Posts: 3768
Joined: 11/1/2005 From: just beyond the outskirts of Margaritaville Status: offline
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Summary of Operations 1/1/44 I'm behind on postings, we're now playing 1/7/44 game turn. Overall, the air situation appears to be running in the Allies' favor - except for a brief rash of Jap ground attack strikes outside Daly Waters (I will cover these in later reports in more detail), Japanese LBA ops over Burma and NW Australia has declined considerably. Japanese LBA air activity continues in China and near Pago Pago. It appears that attrition to Japanese air forces (either planes, pilots, or both) may now be starting to become a factor, especially with LBA. The KB remains intact and no doubt a significant part (if not the most powerful part) of the remaining Japanese air inventory. My estimate is that Japanese air attrition to date has affected mainly IJA air groups more than those of the IJN. KB air groups are largely intact and IJN land-based air units remain active over the Pago Pago area. Available intel and AAR's are showing (and beginning to confirm) that Pillager has removed much of the front-line Japanese LBA opposing Allied forces in Australia and Burma (heaviest Jap air losses have been in these two theatres, especially over Rangoon & Darwin). Moving on to today's news... North Pacific: Jap recon flight over Attu Is. Japanese bombers launch airfield strike against Attu - this might be an indication Pillager is "wising up" to the possibility of U.S. action in the North Pacific. Developments in the North Pacific theatre will continue to be monitored to assess (possible) impact on plans and preparations in progress for Operation Bulldog. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Attu Island , at 91,35 Japanese aircraft P1Y Frances x 12 Ki-46-III Dinah x 1 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses P1Y Frances: 5 damaged Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Ventura G.R.Mk V: 2 destroyed B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 5 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Central Pacific: U.S. subs reporting no detected Jap air patrol activity near Kwajalein, Canton Is area, Truk. Jap air patrols spotted by U.S. subs off the Japanese home islands include Ki-49 Helens and floatplanes - some but not a heavy level of activity in this area. SS Haddock torpedoes Jap AP in night action off Tsu. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 63,45 Japanese Ships AP Terukuni Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Haddock, hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 59 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 312 Japanese ships detected in port at Tokyo. No reports this game turn on Japanese ships at Kwajalein or Truk bases. F-5A recon over Canton Is reports 14 aircraft, 15 Jap LCU's. Sigint report entry for 1/1 indicates 144 IJN Base Force is located on Gardner Is. This LCU is a new addition to the known Japanese OOB. Pago Pago, Day 106 of the Fiasco: Weather forecast for Pago Pago remains overcast. AK Fort Amsterdam reported sinking this game turn near Penhryn Is during ship damage adjustment phase. Jap surface TF bombards Pago Pago base. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Pago Pago, at 96,113 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships DD Hayate DD Harukaze DD Hatsushimo DD Okinami CL Naka CA Ashigara CA Haguro Allied ground losses: 942 casualties reported Guns lost 11 Vehicles lost 4 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 31 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap airfield on Upolu is now at or near operational status, synch-bug making an exact determination of Upolu's status rather murky. I had expected Pillager to be able to get Upolu back up again as U.S. air attacks on Upolu were unable to continue due to withdrawal of the U.S. Carrier Main Force back to Penhryn and also the results of air attacks on Pago Pago by the KB and Jap LBA from Wallis Is. The KB remains detected near Wallis Is (W of Upolu). No operational U.S. planes remain on Pago Pago. Pillager's air strikes on Pago Pago eventually grounded all U.S. planes based there, then systematically destroyed the damaged planes on the ground. Pilots in the U.S. squadrons on Pago Pago have survived the attacks though their air units are mostly now without planes. I did transfer a small number of operational planes in several of these squadrons from Pago Pago back to Penhryn before the base on Pago Pago was completely shut down. Somehow the WitP game system "magically" evacuates all the remaining pilots (without planes) in these air units on Pago Pago to re-join the transferred fragment of an air unit on Penhryn once all planes on Pago Pago belonging to the air unit are destroyed. This occurs only with air squadrons on Pago Pago where I transferred out one or more planes back to Penhryn. At this point, the full squadron is located at Penrhyn with all its pilots and a very small number of planes - rebuilding the squadron to full strength becomes a matter of drawing new planes from the replacement pool and the time required for repairing the planes to operational status. Fortunately I have a sufficiently large number of replacement planes (especially Corsairs & P-38G's) to do this for the moment, though not sufficient to continue this practice for an extended period of time. Current status of Pago Pago base - runway damage 83, airfield service damage 89, port damage 2. 20300 supply now on hand. Current status of Savaii base - runway damage 95, airfield service damage 100, port damage 9. Jap recon flight over Pago Pago. Jap LBA and carrier air strikes concentrating on Pago Pago, also a ground attack strike against U.S. 27th Division on Savaii. AAR's follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft (this attack suggesting that Upolu airfield is again operational, though for now with fewer planes) J1N1-S Irving x 3 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 16 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 4 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses J1N1-S Irving: 1 damaged Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Vehicles lost 1 Runway hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing at 2000 feet 4 x Ki-61-Ib Tony bombing at 2000 feet 9 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing at 2000 feet 3 x J1N1-S Irving bombing at 2000 feet 2 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing at 2000 feet 1 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing at 2000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 8 A6M5 Zeke x 112 A6M3a Zero x 5 No Japanese losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 8 A6M5 Zeke x 49 B6N2 Jill x 23 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 7 damaged B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 14 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x A6M3 Zero bombing at 2000 feet 7 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 3 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 3 x A6M3 Zero bombing at 2000 feet 6 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 3 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 2 x A6M3 Zero bombing at 2000 feet 3 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft D4Y Judy x 17 B6N2 Jill x 47 Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5 Ki-49 Helen x 10 Ki-48-II Lily x 13 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D4Y Judy: 9 damaged B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged Ki-48-II Lily: 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 8 destroyed P-38G Lightning: 5 destroyed Allied ground losses: 64 casualties reported Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 46 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet 3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet 3 x Ki-48-II Lily bombing at 6000 feet 2 x Ki-48-II Lily bombing at 6000 feet 5 x Ki-45 KAIb Nick bombing at 2000 feet 4 x Ki-48-II Lily bombing at 6000 feet 10 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 12 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 8 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 9 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 3 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 7 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 4 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet 4 x Ki-48-II Lily bombing at 6000 feet 5 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 2 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet 3 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 16000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zeke x 37 N1K1-J George x 9 D4Y Judy x 224 B6N2 Jill x 217 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D4Y Judy: 5 destroyed, 70 damaged B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed, 23 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 17 destroyed P-38G Lightning: 19 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed TBM Avenger: 7 destroyed F6F Hellcat: 2 destroyed Allied ground losses: 341 casualties reported Vehicles lost 2 Airbase hits 14 Airbase supply hits 14 Runway hits 264 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 8 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 9 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 27 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 20 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 26 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 21 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 28 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 21 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 28 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 20 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 17 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 12 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 18 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 13 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 11 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 8 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 21 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 17 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 23 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 17 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet 23 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet 17 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 9 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet 9 x B6N2 Jill bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Pago Pago , at 96,113 Japanese aircraft (these planes operating from Wallis Is) P1Y Frances x 85 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses P1Y Frances: 3 destroyed, 23 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 160 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Vehicles lost 1 Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 51 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 9 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 5 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 6 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 6 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 2 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 8 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 1 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 4 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 4 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 6 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet 4 x P1Y Frances bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 27th US Division, at 95,112 Japanese aircraft D4Y Judy x 18 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 46 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Aircraft Attacking: 18 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap ground forces continue bombardment attacks on Upolu. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Upolu Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 35255 troops, 292 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 790 41st, 42nd, 51st, 53rd & 61st Naval Gd; Sasebo 7 SNLF, 51 Independent Mixed Brigade (-), 9 & 11 Independent Mixed Rgts, Arshan Garrison Rgt, 7 Field Artillery Brigade, 140 IJN Base Force, 127 IJNAF Base Force (-), 5 AF Construction Bn (-), 9 AF Construction Bn, 24 Aviation Unit, 2 Aviation Rgt, 10 Special Base Force (-) Defending force 63213 troops, 224 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 1486 1st Cavalry, Americal, 32nd, 37th & 1st Marine Divisions, HQ I Amphibious Corps Allied ground losses: 106 casualties reported Guns lost 1
< Message edited by wneumann -- 7/11/2009 5:52:17 PM >
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