The Gnome
Posts: 1233
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Philadelphia, PA
Status: offline
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Ok here are the results. I'll go with a summary, lessons learned, then the raw combat report
NOTE:
Day 1
2 Air Combat TF's with two CV's each begin clearing naval units in the landing area and environs. For secondary missions, one TF is tasked with Airfield surpression, the other with port attack. Several Small enemy cargo TF's are caught by surprise and sunk.
Day 2
Port and Airfield strikes continue. Shokaku is spotted moving south just west of Kwajelin by Wahoo, who subsequently puts two fish in her side. I consolidated my two TF's into the same hex for mutual protection, but Shokaku was not heard from again. An inconsequential airstrike is launched from Tarawa that is fully splashed
Day 3
Port and Airfields continue to be pounded. I start to think I have my carriers too far ahead and fear them running out of sorties just as the enemy responds with large naval forces.
Day 4
Assault force is two days out, set my 3rd Av TF to pure naval attack and a large reaction range, it is set to stand one hex off of Tarawa. I set my Escort Av. TF bomber squadrons to ground attack, who join in with the large CV strikes. Tarawa is taking a pounding. Very worried about Av TF # 1 and 2, getting really low on sorties.
Day 5
Air Strikes on Tarawa continue unabated. No signs of enemy action. ATF #1 and 2 are winchester and ordered back to the barn. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me.
Day 6
Bombardment TF opens up on a Tarawa, results unclear. No ships damaged by coastal guns. Escort CV's continue to launch bombers on ground attack. No signs of the enemy.
Day 7
Bombardment group used a LOT more ammo than I expected. Since there was no effective counter fire from Tarawa I allow the escorts to join in the bombardment. Escorts launch more airstrikes.
Day 8
Wanted 3 days of bombardment, but ammo is low. Decide to send in the Marines, who hit the beaches with ferocity and courage. Against expectations, the Marines take relatively light casualties. Forcing themselves inland the Marines successfully take the port and airfield. Japanese forces remain on the island but the mop up has begun.
Lessons Learned:
1 - Should NOT have had my carriers so far ahead, I would have been caught with my pants down if the enemy showed up when they were winchester.
2- I need to learn how to scout more effectively for targets out of range of air recon.
3 - Sent way too much supply
4 - Loaded up my TF's in the wrong order, should have loaded replenishment first, then cargo, then troops
5 - Not enough reserves. Really took a risk sending a single division, plus support.
6 - Not enough bombardment. Had 4 BB's in with my transports (3 with main assault, 1 with the reserves). 1 for each should have been enough, and could have formed a second bombardment tf.
Raw results:
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Pre-Invasion action off Tarawa
59 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
CL Detroit
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
AP William Ward Burrows
DMS Southard
LST-446
Japanese ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
BB Mississippi firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
BB New Mexico firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
BB Idaho firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
CA Indianapolis firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
CA Portland firing at 7th Base Force
CL Detroit firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
DD Ralph Talbot firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
DD Mugford firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
DD Ralph Talbot firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
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Amphibious Assault at Tarawa
TF 121 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 136,128
Allied ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 108 (0 destroyed, 108 disabled)
5 troops of a US MMG Section accidentally lost during unload of 3rd Marine Div /1
5 troops of a US MMG Section lost from landing craft during unload of 3rd Marine Div /1
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 3rd Marine Div
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad lost overboard during unload of 3rd Marine Div /7
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Invasion Support action off Tarawa
14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
CL Detroit
AP William Ward Burrows
DMS Southard
Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
BB Mississippi firing at 7th Base Force
BB New Mexico firing at 7th Base Force
BB Idaho firing at 7th Base Force
CA Indianapolis firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
CA Portland firing at 7th Base Force
CL Detroit firing at 24th Nav Gsn Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
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Afternoon Air attack on 64th Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 62
TBF-1 Avenger x 27
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 7th Base Force ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 7th Base Force ...
Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 7th Base Force ...
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Invasion Support action off Tarawa
13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LST-446
DMS Southard
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
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Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 14646 troops, 308 guns, 411 vehicles, Assault Value = 648
Defending force 5736 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 131
Allied adjusted assault: 234
Japanese adjusted defense: 34
Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
2079 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
628 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 129 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 73 (18 destroyed, 55 disabled)
Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Div /2
102nd Combat Engr Rgt /1
34th Combat Engr Rgt /1
193rd Tank Bn /2
3rd USMC Parachute Bn /1
3rd USMC Tank Bn /5
Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
24th Nav Gsn Unit
7th Base Force
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64th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tarawa by attrition!!!
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Printable Version
invasion ship composition help - 
ask a simple question around some grognards & get a complex answer 
JK 
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