PzB74
Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000 From: No(r)way Status: offline
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This turn Andy sends in numerous sweeps but no bombers against Mandalay. I put a lot of Tojo's on LRCAP over Shwebo to try to shoot down transports. This succeeded and ca 9 transports were reported shot down. Since Andy can't sweep his own base this may be a good tactic... In Burma we bomb Katha and perform a few sweeps. Nothing terribly efficient, but our strength in the theater is growing; larger bases, more aviation support, more Helen bombers with good range and a vast reserve of Tojo's. In Australia the enemy has halted at Tennant Creek and is bombed to smithers. Think there is a supply problem for Andy here. Plan is to race back into Tennant and destroy the enemy units there with our tank regiments. Still not sure whehter the Allied carriers near the Marquese islands have departed; they may still be lurking. Need to send out some scouts, a bit dangerous now as there are enemy bombers south of Nuku though. I went over ALL Jap search and ASW units and reset search arches. Spent a lot of time setting up these and it has been frustrating to have to reset them later on as we learned that the grayed out search arch is actually the area _no_ searched. Think we got some results this turn; bombers reported hits on many subs. Have enlarged and trained many smaller seaplane and bomber units. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 13, 42 Surface Combat Raider #2 joins the action but both ships are horribly inefficient. They managed to set a light freighter on fire and land a few shells on a bigger one but a single return shot sets on of the raiders on fire. At the end of the last battle a 15cm shell is landed from 21k yards. Better than nothing, but not much At Nuku Hiva I ordered our damaged Fubuki destroyer back to Christmas Island. Instead a CL and 1 DD are despatched to raid the enemy base. In between this 2 US destroyers shoot up our supply LSD ship at Nuku. She later sinks. The action between our force and the 2 destroyers is indecisive...as usual. Again we hit a mine of the enemy base and our CL has to limp back home. The 2 enemy minlayers we sank has left enough mines to bother us, especially since our DMS was sunk. The DD Teruzuki (new Akizuki class) again engage the 2 US destroyers and land a few hits. Very good ships this! The Akizuki herself took 2 1000lb hits from the US carriers but is still steaming confidently back to Truk. Night Time Surface Combat, near Eureka at 199,84, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Bankok Maru Allied Ships xAK Katrina Luckenbach xAKL Mapele xAK Lorrain, Shell hits 2 Low visibility due to Rain with 32% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 32% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Lorrain at 2,000 yards Range increases to 3,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Eureka at 199,84, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Awata Maru Allied Ships xAK Katrina Luckenbach xAKL Mapele xAK Lorrain, Shell hits 2, heavy fires Poor visibility due to Rain with 32% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 32% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Lorrain at 2,000 yards Range increases to 3,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Lorrain at 6,000 yards AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Katrina Luckenbach at 6,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Nuku Hiva at 191,167, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships LSD Kumano Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Wilson DD Cassin Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching! Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway Poor visibility due to Rain with 32% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 32% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 22,000 yards... Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 18,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 12,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 10,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards DD Cassin engages LSD Kumano Maru at 2,000 yards DD Wilson engages LSD Kumano Maru at 2,000 yards Range increases to 3,000 yards DD Cassin engages LSD Kumano Maru at 3,000 yards DD Wilson engages LSD Kumano Maru at 3,000 yards DD Cassin engages LSD Kumano Maru at 3,000 yards DD Wilson engages LSD Kumano Maru at 3,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards DD Cassin engages LSD Kumano Maru at 4,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards DD Cassin engages LSD Kumano Maru at 5,000 yards DD Wilson engages LSD Kumano Maru at 5,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards DD Wilson engages LSD Kumano Maru at 6,000 yards Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Nuku Hiva at 191,167, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso DD Teruzuki Allied Ships DD Wilson DD Cassin Poor visibility due to Rain with 32% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 32% moonlight: 1,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... Range closes to 1,000 yards... DD Wilson engages CL Kiso at 1,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 1,000 yards Range increases to 2,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 2,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Cassin at 4,000 yards DD Wilson engages DD Teruzuki at 4,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 262 encounters mine field at Hiva Oa (192,169) Japanese Ships CL Kiso, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Eureka at 199,83, Range 14,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire Allied Ships xAK Katrina Luckenbach, Shell hits 1, on fire xAKL Mapele Poor visibility due to Rain Maximum visibility in Rain: 14,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 18,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 14,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 14,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Katrina Luckenbach at 10,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAKL Mapele at 11,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Katrina Luckenbach at 7,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Hiva Oa at 192,168, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Teruzuki Allied Ships DD Wilson, Shell hits 1 DD Cassin, Shell hits 1 Low visibility due to Rain Maximum visibility in Rain: 9,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards Taketomi, T. crosses the 'T' Range closes to 2,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Teruzuki at 2,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 2,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Teruzuki at 5,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Cassin at 9,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 9,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 13,000 yards Range increases to 18,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Cassin at 18,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Wilson at 18,000 yards Range increases to 22,000 yards Range increases to 26,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Eureka at 200,83, Range 15,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Bankok Maru, on fire Allied Ships xAK Katrina Luckenbach, on fire xAKL Mapele, Shell hits 1 Reduced visibility due to Rain Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 15,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 15,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Katrina Luckenbach at 13,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Katrina Luckenbach at 10,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards Range increases to 14,000 yards Range increases to 17,000 yards Takesaki, K. orders Japanese TF to disengage Range increases to 21,000 yards AMC Bankok Maru engages xAKL Mapele at 21,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Combat Morning Air attack on Nuku Hiva , at 191,167 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 29 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 107 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 1 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 30000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tennant Creek , at 76,137 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26 No Japanese losses Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 27 Aircraft Attacking: 26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 24 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb Trop x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 4 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 9 Aircraft Attacking: 24 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tennant Creek , at 76,137 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 35 Ki-21-Ic Sally x 24 No Japanese losses Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 30 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb Trop x 3 P-39D Airacobra x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 4 Runway hits 10 Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 10000 feet 29 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 12 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 10000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Nuku Hiva , at 191,167 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 2nd Recce Battalion, at 76,137 (Tennant Creek) Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-Ia Helen x 27 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 27 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 6000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb Also attacking 10th Light Horse Battalion ... Also attacking 2nd Recce Battalion ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without" - Dwight D. Eisenhower
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