witpqs
Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Argleton Status: offline
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Ambush! 1942-03-03 Toungoo, Soerabaja, Padang, and Toboali fell today. Lautem resisted capture, but won't last long. In Burma the weather kept most Allied bombers grounded. The escaping army really could stand the Imperial armor being slowed by an aerial pounding, so let's hope they fly tomorrow. Clark Field also resisted capture, and is holding strong. quote:
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 50561 troops, 453 guns, 397 vehicles, Assault Value = 1655 Defending force 63336 troops, 731 guns, 346 vehicles, Assault Value = 1952 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 1661 Allied adjusted defense: 2635 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 5801 casualties reported Squads: 13 destroyed, 145 disabled Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 366 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled Vehicles lost 179 (57 destroyed, 122 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1742 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 104 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 116 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Assaulting units: 4th Tank Regiment 38th Division 48th Division 65th Brigade 16th Division 7th Tank Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 14th Army 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion Defending units: 11th PA Infantry Division 21st PA Infantry Division 31st Infantry Regiment 3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion 51st PA Infantry Division 2nd PA Constabulary Regiment 31st PA Infantry Division 2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion 194th Tank Battalion 41st PA Infantry Division 14th PS Engineer Regiment 1st/45th PS Inf Battalion 26th PS Cavalry Regiment 192nd Tank Battalion 4th PA Constabulary Regiment 1st PA Constabulary Regiment 57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team 71st PA Infantry Division 1st PA Infantry Division 4th Marine Regiment 91st PA Infantry Division 2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment 803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion PAF Aviation Cavite USN Base Force 202nd PA Construction Battalion I Philippine Corps Nichols Field AAF Base Force 301st Construction Battalion Far East USAAF 88th PS Field Artillery Regiment Asiatic Fleet 200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment 1st USMC AA Battalion Provisional GMC Grp 201st PA Construction Battalion II Philippine Corps 1st PI Base Force USAFFE Clark Field AAF Base Force 301st PA Field Artillery Regiment During the latter part of February I got SigInt that some engineering unit was moving to Adak Island. Knowing the location of KB, I decided to see if Allied forces could intercept the convoy, as noted on the graphic. All four USN carriers, in two TFs, and a cruiser led surface action group proceeded to a point south of Adak Island but outside of likely search detection range. There is yet no Intel that search is operating out of Adak, but that seemed a prudent position. After achieving and then waiting in position for a couple of days, carrier search spotted an Imperial submarine over a hundred NM NW of the force. Believing that probably the presence of carriers had been betrayed by a reciprocal sighting of the dive bomber, the force began to retire to Pearl Harbor. That belief was apparently mistaken. On February 28, PBY search out of Dutch Harbor reported a CVL a couple of hundred NM S of Adak, heading W. But for retiring, the ambush force would have been in perfect intercept position. They were still close enough provided that the IJN was unaware of their presence. The ambush forces moved NW for one day, and contact was still moving as though unperturbed. Two IJN submarines were sighted by carrier search that day. The force then sprinted WNW, and acquired two unidentified Imperial TFs (now out of PBY range) with carrier search at about 320nm distant, position WSW of Attu Island. For March 3 the carrier TFs moved to close with the Imperial ships, with the surface force taking a patrol position in front of the carriers. Dawn broke on the 3rd to see surface force charging into other, previously undetected enemy formations. quote:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Attu Island at 148,52, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships PB Tosho Maru, Shell hits 4, and is sunk xAKL Hoko Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk xAK Mayachi Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Northampton CA Chester CA Louisville CA Chicago DD Sims DD Hughes DD Anderson DD Hammann DD Mustin DD Russell Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 22,000 yards... Range closes to 20,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards Allison L. crosses the 'T' CA Louisville engages PB Tosho Maru at 20,000 yards CA Chester engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 20,000 yards CA Northampton engages PB Tosho Maru at 20,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards PB Tosho Maru sunk by CA Chicago at 19,000 yards CA Chicago engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 19,000 yards Range closes to 16,000 yards CA Northampton collides with DD Mustin at 148 , 52 CA Louisville engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 16,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards CA Chicago engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 13,000 yards CA Louisville engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 13,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 13,000 yards DD Hughes engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 13,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 11,000 yards CA Chester engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 11,000 yards DD Sims engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 11,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards CA Chicago engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 8,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 8,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 8,000 yards DD Hughes engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards DD Hughes engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 10,000 yards CA Chicago engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 10,000 yards CA Chester engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 10,000 yards DD Anderson engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 10,000 yards DD Sims engages xAK Mayachi Maru at 10,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards xAK Mayachi Maru sunk by CA Chicago at 13,000 yards DD Hammann engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 13,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards CA Chicago engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 12,000 yards CA Louisville engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 12,000 yards DD Russell engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 12,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards CA Northampton engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 10,000 yards DD Russell engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 10,000 yards DD Sims engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 10,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 9,000 yards DD Russell engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 9,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards DD Mustin engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 11,000 yards DD Russell engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 11,000 yards DD Anderson engages xAKL Hoko Maru at 11,000 yards Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Petropavlovsk at 144,53, Range 16,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Asagao, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk AO Naruto, Shell hits 30, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Northampton CA Chester CA Louisville CA Chicago DD Sims DD Hughes DD Anderson DD Hammann DD Mustin, Shell hits 1, heavy fires DD Russell Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards Range closes to 21,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 16,000 yards Allison L. crosses the 'T' DD Asagao engages DD Russell at 16,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Mustin at 16,000 yards DD Anderson engages AO Naruto at 16,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards CA Louisville engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards CA Chester engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards CA Northampton engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards DD Russell engages DD Asagao at 13,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Hammann at 13,000 yards DD Hughes engages DD Asagao at 13,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Sims at 13,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Asagao at 9,000 yards DD Mustin engages AO Naruto at 9,000 yards CA Chester engages AO Naruto at 9,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Sims at 9,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards DD Asagao engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards CA Louisville engages AO Naruto at 7,000 yards CA Chester engages AO Naruto at 7,000 yards CA Northampton engages AO Naruto at 7,000 yards DD Russell engages AO Naruto at 7,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards DD Anderson engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards CA Northampton engages AO Naruto at 10,000 yards DD Asagao sunk by DD Hammann at 10,000 yards DD Anderson engages AO Naruto at 10,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards DD Mustin engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards DD Russell engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards DD Hughes engages AO Naruto at 13,000 yards Range increases to 14,000 yards DD Russell engages AO Naruto at 14,000 yards DD Hammann engages AO Naruto at 14,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards DD Mustin engages AO Naruto at 12,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards DD Anderson engages AO Naruto at 11,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards CA Chicago engages AO Naruto at 7,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards DD Hammann engages AO Naruto at 11,000 yards CA Northampton engages AO Naruto at 11,000 yards DD Hammann engages AO Naruto at 11,000 yards Range increases to 15,000 yards DD Mustin engages AO Naruto at 15,000 yards CA Northampton engages AO Naruto at 15,000 yards Range increases to 19,000 yards AO Naruto sunk by CA Chicago at 19,000 yards Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk... It turns out there were more enemy TFs present than had been found the day before. There followed a full on carrier battle, fought under a big weight advantage for the USN. quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 150,55 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 48 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 28 B5N1 Kate x 14 D3A1 Val x 14 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 24 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Yorktown CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 37500. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 145 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 57 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 38 SBD-2 Dauntless x 15 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 TBD-1 Devastator x 30 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Kagero CS Chitose, Torpedo hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet 3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 13 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Zuiho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 19 TBD-1 Devastator x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. CAP engaged: Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 24000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 150,55 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft D3A1 Val x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 9 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 115 minutes VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 4000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 81 minutes VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 111 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 15 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Zuiho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 9 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Kagero CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 13 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 TBD-1 Devastator x 14 Allied aircraft losses TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CS Chitose, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Isokaze xAKL Kizugawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Kagero xAK Rozan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 13 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Kizugawa Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CS Chitose Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Rozan Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 149,51 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 14 SBD-2 Dauntless x 14 Allied aircraft losses SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged Japanese Ships CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 3, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 148,51 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 14 SBD-3 Dauntless x 15 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Rozan Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PB Kaimyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk xAKL Kizugawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Rozan Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kaimyo Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Kizugawa Maru Destroyer Mustin is in bad shape and will try to make Dutch Harbor in company of a sibling. The ambush force will adjust position for tomorrow and try to make certain all Imperial carriers are finished before departing.
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