GreyJoy
Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011 Status: offline
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Ok dear readers. The last 4 days have been full of action and the worst nightmares of us became true. I'll try to summerize day by day and divide the reports between the two main theatres of operations (PM and the Solomons) Let's start with Port Moresby. On Jan 14th 1943 Radio Tokio announced the conquest of Port Moresby by the allmighty Japanese forces. As you remember, on the 1st Jan 1943 140k japanese marched out on Buna, taking the Owen Stanley route. In 12 days of marching they reached PM in a very good shape, despite having suffered 2 days of bombings by 70 Allied bombers taking off from Cairns. On the 13th 50k japanese delivered the first fist on the undersupplied and badly distrupted 2nd Aus Corp, composed by the 27th U.S. Division and the 87th NZ Bde, supported by 2 Artillery units. 3 level of fortifications crumbled down on the first assault. On the 14th the fate of the PM defensors was already written. 13,000 allied are sent to POWs camp in Luzon and 3 Japanese armies were already able to march back towards Buna. What really surprise me is the fact that Rader was been able to march on one of the possible worst terrain in the whole pacific with the equivalent of 7 Divisions in making 90 miles in less than 2 weeks!... Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 40221 troops, 330 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 3493 Defending force 17528 troops, 308 guns, 487 vehicles, Assault Value = 484 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 862 Allied adjusted defense: 375 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1044 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 100 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 75 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 13527 casualties reported Squads: 630 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1405 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 412 (412 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 665 (665 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 7 Assaulting units: 23rd Nav Gd Unit 5th Garrison Unit Guards Mixed Brigade 87th Infantry Regiment 88th Infantry Regiment 61st Infantry Group 37th Division 63rd Infantry Group 7th Division 9th Garrison Unit 140th Infantry Regiment 36th Division 19th Division 4th Guards Division 16th Army 14th Army 8th Area Army 17th Army Defending units: 27th Infantry Division 8th NZ Brigade II Australian 1st Medium Regiment Bataan USN Base Force Cavite USN Base Force 2nd Medium Regiment But the real action took place in the Solomons. On the 9th Japanese troops started to unload at Russell Island ( 1 Port, 3 AF) . The base was lightly defended by a para bn and by a company of U.S. soldiers. Despite that, Japan brought two entire big units there, but the landings took at least 6 days. On the 11th, precedeed by the usual intense air bombing (both from LBA and from KB), supporting by at least 300 sweeping missions over our 3 main bases (Lunga, Tessafaronga and Tulagi), a HUGE Amphibious TF landed at Tulagi. The 155mm guns of the Marine CD unit present there did a good job, inflicting several casualities among the landing ships. The PTs did also a good job sinking or badly damaging a number of transports full of troops and my subs tried to do their best.... Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru DMS W-20 PB Nikkai Maru CM Tsubame CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Manko Maru xAK Iburi Maru xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Osaka Maru xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Ohio Maru xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hokko Maru xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Heiei Maru xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk Allied Ships PT-26 PT-29 PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire Japanese ground losses: 2261 casualties reported Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru DMS W-20 PB Nikkai Maru CM Tsubame CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Manko Maru xAK Iburi Maru xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Osaka Maru xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Ohio Maru xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hokko Maru xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Heiei Maru xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk Allied Ships PT-26 PT-29 PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire Japanese ground losses: 2261 casualties reported Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 5,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru DMS W-20 PB Nikkai Maru CM Tsubame CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Manko Maru xAK Iburi Maru xAK Osaka Maru xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Ohio Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Gokoku Maru #2 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hokko Maru xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Heiei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Daihachikyo Maru xAK Kashiwara Maru xAK Kinjosan Maru xAK Sakido Maru Allied Ships PT-21 PT-23 Japanese ground losses: 2929 casualties reported Squads: 42 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 110 destroyed, 48 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled) After the PTs the Japs start to land..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 588 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CA Chokai, Shell hits 2 CA Atago CA Takao CL Kashii CL Kashima, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Katori, Shell hits 5, on fire xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire PB Naruto Maru #3 PB Yokae Maru PB Yahada Maru PB Hakata Maru #2 PB Ryusei Maru PB Nikkai Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Amakusa Maru CM Tsugaru xAK Sakido Maru Japanese ground losses: 993 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Tulagi (114,137) TF 63 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137 Japanese ground losses: 1241 casualties reported Squads: 18 destroyed, 60 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 582 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CA Chokai CA Atago, Shell hits 3 CA Takao, Shell hits 1 CL Kashii, Shell hits 4, on fire CL Kashima, Shell hits 2, on fire xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire DMS W-20 xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Nikkai Maru PB Yokae Maru PB Yahada Maru PB Hakata Maru #2 PB Naruto Maru #3 PB Ryusei Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Keihuku Maru CM Tsugaru Japanese ground losses: 655 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled After the first day of landings (the 12th Jan), Japan had already unloaded 50k men for 1800 AVs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 8417 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 402 Defending force 48447 troops, 348 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 1819 Japanese ground losses: 65 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 1st Marine Raider Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment 627th Tank Destroyer Battalion 102nd USN Base Force 97th Field Artillery Battalion 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion 353rd Construction Regiment 369th Coast AA Regiment 139th USA Base Force 7th Marine Defense Battalion 16th USN Naval Construction Battalion 21st USN Naval Construction Battalion Defending units: 52nd Infantry Bde /1 5th Div /6 36th Infantry Rgt /4 Ichiki Det. /1 4th Div /1 13th Ind.Mixed Bde /3 38th Div /6 90th Infantry Rgt /1 4th Ind.Mixed Bde /1 2nd Area Army /1 By the 12th Jan the situation was the following: Anderson Field was closed for good, after 10 days of constant air and naval bombings. Tessafaronga and Tulagi AFs were still operating despite the bombings suffered. I have 1 Air HQ at Lunga and 60 aviation supports both at Tulagi and Tessafaronga. I so decided to try to do something. Moved to Tessafaronga 36 Wildcats and 36 SDBs plus 18 CRACK Beauforts torpedo bombers (consider that at Russell Island and Tulagi there were at least 250 ships, among them 6 BBs and 10 CA/CLs), while 16 spits and 40 wildcats were moved to Tulagi from Ndani, in order to provide CAP against his LRCAP that was preventing me to bring supplies with my transports from Ndeni and to conquer back -temporarly- the air space over the constested base. At the same time i ordered to 150 bombers based at Ndeni to ground bomb the beaches at Tulagi were those 50k japs were unloading, while a B26 unit, provided with the best LowN skilled pilots, was ordered to attack the enemy shippings. 2 SCTFs were also ordered from Ndani to move at flank speed to Tulagi in order to try to make a "Leyte Gulf" manouvre (so penetrate the screen of enemy ships and assault the transports). So we were full of expectations for the 13th and 14th Jan... When the night of the 13th came, our PTs did again wonders Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru DMS W-20, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CM Tsubame CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Osaka Maru, Shell hits 8 xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Gokoku Maru #2 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hokko Maru xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Daihachikyo Maru xAK Kashiwara Maru xAK Kinjosan Maru xAK Sakido Maru xAK Nitiryu Maru xAK Sugiyama Maru xAK Tsuyama Maru xAK Tofuku Maru xAK Yubari Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships PT-128 PT-142 ight Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru DMS W-20, and is sunk CM Tsubame CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Osaka Maru xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Gokoku Maru #2 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Daihachikyo Maru xAK Kashiwara Maru xAK Kinjosan Maru xAK Sakido Maru xAK Nitiryu Maru xAK Sugiyama Maru xAK Tsuyama Maru Allied Ships PT-143 PT-144 PT-145 ---------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Atago CA Chokai CL Katori CL Kashima CL Kashii CM Tsugaru CM Tsubame, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CM Hirashima CM Niizaki CM Aotaka CM Wakataka AK Sagami Maru AK Sakito Maru AK Awazisan Maru AK Amagisan Maru AK Azumasan Maru AK Aratama Maru AK Yamasimo Maru xAK Iburi Maru, and is sunk xAK Osaka Maru xAK Hankow Maru xAK Kasagi Maru xAK Amagi Maru xAK Tsukuba Maru xAK Manyo Maru xAK Okuyo Maru xAK Seikyo Maru xAK Shinkyo Maru xAK Aden Maru xAK Belgium Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK China Maru xAK Naples Maru xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 4 xAK Keihuku Maru xAK Kizan Maru xAK Heian Maru xAK Hukusei Maru xAK Mansyu Maru xAK Zuiko Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Aki Maru xAK Azuchi Maru xAK Ayato Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Boston Maru xAK Chowa Maru xAK Chihaya Maru xAK Daihachikyo Maru xAK Kashiwara Maru xAK Kinjosan Maru xAK Sakido Maru xAK Nitiryu Maru xAK Sugiyama Maru xAK Tsuyama Maru xAK Tofuku Maru xAK Tokusima Maru xAK Chuko Maru, and is sunk xAK Oyashima Maru, and is sunk xAK Zenoa Maru, and is sunk Allied Ships PT-147 PT-148 PT-149 Japanese ground losses: 393 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Then 2 Japanese SCTFs sunk all my PT groups.... And then arrived the allied SCTFs from Ndani... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 3,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kinu, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Fubuki, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Shinonome, Shell hits 2 Allied Ships CL Leander, Shell hits 2 CL Achilles DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 6, heavy fires DD Arunta, Shell hits 2 DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1 The japs went away with a bloody nose but our ships had used all their guns and didn't push any further....leaving the transport TFs free to do their bloody task.... But i still had hopes... i had a bigger TF on its way for Tulagi... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Murasame, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1 DD Yugure DD Ariake, Shell hits 26, and is sunk Allied Ships CL Trenton, Shell hits 1 DD Sims, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Hughes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Russell, Shell hits 4, heavy fires DD McCall, Shell hits 1 DD Maury DD Wilson, Shell hits 3 DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Japs this time, despite our superiority in numbers, were able to deliver many torpedos, sinking 3 of our DDs....the CL Trenton almost didn't take part in the battle, remaining in the back of our formation....needless to say neither this time our TF managed to get through and retired to Ndani without achieving the goal... Then the sun came up and we know it would have been a bloody day in the air... Japan sent the usual Wave of planes over Lunga. I was carefull enough not to let my fighters to be leaking CAP over Lunga, knowing he was surely going to keep the main AF suppressed... During the morning phase 180 Helens escorted by 200 fighters bombed the hell out of Lunga, while more 50 helens pounded Russell Island. He didn't bomb Tulagi nor Tessafaronga.... Then it was our time to give some payback to the japanese troops. Rader has ordered a strong LRCAP over Tulagi, but having placed there fighters saved my day. Our bombers came escorted by the P-38s from Ndani, while F4Fs and Spits were based at Tulagi. Won't copy all the bombing reports cause they are boring, however 150 allied bombers flew over Tulagi. The spits and the Wildcats provided an excelent cover and we destroyed the LRCAP of the japs, bombing without op position the enemy divisions on the beaches. The during the same morning 50 Tojos, 50 zeros and 80 oscars Swept Tulagi, but again our fighters did wonders. And the nit was the time of our naval bombers based at Tassafaronga to attack the enemy TFs near Tulagi and Russell Island. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 5 Beaufort VIII x 8 A-24 Banshee x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 SBD-3 Dauntless x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires xAK Heian Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires xAK Sakido Maru xAK Kurogane Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk xAK Aden Maru xAP Horai Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 170 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 6 A-24 Banshee x 27 Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships BB Kirishima xAK Kokai Maru, heavy damage DD Suruyame xAK Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage BB Nagato xAK Kinugawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Suresushio The big ships went away with luck¡K.none of my Beauforts cared to attack the BBs or the CAs¡Kƒ¼ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 5 B-26B Marauder x 3 P-38G Lightning x 9 F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Daihachikyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Japanese ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Then the KB decided to deliver its blows on Russell Island¡Kwhat a waste of bombs ƒº -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 A6M3a Zero x 101 B5N1 Kate x 50 B5N2 Kate x 108 D3A1 Val x 198 Japanese aircraft losses B5N1 Kate: 4 damaged B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged D3A1 Val: 4 damaged Allied ground losses: 35 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 A6M3a Zero x 10 B5N1 Kate x 6 B5N2 Kate x 44 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 6 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 14000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 29 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 5th USN Naval Construction Battalion, at 113,136 (Russell Islands) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 B5N2 Kate x 15 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled On the 14th the situation didn¡¦t change much. Landings at Tulagi kept on going on and the aerial battle raged over Tulagi with our Spits doing WONDERS against overwhelming odds ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 7 Beaufort VIII x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 SBD-3 Dauntless x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged Japanese Ships CA Chokai AK Sagami Maru xAK Ehime Maru xAK Bandoeng Maru xAK Tofuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 8 A-24 Banshee x 14 SBD-3 Dauntless x 2 No Allied losses Japanese Ships SC Ch 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Taito Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Tsuga, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk SC Ch 1 DD Namikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires Tassafaronga on the afternoon of the 14th was finally bombed¡Kbut not enough to prevent my SDB sto fly again! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Tassafaronga , at 113,137 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 32 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 39 A6M3a Zero x 35 G3M2 Nell x 11 G4M1 Betty x 56 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed on ground SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 SBD-3 Dauntless x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Kizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires xAK Utide Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires xAK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 4 A-24 Banshee x 16 Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Ryoyo Maru xAK Hiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage SC Ch 1, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Kokai Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Kozan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Senko Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft A-24 Banshee x 13 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Suruyame SC Ch 27, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 3 B-26B Marauder x 6 P-38G Lightning x 9 F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAK Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage By the end of the day Japs delivered their attack at Russell and got the base¡K -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 8088 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255 Defending force 2112 troops, 4 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 17 Japanese adjusted assault: 84 Allied adjusted defense: 13 Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Russell Islands !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 173 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 1196 casualties reported Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 175 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 114 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 118 (118 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 6 Assaulting units: 64th Infantry Group 10th Garrison Unit Yokosuka Assault SNLF /1 1st Raiding Rgt /1 Defending units: 1st USMC Parachute Battalion 138th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1 1393rd Construction Regiment 5th USN Naval Construction Battalion 46th Construction Regiment D Det USN Port Svc The base is now already full of fighters and bombers¡K. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 8403 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 403 Defending force 58119 troops, 477 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value = 1995 Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 1st Marine Raider Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment 627th Tank Destroyer Battalion 353rd Construction Regiment 7th Marine Defense Battalion 97th Field Artillery Battalion 369th Coast AA Regiment 102nd USN Base Force 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion 16th USN Naval Construction Battalion 139th USA Base Force 21st USN Naval Construction Battalion Defending units: 4th Division 52nd Infantry Brigade 36th Infantry Regiment 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade 90th Infantry Regiment 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 38th Division 5th Division Ichiki Det. 2nd Area Army Now we have to decide what to do....Japan has now a base right in the heart of the Solomons and Tulagi is in real danger... I think we'll try to bomb Russell using all the 4Es we can spare, while a BB TF (arrived today at Ndeni) will try to engage the enemy at Tulagi. Fighters and bombers will be retired from Tassafaronga and Tulagi back to Ndeni...i do expect a reaction from the KB.... Overall...not a bad day...we reacted and we inflict some damage!
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