obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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26-31 December 1942 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The first full year comes to a close. The beginning of 1943 is ominous for the Empire. Although there have been some major successes of late, Allied power is growing and there are rumors that new improved torpedoes will begin to be used by US submarines, reducing their inefficiencies. The fronts are mostly quiet, industry is expanding slowly, but raw materials and especially oil are still scarce. There is still a great determination in the Empire to hold the lands acquired during the past year and to dig in and fortify these new territories. Engineers and new garrison forces are preparing in the Home Islands for extended duty all across the Pacific and East Asia. subs: Allied ASW is undoubtedly beginning to take a toll. About 10 subs were sent back to Suva for repairs and on the 27th the I-35 was DCed and forced to surface, then sunk. The same day some sub chasers dished out a little payback on the Shad, which was listed sunk after taking 5 hits. I think it probably made it as there were no catastrophic messages during or after the attack. On the 28th I-172 took 10 hits and was sunk as well. Patrols were moved back and again varied after this one. On the 30th I-175 is taken out. Not a good week for our submariners. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 27, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Tongatapu at 137,166 Japanese Ships SS I-35, hits 19, and is sunk Allied Ships DD Arrow DD Woodworth DD Barton SS I-35 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Arrow DD Arrow fails to find sub and abandons search DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub .... SS I-35 forced to surface! DD Woodworth firing on surfaced sub .... DD Barton firing on surfaced sub .... DD Arrow firing on surfaced sub .... DD Woodworth firing on surfaced sub .... DD Barton firing on surfaced sub .... Sub slips beneath the waves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Shanghai at 95,59 Japanese Ships SC CHa-44 SC CHa-46 Allied Ships SS Shad, hits 5 SS Shad is located by SC CHa-44 Shad bottoming out .... SC CHa-46 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-46 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-46 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-46 attacking submerged sub .... SC CHa-46 is out of ASW ammo SC CHa-46 is out of ASW ammo SC CHa-46 is out of ASW ammo SC CHa-46 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 28, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Moala at 133,163 Japanese Ships SS I-172, hits 10 Allied Ships DD Barton DD Arrow DD Woodworth SS I-172 is located by DD Barton DD Arrow attacking submerged sub .... DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub .... SS I-172 eludes DD Woodworth by hugging bottom Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 30, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Yasawa Islands at 132,157 Japanese Ships SS I-175, hits 15, and is sunk Allied Ships DD Woodworth DD Farenholt DD Arrow DD Barton SS I-175 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Woodworth I-175 diving deep .... DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Woodworth fails to find sub and abandons search DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Arrow attacking submerged sub .... SS I-175 forced to surface! DD Woodworth firing on surfaced sub .... DD Barton firing on surfaced sub .... DD Arrow firing on surfaced sub .... DD Woodworth firing on surfaced sub .... DD Barton firing on surfaced sub .... Sub slips beneath the waves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So Pac: The battles over Tanna went my way after several dogfights on the 26th. By the time the bombers arrived in the afternoon only one Wildcat came up and the port attack sank the ACM. I'm sure it won't be hard to install another, but it feels good anyway. The final talley was 27 Allied planes shot down for 12 zeros. Allied fighters were removed back to Suva on the 27th. Also on this day Tanna goes to a size 3 field. In an attempt to minesweep before a bombardment, 2 DMS were sunk by PTs at Tanna. That hurt, as there are not many of these for the IJN. I thought they could take on the PTs, but the new US PT boats look very tough on this first meeting. On the 30th the bombardment goes in and takes out the PTs as well as putting a decent amount of damage on the fields and port. No damage to the BBs, which was the important part. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 26, 42 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 20 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 23 F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 11 scrambling) 12 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 17 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 15 F4F-4 Wildcat x 13 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 10 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet * CAP engaged: VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 29270. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 74 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 35 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 7 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 32 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet 3 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet * CAP engaged: 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 23270. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 2 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 2 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 10 G4M1 Betty x 21 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Allied Ships ACM Oak, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Runway hits 1 Port hits 4 Port supply hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 12000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 21 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 29, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships E Saga DMS W-1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DMS W-4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships PT-44 PT-45, Shell hits 9, and is sunk PT-46 PT-47, Shell hits 1 PT-48, Shell hits 2, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 16,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-48 at 6,000 yards PT-48 engages DMS W-1 at 6,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-45 at 6,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-44 at 6,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards Massive explosion on PT-48 PT-48 engages E Saga at 5,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-47 at 5,000 yards PT-48 engages DMS W-1 at 5,000 yards PT-45 engages DMS W-1 at 5,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-44 at 5,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards PT-48 sunk by E Saga at 3,000 yards DMS W-4 sunk by PT-46 at 3,000 yards DMS W-1 engages PT-44 at 3,000 yards DMS W-1 sunk by PT-47 at 3,000 yards orders Allied TF to disengage Range closes to 2,000 yards E Saga engages PT-47 at 2,000 yards PT-45 sunk by E Saga at 2,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards E Saga engages PT-44 at 9,000 yards Range increases to 15,000 yards E Saga engages PT-47 at 15,000 yards PT-46 engages E Saga at 15,000 yards PT-44 engages E Saga at 15,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 30, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Mutsu BB Yamato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Hyuga DD Asashio DD Natsugumo DD Yamagumo DD Yudachi DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze Allied Ships PT-44 PT-46 PT-47, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 46% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 11,000 yards BB Fuso fires at PT-47 at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards PT-47 sunk by BB Fuso at 9,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Tanna at 120,157 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses PBY-5A Catalina: 7 damaged PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Yamashiro BB Fuso BB Yamato BB Mutsu BB Nagato Allied ground losses: 301 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 20 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 30 Port hits 14 Port supply hits 4 E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Hyuga BB Hyuga firing at Tanna BB Yamashiro firing at Tanna BB Fuso firing at Tanna BB Yamato firing at Tanna BB Mutsu firing at 221st USN Base Force BB Nagato firing at Tanna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Hatsuharu E Kiji Allied Ships PT-44 PT-46 Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards Allied TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 20,000 yards... Allied PT Boat TF evades combat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Mutsu BB Yamato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Hyuga DD Asashio DD Natsugumo DD Yamagumo DD Yudachi DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze Allied Ships PT-44, Shell hits 2, and is sunk PT-46, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 21,000 yards PT-46 sunk by BB Mutsu at 21,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards DD Yamakaze engages PT-44 at 19,000 yards PT-44 sunk by DD Asashio at 19,000 yards Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Research: The next Tojo, the IIb moves forward in R n D on the 30th. I will not make this model but will go through the normal research path. Burma: Cause for celebration on both the 30th and the 31st as two successive pilots breaks out of POW camps and courageously sneak across the front lines to return to their units. Saki toasts all around for the New Year!!! Banzai! Pilot Nagano C. is reported as to have escaped capture Pilot Obayashi V. is reported as to have escaped capture ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DMS W-1 goes down fighting PTs at Tanna. Many other members of this class will be heading to ports around the Empire to change into Es in the new year. They are more valuable as escorts due to their speed, and some of the more expendable PBs will be converted to AMc. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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< Message edited by obvert -- 7/9/2012 6:28:40 AM >
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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