obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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15 - 19 March 1943 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUBS: On the 15th two IJN subs stumble across large tanker TFs in the South Pacific, but neither can get a shot around the escorts. INDIA: The strike on Madras went off as planned! On the 15th all three G3M3 groups moved to Port Blair, a level 5 base within range of one HQ and with part of another flown in to offer more support temporarily. On the 16th recon flew before the strike, and when the 109 Nells arrived over the port there was little to no resistance. The flak was minimal, maybe only from the fleet itself. In port were 4 'R' Class BBs, the CVL Hermes, CAs Cornwall Exeter and Dorsetshire along with several CLs and DDs. Even though the BBs took limited damage, all were left burning after multiple 250 kg hits, and at least 3 of them took device damage (radar, gun turrets, etc) that will have to be repaired in a shipyard. Knowing BBs, they could be on the shelf for a while. The Hermes took a pounding from at least 7 250kg hits and another 12 60 kg hits. Several fuel explosions were reported. The ship appears to be afloat however, and Allied damage control must be doing it's magic. If those BBs were not in port, it's likely several of the smaller ships would have been sunk outright. I'll take it though, especially since another surprise is on the way. Three subs were about to drop mines at Karachi but I diverted them back here when the fleet was discovered and they should arrive at Madras by the 21st to drop 48 mines. Four subs are on station North and East of Ceylon and will be supplemented by more soon. Jocke has moved 80 fighters into the base, so no more attacks here are imminent. A few days later, on the 19th, no CAP had yet been placed over Colombo, and I decided to press my luck. I sent in another 101 Nells and hit the xAPs and xAKs in the port, most likely sinking all of them. No ships are reported there after the attack, anyway. A good week here. West OZ: On the 19th a group of 18 A6M5s tried to sweep over the oncoming Aussies, preparing for a Helen strike later. P-40Ks met them and absolutely wrecked the group. No kills for our side. There was a slight height disadvantage, but wow. That sucked. I lost 14 planes and 12 pilots on the day. Luckily the Helens flying later got in under the CAP. I've decided to fight at Carnarvon. With level 6 forts and a long Allied supply line, plus control of the seas, it seems worth a shot. A division with 80 EXP was bought out from Fusan, and should arrive before the Aussie stack if I can keep slowing them. A Regiment, two arty units, and two tanks units are arriving from Darwin, which will bring AV to 750. Three RF battalions with 47mm AT guns are also racing down and I hope get there quick. It looks like about 1k AFVs moving in! BURMA: As a decoy to the attacks in Southern India, several bases in Burma and North India had unusually high levels of recon. During this I decided that Jocke had chosen to sit back and lightly defend hit Burma bases, so I should try to go on the offensive a bit. I set up a 3 Helen group attack on Dimapur with a group of 30 Oscar IIb bombing from 1k thrown in for kicks, all to hit on the 19th. None flew due to weather. After the Nells were finished in India I brought them to Thailand and added them into the plans. On the 20th 6 MB groups will fly (weather permitting) on Dimapur. The Nells wil go at night with 100% moonlight, hoping to disrupt the 42 fighters there and make them more susceptible to our sweeps the next morning. Fingers crossed. SO PAC: On the 17th Allied 4Es plaster Rossel Island, which has no planes currently there! Fine by me. The level 3 field took the pounding surprisingly well, with only 52 damage shown the next day. On the 18th Bettys flew accidentally against a TF at Efate. They gt under the CAP and 6 Bettys launched against CA Wichita, but no hits unfortunately. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 15, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Norfolk Island at 113,169 Japanese Ships SS RO-67 Allied Ships SC-630 TK Charles S. Jones TK Larry Doheny TK Montebello TK A.C. Rubel SC-647 SC-642 SS RO-67 is sighted by escort RO-67 diving deep .... SC-647 fails to find sub and abandons search SC-642 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC-642 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Pago Pago at 150,164 Japanese Ships SS I-27, hits 2 Allied Ships DD Henley CL Leander DD Ralph Talbot TK War Sirdar TK Herborg TK Belita TK California Standard DD Craven DD Patterson SS I-27 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Henley I-27 diving deep .... DD Craven fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Patterson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Craven attacking submerged sub .... DD Patterson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Craven fails to find sub and abandons search DD Patterson fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 16, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 40 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 109 No Japanese losses Allied Ships CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Van Heemskerck, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires BB Royal Sovereign, Bomb hits 17, on fire BB Resolution, Bomb hits 21, on fire BB Ramillies, Bomb hits 19, on fire CA Cornwall, Bomb hits 2, on fire BB Revenge, Bomb hits 17, on fire CL Sumatra, Bomb hits 1 CA Exeter, Bomb hits 3 CA Dorsetshire, Bomb hits 3, on fire DD Decoy, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires Port hits 20 Port fuel hits 3 Port supply hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 36 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 44 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 29 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 17, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Manus at 101,116 Japanese Ships AK Sinko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Yamagiri Maru E W-17 Allied Ships SS Seadragon Japanese ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes at AK Sinko Maru E W-17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E W-17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E W-17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E W-17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E W-17 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 81 LB-30 Liberator x 15 B-24D Liberator x 71 B-24D1 Liberator x 30 No Allied losses Airbase hits 18 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 61 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet * Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 18, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Efate at 120,154 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 6 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 19 F4U-1 Corsair x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged No Allied losses Allied Ships CA Wichita LCI-22 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo CAP engaged: VMF-123 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 22000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes 35th FG/41st FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 8th FG/80th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 19, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 101 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 9 damaged G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships xAK Steaua Romania, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Shirala, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Kota Pinang, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires xAP Kota Radja, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Salween, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Aldinga, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage Repair Shipyard hits 11 Port hits 11 Port fuel hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 4 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet * City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 26 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet * Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 16 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 40 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet * Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 2nd Australian Army, at 50,136 , near Carnarvon Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 2 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: 318th FG/19th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 29000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 29000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 2nd Australian Army, at 50,136 , near Carnarvon Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 16 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: 318th FG/19th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 26000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 29000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Army Tank Brigade, at 50,136 , near Carnarvon Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 14 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 12000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: 318th FG/19th FS with P-40K Warhawk (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 29000 Raid is overhead 18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 29000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinforcements: A few useful things this week. This SNLF will head to the Marshalls. TK Asashio Maru arrives at Fukuoka Hosho-1/A arrives at Tokyo Kure 7th SNLF arrives at Hiroshima/Kure Aircraft D4Y2 Judy advances R&D Losses: One xAK. Not bad. Loss of AK Sinko Maru on Apr 17, 1943 is admitted Ships Sunk: Again, mostly subs coming off the list. CVE Prince William is reported to have been sunk near Noumea on Mar 06, 1943 Previous report of sinking of SS S-47 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The G3M3 is just about my favorite plane right now. This will change, I know. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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< Message edited by obvert -- 9/10/2012 4:05:59 PM >
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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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