obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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18 - 19 July 1944 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUBS: Three separate sub TFs mined the passage from Sorong to Sarmi in open ocean hexes. So much is moving here that I hope to catch a prize or two before he knows what hit them. Only about 150 mines over three hexes, but fingers crossed something hits. One of the subs tangled with a large TF and sank a DE, then took a pounding, but should get home to Babeldaob. Another, I-12 found the bombardment TF after dropping it's gifts and was sunk for it's trouble after missing DD Stembel. The Guavina sinks an E near the PI. S/SW PAC: After having moved forward with two small SAGs to challenge a likely invasion threat the Allied CV DS moved in farther forward than it has so far, 7 hexes from Ambon. Whether it was looking to draw strikes, to hit the small ships at Ambon or simply to cover the piles of shipping between Biak and Morotai I don't know. I do know two strikes launched at max range and crushed two CA and three DD and left a few more CL in sinking condition. I can't do anything against this but run away. If' I'd thought he would come this close I would have left the SAGs near Timor, but it looked like only CVE and invasion material a day ago and so I popped them in too far. Too bad. Another two CA gone. Only 6 left. Now I have to wonder where he's planning to go next. I've taken all LBA strike planes away and left up the best CAP I can make, but that performed abysmally against 400+ Hellcats and up to 300 strike planes this turn, so I'm not sure what it will do if he wants to bomb any of the nearby bases. The strategy is taking shape though for the next month. Seek a battle in my depth. This means I have to let him get into it. I'm pulling back all resistance to the main thrust in the Molluccas and concentrating on pushing him to open territory toward Mindanao where I'l have two HQa equipped bases, about 6-7 bases capable of flying strike or CAP planes, lots of naval search and a place to try to shield the KB so it can stay only in range of any invasion TF and avoid a direct CV battle. He'll be wary of just such a move of course. I'll have to take a chance sooner or later though to hit some troops on ships. At Sorong a DA hits and takes out about 150 squads with a 1:2 attack for only less than 50 of their own, which seems like it will make this a short battle, again. DEI: Made a small mistake with two E sent in to hit a tiny Allied convoy at Morotai. He left it unguarded there and I should have sent only the fast E with torpedoes. Forgot it was a pre-war design and the result is no TT launched and one slow newer E lost for one PG and a burning transport. Still fun. An omnipotent voice speaks; "Pay closer attention and stop hurrying turns!" S DEI: Fewer ships here now. BURMA: Jocke bombs troops in 55, 51 moving to Toungoo and loses 8-9 4E and 2E to flak. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 18, 44 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Morotai at 80,101, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships E Asagao E Mutsure, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships AK Draco AK Sterope, Shell hits 3, on fire PG Warrego, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching! Allied TF begins to get underway Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 28,000 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 PG Warrego engages E Mutsure at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Kunming , at 69,48 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 24 minutes Allied aircraft B-29-1 Superfort x 10 Allied aircraft losses B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged Light Industry hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Sorong at 82,107 Allied Ships BB California BB Arizona BB Nevada BB Maryland DD Stevens DD Stembel DD Sproston DD Sigsbee DD Sigourney DD Norman Scott DD John Rodgers DD Remey Japanese ground losses: 203 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled) Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 40 Port hits 8 Port supply hits 2 OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB California BB California firing at 45th Ind.Mixed Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Sarmi at 89,111 Japanese Ships SS I-169, hits 10 Allied Ships DE Levy, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage PF Grand Forks LSI(L) Denbighshire LSI(L) Empire Silver LSI(L) Glenapp DE Deede SS I-169 launches 2 torpedoes at DE Levy I-169 diving deep .... DE Deede attacking submerged sub .... DE Deede fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Manokwari at 86,108 Japanese Ships SS I-12, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Stembel BB California BB Arizona BB Nevada BB Maryland DD Remey DD Stevens SS I-12 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stembel DD Stevens attacking submerged sub .... Sounds of submarine breaking up detected! Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 83,95 Japanese Ships E W-16, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage SC Ch 54 E No.17 Allied Ships SS Guavina, hits 2 SS Guavina launches 2 torpedoes at E W-16 Guavina diving deep .... E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E No.17 attacking submerged sub .... E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search... E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Sorong (82,107) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 21673 troops, 466 guns, 567 vehicles, Assault Value = 897 Defending force 18489 troops, 179 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 605 Allied adjusted assault: 1308 Japanese adjusted defense: 1497 Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1456 casualties reported Squads: 14 destroyed, 126 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled) Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 361 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled) Assaulting units: 6th Infantry Division 25th Infantry Division 671th Tank Destroyer Battalion 3rd USMC Tank Battalion I US Corps 1st Medium Regiment Defending units: 45th Ind.Mixed Brigade 5th Garrison Unit 16th Garrison Unit 2nd Amphibious Brigade 8th Garrison Unit 44th Naval Guard Unit 3rd JNAF AF Unit 37th JAAF AF Bn 13th Air Fleet /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Broome (62,127) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 705 troops, 0 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 59 Defending force 446 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8 Allied adjusted assault: 16 Japanese adjusted defense: 10 Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: Attacker: op mode(-), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 2/7th Armoured Regiment Defending units: 8th JNAF Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kiriwina Island (102,131) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 391 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25 Defending force 1376 troops, 4 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 5 Allied adjusted assault: 5 Japanese adjusted defense: 13 Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-) preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-) Assaulting units: 2nd Fiji Commando Battalion Defending units: 8th Area Army /1 51st JNAF AF Unit 22nd Ind. Engr Rgt /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 19, 44 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M2 Betty x 6 J2M3 Jack x 21 P1Y2 Frances x 31 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29 Ki-84a Frank x 14 Japanese aircraft losses G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak P1Y2 Frances: 12 damaged P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 12 Aircraft Attacking: 28 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 3 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 5 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M2 Betty x 24 J2M3 Jack x 21 Ki-84a Frank x 8 Japanese aircraft losses G4M2 Betty: 12 damaged G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Runway hits 4 Aircraft Attacking: 24 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 14 N1K2-J George x 11 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21 Ki-49-IIb Helen x 28 Ki-84a Frank x 29 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 11 Aircraft Attacking: 25 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 3 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIb Helen x 13 Ki-84a Frank x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged Runway hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 13 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Waigeo at 82,106 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft B6N2a Jill x 23 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 26 P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 26 F4U-1A Corsair x 9 F6F-3 Hellcat x 54 Japanese aircraft losses B6N2a Jill: 10 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 13 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 432 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 28 Japanese aircraft losses J2M3 Jack: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1 CA Mogami, Bomb hits 3 DD Oboro Aircraft Attacking: 13 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 6 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 11 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 19 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet 4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 33 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 3 Allied aircraft SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CA Kumano, Bomb hits 5, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 5 N1K2-J George x 12 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 21 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27 Japanese aircraft losses N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese Ships AM Wa 104, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk AM Wa 103, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 15 N1K2-J George x 12 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 389 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 44 SB2C-3 Helldiver x 145 SBD-5 Dauntless x 27 TBM-1C Avenger x 88 Japanese aircraft losses J2M3 Jack: 6 destroyed N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged SB2C-3 Helldiver: 1 damaged TBM-1C Avenger: 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Hakaze, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Naka, Bomb hits 3, on fire DD Oboro, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk CA Kumano, Bomb hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Mogami, Bomb hits 30, and is sunk DD Tanikaze, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk CL Kiso, Bomb hits 2 CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Yuzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires CL Sendai, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M3 Jack x 1 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 17 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged Japanese Ships LST T-102, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk LST T-101, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk PB Shonon Maru #10, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PB Takuna Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PB Showa Maru #5, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 33 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 6 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 33 SB2C-3 Helldiver x 29 TBM-1C Avenger x 36 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CA Kumano, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Sorong (82,107) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 15039 troops, 162 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 456 Defending force 23609 troops, 465 guns, 600 vehicles, Assault Value = 864 Japanese ground losses: 195 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 2nd Amphibious Brigade 16th Garrison Unit 5th Garrison Unit 45th Ind.Mixed Brigade 8th Garrison Unit 44th Naval Guard Unit 37th JAAF AF Bn 3rd JNAF AF Unit 13th Air Fleet /1 Defending units: 6th Infantry Division 25th Infantry Division 671th Tank Destroyer Battalion 3rd USMC Tank Battalion I US Corps 1st Medium Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinforcements: All troops heading to the PI now. E No.27 arrives at Tokyo 582 Ku K-1 arrives at Kumamoto APD T-6 arrives at Kobe Losses: Loss of E W-16 on Jul 18, 1944 is admitted Loss of SS I-12 on Jul 18, 1944 is admitted Loss of CA Mogami on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of CA Kumano on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of DD Yukikaze on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of DD Tanikaze on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of DD Oboro on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of AM Wa 103 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of AM Wa 104 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of PB Shonon Maru #10 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of PB Showa Maru #5 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of PB Takuna Maru #7 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of LST T-101 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Loss of LST T-102 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted Ships Sunk: DE Levy is reported to have been sunk near Sarmi on Jul 18, 1944 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Too bad. The CAP at Ambon was mostly on escort duty, and didn't have a chance against the full weight of the US CV strikes. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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< Message edited by obvert -- 6/6/2013 10:12:39 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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