obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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Dec 22, 1944 The 22nd opens with more little battles, mostly patrol craft and midgets against the invasion TFs. A small MTB TF manages one torpedo hit against an LSD. Always good. Some DDs get caught in a minefield. Also good. PBs sink some YMS that stray too far forward. Good. DD Porter II tangles with another midget and gets a TT after taking the earlier mine hit. Likely a goner. Very good. Another midget puts two fish into APA Golden City! Fantastic! DE Crouder takes a mine and looks to be in trouble. Great. In the morning sweeps go in over Allied troops that landed one hex outside of Wakkanai. This is the advantage of them being here blocking my rail. After the first few difficult sweeps the rest relentlessly pound CV bleeding CAP, decimating the Hellcats and putting a dent in the Corsairs. This all opens the door for some smaller strikes to go in (I set them at short range to avoid Wakkanai and the Death Star itself right now). Got a small TF trying to unload troops closer to Sapporo. All gone, which is great. A number of strikes went after the cruisers here but couldn't get a hit. Later strikes in the afternoon saw return of the CAP, and lost some escorts and Graces to even out the daily air loss totals. They did sink some LST and an xAK, plus a few smaller craft. The Allies try a shock with a few units, likely armor, and do cause some disablements, but luckily don't drop forts and also disable their own. So he knows forts, knows the adjusted defence score currently, knows we have been able to fly in portions of two divisions unhindered, and will likely LR CAP heavily tomorrow. So will I. I'd like to hit the large air strikes over Wakkanai and see if we can't get into a war of attrition over the base. Sapporo is now relatively secure with two SCTFs in the hex and a 1,000 plane CAP, which will partially be LR CAPing Wakkanai. Sweeps will come from elsewhere. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 22, 1944 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Wakkanai at 123,49, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships MTB G-550, Shell hits 1, and is sunk MTB G-551 MTB G-882 Allied Ships APA Haskell APA Bowie APA Highlands AKA Artemis LSV Ozark LSD Ashland LSD Belle Grove LSD Carter Hall LSD Epping Forest LSD Gunston Hall LSD Lindenwald LSD Oak Hill, Torpedo hits 1 LSD White Marsh DD Walke II DD De Haven II -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 335 encounters mine field at Wakkanai (122,48) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships DMS Forrest, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Little II DD Porter II, Mine hits 1 Soya Fortress firing at DMS Forrest DMS Forrest firing at Soya Fortress 11 mines cleared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Sapporo at 120,51, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships PB Chitose Maru #2 PB Kohoku Maru PB Manyo Maru Allied Ships YMS-383, Shell hits 4, and is sunk YMS-385, Shell hits 4, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 53% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 126 encounters mine field at Wakkanai (122,48) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships AM Zeal, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage Soya Fortress firing at AM Zeal AM Zeal firing at Soya Fortress 11 mines cleared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Wakkanai at 122,48 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-56, hits 10, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Porter II, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage DD Aulick DMS Forrest, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Little II SSX Ha-56 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Porter II -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Wakkanai at 122,48 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-D-101 Allied Ships APA Golden City, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage APA Golden City is sighted by SSX Ha-D-101 SSX Ha-D-101 launches 2 torpedoes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships xAK Kainalu, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAK Diamond head AK Caelum 15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Kainalu at 18,000 yards 10cm T98 DP Gun Battery engaging xAK Diamond head at 18,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships LST-38, Shell hits 1 AM Triumph LST-73 SC Constant LST-42, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage PF Sausalito LST-66 AM Triumph firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 25 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships LST-38, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage SC Constant LST-42, heavy fires, heavy damage LST-66 LST-73 15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-38 at 6,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships LST-475, Shell hits 3, on fire PF Hoquiam LST-472 LST-474 LST-473 15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-475 at 4,000 yards Massive explosion on LST-475 PF Hoquiam fired at enemy troops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 126 encounters mine field at Wakkanai (122,48) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships AM Zeal, Shell hits 2, heavy damage DE Crouter, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Soya Fortress firing at AM Zeal 2 mines cleared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 44,010 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 18 N1K2-J George x 20 Ki-43-IV Oscar x 27 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 13 Spitfire VIII x 13 F4U-1D Corsair x 61 F6F-3 Hellcat x 132 F6F-5 Hellcat x 74 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed Ki-43-IV Oscar: 10 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 41,300 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 31 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 10 Spitfire VIII x 13 F4U-1D Corsair x 52 F6F-3 Hellcat x 102 F6F-5 Hellcat x 65 Japanese aircraft losses N1K2-J George: 7 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 40,910 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M5 Jack x 29 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 8 Spitfire VIII x 9 F4U-1D Corsair x 40 F6F-3 Hellcat x 72 F6F-5 Hellcat x 50 Japanese aircraft losses J2M5 Jack: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Seafire L.III: 1 destroyed F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 7 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 38,270 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 20 Ki-84r Frank x 22 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 6 Spitfire VIII x 7 F4U-1D Corsair x 31 F6F-3 Hellcat x 54 F6F-5 Hellcat x 27 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84r Frank: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1D Corsair: 3 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38270 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 35,440 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-84a Frank x 25 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 6 Spitfire VIII x 5 F4U-1D Corsair x 22 F6F-3 Hellcat x 37 F6F-5 Hellcat x 17 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84a Frank: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 8 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 34440 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 37,440 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 16 Ki-84b Frank x 37 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 6 Spitfire VIII x 3 F4U-1D Corsair x 19 F6F-3 Hellcat x 29 F6F-5 Hellcat x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84b Frank: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Seafire L.III: 1 destroyed F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 20 x Ki-84b Frank sweeping at 34440 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 39,440 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 16 Ki-84b Frank x 48 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 3 Spitfire VIII x 2 F4U-1D Corsair x 13 F6F-3 Hellcat x 22 F6F-5 Hellcat x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84b Frank: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Seafire L.III: 1 destroyed Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 22 x Ki-84b Frank sweeping at 34440 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 45,370 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K5-J George x 40 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 1 F4U-1D Corsair x 7 F6F-3 Hellcat x 10 F6F-5 Hellcat x 2 Japanese aircraft losses N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 30 x N1K5-J George sweeping at 39370 feet 5 x N1K5-J George sweeping at 39370 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Asahikawa at 122,50 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 44 A6M8 Zero x 63 B7A2 Grace x 44 No Japanese losses Allied Ships DE Jack Miller, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage LCI-781, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LCI-784, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LCI-779, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LCI-783, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LCI-778, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 1083 casualties reported Squads: 15 destroyed, 38 disabled Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 44 x B7A2 Grace bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DE Jack Miller Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LCI-779 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Asahikawa at 122,50 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M8 Zero x 64 D4Y4 Judy x 32 No Japanese losses Allied Ships DE Jack Miller, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb 29 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment, at 122,49 , near Wakkanai Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 42,370 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 16 N1K5-J George x 27 Allied aircraft F4U-1D Corsair x 1 F6F-3 Hellcat x 1 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 27 x N1K5-J George sweeping at 39370 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,48 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 85 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 20 Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 18 Ki-100-I Tony x 35 Allied aircraft F4U-1D Corsair x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Allied Ships LST-356 DD Petard LST-24 CA Cumberland Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 31000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,48 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 91 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17 Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9 Allied aircraft F4U-1D Corsair x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 damaged No Allied losses Allied Ships AK Naos, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Shropshire xAK Diamond head Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,49 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9 Ki-100-I Tony x 35 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 damaged Allied Ships LSM-317, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk LSM-319 LSM-310, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 121,49 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 44 A6M8 Zero x 29 B7A2 Grace x 44 Allied aircraft Seafire L.III x 2 Spitfire VIII x 3 F4U-1D Corsair x 26 F6F-3 Hellcat x 44 F6F-5 Hellcat x 22 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 11 destroyed A6M8 Zero: 12 destroyed B7A2 Grace: 13 destroyed, 4 damaged B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD O' Brien II DD Barton II DD Lyman K. Swenson Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,48 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 21 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M8 Zero x 45 Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 21 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 8 F4U-1D Corsair x 8 F6F-3 Hellcat x 11 F6F-5 Hellcat x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M8 Zero: 18 destroyed Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 16 damaged Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships LST-454, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Kainalu, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk LST-17, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CA Pensacola LST-451, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk LST-457 Aircraft Attacking: 20 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships xAK Lihue DE Damon M. Cummings PF Pasco xAK Mahukona, Shell hits 2, on fire xAK Diamond head AK Caelum DE Damon M. Cummings firing to suppress enemy battery at 14,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Wakkanai (122,48) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships LST-66, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage SC Constant LST-42, heavy damage LST-74 LST-73 15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging LST-66 at 3,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Wakkanai (122,48) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 30876 troops, 304 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1026 Defending force 73476 troops, 1068 guns, 1736 vehicles, Assault Value = 1983 Japanese ground losses: 148 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) Assaulting units: 72nd Division 11th Ind.Mixed Regiment 43rd Div /2 Soya Fortress Karafuto Mixed Brigade 51st Ind.Mixed Brigade 89th Div /2 206th Naval Construction Battalion 5th Fleet 23rd Air Flotilla 29th Field AF Construction Battalion 218th Naval Construction Battalion 178th JAAF AF Bn Defending units: 77th Infantry Division 192nd Tank Battalion 762nd Tank Battalion 2/6th Armoured Regiment 2/4th Armoured Regiment 5th USMC Tank Battalion 110th Combat Engineer Battalion 98th Infantry Division 3rd Marine Division 3rd Regiment 93rd Infantry Division 1st Australian Division 11th Airborne Div /2 82nd Mortar Battalion 3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion 205th Field Artillery Battalion 265th Coastal Artillery Regiment I Corps Artillery 8th USMC Field Artillery Battalion 147th Field Artillery Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Wakkanai (122,48) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 11930 troops, 258 guns, 838 vehicles, Assault Value = 1983 Defending force 39603 troops, 362 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 1017 Allied adjusted assault: 417 Japanese adjusted defense: 2019 Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 6) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 1157 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 100 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 226 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 45 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 49 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 84 (2 destroyed, 82 disabled) Assaulting units: 110th Combat Engineer Battalion 3rd Marine Division 2/6th Armoured Regiment 3rd Regiment 762nd Tank Battalion 192nd Tank Battalion 77th Infantry Division 1st Australian Division 93rd Infantry Division 98th Infantry Division 2/4th Armoured Regiment 5th USMC Tank Battalion 11th Airborne Div /2 265th Coastal Artillery Regiment 3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion I Corps Artillery 8th USMC Field Artillery Battalion 82nd Mortar Battalion 205th Field Artillery Battalion 147th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 72nd Division 51st Ind.Mixed Brigade Karafuto Mixed Brigade 11th Ind.Mixed Regiment Soya Fortress 43rd Div /2 89th Div /2 23rd Air Flotilla 5th Fleet 29th Field AF Construction Battalion 218th Naval Construction Battalion 206th Naval Construction Battalion 178th JAAF AF Bn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the hex where the Allies tried to land more and were thwarted by Graces.
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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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