obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
|
Feb 26, 1943 A very important turn on the 26th. The level 5 airbase on Naha is trashed and Japanese losses are heavy after a combined naval and air strike. The two bombardment TFs made it in easily after the Japanese forces left to continue their nightly bombardment of Okinoerabushima. The bombardments didn't close the base but might have had a significant affect on the day's air strikes. Most sweeps went in after the big 4E raids, but I'd put LR CAP from Kume-Jima out as well, and those P-40K stuck around for the entire morning, fighting off wave after wave of Japanese defenders. The resulting losses to airframes on the field and base hits will be catastrophic for the defenses. Since Naga is only a size 3 airfield, this should mean that in a few days there will be on air cover to keep big IJN TFs here and the door will open for some resupply of forward bases and eventually invasion of Okinawa in a few weeks. This will be key to getting fighters in range of the Strat bombing targets on the Western half of the Home Islands. In Cent Pac Marcus falls to the Allied assault, and Pagan and Anatahan are invaded and should be in our control by tomorrow. Invasions of Guam and the other dot bases in the Northern Marianas will follow. Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai are also on the menu for this week. Once this operation is complete ships, supply, air units and troops can flow much more easily to the PI and beyond. In Soviet territory the continued pressure on Japanese airfields closes another size 1 base at Anshan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 26, 1943 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Marcus Island (123,85) 16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships BB Mississippi BB Idaho AMC Prince Robert PC Taney SC-641 Japanese ground losses: 112 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled BB Mississippi firing at 103rd Ship Eng Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Okinoerabushima at 96,65 Japanese Ships DD Hatsuzuki BB Kirishima CA Aoba CA Myoko DD Arashio TB Hato DMS W-22 DD Yugao DD Tachikaze DD Ariake DD Yugure Allied Ships SS KIX SS KIX launches 2 torpedoes at DD Hatsuzuki KIX bottoming out .... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Naha at 95,66 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-29, hits 6, heavy damage Allied Ships CA Cornwall CA Canberra CL Detroit DD Mahan DD Russell DD Sands DD Van Galen SSX Ha-29 is sighted by escort -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 117 encounters mine field at Naha (95,66) Allied Ships DD Mahan, Mine hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Hachinohe , at 118,55 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft F1M2 Pete x 4 Allied aircraft DB-3M x 3 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Manpower hits 3 Fires 777 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x DB-3M bombing from 5000 feet City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Naha at 95,66 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 8 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 8 destroyed on ground A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 12 damaged Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 6 damaged J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed on ground A6M3a Zero: 4 damaged A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed on ground 14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Cornwall CA Canberra CL Concord Japanese ground losses: 102 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) Resources hits 1 Manpower hits 1 Fires 327 Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 20 Port hits 7 Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Cornwall CA Cornwall firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Naha at 95,66 Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 17 damaged A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 21 damaged J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 32 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 8 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 3 damaged Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 3 destroyed on ground A6M3 Zero: 13 damaged A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed on ground E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales CA Quincy Japanese ground losses: 83 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled) Resources hits 1 Manpower hits 1 Fires 491 Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 22 Port hits 5 BB Prince of Wales firing at Naha CA Quincy firing at Naha -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Anatahan (109,91) TF 406 troops unloading over beach at Anatahan, 109,91 Allied ground losses: 20 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Pagan (110,89) 2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC-634 xAP Tjinegara SC-634 fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Agrihan at 112,84 Japanese Ships xAK Kusuyama Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Blackfish Japanese ground losses: 44 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled xAK Kusuyama Maru is sighted by SS Blackfish SS Blackfish launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Kusuyama Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Kume-jima at 93,65 Japanese Ships SS I-21, hits 6 Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales CA Quincy DD Waller DD Chevalier DD Fletcher DD Isis DD Arunta DD Smith DD Maury SS I-21 is sighted by escort DD Isis attacking submerged sub .... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 31 Allied aircraft I-153 x 15 MiG-3 x 10 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses I-153: 4 destroyed CAP engaged: 251 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 20 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 27000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 6 A6M3a Zero x 21 J2M2 Jack x 56 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42 Ki-46 KAI Dinah x 1 Allied aircraft P-38F Lightning x 23 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-38F Lightning: 3 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 16 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 24000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 26,800 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 11 Allied aircraft P-66 Vanguard x 10 P-40K Warhawk x 12 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-66 Vanguard: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 3 x P-66 Vanguard sweeping at 25800 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 3 Allied aircraft P-43A-1 Lancer x 7 I-153 x 4 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 3 x P-43A-1 Lancer sweeping at 25000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 5 A6M3a Zero x 20 J2M2 Jack x 49 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36 Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 4 P-40K Warhawk x 1 F4U-1 Corsair x 17 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 3 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 15000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Beaufighter Ic x 14 Mitchell II x 18 B-25C Mitchell x 11 P-40K Warhawk x 10 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground No Allied losses Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 34 Aircraft Attacking: 18 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 5 A6M3a Zero x 19 J2M2 Jack x 42 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 29 Allied aircraft Liberator II x 8 B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 3 B-24D Liberator x 12 B-24D1 Liberator x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 3 damaged A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed J2M2 Jack: 1 damaged J2M2 Jack: 3 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 13 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses Liberator II: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged B-17F Fortress: 3 damaged B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Airbase hits 3 Runway hits 6 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 10 I-153 x 8 IL-2 x 20 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 17 Aircraft Attacking: 20 x IL-2 bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 32 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 13 Airbase supply hits 8 Runway hits 13 Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 5 A6M3a Zero x 16 J2M2 Jack x 41 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 33 B-24D Liberator x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 14 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 5 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 3 A6M3a Zero x 11 J2M2 Jack x 34 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 24 Allied aircraft B-17F Fortress x 15 B-24D Liberator x 24 B-25D1 Mitchell x 5 P-40K Warhawk x 21 F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed, 17 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17F Fortress: 6 damaged B-24D Liberator: 12 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 6 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 3 A6M3a Zero x 5 J2M2 Jack x 29 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 3 damaged A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Anshan , at 102,43 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 16 P-40K Warhawk x 10 I-153 x 4 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground No Allied losses Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 6 Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 3 A6M3a Zero x 4 J2M2 Jack x 23 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11 Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 8 P-40K Warhawk x 1 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 8 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 1 J2M2 Jack x 14 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7 Allied aircraft P-43A-1 Lancer x 4 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 1 J2M2 Jack x 8 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 8 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 6 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 25 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 3 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 25 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 4736 troops, 50 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 157 Defending force 1592 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11 Allied adjusted assault: 138 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 138 to 1 (fort level 4) Allied forces CAPTURE Marcus Island !!! Combat modifiers Defender: disruption(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 2228 casualties reported Squads: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Allied ground losses: 96 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment 151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion 134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion 165th Field Artillery Battalion 97th Coast AA Regiment 8th Port Maint Engineer Battalion Defending units: 103rd Ship Eng Coy 7th JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Babeldaob (90,97) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 20814 troops, 243 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 712 Defending force 2559 troops, 0 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 Allied adjusted assault: 832 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 832 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-) fatigue(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 2432 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 216 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 55 (55 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Allied ground losses: 28 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Defending units: 16th Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese losses are huge on the day, with almost a 3:1 total, but it's more about the strategic use of these airbases to hold off the Allied advance that makes this an important day. There aren't enough alternatives to keep holding in this area for much longer.
Attachment (1)
< Message edited by obvert -- 8/18/2019 10:31:43 AM >
_____________________________
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
|