obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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March 10, 1943 The follow up to the series of Allied debacles on the 9th is an even worse day on the 10th. I have about 25 subs in the area of the Yellow Sea in range of the path to the HI from Tsingtao the KB would need to take. I set all kinds of night search covering the Yellow Sea and approaches to Kyushu, with subs vectoring into Moppo and Saisho To risking potential minefields and ASW actions, but in the end couldn't get a hit on anything. The Guardfish found the KB and lined up Zuikaku, launched 6 fish (!!) but still couldn't connect. The Allied CVs blundered into a duo of PBs near Amami Oshima, sinking one on their way toward Shanghai to prepare to shepherd the Indiana TF back in and take any return fire from the KB supported by Shanghai's LBA. Or that was the plan. Instead the LBA didn't reach the DS as it came up a hex or two short due to it's night surface engagement most likely, and the KB ended up in range, launching a big strike with new replenished air groups on board. The Allied CAP did well, but couldn't keep out all of the IJN strikes. On the day the Allies lose two CVE with a third struggling, but close to Shanghai, so fingers crossed. The Hornet takes two fish and moderate damage, but will likely need a few months in the yards. It's so important to have Hong Kong and Shanghai right here now. Manila and Saigon also offer some repair ability for merchants and smaller ships. The Japanese do lose a lot of planes on the day, evening out the heavy Allied losses of the previous day a bit. It's all a bit disappointing though, and in spite of the timeframe I expect all of my forces to be doing better. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 10, 1943 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Fukue-jima at 99,57 Japanese Ships DD Matsukaze BB Fuso CA Mogami CL Kitakami DD Arashio DD Yugao DD Yukaze Allied Ships SS ShCh-135 SS ShCh-135 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Matsukaze ShCh-135 diving deep .... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Amami Oshima at 95,61, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships PB Tama Maru PB Ryuto Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships CV Yorktown CV Hornet CV Wasp CVL Hermes CLAA Atlanta CLAA Juneau CLAA San Juan CLAA Van Heemskerck DD Barton DD Bagley DD Perkins DD Flusser DD Litchfield DD Stuart DD Humphreys Poor visibility due to Rain with 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 19,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 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 PB Ryuto Maru engages CV Hornet at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Amami Oshima at 95,61, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships PB Tama Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk PB Ryuto Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Canberra CA Cornwall DD Arunta DD Nepal DD Nizam DD Tjerk Hiddes DD Van Galen DD Arrow DD Foxhound Reduced visibility due to Rain with 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Rain and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Moppo at 99,53 Japanese Ships CV Zuikaku DD Uzuki Allied Ships SS Guardfish SS Guardfish launches 6 torpedoes at CV Zuikaku Guardfish bottoming out .... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Moppo at 99,54 Japanese Ships DD Yukaze BB Fuso CA Mogami CL Kitakami DD Matsukaze DD Arashio DD Yugao Allied Ships SS Sawfish, hits 1 SS Sawfish launches 2 torpedoes at DD Yukaze DD Yugao fails to find sub and abandons search -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Moppo at 99,52 Japanese Ships CA Mikuma CA Myoko CL Tama DD Teruzuki DD Tachikaze DD Yugure DD Arare DD Onami Allied Ships SS Searaven SS Searaven is sighted by escort DD Tachikaze fails to find sub and abandons search -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Moppo at 99,53 Japanese Ships DD Hatsuzuki CA Mikuma CA Myoko CL Tama DD Teruzuki DD Tachikaze DD Yugure DD Arare DD Onami Allied Ships SS Tarpon SS Tarpon launches 2 torpedoes at DD Hatsuzuki Tarpon bottoming out .... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Amami Oshima , at 98,64 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 6 Allied aircraft P-38F Lightning x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 16 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 34000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 95,56 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 27 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 12 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 11 Martlet II x 19 Mohawk IV x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 145 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 95,56 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 A6M3a Zero x 41 B5N2 Kate x 27 D3A1 Val x 13 D4Y1 Judy x 43 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 9 Martlet II x 18 Mohawk IV x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 133 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 12 destroyed, 12 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed Martlet II: 1 destroyed Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1 CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 2, on fire CV Wasp CLAA Van Heemskerck CVE Sangamon CVE Nassau CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 1 CVE Prince William, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage CVE Copahee CVL Hermes Aircraft Attacking: 8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 95,56 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 24 G4M1 Betty x 9 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 22 Mohawk IV x 1 F4F-4 Wildcat x 138 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 95,56 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 29 A6M3a Zero x 36 B5N2 Kate x 28 D3A1 Val x 10 D4Y1 Judy x 16 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 21 F4F-4 Wildcat x 122 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed Allied Ships CVE Altamaha, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVE Copahee, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage CVE Nassau CVE Sangamon Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Moppo at 100,54 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 41 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 A6M2-N Rufe x 17 A6M3a Zero x 21 Allied aircraft Albacore I x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 33 SBC-4 Helldiver x 20 TBF-1 Avenger x 10 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed SBC-4 Helldiver: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged SBC-4 Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 7 destroyed Japanese Ships CV Zuikaku Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo 1 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tokara Retto at 100,62 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 9 Allied aircraft losses OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 damaged Japanese Ships AG Honan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires xAK Thames Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 9 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tinian (108,94) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 1541 troops, 14 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 51 Defending force 1368 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10 Allied adjusted assault: 21 Japanese adjusted defense: 19 Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 130 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Allied ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 112th Cavalry Regiment Defending units: 12th JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tsingtao (95,47) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 94177 troops, 410 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 1942 Defending force 17783 troops, 106 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 261 Allied adjusted assault: 937 Japanese adjusted defense: 255 Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied forces CAPTURE Tsingtao !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 1698 casualties reported Squads: 14 destroyed, 159 disabled Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 37 (32 destroyed, 5 disabled) Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Allied ground losses: 2211 casualties reported Squads: 10 destroyed, 203 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled) Assaulting units: 71st Chinese Corps 79th Chinese Corps 6th Cav Recce Regiment 40th Chinese Corps 9th Chinese Corps 57th Chinese Corps 94th Chinese Corps 56th Chinese Corps 8th Chinese Corps 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion 93rd Chinese Corps 34th Separate Brigade Defending units: 15th Division 5th Ind.Mixed Brigade 1st NCPC Route Brigade 14th RGC Temp. Division Ching Tao Special Base Force 23rd JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The fleet is taking a beating, but progress is still being made. Just like the USN in the war, the degradation of IJN air groups will have an affect on future performances, and progress on the ground and through amphibious invasions continues in spite of the poor results these past few turns. I still have only lost about the same amount of ships as the Allies in the war and have destroyed a lot more of the IJN in the process than at this point in the war.
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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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