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Gen.Hoepner -> The Marines HOLD!!! (3/9/2008 7:30:05 PM)
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The 9th and the 10th of June could become two decisive days in the war.
On the night between 8th and 9th, a strong surface combat TF sweep the waters of Ponape. 2 American DDs at Eniwetok decided to react ([&:][&:]) and move at full speed towards Ponape...needless to say that, despite the jap force has hit a jap mine[:D], my DDs were easily overrruned by the experienced japanese crews.
Then the Japs bombarded the shores at Ponape. My marines were struggling on the beaches, using as trenches the dead bodies of the Ponape Garrison crews....
My Brave Subs attacked the incomig invasion fleet, scoring only 1 hit...but that was good anyway.
Then the storm arrived.
The 8th Marine CD (well, actually a fragment of it) unit used every single bullet to throw against the landing japaneses.
Enemy's losses were brutal. In two landing waves the Japs, under an heavy fire, lost nearly 1000 men, between deads and woundeds.
Then the day arrived.
The KB was stationing 3 hexes NW of Ponape, flying LRCap over the base. I've ordered to my P-38Fs to LRCAP over there too and to my B-17s and Dakotas to bring supplies to Ponape for the uncoming battle.
Many strikes against my small garrison of braves arrived from Truk and from the KB. Our P-38s managed to shoot down 5 zeros, losing 3 air frames. Not bad.
The Dakotas losses were higher...8 planes intercepted and shot down.
5 B-17s were lost due to incidents on the badly damaged Ponape landing strip.
The Japanese invasion force was composed by 1 strong SNLF unit and by a Naval Garrison unit.
...they front attacked...and got badly repulsed by not more than 30 marine squads, supported by 3 155mm guns.[&o][&o][&o]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/42
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TF 123 encounters mine field at Ponape (73,80)
Japanese Ships
DD Yayoi, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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Sub attack near Ponape at 73,80
Japanese Ships
AK Hokko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Shinko Maru #1
Allied Ships
SS Tambor[;)]
Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
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Sub attack near Ponape at 73,80 *due torp*
Japanese Ships
AK Asuka Maru
AK Alaska Maru
AP Daihachikyo Maru
PG Shinko Maru #1
Allied Ships
SS Tambor[:o]
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 73,80
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Amagiri
DD Yayoi, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD King, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Peary, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
These idiots....[:-]
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Naval bombardment of Ponape, at 73,80
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CL Abukuma
CL Yura
CL Isuzu
Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
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Coastal Guns at Ponape, 73,80, firing at TF 13
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TF 13 encounters mine field at Ponape (73,80)
TF 13 troops unloading over beach at Ponape, 73,80
315 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Shinko Maru #1, Shell hits 9, on fire
AK Yanagigawa
AK Gisho Maru
AK Taga Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Daihachikyo Maru
AP Chichibu Maru
Japanese ground losses:
751 casualties reported[:D]
Guns lost 2
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Coastal Guns at Ponape, 73,80, firing at TF 13
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TF 13 encounters mine field at Ponape (73,80)
TF 13 troops unloading over beach at Ponape, 73,80
231 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Hamburg Maru
AP Daihachikyo Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chichibu Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AK Chuyo Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Taga Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported[:D]
Guns lost 1
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Day Air attack on 8th Marine Def Bn , at 73,80 *from the KB*
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60
B5N2 Kate x 21
Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
My P-38s did a good job![8D]
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Day Air attack on 8th Marine Def Bn , at 73,80 *from Truk*
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 24
Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80 *from the KB*
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
D3A2 Val x 14
Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed
Port supply hits 1
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Ground combat at Ponape
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 2566 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82
Defending force 1662 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45
Japanese max assault: 122 - adjusted assault: 4
Allied max defense: 32 - adjusted defense: 21
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
558 casualties reported[:D][:D][:D][:D]
Guns lost 4
Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
HURRA!!!!!!!1[:D][:)][:)][:)][:)][&o][&o][&o]
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Then the 10th....
our B-17s were ordered to attack the japs stuck on the shores of Ponape. High Altitude ordered, and heavy escort provided.
The KB moved closer and the CAP over Ponape was strong.
in 2 fierce air battles our P-40s managed to exchange blows with the zeros, ending the day with a rate close to 1-1!!!![8D]
His subs are trying to load the bastards that are stuck on the beach. 2 of his subs (RO-64 and I-164) are badly hit by my conrados.
His betties came again over Ponape and this time my P-38s weren't there...so our Marines got hit quite badly!
However none of the sides had the strong to attack today...the japs are moving their damaged fleet back to Truk, covered by the KB....
Tomorrow more Marines will be brought with the dakotas at Ponape...
Attrition. That's the word!!!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/10/42
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Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Atago
CA Tone
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu
BB Kongo
Allied ground losses:
8540 casualties reported[X(][X(]
Guns lost 132
Vehicles lost 3
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 34
Port hits 2
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Day Air attack on 52nd Naval Guard Unit, at 73,80
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 35
P-40E Warhawk x 21
B-17E Fortress x 22
P-38F Lightning x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed, 6 damaged[:D][:D]
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 11 destroyed, 10 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on Maizuru 2nd SNLF, at 73,80
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 11
B-17E Fortress x 18
P-38F Lightning x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed[:D][:D]
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 28000 feet
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Day Air attack on 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, at 73,80 *from Truk*
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 8th Marine Def Bn , at 73,80 *from Truk*
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
[image]local://upfiles/4162/929955C8C8F34A92BE3D5056A12E84F0.jpg[/image]
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