RE: Mines in the Pacific (Full Version)

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (11/30/2010 11:18:26 PM) 28th February 1943 BURMA/INDIA Not a day passes when 50 bombers minimum do not darken the skies over Ceylon and wreck something. No Japanese opposition. I've raised the bombing altitude from my favourite 8000' to 12000' to cut down a bit on the flak which is fairly heavy over Colombo - it has done that slightly but the damage has gone right down, I think you need to be under 10k if you want to do more than harassment. Which is fine, thats all I do want to do atm. Looks like the spare AV at Karachi will be about 2400. I got 65 AKs there too and more coming in - the Bay of Bengal looks bare, so I might just go for a reconquista. I suspect there are IJN CVs at Singapore, but its a fair steam from Singers to Colombo and there is a lot of LBA there. In Burma I've been night bombing Rangoon every turn, seems to get 5 Tojos a day. It adds up, I hope. He's been trying desperately to stop this, but nothing has worked, when he tried a massive Tojo nightcap the Tojos got reamed (lost 15 in one day and about half were to heavy bombers!). I think this may be a little cheap... but then I look at how China has been bombed flat and how the Chinese army was vaporised by bugged artillery - the consequences of which I am still living with as the long drawn out collapse of China continues - and figure, c'est la vie. CHINA Stalemate everywhere again aside from the Jap divisions racing towards Tibet. Not too bothered about them. He's back to city bombing, he's tried firebombing Changsha, and now he's going for whats left of the light industry - the final point here and there. 150 transports at Ledo resupplying nowadays, i've noticed the Chinese army in some areas isnt all at 0, so I guess it might even be helping, slightly. SOPAC Milne Bay is in a parlous state, I think it'll fall very soon. With cadres evacuated, I'm kinda assuming it'll happen before the USN can intervene. Unfortunate really, it means the Allies will be back to the starting line! The Japanese managed to resupply the place partially but at the cost of half a dozen AKs lost to Allied skip bombing (the attack bombers seem to work alright now!), still, it's been enough to get the better of the defenders and their AV is dangerously low now. USN attempts to intervene didn't work out very well, two CAs and a CL were sunk in combat with Japanese cruisers/BBs around Milne Bay - the USN just got completely schooled again in a night encounter, though at least a DD managed to hit BB Yamashiro with a torpedo at night so thats a BB out for a while, and CV Zuikaku was torpedoed by an S-boat near Lae. However, the strategic situation will be much improved in March 1943 and I'm confident we can start pushing again so it's only a temporary setback. By then Tarawa should be mine and USN CVs can be deployed fully in SOPAC for a while, and the USAAF is expanding out of all recognition to its 1942 shadow. Allied bombers at Cooktown have been trying to help the guys at Milne out by bombing Japanese bases - mostly fruitlessly but one day they bagged 46 a/c on the ground, mostly Netties, when I picked right one day. The Japanese division at Tassafaronga is being reduced, enormous Allied bombing runs, the presence of a corps HQ (3rd NZ Div HQ) at Lunga massively helped the AV there too. It's down to 100 AV and the marines/US Army are attacking relentlessly with massive support, I want them out of the way and annihilated before moving on. I guess it'll be a week or two before the stubborn Japs give it up. Seems fairly quiet at the northern end of the Solomons aside from Japanese barge activity, and Beaufighters have done some sterling duty there on barge busting. Japanese air superiority seems to have suffered a bit, I guess the focus is on Milne - there are some Zeroes and Oscars around but the Corsairs at Lunga eat them for breakfast. Japanese carriers are hanging around Lae and have been there for a good week. I keep feeding in unfortunate expendables to Lae (AKLs and SCs) to keep the IJN busy. The reason being, the USN is about to bag Tarawa! Seems to have worked, I think the fleet was spotted by Tarawa today by the Japanese so this next turn is the first turn he'll have had to react to that, and I think he's too out of position to intervene. CENTPAC The fleet is two days out of Tarawa, so should be landing on March 3rd. I'm very confident that it'll be bloody but short, and the Allies will win it. The Japanese garrison at Tarawa is surely screwed. The only worry is the three IJN submarines in the vicinity, I know that the loss of a CV or especially a CVE seems to be practically guaranteed with those little gits out there. This time, given I know KB is far away, a big chunk of Avengers is set to ASW patrol, as are the nearby Catalinas and B24s at Tabiteaua. ASW TFs are in the hex following the fleet, and there are a lot fo DDs around. I can do no more, but am still bracing myself. A Marine defence battalion is on standby to secure Tarawa as soon as its taken, that should make the inevitable counterinvasion bloody... Notes and Learning So, setbacks in SOPAC. I think I have to acknowledge that the tactic of attacking along three axes to try and keep the Japanese stretched didn't work - I feel that concentrating on one would have probably been better. Still, the Allies are broadly speaking on schedule or somewhat ahead of schedule, so not a big problem. Due to the small size of the Allied advances, essentially battalion level, not much has been lost either in terms of LCUs. Though the USN has suffered horribly trying to go toe to toe with Japanese surface forces, I don't have any confidence at all in the US ability to fight the Japanese at sea with anything other than CVs - their surface forces just get creamed, without fail it seems. The situation in SOPAC especially is getting more favourable nevertheless though as big LCUs are now available to the Allies here, and for the first time I don't really want for ground troops. In addition the Allied sealift ability has rocketed since 1/1943, I must have about 40 landing craft and APs/AKs available in the Pacific now, so I can move a division around easily enough. Plans : if Milne Bay is still around when the CVs are done in CENTPAC, I will support it. I assume Milne will fall though. If so the plan is to leave Tarawa alone for a while for it to build up an airfield, which will probably be usable by April 1943. Assuming all goes well. The US will concentrate its efforts entirely on the Solomon chain in the meantime, with divisional size landings rather than these little mini invasions I've been doing. Munda will be objective 1, Shortlands objective 2. I'll have to reassess around April time to see what next. If the Ceylon invasion is ever going to happen, it'll happen during these busy times in SOPAC, it certainly seems a possibility though and everything is almost ready.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/1/2010 7:33:54 PM) The combat report can do the talking here... AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 01, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Balikpapan at 66,98 Japanese Ships TK Tonan Maru #2 TK Akatsuki Maru DD Shirayuki Allied Ships SS KXVIII SS KXVIII is sighted by escort KXVIII diving deep .... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,125, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3 CL Montpelier CL Denver DD O'Brien DD Lang DD Cassin DD Downes DD Selfridge Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 8,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards Leach, J.C. crosses the 'T' BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards Sakai W. orders Japanese TF to disengage Range closes to 5,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages BB Prince of Wales at 5,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 3,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages CL Montpelier at 3,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages DD Lang at 6,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages DD O'Brien at 6,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards CL Denver engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards DD O'Brien engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards CL Montpelier engages DD Hamakaze at 13,000 yards DD Hamakaze engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Makin at 137,124, Range 5,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Chikuma, Shell hits 8, on fire CA Haguro, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Isuzu, Shell hits 7, heavy fires DD Akizuki, Shell hits 2, heavy fires DD Shiranui, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Kasumi Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3 CL Montpelier, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Denver, Shell hits 4 DD O'Brien DD Lang, Shell hits 1 DD Cassin DD Downes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Selfridge, Shell hits 3, on fire Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards CA Haguro engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards DD Cassin engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards DD Lang engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards CL Isuzu engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 3,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards CA Haguro engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards DD Downes engages DD Shiranui at 3,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 3,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards CL Denver engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Downes at 5,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 5,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 5,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 4,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 4,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 4,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 4,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 4,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 4,000 yards DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 4,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Denver at 6,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Cassin at 6,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Downes at 6,000 yards DD Lang engages DD Shiranui at 6,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 10,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards DD Downes engages DD Akizuki at 10,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 10,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards DD Downes sunk by DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 13,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 13,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 13,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 13,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Denver at 11,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards DD Selfridge engages DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Lang at 11,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 11,000 yards DD O'Brien engages DD Akizuki at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CA Chikuma engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Denver at 9,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 9,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 9,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards Mori, Tokuji orders Japanese TF to disengage Range increases to 12,000 yards CA Haguro engages BB Prince of Wales at 12,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 12,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 12,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards DD Selfridge engages DD Akizuki at 12,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards CA Chikuma engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 9,000 yards DD Kasumi engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Shiranui at 9,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD Lang at 9,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD O'Brien at 9,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 10,000 yards CL Denver engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards CL Isuzu engages CL Montpelier at 10,000 yards DD Selfridge engages DD Kasumi at 10,000 yards DD Shiranui engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards DD Akizuki engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards Leach, J.C. orders Allied TF to disengage Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Tarawa at 137,127 Japanese Ships SS RO-61, hits 1 Allied Ships xAP Rooseboom, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAK Suva xAK Royal T. Frank APD McKean Allied ground losses: (II Amphibious Corps HQ) 35 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled SS RO-61 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Rooseboom RO-61 diving deep .... APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search... APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search... APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search... APD McKean attacking submerged sub .... APD McKean cannot reach attack position over SS RO-61 APD McKean fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Port Blair at 46,58 Japanese Ships xAK Kuwayama Maru PC Sumire PB Shinko Maru #5 PB Choun Maru #18 xAK Yuzan Maru xAK Uyo Maru xAK Kuretake Maru xAK Jinshu Maru xAK Izan Maru xAK Sumatra Maru xAK Burma Maru DD Asanagi DD Kamikaze Allied Ships SS Trusty, hits 5 SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kuwayama Maru Trusty bottoming out .... DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 15,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Hakaze Allied Ships LCT-128, Shell hits 4, and is sunk LCT-129, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LCT-130, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LCT-131, Shell hits 7, and is sunk LCT-133, Shell hits 3, and is sunk LCT-134, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LCT-136, Shell hits 5, and is sunk LCT-137, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LCT-138, Shell hits 2, and is sunk LCT-139, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 27,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 17,000 yards Range closes to 15,000 yards... Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 15,000 yards LCT-139 sunk by DD Hakaze at 15,000 yards DD Hakaze fires at LCT-136 at 15,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards LCT-130 sunk by DD Hakaze at 12,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards DD Hakaze engages LCT-136 at 7,000 yards DD Hakaze engages LCT-134 at 7,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards LCT-138 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards LCT-137 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards LCT-129 sunk by DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards LCT-133 sunk by DD Hakaze at 4,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards LCT-136 sunk by DD Hakaze at 3,000 yards DD Hakaze engages LCT-128 at 3,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards LCT-134 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards DD Hakaze engages LCT-131 at 2,000 yards LCT-128 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards LCT-131 sunk by DD Hakaze at 2,000 yards Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,129, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Mutsu BB Yamashiro DD Teruzuki DD Shikinami Allied Ships SC-645, Shell hits 3, and is sunk SC-646, Shell hits 2, and is sunk SC-699, Shell hits 2, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 20,000 yards BB Yamashiro fires at SC-699 at 20,000 yards BB Yamashiro fires at SC-646 at 20,000 yards Range closes to 16,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 16,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages SC-646 at 16,000 yards SC-645 sunk by BB Yamashiro at 16,000 yards SC-646 sunk by DD Teruzuki at 16,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards BB Mutsu engages SC-699 at 14,000 yards SC-699 sunk by DD Shikinami at 14,000 yards Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Tokara Retto at 99,63 Japanese Ships MTB G-7 MGB G-4 Allied Ships SS Tarpon SS Tarpon is sighted by escort Tarpon diving deep .... MGB G-4 attacking submerged sub .... SS Tarpon eludes ASW attack from MGB G-4 MGB G-4 loses contact with SS Tarpon MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search... MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search... MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search... MGB G-4 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Milne Bay at 99,137 Japanese Ships SS I-170 Allied Ships CM Kung Wo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (en route to mine Milne Bay, caught in the Coral Sea, kinda bad luck) SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes I-170 diving deep .... Sub escapes detection -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft F4U-1 Corsair x 14 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 14 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 38,600 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 12 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 12 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged Light Industry hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 38 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 58 Aircraft Attacking: 22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 5 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet 15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: 12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 39000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20 No Japanese losses Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 37 Aircraft Attacking: 13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb 7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 81,32 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIa Lily x 16 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 16 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 1 SB-III x 3 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SB-III bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage [X(] Aircraft Attacking: 15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 PBY-5A Catalina x 5 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Yugiri Aircraft Attacking: 5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 10 B-17E Fortress x 3 B-17F Fortress x 4 B-24D1 Liberator x 16 B-25C Mitchell x 3 P-40K Warhawk x 13 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft Hudson IIIa x 7 Hurricane IIc Trop x 25 Wellington Ic x 17 B-25C Mitchell x 16 Allied aircraft losses Wellington Ic: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 95 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Runway hits 4 Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking 23rd Division ... Also attacking Colombo ... Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... Also attacking 23rd Division ... Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... Also attacking Colombo ... Also attacking 23rd Division ... Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... Also attacking 23rd Division ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 3 B-17E Fortress x 6 B-24D1 Liberator x 6 P-40K Warhawk x 15 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 12 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 9 B-26 Marauder x 6 P-39D Airacobra x 12 No Allied losses Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 18 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft B-17F Fortress x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 32 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 6 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 87th Naval Guard Unit, at 101,133 (Milne Bay) Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 12 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Raid is overhead 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Raid is overhead Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Allied aircraft B-18A Bolo x 6 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 10 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 20 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking 23rd Division ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 7 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking 23rd Division ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 SBD-3 Dauntless x 28 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2 BB Mutsu, on fire, heavy damage DD Shikinami Aircraft Attacking: 16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 SBD-3 Dauntless x 28 TBF-1 Avenger x 28 Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged Japanese Ships CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Akizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kasumi, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Momi class DD Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Haguro Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kasumi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 SBD-3 Dauntless x 28 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 12 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Mutsu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 TBF-1 Avenger x 10 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Uranami DD Yugiri Aircraft Attacking: 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft Blenheim VD x 14 B-25C Mitchell x 11 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 15000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 55,43 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft Blenheim IV x 15 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 SBD-3 Dauntless x 24 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Tientsin Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kazan Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Tientsin Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,123 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 TBF-1 Avenger x 14 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Akizuki, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,129 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 SBD-3 Dauntless x 27 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires DD Teruzuki Aircraft Attacking: 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamashiro -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 133,126 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 TBF-1 Avenger x 10 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Yugiri DD Sagiri DD Hatsuharu Aircraft Attacking: 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 SBD-3 Dauntless x 21 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 4 F4U-1 Corsair x 12 Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged Japanese Ships LB-154, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LB-155, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LB-152, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LB-153, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk (attack bombers in action, they were ordered at 1000' incidentally) Port hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 3 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 5000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 14800 troops, 333 guns, 350 vehicles, Assault Value = 495 Defending force 7267 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 182 Allied adjusted assault: 1102 Japanese adjusted defense: 10 Allied assault odds: 110 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-) supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 949 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 210 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled) Assaulting units: 132nd Infantry Regiment 182nd Infantry Regiment 164th Infantry Regiment 7th Marine Regiment 2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion 4th Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: 10th Division

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/1/2010 9:50:07 PM) Day 2 and looks like hopefully the final day of the Battle of Tarawa... good win for the Allies though the IJN punched above its weight given the fairly meagre strength it had to throw against almost the entire USN. PoW is looking at a months yard time and 3 old Pearl BBs are out for I'd guess six months or more. Yamashiro proved inferior to the old US battleships, her shells were bouncing off belt armour while the American shells were penetrating. On the other hand the marines had a good time, it was every bit the walkover I thought it would be from their point of view. :P First real victory against the IJN in the whole war I think, and the first time IJN BBs have been confirmed sunk. He's handled his fleet very well in this game. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 02, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 9,000 Yards (Yamashiro slips past the covering force but is held off by the US battleships in the amphibious TF, all of whom sustain moderate damage). Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 7, on fire DD Teruzuki DD Shikinami Allied Ships BB Colorado, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1 BB Arizona, Shell hits 11, heavy fires BB California, Shell hits 2, on fire CA Quincy CL Richmond DMS Southard DMS Chandler AM Swallow SC-634 AP George F. Elliot AP Fuller AP William P. Biddle AP John Penn AK Bellatrix AK Libra AK Betelgeuse, Shell hits 1, on fire AK Titania AK Alcyon LST-18 LST-19 LST-446 LST-447 LST-448 LST-449 LST-450 LCI-21 LCI-22 LCI-23 LCI-24 LCI-62 LCI-63 SC PC-1077 SC PC-1078 SC PC-1079 xAP Macdhui Allied ground losses: 43 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 9,000 yards BB Arizona engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 6,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages BB Arizona at 6,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB California at 3,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Arizona at 3,000 yards BB Colorado engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages AK Betelgeuse at 3,000 yards Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 3,000 yards BB Colorado engages DD Shikinami at 3,000 yards BB Arizona engages DD Teruzuki at 3,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages DMS Southard at 3,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards BB California engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards BB Arizona engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Colorado at 10,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages LCI-22 at 10,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Donggala at 69,96 Japanese Ships E Chidori Allied Ships SS Permit SS Permit is located by E Chidori E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search... E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search... E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search... E Chidori fails to find sub, continues to search... E Chidori attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 10,000 Yards (Yamashiro then gets caught by the cover force and sent to the bottom in a hail of 14 and 16 inch shells. The US battleships proved their superiority here, Yamashiro's shells were unable to penetrate at 10-12k yards. Allied radar popped up too so I guess that helped. No damage to the US fleet.) Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires DD Shikinami Allied Ships BB Idaho, Shell hits 1 BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1 BB Indiana, Shell hits 1 CA Salt Lake City CL Nashville DD Duncan DD Bancroft DD Frazier DD Mustin Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 12,000 yards Range closes to 27,000 yards... Range closes to 25,000 yards... Range closes to 23,000 yards... Range closes to 21,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards Range closes to 15,000 yards... Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 10,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards BB Idaho engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB New Mexico at 11,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages BB Idaho at 9,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Nashville at 9,000 yards BB Yamashiro sunk by DD Mustin at 9,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Shikinami at 9,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards DD Mustin engages DD Shikinami at 8,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Teruzuki at 8,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards Obata, Chozaemon orders Japanese TF to disengage DD Shikinami engages DD Frazier at 10,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Teruzuki at 13,000 yards DD Teruzuki engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Yokohama/Yokosuka at 114,62 Japanese Ships SC CHa-35 SC CHa-36 Allied Ships SS Finback Captain of SS Finback elects not to launch torpedoes at this target Finback bottoming out .... SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-36 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Tarawa 9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships BB California BB Colorado CA Quincy CL Richmond SC PC-1079 SC PC-1078 SC PC-1077 SC-634 LCI-21 LCI-23 Japanese ground losses: 130 casualties reported Squads: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled BB California firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit BB Colorado firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit CA Quincy firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit CL Richmond firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops SC-634 fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Tarawa TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Tarawa, 136,128 Allied ground losses: 18 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) 13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 9th Marine Rgt 10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 9th Marine Rgt /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarawa 4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC PC-1079 SC PC-1078 SC PC-1077 SC-634 LCI-21 SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops SC-634 fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Tarawa at 136,128 (After the debacle of the first Tarawa invasion I brought an ASW TF to cover!) Japanese Ships SS I-6 Allied Ships DD Radford DD Bailey DD Grayson DD Waller SS I-6 is sighted by escort DD Bailey fails to find sub and abandons search DD Grayson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Waller fails to find sub and abandons search Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 29,000 Yards (My honourable foe is taking a leaf out of my book I think with a DD raid. he must've timed it wrong though, DDs in daylight versus battleships are dead meat. At night maybe he would have Long Lanced an old, slow target.) Japanese Ships DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Uranami, Shell hits 4, and is sunk DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Yugiri, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships BB Idaho BB New Mexico BB Indiana CA Salt Lake City CL Nashville DD Duncan DD Bancroft DD Frazier DD Mustin Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 29,000 yards Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage Range closes to 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards Range closes to 22,000 yards DD Yugiri engages BB New Mexico at 22,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 22,000 yards DD Uranami engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards Range increases to 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards Range increases to 24,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Uranami at 24,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Sagiri at 23,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Hatsuharu at 23,000 yards Motokura, Masayoshi orders Japanese TF to disengage Range increases to 24,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 24,000 yards Range increases to 25,000 yards BB Indiana engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Uranami at 25,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Hatsuharu at 25,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 25,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Sagiri at 25,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 24,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards BB New Mexico engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Uranami at 23,000 yards CL Nashville engages DD Yugiri at 23,000 yards Range closes to 22,000 yards BB Idaho engages DD Uranami at 22,000 yards DD Hatsuharu engages BB Indiana at 22,000 yards Range increases to 27,000 yards CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 27,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Truk at 112,114 Japanese Ships DD Ariake Allied Ships SS Spearfish SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes Spearfish diving deep .... DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ariake attacking submerged sub .... DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119 Japanese Ships PB Hirotama Maru SC Ch 20 xAK Urato Maru xAK Kashu Maru PB Tokotsu Maru PB Naruto Maru #3 Allied Ships SS Hake SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Hirotama Maru Hake diving deep .... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub .... PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3 PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub .... PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot establish contact with SS Hake PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 attacking submerged sub .... SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Naruto Maru #3 PB Naruto Maru #3 cannot reach attack position over SS Hake PB Naruto Maru #3 loses contact with SS Hake SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep SS Hake eludes PB Naruto Maru #3 by diving deep Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Lihir at 112,119 Japanese Ships PB Tokotsu Maru PB Hirotama Maru SC Ch 20 xAK Urato Maru xAK Kashu Maru PB Naruto Maru #3 Allied Ships SS Hake SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at PB Tokotsu Maru Hake diving deep .... PB Tokotsu Maru attacking submerged sub .... SS Hake eludes ASW attack from PB Tokotsu Maru PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Naruto Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 40,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4U-1 Corsair x 11 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 11 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 47 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 20 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 66 Aircraft Attacking: 23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 13 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 6 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet CAP engaged: 12th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 39000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Kweilin , at 76,54 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 20 No Japanese losses Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 31 Aircraft Attacking: 13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb 7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 38,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 76th Chinese Corps, at 82,32 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIa Lily x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 19 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128 (USMC bombers from Tabiteaua pick off stragglers) Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 17 TBF-1 Avenger x 18 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Hatsuharu, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 18 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 21 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 PBY-5A Catalina x 5 Allied aircraft losses PBY-5A Catalina: 2 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 5 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 13 B-24D1 Liberator x 28 P-40K Warhawk x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 12 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 93 Aircraft Attacking: 13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Hudson IIIa x 6 Hurricane IIc Trop x 8 Wellington Ic x 8 B-25C Mitchell x 37 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 155 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... Also attacking Colombo ... Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... Also attacking Colombo ... Also attacking Sasebo 5th SNLF ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 29,48 (Colombo) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 8 Wellington Ic x 9 Allied aircraft losses Wellington Ic: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 18 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 4 P-40K Warhawk x 21 No Allied losses Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 15 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga) Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 15 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 9 B-26 Marauder x 6 P-39D Airacobra x 12 No Allied losses Runway hits 8 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa) Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-18A Bolo x 5 B-17F Fortress x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 37 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-18A Bolo bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 3 P-40K Warhawk x 7 No Allied losses Japanese Ships LB-158, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk LB-149, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 134,124 (More stragglers picked off, this time by carrier air) Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 SBD-3 Dauntless x 25 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged Japanese Ships DD Teruzuki, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Akitsuki class DD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 135,128 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 SBD-3 Dauntless x 27 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 27 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Sagiri, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 37,600 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 11 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 11 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4U-1 Corsair x 10 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shanghai SNLF, at 79,43 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft A-29A Hudson x 3 P-40E Warhawk x 5 Allied aircraft losses A-29A Hudson: 1 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 3 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 49th Infantry Regiment, at 101,133 (Milne Bay) Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7 Allied aircraft Mitchell II x 8 B-24D Liberator x 14 P-38G Lightning x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Mitchell II: 1 damaged B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 47 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 8 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Raid is overhead 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Raid is overhead Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ... Also attacking 49th Infantry Regiment ... Also attacking Guards Mixed Brigade ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft Blenheim IV x 15 Blenheim VD x 14 Hurricane FR.IIb x 9 No Allied losses Airbase hits 20 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 61 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x Blenheim VD bombing from 8000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb 15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 11 No Allied losses Airbase hits 7 Runway hits 25 Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 134,126 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Sagiri Aircraft Attacking: 4 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 SBD-3 Dauntless x 21 No Allied losses Port hits 2 Port supply hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Karachi at 38,8 Japanese Ships SS I-162 Allied Ships AMc Ahmedabad AMc Karachi SS I-162 is sighted by escort I-162 diving deep .... AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search... AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search... AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search... AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search... AMc Karachi fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarawa 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC PC-1079 SC PC-1078 SC PC-1077 SC-634 LST-446 LCI-21 BB California LST-450 Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled SC PC-1079 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1078 fired at enemy troops SC PC-1077 fired at enemy troops SC-634 fired at enemy troops LST-446 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,41 (Chinese fighting, note that the Chinese have a trickle of supply, enough to cling on by the nails) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 60299 troops, 638 guns, 361 vehicles, Assault Value = 2038 Defending force 48372 troops, 382 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1786 Japanese adjusted assault: 805 Allied adjusted defense: 3436 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 5761 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 392 disabled Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 305 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled Vehicles lost 34 (5 destroyed, 29 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1244 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 139 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 67 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Assaulting units: 27th Division 35th Division 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Division 3rd Tank Regiment 15th Division 41st Division 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment Defending units: 41st Chinese Corps 40th Chinese Corps 95th Chinese Corps 1st Chinese Corps 24th Chinese Corps 38th Chinese Corps 1st New Chinese Corps 27th Chinese Corps 3rd Prov Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133) (Constant airlifting seems have to picked things up a bit here, Milne may hold after all but only after a supreme effort of endurance) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 7302 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 232 Defending force 3700 troops, 20 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 100 Japanese adjusted assault: 75 Allied adjusted defense: 95 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 773 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 52 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 128 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: Guards Mixed Brigade 87th Naval Guard Unit 49th Infantry Regiment Yokosuka 3rd SNLF Defending units: II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Kanga Force Battalion 503rd Parachute Rgt /1 140th USA Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128) (What's left of the Japanese at Tarawa have no chance. I assume a lot were bombed out of existence or evacuated by submarine) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 546 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4 Defending force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194 Japanese ground losses: 37 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 53rd Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 193rd Tank Bn /10 9th Marine Rgt /11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 14532 troops, 333 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 476 Defending force 6556 troops, 92 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 132 Japanese ground losses: 63 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 132nd Infantry Regiment 164th Infantry Regiment 182nd Infantry Regiment 7th Marine Regiment 2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion 4th Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: 10th Division -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5030 troops, 97 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 194 Defending force 520 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4 Allied adjusted assault: 26 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 3) Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!! Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 540 casualties reported Squads: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 193rd Tank Bn /10 9th Marine Rgt /11 Defending units: 53rd Naval Guard Unit

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/1/2010 9:51:59 PM) Also notice attack bombers at 8000', that was my little test.  They do indeed double as level bombers if you order them to do so.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/2/2010 7:22:55 PM) Gotta love a screenshot like this. Things are desperate for 10th Division... [image]local://upfiles/10259/53BFE959651B47FCA98076B6977C5B46.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/2/2010 10:40:00 PM) 5th March 1943 We've had quite a few screenshots and battle reports lately so you have an idea of what the big news is already for this period! BURMA/INDIA The forces earmarked for Ceylon are of the order of 2400 AV. The RN has a number of cruisers and DDs at Karachi - enough for a covering SAG but I'm a bit leery about sending out such a vast and irreplaceable force without any CV cover. Unfortunately its a hell of a long trip to bring the US CVs over just for this op - its a months sailing I would guess, at least. Mini KB is at Singapore I think. DId a full recon of Ceylon again - about the same number of troops but he's spread out across the island now and left Colombo with only 3 units. I've been wrecking Colombo regularly with ground bombing, as its a clear hex - the only clear hex base on Ceylon in fact - this has been doing horrible things to his forces, no doubt the reason why he has split up. With a reported strength of only 12,000 men in Colombo - thats probably a couple of brigades and a baseforce - it does seem like we could be in there like a shot if we want. And then with a baseforce we could transfer significant air assets to Ceylon and maybe we won't need naval air support... hmm, going to think on this one I think. Seems feasible to me though with the IJ eye attracted to SOPAC/CENTPAC. Night bombing of Rangoon continues, no real change on the Burmese border. CHINA Heavy fighting just by Changsha, not sure if the Japanese intend to cross the river though? There are plenty of Chinese units fleeing to Changsha but plenty more solidly dug in on the far side of that river. Have to see what he does here. SOPAC He's been bargebusting off Milne Bay with single DDs - a single DD has more than enough firepower to send a whole TF of barges to the bottom. Meanwhile Beaufighters have been bargebusting in the Solomons, they are almost as deadly to barges. 10th Japanese Division was finally destroyed on Tassafaronga, as the screenshot shows - I've got troops preparing for Munda and Shortlands now, with Munda next on the list. Munda has had plenty of time to starve so I think the Japanese garrison must be quite withered by now and it's probably ripe for the picking. Allied heavy bombers have been splattering Shortlands/Torokina and to an extent Vella Lavella, which are currently the most active Japanese bases in the Solomons. It's all going my way in the air again lately. Milne Bay's garrison is on 94 AV and all the LCUs are in the white on supply. P-38s from Townsville are doing an OK job of keeping the Tojos thinned and USMC air transports are doing the rest. I guess the current stalemate is likely to continue but given Japanese naval superiority they are still in a very precarious position. The Jap airforce pastes the tiny airfield there every day, too, so the only thing I can do is use CVs to reinforce I think - an AA unit, a regiment, plenty of supply and some SeaBees would turn the tide probably. CENTPAC The Battle of Tarawa happened over the last week, and its detailed in the above posts. Bottom line, bloodless victory for the Allies though four BBs are going to be in the yard for a lesser or greater amount of time. A significant number of Japanese surface warships sunk. A coda - on March 3rd and 4th Japanese Netties and Emilies from I would guess Kwajalein hit reinforcing transports, 30 were shot down, one transport was bombed. The Catalinas at Ocean Island have spotted KB incoming with a reported 400 aircraft - at a guess, we're talking 5 Japanese CVs. Allied strength is 4 American and one British CV - I could 'go for it' and reasonably expect mutual destruction but with CV Essex now 3 months away it seems a waste, and will sentence Milne Bay to destruction. Accordingly the Allied fleets have moved back... ...aside from half a dozen xAPs and xAKs carrying Marine Defence Detachment guns and a small USAAF base force. They have partially unloaded but need more time. Tomorrow morning they will all be sunk by KB, guaranteed, but with the majority of their cargo ashore - thats a price I'm willing to take to ensure Tarawa's reinforcement.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/3/2010 12:11:24 AM) To my surprise it looks like he was intent on declining battle as well. His CVs have hung back out of range of Tarawa, and so my reinforcements are all ashore, aside from SeaBees which is a bummer. Fortunately I'm not totally devoid of engineers. I'm assuming a counterinvasion is quite likely given past performance. I think it'd be suicide against an atoll, but you never know. Therefore for now Tarawa is set to build fortifications and nothing else, when they get to level 3 they'll switch to an airfield and then we can put some Wildcats or Corsairs there.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/11/2010 11:18:50 AM) March 22nd - a bad day for the Allies, putting it mildly. The month has been quiet up till now in all sectors, but Milne Bay was the festering sore that dominated all the last turns. It's still stalemate on the ground but the Japanese are slowly getting the upper hand. So an Allied fleet tried to resupply it, and ran into the Japanese fleet. 8 Allied flight decks versus 9 Japanese flight decks,I was prepared for a bit of MAD, but what actually happened was a reverse Midway. The CVs reacted all over the place, thus conveniently dispersing the Allied firepower for the Japanese to destroy in detail. The Allied fleet, after reaction movement, consisted of three blobs - 3 CVEs, Saratoga/Enterprise, and Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown. Saratoga/Enterprise's blob was in the middle, but was covered by bad weather all day so was out of the battle, and it meant that Hornet/Victorious/Yorktown and the 3 CVEs basically met the entire Japanese carrier force on their own and entirely separated from one another. 9 flight decks met 8, and the tally so far is 4 to 1 in the Japanese favour. Yorktown/Hornet/Victorious were annihilated completely, and one CVE was sunk. The Allied return strike consisted basically of 3 flattops versus 9, so didn't do very well, for obvious reasons. I am stunned and a bit narked, as the Allied fleets have been acting like the Three Stooges all through this game, and this is just the latest caastrophe in a rather long line of them. Why, why, why, did the CVs split up all over the place to be wiped out almost without Japanese loss? They weren't ordered to. And then the bad luck of the weather removing the two biggest Allied CVs from the fray completely. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 23 A6M3a Zero x 62 B5M1 Mabel x 55 B5N1 Kate x 12 B5N2 Kate x 15 D3A1 Val x 66 D3A2 Val x 55 D4Y1 Judy x 13 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 11 F4F-4 Wildcat x 57 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 3 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed Allied Ships CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2 CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Conyngham DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Conway DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Caldwell DD Abbot DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb 11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 6 F4U-1 Corsair x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed Allied Ships BB Indiana CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36800 Raid is overhead 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin) Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 57 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 24 A6M3a Zero x 82 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 46 SBD-2 Dauntless x 22 SBD-3 Dauntless x 54 TBF-1 Avenger x 42 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged Japanese Ships CV Shokaku CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire CA Takao CV Soryu CA Mikuma CVL Zuiho CV Hiryu CV Kaga CA Tone Aircraft Attacking: 12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers 24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 38 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 A6M3a Zero x 48 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 13 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Junyo, heavy fires CV Hiryu Aircraft Attacking: 2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 17 Wellington Ic x 9 B-25C Mitchell x 26 P-39D Airacobra x 8 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 44 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 8 D3A2 Val x 7 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 13 B5M1 Mabel x 34 B5N1 Kate x 11 D3A1 Val x 2 D3A2 Val x 27 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CVE Sangamon DD Waller CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Grayson DD DeHaven Aircraft Attacking: 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 5 F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CLAA Juneau, on fire BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes Strategically it's bad of course but Sara/Enterprise are totally OK at least, and it's not too long before there are replacement CVs for those lost, as well as better fighters. But to be honest. It doesn't really offer much cheer, because if the Essexes and Independences behave in the same way as the Allied fleets have up till now, they'll also be staring, hypnotised, like a rabbit at an oncoming freight train, to be slaughtered by an equal Japanese force. ...It does mean that in SOPAC I'll be sticking religiously to the plan of advancing along the Solomons axis where the not so incompetent Allied LBA will dominate. Milne Bay was a very bad move, in hindsight, it basically meant a CV battle as soon as I decided on it,and given what had happened in prior naval battles I really should have avoided that at all costs. I've been Andy Macced. [:(][;)]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/12/2010 3:10:20 PM) Right, just done the next turn. Things are not as bad as first thought, though they are pretty bad. After the Battle of Milne Bay the Allies have lost Yorktown and Victorious, and BB Massachusetts will almost certainly be lost or if not will be out of the war probably. But Saratoga/Enterprise survived untouched (due to not participating in the battle, grr!) and Hornet is not as bad as first though. She's now 3 hexes from Tulagi and is safe enough, and is looking at, I would guess, 2-3 months yard time. Coincidentally this is when the Essexes will arrive. I ordered everything to get out of Dodge basically with the exception of a DD flotilla and a 3 CL/3 DD SAG, which were sent into the straits between Milne Bay and Gasmata, just in case he wanted to pursue. Pucker factor was a bit high but I decided to let the Munda invasion continue, as I felt it was close enough toe strong LBA to be well covered. He did not pursue, he was fairly cautious - KB hung back around Lae, while a couple of AKs and some cruisers moved cargo to Milne Bay. The Allied surface ships near Milne/Gasmata didnt find anything to engage, and four DDs were damaged to varying extents (most will probably make it) by air attacks. But the air attacks were a bit gutless, I suspect the Japanese fleet is more messed up than I thought? Allied bombers from all around were set to naval attack and there was a big big raid on his cruisers at Milne Bay, with one CA and a CL taking multiple 500lb bomb hits as well as a few cargo ships being wrecked. The fleeing CVEs, which were headed for Townsville, managed to score a few 1000lb hits with refugee Dauntlesses even. And CV Junyo was found at Gasmata and hit twice by 500lb bombs from B24s out of Cooktown. Japanese LBA hit Munda but there were no torpedoes, and so the BBs there absorbed a lot of bombs harmlessly for the team. Still, half a dozen transports were hit, some of them laden with Marines. What did not help was bad weather over Lunga, so for the second day running bad weather let some valuable units swing in the breeze, but as KB wasnt around and he seems to be short on torpedoes I got away with it here. Still unloading at Munda, the forecast is clear at Guadalcanal so I'm assuming it'll be OK. I also think the spectacle of 50 heavy bombers all bombing warships and scoring hits will keep him away from Munda. in other news, the Ceylon invasion is on, my units are en route. We know where KB is, so off we go. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 23, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Munda Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC-744 SC-634 LCI-21 AM Moa DMS Chandler Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Milne Bay at 101,134 Japanese Ships SS I-175 Allied Ships CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage CVE Chenango is sighted by SS I-175 SS I-175 launches 6 torpedoes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Hengchun at 84,68 Japanese Ships DD Kisaragi Allied Ships SS Hoe SS Hoe launches 6 torpedoes at DD Kisaragi Hoe diving deep .... DD Kisaragi attacking submerged sub .... DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kisaragi fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128 Weather in hex: Clear sky Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Light cloud Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17 Allied aircraft Liberator II x 3 B-17E Fortress x 7 B-24D Liberator x 14 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 17 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses Liberator II: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 36 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 10 on standby, 4 scrambling) 13 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 36000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 44 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Aogashima at 114,65 Japanese Ships TK Takane Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage TK Ceram Maru PB Tokotsu Maru Allied Ships SS Pompon SS Pompon launches 4 torpedoes at TK Takane Maru Pompon diving deep .... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Tokotsu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Munda Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC-744 SC-634 LST-450 LST-449 LST-18 LCI-63 LCI-24 LCI-21 AM Moa DMS Chandler SC-744 fired at enemy troops SC-634 fired at enemy troops LST-450 fired at enemy troops LST-449 fired at enemy troops LST-18 fired at enemy troops LCI-63 fired at enemy troops LCI-24 fired at enemy troops LCI-21 fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 13 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied Ships CA Quincy BB Idaho BB Indiana Aircraft Attacking: 13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 8 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 8 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 12000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 1 A6M3a Zero x 5 B5M1 Mabel x 3 D4Y1 Judy x 10 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Allied Ships LST-450, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Am. Packer, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage xAK Rona, Bomb hits 1, on fire xAK Time, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 46 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled) Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 3 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-450 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 37 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 1 B5M1 Mabel x 3 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Buchanan Aircraft Attacking: 2 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 35,810 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 A6M3a Zero x 6 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 32810 feet * 6 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 32810 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 35 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb 3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 35 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIb Lily x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 damaged Allied Ships DD LaVallette DD Buchanan DD Monssen DD Carmick Aircraft Attacking: 11 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb 4 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 8 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 3 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied Ships DD O'Bannon Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 1 Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 5 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships BB New Mexico Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet CAP engaged: 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 1000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft Hudson IIIa x 3 Hurricane IIc Trop x 11 Wellington Ic x 14 B-25C Mitchell x 35 P-39D Airacobra x 9 Allied aircraft losses Wellington Ic: 1 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 38 Aircraft Attacking: 11 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft Wellington Ic x 9 No Allied losses Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 22 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 16 B-25C Mitchell x 9 No Allied losses Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 18 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 40,600 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 4 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft Mitchell II x 5 B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 3 B-24D1 Liberator x 19 B-25C Mitchell x 12 B-25D1 Mitchell x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CA Myoko, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Arare CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1 CL Kitakami Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet * Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 5 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged Allied Ships DD Conyngham DD LaVallette Aircraft Attacking: 5 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 SBD-2 Dauntless x 3 TBF-1 Avenger x 6 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kiso, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CL Kitakami Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kiso -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 9 B5M1 Mabel x 10 D3A2 Val x 23 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged D3A2 Val: 3 damaged Allied Ships DD Carmick DD Monssen, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Cushing, Bomb hits 1 DD Conway DD Buchanan DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 6 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied APD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 6 Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 3, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged Allied Ships BB Indiana BB Idaho, Bomb hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 2000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 9 No Japanese losses Allied Ships DD Jenkins, Bomb hits 1 DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage DD Cushing Aircraft Attacking: 9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 1 G3M2 Nell x 11 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged Allied Ships BB Idaho, Bomb hits 1 BB Indiana Aircraft Attacking: 8 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 6 D3A2 Val x 10 Japanese aircraft losses D3A2 Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Conway DD Jenkins Aircraft Attacking: 2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 1 A6M3a Zero x 4 D4Y1 Judy x 10 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 2 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Allied Ships LCI-62, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk xAK Cycle, Bomb hits 1, on fire xAP Macdhui, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires AP John Penn, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 107 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Macdhui -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 105,132 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft B5M1 Mabel x 3 Allied aircraft Beaufighter VIc x 2 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed Allied Ships BB Massachusetts, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 4000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: No.30 Sqn RAAF with Beaufighter VIc (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 10 A6M3a Zero x 9 B5M1 Mabel x 7 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Cushing DD Conyngham, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 7 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda) Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-Ia Helen x 19 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 18 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged Allied Ships DD Carmick DD Cushing Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Hammann Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah bombing from 100 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5 Allied aircraft Mitchell II x 5 B-24D1 Liberator x 12 P-38G Lightning x 6 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kiso, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Sydney Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk CL Kitakami DD Arare Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Mitchell II bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 9 Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Japanese Ships CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kitakami Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 38740. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 4 P-38G Lightning x 12 Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CV Junyo Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 19 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 SBD-2 Dauntless x 3 TBF-1 Avenger x 6 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Wakaba CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Myoko, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Myoko -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Ominato at 121,54 Japanese Ships SC CHa-27 SC CHa-3 Allied Ships SS S-46 SS S-46 is located by SC CHa-27 SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-3 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,40 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 31340 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098 Defending force 67334 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842 Japanese ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 16 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 6th Ind.Mixed Brigade 37th Division 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Indpt Infantry Regiment 27th Electric Engineer Regiment 1st NCPC Infantry Brigade 8th Ind. Engineer Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Mortar Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 35th Chinese Corps 81st Chinese Corps 2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps 92nd Chinese Corps 98th Chinese Corps 59th Chinese Corps 96th Chinese Corps 80th Chinese Corps 36th Chinese Corps 12th Chinese Corps 18th Chinese Corps 93rd Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 39th New Chinese Division 38th Group Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,41 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1773 Defending force 53026 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1981 Japanese ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 35th Division 15th Division 13th Division 3rd Tank Regiment 27th Division 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade 41st Division 6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment Defending units: 95th Chinese Corps 88th Chinese Corps 24th Chinese Corps 1st New Chinese Corps 40th Chinese Corps 1st Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 38th Chinese Corps 27th Chinese Corps 3rd Prov Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Munda (111,134) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5723 troops, 152 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 210 Defending force 2598 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Allied adjusted assault: 112 Japanese adjusted defense: 19 Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Munda !!! Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 713 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 116 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 6th Marine Regiment 131st Combat Engineer Regiment 22nd Marine Rgt /1 1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion 33rd Medium Regiment Defending units: 30th Infantry Rgt /6 5th Naval Construction Battalion 52nd Const Co 6th JNAF AF Unit /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 82,23 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166 Defending force 339 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14 Assaulting units: 36th/A Division Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 34th Seperate Brigade 8th Chinese Base Force 6th Chinese Base Force 8th War Area Lusu War Area 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment 15th Chinese Base Force 56th AT Gun Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52nd Const Co Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!! Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Munda by attrition!!!

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/12/2010 3:11:04 PM) Going back in time a day, this is the big scrum. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 22, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Ominato at 121,54 Japanese Ships SC CHa-50 SC CHa-25 Allied Ships SS S-47 SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at SC CHa-50 S-47 diving deep .... SC CHa-50 fails to find sub and abandons search SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-25 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Hachijo-jima at 114,64 Japanese Ships SC CHa-15 SC CHa-45 SC CHa-47 Allied Ships SS Pompon SS Pompon is located by SC CHa-15 Pompon diving deep .... SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-47 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Lae at 99,126 Japanese Ships E Kiji Allied Ships SS Pollack, hits 4 SS Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at E Kiji Pollack bottoming out .... E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search... E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search... E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search... E Kiji attacking submerged sub .... E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128 Weather in hex: Extreme overcast Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Light rain Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14 Allied aircraft Liberator II x 5 B-17E Fortress x 6 B-24D Liberator x 13 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged Airbase hits 3 Runway hits 21 Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 3 scrambling) 11 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 36000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 44 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Deboyne Islands at 103,134 Japanese Ships SS I-17, hits 4, heavy damage Allied Ships BB Washington CA Chicago CL Honolulu CLAA Atlanta DD Woodworth DD Lardner SS I-17 is sighted by escort I-17 diving deep .... DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub .... DD Lardner fails to find sub and abandons search Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Tawi Tawi at 70,93 Japanese Ships xAK Kokai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage PC Take Allied Ships SS KXVIII SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Kokai Maru KXVIII diving deep .... PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search... PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search... PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search... PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search... PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 1 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 9 F4U-1 Corsair x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 8 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 26000 feet CAP engaged: 802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 32810 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 9 G3M3 Nell x 3 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 6 F4U-1 Corsair x 4 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships BB Idaho BB New Mexico Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36800 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 8 D3A2 Val x 8 Japanese aircraft losses D3A2 Val: 2 damaged Allied Ships xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires xAP Tjisaroea, Bomb hits 1, on fire Allied ground losses: 99 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Chaumont -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 1 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged Allied ground losses: 21 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb 3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed Allied Ships xAP Monterey xAP President Taylor Allied ground losses: 57 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 8 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 99th Chinese Corps, at 79,56 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIa Lily x 7 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 3 F4U-1 Corsair x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied Ships BB Indiana xAK Admiral Chase Aircraft Attacking: 1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 39 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12 Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4 Allied aircraft F4U-1 Corsair x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD O'Bannon BB Idaho BB New Mexico DD Fletcher Aircraft Attacking: 20 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar sweeping at 32810 feet * CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36800 , scrambling fighters to 1000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged Allied Ships xAK Coast Farmer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires xAP Poelau Laut DD Sims Allied ground losses: 78 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 34th Seperate Brigade, at 82,23 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIa Lily x 4 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 4 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 5th Naval Construction Battalion, at 111,134 (Munda) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 11 F4U-1 Corsair x 10 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking 30th Infantry Rgt /6 ... Also attacking 5th Naval Construction Battalion ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft Hudson IIIa x 3 Hurricane IIc Trop x 17 Wellington Ic x 8 B-25C Mitchell x 9 No Allied losses Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 30 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 36,600 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 3 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 37 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16 Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1 Ki-61-Ia Tony x 10 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 3 B-24D1 Liberator x 24 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged Ki-61-Ia Tony: 7 damaged Ki-61-Ia Tony: 2 destroyed on ground Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 7 Runway hits 57 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 21st Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 32000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes 70th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 32000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 87th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 32810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes Spc.Attck.Unit with Ki-45 KAIb Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 35200 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 16 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 37 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 4 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 12 B-24D1 Liberator x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 10 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 34 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters to 32000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 6 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 12 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 64 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 3 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet CAP engaged: 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 11 D3A1 Val x 11 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Woolgar, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires AP President Monroe, Bomb hits 1, on fire xAK Anglo Indian, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 317 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 30th Infantry Regiment, at 111,134 (Munda) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 6 Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged Japanese ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged Allied Ships BB Idaho BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 18 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 18 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Siangtan , at 81,52 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 41,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,810 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 54 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 1 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 10 scrambling) 9 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 23 A6M3a Zero x 62 B5M1 Mabel x 55 B5N1 Kate x 12 B5N2 Kate x 15 D3A1 Val x 66 D3A2 Val x 55 D4Y1 Judy x 13 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 11 F4F-4 Wildcat x 57 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed B5M1 Mabel: 5 destroyed, 23 damaged B5N1 Kate: 8 damaged B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 3 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed Allied Ships CV Hornet, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2 CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CLAA Juneau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Conyngham DD Strong, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 5, on fire DD Kalk, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Conway DD Aulick, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Caldwell DD Abbot DD Farragut, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 16 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb 11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 11 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Kalk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 6 F4U-1 Corsair x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed Allied Ships BB Indiana CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36800 Raid is overhead 49th FG/7th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 49th FG/9th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 76,54 (Kweilin) Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 57 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 24 A6M3a Zero x 82 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 46 SBD-2 Dauntless x 22 SBD-3 Dauntless x 54 TBF-1 Avenger x 42 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 21 destroyed, 24 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged Japanese Ships CV Shokaku CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire CA Takao CV Soryu CA Mikuma CVL Zuiho CV Hiryu CV Kaga CA Tone Aircraft Attacking: 12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers 24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 102,130 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 38 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 A6M3a Zero x 48 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 13 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Junyo, heavy fires CV Hiryu Aircraft Attacking: 2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32810 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers Kaga-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers Hiryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Shoho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 17 Wellington Ic x 9 B-25C Mitchell x 26 P-39D Airacobra x 8 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 44 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 8 D3A2 Val x 7 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4810 and 8810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 8810 and 12810. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 13 B5M1 Mabel x 34 B5N1 Kate x 11 D3A1 Val x 2 D3A2 Val x 27 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses B5M1 Mabel: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CVE Sangamon DD Waller CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Grayson DD DeHaven Aircraft Attacking: 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-60 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 5 F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CLAA Juneau, on fire BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes No.898 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-43, hits 8, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Saufley DD Grayson DD Waller SSX Ha-43 is sighted by escort DD Grayson fails to find sub and abandons search DD Waller fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Waller attacking submerged sub .... Large oil slick appears over area of attack! Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-40, hits 1 Allied Ships AK Cassiopeia xAK Michael Goulandris xAK Barossa xAK Munlock xAK General Fleisher AM Motive SSX Ha-40 is sighted by escort AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search... AM Motive attacking submerged sub .... AM Motive cannot establish contact with SSX Ha-40 AM Motive loses contact with SSX Ha-40 AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search... AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search... AM Motive fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Munda Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships BB New Mexico BB Idaho CA Quincy CL Richmond DD Van Ghent SC-744 SC-634 LCI-21 LCI-23 LCI-22 DD Dent LCI-24 Japanese ground losses: 238 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled BB New Mexico firing at 30th Infantry Regiment BB Idaho firing at 30th Infantry Regiment CA Quincy firing at 30th Infantry Regiment CL Richmond firing at 30th Infantry Regiment DD Van Ghent firing at 30th Infantry Regiment SC-744 fired at enemy troops 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Munda TF 145 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134 Allied ground losses: 578 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 93 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 58 (0 destroyed, 58 disabled) Vehicles lost 30 (0 destroyed, 30 disabled) 13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 6th Marine Rgt /11 13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 accidentally lost during unload of 22nd Marine Rgt /6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,40 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 31332 troops, 430 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1098 Defending force 67344 troops, 330 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2842 Japanese ground losses: 25 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 13th Indpt Infantry Regiment 6th Ind.Mixed Brigade 27th Electric Engineer Regiment 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 37th Division 1st NCPC Infantry Brigade 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 8th Ind. Engineer Regiment 4th Mortar Battalion 7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 35th Chinese Corps 18th Chinese Corps 80th Chinese Corps 92nd Chinese Corps 98th Chinese Corps 93rd Chinese Corps 36th Chinese Corps 59th Chinese Corps 2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps 81st Chinese Corps 12th Chinese Corps 96th Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 39th New Chinese Division 38th Group Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,41 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 1452 troops, 82 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1740 Defending force 52824 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1963 Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 35th Division 15th Division 27th Division 3rd Tank Regiment 13th Division 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade 41st Division 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion 1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment Defending units: 40th Chinese Corps 27th Chinese Corps 1st Chinese Corps 24th Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 95th Chinese Corps 1st New Chinese Corps 38th Chinese Corps 88th Chinese Corps 3rd Prov Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 82,23 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166 Defending force 344 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14 Assaulting units: 36th/A Division Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 34th Seperate Brigade 6th Chinese Base Force 8th War Area 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment 8th Chinese Base Force 15th Chinese Base Force Lusu War Area 56th AT Gun Regiment

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/26/2010 7:30:45 PM) Lapsed a bit due to laziness on my part and few turns over the Christmas period. 2nd April 1943 BURMA/INDIA The British invasion fleet is now rounding the southern tip of India. Despite the imminent invasion I've not changed the bombing patterns of Ceylon at all so as not to alert him. In any case the TF hasn't been spotted yet to the best of my knowledge so the invasion should hopefully be a bolt from the blue. Reinforcements are ready at Cochin, the second wave will include aviation support and engineers - a major Allied airpresence at Colombo is a prerequisite of the campaign as LBA will be needed to provide an umbrella over any transports. Aside from that it's been quiet, the Allied continue to bomb Ceylon and Burma with little opposition. Japanese carriers have been sighted recently near Lae as he keeps the twist on Milne Bay, so I'm not anticipating major naval intervention on the part of the Japanese. CHINA Stalemate on the ground where it matters but there is still fighting, this time in the centre, around Changsha and SW along the rail line from Changsha towards Vietnam. Heavy fighting but no changes in position. The Japanese continue to occupy the sparsely populated west without opposition, he's practically at the Soviet border now. The Himalayas and the map edge will prevent him from advancing any further though, so it's just VPs really. NORPAC/Subs Very quiet up here, the submarine patrols have altered to the open sea S of Japan as heavy ASW patrols around Formosa have cut sinkings. Not much result yet. SOPAC The busy place. There was a coda to the above battles, BB Massachusetts was very badly damaged (speed 2 knots) and was making for Lunga. I anticipated a raid to sink her and had a cruiser SAG escort - sure enough they ran into a Japanese cruiser force of equal strength (2 cruisers/4 DDs) and they were driven off. However reloads were far away for the Allies and 2 nights later the Japs came back while the Allied cruisers were headed for Ndeni where there is an AE - BB Massachusetts promptly ate half a dozen torpedoes being a sitting duck, and sank. However as her flotation damage was at the 60 major/90 total mark it is dubious she would have made it home anyway and even if she did, she'd have been dirtying up a shipyard for the rest of the war probably. The Japs didnt get it all their own way though as the CA in the SAG involved was hit by three penetrating 500lb bombs by Allied attack bombers after the BB was sunk. The reinforced Milne Bay has held off any ground invasions but the air war is completely one sided and they are completely cut off and there is nothing I can do about it - they are being bombed relentlessly from at least seven (!) Japanese airbases (Gasmata, Lae, Buna, Port Moresby, Rabaul, the two bases by Lae), and there is no hope whatsoever of the Allied airforce suppressing that many bases. However, Japanese attempts to resupply have led to significant (half a dozen I would say) losses from Allied attack bombers in the Solomons. Attack bombers are absolutely lethal against merchants, and he's been hit hard, but it takes a lot of bombs to outright sink a ship. The Allies have cruisers at Townsville and they were sortied on one occasion to attempt an intercept of Japanese ships at Milne but with Port Moresby in Japanese hands this is dangerous stuff - I lost a couple of DDs without anything to show for it. Allied efforts to advance are on the Solomon chain, in a couple of days Munda will be provided with engineers and that means Corsairs right next to Vella Lavella - a divisional sized USMC force has already been set aside to retake Vella Lavella. That op will be happening within a week. The air war over the Solomons has been contested but the Corsair has complete dominance over the Japanese - even Tojo sweeps often get massacred by Corsair CAP. As attack bombers and Corsairs inch up the Solomon chain it will get progressively harder and harder for him to control SOPAC. It's telling that so many of his Solomons bases are basically not supplied at all - in a months time hopefully Rabaul itself will be in that position! One odd thing is the lack of Japanese torpedo bombers in SOPAC. Netties have been attacking Allied ships around Massachusetts and later on going for fast transports and cruiser raids around Milne Bay, but were always using bombs. Weird. CENTPAC Tarawa has been repeatedly reinforced since the last update, there are half a dozen engineering units there now and development proceeds rapidly. I don't think CENTPAC is an area of high priority Japanese interest as long range LB-30 raids from Arorae over Kwajalein and other bases in the Marshalls have met with zero CAP and zero targets. A port raid on Kwajalein caused a bunch of ASs and AEs to flee the place with light damage, a bunch of US submarines were vectored onto them but couldn't find them in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean unfortunately, but the lack of opposition to small raids tells me that he has few assets in the area and little ability to reinforce. A large invasion force is headed for Makin Atoll, a short distance NE of Tarawa which is nicely developable. It is undefended, but the force includes plenty of engineers and such so the base can be made productive ASAP. FLEET The fleet is currently en route from Suva to Pearl. With the exception of CV Hornet, which was quite badly injured in the last fight and has just finished being patched by an AR at Ndeni, she is just leaving Ndeni for Pearl now. The fleet is quite significantly bashed up (lots of ships, including both active CVs, have 10+ sys damage) and needs yard time. In addition fuel is starting to run dangerously low in SOPAC after all the fleet ops there, and I think that situation will not be rectified (temporarily) for a good month. Even supply is running a bit low at Noumea. All this conspires to force a pause in the use of the fleet, though suits me as CV Essex arrives in just over 40 days now so we could use a pause anyway. As can be seen in the AAR though the Allies continue to act as aggressively as possible regardless, as I think there is plenty of scope for advance where LBA is present or where the Japanese fleet assuredly is not.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/28/2010 2:08:30 PM) Kinda suspicious how these Japanese ships showed up after 1 days warning... OPSEC being a bit leaky perhaps? [image]local://upfiles/10259/63E6230BAC634D3D947FECB1E97CB903.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/28/2010 5:14:23 PM) April 4th, Second Battle of Colombo. On the one hand, the Allies are ashore and took Colombo and there wasn't much in the way of IJN around to stop them. And yet the Allies once against demonstrated their utter hopelessness/helplessness at sea when pitted against the supersamurai. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 04, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Colombo 35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships PC Tydeman AMC Hector KV Commandant Duboc DD Gilmer Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled PC Tydeman fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Koggala at 29,53 Japanese Ships DD Suzukaze Allied Ships SS KXII, hits 2 SS KXII is sighted by escort KXII diving deep .... DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kochi at 105,62 Japanese Ships SC CHa-24, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage SC CHa-12 Allied Ships SS Harder SS Harder launches 6 torpedoes at SC CHa-24 SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 3,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Kongo, Shell hits 3 DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire Allied Ships CA Shropshire, Shell hits 9, heavy fires CL Birmingham, Shell hits 3 DD Bagley DD Arunta DD Warramunga DD Isaac Sweers Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 4,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards Roake, R.A. crosses the 'T' CA Shropshire engages BB Kongo at 3,000 yards CA Shropshire engages DD Suzukaze at 3,000 yards DD Shiratsuyu engages CA Shropshire at 3,000 yards DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Bagley at 3,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 2,000 yards BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 2,000 yards DD Shiratsuyu sunk by DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 2,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 4,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 4,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 4,000 yards DD Arunta engages DD Suzukaze at 4,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 4,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 7,000 yards BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 7,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 13,000 yards CL Birmingham engages DD Suzukaze at 13,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 13,000 yards Range increases to 14,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 14,000 yards CL Birmingham engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 13,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 13,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 12,000 yards DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards CA Shropshire engages BB Kongo at 10,000 yards DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 7,000 yards DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 7,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 9,000 yards CA Shropshire engages DD Suzukaze at 9,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 12,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 12,000 yards DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards Koyanagi, Tomiji orders Japanese TF to disengage Range increases to 14,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 14,000 yards DD Arunta engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 14,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Kumano, Shell hits 1 CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1 DD Amagiri Allied Ships CA Hawkins, Shell hits 5, heavy fires CA Frobisher, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 2 DD Gilmer xAK Delawarean xAK Oregonian xAK Texan xAK Trieste xAK West Cawthon xAK West Isleta xAK Kainalu xAP Empress ' Scotland xAP Empress ' Australia xAP Empress ' Asia xAP Moreton Bay xAP Devonshire xAP Lancashire xAK Alice Moller xAK Baron Cawdor xAK Bucegi xAK Changte xAK Chilka xAK Clan Forbes xAK Clan Lamont xAK Congella xAK Empire Raja xAK Filleigh xAK Gandara xAK Gogra xAK Howra xAK Itola xAK Itria xAK Demodocus xAK Jalabala xAK Jaladuta xAK Jalaratna xAP Kutsang xAK Matiana xAK Mulbera xAK Neleus xAK Nils Moller xAK Tai Sang xAK Tanda xAK Jacalope xAK Autolycus xAK Barala xAK City of Adelaide xAK City of Agra xAK Clan Macpherson xAK Elmdale xAK Empire Grenfell xAK Empire Rani, heavy damage xAK Fresno City II xAK Gamaria xAK Glenaffric xAK Hadleigh xAK Industria xAK Uffington Court, Shell hits 2, heavy fires Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching! Allied TF begins to get underway Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 8,000 yards Range closes to 22,000 yards... Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 16,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 10,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards CA Kumano engages CA Frobisher at 7,000 yards CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 7,000 yards CLAA Van Heemskerck engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards CA Frobisher engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 7,000 yards CA Frobisher engages DD Amagiri at 7,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards xAK Silvermaple collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 xAK Delawarean collides with xAK Lavington Court at 29 , 48 CA Kumano engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 4,000 yards DD Amagiri engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards CA Frobisher sunk by CA Kumano at 2,000 yards Range increases to 3,000 yards CA Hawkins collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 3,000 yards CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 3,000 yards CA Hawkins engages DD Amagiri at 3,000 yards CA Kumano engages xAK Uffington Court at 3,000 yards xAK Derrymore collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 xAK Queda collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 xAK Lulworth Hill collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards CA Hawkins engages DD Amagiri at 3,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards xAK Fingal collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 2,000 yards CL Jintsu engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 2,000 yards DD Gilmer engages DD Amagiri at 2,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards xAK West Isleta collides with xAK Lavington Court at 29 , 48 CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 4,000 yards CA Hawkins engages CL Jintsu at 4,000 yards DD Gilmer engages DD Amagiri at 4,000 yards xAK Annalock collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48 CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 4,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Cape Gloucester at 102,124 Japanese Ships E Kiji E Hato Allied Ships SS Scamp SS Scamp launches 6 torpedoes at E Kiji Scamp diving deep .... E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search... E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search... E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search... E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search... E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Taihoku at 90,62 Japanese Ships xAKL Shingetsu Maru xAK Kogyo Maru PB Konei Maru Allied Ships SS Shark SS Shark launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Shingetsu Maru Shark diving deep .... PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shaoyang , at 80,52 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 39,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 39,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 9 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Hurricane XIIb sweeping at 36000 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 2nd Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 17 Ki-48-IIa Lily x 19 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 54 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb 13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb 6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb Also attacking 68th Chinese Corps ... Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ... Also attacking 68th Chinese Corps ... Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shaoyang , at 80,52 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 41,740 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 8th War Area , at 82,23 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-48-IIa Lily x 5 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 2nd Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 21 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged Japanese Ships BB Haruna Aircraft Attacking: 19 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 34 SBD-3 Dauntless x 20 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Haruna, Bomb hits 5, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 2 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Hurricane XIIb sweeping at 36000 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Liberator II x 8 B-17E Fortress x 9 Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses No Allied losses Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 44 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 5 B-24D1 Liberator x 23 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17F Fortress: 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 6 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 90 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 14 P-40K Warhawk x 32 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 17 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 5 B-24D1 Liberator x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 37 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 100 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 19 Aircraft Attacking: 7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 12 B-25D1 Mitchell x 4 Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses No Allied losses Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 26 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 5 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 13 B-24D1 Liberator x 5 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 damaged Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 23 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 33rd Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 36000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 13 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 13 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 10 P-39D Airacobra x 6 TBF-1 Avenger x 38 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged Japanese Ships BB Haruna Aircraft Attacking: 17 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 21 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 10 P-40K Warhawk x 13 SBD-3 Dauntless x 20 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Haruna, Bomb hits 5, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Haruna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 38,600 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 20 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 8 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on 23rd Division, at 29,48 (Colombo) Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft Vengeance I x 32 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 36 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb 1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb 4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 4 P-40K Warhawk x 8 Japanese aircraft losses J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 16 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Maloelap , at 136,117 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 3 No Allied losses Airbase hits 3 Runway hits 5 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet * Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12667 troops, 101 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 413 Defending force 2799 troops, 12 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 73 Japanese adjusted assault: 170 Allied adjusted defense: 129 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 735 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 46 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 204 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 31 (24 destroyed, 7 disabled) Assaulting units: 49th Infantry Regiment 87th Naval Guard Unit Guards Mixed Brigade Kure 3rd SNLF 19th Division Yokosuka 3rd SNLF Defending units: 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Kanga Force Bn /1 140th USA Base Force II Aus Corps Engr Bn /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,40 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 31360 troops, 429 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1101 Defending force 53064 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2253 Japanese ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 15 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 27th Electric Engineer Regiment 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 37th Division 13th Indpt Infantry Regiment 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 6th Ind.Mixed Brigade 1st NCPC Infantry Brigade 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion 8th Ind. Engineer Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps 80th Chinese Corps 35th Chinese Corps 59th Chinese Corps 36th Chinese Corps 96th Chinese Corps 81st Chinese Corps 98th Chinese Corps 18th Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 39th New Chinese Division 38th Group Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Colombo (29,48) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 10512 troops, 67 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 383 Defending force 25549 troops, 275 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1115 Japanese ground losses: 34 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 23rd Division 14th Tank Regiment 57th Field AA Battalion Defending units: 267th Armoured Brigade 25th Indian Division 14th Canadian Brigade 32nd Infantry Division 88th Chinese Division IV Indian Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Colombo (29,48) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 23477 troops, 275 guns, 504 vehicles, Assault Value = 1115 Defending force 11061 troops, 71 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 381 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Allied adjusted assault: 2355 Japanese adjusted defense: 80 Allied assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 2) Allied forces CAPTURE Colombo !!! Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Combat modifiers Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 4911 casualties reported Squads: 95 destroyed, 114 disabled Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 161 disabled Engineers: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 42 (42 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 112 (95 destroyed, 17 disabled) Units retreated 3 Allied ground losses: 566 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 57 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Vehicles lost 45 (1 destroyed, 44 disabled) Assaulting units: 267th Armoured Brigade 14th Canadian Brigade 25th Indian Division 32nd Infantry Division 88th Chinese Division IV Indian Corps Defending units: 23rd Division 14th Tank Regiment 57th Field AA Battalion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 592 troops, 6 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 58 Defending force 12154 troops, 106 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 374 Japanese ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Kanga Force Bn /1 140th USA Base Force II Aus Corps Engr Bn /1 Defending units: 87th Naval Guard Unit Guards Mixed Brigade 19th Division Kure 3rd SNLF 49th Infantry Regiment Yokosuka 3rd SNLF -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 82,23 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166 Defending force 185 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9 Assaulting units: 36th/A Division Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 34th Seperate Brigade 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment 8th Chinese Base Force 15th Chinese Base Force 8th War Area Lusu War Area 6th Chinese Base Force 56th AT Gun Regiment

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/28/2010 11:28:11 PM) 5th April 1943 BURMA/INDIA D-Day at Ceylon was described in the report above. Bottom line - 1 CA sunk and 1 heavily damaged, both old Hawkins class cruisers, one Japanese DD sunk and BB Kongo peppered with 1000lbers. 1000 AV of troops ashore, Colombo has been retaken. Once again the fleet showed that it is easily the worst arm of the Allied military - the escorting RN crossed the 'T' but the vast majority of torpedoes remained unfired. Half the RN heavy cruiser force was sunk, the other half is all looking at six months yard time, assuming they even make it to the yard given the submarines lurking in the area. RN surface ship presence is down to a CL and some DDs now with CA Sussex arriving in a couple of weeks. USMC torpedo bombers with torpedo skill 70 didnt help, 70 sorties at BB Kongo didnt score any hits. Ditto the haplessness of the submarines around Ceylon who didnt manage to attack. *sigh* Typically dismal performance by the navy aside, I'm still a bit suspicious of how the IJN managed to be there at all. 50 transport aircraft have been based at Cochin and are starting to ship over aviation support to Colombo. Allied air superiority over Ceylon is absolutely crushing, a Japanese tank regiment that retreated over open ground was eliminated completely by massed dive bombers. However the range isnt enough to guarantee naval superiority in the waters by Ceylon until Colombo has been sorted out, so we're still at a dicey stage of the new campaign. On the plus side the Allied ground forces behaved magnificently, the Japanese apparently are still adequately supplied on Ceylon but they proved no match for the Chinese/Indian/American forces so far. In Burma Tojo sweeps over Ledo have been surprisingly indecisive, massed P40K CAP seems to work just fine. Interestingly I tried Castor Troy's approach of setting them to 6k altitude - not seen any constant dives yet as a result. Bug? Coincidence? Who knows. CHINA Stalemate continues, there are some Japanese units trying to ooze through the Chinese lines in the centre, but their numbers are too small to scare me just yet, and they dont cover enough space to risk cutting off major Chinese units. SOPAC Heavy aerial fighting over the Solomons, attack bombers are proving deadly when used against ground targets as well as shipping. Torokina and Shortlands are out of action, looks like he's even partially evacuated Rabaul in the face of 2 P38G squadrons and the occasionally raid by 30-40 heavy bombers. Munda has been resupplied at the cost of a few lightly bombed AKs (the Lilies responsible met with their destruction a day later at Torokina), perhaps one or two will sink. Two P40K and one Beaufort squadron is now based well forward at Munda. Next hop is Vella Lavella just one hex away, the TFs are loading at Lunga. I think this'll be a multiple wave invasion due to lack of adequate shipping, a marine regiment is going in first but will be inadequate to capture the place I think. A divisional size force is ready, that will be adequate but its going to take several trips. Due to the good state in the air of whats going on this doesnt scare me unduly. Milne Bay will fall in days, I've begun the final evacuation of all units, I think that it's been stripped to the point that one more deliberate attack from the Japanese will cause the base to fall. The Japanese were attritioned a bit during the campaign, several LCUs and a lot of ships wrecked, but it's still an Allied failure. 'A base too far'. CENTPAC Landed at Makin Atoll, I thought it was empty but to my surprise it was not! Fortunately the USMC tanks were fully prepped for Makin and rolled over the defenders despite having no support (bombing, bombardment) whatsoever. Lucky on my part. Long range recon of Kwajalein and Maloelap - the only Japanese bases of any size in the area - reveal surprisingly light defences. The occasional small Allied raid has netted very little. Compared to other theatres CENTPAC is practically an open door, which is the only reason I'm really pushing here at all. Pondering an invasion of Wake Island in a sort of pincer, that'll have to wait for the fleet to be rebuilt though. FLEET The fleet is actually my greatest source of worry atm. The Allies are down to 3 CVs, one of which is badly damaged, half a dozen BBs of which just two are available for active duty (PoW and California). About 15 cruisers spread across the whole map. An extreme shortage of destroyers. Even with the limited capital ships available there isn't really an adequate destroyer screen for them. While Allied cruisers can certainly wreck Japanese transports when it comes to warship on warship action the Allies almost invariably are thrashed - the Ceylon encounter above counts as the latest thrashing, IMHO, with another couple of cruisers added to the Japanese tally in exchange for no kills at all. The IJN meanwhile is largely intact. While the tales of sorrow at sea have not really hindered the Allied advance (aside from Milne Bay) due to air superiority, at some point the Allied navy is going to have to face the IJN and at least manage to give as good as it gets against the supersamurai. I'm really hoping that the huge Allied reinforcements in July/August can turn the tide at sea. The Allied performance has been so diabolical though that I'm suspicious that even the Essexes and Hellcats, which are now coming off the production lines, won't be able to turn the constant slaughter and failure around. [:(]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/30/2010 1:25:12 AM) 9th of April I decided against caution in the end, figured he'd have a long way to sail to rearm his warships and so full speeded another convoy to Colombo. So far they havn't been caught. So far. Here's the situation. Currently ashore we have 14th Canadian Bde 25th Indian Div 32nd American Infantry Division 88th Chinese Division (only Bde size) IV Indian Corps A tank regiment which disbands in 4 days (oops!) has been omitted. ~800 AV Just reinforced by sea with 12th Indian Heavy AA Rgt 171 RAF Wing and by air via Cochin 224 RAF HQ Priority is as you can see getting up air cover over Colombo to secure the sea route to the mainland as much as we can in the absence of a strong naval presence, and protecting Colombo from Nells. ~20 Nells have been making long distance raids from I would assume Port Blair, but they'll carve up vulnerable AKs just fine if I let them. ATM Lightings at Trivandrum are LRCAPPING which is keeping the Japs confined to night raids but its heavy on the P38 crews. The worry is the Jap navy, the RN is yet again out for a while, but with so many antiship bombers (48 Avengers, 24 Dauntlesses, 24 Vengeances, 24 torpedo armed Beauforts) in the area and total air supremacy I'm hoping LBA will be adequate. Given there is an estimated 2000 AV of Japanese troops on Ceylon, we will need reinforcement so control of the sealances is vital in the short term. In the long term there are such huge numbers of transport aircraft available in India if need be I think supply can be shipped largely by air. The problem is the heavy equipment and artillery in the LCUs which can only be supported by ship - that was actually one of the reasons I wasted no time in getting an AA unit over there, because AA is a priority and the sea is the only way to get it there. [image]local://upfiles/10259/13DECE76EE24478E95214A9A610452CC.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/30/2010 1:38:19 AM) I keep promising a map of China but never get around to it - reason being, nothing ever changes there so in terms of my time spent I just zip through China normally. Japanese gains towards Tibet have been prodigious, just two Chinese bases are still in Allied hands there! But the Himalayas mean no invasions of the Indian backdoor seem likely and the Soviet border is a dead end. The Chinese are hunkered down, out of supply, but even out of supply they can do an OK job defending in place. Japanese efforts lately have focused upon Kweilin in the south but the rough terrain down there have seriously hampered his efforts and he's made no progress at all. In recent turns he's been attempting to punch a hole in the otherwise static lines NE of Chungking out in the wilds, that line has remain fixed at that point, WW1 style, for months and months now and I think the latest flareup will die down. The terrain is a killer in China for the Japanese. [image]local://upfiles/10259/42A75D58774647B184DE730BD41865E3.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/30/2010 1:48:03 AM) Milne Bay fell today, another turning point in the game which prompted me to break out the maps and take a snapshot of the situation. I'm actually kinda relieved, the boil has been lanced. It was certainly eating up Allied transport aircraft, dozens of which have been shot down over Milne Bay due to the game apparently not allowing fighter sweeps over friendly bases. [8|] Thus allowing him to put up a constant Tojo LRCAP over Milne Bay and there was zip I could do about it, though the P38s were raring to go. Efforts are focused on the Solomons here and so far are going much much better than the Papua New Guinea approach! The ultimate objective is to re-open the route to the SRA by clearing the Japs out of SOPAC and away from Papua New Guinea, and it's probably the main American effort in the war. It's a long hard slog, we've been at it for six months in SOPAC so far, so perhaps a strategic error? [image]local://upfiles/10259/0C08AD90C23C4805B93CED7D5BE535A1.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/30/2010 2:04:03 AM) And finally CENTPAC. The volume of forces here is negligible compared to elsewhere and this whole area of activity is basically sheer opportunism on my part, plus a desire to advance on a broad front strategically. But given the limited Japanese defence it's actually so far where the most bloodless advances have been made in 1943. I'm kinda dreading the day that Japanese naval assets are committed in force in this region, but his window for doing that is fast running out. CV Essex in just over 1 month, and the Hellcats are filling up the pools right now. [image]local://upfiles/10259/BCAEFA13140D4FE8B906CEB7C85E03B8.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (12/30/2010 10:27:54 PM) April 10th is another flareup as the first Marine regiment destined for Vella Lavella arrives... Lost about 40 AV over the beach, this invasion is going to be hard precisely because it is piecemeal. But there are 2 more divisions at Noumea already 100% prepped for Shortlands, rotating the USMC units shouldn't set me back much. Pre-Invasion action off Vella Lavella 36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships SC PC-582 LCI-22 LST-18 Allied ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled SC PC-582 fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Vella Lavella TF 62 troops unloading over beach at Vella Lavella, 110,133 Allied ground losses: 241 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 45 (0 destroyed, 45 disabled) Vehicles lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled) 13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 7th Marine Rgt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 47 minutes Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 13 P-40K Warhawk x 17 F4U-1 Corsair x 9 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Akigumo, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb (Panggoe is 1 hex from Vella Lavella. I suspect he saw the incoming ships and misjudged where the destination was, so his raiders were caught. In the past I've always, always bypassed well defended targets in SOPAC/CENTPAC. Vella Lavella will be the first assault on a significantly well defended target since the Guadalcanal landings). -------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 3 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 21 F4U-1 Corsair x 2 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed Allied Ships LST-447, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires CAP engaged: 347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 14 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-447 (CAP barely engaged here [8|]) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 34 Ki-48-IIb Lily x 20 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 18 F4U-1 Corsair x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 11 destroyed Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied Ships CA Quincy, Bomb hits 5 CL Nashville, Bomb hits 1 CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 2, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 17 x Ki-48-IIb Lily bombing from 6000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes (One heavy cruiser left on about 30 sys, lucky the Lilies are armed with dinky bombs) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 12 B-25C Mitchell x 13 P-38G Lightning x 7 P-40K Warhawk x 7 F4F-4 Wildcat x 17 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 86 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb (going for supply really) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 5 P-40K Warhawk x 3 F4U-1 Corsair x 1 Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged Japanese Ships LB-157 Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 14 Aircraft Attacking: 5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb (attack bombers are few in number but 5 bombers doing 14 hits is pretty good!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 13 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6 Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 20 F4U-1 Corsair x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed CAP engaged: 347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 14 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead 347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead (this raid got wiped out) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 47 minutes Allied aircraft P-40K Warhawk x 9 SBD-3 Dauntless x 17 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Akigumo Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 27 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 4 P-40K Warhawk x 17 Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships DD Hokaze, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo Hokaze dead in the water ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufighter Ic x 16 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Yugumo, Shell hits 11 Aircraft Attacking: 16 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 100 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/2/2011 7:28:49 PM) 16th April 1943 BURMA/INDIA On Ceylon our tank regiment has advanced one hex from Colombo due east. The Allied plan is to attempt to cut the island is half. One convoy worth of reinforcements dropped off another Canadian Bde and the heavy equipment of the divisions already landed, we're going to need another 3 or so convoy runs before everything is over that needs to be. Massive Allied bombing of Ceylon has annihilated an SNLF unit and done heavy damage to Trincomalee port. In Burma there are air skirmishes over Ledo and Myritkina, the Allies are winning though (P40Ks and Hurris versus Tojos but winning anyway). CHINA Stalemate continues. SOPAC We're effectively fighting the Battle of Kolumbangara right now. Vella Lavella has seen heavy fighting, the Japs attacked me and then I attacked the Japs, both attacks failed. The Japs suffered more than the Allies. KB moved near the Solomons but I had warning and all the shipping had pulled back. Heavy bombers landed a single 500lb hit on a CVE but 10 heavies were shot down by KB CAP, not really a good use of four engine bombers. There has been heavy aerial fighting over Vella Lavella and Munda - sometimes the Japs win, sometimes I win - as Tojos from Rabaul meet P40Ks from Munda and Corsairs from Russell Island. Corsairs seem invincible in the air but P40Ks less so. RAAF Beauforts torpedoed and sank an AKL and a PB near Buna, Allied heavy bombers have kept Shortlands and Torokina out of action, and Japanese single DDs raid Munda incessantly, sinking a lot of PT boats but doing no other damage. The Marines on Munda have been reinforced by half an army regiment, the next half will be going over in another few days, and theres another regiment after that which I think should be adequate to take the place. CENTPAC Jap activity seems to be increasing near Kwajalein, Tarawa is now an airfield 3, Makin has a lot of engineers but is still undeveloped. USN air units are coming onto the scene, two Ventura and one B24 squadron just left San Francisco, another B24 squadron is ready at Pearl Harbor to fly to Tarawa. These naval bombers are all trained in low level attack, unlike the USAAF there have been Kingfisher squadrons training to sink ships since day 1 of the war practically and as the USN air arm has not seen much action the pool of trained bomber pilots is quite healthy. FLEET CA Shropshire arrived at Aden after the fighting at Colombo, 24 days to fix sys/flotation but she's lost a turret as well, 250 days to fix that. I might have her fight on minus a turret, we'll see. CA Sussex arrived in theatre today so the RN will at least have a single CA soon. BB PoW and CL Danae have been released from Pacific duties finally and are en route to India, an American CL and a couple of DDs is going to to help the massacred RN out. The US fleet is mostly at Pearl now being refitted and minor damage being fixed, aside from CVEs Sangamon and Suwannee who are still in SOPAC. Sangamon and Enterprise now have Hellcats embarked, a huge number of these babies are coming off the production line so hopefully in a month or two the entire fleet air arm will be packing Hellcats. Still not planning on any fleet actions but things are looking healthier there already.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/5/2011 10:07:44 PM) 22nd April 1943 BURMA/INDIA Landed another two divisions plus support at Colombo without a hitch. Total AV on Ceylon is now about 2000 ish. Time to start moving out. He checked my advance east of Ceylon but this has tied up 800 AV of Japs. Now 1000 AV of Brits and Canadians is driving southwest from Colombo with Koggala as their objective. Koggala is the port most suitable for him to evacuate from, it's capture would be very bad news for the Japanese. There is a single Japanese unit blocking the path. If its not a division he's in deep trouble, even if it is a division he might be though the terrain is forested. Maybe massed airpower - and I do mean massed - will manage to break him with 2:1 AV even in a rough hex, but we shall see. Heavy bombing of Ceylon throughout, the Burmese border is very quiet in comparison even though I moved the heavy bombers back there. SOPAC Landed the third regiment at Vella Lavella, the time has come to attack. All three are quite beat up, and average 100 AV apiece, still, with just 3000 Japs reported at Vella Lavella it should be an adequate force, especially with 50 plus heavy bombers in support. We shall soon see. However things are going a bit south in the air war in SOPAC, I must admit. Originally with Tojos dying like flies I was confident but they ... just... keep... coming. It's like a human wave in the air. And the crap Allied service ratings mean that sustained combat is not the Allied specialty, as a/c get damaged and take a week plus to fix with a daily aerial horde things get dicey. I have a Corsair squadron with a mindboggling kill ratio (6 or 7 to 1, and that includes a time when they were flying Wildcats), but right now out of 21 aircraft 18 are damaged or in maintenance for a week plus, and while they've raped Tojos aplenty it seems to make no difference, every day 50+ come on over. The P40K isnt in a much better position, their service rating is still inferior to the Japanese sleek, maintainable by clueless types balsa wood planes. He also saved up a big strike when the third regiment landed. Nigh on 100 bombers and 150 or so fighters in total raided, from Shortlands, Rabaul and Choiseul Bay. So happened that the heavies hit Choiseul Bay the same day and wrecked the place. The Allied CAP was pretty heavy, about 30-40 planes,but the constant attacks all through the day wore them down. End result, 6 AKs/LSTs sunk, 30 Allied a/c shot down (mostly Dauntlesses and Beaufighters that attacked DD raiders near Shortlands, not fighters) and 68 Japanese aircraft destroyed, including 24 Tojos, some on the ground, most in the air. This isnt actually all that abnormal lately. A 'normal' day would be about 15-20 Allied a/c being lost across the entire theatre in exchange for 30-40, the vast majority of Jap losses being Tojos. I'm starting to get a bit worried, as the SOPAC fighters are clearly getting beat up over time, and the 800 Tojos I've shot down since they appeared has made no difference (its almost 200 a month and there is nevertheless a flood of them!). Looks like there may be a patch in 1943 where air superiority goes back to more contested than before, or yielded to him even, until the P47 with service rating 1 and the improved Corsair with servcie rating 2 (thus making it actually useful) arrive in the second half of the year. CENTPAC KB was sighted a couple of days ago headed East from Kwajalein. My paranoia was thus triggered. I've emptied Pearl Harbor, the USN is off to San Francisco to wait for the Essexes. Patrol aircraft have been beefed up around Johnston Island, Baker Island, Midway Island, Palmyra. Convoys to the Central Pacific have been routed in a circuitous path so they are well behind Allied held bases at all times. The Pearl Harbor airfarce (a hefty 7 fighter squadrons but largely obsolescent a/c now, P40Bs and the like, though very well trained after all this time) is set to high alert. Probably nothing but just in case... Tarawa and Makin now are jammed with SeaBees, half a dozen each. Building is rapid. Aviation support is en route. Tarawa has two Wildcat squadrons, Makin has one Wildcat squadron and 16 attack bombers, the USN will provide heavy bombers trained in low level naval attack and Venturas in significant numbers, these will be sent to Tarawa. It won't be too long before we can start exerting LBA power on the Japanese held Marshalls.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/5/2011 10:11:50 PM) This pic was taken a few days ago. The 30,000 Japs moved to the Allied position east of Colombo, there arent enough of them to force them out (800 AV versus 600 AV) given the lack of air support and the rough terrain. I will have to reinforce them though, a Chinese unit will probably end up going there. The bombers are mostly focused on them right now. The two British divisions mentioned have successfully landed and are headed SW with some Canucks as well, theres perhaps a brigade or an understrength division in their path. Hopefully they can drive along the railway line all the way to Koggala. [image]local://upfiles/10259/4252B02218404867AB0422CDE47CCD22.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/8/2011 6:24:31 PM) 23rd April sees Vella Lavella fall to the Allied forces, a Japanese regiment was wiped out by 3 Allied regiments. Also saw a personal best, 52 heavy bombers raided Vella Lavella on the day it fell, I think thats the most number of heavies in a single raid so far. Also saw B25Ds attack shipping at Kwajalein from Makin, another milestone, sinking one PB.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/14/2011 11:57:48 PM) Been a bit slow lately, we've been busy with other things. 26th April sees two Indian divisions and a couple of Canuck brigades meet what turns out to be the 33rd IJA Division while moving from Colombo to Koggala. With massive air support the Japanese are sent packing despite the rough terrain with heavy casualties. As 33rd Division seemed understrength as it is, they are pretty torn up now. "Our bombers shall blacken the sky..." "Then we shall fight in the shade." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft Blenheim VD x 15 Hudson IIIa x 11 Hurricane IIc Trop x 12 Wellington Ic x 17 Beaufort VIII x 3 A-29 Hudson x 12 B-24D Liberator x 9 B-25C Mitchell x 32 P-40K Warhawk x 13 Allied aircraft losses Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged Wellington Ic: 2 damaged Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged Japanese ground losses: 114 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Blenheim VD bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 8 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 11 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 12 x A-29 Hudson bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb 11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 9 B-25C Mitchell x 18 B-26 Marauder x 6 SBD-3 Dauntless x 20 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 9 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft Vengeance I x 12 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 5 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' * Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 28,49 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 11741 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 383 Defending force 23948 troops, 327 guns, 370 vehicles, Assault Value = 910 Japanese adjusted assault: 67 Allied adjusted defense: 2227 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 33 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 1762 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 80 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 97 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Allied ground losses: 95 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 33rd Division Defending units: 18th Canadian Brigade 14th Canadian Brigade 19th Indian Division 25th Indian Division -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 28,49 Allied Shock attack Attacking force 23872 troops, 327 guns, 370 vehicles, Assault Value = 903 Defending force 10183 troops, 120 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 289 Allied adjusted assault: 1501 Japanese adjusted defense: 337 Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 3013 casualties reported Squads: 79 destroyed, 30 disabled Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 29 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled) Vehicles lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled) Units retreated 1 Allied ground losses: 182 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 19th Indian Division 14th Canadian Brigade 18th Canadian Brigade 25th Indian Division Defending units: 33rd Division

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/15/2011 12:01:23 AM) Here's the current situation in Ceylon, for what it's worth... [image]local://upfiles/10259/6684F7300ACC4C4C94712834AACBE23B.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/22/2011 1:40:57 PM) 6th May 1942 BURMA/INDIA/CEYLON Koggala fell today, 33rd Japanese Division who we met earlier plus some tanks were decimated by 2 Indian divisions and 2 Canadian brigades along with all the air support in the world, those fleeing would be lucky to be in brigade strength. One Bde is staying behind as a garrison, the others are chasing them into the interior. Meanwhile a British division, Chinese division and artillery are headed NE from Ceylon towards Dambulla in a pincer. Looks like most of the Japanese forces are now holed up in that rough hex more or less in the centre of Ceylon, so I'm going to try and take all the bases first, which means no evac will be possible and this will be a battle of annihilation. In Burma the Allies are alternating between night bombing Rangoon for the odd airframe and bombing his forward airbases. He's been mostly quiet, though on the 5th 30 Tojos swept Ledo and ran into Hurricanes and P40Ks, the kill ratio was about 1:1. All the transport a/c are back in Ledo now btw, and shipping supply to Chengtu. I've also moved pretty much all the AA gun reinforcements here, so there are four AA units - hopefully this'll be a ****ly target. CHINA Stalemate continues pretty much. SOPAC The main story is the air war. The number of Liberators based at Lunga/Tulagi has been creeping up, and we're getting into the 50 bomber raid whenever I want sort of territory now. He's been hatching schemes of his own though - one day I raided and ran into an 80 Tojo CAP, made worse by the bomber strikes coming in uncoordinated. 10 B24s lost in one day, and the rest shot up real bad, that kept the heavies off his back for a while. But the Allied solution to this sort of thing is moar bombers!. So I scraped up three more heavy bomber squadrons (mostly from Australia, the ones that were at Cooktown) and that puts the Allied force there at about 80 bombers now. When they were mostly ready the heavy hand hit back - I lost six, but he lost about 50 a/c of all types. Right now they are in the fixing stage again, but I think this is going to keep Rabaul down. Attack bombers have been trashing Shortlands, Torokina and Choiseul Bay quite effectively meanwhile. Corsairs are unbelievably deadly, when they actually fly, so he's been wary of hitting back - not many Japanese strikes. He's been trying night naval bombing which has mostly been aimed at PT boats raiding Shortlands but no hits, seems pointless to me. While this air war has been raging overhead there has been a naval war too. A Japanese convoy headed for Torokina was bombed lightly by attack bombers, each AK taking one 500lb hit for the loss of a couple of B25s. I then sent out the PTs, who managed to engage them at Torokina itself, sinking a couple of AKs and blowing a PB apart with 50 cal fire. The convoy apparently retreated without landing any supply. A few days later it was my turn. I've got a USN baseforce, engineers and supply headed for Vella Lavella, they were escorted by a pretty big SAG based around two old BBs, Idaho and California. They were hit in the night by two single DD raiders. The first DD took 14 14" shells ([X(]) and was sank. The other one managed to torpedo California and escape without even being fired upon. ([8|]) Damage was light fortunately but BBs being what they are it'll probably be a couple of months in the yard. The supply and engineers were, however, landed. Won't be too long now before we have Corsairs based here making life miserable over Rabaul itself, I think that is surely the beginning of the end for Rabaul when that happens. CENTPAC US power is slowly increasing but not yet to the point where offensives can be considered. The Japanese base at Maloelap is beign suppressed by attack bombers from Makin but the real force is at Kwajalein, just out of range. Tarawa is an airbase 4, 26% towards an airbase 5 - when that happens we can reach out and touch Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, but not before, really. The high point since the last update was a raid on Maleolap by attack bombers that sank half a dozen midget subs in harbor. THE FLEET Paranoia was unfounded, no attacks on Pearl, but better safe than sorry. The fleet is now all at Seattle and San Francisco, being fixed, resupplied and the rest. Hornet is the capital ship in the worst state, she needs a month and a half to be back in full fighting trim. Which suits me, by that time the first Essexes and Independences will be in play. SUB WAR Been quite intense lately, the Allies have been attacking a lot. I'm looking at last months stats out of curiosity - this last month we lost 2 submarines, Albacore and Shark, both near the Home Islands. In exchange 20 Japanese ships are reported sunk in the last month by sub launched torpedo - 13 of them sunk by the Mark 14. One convoy was particularly noticeable between Formosa and Japan, it was attacked again and again over several days by multiple subs and got mauled, I would guess five or six ships sunk from that one convoy alone. I hardly ever see Japanese subs, not sure what they are doing. There were three around Ceylon but since the last update two of them were heavily depth charged (one I'm pretty sure is deffo sunk) and another one was torpedoed by a Dutch sub just off Koggala. 26 non-midget Japanese submarines have been sunk in the whole war to date - not sure how many he gets but that doesn't seem like all that many to me, he must have plenty more hiding somewhere.

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/25/2011 8:41:11 PM) 9th May sees major brutality as 80+ heavy bombers hit Rabaul in a focused strike, really dropping a nuke on the place. Somehow Rabaul is still in action but this sort of punishment can't end well. KB raided around Makin too, and sank half a dozen merchants, a Canadian CLAA which had a top speed of 22 knots and so was limited anyway, and DD Meade. A bloody day. [image]local://upfiles/10259/32272CFAF77F425A89DE636A42CE48FE.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/25/2011 11:16:14 PM) Things are going from bad to worse for the Japanese at Ceylon - looks like they are outnumbered 3 to 1 now, after a divisions worth of strength was wiped out in the battles for Koggala. I see he's ordered a retreat but I think it's too late for that. He probably underestimated the strength of the landing force. From my point of view it looks like it was a perfect commitment in the end, just enough to really steamroller him quickly but not a huge overcommitment. Actually there are more units on the Indian mainland which were earmarked for this which I have refrained from shipping over. [image]local://upfiles/10259/E88F7A681DB44241A140CB5AAEF9CF81.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (1/25/2011 11:20:26 PM) And this is why I consider the Corsair to be semi useless... ...they just never fly. Service rating is absolutely crucial, and for a short range fighter which will be in constant combat when moved up to the enemy - 3 is just not good enough. [image]local://upfiles/10259/D314532024354338ABC9C0D8A3D45CA3.jpg[/image]

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EUBanana -> RE: Mines in the Pacific (2/2/2011 11:27:39 AM) Done a fair few turns, not quite sure of the date but its ~19th May now. BURMA/INDIA The main Japanese force of ~3 divisions is now roughly 50/50 split between Dambulla and the hex SW of Dambulla. Trincomalee is firmly mine, his troops are isolated from Jaffna as well so he has no port at all, and indeed no base. Presumably supply will soon become an issue for him. Allied bombers are ground bombing en masse every day and getting about 50-100 casualties per day despite the rough terrain, Allied bombardments are also reasonably effective thanks to the inclusion of American artillery in the Invasion of Ceylon OOB. The sheer number of Japs there means that I think they'll hold out for a good while, but short of a counterinvasion in significant strength these guys are doomed. I'm pondering the next move, an assault into Burma. I have a single objective, which is modest - taking Chittagong. 7 Jap units, one of them known to be the Imperial Guard, are defending Chittagong though so even that objective will require significant commitment. I doubt I will have the force to spare until I can redeploy troops away from Ceylon but you never know, I got some spare divisions now due to significant Commonwealth reinforcements. CHINA Still stalemated, kinda, but things are looking bad at Kweilin with ~1500 AV of Chinese surrounded. However they are only /just/ surrounded and there are a lot of Chinese units in the forests around the city so it's not over there yet. The total inability of the Chinese to do more than simply occupy ground, due to the total lack of supply, might mean that despite the huge outnumbering the Chinese will be unable to rescue those surrounded units. China is still my Achilles heel. All the more reason to get into Burma asap. SOPAC Rabaul is actually out of action. 99 airfield damage, and only a dozen or so fighters over its skies now when I raid. I've started work on the port. With the heavy bomber reinforcements it's been possibly to put 50 heavies over Rabaul every day for four days and this has been decisive. Allied damage was remarkably light - we opened up with a massive night raid which did quite heavy damage, and then switched to daylight raids and Corsair/Lighting sweeps - with an apparently significant number of the enemy on nightfightering orders the defences were light-ish and the Corsairs/Lightnings got the heavies in mostly unattacked. Massive damage was done and I kept it up to ensure the airfields closure. I think he's lost about 250-300 aircraft, mostly fighters, in four days. Torokina, Shortlands and Choiseul Bay are also out of action so the USAAF has done its job. We're ready for the next push. Next objectives : Shortlands and Rossell Island. Shortlands is defended by significant Jap forces (I guess a brigade + support but may be more), I have 5 regiments at Noumea 100% prepped for Shortlands. 3 or 4 will be going over in the first wave. I dont have a huge LCU superiority therefore but I do have crushing air superiority over Shortlands which I hope will prove sufficient. Rossell Island is an undefended rock half way between Milne Bay and Lunga. However based on past form I expect a counterinvasion. Unlike Milne Bay its in dive bomber and Beaufort range (just) of Allied bases in the Solomons, and quite far from Lae/Buna where he has a network of big airfields, so I hope the Milne debacle can be avoided. A SWPAC American regiment is planned for that, along with SeaBees and a RAN baseforce. I think this is the riskier part of the op, as its much more remote than Shortlands (Shortlands is well within Corsair and P40K range). I'm actually sending in two Sangamon class CVEs to bring 40 Hellcats to cover the invasion, heres hoping the IJN is conspicuous in its absence. IJN Yamato class BBs have been seen and attacked ineffectually at Rabaul, but hopefully he'll be wary of sending them in against reported CVs with inadequate air cover. It's not been totally one sided here, he loves sending in small warships to raid - single DDs quite often. They shoot up PT boats quite effectively and the ALlies have not had much luck fending them off due to the usual surface ship incompetence. The only Allied defenders are a CL and a couple of DDs mind. Our bases are so close now in the Solomons, and the airspace (up till now anyway) still quite contested, that the enemy is only ever 12 hours steaming away. CENTPAC A marine raider battalion hit Mali I think it is, a tiny atoll NE of Makin, and the next hop. I thought it was undefended. I was wrong! The battalion was wiped out, and 2 DD and 4 AP hit by coastla guns, 2 APs sunk outright. On the plus side ~30 Jap torpedo bombers, including a lot of Emilies, were shot down by the P38 LRCAP. Still, a debacle. KB has been sighted near Kwajalein several times, and the Japs are busy reinforcing the Marshalls I think. Unfortunate. FLEET CV Essex is here! Currently en route to the west coast. The fleet is otherwise being refitted. No plan for a major fleet action for a couple of months - need more carriers - but I'm sending some surface ships down SOPAC way, I anticipate they will be needed given how close our bases are there now.

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