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ADB123 -> New Years Eve Fireworks (6/11/2011 8:01:01 PM)
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December 31, 1942 –
New Years Eve brought out fireworks in the South Pacific and China.
First off USS Guardfish put a couple of active torpedoes into an xAK in the Gilberts. It was even more satisfying because Japanese troops were reported to be lost in the sinking. Guardfish got away clean afterwards.
Then the New Zeeland CL TF hit the besieging Japanese troops at Noumea. The two CLs and 2 DDs went right up into the surf to fire at the Japanese troops, but they missed altogether. It’s too bad that those Kiwi CLs didn’t have any float planes to act as spotters.
As the Allied TF sailed off into the West it ran over a Japanese submarine I-1. The DDs hit the sub once. But immediately afterwards the TF sailed into the sights of another Japanese sub, I-15, which put two torpedoes into RNZN Achilles. The DD escorts hit the sub afterwards. Surprisingly, Achilles didn’t sink and instead continued along with severe damage.
Finally, USS S-35 hit an xAK in a TF at Onnekotan-jima. The Japanese escorts hit S-35 a couple of times and so the sub is now on the way back to Port for repairs, but the freighter likely went down.
Daylight brought a renewal of the Japanese Air Attacks on the Chinese 72nd Infantry Corps that was sitting just east of Changsha. But this time the CAF was waiting and ready, and the Japanese Army Air Force was at the losing end of a number of Aerial Battles.
First off 25 Sallys and 10 Oscars flew in. They were jumped by 17 Lancers, 17 H81s and 19 P-66s. The Chinese fighters blasted the Japanese fighters but didn’t reach the bombers which hit their target. Never-the-less the Japanese lost 3 Oscars while the Chinese lost none.
Next in were 24 Sallys and 9 Oscars. They were jumped by 12 H81s, 15 P-43As and 17 P-66s. This time 3 Sallys were shot down along with 3 Oscars. Some of the bombers were still able to get through and hit their target. Again there were no Chinese Air losses.
Finally, 18 Lilies flew in unescorted and were jumped by 12 H81s, 4 P-43As and 13 P-66s. The Lilies missed their target and 5 were shot down. Once again, there were no Chinese Air losses.
The action wasn’t limited to the Changsha region as Sallys and Oscars attacked the Chinese troops at Kweilin, but caused little damage.
And in futile contrast to the success of the Chinese Fighters, Chinese bombers attempted to attack the Japanese column that is advancing on Luichow, but couldn’t find the target despite the lack of Japanese CAP.
Finally, the mini-KB off of New Caledonia sent its Naval bombers in to attack the Allied troops, but they did little damage. More importantly, Japanese Search Aircraft didn’t locate the retiring Allied Bombardment TF. The Japanese CV TF appears to be heading southwest towards New Zeeland instead west towards Australia where the Allied ships are actually headed. Just in case, I set a squadron of P-38s on LR CAP over the heavily damaged Achilles, which has miraculously survived so far. I’d love to see some Kates get jumped by the Lightnings. [:D]
BTW – if that Japanese CV TF goes too far south it may well receive a nicely nasty surprise. [;)]
When it was time for Land Combat the Japanese in China showed their superiority as 2 big Japanese Infantry Divisions, along with an armoured unit and an artillery unit, roughed up the Chinese 72nd Corps and forced it to retreat to Changsha. I will now send the 72nd back behind the Lines to rebuild. Never-the-less, the Japanese troops won’t find things so easy at Changsha proper.
And at Noumea the Japanese troops attacked again, but once again suffered a 1:2 result, with Fatigue apparently affecting them badly. I’ve ordered some Catalinas to attempt to fly in supplies to the Allied troops at Noumea.
So all-in-all it wasn’t too bad a day, despite the bad luck of the New Zeeland Bombardment TF. The End-of-Day Air Losses were spectacularly in favour of the Chinese, as you can see below in the Air Loss Screen below. I’ve now pulled back the Chinese Fighters in anticipation of the appearance of massive Japanese High Altitude Fighter Sweeps in the immediate future.
And just to keep my opponent busy I’ve ordered the 4Es into the Air again next turn in Burma, Oz and the Kuriles.
[image]local://upfiles/32618/58EABB75FAE8453E93BF592843C561CC.jpg[/image]
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