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mind_messing -> RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) (5/19/2016 11:55:49 AM)
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August 1st to August 6th, 1944
What a turn.
North Pacific
Still nothing going on up here.
Central Pacific
The Allied bombing of my abandoned bases continues. Ponape is pretty much suppressed. I did get a nice result when a infantry division fragment was landed on a dot hex that had a naval guard unit on it - the shock attack messed the American unit up nicely.
South-West Pacific
This, in truth, was the main show. I had the inclination that the Allies were moving on past Biak from the large quantity of shipping that was amassing down the New Guinea coast, so I moved everything I could into a position to be ready to strike back.
The Allies came ashore at Sansapor on August 5th, with the KB a days sail away and a IJN CL force ready to intervene with the landings. August 6th saw the Allies land at Sorong as well, and that's when the Japanese counterstrike came together.
The night phase saw little combat, but the numerous IJN floatplanes did a great job in lighting up the Allied ships for all to see. Daybreak saw what every Japanese player wants to see - a surface engagement between Japanese warships and loaded Allied transports.
quote:
ay Time Surface Combat, near Sansapor at 83,107, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 5 lost a 14cm gun
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 4 lost a 14cm gun
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 9, on fire most of these hits were from APAs! 50 sys damage
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 4
Allied Ships
DD Robinson, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin Young, Shell hits 2, on fire
DE Lovering, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE Lyman, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA Frederick Funston, Shell hits 5, on fire
APA James O'Hara, Shell hits 4, on fire
APA John Land, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
APA Winged Arrow, Shell hits 5
APA Herald of Morning, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA Storm King, Shell hits 4
APA Cavalier, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
APA Du Page, Shell hits 2
APA Leon, Shell hits 6, on fire
LSV Catskill, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Oak Hill, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
Allied ground losses:
556 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Their ammo spent, the IJN light cruisers retired, getting clean away from numerous Allied combat ships parked at Sorong. I have two destroyer squadrons that have yet to be sent in to harass the landing.
With the surface ships of the IJN having made an important contribution, it was the turn of the IJN pilots to do their bit. There were a few fragmented strikes during the day, so I will focus on the main combats.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 82,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M5b Zero x 92
B6N2 Jill x 38
B7A2 Grace x 33
D4Y3 Judy x 105
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 4
Thunderbolt I x 2
Kittyhawk IV x 2
P-38J Lightning x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 3
FM-2 Wildcat x 126
F4U-1A Corsair x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
B7A2 Grace: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 21 destroyed, 22 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 4 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed
FM-2 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Thetis Bay
CVE Sargent Bay, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage ammo storage explosion
CVE Steamer Bay, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage fuel storage explosion
CVE Shipley Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Sitkoh Bay, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Mobile
DD Sigourney
DE Fair
DE LeHardy
DD Yarnall
CVE Petrof Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Shamrock Bay, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Haggard
AKA Jupiter, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Almaack, Torpedo hits 1
Not to be outdone, the IJA decide to get in on the action. Escorts or not, a squadron of Helen's decide that fighting spirit is sufficent to overcome CAP. Despite this, they manage to break through and actually score a hit. I had intended for this squadron to be used as a throwaway attack to draw Allied CAP up high, but the fact that they got through is great.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 82,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 15
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 1
Thunderbolt I x 1
Kittyhawk IV x 1
P-38J Lightning x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 2
FM-2 Wildcat x 74
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 10 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVE Shipley Bay, on fire
CVE Petrof Bay, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage x2 ammo storage explosion
CVE Thetis Bay
Later in the morning, a few aircraft from the KB dispatch two transports wounded in the mornings surface action while some dive bombers hit small craft left without any air cover.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 84,107
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
B7A2 Grace x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 5 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APA Cavalier, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA James O'Hara, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 83,107
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y3 Judy x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 2 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
LST-338, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
LST-122, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AM Gladstone, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-343, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-751, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LST-350, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
The afternoon sees further strikes on the Allied task force, with its CAP much diminished from earlier in the day. Pressing the advantage, the IJN flyers put more hurt on the Allied escort carriers.
quote:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 82,107
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
A6M5b Zero x 58
B6N2 Jill x 13
B7A2 Grace x 15
D4Y3 Judy x 43
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 12
Thunderbolt I x 5
Kittyhawk IV x 4
P-38J Lightning x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 8
FM-2 Wildcat x 34
F4U-1A Corsair x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 16 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 4 destroyed, 12 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Thetis Bay, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Shipley Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Petrof Bay, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Levy
DE Bangust, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Sanders, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DE Acree
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 82,107
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 46
B7A2 Grace x 15
D4Y3 Judy x 41
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 9
Thunderbolt I x 2
P-38J Lightning x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 3
FM-2 Wildcat x 12
F4U-1A Corsair x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 4 destroyed
B7A2 Grace: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Thetis Bay, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Lardner
DD McCord
DD Bennett
APA Feland
CL Leander
DD Haggard
DD Yarnall
DD Rowe, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Levy
DD Erben
DD Perkins
APA Fuller, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Bitterly disappointed this strike didn't perform better. Bombs wasted on destroyers when there were APA's to hit!
Again, not to be outdone, IJA pilots, with the firm belief that Japanese fighting spirit is sufficent to win victories, attack a task force north of Biak.
quote:
fternoon Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 19
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 destroyed
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
AK Phobos, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fat Albert, Kamikaze hits 1
AK Caelum, Kamikaze hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Poor target selection, but nearly 25% hit rate with kamis isn't bad!
Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
In the ground combat phase, I get a good look at what the Allies have ashore:
quote:
Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 5049 troops, 51 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 253
Defending force 1820 troops, 37 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 55
Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
2nd Amphibious Brigade
4th Raiding Rgt /1
18th JAAF AF Bn
26th JAAF Base Force
46th JNAF AF Unit
19th JAAF Base Force
27th Special Base Force
77th Field AA Battalion
209th JAAF AF Bn
Defending units: I bet the bulk of Allied troops intended for here were mauled in the morning surface engagement.
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sansapor (83,107)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13296 troops, 244 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 558
Defending force 9721 troops, 109 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 198
Allied adjusted assault: 140
Japanese adjusted defense: 115
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4) I doubt I can hold - supply is critical. IJN may intervene to stymie the Allies.
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Allied ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
112th Cavalry Regiment
Defending units:
51st Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
56th Construction Battalion
16th Field AF Construction Battalion
29th Fld AA Gun Co
13th Field AF Construction Battalion
37th JNAF AF Unit
And that concludes day one of the Battle of Sorong. More details will follow on my future plans in this theatre.
DEI
Lots of Allied sweeps here to distract my attention from the events around Sorong. I'm preparing a resupply mission for Timor that will require the KB, but as events elsewhere require the KB, it's on hold for now.
Thailand/Vietnam
The Allies land at a few dot hexes that I've left ungarrisoned with Chindits. As there's the Chinese wandering around Vietnam, this does start to worry me. I have the troops to deal with it, but it's an unwelcome distraction. The 33rd Division, railing through the open terrain of Thailand, gets absolutely smashed by a big B-29 raid. Painful.
More details to follow, hopefully with pictures, later today.
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