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USSAmerica -> RE: A Wench in the Logistics Machine: Mike Solli (J) vs. USS Mike (A) (10/18/2021 3:33:37 AM)
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Dec. 12, 1941
There are still ships, planes and troops moving all across the Pacific but there was a bit more of interest in today's combat replay than the last few days. We actually had shooting on both sides today. [:D]
Wake Island's defenders accounted themselves quite well today, although they are still destined to fall. In pre-invasion action the 1st Marine Defense Bn gave better than they got to a bombardment force led by 4 Japanese CL's.
Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
105 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari, Shell hits 3
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 3
CL Katori, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Oite, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yayoi
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Toyotsu Maru, Shell hits 1
DD Hayate
PB Kaiun Maru
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikuta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
The ensuing Shock Attack barely reached 1 to 1 odds and the invaders are now short of supply since no shipping stuck around to unload any more. There are still too many invaders for me to consider a counter attack. That is exactly what Mike would hope for. I'll be content with bombarding them until Mike has to ship in reinforcements and supply, giving me more ships to shoot at.
In the PI, Mike is moving deliberately but landed at Mauban this turn. 3 Vildebeests who escaped Hong Kong sank a small AKL, but no reports of troops going swimming so it must have been unloaded already or carrying supply. Intel (mouse over) shows no escorts for significant AA fire, so all 3 Beests and both PBY-4 squadrons are ordered on short range Naval Attack for tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be able to ventilate a few more ships here without my PBY's straying too far and running into CAP.
Outside Singapore, Japanese ground forces have moved into Johore Bahru. This didn't cut off my troops trying to reach the fortress, but did halt their progress as they were trying to catch the last train into town. I have them ordered to Combat mode and to march into the city, but I fear they will likely take some abuse before they can get there in good order. The only effective defensive force here is the Aussie Bde that starts in the hex and the beat up remnants of the Mersing Bde that retreated there.
No Naval Attack missions flew again today, despite more transports with escorts being spotted at Mersing. Looking at the mouse intel for the next turn, there are 30+ fighters reported at the Mersing AF. My fighter numbers at Singapore have been worn down by a lot of Japanese sweeping. Not enough that the base is wide open to bombardment from the air yet, but no where near enough of them remain to send any significant Escort for TB's to attack the shipping. I'm afraid that window has now closed. If the TB's don't find any enemy TF's to attack away from CAP next turn I'll likely move some of them up to Burma and some down to Java or Darwin, where I'll soon have an Air HQ to provide torpedo ammo.
I went fishing in the Southern DEI to try to catch the small SC TF hitting my fleeing AK's around Ternate. Marblehead and a squadron of DD's were patrolling the area, while Houston and Boise with some DD's patrolled off of Sorong, where a couple of small TF's were spotted inbound. The Japanese invasion TF got to Sorong first and managed to unload some troops, but then the Houston/Boise TF caught them unloading. Reduced visibility from thunderstorms helped.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PB Gamitsu Maru #1, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAKL Ujigawa Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Alden, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
The two Japanese DD's made a good show of it, hitting Whipple with a single shell which caused her to catch fire and sink later, and quickly sinking Alden with a Long Lance, before Houston and Boise found the range. It was quick work after that, although no troops went swimming from the sunk transports. After detaching John D. Edwards, who only ended up with 5 system damage, Houston and Boise caught the second wave heading for Sorong. They were apparently carrying a base force. I hope those support guys can swim. [:D]
Day Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 83,106, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Saiko Maru, Shell hits 36, and is sunk
xAK Tenryu Maru, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Edsall
Japanese ground losses:
1033 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 12 (10 destroyed, 2 disabled)
While this was unfolding, remember the Marblehead TF that was fishing around Ternate? It turns out they were actually bait. A CV TF that was un-spotted last turn cruised just into range to be able to hit the Marblehead TF. Two attacks resulted in 3 bomb hits on DD Bulmer, ending her war. I was fortunate that I didn't receive more damage as the small AK's scattered all over this part of the Pacific distracted 2 waves of Kates. The tally for the day in the region is 3 of my DD's sunk for 2 of Mike's DD's, 2 PB's, and 5 transports, one of which took troops down with it. I'll trade 1 for 1 or better every day!
Both USN SC TF's will return to Ambon to rearm while I decide if I want to try for one more counter punch. PoW and Repulse are both finished repairing the small amount of damage from their Full Speed evacuation run out of Singapore at Soerabaja, so I have some tools to work with. My suspicion is that Mike will be more cautious probing the Southern DEI now, which will slow him down just a bit and accomplish my objective for now.
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