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Ed. Note: Gah, it’s been far too long on my updates here. Dear reader(s) please forgive me, if you are still with me. Anytime you feel that an update is due, please feel free to bump this thread to knock me on the head and get it going again. Of course, something major has happened, prompting me to get back in the swing of things. I shall endeavor to catch everyone up the current situation on a area by area basis.
October 23, 1943
Except for a minor setback in the Northern Australian Defense Area (NADA), the war is proceeding pretty much the Allied way to date. The NADA situation shall be covered last, as it is the current “hotspot”.
Marshalls:
Originally, was planning to hit the Eniwetok Atoll one month after the fall of Kwajalein, but have not done so as of yet. I have been waiting for new construction carriers to support this operation, as the Fleet Carrier Force (FCF) is busy in the Southern Pacific area of operations. Two divisions (3rd Mar, and 33rd ID) will be fully ready for the landing planned for 3 weeks from this date. Additionally, the 2nd Marines will be ready to reinforce if necessary, but this is not anticipated. 24th and 25th ID’s are preparing for Ponape Atoll; the date for this has not been set as it is highly dependent on the Eniwetok operation and the availability of support from the main fleet, as this is mighty close to Truk Atoll for my taste.
Solomons:
Let’s see, the 1st MD and the Americal ID landed here around the middle of September; after a buildup of materiel and bombardments, they attacked continually for approximately one week, forcing the defenders inland. In the meantime, an RCT was landed at Tassaforanga as a blocking force, trapping the Lunga defenders in place. A fresh division, the 37th ID was landed; while the 1st MD and Americal were gradually shipped out. The 37th committed to the cleanup of Lunga on the 29th of September; the final battle took place on the 4th of October. That night, a Japanese naval force showed up in the roadstead (the Fleet Carriers had long departed, and most surface ships were away refitting):
10/04/43
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
DD Hayanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
PT PT-24
PT PT-27, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-30
PT PT-48
=============================================
10/04/43
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
DD Hayanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Tsuga
Allied Ships
PT PT-281
PT PT-335
PT PT-340, Shell hits 2
PT PT-342
=============================================
10/04/43
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Shell hits 6
DD Hayanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Tsuga
Allied Ships
PG Warrego, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PC Tiger, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
SC SC-646, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AK Henry S Grove
AK Sagadahoc
AK San Anselmo
AK Admiral Wiley, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Shooting Star, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Harpoon
AK Timber Rush
=============================================
The light surface forces did their job; neither AK ended up sinking, though the Shooting Star is still beached in Lunga, she might be back in the war in ’45…
Lunga has just turned to a size 7 AF; there are significant light bomber, fighter and 4 squadrons of PBYJ’s working out of here now. The Privateers visit Rabaul every other 3rd day, weather permitting; currently, there is very little IJAAF opposition in the area.
Papua/New Guinea:
The more clever (or obtuse) among you might have surmised that Operation OLD FARTHING was targeted here….NEW GUINEA…OLD FARTHING…<I should shoot myself….>….
Anyhow, the timeline here was:
September 25th: Initial landings at Milne Bay, consisting the assault elements of the 32nd and 41st ID’s.
A few light landing craft and MSW’s were hit by coastal fire and one AP was severely mined; total losses were quite acceptable though. The prepatory air and naval bombardments (from B17/24’s from Australia, carrier air from the Fleet Carrier Force south of Milne Bay and 5 old BBs in two task forces) had suppressed the defenders fairly well. Almost 800 AV was in place the 1st day.
September 26th: landings continue; AV over 850, the Japanese merely bombard, as they don’t have enough strength to counterattack.
September 27th: the first attack goes in from the beachheads; with most of the Divisions in place and supporting armor and artillery ready, Gen. Eichelberger of I Corps is ready to attack.
09/27/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37089 troops, 484 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 875
Defending force 19217 troops, 125 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 338
Allied max assault: 774 - adjusted assault: 1670
Japanese max defense: 233 - adjusted defense: 233
Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 9)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 8
Japanese ground losses:
188 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Note the preparation of 100 on all attack units, the presence of the Corps HQ and SWPac in Cairns seems to help significantly; a base AV of 875 is lowered to a 774 max assault for disruption, etc. and then adjusted to 1670 for the additional factors listed above. The weak divisional equivalent the Japanese have in place is no match, even behind full fortifications.
September 28th:
09/28/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 38639 troops, 473 guns, 99 vehicles, Assault Value = 851
Defending force 19050 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 332
Allied max assault: 796 - adjusted assault: 2229
Japanese max defense: 252 - adjusted defense: 389
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 8)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7
Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
The grinding continues; some scattered Betty attacks come in, scoring single torpedo hits on a Aussie CL and an AK. The carriers had neglected to put up a proper cap over the beaches, as they were busy supporting bomb runs on the defenders.
September 30th:
Eichelberger feels that the situation calls for an all out effort. Strangely, circumstances don’t work out; this attack is not much stronger than the prior normal attack and doesn’t reduce the fortifications as predicted. Back to the planning at HQ I guess.
09/30/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 38504 troops, 467 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 825
Defending force 18723 troops, 107 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 319
Allied max assault: 1450 - adjusted assault: 2280
Japanese max defense: 258 - adjusted defense: 309
Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 7)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6
Japanese ground losses:
296 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Allied ground losses:
423 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
October 1st:
Eichelberger had left for a conference at SWPac and forgot to change posture of the attack; another poor effort at all out attack again, with a low adjusted AV. The 8000 fresh troops indicated in the total are engineers landing in anticipation of the fall of the air complex.
10/01/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 46494 troops, 540 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 859
Defending force 18244 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 307
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5
Allied max assault: 1487 - adjusted assault: 1311
Japanese max defense: 232 - adjusted defense: 441
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5
Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Allied ground losses:
587 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 1
October 2nd:
The assaults finally crack the Jap position, splitting the defenders into pockets; their continued resistance is futile.
10/02/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 43115 troops, 480 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 798
Defending force 17825 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 299
Allied max assault: 880 - adjusted assault: 1264
Japanese max defense: 213 - adjusted defense: 241
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 5)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Allied ground losses:
362 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 2
October 3rd:
The battle is over. A final deliberate attack pushes the defenders entirely out of the area and on the path to their bastion at Port Moresby.
10/03/43
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37870 troops, 452 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 776
Defending force 17609 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 289
Allied max assault: 592 - adjusted assault: 1501
Japanese max defense: 221 - adjusted defense: 163
Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Over the course of the next 3 weeks, the base has been repaired and expanded to level 5 AF/3 Port. Air units operating from here have been interdicting movement of troops from PM to Buna as they march overland. The assault divisions have been moved out to Australia, a garrison of 1st CavDiv has moved in.
When the campaign for Milne Bay seemed well in hand, the FCF decided to take a spin thru the Solomon Sea, visiting Rabaul and the Shortlands:
09/30/43
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 223
TBF Avenger x 139
TBM Avenger x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 10 destroyed
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 6 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 12 damaged
TBF Avenger: 14 damaged
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Heito Maru, Bomb hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
599 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 113
Port hits 17
Port supply hits 2
10/01/43
Day Air attack on Shortlands , at 63,93
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
F6F Hellcat x 66
SBD Dauntless x 123
TBF Avenger x 96
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 27 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF Avenger: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 10, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-7, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 57
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 4
These attacks allow the land based air from Lunga/Rennell and Milne Bay to have the run of the park for the rest of the month; they strike where and when they wish to date. IJ flak is about the only opposition for them for now, which is still quite heavy over the Shortlands.
Finally, as of today, Oct 22nd, the 6th ID has landed at Dobradura against no opposition.
Future plans for this area consist of more landings up the coastline, with the end result of cutting off the forces in the PM area from succor. They can wither there for the duration, passed up by the offensive; the airfield there is not needed for our purpose and attacking the large forces there would be an excersise in needlessness.
Burma:
The operation to split the defenders by attacking between Moulmein and Raehang was successful. The Japanese abandoned Moulmein under heavy Anglo air and naval attack, before the ground forces there could come to good grips with them. Meantime, heavy Jap reinforcements reached Raehang just as the Indian/Chinese attack went in, blunting it severely. The IJA then counterattacked, but the Allied troops held on to their positions, behind a rain of artillery shells and MG bullets.
09/29/43
Ground combat at Rahaeng
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 167944 troops, 1524 guns, 733 vehicles, Assault Value = 3448
Defending force 63924 troops, 295 guns, 469 vehicles, Assault Value = 962
Japanese max assault: 3268 - adjusted assault: 1623
Allied max defense: 872 - adjusted defense: 2287
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
3087 casualties reported
Guns lost 184
Vehicles lost 23
Allied ground losses:
1203 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Despite a vast preponderance of forces (almost 3-1 in troops, 5-1 in tubes and even 2-1 in tracks) the Indian and Chinese forces hold.
I think that several things contribute to this:
1. Again, almost total prep for the target on all ground units (can’t say for the IJA).
2. Presence of the Corps HQ prepped for town
3. Command HQ in range and prepped for Raehang (again, can’t say what the IJA have for 2 and 3)
4. The artillery and tanks present for the allies are generally superior and outrange their Jap counterparts; ergo, the attackers heavy gun and vehicle losses.
This was the last IJA attack here; to date, all that has been happening here is a siege.
About 1/3rd of the IJA forces have pulled out to reserve apparently, while the Allied forces hold in place rebuilding and awaiting fresh troops which are promised…..
Supplies in Rangoon are nearly 1,000,000; so I feel the tide will turn in the next month.
Allied air from Rangoon/Moulmein has been hitting Bangkok facilities; hopefully this will impair the flow of supplies to the front.
The last exchange of artillery yesterday:
10/22/43
Ground combat at Rahaeng
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 85713 troops, 901 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 1783
Defending force 72300 troops, 434 guns, 472 vehicles, Assault Value = 1422
Allied ground losses:
202 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
=============================================
10/22/43
Ground combat at Rahaeng
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 65771 troops, 426 guns, 472 vehicles, Assault Value = 1419
Defending force 99173 troops, 928 guns, 165 vehicles, Assault Value = 1783
Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
While the IJA seems to have the upper hand, the AV’s from prior days would indicate not; IJA AV is virtually stagnant, at 1783 up from 1747 on October 5th; while Allied AV is at 1422, up from 1054 on October 5th. Only part of that gain is represented by a fresh Chinese division that arrived recently; most of it is the fact that we gain about 10 AV a day in repaired units.
Also, on the coast, the Burma Corps is moving on Tavoy with 2 Indian Divisions and a tank brigade; contact with the IJA lines is imminent. Additional units are in reserve, preparing to reinforce as necessary.
The reason that this move on the coast was delayed so long was the presence of most of the Imperial Fleet off Malaya during the last week of September thru the first week of October. They were apparently there to support a reinforcing convoy of troops to Victoria Point. After some futile strikes with long range planes against the massed fleet, the bombers were instructed to stay in fighter range and protect the Rangoon/Moulmein area only. The IJN bombarded Andaman Island, but the losses were not severe. The Royal Navy held back covering Ceylon, as this was thought to be a possible target for a IJA/IJN attack. A small IJN force (1 CL and 5 DD) tried to bombard Trincomalee; 2 of the DD were riddled by coastal fire from the naval guns ashore, they were sunk the next day by air strikes from Columbo.
Vietnam:
It’s a standoff here; Chinese units stiffened with some Chindit commandos hold the North; IJA forces hold Hue to the south. One attempt was made by the IJA to advance on Hanoi; it was halted 60 miles SW of the city. With their communications threatened by a Chinese Corps from inland, they retreated back to Hue on the coastal road.
China:
Huge offensives up and down the line during this period. Initially, the IJA was trying for Changsha, but their initial attack went poorly:
09/25/43
Ground combat at Changsha
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 243950 troops, 2675 guns, 565 vehicles, Assault Value = 5068
Defending force 94948 troops, 477 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2230
Japanese max assault: 4856 - adjusted assault: 539
Allied max defense: 2423 - adjusted defense: 2185
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)
Japanese ground losses:
7907 casualties reported
Guns lost 189
Vehicles lost 11
Allied ground losses:
2371 casualties reported
Guns lost 34
Spare Chinese units then started working their flanks, almost cutting them off from Wuhan, but they were able to retreat there.
In the meantime, Chinese units moved on Hsyinyang from Ichang; Kaifeng from Homan; Chengting from Yenen Area and Canton from Wuchow.
All were able to invest the defenders, but at Hsyinyang and Kaifeng the IJA was in just sufficient force to prevent successful attacks; after some long periods of bombardment, the Chinese withdrew to their starting cities.
Chengting is still under siege, last reported AV was 3178 – 2955 in the Chinese favor, but with the withdrawal of the Kaifeng attack, is doubtful that we will have time to build up favorable prep time before the IJA gets reinforced.
However, in the south, the Canton offensive looks promising: the last AV report was 4911-2636 with one more Chinese corps ready to enter the battle soon. Additionally, the force is nearing all units having 50 prep, with ½ having 100 prep for Canton. Allied air in the area is plentiful and is starting ground strike runs to soften the target.
Taking this city would be a major coup for the Chinese. Also, forcing the defenders back into Hong Kong would severely hurt the IJA, as they would have to rely on seaborne supply to maintain them; thus, exposing shipping to LBA attacks unless they choose to fight for air control with the 14th and Chinese Air Forces, which number some 600 planes in China.
Sub warfare:
See my post in the War Room, covers pretty much the totals and such so far. Will try to keep a sub diary from now on and post some results as time goes by.
Northern Australia Defense Area (NADA):
Finally, to the current hotspot. I would sure recommend Herbies companion thread for a blow by blow account here, I am sure that he’s going over it. Let me give some background:
Darwin is pretty much the backwater area of the war for me. It and the other NADA cities are held by obsolete Australian and Dutch units with a smattering of medium bomber groups. During the last few months, as barges became available, I would build some in Darwin (ending up with around 40). They would help ferry troops to Temimbar Island which is being slowly built as a forward AF. In the future, they would be used to land troops in a possible offensive in the Timor area. Some AK and AP were being slowly assembled there also; a handful or so of each.
Now, other than the some 30 PT based in Darwin/Temimbar area, there were only 3 old Flushdeckers and one Australian DD for the defense of Darwin. Putting any significant ships in Darwin would just be asking for their demise in the face of a Jap offensive, as is what happened, as you will see.
First, my LB bombers sortie; we didn’t know at the time that what appears to be most of his fleet was there:
10/19/43
Day Air attack on TF at 34,80
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 30
A6M5 Zeke x 151
A6M3a Zero x 70
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 4
A-20G Havoc x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 6 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 3 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed
A-20G Havoc: 3 destroyed
=============================================
10/19/43
Day Air attack on TF at 34,80
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 30
A6M5 Zeke x 151
A6M3a Zero x 69
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 27
P-40B Tomahawk x 54
A-20G Havoc x 60
B-25J Mitchell x 47
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 17 destroyed, 44 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 14 destroyed, 18 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 7 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 27 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 41 destroyed
A-20G Havoc: 29 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 18 destroyed, 11 damaged
I was glad when the morale finally failed and the bombers came back. Then, the carriers struck at Darwin:
10/19/43
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
A6M5 Zeke x 171
A6M3a Zero x 64
B5N Kate x 142
B6N Jill x 42
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 10
Kittyhawk III x 4
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 14 destroyed
B5N Kate: 11 destroyed, 50 damaged
B6N Jill: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 10 destroyed
Kittyhawk III: 4 destroyed
Beaufighter Mk 21: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 11 destroyed
Allied Ships
LCT LCT-362, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-172, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-376, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-175, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-478, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Steel, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-363, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-171, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-370, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cairns, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-180, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Latrobe, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-378, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-173, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-471, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-375, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-377, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-170, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Fuller, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-361, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-477, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK City of Manchester, Bomb hits 1
LCT LCT-365, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP W.A. Holbrook, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-178, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sudabar, Bomb hits 1
LCT LCT-474, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-177, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-364, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-373, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-176, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MLE Poelau Tello, Bomb hits 1
AK Gandara, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Vitorlock, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
The small cap there does what it can; but, mainly just a bunch of sunk barges….whee.
That night, a bombardment group of Mutsu and about 6-7 DD try to enter the bay. The 4 DD and 6 groups of 4 PT each oppose them. I won’t post the details; the summary is that 2 DD were sunk, one severely damaged (99/90), and 8 PT sunk on the Allied side. On the IJN, 4 DD were torpedoed by PT, 1 by DD torpedo and 1 “heavily damaged” by first DD and then PT gunfire alone. Mutsu and one DD remain, but do not bombard.
As day dawns, the first air strikes start coming in; with the losses in the prior day, the fighters only cover Darwin. Additionally, a P40E group that was on Temimbar comes to Darwin and a veteran P38-J group that was in SWPac reserve was now there. The first strike was from Lautem as I recall:
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 47
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 66
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 18
P-40B Tomahawk x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 48
P-38J Lightning x 60
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 34 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 55 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 6 damaged
The defending fighters outnumber the escort and maul them.
The Japanese carriers launch vs. the port, but mislay their escorts; it turns into the Darwin ‘Roo Shoot:
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 46
D4Y Judy x 157
B5N Kate x 132
B6N Jill x 30
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 12
P-40B Tomahawk x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 36
P-38J Lightning x 49
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 45 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 116 destroyed
B5N Kate: 116 destroyed
B6N Jill: 28 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 3 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B6N Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
That’s right 300+ naval bombers downed; I almost threw up watching it myself, it was a train wreck.
Three unescorted Betty strikes come in next; a total of about 100 are downed for one hit on a LCT…..
Finally, the last strike is from his carriers again, this time with escort as they bomb what is left of the DD’s:
Day Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 36,84
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
A6M5 Zeke x 79
D4Y Judy x 36
A6M3a Zero x 27
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 12
P-40B Tomahawk x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 35
P-38J Lightning x 49
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 11 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 38 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y Judy: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 20 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 12 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 10 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 27 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 17 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Lawrence
DD Warramunga, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Air to air is about even, as he bulls thru the defenders.
October 21st
That night, the PT groups reform and load and another surface action group comes in, in addition to Mutsu with her lone DD. When the smoke clears 2 PT’s and the DD Lawrence are sunk; while Mutsu’s lone DD is torpedoed and sunk by PT’s.
No bombardment again, and the surface group (Yubari and about 5-6 DD) is only 60 miles out at day break; they get strafed and bombed severely, with the CL and 2 DD severely hit.
The first strike of the day is telling, knocking aside the fighters and hitting some 30 ships in harbor, about 1/3 to ½ LCT’s:
A6M5 Zeke x 310
D4Y Judy x 72
A6M3a Zero x 67
B5N Kate x 80
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 4
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 10
P-38J Lightning x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 43 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 31 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 4 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 11 destroyed
After this 11 Betties come in with no CAP opposition and get 3 hits in the shipping:
October 22nd:
The PT’s regroup again, into 3 6 boat packs; ships again come into the bay; 3 Beuforts and 6 A20’s night attack; one Beaufort claims a torpedo hit on the MUSASHI, but she is not slowed.
3 PT are sunk for one torpedo hit on a DD; the force of 8 BB, 6 CA, and 9 DD enter the bay and bombard; under 10 planes lost and about 2400 casualties, neglible hits on the fields.
An airstrike similar to yesterdays, meets similar CAP and similar results:
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 23
A6M5 Zeke x 202
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5N Kate x 76
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Spitfire Vb x 4
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 7
P-38J Lightning x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 49 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 24 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 4 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 12 destroyed
This strike hits about 16 ships, then 14 Betties come in with the cap down and score 4 more, though on prior stricken ships.
All in all, I am not displeased. Yes, he has shown that he can do what he will in this area; but, I was aware that he could do this….didn’t think he would….but that’s why I didn’t commit significant combatant shipping here. It would have been dead….
I don’t know how long he wishes to take these losses to churn up some supply shipping, but I am content with the situation. I believe that his air losses will hurt him far more in the long run than my loss of some landing craft, support vessels, PT’s and 4 DD. The fragmentation of his port strike that one day was a backbreaker to future offensive carrier ops for quite some time, in my opinion. While I have lost quite a few planes, pilot losses are lower as we are mainly over our land; and, let’s face it, I have the reserves to deal with it.
You might ask where my fleet is; it’s mainly in Eastern Australian ports for repair and refit. Too far away to have much hope of intervention here and I have my own plans for it that are not going to be affected by his actions here. Timor and the rest of the DEI will just have to be pushed back another 3 months in the big picture or so.
_____________________________
Sing to the tune of "Man on the Flying Trapeze"
..Oh! We fly o'er the treetops with inches to spare,
There's smoke in the cockpit and gray in my hair.
The tracers look fine as a strafin' we go.
But, brother, we're TOO God damn low...
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Allied Counter Offensive---June 1943---“Singapore befor... - 
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