Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: cantona2

It appears that Septmeber 1942 is about to close with a bang. Since the Dornier's of GVT-3 had been operating from Tenimbar Island, Japanese forces had been conducting regular recon flights over the small island just off the Northern Australian Coast. This despite the presence of heavy fighters over the Australian base.


H6K4-L under fire from the Beaufighters of No 30 RAAF Squadron


During the night of 27th/28th September fast Japanese transports unloaded elements of an NLF on Tenimbar. The Japanese ships must have just missed a similar fast trasnport comprosed of destroyers that were unloading supplies from Darwin! The quiet of the night was disrupted by the 6 Inch Guns that the 111th Royal Navy Base Force had brought with them all the way from Aden. The gunners, it appears, were very proficient at their job and one enemy destroyer was seen limping away on fire.

Coastal Guns at Tenimbar Island, 39,81, firing at TF 119
TF 119 troops unloading over beach at Tenimbar Island, 39,81


52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
APD Patrol Boat No. 37
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oboro

Japanese ground losses:
373 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The soldiers of the 2/2 Independent Company were put on full alert and were tasked with resisiting any Japanese attempts to assault the island by coup de main. As day dawned Mavis's were once again over Tenimbar, but this time bombers and fighters accompanied them. Early warning had come from the radar station at Darwin and by the time the raid arrived over the island Allied planes were ready to receive them. 6 bombers, escorted by 9 fighters (A6M2's), steadily approached at 6,000 feet. P-38's of the 331st Fighter Squadron (Darwin) tussled with the Zeroes while the more heavily armed Beaufighter VIF's of No 30 RAAF Squadron (Darwin) closed in on the bombers blasting away with their 20mm cannons. Though no bombers were seen to fall, 3 turned away after one Beaufighter was able to set its engines alight. 3 made the final attack run but their bombs fell into the sea.



Day Air attack on Tenimbar Island , at 39,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
H6K4 Mavis x 2
Ki-49 Helen x 6

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 3
P-38F Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

The Allied response was not delayed. The heavy bombers at Darwin had been perfecting high level raids on the neighbouring enemy airfields for weeks and today they did so in support of the pressed troopers on Tenimbar. First elements of 9th and 392nd Bombardment Squadrons (B-24D's) hit the airfields at Ambonia. One enemy bomber was reported destoryed while several hits were also recored on the base installations and runway.

Day Air attack on Amboina , at 40,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet

B-17's of the 14th and 64th Bombardment Squadrons hit Sorong airfield scoring a couple of hits on the runway but failing to hit any of the planes in and around the field.

B-17's hit Sorong in support of the actions on Tenimbar Island


Day Air attack on Sorong , at 44,74


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet

Meanwhile on Tenimbar itself the Japanese assault squads recovered and reorganised from their night landing and began to coordinate a bombardment of the positions of the 2/2 Company. Mortar shells fell on the Australian positions but no assault was forthcoming. Reports were dispatched to Darwin on a quarterly hour basis so that the follow up operation could be based on reliable and immediate information.



Ground combat at Tenimbar Island

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 866 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Defending force 621 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported


Tenimbar Island

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very nice art and planetops, whered ya get em and what mapmod is that?

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

quote:


very nice art and planetops, whered ya get em and what mapmod is that?

Please

Elf's planetops, Cobra's digital panels.