Matrix Games Forums

 Forums  Register  Login  Photo Gallery  Member List  Search  Calendars  FAQ 

My Profile  Inbox  Address Book  My Subscription  My Forums  Log Out

Search Areas

 
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> Search Areas Page: <<   < prev  3 4 [5] 6 7   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Search Areas - 9/1/2008 2:52:04 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Heres a screenie of the search plane density in the main US-Fiji-Oz shipping lanes.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 121
RE: Search Areas - 9/2/2008 4:17:56 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		The Japanese bombers came over again, their fighter escort blackening out the sky. The paltry 2 fighter screen the surviving Dutch pilots put up was brave but foolish. They lasted 5 minutes against 70 Ki-43 fighters. Wave after wave of Ki-48 and Ki-49 bombers pounded the installations at Sabang mercilessly. Fuel stocks, already sparse, went up in flames, the runway was cratered and the three anti-aircraft positions around the main runway blasted. The casualty wards of the four field hospitals in the town were overflowing and the writing was clearly on the wall even though the closest Japanese soldier was nearly 900 miles away at Padang.

Yet despite all this, and in probably the last flight that Sabang aerodrome could sustain, scout planes of VkAfdleing-1 spotted a massive Japanese force and with it the carrier Zhiukaku. The news was quickly relayed to Colombo which immediately gave orders for its two carriers to steam away from the area. As the day progressed more reports came in with more sightings of ships. The presence of the carrier was confirmed when D3A2's and B5N2's attacked submarines in and around Sabang harbour. Then came the news from the SS Spearfish that it had unsuccessfully engaged a Japanese transport in the Straits. Followed by the signal from the SS Porpoise that it had sighted a further two carriers hugging the coast line off Georgetown. Sabang was doomed but the efforts of the Dutch pilots had in all probability spared the Royal Navy aircraft carriers from a watery grave.


< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/2/2008 4:19:10 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 122
RE: Search Areas - 9/2/2008 7:47:27 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		The main weapon against Herbs subs. They find them, the destroyers kill them.

Catalina being launched from Canton Island.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 123
Enter the 48th Fighter - 9/2/2008 9:42:18 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron.

The 48th Fighter Squadron was the USAAF’s first unit to be equipped with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. It received a first batch of 18 aeroplanes in January 1942 and formed in San Diego. Colonel T.S.Olds was appointed as the units first commander. Old was a typical fighter pilot. Brash, cocky, and eager for action. Yet he was also a pragmatist and a realist. Two things were at the forefront of his mind. Firstly the welfare of the machines in his command, secondly the welfare of the young pilots under his command. His superiors had told him that the 18 planes he had were the only planes the USAAF had and he “was to take good damn care of them!” He also resolved to take good care of the men that sat and flew those machines as without them the aircraft would be useless.

His first impression was favourable. Though she was an ugly bird she was fast, very fast. She packed a punch with her 20mm cannon and 4 50 cals. She had an extremely long range that would come very useful in the area of operations she was to be deployed in. For 6 weeks his young pilots grew accustomed to their new aircraft. They sped across the Californian sky with abandon, typical cocky pilots of 19 years of age. Olds was forced more than once to reprimand their carefree attitude to their expensive new machines. Flight time was coupled to hours of theory and studying battle techniques and tactics. Still, nothing was better than the real thing and Olds pestered his HQ to transfer the 48th closer to the frontline in order to better establish the P-38’s combat capabilities. His request was granted mid February 1942 and the 48th was soon embarked on several transports heading to Canton Island.

There his squadron began to practice flying in teams and engaged each other in mock dogfights. The closest they came to the enemy was a suspected sighting of a submarine one morning. Training was constant but morale begun to suffer as Canton Island did not offer an off duty young pilot the distractions that San Diego did. New orders had the 48th move to Suva, a flight that tested both the endurance and the long legs of the p-38 as the island hop, as 1LT Harper called it, was done in one single flight. All aircraft had reported an uneventful flight and all planes reached Suva safely. Two days later they repeated the move, only this time to Noumea and a day after that to Brisbane. It was a testament of their planes’ durability when the pilots were more worn out than the engines that had taken them almost half way around the world.

The 48th would spend two weeks at Brisbane completing its training. Wary of the finite number of planes that he had, Olds worked out a detailed training schedule that always had at least one third of his planes on the ground being serviced, the mechanics and ground crew also had to familiarise themselves with the P-38. March 1942 finally brought the news each man in the 48th wanted to hear, a posting to an active frontline deployment. It had been ordered to Townsville in response to increased air activity around Port Moresby. SWPAC HQ felt that the Lightning’s range would prove useful in covering the approaches to Townsville and also aid the search efforts in the Western Coral Sea.

These first few missions were just as boring to the pilots as the training was as the only things they saw in the air were seagulls and clouds. Yet the war would catch up with the men of the 48th soon enough. Colonel Olds was ordered to fly his unit to Port Moresby itself on the 18th March 1942. The unit’s first mission was to fly LRCAP over TF 1211, a resupply convoy that consisted of the AK Murada and AK Matefele. Enemy G3M and G4M1 bombers had already operated from Rabaul and could directly threaten the much need supply convoy. The P-38’s punching power, it was thought, could help deter Japanese efforts to interdict the convoy. By the 20th of March the men of the 48th had been flying over the ships of TF 1211 for two days. They flew alongside their comrades of the 9th Fighter Squadron flying the P-40e Warhawk. The 20th also signified the first day that the real war caught up with Colonel Olds and his men.

P-38 of 48th Fighter Squadron leaving Townsville Air Field for Port Moresby 18th March 1942






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/3/2008 6:35:24 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 124
RE: Enter the 48th Fighter - 9/2/2008 9:54:58 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline
War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron

20th March 1942

Aircraft on Patrol 12
Aircraft in Reserve 4
Aircraft Unserviceable 2
Pilots 18

12 aircraft flying CAP over ships. 12 aircraft returned safely to base. In our absence base was swept by 150 A6M2’s, no losses. At around 13:00 an air raid coming in from Rabaul comprising of G3M’s and A6M2 escorts hit Port Moresby air strip. Hits reported on runway, signal hut and fuel dump. 2 aircraft destroyed on ground, 2LT Lopez lightly wounded by bomb splinters. 2 A-24’s, 1 P-40e and 1 B-25c also destroyed. No Japanese planes seen shot down. At least the ships weren’t hit.

Destroyed P-38 on Port Moresby's airstrip 20th March 1942.






Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 125
Andaman Ops - 9/3/2008 1:46:04 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Three different carrier groups stand just off the Nicobar Islands. It seems that Port Blair is the intended target with two groups heading north east. The other group seems intent in pushing into the Indian Ocean. Colombo has been emptied of all heavy surface units and carriers should he try to raid the naval installations there. B-17's have flown into Trincomalee from the sub continent as their range can hit the carriers were they stand now or if they push in closer. Swordfish planes have flown into Port Blair from Diamond Harbour and hopefully can hit the Japs. If not they will be pulled out again, well those that survive that is. 7 subs are converging on the area and his transports have already been hit.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 126
RE: Andaman Ops - 9/3/2008 1:47:33 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		State of Operation Exodus 22-3-1942

Safe
 
AS Otus docked at Midway Island
AK Paz docked at Pearl Harbour
AK Corregidor docked at Pearl Harbour

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 127
RE: Andaman Ops - 9/3/2008 1:59:15 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Elsewhere in the theatre:

Two of his minelayers were sunk. One hit a mine a Johore Bharu (divine justice) and sunk immediately the other was reported sunk at Rabaul, a victim of the A-24's at Port Moresby. An AP also hit one of the Johore mines (sub laid). One of the troop carrying AP's involved in the Andaman operations was hit by SS KXVII and the Dutch submarine carried on stalking the convoy. More sub contacts in the US-Fiji-Oz shipping lines. DD King was able to scare away an attacker while the SS I-153 was hit by depth charges. SS RO-67 missed TK Warwick and she continues safely back to Los Angeles. The introduction of B-17 bombers and their longer legs has increased the number of spotted subs and made interception better.

The IJAAF in China has begun a massive bombardment programme. Luichow was hit and so was Sinyang, esepcially the elite 21st Fighter. Both this unit and the 2nd AVG have been retreated to Chungking to replace lost frames. Luckily no pilots were lost. The bad weather meant the Jap bombers came in undisturbed as the fighters could not scramble from their sodden fields.

Port Moresby was also subject to another massive bombardment. The Lightinings were shredded, but ill let Colonel Olds tell that particular story, by anotehr 150 zero sweep while 98 Nells hit the base hard. The position there is becoming very fragile and i assuming that this is a softening up before a main assault on Port Morseby.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/3/2008 6:33:58 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 128
Back to the 48th Fighter - 9/3/2008 2:11:42 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		War Diary of 48th Fighter Squadron

22nd March 1942

Aircraft on Patrol 4
Aircraft in Reserve 0
Aircraft Unserviceable 4
Pilots 13

Disastrous day for the squadron. 10 planes shot down. 5 pilots listed as MIA. Expect ass chewing to come down the line. 80 Zero sweep of base met by 12 planes on patrol. Inexperience of pilots show as all training efforts had been in vain. Wingmen did not accompany each other. Seems pilots overconfident of P-38’s ability. I do not question the planes ability one to one with a Zero but at odds of 8-1 the men should have known better. 5 of them have not come back the others pulled out and only 4 operational planes remain. 2 more are unserviceable while two have been damaged by air raids. Ordered to Townsville for debrief.

A6M2 flying victory loop over Port Moresby air strip 22nd March 1942





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 129
RE: Back to the 48th Fighter - 9/5/2008 1:05:49 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Theres been a dramatic shift in air power in two theatres recently. With the wind up of ops in Luzon and Malaya the IJAAF has begun massive bombing raids in China, Chungking was hit hard and so was Port Morseby. I simply do not have enough air power to adequately garrison out these theatres.

Massive transports steam to Rangoon, covered by the vast majority of Jap carriers, that are parked about 120miles off Port Blair. They are probably reinforcements for Herbs push in Burma and no doubt invasion forces for Sabang and Port Blair. B-17's have been put on Naval attack at Trincomalee and Chittagong, as they have the legs to reach Port Blair. I lost nearly 30 planes last turn, about half to air-air. Still the Swordfish at Port Blair were able to seriously damage a transport at Victoria Point. They have now rebased at Diamond Harbour as i expect the KB's air arms to plaster Port Blair in a day or two. Two brave Dutch subs are tailing the carriers and heres to some luck and a good torpedo strike.

Another Manila refugee docked at Pearl Harbour yesterday and despite the loss of one AS the operation has been deemend a success!

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/5/2008 1:06:55 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 130
RE: Back to the 48th Fighter - 9/6/2008 11:17:24 AM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Herb is causing mayhem in the US-Oz shipping lanes. His subs sank a small AK carrying 12 Kingcobras, and there has been an increase in the number of subs being spotted by aircraft. He has also been trying to infiltrate his armed raiders into the convoy routes but one was sunk by the Enterprise while another was sunk by a group of DD's on ASW duty, and according to the combat text the US radar played a crucial role in this particular victory.

As expected the KB plastered Port Blair with a full strike. The subs tailing the KB failed to make any attacks but they remain on station trying to get in among the heavier ships of the Kito Butai. B-17's attacked transports at Rangoon and my hunch that he was reinforcing his BUrma push was proved to be correct. We shall see what happens in the coming turns.

Herb has also successfully suppressed Port Moresby and i shall fight with what i have there. What i aim to do is mount some sort of operation elsewhere while his main carrier groups are in the Indian Ocean. In a few turns i should have CV's Hornet, Enterprise and Yorktown as well as the 2nd Marine and Americal Divisions in the New Caledonia area. Maybe a push onto Shortlands or Guadalcanal might make him reasses his overall strategy.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/6/2008 11:19:10 AM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 131
Port Blair Nuked - 9/7/2008 2:01:03 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		I'm so glad that shore bombardments will be fixed in AE. 2,000+ casualties in Port Blair, in a hex that wasnt too densely populated and 1,600 mines in it. There didn't seem to be any minesweeps by the Japs but in storm several BB's and CA's and not a single mine hit! Maybe i'll be luckier when he steams transports into Port Blair to capture it. Not a happy bunny

A second BB force was spotted yesterday to the south west of Baker Island,an AV providing support there and a troop convoy unloading an AA unit scattered northwards and search planes spotted this BB task force steaming westwards today, i am assuming back to Kwajelein after an unsuccessful cruise. Yet again his subs strike again and they are seriously beginning to piss me off Hes paying me back with my own medicine really!

Other than that its been a quiet turn with the usual displays of power by the IJAAF in China, can aynthing be done to stop them? Hornet and the Americal Division get closer to the frontlines and ships are gathering in New Zealand and Australia should an opportunity in the Southern Solomons arise.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 132
RE: Port Blair Nuked - 9/7/2008 7:23:09 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Failed Jap raid on Baker Island?




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 133
RE: Port Blair Nuked - 9/7/2008 7:24:38 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Summary of Japanese Operations in Port Blair area 25th/27th March 1942.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 134
China - 9/8/2008 2:04:38 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		A new front has opened up in China. An infantry Corps has entered Nanchang outflanking the units on the Nanchang-Kanshein road that have been trading shells with a Chinese army for a few weeks. Nanchang, as can be appreciated below is very lightly garrisoned with two engineer units. Another infantry corps is 6 miles out of the city and will driectly assault the engineers as soon as its in position. Herb was not expecting this move and hopefully it will have its double desired effect of cutting supply to the Jap units on the Kanhsein road and blunt his central offensive by diverting troops to counter this move. If he doesnt he'll run the risk of losing Nanchang. This might also relieve the aerial pressure thats been asserted on the southern Chinese flank.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/8/2008 2:05:21 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 135
RE: China - 9/8/2008 3:54:27 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Elsewhere in the theatre:

Two more of Herbs subs attacked and missed a damaged transport and an AK returning to San Francisco. There are now four 6 DD ASW TF's patrolling the main US-OZ-Fiji lanes and i am sure there has to be at least one sub per hex in these areas, they're over (under!) the sea like a rash!

SS O-20 hit an empty transport leaving Rangoon and is tailing this group south westwards. Oscars and Warhawks tussled over Lashio and 2 of each fell from the sky. The other air-air kill yesterday was a Zero that was claimed by a chinese fighter pilot in a Lancer over Hengchow! Bad weather has given the chinese some respite as most of the Japanese airfields were socked in with rain and fog.

An airfield base force is being transferred from Suva to Luganville as its basic landing strip has been upgraded and it can sustain fighter ops. The 51st aviation regiment is now providing logistical and aviation support for all the aeroplanes based at Suva, freeing up other base forces. An AVD is moving from Palmyra to Funafati to further choke the space Japanese submarines have to patrol in.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/8/2008 6:12:19 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 136
Sub Payback - 9/9/2008 2:05:36 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		The increased combined arms ASW efforts have began to pay off. 3 Japanese subs were repeatedly and heavily hit by ASW TF's made up of a mixture of old and new destroyers, as can be seen below:

-----------------
ASW attack at 92,105

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 12, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough
-----------------
ASW attack at 92,110

Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Case
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Maury
DD O'Brien

---------------------
ASW attack at 90,105

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD MacDonough

---------------------

Hopefully thats 3 less of the buggers i have to worry about. Unfortunately the AO Platte was hit twice as she was returning to Los Angeles. Surprisingly enough she only has 30 flotation and is heading to Canton for emergency repairs. Still 2 subs sunk and one probably out of action should help ease the situation. The DD Kennsion totally exhausted her complement of DC's!

Herb has also begun to pound the unit at Nanchang with his bombers. I have been able to put about 40 Warhawks on CAP over Nanchang tomorrow as the Chinese troops try to storm the city. With some luck i can keep the bombers away and win the fight.

B-17's out of Chittagong put a bomb into the BB Fuso as she and her TF hugged the Burmese coastline heading SW. Subs have been rerouted to the shallow coastal waters in the hope of striking at any Japanese ships in the area. Recon over Rangoon still suggests a large number of ships unloading there so targets may still be aplenty. As such a sub minelayer group is enroute to leave Herbie some belated Christmas presents in the harbour.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/9/2008 2:09:17 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 137
End of March 42 SitRep - 9/11/2008 2:30:23 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		March has seen the falls of Manila, Bataan, the rest of the DEI and the mopping up of several isolated outposts. It has also seen an increased effort on Herb's part ot interdict my shipping lanes with his subs. Though they enjoyed a 'Happy Time' at first, they have come of worse off late due to a massive increase in ASW resources being pumped into the area. March has also soon a protracted increase in Japanese air presence in China nad my air forces are gradually being pushed back by sheer weight of numbers! At the moment Port Blair and Sabang are the obvious targets and his supression of Port Moresby suggests and attack here too. Recon flights over Wake Island continue but its is heavily fortified and garrisoned. Herb has also begun to make anti-shipping raids into the Indian Ocean with aircraft based on Burmese fields.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 138
RE: End of March 42 SitRep - 9/11/2008 2:34:08 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Strategic Map of the Pacific Theatre of Operations, 31st March 1942




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 139
Port Blair Invaded - 9/13/2008 11:21:57 AM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Herb finally launched his attack on Port Blair. One division and one engineer unit made landfall last night at Port Blair but the landings went far from smoothly. The extensive minefields greatly impeded the Japanese transports and escorts with a few hitting the mines and casuing casualties. The coastal guns that had been installed in Port Blair also racked the Japanese ships with fire leaving some on fire and the waters of the beaches strewn with Japanese dead. Heres the summary of the action so far:

-----------------
TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)

TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34


Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Yamakisan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Nichiryu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Zuiho Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
AP Nichiryu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

---------------------
TF 101 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)

TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair, 23,34


Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
AP Takunan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Tenran Maru, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Port Blair, 23,34, firing at TF 101
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported


In Burma a combined USAAF and RAF strike on Magwe airfield resulted in 14 Oscars destroyed on the ground. I had planned for this raid on the previous turn as Betties from Magwe had hit shipping unloading at Diamond Harbour. Unfortunately the Indian airfields were socked in. Yet an effective coordinated raid went in today with very good results. 14 destroyed aircraft, 57 airfeild damage (according to intel), several air base and supply hits for two damaged aircraft. His Reisen were flying a sweep over Imphal, so the 2 Hurricanes lost there were good trade. The other theatres are going thorugh a quiet period especially that the bulk of the USN is going in for 4/42 upgrades. I shall rotate the carriers so that i have 3 on station and 3 in dry dock receiving the very useful AA upgrades. Likewise most of my submarine fleet will rotate to home ports to receive their radar upgrades before being unleashed on the Japs again.


< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/13/2008 5:23:34 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 140
RE: Port Blair Invaded - 9/13/2008 11:26:45 AM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		In China i was beaten out of Nanchang and now rue the fact i didnt attack the moment i got there. Herb was quickly able to rail in a regiment to support his engineers and my appauling supply situation meant that my forces were quickly routed from Nanchang. Yet there were able to distract him somewhat and eased some pressure from the the Central Army that has now been able to establish a strong defensive base at Sinyang. China promises to be interesting.

I have temporarily postponed any move in the Lunga region until after the carriers complete their 4/42 upgrades. I am hopeful that he will be busy with PM, were once again A-24's (transferred from Thursday Island) sank a couple of 1000lbers inot transports at Dobodura, when i decide to go into the Lunga area. I aim to have Lexington, Hornet and Yorktown as support for the operations and Lunganville will be able to base LBA as well. We shall see how this pans out.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 141
Port Blair falls to the Japanese - 9/14/2008 5:19:56 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Despite the mine hits and CD hits the defenders of Port Blair could not repel the attack in divisional strength that followed the intial landings. The bombardments by the IJN's battleships (i am so glad that this is being fixed in AE) destroyed much of the supplies the garrison was counting on to repel any attack. The Dutch sub SS O-20 was hit by minsweeping elements as she treid to attack a destroyer near Port Blair. Three more submarines hang around to try and hit any ships leaving the island. B-17's from Chittagong attacked the 16th Division on Port Blair but to no avail, the air strip has been targetted tomorrow to try and delay its use by the Japs by as long as possible.

There has also been a lot of maritime traffic in the Solomon Sea. SS KXVIII sunk a troop carrier off Finschhafen and the Port Moresby Catalina's have spotted a large number of ships criss crossing the Solomon Sea. I have 8 submarines in the area hoping to strike when a target presents itself. a 3 BB TF has been spotted at Rabaul port and Zeroes once again swept the skies above PM before bombers from Rabaul attacked. I had emptied PM of all aircraft and the attack largely fell on an empty strip, the Catalina base near the water was ignored.

SS RO-63 hit the TK Captain A.F. Lucas, loaded up with fuel for Suva. She missed a second tanker and the damaged ship is enroute to Canton Island. Canton Island currently houses 5 sub damaged ships and its docke is crucial in the sub war as damaged ships can pump out flood damage and ASW destroyers have a base close to the main shipping lanes. A lot of my destroyers, however are upgrading so ive concentrated all of the 4 stackers in the east Pacific into 3 TF's basing out of Pago-Pago, Canton Island and Baker Island. Once the other destroyers are ready i shall have plenty of ships to sweep the sea clean of his underwater pirates.

Luganville has upgraded its airfield and a Hudson squadron has been based there to provide long range search patrols while a P-39 squadron patrols the skies over the base. Once the Americal reaches Noumea, a RCT and AA unit will move to Luganville. I hope to develop the airfield to be able to base heavies there to bomb Lunga.

Two shortlegged Dutch submarines have been based at Broome and they will patrol the Sorebaja-Balikpapan sea lanes as i am sure that Herb is running oil convoys from this area back to the HI.

F4F4's are now being produced enmasse and all my carrier groups will be flying them in a few weeks. The Buffaloes of the Lexington, now on Wake Island, upgraded to F4F3's once the extra frames became available. Lightnings are also on the production lines and will soon the USAAF will be replacing its P-40e's that have admirably held the line.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/14/2008 5:23:39 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 142
RE: Port Blair falls to the Japanese - 9/15/2008 4:57:06 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		It was a case of MSW's vs submarines at Port Blair. Mines cleared but another MSW confined to the depths by a Dutch submarine. Similar story at Kwajalein though this time the score goes to the USN. B-17 raids on Port Blair have been stopped for the time being as fatigue rose to the mid-20's after two flights. The submarine arm will continue the fight against Port Blair for now.

I have spread my subs out in the Solomon Sea hoping to catch a glimpse of the soon to come invasion of Port Morseby. They are also spread on a line heading SE from Milne Bay should he round the cape there. B-17's, DO-24's, Empires and Catalinas are all on maximum range search patrols from the eastern Australian coast. Thursday Island has also expanded to size 3 airfield last turn which means i can at least bse some heavies there. A New Zealand Cavalry Brigade has been attched to SOPAC command in order to bolster the garrison there that currently stands at one company.

A Dutch AS has left Colombo with its escort. Its destination, the North Australian coast to support and replenish short legged Dutch subs tasked with interdicting his SRA lines of supply. There has also been a run of recon flights over Christmas Island IO. This together with the following intel shot of Singapore makes me think that its the next target. Sub minelayers have been sent to mine Merak, Tijilitjap and CI itself.





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 143
RE: Port Blair falls to the Japanese - 9/16/2008 3:29:46 AM   
Alfred

 

Posts: 6685
Joined: 9/28/2006
Status: offline 		cantona2,

ceterus paribus, I am not certain that having fatigue in the mid 20s is in itself a sufficient reason to stop using your B-17s against Port Blair.  I don't think that fatigue is usually too much of a problem until it reaches past 50.

Alfred

(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 144
RE: Port Blair falls to the Japanese - 9/17/2008 6:18:30 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Alfred

Thanks for the tip. Actually with fatigue in their mid-20's the bombers are getting more accurate!

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to Alfred)
Post #: 145
April 1942 - 9/17/2008 6:30:52 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		We're into April now and things seem to have settled down. Herbie claims his fleet at Singapore will not remain there for long. Christmas Island IO was occupied yesterday by ariborne troops and now doubt resupply and reinforcement convoys will follow in their wake. An allied AMC and a RN CV are hanging about for a few days west of Christmas Island in the hope of picking off any Jap ships that emerge but bearing in mind that the KB is in Singapore.

Things in Burma are also coming to a head. He's crossed the river to the North of Mandalay but his 33rd Division must have really been disrupted by the river crossing as his bombardments on the Burma Brigade and KGVO Tank Regiment have been weak. Ive pulled the 13th Indian Brigade out of Mandalay and begun to move it to Myitkyina. RAF Blenheims are doing a good job in the bombing runs on his vanguard units.

We're both building up bases in the Solomons and New Nebredies, with the sea between them an uneasy no mans land. Lugnaville has a base force and a RCT is being transferred from Noumea. There are also a Naval Base Force and an AA unit closing in to strengthen the base there. So far a squadron of NZ Hudsons and a unit of P-39's are based there and a Wildcat squadron will be joinning soon.

SS Finback yesterday torpedoed a Japanese AV near Rossel Islands. It had been stationed there just out of range of my long range bombers at Townsville. Finback has now moved elsewhere and a Dutch sub with more reliable torpedos is moving to intercept the Jap's ship likely route back to Rabaul.






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/17/2008 6:38:03 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 146
RE: April 1942 - 9/19/2008 4:25:45 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		 A few days further on:

The cargo, that the mass of AP's seen heading to Rangoon around the time of the Port Blair operations were carrying suddenly landed on Mandalay with a bang as 5 Divisions, 3 armoured Regiments and assorted troops stormed the fortifications using their vastly superior numbers to overwhelm the defenders. Thankfully the best fighting unit in Mandalay had been moved to Myitkyina a few days earlier. With such a powerful force in Burma I cannot dismiss a Japanese assault on India.

Elsewhere, SS S-38 torpedoed and shelled (3 hits of each type) a fuel laden AK at Kawjalein. Just south of Singapore the SS KXVII was sinking its fish into a troop laden transport. Herbie told me in his email that the ship hit was carrying the parent segment of the unit it was transporting. In Singapore harbour itself, where the Kito Butai is sheltering, the SS Skipjack hit the CL Abukuma with duds, her skipper was able to evade all ASW ships and stole safely out of the port areas and into open seas.

B-17's, operating for a very short time from Port Moresby, launched a surprise raid on the airfields around Rabaul. Recon photographs that were developed after the raid showed a damaged landing strip and at least 6 destroyed Nell bombers. The AV hit by the Finabck a few days ago, was spotted by the SS Tambor heading north-east through the Solomon Sea. The sub is purduing and a dutch submarine is patrolling the AV's likely route into Rabaul. Its confirmed damaged and moving slowly so a sub strike on it is in the offing.

CV Enterprise was disbanded in Pearl Harbour and that makes it 3 flattops in dry dock. Saratoga, Lexington and Hornet remain on patrol and will rotate to upgrade when the others are ready for redployment.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/19/2008 4:26:05 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 147
48th Fighter Squadron - 9/19/2008 5:57:10 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		9th April 1942

Aircraft on Patrol
Aircraft in Reserve 12
Aircraft Unserviceable 3
Pilots 15
 
Diary of Lt J.Miller
Squadron has been based in Sydney for almost four weeks now. The first replacement aircraft arrived two days ago and our ground crews are working hard to put them back together. The established strength of our squadron is now up to 12 serviceable airplanes and 3 still in their crates. Colonel Olds has returned from Stateside and has avoided a court martial. Rumours abound of our posting to a place called Luganville but for now we train ceaselessly making sure that our first mistake never happens again. Met a lovely girl called Doris yesterday...

Newly arrived Lightning being serviced





Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/19/2008 5:58:31 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 148
RE: 48th Fighter Squadron - 9/20/2008 1:18:46 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		11th April 1942

Aircraft on Patrol 0
Aircraft in Reserve 13
Aircraft Unserviceable 2
Pilots 15

Unit has been transferring to Noumea via Auckland. Further orders will have unit deployed on forward airstrip recently opened at Efate in order to support base at Lunganville.

P-38F Lightning of 48th Fighter Squadron enroute to Auckland 10th April 1942





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 149
Betty strikes - 9/20/2008 1:49:08 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		It was a relative quiet turn and Herbie has alluded to troop and ship movements. SIGINT also suggests that the Coral Sea is going to soon become a battlefield as recently signals of units prepping for Port Moresby have been picked up. I have Hornet at Brisbane, Yorktown at Sydney (13 sys) and Lexington has just left Suva for Noumea. 1 know 3 carriers against the might of the KB is a paltry show but i want to put up a fight for PM and not let him close the short supply route to Darwin. I have reinforced all eastern Australian airfields and Thursday Island as well. I have a decent submarine screen in which most of them are Dutch subs with less duds. If he is going for PM i now need to figure out whcih way hes coming, down the Torres Straits or via Milne Bay. Having spotted the KB at Singapore it may well be he goes via the straits but i doubt he will want an exposed risk to my LBA. Thankfully there are submarines in the Java sea trailing convoys and one or two pottering about the exits of the Banda and Celebes Seas. Likewise i have increased the number of search patrols from Northern Australian airfields as well. Yet it may all be a smoke screen as he has at least 6 Divisions in Burma so im waiting with bated breath.

In Burma the 2nd Burma Rifles and the KGVO Regiment were able to successfully disengage from their contact with the 33rd Division and are now heading East, away from Mandalay. I have also begun raiding his economic assets in Burma with the oil at Magwe taking the initial B-17 raids.

Bettys out of Lunga hit and sunk one transport from a 2 ship convoy that was unloading an EAB on Luganville. The CAP provided by the P-39's of the 67th Fighter Squadron engaged the Zero escort and managed to down to planes while losing two of their own. They then proceeded to dive on the Betty's but these ploughed through and sunk 4 torpedoes into the two ships sinking the AP Chaumot. The air war in the Eastern Coral Sea is definitely on! Efate now sports an operational fighter strip and a squadron of Wildcats is a day out. Lightnings are also on their way. Should Miss Betty come again she might go back with a spanked arse!

P-39 of 67th Fighter Squadron on Luganville.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 9/20/2008 1:50:38 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 150
Page:   <<   < prev  3 4 [5] 6 7   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> Search Areas Page: <<   < prev  3 4 [5] 6 7   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

1.570