Canoerebel
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Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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1/26/44 and 1/27/44
Point and Click: After several month's absence, the KB showed up - bringing massed air squadrons to bear on a single point - Allied shipping at Morotai. The results were mixed, but damage incurred will hamper the Japanese strategically while the Allies probably won't be affected strategically.
The Allies sent out the first strikes: 27 SBD from Morotai torched four unprotected AKL near Manado. Then 24 SBD escorted by 100 high-quality fighters squared off against the KB - or a stout Mini-KB - and a CAP of 130 fighters. The Allies lost 18 planes, the Japanese 3. No hits scored.
First day Japanese strikes: 150 IJN fighters escort 41 strike aircraft against shipping at Morotai. The CAP of 81 fighters downs 15 aircraft while losing 7. Damage to ships:
xAK John Alden, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK John T. McMillan, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Kiangsu, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Antrim, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
A second strike of 29 fighters and 28 strike aircraft faces 13 fighters protecting ships at Lobolata (adjacent to Morotai). The Japanese lose 4 aircraft, the Allies none, with the following damage:
xAP B. F. Shaw, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Effective, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Allied First-day PM strike: 27 SBD do the following damage to shipping near Manado:
xAKL Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Konei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Fukkai Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Genmei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Nanko Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Ryuto Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Nissyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Then 21 bomb-equipped TBF square off against 12 Zero. Three TBF are downed, but the rest manage this:
xAKL Nissen Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Tenshin, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
First-Day PM IJN Strikes: 90 fighters and 70 strike aircraft vs. a CAP of 50 fighters. The Japanese lose 16 aircraft, the Allies one. The damage:
CL Mobile, Torpedo hits 1
DE Fleming, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Lyra, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
xAK John Carroll, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Naos, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Josiah Royce, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
Then 28 Zero and 50 strike aircraft vs. 9 CAP. IJN lose 5 aircraft, Allies none. Damage:
DD Talbot, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Gilmer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST-40, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
SC-749, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Elisavet, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAP B. F. Shaw, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Cape Mendocino, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AM Chief, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Golden Eagle, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
Japanese second-day A.M. attack: 66 Zero and 47 strike aircraft face 41 CAP over Morotai. IJN loses 17 aircaft, the Allies 2, for this damage: AK Naos, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
Then 35 Zero and 4 Jill face 16 fighters over Lobolata, the IJN losing one and the Allies two, with the following: DD Talbot, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
Allied second-day A.M. attack: 51 unescorted SBD face 36 Zero on CAP; 12 SBD are flamed, but accomplish this:
CVE Unyo
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 1
CVE Shinyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CVE Hosho
CVE Kaiyo
CVE Taiyo
Then, at a cost of five aircraft 16 fighters and 15 SBD contribute this:
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CVE Chuyo
CVE Shinyo, heavy fires
CVE Kaiyo
Next, at a cost of two aircraft, 13 TBF and 9 fighters contribute this:
CVE Shinyo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CLAA Tenryu
CVE Kaiyo
Japanese second-day P.M. strikes: 70 fighters and 45 strike aircraft vs. 21 fighters, the IJN losing 9 and the Allies 2, with this:
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Lyra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Sterope, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Josiah Royce, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Lawrence, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Analysis: The IJN probably lost far more aircraft than advertised, but scored decently against merchants with a few hits against smaller combat ships. Any decline in lift capacity is a blow to the Allies, so the damage will be felt. The Japanese, on the other hand, should have three CVE out of commission and have given away the location of a sizeable group of carriers - not an insignifcant matter given the upcoming Allied invasion of Ternate. Finally, the "somewhat" effectiveness of Allied strike aircraft against the carriers and those AKLs may help dissuade Miller from using them in such proximity to Morotai, and that would be just fine with me.
Burma: The Japanese army continues to retreat toward Tavoy rather than Bangkok, a situation that has me totally mystified. The Chindit assault on Raeheng didn't accomplish anything.
< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 4/1/2010 3:23:24 PM >
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