PzB74
Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000 From: No(r)way Status: offline
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Thx Erik; PsB must have gotten too little attention from his mother! Wouldn't be so quick to judge Andy's dispositions; you should read his side of the story. There's no way he knew what to expect; as I see it the lack of recon and support from Northern Oz were the biggest weaknesses. Pretty sure he wanted a coupe de maine before we got to strong in this region. Even a mediocre battle of attrition will favor the Allies; with all the reinforcements he is receiving he may be winning despite of loosing some battles. We still don't have a choice as I see it - unless we react the perimeter will be swept back faster than we wish. - The only reason I welcome a battle in last half of 43 is that it's much preferable to a battle in mid 44... Will try to live up to the expectations guys, but don't give me to much rope Our focus now is to distribute air support, supplies and engineers as required and then set up the strongest LBA force possible Planning to let 250 Helens support the shuttle bombardments of Waingapo. A large force of subs also just arrived and I can now cover most approaches to the region. I'm really pleased with the situation right now; the perfect setting for kicking ar$se and chewing bubble gum AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 25, 43 Surface Combat A series of surface battles between light forces. We loose 2 destroyers, 2 more are damaged, a sub and our larget CM sinks together with an empty barge convoy. In return we sink 2 enemy destroyers and heavily damage another. The Flectchers are tough customers! Night Time Surface Combat, near Roti at 66,115, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Shinonome DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Yugiri, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Uruyuke Allied Ships DD Saufley, Shell hits 4 DD Waller, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Memboro at 64,112, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Japanese Ships CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk Allied Ships DD Jenkins DD LaVallette, Shell hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Memboro at 63,112, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Oboro DD Tatsuyuke, Shell hits 2 DD Tadeyame Allied Ships DD Jenkins DD LaVallette Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 65,113, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships LB-202, Shell hits 2, and is sunk LB-203, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-204, Shell hits 2, and is sunk LB-205, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-206, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-207, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-208, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-209, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-210, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-211, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-212, Shell hits 1, and is sunk LB-213, Shell hits 3, and is sunk Allied Ships DD Nicholas DD O'Bannon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Sawoe-eilanden at 64,116, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Shirakumo DD Yugiri DD Uruyuke Allied Ships DD Saufley, Shell hits 5, heavy fires -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Sawoe-eilanden at 64,115, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Shinonome, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Yugiri, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Uruyuke Allied Ships DD Nicholas, Shell hits 1 DD O'Bannon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bombardments Not taking any chances; the big boys hit Lombled! Night Naval bombardment of Lomblen at 68,113 Japanese Ships BB Haruna BB Kongo CA Ashigara CA Takao CL Ninaru CL Yubari DD Tagonami DD Mikazuki DD Uzuki DD Akebono DD Ayanami DD Shirayuki Allied Ships PT-236, Shell hits 1, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 161 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 21 disabled Port hits 25 Port supply hits 11 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna BB Haruna firing at Lomblen BB Kongo firing at Lomblen F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CA Ashigara CA Ashigara firing at Americal Infantry Division CA Takao firing at Americal Infantry Division CL Ninaru firing at Americal Infantry Division CL Yubari firing at Americal Infantry Division DD Tagonami firing at Lomblen DD Mikazuki firing at Lomblen DD Uzuki firing at Lomblen DD Akebono firing at Lomblen DD Ayanami firing at 102nd Combat Engineer Regiment DD Shirayuki firing at Lomblen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub Attacks A sub is lost but another one sinks a destroyer in return. Submarine attack near Derby at 62,123 Japanese Ships SS I-38, hits 22, and is sunk Allied Ships CL Richmond DD Meade DD Aaron Ward DD Endicott DD Doyle DD Carmick DD Baldwin SS I-38 is sighted by escort DD Endicott fails to find sub and abandons search DD Doyle attacking submerged sub .... SS I-38 forced to surface! DD Doyle firing on surfaced sub .... DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub .... DD Baldwin firing on surfaced sub .... DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub .... DD Doyle firing on surfaced sub .... DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub .... DD Baldwin firing on surfaced sub .... DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub .... DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub .... DD Baldwin firing on surfaced sub .... DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub .... DD Doyle firing on surfaced sub .... DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub .... DD Baldwin firing on surfaced sub .... DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub .... DD Doyle firing on surfaced sub .... DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub .... DD Baldwin firing on surfaced sub .... Sub slips beneath the waves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Port Hedland at 59,126 Japanese Ships SS I-29 Allied Ships DD Buchanan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CL Richmond DD Meade DD Aaron Ward DD Endicott DD Doyle DD Carmick DD Baldwin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Combat Dispersed battles as enemy fighters perform sweep and smaller formations of ground attack and 4Es attack our bases with limited effect. Our sweeps continue to dig into the enemy CAP. In the South Pacific a convoy is sighted heading for Luganville; a heavy T-bolt escort shoot down our long range escorts and 2 Nells. The attack plane can't hit the agile destroyers they so unwisely chose as targets. I also ordered most of our bombers to hit Lomblen and paras to assist the SNLF unit in its assault Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 31 Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 2 P-38F Lightning x 8 P-38H Lightning x 8 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 36 F4U-1 Corsair x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 1st Australian Para Battalion, at 68,113 (Lomblen) Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 49 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 2000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 1st Australian Para Battalion, at 68,113 (Lomblen) Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 41 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 41 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Americal Infantry Division, at 68,113 (Lomblen) Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 19 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb Also attacking 1st Australian Para Bn /2 ... Also attacking Americal Infantry Div /1 ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Lomblen , at 68,113 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 31 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged Allied Ships PT-237, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-235, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-239, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Port hits 8 Port supply hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 31 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 5000 feet Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on II./4th Infantry Battalion, at 63,127 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 33 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 26 TBF-1 Avenger x 5 Allied aircraft losses SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 54 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 21st JAAF AF Bn , at 63,127 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 23 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 39 TBF-1 Avenger x 41 Allied aircraft losses SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 170 casualties reported Squads: 15 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 15 (9 destroyed, 6 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 22 N1K1 Rex x 7 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21 Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 1 P-38F Lightning x 3 P-38H Lightning x 3 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 30 F4U-1 Corsair x 5 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 41 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 21 N1K1 Rex x 6 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 14 B-24D1 Liberator x 12 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged Runway hits 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 27 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 9 N1K1 Rex x 6 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7 Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 2 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet * Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 7 N1K1 Rex x 2 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 7000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bombs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 3 N1K1 Rex x 1 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 2 Allied aircraft P-38F Lightning x 4 P-38H Lightning x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 2 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet 3 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 22 Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 2 P-38F Lightning x 6 P-38H Lightning x 4 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22 F4U-1 Corsair x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112 Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-61-Ib Tony x 16 Allied aircraft Hurricane XIIb x 2 P-38F Lightning x 3 P-38H Lightning x 2 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 14 F4U-1 Corsair x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 119,152 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 5 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 14 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 119,152 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 8 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Gwin Aircraft Attacking: 5 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Americal Infantry Division, at 68,113 (Lomblen) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 8 B6N1 Jill x 22 Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 3 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground Combat We wipie out Lomblen; this feels great - really had to get rid of this asap. Now we can turn our full attention to Waingapo. The Tanaka Detachment was expelled from Waingapo with losses and an enemy armored bde pursued it. The Bde alone can't threaten our 250 AV garrison with 4 forts alone; if we can land enough reinforcements within 3-4 days we have a chance of defeating this strong unit separately. Ground combat at Lomblen (68,113) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1233 troops, 15 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 67 Defending force 796 troops, 10 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 35 Japanese adjusted assault: 17 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Lomblen !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-) experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 59 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 893 casualties reported Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 83 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 5 Assaulting units: Maizuru 1st SNLF 4th Raiding Rgt /5 Defending units: Americal Infantry Div /1 102nd Combat Engr Rgt /1 810th EAB /1 872/873rd EAB /1 3rd USN Naval Const Rgt /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Waingapoe (63,113) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 16309 troops, 366 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 1152 Defending force 2643 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 85 Allied adjusted assault: 1231 Japanese adjusted defense: 85 Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1400 casualties reported Squads: 19 destroyed, 31 disabled Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 46 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Allied ground losses: 339 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Units pursuing 1 Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 73rd Motorised Brigade 7th Australian Division 33rd Infantry Division 7th Infantry Division 3rd USN Naval Construction Regiment XIV US Corps 36th Aviation Base Force 872/873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion 9 Group RAAF /1 Defending units: Kimura Det ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Balance As you can see there are _not_ alot of engineers at Waingapoe. Let them try to clean up the mess as 7 battleships and 5 heavy cruisers start shuttle bombardment runs from Soerabaja
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"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without" - Dwight D. Eisenhower
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