Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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*************Dec 30, 1942(c)**************** Darwin/Bathurst: It seems the Bathurst group got out a little too far ahead of the carriers and did not benefit from the carrier CAP. The LRCAP from Gove was not quite sufficient. A mild case of victory disease. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 76,123 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 G4M1 Betty x 4 Allied aircraft Beaufighter Ic x 1 F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships AP U.S. Grant, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 254 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled I think these were SeaBees aboard USS Grant. Oops. Nice AP too. LYB air losses in Zeroes and Bettys were moderately heavy after several small raids were repulsed. A second day of ground bombardment at Darwin reveals the LYB's are not giving up yet. Ground combat at Darwin (76,124) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 20590 troops, 465 guns, 314 vehicles, Assault Value = 1258 Defending force 16644 troops, 152 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 529 Japanese ground losses: 44 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 23 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 22nd Marine Regiment 632nd TD Bn /1 2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion 7th Australian Division 6th Marine Regiment 6th Australian Division 1st Marine Regiment 2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion 2nd USMC Engineer Regiment 193rd Tank Bn /2 2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion South Pacific 2nd RAAF M/W Sqn /1 21/22 Field Regiment 134th Field Artillery Battalion 8th Marine Defense Battalion 225th Field Artillery Battalion 2/11th Field Regiment 16th USN SeaBees /1 2/9th Field Regiment 2nd Australian Hvy AA Rgt /1 Defending units: 18th Tank Regiment 38th/A Division 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade 4th Engineer Co 38th/B Division 107th JAAF AF Bn 22nd Ind.AA Gun Co 52nd JNAF AF Unit 53rd JNAF AF Unit 5th Div /2 Fairly good smackdown by the B-17's at Darwin. I had to convert one B-17 squadron to B-25's as all the squadrons are light on airframes. No CAP either at Darwin or Wyndham. Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 17 B-17F Fortress x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 5/17/2012 2:54:51 PM >
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