wneumann
Posts: 3768
Joined: 11/1/2005 From: just beyond the outskirts of Margaritaville Status: offline
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Summary of Operations 1/21/42 US West Coast: An unescorted transport returning to the US West Coast reports attempted attack by a Jap submarine identified as the I-19 southwest of San Francisco. An ASW escort had departed to meet the transport and provide an escort through the final approach into San Francisco – the escort did meet the transport following the sub attack and merged with it four hexes out from San Francisco. Current US ASW practice is to provide a temporary ASW screen to otherwise unescorted individual transports while they are moving through sea areas within 4-5 hexes of the US West Coast. This practice is done either as an attached escort to departing transport(s) until they are beyond the 4-5 hex range, or sending an ASW escort to merge with incoming transport(s) approaching the 4-5 hex range from the coast. Location of the Jap sub attack (hex 214,78) was eight hexes SW of San Francisco, outside the present ASW screening range from the US West Coast. At this point, it's believed the location of this particular Jap sub contact was more coincidental rather than a deliberate action by Pillager to station Jap sub patrols outside the 4-5 hex range. For now, my current practice for these ASW escorts hasn’t been employed to the extent or the frequency where Pillager could have established a pattern. Solomon Is: Japanese surface TF appeared at Tulagi – DD Ikazuchi hit mine laid in a defensive minefield laid by Australian CM Bungaree in 12/41. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 411 encounters mine field at Tulagi (114,137) Japanese Ships CA Myoko, Mine hits 1 DD Ikazuchi, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (confirmed sunk) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It appears from this action that Tulagi is Pillager’s likely next target for Japanese southward expansion in the SW Pacific area. Current position of Force N is within striking range of Tulagi with plans to engage Jap transports attempting an amphibious operation at Tulagi (which can reasonably be expected shortly). While the presence of Force N will not prevent an eventual Japanese capture of Tulagi, I intend to make the fall of Tulagi a bit expensive for Pillager if at all possible. New Guinea: Jap bombers (15 G3M Nell) continue attacking Port Moresby airfield. Five Jap bombers hit by flak, additional damage reported to airfield facilities. Current status of Port Moresby base – runway damage 32, airfield service damage 40, no port damage. Australia: Jap LBA bombers hit airfield facilities in Darwin. AAR follows. Moderate damage reported to airfield facilities at Darwin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 9 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground Allied ground losses: 4 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 9 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current status of Darwin base – airfield service damage 8, no runway or port damage. DEI: Dutch and USAAF level bombers launch strikes against Jap-controlled oil facilities at Balikpapan and Samarinda. AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3 Allied aircraft 139WH-3 x 27 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses 139WH-3: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged Oil hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 1 x 139WH-3 bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 5 x 139WH-3 bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 84th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ib Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 Allied aircraft 139WH-3 x 2 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses 139WH-3: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: (same as preceding attack) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Samarinda , at 65,96 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 5 Allied aircraft losses B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged Oil hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 7000 feet * City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Training flight from Yamada Det S-1 has been caught up in attack -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Detected status of Samarinda base – oil production 79(22), 1 Japanese LCU, 39 Jap aircraft (19 fighters). This detected status indicates today’s B-17 raid produced a small amount of additional damage to oil facilities in Samarinda. Detected status of Balikpapan base – oil production 276(25), refinery 296(5), 4 Japanese LCU’s, undetermined number and type(s) of Jap aircraft. Also at least one detected Jap TF in Balikpapan. Plans are to continue employing Dutch level bombers in attacks against oil production facilities in Balikpapan as long as operational planes remain to do so. As these bombers will eventually be lost with the fall of the DEI, attacks on oil facilities are probably the (last and) most effective possible action for the Dutch bombers while they remain in existence. 43 Dutch 139-WH bombers (25 operational) remain with no available replacement planes. All available 139-WH planes in the replacement pool were used to rebuild Dutch bomber squadrons following strikes on oil facilities at Tarakan earlier in 1/42. Japanese ground forces capture Kolaka (SE Celebes near Kendari). AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kolaka (68,105) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3752 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127 Defending force 345 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9 Japanese adjusted assault: 63 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 63 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kolaka !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) Allied ground losses: 80 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 9th Infantry Regiment Defending units: Kendari Garrison Battalion Kendari Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An airlift by Dutch patrol seaplanes is now underway to transport elements of 27 Australian Brigade from Singapore to Palembang. A second group of Dutch patrol seaplanes from Batavia are picking up evacuated elements of 27 Brigade in Palembang and transporting them to Batavia. Submarine transports will be loading the cadre of 27 Brigade in Batavia for movement to Australia. Malaya: Continued Japanese air and ground bombardment of Singapore. Latest AAR of ground action follows. 48K supply remains on hand in Singapore. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Singapore (50,84) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 3871 troops, 380 guns, 162 vehicles, Assault Value = 2636 Defending force 28015 troops, 459 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 375 Allied ground losses: 87 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 12th Engineer Regiment 23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment 114th Infantry Regiment 148th Infantry Regiment 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment 16th Infantry Regiment 6th Tank Regiment 15th Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 3rd SNLF 5th Recon Regiment 4th Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 8th SNLF 14th Tank Regiment 56th Infantry Regiment 7th Tank Regiment 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment Yokosuka 4th SNLF II./143rd Infantry Battalion 11th Infantry Regiment 1st Tank Regiment 113th Infantry Regiment 41st Infantry Regiment Imperial Guards Division 21st Infantry Regiment III./143rd Infantry Battalion 24th Infantry Regiment 55th Infantry Regiment 5th Engineer Regiment 48th Division 56th Engineer Regiment 4th Tank Regiment 91st Naval Guard Unit 11th Shipping Engineer Regiment 35th Field AA Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 14th Army 47th Field AA Battalion 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 54th Const Co 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 31st Field AA Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 34th Field AA Battalion 1st RF Gun Battalion 5th Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 40th Field AA Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 25th Army 56th Field Artillery Regiment 53rd Const Co 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 18th Mountain Gun Regiment 45th Field AA Battalion 3rd Mortar Battalion 20th AA Regiment 55th Const Co Defending units: 2/17 Dogra Battalion 3/16th Punjab Battalion 2nd Argylls Battalion 3rd SSVF Battalion 3rd Cavalry Regiment 2nd Gordons Battalion 6th Indian Brigade 1st Manchester Battalion 28th Gurkha Brigade 22nd Indian Brigade 2nd Loyal Battalion 27th Australian Brigade 5/14th Punjab Battalion SSVF Brigade 2nd Malay Battalion Singapore Fortress 1st Malay Battalion 1st Mysore Battalion 1st Hyderabad Battalion 15th Indian Brigade 22nd Australian Brigade 5/2nd Punjab Battalion 29 Battery/3 HAA 22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment 2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 2nd ISF Base Force 224 Group RAF Malayan Air Wing 110th RAF Base Force 3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment 2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment III Indian Corps 109th RN Base Force Malaya Army 1st ISF Base Force 137/155th Field Regiment 30 Battery/3 HAA 111th RAF Base Force 272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 223 Group RAF AHQ Far East Singapore Base Force 109th RAF Base Force 112th RAF Base Force 1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment 1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment 5th Field Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Indian Brigade continues fighting to its last round at Kuantan (throwing branches and logs into the tracks of Japanese tanks to jam them up). AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kuantan (51,79) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 2041 troops, 8 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 75 Defending force 837 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28 Japanese adjusted assault: 36 Allied adjusted defense: 3 Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-) experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: op mode(-) Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 16 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 22nd Recon Regiment 56th Recon Regiment Defending units: 8th Indian Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burma: Japanese capture Pegu. AAR follows. It appears at this time only an “advance guard” of Japanese ground forces has entered Burma (most Japanese ground forces in SE Asia busy at Singapore). It's likely that Jap ground forces in Burma are not expected to appear in significant numbers until some time after the fall of Singapore. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Pegu (55,53) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 3366 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127 Defending force 406 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18 Japanese adjusted assault: 83 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 83 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Pegu !!! Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Allied ground losses: 341 casualties reported Squads: 22 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 112th Infantry Regiment (same LCU that captured Moulmein) Defending units: 4th Burma Rifles Battalion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China: Japanese ground forces continue attack at Changsha. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Changsha (82,52) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 1420 troops, 179 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2557 Defending force 45941 troops, 401 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 819 Allied ground losses: 58 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 40th Division 34th Division 39th Division 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Division 116th Division 6th Division 3rd Division 5th RGC Route Brigade (new Jap LCU entering this battle as a reinforcement) 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 13th Army 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Army 16th JAAF Base Force Defending units: 26th Chinese Corps 99th Chinese Corps 74th Chinese Corps 72nd Chinese Corps 37th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 78th Chinese Corps 20th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 5th Construction Regiment 27th Group Army 19th Group Army 29th Group Army 30th Group Army 9th War Area 17th Chinese Base Force ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
< Message edited by wneumann -- 9/5/2010 6:05:37 PM >
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