koniu
Posts: 2763
Joined: 2/28/2011 From: Konin, Poland, European Union Status: offline
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21-22 Feb 1944 Burma So it happens. 90k enemy troops in hex south of Meiktila is matching to jungle hex south of Taung Gyi. There is only one i can do. Orders: To all ground and air troops forces in Taung Gyi. Start immediate retreat South. Air fore will cover any movements as long as impassable. I have to do that. I cant risk cutting off 2500 AV in Taung Gyi area. I will take new defensive position south of base. Successful CAP trap above one of my units in Jungle East of Taung Gyi Morning Air attack on 143rd Infantry Regiment, at 60,49 , near Taung Gyi Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 20 Allied aircraft Blenheim VD x 21 A-20G Havoc x 9 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Blenheim VD: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged Blenheim VD: 1 destroyed by flak A-20G Havoc: 9 damaged DEI Enemy troops moving from Lautem to Dili. Base will fall fast. I was not able to reinforce base. I mamage only to droop some supplies. But it will not last for long. I will facing there 500AV against 300AV on my side. Battle of Salomon Sea At 20th i send 4 DD TF toward Woodlark as air trap. Trap fail but my recon detect CL TF in Milne Bay hex. I dont want risk interception of my DD TF so on 21th as reinforcement i send CA TF. Cas find enemy Fletcher TF. After short fire exchange both TF retreat - Allied destroyers to Milne Bay but Japanese Cruisers stuck on middle of Salomon sea. They where attacked from air but CAP manage to hold bombers. Japanese DD retreat To Rabaul. Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,128, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Mikuma CA Suzuya CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1 CL Oi DD Akatsuki DD Ikazuchi DD Inazuma DD Yukaze, Shell hits 3 Allied Ships DD Nicholson, Shell hits 1 DD Swanson DD McCook, Shell hits 5 DD Sims DD Hammann Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,128 ------------------------------------------------------- Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K2-J George x 10 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed On morning 21th search planes found that enemy CL TF is 7 hexes from Rabaul. Orders was give fast to CA TF i have in middle of Salomon Sea. Flank toward Rabaul and merge with 4 DD there and prepare to defense of Rabaul waters. In last moment my TFs merged. Few minutes later battle start. Allied side have all advantages they need: Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards Yet battle not go so well. When allied open fire at 2000 they start missing like i never saw. On other side Japan manage to launch sucesfoul Long Lance attack. Firs TT salvo hit CL Montpelier starting ammo storage explosion. CL sunk immediately. Seconds later another TT hit CL Denver and DD Braine Battle was long an bblody. At end Japan lost DD in exchange of Cleveland class CL and Fletcher class DD Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 2,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1 CA Suzuya, Shell hits 6 CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3 CL Oi DD Yugumo, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Akatsuki DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1 DD Inazuma DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Yukaze DD Susuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships CL Montpelier, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk CL Denver, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Beale, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Braine, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kidd, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Sigsbee, Shell hits 2 DD Strong, Shell hits 5, on fire But it was not end. Sudenly on horiont DD TF show up. Another blody battle start in with we both lose one DD. Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Mikuma CA Suzuya, on fire CL Kitakami CL Oi, Shell hits 1 DD Yugumo, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1 DD Ikazuchi DD Inazuma DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires DD Yukaze Allied Ships DD Nicholson DD Swanson, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Sims DD Hammann, Shell hits 1 Japanise commander decide to finsh job with remaning CL. He ract toward enemy TF that stuck one hex north of Rabaul. Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 10,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Mikuma CA Suzuya DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1 DD Ikazuchi DD Inazuma DD Yukaze, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CL Denver, Shell hits 8, and is sunk DD Beale, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Kidd DD Sigsbee, Shell hits 1, on fire When day end Japan was short of two DD and two DD need repairs. (Cruisers are undamage) Allies loses are heavier. They lost 2 Cleveland CLs, and 3 destroyers. Allies lost arledy 5 Cleveland CLs. They shoul have now only two of them is service. I must say in conditions i fight. Total supprise of Japanise TF, i must say it is great Victory
< Message edited by koniu -- 4/6/2014 10:23:52 AM >
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"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War"
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