obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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24 - 26 September 1943 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUBS: Seawolf got one direct hit from ASW Es and had an 'on fire' listing after the attack. That sounds like a bad thing when it's still under water. SOUTH PACIFIC: I'm trying to keep the pressure up on Terapo, but I will not get this base closed anytime soon, and now he's brought in some SeaBees. By the 26th the fields went to level 2. I simply can't keep up the sweeps with service level 3 planes. This is a good simulation of what the Japanese must have felt I'm sure. I've begun to remedy the situation by sending over some Tojo groups from Burma. I will then get a George group sent over there, once most of the planes are back in working order. The George is definitely best in rear areas and supported by some service 1 planes. On the 24th Jacks hit Terapo and were hit hard by the Hellcats there, losing 17 planes for 8 Hellcats. I can't fly them over 20k by our HR, but the Hellcats were layered to defend the ships in port delivering engineers, so the Jacks got some shots in against the lower levels. This worked to the advantage of the Tojos that came in after at 31k, as they got the dive on all of the out of position Helcats and went to town, downing 14 for 3 losses. So not a bad day but I can't yet get bombing runs in without losing a ton of planes, and most of the bases in range have damage on the fields that keep groups from flying due to low moral. A few Jakes get through to hit an LST. Jills are in range and set to go but decide to take out some ASW DDs instead, getting 3 TT hits on 3 different DDs, all of which are reported sunk. So although I couldn't realistically stop him from reinforcing the base, at least something got exposed and was hit hard. I had sent a small group of DDs to hit Normanton, and they should have gone in at flank, then sped away to almost their starting position near Gove. Instead they went 4 hexes, stopped and were sitting ducks for two air strikes of DBs from presumably Mornington Island. The Helldivers missed but the Vengences did not. Only one will be lost, but it's the Yugumo. Sick of units set correctly not responding to orders. On the 26th Jocke relieved the tired beaten down Hellcats with Spits and P-40Ks at 15k and P-47D at 31k. My now reduced number of Tojos got almost even losses. They will step down tomorrow and I will resume sweeps in a few days. A few squads of B-25D got hit by CAP protecting unloading shipping near Saidor. No bombs were landed. More CAP is put up in the area. NORTH PACIFIC: Nothing. WEST OZ: Some minimal bombing. I'm really curious how much he's bringing over here to Exmouth. I have 1250 AV under 5.6 + forts. Lots of supply. I hope he's only got the two divisions I'm seeing in bombing reports. BURMA: Nothing. Just flying out a few Tojo reserves and sending over some Georges from So Pac. CENTRAL PACIFIC: The invasion TFs and all supporting ships have vanished. As I have reinforcements coming soon, I will top up to the stacking limit for Baker Island in case that's on the menu as well. Canton Island is back to normal now with Jakes flying search. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 24, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 25 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 54 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 7 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed CAP engaged: VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 9 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes VRF-3F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 10 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes VMF-441 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft J2M2 Jack x 3 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 39 Japanese aircraft losses J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 33900. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes VRF-3F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 30000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 3 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 36 Japanese aircraft losses E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged No Allied losses Allied Ships LST-449, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VRF-3F with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 29000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling) 10 plane(s) intercepting now. 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 33000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes Massive explosion on LST-449 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 41 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 36 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 8 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet CAP engaged: VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 14700 and 33000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes VRF-3F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 29000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Salamaua , at 98,127 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 48 LB-30 Liberator x 3 B-24D Liberator x 58 B-24D1 Liberator x 114 PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 53 Airbase supply hits 20 Runway hits 146 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 95,132 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft B6N2 Jill x 15 Japanese aircraft losses B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged Allied Ships DD Woodworth, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Flusser, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Morris, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Walke Aircraft Attacking: 15 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Deboyne Islands at 103,134 Japanese Ships E Asagao E Tsushima Allied Ships SS Seawolf, hits 1, on fire On fire? That sounds bad when it's submerged! SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes at E Asagao Seawolf diving deep .... E Tsushima attacking submerged sub .... E Tsushima fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 25, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 29 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 29 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 1 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet * CAP engaged: VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 9 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters to 32000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes VMF-111 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes VMF-441 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Salamaua , at 98,127 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 24 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 44 LB-30 Liberator x 3 B-24D Liberator x 52 B-24D1 Liberator x 99 PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged Airbase hits 16 Airbase supply hits 8 Runway hits 85 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gove at 83,129 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 1 minutes Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 12 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 18 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Suzunami DD Yugumo DD Nenohi Aircraft Attacking: 13 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gove at 83,129 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Allied aircraft Vengeance I x 12 P-39D Airacobra x 13 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Suzunami DD Yugumo, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Nenohi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 1 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Fubuki(I) class DD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR September 26, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23 Allied aircraft Spitfire Vc Trop x 22 P-40K Warhawk x 12 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 1 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3 Allied aircraft Spitfire Vc Trop x 15 P-40K Warhawk x 5 P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 10 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 34000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes No.54 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes 347th FG/339th FS with P-40K Warhawk (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 29000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saidor at 99,124 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 2 N1K1-J George x 5 Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships AK Kosin Maru Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level * Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 201 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead 204 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saidor at 99,124 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 2 N1K1-J George x 2 Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships AK Huzikawa Maru Aircraft Attacking: 5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level * Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 20012 troops, 439 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 905 Defending force 24729 troops, 212 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 806 Japanese ground losses: 31 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 1st Marine Division 25th Infantry Division 754th Tank Battalion 102nd Combat Engineer Regiment 1st USMC Tank Battalion I US Amphib Corps /1 Defending units: 47th Engineer Regiment 6th Garrison Unit 22nd Division 91st Infantry Regiment 14th Garrison Unit 16th AA Regiment 30th Fld AA Gun Co 22nd JNAF AF Unit 31st Fld AA Gun Co 6th Shipping Engr Rgt /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinforcements: The subs will go to forward locations to be added to mass deployment plans based in Singers, Adak and Rabaul. SS RO-108 arrives at Hiroshima/Kure SS RO-109 arrives at Kobe SS RO-110 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo SS RO-111 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka SS RO-112 arrives at Hiroshima/Kure xAK Sainan Maru arrives at Osaka/Kyoto E Amakusa arrives at Tokyo xAK Toyoura Maru arrives at Tokyo Losses: Not happy about losing that ship for no good purpose. DD Yugumo Ships Sunk: A nice haul. DD Woodworth is reported to have been sunk near Portland Roads on Sep 24, 1943 DD Morris is reported to have been sunk near Portland Roads on Sep 24, 1943 DD Flusser is reported to have been sunk near Portland Roads on Sep 24, 1943 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Yugumo. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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