obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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8 - 9 December 1943 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUBS: British subs hit 2 DDs near Ramree after naval battles at Akyab, sinking both. SOUTH PACIFIC: Milne Bay shrugs off another big raid with little damage. I'm also sending in ships to begin evacuating big useful infantry, AA and engineer units for use in the DEI. WEST OZ: Troop ships are loading at Darwin and Exmouth. Praying for a few more days of calm. Interestingly, no recon these days at Exmouth. Darwin has protection from 100 fighters, but is under constant scrutiny. BURMA: The oceans took precedent during these turns. I sent DDs to hit PT boats at Ranree Island on the 8th. All good there. The moon helped us sink five. The bombardment didn't go, and I probably should have cancelled for another time. Instead I though maybe he wouldn't imagine such a bold step. never a good assumption against good play. So we had a tussle. Five British CA were sitting at Akyab waiting, and the BB, 2 CA, CL, 7 DD TF went in. The battle started at 2k and Takao was hit early with a TT that probably ruined our chances of getting away with good results here. Nothing sank but a Brit DD in the first engagement, but the Takao and the Nagara were about to go and were put in escort TFs. I hate this function, as then the DD allocated to them were out of action and also left unCAPed, which showed up as a problem later. So with now only 5 DD, the Hiei and Kinugasa met the Brits again, sinking the Shropshire and Exeter. The Kinugasa was in sorry shape though and sank after the battle. The devastating part was later when subs nailed 2 DD and air strikes hit the unCAPed escorts for three more losses. Looks like I tried for too much here, and wasn't quite powerful or subtle enough in my methods to get in there. CENTRAL PACFIC: Ships are hanging around Canton Island and some subs are lurking in the area hoping for opportunities. Baker Island does make forts 6. He most likely won't even hit it now, though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 8, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 54,48, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Akigumo DD Hayashimo DD Akishimo DD Oboro Allied Ships MTB 283 MTB 284 MTB 285 MTB 286, Shell hits 1, and is sunk MTB 291 MTB 292 MTB 293, Shell hits 1, and is sunk MTB 294 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 54,48, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Akigumo DD Hayashimo DD Akishimo DD Oboro Allied Ships MTB 275 MTB 276 MTB 277 MTB 278 MTB 279 MTB 280 MTB 281, Shell hits 1, and is sunk MTB 282, Shell hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 54,48, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Akigumo DD Hayashimo DD Akishimo DD Oboro Allied Ships MTB 283 MTB 284 MTB 285 MTB 291 MTB 292, Shell hits 1, and is sunk MTB 294 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,133 Japanese Ships SS I-10, hits 6 Allied Ships DMS Zane DMS Lamberton DMS Boggs SS I-10 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Zane DMS Lamberton attacking submerged sub .... SS I-10 eludes ASW attack from DMS Lamberton Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Gove , at 82,127 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 21 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 11 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 48 Aircraft Attacking: 21 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 9, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134 Japanese Ships SS RO-62, hits 2 Allied Ships DMS Zane, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DMS Lamberton DMS Boggs SS RO-62 launches 4 torpedoes at DMS Zane RO-62 diving deep .... DMS Boggs attacking submerged sub .... DMS Boggs cannot reach attack position over SS RO-62 SS RO-62 eludes ASW attack from DMS Boggs DMS Boggs attacking submerged sub .... DMS Boggs cannot reach attack position over SS RO-62 Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Hiei CA Takao, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Nagara, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Asashio DD Arashio, Shell hits 2 DD Umikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Hibiki DD Usugumo DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1 DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Shropshire, Shell hits 4, on fire CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 2 CA Sussex, Shell hits 1 CA Suffolk, Shell hits 2 CA Exeter, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Racehorse DD Rapid DD Redoubt, Shell hits 1 DD Relentless, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Roebuck, Shell hits 1 DD Rotherham, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 92% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards CL Nagara engages CA Suffolk at 7,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards CA Takao engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards CL Nagara engages CA Exeter at 5,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 7,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Shropshire at 11,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 13,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards CA Exeter engages CL Nagara at 12,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards CA Exeter engages CL Nagara at 11,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards CL Nagara engages CA Exeter at 7,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards CA Takao engages CA Exeter at 9,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Suffolk at 12,000 yards CA Takao engages CA Suffolk at 12,000 yards DD Asashio engages DD Rapid at 12,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 7,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Walrus II: 1 destroyed Seagull V: 2 destroyed Japanese Ships BB Hiei, Shell hits 1 CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Asashio DD Arashio, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Hibiki DD Usugumo, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Shropshire, Shell hits 17, and is sunk CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 3, on fire CA Sussex CA Suffolk CA Exeter, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Racehorse, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Rapid, Shell hits 2, heavy fires DD Redoubt, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Relentless, Shell hits 3, heavy fires DD Roebuck, Shell hits 1 Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 92% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards CA Kinugasa engages CA Exeter at 7,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards CA Exeter sunk by CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards Massive explosion on CA Shropshire CA Shropshire sunk by BB Hiei at 2,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Sussex at 5,000 yards CA Suffolk engages CA Kinugasa at 5,000 yards CA Dorsetshire engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards CA Suffolk engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Dorsetshire at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Dorsetshire at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Dorsetshire at 8,000 yards DD Racehorse engages DD Usugumo at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards CA Kinugasa engages CA Suffolk at 10,000 yards DD Shirakumo engages DD Racehorse at 10,000 yards Boyd, D.W. orders Allied TF to disengage Range closes to 7,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Suffolk at 7,000 yards CA Dorsetshire engages CA Kinugasa at 7,000 yards DD Shirakumo engages DD Racehorse at 7,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Suffolk at 13,000 yards CA Suffolk engages CA Kinugasa at 13,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed Japanese Ships [color] Takao, and is sunk DD Umikaze, on fire DD Yugiri Allied Ships MTB 275 MTB 276, Shell hits 1 MTB 277 MTB 278 MTB 279 MTB 280, Shell hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Ramree Island at 53,48 Japanese Ships DD Usugumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Shirakumo Allied Ships SS Trespasser SS Trespasser launches 4 torpedoes at DD Usugumo Trespasser diving deep .... DD Shirakumo fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Prome at 53,50 Japanese Ships DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Trusty SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at DD Yugiri Trusty diving deep .... Sub escapes detection -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 50th Tank Brigade, at 55,49 , near Prome Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 24 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 96 Ki-49-IIb Helen x 36 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIb Helen: 15 damaged Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed by flak Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 35 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 12000 feet Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Allied aircraft Mitchell II x 15 B-17E Fortress x 15 B-24D Liberator x 17 B-24D1 Liberator x 70 B-24J Liberator x 23 B-25C Mitchell x 42 B-25D1 Mitchell x 79 PB4Y-1 Liberator x 20 Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Airbase hits 42 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 89 Aircraft Attacking: 5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Prome at 53,50 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufort I x 8 P-40K Warhawk x 25 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Umikaze, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 20th AA Regiment, at 59,45 (Shwebo) Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Allied aircraft Blenheim VD x 13 Liberator II x 12 Liberator B.III x 12 Liberator GR.III x 10 Wellington Ic x 26 Wellington B.X x 26 B-17F Fortress x 3 B-24D Liberator x 20 B-24D1 Liberator x 67 B-24J Liberator x 50 B-25C Mitchell x 41 Allied aircraft losses Wellington Ic: 1 damaged B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged Japanese ground losses: 271 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 59 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 69 (15 destroyed, 54 disabled) Vehicles lost 47 (11 destroyed, 36 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 13 x Wellington B.X bombing from 10000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Prome at 53,50 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Allied aircraft Albacore I x 15 Spitfire VIII x 15 Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Hibiki, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinforcements: These infantry are the units that go to the DEI. I'll buy one a week. The air HQ and base forces are for Thailand and N Malaya. 9th Air Division arrives at Saigon 5th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Hankow 12th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Hankow 6th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai 7th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Nanchang 13th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Canton 1st Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Tsingtao 2nd Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Peiping 9th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Tientsin 3rd Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Peiping 4th Ind.Infantry Brigade arrives at Peiping 87th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Saigon 89th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Saigon 22nd JAAF Base Force arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo 26th JAAF Base Force arrives at Shanghai 27th JAAF Base Force arrives at Sapporo 30th JAAF Base Force arrives at Tokyo Aircraft N1K2-J George advances R&D (3/44) Losses: Losing another two CA is tough, but at this point in the game not unexpected. At least we took out an equal number. It's the DDs that are concerning me. Loss of CA Takao on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted CA Kinugasa CL Nagara Loss of DD Umikaze on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted Loss of DD Hibiki on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted Loss of DD Usugumo on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted Loss of DD Shirakumo on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted Loss of DD Yugiri on Dec 09, 1943 is admitted Ships Sunk: Not a bad haul, just a high price. MTB 281 is reported to have been sunk near Ramree Island on Dec 08, 1943 MTB 282 is reported to have been sunk near Ramree Island on Dec 08, 1943 MTB 286 is reported to have been sunk near Ramree Island on Dec 08, 1943 MTB 292 is reported to have been sunk near Ramree Island on Dec 08, 1943 MTB 293 is reported to have been sunk near Ramree Island on Dec 08, 1943 Previous report of sinking of SS Scamp incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service CA Shropshire is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Dec 09, 1943 CA Exeter is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Dec 09, 1943 DD Rotherham is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Dec 09, 1943 DMS Zane is reported to have been sunk near Milne Bay on Dec 09, 1943 MTB 280 is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Dec 09, 1943 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Takao is one of those ships that looks like it'll never go down. Alas, one TT to begin the battle and it didn't have a chance. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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< Message edited by obvert -- 1/11/2013 4:47:12 PM >
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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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