mind_messing
Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
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November 18th to November 27th, 1943
AE is a real emotional roller-coaster.
North Pacific
Nothing to report.
I need to sort CAP for the industry up here when I get the turn back. Loka should be able to hit something at long range now I'm sure.
Central Pacific
The IJN gets a bloody nose in the Marshalls in a series of battles lasting most of the month.
The first skirmish takes place on the 20th, with a monster Fletcher force marauding into a Japanese cruiser force.
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 136,121, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 4
CL Natori, Shell hits 7
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 3
DD Murasame, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
DD Harusame, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
DD Samidare, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Bradford
DD Charrette, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Chauncey
DD Conner
DD Cowell
DD Franks, Shell hits 1
DD Heermann, Shell hits 1
DD Hoel, Shell hits 3
DD Kidd, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Murray, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Abner Read, Shell hits 3
DD Sigourney, Shell hits 2
The Allies retort with a carrier raid on Mili on the 22nd, which catches the IJN ships despite the best efforts of the CAP over the island...
quote:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,121
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 10
N1K1-J George x 16
Ki-100-I Tony x 14
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 51
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 34
SBD-5 Dauntless x 36
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 11 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Ariake, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CA Takao, Bomb hits 16, and is sunk
DD Shimozuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
CA Chokai, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
To capitalize, Allied troops storm ashore at Tarawa and swiftly take the base.
There's some minor air battles as Japanese aircraft from the northern Marshalls take pot-shots at the various task forces moving around the region while the Allies consolidate their position on Tarawa.
Then, on the 25th, the KB appears on the scene.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 136,128
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 137 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 41
B6N2 Jill x 7
D4Y1 Judy x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Poelau Laut, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Tjisadane, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Sculptor, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-742
Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 40 (36 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (39 destroyed, 16 disabled)
In other words, a massive failure of a raid. The Allied ships promptly scatter for cover and the KB heads back to Truk with their heads held in shame.
Meanwhile, the defenders of Ocean Island, long starving, are at last completely destroyed by air attack, and Allied ships are spotted heading to claim possession of the cratered island.
It should have been easy, there was no garrison. The island was empty. But the KB wanted some blood.
A suicide sweep of Oscars from Kusaie Island keeps the CAP on Narau Island busy from interfering, with massive losses, while the KB goes to town on several undefended Allied task forces.
quote:
fternoon Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 130,130
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 9
A6M5b Zero x 35
B6N2 Jill x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 46
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 10 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Newcastle, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS Hovey, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Hopkins, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CL Montpelier, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APA Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tenedos
AK Cheleb, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ascella, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA John Penn, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (35 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 131,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 7
B6N2 Jill x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
xAK James L. Breck, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAK John F. Myers, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Frederick Billings
xAK John W. Hoyt, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Charles G. Coutant
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 130,130
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 41
B6N2 Jill x 12
D4Y1 Judy x 43
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 7 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CL Newcastle, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA John Penn, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ascella, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA George F. Elliot, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Allied ground losses:
1881 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 72 (69 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (41 destroyed, 6 disabled)
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 131,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 13
B6N2 Jill x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 4 damaged
Allied Ships
xAK John W. Hoyt, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Henry C. Payne, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Jeremiah M. Daily, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Don Marquis, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Frederick Billings
xAK John M. Bozeman, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Charles G. Coutant, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
It's textbook use of the KB for me - no opposition, no serious losses and the KB will run into the upper Marshalls for cover to avoid any Allied carrier force hiding in the wings.
However, as I mentioned to Lokasenna via email, it's nothing in the grand scheme of things. Minnows. However, I'm trying to drive home this notion of every invasion costing him shipping and troops. So far, my track record isn't too great. Shortlands and Tarawa both fell without any serious resistance from me, but hopefully I'll be improving that track record as the Allies work their way closer.
Plus, it feels good to catch Lokasenna on the wrong foot.
South-West Pacific
We catch a bunch of Allied barges and other small ships unloading at Kiriwina Island with a cruiser force. Nice, but not all that useful.
At Torokina, the last units are wiped out . We're officially pushed off Bougainville for good. New Britain and New Ireland are now on the frontline, and I'm shoving troops into New Ireland at a good rate.
After shifting air groups around, I leave Hansa Bay without any aircraft stationed at it. Loka mounts a "recon" raid on the 26th, and follows it up with a larger scale raid on the 27th. But there's a welcome party in the skies...
quote:
]Morning Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 42
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged
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Morning Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 25
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
I've set up a big Jill group up in Rabaul, along with whatever fighters I can gather. They'll hopefully go after shipping trying to unload at Shortlands. At this point, I'll do anything to slow the Allies down - I really want to see 1944 with the Allies not having passed beyond the New Britain Barrier.
DEI
Supplies and units are moving in to start setting up the second line here. Ambon and Timor are the main benefactors here, as well as Sumatra.
The Allies are creeping up the Australian coast towards Darwin from both the east and the west, so that requires a close eye kept on it. Gove is maxed out as a level 8 airbase...
Burma
The poor 104th Division at last reaches the shelter of the jungle, where the survivors are glad to collapse after continual bombing.
Elsewhere, nothing really is taking place. I've a crack squadron ready to take the Ki-84 Frank, so I'll be trying a limited air offensive in the next few weeks.
I'm debating a limited withdrawal of units in north-eastern Burma and re-focusing the defence on Central Burma. More information to follow shortly.
China
Long range Liberators hit the oil at Sian, totally destroying it. Well, I had a good two years out of it.
Home Islands
Forts and airbases are being built like mad up here. I want to take maximum advantage of the static aviation support and CD units, so those bases with static units are being as developed as far as they can be.
General Thoughts
The IJA is starting to bulk up, and so far, I'm liking what I see. Plenty of brigades that are reinforced to division strength in late-44 are due to arrive in China, so they're ear-marked for Luzon.
The smaller units will be expended in the DEI and on Mindanao, and all the naval guard units I'm buying back will get trips to various Central Pacific Islands.
My recent efforts into ASW efforts seem to be paying off. Apparently the Gato's a goner, and we've hurt a fair few subs in the last few weeks. Tracker tells me ten Allied subs have been sunk in November. Even so, Allied subs have did a good job - the Natori took two torpedoes between Truk and Saipan and will likely sink, and she'll join a whole host of smaller ships that have suffered at the hands of the Allied submarine fleet.
In general, I just need the calendar to keep creeping forward...
< Message edited by mind_messing -- 4/6/2015 11:23:12 PM >
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Printable Version
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 
The situation in the Gilberts. I hope to keep hitting his shipping in the region while he's stuck with only one large airbase.
Narau is being a pain for me, seeing as from there the Allies can make things difficult for me in terms of moving ships around. I'm ramming Kusaie full of supplies and troops, and Ponape won't be far behind.
You can see how the Allies are inching closer to Rabual. The good news is there's still some fight left for Japan in this theater, and if I go into 1944 still fighting in the Solomons, I'll consider myself well ahead of the game.
The war moves at a glacial pace in Burma thanks to the poor infrastructure. You can see the two IJN task forces ready to raid Cox's Bazzar. Both are undetected, so hopefully they'll harvest some easy VP's!
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