obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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Nov 17 - 19, 1942 SUBS: AM Gale puts the hurt on RO-62 with 11 hits near Makin. One direct. At least four different IJN subs are in this area. Unfortunately one of the ROs spots the amphib TF with confirmed BB/AP/AK. No more surprise there. INDIA: Still a tense interlude over here. I have to be vigilant but it looks like nothing major coming our way as recent gains are built and fortified. CENT PAC: Makin is fortified with some base forces and supply. The Japanese send 9 Bettys out to challenge, and interestingly 6 of those get through thanks to some persistent Oscar pilots on escort. Most of these CVE Wildcat pilots are true newbies, at 50-55exp and 60-70 air skill. The Bettys dropped bombs which is interesting. There were also LR CAP and very experienced pilots from the Wasp involved, so I'm not sure how 6 of the 9 Bettys got through, but this doesn't bode well for a CV engagement right now. I'd like to get to Makin, but with the unknown TF hanging out up to the North in the Marshalls, right now seems like poor timing. I'm calling it off and I'll unload the Marines at Tabiteuaea. SO PAC: Lunga is invaded and after two DAs falls on the 19th!! It will take some time to hunt down and eradicate all Japanese resistance, but this effectively punctuates the end of Operation Grapeshot, which is a resounding success. By pushing far into Japanese space, making them fight for the deep penetration at Rekata Bay, a closer more sustainable foothold is gained and enlarged at Tulagi. Lunga falling means the next significant Japanese base complex in the area is at Buin/Torokina. I'l get engineers and base forces in and also try to land small commando units on forward bases that are unoccupied to again force either a challenge or an acquiescence to the persistence of the Allied moves in So Pac. It's also time to start thinking about New Guinea. CHINA: Troops keep getting a beating from the air. I'll try to move some fighters in again as the Japanese have only Oscars here now. SIGINT: Nick is getting started early in the Marianas. An Air Division also on the way there. 54th Division is loaded on xAP Ohtaka Maru moving to Saipan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 17, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Makin at 136,125 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 9 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 27 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 4 P-39D Airacobra x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed No Allied losses Allied Ships DMS Chandler xAP Maori Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 10 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead VRF-1F with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead VMF-441 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000. Raid is overhead 15th FG/46th FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead 8th FG/80th FS with P-38G Lightning (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000. Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 18, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lunga (114,138) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 4355 troops, 40 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 186 Defending force 4248 troops, 27 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 104 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Allied adjusted assault: 120 Japanese adjusted defense: 43 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 274 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 240 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 6th Marine Regiment 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Defending units: Maizuru 2nd SNLF 53rd Naval Guard Unit 47th JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 19, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Abemama at 136,129 Japanese Ships SS RO-63, hits 1 Allied Ships BB Idaho BB Tennessee AP President Monroe AP President Hayes AP President Adams AP President Jackson AK Titania DD Helm DD Bagley DD Frazier SS RO-63 is sighted by escort DD Helm fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bagley fails to find sub and abandons search DD Frazier attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub Ground combat at Lunga (114,138) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 4194 troops, 40 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 164 Defending force 3996 troops, 27 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 83 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Allied adjusted assault: 56 Japanese adjusted defense: 19 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-) experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 408 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 26 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled) Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 65 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 6th Marine Regiment 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion Defending units: Maizuru 2nd SNLF 53rd Naval Guard Unit 47th JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lots of refits and upgrades being completed, and the 40mm Bofors being added will definitely give the USN flak even more bite.
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< Message edited by obvert -- 10/31/2014 5:53:51 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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