obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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March 26 - 28, 1943 INDIA: Small strikes go against all Ceylon bases on the 26th, but the air strikes against Trincomalee are hampered by weather, and the base seems to recover a bit, still showing damage in the 70s. Later strikes in succeeding days are again hampered by weather at Trincomalee and others not able to fly due to weather at home bases. Feeling uneasy here. I also see a CV TF moving in the IO, and I'll send subs running, but also limit strikes to Trin in case of a massive LR CAP and CV CAP there. On the other side of India, strikes are launched against Patna as that thorn in the side of the Allied offensives is emptied of fighters, most likely to support operations at Madras and Ceylon. The recon shows troops leaving the base. Is this a pull-back? We drop a good hit on the fields with the dregs of the Allied arsenal plus a few 4Es. The flak is murderous here, as Japanese anti-aircraft still seems equal or perhaps slightly stronger than Allied equivalents, most likely due to experience levels of these well used units. Colombo harbor is swept for mines and the AMc are hit by CD gun fire. I lose two of them. SO PAC: At Buin on the 25th our AM manages to clear some mines right under the nose of the Japanese. For god measure it damages the I-122 with 5 hits as well. Judys then come in escorted by Oscars and nail it, but with significant Oscar losses and a few DB lost as well. VPs to the Allies and a path cleared for the future here. But ... Georges are here!! They show up dramatically, sweeping away air cover around Shortlands. This leaves the door open to take advantage of my mistake in forgetting to send cruisers at Shortlands on their intended bombardment of Buin. A group of Lilys comes in, which at first makes me very happy, since it was not the Judys. However, five 100kg hits later and the CA Cornwall is in danger with 72/47(17)/23(12) and 37 fires still burning!! From these not so big bombs. I realize later that these RN CA have only 25 deck armor, but still this is a minimal strike to get so much on a CA. I disband it in Shortlands and hope of the best. The Cornwall is hit but still able to move well enough and it should get away, but DD Duncan looks bad too with big fires. I'll send in another TF to cover the retreat and hit Buin for the 28th. On the 27th a Fiji brigade takes Choiseul easily. Now at the defensive line of the Japanese, with Buin and Torokina defended well. I'l take some time here to build bases and pick away, while concentrating on SW Pac more for a week or two. CHINA: Kunming suffers through three days of attacks, but holds. OZ: Troops moving toward Perth. SIGINT: Looks to me like an evacuation may be in the works. I'm wary of an all-out blitz to either Trin or Madras, as there are now 500-700 fighters in Madras, and i can't seem to get the slid kill shot to Trincomalee fields no matter what I set to hit there due to weather and defensive flak. I'll have to rely on subs to do something, but if this is a pull-back, then the efforts at Ceylon have been a success even if units are not trapped there or at Madras. AK Tosan Maru is moving to 44,57. AK Nichiyu Maru is moving to 45,56. Radio transmissions detected at 44,61. PB Kenkon Maru is moving to Madras (35,40). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 25, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 236 encounters mine field at Colombo (29,48) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships AMc Randas, Shell hits 6, on fire AMc Cuttack, Shell hits 4 Japanese ground losses: 16 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled 3rd Provisional Base Force firing at AMc Randas AMc Randas firing at 3rd Provisional Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Patna , at 54,30 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft A-29A Hudson x 12 I-15-III x 12 P-66 Vanguard x 4 Beaufighter VIf x 7 Beaufighter VIc x 16 Mohawk IV x 10 Wellington Ic x 11 B-24D Liberator x 3 Allied aircraft losses A-29A Hudson: 6 damaged A-29A Hudson: 1 destroyed by flak Wellington Ic: 6 damaged Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed by flak B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 16 Aircraft Attacking: 11 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 12000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft Wellington Ic x 30 No Allied losses Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 11 Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Vengeance I x 14 B-26 Marauder x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Vengeance I: 3 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 1 Port hits 1 Port fuel hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x Vengeance I bombing from 9000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 15000 feet Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 18 Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 7 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 9 No Allied losses Port hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 15000 feet Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kunming (69,48) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 15246 troops, 318 guns, 922 vehicles, Assault Value = 577 Defending force 31965 troops, 207 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 555 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 510 Allied adjusted defense: 565 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 482 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Allied ground losses: 504 casualties reported Squads: 11 destroyed, 49 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled) Assaulting units: 2nd Tank Division Guards Tank Division 23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 64th Chinese Corps 73rd Chinese Corps 32nd Chinese Corps 56th Chinese Corps 49th Chinese Corps 80th Chinese Corps 33rd Base Group 11th Group Army 10th Construction Regiment 9th Group Army 88th Chinese Division 102nd RAF Base Force 5th Group Army 56th AT Gun Regiment 16th Chinese Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 27, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 322 encounters mine field at Colombo (29,48) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships AMc Victoria Marie, Shell hits 3, on fire AMc St Anthony, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage AMc Baroda, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage AMc St Anthony firing at 3rd Provisional Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Buin at 109,131 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft D4Y1 Judy x 36 Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 28 F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 6 destroyed No Allied losses Allied Ships AM Chignecto, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 29 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 13 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 10000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 18th/C Division, at 29,48 (Colombo) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb Trop x 10 TBF-1 Avenger x 18 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 43 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 18 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb Also attacking 18th/B Division ... Also attacking 18th/C Division ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kunming (69,48) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 14819 troops, 318 guns, 922 vehicles, Assault Value = 533 Defending force 31011 troops, 203 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 492 Japanese adjusted assault: 385 Allied adjusted defense: 310 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 100 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled) Allied ground losses: 675 casualties reported Squads: 35 destroyed, 49 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Guns lost 21 (3 destroyed, 18 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Choiseul Bay (111,132) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 2989 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110 Defending force 234 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8 Allied adjusted assault: 49 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 49 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Choiseul Bay !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), supply(-) Attacker: leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 18 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: Fiji Brigade Defending units: 4th Raiding Rgt /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 28, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 110,132 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 40 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 11 F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 35 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 25000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 21 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17 Ki-48-IIb Lily x 22 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-48-IIb Lily: 14 damaged Ki-48-IIb Lily: 2 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CA Canberra CA Cornwall, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Lardner CL Leander Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb 8 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb 9 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 347th FG/339th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Cornwall -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb Trop x 6 Hurricane IIc Trop x 20 B-24D1 Liberator x 17 B-25C Mitchell x 29 B-25D1 Mitchell x 3 P-39D Airacobra x 25 P-400 Airacobra x 25 P-40E Warhawk x 24 P-40K Warhawk x 12 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 5 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17 Ki-48-IIb Lily x 16 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 10 F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 7 destroyed Ki-48-IIb Lily: 9 damaged Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CL Leander, Bomb hits 1 CA Canberra, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires DD Duncan, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 11 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb 4 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb 1 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kunming (69,48) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 14652 troops, 317 guns, 921 vehicles, Assault Value = 515 Defending force 30001 troops, 199 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 421 Japanese adjusted assault: 510 Allied adjusted defense: 265 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 482 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Allied ground losses: 766 casualties reported Squads: 47 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 25 (23 destroyed, 2 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tough to do anything with 750 fighters!!
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< Message edited by obvert -- 1/10/2015 2:11:06 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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