Schlussel
Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
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Week 78: June 2nd – June 8th 1943
North Pacific:
Base building continues at Amchitka, Umnak and Attu. No IJN activity.
Central Pacific:
In the deep water two hexes south of Kobe, a lurking US sub spots a juicy target (CVL Ryujo) and fires a spread of four torpedoes (with one confirmed hit), then turns and dives deep. As the hunter becomes the hunted, the Japanese escorts search endlessly, but fail to find SS Seahorse. Not sure of the damage inflicted, but Ryujo should be in the yards for a while.
Additional Intel reports and sub sightings suggest the KB (or a significant portion thereof) is NW of Iwo Jima. Wasting no time, Allied command gives the Ponape and Kusaie invasion forces the green light. The amphib TFs are escorted by the bulk of the Allied carrier fleet (5CV/4CVE), and are sporting new APAs/LCIs/LSTs so the plan is to get in, make the drop off, and get out as quickly as possible. Since the KB is out of position, the CVs are weighted for defense (1DB squadron replaced with fighters on each carrier), since LBA is the only real threat now. The only downside is my BBs are currently in the Bismarck Sea area bombarding Rabaul and Madang, so this operation won’t have the usual ground shaking bombardments at its disposal. Kusaie looks to be unoccupied, and Ponape has a very small garrison (3 ground units, 1K troops, 33 guns), so the risk is not high. There is a moderate pucker factor with the Ponape landings, as those guns could be of the costal defense variety. Most of my combat ships are dedicated to amphibs fleet protection, but I have a few CAs & DDs that will attempt to silence any guns covering the invasion beaches.
Southern Pacific:
Both 4EB squadrons hit Tarawa, scoring modest damage to the airfield. Two zeroes were destroyed on the ground, and more were damaged (10 hits registered). 2 Liberators were damaged, but they shot down 4 attacking Zeroes. All of this is good, as attriting the Japanese air strength in this area will make the inevitable invasions easier.
New Guinea/Solomons:
4 EB continue to pummel the poor IJA defenders of Rabaul. This week’s the Allies pull off two deliberate attacks, and they result in 4,000 enemy casualties, and fort reduction from 4 to 2. Troops are resting up for one final push next week. Additionally, I have begun loading naval support, engineers, and supply at Noumea in anticipation of the fall of Rabaul....this will be my main fleet hub in the area, and I need it up and running ASAFP.
On the northern coast of New Guinea, the Allied force at Madang resumes its offensive, and after two deliberate attacks, the enemy is crushed and Madang is in Allied hands. Its level 4 AF and level 3 Port will come in handy for the continued advance up the NG coast, but what I’m most excited about is the coastal road. American troops will no longer have to slog through malarial jungle wilderness…ahem…well actually they will still have to do that, but now they will have a trail to follow, which makes the pace much quicker. Onward to Hansa Bay!
DEI/Philippines:
In the Philippines, all my base are belong to Japan.
In the DEI, the Brunei bombings cease. No Japanese activity noted in the region.
SE Asia/China:
The main Allied body continues to advance down the Burmese coast and is 1 hex SE of Ramree Island. Advance Allied elements assault the Japanese SE of Prome and force them to retreat again, South-Westward towards Rangoon. Later in the week, these same Allied forces arrive in the hex NE of Rangoon and force those same enemy units back into Rangoon. Before advancing further, the Allies will rest for a few days to allow a few other units (currently SE of Prome) to catch up. Then the whole bunch (550 AV) will all move into Rangoon together and lay siege to the base. The supply still looks good, Ramree is up to 82K supply and convoys are continuing to roll in from Calcutta. Japanese air assets at Rangoon keep targeting allied troops in the open (between Ramree and Prome). As stated previously, there’s not much I can do at the moment, but I do have a few base forces that should reach Prome next week. Once the aviation support is in place I’ll be able to more effectively defend the area around Prome.
In central Burma, the Allied forces begin the advance southeast towards Pegu/Rangoon. The one exception is the 354th Armored, which heads the opposite direction to take care of bypassed Japanese forces. At the end of the week, the 254th reaches Myitkyina and now the Allies AV advantage is 516:282. The Japanese 54th division located there has been cut off from supplies for weeks and has endured a steady diet of 4E bombing, so I have high hopes for the upcoming assault.
In China, no combat to speak of, which is a welcome development…as it helps my supply situation. Currently troops are in a defensive posture, eagerly awaiting the re-opening of the Burma Road.
IJN Watch:
- 6/3 thru 6/8: High detection on all 5 subs near the Bonin Islands.
- 6/7: SS Seahorse puts a torpedo into CVL Ryujo south of Kobe.
- 6/8: 1 CVL spotted NE of Midway heading east.
- 6/8: SS Growler attacked by carrier aircraft NW of Iwo Jima (no damage).
Notable Base Captures:
-Madang [New Guinea] captured by the Allies (6/3)
Campaign Overview:
Aircraft Losses to date [change]:
Allies: 4,870 [+68]
Biggest Losses (#): Hurricane IIc (354), SBD-3 Dauntless (347), F4F-4 Wildcat (300)
Japanese: 13,357 [+317]
Biggest Losses (#): G4M1 Betty (2,278), Ki-48 Lily (1,653), Ki-27b Nate (937)
Ship Losses to date [change]:
Allies: 522 [+5]
Notables: CV Enterprise, CV Victorious, CVE Copahee, CVE Nassau, CA Astoria, CA Portland, CA Adelaide, CL Durban, CL Sumatra, CL Java
Japanese: 1,105 [+8]
Notables: CV Soryu, CVL Shoho, CVL Zuiho, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hosho, BB Kongo, BB Fuso, BB Mutsu, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya, CA Adoba.
Army Losses to date [change]:
Allies: 10,044 [+34]
Japanese: 6,357 [+82]
A/J Ratio: 1.58 to 1
VP Totals [change]:
Allies: 40,553 [+435]
Japanese: 28,606 [+131]
A/J Ratio: 1.42 to 1
Operation Tropic Thunder:
Phase 1A - LAZARUS:
-Capture Finschafen – COMPLETE
-Capture Umboi Island – COMPLETE
-Advance up Northern NG coast to Hansa Bay - UNDERWAY [Allied Force has captured Madang and is advancing on Hansa Bay.]
Phase 1B – FOUR LEAF:
-Capture Namatanai – COMPLETE
-Capture Kavieng – COMPLETE
-Capture Mussau Island – COMPLETE
-Capture Manus – COMPLETE
Phase 2 – TIGER BALM:
-Capture/Neutralize Rabaul – UNDERWAY [Allied AV advantage is 916:310 Forts are at 2]
-Advance up Northern NG coast to Hollandia
Operation Forbearance:
Phase 1A: [May 1943 to August 1943]
-Establish naval blockade of Truk using DD’s and submarines. - IN PROCESS
-Knock out Truk airfield - IN PROCESS
Phase 1B: [May 1943 to July 1943]
-Assault & capture Kusaie – IN PROCESS [Invasion forces in route].
-Assault & capture Ponape – IN PROCESS [Invasion forces n route].
-Assault & capture Eniwetok.
Phase 1C: [May 1943 to August 1943]
-Assault & capture Woleai [Recon sights 1 unit/1.9K troops/20 guns].
-Assault & capture Ulithi.
-Assault & capture Yap.
-Assault & capture Babeldaoab.
Other Notes:
-All Allied shipping losses this week were due to an oversight at Darwin. A supply TF of 5 xAKL’s had just finished unloading and I forgot to assign LRCAP to cover it on its journey back to Port Moresby. A group of Bettys intercepted the convoy and Type 91 torpedoes sent every ship to the bottom. Luckily the ships had already unloaded and were only worth 1 VP each, but the lesson learned here is still a valuable one.
< Message edited by Schlussel -- 2/20/2017 5:55:18 AM >
_____________________________
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
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