| PzB74 
 
 Posts:  5076
 Joined:  10/3/2000
 From:  No(r)way
 Status: offline
   | Andy felt things were going well today...so of course we tried to convince him about the opposite!
   
 I've been trying to hit enemy convoys at Majuro for a while but Andy's been running a large
 bombardment group back and forth to Maloelap. Kinda difficult to plan a proper attack. Today I
 sent a battleships group in: it was escorted by 2 destroyers TFs.
 
 As suspected Andy's battleships went back to Maloelap and we got to the transports
   (I wasn't too keen on engaging the modern Alabama and the old Colorado with two old Kongo class
 battlehsips. The Mutsu suffered a single system point of damage and lost one knot - thus making it impossible
 to stage 5 hexes to Majuro.)
 
 Not a great victory but we sank 3 destroyers, 2 minesweepers and damaged quite a few transports badly without
 loosing any ships. The enemy's strength will grow more slowly if we can continue to press this type of attacks
 and I'm gaining experience in 'sneakiness'
   
 AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/09/43
 
 Sub/ASW Attacks
 
 Also sent a destroyer and a light TF back to Kai Island - one was almost interecepted by an
 enemy sub!
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sub attack at 36,78
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Karukaya
 
 Allied Ships
 SS Balao
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Surface Combat
 
 The first group into Kai encountered some landing ships...
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 39,78
 
 Japanese Ships
 CL Kiso
 DD Makigumo
 DD Hayashio
 DD Uzuki
 
 Allied Ships
 LCT LCT-60, Shell hits 7,  on fire,  heavy damage
 LCT LCT-63
 LCT LCT-64, Shell hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 LCT LCT-135
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Then some pesky PT boats which landed a hit!
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 39,78
 
 Japanese Ships
 CL Kiso
 DD Makigumo, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 DD Hayashio, Shell hits 3
 DD Uzuki
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-345
 PT PT-351
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 39,78
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Karukaya
 
 Allied Ships
 AK Surigao, Shell hits 3,  on fire
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 The clash at Majuro was a nice sight: unfortunately we didn't get to as many transports
 as I hoped - they withdrew after the first round. Several destroyers were sunk after we first
 dispatched of 6 PT boats. Goodie!
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 BB Haruna
 BB Kirishima
 CA Takao
 CA Atago
 CL Kitakami
 DD Shimakaze
 DD Tamanami
 DD Onami
 DD Natsushio
 DD Nowaki
 DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
 DD Shinonome
 DD Kisaragi
 DD Minazuki
 DD Asakaze
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-118, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
 PT PT-119
 PT PT-144, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
 PT PT-146
 PT PT-148, Shell hits 14,  on fire,  heavy damage
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 BB Haruna
 BB Kirishima
 CA Takao
 CA Atago
 CL Kitakami
 DD Shimakaze
 DD Tamanami
 DD Onami
 DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1
 DD Nowaki
 DD Suzukaze
 DD Shinonome
 DD Kisaragi
 DD Minazuki
 DD Asakaze
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-147
 PT PT-149
 PT PT-150
 PT PT-152
 PT PT-153, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 BB Haruna
 BB Kirishima
 CA Takao
 CA Atago
 CL Kitakami
 DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 1
 DD Tamanami
 DD Onami, Shell hits 1
 DD Natsushio
 DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1
 DD Suzukaze
 DD Shinonome
 DD Kisaragi
 DD Minazuki
 DD Asakaze
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-21
 PT PT-24
 PT PT-26
 PT PT-28
 PT PT-42
 PT PT-122, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
 PT PT-142
 PT PT-143
 PT PT-145, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 BB Haruna, Shell hits 3
 BB Kirishima, Shell hits 4
 CA Takao, Shell hits 1
 CA Atago, Shell hits 1
 CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
 DD Shimakaze
 DD Tamanami
 DD Onami, Shell hits 1,  on fire
 DD Natsushio
 DD Nowaki
 DD Suzukaze
 DD Shinonome
 DD Kisaragi
 DD Minazuki
 DD Asakaze
 
 Allied Ships
 DD Frazier, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage *sinks*
 DD Stack, Shell hits 4
 DD Sterett, Shell hits 50, and is sunk
 DD Dewey, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 MSW Cessnock, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 MSW Gympie
 MSW Latrobe, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 MSW Velocity
 AO Niobrara
 AP Heywood, Shell hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AP Pierce
 AP Ormsby
 AP Callaway, Shell hits 2,  on fire
 AP Elmore
 AP Cambria, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AP Thomas Jefferson
 AP West Point
 AP Kenmore
 AP De Grasse
 AK Delawarean
 AK Kentuckian
 AK Minnesotan
 AK West Cawthon
 AK Charles H Cramp
 AK Pacific
 AK Mormacsul
 AK Shooting Star, Shell hits 1,  on fire
 TK Gulfcoast
 TK Gulfcrest
 AP Cape San Juan
 AK Elna
 AK Ambrose Bierce
 AK Clarence Darrow
 AK Conrad Kohrs
 AK Felix Hathaway
 AK Leonidas Merritt
 AK Philip Doddridge
 AK Empire Lynx
 AK Empire Seal
 AP Empire Chivalry,  heavy damage
 AK Empire Moonbeam
 AK Empire Moorhen
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Shiokaze
 DD Namikaze
 DD Numakaze
 DD Chidori
 DD Manazuru
 DD Hatsukari
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-119
 PT PT-146, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
 PT PT-148, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 The little pests then achieved a few successes...
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Shiokaze
 DD Namikaze
 DD Numakaze, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 DD Chidori
 DD Manazuru
 DD Hatsukari
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-147, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
 PT PT-149
 PT PT-150
 PT PT-152, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Uranami, Shell hits 2,  on fire
 DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 2
 DD Oite, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 DD Yunagi, Shell hits 2
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-21, Shell hits 1
 PT PT-24
 PT PT-26
 PT PT-28, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
 PT PT-42
 PT PT-142
 PT PT-143, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Andy's ship bagged a couple of barges!
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Maloelap at 82,81
 
 Japanese Ships
 AG AG-103, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
 AG AG-104
 AG AG-2054
 AG AG-2063, Shell hits 36, and is sunk
 
 Allied Ships - afraid this TF is too strong for my old Kongo's!
 BB Colorado
 BB Alabama
 CA Salt Lake City
 CL Tromp
 CL Richmond
 CL Phoenix
 DD Aulick
 DD Conner
 DD LaVallette
 DD McKee
 DD Philip
 DD Craven
 DD Hatfield
 DMS Boggs
 DMS Perry
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 39,78
 
 Japanese Ships
 DD Karukaya
 
 Allied Ships
 PT PT-345
 PT PT-351, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Bombardments
 
 Naval bombardment of Maloelap, at 82,81 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
 
 Allied Ships
 CL Phoenix
 CL Richmond
 CL Tromp
 CA Salt Lake City
 BB Alabama
 BB Colorado
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 118 casualties reported
 Guns lost 1
 
 Runway hits 4
 Port supply hits 2
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Air Combat
 
 The plan was to sink as many enemy transports forced out of Wotje as possible.
 Unfortunately the biggest raid went after the US bombardment group protected by a strong CAP.
 We had our fair share of successes though:
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF, near Majuro at 83,83
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zeke x 8
 D4Y Judy x 9
 G4M2 Betty x 6
 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
 Ki-21 Sally x 6
 
 Allied aircraft
 FM-2 Wildcat x 18
 F6F Hellcat x 14
 F4U-1 Corsair x 14
 P-38G Lightning x 8
 P-47C Thunderbolt x 23
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 A6M5 Zeke: 8 destroyed
 D4Y Judy: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
 G4M2 Betty: 5 destroyed
 Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
 Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
 F4U-1 Corsair: 3 damaged
 P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
 
 Allied Ships - we had a small opportunity to hit the Alabama...
 BB Alabama
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 1 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF at 85,83
 
 Japanese aircraft
 D4Y Judy x 2
 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 D4Y Judy: 1 damaged
 
 Allied Ships
 AK Stephen J. Field
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF at 82,83
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M2 Zero x 5
 G4M1 Betty x 6
 G4M2 Betty x 3
 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
 G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged
 
 Allied Ships
 AP Callaway, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Shooting Star, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF at 82,83
 
 Japanese aircraft
 Ki-21 Sally x 17
 
 No Japanese losses
 
 Allied Ships
 AP Heywood, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AP Cambria, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AP Empire Chivalry, Bomb hits 1,  heavy damage
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 61,86
 
 Japanese aircraft
 D3A Val x 8
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-47D Thunderbolt x 8
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 D3A Val: 6 destroyed
 
 Allied Ships
 AK Serpens
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Air attack on TF at 83,84
 
 Japanese aircraft
 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
 Ki-21 Sally x 4
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-40N Warhawk x 28
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
 Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
 
 Allied Ships
 AK Empire Moorhen, Bomb hits 1
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Ground Combat
 
 Ground combat at Majuro - the poor ba$tards at Wotje are still holding out!
 
 Allied Deliberate attack
 
 Attacking force 10160 troops, 108 guns, 7 vehicles
 
 Defending force 1818 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
 
 Allied assault odds: 37 to 1
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 251 casualties reported
 
 Allied ground losses:
 72 casualties reported
 Guns lost 6
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ground combat at Maloelap - same on Maloelap!
 
 Allied Deliberate attack
 
 Attacking force 15320 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles
 
 Defending force 13054 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles
 
 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8
 
 Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 675 casualties reported
 Guns lost 15
 
 Allied ground losses:
 400 casualties reported
 Guns lost 11
 -------------------------------------------------------------
 
 _____________________________
 
 
   "The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"  - Dwight D. Eisenhower |