PzB74
Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000 From: No(r)way Status: offline
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1 November Solomon Islands - After a forceful air and naval preparation the northern group of Task Force 31, commanded by Rear-Admiral Wilkinson, begins at 07.30 a.m. to put the 3rd Marine Division ashore in the area of Cape Torokina (Empress Augusta Bay) on the central southern coast of Bougainville. The little Japanese garrison of 207 men puts up a lively resitance, but the landing party is able to establish a solid beachhead within a few hours. Task Force 39, and carrierborne aircraft from TF 38 bomb the airfields on Buka Island, NW of Bougainville, and Shortland. But although many of their ac are unserviceable the Japs manage to concentrate a number of planes against the landing force, and damage a destroyer and several transports. All the same they loose 100 of their 104 fighters and 16 bombers. Vangegrift has chosen the landing point skilfully, foreseeing that Hyakutake would concentrate his forces near the airfields. And the difficult nature of the terrain means that the Japs will take a long time to bring up reinforcements to Cape Torokina. A small contingent of Raiders lands on the small islet of Puruata, less than half a mile from the Cape Torokina beachhead, and there meets with savage resistance from a platoon of Japanese. By the evening of the 1st the TF has landed 14000 men and 6000 tons of materials. R.Adm Wilkinson sends off his transport ships and has four msws' lay a minefield off the coast covering the beachhead. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rather interesting to read about the severe Jap losses: the only difference was that they were able to hit the enemy invasion fleet. I'm not because a strong CAP doesn't let any of my bombers through. Otherwise WitP seems pretty similar to the real thing. Would be nice if msws' could lay a few mines, sounds like it was possible! AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/01/43 Surface Combat I disptached a destroyed division led by 2 light cruisers into Siador to hit enemy shipping. It started pretty well and we sank 2 cargo ships. Then we ran into the PT boat pests which had an unusually good day We lost a small escort destroyer while two others were hit by torpedoes. They should make it as no enemy bombers showed up to take advantage of the situation. I know Andy's hard pressed to keep all his bases in supply so we have to conduct the occasional hit and run operation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Siador at 54,85 Japanese Ships CL Tama CL Oi DD Hatsuzuki DD Niizuki DD Naganami DD Nowaki DD Asakaze DD Shiokaze Allied Ships AK Henry Dodge, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk AK John Owen, Shell hits 43, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Siador at 54,85 Japanese Ships CL Tama CL Oi DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1 DD Niizuki DD Naganami, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Nowaki DD Asakaze DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships PT PT-320 PT PT-321 PT PT-322 PT PT-323, Shell hits 4, and is sunk PT PT-324, Shell hits 4, and is sunk PT PT-325 PT PT-326 PT PT-330 PT PT-331 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasions Andy is unloading a small contingent on Mussau Island - a small dot base just above Emirau. It's a size 0 af/1 port - so he may have it. TF 1174 troops unloading over beach at Mussau Island, 60,83 Allied ground losses: 41 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1174 troops unloading over beach at Mussau Island, 60,83 Allied ground losses: 42 casualties reported ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1123 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88) - still more mines at Rabaul :-] Allied Ships MSW Bittern MSW Champion MSW Motive DD Cassin DD Henley DD Nicholson DD Arunta, Mine hits 1, on fire - the Arunta is a capable British destroyer Allied ground losses: 16 casualties reported Guns lost 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Attacks Lots and lots of air strikes...getting a bit tedious! If supplies were a bit more scarce it would have been impossible to conduct a continous air offensive. Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 49,79 Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79 Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81 Day Air attack on Dagua , at 51,81 Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81 Day Air attack on Hansa , at 53,83 Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86 Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86 Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 58,84 Day Air attack on Emirau Island , at 60,84 Day Air attack on 51st Road Construction Battalion, at 51,81 Day Air attack on 54th Heavy AA Battalion, at 53,83 Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88 Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88 Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88 Day Air attack on Kure 3rd SNLF, at 82,81 Day Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 61,88 Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81 Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81 Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81 Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81 Day Air attack on 18th/C Division, at 61,86 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Situation Map: New Guinea
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< Message edited by PzB -- 1/21/2006 4:07:47 PM >
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"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
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