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20-21 May 1943: again two quiet days

 
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20-21 May 1943: again two quiet days - 3/16/2007 6:32:03 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		20-21 May 1943

Northern Pacific

Japanese airmen flying recon over Kiska suffered these two days. Allied CAP shot down a Mavis and a Dinah III, while a Betty fell to AA fire.

Allied engineers expanded the port of Cold Bay to size 2.

Southern Pacific

Mavis from Norfolk Island began to fly recon over Brisbane and reported about twenty Boomerang and Beaufighter Mk 21 flying CAP here.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

The only event in two days was that an Allied patrol from Gili Gili received words from the natives of Ferguson Island that their island was empty and that they were willing to return to Australian control. The message included the head of the local Japanese coastwatcher.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The only raid on the 20th was an attack on Lautem by 9 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 7 P-40N and only one runway hit was scored. The next day Amboina was the target of 41 B-17E and 29 B-24D from Darwin that disabled all oil centers (3-5 were still working) at the cost of two B-17E (one to AA fire and one to engine failure). Lautem was attacked as usual, by 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 escorted by 10 P-40N and reported 18 casualties, 1 hit on supplies and 4 on the runway. In the afternoon Koepang was attacked by 151 B-25C and 53 B-25J from Derby that scored 8 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 166 on runways and disabled 232 men and 2 guns for the loss of a B-25C to AA fire, while 6 PB4Y from Wyndham raided Lautem and scored one runway hit.

In two days, 3 Allied seaplanes were lost flying recon in the area: a Mariner and a PBY were lost to AA fire and another PBY in an accident.

SRA

In the night of 20th-21st, an ASW group chased the submarine USS Gurnard 60 miles SE of Singapore and the DD Usugumo scored two near-misses.

A tanker began to load 9k oil in Bankha, Sumatra, and will carry them to Singapore.

Burma

Allied air raids restarted on the 20th. Mandalay was attacked by 44 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N and reported 57 casualties and 7 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 51 on runways. A Liberator was shot down by AA fire. Near Myitkyina the 33rd Div was bombed by 22 Beaufighter VIC from Jorhat and lost 14 men and 1 gun, while 120 miles more west the 31st Div was attacked by 17 Vengeance I from Kohima escorted by 6 P-40N and lost 16 men and 1 gun.

The next day Mandalay was again attacked, this time by 40 unescorted Liberator VI from Dacca. They destroyed a J1N1-R Irving on the ground, did 82 casualties and scored 1 hit on the airbase and 37 on runways. At the same time Lashio was bombed by 48 B-24D, 45 B-25J, 29 B-17E and 16 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 44 P-40B and reported 63 casualties, 19 hits on the airbase, 11 on supplies and 117 on runways, while 7 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 2 hits on supplies and 6 on runways. 22 Vengeance I from Ledo and 22 Beaufighter VIC from Jorhat attacked the 17th and 33rd Div in Myitkyina and hit 80 men and 3 guns while losing a Vengeance from AA fire. 120 miles more west the 41st AA Heavy Bn was attacked by 38 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 19 VIC from Kohima escorted by 8 P-40N and lost 211 men and 5 guns. Four Allied aircraft (a B-24D, a Vengeance, a Beaufighter Mk 21 and a VIC) were lost in accidents during the day while a Dinah II was shot down over Kohima by an Allied fighter.

The evening report of the 21st gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 100/26 (system/runway), Mandalay 92/60, Lashio 71/42, other bases undamaged. In the evening 33 Ki-61 and 21 A6M3 left Rangoon for Myitkyina to defend the airfield and troops here.

China

Two new Chinese units (72nd and 94th Corps) reached on the 20th the positions of the 37th Japanese division 120 miles NE of Chungking and were defeated the next day at 23 to 1. Japanese losses were 72 men and 1 gun, Chinese ones 13 killed and wounded and more than 500 POWs.

41 A6M2 and 9 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against Chinese troops NW of Sian and hit 38 men while losing a Val in a crash.

Japan

The Kaga was the last Japanese CV to receive the early 1943 upgrade. The six “Pearl Harbor” CVs now have SYS damage between 1 and 7, all other Japanese CV and CVE have 0 SYS.

The training squadron gathered in Nagato with 7 CA, 4 CL and 9 DD. The day crew experience was between 94 (CA Ashigara) and 67 (DD Onami), the night one between 78 (CA Chokai, CL Sendai) and 66 (CL Nagara, DD Nowaki). The first training cruise will see the squadron go to Wakkanai (in N Japan) and back. I have on file the experience level of all crews and will check after they returned.

Three convoys left Japanese ports: one will carry 93k fuel from Hiroshima to Tarawa, another 17k fuel from Takamatsu to Batavia (and come back with resources) and the last one will bring a Const Bn from Nagasaki to Marcus Island (to build fortifications here).

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 571
RE: 20-21 May 1943: again two quiet days - 3/17/2007 5:47:59 PM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

Are you concerned about your opponent's Aleutian expedition at all?


Leo "Apollo11"

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(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 572
22 May 1943: another slaugther over Burma for Allied ai... - 3/20/2007 8:56:09 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Are you concerned about your opponent's Aleutian expedition at all?

Leo "Apollo11"


No, I don't think it is a serious threat. Most of the Japanese Navy is in Japan and if my opponent tries to advance further west to the Kuriles or even more west he will receive a bloody nose. Paramushiro Jima is held in force and will resist enough time for the fleet and air reinforcements to arrive. Other bases nearby may be taken more easily but have no AF and will not be very useful for the Allied forces.

22 May 1943

Northern Pacific

A Glen saw a convoy south of Alaska but the Japanese trap was one day late to intercept it correctly and it was decided to not attack it but wait for the following convoy (see map below for details).




Allied engineers expanded the port of Unmak Island and the airfield of Atka Island both to size 3.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

A DD was seen off Gili Gili. The submarine I-175 cruising nearby was ordered to sail to the base and try to attack Allied shipping here. And the surface TF based in Lunga (BB Kongo, 5 CA, 1 CL and 8 DD) sailed to attack the base under LRCAP by 19 A6M2.
11 Oscar II flew from Truk to Rabaul to fly LRCAP over Gili Gili and check if Allied transport aircraft flew reinforcements or supplies here.
In Kavieng the 9th Eng Rgt finished to disembark from the ships carrying it without being attacked and the convoy left and sailed back to Truk.

Timor-DEI-Australia

A barge had a really bad day north of Lautem. It was hit by a patrolling B-17E in the morning, then strafed by 14 Brewster 339D from Darwin that set on fire its fuel cargo and bombed and hit again in the afternoon by another B-17E… but was still afloat (with damage 99/95/65) at dusk. Probably the most enduring barge of the world’s history…

The only raid of the day was flown by 12 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 12 P-40N that attacked Lautem and scored 2 hits on buildings and 4 on runways.

Burma

Allied airmen launched five raids, all against the area of Myitkyina in the morning. The two Japanese fighters that moved here yesterday evening intercepted all this raid (with 32 Ki-61 and 15 A6M3) and had a field day. The first raid was flown by 11 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 19 P-40E and targeted the airfield. The P-40 shot down two Zeroes (one pilot survived unhurt) but five of them were shot down, and then the bombers were attacked and turned back after losing 3 of them. Then four raids arrived to attack Japanese troops: first 9 Vengeance I from Ledo escorted by 3 P-40E, then 10 Beaufighter VIC from Jorhat, then 10 Vengeance I from Ledo and in the end 10 Beaufighter VIC from Jorhat. 16 Vengeance, 12 Beaufighter and the 3 P-40E were shot down, while two Ki-61 hit by return fire from the Vengeance crashed with the loss of their pilots before returning to base. The badly scattered Allied airmen either fled or missed the troops of the 17th and 33rd Div. Both fighter units returned in the evening to Rangoon and were replaced by 2 Ki-15.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 100/11 (system/runway), Mandalay 92/31, Lashio 42/63, other bases undamaged. 28 Allied units were reported north of Myitkyina, while the Chinese unit coming from Yunan crossed the Salween and arrived SE of Myitkyina.

China

A new Chinese unit coming from the NE reached the positions of the 37th Div 120 miles NE of Chungking and will be attacked tomorrow.

41 A6M2 and 9 Val flew a training mission from Kungchang against Chinese troops NW of Sian and hit 37 men. In the evening this school was disbanded and the various units scattered. Two A6M2 units still needing operational training were sent to Nanchang to receive reinforcement aircraft (as Kungchang had not enough supplies, while Nanchang has) and will then fly from Wuhan. Two other (a Daitai and a Chutai) flew to Japan to be upgraded to A6M3a and will be used to defend Paramushiro Jima or to reinforce the KB units depending of what will be needed first.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 3/20/2007 8:57:53 AM >

(in reply to Apollo11)
Post #: 573
23-24 May 1943: again two quiet days - 3/22/2007 1:56:14 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		23-24 May 1943

Northern Pacific

PBM Mariner from Kiska started on the 23rd to fly recon over Paramushiro Jima and reported a CAP of 8 Rufes.

Allied engineers expanded both the port and airfield of Anchorage to size 9.

Southern Pacific

The CL Naka left Pago Pago on the evening of the 23rd for a raid into the deep Pacific. A destroyed was escorting her in case an Allied submarine was in the area but left her the next day to return to Pago Pago. Two submarines with Glens will patrol the area where the Naka will search for Allied convoys.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

In the afternoon of the 23rd, Rabaul was attacked by 88 B-24D and 38 PB4Y from Port Moresby escorted by 20 P-38G that hit 293 men and 5 guns and scored 17 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 113 on runways. AA fire shot down a B-24D while a PB4Y and a P-38J were lost in crashes.
This same day the Oscar II flying LRCAP over Gili Gili reported no Allied air activity here. One lost his bearings and disappeared during this mission. The other flew back to Truk in the evening.
This same day, two minelayer submarines left Truk southwards with Shortlands scheduled as their first stop. And two Allied submarines were seen SW of Truk and an ASW group of 5 DD and 1 PC was sent after them.

The next day was quiet until the evening where the Japanese ASW group tracked unsuccessfully the SS USS Scamp 180 miles SW of Truk.

During these two days the fleet of Adm Nishimura (BB Kongo, 5 CA, 1 CL and 8 DD) had sailed westwards from Lunga without being detected. It was now in range from Gili Gili, that had been heavily reckoned for several days. They were now 2 Allied units here, so the base received reinforcements from the sea, but no ships had been seen there or by the 3 Glens of the submarines cruising south of it. So the raiding TF received orders to bombard the base while the original plan was to have it transformed to surface TF once it was in range for a night dash.

Timor-DEI-Australia

On the morning of the 23rd, Darwin airmen were active around Lautem. 13 Brewster 339D attacked barges off the base and sank one, while 8 Beaufighter Mk 21 escorted by 10 P-40N attacked the runways and scored two hits. In the afternoon the barge badly damaged yesterday was achieved by a patrolling B-17E and 6 PB4Y from Wyndham attacked Lautem and scored 1 runway hit.

The next day an Oscar II Chutai from Kendari flew LRCAP over the retiring barges. 14 Brewster again attacked and evaded the 3 Oscars on location, but then missed the barges. Lautem was attacked in the morning by 9 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 12 P-40N and in the afternoon by 133 B-17E and 44 B-24D from Darwin escorted by 11 P-40N and by 7 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 68 casualties, 9 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 60 on runways. Koepang was bombed by 41 B-25J from Derby that scored 2 hits on supplies and 29 on runways and disabled 64 men and 1 gun. Allied losses were 2 B-25J and 1 B-24D shot down by AA and 2 B-17E and 1 B-25J in accidents.

SRA

Before dawn on the 24th a destroyed escorting a Japanese convoy saw the SS USS Grenadier north of Luzon and tried to attack her but missed.

A convoy carrying 14k resources left Kuala Lumpur for Singapore. And 3 submarines kept in reserve in Batavia sailed north to Kuala Lumpur to be ready to attack any Allied TF trying to bypass the Burma Army by landing troops south of Rangoon.

Burma

On the 23rd Myitkyina was attacked 3 times, by 9 B-25J and 2 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo escorted by 15 P-40E, then by 6 Beaufighter VIC from Jorhat escorted by 21 P-40B and by 41 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N. The base reported 421 casualties and 4 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 25 on runways. 120 miles more west the 31st Div was bombed by 28 Vengeance I from Kohima escorted by 13 P-40N and lost 36 men and 2 guns. Allied operational losses were 1 Liberator VI, 1 Beaufighter VIC and 1 P-40E.
The next day the same targets were attacked, Myitkyina by 12 Beaufighter VIC and 9 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 15 P-40E and by 48 B-24D, 47 B-25J, 29 B-17E and 16 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B (for a total of 87 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 25 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 175 on runways), and the 31st Div by 42 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb that hit 29 men. One B-25J was lost in an accident.

The evening report of the 24th gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 93/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 59/0, Lashio 42/16, Myitkyina 60/75, other bases undamaged.

Japanese recon aircraft identified the 18th UK Div north of Myitkyina (among 28 Allied units) and the 66th Chinese Div SE of it (where it is alone).
The troops in Myitkyina were lacking support and an IJA BF left Pagan to go to this city and help for this matter.

China

On the 23rd, the 37th Div fought a new battle 120 miles NE of Chungking and defeated at 43 to 1 the retreating 21st Chinese Corps. Japanese lost 54 men and 2 guns, Chinese 46 wounded and killed and more than 500 POWs.

Japan

A convoy left Tokyo to carry an IJNAF Base Force to Shortlands, Solomon Islands.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 574
25 May 1943: preliminary moves for big battles - 3/22/2007 8:51:20 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		25 May 1943

Northern Pacific

Allied engineers expanded Kiska port to size 4.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded Luganville port to size 4.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, the BB Kongo, 5 CA and 1 CL bombarded Gili Gili and disabled 201 men and 4 guns. They then left the area at full speed towards Shortlands. In fact they had missed for some hours a good target. After dawn the SS I-175 patrolling SE of Gili Gili saw a group of 9 APD and attacked it, sinking the APD Manley with one torpedo. She was carrying men of the 12th USAAF Base Force and 62 were lost with her. I-175 evaded the research initiated by the other APD and remained in the area, reporting that at least 3 Allied TF were there (one of APD, one of LSM and another with a “CA”).
So Adm Nishimura decided to pay another visit to Gili Gili. He sent back to Shortlands his ships with the less fuel (a CL and 5 DD) and turned back with the Kongo, 5 CA and 3 DD. This TF will be covered by LRCAP from 19 A6M2 from Lunga and 28 Oscar II that flew from Truk to Rabaul in the evening.
Another air unit leaving Truk was a Betty Daitai (exp 61) that flew to Lunga. One was lost on the way with its crew, but 26 bombers arrived and were ordered to fly naval search and attack to range 15 (so enabling them to reach Gili Gili but not PM).

An Australian patrol from Gili Gili reported that Goodenough Island was not occupied by any Japanese force and that inhabitants were now favorable to the Allied cause.

Japanese engineers expanded Lunga port to size 4.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Timor continued to be hard hit by Allied airmen. Koepang was attacked by 102 B-25C and 56 B-25J from Derby and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 124 on runways, and the loss of 93 men and 5 guns. Dili was bombed by 102 B-17 and 44 B-24D from Darwin escorted by 14 P-40N and reported 6 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 118 on runways, and the loss of 105 men and 3 guns. And Lautem was the target of 9 Beaufighter Mk 21 and later 54 B-25C from Darwin and of 6 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 3 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 49 on runways, and the loss of 48 men and 1 gun. Allied operational losses were a B-17E and a B-25J.

A Japanese convoy arrived off Amboina and started to unload supplies that will be used to repair the local oil facilities.

SRA

During the night an ASW group attacked the American submarine S-32 120 miles SE of Tarakan, Borneo, and the PC Ch 12 scored one hit on her. The submarine escaped with a fire aboard.
After dawn the SS USS Shard attacked a small convoy 120 miles SE of Takao, Formosa, and missed a tanker. She easily evaded the only escort of the convoy, a DD. In the evening 6 DD left Okinawa to chase this submarine.

The increasing submarine activity decided the Japanese command to adopt new shipping routes. The northern one will see shipping from Singapore and DEI sail to Hong Kong, then to Japan north of Formosa. The other path will go trough the middle of the Philippines. Both should so avoid submarines patrolling north of Luzon and east of Mindanao. To cover this second path, 24 Ki-49 training in Manila flew to Jolo this evening.
The 3 convoys organized today received orders to follow these new paths. Two, carrying 64 oil and 35k resources from Palembang and 63k resources from Singapore will sail to Hong Kong and receive new orders here. The third will load 36k oil in Brunei and sail to Cebu to receive orders for Japan here.

Burma

Lashio was bombed by 37 B-24D, 37 B-25J, 22 B-17E and 13 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B and reported 3 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 104 on runways, and the loss of 94 men and 2 guns.
Myitkyina was attacked by 12 Beaufighter VIC and 11 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 18 P-40E that scored 3 hits on the airbase and 16 on runways.
120 miles more west the 31st Div was attacked by 42 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb and by 28 Vengeance I from Kohima escorted by 15 P-40N, and lost 42 men, 4 guns and 1 tank.
Allied operational losses for the day were 1 B-25J, 1 P-40E and 1 P-40N.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 84/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 26/0, Lashio 59/59, Myitkyina 63/56, other bases undamaged.

In the evening, the local air force commander gave the order to start the offensive prepared for some time. 188 fighters (68 Ki-61, 43 A6M3a, 31 Ki-44 and 26 A6M3) left Rangoon for Mandalay. Two, a Zero and a Tony, were lost in accidents on the way, the others received orders to fly CAP at 90% over the city and were supposed to decimate Allied attackers. Rangoon still had 220 fighters (about a third of them being Oscar II, the other good fighters) and 35 Nick night-fighters to defend it, and 180 bombers advanced from Bangkok to this base (AF 9 with 510 air support squads, so no overcrowding) and will rest at least tomorrow before being used to attack Allied bases and troops.

China

146 aircraft from Wuhan flew an operational training mission against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 101 men. Two Kates and a Val were lost in accidents.

In Southern China, the 6th Div arrived in Canton as the first unit of the second batch of troops of the Northern China Army transferred there. Four other Div and the HQ of the 23rd Army were following it and will arrive in the next days.

Japan

A convoy of empty transports (13 16000-ton TK and 20 7000-ton AK with 6 escorts) left Osaka to pick up oil and resources in SRA. To avoid Allied submarines they will sail trough the middle of the Philippines. Their first destination will be Cebu.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 575
26 May 1943: silly mistake in Burma - 3/27/2007 1:24:35 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		26 May 1943

This day Japanese aircraft losses were higher than the Allied ones, and it was the fault of the Japanese commander...





Northern Pacific

A Japanese submarine finally reported an Allied convoy (2+ transports) south of Kodiak, just in range for a night interception by the BB Yamashiro and here escort. This convoy will be attacked during the night.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, the BB Kongo, 5 CA and 3 DD returned off Gili Gili to attack any Allied TF that would not have turned back. The APD and the other surface TF reported apparently had both fled but a barge TF of 55 LCT had continued to the new Allied base with fuel and supplies aboard. The Japanese sailors enjoyed the easy shooting, sinking 19 barges, heavily damaging two other and hitting slightly a last one. 14in shells, torpedoes and everything else were used on the barges, and no return fire was experienced. The Japanese ships then sailed east at full speed. Few crew gained night experience for this slaughter (Konga 69 to 70, Takao 72 to 73 and Nachi 76 to 78). The Japanese TF was not attacked during the day but an A6M2 was lost operationally while LRCAPing it.

Between Kavieng and Truk, the SS USS Lapon was attacked three times during the day by an ASW group and finally hit on the third time and damaged by a hit and 12 near-misses scored with Type 95 DC by the PC Ch 21 and the DD Suzukaze.

In the evening the port commander in SHortlands reported that the CL and the 5 DD that arrived during the day from the first attack on Gili Gili used all the fuel available there. So the Kongo TF was ordered to sail directly to Truk, and a convoy was formed in the latter base to carry 10k fuel to Shortlands. The Kongo TF will no more be covered by LRCAP. Zeroes from Lunga will rest while the Oscar II detached in Rabaul flew back to Truk in the evening.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Timor continued to be hard hit by Allied airmen. Koepang was attacked by 93 B-25C and 56 B-25J from Derby and reported 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 110 on runways, and the loss of 36 men and 1 guns. Dili was bombed by 113 B-17 and 43 B-24D from Darwin escorted by 12 P-40N and reported 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 55 on runways, and the loss of 48 men. And Lautem was the target of 12 Beaufighter Mk 21 and later 50 B-25C from Darwin and of 7 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported 1 hits on the airbase and 8 on runways, and the loss of 32 men. Allied losses were a B-25C shot down by AA and a B-17E, a B-25C and a B-25J in accidents.

In the evening the 77 Sentai, based in Kendari with 29 Oscar II, received orders to fly LRCAP over Lautem tomorrow.

SRA

In the morning, the SS USS Shad was tracked by 6 DD 120 miles SE of Takao but escaped without being depth charged. A little more west, the SS USS Tresher saw in the evening a little convoy escorted by a MSW 120 miles north of Vigan but was unable to reach a firing position. She was not detected by the Japanese.

Burma

The previous evening, 188 fighters had flown from Rangoon to Mandalay. The plan was this concentration couldn’t escape the Allied commanders’ attention and heavy raids will target the city but the heavy CAP will be able to decimate them. Well, two things were not planned.
The first was that despite good weather forecasts, Imphal, Kohima and Ledo were closed by clouds and so no attack was launched from there. The two active Allied bases, Chandpur and Dacca, both launched most of the available aircraft against Mandalay.
And there is the second point. The orders given to the advancing Japanese fighter units were garbled and three full units (one of Ki-61, one of A6M3a and one of A6M3) had orders to rest… so depriving the CAP of 45% of its strength and giving the bombers plenty of targets on the ground. A bad move on my part…
The first raid was flown by 63 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV, 14 B-25J and 12 Beaufighter VIF from Chandpur escorted by 19 P-40E. The CAP at the time was flown by 31 Ki-61, 21 A6M3, 20 Ki-44 and 3 A6M3a. They shot down 16 P-40E, 12 Blenheim IV, 11 B-25C, 10 Beaufighter VIF and 8 B-25J for the loss of 2 Ki-44, 2 Ki-61 and 1 A6M3, but didn’t stop the bombers. AA shot down another B-25C but then the bombs began to fall on the base and destroyed 47 aircraft (16 Ki-61, 16 A6M3a, 8 A6M3, 5 Ki-44 and 2 J1N1-R Irving), disabled 62 men and 1 gun and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 80 on runways.
Just after they left, a new raid arrived with 52 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N. 14 Ki-61, 10 A6M3, 9 Ki-44 and 1 A6M3a tried to intercept but suffered heavy losses. The P-40 shot down 4 Tojos, 3 Tonies, 3 A6M3 and 1 A6M3a for only two losses. The Japanese pilots were only able to shot down two Liberators and lost one more A6M3 to return fire. The RAF bombers then destroyed 8 more aircraft on the ground (3 A6M3a, 2 J1N1-R Irving, 1 A6M3, 1 Ki-44 and 1 Ki-61), disabled 49 men and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 40 on runways.
During these battles, a Tony and a B-25C were also lost in accidents.

A smaller raid was also launched from Chandpur against Akyab airfield with 14 Beaufighter VIC and 3 P-40E. They scored 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 4 on runways, and wounded 9 men.

The evening report showed that Mandalay airfield couldn’t be held as was the original plan. The losses of the various units were as follows:
65 Sentai (didn’t fly): 15 Ki-61, 7 pilots
78 Sentai (did fly): 9 Ki-61, 3 pilots
85 Sentai (did fly): 12 Ki-44, 6 pilots
F1/281st Daitai (did fly): 5 A6M3, 3 pilots
F1/6th Daitai (didn’t fly): 9 A6M3, no pilot
F3/Yokosuka Daitai (didn’t fly): 14 A6M3a, 1 pilot
F4/Chitose Chutai (did fly): 6 A6M3a, 1 pilot
R3/Yamada Chutai (did fly): 4 J1N1-R Irving, no pilot
Except the two units with the less damage (78 Sentai and F1/281st), all fighters were evacuated in the evening by air and train to Bangkok and will be recompleted there. The two other units flew back to Rangoon at the same time.
The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 75/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 53/72, Lashio 59/49, Myitkyina 63/29, other bases undamaged.

The furious commander of the Burma air force couldn’t wait to avenge his losses and ordered that Imphal (where 459 Allied aircraft (123/117/219) were reported by recons, with a CAP of 10-20 fighters) was attacked the next day by Rangoon airmen. 102 Betties, 57 Ki-21 and 26 Nell will fly the raid under escort by 68 A6M3, 47 A6M3a and 17 Oscar II.

China

140 Japanese aircraft flew an operational training mission from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 117 men but lost 3 aircraft (a Nick, a Kate and an Oscar II) in crashes.

Japan

After a one-week long cruise at normal speed between Nagasaki and Wakkanai and back, none of the 20 warships used in the experiment didn’t gain any experience either at day or night. Another attempt will be done at max speed, but my guess is that training of warships didn’t work like that at all.

In Osaka port, a new AK was converted to AR.


Attachment (1)

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 576
RE: 26 May 1943: silly mistake in Burma - 3/27/2007 1:47:53 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Japan

After a one-week long cruise at normal speed between Nagasaki and Wakkanai and back, none of the 20 warships used in the experiment didn’t gain any experience either at day or night. Another attempt will be done at max speed, but my guess is that training of warships didn’t work like that at all.



It does work, but only up to 55 or so experience, not beyond.

Still a very impressive performance.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 577
27 May 1943: Imphal bombed but for no nothing - 3/28/2007 3:56:34 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Thanks, ctangus. I will search my navy to see if any ship (PC, MSW, etc...) may benefit of it. I really hate this training limitations.... training should be harder when exp grows, but not impossible.

27 May 1943

Northern Pacific

During the night, the BB Yamashiro and her escort (5 DD) found and attacked the convoy reported the day before by submarines. The latter had reported two transports and they were only two, the AK George D Prentice and B F Shaw, unescorted. Both were quickly dispatched under the waves without any damage on the Japanese side. The TF then remained in the area but neither it nor submarines reported other Allied ships in the area. It was ordered to return to PH in the evening.

Attu hadn’t been reconed for some days and the Dinah III sent there reported a CAP of 68 P-38G and 24 Corsairs, and 34 units in the base!

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers finished to build fortifications in Wellington (level 9 reached) and the 24th Eng Rgt and 56th Bde left this base to go by train to Auckland.

It was planned to evacuate New Zealand in the summer and this started today. A convoy sailed from Christchurch with all available ships to pick up the 23rd Eng Rgt in Dunedin. This unit will then be brought to the Pacific or the Solomons.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, the SS USS Scamp attacked 180 miles SW of Truk the ASW group returning to this base and missed a DD. She was then depth charged by two other DD but escaped undamaged.

In the morning the Kongo TF was off Kavieng and was attacked by 6 B-24D from PM that missed two CA but suffered no loss.

The two LCT badly hit the night before sank off Gili Gili.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 12 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew a sweep to Lautem, engaged over this base 5 Oscar II of 77 Sentai flying LRCAP and shot down one without loss. 3 other Beaufighter Mk 21 were also flying LRCAP over this base but reported to Japanese transport AC.
In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 89 B-25C and 56 B-25J from Derby and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 119 on runways, and the loss of 83 men and 1 gun. Dili was bombed by 106 B-17 and 42 B-24D from Darwin and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 112 on runways, and the loss of 60 men and 1 gun. Lautem was still LRCAPed by 7 Oscar II of 77 Sentai that intercepted 47 B-25C from Darwin and later 7 PB4Y from Wyndham and shot down 3 B-25C for 3 losses (2 fighters hit by return fire ditched on the way back, another was lost in an accident). The base reported 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 42 on runways, and the loss of 45 men and 1 gun. Allied operational losses were 2 B-25C, a Beaufighter Mk 21 and a B-25J in accidents.

Japanese AA fire shot down two PBM Mariner flying recon in the area.

SRA

Formosa waters were becoming a real battlefield. In the evening a convoy of empty AP returning to Japan was attacked 180 miles west of Takao by the SS USS Kite that hit with one torpedo the Hayo Maru and left her on fire. The escort (3 PG) searched the attacker and depth charged her but missed. The damaged AP was in no danger of sinking but will sail alone to the nearby port of Hong Kong for repairs.
120 miles SE of Takao, the SS USS Shad was less lucky and was attacked by an ASW group of 6 DD but escaped after two DD scored 5 near-misses.

A huge convoy started to load 139k of oil in Palembang. To avoid most of the Allied submarines it will sail to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, and then be redirected to a Japanese port. One Allied submarine was seen between Muntok and Sinkep waiting for ships to sail out of Palembang and an ASW group of 6 MSW was sent to chase her.

Burma

Allied airmen continued to attack Mandalay, with 48 B-24D, 33 B-25J, 23 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B and 18 P-40N and with 50 Beaufighter VIC, 44 Beaufighter Mk 21, 41 B-25C, 12 Blenheim IV, 3 B-25J and 2 Beaufighter VIf from Chandpur escorted by 6 P-40E. Most Japanese AC had left the battered airfield and only 2 J1N1-R Irving were destroyed on the ground by these raids, that disabled a total of 109 men and 2 guns and scored 24 hits on the airbase, 12 on supplies and 371 on runways. One Beaufighter VIF hit by AA crashed on the way back, while 2 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 1 B-24D were lost in accidents.
At the same time a Dinah II from Akyab was flying a recon over Imphal and reported a Cap of a dozen Allied fighters before being shot down by one of them. This was good news for the incoming Japanese raid. 85 Betties, 56 Ki-21 and 23 Nells from Rangoon escorted by 47 A6M3, 33 A6M3a and 17 Oscar II reached the target area and were intercepted by 11 Spitfire Vb, 2 P-40B and 1 P-40N. The Japanese escort lost 11 Oscar, 4 A6M3 and 2 A6M3a (only one of the 17 pilots was saved) but covered perfectly the bombers and shot down 8 Spitfire and both P-40B. The bombers reached the airfield but it was almost empty and Japanese recon reports proved to be far too much higher. At the cost of a Ki-21 shot down by AA and another lost in an accident, the bombers destroyed on the ground only 5 F-5A and 1 Spitfire Vb, scored 12 hits on the airbase and 102 on runways, and did 39 casualties. Another Japanese recon in the afternoon reported that more than 50 fighters were now flying CAP over it.
In the evening, almost all bombers returned to Bangkok or Singapore from Rangoon (96 Betties, 55 Ki-21, 21 Nells) while all Japanese fighters received orders to fly local CAP over the Burmese capital.

Other Allied raids saw 11 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 19 P-40E bomb Myitkyina (47 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase and 20 on runways), 10 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo escorted by 3 P-40E attack the 17th Div in Myitkyina (32 men and 1 gun hit) and 42 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb attack the 31st Div 120 miles west of it, hitting 25 men at the cost of a Hurricane shot down by AA fire.

For once there was no evening report for the airfield status, but a more interesting one about the troops holding the line in Myitkyina and west of it along the railway. Myitkyina itself was held by 900 AV (assault value), the armored group just west of it had 1030 AV and the main body of the Burma Army was 60 miles more west, when the railway turns south, with 1700 AV.

China

141 Japanese aircraft flew an operational training mission from Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 107 men without loss.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Kweilin to size 8.

Japan

Plans began to be made to prepare a defense in depth in the Pacific. A convoy left Nagoya with 14k supplies for Saipan as a first step.

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 578
28 May 1943: both sides resting - 3/29/2007 11:19:45 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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28 May 1943

Northern Pacific

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Attu to size 5. Now the question is when will heavy bombers begin to fly from here.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, the minelayer USS Pruitt sailing to Gili Gili met two submarines, the I-10 at 240 miles south of this base and the I-31 120 miles south of it, but in both cases saw them first and evaded them.

In the afternoon, Rabaul was attacked by 10 PB4Y and 8 B-24D from PM escorted by 20 P-38G and reported 4 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 17 on runways, and the loss of 20 men and 2 guns.

In the evening, the Kongo TF returning to Truk was attacked 120 miles SW of this base by the submarine USS Scamp that torpedoed the CA Takao. The three DD of the escort reacted immediately and the Scamp was hit and damaged by a depth charge dropped by the Tamanami. The Takao reported he had been hit once and had damage 39/39/22. He should reach Truk without problems. The TF’s other ships will escort her, and an ASW group left in the evening Truk to cover them.

Japanese engineers expanded Kavieng airfield to size 2.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew an uneventful sweep to Lautem. In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 80 B-25C and 56 B-25J from Derby and reported 9 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 114 on runways, and the loss of 74 men and 3 guns. Dili was bombed by 34 B-24D from Darwin and reported 2 hits on supplies and 24 on runways. Lautem was attacked by 99 B-17E and 39 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 8 P-40N and by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham and reported the destruction of a Pete on the “ground”, 8 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 112 on runways, and the loss of 81 men and 2 guns. There were 3 Allied losses during the day, all to AA fire, a B-25C and a B-25J over Koepang and a PBM Mariner over Kendari.

SRA

The SS USS Harder attacked at dawn an ASW group 180 miles west of Takao and hit the DD Yamagumo with one torpedo but it failed to explode. The DD Arashio dropped DCs on the attacker but missed.

A convoy loaded 14k resources and 5k oil in Rangoon for Singapore.

Burma

Allied airmen rested today and only launched two small raids from Ledo against Myitkyina, 14 B-25J escorted by 22 P-40E hitting the airfield, disabling 34 men and 1 gun and scoring 1 hit on supplies and 22 on runways, and then 10 Beaufighter VIC attacking the 33rd Div and hitting 33 men and 1 gun while losing one of their number in an accident.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 57/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 98/88, Lashio 50/0, Myitkyina 66/7, other bases undamaged.
In the evening 9 Oscar II flew from Hanoi to Taung Gyi and will fly tomorrow LRCAP over Allied troops N of Myitkyina to check if Allied transport aircraft do drop them supplies.

China

Japanese troops will very soon be ready to launch the offensive on Kweiyang, Kunming and Yunan scheduled for the summer. All five divisions of the second batch of troops from the Northern China Army to be transferred south had reached Wuchow via the coastal road and they received orders to go to Wuchow by train. The only unit still late of this group was the HQ of the 23rd Army. Also the 19th Eng Rgt received orders to leave Kweilin to join the army in Wuchow.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 579
29 May 1943: a Japanese convoy was devastated - 3/29/2007 7:25:05 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		29 May 1943

Northern Pacific

Japanese recons continued over Kiska and Attu. AA fire shot down a Betty over the former, while the latter was covered by a weaker CAP than the day before, only 14 P-38G being reported. 41 Allied units were reported in Attu.

The presence of numerous P-38G in the Aleutians was a surprise but as they don’t have the range to reach Paramushiro Jima it won’t be a problem in the near future.

Southern Pacific

The convoy sent to evacuate troops arrived in Dunedin and started to load the three construction units (an Eng Rgt and two Const Bn) being in the city. The latter will only be held by a small Base Force. The ships will sail to Efate and then Truk before carrying the troops to the DEI.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

The minelayer USS Pruitt probably returning from Gili Gili met during the night again a Japanese submarine (the I-31) but again evaded her.

In the afternoon, a PB4Y on patrol SE of Gili Gili saw the I-175 and damaged her with bombs (damage 33/34/0). The submarine limped away towards Shortlands for emergency repairs and then Truk.

Rabaul was bombed by 72 B-24D and 25 PB4Y from PM escorted by 61 P-38G that scored 24 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 66 on runways. Japanese losses were 172 men and 5 guns, Allied ones were 2 B-24D lost in accidents.

In the evening, both parts of the Kongo TF and the ASW group sent to assist it were in Truk port and were disbanded. The CA Takao was safe but will spend some months in a repair shipyard.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew an uneventful sweep to Lautem. And then came a nasty surprise. The local commanders had became overconfident lately and as Amboina was supplied without problems by TF of 1-2 ships had sent there 5 7000-ton AK that were unloading supplies for some days. But today Darwin sent 51 B-17E and 21 B-24D to attack them with devastating results. Three AK were sunk outright and the two other were docked in sinking condition in the port for no Allied loss. Scuttling the wrecks was considered but it was finally decided to use then to draw more bombers into an ambush. 35 Tojo and 34 Tonies were flown from Kendari to fly CAP over Amboina and intercept bombers if they return to finish the cripples.

In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 58 B-25C and 29 B-25J from Derby and reported 7 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 50 on runways, and the loss of 47 men and 1 gun. Lautem was attacked by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 3 on runways, and did 37 casualties. The only Allied loss was a B-25C shot down by AA over Koepang.

SRA

During the night, the SS USS Sturgeon tried to attack an ASW group 120 miles SW of Menado but was seen and depth charged by the PC Ch 4. She escaped undamaged. More north, the SS USS Harder was chased by 6 DD 180 miles west of Takao and depth charged by two of them but they only scored a near miss. And NE of Palembang the SS HMS Truant tried to attack 6 MSW sent to chase her SE of Sinkep Island but was unable to find a firing position. Japanese sailors didn’t detect her.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 6 raids over the country. 4 Beaufighter VIF from Chandpur escorted by 9 P-40E bombed Mandalay and scored 5 runway hits but lost one of their number to AA fire and another in an accident. Lashio was bombed by 48 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N and reported 8 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 42 on runways and the loss of 71 men and 1 gun. Myitkyina was attacked first by 8 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 19 P-40E and then by 45 B-25J, 36 B-24D, 26 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 21 P-40B and 20 P-40N that scored 21 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 119 on runways and disabled 165 men and 5 guns. One of the units holding the city, the 33rd Div, was attacked by 9 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo escorted by 3 P-40E that hit 9 men and 1 tank while 120 miles more west the 31st Div was bombed by 38 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb and lost 51 men and 2 guns.

Japanese recon identified the 25th Indian Division north of Myitkyina. Among the Allied units here, three divisions had been identified and the total number of Allied troops had not been determined, while the 11 units coming on the trail from Kohima have only 62 000 men and only a HQ had been identified here. The Japanese command started to wonder if this group was not a diversion. The only AC “supporting it”, ie attacking troops in the area, were short-ranged Hurricane and Spitfire, while all aircraft able to reach Myitkyina attacked it. So it was judged fairly possible that the Kohima group will never advance to the railway until all Japanese troops had left or had been chased after Myitkyina fell. But a confirmation was needed. Recon aircraft were ordered to concentrate on this area, while the 9 Oscar II from Taung Gyi will fly ground attack on these troops.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 47/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 88/81, Lashio 58/44, Myitkyina 92/58, other bases undamaged. In the evening 22 A6M3a left Rangoon for Pagan. They will LRCAP the 31st Div group 120 miles N of Mandalay tomorrow.

China

A new IJAAF training class graduated in Wuhan and left for Rangoon with 36 Oscar II. One crashed on the way with the loss of its pilot.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 580
30 May 1943: second round over Amboina - 3/30/2007 1:07:47 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
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From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		30 May 1943

Northen Pacific

A Mavis patrolling over the Aleutians flew too close from an Allied base and was shot down by the CAP.

Allied engineers expanded the port of Attu to size 2.

Southern Pacific

The CL Naka and both Glen-carrying submarines assisting her reported no Allied shipping in their area around 2000 miles SE of Pago-Pago and received orders to continue to sail to the SE to search for Allied convoys.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 51 B-24D and 15 PB4Y from PM escorted by 38 P-38G that scored 11 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 53 on runways and disabled 98 men and 3 guns for only one loss, a B-24D lost in an accident.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew an uneventful sweep to Lautem and 14 Brewster 339D unsuccessfully attacked barges off this base.

In the afternoon, 105 B-17E and 35 B-24D from Darwin attacked Amboina and were intercepted by 31 Ki-44 and 15 Ki-61 that shot down 13 B-17E and 5 B-24D while losing 8 of their number. The bombers then split to bomb the port, scoring 10 hits on the installations, 3 on fuel dumps and 4 on supplies and sinking both remaining AK from the convoy devastated the day before, and the airfield, destroying on the ground 1 Tojo and 3 Tony and scoring 8 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 22 on runways. There were 33 casualties on the ground.
All told the 29 Sentai lost 7 Ki-44 and 3 pilots while the 68 Sentai lost 5 Ki-61 and 1 pilot. Both units left in the evening for Kednari leaving behind them 25 damaged aircraft. 29 Oscar II from Kendari were ordered to LRCAP the base tomorrow.

There were several smaller raids. Koepang was attacked by 72 B-25C and 51 B-25J from Derby and reported 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 71 on runways, 23 casualties and 3 victories scored by AA guns against 2 B-25C and 1 B-25J. Maumere was attacked by 7 PB4Y from Wyndham that left 2 holes on the runway, while 36 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 7 P-40N raided Lautem and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 23 on runways, and did 53 casualties.

SRA

The American submarine Harder didn’t move at all from her patrol area 180 miles west of Takao, and, as the ASW group of 6 DD searching her also stayed there they had a busy night. The Harder was chased three times, the last just after dawn, but only one near-miss was scored by the Japanese sailors.

In the evening an ASW group engaged the Dutch submarine KXV 120 miles SW of Menado and the PC Shonan Maru 5 scored a near-miss.

A convoy left Tarakan with 48k oil and 21k resources and sailed for the port of Dadjangas, Mindanao, from where it will sail to Japan. A TK started to load 9k oil in Medan and will carry them to Singapore.

Burma

Lashio was bombed by 38 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N and reported 4 hits on buildings and 35 on the runways. 9 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 21 P-40E attacked Myitkyina, wounded 9 men, disabled a gun and left 14 holes on the runways, losing a P-40E to engine failure. One of the units holding this city, the 17th Div, was attacked by 10 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo and lost 46 men and 2 guns.
Another Allied raid didn’t go so well. 120 miles west of Myitkyina, 39 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb were bombing the 104th Div when they were bounced by 10 A6M3a of F2/Genzan Daitai flying LRCAP from Pagan. The Japanese pilots shot down 5 Hurricane and 2 Spitfire without loss, and the attack did no damage to the troops.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 37/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 88/54, Lashio 63/66, Myitkyina 92/38, other bases undamaged. In the evening the A6M3a of Pagan returned to Rangoon while the 9 Oscar II of Taung Gyi flew to Akyab, still with ground attack orders. No unit had been identified today on the trail from Kohima except the NCAC HQ.

China

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Ichang to size 5.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 581
31 May 1943: third round over Amboina, Allied clear vic... - 4/4/2007 1:56:52 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		31 May 1943

Central & Northern Pacific

Allied heavy bombers (PB4Y and B-24D) began to fly naval search missions over the Kuriles from the new Allied bases of Attu and Kiska. A Chutai of 9 A6M3a flew from Onimato to Paramushiro Jima to reinforce the defenses of the base.

South of Alaska, a Glen reported two Allied convoys 300 miles more north than their former path. The surface force was no more there to attack them (the Yamashiro and her escort returned today to PH, refueled and then were docked there) and of the 8 submarines in the area, 5 were ordered to form a patrol line north of their current position while 3 will return to PH for minor repairs.

Southern Pacific

The various TF carrying elements of the 1st and 2nd Parachute Regiment from several Japanese bases gathered in Guam port, and the convoy then left for Haiphong, Indochina.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 39 B-24D and 15 PB4Y from PM escorted by 63 P-38G that scored 7 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 52 on runways and disabled 52 men and 1 gun. A B-24D was shot down by AA fire.

In the evening, the SS I-18 attacked a group of 3 Allied destroyers 240 miles SW of Gili Gili and heavily damaged the HMAS Warramunga with one torpedo before escaping without problem.
Two minelayer submarines patrolling SE of Gili Gili were ordered to lay a minefield in the islets SE of this base.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The morning was an exact repeat of the day before. 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew again an uneventful sweep to Lautem and 14 Brewster 339D unsuccessfully attacked barges off this base. In the afternoon, 78 B-17E and 27 B-24D from Darwin returned to Amboina. Four Oscar II of 11 Sentai were flying LRCAP (from Kendari) over the base when they arrived and attacked… but were all shot down by return fire. One of the B-17E they damaged crashed later. The bombers destroyed on the ground 21 unserviceable fighters (13 Tojos and 8 Tonies), but all pilots spend the day in bunkers and survived. The bombers scored 9 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 53 on runways but alos lost another B-17E and a Liberator to AA fire and 3rd B-17 in an accident. The usual smaller raids hit Koepang (that was attacked by 67 B-25C and 48 B-25J from Derby and reported 2 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 57 on runways, 42 casualties and again 2 victories scored by AA guns against 1 B-25C and 1 B-25J), Maumere (that was attacked by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham that left 2 holes on the runway), and Lautem (bombed by 48 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 8 P-40N that scored 2 hits on supplies and 36 on runways, and did 19 casualties). Two more Allied bombers (a B-25C and a B-25J) were lost in accidents, while a Japanese fighter shot down a PBM Mariner over Kendari.

Burma

The only Allied raid was an attack by 34 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 9 Spitfire Vb against the 104th Div 120 miles N of Mandalay. 56 men and 2 guns were hit.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Taung Gyi 27/0 (system/runway), Mandalay 88/26, Lashio 63/40, Myitkyina 92/10, other bases undamaged.

During the day, both NLF that had been ordered to march to the jungle to raid Allied communications lines advanced to the mountain SE of Imphal. One will now march NE to cut the trail from Imphal, the other will march E to surround the Allied units if they go southward. Recon had not been able again to identify any unit of this group.
There was also some reorganization of the Japanese units along the railway. The 21st Bde was in the main body, 120 miles west of Myitkyina, but was prepared at 100% for this base and was ordered to march to the city and reinforce the defenders. The 23rd Bde that was with the Armored Corps (60 miles west of Myitkyina) was ordered to replace the 21st in the main body.




Japan

The training TF that did experiments for the last ten days was finally disbanded in Hiroshima. None of the crews gained any experience, while the ships had in the end SYS damage up to 5 (DD), 4 (CL) or 3 (CA) while they all started at 0. All will be repaired in Hiroshima port.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 4/4/2007 1:57:12 AM >

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 582
Monthly report May 1943 - 4/6/2007 9:22:10 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Monthly report May 1943

Japanese score: 53 721 (+ 937)
Bases 15 351 (+ 256)
Aircraft 9 695 (+ 567)
Army 20 589 (+ 83)
Ship 7 368 (+ 31) 461 ships sunk (+ 5: 2 SS, 2 AK, 1 APD)
Scuttled ships 0 (+ 0)
Strategic 718 (+ 0)

Allied score: 8 027 (+ 396)
Bases 1 300 (+ 37)
Aircraft 4 585 (+ 305)
Army 932 (+ 22)
Ship 1210 (+ 30) 133 ships sunk (+ 5: 5 AK)
Strategic 0

Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 4 810 000 (bases) + around 129 000 (TFs) = around 4 939 000 (+137 000)
Fuel : 4 345 000 (bases) + around 168 000 (TFs) = around 4 513 000 (-8 000)
Ressource centers : 19 045 (+ 35)
Ressources : 1 099 000 (bases) + 311 000 (TFs) = 1 410 000 (+ 24 000)
Oil centers : 2 793 (+ 5)
Oil: 1 832 000 (bases) + 320 000 (TFs) = 2 152 000 (+ 68 000)
Manpower centers : 817 (+ 0)
Manpower pool : 1 073 000 (+ 119 000)
Heavy industry: 13 990 (+ 56)
Heavy industry pool: 331 000 (+ 35 000)
Naval shipyard: 1300 (+ 1)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 928 (+ 23)
Armament industry: 683 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 196 000 (+ 19 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 7 300 (+ 3 500)
Aircraft engine factories: 1587 (+ 0)
Aircraft frames factories: 1156 (+ 0)
Aircraft research: 296 (+ 60) (both versions of A6M5, Judy and Jill)

Aircraft production:
165 Ki-43-IIa (capacity 159), 60 Ki-44-IIb Tojo (57), 51 Ki-46-III Dinah (48), 50 G4M1 Betty (46), 27 J1N1-S Irving (23), 22 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (44, suspended during the month), 22 E13A1 Jake (20), 20 Ki-21 Sally (20), 20 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 13 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 12 Ki-45 KAIb Nick (25, suspended during the month), 11 Ki-49 Helen (23, suspended during the month), 8 L2D2 Tabby (10, restarted during the month), 6 J1N1-R Irving (16, suspended during the month), 4 L3Y Tina (5), 0 A6M3a Zero (230, suspended), 0 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (123, stopped), 0 A6M3 Zero (72, suspended), 0 Ki-51 Sonia (45, stopped), 0 D3A Val (41, stopped), 0 Ki-48 (capacity 40, stopped), 0 B5N Kate (40, stopped), 0 H8K Emily (32, suspended), 0 MC-21 Sally (5, suspended), 0 E14Y1 Glen (4, suspended), 0 H6K2-L Mavis (4, suspended)

Total: 491 aircraft (245 fighters (including 20 Rufes), 81 level bombers, 57 recon, 49 night-fighters, 25 transport, 22 floatplanes, 12 fighter-bombers, 0 divebombers, 0 torpedo bombers)






Attachment (1)

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 583
1 June 1943: launching operations - 4/6/2007 9:31:57 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		1 June 1943

Northern Pacific

Another Allied convoy was seen but not attacked by a Japanese submarine south of Alaska. Over Attu a Dinah III flying a recon mission was shot down by the Allied CAP.

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Kiska to size 5.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Tongatapu to size 4.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 29 B-24D and 12 PB4Y from PM escorted by 42 P-38G that scored 7 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 37 on runways and disabled 29 men and 2 guns.

The Glen of the I-31 patrolling south of New Guinea didn’t return to the submarine after a patrol and was shot down by an Allied fighter, probably near Port Moresby. The submarine received in the evening orders to return to Truk.

The daily recon of Gili Gili reported now 3 Allied units in the base, 3 AP unloading off the base and 2 “CA” 240 miles SW of it.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew the usual uneventful sweep to Lautem. In the afternoon, 56 B-17E and 23 B-24D from Darwin returned to Amboina for the fourth day in a row. This time 7 Oscar II of 11 Sentai were flying LRCAP from Kendari and shot down one of the B-17E but lost 4 of their number to return fire (two immediately and two ditching later) and a 5th in an accident. In two day this unit lost 9 aircraft and five pilots to score 2 victories and it won’t continue to fly these missions. The bombers only scored 5 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 59 on runways, doing 18 casualties but missing the few remaining aircraft while losing 2 B-17E to AA fire and another B-17 in an accident.
The usual smaller raids hit Koepang (that was attacked by 69 B-25C and 42 B-25J from Derby and reported 1 hits on the airbase and 73 on runways, and 45 casualties) and Lautem (bombed by 49 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 13 P-40N that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 27 on runways, and did 15 casualties). Japanese AA fire shot down a PBM Mariner over Kendari.

SRA

During the night, the submarine USS Sturgeon was chased by an ASW group SE of Menado and escaped after two near-misses scored by a PC. Another Allied submarine, the HMS Truant, was more successful and attacked between Muntok and Sinkep Island 6 MSW searching her and sank the Banshu Maru 56 with one torpedo before escaping undamaged despite the depth charges launched by another MSW.

Burma

Heavy Allied air attacks continued against airfields and troops. Pagan was attacked by 45 B-25C, 20 Beaufighter VIC, 17 Blenheim IV and 11 B-25J from Chandpur and then by 42 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N and reported 34 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 21 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 93 on runways. 10 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 19 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 1 hits on supplies and 13 on runways, doing 10 casualties, while 46 B-25J, 45 B-24D, 25 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40N and 22 P-40B pounded Taung Gyi, doing 27 casualties and scoring 20 hits on the airbase, 14 on supplies and 187 on runways. Two divisions defending Myitkyina (the 17th and 33rd) were attacked by a total of 44 Vengeance I, 40 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 36 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo and Kohima and lost 263 men, 8 guns and 1 tank. 120 miles more west the 31st Div was bombed by 38 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb and lost 46 men and 1 gun. Allied losses were two Blenheim IV shot down by AA fire over Pagan and 2 Vengeance I, 1 B-25J and 1 Hurricane II lost in crashes.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 32/60 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/85, Mandalay 86/0, Lashio 63/12, Myitkyina 93/11, other bases undamaged.

Recon were still unable to identify only the NCAC HQ among the 11 Allied units coming on the trail from Kohima but they were able to count 63 000 men, 356 guns and 0 vehicle in this group. Suspicion that this group was only a diversion was so reinforced and two more units, the HQ of the Burma Army and the 3rd Tk Div were ordered to leave their current positions along the railway to go to Myitkyina.

China

The Southern China Army (composed of 3 Army HQ, 12.66 infantry divisions, 1 brigade, 2 tank regiments, 2 engineer regiments and 6 artillery units, for a total of 5740 AV) left Wuchow northwards towards Kweiyang, its first objective. It will then march to Kunming and Yunan (see map below). A fourth HQ and another artillery unit were late and will join later the army.

NE of Chungking a new Chinese unit marched out of the mountains and will be attacked tomorrow by the 37th Div.

A training mission was flown from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 110 Japanese aircraft that hit 77 men and suffered two operational losses (a Nick and a Kate). 21 Betties left Kungchang and flew to Truk to reinforce the Southwest Pacific area.






Attachment (1)

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 584
2 June 1943: first sign of US CV for ten months - 4/6/2007 1:56:09 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		2 June 1943

Northern Pacific

South of Alaska, a Japanese submarine saw a Barracuda flying over her. She dived and escaped. This sighting was done 500 miles south of Anchorage, out of range of any land base, and was so the first proven sign of an Allied CV activity since the Allied defeat off Hawaii last summer.

One of the newly arrived Zero in Paramushiro Jima shot down a PBM Mariner trying to recon the base.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers opened an airfield on Wallis Island. This island will be useful to support the base of the first defense line from Pago-Pago to Suva and will be built to base bombers.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 29 B-24D and 17 PB4Y from PM escorted by 41 P-38G that scored 3 hits on the airbase and 51 on runways and disabled 67 men and 1 guns. A PB4Y and a P-38G were lost operationally.

The Glen of the I-31 patrolling south of New Guinea didn’t return to the submarine after a patrol and was shot down by an Allied fighter, probably near Port Moresby. The submarine received in the evening orders to return to Truk.

The daily recon of Gili Gili reported now 5 AP and 2 PT off the base, where Allied engineers opened an airfield. The Japanese submarines I-121 and I-124 laid mines SE of this base during the night.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew the usual uneventful sweep to Lautem. In the afternoon, there were only two raids. Koepang was attacked by 68 B-25C and 41 B-25J from Derby and reported 2 hits on the airbase and 65 on runways, and 27 casualties, while 9 PB4Y from Wyndham bombed Maumere, scoring 4 hits on the runway and doing 20 casualties. Allied losses were 5 B-25C (2 to AA fire and 3 in accidents) and a PB4Y (to AA fire).

SRA

120 miles south of Mindanao, the submarine USS Grouper was bombed and hit by a Ki-21 flying an ASW patrol from Davao.

Burma

There was only one Allied air raid. Pagan was attacked by 52 B-25C, 23 Beaufighter VIC, 19 Blenheim IV and 12 B-25J from Chandpur and reported 2 Dinah II destroyed on the ground, 11 casualties, 6 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 90 on runways. Allied losses were 1 B-25C shot down by AA fire, and two other and a Blenheim IV lost in accidents.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 48/85 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/84, Mandalay 58/0, Lashio 48/0, Myitkyina 61/0, other bases undamaged.

The base of Myitkyina was thought to be in a good enough state to welcome Japanese fighters to ambush Allied aircraft attacking troops almost each day. To be able to resist a major Allied air offensive but to reduce the risk of an early detection by Allied intelligence, just under 100 fighters were sent: 45 A6M3a (one was lost on the way with its pilot), 25 Ki-44 and 24 A6M3 flew from Rangoon to this base and will fly tomorrow 100% CAP over the base.

China

The 37th Div fought a new battle 120 miles NE of Chungking and defeated at 60 to 1 the retreating Mandchurian Adv Corps. Japanese lost 171 men and 4 guns, Chinese 112 wounded and killed and more than 500 POWs.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Sining to size 5 (+ 100 points).

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 585
RE: Monthly report May 1943 - 4/6/2007 8:34:46 PM   
denisonh


Posts: 2194
Joined: 12/21/2001
From: Upstate SC
Status: offline 		That seems like a deep hole, as you have a 45K+ lead.

How much do you think will be "eaten up" in 1944 and how much of lead do you think you will need to win going into 1944?

quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Monthly report May 1943

Japanese score: 53 721 (+ 937)
....
Allied score: 8 027 (+ 396)
...



_____________________________


"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 586
3 June 1943: disaster over Myitkyina - 4/7/2007 2:20:12 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: denisonh

That seems like a deep hole, as you have a 45K+ lead.

How much do you think will be "eaten up" in 1944 and how much of lead do you think you will need to win going into 1944?



Good question, I think that it will heavily depend of the success or the failure of the current Allied offensive in Burma. If I manage to hold, I will have much more freedom to deploy troops elsewhere and hold ground. If Myiktyina falls, it will be a major crisis for the Empire and a big part of the Pacific will be abandonned before the planned schedule.

Just with the advanced bases in Pacific (Hawaii, NZ, atolls, New Caledonia) I think I will lose 7000 points while the Allied will win 3000. Then the idea is to have losses on the same level than the Allied, or at least less than 2 to 1, that is trying to fight in good conditions and not to fight in bad ones.... My goal is to have a score of 55-60k in mid-44 while the Allied score will be around 20-25k.

Another thing that may change the score heavily in Allied favor will be a successfull attack in North Pacific with the Allied forces taking an airfield in range of Japan... That is the most worrying threat now according to me. And this area will receive many reinforcements in the next weeks.

3 June 1943

Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 30 B-24D and 17 PB4Y from PM escorted by 39 P-38G that scored 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 39 on runways and disabled 62 men and 2 guns. A PB4Y was shot down by AA fire, a P-38G lost in an accident.

Japanese recon aircraft reported 6 Kittyhawk I flying CAP over Gili Gili and 3 PT off the base.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the morning, Amboina was attacked by 24 B-24D from Darwin and reported 26 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 37 on runways, and a B-24D shot down by AA fire. As usual 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin flew an uneventful sweep over Lautem. In the afternoon the latter base was attacked by 48 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 7 P-40N and reported 34 casualties, 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 35 on runways.

Southern Resource Area

A convoy loaded 17k resources in Toboali for Singapore.

Burma

This time the orders of the Japanese fighter units sent to Myitkyina were double checked but that won’t suffice. The day was a disaster as all Allied air units in the area attacked the airfield and troops around the city.
The first raid arrived after dawn and was flown by 10 B-25J and 2 Vengeance I (16 other got lost on the way) from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40E and 8 Beaufighter VIC. 32 A6M3a, 25 Ki-44 and 9 A6M3 intercepted them. A bad day started for the Tojo pilots of the 85 Sentai that lost 14 of their number to shot down 3 Beaufighter and 3 P-40E. The Zeroes were more successful and shot down 9 P-40E, 4 Beaufighter and 1 Vengeance and repulsed the B-25J for the loss of an A6M3a. Only one Vengeance reached the airfield and managed to destroy another A6M3a on the ground. Another P-40E was lost in an accident leaving the scoreboard after this raid as 21 Allied and 16 Japanese losses, not a very good start for Japan.
And then arrived a bigger raid from Imphal. 46 B-24D, 45 B-25J, 24 B-17E and 15 Blenheim IV escorted by 22 P-40N and 22 P-40B were intercepted by 32 A6M3a, 11 Ki-44 and 9 A6M3 that were unable to stop them, suffering 18 losses in the air (11 Ki-44, 4 A6M3 and 3 A6M3a) and 22 on the ground (11 A6M3, 10 A6M3a and a Ki-15). Allied losses were 8 P-40N, 5 P-40B, 2 Blenheim IV and 1 B-25J shot down by Japanese fighters and 1 B-24D in an accident. Score was now 38 Allied losses vs 56 Japanese.
Things got worse with the next Allied wave, 50 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 20 P-40N. 33 exhausted Japanese pilots were still over the city (with 27 A6M3a and 6 A6M3) but were not able to do much. The P-40N shot down 6 A6M3a and 5 A6M3 for two losses in air combat and a third in an accident. The bombers were almost not intercepted and pounded again the airfield, destroying another A6M3a on the ground. Score was now 41 to 68 in Allied favour. That was the last raid of the day on the airfield that reported a total of 194 casualties, 5 disabled guns, 17 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 225 on runways.
But the real disaster arrived at the end of the morning, thanks to WITP mechanisms that gave a too much importance to fatigue IMOO (or at least should allow pilots to retire when they are exhausted). 26 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima escorted by 35 Beaufighter Mk 21 were sent to Myitkyina to attack the 33rd Div. 21 A6M3a and 1 A6M3 were still airborne over the city. Zeroes vs Beaufighter…. The result was a slaughter but not in the expected way. For three losses the Beaufighter Mk 21 pilots shot down 17 A6M3a and the A6M3 opening the way to the fighter-bombers that then hit 55 men and 3 guns without loss. The F2/1st Daitai, one of the best land-based units of IJNAF, had so far escaped the day with light losses but lost 11 aircraft in this last battle and fled…
So the final body count was 44 Allied losses (41 A2A, 3 ops) against 86 Japanese (62 A2A, 24 ground).
The 85 Sentai had lost all its 25 Ki-44 and 17 pilots, the F2/6th Daitai 20 A6M3 and 8 pilots, the F2/1st 19 A6M3a and 14 pilots and the F2/Genzan 21 A6M3a and 7 pilots. All four units were evacuated to Singapore and will be rebuilt here. For the Japanese Command control of the air over Burma was lost today… There still was 278 Japanese fighters in Rangoon, but 2/3 of them were Tojo and Oscar II and all that they can do is defend the base. No more heavy battle will be fought in range of Allied fighters and fighter-bombers.




The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 48/81 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/77, Mandalay 30/0, Lashio 21/0, Myitkyina 95/64, other bases undamaged.

China

The two first units of the Japanese Southern China Army (its two Tk Rgt) reached the crossroads 120 miles SE of Kweiyang and stopped there to wait for the slower infantry and artillery units.

A training mission was flown without loss from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 112 Japanese aircraft that hit 134 men.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 4/7/2007 2:21:36 PM >

(in reply to denisonh)
Post #: 587
4 June 1943: first bombs on Japanese soil... - 4/7/2007 8:17:02 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		4 June 1943

Northern Pacific

A new front became a reality in the afternoon when 65 PB4Y, 44 B-24D, 14 B-17E and 12 Liberator VI from Attu attacked Paramushiro Jima. 8 A6M3a and 6 Rufes defended the base. A Rufe was shot down by return fire while the Zeroes shot down 2 B-24D and 1 PB4Y but the base was badly pounded and reported 2 Betties and 1 Rufe destroyed on the ground, 80 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 27 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 66 on runways. Four bombers (2 B-24D, 1 PB4Y and 1 Liberator VI) were also lost in accidents.

After the raid the 6 remaining Betties left the airfield for the base of Toyohara (Sakhalin island) while 25 more Betties arrived from Japan in Shikka north of it. The other air units of Paramushiro Jima remained there with the same orders. All available barges left the base for Etorofu Jima from where they will bring back the 22nd Eng Rgt.

One of the best divisions of the Kwantung Army, the 14th Div, was ordered to leave its garrison of Hailar and march to a Korean port where it will be shipped to Paramushiro Jima. It will be replaced in Manchoukuo by a division coming from China.

Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 32 B-24D and 24 PB4Y from PM escorted by 41 P-38G that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 42 on runways, doing 94 casualties. A PB4Y was shot down by AA fire, a P-38G lost in an accident.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Amboina was again attacked by 19 B-24D from Darwin that scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 31 on runways and wounded 13 men at the cost of one of their number lost to AA fire. Lautem reported the usual raids from Darwin, a sweep by 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 in the morning and an attack by 48 B-25C escorted by 6 P-40N in the afternoon, the latter doing 35 casualties and scoring 1 hit on supplies and 36 on runways.

Southern Resource Area

In the morning the American submarine Sargo saw a Japanese convoy 120 miles SE of Batan Island but was unable to reach a firing position. The two Japanese escorts didn’t detect her.
East of Menado the SS USS Pickerel was bombed and hit by a Ki-30 flying ASW patrol.

Two convoys were organized today, to carry 14k supplies from Kuala Lumpur to Rangoon and 10k supplies from Toboali to Singapore.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Soerabaja to size 5.

Burma

Having eliminated the fighter threat in Myitkyina, Allied airmen returned to their usual targets. Mandalay was bombed by 62 B-25C, 24 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 16 P-40E that disabled 104 men and 3 guns, and scored 13 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 64 on runways but suffered 3 losses to AA fire (2 B-25J and a B-25C). Myitkyina airfield was empty but was anyway bombed again by 59 Vengeance I, 36 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 9 B-25J from Ledo and Kohima escorted by 22 Beaufighter VIC and 11 P-40E that disabled 143 men and 2 guns, and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 47 on runways. Again Japanese AA gunners aimed true and shot down a Vengeance and a Beaufighter. 120 miles west of Myikyina the 41st Heavy AA Bn was attacked by 22 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur escorted by 2 P-40E and lost 59 men and 1 gun. 60 miles more NW the 11th NLF was the target of 15 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 6 Spitfire Vb and lost 28 men and 1 gun. Allied operational losses during the day were 2 Beaufighter Mk 21, 1 Blenheim and 1 P-40E.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 48/75 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/68, Mandalay 52/66, Myitkyina 100/53, other bases undamaged.
The Allied units on the Kohima trail had not yet been identified so the Japanese airmen changed tactics. Two recon units were moved to Mandalay and Lashio and ordered to fly recon at range 3 with no target given. With some luck they should be able to identify one of the units of this group.

China

A training mission was flown without loss from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 111 Japanese aircraft that hit 101 men.

Japanese Navy

Seven DD received 6/43 upgrades in Pearl Harbor and Japan. Two old 18-knot cruisers left Palau for the Marianas where they will join a convoy returning to Japan to be upgraded there.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 588
5 June 1943: a question for you - 4/8/2007 12:17:35 AM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Hi, all

I have a question. In some days I will reconstitute my CV units with fragments coming from units trained in China, as I do usually. But in one of the last patches the behaviour of CV units going ashore changed so I wonder if it will work again.

Months ago, when a CV TF was on the same hex as an airfield, CV air units may be sent to this base, receive reinforcementgs (fragments disbanding into them) and return to the CV the same turn. A lot of clicking but at the end of the day the reinforced unit was aboard the CV as wished.

No it seems It didn't work anymore (at least in Osaka). A CV unit being sent ashore can't board a CV the same turn. And at least in one of my two turns all AC were disabled during landing... Loading a fragment aboard CV won't help (they can't be disbanded once they are aboard) so the only way I see will be to unload CV air units, reinforce them with fragments and let them spend a turn on the ground... something that is heavily plagued with bugs. Two possible problems occuring when you do that will be that the unit size changes to land-based size (27 AC), another being that the unit will change of command and take the command of the base, so Home Defence in Osaka, and then I will have to pay PP to "liberate" it again. Grrr....

So my questions :
1) do you know if the bugs occuring when a CV air unit will be ashore had been solved, especially the 'changing command' one ?
2) anybody had an idea how to do what I want to do (reinforcing CV air units with experienced fragments) safely ?

Thanks in advance

5 June 1943

Northern Pacific

In the afternoon Attu airmen returned to Paramushiro Jima with 56 PB4Y, 33 B-24D and 16 B-17E. The airfield was more hit than was thought the previous evening and no Japanese aircraft could take off to oppose them. So the bombers destroyed 13 aircraft on the ground (5 Rufes, 4 A6M3a, 2 Mavis and 2 Dinah III), disabled 23 men and 2 guns and scored 11 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 84 on runways for only one loss, a PB4Y lost operationally. In the evening all able aircraft (5 Dinah) left the base, leaving behind 8 other damaged AC.

A Betty flying a recon to Kiska was shot down by AA fire.

Bismarck and Solomon Islands-New Guinea

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon as usual but today only by 20 PB4Y from PM escorted by 63 P-38G that scored 2 hits on the airbase and 15 on runways, doing 22 casualties. The B-24D of PM weren’t resting, They had just switched of target. 51 of them bombed Kavieng, wounding 11 men and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 16 on runways.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

As the day before Amboina was attacked by 13 B-24D from Darwin that scored 1 hit on the airbase and 31 on runways, doing 22 casualties. Lautem reported the usual raids from Darwin, a sweep by 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 in the morning and an attack by 26 B-25C escorted by 9 P-40N in the afternoon, the latter doing 14 casualties and scoring 1 hit on the airbase and 23 on runways. AA fire shot down a PBM Mariner over Kendari.

Southern Resource Area

During the night the submarine HMS Truant tried to attack SE of Sinkep Island a tanker convoy sailing from Palembang but was chased by the escort and damaged by a near-miss scored by a PC.

Two convoys were organised, one to carry 18k oil and 42k resources from Singapore and the other to carry 35k resources from Tarakan. Both will sail to Legaspi, and then to Japan.

Burma

Mandalay, where several recon Chutai moved the day before, was bombed by 43 B-24D, 43 B-25C, 24 B-17E and 11 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B and 15 P-40E and then by 52 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N. They destroyed 4 Dinah II and 1 Ki-15 on the ground, killed and wounded 96 men, disabled 4 guns and scored 19 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 197 on runways. No recon was flown and all aircraft were evacuated to Rangoon in the evening.
In Myitkyina the 21st Bde was bombed by 7 Vengeance I from Kohima that hit 2 men and 1 gun, and the 33rd Div was attacked by 32 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 VIC and 14 Vengeance I from the same base and lost 49 men, 3 guns and 1 tank while shooting down a Beaufighter with AA fire, while another was lost in an accident. 60 miles SE of Imphal the 12th NLF was the target of 39 Hurricane II from this base escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb and lost 19 men and 1 gun.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 48/69 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/58, Mandalay 83/99, Myitkyina 100/18, other bases undamaged.

China

The main body of the Japanese Southern China Army (5000 AV) reached the crossroads 120 miles SE of Kweiyang and was ordered to march to this city.

NE of Chungking a new Chinese unit marched out of the mountains and will be attacked tomorrow by the 37th Div.

A training mission was flown without loss from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 112 Japanese aircraft that hit 35 men.

Japan

Two more destroyer received 6/43 upgrade in Tokyo.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 589
RE: 5 June 1943: a question for you - 4/8/2007 7:07:29 PM   
BLurking


Posts: 199
Joined: 3/24/2005
From: Frisco, TX
Status: offline 		Don't dock the CV TF, and air units will "fly" back and forth, rather than becoming damaged (moved by crane). Don't know whether you can still transfer back and forth on the same turn, but this will keep your air units from being out of action for a while.
Can't help you with the command issues - I usually do my transfers near the front at Truk or Kwaj, just to avoid Home Island command issues (need those PPs to free up CEA units!)...

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 590
RE: 5 June 1943: a question for you - 4/11/2007 7:57:30 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BLurking

Don't dock the CV TF, and air units will "fly" back and forth, rather than becoming damaged (moved by crane). Don't know whether you can still transfer back and forth on the same turn, but this will keep your air units from being out of action for a while.
Can't help you with the command issues - I usually do my transfers near the front at Truk or Kwaj, just to avoid Home Island command issues (need those PPs to free up CEA units!)...


Thanks for the tip but I'm not sure it worked correctly.

Well, even with undocked CV (but in same hex) I still had air units moved "by crane" (all AC being disabled when arriving). By the way I had this arriving even with air units flying from CV at sea to an airbase.
Another thing I really don't like in the current version of WITP is that I am unable to send an air unit from one CV to another

I did a test and two independent CV air units spent a night on Osaka without changing HQ so were put back on CV for free.
On the other hand I had an unit on Akagi that was already attached to Home Defence Command.... I can't understand how it arrived there (it is a CV air unit). I will have to pay for this one if I put it on Osaka (or elsewhere else).
My original was to do this on a Pacific Island, but with Allied CV lurking somewhere south of Alaska I will rather build my air groups in Japan and keep my CVs in the area.

6 June 1943

Northern Pacific

There was another proof of the activity of Allied CVs south of Alaska. 360 miles SE of Dutch Harbor a SDB Dauntless flew over a Japanese submarine. Another submarine carrying a Glen was ordered to sail westwards and will patrol midway between Wake and Kiska to be sure Allied CV won’t raid Japan.

Southern Pacific

One of the Emilies based on Norfolk Island flew the daily recon to Brisbane but was ambushed and shot down by the Allied CAP. This unit will recon Townsville tomorrow.

Deep in SE Pacific, the CL Naka still hadn’t found a target and received today the order to sail back to Pago-Pago. One of the two submarines she used as scouts will also sail back to a Japanese base while the other will continue to patrol in the area.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

In the morning a F-5A Lightning was shot down by AA fire over Rabaul. This base was attacked in the afternoon by 17 B-24D from PM escorted by 41 P-38G that scored 2 hits on the airbase and 10 on runways and disabled 43 men. At the same time 43 B-24D from PM attacked Kavieng and scored 3 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 26 on runways, doing 56 casualties.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Lautem was the only target of the Allied airmen (from Darwin), and only in the afternoon. 44 B-25C escorted by 7 P-40N raided the airfield, scoring 1 hit on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 26 on runways and doing 25 casualties, while 14 Brewster 339D attacked unsuccessfully barges off the base.

SRA

Between Muntok and Sinkep Island, the SS HMS Truant was chased during the night by 5 MSW and was damaged by a hit and two near-misses scored with Type 91 DCs. In the afternoon she was attacked and damaged again by a Ki-48 off Muntok.
After dawn, the escort of a tanker convoy saw 180 miles east of Sinkep Island the SS USS Gurnard and chased her before she saw the tankers.

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Brunei to size 5 and will now build fortifications here.

Burma

Heavy Allied air attacks continued against airfields and troops. Pagan was attacked by 59 B-25C, 12 Blenheim IV and 10 B-25J from Chandpur and reported 20 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 5 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 69 on runways. 9 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 22 P-40N and 3 Beaufighter VIC attacked Myitkyina and scored 14 on runways, doing 27 casualties. 47 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N raided Mandalay (49 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 6 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 40 on runways), while 40 B-24D, 39 B-25J, 24 B-17E and 7 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B and 16 P-40N pounded Lashio, disabling 91 men and 1 gun and scoring 14 hits on the airbase, 13 on supplies and 90 on runways. Three units defending Myitkyina (17th and 33rd Div, 21st Bde) were attacked by a total of 40 Vengeance I, 30 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 11 Beaufighter VIC from Ledo and Kohima escorted by 13 P-40E and lost 117 men and 6 guns and 1 tank. 120 miles more west the 104st Div was bombed by 20 Beaufighter VIC from Chanpure escorted by 19 P-40E and lost 15 men while in the jungle more NW 38 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb attacked the 11th NLF and hit 55 men and 1 gun. Allied losses were a B-25C and a Vengeance I shot down by AA fire and 1 B-25J and 1 P-40N lost in crashes.

During the day a Japanese recon aircraft finally identified one of the units on the trail from Kohima as the 200th Chinese Division. So this group, even weak, had some combat power.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Pagan 62/77 (system/runway), Taung Gyi 70/49, Mandalay 94/99, Lashio 42/80, Myitkyina 91/0, other bases undamaged.

The four fighter units decimated in Myiktina some days ago received replacement aircraft and rookie pilots and will train them in Singapore.

China

The 37th Div fought a new battle 120 miles NE of Chungking and defeated at 469 to 1 the retreating 3rd New Chinese Corps (reduced to 237 men). Japanese lost 21 men and 1 gun, Chinese 51 wounded and killed and some tens of prisoners.

A training mission was flown from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 111 Japanese aircraft that hit 107 men without loss.

Japan

Two changes were made concerning aircraft production. First the only remaining factory still able to produce the A6M3 (size 72 in Okayama) was ordered to restart production as the stockpile for this aircraft type was now under 100. And the research factory for the G4M2 Betty (max size 20, current size 0) was allowed to start repairs so it will be operational when this type will be available on 1st July.


(in reply to BLurking)
Post #: 591
7-8 June 1943: another undefended base retaken by the A... - 4/12/2007 1:43:58 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
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Status: offline 		7-8 June 1943

Northern Pacific

On the 8th, Paramushiro Jima was attacked again by 63 PB4Y, 45 B-17E, 21 B-24D and 15 Liberator VI from Attu. AA fire shot down 1 PB4Y but the base was again badly hit and reported 3 A6M3a and 2 Rufe destroyed on the ground, 37 casualties, 2 disabled guns, 10 hits on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 128 on runways. A B-17E and a PB4Y were also lost in accidents. The garrison of the island was unable to repair the damage but this same day barges began to load parts of the 22nd Eng Rgt in Etorofu Jima and will bring it back to this base in the following weeks.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

On the 7th, the undefended base of Buna was occupied by the 30th Australian Bde and an Allied base force that had marched from PM via the Kokoda Trail. The Japanese coastwatcher here should have reported these troops the day before but was probably too busy with local girls and sake bootles…. Anyway he committed seppuku and everything is fine now. The next day Allied aircraft were reported in Buna and Japanese airmen were ordered to recon the base.

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon of the 7th by 14 PB4Y from PM escorted by 17 P-38G that scored 1 hit on supplies and 9 on runways and disabled 34 men and 1 gun. At the same time 47 B-24D from PM attacked Kavieng and scored 10 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 19 on runways, doing 30 casualties. AA fire shot down a B-24D and another was lost in an accident.

Emilies from Norfolk Island flew recon of Townsville on both days but only reported that CAP was flown by around 25 fighters, including 10 Corsairs. On the 8th this CAP shot down a Emily.

The damaged CA Takao (SYS 51) left Truk for Japan escorted by 2 DD that will be upgraded there while she will be repaired.

Timor-DEI-Australia

There was only one Allied raid in two days. Lautem was attacked in the afternoon of the 8th by 53 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 10 P-40N that scored 1 hit on the airbase and 26 on runways and did 32 casualties. But Allied airmen patrolling around Timor scored two successes, sinking a barge off Lautem on the 7th and damaging the small AK Tatura Maru (at 43/14/16) the next day while she was unloading supplies. The transport immediately left for Kendari. On the 8th another Mariner was shot down by AA fire over Kendari.

SRA

On the 7th, two American submarines tried to attack Japanese convoys but were chased by the Japanese escorts, the S-41 180 miles east of Balikpapan and the Gurnard 180 miles north of Singkawang.

Burma

Burmese skies were relatively quiet these two days with only 291 Allied sorties on the 7th and 152 on the 8th (compared to the 513 of the 6th).
On the first day 39 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N raided Mandalay (70 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 55 on runways), while 42 B-25J, 37 B-24D, 24 B-17E and 7 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 22 P-40B and 14 P-40N raided Lashio, scoring 10 hits on the airbase, 11 on supplies and 95 on runways and doing 49 casualties. Two divisions defending Myitkyina (17th and 33rd) were attacked by a total of 19 Beaufighter Mk 21, 10 Vengeance I and 8 Beaufighter VIC from Kohima, lost 61 men and 3 guns and shot down a Vengeance and a Beaufighter VIC with AA fire. More west 39 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb attacked the 11th NLF SE of their base and hit 59 men and 1 gun.
On the 8th Akyab was attacked by 62 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV and 16 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 19 P-40E and reported 2 Irving destroyed on the ground, 2 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 68 on runways. 7 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 2 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 1 hit on supplies and 7 on runways. 120 miles more west the 41st Div was bombed by 20 Beaufighter VIC from Chandpur escorted by 3 P-40E and lost 34 men and 3 guns. One Beaufighter VIC was lost in an accident.

The evening report of the 8th gave the airfield status as: Akyab 17/33 (system/runway), Pagan 62/67, Taung Gyi 70/30, Mandalay 100/98, Lashio 63/96, Myitkyina 10/0, other bases undamaged.

China

The majority of the units of the Japanese Southern China Army arrived 60 miles SE of Kweiyang. Patrols reported that the city was held by around 72 000 Chinese. The Army was ordered to move to the city in the evening of the 8th.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 592
9-10 June 1943: usual bomb rains - 4/13/2007 1:46:23 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
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Status: offline 		9-10 June 1943

Northern Pacific

Both days were quiet. On the 9th an AK evacuated from Paramushiro Jima the Rufe unit stranded there with no more AC but 8 pilots, while a Betty flying recon over Kiska from Shikka was shot down by an Allied fighter.

Engineers of both sides were active. Japanese expanded Ominato airfield to size 5, Allied the port of Attu to size 3 and the one of Umnak Island to size 5.

In Manchoukuo the 14th Div that was still moving towards a Korean port received orders to divide and each part received orders to prepare to defend respectively Wakkanai, Toyohara and Onnekha Jima (the small island west of Paramushiro Jima, that has an airfield size of 0/1). The 63rd Div, newly created in Chengting, China, received orders to march to Hailar to replace the 14th Div here.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Canton Island to size 4.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

On the 9th, Japanese bombers flew recon over Buna and Gili Gili and reported that each base was defended by a Kittyhawk I squadron. The next night, both bases were raided by 7 Betties from Truk but no damage was experienced by any side. This day an Allied patrol reported that Dobadura was empty and that natives here were friendly to the Allied cause, while AA fire shot down a Betty on recon over Buna.

Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon of the 10th by 22 PB4Y from PM escorted by 43 P-38G that scored 4 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 16 on runways and disabled 84 men and 2 guns but lost two PB4Y to AA fire. At the same time 67 B-24D from PM attacked Kavieng and scored 8 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 47 on runways, doing 75 casualties. A B-24D was lost in an accident.

Emilies from Norfolk Island flew recon of Townsville on the 9th, losing one of their number to AA fire, and of Cooktown on the 10th, reporting 10-15 F4F-4 on CAP over the city.

In the evening of the 10th, the BB Kongo, 4 CA, 2 CL and 8 DD left Truk westwards. Their goal will be to bombard Buna airfield but they first sailed west to avoid the numerous Allied submarines SW of Truk. They will be covered by Zeroes currently based in Truk and Lunga and that will move to Rabaul, Kavieng or Wewak to LRCAP them.
Also 5 Dinah III flew from Truk to Wewak and were ordered to recon Buna.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The 9th was another quiet day in the area. Lautem was attacked in the morning by 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 2 P-40N that scored 5 hits on the runway and wounded 5 men, while in the afternoon Dili was raided by 8 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 1 hit on the runway and did 4 casualties. The next day was a little more active with Allied raids again targeting Lautem (15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 13 P-40N in the morning and 46 B-25C and 12 P-40N in the afternoon for a total of 36 casualties, 1 disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 32 on runways) and Dili (raided by 8 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 1 hit on supplies and 2 on the runway and did 7 casualties. A PBY Catalina flying a recon to Amboina was shot down by AA fire.

Koepang hadn’t been attacked in a while and Japanese engineers had so been able to repair the whole airfield and to restart their work on fortifications, reaching level 6 on the 10th.

SRA

During the night of the 9th-10th, the submarine USS Pompon was chased by an ASW group SE of Menado but escaped undamaged.

A convoy was created in Soerabaja and will carry 28k resources to Japan via Cagayan, Mindanao.

Burma

On the 9th, Akyab was attacked by 53 B-25C, 23 Blenheim IV, 22 Beaufighter VIC and 14 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 3 P-40E and reported 13 hits on the airbase, 9 on supplies and 74 on runways, while 13 B-25J from Ledo escorted by 14 P-40E attacked Myitkyina and scored 3 hits on the airbase and 10 on runways, doing 23 casualties. 39 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb attacked the 11th NLF on the mountain SE of their base and hit 53 men and 2 guns. The only Allied loss was a Blenheim IV lost in an accident.

The next day 43 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40N raided Lashio and scored 4 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 57 on runways, doing 40 casualties. Akyab was again attacked by Chanpur airmen with 38 B-25C, 24 Beaufighter VIC, 21 Blenheim IV and 15 B-25J from Chandpur escorted by 22 P-40E and reported a J1N1-R Irving destroyed on the ground, 42 casualties and 11 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 55 on runways. Three units defending Myitkyina (17th and 33rd Div, 21st Bde) were attacked by a total of 175 aircraft from Imphal, Kohima and Ledo escorted by 46 other (43 B-24D, 32 Beaufighter Mk 21, 27 B-25J, 25 Vengeance I, 21 B-17E, 21 Beaufighter VIC and 6 Blenheim IV) in 5 raids and lost 399 men, 16 guns and 2 tanks. 39 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 11 Spitfire Vb attacked the 11th NLF on the mountain SE of their base and hit 73 men. Allied losses were two B-24D and a Vengeance I shot down by AA fire near Myitkyina and 1 B-17E, 1 Vengeance, 1 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 1 P-40N lost in crashes.

The evening report of the 10th gave the airfield status as: Akyab 63/67 (system/runway), Pagan 62/55, Taung Gyi 70/11, Mandalay 100/42, Lashio 73/85, other bases undamaged. This evening 3 recon Chutai flew to Myitkyina with a total of 7 AC and orders to identify nearby Allied units (no target, range limited to 1). A floatplane was sent to Akyab to draw Allied bombers and 46 Zeroes from Rangoon were ordered to fly LRCAP over this base to ambush Chandpur airmen who usually flew with a small escort.

Japan

All Japanese Cv received orders to gather in Osaka (from Maizuru, Okayama and Tokyo) where CV air units will be reinforced with experienced pilots from operational training units.

To test how ships may gain experience at sea, two training groups were created in Shangai and Tokyo each with 6 PC/PG. As someone said, the max experience that may be attained by this method is 55 so I chose ships having exp between 45 and 50. Both TF will cruise for one week on Japanese shores before I check them.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 593
RE: 9-10 June 1943: usual bomb rains - 4/13/2007 4:33:47 PM   
nobunaga

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

9-10 June 1943

To test how ships may gain experience at sea, two training groups were created in Shangai and Tokyo each with 6 PC/PG. As someone said, the max experience that may be attained by this method is 55 so I chose ships having exp between 45 and 50. Both TF will cruise for one week on Japanese shores before I check them.



Laurent, i think PG/PC-type vessels have a training limit of 45
according to section 6.1.24 in the manual, so your training efforts will prolly be in vain.
AFAIK CVL Chitose/Chiyoda and some of the CVEs are the only major warships which arrive with less than 55 experience.

< Message edited by nobunaga -- 4/13/2007 4:53:07 PM >

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 594
11 June 1943: Allied troops reach Myitkyina - 4/13/2007 5:49:21 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: nobunaga

Laurent, i think PG/PC-type vessels have a training limit of 45
according to section 6.1.24 in the manual, so your training efforts will prolly be in vain.
AFAIK CVL Chitose/Chiyoda and some of the CVEs are the only major warships which arrive with less than 55 experience.



Well, next time, I will check the manual before doing such a test. Anyway the various patches may have changed this. By the way there should be no limit to the experience you may win by training, just it should become harder and harder when the exp is growing.

The situation is really heating up both in Burma and China. I will include to this post a map sometimes during this week-end for more precision.

11 June 1943

Northern Pacific

A patrolling PB4Y damaged off Paramushiro Jima a small AK unloading supplies here (damage 42/18/6, she will return to Ominato to be repaired) while the base was bombed by 51 PB4Y, 45 B-17E, 32 B-24D and 12 Liberator VI from Attu that did 111 casualties, disabled 2 guns, and scored 7 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 102 on runways.

The first barge convoy carrying 400 men of the 22nd Eng Rgt reached Paramushiro Jima and will unload them tonight. 15 more barges were launched in Etorofu Jima and loaded more men of this unit to bring it to Paramushiro Jima.

Of the four ML operating from Etorofu Jima, only the faster one will continue to lay mines off Paramushiro Jima, the three other will lay minefields off rear bases in the area. Another brand new fast ML left Tokyo for Etorofu Jima and will also be used in Kurils waters.

40 small AK left Osaka under escort for the Korean port of Changkufeng, and will carry the 14th Div from there to the three bases it was scheduled to defend.

Central Pacific

The (empty) CVE Chuyo left Kwajalein under escort towards Hawaii to pick up here a CV Kate unit (15 AC) that was annihilated during the second battle of Hawaii in August 1942 and was then left behind to retrain here. It had been more or less forgotten here since then.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Wallis Island to size 2.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, Buna was raided by 7 Betties from Truk and Gili Gili by 5 but again no damage was experienced by any side. There was no activity during the day except recon flights by both sides.

The Kongo TF received in the evening orders to sail south and will bombard Buna on the night of the 12th-13th. To provide LRCAP over it tomorrow 19 A6M2 and 15 A6M3a flew from Lunga respectively to Rabaul and Wewak. Also the 27 Betties based in Lunga flew to Truk and will be used in the future to lay mines off New Guinea.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 2 P-40N attacked Lautem and scored 5 runway hits. In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 111 B-25C and 67 B-25J from Derby and reported 20 hits on the airbase, 10 on supplies and 134 on runways, 82 casualties and 1 disabled gun. Dili was bombed by 10 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 1 hit on supplies and 8 on the runway, doing 29 casualties, while 14 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 2 P-40N raided Lautem and scored 8 hits on the runway.

SRA

Before dawn, the submarine USS Cisco tried to attack a convoy 120 miles NW of Vigan, Luzon, but was chased by the four escorts. It was the AP convoy bringing both Parachute Regiments from Pacific to Haiphong, Indochina.

Burma

There were no air raids on Japanese airfields. Three units defending Myitkyina (17th and 33rd Div, 21st Bde) were attacked by a total of 30 B-24D, 28 B-25J, 25 Vengeance I, 19 B-17E and 10 Blenheim IV from Imphal escorted by 19 P-40B and lost 403 men, 8 guns and 1 tank. 39 Hurricane II from Imphal escorted by 11 Spitfire Vb attacked the 11th NLF on the mountain SE of their base and hit 10 men. There was no Allied loss during these raids but since two days Allied transport AC had been lost again in accidents, probably while supplying troops in Burma.

The evening report of the 10th gave the airfield status as: Akyab 63/46 (system/runway), Pagan 62/49, Taung Gyi 70/1, Mandalay 100/14, Lashio 73/65, other bases undamaged.

But the big event of the day was that finally Allied troops marched out of the jungle and reached Myitkyina. 26 Allied units were reported near the city, leaving two more north. Immediately the war plan “M” was activated:
_ Japanese troops west of Myikyina were ordered to move to the city. That order included all units of the “Armoured Group” just west of the city (1st Tk Div, 23rd Bde, 4th and 14th Tk Rgt) but also the 104th Div, one of the 3 divisions waiting on the southern end of the Kohima trail.
_ The airfield of Myitkyina was abandoned by the recon units based there, that flew to Lashio, Mandalay and Taung Gyi. 22 A6M3 from Rangoon flew to Taung Gyi to fly LRCAP tomorrow over Myitkyina.
_ But the most important part of the plan will be a paradrop NE of Myitkyina to cut the supply path of the Allied army. This attack will be launched on two Allied units. The operation sequence will be the following: first 5 different recon units will identify them (and raise the DL), then 27 A6M3a from Kungchang, China, will fly a sweep over the area and 106 Betties based in Bangkok will bomb these troops. After that all three Yokosuka Para SNLF will be dropped there by 76 Topsies and 36 Tabbies.

China

The 15th Div, one of the units of the Japanese Southern China Army, marched north and cut the road going east from Kweiyang. The two Tk Rgt of the army were ordered to follow it, while this Div will now march west towards the city. All other units of the Army were marching directly to the city (except the troops planned to hold the road).

Tomorrow Oscar II will fly LRCAP over Kweiyang, Kunming and Yunan just in case Allied transport AC were used to supply them.

Japan

While Japanese CV were sailing from various Japanese ports to Osaka, 7 operational training units (a Daitai of Zeroes, two Daitais and a Chutai of Vals and two Daitais and a Chutai of Kates) were ordered to prepare to transfer pilots and AC to the CV air units. That means all AC were disabled (either by rail move or by boarding an Ak and being unloaded “immediately”) and fragments will then be integrated to CV air units put ashore in Osaka. By the way the first repaired AC of each training unit will be flown out of Japan, so once all other AC and pilots will be included in CV air units, the training unit will be reconstituted with a core of experienced pilots into a mass of rookies.

(in reply to nobunaga)
Post #: 595
11 June 1943: the map - 4/16/2007 10:31:52 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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Attachment (1)

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12 June 1943: two Japanese reaction ending in failures - 4/16/2007 10:40:48 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, Buna and Gili Gili were raided each by 3 Betties from Truk but again no damage was experienced by any side. 180 miles SW of Truk the submarine USS Tarpon was chased by an ASW group but escaped undamaged. This same ASW group continued to sail south and engaged twice the SS USS Amberjack 60 miles more south but neither side was able to attack the other.

Dawn found the Kongo TF off the Admiralty Islands and 45 B-24D, 30 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 10 PB4Y took off from Port Moresby to attack it under escort by 47 P-38G. The Japanese ships were protected by 11 A6M2 from Rabaul and 7 A6M3a from Wewak. The P-38G shot down 7 A6M3a and 6 A6M2 at the cost of 5 of their number in the battle and 2 more in accidents. The remaining Japanese fighters only scored some hits on 3 B-24D but one crashed later. The bombers then attacked the Japanese ships. AA fire was far too inefficient to repel the attack and only one Beaufighter was seriously damaged and ditched on the home leg. Allied airmen scored 10 bomb hits. 7 were on the BB Kongo that suffered no big damage (7/0/9) but lost a 5in gun, a 25mm position and her Type 22 radar. The CA Nachi was seriously damaged by a 2000lb bomb (41/27/9). The CA Atago and Mikuma were also hit by bombs but they bounced almost without damage. The Beaufighter also strafed several ships but with close to none effect.

In the afternoon, PM airmen switched target and attacked Rabaul with 43 B-24D and 21 PB4Y escorted by 47 P-38G, destroying 4 A6M2 on the ground, doing 117 casualties, disabling 5 guns and scoring 11 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 60 on runways. Allied losses were 1 PB4Y shot down by AA fire and a B-24D and 2 P-38G lost operationally.

In the evening, the Kongo TF turned back towards Truk (with the damage on Kongo, Buna was no more in range for a bombardment) while both zero units deployed to cover it flew to Truk for R&R. The F3/Chitose had lost 7 A6M3a and 4 pilots, the F1/Ominato 10 A6M2 and 4 pilots.

Not all went wrong today. A convoy was able to unload without being noticed or attack a Base Force in Shortlands. This unit will build fortifications and allow aircraft to be based here if needed.

Allied engineers expanded Gili Gili airfield to size 2.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 2 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 2 P-40N attacked Lautem and scored one runway hit. In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 92 B-25C and 56 B-25J from Derby and reported 8 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 115 on runways, 85 casualties and 4 disabled guns, Dili was bombed by 8 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 1 hit on the runway, doing 20 casualties, and Amboina was bombed by 103 B-17E and 21 B-24D from Darwin and reported 11 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 74 on runways, and 32 casualties. Two Allied bombers (a B-25C and a B-25J) were shot down by AA fire over Koepang, another (a B-17E) over Amboina and two more B-17E were lost in accidents.

SRA

North of Palawan Island, an American submarine tried to attack one of the convoys rerouted via the Philippines but was chased away by its escort, the DD Natsushio.
Two new convoys were organized and will carry 48k oil from Brunei to Japan via Cagayan and 21k resources from Manila to Legaspi (where it will join a bigger convoy coming from the DEI).

Burma

There were only two Allied air raids. 23 Beaufighter VIc from Chandpur escorted by 3 P-40E raided Akyab and scored 1 hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 7 on runways. At Myitkyina the 33rd Div was attacked by 41 Liberator VI escorted by 22 P-40N. 10 A6M3 flying LRCAP over the area intercepted the raid but shot down only 3 P-40N for five losses in the battle and one in an accident. The bombers hit 61 men, 2 guns and 1 tank and lost one of their number in an accident.
Allied troops in Myikyina were covered by a LRCAP of 16 Beaufighter VIC, 13 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 P-40N. They bombarded the Japanese lines, hitting 555 men, 4 guns and 2 tanks. 147 802 Allied men, 1266 guns and 1568 tanks (3676 AV) faced 111 744 Japanese men, 953 guns and 803 tanks (2158 AV). Japanese troops will return artillery fire tomorrow. The local commander was totally confident in his ability to hold the town with this strength ratio, especially as reinforcements were coming from the railway line.
But the main action today was the Japanese attempt to cut the Allied supply line by a paradrop NE of Myitkyina. Two Allied units were in the area, the Madras Engineer Regiment and the 225 RAF Base Force. The latter was bombed by 71 Betties from Bangkok and lost 79 men and 4 guns, while a Betty was shot down by AA fire and two lost in accidents. This bombing was not enough to seriously disrupt this Allied unit and when 76 Topsies and 36 Tabbies arrived from the Chinese base of Kungchang to drop elements of 3 SNLF over it the AA guns shot down 7 Topsies and 7 Tabbies. Around 1400 Japanese men reached the ground in good shape and attacked 6500 Allied men but failed (at 0 to 1) and lost 122 men and 1 gun. Allied losses were 12 men.
This paradrop attack was planned as a surprise coup. Now that it had failed, it was judged doubtful that a second wave will succeed. So the troops already dropped will try to hold alone, while the transport units at Kungchang left the airfield for Wuhan and Shanghai. 91 fighters (32 Ki-44, 27 A6M3a, 19 Oscar II and 12 Ki-61) were ordered to defend Kungchang if India-based Allied bombers try tomorrow to attack it to destroy transport AC on the ground. The Betties of Bangkok were ordered to rest.




The evening report gave the airfield status as: Akyab 65/28 (system/runway), Pagan 62/43, Taung Gyi 62/0, Mandalay 85/0, Lashio 73/40, other bases undamaged. In the evening the A6M3 based in Taung Gyi returned to Rangoon.

Allied engineers expanded Jorhat airfield to size 5.

China

The 60h Div reached the suburbs of Kweiyang and was ordered to bombard Chinese defenders tomorrow to identify them while the other units of the Japanese Southern China Army will reach the city.

A training mission was flown from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 24 A6M2 without loss.


Attachment (1)

< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 4/16/2007 10:43:33 PM >

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Post #: 597
13 June 1943: big reinforcement day - 4/17/2007 12:47:35 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

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Status: offline 		13 June 1943

This day was the big reinforcement day with the creation of 9 new divisions, 2 Bde, 3 Rgt, 1 Guard Unit and an Area Army HQ. In the evening of the 12th, the armament pool was at 203 080 and the vehicle’s one at 8 247. 24 hours later, they were at 179 675 and 7 910, and all new units were created at 100% OOB.

Northern Pacific

Paramushiro Jima was bombed in the afternoon by 30 PB4Y, 25 B-24D, 23 B-17E and 6 Liberator VI from Attu that hit the port, sinking all four barges docked her, did 3 casualties, and scored 8 hits on the port, 2 on fuel dumps and 5 on supplies. AA fire shot down a B-24D.

Allied engineers expanded the port of Kiska to size 5.

Southern Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Baker Island to size 3.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

The Japanese coastwatcher of Kiriwima Island reported that armed natives were surrounding his hut and then disappeared. The local tribe brought his head to Allied officials later during the day and joined the Allied side. This base was 120 miles of the closest known Allied unit (at Gili Gili), and I had never seen an empty base change side so far away from any unit, so maybe Allied troops had landed in Goodenough Island in the last few days.

Still during the night, Betties from Truk unsuccessfully attacked Buna (with 3 AC) and Gili Gili (with 5), while NW of Emirau Island the submarine USS Hoe tried to attack the retreating Kongo TF but was chased first by the 8 DD of its escort (the DD Takanami scored two near-misses) and then by the ASW group based in Truk that was sent to escort the Kongo TF (1 hit and 3 near-misses scored by the DD Umikaze).

After a quiet morning, Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 48 B-24D and 23 PB4Y from PM escorted by 48 P-38G that scored 9 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 60 on runways and disabled 98 men and 1 gun but lost a B-24D to AA fire.

In the evening the Kongo TF was attacked 120 miles SW of Truk by the submarine USS Spearfish. Unable to launch against one of the heavy ships she attacked the DD Hatsuharu but her torpedoes failed to explode. She was chased by the DD Murasame but escaped undamaged.

Night raids from Truk had proven ineffective and will be stopped.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 9 P-40N attacked Lautem and scored 2 runway hits. In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 77 B-25C and 53 B-25J from Derby and reported 11 hits on the airbase, 5 on supplies and 97 on runways, 50 casualties and 2 disabled guns, Dili was bombed by 7 PB4Y from Wyndham and by 53 B-25C from Darwin escorted by 9 P-40N that scored 2 hits on the airbase and 37 on runways, disabling 30 men and 1 gun, and Amboina was bombed by 99 B-17E and 28 B-24D from Darwin and reported 14 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 92 on runways, and 88 casualties. Allied losses were a B-25C shot down by AA fire over Koepang and another lost in an accident.

SRA

The convoy attacked yesterday off Palawan, one of several rerouted via the Philippines to avoid Allied submarines, ran during the night into another American submarine, the Wahoo, east of Palawan. Again its sole escort, the DD Natsushio, detected the submarine and depth charged her before she attacked. The submarine was damaged by a near-miss that disabled part of her torpedo tubes.

A convoy loaded 17k resources in Toboali and will bring them to Singapore.

Burma

The only Allied air raid was flown by 6 B-25J from Ledo that missed Myitkyina airfield. 4 Beaufighter VIc were flying LRCAP over the new battlefield. Both sides now exchanged artillery fire: the Allied lost 145 men and 2 guns, the Japanese 283 men, 1 gun and 1 tank. Japanese troops had been reinforced by the 104th Div and the 3rd Tk Div during the day and now were more numerous than the Allied (149 809 men and 1304 guns vs 147 718 and 1256) but had less tanks (1512 vs 1574) and AV (3147 vs 3683).
NE of Myitkyina, the Madras Engineer Regiment and the 225 RAF Base Force launched a shock attack against the Japanese paratroops but only achieved a 1 to 1 ratio and were repulsed with the loss of 101 men and 1 gun while Japanese losses were 47 men and 1 gun.
South of Myitkyina, the Chinese division that had crossed the Salween some weeks ago (arriving SE of the town) now marched westwards in the jungle and reached the mountain SW of the city. The goal of this move was probably to surround the city. This move triggered two reactions by the Japanese Burma Army. First, it was judged probable that the Allied troops currently on the Kohima trail will advance SE to cut the railway west of Myitkyina and this part of the railway was now empty, so the 104th Div and 21st Bde were ordered to leave Myitkyina (that was defended with more than enough troops) and occupy this part of the railway. More south the 8th Tk Rgt was ordered to go east from Lashio and then NE to occupy again the trail coming from Myitkyina to the Salween. This will isolate the Chinese division that marched away from there and also reopen a supply path from Lashio to Myikyina. A small base force was sent from Mandalay to Lashio to reinforce the garrison in case the Chinese division went there.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Akyab 65/5 (system/runway), Pagan 62/37, Taung Gyi 53/0, Mandalay 56/0, Lashio 73/14, other bases undamaged. In the evening 30 Ki-61 flew from Rangoon to Mandalay to fly tomorrow a sweep NE of Myitkyina to engage the few Allied fighters flying LRCAP here.

China

The 60h Div bombed the defenders of Kweiyang, hitting 33 men and identifying them as 6 Corps, 1Div, 3 Base Forces and 2 HQs (for a total of 35 050 men, 11 guns and 984 AV).

Four new divisions were created in China at full strength: the 47th at Tsingtao, the 62nd at Hsinyang and the 64th and 65th in Nanchang. All four were ordered to go to Wuhan, as was the experienced 37th Div currently holding the most advanced Japanese positions in China, NE of Chungking. These troops will then be used to threaten Changsha and hinder the transfer of Chinese units from this front to the Kweiyang area.

Japan

More new troops were created in Japan and Korea today. Two new divisions were rattached to the Home Defence Command: the 1st Guard Div will remain in Tokyo, the 42nd Div will defend Sendai with 2 regiments while its 3rd one will be sent to Aomori with a Tk Rgt previously in Sendai. The threat of an Allied landing in Japan could no more be neglected.

More troops were created for overseas duties: the 17th Area Army, 1st Amphibious Bde, 9th, 11th and 12th Ind Mixed Rgt and the 90th Guard Unit in Tokyo, the 30th Div in Inch’on, the 43rd Div in Nagoya, the 46th Div in Kagoshima and the 51st Mixed Bde in Osaka. Their deployment had been decided two months ago as the Empire Defence Plan was designed after the fall of Luganville and Efate, but recent evolutions of the strategic situation changed the mind of Japanese commanders and the plan will be modified.

Some units anyway will still follow it. APs were waiting in Japanese ports to carry troops and as planned the 46th Div boarded ships to go to Amboina and the 51st Bde did the same to go to Lunga. Tow other units received new orders: the 43rd Div will go to Wewak rather than Solomons, and the 30th Div that was planned to Johnston Island to provide a retreat path from Hawaii will only send one regiment here. The two other will go to Marcus and Saipan. The other units received only the cancellation of previous orders, and a message saying that they will receive new orders “in some days”. To say things more clearly, I had no definite idea how to use them.

Right now there were three main advance axis by Allied forces. The first, in Burma, was opposed by enough ground troops to be stopped. The second, in New Guinea, was mainly unopposed by lack of Japanese troops, but was also done by weak Allied forces as far as Japanese intelligence knew. The third, in Aleutians, was a far bigger Allied effort than what was anticipated, with tens of units in Attu and Kiska, hundred of aircraft and a powerful fleet, with certain signs of support by Allied CVs. So the main question was to send troops to the secondary theater of Solomons-New Guinea to stop or delay the Allied advance there, or to send them to Kuriles and Northern Japan in case the Allied continued their advance there.

A possible threat will be a raid by Allied CVs against Japan itself. To be ready for such an opportunity, 4 more submarines left Japanese ports to patrol east of Japan, while bombers (26 Betties (one more crashed on the way) and 21 Nells) were sent back to Japan from Bangkok and Singapore to be ready to attack Allied ships.





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(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 598
14-15 June 1943: preparing forces - 4/17/2007 11:14:15 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		14-15 June 1943

Northern Pacific

Paramushiro Jima was bombed on the 14th by 17 B-17E, 15 PB4Y, 14 B-24D and 8 Liberator VI from Attu that did 65 casualties, and scored 5 hits on the port, 1 on supplies and 1 on fuel while losing a PB4Y in an accident. The next day this base was attacked by 38 PB4Y, 28 B-24D, 20 B-17E and 6 Liberator VI from Attu that did 84 casualties, and scored 7 hits on the port, 4 on supplies and 4 on fuel while losing again a PB4Y operationally.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night of the 13th-14th, the SS USS Tarpon tried a last time to attack the Kongo TF SW of Truk but was seen and chased by the ASW group escorting it, and damaged by two near-misses scored by a PC. The Kongo TF was disbanded during the day in Truk port. The only ship really damaged was the CA Nachi, now at 44 SYS and 23 FLT. All 57 Betties based in Truk all were ordered to fly ASW or naval search in the evening of the 14th.

On the 14th, a Kittyhawk shot down a Dinah III from Wewak over Buna. In the afternoon, Rabaul was attacked by 46 B-24D and 23 PB4Y from PM escorted by 52 P-38G that scored 6 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 29 on runways and did 52 casualties but lost four B-24D to AA fire and two other and a PB4Y in accidents. The next day Rabaul was again attacked this time by 39 B-24D and 25 PB4Y from PM escorted by 52 P-38G that scored 5 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 48 on runways and disabled 57 men and 1 gun. Allied losses were this time a PB4Y and a F-5A Lighting to AA fire, and 2 P-38G operationally.

On the 14th, two LCM were seen off Goodenough Island, maybe sailing to Buna, and the minelayer submarines I-121 and I-124 sailing west of Solomons were ordered to lay their mines off this island.

Timor-DEI-Australia

The only Allied raids on the 14th were an attack of Dili by 3 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored one runway hit and wounded 9 men, and an unsuccessful attack by 14 Brewster on barges north of Lautem.
In the morning of the 15th, 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 12 P-40N attacked Lautem and scored one hit on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 5 on the runway. Barges were attacked off Lautem by 14 Brewster from Darwin that missed, but then two were sunk by patrol aircraft (a Catalina and a B-17E). In the afternoon, Koepang was attacked by 90 B-25C and 55 B-25J from Derby and reported 8 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 95 on runways, 77 casualties and 2 disabled guns, Lautem was raided by 19 B-24D from Darwin escorted by 7 P-40N and reported 3 hits on the airbase and 2 on the runway, and Dili was bombed by 6 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored 2 hits on the runway, doing 9 casualties. A B-25C was shot down by AA fire over Koepang, and a P-40N was lost in an accident.

Allied floatplanes continued to fly recon over Japanese bases in the area and to suffer losses. In two days, 2 Mariner were shot down by AA fire and a third by a Tony over Kendari.

Tomorrow 30 Oscar II will LRCAP Koepang.

SRA

Two convoys were organized in two days: one will carry 9k oil from Bankha to Singapore, the other 13k resources from Batavia to Palembang.

Burma

There was no Allied air raid on airfields during these two days, as Japanese troops were the only targets. So Japanese bases continued to be repaired and The evening report of the 15th gave the airfield status as: Akyab 24/0 (system/runway), Pagan 62/23, Taung Gyi 35/0, Lashio 34/0, other bases undamaged.

In Myitkyina, the only air raid was launched on the 14th against the 1St Tk Div that was bombed by 39 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 14 Vengeance I from Kohima and lost 49 men, 2 guns and 2 vehicles but AA fire shot down 2 Beaufighter and 2 Vengeance. On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire on the 14th but only Japanese guns fired the next day. Total losses were 142 men and 2 guns on the Japanese side, and 47 men on the Allied one. The two units of the garrison, the 104th Div and 21st Bde, that were ordered to leave the city to march west saw their orders cancelled by the game and orders were given again this time giving Mandalay as their destination…

NE of this city, Allied troops rested for two days and launched no attack but the Japanese paratroops were repeatedly attacked by Allied airmen. On the 14th, both sides flew a sweep over the battlefield, 5 P-40E from Ledo reporting nothing while 3 Ki-61 from Mandalay saw 10 P-40E and 1 Beaufighter VIC on CAP but didn’t engage (this Tony unit still had 90% CAP orders, and flew back to Rangoon in the evening). The Yokosuka 1st SNLF was then bombed by 53 Beaufighter VIC, 24 Vengeance I and 3 B-25J from Ledo and Kohima escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb and lost 82 men and 1 gun. The next day the two other para units were attacked by a total of 55 Beaufighter VIC, 23 Vengeance and 9 B-25J from Ledo and Kohima escorted by 12 P-40E and 12 Spitfire Vb and lost 143 men and 1 gun, while a P-40E was lost in an accident.

In the jungle SE of Imphal, the 11th NLF was attacked on the 14th by 13 Hurricane II from Kohima escorted by 10 Spitfire Vb and the next day by 39 Hurricane from Imphal and 13 from Kohima, each escorted by 10 Spitfire. Japanese total losses were 98 men and 1 gun while a Spitfire was lost in an accident.

East of Lashio, the 8th Tk Rgt advanced and reached on the 15th the banks of the Salween, reporting an Allied unit on the other side of the river. Recon aircraft were ordered to identify it while the Tk Rgt will now march NE as planned to reopen the trail to Myitkyina.

China

More Japanese units reached Kweiyang on the 14th and bombarded the city the next day, hitting 549 Chinese. In the evening of the 15th almost all units of the Japanese Southern China Army were in place, only the HQs were missing and should arrive in 1-2 days. Japanese troops had 5054 AV against 979 on the Chinese side. Four IJAAF bomber groups were deployed in Kweilin, Wuchow and Canton and will support the attack

120 miles NE of Chungking, a new Chinese unit marched out of the mountains on the 14th and arrived near the 37th Div but this unit continued to march eastwards and left the area the next day. It will go to Wuhan for an eventual offensive on Changsha.

On both days a training mission was flown from Wuhan against troops NW of for a total of 118 sorties, 46 Chinese casualties and one operational loss (an A6M2).

Japan

More reinforcements became available on the 14th with 5 MSW launched in Tokyo and 4 air unist created in various Japanese bases.
The five MSW had all experience of 45/45 and were gathered in a training TF to try to raise their exp level by cruising along Japanese coasts.
Of the four new air units, the 30 Sentai, the last created with Nates, immediately received Oscar II, and an Emily Chutai began to fly naval search from Ominato. The two other units, a Dinah Sentai and a Jake Chutai will train and fly ASW around Japan.

In Osaka the completion of the CV air units by fragments of training units was continuing.

In Korea the 14th Div was finally ordered to change command, becoming an unit of the Northern Force, and each of its regiment boarded an AK TF in the port of Changkufeng to be shipped respectively to Etorofu Jima, Toyohara and Wakkanai.

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
Post #: 599
16 June 1943: Allied forces advanced also west of Myitk... - 4/18/2007 5:32:21 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		16 June 1943

Central Pacific

The 15 Kates that had been left in Hawaii since August 1942 flew from Johnston Island to the CVE Chuyo west of it. The CVE will bring them back to Japan where they will return to the KB.

New Guinea-New Britain- Solomon Islands

During the night, an ASW group chased twice the submarine USS Drum 120 miles north of Truk and she was damaged by a hit and two near-misses scored by the PC Ch 21.

During the day, a Dinah III was shot down over Buna by the Allied CAP. Allied aircraft saw the I-121 and I-124 laying mines off Goodenough Island and a B-24D attacked and damaged the latter (20/7/0). Rabaul was attacked in the afternoon by 14 PB4Y from PM escorted by 18 P-38G that scored 1 hits on the airbase, 1 on supplies and 9 on runways while 40 B-24D from PM attacked Kavieng and scored 6 hits on the airbase, 4 on supplies and 38 on runways, doing 58 casualties.

In the evening the Dinah unit based in Wewak received orders to stop recon of Buna (that had proven costly) but to recon instead Goodenough Island, where Allied aircraft were now based.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the morning 15 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Darwin escorted by 17 P-40N attacked Lautem and scored 1 hit on a supply dump and 6 on runway, doing 9 casualties. In the afternoon, Koepang was not attacked and so Oscar II from Kendari flew LRCAP for nothing, losing one of their number in an accident. Maumere was bombed by 3 PB4Y from Wyndham that scored one runway hit.

SRA

A convoy loaded 42k resources in Palembang and will bring them to Manila, where two 7000-ton AK started loading resources and will wait for this big convoy to then sail together to Japan.
In Hong Kong a convoy that arrived from SRA with 64k oil and 35k resources refueled and then left again sailing for Japan.

Burma

The airfield at Myitkyina was bombed by 9 Beaufighter VIF from Chanpdur that scored 12 hits on the runways and wounded 13 men, while 13 Hurricane II from Kohima escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb attacked the 12th NLF SE of Imphal and hit 13 men.

The main Allied air effort was directed against the paratroops NE of Myitkyina. These troops were attacked by 42 Beaufighter Mk 21, 34 Beaufighter VIC and 23 Vengeance I from Kohima and by 25 Liberator VI from Dacca escorted by 19 P-40 and lost 256 men and 2 guns, while losing 4 Beaufighter (two of each type) in accidents. They were then attacked by 3 Allied units (Madras Eng Rgt, 19th US Eng Rgt and 225 RAF HQ) that achieved a ratio of 4 to 1, but the Japanese didn’t retreat. Japanese losses were 29 men and 1 gun, while the Allied lost 18 killed and wounded.

Near Myitkyina only Japanese guns were active and hit 104 men and 1 gun.

The Allied unit east of the Salween was identified as the 38th Chinese Corps and will be bombed tomorrow by 25 Betties from Bangkok.

But the main news of the day was the advance of the Allied units from the Kohima trail to the railway Myitkyina-Mandalay. Ten units advanced south and reached the point defended by two Japanese divisions, one of which will bombard them tomorrow, while one unit remained behind on the trail. Recon aircraft will identify it tomorrow to check if it will be possible to defeat it and so surround the troops that advanced to the railway. As Japanese troops had been unable to leave Myitkyina these last days (I really love WITP ground moves rules…) no reinforcement reached this area but more were ordered from rear area bases: the 6th Tk Rgt will arrive from Mandalay, the 1st Tk Rgt from Taung Gyi, the 2nd from Pagan and the 4th Rgt from Bangkok. That will leave southern Burma lightly held, but as much Allied combat power had been identified in the northern part of the country, it should be fine.

The evening report gave the airfield status as: Akyab 1/0 (system/runway), Pagan 62/16, Taung Gyi 26/0, Lashio 6/0, other bases undamaged. 36 Tonies flew from Rangoon to Lashio and will LRCAP tomorrow Japanese troops NE of Myitkyina.

China

Japanese forces bombed the defenders of Kweiyang, hitting 436 men. Both late HQ arrived near the city and an attack will be launched tomorrow with support of the bombers based in Wuchow, Kweilin and Canton. The Japanese will oppose 5060 AV to 952 on the Chinese side.

A training mission was flown from Wuhan against troops NW of Changsha by 35 Nick and 23 A6M2 without loss and hit 33 Chinese.

Japan

More crew and aircraft arrived to reinforce the CV air units in Osaka. Today saw the last CV repair her last SYS damage point. All are now in perfect shape, as do almost all other warships concentrated in Japan. As for the BB available here (Kongo is in Truk), only the Yamato had 1 SYS, the other were at 0.







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< Message edited by AmiralLaurent -- 4/18/2007 10:54:43 PM >

(in reply to AmiralLaurent)
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