Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)

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AmiralLaurent
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Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
Location: Near Paris, France

5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China

Post by AmiralLaurent »

Hi Leo,

Yes, I'm sorry, but Real Life struck again... I had to struggle to keep my job, but it is now done, and I can come back to this AAR. By the way the game didn't stop in the meantime, but was of course slower.

5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China

Northern Pacific

The day was perfectly quiet in the Kuriles now that the Allied fleet had left again, and the only martial activity was artillery fire at PJ. Allied losses were 58 men and 2 guns, Japanese ones 213 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 255 305 men (+1528), 2437 guns (+36) and 593 vehicles (+9) for 4452 AV (+80) against 118 531 men (+652), 929 guns (+23) and 4 tankettes (+1) for 2271 AV (+12).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/70/0 (airbase/runway/port) and 620 (-1) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 30 124 supplies (+75), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued building more fortifications (level 3, 32% (+7%)). The base had 23 813 supplies (+504). 52 mines were remaining off the base. 9 Emily arrived in this base to fly naval search and detect an eventual return of the Allied fleet.

The ML squadron formerly based in Etorofu Jima (a MLE and 6 ML) was now in Sapporo. Three ML were docked for some basic repairs, while the three other were busy laying mines off nearby bases.

Japanese intelligence confirmed that the AK Ascella, heavily damaged by KB dive bombers off OJ on the 13th of October, was then scuttled by her crew.

Eastern Pacific

A brand new submarine arrived in Midway from Japan, refueled and sailed NE to join the pack south of Alaska, bringing it to 6 submarines.

Central Pacific

A convoy bringing from the Southern Pacific the main part of the 53rd Div, the HQ of the 14th Army and the 27th Eng Rgt arrived in Saipan and started to unload these troops to bolter the garrison.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

The Allied air activity increased in the area and reached today the number of 496 sorties with six losses: two to AA losses (a Beaufighter VIC over Wewak and a PBY Catalina over Truk) and four operational (two Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 41 B-24D and 19 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 169 casualties, 4 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 43 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 83 B-25C, 43 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 Beaufighter VIC, 13 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 17 P-38J and 5 Kittyhawk I, and by 56 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J, and reported 107 casualties, one hit on port supplies, 4 on the airbase, 6 on supplies and 88 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 50 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 9 P-40E and 2 Corsairs, and by 38 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 2 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 43 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 51 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 19 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 3 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 7 men.

Rabaul reported damage of 72/60/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3459 (-81) required, Wewak 86/42/14 and had 0 (+0) supplies for 2212 (-120) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 448 (+107) required and Truk had damage 100/49/0.

The Japanese Command had less and less info on the Allied activity in the area and ordered a renewed effort of recon flights over Allied bases in the area. Dinah and Betty based in Hollandia, Palau, Woleai and Lunga were so ordered to fly to Madang, Lae, Admiralty Island, Emirau Island and Gili Gili. It was feared that the increased Allied air activity was the start of a new Allied amphibious operation, and the Japanese High Command wanted to see the Allied ships as soon as possible to lay a successful ambush with the KB waiting at Palau.

Three AP with escort left Kwajelein towards Ponape to evacuate again troops brought back by air transports from Rabaul and Kavieng.

During a local flight a Jack crashed in Palau. It was the first loss for this new fighter.

Allied engineers expanded the port of Emirau to size 3.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 67 sorties today with 2 losses: one to AA fire (a PBM Mariner during a recon) and one operational (a Spitfire Vb):
_ Koepang was attacked by 17 B-25C from Derby and reported 14 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 3 on the runways.
_ Kittyhawk III from Lautem flew LRCAP over the Japanese airfield of Dili (10 sorties) where a Japanese base force of the garrison was bombed and missed by 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 7 Spitfire Vb.
_ 14 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island attacked a barge convoy off Amboina, and sank three of them. Allied patrol aircraft sank two more during the day.

A Dinah III was shot down by the Allied CAP over Darwin.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 17% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 49% (+2%), Amboina reported damage 82/73/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 50/41/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

32 Ki-30 flew from Balikpapan to Macassar to try to chase the Allied submarine cruising off this base. More east four (!) Allied submarines were seen today off Buru Island ! Two other were patrolling off Kendari and Maumere.

Six barges loaded 420 more air support personnel in Amboina to bring them to Menado (again under LRCAP by Menado-based Oscars). Off this latter base, two AK were loading another part of the 15th Aviation Rgt to bring it to Davao.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 551 offensive sorties today and lost 3 aircraft: one to AA fire (a Blenheim IV over Katha) and 2 operationally (2 Thunderbolt II):
_ after concentrating on Mandalay the day before, the Allied attacked in force the Japanese positions in Katha (516 sorties): 290 fighter-bombers, 183 bombers and 43 escorts from Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal and Jorhat attacked two Japanese brigades at Katha and hit 873 men and 19 guns.
_ 24 Vengeance I and 2 escorts from Ledo attacked one of the Japanese units retreating in the jungle SE of Katha and hit 55 men.
_ 9 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and missed it.

On the ground, despite these heavy attacks, there was no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 401 men, one tank and 11 guns. 1372 Japanese AV (+72) faced 3761 Allied (+76).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit 2 men. 81 Japanese AV (+21) faced 486 Allied (+2).

Mandalay reported damage 100/58 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/35, Akyab 69/25, Lashio 43/1 and Taung Gyi 72/76.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 58 (+16) able infantry squads). It was now thought possible that this base may hold for a moment. But a new Allied units was reported today NW of the base, on the trail coming from India.

The 3rd Tk Div finally rolled out of the jungle NE of Lashio and arrived in this city. It was ordered immediately to go to Katha to reinforce the main front. There was only one Japanese unit still in the jungle NE of Lashio, the 23rd Bde, and it will reach the city in 7-10 days, and then stay here to defend it.

Between Katha and Myitkyina, two more units were reported, bringing the number of units there to 3. They were 42 other Allied units in Katha itself, and 6 in Myitkyina , where recon reported 40 Allied aircraft and a CAP of 16 fighters.

China

Bad weather disrupted Japanese air support for the paradrop NW of Kunming that was reduced to 31 A6M5c from Kweiyang escorted by 7 A6M3a and 35 Ki-48 from Hanoi that bombed one of two Chinese Base Forces holding this part of the road and hit 65 men and 1 vehicle while losing two Ki-48 and one A6M5c to AA fire, and another A6M5c in an accident. The powerful AA fire didn’t lessen when the transport aircraft arrived and shot down 10 Ki-57 and 1 Tabby, and damaged many other. Around 630 Japanese paratroops landed and gathered, but they faced close to 11 000 Japanese, even if the infantry strength was the same for both sides. The Japanese tried to take a position enabling to hold the road under fire but were overwhelmed by numbers and finished by retreat on a hill at some distance (8 Japanese AV * 2 for the shock attack against 8 Chinese, adjusted to 14 vs 58, 0 to 1). 102 Japanese fell in the battle while the Chinese lost 11 men and 2 guns.

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 455 men and a gun. The Japanese AV here was now 2531 (+64) and the Chinese one 2009 (+19).

34 training and 26 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit nothing and suffered an operational loss (an A6M3a).

The weather forecast for tomorrow was very bad (thunderstorm) and so the local command decided to not launch another offensive against Kunming as the air support was not guaranteed. So bombers based in Kweiyang and Hanoi were ordered to bomb the troops facing the paratroops NW of the city. These troops won’t receive more reinforcements but the transport aircraft based in Canton will drop supplies for them.
Fishbed
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RE: 5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China

Post by Fishbed »

Bravo amiral, bon retour parmi tes fans!! [:)]
AmiralLaurent
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6 December 1943: increasing activity on the New Guinea sector

Post by AmiralLaurent »

6 December 1943: increasing activity on the New Guinea sector

Northern Pacific

In the afternoon, 49 B-24D and 32 B-24J from Attu escorted by 23 P-38J raided PJ, did 101 casualties, disabled a gun and scored 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies, 45 on the runways, 5 on the port and 5 on port supplies. A B-24D was lost operationally.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 175 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 257 004 men (+1699), 2471 guns (+34) and 596 vehicles (+3) for 4540 AV (+88) against 118 736 men (+205), 936 guns (+7) and 4 tankettes (-) for 2272 AV (+1).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/40/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 617 (-3) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 28 151 supplies (-1973), and 1 aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued building more fortifications (level 3, 35% (+3%)). The base had 22 636 supplies (-1177). 51 mines were remaining off the base. Four barges were launched in this port and joined the 3 that survived the last days to bring supplies to PJ. And the 16 Pete that spend the night in Etoforu Jima arrived today to fly more ASW patrols from this base.

The reinforced ASW patrols reported today seven Allied submarines in the area (4 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). Both convoys bringing supplies to these last bases were ordered to sail past them.

The American LST-473, heavily damaged by coastal defences off PJ on the 30th of November, reached Attu but was judged damaged beyond repair.

Central Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Funafuti to size 4.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

The Allied air activity continued to be heavy in the area: 405 sorties today with 4 losses: two to AA losses (a B-24D and a B-17E over Truk) and two operational (a Beaufighter Mk 21 and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 41 B-24D and 18 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 136 casualties, a disabled gun, 3 hits on the airbase and 54 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 78 B-25C, 44 Beaufighter Mk 21, 15 Beaufighter VIC, 14 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 17 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I and reported 38 casualties, one hit on the port, 5 on port supplies, 2 on the airbase, one on supplies and 71 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 42 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 P-40E and 6 Corsairs, and by 38 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 5 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 4 casualties, 6 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 45 on the runways.
_ 17 F4U-1 Corsair and 18 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 9 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 11 men.

Rabaul reported damage of 79/68/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3375 (-84) required, Wewak 89/42/16 and had 32 (+32) supplies for 2183 (-29) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 431 (-17) required and Truk had damage 100/62/0.

Allied fighters shot down a Betty flying recon to Admiralty Island. All targeted bases (Madang, Lae, Gili Gili and Admiralty Islands) had weak CAP (a dozen or less fighters of old type, F4F-4 or Kittyhawk I).

Several Allied TF were reported during the recon missions flown today:
_ off Admiralty Islands, a surface TF (a “CA” and a “DD”), a LCM TF and a PT TF
_ off Lae, a TF with 2 “BB” and 6 unidentified ships
_ off Gili Gili, 3 TF, one with a “BB” and a “CA”, one with an “AP” and one with two “APD”

Given the weak CAP over these bases, a Betty raid may do some interesting damage, especially from Lunga to Gili Gili. But it should be launched with enough strength to sink ships, so a Betty concentration was ordered in the Mariannas. 83 Betty arrived here from Rangoon, Bangkok and Marcus Island this evening (another was lost with its crew during the ferry flight).

Image

Timor-DEI-Australia

During the night the submarine USS Skipjack attacked on the surface and sank a barge just SE of Menado.

Allied airmen flew 185 sorties today with 3 losses: two to AA fire (a B-25C over Koepang and a F-5A Lightning over Kendari) and one operational (a P-38J):
_ Sorong was attacked by 28 B-24D, 26 B-24J, 8 B-17E and 9 B-25C from Kai Island escorted by 56 P-38J and reported 11 casualties, one hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 51 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 16 B-25C from Derby and reported 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 2 on the runways.
_ 18 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 4 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili and hit 11 men.
_ the Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island flew 20 sorties against a barge convoy off Amboina, and with Allied patrol aircraft sank five of them during the day.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 20% (+3%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 52% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/67/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 58/59/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

The KB will wait a little more. If a small convoy was reported off Kai Island (a transport and a “CA” seen) there was still in Darwin the surface TF and the APD TF reported here those last days.

On the other hand, on Timor, an Allied unit reached Dili by the trail coming from Lautem. Almost all the Japanese garrison of Dili had been evacuated by air, only 900 men remained. Under almost constant bombing since it was occupied by Japanese forces twenty months ago, this base had no fortifications and so will fall very probably tomorrow. So the Tabby Chutai that was used to evacuate the base force holding the base was ordered to rather fly supply to Koepang. The three small AK sent to this base were now south of Bali and scattered to try to reach it undetected, while their escort returned to Soerabaja.

The three remaining barges off Amboina loaded 200 more men and sailed north back to Menado.

SRA

The tanker convoy coming from Japan arrived in Saigon and began to unload the 152k fuel that it carried.
A convoy of 9 small AK left Toboali for the Philippines with 31k resources.
In Soerabaja a small convoy started to load 21k resources and 18k oil.

Japanese airmen detected today 3 Allied submarines west of Macassar and 5 between Luzon and the Chinese coast. Apparently they were attempting to strike Japanese shipping lanes.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 471 offensive sorties today and lost only one aircraft operationally (a P-40N):
_ the Allied attacked again in force the Japanese positions in Katha (453 sorties): 233 fighter-bombers, 184 bombers and 36 escorts from Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal and Jorhat attacked four Japanese units at Katha and hit 671, one tank men and 14 guns.
_ 18 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and missed it.

On the ground, there was again no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 84 men and 7 guns. 1357 Japanese AV (-15) faced 3914 Allied (+153).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit 10 men. 107 Japanese AV (+26) faced 485 Allied (-1).

Mandalay reported damage 100/42 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/29, Akyab 69/7, Lashio 38/0 and Taung Gyi 72/74.

The air transport brought 400 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 1550) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 71 (+13) able infantry squads). The Allied units reported yesterday NW of the base was identified by air recon as a Tk Rgt, probably not enough to take the base…

In the evening, they were 43 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), 7 in Myitkyina (+1) and 3 (+1) on the road between them.

A small AK arrived in Rangoon and will load 3500 resources to bring them to Singapore. The port had 30k oil and 14k resources to take away.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions at Kunming and hit 296 men and a gun. The Japanese AV here was now 2597(+66) and the Chinese one 2020 (+11). NW of the city ther was no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

77 training and 58 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha and hit 6 men without loss.

The weather forecast was still bad for tomorrow so troops in Kunming were again ordered to rest, while airmen were ordered to try to support the paratroops NW of the city. NE of it two more Chinese units were coming from Chungking and one was identified as the 42nd Chinese Corps.

In Wuchow the repairs of the resource centers continued and with them the number of Chinese workers increased. The local commander reported today that he had not enough troops to deal with communist agitators and that an insurrection was possible, as the garrison was too weak. An half-brigade was ordered to leave the quiet front west of Changsha and will go to this city as fast as possible, but it will take more than one week. In the mean time the part of the 1st Parachute Rgt still in Canton will go to Wuchow to reinforce the garrison, while repairs will be stopped.

Japan

A convoy with 325k oil and 294k resources arrived in Osaka from SRA and started to unload there.
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Apollo11
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RE: 5 December 1943: another Japanese paradrop failed in China

Post by Apollo11 »

Hi all,
ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Real Life struck again... I had to struggle to keep my job, but it is now done, and I can come back to this AAR. By the way the game didn't stop in the meantime, but was of course slower.

Hard times... [:(]

Please teake care (and I hope it all went OK)!

Thanks for AAR updates! [:)]


Leo "Apollo11"
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Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
AmiralLaurent
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7 December 1943: the KB met a submarine off Mindanao

Post by AmiralLaurent »

7 December 1943: the KB met a submarine off Mindanao

Northern Pacific

During the night and the evening the SS USS Scorpion chased unsuccessfully barges off OJ. It was the only « action » in the area outside artillery fire at PJ. There Allied losses were nil, Japanese ones 230 men, 1 tankette and 7 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 258 247 men (+1243), 2497 guns (+26) and 599 vehicles (+3) for 4619 AV (+79) against 118 813 men (+77), 946 guns (+10) and 4 tankettes (-) for 2272 AV (-).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 84/0/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 617 (+0) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 27 910 supplies (-241), and 1 aircraft (unavailable). Three air units without aircraft all received a crated aircraft to try to fly them out.

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 42% (+7%)). The base had 22 281 supplies (-355). 50 mines were remaining off the base.

The reinforced ASW patrols reported today six Allied submarines in the area (3 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). Both convoys were not attacked today and will reach both islands in two days.

Central Pacific

A convoy bringing from the Southern Pacific a part of the 56th Div arrived off Tinian and started to unload. Another arrived in Saipan with elements of a Fleet HQ, 2 Eng Rgt and 2 Const Bn, all units evacuated from Solomons by air and sea and scattered all over the area. The Fleet HQ disembarked there, the engineer units were all sent to Guam, the only main island of the group that had not yet finished building fortifications. A third convoy arrived at Saipan and unloaded the last part of the 53rd Div and two artillery units.

Southern Pacific

Japanese patrols reported Allied convoys sailing south of New Zealand towards Australia. The CL Naka and a DD left Auckland to patrol south of Australia to try to intercept them when they will turn northwards. Three submarines were ordered to join them.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

For the third day in a row Allied airmen pounded Japanese bases with all their might: 396 sorties today with 4 losses: one Beaufighter VIC shot down by AA over Wewak and four operational (a Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C, a F4U-1 Corsair and a B-25J):
_ Truk was attacked by 31 B-24D and 15 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 22 P-38J and reported 70 casualties, one hit on the airbase and 36 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 73 B-25C, 42 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 15 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 15 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I, and by 40 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J and reported 61 casualties, 6 on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 87 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 45 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 Corsairs, and by 32 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 7 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 52 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 64 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 83/81/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3320 (-55) required, Wewak 100/40/16 and had 0 (-32) supplies for 2177 (-6) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 336 (-95) required and Truk had damage 100/75/0.

Recon of the Allied main bases continued and showed increased CAP over Lae and Admiralty Islands, but not over the most interesting target, Gili Gili, that had no CAP in the morning and 3 F4F-4 in the afternoon. There were still 3 TF there, one with a “BB”, a “DE” and two unidentified ships, one with an “AP” and one with four “APD” and two “AP”.

So the planned raid was ordered. Today the concentration of air units was finished with the arrival of the Betty units from Palau and Mariannas, bringing the number of bombers in Lunga to 66 G4M2 and 38 G4M1. Two bombers were lost in crashes during the ferry flights, and only one crew was saved.

With the growing damage of Rabaul airfield, evacuation pick-up flights from Ponape had to be stopped and the transport aircraft received new orders. They will evacuate in the next days troops from Kavieng, Green Island and Shortlands.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 166 sorties today without loss:
_ Sorong was attacked by 30 B-24J, 27 B-24D, 15 B-25C, 9 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 54 P-38J and reported one hit on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 40 on the runways.
_ 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 5 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili but missed.

In the afternoon, the submarine USS Skipjack was chased SE of Davao by a Japanese ASW TF (4 PG and 2 PC) but escaped easily... to run into another Japanese TF. This time it was chased by 9 DD but escaped again undamaged. The second Japanese TF was one part of the KB cruising there and waiting for targets. It was unknown if the Allied submarine had seen any other ship than Dds but it was feared she did.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 24% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 57% (+5%), Amboina reported damage 82/61/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 62/71/0, other bases (including Dili and Kendari) were undamaged.

After its close call with the Allied submarine, the KB was probably identified and had to move. The opportunity to surprise an Allied invasion force was probably lost. It sailed east to return to Palau.

On Timor, another Allied unit reached Dili by the trail coming from Lautem. The base wasn’t attacked today but will probably fall tomorrow.

The three small AK sent to Koepang with supplies will arrive tomorrow. To cover them and to intercept the daily B-25 raid, 30 Ki-44 arrived from Balikpapan (another was lost on the way) and will fly LRCAP over the port tomorrow.

A blockade runner reached Kendari and started to load resources this evening. Three small AK and seven escorts left today Balikpapan towards Macassar. There the small ASW ships will chase the Allied submarine camping there while the AK will also sail to Kendari.

SRA

In Saigon port a convoy from Toboali and another from Rangoon gathered and sailed together for Hong Kong with 63k resources.

The three small TFs in Balikpapan port finished to load, merged in one convoy and sailed for Tarakan with 63k oil and 28k resources aboard.

In the Philippines, two convoys met in Guian: one with 66k oil was sailing to Japan while the other with 27 empty transporst (15 AK and 12 TK) sailed for Brunei.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 443 offensive sorties today and lost 3 aircraft: a Blenheim IV shot down by AA fire over Katha and a Beaufighter VIC and a P-40N in accidents:
_ 275 fighter-bombers, 119 bombers and 21 escorts from Imphal, Kohima, Ledo and Jorhat attacked the 26th Ind. Mixed Brigade at Katha and hit 464 men and 10 guns.
_ 18 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 9 men.
_ 10 fighters flew LRCAP over Katha.

On the ground, there was again no Allied attack at Katha but the usual artillery fire that hit 66 men and 3 guns. 1687 Japanese AV (+330) faced 4160 Allied (+246).

In Akyab too the Allied activity was limited to artillery fire that hit nothing. 130 Japanese AV (+23) faced 486 Allied (+1).

Mandalay reported damage 100/18 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/23, Akyab 57/0, Lashio 32/0 and Taung Gyi 72/71.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 1910) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 81 (+10) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 45 Allied units reported in Katha (+2), 6 in Myitkyina (-1) and 2 (-1) on the road between them. On the Japanese side, the 16th Mixed Bde arrived today.

Air recon reported that the rear base of Asansol, in India, was no more defended by Allied airmen and the 68 G4M2 Betty based in Rangoon were ordered to bomb it tomorrow. 112 of the 480 resource centers of the city had already been damaged by previous raids.

China

The Kweiyang airmen attacked both Chinese Base Forces holding the road NW of Kunming, to support the Japanese paratroops isoldate there. 53 Ki-21, 29 Ki-48 and 18 Ki-49 flew these attacks under escort by 10 A6M5 and 3 A6M3a, but they met over the target 8 P-40N flying LRCAP. These fighters shot down 4 Ki-21, 2 Ki-48, 2 A6M3a and 1 Ki-49 at the cost of two P-40N shot down. AA fire then shot down 4 more bombers (2 Ki-21 and 2 Ki-48) and another Lily was lost operationally. Against these 14 losses, the Japanese airmen hit 265 men, 6 guns and 1 vehicle.

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 266 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2667 (+70) and the Chinese one 2036 (+16). NW of the city there was no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

80 training and 51 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and one A6M3a was lost operationally.

The weather forecast was still bad for tomorrow so troops in Kunming were still ordered to wait and rest. After the losses suffered today Japanese bombers were also ordered to rest, and only fly recon. 30 more Ki-48 arrived in Hanoi.

Japan

The new DD Akishimo was commissioned in Tokyo.

A convoy started to load 84k supplies in Tokyo to bring them to the Mariannas. A smaller one loaded 21k supplies in the same port for Palau. And another loaded 10k supplies in Aomori and will bring them to Midway.

The size 30 merchant shipyard of Hiroshima/Kure was ordered to convert to a naval shipyard and will be fully operational in one month.
AmiralLaurent
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8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Post by AmiralLaurent »

8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Scorpion sank two barges off OJ with gunfire and after dawn a PB4Y sank another off PJ. On the other side a patrolling Ki-49 found the SS USS Cisco east of Shikka and damaged her.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 98 men and a gun, Japanese ones 136 men and 4 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 259 493 men (+1246), 2534 guns (+37) and 601 vehicles (+2) for 4695 AV (+76) against 118 723 men (-90), 943 guns (-3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2271 AV (-1).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 79/0/16 (airbase/runway/port) and 620 (+3) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 27 492 supplies (-418), and 4 aircraft (all unavailable). Three air units without aircraft all received a crated aircraft to try to fly them out.

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 48% (+6%)). The base had 21 547 supplies (-734). 47 mines were remaining off the base.

The reinforced air patrols reported today seven Allied submarines in the area (4 west of the Kuriles, one off OJ and two off PJ). But the main piece of news was the sighting of a CV TF 240 miles west of Kiska and sailing west. The Allied CV TF was returning to the Kuriles after refuelling… Both Japanese supply convoys were now in range to their destination, but were ordered to retreat to escape the Allied CV. One was ordered to go to Etorofu Jima and disband here, the other will go to Toyohara.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 165 sorties today with two operational losses(a B-17E and a Beaufighter Mk 21):
_ Truk was attacked by 20 B-24D and 12 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 19 P-38J and reported 45 casualties, a disabled gun, and 19 hits on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 44 B-25J from Lae escorted by 21 P-38J and reported 2 hits on the airbase and 33 on the runways.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 3 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 7 Corsairs, and by 32 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 7 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported one hit on supplies and 32 on the runways.

Rabaul reported damage of 84/83/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3329 (+9) required, Wewak 100/23/16 and had 64 (+64) supplies for 2167 (-10) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 42 supplies (-0) for 285 (-51) required and Truk had damage 100/82/0.

Recon today showed two TF off Gili Gili (5 APD and an AP in one, 2 DE and 2 unidentified ships in the other) and also determined that the F4F-4 flying CAP sometimes over the port were based in Goodenough Island. These two TFs were probably the ASW groups that destroyed several Japanese submarines south of Gili Gili some time ago. Their loss could so be avenged. Bombers in Lunga will again rest and wait for a good weather day (rain were forecast for the next day).

Recon also showed a concentration of shipping in Lae, with two surface TF (one with 2 BB) and three convoys. The KB returning to Palau from Mindanao waters will refuel there and then sail to a waiting position north of New Guinea to see where this fleet will go.

Three small AP arrived off Truk and will load parts of two Aviation units and a Fleet HQ and carry them to the Mariannas. Another transport, a small AK, arrived off Hollandia and began to unload its 3500 supplies undetected by Allied airmen. At Ponape a small convoy arrived from Kwajalein, loaded parts of two Eng Rgt and a Fleet HQ brought there by air transports from the Solomon Islands, Kavieng and Rabaul, and will bring them to Guam.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 184 sorties today with two losses: a B-25C shot down over Koepang by Japanese fighters, and one operational (a B-24D):
_ Sorong was attacked by 23 B-24D, 28 B-24J, 12 B-25C, 9 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 54 P-38J and reported 39 casualties, 5 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 28 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 10 B-25C from Derby but met over the target 15 Tojo of 47 Sentai. Four bombers were hit and turned back, one crashing on the way (the 3rd victory of WO Hayashi W.). The six bombers bombed the base, disabled 22 men and scored one hit on supplies and 3 on the runways.
_ 19 Kittyhawk III from Lautem escorted by 8 Spitfire Vb attacked a Japanese base force of the garrison of Dili and hit 13 men.
_ the Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island flew 14 sorties against a barge convoy off Amboina, and with Allied patrol aircraft sank three of them during the day.

A Dinah III shot down by Allied CAP over Darwin.

Two regiments of the 43rd US Div took easily Dili, as it was now only defended by a part of a small base force, 278 men and 3 guns (205 Allied AV vs 9 Japanese, adjusted by 102 vs 1). 47 Japanese and 14 American fell in the battle.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 28% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 61% (+4%), Amboina reported damage 82/55/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 68/75/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

The 620 survivors of the garrison of Dili were ordered to march to Koepang.

The three small AK sent to Koepang with supplies didn’t reach it today but will arrive tonight. The Ki-44 will remain one more day to defend them and the base, even if the risk of a massive air attack was serious.

A Dinah identified today the Allied submarine surveying the port of Macassar as an old Dutch submarine. An ASW group of 6 ships will chase it tomorrow. 34 Ki-44 arrived in Macassar from Balikpapan to cover them.

Central Pacific

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Tinian to size 3.

SRA

A big tanker convoy, having finished to load 243k oil, left Palembang for Singapore.

Burma

Allied airmen flew 461 offensive sorties today and lost 4 aircraft: two to AA fire (a Vengeance over Katha and a Catalina I during a recon sortie) and two operationally (a LiberatorVI and a B-25C):
_ 223 fighter-bombers, 185 bombers and 33 escorts from Dacca, Imphal, Kohima, Ledo and Jorhat attacked four Japanese units at Katha and hit 709 men, 2 tanks and 22 guns.
_ 20 fighter-bomber from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal but missed.

On the ground, the activity activity was limited to Allied artillery fire at Katha that hit 537 men, 1 tank and 17 guns. 1692 Japanese AV (+5) faced 4263 Allied (+103).

Mandalay reported damage 99/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/17, Akyab 38/0, Lashio 26/0 and Taung Gyi 72/68.

The air transport brought 360 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 2270) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 93 (+12) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 46 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), 8 in Myitkyina (+2) and 2 (+0) on the road between them.

The planned raid on Asansol was cancelled by bad weather, but will again be attempted tomorrow.

Both submarines returning from the Indian coast arrived in Rangoon and were docked for repairs. A Glen-carrying submarine left today Singapore to replace them on the Indian coast.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 623 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2739 (+72) and the Chinese one 2049 (+13). NW of the city there was still no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

59 training and 27 escort sorties were flown from Changsha against Chinese troops NW of Changsha, hit nothing and suffered no loss.

No change today. The weather forecast was still bad and both ground and air units were still resting and preparing for another offensive on Kunming. NW of the city the paratroops were still facing only two base forces and a recon reported today that there was no Allied LRCAP over them. Given the state of the Eng units in Kunming, an offensive will be launched in two days, whatever the weather will be.

Japan

The “Gold Convoy” having finished to unload in Osaka left again for the SRA via the Philippines with 2 CS, 22 TK, 40 AK and 6 PC/PG. Six ships having arrived with this convoy (4 TK and 2 AK) having SYS damage 3 or higher were docked for repairs.

A convoy was formed in Kitakyushu and will bring 45k fuel to Guian and 56k supplies to Mindanao.
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RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

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I love this AAR.
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RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Post by Fishbed »

So do I
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RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Post by Apollo11 »

Hi all,

We all do love this AAR! [:)]


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RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Post by Fishbed »

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

We all do love this AAR! [:)]


Leo "Apollo11"

If you're looking for a promotion from SRA to Home Island Command, it is not going to happen, you despicable boot-licker! Pick up a rifle and go get Dili back will you!!! [:-] [;)]
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9 December 1943: OJ under heavy air attack... once again

Post by AmiralLaurent »

Taking back Dili is an idea. Leo, please prepare this operation. You can use the remains of a defeated base force, three barges and three floatplanes, and you only have to defeat two US regiments. Banzai !

9 December 1943: OJ under heavy air attack... once again

Northern Pacific

During the night the submarine USS Scorpion chased unsuccessfully a barge, and then was bombed and damaged after dawn by a Ki-49 from this base. At the same time Allied airmen began to fly over the area and a barge was sunk off OJ and another damaged off PJ by SBDs and PB4Y.

The US CV fleet arrived today at 180 miles ESE of PJ. Japanese airmen reported seven TF: 3 CV TF (12 CV were counted), 3 surface TF (one with 2 BB, the other with cruisers) and replenishment TF. No convoy was seen in the area. The Allied CAP shot down a G4M2 Betty coming too close.

In the afternoon, this fleet launched a raid on PJ with 173 TBM Avenger, 100 SB2C Helldiver, 99 SBD Dauntless and 27 TBF Avenger escorted by 20 F6F. They pounded OJ airfield, destroying a Emily on the ground, disabling 496 men and 4 guns and scoring 18 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies and 156 on the runways. But Japanese AA fire shot down 2 SB2C, 1 TBM and 1 SBD, and 3 other TBM were lost in accidents.

An hour later 74 B-24D and 71 B-24J from Attu escorted by 48 P-38J attacked the same base, doing 172 casualties, and scoring 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 78 on the runways, but also 3 on the port and 11 on the port supplies. This time the AA gunners didn't score but 2 B-24D, 2 B-24J and 2 P-38J were lost operationally.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 2 men, Japanese ones 181 men and 2 guns. Allied troops on the island numbered 260 852 men (+1359), 2573 guns (+39) and 601 vehicles (-) for 4776 AV (+81) against 118 251 men (-472), 940 guns (-3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2273 AV (+2).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/83/24 (airbase/runway/port) and 621 (+1) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 29 030 supplies (+1538), and 3 aircraft (all unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 51% (+3%)). The base had 16 248 supplies (-5299, most transferred to PJ). 45 mines were remaining off the base.

Of the two convoys that turned back yesterday, one reached Etorofu Jima and disbanded here, also reporting an Allied submarine off the port, while the other will reach Toyohara tomorrow.

A part of the aircraft based in OJ moved to avoid being blasted by US CV airmen. The Pete flew to Etorofu Jima and the Betty returned to Toyohara.

Central Pacific

A new convoy arrived at Saipan from the Southern Pacific with an Air HQ and a SNLF.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 314 sorties today with four operational losses (two Beaufighter Mk 21, a B-25C and a P-38J):
_ Truk was attacked by 5 B-24D and 2 B-17E from Admiralty Islands and reported 12 casualties and 6 hits on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 75 B-25C, 47 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 14 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 20 P-38J and 2 Kittyhawk I and reported 38 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, one on supplies, 48 on the runways, one on the port and one on the port supplies.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 34 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 3 P-40E, and by 33 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 8 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 23 casualties, a disabled gun, 7 hits on the airbase and 60 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 19 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 3 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng but missed it.

Rabaul reported damage of 88/95/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3319 (-10) required, Wewak 100/21/18 and had 0 (-64) supplies for 2163 (-4) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 60 supplies (+18) for 358 (+73) required and Truk had damage 100/59/0.

Bombers in Lunga were now well rested and ready to attack… but recons showed no more Allied shipping off Gili Gili… Anyway crews received orders to fly naval attack up to 800 miles from Lunga (so being able to reach Gili Gili, but not further).

On the other hand, the shipping concentration in Lae was still there, and Allied recon aircraft flew over Wewak and Aitape, the latter being undefended. The KB arrived today in Palau, refueled and was ordered to sail 120 miles south of Palau, just outside the Allied air patrols, and wait until something happens.

A fourth small AP arrived off Truk and started to load another part of the 4th Fleet HQ. A Saipan-based submarine also arrived off the base, laid some mines and loaded 30 men to evacuate them to Guam too.

Timor-DEI-Australia

In the early hours, the Dutch submarine KXVII was chased off Macassar by an ASW of 6 ships but escaped undamaged.

Allied airmen flew 134 sorties today and lost a P-38J operationally:
_ Sorong was attacked by 29 B-24J, 18 B-24D, 11 B-25C, 10 B-17E and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 46 P-38J and reported 12 casualties, 4 hits on the airbase and 60 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 13 B-25C from Derby but met over the target 13 Tojo of 47 Sentai. Three bombers were hit and ten turned back, but their return fire shot down a Tojo. The three remaining bombers bombed the base, scored 3 hits on the runways and killed another pilot of the 47 Sentai on the ground.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 31% (+3%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 64% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/49/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 72/93/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

Two small AK reached Koepang and unloaded 700 supplies, the third will arrive tonight. The Ki-44 Sentai left for Macassar, leaving 4 damaged aircraft behind, after a very unsuccessful show…

The ASW group sent off Macassar will remain there. West of the port, the small convoy sent to Kendari scattered and each of the three small AK will try to reach the base alone.

SRA

A small convoy arrived in Batavia and started to load 32k oil and 7k resources.

The convoy coming from Balikpapan arrived in Tarakan, integrated several ships that had loaded there 28k resources and 9k oil, and sailed towards Guian and then Japan.

In Luzon, 25 Val of a trained unit kept in reserve to replace KB losses moved from Clark Field to Legaspi and will begin to fly ASW patrols from there to assure that Allied submarines will not remain in this area where most of Japanese convoys sail trough.

Burma

Bad weather grounded most Allied airmen in the area and they flew only 152 offensive sorties today and lost one B-25C operationally:
_ 38 fighter-bombers, 90 bombers and 14 escorts from Dacca attacked the 25th Ind Mixed Bde at Katha and hit 215 men and 6 guns.

On the ground, the activity was limited to Allied artillery fire at Katha that hit 349 men and 7 guns. 1696 Japanese AV (+4) faced 4314 Allied (+51).

Mandalay reported damage 81/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/10, Akyab 18/0, Lashio 19/0 and Taung Gyi 72/65.

The air transport brought 440 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 2710) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 105 (+12) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 46 Allied units reported in Katha (+0), 10 in Myitkyina (+2) and 2 (+0) on the road between them.

The planned raid on Asansol was again not launched. It was discovered that bomber units had not received all needed orders and they received a new set that will allow them to bomb the planned target.

China

At Kunming, the Japanese Southern China Army bombarded the Chinese positions and hit 262 men. The Japanese AV here was now 2802 (+63) and the Chinese one 2068 (+19). NW of the city there was still no fight between the Japanese paratroops and the Chinese troops.

103 training and 54 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and one Oscar II and a Judy were lost operationally.

NW of Kunming, the Japanese paratroops reported the arrival of one of the two Corps coming from Chungking and will so very probably be repulsed or annihilated tomorrow. As the weather forecast was only “rain” for tomorrow, and not thunderstorms, the Japanese Command ordered a new attack on Kunming. All troops were ordered to attack, except two of the three Eng Rgt available. Only one of these regiments will attack each day. Japanese airmen from Kweiyang (where 25 Ki-51 arrived as reinforcements) and Hanoi were ordered to support the attack, with one Ki-21 Sentai bombing the airfield that was almost repaired. Also an Irving Daitai will use its nightfighters to attack Kunming airfield tonight from Nanning.

On the Chinese side, the troops NW of Changsha moved again. One unit marched northwards, and two of the 16 units holding the road to Kweiyang more west joined the 9 remaining units holding the river banks.
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RE: 8 December 1943: American troops took Dili, Allied CV returned to the Kuriles

Post by Apollo11 »

Hi all,
ORIGINAL: Fishbed
ORIGINAL: Apollo11

We all do love this AAR! [:)]

If you're looking for a promotion from SRA to Home Island Command, it is not going to happen, you despicable boot-licker! Pick up a rifle and go get Dili back will you!!! [:-] [;)]

Shame on you! [;)]


Leo "Apollo11"
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10 December 1943: Allied troops suffered bloody defeats in Katha (attacking) and Kunming (defending)

Post by AmiralLaurent »

10 December 1943: Allied troops suffered bloody defeats in Katha (attacking) and Kunming (defending)

Northern Pacific

A bombardment TF made of the BB Colorado and New Mexico, the CA Australia and Concord and 11 DD arrived during the night off PJ, sank a barge drifting off the base, and then pounded the base, disabling 384 men and 6 guns, and scoring 7 hits on the runways, one on the port and 2 on port supplies.

During the day the pounding of OJ continued with first a raid launched by the Allied CV with 170 TBM Avenger, 97 SB2C Helldiver, 69 SBD Dauntless and 27 TBF Avenger escorted by 41 F6F, and then by 61 B-24D and 58 B-24J from Attu escorted by 43 P-38J. A Dinah III and a Jake were destroyed on the ground, 102 men and 2 guns were disabled and the base reported 6 hits on the airbase, 7 on supplies, 200 on the runways, 6 on the port and 7 on the port supplies. Japanese AA defences were now badly organized, but three Allied aircraft (a B-24J, a TBM and a F6F) were lost operationally.

Two Emily were shot down by the CAP of the Allied CV 180 miles E of PJ, but others identified the CVL Princeton and the CVE Anzio and Nassau (two recent additions of the Allied fleet).

The only Japanese success during the day in the area was when a Ki-49 bombed and hit the SS USS Finback off Etorofu Jima.

On the ground both sides exchanged artillery fire. Allied losses were 18 men, Japanese ones 23 men. Allied troops on the island numbered 262 227 men (+1375), 2612 guns (+39) and 605 vehicles (+4) for 4854 AV (+78) against 117 106 men (-1145), 943 guns (+3) and 3 tankettes (-1) for 2267 AV (-6).

The evening report of PJ showed damage of 100/94/36 (airbase/runway/port) and 619 (-2) engineers squads repairing it and building fortifications (level 4, 74% (+0%)). The base had 28 361 supplies (-669), and one aircraft (unavailable).

At OJ engineers continued to build fortifications (level 3, 51% (+0%)). The base had 15 595 supplies (-653). 43 mines were remaining off the base.

Of the two convoys that turned back yesterday, one reached Etorofu Jima and disbanded here, also reporting an Allied submarine off the port, while the other will reach Toyohara tomorrow.

A part of the aircraft based in OJ moved to avoid being blasted by US CV airmen. The Pete flew to Etorofu Jima and the Betty returned to Toyohara.

Southern Pacific

One of the convoys reported by Japanese airmen south of New Zealand now sailed northwest towards Australia. Two submarines and the CL and DD sent to chase it will be able to intercept it, or the next one.

New Guinea-New Britain-Solomon Islands

Allied airmen flew 444 sorties today with three losses: a PBY Catalina shot down by AA over Truk and a B-25C and a P-40E lost in accidents:
_ Truk was attacked by 33 B-24D and 7 B-17E from Admiralty Islands escorted by 20 P-38J and reported 28 casualties, a disabled gun, 2 hits on the airbase and 30 on the runways.
_ Wewak was attacked by 71 B-25C, 46 Beaufighter Mk 21, 16 Beaufighter VIC, 13 B-25J and 15 TBF Avenger from Madang escorted by 20 P-38J and 8 Kittyhawk I, and by 42 B-25J from Lae escorted by 24 P-38J, and reported 23 casualties, one hit on the airbase, 52 on the runways and 2 on the port.
_ Rabaul was attacked by 33 B-25J from Admiralty Islands escorted by 2 Corsair, and by 36 Beaufighter Mk 21 and 9 B-25C from Kiriwina, and reported 6 casualties, 3 hits on the airbase, one on supplies and 45 on the runways.
_ 18 F4U-1 Corsair and 18 P-40E from Emirau Island escorted by 8 F4F-4 attacked the 21st Special Base Force in Kavieng and hit 6 men.

Japanese airmen as usual only flew naval patrol and recon flights. A Dinah III was shot down by Allied fighters over Lae.

Rabaul reported damage of 99/95/28 (airbase/runway/port) and still no supplies (+0) for 3293 (-26) required, Wewak 100/43/20 and had 32 (+32) supplies for 2285 (+122) required, Kavieng was fully repaired and had 60 supplies (+0) for 345 (-13) required and Truk had damage 100/46/0.

Air patrols reported four “APD” off Gili Gili but Lunga bombers didn’t attack. More crew received orders to fly recon and naval search in the area, so hoping to have enough data to launch an attack on this TF.

The shipping concentration in Lae was still there, with probably one surface TF, two convoys and an ASW TF. The KB was now in place south of Palau and was joined by the repleshniment TF, so refueled at sea.

The first evacuation operation of Truk so far was uneventful and the four AP and the submarine carried away 5699 men.

Allied engineers expanded Hansa airfield to size 2 and Lae port to size 5.

Timor-DEI-Australia

Allied airmen flew 134 sorties today and lost a Mariner shot down by AA over Maumere:
_ Sorong was attacked by 31 B-24J, 18 B-24D, 12 B-17E, 6 B-25C and 7 Beaufighter Mk 21 from Kai Island escorted by 48 P-38J and reported 6 casualties, 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 50 on the runways.
_ Koepang was attacked by 12 B-25C from Derby and reported 6 casualties, one hit on the airbase, another on supplies and 4 on the runways.

The evening area report listed the airfield status as: Maumere was OK (fort 7, 35% (+4%)), Koepang was OK and had fort 7, 67% (+3%), Amboina reported damage 82/43/0 (system/runway/port), Sorong 76/94/0, other bases (including Kendari) were undamaged.

The three small AK off Koepang unloaded 1750 supplies during the night and day.

The ASW group sent off Macassar will remain there, even if no submarine was seen there today. It probably went to Kendari. In this port a big AK had loaded 6k resources and was ordered to move out, while 3 small AK will arrive tonight. Three other small AK left tonight Soerabaja to go there too.

Six new barges were launched at Menado and will join the Amboina shuttle service. 11 Thora arrived from Macassar (where they were used to evacuate troops from Dili before it fell) and will evacuate troops from Amboina.

SRA

An AK convoy started to load 35k resources in Kuala Lumpur.

Burma

Allied airmen were mainly grounded by bad weather today, only flew 205 offensive sorties and lost 2 aircraft operationally (a B-17E and a P-40N):
_ 98 fighter-bombers, 83 bombers and 2 escorts from Imphal and Jorhat attacked two Japanese units at Katha and hit 224 men and 13 guns.
_ 14 fighter-bomber and 9 escorts from Imphal attacked the SNLF in the jungle SE of Imphal and hit 6 men.

Allied troops in Katha attacked the Japanese lines but without their usual air support suffered a bloody setback (4293 Allied AV vs 1810 Japanese, adjusted to 2020 vs 2497, 0 to 1). While the Japanese lost 1049 men, 67 guns and 11 tanks, the Allied losses were far higher: 6381 men, 131 guns and 5 tanks.

Mandalay reported damage 62/0 (airbase/runway), Pagan 100/3, Akyab 0/0 (and fortifications 7, 0%), Lashio 4/0 and Taung Gyi 72/62.

The air transport brought 450 more men of the 34th Bde to Akyab (total 3160) and the 55th Div troops continued to rebuild itself (in the evening it had 114 (+9) able infantry squads).

In the evening, they were 47 Allied units reported in Katha (+1), an unknown number in Myitkyina (?) and 4 (+2) on the road between them.

The 23rd Mixed Bde finally marched out of the jungle between Myitkyina and Lashio and reached the latter city, that it will defend again Chinese troops in the area.

The planned raid on Asansol was again not launched. Orders were again repeated.

A convoy (3 AP and a DD) was reported off Diamond Harbour, and both submarines docked yesterday for repairs in Rangoon were ordered to sail at full speed to positions south of the Indian port of Yanam to intercept them on the way back.

China

During the night, 15 J1N1-S Irving from Nanning tried to attack the airfield of Kunming but didn't hit it. After dawn, 20 Ki-21 escorted by 17 fighters bombed the base, did 58 casualties and scored 2 hits on the airbase, 2 on supplies and 23 on the runways, and then 28 A6M5c, 20 Ki-51, 14 Ki-21, 13 Ki-48 and 7 Ki-49 with 7 escorts attacked one of the Chinese Corps defending the base and hit 77 men and 2 guns. Two Ki-21 were lost operationally during these missions.
And then the Japanese Southern Army launched a new attack against the Chinese defences and managed to break a new defence line, coming closer to the city (2757 Japanese AV vs 2146 Chinese, adjusted to 2387 vs 2376, reducing fortifications from level 3 to 2). The attack was close to failure, but the Chinese counter-attacks ended in a bloodbath, and Chinese casualties (3216 men and 45 guns) were higher than those of the attacking troops (1493 men, 55 guns and 2 tanks lost).

After the success of the first Japanese attack, the offensive will continue tomorrow, again with maximum air support.

NW of the city, the Japanese paratroops were not attacked but reported the arrival of the 2nd Chinese Corps coming from Chungking.

105 training and 54 escort sorties were flown from Changsha and Wuhan against Chinese troops NW of Changsha but hit nothing and five aircraft (2 A6M3a, an Oscar II, a Kate and a Judy were lost operationally.

NW of Changsha, Japanese recon flights confirmed that Chinese forces were moving towards Chungking. Today only 6 units were reported on the road to Kweiyang (-8), 16 on the river bank (+5) and four more north marching to Chungking (+3).

By the way, Chinese had now apparently enough supplies to restart the expansion of their remaining bases, and Chungking airfield was expanded to size 6 today.

The half brigade sent from the front to Wuchow reached the city and so the risk of an insurrection was over, and order was given to restart the repairs of the resource centers of the city.

Japan

The SS RO-109 was commissioned in Tokyo, and with another RO submarine repaired there sailed for Singapore to operate on the Indian coast.

The small AK Higane Maru was launched in Osaka.
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