2-3 Aug 43
Highlights – KB - REINFORCED - returns to the IO!
Jpn ships sunk:
PB: 1
xAK: 1
Allied ships sunk:
PG: 1
PT: 1
xAK: 1
LST: 1
Air loss:
Jpn: 90
Allied: 67
Subwar:
Jpn: 1 Attacks, 0 ships hit
Allies: 3 Attacks, 2 ships hit (PB, xAK sunk)
SS Bluefish crippled by mine off Sabang
Jpn Amph Inv: None
Allied Amph:
Bikini Atoll (CENPAC)
Bases lost: None
Bases Liberated:
Bikini Atoll (CENPAC)
Wyndham (SWPAC)
Milne Bay (SOPAC)
SIGINT/Intel: KB re-enters the IO! The usual suspect CVs plus the brand new Taiho, Amiga, Katsuragi and Unryo. At least I know where the carriers are!
West Coast/Admin: NSTR.
In NOPAC, NSTR.
In CENPAC, Wotje Amph TF links up with the CVE and CA TFs at Makin; will depart next turn to Wotje.
In SOPAC, Milne Bay is taken without much fanfare, only 5 guns remained from the 2nd South Seas Gsn to be destroyed by the 201st (Sep) IN Reg. 37th ID and the NZ Div will attack Buna next turn, and I don’t expect initial success - although they will be heavily supported by airpower. Troops begin loading for both Munda and Salamaua Amphibs and should be ready to head to target next turn. While Munda is another mop up, Salamaua will be a deep strike to outflank the Buna defenses and will require full support of LBA and BB Washington TF, less the BB which is undergoing minor repairs at Tulagi. Once these two landings have been completed, 1st Mar Div is scheduled to load to begin the New Ireland campaign. SOPAC staying very, very busy.
In SWPAC, Wyndham falls in the second attack, with the remnants withdrawing to the west toward Derby. With the KB confirmed to be in the IO, will start in motion landings at Broome, which will require ships to transit from Darwin to Exmouth for the operation. Amphib shipping still in short supply in Theater. Will look to get a foothold in the Timor Islands by landing at Selaroe with landing craft and airborne. The big question is whether the Musashi
In China, NSTR.
In Burma, I manage to mess up the Ramree landings - I had intended to set the Amph TF to “do not unload” as it would arrive late on the second day. Well, I forgot to add “remain on station” so all the TFs, except the minesweepers, duly arrived off Ramree, and then started to head back towards Diamond Harbor! The TFs are well sighted, so perhaps L_S_T thinks this a feint?? In any case, at the end of the turn the are only two hexes off Ramree, and will turn back around and actually land troops and commence the invasion next turn. On the ground, the lead Allied element in the Central Plain, the 268th Motorized Bde mauls the C/21st Div near Magwe, and should have a clear advance towards Prome. Coming in behind are and Armored Bde and Regiment, and 2+ IN Divs. Another division will cross the river near Mandalay and then attack to clear Mandalay and begin the drive toward Lashio. While the airborne attack on Meiktila was successful, it looks like IJA troops are moving to counterattack. Allied LBA focused on hitting the IJA withdrawing from the Akyab area, and supporting the attack of the 268th Mot Bde. Airforces will transition to supporting Ramree as the primary next turn, and additional fighters are brought into Akyab to where we should be able to maintain over 100 fighters over the Amphib - mainly P-47s and P-38s, while the P-40s focus on supporting secondary targets such as Meiktila.
In the IO, there was a MAJOR surprise. The KB is back in the IO, and has been substantially reinforced with brand new CVs! Now in two TFs, the KB moved just off of Little Andaman and Port Blair to launch strikes at shipping in the area. Fortunately, there were few targets to be found, and what was there was protected by a reasonable CAP which took a tool of the strikes. Worst loss was an LST carrying an artillery battalion bound for Ramree. AMC Chitral was also hit by two bombs off Little Andaman, but disbanded in port and unless attacked again, should survive. The one attack on shipping off Port Blair missed the LSI(L) and only managed to sink a PT. Out at sea, an xAK and PG were easily sunk. Losses to the KB air amounted to 29Z, 7 Judys and a Jill, while LBA sweeps over the Andamans lost 17 Oscars. Allied fighters lost over the Andamans totaled 11 P-40K and 9 P-39N1. Also lost were 9 Helldivers out of Port Blair which valiantly attempted to attack the KB. The Helldivers accomplished a valuable service as their attack was the first confirmation of the additional CVs in the KB by identifying the CAP. The Helldiver strike also identified the KB’s CAP - 128 A6M5, 26 A6M5b, and 13 A6M5c. That’s great intel!!!
With the KB off the Andamans, and consisting of an approximate air strength of 286F, 256D, and 157T (based on the assigned complement of the CVs), the KB now has more airpower than Spruance. That said, Spruance’s CVs are for the moment unlocated, still protecting the wounded Essex. So, I’ve decided to let LBA protect the Ramree landings and head Spruance’s 7CVs and CVL toward the Andamans and, with some luck, engage the KB. By using the CVE Copahee’s replenishment planes, as well as pulling some newly arrived F6Fs and SBDs from CVEs at Columbo, Spruance’s air complement is 321F (240 F6Fs), 212 SBDs, and 99 TBFs. KB still has a good edge in strike aircraft, but its close enough to bring on an engagement. The wildcard is whether the KB will stay in the vicinity of the Andamans - I’ve also reinforced the LBA there with newly arrived planes, even the newly arrived two CVE’s VRF squadrons are now pressed into service as fighter squadrons. Port Blair has 79F, 36D, and 20T while Little Andaman has 33F and 17D - most of the fighters will accompany strikes if the KB stays in range. Remaining fighters will provide CAP, in case the KB strikes the few remaining shipping targets around the islands - perhaps drawing off a strike from other more important targets. So it could be an exciting turn coming up!!