The Battle Under: Japan looks to the South

[SierraJuliet]

30 June 1942

DEI
Ground: East of Amboina a deliberate attack by Japanese forces achieves assault odds of 12 to 1. Japanese forces report 26 casualties and 2 guns lost with Allied losses of 2 casualties and 1 gun lost.

Burma
Air: To the north of Lashio 1st Tank Regiment is attacked by 6 SB-2c and losses 11 casualties and 1 vehicle lost.

China
Ground: South of Homan Japanese bombardment results in 9 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost and 94 casualties and 5 guns lost.
Air: To the south of Homan 7 Kate, 14 Sonia and 14 Sally bomb 2nd New Chinese Corps causing 70 casualties and 1 gun lost.

Australia
Ground: Japanese troops are ashore on Kai Island to the north of Darwin.

Subs
In the Makassar Strait to the east of Balikpapan DDs Ushio, Akebono and Ikazuchi with PC Sonan Maru #6 locate SS KXV but fail to score any hits. Later in the day this ASW task force has another attempt on KXV again without success.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
The Allied forces being squeezed by Japanese forces east of Amboina appear to be putting up stiff resistance in the jungle. In China Japanese forces have moved out of Homan and have begun to soften up Chinese forces still lingering near the city. The invasion of Kai Island marks the beginning of a move towards North West Australia.

[SierraJuliet]

Review of June 1942

During the month of June 1942 the main focus for the Japanese was the assault of Homan. The plan called for an attempt to encircle the city but this was beaten off by a relief force sent in to break the attempted entrapment. The attempt to cut off the Chinese forces in Homan failed but the superior forces mustered by the Japanese won the fight for the city by the end of the month.

The junction to the north of Lashio also featured with constant aerial bombing and sporadic ground assaults as well.

Reports also came in during the course of the month of a few more ships reported scuttled by the Allies as a result of the KB adventure at Norfolk Island.

A swag of bases fell to the Japanese this month. Captured bases for this month are; Sorong, Russell Island, Rennell Island, Dili, Stewart Island, Manokwari, Lautem, Medan, Noemfoor, Sabang, Babo, Koepang and Homan.

Preparations for an assault on north western Australia are now under way.

[SierraJuliet]

1 July 1942

Burma
Air: North of Lashio Yokosuka 2nd SNLF is attacked by 3 SB-2c and reports 6 casualties.
Further north at the junction 9th Chinese Corps is attacked by 33 Betty and 21 Helen with reports received of 29 casualties and 1 gun lost.

DEI
Ground: East of Amboina Japanese forces launch a deliberate attack and achieve assault odds of 7 to 1. The Allied unit takes 27 casualties but undaunted remains in the contest.

China
Ground: South of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 6 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost to 114 Chinese casualties and 38 guns lost.
Air: At Sian 58th Chinese Corps is bombed by 13 Ann. 1 Ann is destroyed and the Corps reports 2 casualties.

Australia
Air: Near Kai Island 3 Hudson I attack a transport convoy without success.
Ground: Japanese forces seize the undefended base on Kai Island.

Subs
No action reported.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
The Allied forces fighting for their life east of Amboina are made of stern stuff. The Hudson attack on the convoy near Kai Island indicates that the Allies have air assets in the area and will make life difficult for shipping.

[SierraJuliet]

2 July 1942

Burma
Air: At the junction north of Lashio 9th Chinese Corps is attacked by 39 Betty and 20 Helen causing 55 casualties.

DEI
Ground: East of Amboina deliberate Japanese attack achieves assault odds of 3 to 1 causing 27 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost as well as 8 Allied casualties.

China
Ground: South of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 6 Japanese casualties and 94 Chinese casualties and 8 guns lost.

Subs
No action reported.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
Chinese forces are still lingering to the south of Homan.

[SierraJuliet]

30 November 1943

At Nanning I have concentrated fighters and bombers for a campaign against Kweiyang. Japanese ground forces in China have been idle for the better part of a year are now moving towards Nanning to support the campaign.

On this day a total of 9 A6M3 Zero, 3 A6M3a Zero, 9 A6M5 Zeke, 16 N1K1-J George, 24 J2M Jack and 31 Ki-61 KAIc Tony performed a sweep over Kweiyang. The Chinese put 32 P-40N Warhawk into the skies. The reported losses were 1 Zero, 1 Zeke, 3 George, 3 Jack and 6 Tony destroyed in return for 19 Warhawks reported as destroyed. Recon reports 14 fighters left at Nanning. No doubt the Allied war machine will quickly bring in replacements. But for now the numbers are down and a bombing raid is planned for a couple of days time when the fighter pilots have rested.

During this action PO1 Sueda, T. is credited with kill number 17 and LTJG Kotani, J. is credited with kill number 5 and 6. The war of course has been taking its toll on my pilot quality. As an example here is the current make up of the fighter groups based at Nanning.

F2/Genzan Daitai 24 pilots J2M Jack 262 kills Ave Exp of 57
F1/Ominato Daitai 10 pilots N1K1-J George 80 kills Ave Exp of 56
F2/3rd Daitai 15 pilots N1K1-J George 82 kills Ave Exp of 54
F4/Chitose Chutai 9 pilots A6M5 Zeke 57 kills Ave Exp of 55
21st Ftr Sentai 30 pilots Ki-61 KA1c Tony 112 kills Ave Exp of 64
F1/Omura Daitai 4 pilots A6M3a Zero 92 kills Ave Exp of 51
F1/6th Daitai 8 pilots A6M3 Zero 126 kills Ave Exp of 57
47th Ftr Sentai 9 pilots Ki-44-IIb Tojo 76 kills Ave Exp of 72

The best pilot based at Nanning is PO1 Sueda, T. who as you saw above has 17 kills to his credit. He has experience of 96 and has flown 135 missions. He is one of 8 aces currently based at Nanning.

At Chungking my Ichang based fighters are also ordered to fly a sweep operation. 12 J2M Jack, 13 Ki-45 KAIa Nick, 30 Ki-45 KA1b Nick, 55 Ki-61 KA1c Tony take on 17 P-40N Warhawk. All 17 Warhawks are reported destroyed for the loss of 1 Nick and 8 Tony. 2LT Degawa O. of 63rd Ftr Sentai flying a Tony is credited with kill number 10. 1LT Tung R. Of 13th Ftr Sentai is credited with kill number 13 and is also reported as KIA.

60 B-25J Mitchell attack Pagan and cause 6 casualties, 4 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 25 runway hits. At Mandalay 119 Liberator VI escorted by 7 Spitfire VIII and 20 P-38G Lightning hit the airfield causing 94 casualties, 8 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits and 95 runway hits. I have long since withdrawn my fighter cover from here due to the hammering the field was taking from massed allied bombing. The airfield is regularly pounded and I doubt it will ever see a Japanese plane land here again. Yokosuka 2nd SNLF which is guarding the northern approach to Lashio is bombed by 19 B-25J Mitchell escorted by 12 P-40N Warhawk and suffers 7 casualties. These bombers are coming from Chinese fields and is part of the reason for my recent efforts to bring aerial pressure on the Chinese based air assaults.

In the Banda Sea an assortment of Japanese destroyers (Makinami, Hagikaze, Fumizuki, Harukaze, Asanagi and Wakatake) under the command of Vice Admiral Hosogaya, M. are tasked to make a high speed run to Kai Island and carry out an overnight bombardment. On the way in they stumble across 6 Allied APDs and a short fire fight erupts. APD Schley is reported to have been hit by 1 shell, APD McKean takes 2 shell hits, APD Gilmer is hit by 4 shells and APD Dent is hit by 7 shells. The APDs are obviously transporting troops to the newly liberated island of Kai as 27 allied ground casualties are reported on board the ships along with 3 guns and 1 vehicle lost. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t set the destroyers up for surface action, however, the Admiral carried on after this surprise and completed the bombardment and reports 113 Allied casualties, 2 guns lost and 3 P-38J Lightning destroyed on the airfield. The airbase takes 4 hits, airbase supply 3 hits and the runway is hit 13 times. The only reported damage from the brush with the APDs is 2 hits on Hagikaze and 1 hit on Wakatake. By sunrise the little fleet is well on their way back to Kendari.

The allied submarine effort has improved and most turns see at least one Japanese ship somewhere weathering a torpedo attack. Today sees AK Kagu Maru hit by one torpedo from SS Muskallunge. The damage is not too bad and she is close to Nagasaki. Time in the repair yards coming up.

[Capt. Harlock]

Japanese ground forces in China have been idle for the better part of a year

One could say the same for this thread[:D]

Good to see the Japanese are still very much in the fight at the end of November '43.

[SierraJuliet]

1 December 1943

The Banda Sea has more overnight action. This time a surface action task force made up of CL Naka and DDs Suzukaze, Shinonome, Tachikaze and Fuyo under the command of Cpt Tahara, Y. on board Naka, sweep the sea around Kai Island. APD Dent, which had been roughed up the night before is located and dispatched by 2 torpedo hits along with reports of 25 casualties and 1. Tahara forges on and locates APDs Colhoun, Kane, Overton and Dickerson. Kane is hit by 6 shells and Dickerson is reported to have been hit by 3 shells. Overton is hit by 4 shells and 3 torpedoes and sinks. 52 casualties and 3 vehicles are reported lost in this action. In their turn Naka is hit by 2 shells, Fuyo by 1 shell. Suzakaze is hit by 1 rather effective shell which causes a 6 fire and system damage of 9. Undeterred Tahara remains and locates APDs Waters, Little and McKean. Little suffers 2 shell hits whilst McKean (hit by 2 shells the night before) is hit by 7 shells and 1 torpedo and sinks. 42 casualties and 2 vehicles are reported lost. Naka takes 2 shell hits and Fuyo 1 hit. Well satisfied with the nights work and down on torpedoes Tahara sets course for Kendari and hightails it from the scene of the action. After this action Naka has system damage of 3 and Fuyo 4. Not a bad return for minimal damage although Suzakaze is off to the repair yard. So far not a bad showing from some of the older ships of the IJN. A few days later and with her fires well doused Suzakaze is at Kendari and having her 15 sys dam well fussed over.

In a postscript to the night action the next day 38 D4Y Judy and 6B5N Kate based at Amboina locate APDs Little and Waters. Little was reported to have been hit by 5 bombs. 2 Judy and 1 Kate were lost to 6 P-38J Lightning which were based on Kai Island. After rearming at Amboina the bombers set off again (this time 32 Judy and 5 Kate), again locate the two ships and put 1 further bomb into Little. The CAP of 6 Lightning was again on hand and accounted for 3 more Judy. Little turned up on the sunk ships list so she must have succumbed. Costly in terms of planes lost for 1 APD that was already well beat up.

This little adventure is sure to be a bother for Todd. His comment about Hosogaya’s raid from the night before was Sneaky IJN DDs lurking around my new base at night. I'm going to have to turn on the lights and sleep with an eye opened. Seems the lights may have to be turned up a little brighter and less sleep by the guards. I doubt he will let this go on and I know he has carriers around plus battlewagons in the area. I suspect it is the RN as a BB plus at BC came up from recon a few turns ago so I suspect Todd has found a job for Prince of Wales and Repulse along with his armoured carriers.

South of Rabaul a convoy returning from a supply run to Gili Gili is located by SS Wahoo. AP Nitiran Maru is hit by 2 torpedoes causing fatal damage of 96 94 24 and she is scuttled. There are 6 destroyers in the escort and for a nice change they report a good number of hits (8). This is the most hit I have seen against an allied sub in months and I can’t even guess at the last time an Allied sub was sunk. This was a particularly gratifying result as Wahoo has cropped up on a regular basis giving grief to my shipping.

Now for the disappointing result for the day. About one week ago US forces stormed ashore and captured Eniwetok. The USN has been busy unloading all sorts and I wanted to see if I could sneak in a carrier attack as it appeared that the carrier escort was a bit thin on the ground. Well things almost worked out well and would have gone to plan if I had not of set my planes to fly their full distance of 5 hexes. If I had of gone for 3 they would have had a chance to hit the transports at the island but as it turned out they found the US carriers at range 5 and of course had to give it a go with the expected carnage.

In the first raid 8 Zekes and 16 Zeros escorted 19 Judy, 6 Kate and 18 Jill against 110 Hellcats. All the Zekes and Zeros, Kates and Jills were shot down. 4 Judy bombers made it back to the decks of their carriers. A mere 4 Hellcats were reported shot down. Undeterred by this debacle 8 Zekes set out to escort 9 Jill against the American fleet. It was no surprise to see every plane shot down by the CAP of 96 Hellcats. Still thinking there must be a change of achieving some result 8 Judy and 6 Jill set out with an escort of 8 Zeke and 9 Zero in the afternoon. They found the Americans with a CAP up of 66 Hellcat. A solitary Judy made it back and a lone Hellcat was reported as downed.

All in all quite a disaster and one I put down to my rather poor understanding of how far a task force will travel at any speed. In this case I had the carriers on full speed and the task force actually ended up closer to the island than I expected it too. Hopefully the silver lining will be that Todd will think that this attack came from the remnants of KB as he has been in the dark on where my carriers have been for some time now. The reconstituted KB is in fact haring down to the Banda Sea to see if they can become the decisive element in that battle. The ships I used in this encounter were Shoho, Zuiho, Ryuho and Ryujo. They have made an about face and are tearing away from Eniwetok and hoping the US carriers aren’t interested in a long chase. The only other good news out of this is the bail out and rescue of ENS Kawamura L. Of EIII-1 Daitai and CPO Fujimatsu J. of CII-1 Datiai. Other than that Todd is having a great time celebrating many new Allied aces.

[SierraJuliet]

Good to see you are still leafing through the dusty pages of WITP AAR land. Yes it has been a long time and my AAR is much neglected. Much has happened although I suspect Todd's AAR will have kept people well informed on how things have panned out.

Yes the Japanese are still in the fight although the USN death star has been well and truly activated. 1944 should see big gains by the Americans but I will be doing my best to make it so so hard to get those gains.

[Capt. Harlock]

So far not a bad showing from some of the older ships of the IJN.

Not bad indeed! I wonder if a meeting can be arranged between Naka and an Omaha-class cruiser.

[SierraJuliet]

Well that doesn't fit very well with my strategy at all. I haven't seen much of the Omahas in this game and I'm sure the only time I want to see them is with a torpedo bomber about to drop a silver fish in the general direction of said Omaha or her sisters. I am trying hard to pick and choose my naval encounters where odds will be in my favour.

[SierraJuliet]

2 December 1943


I try a little night attack on Chungking airfield. 10 Ki-45 KA1a Nick swoop in but only 7 of them return home. The flak is deadly and there are no reports of hits.

At Kai Island BBs Mutsu and Yamato escorted by CA Furutaka and DDs Okikaze, Nokaze and Asagao happen upon APD Waters. She is dispatched with 9 shell hits. 89 Allied casualties and 4 vehicles lost are reported. A short time later during the dark of night the same task force locates APDs Ward, Manley, Gregory, Crosby and Kilty. Ward is hit by8 shells and sinks, Manley by 18 and also sinks. Gregory and Kilty are both hit by 2 shells. As a result of this action 129 Allied casualties are reported along with 7 vehicles lost. Mutsu and Yamato both report a hit each which is of no consequence.

Whilst the surface action group is beating up on the APDs a bombardment task force lets loose on the island. BBs Fuso and Nagato cause 123 casualties and 1 gun lost.

During the daylight hours a raid comprised of 35 D4Y Judy and 6 B5N Kate leave Amboina. They locate a surface action task force made up of CA Cornwall, CLs Hobart and Leander and probably other ships not sighted. The unescorted bombers also meet up with a CAP of 19 P-38J Lightning. They press on with the attack during which 22 Judy and 3 Kate are lost. The attack has some success though with Hobart reported to be hit by 1 bomb and Cornwall reported to have been hit by 4 bombs and suffering heavy damage. Rather nasty surprise laid on by the Lightnings but I don’t have enough airfield capacity to put escorts everywhere I would like them to be.

Guided by the bomber reports the Yamato task force locates CL Leander and Hobart escorted by DDs Voyager, Van Galen, Tjerk Hiddes and Witte de With. 2 hits are reported on Hobart before the Allied fleet beats a hasty retreat from their bigger adversaries.

Not long after this the Japanese fleet catches up with the damaged Cornwall. Mutsu suffers 1 hit whilst Cornwall is reported to have been hit by 9 shell hits. There is no report of her sinking but surely Mutsu and Yamato have delivered the final blow. By the end of the day the Yamato task force is still lingering a Kai Island. There are reports of enemy ships all around with plenty more just over the horizon. There is a report of 5 cruisers at Kai Island and possibly a battleship just over the horizon. The Allied carriers are still lurking somewhere close by I suspect.

The allies retaliate against my activity in the Banda Sea by sending 84 B-24J Liberator to hit the airfield at Amboina. 11 A6M5 Zeke make up the CAP and report 6 Liberators destroyed. 3 Zekes are lost. On the ground 5 casualties are reported along with 1 gun lost, 7 airbase hits, 6 airbase supply hits and 72 runway hits. The airbase is damaged but far from out of the action for the time being. LTJG Sugino, K. of F2/263rd Daitai is credited with kill numbers 6,7,8 and 9.

Lautem is also targeted by 28 B-24J Liberator and 12 B-24D Liberator escorted by 9 Kittyhawk III. 10 N1K1-J George and 24 J2M Jack make up the CAP. 7 Kittyhawk and 6 B-24J are reported destroyed. On my side 1 George, 1 Jack, 4 Zeke and 3 Betty are reported as lost along with 122 casualties and 4 guns lost. The airbase takes 2 hits, airbase supply 2 hits and the runway is hit 21 times. The airbase is quickly back in action. Port supply suffered 4 hits.

At Panggoe PGs Nikkai Maru, Myoken Maru, Hakkaisan Maru and Takunan Maru#8 manage 1 reported hit on SS S-32.

In China 7 A6M3 Zero, 3 A6M3a Zero, 8 A6M5 Zeke, 25 N1K1-J George, 24 J2M Jack and 33 Ki-61 KA1c Tony perform another sweep over Kweiyang. 2 George, 2 Jack and 2 Tony are reported lost in exchange for reports of 12 P-40N Warhawk destroyed.

At Pagan 45 B-25J Mitchell hit the airfield causing 15 runway hits.

[SierraJuliet]

3 December 1943  

SS Rasher puts 2 torpedos into TK Manju Maru, whilst SS Hake puts 1 torpedo into TK Gen’yo Maru.  

Air attacks.  

Rangoon is bombed by 35 Liberator bombers.
Pgan is bombed by 56 Mitchell bombers.
Mandalay is bombed by 114 Liberator bombers.  
At Lautem 15 PB4Y Liberator get through the CAP of 19 Jacks, 13 Tojo and 12 Tony to bomb the port.  4 Liberators are reported destroyed.  

A Glen reports Indomitable at 39,81.  Those British carriers are lurking around.  

Todd gets Kai Island airfield up to level 2.

[SierraJuliet]

4 December 1943  

Fuso and Nagato do another bombardment run on Kai Island and cause 763 casualties, 4 guns and 8 vehicles lost as well as 3 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits, 8 runway hits and 1 port hit.  

Maloelap is bombed by 34  PB4Y Liberators.

Jaluit is bombed by 42 Mitchell bombers.

Gili Gili is targeted by 96 B-17E Fortress.  A mixed CAP of 47 fighters meets them.  5 fighters are reported destroyed for reports of 23 bombers downed.  The only damaged suffered was 7 hits on the runway.  

An enemy task force is located at 38/80 and KB puts up 86 Judy and 71 Jill escorted by 102 A6M5 Zekes.  This exceedingly large force of Japanese planes located ML Prins van Oranje.  The lone ship was reported to have been hit by 4 bombs and 2 torpedos.  

At Kweiyang the Japanese send in a mixed sweep of 60 fighters.  They are met by 18 Warhawks.   7 Japanese fighters are reported lost in return for 15 of the Chinese fighters shot down.  

Cpt. Ono, M of 24th Ftr. Sentai is credited with kills 5 and 6.

LTJG Koizumi, P of F1/2nd Daitai is credited with kills 15, 16, 17 and 18.

WO Katagi, W of F1/2nd Daitai is credited with kills 15 and 16.

LTJG Kojima, H of F2/Ominato Daitai is credited with kill 21.

PO1 Sueda, T of F2/Genzan Daitai is credited with kill 18.

1Lt Jung, J of 11th CFS is credited with kill 11.  He then bails out and is reported as captured.  Grim times ahead for this Chinese ace I suspect.

[SierraJuliet]

5 December 1943  


SS Thresher puts 2 torpedos into TK Huzisan Maru and in turn 10 hits are reported on the submarine.  She is also believed to be on fire.  SS Muskallunge is located by an ASW group and 1 hit is reported.  She then puts 2 torpedos into TK Tonan Maru#2.  SS Peto puts 2 torpedos into PG Edo Maru and in turn is reported to have been hit twice.  SS Rasher puts 3 torpedos into TK Nissyo Maru.  


Pagan is bombed by 60 Mitchell bombers.

Mandalay is bombed by 123 Liberator bombers.

Maloelap is bombed by 27 PB4Y Liberators.

Jaluit is bombed by 43 Mitchell bombers.



At 37/77 50 B-24J Liberator bombers locate a Japanese troop convoy.  AP Tatsuwa Maru is reported to have been hit by 2 bombs while APs Tango Maru and Tazan Maru are each hit by 1 bomb. 

In a second raid by 12 Liberators AP Ujigawa Maru is reported to have been hit by 4 bombs. 

Yet another raid by 37 Liberators find a Japanese surface action task force.  11 A6M5 Zekes show up this time for CAP.  They are ineffectual and loose 1 of their number with only a report of 3 bombers damaged.  Even worse CAs Atago and Myoko each report 1 bomb hit.  

Wow... what a day for Todd.  His submarines are getting into it and my cruisers have been knocked around by LBA.  

[SierraJuliet]

6 December 1943  


Musashi and Ise escorted by light cruisers Jintsu and Kiso and the destroyers Kisaragi and Akatsuki bombard Kai Island generally getting hits on most everything that is there.  They follow up during daylight hours and wreak more havoc.  

My response to the recapture of the 3 islands off of Darwin materializes with a Japanese invasion force setting down on the island.   

The Allied forces respond to the invasion fleet with a raid of 30 B-24J Liberators escorted by 6 P-40N Warhawks and 9 Kittyhawk III.  47 A6M5 Zeke are on long range CAP duty and report downing 7 Kittyhawks, 4 Warhawks and 2 Liberators.  7 Zekes are lost and the raid is beaten off with no damage to shipping.   

A further raid by 8 unescorted Liberators is met by 41 Zekes. This time 4 of the bombers are reported as downed and another raid is beaten off.  

In the third raid of the day 6 Liberators escorted by 3 Warhawks and 3 Kittyhawks meet up with 41 Zekes.  4 Zekes are reported lost in exchange for all of the allied fighters.  The bombers forged on and took aim at Ise without success.  

The Allied carrier force makes its presence felt by launching an aerial attack on the shipping of the transport task force busily disgorging troops onto Kai Island.  A force of 13 Avenger II and 18 Barracuda escorted by 8 Corsair IV and 11 Hellcat II tangle with the CAP which is now reduced to 31 Zekes.   By the end of the action 5 Zekes are lost for 1 Hellcat, 1 Corsair, 1 Barracuda and 3 Avengers.  The British depart the scene no doubt feeling very happy with the result.  APs Yamafuku Maru, Tathuo Maru and Tarushima Maru have been hit by 2 torpedos each while APs Tazan Maru and Kenshin Maru have both taken a single torpedo.  

The LBA raids continue, this time with 6 Liberators on the attack.  39 Zekes meet them and report 1 of the bombers shot down.  The attack breaks up and returns to Australia.  


LTJG Obayashi, T of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill # 7.

PO2 Nagashima, P. of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill # 5 and 6.  

 
On the ground at Kai Island the Japanese forces mount an attack.  The Japanese forces can only muster AS of 141 to the defenders 226.  The attack is beaten off with 13 Japanese casualties reported with 1 gun lost.  

SS Swordfish is located by an ASW group of destroyers and is reportedly hit once.  SS I-11 is also located but fares worse with 5 hits reported.  

Mandaly is bombed by 107 Liberator bombers.

Maloelap is bombed by 18 PB4Y Liberators.

Jaluit is bombed by 29 Mitchell bombers.  
 

Todd was likely expecting a response of some sort given his British carriers are at sea.  Well here it comes at Kai Island!

[SierraJuliet]

7 December 1943  


The landings continue at Kai Island.  DD Urakaze takes 3 hits from the coastal guns.   

SS Pompano lurking around Kai Island is reported to have taken 4 hits from the escorts protecting the troop transports.  Pompano then manages to claim a torpedo hit on AK Boko Maru before the escorts claim another 2 hits on the sub.  SS Trigger also gets in on the act but the escorts claim 2 hits on this sub.  

The British carriers launch another raid against the Japanese troop transports.  10 Avenger II and 16 Barracuda escorted by 11 Hellcat II and 8 Corsair IV swoop in and find no CAP.  DD Minegumo is hit by a torpedo whilst AK Teikin Maru takes one as well and AK Boko Maru is hit by 2 torpedos.  

The expected LBA raid then turns up.  15 Mitchell put one bomb into DD Ayanami and a bomb into Mogami.  

A covering Japanese surface action task force is located and a raid by 47 Liberators puts 4 bombs on Musashi.  

The reconstituted KB locates the British carrier force and launches a Japanese counter raid.  53 D4Y Judy and 17 B6N Jill are escorted by a mere 14 A6M5 Zeke.  They are met by a CAP of 15 Hellcat II and 10 Corsair IV.  A far cry from the masses of fighters buzzing around any American carrier task force.  By the end of this raid the Japanese have lost 3 Zekes, 28 Judy and 10 Jill for a report of a single Hellcat destroyed.  Three allied ships are targeted... CVs Indomitable and Victorious and BC Repulse.  Repulse is reported to have been hit by 1 bomb and Victorious by 2 bombs.  This is not a pleasing results especially considering that armoured deck on Victorious.  

Undeterred the Japanese launch another raid on the Allied fleet.   34 Judy, 12 Jill and 13 Zekes meet a CAP of 14 Hellcat and 10 Corsairs.  A smaller Japanese effort and a CAP still full of fight.  By the end of this action 8 Zekes, 9 Judy and 6 Jill are report downed.  Not a single British fighter is reported lost.  A slightly better result this time around.  Repulse is reported to have been hit by another bomb.  Victorious takes another bomb and is reported to have been hit by a torpedo!!!!  Will this have slowed her down?  

A third raid (30 Jill and 18 Zeke) homes in on the British fleet.  10 Hellcats and 5 Corsairs make up the CAP.  The Japanese loose 11 Zekes and 9 Jills for again a single Hellcat destroyed.  The previous torpedo strike on Victorious must have had some effect upon her as the third strike manages to score 2 torpedo hits on the carrier.  She is on fire and is reported to be heavily damaged.  

The British mount a strike of their own (14 Barracuda and 4 Hellcat).  They locate Atago, Myoko and Agano but are unable to inflect any damage on the uncapped ships.  

A LBA strike on the same ships (13 Mitchell and 2 Lightning) fairs better and drops another bomb on Myoko for the loss of 1 bomber.  

Over Kai Island 31 Mitchell escorted by 7 Warhawk and 14 Kittyhawk give the transports a working over with AP Tatsuwa Maru suffering 11 bomb hits and AP Tango Maru 4 bomb hits.  With KB occupied the skies are clear for the Australian based bombers to do their worst.  

Late in the day the Japanese get together their 4th strike for the day (33 Jill, 40 Judy and 41 Zeke).  They locate the British fleet which has 12 Hellcats on CAP.  Carnage in the skies again with 11 Zekes, 5 Judy, 9 Jill and 7 Hellcats reported as destroyed.  The bombers, however, fight their way through and report 2 bombs hits on CA Shropshire, 5 bomb hits and a torpedo on Repulse and 4 bomb hits and 2 torpedoes on Indomitable.  Victorious was not sighted.  

At around the same time a bomber force of 12 G4M2 Betty and 7 P1Y Frances (I think they flew from Amboina) does locate Victorious and report putting 2 torpedoes into the carrier for the loss of 1 Betty.  No CAP so she must be in a bad way and these 2 torpedoes should have finished her off.  

On Kai Island the combatants exchange bombardments with the Japanese loosing 7 casualties and 2 guns lost.  


Mandalay is bombed by 69 Liberator bombers.  


It was a good day in the air for the Allies.  

FLT Palmer, L of 896 Squadron is credited with kills 4,5,6,7,8 and 9!

FLT Ellsworth, J of 806 Squadron is credited with kills 2,3,4,5, 6 and 7!

FLT Spanton, I of 896 Squadron is credited with kill # 5

PO Sloan, P of 806 Squadron is credited with kills 4, 5, 6 and 7

FLT Palmer, L of 896 Squadron is credited with kill # 10

FLT Woodroffe, E of 896 Squadron is credited with kills 5 and 6

FLT Caldwell, A of 896 Squadron is credited with kills 4 and 5

PO Dobbins, R of 806 Squadron is credited with kill # 5

FLT Gilchrist, B of 806 Squadron is credited with kills 4 and 5

PO Ainsworth, V of 806 Squadron is credited with kills 4, 5 and 6    

And just to balance the picture a little.....
 
PO1 Kaneko, E of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill # 5  


No joy there in giving credit to the British pilots.  On the plus side for me it looks like Victorious should rightly be claimed as sunk and Indomitable and Repulse have hopefully had some serious damage inflicted upon them.  For me a good result on the anniversary of Todd and I slugging away for 2 years albeit at the cost of thinning out the aircraft on the decks of my KB.

[SierraJuliet]

8 December 1943    

More Japanese troops come ashore at Kai Island.  During the land based gunfire directed at the landing ships AP Heizan Maru receives 1 shell hit.   

After the aerial assault upon the British carriers and the possibility of wounded ships on the ocean I decided to send a surface action group into harms way and see if they could cause some further disruption to the Allied fleet.  Light cruisers Sendai, Abukuma, Tama, Yubari and Oi in company with destroyers Hokaze, Hatsukari and Kamo were sent into the fray.   They managed to make a mid ocean intercept of the Allied fleet containing Indomitable, Repulse, Shropshire, Sussex, Devonshire, the light cruiser Achilles, CLAA Caledon and destroyers Arunta, Warramunga, Nepal, Nestor, Pakenham, Paladin and Panther.  It was something of a hit and miss affair with the following reported hits.... Sendai 2, Abukuma 1, Tama 1, Oi, 1, Yubari 2, Hokaze 31 and Hatsukari 1.  Hokaze obviously got herself in a bad spot and promptly succumbed to the hail of fire and sank.  On the Allied side the following ships were reported hit... Repulse 1, Shropshire 1 and Arunta 3.  I think the Allied fleet would call that a victory although come the morning neither fleet was to be seen hanging around wanting to claim this piece of ocean to the east of Kai Island as their own.  

SS Swordfish hunting around the troop ships off Kai Island puts 1 torpedo into DD Ariake and in return has 2 reported hits from screening destroyers.  Swordfish then locates AP Tango Maru and hits her with 3 torpedoes.   SS I-162 gets in the way of the destroyer screen from the overnight surface action and takes 4 hits.  

During daylight hours the Allied carrier task force is again located by Japanese recon.  15 Betty and 5 Frances set off to attack.  They are met by 2 P-38J Lightning.  3 Betty and 2 Frances are destroyed during the course of the action.  They manage to find the fleet and report another torpedo hit on Repulse.  Indomitable is observed and reported to be suffering heavy damage and on fire.   

A further raid of 26 Betty set out.  They locate the British ships which have no CAP flying.  Repulse is hit by 4 torpedoes and Indomitable is hit by 2 torpedoes.  3 Betty are reported lost to anti-aircraft fire.  

On Kai Island the Japanese forces try for a deliberate attack.  Japanese forces have an AS of 300 against an AS of 169 for the defenders.  The adjusted assault figure for Japan is 184 against the Allied adjusted defence of 267 resulting in assault odds of 0 to 1 (fort level 0).  Japanese forces suffer 843 casualties and 19 guns lost to Allied losses of 133 casualties and 6 guns lost.  

Pagan is bombed by 64 Mitchell bombers.  

Hopefully from my perspective Indomitable and Repulse will be too badly damaged to make it back to port.  Whilst the British carriers don’t rate has highly as the American carriers for victory points I’m still pleased to have got those torpedo hits on the armoured carriers.  Picking off Repulse was also a bonus.

[SierraJuliet]

9 December 1943  


Troops still coming ashore at Kai Island.  DD Hagikaze and Tachikaze each take 1 shell hit. The airfield at Kai Island is bombed by 34 Judy and 39 Jill with an escort of 19 A6M3a Zero from Junyo, Hiyo and Hosho.  One Lightning puts in an appearance for CAP.  More damage caused on the ground and 1 Jill lost.  

The Allied forces locate a Japanese task force and send out 35 Liberators and 29 Mitchells escorted by 6 Warhawks and 27 Kittyhawk III.  23 Zekes meet them and loose 2 of their number and bring down 13 Kittyhawk and 3 Warhawks.  The escort does the job though and the bombers make their runs on the Japanese warships.  Atago and Agano are both hit by 1 bomb.  

In a second raid on this task force 15 unescorted Liberators tangle with 19 Zeke.  4 of the bombers are shot down but the rest carry on and record 2 bomb hits on Atago.  

Late in the day the allied planes turn up to cause more problems for the troopships.  17 Mitchells escorted by 3 P-38J Lightning, 3 Warhawks and 11 Kittyhawks take on the CAP of 19 Zekes.  3 Zekes are lost as well as 3 Kitty hawks and 1 Warhawk.  The bombers manage to drop 1 bomb on AP Ryoyo Maru.  

On the ground at Kai Island both sides exchange bombardment fire causing 22 Allied casualties and 8 Japanese casualties.  

At Marcus Island a resupply convoy is jumped by planes from an American carrier task force.  18 TBM Avenger and 29 SBD Dauntless escorted by 39 F6F Hellcats fall upon the shipping.  There is a CAP of 3 A6M3 Zero and 3 A6M5 Zeke on duty.  All 3 Zeros are shot down with no loss to the American planes.  The toll on the Japanese ships is... AK Shogen Maru 1 bomb, AK Taga Maru 4 bombs, AK Isuzugawa Maru 7 bombs, AK Taisei Maru 1 torpedo and AK Canton Maru 1 torpedo.  

Buoyed by their success the Americans launch a bigger raid comprising 26 SB2C Helldiver, 82 SBD Dauntless and 43 Avengers escorted by 36 Hellcats.  The CAP of 1 Zero and 6 Zekes is mauled with only 1 Zeke surviving.  The ships are hammered.... AK Tsuneshima Maru 8 bombs, AK Assam 4 bombs, AK Taga Maru 4 bombs, AK Shogen Maru 2 bombs and 1 torpedo, AK Taisei Maru 10 bombs and 1 torpedo and AK Canton Maru 6 bombs.  The supply convoy is wiped out.  

At Kweiyang the Japanese send in a mixed sweep of 7 A6M3 Zeros, 8 Zekes, 19 George, 23 Jack and 32 Tony.  The Chinese have a CAP of 25 P-40N Warhawks on patrol.  1 George and 9 Tony are destroyed and 21 Warhawks are downed.    
Mandalay is bombed by 113 Liberator bombers.

Myitkyina is bombed by 37 Liberator bombers.
   
PO1 Sueda, T of F2/Genzan Daitai is credited with kills 19 and 20

LCDR Obayashi, T. of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill # 10  

From memory the assault at Kai Island entered a lull while I called up an extra unit to get the numbers to deal with the defenders.  The attack at Marcus Island can’t be helped any more.  Todd has the numbers in his carrier department to roam at will and destroy what he wants.  I’m surprised he has not been raiding more often.

[SierraJuliet]

10 December 1943  


Troops still coming ashore on Kai Island.  DD Tachikaze takes 3 shell hits covering the landing.  

Musashi and Ise along with CL Jintsu and destroyers Kisaragi and Akatsuki bombard Kai Island and rough up the defenders (airbase supply 2 hits and port supply 5 hits).  A second bombardment task force made up of Fuso, Nagato and CL Kiso also roughs the place up (airbase supply 3 hits and port supply 11 hits).  

Planes from Hiyo and Junyo (32 Judy, 37 Jill escorted by 10 Zero) target 503rd USA Para Regiment on Kai Island.  46 casualties and 3 guns lost are reported.  

Australian based LBA pays a visit to the troopships off Kai Island.  By this time KB had withdrawn so there was no CAP and 27 Mitchell and 34 Liberator bombers escorted by 8 Lightning, 4 Warhawk and 13 Kittyhawk find troopships and score 6 bomb hits on AP Ryoyo Maru, 3 bomb hits on AP Midori Maru and 4 bomb hits on AP Nichiran Maru.  

The raiders return (27 Liberator, 25 Mitchell, 8 Lightning, 4 Warhawk and 12 Kittyhawk) and this time score 3 bomb hits on DD Tachikaze, 1 bomb hit on DD Hagikaze, 4 bomb hits on AP Ryoyo Maru and 2 bomb hits on AP Midori Maru.  

On the island itself the Japanese launch a deliberate attack.  The Japanese muster 19331 troops and 128 guns against the defenders 6566 troops and 36 guns.  The adjusted assault values favour the Japanese 142 to the Allies 14 to gain odds of 10 to 1 (fort level 0) and the base is captured.  2 P-38J Lightning and 1 Avenger II are destroyed on the ground.  In what may be the last time the Japanese gain a victory in this war 7165 Allied troops (72nd Base Force, 503rd USA Para Regiment, 870th EAB and 856th EAB) are taken into captivity.  

SS Swordfish puts 1 torpedo into AK Ryuto Maru.  

The allied bombers (48 B-24D and 30 B-24J Liberators, unescorted) plaster Koepang.  A mixed CAP of 31 fighters makes it into the air.  Japanese planes are lost on the ground and in the air with the Japanese claiming 8 of the bombers destroyed.  The runway takes 68 hits, the airbase 8 hits and airbase supply 13 hits.  

The American planes return at Marcus Island (66 Hellcat, 29 Dauntless and 18 Avenger) but all they find is AK Assam which suffers another 4 hits from bombs.  

I’m glad this base has fallen.  Of next to no importance I couldn’t stand by and let Todd turn this island into a superb forward base for his aircraft to keep up the pressure.   It is going to be a struggle to hang onto to anything and the opportunity was there to mount an offensive to recapture the base and the troops stationed there.  I don’t think Todd expects me to sit by and let him move on in without a fight and I figured that this island was worth the fight.   

I ended up with a lot of banged up ships but on the other hand I’m fairly sure Todd has paid for the island with the loss of 2 armoured British carriers, Repulse and Cornwall.  Nice to see KB (currently made up Akagi, Kaga, Taiho, Unryu and Amagi doing battle in late ’43.  The flight crews aren’t what they used to be and the battles over the British carriers have taken their toll on the quality of the fighter pilots in particular.  However I still have a KB to play with for however long I can keep them away from a decent American carrier force and while it exists Todd remains wary of what it may be capable of achieving.

[SierraJuliet]

11 December 1943    

SS S-34 locates AK Ryuto Maru and does some surface prowling.  She scores 1 torpedo and 1 shell hit on this transport.  

Mandalay is bombed by 111 Liberators.  

Koepang is bombed by an unescorted raid of 92 B-24D Liberators.  A mixed CAP of 27 fighters greet them.  15 bombers are reported destroyed but the airfield is bombed anyway.  8 Japanese fighters and 4 bombers and 2 recon planes are reported destroyed as a result of the raid.  

Near Kai Island the Allied planes are looking for more ships.  A force of 8 Mitchell escorted by 10 Lightning, 9 Warhawks and 15 Kittyhawks battles with 9 Zekes, 9 George and 12 Tonys.  The Japanese report 3 Zekes, 2 George and 4 Tony lost whilst Allied losses are reported as 3 Kittyhawk, 3 Warhawk and 1 Mitchell destroyed.  The attack breaks off without attacking any shipping.  

A second smaller raid ends without loss on either side.  

A third raid of 18 unescorted Liberators meets 8 Zeke, 6 George and 9 Tony.  2 of the Liberators are reported lost but the rest persevere and claimed 1 bomb hit on AK Yoko Maru.  
 
CPO Hirusawa, N of DI—1 Daitai/A is credited with kills 6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12.