[Molon Labe]

16 September 1943
The end of the Akagi?
Prome captured


Philippine Sea
USS Silversides torpedoed a Tonan Whaler-class tanker near the Palau Islands, setting its cargo on fire. The ship doesn't have much of a chance thanks to the fires.


Burma
The 5th Indian Division is now being landed on the Burmese coast.


Vengeance dive bombers hit more ships docking in Rangoon:
xAK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keisyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nozima Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (42 destroyed, 41 disabled)


And some B-25Gs got in on the fun:
xAK Nissyu Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nozima Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 11 (7 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (4 destroyed, 20 disabled)


2nd Vengeance wave:
xAK Nozima Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 27 (17 destroyed, 10 disabled)


B-25G raid #2:
xAK Nozima Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Nitti Maru, Shell hits 4
xAK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keisyo Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (13 destroyed, 3 disabled)


A Beaufighter was shot down by a Zero trying to get that last stubborn cargo ship.

Weather over Prome was horrible, so despite having many aircraft ordered to target the enemy unit attacking there, we flew no sorties against this unit, which turned out to be tanks... lots of tanks. Prome has been captured, casualties 238 to 4704, our engineers are retreating towards Magwe. Enemy paratroopers also seized Toungoo, north of Pegu along the rail lines, and Meiktila, a base in the central area I chose not to build up or guard. We have local forces adjacent to both these incursions to fight them off with. A third paratrooper assault targeted Magwe, which has a substantial garrison; the enemy troops were immediately wiped out.


DEI
B-24 raids on Ambon pulled some Corsairs from Babar and some Hellcats and P-47s probably from Boela for escorts, so the raids caused some enemy fighter losses--3 Tonies and 1 George. 17 P-40s swept the base later and took out 3 more Tonies and 4 Georges.

We attempted a raid on the KB west of Ambon, but it was too small, just 16 Hellcats and 35 Dauntlesses. We only splashed one Zero while losing 5 Hellcats and 24 Dauntlesses. One of the SBDs managed a hit on the Akagi. Enemy CAP strength was 39 fighters opposing this raid.

A followup raid of 22 Corsairs and 13 Helldivers failed to score any hits. We only lost 2 Helldivers while shooting down 2 Zeroes. 11 Helldivers attempted attacks on the Shokaku, Ise, and Haruna. Enemy CAP strength was down to 14 fighters opposing this raid.

Finally, 6 B-25Gs came in for a low-level attack escorted by 8 P-47s. The P-47s shot down a Nick to clear the way. The B-25s scored one more hit on the Akagi, setting her on fire and seemingly knocking the ship out of action. At this point the Akagi has taken 2 500lb bombs, 1 1000lb bomb, and a Mk6 mine. Enemy CAP strength was down to 7 fighters for this raid.


Reinforcements and withdrawals
DE Osterhaus arrives at Eastern USA
DE Harold C. Thomas arrives at Mare Island
SS Trespasser arrives at Aden
26th USN Naval Construction Regiment arrives at Port Hueneme
VMSB-141 has withdrawn from theatre (training squadron at San Diego)