[Molon Labe]

28 September 1943
Essex-Yorktown CVBGs randomly intercept major tanker convoy and annihilate it
Last enemy soldier on Guadalcanal killed


DEI
Night attacks on 2 bases this turn; Dili and Boela, no damage.


Burma
Another amphibious delivery to the Burmese coast from Calcutta is proceeding. No sign of that horde of subs for a few days.

The enemy tank regiment that had previously taken Prome from me returned and found itself outmatched. Casualties 757 (and 93 vehicle losses) to 59, the enemy retreated east and is pretty much cut off from any convenient return to Japan-held territory at this point.



CENTPAC
My operation against the Marianas is underway, and the scoutplanes from my CVBGs escorting the 'phibs spotted an enemy convoy slightly northwest of Marcus. They launched a massive airstrike (25 SBD-5, 22 SB2C, 13 Avengers) and wiped it out:

TK Manei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Gyoshin Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Palembang Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Yasushima Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
TK Ayazono Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Otoriyama Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ogura Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
--
PB Sonobe Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Hirotama Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
PB Nagato Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ayazono Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Gyoshin Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
TK Otoriyama Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
TK Manei Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ogura Maru #2, and is sunk
--
TK Manei Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
PB Nagato Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ayazono Maru, and is sunk

That's 6 tankers--4 newly manufactured Type 1 TM class (6400 tons), 1 7150 ton Manzyu class, and 1 converted Std-B cargo (4670 tons). This is much further west than I'd expect to find tanker traffic. My best guess is these guys were headed from Japan to Truk to fill the naval base's bunkers.


Solomons
Our troops have completely secured Guadalcanal. No enemy troops surrendered, of course. Fanatics.

And the Beauforts reported yet another hit on the sub (subs?) off Guadalcanal. Some of these hits may be false claims, especially if it's the same boat each time. I don't see them surviving more than 1 hit.


Reinforcements and Withdrawals
VMF-313 arrives at March Field (2/18 Corsairs)
VP-44 arrives at San Diego (12/12 Catalina)

No.615 Sqn RAF arrives at Aden (16/16 Hurricane)
6th USA Defense Battalion arrives at Pearl Harbor
--I'm activating 2 each restricted VMFs and VP squadrons to compensate for my expansion
No.118 Sqn RCAF is withdrawn - 16 Canadian Kittyhawks - yes they took their aircraft with them and I have essentially no RCAF aircraft left.
USS Pike - severely damaged and trying to withdraw to South Africa - is now officially overdue and costing me political points to keep in theatre. It could be 2 months before she completes the trip. Should have scuttled her.