War in the Pacific AAR Thread - ML vs JFranzen

[Molon Labe]

22 February 1943

CENTPAC
Heavy Cruisers Wichita and Indianapolis bombarded Marcus, with marines coming ashore just afterwards via LSTs and LCIs. Marcus is better defended than we realized, they have what appears to be a full marine unit in addition to aviation support. Our USMC Defense Batallion coming ashore probably won't be enough.


Burma, India, and Western China
An Oscar sweep hit Kunming airbase in western China, which I'm now using to try to support my retreat from Burma. 3 Oscars and 1 P-40 were shot down.

We've retaken Cox's Bazar in southeastern India. Casualties 1881 to 264.


Banda Sea
We lost B-26 to flak over Babar.


Bay of Bengal
A heavy-cruiser-led task force is approaching Sri Lanka from the southeast. I started redirecting traffic away from Colombo in response, and started moving my British heavy TF west to hopefully keep them undetected.


Solomons and New Britain
We spotted a battleship-led task force at Rabaul, just as the Seabees at Shortlands expanded the airstrip big enough go support ASUW missions. I ordered VT-6 to Shortlands to try to catch them. We don't have an airHQ for them just yet, so this will be bombs only, no torpedoes.





------------------
23 February 1943
Battle for Sri Lanka (Ceylon) about to kick off, IJN Kongo battered by Avengers of VT-6


Solomons
VT-6 flew 2 sorties against the IJN Kongo, hitting it with (i think) 15 total 500 lb GP bombs. 2 Army Banshees also participated but missed, one of those was scrapped due to damage. None of the bombs got through the armor, but we started enough fires to hopefully deal real damage.


Bay of Bengal

Sorry for the odd shape, I combined screenshots to get all the enemy task forces plus Ceylon at the same time.

We now hold contact on 4 task forces in the Bay of Bengal, plus a sub near Diego Garcia, so it appears that the expected invasion on Sri Lanka is imminent. I've redirected yet more tanker traffic to keep them clear, and moved a few B-24 squadons from Calcutta to right across from Sri Lanka. They'll bomb any troops that make it ashore, while the Vengeance dive bombers and Beaufighters go after the ships.


Banda Sea
Another destroyer task force went to Babar and rang the dinner bell. SBDs and Beaufighters pounced, hitting at least 6, with at least 3 confirmed sunk.

CENTPAC
Marcus isn't looking good. We expected very little resistance here and ended up with a full marine unit on defense. Despite heavy cruiser bombardment, they're holding on pretty well. I'm sending more troops but it's going to take time, neither Midway nor Wake are big enough to act as staging areas so they're coming from Pearl. I might send the Wasp to help... but there's already a task force headed from Truk to Marcus and for all I know, that's the KB finally getting drawn out.

If Marcus doesn't turn into a disaster, PBYs from there can reach the Marianas, hopefully spotting their tanker routes.

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

Banda Sea
Another destroyer task force went to Babar and rang the dinner bell. SBDs and Beaufighters pounced, hitting at least 6, with at least 3 confirmed sunk.

Could it be that your opponent is losing a staggering amount of destroyers? And how much would a shortage impede his operations?

[Molon Labe]

24 February 1943
Combat debut of Judy dive bombers, LST sunk at Marcus



CENTPAC
Heavy cruisers Wichita and Pensacola and 4 destroyers bombarded Marcus to try to give our outnumbered Marines a chance. The damage to the base was significant, including 7 Kates disabled.

One of those task forces included carriers. They sent 27 brand new Judy dive bombers (with 13 Zero escorts) against a lone LST and sank it. This LST and one other are on their own due to sustaining damage on reefs while landing troops, they can't keep up with the main force getting away from the carriers. I'm willing to bet at least one major fleet carrier is here since the KB would be the first to get the upgrades from Vals to Judies.

Banda Sea
Beaufighters attacked 3 light cargo ships off the coast of Timor. All were damaged significantly, I'd say 2 probably sank.

We traded 2 Wildcats for 2 Nicks as the Nicks intercepted a B-26 raid on Babar

China
Lysander light bombers, which I usually use for Recon, attacked Pescadores in the Taiwan Strait, sinking a pair of mine tenders

Most of the enemy cleared out of Chusien as they manuever into a seige position. I attacked the stragglers, inflicting 1929 to 1646 casualties in our favor, but in terms of disabled vs destroyed squads we came out far more ahead than that. We've got Liberator and Wellington bombers attacking the flanking forces, trying to buy time.

Could it be that your opponent is losing a staggering amount of destroyers? And how much would a shortage impede his operations?

Probably not, but Japan doesn't have enough destroyers for its escort needs to begin with so it really can't afford to lose them like this even if it's just a handful. It's hard for me to guess at the operational-level significance because I'm not sure what their mission was. Fast transport maybe? If that's the case, then he probably does less fast transporting. The unsunk destroyers allocated to that task might be reassigned to escort duties.

[Molon Labe]

25 February 1943

• USS Grayback and Herring spotted the Kongo's task force approaching Truk, both were spotted by destroyers and driven off.
• We lost a B-24 trying to support the British army's retreat near Lashio, Burma; one of the Nicks responsible was shot down as well. The defending force included Tony fighters, I think this is their first time in combat
• B-17 raid on Rabaul caused moderate base damage and destroyed an Emily and a Zero on the ground.
• A Betty (flight of 7) was shot down by the Marines on Marcus. The Betties' raid was ineffective. Not that it mattered much, the enemy Marines advanced and overwhelmed ours, forcing a surrender. Not sure when I'll be back. At least we learned where the enemy is willing to let us go before the carriers respond.
• VF-6 was the victim of a small turkey shoot over Babar. Enemy Nicks managed to shoot down 8 of these supposedly elite fighter pilots. 3 Nicks were shot down, but I think 2 of them were by P-38s following up the B-26 raid the Wildcats were escorting. One B-26 was lost to flak.

[Molon Labe]

26 February 1943

• 9 Nicks intervened in our daily B-26 raid on Babar, 3 were shot down (1 by Wildcats, 2 by P-38s) but they got 2 Wildcats.
• Rabaul continues to take a pounding. Moderate base damage and a Betty destroyed on the ground

27 February 1943

• Frustrating day for the Silent Service
  • Two tanker convoys spotted (by Amerjack and Halibut) and engaged near Japan. Only got one hit, and it was a dud
  • The S-45 was caught in shallow water by a PB and depth charged for moderate damage. It's returning to base for repairs.
• The ships in the Bay of Bengal seem to be coalescing in one hex. Why are they doing that in range of my Catalinas?
• No B-26 raid on Babar this turn, just a sweep. Got 4 Nicks.

28 February 1943

• USS Steelhead and Snook tried to engage 2 more tanker convoys; Steelhead was spotted first, Snook fired 4 and missed.
• We've lost contact on all enemy ships in the Bay of Bengal.
• I've got a sub sniffing around Marcus plus PBY patrols trying to find the carrier task force that sank the LST; they've disappeared.

[Molon Labe]

March 1 1943
A P-38 sweep of Babar took out 5 Zeroes with no losses. Afterwards, SBDs and Beaufighters attacked another destroyer group there. 1 Wildcat was shot down by the defending fighters, and we got one of the defending Zeroes. One SBD was lost to flak. But we got some good hits:
SBDs:

DD Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Sawakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Beaufighters:
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 9, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Probably 2 kills, maybe 3.

The enemy task force in the Bay of Bengal has massed in front of Diego Garcia.

2 March 1943

• The Battleship Hyuga supported a small but adequate compliment of IJN marines ashore at Diego Garcia, capturing it. One cruiser and two transports were hit by shore batteries, good chance one of the transports goes down.
  • Prior to the capture, the enemy carriers launched a supporting airstrike. It's the KB: Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiyo, Akagi, and Hiryu
• P-38s had a turkey shoot at Babar while my B-26 raids remain paused. We got 4 Nicks, 7 Zeroes, and an Oscar--no losses.
• There were still destroyers at Babar, so the SBDs and Beaufighters went again. Despite the P-38s wearing down the defenders, their CAP was still good enough to shoot down a Wildcat and 2 SBDs. But we got 2 more destroyers:

SBDs:
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk (this was yesterday's "maybe" sunk)
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Beaufighters:
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk

So for both days we probably sank 4 destroyers.

With the KB now far out of the way, I intend to make a move on Java, possibly the Marianas too. But first, let's update the carrier situation:

---------------------------------------------------
Where are the Carriers?

Fleet Carriers - Kido Butai

Akagi: Torpedoed by S-29 on 23 June 1942. Damage did not appear serious at the time. Intel reported sunk 6/24/42, then reported still in service 9/20/42. Fighter squadron seen operating in Chengchow, China on 4 Sept 42, but appears absent on 20 Sept 42--airwing likely returned to ship after repairs completed. Likely received 7/1942 upgrade while under repair. Believed to be participating in invasion of Sri Lanka operation as of 2 March 1943.

Soryu: Sunk by CVW-2 14 Feb 1942

Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku: Operational, believed to be operating with Kido Butai. KB last seen near Canton Island 8 Sept 1942. Not believed to have received 7/1942 upgrades prior to 8 Sept 42.
--Multiple carrier fleet deployment to Solomons 1-8 November 1942; likely included Hiryu and Shokaku, retired towards Marshalls
--Unconfirmed carrier sighting approaching Solomons from Marshalls/Gilberts 12 November 1942.
--The KB may have split into two divisions (Hiryu, Shokaku ; Akagi, Zuikaku) to allow for upgrades, appears to be focused on Marshalls and Solomons.
--Shokaku hit by torpedo from USS Porpoise 21 December 1942.
--As of 2 March 1943, all 3 believed to be operating in Bay of Bengal for imminent invasion of Sri Lanka


Kaga: 31 October - 1 November 1942 supporting Rangoon landings. 19 September 1942, torpedoed by Albacore in Bay of Bengal operating with Junyo (and probably Hiyo). Continued flight operations after torpedo hit. Confirmed to have NOT yet received 7/1942 upgrade as of 19 September 1942, does not appear to have it as of 31 October 42 either. Prior damage from CVW-8 Devastator on 16 June 42 in Coral Sea, causing aviation gas explosion. Torpedoed twice by S-28 14 February 1943 at Ambon, believed to have survived but expected to require lengthy repairs.


Fleet Carriers - Indian Ocean Fleet
Junyo: Believed present for Rangoon landings 30 October - 1 November1942.Confirmed present in Bay of Bengal 20 Sept 1942. Previous deployment as part of the KB, 21 July 1942, supporting the evacuation of ground forces from Lahaina, Hawaii. As of March 2, 1943, NOT spotted supporting Sri Lanka operation and may be present in CENT/SouthPAC.

Hiyo: Confirmed present supporting Rangoon landings 30 October - 1 November 1942. Believed present in Bay of Bengal 20 Sept 1942 (fighter squadron reported present). Present for battle of Port Blair 20 August 1942. Hit by 2 torpedoes from Albacores on 31 July 1942. Intel reports sunk 8/25/42, report stricken upon sighting near Rangoon. Believed to be present in Sri Lanka operation as of 2 March 1943.

Light and Escort Carriers:

CVL Ryujo - hit by two heavyweight torpedoes on 1/17, definitely disabled, likely sunk. Intel reports sunk 1/31/42.
CVL Shoho - May have been present in Rangoon landings 30 October - 1 November 1942. Damaged by heavyweight torpedo hit 2/3/42. Damaged by CVW-8 Helldiver 16 June 42 in the Coral Sea. Sunk by 3 bomb hits from CVW-2 and -3 in Battle of Arafura Sea, 11 December 1942.
CVL Zuiho - likely sunk 2/14/42 (4 bomb hits, 1 air-dropped torpedo hit). Intel reports sunk same day.
CVE Hosho - sunk by 2 heavyweight torpedo hits 1/19/42
CVE Taiyo - sunk 2/14/42 (6 bomb hits)
CVE Unyo: Hit by torpedo from Albacore 20 August 1942 off Port Blair, damage did not appear severe. Intel originally reported sank same day, but was later reported to still be in service.


CS Chiyoda: Coastwatcher report 11/13/42 in port at Guadalcanal. May be operating with KB (or a division thereof).
CS Nisshin:
Rufe float fighters have been spotted with the Kido Butai as well as the CVBG operating in the Bay of Bengal, indicating these ships are operating with the fleet carriers.
CS Chitose: sunk in surface action in Celebes Sea as part of an amphibious task force (USS Marblehead leading formation), 10 December 1941
CS Mizuho: Torpedoed by USS Sargo south of Celebes 10/31/42 with major fires breaking out. Believed to have sunk on 11/3/42 due to intel reports of destroyed floatplanes.

Should be in service, but have yet to appear:
CVE Chuho: 11/22/42
CVL Ryuho: 11/24/42
CV Taiho: 1/27/43 (cost: 206)


Unfinished:
CV Unryu: 4/8/43 (cost: 122)
CV Amagi 4/10/43 (cost: 122)
CV Katsuragi: 5/14/43 (cost: 122)
CV Shinano: 5/31/43 (cost: 314)
CVE Kaiyo: 12/3/43
CVE Shinyo: 12/19/43
CVE Yamashira Maru: 2/4/45
CVE Shimane Maru: 2/8/45
CVL Ibuki: 4/26/45
CVE Chigusa Maru: 6/22/45
CV Ikoma: 6/20/45
CV Aso: 6/24/45
(cost-adjusted arrival dates represent previously-calculated acceleration)
------------------
My take on this is that he left a single carrier (probably the new Taiho--it arrives with Judies, and none of the KB carriers had Judies yet) to guard CENTPAC (which sank LST near Marcus) and a single carrier (the Kaga) to guard the sourthern resource area. The CVEs are probably supporting the Sri Lanka operation, as is the Hiyo just based on its deployment patterns so far.

[Molon Labe]

3 March 1943

• I bombarded Funafuti with the battleships North Carolina and New Mexico and the heavy cruiser San Francisco, causing nearly 300 enemy casualties and severely disrupting the base.
  • 7th USMC regiment came ashore in the chaos and captured the island, eliminating 2 enemy marine units and an aviation support unit.
• USS Barb torpedoed and sank a PB that was hunting it near Sabang, Sumatra (northwest end of the Strait of Malacca)
• I've resumed B-26 raids on Babar now that the enemy fighter presence has been reduced/deterred. P-38 sweeps are still flying, but no one is answering.
• Enemy scoutplanes spotted the British heavy task force, currently handing out west of the enemy that just took Diego Garcia and now appears to be moving on to Male. I don't want to sacrifice this fleet to the KB, but it may be useful if the KB tries to chase these guys west or north.

4 March 1943

• USS Saury spotted 3 minelayers outbound from the Tokyo area and torpedoed and sank 1 of them. My guess is these guys were headed to the Marshalls to try to cause some attrition as I invade.
• As the combat in Burma gets closer to the Chinese border, I've had opportunity to get P-40s involved from Chinese bases. Today, a sweep took down 4 Tojos, 3 Oscars, and a Tony while only suffering 1 loss.
• I expect them to take Addu tomorrow. As of now, we've lost sight of the KB though, which makes me a little nervous. The British fleet is beating feet towards Bombay.