SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - War in the Pacific AAR Thread

Molon Labe · 01-17-23, 06:39 PM

27 October 1943
Light carrier IJN Nisshin makes its first appearance--as a submarine target.

South China Sea
USS Cisco attacked a tanker convoy and missed.

China
We suffered a land attack at Tsiaotso--a confusing target, as this is a flank base for the frontline in the northeastern region, but it's in the mountains, making this a very hard nut to crack. He had significantly reinforced his army presence to make a major push here. Forts reduced from level 4 to 3, casualties 3015(J) to 580(A), and it looks like many of the units that participated in the attack are now going back to wherever they came from.

Burma
I lied yesterday. The cargo ship hit by Trespasser didn't sink. But Trespasser hit her again today and finished her off. The ship's cargo included military vehicles.
3 B-25Gs attacked another cargo ship in the same area, scoring 3 bomb hits as well as strafing it. I believe this was lethal damage. That ship was also carrying vehicles. Finally, a wave of 14 Beaufighters attacked and sank a PB that was escorting the Trespasser's target.

Celebes Sea
USS Albacore connected with 1 of 4 torpedoes fired at the CVL Nisshin along the Borneo coast near the entrance to the Sulu Sea. The damage was severe, although no secondary explosions were reported. Intel believes the ship was sunk. It's certainly disabled. Albacore was depth charged afterwards and is returning home for repairs.

DEI
P-38 sweep of Makasar shot down 1 Zero with no losses. B-24s following destroyed a Tony and 2 Tina transports while dealing moderate airbase damage.

B-25D1s and B-25Gs attacked an enemy task force, also at Makassar base. We lost 3 planes to flak. In exchange:
APD Susuki, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 3, on fire
---
2nd sortie:
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 4
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Murasame, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire

I'm comfortable calling that--10 500lb bombs hits--a kill on the cruiser.

CENTPAC and Truk
B-24/B-17 raids on Truk destroyed an Emily on the ground. At this point I'm mostly trying to catch combat aircraft rebasing and to make the airstrip cratered enough to cause losses when the rebasing happens. Airbase damage was moderate.

Reinforcements
CA Boston arrives at Eastern USA
DD Hudson arrives at Eastern USA
TK J.A. Moffett arrives at Portland
185th USAAF Base Force arrives at Dacca
123rd RAF Base Force arrives at Aden

--------------------

28 October 1943
Landings begin at Truk, face heavy resistance from coastal artillery

Japan
USS Sealion torpedoed and sank a kaibokan that was on an ASW patrol. You love to see it.

South China Sea
USS Cisco scored two hits on a Yusen-N class cargo ship (6400 tons), sending it to the bottom along with its cargo that included military vehicles.

Sulu Sea
USS Grunion attempted an attack on a tanker convoy near Palawan but was spotted and forced to break off.

Makassar Strait
USS Seal fired torpedoes at tanker convoy passing from the Celebes Sea to Makassar Strait, but missed. (I usually don't report failed attacks but these two were major missed opportunities)

DEI
Another P-38 sweep of Makassar base this turn. This time we shot down 3 Tojos with no losses. No bomber losses for the B-24s after that, but again little damage on the ground.

CENTPAC and Truk
The Truk operation isn't off to a great start. I didn't consider just how powerful their coastal defense batteries are. The battleships Indiana and Alabama opened our attack, both were shot up, the Alabama with moderate damage, Indiana light. An APA in the amphibious group hit a mine, then that task force faced the wrath of the coastal defense guns:
CA Canberra, Shell hits 16, on fire
CA Baltimore, Shell hits 7, on fire
CLAA Oakland, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Downes, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Anderson, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Barton, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Farenholt, Shell hits 3, on fire
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 1
CVE Casablanca
AKA Titania
AKA Libra, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Alchiba, Shell hits 5
AKA Almaack, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
---
and more reports like that throughout the day.
The destroyers Land and Anthony hit mines.

Another APA ran aground.

Overall, the damage to the 'phibs was actually bad enough that they stopped, detached several ships for retreats, then resumed the attack. Which was stupid because that just left the attack at partial strength; I ordered the damaged (but still troop-filled) ships to resume the attack. They can retreat once they're empty. I'd rather lose the transports on the beach than land too weak a force to take the base.

The good news in this is we really didn't take all that many casualties to our ground forces...they made it to the beach.

Another enemy shock attack at Tinian; casualties 1743(J) to 149(A). Burning the candle at both ends. Too aggressive in my opinion, but it's going to burn through my supplies fast. And after that happens, my troops will fold. I suppose the question is just whether he can afford to lose that many troops that it's worth it.

Reinforcements
AP Gen. G.O.Squier arrives at San Francisco
ARD AFDB-2 arrives at Seattle
No.79 Sqn RAF arrives at Aden

01-17-23, 06:39 PM	#717
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	27 October 1943 Light carrier IJN Nisshin makes its first appearance--as a submarine target. South China Sea USS Cisco attacked a tanker convoy and missed. China We suffered a land attack at Tsiaotso--a confusing target, as this is a flank base for the frontline in the northeastern region, but it's in the mountains, making this a very hard nut to crack. He had significantly reinforced his army presence to make a major push here. Forts reduced from level 4 to 3, casualties 3015(J) to 580(A), and it looks like many of the units that participated in the attack are now going back to wherever they came from. Burma I lied yesterday. The cargo ship hit by Trespasser didn't sink. But Trespasser hit her again today and finished her off. The ship's cargo included military vehicles. 3 B-25Gs attacked another cargo ship in the same area, scoring 3 bomb hits as well as strafing it. I believe this was lethal damage. That ship was also carrying vehicles. Finally, a wave of 14 Beaufighters attacked and sank a PB that was escorting the Trespasser's target. Celebes Sea USS Albacore connected with 1 of 4 torpedoes fired at the CVL Nisshin along the Borneo coast near the entrance to the Sulu Sea. The damage was severe, although no secondary explosions were reported. Intel believes the ship was sunk. It's certainly disabled. Albacore was depth charged afterwards and is returning home for repairs. DEI P-38 sweep of Makasar shot down 1 Zero with no losses. B-24s following destroyed a Tony and 2 Tina transports while dealing moderate airbase damage. B-25D1s and B-25Gs attacked an enemy task force, also at Makassar base. We lost 3 planes to flak. In exchange: APD Susuki, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk CL Kashima, Bomb hits 3, on fire --- 2nd sortie: DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 4 CL Kashima, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1 DD Murasame, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire I'm comfortable calling that--10 500lb bombs hits--a kill on the cruiser. CENTPAC and Truk B-24/B-17 raids on Truk destroyed an Emily on the ground. At this point I'm mostly trying to catch combat aircraft rebasing and to make the airstrip cratered enough to cause losses when the rebasing happens. Airbase damage was moderate. Reinforcements CA Boston arrives at Eastern USA DD Hudson arrives at Eastern USA TK J.A. Moffett arrives at Portland 185th USAAF Base Force arrives at Dacca 123rd RAF Base Force arrives at Aden -------------------- 28 October 1943 Landings begin at Truk, face heavy resistance from coastal artillery Japan USS Sealion torpedoed and sank a kaibokan that was on an ASW patrol. You love to see it. South China Sea USS Cisco scored two hits on a Yusen-N class cargo ship (6400 tons), sending it to the bottom along with its cargo that included military vehicles. Sulu Sea USS Grunion attempted an attack on a tanker convoy near Palawan but was spotted and forced to break off. Makassar Strait USS Seal fired torpedoes at tanker convoy passing from the Celebes Sea to Makassar Strait, but missed. (I usually don't report failed attacks but these two were major missed opportunities) DEI Another P-38 sweep of Makassar base this turn. This time we shot down 3 Tojos with no losses. No bomber losses for the B-24s after that, but again little damage on the ground. CENTPAC and Truk The Truk operation isn't off to a great start. I didn't consider just how powerful their coastal defense batteries are. The battleships Indiana and Alabama opened our attack, both were shot up, the Alabama with moderate damage, Indiana light. An APA in the amphibious group hit a mine, then that task force faced the wrath of the coastal defense guns: CA Canberra, Shell hits 16, on fire CA Baltimore, Shell hits 7, on fire CLAA Oakland, Shell hits 9, on fire DD Downes, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Anderson, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Barton, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Farenholt, Shell hits 3, on fire AKA Algorab, Shell hits 1 CVE Casablanca AKA Titania AKA Libra, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage AKA Alchiba, Shell hits 5 AKA Almaack, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage --- and more reports like that throughout the day. The destroyers Land and Anthony hit mines. Another APA ran aground. Overall, the damage to the 'phibs was actually bad enough that they stopped, detached several ships for retreats, then resumed the attack. Which was stupid because that just left the attack at partial strength; I ordered the damaged (but still troop-filled) ships to resume the attack. They can retreat once they're empty. I'd rather lose the transports on the beach than land too weak a force to take the base. The good news in this is we really didn't take all that many casualties to our ground forces...they made it to the beach. Another enemy shock attack at Tinian; casualties 1743(J) to 149(A). Burning the candle at both ends. Too aggressive in my opinion, but it's going to burn through my supplies fast. And after that happens, my troops will fold. I suppose the question is just whether he can afford to lose that many troops that it's worth it. Reinforcements AP Gen. G.O.Squier arrives at San Francisco ARD AFDB-2 arrives at Seattle No.79 Sqn RAF arrives at Aden __________________ Last edited by Molon Labe; 01-17-23 at 08:13 PM.