3 March 1944
USS Devilfish on eternal patrol; two enemy carriers disabled off Bangkok at the Kido Butai's fighters get overwhelmed by multiple attacks
Japanese Home Waters
USS Devilfish engaged a troop convoy passing between Okinawa and Daito Shoto, hitting a cargo ship with a single torpedo. The ship was badly damaged but looks like it will survive. After the attack, the convoy escorts managed to detect Devilfish. After connecting solidly with three depth charge patterns, Devilfish surfaced and ended up in a gun battle, during which it scored the first hit on a kaibokan. But eventually the escorts got dialed in and finished off Devilfish.
Devilfish's only confirmed kill during its career was the enemy submarine I-26, a sub previously damaged by US destroyers.
DEI
New Mexico and Arizona shelled Kendari, causing 58 casualties.
Air strikes:
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces): 31 casualties
Strait of Malacca
HMS Clyde sustained moderate damage in a depth charge attack trying to transit back into the Indian Ocean.
Burma and Thailand
The enemy opened up today's air battles with a Sally raid on Prachuap Khiri Khan. We had 4 P-47s on CAP but they were overwhelmed by Zeroes that were also trying to secure that airspace. We took 46 casualties on the ground.
We hit Bangkok's troops with 16 Wellingtons next, which was unopposed but did no real damage. Next was a flight of 16 B-24s into Prachuap Khiri Khan with 4 P-47s escorting. 47 Zeroes were on patrol, and we lost 3 B-24s in the furball. 20 more B-24s then hit Bangkok's airbase, scoring 15 hits. Again, this was unopposed--the KB was only protecting Prachuap Khiri Khan at this point, where they were still landing troops.
And it was the KB that drew the next strikes. Coordination once again was an issue, with all 33 available Spitfire escorts from Tavoy escorting a single Vengeance squadron, and 2 other squadrons proceeding unescorted. Better than the other way around, I guess. Those 33 Spitfires took on 37 Zeroes and came out ahead, losing just 1 aircraft while shooting down 6 Zeroes. The bombers added a 7th. We suffered 6 bombers lost to the Zeroes with a 7th lost to flak. 10 bombers total made attacks split between Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiyo, and Shinyo. The only hit was a smaller 250-pounder hitting Shinyo.
For the second wave, 17 Vengeances were met by 16 Zeroes. 6 of the bombers lost their nerve and turned around. The other 11 were splashed.
The third wave was 15 Vengeances facing 9 Zeroes. This raid suffered only 1 loss to the Zeroes and another lost to flak. But again, several gave up when they saw the Zeroes without friendly fighters around. Only 6 made attacks, and all missed.
The KBs luck at this point had run out. The next attack would come from 7 B-25Hs flying down from Moulmien making a low level attack. There were still 6 Zeroes left on patrol but they weren't in position to intercept this raid in time. Zuikaku took one hit, enough to start a fire. Shinyo took two, also starting fires and causing serious damage. And Hiyo took four, ending up severely damaged and becoming an inferno. Hiyo is almost certainly down. Shinyo is probably clinging to life.
Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (airbase and port): 4 port hits, 18 airbase hits, 1 Judy destroyed on the ground.
China
Land combat:
I sent a detachment of my Shanghai-bound armies to deal with troops on the road to Shanghai. That battle was 46k vs 7k, and we caused 3287 casualties vs 1138 taken... not great. Some, but not all, of the enemy retreated back to Shanghai.
near Kiukiang; allied bombardment attack, casualties 41(J) to 101(A)
Reinforcements
CV Hornet II arrives at Balboa
PF Barcoo arrives at Sydney
31st Infantry Division arrives at Eastern USA
XI Corps Artillery arrives at San Francisco