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Old 08-04-22, 01:00 PM   #616
Molon Labe
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29 March 1943
Severe aircraft losses could spell enemy reinforcements arriving in Java


Java
The morning started with my surface group of 6 DD disobeying orders to meet by main surface group near Djokjakarta, instead proceeding towards the western strait, where they encountered an enemy force of 2 CA and 4 DD. We got off light, losing just 2 DD before they escaped.

In the eastern straits, an enemy minesweeper hit a mine and sank. You hate to see it.

The enemy started night bombing attacks against our airbase in Tjilatjap. I don't consider these raids a threat yet.

The day was a disaster for us, though. Despite having more than 50 fighters available for escort tasking, our Avengers and SBDs flew (mostly) without escort against shipping near Batavia and Surabaya. At the end of the day's air battles, we'd lost 12 Avengers, 16 SBDs, and 2 of the few Wildcats that actually did make the trip. We had no aerial victories. We managed to hit a troop transport with a torpedo in Batavia (this flight had Wildcats) and another in the central Java Sea (with troops aboard).

We have captured Bandoeng. Base forces are still a few days out, but this will hopefully become a key airbase for us. Our coastal bases are a bit cramped and are too small to support medium bombers.



Indian Ocean
B-24 raids finished off a damaged enemy destroyer at Addu.


China
Foochow is back in enemy hands. Casualties 5311 to 1430 favoring them.
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Old 08-09-22, 07:52 PM   #617
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30 March 1943
Major setback in Java Campaign: surface task force sent to interdict reinforcements hit by Betties


Celebes Sea
USS Herring hit a military cargo ship with 2 (detonating) torpedoes off Davao for a confirmed kill.


Luzon Strait
USS Snapper torpedoed an escorted tanker just south of Taiwain. The damage appeared lethal.


Java
I had intended for my heavy surface task force to interdict a task force unloading at Batavia, but they moved slower than I realized. Probably my fault. Sunrise came, they got spotted short of their goal, and really in the worst possible spot because they were as far away from our supporting bases as they'd ever be on their trip. The further away, the less planes we can maintain on CAP. The first raid was 42 Zeroes escorting 28 Betties vs 4 P-40s and 9 Wildcats. One Zero went down along with 2 Wildcats. It wouldn't get any better. By day's end, these were the hits:
Wave 1:

BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 1
Wave 2:
BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Wave 3:
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
Wave 4:
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Wave 5:
BB Revenge, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Wave 6:
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1

A replenishment group was also hit. Our peak CAP was 12 planes while their peak escort was 39 fighters. Our defense was much better here despite the similar numbers. Enemy losses: 12 Zeroes, 1 Oscar, 2 Kates; we lost 2 P-40s.


Wave 1:
AO Cimarron, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Platte, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Wave 2: AE Lassen, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
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Old 08-09-22, 09:45 PM   #618
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31 March 1943
Heavy air losses for Japan over Java, our armies advance



Java
My heavy task force, minus its battleships and 2 heavy cruisers, proceeded to Batavia at night. A Japanese covering force came out to challenge them, and unfortunately for me, my task force's morale was apparently broken and they weren't interested in fighting much, so despite outgunning the enemy task force (1 CA, 4 CL, 7 DD vs 1 CA, 1 CL, 5 DD), we retreated. One enemy destroyer was sunk, several other ships on both sides took hits, but nothing serious.

We depth charged an enemy sub lurking off our airbase at Tjilatjap for moderate damage.

The first enemy air raid targeted an amphibious task force that was retreating from the eastern landing site, Djokjakarta. We finally outnumbered them, putting up 28 Wildcats (they had a CVE) and 4 P-40s against 19 Zeroes at 18 Betties. For the price of 1 Wildcat, we got 3 Zeroes and 13 Betties. No hits on the ships.

Next was our main covering force centered around 3 CVEs. Several waves attacked this task force, which had a peak CAP of 50 Wildcats. With only 2 Wildcats down, we took out 6 Zeroes, 11 Betties (and a 12th to flak), and 9 Kates (plus 2 more to flak).

I'd moved some P-38s to Java and used them to sweep Batavia. 10 Zeroes down, no losses.

Later in the day, the enemy air raid focus shifted to my surface group near Batavia, retreating to Tjilatjap. We managed much more air cover over this group because it had gotten closer to our bases. The enemy lost 9 Zeroes and 24 Betties going after them. We lost a single Wildcat, and the heavy cruiser Portland took a torpedo hit.

Our Batavia-bound ground forces took Kalidjati, routing an infantry regiment and 2 marine units.

Timor
We lost 4 Navy Liberators over Koepang to a surprise CAP by Nicks.


China
We captured Kuikiang (central area, near Wuchang). Not a big deal, was lightly defended.


Palau Islands
USS Grunion torpedoed a troop carrying cargo ship near Babeldaob. Would definitely have sunk if not hit near the port. Probably still did sink, but had a chance.


Burma
Thinking so many planes had been moved down to Java that Rangoon probably wasn't well defended, I sent a major B-24 raid there (33 planes). Lost 19 of them, gunners shot down one defending Nick.
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Old 08-10-22, 03:18 PM   #619
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1 April 1943
3 CVEs hit by the air forces they were meant to stop; reinforcement of Java by sea probably no longer practical.


Indian Ocean
USS Jack torpedoed and sank a PB near Diego Garcia


Java
An enemy sub finished off the damaged HMS Revenge near Batavia.


Enemy air raids pounded our CVE-centered covering force. We inflicted heavy losses on those raids: 5 Zeroes, 9 Betties, and 23 Vals, while losing 3 Wildcats to the escorts. But bombers got through:
Raid 1:
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Raid 2:
CVE Sangamon, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Sangamon
Ammo storage explosion on CVE Chenango
Raid 3:
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk


We managed some damage of our own, hitting a pair of transports near Batavia with 8 SBDs:
xAP Teiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Takatiho Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage



Timor
I swept Koepang with P-38s to try to deal with the Nicks. Shot down 2 Nicks and a Tojo, no losses.


China
We defeated the 3rd and 63rd Divisions in the open battlefield near Chusien. Essentially these were reinforcements intended to Foochow that I interdicted. Casualties 3150 to 465 favoring us. We still don't have any chance of retaking Foochow, but we may be able to take Wenchow from them thanks to their armies moving to Foochow. Wenchow has factories and Foochow doesn't, so that will benefit us a great deal if it happens.
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Old 08-10-22, 03:45 PM   #620
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2 April 1943
Finishing off the CVEs as they try to shelter near airbases


Java
The CVE group came under attack again. The raids cost the enemy 7 Zeroes, 2 Oscars, 9 Kates and a Val. We lost a Wildcat and a P-40. But the CVEs were already disabled from flight ops, so the number of planes we had on CAP wasn't enough to stop the bombers:
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CVE Sangamon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
----
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
----
DD Warramunga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires


Our Western army group (1 Division, 2 Tank Battalions) encountered an enemy regiment and 2/3rd of a marine unit on the way to Batavia; probably previously engaged. We routed them 1475 casualties to nothing.
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Old 09-21-22, 02:05 PM   #621
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It's been quiet in here for six weeks now. I hope everything is OK with Molon Labe.
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Old 09-22-22, 07:49 AM   #622
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I wonder the same too. Is he alright ? I posted a call for him in our
Roll call for Subsim members MIA.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...&postcount=506

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Old 11-10-22, 07:42 AM   #623
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It's been a full three months now. I miss Molon Labe and his reports.
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Old 11-20-22, 08:36 PM   #624
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Sorry guys. I got really overwhelmed with life, and while I did manage to keep the campaign going, my AARs fell off.

We're in August 1943 now, let's see if I can get things caught up...


Java Campaign
I think you can kind of see the writing on the wall for how the Java Campaign was going to turn out. I never recovered from the loss of the dive bomber hordes that flew unescorted to their deaths. The loss of them allowed reinforcements to land, and allowed their cruisers to bombard my airbases. The bombardments ensured that I wouldn't be able to replace those losses, and also caused me to lose fighters in large numbers. Those fighters were needed in part to help me land additional forces and supplies--as you could see before I dropped out for a few months, the CVEs weren't enough, they were only ever intended as a supplement.


We reached Batavia on April 5, finding it already reinforced and beyond our reach. Our land forces headed for Surabaya had to try to establish inland air bases, delaying them from reaching before even more reinforcements had landed. At that point there was truly nothing that could be done. I couldn't reinforce, resupply, or evacuate them. The good news is that I was able to at least dig in and make him suffer a lot of casualties removing my troops from Java. We frequently managed to find small units we could crush before they consolidated. But without supplies and without taking the major cities producing supply, our forces surrendered-- 29 May 1943 at Bandoeng w 16,000 POWs taken, and 12 June 1943 at Madioen with about 20,000 POWs taken.

Approximate losses:
BB Nevada
BB Revenge

CVE Chenango
CVE Sangamon
CVE Suwannee
CVE Altamaha
CVE Nassau
CA Chester
CA Astoria
CA Portland
CA Australia
CL Leander
CL Phoenix
DD Porter
DD Cummings
DD Monssen
DD Gensevoort
DD Isaac Sweers
SS KXIII
SS KXVI
SS Sturgeon
SS Pickerel
AK/AKA: 5
AMC: 2
AO: 1
AE: 1

4+ Divisions of Infantry, plus aviation support and construction crews
5 fighter squadrons, at least 3 attack squadrons, probably 2 recon/patrol squadrons.


Banda Sea Campaign
While I was losing in Java, I tried to grab as many islands in the Eastern DEI, clinging to some hope I could open an air corridor to Java to fly supplies, but also to be able to put the Celebes Sea in Airstrike range. This campaign is still ongoing.


I invaded Ambon 14 May 1943 with 3 regiments of Marines....


EDIT 11/22/22: Oh wow I can't believe I forgot this one! ON 22 May 1943, the "Marianas Detachment" of the KB appeared near Saumlaki, apparently unaware of my air strength that far south. They suffered an initial strike from Darwin of USMC Corsair-escorted B-25s, which wore down the enemy CAP. The second wave was an air strike from VF-3 (17 F4U) and 34 SBDs (probably VB-6); there were only 15 Zeroes defending the second wave. There wasn't much of an air battle, just 1 Zero and 1 F4U shot down. The SBDs hit the Kongo 3 times, the Junyo 5 times, CVL Ryuho times, and the Taiho 3 times. Intel would later report CV Junyo and CVL Ryuho sunk. They got a strike of their own off before they were hit, taking out several of my troop-laden LSTs.

The enemy landed extraordinary number of troops in response on 23 May 1943, with the KB preventing interdiction. Troop levels increased from 20,000 to 56,000, assuring our Marines would not take the island without a similar escalation on our part. The remants of the Marianas Detachment were hit again, though, with an SBD raid scoring 3 hits on CV Taiho and causing an ammunition explosion.

By 5/25/43, the enemy was trying to evacuate troops off of Babar, and our mostly-Darwin based aircraft and submarines were having a field day picking off merchant ships. The damaged Taiho attempted to shelter there as well, only to get finished off by B-25s.

On 23 June, I captured Saumlaki and started building an airbase there. This would bring Ambon within range of fighters other than P-38s, such as F6F Hellcats and the P-47 Thunderbolt.

On 11 July 1943, the KB was returning to Ambon presumably to land even more troops. Again, the CAP was getting worn down by heavy bomber raids and P-38 sweeps on Ambon itself. This time, low level B-25D1s got through, scoring 4 hits on the Hiyo and another on the Zuikaku. The KB hasn't been back since.

On 19 July 1943, we recaptured Babar. Like Saumlaki, this would be another airbase targeting Ambon.

Unfortunately, these bases would not get online with enough time to evacuate Ambon. The Marines on Ambon surrendered 23 July 1943. But, as of now (10 August), those bases are online, and between them we have over 120 fighters and 72 dive bombers ready to contest any Japanese evacuation of Ambon. Plus the P-38s, B-25Gs, and Beaufighters based on Taberfane, and plus the B-24s from Darwin.

In addition to the 3 regiments on Ambon, this campaign has cost me probably over 100 dive bombers in failed attacks on the KB, including the crews, which has depleted my USN pilot reserves. I'm looking for opportunities to let USMC Air take some more missions since they have a separate pilot pool. It's also taken a severe toll on subs, as the approaches to Ambon were heavily patroled by ASW ships and aircraft.

Eternal Patrol: O23, Kingfish, O20, KXI, and Spearfish


Burma Campaign
The reinforcements for Java came from Burma and the fleets about the land in Sri Lanka, which themselves were taken from Burma. Taking advantage of that vacuum, British and Indian forces started streaming in from Lashio starting in early June, and we kept going until we were at the gates of Rangoon. Our current obstacle is that our retaken airbases in the Mandalay area are too far to reliably support fighter cover as far south as Rangoon. We had to retreat from the base that would have cut Rangoon off, Pegu, because the terrain is too open and enemy bombers were hitting our troops quite effectively. However, Vengeance dive bombers were able to get multiple hits on an enemy cruiser, and the British CVBG made an appearance, hitting a troop transport with Avengers and killing over 2,000 enemy soldiers on board.


Solomons and SouthPAC
We're retaken everything on New Britain of any significance, including Rabaul. We were even able to raid Truk with B-24s for a time until he got angry enough to move in a ton of fighters. We're bombing Guadalcanal daily. No rush to take it. I did get myself into a bit of a debacle trying to take Ponapae, an atoll near Truk. Resistance was especialy stiff due to a strong shore battery contingent. They drove away my phibs after landing, until I realized the supplies brought ashore wouldn't be sufficient to allow the Marines to overcome the defenses. So with the help of 3 fast battleships and air cover from USS Essex, the phibs went back into the maw and dropped off the supplies. It appears the enemy has reinforced a bit as well, so the outcome there is in doubt. I'm surprised the KB hasn't showed up to determine the outcome yet. Until then, B-24s from Rabaul are trying to keep the enemy too disorganized to evict me, while my guys get reorganized and ready to push.

The main value of this island is that it will allow me to get recon flights over the Marianas. Not that valuable, but I was not expecting so much resistance that the regiment I sent wouldn't be overkill.






And because I know you'll ask, my US carrier forces as this point are:
Essex
Lexington-II
Yorktown-II
Independence
Princeton
Belleau Wood
9 CVEs


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Old 11-21-22, 10:53 AM   #625
Molon Labe
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10 August 1943

Banda Sea

An enemy minesweeper is dealing with a sub-laid minefield at Kendari. Our original Mk10 mine stores are depleted, but we have a small number of submarines that are now upgraded to carry Mk12 mines, which we have a couple hundred of. The minefield here has claimed at least one enemy cargo ship.

Aside from a few enemy recon aircraft shot down, there was no air to air combat here--or anywhere else--today. B-24s from Darwin continued to pound Ambon's port and airfield to hamper any future evacuation attempt and to drain their supplies.

We have additional aviation support moving to Boela. Right now there's only enough there to support the 16 fighters protecting that base, the next aircraft to move there will be maritime patrol assets, followed by Beaufighters. This will hopefully allow interdiction of merchant traffic as for north as the Celebes Sea.

That's just a paratroop unit over on Timor. It won't be enough to take that base, and the enemy has reinforcements moving overland. I'm in the process of loading up some tanks from Babar to break that stalemate.


EDIT: I don't know how I forgot this... but the KXVIII had been hit by a Japanese patrol aircraft in the Celebes sea yesterday and was attempting to limp home to port. Today, they lost control of the flooding and the boat went down.



Burma

We're mopping up the last remaining enemy forces northwest of Rangoon by assaulting Tuang Gyi. Additional forces have arrived on our side, we'll probably overrun the enemy base tomorrow.

There is an enemy convoy at Moulmein--I don't know if they're evacuating or reinforcing. For now, I'm having the British CVBG back off because the enemy knows they're there and could have moved in a bunch of Betties by now. I have base forces approaching in phibs, the CVBG will cover them instead.


Japan
USS Guardfish torpedoed and sank a troop-carrying cargo ship near Iwo Jima.


SouthPAC
The 9th Marine Regiment is grateful for the supplies we landed and is recovering its strength. The enemy definitely landed some reinforcements though, and we won't have enough to beat them. So we're going to have to go back, either to pull the 9th our, or maybe to supplement them with some of the tanks that helped take Rabaul. For now, I'm going to let it breathe--the Essex CVBG needs maintenance (and their battleships need repairs from Ponape's shore batteries), and it'll take a little bit of time for our other carriers to arrive in theatre from Pearl. I'm expecting more enemy reinforcements to arrive at some point, although I'm sure he's stretched thin on available mobile ground forces. I have a few subs looking to interdict, but my best hope is that I have sufficient maritime patrol in the area to accurately assess the strength of any carrier escort such forces may have, so I can make an informed choice about whether to contest that reinforcement with my own carriers. He's been keeping a relatively small carrier task force operating near the Marianas--the ones that took out the Wasp--so if that's all he sends I may be able to deal with them with 2 CVs and 3 CVLs. Maybe.
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Old 11-21-22, 02:58 PM   #626
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Hey Molon Labe, it's good to see you back
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Old 11-22-22, 12:08 AM   #627
Molon Labe
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Thanks, Ostfriese!


11 August 1943
Enemy reinforcements landing on Ponape

South China Sea
USS Cisco hit a troop-carrying cargo ship with 2 Mk14--but only one detonated, and it appears the ship will survive.


SouthPAC
Enemy Betties hit Ponape in two waves but seemed mostly ineffective. Recon flights over Truk and Ponape revealed plenty of naval activity--no carriers or strong surface fleets--but at least 6 ships at Ponape itself which would appear to indicate reinforcement. Additionally, we counted a whopping 154 auxiliary aircraft at Truk, which in my mind would have to include large numbers of transports--for flying troops to Ponape. The Essex hasn't gone far, so I'm going to let her take a shot at those 6 ships tomorrow. I can stay out of torpedo-carrying range for the Betties and still do that. The question is whether there are strong carrier forces hiding where my scouts can't reach, so it's not risk-free. I'd estimate Yorktown-II and the CVLs will arrive in 2-3 days to take over, with Lex-II another 2 days behind them.


Reinforcements
CVE Casablanca arrives at Portland
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Old 11-22-22, 09:42 AM   #628
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Forgot to bid you welcome back-Oh manner have I missed your AAR updates. I even send out an MIA in our MIA-thread.

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Old 11-22-22, 04:11 PM   #629
Molon Labe
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Hi, mapuc!


12 August 1943

South China Sea
I think the ship we hit yesterday went down today.



SouthPAC
Essex wasn't able to launch a strike yet, but she also hasn't been detected. At least 2 enemy subs are searching her general area, though.

Betties are still bombing our Marines at Ponape but they aren't doing too much. Our B-24s are doing about the same. I'm sending more subs to the area to try to interdict reinforcements and search beyond my searchplane radii. The enemy garrison is now about 3 times stronger than our USMC regiment.


Burma
Our phibs and the escorting CVBG have been detected prior to landfall, but no strike occurred. Tomorrow they'll have land-based P-40s overhead to help out if a strike does happen.

30 Zeroes were waiting for our B-24s over Pegu. We shot down 5 Zeroes with no bomber losses and still managed to inflict about 300 enemy casualties on the ground.
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Old 11-22-22, 06:55 PM   #630
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Hey guys, you'll want to check the Banda Sea campaign part above as I left some important stuff out that updating this brought to my attention!


Overall CV/CVL strength:
Japan: 129 Fighters/130 Dive Bombers/87 Torpedo Bombers
USA: 144 Fighters/108 Dive Bombers/108 Torpedo Bombers






Where are the Carriers?

Fleet Carriers

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.Participated in Java Campaign Spring-Summer 1943.

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.

Shokaku: Operational, believed to be operating with Kido Butai. 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.
--Participated in Java Campaign Spring-Summer 1943.

Zuikaku: sustained light damage near Ambon 11 July 1943. Believed to be fully operational by now.

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. Present as part of the KB near Ambon 13 June 1943. Damaged in low-level attack by B-25D1s (4 500lb bomb hits) near Ambon 11 July 1943.

Soryu: Sunk by CVW-2 14 Feb 1942

Hiryu: Paired with Shokaku for much of its career. Sunk by USS Scamp off Male with 3 Mk14 hits, 10 March 1943, at the cost of Scamp.

Taiho: Likely entered service Spring 1943. Believed to be the primary adversary responsible for sinking USS Wasp. Severely damaged by dive bombers near Ambon 22 May and again 24 May 1943. Finished off by B-25s while attempting to shelter in port in Babar 25 May 1943.

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. Assigned to Marianas Detachment believed to be responsible for sinking of USS Wasp. Detached from KB after Taiho was damaged 24 May, sunk along with the Ryhuo by SBDs near Saumlaki 22 May 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.
CVL Ryuho: Likely entered service Spring 1943. Part of Marianas Detactment CVBG responsible for sinking USS Wasp. Assigned to Marianas Detachment believed to be responsible for sinking of USS Wasp. Detached from KB after Taiho was damaged 24 May, sunk along with the Junyo by SBDs near Saumlaki 22 May 1943.


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
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)


Unfinished:
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)
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Last edited by Molon Labe; 11-23-22 at 08:12 AM.
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