8 DECEMBRE 1943
DD Asashimo arrives at Nagoya
SS I-45 arrives at Takamatsu
La flotte de croiseurs légers est de retour devant Gasmata et une nouvelle fois arrose la base avec ses obus, infligeant si cela etait encore nécessaire de lourds dégâts...
Mais cette fois ci au lieu de s'éloigner après leur méfait, les navires américains restent sur zone et continue de tirer alors que des navires de plus faibles tonnages s approchent des cotes !
Les américains sont en train de débarquer à Gasmata !
Une nouvelle fois, nous avons été incapable de repérer la flotte d invasion ennemie avant qu elle n atteigne son objectif.
Sans artillerie côtière et manquant de moyen lourd, la faible garnison ne peut s opposer au débarquement....
Gasmata est une base moyenne, sans réelle importance mais ses pistes peuvent être utilisées et agrandies pour placer des chasseurs pouvant atteindre et rester en patrouille au dessus de Rabaul, sans trop fatiguer les pilotes et sans avoir besoin de réservoirs supplémentaires...
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Night Naval bombardment of Gasmata at 103,127
Allied Ships
CL Mobile
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CL Denver
CL Montpelier
CL Columbia
CL Cleveland
CL Honolulu
CL Nashville
CL Helena
CL Concord
CL Marblehead
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
CL Richmond
DD Stuart
DD Conyngham
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
DD Sterett
DD Lang
Airbase hits 28
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 57
Port hits 31
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 21
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Pre-Invasion action off Gasmata (103,127)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DE Wileman
DE Steele
DE LeHardy
DE Burden R. Hastings
DE Griswold
LCI-446
LCI-443
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Pre-Invasion action off Gasmata (103,127)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Burns
DD Boyd
DD Beale
LCI-444
LCI-329
DD Burns firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Boyd firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Beale firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Beale fired at enemy troops
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Pre-Invasion action off Gasmata (103,127)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD DeHaven
DD Conway
DD Claxton
LCI-336
LCI-328
DD DeHaven firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Conway firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Claxton firing at 1st Indpt SNLF Coy
DD Claxton fired at enemy troops
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Amphibious Assault at Gasmata (103,127)
TF 253 troops unloading over beach at Gasmata, 103,127
Allied ground losses:
630 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 52 (0 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Une petite flotte de 3 cargos côtiers, escorté par un patrol boat, a réussi a se glisser hors du port de Rabaul sans avoir été repéré la veille, mais leur chance fini par tourner, lorsque arrivés près de kavieng, ils sont repérés, attaqués et coulés par les Helldiver de l US Navy....
Chaque SB2C-1C Helldiver etant armé avec une bombe de 500kgs et 2 bombes de 125kgs
Bien plus qu il n enfaut pour couler nos petits cargos cotiers...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 106,122
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 47
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 36
Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAKL Kaijo Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Tateyama Maru, Bomb hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Nanka Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
PB Kensyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Kaijo Maru #2
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Tateyama Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Nanka Maru
Massive explosion on PB Kensyo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kensyo Maru
Un peu plus au Sud, dès le soleil levé, les américains reprennent leur bombardement intensif de la base aérienne de Rabaul...
Sans doute non nécessaire car la base est déjà complètement détruite et inopérable...
Il aurait été peut être plus juste d utiliser ces nombreuses ressources pour un autre objectif, mais bon, on ne va pas s en plaindre..
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
B-26 Marauder x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 19
B-25D1 Mitchell x 56
B-25G Mitchell x 21
B-26 Marauder x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Havoc: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25G Mitchell: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 36
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 12
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Havoc: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 11
Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Havoc: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 4
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 124
B-24J Liberator x 46
B-25D1 Mitchell x 29
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 17 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 7 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 105
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 13
B-25D1 Mitchell x 17
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 5 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
Runway hits 4
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 11
Allied aircraft losses
B-25G Mitchell: 2 damaged
Runway hits 5
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Runway hits 5
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Runway hits 8
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 4
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 2
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 5
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 7
No Allied losses
Runway hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 5
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Runway hits 4
Il faudra encore 2 jours pour que le vieux cuirassé Nagato puissent atteindre les lagons de Truk...
Les dégâts flottaison se sont légèrement accrus, passant de 66 à 67, mais plus inquiétant ce sont désormais les machines qui nous donne du souci
Devant propulser le navire avec les tonnes d eau à son bord, les machines commence à faiblir, et le Nagato ne file plus que 7 nœuds....
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard BB Nagato
Nous avons enfin trouver comment utiliser nos vieux croiseur léger de la classe Katori : Ces bâtiments ne filent qu a 18 nœuds, trop faible pour pouvoir les incorporer dans une flotte de combat
Nous avons donc décider de créer une petit flotte de 'corsaire' destinée à naviguer derrière les lignes ennemies à la recherche de convois à intercepter, surtout que les croiseurs léger Katori emporte chacun un hydravion permettant de repérer au loin tout navire ennemi...
Le Katori et le Kashima naviguent ainsi de concert avec le 'corsaire' Asaka maru, un cargo armé de canons de 140mm au Sud Est de Canton island...
Croiseur léger , classe Katori
Enfin, en Chine, nous avons presque achevé l encerclement des forces ennemies, à l Est de Chihkiang...
Il ne reste que le passage Sud Est à fermer, mais a cause du terrain difficile, notre unité n avance qu a 2 miles par jour...
Nous espérons pouvoir franchir la rivière à la toute fin du mois et ainsi piéger définitivement les 200,000 chinois...
