遊びをせんとや: ルーガンビルに艦載機の空襲

昭和17年8月4日、いつも通りのビルマや中国での空襲に加えて、ポートモレスビーからホーランディアへ25機のB-17E Fortressがやってきました。ゼロ戦(A6M3b Zero)一個飛行隊がCAPしていて、コンバットリポートでは合計32機が迎撃たと報告されていますが、アニメでB-17と空戦できたのはそれよりだいぶ少なかったようにみえました。ゼロ戦がAir loss 6機、Ops loss 4機に対して、B-17Eの方はAir loss 4機、Ops loss 2機と昨日のラバウル上空での戦いに比較するとだいぶ悪いスコアでした。損失機10機でも、自軍の飛行場上空での戦いだったので、パイロットの死傷がKIA 1名、WIA 2名と少なめだったのが慰めです。飛行場の被害はAirbase hits 4、Runway hits 10と多くはありませんが、九七大艇輸送機型、九七重爆輸送機型、百式司偵が各一機、地上で破壊されてしまいました。このB-17Eはきのうラバウルを攻撃した機体なのか、それとも別の部隊だったんでしょうか？新手を繰り出せるほどB-17Eの在庫が潤沢だと困るんですけどね。ラバウルと並んで、ニューギニア北岸ではこのホーランディアにしっかりした拠点飛行場を建設している途中です。その防備の程度を見定めに来たような印象の攻撃でした。

エスピリッツサント島に接近しつつあった連合軍TFですが、今日はルーガンビルから距離2ヘクスにまで接近し、101機のSBD-3 Dauntlessで飛行場を爆撃してきました。CAPの戦闘機はいないのでお好きにどうぞという感じでしたが、Airbase hits 3、Airbase supply hits 4、Runway hits 22とほどほどの被害でした。空母の艦載機は対艦攻撃に本領を発揮しますが、爆弾の大きさや搭載数の点で、飛行場や港の施設を破壊する能力は水平爆撃機に比較していま一歩なのは連合軍も同じですね。飛行場爆撃なので、Base ForceとFlakの部隊はdisruptionとfatigueがかなり上昇しましたが、陸戦をになう２つのSNLFには大きな被害はありませんでした。本格的に上陸するつもりなら、明日はGround Attackを指示して爆撃してくるのでしょう。

この連合軍艦隊は、5つのTFから構成されています。二式大艇の哨戒情報に加えて、たまたま今日のSIG INT REPORT FOR Aug 04, 42に”Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 121,151”とこの艦隊のことが報告されていました。”Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected”というのが何を意味しているのか、その一端が判明した感じです。それで、構成する艦船の艦種も詳細に報告されているのですが、上陸用の艦船がAMC一隻だけしかみえないのが不思議です。後続するTFが上陸用の船団なんでしょうか？

緒戦期に上陸ボーナスがある日本側と違って、APAやAKAといった上陸用の艦種を充分に入手できる時期以前の連合軍のAtollへの上陸作戦では、前日に上陸ヘクスの1-2ヘクス手前まで航行するのが定跡のようです。その心はというと。次のターンの夜の航海フェーズで目的地までの1-2ヘクスはすぐに移動でき、夜のフェーズの大部分と昼のフェーズを上陸行動に費やせる、そしてAtollへの上陸でターンの最後に余儀なくされるShock Attackに備えるというもの。エスピリッツサント島は大きな島でAtollではありませんから、連合軍TFのこの位置取りはなにか別の意味があるんでしょうかね？

ルンガの陸攻隊には攻撃距離12ヘクスでNaval Attackを指示してあります。12ヘクスは、護衛に当たるゼロ戦(A6M3b Zero)の航続距離であり、ルンガ・ルーガンビル間の距離でもあります。連合軍機動部隊はルンガから14ヘクスのところにいたので、今日は攻撃に飛びませんでした。

珊瑚海海戦で傷ついた艦船がようやく本土にたどり着きました。横須賀は赤城と加賀のアップグレードなどで混雑しているので、空いている神戸に回航しました。修理にはだいたい2-3ヶ月かかるようです。艦船修理総合ガイドというエントリーで修理に関するフォーラムの素敵なスレを哨戒したことがあります。あれはあれでとても勉強になるのですが、こういう損傷艦を前にしてみると、初めからShipyardに突っ込んだ方がいいのか、それともPiersideで修理できるものは修理して、Piersideで修理できないmajorなダメージだけShipyardにお願いした方がいいのか、どっちが早いのか、理解できていない自分に直面させられます。

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 04, 42

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Sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,72

Japanese Ships

xAK Meiu Maru

xAK Havana Maru

PB Toyokuni Maru

Allied Ships

SS Skipjack

SS Skipjack launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Meiu Maru

Skipjack diving deep ....

PB Toyokuni Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...

PB Toyokuni Maru attacking submerged sub ....

PB Toyokuni Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Hong Kong at 78,63

Japanese Ships

PB Kantori Maru

PB Konei Maru

Allied Ships

SS Grampus

SS Grampus launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kantori Maru

Grampus bottoming out ....

PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Swatow at 79,63

Japanese Ships

PB Takuna Maru #7

xAK Kyokko Maru

Allied Ships

SS Gato

SS Gato launches 2 torpedoes at PB Takuna Maru #7

PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Singkep at 49,87

Japanese Ships

PB Shonan Maru #6

Allied Ships

SS O20

SS O20 is sighted by escort

O20 bottoming out ....

PB Shonan Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Hong Kong at 77,62

Japanese Ships

TB Nadeshiko

Allied Ships

SS Saury

SS Saury is located by TB Nadeshiko

TB Nadeshiko fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Aogashima at 113,66

Japanese Ships

xAK Tensyo Maru

xAK Unyo Maru

PB Rokko Maru #2

Allied Ships

SS Sturgeon

SS Sturgeon launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tensyo Maru

Sturgeon diving deep ....

PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Truk at 111,109

Japanese Ships

PB Kyo Maru #6

Allied Ships

SS Seal

SS Seal launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kyo Maru #6

Seal diving deep ....

PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...

Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on Ledo , at 65,38

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft

Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Ki-49-IIa Helen x 91

Japanese aircraft losses

Ki-49-IIa Helen: 18 damaged

Airbase hits 3

Airbase supply hits 2

Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:

17 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

17 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

17 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Katherine , at 76,128

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft

Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18

Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 21

Japanese aircraft losses

Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2

Airbase supply hits 2

Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:

18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft

Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9

Ki-49-IIa Helen x 30

Japanese aircraft losses

Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:

6 casualties reported

Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2

Airbase supply hits 2

Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:

15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy , at 98,126 (Wau)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft

B-25C Mitchell x 13

Hudson III (LR) x 9

Allied aircraft losses

B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:

19 casualties reported

Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:

9 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft

no flights

Allied aircraft

Blenheim IV x 29

Hudson IIIa x 23

Wellington Ic x 15

Japanese aircraft losses

Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses

Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged

Wellington Ic: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:

10 casualties reported

Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 23

Airbase supply hits 12

Runway hits 50

Aircraft Attacking:

12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

9 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

12 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

11 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 6000 feet

Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft

B-25C Mitchell x 4

Allied aircraft losses

B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:

4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft

B-26 Marauder x 10

Allied aircraft losses

B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged

B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1

Airbase supply hits 2

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:

9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 7000 feet *

Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Hollandia , at 93,116

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft

A6M3b Zero x 32

Allied aircraft

B-17E Fortress x 25

Japanese aircraft losses

A6M3b Zero: 3 destroyed

MC-21 Sally: 1 destroyed on ground

H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses

B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged

Japanese ground losses:

6 casualties reported

Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4

Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:

3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:

Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M3b Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 28 scrambling)

1 plane(s) intercepting now.

Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 13000.

Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft

LB-30 Liberator x 4

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:

4 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 7000 feet

Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 92nd Chinese Corps, at 85,45 (Nanyang)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft

Ki-21-Ic Sally x 14

Ki-21-IIa Sally x 98

Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33

Japanese aircraft losses

Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:

762 casualties reported

Squads: 6 destroyed, 44 disabled

Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 36 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:

14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

16 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

14 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

6 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 91st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 76th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 30th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 41st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 92nd Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 91st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 76th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 30th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 92nd Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 30th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 92nd Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 91st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 76th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 41st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 92nd Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 91st Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 76th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 30th Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 92nd Chinese Corps ...

Also attacking 30th Chinese Corps ...

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Afternoon Air attack on 30th Chinese Corps, at 85,45 (Nanyang)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft

Ki-21-IIa Sally x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:

70 casualties reported

Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:

16 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet

Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.

Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft

Martlet II x 5

F4F-3A Wildcat x 12

F4F-3 Wildcat x 14

F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

SBD-3 Dauntless x 101

Allied aircraft losses

SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:

12 casualties reported

Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 3

Airbase supply hits 4

Runway hits 22

Aircraft Attacking:

7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'