swerve Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 We've been wondering exactly what to do about the airfield on Matua, or Matsuwa as the Japanese call it. It's within range of B-24s, but escorting them adequately will be difficult. We think it would not be prudent to leave it untouched while landing on Onetokan.. It's conveniently located for attack from the sea, being on the eastern coast. Please see the enclosed aerial photographs. The US navy has shelled it, but not recently. http://www.gearthhacks.com/downloads/map.php?file=17927
GPMG Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 We have had discussings with various infantry experts about the Red Army having an automatic rifle firing a round equavalient to 7.92 Kurz. If this rifle is anything like the Sturmgewehr 44* this would creat problems for us in an conflict as they would out gun us in the 500 to 250m range. Inside 250m our SMGs would balance out the firepower,but beyond 250m we would be at a disadvantage. The Germans used this effectively against the Red Army and we would expect them to have learned from the experience. If we replace our M43 SMGs with M1 rifles we gain parity in the 500 to 300m range but lose it under 300m. Instead we sugest replacing the M43 SMGs in our rifle squads with M2 Carbines, these have an effective range of 300m.We expect the M2 Carbine and conversion kits for M1 Carbine to become avalable to us either late 1945 or early 1946. As long as this war runs we expect the USA to continue to meet any resonable weapon requirements we have, however post war they may not be so accomadating. We don't know what secret agreements they have made with the Soviets.* We are assuming that the Red Armies new rifle is simular to the StG 44. With the following cariteristics, 30 round mag, 500 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire, effective range 500m single shot, and 300m automatic.
shep854 Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 (edited) According to sources, the StG-44 is an inexpensive, easy-to-make weapon, being mostly stamped, which horrifies the traditional forged, machined craftsmen*. Given reports of its effectiveness though (especially in the cold, harsh environment of the 'Eastern Front'** ), would this weapon be a possible candidate for arming RusAm forces? Aside from bear patrols in the Far North, how useful is 600m effective range in reality? Also importantly, who would complain about patents. licenses and such? *"U.S. War Department publications state, "All things considered, the Sturmgewehr remains a bulky, unhandy weapon, comparatively heavy and without the balance and reliability of the U.S. M1 carbine. Its design appears to be dictated by production rather than by military considerations. Though far from a satisfactory weapon, it is apparent that Germany's unfavorable military situation makes necessary the mass production of this weapon, rather than of a machine carbine of a more satisfactory pattern."[15] The British were also critical saying that the receiver could be bent and the bolt locked up by the mere act of knocking a leaning rifle onto a hard floor.[16] Many of these criticisms are more a testimonial of the Allied aversion rather than an accurate view of the weapon's characteristics which were proven highly effective during combat in the war."-- A little-known but generally reliable source codenamed 'Wiki' **"It was also found to be exceptionally reliable in the extreme cold of the Russian winter. The StG 44's rate of fire varied between 550 and 600 rpm."-- 'Wiki'If something functions reliably in bitter cold and ice, then obviously it's of interest to us . Edited September 19, 2013 by shep854
BansheeOne Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 (edited) Junograd, 10 June 1945 Intelligence from Signals indicates that the Bolshevists have in fact not only developed an intermediate round similiar to the German 7.92 x 33 mm, but are planning to build a range of weapons including semi- and fully automatic rifles as well as a light machinegun on its basis. The idea is of course not quite new anymore and is discussed in various Allied nations, too; the M1 carbine was already a step in that direction, though not meant to be a line infantry weapon. I notice that there is a certain geographical divide in the debate: Folks with experience in the European Theater are all for the concept, having fought in much broken terrain and urban areas with limited distances for weapons fire, and in some cases been exposed to the German StG 44. Fledgling 8th Cossacks Regiment is currently fully equipped with that gun and apparently simply wants to keep it. On the other hand, our troops who have fought in the Aleutians are pointing to conditions there where you would often trade fire with the enemy on the next hilltop at distances of several hundred yards and opine that despite the need of fully automatic firepower in fighting over Japanese positions, a powerful round was still needed for effective combat at those ranges. Another lesson from the war so far is of course that ammunition commonality with your allies is important, and we will probably not get to make that decision on our own. But I understand that CRZ, after having stopped all development of automatic rifles earlier to concentrate on fulfilling the urgent need for machineguns and submachineguns, has recently restarted that field since the situation is more relaxed now, and they might have some ideas of their own. Or probably some gleamed from the alleged visit to liberated Czechoslovakia that Tuczek reported. Meanwhile, the final Allied command organization has been hammered down. I think it cost me a couple more grey hairs until all national and service sensibilities were placated. For example, our Army was adamant that the ground forces would be a four-star command, and in the end the post also included being deputy to Admiral Fletcher since the latter will also retain command of the naval forces; in effect we have something like two co-commanders for the ground and naval forces, which I hope will work out. With the Sangamon CVEs coming up, the Americans also wanted to lead the carrier task force which had been run by the Canadians since the time they had Nabob, in addition to the cruiser task force. After some back and forth, and since the transport fleet is growing so much, we combined the carriers and cruisers, split the transports into a fast and an amphibious force and gave the Canadians command of the latter. The air forces were similiarly complicated as the Commonwealth side wanted to sensibly concentrate all bombers with the Australian wing, but the Americans were reluctant to give up their bombardment group from the already rather small Eleventh Air Force. I foolishly suggested putting our fighter units under their command, but the Air Force unsurprisingly protested when their attack units were also posted to the Commonwealth's new Fourth Tactical Air Force and the ground anti-air units from planned 2nd Air Division under Army command since the USAAF doesn't use them, leaving them with no command of their own. In the end, we assigned 2nd and 4th Transport Wing to Eleventh Air Force which is also being reinforced by USAAF 10th Troop Carrier Group for additional airlift capacities, already planned in preparation for last year's abortive airborne operation against the Komandorskis. Air transport is thus concentrated under American command while future 2nd Air Division remains a cohesive formation including one of the Mosquito fighter-bomber wings, and all other bombers are under Fourth Tactical Air Force. You will see that our forces are already listed in their organization under the draft OOBs even though some parts will only return from Europe after operations in the Kuriles have commenced. You will also notice a further change in the Army divisions as we have now come around to divisional artillery brigades including the anti-air battalions, thus solving our designation problems with the II Corps units. As previously mentioned, II Corps is not included in the organization because we don't want to attract too much attention to its metamorphosis. Home defense formations like Territorial Army Command and future 1st Air Division are also not under Allied control. There are some national caveats from our friends, too; for example their ground units as well as the Canadian air squadrons are only to be used for defensive purposes due to domestic political sensibilities. However, I believe we have a powerful organization for KEYCHAIN, for which we are now fine-tuning plans. ALLIED FORCES NORTH PACIFIC AREA (Admiral Fletcher) Allied Ground Forces North Pacific Area **** (RA) - 1st Airborne Brigade- 1st Northern Yeger Regiment- 5th Krasivayaberga Heavy Engineer Regiment- 11th Stoyanka Heavy Artillery Regiment- Signals Regiment Army High Command- 1st - 4th Air Force Forward Air Control/Security Squadron I Russian American Army Corps *** - 1st + 3rd Army Aviation Squadron- 1st Commando Battalion- 7th Military Police Battalion- 1st Signals Battalion- 1st Quartermaster Regiment 1st Division **- 1st + 2nd Infantry Brigade- 3rd Mechanized Brigade- 5th Stoyanka Cavalry Lehrregiment- 1st Artillery Brigade- 1st Engineer Battalion- 1st Medical Battalion- 1st Quartermaster Battalion2nd Division **- 4th + 5th Infantry Brigade- 6th Mechanized Brigade- 2nd Kenai Cavalry Regiment- 2nd Artillery Brigade- 2nd Engineer Battalion- 2nd Medical Battalion- 2nd Quartermaster Battalion3rd Division **- 7th + 8th Infantry Brigade- 9th Mechanized Brigade- 6th Stoyanka Cavalry Regiment- 3rd Artillery Brigade- 3rd Engineer Battalion- 3rd Medical Battalion- 3rd Quartermaster Battalion 1st Marine Division **- 2nd - 4th Marine Regiment- 1st Marine Artillery Regiment- 1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Battalion- 1st Marine Armored Battalion- 1st Marine Engineer Battlion- 1st Marine Quartermaster Battalion US Army Russian America Defense Command **- 4th Infantry Regiment- 37th Infantry Regiment- 201st Infantry Regiment- 75th Coast Artillery Regiment- 205th Coast Artillery Regiment- 206th Coast Artillery Regiment- 1/151st Engineer Battalion 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade *- 1st Battalion The Brockville Rifles- 1st Battalion The Edmonton Fusiliers- 2nd Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment Allied Naval Forces North Pacific Area **** (US) Task Force 90 *** (US) USN Cruiser Division 3- USS Concord- USS Richmond- USS Trenton USN Cruiser Division 5- USS Detroit- USS Pensacola- USS Raleigh USN Carrier Division 22- USS Suwannee- USS Chenango- USS Santee- RAS Wrangel USN Destroyer Squadron 49- Destroyer Division 97- Destroyer Division 98 USN Destroyer Squadron 57- Destroyer Division 113- Destroyer Division 114 RuN 1st Submarine Squadron RuN 1st Naval Aviation Wing- 1st Naval Patrol Squadron (S-44)- 2nd Naval Patrol Squadron (S-44)- 3rd Naval Patrol Squadron (S-44) RuN 2nd Naval Aviation Wing- 5th Naval Fighter Training Squadron (FM-2)- 6th Naval Fighter Squadron (F6F-5)- 7th Naval Attack Squadron (TBM-3) RuN 4th Naval Helicopter Squadron Task Force 91 ** (RA) RuN 1st Destroyer Squadron- RAS Nakhimov- Destroyer Division 11- Destroyer Division 12 RuN 2nd Destroyer Squadron- RAS Novitsky- Destroyer Division 21- Destroyer Division 22 RuN 1st Sealift Squadron RuN 2nd Sealift SquadronRuN 3rd Sealift Squadron RuN 5th Fast Transport Squadron RuN 6th Fast Transport Squadron RuN 7th Fast Transport Squadron Task Force 92 ** (CAN) Canadian Pacific Squadron- HMCS Prince Robert- HMCS Haida- HMCS Huron- HMCS Prince Rupert- HMCS Swansea- HMCS Waskesiu RuN 3rd Destroyer Squadron- RAS Kolchak- Destroyer Division 31- Destroyer Division 32 RuN 1st Minesweeper Squadron RuN 2nd Minesweeper Squadron RuN 3rd Minesweeper Squadron RuN 4th Minesweeper Squadron RuN 4th Amphibious Squadron RuN 8th Amphibious Squadron RuN 9th Amphibious Squadron RuN 10th Amphibious Squadron RuN 11th Amphibious Squadron RuN 12th Amphibious Squadron Allied Air Forces North Pacific Area *** (CW)RuAF 2nd Air Division (Anti-Air) ** 9th Wing (P-51D)- 5th Fighter Squadron - 11th Fighter Squadron 14th Wing (P-51D)- 4th Fighter Squadron- 17th Fighter Squadron 17th Wing (Mosquito FB Mk 26)- 14th Attack Squadron- 15th Attack Squadron 18th Wing (Mosquito NF Mk 30)- 12th Night Fighter Squadron- 23rd Night Fighter Squadron 20st Wing- 9th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 10th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 14th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 15th Anti-Air Artillery Group 21st Wing- 17th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 18th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 19th Anti-Air Artillery Group- 20th Anti-Air Artillery Group Allied Fourth Tactical Air Force ** RuAF 10th Wing (Mosquito B Mk 35)- 10th Attack Squadron- 18th Attack Squadron RuAF 15th Wing (Mosquito B Mk 35, PR Mk 34)- 6th Attack Squadron- 9th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron RuAF 19th Wing (Mosquito FB Mk 26)- 25th Attack Squadron- 26th Attack Squadron RCAF Wing Umnak- No. 8 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron (Ventura GR Mk V)- No. 111 Fighter Squadron (Kittyhawk Mk IV) RCAF Wing Holodnayabuhta- No. 135 Fighter Squadron (Kittyhawk Mk IV)- No. 149 Torpedo Bomber Squadron (Ventura GR Mk V) RAAF No. 82 Wing- No. 21 Bomber Squadron (B-24J)- No. 23 Bomber Squadron (B-24J)- No. 24 Bomber Squadron (B-24J) USAAF 28th Bombardment Group- 77th Bombardment Squadron (B-25C)- 404th Bombardment Squadron (B-24J) Eleventh US Air Force ** USAAF 343rd Fighter Group (P-40N, P-38L)- 11th Fighter Squadron- 18th Fighter Squadron- 54th Fighter Squadron- 344th Fighter Squadron USAAF 10th Troop Carrier Group (C-47)- 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron- 54th Troop Carrier Squadron- 307th Troop Carrier Squadron- 308th Troop Carrier Squadron RuAF 2nd Wing (C-47)- 2nd Transport Squadron- 28th Transport Squadron RuAF 4th Wing (C-47)- 3rd Transport Squadron- 13th Transport Squadron Edited September 19, 2013 by BansheeOne
BansheeOne Posted September 21, 2013 Posted September 21, 2013 Junograd, 12 June 1945 For completeness' sake, here is the current Homeguard organization - near as we can tell it! The only unit which I'm really sure of is the Junograd Battalion, both because it's local and they cooperate with the Guards on local defense plans, and because my youngest brother who was exempted from the draft because all of his six older siblings are already serving was elected their battalion adjutant (yes, they elect most of their officers and NCOs which have had no prior regular service). Central Command (total strength ca. 12,800) - 1st + 2nd Matanuska-Susitna Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company (includes one cannon platoon with M1A1 Pack howitzer)- 3 x Homeguard Company - 3rd Matanuska-Susitna Homeguard Battalion (Naval)- HQ Company- 2 x Boat Company- Coastal Artillery Battery (BL 6" Mk XIX gun) - 1st - 6th Stoyanka Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company- 3 x Homeguard Company- Weapons Company (includes one tank platoon with TNHP) - 7th Stoyanka Homeguard Battalion (Naval)- HQ Company- 2 x Boat Company- Coastal Artillery Battery (BL 6" Mk XIX gun) - 8th Stoyanka Homeguard Battalion (Air)- HQ Company- Maintenance Company- 2 x Aircraft Company (one with Douglas Model 8, one with Avro 504/552 and Pitcairn PCA-2, plus private aircraft) - 9th Stoyanka Homeguard Battalion (Naval)- HQ Company- 3 x Boat Company Northern Command (total strength ca. 4,300) - 1st + 2nd Krasivayaberga Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company- 3 x Homeguard Company- Weapons Company (includes one tank platoon with Vickers Six-Ton) - 3rd Krasivayaberga Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company (includes one cannon platoon with M1A1 Pack Howitzer and one tank platoon with Vickers Six-Ton)- 3 x Homeguard Company - 4th Krasivayaberga Homeguard Battalion (Air)- HQ Company- Maintenance Company- 2 x Aircraft Company (one with Northrop Delta, one with Douglas Model 8, plus private aircraft) - 1st Nome Homeguard Company - 2nd Nome Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with Fokker Super Universal plus private aircraft) - North Yukon Homeguard Company - Yukon-Denali Homeguard Company Southern Command (total strength ca. 2,500) - 1st Kenai Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company- 3 x Homeguard Company- Weapons Company (includes one tank platoon with Vickers Six-Ton) - 2nd Kenai Homeguard Battalion (Naval)- HQ Company- 2 x Boat Company- Coastal Artillery Battery (BL 6" Mk XIX gun)- Aircraft Company (Douglas Model 8 plus private aircraft) - 1st Valdez-Cordova Homeguard Company - 2nd Valdez-Cordova Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with private aircraft) - Yakutat Homeguard Company Eastern Command (total strength ca. 2,800) - Junograd Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company (includes one aircraft platoon with private aircraft)- 3 x Homeguard Company- Weapons Company - Ketchikan Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company (includes one cannon platoon with M1A1 Pack Howitzer and one aircraft platoon with private aircraft)- 2 x Homeguard Company- Boat Company - 1st Novoarkhangelsk Homeguard Company - 2nd Novoarkhangelsk Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with Vickers Vedette) - Skaguay-Dtehshuh Homeguard Company - Wrangel Homeguard Company Western Command (total strength ca. 1,900) - Kodiak Homeguard Battalion- HQ Company (includes one cannon platoon with M1A1 Pack Howitzer and one aircraft platoon with Vickers Vedette)- Homeguard Company- Boat Company - Aleutian-Peninsula Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with Vickers Vedette) - 1st Kuskokwim Homeguard Company - 2nd Kuskokwim Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with private aircraft) - Nushagak-Naknek Homeguard Company (Naval; includes one aircraft platoon with private aircraft) - 1st Romanzof Homeguard Company - 2nd Romanzof Homeguard Company (Naval) - West Aleutian Homeguard Company (Naval) Total homeguard battalions: 15Total homeguard battalions (naval): 4Total homeguard battalions (air): 2 Total homeguard companies: 50Total boat companies: 18 (including six aircraft platoons)Total weapons companies: 10 (including nine tank platoons, plus one tank and five cannon platoons)Total aircraft companies: 5 (plus three battalion aircraft platoons and two maintenance companies)Total coastal artillery batteries: 3 Total strength: ca. 24,400
BansheeOne Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 (edited) Junograd, 14 June 1945 The final review of plans for the landings in the Northern Kuriles under KEYCHAIN is underway; this part of the campaign has been codenamed FENCEGATE. The following is based upon the best and latest intelligence we have on disposition of Japanese troops. We think we have quite a good grip on the Shumshu/Paramushiro situation while our knowledge on things further south is spotty; 42nd Division is pretty much a black hole to us, though this is not of immediate concern as they are rather far removed on Shimushiro. 27th Japanese Army (Gen. Terakura) Kita Chishima Fortress (Northern Kuriles) 91st Division (Lt. Gen. Tsutsumi, Paramushiro) Shumshu- 73rd Infantry Brigade (Maj. Gen. Zugino; six battalions)- 11th Tank Regiment (Col. Ikeda; estimated makeup 2:1 Type 97 medium and Type 95 light tanks)- I./54th Air Battalion (Miyoshino Airfield; Ki-43 and Ki-44, possibly Ki-84)- two artillery units of unknown composition Paramushiro- 74th Infantry Brigade (Maj. Gen. Zato; estimated six battalions)- II./54th Air Battalion (Kitanodai, Kashiwabara, Kakumabetsu and Suribachi Airfields; Ki-43 and Ki-44)- at least one tank company detached from 11th Tank Regiment Onekotan- Torushiri Base, likely manned by one battalion detached from infantry brigades Shiashkotan- Ootome Base, likely manned by one battalion detached from infantry brigades 42nd Division (Shimushiro)- Itarkioi Fortress, likely manned by one infantry brigade- Ketoebone Fortress, likely manned by one infantry brigade 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Maj. Gen. Niho, Urup; reinforced by at least one tank company and anti-air battery) 41st Independent Mixed Regiment (Col. Ueda, Matua; reinforced by at least one tank company) Kita Chishima Naval HQ (Paramushiro)- North Eastern Fleet (mostly subchasers, patrol boats and auxiliaries)- 203rd Air Group (A6M and J1N)- 553rd Air Group (B5N, B6N and either D3A or D4Y)- one additional air unit (H6K and G4M) Shumshu- Kataoka Base- Imaizaki Airfield- Miyoshino Airfield Paramushiro- Kashibawara Base- Musashi Airfield Urup- possibly one naval infantry battalion Matua- one squadron detached from 553rd Air Group with D3A or D4Y Small units may be detached throughout smaller islands of the archipelago. Minami Chishima Fortress (Southern Kuriles) 89th Division (Lt. Gen. Ogawa, Etorofu) Etorofu- 3rd Mixed Brigade- possibly one engineer regiment- 6th Independent Machinegun Battalion- 15th Independent Mortar Battalion- one air battalion (Tenneru Airfield; Ki-45, reportedly used in anti-submarine role)- at least one independent anti-tank and anti-air battery each Shikotan- 4th Mixed Brigade- 23rd Independent Machinegun Battalion- at least one independent mortar company Kunashiri- one battalion detached from 4th Mixed Brigade- one other unit, possibly naval Small units may be detached throughout smaller islands of the archipelago. While we're on enemy forces, as we feared the Bolshevists are reacting to our plans as North Pacific Area Command is seeking deconfliction with them. Basically they obviously were dead set against the operation and protested that this was their sphere of influence, but after they dragged their feet on engaging the Japanese for years while Allied airmen were shot down in the Kuriles, the new US administration is not so accommodating towards them and pointed out that they had a whole lot of Chinese border to make good on their Yalta promise to get in against the Japanese forces three months after the German surrender, and specific targets were never mentioned. The Bolshevists seem now to have started reorganizing their Far Eastern Front for offensive operations, but they can't be anywhere as far along with their preparations as us - their plans which were painstakenly puzzled together from Signals' intelligence by one of our best analysts apparently foresee a massive increase of forces with a target date of early August. Our chief worry is that they will leak information on NPAC's plans to the Japanese so they will give us a hot reception with mutual heavy losses, leaving easy pickings for the Bolshevists afterwards. We are therefore insisting that no operational details and particularly dates and times are passed to the Soviet side. Edited October 1, 2013 by BansheeOne
BansheeOne Posted September 22, 2013 Posted September 22, 2013 (edited) Now for the friendly forces. FENCEGATE calls for division landings on Onekotan and Shiashkotan, while battalion groups will secure the smaller islands of Kharimkotan, Makanrushi and Ekarma. Onekotan, being the largest, closest to Paramushiro and having more open terrain, will see the main effort by 3rd Division, reinforced by 6th Mechanized Brigade; 2nd Division, minus that brigade but reinforced by 3rd Marine Regimental Group, will land on Shiashkotan. Smaller Marine and Yeger groups will take the neighboring islets. The Americans are sending some very welcome additions to the naval forces, namely two transport divisions and dock landing ships USS Belle Grove, Casa Grande, Oak Hill and Rushmore. This is particularly helpful as our own amphibious squadrons have obviously not yet reached the strength planned for in the just-released Navy draft OOB. For naval gunfire support, we will also get Battleship Division 5, though without our old acquaintance USS New York which is currently underway to regun at Pearl Harbor; but Texas and Arkansas are steaming up from Leyte. Onekotan Force Task Group 90.1- USS Texas- USN Cruiser Division 5- USN Destroyer Division 113 Task Group 91.1- RuN 1st Destroyer Squadron- RuN 1st + 2nd Sealift Squadron- 3rd Division Command- 7th + 8th Infantry Brigade- 3rd Artillery Brigade [-]- 3rd Engineer Battalion- 3rd Medical Battalion Task Group 92.1- RuN 1st Minesweeper Squadron- RuN 3rd Destroyer Squadron- RuN 4th, 8th + 9th Amphibious Squadron- 6th + 9th Mechanized Brigade- 6th Stoyanka Cavalry Regiment- I./4th Krasivayaberga Artillery Battalion (SP)- 3rd Quartermaster Battalion Shiashkotan Force Task Group 90.2- USS Arkansas- USN Cruiser Division 3- USN Destroyer Division 114 Task Group 91.2- RuN 2nd Destroyer Squadron- RuN 3rd Sealift Squadron- two unnamed USN transport divisions- 2nd Division Command- 4th + 5th Infantry Brigade- 2nd Artillery Brigade- 2nd Engineer Battalion- 2nd Medical Battalion- 2nd Quartermaster Battalion Task Group 92.2- Canadian Pacific Squadron- RuN 2nd Minesweeper Squadron- RuN 10th + 11th Amphibious Squadron- USS Belle Grove, Casa Grande, Oak Hill and Rushmore- 2nd Kenai Cavalry Regiment- 3rd Marine Regimental Group Kharimkotan Force Task Group 91.3- RuN 5th Fast Transport Squadron- Minesweeper Division 31- I./1st Yeger Battalion Makanrushi Force Task Group 91.4- RuN 6th Fast Transport Squadron- Minesweeper Division 32- III./1st Yeger Battalion Ekarma Force Task Group 91.5- RuN 7th Fast Transport Squadron- Minesweeper Division 33- IV./1st Marine Battalion Group Covering Force Task Group 90.3- USN Carrier Division 22- USN Destroyer Squadron 49- RuN Auxiliary Squadron Edited September 22, 2013 by BansheeOne
BansheeOne Posted September 23, 2013 Posted September 23, 2013 Maps of FENCEGATE objectives. They were sourced from Japanese pre-war charts and are therefore metric; grid scale is about three verst. Onekotan Landing site is Blue Beach on the central eastern coast. One infantry brigade is planned to clear the northern and southern part each while the mechanized brigades will remain in the center with artillery and divisional troops, but be prepared to support the bi-directional advance, dismounted if necessary. Ultimate purpose is to construct an airfield in the flat area on the northern tip which can support land-based aircraft in subsequent operations against Paramushiro and Shumshu. If necessary, a road to enable seaborne supply from the landing sites is to be built. Shiashkotan and Ekarma Shiashkotan landing sites are Gold Beach on the northwestern coast and Red Beach on the western side of the "spine", each by an infantry brigade spearheaded by an amphibious Marine battalion group clearing the northern and southern part of the island respectively. Other 2nd Division troops will only be landed if necessary and otherwise stay afloat for possible redirection to Onekotan. Another Marine battalion group will land on the eastern side of Ekarma. Kharimkotan A Yeger battalion will land on the eastern side of the island and clear it. Makanrushi A Yeger battalion will land on the southern side of the island and clear it.
BansheeOne Posted September 24, 2013 Posted September 24, 2013 Current disposition of troops planned for KEYCHAIN. I Corps has been training amphibious landings, air-ground coordination and fighting in mountainous terrain on Beringa for months and is currently undergoing some minor organizational changes planned under the Army draft OOB, mostly the establishment of artillery brigades; the first battalions of the latter have completed transition to the M7 Priest and are now designated "Self-Propelled". The modifications enacted for the European Theater have also been fitted to the Hellcats of the cavalry regiments. Combat troops are long fully equipped with the M1 rifle and M43 machinegun. They will embark for the Kuriles three days prior to the landings. The bulk of 1st Marine Division is still in the Netherlands, however 3rd Marine Regimental Group has crossed the Atlantic and is currently transiting Canada. As they are to train with the American dock landing ships at Unalaska, I'm afraid there will not be much leave for them now after touching Russian American soil; maybe a 24-hour liberty can be managed. Their embarkation date is two days earlier than I Corps. The rest of the division will start leaving Europe next week and is expected home by early August. 1st Airborne Brigade on the other hand shipped out from Hamburg today and will arrive to Stoyanka on 14 July according to plans, but will subsequently undergo some reorganization as 3rd Commando Battalion is turned into a regular parachute battalion; they are expected to be available for deployment by September again. The Southwest Pacific Task Force is scheduled to arrive at Beringa on 28 June. Their Marine contingent will then be formed into IV./1st Marine Battalion; since the landings on the smaller islands are planned to occur several days after Onekotan and Shiashkotan, they will have some more time after I Corps sails. The same is of course true for III./1st Yeger Battalion which will join I. Battalion. The latter's arctic patrol duty will be taken over by II. Battalion which left Greenland on 3 June, in turn relieved by a battalion from the Iceland Regiment. The rest of Russian Brigade Allied Forces Atlantic will head home in early June. 9th and 10th Air Force Wing will also leave Europe shortly, most of their ground echelon as well as 1st Forward Observer/Security Squadron being already on the way by ship. As stated earlier, 24th Transport Squadron will stay behind in support of VARYAG. There is a provisional implementation of the Air Force draft OOB underway insofar as necessary for the integration into Allied Air Forces North Pacific. The Navy's amphibious squadrons will not have assumed their planned new organization by the time of FENCEGATE, but 10th and 11th are currently being stood up and will be ready with the available LCTs and LCGs, though without their own tenders; the LST squadrons will have three divisions of three rather than the planned four vessels, also without tenders. 5th Fighter Training Squadron is currently undergoing transfer from the Air Force and will be flying off Wrangel, though the new naval aviation wings will only be stood up once the new carrier arrives, still scheduled for late September. However, Voyevodski is nearing completion and expected to be ready for takeover in the last week of this month. Since we are committing pretty much all of our naval ressources to FENCEGATE, coverage elsewhere will be light; mostly our submarines which are operating away from the area for reasons of deconfliction, flying boats aided by Canadian patrol aircraft and Air Force Home Defense Command/1st Air Division, and vessels from 4th Minesweeper Squadron as it is reactivated, plus Homeguard air and naval units.
BansheeOne Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 Junograd, 19 June 1945 Not much to report currently; the pieces for FENCEGATE are slowly clicking into place. 3rd Marine Regimental Group sailed out of Vancouver today; one of the ships will put in a stop at Novoarkhangelsk on the 21st, the others at Kodiak on the 22nd for 48 hours of liberty each as the best compromise for the troops being able to see some family again. All will rejoin at Unalaska on the 26th for a week of training with the amphibious squadrons and the American LSDs before leaving for the Kuriles. Intelligence indicates that the Bolshevists have ordered 16th Soviet Army (General-leytenant Cheremisov) and 10th Air Army (General Zhigarev) to prepare for an invasion in the Kuriles and ultimately Hokkaido of their own. However, we assess that they are at a very early stage of planning, have currently no major forces in reach except for 101st Rifle Division and some independent regiments and battalions on Kamchatka, and lack substantial means of naval transportation since we vetoed the handover of American vessels and landing craft. Specific formations mentioned are a 87th Rifle Corps (General-mayor Borisov) which is to be formed within a "Coastal Group of Forces" with 342nd and 345th Rifle Division, an artillery regiment and various other corps troops; the Kamchatka Defense Area (General-mayor Gnechko) with 101st Rifle Division, one rifle and artillery regiment each and several battalions of either branch; the 128th Air Division (Podpolkovnik Yeremin) with one fighter, bomber and fighter-bomber regiment each; and Petropavlovsk Naval Base (Kapitan Ponomarev) with one submarine and two patrol craft divisions, various minesweepers and other auxiliaries, three coastal artillery battalions and an anti-aircraft command. Also, the next conference of the Big Three has now been scheduled for 17 July in Potsdam, just outside Berlin. We hope to have created some facts on the ground both in the Kuriles and Europe regarding VARYAG until then.
swerve Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 Damn! Last night's top-up of mines around Paramushir & Shumshu went wrong, & we mined potential invasion beaches. Luckily, we have precise plots of where the mines were dropped.
RETAC21 Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 "Precise" and "Air Force" don't go together... The Navy
BansheeOne Posted September 30, 2013 Posted September 30, 2013 Junograd, 24 June 1945 Voyevodski has completed fitting out at Tacoma and will be officially commissioned into the Navy tomorrow, but have a mixed Russian-American skeleton crew for the moment as her full complement will become only available over the next weeks. She will also take three months to shake herself down and is scheduled to be combat-ready by 30 September. However, USN Carrier Division 22 has arrived in theater, and we have bid goodbye to USS Nassau today after her lengthy stay. She is taking the American contingent of VF-66 from Wrangel with her, and 5th Naval Fighter Training Squadron will also be officially activated tomorrow. One of the Sangamons has indeed brought a Night Escort Carrier Air Group with radar-equipped Hellcats and Avengers, so the carrier aircraft available for FENCEGATE will be 36 x F6F-5, 12 x F6F-5N, 18 x FM-2, 24 x TBF-1C, 12 x TBF-1CD and 6 x R-5A. The replacement of the Skumbrii-class submarines is also taking shape. Three of the half-finished Tench boats mentioned earlier - Turbot, Ulua and Wahoo - will be commissioned in October, and we are negotiating about three more. The new tenders for the amphibious and minesweeper squadrons should enter service at about the same time, so that the planned Navy OOB should be implemented by January next year, in time for the planned second wave of landings in the Japanese Home Islands under Operation CORONET. It looks now like the initial landings under Operation OLYMPIC in November will be an almost exclusively American affair except for support by the British Pacific Fleet, a British long-range bomber force and the Australian First Tactical Air Force. CORONET, currently scheduled for 1 March 1946, looks more open; there is talk of a Commonwealth corps to participate, and the French seem to think of a similiar contribution. At this point we also hope to have II Corps fully stood up, equipped, trained and brought over from Europe, so we are entertaining the thought of forming an Allied army to take part in the landings.
BansheeOne Posted October 1, 2013 Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) Junograd, 29 June 1945 Date for the landings on Onekotan and Shiashkotan has now been confirmed as 8 July, with the smaller islands to follow two or three days later. I Corps will embark on 5 July; 3rd Marine Regimental Group is currently training with the American LSDs at Unalaska and will leave there in four days. The Americans are also sending an amphibious force command ship, AGC-12 USS Estes, which just finished refit at San Francisco and will embark staff from Allied Naval Forces North Pacific at Novoarkhangelsk the day after tomorrow. USS Texas and Arkansas will arrive in theater the same day. The former Southwest Pacific Task Force already arrived at Beringa yesterday on schedule and is waiting for III./1st Yeger Battalion which will sail from Nome on 1 July after being relieved by II. Battalion from Greenland, too. Their Marine contingent is currently forming into IV./1st Battalion with an already-established HQ company and a somewhat provisional weapons company almagamated from the previous mortar and amtrac companies. They will only have ten days to pull themselves together before leaving for the Kuriles, but save for some elements of the HQ company all subunits have of course worked together in the Task Force, and we are putting Marine officers from the latter's joint staff including the deputy CO in charge. The Navy side is ready to go, as is the Air Force with 9th and 10th Wing returned from Europe. Meanwhile, here is the latest report on the status of BATTLEAXE. As Osttruppen have been largely grassed off except those in Italy, we are seeing a proportionally larger influx of ex-Soviet troops directly from German POW camps, who are however far less willing to enter Russian American service overall; their vetting is also more complicated. Of the Osttruppen, we had to turn about every eighth man over to Allied authorities due to credible suspicions of war crimes, though some of them may be cleared eventually. Signals has siphoned off a rather large number of both groups out of intelligence and counter-intelligence interests concerning either German or Soviet affairs, and they are also using some to support the inofficial transit camps in North Africa. However, the smaller numbers of new recruits also mean we are slowly reducing the backlog in processing them for service. Formation of 4th Division (officially still referred to as 1st Guards) is almost finished, with 5th well under way in Southwest Germany; obviously they are still mostly on German equipment though, except for 1st Guards Brigade in Austria. 6th Division has only just begun standing up, and we are not really sure if there will be enough recruits in the end due to the losses in the vetting process; but then we have still not accessed the Osttruppen in Italy. 4th European Theater Support Brigade will be ready in two weeks though and then deploy there to handle them. - Total ex-Soviet military personnel registered: 195,000 (including 60,000 Osttruppen; rest POWs held in German camps). - Expressed wish to become Russian Americans: 103,000 (including 49,000 Osttruppen). - Turned over to Allied authorities due to war crime investigations: 6,000 (all Osttruppen). - Judged unfit for service due to wounds, health and nutrition issues and transferred to LONGBOAT: 40,000 (including 8,000 Osttruppen). - Eligible for service in Russian American Armed Forces: 57,000 (including 35,000 Osttruppen), of which - transferred to Signals: 3,000 - processed for service: 53,000 (including 34,000 Osttruppen), of which - repatriated to Russian America: 8,000 (including 7,000 Osttruppen) - serving in European Theater: 45,000 (including 27,000 Osttruppen). European Theater - 25,000 in 4th und 5th Division; 12,500 more planned for 6th Division. - 7,300 in 4th Stoyanka Infantry Regiment, 4th Marine Regiment and Iceland Regiment. - 6,800 in European Theater Support Brigades. - 400 as replacements in 1st Airborne Brigade. Russian America - 4,300 in Army. - 2,100 in Navy. - 1,600 in Air Force. Assessment of remaining Soviet POWs within possible reach: ca. 20,000. Assessment of remaining Osttruppen within possible reach: ca. 17,000 in Italy (not including 14th SS/1st Ukrainian Division). Under LONGBOAT, we have accessed about 1.2 million Soviet forced laborers at this point, of which about 500,000 are expected to be willing to become Russian Americans. We have expanded the French camps - or rather built additional ones at nearby locations due to area restrictions - after supply and particularly medical care seems to be largely secured, and the projected new total capacity of 100,000 is being rapidly approached. Plus there are the 27,000 Domanov Cossacks still encamped in Austria, their ultimate fate not yet decided. Of the rest, 50,000 have already been put into the North African pipeline, of which 15,000 are still in the informal transit camps on the southern side; the other 35,000 are on the Australian link, with the first 10,000 or so now arrived down under. With the Canadian link becoming operational, we intend to reduce the trans-Mediterranean throughput as the North African camps are becoming problematic to operate in the current inofficial way as they grow in size; the first 1,000 will ship across the Atlantic next week, and their number will simply be deducted from the other route. Edited October 1, 2013 by BansheeOne
Marek Tucan Posted October 1, 2013 Posted October 1, 2013 Prague, 30 june 1945After some time in Czechoslovakia there is not much to report yet, but there are some interesting projects our arms production may want to know about. Based on the German StG and pre-war Holek self-loaders, Holek is now continuing his developments. It seems that CZ staff considers the 7.92mm Kurz cartridge a good inspiration, but a bit anemic for longer range - their goal is to introduce a caliber that would be adequate enough at normal combat ranges for rifles and machineguns, while being smaller and lighter than full fledged rifle rounds. It seems that optimal caliber would be somewhere around 7.62-7.92 mm and cartridge somewhere in between 7.92x33 and 7.62x54R. While the designs are obviously at very early stage, it might be worth to keep an eye on them. Other than that, it seems that there are tensions between "Eastern" and "Western" elements here, though the Westerners have major political points by getting to Prague on time. Still, in the long run we fear that Bolshevists may get a strong political influence. In the borderlands there are sometimes pogroms against Germans. It seems a lot of people are trying to get rich or get "patriot points" by being anti-german. More will be decided by the Powers in Potsdam apparently, but so far it looks ugly. Cossacks are doing, in their sector, what they can to maintain order but they are hampered by the fact they are not occupation forces with all that comes with it, they can formally act just with the request of authorities. Authorities have varied attitudes - in some regions the anti-german violence is encouraged, elsewhere it is prevented and yet elsewhere the army and local authorities struggle against each other. There was some low level propaganda by bolshevist sympatizers against our troops, but so far nothing major - pictures of our lads in Prague and other places are pretty powerful tool to counter that. Tuczek out.
BansheeOne Posted October 2, 2013 Posted October 2, 2013 Junograd, 3 July 1945 CRZ has been working with Mr. Johnson on new designs of small arms. Two years ago, before they stopped development of automatic rifles, their idea was basically for a shortened and lightened M42 machinegun with a MG 34-ish straight-line stock. They made a prototype, and while still a bit unwieldy for a rifle, it might at least have been a good replacement for the Johnson LMG which is still loved for its compactness but criticized for its somewhat delicate action and the huge magazine sticking out the side. However, the project was shelved in favor of getting the M43 MG and SMG to the troops. Recently they came up with a more rifle-shaped design that looks to be a bit inspired by the German FG 42, though it still has a somewhat unusual top-feeding magazine (envisioned to hold ten rounds for rifle use, but more for a fully automatic variant); another version apparently uses a slightly modified form of Johnson's internal rotary magazine, better suited to mounting scopes if desired. It has a short-stroke gas piston system with a tilting bolt unlike Johnson's short-recoil rotating bolt though, derived from the M42/43 action and claimed to be very reliable. They also have plans for a fully automatic carbine using the existing .30 M1 carbine magazines more conventionally feeding from below, but with the same action, intended to replace both the current carbines and the M43 submachinegun. It has less priority though since the M1 carbine is both plentiful and well-liked, and we expect the fully automatic M2 variant to become equally available soon. The American battleships have arrived on schedule, and USS Estes is underway from Novoarkhangelsk with the embarked battle staff to meet 3rd Marine Regimental Group, the Canadian squadron and 2nd Minesweeper Squadron off Unalaska today. The main force will embark at Beringa the day after tomorrow as per plans; I./1st Yeger Battalion has also arrived there, making the force for the smaller islands complete.
shep854 Posted October 2, 2013 Posted October 2, 2013 Speaking of small arms, has anyone been able to have some comfortable conversations with the good people at FN Herstal? They have been known for original thinking, as well as continued influence from M. Browning.
BansheeOne Posted October 3, 2013 Posted October 3, 2013 Junograd, 6 July 1945 All forces for Onekotan and Shiashkotan are afloat now. The plans remain largely unchanged; there is a contingency for 9th Mechanized Brigade to land on the northwestern coast of Onekotan near the planned airfield site if the situation is favorable, designated Green Beach. The Americans will bring in engineers to support construction once the site is secured. Based upon experience in the Aleutians, we reckon it will take three to four weeks for the airfield to become fully operational depending upon how much the enemy manages to interfere, though it will be available as an emergency landing site earlier. 2nd Air Division and Fourth Tactical Air Force are tasked with supressing the Japanese bases on Shumshu and Paramushiro, while Eleventh Air Force will play strategic defense for the moment, particularly for the two bases on Beringa and their auxiliary airfields the Americans and we have built there over the last month; they may be called upon if the enemy sends up aircraft from farther south in the Kuriles though, and their transport squadrons will fly in critical supplies once the Onekotan airfield is up. 2nd Air Division units are planned to move there first. Defense of the fleet and direct air support of the landing forces will be handled by Carrier Division 22. USS Texas will provide fire support for the Onekotan landing with her her 14" guns, along with the eight-inchers of Pensacola and the two CLs from Cruiser Division 5. The other three Omahas will support the Shiashkotan landings with USS Arkansas' 12" guns. 1st Submarine Squadron and 1st Naval Patrol Squadron are tasked with the far screen of the force to prevent new surprises like off Beringa last year. We do not expect too much resistance as the IJN has been thoroughly withered down in the Southwest Pacific and we have no evidence of the Onekotan and Shiaskotan garrisons having been reinforced above their estimated battalion strength each, so superiority should be overwhelming. However, we remain cautious due to the Japanese record of unpredictability, not least because of our suspicion that the Bolshevist may have leaked any information about FENCEGATE they have gotten. We have restricted the flow as good as possible, and Signals has apparently been busy feeding them false data through known channels; but we have to presume that they have at least as good a picture of us as we have of them.
GPMG Posted October 3, 2013 Posted October 3, 2013 Speaking of small arms, has anyone been able to have some comfortable conversations with the good people at FN Herstal? They have been known for original thinking, as well as continued influence from M. Browning.We have a good relationship with FN that goes back to the pre-war purchase of P-35 pistols. We have purchased additinal P-35 pistols from FN since they have been liberated in part based on unfufilled pre-war contracts. In addition FN has a number of contracts with us to repair and refinish small arms in the ETO.As to FNs future production and R&D, that is an area that they would naturaly regard as commercialy sensative.
swerve Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 With regard to air support of the landings: RAAF B-24s have been tasked with suppressing the airfield at Matua, attacking at first light. The dive-bombers there present a threat to the fleet, & the airfield may be used for supporting attacks by aircraft from further south. We have obtained some M28 & M29 cluster bombs from the USA, & will drop these to hinder repairs. The long-term difficulty in using the airfield ourselves is thought worthwhile.
BansheeOne Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 Junograd, 7 July 1945 The force for the smaller islands has now sailed, too. The main force is approaching their targets. All preparations are finished. The bombers for Matua should launch shortly, followed by those for Shumshu and Paramushir. Planned time for the first wave of the landings is 0430 local, 0830 Russian American Time. At least that means a somewhat regular night. Once more, nothing left to do but wait.
swerve Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 Yes. Our first aircraft to return will be from the Shumshu & Paramushir raids, being closer to their bases & faster, for the most part, than those bombing Matua.
BansheeOne Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 Junograd, 8 July 1945 First reports from FENCEGATE. Typically foggy morning conditions hindered air and long-range naval gun fire support, though it also kept away any Japanese aircraft that may have launched after the preceding bombardment of Shumshu and Paramushiro bases, and served to conceal approaching landing craft. On Onekotan, the first wave still encountered accurate fire by light artillery pieces and anti-tank guns which sank at least two LCMs - one unfortunately carrying half a weapons company with its mortars - despite their small numbers. Landed troops suffered initial casualities from enemy machinegun positions, but were able to repulse several direct counterattacks despite a lack in supporting firepower. On Shiashkotan, the enemy seemed initially surprised, and the Marine landing teams encountered only disorganized defense. That soon hardened up though, and unfortunately 3rd Marines seem to have somewhat misapplied their recent experience from the European Theater as the attack bogged down with uncoordinated advances on enemy positions, repeatedly repulsed with several amtracs lost. On the other hand, so were Japanese counterattacks when the second wave landed at 0600. With the reinforcements, troops breached the enemy defenses and moved up into higher terrain. On Onekotan, additional tanks landed in the second wave quickly broke Japanese resistance, and by afternoon the weather improved, allowing air and naval gun fire support. Enemy aircraft also made an appearance at this point, reported as half a dozen Zeros and Kates each. Seven or eight were shot down by fleet defenses though one unfortunately managed to kamikaze into a vessel off Onekotan; there are conflicting reports whether it was a destroyer escort or minesweeper, or whether the latter struck a mine during operations. The total number of ships hit by air attacks is given as three, but two stayed afloat at any rate. No enemy vessels were encountered, though some were reported destroyed by our own air attacks in port at Kataoka. By nightfall, troops had secured the triangular lowland zone on Onekotan to a depth of five verst as well as the "spine" of Shiashkotan, though the Red Beach force there had been repulsed from an attempt to take the northern volcano summit. Artillery was being set up ashore to support operations tomorrow; it is hoped both islands will be entirely taken then, though combing out the usual diehard resisters will of course take longer. Total casualities are reported as at least 60 killed and 130 wounded or missing.
swerve Posted October 5, 2013 Posted October 5, 2013 Fighter opposition to our attacks on Paramushir & Shumshu was light, & easily dealt with. We had superior numbers in all engagements, & our pilots seem to be using the advantages their aircraft give them. AA was heavy, though. Damage reports are still being assessed, but it looks as if we did a lot. They appear to be weaker than last year. Our Australian friends profess themselves very pleased with the results of their raid on Matua. It seems the Japanese were preparing to take off as the bombers arrived, probably to attack our fleet. If the films match the accounts of the crews, we've hit it very hard. No fighter opposition encountered, light AA. No losses, light damage to a couple of aircraft. I wish I could say the same about our own over Paramushir, but we had a couple of losses to AA & if first reports are accurate, several more aircraft will be out of action tomorrow, & perhaps longer.
BansheeOne Posted October 6, 2013 Posted October 6, 2013 Junograd, 9 July 1945 Troops continued to move into the higher terrain today, supported by heavy shore-based artillery. While Shiashkotan is now basically entirely occupied, the ends of Onekotan have not yet been reached - though mostly due to the terrain rather than Japanese resistance which seems to have mostly spent itself yesterday. Unusually, there were several surrenders by individual soldiers, though not enough to speak of a general change in enemy moral; most keep fighting to the death. The main focus is currently on preventing Japanese reinforcements from Paramushiro; to this end, the naval bases in the north were bombed again today, including by long-range naval gunfire. Enemy air activity seems relegated to defensive operations now. However, apparently some nosy Soviet aircraft were encountered by our screen on the far side of the Kuriles. It is important to note that the Bolshevists are using mostly lend-lease planes in this area, so forces should be prepared to meet American types. We have a pretty good idea of their equipment, since most of it went over our own bloody territory. For example we do know that both the fighter and fighter-bomber regiment in the previously mentioned 128th Air Division are using the P-63, while the bomber regiment runs A-20s, though apparently not exclusively. The 2nd Mine-Torpedo Division of the Pacific Fleet Aviation Command is also reported to operate the A-20G and H as well as older DB-3s in the area, though the aircraft encountered today were reported as Il-4s with naval markings. Everybody kept his cool and no incident occurred, and we would like it to stay that way while operations in the Kuriles are ongoing. Engineers are standing by to start construction of the Onekotan airfield once the site is secured, which will improve our standing considerably upon completion. Meanwhile, the landings on the smaller islands of Ekarma, Makanrushi and Kharimkotan are set to go down tomorrow.
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