25,000 tons of supplies are unkloading at Pago Pago. On the return journey I may detach an AK to pick up the VP unit at Canton Island and take it to the DEI, where I am really missing air search capability...
SOPAC force has slowed to mission speed. The sighting last turn my have been a misreported sub.
De Zeven Provincien's damage is down to 48/0/0, so she is off to Singapore to complete repairs.
An AK was detached from Pago Pago to load VP-2 at Canton Island for onward transit to the DEI.
AD Black Hawk and DD Preble arrived at Balikpapan. Preble joined the patrol offshore while the AD disbanded. SOPAC force should arrive at Menado next turn. There is no more sign of the enemy.
The Chinese cruiser/USN DD force arrived back at Canton Island and disbanded to repair.
Pac Flt has slowed to cruise speed as they inch their way towards Kendari. No 56 and No 84 Sqn are unloading at Singapore.
The cadre of 31st US Infantry has loaded at Canton and will be taken to Balikpapan. It will not be that far from SWPAC HQ, which is making it's way to Darwin, so I am hopeful it will rebuild quickly.
Over 140,000 tons of supplies, 12,000 tons of fuel and 21st US NG Tank Co arrived at PH and began unloading. The Wake operation will commence sometime in the next 2 weeks. It will probably be an expensive bloodbath!
I have been thinking about future use of my Pac Flt BBs. If Martin does not attack again soon I may move the fleet up to Canton and actively seek him. I will use subs and cruisers to look for a detached force like the one found off Laoag recently. I will have to find the time to re-read this AAR to see which of his major units have been damagaed over the last two months, as this will be a major factor in deciding how aggressive I am.
In China, the Nanking force is on the way into the city...
12,000 tons of fuel arrived at Hong Kong. That was almost as exciting as it got, but just before I clicked end turn I noticed that Martin seems to be on the offensive in Manchuria again...
The AEF HQ arrived at PH and is unloading. The only unit Wake Force is waiting for is the 14th NG Tank Co, which is at least three days out still. Within 2 weeks I should be engaged with the defenders of Wake Island.
I have ordered SOPAC force to sail from Balikpapan to bombard Tarakan. I need to start making things happen as whatever Martin is up to is bound not to be too good for me. 1st US Cavalry Division is unlaoding at Soerabaya. De Zeven Provincien has disbanded at Singapore (see screenie - I did not realise another US DD was ready; I must remember to get her to Balikpapan or Canton next turn).
The Chinese mobile units from Kaifeng and Nanking are off to Tsingtao to try to find where the Japs went...
Attachments
WPOSingaporerepair.jpg (93.82 KiB) Viewed 367 times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 33,63
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso, Shell hits 3
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayate, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Urunami
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami
Allied Ships
BB Connecticut, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Oregon, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Brooklyn, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Rochester, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Chicago
DD Rathburne, Shell hits 2
DD Waters, Shell hits 2
DD Lamberton, Shell hits 1
DD Breese, Shell hits 1
DD Gamble, Shell hits 2
DD Ramsay
DD Tracy
DD Borie
DD Stewart
DD Pillsbury
DD John D. Ford
DD Reuben James, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hopkins
DD Sicard
DD Chase, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Farragut
DD Hulbert
DD Noa
DD William B. Preston
Well SOPAC Force definitely found the enemy. I cannot remember if I had pulled all my subs out of Tarakan - if I did, the folly has been proven... I REALLY miss my PBYs!
The Pac Flt battle line has replenished at Kendari and is off to Tarakan. The Pac Flt scouting force and the replenishment group have not yet arrived. I have 3 Dutch subs at Tarakan - how did they miss the fact that Jap squadron was there? editI REALLY hope that I can catch and annihalate this detached force before Martin realises where Pac Flt is - that would be the dream scenario...
The screenie shows the worst damaged SOPAC ships. The 4 top vessels are not yet back at Balikpapan. Of the other group, Rochester, Reuben James, Gamble, Breese and Waters are off to Soerabaya for temporary repair and assessment.
1st Cav is still unloading at Soerabaya. CL New Orleans has left Batavia to join what is left of SOPAC force at Balikpapan.
100,000 tons of supplies are unloading at PH. Once the AKs are empty I will start to load the Wake Force. VP-2 has been picked up from Canton and is on it's way to Balikpapan.
The Pac Flt Scouting Force has refuelled at Kenadri and is sailing to support the Battle Line. The lastt damaged ships from Tarakan have arrived back at Balikpapan. They have disbanded to deal with their flooding (I hope). See screenie for latese update.
103rd USAAS Base Force has loaded onto AKs at Canton and will head for Balikpapan.
DD Pruitt is repaired at Bombay and will cruise to Balikpapan, as will DD Alden from Singapore. DD Pope (sys 14) will sail from Singapore to Colombo to free up Singapore dockyard for major vessels.
I do so enjoy reading this AAR where aircraft do not rule the game. A very good antidote for all the AAR's on the main WITP forum. Much appreciated.
DavidR
