East Wind Gives Me the Chills - Chuck vs. Pat - Allied Side

[ctangus]

1/14 - 1/16/42

Pat's still busy with work, so the turns have been slow.

CENT PAC

One Jap sub was hit by ASW TFs on both the 15th & 16th, but neither are reported sunk.

Johnston now has a full infantry brigade defending it and 2x5500 ton transports unloading supplies. It should be safe for the moment.

SOUTH PAC/SW PAC

While still small in scale, this area is starting to get interesting.

On the 15th, Japanese carrier based air attacked shipping I had at the Shortlands (where I also have a seaplane base). Fortunately, it was from just out of torpedo range:

Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 64,96
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 8 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Bomb hits 1 Minor damage - Sys 8
DD John D. Edwards

Present were the Boise TF, an ANZAC crusier TF & a replenishment TF. All are scattering & should be safe, with the possible exception of the replenishment TF.

Of interest is that the 11 attacking Kates were unescorted. That leads me to believe that there's only a single CVE (or possibly a CVL) in the area. Sara & Lex are heading in this direction but are still probably 10+ days away unless I sprint them.

Also on the 15th, Lae based Zeros attacked the AF at Port Moresby. For the 16th I ordered some Wirraways to fly CAP. They would have been slaughtered if the Zeros were on another mission:

Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7

I've ordered a strike against the Lae AF tomorrow to hopefully destroy some damaged Zeros on the ground.

I'm starting to think I can cause a major Japanese headache in this theater, and so I started prepping 2 Aussie units for PM & Gili-Gili. It will take a while to amass the PPs to free them, however.

PHIL

Japanese continue to unload at Tugawhatever. I expect an attack soon.

A transport unloading supplies at Manila was hit by Nells on the 16th. Prior to that it had delivered 2000-2500 supply.

DEI

On the 15th, Morotai was captured. This leads me to believe attacks towards the Banda Sea are coming so I'm repositioning surface assets in this direction.

MALAYA

Continued Jap airstrikes against Singapore have forced me to abandon it again.

CBI

China's quiet, but I hope to make it more exciting now that most of my units are off the trails. In Burma a handful of Japanese units are advancing & I'm conducting nuisance airraids against them. India - mostly building forts.

[aztez]

Just be careful with CL Boise and co. It seems that the Japanese side have quite a few capable airfields build around that region.
 
That Boise is a great surface vs surface ship.

[ctangus]

1/17/42 - 1/19/42

Hi Aztez,

Yes, I'll definitely be careful with Boise. Though I think most of those Japanese bases are empty - he only has air based at Lae & Kavieng. He's been using small units to grab my empty bases & then picking 'em up & going onto the next.

Pat's continued to be busy at work, but the pace should be picking up again soon.

CENT PAC

West of SF, on the 18th, I-19 put a torp into AP Mount McKinley which was part of a convoy carrying a RCT to Palmyra. She's headed back to the west coast but might not make it (Flt over 50). I had known a sub was in that hex from Sigint, too, and had an ASW TF parked over it for a couple days but they hadn't attacked. On the 19th they did attack both during the night & day, with no result.

My positions in Hawaii and Johnston continue to build up nicely.

SOUTH PAC

BBs Fuso & Yamashiro bombard Baker on both the 18th & 19th & KB shows up near here, too, bombing Canton Island on the 19th. I can't do anything to contest him taking those two bases right now, but I'd much rather lose those than Johnston. Still no troopships spotted, though.

I still plan on New Caledonia being my stronghold in So Pac & troops are starting to arrive. Slower than I'd like - I'm definitely feeling the pinch of the Nik-mod reduced transport capacity.

SW PAC/SOLOMONS

A Japanese NLF landed on Shortlands on the 18th, I abandoned my advanced floatplane base there & the island fell on the 19th.

Also, there's more enemy naval strength in the area than I originally thought - BB Nagato was spotted in the area and a 6 ship TF (a lot of "CA"s). I still have Sara & Lex heading in this direction (maybe a week away). I might have an opportunity for a good ambush but want some more intel. I know there's one Jap CVL/CVE in the area but there might be more. I'm also not sure yet if the full KB's near Baker/Canton, or just part of it.

Sigint reports the 4th Japanese Div prepping for PM. I started prepping an Aussie Cav Div to reinforce there, but if he makes Moresby a priority he'll certainly beat me in the race to there. I'm spending PPs only in the DEI right now since I'm late in rearranging those defences.

There was also some air action over Lae. I tried to catch some damaged zeros on the ground but wound up getting spanked:

01/18/42
Day Air attack on Lae , at 56,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 28
Hudson I x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5
=============================================
01/19/42
Day Air attack on Lae , at 56,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 28
Hudson I x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
Hudson I: 5 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Runway hits 4

PHIL

The end might be near at Tugabugawuga:

01/17/42
Ground combat at Tuguegarao
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30849 troops, 347 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 738
Defending force 7890 troops, 99 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 220
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese max assault: 678 - adjusted assault: 416
Allied max defense: 221 - adjusted defense: 575
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
248 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

I'm sending one Philipino Div from San Marcelino to reinforce here, though I suspect it will arrive too late.

For good news, I staged Beauforts & SB2s into Clark for a hit & run raid. I was hoping to catch transports unloading at Tugabuga. I was a day late for that, but did put a torp into CA Ashigara. Hopefully she'll be out of action for a while.

CHINA

Quiet, though I'm close to launching some minor offensive moves.

DEI/BURMA

Nuisance airraids are causing some minor damage to the advancing Japanese & slowly building up the experience of my airgroups.

As I mentioned before, I'm late in rearranging my defences in the DEI, though my opponent's been slow in advancing since the initial onslaught. It's my current priority, though. I'm sending at least one extra BF & one battalion to all the major oil/resource centers, so they can start prepping demolition charges. Palembang's getting a whole bunch. Most of the Java troops are in Soerabaja currently to reduce the effects of malaria & build up the port. (1 day away from size 9). They'll continue to build forts there until the Jap DEI offensive resumes.

[VSWG]

Spirited defense of Luzon! [:)] What enemy troops are you facing here, and how many supplies do you have?

I'm in a bit of a quandary here. I'd love to send naval assets towards SO/SWPAC where the Japs are proceeding with very little in air or naval protection. And I still think the threat to Hawaii is a bluff. But if I'm wrong, it could be disastrous. My first instinct is to call the bluff.

Also, do I even try to protect the line islands? Just bunker in Hawaii and prepare a late-42, early-43 northern route offensive? That's boring. Send anything to So Pac? I'd like to come to some sort of decision before the first wave of reinforcements arrives in 10 days. Hopefully by then I'll know if he's going for Johnston or not.

I'm at at this point in my own PBEM now, and I'm equally torn about the lines islands. The problem is that the Allied player has to make decisions about reinforcements while Japan hasn't put the cards on the table. I'll be following your strategy closely here, although I'm playing CHS and the Panama route allows for different approaches.

Can you post the total ship losses for both sides so far?

[ctangus]

Cool - another reader! [:)] Thanks for the kind words.

ORIGINAL: VSWG

Spirited defense of Luzon! [:)] What enemy troops are you facing here, and how many supplies do you have?

From memory, 1 div + naval infantry at both Naga & Tuga... Two divs, tanks, engineers, etc., etc. at San Marcelino.

The supply situation is decent, but could be better. There's about 30K supply on Luzon altogether, though almost 14K is at San Marcelino and I may lose a lot of that when I'm forced to withdraw. Only 5K at Manila despite the USAFFE HQ being there. A few days ago game time I stopped all bombardment attacks I had been conducting hoping to lower the supply requirements at the outlying bases & draw more supplies to Manila. It hasn't helped yet.

While resting at the moment, PBYs have been flying supply in from Balikpapan. I'm considering flying supply into Manila from China as well. Also the sea route between Luzon & Samar and then heading east is safe - I've evac'd many ships through that route and snuck one supply ship in. Two or three more ships are on their way, though the closest is probably two weeks out. The resources at Clark are continuing to produce for me.

I'm at at this point in my own PBEM now, and I'm equally torn about the lines islands. The problem is that the Allied player has to make decisions about reinforcements while Japan hasn't put the cards on the table. I'll be following your strategy closely here, although I'm playing CHS and the Panama route allows for different approaches.

Follow my strategy at your own risk! [:'(] Wisely or not, this is what I've decided on: Palmyra gets 1 RCT, 1 Marine Def Bn, 1 AA unit. Christmas gets 1 Marine Def Bn for now.

My thinking is this: I don't want my opponent to get either island on the cheap, but if he takes Christmas without Palmyra, it's not much of a threat to me. I can keep it out of supply with subs & heavies.

Losing Palmyra would be a b1tch, but I don't want to overcommit either. If he really wants it in the next 6 months, he'll get it and I don't want to lose a div+. At the same time, the only large infantry unit he has nearby is the South Seas detachment and my planned defense should hold up to that.

Can you post the total ship losses for both sides so far?

Screenie is of combatant losses. Total losses are 47 allied ships for 314 points, 90 Jap ships for 671 points.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

The supply situation is decent, but could be better. There's about 30K supply on Luzon altogether, though almost 14K is at San Marcelino and I may lose a lot of that when I'm forced to withdraw. Only 5K at Manila despite the USAFFE HQ being there. A few days ago game time I stopped all bombardment attacks I had been conducting hoping to lower the supply requirements at the outlying bases & draw more supplies to Manila. It hasn't helped yet.

It's probably too late for you to reproduce, but I got all supplies into Manila "by accident": I wanted to move a unit from Clark (lots of supplies) to Manila, but hit the wrong button, causing all units at Clark to follow that unit. When they arrived at Manila, all supply transferd to Manila, too. When I noticed my mistake and sent some units back to Clark, only a minimum amount of supplies followed them. Unintended, but it worked like a charm! [:)]

You could use your subs to supply Manila, too. On their way back they could evacuate some units.

Excellent ratio of ship losses! Keep it up, and Japan will be in deep trouble soon.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

It's probably too late for you to reproduce, but I got all supplies into Manila "by accident": I wanted to move a unit from Clark (lots of supplies) to Manila, but hit the wrong button, causing all units at Clark to follow that unit. When they arrived at Manila, all supply transferd to Manila, too. When I noticed my mistake and sent some units back to Clark, only a minimum amount of supplies followed them. Unintended, but it worked like a charm! [:)]

You could use your subs to supply Manila, too. On their way back they could evacuate some units.

Excellent ratio of ship losses! Keep it up, and Japan will be in deep trouble soon.

I'll try that when I abandon San Marcelino. Of course if it doesn't work, it will be your fault and not anything to do with my own incredible generalship! [;)]

I always have trouble getting subs to load supply, so have stopped trying. (Might not be wise, but it saves me some frustration.) With Soerabaja now size 9 I am putting two 4 sub TFs onto minelaying/transport duty. I.e. load mines at Soerabaja, mine a random port in the Phillipines or Taiwan, pick up troops at Manila and return to Soerabaja. I'll pull the PAF Aviation unit out on that route, and if I have time the Asiatic Fleet HQ. (I prefer to evac a large portion of 1 unit than small portions of many units.)

I'm pleased with the shipping losses too. I wouldn't consider it decisive yet, but any success I have hitting back at this point in the game is enjoyable.

I normally don't do 1 day updates, but I'm bored. (My other PBEM buddy is on vacation. Horrible timing - Feb '43 and I just launched my first major amphibious invasion!)

Jan 20, 42

WEST COAST

All the old BBs are now in West Coast ports and several are repairing well. Nevada's at 4 sys and will go back to Pearl soon. Arizona's at 13 sys. New Mexico & Mississippi just arrived, too, so within a week or so I'll have 5 fully operational slow BBs and 6 within the next 4-6 weeks.

Also, my ASW TF finally got a direct hit on I-19 which put a torp into a transport a day or two ago. She's a long way from home so I might get a kill out of it eventually.

CENT PAC

Baker Island fell to an IJN base force. KB's now 180 miles NE of Canton Island & bombed the island again. I expect an invasion in the next 1-3 turns.

SOUTH PAC/SW PAC

(Yawn)

DEI

Soerabaja just hit port size 9. Minelaying fun begins! (Rob, if you read this, yes I was inspired by your game against 2nd ACR.)

PHIL

No further attacks at Tugashmugaguro yet. A small transport convoy is unloading there so I suspect he's waiting on supply. A Dutch sub just arrived to try to combat that. 2-3 more days and a Filipino div will arrive to reinforce there. As soon as Tuga... falls I'll have to withdraw from both there & San Marcelino.

MALAYA

Mersing fell to a Japanese div today. I'd left a base force there to prep demo charges, but it only managed to damage 5 of 100 resources. [:(]

[aztez]

You seem to have things in good control. That was unfortunately low damage level at Mersing but you still have Singapore. What is the supply, AV and fortification levels at Singapore currently?

[ctangus]

Hi aztez. [:)]

Singapore has the following:

Supply - 38729
Forts - 6 + 3% (though the airfield is heavily damaged so it will be hard to build more.)
AV - 150

Johore Bahru has this:

Supply - 11088
Forts - 5 + 76% (no damage to airfield or port)
AV - 592

My opponent currently has over 100K troops at JB, but he hasn't attacked yet so I think he's waiting to bring the div that just took Mersing there. My plan is to wait until the forts at JB start to decline and then withdraw to Singers. If I can avoid a forced retreat I should be able to hold well past the historical date of 15 Feb.

However I've (mostly) given up on getting more supplies/resources/oil in, since my opponent has won air superiority. I may try to challenge that in the next week or two, but I haven't decided yet.

[ctangus]

And here's some of my general strategy for later in the game. (Yes, I'm still bored.)

By late '42 I want to be able to fight in 3, preferably 4, fronts. The closer, the better, considering the range of most allied fighters. CBI is a given, no matter how badly I do. I hope to also establish a DEI, SW PAC & SO PAC front. I probably can't hold in all 3 areas, but even 2 would help me a lot. Only 1 would hurt a little. 0 would be horrible.

In each area I hope to build mutually supporting AFs. (Preferably 3 or more.) With bombardments & air attacks the Japs can easily shut down one, and likely two AFs. Shutting down 3 seems unlikely to me and 4+ impossible.

DEI

I'm currently reinforcing and building up at Tenimbar & Kai. Once they're built up a bit I'll also try to build Aru. The advantages to this are 1) I'm sure my opponent won't expect it, 2) they'll give me a short route into northern New Guinea and 3) they can get some support from Darwin. The disadvantage is that both Tenimbar and Aru are 0(0) AFs and will take months to build up.

SW PAC

I hope to build up at PM, Gili-Gili & Thursday Island. This is my lowest priority, however. It's probably the most worthwhile area for me come late 42-early 43 but it's currently the most vulnerable and I don't want to lose a lot there. I currently only have some supplies & a 2nd base force headed to Port Moresby.

SO PAC

I'm building & reinforcing at Koumac-La Foa-Noumea-Efate. Unless my opponent makes this area his prime objective (which will open up other opportunities for me) I should be able to hold here. The 2nd Marine Div & Americal Div will be coming to this area shortly.

[ctangus]

Okay, we'll try to embed the pic again.

[ctangus]

1/21 - 1/22/42

WEST COAST

My opponent forgot to move I-19 and it took a direct hit from my ASW group. Heavy damage is reported.

CENT PAC

Also a scene of sub/ASW action. NW of Midway SS Pollack engages two Jap APs, putting a torp into one and in a 2nd surface attack, a 4" shell into another. Return fire hit Pollack but she's fine, although she needs to go back to Pearl to reload.

There's still a bunch of subs reported near Hawaiian waters. Two ASW attacks against I-172 (180 miles SW of Pearl) were ineffective.

Reinforcements for Palmyra are about 5 days out and I just started loading some additional supplies for there at Pearl.

SOUTH PAC

Japanese land at Canton Island, but weirdly don't shock attack. KB's still hanging out near here.

The Sara & Lex TFs refueled from an AO at Luganville and are heading into the Coral Sea. I'm hoping for a chance to stage an ambush in the Solomons. I know one Jap CVE/CVL is in the area so have set max react to 5 - I don't want to be caught at a range where I can't strike back. One DD was detached from Sara's screen to receive the attention of an AD at Noumea.

SW PAC/SOLOMONS

Mutsu, Nagato & 3 heavy cruisers bombarded Rabaul. This is the force I'd like to ambush with my CVs - either that or the lone CVE/CVL hanging around somewhere. I've flown some Hudsons back into Rabaul as my patrol coverage is poor now that Shortlands fell. I may try to setup a floatplane base at Tulagi in a couple days.

DEI

Weda falls. Japanese bomb the AF at Samarinda so I've ordered P-40s to LRCAP on the 23rd. In order to re-open the southern route into Singapore, my heavies fly against Kuching:

Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 17
B-17E Fortress x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged One lost to Ops
Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 9

I think it's going to be a fruitless effort, but I'll probably keep trying.

PHIL

Despite KXV putting a torp into a troop-laden AP, Japanese continue to unload at Tuga... and the end's probably near:

01/22/42
Ground combat at Tuguegarao
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 37971 troops, 378 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 782
Defending force 7400 troops, 80 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 191
Japanese max assault: 1438 - adjusted assault: 504
Allied max defense: 183 - adjusted defense: 355
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
1385 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
Vehicles lost 2
Allied ground losses:
419 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

A Filipino div will reinforce on the 23rd. I'm also staging in LBA to Luzon again - this time they'll be based at San Marcelino since Clark's been getting plastered.

BURMA

One of my nuisance air raids runs into CAP:

Day Air attack on 48th Construction Battalion, at 30,35
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 13
Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 5 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Look at that bloody Nik mod combat! A squadron of Hurricanes and a squadron of AVG will sweep that hex tomorrow.

CHINA

Two Chinese Corps wound up in an unexpected hex. LOL - I completely forgot about a flanking attack I'd ordered. Screenshot shows details. A third Corps should join them in a day.

[ctangus]

1/23 - 1/24/42

CENT PAC

A CD unit is unloading at Palmyra & a RCT is a day out. Some sub spottings near Hawaii still, otherwise quiet.

KB's disappeared. I'm expecting he'll go back to Kwaj or somewhere to refuel & then either come N to Palmyra with an invasion convoy or S towards the Elice Islands.

SW PAC

An additional base force has unloaded at PM. Once the DEI reorganization is done this will be my next priority to reinforce.

DEI

SS O21 ran into some Jap APDs off the Vogelkep. 13 hits! Flt is at 80+ and she probably won't make it.

My (late) reorganization of my forces is going well. In short I'm building up at Soerabaja & the 2 nearby bases, as well as Tenimbar & Kai.

Samarinda's been plastered the last 3 days (I've lost 5 Brewsters & 5 P-40s over it). I'm starting to think the next Jap offensive will be in this direction but haven't moved any naval forces towards it yet.

Japs also bombed the AF at Bankha the last two days. 7 allied planes lost on the ground. My subordinates ignored my orders and didn't evac some of the airforce as I wanted. (In truth I forgot to issue orders on the 24th.)

PHIL

SS KXV sunk a MSW off Tuga... but now needs to head home to refuel.

BURMA

A sweep on the 24th has limited success:

Day Air attack on 48th Construction Battalion, at 30,35
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
Hurricane IIb x 9
P-40B Tomahawk x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged

Bleinheims flying recon spot no CAP over Tavoy so I'm going to start targetting the AF there.

[VSWG]

SS O21 ran into some Jap APDs off the Vogelkep. 13 hits! Flt is at 80+ and she probably won't make it.

I wouldn't be too sure about it. One of my Dutch subs with 90flt made it from Saigon to Singapore. It all depends on the sys-damage: if it's low (17 in my case), the flt-damage will not increase. At least that's my experience. Of course, now that I boasted about it, the sub will probably sink at Singapore... [8|]

That forest hex northeast of Honan has caught my attention, too. Can you keep your units in supply without roads across the river? If yes, your move on Yangku could be a decisive manouver in northern China.

On the strategy map, I notice a defensive picket line of subs west of Johnston Island, and another one near Wake, right? How did you divide your submarines per region? Did you decide against merchant shipping raids until the dud rate decreases?

[ctangus]

Hope you're right re the sub.

I doubt I can keep my units fully in supply across that river. However, I expect I can make it to Yangku with them holding 75-80% supply, which should allow me to take the city if he truly has only one unit there. Hopefully I'll capture some supply. At the very least my move should make Yenan safe for the next few months.

Yep those are picket lines. I sent maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of my Manila subs towards Cent Pac when I thought Hawaii was in danger. Otherwise they've stayed where they were assigned. I've been planning to do more of a reorganization of them, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

In my other games I decided against early merchant raids for precisely that reason (dud rates). However I now think that was a mistake. I'll still mostly use my subs for picket duty/minelaying/transport but I want to put at least a dozen boats on merchant raiding. My reasons are this: 1) Force my opponent to use & spread out his ASW assets and 2) I want to have a firm idea of where his shipping lanes are by 10/42 (the first radar upgrades). So far I've only managed to assign two to merchant raiding, but some reinforcements are starting to arrive, too.

[ctangus]

1/25 - 1/26/42

CENTPAC

Some ASW success. The previously damage I-19 sank. Also, I-1 was hit multiple times by an ASW group and sank. I-172 received 1 direct depth charge hit and a bomb hit from Lahaina-based A-20s.

Also I had a minor scare near Palmyra. On the 25th KB showed up 4 hexes away while a RCT was unloading, but fortunately no attacks were launched. Maybe 1/3 unloaded and I successfully scattered my ships.

SOUTHPAC/SWPAC

I've established a floatplane base at Tulagi and both Sara & Lex are nearby, ready to stage an ambush. Rabaul still holds.

DEI

SS O21 sinks. [:(]

B-17s attacked the oilfields at Miri, but only damaged 8 of the 100 oil points there. I'm standing down for now, but may be back. My opponent's captured 500 oil points so far, but 337 are now damaged. (He's doing better with resources.) I'd like to keep the pressure up.

MALAYA

The first Japanese ground assault hits my lines at Johore Bahru:

Ground combat at Johore Bahru
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 129760 troops, 1411 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 2512
Defending force 36168 troops, 302 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 727
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4
Japanese max assault: 2325 - adjusted assault: 1154
Allied max defense: 708 - adjusted defense: 2345
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4) Already back up to 5
Japanese ground losses:
3296 casualties reported
Guns lost 111
Vehicles lost 12
Allied ground losses:
1301 casualties reported
Guns lost 22

I should be able to hold here a while still. Unless I do something really stupid (always a possibility) I expect to hold Singapore well past the historical date.

[aztez]

Do you intend to build up Noumea, Luganville and Efate?

[ctangus]

Noumea-La Foa-Koumac-Efate. Once those are secure I'll moved forward toward Luganville. I might send a base force to Luganville early, but no combat troops.

1/27 - 1/28/42

CENTPAC

KB retired from Palmyra & came back again. Still no transports spotted. I've sortied most the fleet from Pearl & am going to try to get LBA to launch against KB on the 29th.

SOPAC/SWPAC

A Jap TF has appeared off Rabaul. I may send Sara & Lex in within a turn or two.

PHIL

Tugaggggrrrrooo fell. [:(] As a result I'm voluntarily abandonding San Marcelino. Well, I did keep the Clark Field resources operating this long - I can't be entirely unhappy.

BURMA

Dogfights over Rangoon:

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 26
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 15
P-40B Tomahawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged For the day the air-to-air total was 10-1 in my favor
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3

The Japanese planes are based at Tavoy. Accordingly the Royal Navy is going to try to shut it down in 2 days. I brought out one of the Dutch recon squadrons to start the recon.

[ctangus]

No turn in the inbox so I'll do a one day update.

1/29/42

CENTPAC

My LBA at Palmyra doesn't launch (probably not enough escorts) and then KB clobbers it:

Day Air attack on Palmyra , at 110,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 63
B5N Kate x 69
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 destroyed, 40 damaged Well, at least he lost 8 KB pilots
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 15 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed
F2A Buffalo: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 70

There's FOW in the above report - it was worse: I actually lost 23 planes there. [X(]

SWPAC

Rabaul fell. [:(]

I've ordered Sara & Lex in to raid the shipping there. Cruiser float planes will fly recon. (2 CAs are reported at Rabaul, plus I believe transports.) I debated this for a bit. I don't think Pat expects allied CVs in the area so I don't want to waste my surprise. However he doesn't have any level 4 AFs in the area yet and I'd also like to take some heat of Centpac. It won't be disastrous if I lose Palmyra but I'd really rather not.

At the very least it will be fun! [:)]

DEI

A Jap AP (damaged a day or two ago by a sub) sinks at Tarakan.

BURMA

From what I can tell my bombardment TF (headed towards Tavoy) is still unspotted. It will hit tonight and then I'll follow up with a sweep and a raid against the airfield.

[ctangus]

1/30/42

Exciting day.

CENTPAC

KB plasters Palmyra again:

Day Air attack on Palmyra , at 110,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 54
B5N Kate x 57
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 5 destroyed, 29 damaged 7 more KB pilots dead
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed
F2A Buffalo: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 40

SWPAC

While I was hoping for larger prey, my CV raid meets with some success:

Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 62,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
Allied aircraft
F2A Buffalo x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 31
TBD Devastator x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F2A Buffalo: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 3 damaged
TBD Devastator: 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
AK Shogen Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Namikaze, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
AK Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Nokaze

There were no Japanese attacks against my TFs.

DEI

3 large Japanese TFs, including what looks to be baby KB, are approaching the Balikpapan/Samarinda area. I'll meet them with some torpedo bombers. Force Z & other surface forces are approaching, but are 3 days out.

I also raided Kuching:

Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 17
B-17E Fortress x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 14 damaged Lots of damaged planes on the ground. I ordered some extra CAP to protect them.
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8

A minor raid against Singkawing destroys 1 Sonia.

BURMA

A little revenge. First, the Royal Navy bombards Tavoy:

Naval bombardment of Tavoy, at 28,37
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed
Allied Ships
CL Dauntless
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
Japanese ground losses:
1832 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 73

LBA follows up:

Day Air attack on Tavoy , at 28,37
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 14
Blenheim I x 11
Blenheim IV x 23
P-40B Tomahawk x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 15000 feet
6 x Blenheim I bombing at 15000 feet
12 x Blenheim IV bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Blenheim I bombing at 15000 feet
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 15000 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 15000 feet

In total, 31 Japanese planes were destroyed on the ground today, mostly here.