East Wind Rain - Pat vs Chuck - Jap side

[George Patton]

Report of January 7th , 1942[/u]

Malaya

Durign today’s raid on Johore, 4 P-40 have been destroyed on the ground. Only 4 Hurricane were on CAP, one of them returned at home with smoke coming out from the engine. No losses between my planes and medium damages to the afld.

Cent Pac

The main event occurred N of Johnston I.
During the morning KB has been attacked by US planes coming from the atoll. 6 Boston and 13 SBD, escorted by 19 Wildcat and 21 Buffalo, tried to penetrate the CAP formed by 71 Zero.
My fighter pilots done a good job, shooting down 17 F4F-3 and 20 F2A. In addition Zero and flak shot down 8 SBD and 1 Boston. 1 SBD managed to place one 500 kg bomb on Kirishima, but the bomb exploded on armor deck and do little damage (sys 3).
My air losses amount to 4 Zero shot down and 3 others damaged.
In the afternoon, planes of KB attacked AV Curtiss, anchored at French Frigate Shoals. PBY flied from there, on recon over Midway. Curtiss received 9 bombs and sunk.

Tomorrow I plan to launch some airfield attack against Johnston afld. A bombardement TF, with the 2 old Yamashiros BB is also sailed from Kwajalein, to shell the atoll.


Philippines

Tokyo received today a good news from the archipelago. At Cebu imperial troops occupied the island, forcing the defenders to surrender. 4758 enemy have been taken prisoners.
Now I have 12 infantry units, with 330 Ass Pts, free for other duties.

[George Patton]

Report of January 8th , 1942


Another quiet day

Malaya

The air raid over Johore today caused the destruction, on the ground, of 3 Demon, 2 Brewster 339 and 1 P-40. No losses between my pilots. I suppose Johore afld is closed.

Meanwhile, one enemy AK has been hit in Singapore harbor by some Sally.

Cent Pac

KB attacked Johnston I. airfield, destroying 1 PBY and 1 Boston. 41 bombs hit the runway.
I’ve lost only 3 Kate, but 30 have been damaged, plus 10 Val as well.


Now one week pause. One week vacation in Normandy!!

[George Patton]

Report of January 9th , 1942


I’m back after one wonderful week in Normandy.

Philippines

My troops reached Tugueguarao from Aparri. In addition 4. Mixed Rgt arrived today aboard ships and begun to unload.

Cent Pac

After raiding in Johnston I. area, KB will return to Kwajalein to refuel.

SW Pac

Today 16. Inf Division will try an attack to Rabaul.

[George Patton]

Report of January 10th , 1942

South Pac

One of my sub sunk an enemy AK E of Fiji Is.

SW Pac

Despite a great superiority, my troops didn’t succeed to caputre Rabaul.

Japan

BB Haruna entered today in Maizuru navy yard, for repair. She has sys damaged at 56.

Cent Pac

KB is returning in Kwajalein.
Nagato,Mutsu, Taiyo, Zuiho, with 2 CA, 4 CL and 8 DD have been ordered to be transferred to Truk. Fuso and Yamashiro will also join them. I will use the 4 BB to shell enemy defense in Rabaul.
KB will remain in Kwajalein, that will be the main base in the area for my carriers.
High Command has decided to invade Palmyra and Canton, and to avoid Johnston I, because of the proximity of 4E bombers based in PH.

[George Patton]

Report of January 11th , 1942

Cent Pac

The most interesting thing of today is the air attack to TK Nissho Maru, 6 hexes N of Marcus I.. The TK sunk in the afternoon.
The number of the enemy aircraft is meaning that only one enemy carrier is there. Well done Chuck.
KB is far away, heading for Kwajalein to refuel.
At Marcus, Iwo Jima and Bonin Is. I have only minor afld size. The only thing I can do is to transfer one daitai of Betty and one of Nell from other sectors to Saipan, but I think Chuck will not be foolish to go in the range of my bombers with the carrier.


Philippines

At Tugueguarao, my 14400 men didn’t succeed to occupy the city, defended by only 4400 allied soldiers. Please give me a couple of Panzergrenadier Divisions.

China

Same result in Yenan. 103000 japanese vs 48500 chinese. Odds 0:1; 2600 casualties for the Sun Empire, and 690 for the chinese.

[George Patton]

Report of January 12th , 1942

Malaya

Today, during an air raid against Singapore afld, my bombers shot down or destroyed on the ground 7 Hurricane and 2 Buffalo. Only 1 Lily lost.

SW Pac

An enemy surface TF appeared in Rabaul harbor and sunk one AK and on PC. My ships were part of a small suppling convoys. The other merchant ships with escort left two days ago.

Cent Pac

The enemy carrier TF, as I expected, disappeared. I transferred one Nell daitai in Truk, to attack enemy surface ships if they move north from Rabaul.

[George Patton]

Report of January 13th , 1942

SW Pac

Chuck is continuing raiding Rabaul with his surface ships. Zuiho and Taiyo are now 7 hexes E of Kavieng and tomorrow will operate in the area.

Cent Pac

SS I-171 placed one torpedo on one AP directed towards Johnston I. The ship is surely heavily damaged bit I suppose she will reach the destination, because is not far. I-171 has been after damaged by DC but has now a sys damaged of only 6.

Intelligence (Chuck by e-mail) informed me that the raiding carrier that operated near Marcus I. was Enterprise.


Philippines

Over Manila my pilots shot down 8 P-40 of the 10 that were on CAP.

[George Patton]

Report of January 14th – 16th, 1942


I've a lot of work so I needed to slow down the game. [:(]

DEI

My troops landed and occupied Morotai. Invasion of the Celebes is proceedings sloowly but is continuing.

Cent Pac

The operation to land in Baker I. and Canton I. is started. TFs will sail during the night of the 14th from Kwajalein and Jaluit. KB will cover, as always, the operations.
On the 16th the operations is still udiscovered, I suppose.

SW Pac

As I hoped, Kate from Zuiho and Taiyo attacked the Boise’s TF on the 15th and hit the cruiser with one bomb. The ship was at the maximum range of the torpedo bombers. I read penetration by the bomb, but I really cannot estimate the damages.
I discovered that the allied are building a base in the shortlands.
On the 16th the surface ships run away. Now TF Zuiho is patrolling the area and will cover the landing of the 14. BLF in Buin.

Burma

33. Inf Div and 8. Tank Rgt croosed the river Salween, south of Taun Gyi. If I attack and occupy the city, Chuck will consider probably Rangoon overruned and will move his chinese divisions. I will keep those units in place and wait for the other column to advance towards Moulmein and Rangoon.

Philippines

I noted some naval movements in Manila harbor. I switched some Formosa’s based bombers to naal attack. On the 16th they hit some merchant ships.
4. Inf Division is arrived in Tugueguarao and is unloading but the commander, general Fukudome, want to take the city immediately, and he ordered an attack during the next night.

Borneo

I resumed the Borneo operations. In Camranh Bay 81. and 91. Nav Gd are loading ontho ships. They will be escorted by an heavy surface TF, including BB Kongo, to invade Samarinda. Fighters in Tarakan and Tomini will assure air cover.

[George Patton]

Report of January 17th, 1942

During the week-end I can do better. [:)]

Malaya

My raids agains airfields of Singapore and Johore seems to have obtained some results. In the last days I don’t see powerful enemy CAP.
I saw that Chuck moved fighters in Burma, to slow down my units marching north. This it’s ok for me. My sea lanes to Malaya peninsula are safer. Chuck is operating some LB from Sumatra.
56. Division reached Mersing on the 17th and was forced to wait a bit to gain some supplies, before attacking.

Philippines

At Tugueguarao the fort drop to 2, but the odds were still 0:1. [:@]

SW Pac

I’ve decided to divert the 14. NLF from the orginal target, Buin, to the Shortlands. The af size is still 0, so Chuck should have placed there only an hidro base. I hope to destroy it.
Ryuho and Hosho will join the other two light carriers on the 18th. They will cover the landing of the 14. NLF and after they will return to Rabaul. On the way back, the 2 BB and 2 CA will make a visit to the Rabaul enemy garrison. After that 16. Inf Division will try another delib attack.

Cent Pac

BB Fuso and Yamashiro will shell tonigh Baker I. Chuck will be in alarm but it’s ok. I still hope to engage enemy carriers.

DEI

I’m continuing building the few airports that I have. I intend to proceed to occupy the Celebes with land based aircrafts. If necessary I will transfer there the mini-KB.

[George Patton]

Report of January 18th, 1942

Central Pacific

SS I-19 hit with 1 torpedo AP Mount McKinley between the WC and PH, loaded with troops and directed towards PH I suppose. 17 killed aboard.

At dawn Yamashiro and Fuso shelled Baker I., causing little damages but no enemy troops were reported.

KB is now NE of Baker I. heading for a position N of Canton I. Tomorrow planes of Shokaku and Zuikaku will attack enemy afld on Canton.


SW Pac

10 Hudson and 28 Wirraway attacked Lae airport. The 6 Zero on CAP tried to stop them, without success. 1 Zero lost, while the damages on the base are minimal. No enemy planes shot down.

14. NLF will launch an attack tomorrow, in the Shortland to close down enemy float planes base.

Philippines

CA Ashigara, escorting transport off the PH east coast, received a torpedo launched by a Beaufort. The sys dam is 29, and the cruiser is heading back to Japan, for repair.

[George Patton]

Report of January 20th, 1942

Cent Pac

The new air raid over Canton I. reported some enemy troops present: 17 casualties, 1 gun and 1 vehicle destroyed. So, someone is there. But how many troops defend the atoll? Recon said 1840 men, 12 guns and 7 AFV. 8 Val and 2 Kate damaged during the raid.
BB Fuso and Yamashiro will do a “passage” tonight, to clean the area. In two days SSD will begin the landing. KB will now move in a position E of Canton, and will wait for enemy carriers.

In the afternoon my troops landed in Baker I. and occupied her, undefended.

Malaya

One infantry division attacked Mersing. The city is occupied and 1097 british soldiers captured.

[George Patton]

Report of January 21st , 1942

Cent Pac

The bombardement fleet reached Canton I. in the morning. BB Fuso, BB Yamashiro, CL Oi and CL Kinu shelled the island but inflicted only 56 casualties.

DEI

Same troops that occupied Morotai, landed today in Weda.

Philippines

I know that is a gamble, but tomorrow I’ll try a shock attack in Tugueguarao. My troops are not fully rested and prepared, but I’m loosing a lot of time here and in San Marcelino. I need to move towards Clark. I hope to take the right decision.
In support to this attack all the level bombers in Luzon and Formosa will bomb the enemy troops.

[George Patton]

Report of January 22nd , 1942

SW Pac

Mutsu and Nagato shelled Rabaul but caused little damage and only 81 casualties.

DEI

Troops coming from Palau landed in Manokwari, on the northern shore of Papua.

Cent Pac

Finally my troops arrived in Canton I. and begun to land.

Philippines

I expected that. Enemy subs arrived inTugueguarao water and placed one torpedo on one AP.

The shock attack in Tugueguarao went…well and bad. The odds were 1 to 1. My troops reduced the fort to 1 but they lost 1385 men. The allied 419.

Brunei

31 Fortress bombed Kuching afld, destroying 3 Nell and 1 Sonia. Chuck is always using well the air assets.

I reinforced Tarakan airbase to bomb Samarinda. 2 of the 3 Brewster 339 have been shot down, but I’ve lost 1 Kate, 1 Oscar and 3 Ann during the raid.

Burma

13 Oscar didn’t manage to shot down any of the 16 Lysander that attacked one of my ground unit marching through the jungle. Only 5 enemy planes damaged.

Malaya

I really cannot understand why my whole air fleet based in Khota Bharu don’t attacked Bankha afld. I ordered the raids two days ago but my planes remained on the ground. The days before they attacked without problems Singapore afld. [:@]

[George Patton]

Report of January 23rd , 1942

Malaya

Finally my bombers based in Khota Bharu attacked Bankha afld, in Sumatra. 5 enemy planes destroyed on the ground, and 1 Lily lost.

Borneo

Planes based in Tarakan attacked again Samarinda, escorted by Oscar and Zero that came from Davao.
I’ve lost 2 Ann (11 damaged, plus 2 Kate damaged), and I shot down or destroyed on the ground 5 P-40 and 2 Brewster 339 (plus 6 P-40 damaged). The base has not been hit hardly but the air result is good.

81. and 91. Nav Gd units are now north of Jolo I. escorted by TF Kongo. The two TF will head for Tarakan and there wait for mini-KB that will refuel in Palau and then assure air cover for the landing in Samarinda.

Burma

Allied planes taking-off from Rangoon attacked again my troops marching towards Moulmein. 13 Oscar based in Tavoy were on LRCAP. It has been a great air battle. I’ve lost 4 Oscar, but we shot down 4 Hurricane, 1 P-40B and 1 Buffalo (other 10 enemy fighters resulted damaged), and the casualties on the ground were only 9.

Philippines

Chuck came again with LB against my ships. Today they took-off from San Marcelino. I will bombard that base tomorrow but I’m sure the bombers will not be present.

Cent Pac

My troops captured Canton I. and 2187 american soldiers (plus 2 PBY destroyed). No enemy carriers in the area. I move now KB north. Maybe Chuck has positioned his carrier in that area and he’s waiting for KB to leave to attack my merchant ships.
Meanwhile I’m ordering to SSD to prepare to occupy Palmyra. I’m already sending infantry replacements for Canton I. from Tokyo.

DEI

Manokwari has been occupied today by the 39th Road Constuction Bn.

[George Patton]

Report of January 24th , 1942


DEI

At Manokwari one enemy SS tried to ambush my fleet of APD that is transporting all around there the small invasion forces but was hit 13 times with DC.

For the first time japanese bombers attacked Java island, bombing Batavia afld. The 4 Hurricanes on CAP have been all shot down, while I lost only 1 Nell (12 damaged). The damages on the ground are minimal.


Philippines

One MSW, part of an ASW TF has been sunk, today by one US subs.

I’ve decided to move the 38. Inf Div, on call in Hong Kong, to Naga. I had to decide if reinforce Tugueguarao, San Marcelino or Naga. I’ve decided for Naga. Here the division could do the difference and force the enemy troops to retreat to Manila and, also, force Chuck to retreat from San Marcelino to defend the capital.

Malaya

I repeated the air raid against Bankha. No CAP and 2 a/c destroyed on the ground. Chuck has sure moved the aircrafts previously based there. I suppose they are now in Palembang, because an air raid came from there.

[George Patton]

Report of January 25th – 26th, 1942

Borneo

On the 26th B-17 started to bomb oil plants in Brunei taking-off from Balikpapan. Damages are minimal but I will attack the enemy base immediately with what I have in Tarakan and Manado. Both are 3 size aflds, close to 4.

Meanwhile my Nell based in Kuching started to attack enemy ships in the Sumatra-Batavia-Singapore area. One AK is reportedly sunk.

Cent Pac

SS I-19 is sunk off the West Coast by enemy ASW forces.

KB arrived in Palmyra are on the 25th and recon spotted several enemy ships. But on the 26th, when my planes were in range of attack them, those ships disappeared.
I ordered that to KB to move south to refuel. 2 TK are waiting for my carriers. After the refuelling Nagumo will return to Palmyra.

DEI

The dutch SS damaged at Manokwari on the 24th, sunk on the 26th.
Noemfoor is caputerd on the 26th by the 39. Construction Bn.

Malaya

The delib attack against Johore Bahru, on the 26th, reduced the fort down to 4. But the odds were 0:1 and I lost 3296 men and 111 guns, while the brits lost 1301 men and 22 guns.
It’s not a good result, if we consider that I dispose of 130’000 men, while Chuck has only 36’000.

[George Patton]

Report of January 27th – , 1942

SW Pac

Mutsu, Nagato, 3 CA and other ships shelled Rabaul tonight. 101 casualties beneath the australians. I definitely expected more.
I tried another shock attack against Rabaul. I cannot understand: 459 ass pts vs 59 and an odds of 0:1 [:@] [:@] What’s is going on over there? In fact I didn’t get the order to attack and this is strange. I don’t even have enough supply to do it.

I saw that Chuck established another float base, this time in Tulagi. I plan to destroy it asap but I don’t have the assets yet.

Hong Kong

A big convoy has arrived in HK and is loading the 38. Inf Div, that will be transported to Naga.

Borneo

The bombing of Balikpapan went well. 4 P-40 shot down (out of 6 on CAP), 1 PBY destroyed and no losses for me (but no B-17 were present).

Cent Pac

KB has refuelled. Now she’s heading back to Palmyra. I hope to have more lucky than two days ago.

[George Patton]

Report of January 28th, 1942

Burma

Chuck transferred a lot of planes in Burma afld, Rangoon, Moulmein and Mandalay. Today I ordered a raid agains Rangoo afld, with 26 Sally, escorted by 26 Oscar. They encountered a CAP of 15 Hurricane and 11 P-40B. This gave a result of great air battle.
I lost 4 Oscar (plus 1 damaged), and my pilots managed to shot down only 1 Hurricane (plus 7 Hurricane and 6 P-40 damaged). The bombers destroyed 1 Blenheim and 1 Buffalo on the ground. 5 Sally returned damaged at the base.

Philippines

Finally good news from Luzon. My troops attacked and occupied Tugueguarao, forcing the enemies to retreat towards Clark. I lost 630 troops during the attack. The same number for the allied.

[George Patton]

Report of January 29th, 1942

Cent Pac

I ordered that 3 CV of the KB launched an air strike against Palmyra. 63 Val, 69 Kate and only 9 Zero (?) attacked. I lost 4 Val and 4 Kate (40 + 15 damaged).
No CAP were on flight and they destroyed on the ground 2 B-25, 4 SBD, 6 F2A and 1 P-40E. The afld received 70 hits on the runway.

My recon spotted one enemy TF between Hilo and Palmyra. The pilot said 4 DD. Maybe it’s only an ASW TF but just to be sure, KB will remain in the area and will attack again Palmyra tomorrow.
Fuso and Yamashiro that will then shell the island and after that all the fleet will return to Kwajalein to refuel and wait for the infantry reinforcement coming from Japan.

SW Pac

Once received the necessary supply, the 16th Infantry division attacked Rabaul and occupied the enemy base, destroying 4 Hudson and capturing 4673 enemy soldiers.

Burma

Tavoy afld alone it’s not enough to support the operations there. Since chuck withdrew most of the a/c to Burma, I need to reinforce my aviation there. I will air transfer an air base to Victoria Point, that is a 4-size base. I will then base there my IJN LBA to attack Rangoon and Mandalay.

[George Patton]

Report of January 30th, 1942

What an intense day!

Burma

Wow! Royal Navy make a visit on Tavoy during the night. BB Revenge and Royal Sovereign, with 3 CA devastated my base, destroying 6 Oscar and 5 Sally and inflicting 1832 casualties!
In the morning came the RAF, inflicting more damages to my airbase and destroying one more Oscar. It has been really a good job. The airbase is virtually closed and I transferred to Saigon the flying aircrafts.

Victoria Point afld opened today and 18 Nell are based there but they arrived one day too late. RN escaped undetected.

Malaya

My bombers returned over Singapore. I want just to be sure that the afld remain closed.

Borneo

B-17 returned also over Kuching. My fighters didn’t shot any of them, but damaged 16 of the 32 that attacked. I lost 1 Zero and 4 Nell on the ground. But the afld suffered light damages.

Invasion fleet for Samarinda is approaching undetected. Baby-KB attacked one TK and one AK in Balikpapan harbor, and Kate hit her with 3 and 4 torpedoes. The AK sunk a couple of hours later.

Cent Pac

The raid of KB against Palmyra costed me 5 Val and 2 Kate (plus 29 and 15 damaged). My pilots destroyed on the ground 1 B-25, 3 F2A, 1 PBY and 1 P-40E.
SS I-174, damaged days ago, sunk during the afternoon, SE of Palmyra on his way back to Saipan.

SW Pac

Seagull flied over Rabaul. This is meaning that one enemy CA is around and my recon planes spotted two separate TF south of Rabaul. After one hour enemy planes arrived over the bay and attacked the convoy that was unloading supplies. The 18 Zero on CAP were unable to stop them and DD Namikaze took 7 bombs and sunk, the 2 AK were heavily damaged and DD Nokaze escaped unhit. One of the AK has been scuttled the morning after.
I lost one Zero and the americans 1 F2A and 2 F4F. Since there were 2 types of enemy fighters I suppose that 2 carriers participated to the raid.

Philippines

Enemy troops abandoned San Marcelino and retired to Clark. That’s fine, because I can finally concentrate my northern force, until now separated between San Marcelino and Tugueguarao.

DEI

I really don’t know were Force Z is. Because I’m going to land in Samarinda, I’m going also to attack in the Banda Sea, with a small landing in Boela, SE of Amboina. I hope to force Chuck to send there PoW & Co. It’s better to loose one small Nav Gds unit than the big invasion force heading for Samarinda that, however is escorte by baby-KB and TF Kongo, with 4 CA and other minor ships.

China

19. Inf Mix Bde, cut behind enemy lines since weeks, reached the coast on the SE side of the Pakhoi peninsula after a death march, during wich lot of men encounetered the death for starvation. 6 DD were waiting for the survivors, about 8000, and the great evacuation started immediately. The troops will be transported to Haiphong.