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

[comander]

what are your plans for Java ctangus is it a holding the line or delaying your OP

[ctangus]

7/12/42

Hi comander. I plan to delay & bloody the Japanese on west Java (Batavia area). I'm going to try to hold on east Java (Soerabaja area). If I don't hold, I didn't write this & I was only trying to delay... [;)]

DEI

Subs & LBA hit a couple more transports with troops on board. The first Japanese attack against Merak occurred. It will probably fall to the next attack:

Ground combat at Merak
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4032 troops, 58 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150
Defending force 749 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34
Japanese max assault: 67 - adjusted assault: 64
Allied max defense: 32 - adjusted defense: 24
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported

But the biggest news is that the first allied counter-attack outside China has started! My invisible army auto-occupied Pomala! I'm not sure what good it will do me, but I got a kick out of it. [:D]




Indian Ocean

Swordfish put a torp into yet another troop-laden AP and I continue to attack at Port Blair:

Ground combat at Port Blair
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5157 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211
Defending force 6847 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 131
Allied max assault: 173 - adjusted assault: 62
Japanese max defense: 68 - adjusted defense: 7
Allied assault odds: 8 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

My AV's going down quicker than the enemy's, so I decided to rest my troops a day or two.

I'm off to go play with my nephews over the Holidays. [:)] The next update will be in about a week.

[ctangus]

7/13 - 7/16/42

Lots going on in the DEI & further north.

Sub war

My subs have been active, even US fleet boats. They've had 13 attacks in the last 4 days, 10 successful. Most were against AKs/APs loaded with troops. 6 Japanese ships were sunk outright & a 7th was finished off by B-25s. In return I've had 3 subs damaged enough to be out of action a few months.

Jap subs sank one AK pulling resources out of Soerabaja. A patrolling Sunderland sank a RO-boat near Milne bay. Another RO-boat was damaged near Noumea by an ASW TF.

And there was this... [:)]

[ctangus]

West Coast

CV Wasp & 3 Marine F4F squadrons have arrived.

Lexington's now less than 2 weeks from San Francisco (sys 31). Enterprise (sys 95) & Hornet (sys 98) are about 6 weeks away.

So Pac/SW Pac

I was hoping to launch my first counter-offensive here before the historic Operation Watchtower started. I have the infantry ready to go but I'm waiting for base forces coming from the west coast. Maybe in late August - certainly in September.

Java/DEI

In addition to what my subs are doing, LBA (Martins, B-25s, A-24s) hit at least 9 Jap ships & a mine at Merak sank another. That was not enough to keep Merak from falling into enemy hands, however.

Sparring continues in the air over Java. 30-50 planes are being lost daily - one day I win and the next the Japanese do. For example, 29 to 9 in the allies' favor on the 16th but it's about 350 to 320 in the Japanese favor for the month so far.

There was one nice raid against Balikpapan:

07/14/42
Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 1
B-17E Fortress x 65
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AP Haisho Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taibun Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Matsukaze, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
DD Ayanami, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
AP Tsunushima Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet

Indian Ocean

Japanese reinforcements have arrived at Port Blair, but I'm still confident I can hold a while.

On the 13th, LBA launched against the Japanese carriers replenishing at Rangoon. Most of the planes got through the CAP, but the results weren't spectacular:

07/13/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 24
B-17E Fortress x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 14 destroyed
Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 19 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Soryu
BB Kirishima
CV Hiryu
CL Kuma
CV Shokaku
CA Ashigara
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
1 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet
=============================================
07/13/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13
Wellington III x 33
B-17E Fortress x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Wellington III: 3 destroyed, 27 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1 Boink!
CV Shokaku
CL Abukuma
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire Fuel storage explosion - maybe she'll need some yard time
CV Zuikaku
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet


I anticipated a counter-attack against Mandalay on the 14th I put some of my best fighters on CAP:

07/14/42
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,29
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34
Ki-49 Helen x 88
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 31
P-40E Warhawk x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 14 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 19 destroyed, 36 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 22 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged
Runway hits 1

China

220,000 crack Chinese troops have now entered Indochina & are advancing on Hanoi.

I repulse a Japanese flanking movement near Canton:

07/16/42
Ground combat at 44,41
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 19683 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 651
Defending force 13788 troops, 149 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 301
Allied max assault: 1314 - adjusted assault: 656
Japanese max defense: 305 - adjusted defense: 285
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
514 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[ctangus]

7/17/42

Despite being down 31 to 25 in the air war, it was a good day for the good guys.

Sub War

My subs continue to be active:

S-38 put 1 torp into an AP near Merak in the morning. It sank it with 2 more torps in the afternoon.

In the South China Sea, O-24 put 2 torps into another AP. 69 dead soldiers were seen floating in the water.

And in North Pac, near Kiska, S-34 damaged the 2nd Jap carrier in 2 days (3rd in 5 days):

[ctangus]

DEI

I successfully swept & then bombed the aifield at Merak. It looks like the Japs have withdrawn - I should be able to close the field.

B-25s successfully hit 2 more enemy transports with multiple bombs, though neither has sunk yet.

Indian Ocean

My LBA at Port Blair takes off. The main strike goes after Japanese transports:

Day Air attack on TF at 23,36
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 28
Hurricane IIb x 32
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Fumizuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Shirakumo
AP Nissen Maru
AP Ryujo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Nissen Maru #2
AP Senkai Maru
AP Surabaya Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Unkai Maru #6
AP Otori Maru
Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Later in the day a strike launches against the Jap carriers lurking nearby. I wish the main strike had gone after them:

Day Air attack on TF at 20,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 65
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4
Hurricane IIb x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 18 destroyed Ouch!

I also didn't have replacements off, so there's a bunch of damaged Hurricanes on the ground at Port Blair.

Indochina

The First Chinese Uber-Shock Army storms across the Red River & takes Hanoi!

Ground combat at Hanoi
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 156439 troops, 969 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 4487
Defending force 43586 troops, 538 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 927
Allied max assault: 4354 - adjusted assault: 1613
Japanese max defense: 967 - adjusted defense: 299
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0) The fort level was a welcome surprise
Allied forces CAPTURE Hanoi base !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 3 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
1480 casualties reported
Guns lost 78
Vehicles lost 3
Allied ground losses:
2603 casualties reported
Guns lost 63
Vehicles lost 15

I scored 72 ground loss points - that's almost 1/3 of a division. However, the retreating troops destroyed the city's infrastructure - there's 1 working HI point and 1 resource point left. 11,000 supplies were captured.

One weird bit - Hanoi was under SEA command when captured. It only cost 10 PPs to change it to Chinese, so I did so.

I'll rest my troops a few days while the China Command HQ advances to Hanoi from Nanning. I'll then attack Haiphong overland. However if the Japanese start to evacuate, I'll storm across the Red River again - I want to destroy as many of those troops in place as I can.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

I'll rest my troops a few days while the China Command HQ advances to Hanoi from Nanning. I'll then attack Haiphong overland. However if the Japanese start to evacuate, I'll storm across the Red River again - I want to destroy as many of those troops in place as I can.

Are you sure you can get those troops to attack Haiphong overland? They'll probably march back to Hanoi and want to cross the Red River anyway because the supply path along the rail line is shorter.

BTW, did you run into the first Indo-China militia division at Hanoi?

8.8 INDO-CHINA JAPANESE MILITIA

Each time an Allied unit moves into a border hex inside Indo-China (the portion next to China all
the way down to even with Hue), the Japanese will receive a Japanese (representing
Vietnamese/Vichy French forces) militia division (up to a maximum of 4). Thus if 2 ground units
move into a border hex, and then 1 unit moves from one border hex to another, 3 militia divisions
will be formed. These militia divisions will be formed in Hanoi, Haiphong, Luang Prabang, and
Hue in that order, and they will be formed at 1/3 strength.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG


Are you sure you can get those troops to attack Haiphong overland? They'll probably march back to Hanoi and want to cross the Red River anyway because the supply path along the rail line is shorter.

DOH! Looks like I'll be facing another river crossing.

BTW, did you run into the first Indo-China militia division at Hanoi?

Yep - the "1st VM Div". In fact, the turn after I first crossed the border, the unit count went up by 1 at each of the cities where the Vietnamese divs are supposed to arrive. It seems to be working as designed.

[comander]

Hi ctangus i like your bugs in the flying jacked i cant wait and see where you go next .

[ctangus]

Thanks. I can't wait to see where I go next either! [;)] I do have a few plans forming - if I get some extra time I'll do up a map or 5.

Here's a recent recon photo of the enemy:

[ctangus]

7/18 - 7/20/42

Relatively quiet days.

So Pac

I've been slowly building up in the Ellice Islands and it looks like my opponent's started to notice - some Jap carriers are coming this way. Funa... made AF size 1 a few days ago & Nuka... just made AF size 1 this last turn. 2 of my TFs in the pic are running away but 2 more are staying. Hopefully my CAP proves effective.



SW Pac

Off Milne Bay Hudsons & SBDs put bombs into a RO-boat & sink SS I-164.

DEI

I bombed 2 or 4 more Jap transports.

Indian Ocean

Japs continue to unload at Port Blair. There's now 1 Div, 2 infantry brigades & 1 para regiment there.

I did have a little luck in this theater:

07/18/42
Day Air attack on TF at 23,36
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 3
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
=============================================
07/18/42
Day Air attack on TF at 23,36
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Remarkably she's still afloat two turns later (unless she was scuttled).

[ctangus]

7/21 - 7/23/42

So Pac

While there's still a Jap TF near the Ellice Islands, it looks like I had a false alarm there. I unloaded all the troops I was unloading successfully. I cancelled some supply unloading (& fled!) but I have enough supplies on hand for the short term.

ASW TFs attacked subs at both Nandi & Noumea. I-26 took at least two direct hits but she's still afloat for now. RO-64 sustained several near misses.

SW Pac

Supplies are on their way to Kiriwana Island (about 1/3 of the way from Milne Bay to Rabaul). A brigade of the 32nd US Div & a Seabee unit will follow shortly.

DEI

Near Java four more Jap transports are hit, multiple times, by both LBA & subs. Several were carrying troops. At least two sank.

At Amboina I had 2 unsuccessful sub attacks. A Jap AK sank from earlier damage (I forget what caused it).

At Soerabaja a Jap AK hit a sub-laid mine.

I've started to fight back over Bandoeng, flying some LRCAP. On the 22nd:

07/22/42
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-21 Sally x 39
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
Kittyhawk I x 20
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

17 to 11 in my favor

Next day:

07/23/42
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
Hurricane IIb x 10
Kittyhawk I x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 4 damaged

3 to 0, again in my favor. I'm not 100% sure but I think I can keep this up & re-open Bandoeng.

Indian Ocean

The Japs continue to land at Port Blair & my LBA continues to attack them. I'm now facing 1 Div, 2 brigades, 1 regiment & 1 para regiment. Hopefully they're in bad shape, though. I'm opposing that with a mere 141 AV in level 3 forts. I need to hold against at least one attack so I have a chance to evac my LBA if things go wrong.

My LBA put bombs and/or torps into at least 7 Jap ships. Most of those had troops onboard. At least 2 sank.

Also, it looks like the Jap CVs in this area are going to refuel again at Rangoon. I've ordered 120 P-40Bs to sweep Rangoon from Akyab. (2 squadrons of AVG plus a 74 experience group that recently arrived.) After that 48 B-17s & 120 2E bombers (mostly Wellingtons) will attempt another naval attack, escorted by two squadrons of Buffalos. I'm basing that attack at Mandalay. Hopefully they'll all fly but there's thunderstorms predicted for tommorrow...

[ctangus]

China

Oops - I forgot. US Fleet boats staged 4 attacks near Hong Kong. 3 scored hits.

In a week or less I'll be ready to drive towards Haiphong.

[ctangus]

7/24 - 7/27/42

The game's slowed down a bit due to RL.

But I did finish my first turn one as Japan in the meantime. 4 BBs sunk at Pearl Harbor! [:'(] Anyway...

SW Pac

Patrolling bombers have hit another RO-boat near Milne Bay, but it's still afloat.

Also Bettys & Nells from Rabaul got through my LRCAP & attacked a convoy bringing supplies to Kiriwana Island. So far they've sunk 1 AK, 1 PG & damaged 2 more AKs.

DEI

My subs & LBA continue to beat up on Jap shipping - I lost count of how many sunk, though I have had maybe 3 more subs damaged enough to put them out of the war a few months.

The air-war over Bandoeng is going in my favor. Here's the latest example:

07/27/42
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 39
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
CW-21B Demon x 3
Hurricane IIb x 5
Kittyhawk I x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 damaged
CW-21B Demon: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 5 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 damaged

Indian Ocean

I'm losing the fight over Port Blair, however:

07/27/42
Day Air attack on Port Blair , at 23,34
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-49 Helen x 5
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 19
Hurricane IIc x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Runway hits 1

I've emptied my Hurricane IIb pool. [:(] Some high-experience P-40s are being added to the mix tommorrow. If that doesn't do the trick I'll withdraw for now.

I'm also trying to close Rangoon, but my weather has kept my bombers on the ground for 3 of the last 4 days. Fighter sweeps are flying, however, and there's fewer Oscars on CAP each day.

There's a little good news - CA Chokai, which ate 4 torps about 2 weeks ago, finally sank at Singapore harbor. Also the Jap CVs that were here have withdrawn & so I'm going to try to sneak in some supply & mine Port Blair.

China

Subs & LBA sink more Jap ships off the coast of China. I'm still waiting for supplies to make it to Hanoi before I advance on Haiphong.

Operation Slinky

In about two weeks I'll have everything together & be able to start loading at Auckland for the invasions of Buna & Lae. (Note to self: double-check the shipping requirements.)

I'm undecided about how much naval support to bring. I have 3 slow US BBs & an ANZAC cruiser force in theater. Tomorrow Wasp, Yorktown & North Carolina will leave Pearl & head to the area.

I'm trying to decide if I should send major elements of my fleet that are near Java. (Currently back at Derby.) I'd send Saratoga, 2 Brit CVs (now with some Seafires) and Force Z. I'd probably leave a Brit cruiser TF, a Dutch cruiser TF and a US slow BB TF (4 BBs).

I'd also send the 2 B-17 groups currently at Soerabaja. (I need to try to close Rabaul.)

I've got 3 more US slow BBs at Pearl I could send. Pennsylvania is at San Francisco down to 2 sys damage from after the Pearl Harbor attack. I don't like the idea of leaving Cent Pac uncovered, but I don't expect any Japanese moves there, either.

Pros: there's nothing like bringing overwhelming force to the party. I could then use the fleet to support a move I'm prepping from the Ellice Islands into the Gilberts.

Cons: There still might be an opportunity for a fleet engagement on favorable terms near Java, though I think I'd be outnumbered in CVs by 8-3. There's a lot of sigint showing units prepping for both Batavia & Soerabaja.

Hmmm.... I'd be interested in feedback.

[ctangus]

7/28/42

Cent Pac

2 CVs, 2 BBs & escorts have been ordered to the SW Pac area.

So Pac

Patrolling bombers sink another RO-boat.

Indian Ocean/Burma

For once there was no attack against Port Blair.

My level bombers finally did attack Rangoon:

07/28/42
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 32
Blenheim IV x 44
Wellington III x 66
B-17E Fortress x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 damaged
Blenheim IV: 16 damaged
Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 9 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
722 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 106

Recon planes report that Rangoon appears to have been evacuated after this.

China

Subs & LBA hit a few more Japanese ships off the coast.

But I'm still waiting for supplies at Hanoi!!! [:@] The China HQ has been there for several days now. Hopefully I'll see those supplies soon.

DEI

Subs sink another AP & damage a Jap DD.

And a large number of Japanese TFs have appeared near Java, apparently heading towards it. I've flown in more LBA to meet the threat & I'm positioning a Brit cruiser TF to be able to strike shipping at either Merak or Batavia tomorrow.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Hmmm.... I'd be interested in feedback.

Not sure if you still trust my feedback.... [;)]

I'd make Java my topmost priority, and sideline all other operations. I know this isn't a very sophisticated or intriguing strategy, but methinks its time for Operation Sledgehammer in the DEI. If you can keep Java just some more weeks - game over.

[ctangus]

[:)]

Yea, that's the plus to keeping those ships in the Indian Ocean.

On the other hand there's the "When KB's away the mice will play" idea...

My opponent has 8 Fleet CVs now - he's been operating them in TFs of 4 CVs each. My Indian Ocean carriers (Indomitable, Formidable, Saratoga) could fight one of those TFs, particularly now that I have some Seafires & TBFs, and particularly if I could weaken it with LBA first. And/or they might have a chance to really beat up on some Jap shipping.

My IO squadron couldn't fight against all 8 CVs. One of those TFs was last seen near Port Blair about a week ago - should be at Singapore now. The other TF was seen between Sumatra and Borneo about 2 weeks ago, withdrawing north. I'm sure he'll keep at least one of those TFs nearby. Hopefully I'll gain some more intel soon.

If I mass near New Guinea I could have 3 US CVs, 2 Brit CVs, 3 fast BBs, 5 slow BBs, tons of escorts, an ANZAC cruiser force and tons of supporting LBA. That should easily be enough to get my landings safely ashore. I'd be facing one operational airfield (Rabaul) & maybe portions of Baby KB. (Ryujo ate a torp a week ago in the Aleutians. Shoho was last seen (mid-June) up there too.)

I could then support my drive north from the Ellice Islands.

Hmmm... Still undecided. I'll make a firm decision at the end of the month, whether I get more intel on Jap fleet movements or not.

[ctangus]

7/29/42

While there was action elsewhere (Aleutians, China, Indian Ocean), it's all about Java.

Java

There's a zillion transports on the way to Java. See the pic. Jap CVs seem to be standing off (I think they're flying LRCAP over multiple hexes because I encountered a lot of zeros today.)

My subs launched 3 attacks against this shipping - two scored hits. LBA launched 15(!) attacks though only 5 scored any hits. Included is one torp from a Beaufort that hit CA Mayo. [:)] Only one transport was sunk, though. (Another was sunk near Port Blair.)

If I can get some surface forces into that mix I think I can have a field day. However, my Brit cruisers which are nearby are waiting one more day. I want to see if he's headed towards Merak or invading Batavia directly.

The Indian Ocean Fleet has sortied towards this area - it's just too tempting a target.

One oops - The CAG from Enterprise is at Bandoeng. Somehow the Wildcats were set to range 2 & my bombers launched several unescorted raids. I lost 13 SBDs & 8 TBFs today, with most of their pilots. [:(] Overall losses were 46 to 18 for the bad guys...

[ctangus]

I'm tempted to send the 2nd UK & 7th AIF Divs towards Batavia. Batavia has level 6 forts (+94%), 726 mines, but only 113 AV.

However I still have a lot of Sigint of units prepping for Soerabaja. I'm not sure if another landing is planned, or a march across Java is planned. If any of the units prepping for Soerabaja are detected in the Batavia area, I'll try to reinforce there.

Java's down to about 201K supply but I have another 27K starting to unload tomorrow.

[ctangus]

6/30/42

I doubt I'm popular with the Admiralty right now. I've now managed to lose 5 Royal Navy cruiser this month! [:(][:'(]

Once again the main action is near Java, but a few things have happened elsewhere.

No Pac

B-25s based on Umnak Island struck Jap shipping each of the last two days. Several hits were scored but nothing's sunk yet.

So Pac

Another I-boat sank near Fiji. I think it had been hit by a patrolling Dauntless earlier.

The Jap SAG near the Ellice Islands has disappeared each of the last 2 days.

Indian Ocean

The Japs attack at Port Blair:

Ground combat at Port Blair
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30906 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 680
Defending force 10264 troops, 75 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 193
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese max assault: 628 - adjusted assault: 302
Allied max defense: 180 - adjusted defense: 277
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 [:(]
Japanese ground losses:
817 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Allied ground losses:
206 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

I've pulled most my LBA out. I think I can withstand another attack or two but I can't afford to lose several TB & fighter squadrons permanently. I need the Swordfish for Operation Bad Judgement which should be able to launch within a week.

China

SB-2s, IL-4s & B-25s have been attacking Japanese shipping off the coast. Nothing's sunk but they've damaged several transports & at least one tanker.

Transports are spotted at Haiphong. Is he evacuating? My units at Hanoi just got fully supplied & I've ordered the advance.

Java

First my "Oops" for the day. I've been sailing between Java & Christmas Island with impunity for weeks. That just changed:

Day Air attack on TF at 17,62
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
A6M3 Zero x 21
G3M Nell x 40
G4M1 Betty x 47
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Electra
CA Exeter, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
CL Newcastle, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
CL Birmingham, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
DD Jupiter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

DDs Encounter & Electra were sunk in afternoon attacks.

I checked yesterday's Ops report - sure enough the Japs had spotted me (actually a nearby replenishment TF). Bah! I missed it...

Several Jap TFs are unloading at Merak. Elements of the Japanese 4th Division have landed at Batavia. Looks like there might be an invasion of Kragen coming, too, though I have a surprise in store for those troops.

I did have some, though not great, results against the Japanese. 3 APs & 1 DD hit mines. My subs torpedo 1 DD, 1 PG & 4 APs. Level bombers on patrol hit 7 Japanese transports. Level bombers flying dedicated attack missions hit 1 Jap DD, 1 PG & 1 AP. 1 transport sinks.

My naval forces are sprinting into the area.