Dispatches From the Pacific CHS 2.08, scen 159 vs Chez

[bradfordkay]

Jan 13, 1942
Pearl Harbor

The Yorktown has joined Halsey east of Christmas Island, absorbing the Minneapolis/Phoenix SCTF into her screen. We now have four carrier task forces operating in concert in the central Pacific, a force which should be strong enough to slow the enemy should he decide to make a serious effort in this area. We do not have the facilities yet to extend Halsey's reach into the NEI, nor the supplies yet in Australia to operate in those waters as of yet.

The transport Crescent City with the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion reached Bora Bora this evening and should start unloading the men and equipment tomorrow. The 47th USGS Engr Rgt has been diverted from Penhryn Is to Suva, as I feel that it is best to get that airfield up to a size that can handle B-17s ASAP. WE have several unescorted convoys carrying supplies and fuel from the west coast to our depots in the south and central pacific.

As escorts become available, we will start transporting more infantry units into the central and south pacific. Of course, we still do not have enough available units to send to all the islands we want to fortify. The big question is who will get there first - failing that, maybe we can get there soon enough with the most...

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac





Jan 14, 1942
Darwin

Enemy subs struck with a vengeance today, sinking the coastal steamer Fortuna off Jolo Is. All hands were lost, as well as the 24 men aboard from the 20th USAAF BF. The interisland freighter Capillo was sunk in the Makassar Strait while carrying supplies to Manila.

The Zuiho task force was reported by our search aircraft to have reached Palau today. I am diverting the Gar and Grayling to cover the route between Palau and the Japanese home islands in case she is sent home from there.

TC Hart, Adm.
Asiatic Fleet





14 Jan, 1942
Batavia, Java, NEI

The american B-17s struck at Kuching today with little to show for the effort. I am sending the CW-22s of Vk-Afdeling 2 to Pontianak to provide better intel for future efforts against Kuching.

The submarine Truant reports putting two torpedoes into a large freighter ESE of Singapore. Lt Cmdr Haggard claims that the ships decks were crowded with men before the attack, but that he was having to disengage due to the efforts of the escort.

A P Wavell, Gen'l
commanding ABDA forces






14 Jan, 1942
Chittagong, India

Aerial search reports that several enemy transports have been offloading troops at Victoria Point today. The Jap also appears to be fortifying the Tavoy airfield heavily, and has stationed about 30 bombers there - but so far no fighters.

H R Pownall, Lt Gen
SEAC

[bradfordkay]

Jan 14, 1942
Pearl Harbor

The small freighter Bridge has safely reached Lahaina harbor, where she will attempt emergency repairs of the torpedo damage. The ship has extensive flooding damage, and the issue is quite in doubt.

Halsey is probing towards Baker Is with his four carriers, prior to returning to Pearl for replenishment and new aircraft. He is not to engage enemy carriers, unless he clearly has the advantage in numbers. These instructions are most likely moot, as there has been no sign of any Japanese carriers anywhere in the vicinity, but it never hurts to be prepared.

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac





Jan 15, 1942
Darwin

The coaster Ethel Edwards, carrying more troops of the 20th USAAF BF, was torpedoed off Tawi Tawi this morning. She is making for Tarakan, in hopes of landing her passengers. The tanker Cohina was torpedoed in the Makassar Strait while steaming from Tarakan to Balikpapan. It is hoped that she will make port.

TC Hart, Adm.
Asiatic Fleet






Jan 15, 1942
Manila, PI

The enemy forces seem content to regroup after driving our army from the Luzon plain. There has been considerable aerial activity at Clark Field, as he appears to be building for an assault on Manila - where the daily bombardments continue.

D MacArthur, Gen'l
USAFFE

[bradfordkay]

14 Jan, 1942
Talasea Breeze Plantation
New Britain

To: Japanese Foreign Ministry
c/o Swiss National Consul
Canberra, Australia

I am writing this letter in protest of the most horrific treatment of private, non-military shipping. Our family yacht, the schooner Lauralaba, has been subjected to repeated aerial attacks by forces of the Japanese Empire. I wish to emphasize that such small pleasure craft have no military significance, and any attacks upon them can only be the act of a most barbaric governement.

On behalf of the New Britain yachtsmens association, I am placing on record this protest, in hopes that it might remind the Japanese governement that even war must be conducted in a civilzed manner.

Cordially,
Rupert P Walsingham, Esq

16 January 1942
Via the Japanese Embassy, Bern, Switzerland

To: Rupert P Walsingham, Esq

Dear Sir,

It was with utmost sympathy and astonishment that your communication was received. It is not, nor has it ever been, the policy of the Japanese armed forces to attack defenceless, private yachts, especially one as ugly as yours.

Our peaceful forces have also come under dastardly attack by the so-called allied forces operating in the area. They have attacked and desecrated Japanese property throughout the Pacific region. I can assure you, sir, that these attacks upon your vessel are the result of the allied pirates masquerading as Japanese forces.

I can also assure you, sir, that these pirates are being dealt with as we speak. To ensure your safety, your best course of action is to sail to Rabaul and be placed under our protection for as long as this allied menace exists. You, your wife and your very lovely, young, alluring, desireable, sweet, innocent, and sexually inexperienced daughter would be made most welcome.

Best Regards in Peace,

Ishikara Isuruku
Vice Counsel



EDITOR'S NOTE: this was the latest "send turn" razzing between myself and Chez... It has been a fun game.

[bradfordkay]

Jan 15, 1942
Pearl Harbor

The 9th Bombardment Squadron (12 B-17Es) has been relocated from Oahu to Palmyra Is. This is one of the B-17E squadrons that is attached to SouthEast Asia Command, but we are still in the process of building up the airstrips in the south pacific so that these aircraft can reach Australia. The Suva airfield is hte one most likely to be finished in a reasonable amount of time, and these squadrons can reach Suva from Palmyra, but not from Oahu.

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac







Jan 16, 1942
Brisbane

The schooner Lauralaba was sunk off Finschafen today by Japanese bombers operating out of Rabaul. It is believed that all hands and passengers were lost, said passengers not being military troops but rather the families of planters from the Talasea area.

Japanese subs are now operating in the Coral Sea. It would be advisable for all important convoys to be escorted through this area from here on out.

G. Brett, Lt Gen'l
ComSoWesPac




16 Jan, 1942
Batavia, Java, NEI

Enemy bombers from Kuching paid a visit to Soerbaja today, returning the compliments the USAAF had been giving them in their home field. Damage to troops and facilities were minimal, but four allied fighters (1 P40B, 1 Br339D, 1 CW-21B and 1 Hawk 75A) were lost while only one enemy aircraft (Zero fighter) was shot down.

The coastal steamer Merkus was sunk by torpedo aircraft off Singkep Is today. She was attmepting to run the Malaccan Strait to reach Kuala Lumpur. It is doubtful that any shipping will be able to reach KL now.

A P Wavell, Gen'l
commanding ABDA forces



16 Jan, 1942
Singapore

Georgetown fell to the invaders today. The allied troops on the mainland have withdrawn to Alor Star, but the Penang troops were cutoff and forced to surrender.

C. M. Wavell, Col
Malaya Army

[bradfordkay]

Jan 16, 1942
Pearl Harbor

TF1262, composed of 1 DD and 3 TKs, was intercepted by enemy subs today. Tankers Emidio and LP St CLair both took two torpedoes each, and are returning to Pago Pago. The tanker William H Berg and the Destroyer Kane are continuing to Suva where their cargo is most desperately needed.

Enemy transports have been sighted about 500n SW of Midway Island today. A second enemy task force is somewhat east of the main body, in a position that would be a good location for carriers if they were covering an invasion. I have ordered the seaplane tender Williamson and a supply convoy to withdraw from Midway posthaste. I have also sent forward the 23rd Bombardment Squadron with their B-25C medium bombers. It remains to be seen just how much damage our bombers can do before the enemy lands.

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac





Jan 17, 1942
Manila, PI

Japanese carrier aircraft, operating out of Clark Field, hit Manila's port facilities today, with moderate results. The freighter Bisayas, already under repair from earlier bomb damage, was hit by two bombs.

The enemy army has been fairly inactive,settling on bombardment attacks at Manila and Cagayan. Our counterbattery fire at Cagayan has not been very effective as of late.

D. MacArthur, Gen'l
USAFFE

[bradfordkay]

Jan 17, 1942
Pearl Harbor

A large enemy invasion force is headed for Midway. At present they are about 300nm W of the island, with a covering carrier task force lying 180nm WSW off Midway. The Midway supply convoy is only 240nm E of those carriers, while the Williamson is closing on French Frigate Shoals and should be safely clear. The Oklahoma task force has been ordered to withdraw from the area, as there isn't sufficient air cover to guarantee their safety.

Air strikes from the island were ineffectual today, while an enemy naval bombardment last night and a carrier strike in the morning nearly closed the Sand Island airstrip. It is my fervent hope that the bombers will perform better in the morning. Best estimates are eighteen freighters and twelve troop transports in the approaching armada, covered by at least two CVs with battleships as escorts.

Defending Midway Island is the 161st Regimental Combat Team and the 6th Marine Defense Battalion, supported by the 113th USAAF Base Force. At present they have sufficient supplies, with the convoy leaving port with only 450 tons still aboard. There is a second resupply convoy coming in from Seattle, about 1800nm out at this time.

Halsey is very out of position, about 600nm E of Baker Island. I have issued orders for him to return to Pearl. I am not committing his carriers to the battle until I have a better idea as to how many carriers are supporting this operation. It would be prefered to let them wear down their air forces against land based air before meeting our carriers.

The tanker St Clair sank while trying to return to Samoa. The tanker Emidio collected survivors, but her arrival is not guaranteed either.

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac





18 Jan, 1942
Singapore

The Malayan front has been quiet recently, if anything involving a shattered army can be considered quiet. The Dutch coastal steamer Alfoer has collected the wayward pilots of 100 Squadron. Personally, I shall consider it quite ironic if their evacuation vessel should be sunk, as the Trusty has - of course - safely made port at Trincomalee.

C. M. Wavell, Col
Malaya Army


edit: the Oklahoma TF is east of French Frigate Shoals, not at it. Duh!

[bradfordkay]

Editor's Note: real life has caught up with me, and it has been very difficult to come up with the time to maintain both the game and the AAR. The game has been a lot of fun, so it's the winner.

I see that I've got a few readers, so I'll put up a question. Should I try to maintain the dispatch format (and possibly fall further behind the game) or just do a series of general situation posts and cut back on the dispatches (mainly make them the fun ones)?

[bradfordkay]

Jan 18, 1942
Pearl Harbor

The Japanese invasion fleet reached Midway and commenced landing operations today, following an overnight bombardment by light cruisers. During the landing operations a destroyer was seen to hit a mine which did heavy damage. The IJN carriers launched no attacks. Instead, they pulled back slightly.

The initial landings have been dealt with harshly, but the sheer numbers still being unloaded does not bode well for the defenders of Midway. I have ordered the 436th BS and VP21 to return to Oahu. I am leaving the 23d BS' Mitchells on Midway in the hopes that they can do more damage against the invasion fleet than they have done so far. VMF211 is still on Midway, as are the six PBYs of VP44.

C Nimitz, Adm
ComCenPac





Jan 19, 1942
Darwin

LCdr McKinney of the Salmon reports torpedoing a tanker in the midst of the Philippine Sea, about 300nm west of Saipan. The tanker was heavily escorted by at least four minesweepers. It is our belief either that there were more tankers unseen by the Slamon, or that the tanker was fueling short ranged minesweepers being brought forward due to our minelaying efforts - or both.

An ASW group is now operating off Davao, so it seems time to send the subs elsewhere.

TC Hart, Adm.
Asiatic Fleet





Jan 19, 1942
Manila, PI

Japanese troops continue to invest Manila, bombarding it while more troops are being brought in. On Mindanao, they follow the same strategy with their siege of Cagayan.

D MacArthur, Gen'l
USAFFE





19 Jan, 1942
Batavia, Java, NEI

Enemy long ranged torpedo bombers operating out of Kuching sank the tramp steamer Alfoer off Palembang today.

Fifty twin engined army bombers attacked the port of Singapore today, further damaging HMS Rover, the submarine under emergency repair.

Long ranged torpedo bombers operating out of Singora aerodrome sank the gunboat Dragonfly as she was trying to escape Malaya.

A P Wavell, Gen'l
commanding ABDA forces

[bradfordkay]

Update time: I haven't been able to devote the time necessary for the AAR as started. I'm sorry. The game has been progressing, but Chez is slow and methodical. It's like watching a lava flow headed for your village. It's coming slowly but inexorably.


The game has reached Feb 3, 1942.


Midway is a stalemate at the moment, but because I cannot counter the KB this early in the war, it will fall. Chez wasn't expecting me to have already delivered an RCT there so he doesn't quite have 2:1 yet.

I am mainly countering the Midway invasion with submarines. The Destroyer that hit the mine did sink at Wake, as have a couple of PCs. On today's turn (2-3-42), the Pollack put a torpedo into the AV Kamikawa (I think it was her) on her way to Midway. I guess that it will be a little longer before he has some search planes flying from there.

I sent an AVD to French Frigate Shoals and was running the squadron of Coronados from there, but I had failed to notice the TF running short on fuel. It withdrew to PH and the Coronados are grounded with no air support. Yes, I did remember to send supplies, but I had no tankers in pearl to send fuel. I did have a couple of fleet oilers (AO) that I did not want to risk. I have three AVDs in Pearl, so I'll rotate them wile it's still safe from air attack.

Four of the six heavily damaged BBs have reached the west coast. The last two, California and Tennessee are about 2/3's of the way to Seattle. I had Halsey's four CVs escort them to the halfway point because the last plotted position of the KB was just west of Midway - if his subs had spotted the BBs the KB was in position to dash over and nail them. I'd be very surprised if he does it so close to the west coast now - even though I pulled my carriers back to Pearl before the cripples reached LBA range.


Manila fell on Jan 31st. That's the fastest I've lost it since my first game. I should have fought pulled my Clark Field troops into Manila instead of fighting for Clark and retreating into Bataan.

I got screwed early on when the troops (one PA Res Div, a US Fd Atty Bttn and a PAF base force) retreated from Lingayen not into Clark Field but rather into San Fernando. On AB's map, San Fernando is northeast of Lingayen and does not abut the Clark Field hex, so these troops had to travel by road through the mountainous hex of Baguio and into Clark Field while the Japanese could move straight in from Lingayen.

In both the Philippines and Malaya his choices of landing beaches have been superb, designed to seperate my armies and herd them where he wants. I had given my troops marching orders on Dec 7th, but his attacks went where they needed to be - just in time.

Japanese troops crossed the Johore Strait on Jan 30. With four of the Indian brigades up north (one at Kuala Lumpur and three at Alor Star) I don't expect that Singers can hold out very long. But, hey, it's already the 3rd of Feb so it's not like he's that far ahead of shcedule! And I do hold Kuala Lumpur with the Central Malayan Army (okay, 1 Indian Bde, III Corps HQ, and two base forces).

Yes, the Northern Malayan Army has been forced out og Georgetown into Alor Star. There the three Indian Bdes hang on with an LAA Rgt, the 2d ISF Base Force and 223 RAF HQ. I have the Dutch Lockheed 212 transport squadron at Sabang on the tip of Sumatra evacuating 223 RAF HQ. It's about 3/5ths done on that one. Previously, it had withdrawn 111 RAF Base Force which has since been shipped off to Trincomalee.

The highway to Australia is being constructed. I have an engineer unit at Bora Bora that has already brought it up to a size 2 port (from 0). Suva is soon to be a size 4 airfield. I have engineers on the way to Christmas Is from Seattle.

A large base force and an RCT have just arrived at Palmyra. I have another RCT about a week out of Canton Is. The TF delivering the forces to Palmyra will return to San Diego and collect the 2d Marine Div which is bound for Pago Pago. in the meantime I sent a NZ Inf Bde to Pago Pago. When the 2d Marines arrive, this unit will probably go to Fiji.


In the DEI I have been fortifying Batavia, Soerbaja and Koepang. I have, however, left some troops in all Javanese ports except Merak. I don't want his landings to be that easy. I have the USAFFE air force redesignated as SWPac and operating out of northern Australia and the DEI. I have also brought up two of the SWPac A-24 squadrons to Tarakan and Menado. This has resulted in the previously reported 1000lb hit on the Zuiho. Recently the Ryujo was playing very close to Tarakan, but weather prevented a strike on it. I still think that Chez doesn't know that there's A-24s in Tarakan. He's studiously avoiding Menado these days...

Force Z has been best used so far as a "fleet in being" in the DEI. Kuching fell just before they were to reach the invasion TFs there. I didn't feel it worth risking BBs on an already lost port so I withdrew them the evening before they were to hit. Now they are waiting in Kendari for furhter developments. Northern Java is too dangerous with so many Nells in Kuching and Johore Bahru.

Speaking of which, no shipping has been able to move anywhere near Malaya or Palembang. I seem to be able to move through Batavia so far, but anywhere closer to Singapore is safe only for subs. I try now and then (the dutch and filipinos have a lot of tramp coastal freighters), and they've all died gruesome deaths.

[herwin]

In reality, the Japanese patrol bombers operated out of Saigon until some time in February because the torpedo workshops were back there, and there were no suitable airfields anywhere more advanced. In addition, if the Japanese had brought them up, it is likely ABDA air operations against the forward fields would have smothered any offensive operations.

The net result is that allied shipping operations to Singapore are unrealistically bloody in CHS--in reality, the 18th British Division and other reinforcements were brought into Singapore during January.

[herwin]

In reality, such an early invasion of Midway was a major strategic error. Midway is a small flat island, and a B-17 group of three squadrons based on the major Hawaiian islands would have been enough to keep it continuously 'smothered' (unusable as a naval base or an offensive airbase) until the US could bother to send over an invasion force to deal with it. Japan had no major fleet base anywhere near, so the IJN could not keep fleet units in the area for more than a week at a time, and then only with a major logistic effort. The game doesn't model this well, but basically you should be able to use a Japanese presence on Midway to train your pilots. Stuff Hawaii with air, garrison the islands, pull your ships back out of airstrike range, and invite the KB in. You should be able to put a bunch of hurt on the Japanese carriers.

Meanwhile Japan falls behind on what is really important--conquering the Southern Resource Area.

[bradfordkay]

Actually, Midway is out of range of the B-17s from Oahu - at least bombing missions. They and B25s can transfer there, but not reach it on missions. When I get extra transport, I plan to open up Lihue (sp? - don't have the game up and running right now) and work towards developing French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island. For now, Midway will be handled with subs and - later - the occasional CV air strike (but not until I'm sure that the KB is somewhere else).

It's not just CHS that allows the Japanese to smother the Singapore area with naval air strikes, it's the game overall. CHS experimental mod actually cuts the accuracy of air dropped torpedoes by 25%, which I'm beginning to believe is not enough...

As far as the conquering of the SRA, yes he has fallen a little behind schedule. However, the Luzon force will be available soon to make up for that - he didn't make the original mistake of putting too few troops into the fight on Luzon. Thus he will have excellent PI bases to use in his assault on Borneo, Celebes and Java.

I have been surprised that he has yet to land at Brunei... this one is wide open and just storing fuel for him. I have been using it to refuel subs so they can stay on station longer.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Actually, Midway is out of range of the B-17s from Oahu - at least bombing missions. They and B25s can transfer there, but not reach it on missions. When I get extra transport, I plan to open up Lihue (sp? - don't have the game up and running right now) and work towards developing French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island. For now, Midway will be handled with subs and - later - the occasional CV air strike (but not until I'm sure that the KB is somewhere else).

It's not just CHS that allows the Japanese to smother the Singapore area with naval air strikes, it's the game overall. CHS experimental mod actually cuts the accuracy of air dropped torpedoes by 25%, which I'm beginning to believe is not enough...

As far as the conquering of the SRA, yes he has fallen a little behind schedule. However, the Luzon force will be available soon to make up for that - he didn't make the original mistake of putting too few troops into the fight on Luzon. Thus he will have excellent PI bases to use in his assault on Borneo, Celebes and Java.

I have been surprised that he has yet to land at Brunei... this one is wide open and just storing fuel for him. I have been using it to refuel subs so they can stay on station longer.

You're right, but that makes Midway both useless to the Japanese and unsupportable once America decides to take it back.

Good luck!

[bradfordkay]

Yeah, I think that the Midway invasion in our game had two purposes: 1) he wanted to force a confrontation with my carriers and 2) it gives him a base close enough where his patrol aircraft can keep tabs on shipping in and around Pearl Harbor.

As far as the first in concerned, I'm not about to send in my carriers willy nilly. If I don't have a good idea as to where his carriers are, mine are not getting involved until late '42.

And for the second, okay - I can allow that. Later on, I'll make him pay for it - but right now is not the time to risk my few carriers. They have had none of the AA upgrades and it was only after he landed at Midway that the Lexington finally exchenged her F2As for F4Fs.

We shall see where his next move is...

[bradfordkay]

Next day.. Feb 4, '42

The New Zealand Hudson's flying out of Canton Is attacked and put one 250lb bomb into an AO at Baker Is. It's way too early in the war for him to be using AOs as fuel transport rather than fleet oilers, so the question is: WHAT is coming down on Canton Is or Pago Pago?. I've got an RCT about a week out of Canton Is (the TF carrying the RCT from Panama is being followed by a TF with the three Idaho class BBs), and already put a Kiwi Inf Bde ashore at Pago Pago, but I'll bet any invasion down that way will be even better supported than the Midway affair.

If the KB shows up down there, then my carriers will probably strike at Midway. For the present, all four carriers are operating together, following Halsey in Enterprise.

If the KB shows up before the RCT reaches Canton, I'll put them ashore at Christmas or Palmyra.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Next day.. Feb 4, '42

The New Zealand Hudson's flying out of Canton Is attacked and put one 250lb bomb into an AO at Baker Is. It's way too early in the war for him to be using AOs as fuel transport rather than fleet oilers, so the question is: WHAT is coming down on Canton Is or Pago Pago?. I've got an RCT about a week out of Canton Is (the TF carrying the RCT from Panama is being followed by a TF with the three Idaho class BBs), and already put a Kiwi Inf Bde ashore at Pago Pago, but I'll bet any invasion down that way will be even better supported than the Midway affair.

If the KB shows up down there, then my carriers will probably strike at Midway. For the present, all four carriers are operating together, following Halsey in Enterprise.

If the KB shows up before the RCT reaches Canton, I'll put them ashore at Christmas or Palmyra.

My experience is that your intelligence collection is better than you give it credit for. Load up the last two weeks of reports in Bohdi's utility, and manually do some ship tracking. You should get a fairly good idea of where all his major assets are, telling you where it's safe and not so safe. I suspect he's interested in putting out a line of search bases to cover the Marshalls and force your shipping further east. Although the game models fleet logistics very poorly, he'll have to pull his major naval assets back eventually. He needs the KB to take out your ABDA air. Use a raiding strategy to show him that he's overextended.

[bradfordkay]

I can't get Bodhi's utility to work, so I've been manually tracking the ship sightings from the beginning. The last sighting of the Japanese carriers was off Midway, though I still have no idea as to how many he had used there. He only struck once at the island with his carrier aircraft - the numbers used could have been from as few as three carriers, or could have been them all. He's been pretty cagey so far in how he uses the KB, so we sit at an impasse of sorts. He hasn't fully expposed the KB anywhere, and I haven't nibbled at the occasional bait he puts out.


Oh, I forgot to mention that today's turn showed a TF just off Brunei, so it looks like he's finally going to grab that oil field. I've been surprised that he left it alone for so long. I already withdrew the RN base force from there and have been sending the occasional tanker there to pull out some fuel or oil, but most of it has been accumulating there for him to ship home.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I can't get Bodhi's utility to work, so I've been manually tracking the ship sightings from the beginning. The last sighting of the Japanese carriers was off Midway, though I still have no idea as to how many he had used there. He only struck once at the island with his carrier aircraft - the numbers used could have been from as few as three carriers, or could have been them all. He's been pretty cagey so far in how he uses the KB, so we sit at an impasse of sorts. He hasn't fully expposed the KB anywhere, and I haven't nibbled at the occasional bait he puts out.

You should be able to find several track reports a week on the KB, which will allow you to work out its movement. Its emissions security is poor and you can usually spot it in your SIGINT reports. Plus he's within search range of Midway for much of it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that today's turn showed a TF just off Brunei, so it looks like he's finally going to grab that oil field. I've been surprised that he left it alone for so long. I already withdrew the RN base force from there and have been sending the occasional tanker there to pull out some fuel or oil, but most of it has been accumulating there for him to ship home.

Consider patrolling. If you go on-station with a reaction range that covers the base, you can hit him as he unloads.

[bradfordkay]

I have a couple of subs waiting just offshore there, as well as a squadron of A-24s at Tarakan (within 500lb bomb range of Brunei and Miri - or is it Mili?). This will be the best I can do, as Nells control the skies in the area - so no SCTFs will be involved.

EDIT: the A-24s have been waiting to nail his mini-KBs that have tried to control the Celebes Sea. They are a second squadron to the one that put a bomb into the Zuiho a month ago, and so far he hasn't found them. I'm hoping that they'll be an unpleasant surprise.

Mainly what I am after is to make his expansion as expensive as possible...

I've also been manually tracking the sigint, but really haven't seen any definite sightings of the KB via sigint since the beginning of the game. There's the occasional turn that I forget to check it, but I've got a MS Works database where I type in the daily sigint reports, so I've had a pretty good idea as to what is happening.

[bradfordkay]

Families Horrified By IJN Attack Upon Local Speedboat Racers

February 5, 1942
Northern Mindanao Star Reporter
Cagayan City, Mindanao, PI

Rosalita Rubio, mother of the defending champion Umberto Rubio, thought that she was going off to Mambajao to watch her son race in this years inaugural Q-class speedboat race. Umberto had spent the past months rebuilding his engine and practicing to defend his series championship and today was to be the jump start to his third consecutive year of glory. Last night he and his parents enjoyed a rollicking dinner Mammaduce's Seafood Hut, from which he strolled down to sleep on his boat, next to those of his competitors.

A few short hours later, the coastal village was rudely awakened by the sounds of heavy gunfire, much closer than those heard every day in the mountains ringing Cagayan City. Mrs Rubio ran to the hotel balcony to see her son's boat explode into a fiery ball. Moments later she recognized muzzle flashes from ships of the Impreial Japanese Navy, which were firing into the racer's compound. All three boats scheduled to race in the morning, Q111, Q112 and Q113 were desatroyed in the attack, with their crews barbequed in their sleep.

"My husband is at our lawyer's office this morning, looking to file a wrongful death suit against the Japanese government. It's absolutely dispicable for any government's representatives to so blatantly attack peaceful children playing in their watercraft. We hope to come away with a ruling that will make all governments in the future think twice before allowing their people to act so barbarously."






Well, finally Chez' navy managed to get the better of my PT boats at Cagayan.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cagayan at 43,59

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Yukikaze
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
PT Q 111, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT Q 112, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT Q 113, Shell hits 1, and is sunk



There were three occasions where he sent a bombardment TF to hit Cagayan and ran into trouble with the PTs there (I was rotating them in and out of Cagayan, reloading them in Manila). On the first and third visits, a destroyer was torpedoed each time. On the second visit the Ise was torpedoed. This time he got smart and sent in a light cruiser and a bunch of destroyers to take out the PTs.

The two squadrons of US PTs still in the area are now going to work out of the NEI. The loss of Jolo Is ended the ability to sneak them into Tarakan and back to Cagayan.

He did land at Brunei, and the TF was attacked by the A24s, with one AP hitting a mine left by O-20. One AP was hit with a 500lb GP and a second received two of them. I think that I can safely leave that squadron there one more day before any SCTF can reach Tarakan to take it out (besides, I have three US PTS there!).

Japanese reinforcements landed at Midway. I'm trying to decide if it's safe yet to send Halsey to strike at enemy shipping there...