Threadwar 3x3 - Japanese Animal War

[Mike Solli]

5 Jan 42
 
Things are beginning to heat up in the Aleutians.  With the Allies knowing the whereabouts of KB (supporting the PM invasion), Speedy sent the Lex and Enterprise to the Aleutians.  Dauntlesses sank an AK at Kiska (troops already offloaded) and damaged 3 AKs (with troops and supply) at Adak.  I have a SAG (Tama and Kiso along with 5 DDs) in the area and they are heading north until the US CVs leave.  Also, I had sent 4 Shiratsuyu class DDs to attack the shipping at Dutch Harbor.  They caught a convoy of 2 DDs and 4 AKs.  The DD Hatfield went down and the DD Gilmer took heavy damage (27 5" hits), in addition to damage to 2 of the AKs.  The Ariake took very minor damage from one shell hit and the Shiratsuyu took a shell that penetrated.  Her damage is 35-13-17.  She'll make port without a problem, but she'll have to head to the home islands for yard time.  The 4 DDs also caught a convoy composed of a PC and MSW, damaging the MSW Oriole.
 
Elsewhere, A TIV.a put a torpedo into the CS Mizuho.  Her damage is 5-27-10.  She'll head for port to repair the damage.  A Martin put a 250 lb. bomb into an AP (causing 39 casualties) which is part of a series of TFs heading for Palembang.  The assault on Palembang should happen in the next day or two. 
 
On the ground, our Rowboat Corps struck again.  This target was Guiuan.  I landed troops on Kiska, which will be liberated tomorrow.  Faber bombed Manila with 47 Nells (one lost to Flak) causing 803 casualties along with 9 guns and 3 vehicles. [X(] [:D] Ground bombardment caused another 223 casualties and a gun.  At Singapore Bruce shelled (ground bombardment) the doomed Allied garrison causing 183 casualties and 3 guns.  The Allied ground bombardment caused 214 Japanese casualties and a gun in return.  The defenders of Singapore are still powerful, but their days are numbered.  In Pt. Moresby, a combination of Japanese naval, air and ground bombardment caused 563 Allied casualties and 3 guns.  The pitiful Allied response caused 11 Japanese casualties.  A couple more turns of this and my forces will assault the town again.  I also have the 8th Base Force which will arrive tomorrow and begin to unload.

[Mike Solli]

6 Jan 42
 
Reinforcements:  PC CH27 at Tokyo and AK Nisshun Maru at Osaka
 
Well, I was right.  The Aleutians did heat up, but not in a way we wanted.  Speedy's CVs hit my 4 Shiratsuyussinking 3 and heavily damaging the 4th.  The rest of my naval forces there scattered northward away from the US CVs.  In addition, 2 APs and an AK took minor damage from Allied medium bombers.  It wasn't all one sided though.  The DD Gilmer sank from old damage from the day before.
 
On the ground, we captured Kiska.  PM was bombarded by land, air and sea again.  Singapore and Manila were bombarded too.  We also landed at Koepang and Palembang.

[Mike Solli]

7 Jan 42
 
Reinforcements:  8 Fleet HQ, 22 Special Base Force and Kure 3 SNLF all for the SE Fleet.
 
Today was much better, but still bloody.  The Dutch sub KXIV put 2 torps into an AK near Palembang.  In return, our valiant ASW forces sank her with 2 DC hits and over a dozen near misses.  Banzai!  It's always nice to sink a Dutch sub early in the war.  The Seal caught one of our APs south of Davao and put a torpedo into her.
 
We had a small SAG composed of the CL Natori and 4 DDs find 4 Allied DDs.  Three (Van Nes, Pope and Evertsen) were sunk and the Alden was heavily damaged.  In return, we had slight damage to a couple of our DDs. 
 
In the air, we had a nice day too.  Some of our Nells staging out of Kuching and Kendari caught the DDs John D. Ford and John D. Edwards and sank them.  Speedy's CVs in the Aleutians put down the 4th DD (Ariake) that was damaged yesterday.  We had an AP and AK damaged by Allied air power. 
 
Our invasion of Palembang continued.  We had a PC and AK damaged by mines at Palembang. 
 
On the ground, our Rowboat Corps struck again, this time Salamaua.  We also took Lucerna, SE of Manila.  Manila is now the only base in the PI still in Allied hands.  We bombarded Palembang, PM, Manila and Singapore.  We continued to land troops at Koepang.  Tomorrow we will shock attack Palembang deliberate attack PM and Koepang. 

[Mike Solli]

8 Jan 42

We had a lackluster day on the seas today. We failed to sink any Allied shipping. The Allies, on the other hand did better. The S-39 sank an AK near Shanghai and another AK sank from old damage. Allied aircraft damaged 3 APs (all from the Palembang invasion force) and a mine in Palembang damaged another AP.

We shock attacked Palembang today. The level 3 forts were enough to hold us off, but we caused a couple hundred casualties. Elsewhere, we landed at Samarinda. Faber deliberate attacked Manila reducing the fort level to 0, but otherwise he was not successful. More forces moved into Singapore causing another shock attack. We had over 5k troop casuaties to 735 Allied casualties (ouch [X(]) and the fort level remained at 6. Pt. Moresby was shock attacked too, and we successfully reduced the fort level from 3 to 0. [:D] Banzai!

[Mike Solli]

9 Jan 42

The Japanese forces continue to spread out in all directions.  For the most part, the Allies are reeling but continue to pick at us.  They need to just give up. [:D]
The Argonaut fount the TK Toa Maru at Truk and put a torp into her seriously damaging her (35-54-0).  Fortunately, Truk is a lvl 8 port with AR and Fleet HQ support.  She'll survive.  ALso, the Narwhal put a torp into an AK SW of Singkep and a recon Hudson put a small bomb into another AK.
The Rowboat Corps is still busy, taking Boac today.  Palembang fell with relatively little damage to the valuable resources.  Oil production is 1107 (93 damage) and resource production is 577 (23 damage).  Bruce stationed 87 fighters there to protect the oil.  Pt. Moresby also fell, pushing the Allied troops into the Owen-Stanley mountains to starve.  I moved a daitai of Zeros and Bettys there as well as some Army Dinahs for recon support.  I'm moving out a NLF to take Lunga.
In China, Robert attempted to move in Ichang with 4 Chinese corps.  My counterattack pushed them out again.  Robert did a nasty little attack NE of Honan shock attacking my brigade and pushing it out of the hex.  Normally, it wouldn't matter, but by taking that hex, I won't be able to surround 4 Chinese corps to the east.  I'm rearranging my forces in the area to create a strike force to take the hex back.  It'll take some time, but I have time since I have to fight my way 3 hexes north to Honan before I have a chance to surround the Chinese.  Finally, bombardments occurred in Manila and Singapore.  I suspect Manila may be running low on supply because the Allies failed to bombard us.

Lae upgraded to lvl 2 airfield.

[Mike Solli]

10 Jan 42.
 
The AK Kentuckian sank in Dutch Harbor from old damage.  A B-17 put down an AK and two other AKs were damaged due to Allied air power. 
 
We continued to land troops on Samarinda and also landed troops at Mersing.  Bombardments occurred at Manila and Singapore, as usual.  The Allies once again did not bombard at Manila.
 
Guam and Tarawa upgraded to lvl 2 airfields.

[Mike Solli]

11 Jan 42
 
Some of Bruce's Nells attacked the port of Teloekbetoeng damaging 2 AKs in port as well as other miscellaneous damage. 
 
We had a close call near Camranh Bay today.  The Pike got a bead on the Hosho but fortunately missed her.  The S-37 sank an AK 3 hexes from Sorong and took a couple near misses from it's escorts.  Two APs took minor damage from 4E bombers flying out of Java (B-17s and LB-30s).
 
The Rowboat Corps struck again - the target today was Finchaven (sp).  Samarinda fell and the BF withdrew into Balikpapan.  The usual bombardment at Singapore and Manila with Allied response only at Singapore.

[Mike Solli]

12 Jan 42
 
Allied LB-30s damaged 2 AKs today, at the cost of one bomber. 
 
Japanese troops landed at Mersing and Gasmata and the Japanese bombarded Singapore and Manila.  This time, there was no Allied response to the bombardment.

[Mike Solli]

13 Jan 42

With KBs job done ensuring that no one interferred with the invasion of Pt. Moresby, it has been heading toward Kwajalein to refuel and then north to try and catch the 2 US CVs currently sitting at Dutch Harbor.  Unfortunately, KB ran over the Trout.  There was no damage to either side and only Japanese DDs were spotted, but Faber thinks that the Allies now know where KB is.  He's still heading north, but doesn't think he'll catch the US carriers.  I am reconning Dutch Harbor with subs and Mavis.  We'll see what happens. 

A Japanese bombardment force of 2 BB, 2 CA, 1 CL and 6 DD sailed to Merak and caught 3 Dutch PTs.  The Dutch ships were promptly turned into matchsticks.  Bruce's Nells returned to Teloekbetoeng and damaged one of the AKs it hit the day before, along with more damage to the port facilities.  Also, the DD Alden sank in Dutch Harbor from damage received from Japanese DDs a week ago. 

A Hudson put a 250 lb bomb on the Kongo.  It caused no damage. [:D]

On the ground, I took Gasmata, trapping the remnants of the Allied forces that once owned Rabaul. [:D] Now they'll starve in the jungle there.  There were various types of Japanese bombardments of Singapore, Merak and Balikpapan.  In Manila, Faber deliberate attacked.  His plan is to deliberate attack about every 3rd day with bombardments in between.

Townsville (Allied) upgraded to level 4 airfield.
Hollandia upgraded to level 2 airfield.

[BrucePowers]

It is now 1/25. Palembang and Batavia have fallen.

Speedy's subs are still a pain in the @#$[;)]

Maps to follow.

[BrucePowers]

I promised maps. Here is the first. The DEI is currently my primary area of responsibility. Singapore still holds but Java and Sumatra are coming under Japanese control.

[BrucePowers]

Still 1/25/42...

The Southern Dutch East Indies. Mike is in control here and has moved very well in offensive operations here

[BrucePowers]

Here is the situation in the Phillipines. Unfortunately, Manila has yet to fall.

[BrucePowers]

Here are New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands and the Solomons. Mike is firmly in control here

[Mike Solli]

14 Jan 42
 
I apologize for the delay, but I spent most of October in training for an upcoming deployment.  I see Bruce couldn't stand it and spilled the beans [:'(].  I'll try to give details and get you caught up as quickly as possible.
 
Today we received a naval reinforcement:  PC CH25!
 
A Lily on patrol caught the Sculpin on the surface with a 100kg bomb.  Hopefully, this will have caused enough damage to send her home for repairs.  Some nasty Allied subs have mined Truk.  One of my APs found one. [:(] 
 
There was a lot of activity near Teloekbetoeng.  Bruce landed there.  APD 37 found a mine there and a couple of APs were damaged from Allied 2E bombers.  Nearby in Merak, the Trusty put 2 torps into an AP and an SBD put a bomb into another.
 
On the ground, we took Mersing.  Only 1 of 80 resource centers was damaged.

[Mike Solli]

15 Jan 42
 
Today, another Lily put a 100kg bomb into the Pike.  Nells put 2 800kg bombs into a Dutch AK.  On our side, another AP found a mine at Merak.  A Dutch PT boat make a rare successful attack and sank an AP (although I can't remember where it happened).  At Telo, Allied air power was rather successful.  Three AP were damaged as was the DD Sagiri (40-12-39).  She'll join the long list of ships heading home for repairs. [:(]  New landings for the day occurred at Lautern and Jolo.

[Mike Solli]

15 Jan 42
 
Today, another Lily put a 100kg bomb into the Pike.  Nells put 2 800kg bombs into a Dutch AK.  On our side, another AP found a mine at Merak.  A Dutch PT boat make a rare successful attack and sank an AP (although I can't remember where it happened).  At Telo, Allied air power was rather successful.  Three AP were damaged as was the DD Sagiri (40-12-39).  She'll join the long list of ships heading home for repairs. [:(]  New landings for the day occurred at Lautern and Jolo.

[Mike Solli]

16 Jan 42
 
Three Dutch PTs found a transport convoy of 5 APs, 1 PG and 3 MSWs.  Our spunky ships sank all 3 Dutch boats!  Banzai!  Aren't the Dutch running out of PT boats yet?  Geez.
 
On land, we took Jolo, Merak and Teloektetoeng.  In addition, the Rowboat Corps finally made another appearance, this time at Arawe (next to Gasmata).  At Telo, 3 Allied AKs were scuttled.
 
That damn Trusty put down APD-37, which was heading home after hitting a mine. [:@]  Also, 3 APs were hit by aircraft and a 4th hit a mine.  The Kongo was hit by a 250 lb bomb, but didn't notice.

[Mike Solli]

17 Jan 42
 
A good day for us.  Two (of 4) Dutch PTs were sunk (for no damage to us) from a Japanese bombardment group (2 BB, 2 CA, 1 CL, 6 DD).  Also, Nells caught and sank the AS Otis, AR Dewey and a PT (US this time) in Manila harbor.  On our side, the Jintsu and an AP each took a 250 lb bomb.
 
On the ground, we took Maumere.  In China (yeah, we're actually fighting the war there too), I pushed out Chinese forces 2 hexes south of Honan.  My victorious forces are now marching north to liberate Honan.  Also, Chinese forces attempting to move to the hex west of Yangku were sent scampering back to Yenan.

[Mike Solli]

18 Jan 42
 
Relatively quiet day today.  An AK hit a mine in Truk harbor. [:@]  Their subs were successful too.  The Grayling hit the TK Zuiyo Maru, heavily damaging her (I don't expect her to make it) and the Dutch KXV damaged an AP.  Another AP succumbed to old damage.
 
We landed on Tawi Tawi and Raba, as well as the daily bombings of Singapore and Manila.