RHSEBO Test vs Historiker: central Pacific heats up

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

14 December 1941

An AP reached Midway - as did a bombardment group - triggering what must have been a spectacular night light show. I don't know what happened on the Allied side (except that Midway garrison seems unexpectedly weak) but aP Taiyo Maru hit a mine - and several destroyers were damaged by what must have been coastal gunfire. Later in the day a second air strike went in from the Ni Butai onto the airfields- and recon says only one Patrol Plane remains (3 more were killed today). The ground attack failed - for the peculiar reason that only a tiny detachment of 0 troops and 0 guns attacked - but the force ashore now is large and well supplied - so we ordered a general attack by what must be a reinforced Regimental Combat Team (or brigade) tomorrow. We ordered Ni Butai to switch to ground attack mode - except a unit assigned to hunt the sub in the hex - and a contingency anti-naval strike unit.

A minesweeping TF arriving at Miri ran into trouble with a minefield - and abandoned the mission - one ML being badly enough damaged to split into a separate Task Group - both retiring on Manila. This is unusual for WITP minefields.

USS Pampano successfully evaded attack by 5 DD at Lahaina - a dismal failure for IJN ASW - which indeed is dismal at this stage of the war - but not usually 100 per cent so. The same thing happened at Legaspi vs S-38 - again 5 DDs failed to score at all. USN was equally unsuccessful at Pago Pago vs I-13- when 5 DMS failed to score any hits.

An Allied bomber attack out of Batavia was cancelled due to bad weather. A sister attack out of Singapore came in with only 4 bombers - and achieved nothing - both night raids.

Two surface battles occurred at Kavieng - revealing a six ship cruiser force - and it won both actions. Two small APs were sunk as was a landing craft unit. The force retired NORTH of Rabaul - it is very close to a Japanese naval air base WITH bombers - and also to Admiral Tanaka's force - the most combat effective in the IJN. That the Japanese group was present was revealed by bombardment of Rabaul - and that the air planes were present must have been known - so I cannot explain this reckless move? Nevertheless - the Nells at Rabaul failed to score a single hit - either vs a lone AK (which withdrew an Allied detachment on New Ireland I think) OR againt the cruiser group. I moved in more Nells - at 96 per cent morale - and lots of Kates - in case he does not manage to escape. I ringed him with recon and naval search units - but we need another day to see. There are also submarines between him and home - half a dozen of them - and they might be able to get a cripple. It is possible he didn't expect Rabaul to fall when he ran in - covering his evacuation ship - and being there decided to raid anyway. My main concern is "why didn't recon out of Lae, Hollandia, Rabaul, Kavieng and Truk OR on several ships in the area spot these ships?"

Ro-27, Ro-43 and Ro-48 torpedoed transports running from Singapore to Batavia. Ro-27 also missed a shot at a different target. Ro-43 scored on its second target. All these submarines are torpedo depleted and must return to Saigon to rearm. Other vessels inbound will miss the gigantic stream of TFs. But one sub at Pontianak may be able to get in shots tomorrow.

B-17s raided Saigon again - I have no clue why - and failed to do any damage. They came in at 10,000 feet and may have been trying to mess up fighters (in UV days we used to say "the best fighter is the B-17"). That high altitude meant they were not very likely to hit anything - and our fighters were all flying other places - so we only opposed them with AA fire. It was not very effective- only 2 were damaged.

We saw an aircraft symbol at Victoria Point yesterday - so a large Ki-48 force out of Cambodia went in - doing heavy damage - but the planes had all left. It may be he sends flying boats forward for a single day - and then runs after taking a picture of the area. Tomorrow the Ki-48s will support an attack on Georgetown - which mysteriosly has managed to get some defenders - after days of recon we finally see possibly two brigades at the front.

A very strange sweep by 3 Zeros was unopposed at Singapore - no damage to either side - and no Allied flights. WHY I got 3 planes in such a sweep is a true mystery as well. A much more sensible sweep by 40 Zeros (and 2 recon planes of different types) over Manila similarly encountered no opposition and did no damage.

A massive Chinese air strike on the 116th Ind Mixed Regiment failed to score any damage - for reasons unclear to me. This position - on a road LOC on the South bank of the Yangtze near Wuhan - was invaded by 7 ROC formations. They attacked - also without effect. I ordered the unit to fall back - I am not interested in contesting this area until AFTER I own the main rail LOC. This he left undefended - we have two units 30 miles into the last hex of it - and securing it should both isolate three ROC field armies - and give strong logistic support to the Central Yangtze area. AFTER reducing these we will move farther west - supported by rail logistics.

For reasons I no longer remember I sent a surface group to Wuchow - up the Pearl River - possibly a bombardment which was not properly set to mess up the airfield there - and he attacked it with anti-naval air strikes. This cost him a Vildebeeste - and gained nothing. This group will bombard Canton tomorrow. Many units at Canton will bombard tomorrow as well. It is now isloated by the landing of IJA 4th Division on its LOC - and we need to set the combat status of units (which is weak until the day AFTER they first attack) - and begin eathing these units. A day of massive air strikes from all points on Hong Kong was followed by ground attacks - which achieved 5 to 1 odds in spite of Fort level 4 - and reduced the Fort level without causing disruption of the attackers - indicating a weak defense. We repeat the process tomorrow - against defenders now black for lack of supply. The manpower count is down to 13,000 defenders - not sure how that happened either. Once Hong Kong falls we will set about eating the invaders of Canton. They CAN leave - but only by trail to a hex with no supply available in it. Go there with my blessing. A later air strike vs the same surface group by the same Vincents failed to achieve anything and also was undamaged.

Nells attacked AMC Westralia - but failed to hit her.

A medium sized air strike on Chiang Mai Thailand scored a total of 2 hits - and was undamaged.

Nells attacked the already damaged barge group near Rangoon - and sank it.

Kates - boldly operating with no ground support off still damaged Kota Bahru - hit the ASW group near Jahore Bahru - hitting a DMS with a 100 kg bomb. [The Kates in IJA in RHSEOS scenarios carry bombs]

KB- operating near the US West Coast - launched three air strikes vs AKs - hitting and sinking all of them without losses.

Linguyan fell without any defense - the first time I have ever seen this in a game not against the AI. Units immediately began marching for Clark - complimenting a drive already begun via Baguio/Balinta Pass. Clark also appears undefended. 16th Division is consolodating at Lucena - there is no opposition South or East of Manila either - and it takes time to get into position with supplies to do something. We are building an airfield at Viggan up and moved more aircraft into Baguio - which should get lots of air support by tomorrow - some marching in (formerly at Viggan now at San Fernando) and the rest flying in from Formosa.

Viet Tri (beside Hanoi) fell. This means the French Foreign Legion will retreat automatically and appear at Kungming ( I think ).

[IKerensky]

I think you really need to communicate what you expect from this game with your opponent. By reading his AAR it is clear you didn't make your point clear enough about it being a testing game AND the house rules. Not clarifying the situation would only result in more frustration from both side... and especially yours.

[el cid again]

15 December 1941

The turn started with an AK hitting a mine at San Fernando. Historiker is very aggressive with raiders, submarines and mines (and if the first action off Midway is a lesson, carriers) - a naval warfare guy (if not of the US Navy sort). His mines and submarines are almost as disruptive as Polynicks are. And his raiders are without peer - although - as today shows - at risk of losing much more than they gain. Two more AKs hit mines at Sinkawang - this is more like it - and IRL such a field would abort the mission (having no minesweepers - and requiring some days to make safe) - but since Matrix refuses to go back to its 1.0 UV mine effect ratings - it is just a harassment - as Matrix likes (but I do not).

Most submarines are out of torpedoes (of those hunting the stream running from Singapore). Ro-27 was not - so she hit an AK near Banka Island - at Bleitung. It is probably too late for any others to get in range to participate. But bombers from Sinkawang became active again - and managed several more hits.

A night raid by 3 B-10s out of Palembang failed to do anything. A night raid with undoubtedly the same object from Batavia was cancelled because it was socked in (bad weather).

SS Trout got detected in the Ni Butai hex near Midway - a surprise as I thought I was tricky in placing it (maybe there are LOTS of subs around?) - but six DD and two ASW armed cruisers all failed to hit her.

A cruiser destroyer flotilla bombarded Canton for the first time, causing 71 casualties. The ground attack at Hong Kong reduced fortifications from 3 to 2 - and inflicted more casualties than usual for such fort levels - but didn't surrender. We probably have to reduce fortifications to zero first - but it remains in the black - and we continue to hit it hard with bombers.

A small river TF bombarded Nanchang in Central China - but inflicted a surprising 107 casualties. Both sides are bombarding here but not attacking - him I don't know why? - me because I want a rail LOC first (got it yesteday) to build up - and to reduce other pockets to free up troops.

A landing party at Shortland encountered mines - but was not damaged by them. It fell to the automatic shock attack. Another party landed at Nauru Island - which didn't fall - but took heavy casualties to the shock attack. Nauru takes a few days to reduce due to the supply sink. This is the closest TF to the enemy cruisers that was not turned around - I figured he would not go here since he went WEST from Kavieng. He then turned South for Australia - and took three air strikes from Rabaul - Nells and Kates. Four cruisers were hit in the first, one in the second, two in the third. Although the combat reports show only bomb hits - two were torpedo hits - and I hope to be able to get some cripples with submarines now. Nells might get another shot - if there are any with good enough morale. And Tanaka might be able to go after a slow ship - we will see.

I-158 put 2 torpedoes into raider AMC/CL Manoora at Brunei - but she STILL managed to detect, engage, close with and sink an inbound damaged AVD. She was aggressive - and closed until six inch guns were in range - then hit of the first shot. Impressive - in an enemy held port hex no less (although nothing much is there yet).

A medium sized raid at Rangoon encountered no planes in the sky or on the ground - but did medium scale damage. No sign of any opposition in Southern or Central Burma. Pretty much the same in Malaya - the two units "defending" Georgetown were the static fort and the supply sink - and they did not stand up to the first division assault - supported by air strikes. Malaya is a race to capture resources and bases - until of course we get to Singapore - and this is the first test of the reduced supply sink at KL.

The attack at Midway failed to take the place. This is an unlucky place for us - site of our worse disaster in the war so far. I wonder what else? At sea this guy is creative and bold - and if it sometimes costs him (what is a raider doing at Brunei? Or a whole cruiser force at Kavieng? deep behing enemy lines) - one must be careful of valuable assets. We need to get some eyes out.

[el cid again]

Checking the status of things, I found the Ni Butai near Midway has problems of bomber count in some units (about half size) and morale (after days of combat vs Marine AAA). I found the entire division is ashore (about half disabled) - with adequate supplies - and I don't want to keep shock attacking - which happens when we land. It is premature to land support units. So support TFs are mostly diverted to Johnston - where we have other issues - except a ship sent to French Frigate Shoals to set up a recon base for flying boats - and one loaded ONLY with supplies - to keep feeding the division. Three bomber units transferred to Johnston to rebuild while Ni Butai retires onto the Replenishment TF to refuel/rearm.

Planning is not geared to this campaign - it assumes time to build up bases and then using them to reduce objectives. Since we take whatever we attack, we need to gear toward using EXISTING infrastructures. Instead of unloading our strongest unit (5th Division, the only Class A motorized division IRL) at Johnston and reloading on smaller ships (my policy if enemy attack is likely) we diverted it directly to Lahaina. We need support units for Hawaii - and the division at Midway needs time to rebuild even if it takes the place - so we will use the units planned for Midway (had it fallen on day two or three) to move forward - and others in the stream can divert to Midway whenever it is ready for them. The division engineers can repair things damaged.

We plan an airborne invasion of Malaya - because there is no opposition in sight - and we can sieze resource centers with infrastructures in tact and fly in troops (rather than sail them in). We have problems in Malaya - all of a movement sort - we cannot find non-static enemy units - but two units got lost on trails - and we need time to consolodate and capture everthing except Singapore. Once we are assembled - and being feed by undamaged things behind us - we will reduce the place - which may be a chore as it may have lots of units (if they didn't run in that transport stream).

The cruiser force SE of the tip of New Guinea that got hit three times by air attack is two hexes from Adm Tanaka's flotilla. It will attempt to get ahead of the path and withdraw along it to engage damaged units. Four submarines are also able to get onto the path with torpedoes - one more is too damaged to risk - and number six has no ammunition of any kind. We found some fresh long range bombers - and the Kate units are good enough to hurt anything still in range. The problem is lack of supplies at Rabaul - everything is flying them in - and every unneeded plane was sent to Truk to stop demanding supplies there. We may yet sink several of these - and most are already damaged. At least one is very unlikely to be in good shape.

[el cid again]

16 December 1941

This was a pretty good turn for Japan - in spite of two disappointments and some tactical problems. It is ironic that Historiker - committed to a Sir Robin strategy generally - is doing better where he chose to fight (that is, in China). It may be he regards the Chinese are more expendable - which is more or less the case (except that Chinese troops don't really like to fight - and usually don't try very hard - unless paid to take an objective - something Stilwell experimented with). Even so - the situation in China is not necessairily bad - just not entirely clear yet - and he may come to regret the sending of troops and planes there to insure it does not go badly. The good news of the day for the Allies is that the cruiser force in the Coral Sea got clean away - in spite of 4 submarines, a surface action group moving over its probable track, and 3 attack squadrons supported by air recon (the same three that hit it yesterday with many bombs but - in spite of visual reports - apparently not with torpedoes). We do not see them at all - and they must be South or Southwest of the area now. We are not chasing them - or allocating much air to hunt them - but are returning to our job - securing bases in the area.

The turn opened with a night landing at Kuching - coastal guns put two shells into an AK. Later the 4th Mixed Regiment took the place on the first assault. It will no longer be an irritation - and in a short time we will turn it into a forward base.

Mine clearing operations continue at Saigon, and are not completed. Same for Bako and Takao up on/by Formosa. An AK hit a mine at San Fernando (our Luzon base of operations) - but we are not yet dealing with that field in an organized way. We will send a minesweeping TF when Bako and Takao are cleared.

B-10s did night raids on Sinkawang from Palembang and Batavia - without any effect. He does not like this base, but night attacks by small numbers of bombers at medium altitudes is not the way to hurt it.

9 DD detected and engaged S-38 at Legaspi - without effect. Later they got another go - and 5 of them detected, engaged, hit and sank S-38 (apparently before the other 4 even had a shot). 5 other DD tried to attack USS Dolphin at Lahaina - but failed to score at all.

The Main Body ( a heavy surface TF with 4 Fujimoto class Battleships ) engaged the ROYAL NAVY 4th PT Boat Squadron at Lahaina - not sure how they got to Hawaii - but never mind - they won't be going home again.

The four six gun CA and six DD bombarded Canton again - and will keep doing so until its infestation by three ROC Field Armies is gone. Air strikes continued to focus on Hong Kong, where the initial invasion group attacked again on the ground (follow on echelons - except one that came in on landing craft - were not able to reinforce them). This attack took the place - 9 days into the war and 9 days ahead of history - in spite of the major diversionary effort by three corps cutting their LOC. Tomorrow most of the airpower shifts its focus to Canton - and the firsst general attack will go in there. A division and the lead element of another division (the rest is still at Canton) will move down the rail line to reinforce. Two units are trying to block the trails - but if he retreats today - they probably won't be able to stop him. 4th Division is on the rail line he came down - he won't be going that way - nor to Hong Kong - but there are two trail exits he might use unless we put a unit on them. I am of a mixed mind - clearing Canton restarts significant and important production - not clearing it means we get to eat three field armies - which however will regenerate in only 30 days even if we do. The great victory here is psychological - if it is possible to impose caution on this commander- who seems reckless. MAYBE he learned a lesson. Maybe. And there was a cost - we did divert the shipping in the area - and the air power might have done other things. But NOW we have the biggest military force in one place in China - with lots of air power - and shortly we will have Canton back as a logistic base: so maybe we use them to secure the area?

That wierd armed AMC Mannora is still floating - it bombarded Brunei without effect. Twice! In spite of two torpedo hits - which seem to prevent it going anywhere. I thought he was trying to evacuate troops - or reinforce the place - when this ship was detected nearby heading toward it - which is why I diverted a submarine returning home to deal with it.

Two AKs probably torpedoed in previous days running from Singapore - otherwise bombed out of Sinkawang - sank. Another AK took 2 torpedoes by I-10 in the same area - and probably will be scuttled or will flood out or burn out.

A very strange air battle took place over Phnom Penh - 3 B-17s vs 3 Ki-27 Nates. Mystery Number One: why attack this place - with NOTHING present? Mystery Number Two: why did it get intercepted - since there is neither CAP nor LRCAP covering it? MAYBE it was a distant interception of a raid on Saigon - someone posted this happens - but I never saw it before. Everybody went home OK. Another strange air attack occurred at Sorong - I think Historiker has his own ideas about what is worth expending supply points! NOTHING is there either - but 3 Hudsons came in covered by Buffalos. They did nothing - and there was nothing for them to do either - but we DID fight here on day 2 and he may think my airborne raiders are still around. It was an advance Dutch recon point - and we took it out by air assault.

31 Zeros swept Singapore - saw nothing - did nothing - and went home - but turned out to be very demoralized by the experience - not sure why (unless it is just days of air combat - they are now resting - this is the Yamada DHD or HQ element- and it has done very well - so it can rest if need be). Those Zeros should have been escorting Sallys - which came in unescorted instead - and in spite of no figher opposition - all of them were either destroyed (7) or damaged (18) - by AA - and they achieved no hits whatever.

The other disappointment - or concern anyway - of the day occurred at Midway. Imagine my surprise when I see air strikes going in - from the Ni Butai in that very hex! I ordered her to retire - sent 60 per cent of her bomber squadrons to Johnston Island to rebuild - and had no intention for such a weak force to be doing anything. But her CO had other ideas - he refused to abandon troops ashore unsupported - and he sent his ASW tasked bombers in as ground attack (I had no idea AI was up to such shenanigans). The fact the ground assault succeeded may just save him from a courts martial too. But now - what to do? Support units ARE now needed here - and they are all headed away from the island - due to a need to get eyes out to be sure the vast empty area to the NE is not hiding that pesky carrier - or two - or even three by now?
We DID task ultra long range Bettys out of Lahaina - but they probably won't detect at great range (remember Coral Sea just today??? anybody). I do have one ship with a tiny land task force - 9 squads of infantry - 9 squads of air support - and a few other things - in position to land at an island SE of Midway - so we can put flying boats there tomorrow. I sent 8 forward to Midway itself - and flew in air support for it - today. AFTER these eyes are out - we will send in the majority of suport units and supplies. But the one AK still at Midway will continue to land supplies - and the one AK with the forward air support element is at risk. Everybody else is falling back on Wake to reassemble - just in case. We have been here for days - and there can be no doubt he knows about it. I am very disconcerted my attempt to get the CVL force - with air units at half strength and demoralized - out of there failed. On the other hand - all three squadrons rebuilt successfully and morale recovered on 4 of 5 of the bomber units.

Lahaina exchanged air strikes with Oahu for the second day in a row. For the second day in a row we won both engagements decisively - but won't be able to put bombers over Oahu tomorrow - the units survived and have high morale but much damage from AA fire. The Me-109s have covered themselves in glory - killing more than 80 planes in two days in four engagements - more than two per pilot. It went from a unit with zero scores to the best Japan has in 48 hours. Not bad. Today 17 Me-109s from this unit - aided by 4 Ki-44s on their first combat sortee -
led 9 Ki-48s on a raid which encountered 32 fighters of four types. 11 were destroyed (at a cost of 1 Me-109) - and most of the rest (5 squadrons) of the enemy fighters fled the area rather than keep fighting (unlike yesterday when they had high morale and kept on and on and on). The few that stayed managed to shoot down 1 Ki-48 - so did AAA - but the 7 remaining killed 2 bombers and a C-47 on the ground - inflicted 38 casualties, 5 guns, 2 vehicles and 4 other hits - not at all bad for opposed bombers in small numbers. The reciprocal air strike on Lahaina was by 3 Dauntlesses escorted by 11 fighters. Opposed by 12 Me-109s aided by 3 Ki-44s and 3 Petes - 5 fighters and 2 bombers were destroyed in the air. The remaining Dauntless stayed on course, engaged torpedo cruiser OI - and was destroyed by it. Not a very good showing for the Allies at all. In these two battles 19 Allied aircraft were lost - but only 1 Japanese aircraft. Almost all the victories went to the Me-109s - but even the Petes managed to score - hanging out to pick off stragglers no doubt. The Ki-44s seem to lack experience - which is indeed logical - since this is the first day they ever saw action.

The Wenchou Transport Group of junks had run far to the SE - East of Formosa - and a surprise long range anti-naval strike by Ki-21 Sally's put two bombs into her. A brand new CVL in the next hex was fat dumb and happy - set to hunt submarines. I set her to finish the job tomorrow.

Bettys out of Saigon attacked 2 PG at Jahore Bahru - without effect. The units at Sinkawang - now experienced AND supplied - did a lot better. All 12 Ju-88s (the only ones I have) - aided by 4 Jakes - hit 2 AKs with ten bombs - and one of them is going to sink or burn out soon. Ki-21s out of Thailand also did well - puting no less than 9 bombs into a barge group - which probably won't make it either.

An early ground assault on Nauru Island failed to take the place - but more troops will arrive tomorrow and it should fall in two days to three small units - two naval landing units and a light tank company.

The 2 battalion of the First Airborne Brigade (that is, B unit in WITP terms) took Tavoy Burma by air assault. It was not defended. It immediately began to march on Ye. Lead elements of 33rd division will fly into Tavoy - beating the 55 Division unit marching through the jungle by probably 10 days. 55 Division is supposed to be first into Burma - but we are ahead of plan.

[el cid again]

The turn began with a tiny land force landing at Lysan Island SE of Midway - just in time - they took it for a forward recon base - and later on this day two carrier TFs showed up in the area. I transferred in 8 Mavis flying boats. The flying boats at Midway - lacking air support - were half ineffective - so I had to send in ground support elements - which I could not due until the runway was fixed - which it was). I task air transports more heavily than bombers.

We finally cleared the mines at Takao - but not Bako (one force was doing both) - so it will focus only on Bako tomorrow.

3 Submarines continued to hit transports (6 attacks - 1 had gun hits only when torpedos missed) in the stream of ships leaving Singapore for Batavia - and it is a long line - so I sent in two more subs. 2 of the three that attacked today are out of ammunition. The other shifted position - I don't stay in the same place lest an ASW force get me. The Ju-88 squadron out of Sinkawang also cleaned up on the same stream of transports. Full supplies mean that base is now effective - in spite of continuing ineffective night raids by B-10s out of Palembang and Batavia. The airborne brigade first regiment left on the empty transports for Saigon. Ju-88s put 4 bombs into 2 PG in the morning and 5 bombs in 1 AK in the afternoon. They also failed to hit an AK in the morning.

The cruisers hit Canton again. A gigantic battle - more than 3:1 in fact - was still rated as 0:1 odds - I don't understand. It is my base. I have 60000 supplies, good morale, and I cut his LOC. I have hundreds (plural) of air sortees coming in day after day? Units assigned to leave the hex also didn't march. Never mind - sooner or later pressure will pay off. We bombard tomorrow. We has 691 casualties to his 473.

More to follow - going to work. It was an exciting turn - with dramatic air battles at PH and a suprise enemy appearence of carrier TFs (two of them) North of Midway.

[String]

On strange air attacks. he might have forgotten them on "commanders discretion"

[el cid again]

The opening round at PH was when 16 Zeros, 17 Me-109s and 7 Ki-47s made a sweep - the first time land based Zeros were used in this theater. They were met by 33 fighters of 5 types - including P-400s which should not have been present. [Game mechanics permit you to change planes that would have had no way to reach this area - and Historiker did that - a technical violation of the primary RHS house rule - if it is impossible you cannot do it - no doubt innocently by not thinking about what it meant?] No fewer than 19 were lost - and they achieved no kills. 5 different squadrons bugged out - but not early - indicating deteriorating morale but still pretty high.

Later in the day 20 Allied fighters of 4 types led 34 bombers, also of 4 types, in an anti-naval raid on Lahaina. They were met by 21 fighters of 4 types - including 3 each F1M2 Petes, Zeros and Tojos - the rest being Me-109s. These killed a further 7 fighters and damaged several bombers - but ALL the bombers penetrated. [This is an RHS feature: most large raids penetrate - even against stacked CAP - as was used here. For reasons unclear CAP settings were not honored - there should have been more fighters up than went to PH - but it was reversed - AI has a bit of a mind of its own.] No less than 7 ships were attacked - 1 CA, 4 CL, 1 AK and 1 AO - NONE of which were hit - but one bomber was shot down - by Oi - the second day in a row she got a AA kill.

We didn't send in any bombers because there were too many disabled. Unexpectely bomber morale was not down - but we needed a day to recover damage. After two days in a row he expected another bomber raid - and I sent the sweep because I hoped to find his CAP to stop bombers. But really my object here is to suck supplies out of PH - which is already almost black. These massive daily fights are winning with fighters - where I am better off - what I lack the bombers to do - and what my battleships cannot do vs the CD of PH - hurting his GROUND defense. Sucking supply = rendering squads disabled - and then lost. He left too many units (34) at PH - and 2 are divisions - and 1 is the worlds biggest CD unit. These - and all the active air units and AAA units - are eating supplies - and that will kill PH in a way that only months of bombing could do. My Ki-21s are just now coming back - a SINGLE raid rendered them useless and they went all the way back to Maleolap to recover.

At first it was carrier fighters intercepting raids on ships at Lahaina. Now it is land based fighters intercepting raids on ships at Lahaina. Also - in both cases - fighters escorting bombers over PH. These air battles are winning what we failed to achieve on day one - killing the Hawaiian Air Force - and more critically - the supplies that make the CD and ground units effective. I am however surprised at the scale of the victories being won in the sky: an Me-109 unit with 30 planes has 70 kills; a Ki-44 unit with 9 planes has 10 kills - neither has fought in any other place at all. The Zeros did well also - but their statistics might be mixed with other air combats. And in the context of these high performance planes - the Petes are also doing well. None are being lost - but they win an average of 1 kill and 2 damaged every time they engage. Alone they would not do that - but in a stacked air combat situation - they do very well in the lower altitude regime - just as should be the case.

The 7 field armies at Nanchang China bombarded - revealing 38,437 troops - and that our two reinforced divisions have 61,372 troops. The bombardment had no effect. An IJA attack on a guerilla regiment with only 274 men left forced it to retreat. Two other IJA attacks on field armies on the rail main line West from Shanghai forced both them off it. This is unrealistic - these divisions in effect marched through a Japanese line - in two days - which is pretty much nonsense - but an effect of the poorly developed same hex combat system (which is a good system if it is better implemented for ground combat). Even so I am pleased - I wanted this LOC - and I ordered one of the divisions to move into the only remaining hex - so we now have main line LOC from Shanghai to Nanchang - a major goal. Another attack on a guerilla regiment only attritted it. Other bombardment attacks by both sides had minimal attrition effects in the China area. 23 ROC bombers hit one IJA division - and scored zero - which seems odd.

Lead elements of 48th Division took Clark - which was undefended - and the main body marched in during the day. Recon says there is nothing at Bataan except the static CD unit - so we ordered 65th Brigade to go there - which normally we would not attempt at this stage - before it is recovered from landings and ground combat - unreinforced - since it is likely to take the position and open the gateway to Manila Bay. 48th Division will recover today. 16th Division is still assembling at Lucena. We are bringing in more air power and more supplies - and may be in a position to assault Manila in a couple of days. We are already beside it on three sides.

Kuantan Malaya fell to the first assault - defended only by (two!) industrial forts (a mistake - now fixed). We are having trouble catching the enemy in Malaya - and everything left not static is already all the way to Singapore - out of range of tactical air power. Kota Bahru is up as a major airfield (as of today) and Georgetown will come up tomorrow. 18th Division will start reducing Kuala Lumpur in 2 days - but a tank brigade will attack the hex nect to Singapore as soon as tomorrow - and it too appears undefended - although there are lots of ships in the hex - maybe there are units being evacuated from there? Tactical air had to content itself hunting ships - Kates in IJA service put 5 bombs into an AK at Jahore Bahru. [IJA uses a different version of the Kate than IJN does - using a different loadout optimized for land combat units - and unable to carry torpedoes at all]

Follow on landings at Nauru Island resulted in a second shock attack - which still failed but is weakening the position - and it reveals we have over 1000 men ashore now. They have 2 armored cars and 32 guns ranging from MMG to 75 mm field guns. It will fall in a few more days - possibly two.

Ro-32 engaged on the surface (logically enough) on the Irrawaddy at Bassein - hitting an AK twice. I am mystified by this - I must have a sub on AI control - and Historiker and I (and all my other testers) are using an unusual open river pwhex - we are not supposed to permit big ships up rivers - but I myself never send subs upriver either - so this was a surprise to me as much as to him.

That blasted AMC Manoora - probably unfit to move - bombarded Brunei again. But we are flying in air support - and bombers and fighters set to naval attack moved in today - so likely its days are numbered even if it does not flood out or burn out (it took 2 torpedo hits). B-17s bombarded Brunei today - scoring 1 oil hit - but they will encounter fighters if they come back tomorrow.

Chang Rai Thailand was occupied by a half brigade combat team.

The Wenchow Transport Group - which ran to seaward and got hit by land based IJA bombers yesterday - was engaged by a very strange air strike from a new Japanese CVL: one Me-109 led one Kate - which missed. Nevertheless it seems unable to move more than a hex a day. The three CVEs of the San Butai will try again - with two sqaudrons of Kates and three of fighters set to naval attack. [One low morale unit is set to ASW - as are a number of seaplane detachments]

The poor 4th Burma Barge Group - already damaged - took 10 more hits from Ki-21s near Bassein Burma. Several Allied ships damaged on previous days sank during the day - and so did one Japanese submarine.

[el cid again]

Throughout the day recon continued to report to both sides contacts in the Central Pacific area. We have recon at Marcus, Wake, Midway, Kwajalein, Johnston Island, Lahaina and on many TFs and submarines. To this we will add another recon base tomorrow right on the forward edge of the battle area. There are a score of TFs in the area SW of Midway - mostly transports and tankers - also the replenishment TF and the Ni Butai CVL force. This force is not in ideal shape for combat - having engaged one day longer than intended - some of its units are depressed in morale. But almost all units are back at full strength and back on board - and it is still sailing away from the enemy and towards fuel - to replenish the fuel and bombs used in combat while it rebuilds morale. The bigest problem is the historically problem ship CVL Ryujo. She has 5 points of system damage - unusual for me to allow in combat - and becauae of her the force stayed at cruising speed - so as not to get more system damage. She also has a bomber unit with only 5 Kates on board - the other 13 are at Johnston still not ready - and will probably need 2 more days to transfer in. Her figher unit is also the only one in the force below full - 18 out of 22 planes - the Me-109s lack the range to transfer out and build up. But this force has 5 fighter squadrons - all superb - 3 of which have high morale - and they may do well in air defense. The force will meet the tankers tomorrow - and will withdraw on Johnston for at least 2 more days - rebuilding morale and air units. Related to this - 4 Japanese Fujimoto class battleships reached Kwajalein. 2 are fit enough for combat to meet my high standards - and sailed independently to join the Ni-Butai - supplimenting its one CA as a heavy escort. [The other 2 will repair back down to 0 damage].

Today 13 F4F-3s led 13 SB2U-2 Vindicators in a naval strike on AK Terukawa Maru at Midway - putting 5 bombs into her and setting her on fire (again - she was damaged in the FIRST battle of Midway). She stayed behind with two missions - offload supplies to the Midway force which is short of supplies - and succer any enemy carrier force into thinking there was a TF at Midway. She cannot go home and should be scuttled - but I won't do that - to continue to succer carrier air strikes to no purpose (which then cannot be used on anything else). The undamaged AK at Laysan Island is a different story - having achieved her mission - land a brevit air support battalion (9 squads each air support, infantry and support - 1 squad of air spotters - and a few of AAA) and supplies - she is undamaged and will run for Johnston in the hope of surviving for another mission. We can air supply Layton well enough for a few flying boat sortees.

In this area it is my hope the aggressive Historiker may venture South from Midway - enticed by unescorted TFs and the CVL force - which does not seem to impress him. [It should - it usually wins a battle in Dec 1941 - because it has better planes than the USN] If he comes into this area he will be surrounded by long range recon - Mavis - Betty - Nell - supplimented by short range seaplanes operating from land, ships and submarines. He will be at risk to both sea based and land based air strikes - and is so far from home subs have a shot at hunting cripples. Supplimenting this - he must run for home sooner or later - I have put submarines with recon planes in his rear - and I have the KB attempting to refuel up so it can try to hit him as he retires. The problem is fuel - there are too many ships too far from home - the KB sailed too far East - and at some point we are going to have to curtail operations while logistics catches up. But that is not yet - and catching the carriers now is almost the same as on the first day of the war. We will try to maintain track on them until they can be engaged. KB is ready but out of position. Ni Butai (NB) is not quite ready - and not quite strong enough to want to engage without land based support - so it is retiring slowly in order to change both.

Historiker is a bit of a NATO thinker - he served in a recon unit in the German Army - and he likes hitting on his right - 2000 miles from my main body and center at Lahaina. He may be basing out of Kodiak, Anchorage or ports like Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Tacoma or Portland.
This is a strange preference: more logical would be to base on his left - where he can cover convoys vital to Australia and any offensive in the SW Pacific Area. But he is running NOTHING from the US West Coast through this area - we just swept it with KB so we know - and he does not seem to value AKs or convoys enough. He thinks of the carrier force as an independent, mobile striking arm - indeed a raider arm - not to be tied down in mundane SLOC duties. In fact - he has no SLOC other than the map edge shipping channels form US West Coast to anywhere. So he is free to come out of the void of the NE Pacific at will - and his preferred point to engage is at Midway (this is his second time). This is a violation of Takishi Hara's dictim (obtained from an ancient Japanese wrestler) - never do the same move twice in a row - the enemy should learn from the first time. Anyway - having now determined this is where his carriers are - and likely all three of them are up there - which also means there is no chance they will combine with early RN carriers - we have the opportunity to use that information to go hunting - while they are still fitted with planes unfit to stand up to first line combat - and far from bases - so any serious damage can turn into fatal damage - if we are able to follow up (as happened to USS Yorktown - damaged in an air strike but sunk by a submarine). I do not seek main force naval battle as a rule - I fight for position and try to engage naval units with land based air - but under favorable conditions I will make an exception. This may be one of these. If we fail it will be because he runs and we lose him and/or we lack the fuel to keep up the persuit until engaged. At the moment I am running in the hope the over aggressive raider in Historiker will keep coming forward - away from his bases - under my recon umbrella - in range of land based bombers - while Ni-Butai rebuilds to full strength, refuels, and gets reinforced by heavy surface units. The real killer is already in his rear - if only we can maintain track - to which end the forward recon bases and submarines may hold the key - we may be able to engage a fuel depleted, bomb depleted, demoralized force on its way home from whatever actions with the entire might of the unified KB - which if not quite at full strength is near enough he won't be able to tell. And - FYI - we just dispatched the main body of 4 battleships to reinforce it as well.

[el cid again]

Historiker has moved and has no internet service for some weeks - so this game will slow down for a while. He has occasional access at other places.