shock and awe: RAO vs Scot: Evacuation from KL by sea

[el cid again]

6 January 1941

The night turn began with a Ki-48 raid on Singapore - which in spite of night fighter opposition - resulted in no losses - but killed a PBY and inflicted 146 casualties and destroyed 5 guns and 8 other hits - unusually good.

Next came a cruiser bombardment of PM - inflicting 100 casualties and 2 guns lost - and the coast defenses seem to be ineffective.

The night being over, a day attack occurred on Rangoon - and it hit a tanker and an AK with bombs - these being in port and too damaged to move (I think). 115 casualties were inflicted, 2 guns and 2 vehicles lost, and 1 port hit scored. Then came a day raid on Manila - inflicting 323 casualties, 7 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost, and 9 other hits - again no losses. The bombers went somewhere else.

The Allies have planes somewhere - 18 P-40s showed up at San Fernando - tangled with 12 Nates - shooting down 2 (for a loss of 1 P-40). Three other air attacks were ineffective - 1 vs land - 2 vs ships.

Then Betty's out of Bangkok hit a TF at Akyab way up almost to India - lost one to AVG P-40s- but still put a torpedo into 1 of two ships attacked. A follow up attack torpedoed 2 of 3 ships in the formation - and while it also was opposed by the P-40s - they failed to score at all.

Not much else happened - the Allies at PM bombarded with little impact (11 casualties) - both sides are recovering from the naval battles just fought. But we will try one attack in Malaya tomorrow - prematurely - because we seem strong enough - in the center. Massive air support and disruption rates of only 10 - high morale.

[el cid again]

7 January 1941

The night turn began with another bombardment of PM by 4 CA, 1 CL and 2 DD; 2 PBYs were destroyed, 41 casualties and 26 other hits inflicted. Immediatly following a different TF began landing a reinforcement troop group - and 3 ships took 4 hits from the still functioning coast defense guns (PM has 2 six inch). All three ships were set afire - and 178 other casualties inflicted on the invading IJA forces. During the day turn 13 Zeros led 38 Nells in a raid on PM - scoring 22 hits of various kinds.

US submarine Sargo was detected but not localized or hit in an ASW attack.

13 Alllied bombers of 2 types attacked Japanese units near Taiping Malaya - encountered 1 Oscar - and no one got hurt or damaged on either side. 6 B-17s escorted by 39 fighters of 4 types - presumably operating out of Manila - attacked 16th Division at Lucena SE of Manila - inflicting 11 casualties.

A JAAF attack out of Tavoy Burma attacked the 2nd Burma Brigade at Moulmein - 27 Ki 51s escorted by 10 Ki-27s inflicted 37 casualties and 2 guns lost - with no loss or damage to the aircraft. Another JAAF attack on Indian Army 16th Brigade by 6 Ki-48 and 24 Ki-21s inflicted 37 casualties and one gun lost - again with no loss or damage to aircraft - at the same location. A third JAAF attack in Malaya vs Indian Army 44th Brigade by many Ki-48s and Ki-30s escorted by Oscars caused 57 casualties and 1 gun lost - also without aircraft damage/lost. A JAAF air strike on Nanning was combat ineffective.

10 Kingfisher seaplanes out of Luzon attacked Shoho - encountered 8 Zeros and 2 Nates on CAP/LRCAP - and 7 were lost - with no effect. However, they did penetrate the CAP to attempt to deliver bombs. The 3 survivors attacked again in the afternoon - 1 was damaged before the whole group bugged out. Returning the compliment, 8 Bettys on an anti naval strike out of Bangkok put 3 torpedoes into 2 Barge groups way up at Akyab - on the Indian/Burma border.

IJA deliberate attacks at Finshafen, Port Moresby and in central Malaya all failed - but contributed to reducing the defenders strength and morale.

[el cid again]

8 January 1942

The turn began with coastal guns at PM firing 12 shots at the follow up TF landings, but not hitting anything. Later the SAG based at Kappa Kappa bombarded again - inflicting 21 casualties, 1 gun lost and 2 other hits. The ground assault revealed we have 7357 men on the ground - compared to his 5157 - but in spite of the fact ours are all combat units (or support) - including a few light tanks - we did not acheive 1:1 odds - the fort level is 3 - and we lost 657 to 33 casualties. We need to keep pounding this force - and bring up the tank regiment and CSNLF that took Lunga. There also is a Reserve Regiment already enroute - and I sent out a tank company today. Then too there is a battalion still marching in from Kokota - which was first to move but is making slow progress of only 1 mile per day. It might turn out to be needed - in the few remaining days it takes to arrive. Regardless - the issue is not in doubt. KB is nearing Truk - and we will outweigh whatever he can throw into the area. He seems to be throwing only planes now.

CL USS Marblehead hit a mine entering Kendari - just a couple of days after we planted them by DM.

SS Seal was detected by WWI IMN DD Hai Wei - but nothing happened - this is one of two submarines still on station south of Honshu -
where Scot has messed up convoys for about a month - mostly by forcing me to route around them. A major additional impact is the
cost of supply points to feed hundreds of ASW air sortees every day. These supplies are not used to expand production or to export to
operational areas.

11 Allied bombers of 2 types out of Singapore hit Taiping - inflicting 2 hits. 19 P-26s and P-400s out of Manila attacked 16th Division in Southern Luzon - without effect. 12 ROCAF bombers of 2 types hit the 2nd Yobeiki (Reserve) Regiment near Indochina - without effect. 9 B-17s out of Manila hit an AK leaving Legaspi (one hex to seaward) - hitting it twice with 250 pound bombs - and setting it on fire. It diverted to Takao as the nearest major repair shipyard. 3 more B-17s failed to hit a different AK also at sea. This process was repeated vs a different AK later on. 8 B-17s tried to attack CVL Shoho at sea - encountered 8 Zeros - and 1 B-17 was lost - another damaged by AA fire - for no hits.

9 Ki-43s hit the ROC 46th Field Army at Nanning - without effect. But 6 Ki-48s hitting the same target caused 46 casualties. 3 ROCAF SBCs escorted by 5 Hawks hit Wuchang - inflicting 1 port hit. A later ground attack failed to take it - but did reduce fortification level to 1 - and he lost 170 casualties to our 65 - which is a sign he is weak and about to fall. We have over 12000 men in the hex and more en route - he has just over 5000.

23 Bettys and 10 Sallys - escorted by 36 Zeros - made a combined air strike (surprising without a HQ) from Kuching and Sinkawang on Force Z - which was sneaking up the SW side of Borneo. The force was nominally covered by 4 Buffalos - of which 7 were shot down: don't ask me how you can shoot down more than are there: the CAP did nothing to the bombers but AA cut them up badly - only one hit was scored on DD Encounter - but 4 Bettys were destroyed and 15 bombers were damaged (good shooting - which FYI is true - BB Prince of Wales had radar and a fine AAA suite for this period; and CA Cornwall has DP 8 inch guns, while CLs De Ruyter and Tromp have DP 6 inch guns).

22 Ki-30s escorted by 24 Oscars hit three giant APs at Johore Bahru, hitting only one of them with one small bomb. Not sure what is happening - but he may have landed a division.

Meiktila was taken by airborne assault - this being a major resource center in central Burma and 12 000 men in two formations took Moulmein - a major resource center - from almost 9 000 men - on the first assault. The road North is open - and two more major formations will be at Moulmein by trail in 7 to 10 days. These latter will take Rangoon - the first two - and airborne - will try to secure as many resource locations as possible - preventing them from feeding it supplies. His defense is not based on Mandalay. Not having ground assault to support - air strikes will return to Rangoon tomorrow - trying to sink 3 damaged ships there - and get damaged planes on the ground. We are way ahead of plan in Burma - unlike Malaya or Luzon where we have no clue how to take the place expiditiously? I sent for another division to go to Luzon.

[el cid again]

9 January 1941

The night turn began with a tiny and ineffective B-17 raid on Saigon (3 planes) - not sure why? - possibly few supplies at Singapore?

Next came a SOP bombardment of PM by a cruiser force - something that is going to have to change for a while. Recon shows a 4 ship TF West of the tip of New Guinea - apparently an attempt to attack the stream of supply ships headed to Kappa Kappa and damaged ships returning to Rabaul. This was once done with great effect - one TF was wiped out and another badly mauled - but this time may not be the same. First - we spotted the TF. Second - we have a surface group at PM - and another just at the tip of New Guinea - inbound. Third the airfield at Buna is suitable to base Kates on - and in range - with Jake recon doing search for them. Fourth - we have a torpedo bomber unit in good shape at Rabaul - and flying boats and other bombers to do search - plus a Ki-49 unit (pre operational) with good morale. Plust another surface group that now has been sent forward. I did reroute all the transports and damaged vessels to evade - and I tried to lay a trap with two submarines - one of them retiring but with torpedoes - and only 2 points of system damage (the point at which I retire).

Then came the half expected attack at Sinkawang - we hit the force with bombers yesterday and failed to damage it - but the size was a big surprise: Prince of Wales led 2 CA, 7 CL and 9 DD in this bombardment. This inflicted 244 casualties, 7 guns lost and 94 other hits. Ten aircraft of 4 types were destroyed - and I feared the base was shut down. It was not. The day turn revealed 5 Ki-43s still flying CAP - and also 8 Zeros flying long range CAP were helping cover the place - because 8 B-10s raided from Palembang (a repeat of his last bombardment - surface ships were followed by bombers trying to shut down the base). While this was a stronger bombardment - and it was effective - it did NOT shut down the base (but I had to send a lot of replacement planes). The B-10s did penetrate and scored 3 more runway hits. Only 1 was lost.

Then 9 Blenheim bombers escorted by 7 Blenheim night fighters hit Taiping - inflicting 4 casualties and 5 other hits - unopposed except by AA because it was still night.

The first JAAF day strike was by 10 Sallys out of Brunei hitting Tarakan - hoping to hurt some ship in port - 3 hits were scored on non ship naval port targets. 3 were damaged - and the unit is not combat effective due to damage - so it is doing ASW today - some submarine is one hex out of Brunei.

Then came a large strike by 52 B-17s on Midway - scoring 57 hits - a shocking thing so early in the war - and it is disturbing to think what might have happened if they had been naval attackers - there is a ship unloading fuel at Midway.

This is a B-17 day - 11 of them out of Manila - which is well supplied - attacked a TF of 4 APDS - but failed to score. 3 more of the same attacked an AK later in the day - and also missed it - but this ship had been hit by B-17s yesterday and was damaged. They don't always miss - 3 more out of Manila attacked an AK just arrived with a full load of supplies at Appari - hit it 3 times with 250 pound bombs - and so damaged it I was forced to scuttle - and it is likely few or no supplies got ashore before the strike.

14 Betty's escorted by 34 Zeros attacked ships in Singapore harbor. They were met by 18 fighters of 3 types - ominously including Fulmars - implying a Carrier is nearby - and 7 of those were shot down. But the long air combat damaged one bomber - and shook up the rest - and nobody scored. The ships attacked were the 3 large APs sighted and attacked ineffectively yesterday.

Since we saw the APs in the area yesterday - and since we were not attacking on land - we set tactical air for naval strikes in Malaya. 40 Ki-48s hit Johore Bahru - and had both considerable trouble and considerable success: 3 ships were missed entirely - but 4 more got hit by a total of 6 bombs. This is not completely decisive - but it may discourage his running in supplies and/or units - which I think is what was going on here. Later in the day 22 Ki-30s from Taiping hit the same target - putting 13 more bombs into two transports - so the cost of being there is escalating - even if none were lost. Still later in the day all 40 Ki-48s (from Kota Bahru - a level 6 airfield in good supply) returned - missed 4 targets - but put 12 bombs into 3 others. This time they came with 24 Oscars in escort and 12 Ki-30s to add more bombs to the strike. This was a very rare 100 percent of all units assigned air strike.

A USN submarine reportedly sank in the Philippine Sea - probably flooding out from damage off Japan. Only one submarine continues to operate in the intensely patrolled shipping lanes South of Honshu - and for the first time in weeks we have been able to stop running so many air patrols hunting them (sucking supplies from other applications). The ASW group at Tokyo went after this sub - near Kyushu. The sub situation is not all good: a sub appeared at Truk - just the wrong time - and KB aborted going there - one day out - and out of fuel. This messes up things fairly serioiusly - but I am going to hunt the sub before landing. Lots of planes and as ships were sent to get it. Other subs are visible at Wake and Midway - almost unopposed except for minor air patrols. The sub at Kawajalein either is running - or headed to Truk to hunt KB. It moved NW from the island - a strange direction if damaged. Another sub turned up on the tracks of two TFs inbound to San Fernando with a division of reinforcements - like Homma I was too weak to take Luzon and sent for help. I diverted both TFs to the next port North - less efficient but less risk.

Japanese artillery bombarded KL - without effect. Allied artillery bombared PM - resulting in 24 casualties and 1 gun lost for 2 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost. I like that - eats supplies - and he cannot sustain 1 for 1 gun losses with my superior force for long. I will let PM cook for a while - we have naval battles to fight - but he won't get any supplies from the resources - and he will eat supplies doing air ops and bombarding.
This will mean the place may fall when we land more troops - and in 11 days a battalion marches in from the Kokota Trail - oddly the first unit to move on the location may be the last to arrive - and may be needed.

The last action of the day was an airborne landing at Taung Gyi Burma. It ran into 2117 troops in 2 units - not sure what that means? But recon says there is only one unit at Myitkina - no doubt a base force as it has aircraft. I think he ran in by railroad. The survivors (50 were lost) are retreating to the West - where we hold a smaller resource town - and lots of reinforcements are flying in from 3 locations - the rest of the airborne - elements of a brigade marching through the jungle which were too late to make the march (not much - only 9 squads of infantry - but lots of guns and support - which the airborne will cherish) - and lead elements of a Thai division. He may be effective here - near his air power - surrounded by supplies - with 4 units retreating down the rail line (if they don't go to Rangoon). But I think it cannot hurt to be in his rear - in supply - and in strength. And if he fights these guys - the drive down the rail line from Moulmein - with two divisions and a HQ - is sure to be swift.

[el cid again]

10 December 1941

In many ways a good turn - particularly in the air - it was a bad day for Japanese ships: I-171 flooded out and sank trying to limp home across the vast Central Pacific; an AK damaged a week ago at Midway by coast defenses also flooded out and sank; as you will see a DE was torpedoed and sunk; and I feared flooding out so much I scuttled another transport.

The night turn began with an ASW group out of Tokyo unexpectedly detecting USS Skipjack - and not able to localize and attack it. This force was in route to Kyushu to hunt the "last" US sub near the Home Islands - Skipjack was not on our intense recon patterns - and I had shut down the air patrols substantially since there were "no subs around." Skipjack then torpedoed and sank DE Karukaya. The only good news is that got the ASW group another shot - and this time they did localize - engage - and scored two hits - which likely will send Skipjack home. One of those hits caused flooding.

AVD Ballard hit a mine at Pago Pago. Scot complains that I seem to like mines - and he has it right. I try to lay them with big minelayers all over the place - the big fields take longer to sweep.

Next 3 B-17s hit Brunei in a night raid - and managed to hit BB Fuso - but she still formed up to sail in a bombardment group today. We sent most of 4th Division to Tarakan - escorted by a large surface action group - and the light carrier group - including 2 CVLs, 1 CVE and 1 CVS - one of the CVLs just arrived from Japan. [Another damaged CVE just arrived at Sasebo to repair up - her air units stayed behind as land based air in Malaya]

Then came the RAN strike - CA Canberra, CL Adelaide, CL Perth and DD Voyager bombarded Port Moresby. Having just left it - my cruiser force failed to engage. Turns out he saw my search planes and changed his mission at the last minute. In spite of a Kate base at Buna and Nells, Bettys and Helens at Rabaul - he got away clean - although he was tracked retreating toward Townsville. The bombardment inflicted 97 casualties, 4 guns and 1 vehicle lost.

The day turn began with 30 Ki-51s out of Tavoy Burma hitting Rangoon - they had 9 Oscars in escourt and 3 Ki-15 recon planes came in with them. They hit TK Indian Raipur once, caused 130 casualties, 3 guns and 7 vehicles lost, and 7 other hits. 2 Ki-51 dive bombers were lost to AA fire.

17 Blenheim bombers of 2 types returned the compliment at Taiping - destroying 3 Ki-32/30s - and losing one plane to AA fire. They also caused 4 casualties, 1 gun lost, and 4 other hits.

7 Dutch B-10s out of Palembang hit Sinkawang - encountered 8 Zeros and 6 Oscars - and lost 2 of their number - but inflicted 2 runway hits.

6 ROC bombers of 2 types hit the Japanese 35th Brigade at Nanning, but were combat ineffective. Two JAAF strikes on isolated ROC Field Armies near Shanghai caused 17 casualties total. Later in the day 35th Brigade, slightly reinforced, attacked and took Nanning. 253 IJA troops were casualties - but only 124 ROC troops. We lost 7 guns - they lost 3. This completes the securing of bases in SW China - and only one semi isolated Field Army remains - on the trail to Kunming. We will turn on it next - not advance deep into China at this time - these being only small units with mainly just fighter and recon support.

4 Whirraways - in what may be their first combat - hit the Imperial Guards Division at Kuala Lumpur - inflicting 11 casualties and 1 gun lost.

28 JAAF bombers hit the Burma Frontier Brigade - causing 29 casualties and 1 gun lost.

15 Nells escorted by 30 Zeros out of Kuching hit Allied ships at Singapore. They were met by 31 fighters of 3 types (3 Fulmars and 28 British or Dutch Buffalos) - shooting down 9 Buffalos. They attacked three ships, missed 1, and put 5 bombs into the other two - AKs all. Later the same force returned - 11 Nells escorted by 27 Zeros - met by 24 fighters of 3 types on CAP or LRCAP - but this time the Allied fighters were tired. 7 were destroyed and the bombers put 6 bombs into two AKs. They cannot carry torpedoes because Kuching is too small to load them.

44 P-400s out of Central Luzon (Clark) escorted by 4 Hawks and 2 Warhawks attacked one of two major convoys bringing in 51st Division at Vigan - but failed to hit any of 6 ships attacked. They were met by 38 fighters of 3 types as LRCAP - and 6 Allied fighters were lost - 3 escorts and 3 of the strafing P-400s.

A Mongol cavalry brigade took Ondoorhan Mongolia and Scot noticed for the first time that Mongolia was invaded by Mongol units. This is intended as a distraction - the area is a supply desert - and Soviet Brigades sent there are not in places on important LOC.

An Allied unit with 1667 men at Taung Gyi Burma attacked 63 surviving Japanese paras - forcing them to retreat where they were trying to march to - but faster. 24 paras were lost - but it cost him 56 casualties. Elements of an IJA brigade airlifted in to the next town West - as did the lead elements of an RTA unit. The last few paras will air assault some kind of support unit at a location one hex farther West - hopefully increasing the supply creation in the area - and preparing to feed the units advancing NE from Moulmein. The two divisions and HQ at Moulmein made it 44 miles - and may be at the rail junction East of Rangoon tomorrow. We hope to deep penetrate in force - two more divisions are walking in - and cut the LOC to China. We are bypassing Rangoon and isolating it from external supply - before investing it - in about 10 days. The need for a port is minimal until Singapore falls.

There were a few ineffective bombardment attacks. For example, 2 casualties were lost to land unit bombardment at PM. PM is turning dark - as is Singapore - and all the hexes in Luzon - which is what we need to see to succeed vs strong positions. We will attack in Malaya tomorrow - in Luzon in about 2 days - and invade Tarakan in about 3 days.

[el cid again]

11 January 1942

The night turn began with the ASW group near Kyushu detecting, localizing, attacking and hitting USS Seal.

It continued with two cruiser groups bombarding PM. We will chip away for a while - it is green again: perhaps he is flying in supplies?
We will put come LRCAP over the base to see - and limit that. To which end Zeros transferred to Buna. Oscars will continue to cover Kappa Kappa base.

KB needs fuel and repairs - and I am tired of hiding. So it will go to Truk. It met a tanker today - but only one carrier refueled. There is still a submarine at Truk - but I transferred out everything possible and sent many KB groups there to join the many ASW assigned air groups. KB's escorts are also there - and they are forming an ASW group to further contest things.

Several air groups bombarded Tarakan Borneo - from Brunei, Cayagan, Jolo, Saigon and the light carrier force - and we learned there are no fighters or bombers - just 4 patrol planes. We have shifted the air offensive to Clark - which has a gigantic and effective air group. It will be attacked from Formosa, Legaspi and Cagayan - in the largest force since the war began.

11 ROCAF bombers hit 35th Brigade at Nanning - causing 4 casualties. Except for moving on and air attacking a Field Army on the trail to Kunming there is nothing going on in China - where supply problems have me turning off air opertations. I have problems generating supplies in Japan and Korea too - so this needs to wait a while. There is a possible concentration near Kaifeng - and I moved up a division and a brigade to reinforce the position. We did take all of Wuhan - and all the Rail LOC from Shanghai - and all the Southwest including Kaifeng - so we can stop spending supplies in offensive ops for a while. The last air attack for a while on the isolated 21st Field Army caused 18 casualties and 1 gun lost. This unit has no supplies and cannot rebuild.

5 Whiraways in Malaya attacked RTA 3rd Division - without effect. Many air strikes by JAAF and JNAF damaged the 7 units defending in the center in Malaya. The ground assault went in and took the position - with all 7 retreating to (and pocketed in) Kuantan - which means they are not a problem on the main rail LOC any more - and probably cannot escape. We are proceeding to isolate and reduce KL. Air power in Malaya is set to naval strikes again - many ships are in the area - and one unit went to Saigon to rebuild.

An air attack on the Viet Minh first battalion caused 8 casualties. This is the end for a while - until we get rid of that field army on the trail to Kunming from Nanning area we will focus air strikes on it.

The First Airborne Brigade took Tongoo Burma from a forward air station EAB - supported by numerous air strikes. Meanwhile the main force moved up the rail line from Moulmein - and so air power will shift to the 4 units defending the rail junction East of Rangoon. Two divisions will attack tomorrow - driving the defenders into Rangoon. We intend to link up with the units in Central Burma - and drive due East - cutting the Burma Road - letting two more divisions about to walk out of the jungle into Moulmein be the Rangoon assault group. We have supply problems in Thailand and are trying to manage them. Too many air ops sucks supplies. But supplies in Burma are good - due to our focus on taking supply sources. Rangoon can wait since we cannot use the port yet anyway - Singapore is in enemy hands.

A rapid replacement unit is moving forward from Rabaul to reinforce PM - and so are elements of a tank regiment from Lunga - which is being evacuated (in favor of no development and a base on Tulagi). We have fuel problems at Rabaul - so some TFs are staging there. A major force is moving around the NE tip of New Guinea to assault Tarakan - and points in the area. And more of a division is being loaded for San Fernando - at Swatow - while a larger fraction of it got ashore at San Fernando. 65th Brigade and other units in Luzon are repairing slowly. We will take down Clark first - then hit Linguyan with heavy battleships, air power and fresh and reinforced troops. Allied hexes on Luzon are finally turning grey.

Next 13 Bettys escorted by 34 Zeros attacked the ABDA force at sea. Met by 20 fighters of 3 types - both sides lost 3 fighters - and 3 bombers were lost to AA fire - for not hits scored. AA fire was very intense - and the fighter opposition was more skilled than usual.

Finally 19 Betty's went into Balikpapan - tried to hit 4 tankers - but hit only one (twice) - with torpedoes.

An Allied bombardment attack by ground units at PM was not effective. More troops continue to land - and we are sending in more still tomorrow - and ordering a ground assault and another cruiser bombardment and air strikes.

[el cid again]

12 January 1941

The night turn began with a bombardment of PM by a large force, causing 135 casualties, 2 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost, and 43 other hits. This location is still bright green. We are sending a tank regiment and a regiment of replacements - and are reassembling the CSNLF from Lunga in case it is required.

USS Nautelus was detected but not attacked at Truk. It was detected, localized and hit 4 times later in the night by the same ASW TF. But another sub has appeared at Truk - so we won't send KB there after all. It is going to Rabaul.

The day turn began with 25 P-40s doing an anti-naval strike at San Fernando - where 51st Division is landing. They were met by 7 Zeros and 15 Ki-27s. In a long fight one Ki-27 and 1 P-40 were lost - and 1 P-40 damaged - but no successful attacks made on ships. Then 148 Japanese bombers of 4 types - escorted by 62 Zeros - operating out of Takao Formosa - came in over Clark Field - meeting 68 fighters of 3 types. Both sides were fresh - and a long air battle ensued - during with no Japanese and few Allied planes bugged out. 37 Allied fighters were lost in exchange for 2 Zeros and 2 bombers - and 2 B-17s were destroyed on the ground. 943 casualties were inflicted, 35 guns and 14 vehicles were lost, and 132 other hits were scored. Altogether a very favorable raid - and merely the opening round of a series - from several bases - intended to last for several days - and stop the problems of B-17 and other raids out of Luzon. Things are complicated for the Allies as ALL hexes are now turning grey - meaning not all his planes will fly. The second round came in from Cagayan - 16 Zeros escorted 47 Nells - and encountered only 7 enemy fighters - of 3 types. 6 of those - plus 1 B-17 on the ground - were destroyed - and 27 other hits were scored. Adding insult to injury just as intended.

Next the Russians went to war in Mongolia - 32 SB-2s attacked the 7th Mongol Cavalry Brigade - causing 28 casualties and 1 vehicle lost.

4 Whirraways attacked 18th Division in Malaya - and lost one of their number to AA fire - but caused no casualties. Later 16 Blenheims attacked a Thai regiment also in Malaya - and lost 2 - but again were combat ineffective.

9 ROCAF IL-4s and SB-2s attacked the 2nd Yobeiki (Reserve) Regiment - he understands I will go after his last Field Army in the South -
and caused 25 casualties and 2 guns lost. About 4 units are moving in to reinforce its position on the border of Indochina. 6 Ki-48s attacked isolated but well photographed 31st Field Army - causing 61 casualties and 1 gun lost.

12 Betty's attacked 1st Burma Brigade - causing 24 casulaties and 1 gun lost. Then 29 JAAF light bombers of 2 types attacked Indian Army 16th Brigade - also in Burma - causing 40 casualties. Then 16 Nells and 6 Ki-49s attacked Indian Army 30th Brigade - but caused only 11 casualties. Later in the day a ground assault by two small divisions - supported by a corps HQ - drove 4 units from the hex due East of Rangoon into the capital - giving us control of the NE/SW rail system. We had 42 000 men - he had only 4 000 left in these units - which had been driven out of Moulmein a few days ago. 30 to 1 odds were achieved and 202 casualties plus 12 guns lost were caused - for 12 IJA casualties.

15 B-17s out of Luzon - possibly Clark or Manila - attacked 3 AKs at Takao - hitting them all with a total of 6 bombs - doing immense damage. But Takao is a major port and repair yard - so they likely will survive. They were loaded with supplies and are burning - so some supplies are being lost. This is why the air campaign vs Luzon above.

4 Nells put all 4 torpedoes into the First Burma Barge Group - sinking it - in an unusual air strike at sea in the Bay of Bengal. Only one small Nell unit is operating in anti ship mode - 18 planes - 6 of which are assigned recon - so this was a fine strike for them.

An SNLF attack at Finschafen vs the New Guinea Volunteer Force caused it to reteat to New Britain - with 25 casualties. It no longer is next to the base at Lae - which was regarded as a potential problem. AFTER we take the area we will clean up these remnants.

Bombardment of KL by 22,000 men caused only 8 Allied casualties.

[el cid again]

13 January 1942

The night turn began with ASW attacks on USS Truant - two different detections - both localized - both 2 hits. Later it turned out that the submarine problem at Truk was gone - and the KB diverted back there. One group of 3 ships is fuel deprived - and for some reason tankers -did not stay with them - but the rest will make port shortly - and we do have a tanker headed for those three. Air groups seem to have rebuilt nicely.

Two Allied MS units are clearing Kendari.

Fuso and Yamashiro encountered Dutch PTs at Tarakan - sinking the division of 3. Then they bombarded the port - taking 8 hits - inflicting 297 casualties, 7 guns lost, 10 vehicles lost and 25 other hits. During the day 47 Nates attacked, causing 7 runway hits.

ABDA force - led by POW - returned the compliment at Sinkawang - causing 258 casualties, 4 guns lost, and 25 other hits. Surprisingly little damage was done in spite of all that - and the field is operational - and no aircraft were lost or damaged.

During the day 10 Ki-21s escorted by 12 Ki-27s attacked Clark, destroying one Hawk on the ground, and inflicting 18 other hits. Then 9 Ki-48s escorted by 26 Zeros attacked, causing 116 casualties, 4 guns lost, 4 vehicles lost, and 14 other hits. There was no air opposition, but AA fire destroyed 1 Ki-48. Next 11 Nells escorted by 43 Zeros caused 14 more hits, without losses.

8 ROCAF bombers of 2 types attacked 35th Independent Infantry Brigade - causing 19 casualties. 8 Ki-48s returned the compliment on 31st Group Army - causing 88 casualties and 5 guns lost.

In Malaya Blenheims attacked 15th Engineer Regiment in Malaya - without effect. In Burma Ki-51s and Ki-30s attacked First Burma Brigade - causing 52 casualties and 2 guns lost. No air opposition. On Borneo 6 Sallys - opposed by 6 Buffalos - attacked Samarinda Garrison Battalion - causing 4 casualties and 1 gun lost.

9 OS2Us attacked a naval force including a CS SW of Formosa. 4 Petes scored an unusual victory, destroying 2, damaging 3, and causing all the rest to bug out - for no loss or damage. This unit is becoming experienced.

8 Betty's escorted by 6 Zeros went into Singapore to attack ships - and put 5 bombs into an AK. They were met by 20 fighters of 2 types - shooting down 2 of them. No Japanese losses.

[el cid again]

14 January 1942

The night turn began with continuing landings at PM - 17 casualties reported. Later in the night a cruiser force also bombarded PM - causing 62 casualties, 3 guns lost and 4 other hits.

Next Allied MSW continued sweeping at Kendari.

The day turn began with a small RTAF bomber raid on Rangoon: 6 Ki-48s put a bomb into a barge group, caused 25 casualties, 1 gun lost, 1 vehicle lost, and 2 other hits. The raid was escorted by 20 Ki-27s, but there was no air opposition, and minimal AA opposition. 4 ships are reported in port - apparently too damaged to move.

Next 37 Sallys escorted by 38 Zeros raided Rangoon - out of Kota Bahru. 33 enemy fighters of three types were on CAP. 3 Zeros and 11 Allied fighters were lost in air combat. 3 bombers were lost and 8 aircraft were destroyed on the ground. There were no casualties but 73 hits were scored.

Next 35 Ki-27s attacked the air base at Tarakan - causing 3 hits.

Next 47 Zeros swept Manila - encountering 7 P-47s. 1 Zero and 3 P-47s were shot down. A follow up strike got lost - and came in at Clark instead of Manila. Of 14 Vals - 3 were lost and 7 more damaged (29 Ki-27s were also present - but did not participate in the battle).

20 ROCAF fighters of 2 types attacked IJA 16th Division, causing 18 casualties and 1 gun lost. Then 6 ROCAF bombers attacked 14th Tank Regiment - causing 8 casualties and 1 gun lost. Then 9 JAAF Ki-43s attacked ROC 31st Group Army, causing 6 casualties.

In Malaya 12 Ki-30s caused 28 casulaties in the AIF 28th Brigade. This force was later ground assaulted and forced to retreat - opening the main rail line to Jahore Bahru. 23 troops were lost in the ground assault but the Allies lost 64 plus 1 gun. A bombardment of KL by artillery caused 13 casualties.

9 Ki-49s caused 7 casualties and 1 gun lost from AA 30th Brigade.

An experimental ground attack at PM revealed 7632 Japanese troops vs 4741 Allied troops at Fort Level 2. Losses were 269 casualties and 11 guns lost vs 120 casualties and 1 gun lost. This is somewhat encouraging.

Prome had fallen to nothing at all - and the Allies took it back by shock attack - achieving 16 : 1 odds with 1579 troops - vs none. [How are odds calculated?]

In Malaya troops are maneuvering to reduce the KL pocket - and possibly assault Jahore Bahru - to cut off the retreat of both potential pockets.
In Luzon troops are moving into Olongapo to attempt an assault on the flank of the strong Allied position. In Burma troops are maneuvering to secure the main rail line - and set up additional assorts.

[el cid again]

15 January 1942

The night turn began with a Dutch submarine attacking a Japanese ASW group! Code loves to do that - not sure why? -
but this time nothing happened. Then a Japanese ASW group detected USS Sealion - but failed to localize or attack it.
USS Sculpin attacked but failed to hit an AK. A different ASW group detected and hit S-36 three times.

Landings continued at PM - a new TF arrived - and an old one retired - after exchanging some ships. A cruiser group at Kappa Kappa
prepared to bombard again tomorrow. The reinforcement stream has the CSNLF and tank regiment that took Lunga plus a fresh regiment
of reserves inbound - strung out along the SLOC. The pressure will simply continue to grow until PM falls.

The day turn began with an unplanned sweep of Manila - a complete bomber attack was ordered but the bombers apparently did not fly - or got lost. This encountered no opposition and did no damage.

30 SB-2s caused 37 casualties and 1 gun lost to the 7th Mongol Cavalry Brigade. In spite of this - the situation in Mongolia is amazing - the flank is apparently turned - and we will cut the LOC to Tamsag from the North - simultaneously attacking it on the ground and in the air - with Manchukuo forces. There is a Soviet brigade there. It is going to take more than a group of light bombers to eject this incursion - and sending heavy forces into the Gobi is exactly what I want. They must be fed - and the Soviets are too strung out - the troops must make some valuable position weaker. The SMART move is to ignore this - I cannnot do anything with troops cought in a supply desert - nor with light cavalry formations.

An Allied air ground attack in Malaya by 6 bombers was combat ineffective. A similar one in China by ROCAF also by 6 bombers lost 2 of their number for no effect. Small air strikes seem not worth the trouble - and bad supply situations prevent large ones. On the other hand, 6 Ki-48s caused 36 casualties to 31st Group army - sometimes it works. 5 Kates failed on a similar mission vs 27th Field Army.

33 light bombers - escorted by 28 Oscars caused 72 casualties and 3 guns lost to the 28th Gurka Brigade in Malaya - for some reason reported to be in the wrong hex but it really happened at KL. Then 30th Brigade in the same location (reported correctly) got hit by 17 Nells out of Indochina - losing 17 casualties and 1 gun lost. These were intended to chip away at KL's strength, but a second ground assault failed - 511 casualties to 190. We will continue to bomb and - after 1 day rests - ground assault until it falls. This is a defended KL - about 6 units are present - but it does not seem terribly strong.

9 Ki-21s - operating from Manado - engaged 2 DDs at Kendari - but missed them. 3 more put 2 bombs into a minesweeper unit at the same location. Then 7 of the first 9 returned - engaged the same 2 DD again - and missed again. Recon out of Manado, Jolo, Brunei, Cagayan and Palau report a concentration of about 10 Allied task forces at the straits between Borneo and Celebes. These include submarines, ASW groups and surface groups. He is staging a barrier vs a percieved threat to Balikpapan - but he is wrong: we are invading Tarakan.

[el cid again]

16 January 1942

Reinforcements continue to land at PM. Offloading was suspended - in favor of consolodating troops and ships at Kappa Kappa - and pending the outcome of another ground assault at PM itself - tomorrow. Over 9000 troops are ashore - and daily ship and plane bombardments have taken a small toll - but the location remains green (in good supply) - and apparently pressue will need to continue for some time. Two more regimental size formations - one of armor - are inbound and can form the next wave. The cruiser force bombarded PM again - and is seriously depleted for ammunition - and damage is mounting - so it will suspend these operations and retire to Kappa Kappa to regroup - and send some ships back to Rabaul for refueling and rearming and repairs - while others will refuel and rearm forward at Kappa Kappa. Later in the day DD Yugure got hit by still active coast defense guns.

A major landing occurred at Tarakan - about half of a division - and 770 men were lost - while 4 out of 5 ships targeted by coast defense guns got hit - one PC unit badly hit and burning will retire. More landings later in the daylight involved one mine hit and two more ships hit by coast guns - one AK badly hit. But the issue is not in doubt - and air support will come in more or less just as insurance. Of greater concern is a concentration of submarines and surface ships not far away - apparently blocking the passage to Balikpapan - where we are not going. A surface action group and a carrier group are covering from offshore - and should mitigate air strikes by flying LRCAP over Tarakan itself. Other air power is set to attack any surface ships daring to approach.

47 Zeros swept Manila - but encountered no opposition. 14 P-26s escorted by 3 P-40s out of Manila attacked fresh 51st Division at Linguyan - causing 8 casualties - but losing two aircraft (which is worth it as far as I am concerned). A major bombardment by ground units was combat ineffective. This may take a while to reduce - in spite of a lack of a supply sink. Strong opposition takes effort to overcome.

7 ROCAF bombers of 2 types attacked 110th Square Division in Central China - causing 13 casualties. 33 Russian SB-2s attacked the 7th Mongol Cavalry Brigade - at Tomsag - and were met by LRCAP of Ki-27s - 2 planes were shot down - 66 casualties, 2 guns lost and 1 vehicle lost were inflicted in spite of the fighter defense - which was penetrated effectively. 8 Ki-48s escorted by 9 Ki-43s caused 31 casualties to 31st group army. 7 Kates caused 8 casualties to 21st Group Army. A ground attack in South China on the only remaining Field Army was a failure - the unit should be short of supplies but is not (why?? it is too far from any source by trail) - and we lost 437 to 29 casualties. We are bringing up artillery and will continue to pound with airplanes. The ground assault at Tomsag failed - at 0 to 1 odds - but inflicted 67 casualties - at a cost of 31 - indicating a weak enemy that may capitulate tomorrow. An Allied ground attack at Ichang cost 651 to 58 casualties.

28 JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 141 casualties to the Indian Army 15th Brigade at Kuala Lumpur. 23 Sallys caused 32 casualties to the 28th Gurka Brigade, also at KL. A ground assault at Kuantan - unopposed - took the airfield - which we immediately moved recon planes into.

3 Allied anti ship attacks and 1 Allied anti port attack were combat ineffective.

At Ormoc Leyte an SNLF attacked remnants of a Philippine battalion - achieved 23 to 1 odds - and took the place. It now will move on Cebu.

A ground assault at Rangoon - a hasty unsupported affair - failed - at O to 1 odds - but caused 235 (to 105) casualties - indicating a very weak enemy position that may fail tomorrow (when support arrives in the form of a HQ unit) - and other troops can arrive in a day or two if required. The problem in Burma is how to exploit fast enough - the enemy is withdrawing in good order faster than we can persue.

Allied bombardment at PM and Tarakan was combat ineffective.

[el cid again]

17 January 1942

The night turn began with TF 64 landing at Tarakan - encountering mines and coast defense guns. Only 4 shots were fired - but all 4 hit DMS Shimushu. Later 57 shots were fired - and 7 hit an AK. There were 7 and then 12 Allied casualties - and 1 gun lost - but no Japanese losses other than the two ships hit. Later two more ships took 8 hits, and 21 casualties were lost, when half of 4th Division landed. It attacked - but failed to take the position - although it also failed to be demoralized and will attack again tomorrow. Air strikes supported this attack from several vectors.

Mineclearing began at Pago Pago.

The day turn began with 44 B-17s and 12 B-24s raiding Midway (B-24 is not even operational yet - these are pre operational machines). They caused a single port hit.

At Linguyan 51st Division was attacked by 12 P-26 "Peashooters" - met by 33 Ki-27 Nates - 4 P-26 were shot down. But they did remarkably well in a sustained fight vs a superior force.

3 ROCAF IL-4s caused 12 casualties to a JAAF EAB.

24 Ki-27s caused 23 casualties to the 2nd Mongol Cavalry Brigade - a confusing name as there is one on both sides!
24 Ki-27s in a different place caused 7 casualties to the ROC 21st Field Army.

31 Nells and Betty's out of Saigon caused 10 casualties and 2 guns lost to AIF 22nd Brigade at KL - but lost one bomber.

2 (or 4) land based Kates attacked the 31st Philippine Division at Olongapo - met 13 P-40s and P-400s - and were shot down. Then 110 bombers of 4 types hit the same unit - and they were intercepted by the same 13 fighters. 11 bombers were lost to CAP or AAA - 1 P-40 was shot down - the raid penetrated - and 70 casualties were suffered on the ground. In the same hex 9 land based Vals attacked Philippine Constabulary 4th Regiment - and 5 were shot down - inflicting only 7 casualties. These air battles led to the worst air exchange rate for Japan of the war for a single day.

10 Kates caused 7 casualties and 1 gun lost to Australian Army 30th Brigade.

2 Allied anti naval strikes on Tarakan failed to do damage. One at Linguyan put 1 bomb into an AK. A repeat attack at Linguyan failed to hit.

CA Chokai and a lone DD caused 41 casualties and 1 gun lost by bombardment at Davao.

A deliberate attack at PM failed - but reduced fortifications to 2 - and cost 186 to 104 casualties. There were 8891 Japanese troops facing 4309 Allied troops.

A deliberate attack at Linguyan failed - 702 to 110 casualties. 28000 Japanese face nearly 26000 Allies on the Bataan Pinnensula.

51000 Japanese drove the last 7000 Chinese from the East West rail line from Shanghai - so now supply to the central Yangtze area will be better.

The First Airborne Brigade took undefended Magwe - by ground assault - they came up the rail line. This will help feed Japanese units in Burma.

47000 Japanese drove the last Allied units from Johore Bahru - isolating the Allies in Malaya into 3 pockets - which we will now reduce.

An Allied shock attack at Ichang (near Wuhan) cost 180 casualties vs 33 Japanese lost - and cost 6 guns vs 4 Japanese guns lost.

[Mistmatz]

el cid, could you please elaborate a bit on the japanese economy in this and your other test games?

I'm particulary interested in learning how the HI pool is doing and if/what types of industry you did expand. Did you have to stop big chunks of vessel production in order to have enough HI for airframes or are you running smoothly with what you had in the beginning.
The overall picture would be really great as I'm about to have a restart of my old RHS game that came to a halt due to HI issues that left the japanese economy broken from the start. This was before the change of vessel production cost though.

[el cid again]

18 January 1942

The night turn began with Japanese MSW clearing mines at Davao during continuing landings there by the half of 4th Division not at Tarakan.
Similarly, Allied MSW cleared mines at Kendari.

Next came a surprise raid on Tulagi led by CA Minneapolis. She led 4 CL, 4 DD and a DMS in night surface action vs a loaded AK Kaishi Maru. She was there to land supplies - go on to Lunga and pick up the CSNLF there - for movement to PM. She never had a chance - in spite of getting off the first shot - she took 28 hits - many of them 6 inch - and sank outright.

CA Chokai led 2 DD bombarding Davao - but caused only 5 hits and no casualties. Force Z was more effective: this all non USN TF includes Prince of Wales, 2 CA, 7 CL and 10 DD - and it bombarded Sinkawang. A number of aircraft were damaged, but none lost. There were 272 casualties, 5 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost, and 18 other hits. In spite of this, the base remains operational. Due to submarine activity at Kuching - and the damaged bombers - the base went over to ASW patrols for a day.

Landings continued at PM - where the coast defenses remain active - 32 shots were fired and 192 casualties were suffered by the landing troops.

The day turn began with 18 Sallys making a port attack at Mandalay - which has no air defenses. These put 3 bombs into 2 transports in harbor - the reason for the attack being to insure they stay put until sunk when the town is occupied. A two brigade division is about to enter the town from the main rail line. The raid caused 11 casualties and 3 other hits.

2 JAAF raids on ROC Field Armies caused 45 and 38 casualties - and 1 gun lost in both cases. A raid on the Red 15th Guerilla regiment cost 113 casualties and 1 gun lost - and this unit - subject to daily pounding - may be in trouble. On the other hand, Red guerillas are substantially self supplied - so maybe not. This is a test to find out?

A JAAF raid by 56 bombers of 2 types on the Philippine 41st Division cost 171 casualties and 6 guns lost.

A raid by 9 Helens on Australian 30th Brigade at PM was combat ineffective. A raid by 34 JAAF bombers of 3 types at Malacca on the ISF Straits Force 2nd Forward Air Station was similarly combat ineffective.

3 B-17s and 5 B-10s out of Palembang put a bomb into retiring (damaged) AK Ibari Maru - near the NW cape of Borneo. In the same area 6 Sallys out of Sinkawang (which remained operational after the night bombardment) put one bomb into an AK - and missed an AP - in a two ship TF. One of those Sallies tried again against a lone AK named Lupis - and missed. In the same area, 22 Ki-48s out of Kuching attacked a 4 ship TF - but only put one bomb into one AK. Slightly North of the same cape of New Guinea 18 B-17s and 8 B-10s cought a force of 4 ships - incluidng two transports, a destroyer and CL Kinu - and managed to hit the CL one time. These damaged ships were en route to Saigon or repairs to operational damage - but diverted to Kuching - to do emergency repairs instead.

In the Vasayas 9 Kingfisher's out of Cebu attacked 3 AKs - but failed to hit any ot them.

Ground assault at PM revealed over 10,000 Japanese engaging about 4200 Allied troops. They failed to make any progress on reducing the fortifications - and lost 309 to 124 casualties - both sides also losing 1 gun. We will rest for a day before having another go.

Ground attack at Malacca (Malaya) caused that tiny forward air station to surrender - with 344 casualties. KL was bombarded by artillery, causing 38 casualties and 1 gun lost. This location has over 100,000 Allied (and 25,000 Japanese troops) - but the supply state of the Allies is serious - and we will attack it again tomorrow - and it may well fall. Air attacks will cease however - as a lot of ships appeared in the Malacca strait - so we set bombers in this area to naval strikes. He probably is trying to pull men from the pocket - there are 10 untis here - 8 of which are theoretically mobile.

Almost 17,000 men of a reinforced 16th Division attacked 11,000 mainly Philippine Scouts at Lucena. Surprisingly 2:1 odds were achieved, and all 4 enemy units retreated into Manila. It may be the supply state of Allied troops on Luzon is finally not good - and Manila is turning grey.

Allied artillery bombardment at Tarakan revealed 3102 Allied troops vs over 10,000 Japanese - and it caused 4 casualties.
Similar allied artillery bombardment at Davao revealed 3301 Allied troops facing 4409 Japanese. No troops were lost in the bombardment. Ground assault at Davao failed - but inflicted 49 Allied casualties (to 31 Japanese) indicating a weak defense. Both sides also lost 1 gun.

[el cid again]

19 January 1942 (18 Jan Tokyo Time)

Mineclearing at Pago Pago was complicated by a mine hit on DMS Dorsey. [How do I get intel of events where I have no observers?]

3 Blenheim Night Fighters attacked Kuantan airfield - without effect (except one of them got hit by machine gun fire - probably MMG fire - at 2000 feet altitude)

In a somewhat brilliantly planned joint operation, HMS Ramilles and HMS Royal Sovereign bombarded Taiping - which is a forward major air base (along with Kuantan). This is actually part of a large extraction operation - involving those Blenheims above - and other bombers in the daytime - and surface ships going to Kuala Lumpur to load some of the 10 units trapped there. This bombardment was more effective than the night fighters were - but failed to shut down the field - or even come close. Fully 14 aircraft were destroyed on the ground (of 4 types) - 36 other hits were scored - 15 casualties and 1 gun were lost. The mere existence of this multi fascited op means he is convinced KL will fall - with all hands lost if they stay there (this not being entirely clear on the face of combat reports).

The day turn began with a continuation of this op: 23 B-17s raided Kuantan - and did manage to kill 2 more aircraft (one bomber, one fighter) - and 8 other hits - but again failed to close the field to operations.

5 P-400s strafed Cagayan airfield - encountered 18 Zeros (too high to be effective) - and 1 of each was lost (probably the Zero was lost on the ground).

A JAAF raid on 31st Group Army caused 30 casualties. 50 JAAF bombers of 2 types inflicted 101 casualties on the Red 15th Guerilla Regiment - which seems to not need any supplies - which is how I intended it to be - but interesting to see it works.

Wierdly - both sides attacked the "Mongol 2nd Cavalry Brigade" - this because both sides HAVE a Mongol 2nd Cavalry Brigade - and at the same location. The Soviet attack was ineffective. The JAAF attack caused 35 casualties. Japanese allied Mongols have overrun most of Mongolia now. He has not been succered into invading - and the Mongols (of both sides no doubt) are starving.

12 Nells out of Brunei inflicted 25 casualties on KNIL VII Battalion at Tarakan.

10 Kates out of Taiping - showing the field still operating - failed to cause any casualties in a ground strike at KL. 3 Sallys - also out of Taiping - failed to hit HMS Dragonfly at Singapore. Then 27 bombers of 3 types also out of Taiping hit the transports at KL - scoring 2 hits each on AP City of Durban and CL Enterprise - but missing AP Ranchi entirely. One Ki-48 was lost. Then no less than 53 bombers of 4 types hit the battleship force itself - scoring only one trivial (50 kg) bomb hit on Royal Sovereign - for 1 Sally destroyed. Still - the field is operational - and dangerous to transports.

He ran in a transport force to Kairuku New Guinea (North of PM) - to evacuate 2 units there. These were hit by 8 Bettys and 13 Ki-49s out of Rabaul. 3 torpedo and 5 bomb hits were delivered to the 3 targets engaged. No planes were lost.

Ground assault at KL failed to achieve 1:1 odds - Japan lost 678 casualties, 14 guns and 2 vehicles - to 297 casualties, 10 guns and 4 vehicles for the Allies. He may be evacuating - but not because his 10 unit force was not putting up a strong defense.

Over 32,000 Japanese attacked just under 16,000 Allied troops at Rangoon - achieved 2:1 odds - reduced fortifications from 2 to 1 - and resulted in 164 to 81 casualties, 7 to 2 guns lost. In spite of this loss - Japanese units were not badly demoralized and will attack again tomorrow. Only one unit remains at Rangoon - a composite combat and supply sink unit which - being static - cannot be moved.
Like the similar force at Hong Kong - it does not suffer the usual penalties for a supply sink - but has normal morale and leadership.

The 56th Division (binary - called brigade) took Mandalay by shock attack (because it is a river crossing). The airfield unit there withdrew - 3 river ships were lost - and there were 29 Japanese and 174 Allied casualties plus they lost 6 guns and likely several aircraft. Not sure why this position was an airfield without infantry support even when approached on the ground? Possibly he did not anticipate the rapid advance down a rail line?

Almost 53,000 Chinese attacked 7000 Japanese (7 Field Armies vs 1 Brigade) at Ichang - evicting the unit (after many days of high casualties) in spite of its level 3 fortifications. 778 casualties and 5 guns lost to 402 casualties and 22 guns lost for the Allies. [Guns are so rare in ROC I am not sure this was a bad result?]

4400 Japanese attacked 3200 Allies at Davao - inflicting 39 Allied casualties - but failing to take the city.

[el cid again]

20 January 1942 (21 Jan Tokyo Time)

6 Blenheim night fighters raided Taiping - causing no damage whatever. Do they ever? Next, Ramilles and Royal Sovereign and TF came back - and this time they did a LOT of damage. Not enough to technically shut down the field - but the stronger air forces present didn't do nearly as much today as the smaller force the day before did. 16 aircraft destroyed of 4 types, 994 casualties, 21 guns lost, 5 vehicles lost and 46 other hits.

The day turn began with two more air raids on Taiping - he wants his transports at KL unmolested: the first by 25 Blenheims, the second by 21 B-17s. Both were opposed by 3 Ki-43s (which achieved nothing), both destroyed 5 aircraft on the ground and 11 runway hits. The first scored 3 airbase supply hits; the second scored 1 airbase hit.

22 IL-2s attacked the 7th Mongol Cavalry Brigade - causing 26 casualties and 2 guns lost. Two raids by JAAF on the Allied 2nd Mongol Cavalry Brigade caused 3 and 30 casualties respectively - and 1 gun lost both times.

Two Allied air strikes came in at the tip of the spear at Johore Bahru - next to Singapore. The first caused 13 casualties and 2 guns lost - the second none at all. To prevent more of this - and to mess with any more bomber raids (which may soon cease due to demoralization or no more need to protect ships) - we moved in three squadrons of Zeros and four of Ki-27s - the former flying LRCAP over Johore Bahru, Taiping and Kuantan. All demoralized air units were moved out to Saigon to rebuild. Supplimental long range anti-shipping units were spread from Burma to Borneo.

9 Ki-43s caused 6 casualties to the 31st Group Army in China. 23 Ki-27a caused 9 casualties to the 88th Field Army. 37 JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 13 casualties to the Red 15th Guerilla Regiment. 7 Ki-30s caused 31 casualties and 2 guns lost to the 9th Field Army (which later is renamed 99th Field Army - so it has the designation 9/99 th).

23 Ki-21s caused 20 casualties and 1 vehicle lost to the Rangoon Fortress unit - the only unit left in Rangoon itself.

15 Ki-51s (escorted by 17 Ki-27s) attacked the Tarakan Naval Station Fortress unit - causing 47 casualties and 2 vehicles lost.

8 P-26 Peashooters and 12 P-40s attacked an AK at San Fernando. 1 and 2 were destroyed respectively by the 24 fighters of 2 types flying CAP and LRCAP over the hex. No hits were achieved. 7 P-26s came back - with 8 P-40s flying escort - to try again: this time 3 P-26 were lost - and the rest bugged out without attacking. That made it clear the P-40s were without bombs.

15 Ki-30s out of Kuantan attacked AP Warwick Castle SE of Singapore. They missed her - but hit both escorts - setting them on fire with single bomb hits. No planes were lost or damaged.

19 Bettys attacked 5 AKs at Palembang. Opposed by 8 Buffalos - none were lost or damaged - and 2 of the targets were hit by two 250 kg AP bombs - setting them on fire. The planes could not carry torpedoes because they came from Kuching - which has only a Level 3 airfield.

A Japanese deliberate attack on what should be an isolated Field Army in South China was a disaster again. This unit is not out of supplies - it is bright green - in spite of no source. We lost 511 casualties 18 guns and 2 vehicles, and inflicted only 20 casualties. One part of the problem is this is a mountain hex - and that makes defense very strong. Another problem is we seem unable to leave the area - but we will try- let them rot with no supply for a while - then we go again.

Almost 5900 Mongol Cavalry - in spite of low morale from bombing - reduced Tamsag Mongolia from fort level 2 to fort level 1 - the brigade there had only just under 2100 men - we lost 2 men - they lost 137 and 1 gun.

Japanese bombardment at KL revealed only 7 units present - 3 have loaded on ships - and others were very weak - they too are loading on the many ships we see there. We caused 55 casualties, 1 gun lost and 1 vehicle lost - but lost 4 men and 1 gun.

Almost 36000 men faced over 15000 at Rangoon. They achieved 6:1 odds, and took the place. We had 262 casualties and 8 guns lost. The static enemy unit lost 15935 men, 12 guns and 642 vehicles.

Allied ground bombardment of Davao and Port Moresby was ineffective.

Over 11000 men achieved 5:1 odds at Tarakan, taking it from about 3600 defenders. 13 Japanese lost to 5814 Allies - plus 13 guns and 476 vehicles lost. The KNIL VII Battalion retreated into the bush - where they can rot in malarial jungles for a while. Note a reporting issue:
3600 men defended - but 5800 were lost - and a whole unit retreated. Not sure where the 3600 came from??? It may be only certain squads count - and as a supply sink was present - some of it may not have been counted. Wierd.

[el cid again]

This is another case of a delayed report: the site was down and duty called - so I am reconstructing from archive.

21 January 1942 (Hawaii Time)

The night turn begins with 2 ASW units missing IJN I-10. Japanese DD Yaeyoi missed USS Thresher.

3 Blenheim Night Fighters raided Taiping. Again the target of multiple attacks, if this one failed, the net effect, combined with
lots of clouds over bases and targets, was success: Allied units were almost all evacuated from KL by surface ships there.

BB Prince of Wales led force Z in bombarding Sinkawang. 5 aircraft destroyed, 152 casualties, 1 gun lost, 46 other hits.

Coast guns at PM continue to offer resistence: 52 shots scored 5 hits on 2 ships - and AP and a DD. Landing reinforcements continued.
160 casualties in the landings.

The day turn began with raid on Taiping by 29 Blenheims. Met by 10 Zeros flying LRCAP out of KB, 1 Blenheim was shot down. 11 hits were scored. 2 aircraft destroyed on the ground. 21 B-17s out of Palembang followed up. Met by only 5 Zeros 2 bombers were damaged. 27 casualties and 11 more hits. The cumulative effect is significant but has not quite shut down the field.

49 B-17s attacked Midway - along with 5 B-24s flying recon. No damage was done -- amazingly enough.

3 JAAF ground raids in China caused moderate casualties.

10 Kingfishers in the Philippines missed a TK and an AK.

7 Ki-30s attacked an AMC and an escort at KL. 2 bombers were lost - but no hits scored. 5 Bettys missed a DMS and an AK in the
South China Sea. 15 Bettys then raided Singapore - missing 3 targets. Met by 10 fighters of 2 types, 2 bombers were shot down.

I-153 attacked AP Le Maire and put a torpedo into her. She missed 2 other APs. 2 PG and 3 SCs in escort counterattacked, hitting her 10 times, and sinking her outright. This is using the old ASW system - and the kill was too easy.

5800 Japanese failed to achieve odds at Tomsag, Mongolia - and suffered 118 casualties and 4 guns lost - while the enemy unit OF THE SAME NAME (2nd Mongol Brigade) 141 casualties - but kept the place Allied. There were only 1882 defenders.

30,000 Japanese attacked at Kuala Lumpur. Only 5 units remain - and these have almost no value. It means his ships there succeeded in loading the bulk of them on board now. Still - we failed to get odds or take the place - and 89,000 remain - including the civilians in the supply sink. We lost 77 men and 3 guns. They lost 250 men, 3 guns and 4 vehicles - indicating it will fall soon.

Allied bombardment at PM revealed 4100 Allies facing over 14,000 Japanese. 9 Japanese and 6 Allied casualties. Similar bombardment at Davao revealed almost equal forces - with 2 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost.

96 Army paras landed at Myitkinya Burma - and met over 1200 defenders (unexpected - they may have moved in by rail). This attack naturally failed - 35 men and 3 guns were lost (indicating that 131 men had landed originally).

[el cid again]

23 January 1942 (Hawaii) 24 January (Westpac)

The battle for the sea evacuation of two isolated armies in Malaya continues apace. It is a bloody affair.

The night turn began with Dutch sub KXVI torpedoing (and no doubt sinking sooner or late) AK Yanzan Maru- 2 torpedoes,
1 shell hit and - immediately before in the replay but after in the reports - also hitting a mine.

I never saw that before - a mine and torpedo attack at the same time - but it happened again immediately after - on the other
side. At Toboali, AK Kung Wo was torpedoed by Ro-34 right after hitting a mine.

15 P-40s attacked Lucena SE of Manila - no effect.

32 Zeros swept Manila - met 9 P-400s - shot down 2 - the rest bugged out.

7 Ki-48s attacked Philippine 41st Division at Lucena - and met intense AA fire that shot 2 down, damaged 3, and prevented any hits.

34 Japanese bombers of 4 types attacked a large convoy due East of Singapore. This was a joint strike by JAAF and JNAF - unescorted - from two different bases - Kuching and Kota Bahru. Only KB is big enough to permit loading torpedoes on planes, and only naval planes carry torpedoes. They attacked 7 ships - 2 PG and 5 APs - hitting 1 PG and 3 APs with 4 bombs and 4 torpedoes. 1 AP and 1 PG were badly damaged.

13 Nells attacked Port Moresby Fortress and caused 25 casualties.

25 Sallys attacked the RAF No 5 Forward Air Station causing 34 casualties and 1 gun lost at Lashio Burma.

11 Kingfishers missed an AK at Aparri - but 1 was lost to 3 Claudes on CAP. The 10 survivors - with 2 Airacobras - missed an AO at sea - one covered by 4 Nates from the CVE force. 1 more Kingfisher lost.

9 Ki-30s missed 2 APs near the Northern end of Sumatra - one of which was giant Nieuw Amsterdam. Later 17 JAAF bombers of 2 types and 7 Ki-27s hit the same force. They put 1 small 50 kg bomb each into Nieuw Amsterdam and AP Empire Chivalry - and missed AP Dunera and CL Ceres. Later still 7 Nells and 5 Ki-48s hit again putting 1 torpedo each into AP Ranchi and AP Botlea. Ceres was missed again, as was AP King Guffyd.

6 Bettys put a bomb into AS Wuchang near Toboali.

6 Nells out of KB put 1 torpedo each into AP Warwick Castle and AP Empress of Asia at Mersing. These are important large ships that probably do not belong forward. Both are burning.

Two hexes further South 13 Betty's and 8 Sallys from Kuching attacked another convoy engaging 2 AKs, 1 DMS and 1 MSW. The DMS was hit and set on fire. 4 Buffalos on LRCAP managed to destroy one Betty. Then 11 Bettys out of KB attacked the same force, met 3 Buffalos, torpedoed the MSW and also AK Kalgan - both twice - both on fire with heavy damage.

18 JAAF bombers of 2 types, covered by 9 Oscars, hit ships at Medan. DD Nizam and AP City of Durban both took one 50 kg bomb hit. CL Enterprise was missed. 10 Hurricanes on CAP destroyed 3 Oscars and 1 Ki-48. 1 Hurricane was lost. 9 Bettys and 10 Zeros out of Indochina followed up immediately - while the Hurricanes were still tired. They hit CL Enterprise with 1 x 250 kg bomb and destroyed 2 Hurricanes with no Japanese planes lost.

[el cid again]

13,686 Japanese troops conducted the final attack on Port Moresby - about 2 days before the first unit to move on the town complete their march over the Kokota Trail. The attack achieved 4:1 odds vs 3408 defenders. 3 of 4 units retreated Northward up the coast - and the Port Moresby Fortress surrendered - 148 Japanese casualties, 2 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost - 2314 Allied casualties, 23 guns lost, 6 vehicles lost.

Allied ground bombardment at Davao Mindinao resulted in 2 Allied casualties.