The Battle Under: Japan looks to the South

[SierraJuliet]

20 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Mandalay 42 Betty bomb the British troops retreating through the jungle.  BFF Brigade reports 37 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: 55th Division on the doorstep of Myitkyina is attacked by a force of 12 Blenheim I escorted by 5 Buffalo I.  14 Zero flies CAP.  1 Buffalo and 1 Blenheim are destroyed.  The Blenheim drop their bombs harmlessly.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Land:  Japanese shock attack at Cebu reduces forts to level 1 and achieves assault odds of 42 to 1 and the base is captured.  Japanese loses reported as 121 casualties with 2 guns and 1 vehicle lost.  120th USN Base Force and 81st PA Division surrender 5452 troops along with 26 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Bandoeng 28 Oscar on sweep drop in on 5 CW-21B Demon and claim 2 Demon destroyed.[align=left] [/align]At Bankha 14 Helen bomb 14th DAF Base Force and causing 14 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Bali.[align=left] [/align]The undefended base at Kragen is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]All bases in the Philippines have now been secured.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Here is the current view in China.

 

[SierraJuliet]

21 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: 55th Division scouting at Myitkyina performs a round of bombardment and causes 32 casualties and 3 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Hanoi 19 Sonia and 11 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 20 casualties.  At the same location 3 Sonia and 9 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 13 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: 21 Betty escorted by 20 Zero come up against CAP of 1 Kittyhawk and 5 Warhawk.  3 Zero and 1 Betty are destroyed for 2 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  28 Oscar flying sweep at Bandoeng locate 4 CW-21B Demon and shoot down 3.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Tjilitjap Japanese bombardment causes 94 casualties, 1 gun and 2 vehicles lost.[align=left] [/align]The undefended base at Bali is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Not much to report this turn.  Still assessing the value of having 55th Division at Myitkyina as I suspect the Brit force there is too big to be winkled out by 1 division alone.  Small rebuff at Port M this turn as well.  Forces are in place for an assault on Tjilitjap next turn.

[SierraJuliet]

22 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: 8 Blenheim escorted by 7 Buffalo target 55th Division at Myitkyina and are opposed by 13 Zero on CAP duty.  2 Buffalo and 1 Blenheim are destroyed and on the ground 55th Division reports 5 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: 55th Division is still at Myitkyina and continues with the bombardment causing 36 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: At Homan 54 Zero fly sweep against 5 P-40B Tomahawk and destroy 2.[align=left] [/align]North of Hanoi 18 Sonia and 11 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps causing 21 casualties.  At the same location 50th Chinese Corps is bombed by 3 Sonia and 12 Sally for 8 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: At Tjilitjap Japanese shock attack on this fort level 2 base achieves 93 to 1 assault odds and the base is captured.  Tjilitjap Garrison Battalion retreats whilst 5th Coastal Gun Battalion surrenders 1640 men with 21 guns and 1 vehicle lost.  Japanese loses reported as 172 casualties and 4 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No action reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Catalina scouts have been seen in the skies over Gili Gili.  This is the first recon of this base (almost at level 4 AF) that I have noted – Todd must be curious as to what has been going on here.

[SierraJuliet]

23 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: At Homan 54 Zeros take on 19 P-40E Warhawk.  5 Zeros are destroyed in exchange for 9 Warhawk destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Bandoeng 6 Nell bomb 4th Dutch Regiment and fail to cause any damage.  The escort of 25 Oscar destroys the 1 CW-21B Demon that ventures into the air.  A follow on raid by 15 Nell causes 32 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Dutch regiment.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No action reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Todd appears to be swapping his AVG fighters around at Homan.  The Warhawk is certainly stiffer competition than the Tomahawks.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Myitkyina there are only 2 units at the base with the other 2 withdrawn.  The 2 left still fields about the same amount of troops as the original 4 so it appears that only support units have been withdrawn.  I have decided to withdraw 55th Division from this position as it doesn’t field sufficient firepower to take the base.  Furthermore the division is out on a limb and in need of aerial supply and is in danger of being cut off from behind.  The prospect of flying protracted CAP to protect it doesn’t thrill me either.  The division will return to Mandalay which will be welcome with the number of units deployed in the jungle attempting to round up those Burma Rifles units.

[SierraJuliet]

24 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Impahl 41 Zero pay a visit and meet 5 Buffalo and 6 Hurricane II.  3 Zeros are lost in exchange for 4 Buffalo and 1 Hurricane destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Near Mandalay 37 Betty and 27 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 25 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Northwest of Hanoi 18 Sonia and 20 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 23 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Homan 49 Zero take on 4 Warhawk with 3 Warhawk destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Tjilitjap 3 Nell bomb 4th Dutch Regiment and cause 11 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]At Bandoeng 21 Oscar shoot down the CAP of 2 339D Brewster.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Pinrang.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Central Pacific:[align=left] [/align]Sea: ML Sokuten sent to Wake Island finds a mine instead.  Damage not looking good at 31 58 35.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Spent some time reorganizing the fleet and working out what was coming across from the DEI to Rabaul for the PM invasion.  Troops are enroute from the Philippines for an invasion of PM.  Otherwise the attrition of the AVG at Homan continues to go well.

[SierraJuliet]

25 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Ichang causes 244 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Hanoi 21 Sonia and 20 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 30 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Homan 44 Zero versus 3 Warhawk.  2 Warhawk are claimed as destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Bangka 9 Helen bomb 14th DAF Base Force and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Tjilitjap 11 Nell bomb 21st DAF Base Force and cause 44 casualties and 2 guns and 1 vehicle lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Lombok.[align=left] [/align]Japanese bombardment at Bandoeng causes 85 Dutch casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Japanese deliberate attack at Pinrang (undefended) captures the base.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]PO2 M. Okura of F2/Tainan, flying out of Chengting, Daitai becomes an ace.   He is Japanese ace number 7 for this game.  The AVG group based at Homan looks to be pretty well mauled.  The two Daitai based at Chengting will rest for a bit before switching to Nanning to take on the other AVG group in China based at Kweiyang.  Meanwhile at Ichang the siege gets underway whilst units continue to move around to set up the encirclement.

[SierraJuliet]

26 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay 20 Helen and 28 Betty bomb BFF Brigade and cause 50 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: At Ichang 12 Ann bomb 49th Chinese Corps and cause 19 casualties.  Also at Ichang 12 Sonia bomb 78th Chinese Corps and cause 12 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 197 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]North of Hanoi Japanese deliberate (2 Japan divisions v 2 Chinese Corps and 1 Army Group) attack on the road hex achieves assault odds of 38 to 1 and the Chinese forces retreat inland.  Japanese losses reported as 159 casualties with 7 guns and 1 vehicle lost to 34 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: At Bandoeng Japanese deliberate attack on this fort level 4 base achieves assault odds of 65 to 1 and the base is captured.  Japanese loses reported as 41 casualties and 1 gun lost.  Tjilatjap Garrison Battalion, 21st DAF Base Force and 4th Dutch Regiment/2 surrender 2482 men and 14 guns are reported lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]Near Townsville SS I-17 scores 2 shell hits and 2 torpedo hits on AK Elcano and the cargo ship sinks.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]AK Elcano[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Good to see 1 of my subs find a target.  The last obstacle on the road to Batavia has been removed.

[SierraJuliet]

27 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align][align=left] [/align]Sea: PC Ch 3 hits a mine near Singapore and she sinks.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay 33 Betty and 24 Helen bomb BFF Brigade and cause 44 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Ichang causes 290 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Ichang 30 Ann bomb 70th Chinese Corps and cause 8 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Batavia 18 Nell attack 2nd Dutch Regiment and without causing any damage lose 1 of their number to flak.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese deliberate attack at Bankha (level 2 forts) achieves assault odds of 194 to 1 and the base is captured.  The single Dutch unit reports 27 casualties and retreats.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align] PC Ch 3[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]It seems that the proliferate Japanese mine fields in the Malacca Strait has come back to haunt me with Ch 3 hitting a Japanese mine.  Another lesson learnt on the learning curve.

[SierraJuliet]

28 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Imphal 50 Zero take on 6 Buffalo I and 10 Hurricane II.  For the loss of 3 Zeros 6 Buffalo and 5 Hurricane are reported as destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 20 Sally bomb 29th Chinese Corps and cause 14 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 12 Ann bomb 78th Chinese Corps and cause 17 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 267 Chinese casualties and 4 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  North of Banjarmasin 12 Sally bomb VI Garrison Battalion and cause 27 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Tomini.[align=left] [/align]Japanese deliberate attack in the jungle north of Banjarmasin achieves assault odds of 52 to 1.  SE Borneo Garrison Battalion, VI Garrison Battalion, Samarinda Garrison Battalion, 3rd Dutch Naval Base Force and 10th DAF Base Force surrender (421 casualties).[align=left] [/align]At Lombok Japanese bombardment causes 16 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The victory in the jungles near Banjarmasin brings an end to Allied resistance on Borneo.  Construction at Gili Gili finally makes it to level 4 airfield – this will be a big help in countering any naval interference in the invasion of Port Moresby.

[SierraJuliet]

29 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: At Singapore 7 Martin 139 make an attack.  A CAP of 17 Zero and 12 Oscar is ready for them.  4 Martin are destroyed and no damage is inflicted.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Imphal 47 Zero take on 6 Buffalo I and 9 Hurricane II.  1 Zero goes down but reports come in of all 6 Buffalo and 5 of the Hurricanes being destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Near Mandalay 31 Betty and 11 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 40 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Ichang causes 271 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: Northeast of Hanoi 19 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 108 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 12 Ann bomb 70th Chinese Corps and cause 21 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 49 Zero escort 49 Betty.  A CAP of 13 Kittyhawk I rise up to meet this force.  4 Zeros are destroyed whilst the Allied defenders return to the ground minus 6 Kittyhawks.  The airbase supply takes 1 hit and the runway takes 9 hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: At Lombok a Dutch bombardment task force lights up my anti submarine task force with nasty results for the patrol craft.

[align=left] [/align]Night Time Surface Combat, near Lombok at 24,69[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Japanese Ships[align=left] [/align]PC Kyo Maru #2, Shell hits 5, and is sunk[align=left] [/align]PC Kyo Maru #12[align=left] [/align]PC Shonan Maru #17, Shell hits 3,  on fire[align=left] [/align]PC Takunan Maru #5, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[align=left] [/align]PC Ch 13[align=left] [/align]PC Ch 14, Shell hits 8, and is sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Allied Ships[align=left] [/align]CL Java[align=left] [/align]CL De Ruyter[align=left] [/align]CL Tromp[align=left] [/align]DD Banckert[align=left] [/align]DD Van Nes[align=left] [/align]DD Witte de With[align=left] [/align]DD Evertsen[align=left] [/align]DD Kortenaer[align=left] [/align]DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1[align=left] [/align]DD Van Ghent[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Alerted to the nearby action a Japanese surface action task force (of 4 destroyers) races in to lend their support to the patrol craft.  A slightly better result but Kuroshio looks to be in serious trouble.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Night Time Surface Combat, near Lombok at 24,69[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Japanese Ships[align=left] [/align]DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage[align=left] [/align]DD Nowaki[align=left] [/align]DD Hagikaze[align=left] [/align]DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2,  on fire[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Allied Ships[align=left] [/align]CL Java, Shell hits 1[align=left] [/align]CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1[align=left] [/align]CL Tromp, Shell hits 2[align=left] [/align]DD Banckert, Shell hits 1,  on fire[align=left] [/align]DD Van Nes[align=left] [/align]DD Witte de With[align=left] [/align]DD Evertsen[align=left] [/align]DD Kortenaer[align=left] [/align]DD Piet Hein[align=left] [/align]DD Van Ghent[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]After brushing aside the slender opposition the Dutch pay some attention to the troops on the ground at Lombok.  The bombardment causes 53 casualties and 4 guns lost to the invading Japanese force.  De Ruyter is not in the bombarding group so hopefully that 1 torpedo did some serious damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At the end of this action Kuroshio is a 99 98 30 and bravely attempting to steam back to Soerabaja and Natsugumo is at 14 00 06.  PC Shonan Maru #7 is at 45 44 25.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Air:  At Batavia 14 Nell bomb A-III-Ld AA Battalion and cause 6 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Land:  Japanese bombardment at Batavia causes 174 Dutch casualties and 9 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]The undefended base at Tomini is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]After their mauling at Lombok the 3 remaining PC get a sniff of SS Pike but are unable to score any hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]PCs Kyo Maru # 2, Takunan Maru #5, Ch 14, ML Sokuten (at Wake Island after hitting a mine a couple of days previous)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Gutsy move there by Todd and one that appears to have paid off handsomely.  He hinted a few emails ago that something was in the wind but he’d stuffed something up and this had put things back a few days.  I’m guessing that the Lombok bombardment is what he was referring to and I should have taken more notice to his comment of hoping the Miss Nell and Betty would not be at home.  As it turns out Nells are in the vicinity but in my complacency all eyes were focused on the action at Batavia.  Needless to say things will be tweaked here in the hope of catching up with De Ruyter.  I’m guessing Todd noticed that the bulk of the IJN had recently moved from Soerabaja back to Singapore (mini KB) or headed north on the trek across to Rabaul (most of the battle fleet).  In a way I’m glad they still weren’t at Soerabaja as it would have meant the Dutch fleet getting in and out right under the nose of the IJN – much embarrassing that would have been.  Sadly this loss of ships has seen Japanese shipping losses outnumber the Allied with 68 Japanese ships sunk to 65 Allied ships.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Not all is doom and gloom though as this turn saw one of the best aerial action days for the Japanese in this game.  At the end of the day air to air results stood at Japan 5 shot down and Allied 22 shot down.  Ace number 8, ENS T. Sasai, on board Hosho, becomes an ace after shooting down all 4 of the Martin bombers shot down over Singapore.  Most of the ships in mini KB are in port but all fighters had been left on 100% CAP over what is left of the task force so a very decent CAP rose up to meet the bombers.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Also on the air to air front; today saw the 100th Buffalo claimed in aerial combat.  The tally now stands at 105.  Other notable tallies for air to air combat are Brewster 339D 48, Hurricane II 18 and Martin 139 36.  Zero figures stand at 46 lost in air to air combat.  Overall Japan has lost a total of 94 planes in air to air whilst the Allies have lost 406 in air to air combat.  To balance this out Japan has lost a total of 420 planes to operational loses whilst the Allies have lost are mere 89 to operational loses.  I’m slowly getting the hang of addressing this problem and have just managed to move 2 daitai of Zeros from Chengting to Nanning without losing a single plane – thanks for the previous advice on this guys.  The intention is to use these seasoned flyers to have a go at the AVG force based at Kweiyang.  To finish the aerial topic the Allied capability is awesome.  So far the Allies have flown 414 988 sorties in comparison to 342 660 Japanese sorties.  I’m just keeping my nose in front in the loss department with 670 Japanese planes lost to all causes compared to 751 Allied planes.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Question now is which base/s is the Dutch fleet operating out of and can I do something about them.

[SierraJuliet]

30 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay 26 Betty bomb 1st Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 49 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 304 Chinese casualties and 3 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 14 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 26 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 65 Zero escort 46 Betty and meet a CAP of 3 Kittyhawk I.  2 Kittyhawk are destroyed and the runway is hit twice.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: At Batavia Japanese shock attack achieves assault odds of 13 to 1 (fort level 6) and the base is captured.  Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion surrenders.  The other 7 Dutch units present retreat to Merak.  Japanese loses reported as 1267 casualties, 44 guns and 4 vehicles lost to 2314 Dutch casualties and 18 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]DD Kuroshio (scuttled after the action against the Dutch Fleet)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The capture of Batavia was a great success – Oil found to be (0) x 100, Resources (0) x 600 and Manpower (0) x 2.  Nor was there any damage to the level 6 port and level 4 airfield.  The only problem is the mines strewn around the place – minesweepers are on the way to open up the port.  A dash to Merak is underway with the intention of capturing this base and the last of the Dutch troops left on Java.

[SierraJuliet]

31 March 1942[align=left] [/align]
[/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Sea: Ouch…. Just near Singapore ML Hirashima 55 46 23, ML Wakatake 34 38 16 and PC Ch 17 90 82 23 each hit a mine.  Good job they are very near the great port of Singapore.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay 34 Betty bomb 1st Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 45 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 258 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Kweiyang 58 Zero and 8 Tojo take on 19 Warhawk.  7 Zeros reported destroyed for 9 Warhawk reported destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Northwest of Hanoi 19 Sally bomb 67th Chinese Division and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 43 Betty escorted by 65 Zero are met by CAP of 6 Kittyhawk.  3 Kittyhawk are destroyed and the airbase is hit twice and the runway 4 times.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Lombok causes 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]F2/Yamada Daitai based at Nanning has broken the 50 kill mark currently with a total of 51 kills.  7 Zeros, from my Nanning force, is a high loss rate, however, 9 out 19 Warhawk not too bad either… hopefully this has put a dent in good quality pilots operating with the AVG.  Last day of the current Zero bonus… shame the Mandalay Zeros didn’t fly.

[flaggelant]

how are your long term plans looking atm?
 
after cleaning out the SRA a lot of troops will be freed up to start cleaning out the other last resistance pockets, or are you planning for a new
front?
 
(and how's Ichang doing??) 
 

[SierraJuliet]

Review March1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Ships damaged during the month (those that survived at least) and their current damage status.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]BB Kong 01 00 02.  End of March 06 00 00[align=left] [/align]CL Jintsu 08 19 23.  End of March 03 00 00[align=left] [/align]CA Takao 00 00 03.  End of March 00 00 00[align=left] [/align]CL Sendai 23 13 17.  End of March 25 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Kamikaze 37 24 08.  End of March 32 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Akigumo 49 62 49.  End of March 41 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Natsugumo 14 00 06.  End of March 16 00 00[align=left] [/align]APD APD 33 99 59 33.  End of March 87 00 00[align=left] [/align]APD APD 32 99 62 49.  End of March 78 00 00[align=left] [/align]ML Hirashima 55 46 23 – just damaged[align=left] [/align]ML Wakatake 34 38 16 – just damaged[align=left] [/align]PC Ch 17 90 82 23 – just damaged[align=left] [/align]PC Shonan Maru #17 45 44 25.  End of March 61 51 01[align=left] [/align]PG Seisho Maru 65 52 49.  End of March 90 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Nojima Maru 04 00 00.  End of March 00 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Shoho Maru 77 18 15.  End of March 65 00 00[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Quick snapshot of some of the ships damaged earlier in the war and their current status.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DD Yunagi at worst was 42 52 03 and now on 13 00 00[align=left] [/align]CV Hiryu at worst was 47 07 06 and now on 23 00 00[align=left] [/align]CA Ashigara worst was 29 00 00 and now on 13 00 00[align=left] [/align]PG Hasidate worst was 41 87 00 and now on 17 00 00[align=left] [/align]BB Yamashiro worst was 11 00 00 and now on 03 00 00 after undergoing upgrade[align=left] [/align]BC Haruna worst was 26 00 00 and now on 04 00 00[align=left] [/align]AK Awazisan Maru worst was 41 87 00 and now on 17 00 00[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]As for ships lost during the month Japan lost MSW x 3, AP x 6, TK x 1, ML x 1, PC x 4 and DD x 1.  Allied loses reported as PT x 4 and AK x 1.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Also a bit of a round up of aerial action during the month.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In China Japan lost 21 aircraft to Allies 36[align=left] [/align]In Burma Japan lost 9 aircraft to Allies 50[align=left] [/align]Over Port Moresby Japan lost 13 aircraft to Allies 14[align=left] [/align]In DEI Japan lost 6 aircraft to Allies 45[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]All together for the month Japan lost 49 aircraft to the Allies 145 aircraft in aerial action.  I haven’t gone into operational loses as I am still rather abysmal in that department.  During the month the AVG appeared in China with the resulting on going aerial duels.  I had my first daitai achieve in excess of 50 kills.  Aces 4,5,6,7 and 8 also announced their presence during the month (not forgetting Hosho becoming the proud home of an ace).[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the land department progress continues on all fronts.  Below is listed bases captured the month of March 1942.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Captured – Taung Gyi, Lashio[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI [align=left] [/align]Captured – Soerabaja, Madioen, Malang, Sampit, Djokjakarta, Pamakasan, Kragen, Bali, Tjilitjap, Pinrang, Bandoeng, Bankha, Batavia[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines [align=left] [/align]Captured – Tacloban, Guiuan, Iloilo, Cebu[align=left] [/align]Occupied – Catbalogan[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific [align=left] [/align]Captured – Kiriwina, Vella Lavella[align=left] [/align]Occupied – Munda, Panggoe[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In general things have progressed in a satisfactory manner.  The Philippines are clear and Java is almost clear.  China has become something of an aerial dueling ground (along with Burma) and Ichang is well within the Japanese locus of control.  In the SE Pacific forces are massing for an assault on Port Moresby during April.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Stuff ups[align=left] [/align]Complacency at Lombok.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Things that worked[align=left] [/align]The encirclement of Ichang seems to have come off ok.  [align=left] [/align]I am happy so far with the air war in China and Burma.

[SierraJuliet]

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

how are your long term plans looking atm?

after cleaning out the SRA a lot of troops will be freed up to start cleaning out the other last resistance pockets, or are you planning for a new
front?

(and how's Ichang doing??) 

Hey Flaggelant

I'm about 5 days behind in my AAR. At present Java is Japanese and the force deployed there will be used to clean up Sumatra. At the same time I intend to continue clearing the eastern portion of the DEI culminating hopefully in the capture of Darwin and some of the north western ports in Australia. During April I intend on capturing Port Moresby. I have several divisions and other supporting units in Rabaul and so far recon indicates there are 4 land units in Port Moresby to deal with. KB will be at sea in support of this operation. Ultimately I am toying with the idea of invading the eastern sea board of Australia with the intention of taking everything from Brisbane north. Still in the thinking stage but I'm sure that if it goes ahead this should provoke a response from Todd.

China is good and Ichang is awaiting the final deployment of units around the town before the assault proper goes ahead.

[SierraJuliet]

01 April 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Imphal 43 Zero take on 5 Buffalo I and 5 Hurricane II.  2 Zero are destroyed for 3 Buffalo and 3 Hurricanes destroyed.[align=left] [/align]In the woodland areas to the north of Mandalay 2nd Tank Regiment is bombed by 4 SB-2c and reports 12 casualties and 1 vehicle lost.  Not far away the BFF Brigade is bombed by 23 Betty causing 14 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land:  Japanese bombardment on the Burma Rifles and BFF Brigades cause 6 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 63 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]South of Changsha 39th Division crosses the river to grapple with a single Chinese unit that has apparently come out to test the defenses.  The river crossing causes a shock attack resulting in Japanese assault odds of 2 to 1.  Japanese loses reported as 543 casualties, 18 guns and 1 vehicle lost against 250 Chinese casualties and 10 guns lost.  The Chinese forces retreat.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Kweiyang 51 Zero take on 4 Warhawk.  2 Zero destroyed for 1 Warhawk destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Northwest of Hanoi 12 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 19 casualties.  At the same location 29th Chinese Corps is bombed by 10 Sally and reports 16 casualties.[align=left] [/align]South of Changsha 9 Sonia bomb 59th Chinese Corps and cause 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Medan 2nd WS Garrison Battalion is bombed by 6 Helen causing 11 casualties.  Also at Medan a second raid by 12 Helen fails to cause any damage, however, the escort of 21 Oscar shots down 1 of the 2 Brewster 339D flying CAP.[align=left] [/align]Land: The 1st Parachute Regiment (rebuilt after the disastrous attempt to capture Johore Bahru) make a drop on the undefended base at Jambi.  The base is easily taken.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS Silversides operating just north of Rabaul is attacked on 3 separate occasions by 2 anti sub task forces without a single hit registered.

[align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align] Nil

[align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]LTGJ D. Ikura of F2/Yamada Daitai operating out of Nanning becomes an ace.  PO2 O. Chono of F1/3rd Daitai operating out of Mandalay becomes an ace.  Hopefully the assault on the inquisitive Chinese unit will put an end to this pesky behaviour from the Chinese.  The capture of Jambi closes the back door on any Dutch forces attempting to flee Palembang when the invasion of Sumatra gets underway.

[SierraJuliet]

02 April 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Near Mandalay 18th/B Division launches a shock attack against the Burma Rifles Brigades dug into the jungle.  Assault odds of 32 to 1 are achieved but the British force doggedly refuses to surrender.  Japanese loses reported as 46 casualties and 3 guns lost to 8 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align]At the cross roads north of Lashio 2nd Parachute Regiment is dropped in an attempt to take what recon had reported as being an area clear of enemy troops.  Wrong…1 Chinese unit popped up and the resultant shock attack saw the Japanese achieve assault odds of 0 to 1 and report 119 casualties. [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: At Kweiyang 50 Zero take on 10 Warhawk.  1 Zero is lost for 4 Warhawk destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Northwest of Hanoi 7 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 11 casualties.  25th Chinese Corps, also in the same location, is targeted by 10 Sally and 7 casualties are reported.[align=left] [/align]South of Changsha 59th Chinese Corps is bombed by 11 Sonia causing 15 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 12 Ann bomb 49th Chinese Corps and cause 5 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 95 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 41 Betty bomb the airfield causing 5 casualties, 3 airbase hits, 5 airbase supply hits and 6 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: At Merak Japanese bombardment causes 58 casualties and 3 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]North of Lombok MSW W.8 manages to score 1 hit on SS Seadragon.[align=left] [/align]Silversides still operating in the same hex near Rabaul is again repeatedly attacked without success.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]LTJG Matsumura P. of F2/Yamada Daitai and PO1 Miyazaki, G. of F2/Tainan Daitai, both operating out of Nanning, are credited with their 5th kills and achieve ace status.  This is pilots 11 and 12 to make it to ace status.  Forces are almost ready to commence the final assault to clear Java.  The Chinese on the cross roads north of Lashio came as a surprise and indicate that Todd is looking to hold the supply route to China.  Until I have cleared those stubborn Burma Rifles Brigades near Mandalay I am not in a position to attempt to force the issue on the supply road.

[SierraJuliet]

03 April 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay BFF Brigade is bombed by 26 Betty and 15 Helen for 42 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment on the besieged British forces near Mandalay causes 26 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: At Ichang Japanese bombardment causes 79 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Ichang 70th Chinese Corps is bombed by 10 Ann for 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Kweiyang 38 Zero tangle with 8 Warhawk.  3 Zeros lost for 5 Warhawk destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Medan 6 Helen bomb WS Garrison Battalion for 6 casualties.  A second raid by 12 Helen targets 6th Dutch Naval Base for 11 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese shock attack at Merak achieves assault odds of 48 to 1 (fort level 2) and the base is captured.  Japanese loses reported as 322 casualties and 14 guns lost.  ABDA, 1st and 2nd Dutch Regiments, A-I-Ld AA and A-III-Ld AA Battalions, 2nd Dutch Naval Base Force and 1 DAF Aviation/1 surrender 7899 men and 62 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Japanese bombardment at Lombok causes 11 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS Silversides is again located by an anti sub task force and this time 3 hits are reported.  A second task force homes in on her and reports 1 hit.  Finally a third task force locates the sub and scores another hit.  The last group keeps up the attack and 2 more hits are reported and the submarine sinks not long after.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]SS Silversides[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Java is now clear of enemy troops.  Todd mailed that he meant to move Silversides but forgot to.  Guess she stayed there for 1 day too long.  Had a look at her RL record – quite impressive, a good hunter of merchantmen she was.

[SierraJuliet]

04 April 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: Near Mandalay 29 Betty and 24 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 46 casualties.  Not too far away 3 SB-2c bomb 18th/C Division and cause 5 Japanese casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: South of the cross road north of Lashio Allied shock attack on the Parachute Regiment already ordered to retreat achieves assault odds of 15 to 1 and causes 10 Japanese casualties and 44 Allied casualties.  Naturally the retreat to Lashio continues.[align=left] [/align]Near Mandalay Japanese bombardment causes 10 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Ichang causes 40 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: At Kweiyang 48 Zero dance with 5 Warhawk. 1 Zero destroyed and 3 Warhawk go down in the dance of death.[align=left] [/align]Northwest of Hanoi 19 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align]South of Changsha 10 Sonia bomb 59th Chinese Corps and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 12 Ann bomb 78th Chinese Corps and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  Near Toboali 7 Martin 139 attack a cargo task force and land one bomb on PC Kyo Maru #13 causing 46 07 14 damage.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Lombok Japanese shock attack achieves combat odds of 65 to 1 (fort level 2) and the base is captured.  Prajoda Garrison Battalion surrenders 1046 men while Japanese loses are reported as 28 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]Nil reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]WO Nagano N. of F2/Yamada Daitai based at Nanning achieves ace level.  This is ace #13. 

[flaggelant]

couple a questions;
 
how much AV (or how many units) did you use to capture Java?
&
where's KB at ??
(and whats it doing over there)