Dasterly Deeds Done Dirty

[scott64]

Day 3 sees the Imperial Japanese forces secure new territory to have and hold. [:D][:'(]
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarawa, and Nauru Island. [:)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese elite pilots deal a hurt to those yellow Americans. [:'(]
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 172,101

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
B5N2 Kate x 54
D3A1 Val x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage [:-]
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [:-]
DD Tucker, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cassin
DD Worden, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Downes

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 172,101

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid
DD Cassin
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Downes, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bases to be secured very soon. [8D]
Kuching, Kota Bharu, San Fernando, Talaud-eilanden, and Aparri

Banzai [:'(]

[thegreatwent]

---- A sad epilogue to the Battle of the Windward Islands involved the Cruiser Squadron on December 9th. While chasing what they perceived as stragglers the Minneapolis and New Orleans strayed into the range of the withdrawing Japanese Fleet. By the time the sun set that evening the two cruisers were limping towards Pearl with no real hope of ever seeing port again.

On the other side of the Pacific the USS Perch discovered a minefield just outside of Manila. Despite a large hole in her port side she returned to her berth under her own power.----

[scott64]

Surface combat in the Philippines.

[scott64]

Allied Carriers found. [X(][:)] A Funny looking Illustrious carrier class. [X(]

[thegreatwent]

---- 12/10/41. The first days of the war were witness to a frenzied Japanese expansion. Landings occurred in places such as San Fernando, Aparri, Ternate, Khota Baru and Wake. At Wake Island the defenders managed to set several of the attacking Japanese vessels afire, yet the Imperial Japanese were not stopped by a few damaged ships. Grand strategies and war college plans were soon overtaken by events. Many commanders caught up in local emergencies and in just trying to survive the initial ferocity of the enemy's assault. ----

[scott64]

It seams Allied cruisers like to go fishing.

Submarine attack near Howland Island at 150,129

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage [:D]

Bases captured [:)]
Sorong, Ternate, Miri (Some damage)

[thegreatwent]

----December 11, 1941. Allied cruisers continued to shoulder the worst of what the IJN could dish out. USS Louisville was hit by several torpedoes near Howland Island, fortunately her damage control teams were able to keep the ship afloat. Japanese submarines also scored victories in sinking the Demosthenes and the USS Chew on this day.

The news was not all bad as the HMS Mauritius and her destroyer escort succeeded in sinking a Japanese amphibious group near Kuching. All told six IJN vessels were sent to the bottom. (2 APs, 1 AK, 1 DMS, 1 TB and the APD Aoi)

In Washington the decision was made to focus first on Europe and then on the Pacific. To that end orders began to arrive on the west coast of the U.S. directing several squadrons of aircraft to prepare for deployment east. -----

[Mike Solli]

Holy cow, Scott! [X(]

How's KB lookin?

[thegreatwent]

I'm not sure how his KB is doing. FOW and all that. I can say for sure that they aren't hanging around Pearl at the moment[:D]

[thegreatwent]

----- December 12th, 1941. The day began with the defenders of Wake punishing the Japanese invasion force, pillars of smoke drifted from ships attempting to land troops. Although the probability of relief seemed low the garrison fought on. Over Georgetown, in Malaysia, the air war intensified with nearly a dozen Japanese Nells and Betties being shot down by RAF fighters. The planes that fought through the Buffalo fighters found the harbor empty save for a few motor launches which they obliterated with their torpedoes. As the sun set that evening word was received that Medang and Boela had fallen. ----

[CarnageINC]

WOOT!  Yeah get that KB!  WOOT 

[scott64]

More territory was liberated. [:'(]
Mauban, San Fernando, Naga, Jesselton, Guam, Manus, Lae, and Brunei. [:D]

American carriers were spotted heading West towards Truk. [X(][:-]

[thegreatwent]

American carriers were spotted heading West towards Truk.

Bwahhahahahaha

[scott64]

Hong Kong Falls [X(]

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 21051 troops, 321 guns, 216 vehicles, Assault Value = 615
Defending force 5942 troops, 131 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 380
Allied adjusted defense: 173

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
875 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
10914 casualties reported
Squads: 263 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 901 destroyed, 88 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 169 (168 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 91 (84 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

[thegreatwent]

---- December 14, 1941. Shock best describes the atmosphere in Allied headquarters as news of Hong Kong's capitulation trickled in that evening. Agents that remained in the city reported widespread looting and that the Japanese were plundering both military and civilian supplies.

In Manila radio intercepts indicated that a U.S. submarine had been depth charged off the coast of French Indochina. Since the USS Sturgeon had missed her broadcast time the worst was feared.

Over Rangoon Allied fighters continued the see-saw battle for control of the air, losses were reported to be heavy. Especially among the RAF Buffalo squadrons.

On Wake Island the defenders continued to hold out, the status of relief efforts was unclear as sources gave conflicting information to the press.----

[scott64]

More action [:'(]
Lingayen is captured:
48th Recon Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
At the front [8D]

Tuguegarao is in the right hands:
Tanaka Detachment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Const Co
3rd Engineer Construction Battalion
28th JAAF AF Bn
All men are treated to extra Saki rations. [:)]

Vigan is unopposed:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF does the job [:D]
They flew in during the night.

That darn Mauritius. She will be dealt with very harshly. [:-]
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMc Wa 19, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zinzan Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kinkasan Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Giyu Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Kembu Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Kiko Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Anbo Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius [:@]
DD Vendetta

[thegreatwent]

---- December 16, 1941. Japanese landings continued at Manado, Kuching, Kavieng and Rebaul as Lingayen, Tuguegaro and Vigan fell. The enemies success was checked slightly by stiff battles fought in the air over Tavoy and Clark Field and at sea by the HMS Mauritius. The Mauritius and her escort the destroyer Vendetta again succeeded in intercepting a IJN amphibious group sinking 3 xAKLs, 4 xAKs and their escort AMc Wa-19 near Kuching. In Whitehall the small task forces commander, Captain W.D. Stephans, was singled out for commendation following his successful cruise as well as potential promotion to Commodore.

In other news, the USS Louisville succumbed to the damage caused by torpedoes on the 11th and sank still broadcasting her location to rescuers. The few float planes in range found few survivors. -----

[scott64]

Surface action. [:'(]
The chase starts
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 10,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence. [:D]
The chase continues
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 68,91, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Thracian, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

More chasing [:'(]
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 72,88, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
DD Thanet, Shell hits 3, on fire
Seams the evil guys lost a destroyer along the chase. [:D]

[thegreatwent]

---- December 17, 1941. In the early morning hours Australia command was glad to hear word that the squadron led by HMAS Canberra had intercepted an amphibious landing group. Two transports were sent to the bottom and bodies clothed in the uniforms of Japanese infantry were pulled from the water.

Wake Island managed to get some supplies in and mail out. There were also reports that two more Japanese vessels, the CMs Okinoshima and Tokiwa, had been mauled by the defenders guns.

Chang Kai-shek proudly declared that Chinese forces were consolidating positions in order to repel the enemy aggressors. Additionally he related how their bombers had successfully interdicted Japanese supply lines. "With more support from the U.S. and Britain our forces will soon break Japan's will to fight in China" he told reporters.

Near the Philippines a detachment of destroyers led by the HMS Thracian radioed Manila that they were engaging a Japanese destroyer squadron, radio contact was lost shortly after that. Later that evening radio contact with Laoag was also lost. ----

[scott64]

More chasing through the tulips [:D]
Night Time Surface Combat, near Clark Field at 77,76, Range 2,000 Yards
DD Ikazuchi and DD Inazuma intercept 7 MTBs
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 77 , 75
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 77 , 76
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 77 , 76
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 77 , 77
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 78 , 78
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 78 , 79
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 79 , 80
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 78 , 81
Task Force 8 encounters enemy Task Force at 78 , 82 [:-][:'(]
More territory claimed. [8D]
Jolo and Davao switch sides

The biggest question of all is: Where is KB?