Well it seems the enemy may come for Mersing. I am throwing the kitchen sink there.
About reinforcements: yes we're giving up on Malaya. I'll send some troops to port Blair to protect my build up there, and the rest of them in Burma and Australia I guess. I suppose everyone advises me not to commit anything else to Singapore?
About the DEI: little KB raced to Sorong last turn, probably to provide somekind of air cover for the Ambon landing. I think they know we're building up in the area. So I'll strike him someplace he's weak instead. More of this next turn I guess [:)]
Not doing a detailed report yet - my stomach is in shatters (that's the main reason why it was so long before I send the new turn, apologies - Hey Chickenboy, thanks for your little tropical friends [:D] [;)]). The turn has been very sub-heavy. I lost another couple tankers - I think I'll give up DEI fuel evac, it's too risky for what it is. At least, that's fuel they will never have.
Dutch Subs were mervellous, and sank 2 xAK & 1 xAKL (with a double kill and a ASW game for KXV!). Cam Ranh Bay will be soon crowded with ships, including ships bringing land units, so I have to stick to the place and try to disrupt the reinforcement effort.
Submarine attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,72
Japanese Ships
xAK Somedono Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXV
xAK Somedono Maru is sighted by SS KXV
SS KXV launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Somedono Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,72
Japanese Ships
xAKL Banshu Maru #18, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXV
xAKL Banshu Maru #18 is sighted by SS KXV
SS KXV launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Banshu Maru #18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ships
xAK Tamaki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Meiten Maru
xAK Kansai Maru
SC Ch 8
DMS W-6
Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 5
SS KXII launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tamaki Maru
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS W-6 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another nice combat this turn was the gallant attack of the Allied PT force in the Phillipines. Very aggressive commanders completely change the behavior of such TF, it will never be said often enough.
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Bisan Maru #3
AMc Choun Maru #7
PB Choun Maru #18, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Sydney Maru
xAK Anyo Maru
xAK Kumagawa Maru
xAK Tatukami Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Okiyu Maru
xAK Kosei Maru
xAK Kotoku Maru
xAK Keisho Maru
xAK Hokuan Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Takaoka Maru
xAK Atlas Maru
xAK Kamoi Maru
xAK Shinyubari Maru
xAK Shirogane Maru
xAK Tenzan Maru
xAK Yamadori Maru
xAK Karachi Maru
xAK Pacific Maru
xAK Kuwayama Maru
xAK Siraha Maru
xAK Chuko Maru
Allied Ships
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 57% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 57% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
xAK Chuko Maru , xAK Siraha Maru , xAK Kuwayama Maru ,
xAK Pacific Maru , xAK Karachi Maru , xAK Yamadori Maru ,
xAK Tenzan Maru , xAK Shirogane Maru , xAK Shinyubari Maru ,
xAK Kamoi Maru , xAK Atlas Maru , xAK Takaoka Maru ,
xAK Maya Maru , xAK Hokuan Maru , xAK Keisho Maru screened from combat
- escorted by PB Choun Maru #18
PB Bisan Maru #3 engages MTB 26 at 1,000 yards
PB Choun Maru #18 sunk by MTB 12 at 1,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Tatukami Maru at 1,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Kumagawa Maru at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
PB Bisan Maru #3 engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Pacific Maru at 2,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 2,000 yards
AMc Choun Maru #7 engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Tatukami Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Bisan Maru #3 engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
AMc Choun Maru #7 engages MTB 12 at 2,000 yards
MTB 26 engages xAK Kosei Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Bisan Maru #3 engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards
MTB 11 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 2,000 yards
Moorhead H. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...
Unfortunately, the US and Philippino PTs met their match. Bad luck here.
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare
Allied Ships
PT-31, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-33, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-34
PT-41
PT Q-112, Shell hits 1
PT Q-113
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 57% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 57% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare fires at PT Q-112 at 2,000 yards
DD Yudachi fires at PT Q-112 at 2,000 yards
PT-33 sunk by DD Samidare at 2,000 yards
PT-31 sunk by DD Harusame at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare engages PT Q-113 at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare engages PT Q-112 at 2,000 yards
DD Samidare engages PT-34 at 2,000 yards
DD Murasame engages PT-41 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages PT Q-113 at 5,000 yards
Task forces break off...
...but came back with a vengeance! That's an expensive 13-points worth little pest they sent to the bottom here! That's already worth the coast of 13 PTs in itself...
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DMS W-15
DMS W-16
DMS W-19
PB Kamitsu Maru
PB Taiko Maru
SC Ch 1
SC Ch 2
SC Ch 3
SC Ch 13, Shell hits 2
SC Ch 14
SC Ch 15
xAK Arizona Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Akiura Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kazuura Maru
xAK Keiyo Maru
xAK Matsukawa Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Yuzan Maru
xAK Anzan Maru #2
xAKL Kurama Maru
Allied Ships
PT-34, Shell hits 1
PT-41
PT Q-112
PT Q-113
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
Japanese ships attempt to get underway
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
xAK Anzan Maru #2 , xAK Yuzan Maru , xAK Ohio Maru ,
xAK Matsukawa Maru , xAK Keiyo Maru , xAK Kazuura Maru ,
xAK Akiura Maru , xAK Arizona Maru , xAKL Kurama Maru screened from combat
- escorted by PB Kamitsu Maru , SC Ch 14 , SC Ch 13 ,
SC Ch 2
DMS W-19 engages PT-41 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
xAK Anzan Maru #2 , xAK Yuzan Maru , xAK Ohio Maru ,
xAK Matsukawa Maru , xAK Keiyo Maru , xAK Kazuura Maru screened from combat
- escorted by PB Taiko Maru , PB Kamitsu Maru
DMS W-19 engages PT Q-113 at 2,000 yards
PT-41 engages SC Ch 13 at 2,000 yards
DMS W-19 engages PT-34 at 2,000 yards
DMS W-19 engages PT Q-113 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Akiura Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Arizona Maru at 2,000 yards
Escobar R. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 3,000 yards
xAK Anzan Maru #2 , xAK Yuzan Maru , xAK Ohio Maru screened from combat
- escorted by SC Ch 15
PB Taiko Maru engages PT Q-113 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
xAK Anzan Maru #2 , xAK Yuzan Maru screened from combat
- escorted by SC Ch 2
PB Kamitsu Maru engages PT Q-113 at 7,000 yards
DMS W-19 engages PT Q-113 at 7,000 yards
PT Q-113 engages xAK Keiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...
In Manilla, the Royal Navy is playing with the Rikkos, and they make them look like fools. The hit ratio on such small targets with torpedoes (with VERY BAD weather) indeed looks like something much more realistic now (do you remember early WitP betties scoring on PT-boats? ^^).
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G3M2 Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Thracian
DD Scout
DD Thanet
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 98 Torp
14 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 98 Torp
4 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 98 Torp
11 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 98 Torp
A little vengeance: the enemy attacks Sorong, instead of going directly for Ambon (thanks, gave me some time to evacuate bits of the powerful base force there). But terrible xAKL Mauban looms in the shadows, and meets part of baby KB. For more than a dozen rounds (!), both TF get closer or further from each other, until both sight each other. In the ensuing panic, some fun happens to HIJMS Kitakami and one of its big guys. Kitakami is listed as sunk (well I don't really believe in early christmas this year though, Intel guys...).
Day Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 83,106, Range 13,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shinyo
BC Kongo
BC Haruna
CA Takao
CA Maya
CLAA Kitakami
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
Allied Ships
xAKL Mauban, Shell hits 2
Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 yards
[...]
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 13,000 yards...
Range increases to 20,000 yards
CVL Ryujo collides with CLAA Kitakami at 83 , 106
DD Hayashio engages xAKL Mauban at 20,000 yards
Task forces break off...










