Combat Report
February 1-5, 1942
As predicted the American Carriers (Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga) enter the fray flying planes from south of Java to attack the Merak Invasion Force on February 4,1942. Though terrible to watch it is good to KNOW where the carriers are and where they are NOT.
Port Moresby Invasion Force is the immediate beneficiary of this development as I order the loading to commence and the final isolation of the base to occur.
Lew returns to his 'old' ways of launching attacking trying to wrest the tactical initiative away from the Japanese. I truly like this style because the Allied Fleets are here to FIGHT for their territory. I take a couple of solid punches and my merchant fleet pays for it.
Let us make the rounds:
North Pacific
Cold Bay--As stated earlier I want this base to get the Allies away from Dutch Harbor and for recon/air search purposes. Little do I know what I get into. The Japanese load 50% of an SNLF onto 8 DD and send them to Cold Bay on January 31st.
My DDs are heavily fired upon by CD as they unload. The end of the turn reveals the following units present: 56th Coastal Artillery, 2/151st Combat Engineers, and 111th Base Force. Damn! OK. Here is a chance to grab some American surrenders so I order the loading of several AKL with the remains of the 1st SNLF and add another just for good measure.
These ships, under heavy CD, unload on the 2nd-3rd. Several AK are sunk and I have 3 DD moderately hit. I attack on the 3rd and get a 1-2 result due to him Fast TF in some Infantry from Kodiak.
Dutch Harbor
On the 4th my TF returns to DH just in time to be CRUSHED by CA Salt Lake City and 2 DD. I lose 1 DD and 7 AK/AKL in the massacre. CRAP.
Aleutians--I have my dander up but do want to be a Robert E. Lee. Instead of immediately doing stupid things I am gathering myself up north. As mentioned before I had decided to reinforce the Imperial Fleet up here with 2 CA, 1 CL, and 4 DD. These ships will arrive at Adak on the 6th. They will join my 4 operational DD and put a stop to the Fast TF runs into Cold Bay.
Reinforcements: I get a host of reinforcements in China on the 3rd. Two of these Brigades are earmarked for the Aleutians. The 52nd and 53rd are real CHEAP in terms of Political Points. I can buy them for only about 250 each. They will fill out to peak strength of about 175 AS. The 52nd is bought at Shanghai and is already heading for the area of operations.
Planning: I wanted to make this Theatre of area of action and so it is. The new warships about to be brought into the Fleet will get their shakedown up here. Junyo, Nisshin, and Yamato will make their presence felt in about a month when I work to capture Cold Bay. All American CVs are now accounted for with the 3 in the DEI and Yorktown on the West Coast. SHOULD be reasonably safe...
Central Pacific
Midway--Goes to Port Two so I move an AS there and will use it as a way point for SS Operations around Hawaii and the West Coast.
KB is almost to Rabaul and should disband there on the 7th. They will get R&R as well as pick-up new planes and part with pilots for the Reserve and TRACOM. I've got a number of ships with somewhat high System Damage (9-12) and they can repair from the ARD, 2 AR, and other support ships present at Simpson Harbor.
South Pacific
With American CVs spotted, the loading of 19th ID A and B begins as well as South Seas Force, 3 Artillery units, and an Engineering Regiment. Port Moresby is their target. They should depart for their objective on the 7th. Figure Landing about the 15th.
Port Moresby--A solitary AK is spotted on the 31st of January and it is sunk by 1 CL and 3 DD on February 1st.
Terapo--This is the only base the Aussies could retreat to when I gain Moresby so I send a Fast TF of 1 CL and 8 DD to drop off a Naval Guard unit. The base will fall on the 6th.
Reinforcements: The 59th Inf Brig as well as the 60th (part of the big reinforcement I got in China and Manchuria spoken about earlier) are detailed to become the major garrisons for Lunga and Milne Bay. They will be bought out over the two weeks and shipped to those destinations.
Philippines
Stalemate describes Luzon. Though I got those surrenders in several locations, I simply don't have enough strength to drive the Allies out of Clark and get to Bataan. No big deal but it is frustrating.
In Mindanao my three large Brigades are about back to Cagayan where they will be loaded and send to Ambon and then onto Darwin.
Eastern/Central DEI
Continue mopping up Sulawasi taking those small bases around Makassar.
Kendari--Land here on the 1st and take the base on the 2nd.
Dili, Timor--I will land here tomorrow on the 6th.
Dutch and American SS are being a real PAIN in the Denpasar--Makassar--Kendari triangle. Have lost 3-4 AK over the last several days. They were all sailing in escorted convoys but it makes little difference. Frustrating to watch...
Western DEI
Will come back to this area LAST.
Malaya
50,80--Resistance ends here on February 1st and the units present immediately go to march formation and head for Malacca for rail transport to Singapore.
Temoluh--The last Allied troops in Malaya surrender on the 3rd. All these troops shift to strategic movement and head for Singapore as well.
Singapore--My first 3 ID and 5 TK Reg depart this base on the 3rd. They will move up to one of those small bases (Phuket I think) and wait for CarDiv2 to meet them for protection.
Will soon have the 5th and 18th ID reformed in Singapore and they will form the follow-on wave about a 3-5 days after the initial landing.
Am having a devil of a time getting supply up over 20,000 here! I've done all the normal things: lots of ships in Port, HQ units present, and have raised the supply demand to the maximum. With all the surrenders I hope by bringing all those Japanese troops down this will draw enough to get over the mark. I need this so I can draw my planes for CarDiv2 to replace their losses as well as upgrade some Sentai of Army aircraft.
Burma
Moulmein--Don't remember if I mentioned it earlier but this base fell to an Infantry and TK Regiment a few days ago. An Army HQ, Engineering unit, and large Base Force just entered the base to get it up to speed. Hopefully, this keeps Lew's eyes looking south and NOT for the Left Hook.
Indian Ocean Raid
I had initially planned on a two day Raid by CarDiv2 and supporting units but the total lack of opposition allows me to extend it to four total. In separating out the 3 CA into a Raiding TF (Myoko, Nachi, and Haguro) I double my chances for sinkings. I will recap the whole raid with KNOWN sinking listed:
Jan 31st: 7 large AP, 4 AK, 1 CM, 1 AKL
Feb 1st: 8 AK, 1 AP, and 4 AKL
Feb 2nd: 1 large AP, 2 KV, 1 AM, 1 AS
Feb 3rd: 6 AK, 1 AP, 1 AKl, 1 AM, 1 PT
TOTALS: 10 AP, 18 AK, 6 AKL, 1 CM, 2 KV, 2 AM, 1 AS, 1 PT--41 Ships.
The appearance of American CVs helps me to rapidly move CarDiv2 back towards Singapore. Their aircraft losses had been pretty light until Feb 3rd. I decided to augment the last attack on Columbo with 1 Daitai of Val instead of just my Kates. BIG MISTAKE! I lost 11 of 20 Vals to AA over the harbor. Very bad. I wrote down their starting air strength and closing numbers just to see what my losses were (the paranthetical is ending strength):
Hiryu--24 Zero (24), 21 Val (20), 21 Kate (20)
Soryu--21 Zero (20), 18 Val (8), 21 Kate (19)
Taiyo--12 Zero (11), 9 Val (4)
Total Losses: 2 Zero, 15 Val, and 3 Kate. Not good but then not terrible. Pilot scores jumped up with all the attacks and sinkings. Should easily replace my losses when the Cvs get back to Singapore.
Western DEI
Merak--I begin landing at Merak on the 3rd with 38th ID A and B as well as a large Base Force. CD is heavy but not terrible (lose 3 AK and an AKL) as I have 3 CL embedded within the Invasion Force.
All HELL breaks loose on the 4th! The combined strength of 3 US CV descends upon the Invasion Force which--thankfully--had already gotten all of the troops ashore. Flying a maximum range launch from the SW, they deliver a massive three wave punch of: 14 TBD, then 11 F4F, 50 SBD, and 16 SB2U, and--finally--17 SBD. I have 16 Zero flying LR CAP and they some damage (crushing the TBDs) but cannot stop things. It is painful to watch as the bombs fall. By the end of the day I lose: CL Kinu, 8 AK, 1 APD, and a TB. CL Jintsu and 5 more AK are hit. Order all TF to RUN for Palembang! The Americans lose 12 TBD and 4 SBD. It is not much but it is something.
FINE. Re-Organize Palembang with more Zeros and another Daitai of Betty.
The 5th starts with one of those Japanese TF deciding--apparently--to commit suicide as Lew throws in two STF to attack anything present in the hex. The STF (2 US CA and 4 DD then BC Repulse, CA Exeter, and 3 British CL) maul the TF. I lose CL Jintsu, 1 E, 1 TB, 1 SC, and 7 AK. These losses didn't have to happen but they did. Grrrr....
After this work the STF seemingly vanish. My Searches find nothing and they get away scott free. I don't know.
Merak--There is some GOOD news as Merak falls to a Shock Attack (6-1) and I am able to move Fighters there. There is about 15,000 supply present so that is good. It is, however, a very costly two day period for the Japanese Navy and Merchant Marine.
REACTIONS: I move more Fighters and Air Search to Denpasar, Palembang, Sabang, and Port Blair. The Fighters will deal with any attacks from the US CVs while the Air Search will--hopefully--warn me of their approach.
Where are they operating from? Has got to be Perth or something in that vacinity. Where will they go now that I know where they are? Don't know but can guarantee now they are known Lew will USE them! Have decided once I take Dili, Timor I will halt further operations in the Eastern DEI and Australia until I get some more help...
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