Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

1942 January 09

The Empire captured:
Abemama

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Luganville

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


So two destroyers that must have been in company of CL Jintsu (which is presumed retiring for repairs) continued on to Makassar and killed 4 x MTB. In return one was hit later in the day.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Donggala at 68,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 3

Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x T.IVa bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Those Dutch float planes are fast becoming an Allied favorite! S-40 also found AK Kinka Maru with one torpedo and set her on fire near Jolo. More Imperial troops moving to Singapore.

[witpqs]

1942 January 10

The Empire captured:
Long Island
Hansa Bay
Terapo
Luganville

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Boela
Tanna

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


I-156 found xAP Van Cloon repositioning in the Indian Ocean west of Java and sank her. The area must be swept as supply convoys are currently inbound to Tjilatjap. Part of the IJA 4th Division has caught and given battle to the forces ex-Port Moresby at Dobadura, but they soldier on. SigInt shows a sub 480nm ~E of Pearl harbor, so DAW widened his net after our concentrated ASW efforts around Hawaii (all available destroyers, destroyer mine sweepers, and patrol craft plus a few others formed into ASW groups and blanketed the area engaging subs numerous times).

An sKB is operating 120nm E of Tarakan. KB's location is unknown. With the invasion of Tanna the Empire has reached a tentacle deep into the South Pacific.

[witpqs]

1942 January 11

The Empire captured:
Cape Gloucester
Tanna
Boela

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Tanna

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


KB is near New Caledonia and wiped out a small cargo convoy heading to Noumea for resources. A scary moment 40nm outside of Suva when a cargo ship carrying part of the 8th NZ Bde was torpedoed and sunk. All troops were rescued! Of course now the presence of the convoy is know and KB is in the general area so pursuit is a possibility. The convoy's routing to New Zealand has been changed as has its port destination (was Auckland now is Wellington). A large DD squadron appeared at Makassar and savaged the PT boats there (5 were lost). They were unseen prior to the attacks. Especially unfortunate, as two cruiser TFs are in range and the plan was to intercept the expected larger DD force - which is what has appeared - after leaving the 2 x DD force alone. It was felt that the 2 x DD force was a test run. That analysis seems to have been correct, but naval search results were not up to the plan of action. Such is war! Some of our unescorted bombers were ambushed in Burma and 5 were lost. On the plus side, 8 oil hits were had at Tarakan by B-17Ds. The B-17Es go against Miri tomorrow. Back in Burma, an air strike has revealed to the Empire the presence of the 18th Division.

There is a large fleet - at least 3 TFs - at GR67,96, 80nm E of Samarinda. Scouts saw an sKB, battleships, and cruisers. They could be moving on Samarinda/Balikpapan or on Makassar. Many additional Imperial units moving to Singapore. Here is the position of KB. A large convoy with air groups for Australia is diverting south of New Zealand due to the Empire's discourtesy..

[witpqs]

1942 January 12

The Empire captured:
Serasan
Koumac
Malaybalay
Ambon
Dobadura

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Koumac
Madang
Balikpapan

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


KB is not seen but likely still covering the invasion of New Caledonia. SigInt reveals surface ships at GR143,109, which is about 880nm WNW of Johnston Island and handily out of search range. It's too far away from the known position of KB yesterday to be the whole KB or any really significant part of it. Possibly a picket ship or raiders? The first supply convoy from Cape Town will reach Tjilatjap in two days.

SS O21 and SS Sculpin each missed AV Kiyokawa Maru with 4 torpedoes just north of Namlea - grrrrr. There ought to be a law! There was another raid on the defending MTBs at Makassar and the TF detailed to intercept failed to connect. The routing was careful due to the Imperial fleet in the strait, and it turns out the target is Balikpapan. Already there are significant enemy forces ashore. CA Kinugasa was observed to hit a mine, but damage is uncertain. Several air attacks on the invading convoys at Balikpapan failed to connect.

The IJA made a deliberate attack on Clark Field, with mixed results.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30823 troops, 321 guns, 354 vehicles, Assault Value = 977

Defending force 42830 troops, 529 guns, 238 vehicles, Assault Value = 840

Japanese adjusted assault: 552

Allied adjusted defense: 337

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2166 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 69 disabled
Guns lost 20 (4 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2224 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 65 (10 destroyed, 55 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (4 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
38th Division
I./4th Infantry Battalion
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
Tanaka
2nd Tank Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
1st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
II Philippine Corps
Far East USAAF
1st USMC AA Battalion
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
I Philippine Corps
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
14th PS Engineer Regiment
USAFFE
Clark Field AAF Base Force

There was nothing mixed about the day's results at Singapore, which saw an even more massive blood bath than before.

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 78012 troops, 848 guns, 254 vehicles, Assault Value = 2016

Defending force 49462 troops, 437 guns, 261 vehicles, Assault Value = 812

Japanese adjusted assault: 818

Allied adjusted defense: 1235

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
12195 casualties reported
Squads: 111 destroyed, 975 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 189 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 147 disabled
Guns lost 98 (8 destroyed, 90 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (5 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2480 casualties reported
Squads: 90 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 36 (11 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (12 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
16th Infantry Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
21st/C Division
21st Infantry Regiment
21st/A Division
Sasebo 8th SNLF
12th Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
33rd/B Division
33rd/A Division
113th Infantry Regiment
21st/B Division
41st Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
33rd/C Division
56th Engr Rgt /3
25th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st Manchester Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
11th Indian Division
1st Hyderabad Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
9th Indian Division
Malayan Air Wing
109th RAF Adv Base Force
109th RN Base Force
AHQ Far East
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy /1
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Base Force
III Indian Corps
113th RAF Adv Base Force
Malaya Army
Singapore Fortress
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force
111th RAF Adv Base Force
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
223 Group RAF
224 Group RAF
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
110th RAF Adv Base Force
112th RAF Adv Base Force
2nd ISF Base Force
27th Australian Bde /1

Again the fortifications were unaltered. Units are now seen leaving Singapore and as many as 11 more moving into Singapore. IIRC the two beatings at Singapore have put the equivalent of almost 5 divisions out of business until recovery/replacement of disabled/destroyed squads.

Burma is a swirl now as Thai units are all racing overland. The map shows where soon 4 Allied Bde/Rgt will be massed E of Pegu to begin attacks on the the recon unit and RTA Div with it. 18th Div is moving along the road to cross the river and assault another RTA Div in the jungle, and possible 2 RTA Divs if the second arrives before 18th. 2 x Bde are moving back from the border to Taung Gyi and up the road from there to prevent further penetration. B Sqn 3rd Hussars is moving into Thailand to cut the road behind Chiang Mai and interdict supply movement to the invading hordes. Reinforcements are being moved to the Burma-India border and will move into Burma to bolster the defense and relieve units as required. Speaking of supply, the Empire has finally seen a supply ship at Rangoon so countermeasures can be expected.

[witpqs]

Bonus edition! A little naval search action:

[witpqs]

1942 January 13

The Empire captured:
Catanduanes
Manado
Butuan
Balikpapan

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Babo

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


KB is not seen and her last known position means that she could be approaching New Zealand. The defenders at Clark Field are being systematically reduced.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29056 troops, 317 guns, 354 vehicles, Assault Value = 832

Defending force 40733 troops, 504 guns, 233 vehicles, Assault Value = 677

Japanese adjusted assault: 436

Allied adjusted defense: 274

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
621 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 21 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (3 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
960 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 33 (18 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (23 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
Tanaka
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
38th Division
47th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
I./4th Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
41st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
I Philippine Corps
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
USAFFE
14th PS Engineer Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Far East USAAF
II Philippine Corps
Clark Field AAF Base Force

B Sqn 3rd Hussars reached the Thai border and found troops on the road. They will return to the river crossing and take up positions with the Bn on duty there. The B-17Es achieved 8 oil hits at Miri. Now the B-17s will take turns pounding Balikpapan airfield. Speaking of which, Balikpapan is currently mobbed with massive Imperial warships of every description. That's good, as subs are racing to the Makassar strait to feast.

[witpqs]

1942 January 14

The Empire captured:
Bengkalis
Babo
Madang

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Babo
Zamboanga
Efate
Milne Bay

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


There's something wrong with our bloody torpedoes today! Hit after hit after hit with no explosions.

Submarine attack near Manado at 76,100

Japanese Ships
xAK Shinryu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish, hits 1

xAK Shinryu Maru is sighted by SS Sailfish
SS Sailfish attacking on the surface
SS Sailfish low on gun ammo, Voge, R.G. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

Clark Field is clearly to fall soon, after another blow today.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24778 troops, 292 guns, 353 vehicles, Assault Value = 878

Defending force 38597 troops, 480 guns, 205 vehicles, Assault Value = 535

Japanese adjusted assault: 332

Allied adjusted defense: 244

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1458 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (4 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2551 casualties reported
Squads: 139 destroyed, 147 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 43 (28 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
38th Division
20th Infantry Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
I./4th Infantry Battalion
Tanaka
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
31st Infantry Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
USAFFE
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
I Philippine Corps
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
II Philippine Corps
14th PS Engineer Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
Far East USAAF
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force

2 x B-17D are gone to ops losses, but I'm not sure if they were both over Balikpapan. The B-7Es go tomorrow. The Imperial armada is withdrawing from the Makassar Strait, apparently their work done. Samarinda will surely fall to the horde that grabbed Balikpapan, giving them two offensive air bases next to each other. That underscores the need to put Balikpapan out of action as quickly and severely as possible.

KB's location is unknown. No relevant hits on SigInt. Let's hope they are not even now plunging past Raoul Island. BB Oklahoma, one of only two to survive the Pearl Harbor attacks (two days), has repaired all non-major damage and has moved into the shipyard to reduce major flotation damage to the point where she can be moved. Her damage now stands at 0-79(79)-8(8)-0 with a repair estimate in the Pearl Harbor shipyard of 399 days. She will spend at least a third of that time at Pearl. BB Tennessee will remain pier side for the next two to three months repairing non-major damage before a transfer to the shipyard is evaluated.

The first supply convoy has made Tjilatjap and is unloading. That pesky Imperial submarine is prowling the area but little can be afforded to hunt it down. Force M, of 5 light cruisers and 3 destroyers, will bombard Ambon tonight. Scouting shows 12 ships in port. As I don't think our submarine or air forces have damaged that many in the area, they might be hiding from Allied surface forces. Bombardment range has been set to 8,000 yards.

[witpqs]

1942 January 15

The Empire captured:
Wau
Zamboanga
Milne Bay

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Efate
Milne Bay
Sorong

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


A day of mixed results, but the major ones were mostly good. The bombardment of Ambon was a success.

Night Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Takatiho Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
ACM Shofuku Maru #2, Shell hits 1
CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 4
xAK China Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kogyoku Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Matsue Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Capetown
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart
DD Thracian
DD Scout
DD Peary

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 58
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 4

CL Capetown firing at 144th Infantry Regiment
CL Ceres firing at Ambon
CL Dauntless firing at Ambon
CL Enterprise firing at Ambon
CL Hobart firing at Ambon
DD Thracian firing at Ambon
DD Scout firing at Ambon
DD Peary firing at Ambon

In Burma, the two units near Pegu were thrown back across the Thai border.

Ground combat at 56,53 (near Pegu)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11113 troops, 64 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Defending force 4691 troops, 44 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Allied adjusted assault: 145

Japanese adjusted defense: 35

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1609 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 81 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (4 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade

Defending units:
4th RTA Division
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Near Toungoo the 18th Division crossed the river, behind the just in time - cavalry!

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11232 troops, 142 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 447

Defending force 4434 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Allied adjusted assault: 414

Japanese adjusted defense: 253

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
767 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th British Division

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Cavalry Regiment

Now that the river crossing has been achieved, the division will rest before attacking in a more deliberate fashion. There is still one regiment on the way from the border up the road beyond Taung Gyi. The other that was on the way has stopped and dug in, as the unidentified unit that the Hussars found at the border is advancing. There is an additional Imperial unit just beyond Moulmein on the road from Tavoy/Bangkok.

Scouts claim that CA Kinugasa just struck a mine and sunk 40nm east of Tarakan. No word of KB. Here is a view of Burma.

[witpqs]

1942 January 16

The Empire captured:
Siargao
Sorong

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Roxas
Saidor

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our sub damaged heavily near Ternate. A successful air raid on a TF at Ambon.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 5

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAP Rakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

We bettered the Empire in the air but lost several new-fangled Hurricane IIb models. 18th Division is recovering nicely and will rest for one more day. There are Imperial light cruisers seen at Ambon! Force A (CAs Cornwall, Exeter; CLs Mauritius, Glasgow; DDs Thanet, Encounter, Isis) will dash into Ambon tonight expecting surface combat. Force B (Dutch and UK light cruisers plus American destroyers) will move into position for the following night. A small (4 x DD) force, code name Dutch Treat, will run into Balikpapan tonight for surface combat. Force Z will move into position for a bombardment the following night. Force M will make Soerabaja tomorrow to replenish.

[witpqs]

1942 January 17

The Empire captured:
Dinagat
Roxas
Saidor

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Saidor
Dobo
Pentecost Island

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


AV Wright was among a group of damaged ships being escorted to the US West Coast for repairs, but I-26 found the convoy and penetrated the escort screen and sank her. The crew of USN SS Triton did their part to even the score, sinking xAK Syokyu Maru with torpedo and gun fire near Wake Island.

Quite unexpectedly, both forces making surface raids hit the jackpot. Dutch Treat punched way above their weight and managed to strike first, then again later.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,97, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Karii
xAK Hokuriku Maru
xAK Kiyozumi Maru
xAP Brazil Maru, Shell hits 2
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Huso Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen
DD Van Ghent

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Velthuizen, N.G. crosses the 'T'
DD Karii engages DD Van Ghent at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DD Yamakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAP Huso Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAP Brazil Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Van Ghent at 7,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Kortenaer at 7,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Karii at 7,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAP Brazil Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Kortenaer at 4,000 yards
DD Yamakaze sunk by DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Kortenaer at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Van Ghent at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAP Huso Maru at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Yukikaze at 4,000 yards
xAP Huso Maru sunk by DD Kortenaer at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Evertsen at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Evertsen at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,97, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DMS W-8, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1



Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 3% 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
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DMS W-8 at 2,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DMS W-7 at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DMS W-8 at 2,000 yards
Murakami, I. orders Japanese TF to disengage
DD Piet Hein engages DMS W-8 at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DMS W-7 at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DMS W-8 at 2,000 yards
DMS W-8 sunk by DD Piet Hein at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DMS W-7 at 4,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DMS W-7 at 4,000 yards
Murakami, I. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DMS W-7 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DMS W-7 sunk by DD Piet Hein at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

Those little guys can fight! Force A did quite proudly itself.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsuharu
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Hino Maru #3, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Tateisi Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Rokko Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Zuiko Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Rakuyo Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kitano Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Exeter, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius
CL Glasgow
DD Thanet
DD Encounter
DD Isis

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter launches Torpedoes at xAK Tateisi Maru at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter launches Torpedoes at DD Matsukaze at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter launches Torpedoes at DD Hatsuharu at 5,000 yards
DD Isis launches Torpedoes at DD Hatsuharu at 5,000 yards
DD Isis fires at xAK Zuiko Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Mauritius at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages xAK Rokko Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Tateisi Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Hino Maru #3 at 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CL Naka at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Glasgow at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAP Kitano Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages xAK Rokko Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hino Maru #3 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CL Naka at 3,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Cornwall at 3,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Glasgow at 3,000 yards
xAK Tateisi Maru sunk by CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Isis at 3,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Zuiko Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Today's B-17 raid on Balikpapan got good results, causing base and runway damage and supply hits. Imperial sweeps preceding air raids on Oosthaven took several Dutch fighters operating out of Batavia, but the AVG slaughtered the Empire's fliers over Burma. Only 1 AVG plane was lost in the air although two more were written off after the mechanics looked at them. 11 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar and 10 x A6M2 Zero were destroyed, 20 out of 21 were in the air. Meanwhile on the ground the Allies got beaten up a little in China, but only units that are still trying to reach safer areas. No direct hint of the KB's position, although a reasonable assumption is that KB continues to support operations in the South Pacific.

Below is a look at the Makassar Strait. An invasion convoy that was not seen has unloaded troops at Dobo, and Force B will reposition and then, the following say, attempt to locate and engage the invaders. Force A continues retiring toward Soerabaja to replenish but has quite enough ammunition if needed in a fight against the new threat moving down the Makassar Straight. Dutch Treat left a support ship at Makassar with fumes in her tanks but now has fuel to make Soerabaja and replenish properly. Force Z will move to rendezvous with Force M at a location in range of the new threat for the day following but hopefully safe from air attacks.

[witpqs]

1942 January 18

The Empire captured:
Basilan
Clark Field
Dobo
Pentecost Island

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Pentecost Island
Anatom
Rossel Island
Wenchow

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


A much better day for the Empire! I-160 took down xAK Matiana as she left Tjilatjap - empty. Refusing to be outdone, Betties flying from Shangri La - or perhaps Namlea or Ambon without being detected - put a torpedo into CL Danae at Babar where Force B was staging for a sally to Dobo. As Dobo received no amphibious activity today, and Force B did receive a most rude visit from Miss Betty, that operation is canceled. Danae is in very bad shape in port at Babar. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, so the remainder of Force B will split up. Force B will bombard Namlea while Force C will bombard Ambon. They both shall make for Ruteng where, the fortunes of war allowing, there will be a big fat full tanker waiting in port for them. Namlea and Ambon are suspects because the Betty model available is reputed to only have a torpedo range of 17 hexes and Manado is 18 hexes distant from Babar. There are no other airfields with a runway larger than size 1 within range.

At GR 143,109 S-18 sank a PB, that with sister ships was heading NE. That's a vector for Midway, although a long way off. Could be just an ASW group out to cause trouble. Could be clearing the path for larger assets to move without USN sub interference. Or even just a picket.

The real story of course is the fall of Clark Field. Those troops who could flee fell back on Bataan. Bataan is now over stacked almost 70,000/45,000. The 23,000+ supplies are expected to be exhausted quickly. The B-10B captured in a hanger has been sent to Japan for analysis. Hopefully they adopt the design. The beatings continued in China. The weather in Burma is predicted rain again. Rather than wait longer, the 18th Division will attack tomorrow, so the bombers at Rangoon will try to find and bomb the Imperial minions.

There are two Imperial TFs at Balikpapan and another transiting the Makassar Strait to join them. Dutch bombers attacked CL Kuma without effect. The airfield was hit by B-17Ds, destroying 2 x Zeros on the ground and damaging the airbase, runway, and supply depot. The B-17Es go tomorrow. Samarinda almost fell to a river crossing shock attack and so will surely fall quickly. I just replaced a half dozen USN sub skippers at Soerabaja with ADPK types (attention-deficit psycho-killer types) and they are all going to the Makassar Strait. Force M and Force Z will both make surface combat runs at Balikpapan. Here is a quick look at the strait.

[witpqs]

1942 January 19

The Empire captured:
Arawe
Wuchow
Rossel Island
Anatom

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Talaud-eilanden
Singkep
Sangi

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


No clear sign of the KB. Forces to secure Palmyra and Christmas Island depart San Francisco today in three convoys. Each has heavy ASW and one battleship escort. The weather is predicted rain in the region and hopefully that will prevent the Glen-equipped sub that's been snooping San Francisco from fixing their locations and courses. The Empire tried clearing mines at Bataan...

TF 42 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DMS W-19, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-16, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-15, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-19
DMS W-19 firing at Manila Bay Defenses
Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-16
DMS W-16 firing at Manila Bay Defenses
Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-15
DMS W-19 firing at Manila Bay Defenses
Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-19
DMS W-16 firing at Manila Bay Defenses
Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-16
Manila Bay Defenses firing at DMS W-15
DMS W-15 firing at Manila Bay Defenses
15 mines cleared

Some results were had in the DEI. First, Force Z found some targets.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,98, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Karii
xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
DD Bulmer
DD Stewart
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 7% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Magazine explodes on DD Yukikaze
DD Yukikaze sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 1,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages xAP Koan Maru at 1,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages xAP Koan Maru at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Karii at 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages xAP Koan Maru at 2,000 yards
xAP Koan Maru sunk by DD Express at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Karii engages DD Express at 4,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Karii at 4,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Next, the bombardments of Namlea slightly damaged the base and found nothing. The bombardment of Ambon hit pay dirt.

Night Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K4 Mavis: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Colombo
CL Java
DD John D. Edwards

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1

CL Colombo firing at Ambon
CL Java firing at Ambon
DD John D. Edwards firing at Ambon

USN SS Permit took down xAK Shinryu Maru with "Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage" north of Namlea. Allied air attacks on Imperial warships in the Makassar Strait failed to achieve any hits. The USA dive bombers were in on the action and so should have been gaining some competence during the day. One was lost to flak from a destroyer. The B-17s hit Balikpapan causing damage and destroying supply.

The rest of the news is less clear, and hopefully damaging those big search planes at Ambon will make it that way for DAW too. There is still a force with numerous cruisers, both heavy and light, plus destroyers at Balikpapan. Force Z came up 40nm short and Force M barely moved at all, possibly trying to intercept the 5 x DD force that is 40nm to its east and just 40nm northwest of Makassar. This is one of the forces that was attacked by dive bombers. Force M, which is not known to be spotted by the enemy, will attempt to intercept the Imperial destroyers and wreck them with 6" gun fire. There are merchants unloading fuel in barrels for use by the PT types there, which complicates things. Force Z, now lacking in Force M's support, will pull back to leave Betty range (flying from Miri and/or Singkawang) and await Force A, now replenished at Soerabaja. Perhaps the Imperial surface fleet will even come out to play with our subs?

In Burma the 18th Division's attack was held off.

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10817 troops, 148 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 4281 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 130

Allied adjusted assault: 140

Japanese adjusted defense: 562

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th British Division

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Cavalry Regiment

The division will recover disruption (22) and then attack again. They should be able to grind down the Thai force and this must be done before Singapore falls and imperial hordes rush the joint.

In China there is blood on both sides. The minions of darkness seconded to DAW by the Emperor continue to reduce the troops trapped near Sinyang. A large Chinese force crossed the river from Ichang and smashed the 11th RGC Temp. Division, but now they are over stacked and some are moving back to Ichang as quickly as possible. Near Paotow a smaller Chinese force dislodged the 4th Cavalry Brigade, but it did not suffer terribly much.

Yet another map of the DEI, but it's still the liveliest area.

[witpqs]

1942 January 20

The Empire captured:
Feni Islands
La Foa
Sangi
Talaud-eilanden
Singkep

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Singkep
Sangi
Erromango
Umboi Island
Woodlark Island

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Dutch 139WH-3 bombers hit Ambon and destroyed a Mavis on the ground. At Singapore a bombardment by the invaders shows that DAW has brought in many additional troops, now with an AV ratio of 2,142 to 745. This test might signal they are ready for the next ground assault. Imperial units are seen moving toward Bataan.

Quite a day at sea. Two empty merchants were torpedoed leaving Tjilatjap. One is still afloat and will continue making for Cape Town. USN SS Seadragon found out that hard way that some merchant crews know how to use their deck guns. She is heads for Soerabaja for repairs.

An epic battle of the sea was fought and won by Force M. The last line of the seventh combat report states "Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...". That Imperial DD TF had seven destroyers in total, and possibly all of them are now struck from the IJN rolls. RN DD Scout was lost in exchange, and DDs Thracian and Peary both need yard time. The IJN DDs were probably sent to Makassar to smash the Allied PTs, but at sea there is an old truth: little fish eats tiny fish, bigger fish eats little fish.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Makassar at 64,105, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Yanagi, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown
DD Peary
DD Scout, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Thracian, Shell hits 2, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Naoi, Toshio crosses the 'T'
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Oboro engages CL Enterprise at 3,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Thracian at 3,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Scout at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages CL Capetown at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Yanagi at 2,000 yards
DD Scout sunk by DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Yanagi engages DD Thracian at 5,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages CL Ceres at 5,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Namikaze at 5,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Oboro at 5,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Thracian at 5,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Yanagi engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yanagi at 12,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Namikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
Naoi, Toshio orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,104, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Oboro, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Yanagi, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown, Shell hits 3
DD Peary, Shell hits 1
DD Thracian, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Hallifax, R.H.C. crosses the 'T'
CL Capetown engages DD Yanagi at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Yanagi engages CL Dauntless at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Peary at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yanagi at 3,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Oboro at 3,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Oboro at 3,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages CL Capetown at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Yanagi at 6,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Yanagi at 6,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Numakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Oboro at 6,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Thracian at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yanagi at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,103, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Suzukaze
DD Oboro, heavy fires
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Yanagi, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown
DD Peary
DD Thracian, Shell hits 1, on fire

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Yanagi engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Yanagi at 2,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Umikaze sunk by CL Capetown at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yanagi at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 5,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Namikaze at 5,000 yards
DD Yanagi sunk by CL Enterprise at 5,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Numakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Numakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,102, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Ceres, Shell hits 1
CL Capetown
DD Peary
DD Thracian, Shell hits 2, on fire

Low visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Numakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Thracian at 4,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Namikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Oboro at 4,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Numakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Thracian at 4,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Oboro at 7,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Namikaze at 7,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Nokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Oboro at 7,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,101, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown
DD Peary, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Hallifax, R.H.C. crosses the 'T'
CL Capetown engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
DD Oboro sunk by CL Enterprise at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 6,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 6,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 66,100, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Nokaze, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown
DD Peary, on fire

Low visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Numakaze at 3,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Numakaze at 3,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Numakaze at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Numakaze at 5,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Numakaze at 5,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 5,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 66,99, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Capetown
DD Peary

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 15,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Nokaze at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 13,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Namikaze at 11,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Suzukaze at 11,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 11,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Suzukaze at 11,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Namikaze at 8,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Suzukaze at 8,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Namikaze engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Suzukaze sunk by CL Hobart at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Namikaze at 6,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Namikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Nokaze at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Namikaze at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Namikaze at 4,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Namikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Nokaze sunk by CL Enterprise at 2,000 yards
DD Namikaze sunk by CL Capetown at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

Six of the seven were seen to sink. Numakaze tallies about 3 shell hits of unknown caliber, but that depends upon the name assignment not being subject to FOW. It is quite possible that all 7 went down. The 8th NZ Bde begins unloading tomorrow at Wellington. The large aircraft convoy for Australia is passing the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island. Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

1942 January 21

The Empire captured:
Nadzab
Erromango
Umboi Island

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Woodlark Island
Gasmata
Taberfane

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


DAW's forces advance relentlessly despite the well organized and heavy opposition in the DEI. Now Taberfane, after Dobo, as the Empire's forces creep along the eastern end of the DEI. SS Sculpin put a (working) torpedo into CS Mizuho at Ambon and she shows up as sunk but you know. CS Chitose was also attacked but escaped harm. I-160 exacted revenge by sinking another empty merchant leaving Tjilatjap. We simply have too few good quality ASW escorts available. British bombers flew without their escort over Thailand and paid a price. Some compensation was had by the AVG sweep later in the day. Singapore continues to hold the Empire's attention. Heavy flak damages many planes and usually downs a small number. As surmised DAW did order an attack today and for the first time Imperial troops were able to reduce the fortifications at Singapore.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84759 troops, 841 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 2222

Defending force 48467 troops, 428 guns, 252 vehicles, Assault Value = 741

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1604

Allied adjusted defense: 1603

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7283 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 569 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 95 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 41 disabled
Guns lost 54 (2 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (6 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
4301 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 139 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 48 (13 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
78th Infantry Regiment
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
56th Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
11th Infantry Regiment
20th Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
33rd/C Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
16th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards/B Division
14th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards/A Division
20th Recon Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
33rd/B Division
114th Infantry Regiment
40th Inf Group Brigade
21st Infantry Regiment
33rd/A Division
Imperial Guards/C Division
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2/17 Dogra Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
1st Hyderabad Battalion
11th Indian Division
5/14th Punjab Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
SSVF Brigade
9th Indian Division
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
1st ISF Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy /1
1st Malay Battalion
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
109th RAF Adv Base Force
Malaya Army
110th RAF Adv Base Force
224 Group RAF
2nd ISF Base Force
Singapore Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
109th RN Base Force
112th RAF Adv Base Force
Singapore Fortress
113th RAF Adv Base Force
223 Group RAF
27th Australian Bde /1

Wenchow on the coast of China is another location where Allied troops are dug in for the duration, and there the minions of darkness executed a shock attack.

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 49718 troops, 408 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 1455

Defending force 20048 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 549

Japanese adjusted assault: 772

Allied adjusted defense: 1537

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
7803 casualties reported
Squads: 72 destroyed, 220 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 161 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 46 (25 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1532 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
39th/C Division
3rd Division
15th/B Division
39th/A Division
22nd/B Division
116th Division
15th/C Division

Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
25th Group Army

The Chinese troops trapped near Sinyang were further reduced. Here is a map of the situation in the eastern DEI around Ambon.

[LoBaron]

You run a nice naval attrition war until now.
Those DD losses must hurt, IJN can never have enough of em...

I am not a fan of DD only forces except for very small raids behind the lines.
As soon as you group more than 2-3 DDs you need a big boy to make the TF less vulnerable.
That said you were pretty lucky no CL ate a torp...

Nice bloody nose at Pegu. You guttet the 4th RTA for sure, I think somebody should have waited for
IJA veteran combat units before advancing. [;)]

[witpqs]

Thanks! One of the DDs caught a torp during the very first combat, but the Allies also "crossed the T" then and maybe the IJN mostly wasted their torp load?

In Burma the plan is for the 18th Div to rout those two Thai units, then get to a base to R&R. They could do it now by grinding attacks but the weather has had a lot of 'rain' forecast so I'm waiting for the first good day. There is a Rgt (Bde - I forget which it is) with Burmese squads on the way from Taung Gyi. As soon as it arrives they will attack together. It's at least four days out.

There are two brigades at sea now (rounding Ceylon) heading for Rangoon. That TF will then move to Chittagong to shuttle in additional brigades as well as armored units. I'm going to attempt to keep the Burma Road open.

All of this depends upon how long Singapore can hold. There is a large radio source, finally last turn identified as battleships and cruisers, that has been hanging around at four or five hexes distant east (map) of Mersing. Unless they are waiting to coordinate with other fleets forcing the Java Sea from different directions, I presume they are waiting for the Malacca Strait to open for large IJN combatants so they can cut off the sea route to Rangoon. When they do so, further reinforcements will have to walk in. They could also be the guard force of a Palembang invasion waiting for air cover from Singapore.

[witpqs]

1942 January 22

The Empire captured:
Gasmata
Taberfane
Woodlark Island

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Mare'

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


SS O21 caught CS Mizuho trying to limp away from the battle zone and hit her with 1 torpedo, damaging her badly. Back at Ambon Force A found CS Chitose and put 5 shells into her before she could slip away. xAK Kuraido Maru was less fortunate, earning 5 shells and 2 torpedoes before sinking. Force A then made its way to the airfield.

Night Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 12 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 14 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Glasgow
CL Mauritius
DD Isis
DD Encounter
DD Thanet

Japanese ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27
Port hits 1

CA Exeter firing at Ambon
CA Cornwall firing at Ambon
CL Glasgow firing at 144th Infantry Regiment
CL Mauritius firing at Ambon
DD Isis firing at Ambon
DD Encounter firing at Ambon
DD Thanet firing at Ambon

There were no Betty flights from Ambon today. There is an Imperial TF in the Makassar Strait with at least 2 heavy cruises and 1 destroyer, which spent part of the day evading bombs from USA dive bombers. Scouting reports are: 1 x CS, 2 x CA, 1 x CL, 2 x APD. Are they trying to put troops ashore? Bombard Makassar? Seek surface battle? There is a large double-SigInt contact radio source ~160nm SSE Woleai. Perhaps the KB has been summoned to the DEI? There are carriers (or one small one?) ~160nm N of Singkawang.

Double ambush! The AVG flew two squadrons into Kukong and ran LRCAP over Kanhsien, which has been pounded from the air without escorts. It worked, and 21 Betties and Nells were taken! Then the IJA pounded a defenseless Kukong airfield and destroyed 11 of the early model Warhawks on the ground. The remaining AVG squadron continued to sweep the skies over Burma, and the day's score favored the Allies. Only one pilot WIA and one pilot KIA for the whole day.

[witpqs]

1942 January 23

The Empire captured:
Mare'
Noumea
Green Island
Samarinda

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Green Island
Isle of Pines
Goodenough Island
Talasea
Siquijor

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


That Imperial cruiser TF - confirmed as such by air attacks yesterday - vanished and in its place came a TF with 4 x TBs. All were sunk, two by Force A and two by Force M. The air war over China and Burma went pretty well with good numbers of enemy planes downed. Things went differently over Ambon for the A-24 Banshees. They were slaughtered by Zeros while attacking DD Yudachi and BB Yamashiro. The Dutch mediums sustained no losses but did destroy a Zero on the ground at Ambon. The pocket of Chinese near Sinyang has been liquidated. CL Dragon has entered the ship yard at Sydney, where CL Marblehead just finished repairs. Marblehead will join the incoming aircraft convoy when it departs and take up duty escorting the valuable men and material convoys from the US to Australia and New Zealand.

I suspect there is a lot of FOW in the Sunk Ships List. For whatever it is worth, here are the tallies by type (taken by hand from the list).

TB x 5
DD x 13
CS x 1
CL x 5
CA x 3
xAP x 2
xAKL x 2
xAK x 16
SSX x 2
SS x 6
AMC x 1
DMS x 3
PB x 7
E x 2

Quite an impressive tally, of course it was put together by the Intel Monkeys and so bears little resemblance to reality! Here is a look at the Intel Screen.

[witpqs]

1942 January 24

The Empire captured:
Siquijor
Iloilo
Gorong
Goodenough Island
Talasea
Emirau Island
Isle of Pines

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Talasea
Gorong
Siaoe
Emirau Island

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Combat was mostly more of the same. The boys at Wenchow continue to resist well, taking a toll on their soon to be captors. In Burma BFF Brigade and 18th Division will attack tomorrow. Imperial light carriers are still hanging out, now 200nm E of Mersing. That aircraft convoy has turned NE on final approach to Sydney. Another has finished forming and is now heading SW away from the US mainland and will rendezvous with 2 x CL E of Hawaii for heavy escort.

4 x 139WH-3 were shot down over Balikpapan by Zeros when trying to bomb the airfield. They must have been LRCAP from somewhere else as Balikpapan airfield should still be severely damaged. They might be from carriers as they really plied their craft expertly. There are Imperial heavy unit in the Makassar Strait heading SW, be that only as far as Balikpapan - which they are about even with now - or beyond is any body's guess. They are 320nm from Makassar (a good bombardment run). We do still have many psycho-aggressives on patrol in the strait. B-17s destroyed some Oil production at Samarinda. The southern group appears to mean business, while the one behind might be on ASW duty.

[witpqs]

1942 January 25

The Empire captured:
Kokoda
Kanhsien
Siaoe

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Siaoe
Ouv'ea
Normanby Island

There were Allied amphibious operations at:


There were zillions of sub attacks and ASW attacks in the DEI, most of them right in the Makassar Strait. At one point battleship Ise was targeted but she escaped harm. SS I-159 was seen to hit a mine at Banjoewangi (eastern tip of Java) but we have no mine field of our own there! Mine sweepers dispatched. xAK Seikai Maru was twice hit by torpedoes from Dutch subs. I-165 got even by gutting an xAKL with gun fire. Zeros took a toll on Dutch Falcon light bombers and their escort but one put a bomb on PB Fuji Maru #4. More Oil hits were obtained against Samarinda but a total of 3 B-17s went down, one to a Zero (that also was shot down) and two to ops. The Thai troops are still in Burma.

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13055 troops, 156 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 441

Defending force 4257 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Allied adjusted assault: 86

Japanese adjusted defense: 298

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
263 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
BFF Brigade
18th British Division

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Cavalry Regiment

They will recover for a day and attack again. I am surprised by the fatigue (-) because I thought they were below that threshold. CL Danae has completed an 8-day 40nm per day 'sprint' from Babar to Darwin. Hopefully she can pump out and be out of the theater before the war is over. Fiji looks awfully lonely out there - is it next?