December 8, 1941
I do not have a format for this yet, but I think it's more important to get this up so I can start on the next turn. I will again be verbose, but expect over time to trim these entries down to something more focused. For now, as I get to know PBEMing as well as my opponent, I think it's valauble to have a record here for posterity.
Overview
This was a very good day for the Allies given it's the first week of the war. The Japanese took some major losses, as did the Allies, but the latter is expected. Operations near Pearl Harbor were particularly intense. I don't know if my opponent made reaction range errors through omission, but the US forces fought magnificently and inflicted heavy losses on Japan. However, there is increasing evidence that Mike is planning a bolt-from-the-blue invasion of one or more Hawaiian island sites. If so I would welcome that. Hawaii is important to be sure, but it can be peeled later on in 1942, it's devilishly hard for Japan to supply, and it would take a lot of force structure he needs elsewhere to take and hold. I expect a lot of the fighting to be in the Britsh/Dutch/Chinese map sectors in the first six months, not in the Pacific. And I don't commonly do much logistic movement westbound, so he won't get freebies unless he takes Perth. If he takes both Perth AND Hawaii I'm in sweat mode.
Night Phase
Busy, busy, busy.
1) Landings continued at KB, Miri, and Brunei with flaccid CD efforts.
2) The main action was at PH. A strong IJN surface TF either reacted or was ordered into PH itself. Minelayer USS Oglala, laying extra mines overnight, took the hit, sinking under strong gunfire. However, PH begins festooned with laid mines, and so . . .
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
Allied Ships
CM Oglala, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 85% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 10,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
BB Kirishima fires at CM Oglala at 10,000 yards
CM Oglala sunk by BB Hiei at 10,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
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TF 95 encounters mine field at Pearl Harbor (180,107)
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
Magazine explodes on CA Tone
Sunk ship sound effect heard, but I am unsure, on second replay, that it was Tone. Could have been for Oglala. But Tone is a mess at minimum. Later surface action found her home TF missing Tone plus DD Isokaze, presumably on Escort duty home. This theory strengthened by sub Gudgeon attacking Tone, shown with existing heavy damage, escorted by DD Isokaze. Mk14s missed.
3) USN CVs merge south of Johnson Island, heading east for San Diego for the moment. USS Indianapolis, minesweepers split away and sent toward PH, joins this large TF. CVs have air wings on zero range CAP and 1-hex ASW only. Trying to be quiet like mices.
4) Remaining IJN surface TF, ex-Tone and DD, attacks very large USN TF on guard at PH. Recall I had un-docked all but Support-class ships in PH after 12/7, deciding their flak assets were better used away from the pier. This may have caught Mike by surprise. In ensuing battle, USN loses 1 DD, but sets BB on fire. As important, this action eats away at Japanese ammo supplies, and BB reloads are far away.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Cummings
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD Tucker
DD Cassin, Shell hits 1
DD Selfridge
DD Phelps
DD Farragut
DD Dewey
DD Hull
DD MacDonough
DD Monaghan
DD Aylwin
DD Allen, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
5) In same hex as above, 180, 107, USS Minneapolis TF finds DD Isokaze ALONE, and sinks her in three attacks, middle one by minesweeper TF also on guard. More evidence CA Tone is sunk as well.
Overall, a busy night for the US Navy.
Day Phase
1) Series of surface battles near Hong Kong. I had flushed all surviving, non-burning ships from HK. Pre-war RN DDs sent in single-ship TFs toward Singers, on different routes. They acquitted themselves extremely well when set upon at 2:1 odds.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 75,65, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Kudo, Shunsaku crosses the 'T'
NO HITS.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 76,66, Range 14,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Thanet, Shell hits 2, on fire
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 14,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Thanet at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Thanet at 9,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Thanet at 9,000 yards
Davies, E.S. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Inazuma collides with DD Ikazuchi at 76 , 66
OOOPS!!
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 75,65, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 7, on fire
Allied Ships
DD Scout, Shell hits 1
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Lambton, H. crosses the 'T'
8:1 hit ratio. Mike posted a screenshoot in the Tech section of this IJN TF trying to make for Canton, right past an Allied Hong Kong. Probably a lot of the damage was from the collision, but the RN kicked some major booty as well.
2) Landings continue at KB, Miri, and Brunei.
3) Near Pearl the IJN has another of those days. I had sent USS Taney, a PC, out alone to scout. I was unsure if there were five, or six, carriers at PH and I needed eyes on in case the patrol planes were unable to find or spot the truth. Taney found a whole heap of trouble, but gave me the goods. Also got in a hit on Kaga (not at Mersing then) and got away with damage.
The IJN also suffers yet another collision far from home:
DD Kasumi collides with CL Abukuma at 180 , 104
4) In the worst action of the day, USS Houston is sunk by three Long Lance near Balabac. Attackers are surface TF of seven DDs and CL Naka. Houston scores six hits on Naka, including five penetrating 8in. shells. She may go down. Also leaves two DDs on fire. In retrospect and for my next game I will wait a day and merge Boise and Houston somewhere off their known first-turn tracks, and use them in concert rather than trying to sprint them to safety as I did with Boise. If she had been with Houston this IJN TF would be a smoking ruin now. Lesson learned.
5) USS Plunger finds yet another surface TF near Pearl with yet another CA.
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 180,104
Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
DD Urakaze
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Arare
DD Tanikaze
Allied Ships
SS Plunger
6) In series of air attacks, 5-ship TF at Georgetown loading base force for evac to Pt. Blair, is sunk by torpedos. Buffalos ineffectual.
7) Pin-prick bombing of troops in eastern China, several locations. Training missions more or less.
8) Several moderate port attacks on Hong Kong. Fuel and supplies destroyed. Another point of repair yard damage. I have nothing left in HK except two burning merchants I may scuttle. Possibly these air assets would be better used on troops at HK.
9) Several Oscar sweeps here and there find no CAP to engage.
10) British Hudsons and Blenheims stage naval strikes in several Malaysian locations. One bomb hit on xAK in exchange for stiff losses. I will cease this use of these models and shift to other, probably night, missions.
11) USS Penguin begins her dash for freedom from Guam, heading NE for the broad wastes of the Pacific. Survives strike from Marianas. Go little penguin, go!! [;)]
12) Destruciton of PI air forces contines. Zero sweep on Clark at 23,000 achieves 1:3 loss ratio for Japan.
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed
13) In case of AI code over-reaction, Japan attacks Lahaina Roads in Hawaii and achieves not much. The galant defenders at Pearl tip their hats to the Mai Tai-drinking comrades on the Outer Islands. That's 43 Sons of Nippon attack planes PH flak didn't have to deal with.
Afternoon Air attack on Lahaina , at 182,108
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5M1 Mabel x 4
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 27 [&o][&o][&o]
Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 2
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAK Hoegh Merchant, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Port supply hits 1
14) Attacks continue on Manila port in thunderstorms. 11,000 feet. 5:1 loss ratio in favor of Allies. Port hits = 1. Second attack at 9000 feet. 3:1 loss ratio in favor of Allies. No port hits.
14) Main effort air raid on PH. Large KB air wing losses, especially to Vals. Very minor damage. USS Arizona was not one of the severely damaged BBs on 12/7. US managed to get CAP of 93 mixed models airborne, and they did very well.
Afternoon Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 90 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5M1 Mabel x 2
B5N1 Kate x 21
D3A1 Val x 118
Allied aircraft
P-26A x 1
P-36A Mohawk x 32
P-40B Warhawk x 53
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SNJ-3 Texan x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 24 destroyed, 21 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 1 damaged
P-26A: 1 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 7 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 1
Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Repair Shipyard hits 1
Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 7
15) More port attacks on Manilla claim two more subs sunk, S-boat plus USS Pickerel. Damage to USS Swordfish and USS Canopus. AP left on fire after first day now more on fire. Light air losses for both sides.
16) Second major raid on outer Hawaiian island, this time Lihue. Wonder if this was ordered as take-down of all Hawaiian bases?
Afternoon Air attack on Lihue , at 178,106
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 44
Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 1
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2
17) Misc. air strikes on HK and KB, without significant results. Hudsons find and attack BB Kongo near KB with no hits.
18) 4-plane B-17 strike near PH at 11,000 feet. One B-17 splashes, no hits. 8 SBD-1s ditto, no hits, one DB lost.
19) USS Plunger attacks two TFs with no hits. However, second reveals presence of at least two AOs with gaggle of TFs near PH. Also, air search has IDed at least six IJN subs squatting 1-2 hexes north of PH, presumably to snag sorties looking for the KB.
20) IJA takes Miri and Brunei with low losses. Defenders retreat into jungle.
21) KB falls with heavy Allied losses.
Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2164 casualties reported
Squads: 84 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
5th JAAF AF Coy
Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
3rd ISF Base Force
My Indian Army reconstitution plan just hit a snag.
Thus endeth Day 2.
Finishing, I do not plan to do another microscopic diary entry to match this, but it has been instructive for what I don't want to do going forward.
Summary
1) A bit of Allied head-scratching. What is he up to at Hawaii?
2) Amphib landing pace seems slow for second day. I see a few un-IDed TFs near the PI, but no landings there or Batan I. He must have a lot of TFs at sea going places I can't see. Intel wires are quiet.
3) Moves in China so far are not showing strat bombing effort, but that may come. I'm working on macro strategies for China, using some of the "helpful" comments here so far. [:)] A fair bit of number tumbling, trying to see trade-offs of going, staying, or staying in "abnormal" manner.
4) Wouldn't want to be a Japanese crewman on any cruisers this week. Three possible losses in two days. Ouch!!!
