Combat Report
December 31, 1942
This turn, as alluded to above, has some major developments within it. Will do the regional report and then some serious thinking/commentary within the region:.
North--Central Pacific
Nothing of Note
South Pacific
KB-2
The CVLs and CVEs move to a point just NW of Noumea. Form a Bombardment TF of 3 CA and 2 DD to join the CL and 5 DD already at Noumea. Order the CVs to move SE of Noumea.
THINKING
Dan spotted the CVEs as they passed by Horn Isle coming east. It certainly got his attention and made him pull back from his Noumea beachhead. He has turtled up since then. Makes sense. Am thinking of being tricky. Since I have TWO CV TF now, I could send one TF (the three CVLs) over to join the KB. Need them and their 100+ aircraft in the IO anyway but this might make Dan think I have pulled ALL my CVs out and allow me to spring a trap if he feels strong enough to come out to try and save those troops at Noumea. Would prefer to not leave two good CAs (Tone and Chikuma) here so I think Nagato (finished repairing at Singapore on January 1st) will come east and relieve the heavy cruisers.
Sumatra
Lots of action here. He must feel the build-up and action reaching towards climax.
Langsa and Sinabang
Both are bombarded by strong STF. Don't understand why he won't risk even smaller units to try and stop these bombardments (particularly on the east side) and damage my TF. Sinabang gets BB Fuso (her experience is really climbing) and 3 CA doing nice work on the Port and troops present. Langsa is pasted by Yamato and 4 BC.
Langsa, Medan, and Nias
All hit with between 60-100 bombers.
TJB
AF is now at 4 and climbing. The 48th ID will be here in two days and then my build-up is complete.
THINKING
All Hell is about to break throughout this area. Within days we shall take Nias, land at Sinabang, and begin the thrust towards Medan with 4 Japanese ID. Once I have Nias and Sinabang, we'll swing around to the North/Northeast and take Trinket, Phuket, and the other other islands nearby. I have 7-9 Engineering/Construction units gathering at Sibolga for base expansion. If done, this should allow me to complete my own version of Operation Cartwheel (the surrounding of Rabaul IRL).
Malaya
Georgetown and Alor Star
All Tojos present and ready for action. Allow one more day of rest and they fly on January 1st.
Victoria Point
Southern Army Command arrives and is prepping for Medan. I've counted the hexs and this powerful HQ can aid any attack I need to make from Southern Burma to Sumatra. EXCELLENT!
Port Blair
Dan's CVs take position NW of Port Blair. As stated earlier he crushes a pair of DDs returning to base but does not launch at the Base, AF, or the vulnerable shipping present there. Strange. Bet he moved there trying to trigger an aerial response that did not happen. This base's supply increased from 30,000 to 45,000 and is in solid shape. The AF is still a mess and barely operational but it has his attention and that is OK. He does send a small group of 6 B-17s who get blasted by my CAP (just 11 planes) and AA. Three of the six bombers are shot down.
Burma
Rangoon
For the first time, Dan shifts his bomber attacks to Rangoon. In several waves of attacks a total of 35 4EB and 34 B-25 launch and hit the AF. They don't do very much damage but it does grab my attention. If he comes again tomorrow his aircraft will be met by 70+ Fighters.
Akyab
The irony of his attack is that I attack the very base they flew from! Akyab is struck by about 2/3 of the bombers in Burma (just under 100). Nice results occur with sinking 2 PTs and an ACM in Port and smacking the AF with 69 Hits destroying about a dozen planes on the ground. He didn't have any CAP up over this base just like I didn't at Rangoon. Rather funny when one thinks about it.
Ramree
The daily Betty attack sinks yet another AK. Shot down a few more Hurricanes.
THINKING
My opponent is staking nearly his entire fighter force to Sabang and is allowing me the opportunity to get in some shots. Fascinating decision. Want to draw some off and bring them north but until then I guess we'll enjoy the show.
The ground counterstroke is starting to move as 2 ID and 2nd TK Div begins their move out of Prome. Looks like a slight shuffle of Allied troops as 7th Aust ID moves from the middle of the pile to the northern tier SW of Magwe. This ground move for Japan is a true risk. I now have NO RESERVE to react with. HOPE it works...
Indian Ocean
STF Clash
The DDs that Dan plastered were from a group of four that had a pair of fights with a STF during the night. My DDs encountered CL Columbia, CLAA Concord and 2 DDs. 'Ching' Lee (in a CL for goodness sake!) gains surprise and a Brit DD sinks one of mine with Torp before we can even shoot. Nicely done. The remainder gamely fight on and do some decent damage to both Allied Dds and slight damage to Concord.
Allied CVs
The combined Allied Fleet moves into its position NW of Port Blair. There are BUNCHES of SS in the area. We'll see if anyone can get lucky.
KB
Raises shields and declares RED ALERT. A DE gets into the Akagi--Kaga--Hiyo screen and causes some stressful moments before it is sunk under a hail of shells. After that little bit of excitement, the search planes fly out and spot a small TF of 3 AK. a strike of 54 Zero and 27 Vals put them under.
THINKING
Want to draw the Allied CVs towards my mass of SS. Really don't want a fight and he will be greatly distracted the moment my Tojos fly at Sabang. I advance (Dan likes to keep track of TF hex locations in his notes) a few hexes trying to draw him my way. If he aggressively closes then we fight. Doubt if he will but maybe he will move in my direction right into a mass of SS.
Bringing the CVLs over as well as picking up another couple Daitai of Judy and Jill will raise my fighting power considerably. Time is essential as MISTER Hellkitty isn't too far away from production. Have a group of 4 CA who will be done with upgrades at Singapore in 2-3 days and could really use their enhanced AA capabilities. Will move into this position tomorrow and await developments. If there is no major fight then we'll head south and refuel watching the situation.
What I want is to launch the Operation Falcon and flush his shipping out of Sabang. The KB will then pounce of these ships and plaster them. Within 10-14 days I could raise my strike aircraft to nearly 800 planes AND boost their quality. This middle ground choice makes sense to me for the moment. My aggressive tendencies I have truly kept in check for the vast majority of this game and I do not intend to let it slip just yet...
Comments Team?
The situation:
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