All Ahead Flank - Reluctant Admiral 6.1: Mr Kane (J) vs NY59Giants (A)

[ny59giants]

With my game vs Olorin (Nick) playing DBB 30 reaching late '43, I wanted to try out the latest version of RA as the Allies. Hopefully, I can apply what I've learned there (longest game to date as Allies). Tom Kane replied to my request and after reading GreyJoy's AAR about India getting invaded again, I should have my hands full. I tried to minimize the number of HR and I forgot one that will show itself it the next few postings.

House Rules (HR)

1. 1st turn can have multiple port attacks, but ONLY if carriers participate. Manila, Singapore, and Pearl may have Fighters up and on CAP (less than 40%). Allies cannot transfer new squadrons reflecting prior knowledge.

2. PPs to move out of national borders (Japan - Manchuria, Thai) and (Allies - India, China). Thai units are allowed 6 hexes outside borders to help meet garrison requirements.

3. Strategic bombing is allowed for everybody on 1 July '43.

4. Manila subs can form TF based on a date/time stamp (use the last digit in a pre-determined e-mail which will be the one the Allies do their first orders). Since this may be the second port attack, the last digit in the time (hh:mm:ss) is used to determine how many subs can form TF (anywhere from 1-9 sub TF can be formed up).

5. Non-historic 1st turn, normal reinforcements, PDUs ON, orders for TF formed already OK, no transfers. China is active for both sides on Turn 1.

6. Aircraft Limitations (reflecting the RA Mod):
-No A6M3 on CVEs
-No A6M4 on any form of Carrier
-A7M Sam and B7A-D Grace cannot be operated from CVEs

7. Four-Engine Bombers: Restricted to 10k or higher for naval and ground attacks (does not include PBY/Mavis type patrol craft).

8. Single ship TF – The Allied player will not form them deliberately after January 42 due to the AI code often ignoring them and not sending out bombers to attack. Japan will be allowed to send out single ships.

[John 3rd]

BANZAI! Uhhhhh...I mean...HUZZAH!

Go get 'em Michael.

[ny59giants]

Dec 7th:

Pearl:

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 96
B5N2 Kate x 132
D3A1 Val x 102

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 12 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 13 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 1
DD Allen, Bomb hits 1
DM Montgomery, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 6
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

With this version of RA, Japanese CV/CVLs are divided into 3 CarDiv with 2 heavy CVs and one CVL each. Two of them ended up 3 NNW of Pearl. The AF was not hit. Repair Shipyard got 36 hits.
BB Nevada - 19-61(30)-14(11)...119 days
BB Oklahoma - 36-64(42)-19(11)...181 days
BB Arizona - 33-62(34)-6(2)...138 days
BB Mississippi - 15-27(9)-19(14)...119 days
BB Pennsylvania - 25-12(3)-6(4)...47 days
BB New Mexico - 41-65(50)-26(20)...496 days
BB California - 49-55(27)-18(9)...253 days
BB Tennessee - 27-15(1)-5...58 days
BB Idaho - 45-72(46)-1193)...358 days
DD and DM sunk

Philippines:
KB2 and CVE Taiyo end up NW of Ida. 36 Zeros sweep Manila and 6 of 18 P-40s are lost. 45 Zeros escort in 81 Betty. The AF is hit hard and three subs get one bomb hit each. only one sinks. One of two Brit DDs at Full Speed from Hong Kong are within range of KB2. One is sunk and the other gets a bomb hit from 23Z, 21V, 21K and then 23Z, 19V. BOTH Clark and Iba are NOT attacked!! [X(] Landing at Aparri.

Malaya:
Landings at Kota Bharu and Mersing (since I didn't include this in HR, I felt I needed to let it go). 56 Nates strafe Kota Bharu; 36 Oscars with 55 Lily hit G'town.

China:
Hong Kong hit by 10 Nate, 12 Lily, 27 Ida, 24 Sonia. Kanhsien sees 45 zeros from Formosa with 31 Ann. Chengchow gets 12 Ann.

Noumea:
With some Free French forces and ships here, I get 2 xAKLs sunk by two I-boats around base.

Misc:
Guam invaded. Tavoy sees 70 Sally.

Air Losses: 17 Allied vs 23 Japan

Notes:
Not much happened that was unexpected. The Mersing is not that a big deal as I was planning to pull back some.

[Bif1961]

How di the New Mexico get to Pearl Harbor? Shouldn't that be the Maryland?? [&:]

[Bif1961]

and what about the West Virginia?? Did the New Mexico and Mississippi get substituted?

[Cpt Sherwood]

I'll be following this. I'm playing John 3rd with almost the same house rules.

[John 3rd]

The New Mexico-Class BBs stay in the Pacific due to rising tensions with Japan while the two BBs are undergoing their refit that was historically planned but never done prior to Pearl..

[John 3rd]

Here is the Allied Change Log for RA 6.0:


Reluctant Admiral 6.0
September 23, 2013
Allied Change Log


Allied Changes:
A small American Sub Base is established at Pago Pago where an AS and 4 S-Boats currently reside

3 USN Training Squadrons (VF, VB, and VT), 3 USAAF Training Squadrons (F, 2EB, and 4EB), and 2 USMC Training Squadrons (VMF and VMB) are established on the West Coast to allow a Japanese style pilot training program. These units cannot be moved from the West Coast.

A number of Wildcat-Recon Sections are added to better facilitate USN recon and air search.

An entire class of AOs are allowed to convert to CVE

The Kittyhawk-Class of 2 ships are allowed to convert into a Long Island-Class CVE

The 3 Tangier-Class vessels also can be converted into Boque-Class CVE with organic air units aboard.

The CVL’s Varennes and Chateau Thierry are added to the American OOB for early-1944. Two CLs are deleted for compensation to this change.

A 3rd Alaska-Class Command Cruiser is added to the Allied OOB

Several Essex and Independence-Class CVs/CVLs have their arrival time advanced slightly

A number of Chinese LCU have their starting experience tweaked upward reflecting recent fighting in China.

All Omaha-Class CLs are allowed to immediately begin conversion to a CLAA variant.

Many Dutch and British warships gain upgrades in late-42/43

A major addition of a Free French contingent begins at Noumea:
--CA Algerie, 1 CL, 4 DD, and 5 SS
--Major French Support Ships are at Noumea as well (AS, AV, AKE, etc...)

Several small Allied units added to Dec 7th starting OOB
--4 British DDs added to Exeter TF at Ceylon
--CLV Charlotte (a hypothetical Flightdeck Cruiser) is at Darwin with the Pensacola TF
--a damaged French CL is at Singapore for repairs
--3 New Mexico-Class BBs begin at Pearl Harbor
--BBs Maryland and West Virginia start at Alameda completing a major, historical (but never started) upgrade

USAAF BF expand their TOE to raise their Aircraft Support from 16 to 24 on January 1, 1944

Pago Pago Reinforcement TF: CLs Raleigh and Detriot with 4 DDs escorting 3 AP and 3 AK. TF is fully unloaded and disbanded in Port. CV Lexington is 4-6 hexes NE and headed back to PH.

DD Le Triomphant moved to Noumea joining CA Algerie, CL Jean de Vienne, and 4 L'Adroit DDs. There are also 4 French SS present. HOW ABOUT THAT FOR DIFFERENT??!!

PM Reinforcement TF (Townsville) A force of 1 CA and 3 CL are prepared to escort 6 AP with the remainder of the PM Brigade, support units as well as aircraft if wanted.

Pensacola TF at Darwin loaded and ready to depart carrying all the historical units. The TF is protected by a CTF containing CA Pensacola, CLV Charlotte, and 3 DDs.

CA Houston, CL Boise, and 4 4-Pipers at Tawi Tawi ready to move wherever the player wants.

Additional Allied Starting Air Units:
A P-40 Squadron is at Pago Pago

A Hurricane Squadron is at Singapore as well as another at Rangoon

Darwin has 3 Squadrons of A-24 Dive Bombers as well as one Squadron of P-40s.

Allied Aircraft Production Changes
Wildcat V +8/month
Wildcat VI +10/month

Blenheim IV +4/month
Blenheim VD +10/month, produced until 8/44
Hurricane IIb Trop +5/month
Hurricane IV +10/month, produced until 12/44
Mohawk IV +2/month
Spitfire Vc Trop produced until 12/44
Sunderland III +1/month
Sunderland GR.V +2/month
Vengeance IV +20/month


A-20G produced until 9/45
A-24 +3 month, produced from 12/41 to 10/42
P-40E +10/month
P-40N1 produced until 7/44
P-40N5 produced until 12/44
P-61C +15/month
P-70A-1 +15/month


F4F-3A +4/month
F4U-4 +50/month
PBJ-1J +6/month
PBM-3 and PBM-5D +3/month
PBY-5 and following models +2/month
SBD-3 +12/month.
SB2C5 +90/month, produced until the end of the scenario.
TBM-1C +40/month

F-4 (Aust)10/42--10/44 at 3/mo...Extend replacements until 10/44
Spit PR IV...Brit...10/42--10/42 at 4/mo...Extend until 9/43
F-5A...US...1/43--5/44 at 6/mo...Switch to production to ensure they come in.
F4F-7 Wildcats...USN...11/42--2/42 at 8/mo...down to 4/mo extend replacements until 12/43
PB4Y-1P Lib...USN...12/42 at 1 & 4/mo...Switch over to just 6 production per month

C-24A Commando...US...8/43--10/44 at 3/mo... increase to 6/mo so units can fillout

B24J increases would change monthly output from 65 to 73. Starts in 9/43--goes to end.
B25J11 increased would change monthly output from 45 to 60. Starts in 9/44--goes to end.
PBJ-1J increase would change monthly output from 20 to 25. Starts in 7/44--goes to end.

The Dutch Air Force gets extended:
A replacement rate of 5 pilots per month will continue throughout 1942.
Dutch Hurricane, P-40, and B-25 replacements are extended until mid-to-late 1942
Dutch Catalina’s produce until the end of 1943


Also minor additions to initial pools for several types: This means that (a)The Allies get a few more fighters and dive bombers to survive 1943; (b)Some tight spots, like NF and patrol planes production, are partially fixed; (c)There are over a thousand more Warhawks, plus some Hurricanes and older Spitfires to cover for the slump in USAAF stock fighter reinforcements in 1944; (d)Production of USN/USMC aircraft continues at its maximum intensity until the end of the scenario.


Base Modifications:
Pago Pago Pt-2, AF-2, Ft-1 This reflects the Americans having begun work on the base. CV Lexington, 3 CA, and 8 DD are just NE of the location covering the TF that just finished unloading and is disbanded in the Port.

Toungoo AF-2 Ft-1 Never understood why this base starts at AF-1 and has the entire AVG present.

Noumea Port increased 1 and Forts raised to 1 reflecting the Free French presence.


New Garrison Requirements
My goal is to SLOW DOWN the creation of massive stacks moving across the board as well as tie down additional troops allowing for a slower start with real consequences for offensives reaching into China and/or India. Add JWE's changes to movement on the map and we may actually serve to achieve this goal.

This is what I've done:

Nationalist--Communist China:
Changsha 350 +50
Siangtan 100 +50
Hengyang 150 +50
Shaoyang 50 +30
Kweiyang 100 +40
Changteh 150 +110
Sian 300 +100
Yenan 350 +70

TOTAL +650 Required

Occupied China
Peiping 450 +70
Tientsin 350 +30
Tsingtao 250 +50
Suchow 150 +30
Soochow 150 +30
Wusih 100 +40
Nanking 350 +70
Hangchow 200 +40
Hankow 250 +30
Wuchang 250 +50
Amoy 100 +40
Canton 400 +40

TOTAL: +640 Required


Burma
Prome 10 +10
Toungoo 10 +10
Meiktila 10 +10
Shwebo 20 +20

TOTAL: +50 Required


India
Jamshedpur 20 +20
Asanaol 20 +20
Howrah 20 +20
Madras 200 +120
Columbo 100 +40
Trincomalee 50 +30
Bombay 250 +70
Delhi 200 +75

TOTAL: +395 Required


The Development Team of Reluctant Admiral
For those who haven't followed the Design of the Mod, let me mention the work done by everyone to get it ready to go:

FatR--Chief of Aeronautics focused mainly on the new and modified Aircraft. He also helped in finding a number of bugs within the 'test' versions of the Mod.

Michael--Provided an Allied perspective and made sure there was a little 'something' in this for the Allies. He also served as an excellent sounding board.

JuanG--Held my hand in the design process and truly was a major help for ideas, comments, and proposals. Many of them made their way into the Mod. Should mention some of his ship art is in this for the Kawachi-Class BCs and few other vessels.

JWE/Symon—For all the support and work helping with all facets of the Mod through suggestion, support, and good old fashioned badgering!

BK--Massively helped in the air development and design area with FatR. He must have 150-200 Posts in the two Design Threads. Invaluable help and suggestions flowed through him.

Red Lancer--Provided VERY NICE new aircraft art for at least a dozen or so planes. They are PERDY!

SuluSea—For all the magnificent Loading Screens, Scenario Art, Ship Art, and Naval Combat Screen

Gary Childress—For the Ship Art. Outstanding!

Damian--Perhaps he should be mentioned too for his checking of the revamped Japanese economy by use of Tracker. Very helpful.

Thanks to our playtesters and readers looking for various mistakes within the Mod!


This Mod started back over in WitP when Alikchi (he deserves a big thank you as well) and I got into a heavy discussion of the 4th Circle Plan. From that discussion I did a bunch of reading on Admiral Yamamoto and was struck by the foresight he had in seeing many issues facing Japan. Many of us know this in the general history but few have actually read what he said and/or wanted to do. This scenario reflects many of his wishes as shown in 2-3 of his biographies, Kaigun, and Sunburst.

It has been fun designing this creation. I am NOT a Computer person! My wife Paula and friend Michael (my aide and opponent) will testify to that. The creators of AE deserve magnificent credit for the Editor they have brought to life. It is intuitive and easy-to-use (relatively). Even with this said the Mod could not have been created without those mentioned above and the dozens who contributed their thoughts to the scenario.

[Cribtop]

Cool, Michael. Should be fun to watch.

PS - You must admit I am an angel for not harassing you about the current record of a certain American football club that plays in a large financial center in the Northeast. Then again, between the Cowboys, Rangers (ick), South Carolina's terrible linebackers, and most of all Mack F'n Brown, we've got our share of sports issues down here too.

[JocMeister]

Good luck Michael! I´ll follow this [:)]

PS. Have you dropped you other AAR in favor of this one or will you try and maintain two?

[Olorin]

Good luck Michael. That PH attack could be worse for you, you will eventually get all your BBs back, unless he stays for a second day strike.

[ny59giants]

Deb 8th: The "Thundering Herd" leaves Manila [:D]

Landings:
Kota Bharu, Mersing, Guam, Aparri

Subs:
My Dutch subs move into landing zones off Malaya. Too bad they cannot hit anything and/or get torpedoes to explode. [:@][X(]
Two American subs miss KB3 off Iba before she leaves the area.
Sub laid mines found by Minesweepers in base just SW of Soerbaja (good spot as it forces my ships to to take longer exit route from base to Australia).
I-1 sinks an xAKL by TT hit and another from shell hit at Noumea (Free French)
I-165 gets 2 TT hits on TK at Toboali. She is sunk. Later she gets a small xAP.

CVs:
KB1 - CV Akagi & Kaga, CVL Ryuho, 2 BB, CL, CS, 7 DD @ 5 NE of French Frigate Shoal
KB2 - CV Shokaku & Zuikaku, CVL Shoho, 2 CA, CL, 7 DD with KB1
KB3 - CV Hiryu & Soryu, CVL Zuiho, 2 BB, 6 DD @ 9 NE Miri
CV Lex @ 2 SW of Vava'u (headed for Sydney to refuel and await Big E)
CV Enterprise (Big E) @ 12 NW of Palmyra (headed for Pago Pago and eventually Sydney)
CVL Charlotte @ 3 north Broome (She has 12 Buffalo and 12 SDB-1s)

Surface Combat:
Only 1 Brit PT from Hong Kong makes it to Luzon after three rounds of combat with a CL & 5 DDs.
CA Chokai, CL, & 14 DDs quickly finish off the last Brit DD from Hong Kong 5 NW of Iba. This TF ends up 3 hexes NE of KB3.
CA Maya & Ashigara, 2 CL, 5 DDs sink two small TKs one hex SW of Bataan. I expect this TF to chase down my "Thundering Herd" over the next few days.

Pearl:
Quiet!! However, there are 4 enemy TF in hex and I form 3 ASW TF to try to get rid of them.

Philippines:
ALWAYS form and send out a Minesweeping TF from Manila first to Bataan at Full Speed!! I end up getting one of four AMs sunk, but the rest of my shipping makes it through as the "Thundering Herd" heads SW at Full Speed. Initial destination for all was Tawi Tawi.
Clark - 40(1) Zero make quick work of 42(14) P-40s. Number in (*) means destroyed.
KB3 planes sink an AS, PG, 3 xAKL, 2 xAK just off Taytay
Aparri falls to a BF

Malaya:
Singapore - 18(2) Zero sweep to find 16(3) Hurricanes and 12(1) Buffalo. Second sweep of 9 destroy another 2 fighters.
G'town - 53 Lily hit the empty AF with Oscars escorts.
Mersing - 20 Buffalo, 4 Wirraway, 8 Blenheim, 6 Hudson cannot hit the shipping. [:(] 12 Vildebeest get a TT hit on AK. Thankfully, my 5 Swordfish finally find a worthy target...BB Nagato TT x1 [&o]

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9866 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 357

Defending force 2711 troops, 28 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Japanese adjusted assault: 313

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
502 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1125 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (14 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
I./124th Infantry Battalion
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
I./143rd Infantry Battalion
42nd Infantry Regiment
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
91st Naval Guard Unit
20th AA Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
30 Battery/3 HAA

Kota Bharu -

Ground combat at Kota Bharu (51,75)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8148 troops, 53 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 289

Defending force 4643 troops, 44 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 154

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 320

Allied adjusted defense: 12

Japanese assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3459 casualties reported
Squads: 142 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
84th JAAF AF Bn
5th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
3rd ISF Base Force

Just over one division worth of troops were involved in capture of these two bases. So....

China:
Chengchow - 9 Ann hit troops
Hong Kong - 10 Nates escort in 19 Sonia, 12 Lily, 21 Ida

Others:
Tavoy - 70 Sally in three waves hit AF. AF is closed after two days, but why is he so focused on this AFs destruction?
Guam falls to 15th BF (large) and part of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /3

Notes/Plans:
Pearl - As expected after results of first turn, KB1 & 2 leave the scene headed for....
KB3 - is now headed for northern Borneo to support... Option A will be landing at Singkawang OR Option B is Palembang. With less than one division involved at Kota Bharu and Mersing, that leaves over a division to be used here. I think an early landing at Palembang will happen within a week.
Singapore shipping will stop briefly at Batavia to refuel and then try to escape.
Three brigades at sea off India - the one that is part of 17th Indian Division unloads at Bombay and will head for Chittagong (I reform it there). One to Diego Garcia, one to Coco Island.
18th British Division - left Cape Town for Perth. I hope to hold western Australia this game.
41st Division at Tacoma heads for Cape Town via Eastern USA
2 British CLs will head north to attack Mersing. BB Matsu and damaged Nagato are there along with some CAs & DDs. Hopefully, I can get to shipping.
With NO BFs and construction engineers landed at Mersing, my bombers from Singapore will go after troops while TBs go after shipping.

[ny59giants]

Jocke - I hope to do a brief update of my other AAR over the weekend. I'm slowly crawling my way north up Solomon chain.

Dwain - I'm thinking a top 10 draft pick for my Giants this year. How the mighty have fallen?? [X(] 9-7 may win the division this year.

Olorin (Nick) - I'm headed over to do our turn now.

[Cpt Sherwood]

I'm curious about what you did with the Pensacola TF units and the PM reinforcements?

[ny59giants]

Pensacola TF includes CVL Charlotte now. They are just north of Broome. Eventually, they will get together with CVL Hermes as she now has the FB air group on her. Possible defense of Coco Island area. The troops headed east. They will join troops from PM TF to build up New Caledonia along with Free French forces. Instead of building up Suva, I'm going over to this area.

[Bif1961]

Looking forward to this new MOD with its enhanched deployment in the Pacific of allied forces. I guess Admiral King won the startegic struggle back in Washington.

[ny59giants]

Yes, I did. [:)]
I got some small increase in American plane production, especially their recon numbers as you are usually short of recon aircraft until late '44.

[ny59giants]

Dec 9th - Still looking for the big hammer blow...

Landings: Vigan

Subs:
I-159 sinks a TK to NE of Batavia
Searaven gets a TT hit on BB Fuso at Vigan [:)] (Tome says she will be out of war for a month).
I-124 sinks an xAKL with guns only off Laoag.
I-154 is in the small gap between Tarakan and Balikpapan. She gets an AG there.
I-155 gets an CM off Toboali.

CVs:
KB1 & 2 - 11 SE Midway
KB3 - MIA
CVEs - 4 East Mersing

Burma/India:
Tavoy - 21 Sally beat up defenseless AF
Moulmein - 51 Lily visit.

Malaya:
Singapore - 18 Zeros sweep vs 14 Brit Buffalo means I lose 5.
Mersing - 11 Zero from shore and CVE Hosho encounter 19 Buffalo, 11 Hudson, 15 Blenheim, 4 Wirraway in two waves. I lose 6 planes. I had hoped to raise disruption on troops to slow their advance and allow me to get my troops safely into Singapore.

China:
Chengchow - the milk run by 9 Ann comes in again.
Honk Kong - 10 Nates escort in 12 Lily, 21 Ida, 19 Sonia.

Philippines:
Manila - I lose 7 of 18 P-40s vs 40 Zero sweep. Just target practice. [:(]
Bataan - 22 Betty sink 2 AMs that I had left there after the "Thundering Herd" has left. Duh!?! [:-]

DEI: [>:][>:]

Others:

Notes/Plans:
Lots of movements behind the front lines as transports head to major ports.
Resting most air groups to get morale up to 99 so I can start training.

[ny59giants]

Dec 10th - LRCAP trap works.

Landings: Vigan, Ternate, Naga

Subs:
I-154 continues to sink my small ships from the "Thundering Herd" to east of Balikpapan. An xAKL goes under from just gun fire.
I-158 sinks an xAK off southern tip of Ceylon with 3 TT hits. Forgot that RA has two I-boats around Ceylon at start. [:(]
I-158 sister, I-156 is two hex to west and gets an xAP sunk before she could limp into Colombo (multiple messages of her failing to control flooding as she moves into base).
KXIV gets two TT hits on an AV just before she gets back to Cam Rahn Bay from northern Malaya. Sinking sounds are heard, but she didn't show up on sunk list.
KXII at Mersing sinks DMS with single TT hit.

CVs:
KB1 & 2 - 7 SSW Midway
KB3 - 8 SSE Saigon
CVEs - 1 SE Kuantan

Burma/India:
Tavoy - 49 Sally beat up defenseless AF
Moulmein - 14 H81s from AVG are on LRCAP and get 8 of 25 Lily in the first wave and then 4 are still there when 27 more Lily show up. I get another one.

Malaya:
Singapore - 7 of 13 Buffalo are lost again vs 18 Zero. Time to close down the air defense of Singapore and send the remaining aircraft to Burma/India.

China:
Chengchow - yes, the 9 Anns hit AF again. [:D]
Honk Kong - 10 Nates escort in 12 Lily, 21 Ida, 19 Sonia.

Philippines:
Empty Laoag becomes Japan.
9 PT boats cannot get any hits on huge Amphib TF off Vigan.
Deliberate attack on empty Vigan makes in Japan's.
CA Chokai, CL Sendai, 14 DDs quickly sink 2 YOs NE of Zamboanga

DEI:
13 A-24 Banshee from Ambon find the transports off Ternate. I sink two of them. [:D]

Others:

Notes/Plans:
In RA, you get 3 squadrons of A-24 Banshees (16 planes each) at Darwin. Their NavB skills are very poor. One now is at Ambon, another on way to Tarakan, and the worse at Darwin to get morale up to 99 before training. Their NavB skill for each group is 17 to 25, so they may get a few hits daily. I just hope to cause Mr Kane to either use his precious Zero on LRCAP or his various carriers to cover each invasion close to a size 2 AF. Vindicator group started at Pago Pago is now headed for DEI.

[ny59giants]

Dec 11th - Still waiting for some major landings not foreseen.

Landings: Naga, Ternate, Wewak

Subs:
KXII gets hit once after sinking an xAK with 3 TT hits at Mersing
KXV is 2 South Saigon and sink an AK with single TT hit.
I-154 continues to sink ships between Borneo and Celebes (4 east Balikpapan) as an xAKL goes down.
S-38 is hit once at Vigan by the escorts from the large Transport TF unloading there.

CVs:
KB1 & 2 - 12 East Wake
KB3 - 2 North Singkawang
CVEs - 5 NE Singkawang

Burma/India:
Tavoy -
Moulmein -

Malaya:
Singapore -

China:
Honk Kong - 10 Nates escort in 12 Lily, 21 Ida, 19 Sonia.
Chuhsien - 9 Ann hit the Construction LCU

Philippines:
Manila - 40 Zeros sweep the empty skies.
Clark Field - 40 Zeros sweep the empty skies.
Naga falls to advancing Japanese troops.

DEI:
Ternate - 13 A-24 Banshee from Ambon sink one xAK with 4x 1000lb bomb hits. A second strike of 13 get another xAK sunk. [:D] The base easily falls.

KB3 is 2 North of Singkawang and CL DeRuyter and 4 Dutch DDs get too close (2 NE Billiton). The first wave of 26 Z, 38K, 21V get 3 bomb hits on CL. The second wave of 26Z, 21K, 40V finishes her off with a TT hit. A DD gets a bomb hit.

Others:
4 CAs & 4 DDs make quick work of my escaping AM from Guam at Hollandia
CA Chokia, CL, & 14 DDs find the last 4 xAKs from Hong Kong off NE corner of Borneo.

Notes/Plans:
Ambon may be on his list soon as those 4 CAs & 4 DDs at Hollandia need to go somewhere.