Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

Jan 25 1942

The victors of Pegu are caught in clear terrain by a strafing force of Blenheim 1Fs backed up by B-17Ds flying at higher altitude. One Blenheim is destroyed but we suffer several hundred casualties on the ground. LRCAP is set in case the bombers try to return.

Meanwhile, Betties prove equally adept at ground attack by hitting a force of Allied stragglers hard on the road to Malaybalay on Mindanao.

Miura Det captures Kolaka from the unit that was previously ejected from Kendari.

Mavis search planes spot some tasty looking targets at Port Hedland. As Kaga Force (aka the Mini KB) is still a little too far to the north the Koepang Heavy Cover force is let loose in an attempt to intercept.

[Walker84]

Jan 26-27, 1942

Yokosuka 1st SNLF parachutes into Toungoo and finds slightly more dug in there than the recon had revealed: 104th RAF Base Force supported by the 4th Burma Rifles Battalion. Despite being outnumbered numerically 5:1, the crack troops achieve 1:1 odds and drop the forts to 1 in a shock attack.

Regular bombing of Singapore is taking its toll on Sally. Few are being shot down outright but 18 bombers are damaged in one raid, and fourteen in another on the same day. We may have to start rotating the units more frequently to allow them to rest.

SS I-18 torpedoes xAKL Tatung near Exmouth, one of the Allied Ships fleeing Port Hedland. Annoyingly, my SCTFs fail to catch up with the prey this turn. They will have one more chance tomorrow before breaking off as fuel is running low.

Then SS RO-33 spots the lone DD Banckert further to the west but cannot get into a firing position. Vals from Kaga Force catch Banckert later in the afternoon: Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage, possibly sunk as there is no sign afterwards. A solitary AMc, Gunbar is sunk by one bomb hit closer to Darwin. Not much else around.

RM Viper Force is all that is left in Rangoon when our forces enter the city on Jan 27th. Yokosuka 1st SNLF attacks at Toungoo again, dropping the forts to 0.

[Walker84]

Jan 28, 1942

SS I-16 spots PG Soerabaja at night near Carnarvon, NW Australia, but the captain elects not to launch torpedoes at this target and escapes detection.

Shortly afterwards, Soerabaja runs into a Japanese TF comprising three CAs and four DDs. At a range of 8,000 yards the plucky Dutch commander, Van Zelfden P. successfully crosses the 'T' and manages to put two shells into DD Nowaki before succumbing to 28 shell hits and sinking. Rather alarmingly, the two shell hits leave Nowaki on fire and close to sinking so not a good trade.

South of Sydney, near Port Kembla, SS I-15 sinks AVP Merel with two torpedo hits.

Tabiteau is occupied.

Yokosuka 1st SNLF still struggles to overcome the defenders of Toungoo who have been reinforced by Tenasserim BAF Battalion arriving from the south. Fortunately reinforcements will arrive soon from Pegu.

[Walker84]

Jan 29, 1942

Night Time Surface Combat, near Carnarvon: SCTF led by Mogami locates and sinks MMS-51. No sign of the of the rest of the little ships spotted at Port Hedland originally. Daybreak finds the Japanese ships steaming back towards Koepang which presents a dilemma as they now hold insufficient fuel to head back to the port of Carnarvon, where no doubt the Allied AKLs are holed up. So today's lesson learned is to always check your fuel and have tenders in position closer behind the surface assets.

An Allied sub misses a Japanese AKL near Kavieng, then a Japanese sub misses an Allied AKL near Noumea.

I start bombing Bataan but instantly lose a Sally and an Ann to flak so adjust the bombing level to 16k.

Not much to report in China. I'm trying to scrape enough together to eject a Chinese corps from a mountain hex near Chengting, where its straddling the rail line. I need to free up some more troops before I can attack anywhere else.

[Walker84]

Jan 30, 1942

Betties flying from Koepang bomb Darwin airfield for the first time so he knows I have probable torpedo capability in theatre. The airfield damage is disappointingly light. Hudsons then fly from Darwin to attack my replenishment convoy which is speeding round the south coast of Timor. I sent it this way to avoid probable Allied SS vectors. I'm not worried as the Allied flyboys fail to hit anything.

My opponent reported last turn that he could no longer see my paras at Toungoo. He has received advice about this and apparently it does happen occasionally. This turn he did spot them however, and set his units to attack. Tough little unit, the Yokosuka 1st SNLF...

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1606 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Defending force 484 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Allied adjusted assault: 6

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
104th RAF Base Force

Defending units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF

[Walker84]

Jan 31, 1942

The end of January already! Where has all the time gone and - more importantly - are we still on schedule?

Overall, I think we are in pretty good shape. Manila and Port Moresby have been taken. Darwin looks like a cert within a matter of days. The fall of Singapore is imminent. After a slow start, our forces are now making good progress in the Burmese interior. China is undergoing a lull at present while I redeploy units and consider next steps.

January 31 is an eventful day. A TF carrying the 144th regiment for the invasion of Darwin runs over SS S-23 near Milne Bay. The sub misses. Then SS S-41 fires 4 torpedoes at DD Yayoi near Koepang. My oilers make port safely after refuelling the heavy cover force which will now support the Darwin landings.

IJA troops shock attack Singapore and the results are pretty good but also provide an indication of how many Allied units have been evacuated.

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 44727 troops, 407 guns, 201 vehicles, Assault Value = 1372

Defending force 23812 troops, 353 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 248

Japanese adjusted assault: 1437

Allied adjusted defense: 479

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2878 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 223 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1523 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 36 (12 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
5th Division
Imperial Guards Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
Singapore Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
AHQ Far East
111th RAF Adv Base Force /1
Singapore Fortress
113th RAF Adv Base Force
112th RAF Adv Base Force /1
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malaya Army /2

Despite the disablements and disruption to my forces, with fort levels down to 0 I'm tempted to go in with another attack straight away..

Toungoo in Burma falls now that my reinforcements have caught up. The race to Mandalay is on.

[Walker84]

Feb 1 - 2, 1942

Sub attack near Kendari. SS Triton launches 6 torpedoes at AO Kokuyo Maru ...and misses. I have a lot of AOs in theatre at the moment supporting moves against Darwin and Balikpapan so may have to be prepared for the odd loss in the tanker fleet.

A second shock attack at Singapore on Feb 1 fails to achieve the breakthrough so I rest my divisions and set a bombardment attack for the 2nd.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 42781 troops, 407 guns, 201 vehicles, Assault Value = 1255

Defending force 22595 troops, 339 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 180

Japanese adjusted assault: 556

Allied adjusted defense: 363

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1398 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1334 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 97 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 30 (18 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Division
Imperial Guards Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
18th Division
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
AHQ Far East
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
112th RAF Adv Base Force /1
III Indian Corps
113th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Singapore Base Force
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Fortress
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force /1
Malaya Army /2

The 35th Chinese Corps appears to be pulling back from the railway line near Chengting. Reinforcements are still on the way to keep him honest.

A quick glance at the air losses chart shows that my air-to-air losses have been extremely light overall, with the toll of round the clock bombing falling on the Army's Sallys. It's also apparent that my opponent has been happy to lose a bunch of Brewster Buffalos while hoarding his P40s. He has tended to conserve his air which probably means that I will face more opposition as I go after the more extended objectives.

[Walker84]

Feb 3, 1942

February 3 was a fairly uneventful day in the war. More submarine torpedoes expended by the Allies for no result, ground attack bombings at Prome and Singapore. The odds of the subsequent Japanese bombardment attack at Singapore encouraged me to plan another deliberate attack for tomorrow.

Attacking force 636 troops, 57 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 1184

Defending force 21347 troops, 319 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Prome fell, the unfortunate 1st Burma division getting its arse kicked again.

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Prome !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2031 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
RTA Cavalry Division

Defending units:
Railway BAF Battalion
1st Burma Division

[Walker84]

Feb 4, 1942

In contrast with the previous day, February 4th is probably the most eventful since the fateful December 7th.

Opening the account, SS Seal launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-10 near Koepang, missing the minesweeper as well as the juicy transports it is escorting.

Pre-Invasion action then takes place off Ocean Island (which will fall later in the day to III/84th Naval Guard Unit). The tiny defending unit fires off 3 coastal gun shots in defense.

A solitary Allied MTB thinks better of engaging my invasion TF near Balikpapan.

Morning Air attack on Darwin: 25 Betties destroy 1x Hudson I on the ground and achieve 4 airbase, 1 supply and 29 runway hits. More bombing attacks are launched on Singapore and Balikpapan to keep the defenders honest.

Then B-17Ds hit the 33rd Division at Prome, inflicting 164 casualties in clear terrain under a clear sky. Zeroes flying LRCAP from Rangoon manage to shoot one of the Fortresses down. I'm flying air support in to Toungoo next turn so that I can start basing Oscars there.

Unopposed amphibious assaults go in at Tulagi and Munda. Pre-Invasion action off Balikpapan sees 35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense with xAK Senko Maru set on fire by a single shell hit and 22 casualties reported. Allies have 80 reported casualties.

Then the biggie:

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43007 troops, 406 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 1211

Defending force 21520 troops, 318 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1222

Allied adjusted defense: 247

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 34 (2 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
22901 casualties reported
Squads: 202 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2122 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 92 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 407 (407 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 129 (129 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 18

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
5th Division
Imperial Guards Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Gordons Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force
Singapore Fortress
2nd Loyal Battalion
112th RAF Adv Base Force /1
Malayan Air Wing
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
III Indian Corps
AHQ Far East
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force /1
Singapore Base Force
Malaya Army /2

An Allied bombardment attack at Balikpapan reveals the opposing line-ups...

Attacking force 1495 troops, 23 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Defending force 3131 troops, 26 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

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

Assaulting units:
VI KNIL Battalion
Balikpapan Defenses
Balikpapan MLD Base Force

Defending units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
Sasebo 8th SNLF

And, finally a shot of the Timor Sea with our forces poised to assault Darwin...

If all goes according to plan, we have a bombardment TF due to take on the CD guns first, and the two amphibious TFs should merge first before going in. Koepang as well as Kaga Force CVs are providing air support and replenishment oilers are close by. Two infantry regiments, plus an air support battalion are going in the first wave. Recon shows that, like Port Moresby, Darwin is unlikely to have been much reinforced and so far the airbase holds a sqn of Hudsons but no fighters. All of those P-40s bought out of the PI must show up eventually, however!

[Walker84]

Feb 5, 1942

The Battle for Balikpapan

Night time invasion action off Balikpapan as 120mm defensive gun batteries engage the unloading landing force. DMS W-16, xAK Toho Maru, and xAK Senko Maru each receive 1 shell hit apiece. Senko, already on fire, will sink later that day, providing further testimony to the rudimentary nature of Japanese damage control. Now the 75mm CD Gun Battery opens up, engaging xAK Toho Maru at 12,000 yards. TB Otori returns fire to suppress the enemy battery.

The Heavy Cover force sinks a solitary Allied MTB nearby in overcast conditions and 78% moonlight. Allied SS S-37 is spotted but escapes detection.

As the sun rises, Nells and Betties flying from Manado bomb the Allied ground forces causing an estimated 118 casualties. Dutch 139WH-3 bombers then appear in the skies but at least four are shot down by A6M2 Zeros flying long range CAP from Kendari before they can do any damage.

S-37 comes back for a closer inspection but is driven off by the Heavy Cover force, suffering three depth charge hits.

Troops of the II/4th Infantry Battalion and Sasebo 8th SNLF storm the base, achieving overwhelming odds against the inexperienced and ill-prepared defenders who retreat to Samarinda, leaving most of their equipment behind. The port and oil facilities are captured wholly intact.

[Walker84]

The Battle for Darwin

As the Darwin invasion task force nears Bathurst Island, a flight of thirteen unescorted SB2U-3 Vindicators attack out of a clear blue sky. Kaga Force is slow to respond and only a solitary A6M2 Zero rises to intercept the first strike, which sees xAP Kanzyu Maru set on fire by a single 1000 lb SAP bomb hit.

Two Vindicators then attack Fuso but are intercepted by five Zeroes and one is shot down. Twenty Betties mount an afternoon air attack on Darwin Fortress in moderate rain and Allied ground casualties are reported. Nine Vindicators return that afternoon near Bathurst Island but this time the Zeroes are ready for them and at least 5 are destroyed.

Rest of the day's round-up

Ise and Nagato return to bombard Wenchow at night and 144 Allied casualties are reported. The 100th Chinese Corps is in residence and it appears that my opponent may have evacuated some ground forces to the city due north which cannot be bombarded from the sea. I am gradually assembling a force to take Wenchow - the HI is too good to ignore.

Tulagi is captured by a fast transport TF.

[Walker84]

Feb 6, 1942

Several night-time Allied sub attacks are held at bay by my ASW;then SS O24 manages to put a torpedo into DMS W-8, which later sinks.

Quiet elsewhere during the day, apart from an unescorted Dutch bombing attack on Singkawang which sees at least five 139WH-3 bombers downed by CAP for the loss of one Nell on the ground.


Battle for Darwin part 2

A night naval bombardment of Darwin by a TF led by Hyuga, Yamashiro and Fuso commences, with 117 coastal gun shots being fired in defense. The Japanese ships take about 18 hits between them, although subsequent analysis finds that most of the damage sustained was superficial. Allied ground losses of 437 casualties and 11 lost guns are reported. Betties ground attack in daylight, for another 91 reported casualties.

Here's the CR for the amphibious assault...

Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

75 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 3
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 4
CL Kuma
DD Yugao
DD Fuyo
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 1
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
xAK Hokuan Maru
xAK Shanghai Maru
TB Kamo
PB Kinsyo Maru #2
xAP Kanzyu Maru, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Uzuki

Allied ground losses:
338 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Darwin RAN Base Force firing at CA Kako
CA Kako firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
CA Furutaka firing at Darwin Fortress
Darwin Fortress firing at CA Furutaka
Darwin Fortress firing at CA Kinugasa
CA Kinugasa firing at Darwin Fortress
CL Kuma firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
Darwin RAN Base Force firing at CL Kuma
DD Yugao firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
Darwin RAN Base Force firing at DD Yugao
Darwin RAN Base Force firing at DD Fuyo
DD Fuyo firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
DD Wakatake firing at Darwin Fortress
Darwin Fortress firing at DD Wakatake
DD Oboro firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
Darwin RAN Base Force firing at DD Oboro
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAK Hokuan Maru at 9,000 yards
CA Kako firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
CL Kuma firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
TB Kamo fired at enemy troops
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 fired at enemy troops
DD Yugao fired at enemy troops
DD Fuyo fired at enemy troops
DD Oboro fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Darwin (76,124)

TF 17 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 76,124

Japanese ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
17 troops of a IJA Cavalry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
70mm T92 Bn Gun lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
12 troops of a IJA HMG Section accidentally lost during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
75mm T41 Rgt Gun lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /1
12 troops of a IJA HMG Section accidentally lost during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt /1
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt /1
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt /1
17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 lost overboard during unload of 17th JNAF AF Unit
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt
75mm T90 Field Gun dropped into water during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 146th Infantry Rgt
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /4
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /5
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /5
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /6

A number of the cruisers and destroyers managed to soak up most of the residual CD fire and, as the damage to them is not insignificant and they are out of ammo, they will break off and head back to Koepang. Most troops are ashore as the day ends and a shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.

[Walker84]

Feb 7, 1942

Darwin falls. Japanese assault odds of 27 to 1 were achieved (fort level 2). The damaged AP sinks, and a couple of transports are docked as the crews attempt to put fires out. An Allied sub is heavily mauled by ASW after it strays too close to Darwin Harbour. The 144th Infantry Regiment and 17th JNAF AF Unit start digging in. The 146th Infantry Regiment pushes south.

Dutch 139WH-3s raid Singkawang again and 6 are destroyed. Possibly a case of forgetting to reset orders.

Balikpapan is cleared of mines and minesweeping commences at Singapore. Wenchow is bombed.

[Walker84]

Feb 8/9, 1942

After a busy few days, the lull. Literally the only event on the Feb 8 Combat Report is the bombardment of Wenchow by BBs Ise and Nagato. Allied ground losses: 175 casualties reported.

Allied subs are back in action on Feb 9 and AMc Kyoie Maru is torpedoed and sunk en route to Singapore.

In the Philippines, Japanese troops start moving towards Clark Field. I need to load as many units as I can before hitting the stacking limits. Bataan will probably be a longer term siege of attrition.

Elsewhere, Victory Disease beckons as the Japanese commander struggles to reconcile the next set of primary objectives. A night's sleep clearly helps and TFs are now loading for Makassar, Denpasar and Palembang. The first two bases will cover landings in Java. Palembang speaks for itself.

In addition to the forces prepping for Java and Sumatra, I now also have four more-or-less full strength divisions resting and recuperating in Singapore, ready to ship out once the transport capacity is liberated from other operations.

[Walker84]

Feb 10, 1942

Lots of mines being swept at Singapore. SS I-17 fires off two torpedoes at a small Allied force approaching Suva. AM Gale and ACM YP-74. Possibly Suva is being mined against any future incursions?

Amphibious assault launched at Dili on Timor. Twenty AV will be required to meet the garrison requirements so 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy has been selected.

Sallies based at Singapore are bombing the defenders of Palembang daily. In the absence of CAP and significant AAA defences the Dutch suffer many casualties. It's clear that the base has not been reinforced, so I wonder if the scheduled reinforcements have gone to Java, or perhaps been directed to shore up the defence of India?

Twin IJA columns push northwards along the Burmese plain. The 33rd Division routs the 3rd Burma Rifles Battalion on the road south of Magwe. To the east, 112th and 143rd Infantry Regiments capture Meiktila which was weakly held by Mandalay BMP Battalion. An air support unit will be flown in next turn to allow Oscars to start using the base immediately.

[Walker84]

Feb 11, 1942

11 B-17Ds bomb the 143rd Infantry near Meiktila causing 61 casualties and underlining the importance of getting the forward air support in place quickly.

Dili is captured and 8th Indpt SNLF Coy makes a landing at Boela to capture the oil installations.

[Walker84]

Feb 12 - 13, 1942

As Boela falls, an amphibious assault is launched at Makassar using elements of the forces which previously captured Balikpapan. The Palembang invasion forces being drawn from Singkawang, Saigon and Brunei are still assembling and await their heavy cover, which is redeploying from Darwin.

In Burma the 41st Infantry Regiment captures Taung Gyi from 9th Burma Rifles Battalion. I'm keen to secure Lashio quickly in case any Chinese forces appear from that direction.

[Walker84]

Feb 14, 1942

Today, our forces capture both Mandalay and Makassar against light opposition. An invasion force also lands at Gasmata. The defenders of Palembang have lost well over 500 casualties to the continued bombing campaign. Meanwhile, Miura det prepares to embark at Kendari for the assault on Denpasar. Still no sign of Allied surface ships appearing to oppose any of the landings. I wonder if the attack on Java may bring them out to play?

[Walker84]

Feb 15, 1942

I found out that I had exceeded the 40,000 stacking limit at Clark Field, so spent a couple of days moving troops in and out before launching the first probing bombardment attack. From the initial result, it appears that I will be unable to storm the place without suffering significant losses due to the terrain and inability to assemble overwhelming numbers in the hex. Mind you, there's no real need to rush, apart from the benefit of being able to redeploy the troops released from taking Bataan.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31177 troops, 306 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 1096

Defending force 19002 troops, 286 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 618

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
48th Division
21st Division
7th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
1st Constabulary Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
II Corps
I Corps
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp

Gasmata falls today, and the tiny element of the Rabaul BF that was occupying the base is destroyed.

The Palembang invasion fleet sets sail from Singkawang now that the required units have finally been assembled. A separate TF heads towards Denpasar. I hope that the LR CAP from Makassar will be sufficient as recon suggests that Soerabaja still holds significant air assets.

Yokosuka 3rd SNLF airdrops on Port Blair but insufficient AV land to push out the Base Force on the first turn.

The Burma campaign is looking increasingly satisfactory, with Magwe's oil installations being captured intact and IJA forces pushing east towards Lashio, as well as preparing to cross the river north of Mandalay. Akyab appears to be lightly held at the moment, although this could easily change by the time we slog all the way over there.

Btw, I discovered that some installations are not producing when captured so had to go round and check all refineries and oilfields were set to production on. Worth remembering in future!

[Walker84]

Feb 16, 1942

SS Triton looses two torpedoes at destroyers escorting the Denpasar invasion force near Makassar - and misses. The heavy cover force spearheaded by Kongo and Haruna sinks two MTBs near Palembang. Morning air attacks on Palembang, Port Blair, Clark Field and Chuhsien.

The Palembang invasion proceeds and the initial Allied bombardment attack reveals that with the softening up that has already taken place Allied AV is down to 38 vs 206 for the IJA.

The SNLF paras fail to take Port Blair in a second DA but it is only a matter of time.