ORIGINAL: fcharton
December 14th 1941
Gallant Boise
Since the beginning of the war, after signal intelligence have been announcing landings in Mauban (which have yet to materialize), Boise and Houston have been stalking around Naga, in the hope of catching a landing force in the South Philippines. They found, or were found (this is not clear) today by an enemy cruiser squadron.
Four Japanese CA, and four destroyers, against Boise and Houston, the prospects were not good… A first night engagement was inconclusive
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki
Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
With CA Kako on fire, the next night engagement favored the US cruisers.
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, on fire
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki
Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 2
Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 83,83, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yuzuki
Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Boise, Shell hits 2
But at sunrise, my cruisers could not compensate their numerical inferiority.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Catbalogan at 84,84, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yuzuki
Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CL Boise, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
Boise sank on the way home. Houston is only lightly hit. Kinugasa shows up as sunk, and I suspect Kako is not in a good shape, and not very close to base. Losing Boise is sad, but if we really traded her for two Japanese cruisers, it was worth the loss.
Meanwhile in Burma
Port Blair now sports over 100 AV. Most of the small units that begin the war on the coast of Burma, near Thailand, have been evacuated. I now need engineers to build the airfield and forts. I am also considering reinforcing another base in the Andamans.
In Burma, two Indian brigades are unloading in Rangoon, and two more will arrive in a few days. Calcutta is getting the rest of the early commonwealth reinforcements. There is still no sign of an advance on Burma, and no attempt to dispute air superiority over Rangoon. Moulmein is being garrisoned and fortified, so that if the Japanese advance with too little (one reinforced division, which is what I usually divert for Burma), their first attempt will fail, and the more troops Japan nees in Burma, the less there is for the Indies and South Pacific. I do not hope to defend Burma, but I believe keeping it Allied for a while can only help China.
Chinese roadblocks
In northern China, the area between Tsiaotso and Yenan is being garrisoned. 500 AV are in the mountain hex on the road to Sian, and the Japanese column advancing towards them apparently decided to double back. Tsiaotso has 1100 AV, forts going up. In Yenan, the 8th route army is recovering nicely, with morale in the 80s, and will make for a decent reserve.
Two Japanese columns are marching on Changsha. I have my doubts about the feasibility of such an early offensive. Changsha has good terrain, large stacking limits, some supply producing industry, and level four forts. I have good units in the area, and a lot of headquarters to provide support.
Ichang was abandoned and recaptured, its level three forts intact.
In Central China, most enemy efforts concentrate on Wenchow. I have good units there, but I am seriously contemplating evacuating, and marching my troops south, towards Kukong and Kweilin.
In the south, nothing happens except a few bombardments by planes based in Canton. I sent a few Chinese bombers attack the port Haiphong today, and a Japanese unit that had advanced in the plains, just to try to keep my opponent honest.
Slow steamrolling
So far, the Japanese advance has been rather slow. Wake was captured but not Guam or Tarawa. Yesterday, Vanimo was the first New Guinean base invaded. There were no moves, yet, against Rabaul, Kavieng or the Solomons, and no invasion of Singkawang or Miri, followed those of Kuching and Brunei.
This allows me to reinforce a few areas. I have evacuated most of the troops that begin the war in New Guinea to Port Moresby. Ambon and Horn Island were reinforced as well.
Malaysia is the only theater where Japan seems to move fast. Since there were no landings on Mersing, most of my troops will make it to Singapore, and I will try to evacuate some of them to reinforce Ceylon and India. I probably can hope Singapore to hold until January (late January would be ideal). In the Philippines, enemy intentions are unclear. Neither Mindanao nor any of the Philippine islands have been invaded, and Luzon seems to be progressing relatively slowly.
KB is nowhere in sight, but I suppose I will know soon enough where the next enemy push is meant to happen.
fcharton-
Ah, the Boisie!
I too lost the Boisie early on after she alone engaged a Japanese Combat surface fleet. She was heavily outnumbered but managed to inflict some serious hits before she slipped under the waves.
I am liking your aggressive defense more and more.
Good luck!
-Best Regards,
-Terry
