Thanks, trying to gear up more production of the new planes as we speak - but it definitely will be an issue.
Jan 4, 1943
Gilberts and Marshalls
Allied forces end the day approximately two hexes from - and equidistant between - Ocean Island and Nauru. It is the standard Kitchen Sink formation, with about nine separate task forces comprising carriers, battleships, cruisers, transports, escorts in varying denominations, covering each other in the same hex. I decided not to contest the initial landings as my Netties would likely get shredded, plus KB-lite, holding position south of Kusaie Island, is not strong enough to provide the necessary air support on its own.
Allied carrier planes raid Ocean Island - F4F-4 Wildcat x 71, SBD-3 Dauntless x 54 and TBF-1 Avenger x 14- and the results are inconsequential: 38 casualties reported. Mind you, the island is defended by III/84th Naval Guard Unit and a small engineer unit so it will likely fall on the first assault. I have started pulling a larger engineer unit from Nauru by float plane as Japanese engineers are like gold dust in DBB.
I will see what happens during the landings before deciding how to counter-attack. I could wait until the Allied carriers leave allowing me to bombard the forces that are left there as Apbarog won't have much CAP available at this distance from Lunga. If he ties his carriers down here for any length of time, so much the better.
Coral Sea, Papua, Solomons, New Britain
The roving IJN destroyer TF sinks another two PT boats near Woodlark island then bombards the base at night, causing minor casualties. Bombers hit 102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment, the only Allied unit there, again during daylight hours. Meanwhile, KB heads back to Rabaul to provide CAP at the base while my land-based fighters rest and replenish.
An Allied sub torpedoes and damages a transport which was taking reinforcements to Buna. Annoying as I should have routed the TF north of New Britain rather than going round the southern coast where more Allied subs are camping out.
Sub vs Sub: SS Shad attacks SS I-158 near Merauke. SS I-158 takes a torpedo and sinks. The sub was already limping back to port with very heavy ASW damage, so problem solved.
Mindanao
The last Allied units in the Philippines are rounded up, finally...
Ground combat at Surigao (81,88)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 11900 troops, 102 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 326
Defending force 2024 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18
Japanese adjusted assault: 256
Allied adjusted defense: 16
Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Surigao !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2266 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 151 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4
