Pistol Pete - Lam0ttePicquet (J) vs rook749 (A)

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-17

An US submarine (SS Searaven?) gunned xAKL Kuramasan Maru 50 miles West of Kagoshima. Our cargo reached the friendly port. But no one was able to reduce onboard fires...

First night bombing of the war. Some Ki-21 flew over Rangoon and destroyed probably a H81-A3 on the ground.

Several IJN submarines placed around Hawaiian islands have reported a lot of ASW attacks - fortunately without significant result.

At Port Blair, 6 G3M2 placed a torpedo on AMC Pansy

At Hong Kong, IJA troops marked time. Even though many fortifications have been destroyed, garrison didn't want to surrender...

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-18:

Near Billiton, AG Ban Hong Liong was torpedoed by I-158.

Second night bombing over Rangoon: a Buffalo destroyed on the ground.

Near Iba, new attack of PT boats: MTB 26 sunk by CL Kuma. That's all.

NE of Australia, near Portland Roads, xAK Ravnaas attacked and probably sunk by RO-60.

Force Z sighted near Singkawang by I-164 !!! Invasion of Kuching and Singkawang delayed !!!
BB Kongo and Haruna, CA Takao and Atago, CL Jintsu and 6 DD cingled full steam in front of them.

AMC Pansy probably finished at Port Blair by 3 bomb hits from G3M2.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-19:

Naval battle of Singkawang:
1) IJN fleet - detailed just above - met during a moonless night CL De Ruyter and 4 DD, but Allied disengaged after some shells exchanged without damage.
2) Less than an hour later, CL Durban and Dragon came in turn in combat range. BB Haruna did speak his guns :
CL Dragon, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Durban, Shell hits 6, on fire
2 shells received back.

Ryujo's B5N1 sank with several bombs xAK Ping Wo, navigating alone near Taytay during the afternoon.

2 more Tarakan's Fairmile sank - this time - with bombs by B5N1.

At the end of the day, Combined Fleet HQ announced Kavieng captured.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-20:

Force Z appointment was not missed by everyone: near Billiton, I-154 launched 6 torpedoes at BC Repulse, and 2 detonations were heard by the submarine crew... Commander Sagara added a piece of choice to his list...

sister ship I-155



Near Singkawang, I-153 finished CL Durban with one torpedo.

Georgetown was captured during this day by 25th IJA Army.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-21:

Almost quiet on the seas today.

On land, Davao fell... But 2nd Maizuru Special Naval Landing Force had lot of difficulties in Wake seizure: 1/3rd of mens lost during a shock attack...

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-22:

After cleaning the path, amphibious landing at Kuching took place finally.

Miri was captured by Yokosuka 2nd SNLF. Defense was low. However, too much units were prepared for Miri... [&:]

Allied units at Alor Star attacked: it sealed their fate, as the Imperial Guards Division just arrived during that day.

Ground combat at Alor Star (49,73) -Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5765 troops, 50 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 213
Defending force 28238 troops, 199 guns, 339 vehicles, Assault Value = 861
Allied adjusted assault: 4
Japanese adjusted defense: 945
Allied assault odds: 1 to 236 [:D]
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
739 casualties reported

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-23:

Japanese forces captured not less than Alor Star, Kuching, Jesselton and ... Hong Kong !!! After several days of combat, they surrendered.

Several small combat on seas (ASW attacks , sub attacks without results, PT boats attacks) but no significant results.

Allied capital ships seem to have been withdrawn. Kido Butai shall look for them.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-24:

First action reported near US coast: S I-23 attacked xAKL Malama on the surface. 6 shell hits for the submarine, but allied ship received 21 shell hits and was severely damaged.

Echoing this attack, SS KVII did a perfect one near Borneo.
Firstly, the PB Naruto Maru #3 - escorting reinforcement for Miri - received a torpedo which damaged her severely.
Secondly, xAK Nanko Maru - carrying 6th JAAF AF coy - was attaked and sunk on the surface. Another cargo saved around 50 mens from drowning.

Over Rangoon, 17 G3M2, protected by 9 A6M2, met 19 H81-A3. Result: 2 of them beaten down. 1 A6M2 and 3 G3M2 lost. Everything here to attack some HDML...

Singkawang finally captured !!! Here also low resistance.

Major Chinese attack at Changsha: IJA 11th Army was methodically preparing a siege when the ennemy attempted to break the siege. Experienced IJA troops did their best to hold the ground:
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 86829 troops, 388 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2249
Defending force 43929 troops, 464 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127
Allied adjusted assault: 1871
Japanese adjusted defense: 2947
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses: 2678 casualties reported
Allied ground losses: 10872 casualties reported

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-25:

no christmas gift for my opponent...
(I was preparing one but it should be delayed by one day [:(])

otherwise an allied sub sank xAKL Bokuei Maru near Indochina coast

31 Ki-43b Hayabusa went tater Singapore defense with a sweep at 9000 ft. 38 Buffalos patrolling at 15000 ft fell upon us. It costed 1 Buffalo for 2 Ki-43...

Another Hiko-Sentai did the same over Rangoon: 24 Ki-43a fought 20 H81-A3. 5 Ki-43 lost for nothing [:@] => This was probably my gift...

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-26

(late) Raid over Brisbane:
3 midget carriers with their Kō-hyōteki have been sent to attack the bay, synchronised with a Kido Butai air attack...

The sea was covered by several ennemy fleets:

1) During I-24 approach from North, xAKL Escalante was sunk by shells and torpedoes.
2) A B5N2 in naval search duty found some transports full of troops NE of Brisbane. Nagumo decided to attack them:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maryborough at 100,158
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 37
D3A1 Val x 43
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAP Marella, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Zealandia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Malaita, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Wollongong, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Townsville, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Doomba, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
695 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 38 (19 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)
3) 3 AM probably in ASW mission were also sighted: 1 of them sunk by B5N2 torpedo
AM Bunbury, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
4) 17 D3A1 sank 3 other AM near Brisbane:
AM Deloraine, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AM Ipswitch, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Cairns, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
5) I-24 again: few nautical miles after the previous cargo, the sub fell on xAKL Sarangami, probably sank with shells
6) I-24 finally decided to finish Sarangami with 2 torpedoes.

At the end of the day, only some A6M2 flew over Brisbane, but no ennemy aircraft found. Here is the situation:



Malaya/Borneo

A gentleman dutch submarine captain met near Miri
PB Naruto Maru #3 (with heavy damage but sailing at 5 knots to Miri) is sighted by SS KIX
Captain of SS KIX elects not to launch torpedoes at this target [&o]

7 A6M2 sent in sweep mission over Singapore shot down 3/26 Buffalo. No IJN loss registered.

DM Stronghold left with heavy damages by I-160, near Bandjermasin


DEI: Manado amphibious landing, but Dutch wanted to hold the ground

Solomons: Tulagi captured

Philippines: siege of Manila started, but most of US troops located at Clark.

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41-12-27

(late) Raid over Brisbane - day 2:

SSX Ha-24 and Ha-14, launched from their midget carrier, fired torpedoes against 2 liners (xAP Ormiston and Montoro)during night, but they missed their target.
Few hours later, Ha-14 crossed a minefield, and sank after 2 explosions...
The air raid over Brisbane occured in the afternoon, with 29 A6M2, 41 B5N2 and 41 D3A1. AG Bowin and AVP Arend were probably sunk with bombs, for the cost of one dive bomber shot down by flak. Airfield was also bombed. Few damage noticed.

During this day Moulmein -left empty - was captured by 55th cavalry regiment.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-28

Karimata strait battle

Several ennemy surface fleets were detected early in the morning by 3 H6K4 crisscrossing the area. These fleets were sailing to North, probably in order to disturb amphibious operations around Singkawang.
Unfortunately for them, the 22th Air Flotilla was freshly installed here, supporting some A6M2, G3M2 and G4M1:

In the morning, 7 G3M2 attacked BB Prince of Wales, and one torpedo hit was reported, for the loss of 2 planes.
In the afternoon, 14 G4M1 launched torpedoes on CL Marblehead, CL Mauritius and CL Java, but all missed their target.

Kurita cruisers were sent towards these approaching fleets...

(late) Raid over Brisbane - day 3:

Before leaving the area, a new raid was launched, now concentrated on port attack. The registered results were much better this time:
AKE Nisqually, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Centaur, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG King John, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Macdhui, Bomb hits 1
AKE Mobile City, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Timoshenko, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVP Reiger, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AG Steel Age, Bomb hits 1
AM Latrobe, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Montoro, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Minnehura, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Idomeneus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
One D3A1 lost because of anti air defense.

Finschafen was taken this day.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-29

Karimata strait battle - end.

During the night Kurita crossed the T of a Dutch surface fleet. Winning the battle was apparently for IJN:

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tromp, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Marblehead
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1

Less than 3 hour later, Kurita fell on a 4 US vessels: CA Houston, CL Boise, DD John D. Ford and DD Peary. Only 1 shell reached CA Kumano, and 4 shells touched CA Houston.

During Morning, NE of Austalia, Nagumo sent an "au revoir" with airfield bombing of Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

41-12-30

Nothing special to report this day.

41-12-31

Near Billiton, a cargo xAK Si Kiang was sunk by G4M1 based at Singkawang. IJN declared that Malaya was completely isolated.

Manado was captured. This will be key position for 21th air flotilla.

Coral Sea: 3rd JNAF Coy set foot on Russel Island. A group of seaplanes was expected the day after.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-01

Overview of the situation:

Burma front: 15th Army concentrated around Moulmein before crossing Salween river. Lot of ennemy were sighted on the over side. Crossing expected before mid January.

Malaya: troops marched to Kuala Lumpur without opposition.

Borneo: after Brunei/Miri and Kuching/Singkawang, IJN prepared invasion of Tarakan.

Philippines: US troops concentrated at Clark Field, Manila and perharps Cebu. Seizure of Manila has been progammed within one week.

East Indonesia: Ternate/Manado/Sorong seized in december. Amboine should follow before mid January.

New Guinea / Salomons: Kavieng, Finshafen, Buin and Tulagi were captured during December. Amphibious operation against Rabaul started this day.

Gilbert islands: Tarawa and Tabiteaua were captured in December.

Major operations in New Guinea and Fiji islands were scheduled for end of January.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

42-01-02

During morning, one Kawanishi H6K flew over Batavia and signalized a concentration of combat surface vessels. 18 G4M1 escorted by 14 A6M2 took of from Singkawang...
At their destination, they met 13 Brewster 339D and 6 Curtiss Hawk 75 patrolling over the ships. Zero protected efficiently torpedo bombers and shot down 2 Brewsters. On their side, G4M1 attacked CL Danae and placed a fish on her...

Attack of Rabaul started this day. 4100 japanese IJN troops were opposed to 1900 Austrialians. 91 mens losts today for 211 ennemies.

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42-01-03

During night NE of Borneo, one Patrol Boat (PB Muro Maru) was sunk by ennemy submarine.

Over Singapore, 28 Ki-43-Ib tried to obtain air superiority. However, 2 of them were lost against 33 Buffalo... None of them lost.

At Manila, an artillery preparation started.
At Rabaul, a first attack failed.

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42-01-04

An IJN cargo (xAK Chojun Maru) was sunk by submarine torpedo when crossing Strait of Formosa...

6 biplanes B4Y1 provided ground support at Rabaul. I can not resist to embed a picture of this plane that should disappear from the Pacific theater very soon. [:'(]


15th Army stationed at Moulmein was bombed by Hudson coming from Rangoon. They were too high (15k ft) for antiaircraft canons. But at this altitude, no significant damage were observed.

2 HDML, escaping from Singapore, were sunk by G4M1 near Singkep.

Assault on Manila started. More than 2300 casualties for US troops. 590 on IJA side. Ennemy appeared disrupted.

IJA launched another major attack at Chengchow in China. 1st Army was concentrated there (3 divisions + 1 brigade). Chinese defense should collapse rapidly.

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42-01-05

Another IJN cargo lost during this night: xAK Amakusa Maru sunk near Balabac...

In New Britain, B4Y1 provided ground support at Rabaul, but still without significant effect. Ground assault failed again.

Manila was captured this day after a deliberate attack of 23800 mens of 14th IJA Army. Only half of the 16000 mens of the defender retreated to Clark Field.

In China, strong reinforcement of Changsha observed (> 105k troops). IJA 11th Army should face a long siege.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

A rapid look on stockpiles in Japan from D1 to D28:



Most critical is the fast decrease of Resources. Convoys to Japan shall be multiplied during this month. These convoys should be screened by PBs available now in sufficient number after some cargo conversions started during last month...