Rookie AAR

[Leandros]

Sitrap October 10th 1942 – afternoon

The Formosa-Luzon blockade-line is working better now, the last couple of days a dozen enemy transports have been destroyed or damaged by our naval and air forces. The air forces have been reinforced on both Penghu and Batan Island. Today, B-25’s and A-26’s made their first patrols in the Formosa Strait, flying from Penghu. Their results were not impressive, one ship was set ablaze but could not be confirmed sunk, but these are new and relatively untrained pilots. The escort section of a carrier force on its way to position herself for a bombing raid on Hong Kong, the port is reported full of landing vessels, hit upon a convoy about to enter the Formosa Approaches from west. Two ships were sunk. Some enemy convoys have tried to get through by clinging to the coasts in the dark nights. Allied PT’s are hunching down there.

The Japanese are at it again. Once again a large naval force is reported (by a Blenheim flying from Sabang) to have entered the Andaman Sea from the Malaccan Strait. None less than the battleship Yamato is supposedly leading a part of it. In all, it contains six or seven battleships and cruisers. The Royal Navy has little to set against it. Cruisers, but no battleships and their only carrier in the vicinity, Indomitable, has a quite weak airplane complement. The only thing that can be done is to empty the ports and seek shelter in the open sea. Needless to say, all bomber forces in the area are on maximum alert.
To try to off-load the British in the Bengal Bay the Dutch have been asked, with US blessing, to transfer all their operational submarines, they still have a few, to the Malacca Strait in the hope of deterring the regular enemy raids passing through it. The Dutch submariners are acknowledged as being the best among the allies. Those still able to, have already started in that direction. Others are calling on Denpasar for a replenishment before following. Most of these boats have had a very long quiet period guarding the western approaches to the Banda Sea. A concentration of submarines in the narrow Malacca Strait ought to yield some results.

A Wellington-squadron based in Chittagong is flying daily raids against the Japanese army force that was driven south, out of Lashio, with good results. An Indian brigade is being air-lifted into Lashio to augment the Chinese troops there. Lashio is also being supplied by air. There is a small Japanese army contingent between Lashio and Ledo. Is it practical for own forces to try to penetrate down to Lashio from that direction? That would open the Burma Road.

Now that the Formosa-Luzon blockade-line is starting to take effect, MacArthur is somewhat in doubt of what to do with his expanding forces. Initially, he had decided to establish a beachhead on Formosa, too, opposite the Pescadores, but this does not seem to be necessary for the sake of the blockade as such. He is afraid a Formosa beachhead shall just eat on his resources for no real reason. Should he go in the opposite direction, establish a beachhead on the Chinese mainland – Amoy? That wold certainly relieve the Chinese which are still holding out not far inland. But would it effectively speed up the defeat of Japan?

SS Snapper sank a light cruiser in the Bismarck Sea.

Fred

Picture: The latest “ships sunk” list

[Leandros]

Sitrap Oct 21st 1942 – afternoon

The last couple of weeks have been a roller-coast -some days up, some days down. There was a period when it looked like the Formosa-Luzon blockade wasn’t as effective as hoped for, but in reality the enemy was just holding back his transports, only a few single attempts have been made to get through, all south of Formosa. In the mean-time more own ships and planes have been directed to the area. Yesterday he made a pig push from both directions. It started with a first for us. During the night, PBY’s flying from Batan Island, for the first time patrolled and sunk an enemy ship in the dark. This is a first for the Theatre as a whole. Through the last two days half a dozen convoys have tried to get through. They have been only lightly protected and have suffered badly. Many ships have been damaged besides those sunk. I should think the confirmed sinking claims are quite conservative. Our PT boats, destroyers, submarines and planes have all been very active. There are several survivors in the area that shall be hunted down through the night and tomorrow.

General MacArthur has been on a trip to Penghu again. He has now decided on his “next step.” The 32nd Infantry Division, with support elements, is heading north from Davao in two convoys.

The British have also made a “first” – in the Andaman Sea. The recent enemy raid was, in spite of some loss in transports, more or less, blunted. After a skirmish the first night where the Royal Navy gave at least as much as it took, a Japanese flotilla withdrew. There were others reported in the area, but the day after several battleships and cruisers were reported as hit by British bombers flying from Port Blair, Akyab, Sabang, and the carrier Indomitable. There has been no more sightings of enemy warships in the area until today, battleship task force has been reported in the Malacca Strait. Whether it was going north or south could not be verified, the submarine transmitting the report, the Dutch KX, was sunk. The enemy is quite aware of the great influx of our submarines in the Straits now, as several attacks have been made by them, so far without any luck. It is only a matter of time. The enemy has stepped up his ASW efforts considerably.

The Japanese have been driven out of Lashio and Bahmo. They were quite weak in both places, no doubt because the main part of their 15th Army is laying siege to Akyab. Actually, this was the main reason for garrisoning Akyab, to divert enemy troops from other areas. So far, the defending forces are doing quite well even if supplying them has been costly.

Several engineering units have arrived in Ledo with the purpose to build a new road through Myitkyina, down to Lashio, to join up with the Burma Road there. Two Chindit Brigades are also in Ledo, preparing for a push along the new road. It shall undoubtedly take a few months to build it.

Fred

Picture: Ships sunk list per October 21st, 1942:

[Leandros]

Sitrap Nov. 7th 1942 – afternoon

MacArthur’s visit to the Pescadores created a lot of energy in him. He had his strategy confirmed, and decided on his future moves. These crystalized with Operation 1-2-3. But, first, based on the successes in north, he was able to convince the Aussies that they needed to “put more into it”. After hard pressure, the future strategic role of Aussie forces was laid down. They should take over the garrisoning of the allied bases in the south - their own territories and that of Dutch East Indies. The latter in cooperation with what Dutch forces still existed, mainly in Denpasar, Bali, Koepang, Timor, Menado, Celebes and Sorong, PNG: This implied a concentration of forces to drive the enemy out of the PM-Buna area and secure the western approaches to the Banda Sea. US forces would gradually withdraw from these areas for transfer northwards.

Within a week the Aussie reinforcing of Port Moresby started, mainly with forces transferred from Sydney. Much reinforcements have already been dispatched to Denpasar.

Operation 1-2-3 is, as the name implies, a three-stage operation. The middle part of it (2) was to aid one of the new Aussie efforts directly, that of driving the enemy out of Macassar. As soon as that is accomplished the US forces shall withdraw. Till now, the western-most allied base covering the Banda Sea approaches had been Kendari. This base was too far east to support the defense of Denpasar, and to interdict enemy use of Soerebaja, even if it had worked nicely as a base for ships hindering enemy incursions into the Banda Sea and the Moluccas. Makassar also had a good airfield network. It was, however, known that enemy defense was strong, originally it was meant as a spring-board for the Japanese invasion of Timor, together with Kendari, but those aspirations had been quelled in a series of naval skirmishes. Instead of a direct assault, partly because of lack of amphibious capabilities, MacArthur decided to attack Macassar via the “back door”. Five days ago the 3rd Marines, together with Aussie forces transferred from the over-sized garrison in Sorong, started to land at Watampone, on the eastern side of Celebes’ western leg. Within a day the weak resistance was beaten down, there was only a symbolic garrison there. The landings were supported by bombers flying from Kendari and Koepang and the carrier Saratoga. Units of the 3rd Marines and the Aussie 3rd Motor Brigade immediately started south towards Macassar, the point units have already reached the outskirts of Macassar without meeting any resistance to speak of. This part of Celebes has a relatively good road net. For the amphibious landings in Macassar a carrier force would have to be assembled as there is no airfield in Watampone, fighter cover has been arranged from Kendari, three fighter squadrons are based there.

MacArthur has no illusions that the enemy shall be easily pushed out of his fortified positions in Macassar, the landward siege is mainly meant as a softening-up till better equipped amphibious transports are available. These are on their way from the Pescadores to pick up another Marine regiment in Cagayan. In addition to this, the three USMC para battalions that jumped over Batan Island, and have been resting there since, are on ships to Kendari. Air transports are being assembled in Kendari for their jump into Macassar. This to be coordinated with a landing from the sea and a concerted assault over land. It shall go off in about a week.

A week ago, no. 1 in Operation 1-2-3 took place, the assault on Amoy by two regimental combat teams of the 32nd Infantry Division. The landings were supported by three battleships and a diversity of other warships operating out of Penghu, the Pescadores, bombers flying from Penghu and Vigan and two carriers and two escort carriers. After four days of heavy fighting the enemy was driven out of Amoy, he retreated east along the coast, opening the road towards north, into the central China mainland. This was exactly as MacArthur hoped for as midway between Amoy and Kahnsien there is a road junction where the Chinese east-west main road can be cut off. If that point is secured, together with the blockade of the Formosa and Luzon Straits, all connections are cut between the Japanese mother-land and their forces in west, Indo-China, Thailand, Burma and the Malayan Barrier. The 637th Tank Destroyer Battalion, with 11 M10 TDs is already there, one of the 32nd regiments’ is halfway to this important road junction. In time, it shall be reinforced, the third regiment of the 32nd is just now boarding ships in Vigan. This is sensitive till another regiment can be moved to Vigan.

Step “3”, you ask? The capture of Kagi, on the Formosan coast, opposite of the Pescadores. The place was known to be weakly defended, main Japanese importance given to Takao further south on the western side of the island. Kagi has a good airfield but the main purpose of occupying it was to deny the enemy the possibility of expanding it, and as a base for own PT boats. A patrol squadron on each of Amoy, Penghu and Kagi airfields, with a back-up flotilla of destroyers in Penghu to take care of eventual strait intruders, should give good control. The area south of Formosa need more resources.

The war at sea is not going that well, enemy submarines have been very active, and quite successful. One or two ships are lost in average every day. Luckily, most of these have been in ballast as these are usually not escorted. There has been an influx of our new specialized sub-chasers from the States, this shall hopefully help around the major ports. During the Amoy landings the enemy sent in a score of mini-subs. Before they were able to score, three specially assigned destroyers sank three of them in the last few days. Enemy attempts to try to break the Formosa blockade have been few but last night a battleship force tried to get through to Japan. Heading east, it was discovered when it bumped into a northbound fuel cargo convoy north-west of Vigan. Three allied transports were sunk, two heavily damaged. Due to the sighting of another enemy task force the night before - several patrols had been organised for its destruction. Luckily, one of these patrols was built around the battleship West Virginia to give maximum punch. The enemy force, led by a cruiser, first believed to be Nachi, was intercepted outside the northern tip of Luzon, resulting in an enemy destroyer lightly damaged, and heavy damage on the lead ship, later known to be the cruiser Tone. During the following day repeated attacks by planes, Vindicators, Kingfishers, Devastators and PBY’s flying from Batan Island finally sunk her. An enemy light cruiser is also claimed as heavily damaged. The battleship escaped. A PT patrol of four boats damaged an enemy PB and transport, PB Nishho Maru was sunk by a four-ship destroyer squadron and two individually-sailing transports were bombed by Batan-based planes, both claimed sunk. All incidents took place north of Aparri, the enemy is clinging to the northern Luzon coast. East of Timor our destroyer Pakenham was sunk by enemy destroyer Danae. Pakenham was part of carrier Saratoga’s escort as she was returning to Darwin for replenishing.

While the recent own submarine blockade of the Malacca Strait has yielded little results, none actually, even if there have been many contacts, the enemy activity in the Andaman Sea seems to have rescinded somewhat. He is still sending in strong units regularly, speeding up from Singapore, but he is less aggressive. In his latest attempt at Sabang, with a cruiser force, he was chased off by a Royal Navy force led by the cruiser Hawkins. The improving results of the British air forces in the area might have something to do with this. That said, the Andaman Sea ports now show pictures of ship’ graveyards. Even then, the enemy siege forces around Sabang and Akyab seem to be losing their sting, the British supply stream is upheld. The enemy’s daily air and ground attacks are gradually becoming weaker - RAF is getting stronger. This is no less an epic battle than that for Malta in the Mediterranean. As an example, in a 14-plane raid against Sabang today, eight unescorted Bettys were shot down. In general, allied analysts claim a better than 2:1 ratio of enemy planes destroyed. Some days the figures are much higher.

The British are also doing quite well in the Burmese interior. Some Chinese forces, after driving the enemy out of Lashio, have now reached Myitkyina, on the road to Ledo. The 111th Chindit Brigade (paras) is being inserted into an LZ north of Myitkyina, one company flown in each day from Ledo. The first units have joined up with the Chinese forces outside Myitkyina. Indian engineer troops are working on the Burma Road between Ledo and Myitkyina. As soon as the enemy is driven out of Myitkyina supplies can again flow into China on the Burma Road.

Chiang-Kai-Shek, the Chinese national leader, has long threatened to withdraw his forces from Burma if the allies do not involve themselves more in the Chinese Theatre. MacArthur’s latest move into the Chinese mainland has removed any such thoughts, CKS is over-joyed by his initiative. Flown over with a B-24, General Sutherland has visited the Chinese leader to brief him on MacArthur’s strategic visions. His estimate is that in two months’ time the Japanese shall start to get desperate. They may be able to continue the fight west of the blockade line, by spending local resources, but their homeland military and civilian industry shall be starved.

Fred

Picture.: November 7th 1942 was a particularly bad day for the enemy:

[Leandros]

Far East/Pacific Theatre November 7th 1942:

[Leandros]

November 12th, 1942 – evening

Two days ago the 77th Chindit Brigade started jumping near Katha, midway on the railway line between Myitkyina and Schwebo, the intention to strangle the supply line between the two places. Our intelligence was that Katha was weakly defended but this was fatally wrong. First indications were that the Chindit Force had been annihilated during their drop, the operation was called off and all air transport resources were switched back to reinforcing Myitkyina again. Yesterday, however, emergency transmissions were picked up from the 77th, they had withdrawn and prepared a drop zone for follow-up units. The Katha operation shall be re-invigorated. Bomber support shall be given from Chittagong.

Our impression, that the enemy task forces operating in the Andaman Sea has lost some of their aggressiveness, is confirmed. Yesterday the light cruiser Emerald with destroyers Van Galen, Foxhound and Paladin rejected a cruiser force so that the transports in Sabang could escape. Emerald was just back from the wharf in Colombo, Foxhound and Paladin only a few days ago. One might say they came in the nick of time, the enemy withdrew without trying very hard. Same happened in Akyab, even without own naval forces there. It is suspected that the enemy has problems with replenishing ammunition for their heavy guns in Singapore. As has become SOP, during daytime the enemy forces were also harassed by bombers flying out of Sabang, Port Blair, Akyab and Chittagong. It is believed as many as four enemy task forces may be in the Andaman Sea just now. While supplying the large garrison in Sabang is trouble-some, the Japanese are well aware of its importance, it is going well with the other British bases. A US Liberator squadron, arriving via the Africa route, has been allowed to stay in Sabang to aid the British, their crews are quite inexperienced, though, so little has been achieved till now. There are, however, two Vengeance squadrons in Sabang that have had several successes against the enemy fleet units, one is the confirmed sinking of cruiser Tone, first heavily damaged by RN warships. A third Vengeance squadron is planned transferred to Sabang. The enemy has made a habit of passing east of Sabang during night-time.

An RCT of the 32nd ID is now in place at the road junction between Kanhsien and Amoy. The two other regiments are ashore in Amoy and the Chinese are doing some reshuffling of units to facilitate the new twist in operations. The axis Amoy-Penghu-Kagi is gradually reinforced. For all practical purposes the Formosa Strait is closed to the enemy.

Preparations for the final assault on Macassar is going according to plan. The 3rd Marines are now all ashore on the western leg of Celebes with various Aussie units. The 21st Marines are loading amphibiously in Cagayan, the three Marines Para battalions are two days out from Kendari and their transports are already there. In addition, some eventual Aussie reinforcement units are on transports in Kendari. A carrier force is leaving Vigan tomorrow. Until further, US planes and their service organisation shall stay in Macassar after transfer from Kendari.

In a first, submarine Plunger hit a mine outside Shanghai. It’s now retreating to the wharf in Penghu. 8th Marines is on ships in the port of Batan Island. It has been discussed whether it should be used to invade Okinawa, the alternative is to reinforce Kagi with a view to march on Takao. After the previous heavy bombings of the airfields in Takao the enemy is starting to show his teeth again, there have been several small bombing raids from Takao lately and there are large enemy ground forces on both sides of Kagi.

Fred

Picture: Main part of enemy air losses caused by KB attack on Port Moresby, launching in the area east of Manaus Island. Attacks were met by more than 60 fighters. As can be seen, negligible allied losses

[Leandros]

Within the last week eight mini-subs (SSX), heavy cruiser Tone, light cruiser Yura and destroyer Sanae have been
sunk. All the mini-subs were sunk outside Amoy by a diverse force of ASW-dedicated destroyers and sub-chasers.

Fred

[Leandros]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Leandros, the situation in China definitely has a bearing on the rest of the game. While China resists, many IJA divisions, regiments, artillery units, tanks and aircraft are tied down. If China collapses and the IJA takes Chungking, the Japanese have a huge force to redeploy wherever they want. The AI will likely have a list of secondary targets around the map that it will direct them to.

Going back in the thread I hooked up to this one. Only recently have I engaged myself in the Chinese Theatre (apart
from sending some units into Burma) and it has been quite static. It could be because the Japanese in the meantime
have lost so much elsewhere - some several hundred transports, as an example. That should influence on their supply
situation?

US 32nd Infantry division, among other units, are now ashore in Amoy, China. Almost immediately Changsa fell to
Chinese troops. I have outlined the strategy behind landing in Amoy.

Fred

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Leandros

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Leandros, the situation in China definitely has a bearing on the rest of the game. While China resists, many IJA divisions, regiments, artillery units, tanks and aircraft are tied down. If China collapses and the IJA takes Chungking, the Japanese have a huge force to redeploy wherever they want. The AI will likely have a list of secondary targets around the map that it will direct them to.

Going back in the thread I hooked up to this one. Only recently have I engaged myself in the Chinese Theatre (apart
from sending some units into Burma) and it has been quite static. It could be because the Japanese in the meantime
have lost so much elsewhere - some several hundred transports, as an example. That should influence on their supply
situation?

US 32nd Infantry division, among other units, are now ashore in Amoy, China. Almost immediately Changsa fell to
Chinese troops. I have outlined the strategy behind landing in Amoy.

Fred

There are a couple of scenarios with "Quiet China" in their titles that essentially will let the China theatre go dormant until the Allied player wishes to engage. All you have to do is separate the two sides by one vacant hex and they will stop engaging.

And yes, sinking IJN transports hurts the Japanese supply situation but they can still produce it in Korea, Manchukuo and China and move it around on the railway and good roads they control. In the absence of combat to use up supply rapidly they probably have enough for static operations.

[Leandros]

November 18th 1942 – evening

The enemy is constantly scoring points on our naval transports. Lately he has bombed and torpedoed ships going down the east side of the Philippines, flying from Palau. Those obviously need to be escorted or routed on the other side. Escorts are difficult to get by if convoys are not organized.

Things have not gone well in the Andaman Sea lately. Several enemy cruiser task forces have, as usual, been lurking around, waiting for opportunities to strike at Sabang, Port Blair and Akyab. So far the warning system has worked well, the ports have been emptied before the arrival of the enemy. Two days ago a convoy in ballast for Colombo was intercepted by one of the enemy cruiser task forces - three transports were sunk.

As several of the ships of the British cruiser flotilla in Sabang were damaged in earlier skirmishes, carrier Indomitable sent in her single escort destroyer to reinforce it while she patrolled west of Sabang to enhance the local fighter protection. Indomitable was found by an enemy submarine and took three torpedo hits. After a few hours she went down with most of her aircraft. Stupid decision.

It has worked out better in Burma. The enemy has been chased out of Myitkyina by a combined Chinese, BFF and Chindit force - the Burma Road is open. The Japanese units that held Lashio have been pushed further south by the 23rd Indian Brigade and Chinese troops, they are now halfway to Mandalay. The pressure is kept up.

Aparri, on the northern point of Luzon, have been invaded by the 8th Marines and support units, they were on ships on Batan Island. MacArthur originally played with the idea of landing on Okinawa, then to reinforce Kagi, Formosa. However, as some enemy ships called on Aparri when trying to break the blockade it was decided to take it. It was done in one day. A seaplane tender and a squadron of Kingfishers have been transferred there.

The full-scale attack on Macassar is going in tomorrow, there has already been some softening-up of the defences by the surrounding units. These are the 3rd Marines, 3rd Aussie Motor Brigade, 2nd Aussie Medium Regiment, 21/22nd Field Regiment, 109th Tank Attack Regiment and 3rd USMC Tank Battalion. To land in the morning are the 21st Marines and 5th Marines Defense Battalion. Waiting on ships in Kendari are the 1st and 19th Aussie Brigades. In Kendari are also 20 B-17 and Dutch 139 WH bombers. Bombers flying from Kopeang shall also join in.

To support the landings are battleship Tennessee, heavy cruiser Louisville and three carriers, Saratoga, Enterprise and Lexington. Saratoga is out of bomb ordnance but shall use her fighters for air protection. Approximately one hundred transport planes are assembled on Kendari to drop the three available USMC para battalions. 1st Battalion is going in first.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap -November 28th 1942 – evening

The assault on Macassar went even better than could be hoped for. Before the 5th Marines started to land, the forces on the land-side, combined with the drop of the 1st USMC Para Bn, had driven the defenders out of the city and airfield. The Japanese survivors surrendered in the evening, only minor clean-up remains.

The 19th Australian Brigade is presently going ashore in Watampone, to march on Macassar overland. Macassar port is both over-loaded as well as damaged after the naval bombardment and bombings. One battalion shall be detached to probe up the western coast of the peninsula. Madjene, on the western side, is a potential seaplane base to close off the southern approaches of the Macassar Strait. US forces shall be withdrawn as soon as the Aussies are in place, only support units and some fighter units shall stay on. The 7th Australian Brigade, originally planned as a back-up for the landings, has been diverted to Port Moresby to reinforce the Australian forces already in Buna.

In a report from Dutch “stay-behinds” on Java it is claimed that the Japanese forces for a large part have departed the area. MacArthur has appointed two officers to study the possibility of eventually going back to Java. He has asked the Dutch to assist in the study. Now that Macassar is in the hands of the Allies – is a landing in Soerebaja feasible?

Also under consideration is a landing on the eastern side of Luzon, more specifically at Mauban. In the mean-time the Aparri base is expanded. The 8th Marines are now supported by Seabees, engineer and base forces. The 68th fighter squadron of the 347th fighter group with 21 P-40 has moved there, as well as 18 Kingfisher floatplanes from VS-1D13, patrolling the straits.

So far, the only serious enemy countermeasure to the Formosa Strait blockade has been submarines. His first wave of mini-subs was virtually annihilated but he has moved in new units of standard type. More ASW-patrols are organized both in air and on sea. Recently the three old troop-carrying four-stackers, Little, Manley and Colhoun, have all been put on such missions. With their recent upgrades they are well suited for the role.

Routing south-bound transports on the western side of the Philippines has solved the problem with the Palau-based Betty-bombers. A detachment of the Ambon-based 8th fighter squadron of fighter group 49 has been moved to Sorong to take care of a similar problem.

Fred

[BBfanboy]

I would not land directly at Soerabaja - if any place on Java is going to still have enemy troops, that would be it. I think the Japanese get a CD unit for Soerabaja too.
There are lots of other bases nearby with good roads leading to Soerabaja. Use cruiser float planes to Recon them and see if there is an empty one you can seize.

[Leandros]

Sitrap November 28th, 1942 - evening

The enemy has gone completely bananas in the Andaman Sea. Presently, no less than four cruiser/battleship task forces are operating between Akyab and Sabang. He has reaped little by his efforts, a transport in Sabang and three small sub-chasers outside Port Blair. His attempt to enter the port of Sabang was frustrated by the heavy cruiser Hawkins with a powerful entourage. The British air forces have claimed hits on half a dozen enemy ships through the day. No confirmed sinkings, though.

There has, however, been other losses of transports, mainly by enemy submarines. The Japanese light cruiser Yura was sunk in the Port of Hong Kong. It is unclear whether this was due to earlier damage, a PBY attack or an allied submarine operating there.

An enemy force in Burma has now been pushed all the way back to Mandalay from Lashio. He is also withdrawing south from Myitkyina.

Twelve new PT boats have arrived on ships in Australia. MacArthur is considering whether he shall transfer these to the Andamans, to assist the British in their uneven fight against the constantly returning enemy heavy naval forces. His eyes have been opened to the importance of keeping up the British stubborn efforts to chase the enemy out of there and the way they are tying up his forces. However, he has little else to send. There are logistic problems, though, a PT or destroyer tender needs to go along with them.

But, something has to be done, the enemy forces outside Akyab and Sabang seem to have picked up the tempo again, they have obviously been able to pour in some reinforcements. It would be a nightmare if one of those bases were captured now. The Andaman defense would collapse.

Fred

[Leandros]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I would not land directly at Soerabaja - if any place on Java is going to still have enemy troops, that would be it. I think the Japanese get a CD unit for Soerabaja too.
There are lots of other bases nearby with good roads leading to Soerabaja. Use cruiser float planes to Recon them and see if there is an empty one you can seize.

Thank you for your concern and advice, BB....[:)]..

Anyway, making a go for Soerebaja won't be a priority. First, the effects of the Formosa Strait shall be evaluated.
Closing off the Macassar Strait in south also ought to have some effect on his occupied bases on the eastern side of
Borneo. Maybe the south-eastern tip of Borneo would be a better spot to go for.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap November 29th 1942 – afternoon

Andaman Sea

In the last couple of days the Royal Navy has given more than it has taken and the enemy is clearly disturbed by the new aggressiveness of the various British bomber forces operating out of Sabang, Port Blair and Akyab – particularly troublesome for him have been the Vengeance dive-bombers and Catalina units.

Three enemy battleship and cruiser task forces have been running up and down the Andaman Sea to stop the supply transports to the three important British bases. The only port they have ventured into lately is Sabang. In the other ports the transports have been able to leave in time or held back in the open sea before entering. If there are no transports in the ports the enemy has stayed out of CD range.

The enemy has been rejected from Sabang by what the Royal Navy was able to assemble, some light cruisers and destroyers led by the old cruiser Hawkins. A light enemy cruiser was sunk in these skirmishes and it is claimed that the heavy cruiser Myoko was hit by several bombs by Vengeance dive-bombers. Hawkins received damage to hull and superstructure and is now on her way back to the wharf on Colombo together with the destroyer Paladin. She is out ammo and torpedoes.

The wharf in Colombo has done a terrific job. Midway between Sabang and Colombo Hawkins shall meet her sister ship Frobisher, having just arrived via Cape Town, on her way to Sabang with the light cruiser Caradoc and destroyer Griffin. In Sabang they shall join up with the light cruiser Enterprise and destroyers Foxhound, Inconstant, Nepal and Paladin. This shall be the most powerful RN force in the Andaman Sea for quite some time. Recce flights have shown no sign of enemy units this morning. OTH, an enemy battleship has been reported to enter Singapore harbour.

The South China Sea

This morning there was a proper naval battle south-west of Hong Kong. An enemy battleship/cruiser force was detected west of Formosa Strait two days ago, seemingly probing the possibility of getting through to Japan. It withdrew to Hong Kong and yesterday it was found again south-west of Hong Kong. A net, consisting of one carrier and escort carrier group was laid out south of it. Into the center were sent three balanced battle groups consisting of:

1: Indianapolis, Concord and destroyers Talbot and Sands
2: Washington, Vincennes, Nashville with destroyers Sterett and Perkins
3: North Carolina and destroyers Meredith, Lansdowne and Little
South of Hainan, as a back-up towards south, were heavy cruiser Quincy and destroyer Conyngham.

First contact was made by the Indianapolis group. Visibility was down to 2.000 yards but Indianapolis had the enemy on the radar at 24.000 yards. Surprise fire was opened by the US ships and before the enemy was able to respond with any effect a heavy cruiser was set afire with six hits. Light cruiser Yura was torpedoed and plastered with 47 shells. She went down. Hakaze also received damage.

A little later the Indianapolis group caught up with Chokai and Hakaze again. Further damage was inflicted on the enemy ships with no damage to the US ships. Then, just before daylight battleship Washington and heavy cruiser Vincennes, called up by the others, arrived on the scene and finished off Chokai and Hakaze. There was never any use for North Carolina and her companions that were waiting in line to get a shot at the enemy. Two enemy bombing raids, originating from the mainland, had no successes against any of the allied units.

To the chagrin of the eager carrier pilots all was over before daylight.

Fred

Picture: Ships lost list

[Leandros]

Question: I have created PT Boats several times before, all in the Southwest Pacific or the Philippines. Now I would like to have some created in the Andamans but do not get a positive screen there, that is the "create" field is greyed out (in the Southwest it is active). I am abroad and didn't bring the manual. What's the trick? Anybody?

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap December 1st 1942 – afternoon.

But, the battle was not over. The evening before an enemy destroyer was reported east of Hong Kong on an easterly course. Another one trying to get back to the Homeland. A somewhat limited response was organized, a 4-boat PT squadron was dispatched during the night to the reported point of observation and heavy cruiser Indianapolis and light cruiser Nashville, together with three destroyers, left a little later. Sure enough, the PT boats found the “destroyer”, only it was the heavy cruiser Maya and the destroyer Oshio. The PT boats escaped after claiming a torpedo hit on Maya. Soon Indianapolis also had the enemy ships on her radars and she and Nashville went in, guns blazing. This time Indianapolis was less lucky than the night before, Maya’s crew proved to be a harder nut than that of Chokai. The US force had to break off the fight and withdraw to Penghu. Maya and her companion continued east.

But their problems were not over, farther east in the Strait SS Sunfish was laying in wait, she had followed the radio traffic of the earlier skirmish and was ready. She launched four torpedoes and claimed at least one hit on Maya. Anyway, the stubborn ship just sped on, but not for long. Only a few miles further on was SS-47, a boat of the old “S”-class series. She also launched four torps of which one allegedly was a hit. Maya moved on but slower now.

When six PBY’s flying out of Batan Island found her outside the north-eastern point of Formosa she was almost dead in the water, sinking. Twelve 500 lbs dropped by the PBY’s from 5.000 feet probably didn’t improve on her condition. When the PBY’s left the area she was draped in heavy smoke clouds. Oshio was circling wearily on a safe distance from the wreck. The captain of SS-47 was waiting impatiently for the PBY’s to finish their job and leave. With the constantly decreasing speed of the damaged cruiser they had been able to catch up with her again and he was now ready to give the death knell to the now static target. Of the four torpedoes launched two were heard to detonate. In a few minutes Maya rolled over and sank.

There was a bitter after-taste to this success. At noon three Betty torpedo-bombers penetrated the air defences of Penghu, one was able to launch a torpedo at the new battleship North Carolina. She was immediately taken in at the wharf.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap December 4th 1942 – afternoon

There has been little enemy activity in the Andaman Sea the last couple of days. Royal Navy is building up its naval forces in Sabang and more British ground forces are filtering into Akyab and Sabang every week. The enemy’s stubborn intent to take these two important bases is to the detriment of his operations in Northern Burma where allied forces, British and Chinese, is slowly being reinforced, too. A recent force concentration south of Lashio shall make an all-out attack tomorrow. The Chittagong bomber force has switched to this target for tomorrow’s missions.

More US forces are landing in Amoy. In all, the main part of two infantry divisions is planned to arrive there within the next couple of weeks. The 32nd Infantry division is gradually being moved inland.

The Formosa Blockade is working quite well even if the enemy is trying to get through by rerouting through the Philippines. Today, four such rerouted ships were sunk by own patrols, two outside Manila Bay and two while passing out through the San Bernardino Strait. The last two in a solo operation by destroyer Gillespie. SS Gar claims to have put a torpedo into a Nagara-class cruiser outside Hong Kong and Myoko Maru was sunk by SS Amberjack near Shanghai, claimed hit by four torpedoes. In all seven enemy escorts and transports were sunk on this day without own losses, two by patrols flying out of Batan Island.

Heavy cruiser Kako is confirmed sunk on November 29th.

The routine enemy patrol south of Timor (presently IJN Kagero), obviously intended to catch traffic out of Darwin, has been chased away by an allied destroyer force assisted by Kingfishers flying out of Koepang, Timor. It managed to get away but not without some claimed damage.

29 Yorktown-based SBD’s have flown attacks against Buna together with heavy bombers based in Townsville (V US Bomber Command). Escort by fighters flying out of Port Moresby. Damage on ships, port and airfield.

Macassar is being readied as an important future base, units previously based in Kendari are being moved forward. In time the Aussies shall take over and the US units shall be withdrawn, except for air protection and servicing. The airfield is almost completely repaired. There is still a lot of discussion on the eventual next move in the Malayan Barrier, if any. There are five specific possible areas of increased activity by US or Aussie forces: Burma, China, The Malayan Barrier, Luzon and the southern part of New Guinea. Presently, no more than two can be catered for. General MacArthur is of the opinion that China shall be one of them, a wedge through the middle of China, together with the sea blockade shall, in time, contribute to the starving of both the Japanese homeland and the enemy forces west of that wedge. He is not keen on using resources in southern NG, except for the consolidation of Port Moresby. That also means the capture of Buna which seems to be well under way by the Aussies.

He sees no real need of capturing the whole of Luzon as he has the bases he needs to strangle the Japanese east-west connection. As for Burma, this shall be complicated logistically. Besides, the British seem to have this well in hand as long as the Chinese are doing their part. An increased US effort in China shall probably ensure this. This leaves The Malayan Barrier but an operation there is dependent on large forces – to what avail? As long as Bali and Macassar is well in hand the Java Sea can be kept under observation. Of course, if Java could be captured with the oil-producing facilities intact it could be worth it. Also to deny the enemy the same resources. The General has, however, a better idea. He shall go for a base on the south-eastern corner of Borneo. In that way, he can close the strait between Borneo and Celebes, with new long-range escort fighters he could even bomb Singapore port regularly. This needs some planning, he has the forces, among them a Parachute Brigade and three Marine Para Battalions in Kendari.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap December 8th 1942 – afternoon

The first anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Philippines, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. After early setbacks the very aggressive US leadership managed to organize an active resistance by the Dutch and Aussies around what US forces were already in place, immediately followed up with what resources were planned shipped to the area from the US. To those were added other more or less ready units in Hawaii and on the West Coast. In time, after the fall of Malaya and Singapore, the British made a strong come-back in Burma, Thailand and Sabang, Sumatra. Chinese forces have also given support to the operations in northern Burma.

The key in stopping the Japanese expansion south through the Moluccans was the early reinforcement by Aussie and US forces of Menado, Celebes and Mindanao, the Philippines. In numerous skirmishes through the following months several enemy landing forces and their transports were destroyed by aggressive allied light naval forces. This also influenced on the further enemy progress. His weakness was properly exposed, that he was dependent on using the same forces on consecutive invasions.

The most spectacular such operation was the destroying in several skirmishes of more than 20 transports in convoys meant to invade Timor after the enemy had finished the occupation of Java. These victories were facilitated by the early reinforcing of Denpasar, Bali by Dutch forces withdrawing from Java and Australian reinforcements from the Middle East. After one feeble invasion attempt of Bali the enemy has seemingly seen the futility of this.

With increasing reinforcements arriving from the US and Middle East it has been possible to gradually build a base system north along the west coast of the Philippines. An important turning-point was the invasion and taking of Penghu, the Pescadores and Batan Island between Formosa and Luzon. This has made it possible to establish an effective blockade between Japan and the occupied areas in west. To this has come the occupation of Amoy, China. From Amoy US Army forces have now started to move inland to support Chinese forces and improve upon the east-west blockade of Japan. It is now decided that the next important step shall be the invasion of Bandjermasin on the south-east corner of Borneo. From there the Java Sea up to Singapore can be controlled by air patrols. US Marines forces are now assembling in Kendari and Macassar for the jump over to Borneo. One parachute brigade and three US Marines para battalions presently in Kendari are moved by sea to Macassar to support the Bandjermasin invasion from that base. Kendari was outside C-47 range.

In the first six months the allies had heavy naval and merchant ship losses, this is now more or less equalized and Japanese air losses have constantly been higher than those of the allies. See the statistics page below.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap December 8th 1942 - afternoon.

The enemy has been quite inactive in the last week. Heavy units have only showed up in the Andamans - with little
positive results for him. Convoys are getting smaller, only escorted by light forces. The sinking of an enemy
submarine in the Formosa Strait today reflects on our increased ASW efforts in that area. More and more small,
effective sub-chasers are now arriving from the US.

Fred

[Leandros]

Sitrap December 25th 1942 – afternoon

As the Formosa Strait blockade is showing its worth a growing suspicion emerged in the allied operation staffs. The enemy’s attempts to get through the blockade north and south of Formosa had rescinded completely and did not conform with his earlier usually stubborn attitude to setbacks. A proper analysis of the situation, coupled with an increased signal intelligence effort, indicated the suspicions to be correct – the enemy is most probably rerouting his transports around, south of, Australia, between Tasmania and New Zealand!

After some discussion MacArthur decided to initiate a major operation to have these suspicions confirmed. Long-range search planes were transferred to Hobart, Tasmania and Dunedin on western New Zealand to patrol the area between Tasmania and New Zealand and the escort carriers Prince William and Altamaha, on their way from PH to the Philippines, were diverted to the same area. Two small surface battle groups and a number of submarines are also there now.

Already on the third day of patrolling the battleship Oklahoma with destroyers Fletcher and Chevalier intercepted a small convoy in the expected area. They got away in the bad weather but only two days later another convoy was detected. Two escorts were sunk. A proper detection net, consisting of land-based patrol planes, carriers and other naval vessels and submarines, is being developed.

More army units are being inserted into China through Amoy. The intention is to reinforce the 32nd ID with two more divisions and ancillary units. A tank destroyer battalion has swept west along the Chinese coast and chased away all defenders, ending up taking Swatow. This city, west of Amoy, has a good port and airfield. The Japanese are continuing to blood their noses against several Chinese strongholds.

In a raid by the escort carriers Copahee and Long Island against enemy vessels in and outside Hong Kong, the heavy cruiser Myoko was sunk by carrier dive bombers. It was probably suffering from damage after earlier skirmishes. The Australian light cruiser Achilles was thus revenged as it was sunk by destroyers operating together with Myoko two days earlier.

The preparations for invading Bandjermasin on southern Borneo are ready. The invasion fleet has assembled west of Macassar, protected by three carriers. The main invasion force consists of the 3rd and 21st Marines, the 4th Marine Raiders and one brigade and three battalions of para-troopers. For the first time newly arrived landing crafts are participating in an amphibious landing. Two battleships and several cruisers shall give artillery support.

Fred