Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 3, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] Below is the map after the Jan 3 turn. The KB is now entering the fray.

The Lex of course went down. A difficulty was that she had the extra Marine fighters, so there is little CAP for the Big E now. Only about 14 Wildcats left. Yikes. She is also slowed to 7 hexes a phase at flank. I'll have to go toward the South China Sea, away from the SCTFs around Balikpapan and the KB near the Celebes. A force of CAs will aim to link up and they have fully filled magazines.

Two other CA TFs will combine and head toward Singers along with the three CLs. I'll try to refuel and get ready to support the Enterprise if she can clear Borneo. There shouldn't be as many CAs out in that direction for a turn or two. I'll hope to get cover at Singers for up to 2 turns and on Sumatra for a turn, then to the IO.

The good part of the KB showing here is that about a dozen USN subs and a similar number of Dutch will now converge on it's position. The rest of the USN subs will trail and aim to cover retreat routes and choke points. It looks like Ryujo will sink, but the other three CVL/CVE will also be targeted by the USN S-boats. They might have a better chance against the slow mini-KB.

The 4Es did strike the oil and got some decent hits. Two small TFs using B-18 Bolos also struck and got two hits on the oil. Another 25 or so points taken off, which will take a lot of supply to repair and a short loss of full production. Samarinda looks to be operational now, so I have to be a bit careful. Only one hit on Kongo for port strikes today, and lost a few Vindys in the process. Really need 1000 lb bombs to finish some ships off. I do have some other air groups approaching from OZ. Lets see if they can give a surprise or two.

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[witpqs]

Oh, crikey!

[Bif1961]

From the frying pan to the fire. The biggest issue when trying to trap the mini-KB is getting your carriers out of harm's way. Now that the Lex is gone it seems the mighty E is your last hope.

[Anachro]

I think if the Big E escapes from all this you will have to RP a bit and write a first-hand account of the harrowing adventure.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

From the frying pan to the fire. The biggest issue when trying to trap the mini-KB is getting your carriers out of harm's way. Now that the Lex is gone it seems the mighty E is your last hope.

Well, there are a few more things that give me hope!

It's just sad I didn't handle this one tactical part better, but that is the game and that is war too. You have to make decisions, and sometimes the goals are valid but the tactics or executions are lacking.

In this case I won't spin it as a positive though. The goals are important and strategic but I could have continued those more effectively with a bit more care for the CVs in this case, and it's 90% likely I could have saved both having just moved back 4-5 hexes on the turn they were hit (and Lex was sunk) instead of keeping them forward.

[mind_messing]

I can't say I didn't expect this to happen. I was getting flashbacks to an AAR a few years back where a IJN player lost the KB in the Eastern DEI to a gaggle of Allied SCTF's in late '42. The DEI is a carriers graveyard simply because there's so little searoom - disaster is then just a few reactions and an engagement or two away from disaster.

While it's easy to say with hindsight, you were simply fighting too far forward. As tempting a target as the oil would have been, a more measured approach would have cost you less. Keeping the carriers unseen behind Java, then following it up with a combined carrier and LBA strike when Lowpe's attention was elsewhere would have probably allowed you to get clean away.

The question I must ask is why did it need to be the DEI? I know you've read my AAR - Loka's '42 carrier raid on Hokkaido should be mandatory for the Allies if the KB is deployed in the DEI.

[Macclan5]

Despite the the losses and any admonishment (self or otherwise)..

I am very impressed with the deployment of scare assets (USCVs in the early part of the war). It was very informative and interesting to me. Admittedly I am a rookie but still...

Oil may not be the "strategic trade off" you envisioned in 1941; however a number of IJN CA / CL / DD (even a BB Yasamiro with 2 torps) are downed or severely damaged requiring shipyard time as far as I can follow. These Naval assets cannot therefore be used in the aggressive expansion of the co-prosperity sphere as I recon it.

Now your own losses in CA / CL / DD must be taken into account but with strong LBA and careful management you should be able to start deploying to strategic bases....

Reasons to be optimistic:

Saratoga hunting unescorted xAks and DD in the North Pacific. Hornet and Wasp online soon. All with F4Fs and SBD3's - no more Buffalo's.

All 3 can prowl Pearl / Tarawa / Canton / Palmyra supporting defense in depth and raiding the unwary IJN.

CVE's start pouring in in 6 months that can lend a supporting hand in the Coral Sea for example.. or visa versa. The biggest hurting point is that the "good CVE's of the Sangamon class" do take a while to come online. Further some British CVs are online soon and if you feel you can wait to transit them to Balboa - they can replace Lex at least...or play a similar spoiling role off the coast in Burma....

[Anachro]

In my opinion, 2 lost carriers without any real attrition of enemy carriers slows you down a little bit, but not too badly. You can still conduct hit and run raids with your force in '42 with the four you will still have left (Hornet, Wasp, Yorktown, Saratoga). And you should be able to conduct some offensive ops at the edges in early-to-mid '43. I wouldn't be too down.

And if the opportunity presents itself, 4 carriers can beat 6 KB carriers with a little luck. I doubt Lowpe would put his carriers in such a bad position, however. But who knows?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

And if the opportunity presents itself, 4 carriers can beat 6 KB carriers with a little luck. I doubt Lowpe would put his carriers in such a bad position, however. But who knows?

Not before 1943 aircraft they can't.

[Anachro]

They could in '42, but it would require luck, a very opportune setting, and misuse or overuse of KB air assets in a protracted setting. Very unlikely as I doubt Lowpe would let such a thing occur, but I would never use the definitive word "can't." You are right of course that Hellcats make many more things possible - and victory more likely.

[Bif1961]

I tried to ambush the mini-KB 2 US carriers 180 ac against 3 CVL mini-KB with 108 AC. The night before the morning ambush one of my US carriers got torpedoed by a sub and couldn't launch so it was 3 CVLs against 1 US carrier and I lost both US carriers for light damaged to 1 CVL.

[Lokasenna]

And planes they don't have, honestly. The pools are bottom-of-the-barrel small.

[Capt. Harlock]

I tried to ambush the mini-KB 2 US carriers 180 ac against 3 CVL mini-KB with 108 AC.

What was the game date? Remember the US CV's do not get their full complement of fighters for several months. (Conversion to F4F-4 with folding wings.)

[Bif1961]

Added addition Marine fighter squadrons to bring the numbers up. It was early Jan 42.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

I can't say I didn't expect this to happen. I was getting flashbacks to an AAR a few years back where a IJN player lost the KB in the Eastern DEI to a gaggle of Allied SCTF's in late '42. The DEI is a carriers graveyard simply because there's so little searoom - disaster is then just a few reactions and an engagement or two away from disaster.

While it's easy to say with hindsight, you were simply fighting too far forward. As tempting a target as the oil would have been, a more measured approach would have cost you less. Keeping the carriers unseen behind Java, then following it up with a combined carrier and LBA strike when Lowpe's attention was elsewhere would have probably allowed you to get clean away.

The question I must ask is why did it need to be the DEI? I know you've read my AAR - Loka's '42 carrier raid on Hokkaido should be mandatory for the Allies if the KB is deployed in the DEI.

You've obviously not read the rest of the AAR. Just work out it out, maybe. Where is the KB for a week? Where are the Allied CVs? Where is the fuel to make it to the HI and back?

The DEI has support, is far from where the KB was, and proved to be the right place to do this. I just didn't take care of business.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Despite the the losses and any admonishment (self or otherwise)..

I am very impressed with the deployment of scare assets (USCVs in the early part of the war). It was very informative and interesting to me. Admittedly I am a rookie but still...

Oil may not be the "strategic trade off" you envisioned in 1941; however a number of IJN CA / CL / DD (even a BB Yasamiro with 2 torps) are downed or severely damaged requiring shipyard time as far as I can follow. These Naval assets cannot therefore be used in the aggressive expansion of the co-prosperity sphere as I recon it.

Now your own losses in CA / CL / DD must be taken into account but with strong LBA and careful management you should be able to start deploying to strategic bases....

Reasons to be optimistic:

Saratoga hunting unescorted xAks and DD in the North Pacific. Hornet and Wasp online soon. All with F4Fs and SBD3's - no more Buffalo's.

All 3 can prowl Pearl / Tarawa / Canton / Palmyra supporting defense in depth and raiding the unwary IJN.

CVE's start pouring in in 6 months that can lend a supporting hand in the Coral Sea for example.. or visa versa. The biggest hurting point is that the "good CVE's of the Sangamon class" do take a while to come online. Further some British CVs are online soon and if you feel you can wait to transit them to Balboa - they can replace Lex at least...or play a similar spoiling role off the coast in Burma....

Another reason to be optimistic is that the DEI is not done yet. there are a few more things left up our sleeve, and the position of most of the KB is known. That makes me happy, since Akagi just took one fish and there are 35-40 subs vectoring into position again now. Many of them Dutch. The mini-KB is being chased by a few more.

I'll risk more CVs if I have a shot at his, but not without a good reason. I might have a reason very soon. [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 4, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]GAME: [/font] This has been an incredibly fun game to this point. I've been really busy at work these last few days and haven't gotten a chance to tell more of the story, and Jeff had some stuff as well, so we've only exchanged one turn this week.

It was odd to come back to a comment from mindmessing suggesting I'd stepped too far, that this was the wrong strategy, letting me know how I could have got "clean away" if I'd played this differently. I feel it's important to mention a few things I'd decided about playing the Allies.

Before the game I'd made a decision to not go Sir Robin for a year and a half until I had overwhelming power. I think this is too easy for the Allies. Of course you can then move forward if you have all CVs intact and the firehose of new ships, planes and troops is set to full and getting stronger for the rest of the war. I'll play to win, but I have some experience of Japanese vulnerabilities, and I want to use that knowledge and understanding to hit where it hurts from day one. I didn't have a distinct plan ready, but did know I'd take advantage of what my opponent gave.

Jeff stayed at PH for a week. I wanted to see what the USN CVs could do in that scenario. From Cent Pac to the DEI they were able to disrupt, change Japanese plans, and ultimately do some damage to some long term infrastructure. The goal was of course to get them out safely.

The reason they've gotten into trouble is my fault tactically, not strategically. They were in the right place, on the most dangerous mission for this time period for the Japanese to face, but they simply couldn't do the job in the way it played out. I made two distinct errors, and I've paid the price. That's okay!

It was worth for me to see that this is entirely workable and that even now, with Ryujo likely under and a lot of other damage to the Japanese assets and industry, there is a lot to look positively on from the Allied perspective. I'm not feeling positive, but objectively this was definitely worth a shot. I've learned a lot and it's certainly been fun to orchestrate and watch play out. I've lost CVs before, and it hurts. This hurts bad, but I'm going to keep going, just as the Allies did in 42 when they lost several CVs.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] The Jan 4 turn began with a lot of inconclusive small surface engagements, and then the Enterprise met the mini-KB in a bizarre and short lived interaction. No shots fired. After that the Myoko and Kitakami with a few DDs hit Enterprise with two more shots before she could escape a bit further.

Her surface cover got tangled with Ise and Ashigara. Again, the DDs on both sides get the worst of it, but Ise also gets nailed by 12 x 500lb bombs from Enterprise Devastators. Hope some fires are going there. The USN cruisers can't keep up and enterprise is also slowed to 6 knots a phase. She'll aim to flank out near Miri with only her small contingent of Wildcats for cover and some DDs and Marblehead will trail to beat off surface ships if possible. There are some near Jolo that l seemed to go for an ACM I sent that way. Similarly on the 5th the Gertrude Kellogg and an AM will aim to get in the way as well, just now escaping full of fuel from Manila.

While that is al going on cruisers around Singers will go for Palembang. I'll try for a big hit, and hopefully keep them from air strikes with LR CAP from Djambi, still in Dutch hands. If Palembang fields are shut, more oil can be hit. Oosthave and Praebemolith will also be targeted to limit future possibilities. Under the cover of all of that PoW is still chugging along and will reach Batavia, then try for a shot through the straits into the IO. Minelayers will hit the hex after it goes through to hopefully close the door to undesirable followers.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Seawolf nails Akagi near the Celebes with one fish!! Now the hunt is on. Hopefully this slows the KB and gets more subs in position and able to track them. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Troops hold in the Sian road block. Reinforcements on the way 7-8 turns out. I tried a big stack DA at Changsha, but only a 1:1 result. Close. I think the Chinese can only be offensive at 3:1 AV odds, and we have almost that here, but I'll now hold as a failed day 2 could be disaster. It was worth a shot but now it's back to the defensive.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 4, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 65,99, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho
CS Chiyoda
DD Arashio
DD Fuyo
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, on fire
CA New Orleans
CL Marblehead
DD Shaw
DD Downes
DD Cassin
DD Reid
DD John D. Ford

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range increases to 23,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 66,99, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CL Kitakami
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CL Marblehead
DD Shaw, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Downes, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin, Shell hits 1
DD Reid, Shell hits 1
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight

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Sub attack near Bara at 74,106

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1 [&o][&o]
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Hamakaze
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

SS Seawolf launches 4 torpedoes at CV Akagi
Seawolf diving deep ....

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 66,99, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 4
CA Ashigara
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Kuri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hishu, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 2
CA Chicago
DD Case, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Porter, Shell hits 1
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey, Shell hits 1
DD Hull

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 66,100, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 12
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 5
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
DD Porter, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey, Shell hits 1, on fire

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Amchitka Island at 158,52

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Ikushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-5 Catalina bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-27b Nate x 5
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Do-24K-1 x 4
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 3
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x Do-24K-1 bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 300 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 65,100

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3
TBD-1 Devastator x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 12, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,100

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 13

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Donggala at 67,97

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Amchitka Island at 158,52

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Ikushima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-5 Catalina bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28315 troops, 264 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 698

Defending force 22757 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 542

Japanese adjusted assault: 424

Allied adjusted defense: 712

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1118 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
634 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Division
41st Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
7th Group Army

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Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 138025 troops, 619 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3589

Defending force 43299 troops, 358 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 1214

Allied adjusted assault: 2619

Japanese adjusted defense: 2175

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3059 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 31 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6042 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 604 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 38 (2 destroyed, 36 disabled)

Assaulting units:
26th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
5th Construction Regiment
27th Group Army
9th War Area
19th Group Army
29th Group Army
17th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
40th Division
39th Division
3rd Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
11th Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]At least Ryujo is confirmed going down fro these 13 A6M2 listed here. [/font]

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 5, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] This was a decent turn for the Allies except for one thing. I'll get to that soon.

The USN CAs get to Singers and plaster Mersing and a few IJN DDs on the way. The P-35s on LR CAP harass the attackers and the flak pounds away, and out of 50+ Netties striking today, no hits are registered!! [&o]

A few USN DDs also go down, and the CAs meant to hit the KB if it had continued on it's progress South of the Celebes instead got nailed by the KB air wings when the KB turns and heads the WNW. Luckily only one DD is sunk and the CAs can flank out of danger tomorrow most likely.

Tomorrow may be more fireworks as Enterprise still slinks across toward Singers. The bad is that only 5 Wildcats came up for a strike today and the ships can't flank all of the way to Singers. I sent a complicated rescue mission of bombardments and fuel relief toward them for the 5th. Fingers crossed.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] Part of the KB showed up in the North, near Amchitka. It looks like the two that were at Wake. I'd like to find out which. Is this the small ones? (Hiryu and Soryu?) The slow one? (Kaga plus one?). Or the good ones (Shokaku and Zuikaku)? The only one I know it's not is Akagi.

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 5, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tioman Island at 52,84, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Suzukaze
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Houston
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA San Francisco
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 68,97, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho
CVE Taiyo
CS Chiyoda
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio
DD Akikaze
DD Fuyo
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Chicago
DD Porter
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey
DD Hull

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengpinang at 51,86, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
TB Chidori, Shell hits 1, on fire
TB Manazuru
TB Hatsukari
TB Tomozuru, Shell hits 1
TB Kiji
TB Kamo

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 3

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Houston
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAK Gosei Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Houston
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning

Japanese ground losses:
973 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 45 (39 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 69,96, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asagao, Shell hits 1
DD Karukaya, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Chicago, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Porter
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey
DD Hull

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 69,96, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
DD Ikazuchi, on fire
DD Asagao
DD Karukaya

Allied Ships
CA Portland, heavy fires
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Porter
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey
DD Hull

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight

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Night Naval bombardment of Mersing at 51,82

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 8 damaged
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-27b Nate: 5 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Chester
CA Houston
CA Northampton

Japanese ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 22 (5 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (6 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 60

CA San Francisco firing at Mersing

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengselor at 69,95, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Porter, Shell hits 30, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Tioman Island at 51,83, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1
DD Uranami, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Houston
CA Chester, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA San Francisco
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1, on fire

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Sandakan at 71,88

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Ki-27b Nate x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 21
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-27b Nate x 29
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
DD Fanning, on fire
CA Minneapolis
CA Chester
DD Craven

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
22 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 22000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x Ki-27b Nate sweeping at 22000 feet *

CAP engaged:
35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kolaka at 67,107

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 59

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 2
CA Louisville, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Monaghan
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Dale, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kolaka at 67,107

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, on fire
DD Drayton, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Astoria
DD Monaghan

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is the map. Enterprise is hugging the Borneo coast but will aim to head out into the area somewhere between Miri and Saigon. The cruisers from Singers will be active again, heading toward Palembang this time! [:)][/font]

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[BBfanboy]

Thoroughly entertaining stuff! A new script that has not been done before! Many thanks for sharing with us!

[&o]

[Encircled]

If you'd have pulled it off, then the best he could have managed would have been a historical perimeter.

He's still lost some valuable ships, and all those oil hits are a massive positive.