Godzilla {J: Andav} vs. Rodan {A: witpqs}

[jwolf]

I liked that line that "the expendables were expended" which sounds about right for PTs. But with luck they may have knocked out a BB for a few weeks.

[witpqs]

1941 December 16

INVADED
Amphibious TF 120 unloading at Jolo
Amphibious TF 121 unloading at Zamboanga
Amphibious TF 98 offshore of Brunei
Clark Field, Manila, Wuchow, Chuhsien, Changchow, Georgetown are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Sibuyan is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Digos !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Jolo !!!



• Aside from submarines around Hawaii no IJN sightings in the Pacific east of Babeldaob.

• Two Pearl Harbor BB's, damaged Arizona and undamaged Tennessee are on their way to Bremerton by a circuitous path. They hugged the southern side of the island of Hawaii passing near Kona and evaded submarines operating close to PH. A separate TF of 8x DD heading to Christmas Island to relieve the Clemson's escorting Saratoga were attacked by a sub but sailed on unharmed. Three more BB's will take a more direct route to San Francisco and environs when more escort is available, perhaps those Clemson's plus others. Two BB's currently repairing light damage at Pearl will remain their for upgrades to spread out the work even more. They could be more quickly available to bombard a captured Midway if it comes to that.

• Aus 53rd and 39th Bde's convoy has just begun unloading at Port Moresby. They are strategic loaded at a size 1 port so that will take a while.

• An IJN convoy was encountered by Snapper on its way into Babeldaob.

• We got two more B-17's out of Luzon today. If attacks on Cabanatuan remain light or nil we might get more out in the next couple of days.

• Two RN MTB were lost to a pair of destroyers in the Sulu Sea. A tanker will make its way south along the coast from Tarakan to evade IJN cruisers about. Another IJN cruiser force showed up near Ternate - attacked without effect from the air - trying to engage the Dutch squadron but it was gone and is now thought to be unspotted by the enemy.

• These Imperials plus others moving directly from Mauban will soon be at the gates of Manila.

Ground combat at Batangas (79,78)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9060 troops, 37 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 318

Defending force 4075 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 103

Japanese adjusted assault: 149

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1405 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (24 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
41st PA Infantry Division

• This looks to me like a holding force to deny Allied units a retreat from Manila, which will shortly be facing a much larger Imperial horde.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3784 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 251

Defending force 24939 troops, 309 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 613

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

Assaulting units:
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
35th Avn Sup
57th PS Infantry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
1st Constabulary Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force
I Corps
Far East USAAF
24th PS FA Regiment
200th Coast AA Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
US Forces Far East
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp

• Zamboanga defenders continue to defy superior enemy forces.

Ground combat at Zamboanga (75,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2248 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 586 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 48

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
16th Naval Guard Unit
6th JNAF Coy

Defending units:
II/43rd PS Inf Battalion

• The whereabouts of KB2 and the IJN BB force engaged yesterday are unknown.

• POW & Repulse are in the Indian Ocean and will shortly send their destroyers to some CL's. Marblehead is in port at Soerabaja to make some repairs before setting out. Boise has replenished there. An RN CL TF has also and will head for Kuching to work with a USN DD TF nearing Singkawang. Another RN TF with 2x CA, 1x CL is also at Soerabaja. Houston only made 3 hexes from Balikpapan and will need 2 or 3 more days to make Soerabaja to repair flooding before leaving the area. DD Stewart (USN) made 2 hexes on the same journey and will be lucky to make a port with time to perform full repairs. Soerabaja might be a viable naval base for a while, or the Empire could strike hard at Celebes and south to put Soerabaja in jeopardy. I will make use of it for small repairs, temporary repairs, and substantial repairs to small ships if they can be made quickly.

• I was relieved the IJN pulled back from the Makassar Strait today. They did expend a lot of ammo and sagely did not want to face reinforcements while low on ammo. The closer they get to Soerabaja the more serious the threat of effective Allied air attacks. We do now have all torpedo squadrons in the area there with numerous fighter escort.

• We have SigInt "23/33rd Division is loaded on xAK Kagu Maru moving to Bangkok." and have assigned the two nearest subs, both Dutch, to lurk in the waters near Bangkok.

• Hong Kong officials are renaming the fortress there "King Kong Fortress" after today's battle.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18813 troops, 288 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 408

Defending force 7263 troops, 122 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 145

Japanese adjusted assault: 96

Allied adjusted defense: 605

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Rifles of Canada Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress

• We are getting pushed back some in China but most units are moving to new positions without being caught and mauled.

• Wenchow is being bombarded about twice daily by the IJN and of course bombed from the air daily. The Empire is determined to make short work of Wenchow and we are determined to hold it as long as possible.

Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1941 December 16

Here is the overview map. You can see the Empire has been stopped cold nad will expand no more. This turn.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

• Hong Kong officials are renaming the fortress there "King Kong Fortress" after today's battle.

They know what's coming. I read a short story on the fall of Hong Kong. What the Japanese did there rivals Nanking, and surpases the brutality of Bataan, or Singapore, or maybe even Wake.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

ORIGINAL: witpqs

• Hong Kong officials are renaming the fortress there "King Kong Fortress" after today's battle.

They know what's coming. I read a short story on the fall of Hong Kong. What the Japanese did there rivals Nanking, and surpases the brutality of Bataan, or Singapore, or maybe even Wake.

I did not know that about Hong Kong. [:(]

[witpqs]

1941 December 17

INVADED
Amphibious TF 120 offshore of Zamboanga
Clark Field, Manila, Changchow are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Boac is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wuchow !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Chuhsien !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Georgetown !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Brunei !!!



• A large convoy carrying fighters and medium bombers is departing San Francisco for Brisbane.

• So far none of our merchants and transports making their way from Australia and New Zealand to the US West Coast have been intercepted by IJN submarines. Nor have any of our outbound convoys. The inbound stragglers and un-escorted convoys have yet to approach the lanes leading directly to the West Coast, but the outbound convoys evading contact might mean the Empire is doing something else with their subs. We know there are several around Hawaii and certainly they hope to catch badly damaged battleships leaving those waters. Are they also scouting for KB? Are other IJN subs transiting to other waters for other operations?

• The two USMC regiments to reinforce Pago Pago are about a week out. A USMC Pioneer Bn tagged along to speed building.

• Unloading at Port Moresby is going faster than I expected likely due to choosing small ships that can rotate through the small dock instead of being restricted to using lighters. Only the mortars and AA MG remain to be brought ashore which is perfect because a supply convoy will arrive in three days.

• Another B-17 made it out of Luzon today, 3 more to go. All will possibly be ready to fly tomorrow if the Empire does not hit Cabanatuan for one more day.

• Already 24 bombers and 29 auxiliaries at Jolo: the Empire no longer needs carriers to menace Makassar Strait from the air.

• Air raids on Singapore's port hit a number of ships, sinking two. Virtually all remaining ships will leave tonight. The two air HQ being airlifted out are the only units which will be evacuated.

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 14
G4M1 Betty x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Matang, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Dominion Monarch, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Kinta, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Toowoomba, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DM Stronghold, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Demodocus, Bomb hits 1
xAP Hong Kheng, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 16
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AMC Manoora, Bomb hits 1
xAK Wulin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Pangkor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Zannis Cambanis, Bomb hits 1
xAK Neleus, Bomb hits 1
DM Stronghold, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tai Sang, Bomb hits 1
AMC Kanimlba, Bomb hits 1
AG Ban Hong Liong, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Airbase hits 1
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

• The withdrawal in China is going well as large concentrations of our units evade entrapment and avoid combat. Wenchow is now short of supply due to our success in getting additional defenders there.

• At least one Imperial unit is seen leaving Hong Kong. Most likely it is all of them pulling out before suing for peace.

• Doomed units have cut Imperial Railway Service (IRS) tracks in two in places in China, a situation that will last... until the end of next turn.

Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1941 December 17

Does the APD signify this is another deep, small invasion or is the APD an ASW escort for a surface raid? In the upper left can be seen 3x CA moving NW away from Manado.

[witpqs]

1941 December 18

INVADED
Amphibious TF 91 offshore of Jesselton
Clark Field, Manila, Cabanatuan, Wuchow, Changchow are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Lucena is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Zamboanga !!!



• No sightings of any Imperial carriers.

• Speak of the devil and it shows up.

Sub attack near San Diego at 225,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-5

Allied Ships
AS Fulton
AVP Teal

SS I-5 launches 2 torpedoes at AS Fulton
I-5 diving deep ....
AVP Teal fails to find sub, continues to search...
AVP Teal fails to find sub, continues to search...
AVP Teal fails to find sub, continues to search...
AVP Teal fails to find sub, continues to search...
AVP Teal fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Two AVP and an AS are on their was to Midway.

• The S boats sent to Hawaii from the West Coast have been assigned ASW patrol routes near Pearl Harbor.

• Saratoga will arrive at Christmas Island tomorrow to find her new DD escorts waiting for her. The Clemson's will then head back to the West Coast via Pearl for ASW duty and conversion to APD's.

• We are going to pull Lark Force out of Rabaul and back to Port Moresby. Let's hope that's not where the IJN carriers are operating next.

• None of the 3 B-17 at Cabanatuan came ready today and the Imperial paratroopers have arrived. With luck, tomorrow. The Empire faced a number of P-40's from Manila during it's raids today so might be tempted to hit Manila hard tomorrow. Let's hope so.

• Houston has made it back to Soerabaja wihout incident. She and Marblehead will sortie in two days to leave the area for repairs.

• That cruiser/APD TF is exiting the Ceram Sea at Waigeo and apparently was part of a multi-TF force hunting for the Dutch squadron. The Flying Dutchmen shall be hard to catch.

• Haruna was attacked by our aircraft (without effect) just NW of Tawi Tawi. In that vicinity a CL/DD TF sank most of our RN MTB escaping from Hong Kong. The first battle was at night and close range but all torpedoes missed. They did set a CL afire with a single .30 cal MG hit.

• All of the non-combatant non-support ships from Soerabaja have transited to the Indian Ocean and most are making their way to Australia but a few to Tjilatjap. There were one or more IJN submarines prowling the waters near Soerabaja and the straits quite effectively so our timing was fortunate.

• Damaged ships and gunboats remaining at Singapore were sunk by heavy bombing raids. The airbase is damaged at the end of the turn, first time so far. Fortifications are 2 + 43%. Hopefully there will be enough breaks in the bombing campaign to get them higher.

• 6th Indian Bde was pushed back into Taiping but has little if anything left to give.

• Some ground action in China but nothing big. The Empire is trying to cut off our repositioning troops and we are trying to avoid it.

• Amazingly our positions on the vital IRS in China will last at least another day, probably two until Imperial tax collectors arrive.

Complete combat report attached.

[jwolf]

The S boats sent to Hawaii from the West Coast have been assigned ASW patrol routes near Pearl Harbor.

How exactly does that work? Are they very effective at it? I confess that I like to use the S boats more offensively since their torpedoes actually work.

[witpqs]

1941 December 19

INVADED
Amphibious TF 85 offshore of Puerto Princesa
Amphibious TF 92 offshore of Taytay
Clark Field, Manila, Cabanatuan, Davao, Hong Kong (for many days), Changchow, Pucheng are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Kanhsien is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Jesselton !!!



• Saratoga has swapped destroyers. The Clemson's will wait for the oiler to catch up in about 3 days before they set off for Pearl Harbor.

• No prior sightings:

Submarine attack near Auckland at 117,184

Japanese Ships
SS I-24

Allied Ships
YO-14, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

YO-14 is sighted by SS I-24
SS I-24 launches 2 torpedoes

The slaughter commences.

• All of the remaining B-17's made it out of Luzon!

• We've rearranged our RN surface TF's at Soerabaja.
- 2x CA, 2x DD
- 5x CL, 3x DD These CL all have 108 penetration main guns and max speed 29 knots.
- 3x CL, 2x DD Two of these CL have 121 penetration main guns and max speed 32 knots; Mauritius has both 121 and 108 penetration main guns and max speed 31 knots.

• Lots of radio traffic at Babeldaob so the Empire must be loading up some invasions.

Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1941 December 19

KB2. To their west is a CA TF. Just to their north a CA TF that appears to be moving toward Babeldoab. Near Tawi Tawi is the CL TF which finished off the RN MTB's today.

Will KB2 wait to cover invasions of, say, Ternate and Manado or push forth to raid?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

The S boats sent to Hawaii from the West Coast have been assigned ASW patrol routes near Pearl Harbor.

How exactly does that work? Are they very effective at it? I confess that I like to use the S boats more offensively since their torpedoes actually work.

Just regular sub patrol mission, given patrol zones in the area. There are a number of sub on sub combats throughout the course of a campaign so I decided to try and get the most out of those short-ranged subs by having them patrol where I know there are IJN subs. The hunters might become the hunted, but ce le guerre.

[witpqs]

1941 December 20

INVADED
Amphibious TF 147 offshore of Sidate
Clark Field, Manila, Cabanatuan, Davao, Taiping, Hong Kong, Changchow are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Itbayat Island is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pucheng !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Taytay !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Puerto Princesa !!!


• Our first ASW patrol off the West Coast ended well. For the enemy.

Sub attack near Santa Catalina Is at 223,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
PC Alert, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

SS I-19 launches 2 torpedoes
I-19 diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection

Submarine attack near Channel Islands at 221,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
TK Eidsvold

TK Eidsvold is sighted by SS I-4
SS I-4 launches 2 torpedoes

So we know there are multiple IJN subs hunting the waters near San Diego and Los Angeles. The only other PC immediately available will take on the sharks and count the days until 8 destroyers arrive at San Diego in 5 days. They are transiting from the Panama Canal and have ASW = 4 each. I'll put them in two ASW TF to work the troubled waters for a while.

• Lots of radio traffic at Truk today: are IJN carriers there and preparing for operations?

• Our own subs did some business today.

Submarine attack near Dadjangas at 79,94

Japanese Ships
xAK Taihei Maru, Shell hits 7

Allied Ships
SS Seal

xAK Taihei Maru is sighted by SS Seal
SS Seal attacking on the surface
SS Seal low on gun ammo, Hurd, K.C. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

Submarine attack near Kompong Trach at 56,72

Japanese Ships
xAK Teihoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS KXII

xAK Teihoku Maru is sighted by SS KXII
SS KXII launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Teihoku Maru

• Miri is 17 hexes from Soerabaja, just within normal range for the B-17D.

Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged

Oil hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead

Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged

Oil hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Raid is overhead

4 more Oil hits with 500 lb bombs!

• A number of our units in China were retreated or destroyed, including our positions on the IRS. No big problem so far but a number of enemy units are closing in on Nanyang, racing some of our units there. We have a big speed bump position slowing them and that unit will certainly suffer.

Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1941 December 20

KB2 and the invasion of Sidate. Dutch flying boats tried to intervene but were no match for the carrier fighters.

[witpqs]

1941 December 20

Certainly the Makassar Strait is dangerous for the Empire in the opening phases of the campaign game. Coupled with that is the need to protect Oil production once captured, well illustrated by our little successes so far hitting Oil production at Miri. Any strategy approaching the Makassar Strait indirectly makes sense both to manage the risk to IJN assets and Imperial troops, and to prepare safeguards for Oil production at Tarakan, Balikpapan, and Samarinda.

Ternate is an obvious target and was identified in SigInt, plus now Sidate/Manado is invaded. While obviously serving both of the goals above, the spectre is also raised of a deeper eastern DEI thrust down to Timor and possibly even Darwin prior to a major push on central and western DEI. Such would severely impede reinforcement and withdrawal of forces to/from the DEI.

An obvious drawback is some fashion of fortress Palembang would have more time to develop. I am not doing so, but presume DAW's spies and analysts are not aware of that. Suppose the EMEP (Empire's Master Evil Plan) is to invade deep in the eastern DEI, what is planned to counter/stop/neuter Allied reinforcement of Palembang?
- Suppress Singapore air complex. DONE
- Marshal adequate ground forces to seize Palembang fairly quickly when directly invaded early. I have not attempted to catalog the forces currently in use at Malaya, Luzon, and Mindanao, but it seems those commitments might well be leaving adequate forces available. The advance down Malaya goes well for the Empire but seems more methodical than blitzkrieg. Forces on Mindanao are modest and unless reinforced will take time to clear the island. Luzon is heavily besieged but I have only gained a partial view of Imperial ground forces there. There might be enough combat power there to crush the Allies redoubts of Clark Field and Bataan but maybe not. There is certainly enough to confine resistance to Clark and Bataan. Further, the armour and perhaps other units could be pulled out and used against Palembang and then Java once Allied units are confined to Clark and Bataan.
- Establish air superiority (or even supremacy) over Palembang. IJN fleet carriers can do so practically at will and it is easier earlier due to the greater disparity in pilot quality. Waiting allows training of existing pilots and reinforcement by other squadrons. In the present case the USA fighter squadrons on Luzon are trapped and will not be a factor. Other USA squadrons will not be available for some time. The Singapore fighter squadrons are on Java and can oppose but have poor airframes. The Dutch fighter squadrons have both poor airframes and unskilled pilots. Dutch bombers are (mostly) decent aircraft with good ordnance for the task, but the pilots are low-skill. Other Allied bombers in the DEI are a little better in terms of pilot quality only. The Allied torpedo bombers are a more substantial danger to the IJN and to troop convoys but they are very vulnerable to fighters and very unlikely to penetrate current IJN fleet carrier CAP.
- Establish LBA CAP of Palembang.
- Rapid follow up invasion of western Java to overrun airfields.
- Suppression of airfields as possible prior to their overrun.
- Cleanup of remaining DEI.
- Cleanup of Luzon and Singapore.

The greatest danger to Oil production in this plan is the USA B-17's, but early seizure of Oil production allows more time for repairs, so the real trade off is not long term Oil production but supply consumed in repairing it. Early capture of various places might mean more capture of Allied supply to mitigate supply given up to repairs.

Obviously I do not know if this is the EMEP, but I think it a viable plan that I should be working to counter.

I am toying with the idea of positioning the USN carriers for a strike on Palembang Oil in the early days after its capture.

[zuluhour]

"I am toying with the idea of positioning the USN carriers for a strike on Palembang Oil in the early days after its capture."

_____________________________
shhhhhhhhhhhh at work

goody goody, I like this train of thought

[witpqs]

1941 December 21

INVADED
Amphibious TF 147 unloading at Sidate
Clark Field, Manila, Cabanatuan, Davao, Taiping, Hong Kong, Changchow are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Polillo is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Atimonan !!!


• Eidsvold dodged a bullet yesterday but not today.

Submarine attack near Channel Islands at 223,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
TK Eidsvold, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

TK Eidsvold is sighted by SS I-4
SS I-4 launches 2 torpedoes

Our convoys carrying aircraft bound for Australia, some PBY's heading for Hawaii, and the seaplane support for Midway have all cleared the danger zone near the coast. We've added USMC dive bombers to the naval search roster and eagerly await those destroyers.

• The B-17E's flying to Australia are now at Brisbane but will have to wait for adequate air support. Training only for now so no big deal.

• Lark Force is loading aboard ship at Rabaul. Cross your fingers...

• We traded 2x B-17D's for 4 more Oil hits at Miri. A group of Falcon's from Tarakan also attacked Oil production at Brunei but made no hits.

• Houston has only a few points of minor flooding to resolve and will deal with that en route to Repairland. An IJN sub is lurking near the strait east of Java so care is the order of the day.

• Brit 223 and 224 air HQ's are both now on Java and will bolster air support at Soerabaja. The British and Dutch flying boats are performing other duties now while the two USN PBY-4 squadrons have moved to Soerabaja to begin airlifting unrestricted air support units from Mindanao. There are only a couple with others needing to be bought out, so I will have to decide between buying them back + buy out later or buying them out now for higher price. They are very small units so I might just buy them now to use their services on Java and in Australia.

• Chengchow has held for several days with only the shattered shell of a unit left to man the walls Foreign Legion style, with the fallen occupying 19 out of every 20 fighting positions to give the illusion of numbers. Finally the lone Imperial unit first on the scene has been heavily reinforced and just now conducted recon.

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 504 troops, 35 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 434

Defending force 815 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
35th Division
5th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
7th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
8th New Chinese Corps

"GENERAL! You have some explaining to do!" [:D]

Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1941 December 21

The Sidate/Manado invasion. The Empire keeps chasing our B-17's: we have two repairing at Kendari. Let's hope there is no lightning invasion before they make ready.

[witpqs]

1941 December 21

Enemy subs prowling both ends of Java. We have ASW groups working both sides and plenty of air search and air ASW working those spots too.

[witpqs]

1941 December 22

INVADED
TF 121 troops unloading over beach at Oroquieta, 78,88
TF 15 troops unloading over beach at Ocean Island, 130,130
TF 85 troops unloading over beach at Dumanquilas, 77,89
TF 92 troops unloading over beach at Sandakan, 70,88
Clark Field, Manila, Iba, Davao, Taiping, Hong Kong are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Burias is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cabanatuan !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sidate !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ocean Island !!!



• Saratoga has refueled and is moving to Pago Pago to join Lexington and Enterprise. The Clemson's are heading for Pearl. More CA are leaving Pearl for Pago Pago to round out Lexington's escort.

• Disaster at Rabaul.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 105,124

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 2

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hudson I bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Our bombs missed, but...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 106,125

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
D3A1 Val x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Macdhui, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Mildura, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AM Bunbury, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Massive explosion on AM Mildura
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Mildura
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Macdhui
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Bunbury

The cavalry rode into a trap.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 104,131

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N2 Kate x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 4, heavy damage
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Stuart

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Weather must have been bad in the morning but sadly cleared in the afternoon. Almost all of Lark force is on a ship with 81 fires and major damage besides. Now docked and ordered to unload but who knows how many will get off safely.

• Strong enemy forces are present in Manila, probably >21,000 troops including those who did not bombard today.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15814 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 584

Defending force 14391 troops, 95 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
II Corps
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Cavite USN Base Force

Adding together enemy forces at Clark, Manila, and Cabanatuan the Empire has ~1,000 AV, plus there are a few other units cleaning up on Luzon. Still impossible to tell if DAW has ordered a quick overrun of all Luzon or will withdraw key, powerful units once Clark/Bataan is sealed off.

• The airworthy fighters remaining at Manila have been flown to Cagayan to continue resistance. It seems unlikely that any of the grounded birds will make it out.

• Two more!

Morning Air attack on Brunei , at 65,87

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
CW-22 Falcon x 7

No Allied losses

Oil hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Perhaps this will get some CAP assigned to Brunei from Miri. The B-17's are ordered to hit Miri Oil tomorrow.

• Houston and Marblehead begin their run to Perth tonight from Pamekasan near the eastern end of Java.

• IJA General Slacker was irritated at being embarrassed by the Chengchow garrison.

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13821 troops, 186 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value = 438

Defending force 816 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 702

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 702 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Allied ground losses:
881 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 84 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
35th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
7th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
8th New Chinese Corps

Much ammunition was wasted! [:D]

• A number of our units slipped into Nanyang under the guns of enemy tanks. The major speed bump which held the door for them against enemy infantry is now rushing to make the safety of that city before those tanks reinforces the enemy infantry.

Complete combat report attached.