Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 21

Malaya

56 Div(-) is unloading at Mersing; some parts will reinforce the hex to the west; some will reinforce Johore Bharu, which now has zero forts (a shock attack tomorrow). Mersing airfield is now level 2. 1 Tank Rgt leads the charge down the west coast. The naval and air situation around Singapore is such that the carrier TF has split - Car Div 2 (Hiryu & Soryu) go north to Georgetown (they sank a small xAP as they passed through the Malacca Strait). Car Div 3 (Shokaku & Zuikaku) go east to link up with Car Div 1 near Wake. An empty amphib TF with battleships is following Car Div 2 to Georgetown. When able, Imperial Guard Div will load at Alor Star for western Sumatra.

Sumatra

Palembang is captured with NO DAMAGE to either the oil facilities or refinery! 33 Div splits to capture Oosthaven, Benkoelen, and Djambi. After resting, 4 Div will reload transports for Malacca and join the assault on Singapore.

Luzon

48 Div is too fatigued to succeed at Clark Field, and will rest a few days while the artillery bombards. 16 Div has entered Manila, with 7 Tank Rgt (coming from the north) and will attack without delay. Of the 6 Allied units shown at Manila, perhaps only 2 are PA Divisions. The airfield is in such a state of disrepair that forts won't be increasing until the IJA captures the base.

China

Chuhsien is captured. The bridgehead south of Chengchow is reinforced, with more reinforcements coming. Canton port is now level 6.

Wake Island

The turn came back today with this message from my esteemed opponent: "My defense of Wake has turned into a total fiasco."
His TFs are mostly heading east; mine have retired a safe distance north, and are all again undetected. The IJN carriers will move east tomorrow to a position due north of Wake and attack the airfield if no naval targets are found. The amphib TFs show Saipan as destination, but will move closer to Wake via waypoints. Perhaps a landing on the atoll will be possible within the next 2 to 3 days. I-22 fired 8 torpedoes at the passing CV Lexington and got one hit. Batting .125, the skipper could play 2nd base for any National League team.

Mindanao

2 Div(-) is at Cagayan, moving on Malaybalay. 8 Tank Rgt will move from Cagayan to capture the now unoccupied base at Cotabato, while a battalion (of 2 Div) lands at Surigao to secure the resource center. All 2 Div units changed prep to Soerabaja.

Borneo

38 Div/A and /B departed Hongkong showing Cagayan as destination, but are moving toward Jolo and Tawi Tawi via waypoints. As they are not needed on Mindanao, once south they will change destination to Tarakan.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 22

Yes, it took a week to get the turn back - my opponent is still working. As I told him - well, someone has to be paying into Social Security so the rest of us can play games! Anyway...

IJA troops land at Dinagat and Busuanga (lesser Philippine Islands). IJA troops capture Morotai and Sandakan (on Borneo). Two IJN destroyers hit mines near Palembang trying to clear them, and SINK. Oroquieta (on Mindanao) flips, just before paratroops land there!

The attack at Manila was 1:1 with 0 forts, so he lives another day. Shock attack tomorrow, along with Clark Field.

Some success in southern Malaya -

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13934 troops, 172 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Defending force 5760 troops, 76 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Japanese adjusted assault: 374

Allied adjusted defense: 109

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1049 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 61 (61 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (56 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7 into Singapore

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
III Indian Corps
29 Battery/3 HAA
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
30 Battery/3 HAA
111th RAF Base Force

And in the adjacent hex, the Allies try to open the road to Singapore -

Ground combat at 50,82 (near Johore Bahru)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6674 troops, 56 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 189

Defending force 5806 troops, 56 guns, 223 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Allied adjusted assault: 2

Japanese adjusted defense: 501

Allied assault odds: 1 to 250

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: disruption(-)

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

Allied ground losses:
1454 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
28th Gurkha Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
5th Field Regiment

Defending units:
6th Tank Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

IJA units continue to maneuver in China. Except for some minesweepers, Allied naval assets seem to have departed the vicinity of Wake Island. Looks like a Christmas Eve assault there.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 23 Manila FALLS

Luzon

The shock attack at Manila forced 3 Philippine Army divisions to surrender -

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13461 troops, 121 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 425

Defending force 7900 troops, 129 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 259

Japanese adjusted assault: 512

Allied adjusted defense: 109

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
995 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11060 casualties reported
Squads: 500 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 493 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 131 (131 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7

Assaulting units:
16th Division
7th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
71st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
South Luzon Force
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
PAF Aviation

Also shocked at Clark Field, thinking I could get the odds to 2:1, and capture the place with 0 forts - came up a little short. 7 Tk Rgt will reinforce Clark from Manila, while 16 Division remains at Manila to fix all the damage. Engineers up north will march south to Manila to help out. Busuanga (off the west coast) flipped. Vacant Dinagat (down near Mindanano) was captured.

Mindanao

2 Div(-) will arrive at Malaybalay from Cagayan tomorrow and attack on Christmas Day. I doubt the defense will last long. 8 Tank Rgt arrived at vacant Cotabato and will capture it tomorrow.

Sumatra

As 33 Div splits to take Oosthaven, Djambi, and Benkoelen, 4 Div begins loading transports to land at Malacca. An SC and xAK hit mines going into Palembang, and sank, but 2 DMS mine clearing TFs finally got them cleared out. My minefield will replace the one left by the Allies.

Malaya

Yesterday the Allies had a disastrous attack west of Mersing (and NW of Johore Bharu), so I took advantage -

Ground combat at 50,82 (near Johore Bahru)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6022 troops, 82 guns, 223 vehicles, Assault Value = 353

Defending force 5401 troops, 52 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Japanese adjusted assault: 100

Allied adjusted defense: 17

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2048 casualties reported
Squads: 162 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (10 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 7 to Malacca

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Argylls Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
5th Field Regiment

CarDiv 2 (Hiryu & Soryu) arrive at Alor Star with battleships and lots of transports. After Imperial Guard Div detrains it will split and jump the strait to capture Medan and adjacent bases.

Wake Island

The assault TF is one hex NW of Wake and will go in on Christmas Eve. BB Yamashiro took 3 bomb hits from SBDs at the island (14 sys, 3 eng damage), but will bombard tomorrow then retire to Yokohama. Other than subs, no Allied TFs are visible. The Glen sub followed the Allied CV(s?) back toward Pearl, but couldn't keep up.

China

6 Div attacked SE of Nanyang (corrected) and pushed the defenders back into the city. It will rest there waiting for the coming reinforcements before proceeding. After a couple days of recon, it appears that the Chinese have left Wenchow. 21 Div/A has loaded transports and will arrive there from Shanghai tomorrow. 21 Div/B is loading to reinforce, if needed.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 24 Wake FAILS

With no Allied interference, other than trying to fly some missions from Wake, the assault goes in and captures the island -

Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
F4F-3A Wildcat: 4 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CA Haguro
DD Ariake
DD Yugure
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hayashio
DD Natsushio

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 4

Afternoon Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
B5N1 Kate x 10
B5N2 Kate x 39
D3A1 Val x 23

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged
F4F-3A Wildcat: 3 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6986 troops, 79 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 257

Defending force 1131 troops, 32 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Japanese adjusted assault: 168

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 168 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 6 destroyed
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 7 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 8 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
791 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1685 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 107 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 39 (39 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion

Elsewhere -

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mauban and the defending PA Div surrendered!!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tavoy !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pontianak !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Praboemoelih by shock attack, but he already ran away!!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Dumanquilas by paratroop drop!!!
Ominato expands port to size 6

China

1100+ AV starts moving into Chengchow, while he's evacuating at least some of the force to the west. Loyang is also being abandoned. And it looks like Nanyang is being abandoned, as well. At Wenchow, which I thought had been abandoned, WAS, and 21 Div(-) lands unopposed and will capture the base on Christmas Day. The AVG makes another appearance in China; looks like one squadron possibly at Kweilin or Nanning and one at Yenan.

Mindanao

Cotabato flipped (would have been captured anyway), and 2 Div(-) advances from Cagayan to Malaybalay, and will attack tomorrow.

The oil field at Brunei is fully repaired.

Artillery and engineers from Hong Kong are unloading at Iba to reinforce the attack on Clark Field and Bataan. 38 Div(-), on transports, will pause at Zamboanga before being escorted into Tarakan within the next few days.

[Bif1961]

It looks like, with the aircraft loses at Wake, that some carrier aircraft were there. Two squadrons of F4f3As, 1 of SBDs and 1 of TBDs.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

It looks like, with the aircraft loses at Wake, that some carrier aircraft were there. Two squadrons of F4f3As, 1 of SBDs and 1 of TBDs.

Yes, my report (above) dated Dec 20 indicates CV Enterprise was sunk (and a good number of aircraft with it); these are the aircraft that landed at Wake before the CV went down. The aircraft losses between the battles on Dec 20 and Dec 24 are not high enough to suggest a second CV was involved.

[Bif1961]

Yes thanks for the heads up, were they flown from the Enterprise before she sank or offloaded on Wake by her before she went down?

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 25

Not much happening.

Lubang flipped. (I guess it's somewhere in the Philippines)

IJA troops land at Ketapang (west end of Borneo).

Captured on this day -

Kuala Lumpur, Malaya - defenders surrendered
Kanshien, China - cuts a major road for Chinese fleeing west in southern China
Wenchow, China - unopposed; he evacuated a few days ago (I'm not sure why - I asked him - I don't think he's sure why, either)
Malaybalay, Mindanao - defenders retreated to Butuan

144 Rgt loads transports at Wake and heads back to Truk to rest a bit before heading to Rabaul. This relieves the overstack at Wake and makes room for the inbound 36 JNAF. One of the 2 remaining SNLF will also be withdrawn and replaced by a naval construction battalion from Truk.

The only hiccup today is 2 transports carrying 4 Div from Palembang to Malacca hit my own mines near Palembang. I guess the TF commander wants a new job!

[Uncivil Engineer]

Coming attractions

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 26

Another slow (-ish) day.

IJA troops land at Dumaguete (on Negros Island in central Philippines), Malacca, and at Tawau (near Tarakan) by airdrop. Culion flips. With the arrival of 4 Div at Malacca, the 11 defending British and Indian units, already combat ineffective, will surrender tomorrow.
IJA troops capture Ketapang unopposed.
The Allied minefield at Georgetown is cleared.
The airfield at Vigan is improved to level 4.

In China, 1000 AV will enter both Chengchow and Nanyang on the 28th. Resistance will not last long. In the south of China it looks like they plan to defend at Pucheng, having already evacuated Wenchow some days ago.

CVL Zuiho has joined CVs Shokaku and Zuikaku to support the landing at Tarakan tomorrow.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 27

Malaya

The surrounded and combat ineffective Allied force at Malacca surrenders -

Ground combat at Malacca (49,81)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16353 troops, 160 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 613

Defending force 3623 troops, 44 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 358

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 179 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malacca !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5028 casualties reported
Squads: 167 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 587 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 28 (28 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units surrendered 11

Assaulting units:
4th Division
148th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
28th Gurkha Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
112th RAF Base Force
3/16th Punjab Battalion
110th RAF Base Force
11 Battery/3 HAA
2nd Argylls Battalion
109th RN Base Force
5th Field Regiment

That's 5000 bodies not available to defend Singapore!

Luzon

Clark Field is captured -

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 27596 troops, 307 guns, 385 vehicles, Assault Value = 675

Defending force 6639 troops, 143 guns, 193 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Japanese adjusted assault: 468

Allied adjusted defense: 100

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1496 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 17 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1568 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 272 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 91 (86 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 149 (149 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
48th Division
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
30th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
45th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
1st Base Force

Defending units:
21st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion SURRENDERED
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
Subic Bay Defenses

While the air force starts working on Bataan's airfield, the ground troops will rest for a few days.
Babuyan flips and Dumaguete is captured unopposed.

Borneo

38 Div(-) lands at Tarakan and attacks tomorrow. IJA troops also land at unoccupied Jolo Island.

Hakodate RSY improves to 30. The first convoy of fuel leaves Palembang. 33 Div(-) enters Djambi and attacks tomorrow.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 28

Tarakan is captured with no damage to oil and refinery, although 2 Yusen N transports sink after unloading due to damage by coastal defense batteries; defenders retreat to Tandjoengselor.

Jolo is captured unopposed.

Djambi is captured and the base force is destroyed; 52 points of damage to the oil (good thing Palembang's refinery makes just over 1000 supply every day); 52 days worth will be needed to fix Djambi.

Speaking of damage, when Malacca was captured a day or so ago, the resources were totally destroyed, that's 100 gone!

IJA troops land at Cape Gloucester, on New Britain Island and Langsa, on Sumatra.

The first Lima AKEs finish conversion; they will load supplies then proceed to their assigned ports - Georgetown, Palembang, Cam Ranh Bay, Davao/Balikpapan, Truk/Rabaul, Kwajalein, Paramushiro.

Siquijor flips.

I-156 hit a mine at Merak and sank.

In China, IJA troops enter Chengchow and find it evacuated by the Chinese!

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 29

Another slow day -

Chengchow was captured unopposed, but resource and light industry were 50% destroyed. Neither will be repaired. The previous Chinese units at Chengchow have moved west to clear terrain or northwest to Loyang. The stack west of Chengchow will be attacked by 3 Tank Rgts moving there now from the southeast, followed by 13 Div, 36 Div and heavy artillery. Loyang will not be entered until the only retreat route is across the river to the northwest, putting those retreated units out of action for many days. With control of both the road from Loyang to Nanyang and the adjacent railroad, the IJA will have established central position in that section of China.



Langsa (Sumatra, north of Medan) was captured and the defending base force surrendered.

Cape Gloucester was captured unopposed.

Surigao (on Mindanao) flipped, as an SNLF parachute unit landed there. This cuts off retreat of the 6 Allied units at Butuan, although they could move to Surigao to try to capture it. 2 Tank Rgt will advance to Butuan tomorrow, followed by elements of 2 Div within a few days.

Manila's RSY has been repaired to 20, and now will be improved to 30.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 30

Tabar Island flips (near Kavieng).

Lahat captured unopposed (west of Palembang, on the road to Benkoelen).

Clark Field and Manila airfields and ports fully repaired and at level 1 fortification. 16 Div begins moving to Clark.

CVL Ryujo, at Truk waiting for the CVs to finish a couple day repair, and 144 Rgt to recover after its capture of Guam and Wake, resizes to 32 fighters and 16 torpedo bombers. It's still flying Claudes and Kate 1, but won't likely get Zeroes until sometime in mid-January.

The Dutch tried to recapture Djambi -

Ground combat at Djambi (48,88)

Allied Shock attack (river crossing)

Attacking force 125 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 4244 troops, 40 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Pakanbaroe Det.

Defending units:
33rd/C Division

On Mindanao, an Allied base force moved from Butuan to Surigao (defended by part of a parachute SNLF) and was wiped out by attrition - no battle, just the wipe out message. That's a new one for me.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 31

Mindanao

2 Recon Rgt attacks at Butuan, but 3 of the 5 defenders have moved NE to Surigao; the 2 laggards surrender -

Ground combat at Butuan (80,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1025 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 448 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Japanese adjusted assault: 33

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Butuan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
595 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
Mindanao Force Corps

This sets up an interesting situation at Surigao for Jan 1. The 3 Allied units that moved there are a Rgt and 2 Bns, but in poor shape after being attacked at Cagayan and Malaybalay. The IJN defender is part of the parachute SNLF with AV ~20. To ensure they don't shock attack, the air transport reinforcement has been stopped. To add to the defense, part of a NG unit headed to Cagayan will divert to Surigao. And 2 Bns of 2 Div already loaded at Cagayan for the coming invasion at Samarinda will also divert to Surigao. If the Allies attack they will be in for a BIG surprise.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 31 continued

China

The battle west of Chengchow will take place tomorrow (Jan 1, '42). 3, 11, and 12 Tank Rgts will attack the 25,000 strong Chinese force that moved out of Chengchow some days ago, and is now showing movement to the SW. Coming in the opposite direction is 13 Div (in combat mode); whoever moves first will block the other's advance. In addition, 35 Div(+) will move into the hex from the SE (in combat mode). As at Surigao, if the Allies attack they will be in for a big surprise.



There will also be a battle at Pucheng on Jan 1, but nothing as dramatic as near Chengchow.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jan 1

Before we show the action on the ground, a quick update on aircraft; pools, production, and research. This list is NOT all inclusive, as I've left out transports, old stuff that's still flying, and way in the future stuff -

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jan 1 continued

China

The battle west of Chengchow went as expected -

Ground combat at 87,44 (near Chengchow)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3022 troops, 12 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 626

Defending force 12003 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 240

Japanese adjusted assault: 134 (only the tank regiments attacked)

Allied adjusted defense: 36

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
7891 casualties reported
Squads: 409 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 286 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 60 (22 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating to Loyang!

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
13th Division
12th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
1st War Area
10th Chinese Base Force

The tank regiments will proceed NW to block a westward move by the Chinese out of Loyang, while the infantry and artillery move into Loyang, along with more infantry already moving NW from Chengchow.

Meanwhile, an attack at Pucheng reduced forts to 1, and should capture the place tomorrow.

Sumatra

Imperial Guard Div/A landed at Medan and will attack tomorrow. Imperial Guard Div/B moved NW from Langsa to defend the river line in case of a Dutch advance from Sabang, while aviation support at Alor Star is transported to Langsa. Imperial Guard Div/C is loading at Alor Star for an invasion at Tandjoengbalai to the south.

Philippines

Basilan flipped. Surigao was reinforced by IJA and IJN units as described in a post #114 above, but the Allies neither attacked nor bombarded. They will be destroyed tomorrow.

16 Div and 48 Div, with artillery, engineers, and tanks, begin their move from Clark Field to Bataan.

Logistics

Saipan's RSY has been improved to 30. Still working on the logjam of resource at Hakodate and Toyohara. The supply spinners at Tokyo and Osaka have been tweaked to get a little more supply flowing to Gifu and Yokohama so engine research repairs can resume.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jan 2

China

The Chinese abandoned Nanyang, moving SW rather than falling back on Sian. I don't understand the logic in that, but if he's thinking of starting an offensive, he's delusional. Nanyang will be captured unopposed on Jan 3, and the units fleeing Loyang will also be cut off, making an escape or retreat to the NW their only option.



Once Nanyang is secured, almost 2000 AV will be available there. One or two units will move NW to see what's there, but I have no intention to move further toward Sian at this time. The rest will move SW to push the Chinese across the river, then move south to join the offensive in the vicinity of Changsha (which has not yet begun). After Loyang is secured, a few units will stay to improve the base, while the divisions rail south to Wuchang and the coming offensive.

Farther south, Pucheng was captured with little opposition, as those Chinese units are fleeing west. A Chinese counterattack at Kanhsien was repelled, but could succeed if tried again. IJA forts at Kanhsien are only level 1.

Ground combat at Kanhsien (81,57)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4580 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 447

Defending force 5513 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 115

Allied assault odds: 1 to 38 (fort level 1)

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
25th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps

Defending units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade

After several days trying to move out of Pakhoi, the Chinese decided to attack -

Ground combat at Pakhoi (72,58)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4628 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Defending force 3627 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Allied adjusted assault: 77

Japanese adjusted defense: 30

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
64th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
7th JAAF AF Coy

If repeated, an attack here could succeed. The 5 Tank Rgt, on transports heading to Malaya, will be diverted north to reinforce Pakhoi. They should arrive the day after next, so the 4th Regt needs to hold on one more day.

Meanwhile, at Tarakan, 38 Div begins loading transports for the invasion of Samarinda. 16 Inf Regt at Cagayan begins loading for the invasion of Manado. 144 Inf Regt at Truk finishes loading and heads south for Shortlands, with a waypoint at Rabaul, its true objective, while still prepping for Buna. CVs Hiryu and Soryu, having refueled at Miri, head toward Jolo to support the invasion at Samarinda. The other CVs are getting dings sorted at Truk and Babeldaob, but will be available for service in a few days. On Sumatra, Medan was captured with only 2 oil and refinery points damaged.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jan 3

Siargao flipped.

Nanyang was captured unopposed. From Nanyang 1 Mixed Bde (202 AV) will move NW to investigate the 2 Chinese units there, while 6, 36, 40, 116 Divs and support (1707 AV) will move SW to attack the stack of Chinese units (now 9) that evacuated from Nanyang. 18 RGC Div remains at Nanyang for garrison duties.

13 Div(+) has moved into Loyang and will bombard before reinforcements arrive; 41 Div and others arrive tomorrow, and a deliberate attack will occur on Jan 5. When successful, the defenders only retreat is NW across the river.

There was no Chinese counterattack at Kanhsien.

The Chinese counterattack at Pakhoi only achieved 1:2, and 5 Tank Rgt will arrive and unload tomorrow.

The Philippine defenders at Surigao are hanging on -

Ground combat at Surigao (81,88)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2734 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 1325 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Japanese adjusted assault: 72

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

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

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
III./4th Infantry Battalion
III/81st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd/101st PA Battalion

2 Recon Rgt will reinforce in a day or so, if tomorrow's attack does not result in surrender of the Philippinos. The parachute fragment at Surigao has been withdrawn by sea to Cagayan, where it will rejoin the main unit enroute from Taytay by sea. Once rejoined and rested, this SNLF unit will be available for a airdrop on Sidate, SW of Manado. The other parachute SNLF unit is at Tawau and is loading transports (destination TBD).