Meridian to Majestic: Hartwig (Lokasenna) (J) vs obvert (A) (Bullwinkle's from 7/41-11/44)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You don't mention the huge lopsided victory at Toungoo and it looks like you coloured the losses red for the wrong side! All those IJA squads destroyed plus guns and vehicles is a very nice haul and a good step toward evening up the LCU points loss on the VP scoreboard.

Thx. Good find. Yeah, there are a lot of persistent IJA defenders now behind what have become the Allied lines. Things have moved quickly in game time over the last month. There is still another ID in Burma to break down, and a LOT of IJA defenders on the Paoshan to Lashio Rd with more heading that way.

If all goes to plan the entire army that was in Burma will be cut off by the Allied move to Nanning and beyond. Once I gain the rail at Liuchow, things will be really hard to fix in China for him. Recon shows there aren't a lot of big IJA units defending ay base from Kweiyang to Changsha. Even Chungking may only have one ID in it. So speed is critical there. If I can free the Chinese Army and have them respawn at Chungking I can use the rest of the Allies to move on toward the Home Islands.

Chengtu is the alternative respawn base to Chungking so you might be able to grab that one more easily if the defence is weak.

Either is fine, but I may have to go through Chungking to get to Chengtu.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 16-17, 1945[/font]

---

Yahagi and company manage to evade the DDs sent to hunt them and the air attacks set for the 16th. One Allied convoy narrowly misses another bad encounter.

At Nanning B-29s bombed the troops again. I don't like using these precious airframes for ground strikes, but this is important enough and there isn't another options available. The range from Burma is too much and there are no other big enough airfields in range to do this. Luckily only a few are lost to ops.

Two units accidentally go forward this turn and cross, getting messed up in the process for no good reason. That's my bad, after setting the rest to a slower pace in combat mode somehow I missed these two.

On the 17th all is rectified, with Nanning falling to the main force of the Allied army at Nanning. Liuchow looks weakly defended as well.

The Yahagi TF is found by air strikes as well, and the majority of it sunk.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 16, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 74,96, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi
CL Sendai
DD Matsu
E Otori
DD Toten
DD Kosho

Allied Ships
DE Bowers
SC-522
xAP President Coolidge
SC PC-582
SC PC-778
xAP Dunnatar Castle
xAP Empress ' Scotland
xAP Empress ' Australia

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 9,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Militia Regiment, at 72,55 (Nanning)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 32
F4U-1A Corsair x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
380 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 7th Area Army, at 72,55 (Nanning)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 30
B-29-25 Superfort x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Nanning , at 72,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Nanning (72,55)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1000 troops, 20 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Defending force 12311 troops, 97 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 232

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 267

Allied assault odds: 1 to 267 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-)
preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 39 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
251st Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
46th Division
2nd Militia Regiment
28th RF Gun Battalion
7th Area Army
218th Naval Construction Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Saigon (60,71)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18633 troops, 236 guns, 681 vehicles, Assault Value = 856

Defending force 21901 troops, 170 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Allied adjusted assault: 546

Japanese adjusted defense: 549

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
774 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
328 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Assaulting units:
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Australian Division
18th Marine Defense Battalion
3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
9th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
105th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Cape St.Jaques Fortress
38th Army
217th Naval Construction Battalion
19th Army
30th Ind. Engineer Regiment
44th Field AA Machinecannon Company
5th Army
11th Special Base Force
78th Field AA Battalion
3rd JAAF AF Coy

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 16, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 79,67, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E No.65, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
E No.83, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
E No.150, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Luce
DD McDermut
DD McNair, Shell hits 1
DD Mertz

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 32% moonlight: 8,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 80,68, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E No.40, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
E No.104, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
E No.186, Shell hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Benham
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD Tucker
DD Phelps

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hengchun at 81,68, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E No.43, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
E No.57, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
E No.59, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Cotten
DD Paul Hamilton
DD Richard P. Leary
DD William Porter

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 138 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 12
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 21

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 22
P-51D Mustang x 38
F4U-1D Corsair x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 2 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 88 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 49
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 20

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 22
P-51D Mustang x 35
F4U-1D Corsair x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 7 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 11 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Basilan at 75,90

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Basilan at 75,90

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 1
TBM-3 Avenger x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Toten, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Yahagi, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Otori

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBM-3 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Basilan at 75,90

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 22

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
E Otori
DD Kosho
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Yahagi, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Matsu

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Sendai
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Yahagi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Haiphong , at 68,57

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 32
P-38L Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-Sa Irving: 4 destroyed on ground
H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Liberator B.VI bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 19th Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 81,62 (Swatow)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 44
B-29-25 Superfort x 22

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
737 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Basilan at 75,90

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 15
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kosho, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
E Otori

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Nanning (72,55)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 88580 troops, 1491 guns, 2081 vehicles, Assault Value = 3552

Defending force 12356 troops, 97 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 232

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 3353

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 257 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nanning !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3834 casualties reported
Squads: 347 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 246 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 52 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 90 (68 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 111 (108 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
XIV Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
716th Tank Battalion
706th Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
98th Infantry Division
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
124th Cavalry Regiment
711th Tank Battalion
I Corps Cmbt Engineer Regiment
77th Infantry Division
15th NZ Brigade
12th Australian Brigade
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
27th Australian Brigade
148th Field Artillery Battalion
607th Coast AA Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
12th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
XIV Corps Artillery
694th Field Artillery Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
11th Marine Defense Battalion
544th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
192nd USAAF Base Force
6th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
109th Tank Attack Regiment
53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
46th Division
2nd Militia Regiment
28th RF Gun Battalion
7th Area Army
218th Naval Construction Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Saigon (60,71)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21493 troops, 239 guns, 737 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Defending force 20904 troops, 168 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 266

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 336

Japanese adjusted defense: 451

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
651 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 34 (1 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
194th Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
767th Tank Battalion
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
1st Australian Division
3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
18th Marine Defense Battalion
9th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
105th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
30th Ind. Engineer Regiment
78th Field AA Battalion
19th Army
Cape St.Jaques Fortress
38th Army
5th Army
44th Field AA Machinecannon Company
217th Naval Construction Battalion
11th Special Base Force
3rd JAAF AF Coy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

This map shows the next stage in the Allied progress coming together. Laong will be invaded on the 18th, and shortly after troops will move amphibiously on Swatow. I've begun softening up the base, which I hope will read as a diversionary tactic since I've not done any bombing prep at Laong. Vigan will be attempted by paratroops. Then the two IDs will move toward Aparri while more engineers and air support will fly in.

[Bif1961]

The USS Houston and the HMAS Perth sent a Divisional Commander in the drink when they stumbled unto a Japanese amphibious assault at Banten Bay. Both the Houston and Perth were sunk in the melee, 28 Feb - 1 March, 1942.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 18, 1945[/font]

---

On the 18th the next stage of Allied plans goes into action with the landing at Luong on Luzon. Accompanied by massive aerial support the base will fall easily tomorrow. I'll also take Vigan, which is empty, by para-drop. Then march to Aparri.

Shortly thereafter, as shown on the map below, the next stage landing for China will hit Swatow, while Chachow next door will be assaulted by paras. The two combined will give a foothold to support further advances to Formosa and up the Chinese coastline as well as encircling Canton/Hong Kong. Troops are prepped for Kagi but I've just found a new ID there, so I might switch and push my luck on a less prepped landing at Taichu, next to it, which has only 4k troops. Both in the clear so not impossible to take regardless.

Rough sledding at the hex near Vinh, where even more IJA troops are en route. I have to get this hex quickly and move to the base if I have any chance to take it, but it might already be too late.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 18, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Laoag at 80,71

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 7 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CV Bunker Hill
CV Bennington
CV Intrepid

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Laoag (81,72)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

62 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Arkansas
BB Tennessee
CLAA Flint
DD Van Ghent
PG Soerabaja
APA Noble
AKA Uvalde
DE Jumna

Japanese ground losses:
371 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

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

BB Arkansas firing at 28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
BB Tennessee firing at 28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
CLAA Flint firing at 28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
DD Van Ghent firing at 28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
PG Soerabaja firing at 28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
PG Soerabaja fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Laoag (81,72)

TF 130 troops unloading over beach at Laoag, 81,72

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 40 (0 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

10 troops of a US HMG Section lost from landing craft during unload of 81st Infantry Div
Motorized Support lost from landing craft during unload of 81st Infantry Div /19
12 Engineers lost in surf during unload of 9th USN Naval Const Rgt /19
13 troops of a USA 44 Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 7th Infantry Div /19
13 troops of a USA 44 Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div /20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Liuchow , at 74,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.III x 3
Liberator GR.VI x 33
Spitfire VIII x 10
B-29-1 Superfort x 32
B-29-25 Superfort x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5d-S Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
530 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Liberator GR.VI bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 94th Engineer Regiment, at 81,72 (Laoag)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 12
B-29-25 Superfort x 84

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
1932 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 186 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 76 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 18th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 1st Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 8th Fleet ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Talaud-eilanden at 85,96

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 15
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
E Otori
DD Matsu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 66,60 (near Vinh)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 78884 troops, 1372 guns, 1604 vehicles, Assault Value = 2580

Defending force 20110 troops, 327 guns, 427 vehicles, Assault Value = 744

Allied adjusted assault: 2851

Japanese adjusted defense: 1733

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
975 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 77 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 88 (22 destroyed, 66 disabled)
Vehicles lost 188 (19 destroyed, 169 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3114 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 382 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Guns lost 48 (1 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (7 destroyed, 43 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
43rd Infantry Division
44th Tank Battalion
27th Infantry Division
775th Tank Battalion
710th Tank Battalion
93rd Infantry Division
3rd Marine Division
713th Flame Tank Battalion
11th (East African) Division
85/88/98th Mortar Regiment
5th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Tank Division
8th Division
71st/A Division
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
115th JAAF AF Bn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[BBfanboy]

E Otori is getting a bad rep - last report the DD with her was bombed and sunk. This turn the DD was not sunk, but one bomb on a little Matsu DD has to hurt.

I agree with the idea to switch your Formosa assault to Taichu. Assuming surprise is achieved, his division at Kagi will take two days to march to Taichu and by then most of your disablements should be recovered. Bombing and bombarding his division at Kagi should also slow down its arrival in Taichu.

By the way, the base on the NW tip of Luzon is Laoag, not Luong (in case some readers are looking for the latter).

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The USS Houston and the HMAS Perth sent a Divisional Commander in the drink when they stumbled unto a Japanese amphibious assault at Banten Bay. Both the Houston and Perth were sunk in the melee, 28 Feb - 1 March, 1942.

Just read the account of this in detail. It was most likely long lances sent to sink Perth and Houston that hit four transports in Bantam Bay and knocked that general off the ship. Sounds like the IJN got a little bit confused and in the night sent torpedoes from all sides toward the two Allied ships, forcing their own to evade and hitting the transports hard.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

E Otori is getting a bad rep - last report the DD with her was bombed and sunk. This turn the DD was not sunk, but one bomb on a little Matsu DD has to hurt.

I agree with the idea to switch your Formosa assault to Taichu. Assuming surprise is achieved, his division at Kagi will take two days to march to Taichu and by then most of your disablements should be recovered. Bombing and bombarding his division at Kagi should also slow down its arrival in Taichu.

By the way, the base on the NW tip of Luzon is Laoag, not Luong (in case some readers are looking for the latter).

I think only the ships with Otori get sunk. In the last report DD Kosho was hit by three 1,000lb bombs and sunk. [;)]

With Taichu it's also farther from both of his major troop concentrations at Takao (70k) and Taihoku (50k) so by the time they arrive it'll be well established as an allied base assuming I can get troops ashore in good order and take it within a day.

Thanks on the spelling help. My eyes aren't what they once were. Mostly from this game no doubt! [:D]

[obvert]

The other major event of the day, which is really a huge turning point in the war, is the shock into Nanning, taking the base easily and shutting the main door back to China for a huge portion of the IJA troops now in Indochina and moving back from Burma. I'll quickly move forward to solidify this hold and get Liuchow, then move up the rail NW and across to the NE.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Nanning (72,55)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 88580 troops, 1491 guns, 2081 vehicles, Assault Value = 3552

Defending force 12356 troops, 97 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 232

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 3353

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 257 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nanning !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3834 casualties reported
Squads: 347 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 246 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 52 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 90 (68 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 111 (108 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
XIV Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
716th Tank Battalion
706th Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
98th Infantry Division
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
124th Cavalry Regiment
711th Tank Battalion
I Corps Cmbt Engineer Regiment
77th Infantry Division
15th NZ Brigade
12th Australian Brigade
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
24th Infantry Division
27th Australian Brigade
148th Field Artillery Battalion
607th Coast AA Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
12th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
XIV Corps Artillery
694th Field Artillery Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
11th Marine Defense Battalion
544th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
192nd USAAF Base Force
6th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
109th Tank Attack Regiment
53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
46th Division
2nd Militia Regiment
28th RF Gun Battalion
7th Area Army
218th Naval Construction Battalion
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[/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 19, 1945[/font]

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Laoag falls. Troops will move to Aparri now.

Saigon cracks and will fall soon giving a another much needed shipyard for repairs. There are a lot of DDs that need it especially.

I begin weakening the defences along the Chinese coast with a sweep at Amoy. Just feeling things out.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 19, 1945
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Morning Air attack on 8th Fleet, at 81,72 (Laoag)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 16
B-29-25 Superfort x 84

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
1245 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 100 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Amoy , at 83,61

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 17

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x P-51D Mustang sweeping at 41000 feet

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 79,63

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 55
TBF-1 Avenger x 50
TBM-1C Avenger x 18

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Imizu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Yuzan Maru
xAK Ryugi Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Madras Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yamakisan Maru
xAK Yosida Maru #3, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Oyashima Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ikuta Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E Chikubu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Laoag (81,72)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3114 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 99

Defending force 27478 troops, 593 guns, 418 vehicles, Assault Value = 777

Japanese ground losses:
1639 casualties reported
Squads: 103 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
94th Engineer Regiment
18th JAAF AF Bn
1st Naval Construction Battalion
7th Shipping Engineer Regiment
8th Fleet /1

Defending units:
81st Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division
55th Coastal Artillery Battalion
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
9th USN Naval Construction Regiment
IX US Corps
97th Coast AA Regiment
24th USN Naval Construction Regiment

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Ground combat at Saigon (60,71)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31281 troops, 453 guns, 815 vehicles, Assault Value = 1282

Defending force 19478 troops, 168 guns, 187 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 622

Japanese adjusted defense: 171

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2015 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 47 (14 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
613 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
1st Australian Division
3rd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
18th Marine Defense Battalion
9th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
105th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
38th Army
78th Field AA Battalion
Cape St.Jaques Fortress
11th Special Base Force
30th Ind. Engineer Regiment
44th Field AA Machinecannon Company
5th Army
19th Army
3rd JAAF AF Coy


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Ground combat at Laoag (81,72)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 20569 troops, 468 guns, 265 vehicles, Assault Value = 777

Defending force 4902 troops, 41 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Allied adjusted assault: 622

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 622 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Laoag !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
4134 casualties reported
Squads: 102 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 191 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 40 (37 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
81st Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division
97th Coast AA Regiment
IX US Corps
55th Coastal Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
9th USN Naval Construction Regiment
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
24th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
28th Ind.Mixed Brigade
94th Engineer Regiment
1st Naval Construction Battalion
18th JAAF AF Bn
7th Shipping Engineer Regiment
8th Fleet /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 73,55 (near Liuchow)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10960 troops, 346 guns, 1165 vehicles, Assault Value = 3513

Defending force 5206 troops, 44 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Allied adjusted assault: 286

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 95 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2124 casualties reported
Squads: 114 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 182 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (24 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
Units pursuing 25

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
77th Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
12th Australian Brigade
716th Tank Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
124th Cavalry Regiment
XIV Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
706th Tank Battalion
2/6th Armoured Regiment
98th Infantry Division
4th USMC Tank Battalion
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
15th NZ Brigade
2nd Marine Division
I Corps Cmbt Engineer Regiment
27th Australian Brigade
11th Marine Defense Battalion
109th Tank Attack Regiment
694th Field Artillery Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV Corps Artillery
1st Medium Regiment
6th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
12th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
544th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
46th Division
2nd Militia Regiment
7th Area Army
218th Naval Construction Battalion
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Getting a lot of good recon now of the Home Islands. Some key bases have no fighter cover. I'll move my recon around a lot so as not to create suspicion that I'm targeting certain bases yet. It'll be a good few weeks before I can get the B-29s in range. From Swatow and Chachow though I could easily hit half of Honshu at normal range in the B-29-25. From Formosa even more, but that is looking too far ahead for now.

I will hit more troops with B-29s to soften Swatow, since I have no other bombing options in range. Then I'll rest them for a good while to get groups intact ready to move. Aparri could also be a good base, but it's in range of a very large concentration of Japanese air power at Manila. Wary of that still.

[obvert]

Ok. I've been meaning to get back to this AAR but the holidays were a bit too busy.

This game took an interesting turn, as Hartwig Modrow has picked up the late war Japanese side from Lokasenna. I'm sorry to see Loka bow out, but excited he was open to letting another player finish it, and to find a very good partner in Modrow. He's na experienced hand and already I can see will continue to provide consistent challenges and tenacious defense.

I'll spend a few posts detailing the evolution of this game since I picked up the Allied side. It's been fun and has let me try out some ideas for the Allies I've been thinking about while on the Japanese side. I'll explain a few of those as I go.

I picked up the game on Nov 30, 1944. The Allies had just landed on Sumatra and faced a tough counter strike by Loka which left a number of surface ships and CVEs sunk or damaged. The only repair yard in the area is Soerabaja and it's full to the brim, so some had to be sent as far as Sydney and Pearl to get patched up.

The Allies hold all of Java, the Celebes, New Guinea, and a good portion of Mindanao and Borneo. My initial assessment was that it would be tough to make up the large VP deficit by July 45. The only hope would be to quickly get into Strat bombing range. I ruled out the Kuriles, as they looked well defended, and decided a quick move to China, by-passing the majority of Luzon, and especially Manilla, would be the goal.

I also wanted to quickly cut off the Burma Amry, which was very strong and had the Allies stymied there. I planned to take Malaya and the coast of Indochina as the jumping off point for China, prepping for some key bases and allowing other troops to just follow in behind to gain more ground.

The first stage would be to consolidate holdings on Sumatra to bomb Palembang, shut of oil/fuel from that base, and shift Allied troops there back to prepare for next invasions at Singkawang and eventually Mersing and Khota Baru. On the other side of Borneo I made Kudat a priority to get a foothold on the South China Sea, and gaining some islands in the Sulu Sea to put pressure on the Japanese on Luzon and give the impression that would be the next target. I also planned to take a lightly defended Legaspi to both hold the flank and possibly allow an invasion to move up to Apparri this way should the KB be out of position.

In Burma I decided to pull all forces back to safety and wait until the Allied landings cut off the Armies here, at which point I hoped they would retreat.

Here is the info screen and situation on Nov 30. The Allies had a 30,000 VP deficit and further the Japanese have a lot of permanent VPs for troops, ships and airframes.

[obvert]

This is the map at that point in game. A daunting prospect, but with a lot of possibilities.

[Canoerebel]

Erik, I think the Intel Screen shot is from our game. It looks awfully familiar - especially the Japanese Strategic Losses (936 points). It would be remarkable to have the same total in both games. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Erik, I think the Intel Screen shot is from our game. It looks awfully familiar - especially the Japanese Strategic Losses (936 points). It would be remarkable to have the same total in both games. [:)]

It is!! It's also from Nov 30, 1945, not 1944. My bad. Thanks for picking that out.

So the VP difference is 26k for the Japanese, not the other way around. [:)]

I changed the original but here it is again so it's on this page too.

[obvert]

Here is the large map.

[obvert]

The fighter pools. Notice the absolute 0 in both P-47 models for the USAAF. The bombers were virtually at zero for new 4E and 2E models. I knew I couldn't simply sweep away my opponent, especially since the first few turns revealed that he was already doing that to the Allies. The Ki-83 and Ki-84r were in full effect and dominating the air.

I decided to see what could happen without Allied air power in the beginning. I stood down sweeps, much of my CAP and dared him to bomb the Allied AA, which was actually quite strong, upgraded and intact.

I also had the issue that Bullwinkle keyed my into that he had not been aware of the critical factor that defensive skill played for the fighter pilot up until recently. So the majority of even very good pilots had defensive skills in the 20-40 range. That meant taking ALL of them out of action until they could be retrained to at least def 50-60, which took a while. Many of the best fighter pilots were flying bombers, and there were very few left in the bomber pools after removing all of the guys with 60+ air skills. A lot of pilot management ensued over the next three months.

Things were in the right places though, and logistics were well managed, with huge supply and fuel stocks on the front lines and a lot of troops and ships ready to go. So I went.

[obvert]

By mid-December I'd begun to reorganise, retreat to regroup, and push a few small forces forward to gain footholds that would allow further expansion. Arrows show the first fo these successful moves.

This also shows something else. The KB, or some part of it, is visible. I wasn't able to react at this point, but with the Allied CV air in good shape and growing in strength, I was eager for a chance to reduce the KB so that I could get more troops forward across the south China Sea. This would be a strategic battle, if I could find it, but seeing the IJN CVs in rage of a flank move from some of my major bases gave me the idea to set up forward recon and search bases to look for the next chance to do this.

Kudos, Singkawang and some of the forward bases in the Sulu Sea became critical in the next few weeks as the Allies got ready to lunge forward.

[obvert]

The VPs were little changed at this point, but we'd had virtually a 1:1 trade, and I couldn't let that continue. I had to take some risks.

[obvert]

The decicive moment in game so far (since I picked it up) came on the 22nd of December. I'd seen a large IJN BB/CA TF near Cam Ran Bay, and continued to see it moving toward the Indochinese coast. My CVs had moved up to support an invasion at Boac, SE of Manila on Luzon, and had just warded off a big LBA strike by Loka's Manila forces, with the loss of one CVE and damage to several others.

I decided to turn the tables and make a surprise dash into the unknown. I figured this would be the least expected moment to do something, while supporting an invasion and without perfect intel on the number or type of ships. I though the LBA would be less numerous there, most likely not all turns on and massed for strikes, and CAP would also be less just past Cam Ran and Saigon. It was a Halsey kind of moment, and since he was in charge of DS-1 I took a shot! [:)]

The Allies got extremely lucky here, landing one hex from the KB and all of it's numerous heavy surface escort, but the KB was travelling dark, with little CAP and no strikes set. [X(]

It was a one sided battle and still day two was dicey. With that much so close something was bound to get through, but the Allied surface forces dd well and the CVs managed a few more good strikes. Here is the beginning post in the AAR. Dec 22


This was the turn I needed and almost immediately I began loading for stage one of the Malaya invasion, followed by loading the SW Indochina troops, then the NE Indochina troops, and then the troops for China, all in quick succession. This was a test of Allied logistics on the largest scale, as I wanted there to be days between invasions, with no chance to recoup, shift or react, and while the KB was still making it back to port for repairs and replenished air groups.

By the turn of the year things were in motion.

[obvert]

Next step; Malaya.

[obvert]

By Jan 15 everything was in motion and the first troops had landed at Mersing. The follow on troops for Singers as well as the many other next level invasions trailed behind arriving as quickly as they could.

Most of the fighting over the first weeks of 45 was in the PI, with Boac and the newly captured Legaspi being the focus of the IJ's attention. I'd left everything here quiet for a bit other than the milk runs at Palembang. Search didn't even pick up the TFs until they were at Mersing and already unloaded.