Hittin' the bottle again...

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hittin' the bottle again
Doin' everything the doctor told me not to do
Daylight find me playing
Midnight find me playing too
Ever so lone in town, I'll be churning out turns fast
Playing Bottlenecks every night

[freely adapted from a John Lee Hooker song]

I have actually started another Bottlenecks game a while ago against Axe and maintain a short AAR on Jochen's WitP Discord server - I might as well mirror it here for those who are not on Discord :

First turn of my new PBEM game sent out. Will try something different this time. In my last game Wenchow has been a thorn in my side, the airfield served as a base for enemy fighter-bombers on low naval attack wreacking havoc with my convoys - because the overland approach by the 13th Corps from Shanghai turned out to be "too late and too few" to take Wenchow in a timely fashion. So this time 14th Army will first go to China to take Wenchow with 48th Div and 65th Bde in first wave and the various elements of the 16th Div reinforcing. At the same time paras will establish an airbase on Northern Luzon for fighter cover and 4th, 21st and 33rd Divs will await then board transports. I expect Wenchow to fall by Dec 11th , 16th and 48th will then reimbark and all said units will rendevous at Takao for a five-division landing on Luzon under local fighter cover in order to clean Luzon quickly, then on to Singers. That's the plan. But we all know what happens to battle plans - they usually don't survive contact with the enemy...

Dec 7th, 1941.
Got the first turn back. Not much to report yet while troops and convoys move to the front. Paras have taken Aparri and Laoag. HMS Peterel went down with colours flying at Shanghai. Betties from Saigon found no trace of Force Z and struck targets of opportunity instead, sinking a few HDMLs and xAKLs. Seven B-17s tried to bomb the anchorage at Koror / Babeldaob but the nest has been emptied in anticipation of such a strike and a handful of Kansens (Claudes for the AFBs) and float planes on CAP damaged 2 beasts. Had a few sub contacts, the AP William Ward Burrows got sunk near Wake by RO-67, while I-1, I-2 and I-3 missed two xAKs and a tanker near Lahaina - and I-169 missed CV Enterprise off PH *ggrrrr*.

Dec 8th, 1941.
Japanese SAGs hunt-down DDs Scout and Thanet, some PGs at Hong-Kong, couple of merchantmen fleeing from Hong-Kong, and AG Gold Star. First Japanese ship lost is Kaga... - Kaga Maru that is, sunk by a Dutch sub south of Saigon, taking the better part of an infantry Bn destined for Kuching with her - darn. I-153 found a juicy target, putting a torp into ARD AFD 10 south of Singers. Manila and Clark swept by the two Reisen (Zeros) groups at Takao, 17 Allied fighters downed for 2 Zeros lost. Not bad for 70 air skill and below pilots - I have pulled all IJNAF pilots above 70 skill in air, naval bombing and torpedo bombing from the LBA groups in order to save them for the carriers. Blenheims tried to attack a convoy at Singora but Setsus (Nates) on CAP downed a bomber and the rest turned back. A trio of ancient torpedo bombers based at Hong-Kong has attacked Canton but the Setsus have been on guard as well.

Dec 9th, 1941.
A Japanese cruisers SAG operating in the Celebes Sea bumped into USS Houston escorting an xAP and sank both. Then the SAG bumped into USS Boise, sinking her as well. In return, Nachi and two DDs got banged-up a bit but only flesh wounds. The SAG will RTB to replenish ammo and torps. Meanwhile the invasion of Menado has begun. In the PI, Air search had seen a two-ship TF north of Aparri and CL Naka and DDs have been sent to investigate - they found two enemy four-piper DDs and sank them. Apparently an attempt to ambush reinforcements going to Aparri - I have older DDs on FT duty to shift engineering assets from Takao to Aparri in order to repair the airbase. In China, the landings in Wenchow have started, with significant losses during unloading - xAKs are not the best invasion assets. A Dutch sub has sunk Tone Maru off Cam Ranh Bay. Apparently it is bad mojo for merchantmen to share the name with a warship. Bad luck off Kuching, another Dutch sub has heavily damaged another xAK - the one carrying the other half of the Inf Bn that suffered heavy losses when Kaga Maru went down. With 96 flt damage the ship will go down next turn for sure - scratch one Inf Bn... Ground troops have entered Malaya from Thailand but it is slow going. While more troops are being landed, the enemy air and ground forces seem to have fled south, helped along by bombing attacks courtesy of the IJAAF. In the CentPac, Nauru has been taken.

Dec 10th, 1941.
Unloading continues at Wenchow and Menado. A first DA at Wenchow, the defenders held but suffered heavy losses. Sidate taken in order to cut-off the retreat path from Menado. Ocean Island taken, Guam and Kudat assaulted. Manila swept and bombed - no CAP. Chinese bombers ground-attacked retreating troops near Ichang. Yes, I am deliberately giving-up terrain in China and evacuate - no use to hold territory that does not yield oil, significant numbers of res sources or has industries. Shorter lines = less LOCs vulnerable to Chinese nuisance raids and more reaction forces available. I-155 has put four torpedoes into ARD AFD-9 near Billington. I'm surprised that the important ARDs from Singers had no escorts at all and move on their own (the mod includes tugs in order to simulate the towing of ARDs, barges and crippled ships). The xAK wounded by sub torps off Kuching has sunk - helped along by bombs from ancient British torpedo bombers. The Dutch Air Force must have allowed those pommy bastards the use of a secret airbase in Borneo! Hundreds of troops drowned despite escorts detailed to pick-up crew and passengers. The invasion of Kuching has been called off to avoid further losses. Too bad, sweeping Singers now won't start until air bases in Malaya can be made operational.

Dec 11th, 1941.
Kudat (Northern Borneo) and Menado taken. Madang (PNG) invaded. Guam, Hong Kong and Wenchow resisted DAs, at Wenchow I got 3:1 odds but the Chinese still held? CL Sendai and DDs savaged a convoy of small fry - Philippine xAPs, xAPc and xAKLs - in the Celebes Sea, two dozen ships sunk. British patrol craft PG Kedah also fell victim to Sendai and consorts. Apparently this ship has been evacuating civilians from Sandakan because 113 "non combat" devices have been destroyed with the ship. C'est la guerre ! Mini-KB which is covering the Menado landings has added a few more victims in the area between Borneo, Celebes and Mindanao. Manila swept and bombed, Warhawks on CAP lose 5 of their numbers, no Japanese losses. KB still escorting its oilers is approaching Wake.

Dec 12th, 1941.
Japanese forces have captured Wenchow, Ninghai, Jitra / Alor Setar, Madang-Alexishafen, Tuguegarao and Vigan. DA at Guam failed again, I have sent only the weak Bandasan SNLF but it is only a matter of time and time doesn't matter for Guam. Cagayan invaded by SNLFs in order to deny the airfield and Naga invaded by elements of 16th Div. 2 small SAGs - Sendai + 4 DDs and Nagara + 6 DDs - and Mini-KB sank a few more ships from the fleeing Manila herd in the Celebes Sea. Mini-KB also put two torps into ARD YFD-1 Dewey spotted near Calapan. I-155 has torpedoed CL Mauritius near Billington. KB bombed Wake, 2 Wildcats destroyed.

Dec 13th, 1941.
Hong Kong captured - quite early by my standards, even in h2h mode it usually takes longer. Nice. Undefended Naga on southern Luzon taken. Undefended Claveria (dot base between Aparri and Laoag) taken as well, linking the two beachheads. DAs at Guam and Cagayan failed. Subs have hit 4 different xAKs. A SAG build around CL Isuzu has found and eliminated the Hong Kong MBTs at Kwangchowan. The SAGs in the Celebes Sea have irritated the Allies enough to make them deploy counter-measures - a bunch of seven Swordfish TBs on low naval attack have put four 500-pounders on DD Yukikaze, which went down. Mini-KB sank an xAKL near Manila - 8 Kates dropping torps missed that slow target, but 4 Kates attacking at 10k obtained seven hits with eight bombs! Some people on the Matrix forum say that there is a problem with TB bombing accuracy, others insist there isn't. Well, I tend to support the claims that there is an issue. What do you guys think? Manila and Clark Field bombed, no CAP and one P-40 destroyed on the ground. Two four-piper DDs have bombarded Vigan, apparently with the intention to slow-down our paras which are advancing down the coast.

Dec 14th, 1941.
Butterworth/Sungei, Cagayan and Wake taken. Weston/Beaufort (Borneo), Jolo (PI) invaded. Forgot to reset missions for Zeros at Takao and bombers at Amoy so they went sweeping and bombing obscure bases in China - apparently "Commander discretion" means "take no risks and keep a low profile"? SS Sealion bagged a tanker near Wenchow *grrrr*.

Dec 15th, 1941.
Weston/Beaufort, Jolo and Xuancheng(dot in China) taken, Guam attack failed again, Ambon and Tulagi invaded. The bombers at Amoy got another day of do-what-you-want after the fall of Hong Kong because I forgot once again to reset their mission - my goldfish brain can't retain information seen during the replay long enough to act in the following orders phase accordingly... Despite better knowledge I have tried some quick grabs without proper support and air cover and got punished for it and justly so. Noob mistakes and victory disease! At Cagayan, PBYs from Luzon sank one xAK and heavily damaged another, at Ambon Dorniers and Swordfish from Kendari sank four more. Should have invaded one after another under Mini-KB cover - but didn't want to wait. Mini-KB needs to rearm at Koror/Babeldaob. The CD guns at Ambon also banged-up the old CAs of the escort force - should have sent BBs but they are still transiting from the HI and I didn't want to wait... B-17Ds have bombed Saigon, sinking an xAK in port and damaging two AVs. Now that is something I have never seen or heard off before and never thought about it - but from Singers, Saigon is well in range. Slick b@st@rd!

Dec 16th, 1941.
Victoria Point, Tulagi, Jesselton and Binahian (dot base in southern Luzon) taken. Attacks at Guam and Ambon failed. The punishment for unsupported (or not-enough-supported) invasions continued. At Cagayan, the convoy with the mopping-up and garrison forces got surprised by twelve enemy PTs - with only 3% moonlight, the first indication of something not going according to plan was the torpedo hit which sank xAP Baikal Maru. The escort force - 2 CL, 4 DD - fought back and sank three PTs, but during the confused brawl four more merchantmen got hit by torpedoes and sank, taking hundreds of men and 39 precious artillery pieces with them. Darn! The invasion force at Tulagi was light-weight enough to unload within a day, but got intercepted on the way back to Nauru by ANZAC cruisers and was nearly wiped-out - CM Okinoshima^, DD Yunagi and PB Nagata Maru sunk, the rest so badly damaged that survival is in doubt, especially if the enemy cruisers decide to hang around. Near Namlea, a lone minelayer tasked to establish a protective minefield at Ambon has run into somewhat more than it could handle - Force Z. Luckily, the sacrifice of the CM has bought enough time for the invasion force at Ambon - the old CAs of the covering force still smoking from the CD gun hits - to anchor-up and leave in a hurry. The B17Ds from Singers have bombed Cam Ranh Bay but this time they had no luck - the tenders at CRB have not been hit. Their biggest success however is that it forces me to spread scarce fighter groups around to provide CAP in Indochina, leaving less assets for offensive missions. And of course this is what my opponent Axe must have in mind. Heck, looks like he has borrowed a few pages from JanSako's book and added his own ideas on top!

Dec 17th, 1941.
Santiago (dot base on Luzon), Taizhou (dot base near Shanghai), Taiping (Malaya), Siocon (dot base on Mindanao) taken. Attacks at Guam and Ambon failed. Sandakan, Cotabato and Davao invaded. I-23^ has torpedoed AO Brazos near Lahaina, leaving her burning - but Allied damage control will probably save the ship. My opponent does everything he can to pinprick me. Two enemy 4-stacker DDs have raided the landings sites on Northern Luzon. The covering SAG sank one of them, the other slipped away to amuse himself with the convoy unloading at Aparri - one xAK sunk by torpedos and two PBs left burning and sinking. Torpedo-totting PBYs have sunk an xAK near the Pescadores. Dorniers planted a bomb on CA Haguro near Peleliu / Angaur. CVL Zuiho sidestepped some sub-launched torps near Legaspi. Nothing serious, but annoying.

Dec 18th, 1941.
Guam, Ambon, Tarawa, Sandakan, Cotabato and Davao taken. First sweeps over Singapore from Kota Bharu, one Reisen lost for 10 Buffalos and a Blenheim IF destroyed. CL Naka plus DDs lend a hand at Guam with a bombardment. Incredible performance by the Allied PT-36. Operating as lone wolf against a small convoy unloading at Legaspi, it has put two torps into AMC Noshiro Maru #1 and riddled an xAK with machine gun fire before escaping unharmed. Force Z bombarded Ambon, causing a few casualties. I have seen it coming and have put Betties on alert at Menado, but only seven Betties launched and hit nothing. B-17s bombed Bangkok, sinking a Thai minecraft. PBYs have torpedoed and sunk another xAK, this time near Cotabato (Mindanao).

Dec 19th, 1941.
Ipoh captured without resistance. Looks like the enemy has holed-up at Singers. Sweeps over Singers have found no opposition. Time to start bombing - and to find CAP traps... Minelaying sub O-20 has sunk minelayer CM Tsugaru^ with two torps off Cam Ranh Bay - *grrrr*. PBYs have torpedoed and sunk an xAP near Takao. It was part of the main invasion convoy for Luzon. The better part of an Inf Rgt gone, over 1700 casualties - *grrrr*. One of my minelaying subs has laid his eggs at Merak but local MSW have detected and swept the field promptly - *grrrr*.

Dec 20th, 1941.
Not much going on while Japanese forces consolidate for the next attacks. Gingoog and Conner taken (obscure dot bases in the PI). Mopping-up of minor PI bases started at Puerto Princesa, invaded by mini-convoy - DMS + xAK - and a splinter of a Naval Guard unit. Enemy subs way too active for my taste - four merchantmen sunk this turn. Chinese bombers got intercepted over Tuanfeng near Hankow by Setsus (Nates) - 6 out of 19 bombers damaged. Two MGs on a Setsu is really a pathetic armament, but the Hayabusa Ic (Oscar) as only alternative isn't much better. I'll need to renegociate the PDU off agreement. Dorniers have but three 300kg bombs on BB Hyuga operating near Ambon - scratching some paint. Tough old gal.

Dec 21st, 1941.
Georgetown (Penang), San Fernando, Puerto Princesa and Tacurong (Mindanao) captured. Main Luzon landings went in at San Fernando (where the good road to Manila starts) with six IDs (4th, 16th, 21st, 33rd, 38th and 48th) plus support, while paras which have arrived overland from Northern Luzon occupied the hex and welcomed the landing force. Enemy PTs have sunk an DMS and escorts sank one PT in return, CAP from Tuguegarao splashed a few floatplanes - where are the expected fighter-bombers? At Puerto Princesa, stellar performance by DM Thracian which has sunk the DMS and the xAK of the mini-convoy. Highly annoying pinpricks, esp. since DMS don't grow on trees for the Japanese side. First bombing raid on Singers - CL De Ruyter and DD Isis received two bombs each - but only one port hit although 80 bombers have been involved - that won't delay fort building...

Dec. 22, 1941.
Kampar, Burias and Lucena captured. Xiaogan has been abandoned by our forces and re-occupied by the Chinese. Rabaul and Kwangchowan invaded. Enemy subs and PTs tried to interfere with the San Fernando landings without success. Two Japanese xAK reported sunk, cause unknown - probably DOWed from earlier actions or collisions. B-17s have bombed Saigon port again, leaving an AKE burning, five B-17s damaged by Setsus on CAP. US tanks have counter-attacked our spearhead at Santiago on Luzon but the IJA Para Bn has held. Chinese gunboats have bombarded Hankow with little success. The Allies show "fight back" spirit - respect!

Dec. 23, 1941.
Japanese forces captured Zamboanga and Butuan (both on Mindanao), Rabaul, Tenom / Melalap (Borneo) and occupied the French enclave in China, Kwangchowan. At Rabaul, an Australian Militia Coy surrendered, but a Bn-sized unit of professional soldiers retreated into the jungle and needs to be hunted-down. One xAK sunk by an enemy sub off Port Arthur - it seems that we need to find escorts for our convoys in our own backyard, the East China Sea. Enemy ground forces at Kampar have been bombed by LBA, apparently some rearguard force. Swordfish bombers have again tried to attack our BB-SAG guarding Ambon, but float-planes on CAP and AA splashed two and spoiled the aim of the survivors. Mighty KB covering the Rabaul operation has sunk - a sail-boat. Mini-KB is replenishing and will then join the forces gathering at Ambon for further operations in the DEI.

Dec. 24, 1941.
No xmas truce! Japanese forces have captured Lingayen as well as the important iron ore mines - already exploited pre-war by a Japanese company - at Bukit Besi - Dungun. The abandonned base at Sinyang has flipped-back to Japanese control, this is annoying because it will cost VPs due to the lack of a garrison - it is behind enemy lines. SS S-38 is reported to have been sunk near San Fernando. Warhawks and Catlinas have tried to attack our shipping off San Fernando but Zeros on LRCAP prevented damage. The German blockade runner Portland has been shelled by an American sub off Truk and received two hits by six-inch shells, setting the ship on fire, but she managed to reach Truk. Singers airbases have been bombed, no CAP and several enemy planes destroyed or damaged on the ground plus airbase damage to slow fort construction.

Dec 25, 1941.
Japanese forces have captured Kuala Kubu, Digos / Malalag Bay, Malaybalay as well as Tabiteuea and occupied Batangas. Troops have landed at Wide Bay south of Rabaul to hunt-down its ex-garrison. In Malaya, the ex-British airbase at Butterworth has received a contigent of IJAAF planes and base forces to help suppress Singers. Singers got bombed again, but CAP was up today and a command SNAFU has send some raids without any fighter escort - about 30 bombers lost... DD Yamakaze has investigated a sighting of enemy shipping at Manokwari, she found and sank a Dutch PC and an xAKL.

Dec 26, 1941.
Japanese forces have captured Utan M. / Stiawan and occupied Mauban. In the PI, enemy PT boats have attacked a convoy landing supplies at Lingayen, losing three PTs but sinking DD Fuyo with a well-placed torpedo. Enemy gunboats have bombarded San Fernando, which is held py a paratrooper Bn and packed with supplies - the bombardment has destroyed some of them. Air battles over Singers continued, six Allied fighters destroyed but CAP and AA claimed an equal number of Japanese planes. Singers airbase collected a few hits and three Allied mincecraft have been sunk. Allied ground forces remaining in Central Malaysia are in the process of being encircled NE of Kuala Lumpur by advancing Japanese troops. B-17s have bombed Bangkok, one bomber has been downed by AA and the Setsu fighters on CAP spoiled the aim of the others. KB is hovering in the Coral Sea and has sunk an xAK off Port Moresby.

Dec 27, 1941.
Wide Bay SW of Rabaul captured and Boac occupied. Sinyang deep behind the front flipped-back to Chinese control again. In North China some Chinese Cavalry plays cat-and-mouse with local garrison forces N of Kweisui. Multiple Chinese units are assembling at Tuanfeng and have been blocking the Hankow-Nanking road for the last couple of days. The IJN Yangtze Flotilla is bombarding this enemy troop concentration every turn while IJA bombers interdict enemy troops moving to join the roadblock - recon counts 13 units at or heading towards that dot base. I will try to hold in the woods with the help of the forces withdrawn from Sinyang and Ichang and reinforcements coming up from the SE. I'm not too worried about this, I don't need the road since the Hankow area can be supplied via the Yangtze and the numerous junks and sampans available.
In Malaysia, Kota Bharu expands airfield to size 4, that will help with sweeping and bombing Singers. Elements of the IJA 5th Division continue operations in central Malaysia while the Guards and 18th Divisions are being held in strategic reserve at Bangkok in order to reduce the supply requirements in Malaysia. The road and railroad infrastructure between Bangkok and Singers will need some serious engineering efforts in order to raise the supply caps! 5th Div will occupy all bases except Singers which will allow to land supplies via Mersing and to assemble forces at Johore for the assault on Singers.
In the PI, a lot of small fry shipping is being observed around Manila Bay and some IJAAF dive bombers have been tasked to reduce that pest. The waters of Formosa Strait are teeming with enemy subs, ASW patrols in the air and at sea don't seem to encourage them to leave. Luckily most attacks are without success.
In the SRA, the important airbase respective anchorage at Kendari-Staring Bay has been invaded under cover of Mini-KB and BB support and should fall next turn.

Dec 28, 1941.
Lots of bases captured today - Tabuk, Oroquieta, Dasol and Surigao in the PI, Kuala Lumpur and Kendari-Staring Bay and a place called Kawkareik in Southern Burma. Cabanatuan on Luzon has been occupied as well by elements of the 16th ID, isolating an enemy tank Bn to the E of the Allied main force. Over Singers, a handful of Buffalos tried to maintain some kind of CAP but could not prevent the bombing attacks that hopefully will hamper the construction of fortifications. AA claimed more victims than enemy fighters. Some intel: Previous report of sinking of DD Peary incorrect - ship sighted and engaged near Siocon. Well, one of my cruiser SAGs patrolling the PI has intercepted an enemy TF spotted by naval search. This time DD Peary got sunk for good - together with AVD Childs, ACM Colonel Harrison (I'm surprised - IMO that ship should be kept at Bataan to maintain the minefield protecting Manila Bay) and a pair of tugs. At Kendari, a few Swordfish bombers attempted a counterattack in vain, Mini-KB provided CAP cover. The ground attack easily captured the base, apparently this came as a surprise because several Swordfish and Vildebeest bombers have been destroyed or captured on the ground. SS I-121* has laid a minefield in Australian waters at Palm Island off Townsville - it won't last long but hopefully will claim something.

Dec 29, 1941.
Pinamalayan occupied, Tavoy captured. A couple of merchant-ships have arrived at Shanghai and other places over the last few days - these are enemy ships which have been captured in port by Japanese forces on the opening day of the war before their crews could scuttle or sabotage them. They are now joining the Japanese merchant fleet as Marus. Singers bombed as usual with the usual bomber losses due to AA while troops continue to advance down the Malay peninsula. Prompt counterattack by B-17s against Kendari airbase got intercepted by CAP from Mini-KB. The real KB has made its presence known off PM, sinking some small fry. The objective is to keep PM isolated until sufficient ground forces can arrive in the SoPac in order to capture that place.

Dec 30, 1941.
The island of Polillo E of Luzon has been occupied by the Rowboat Corps. First recon ground bombardment at Clark Field, looks like the US-PI forces are split between Clark and Manila - good. Progress on Mindanao - Iligan and Wao have been captured. Perfect timing, Illigan fell first with the help of reinforcements amphib-landing in the rear of the defenders, isolating Wao. The surrounded units at Wao - the major part of the 101st PI ID - had nowhere left to go and surrendered. Buffalos continued to contest the skies over Singers in small numbers, providing entertainment for Zero sweeps preceding the bombers, who lost the usual handful of their numbers to AA. Small but steady attrition - I'm bombing at 15k in order to obtain enough hits to keep the airbases damaged. Can't be helped, must be done. In the South Pacific, undefended Gasmata has been captured, other small amphib ops will invade the remaining bases on New Britain in order to deny retreat sanctuaries for the hideouts of the Australian ex-Rabaul garrison currently located at Awul. (Note: New Britain has been reworked in the meantime for the next mod version and has gained a few more dot bases at locations which have seen action in WWII.]

Dec 31, 1941.
Port Swettenham and Dadjangas (Mindanao) captured. Sinyang flipped-back to Japanese control again - WTF? Doi Inthanon on the Thai-Burma border (Thai side) has been occupied by the Allies (flipped) - we have little presence in Northern Thailand. Chinese river gunboats have raided Hankow, resulting in three night battles between the Brown Water Navies. The first round went to the Chinese, we lost the PG Toba. In the other two clashes the Japanese forces suffered little but have set three enemy PGs on fire. In Malaysia the bombing of Singers continues while the 5th Div continues the march south and the mopping up - one Indian Bde plus other remnants has been isolated in Central Malaysia. In the PI, Army dive-bombers have sunk two small merchant ships in the Manila area. The first deliberate attack at Clark Field by five IJA IDs found level-2 forts and 5 enemy divisions - losses have been equal. On Mindanao, mopping-up continues with Bn-sized units while the main elements of the 2nd Division are heading for embarkation points and future ops.

[MBF]

+1 Thanks for this - discord is blocked at work and on my work laptop where I often read the forums so its nice to see how your mod plays out

[LargeSlowTarget]

Jan 01, 1942.
Japanese forces have captured Temerloh, Bayombong and Bogadjim. Iba has been occupied by the Japanese and Xiantao by the Allies. Allied gunboats have raided the Lingayen-San Fernando area, sinking a Japanese MGB. Chinese cavalry has been routed near Ulaan Chab in the North. Chinese bombers have raided Hankow, but Setsus on CAP prevented damage. Singers and Clark Field bombed as usual. Tarakan and Balikpapan have been raided by unescorted Betties from Kendari - finding CAP at Balikpapan which downed one bomber. Bad idea. Koepang has been invaded under heavy cover - 4 BBs and Mini-KB. Three light cruisers have bombarded Port Moresby, damaging the airbase and scaring the garrison - apparently only the 30th Aus Bde is present. SS Pompano~ has launched 4 torpedoes at CV Akagi off Buna and missed. Time to leave these waters. SS I-26^ has launched 6 torpedoes at BB Tennessee between PH and SF - three hits!

Jan 02, 1942.
Japanese forces captured Talasea, Arawe, Koepang, Basilan and Dipolog, while Hlaingbwe flipped to Japanese control. In the PI, ground forces at Clark are still resting and reducing disruption. Army dive-bombers have been hunting small fry again but got intercepted by a pair of P-40s - four bombers lost but three barges sunk nonetheless. In Malaysia the enemy has surprised us with a bombing raid against the airfield at Kuala Lumpur, we lost three bombers on the ground. At Kampar, enemy remnants have been destroyed in a ground attack. At Jerantur / K. Lipis, two enemy infantry units are in the process of being surrounded and attrited. In another command SNAFU, the missions for the Betties at Kendari have not been changed, they raided Tarakan and Balikpapan again and of course promptly ran into reinforced CAP - five Betties lost... Sydney harbour has been the scene of a special operation: Five midget subs have attempted to attack ships in port - one was unable to launch, three unable to penetrate into the harbour and one managed to torpedo a tanker but was lost attempting to escape.

Jan 03, 1942.
Japanese forces have captured Malacca / Gemas, Port Dickson, Kuantan and Moulmein. Masbate has flipped to the Japanese, Pai to the Allies. Kuching invaded. Army dive-bombers have sunk a handful of small fry in the Manila area. Betties from Kendari have sunk three coastal minesweepers and four small freighters near Pamekasan off Java. They better should have been looking for bigger game - Force Z! After the capture of Koepang yesterday, the invasion force had been ordered to re-embark and head back to Staring Bay for replenishment. Leaving with the first light and one hex out of Koepang, the Japanese amphib force got intercepted by a reinforced Force Z! Email intel later showed that my opponent was aiming for Mini-KB which had occupied that hex yesterday, but it had been ordered back to Staring Bay as well and was already gone when Force Z arrived and found the invasion force instead. Luckily, the Koepang invasion had been well-escorted with four old BBs, and although low on ammo due to the prior shore bombardments, they did not hesitate to screen the transports. BB Hyuga took the brunt of the enemy fire, interposing herself between Force Z and the transports. She was hit hard by numerous large caliber shells and sank soon after the action ceased. Her sacrifice has saved most of the loaded transports, only xAK Goyo Maru #2 followed her to a watery grave. On the Allied side, HMS Repulse has been sunk and several DDs and cruisers badly damaged. I hope the Betties and Mini-KB can find some cripples tomorrow and add to the butcher bill. On the far side of the ocean, SS I-9^ has put two more torpedoes into USS Tennessee but could not observe her sinking - however, aircraft losses show two Kingfishers as op losses

Jan 04, 1942.
Subic Bay, Awul, Cape Gloucester, Finschhafen and Kyauk Shat captured, Calayan flipped to Japan.The Koepang naval engagement has claimed another victim, xAK Arabia Maru has burned-up and sank in Koepang port. A couple of SNLF squads have been able to disembark before she went down. Force Z must have engaged its cloaking device, neither LBA nor Mini-KB have found any trace between Soerabaya and Darwin. Makassar invaded, and xAK Yamazuki Maru ran aground while attempting to unload. 12 Dutch PT boats have been eliminated by the covering forces, but in the confusion, xAK Toa Maru #2 collided with DMS W-5. In China, river gunboats have clashed again near Hankow. We have lost PG Hozu and we have sunk PG Chu Tung, PG Kiang Yuan and PG Ying Shan. The Flying Tigers have swept Hong Kong, one Tiger downed for one of the new pre-production "Shoki" fighter planes lost. Next came five Chinese bombers, three have been downed but the survivors managed to put three bomb hits on three different merchant ships in harbour. Pretty accurate bombing for what are supposed to be inexperienced Chinese pilots! In the South Pacific, the Lark Force Bn at Awul has been eliminated, organised resistance has thus ended on New Britain.

Jan 05, 1942.
Bases captured Camiguin (flipped), Makassar and Jerantur / K. Lipis. In Northern China, the surrounded 5th Chinese Cavalry Corps has surrendered near Fengzheng. At Tai'an, two Chinese Corps have been routed. In South China, the inept 3rd RGC/C Division failed for the umpteenth time to capture a dot base near Lishui - their only opposition are some civilian administrators! In Central Malaya, the FMSV~ Brigade and the 8th Indian Brigade have been destroyed at Jerantur. In the CentPac, 3 Allied aircraft carrier have raided the Marshalls sinking an AMc and AS Jingei at Kwajalein Is.

Jan 06, 1942.
Casiguran flipped, Batu Pahat and Kolaka captured. AMC Saigon Maru has laid a minefield at Banjoewangi in the approaches to Soerabaya. Netties have sunk several coastal minesweepers and launches at Singers and near Soerabaya. Singers received a good pasting with many bombers destroyed or damaged on the ground. A deliberate attack at Clark Field failed with the 5+ infantry divisions taking 3x higher losses than the Allies - but at least the forts got reduced to level 1. A deliberate attack at Kuching failed, reinforcements have been dispatched. Mopping-up operations continued on Mindanao and Celebes and the in Burma and Malaya Japanese troops keep advancing. At Lishui, the Chinese administrators fought-off another "attack" by the RGC puppets.

Jan 07, 1942.
Pai flipped, Kluang / Kahang captured. AMC Bankok Maru has laid a minefield at Bathurst Island in the approaches to Darwin. Chinese bombers have attacked Hankow, Setsus on CAP downed one and damaged several others. CAP over Singers has ceased and less and less CAP over Clark Field but AA remains deadly. Situation at Tuanfeng worrisome, 7 Chinese Corps arrayed against less than 2 IJA divisions - we will step-up naval bombardments.

Jan 08, 1942.
Xiaogan flipped to Japan, Palopo and Kuching captured. The British Kuching garrison has fled into Dutch territory, the naval infantry will have to adapt to prolonged land duty for the pursuit. Denpassar invaded under cover of Mini-KB and BBs - the Prince of Wales is still out there somewhere. The Dutch air force impaled itself on Mini-KBs CAP, while Mini-KB struck at small fry like minesweepers in the Denpassar - Soerabaya area - two dozen Dutch planes splashed, at least for Dutch ships sunk, for one inconsequential bomb hit on Fuso. LBA from Makassar has bombed Soerabaya port, hitting CL De Ruyter with two bombs and damaging several minecraft and a submarine tender. Mopping-up continued on Celebes. Singers bombed, no CAP but AA claims 2-5 bombers each day - I hesitate to go from 15k to 20k or higher to to the loss of bombing accuracy, it is too important to prevent fort construction. North of Victoria Point, Thai troops have finally overwhelmed the remnants of the British ex-garrison. In the Central PI, CL Kiso and DD escorts have flushed out a bunch of USN PT boats, sinking four. At Manila, a trio of enemy fighter valiantly tries to maintain a token CAP without much success. In China, the Flying Tigers have executed a LRCAP trap over Xiantao, killing several K-51s. The old cruisers and the remaining river gunboats did their daily bombardment run against enemy troops at Tuanfeng with good results, over 200 casualties reported. At Lishui, the Chinese puppets failed again to destroy the enemy administrators - I suspect there is some kind of false play and treason going on.

Jan 09, 1942.
Japanese forces have captured Dumanquilas (Mindanao) and Denpasar (Bali), Thai forces captured Palauk (Burma). Palanan flipped. The enemy garrison at Denpasar has fled accross the narrow Bali Strait using local small craft and boats. The base will be developed in an airbase to interdict Allied sea routes from an to Java and to provide CAP for the future invasion of Java. In China, some real cruisers have lend a hand in the bombardments of the Chinese hordes at Tuanfeng. Since I am a slow learner, the Allies have been able to repeat the LRCAP trap over Xiantao - 5 more Ki-51s lost. The daily attack at Lishui failed again. Agents have reported that an enemy coastal minesweepers has hit one of our sub-laid mines at Banjoewangi. I-4 has sunk a xAK off San Luis Obispo.

Jan 10, 1942.
Qianjiang flipped, Talaud-eilanden and Ye captured. LBA attacks continue on Singers, Soerabaya and Clark Field without much opposition or effect. Since I am a VERY slow learner, my K-51s got CAP-trapped again over Xiantao - guess my brain refused to believe that my opponent may try the same trick three times in a row. The highlight of this turn was a combined efforts of subs and Kido Butai against shipping at PM - sinking some reinforcements which won't contest the upcoming invasion :
xAP Chaumont is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
AM Lithgow is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
AM Townsville is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
AM Deloraine is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
xAK Vito is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
xAK Mary Livanos is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942
xAP Tegelberg is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Jan 10, 1942

Jan 11, 1942.
Johore / Tebrau, Pare Pare, Bara, Tambaya captured, Gamay flipped. The Dutch coastal defence ship Soerabaya has bombarded Denpasar but on the way back to her home port Soerabaya she has cleard a mine at Banjoewangi the hard way. Reshuffling of air groups in Malaya - the short range 1E bombers and the Ki-48s move forward from Kuala Lumpur to the level 3 base at Kluang / Kahang, the Sallies from Kota Bharu move to Kuala Lumpur. Fighter sweeps of Zeros over Rangoon have found 40 Allied fighters on CAP. Since the best IJN pilots have been pulled from the LBA units and kept in reserve for carrier duty, the LBA units are now staffed by pilots with air skills in the 60s. Consequently, losses are not as lopsided as usual at this stage of the war - 8 Zeros lost for 6 enemy fighters downed. For the same reason, losses in air attacks against Soerabaya are even as well, 3:3.

Jan 12, 1942.
Payao, Namlea, Saumlaki, Taberfane, Dobo captured, Tandag flipped. The usual air attacks at Singers, Soerabya and Clark Field and the usual naval bombardments at Tuanfeng. Lishui again resisted against an attack by the Chineses puppets. The 1st Raiding Regiment has been airdropped at Tambaya south of Thanbyuzayat in order to contain remnants of British troops at Thanbyuzayat. With the fall of Payao, the campaign for Mindanao has come to an end. A supply convoy unloading at Lingayen has been attacked by a lone USN PT boat, which has been sunk by escorts. The landings at Taberfane have been disturbed by a small enemy SAG of Dutch CL Tromp and a British DD - the troop transport xAK Tazima Maru escaped with one shell hit, but the escorting PB Tomitu Maru succumbed to seven hits. A Japanese SAG heading for Port Moresby is nearby and will try to intercept. At the Dutch bases captured this turn, a number of Dutch Civilians have been captured - apparently the enemy Command has decided not to evacuate non-combatants and to leave them to their fate. How barbarous!

Jan 13, 1942.
Captured: Malita, Gorontalo, Madjene - Santa Anna has been occupied by the Japanese (on Luzon, not to be confused with Santa Ana in California). Sinyang has been occupied by the Allies. Kuala Lumpur has expanded the airfield to size 4. Several bits of intel received : DD Encounter determined to have been sunk on or about Jan, 3, 1942. BB Oklahoma is reported to have been sunk near Pearl Harbor on Dec 07, 1941 (even though the scenario does not model the PH strike - Oklahoma and Arizona start with all damage levels at 99 and most likely won't survice). Previous report of sinking of SS Shark incorrect - ship sighted and engaged at 99, 48. This turn adds DD Tenedos sunk near Taberfane by that SAG sent to intercept the raiders, while CL Tromp managed to escape with some slight damage. CM Bungaree has been reported sunk by SS I-173 near Rockhamton, while SS Sculpin~ sank xAK Taizan Maru near Fusan - that sub has guts to operate this close to Japan. Attrition of the Dutch fighters continued over Soerabaya (4 downed this turn), while attrition of IJA bombers due to AA continued over Singers (2 lost). Operations have started to occupy the central Philippines, while landings continue on Celebes to capture the remaining undefended bases before the extermination of the remnants of the Kendari and Makassar garrisons in the jungles will start. The running joke at Lishui continued, another attack failed.

Jan 14, 1942.
Catbalogan flipped, undefended Mersing and Mergui captured. Supply convoys are ready to unload at Mersing and Eng units will improve the logistics net in order to create a suppy stockpile at Johore for the attack on Singers. The reinforced 5th IJA Div will hold Johore while the logistics get in place, in the meantime the 18th IJA Div and the Guards Div are embarking at Bangkok for transfer to Luzon in order to finish business in the PI asap. SIGINT info revealed that USS Sculpin has hit three mines at Tsushima - that'll teach her to operate in the Sea of Japan. River gunboats and older cruisers continue to pummel the Chinese troops at Tuanfeng. The RN has bombarded Moulmein with a BB and 3 CL, damaging the meagre airbase and port infrastructure but missing the Thai garrison. In the morning, 24 Rikkos escorted by 40 Reisen have been intercepted by 13 Flying Tigers and 4 British Buffalos over Rangoon and got handled roughly, 2 Reisen and 9 Rikkos lost for one Tiger downed - WTF? And all this for no hits on some lowly HDMLs.... In the afternoon, a small strike of Rikkos and Zeros tried to attack the retreating RN bombardment force and again got intercepted by Flying Tigers, losing another Zero and three Rikkos for absolutely nothing to show for. A-24s have planted a bomb on CA Suzuya off Port Moresby, damaging one of the main gun turrets. KB has sunk two xAKLs of Cooktown and launched a revenge attack on PM airbase, destroying two bombers on the ground and cratering the runways. Subs had a few success: PC Hermes is reported to have been sunk near Niihau, xAP Pijnacker Hordijk is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon.

Jan 15, 1942.
Japanese forces captured Badian, Namatanai, Loewoek, Babar. Samal flipped. Truk has expanded its port to size 4. Japanese BBs covered by Mini-KB have visited Darwin, sinking several motor launches and mine tenders. Philippine PT Q-111 has struck gold in the PI, torpedoing xAP ArgentinaMaru>Kaiyo. As the somewhat awkward name suggests, the xAP Argentina Maru was renamed Kaiyo upon her conversion into a CVE (conversion is an option, renaming unfortuately not). Won't happen in this game, the ship burned-up and sank. Port Moresby has been invaded by the 65th Bde, 1st Guards Bde and two SNLF - hope this will be enough. B-17s have attacked Bangkok, but this time cannon-armed Zeros were waiting. Two Forts shot-down. In North China near Kweisui, Chinese Cavalry have taken heavy losses.

Jan 16, 1942.
Pangutaran Island has flipped, Kavien, Donggal, Singkawang II and Lamaing have been captured. SS I-121* has laid a minefield at Palm Island in the approaches to Townsville - and an enemy AMc promptly swept it grrr. Unloading continues at PM. AV Kiyokawa Maru has been sunk by Dutch SS KXVII off Saigon - against my better knowledge I had sent the AV out without an escort, I should listen to myself!

Jan 17, 1942.
Lishui and Watampone (Celebes) captured. Yes, Lishui finally captured - after reinforcing the Chinese muppets with an Armoured Car Coy. Ta-u-do (dot base in Burma SE of Toungoo) flipped. KB covering the PM invasion has contributed bombing attacks and her escort vessel for a bombardment while unloading still continues. The first DA at PM has reduced forts to level 1 and caused 600 Allied casualties for 400 Japanese soldiers lost. Opposition consists mainly of the 30th AUS Bde and a Bde of the 8th Aus Div. The daily naval bombardments at Tuanfeng and daily bombings of Singers, Clark, Manila and Soerabaya continue but will not be reported every day except in case of good results or unexpected losses. Only at Soerabaya a handful of Dutch fighters continue to rise to offer entertainment for the Zero escorts.

Jan 18, 1942.
Papun flipped, Bogo, Ternate and Dumaguete captured. Some submarine successes - PC Ariadne is reported to have been sunk near Niihau, xAK Utahan is reported to have been sunk near San Francisco. On the ground, a Japanese attack against the Chinese hordes at Tuanfeng resulted in more or less equal losses on both sides,while a deliberate attack at Clark Field has been stopped cold by the Allies - which was quite unexpected, given the raw AV and Japanese forces assembled for the task! This is not what I was hopping for and results like this endanger the entire timetable...

Jan 19, 1942.
Cebu and Tandjoengselor captured. The elements of the 2nd Div which have captured Cebu will help on Luzon. It was planned to use 2nd Div to clean-out the Central PI and then go to Java but it is more important to finish off Luzon to free those eight divisions engaged there for other tasks. While fighting raged on Cebu, a naval skirmish between DD Yugiri and a bunch of Allied PTs ended with two PTS sunk. Mini-KB is patrolling off Java and had an unusual encounter near Cristmas Is. with an unescorted floating dry dock which somehow made headway in the direction of Australia (the mod includes tugs, proper use would be to assign at least one tug to "tow" the unpropelled dry dock). Apparently this has left everyone so baffled that no shots were fired and no air attacks launched. The Flying Tigers have decided to do some barge hunting in the Yangtze valley - they didn't sink any barges but downed three Setsus of the watchful CAP. I will inform my opponent that Iintend to upgrade the Setsus to Tojos (this was supposed to be a PDU-off game but I botched the settings during the setup, instead of a restart my opponent and I agreed to allow upgrades outside the upgrade paths on a "one for one" basis). A deliberate attack at PM failed to take the base and caused quite a few disrupted squads.

Jan 20, 1942.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Cape St. George and Morotai, Bislig has been occupied. Deliberate attacks at Tuanfeng and at Clark Field went so-so - no real progress except more or less equal attrition on both sides. Enemy PTs torpedoed an xAK at Lingayen but lost four of their numbers when a cruiser SAG decided to pursue the retreating PTs into the Sibuyan Sea. Singer, Clark, Soerabaja bombed as usual. PM bombarded by KB's surface escorts with good results. Mini-KB has found juicy victims:
AS Canopus is reported to have been sunk near Christmas Island IO on Jan 20, 1942
ARD Soerabaja Kv is reported to have been sunk near Christmas Island IO on Jan 20, 1942

Jan 21, 1942.
Undefended Buna has been captured, Doi Inthanon on the Thai-Burma frontier flipped. At Lingayen, we got surprised by a raid conducted by numerous US gunboats, we will probably lose two PBs which have been heavily damaged. A IJN cruiser SAG avenged this by sinking four xAKL near Calapan. US subs are active off the Home Islands, sinking a small xAKL near Miyake-jima. I-171 has avenged this by sinking xAK Talune near Noumea.

Jan 22, 1942.
Dingalan flipped, Thanbyuzayat has been captured by Thai forces which accepted the surrender of the Tenasserim BAF Battalion, the 6 Burma Rifles' Battalion and the 108th RAF Base Force. Reinforcements and supplies have landed at PM. At Milne Bay, company-sized units still struggle for control of the dot "base". Bombing raids against Singers and Soerabaja still find the occasional enemy aircraft to be destroyed on the ground. A sortie by IJN battleships to investigate sightings by naval search has found four barges near Madjene (Celebes)- they must have been loaded to the gills because 2250 casualties have been reported. AKV Hammondsport is reported to have been sunk by SS I-175 near Pearl Harbor - nice! The US gunboats have been severly punished for their insolence by the very busy IJN cruiser SAG build around Mogami and Mikuma operating als PI guard force - on the way to Lingayen they also sunk one of those pesky PTs :
PG Isabel is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PG Asheville is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PG Tulsa is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PG Oahu (PR-6) is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PG Luzon (PR-7) is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PG Mindanao (PR-8) is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PC YP-97 is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PC Perry is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PC Maryanne is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942
PC Fisheries II is reported to have been sunk near Lingayen on Jan 22, 1942

Jan 23, 1942.
Siquijor occupied, San Jose (Panay), Lolobato, Baler captured (194th Tank Battalion SURRENDERED). Bombing raids on Singapore and Soerabaya still find enemy planes to be destroyed on the ground. CL Kuma has laid a minefield at Noumea. A bunch of DMS entered upgrades and won't be available to cover invasions for a week. Unloading continues at PM, which also got pasted by three of our BBs. Milne Bay invaded as well. An enemy sub has left mines at Rabaul but local MSW are busy clearing them. Mini-KB fishing for enemy TFs between Java and Australia reported DD Vendetta, AM Goulburn and TK Anastasia sunk near Exmouth. Despite naval support, a shock attack against the Chinese troops threatening Tuanfeng failed miserably, suffering 4k losses against 2k inflicted.

Jan 24, 1942.
Ban Kat has flipped, Lautem has been captured. Not much happening except the usual bombings and naval bombardments and DAs at Port Moresby and Milne Bay without much success.

Jan 25, 1942.
Sambas and Himamaylan captured, Catanduanes flipped. CVL Shoho arrives at Yokohama=+, PG Tatara' - the ex USS Wake which had surrendered on Dec 7 - has been put into IJN service at Shanghai. Mini-KB has sunk TK Francol near Exmouth. PB Menado Maru sank following a sub torpedo hit yesterday. PM bombarded by IJN battleships in support of a shock attack - which failed. A DA at Milne Bay failed as well. Mopping-up on Celebes continued - Makassar Cdo destroyed.

Jan 26, 1942.
Caraga flipped, Sorong has been captured. Bangkok expands airfield to size 6. Enemy subs very active around Northern Japan, more escorts, hunter groups and air search ordered up there. The Chinese stack at Tuanfeng has retreated in direction of Sinyang, apparently they did not like being on the receiving end of naval bombardments every turn. Consequently the IJN Yangtze flotilla is seeking other occupations,bombarding Ichang and Dongzhi instead. CAP trap by Flying Tigers over Xiaogan cost us a several Gunteis (Sonias). A convoy unloading supplies at Mersing has attracted the attention of British bombers, but CAP and AA claimed seven attackers and prevented any damage to our shipping. Allied PTs in the PI continue to annoy the heck out of the Japanese forces at Lingayen, two transports torpedoed but their escorts managed to sink PT-31. Ground war still stalled at Clark Field, PM and Milne Bay.

Jan 27, 1942.
Japanese forces captured Jiyang. Kiamba flipped to the Japanese, Xiaogan flipped to the Allies. Fires out of control, PB Lushan Maru can not be saved at San Fernando - I cannot remember what has caused the fires, probably one of the Allied naval raids in the Lingayen area. DA at Milne failed again, but at least the defenders are suffering more than the attackers.

Jan 28, 1942.
Milne Bay and Sansapor captured, Borongan flipped. CL Oi has investigated a contact reported by naval search near Kaimana - turned out to be AVP Reiger. CPT Morishita has not applied the best approach - crossing the T and then wasting most of the 40 torpedoes carried by his Oi at a shallow target angle, finally sinking the lowly target with artillery. Reisens and Hayabusas have swept Rangoon, losing one Zero and downing six enemies on CAP. Usual bombings of Singers, Soerabaja and Clark. The ground war still hinges on the way-too-slow recovery of disabled devices, fatigue and disruption of our massed forces at Clark.

Jan 29, 1942.
Dili captured, Xiaogan flipped. CL Tama has laid a minefield at Horn Island. O20 has torpedoed and sunk xAK Akasisan Maru off Cam Ranh Bay. More sweeps over Rangoon, three enemies downed for one Hayabusa lost. British MGBs have attempted to raid Mersing but the Thai Navy charged with guard duty has sunk MGB ML-311.

Jan 30, 1942.
The occupation of Timor continued with the capture of Betano, the opposing Dutch "Dili Detachment" surrendered. Xiantao flipped to Japanese control. Ichang received a good dose of naval bombardment courtesy of the IJN Yantze flotilla. xAP Kasado Maru #1 and xAK Kanto Maru have hit mines at Lingayen, no doubt eggs laid by enemy subs. Agents reported that the minefield laid by CL Kuma at Noumea has found a victim as well, xAK Elisavet was seen burning. Sweeps over Rangoon killed no less than eight Flying Tigers and a Buffalo for the loss of two Hayabusas. Ground reinforcements started unloading at PM. A handful of B-17s has conducted nuisance raids over the past few days in the PNG area against our troops at PM, Milne Bay and today Buna, causing minimum damage.

Jan 31, 1942.
The ground reinforcements plus supporting naval bombardment by BBs have done the trick, Port Moresby fell at last, some enemy units surrendered and other fled in the direction of Kokoda. After a short break, the 65th Bde will head into the Owen Stanley mountains to finish the job. We also captured Kebar (dot base on the Vogelkop) and Mati (dot base on Mindanao) flipped. Six infantry brigades have been activated in China to combine with existing units in order to form a set of "type C" or "Security Divisions" for garrison duty. They are weaker in infantry and artillery than the standard "B" type units but should be a match for Chinese units at least when defending. CL Jintsu has been torpedoed by SS S-18~ off Point Hood while escorting a small invasion convoy for this dot base, but she was only lightly damaged and stayed with her charges. Sweeps over Rangoon found no enemy opposition. Flying Tigers have swept Hankow, the defending prototype Shoki fighters sent to China for combat evaluation have downed one Tiger but lost one of their own. Lots of construction work going on: Ominato+ expands port to size 6 - helps with shipping resources from Hokkaido Mukden expands airfield to size 8 - doubles the AV support, lots of restricted air groups are training at this base Hankow expands airfield to size 5 - deep in Central China this base allows to apply air power throughout a large part of China while easily being supplied via the Yangtze Truk expands airfield to size 3 - needless to say, it is a cornerstone of the CentPac positions Rabaul expands airfield to size 3 and port to size 3 - same as Truk, key position to project power in the PNG and Solomons area


Summary January 1942
This month has seen a steady expansion into the SRA, aiming to capture the PI quickly while preparing the ground for capturing Singapore and the oil-producing bases of the DEI.

While operations in the Southern and Central PI went to plan, the campaign on Luzon faces unexpected difficulties. Despite a substantial numerical and qualitative superiority – 14th Army has nine out of eleven unrestricted IJA infantry divisions assigned to it – the ground battles for Clark Field went badly, with heavy casualties suffered by our forces without succeeding to push the enemy forces out of the base. Many IJA divisions have suffered up to 20% losses and 30-40% disabled devices and need to rebuild before trying again. This is costing precious time and endangers the entire strategic war plan! [Obviously changing the terrain at Clark from ‘clear’ to ‘jungle’ is to blame, I will revert.]. The Allies have also fought-back tenaciously, esp. with PT boats (we call them “devil boats”) inflicting some painful losses on our shipping. We are pouring even more reinforcements (esp. artillery and combat engineers bought-out from Kwantung) into Luzon now in order to conclude this business asap.

25th Army has had no problems gobbling-up Malaya down to Johore Baru, where it pauses to build-up the logistics infrastructure and stockpile supply – and wait for the forces stuck on Luzon. The attached air force units have established air superiority over Singapore and are bombing that base relentlessly in order to prevent fort construction and to provoke supply consumption on the Allied side.

With Mini-KB and the bulk of the surface Navy in support, navy ground units have taken or are scheduled to take all meaningful airbases in the DEI from which enemy bombers could threaten the oil centers before we will move-in to capture these. Soerabaya is being bombed daily to prevent fort construction. The operations in the SW have met some setbacks at the hands of the Allies, esp. by Dutch Dorniers and Force Z, several precious transports and BB Hyuaga got sunk. We sank Repulse in return. The units of the 16th Army which according to prewar planning should have operated in this area have been reassigned to the PI campaign.

In the South, Port Moresby and key bases in the Solomons has been secured by two IJA brigades and the help of some SNLF and Naval Guard units and with KB in support - after a struggle that took longer that I would have liked. This theater will now assume a defensive posture.

In China, our forces have voluntarily yielded terrain in order to consolidate on shorter lines, anchored on our control of the Yangtze which allows to supply our forces via water transport and to apply naval gunpower on enemy ground troops. This has worked well so far, an offensive by Chinese forces in the Hankow area has been aborted by the enemy under a hail of naval gunfire. Given the paucity of garrison troops, we have no plans for expansion in China.

The economy has been expanded slightly, focus is more LI and more aircraft engine factories and of course more airframe production. The tentative aim is 1000 engines and 200 aiframes/month for Reisen M2 fighters, 200 aiframes/month for IJA fighters (Hayabusa IC and Shoki I), and 30-50 aiframes per month for each of the various bomber types, with a dozen or two per month for each recon and transport types (with some streamlining of types, PDU off permitting). Although a convoy plan to ship resources has been established, stockpiles in the Home Islands are running low because much shipping has been requisitionned temporarily or permanently by the Armed Forces.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Feb 01, 1942.
Roxas is occupied, Japanese forces captured Hood Point, Pontianak, Singkawang and Thai forces captured Martaban.
Air strikes on Singers and Soerabaya continued to destroy or damage enemy planes on the ground. Over Hankow a Flying Tiger has been downed by prototype Shoki fighters. Rikkos have attacked merchant ships near Rangoon, sinking xAK Singkep and damaging four more. SS I-169 has torpedoed xAK Trento off PH. A dozen older DDs enter the shipyards for conversion into dedicated ASW escorts.


Feb 02, 1942.
Tagum is occupied, Bandjermasin and Dobadura / Oro Bay invaded.
Bombing of Singers and Clark Field as usual.
A new deliberate attack at Clark Field has failed again with heavy losses on both sides, forts reduces to level 1.
Small unit action at Manokwari, the Dutch garrison defended well.
Bangkok expands port to size 5.
Townsville expands airfield to size 6 - the Allies seem to be determined to defend Queeensland - or to recapture PM.
Just in case - Task Force 424 lays defensive minefield at Port Moresby ( 98 , 130) and sets course for Rabaul.
CL Kuma lays minefield at Canton Island ( 153 , 143) and sets course for Rabaul.
Loss of AMC Kongo Maru #3^ on Feb 02, 1942 is admitted - she has run into three Allied DDs while reconnoitering Efate.
YO-8 is reported to have been sunk near Johnston Island on Feb 02, 1942 - sunk by RO-66 near Johnston Island
xAK Testbank is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Feb 02, 1942 - sunk by Rikkos near Rangoon, Zero escorts downed two Flying Tigers but lost five of their numbers in the process...


Feb 03, 1942.
Pandan is occupied, Manokwari, Dobadura / Oro Bay, Banjoewangi and Tandjoengbalai captured. The attack against Bandjermasin failed.
Darwin has been raided by CL Natori and 5 DDs, savaging local mine sweepers and a supply convoy - AM Lark, two AMc and 15 xAKL sunk.
An anti-shipping strike near Rangoon has pitted 43 Zeros against 9 Flying Tigers - and has cost us six (!) Zeros downed for just two bomb hits on enemy xAKs. At least they protected the Rikkos. A sweep by Army fighters followed instead of preceded this action, downing two Tigers for one Hayabusa lost.
Singers, Clark, Soerabaja bombed as usual, with Buffalos and Blenheims destroyed or damaged on the ground at Singers.


Feb 04, 42.
Tapul is occupied, Bandjermasin and Barbaza captured. Jitra / Alor Setar expands port to size 1, Johore / Tebrau expands port to size 2. This will raise the supply caps and help assembling supply stockpiles for the assault on Singers. Loss of xAK Kanto Maru on Feb 04, 1942 is admitted - sunk by enemy PT boats which again raided the Lingayen anchorage. Air actions over Rangoon have cost us three Hayabusas and the Brits lost one Hurricane and a HDML obliterated by a torpedo hit.


Feb 05, 42.
Serasan is occupied, Morobe and Moemi captured. Lingayen expands port to size 3, that will help protecting supply ships from enemy subs while the Luzon campaign drags on. Some important reinforcements - LSD Akitsu Maru^ arrives at Osaka/Kyoto+, AR Urakami Maru arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo=+. MGB ML-187 got sunk by the Thai Navy guarding Mersing but PT Q-112 torpedoed xAK Imizu Maru at Lingayen. Over Rangoon two Zeros lost for one Hurricane destroyed, two oil barges and a harbor defence launch sunk. I-175 has torpedoed xAK Mormacrey near PH. RO-66 sank YO-4 near Johnston Island.


Feb 06, 42.
Feni Islands is occupied by the Japanese.
CM Saishu lays defensive minefield at Port Moresby.
Two Britsh PGs bombarded Martaban, causing ( casualties among the Thai troops occupying that base.
Two IJN cruisers bombarded Darwin, causing 134 casualties among the British 18th Division occupying that base - interesting intel.
Sweeps over Rangoon - 3 Hayabusas lost for 6 Buffalos and 3 Flying Tiger downed.
Loss of PB Fuji Maru #4 on Feb 06, 1942 is admitted, torpedoed by SS O16 near Port Moresby.
PT Q-112 is reported to have been sunk near Subic Bay by a passing cruiser SAG on her way south from R&R (repairs and replenishment) at HongKong.
xAKL Chaksang and xAKL Ardent reported to have been sunk by Rikkos near Kanthaya.
Deliberate attack at Clark Field fails again with over 3800 casualties against just over 2000 on the Allied side. Raw AV is almosyt 4:1 and forts are only at level 1, but the defenders get terrain(+) bonus...


Feb 07, 42.
Boeton is occupied, Terapo captured.
Sweeps over Rangoon find no opposition.
Milne Bay bombed by B-17s.
ACM Neptune is reported to have been sunk near Bataan / Corregidor by IJA dive bombers.


Feb 08, 42.
Tagbilaran is occupied and Clark Field finally captured. Far East USAAF' RETREATING towards Bataan / Corregidor - I wonder what this Air HQ is still doing in the PI, it should have been evacuated as it forms the nucleus of the future 10th USAAF intended for service in India!
In a small unit action, a deliberate attack at Sarmi / Wakde failed.
Soerabaya, Singers bombed as usual.
Sweeps over Rangoon - 2 Hayabusas traded for 1 P40E.
xAK Yokohama Maru collides with xAK Kosin Maru - we will cut the sake ration of the captains!
ACM Yachiyo Maru sunk at Milne Bay by B-17s.
xAKL Agnes is reported to have been sunk near Mergui on Feb 08, 1942 by Rikkos.
xAK Wind Rush is reported to have been sunk near Santa Catalina Is on Feb 08, 1942 by SS I-4
xAKL Tobelo is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon on Feb 08, 1942 by SS I-164.


Feb 09, 42. Dinagat is occupied.
I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-10 to attack Townsville - SSX Ha-10 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Townsville. I-16 unable to launch midget at Townsville, mission aborted.
More older DDs enter the yards for conversion into escort vessels (I do use the DE designation for them because they still retain speed, the E designation being reserved for slow escorts).
Rangoon swept, with heavy losses - 14 Hayabusas lost for only 2 P40Es and one Buffalo downed.
xAKL Bangalow and xAKL Hopewell are reported to have been sunk near Palm Island by SS I-26^


Feb 10, 42
Loemadjang occupied, DA at Sarmi / Wakde failed again.
CL Kuma has laid a minefield at Palm Island after having dispatched to the depths the minesweeper AMc Tongkol - apparently the Allies had taken precautions at that shipping bottleneck location against submarine minelayers but not against the surface variety.
A handful of Hudsons have attacked BB Haruna near Bandjermasin but her floatplanes have been up on CAP and spoiled the bomber's aim. Soerabaja bombed as usual.


Feb 11, 42
Tioman Island occupied, Salamaua and Tawau captured.
Deliberate attacks at Manila and Sarmi / Wakde failed.
In a sad example of bad command level coordination between surface and submarine commanders, SS I-122* laid another minefield at Palm Island on top of the one laid by CL Kuma yesterday.
xAKL Hidaka Maru #1 has been sunk by SS Cuttlefish~ near Ominato+, taking 76 (!) shell hits before sinking.
British carrier aircraft have torpedoed and sunk xAK Sakito Maru near Betano (that's a new dot base on Timor) - IJN forces will redeploy to hunt the culprit.
Singers bombed heavily and there are still aircraft on the ground waiting to be destroyed.
Soerabaja, Bataan and Manila bombed as well.
Some terror bombing against manpower at Changhsa as well, trying to burn some industries in order to lower Chinese supply production - direct industry bombing in China is banned by HR.
SS I-3 has torpedoed xAK Arkansan near San Francisco.


Feb 12, 42
Brunei Bay-Seria captured unopposed, but the British have damaged 50% of the oil installations just before the start of the war in what they call a "denial scheme". In retaliation, our troops will also practice a "denial scheme" on vital supplies on the next batch of British POWs!
xAK Julia Luckenbach is reported to have been sunk near San Francisco by SS I-3.
Soerabaja, Singers, Bataan bombed as usual to keep the forts from building.
Flying Tigers have sprung a CAP trap at Changhsa, one Shoki fighter and 6 Guntei bombers lost.


Feb 13, 42
Malang occupied, Huizhou and Buka / Bonis captured.
The important oil center Balikpapan has been invaded under heavy cover including a sizeable part of the Combined Fleet. Feebly enemy air attacks caused no damage.
In a night ambush, a trio of enemy PT boats managed to put two torps each into xAK Irako+ and AMC Kiyosumi Maru^, sinking both valuable ships ggrrrr. PT Q-115 got sunk in return by the escorts.
Soerabaja, Singers, Bataan bombed as usual.
An enemy convoy off Rangoon has been savaged with 6 enemy merchantmen hit by Rikko-delivered torpedoes, with xAK Silverteak and xAK Van Heutsz reported to have been sunk.


Feb 14, 42
Loemadjang on Java is occupied - by the Allied fifth columnists. I need to be more careful with rear area security.
Balikpapan captured with superficial damage to oil installations by the combined might of three Naval Guard units despite the local garrison having been reinforced by the troops of neighbouring Samarinda. The Dutch forces have fled back to Samarinda.
A deliberate attack at Manila failed, but at least losses are equal and forts came down to level 2.
B-17s have bombed Thai troops at Martaban - that's fine, while doing this they don't bomb something more valuable elsewhere.
KV Nigella and xAK Tricolor are reported to have been sunk near Rangoon by air attack - the Allies stubbornly try to resupply Rangoon and the Burma Road.


Feb 15, 42
Selaroe occupied by the Rowboat Corps.
A deliberate attack at Manila has brought the forts down to level 1 and caused much more casualties on the Allied side than on the Japanese side - we are getting closer to victory here.
In the South Pacific, the dot base of Rennell Island has been invaded, mainly in a denial scheme as it can host a size 3(6) airbase.
SIGIN reports Pago Pago expanded airfield to size 3 - Allies are busy fortifying the island bridge CONUS - Australia.
Derby and Broome got recon-bombarded by a bunch of DDs just in case enemy ships have been hiding there.
KV Aster is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon by air attack.
xAK Si Kiang is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon by SS I-164.
That wasn't all for that day though. Naval search and recon have tracked the British CV who had made her presence known a few days ago south of Timor - she is now hiding at Darwin under heavy LBA cover. In order to catch her I had triggered a pincer operation. Mini-KB had been operating south of Java and has made a sprint to the south in the direction of Port Hedland trying to catch the Brits in case they retired to Perth, and then proceeded in the direction of Darwin as the "left hook". From its "PM blockade station" in the Solomons Sea, KB has sprinted around PNG in order to catch the Brits in the Coral Sea in case they elected to retire to Sydney via the Torres Strait, then KB proceeded to Darwin as the "right hook". However, recon reported Darwin as being well-covered by enemy fighters. The remedy was a naval bombardment by nine cruisers, which succeeded in damaging numerous planes. In the process DD Yugiri ran into the Boom & Net Defence at Darwin and received medium damage. Mini-KB then launched her strike on Darwin port against a much-diminished CAP - 2 Zeros lost for one P40 destroyed - and found CV Indomitable~, hitting her with 7 bombs and leaving her on fire, plus damage to a CL and some merchies. Then KB launched her might as well and added 42 (!) bomb hits on the unlucky CV, which was more than her armoured flight deck could handle. Her escorts anchored nearby - 2 CL and 3 DD - also got their dose of damaging hits, and several auxiliaries and merchant ships have been damaged as well, with 2 xAKL sunk outright.


Feb 16, 42
Lubang occupied. Manila falls, Rennell Island and Miri-Lutong captured. At Manila, the HQ of the Asiatic Fleet has surrendered - staying behind was a heroic gesture but it would have helped the Allied cause more if it had been evacuated to command USN assets based inAustralia.
At Darwin, another bombardment went in, this time including BBs - and due a command snafu also CS Mizuho, useless in a night bombardment. On the way, in the bombardment force brushed with enemy cripples - CL Emerald leading three DDs in a desperate bid to escape from Darwin. The bombardment force stuck to its orders and proceeded with its main mission, leaving the enemy ships for later. Led by DMS W-10 who elected to clear a path through the heavy minefields in the traditional way, triggering no less than six mines and of course going down, CS Mizuho and DD Yamakaze ventured too close to the harbour entrance and received damage from the Boom & Net Defences. The bombardment added more carnage to airbase, port and industry installations and made nasty holes in a number of merchant ships, auxiliaries and the burning hulk of CV Indomitable~. On the way out, the bombardment force caught up with Emerald, put some shells and a torp into her and left her burning and listing. KB added three bomb hits on DD Napier, with the same results, and DD Barker got sunk by a well-placed aerial torpedo.
However, not everything was sunshine for the Japanese this turn. In the South Pacific, CL Leander, CL Achilles and three DDs embarked on a kill streak. First they intercepted the Rennell Island invasion force and wiped it out - 2 PB, 3 precious DMS and 3 large xAKL lost. Meanwhile CM Itsukushima# was busy laying a defensive minefield at nearby Tulagi - the enemy TF caught up with her near Munda and put her under as well.
More painful losses occurred near Rangoon - the convoy raiders have run into heavy CAP including P-40s and Hurricanes and lost 11 Zeros and 9 Rikkos for only 3 enemy fighters lost - ouch!


Feb 17, 42
Kalamansig occupied. Loemadjang recaptured.
CL Kuma has laid a minefield at Cairns.
On Luzon, attention shifted to Bataan and Corregidor. Ki-51a Guntei dive bombers went for small ships presumably engaged in smuggling supplies into Bataan, sinking or heavily damaging 8 of them.
After the bad experience over Rangoon, a unit fielding the brand new Ki-44 Shoki fighters has received orders to sweep the skies. Based at Chiang Mai, the Shokis have braved a severe storm to carry out orders, downing 3 enemy fighters near Rangoon but losing two of their numbers.
Sniffing for enemy shipping around the NW corner of Australia, DD Shirayuki and DD Hatsuyuki have come across a tanker convoy and had a field day - AM Bendigo, TK Paula, TK Talang Akar and TK Poseidon are reported to have been sunk near Geraldton.
Darwin remains at the center of attention as recon indicates numerous targets remaining in the port of Darwin. Believing the Darwin airbase out of action, unescorted Rikko bombers based at Koepang have raided the port in two waves, but a few P-40s were waiting and downed 3 bombers. KB added her might and together they transformed Darwin into an inferno of burning and sinking ships.

TK Aldegonda, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
ARD Darwin Dock, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AGP Eridanus, Bomb hits 1
AMC Manoora, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ACM #Kookaburra, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG Platypus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kwangtung, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Charon, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
AGP Eridanus, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Patricia, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL William McArthur, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD Darwin Dock, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Tatung, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Janssens, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Dragon~, Bomb hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Gunbar, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Pahang~, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Oriskany, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Boyd, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMC Manoora, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AR Castor, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Aida, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Kajang, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Ballarat, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Rangam, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Rasa, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
YMS Changteh, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Southern Cross, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Lyemun, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Mina, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Aldegonda, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM #Kookaburra, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Feb 18, 42
Lihir is occupied by the Japanese.
Banjoewangi is occupied by the Allies - that rear area security problem again.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Samarinda - the Dutch remnants retreating inland towards Melak-Samarinda II and will be pursued.
Allied forces CAPTURE Morobe - courtesy of the remnants of the PM garrison who has retreated via Kokoda to the PNG north coast, either to be evacuated by Flying Boats or just for annpying / buying time before being killed. Japanese forces are already on the way to encircle the hold-outs, starting with a bombarded of Morobe by CL Kuma.
At Ilolo, a combined force of Army and Navy ground forces in regimental strength has failed to dislodge the defenders, more troops are needed.
Shokis swept Rangoon, losing 1 and downing 4 Warhawks and a Buffalo.
Usual bombing attacks on Singers and Soerabaja and now Bataan / Corregidor - they are daily occurences but I don't report them every day. Same for bombings in China, which at the moment concentrate on Laiwu where enemy troop concentrations are threatening Tsinan on the main north-south railway.
On Java, enemy bombers have attacked our ground forces at Malang, causing slight damage.
Over at Balikpapan, some Blenheims have tried to bomb the oil installations but there is already CAP in place and the Zeros shot-down 3 out of 6 Blenheims and chased away the rest.


Feb 19, 42
Ubay is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kokoda - as I said, the Japanese troops are already on their way to chase the ex-PM garrison. 13 Field Regiment has surrendered, 45th Base Group Base Force and 4th Aus Lt AA Regiment have retreated to Morobe.
B-17s bombed Milne Bay, obtaining three port hits.
Malang bombed by the remnants of the Allied Air Force on Java, our ground forces suffered 10 casualties.
Dutch Flying Boats have found and bombed the large merchantman xAK Brasil Maru near Balabac, sinking her. Escorts managed to rescue 70 men from 48th Field AA Battalion.
Loss of ACM Hagoromo Maru is admitted, sunk by SS KIX off Donggala.


Feb 20, 42
Madioen is occupied by the Japanese.
Sasebo 8th SNLF CAPTURED Probolinggo.
Our ground forces at Malang bombed again - guess I need to stop this.
Usuall bombings of Singers, Soerabaja, Bataan.
On Sumatra, our ground forces have routed enemy forces south of Medan and will advance on that base.


Feb 21, 42
Bengkalis is occupied by the Japanese - thanks to the Row Boat Corps. Guess I need to LRCAP it now.
4th Engineer Co has RECAPTURED Banjoewangi.
A deliberate attack by the III/66th Naval Guard Unit at Wakde / Sarmi failed.
Saigon expands port to size 6.
CAP trap over Soerabaja, 4 unescorted Rikkos lost. Malang bombed again by the Allies. xAK Yamasimo Maru bombed by Dutch bombners near Ketapang. Heck, it is difficult to provide CAP cover and escorts everywhere where needed in the SRA with just 4 air units equipped with Zeros! Guess I need to assign the Army Air Force to take-over CAP duty over the oil-producing bases.
SS I-172 has missed CL Marblehead~ near Fraser Island. SS I-26^ has spotted the same TF a bit later near Bundaberg.
CV Indomitable is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Feb 16, 1942.


Feb 22, 42
Tabar Island is occupied by the Japanese.
Dobadura / Oro Bay expands port to size 1 - the plan is to build-up this base with its good size 4 airbase potential as the PNG main base to defend PM and Milne Bay and to build only forts at the latter two locations which will be prime targets for the Allies to recapture asap.
Suva expands airfield to size 5, Cairns expands airfield to size 4 - Allies are busy beavers.
Malang bombed again by the enemy, this time meet by just two Zeros on LRCAP - one 139WH-3 destroyed and three other bombers damaged.
First batch of old DDs converted to convoy escorts is ready:
Repairs completed on DE Kamikaze at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Asakaze at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Harukaze at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Matsukaze at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Hatakaze at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Hayate at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Oite at Kobe=, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DE Asanagi at Kobe=, ship returned to service
I will convert all Kamikaze, Minekaze and Wakatake class ships to escorts, while all Mutsukis will be turned into APDs.
SS I-124* lays minefield at Noumea.
SS I-121* lays minefield at Upstart Bay.
Agents report that DD Express and DD Cushing have hit mines at Luganville.
CL Tromp is reported to have been sunk near Rockhampton on Feb 22, 1942 by SS I-174.
YO-43 is reported to have been sunk near Palmyra on Feb 22, 1942by SS I-15^.
xAKL Muliama is reported to have been sunk near Cairns on Feb 22, 1942 by SS I-7^.
xAK Yamasimo Maru which got bombed yesterday died of wounds - escorts rescuing 84 men from 144th JAAF AF Bn.


Feb 23, 42
Torokina is occupied by the Japanese.
III/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Sarmi / Wakde.
Japanese ground forces have been besieging and bombarding Bataan / Corregidor for some time but the recovery of the vital combat engineer units needed to tackle fortifications is proceeding very slowly, which is upsetting the timetable for conquering the SRA. A deliberate attack has brought forts down to level 3 and caused twice as many losses on the Allied side but assault odds only 1 to 2.
SS I-26^ encounters a truly Allied cruiser SAG off Bundaberg (Cl Perth + Dutch and USN DDs) but misses DD Craven and receives damage from ASW attacks.
Shokis have swept Rangoon, 10 enemy fighters destroyed for 2 Ki-44 lost.
Mini-KB found a Darwin-bound convoy and sank same:
xAKL Sipora is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Tidore is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Tinombo is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Moesi is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Minjak is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Tomori is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Gen van der Heyen is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Banjoewangi is reported to have been sunk near Drysdale Mission on Feb 23, 1942
xAKL Generaal van Geen is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Feb 23, 1942


Feb 24, 42
Pantar is occupied by the Japanese.
2nd Indpt Coy CAPTURED Wau / Bulolo and 89th JAAF AF Coy CAPTURED Groot Natoena.
I/66th Nav Gd has invaded Saidor.
Bataan / Corregidor, Iloilo, Laiwu bombed.
Two USN cruisers plus 3 DDs have bombarded Buka / Bonis, causing moderate damage to the minimum airbase and port facilities.
Previous report of sinking of CL Mauritius incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.


Feb 25, 42
Lae is occupied by the Japanese.
I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED undefended Saidor.
Another DA at Bataan/Corregidor has brought forts down to level 2, cost us over 600 casualties but caused over 1600 casualties on the Allied side. However, odds were only 1 to 5. To speed things up, more bombers have been ordered to deploy to Luzon, but the numbers are limited by air bases sizes and AV support available.
On Borneo, the 22SBF Kure 1st' Naval Guard Unit continues to chase the Dutch remnants towards Melak-Samarinda II.
CL Kiso has recon-bombarded Derby.
The Yangtze Flotilla has bombarded Xianning, both with reasonable success.
Agents report that APD Whipple~ has hit one of our sub-laid mines at Cairns.
Bad case of cap trap over Rangoon - despite over 60 fighters as escorts, 14 Rikkos got shot-down and 4 Hayabusa as well, for one P-40 downed.
Loss of xAK Hakusika Maru on Feb 25, 1942 is admitted, sunk by SS Saury~ near Cam Ranh Bay.
ACM YP-250 is reported to have been sunk near Johnston Island by SS RO-66.
Previous report of sinking of SS Cachalot incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.


Feb 26, 42
Alor is occupied by the Japanese.
Singers, Soerabaja, Bataan bombed as usual.
Sweeps over Rangoon bagged 1 Buffalo, 6 Hurricane and 5 Warhawks for 3 Reisen, 1 Shoki and 6 Hayabusa lost.
SS I-165 lays minefield near Auckland.
ACM Uki is reported to have been sunk nand ar Port Macquarie by SS I-28^.
HDML P-1, HDML P-2 HDML P-3 are reported to have been sunk near Tarakan by surface action - DMS escorted by DDs made a sweep in preparation of future invasion.


Feb 27, 42
Auki is occupied by the Japanese.
Tarakan invaded, its coastal defenses have put ugly holes in five of the covering warships.
A daring naval raid by three USN destroyers has caught and destroyed a convoy near Finschhafen - and another simultaneous raid by CLs Perth and Marblehead plus 3 DDs has caught another convoy unloading at Port Moresby. Naval search covering the Coral Sea had spotted nothing the day before. Butcher bill: AMC Aikoku Maru^, PB Chitose Maru #1, PB Kogane Maru, AK Tatuwa Maru, xAK Nichiyu Maru, xAK Teikoku Maru, xAK Nozima Maru - with over 850 troops drowned, including most of the crack Maizuru 2nd SNLF. In return, escorts managed to hit DD Edsall~, causing a massive explosion.
CLs Detroit and Raleigh plus 3 DDs have bombarded Wake Is., causing medium damage to the meagre port and airbase installations.
In a rare sub-on-sub encounter, USS Narwhal missed SS I-9^ with four torps.
Old SS S-23~ did better and torpedoed xAK Hawaii Maru - one of the survivors fleeing the PM butchery - near Hood Point, sinking the ship.
Heavy sweeps continue over Rangoon : 10 Hurricanes vs 8 Reisen destroyed.
The Dutch-Australian bomber force on Java has attacked invasion forces near Loemadjang - its LRCAP cover from Mini-KB destroyed 13 bombers and AA added two more. Meanwhile Mini-KBs bombers have sunk three small minesweepers and five harbour defence launches near Batavia.


Feb 28, 42
Tassafaronga is occupied by the Japanese.
Sasebo 8th SNLF CAPTURED Soerakarta.
DA at Tarakan by two Naval Guard units failed but forts have been reduced to 0.
xAK Fujikawa Maru hits Mine M Mk IID (SS) at Loemadjang, receiving heavy damage.
Three IJN DDs have intercepted the enemies Finschhafen raiders, but in this equal fight unlucky DD Nenohi received two hits, causing massive fires which could only be put out by immersing the entire ship in sea water permanently.
Ki-51 Guntei dive bombers have sunk some small fry at Singers, six launches in total.
Mini-KB has sunk three more HDML at Soerabaja.
The Dutch air force continued to impale itself attacking reinforcement convoys landing at troops and supplies at Loemadjang - 4 Hurricanes and 6 bombers downed by LRCAP and AA.
Accelerated training for 177 IJ Army pilots from month-cycle 10.


February Summary.
Focus has been 1. the elimination of Allied forces in the PI in order to free forces for the attack on Singers, 2. the capture of the DEI in order to get the oil flowing plus the capture or suppression of enemy bases which poses a danger for the oil, 3. the establishment of a defensive perimeter in the SoPac and 4. keeping Singers and Rangoon isolated and preparing their future capture.

The ground campaign in the PI has been going very slowly with several failed ground attacks at Clark Field and Manila requiring lengthy pauses for rebuilding the brittle Combat Eng units needed to tackle the forts. Clark fell on Feb 08 and Manila on Feb. 16 but at the end of the month, the siege of Bataan / Corregidor was not making much progress.

In the DEI, important oil bases on Borneo have been captured largely intact, while the Java campaign proceeded slowly. The enemy has build-up Darwin and the suppression of that base has required the efforts of the better part of Combined Fleet.

In the SoPac, cleaning-up on PNG continues and some outposts have been established, but the enemy has hit back with bombers and surface raids. While Rabaul is brimming with reinforcements for the frontline bases, the lack of air cover and the fear of enemy carrier and surface forays is hampering the forward-deployment of these forces.

Singers has been kept isolated and bombed daily to keep the airfields out of business and prevent fort building, with the equivalent of two divisions bottling-up the land side at Johore Baru and eight groups of bombers escorted by two fighter groups just in case pounding the base.

Fierce air battles have been fought over and around Rangoon, with some successes against enemy shipping but also painful losses to CAP traps.

China is pretty quiet, only one Japanese offensive in preparation to clean-out a part of the hinterlands.

Naval losses: one DD, four DMS, four AMC and 15 merchant ships lost plus half a dozen PBs. On the Allied side, CV Indomitable, CLs Tromp, Emerald and Dragon plus 4 DDs reported sunk, plus dozens of lesser warships and merchant ships.

The economy already feels the lack of resources in the home islands, a couple of HI and LI factories have stopped production for several days. Coupled with the drain of supplies to support operations, the repairs of factories and R&D sites is suffering from a lack of supplies. More efforts need to be directed into the convoy system.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Mar 01, 42
Lunga is occupied by the Japanese.
Hollandia invaded.
Forces at Bataan finally ready for another deliberate attack at Bataan - 18th, 38th, 48th and the Guards IDs with a lot of supporting units made some progress made with 500+ vs. 1500+ casualties and forts down to level 1.
16th Army with 16th and 33rd Div supported by two SNLF units have executed a deliberate attack against Soerabaja, reducing forts to level 2 and 400+ casualties on each side.
Dobadura / Oro Bay expands airfield to size 1.
SS I-122* lays minefield at Rennell Island.
Two more victims of the PM butchery died of wounds - xAK Sagami Maru and xAK Hawaii Maru sank, their fate being sealed by SS Plunger~.

Mar 02, 42
Kai-eilanden is occupied by the Japanese.
I/66th Naval Guard Unit has CAPTURED Hollandia.
CM Sarushima# lays minefield at Bathurst Island.
CM Natsushima# lays defensive minefield at Loemadjang.
Agents report that CA Australia has hit a mine at Upstart Bay (south of Townsville) - looks like the Allies use coastal routing to avoid the IJN subs patroling in deeper waters. More minlaying sorties into coastal waters have been ordered.
Half a dozen IJN BBs have bombarded Horn Island to test defenses, causing good damage to the few facilities. The forces earmarked for the invasion of that island are still busy chasing Australian remnants in the PM-Buna area.
A shock attack at Bataan / Corregidor by the 18th, 38th, 48th and the Guards Inf Divisions has reduced forts to 0 and caused almost 4000 enemy casualties with many squads destroyed for 700+ Japanese casualties - we are getting close.
A deliberate attack at Soerabaja by 16th and 33rd Ind Divisions has lowered forts to level 1 and has destroyed two enemy units - we are getting close as well.
A deliberate attack at Tarakan by 23SBF Kure 2nd' Naval Guard Unit and 32SBF Sasebo 2nd' Naval Guard Unit has made no progress.

Mar 03, 42
Tufi / Wanigela is occupied by the Japanese.
SS I-10^ has put two torps into xAK Susan Luckenbach and another into xAK Steel Navigator near Pagp Pago, Susan is reported sunk.
Mini-KB attacked Darwin port, sacrificing 2 Reisen and 4 Kankohs for no hits but four Allied fighters downed.
Dutch Dorniers have ranged far to put bombs on two Japanese xAKs in the vicinity of Tarakan resp. Donggala.
Tarakan reinforced.
11th Sentai converting to Ki-44 Shoki.

Mar 04, 42
Russell Islands is occupied by the Japanese.
I/66th Naval Guard Unit has captured Vanimo, finding only some Dutch civilians left behind.
22SBF Kure 1st' Naval Guard Unit has captured the Dutch "secret airfield" Melak-Samarinda II, chasing the Dutch garrison deeper into the Borneo jungle.
Another DA at Tarakan has failed to capture the base.
Several waves of B-17s have attacked PM, losing one to AA and causing slight damage to port installations.
Mini-KB again attacked Darwin port, losing 2 Reisen and 2 Kankoh to enemy CAP with nothing to show for.
Dorniers attacked the Tarkan invasion force, sinking xAK Manila Maru.
DD Encounter is reported to have been sunk near Koepang on Jan 03, 1942.

Mar 05, 42
Amphibious Assaults at Taytay and Aitape.
Thousand Ships Bay is occupied by the Japanese.
Bad day for the Dutch:
Soerabaya captured by the reinforced 16th, 33rd and 56th Divisions, destroying 19 enemy units, including two Dutch infantry regiments, Britisch civilian refugees and - most important - a US Army listening post and cryptoanalytic unit known as Station CAST. Our Kempetei will try to extract useful information from the POWs. The industries and the repair yard have suffered light damage.
Tarakan captured by 23SBF Kure 2nd' Naval Guard Unit and 32SBF Sasebo 2nd' Naval Guard Unit, destroying 4 enemy units. The oil installations suffered only a few points of damage.
PB Sonan Maru #5 sunk by SS Grampus~ near Truk.
xAK Astoria torpedoed by SS I-3 near San Francisco.
YO-20 torpedoed and sunk by SS RO-66 near Johnston Island.
B-17s returned to PM, sinking ACM Eifuko Maru #15 and PB Kunitu Maru in port. The base forces and fighter units earmmarked for PM are - still in the reinforcement queue.

Mar 06, 42
Taytay is occupied by the Japanese.
I/66th Naval Guard Unit captured Aitape and a handful of Australian civilians which local authorities have failed to evacuate.
SS I-28^ has put a fish into CV Lexington near Port Macquarie.
B-17s bombed PM again, sinking PB Hirotama Maru in port.

Mar 07, 42
Amphibious Assault at Dagua.
Culion is occupied by the Japanese.
Good News keep coming - 14th Army with its five IDs plus lots of arty, tanks and combat engineers has captured Bataan / Corregidor - destroying 25 Allied units and ending the Luzon campaign.
The destroyed units include the HQs of the 10th USAAF (former Far East AF) and COMSUBAF - units that should and could have been evacuated by air and/or submarine for future service in India resp. Australia. You may also have noted that my opponent has left behind multiple civilian units and even the codebreakers of Station CAST. Well, players may or may not like these "role play elements" of my mod - I think it is adding "chrome" and immersion.
Harbin expands airfield to size 8, doubling the AV support - finally enough for all the restricted training groups up there.
Johore / Tebrau expands airfield to size 3, allowing more bombers to pound Singers from close range.
Mineclearing and salvage work started at Soerabaya, 30 mines cleared.

Mar 08, 42
El Nido occupied by the Japanese.
65th Brigade plus Navy troops have captured Morobe - 30th Australian Brigade, 8th Australian/A Division and 8th Mil. District' have surrendered. This ends the clean-up on PNG.
Sasebo 8th SNLF has captured Tjepoe on Java, the oil centers suffered 5 points of damage.
IJN subs and light forces patrolling off Mungalalu-Truscott have failed to intercept the Australian DD Nestor fleeing from Darwin.

Mar 09, 42
San Vicente occupied.
Mineclearing started at Bataan / Corregidor in order to admit shipping to shift the ground force to Malaya for the attack on Singers (which is being bombed daily).
The port strikes by Mini-KB have finally flushed the game from Darwin and a SAG intercepted the prey - CL Columbo and DD Jupiter. However, the Brits fought in the best tradition on the RN and with the strength of desperation. In the end, CL Colombo went down but took DD Akatsuki with her.
In the PI, small fry left homeless after the fall of Bataan / Corregidor has been hunted down by a pair of older DDs:
YO-64 is reported to have been sunk near San Vicente on Mar 09, 1942
xAKL Dai Lee is reported to have been sunk near Puerto Princesa on Mar 09, 1942
xAKL Tangob is reported to have been sunk near Iba on Mar 09, 1942
xAKL Silvestre is reported to have been sunk near Iba on Mar 09, 1942
xAKL Churruca is reported to have been sunk near Puerto Princesa on Mar 09, 1942
YO Sarangani is reported to have been sunk near San Vicente on Mar 09, 1942
On the high seas, an enemy cruiser SAG (CL Perth, CL Marblehead, 2 Dutch DDs) has found a German blockade runner near Ocean Island - the loss of xAK KM Portland is admitted.

Mar 10, 42
Divilacan Bay occupied.
Although DMS have cleared hundreds of mines at Bataan, at least one has been missed - until LSD Shinshu Maru arrived and hit it. Luckily the Manila shipyard is not far.
The clash yesterday with the RN has claimed another victim - DD Shinonome sinks at sea. 2 DDs for an old CL - not exactly a victory.

Mar 11, 42
Green Island occupied.
The Romusha from Korea pressed into Japanese military for construction work are busy expanding key bases: Truk expands port to size 5, Rabaul expands airfield to size 4, Rabaul expands port to size 4.
The minelayer subs are busy beavers as well: SS I-123* lays minefield at Palm Island, SS I-124* lays minefield at Lakatoro.
Troops are busy boarding transports or marching towards the enemy.
Next steps are mopping up the DEI, capturing Singers and then on to Rangoon. If possible, occuppying Northen Oz and Darwin in a denial scheme.

Mar 12, 42
Wewak is occupied.
In a nice dsiplay of coordination, SS I-27^ has put a fish into CL Leander near Ndeni and then SS I-124* finished the job with two more torpedo hits - CL Leander is reported to have been sunk.
While the daily bombing of Singers continues without respite, air attacks have started to target Batavia as it is the next big target on the list.

Mar 13, 42
Marilinan / Tsili is occupied.
Reinforcements at last - a bunch of Naval Guard units, AT battalions, an Air HQ and a Special Base Force have been activated. Problem is the lack of shipping to move them forward. The xAPs and fast xAKs are earmarked as troop transports, but there are not enough for all the work to be done - currently the focus is on shifting 14th Army from Luzon to Malaya. All xAK and xAKL doing 14kn or less are hauling resources - but their lift capacity is not enough to keep the industries in Japan running all the time at 100% - several HI and/or LI are always lacking resources for a turn or more. OTOH that sucks, OTOH it's way more realistic than having lots of merchant ships idling in port because there is little need to ship resources home - like in stock scenarios.

Mar 14, 42
Salajar is occupied.
With the help of a naval bombardment by older cruisers, Japanese forces (Kure 3rd SNLF, the three Bns of the 124th Rgt, plus the designated garrison force III/81st Naval Guard Unit) have CAPTURED Iloilo - 61st PA Infantry Division, Roxas Constabulary Battalion, San Jose Constab. Battalion SURRENDER. The Army troops and the SNLF will await transport to move to the next island.
Dutch troops have moved back into Tjepoe in some kind of desperate spoiling move - the two crack SNLF protecting the oil centers made short work of it and the Dutch II Landstorm Cdo surrendered - which is not surprising given the accumulated penalties: Defender: op mode(-), leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-).
CL Helena and CL Honolulu plus DDs have bombarded Tulagi, killing only 5 men but causing heavy port damage.
The enemy is trying to supply Darwin by sea via Perth with small convoys hugging the coast - Zeros from Koepang tasked with naval strike mission managed to bomb PC Kybra and xAKL Schouten from 6k altitude, leaving both ships burning and listing.

Mar 15, 42
Roti occupied.
33rd Division CAPTURED Djokjakarta.
SS I-28^ has sunk PC Melinga near Port Macquarie.
Dutch bombers have tried to raid the oil centers at Bengkalis, but CAP downed 5 and the rest hit nothing.
B-17s have raided Dobadura / Oro Bay, obtaining one port hit.

Mar 16, 42
Mataram occupied.
Rikkos based at at Soerabaya and Mini-KB on the prowl have sunk some small fry:
AMc MMS C is reported to have been sunk near Palembang on Mar 16, 1942
AMc MMS D is reported to have been sunk near Palembang on Mar 16, 1942
AMc Ciska is reported to have been sunk near Merak on Mar 16, 1942
AMc Sin Aik Lee is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Mar 16, 1942
AMc Trang is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Mar 16, 1942
AMc Banka is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Mar 16, 1942
AMc Klias is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Mar 16, 1942

Mar 17, 42
Amphibious Assault at Boela.
Semarang captured.
Mopping-up attacks at Sarmi / Wakde, near Koepang and near Melak-Samarinda II have further reduced the opposing Allied forces.
Chiang Mai expands airfield to size 3 - improving the offensive capacities against Rangoon and vicinity.
Loss of PB Kinsyo Maru #4 is admitted - sunk by SS S-18~ near Hood Point. The poor PB has evaded two prior attacks but not the third.
YP _Overjissel is reported to have been sunk at Derby by a port strike courtesy of Mini-KB. I know that there is anARD hiding there as well!

Mar 18, 42
Raba-Raba occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Boela.
Ground attacks at Sarmi /Wakde and in southern Timor made little progress.
Bacolod, the next PI island to be liberated from American oppression, has been bombarded by the old cruisers gaggle in preparation of a landing.
A skirmish between 3 old IJN DDs converted to escorts (I use the DE designation for them) and two USN DDs near Rekata Bay ended in a draw without much damage to neither side.
KB showed its hand after an upkeep period at Kendari-Staring Bay, now supporting operations in the DEI with an anti-shipping raid and bomber bait sortie off Sunda Strait. CM Gouden Leeuw and two coastal minesweepers got sunk near Palembang.
A bombing raid on Batavia by LBA from Soerabaya has cost us a Rikko, but the escorts downed 3 Allied fighters.
The loss of xAKL P-14 is admitted, sunk by SS Growler near Hamamatsu=.
xAP Hakusan Maru collided with xAP Manzyu Maru #2 - sake rations will be cut for the captains!

Mar 19, 42
Tachilek-Loilang occupied by the Japanese.
The concentrated might of 12 IJN heavy cruisers have bombarded Palembang, destroying and damaging a dozen planes, killing 850 men, sinking CMc Pro Patria in port and devastating the airfield and damaging the port, while sparing the oil centers and refineries - perfect!
In the meantime, SS Trusty launched 6 torpedoes at CV Zuikaku operating near Muntok to provide air cover over Palembang - and missed.
The surface covering force - BBs too big to hit Palembang plus DD escorts - then detected the sub and DDs delivered 4 hits with depth charges.
Finally, an invasion convoy arrived at Palembang and started landing the 38th and 48th divisions. Yes, I have decided that I need Palembang more than I need Singers - so 14th Army got split between the two targets.
Rare News from China - near Paotow, IJA troops are tracking-down a Chinese cavalry unit that is wandering a bit too close to our railroad lines - 900 casualties inflicted.
AM Matai is reported to have been sunk near Santa Maria by SS I-27^.
AMc Salak is reported to have been sunk near Merak by DD Natsugumo.
YO Assam LOC Barges #2 is reported to have been sunk by SS I-23^ with shellfire near Kanthaya.
SS Pickerel~ launched 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo escorting oilers near Balikpapan - and missed as well.
Another air raid on Batavia has downed 2 more Allied fighters - PO1 Kawakami M. of Tainan Ku S-1'* is credited with kill number 5 and attained ace status!!

Mar 20, 42
Siaoe occupied by the Japanese.
Unloading of troops continued at Palembang.
A new attack near Paotow has killed another 600 Chinese horsemen.
KB has struck Batavia port which is sheltering shipping too afraid to put to sea with KB nearby, but results are not spectacular:
HDML P-5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AV +Op ten Noort, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Dajak, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PG Herald, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
HDML P-7, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML P-21, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Asahan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
HDML P-17, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML P-8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML P-19, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML S-3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Shoki fighters have launched multiple sweeps over Rangoon from Chiang Mei - and have run into a CAP of up to a hundred enemy fighters. 11 Shoki lost for 3 Buffalos, 6 Hurricanes and 7 Warhawks downed.

Mar 21, 42
Wetar is occupied.
38th and 48th IJA Divs CAPTURED Palembang in the first attack, the all-important oil centers and refineries suffered about 10% damage.
Near Paotow, 800 more Chinese horsemen have been killed by the 26th ID, 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigades.
Kuala Lumpur expands airfield to size 5.
Batavia received the attention of four IJN battleships which caused almost 500 casualties, damaged a dozen planes and caused some damage to the airbase and port.
A similar operation by the older cruisers has revisited Bacolod.
Rangoon has been swept again - 5 Reisen, 3 Shokis lost for 2 Buffalo, 4 Hurricanes and 3 Warhawks downed.
xAKL Takegawa Maru has been sunk by SS KXVII off Mersing.

Mar 22, 42
Amphibious Assault at Tandjoengpinang.
The 4th Chinese Cavalry/B Corps and 4th Chinese Cavalry/C Corps sub-units have been eliminated near Paotow. The 4th Chinese Cavalry/A Corps has been pushed back near Kweisui.
Grounds ops to grind-down enemy troops also continue near Sarmi / Wakde, near Bandjermasin and at Medan.
Air actions over Rangoon - 2 Shoki lost, 1 P-40E downed.
Air actions over Changsha - 1 Shoki lost for 3 Flying Tigers downed.
Batavia, Singers bombed. Chinese troop concentrations at Laiwu in China have been bombed as well, in fact this has been going on for some time while ground troops are moving into position to surround the Chinese. The Chinese troops pose a constant threat in the hinterland and need to be eliminated.
Loss of PB Takuna Maru #7 on Mar 22, 1942 is admitted - sunk by SS Pompano~ near Wide Bay.
AM Katoomba is reported to have been sunk by SS I-7^ near Auckland.
xAK George Livanos is reported to have been sunk by SS I-165 near Palm Island.
Previous report of sinking of CL Colombo incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.

Mar 23, 42
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF RECAPTURES Tandjoengpinang (Sumatra, base south of Medan) - Riouw Cdo and Tenth USAAF SURRENDER. That base had reverted back to Allied control without a fight with the arrival of Allied ground units from inner Sumatra because I failed to garrison it - the Japanese troops who captured it initially are fighting at Medan. Apparently a fragment of 10th USAAF had made it out of the PI and became the main unit after the parent got destroyed at Bataan. Nice try, but that HQ now needs to be reconstituted.
CM Tsubame# lays defensive minefield at Babar, S I-121* lays minefield at Tulagi.
PO2 Kawabata S. of Tainan Ku S-1'* is credited with kill number 5 andattains ace status!!
xAPc Majang is reported to have been sunk by SS I-153 near Singapore.

Mar 24, 42
Tharrawaddy is occupied.
Ground attacks at Sarmi/Wakde and Medan without progress.
SS I-124* lays minefield at Lunga.
Singers, Batavia, Laiwu bombed as usual.
New sweeps over Rangoon - 2 Shoki lost for 2 Hurricane IIb Trop and 2 P-40E Warhawk downed.
New sweeps over Changsha - 1 Shoki traded for 2 Flying Tigers.

Mar 25, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cheribon, Cheribon Defenses SURRENDERS !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Praboemoelih, Palembang Cdo SURRENDERS !!!
Chanthaburi expands airfield to size 2.
Amphibious Assault at Babo.
CM Kamome# lays defensive minefield at Wotje.
SS I-123* lays minefield at Lakatoro.
SS I-23^ has torpedoed xAK Vera near Kanthaya.
YMS Chuting sunk by Mini-KB near Bathurst Island, one Fulmar on CAP downed, one Zero lost.
Sweep over Changsha, one Flying Tiger downed.
Sweeps over Rangoon, no opposition.
Singers bombed heavily.

Mar 26, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Babo !!!
Baybay is occupied by the Japanese.
CM Tsubame# lays defensive minefield at Taberfane, CM Kyosai# lays defensive minefield at Saigon.
IJN heavy cruisers have bombarded Darwin, destroying 4 planes on the ground and causing almost 500 casualties, but CA Suzuya has been damaged by a mine and DMS W-7 has been sunk by coastal artillery.
Loss of AK Koei Maru is admitted, sunk by SS Tautog~ near Hakodate.
xAKL Mapele is reported to have been sunk by SS RO-62 near Palmyra.
Sweep over Changsha, another Flying Tiger downed.
Sweeps over Rangoon, no opposition.
The 1st Sasebo Coy SNLF attacked Dutch remnants in the jungles near Bandjermasin - and nearly got wiped-out by the die-hard Dutchmen.

Mar 27, 42
Loimwe is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Christmas Island IO.
Singers, Badoeng, Laiwu bombed.

Mar 28, 42
Christmas Island IO occupied without a fight.
16th Division CAPTURED Tjilatjap.
124th IJA Inf Rgt and Kure 3rd SNLF CAPTURED Bacolod.
2ID 24th Infantry Regiment has occupied undefended Djambi with the oil centers intact.
xAK Matsukawa Maru has been sunk by SS O24 near Miri-Lutong.
SS I-162 has torpedoed xAP Lancashire~ near Exmouth.
DD Le Triomphant has bombarded Dobadura / Oro Bay, inflicting 25 casualties and damaging one Reisen fighter.
Sweeps over Changhsa and Rangoon found empty skies.

Mar 29, 42
Nadzab occupied, 16th Army (33rd ID and 56th ID) CAPTURED Kalidjati.
CL Colombo - reported sunk in surface action on March 9th, unsunk by intel report on March 22 - has finally met her fate by the hands of Mini-KB patrolling the Darwin - Perth route, it is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon after a torpedo hit. Hope this is for real this time.
AM Rail is reported to have been sunk near Horn Island by SS I-171.
SS I-164 missed a listing, smoking xAP Lancashire~ near Carnarvon.
Singers bombed as usual, Bandoeng as well - partly because enemy planes are basing there, partly to prevent fort construction - 1 Hurricane IIb Trop destroyed on the ground.

Mar 30, 42
Goodenough Island occupied.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sishui - a dot based needed to surround the Chinese troop concentration at Laiwu.
CL Kiso lays minefield at Bathurst Island.
DD Le Triomphant has surprised a convoy unloading at Milne Bay, dealing heavy damage to two large and valuable AKs and DE Sanae. The Frenchies received 8 hits in return and left the scene in flames - diner tonight will be french fries.
Dobadura / Oro Bay got attacked by three waves of B-17s, one Fort has been shot down for the price of three Reisen fighters.
Rangoon, Chagsha swept but no enemy found.

Mar 31, 42
Singkep occupied.
2ID 16th Infantry Regiment CAPTURED Lubuk Linggau.
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF and 91st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Medan largely intact.
CL Kitakami in company with 2 DDs has encountered a convoy with 26 merchantships off Geralton, sinking 3 xAK and one xAKL and damaging a few more in four seperate engagements.
The Scrap Iron Flotilla - Japanese version - has bombarded Tacloban in support of the mopping-up operations in the PI.
Shokis have swept Rangoon and found twice their numbers of Allied fighters waiting: Ki-44 Shoki: 11 destroyed vs. Hurricane IIb Trop: 7 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed.

March 1942 summary:
Springtime has seen further expansion of the Empire, but much too slow for my taste. Alas, there isn't enough of everything to keep moving at a brisk pace, enemy resistance in the PI has delayed the timetable and High Command seems to be too prudent and risk / loss averse as well. Some key bases have finally been captured - Bataan /Corregidor, Soerabaya, Tarakan, Palembang. China is calm, in the PI mopping-up of the numerous islands is progressing slowly, the campaigns on Java and Sumatra are progressing slowly as well. The balance of the big infantry units from the Luzon campaign are busy rebuilding and moving to Malaya for the push on Singers in April. Thai troops are feeling their way towards Rangoon which remains the center of heavy air actions. In the PNG area lot of dot bases remain to be occupied and the weak outposts at PM, Milne Bay and Gudalcanal need to be reinforced - but this will require fleet support in case the Allies come out to play. The economy is already hand-to-mouth in regards to resource shippments to the home islands - the resources are available in the SRA but there are not enough ships to move the stuff home. This should ease when the need to move garrison and base forces to the newly captured territories has been satisfied and more merchantships become available. In the meantime, supply production suffers and stockpiles are lower than I like, engine and plane pools are not great but enough to cover current losses and attrition. Naval losses have been light because the Allies have done little raiding - but when they did, it hurt.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Apr 01, 42
Jaure is occupied by the Japanese.
CL Kitakami and escorts again run into Allied merchantmen off Geralton, but being low on ammo, no engagement took place.
At Mersing, the Allies have launched a nuissance raid with - harbour launches. The only damage done was a disruption of the unloading operations.
The Rangoon sweepers have hit empty skies today.
Milne Bay has been hit by 15 B-17s - well, they hit nothing but suffered 4 Forts damaged by a trio of Reisen fighters from leaking CAP over Dobadura.
SS I-4 has put two fish into xAP Cap St Jacques near San Francisco, I hope that ship won't make it to port.
In the scenic Java countryside near Bandoeng, elements od the 16th ID have destroyed the remnants of the Dutch Tjilatjap garrison.
And I almost forgot - 25th Army has finally crossed Johore Straits into Singers, causing 4k casualties on either side - but while the Japanese suffered mostly disablements, the Allied lost many squads end devices destroyed. Forts have reached only level 3 and got lowered to level 2, while the Allies have a supply malus - no doubt thanks to the early start of the prolonged bombing campaign.


Apr 02, 42
Fergusson Island is occupied by the Japanese.
At Mersing, our Allies the Thai Navy which has been charged to provide anchorage security, finally woke up and engaged the pesky harbour launches, sinking nine.
Singers bombed and bombarded while the assault forces rests and replaces losses. The place is a smoking pile of rubble - it looks like there won't be much left of the town for capture.
Rikko bombers have put two fish into the old CL Adelaide near Treasury Islands - seems like the Allies are looking for our barges and coasters which are trickling syupplies to Guadalcanal.
DD Express is reported to have been sunk by SS I-168 near Lakatoro. That engagement brought some intel - the previous report of sinking of DD Cushing was incorrect, the ship was sighted and engaged.
ACM YP-72 is reported to have been sunk by SS I-160 near Melville Island;
Previous report of sinking of SS Stingray incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.


Apr 03, 42
Lambi Kyun occupied.
After a long flanking march, the 6th RTA~ Division has emerged from the Burma jungles and CAPTURED Toungoo in order to block one of the retreat pathes from Rangoon.
The airbase at Changhsa has received a dose of bombs in order to keep it damaged and to decourage nuissance raids by Flying Tigers and Chinese bombers - like the one on Hong Kong today which resulted in a bomb hit on DE Yukaze undergoing repairs in the shipyards and two Chinese bombers downed, one each by AA and by CAP.
A IJN cruiser SAG operating out of Rabaul has intercepted a smaller Allied cruiser SAG sniffing for targets in ther Solomons. In two actions off Kolombangara and off Rossel Is., CL Adelaide, DD Voyager and DD Henley have met their fate.


Apr 04, 42
Normanby Island occupied.
2ID 16th Infantry Regiment has CAPTURED Benkoelen.
A bunch of armed sailors have CAPTURED Cocos Island.
Ground forces are testing enemy defenses with bombardment attacks at Laiwu, Singers, Oosthaven, Batavia and Bandoeng. Mopping-up on northern Sumatra near Medan has made little progress.
The ground actions are being supported by heavy bombing attacks.
CM Shirakami# has laid a defensive minefield at Tarakan.
With fires out of control, AK Tatsuharu Maru could not be saved at Raba-Raba - after a long fight for survival, another ship DOWed from damage received by the Allied surface raid into PNG waters last month.
YO IFC Barges #3 is reported to have been sunk by SS I-166 near Trincomalee - looks like the Allies have evacuated the river shipping from the Irrawaddy in anticipation of the fall of Burma!
The successful IJN cruiser SAG patrolling the Solomons has found Allied PTs near Kolombangara and dispatched two of them to the depths.
Then, with ammo low from multiples engagements, that cruiser SAG bumped in broad daylight and clear weather into - a USN carrier task force!
In other words, we have swallowed the bait in form of CL Adelaide and the PTs and found ourselves hooked - but the fisherman had overestimated the strength of the line and underestimated the power of the prey. CA Kumano boldly engaged CV Yorktown at 18,000 yards but missed, collecting 3 hits herself for her aggressiveness. The IJN managed three hits on the escorting USN cruisers and destroyers before disengaging and fleeing north. Then came the aerial counterattack - which managed just four bomb hits by Devastators, all on CL Naka (which will survive). (Turned out the USN carriers had been primed for a port strike on Rabaul - something that I should have kept in mind.]


Apr 05, 42
Samarai I. is occupied by the Japanese.
56th Division reinforced has CAPTURED Batavia.
38th and 48th Division have CAPTURED Oosthaven.
The Chinese bombers have tried to raid Hong Kong again, Shokis on CAP downed one and damaged 2 out of 4 raiders.
B-17s have raided our airfield at Chiang Mei, destroying two Shoki fighters and a Shitei recon plane on the ground.
DE Namikaze has pounded Dutch sub O23 with 11 hits off Mersing - I hope that sub and its working torps are done for!
The four Takao class CAs have begun refit in shipyard at Kobe=.
The US carriers in the Solomons did not pursue our cruisers - apparently fearing LBA at Rabaul.


Apr 06, 42
Kiriwina Island is occupied.
Japanese forces finally CAPTURE Singapore.
Nothing else worth mentioning.


Apr 07, 42
Guiuan is occupied.
Just minor ground actions in China and NEi.
xAK Tjikandi is reported to have been sunk near Brisbane" by SS I-173
xAKL Insulinde is reported to have been sunk near Tandjoengpinang by SS RTN Vilun


Apr 08, 42
Bona-Bona is occupied.
Bandoeng attacked by IJA 33rd Division reinforced with 400+ casualties per side.
Elements of the IJA 56th Division CAPTURED Buitenzorg.
Thai forces CAPTURE Daik-u (near Pegu).
Our minecraft are busy - Task Force 101 lays defensive minefield at Rabaul, CM Shirakami# lays defensive minefield at Balikpapan.
Argonaut has been busy as well - xAK Nishi Maru #1 hits Mine Mk 11 (SS) at Koror / Babeldaob.


Apr 09, 42
Cape D'Urville is occupied.
With the fall of Singers, many planes and AV support are heading to Bangkok and Chiang Mai to support operations aiming to surround enemy forces at Rangoon.
1st Raiding Regiment is dropping at Tharrawaddy in Burma, other planes are transporting Yokosuka 3rd SNLF to Toungoo.
Mopping-up on Sumatra and Java continued to grind-down Dutch forces.
In the Solomons, Rikko bombers try to find and eliminate enemy sea plane tenders known to be hiding at remote dot bases - but port attacks are in vain so far.
Minesweeping starts at recently captured Batavia.
PC Orara is reported to have been sunk by SS I-173 near Port Macquarie on Apr 09, 1942.
HDML P-4 is reported to have been sunk by CA Tone near Lingga.


Apr 10, 42
Molu is occupied.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Merak.
In China, attempts to surround enemy forces at Laiwu are being ridiculed by the inability of puppet troops supported by a tank coy to overwhelm the KMT civil administration in the Mengyin area - several shock attacks have failed... The Thai troops in the interior of Burma are not covering themselves in glory either, at Kengtung, the Thai Cavalry Division is being held in check by a much smaller irregular unit known as the Karen Levies.
A small IJN DD force has raided Port Blair for a recon bombardment - not a good idea:
DD Uranami hits Mine VH Mk II at Port Blair - and sinks.
DD Shiratsuyu hits Mine VH Mk II at Port Blair - and may make it back to port.
IJN cruiser SAGs investigating naval search contacts have engaged some small fry, three HDML and a motor minesweeper sunk near Lingga, 7 PT boats sunk in the PNG island maze around Rossel Island and Deboyne Islands.
xAK Tanda is reported to have been sunk by SS I-21^ near Addu.
xAKL Toboali is reported to have been sunk by SS I-23^near Kanthaya.


Apr 11, 42
Sipalay occupied
16th and 33rd ID have CAPTURED Bandoeng.
Japanese forces have CAPTURED Mengyin (dot base in China needed to surround a Chinese stack at Laiwu).
Yokosuka 1st SNLF dropped into and CAPTURED Bassein.
ACM #Hatsutaka lays defensive minefield at Singapore.
Task Force 208 lays defensive minefield at Koepang.
Cargo Task Force 159 arrives at Occupied Europe - one of the German blockade runners got through!
IJN cruisers have bombarded Horn Is.

There is an enemy carrier somewhere :
Search E13A1 Raiun destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Raiun destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Raiun destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Raiun destroyed by CAP
I have Raiuns at a lot of places - it would be nice to indicate WHERE they have been shot down!

A convoy at Rangoon has attracted the attention of our air forces :

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kankoh: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Myojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-44 Shoki: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

KV Genista is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAK Bandra is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAK Barpeta is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAK Halizones is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAKL Duymaer van Twist is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAKL Tinimbo is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAKL Kwegu is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942
xAK Hallbjorg is reported to have been sunk near Rangoon on Apr 11, 1942

Loss of PB Nanei Maru on Apr 11, 1942 is admitted, a victim of SS Greenling near Shikuka


Apr 12, 42
Siargao is occupied
Focus has shifted to Burma. Sweeps over Rangoon and an air attack on remaining shipping have cost us 4 planes for 4 enemy fighters downed and xAKL Generaal van Heyden reported to have been sunk. While paratroopers have been dropped deep into enemy lines to cut-off the retreat paths from Rangoon, the main attack force was getting ready for the cross-river attack into Pegu.
Due to bad coordination, the 4th RTA Division crossed the Salween all alone, got roughly treated by the defenders, and retreated back over the river, suffering heavy losses.
Mopping-up in the PI continues with Navy support and a naval bombardment of Tacloban.
SS I-9^ launched 6 torpedoes at CV Yorktown near Rockhampton - all missed.


Apr 13, 42
Prome is occupied, cutting another retreat path from Rangoon.
Heavy bombing attacks at Pegu started to prepare the river crossing of the main force.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Langsa - mopping-up on Northern Sumatra progresses slowly
Same on Borneo near Bandjermasin where Naval infantry keeps chasing Dutch remnants deeper into the jungles.
With Laiwu finally surrounded, we proceed with the grinding-down of the two trapped Chinese Corps.
A sizeable part of the IJA infantry combat power is resting and refreshing at Singers:
Device(s) upgraded in 4th Division supplied from Singapore
Device(s) upgraded in 21st Division supplied from Singapore
Device(s) upgraded in Imperial Guards' Division supplied from Singapore
Device(s) upgraded in 18th Division supplied from Singapore
The Dutch AG Canopus which has been wandering as if lost between Singers and Batavia, has finally been chased down and sunk by CL Tama near Lingga


Apr 14, 42
Konbo is occupied.
Amphibious Assault at Thanly.
Pegu bombed, sweeps over Rangoon without opposition.
US carriers have bombed our Naval Guard garrison on Rennell Island, causing a few casualties. 67 SBDs so apparently 2 CVs involved - probably just a training milk run or nuisance raid to scare the GHQ.


Apr 15, 42
Thayetmyo is occupied.
2nd Indpt Coy CAPTURED undefended Bena-Bena / Garoka.
SNLF forces CAPTURED undefended Thanlyn (south of Pegu, helps avoiding a cross-river attack).
Amphibious Assault at Lhokseumawe.
Tacloban bombarded by the scrap iron flotilla.
PB Mogami Maru #7 collides with xAK Toyu Maru - dumb and dumber…
Coastal minesweepers are busy clearing Allied "gifts" at Dobadura / Oro Bay and Milne Bay.
Sweeps over Rangoon found feeble CAP, one Shoki exchanged for a Warhawk.
Enemy ground forces at Pegu bombed again all day long.
B-17s have hit back at Martaban, but Zeros on CAP downed two of the beasts.
Mopping-up on Java forced the surrender of the Dutch 6th Avn Sup Afd near Batavia.


Apr 16, 42
Henzada is occupied.
30ID 41st Infantry Rgt CAPTURED Lhokseumawe in northern Sumatra.
56th Division continued grinding-down Dutch remnants on Java.
At Laiwu in China, ground attacks finally started in order to destroy the weak and surrounded 11th War Area with its two remaining Corps - despite weeks of bombing, forts are at level 6 but the three attacking divisions enjoy a large firepower advantage and the defenders lack supplies.
Dobadura / Oro Bay expands airfield to size 3 - it will be the main airbase on PNG for CAP over PM and Milne Bay.
SS RO-68 detects possible enemy submarine at 104, 132 but is unable to close within attack range - at least they tried! Nice chrome.
Repairs completed on BB Yamato at Hiroshima/Kure+, ship returned to service - they finally fixed the gunnery department!
SS Trusty has been detected near Muntok and it took hits from three different escorts - well, they have asked for it!
Five USN destroyers have bombarded Tabiteuea in the Gilberts - causing 8 port hits on what is little more than a wooden jetty.
ACM #Dowgate has been sunk near Martaban by IJN dive bombers - after it repeatedly disturbed our invasion force unloading at Thanlyn (south of Rangoon).
Sweeps over Rangoon continued to trade single-digit losses with CAP and Pegu received the bombing treatment once again.
A couple of Naval Guard units and Port Battalions have been merged to become Special Base Forces tasked to develop and defend the oil ports on Borneo - the 24th at Brunei Bay-Seria, the 23rd at Tarakan and the 22nd at Balikpapan.


Apr 17, 42
Kieta is occupied by the Japanese
Slight setback in Burma - Allied forces re-CAPTURED Bassein !!! Yokosuka 1st SNLF RETREATING towards Henzada.
Over Rangoon, sweepers trade one Shoki for one Warhawk and opened the way for the bombers who gave the airfield a good pasting.

Java Campaign concluded with a last stand near Batavia:
1st KNIL Regiment SURRENDERS !!!
Batavia KM Base Force SURRENDERS !!!

Progress on Sumatra - enemy forces chased north from Langsa
Van Aarsen Cdo RETREATING towards Sabang
Medan Cdo RETREATING towards Sabang
1st Garrison Cdo RETREATING towards Sabang
2nd Garrison Cdo RETREATING towards Sabang
Medan Base Force RETREATING towards Sabang

Good News from the Home Front:
CV Junyo arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo=+
CV Hiyo arrives at Kobe=

Loss of xAK Rokko Maru #3is admitted - sunk by SS Pollack~ near Rabaul.
CL Danae and DD Evertsen are reported to have been sunk near Bona-Bona - intercepted by CA Myoko, CL Yubari and two DDs
xAKL Merkus is reported to have been sunk near Mungalalu-Truscott - by Rikkus from Koepang


Apr 18, 42
Lingga is occupied by the Japanese.
Somewhat bigger setback at Burma - the Irish, er I mean the Thai troops sent first to cross the river into Pegu have suffered terribly - 137 squads destroyed for no damage caused on the enemy troop at all.
At Laiwu, ground operations against the 11th War Area forces continued succesfully.
Rabaul expands airfield to size 5
Rabaul expands port to size 5
Port Blair has received "the treatment" by five BBs and lesser evils, destroying and damaging Hurricanes and bombers on the ground and causing 700 casualties. The Brits will regret having elected to defend that island.


Apr 19, 42
Mopping-up continues:
Kaimana is occupied by the Japanese.
Pameskan and Muntok invaded.
The 124th Inf Reg has reached Tacloban and started recon bombardments.
The Japanese 1st Army with three divisions and support has CAPTURED Laiwu - 51st Chinese Army Corps, 89th Chinese Army- Corps and 11th War Area SURRENDERED
31st Field Const Co /2 destroyed attempting to land from APD Minazuki at Rennell Island - wtf?

More setbacks in Burma - what a botched affair:
Bombers have attacked Rangoon without prior sweeps nor fighter escort - luckily CAP was weak and only three bombers lost.
An amphibious TF has landed tanks at Thanlyn in order to beef-up the Thai troops, but an Allied counterattack at Pegu has sent everyone fleeing and in different directions:
2TD 10th Tank Regiment RETREATING towards Daik-u
11th Tank Regiment RETREATING towards Daik-u
2TD 6th Tank Regiment RETREATING towards Daik-u
2TD 7th Tank Regiment RETREATING towards Daik-u
1st RTA Division RETREATING towards Thanlyn
3rd RTA Division RETREATING towards Thanlyn
2nd RTA Division RETREATING towards Thanlyn
6th RTA Division RETREATING towards Thanlyn

At least this time this was not without costs for the Allies which have suffered 2700 casualties.

As a reminder, for the attack on Rangoon and an attempt to encircle and capture the British Burma Corps, paratroops have been dropped on the bases to the north of Rangoon, an amphibious landing has been made at Thanlyn, and the Thai troops have been asked to do the dirty work and attack across the river. The para-drops have been only partly successful, the cross-river attack has failed miserable despite tanks rushed to the rescue - now all hopes are pinned on the Japanese infantry which has landed at Thanlynm as well but is of course advancing slower than the tanks.

What else worth noting:
60+ Rikkus have attacked Horn Island, hitting a mine-craft in port and leaving the meagre port facilities in ruins.
xAK Centaur is reported to have been sunk near Horn Island by SS RO-64 - that same sub has also put two fish into xAK Liberty, which has probably sunk as well.
xAKL Mirani is reported to have been sunk near Cooktown by SS RO-66.


Apr 20, 42
Muntok is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pamekasan - Barisan KNIL Cdo SURRENDERS
Sub vs Sub: SS I-172 attacking SS Pompano~ near Wide Bay with two fish at 1000 yards - but misses.
Quiet day in Burma with only unopposed air attacks against Rangoon worth mentioning.


Apr 21, 42
Naypyidaw is occupied by the Japanese.
The three Battalions of the 124th Inf Rgt have CAPTURED Tacloban - 93rd PA Infantry Regiment and Leyte Constabulary Battalion SURRENDERED.
Elements of the 41st Inf Rgt have CAPTURED Sabang - Sabang Cdo and Sabang Base Force RETREATING towards Sibolga.
The usual bombing of Rangoon, followed by a not so usual Allied bombing attack against Martaban by B-17Ds, causing 16 casualties among the Imperial Guards marching up to join the fun at Rangoon.
A group of Rikkos have hit Horn island again but with little effect.
Japanese task forces operating out of Rabaul have encountered a mine field at Cape St. George, but managed to avoid damage.
xAK Johilla is reported to have been sunk by SS I-21^ near Addu.
xAKL Loyaute is reported to have been sunk by SS I-10^ near Isle of Pines.


Apr 22, 42
No ground attacks this turn!
Mopping-up continues with a naval bombardment of San Jose (Mindoro), an amphibious assault at Bima and an amphibious assault at Toboali.
Usual bombing of Rangoon.
SS KXVIII has put two torps into AO Ken'yo Maru near Donggala, the ship was able to reach taht port with heavy float damage. An AR has been dispatched from Soerabaya with escorts to lend a hand with repairs.
Old News:
AM Mildura is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Dec 26, 1941.
xAP Lancashire is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon on Mar 31, 1942.


Apr 23, 42
Tapun is occupied by the Japanese.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Bima.
Elements of the 41st Infantry Rgt CAPTURED Toboali.
Allied forces CAPTURED Henzada - but the Japanese Paras have already withdrawn further.
The usual milk run attacks against Rangoon.
Horn Island bombed again by Rikkos - and by Mini-KB.
An Allied raiding force of one CLAAA and 4 DDs has tried to hit our beachhead at Thanlyn, south of Pegu - but had the bad fortune to run into 4 of our BBs and escorts.
CLAA Van Heemskerck, DD Arrow and DD Panther are reported to have been sunk near Thanlyn.


Apr 24, 42
Billiton is occupied by the Japanese.
Kure 3rd SNLF CAPTURED Horn Island - Torres Strait Force Fortress, 1st RAAF Construction Battalion and 19 MG Bn /1 SURRENDERED, two Hudsons and one Dornier destroyed on the ground.


Apr 25, 42
Amphibious Assault at Buin / Kahili.
Usual milk run bombing of Rangoon.
Second try at Pegu, 15th Army with five IDs plus support and some Thai troops against 2 and 1/3 enemy divisions.
We lost 1400 troops to 1300 enemy casualties, but while ours are mostly disablements, the enemy squads are destroyed - good.


Apr 26, 42
Buin / Kahili is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Pegu - 1st Burma' Division and 17th Indian' Division RETREATING towards Rangoon, the rear-guard of the 1 Gloucestershire Battalion SURRENDERED. 400 Japanese casualties vs 66500 Allied.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Waingapoe.
Elements of the 41st Infantry Rgt have CAPTURED Ketapang.
Newly aquired Horn Island has received the unwelcome attention of two dozen B-17E, causing over a hundred casualties.
xAK Silverwillow and xAK City of Pretoria are reported to have been sunk near Rangoon by Navy Chukou (Nell) bombers.


Apr 27, 42
Heavy bombing of Rangoon and nothing else worth noting.


Apr 28, 42
Memboro is occupied by the Japanese.
An Allied raiding force of 2 CL and a DD has surprised three PBs on a fast transport mission in the Solomons, PB Yodozo Maru and PB Nishimi Maru got sunk near Rekata Bay and numerous guns and vehicles went down with them.
Meanwhile, another TF dropped off the infantry of the 82nd Naval Guard at Munda.
B-17s bombed the "port facilities" at Dobadura / Oro Bay, sinking several barges and a small minesweeper. AK Tatsumiya Maru took two bombs and will probably burn to death.


Apr 29, 42
Munda is occupied by the Japanese.
Mopping-up in the PI continues : Japanese forces CAPTURE San Jose (Mindoro). The Scrap-Iron Flotilla bombarded Calapan on Mindoro.
Rangoon bombed heavily again.
The Brits tried to oust the IJA paratroopers of 1st and 2nd Raiding Rgt from Prome but failed.
Rikkos from Koepang are blockading the Allied sea lanes to Darwin, four xAKLs got sunk today near Drysdale Mission.
Other Rikkos have spotted CL Achilles and CL Perth near Ontong Java, apparently looking for more easy victims.


Apr 30, 42
Sampit is occupied by the Japanese.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Ruteng.
Elements of the 41st Infantry Rgt have routed Dutch remnants in Northern Java, Sabang Cdo and Sabang Base Force RETREATING towards Sibolga.
The Rangoon bomber gang has been switched to pound enemy ground forces at Prome and Bassin in support our ground troops.
First ground bombardment at Rangoon, revealing 2600 AV vs 462 AV.
AM Pieter de Bitter, xAKL Meroendoeng and xAKL Loa Koeloe are reported to have been sunk near Derby by Rikkos, with a Warhawk on CAP downed as bonus and a Zero lost from the escorts.
As predicted, AK Tatsumiya Maru DOWed at Dobadura / Oro Bay today.

April Summary
This month saw the - late by any standards - fall of Singers, but at least without trashing the attacking force. The city, industries, repair yard etc. however are just piles of rubble.
Mopping-up in the DEI continues, with Java finally under full control and the eastern part of Sumatra cleaned out.
Mopping-up in the PI continues as well with minimum forces.
In China, the pocket of the 11th War Army between Tsinan, Suchow, Haichow and Tsingtao has been wiped out, augmenting rear security.
Focus has shifted to Burma, but the plan to cut-off retrat paths with paratroops and use the Thai Army to create a bridgehead at Pegu have more or less failed.
However, with 2/3 of of unrestricted IJA infantry divisions now available for Burma, the issue is not in doubt.
In the Northern Pacific, only enemy submarine activities against the Sakhalin convoys.
In the Central Pacific nothing to report.
US carriers have been sighted in the South Pacific and some light surface units have conducted raids up the Solomons. I will close my eyes and hope that the Betties at Rabaul will keep the enemy honest.
In the South-West Pacific area, only some nuissance raids by B-17s. We have set-up an aerial blockade of Darwin with Rikkos operating from Timor for eventual future ops against Northern Australia.
Shipping losses have been light, from memory the IJN lost a DD and the Allies lost three CLs and three or four DDs (note, this AAR is written up-after a long delay - I'm finally on vacation ! and based just on the combat reports - the game is currently in July 1942)

[IdahoNYer]

nice to see an update!

Can we get a map and naval losses at this stage?

[LargeSlowTarget]

Ed, I'm trying to catch up while my opponent is at Ranger School. will post maps and losses when I arrice at the current game date (August 16)

Hint - May summary at the end

May 01, 42
Gusap / Dumpu is occupied by the Japanese.
To help with mopping-up in PI, the Scrap Iron Flotilla bombarded Calapan.
Three USN DDs came raiding up the PNG coast, sinking eight landing barges on their way to Milne Bay near Tufi / Wanigela. Rikkos from Rabaul had a go at the DDs but missed the nimble targets.
In Burma, enemy ground troops threatening Prome have been bombed heavily. In order to reinforce the position, a SNLF has been landed at the next base up the coast on the Prome-Akyab track - the poetically named Oke Shit Pin.
A deliberate attack at Rangoon has caused 1600 vs 3600 casualties.
58th Infantry Regiment has destroyed Dutch remnants near Lhokseumawe - Medan Cdo, 1st Garrison Cdo and Medan Base Force SURRENDERED.

May 02, 42
Komodo is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Oke Shit Pin.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Rangoon - 1st Burma' Division, 17th Indian' Division, Burma Corps, Upper Burma BAF Battalion and 10 Burma Rifles' Battalion RETREATING towards Bassein, 1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment SURRENDERED..
Enemy ground orces at Prome and Bassein bombed heavily.
B-17s bombed Horn Island again, causing over a hundred casualties.
The German blockade runner xAK KM Rhakotis has been intercepted and sunk by CL Trenton near Manihiki.
SS O23 is reported to have been sunk near Tambelan-eilanden on Apr 14, 1942.
Previous report of sinking of DD Paladin incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 54, 43.

May 03, 42
Loikaw is occupied by the Japanese.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Endeh.
Minesweeping started at Rangoon.
Enemy land forces at Prome and Bassein bombed.
Chukou bombers have attacked enemy shipping near Port Blair, putting a fish into AMC Corfu~. Question is - are they reinforcing or evacuating?
Shikuka on Sakhalin has been attacked by US Army Air Force twin-engine medium bombers - since there is no US airbase within the possible range of medium bomlbers, the USN musthave succeeded in launching medium bombers from an aircraft carrier. Luckily, the oil fields at Shikuka have been protected by a group of Ki-27b Setsu fighters sent up there for advanced training (means flying CAP to get exp up while being ready for any eventuality). Five bombers have been shot-down and all bombs missed.

May 04, 42
Ramree Island is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Merauke.
Three BBs have given Port Blair a good working-over, damaging two dozen bombers and torpedo planes.
16 B-17s have bombed Rangoon Harbour, sinking TB RTN Phuket - the dozen Zeros on CAP only managed to damage 3 bombers.
AVP Poolster is reported to have been sunk near Port Hedland by DD Hatsuyuki, AVP Orion is reported to have been sunk near Broome by DD Shirakumo - the DDs have been on an anti-shipping sweep on the Perth-Darwin route.
xAK Misaku Maru has been sunk by SS Trout~ near Tokara Retto.

May 05, 42
Henzada is reoccupied by the Japanese.
Maizuru 1st SNLF CAPTURED Merauke.
Prome bombarded heavily again - this time by the dreaded B-17s. Luckily casualties have been light.
Three more Japanese BBs pounded Port Blair again, destroying and damaging more planes on the ground but also shooting-up shipping in port:
KV Freesia, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Corfu~, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
KV Cyclamen, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM #Southgate, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
E Ishigaki beginning refit in shipyard at Manila.

May 06, 42
Maumere is occupied by the Japanese.
Apart from that, only sub actions on both side without successes.
SS Tarpon~ missed two different AOs near Makassar - ship's crews report hearing a metallic clank when the torpédos hit, but no explosion - maybe there is something wrong with the USNs torpedoes?

May 07, 42
Pobba Thiri is occupied by the Japanese.
Enemy ground forces at Bassein - the Burma Corps - bombed heavily.
The German raider AMC KM HSK-4 Thor^ has found a tanker convoy on the Capetown - Perth track, put the escorting corvette KV Auricula out of action and then landed shell hits on four out of the five tankers.
The Allied TF raiding in the Solomons - CL Achilles, CL Perth and DD Piet Hein - found new targets as well, but bigger than they could chew: Three IJN CAs and four DDs. The Allied force skillfully crossed the T and hit CA Ashigara repeatedly, but CL Perth got hit multiple times as well and was left burning and listing before both forces broke of the action low on ammo. With the sun up, , Rikkos from Rabaul Added a torpedo hit on CL Perth. I don't think we will see her again.
AMC Corfu is reported to have been sunk near Port Blair on May 06, 1942
Old News: PG Herald is reported to have been sunk near Batavia on Mar 20, 1942


May 08, 42
Damar is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Taung Le - 4 Burma Rifles' Battalion SURRENDERED.
Amphibious assaults at Sibolga, Woodlark Island, Larantoeka.
Enemy ground forces at Bassein bombed all day long.
Port Blair bombarded again by IJN BBs, there are still Blenheims and Vildebeest to be had for destruction on the ground.
KB has made a sweep in the Indian Ocean - xAK Hoegh Silverlight, xAK Hoegh Silverstar, xAK Hoegh Silverdawn, xAK Sussex and xAK Clan Lamont are reported to have been sunk near Addu.

May 09, 42
Woodlark Island is occupied by the Japanese.
The 124th Inf Rgt CAPTURED Calapan.
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF and 91st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Sibolga.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Larantoeka.
A DMS and two covering destroyers have been sent to clear Port Blair, but both DDs promptly hit mines - DD Minegumo will probably go down.
Hurricanes have swept Prome, but found only empty skies - I have no LRCAP over that base.
KB has ventured further north and has sunk two AMc near Cochin - in the process tangling with Fumlars on CAP, destroying four for oen Zero lost.
In the meantime, three IJN BBs have bombarded Port Blair again (as before from 15k yards out), finding no planes to destroy this time.
In the Solomons, I persistently see an anchor symbol at Stewart Island, but CA Mikuma sent to flush-out the game has found nothing. I have also sent Rikkos to bomb - they found nothing. Yet the anchor symbol remains.
ML CG-255 is reported to have been sunk by SS I-1 near San Diego.

May 10, 42
Yamethin is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese SNLF forces have CAPTURED Thandwe, a base west of Prome on the route from Bassein to Akyab, thus blocking another escape route - just in time as the SNLF encountered troops from the 221 Group RAF which have beaten a hasty retreat.
At Prome, the BFF Brigade which has chased the paratroopers all the way from Bassein to Prome has been eliminated with the help of reinforcements - the ring around the Burma Corps is closing again.
A first batch of Commonwealth prisoners of war captured at Singapore have been formed into a labour force - their manpower will be put to use to repair and upgrade railway facilities in Malaya and Thailand. There are also plans under discussion to construct a railway link from Thailand to Burma in the future.
AMC RM Ramb II - an Italian vessel who has found refuge in Japan and now pressed into the service of the Empire - has been sunk by SS O21 near Oosthaven.
KB has tried to attack shipping near Colombo but found over 50 enemy fighters on CAP - seven Zeros and three Myojo lost for only three enemy fighters downed.


May 11, 42
Ningsia is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Lomblen.
BurCorps at Bassein bombed heavily again - the poor pommy bastards.
AMC KM HSK-4 Thor^ has been snooped by Allied Float Plane at 35,147 near Perth - Fremantle - looks like an Allied cruiser is on the search for the raider - time to change the climate! But not before taking a few shots at an Allied convoy of 14 merchantships, settin g three of them on fire.
Mini-KB has been sent to patrol the Solomons to discourage further enemy raids, backed-up by some firepower in form of two BBs, just in case it flushes some game. However, it narrowly escaped being the victim of the enemy below - SS Argonaut launched 4 torpedoes at CVL Ryujo but missed.

May 12, 42
Lomblen is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Padang.
BurCorps at Bassein again under a hail of bombs.
Rikkos still try to get that mystery ship at Stewart Islands without success.
Nine Allied APDs have landed the 2nd USMC Raider Bn~ at Tarawa, the Marines had no trouble eliminating the garrison (62nd Naval Guard Unit) and the Allied forces CAPTURED Tarawa.
Now that is a bad surprise.

May 13, 42
Umboi Island is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Padang - Padang Cdo, Padang Defenses and Dutch Civilians RETREATING towards Sawahloento, Padang Base Force SURRENDERED.
More British units marched into Thandwe and the SNLF sent them back RETREATING towards Kanthaya (which is under repeated bombardments by the mighty Thai Navy based at Rangoon).
Not mentionend until now, but the Thai RTA~ Cavalry Division has been leading a small-scale Campaign in the mountains of eastern Burma for some weeks already against a frontier guard of the Burma Rifles and the irregulars of the Karen Levies. At the moment the fighting rages around Kengtung.
Another battleship bombardment at Port Blair - the 84th Indian~ Brigade on the receiving end should be punch-drunk by now.
As usual, there has been a DMS minesweeper with DD escort opening the way - and again, one of the DDs became a mine victim - DD Usugumo on fire with heavy damage. What are these minesweepers doing all day? Drinking Oettinger?
Bassein - as usual.
Stewart Island - as usual. Even Mini-KB has hit that base without success and that mysterious Anchor symbol still remains. What is hidding there, the Flying Dutchman?

May 14, 42
Meiktila is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Rossel Island.
Amphibious Assault at Moa.
A Night Naval bombardment of Derby by a small IJN force (3 CA, CL 3 DD) has caused 417 casualties and left xAKL De Weert burning in port.
SS KXVI is reported to have been sunk near Geraldton in a Sub vs Sub: SS I-164 has put two fish into the unfortunate Dutch sub.

May 15, 42
Nonouti is occupied by the Japanese.
87th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Rossel Island.
15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURED Moa. A handful of Australian Hudson bombers tried to interfere but Zeros from Koepang on LRCAP splashed four of them.
Balikpapan expands port to size 4, which should speed-up fuel and oïl shippments.
DD Usugumo, limping back to Rangoon after the mine hit at Port Blair, managed to evade 2 torpedoes from SS Truant on the way.
Near Lunga, a Japanese cruiser force (5 CA, CL, 2 DD) has run in 0% moonlight into lone CL Achilles, who true to her warrior name fought back, hitting CA Myoko five times while sustaining only three hits herself.
Then SS I-15^ launched 6 torpedoes at CL Achilles near Rossel Is. but missed. The Kiwi cruiser then vanished from sight, despite naval search from Mini-KB and float planes.
The Japanese cruiser force continued for another investigation of the Stewart Islands. They found a dozen PT boats, sinking three but CA Haguro suffered a torpedo hit. The bombardment of the dot base again yielded no results.
At the same time, a USN cruiser force (2 CA, 2 CL, 6 DD) have bombarded Tabiteuea, the southernmost outpost of Japan in the Gilberts, causing over 130 casualties.

May 16, 42
Vitu Islands is occupied by the Japanese.
Tarakan expands port to size 4 - again for oïl and fuel reasons of course.
Bassein bombed as usual. It takes a bloody long time to rail troops from Rangoon to Prome and then march them to Bassein in order to finish off the Burma Corps troops - especially with the Monsson cutting supply flows to a trickle!
At Thandwe, another group of British base forces coming up from Kanthayahave been forced to retreat by the SNLF troops.
PC Sonavati is reported to have been sunk by SS I-21^ near Colombo.

May 17, 42
Gorong is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Mandalay - 3 Burma Rifles' Battalion RETREATING towards Myingyan.
SS RO-60 has found CL Perth near Stewart Island and put three torps into her to put her out of her misery.
Kanthaya bombarded by the Thai Navy again.
Enemy ground forces at Bassein bombed heavily again.

May 18, 42
Calm turn, only Japanese actions have been the usual bombing of Bassein.
30 B-17s in two waves have raided Milne Bay - 12 Zeros were waiting on LRCAP from Dobadura, they damaged 10 bombers and totally spoiled the aim of everybody, but one Zero got downed.


May 19, 42
Ground progress in Burma :
Taung Gyi is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Taungdwingyi and Myingyan.
Upper Burma BAF~ Battalion Wiped Out at Thandwe by attrition.
Small-scale actions at near Kengtung, the Thai Cav Div attacked local Burmese forces without much success.
DD Hatsuyuki has found an enemy convoy (2 PC, 6 xAKL) near Exmouth, managed to sink xAKL Benkoelen and setting three other xAKLs on fire before running low on ammo and withdrawing.
Setting some gifts for Allied raiders : CM Kamome# lays defensive minefield at Wotje (and luckily avoiding a sub attack by SS Bass~ near Roi-Namur in the process)
SS Finback has torpedoed xAK Yamamiya Maru near Taihoku, survival in doubt.
Sweeps over Akyab traded 4 Reisen for 2 P-40s and one Hurricane IIb
Previous report of sinking of SS Gato incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service

May 20, 42
Saparen Karoe is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tagula Island.
Derby in Northern Australia invaded.
The Thai Navy has bombarded Kanthaya on the Burma coast, where the remnants of the 1st Burma' Division and the 17th Indian' Division plus many bases forces are struggling north towards India. The IJAAF also rained bombs on the poor bastards all day.
Sweeps over Akyab traded 1 Reisen for 6 Hurricanes - nice.
xAK Yamamiya Maru has sunk, as expected.
xAKL Kidoel is reported to have been sunk near Bathurst Island on Mar 08, 1942

May 21, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURED Derby - Derby RAN Stn Base Force SURRENDERED.
The Thai Cavalry got another bloody nose at Kengtung, suffering 116 losses for 6 casualties on the other side.
Sweeps over Akyab have encountered and downed one lone P-40.
IJN light cruisers have bombarded the CW forces at Kanthaya with little effect. The massed might of the IJAAF bombers had even less effect. Bombing ground forces in jungle terrain is almost useless, the only benefit is supply drain due to AA fire. OTOH bombing ground forces in open terrain can wipe-out LCUs in short order. I think this is not properly balanced in the game.
SS KX has torpedoed the German blockade Runner xAK KM Tannenfels twice near Denpasar, the ship went down.
xAKL Matafele is reported to have been sunk near Cairns on Jan 15, 1942

May 22, 42
Sio (PNG) is occupied by the Japanese.
Sweeps over Akyab, 2 P-40s downed.
SS Trout~ has torpedoed and sunk xAKL Hinode Maru near Koshiki-jima Retto
SS Dolphin~ has torpedoed xAP Naminoue Maru twice near Pagan, survival in doubt.
xAKL Lematang and xAKL De Weert have been sunk by Mini-KB near Mungalalu-Truscott.

May 23, 42
Sipora is occupied by the Japanese.
Wyndham invaded.
IJN light cruisers and the Thai Navy have bombarded Kanthaya again, causing 170 casualties.
xAP Naminoue Maru has succumbed to her wounds, as expected.
SS Pollack~ has sunk the tug YP _Hashima near Larantoeka - better her than one of the tenders or ammunition ships she was accompanying to set-up a forward base at Koepang for further operations against Northern Australia.
SS Thresher~ has torpedoed xAK Zinzan Maru #1 near Taihoku, the ship may actually survive.

May 24, 42
Bassein is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Wyndham, Wyndham RAAF Base Force and one Wirraway Mk I/II destroyed.
The Thai Cav remains ineffective, another failed DA in the Karen hills.
Sweeps over Akyab found no opposition.
Anchor symbol spotted at Ontong Java - Betties found nothing, CL Yubari found nothing as well. Mmh…
SS I-9^ launched 2 torpedoes at xAP Aquitania~ near Port Macquarie - and missed…
SS Thresher~ has struck again, torpedoeing xAK Hohuku Maru #1 near Taihoku. I have ASW forces in the area, there are ASW contacts but the patrol craft usually fail to find any subs once these dived.

May 25, 42
Long Island is occupied by the Japanese - they are disappointed because they have not found any bitches. Wrong island, dudes!
The Thai Cavalry keeps trying, but suffers from bad leadership and bad morale.
3 Hudson bombers have tried to raid Wyndham, but KB is providing cover and CAP downed two of the bombers.
KB then turned its attention to the Darwin area, sinking AM Whyalla and destroying six enemy fighters in the air, but losing six Reisen and three Myojos (Vals for the AFBs).
SS I-30^ has torpedoed CL Honolulu twice near Ndeni - that should cool-down the Allied raiding attempts in the Solomons area.
xAKL Hermelin is reported to have been sunk near Akyab by SS I-156.

May 26, 42
Kolombangara is occupied by the Japanese.
North Bougainville invaded.
Funafuti expands airfield to size 2 - Allies preparing a CentPac counter-attack?
They will find little resistance except from a few mines: CM Kamome# lays defensive minefield at Kwajalein Island.
SS I-21^ has torpedoed xAK Penrith Castle near Addu.
The torpedo hits on CL Honolulu have not discouraged the Allies - the enemy cruiser SAG (2 CA, 3 DD) has found a small fast transport TF near Ontong Java:
Loss of PB Kohuku Maru and PB Nikkai Maru is admitted, with 655 troops drowned and 24 guns lost.
Betties found and attacked the raiders after the sun came up, losing four Betties to AA and nothing else to show for.
Kanthaya in Burma bombed and naval bombarded again.
Sweeps over Akyab have hit empty skies.

May 27, 42
Kengtung is occupied by the Japanese.
The A/B/C elements of the 6th RTA Division CAPTURED Magwe, Shwebo and Loilem.
Japanese forces CAPTURED North Bougainville.
Akyab and Kanthaya bombed heavily. It takes such a long bloody time for our ground forces to move into position in order to destroy the enemy troops at Kanthaya...
In the Solomons, an enemy AVD seaplane tender has run into one of our barge convoys, sinking 8 sampans near Kieta.
SS S-41~ has sunk AG Daido Maru #1 near Panggoe.
SS Grenadier~ has torpedoed xAK Tarushima Maru near Kanoya#, survival in doubt.

May 28, 42
Arakan Yoma S is occupied by the Japanese.
Puerto Princesa is occupied by the Allies.
Nadzab expands airfield to size 2.
15th Army leading 5th, 38th and 48th IDs has finally reached Kanthaya with and launched a recon bombardment. The enemy force is the main part of the British Burma garrison - BurCorps, 1st Burma Div, 17th Indian Div, plus 221 Group RAF and assorted base forces.
Aircraft A6M3a Reisen advances R&D.
16 B-17s have raided Magwe, between CAP and AA 14 of them got damaged and one downed, but the bombers managed 8 oil hits nonetheless.
SS Grouper has torpedoed xAK Shonan Maru' near Daito Shoto. The ship should survive.
Fire plug sprinkles dog - the small slow tug YP _Nagaura has hit SS S-28~ with four depth charges off Cape St. George.

May 29, 42
Maymyo is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Kanthaya - the BurCorps forces promptly surrendered. The POWs will be put to work on a little railway project we have in mind for linking Rangoon with Bangkok in order to improve communications within the co-prosperity sphere.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Ontong Java, destroying four PBYs in the lagoon. Their tender seems to have escaped just in time.
Reisen fighters have swept Darwin, finding 42 Allied fighters waiting. 10 Reisen lost for 5 enemies downed - not good.
AM Gale is reported to have been sunk near Suva, claimed by SS I-28^.

May 30, 42
Lunga expands port to size 1
Tulagi expands fortifications to size 2
Horn Island expands fortifications to size 1
Koepang expands airfield to size 4
Aircraft Ki-45 KAId Toryu advances R&D
Ground reinforcements arrived - now I need to find ships for moving them where they are needed!
KM MSD Singapore arrives at Kobe= (the Germans have their own ships available for moving their "Marinesonderdienst" - charged to organise the blockade runners from and to Occupied Europe)
1st River Transport Engineer Battalion arrives at Tokyo=
2nd River Transport Engineer Battalion arrives at Tokyo=
3rd River Transport Engineer Battalion arrives at Tokyo=
11th Railroad Engineer Regiment arrives at Tokyo=
8/1 Field Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
8/2 Field Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
9/1 Field Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
9/2 Field Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
10/1 Fld Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
10/2 Fld Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
11/1 Fld Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
11/2 Fld Kempeitai arrives at Tokyo=
The River transport troops will go to Burma in order to improve transport capacities along the Irrawaddy River - road and rail transport in Burma is insufficient for our plans, esp. during the monsoon season. The Railroad Engineers will go to Burma as well in order to improve the railway network (i.e. building-up the "ports" along the railways in order to raise the supply caps). The Kempeitai will take-over rear area security and garrison duty in order to free-up regular troops for frontline duty.
Akyab bombed as usual, this time CAP was up and has cost us 9 bombers and 3 escorting fighters for only one enemy fighter downed. We need to improve the protection of our planes!
Since it worked fine for one US sub, CM Takashima lays another defensive minefield at Merak.
Four IJN cruisers have bombarded Exmouth, finding two Allied cruisers and two DDs hiding inside the Bay. Guess they will try to escape before we can organise a new visit.

May 31, 42
Migyaungye is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese SNLF forces CAPTURED lightly defended Broome.
With a full moon and recent daylight bombing losses, bombing of Akyab has temporarily been shifted to night attacks, which managed to damage six and destroy one enemy fighter on the ground.
Allied B-17s tried the same at Dobadura / Oro Bay, destroying one Reisen on the ground.
The enemy subs are infesting our waters!
Loss of CM Saishu on May 31, 1942 is admitted, a victim of SS S-27~ near Choiseul Bay.
SS Dolphin~ has shelled xAK Mikage Maru #1 neear Pagan, leaving the ship in flames.
SS Tambor~ has torpedoed xAK Florida Maru near Fukue-jima.
Some more ASW assets have been made available although the pilot training has not advanced as far as desired - the pilots will now get on-the-job-training:
Ki-21-Ic Jubaku from 92nd Sentai attacking SS Grayling at 110,63. SS Grayling is reported HIT.
Ki-21-Ic Jubaku from 92nd Sentai attacking SS Grayling at 110,63. SS Grayling is reported HIT.
Ki-21-Ic Jubaku from 92nd Sentai attacking SS Grayling at 110,63. SS Grayling is reported HIT.
Ki-21-Ic Jubaku reports radio transmissions at 110, 63 near Hamamatsu= - an SOS call?
Ki-21-Ic Jubaku reports oil slick at 110, 63 near Hamamatsu= - marking the grave of that sub ?
CA Furutaka and CL Kitakami have fired off some remaining ammo against Exmouth, but the enemy ships appear to have gone.
Cargo Task Force 162 arrives at Occupied Europe - the German MSD will be pleased.


May summary.

Mopping-up in the PIs and on Sumatra continued, as well as slow expansion into the undefended bases of PNG and the Solomons. In the Solomons, Allies surface raiders and long-range bombing cause trouble from time to time, but for the time being it is just a nuissance.

The focus this month was clearly Burma. Rangoon fell on May 2nd, Mandalay on May 17th, Magwe on May 27th. Thai forces have been charged to occupy central and northern Burma while Japanese forces concentrated on pursuing the British main force, the aim being to surround them and force their surrender - which was obtained on May 29th at Kanthaya.
Port Blair is being prepped for invasion by minesweeping and bombardment missions. Akyab is being bombed as well for the same purpose, sometime enemy CAP comes up to claim a few victims. That is asking for a naval bombardment to close the airbase!

Operations against Darwin started with the occupation of Derby on May 21st, Wyndham on May 24th. Wyndam will be the main entry port for the forces assigned to capture Darwin. This will be a long march. Sweeps over Darwin also found a robust Allied CAP- that is asking for a naval bombardment as well!

In the first counter-offensive of the Allies, Tarawa has been recaptured by Marine Raiders. We may capture it back later if KB can be made available to provide cover.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Well folks, with the first six months of the war reported day by day and most of the historic SRA captured, I am afraid that I have to start cutting corners in this AAR due to time restraints. I don't have the impression of having attracted much folks anyway, which is not surprising since my writing style is probably not the most exhilarating, exiting and thrilling AAR around. In short, no big loss. I'll try to keep reporting the highlights, but will skip unimportant details.

Jun 01, 42
Exmouth naval bombarded several times just to make really sure.
Port Blair naval bombarded as well, prepping for invasion.


Jun 02, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kanbalu.
Mine sweeping attempt at Darwin failed miserably, DMS W-8 and DMS W-9 sunk by coastal batteries and CL Tama hit a mine.
The following bombardment force of 4 BB, 3 CL + DDs managed to avoid the now-known minefield and gave the base a good pasting.
Enemy sweeps over Magwe bested by Tojos on CAP.
Small waves of B-17s keep hitting Dobadura / Oro Bay at night, wrecking a plane or two in almost each visit.


Jun 03, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pauk (Burma).
Day Time Surface Combat near Kolombangara - IJN 2 CL, 3 DD vs Allied 3 DD - DD Stuart is reported to have been sunk. DD Craven might be a goner as well.


Jun 04, 42
1st Raiding Regiment CAPTURE Hsipaw !!!
1st RTA~ Division CAPTURE Kan Taung Gyi !!!
RTA~ Cavalry Division CAPTURE Kunhing !!!
Night Time Surface Combat near Tulagi, Allied cruisers SAG sinks two PBs on a Fast Transport run, then proceeds to bombard Tulagi.

CATASTROPHY at Rabaul! Enemy surprise carrier raid on shipping in port:

Morning Raid:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 62
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45
SBD-3 Dauntless x 99
TBD-1 Devastator x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 9 destroyed

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

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Tatsugami Maru, Bomb hits 1
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 9, on fire
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 3
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Afternoon Raid:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 51
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
SBC-4 Helldiver x 36
TBD-1 Devastator x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 1
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 1
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

CV Hiyo sank outright, CVL Ryujo may follow soon, maybe others as well - depends whether there is a follow-on strike.


Jun 05, 42
Sweeps by Shokis over Akyab bested by Allied CAP - crap!
Firefighting and salvaging at Rabaul, no further strikes. Surviving carrier planes have been offloaded to reinforce Rabaul LBA.


Jun 06, 42
Pale is occupied by the Japanese.
Yokosuka 5th SNLF has destroyed the Broome RAN Stn Base Force near Broome.
Port Blair bombed heavily.
B-17s raid Dobadura / Oro Bay et Munda.
5th Sentai* converting to Ki-45 KAIa Toryu.
Previous report of sinking of DD Paladin incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.


Jun 07, 42
Wun Tho is occupied by the Japanese.
1st Sasebo Coy SNLF CAPTURED undefended Sinabang.
SS I-158 missed CL Dauntless~ near Cox's Bazar, the enemy cruiser was part of a transport TF.
Port Blair bombed again.
B-17s raided Dobadura / Oro Bay and Munda again. One bomber downed by flak, xAK Tonan Maru heavily damaged at Munda harbor.
SS I-123* lays minefield at Tulagi ( 114 , 137) and sets course for Rabaul.
Aircraft A6M3a Reisen advances R&D.


Jun 08, 42
Datkon is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Tabiteuea - 10 USN destroyer-transports have landed two batallions of Marine Raiders. The Japanes garrison - 61st Naval Guard Unit and 13th Naval Construction Battalion - have survived the first onslaught.
Port Blair, Dobadura / Oro Bay and Munda bomed again. 2 B-17s downed over Dobadura, xAK Tonan Maru hit again and sunk at Munda.
German blockade runner xAK KM Dresden has run into a group of USN oilers - both side turned tail and ran.
In a nice display of inter-service ooperation, Army Ki-48-IIa Sohkei escorted by Navy A6M2 fighters have attacked an enemy convoy near Akyab. Alas, two bombers lost to CAP and AA for two Hurricanes splashed and no hits on the ships.


Jun 09, 42
Arakan Yoma C is occupied by the Japanese.
SS I-121* lays minefield at Luganville ( 120 , 150) and sets course for Rabaul.
Two Australian heavy cruisers plus destroyer escorts have bombarded Ocean Island, causing 45 casualties.
Fearing a follow-up attack on Rabaul, GHQ in Tokyo had ordered the ships damaged in the carrier raid on June 4 to move-out as soon a the fires could be extinguished - against the protests of practically everybody at Rabaul about this panic reaction. But orders are orders and so the cripples crawled out of Rabaul this night, hugging the coast, trying to reach Hollandia which is supposed to be out of reach of enemy B-17s and carriers. Alas, CVL Ryujo lost her struggle against progressive flooding after half a day of steaming and capsized. CVE Taiyo is struggling to stay afloat as well.
Air clash over Akyab, 2 Shokis traded for a Hurricane and 2 Warhawks downed.
A new type of enemy fighters has been encountered over Dobadura / Oro Bay - a strange construction, twin-engined and twin-tailed. 4 of these fighters have been downed at the cost of 5 Reisen.
Tulagi has received the attention of Hudson bombers and B-17s.
Intel gained from agents and sympasizers:
Chittagong expands airfield to size 7
Coen expands airfield to size 3
Townsville expands airfield to size 9


Jun 10, 42
Puerto Princesa is occupied by the Japanese.
San Vicente is occupied by the Allies.
1st Raiding Regiment CAPTURED Lashio.
SS I-154 has torpedoed BB Ramillies~ near Koggala, but the single hit did not even slowed her down - slow as she already is.
Akyab bombed, 8 Hurricanes damaged on the ground.
Tulagi bombed by B-17s, slight port damage.
CL Sendai beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore.
CL Jintsu beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore.
50th Sentai converting to Ki-44-IIa Shoki.


Jun 11, 42
Misool is occupied by the Japanese.
Recon sweep over Katherine by Reisen based at Wyndham traded one Reisen for one P-39D and one Fulmar II.
Tulagi raided again by B-17s without effect.
SS I-160 has damaged xAK Beltana near Melville Island.
SS I-164 detected enemy submarine on surface at 47, 135 but can not position to attack.


Jun 12, 42
Mogok is occupied by the Japanese.
2 explosions at sea have been reported off the coast of Merak in the minefields protecting Sunda Strait - no surface contacts spotted but an oïl slick rose to the surface - apparently an underwater infiltrator has run into our eggs.
Akyab bombed heavily, one Hurricane destroyed on the ground.
The enemy has struck back with a daylight bombing attack by B17s against Rangoon - flak claimed one bomber but enemy bombs claimed CMc RTN Nhongarhai.


Jun 13, 42
Katha / Indaw is occupied by the Japanese.
Amphibious Assault at Port Blair by the Japanese.
Sweeps over Akyab, 3 Shoki lost for 2 Hurricanes downed. Unescorted Lily followed and lost 9 of thjeir Numbers to survuving enemy CAP.
Lunga, Tulagi and Rabaul raided by enemy bombers, AD Kamikaze Maru at Rabaul heavily damaged by a bomb.
Loss of xAP Tatsuta Maru on Jun 13, 1942 is admitted, sunk by SS Trusty near Bengkalis.
xAKL Alagna is reported to have been sunk by SS I-160 near Melville Island on Jun 13, 1942.
PC Kybra is reported to have been sunk near Derby on Mar 14, 1942.


Jun 14, 42
Amphibious TF 321 unloading at Port Blair, a first recon bombardment shows only one Indian infantry brigade opposing six SNLF units.
Mopping-up near Sibolga continues.
Air actions over Akyab costs each side half a dozen planes.
Lunga, Tulagi and Kavieng raided by the enemy in squadron strength, little damage.
CL Isuzu and CL Yura have encountered two Britsh DMs near Darwin, leaving DM Stronghold heavily damaged.
AD Kamikaze Maru DOWed and sinks at Rabaul.
A couple of merchant ships which have been captured from the Allies at Hong Kong have been put into service for the Emperor.


Jun 15, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Blair, 84th Indian Brigade SURRENDERS !!!
Air actions over Akyab continue with light losses on both sides.
Darwin swept and bombed in preparation of a siege.
Minor surface actions by light forces against enemy convoys near Darwin and near Akyab.
Major bombardment of Akyab by 8 IJN battleships plus smaller fry with good results.
Previous report of sinking of CV Lexington incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.
xAP Matang is reported to have been sunk by SS I-23^ near Diamond Harbour on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Togian is reported to have been sunk by CL Yura near Melville Island on Jun 15, 1942
KV Hollyhock is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Bust is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Graciosa is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Lindinha is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Margaret is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942
xAKL Nyoughla is reported to have been sunk near Akyab on Jun 15, 1942


Jun 16, 42
Daly Waters is occupied by the Japanese.
Air actions over Akyab continue with light losses on both sides.
Darwin swept and bombed.
I-4 operating off PH has torpedoed an xAK, received one DC hit in return causing heavy damage, then surfaced to finish off the damaged straggler in gun action, made three hits and then "slips beneath the waves". Fighting to the death!
Coastwatcher Report: PG Ying Hao reported in port at Pakhoi.


Jun 17, 42
Siberoet is occupied by the Japanese.
1st RTA~ Division CAPTURED Myebon.
Akyab and Darwin bombed.
Allied bombers raided Daly Waters and caused light losses on our ground forces (a Recon Rgt).
Lots of sub actions without hits on either side.
Cargo Task Force 161 arrives at Occupied Europe - one German blockade runner has reached France with a cargo of valuable ressources.
Aircraft A6M5 Reisen advances R&D.


Jun 18, 42
Funafuti (in Allied hands) expands airfield to size 3.
Rangoon expands airfield to size 8.
Buin / Kahili expands port to size 1.
Dobadura / Oro Bay expands airfield to size 4.
Darwin and Akyab bombed as usual.
A minesweeping mission at Akyab went bad: DD Hatsushimo hits Boom & Net Defence, DMS W-3 and DMS W-4 heavily damaged by coastal batteries, W-4 sinks at sea.
The "Scrap Iron Flotilla" - a collection of old coal-burning cruiser, training cruisers, old DDs and gunboats - has bombarded Akyab with little effect.
SS I-121* lays minefield at Ndeni ( 120 , 143) and sets course for Rabaul.
AG Platypus is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Feb 17, 1942.
xAP Kelantan is reported to have been sunk by SS I-166 near Trincomalee on Jun 18, 1942.
YP Sondra is reported to have been sunk by near Diamond Harbour on Jun 18, 1942.


Jun 19, 42
Mohnyin is occupied by the Japanese.
2ID 2nd Recon Regiment CAPTURED Fenton (near Darwin).
6th RTA~/C Division CAPTURED Chin Hills (Burma).
Allied beavers are busy building bases for the counter-attack:
Canton Island expands airfield to size 3
Auckland expands airfield to size 8
Luganville expands airfield to size 6
Disaster over Akyab, the sweepers don't fly but the bombers do and run into a robust CAP - 15 Lilys lost.
At Daly Waters, Zeros on LRCAP shot-down a LB-30 Liberator.
Lunga, Tulagi et Munda raided by small Numbers of B-17s and Hudsons, little damage.
Four USN DDs are raiding in the Solomons, near Rossel Island they have stumbled in broad daylight upon a IJN barge convoy - which managed to evade combat.
xAK Meiyo Maru sinks, torpedoed by SS Bonita~ near Taihoku.
xAP Montevideo Maru sinks, torpedoed by SS Sailfish~ off Lautem.
CM Rigel and CM Prome have been sunk near Cox's Bazar by land-based B5N2 Kankoh torpedo bombers based at Magwe.


Jun 20, 42
Rekata Bay is occupied by the Japanese.
Darwin heavily bombed as usual from bases on Timor escorted by fighters based at Wyndham.
Tulagi, Lunga and Munda raided again by small Numbers of Allied bombers.
The IJN battleships have staged a succesful naval bombardment of Chittagong in order to suppress the airfield, while invasion forces landed at Cox's Bazar.
The aim of this audacious operation is to surround and destroy the enemy ground forces at Akyab.
Allied surface raiders in the Solomons and PNG area got lucky this time, sinking a dozen barges near Port Moresby and another dozen near Tulagi.


Jun 21, 42
Yinmabin is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Larrimah / Gorrie !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cox's Bazar !!!

A minor disaster at Cox's Bazaar - the invasion force has attracted the unwelcome attention of the RN:
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 53% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 53% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 2,000 yards
I spare you the gory details - see combat report attached - and go straight to the butcher bill:
Loss of CA Aoba on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted
Loss of CA Kinugasa on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted
Loss of DMS W-18 on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMC Asaka Maru on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted
Loss of DD RTN Phra Ruang on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted
xAP Tsingtao Maru sinks at sea
TB RTN Chunphorn sinks at sea
DMS W-17 sinks at sea

The covering submarine SS I-11^ launched 6 torpedoes at BB Revenge~ - and missed.

With the sun up came massive enemy air attacks against the beach head, but LRCAP was ready and waiting - 6 fighters and 13 bombers downed for 2 Zeros lost.
And the covering angels from KB also extracted revenge from the RN :
B5N2 Kankoh from Akagi-3 has spotted CL Glasgow at 52,41, CL Glasgow is reported HIT
B5N2 Kankoh from Kaga-3 has spotted CL Capetown at 52,41, CL Capetown is reported HIT
The spotting reports were followed by three attack waves with following results:
BB Revenge is reported to have been sunk near Chittagong on Jun 21, 1942
CL Dauntless is reported to have been sunk near Chittagong on Jun 21, 1942
CL Ceres is reported to have been sunk near Chittagong on Jun 21, 1942
CL Caledon is reported to have been sunk near Chittagong on Jun 21, 1942
Plus heavy damage to other CLs and DDs present.

The four SNLF landed at Cox's Bazaar had no difficulties to capture the base, the only enemy unit present was a detachment of "V Force", basically a bunch of spies and saboteurs.

What else:
Tulagi, Lunga, Munda raided as susual.
SS I-122* lays minefield at Normanton ( 86 , 138) and sets course for Rabaul.
DD Grayson is reported to have been sunk near Russell Islands on Jun 21, 1942 b y SS I-171.
Loss of xAKL Shinai Maru' on Jun 21, 1942 is admitted, sunk by SS Plunger~ near Miri-Lutong.


Jun 22, 42
Choiseul Bay is occupied by the Japanese.
2ID 2nd Recon Regiment CAPTURED Pine Crk-MacDonald !!!
Back to normality - just the usual bombings of Akyab and Darwin by Japan and Lunga, Tulagi and Munda by the Allies to report.
The first two IJA Tank Divisions have been authorized and the infantry, artillery and support elements have been activated at Mukden. Now they need to be bought-out and mated with their tank regiments which are already fighting in the SRA.


Jun 23, 42
Namtu / Bawdwin is occupied by the Japanese.
Not much to report combat-wise, but convoys are loading at Rangoon for actions aiming at capturing Akyab and trapping the British defenders.
Four fast BBs bombarded Akyab again.
SS I-30^ has found USN battleships near Nouméa but was out of position to attack.
A DA at Katherine has mauled the Australian defenders quite badly.


Jun 24, 42
Namkham* is occupied by the Japanese.
1st RTA~ Division CAPTURED Minbya !!!
5 battleships have bombarded Akyab once more. Being a soldier in the 70th British~ Division or the 45th Indian Brigade musty be hell...
The usual bombings of Akyab, Darwin and in the Solomons.
Loss of PB Higashiyama Maru on Jun 24, 1942 is admitted, sunk by SS Trout~ near Fukue-jima.
CM Ukishima# lays defensive minefield at Oosthaven ( 48 , 96) and sets course for Batavia.
CM Ishizaki lays defensive minefield at Buin / Kahili ( 109 , 131) and sets course for Rabaul.
CM Naryu# lays defensive minefield at Munda ( 111 , 134) and sets course for Rabaul.
CM Hirashima lays defensive minefield at Rossel Island ( 105 , 137) and sets course for Rabaul.


Jun 25, 42
Mogaung is occupied by the Japanese.
Three USN destroyers have bombarded Munda and then encountered four IJN APDs - in a brief skirmish, APD Kisaragi has been heavily damaged.
Darwin bombarded again, this time the port instead of the airfield due to anchor symbol spotted last turn. xAK Momba reported sunk in port.
The usual Allied raid on Munda got a surprise, Zero waiting on CAP. One B-17D and one B-17E destroyed for one Zero lost.
LB-30s tried to raid Rabaul again, also finding CAP and losing one bomber.
16th Army with the 56th ID and major parts of the 2nd ID and 16th ID have launched a shock attack at Katherine, the attack failed to capture the base but lowered forts from 2 to 0.


Jun 26, 42
Kutkai* is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Katherine !!!
DD Smith is reported to have been sunk by SS I-165 near Torres Islands on Jun 26, 1942
YP Sigfra is reported to have been sunk by SS I-23^ near Diamond Harbour on Jun 26, 1942
The blockade runner xAK KM Dresden has been sunk by enemy dive bmbers near Howland Island, CPT Jaeger has been KILLED. The Führer won't be happy!
SS I-121* lays minefield at Lunga ( 114 , 138) and sets course for Rabaul.
Intel reports that two APDs have been damaged by our mines at Ndeni - good.
DD Nowaki hits Mine VH Mk II at Akyab - not so good.
xAK Panama Maru collides with xAK Kirikawa Maru at 111 , 106 - not good either.


Jun 27, 42
Man Kat is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Batan Island !!!
Darwin, Akyab, Lunga bombed as usual.
xAP Gen W C Gorgas is reported to have been sunk by SS I-6 near San Francisco on Jun 27, 1942.
APD Kisaragi die of wounds after the skirmish in the Solomons two days ago.
There are other problem cases as well:
Difficulty controlling flooding aboard xAK Mito Maru
Extensive Flooding Damage aboard xAK Kirikawa Maru
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard SS I-4


Jun 28, 42
Yongde is occupied by the Japanese.
Mohnyin is occupied by the Allies.
Surface action near Tsushima!
Japanese Ships
xAK Tatsutama Maru', Shell hits 7
Allied Ships
SS Grouper, hits 4, on fire
Fireplug sprinkled dog - and to add insult to injury, the ship is the ex SS "Admiral Y. S. Williams" captured by the Japanese while undergoing repairs in drydock at Hong Kong.

xAK Mito Maru dies of wounds.
Rangoon raided by B-17s at night, no damage.
Darwin, Akyab and Lunga bombed as usual.
Akyab got the "big stick" treatment again, nine IJN battleships plastered the defenders (70th British~ Division, 44th Indian Brigade, 45th Indian Brigade, 254th Armoured Brigade, 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment).


Jun 29, 42
Bhamo* is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Babuyan !!!
Cairns expands port to size 6, Efate expands airfield to size 4. Means something will happen in the Solomons / PNG area in the foreseeable future.
Rangoo raided again by a squadron of B-17s, no damage.
Akyab bombarded by a handful of cruisers in order to keep the defenders awake and exhausted.
xAK El Madina has been torpedoed by SS I-33^ on the CT - Perth track and probably won't make it to port.
Previous report of sinking of DD Hughes incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
The war is as good as won - the mighty 1st Ind.Tank Co arrives at Tokyo= for deployment to the front.


Jun 30, 42
Mong Kung is occupied by the Japanese (dot base near Lashio).
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sawahloento (an inland base on Sumatra - mopping-up).
Being part of a cruiser group lobbing shells into the Akyab perimeter, DD Yugumo has hit the Boom & Net Defence, is set afire and heavily damaged - the risk of naval bombardments!
Rangoon has been raided again, this time Shokis have been sent up on night CAP - they damaged 6 bombers but lost 2 planes.
The enemy bombers obtained just one hit - on the hospital ship AV +Asahi Maru! WARCRIME!
The brightly lit ship was probably the only target the enemy could see at night and they must have taken the red cross painted on the deck as a bull's eye.
At Lunga, the Allied milk bombing run has been surprised by LRCAP from Munda, the Zeros destroyed two Hudson bombers.
At Kwajalein, the Japanese garrison has been surprised by a carrier raid involving 60+ fighters and 140+ bombers. 15 casualties and slight port damage.
Aircraft Ki-44-IIc Shoki advances R&D.
The IJN carriers are resizing their airgroups this turn, forcing a pause in operations for reorganisation of pilots and airframes.


June Summary

Focus still on Burma and Darwin, with minor mopping-up still going-on in the PI, Sumatra and the Solomons.

A naval bombardment of Darwin has cost the IJN two precious DMS, but the airbase has received a good pasting, which eliminated the CAP threat and allowed to start bombing the base. Wyndam is being build-up to become the logistical hub for the Darwin operation. 16th Army and three infantry divisions plus much support have been allocated.

In Burma, the enemy wasted no time in bombing Magwe, but we had delayed its capture to wait for the arrival of base forces and AA to have protection in place immediately. Bringing condoms to the first date paid-off! Ground operations continued to occupy the rest of the country. Enemy resistance seem to be concentrated in the coastal area.
Port Blair has been captured on June 15th to protect the flank.
In order to keep Magwe out of enemy fighter range, that coastal area will be occupied in the coming weeks. First target is Akyab, which is already used as a fighter base by the Allies. Sweeps and bombing raids with mixed results have been conducted throughout the month, repeated naval bombardments have been more successful. To trap the enemy defending Akyab, the end of the month has seen a naval bombardment of Chittagong to supress the airbase in order to cover a landing operation at Cox's Bazar in an attempt to cut-off Akyab. The invasion has triggered a reaction of the Royal Navy and the enemy air forces, resulting in the loss of CA Aoba and CA Kinugasa plus two DMS and some transports, however BB Revenge, CL Dauntless, CL Ceres and CL Caledon have been sunk by an avenging KB.

In the Solomons and PNG area, things have been heating-up. In a surprise carrier raid on Rabaul, the Allied dogs have hit Mini-KB undergoing repairs in port. CV Hiyo sank outright, CVL Ryujo DOWed later. Allied cruisers and destroyers also continued their raiding activities, as did Allied bombers in small Numbers hitting Tulagi, Lunga, Munda, Milne Bay, Dobadura/Oro Bay and even Rabaul. With IUSN carriers in the area and Mini-KB out of action, the IJN cruisers have been retired as well. For the time being we will leave the initiative in the Solomons and PNG area to the Allies and concentrate on protecting Rabaul, with the occasional CAP trap over Munda etc.

In the CentPac, a second Allied raid has been fended-off at Tabiteuea, the garrison held and the enemy evacuated.

[Mark VII]

love this AAR!

[MBF]

fwiw - I was overjoyed to see an update and love the style - I don't have much use for AARs that just solely post the combat report

[LargeSlowTarget]

Jul 01, 42
Vangunu / Segi is occupied by the Japanese.
Apparently the recent CAP traps in the Solomons have pushed the enemy to seek easier targets - Horn Island has been bombed by B-17s.
The Armed Merchant Cruiser AMC Noshiro Maru #1^ has run into TK British Genius on the Perth-CT track - each side managed to hit the opponent exactly once before breaking contact.
SS I-6 has run into a convoy of no less than six AKE ammo ships near San Francisco - and failed.
xAK City of Rayville is reported to have been sunk by I-2 near San Francisco.


Jul 02, 42
Vella Lavella is occupied by the Japanese.
AMC Noshiro Maru #1^ has encountered an unescorted merchantmen convoy on the CT-Perth track, managed to hit three different xAKs once each, and disengaged.
Horn Island has been bombed repeatedly by B-17s, the garrison suffered quite a few casualties.
Wake Island has been raided by USN carrier aircraft, the "port" suffered 10 hits.
Previous report of sinking of DD Cushing incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.


Jul 03, 42
Hansa Bay is occupied by the Japanese.
Akyab bombarded by IJN cruisers. Darwin bombed.
Allied nuissance bombing of Lunga and Buin / Kahili.


Jul 04, 42
Busuanga is occupied by the Japanese.
The Fourth of July fireworks have been provided - ironically - by the British. A IJN minesweeping task force - 2 DMS, 4 DD - have stumbled on a British mine tender near Akyab and made short work of her: Massive explosion on ACM #Luminary (aptly named as well).
IJN BBs then proceeded to bombard Akyab once again.
Akyab, Darwin Lunga, Tulagi bombed as usual.
Loss of xAP Teia Maru on Jul 04, 1942 is admitted, sunk by SS Tautog~ near Chefoo
Aircraft A6M5 Reisen advances R&D.


Jul 05, 42
Panggoe is occupied by the Japanese.
The grinding-down of Akyab continues by air and sea, not without costs - DD Yanagi hits Mine VH Mk II at Akyab and sinks.
Darwin bombed heavily while ground forces advance overland from Wyndham.
Enemy B-17s raiding Lunga lost one bomber to LRCAP from Munda.
Lots of housekeeping ging on:
Repairs completed on CV Hiryu at Singapore, ship returned to service.
DD Arare beginning refit while under repair in shipyard at Singapore
DD Yamakaze beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore
DD Umikaze beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore
DD Suzukaze beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore


Jul 06, 42
Mohnyin is occupied by the Japanese.
Akyab and Darwin got the usual treatment, also enemy troops at Maungdaw got bombed.
Dobadura / Oro Bay got an unusual treatment - the battleship Prince of Wales with 5 cruisers and DD has bombarded the base, causing almost 300 casualties and the loss of 7 Zero fignters on the ground, with 30 more damaged. On the way back, the Allied force came across a group of three destroyers on a transport run to Milne Bay, sinking DD Michishio and heavily damaging DD Oshio.
Setback at Port Hedland - the troops of our invasion force were splashing ashore when enemy ships appeared on the horizon - 2 BBs, 2 CLs and DDs. Our light escort - a TB, an AMC and some patrol craft - stood no chance and the result was a complete wipeout of the entire convoy:

Loss of APD PB-34 (Susuki) on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of APD PB-35 (Tsuta) on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of PG Saga on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of TB Kari on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted - Yokosuka 5th SNLF destroyed aboard TB Kari
Loss of AK Yamahuku Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMC Saigon Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of PB Kogane Maru on Feb 27, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Kakuzan Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Koan Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Kobe Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Keihuku Maru #1 on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Ural Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Tango Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Teifu Maru #1 on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of SS-1 on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AK Katsuragi Maru on Jul 06, 1942 is admitted


Jul 07, 42
Bulalacao is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Hedland.
Darwin bombed again.
But the main show was again provided by the Allies.
Dobadura / Oro Bay got swept by P-38s and then heavily bombed by B-25s and B-27s, surely in an attempt to destroy the Zeros damaged the day before by the naval bombardment - 2 Zeros lost for one B-25 claimed by AA.
But it turned out that the raid by the Prince has been a diversion.

The real blow fell at Truk, courtesy of the Allied carriers.
Again somehow evading the net of naval search by Emilies and Betties in the CentPac, the surprise raid made short work of the tenders and auxiliaries providing fleet services at the Truk Anchorage:

CM Kamome# sinks....
SSX Ha-9 sinks....
AG Muroto sinks in port
ARD Dublon ARD sinks in port
AD Shintoku Maru sinks in port
AS Heian Maru sinks in port
ACM Nasami# sinks in port
AKE Aratama Maru sinks in port
AKE Naruto Maru sinks in port

The IJN extracted some revenge.
Long-range naval search had picked-up an enemy convoy venturing a bit too close to Japanese-held territory and a few groups of CLs and DDs have ventured-out from Singapore on an attempt to intercept.
In several engagements, the entire convoy has been hunted-down:

AM Bathurst is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942
TK Saidja is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942
TK Clydefield is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942
TK San Adolpho is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942
TK San Amado is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942
TK San Amborosio is reported to have been sunk near Cocos Islands on Jul 07, 1942


Jul 08, 42
Nias is occupied by the Japanese.
56th Division CAPTURED Batchelor - 23rd Australian Brigade suffered 1500 casutalties and is RETREATING towards Darwin.
6th RTA~/C Division CAPTURED Saiha.
The Allies have swept and bombed Dobadura / Oro Bay and Port Moresby.
While the Allied Navies are amusing themselves in the Pacific, Cox's Bazaar has been bombarded by nine IJN battleships - the 20th Indian Division suffered 300 casualties.
4th Sentai* converting to Ki-45 KAIa Toryu.


Jul 09, 42
Kawang is occupied by the Japanese.
The Yangtze gunboats have bombarded the Chinese troops at Hwaiyin.
TB Hayabusa has hit a VH Mk II mine at Akyab and sank, covering an invasion convoy to secure the base - because the Allies have evacuated this collection of shell and bomb holes!
Dobadura / Oro Bay swept and bombed by the Allies, Nauru bombed as well. Pinpricks.


Jul 10, 42
Akyab is occupied by the Japanese.
1st Sasebo Coy SNLF CAPTURED Pagai-eilanden.
Mopping-up on Java continues around Padang.
Japanese bombers raided Darwin.
The Allies have raided Tennant Creek, Dobadura / Oro Bay and Ocean Island.

Jul 11, 42
Rendova is occupied by the Japanese.

The four Kongo class BBs have bombarded Chittagong, damaging 33 Warhawks on the ground and destroying one.
Then five slower BBs did the same, damaging another 77 Warhawks and destroying 7.
The airbase is a shambles and over 1000 casualties on the receiving end. That should help covering the movement of troops convoys in the area.
In the meantime, Thai gunboats bombarded Cox's Bazar - with no results. What a surprise.

Darwin bombed as usual.
Our force advancing towards Tennant Creek has been bombed again, the Recon Rgt is suffering losses from "carpet bombing" in the open terrain.

Some defensive efforts in the PNG area:
SS I-124* lays minefield at Port Moresby ( 98 , 130) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Naryu# lays defensive minefield at Buna ( 99 , 129) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Ishizaki lays defensive minefield at Milne Bay ( 101 , 133) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Hoko lays defensive minefield at Raba-Raba ( 101 , 132) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Hirashima lays defensive minefield at Tufi / Wanigela ( 100 , 131) and sets course for Rabaul

TK British Genius is reported to have been sunk by SS I-33^ near Perth - Fremantle.


Jul 12, 42
Treasury Islands is occupied by the Japanese.
Thai forces CAPTURED Myitkyina*.

The IJA divisions landed at Cox's Bazar under cover of the BB bombardments in order to reinforce the 4 measly SNLFs arrived just in time to counter a bombardment attack by massive Britisch-Indian forces which have arrived at the base. The operation to trap a large part of the British-Indian forces is developing into a slugging match. If I can keep the enemy surrounded, the lack of supplies should doom him.

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21896 troops, 268 guns, 359 vehicles, Assault Value = 1242

Defending force 29455 troops, 685 guns, 291 vehicles, Assault Value = 1046

Allied ground losses:
408 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
45th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
20th Indian Division
70th British~ Division

Defending units:
Sasebo 8th SNLF
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
4th Division
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
21st Division
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
25th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
26IMB 10th Mortar Battalion

Three cruisers have bombarded Chittagong again in order to keep the airfield out of business.
AMC Monowai~ has been torpedoed by SS I-2 off San Francisco.
Darwin bombed as usual. Tennant Creek as well.
At Chinlon in Northern Burma - dot jungle dot base astride the Mandalay- Myitkyina railroad,the British 7th Armoured~ Brigade is hiding in the bush. For what for? Probably forcing IJA troops to waste time digging them out of the jungle. The 18th Div plus tank support has been tasked with the job, in, the meantime the airforce tries to fatigue the enemy.

Aircraft A6M5 Reisen advances R&D.


Jul 13, 42
Tawi Tawi is occupied by the Japanese.
The enemy troops near Cox's Bazar have been bombarded by most if not all available IJN cruisers - but less than 200 casualties inflicted.
A bombardment attack by our land forces at Cox's Bazar have Added over 200 enemy casualties to the butcher bill.
SS I-123* has mined Palm Island off Townsville - and DM Ramsay promptly hit a mine.
CM Hoko sunk by SS KXIII near Milne Bay.


Jul 14, 42
Tennant Creek is occupied by the Japanese.
1st Sasebo Coy SNLF CAPTURED Enggano.
86th Nav Gd CAPTURED Deboyne Islands.

xAK Jaladuta and xAK Michael Embiricos are reported to have been sunk by Navy dive bombers near Cox's Bazar - SSX Ha-49 on point defence duty at Cox also contributed a torpedo hit!
Navy bombers also attacked a small cruiser-destroyer force spotted south of Port Moresby, but obtained no hits.

I would have preferred to find the cruisers at Townsville, but the midget sub attack failed anyway:
I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-14 to attack Townsville - SSX Ha-14 unable to penetrate harbor at Townsville and is abandoned
I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-16 to attack Townsville - SSX Ha-16 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Townsville
I-24_ unable to launch midget at Townsville, mission aborted

Some more defensive work in the PNG and Solomons area:
CM Naryu# lays defensive minefield at Tulagi ( 114 , 137) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Hirashima lays defensive minefield at Lunga ( 114 , 138) and sets course for Rabaul
CM Ishizaki lays defensive minefield at Port Moresby ( 98 , 130) and sets course for Rabaul


Jul 15, 42
Nothing occupied or captured this turn.
At Cox's Bazar, our firepower continues to atritt the enemy forces.
Lots of sub actions on both sides.
The usual bombing attacks in Burma and at Darwin.
Enemy bombers raided Horn Island and the Recondos at Tennant Creek are now in range of medium bombers as well and start to suffer quite a few disabled devices - I think they must be withdrawn.


Jul 16, 42
Great Nicobar is occupied by the Japanese.
Dive-bombers have planted 5 bombs on the "minelaying cruiser" CM Abdiel~ near Chittagong, leaving her in flames and listing.
Japan bombings at Maungdaw, Chinlon and Warazup* in Burma and Darwin.
TK Membau is reported to have been sunk by SS I-23^ near Karachi.


Jul 17, 42
Just the usual air attacks in Australia and Burma and the now customary land bombardment at Cox's Bazar. It takes time to get the troops in place in order to launch attacks with enough strength to obtain a favourable loss ratio.
Agents report that the Dutch minelaying submarine O19 has hit a sub-laid Japanese mine at Merak - how ironic.
SS I-164 has sighted BB Royal Sovereign~ plus 2 CLs and DDs near Carnarvon. Sister sub SS I-164 in the same area got a better look and also saw and attacked BB Resolution~, but missed.
Mmh, two British BBs prowling near our North Australian territories - I don't like that..
xAK Taito Maru has been sunk by an enemy submarine near Fukue-jima.


Jul 18, 42
Mawlaik is occupied by the Japanese.
RTA~ Cavalry Division CAPTURED Muse* (in Burma, the * means the base is on the Ledo Road)
Near Fenton in Northern Australia, a IJA tank regiment has routed enemy base force personnel.
In China, operations have begun at Sihong against a stronghold of Chinese bandits (guerillas).
The artillery butchery at Cox's Bazar continued to grind-down the British-Indian forces.
At Chinlon, the British 7th Armoured~ Brigade hiding in the jungles has tried to spring an ambush (i.e. shock attack) on the IJA 18th Division which has been sent to flush the Pommies out - but tanks aren't that useful in the jungle terrain and the attackers suffered five times more losses than the attacked.
Japanese air attacks continue against enemy troops and installations at Maungdaw, Warazup*, Chinlon (all in Burma), without enemy CAP interference.
Navy bombers with fighter escort have raided Diamond Harbor, sinking three small minesweepers.
Enemy bombers have hit Horn Island and Tennant Creek again.


Jul 19, 42
Homalin is occupied by the Japanese.
23rd Tank Regiment CAPTURED Shwegu - a dot base near Bhamo which is needed to surround the British 7th Armoured Bde in Northern Burma.
1st Raiding Rgt CAPTURED Rangamati - that is a dot base east of Chittagong.
Amphibious Assault at Feni - that is a dot base north of Chittagong.
Yes, a risky operation is underway to capture Chittagong and to make sure the British-Indian forces at Cox's Bazar won't be able to retreat into India to safety.
A rare Allied retaliation in Burma has pitted 32 Blenheims against 30 Zeros on CAP over Cox's Bazar - 6 bombers downed.

In Australia, 8th Tank Regiment continued to push remnants ever closer to Darwin.
The usual Japanese bombing attacks in Burma and against Darwin.
The Allied bombed Tennant Creek with 24 B-26s - this is really starting to hurt with lots of disabled and some destroyed devices.

B-17s have raided Lunga and sank a midget sub in port.
Night naval bombardments by Thai gunboats at Cox's Bazar, the Yangtze Flotilla at Hwaiyin and - by two USN DDs - at Lunga.
APD PB-36 (Fuji) has been sunk by SS Trusty near Port Dickson.
YP Flicker has been sunk by SS I-156 near Trivandrum.
Aircraft Ki-45 KAId Toryu advances R&D.


Jul 20, 42
Chaungwa is occupied by the Japanese.
Japanese forces CAPTURED undefended Feni and will spread-out north and south from there.
31ID 138th Infantry Regiment CAPTURED Pakanbaroe !!!
2nd Sasebo Coy SNLF CAPTURED Trinkat !!!
6th RTA~/A Division CAPTURED Warazup* !!!

Japanese bombers have hit Darwin and the British troop concentrations in Burma.
Allied heavy bombers have hit Rangoon at night, CAP tried to interfere but two Shoki fighters have been gunned-down by the beasts.
At Feni, the expected massive aerial counter-attack against our beachhead has cost the Allies dearly and provided entertainment for the pilots of Kido Butai and land-based fighters providing LRCAP:

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 17 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed by flak
Wellington Ic: 2 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 3 destroyed
Hurricane I Trop: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 7 destroyed

TK British Sovereign is reported to have been sunk near Karachi by SS I-23^.


Jul 21, 42
Nalone* is occupied by the Japanese.
The usual milk run bombings against Darwin and targets in Burma.
The Allies continue nuisance raids in the Solomons, this time Tulagi has been hit again.
At Tennant Creek, Allied bombers are really hurting the poor Recondos and they are heading back north out of enemy bomber range resp. into own LRCAP range.
No air actions over Feni^^


Jul 22, 42
Cangyuan is occupied by the Japanese.
Under relentless pursuit by Japanese tanks, Katherine RAAF Base Force SURRENDERED near Fenton.
Enemy CAP trap over Cox's Bazar - 26 Ki-48 bombers lost! Jesus, that's a lot of bombers^^
Usual bombings of Darwin, Burma bases, Tulagi, Munda for a change.
2 CL and a few DDs have bombarded Darwin, causing about 50 casualties.
The rest of Combined Fleet was waiting in line to bombard Chittagong - a total of five times, causing over a thousand casualties and lots of damage.
CA Myoko has hit a mine at Chittagong, that is the risk of business.
SS I-20_ has torpedoed CL Java near Milne Bay - probably a sweep against our dot-base-grabbing mini-convoys.


Jul 23, 42
Car Nicobar is occupied by the Japanese.
38th Division advancing north from Akyab has CAPTURED Maungdaw.
2nd Raiding Rgt paradropped and CAPTURED Lunglei - east of Chittagong - to seal an escape route.
Enemy bombers are still hitting Tennant Creek, but the base has been evacuated. Nuisance raids against Tulagi and Munda.
Our defensive preparations in the Solomons are being dwarfed by the offensive preparations of the Allies:
Buin / Kahili expands airfield to size 1
Luganville expands port to size 6
Aircraft Ki-44-IIc Shoki advances R&D


Jul 24, 42
Hpakan is occupied by the Japanese.
Sasebo 3rd SNLF has CAPTURED Comilla - as a speed bump and early warning trigger for any British operations to rescue Chittagong.
A first DA at Cox's Bazar did not go too well, the Japanese forces suffered a lot more than the Allies. Reinforcements will arrive from Akyab overland, but that takes time.
Waves of unescorted British bombers (80+ sorties) have hit unprotected Chittagong, causing some damage and losses.
The usual attacks on Darwin, Tulagi, Munda.
The merchant raiders AMC Noshiro Maru #1^ and AMC KM HSK-4 Thor^ operating in a joint IJN-KM operation have attacked TK Fenris on the Perth - CT track.
Lunga has been bombarded by CA Chicago and a bunch of DDs - 8 casualties reported.
SS I-169 operating south of Lunga has torpedoed DD Buchanan in revenge.
HDML Lolita is reported to have been sunk by SS I-28^ near Isle of Pines. I appreciate the irony - Henry Neville anyone?


Jul 25, 42
Little Andaman is occupied by the Japanese.
Our lone SNLF at Comilla has been the centre of attention of the Allied airforces in India. In anticipation I have LRCAPed the base, but the distance is too great and forces too disparate - Japan lost 11 fighters and the Allies only two. In the open terrain, the SNLF will quickly share the same fate as the Recondos at Tennant Creek, therefore I will abandon Comilla and accept the VP hit.
Our forces have reached Chittagong from Feni and a first recon bombardment shows a garrison of two Indian infantry brigades and a number of base forces. We have twice as much AV.
At Cox's Bazar, we settled back into artillery pounding.
Darwin naval bombarded by the IJN, Milne Bay by the Allies.
xAP Husimi Maru has hit a mine at Lautem (Timor) and is in trouble.
I have reorganised my aerial ASW efforts, pilot training in ASW tactics has finally progressed to a point where their active deployment may yields results. Sub sighting reports have exploded.


Jul 26, 42
Chittagong received "the treatment" by nine IJN battlewaggons.
A shock attack at Chittagong lowers forts to level 2, but the Japanese suffer twice the losses of the Allies. Was a gamble, I counted on the BB bombardment rendering the defenders punch drunk.
The usual bombings at Darwin, Lunga, Tulagi.


Jul 27, 42
Bataraza is occupied by the Japanese.
A DA by the 5th ID and Guards ID at Chittagong yields 2:1 casualties - not good. IJN cruisers have bombarded Chittagong in support.
A DA at Cox's Bazar goes better, the Allied units retreated up the path in direction of Chittagong.
Allied bombers have hit Feni, the landing hex north of Chittagong. There is some Japanese AA present so results are supportable.
HDML Steady Hour is reported to have been sunk by SS I-28^ near Isle of Pines.


Jul 28, 42
Kyaung Le is occupied by the Japanese.
Comilla, Tennant Creek, Lunga and Tulagi raided by Allied bombers, Darwin bombed as usual by the IJAAF.
A squadron of B-17s also bombed Rangoon in broad daylight, losing 3 to CAP and AA and hitting nothing.
Rikkos with Zero escort have attacked an Allied cruiser-destroyer TF near Munda, no hits obtained.
IJA cruisers have again bombarded Chittagong. The round-trip to Rangoon to rearm keeps the number of missions lower than I would wish.
German auxiliary cruiser AMC KM HSK-4 Thor^ has found an unescorted merchantmen convoy on the Perth - CT track and damaged four xAKs.
SS I-15^ has torpedoed CA Chicago near Kirakira.
xAK Tamahoko Maru sunk by SS Haddock near Amoy.


Jul 29, 42
Tamu is occupied by the Japanese.
6th RTA~/A Division CAPTURED Hukawng Valley* on the road to Ledo.
Thai gunboats bombarded Chittagong.
Sasebo 3rd SNLF is really suffering from endless Allied air attacks at Comilla, the unit has orders to retreat but moving under constant air attack is slow.
8 B-26s raided Milne Bay, encountered Zeros on LRCAP from Dobadura and lost half their Numbers.
CL Newcastle is reported to have been sunk near Chittagong on Jun 21, 1942.
AM Toowoomba is reported to have been sunk near Darwin on Feb 16, 1942.
Aircraft A6M5 Reisen advances R&D.


Jul 30, 42
Kalewa is occupied by the Japanese.
18th ID has CAPTURED Chinlon - the surrounded 7th Armoured Brigade SURRENDERED.
Tamu is occupied by the Allies.
Sasebo 3rd SNLF at Comilla continued to suffer from Allied air attacks and is nothing more than a collection of disabled devices. The base is too far away from our nearest airbase for effective LRCAP.
A squadron of Blenheims tried to raid our troops at Chittagong, which IS covered by LRCAP - 9 Blenheims splashed.
IJA reinforcements have landed directly at Darwin. Although enemy coastal guns fired over 800 shots in defense, they managed just three hits on the invasion shipping.
PB Takunan Maru #5 has hit a mine at Truk and sank.
The activities of AMC KM HSK-4 Thor^ in the Indian Ocean have irritated the Allies enough to send cruisers in pursuit - CL Hobart and CL Sumatra stayed out of range of the raider's old WWI-vintage guns and pounded her with over 30 hits, leaving her in a sinking condition.
xAKL Mexican is reported to have been sunk by SS I-6 near San Francisco.


Jul 31, 42
Mong-Hsu is occupied by the Japanese.
Unloading of reinforcements continues at Darwin.
Chittagong has been bombarded massively in three waves by a large part of the IJN incl. 9 battleships, causing 2000 Allied casualties.
Meanwhile, reinforcements have been landed directly at Chittagong.
One hex north at Feni, air battles have cost Japan 4 Reisen and 2 Shoki, for only one Warhawk downed. Several waves of Allied bombers caused moderate casualties among our troops at that base.
Lunga has been raided by medium bombers, but LRCAP from Munda has downed 2 B-26s.
On the ground, only artillery bombardments at Darwin and Chittagong.


July summary
What can I say - in July as well, focus is still on Burma and Darwin, with minor mopping-up elsewhere.

The overland approach from Wyndham via Katherine to the outskirts of Darwin has been a long slog, but the spearhead units have finally arrived. Tennant Creek has been taken - and evacuated Under a hail of bombs. To enlarge the defensive perimeter in Northern Australia, Port Hedland has been occupied - but this operation has cost Japan a bunch of shipping because I failed to provide proper "distant escort".
Some revenge has been extracted by the sinking of an Allied tanker convoy in the IO and actions by the German raider Thor, who unfortunately has met his fate in the process.

In Burma there has been progress, Akyab has been occupied, enemy troops have been pushed out of Cox's Bazar, and Chittagong is under siege. The aim is to trap and eliminate a sizeable chunk of the British-Indian forces and to protect the Magwe oil from air attacks. The bigger part of the Imperial Navy is being employed here on bombardment runs and covering missions for troop convoys. In a sideshow, the 7th British Armoured Brigade has been eliminated and all of Northern Burma is now under Japanese control.

In the Pacific Ocean, Allied nuisance attacks continue. On top of the list, a daring carrier raid on Truk, which has cost Japan valuable auxiliaries and tenders. Surface forces have Added a few bombardment runs in the PNG and Solomons area. Feeble bombing raids keep hitting target in the lower Solomons and the PNG area, punctuated by our occasional CAP trap. I have the feeling that an Allied counteroffensive is in the making, the Allies have established an outpost at Ndeni and the bases further South have been built-up. A part from some minelaying and a concentration of submarines, our defensive efforts are certainly too weak to face the threat, but it is hoped that local forces will buy enough time to finish the Darwin and Burma operations to allow a redeployment of major assets to meet the threat.

Warship losses suffered or inflicted have been light this turn, no major units removed from respective ORBATS.

A word on the economic situation: Bordering catastrophic. I have a very hard time to ship resources, oil and fuel from the SRA to Japan in order to keep the Home Islands industries going. Available merchant shipping is being utilised to the utmost, but it is not enough. An important part of HI factories does stop production each turn for lack of raw materials and/or fuel. HI points are hovering at around 15k - and only because I have severely curtailed aircraft production. Consequently, aircraft pools are very shallow. Yay, bottlenecks everywhere, just like in the real world!

[IdahoNYer]

Hey LST!!! How goes??

Still following this one...Looks like you have a good game going - need to see a map and the VP/loss overview.
....maybe for the next update??

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hi Ed,

I promise screenshots and stats for August.

Got your mail, will prepare some fresh photos of my RR layout as soon as I get some sunny days.

[Chickenboy]

I promise screenshots and stats for August.

When screenshots and stats?

[PaxMondo]

I promise screenshots and stats for August.

When screenshots and stats?

The 'crowd' eagerly awaits!!!

{imagine popcorn emoticon from the old days ...}

[LargeSlowTarget]

Thanks folks, but I am sorry to disappoint you - my opponent has dropped out due to real-life events (career change) and the game has ended in early September 1942.
In August, fighting continued to rage in Burma with the Japanese trying to prevent the escape and thus to destroy a large part of the British-Indian forces south of Chittagong.
Chittagong fell to the Japanese on Aug 02. Allied still fought back, British CVs raiding and all, but I was confident that I could keep the enemy forces bottled-up.
The other hotspot was Darwin, which fell on August 05. The 18th British Div and three Aussie brigades did surrender.
The Allies had also launched their first amphibious counter-offensive with a landing on Guadalcanal - just a few days after the entire KB entered the shipyards for three weeks of upgrades.
However, the affair was botched - the Allied had left behind a large part of the landing force by accident.
We negotiated a kind of mulligan - no Japanese countermeasures against the evacuation of the weak forces which had been landed.
By then we had dropped down to a turn a week, with prospect of even longer breaks due to work schedules, and we finally have agreed to end the game in mutual consent, with respect and honor intact.

I did not take many screenshots, here is what I have :

Burma august42.jpg (235.85 KiB) Viewed 338 times

industryaug42.jpg (150.31 KiB) Viewed 338 times

Yes, lack of fuel and resources for the LI and HI in the home islands - due to too much shipping being used for campaigns in Burma and Australia which I have started against better knowledge - victory disease!

I'll take a break from PBEM, but negotiations with a new opponent for a fresh game starting next year have already begun.

[PaxMondo]

Thanks folks, but I am sorry to disappoint you - my opponent has dropped out due to real-life events (career change) and the game has ended in early September 1942.

Oh crap!!!

Really sorry to hear.


Looking forward to your next game ....

[saj42]

So LST, given the obvious 'Bottlenecks' in transportation and economy, would you say that Japan should limit themselves to just one deep-strike target?
India OR Australia OR NZ/Fiji OR Aleutians/Alaska.

[LargeSlowTarget]

In Bottlenecks, I have tried to inject a bit more realism. Japan will have a much harder time to launch and sustain deep strikes, for the same reasons the Japanese did not try to invade India, Australia, NZ or US territories in the real war - lack of troops, lack of merchant shipping to keep the economy running AND to invade distant places at the same time, and the long vulnerable supply lines. In Bottlenecks you will facer harsher trade-off because you need to play "robbing Peter to pay Paul". You can still try deep invasions, but you risk crashing the economy rather quickly. Sometimes less is more.