Bo...oops in the South Pacific - LST (A) vs SierraJuliet (J) Bottlenecks Mod

[LargeSlowTarget]

Thx for the feedback, Mundy.

Dec 16th, 1941

Bases liberated
Ichang reoccupied by the Allies, the Japanese garrison has evacuated that outpost.

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURED Davao.
Japanese forces CAPTURED Claveria (Northern Luzon)
Catbalogan (on Samar) occupied by the Japanese Row Boat Corps.

Sub War
SS KXVI has torpedoed and damaged AS Rio de Janiero Maru and AO Erimo near Peleliu / Angaur.
SS KVIII operating in the same area then picked-off AO Erimo with two more torpedoes.

CONUS
Ships continue arriving from the world in dribs and drops and entering the yards for arming.
A first convoy with ground forces for the PTO has been dispatched from SF with the general order to “go south”, but the final destination has not been decided – that depends on where KB decides to go after Johnson Is. and what other bases in the area might fall to the enemy during the transit time.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
KB off Johnston Is. and all subs in the wider vicinity of PH have all vanished – they have simply disappeared without a trace.
After verification, there might be a connection with the fact that I have set all air groups at Pearl Harbor to rest by accident… Oops!
As a precaution against another port strike at PH – Johnston is just a day spring away for KB - shipping at PH has been evacuated again and sent to the opposite direction.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
The PM garrison has been reinforced to two brigades with the arrival of two Bn from the 30th Brigade and the three "Bird" Bns from Darwin and Rabaul. Alas, not enough PPs to change the HQ in order to recombine the three "Birds" yet.

PI
xAKL Governor Taft has been sunk by air attack in Manila Bay.
Davao fell easily to the Japanese 56ID 146th Infantry Regiment, the small US base force element suffered heavy losses and evaporated.
At Lingayen, enemy bombers have caused slight losses among the US tank units. The Japanese Recon Rgt has been reinforced by the 65th Bde and by two Parachute Infantry battalions, apparently dropped as emergency reinforcements. This paradrop has triggered a Japanese shock attack, which has been defeated single-handedly by the US tanks and arty - 249 casualties inflicted on the Japanese (incl. 13 squads destroyed) and only 3 casualties (disabled) suffered. The US units even counter-attacked and added another 152 casualties on the Japanese side - including 7 squads and 2 guns destroyed - while suffering 7 more tanks disabled. I figure that the 65th Bde had just arrived and did not participate in the fight. The US force will now retreat, but will surely suffer more heavily next turn.

DEI
Nothing to report.

Malaya / Burma / India
Bombing attacks from both sides against ground forces protected by the jungles of Central Malaya have yielded no results, except one enemy fighter downed by our escorts. Bombing ground units is a waste, unless they are in open terrain, but here the aim is to maybe force the enemy tanks West of Kuantan into combat mode to slow them down. Reinforcements have railed into Jerantur, but need time to switch from strategic to combat stance.
A group of four Japanese bombers bearing markings of the Thai Air Force have tried to bomb ships near Rangoon. Five British Buffalos on CAP over Rangoon have splashed one attacker and chased away the rest.

China
With only 3% moonlight promising protection, five British MBTs based at Hong Kong have sneaked into the Taiwan Straits, looking for Japanese convoys. Instead, they bumped into six Japanese DDs. Only MTB-7 survived. On the way back, it found a weakly protected convoy, but having no torpedoes left, it evaded combat and returned to base.
The enemy continues to unload at Wenchow and to bomb Wenchow and Changhsa.
A large concentration of enemy ground units – 14 different units so far – has been detected at Singyang.
A shock attack at Hong Kong has been defeated “in extremis”, with 1047 casualties on the Japanese side and 886 on the Allied side. The Hong Kong garrison is hanging on by the skin of its teeth, but for how much longer?

[LargeSlowTarget]

Dec 17th, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces (16ID Kimura Det) CAPTURED Naga
Kemapyu" is occupied by the Japanese

Sub War
SS S-38~ has torpedoed xAK Izumo Maru off Laoag.
SS KX has sunk xAKL Yamafuku Maru at Koror / Babeldaob, apparently the ship carried troops.

CONUS
Nothing to report.

NoPac
Finally something to report – the first ship with eagerly awaited supplies has arrived at Dutch Harbor.

CentPac
Wake Island raided by a dozen Kates with escorts – not enough for KB, maybe just Zuiho?

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Nothing to report.

PI
The patrol yacht PC Fisheries II on a watch position near Siquijor has spotted a Japanese SAG (CL Jintsu, CL Nagara, 4DD) and paid the price.
xAPc Santo Domingo has been attacked In Manila Bay by three “Betty” bombers and collected three torpedo hits – 100% accuracy!
xAPc Compagnia Filipinas has been heavily damaged by a bomb hit – apparently the Japanese have run out of torps?
Lingayen bombed again, 20 casualties reported.

DEI
The first supplies from Colombo have arrived in Batavia to replenish stocks. Some supplies will transship to Singers.

Malaya / Burma / India
The combined Allied bomber fleet had another go at Kongo and Haruna, with no other results than a 139WH-3 lost and several other bombers damaged by AA.
A small raid of 12 Buffalos and 3 139WH-3 went for enemy ships spotted at Kuantan, but ran into 13 Zeros on CAP – 5 Buffalos lost.
Enemy bombers have hit the 3rd ISF~ Base Force which is withdrawing painfully slow from a position SW of Kota Bharu along the railroad tracks south, over 30 casualties reported.
Another group of enemy bombers have attacked the 9ID 22nd Indian Brigade at Jerantur / K. Lipis – no losses.
Thai bombers have attacked the 108th RAF Base Force at Moulmein – no losses.

China
Wenchow and Wuchow bombed.
The last ships remaining at Hong Kong – a tug and several mine tenders – have been ordered to flee south, the fall of the base being imminent. ACM #Watergate and ACM #Barlight got intercepted and sunk by Betty bombers and sunk. However, the Japanese contended themselves with a bombardment attack at Hong Kong. Idem at Wenchow.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Dec 18th, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURE Changzhi !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Lingayen !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kwangchowan !!!
Catanduanes is occupied by the Japanese

Sub War
A few contacts on both sides, but no successful attacks.
Of note, SS I-5 has been located by PC Hermes off Astoria.

CONUS
Nothing to report.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
Wake Is. has again been attacked by a dozen “Kate” bombers, 15 casualties reported.
Air search has resumed from PH, but not a single submarine has been found in Hawaiian waters. I am sure my ships will find them somewhere else.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Nothing to report.

PI
Damaged yesterday by air attack, xAPc Compagnia Filipinas sank in port today.
Air attacks sank xAKL Perla in Manila Bay.
Between enemy bombing raids and attacks by overwhelming ground forces, the US tanks at Lingayen had to beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind many damaged and knocked-out tanks. Only about 30 tanks remain operational in the two battalions. Yet the US force managed to cause 233 Japanese casualties.
Enemy amphibious Assault at Dadjangas.
I have ordered the surface assets of the Asiatic Fleet, reinforced by the Dutch and based at Balikpapan, to attack the Allied invasion force at Davao. However, the TF is just sitting in the middle of the Celebes Sea, doing nothing.

DEI
xAK Mayon has been sunk by torpedo bombers near Menando – the ship was tasked to run supplies into Mindanao. Apparently enemy carriers are operating in the Celebes Sea.

Malaya / Burma / India
3rd ISF~ Base Force bombed near Kampar, 15 casualties.
An air attack against Jerantur / K. Lipis by about 30 enemy aircraft caused no damage, but one enemy “Lily” bomber was shot down.
Thai single-engine bombers have been intercepted over Moulmein, one bomber downed.

China
Changhsa and Wenchow bombed, slight airbase damage.
The 1st Raiding Rgt has dropped into French-owned and undefended Kwangchowan.
The Hong Kong garrison has stopped another Japanese deliberate attack, causing 290 casuakties – but suffering 480 casualties itself, mostly destroyed squads. The end is near.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Dec 19th, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURE Taiping (Malaya)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Digos / Malalag Bay (Mindanao)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Dadjangas !!! (Mindanao)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Mauban (Luzon)
Papun" is occupied by the Japanese (Burma)

Sub War
SS O19* lays minefield at Kuantan.
SS KXIII has suffered heavy damage in an ASW attack at Kuantan and has to RTB.
SS Spearfish~ suffered damage in an ASW attack off Vigan.
SS Pike~ missed DD Kuroshio near Zamboanga.
SS I-4 has been spotted by DM Breese near Fort Ord and later in the day by DD Jarvis near San Francisco.
SS I-9^ has been engaged by KV Dawson near San Francisco.
SS I-2 has been spotted by PC Daphne near the Channel Islands.


CONUS
All shipping in CONUS area are held in port until ASW escorts can be provided.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
Wake Is. bombed again by a dozen “Kate” bombers, escorted by a dozen “Zero” fighters. The airbase suffered slight damage.
The Marine fighter detachment – 4 lone Wildcats – have been collected and shipped-out by a merchant ship a week ago. They would have been easy meat.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Numerous conversions of minesweepers into mine tenders have been completed and the ships will be assigned to maintain the minefields protecting the principal port of Australia.

PI
Undefended Mauban SE of Manila has been occupied by the 16ID Miura Det.
Manila has been declared an open city. Only units of the PI Constabulary will remain to keep order. All other units are digging-in at Clark Field.
Clark Field expands fortifications to size 3 – because enemy bombers are hunting small ships, our engineers at Clark remain unmolested and can build forts.

xAKL Bohol II and xAKL F Escano have been sunk by air attack in Manila Bay.
ACM #Aldgate and YP _Margaret Moller, fleeing from Hong Kong, have been sunk by air attack off Northern Luzon.
ACM Redstart, fleeing from Hong Kong, has crossed the path of three Japanese DDs off Dasol and got sunk.
xAKL Corregidor, on a supply run to Bataan, has encountered CL Jintsu, CL Nagara and four DDs and got sunk.
Mini-KB, covering the landings on Mindanao, was intercepted by the USN Asiatic Fleet near Basilan and got sunk.

Yes, CA Houston, CL Boise, CL, Marblehead and 11 four-stackers, reinforced by the Dutch CLs De Ruyter, Java and Tromp, have run into CVL Ryujo, CS Mizuho and CS Chitose, escorted by four DDs. The Asiatic Fleet had been sitting in the middle of Celebes Sea for two days, refusing to carry out its orders of conducting a full-speed-run to Davao. It had not been tagged as spotted, so I fiddled around with different home ports and routing instructions to make it move. Well, in this moonless night, it reacted to Mini-KB passing by. In three separate engagements, the old VAdm Brown managed to cross the T three times, starting the engagements at a mere 5k yards distance. The Japanese fought back as good as they could – heck, you don’t see a CVL engaging a cruiser with gunfire every night – instead of trying to run for it.

a.png (1.28 MiB) Viewed 498 times

Only CS Chitose has been observed sinking, but the other two bird farms were left burning brightly, and “ground losses” of aircraft confirm that CVL Ryujo and CS Mizuho have gone down as well. DD Suzukaze suffered heavy damage and burned fiercly. Return fire damaged DD Barker~, DD John D Ford~ and DD Pope~, the latter had to leave the TF, escorted by DD Parrott~, but succumbed to wounds later.
So far so good. But with the rising sun, revenge arrived in the form of CAs Myoko, Haguro and Nachi plus four DDs. The US Asiatic Fleet got surprised by shells raining down on her from 23k yards, but quickly fought back tenaciously, with actions being fought as close as 6k yards.
Alas, CA Houston attracted most of the fire, collected 19 hits and went down fighting, DD John D Edwards~ was hit three times, burned and listed and went down as well. 4 more DDs sustained serious damage: DD Barker~ (25 float, 42 fire), DD Bulmer~ (64 float, 73 fire), DD John D Ford~ (18 float) and DD Whipple~ (20 float). On the other side, DD Hayashio got hit 31 (!) times and sank, while CA Nachi got hit 31 (!) times as well and was last seen burning heavily, CA Haguro and DD Amatsukaze were on fire as well.
To sum up, 1 CVL, 2 CS, 1 DDs sunk for sure and 1 CA and 2 DDs in bad enough shape to hope they will go down, for 1 CA and 2, maybe 4 old DDs lost. This early in the war, this is a morale boost for the USN.

DEI
Nothing to report.

Malaya / Burma / India
Undefended Taiping has fallen to elements of the IJA 5th Infantry Division.
Numerous conversions of minesweepers into mine tenders have been completed and the ships will be assigned to maintain the minefields protecting the principal port of India and Ceylon.
Betty bombers have sunk xAKL Toboali near Port Swettenham.

The Thai air force continues to harass shipping and ground forces in southern Burma, and keeps losing aircraft. Today, a Japanese-build “Ann” bomber was shot-down over Martaban.
In fact, No.67 Sqn RAF flying CAP over Rangoon has scored eight out of nine air-to-air kills so far – and one of its pilots is a particular hotshot :
FO Wigglesworth JS of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
FO Wigglesworth JS of No.67 Sqn RAF attains ace status!!
Today’s Ann is his kill number 6.

China
Wenchow bombed, slight airbase damage. The lone Japanese Infantry division sitting on the invasion beaches does not dare to attack.
At Hong Kong, an artillery attack has caused 49 casualties, mostly destroyed squads. The defence is a house of cards, the base will fall in the next serious ground attack.

[zebrazwo]

You an handle the losses better than the Japanese can. Can imagine there must have been a few choice words from the Japanese commander after the battle.

Wigglesworth doing much better in game than he (unfortunately) did in real life. Astounding accuracy AE has with names.

https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wigglesworth.htm

[LargeSlowTarget]

Thanks for the BBM link, @zebrazwo - it is interesting to learn more about the human being behind the 'name in the game', especially when it is a "numbers game" like AE where individuals tend to get reduced into statistics. The personal letters are very touching.

[zebrazwo]

No problem at all.

That site is a rabbit hole waiting to be explored...

[LargeSlowTarget]

Dec 20th, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURED Hong Kong.
Batangas is occupied by the Japanese.

Sub War
SS Skipjack~ collected 6 hits in an ASW attack by SC Ch-5 near Vigan and has to RTB.
SS S-40~ launched 2 torpedoes at DMS W-16 near Vigan and missed.
SS KXV launched 4 torpedoes at DD Uranami and missed.
SS I-4 launched 2 torpedoes at DD Bagley near San Francisco and missed.
In two attacks, SS I-10^ has sent three torps into CM Bungaree near Coffs Harbor. Port Moresby will not receive its planned minefield.
SS I-123* sank xAKL Dai Lee near Puerto Princesa.
SS RO-34 engaged xAKL Paz in a gunfight, hitting the hapless victim 20 times.

CONUS
Nothing to report.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
Nothing to report.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Japanese subs operate off the East Coast. More ASW escorts are required.

PI
Nothing to report.

DEI
Nothing to report.

Malaya / Burma / India
The main show this turn has centred around Mersing. A “Mersing Gambit” two weeks into the war is late by normal standards, I have nonetheless kept in mind the possibility and had ordered the Australians and a regiment of Armoured Cars to keep a watch over that base. I also kept Force Z at Singers on a short lash, with its reaction range limited to include Mersing but not beyond. When naval search picked-up enemy TFs last turn to the NE of Mersing, I sent a tripwire in form of motor gunboat MGB ML-310 to Mersing. It promptly got triggered by BBs Kongo and Haruna and their escorts. Haruna managed to hit and sink the motor gun boat with a hit from 9k range, but not before wasting a lot of ammo.
Next came CA Kumano and CA Mikuma, bombarding Mersing but causing only 6 casualties among the Australians.

Meanwhile, Force Z moved towards Mersing, running over SS RTN Sinsamudar near Tioman Island (DD Express and DD Encounter landed three hits before pressing on) and negotiated a minefield, DD Electra spotting and destroying one mine.
Then in the first light of the morning, Force Z bumped into a Japanese SAG. In the rush to engage the enemy, DD Piet Hein collided with DD Jupiter, and soon everybody present was happily blasting away:

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 7
BB Ise, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Yura, Shell hits 6
CL Kinu, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
DD Minegumo
DD Murasame, Shell hits 2
DD Harusame, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 2
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 1
DD Shirakumo
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 8, on fire
BC Repulse, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Exeter, Shell hits 3
CL Danae~, Shell hits 3
CL Dragon~, Shell hits 2
CL Durban~, Shell hits 2
CL Mauritius~
CL Glasgow~, Shell hits 3
CL Caledon~, Shell hits 2
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Banckert
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Encounter
DD Express, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isis~, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 3, on fire

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The Japanese force decided to disengage, in the confusion CA Exeter managed to collide with DD Isis~.
This opened the way for Force Z to engage a Japanese invasion convoy:

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
PB Eifuku Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Eiko Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nako Maru #2, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PB Tokotsu Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Sanyo Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
xAK Kenyo Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Teiyo Maru #2, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Noto Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nissyu Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Koryu Maru #1, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Kokai Maru
xAK Eihuku Maru #1, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Mikasa Maru #1, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Aso Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Zyunyo Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Chihaya Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Hokuriku Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kuroshio Maru #2, Shell hits 5, heavy fires

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, on fire
CA Exeter, Shell hits 1
CL Danae~
CL Dragon~
CL Durban~
CL Mauritius~
CL Glasgow~
CL Caledon~
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen, on fire
DD Witte de With, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Electra

Japanese ground losses:
1204 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 98 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 65 disabled
Guns lost 54 (17 destroyed, 37 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (14 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Next came a kind of interlude:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB RTN Surasdra, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB RTN Trad, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, heavy fires
DD Piet Hein, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Nes, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Encounter
DD Express, on fire
DD Isis~, heavy fires
DD Jupiter, heavy fires, heavy damage

Now Kongo and Haruna returned to expend what little ammunition they had left after gunning down MGB ML-310:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CL Danae~, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Dragon~
CL Durban~, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius~, Shell hits 2
CL Glasgow~
CL Caledon~, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Witte de With, on fire

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Then LBA lent a hand:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kluang / Kahang at 50,81
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Rikko x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Rikko: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Glasgow~
CL Danae~, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Finally, three gutsy Japanese DDs punched way above their weight:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Encounter, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Express, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Isis~, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

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The butcher bill:
Sunk:
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murakumo
PB Nako Maru #2
xAK Aso Maru

CL Danae~ (scuttled)
DD Jupiter
DD Isis~
DD Express
DD Encounter
DD Van Nes
DD Piet Hein
MGB ML-310[/quote]


Potentially lost:
BB Ise
DD Harusame
DD Amagiri
DD Hakaze
DD Shinonome
DD Kuretake
TB RTN Surasdra
PB Eifuku Maru
PB Eiko Maru
PB Tokotsu Maru
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Teiyo Maru #2
xAK Noto Maru
xAK Nissyu Maru
xAK Zyunyo Maru
Four more merchantmen may burn to death.

On the Allied side, I may potentially lose all remaining ships of Force Z. BC Repulse is still at Mersing, all alone, with 67 float damage and a max speed o fjust 5 knots. The other surviving ships of Force Z have retreated to the NW instead of south towards Singers. DD Banckert has 56 float damage and can do only 13 knot full speed; the rest can do 20 knots. All ships are reduced to firing practice ammo and throwing spuds. If SJ has forces with ammo left – like another set of three motivated DDs – I will lose them.

m5.jpg (70.58 KiB) Viewed 399 times

While this happened, the Japanese invasion convoy returned to Mersing and continued unloading. Now, because this Mersing Gambit did not come in the first days, I have left substantial forces in Central Malaya to give the ex-Kota Bharu garrison a chance to withdraw south over the Eastern railroad track. I hope that the Aussies will hold long enough toallow a general retreat to Singers.

China
As predicted, the defence of Hong Kong collapsed today.

[zebrazwo]

Malayan bloodbath for both sides. Wow.

[LargeSlowTarget]

The bloodbath continues...

Dec 21st, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURE Santiago (Luzon)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Binahian (Luzon)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing
Japanese forces CAPTURE Gushi (China)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kudat (Borneo)

Sub War
SS I-154 has put two torps into the already heavily damaged BC Repulse near Tioman Island.
SS I-156 has torpedoed PG Scarab~ near Singapore.
SS RTN Vilun has torpedoed PG Soemba~ off Mersing.
SS I-123* has sunk xAK Florence D near Tawau.
SS KXI has torpedoed DD Kuretake near Kuantan.
SS KXII has torpedoed BB Yamashiro near Kuantan.
SS Stingray~ has torpedoed xAK Tatumiya Maru off Mersing.
SS O19* has torpedoed xAK Tatumiya Maru off Mersing.

CONUS
Just a few more days before the first wave of merchantmen finishes the upgrade period for the installation of deck guns and AA. I am scrounging the ports to find escorts.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
Nothing to report.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Nothing to report.

PI
USN floatplanes operating from Cagayan have bombed xAK Kyusyu Maru at Davao.
DD Bulmer~ died of wounds and sank in port (Jolo).

DEI
Nothing to report.

Malaya / Burma / India
Heavy action continued around Mersing. Damaged Allied ships got picked-off – DD Banckert stood no chance against four enemy DDs, SS I-154 has put BC Repulse out of her misery.
BB Prince of Wales and escorts clashed briefly and inconclusively with several small SAGs while trying to find their way back to Singers. It even bumped into a Japanese convoy in broad daylight, but without ammo…
Two “rescue forces” sent from Singers – one TF composed of old DDs, the other of assorted gunboats – to run interference and offer distractions suffered heavily from mines and enemy SAGs, notably Kongo and escorts and Mikuma and escorts. PG Fu Wo, PG Dragonfly, PG Li Wo, PG Soemba~, PG Scarab~, DD Thanet, DD Thracian sank, DD Scout and PG Scorpion were scuttled. DDs Van Ghent and Tenedos may follow. In return, the Thai TB RTN Patani got sunk by PG Soerabaja, MTB RTN CMB-7 by DD Thanet and MTB RTN CMB-8 by PG Grasshopper, all near Mersing.

I am not happy at all with the “pathfinding” of my TFs – after the various surface combats at Mersing, they all “withdrew” from combat but not in the direction of Singers as would be logic, instead they withdrew to the NW of Mersing - and thus got cornered and boxed-in by the Japanese TFs in the area. This has led to far heavier losses than would have been the case with runs back to Singers. I’m rather miffed.

In the air, massed Allied fighter-bombers (British, Australian, New Zealand, Dutch and American) from Singers attacked enemy shipping off Mersing in several waves.

Enemy CAP caused a few losses:
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
B-339D: 4 destroyed
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
P-35A: 1 destroyed

Enemy losses:
E13A1 Raiun: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Reisen: 2 destroyed
TB RTN Chunphorn, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 6, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Asakasan Maru, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 2 , Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Sagami Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kinsyo Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Arima Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ayatosan Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Uranami, Shell hits 2

I figure that the majority of burning merchantmen will eventually go down.

Despite the air attacks, enemy TFs continued unloading. In the evening, the Japanese ground forces at Mersing unleashed a desperate shock attack – and managed to push the understrength Australian 8th Division and the attached Cavalry unit out of Mersing. This is creating a serious situation for the Indian 9th and 11th Divisions still operating in Central Malaya. They are blocking the road from Kuantan to Jerantur / Kuala Lipis to allow units retreating from Kota Bharu to reach that rail junction. Now the race is on to reach Singers before the Japanese Mersing force can march out of Mersing and block the railroad. Infantry battalions are guarding each base along the railway, I hope they will be able to deal with eventual enemy paratroops which may try to establish (rail)roadblocks.

In a sideshow, enemy Betty bombers have sunk TK Jan Carstensz near Batu Pahat. This small tanker was tasked with shuttling oil from Sumatra to Singers.

China
The enemy is landing reinforcements at Wenchow, identified as the 33rd IJA Inf Div. The base also got bombed repeatedly. I am withdrawing the Chinese Construction Rgt because prospects of increasing the fort level are nil.

[zebrazwo]

wow you said it.... bloodbath continues.

You do know you don't have to destroy everything in the first month of the war

[LargeSlowTarget]

What is the problem? On 80% of the sub-theaters, there was nothing to report

[zebrazwo]

What is the problem? On 80% of the sub-theaters, there was nothing to report

Haha! This is true.

You are in a much better position regarding replacement of losses then SJ is, over the long term.

[M Peaston]

You are in a much better position regarding replacement of losses then SJ is, over the long term.

I agree.

LST, might I remind you that your mod is subtitled “more toys….slower pace”, and your design notes mention about slowing the tempo of operations. I therefore subscribed to your AAR looking forward to a dull, snail-paced game where nothing at all happens for interminably long periods. Instead, what do I find? A relentless pace, non-stop action and breathless excitement. I’m disappointed. I want my money back. Oh, hang on a minute, I haven’t actually paid anything - forget that last bit.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Huh? I think the actions in the Gilberts, the Celebes Sea and now around Mersing ARE slowing the pace of operations overall.
Japanese operations that is

At least I hope.

With Mini-KB eliminated, I think that the real KB will show-up in the SRA sooner or later - Japan needs the oil and the resources.
This should make other adventures in the POA less likely, at least until Japan has gained control of the SRA.
The Mersing gambit was a choice of SJ, not a necessity. RN traditions demanded that Force Z intervened.
I think SJ expected this, but Force Z proved to be a tough nut.
However, its sacrifice did not even delay the fall of Mersing for a single day. Of course the Allies can replace losses far more easily than the Japanese, esp. ship losses.
Still, every Allied ship lost stings my pride.

[LargeSlowTarget]

After all the excitement these past turns, finally a relatively calm day - there is hope for a Xmas truce.

Dec 22nd, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ipoh !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tacurong !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Morotai !!!
Cabanatuan is occupied by the Japanese.

Sub War
Lots of missed opportunities on both sides.
SS RO-33 drew blood and has sunk AO Trinity near Donggala.
SC Ch-10 has damaged SS S-40~ off Vigan badly enough to force a RTB.

CONUS
The first wave of armed merchantmen has become available and has been dispatched. Ships with speed at or below 12 knots have been ordered to haul resources from the Caribbean and South America regions.
Faster ships will load reinforcements for PH at SF.

NoPac
Nothing going on.

CentPac
USS Thresher in transit from PH to Truk has sighted a Japanese convoy between the Marshall Islands and Wake. The Marines on Wake Is. have been alerted.

SoPac
Nothing to report

SWPac
The evacuation of civilians from the PNG / Solomons area is as good as terminated, without losses. Local shipping is now collecting supplies from abandoned bases in order to deny them to the Japanese.

PI
Enemy forces are at the footsteps of Manila and Clark Field, the real siege is about to begin.
At Manila, 30k supplies remain, three Infantry divisions are trying to use it to repair a maximum of devices, but will not fight for the city.
At Clark Field, about 60k supplies have been assembled, and here the main force is digging in.
On Bataan and Corregidor, 48k supplies have been stored, a handful of remaining small ships are still shuttling what they can from Manila, a few hundred tons per day.

DEI
The enemy invasion of Mototai has shattered the illusion that maybe, just maybe the Japanese would leave the Dutch colonies alone.

Malaya / Burma / India
PoW and consorts bumped into Kongo and consorts again, and both sides evaded again in tacit understanding.
The remnants of Force Z (reinforced) finally made it back and immediately went into repair mode.
All remaining fighters have been allocated to CAP the base to prevent enemy bombing attacks on the port.

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Japanese bombers have hit Jerantur / K. Lipis repeatedly, apparently in order to slow-down the retreat of the Commonwealth forces. Lucky me, I have kept most of the forces engaged in LOC security in strategic mode – the aim was to discourage paradrops by a “show of force” (troops present in hex) – and none of the units got forced out of strat mode by the air attacks. Most of the units have railed to Johore. The only troops remaining north of Mersing are the “Federal Malay States Volunteers” (FMSV) Bde at Jerantur / K. Lipis and the 3rd ISF just to the NW with 23 miles to march. They probably will be cut-off, but well – both units disband anyway.
The 18th British Infantry Division has arrived at Cape Town. It will transit to Colombo to await further orders, depending on how the situation has evolved during transit.

China
Unloading continues at Wenchow. Little I can do about it. 3rd War Area will defend the town in order to keep the two unrestricted IJA Infantry divisions busy for as long as possible.
Chinese partisans are on the march, trying to raise hell behind the Japanese lines. The first action was a bit ill-advised. An infiltration attempt by elements of the 4th Guerilla Corps at Kiukiang failed miserably and today, the unit got kicked back across the river with heavy losses.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Dec 23rd, 1941

Bases lost
Japanese forces CAPTURE Zhuji (China, near Shanghai)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Meizhu (China, near Amoy)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Georgetown (Penang)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Jerantur / K. Lipis
Japanese forces CAPTURE Conner (Luzon)
Lubang is occupied by the Japanese (PI)

Sub War
DD Tenedos, limping back from Mersing to Singers with a stop at the island of Djemadja for emergency repairs, has had a lot of luck. SS I-121*, SS I-153, SS I-156 and SS RTN Machanu all launched 2 torpedoes each at her, and all missed.
SS Perch~ has torpedoed xAK Tarayasu Maru near Laoag.
SS KVIII has sunk xAKL Hitora Maru near Peleliu / Angaur.
SS O19* got caught in an ASW attack and collected 4 hits.
SS S-39~ also received a pounding, collected 7 hits and must RTB.

CONUS
A small convoy – 4 DMS, 4 xAP – has left SF carrying reinforcements for PH – the Marines are coming!

NoPac
A small convoy has arrived at Dutch Harbor, bringing more supplies.

CentPac
CA Portland and CL St. Louis have bombarded Johnston Island, causing a lot of damage to airbase and port installations but finding no trace of a Japanese garrison.

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Nothing to report.

PI
xAPc Princessa got sunk by air attack in Manila Bay.
The few remaining P-26A fighters have launched a surprise attack against shipping at Lingayen, xAK Kamogawa Maru collected four bombs and was set on fire.

DEI
The evacuation of civilians from the DEI to Java has been completed, now transports are leaving Batavia packed with people for India.
Merchantman and tankers are coming and going in a steady flow, bringing supplies from Africa, Australia and India and leaving with fuel, oil and resources. Smaller ships are trying to sneak supplies into Luzon and Singers

Malaya / Burma / India
Dutch PT boats have made forays against Mersing in several waves.
TM-10 hit a mine and sank. TM-4, TM-11, TM-14, TM-15 got sunk by by a SAG build around CAs Takao and Mikuma.
DD Van Ghent did not have the same luck as DD Tenedos, the Dutch destroyer has died of wounds at Djemadja.
Japanese Army and Navy bombers have again bombed Jerantur / K. Lipis repeatedly, while a single Japanese Tank Regiment from the Kuantan beachhead approached the base. It surprised the FMSV~ Brigade while it was busy boarding trains for the trip south. The tanks caused over 560 casualties and the remnants of the ‘Federal Malay States Volunteers’ have fled to Kuala Kubo. The 3rd ISF Base Force is now isolated in the jungle north of Jerantur / K. Lipis.

China
At Wenchow, enemy bombing attacks and landing of reinforcements continued.
22nd Division and 44IMB 2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment are opening the overland route from Shanghai to Wenchow, taking undefended Zhuji.
Chinese guerillas have suffered another reverse, this time at Tsinkiang (near Foochow); The 2nd and the 5th Guerilla Corps have been routed by elements of the IJA 51st Division and the Sasebo 8th SNLF – over 3160 casualties suffered – ouch !

[LargeSlowTarget]

Through diplomatic channels, the Japanese government / High Command has refused the Xmas truce!

British reaction: "This is most unfortunate indeed."
US reaction: "Bloody b@st@rds!"
Australian reaction cannot be printed here (as Australian, SJ can fill-in when reading the AAR after game over - nice bit of irony).

Dec 24th, 1941

Bases lost
Lucena is occupied by the Japanese.

Sub War
In the first sub-on-sub combat in this match, SS RTN Vilun managed to sink SS KXII.
SS KX has sunk xAKL P-11 near Koror / Babeldaob.
SS Permit~ has received 3 hits in an ASW attack off Mauban.

CONUS
Nothing to report.

NoPac
Nothing to report.

CentPac
A string of subs has left PH in the past few days to lay new minefields in Empire waters or to refresh existing ones in the Marshal Islands. Who knows, maybe we get a lucky hit. Can’t be worse than the bloody torps…

SoPac
Nothing to report.

SWPac
Nothing to report.

PI
USN floatplanes and P-26s have again tried to bomb enemy TFs at Davao resp. Lingayen, but this time they have encountered enemy CAP – two Kingfishers, two Seagulls and one P-26 lost.
Pressed into service by the USN to shuttle fuel from Manila to Bataan, TK Hai Kwang had suffered damage in an air attack yesterday and died of wounds today.

DEI
Nothing to report.

Malaya / Burma / India
Singapore expands fortifications to size 3.
A new Force Z build around BB Revenge, CAs Australia and Canberra, CLs Perth, Dragon and Ceres plus assorted USN, French and Greek destroyers has visited Mersing again. It has found some small fry belonging to the Thai Navy, which got punished for siding with the evil Japanese: TB RTN Kylongyai, TB RTN Takbai, TB RTN Kantan, TB RTN Trad sunk, a couple more TBs damaged.
Ahead of Force Z.2, minesweepers have cleared mines near Tioman Island. These TFs came under attack by “Nell” bombers without escorts – CAP from Singers splashed 11 Nells. However, one Nell managed to slip through and sank AMc Klias.
Enemy bombers paid repeated visits to Kampar and the FMSV suffered light losses.

China
Light bombing attacks at Zhumadian caused 30 casualties.
A raid by 20+ bombers on Kukong has damaged the airfield at Kukong.
A similar raid has hit Changhsa.
The large stack of enemy ground units at Sinyang is showing movement arrows to the NE into the woods, where several Corps of Chinese troops are digging in.
I am answering with some troops movements on my side in order to confuse the enemy.
Maybe I should let the Japanese stack advance and then slip some of my own stacks across their LOC behind them.

[Skyros]

Thai Navy.

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