Japan Declares War against Western Imperialism - Xargun vs RRoberson (take 3)

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

How much of a problem have B-17's been when playing against rroberson? Seattle is where the factory is. (And there's a substantial shipyard too.)

Not that much - but we have never made it past Feb 42 and he is still regrouping his units then.

Part of the reason I want to hit the west coast is to keep him scared and guessing where I will go next. Hitting the west coast (IMO) will cause him to keep a lot of assets there (planes) to protect it instead of sending them all over the Pacific on all the islands.. And if he keeps his bombers there, I can hit the central pacific islands fairly freely...

I would like to take both Midway and Johnson Island - put small garrisons on them (or none) and leave them.. Keep them as tripwires maybe with some floatplanes..

Xargun

[Xargun]

Well I just got done making what I feel are 2 important cheat sheets...

The first is a listing of all allied subs at game start and production for the next 6 months. I have also done the same for capital ships (cruisers and up). Some people may feel this is cheating, but I don't think so.. I'm sure Japan had an idea of exactly how many CVs, BBs, etc.. we had available at almost any time - just not WHERE they were.

As for new construction - its kinda hard to hide construction (and subsequent launch) of ships.

I will mark off ships as I sink them and mark estimated damage as well - this way I will
be able to know (at a glance) what kind of firepower Rob can have. I have them split up into nationalities to help separate them - although as the war goes on they could be anywhere - but its a help.

In doing this I never knew how many cruisers the US had - WOW !!! And these are just the ones assigned to the Pacific Fleet. That and in 7 months I will be facing roughly 8 BBs on each side of the war (8 RN BBs - counting Repulse as BB - and at least 5 untouched BBS from the US + PH Survivors)... Hmmm.. doesn't look too good... Thank god BBs are torpedo magnets - and I have good torps...

Xargun

[Xargun]

Another day and more dead western Imperialists !!!

My naval aviation units scored more hits on allied shipping. Unfortunately no warships were hit - numerous were sighted. In all an AK and a TK succumbed to torpedoes this turn and another TK sunk as well (previous damage and either sunk or was scuttled). 2 AS were hit hard with torps as well as an AV - but neither sunk. Also around Borneo another 6 AKs were hit with torps or bombs. Not sure the extent of the damage, but it will slow them down for more attacks on them.

TF 106 sailed into Batavia harbor where BB Nagato unfortunately hit a mine [:@] She has like 20 sys damage and auto retreated - she will need at least a month in a repair yard now. TF 106 proceeded to bombard the base only reporting 2 Brewsters destroyed along with 240+ men (and 10 guns). The TF caught some merchies in harbor and beat them up as well - hitting 3 AKs and 2 APs - setting all but 1 AK on fire.

One of my naval interceptions worked this turn (south of Borneo) but not to my approval. 4 DDs intercepted 12 allied ships (3 AS, 5 MSW, 2 AO, 1 TK, 1 AP) and engaged in a night combat. In the combat they only landed a couple hits (including 1 torp on an AS) setting 2 MSW and 1 AS on fire. BUT the return fire was devastating. They scratched one DD and concentrated their fire on the Ayanami, hitting her 8 times and setting her on fire. She retreated back to Balikpapin with 30 or so SYS damage and a like amount of flt damage. Not a good showing by my DDs... The cruiser TF failed to intercept any enemy ships this turn.

In the air Rob hit Balikpapin hard this turn with over 30 Martin bombers. My CAP was weak there (only 9 zeros - of which only 3 were aloft at the time). My CAP and AA claimed 8 kills (more like 3-4 probably) and the Martins hit the oil production. The oil hit was bad (now 270/300). I have since moved another sentai of Zeros into the base and set them at 50% CAP - if Rob tries it again I should at least get good kills.

On the ground I did much better this turn. I captured Aparri (PI) without any opposition. My division at Alor Star captured the base easily against enemy defenses. All defenders retreated to Georgetown. I am splitting the division and leaving 1/3 at Alor Star while 2/3 marches SW to the next base, cutting off any retreat from Georgetown. Then the entire division will attack together.

My troops captured Hong Kong finally causing over 16000 allied POWs & losses (nice point boost there). The majority of the facilities are intact (24 repair yard, 149 HI (9 dmg) and 30 resources (1 dmg)). I have expanded the repair yard and am repairing the 1 resource damage, but not the HI yet. MSWs are on the way to clear the harbor of allied mines to make it safe for me and I have a new repair base. May expand it again to size 96 but not sure if I want to use the supplies for that - at least not this early. What do you guys think ?

At Ichang my lone Bde held off a chinese attack inflicting over 600 casualties (and 22 guns) compared to suffering only 37. A good performance there. At Yenen my troops bombarded the chinese troops there causing over 100 casualties.

My recon patrols have spotted numerous allied TFs west of Java all heading S or SE for OZ. I wonder if these are the missing warships ? I may send my baby CVs to intercept north of Derby / Broome.

I am trying several more naval intercepts this turn (3 I think) and have high hopes for them. Even if 1 of them works it should result in more dead allied merchies and auxilleries - which are more important to kill - especially the AS to limit his sub ops.

The KB has been split into 3 TFs - each with 2 CVs and assorted escorts. 1 group is heading home via Midway and will stop to support the Wake invasion. They will hit the airfield at Midway as they go by and then pound Wake.. 2 others will wait a couple days (2-3 or as long as my patience holds out) and then make a quick return to PH and concentrate on hitting TFs at sea - hoping to catch a bunch of wounded ships or better yet - a bunch of ASW DDs on patrol. The final 2 CVs will wait 4-5 days then proceed into the gap between PH and the west coast and prey on shipping there. The replenishment TF will stay in the area to provide fuel while I hunt for prey - the bulk of the replenishment TF will be sent home with the 2nd CV TF.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Thought I would post some screenshots of the PI and DEI areas.



The PI area

Xargun

[Xargun]

Here is one of the DEI



Xargun

[Xargun]

The second best day of the war so far (after day 1). [:D] [:D] Rob will not be happy when we watches the combat report.

Well my 3 naval intercepts all went off perfect, with them all intercepting enemy TFs... One TF was attacked twice by my surface TF and pummelled badly... In all my warships intercepted and destroyed the following: 1 DD, 1 AP, 5 MSW, 3 AS, 1 TK and 2 AO.

My ASW forces located 2 enemy subs (actually I had located them before) and attacked with eagerness, damaging both enemy Dutch subs.

In the air my naval bombers helped out a little sinking a total of 3 more AKs and damaging several of the ships that my warships then sank. Across the board most of my naval bombers are standing down for some R&R as very few targets (if any) have been sighted in their area of coverage.

More bombardments in Yenen cause another 300 chinese casualties as my troops there rest a bit before starting another attack campaign. I have made my first paradrop. The 1st Parachute Regiment has been partially dropped at the chinese base of Kweiyang. Only a base force is there currently and the rest of the regiment is being dropped in this turn along with supplies. Hopefully I can take the base this turn and then pull out before Rob can bring vastly numerical forces down upon me. I am just taking this base to cut off supplies as well as disrupt any plans he has for the area - making him react to me behind the front lines.

So far in this war I have sunk 55 enemy ships for a total of 787 points - bulk coming from 2 BBs and 2 cruisers sunk. I have lost 8 ships for a total of 49 points. I will probably lose another AP this turn as its in port at 96 flt damage but I refuse to scuttle it. I also have a total of 7 war damaged ships (that I can think of) [2 BBs, 1 DD, 1 ML, 1 PC and 2 AKs]. 4 of these are heading to Hong Kong and Shanghai (2 each - ML & PC to HK; 2 AKs to Shanghai) for repairs. The rest will be sent home to japan once they get back to port and flt damage fixed. Only problem is the 2 BBs (23 and 15 sys dmg) will take a month of yard time each (if not more) before being repaired. I just hope I don't need them before then. But I have completed all of my major landings and have footholds where I need them so they shouldn't be missed.

I have also begun fighter sweeps over Manilla, Clark Field and Singapore. Not much success although 4 enemy fighters were shot down to no losses of my own. Not a bad start.

Xargun

[IAR]

Go fo it!

[forranger]

I'm puzzled at the success you have with your betties and nells. I'm playing rising sun scenario (short one for my first pbem) where my long range torp bombers hardly ever take off against spotted naval targets. I may have very bad luck with weather (for 2 weeks most time thunderstorms, some rainy days), but this can't be the whole explanation. At what altitude do you set your betties and nells for naval (torp) attacks? Do you assign escorts?

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: forranger

I'm puzzled at the success you have with your betties and nells. I'm playing rising sun scenario (short one for my first pbem) where my long range torp bombers hardly ever take off against spotted naval targets. I may have very bad luck with weather (for 2 weeks most time thunderstorms, some rainy days), but this can't be the whole explanation. At what altitude do you set your betties and nells for naval (torp) attacks? Do you assign escorts?

Its nothing special. One day none will fly the next they all fly.. Kinda random at times... But here is the info you asked.

First of all I will not fly them if fatigue is over 20 (unless a real juicy target is in range and I really want to hit it - high fatigue = high ops losses and generally poor performance). Same thing if morale is below 70 - I try not to send them out - Allied (mostly US) AA really lowers morale fast even without losses to it. The number of ready / damaged planes don't mean anything - just how many bombers you can put in the air during any given raid.

I set my bombers (Nells & Betties) to max range of 15 - max torpedo range - longer than 15 hexes really adds to fatigue and bombs won't sink much. I set altitude for 13-15,000 feet - this is the initial altitude of the bombers as they approach the TF and the first wave of AA fire - 15k is my usual and keeps them pretty safe. When they make their torp run
they drop to 200 feet and attack automatically, so the safer they are on the way in the better off they are.

Most of my bomber units have 70+ experience which will factor into them flying and hitting targets better. Also, if you have a lot of aircraft at a base make sure you move an air HQ there - it will help coordinate the air strikes - giving you more planes in the air per strike.. Also, bombers need a size 4+ airfield to use torps. Also make sure the airfield isn't overcrowded - more than 50 planes per size (size 4 = 200 planes). They can hold as many as you want, but all air strikes launched will suffer penalties from crowding.

I usually have zeros based with the bombers and set them to escort, but their max range is 11 so anything beyond that will not have escorts. The only real time I worry about escorts is when I'm hitting enemy bases - most allied TFs do not have CAP and if they do have some crappy dutch CAP my bombers usually give as good as they get against the crappy fighters. Only later in the war will that be a problem once the US has tons of good fighters and CVs everywhere.

Hopes this helps...

Xargun

[forranger]

Great answer. I probably didn't wait long enough for moral recovery, gave orders again when over 50..... That I tried to send them in on altitude 6000 probably didn't help either. Thanks!!! [:)]

[Xargun]

A sloooow day in the war. Basically nothing important happened and no ships sunk. My naval bombers from Borneo found and attacked a couple allied merchie TFs north of Borneo and put some torps into some ships, but nothing sunk. I only had a chutai on Naval Attack (9 planes) as the rest of my betties / nells are having a day of rest.

An unsuccessful allied sub attacked has brought its location to me - and an ASW TF has been dispatched to deal with it - if it stays in its current hex.

My fighter sweeps over Singapore manage to cull a couple Wirraways from the sky with no losses to my zeros. The Brits keep putting Buffalos and Wirraways into the air over Singapore and they are no match for my Zeros - I'm just mad that I'm not killing more enemy planes on these sweeps...

That is basically the day except for the air raids on chinese troops and bases resulting in mimimal losses for me and lots oc casualties for china. More such attacks are planed for the next day as well.

Xargun

[Xargun]

A better day in the war for the Empire.

My naval light forces have landed on Admiralty Island and captured it, rescuing the men from the failed sub invasion a few days ago - Damn RO subs won't carry squads of men only weapons (not enough cargo space)...

My ASW TFs locate 2 allied subs and attack both. The US sub reportedly escapes all attacks, while the dutch sub succumbs to a heavy depth charge barrage and sinks !!! Yeah another good dutch sub sunk I love APDs - they rock as ASW assets - especially when you have 10 in a TF.

My naval bombers out of Kuching locate and attack several allied AKs. Finally the weather breaks over the AK Si Kiang (Has had clouds over it for past 2 days - finally broke in the PM air phase) and my bombers sunk her. In total another 5 AKs sink beneath the waves - all of them around Borneo - most to the north of the island.

In the air it was a good day as well with 18 confirmed allied planes killed (checked intel). Most of these were all killed in Air-Air, with 1 killed by AA and 1 caught on the ground. A lot of planes from Singapore were caught in the air and destroyed (Buffalos and Swordfish). It seems Rob still has a substantial air force at Singapore and my bombers are still whinning about morale so I can't bomb the airfield - but even when I do most of his planes are in the air attacking my TFs ferrying men & supplies into Malaya. I have LR CAP over several important convoys heading into Kuantan so I hope the fighters can shoot down some enemy bombers. I am also constantly sweeping the skies over Singapore and killing a couple fighters per turn with no losses.

A large air strike of Martins was launched from Koepang and hit Kendari this turn. My dozen or so fighters in the air managed to kill about 4 bombers and the rest continued in bombing manpower. Luckily no hits were scored - this time... These Martins are a pain and I have ordered all my baby CVs together into one TF with orders to bomb the airfield at Koepang. So if Rob keeps his bombers there (not sure if he will or not) I should manage to kill a few on the ground.

My air raid on Midway was a partial success... The bombers refused to hit the runway, but did bomb the Marines there causing 80 or so casualties. I am sailing by the island this turn with 100% CAP on my fighter groups and heading to Wake.

My 2nd Air TF is beginning the journey back to PH to say hi. They are cruising at slow speeds to they can get in range and move ahead at full speed to get into launch position without Rob spotting them... A small TF of 3 TKs will trail behind them for refuelling purposes.

The 3rd Air TF is 15 or so hexes N-NE of PH and simply holding position with all pilots resting except for CAP - no searches - do not want to alert Rob of their presence until its too late.

Other than that nothing much is happening.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Well two more days have come and gone...

Not a whole lot happened on the 17th.. The usual bombings and arty strikes in china proceed as normal.

My ASW efforts attack and damage another dutch sub - K-XVIII.. Not sure how bad but she did not sink.

Rob made a move with some PT boats at Davao. I saw them coming around the west coast of Mindanao and had a combat TF sitting in Davao set to react to protect the supply TF unloading there.. Rob's 6 PTs cruise in and engage the merchies [:@] I was more than mad that my surface warships did not intercept ... luckily the PTs all ganged up on a single PC and blew it out of the water, while not attacking the merchies at all...

An AP sunk in harbor from massive previous damage - flt damage had been slowly increasing despite being in a size 4 harbor - didn't want to scuttle incase it could be saved, but I guess not - plus the 1 VP scuttling would have saved is not an issue.

My ground troops capture Tuguegarao (PI) and Taiping (Malay). The unit at Taiping retreated north to Georgetown and death instead of south to freedom... I have 2/3rds of a div marching to Georgetown to finish off the units trapped there and secure the base. The other 1/3rd is marching south trying to catch and slow down the fleeing british units.

The 18th was sloooow... Nothing happened except the usual arty and air strikes in china.
Several attacks should have happened on the 18th - air raids on Wake and PH - but in one case the CVs stopped out of range and the other (PH) had bad weather...

Xargun

[Xargun]

A much better day than the 18th - lots more action.

My ASW TFs have been finding lots of targets west of Formosa and are almost daily attacking allied subs (mostly American - probably from Manilla). Unfortunately I have yet to score any hits, but I will - its just a matter of time.

I moved my Baby CV TF away from Soerbaja - where they raided the airfield trying to nail Rob's massed group of Martins (failed - they weren't there). The CV TF west SW through the islands to the open waters to the west. I spotted a TF out here last turn and wanted to take a look... I am so glad I did [:D] My baby CV TF located and attacked 5 separate allied TFs this turn. Somehow I managed to land my TF right in the center of 5 or so enemy TFs full of merchies - unfortunately my great navigational skill landed me exactly 5 hexes away from them all - what is the chance of that ?? So all my Kates attacked with bombs instead of killer torps... oh well... In all I did not sink a single ship, but managed to damage at least 6 merchies, including AKs, APs and a few TKs... This turn the TF is ordered to close the range and load torps... I should get a lot of kills this turn provided my planes fly and weather doesnt save him. The TF is far enough away from OZ (or other bases) so I don't have to worry much about LBA attacks - only LR bombers could reach the TF and they can't bomb all that good - plus my CAP should protect me.

I tried a bold move trying to winnow down those damn Martins (which I thought were at Soerbaja). I sent a TF full of Cruisers (and a couple DDs) to bombard the base.. BOY.. what a mistake that was. Rob has that place stock full of guns - 115 guns fired back at my ships hitting two cruisers hard... The only CL I brought took the brunt of the return fire and I hope she makes it back to port. She is at 75/40/49 damage (Sys/Flt/Fire) and I hope she makes it back.. She is moving in her own TF and if Rob brings his bombers around they will probably catch her and finish her off... Oh well.. I believe the other cruiser that was reporedly hit hard (CA Mikuma) suffered like 4 sys and a few fire points so my TF escaped with little damage compared to the return fire it took. They managed to kill 2 protective PT Boats, 374 casualties, 9 guns and kill 1 Do 24K-2 plane... thats it...

PH Round 2 went better than I hoped... With only 2 CVs I launched every plane I could at the base, while maintaining like 60% CAP for safety. My Zeros found and engaged 16 US fighters in the air (more than I thought he would have) but handled them fine suffering only a single zero damaged and none lost while shooting down half the CAP. My Vals went right for the airfields planting 3 airbase and 25 runway hits destroying another 16 planes and damaging another 20 [:D] It keeps getting better... Then my Kates struke the port, heading for Battleship row.... again.... The first Kate strike went in armed with 800 kgs hitting 3 BBs and a CA with bombs.. The second Kate strike came in with torps hitting 3 BBs and a DD with them. Nothing was sunk, but those BBs have to be in the 80's+ sys damage which is good enough for me - that will 8 months or more repair time. By the time they are back in the action I should be close to winning...

I am moving the CV strike TF a little to the west and staying in range for 1 more strike - then off to Kwajalein they will go for some rest and reinforcements.

My strike on Wake went ok - no losses just some damaged planes.. I hit the airfield and the marines. Encountered 8 or so marine fighters on CAP and my zeros handled them fine. The troops for Wake are 5 days or so out and on the way.. In 2 days the bombardment group will show up and hit the place hard for a few days along with the planes. I want to kill the planes there before I invade - don't need some fighters straffing my invasion TF..

In china I attacked and wiped out a portion of a chinese corp in SE china. I had it surrounded with troops to the west and ZOCs to the east and over 2000 chinese surrendered or were killed - no losses on the IJA force attacking it.

I captured Tavoy and Morotai this turn as well.

In the air it was a rough day for both sides... According to intel air losses were 34 total for the allies and 24 for me - I lost a lot to AA fire (lost like 5 patrol planes this turn to AA at Soerbaja) - where the allies lost most of theirs to air-to-air and being caught on the ground.

The next few days should be good for me as I hit PH again - going for the port and repair facilities this time - as well as my baby CVs clean up the merchies they found...

Xargun

[Xargun]

Hmmm not a great turn for the Imperial Japanese Navy... Not bad, just a few setbacks...

My baby CV TF moved west a bit and got within torp range of the merchies and launched several attacks sinking a total of 2 TKs and an AK...

A large allied TF was spotted at Rangoon and attacked by Sallies from Bangkok. They missed mostly except for planting 3 bombs on an AK. It did not sink, but should be crippled.

CV Group 1 hit Wake Island again bombing the airfield and marines. Not much effect on the marines, but a few more wildcats were shot down.

CV Group 2 moved 100 miles west and hit PH again... The attacks concentrated on the ships in port and the repair yards.. Repair yards were hit good (around 20 more damaged) and numerous 800 kg bombs hit some BBs and a CA. PH launched 3 return strikes - 2 of B-17s and 1 with SBDs... the first B-17 wave came through at 1000 feet and took some heavy flak - unfortunately they landed a 500 lb bomb on the BB Hiei. The wave of SBDs (with like 20 fighter CAP) luckily missed the Soryu with all bombs... In the PM phase more B-17s showed up - once more at 1000 feet... My AA shot one down, but the other 2 managed to hit the Soryu with 1 bomb each [:@] After the battle the ships have the following damage:

BB Hiei: 5 sys/ 4 fire
CV Soryu: 15 sys/8 flt/15 fire

The BB is fine and the CV is in no danger of sinking and can still conduct air ops, but the TF is heading home to japan and the Soryu will spend some time in the repair yards - figure a month to repair her.

CV Group 3 is moving south about 500 miles east of PH looking for targets.

The light cruiser Sendai has suffered horrible fire damage...
CL Sendai (last turn): 74 sys/40 flt/49 fire
CL Sendai (now): 99 sys/63 flt/27 fire

The Sendai can now only move 1 hex per turn and if the flt doesn't come under control she will not make port. I hope she makes port - even at 99 sys she can be saved.

My fighters from Davao straffed Rob's PT boats again, causing minor damage, but setting one aflame. The surface group I have in Mindinao finally caught up with the PTs and a couple surface fights ensued... In the end a few of my DDs were lightly hurt (4 or 5 sys) and 3 PTs were sunk and another mauled and burning. I should finish them off this turn.

On the ground my men took Wuchow (in china) capturing the base relatively intact with all of its 300 resources and 3 HI (out of 5). My men in Malaya also captured Georgetown with a sudden attack. Over 5500 allied troops killed or captured, along with 43 guns.. My own losses were minor - only 93.

My ASW planes have spotted several allied subs west of Formosa and east of Shanghai and numerous ASW TFs are being sent out to presecute - hopefully I get some kills.

That is about all that has happened this turn - other than normal aerial bombings and arty shots in china.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Another day in the long war. At least this one was a bit better than the last...

Lets start off with my baby CV TF... They cruised west a few hexes (4 I think) and ended up well within torp range of several allied TFs. Four or five air strikes were launched resulting in 2 AP and 1 AK sunk with 1 AP, 1 TK and 1 AK severly damaged (multiple torp hits each - I expected them to sink, but they did not). The morale on the air crews are very low - mostly in the low 40's with one group in the 20's. So I'm pulling the TF back out of range of everything and standing the groups down for at least 1 day, if not two. My intel shows that Broome harbor is stuffed full of ships so I am thinking of raiding it before heading back to safe water. What do you guys think ?

My ASW TFs located several subs this turn and attacked. They sunk 1 US Sub and damaged another, but missed the others they attacked.

My fighters out of Davao located and attacked a pair of PT boats fleeing the area hitting one with a pair of bombs and numerous strafing runs, sinking it.

On the ground my troops have captured Pomala (Suluwesi) and Maumere (In Timor Sea). I plan on capturing several of the unoccupied bases in the Timor Sea area so I can move through the island chain without giving Rob free recon on my units. I am using sub invasion to capture them from Kendari so it will be a week or so before I have them all captured.

Not much else is going on other than the usual in China.

The fires on the Soryu and Hiei are almost out (6 and 1 respectively) but the sys damage on both have jumped up (20 and 9 respectively) so more yard time will be needed... Oh well nothing much I can do about it until the ships get home to Japan for some repairs.

The Sendai is over 80 flt now and still 5 or 6 days from port. I ave a feeling I may have to scuttle her this upcoming turn... [:@]

Thats it...

Xargun

[madflava13]

I think you should hit the port... You're not likely to find a concentration of Allied ships like that without any CAP in the near future. All Oz has at start are Wirraways, so you're unlikely to take many losses... I say go for it.

[wobbly]

I say you even make a surface group with the lion share of your baby TF escorts and race them in to help with the carnage. This is a good way of stopping him from splitting all teh transport ships into separate Tfs to minimise damage from air attack

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

I say you even make a surface group with the lion share of your baby TF escorts and race them in to help with the carnage. This is a good way of stopping him from splitting all teh transport ships into separate Tfs to minimise damage from air attack

Well.. my baby CV TF doesn't have any escorts to spare - less than I like with it now due to low threat in this area of operations. I'm thinking of bringing in some BBs and CAs from Kendari to hit it though - but it will take a week or so to get into position. I'm afraid to go in with less than cruisers and BBs as Force Z is still MIA and could be in the area - or even in port - thus accounting for a lot of the ships spotted... Most of the DEI warships are MIA and I have a feeling alot of them are in Broome... Almost like a second PH... I'm going to give my air crews some more rest and then see..

Xargun

[Xargun]

Another day and more allied ships sunk !!

Going to start this off with the bad news... The Light Cruiser Sendai succumbed to her wounds and sunk just 100 miles from Balikpapin in the early morning light. She was most likely going to be scuttled this turn, but it still hurts to lose a cruiser (even a CL) this early. Oh well.. nothing to be done about it now.

This turn 4 allied ships were reported sunk, only 1 of which was attacked this turn. Zeros from Davao found and attacked a lone PT near Mindanao putting some holes in it with straffing runs.. Then the PT returned to an allied port, where my surface TF was waiting. The PT fired some rounds with its 50-cal MG and a single return fire shot sunk the PT. A DD took some minor damage, but a fire was started [:@]

An allied AK and AP were reported sinking north of OZ and an American AS sunk in San Diego (or San Fran) harbor from a torpedo hit a few days ago.

On the land my troops occupied Yenen (in china) pushing out 8 chinese units. The city was captured in tack: 2 MP, 91 HI and 180 Resources. The troops will rest a week or so before pushing on.

My fighter sweep over Singapore downed a few more Buffalos this turn, but somehow I lost a zero to a Buffalo [X(] Not sure how that happened, but oh well.. After killing like a dozen of the Buffalos, I was bound to lose a zero.

Allied bombers from Singapore hit a few merchies in Kuantan harbor with bombs, causing moderate damage and some fires - which are under control. The bulk of the merchies at Kuantan finished unloading their cargo and will return to Saigon for repairs and rest.

My ASW patrols (aircraft) spotted another allied sub - fairly close to japan this time. An ASW TF is ordered to attack.

I am wondering... I have not seen Rob's CVs at all yet this game... I believe one is still in San Diego (where it starts) and the other two are either somewhere along the west coast or heading into the south pacific - could be at Noumea by now. With the majority of the DEI warships MIA, Rob could be trying to get his CVs into the Oz area to back them up with air power... Make me want to hit Broome even more now... but I don't want to hit it partway and I think my baby CVs lack the firepower.

CV Group 1 has been diverted from Wake Island in a race to Palau, where they will refuel and gain replacements. They will then race towards the Timor Sea and northern Oz. Hopefully the ships in Broome will stay put til they can get there.. Two fleet CVs will provide a large enough punch to raid the port safely AND do significant damage to anything found there.

CV Group 2 has its fires under control and is heading home to japan for repairs.

CV Group 3 is almost due east of the PH and beginning to look for targets. Several subs from near PH are being pulled further east to use their scout planes to aid in recon. I don't want to betray the fact that I have CVs in the area or Rob will keep everything in port... PLUS I don't want to get to close to PH after what happened to CV Group 2.

Any other suggestions ?

Xargun