Well this was the most depressing turn of the entire war.
Grotius moved his transports out of Davao for fear (correct of course) that I would try to hit it again. So all that Doorman ran into was a lone DD damaged in the previous night's engagement and struggling back to Davao where it could disband. Needless to say, it was sunk. Then Doorman goes ahead and bombards. My goodness! Last time I try to bombard a Jap base with the escorts! I DD sunk right away. Another was ready to sink, no doubt, and was caught by Nells during the daylight phase. Plus, his CVL and a CS join in the action on my retreating forces. They are at 5 hex range, so no torps. But who needs torps when Kates flying at 16,000 feet can land bombs on a moving ship. [X(]
Then he hits Clark Field with 60 [X(] Zeros and clouds of army bombers. 16 AC died on the field. [:(] And of course everybody in the air (which wasn't all that much) died as well. I took the surviving Tomahawks and moved them to Cagayan in preparation for bugging out of the PI altogether. Don't have enough PP's to move out everyone I would like to, but they are headed for the exit soon (I hope)
Over Kuching things went no better than usual. Oscars are killing me. This turn I am flying my bombers as high as I can (25,000+ feet). I would like to give them some more of a rest, but I want to keep that field hurting. The rollover now indicates 47 damage. Plus, I would like to continue eating into his supply. I think my TIVa's have him spooked. He doesn't seem to want to risk bringing in resupply ships just yet.
I fear that he may be getting ready to bomb Singapore in a big way. Unfortunate, since the AVG is currently in Rangoon providing CAP over a supply TF. He has 2 units about to march into Burma, 120 miles (2 hexes) from where I have 5 brigades defending the approaches to Rangoon. As soon as that supply unloads everybody is bugging out for Mandalay. Then the AVG head back to Singapore and perhaps Java.
One problem I am having in the DEI is lack of supply. I have some planes in my replacement pool, but not enough supply on Java to actually get the replacements. That should be fixed in about 3 or 4 turns. I have 3 TFs heading for Java right now that should get me the requisite supply. I am also going to risk a resupply mission to Singapore once that AVG is back there.
My B-17s at Cagayan are now on naval attack. If he can score from 16000 feet with Kates, maybe I can score from 6000. I doubt the heavies will go after his CS or CVL. In fact they will probably flying into some hornet's nest. But I want him to back off a little to allow Force Z, Dorman, and the Houston group time to get back to the Java sea. The Celebes sea is now off limits to my shipping.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 41,61
Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
straggler from the previous night
Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Davao, at 41,61 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
96 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
victims of last nights action
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Banckert
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
sunk in a later air attack
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1
17/7/1
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
sinks
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 7, on fire
30/23/16
CL Tromp, Shell hits 6, on fire
Including the air attack reported below 53/54/49
DD Evertsen
DD Van Nes
CL Java
Japanese ground losses:
262 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,48
In general, my subs are scoring too much, historically speaking
Japanese Ships
AP Hakuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Inazuma
APD APD-34
APD APD-33
APD APD-32
Allied Ships
SS Searaven
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 31,47
Heading to Malaya?
Japanese Ships
AP Hakka Maru, Torpedo hits 1
DD Uranami
DD Ayanami
Allied Ships
SS Seal
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kuching , at 28,56
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 19
Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 6
Brewster 339D x 11
Buffalo I x 12
Blenheim IV x 12
Martin 139 x 12
Hudson I x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
These numbers look about right
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
C5M Babs: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Martin 139: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hudson I: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 27
All Aircraft Attacking at 6000 feet
they go to 25,000+ next turn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao , at 41,61
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60
Ki-30 Ann x 33
Ki-21 Sally x 69
Ki-48 Lily x 21
Allied aircraft
P-26A x 6
P-35A x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
16 allied AC destroyed on field today, 23 in the air (that includes Kuching)
P-26A: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-35A: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 13 damaged
B-17C Fortress: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 77
Aircraft Attacking:
these guys are flying high, yet hitting like B-17s
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
21 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
12 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 12000 feet
15 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 9000 feet
32 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 12000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 9000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 12000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 9000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 12000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,62
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G3M Nell x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Kortenaer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
sinks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,63
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 15
E13A1 Jake x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Van Nes
CL Java
CL De Ruyter, Bomb hits 1
bounce
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
6 x B5N Kate bombing at 16000 feet
4 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 16000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,63
Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,63
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 13
E13A1 Jake x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Banckert
CL Java
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage [X(]
All these hits were from Kates. And look at their altitude.
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 16000 feet
9 x B5N Kate bombing at 16000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-153, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
sinks
Allied Ships
AO Trinity, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ouch
DD Pillsbury
PG Isabel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Georgetown
Ha! He thought he would take it on the cheap.
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 1614 troops, 0 guns, 106 vehicles
Defending force 2504 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)
Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3
Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 2