3 vs 3 PBEM starting

[AmiralLaurent]

27 January 1942

Burma
99 Sallies escorted by the 64th Sentai (26 Oscars) flew from Bangkok to Rangoon and were met by 47 Hurricane II (4 squadrons). The fighter battle was typical. 11 Oscars and 12 Hurricanes were hit... the small Japanese MG shot down only 4 Hurricanes while all Oscars taht were hit burend and crashed. The Allied fighters reached the Ki-21 and shot down 23 without loss.
74 bombers arrived over the target, Rangoon airfield, and scored 23 bomb hits, destorying two more Hurricanes on the ground.

Malaya
Blenheim bombed Kuantan airfield during the night.
In the morning, 115 heavy and 70 medium bombers bombed two Japanese divisions in Singapore. Japanese replied by some artillery fire.

Borneo
Two TF continued to land night and day Japanese troops in Tarakan, that was bombed again during the night by 5 CL and 2 CA.
Japanese troops (35th Bde, a SNLF, a Tk Rgt) took the base. The Dutch garrison retreated towards Samarinda. The base facilities were wrecked but the ressources and oils were almost intact.

PI
If was guessed right that Allied ships seen N of Borneo those last days were transports bringing supplies to PI. An AK was bombed 120 miles north of Taytay, Palawan Island, by 3 Vals and 15 Kates flying from Lingayen. Two hits were scored with 250 kg bombs.
In the evening, an American submarine missed an AK SW of Tawi Tawi and evaded the two escorting PGs.

Celebes
During the day, SS S-39 attacks an IJN TF SW of Macassar. He was seen and chased by 7 DD, two dropping depth charges, but escaped unharmed. 3 Japanese TF were in the area but the submarine was unable to see anything else than DDs.

Australia - New Guinea - Rabaul - Pacific
Nothing to report

China
15 Ki-48 escorted by 21 Nates and 4 Tojos attacked a Chinese Corps near Changsha and were intercepted by 7 I-16c and 4 I-153c. In the air battle, an I-16c, an I-153c and a Ki-48 were shot down. Japanese troops here bombarded Chinese lines with artillery (450 casualties).
38 Ki-48 and 34 Ki-51 from Canton bombed 2 Chinese Corps E of Wuchow.
Between Wuchow and Canton, the Japanese troops that won the battle yesterday launched a deliberate attack and repulsed the two remaining Chinese corps towards Wuchow.
In Hengchow, the 9 Chinese Corps launched another deliberate attack. 332 Japanese and 247 Chinese were lost during the day's battle.

Japan
The SS Trout was chased in the afternoon by an ASW group 60 miles SW of Tokyo and then tried twice to attack a convoy in the same area but was both times seen and chased by the escort (2 PGs). In the 3 actions it only was depthcharged once and wasn't hit.

[String]

What a nice day for the RAF.. but the turn seems to be stuck.. where is it?

I'd like to get to may before july. I'm going off to work then up until august so i'm going to have to find a replacement by then. I do believe that I can't hold SRA past may so my replacement will have only india, burma and china to worry about.

[AmiralLaurent]

28 January 1942

Burma-Siam
Nothing to report

Malaya
During the night, Blenheims bombed Kuantan airfield.
Allied recons report a number of Japanese troops stuck in the mud between Kuantan and Mersing, on the eastern coast. 94 heavy bombers and 70 medium, with 8 escorts, bombed an Eng Rgt here. 488 Japanese casualties were reported.
Japanese artillery continued to bombard the Allied lines in Singapore (130 casualties).

Borneo
The SS I-165 was attacked and missed by a Do-24 off Pontaniak, on the western coast.

Java
The damaged SS Spearfish sinks in Soerabaja port.

PI
15 Ki-21 from Cagayan bombed Iloilo airfield with very bad results.
The Allied AK trying to reach Manila was sunk 60 miles W of Bataan by 16 Kates from Lingayen.
In the south, the Japanese troops that took Legaspi reached Naga outskirts and reported that the town was undefended.

Celebes
SS Sculpin missed an AP NW of Kendari and was unsuccessfully chased by two escorts.

Rabaul-New Guinea
After the recent sightings of ships off Port Moresby, the Rabaul commander thought propable that Allied fighters were protecting the base and sent 14 Zeroes sweep the area. They effectivelly met 17 Wirraways and really enjoyed it. 13 Australians planes were shot down for no loss or damaged on the Japanese side.

Pacific
Nothing to report

China
41 escorted divebombers tok off from Wuhan to bomb Changsha airfield. 30 got lost and only 11 bombed. Zeroes were reported flying CAP over the besiegied city for the first time and alos for the first time no Chinese fighters were present. Japanese artillery continued to bombard the Chinese lines (190 cas).
In Hengchow, the Chinese continued to advance methodically and a deliberate attack at 19 to 1 saw 526 Japanese and 312 Chinese losses.
In the north, Chinese troops were reported again south of Homan, maybe preparing another attack aganst Kafieng.
In the south, a lonely Chinese unit advanced to the crossroads NW of Canton, that was heavily held by Japanese troops.

Japan
The SS Argoanut had a busy day just SE of Tokyo. She escaped an ASW group during the night, was bombed and hit by a Val in the morning (but not really damaged, apparently), missed by a Kate in the afternoon and attacked the ASW group chasing her in the evening, missing a PG before escaping another time.

_____________________________________________________________________

29 January 1942

Burma-Siam
Nothing to report

Malaya
During the night, Blenheims bombed Kuantan airfield.
A new raid hot the troops between Mersing and Kuantan. 89 heavy and 43 medium bombers, escorted by 6 P-40B, inflicted 400 casualties to the 18th Division.
Japanese artillery continued to bombard the Allied lines in Singapore (150 casualties).

Borneo
In the morning, aircraft from Balikpapan (15 Blnehim IV, 12 Il-4c, 11 Buffalo I and 9 Demons) attacked Tarakan port. 15 Zeroes defended it and shot down 4 Demons, 3 Buffaloes and 2 Blenheim. 17 bombers reached the target and scored a hit on a damaged PG docked in the port.
In the afternoon, Balikpapan launched another raid towards Tarakan. 6 Beauforts attacked a convoy and torpedoed a troop-laden AK while their escort, 6 Buffaloes and 3 Demons, fought the 14 Zeroes flying CAP. Two Demons were shot down.

PI
15 Ki-21 from Cagayan bombed Iloilo airfield with bad results again and AA fire shot down one.
35 Ki-51 and 13 Nates flew from Vigan to bomb a Marine Rgt near Clark Field but AA fire shot down 4 Ki-51.
Another Allied transport trying to reach the PI was attacked 300 miles N of Brunei by 9 Betties (and 23 Zeroes) flying from Saigon. She was hit by a torpedo but not heavily damaged.
A SNLF occupied the undefended city of Naga and its ressource centers.

Celebes
Nothing to report

Rabaul-New Guinea
Japanese troops landed in Hansa during the night.

Pacific
Allied engineers expanded Tarawa airfield to size 2. A PBY Catalina took off from this base to fly a recon flight to Kwajalein.

China
A huge raid (119 divebombers and 45 escorts) from Wuhan hit Changsha aifield. A lonely I-153c was flying above the target and was quickly shot down by a Nate. The Japanese airmen scored 118 hits (including 10 supply hits), destroyed on the ground a P-26a and inflicted 113 casualties. At the same time 9 Ki-48 and 18 escorts bombed a Chinese Corps defending the city.
Japanese guns continued to pound Chinese lines and inflicted 372 casualties. 168 000 Japanese faced 160 000 Chinese.
Northwest of Canton, the 14th Chinese Corps was shock attacked by the Japanese forces in the area (roughly 4 divisions) and repulsed with heavy losses twoards Wuchow.
In Hengchow, the Chinese continued to launch deliberate attacks. The ratio fell to 11 to 1 and Chinese losses (435) were again greate than the Japanese ones (204).

Japan
SS Argonaut remained in the same area and was again chased by an ASW group during the night. 60 miles west the SS Trout was also cruising Tokyo approaches but was attacked by two planes in the morning and hit by a Val in the afternoon. Contrary to the Argonaut, she was heavily damaged, as reported a PG that chased here in the evening.

[String]

the turn seems to be stuck somewhere.. i did recieve the replays from Amirallaurent... but i still havent recieved the turn

[mogami]

Hi, I sent the turn to Will again. I think I also sent it by mistake to Bill.

[AmiralLaurent]

30 January 1942

Burma
Allied engineers expand Rangoon airfield to size 6.

Malaya
Blenheim bombed Kuantan airfield during the night.
At the same time, the SS S-38 was chased by an ASW group SW Saigon but escaped.
Only activity of the day was Japanese artillery fire in Singapore.

Borneo
Balikpapan airfield was bombed by 12 Nells and 26 Betties flying from Kendari with 23 Zeroes. This successfull raid destroyed on the ground 4 Blenheim I, 4 Beauforts, 3 Il-4c, 3 Blenheim IV, 1 Swordfish and 1 Buffalo I. AA fire downed a Nell.

PI
A Dutch AK arrived at Manila but was sunk by 16 Kates flying from Lingayen under escort by 10 Nates.

Celebes
During the night, Japanese troops landed in Waingapu, northwest of Koepang, and reported it undefended.

New Guinea - Rabaul
A Naval Guard unit took the empty base of Hansa.

Pacific
Mavis continued to recon Tarawa and reported there an Allied ground unit, a TF (probably PT) and aircrafts.

China
Japanese airmen from Canton were very active: 33 Ki-51 bombed 2 Chinese Corps E of Wuchow while 23 Ki-48 escorted by 39 fighters bombed 2 Chinese Corps near Hengchow.
The Japanese troops around Changsha (9 Div, 9 Bds, 2 Eng Rgt, 1 Tk Rgt, 6 ART units: 254 000 men) launched a deliberate attack against the Chinese garrison (14 Corps, 3 Cavalry Corps, 2 Div, 1 Tk Rgt, 2 Base Forces: 161 000 men). The engineers continued to destroy fortifications and they fell to level 1 but the attack was a costly failure at 0 to 1. The Japanese lost 10 705 men, the Chinese 4 136.
In Hengchow, the 9 Chinese Corps launched another deliberate attack (at 14 to 1). 464 Japanese and 331 Chinese were lost during the day's battle.
The Chinese troop from Homan marched south again. 8 Chinese units were reported on the crossroads NW of Kaifeng. Japan had troops at Kaifeng and NE of the crossroads, on the railway to Chengting.

Japan
The SS Trout was chased during the night by 2 DDs 60 miles SW of Tokyo.
60 miles more east, the SS Argonaut was attacked repeatly by planes and two Vals claimed to have hit her. An ASW group chased her in the evening and reported she escaped and didn't seem heavily damaged.

[AmiralLaurent]

31 January 1942

Burma
4 SB-2c from Rangoon bombed at SNLF south of Rahaeng (that had been occupied by British troops).
In the evening, the British Command receives orders to retire a BB and 2 DD from this theater.

Malaya
74 B-17E took off from Singapore to bomb Saigon in the morning. The target area was covered by clouds and 20 don't find the target. The remaining 54 bombed at 33000 feet and reported no opposition but their aiming was awful. Not a single hit was reported on port, airfield or town, even if 62 Japanese men were hit. 3 bombers were lost to accidents during this mission.
Japanese forces (4 Div, 2 Bdes, 2 Tk Rgts: 114 000 men) launched a shock attack against Singapore. The defenders (12 Bdes, Singapore Fort, 1 AA Rgt, 11 BF: 70 000 men) were well entrenched (fort 8) and gave them a bloody welcome. The assault was a total failure. 7170 Japanese losses were reported against only 674 Allied ones.

Borneo
During the night, 6 Blenheim IF took off from Balikpapan to bomb Tarakan but were unsuccessfull.
While they were away, their airfield was bombarded by 2 CAs and 1 CLs with very good results. Japanese reports claimed 22 aircraft destroyed but the real number was 42: 15 Beauforts, 8 Blenheim IV, 5 Blenheim I, 4 Blenheim IF, 3 Buffaloes, 2 Swordfishes, 2 CW-21B, 2 Hawk 75A and 1 Do24K-2. 1127 men were hit or disabled during this very efficient attack.
In the evening a damaged PG sank in Tarakan port.
Two Japanese units marched from Tarakan towards Samarinda. The retreating former Allied garrison of Tarakan was allready beyond reach, 60 miles west.

Celebes
Waingapu was occupied by a detachment of the 56th Bde.
On Ambon Island, one of the Allied units repulsed in the jungle arrived near Bulla, the southern end of the island, and reported that the base is held by Japanese forces.

New Guinea - Rabaul
In the afternoon, 8 B-25C from Port Moresby bombed inefficiently Sag Sag, the western end of New Britain.

China
Japanese airmen from Canton were very active again: 33 Ki-51 bombed 1 Chinese Corps E of Wuchow while 31 Ki-48 escorted by 27 Nates bombed 1 Chinese Corps near Hengchow.
Japanese forces reverted to artillery pounding today in Changsha and hit 193 Chinese.
In Hengchow, the 9 Chinese Corps launched another deliberate attack (at 13 to 1). 191 Japanese and 800 Chinese were lost. A Japanese unit marched south of Changsha to open a retreat path to the surrounded Japapese forces (104th Div, 20th Eng Rgt and HQ 23rd Army) and they finally retreated eastwards.
Chinese forces are on the move in all Northern China. Now 11 Chinese units are reported on the crossroads NE of Kaifeng and Japanese units are SW, SE and NE of them (on all rail lines). 2 Chinese units were also reported between Ichang and Hsyniang and 4 SE of Yenen, probably marching to Chengting.

Japan
Allied submarines sailed away from Japanese shores and only a few attacks by Japanese clames were reported today, and no hits.

[AmiralLaurent]

Allied are leading with 9 380 points vs 7 801 for Japan.

Details of the score is the following:

Allied:
Bases 7070 pts
Aircraft 1124 pts
Army 525 pts
Ship 661 pts
Total points for Japanese losses: 2 310

Japanese
Bases 2402 pts
Aircraft 1534 pts
Army 2474 pts
Ship 1391 pts
Total points for Allied losses: 5 399

Bigger aircraft losses
Allied : 184 P-40B, 105 Buffalo I, 92 P-40E, 86 Wirraway, 84 B-17E
Japan : 207 A6M2 Zero, 191 Ki-21 Sally, 184 Ki-27 Nate, 113 G3M Nell, 95 Ki-43-Ib Oscar

Ships losses (according to Japanese intelligence)
Allied : 2 BBs, 1 CA, 7 CL, 16 DD, 4 SS, 1 ML, 2 DMS, 2 DM, 1 AVD, 2 AV, 2 AS, 1 AD, 4 AP, 39 AK, 12 TK, 1 AO, 6 MSW, 24 PT
Japanese : 1 BB, 4 CL, 13 DD, 8 SS, 2 PG, 2 PC, 4 MSW, 11 AP, 9 AK, 2 TK

[mogami]

Hi, The attack on Singapore was bad however the Japanese are in supply and will draw replacements. The men lost by the allies can only be replaced if they are on hand and if supply is consumed. More troops are moving to Singapore so it will only get worse for the allies. The Japanese 18th Div was stuck in the mud for a long time but have at last arrived at mersing.

[String]

Here is the map of the current situation

As usual the red line depicts the frontlines in the game and the yellow one the historical japanese advance in places where it is different from the game situation.




And here for comparison is a map from another PBEM at the same date, taken from the Tom Hunter vs Blackwatch_it game.

[AmiralLaurent]

Burma
10 SB-2c from Rangoon bombed at SNLF south of Rahaeng.

Malaya
Nothing to report

Borneo
During the night, the SS I-153 was chased by a British DD south of Banjarmasin but escaped.
In the morning, 86 B-17E from Singapore bombed Kuching: 70 hits, an A6M2 destroyed on the ground and 179 casualties reported.
28 Betties and 17 Nells with a nescort of 23 Zeroes from Kendari bombed Balikpapan. The airfield had been left by most Allied aircraft but they still destroyed 4 Beauforts and 1 Buffalo on the ground.
In the evening, a damaged Japanese AP sank in Tarakan port.

Amboina
The Dutch Bn that marched yesterday to Bulla was bombed by 18 Kates and 17 Vals from Amboina and suffered 68 casualties. It was then attacked by the NLF defending the base (at 9 to 1). Only 11 able men remained in the Dutch unit but they didn't surrender or retreat and even hit 7 Japanese soldiers.

New Guinea - Rabaul
In the morning, 19 Betties from Rabaul attacked Port Moresby. Their escort of 15 Zeroes shot down 6 of the 12 Wirraways defending the base. The courageous Australian pilots managed to reach the bombers and damaged one. AA fire then shot down one Betty all all Japanese bombs missed the target.
In the afternoon, 8 B-25C from Port Moresby bombed again inefficiently Sag Sag, the western end of New Britain.
Japanese engineers expanded Rabaul port to size 6.

Gilbert Islands
During the night, a Japanese DD was sent to Makin on a recon mission. An US PT ambushed along the reef surprised her but missed with torpedoes and then escaped.

China
Japanese airmen from Canton continued to pound Chinese positions but this day targeted airfields: 34 Ki-48 bombed Wuchow and 39 Ki-21 escorted by 25 Nates bombed Kweilin. Both targets were slighty hit.
Only combat action reported was Japanese artillery fire at Changsha (187 Chinese casualties) but the Chinese armies continued to advance.
South of Changsha, 7 Chinese units gave chase to Japanese troops repulsed from Hengchow.
A Chinese unit reached the outskirts of Kaifeng and reported no visible Japanese garrison. Another marched NE along the railway to Chengting and met a Japanese unit hoilding the railway. More Japanese troops are SW of the crossroads.
Three other Chinese units were reported W of Hsinyang and 8 were seen between Yenen and Chengting.

[AmiralLaurent]

Burma
Nothing to report

Malaya
During the night, 20 LB-30 from Singapore bombed Saigon but their aim was poor, only one bomb hit the port and one bomber hit by AA fire crashed during the return to base.
In the morning, a huge raid (that has postponed several times by weather those last days) started from Saigon to Singapore. 100 Betties, 75 Nells and 30 Zeroes arrived over the target. Only 13 Hurricanes, 6 Wirraways and 3 P-40E flew CAP and Zeroes shot down 8 Hurris and 2 Wirraways without loss. Only 2 Allied fighters reached the Japanese bombers and scored no hit. The attackers then suffered from AA fire while attacking at 10000 feet: 3 Betties and 1 Nells were shot down, 3 Betties and 2 Nells crashed from AA damage later and 6 Nells and 1 Betty were lost to accidents. But they scored 44 hits on the airfield and destroyed on the ground 14 B-17E, 11 LB-30, 11 P-40B and 1 Swordfish.
At the same time 57 medium bombers from Singapore bombed the Japanese 18th Division at Mersing and hit 90 Japanese soldiers.

Borneo
During the night, a FT TF landed Japanese troops in Samarinda, while the RO-61 torpedoed an unescorted Dutch AK NE Bali.
The day was quiet but in the afternoon, the Force Z was seen again, south of Balikpapan. Two BBs and 1 CA were reported by Japanese airmen, but too late to launch a raid. A Walrus launched by one of the British planes was shot down by a Zero.

Amboina
The Dutch Bn that marched yesterday to Bulla was bombed by 21 KI-51, 20 Kates and 17 Vals from Amboina. The Japanese troops in the area reported that no survivor could be found after the bombing...

New Guinea - Rabaul
In the morning, 21 Betties from Rabaul attacked again Port Moresby. Their escort of 10 Zeroes shot down 5 of the 6 Wirraways flying CAP. Like yesterday AA fire shot down one Betty and hit several. A B-25C was destroyed on the ground. A Betty hit by AA crashed during the return to base.
In the afternoon, 7 B-25C from Port Moresby bombed again inefficiently Sag Sag, the western end of New Britain.

Pacific
During the night, a DM saw a Japanese submarine SE of Baker Island. Both ships escpaed unscathed.
The daily Japanese recon flight over Tarawa met CAP ! The crew returned claiming to have seen 7 F4F-4 Wildcats over the base.

China
24 Zeroes from Wuhan flew a sweep to Chungking and shot down 3 of the 8 I-16c met here.
The main action of the day was a shock attack of Changsha supported by all available aircraft. 36 Ki-32 and 32 Ki-30 bombed the airfield while 65 Ki-48, 15 Ki-49, 22 Ki-21 and 60 Ki-51 bombed a Chinese Corps. 25 Japanese fighters escorted these two raids, that were met by only 2 I-153c. Both Chinese pilots were elite and they shot down 2 Ki-32 and 1 Nate and survived. AA fire shot down 2 Ki-51 and the raids were rather innefficient. The airfiled was hit 43 times, a I-153 was destroyed here and 139 casualties counted but the Corps attacked lost only 104 men. During the land assault, Japanese engineers reduced the forts to 1 but a ratio of only 1 to 1 was achieved and losses were heavy. 15 223 Japanese and 4 472 Chinese were lost during this battle.
South of the town, 6 Chinese Corps attacked the Japanese troops retreating from Hengchow (104th Div, a Eng Rgt, a HQ, a BF) and repulsed them (at 99 to 1) towards Nanchang.
In the north, Chinese troops don't attack Kaifeng. From the crossroads NW of this town, 5 Chinese units marched SW towards Hsinyang and met a Japanese unit. A Corps and a HQ advanded to the NE towards Chengting and reinforced the CHinese Coprs allready there, that was shock attacked by the Japanese 27th Div. The attack was repulsed and 1362 Japanese hit against only 25 Chinese.
More north, the first Chinese units from Yenen reached Chengting.
And still more north, the Japanese unit seen near Lanchow finally reached the town, that was only defended by one CHinese unit. Anotehr Japanese unit was following it but 3 Chinese units were reported in the city SE of Lanchow and might be reinforcements sent there.

[AmiralLaurent]

Burma
9 SB-2c from Rangoon bombed at SNLF south of Rahaeng.

Malaya
During the night, I-156 torpedoed an AK east of Medan, in Malacca Straits and evaded the escort (2 MSW).
In the morning, Singapore was again attacked from Saigon by 94 Betties, 54 Nells and 31 Zeroes. The Allie CAP had been reinforced and 46 fighters opposed the raid: 21 P-40B of AVG, 3 P-40E, 6 Hurricane II, 4 CW-21B, 6 Wirraways and 6 Buffalo. They suffered heavy losses (6 P-40B, 3 Buffalo, 3 Wirraway, 2 CW-21B, 2 Hurricane and 2 P-40E) but managed to shot down 5 Zeroes and to reach the bombers, destroying 9 Betties and 3 Nells. 136 bombers attacked the airfield at 10000 feet. AA shot down or crippled 2 Betties and 3 Nells, and 1 more Nell was lost to op losses. BUt they again plastered the field (71 hits), hitting 92 men and destroying on the ground 10 B-17E, 7 P-40B, 3 LB-30, 3 Blenheim If, 2 Swordfish, 1 Buffalo I and 1 Blenheim IV. Those bloody battls over SIngapore saw aces rising on both sides. Today WO K. Uto of F1/Tainan Daitai scored his kill number 11 while FO Porter R. of AVG reached the ten-mark with a Japanese bomber.
At the same time 56 medium and 52 heavy bombers from Singapore bombed again the Japanese 18th Division at Mersing and hit 156 Japanese soldiers

Borneo
The Force Z disappeared, probably returning to base at full speed.
The Sasebo 2nd SNLF that landed yesterday in Samarinda attacked the base and took it, chasing a Dutch Bn that just arrived from Tarakan and retreated to Balikpapan. The two other Allied units retreating from Tarakan were now surrounded NE of Samarinda, as Japanese troops chasing them reached them today.

PI
Another very quiet day in this part of the world. The inhabitants of Boac, west of Naga, judged wise to send a delegation to the Japanese troops that took the city some days ago to surrender.

Amboina
The Dutch DAF still hiding in the jungle between Amboina town and Bulla was bombed by 19 Ki-51, 20 Kates and 17 Vals from Amboina and suffered 91 casualties.

New Guinea - Rabaul
In the afternoon, 7 B-25C from Port Moresby bombed again Sag Sag, that has yet to be hit once since the start of this bombing campain.

Pacific
Eight Zeroes coming from the Marshalls swept Tarawa skies but the fighters reported yesterday were no more there.
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Kwajalein to size 4. The area won't remain forever as quiet as it is now.

China
Heavy controversy took place in Japanese HQs around Changsha, as the senior commander of this theater is away. Some officers asked a banzai charge to finish the battle, convinced that a last attack may do the trick. Other suggested a retreat, judging the battle lost. And the most hardened officers suggested to wait and see, and let the troops recover some days before the next attack. Their advice was followed. But either the Chinese learned of these hesitations or had also officers believing in the theory of 'the last attack that will give us victory.' Anyway the Chinese garrison left the town and launched a shock attack against the besieging Japanese.
Before that Japanese aircraft were again active over the city. They were opposed by only one I-153c, flown by 1LT R. Kai of 27th CFS. This courageous pilot shot down 1 Ki-30 and 1 Ki-36 during the two first raids of the day, his victories 2 and 3, but was then shot down by a Nate.
96 Japanese bombers bombed the airfield, destroying 4 SB-2c, while 169 more bombed two Chinese Corps (137 casualties). AA fire shot down 3 Ki-51 and 1 Ki-32 whileanother KI-51, 1 Ki-27 and 2 Ki-21 were lost in accidents. Chinese bombers that returned to the base attacked 2 Corps with 18 SB-2c and hit 43 Japanese soldiers.
The land battle was a Chinese failure. 129 000 Chinese attacked 304 000 Japanese (at 0 to 1). 1552 Japanese and 12889 Chinese were lost during this battle.
In the north, the 54th Chinese Corps liberated (for the 3rd time in two months) the undefended city of Kaifeng. Japanese forces retreated both W and N of this town and broke contact with Chinese units, retreating respectively towards Hsinyang and Chengting
More units from Yenen reached Chengting.
At Lanchow the Japanese lost the race against the Chinese reinforcements. The Japanese 10th Bde launched a shock attack against the city, hoping to met only a BF but the city was defended by a BF and a full Chinese corps and 1184 Japanese fell in this failed attack (0 to 1, fort level 3) while Chinese reported only 2 casualties (?????).

[AmiralLaurent]

Today the Allied lost 52 aircrafts (22 A2A, 30 Gd) and Japan 112 (49 A2A, 47 Gd, 5 AA, 11 Ops). Not a good day for Japan.

Burma
116 KI-21 escorted by 36 Ki-43 flew from Bangkok to Rangoon but were opposed by 50 Hurricanes and decimated. 5 Hurricanes, 13 Oscars and 28 Sallies fell during the air battle, with a recon Ki-46 flying with the raid. 21 more bombers turned back. The other bombed the airfield and scored 50 hits, destroying 5 more Hurricanes on the ground and hitting 74 men. Two more Sallies were lost to accidents.
10 SB-2c from Rangoon bombed at SNLF south of Rahaeng.
6 Nells from Saigon bombed Moulmein airfield, where 13 men were hit.

Malaya
During the night, the I-156 chased in the Malacca Straits the transport she hit yesterday. She missed it but attacked again some hours later and sank her with two torpedoes.
Saigon and Singapore exchanged raids today. The Allied airmen were the first to reach their target. 46 B-17E, 12 LB-30 and 5 Il-4c met over the target 14 Zeroes flying CAP, that shot down 2 Il-4c, 1 B-17 and 1 LB-30 whiel suffering a loss from return fire. The Allied airmen then pounded the airfield: 80 hits, 496 casualties and 47 aircraft destroyed on the ground (15 Nells, 11 Ki-21, 8 Ki-57 Topsy, 4 Alfs, 4 Zeroes, 3 Ki-46, 2 L2D2 Tabby).
At the same time, 77 Betties, 9 Nells and 59 Zeroes arrived over Singapore and were intercepted by the usual gaggle of Allied fighters: 1 P-40E, 8 Hurricanes, 2 CW-21B, 1 Wirraway, 3 Buffaloes and 13 P-40B. This air battle was won by the Japanese, who shot down 6 P-40B, 3 Hurricanes, 2 Buffaloes and 1 CW-21B while losing 4 Zeroes and 2 Betties. Then the raiders destroyed 14 planes on the ground: 5 B-17E, 5 LB-30, 2 Blenheim IF, 1 Hudson I and 1 Blenheim I. AA fire shot down 3 Betties and 1 Nell and 3 Betties and 1 Zero were lost in crashes.
At the same time, Singapore medium bombers were hitting again the 18th Div at Mersing with 56 aircraft.
One more Japanese Division had arrived in Singapore but the Japanese continued to only pound the base, hitting 351 Allied soldiers.

Borneo
During the night, the submarine KXIX tried to attack a TF SW of Macassar but was chased by 5 DD. There was no action after dawn in this area.

PI
8 Kates from Linagyen attacked a British AK unloading in Manila and damaged her with two torpedoes.
Japanese engineers expand the port of Lingayen to size 2.

Amboina
The Dutch DAF still hiding in the jungle between Amboina town and Bulla was bombed by 19 Ki-51, 18 Kates and 18 Vals from Amboina.
During the night some Japanese troops landed on Tenimbar Island, north of Darwin.

New Guinea - Rabaul
In the morning, a Japanese submarine missed a Dutch ML southwest of Port Moresby.

Pacific
Japanese submarines were still active in this area. An Allied convoy reported that a Glenn flew over it some hundred miles of the West Coast.
In the evening, the SS I-2 reported a BB and a CA 300 miles WNW of Palmyra Island. It was impossible to contact her later. American press claimed that 6 DD chased a submarine in this are and two scored hits on her, sinking her.
Japanese planes report another BB TF off Makin, with two BBs.

Japan
American submarines came closer again and the Tambor was chased in the evening 120 miles SW of Tokyo by an ASW group.

China
The Japanese aircraft concentrated in WUhan continued to hit Changsha. 56 Ki-51, 33 Ki-32 and 31 Ki-30, with 11 escorts, bombed the airfield. AA fire shot down a Ki-30 but 11 SB-2c were destopryed on the ground, 96 hits scored and 67 Chinese became casualties. 70 Ki-48 and 22 Ki-21 bombed two Chinese Corps with an escort of 11 Nates, that fought the 2 I-153c flying CAP and shot down one. Only 63 Chinese soldiers were hit by these attacks. There were 5 operationnal losses during these attacks: 2 Ki-51, 1 Ki-48, 1 Ki-30 and 1 Ki-27.
Also from Wuhan, 20 Ki-49 bombed the ressources of Sian but scored only one hit.
The ground war was rather quiet today. In Changsha, Japanese artillery was the only active and hit 553 Chinese soldiers. Both sides didn't move around Hsinyang. In the north, the 27th Jap Div continued to retreat to Chengting, followed 60 miles behind by the Chinese troops that rejected its attack some days ago. Allready 8 Chinese units from Yenen had arrived in Chengting but neither side opened fire.