Fear and loathing - Japanese style

[AdmNelson]

Is there some kind of triangle in the Coral Sea that the Americans have fallen into. Still no sightings of the American carriers. Gili Gili assult Tf will be leaving in the next turn.

Baker Island recon show 6 American BoomBoxes headed there. Dig deep.

Lauthem Invasion one day away. For a level 2 airfield there are a lot of planes stationed there. I have lost one AP 2 Minesweepers and 1 PG. Dutch crusiers are headed towards Lauthem and are over 600 miles away. IJN surface TF will be Lauthem in two days.

IJN forces have landed at Singapore. The 18th Inf Div should be a shore tomorrow. Only two units at Singapore are an baseforce and the CD unit--- all the rest of the Malaya Army are 60 miles away.

The war is heating up.

[Mike Solli]

Looks like Singapore is doomed. Attack as soon as possible. A BF and CD don't have much infantry. I'm not sure what you have there, but if you have any infantry there, don't wait for the 18th Div.

[String]

You did a naval invasion of Singapore?!?!?1

how many ships did you lose to CD?

[fabertong]

Yep, Scott Invaded Singapore on the seaward side.....I'll try to get all the details, or maybe Scott will post here later. I know we lost a few but not as many as you would think, but standby we are still unloading. I'll get a combat report posted when I can get my hands on one.

[AdmNelson]

You did a naval invasion of Singapore?!?!?1

how many ships did you lose to CD?

If I remember right 3 minesweepers and 1 AP. That was out of one TF, the other hasn't unloaded yet. A few weeks earlier a bombardment TF was mistakenly given Singapore as target. We lost 5 DDs on that. Scott has been bombarding by air the port for the last three weeks plus. He can give more information on this but, as I remember ther are over a 100 bombers hitting the port every day.

[scott64]

I forgot to have 18th Div unload. [X(][:-][8|] when I gave the order, heck they have been sitting at Mersing on ships for over a week now, loading supplies. [:'(][:D]. If I recall right, I lost 3 MSWs and a couple of APs. Two are hurt but are still floating. Singapore is doomed. [:'(][:)][:D]

[scott64]

If more troops want to ride to Singapore from 60 miles aways, then more the merrier. Johore Bharu will be much more easier to capture. [X(][:'(][:D][:)]

[scott64]

I have four operations going as of the start of Feb 1942. The largest being Singapore and Johore Bharu, with Sinkep Island and Benjarmasin also being executed. Sinkep Island is ready to fall with another attack. Benjarmasin invasion is awaiting more troops. More troops arrived in Johore Bharu and I will do another assault. [:'(][X(]

[fabertong]

This is the current score end of Jan. (actually Feb. 2) in Fear and Loathing......can you spot the two Japanese concerns........The number of ships (high proportion APs) and the plane loss situation, we should be much further ahead.....In overall point turns Scott will take Singapore in the next week and probably conclude the Malaya campaign a week after. Lew is making good progress in the Solomans, but we are still waiting for any sign of the American carriers. For me Burma is now about Myti.......etc. where Tom seems to have a least four Chinese Divs. + support.......China is still very interesting a seem to move from believing I can take all of China to I'm going to lose all of China........I'll post maps Later.............

[fabertong]

This is China......Tom, as many of you know, is very good in China......It's hard to say what will happen here......but it could be a horror show. My plan is still to take Yenen, then release some forces to halt the Chinese counter offensive at Homan....in 11 days I get two more Divs + the 25th from Manchuria......Then we shall see.....

[fabertong]

This is Burma. You can see why I think I'll need reinforcements from Scott after the fall of Singapore to Take Myt.....There are 10 enemy units there at least 6 combat and probably Chinese Divs......with two more on the way. I had planned on a Para drop on And. Is. but with even a base force there this could be too risky, I've dropped on a Chinese base force before with a seriously bloody result So I've begun long term planning (three months away) double pronged attack on And. and Akyab....with a view to tempting out the British battle fleet. This will depend on me getting a hold of at least three fleet carriers......etc. So it may not happen any time soon as Scott, Lew and I all agree the US carriers are our priority.

[fabertong]

Malaya....This is Scotts theatre. His bold sea based invasion of Singapore has ended any chance for the allies to make a long stand here....th 18th Div and engineer unit face only the fort unit and a base force...anything coming from Jahore will have to shock attack to help....Singapore will fall in the next week, Johore soon after. Scott may want to add to this post later.

[scott64]

Word from the front lines in Malaya. Singapore will fall very soon. [:'(][X(][:)]

[AdmNelson]

Timor--- Lauthem falls,most Allied aircraft left before the fall. Airfield is in great shape, transfering baseforce and fighters and search aircraft. 56th is now prepping for Koepang. Should be able to isolate Java from OZ by the end of FEB.

KB clearing the Coral Sea of Allied shipping and surface fleets. Transports will be leaving Rabaul in the next turn for Gili Gili. After that Port Morebsy is on the clock. I have 6 SNLF units prepping for PM plus the South Seas Det. will also be in the assault of PM. Still no American carriers.

[fabertong]

Feb. 3rd 1942.....
Singapore has but 2-3 days left in allied hands..........
Another bad day for Japanese merchant shipping with another 10+ ships badly damaged by allied air strikes.......
British carrier sighted near Singapore.........what do we think it's doing there?
Mytk....invested, but will be some time before this siege ends......
Toms' offensive around Homan is gathering pace, I only hope my supports arrive before he shock attacks.......

[scott64]

Yes, time is a ticken for Singapore.

[:'(]

[scott64]

Resources and oil are flowing out of DEI to Saigon, Kagoshima, and Osaka. The noose is tightening around DEI. Borneo is almost in The Empires' hands. My plans are to take Palembang first, and work my way around Batavia. My cap around Mersing will hopefully sink a few more Allied ships, maybe those pesky CVs. [X(][:'(][:)]

[scott64]

Our spy in Singapore has informed Emperor Tojo that British forces have ran out of supplies and will surrender tomorrow. Moral is very low and many deserting British soldiers are now POWs. Enemy ships have been sighted South and Southeastern of Singapore. It has even been report that a carrier is in the area. All bombers and escorts are on 24 hour readiness. Aircraft will be flown in from Saigon to help with the Singapore artifical reef prgram. [X(][:-][:'(]

[fabertong]

6th Feb. 1942..........
Allies look to be mounting an Evac. Op. around southern Malaya............
At least 1 carrier and 2 BBs spotted off Singapore......
Banjarmasin falls.......
All of Borneo now in Japanese hands.......
4 allied AKs sunk by LRB off Akyab.......
Gilli Gilli Invaded.........
Port Moresby Bombarded..........

In Burma I'm Prep-ing a new Para drop.......if Tom commits more troops to Myitkyina....I'll land at Ledo or Kohima.......while I doubt I can hold these postions long, it will give Tom something to think about.

[Terminus]

Why such willingness to sacrifice your paratroops for what seems very little gain?