John III vs. Wolfpack: The Japanese Version

[John III]

April 16, 1942

SS Nada

Air
China
Changsha is under relentless bombardment right now: 41B 37 Cas AF, 20B 28Cas AF, 21B 44 cas, 6F 27B 34 Cas, 63F 45B 44 Cas
Kunming 18F 38B

Australia
36,88 29F 100B 83 cas
19,89 36F 26B 26 Cas

Burma 30,28 4F 17B 28 Cas

I spot a lot of planes in Calcutta with no CAP. Order all Rangoon Bettys and Zeros to strike.

Ground
Landing at Raba, Jv

Capture Ogliuga, Ala

Deliberate Attack at Kodiak PROGRESS! 1-1 Forts drop 4 to 3 124J for 48 US

Bombardments: 36,88 97 Cas 1st Para join the Inf Div there.


Naval
Bombard Kodiak for 51 Cas

Air Attack on KB1! 45Z vs. 12 B-25 and 35Z vs. 3 B-25---Lose 2Z for 12 B-25! Scratch one Bomber Squadron!

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 73 (up 2) Maya 69 (up 2)


April 17, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 39B AF and 43 Cas, 16B AF, 22B 38 Cas, 35B 56 Cas, 63F and 46B 83 Cas
Kunming 18F 36B 4 Resources

Manila 68DB 17B Destroy 1PBY, 8 Cas, AF/Pt

Australia
36,88 29F 72B 73 Cas
18,89 6F 68B 28 Cas

Burma
30,28 4F 15B 4 Cas

Land
Capture Raba, Jv

Landing at Adak, Ala

Bombardments:
Changsha 117 Cas
36,88 28 Cas

Deliberate Attack Kodiak! 0-1 86J for 176US Will rest a day or two and time next attack with BB Bombardment.

Shock Attack in China at 50,31 25-1 (for Japanese) 147J for 197 Chinese

Deliberate Attack in new Guinea at 54,92 (East of PM) 3-1 12J for 13Aus Am trying to clean-up the fragmants that are spread around.

Navy
KB1 launches a ground strike at Kodiak! 4Z 48V 59K get 30 Cas for no losses!

I have a TON of ships converging at Dutch Harbor right now. Order KB1 home to there to pick-up Hiyo and other escorts.

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 79 (up 6--looking grim) Maya 64 (down 5)

[John III]

April 18, 1942

SS
SS Drum hits a mine at Midway and is then nailed by Midway LBA and sinks!
SS R0-34 is nailed by an ASW Group near Sydney, takes 6DC, and sinks...

Air
China
Changsha I am simply going to total number of sorties and casualties from here on out. 69F 106B hit AF and do 286 Cas.
Kunming 15F 39B 11 Resources damaged

Calcutta STRIKE! 47Z 86B Lose 2 bombers, inflict 93 Cas, and destroy 3F--12B. Not bad...

Manila 69F 72DB 19B inflict 50 Cas and hit AF/Pt

138 B-17 hit Johnson from PH and cause 69 Cas

Australia
36,88 40F 37B 10 Cas
19,89 24F 15B 7 cas


Ground
Land at Roxas, Phil

Capture Adak, AL

Bombardments:
Changsha 187 Cas
Kodiak 10J for 26US
36,88 52 Cas

54,92 New Guinea 2-1 35 Jap Cas Am trying to kill off a BF and PM Brigade

Phil (40,61) 44-1 19J for 48US

Borneo (27,56) 32-1 Surrenders! 176 POW North and Western Borneo clear.

Navy
Third BB added to Bombardment Force working there.

KB1 arrives at DH and links up with CV Hiyo. Fuels up...

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 79 (same) and maya 59 (down 5)

[atomu]

Maya - seems to willing to live and fight on.

Zuiho - could it be that she is stabilizing?

Could it be that rescue workers are focussed on Maya and, for some reason, are leaving the Zuiho alone for the long passage to the Yasukuni?

Maybe the port, given it's size and manning, can handle only one ship? Can Maya be moved to another port after some further improvement if Zuiho at least stabilizes?

Would the presence of a normal engineer or naval construction unit many any difference?

Can you imagine the boost to morale if Zuiho one day returns to the Fleet to soldier on?

Thank you for allowing me to forward my thoughts to you, Sensei.

Best regards,

A

[John III]

Atomu,
That is a good idea. Since, at the present point within the campaign, Maya is under 50 for flotation--she can probably sail for Kwajalein for finishing repairs. If only Zuiho was there... Good thinking!

[John III]

Wolfpack and I have been getting turns in over Christmas Break but I haven't had a chance to update the AAR. Will attempt to get a few days in here and then really catch it up next week when school starts again.

April 19, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 64B paste the AF and do 14 Cas Another raid hits with 69F 93B 76 Cas

Hit Imphal, India with 43Z 64B AF and NOTHING more...hoped to catch some planes.

Manila, Phil 21Z 36DB 24B 7 Cas, AF/Pt 36DB hit PT Boats there and SINK TWO!

Australia
X-Roads 26F 28B 63 Cas 3F 41B 37 Cas
19,89 40F 31B 31 Cas

East of Port Moresby 11F 18B 11 Cas

Ground
Capture Roxas, Phil

Landing at Atka, Ala

Bombard
Kodiak 21 Cas
36,88 21 cas

Navy
Sortie KB1 ESE for Raiding mission: Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo, Hiyo head out. I want to plant them between Pearl Harbor and West Coast, USA so I can maybe get Saratoga after he has pumped her dry at Pearl.

10 Wellington Bombers try to hit a raiding TF near Trimcomalee, Ceylon--They miss!

18F 5B try to hit my other raiding TF SE of Sydney, Aust--They miss!


Flotation Watch at Palmyra:
Zuiho 79--No Change
Maya 65--Up 6


April 20, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 35B AF 35 Cas
Kunming 17F 36B 1 Resource

Manila 11Z 36DB 17B AF/Pt 79F 29 Cas

Kodiak Allied Raid--25 P-40 15 B-25 vs. 21Z 3 P-40 and 6 B-25 Shot Down for NO losses!

Aust
36,88 29F 55B 75 Cas 14B 38 Cas
19,86 40F 37B 29 Cas

Land
Capture Atka, Ala

Landing at Kodiak with 3 Base Forces. This should take me over-the-top! Deliberate Attack--4-1 Forts 3 to 2 286J--31US.

Bombardment at 36, 88 44 Cas

Set Changsha Army for Deliberate Attack! Here we go...

Navy
BB Bombardment at Kodiak 144 cas

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 78--Same Maya 67--Down 1

Engineering: Kadina, Okinawa AF 2


April 21, 1942

SS Nada...

Air
Changsha, CH 50B AF 40 Cas

Manila 26Z 36DB 24B AF/Pt 20 Cas 69F 13 Cas 36DB SINK 1PT Boat

Akyab, Burma 11F 95B 168 Cas

Aust:
36,88 30F 77B 126 Cas
19,89 40F 32B 40 Cas

Land
Landing at Cagayan, Phil

CAPTURE Kodiak (Finally!!) 4-1 214J for 5280 American POWs...BANZAI! The base is wrecked--everything is damaged in the 60-70s.

Deliberate Attack @ Changsha 1-1 YES!!!! Forts drop to 7:
Jpn 372,691 3034 G 29V Lose 18,745 337G 6V
Ch 187,131 299G 8,042 43G

Allied Deliberate Attack at 19,89 1-1 107J for 138 Aust

Navy
CA Takao hits mine at Rangoon--Moderate Damage (32 Flot)

Palmyra Flotation Watch: PORT GOES TO Size 2! Zuiho 78--Same Maya 67--Down 1

[John III]

April 22, 1942

SS Nothing--Now have a 12 SS line stretching across a bunch of the Pacific between Hawaii and West Coast.

Air
Changsha, CH Bad Weather Day 7B 13 cas
Kunming, CH 20F 37B 14 Resources

Rangoon Strikes Chandpur, India 71B vs. 3 Hurricanes Lose 2B but destroy 1F and 3 more on the ground.

Manila 22Z 36DB 19B AF/Pt 19 Cas 36DB SINK a PT Boat

Johnson Island--135 B-17 Raid it. 13 Cas and Port hit.

Australia:
36,88 30F 39B 71 Cas
19,89 41F 66B 165 Cas

30,28 Burma 11F 15B 39 Cas

Kodiak 25 P-40 19 B-25 strike shipping and hit 4AK.

Ground
Capture Cagayan, Phil

Landing at Benkolen, Sumatra

Deliberate Attack at Changsha! OOOOOOOPPPPS--I forgot, since I got the 1-1--that it would automaticallt attack again. Stupid of me. 0-1 Forts 7 Jap 14,118 239G 4V China 6,051 49G I will have to shuffle units after this attack and rest for a while.

Wolfpack must be nervous--he sends those Chinese Corps into the X-Roads again. I have 3 Inf Div there with 3 more units ont he way.

Wolfpack emailed me that he got a VERY nice piece of Intelligence. Since I had just got done telling a batch of units to prepare for Anchorage, that is my logical guess. My Invasion Convoy is still 14 days away. Wonder if he will react? Wouldn't mind another straight-on fight...

Navy
Send 5BB towards Anchorage to see what kind of defense he has going.

KB1 reaches the center of my SS Line between Hawaii and West Coast. It should be able to react in any direction if my SS or planes spot something.

KB2 is passing Truk and heading for Palmyra.

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 77--down 1 Maya 62--down 5


April 23, 1942

SS 9SS depart Rangoon for west coast of India.

Air
China
Changsha 62B AF 29 Cas
Crossroads (50,31) 49B 108 Cas

Manila 72DB 51B AF/Pt 48 Cas 36DB SINK another PT Boat!

Calcutta Strikes at Akyab, Burma 9F 87B 77 Cas

Aust
X-Roads 30F 40B 39 Cas
19,89 38F 58B 49 Cas

East of PM 13F 21B 25 Cas

MASSIVE Aerial Redeployment: Move 3 Daitai of Bettys from Rangoon to Singapore for R&R, Kodiak is barely operational so I transfer 3 Daitai of Zeros, 2 Chutai of Emily, and 1 Chutai of Betty--should give him a surprise!, move another Sally Daitai to Australia. Move other units in differing directions.

Land
Capture Benkolen, Sum 126J for 126 Dutch

Shock Attack at Cotabato, Phil with 18th Inf Div--Last fragments there surrender--81J for 1961 POW. 18th Inf Div will wait for pick-up so it can join the assault of Manila.

Navy
Fleet continues to gather at Dutch Harbor.

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 77--Same Maya 62--Same


April 24, 1942

SS Notihng

Air
Recon spots ships at Anchorage

China
Changsha 73F 178B AF 187 Cas
Crossraods 14B 29 Cas

19,89 (Aust) 38F 50B 43 Cas

Manila 65F 72DB 21B Destroy 1PBY, 42 Cas, AF/Pt

103 B-17 hit Johnson 138 Jap Cas

Burma
Akyab hit by 3F 92B for 117 Jap Cas
30,28 7F 18B 8 Cas

East of PM 16B 82 Cas

Land
China (50,31) Chinese Shock Attack! 4 Inf Div and 1 Jap Tk Reg vs. 14 Chinese Corps & 1 Cav Corps 0-1 Japan Loses 2,016 67G 11V and the Chinese lose 6,928 71G. Like it when HE has to attack and lose a lot of troops! Send another Brigade and Army HQ there to be safe.

Navy
BB Bombardment Force approaching Anchorage is jumped by 28F 82 B-25 (WOW! [8|]) Shot down 4 B-25 and damage 11. 2BB hit with no REAL damage. A CA is hit for very MINOR damage. Provide LR CAP for the TF from Kodiak.

Wolfpack is making a major mistake here. He had the airpower to close down Kodiak and KEEP it closed. Instead, he is going after shipping so I get the AF open and add a 4th Daitai of Zeros there.

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 72--down 5 Maya 61--down 1

[John III]

April 25, 1942

SS Ro-61 hit by 7DC and SUNK near Sydney
7SS (Mainly Ro) depart Noumea for the Wellington, NZ area. He HAS to be moving shipping somewhere!

Air
China
Changsha 73F 149B AF 199 Cas
X-Roads 16B 32 Cas

Aust
X-Roads 27F 43B 70 Cas
19,89 41F 50B 58 Cas

Burma
Akyab hit by 27 B-17 for 23 Jap Cas

Aleutians Transfer 1 Daitai of Betty and 1 Daitai of Zero to Dutch Harbor

Manila, Phil 69F 72DB 23B AF/Pt and 41 Cas

Johnson 116 B-17 [8|] 19 Cas---I REALLY hope he is getting high operational casualties doing these long strikes...

Ground
Try a SHOCK ATTACK at Changsha! Doesn't work...I am getting impatient here--MUST CALM DOWN... Fort 7 0-1
Japan Cas--16,424 160G 3V China Cas--2,216 31G (of ONLY 135). I will rest everyone for about a week and try again in early-May.

Navy
Bombard Anchorage--Hit AF, destroy 2 planes, and inflict 208 Cas--this is a little disappointing.

Spot a convoy to the east and detach 2BC, 2CA, and 4DD to try and hit it.

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 67--down 5 Maya 63--up 2

April 26, 1942

SS 23,42 KXV puts 2TT into a PG and sinks it.

Air
China
Changsha 69F 140B AF 251 Cas
X-Roads 51B 87 Cas

Manila 65F 70DB AF 45 Cas

Burma
Akyab hit by 76B--Target is 33rd Inf Div--77 Cas
30,28 8F 9B intercepted by 7 P-40--lose 3 Bombers--still inflict 12 Cas

East of PM 13B 39 Cas

Ground
Landing at Padang, SUM (last Dutch base in DEI)

Aust (22,88) Deliberate Aussie Attack 5-1 28J for 41 Aussie Hmmmmm....he is REALLY commiting to this Australian battle.

Bombardments:
Changsha 209 Cas
50,31 48 Cas

Navy
BB TF leaving Anchorage 16Z vs. 24 P-40 43 B-25 Lose NO Zeros and shoot down 7 P-40, 2 B-25, and damage 11 more.
BC Kirishima hit by 3B for no damage.

Palymra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 67--same Maya 61--down 2

Engineering--Hangchow AF 4


April 27, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 71F 167B AF 256 Cas
X-Roads 47B 51 Cas

Manila 64F 72DB 4B Destroy 1PBY, AF/Pt, and 33 Cas 36DB SINK a PT Boat

Burma
Akyab 42 Blen and 21 B-17 intercepted by 33Z (moved to Mandalay) Lose NO Zero and shot down 12 Blen, 1 B-17, and damage 12 more.
30,28 Forgot to turn off this raid! 9 P-40 vs. 11B Lose 4B but inflict 17 Cas

Aust
36,88 30F 59B 39 Cas
19,89 41F 58B 87 Cas
37,88 30B 49 Cas

Ground
Landing at Padang, SUM There are 5 units there and I forgot to load ANY supplies. Have to fix that before I attack.

Bombard Changsha 114 Cas

Australia I have a second Brigade moving to reinforce the other at 19,89 and have run into a BF remnant. 8-1 Attack 23J for 73 Aussie

Naval
KB3 approaching Palymra

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 67--same Maya 58--down 3

[John 3rd]

It has been a week since I updated the AAR. Life has been busy. Wolfpack and I have had to slow our campaign down but, in general, we are averaging a turn a day.

April 28, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Changsha, Ch 71 F 228 B Hit AF and 470 Cas

133 B-17 hit Johnson 109 Cas and Port hit.

Australia
19,89 32F 6 Cas
22,88 5F 61B 144 Cas

East of PM 15B 38 Cas

Ground
Landing at Padang, SUM

Bombardment: Changsha 124 Cas

Deliberate Attack on a remnant at 22,88 34-1 5J for 5Aussie

Navy
Nothing Major

Engineering:
Lingayen AF 4
Lunga AF 5

Palmyra Flotation Watch: Zuiho 63--up 2 and Maya 59--up 1

April 29, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 20B AF and 17 Cas BAD WEATHER
49,30 (Crossroads) 20B 17 Cas

22,88 (Aust) 5F 51B 37 Cas

Manila 72DB 15B AF 59 Cas

Kodiak 56Z vs. 27 B-17 (first time I have seen B-17 here) 2Z for 11 B-17 and damage to remainder.

East of PM 20B 35 Cas

Ground
Landing at French Frigate Shoal--Hope to draw B-17s from Johnson Island. In a moment of complete STUPIDITY, I forgot to load assault troops! Landed a Base Force but no TROOPS! Cannot take the place until a Fast TF drops some off.

Deliberate Attack at 22,88 37-1 2J for 35 Aussie

Navy
NIGHT FIGHT! Adm Tanaka (3BB, 2CA, CL, 2DD) vs. 3CA, CL, 6APD Tanaka Crosses the T aand gets surprise! In a disappointing gunnery round, I cripple 2CA and 2 APD. In return for that, I lose DD Yayo.

14 B-25 attack Tanaka--Nothing

13 Blenheim Attack BC's at Sitka--Nothing

Over Kodiak 28Z vs. 20 P-40 75 B-25 Lose 3Z for 10 P-40 6 B-25 Most don't drop their bombs and turn back. BB Mutsu is hit by 5 500lb bombs for no appreciable damage.

Load some supplies and 2 AA units at Dutch Harbor and ship them towards Kodiak.

[John 3rd]

Forgot----Flotation Watch at Palmyra--Zuiho 70--Up +7 Maya 54--Down 5

[John 3rd]

April 30, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Homan 14B 20 Cas
Changsha 73F 177B AF and 432 Cas

Australia
36,88 35F 116B 77 Cas
19,89 32F 12 Cas
22,88 5F 64B 52 Cas

Kodiak 22Z vs. 21 B-17 1Z for 2 B-17 All fail to attack--MORALE issues!

Manila 64F 14B 68DB AF 25 Cas 36DB SINK 1PT-Boat

East of PM 14B 12 Cas

Ground
Spot 41st Inf Div at Anchorage

Bombard Changsha 70 Cas

22,88 Deliberate Attack! 77-1 Base Force Surrenders! 11J for 2845 POW

Philippine Reinforcements landing at Lingayen. Order them to Clark and then to Manila.

Navy
Wolfpack takes a HUGE PP Withdrawal Penalty of 2600! Evidently, though I haven't seen them, he wants to keep the British Fleet in the IO.

Engineering: Kwajalein Pt 4

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 72--Up 2 Maya 50--Down 4

[John 3rd]

Here is the summary for Dec 7th to May 1st. April featured my capture of Johnson, Palmyra, Midway, and the major CV Battle east of Johnson.

Statistics for May 1, 1942

Score 3.8 to 1
Japan 18,199
Allies 4,786

Sinking:
Japan 106 Ships Sunk 1,080 VP
Losses: CVL Shoho, 2BC Haruna and Hiei, 1CA, 1CL, 9DD, 13SS plus other lesser ships.

Allies 186 Ships Sunk 2,672 VP
Losses: 3CV--Enterprise, Yorktown, and Lexington, 1BB Arizona, 4CA, 7CL, 26DD, 10SS, 26PT-Boats plus other lesser ships.

Industrial Statistics:
Supply 1,980,073
Fuel 3,439,731
Manpower 817 (248,429)
Heavy Industry 13,872 (86,445)
Resources 19,271 (1,688,218)
Oil 2,497 (1,526,805)

Naval Shipyards 1,295 (18)
Merchant Shipyards 969 (6)
Ship Repair 1,059

Armaments 628 (44,773)
Vehicles 137 (1,926)

Aircraft Engines 1387
Aircraft Assembly 845 (131-Rd)

I decided to include how many of what type of Aircraft I am currently building:
Prod Pool
A6M2 124 253
A6M3 145 49
Oscar 182 288

Val 50 213
Kate 40 204

Betty 101 153
Helen 69 8
Sally 81 21

Emily 16 2
Tina 14 1
Glen 3 37
Topsy 5 0
Dinah 1 141
Tabby 10 49

Naval Reinforcements: I will be getting BB Yamato about May 15th, CVL Ryuho about June 1st.

Comments??!!

[John 3rd]

May 1, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Changsha, CH 71F 42B AF 105 Cas

Manila 72DB 18B AF 30 Cas

Australia
X-Roads 35F 111B 95 Cas
19,89 36F 50B 103 Cas

East of PM 15B 7 Cas

Ground
Quiet Round with no major activity.


Navy
Forgot to mention that KB2 arrived at Palmyra on April 30th. They refuel and head out for a raid around Hawaii. Current CV composition is now Akagi, Kaga, Hosho, and Ryujo.

Anchorage attacks shipping in and around Kodiak! He has A LOT of B-25s!
1. 57 B-25 hit my BB TF--Nagato takes 2B and has a few fires started. Shot down 3 planes and damage almost 20.
2. I shifted my Zeros to 90% CAP at Kodiak and he pays for it.
52Z vs. 6 B-25---52Z vs. 5 B-25 Shot down 7 of 11 planes. No losses
3. 114,31 12 B-25 attack BC Kongo and hit her with 3 bombs. Lite fires--2 B-25s killed.

Ordered KB1 northwards towards Canadian Coast for some raiding as well.

Engineering: Lihu AF 4

Flotation watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 76--up 6 Maya 55--up 1.


May 2, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
China
Changsha 72F 155B AF and 301 Cas
Homan 21F 13B 24 Cas

Manila 72DB 23B AF/Pt 61 Cas

East of PM 20B 11 Cas

Ground
Landing at Padang, SUM Finally landing some supplies so I can take this out. Five units reported there.

Navy
DD McCall sinks at PH. I am not sure why but down it goes...

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 78--up 2 Maya 54--down 1

May 3, 1942

SS Nada...

Air
China
Changsha Bad weather! 30B 87 Cas
Homan 24F 13 Cas

Manila 66F 72DB 25B AF/Pt 68 Cas

Kodiak YIKES!!! 49Z vs. 165 B-17 74 B-25 Lose 6Z and shot down 10 B-17 9 B-25 and damage over 70 others. Air Field hit and lose 2K, 1V, 1E. OUCH! Going to be scary if he keeps this up. Did he pull those B-17s from Pearl Harbor???? Hmmmmm...

OK--He wants to play...move 2 more Zero Daitai to Kodiak.

Aust 19,89 39F 59B 91 Cas

East of PM 20B 94 Cas

Ground
Continue to land at Padang, SUM

Order all troops from Clark Field to Manila to begin the final fight of the DEI!

Transfer 9th and 5th Infantry Brigade from Chinese control to Northern Area Forces. They will be perminent garrison troops for Kiska/Dutch Harbor/Kodiak/Anchorage.

Navy
Disband Zuiho into Palmyra now that it hits Sz-3 Port! This might save her...

After that raid at Kodiak today, I am not fooling around. Form up Tanaka with 5BB, 2CA, 3CL, 10DD for Anchorage Bombardment.

Engineering: Palmyra Pt 3

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 79--plus 1 Maya 48--down 6

[John 3rd]

May 4, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
I ordered some new recon sweeps: Kona, Hawaii, Wellington and Christ Church, NZ. I spot a lot of ships at the NZ Ports.

China BAD WEATHER! Changsha 22B AF 10 Cas

Manila BAD WEATHER! 24B AF and 63 Cas

Ground
Recon at Anchorage spots 41st Inf Div and an RCT.

Shock Attack at 54,92 (East of PM) 7-1 40J for no Aussies! Hmmmm...

Deliberate Attack at Padang, Sum 2 Inf Bat and 3 Base Force form resistance. Get a 387-1! All surrender 1606 POW.

Deliberate Attack at 19,82 (Australia) 2 Jap Inf Brigades vs. 1 Aust Inf Brig and 1 Aust Tk Brig. Get 0-1 220J for 47 Aussies

Navy
KB1 spots and attacks a convoy off the west coast! Four raids go in during the day: Rd1 30Z 57V 65K, Rd2 29Z 15V, Rd3 36V 38K, and Rd4 16K--total of 286 sorties. Planes smack 1 AE, 11 AK, 10 AP, and an APD. Sinking include 1 APD, 1 DD--Gilmer, 1 AP, 1 AK. This is a little disappointing but I am sure more will go down. Will keep the TF there for another day--move a little closer to Seattle.

Invasion Force departs Dutch Harbor--77 Ships carrying 70,000+ troops. Escort TF--2BC, 1CA, 3CL, 13DD. Here we go!

[John 3rd]

May 5, 1942

Flotation Watch from the 4th: Zuiho 77--down 2 Maya 33--down 15. Maya should now officially make it!

SS After spotting those ships at Wellington/Christchurch, I send 9 SS towards there.

Air
Changsha, CH 23B AF and 11 Cas BAD WEATHER!

19,89 39F 99B 44 Cas

East of PM 20B 7 Cas

Ground
Landing at French Frigate Shoal with ASSAULT troops this time. Capture FFS.

Deliberate Attack at Changsha: 0-1 Fort 7 Nearly get 1-1 on Attack
Jpn 253,228 1892G 20V Lose 4,884 106G 5V
CH 170,768 131G 4,962 43G

Navy
AK hits a US Mine at Midway. Lite Damage.

KB1 continues the assault on that Convoy from yesterday! There are seven small raids launched throughout the day. A total of 190 sorties are flown. Hit 6AK--9AP--2DD. Allies lose 1 DD, 2 AK, 1 AP, and 1 AE.

KB3 now in the SS Line NE of Pearl Harbor.

Engineering: Paramushiro Jima Pt 2

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 62--down 15 Maya 35--up 2. Nice change for Zuiho!

[John 3rd]

May 6, 1942

SS
Ro-66 misses a TK at Christchurch, NZ
Send 6 SS towards Wellington/Christchurch

Air
Sweep Chandpur, India with 60Z and find nothing to play with!

Manila 93F 45B 100 DB Hit AF/Pt and cause 76 Cas

Anchorage 14 Betty hit Anchorage, destroy 3F on ground, 4 Cas

Australia
36,88 32F 62B 43 Cas
19,89 33F 91B 48 Cas

Ground
Bombardment: Changsha 61 Cas

Order an attack at Manila

Wolfpack has re-thought attacking me in Australia. He is definately withdrawing back towards Perth and along the road SE from Darwin. It was quite a scare with him coming towards Darwin. With some work, he might have been able to take it. Not now...

My recon picks up 16 Units and 27,000 troops in Anchorage! [8|][8|] HOLY COW! I have learned, from bitter experience, to double the recon numbers. I need to think about this some. I have 2 1/2 Inf Div, 1 Eng Reg, and 2 Art Units about 4 days from Anchorage. I doubt if it is enough...

Start loading 2 more Inf Div, with support, at Kwajalein for a possiblity reinforcement to the attack.

Navy
BB Bombardment 5BB, 2CA, 3CL, 10DD hit Anchorage: 147 Cas and 10G. VERY disappointing attack! I want one of those NUCLEAR Bombardments I have heard about. Do sink APD-Stringham as I approach Anchorage.

Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 58--down 4 Maya 33--down 2

[John 3rd]

May 7, 1942

SS
S-34 puts 1TT into a TK 1 Hex from Kodiak--no danger of it sinking.
I-22 Hit by Sydney LBA


Air A lot of bad weather throughout the board.
Changsha, CH 73F 199B AF and 258 Cas

Port Moresby Fragment 20B 17 Cas


Ground
Deliberate Attack at Manila! Attacking with 1HQ, 2 Inf Div, 2 Inf Brig, 4 TK Reg, 2 Eng Reg, and 3 Art Regiments...

Manila 0-1 (871-1600) Fort 6
Totals Losses
97,338 992G 618V 3,504 135G 26V
80,310 536G 106V 1,592 37G 3V

Now I know what I up against. I have another Inf Div and Inf Brig that will arrive in a day or two. Back to aerial and ground Bombardment...

Bombardment of Changsha: 97 Cas

Start loading the 5th and 9th Ind Brigades at Shanghai for Aluetians duty. I intend (once Anchorage plays out) to use 3 Ind Brigades to garrison my possessions there.

DECIDE TO CANCEL ANCHORAGE LANDING! My recon returns the same result as yesterday. I will be smart and wait for the reinforcements from Kwajalein to take this target. Trying to be PATIENT here!

Navy
An Japanese AP sinks from earlier damage at Kodiak.


Flotation Watch at Palmyra: Zuiho 53--down 5 Maya 24--down 9

May 8, 1942

SS No major activity.

Air
Anchorage
1. Sweep 29Z vs. 41 P-40 Lose 5Z for 14 P-40 and 6 Damaged
2. 19 Betty attack (without Escort) vs 27 P-40 Lose 6 Betty (could have been worse) for 1B destroyed on ground, AF, and 9 Cas
3. Spot 21F 175B 175 Aux Planes at Anchorage--WOW! I wonder if he moved his B-17s from PH to Anchorage? Could be an opportunity here since the Base is on the sea. Might be able to destroy a bunch of his airpower here...course there is danager here as well...

Homan, CH 17F get 12 Cas

Australia
36,88 35F 75B 31 Cas
19,90 101B 34 Cas

East of PM 20B 26 Cas

Transfer 3 Daitai of Betty (27 each) from Singapore to Hiroshima. They will be eventually used out of Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. I am REALLY limited there. Dutch Harbor has an AF 2 and Kodiak AF 3. Need to expand them ASAP!


Ground
Bombardment: Manila 28 Cas Changsha 107 Cas


Navy
Battle at Anchorage! Sink CA Vincennes with 2BC, 1CA, 3CL, 15DD. Bombardment there for 31 Cas. I will use two Bombardment Groups rotating from Kodiak--1 BB Group and the other the BC Group. See what we can do...

Form a Raiding TF at Noumea to hit Wellington, NZ: 2CA, 3CL, 7DD.

From my CV Raid earlier in the week, a DD--Brooks, 2AK, and 1AP sink from earlier damage. It appears that raid has netted 11 Ships: 1AE, 2DD, 1APD, 2AP, 5AK--not bad for only a few planes!

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 50--down 3 Maya 15--down 9 Looks like BOTH will survive!


May 9, 1942

SS 6DD in IO attack 2SS of mine and MISS! Doesn't happen often...

Air
China
Changsha 58F 229B AF 226 Cas

Australia
36,88 32F 66B 41 Cas
19,90 93B 44 Cas

Manila 29F 43B 106DB AF/Pt and 148 Cas

East of PM 23B 31 Cas

Anchorage
Zero Sweep! Take a risk and set my 5 Daitai to Sweep Anchorage: 92Z vs. 24 P-40 Lose 7Z for 20 P-40! That isn't bad at all.


Ground
Bombardment: Manila 103 Cas Changsha 219 Cas


Navy
Sweep into Diamond Harbor, India and sink 1 PT Boat That group is nailed by 21F 89 Brit Bomb 39 B-17--1CA takes 1B, 1CL takes 3B--Heavy Damage, and 1DD gets 1B. OUCH! Could be worse...

Had a TF appraoching Hilo to see what Wolfpack has in the area and am hit by MASSIVE LBA! 62 B-26 and 82 B-26--CL Nagara takes 6B--Heavy Damage, CL Yubari 3B--Heavy Damage, and 1DD takes 1B...

Double lesson learned here. We'll see what sinks and what makes it.

Engineering: Hilo AF 6--Got to watch out for that.

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 47--down 3 Maya 8--down 7.

[castor troy]

John,

looks like you´re getting more and more ships damaged. Be carefull with your CAs and Cls as you don´t get them back like Wolfpack does when his sink.

[John 3rd]

May 10, 1942

SS
KXV hits CL Sendai with 2TT near Akyab and sinks her. Hmmm....

Air
Changsha, Ch 65F 234B AF and 352 Cas

Australia
36,88 35F 77B 83 Cas
19,90 97B 13 Cas

Manila 66F 55B 142DB AF/Pt 283 Cas

East of PM 18B 37 Cas

Northern Pacific
Anchorage Continue Zero Sweeps! 62Z vs. 9 P-40 Lose 1Z for 8 P-40

Kodiak Raids! I thought Wolfpack might hit back this round and I was right! 45Z vs. 48 B-17 and 44Z vs. 6 B-25 Total losses--2Z for 6 B-17 (15 dam) and 3 B-25--all TURN BACK! I like it when there are morale issues with the OTHER side!

I like the total for the day: 3Z for 8F and 9B.

Ground
Bombardments: Manila 121 Cas Changsha 270 Cas

46,36 I have decided that Changsha WILL fall and I am now surrounding it. 1 Brigade vs. 2 Chinese Corps: 1-1 730 Jap for 33 Chin--this occurs because I have to cross the river.

19,90 Deliberate Attack against BF Fragment 157-1 Take Hex.


Navy
Anchorage BB Bombardment! NUCLEAR---Destroy 22 planes (14 are B-17s!! plus the 17 from earlier in A2A), 3,349 Cas, 38G, 8V, and AF. THAT is nice!

Engineering: Canton Pt 3

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 43--down 4 Maya 0--down 8 Maya is OK!


May 11, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Changsha, Ch 63F 199B AF and 222 Cas

Manila 31F 41B 108DB AF and 134 Cas

Australia
36,88 35F 69B 31 Cas
18,90 91B 45 Cas

Ground
Deliberate Attack at Manila! 0-1 Achieve a near 1-1...
Stats Losses
Jpn 136,374 1241G 610V 2,741 164G 25V
US/Ph 74,892 433G 97V 1,377 20G

Bombardment: Changsha 214 Cas

46,36 China 98J--206 Chinese CROSS RIVER!

Navy
BB TF hit leaving Anchorage 12 Dauntless Attack BB Yamashiro hit with 1B 1 Dauntless is destroyed and all 11 others are damaged.

US BB TF Hits Johnson Island! DAMMIT! My Recon didn't spot them... 3BB, 1CA, 3CL, 5DD inflict 177 Cas. Grrrrr....

Engineering:
Kwajalein AF 5
Norflok Island Pt 1

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 33--down 15

May 12, 1942

SS
I-8 hits a TK with 1TT west of Wellington

Air
Changsha, CH 67F 214B AF 299 Cas

36,88 32F 58B 120 Cas but lose 1B

East of PM 20B 11 cas

Ground
Bombardment: Manila 61 Cas

Deliberate Attack at Changsha! 0-1 (DAMMIT!)
Stats Losses
379,960 2827G 173V 16,004 260G 16V
165,695 102G 7,702 34G

Navy
Bombard Anchorage with 1BC, 1CA, 3CL--105 Cas

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 36--up 3

Engineering:
Lunga Pt 4

[John 3rd]

May 13, 1942

SS
S-34 Hit by LBA near Kodiak

Air
Bad Weather Throughout the Board!

Changsha, CH 23B AF 16 Cas

22,53 Riouw 17Z 30B 31 Cas

Australia
37,90 35F 70B 57 Cas
17,90 32B 48 Cas

East of PM 15B 24 cas

Ground
Landing at Sinkep Island

Bombardment: Manila 76 Cas

Shock Attack! 18,90 121-1 8 Cas Take the hex and advance.

Navy
Mid-Ocean Intecept East of New Zealand! 2CA, 3CL, 8DD attack a TF of 15 TK--Sink 5 TK and damage 4 more.

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 34--down 2

Engineering:
Nagoya AF 3

May 14, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Pagan, Burma 85 Brit Bombers and 44 B-17 hit 27 Resources OUCH! See if he repeats this attack tomorrow--arrange LR CAP.

Manila 67F 54B 108DB AF, destroy 1 PBY, 166 Cas

China---Bad Weather---

Australia
36,91 65B 40 Cas

East of PM 15B 23 Cas

Sweep Anchorage with 50Z--NO Opposition!

Kodiak Attack: 26Z vs. 9 B-17/3 B-25 Lose 2Z for 2 B-17 (5 Damaged) and 2 B-25.

Ground
Landing at Sinkep Island! 370-1 Capture! 101 Jap for 557 POW

Shock Attack! 54,92 East of PM 39J for 1176 POW PM Defence Battalion Surrenders!

Bombardment: Manila 268 Cas

Sea
BB Bombardment x 2 4BB, 1BC, 3CA, 3CL, and 12DD Destroy 14 Planes--3F, 9B, and 2R, 2,305 Cas, hit AF, and knock out 49 guns.

Form up KB1 at Dutch Harbor--Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo, Hiyo with full strength 228 Planes--76 Z, 76V, 76K--send it towards the US West Coast for some raiding...

Divide NZ TF to try to find remnants of TK TF that I hit yesterday.

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 24--down 10


May 15, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Changsha, CH 60F 208B AF and 373 Cas

Pagan, Burma As I hoped, Wolfpack comes back and hits it again. 27Z and 7 Oscar vs. 87 Brit Bombers and 43 B-17 Lose 1Z/2O for (CATCH THIS!) 26 Brit Bombers and 5 B-17 with 45 Damaged! They do hit 40 Resources...

Manila 69F 50B 68DB AF and 178 Cas

Attack Anchorage with 20Z and 11B Hit AF, destroy 1F, and lose 2 Planes.

Australia
36,92 71B 13 Cas
17,90 25B 53 cas


Ground
Bombardment: Manila 214 Cas


Navy
Surface Day Intercept East of New Zealand! 1CA, 1CL, 4DD vs. 2 TK SINK 1 TK and Heavy Damage the other.

Flotation Watch: Zuiho 10--down 14 ALMOST THERE!


May 16, 1942

SS Nada...

Air
Changsha 30F 20B AF and 14 Cas

Sweep Kohima, India 23Z (New A3) vs. 12 Hurricane Lose 1Z for 2 Hurricanes

Manila 63F 51B 108DB AF and 153 Cas

Australia (36,92) 59B 61 Cas

Land
Bombardment: Manila 201 Cas

54,92 East of PM 8-1 14 Aussie Cas

46,36 Chinese Bombardment: 19J for 16 Ch

Navy
French Frigate Shoal--I had a small AK TF unloading there--they are intercepted by 5 US DD and 3 AK, 1PG, 1MSW are damaged--Lose 1MSW.

Another TK Sinks near New Zealand! YUMMY....

Another Surface Intercept near NZ--1CA, 1CL, 4DD vs. 1TK--Sink another TK!

Flotation Check: Zuiho 0--down 10 and going home! After a month of touch and go, I send Zuiho and Maya home with a decent ASW Escort. HOW ABOUT SAVING THE CVL!!! [:D][:D]

[John 3rd]

May 17, 1942

SS
I-121 (on line-laying mission to Kona, HA) hit by LBA near Hawaii

Air
Changsha 20B AF 20 Cas Bad Weather! Move another Bomber Daitai to nearby base.

Anchorage 19Z 8B Destroy 1F/1R, and AF

Australia: 36,89 35F 77B Hit Darwin Defence Brigade 83 Cas

Land
Bombardment: Manila 141 Cas 46,36 (SW Chang) 10 Ch Cas

Shock Attack! 17,90 2 Ind Brig vs. 1TK Brigade and 1 BF 38-1 56J for 147 Aus and 13T Take Hex.

Navy
2 Bombardments at Anchorage AF, 438 Cas, and destroy 1B.


May 18, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Changsha, CH 68F 245B AF 358 Cas

Manila 69F 48B 108B AF/Pt 159 Cas

Anchorage 19Z 8B Destroy 2F/2B and damage AF I REALLY NEED TO GET MY AF UP SO I CAN FLY REAL BOMBERS STRIKES HERE! I think he has SO many planes there that I cannot miss...

Akyab, Burma 39Z vs. 31F Lose 2Z for (CATCH THIS!) 25F! Lose 11 Jap Cas.

Australia
16,90 28B 28 Cas
36,89 35F 61B 54 Cas

Ground
Bombardment:
Manila 115 Cas
46,36 SW Changsha 2 Ch Cas

Deliberate Attack: Changsha! Get 1-1 and LOWER Forts to 6!
Stats Losses
Jap 471,451 3307G 311V 17,646 412G 14V
Chin 161,874 74G 6,250 20G

Navy
KB3 Hits Convoy NE of Hawaii! 138 Sorties hit 2DD and 9AK--Lose 4K. DD Dale and an AK sink.

Mid-Ocean Intercept AGAIN East of NZ: 1CA, 2CL, 3DD vs. 13TK Go through 5 Gunnery Rounds: 4 TK take Heavy Damage and 4 more take Moderate Damage.

Engineering:
Nagoya Pt 5
Sabang, SUM Pt 2

May 19, 1942

SS Nothing...

Air
Changsha, CH 55F 34B AF and 28 Cas

Manila 24Z 69F 53B 108DB AF/Pt and 107 Cas

Dutch Harbor Raided! 146 B-17 vs 4Z Lose 1Z for 2 B-17 (51 Damaged) Hit the Port--BB Mutsu, 2CL (1 Heavily--LOSE KASHII), AV, APD, 1DD, and 2AP all hit and damaged--343 Cas. OUCH!

Australia
16,90 35B 92 Cas and 4 Tanks
36,89 35F 75B 125 Cas

Ground
Bombardments:
Manila 108 Cas
46,36 (SW Changsha) 8 Cas

Australia (16,90) Shock Attack! 421-1 Take Hex...

Navy
Bombardment of Anchorage x2 613 Cas and 1 Bomber destroyed

KB3 Continues the Attack from yesterday: 145 Sorties--hit 10 AK. Lose only 1V! Five AK sink!

9 18.1" Rifles enter the Imperial Navy---IJN YAMATO Complete!

Engineering:
Chengting AF 6
Akyab Pt 1