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January 11, 1942.

Little to report from the West.

I did hear a mine explosion and the sound of a sinking sub. I think we may have gotten another.

My AVG night CAP had some success at Palembang.
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Night Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18


Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
17 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

My nightly attack on Johore Bahru again netted some destroyed aircraft on the ground. I am not flying tonight,
I expect him to see what happened at Palembang and put some fighters on Night Cap.
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Night Air attack on Johore Bahru , at 50,83

Weather in hex: Overcast

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground




Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim I bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Also he has been attacking Singapore, I believe with ground attack and taking some losses for little gain that I can see.

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Morning Air attack on Singapore Fortress, at 50,84 (Singapore)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 16 118 total bombers
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 72
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 19
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 30



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 14 damaged 45 of them damaged, 38% damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 26 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking Malaya Army ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Singapore Base Force ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Malayan Air Wing ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking 11th Indian Division ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Malaya Army ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Singapore Base Force ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Malaya Army ...
Also attacking Singapore Base Force ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking 11th Indian Division ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Malaya Army ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...
Also attacking Singapore Base Force ...
Also attacking Singapore Fortress ...

They did not suffer many ops losses, so the well experienced pilots mostly got home. Only 2 Sallys were ops losses. But, slowly the experience level will drop and there should be more ops losses.

12 January 1942

Not much to report. The Japanese take Manus and Suva. The attack at Suva cost them 25 tanks destroyed; that is a little victory for us at this stage of the war.

FOW will have to wear off but right now our ships sunk page says both I-Boats that ventured close to the Puget Sound were both killed by the RCN KV. They are losing I-Boats left and right due to aggressive deployment. Kive me six months when the entire WCUSA will be patroled by all those SC's I will be getting.

January 12, 1942

Little to nothing to report from the West.

13 January 1942

This is not what I wanted to see happen. The Japanese are now moving on the Tonga Islands. If they invest themselves in strength here, it will truly affect my convoy routing. They also landed and took Green Island and Masseu (sp?) Island in the Bismarks. Also from the image you can see they are expanding in Fiji still. Feel absoluetely powerless at this stage of the game. What units I am getting are restricted which means I am waiting on PP. I am ready to move the last RGT to Oahu. Then I will save to release Americal once it arrives.

Japanese CVTF are off grid. Questions is are they heading to the DEI or still lurking in the SoPac?

With the present moves, I will be moving to occupy and build the Cook Islands ASAP. Fuel is in short supply in the SoPac. Loading up everything I got that can help and sending it south

January 13, 1942.

I got a good bombardment of Johoe Bahru in this turn. I am sure that the SCTF that impaled itself at Singapore was supposed to defend Johoe Bahru

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Night Naval bombardment of Johore Bahru at 50,83

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Caledon
CL Colombo
CL Capetown
CL Glasgow
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
CL Durban
CL Dragon

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled



Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 23
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter
CA Exeter firing at Imperial Guards Division
Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Cornwall
CA Cornwall firing at Johore Bahru
CL Caledon firing at Johore Bahru
CL Colombo firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Capetown firing at Johore Bahru
CL Glasgow firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Ceres firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Dauntless firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Durban firing at 38th Division
CL Dragon firing at Johore Bahru

14-17 January 1942

The Japanese are back filling now. Over the past few days we have seen a lot of small invasions in the PI, the Bismarks, and Fiji. On the 16th the Japanese came ashore at Pago Pago. CD has done very well and has sunk at least one AP and roughed up a few more. Still, the first Deliberate Attack come off at 2:1 and reduced forts to 2. It appears this force is escorted by at least part of KB.

The 17th was arrival day. All the PH BB's arrived at ECUSA - image attached. So by mid year I should have all the PH BB's back save one - BB Oklahoma is repairing at PH with 64 FLOT damage. I will repair that down to 50 before sending her most likely to Bremerton. Also, severe damaged AS Canopus arrived Perth from Manila. She will take about 75 days to repair.

A small convoy arrived at Canton Island. The supplies aboard allowed the remnants of VS-2 to repair and transfer to Christmas Island. Another small convoy is departing Wake Island with the VMF aboard. Once back to PH, this unit will be "upgraded" to F2A. The F4F-3 will be used to fill out my CV air groups.

18 January 1942

My AKL with the Wake VMF is found by IJN CV's. So long to 12 F4F-3 airframes I really needed. I think KB may be divided up. That or there is no CV support to the invasions in the SoPac.

Japan continues to invade small unoccupied islands in SOPac, the Bismarks and the PI. Another deliberate attack at Pago Pago drops forts to 1.

Only good news is the IJA attempts a Deliberate attack at Bataan that comes off at 1 to 3. They have a 1500 to 800 AS advantage but the level 3 forts should hold them off for a while.

January 20, 1942

I have been quite remiss in keeping up with this AAR. I find it hard when nothing much happens.

So, today, Singapore fell.

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Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 63652 troops, 755 guns, 426 vehicles, Assault Value = 1745

Defending force 23802 troops, 390 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 828

Allied adjusted defense: 375

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1022 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (13 destroyed, 16 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
30058 casualties reported
Squads: 682 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2220 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 77 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 281 (281 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 142 (142 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 18


Assaulting units:
22nd Recon Regiment
II./124th Infantry Battalion
5th Division
41st Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
38th Division
III./124th Infantry Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
35th JAAF AF Bn
1st RF Gun Battalion
302nd Ship Eng Coy
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Field AA Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Fleet
84th JAAF AF Bn
Southern Army
202nd Ship Eng Coy
2nd Mortar Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
15th Army
34th Field AA Battalion
20th AA Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
97th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
1st Manchester Battalion
Singapore Fortress
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
11th Indian Div /1
29 Battery/3 HAA
Malaya Army
AHQ Far East
Singapore Base Force
III Indian Corps
Malayan Air Wing
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
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One thing I have not yet understood is he has sent a lot of troops into the far North of China.

from combat two days ago, this is what he had:
Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
1st Cavalry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
4th Cavalry Brigade
36th Division
26th Recon Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army

Seems like a lot to chase down and kill two Chinese Corps and a HQ.

One of our opponents is on holiday and the other has taken quite ill. Remember Kitakami (Jorge) in your prayers if you think of it. Ergo, game pace has slowed

19-24 January 1942

From the 19th to the 23rd we saw the Japanese fill in the following areas: northern Solomons, Fiji, Tonga Islands, central PI, and northern Luzon. Only excitment in game was when a US SCTF bulit around Marblehead ran afoul of IJN CV's south of the Tonga Islands. Marblehead was lost but I feel it was a good thing for the Allies. First it gave us a fix on part of KB and second it kept the idea in our opponents' minds that the Allied surface forces might be lurking around the periphery of their ever expanding empire. The other Allied victory came on Cebu where a company sized IJA landing force tried to take out a PA Inf RGT. They were pushed back.

Now to the 24th. A US cruiser TF built around Indianapolis and Detroit bombarded Johnston Atoll. On the way in the ASW TF consisting of four DM's ran afoul of a I-Boat losing one of their number for no hits. The I-Boat missed another DM on the way out. Then SS Grudgeon fired TT's at CV Soryu about 150 nm north of Johnston but they were duds. Oh for the luck that that sub had one of the few working torps <sigh>. Then the SCTF ran right into the IJN CVTF. A daylight battle occured stating at 23k yards and closing to 7k before the ranges opened up. Soryu took one pentrating 8" hit and CS Chiyoda took two non-penetrating 5" shells. USN cruiser gunnery was abysmal. That said the DD's tangle and a couple of the IJN DD's will need some yard time. Of course the air phases saw the IJN come with a vengeance. Indianapolis was sunk and Detroit is pretty banged up. I lost a DD and the three remaining DM's (a blessing in disguise no?).

The remaining DD's should make PH without problem as long as they don't run afoul of a sub. Detroit may make it too if our opponents choose not to pursue. If they do pursue, then we may bag a few more carrier aircraft. Only two Kates and one Val shot down today. I have to wonder if this whole thing was merely a prelude to a Midway invasion.

On my side of the map, mostly moving supplies and fuel. Waiting on the PP to move Americal Div south. Need to think carefully where I want to draw a line in the sand.

ORIGINAL: vettim89

13 January 1942

This is not what I wanted to see happen. The Japanese are now moving on the Tonga Islands. If they invest themselves in strength here, it will truly affect my convoy routing. They also landed and took Green Island and Masseu (sp?) Island in the Bismarks. Also from the image you can see they are expanding in Fiji still. Feel absoluetely powerless at this stage of the game. What units I am getting are restricted which means I am waiting on PP. I am ready to move the last RGT to Oahu. Then I will save to release Americal once it arrives.

Japanese CVTF are off grid. Questions is are they heading to the DEI or still lurking in the SoPac?

With the present moves, I will be moving to occupy and build the Cook Islands ASAP. Fuel is in short supply in the SoPac. Loading up everything I got that can help and sending it south

nah, just sail in and size Suva, in DaBigBabes mod u get more then enugth of everything to do it anyway, dont mind the losses your the Allies (plenty of everything)!!!

A quick update, one of our opponents is on vacation and the other is ill. We should be picking back up in a few days.

A turn done today.

January 25, 1942.

Not a lot happening now.

They sent some night bombers to Palembang and destroyed seven aircraft on the ground, I put up some Dutch fighters at night to try and distract them.

They sent A6M2 sweeps over Palembang during the day. I was able to shoot down some. The intelligence(?) screen says we shot down 19 A2A and lost 10, but I don't believe it. The AVG did shoot down a couple of bombers over China today.

January 26 and 27, 1942. Another day, not much happening.

My night fighters didn't fly the first night, but they were at 30,000 feet. I reset them to 12,000 feet and some met the night bombers. None downed, but the bombers didn't hit anything either.

I now have 2500+ AV in Southern Sumatra, mostly divided between Oosterhaven and Palembang. I moved two CD units in Java to Merak and I am continuing to mine Merak. If they attack at Oosterhaven they have to go through that hex. Might get interesting.

28-31 January 1942

Our opponents continue to back fill the PI, Solomons, New Hibredes, Fiji, and Samoa. Most of these are small invasions of dot bases with small NavGuard and SNLF. KB has reorganized and is prowling the SoPac. They sank an AKL at Raul (sp) island NE of NZ on the 30th and then drift to within sight of the map edge on the 31st to bag 5 TK (loaded). There is a lot of pressure on my resupply efforts to both Oz and NZ. I may have to reorganize things here soon. I keep thinking our opponents are hoping to bait the US CV's into an uneven fight.

An Eng BTN arrives at Tahiti on the 31st which will hopefully help in getting that base built up soon. PP are accumulating painfully slow. I am going to send the Americal to Tahiti but only after I can free all three RGT's. A few small units are being sent to Christmas Island. At this point in time those two areas are about it as far as me defending the Pacific for now.

Some of the USAAC FS are almost ready to be sent forward. Average ATA skill is now in the 60's but EXP remains below 50 and in some cases below 40. I would like to get these units a little higher in EXP before deploying them forward but may not have that luxury. I would like to get some units into NZ and OZ to at least protect the ports at Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney.

Supply is in the red at Bataan now. AS is about equal but that is just base. How did the RL Allies hold out so long there?

I have an idea for the USN carriers but need to see how long the KB hangs out in the SoPac. They have been active for the last month solid ranging from deep in the SOPac all the way up to Johnston Island. They have got to be accumulating damage from use plus burning an enormous amount of fuel. Still knowing where they are is better than the alternative.

January 38-30, 1942

Little to report. I found and sunk 4 DMSs that were to the East Of Batavia. I am not sure if they were going to try and sweep mines at Batavia or Merak. I am sure at least 2 subs hit mines at Merak and sank. They may be trying to get to Palembang via the back door. It is not easy, I have about 900 AV there now and another 200 on the way.

In the air war over Palembang I am holding my own. Not sure what their losses are without FOW, but I am getting about 1:1 or maybe slightly better, but could be worse. The best part is the air war is right over my major base so I do not lose too many pilots and the ones that survive are gaining experience quickly.

Forgot, need pictures:

January 31, 1942, not much happened again today. Another picture.

February 1, 1942

Still not much happening on my side of the map, but I have another picture.

2-6 February 1942

You know when you have one of those feelings that something bad is going to happen and maybe you should do something about it? Well after the KB attacked my TK TF south of Fiji near the map edge, I thought they may go for a raid on NZ. I had considerable surface forces disbanded there and had the thought I might want to send them up to Brisbane just in case. Author ignored little voice in head and regrets it. The KB swung west and sunk another TK plus some AK at Auckland then hit the port two days in a row. Several CA's are banged up and will be out of the war for half a year. After day one, I did send a SCTF with some CL's and DD's up to Brisane and they escaped. Author has resolved to listen to his "spidey sense" when it starts tingling next time. Ken and I both commented on how much fuel these ships have got to be consuming. That is especially remarkable considering that unitl recently the only oil/refining centers our opponents had captured was Miri/Brunei (they took Balikpapan this week)

As a result of this, considerable fighter units are finally being deployed to the SoPac and Oz. I had been training them aggreessively at ECUSA where Av support is not an issue. It will take a while but there will be about a dozen FS spread between NZ, Oz, and Tahiti soon. In addition some small Inf units and some AAA and CD units are being sent to Christmas Island.

During the past week our opponents continue back filling in the Solomons, NG, Samoa, and the central PI. The last PA unit surrendered on Panay on the 6th. Leyte will likely be cleared in a day or two. Still have units on Palawan, Samar, and the northern 1/2 of Mindanao. The IJA has reduced its strength at Bataan to roughly equal to the Allies and is just bombarding.

Finally something good happened as S-39 put three TT's into a CS. If FOW isn't playing with us, this ship may sink. No FP on a/c loss this turn so she is still afloat but I suspect fighting for her life. Would be nice to get this ship especially considering she upgrades to a CVL. The Allies have so little to be happy about at this stage of the war. That's what makes little victories like this so sweet. Even if it doesn't sink, it will be OOC for a long time I suspect

Now it is time to catch up.

February 5, 1942 - Padang was taken by paratroop. I really didn't think much about it.

February 6, 1942 - I spotted a small TF at Padang, I decided to do a recon. I had two SCTFs off of Oosterhaven, so I moved them a bit closer.

February 7, 1942 - My recon was a bit uncertain, but one of my SCTFs was hit by IJN naval aircraft leaving a CA heavily damaged. I decided to go ahead and try and intercept the TFs I could see at Padang.

February 8, 1942 - Jackpot. Here is the excerpt from the combat report and a picture. I love it when I get a CL force among Transports. I expect that whatever they were doing at Padang is a bit messed up now.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Padang at 44,85, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Hishu, Shell hits 4, on fire
E Kiku, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 35, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Kongo Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tokyo Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Nosiro Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakozaki Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Kitano Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kamo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Kobe Maru
xAP Dairen Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Hoten Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Keihuku Maru
xAP Ussuri Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ural Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAP Kasado Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Kowa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Palau Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Durban, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
9206 casualties reported
Squads: 100 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 176 destroyed, 310 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)

In related action I also sunk CL Naka and DD Asashio.

I have lost CA Exeter and CL Glasgow and will probably lose DD Encounter and DD Isis.

But the price was worth it, with so many squads destroyed and disabled, their options are limited for a while.

So well played by my esteemed partner. My initial thought was to run when Baby KB showed up, but Ken pointed out that they would likely think the exact same thing. It will take them a long time to rebuild whatever made it ashore. Current Intel say only two AP were sunk. I think that the Combat Report info suggests we may see more than that.

I think this points out that while the Japanese are powerful at this point in the war, they are not so strong that they can do everything well. If KB had not spent the last month in the SoPac, they instead sould have been in the DEI. If that had been the case, then the ships that just shredded an important landing force would either have been eliminated or removed from theatre by Nomad. The Japanese gains in the SoPac are impressive and certainly have given me fits. That said, we are in early February and Palembang is a fortress and we hold all of Java as well as Tarakan. Our opponents have only taken a few of the oil/refinery centers while they are burning fuel like a teenage girl loose in the mall with daddy's credit card spends money.

Once again, a giant attaboy for Ken (Nomad)

PS: CS Chiyoda is on the ships sunk list now