Turn 4
28th December 1941
And so to combat.
Round 1
Off Singapore the British lose 21 aircraft (7 destroyed) when confronting the Japanese fleet. It turned out the fleet consisted of just 4 destroyers/destroyer escorts but the ships were unharmed as 166 fighters intercepted the bombers. The Japanese lost 4 fighters (1 destroyed. The Japanese fighters were largely Zeros from the Zuikaku air group so the tiny Hurricane presence was not going to be able to assist much.
Off Atka the fabled Japanese AA(!) strikes... despite no air cover, just 1 light cruiser and 2 destroyers were sunk - but the Americans lost 18 bombers (8 destroyed) and 16 fighters (1 destroyed) in the process.
At last some good news! The Americans lose just 10 bombers (1 destroyed) as they inflict total loss on a Japanese brigade - 117 Rifle Squads, 138 Machine Guns, 6 anti-tank guns, 108 mortars, 225 trucks/horse teams and the light cruiser Katori.
Round 3
At the second time of asking the Enterprise's air group gets the job finished. The remaining two light cruisers and two destroyers disappear beneath the waves for the loss of just 5 bombers (1 destroyed).
At Johnston Island, because I did not want to spend too much time up, I ordered a bomber group from Hawaii to attack the Japanese shipping. However the level bombers fail to inflict any damage.
West of Attu another Japanese brigade is lost - although I can't make out what ship was doing the carrying. Regardless that is another satisfactory result. Not a single loss was taken by the USN.
The last attack was an unwise last roll of the dice type affair using the remaining air on the Philippines to try and sink a light cruiser. Sadly the result was the loss of 12 Allied aircraft (3 destroyed) for the loss of just 1 Zero.
