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(There really ought to be an allied equivalent to "Banzai!")

There is it's usually called a 'volunteer mission' .. or commando if you want to hype it up a bit [:D]

Looks ok CT .. hope the supply makes it to singapore

PI as always is a lost cause .. how much stuff did you lose at bataan ?

and good luck !

Rob -

Haven't quite lost Bataan yet, but when it falls I'll lose the static CD unit, 1 BF, 1 Phil Inf Division and most of the 4th Marines (a cadre of Officers & Non-coms is currently in Darwin.) Approx. 1100-1200 AP is currently in Manila. I lost my 2 tank battalions earlier & maybe should have left a smaller garrison in Bataan. It's held for a few days at least.

Pipe dream is having mixed results so far. A couple of the diversionary raids went very well:

Day Air attack on Taan , at 37,41
Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 22
A-24 Dauntless x 13
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 damaged
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
TK Nikkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1
AK Nankai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kisogawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-40B Tomahawk bombing at 2000 feet
10 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P-40B Tomahawk bombing at 2000 feet

And better yet...

Day Air attack on Hong Kong , at 43,42
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 6 I'm surprised, but happy, these flew - there morale is shot.
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo, Bomb hits 1
CA Maya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet

However, the main object of the operation (supplies to Singapore) is in jeapordy. He's probably damaged or sunk a third or more of my transports already, and the closest ones are still 2 days from Singapore.

I'm sending everything I possibly can against the airfield at Johore Bahru (I think he's figured out what I'm trying to do - there's a lot more bombers there today). B-17s, despite horrible fatigue, are staging from Batavia. Hudsons from Kuching. Bleinheims, P-40s and (now) Hurricanes from Singapore.

I'm also going to bombard Georgetown with 3 PGs (in 2 TFs) and JB with 2 MSWs! Probably none of them will do any damage but maybe they'll attract attacks that would otherwise go against transports.

Today, my diversionary raid should land in Mersing. Tomorrow, Kuala Lumpur and Alor Star. A day or two after that I'll have a fast transport TF ready for yet another landing - Georgetown? We'll see on that one.

One good bit of intel - I was flying LRCAP at JB, and intercepted some transports. He's probably flying in supplies - which means he's probably low on supply in Malaya.

The weather forecast is thunderstorms in N Malaya (good for me) but only overcast from JB on south.

Well, this might have been a stupid idea, but it's fun! [:)]

2/2/42 (IIRC - I'm at work)

Watched the replay. It's exciting at least!

Pipe Dream north is providing tons of training for his bombers in Malaya. [:(] Fortunately they mostly targteted already burning ships and some PGs in the area. Also, JB was socked in by weather today - that was a big break. Maybe half a dozen ships sunk today & more were damaged.

There's still a good number of undamaged transports steaming south though. Also, the ones headed north from Java have been unmolested.

Sub landing at Mersing (purely a diversion). One of my two subs hits my own mine, though.

My attacks on his airfields suffered mixed results. 1 or 2 Jap planes destroyed on the ground at Georgetown, but 20 or more at JB!

Tomorrow the first transports will arrive at Singapore & my landings at Kuala Lumpur & Alor Star will take place.

I noticed some of my subordinate commanders in the area being disobedient. Dutch engineers at Bankha had orders to repair the oil & resources there. Commander was shot! Two Aussie Hurricane squadrons at Singapore were ordered to attack the troops at JB & not the airfield. Squadron leaders will be dismissed in disgrace. The Singapore garrison has been bombarding the Japanese for days, despite the use of supply & taking more casualties than they're giving. A second fast transport TF ordered to pick up more Gurkhas loaded supplies instead - maybe there's no more volunteers in the Gurkha ranks. [:'(]

The good news is that the starship Enterprise is lending some support to the operation. Supplies at Singapore increased by 3000 despite many sorties being flown and no transports there yet. [&:]

Dutch Martins from Batavia bombed the oilfields at Palembang unescorted & were slaughtered.

Plans for the new day - despite horrific fatigue, keep bombing JB & Georgetown. Start flying CAP at Singapore for the transports. Put some long range CAP on my Fast Transport TF.

Elsewhere:

CENT PAC

Operation Dim Sum forces will finish arriving at Palmyra tomorrow. But where's KB??? I'll probably postpone - subs are still spotting Vals near Kwaj.

SO/SW PAC

He's gobbling up little bases in New Guinea & Solomons. A TF was spotted by a sub S of the Solomons - probably reinforcements for Luganville or Noumea. I'll send CL Adelaide (nearby) and some subs to try to intercept. Lex & escorts are at Townsville & will refuel & head to the area.

I'm planning operation Shoestring here. I've been flying recon at Noumea for weeks - something like 2 units & 7500 troops there. I had planned to consider retaking it after Canton Island, but have decided to be more aggressive over it.

He also took the middle base of New Caledonia (La Foa?) I realized a couple days ago that if I could recapture Noumea, I'd have a great training base for my airforce, very early in the war. The value of that is worth some risks IMO. Wish I thought of that at the first of Jan.

Also, Noumea's AF is currently level 3. If Jap reinforcements aren't already on their way, they will be soon I'm sure. I think I have a short window of opportunity now, but if I wait much longer I'll have to wait months. 2 brigade equivalents are prepping & shipping is moving. Lex will support.

PHIL

Bataan forts coming down.

BURMA

Looks like he's driving again at Moulmein, but first Chinese Div is 2 days away.

OTHER

I'm planning operation Devious...

Thats the spirit .. bombarding with Pg's and MSW .. i'm asuming they did nothing mind you [:D]

Thats one bloody campaign in malaysia you have planned. re-invading is a bit risky isn't it ? good fun read mind you. dont think any allied players have done that before[8D]

Noumea does look a bit weak right now, maybe time to retake it .. and as you say nice training base nearby [:D]

No - the PGs & MSWs did nothing. I'll try it again tomorrow. Who knows - maybe they'll scratch the paint on a Zero.

Yes, it's risky. The most valuable units I'm risking, however, are 2 British CLs on fast transport. I think it's worth the possible reward of resources destroyed & time gained for me.

Plus, it's fun! [:'(]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

No - the PGs & MSWs did nothing. I'll try it again tomorrow. Who knows - maybe they'll scratch the paint on a Zero.

Yes, it's risky. The most valuable units I'm risking, however, are 2 British CLs on fast transport. I think it's worth the possible reward of resources destroyed & time gained for me.

Plus, it's fun! [:'(]

Fun reading too .. i fully expect your going to get burnt doing this BUT .. it's like those old comic books about WW2 where small squads of men burnt down Nazi factories before heroic escapes for tea and biscuits back in blighty[;)]

Glad you're enjoying it Rob. I know I am.

Actually, they made a movie about this:

Turn sent. The fast transports won't make it to Kuala Lumpur today. Dangerous. 4 squadrons of klunkers flying LRCAP. The cruisers are ordered to split up and make their own way to 60 miles off the coast of Malaya.

The RAF plans revenge for the loss of Hong Kong & will bomb shipping there. (No CAP).

AK something-or-other leaves the port of Singapore. After setting the rudder on a course to Saigon, the crew dives overboard & are rescued by the all-female 1st Malayan Sea Rescue & massage platoon. (That's a pure psy-op: I've been telling Pat how I plan to invade Saigon.)

I'd say more, but I have to go. Here's a screenshot:

Wish me luck! I think I'll need it.





P.S. The first prepartions for Operation Devious have begun. I'm also starting to plan Pipedream II. Maybe I'll call it Operation Son of Pipedream - that has a nice ring to it.

Thats one heck of a lot of shipping there ! .. why isnt your opp clobbering them from gerogetown or elsewhere in malaya. [&:][&:].

Cant say i know a single player who'd let u get away with all that . that aside .. make hay while the sun shines .. and i want to be rescued by that S&R squadron .. humm singapore girls [:D]

Rob - My opponent is clobbering them! From both Georgetown & JB. I'm employing the classic - send more ships than he can possibly sink strategy. (Kind of the Phil evac in reverse.)

Maybe on special request Nik could add the Singapore girls to his mod. they're a useful unit - no assault strength but they improve the morale of all units in the hex by 30 points. [;)]

Feb 3 42 -

30K supply now in Singapore harbor. 20+K more on the way. Maybe 2 or 3K unloading on Sumatra (I sent the worst damaged ships there.) Slipped maybe 10K over towards Manila. I've lost track of the ships sunk, and I think over half are damaged.

First Gurkha elements arrive by sub at Alor Star. Attack!

CL Ceres eats a torp, with Gurkhas on board. 70+ flt damage, she's limping back to Ceylon while her captain prays to the god of allied damage control.

Cpt. Hewitt of CL Dauntless misunderstands his orders from Admiral Chuck & is now poised to land his Gurkhas in the hex NE of Kuala Lumpur. (I clicked the wrong target hex!) Well, at this point he's going in tonight. The Gurkhas will just have to get some exercise.

One final sub transport TF with more Gurkhas is a few days away.

The Royal navy will also bombard Georgetown tomorrow. Escorts set to not bombard (thanks for the lesson Rob!)

I'm getting some unexpected benefits from operation pipe dream:

1. 51 Jap planes destroyed on the ground today! [:'(] He also, per recon, evac'd his bombers from there. That should make the unloading process a lot safer. I'll keep some bombers flying against there, but will concentrate on Palembang now.
2. I've been able to load 2 fragments each from 3 BFs in Manila and they're sailing N of Borneo unmolested so far.
3. One of those big British Aviation units (270 support) will land in Rangoon tomorrow, also unmolested.
4. I realized that I'll have lots of transports, in various states of disrepair, in Singapore harbor once it's time for the final evac.

I'll have to stand down at least 2 squadrons today. I'm going to try to keep as many flying as possible, though, until the Op is over. When done it's Heineken, Guinness & Singapore girls for the crews!

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

I have no idea where KB is. The operation Dim Sum forces will remain at Palmyra for today.

I also lost track of the transport TF I spotted SE of the Solomons. CL Adelaide has orders to Luganville in case it's going there. CA something-or-other is sailing a day away from Noumea in case it's going there (hope not). Lex & company is cruising towards the area maybe 4 days away.

The transports for operation shoestring are 1 day away from Norfolk Island.

There's more going on too, but I really need to run.

Finally, check out the results of my MSW bombardment of JB!

2/4 - 2/5/42

Operation Pipedream is winding down. Singapore supplies are over 38K now with 15K more unloading in the harbor. Replacements are filtering into the ranks of all the combat units, but none of the numerous base forces, etc. Forts are now 7 & climbing.

Gurkha commandos took Alor Star on the 4th. They managed to damage 1 resource point! [:(]

CL Dauntless landed Gurkhas in Kuala Lumpur on the 5th & is retreating south (safer). They plan to attack today. Their commander, afraid of Jap paras coming in at the last minute, asked for fighter support. The 4 squadrons on Sumatra previously flying LRCAP over Dauntless will fly over Kuala Lumpur today and then retreat.

Assuming the Gurkhas take Kuala Lumpur, they'll be reinforced some by sub transport. I want to get enough AV there so that it will take more than a NLF to re-take the base.

The bombardment run at Georgetown was disastrous - for one, no planes destroyed. What's worse is CA Cornwall & CL Enterprise were both damaged by shore guns & air attack on their bombardment run of Georgetown. And CL Glasgow was sunk. Pity - I have ancestors from Glasgow. [:(] And their TF commander let them run out of fuel, too! [X(] He'll be replaced once they reach Port Blair on the 6th. CAP is flying there. Enterprise should live but Cornwall's at 39/65/9. Crossing my fingers.

One small piece of good news - a Dutch Brewster shot down a Jap transport flying supplies in to JB. I suspect for the moment I have the supply advantage in Malaya.

The heavies at Rangoon are pulling back to India as are the Bleinheims in Singapore. Airfield attacks against Palembang & Sinkawing will continue for another day or two, though. A couple fresh squadrons of Martins are rotated in, and tired ones rotated out.

He staged some planes to North Borneo & is sinking my shipping in the South China Sea - both supplies into Manila & evacs out. I think I'll get 2-4 ships through.

The planning for Pipedream II continues. [:'(]

Elsewhere -

CENTPAC/SOPAC

Shipping is still moving to ready Operations Dim Sum (Canton Island) and Operation Shoestring (Noumea). But I still don't know where KB is. Maybe launch both simultaneously? One would get slaughtered but the other would likely succeed. Cancel? I'd rather not - I'd like to strike back before he builds up - otherwise I'll have to wait months.

DEI

Very quiet. He's gobbled up a couple small bases behind his front lines, but no new attacks in a while. I suspect he's waiting to finish off the Phillipines. Putting plans together to give him another bloody nose in Java. Aussie & Dutch reinforcements have arrived. 2 MLs are laying 170+ mines/day at Soerabaja. 1 other ML is dedicated to the other Java ports & 1 to all the other ports in the DEI, more or less at random.

PHIL

Bataan fell on the 4th. He's sending lightly escorted bombing runs against Manila so AVG is about to pay a visit.

CHINA

Limited Chinese offensives will begin in a couple days.

BURMA

Recon reports 7 Japanese units once again marching on Moulmein. Forts are 86% of the way to 4 and 2 Chinese Divs just arrived. 2 brigades of the original defenders are getting R&R in Rangoon. I should be able to hold there a while, buying time to prepare further the defenses deeper in Burma & in India.

I forgot to add - Japanese aircraft losses now exceed the allied! [:)]

Feb 6-9, 1942

Okay. We've had 4 game days since I updated this. Here's the final results from Operation Pipedream:

Allied transport losses: approx 30 Yikes! Much more than I was expecting.

Among the losses: AK Empire Audacity. [:D]

3 PG & 4 MSW lost Expected
CL Glasgow sunk [:(]
CL Ceres at @ 65 Flt, 2 days from port. CA Cornwall at @70 flt 3 days from port. I think they'll both make it. Both are less than 50 sys damage - a couple obvious choices when the Admiralty requests some ships back to the Atlantic. Just trying to put a good face on it.

For the good news:

Singapore supplies peaked at 52561 and are currently at 52207. Pat has 90K troops against my 70K. He's flying supplies into JB (I keep intercepting R2D2s there), so I suspect he's low on supply and I know his ground units are hurting from the pummeling they took at JB. Singapore should hold quite a while, now.

1200 supply made it to Manila and 2800 more is a couple days out.

90+ resources were destroyed when I took Kuala Lumpur. Reinforcements are on the way. I'd like to hold here for a couple days at least.

I flew in some AV support & some Dauntlesses to Alor Star. Beat up on 3 Japanese transports. The DBs are now on their way to Java.

In summary: I was expecting losses, though lost more than I thought I would. Still, I'd consider it a strategic success as Singapore should hold weeks, if not a couple months, more now.

Courtesy of niceguy & the thread:

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

I'm prepared for Operation Dim Sum - my counter-attack at Canton Island. I'm not going to pull the trigger on this, however, if I don't know where KB is. I'd like the island back (shorter supply lines, waystop for aircraft between PH & So Pac). He's also weak there. But I don't want to lose major naval forces over it either.

In South Pac, I'm establishing forward float plane bases at Koumac, Efate & Funafuti.

I currently do plan on going ahead with Operation Shoestring whether I locate KB or not. The risk is a couple cruisers, 2 brigade equivalents & some misc. naval forces. The reward is shorter supply lines to Oz & more importantly a safe training base for my fighters in Feb 42. That's a gamble I'm willing to take.

I had a little fun near New Guinea. An Aussie independent Co. at Gili Gili withstood the invasion of two base forces. I'm sure he'll be back with more, so 2 subs are on their way to bring the company back to Oz.

Also, the 30th Australian Brigade has been marching towards Buna for a while. (30-40 miles towards it.) Only 25 or so AV, but it still has a little bit of supply. If there's only a baseforce there, I might just recapture it! [:'(]

Finally, China. (I'll update Burma later.) I probably made a mistake here. I sent a bunch of forces to Nanchang to relieve a pocket of 3 Corps & 2 HQs to the east. That's going fine, but I also sent 5 Corps to Kiukiang. When crossing the river they shock attacked at 0-1. I'm only facing 1 brigade + 1 artillery unit, but I didn't take into account the terrain (swamps).

Recon reports 15 units in Hankow so he should be able to cut off my supply lines to Kiukiang.

I haven't given up there, but I think my boys are about to take a long walk through the woods. [;)]

Well, the Chinese are gaining some experience at least!

Four turns done. Time for an update. While it's mostly been quiet, a few things are developing.

Thunderstorms in Burma, China & DEI so few planes are flying. As an example - on the 12th the total air losses were 3 - all Ops losses.

CENT PAC

Some shoot-and-scoot naval search spotted KB in So Pac, near New Caledonia, at least I think so. With that in mind Operation Dim Sum is on. 2 BBs & a CA will bombard Canton Island today and the troops start unloading tomorrow.

His e-mail stated, "Oh, a lot of ships spotted... Some action for the KB " That worried me a little.

If KB's where I think it is, the direct path to Canton Island passes close to Funafuti where there's both a squadron of PBYs & Coronados, so I should know where he is. 3 days for him to get there at full speed.

Just in case I'm wrong as to where KB is, two single CLs are headed W & NW of Canton with their floatplanes at 100% search. It might end up being recon-by-suicide.

I still might cancel this last minute if KB ends up being closer than I think. It would be a great morale boost if I succeed, however. I want to make him pay a little more for his initial over-extension. [:)]

SOUTH PAC

Pat landed some troops at Koumac. 8800 troops reported. Operation Shoestring (Noumea) is cancelled. I could take Noumea with what he has there, but I couldn't keep it without at least one supporting base. Suva will be my bastion in South Pac. Misc. forces (AA, etc.) are unloading now. The Americal Div is in SF waiting for transports, prepping for here.

Marine Av Unit (forget what it's called exactly) is also on the way. In a few weeks that will give me 270 AV at Suva and 60 or so at Nandi.

DEI

Still very quiet. I'm preparing the defenses in southern Java. When it comes time, he should have another bloody nose here.

PHIL

On the 11th, he attacked at Manila:

02/11/42
Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 101464 troops, 823 guns, 175 vehicles
Defending force 61097 troops, 388 guns, 112 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese ground losses:
3100 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
Vehicles lost 5
Allied ground losses:
1723 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 1

I'll take that. I sat through the combat animation and the odds were roughly 350 - 2400 in my favor. [:'(] I suspect he's low on supply so I'm sending a couple S-class subs to the area to hopefully keep that up.

My supply sargeant in Manila has apparently been at the bottle again. Supply reported at Manila over the last 5 days:

11767
13815
9802
11204
11621

Nothing's been unloading. ??? Starship Enterprise contibuting again?

Also, I've been sub evacing 3 base forces. 2 are large enough to now be the parent unit. They'll probably be sent to So Pac as I've never had enough AV support there.

MALAYA

Singapore's doing well. Currently 51,444 supply & 1137 AV. The supply has only been going down 200 per day, despite replacements on for combat units & forts building. Forts are currently 7, 66% of the way to 8 and climbing fast.

Operation Son of Pipedream is also in the works to give them a little additional support. More on that later.

CHINA

Shock attack, supported by LBA (if it flies), ordered at Kiuking tomorrow. We'll see.

BURMA

Recon reports 52,000 men (7 units) advancing on Moulmein. This is about what he sent for the first battle of Moulmein.

Then, I had roughly 300 AV and forts of 2-3. Forts are now 4. AV is now 445 with another 300 or so in Rangoon recovering from Malaria & taking on reinforcements (I've been rotatin units). His units have been in malarial hexes for months, and marching too. I should be able to hold again without Japanese reinforcements.

OVERALL

I'm pleased with my position. Singapore & Moulmein should hold until troops are freed from the Phillipines, and that should be a while still. Most of the DEI are still mine, and every day I hold in Manila/Singapore will make my DEI defenses stronger.

Since the forces are almost equal, Singapore, for one, will last another +/- 250 days at the current rate of supply depletion (8 months!). I'm not counting on that, but I'm currently shooting for mid-May (3 months).

I'd predict right now - a month to take the Phillipines, another month to recover, tranport and get to Singers, another month to take it and yet another month or more to take the rest of the DEI.

Pic for the day, near Canton Island:

Another couple successful days for the allies.

CENT PAC

The big news is on the 15th:

Ground combat at Canton Island
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 3796 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 4382 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Canton Island base !!! [8D]

My first successful amphibious op! It was a learning experience too. My big mistake was timing the naval movement to only land troops during the day, not also at night. I had 2 brigade equivalents ready to land, but only elements of the 111th RCT, with arty & eng support, did. Fortunately it didn't cost me.

Scary moment: SS I-165 launched a torp at Yorktown, but missed.

Two fighter squadrons fly in from Palmyra to provide CAP. Also a squadron of Coronados for naval search. The airfield is damaged, but usable. 270 Av support, an AA unit, an EAB and a brigade of the 25th (to help mopping up) will start unloading today.

I'm starting to get nervous, however, about having so many naval assets exposed. The supprting bombardment TF & CV TFs are getting the he11 out of dodge. Some of the transport escorts as well. A destroyer squadron led by CL Raleigh will remain at Canton Island to guard against surface raids in addition to 6 PT boats. The transports are broken into smaller TFs - one TF for each unit unloading.

What makes me nervous is that Magic intercepts reported that Yamamoto was considering operating the KB in two separate TFs. (My opponent started a "Split the KB?" thread in the war room recently.) I thought I spotted KB in 2 TFs near New Caledonia, but I now think one of those is a surface TF. (Only CAs reported still & it's sitting at Koumac, apparently guarding against a surface raid.) If part of KB was hanging out near Kwaj or Tarawa I could have some problems.

SOUTH PAC

KB (or part of it) is now 180 miles NW of Luganville. Japanese reinforcements are apparently landing in New Caledonia & the New Hebrides. I'm working to strengthen my position at Fiji.

DEI

One oops here on the 14th:

Day Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 20,60
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24
Ki-21-II Sally x 6
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 17 destroyed
Allied Ships
TK Augustina, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 8000 feet
4 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 8000 feet

When are these guys going to learn that you can't dogfight a zero? [:)]

A Japanese bombardment TF is parked at Kendari. One if its DDs hit a mine. 3 TB squadrons will try their luck today flying from Makassar.

2 B-17 squadrons are ordered to attack the oilfields of Palembang at night. 2 other squadrons are still resting.

Otherwise, my defenses build up, particularly at Java. 2200+ mines at Soerabaja now & more elsewhere. My final defense plan is formed, but I still need to shuffle some units around. More on that later.

Also, Operation Pipedream II is still in the works. If the DEI situation is mostly the same in about 3 weeks, it will launch.

MALAYA/BURMA

IRL, the Japanese took Singapore on the 15th. Pat tried to do the same, but my guns were facing in the right direction:

02/15/42
Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 118717 troops, 803 guns, 159 vehicles
Defending force 79380 troops, 475 guns, 17 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)
Japanese ground losses:
7688 casualties reported [:)]
Guns lost 141
Vehicles lost 5
Allied ground losses:
2454 casualties reported
Guns lost 66

The majority of my losses are disablements. Supply levels are dropping quickly, however - about 6000 in the last 2 days! I'll stop my bombardment attacks for a day or two & see if that helps. Forts should hit 8 in 4 days.

He mopped up my Gurkhas elsewhere in Malaya. A grand total of 95 damage to the resources at Kuala Lumpur. I was hoping for more, but I'll take it.

Moulmein's at fort level 4 & building. 449 AV there with another 400 or so in Rangoon, recovering from Malaria. I might send a little more to the front before he arrives, but nevertheless I should be able to hold here until he brings in more reinforcements.

CHINA

The relief of the Nanchang pocket is continuing successfully. 4-5 more days and all the stragglers should be out.

On the 15th I took Kiukiang. Now I don't know what to do with it! It'd be very easy for my supply lines to be cut here - I may just withdraw back to Changsha. If I reinforce my Nanchang units I'll cross a river and be decimated in a shock attack. If I withdraw I can be content with the fact that I caused some Japanese casualties and my units gained some needed experience. I'll decide in a day or two.

Relatively quiet, but a few things are brewing.

NORTH PAC

2 Jap APs are spotted by recon 240 miles W of Attu. I have an AVD there and a squadron of Catalinas. The AVD will stay to guard the invasion beaches (worked at Palmyra) and a strong surface TF consisting of 1 MSW & 2 PCs is sailing full speed from Dutch Harbor to intercept.

I've mostly been sending North Pac forces to North Pac up to now, and am building up Dutch Harbor, Umnak & Adak. I was considering basing a small surface TF at Dutch Harbor once the Canton Island operation was finished.

CENT PAC

The Japanese annihilated themselves when they counter-attacked at Canton Island. The island is declared secure.

Recon confirms that KB is split. Half still near New Caledonia & the new Hebrides. (I was about to raid with Lady Lex there! I think I'll pass.) Half heading towards Canton, near Funafuti. 2 days away at full speed, 3 at normal speed. Looks like 2 CVs here & 4 further south, but the recon is still spotty. Maybe I can get lucky and bushwhack him with my LBA. Troops & supplies are ordered to continue to unload, though 4 APs are sent back to Pearl. (They'd unloaded all their troops, but not their supplies. There are also AKs unloading with plenty of supply.)

My CVs are near Jarvis island - far enough away to be safe for now but close enough to pounce if my LBA gets lucky against his fighters or better yet with a bomb hit.

SOUTH PAC

He's consolidating in New Caledonia & the New Hebrides. Nothing much I can do about it for now. It may prove hard to start the allied offensive in this theater as all his bases will be beyond land-based fighter range.

More on this theater later.

DEI

A bunch of SW PAC air forces have been arriving in Oz & I'm sending most up towards the DEI. They'll get the most use there.

I'm sending most of my Dutch troops to Java. I decided I want to cover each potential landing hex with at least a batallion of infantry, and concentrate at SOerabja. I had priorly evac'd Bali but will send some troops there too, as an airfield to support Soerabaja. An Aussie Div & the Dutch tank unit will be in the center of the island to act as a fire brigade and keep retreat paths open. The two airfields next to Soerabaja will get additional AV support as well. Forts are building and mines are being laid everywhere.

I'll be temporarily weakening Timor (which I've also been reinforcing some) but I also have a couple re-building fragments in Darwin that I can send there in a month or so.

I still plan the re-conquest of Palembang. LOL. We'll see.

I'm ordering a couple nuisance airraids.

BURMA

Japanese are still marching on Moulmein. The international contingent of British, Indian, Burmese & Chinese defenders say, "Come & get some!"

CHINA

I decided to abandon Kiukiang. It's too exposed & it leaves Changsha lightly defended.

I see Pat updated his side of the AAR. Should be a turn waiting for me when I get home.