Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)

[AmiralLaurent]

26 March 1942

It was a bad day for the American Luckenbach Shipping Company.


Northern Pacific

As planned, the Allied convoy to Dutch Harbor (probably) was intercepted in the some hours of daylight of the Artic day, 400 miles S of Anchorage. The target turned up to be 6 unescorted Aks, but the Japanese cruisers (CA Tone, CL Abukuma, Tenryu and Tatsuta) delivered a poor show. In fact they did less damage than the lonely Ashigara did some days ago. They engaged targets at 24000 yards and lost them at 17000 in the Artic haze. No torpedo hit, and not much were fired. 8in and 5.5in shells heavily damaged 3 AK (Steel Worker, J.L. Luckenbach and William Luckenbach) and hit lightly two other. The surprise was that these AKs carried troops (471 men and 3 vehicles lost, probably a Base Force or Seabees).
As these ships carried troops, my opponent will try to unload them. Kodiak Island is the closest port, but Anchorage is only 60 miles farther and size 7 vs Kodiak’s size 3. So I don’t know where direction the damaged AKs will take, so I didived my cruiser TF in 3 TFs (1 Ca, 1 CL, 2 CL) and sent them to the 3 hexes the ships may move in during the night. The orders of all TF are to retire so they should be away from Allied LBA at dawn. There is also no Allied ship in Anchorage so the risk of meeting Allied warships this night is low.

Central Pacific

Two DD brought to Jarvis Island (the last Allied spot in the Line Islands) 400 men of the 48th Div and the rock became a new part of the Japanese Empire.

The Allied convoy was exactly where it was supposed to be at dawn. It finally turned to be composed of 8 unescorted AKs. KB was the first to strike at it, with 3 raids in the morning: 30 Zeroes, 51 Vals, 30 Kates, then 12, 22 and 15 and then 16, 18 and 11. These raids sank 5 Aks (Harry Luckenbach, Lena Luckenbach, Lillian Luckenbach, Kailua, Empire Mariott), heavily damaged two other and totally missed the eighth. In the afternoon 22 Vals and 44 Zeroes were sent again to this spot but failed to see anything still afloat. Japanese losses were 2 Vals (1 to AA, 1 crashed) and 2 Kates (op losses).
The two damaged AK (Empire Selwyn and Empire Heath) had no time to recover before being attacked by the surface TF (4 CA, 3 CL, 6 DD) sent on the convoy’s hex and were quickly sunk. The intact ship (Empire Rainbow) was also quicklu sunk by the combined fire of the 4 CAs at 20000 feet.
So the entire convoy was sunk. Sadly it was empty but the full convoys probably sailed far more south. It is interesting to see that British AKs are sailing to California. So far Dutch and British merchant fleets have not suffered much while American transports were badly hit in the Pacific.

All Japanese TF will gather in the Line Islands and refuel from the AO sent there. Then they will go back to PH for a small rest before the next operation (Pago-Pago).
50 Zeroes left Johnston Island westwards to the Marshalls and then more west. One crashed but the pilot was saved.
More east three submarines are still chasing the TK damaged by the Ashigara some days ago. The CA will arrive tomorrow in Pearl Harbor and be docked to repair SYS damage (at 9 now).

Southern Pacific

Philippines

Notthing to report, except that the two BBs sent to this theater from Pearl Habor reached Saipan, refuelled (emptying the local reserves!) and then sailed to Lingayen.

Dutch East Indies

Two Japanese warships landed during the night troops of the Kure 1st SNLF in Morotai and Wasile, that will be occupied tomorrow.

Japanese aircraft flew recon over Darwin (reporting 16 P-40E flying CAP, a submarine off the port and 10 Allied units) and Koepang (1 Allied unit reported).

In the morning 12 LB-30 from Darwin flew to Amboina to bomb ships and were intercepted by 17 Zeroes of F1/Omura, that shot down one but also lost one of their number, that was badly hit and crashed before landing. The bombers missed again the two CAs cruising off Amboina and AA shot down 2 of them. The LB-30s returned in the afternoon, facing this time 14 Zeroes. Aircraft of both sides were damaged but none were lost. Three bombers attacked the airfield, scoring one supply and one runway hit, while 8 other again missed the two CAs.

Sumatra-Malaya

14 Ki-21 from Singapore bombed Palembang airfield, leaving behind them a burning supply dump and 10 new holes on the runway, while 9 Ki-48s from Johore Bharu bombed the Allied lines there and missed a Dutch battalion. Japanese artillery hit 24 men and 2 guns.

The convoy carrying the 9th Eng Rgt didn’t move towards Palembang, or so it seems to me. Orders have been repeated. The base will be pounded by a cruiser force tonight.

5 DD left Singapore with more men of the Imperial Guard Division to Singkawang to liquidate the Dutch troops there.

Burma

5 B-17C, 18 B-17E and 16 Il-4c from Asansol bombed Myitkyina, hitting 229 men and 5 guns and doing more damage to the airfield (2 hits on base, 1 on supplies and 34 on runways), which is unoperationnal anyway, as no base force is there.
All Ki-21 of Rangoon (53) bombed the Allied unit NW of Pagan. It was identified as the 103 RAF BF, so not a threat, and lost 66 men.

The situation turned a little in Japanese favor when the 4 Tk Rgt W of Myitkyina launched a shock attack against the 44th Indian Bde and the HQ III Indian Corps and succeeded (at 4 to 1) in repulsing them towards Imphal. Japanese lost 26 men and 2 guns, Indians 336 men and 2 guns too. I thought the troops will retire to the jungle but for once in WITP beaten troops retreat logically along the railway, joining the 45th Bde on the railway turning point.
More east the 33rd Div had the surprise to be attacked by troops crossing the Salween. After all it is logical that my opponent used all his troops to try to pin down most of my troops where they are. In this case the 13th Indian Bde (allready beaten twice in Burma IIRC) crossed alone the river and its 2000 men were badly beaten by the 20000 men of the 33rd Div. 503 Indians fell, no Japanese loss was reported.
Recons showed that the 18th UK Div was still in the jungle N of the railway.

I decided to “exploit” the success of my tanks W of Myitkyina and ordered all of them to drive westwards and pursue the Indians. Once they will be there, half of them will drive south to Mandalay, so reinforcing the city while the other will come back to Myitkyina.
On the Salween front, I recombined the 33rd Div in only one unit and ordered it to shock attack Allied troops to throw them back on the other side of the river. It was probably a bad idea as if Chinese troops cross the river this turn the Japanese shock attack will probably took place before the Allied one and may fail, but it is too late, the turn was sent before I really thought about it.
In the south the 55th Div convoy arrived at Rangoon and will begin to unload tonight.
As planned the BB TF will bombard Akyab tonight. AFAIK it had not been spotted by the RAF.

The IJAAF can do little to support the battle in north Burma, as it had no bomber base in Range (best airfields are size 2). Zeroes from Mandalay will LRCAP the tanks tomorrow while Nates orders are still to bomb Allied troops. A Topsy Chutai arrived in Rangoon to fly supplies to Myitkyina.

China

18 Ki-49 from Wuhan bombed Ichang airfield, scoring 4 hits, and 13 other based in Peking bombed and missed a Chinese Corps at Yenen. One Helen was lost in an accident.

Chinese artillery west of Yenen was more accurate than normal, hitting 12 Japanese men and 1 tank. Nothing moved at Yenen but more north two Japanese Rgts (thirds of 27th and 59th Div) “took back” the crossroads and will now move south to Yenen and finally surround the city.

In the evening two bomber groups (Ki-49 and Betties) flew from Wuhan to Canton. From there they will bomb Wuchow and Kumming ressources.

[AmiralLaurent]

27-29 March 1942

Northern Pacific

During the night of 26-27, the 4 Japanese cruisers spread out S of Anchorage to chase damaged Allied ships but only the CL Abukuma and Tatsuta found one, the AK William Luckenbach sailing to Kodiak with troops aboard. Both ships hit her with shells but fired no torpedo and the ship was still afloat when they left. 41 more men had been hit aboard her. The AK reached then Kodiak and sank there in the evening of the 29, so probably the troops onboard were at least partly saved.
The cruisers then sailed SW to Midway (rather than Pearl Harbor, so they will escape a possible pursuit from the West Coast). They more or less ran of fuel of the 29 but are now close to Midway.

Central Pacific

Most TF involved in Palmyra operation sailed north to Pearl Harbor, including the convoy that loaded back the 56th division.

In Hawaii Island everything was quiet and ML continued their job (now 6000+ mines off PH, 4000+ off Lahaina).

In open waters SW and S of California two convoys were chased respectively by 3 and 1 submarine but despite always being in the right hex they never attacked (because of Japanese doctrine on).

Southern Pacific

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Townsville to size 7 on the 27 and the port of Auckland to size 8 on the 28. On the 29, natives from Howler Island, north of Baker, swan to the latter and reported to the Japanese garrison that all white people have left the island in a sailboat.

On the 28 an AK convoy finished to unload 100 000 fuel in Kwajalein (now 166 000 points here) and then sailed to Pearl Harbor to take part in amphibious operations against Pago-Pago and Canton.

55 Zeroes flew on the 29 to Truk from Pacific and will continue to the DEI to support Timor and Java invasions.

Philippines

The 71st PAD Div was bombed on the 28 and 29 by 15 Ki-21 and 40-45 Nates from Aparri, building experience but scoring few hits. Japanese enginners (reinforced by the 27th Eng Rgt from Korea) expanded Lingayen airfield to size 4 so the air units will move there in the near future to be closer to their targets.

Two AK are loading ressources in Lingayen for Japan and two other will arrive in Naga tomorrow.

The next operation is still the attack on Bataan. The gathering point for the parachute regiments, scattered from Malaya to Kendari has been changed to the temperate Saigon rather than the malarial Camranh Bay.

Dutch East Indies

Morotai and Wasile were occupied by troops of the Kure 1st SNLF on the 27. This same day two CA were reported off Darwin and 27 Nells (from Menado) and 27 Betties (from Kendari) flew to Amboina to attack them under escort of the 27 Zeroes allready there.

They didn’t fly the next day even if the two CA were reported again and had a rather scary moment where 4 LB-30 flew from Darwin to Amboina but didn’t find the overcrowded airfield. 36 Nates flew the same evening from Tarakan to fly CAP while the naval air units kept the same orders. Two recons of Darwin were ordered from Kendari and Hollandia.

These recons reported on the 29 6 Kittyhawk and 16 P-40E on CAP and two surface TF off Darwin (4 and 1 “CAs”) but no raid was launched again. Orders have been repeated for tomorrow.

Recon from Kendari reported one unit in Koepand, none in Dili and one in Lautem. The 4th and 35th Bde currently in Amboina are waiting for transports (that will arrive tomorrow) and will then invade Timor around the 10 of April. All warships in the are are concentrated to support the invasion but the Allied navies are stronger here and so the naval air attacks off Darwin are mandatory to assure the success of Timor operation.

Sumatra-Malaya

The most independentist place of Dutch East Indies, Merak (west of Batavia) revolted on the 27 and joined the Japanese Empire. This happened in every of my games where I took Teloekbetoeng, on the southern end of Sumatra. No Dutch reprisals expedition has reached it yet.

A Japanese surface TF arrived off Palembang during the day hours of the 27th and reported mines, two DD being badly damaged by VH2 mines this day, but both reached Singapore later and will be repaired. During the day 15 Ki-21s from Singapore bombed Palembang airfield but scored only 2 runway hits while losing 2 to AA fire and 1 in an accident. The surface TF pounded the base in the evening with 4 CA and 1 CL and 913 men, 19 guns, 2 vehicles were hit. The airfield received 35 shells (1/2/32), the port 12 (4/5/3). The base was also bombarded by Japanese artillery, and 94 more men were hit.

The 9th Eng Rgt (coming from Korea) started to land in Palembang during the next night. The unloading was slow (it is still not finished on the evening of the 29) and has proven costly. On the 28 an escort, the DD Fumizuki, was sunk by a VH2 mine and on the 29 one of the two AP of the convoy hit another and is so badly damage (50/60/20) that she will probably sink before reaching Singapore, so she will continue to unload and will then be scuttled. Around 300 men have been lost or disabled in the landing so far. Nates from Jambi (3 crashed on the 28) and Zeroes from Singapore LRCAPed Palembang in alternance. No raids were launched by the Allied on the 28 and only 5 Martins 139 from Tjilatjap (in 2 raids) attacked on the 29. Zeroes shot down 3 and the survivors scored one hit, but it bounced on the CA Suzuya’s armor. Palembang was no more bombarded by ships or aircraft (exepted a failed attack on a Dutch Bn by 20 Ki-48s, with one lost to AA) but only by artillery (112 casualties in 2 days). Allied artillery replied but hit nothing.

The paratroops coming from Teloekbetoeng arrived in the hex S of Palembang on the 29. The only remaining escape for the garrison is the jungle W of the town and a Naval Gd unit will arrive there in 3 days. Then the 4 divisions and 2 Eng Rgt in Palembang will seize the base, hopefully more or less intact.

Other bases of Sumatra are possible targets. Nells bombed on the 28 Padang airfield, reporting an Allied unit here, and this was bombed the next day, and missed, but identified as a Dutch infantry battalion, so too tough for a small paradrop. On the other hand, troops are resting and preparing in Singapore and ships gathering for the invasion of Bankha and Medan.

On Borneo, the Dutch Bn near Singkawang was bombed on the 29 by 13 Nells and 24 Ki-21 from Singapore and lost 122 men. Troops of the Imperial Guard Div (reinforced two days before) then attacked at 64 to 1. 16 Japanese and 26 Allied fell. As often, the unit having nowhere to retreat but not being in a base didn’t surrender. The attack wil lcontinue but without air support (3 Nells were lost operationnaly on the 29).

Burma

During the night of 26-27, the Haruna and Kongo and 5 DD bombarded Akyab, scoring 12 hits on runways, 2 on port and 8 on port supplies and disabling 108 men and 1 vehicle. They then sailed south back to Singapore. Now that the Akyab landing is cancelled they will be more useful to support the invasion of Java.
After dawn, while the fighters based here were busy LRCAP friendly troops or strafing enemy (32 Ki-27 missed the 45th Ind Bde) north of it, 109 Blenheim from Dacca escorted by 30 Buffalo I and 16 P-40B pounded Mandalay airfield, destroying 9 Zeroes on the ground and hitting 187 men, 5 guns and 30 times the airfield (6/1/23). AA shot down a Blenheim I and a Blenheim IV was lost in an accident. At the same time 4 B-17C from Asansol bombed Myitkyina and scored 2 runway hits. The IJAAF was far less efficient, 30 Ki-21 bombing unefficiently the 1st Burma Rifles Bde lost in the jungle SW of Lashio.
SE of Myitkyina, the 33rd Div counterattacked and threw back the 13th Ind Bde on the other side of the Salween (shock attack at 154 to 1). 48 Japanese and 86 Allied fell. The division then resumed its march to Myitkyina.
In the south the 103 RAF BF, the last unit NW of Pagan, finally reached Akyab and 2 Const Bn were sent from Pagan to Mandalay. In Rangoon the 55th Div had finished unloading and she also left for Mandalay. This base was evacuated by the Zero units, one going to Rangoon and the other to Taung Gyi.

At this point, situation in Burma has become too much confuse to explain it. A map will be more useful. I also discovered that except a BF in Akyab, I am able to identify all Allied units (all except the 45th Ind Bde, 18th UK Corps, the unknown BF in Akyab and the 38th Chinese Corps having been defeated at least once). Red arrows show the planned Japanese moves, green ones the exepted (or feared) Allied moves. In the red circle of the Japanese bases is the current level of fortification. This map was made on the evening of the 27 and is no more up to date but is nevertheless showing in details this active and bloody theater.



On the 28, Mandalay was again bombed by 109 Blenheim escorted by 29 Buffalo and 32 P-40B (146 casualties, 1 gun, 2/1/26 airfield hits, one Blenhim IV lost in a crash) but Taung Gyi, where 20 Zeroes were resting, was also bombed by 31 B-17E, 7 B-17C and 16 Il-4c from Asansol. That wasn’t excepted (base has a recon unit in it so nothing shows my opponent the Zeroes moved here) but I was lucky as the raid was a failure: 13 casualties, 4/4/7 airfield hit but all Japanese aircraft were undamaged (while a B-17E was lost to engine failure). 37 Ki-21s bombed again troops SW of Lashio but missed them, while the 45th Indian Bde lost 8 men when 32 Nates from Mandalay strafed it north of the town (2 Nates crashed).
In the evening all Japanese fighters in Burma retired to Rangoon and all Ki-21 left this airfield for Bangkok. More north 2 Tk Rgts reached the railway turn. Rangoon has not enough supplies for air units to be recompleted and 15 3500-ton AP started loading supplies in Singapore to bring them here.

On the 29 the new Allied air superiority over Central Burma was felt in Mandalay. 103 Blenheim escorted by 27 Buffalo and 30 P-40B raided the airfield (375 casualties, 5 gun, 10/11/51 airfield hits) while 31 B-17E, 8 B-17C and 15 Il-4c bombed the ressources, scoring 28 hits (now 61 of the 100 ressources of the base are disabled). North of the town the 8th Tk Rgt was bombed by 42 Hurricanes from Imphal and lost 44 men and 4 tanks.
This day another Allied unit (the 2nd Burma Bde) crossed the Salween to attack the 33rd Div. The British general here has probably learned his work on the Somme in 1916. This attack (2500 Burmese vs 20000 Japanese) saw 600 Allied and none Japanese fall, again. The 33rd Div will counter-attack tomorrow.
West of Myitkyina, the four Tk Rgt are now in the same hex as the Indian troops and the 18th UK Div is still on the jungle trail north of it. The tanks will part, two will drive south to Mandalay and two again east to Myitkyina. The 21st Bde moved NE from Lashio and entered the mountain where are 4 Chinese divisions and two RAF BF, and will then pin them down. A SNLF will leave Mandalay to relieve the 21st in Lashio.

Tomorrow the 56 Zeroes of Rangoon will LRCAP Mandalay to try to dispute air superiority there.

The order of the day is to repulse the current Allied offensive and I am confident to manage it. But I'm seriously starting to think about following it with a Bengal offensive. Most of the Allied ground units in the theater will be damaged and exhausted if I repulse this attack and so an advance in Bengal will be possible. The Allied air superiority is one of the main problem. In fact to do this I will have to send more troops and either cancel or slow the Java or PI operations. Java is a "must do" both strategically and operationnaly, but with less troops than planned I may be able to neutralize PI by taking San Marcelino and Bataan and besieging Clark Field and Manila until they starve. That will free 2 more divisions for Burma. Of course the IJNAF is strongly desapproving this plan, as it sees it as a threat against the currently under planning 'White Plan' (invasion of NZ from Pacific and then landing in SE Australia).

China

After a quiet day on the 27, the Japanese bombing campain was resumed on the 28 from Canton. 20 Betties bombed Kumming but only disabled 2 ressources (now 22 of 300 out) while 40 Ki-51 and 20 Ki-49 attacked Wuchow, disabling 16 ressource centers here (now 144 of 300 out). One Ki-49 was lost in a crash.

The Chinese Tank N of Yenen was bombed by training Oscars on the 28 and the 29 while Chinese artillery W of the town hit 13 men. Two Japanese Rgts are now 120 miles N of Yenen and will shortly engage this Tk Rgt, and then one will move westwards to close the last escape road for the Yenen garrison. And then the final assault will be launched.

Japan

On the 28 two AR joined in Nagasaki a convoy for Singapore and DEI. And two other AR and a MLE (well, the MLE) left Osaka under escort for Kwajalein.

[AmiralLaurent]

30-31 March 1942

Northern Pacific


Central Pacific

Not much to report. Japanese ships were returning to PH for some rest after Palmyra operation and the KB was disbanded there on the 31.

A convoy arrived off Palmyra on the 31. I forgot to extract the MSW of it and they swept the last Allied mines off the atoll and as usual when the last mines off a minefield are swept a ship (here an AK) hit one. The Mira Maru is heavily damaged.

ML operations continued in Hawaii, now PH is protected by 7500 mines. An Allied submarine TF was seen N of Hawaii on the 30 and W of it on the 31. The AK Arizonan was identified amongst the scuttled ships in the port.

Submarines were still chasing the damaged TK (by Ashigara) in Pacific and endly one (I-16) attacked in the morning of the 31 and sank the TK David McKelvy with 3 torpedoes.

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Johnston Island to size 3 and will now build fortifications.

Southern Pacific

On the 30 2 Ki-46 flew from Christmas Island to Baker, to fly recon over Canton. They rested the 31 and were missed by 3 B-25 from Canton that bombed the island. Recon will start tomorrow. On the 31 two Allied AP were reported by an Emily between Canton and Pago-Pago, sailing eastwards.

The convoy carrying fuel to Tarawa arrived on the 31 and will unload here. Two ML detached from this TF and will lay mines off Tarawa and Baker Island.

Hollandia port was expanded to size 3 by the Japanese and the base is now fully operationnal, next step is to build forts but at least part of the engineers will move to Timor.

Philippines

The only action was the daily bombing of the 71st PA Div in San Marcelino by Aparri aircraft, that hit 69 men and 2 guns in two days and lost a Nate in a crash.

Dutch East Indies

Darwin was the target for two days of numerous recons, which still reported a CAP of 6-10 Kittyhawk and 15 P-40E and 3 surface TF with “CAs” off the base but Amboina bombers still didn’t fly. A Zero Daitai arrived from Pacific (via Truk) on the 31 and will rest a bit and then fly a sweep to Darwin, so maybe bombers and escort will follow. Recons also reported 13 ships (4 AK, 2 APD) in port and 13 units (44 000 men) in the base.

In the mean time only Nates flew CAP over Amboina and had a busy day on the 30. 15 LB-30 from Darwin attacked in the morning a convoy off the island. 24 Nates tried to intercept but only one aircraft of each side was hit. Bombs missed 2 CA and 2 DD and then one bomber crashed on return due to engine failure. 9 LB-30 returned in the afternoon to bomb the airfield. This time 11 Sentai sent 31 Nates and the battle was fierce. Two Japanese pilots were shot down but they damaged most of the bombers and 6 turned back. The 3 last missed their target. One LB-30 hit by a Nate crashed later.

The Timor operation started with the loading of the 35th Bde and part of the 4th in Amboina. More north another convoy is loading in Davao the 10th Special Base Force and two small IJN BFs that will man the airfield of this island after the conquest.

24 transport aircraft arrived in Menado from Borneo and will carry base force personnel to Kendari and Amboina. Menado is no more a frontline base and has too many air force personnel.

In South Borneo, the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF received orders to leave Banjarmasin eastwards and destory the stranded Dutch units there.

In Morotai Island, the village of Galeia sent representatives on the 31 to join the Japanese Empire.

Sumatra-Malaya

The 9th Eng Rgt finished to land in Palembang on the 30 but the allready damaged AP Yuna Maru hit another VH2 mine and sank the same day. She was allready empty.
The Japanese artillery continued to pound the place, hitting 46 men and one gun, while Japanese aircrew were resting in Singapore to prepare for supporting the main attack in some days. Only 10 Ki-48s bombed and missed a DAF Base Force on the 30.
All Japanese ships returned towards Singapore on the 31 but the DD Natsuship was torpedoed east of Jambi by the SS KVIII (she was not seriously damaged) while 2 Martins 139 from Tjilitjap bombed and missed a MSW.

At Singkawang the detachment of the Imperial Guard Div continued to attack the Dutch infantry batallion hidding in the jungle. It was supported by 13 Ki-21s from Singapore on the 30. These two days cost 30 Japanese and 71 Dutch casualties but the Allied (attacked at 30 to 1) still resisted.

Naval troops should march in 2 days to the hex W of Palembang, that will then be surrounded (swamp hexes along the coast will be open for an Allied retreat but without supply lines to other Allied bases). The attack will then be launched and should take the city in one day. The problem is to seize the ressource and oil intact.
2 BB, 1 CA, 2 CL and 9 DD left Singapore in the evening oth 31 to bombard Palembang. They will hit the base on the night of the 1-2.

Burma

13 B-17E, 9 B-17C and 15 Il-4c from Asansol bombed Lashio airfield on the 30, scoring 18 hits on the airfield. 92 Blenheim from Dacca escorted by 26 Buffaloes bombed the 8th Tk Rgt north of Mandalay and hit 159 men, 2 guns and 10 tanks but lost one Blenheim IV to AA fire and 1 in a crash. The nearby 1st Tk Rgt was bombed by 41 Hurricanes from Imphal, which hit 78 men and 6 tanks but lost one in an accident. The Zeroes LRCAP Mandalay had so nothing to do and were rested in the evening (CAP 40% over Rangoon).
In the evening the 33rd Div launched the planned counter-attack against the 2nd Burma Bde SE of Myitkyina, which received no reinforcements, and repulsed it (at 341 to 1) on the other side of the Salween. 16 Japanese and 77 Allied fell. The 33rd Div then resumed its march back to Myitkyina.
The four Tk Rgts parted, two driving south one hex towards Mandalay and two eastwards to Myitkyina. All will reinforce the garrison of these towns.

The 31 was quietier in the air, with only the two Tk Rgts driving to Mandalay being bombed by 96 Blenheim from Dacca (escorted by 24 Buffaloes) and they only hit 15 men.
That day the 21st Bde, now NE of Lashio, engaged the Allied troops here (4 disrupted Chinese Div and 2 RAF Bf) with artillery fire, hitting 11 men. It will tomorrow launch a deliberate attack, to test the Allied strength.

The 55th Div will reach Mandalay tomorrow and will then march north to engage Allied troops.

China

30 Ki-43 strafed and bombed both days the Chinese Tk regiment north of Yenen on both days but hit nothing. At Yenen the 99th Chinese Corps was bombed on the 30 by 40 Ki-48 and 9 Ki-49 from Chungking and Peking and lost 54 men.

Artillery duels continued around Yenen and cost 10 Japanese and 456 Chinese casualties. No more attack will be launched here until the city is totally surrounded. Both Japanese Rgts marching N of the twon have not yet reached the hex defended by the Chinese Tk Rgt.

Recons over Changsha on the 30 reported a CAP of only 3 P-40B. The next day these overconfident AVG pilots flew a sweep to Wuhan but were intercepted by 7 Zeroes that shot down 2 of them. 7 Oscars were too late to intercept.

On the 31 Japanese engineers expanded Hanoi AF to size 4, Chinese Chungking AF to size 5.

Japan

The second Rufe Chutai was created in Hiroshima. Both were embarked aboard the CS Nisshin, that we be used as a “fighter” CS to provide Cap over convoys.

Japanese repair yards are rather overcrowded and were massively increased on the 31. Their size was doubled in Tokyo (+ 71), Osaka (+ 68) and Hiroshima (+ 23) in Japan and also in advanced bases of Singapore (+ 26) and Hong Kong (+ 25). I hesitated to increase the capacity of Pearl Harbor but didn’t want to work for the Allied war effort and finally renounced. The repair capacity of PH will be increased by sending ARs here.

At the start of the game I changed by mistake the Kawasaki engine factory to something else. Now it is time to correct this, to have an engine stock before the release of the Tony. The Hitachi factory (capacity 120) had produced far enough engines (used for short-range transport AC) and was converted to Kawasaki.

[AmiralLaurent]

Monthly report March 1942

Japanese score: 19 677 (+ 6 696)
Bases 6 529 (+ 3 697)
Aircraft 2 492 (+ 564)
Army 6 972 (+ 2 152)
Ship 3 534 (+ 281) 197 ships sunk (+ 31: 16 AK, 2 AS, 2 AD..)
Scuttled ships 112 (+ 2)
Strategic 38 (+ 0)

Allied score: 6 207 (+ 474)
Bases 4 319 (+ 111)
Aircraft 1 115 (+ 269)
Army 236 (+ 55)
Ship 537 (+ 18) 46 ships sunk (+ 2: 1 DD, 1 AP)
Strategic 0

Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supplies : 3 231 000 (bases) + around 233 000 (TFs) = around 3 464 000 (+ 299 000)
Fuel : 3 995 000 (bases) + around 278 000 (TFs) = around 4 273 000 (- 26 000)
Ressource centers : 14 871 (+ 233)
Ressources : 1 312 000 (bases) + 45 000 (TFs) = 1 357 000 (- 95 000)
Oil centers : 1 485 (+ 69)
Oil: 979 000 (bases) + 190 000 (TFs) = 1 169 000 (- 135 000).
Manpower centers : 798 (+ 2)
Manpower pool : 274 000 (+ 38 000)
Heavy industry: 13 406 (+ 0)
Heavy industry pool: 79 000 (+ 21 000)
Naval shipyard: 1278 (+ 8)
Merchant shipyard: 1000 (+ 0)
Repair shipyard: 667 (+ 79)
Armament industry: 600 (+ 0)
Armament stock: 49 000 (+ 5 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 0)
Vehicles stock: 3 302 (+ 1 735)
Aircraft engine factories: 1567 (+ 0)
Aircraft frames factories: 838 (+ 2)
Aircraft research: 84 (- 53) (A6M3 production started)

Aircraft production:
175 A6M2 Zero (capacity 243 (+ 0), partly suspended), 52 G4M1 Betty (46), 48 Ki-48 (40), 42 D3A Val (41), 33 H8K Emily (32), 27 Ki-49 Helen (23), 21 B5N Kate (28), 21 Ki-51 Sonia (45, still partly stopped), 12 L2D2 Tabby (10), 7 MC-21 Sally (5), 3 C5M Babs (4), 3 H6K2-L Mavis (4), 2 Ki-43-Ib Oscar (62, suspended), 1 A6M-2 Rufe (14, suspended),
1 E13A1 Jake (28, suspended), 0 E14Y1 Glen (4, suspended), 0 Ki-21 Sally (20, suspended), 0 Ki-46 Dinah (31, suspended), 0 Ki-57 Topsy (10, suspended), 0 L3Y Tina (5, suspended), 0 E7K2 Alf (5, suspended)

Total: 448 aircraft (177 fighters, 127 level bombers, 63 divebombers, 33 patrol, 22 transport, 21 torpedo bombers, 3 recon, 1 floatplane, 1 fighter floatplane)

Strategic analysis

The plan is proceeding roughly as excepted. Palembang will fall some days late as the surrounding phase took longer than planned. And in Burma Akyab was not invaded. On the other hand Timor is apparently lightly defended so here things will be faster than planned.

If I consider theater after theater:

_ in Burma the prime goal of the new month is to defeat the Allied counter-offensive and to kill as much troops as possible. Depending of the situation, a pursuit up to India may be attempted or the 55th Div will be used to invade Akyab overland from Mandalay (in May).

_ Palembang is excepted to fall the 3rd or the 4th of April. Then the airfield here will be used to cover a landing in Java, as will be the base of the western coast of Java. This island main defence are Allied airplanes but is is planned that the 3 Zero Daitais that will be created in 2 weeks will be used to crush them. Then a beachhead will be created at Kragen or Tjilitjap depending of what the recon of the island show. Three divisions, 2 Tk Rgt, 2 Eng Rgt and the HQ 25th Army will invade Java.
More north, the 23rd Bde, some SNLF and an Eng Rgt will take the oil centers of Medan and Bankha.

_ as soon as Palembang fell, the troops of the 14th Army diverted here (HQ, 2 Div, some ART units) will be loaded in transports and sail to PI. The plan is to land them on Bataan that will be taken by a para assault (only a CD unit) is still there, with BB and air support. Then the troops will march to Clark Field, then the Div in Lingayen will attack San Marcelino before joining the battle. Clark Field should fall in May and Manila in June.

_ in southern DEI, Timor is probably held only by Base Forces and some infantry battalions. Two Japanese brigades are ready to invade it. They are lacking air and naval support, as Allied ships and heavy bombers (and probably Beauforts) are concentrated in Australian bases (especially Darwin). The plan is to land first in Koepang, that is probably the safest target and then in Lautem. The Japanese LBA will try to chase Allied ships from Darwin.

_ no operations are planned in Rabaul or Solomon area.

_ in southern Pacific, the White Plan will continue and the objectives of the month are Pago-Pago, Canton and Funafuti. The next targets will be Suva and Tonga. And then a landing will all available troops (including those coming from PI) in New Zealnd during the summer (bypassing Noumea). The Kido Butai and the main part of the fleet will be used here.

_ in Central Pacific, no Allied offensive is excepted and the fortification of PH and Lahaina will continue.

_ in Northern Pacific, only limited forces will be used but submarines and Emilies will continue to monitor Allied activity.

_ in China the next month is excepted to see the end of the Yenen battle with the fall of the city and the desturction of its defenders. Four new divisions will be created in China this month and will man the frontline while the best divisions will again be sent in Yenen area. The offensive will continue from here with a feint towards Kiunchang and a move in open land towards Sian, to cut the northern cities from the remainder of China.

_ the economic situation is now very good (with oil reserves dropping under the million) but it is excepted that a huge loot will be seized with Palembang and then the production here will bring the Empire eceonomy to stability. The Pearl Harbor gambit is proving costly in economic terms. When I compare to my other Japanese PBEM, I have at the same time around 200 000 ressources and 300 000 oil more than in this game at the same dates. On the other hand I have scored around 5000 more points in this game with the fall of PH.

[Redd]

Wow, awesome story so far. I got the game about 3 months ago and I am still mucking about with the AI at the moment {still trying to get a handle on ground combat and movement, among other things}.But one thing that I can see is that your operation was nearly flawless[&o]. You moved into a nearby, undefended base. Provided CAP. Provided supplies. Provided repair facilities right at the front. Moved right in and executed your stratagy in an efficient, military manner and the outcome was hardly in doubt.This AAR should be required reading for all players unshure on the necessary prerequisites for offensive operations.
But enough brownnosing!
I have been reading this for weeks and I have been continuously amazed with the level of detail that you bring to your writing.There is only one small detail that has made itself glareing because it has been repeated so many times, You keep using the word excepting when I think that you mean to use the word expecting[X(]
. Please do not take this critisism in a negative way, your writing is much better than mine will ever be [&o] [&o] [&o] [&o].
Keep up the good work, expecting many hours spent reading your work.

Redd

[AmiralLaurent]

1-3 April 1942

I'm leaving on Friday evening for one week of holidays in Morocco. My goal is to take Palembang before I leave. An intact base and I will leave happy, a badly damaged one and I will have one week to think to something else. But I am rather confident that I used enough strength to crush the garrison and take the oil without much damage.

Northern Pacific

Nothing to report except that Dutch Harbor was expanded by Alleid engineers to size 3. And that at least on ship is docked in Kodiak Island, remains of the attack of the Japanese cruisers in the area.

Central Pacific

Both sides are busy laying mines around Hawaii, IJN with a giant ML TF (15 ML) and USN with submarines. The first blood was Japanese, in the night of the 2-3 the ML Ishizaki hit a Mk 10 mine off Hilo and sank some hours later. 15 MSW were ordered the next evening to patrol the island. US submarines proved so far immune to ASW ships and aircraft.

One more wreck was identified in the port of Pearl Harbor, the 10000-ton AK Admiral Cole. And on the 3rd the TK Warwick, that was hit by the CA Ashigara one week ago, succombed to her wounds only some hundred miles off California.

SIGINT (yes SIGINT) and Glens showed two Allied convoys 2500 and 3500 miles S of Los Angeles but they won’t be chased, as most Japanese ships are in PH repairing SYS damage.

Southern Pacific

Each day 5 or 6 B-25C from Canton bombed and missed Baker Island. Ki-46 flew the other way. One was shot down by AA on the 2. Recon showed on Canton 2 units (9 000 men), 2 ships and 39 AC (7/10/22).

Philippines

The 71st PA Div in San Marcelino was bombed daily by Nates and Sallies from Aparri and Lingayen, as Japanese aircraft started to transfer from the former to the latter on the 1st. The division lost 97 men and 4 guns in 3 days.

Dutch East Indies

Finally the airmen of Amboina attacked on the afternoon of the 1st the Allied surface ships off Darwin. 13 Nells and 18 Betties escorted by 21 Zeroes were intercepted by 13 P-40E and 9 Kittyhawk I. The Japanese lost the air battle, as Allied fighters shot down 5 Zeroes and 1 Betty for the loss of 3 P-40E. Also a Mavis was shot down by AA over the town. But the Japanese torpedo bombers attacked a TF of 3 old US DD off the port and sank two (the USS Alden and John D. Edwards) without loss.
This raid provided extensive recon data about Darwin, that is defended by 13 units (60 000 men) and 121 aircraft (35/19/67). 27 ships (AK, APD seen) were in the port and apart the attacked small DD TF two surface TF (10 and 8 “CA” reported) cruised off the base. The same day 27 more Zeroes arrived from Pacific (via Hollandia) to Kendari to cover Timor operation.
The next day all Japanese aircraft were on defensive duties, except recon. A Ki-15 was shot down by a Hurricane of 453 Sqn RAAF over Soerabaja, where 273 AC (94/68/111) were reported. The Zeroes of Kendari flew to Balikpapan to fly against this wasp nest.
Starting on the night of 2-3 Nells from Amboina tried to bomb Darwin ressources. 3 tried the first night but missed. The next moring two Daitais sent 40 Zeroes on a sweep from Amboina to Darwin. They met 1 Hurricane II, 14 Kittyhawk I, 6 P-40B and 13 P-40E. The battle saw 6 Zeroes fall (5 shot down by Kittyhawks) but also the Hurricane, 5 Kittyhawk, 4 P-40B and 5 P-40E. In the afternoon 16 LB-30 went the other way and bombed Amboina airfield. Only 6 Zeroes intercepted them and damaged one. Bombs destroyed a Betty on the ground but one LB-30 hit by AA ditched on return. Amboina Zeroes went back on CAP 90% mode.

The SNLF sent east of Banjarmasin to chase the remmants of Dutch units didn’t reach them yet. A dozen of Ki-30 bombed them daily from Banjarmasin and hit 49 men in 3 days.

These last days saw the Indonesian of Buteng and Buru Islands slaugther the Dutch colonists and join the Japanese Empire of their own will.

Small AK TFs are busy in the area, taking ressources from Kendari, Balikpapan and Tarakan. This last port has received 80 000 tons of supplies, far enough to repair all oilfields there.

Timor operation is slowly being prepared. All troops are now aboard ships and sailing to the meeting point of Kendari. Daily recons of Timor showed few defences (1 unit in Lautem and Koepang, none in Dili).

Sumatra-Malaya

The surrounding of Palembang was finally completed in the evening of the 3rd when a SNLF reached the trail hex west of the town and cut the last retreat path. Before that the Japanese aircraft and ships pounded the city to soften it before the final assault. The base was bombarded by 2 BB, 1 CA, 2 CL and 9 DD during the night of the 1-2 (859 cas, 97 hits). No return fire was experienced by the Japanese fleet. Next day 64 bombers from Singapore bombed the port (3 hits). 153 Singapore bombers again bombed the port on the 3 and scored 9 hits. Artillery fire was more efficient and hit 164 Dutch, while return fire wounded 9 Japanese.

Tomorrow will see the final assault with 4 Div, 2 Eng Rgt and 2 Tk Rgt against 2 Dutch Bn and 5 Base Forces). It will be supported by all Singapore bombers and a bombardment TF of 2 BB, 2 CA, 3 CL and 9 DD. Yes it is overkill but this is the most important assault of the game. Seizing Palembang with minimal damage will assure the future of the Japanese economy.

On Borneo the West Borneo Defense Battalion was attacked once again at Singkawang by the detachment of the Imperial Guard Division and surrendered on the 1st (750 POWs).

Burma

Allied airmen continued to reign over Burmese skies. Mandalay airfield was bombed on the 1st by 99 Blenheim escorted by 26 Buffaloes from Dacca (256 casualties, 44 airfield hits, 1 Blenheim and 1 Buffalo lost in crashes). The next day 66 Blenheim IV and 29 Buffaloes raided Myitkyina airfield, hitting 23 men and 5 times the airfield while losing 1 Blenheim to engine failure. This day saw the only Japanese activity with 20 Zeroes LRCAP Mandalay from Rangoon and reporting no attack while losing one aircraft in a crash (pilot saved). The 3rd saw another raid by 78 Blenheim IV and 27 Buffaloes to Myitkyina (4 cas, 8 AF hits, 1 Blenheim IV lost in a crash) while 9 B-17C, 21 B-17E and 16 Il-4c bombed the ressources of Mandalay, scoring 16 hits for the loss of a B-17E in a crash. Only 23 of the 100 ressource centers were usable at the end of the day.

NW of Lashio the 21st Bde launched a deliberate attack on the 1st against the Allied troops here (4 Chinese Div and 2 RAF BF). 12 000 able Japanese faced 10 000 Allied but were repulsed at 0 to 1 and suffered 124 losses for none on the Allied side. The 21st Bde then received orders to just pin down the Alllied troops.

The 55th Div reached Mandalay on the 1st and marched north with a Naval Guard unit and 2 Tk Rgts the next day. But also on the 2 the 18th UK Division finally reached the railway and the 55th was ordered to stop to see what it will do. On the 3 the 18th UK Div and the 45th Indian Bde moved E towards Myitkyina and the 55th received again orders to move north and cut their supply line. Myitkyina is held by the 4th Rgt, 2 Tank Rgt, 2 ART units and the HQ 15th Army, all with 40+ points of preparation for this town, and is expected (thanks Redd, I did it again) to hold until the 55th Div reached it.

China

25 Betties from Canton bombed Kunming ressources on the 2 and missed them. 21 returned the next day and scored two hits (disabling 3 more centers, 23 are now disabled here). On the 3 an Alf seaplane flying a recon over Kweilin was shot down by AA fire. The Betties flew back to Wuhan on the evening on the 3rd and will bomb Lanchow the next time.

In the north activity was limited to artillery fire around Yenen (537 Chinese and 8 Japanese casualties) and training raids by Oscars from Chengting against the Chinese 1st Tk Rgt north of the town. The northern surrounding movement is still going forward.

Japan

On the 1st eight Japanese DDs were upgraded in Pearl Harbor, Singapore and Japan.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

All quiet on Pacific front lately? [8D]

BTW, how is your Allied opponent coping with your advances and current war situation?


Leo "Apollo11"

[AmiralLaurent]

Hi all,

I just spend a week in Morocco (5 days in Atlas mountains, including a 4-day trek, and 2 in Marrakech) but I am now back in France (that is not devastated by urban guerilla, contrary to what media and politics are saying) and again playing.

4-5 April 1942

The 4 was an excellent day with the capture of Palembang INTACT. The 5 saw 4 air battles and Japan finishing on the losing side, with 34 losses vs 24 Allied (and 27 losses in A2A vs 19 Allied)

Northern Pacific

All cruisers that raided shipping off Alaska have refuelled in Midway and will return to PH.

Central Pacific

Japanese MSW sweep the new Allied minefield off Hilo. 15 Zeroes arrived in Palmyra from Johnson Island.

Philipinnes

The usual training ground attacks by Nates and Sallies continued and hit 35 men and 3 guns in two days.

DEI

During the night of the 3-4, 8 Nells from Amboina tried to bomb again Darwin ressources but missed and one ws hit by AA fire and crashed during the return to base.
During the day, another Ki-15 was shot down over Soerabaja by a Hurricane of 453 Sqn RAAF while Japanese patrol planes reported the usual concentration of Allied warships off Darwin and identified the CL Java.

The next night, the invasion of Timor started when 5 DD unloaded in Dili a part of the 56th Bde and of a Base Force. The base was undefended and will be taken tomorrow. This night the invasion convoy of Kopeang (carrying the 35th Bde) also left Kendari towards its target.

The big action of the 5 was between Amboina and Darwin. 12 LB-30 attacked Amboina and were intercepted by 21 Nates and 8 Zeroes. Some bombers were damaged but they get trough, shot down a Zero in the air and destroyed 3 more and a Nell on the ground. 9 bombs hit the airfield and did 32 casualties.
At the same time most of the aircraft based in Amboina were flying to Darwin. 22 Betties and 32 Zeroes flew there but met a heavy CAP: 5 Hurricane II, 7 Kittyhawk I, 1 P-40B and 23 P-40E. The air battle was an Allied victory with 12 Zeroes, 7 Betties, 1 KIttyhawk, 2 Hurricanes, the P-40B and 5 P-40E being shot down. The bombers hit the airfield, destroying a LB-30 on the ground, hitting 14 men and scoring 2/0/5 hits. But one more Betty was shot down by AA and one lost in an accident. A P-40E was alos lost during thde day in a crash.

This aerial defeat is enough, Darwin will no more be raided. The fighters of Amboina will fly CAP over their base, while reinforcements arrive in Kendari from Menado to support Timor operations. There Koepang will be invaded in 2 days and the main threat is a sortie of the Allied ships from Darwin. The invasion convoy has been seen by Allied aircraft.

Sumatra - Java

The final assault on Palembang was launched on the 4. First the base was bombarded by 58 Ki-21, 44 Nells and 52 Ki-48 and their escort, with bad results and heavy losses (1 Ki-48 to AA fire, 1 Ki-48, 3 Zeroes and 1 Ki-27 in accidents). Then 2 BB, 2 Ca, 3 CL and 9 DD pounded the base and hit 210 men and then the Japanese troops (4 Div, 2 Tk Rgt, 2 Eng Rgt, 87 men) launched a deliberate attack. The Dutch defenders (Rieuw Gn Bn, South Sumatra Gn Bn, 5th Dutch Naval BF, 4th, 13th, 16th and 17th DAF BF, 15500 men) surrendered quickly (attack was at 25 to 1) and without sabotaging anything. One C-47 was seized on the airfield. The base was damaged at 59/69/0 but the ressources and oil were 100% intact, to the great joy of the Japanese command. Also 246 000 oil and 85 000 resources were seized with the base. This new base is increasing the oil production of the Empire from nearly 50% (from 1491 to 2191 centers).

As soon as the news reached the Japanese command, 36 Oscars, 35 Nates and 24 Zeroes were sent to Palembang to protect the base. All available transport aircraft were ordered to transport a large Aviation Unit and the HQ 22nd Flotilla to this base. A huge convoy of 70 AP was created in Singapore and loaded an IJNAF BF and a Const Bn. It will bring them to Palembang then load all troops of the 14th Army and bring them to Luzon to finish the conquest here. Troops from the 25th Army will remain in Sumatra first and are still preparing for Java targets.

Another convoy started loading troops in Singapore on the 4, loading the 23rd Bde and 4th Eng Rgt for operations against Medan and Bankha. Singapore bombers were ordered to rest before supporting this operation. They will bomb tomorrow the airfield of Medan (that is occupied) and the troops above will land there. Some AP left Singapore on the 5 for Johore Bharu and will load there SNLFs to land them in Bankha.

3 DD left Palembang on the evening of the 5 and will raid Batavia port next night, trying to hit PT boats and an AP reported here. On Java 5000 Ducth men marched westwards from Batavia and reached the revolted city of Merak on the 5. Batavia is held by the main part of the Dutch units in Java but has only 3 (patrol) aircraft. Plans of landings in Java will be modified to seize first Soerabaja. Tomorrow 28 Zeroes from Banjarmasin will sweep Soerabaja before going south to support Timor operations.

Burma

7 B-17C, 23 B-17E and 11 Il-4c from Asansol bombed Mandalay on the 4 and scored 5 ressources hits. In the evening, 19 Zeroes flew from Rangoon to Taung Gyi to LRCAP Myitkyina the next day. 15 other were ordered to LRCAP Mandalay from Rangoon.
This day saw also changes on the ground situations, as the 18th UK Div and the 45th Indian Bde (the two last intact Allied units on this theater) were identified as the two that moved eastwards towards Myitkyina.

The next day, Mandalay was again raided by 26 B-17E, 9 B-17C and 13 Il-4c escoeted by 16 Buffalo I. Six Zeroes of F2/Tainan intercepted the raid and without loss shot down 8 Buffaloes and 1 B-17C, but the bombers scored 9 more ressource hits and left Mandalay with 0 able ressource center.
THis day the 55th Div and 2 Tk Rgt reached the turning point of the railway, that is now only held by the (allready beaten) 44th Indian Bde. They will launch a deliberate attack against it tomorrow.

The convoy carrying supplies to Rangoon will arrive tomorrow and all fighters will stop flying LRCAP and defend Rangoon.

China

On the 4, Chinese troops around Yenen were bombed by Japanese guns, 32 Ki43, 345 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-49 and lost 169 men and 14 guns. This day one of the two regiments surrounding Yenen by the north reached the hex north of the town, defended by the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt.

On the 5, some AVG pilots came to disrupt the routine flight over Yenen. 7 P-40B intercepted 61 Ki-48 escorted by 3 Ki-44 and shot down 1 Ki-44 and 5 Ki-48 while losing one P-40 to a Ki-44 pilot. Japanese bombers still scored 35 hits (3/3/29) on the airfield of Yenen. More north the Chinese Tk Rgt was bombed and missed by 32 Ki-43. This Chinese unit launched a deliberate attack against the two Rgt facing it (of the 27th and 59th Div, secodn arrived today) and was repulsed at 0 to 1 but lost only 51 men and 3 tanks while disabling 37 Japanese and 1 gun. Around Yenen, gunfire hit 76 Chinese and 5 Japanese this day.

Tomorrow this Chinese Tk Rgt will be attacked by the 2 Rgt, supported by all available aircraft from Chengting.

No raid was launched during these 2 days as part of the strategic bombing campain. Orders for tomorrow are that Wuhan bombers escoretd by 13 Zeroes will raid Chungking oil (34 centers remaining operationnal)while Ki-51 and Ki-49 from Canton will bomb Wuchow ressources (allready 145 are disabled here).

Japan

The CV Hiyo was commissioned on the 4th in Tokyo. 5 DD, the repaired CA Chikuma and the CS Nisshin left various Japanese ports to join her and then sail to Pacific waters.

On the 4 two more AK were ordered to be converted to AR in Osaka (5 are currently available, and 2 were allready under conversion).

[AmiralLaurent]

6-8 April 1942

Central Pacific

The wreck of the scuttled MSW bobolink was identified in PH.

Southern Pacific

Starting from the 6 Hudsons from 32 Sqn RAAF from Port Moresby bombed the empty airfield of Saidor. 10 flew on the 6, 14 on the 7 and 11 on the 8, scoring only 2 runway hits in 3 days.

A new “CA” was reported by a Japanese submarine S of Rabaul and sailing N on the 7. This (probable) FT TF was another time undisturbed by Japanese forces.

Allied engineers expanded Suva port to size 5 on the 6. Tarawa is slowly building and the airfield was expanded to size 2 on the 7. It was judged too slow and two Const Bn boarded ships in Kwajalein on the 8 to be brought to Tarawa.

Dinah and Emilies from Baker Island recon daily Pago-Pago and Canton, reporting no CAP and few activity. On the 8 12 B-25C from Canton bombed Baker Island and scored two hits on the runway. One of the Mitchells ditched during the return flight due to engine failure.

Transport aircraft were ordered on the 8 to bring more Base Force personnel in Palmyra from Johnston Island. 25 Nells will be based in Palmyra and will bomb Canton.

Philippines

No activity except the daily bombing (weather permitting) of the 71st PA Div in San Marcelino by Nates from Lingayen and Ki-21s from Appari. 37 men and 3 guns were hit in 3 days.

Dutch East Indies

The 6 was very quiet. The 56th Bde vanguard took the undefended base of Dili on Timor and 9 Mavis arrived in the evening from Kendari. The Allied surface fleet didn’t move and was still in Darwin so the Koepang operation was continued. The 35th Bde unloaded there the next night and day (560 men disabled in landing operations) and the evening of the 7 saw all troops ashore and supplied, without any Allied reaction. The base was held by 300 men of a Dutch Base Force that surrendered when attacked the next day (after a night bombardment by 2 CA and 7 DD that did almost nothing) and the base was taken intact.

The Allied fleet reacted on the 8 and left Darwin but was seen 150 miles S of Timor, so may only reach Koepang next night but all Japanese ships have allready left the area, as IJN is badly outnumbered in the area. The range of bombers and fighters from Kendari (27 Nells and 28 Zeroes, reinfocred on the 8 by 22 Betties and 13 more Zeroes) was limited to avoid clashing with the numerous Allied fighters based in Australia, and they didn’t try to attack Allied ships. Their range has been increased and they will fly up to range 11 tomorrow to engage these ships.

On the 8 a patrolling Nell bombed the Dutch submarine KXVI and claimed a hit SW of Amboina.

On Borneo, the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF marched east of Banjarmasin to engage the Dutch Bn and 3 BF that were still there. They were bombed on the 7 and 8 by 24 Ki-30 based in Balikpapan and then attacked on the 8 by the SNLF at 21 to 1. The Dutch Bn apparenty surrendered but only 6 prisonners were counted by the Japanese! The 3 BF hid in the jungle along the road. The SNLF and supporting Ki-30 will continue to attack until all Dutch are captured.

Sumatra-Java

During the night of the 5-6, 3 Japanese DD raided Batavia and fought 5 Dutch PT, sinking 2 without damage. The PT fired no torpedo.
Later during the day, the AP convoy from Singapore reached Palembang and some mines were swept by the escorts without damage to the convoy. This convoy unloaded there a CB and a BF.
In the afternoon 18 Zeroes from Banjarmasin swept Soerabaja skies but met no opposition.
On Java, the 6th Dutch Rgt crushed during the day the revolt of the city of Merak, west of Batavia.
The convoy carrying the troops for the invasion of Medan left Singapore in the evening of the 6.

On the 7, MSW swept Allied mines off Palembang while the AP convoy started to load the 14th Army troops (21st and 38th Div, 1 ART Rgt) to bring them to Luzon.
The Medan operation started in earnest when 173 bombers from Singapore (62 Ki-21, 48 Nells, 63 Ki-48) bombed Medan airfield, scoring 28 hits on the airfield and 24 casualties while losing 1 Ki-48 and 1 Nell in accidents.
At the same time the AP sent to Johore Bharu began to load three SNLF units that will land in Bankha.
A lonely AP was seen in Tjilatjap by a Japanese patrol plane.

The 3 Japanese DD returned to Batavia the next night and surprised the 3 surviving Dutch PT, sinking one.
The raid on Medan was repeated by 135 bombers from Singapore (38 Ki-21, 42 Nells, 55 Ki-48) and hit 7 men and 59 times the airfield against two op losses (1 Ki-48 and 1 Ki-21). During the day the 23rd Bde and 4th Eng Rgt started to land in Medan without opposition (311 men disabled in landing operations).

Tomorrow the landing will continue in Medan, while 3 SNLF will land in Bankha too. Once all troops will be ashore in Medan, the attack will be launched, and it is hoped that troops won’t retreat towards S Sumatra. Then the Eng Rgt in Medan will be brought to Bankha before the attack, while the 23rd Bde will be shipped to Burma.

Burma

On the 6 the Allied airmen flew massive support to their ground forces. 80 Blenheim IV escorted by 11 Buffaloes from Dacca bombed two Tk Rgt in Myitlyina, hitting 137 men and 6 guns and losing 2 bombers in a collision. 66 Hurricanes from Imphal bombed the 8th Tk Rgt 120 miles N of Mandalay and hit 99 men and 5 vehicles but that was not enough to stop the deliberate attack launched by this unit, another Tk Rgt and the 55th Div against the weak 44th Ind Bde (2440 men remaining) that was beaten at 37 to 1 and retreated towards Imphal in the jungle. 95 Japanese fell against 73 Indian in the battle.
This evening, the main body of the Allied troops was then W of Myitkyina, between two Japanese concentrations and I decided to try to surround them. So a Tk Rgt was ordered to leave the 55th Div group to pursue the 44th Bde towards Imphal while another Tk Rgt left Myitkyina to NW to cut the other jungle hex. All other forces were ordered to close on the Allied troops, while SNLF will occupy the other hexes around.

On the 7 28 B-17E, 8 B-17C and 14 Il-4c from Asansol bombed Mandalay and disabled all oil centers there. 2 Il-4c and 1 B-17E were lost in accidents. This day 8 Zeroes of F1/3rd Daitai flew LRCAP from Taung Gyi over Myitkyina to intecrept Blenheim and Buffaloes. But the usual raid (51 Blenheim IV, 12 Buffaloes) was reinforced today by 35 P-40B of the AVG and 6 Zeroes were shot down by the Flying Tigers. Zeroes shot down 2 Buffaloes, 2 P-40B and 2 bombers, and one of the returning pilots claimed his 12th kill. Anyway this Daitai, now reduced to 13 Zeroes and 22 pilots, retired to Bangkok for some rest and reiforcements. The bombers hit the 4th Mixed Rgt (72 men and 4 guns hits) and lost one more Blenheim in a crash. At the same time 65 Hurricanes from Imphal bombed the 55th Div 120 miles N of Mandalay and hit 100 men and 3 guns.
NE of Lashio the 21st Bde continued to pound surrounded Allied troops and hit 16 men on the 7. This day saw the 18th UK Div and the 45th Indian Bde march back to the railway turn hex, where they faced the 55th Div and supporting forces (81st Naval Guard Unit and two Tk Rgts). The HQ Ind III Corps was late moving and was pinned down in the hex more west as the 14th Tk Rgt moved westwards from Myitkyina.
This day too patrols reported only 9 Allied units NE of Myitkyina, where there were 11 the day before. So troops here were probably retreating towards Ledo rather than advancing back towards Myitkyina, good news.

The 8 saw the 18th UK Div and 45th Ind Bde launch a deliberate attack vs the 55th Div group. It was supported by 78 Blenheim (and 13 Buffaloes) that hit the 81st Naval Guard Unit (48 men and 1 gun hit) and by 68 Hurricanes from Imphal that hit the 8th Tk Rgt (18 men and 2 tanks hit). The Allied forces (19 000 men) were nevertheless repulsed by the 27 000 Japanese facing them at 0 to 1 and lost 455 casualties against 31 Japanese losses.
At the same time more east the 14th Tk Rgt launched a shock attack against the HQ III Ind Corps and crushed it at 51 to 1. 5 Japanese and 13 Allied fell in the quick battle and the Allied troops retreated in the jungle NW of the battlefield, to the trail to Imphal.
Recons identified the 200th Chinese division 120 miles N of Myitkyina marching to Ledo, confirming the Allied retreat in this area.
The former surrounding plan is now dead but my new objective is to cut the Imphal trail before the 18th UK Div may use it and then to throw this division and the 45th Ind Bde in the jungle. Another Tk Rgt and the HQ 15th Army left Myitkyina westwards in the evening of the 8 and will try to cut this trail, while the 4th Mixed Rgt still defends Myitkyina. The 33rd Div will return to this town (and the railway) is probrably 3 weeks. Until this date the goal of the 15th Army is to pin down the 18th UK Div. Then with two reinforced divisions it should be possible to repulse it.
I am strongly thinking in invading India given the bad shape of the Allied troops in the area. The main problem is the total control of the air by the Allied air force but I will receive 4 Claude/Zero units in 6 days and this will boost strongly my air power, enough to win air control over Central Burma.

During this period, the convoy carrying 55 000 supplies arrived in Rangoon and unloaded its cargo here. It will provide a good boost to the campain, the first effect being to recomplete all air units based in Rangoon.

China

On the 6, 40 Ki-51 and 25 Ki-49 from Canton bombed Wuchow ressources and scored 17 hits, disabling 27 more centers (now 172 disabled centers here). AA shot down a Ki-51.
In the north, the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt was bombed by 33 Ki-48 and 35 Ki-43 from Chengting N of Yenen and lost 49 men and 1 tank and was then attacked by two regiments (of 27 and 59 Div) and repulsed in the woods NW of the town (at 162 to 1). Japanese suffered 31 casualties, Chinese 10 and 1 tank lost. The most powerful of the 2 Japanese Rgt was ordered to pursue to finish to surround the city, but will take one month to go there.
This day two Chinese Corps were bombed by 19 Ki-49 from Peking in Yenen, that was then bombarded by Japanese guns. Chinese lost 339 men and 6 guns, their return fire hit 35 men, 1 gun and 1 tank.

On the 7 only 2 of the 24 Ki-51 of Wuhan bombed Changsha ressources and scored no new hit. 17 Ki-21 and 24 Betties escorted by only one Zero flew to Chungking and were lucky to meet no CAP (P-40B were reported this day over Yenen by recon crews). AA shot down a Betty but they hit the oilfield hard, disabling 18 of the 34 centers remaining in the Chinese capital. Now the Chinese industry has no more enough oil.
In the north, 35 Ki-48 and 32 Ki-43 (one lost in a crash) bombed the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt NW of Yenen, hitting 17 men and 1 tank. Artillery fire hit 78 Chinese and 13 Japanese.
Chinese engineers expanded Chengtu airfield to size 2.

The 8 saw only some artillery fire around Yenen, 56 Chinese and 6 Japanese being hit.

Tomorrow should see (weather permitting) a new effort against the Chinese economy. 36 Ki-21 that arrived yesterday in Hanoi (now AF 4) will bombard the ressources of Kunming, the Wuhan bombers (1 Ki-21, 1 Ki-49 and 1 Betty group) will bomb Chungking oil (only 18 centers remaining) and the two Ki-48 groups of Chengting will bomb Sian ressources.

Japan

The CV Hiyo, CS Nisshin, CA Chikuma, CL Kitakami and 7 DD left Tokyo on the 7 towards Kwajalein to participate to the Canton-Pago-Pago operation.

An eye on the leading Allied pilots

The battles of the 5 April saw the names of two Allied aces appear on the screen and I asked my opponent to post his best pilots screen. He it is.

The Soviet pilots all scored during the "fronteer skirmiches" in December 1941. One of my home rule was to activate the Soviet at the start of the game, so my opponent may move them inside Siberia and plan a defence but both of us forgot to ground our airforces and they fought fiercely for one day (with a clear Soviet victory) before being quieted by their respective high command.

[AmiralLaurent]

9 April 1942

Central Pacific

No action today, as it is the norm now in the area. A Glen saw south of California a convoy (9 AP reported) returning to the West Coast.

Two of the wrecks in Pearl Harbor port, the AR Vestal and the small AK Admiral Y. Williams, were identified today. I also just realized that Pearl Harbor had been reinforced by many AA and CD units brought in from West Coast during December 1941, before the siege began. 16 such units were destroyed when the base fell. At least another was sunk in a convoy destroyed by my forces. So I expect to encounter few of CD units in the rest of the Pacific.

The most important point of the day is the launching of the Pago-Pago-Canton operation. A fast convoy is loading the troops for Pago-Pago (2nd and 16th Div, 14th Base Force, 21st Eng Rgt), a slowere one the troops for Canton (4th Div and 3rd Eng Rgt) while another left PH for Johnston Island, where it will load the South Seas Detachment, also planning for Canton. KB and surface ships will follow some day later to support the operation.

I’m probably using far too much force but so I am sure of the success. All unused or undisrupted troops will be used at once to land in Suva (that is not an atoll and so may be invaded by troops unprepared). My only concern is the safety of PH during this operation. But with AC, some BB and two divisions (56th and 48th, that will be brought back from Palmyra) it should be able to resist even a full effort from the West Coast.

Southern Pacific

13 B-25C from Canton hit again Baker Island, scoring 1 hit on the base and 2 on the runways.

Philippines

The 71st PA Div in San Marcelina was bombed by 40 Ki-27 from Lingayen and 21 Ki-21 from Appari. It lost 24 men.

Tabbies and Tinas are gathering in Saigon to prepare for the Bataan operation.

Dutch East Indies

In the afternoon, 21 LB-30 from Darwin attacked Amboina and were intercepted by 27 Nates of 11 Sentai and 17 Zeroes of F1/Omura. The air battle was fierce with 3 Nates and 1 Zeroes falling to US gunners. Nates damaged about half of the B-17 but shot down none. Zeroes were more efficient and shot down 4. Then the bombers attacked the airfield, where a Emily was destroyed on the ground, 95 men and 1 gun disabled and 12 hits (1/2/9) scored. AA shot down a 5th LB-30 and another was lost in a crash.

East of Kendari six DD were sent yesterday to chase an Allied submarine. This one, the Dutch O16, attacked first but missed. One DD dropped depth charges and missed too.

The ships involved in the Koepang invasion are returning to Kendari. I’m still unsure to what to do about Lautem. Sending troops by the trail from Dili may be a risk-free, but slow, solution. Or I may gather more warships and defy the Allied ships based in Darwin ? Or just let the base in Allied hands ?
Anyway the convoy carrying the Koepang garrison (Kure 2nd SNLF, 22nd Special Base Force, 3rd Cst Gun Rgt) left Palau.

On Borneo, the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF continued to attack Dutch troops stranded in the jungle E of Banjarmasin. This day saw the 8th DAF BF surrender (400 POWs) and confirmed a Dutch Bn surrendered yesterday (even if only 6 POW were made!). Two other BF are still there and the attack will continue.

Japanese engineers expanded the port of Menado to size 3. Japanese intelligence learned that the small Dutch AK De Klerk, bombed in February 1942 in Soerabaja port, was scuttled there.

Sumatra-Malaya

The landing in Medan continued during the day without any Allied opposition but 364 men were disabled. The convoy to Bankha was late and will only unload troops this night but this will be enough to cut this retreat path to the Medan defenders (identified as 3 Dutch infantry battalions, 1 Cst Gun Rgt (that strangely didn’t fire) and 2 base forces). Japanese guns hit 9 of the 3500 able defenders.
Tomorrow all Singapore bombers are ordered to bomb these troops and the 23rd Bde and 4th Eng Rgt will launch a deliberate attack.

In the evening the Dutch submarine KVIII tried to attack east of Jambi the convoy bringing back the troops of the 14th Army to Singapore (they will be reorganized there before bringing them to Luzon). The escort saw her and the PG Koei Maru hit her with 2 Type 91 depth charges, probably not enough to sink her.

Tonight 3 DD will again sweep Batavia waters to chase the remaining PT.

Burma

Having no more economic target in Mandalay, 25 B-17E, 7 B-17C and 13 Il-4c from Asansol bombed the airfield of this base, hitting 230 men and 1 gun and scoring 11 hits on the base, 5 on supplies and 73 on the runways.
66 Hurricanes from Imphal and 79 Blenheim from Dacca bombed the 8th Tk Rgt 120 miles N of Mandalay but only hit 47 men and 3 tanks. One Hurricane was lost in a crash. There Allied troops did nothing and Japanese only used artillery. 2 Japanese and 6 Allied were hit.

By thinking twice, cutting the trail N of the 18th UK Div won’t change much as it will retreat W and arrive on a trail also 2 hexes away from Imphal. So the surrounding was cancelled and all available troops are ordered to gather where the 18th Div and the 45th Indian Bde are, and to throw them back.

China

Japanese bombers hit the Chinese economy everywhere. 58 Ki-48 from Chengting bombed Sian and disabled 4 ressource centers (48 remaining of 60), 26 Ki-21 from Hanoi hit Kunming and disabled 32 ressources centers (243 remaining of 300) and 27 Ki-21, 26 Betty and 24 Ki-49 attacked Chungking, disabling 5 oil centers (13 remaining of 75). Only loss was one Ki-48 lost in an accident.
In Yenen area 32 Ki-43 missed the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt NW of Yenen and 81 Chinese and 18 Japanese were hit by artillery fire.

Japan

The DD Naganami was commissionned in Tokyo.

[AmiralLaurent]

10 April 1942

Central Pacific

The troop convoys for the Canton-Pago-Pago operation finished to load troops and loaded 80 000 supplies in PH. They left the port in the evening. There are 40 000 supplies left in PH and two convoys were created in Japan to bring more there.

Off California a Glen saw a probable ASW group near by and his mother submarine will change of position.

Southern Pacific

20 Nells from Palmyra bombed in the afternoon the airfield of Canton Island. As reported by the daily recon there was no CAP. AA hit several Nells and one crashed later but they destroyed on the ground 5 B-25C and 1 P-40E, hit 26 men and 2 guns and scored 7 hits on the airbase and 15 on the runwayds. Returning crew reported the following about Canton: 2 units (9160 men), 3 ships in port and 92 aircraft (23/30/39).

Solomons-New Guinea

8 Hudson I from Port Moresby bombed and missed the empty airfield of Saidor.

Philippines

The 71st Div in San Marcelino was hit by 44 Nates and 12 Ki-21 and lost 19 casualties.

Dutch East Indies

Roti Island was occupied by a Japanese patrol (not sure where this island is but it should be somewhere in DEI).

Dili airfield was bombed in the morning by 12 B-25C from Darwin, which scored 2 runways hits, and in the afternoon by 10 LB-30 from the same base, that hit the base 1 time, the supplies 2 and the runways 7, disabling 10 men and 1 gun. One LB-30 ditched off Australia after engine failure. Tomorrow 13 Zeroes from Kendari will fly LRCAP over Dili to try to catch these raiders.

In the afternoon the Allied CAP over Darwin (25-30 Hurricanes, Kittyhawk and P-40E) shot down a Nell flying a recon from Hollandia. Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Darwin to size 8.

On Borneo the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF captured the last two units east of Banjarmasin, the 3rd Dutch Naval BF and 10th DAF BF, and counted 864 prisonners.

Sumatra-Malaya

Once again the 3 usual Japanese DD sailed to Batavia during the night and surprised the two remaining Dutch PT. They didn’t score this time, and were missed in return by a torpedo. They then returned to Palembang and will continue to Singapore for repairs as these high speed runs did a lot of SYS damaged (12, 11 and 6).

During the day 3 SNLF landed at Bankha without opposition, losing 171 men in landing mishaps. The town is held by one Allied unit only and will be bombarded tomorrow to identify it.
More north the 15th DAF BF, one of the units defending Medan, was heavily bombed by 60 Ki-21, 49 Nells and 63 Ki-48 and lost 253 men, 2 guns and 2 vehicles. Japanese op losses were 2 Ki-21 and 1 Nell. Then the 23rd Mixed Bde and the 4th Eng Rgt launched a deliberate attack and took the base (at 15 to 1 vs fort 4). The whole Dutch garrison (1st and 2nd NS Garrison Bn, 2nd WS Gn Bn, Medan Cst Gun Bn, 6th Dutch Naval BF and 15th DAF BF) surrendered and the Japanese rounded up 6000 POWs. They lost 183 casualties in the attack. Two unserviceable C-47 Dakota were burned on the runway before the surrender. The base is intact while Allied engineers blew up 9 of the 50 oil centers and 1 of the 10 ressource centers before surrendering.
In the evening the 4th Eng Rgt boarded again ships and will be brought to Bankha to help taking the oilfields here intact. The 23rd Mixed Bde received orders to prepare for Akyab and will be carried to Rangoon in some days.

Burma

120 miles N of Mandalay the 55th Div was bombed by 69 Hurricane II from Imphal and lost 85 men, 4 guns and 1 tank. Japanese guns then fired at Allied troops and experienced counter-battery fire. They hit 31 Allied men and lost 2 guns and 12 men.

NE of Myitkyina Allied units continued to move towards Ledo, now only 7 units are near Myitkyina.

In the evening 27 Zeroes flew to Taung Gyi and they will fly LRCAP over the 55th Div tomorrow.

China

Artillery duels went on around Yenen. Chinese lost 148 men and 5 guns and hit 6 Japanese men.

No air raid were launched today but things will change tomorrow. Recon showed 13 Il-16c flying CAP over Chungking and Zeroes will launch a sweep there. Japanese bombers will bomb tomorrow the ressources of Kunming (from Hanoi), Wuchow (from Canton), Changsha (from Wuhan) and Sian (from Chengting).

Japan

This turn most of the Japanese units still in Japan and affected to other theaters (90% of them base forces) were examined and dispatched. Troop convoys will carry them from Tokyo to Singapore, Amboina, Truk and Kwajalein, from Osaka to Truk, Kendari and Lingayen and from Sasebo to Rangoon.

My method here is to watch each turn if an unit (also ships and air units) will arrive next turn and list it on a file. The next turn, I will give orders for the new unit to prepare for somewhere and give it order to move to a concentration port. Tokyo is usually the home port for units to be shipped in the Pacific and Truk, Osaka for units to be shipped in the DEI and Sasebo for units to be shipped in SE Asia. From there troops will be shipped to “regional hubs”: PH, Kwajalein, Truk, Amboina, Palau, Davao, Lingayen (later Manila), Singapore, Soerabaja, Rangoon, and then will march or be carried by other convoys to their final destination.

[AmiralLaurent]

11-14 April 1942

Northern Pacific

Glens followed a CA south of Anchorage and a submarine was sent to chase here but with no success. The AK Stelle Worker, damaged by Japanese cruisers during their raid in these waters at the beginning of the month, finally sank in Kodiak Island harbour. And on the 14 a patrolling Mavis reported an Allied ship (probably another AV) off Adak Island.

Central Pacific

On the 12 a convoy was seen by a Glen 700 miles south of San Diego, sailing south. Hawaii was busy with ships leaving for operations in South Pacific and is still building defences. Lahaina is protected by 8500 mines and fort 5, PH by 5000 mines and fort 4. Right now only one division is holding PH.

Southern Pacific

Recon from Baker Island continued to fly over Canton Island each day and reported CAP of 15-25 P-40E each time. On the 12 Canton began to retaliate. A raid of 30 B-25C missed Baker airfield and one was lost to engine failure. The raid was repeated on the 14 by 48 B-25C that scored 2 runway hits.

1 MLE and 2 AR arrived from Japan on the 11 in Kwajalein and disbanded there. The Hiyo and her TF arrived on the 14 and refueld there and then sailed east. They will cruise N of Baker Island and provide LRCAP to the island to ambush Allied bombers.

The two Const Bn sent from Kwajalein to Tarawa arrived there on the 14 and began to land. They will help to expand the airfield to size 4.

The troop convoys for the invasion of Pago-Pago and Canton are sailing south. The Kido Butai left PH in the 13 to join the Pago-Pago convoy with 5 CV and 2 CVL carrying 183 Zeroes, 133 Vals and 83 Kates, escorted by 1 BB, 6 CA, 6 CL and 15 DD, in 3 TF. Also 6 submarines left PH to particpate in this operation.
One other convoy left PH for Palmyra and will load the 48th Div here. Depending of the situation it can be brough to PH or southwards as reinforcements. The convoy sent to Johnston to pick up the South Seas Detachment reported mines off Johnston (MSW were sent from Hawaii) and loaded the troops then sailed south to rendezvous with the Canton convoy.

Solomons-New Guinea

Saidor was bombed from Port Moresby on the 12 (8 Hudson), 13 (13) and 14 (11) but always missed. One Hudson was lost in an accident. On the 14 21 Nells from Truk bombed Rabaul but only scored 2 hits on the runway and one was lost in an accident.

Philipinnes

Nothing new, the 71st PA Div in San Marcelino was still bombed by Nates from Lingayen and Sallies from Appari and lost 68 men and 4 guns in 4 days.

The convoy bearing the 14th Army (HQ 14th Army, 21st DIv, 38th Div, 8th Art Rgt) left Singapore towards Luzon on the 12. The paratroops are almost ready in Saigon. Two BB are still waiting for the Bataan operation in Lingayen.

DEI

In Timor area, the Japanese forces were on the defensive and lost the air battle of Dili... if it could be called a battle. Each afternoon (except the 13) Darwin bombers hit the airfield. On the 11 five Zeroes from Kendari intercepted 11 LB-30 and 7 B-25C and damaged a B-25C, but then lost one Zero and its pilot in an accident. The raid hit 11 men and scored 13 hits. Then Zeroes didn't try to defend the place and it was bombed on the 12 by 15 LB-30 and 11 B-25C (53 casualties, 15 hits). The next day the Mavis squadron here retired to Kendari, leaving 3 unserviceable Mavis. One was destroyed on the ground by a new raid on the 14 by 23 LB-30 and 6 B-25, that scored 22 hits and disabled 37 men.

Tomorrow the Japanese airmen will react. 40 Zeroes have been ordered to LRCAP Dili from Kendari and 70 Nells and 8 Betties will bomb the ressources of Derby from this base. Derby has been reconded by Nells since one week and has no CAP. The purpose of this mission is to score political points, so all Allied fighters in the are will no more be concentrated in Darwin alone.

East of Kendari the 6 DD of the ASW group chasing the SS O16 saw her again on the 12 but dropped no depth charges. They returned to Kendari the next evening. Several Japanese submarines were seen between Darwin and Timor these days and bombed by Allied aircraft but none were hit.

Sumatra - Java

The 14th DAF BF holding Bankha was bombed by Japanese troops (the 3 SNLF having been landed there) until the 4th Eng Rgt was brought in by ships from Medan, landing on the 13 and the 14 (207 casualties). On this last day Japanese troops attacked and took the base intact (at 25 to 1 vs fort 4). The 14th DAF Base Force retreated to the jungle west of the base. The 50 oil and 10 ressources were seized intact. The 4th Eng Rgt baorded again ships and will be carried to Rangoon.

Japanese recon reported more than 200 Allied aircraft and no CAP at Soerabaja on the 11. IJNAF units from Singapore (65 Nells), Saigon (9 Betties), Kendari (27 Betties) and Palembang (27 Zeroes) were sent to Balikpapan to hit them. They rested one day and attacked on the 13. 16 Betties, 54 Nells and 24 Zeroes reached the target are a nd found no CAP but clouds. The bombing only destroyed 4 aircraft on the ground (2 Vildbeest IV, 1 CW-21B, 1 Brewster 339), hit 48 men and scored 10 hits on the base, 1 on supplies and 43 on runways. The Japanese bombers then went mostly south to Kendari and Amboina. The next day Japanese recons reported a CAP of 3-4 Hawk 75A, 9 CW-21B and 20-25 Brewster 339D over Soerabaja.

Japanese engineers expanded Singapore airfield to size 9. This area is becoming a rear area and 4 AK carried supplies to Medan to repair the oilfields here, while small AP TF just pickep up troops in bases no more used and 10 TK sailed from Singapore to Palembang and began to load fuel here to bring it to Japan. Singapore is also the hub for the tranports that will take part in the invasion of Java. All available ships are sailing to this place from as far as Davao.

On the 14 Muntok surrendered to nearby Japanese troops in Palembang.

Burma

The 11 was a good day in the air over Burma. A dozen Zeroes of F1/Yamada were LRCAPing the 55th Div and supporting troops 120 miles N of Mandalay and intercepted 3 Allied raids. First came 27 Blenheim escorted by 9 Buffaloes from Dacca and Zeroes shot down without loss 7 Buffaloes, 3 Blenheim IV and 1 Blenheim I. Next came 66 Hurricanes from Imphal that shot down one Zero but 10 were shot down by Japanese pilots. The last raid, 59 Blenheim and 8 Buffaloes, lost only 2 Blenheim IV to the Zeroes. All raids get through and hit the 81st Naval Guard unit (16 men and 1 gun hit) and the 8th Tk Rgt (53 men and 6 tanks hit). Two other Zeroes were lost in accidents while returning to base and a seven-kill ace was killed.

The next day, 83 Blenheim and 10 Buffaloes raided again the 55th Div and hit 134 men, 4 guns and 1 tank. The Zeroes were back in Rangoon. But the next two days there was no Allied raid (or Japanese for that matter) over Burma. The theater only activity was artillery fire 120 miles N of Mandalay and British guns won it. Losses in four days were 211 Japanese men and 2 guns vs 2 Allied men. Japanese troops are waiting for reinforcements and those will come from the Salween front. The 6th Tk Rgt returned to Lashio from this front after a month-long walk on the 12 and is allready rolling towards Mandalay. The 33rd Div will reach Myitkyina in 8 days and then march west to join the 55th Div and throw back the Allied troops in the jungle.

The lack of good airfield in Central Burma is a big problem and two Const Bn left Bangkok on the 11 to Burma to expand existing airfields. Until now the only priority has been to build fortifications, except in Taung Gyi.

China

Air activity rose sharply in these days over China. On the 11 24 Ki-49s, 12 Ki-51, 26 Betties and 27 Ki-21 from Wuhan bombarded Changsha , disabling 25 ressources centers (leaving 198 usable), and 26 Ki-21 from Hanoi disbaled 30 more ressource centers in Kunming (213 remaining). A Zero Daitai was ordered to sweep Chungking but for one reason or the other only 2 Zeroes went there and met 18 I-16c that shot down one Japanese fighter pilot without loss. This victory was highly diffused by the Allied newspapers.
On the 12 Wuchow was bombed by 39 Ki-51, 7 Kates and 22 Ki-49 from Wuchow. AA shot down a Ki-51 and a Ki-49 but 26 ressource centers were disabled. Only 102 remained usable. On the 13 37 Ki-48s from Chengting bombed SIan and scord two hits on the ressources for one operationnal loss.

In Yenen area, the usual artillery bombings costed the Chinese 359 men and 13 guns and the Japanese 56 men, 2 guns and 2 tank. A training bombing mission targetted the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt NW of Yenen on the 13 and for once hit 12 men but two Oscars collided and crashed. West of the town Chinse troops continued to bombard Japanese one but two of the 7 Chinese units marched west one hex. Japanese troops here are lacking supplies and won't be able to attack the remaining troops.

On the 13 4 new divisions were raised in China with full strength in Soochow, Nanchang, Hsinyiang and Paotang. The last one was orderd to join the Yenen battle, the three other will march to Canton and prepare for Wuchow. More north a new division was created in Korea and this will allow me to buy a 80-exp division from here, as soon as I have enough political points (I currently have 2000).

Japan

More convoys left Japan. On the 11 5 7000-ton AK left Hiroshima towards Balikpapan, where supplies will be used to repair oil centers. On the 13 a convoy left Aomori with supplies for Kwajalein and on the 14 a convoy with 8 small base forces aboard sailed from Sasebo towards Singapore. All these BF are preparing for bases in Sumatra, Burma or Java.

A second MLE joined the Imperial Navy on the 12. And a new AK was ordered to be converted to an AR in Osaka port. I have ordered enough AR for forwards bases but now having some in home port with repair yards may also help.

The reserve of Mitsubishi engines is now over 2000 and I stopped 205 factories of this engine on the 13. By the way the Japanese Empire is now producing more ressources and oil than the needs of his heavy industry (will the fall of Bankha). I will anyway not expand HI, as I am currently not using all HI produced. I will wait at least for the first convoys from Palembang to reach Japan.

On the 14 seven air groups were created in Japan: 1 of A6M3, 3 of A6M2, 1 of Claudes (upgraped at once), 1 of Nates and 1 of Sallies. The two last will go to the Philipinnes, all the other will go to the DEI to help over Java, Timor and Darwin. They will be operationnal there in about a week probably.

[AmiralLaurent]

15-18 April 1942

Turns are advancing fast these days as most Japanese assets are moving in position preparing for offensives in Burma, Java, Luzon and the Pacific. The end of the month will be bloody….

Northern Pacific

An Allied transport was seen by a Glen sailing east south of Alaska and was probably one of the AK hit in the cruiser raid. Three submarines tried in vain to chase her.

Central Pacific

The only notable activity was done by minesweepers, that cleaned and discovered an Allied minefield off Lahaina on the 15 and 16 and swept Allied mines off Johnston Island on the 17 and 18. Some Aks are busy carrying troops (including the HQ of the 1st Fleet) and supplies from Lahaina to Pearl Harbor.

Salvage teams are still busy removing Allied wrecks from Pearl Harbor port and identified the MSW Vireo that was scuttled here.

Southern Pacific

Canton airfield was more and more active. It sent 44 B-25C to bomb Baker Island on the 15 (no hit, one operationnal loss) and 50 the next day (4 hits, 2 op losses). Allied engineers expanded it to size 5 this day. There was no raid on the 17 but the daily Ki-46 recon of the island counted 215 aircraft (38/139/38) there. The next day the CAP over Canton increased from the usual 15-20 to 29 P-40E and in the afternoon 89 B-25 took off to bomb Baker Island.
A surprise was waiting for them, as the CV Hiyo and her escort had moved from Kwajalein to 240 miles of Baker to LRCAP it. 10 Zeroes were in position to intercept but for its first action DIII-1 delivered a poor show, shooting down only one bomber while 7 Zeroes were damaged. All US bombs missed the island.

All TFs involved in the Canton-Pago-Pago operation are sailing towards their initial points, east of Pago-Pago (Pago-Pago convoy, Kidu Butai, BB TF and a resplenishment TF) or west of Palmyra (Canton convoys, Hiyo TF, an ASW TF). On the 15th, three submarines left Kwajalein to patrol around Suva during the operation. The 48th Div has also boarded transport on Palmyra and is ready to sail south or north depending of the situation.

Emilies from Baker have reconned daily Pago-Pago for a long time and reported no CAP and only one unit here. Tomorrow they will recon Tongapatu.

Solomons-New Guinea

Saidor was bombed each day by 10-11 Hudson I from Port Moresby. They only scored one hit, on a supply dump on the 15, and lost two planes in an air collision on the 17. Starting from the 17 Hollandia Nells flew recon over Port Moresby and reported no CAP over the base and 5 units (8500 men) holding it.

On the 16 the SS I-174 cruising off Rabaul reported 2 APs south of Rabaul and sailing to this port. The Truk were fully commited against these. The I-174 was ordered to sail to Rabaul and report any activity. The Nell Daitai of Truk was divided into 3 Chutai, one flying naval search and recon to Rabaul, the other having naval attack orders. And the 5 DDs sent to Truk just for such a case sailed south towards Green Island. From there they will be able to raid Rabaul port or to hit a convoy leaving the base south of the base.
The next day the Allied ships were not seen. The recon showed no CAP over Rabaul. The DD TF was ordered to bombard Rabaul during the night, in the hope of catching the Allied transports here.
So they sailed there the next night and found… an Allied minefield. Both DD Asanagi and Uramani were heavily damaged when they hit VH2 Dutch mines. The “CA” seen in the past sailing to Rabaul were finally not fast transport TF but Dutch minelayes operating from Australia. The Japanese DD nevertheless found off Rabaul two Dutch AK and sank the Sipirok while the other escaped. The three intact DD then bombed the base (7 runways and 1 fuel hit) and then sailed to Truk. Dawn found the Asanagi (damage 36/68/7) and Uranami (20/76/16) only 60 miles N of Rabaul but no Allied plane attacked. Both DD will sail alone to Truk. It is feared none will make it.

Philippines

The routine raid against the 71st PA Div at San Marcelino were flown on the 16 and 17 (42 casualties) and then an Allied unit was reported to have marched SE from Manila. All available aircraft were ordered to bomb this possible threat for Naga and Lamon Bay and 35 Ki-21 bombed it from Aparri on the 18. It was the 106th USAAF BF, that lost 62 men and 1 vehicle and shot down 1 Ki-21 with AA fire.

Both Para Rgts terminated their concentration in Saigon and left by train on the 16 for Camranh Bay. 90 transport aircraft (Tina, Tabbies and Topsies) are ready there to fly them to Bataan. In the evening of the 17 a new Ki-21 Sentai arrived in Appari from Japan (and flew the next day) while 51 Ki-49 and 26 Ki-21 arrived in Lingayen on the 18 from China, while the residing Nates flew to Canton to free some space on the airfield, as the reinforcement BF have not yet arrived from Japan.

Dutch East Indies

40 Zeroes were ordered to LRCAP Dili from Kendari on the 15. 15 were on station when the daily Allied raid arrived in the afternoon with 22 LB-30 and 12 B-25C. One B-25 and one LB-30 were shot down over the target, but many other were damaged. In fact 3 B-25s, 3 LB-30s and 1 Zero hit in the air battle crashed during the retun to base. Bomber scored 1 hit on a supply dump and 14 on runways.
That wasn’t enough to stop the Allied raids and Dili was bombed on the 16 by 16 LB-30 and 9 B-25 (1 supply hit) and by 21 and 9 on the 17 (2 supply and 8 runway hits).

The Japanese answer was to raid in return Australia. 3 Nells from Amboina bombed on the 15 in error Sorong, by luck missing, after I used them to watch ressource targets in Australia and forgot to change orders. The next day 71 Nells and 7 Betties from Kendari raided Derby, that had been reconned for one week and had no CAP. They scored 9 ressource hits (disabling 28 centers and scoring 58 political points). One Nell was lost in an accident. Two days later, on the 18, 41 Nells and 8 Betties from Kendari raided Wyndham, trying to hit the 2 ships docked in the port, but there had been no preliminary recon and the raid hit nothing. One Nell and a Betty were lost in accidents. The prime goal of these raids is to scatter the Allied fighters concentrated in Darwin (that shot down a patrolling Emily on the 15, the 4th kill of a 24th FG pilot, and another the next day) to cover the Allied ships also concentrated here. APs were also reported off Darwin by Japanese patrols.

APs are sailing to Davao to pick a base force here and bring it to Amboina, that will be the main base for crushing Darwin and has only 140 air support points right now.

Tomorrow Nells will recon Australian bases but no raid will be launched. A Glen reported a convoy (3 APs) NW of Australia, 900 miles W of Broome, and I am curious to see if it will sail to Java or to N Australia.

The plan here is in the future to concentrate IJNAF bombers and Zero in Amboina and to fly heavily escorted naval attacks on Allied warships off Darwin. Once the Allied fleet will leave the area, Lautem and Kai Island will be taken.

Sumatra-Malaya

Japanese spies reported that the Dutch AK Silidoeng that was bombed in Soerabaja port in February had been scuttled there.

Daily recon of Java showed that most Allied aircraft have left Soerabaja on the 16. More recons the next days confirmed they in fact probably left Java to Australia, at least for some via Lautem (the move was also confirmed by some op losses of torpedo aircraft in probable ferry flights). Aircraft were seen on the 18 at Batavia (no CAP, 5 patrols), at Tjilitjap (no CAP, 30 AC) and Soerabaja (22/3/26 AC, a dozen Brewster 339 on CAP). On the other hand AP and AK in one-ship TF were seen off Tjilitjap. A Nell Daitai flew to Palembang and was given naval attack orders and 5 submarines have been ordered to patrol off Tjilitjap but will arrive on station in several days.

Anyway IJNAF aircraft concentrated in Balikpapan in the last days, including two brand-new Zero Daitais arriving from Japan (losing 2 fighters and pilots on the way…) and will raid Soerabaja aircraft tomorrow with 80 Zeroes and 54 bombers.

More north, Japanese transports are gathering to carry troops for the invasion of Java. They will land in Kragen, or directly in Soerabaja, probably a combination of both. Only danger in the area are the Allied submarines and an ASW group (1 APD and 5 DD) was formed in the evening of the 18 to chase a submarine seen E of Jambi. IJAAF bombers based in Palembang and Singapore will fly more ASW patrols tomorrow.

Burma

There was a lull in the air for 2 days. On the 15 the last Allied units NE of Myitkyina finally moved north towards Ledo and the 4th Mixed Rgt was ordered to march west from Myitkyina and join the 55th Div group. This group experienced only Allied artillery fire on the 15 and 16 (62 casualties).
Allied airmen flew again on the 17. 12 Beaufort I, 59 Blenheim IV, 20 Blenheim I and 8 Wellington III from Dacca escorted by 19 P-40B (AVG) and 10 Buffalo I bombed the 55th Div 120 miles N of Mandalay, hitting 98 men and 5 guns and losing a Beaufort and a Blenheim IV in crashes. Allied shells then hit 7 more Japanese men.
Raids continued the next day. The 14th Tank Rgt was first bombed by 98 Hurricanes from Imphal (one lost in an accident) and then by 10 Beaufort I, 65 Blenheim IV, 22 Blenheim I and 9 Wellington III from Dacca escorted by 22 P-40B and 9 Buffalo I. It lost 110 men and 6 tanks. Allied artillery hit 40 more men. Also during the day 32 B-17E, 7 B-17C and 16 Il-4c returned to Mandalay and bombed the airfield, hitting 49 men and 1 gun and scoring 4 hits on supply dumps and 14 on the runways. One Il-4c was lost in a crash.
With the retirement of Allied troops northwards, Japanese recon aircraft were redirected to Allied airfield in the north. They reported 260 aircraft (134/0/126) in Imphal, with one squadron of Mohawk on CAP, and 121 (12/0/109) in Ledo, with one squadron of Hurricanes on CAP. It is strongly guessed that Ledo is a hub for Allied transport aircraft flying supplies to China.
A first raid was launched in this area on the 18 when 24 Zeroes flew a sweep from Rangoon to Imphal and bounced 11 Mohawk IV of 146 Sqn, shooting down 6 without loss.

The 55th Div group will be reinforced tomorrow by the 4th Rgt and the 6th Tk Rgt and then will attack Allied troops. Some air support will be needed and in the evening of the 18 Rangoon was reinforced by 27 Sallies and 27 Zeroes that were resting in Bangkok.

China

In the north only artillery fire was reported around Yenen. Chinese lost 467 men and 12 guns in four days. West of the town only 4 Chinese Corps and the HQ 6th Group Army were now facing Japanese troops, a Corps and a Cavalry Corps having marched west. On the 16 the 6th Group Army was bombed by 37 Ki-48s from Chengting and lost 19 men, while more north 32 Ki-43 hit 10 men of the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt.
Japanese airmen also reported troop movements more west, with two Chinese units seen S of Kungchang ,and 4 on the city itself. It is thought those troops are leaving Kungchang southward rather than arriving to reinforce it. But Japanese intelligence (me) is rather lacking in this area and it may be the contrary.

The strategic air offensive was stopped for some days while waiting for good weather. Patrols revealed that a part of the AVG was defending Lanchow, the last good oil source of China. I don’t plan to bomb this city to rubble, as I plan to take it with the rest of Northern China after Yenen fell.
All other Chinese cities are valid targets and three were hit on the 18 when the weather cleared. 24 Ki-49s, 12 Ki-51s, 26 Betties and 27 Ki-21 from Wuhan bombed Changsha (19 ressource centers disabled), 26 Ki-21 from Hanoi hit Kunming (17 centers disabled, one Ki-21 shot down by AA) and 26 Ki-49, 19 Ki-51 and 7 Kates from Canton raided Wuchow (8 centers disabled, a Ki-51 shot down by AA).
At the end of the day, China still had usable 1297 ressource centers, 124 oil centers and 825 HI centers. Yenen industry is not including in these numbers as it didn’t work. On 7 December 1941 China had respectively 2220, 200 and 1005.
In the evening of the 18 three bomber Sentais left China for Luzon, so the air offensive will quiet for a while.

Japan

4 Chutais of Zeroes and 4 of Vals that were disbanded during the Hawaii invasion to recomplete the frontline unit were reformed in Japan and filled in with rookie pilots that will train some time before going overseas.

Four 7000-ton AK loaded supplies in Hiroshima and will bring them to Miri to repair oilfields here.

On the 17 an Allied submarine was seen 400 miles S of Tokyo

[AmiralLaurent]

19-20 April 1942

Northern Pacific

Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Adak to size 4.

Central Pacific

The DD Tucker, that had been torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and then was one of the vessels caught in PH, was idenfitied as one of the scuttled wrecks here.
PH has now fortifications level 5 and 11 800 mines… Aks are still busy carrying troops and supplies from Lahaina to PH. A convoy also arrived with more troops, fuel and supplies. The plan now is to hold PH with almost all available forces, and Lahaina with weak forces. If the American seized one of the minor bases, the Kido Butai will return and crush them. But Pearl Harbor should be held at all cost, even against an Allied rush with the kitchen sink while IJN CVs are busy in the south.

Southern Pacific

On the 19th, 92 B-25C from Canton Island raided Baker and scored a supply hit for 4 operationnal losses.
The next day the same number of B-25C attacked again but the Hiyo TF had returned and 9 Rufes were now based here, detached from CS Nisshin, while Zeroes were LRCAPing the island. 10 Zeroes and 6 Rufes intercepted it and shot down 4 bombers, but one Zero hit by gunners was lost with his pilot and two other ran out of fuel and ditched, their pilots being saved by DDs. This time the B-25 hit the mark and scored 4 hits on the base, 1 on supplies and 19 on the runway. They lost a 5th bomber in an accident.
The Hiyo will again sail north tomorrow but the Rufes will remain at Baker to defend the base.

Japanese engineers expanded the airfield of Tarawa to size 3.

Solomons-New Guinea

On the 19 the damaged DD Uranami and Asanagi were both attacked by 3 Beaufort from Rabaul but were not hit. 9 Zeroes were sent from Tarawa to Truk and flew LRCAP over them the next day but there was no raid. I am quite pleased and surprised to say that 2 days after hitting mines both DD are still only around 70 FLT (didn’t move since the first day) and will very probably reach Truk tomorrow and be saved.

The daily raids by a dozen Hudson from Port Moresby continued to miss Saidor.

Philippines

On the 20 34 Ki-21s from Aparri bombed the 106th USAAF SE of Manila and hit 117 men and 1 gun but one was lost in an accident.

The Luzon campain will start in earnest tomorrow. 102 transport aircraft will drop both Parachute Rgts over Bataan, that is only held by a CD unit. This will be preceded by a troop bombing by the 124 Ki-49s and Ki-21s available in the area, and also by a Betty Daitai from Takao (detached from China). Two BB are just west of Bataan but after most hesitating I decided to not use them. The convoy carrying the 14th Army is also just W Bataan and troops will land as soon as the base is secured.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

The main raid on the 19 was launched by 93 B-17E from Darwin against Amboina. I didn’t think my opponent was able to concentrate so much B-17E here (and attack Balikpapan the same day with LB-30s). They met 29 Nates and 16 Zeroes and in a long battle 5 Nates, 2 Zeroes and 10 B-17E were either shot down or so damaged that they crashed later. All victories were awarded to Zero pilots. The bombers lost one more aircraft to AA over the target but their bombs destroyed on the ground 4 Nates, 3 Zeroes, 2 Mavis and 1 Nell and hit 141 men. 9 hits were scored on the base, 2 on supplies and 32 on runways.
The same day Japanese recon over Australia met heavy CAP. A Nell reported 20 Kittyhawk I and 25 P-40E over Darwin and was shot down. Another returned from Derby with reports of 40-50 Brewster 339D, P-39 and Kittyhawk flying CAP.
In the afternoon 4 B-25C from Darwin attacked Dili and scored 2 runway hits.
Recon also shown more Allied forces that exepted in Kai and Tenimbar Islands. The former had the Barisan Regiment and about 40 AC, 6 of them Brewster flying CAP. The latter was thought empty but the Sparrow Force Bn and the 7th Dutch Naval BF were identified there.

The orders of the Japanese command in the evening of the 19 were to raid Kai Island with all available planes from Kendari (28 Zeroes and 60 bombers) and to defend Amboina with local forces. Bad weather cancelled the Kai raid, and recon reported that almost all Allied AC left it. On the other hand Amboina was attacked again in the afternoon by 43 B-17E from Darwin. 24 Nates and 7 Zeroes intercepted but onl ydamaged some of them and 2 Nates and 1 Zero were shot down. Bombs hit 214 men and 1 gun, destoryed on the ground 2 more Zeroes and 2 Nates and and scored 2/1/14 AF hits. During the return leg one B-17E hit by the CAP and one hit by AA ditched north of Darwin. At the same time 10 B-25C from Darwin bombed and missed Dili.

The convoy carrying the Koepang garrison sailed past Kendari on the 19 and 2 CA and 7 DD left the base to escort it.

In the evening of the 20 Amboina airfield was left by all units except recon. Fighters concentrated in Kendari to cover Timor and protect this airfield.

Sumatra-Java

23 LB-30 from Soerabaja raided Balikpapan on the 19. It was unexepted and only 13 Nates and 4 Zeroes were flying CAP over the base. One Nate and one LB-30 were shot down in the short air battle and then bombers dropped their load… and all missed. Another LB-30 was lost to engine failure on the way back.
At the same time 26 Nells and 5 Betties escorted by 51 Zeroes were flying from Balikpapan to Soerabaja and met here 8 Brewster 339D. The Zeroes shot down 7 for one loss and the bombers hit the airfield undisturbed, destroying a Do24K-2 on the ground, disabling 4 men and scoring 6/1/21 airfield hits. Two Zeroes and 1 Nell were lost to accidents during this raid.
East of Jambi the Dutch submarine KVIII escaped the ASW group sent to chase her but was attacked several times by Japanese planes and hit in the afternoon by a Ki-48. On the other hand an AP anchored off Palembang and preparing for the Java operation was hit by a patrolling Martin 139.

During the night 3 DD from Palembang raided again Batavia and engaged 2 PT in a confuse battle, finally sinking one without loss or damage.

The raid on Soerabaja was repeated on the 20. 50% of the Zeroes remained on CAP over Balikpapan and only 24 Nells, 5 Betties and 10 Zeroes reached the target. They reported no CAP but found the airfield empty and scored only 4 runway hits.
The same day 5 Nells from Palembang attacked two Aks off Tjilatjap and hit the Boebonjan (sp?) with two torpedoes but she didn’t sink.
Recon counted 54 AC (0/23/31) in Batavia, that had only some patrol AC the day before and 63 Ki-21 flew from Singapore to Palembang and will raid this airfield tomorrow.

The loading of troops for the Java invasion started on the evening of the 19 in Singapore. There 1.5 division, the HQ Southern Army, 2 Eng Rgt, 7 artillery units, an Air HQ and 1 Aviation Rgt boarded ships. This convoy left the port towards Pontaniak on the evening of the 20. More transports are sailing to Palembang to load the HQ 25th Army, 1.5 division, 2 Tk Rgt and 1 Eng Rgt.

NW of Australia, the SS I-30 is still following an Allied convoy. Nine transports have been reported and they are sailing towards Tlitjap. Six submarines were sent to intercept this convoy.

Burma

Recon planes reported on the 19 that 4 Mohawks and 53 Hurricanes were flying CAP over Imphal after the successful Japanese raid of the previous day. The next day only 4 Mohawks and 17 Hurricanes were flying CAP and tomorrow two Daitai of Zeroes will do another sweep.

The was no raid these two days against Japanese troops and they were only hit north of Mandalay by Allied shells, that hit 33 men in 2 days. The 33rd Div finally returned to Myitkyina on the 19, one day ahead from schedule, and was at once ordered to join the 55th Div group. The 18th UK Div and 45th Ind Bde have no chance to resist the gathering of the Burma Japanese Army.

China

Having missed the big raid day of the 18, 61 Ki-48s of Chengting bombed Sian ressources on the 19 and disabled 6 centers. Betties flew recon over Chengtu and reported 13 I-153c on CAP.

Around Yenen, Oscar raids and Japanese shells hit 222 men and 5 guns. The Japanese regiment ordered to close the ring around the town is still marching into woods and will arrive in about twalve days.

Japan

An ASW was formed in Tokyo to chase the SS S-35 that was reported 240 miles south of it and saw her on the morning of the 20 but she escaped undamaged.

[Tom Hunter]

Post a strategic map for us.

Put a few arrows on showing your main drives and the places he is offering the greatest resistance.

[AmiralLaurent]

You're right, Tom, this AAR is lacking maps lately.

The map below show the overall situation in the evening of the 21.

The black arrows are showing the Japanese invasions underway:
1) Java (3 reinforced divisions landing in or near Soerabaja at the end of the month)
2) Luzon (Bataan taken by para, landing of 2 div underway there, 1 other reinforced division in Lingayen)
3) Southern Pacific (3 reinforced divisions and the main Japanese fleet to take every island from Canton to Suva)

The black circles are the area of ground fighting:
1) north of Mandalay (2 reinforced divisions vs 1 Div and 1 Bde, goal is to chase them in the jungle)
2) around Yenen (surrounding of Yenen will be done in 10 days, then the city will be taken and its 80000 defenders done for)

The Allied resistance is mostly in the air for now.
The blue circles show the area where Allied aircraft are active: N Burma, NE Australia and Canton.
The blue arrows show the last heavy raids by Allied bombers.

[AmiralLaurent]

21-22 April 1942

Central Pacific

The SS I-7, the easternmost of the 6 Glen-carrying submarines cruising off America, attacked on the early hours of the 22 an American DD 850 miles south of San Diego, but missed. She was then chased by 9 DD and hit twice by the USS Anderson but suffered only medium damage (36/42/0). She was ordered back to Rabaul and the whole patrol line was shifted SE to replace her. I have no idea of what these DDs were escorting and where they were heading.

Southern Pacific

88 B-25C from Canton raided Baker Island in the afternoon of the 21 and were intercepted by 4 Rufes that shot down 2 of them and damaged others, 3 crashing on the return leg. This is allready more victories I have ever seen my Rufes score in other games. Two other B-25 were lost in a collision but the others destroyed an Emily on the ground and scored 1/1/4 airfield hits. The airfield was evacuated in the evening, except for the Ki-46. Emilies went to Tarawa and Rufes returned aboard the CS Nisshin in the Hiyo TF. 3 barges left Tarawa with supplies to bring them to Baker.

On the 22 Emilies from Tarawa flew recon to Suva and Tongapatu. The former reported 4 AP in a convoy off the island, and 3 units (1360 men) and 7 ships (1 DD) in the base, and then disappeared, shot down by AA. The latter found one unit in Tongapatu.
83 B-25 bombed Baker again, hitting 19 men and scoring 1/1/9 airfield hits.

The landing at Pago-Pago is now planned for the 1st of May. I hesitated to sail towards Canton with the KB, as Canton’s B-25 are obviously on naval attack orders and they will be decimated by the heavy CAP. I finally didn’t order it, the KB will remain with the convoy cureently still undetected (except for SIGINT) and sailing southward east of Canton. It will be better to surprise an Allied convoy in this area than to shot down some tens of B-25s. The Allied can afford the loss of AC and pilots far more than the loss of transports.

A convoy approaching Pearl Harbor with 40 000 fuel and 50 000 supplies was rerouted southward and will follow the invasion convoys. It will then unload in the newly conquered bases. Hawai has enough fuel and supplies for months.

Solomons-New Guinea

24 Nells from Truk bombed Rabaul airfield on the 21, scoring only 2 runway hits and losing one Nell to AA fire. Both damaged DD reached Truk the same day and were docked for repairs (with FLT 81 and 73). The FLT damage was reduced the next day and both ships are very probably saved.

Saidor wasn’t bombed on the 21. The next day 9 Hudson I from Port Moresby again attacked and scored an airbase hit.

Philippines

On the 21, the Corregidor CI Fortress, the only Allied unit in Bataan, was bombed by 42 Ki-49s and 51 Ki-21s from Lingayen and Aparri and lost 96 men and 3 guns. AA shot down 1 Ki-49 and 1 Ki-21 and another Ki-21 was lost in an accident. And then about one hundred transport aircraft arrived over Bataan and dropped 1500 men of the 1st and 2nd Parachute Regiment, losing one Tabby to AA fire. The paras attacked at 9 to 1 vs fort 3 and took the base at the cost of 62 men. The Corregidor defenders surrendered (1700 POWs).

The next night the convoy carrying the 14th Army arrived off Bataan and started at once to unload the HQ and the 21st and 38th Div here. At the same time the BB Ise and Hyuga were bombarding Manila but the CD defences engaged them and no shell fell on the city. The Allied lost 306 men and 13 guns and hit the Hyuga 9 times, but all shells bounced on the armor. During the day, the 71st PA Div in San Marcelino was bombed by 54 Ki-21s (one op loss) and 41 Ki-49 from Lingayen and Aparri and lost 119 men and 4 guns.

The convoy carrying more base forces to Lingayen arrived on the 21 and unloaded them. The reinforced airfield (more than 200 air support now) saw all bombers based in Aparri move there on the evening of the 22 and will receive also some of the Nates that were sent to China to make room for bombers.

SE of Manila the 106th USAAF BF retreated back to the Philipinno capital. It was probably only a recon to see if Naga was still occupied.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

I thought I had cancelled offensive orders for Kendari aircraft but I had not. In the morning of the 21 26 Nells and 2 Betties escorted by 29 Zeroes raided Kai Island. Two Brewster were flying CAP but hid in the clouds and didn’t engage. The raid scored 2/1/5 airfield hits.
This afternoon, 41 B-17E from Darwin raided again Amboina and this time met no CAP. They destroyed 1 Mavis on the ground, hit 262 men and 2 guns and scored 6 hits on the base and 23 on the runways. At the same time 8 B-25C from Darwin missed Dili and one was shot down by AA fire. This evening a Ki-15 tranfering to Dili to fly recon over Australia crashed on the cratered runway and its crew was lost.

The next day both sides didn’t launch any raid. Japanese patrol planes reported no Allied ships off Darwin, while a Betty flying recon over Wyndham reported 10 Hurricanes flying CAP over this base.

The convoy carrying the garrison troops to Koepang will arrive tomorrow and be LRCAPed by 25 Zeroes from Kendari. 27 Zeroes arrived there from Balikpapan to reinforce the CAP.

Sumatra-Java

The damaged AK Boelongan, torpedoed the day before, sank in Tjilitjap during the night of the 20-21. The other AK fled southwards and evaded the Japanese submarines deployed in the area.
The 7th BG had moved the same night from Soerabaja to Batavia and launched in the morning of the 21 a raid against Palembang with 21 LB-30. They met 10 Oscars and 15 Nates flying CAP, shot down one of each type and then bombed the oilfield, but disabled only 8 centers, and repairs started at once. AA shot down a LB-30. After this raid the local defenses were reinforced by 27 A6M3 from Singapore and 12 A6M2 from Balikpapan.
The CAP was so weak because at the same time most Palembang AC were raiding Batavia. 54 Ki-21 escorted by 26 Ki-43 and 18 Ki-27 bombed the airfield and hit 65 men and 1 gun, scoring 12 hits on the base, 9 on supplies and 21 on runways. One Oscar was lost in an accident.
In the afternoon of the 21 the damaged Dutch SS KVIII, that was trying to return to Batavia, was bombed and sunk by a Ki-21 and a Ki-48.

The troopships sent to Palembang began to load troops on the 21 for the Java operation and will meet the Singapore convoy off Pontaniak. The BB TF currently in Palembang will escort them. 36 Oscars flew from Palembang to Singkawang and will LRCAP the convoys off Borneo.

In the Indian Ocean the convoy Allied seen some days ago is still sailing NE to Java. Japanese submarines are waiting for her. I wonder if it is carrying reinforcements or arriving to evacuate troops.

Twelve transports left Singapore in the evening of the 22 for Medan. They will carry the 23rd Bde from there to Rangoon.

Burma

No Allied raid was launched these two days. On the other hand on the afternoon of the 21 48 Zeroes flew a sweep from Rangoon to Imphal and met 6 Mohawk IV and 33 Hurricane II flying CAP. The bloody battle saw 12 Zeroes, 21 Hurricane and 2 Mohawks be shot down. I can’t afford this kind of losses and so won’t repeat this raid. On the other hand the RAF pilot pool should be as empty as the IJNAF one now.

The 21st Bde bombed on the 21st the Allied troops surrounded between Lashio and Myitkyina (4 Chinese divisions and 2 RAF BF), hitting 16 men, and launched a schock attack on the 22. The Ki-21 of Rangoons were supposed to support the attack but didn’t fly and the attacked achieved only 1 to 1 ratio (13 000 Japanese vs 9 000 Allied, but in mountains). 273 Japanese and 36 Allied men fell, and the attack was called off until reinforcements came.

And they will come, as the situation more NW will probably turn tomorrow in Japanese favor. The 33rd Div reached the spot where the 55th Div is facing Allied troops on the railway north of Mandalay and tomorrow a shock attack will be launched against the 18th UK Div and the 45th Indian Bde by the 33rd and 55th Div, 4th Rgt, 6 Tank Rgts, the 81st Naval Guard Unit and the HQ 15th Army, supported by 27 Ki-21 from Rangoon. In this place Allied guns hit 22 men in two days.

China

On the 21 another Zero sweep had been ordered to Chungking and another time CII-1 only sent 2 Zeroes that met 17 I-16c. One Zero was lost and one I-16c damaged. Wuhan is big enough, has enough supplies and AS, the morale is good and this unit has order sweep, CAP 0%... but it still only send in missions 1 or 2 aircraft only, while it has 15 pilots. The problem may be that it had more AC than pilots, and is a CV unit, so won’t fly normally. I thought this problem only affected air units aboard CV but may be wrong. One of the new Zero units, the F2/1st, just finished converting from Claudes and was sent to Wuhan to deal with the Chinese fighters. A Betty unit also returned to Wuhan from Formosa after the successful Bataan operation.

In the north Japanese artillery hit 267 men and 3 guns in Yenen in 2 days. Chinese guns remained silent west of the town, but no more troop movement was seen.

Japan

The ASW group (3 DD, 3 PG) operating south of Tokyo saw again the SS S-35 during the night of the 20-21 but she escaped again and then moved west.

Below is the list of my damaged warships... the most annoying part are the CV but they are repairing about 5 points a week, so should be ready in 2-3 months.

[AmiralLaurent]

23 April 1942

Central Pacific

In the morning, the big ML TF returned to Lahaina after reloading in PH and blundered into a new submarine-laid minefield. The ML Ushishima was heavily damaged (81/57/49) and docked to save her. The 10000 mines around Lahaina don’t seem to stop Allied submarines going there at least once a week… I will try something else and will lay big minefields in open waters NE of Lahaina, on the known path of US submarines.

According to American newspapers, the Allied TF that damaged one of my submarines yesterday was a surface TF sent to chase Japanese raiders in the Pacific.

Southern Pacific

As exepted the approach path of Pago-Pago cut the Allied convoy road and one TF was found, but it was not the big troop convoy I hoped to find. In the morning, KB airmen reported two TK about 800 mines ESE of Canton, 300 miles W of their own position. They were attacked by two waves of Japanese AC in the morning, for a total of 40 Vals, 12 Kates and 36 Zeroes. They heavily damaged one TK with 18 bomb hits and slighty the other with 2 hits. One Zero and one Val ditched on the return leg of the mission.

Emilies continued to fly recon over Suva and Tongapatu. Twelve F4F-4s were now flying CAP over Suva, probably a Marine squadron. The Emily reported there 5 units and one TK docked.

Ki-46 based in Baker Island continued to fly daily recon over Canton. Last reports show there two units (10 000 men) and 192 aircraft (36/109/47).

The BB TF and Kido Butai will sail west tomorrow to finish both TK and try to catch other Allied shipping. The convoy will continue to sail SW. The date of the landing in Pago-Pago is now fixed as the 30 April. The landing in Canton will be 5 or 6 days later.

Solomons-New Guinea

One of the 11 Hudson I sent from Port Moresby to bomb Saidor (without success) get lost and crashed into a mountain on the way back.

The SS I-174 patrolling off Rabaul reported again an Allied AP. Nells and Zeroes of Truk were ordered to fly naval attack tomorrow.

Philippines

Two Allied units (10 000 men) marched from Clark Field to Bataan, propably to try to crush the Japanese paratroops. Well they will face them, and 2 full divisions (21st and 38th) and the HQ 14th Army. I will have liked to attack them at once but Japanese troops have still no supply so no attack will be launched tomorrow. All Lingayen bombers will bomb these troops.

Boac Island, west of Naga, was occupied by Japanese patrols.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon 11 B-25C from Darwin bombed and missed Dili. The landing of the garrison troops in Koepang was undisturbed and will continue tomorrow. Recons have seen again the Allied warships off Darwin, and also 2 APs off Broome.

Sumatra-Java

A patrolling Ki-21 bombed and sank the last Dutch PT off Batavia in the afternoon.

The convoy sent to Palembang finished loading troops and left in the evening towards Pontaniak, the concentration point of the fleet. Some parts of the units are still ashore and more APs were sent from Singapore to load them.

Burma

The Allied heavy bombers attacked Rangoon! 31 B-17E, 8 B-17C and 15 Il-4c were intercepted by 31 Zeroes, 15 Nates and 18 Oscars. The Japanese fighters lost 5 Zeroes and 1 Osca but shot down 7 B-17E, 4 Il-4c and 3 B-17C (or damaged them enough that they crashed later). 37 bombers nevertheless get trough and hit hard the airfield, destroying on the ground 5 Zeroes, 4 Ki-57, 3 Ki-27, 3 Ki-21 and 2 Ki-43. They scored 2/4/7 airfield hits and disabled 37 men and 1 gun. This raid caught most fighter units flying 70% CAP, they will fly 100% CAP tomorrow.
At the same time, 81 Blenheim IV, 24 Blenheim I and 12 Wellington III escorted by 44 P-40B and 8 Buffalo I from Dacca raided Mandalay, hitting 90 men. 5 hits were scored on the airbase, 3 on supplies and 36 on the runways. A Wellington and a Blenheim IV were lost in crashes.

Between Lashio and Myitkyina, the surrounded Allied troops wer bombed by 26 Ki-21 from Hanoi, that hit 40 men of the 28th Chinese Division, and then the 21st Bde launched another shock attack (I forgot to order it to rest) and achieved a 2 to 1 ratio. I exepted at least the two RAF Base Force here to surrender but none of the 6 Allied units did. 236 Japanese and 46 Allied fell in this battle.

But the most iumportant battle of the day was fought 120 miles north of Mandalay. The 18th UK Div and 45th Indian Bde were bombed by 15 Ki-21 from Rangoon, that hit 10 men, and then attacked by the Japanese 15th Army (2 Div, 1 Rgt, 6 Tk Rgt, 1 Naval Guard unit) and defeated at 9 to 1. The battle saw 1211 Japanese and 793 Allied fall, but the retreat towards Imphal costed the Allied more than 2000 men (about 50 troops points, retreating units lost 10-15% of their strenght).

So the Allied ground forces in Burma have been finally defeated. Now the 15th Army will scatter again to clean the various Allied units remaining. One of them, the 1st Burma Rifles Bde, after waliking for 3 months in the jungle, finally cut the railway between Lashio and Myitkyina. The SNLF holding Lashio will march west to pin it there.
The main body of the 15th Army will split. The 33rd Div and 2 Tk Rgt will pursue the defeated Allied units north of the railway and rout them one more time to wreck them a little more, and then march south to the railway. The other troops will go south, where the 55th Div will march overland to Akyab, while the 4th Rgt will first attack the 1st Burma Rifles, then join the 21st Bde to crush Allied troops between Lashio and Myitkyina. Both will be supported by Tk Rgts and small IJN units. The 23rd Bde arriving from Sumatra will participate in the Akyab operation.

Some more air support and engineers will help in Burma and the 7th Aviation Rgt was ordered to leave Bangkok and march to Burma.

China

NW of Yenen the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt was bombed by 52 Ki-48 and 35 Ki-43 and lost 10 men. One Ki-48 was lost in a crash. Japanese guns hit 49 Chinese and 3 guns in Yenen.

The two Corps (one a Cav Corps) that retired some time ago from the hex west of Yenen had gone west one hex and marched NE last turn to arrive 120 miles NE of Yenen. They are evidently marching to the hex NE of Yenen, that is currently held by the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt only and the last not held around the city by Japanese forces. But they will probably be too late, the Japanese Rgt marching to this hex will arrive in 4-6 and is strong enough to rout the disrupted Tk Rgt. Then the forces of Yenen (that will be reinforced tomorrow by the 68th Div) will have 3 weeks to take the city.





In red, the planned Japanese moves in the near future: surrounding and crushing Yenen, and the end of the conquest of Burma with a land and sea operation against Akyab.

In pink, the Allied moves (or forced retreat).

In yellow, the next offensive planned in China (in June), to seize Kweilin and Wuchow.

[AmiralLaurent]

24 April 1942

Central Pacific

Minesweepers swept the Allied mines off Lahaina. Off California the SS I-15 saw a convoy (1 AP and 2 APD) but didn’t attack.

Southern Pacific

In the afternoon, 94 B-25C from Canton did another successful raid against Baker Island, scoring 1/1/15 hits and disabling 41 men. Only one Ki-46 was still based there and it was busy at the time over Canton.

More east, the badly damaged TK Santa Maria had been scuttled during the night and her crew saved by the TK admiral Wiley that tried to flee. She was hidden by clouds in the morning but the afternoon was sunk by 12 Kates and 20 Vals launched by the Kido Butai.

A small TF (3 or 6 ships, including 2 “CA”) was reported 300 miles S of the Pago-Pago convoy, sailing SE to flee the Kido Butai. Japanese CV won’t pursue, as this convoy is too far away from their current position, but will sail SE also tomorrow and join the convoy.

Solomons-New Guinea

The daily bombing raid from Port Moresby by 7 Hudson I scored one runway hit.

Philippines

The Allied troops at Bataan were bombed by 38 Ki-49 and 67 Ki-21 and the 31st RCT lost 157 men and 8 guns. One bomber of each type was lost in an accident. The Allied troops are probably marching back after realizing how strong were the Japanese forces here. Tomorrow all Japanese troops will launch a schock attack against them if they don’t leave before.

An AP convoy left Japan and will go to Aparri and pick up here the Base Force and HQ 22nd Air Flotilla that are now longer of any use, as Lingayen is now the main airbase in the area. They will be carried to Amboina where an Air HQ will help.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

In the afternoon, 48 B-17E from Darwin raided again Amboina. One Nate remaining there after the leave of its unit tried to intercept but failed. The bombs hit 216 men and 1 gun and scored 5 hits on the airbase and 39 on the runways. One bomber was lost in a crash.

A convoy carrying several base forces arrived in Kendari and the airbase here will be strengthened. More north the BB ise and Hyuga and their escort refueld in Dadjangas, near Davao, and then sailed south to Kendari.

The Lautem operation has been postoned. The 4th Bde that was waiting in AP off Kendari left for Macassar and will be ready to join the Java operation. Off Koepang the convoy has finished unloading troops and is now unloading supplies. Four small AP allready empty loaded some troops of the 35th Bde and sailed at once towards Kendari. Seven Ki-15 arrived in Koepang… just to realize that they have not the range to reach any Australian base.

Sumatra-Java

18 LB-30s from Soerabaja raided Balikpapan and were intercepted by 14 Nates and 27 Zeroes. 7 LB-30 and 2 Zeroes were shot down. The surviving bombers scored two hits on the oilfields and disabled some oil centers (exact number unknown, as they were repairing since some time).
46 Ki-21 and 26 Ki-48 with 35 escorts from Palembang bombed Batavia at 10000 feet. AA shot down 4 Ki-48s and 1 Ki-21 but they disabled 53 men and scored 14 hits on the airbase, 8 on supplies and 82 on runways. Airfield was only occupied by some patrol planes but this was a preparatory strike. The raid will be repeated tomorrow but at 20 000 feet.

The plan for the Java landing is now ready. First a FT TF will drop troops of the Imperial Guard (from the detachment that went to Singkawang) to Kragen. Then the main body of troops will land in Soerabaja, exept the Tk Rgt and some air support personnel that will go ashore at Kragen. Oscars will fly to Kragen as soon as the base is open.

The Allied convoy sailing in Indian Ocean is now sailing north and may be sailing to Ceylon. A CA and 3 DD just finishing repairs or upgrades in Singapore left this base on the evening to go to Sabang, N Sumatra, and will try to raid the convoy if she continues north.

Japanese engineers expanded Tarakan port to size 4, so oil and ressources will be loaded faster. The two construction Bn working here will be shipped in the near future to Miri.

Burma

Japanese artillery hit 8 men between Lashio and Myitkyina. More north the Japanese troops are marching to their assigned targets but none actually moved on the map.

A tanker and an Ak with some escorts arrived in Rangoon and will load some of the oil and ressources stockpiled here to bring them to Singapore.

China

Japanese artillery hit 106 men in Yenen. The final phase of the battle will start soon. The regiment marching to the NW of the town, after marching 2 miles a day for weeks, is now doing 4 miles a day and has done 52.

Japan

I just realized that the Ki-15 Babs can upgrade to Ki-46… In all my previous IJN games I had never upgraded them. The Ki-46 factory, that was stopped, has been restarted to provide enough Ki-46 to upgrade most of the Ki-15 units. The extended range is very useful, and I have never enough Ki-46 where I need them.

Four submarines that had been damaged during the Hawaii campain by Allied bombs or depth charges have been repaired in Japan and left together Nagoya for Kwajalein.

[AmiralLaurent]

25-26 April 1942

Central Pacific

Japanese MSW finished to sweep Allied mines off Lahaina, while Japanese ML laid another anti-submarine minefield in the open ocean NE of Lahaina.

The AR Rigel was identified as one of the wrecks still in Pearl Harbor. Only three ships are still unidentified (a DD, a MSW and an AK).

Southern Pacific

The 25 was totally peacefully in the area and the Allied engineers expanded the Suva airfield to size 5. Emilies reported there 9 units (11520 men), 2 TK/AO in the port, 2 SS and 1 DD off the island, and still 12-15 Wildcats on CAP. Suva is probably the main Allied base in the area.

This evening the Pago-Pago invasion convoy turned west toward its target. All combat TF had joined it and were supposed to sail together. The next day all forces were 600 miles east of Pago-Pago, except one of the two CV TF, that had been delayed by refueling DDs. This TF has the Kaga, that with SYS 15 is the slowest CV of the fleet. I should have left her in PH (she had SYS 12 when the TF left) but finally decided to sue all my available CV whatver their SYS was. It may be a problem.

Whatever in the dawn of the 26 then only 3 CV were with the convoy, the other being 120 miles more east when patrilling Vals reported a convoy 300 miles more west. I finally managed to find a big convoy but why should every convoy be attacked at range 5 ? In fact the 3 CV launched 17 Zeroes, 62 Vals and 22 Kates and attacked only some ships in the convoy, concentrating on the bigger warships. The convoy was escorted by the CL Condord, that was badly damaged by 9 bombs, and DDs. One of the latter, the Kennison, was sunk by Vals. The only other ship hit was an AP that was hit by 4 bombs. AA shot down 1 Val and 1 Kate ditched after an engine failure. In the afternoon this convoy ws hidden by bad weather but a patrolling Val managed to find the Concord and hit her with one more bomb. This convoy was empty and was returning to the West Coast. Not this time I will sink a division in the Pacific.

More west the RO-66 attacked in the afternoon an Allied convoy and hit a laden TK with two torpedoes, leaving her burning. She was ordered to pursue her toward Suva.
In the north 98 B-25 from Canton bombed Baker Island, hitting 26 men and 1 supply dump and leaving 17 holes on the runway, while losing 2 of their number in operationnal mishaps. At the same time the only aircraft remaining on the island, a Ki-46, was finally intercepted and shot down by the P-40E based in Canton. This left Baker with no AC and almost no more supplies due to the constant bombings.

On the evening of the 26 the Japanese fleet received orders to continue west. The convoy will continue at its own pace, the combat TF (BB, CA and KB) will sail to 300 miles east of Pago-Pago and engage again the convoy. The late CV TF received especially harsh orders to join the other, but just in case part of its Zero were ordered to LRCAP it. Vals and Kates were ordered to fly only at range 4, so won't run into Pago-Pago CAP. On the other hand 3 floatplanes were ordered to recon Pago-Pago.

In the north the Canton convoys (Hiyo TF included) received orders to move south, to a waiting position 240 miles SW of Palmyra.

A small convoy left Kawajalein on the 25 toward Tarawa. It is carrying troops (2 IJN units) to occupy Funafuti and nearby islands.

Solomons-New Guinea

Hudson from Port Moresby continued their daily bombing sorties against the empty airfield of Saidor and scored in 2 days 1 runway hits against one operationnal loss.
Japanese still planned no move in this area but their engineers are working in Ponape to build a size 4 airfield and just reached the size 3.

Philippines

On the 25, the Japanese troops in Bataan (HQ 14th Army, 21st and 38th Div, 1st and 2nd Para Rgt) launched a deliberate attack against the Allied troops sent here and defeated at 8 to 1 the 26th PS Cavalry Rgt and 31st USA RCT. 755 Japanese and 202 Allied were hit in the battle and then hundred of Allied were captured during their retreat. The Japanese troops were heavily disrupted and fatigues and rested the next day and will rest still some more days before advancing to Clark Field (held by 12 units and 35000 men).

In the north Lingayen fortifications are now level 5, far enough to block a desesperate Allied counter-attack. Two Const Bn were sent from here to Tuguerapao (sp?) to build a port here, as I have been unable to load ressources from there without a port.

Timor-Amboina-Australia

Koepang operation was concluded on the night of the 25-26 when the last transports finished unloading supplies and left. The day before some had left again with a part of the 35th Bde. The last part of this unit will be carried by transport AC to Java when bases will be taken here. All ships carrying part of this Bde are also sailing slowly toward Java. Kendari defences were weakened by the sending of 15 Zeroes to Balikpapan on the 25.
Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Wyndham to size 5. Japanese bombers flying recon over Derby and Darwin reported that the Allied warships were still off Darwin but the CAP was increased on the 26 (55 fighters over Darwin, >40 over Derby) and the number of Allied units in Darwin is growing (there are now 21).

On the 26 it was decided to made no more offensive in this area move until the end of the Java campain. The 56th and 65th Bde, respectively in Kendari and Macassar, will be shipped to Luzon to help finish the Allied troops here (both are preparing for Manila since 2 or 3 months). By the way the operation here will probably resume with a paradrop on Lautem (only a weak base force is here) and a landing on Kai Island (held by a Dutch Rgt) supported by a strong surface TF (with the BBs and other warships currently off Java).

Sumatra-Java

On the 25, 59 bombers from Palembang bombed Batavia airfield at 20000 feet. At this altitude, the AA didn't hit any...but they didn't score any hit either. This useless raid costed a Ki-48 and an Oscar destroyed in crashes. From Balikpapan, Nells flew recon over Madioen, Malang and Djoekarta and reported all of them empty.

The preparation of the invasion of Java was continued. It was initially planned to base OScars in Banjarmasin but the base has no supplies and a late decision to send Tabbies in Balikpapan to bring some on the 25 changed little to it, the decision to not use the base was taken the following day.

On the evening of the 25 Kondo's TF (2 BB, 2 CA, 3 CL, 6 DD) was ordered to sail south and be ready to bombard Soerabaja on the night of the 26-27. The troop convoy were gathering off Pontaniak, under CAP of Oscars based in Singkawang, and a FT TF was ordered to pick up in this base the troops that would land in Kragen. But this TF finally didn't move (I don't know it is only me but more than half of my FT send to pick up troops didn't pick up any).

The next day 58 Batavia bombers attacked Batavia at 15000 feet. They destroyed a LB-30, disabled 39 men and scored 3 hits on the runway, 1 on supplies and 22 on runways. One Nell and 1 Ki-21 were lost in crashes.

The failure of the FT TF to load any troops in two days brought a change of plan in the evening of the 26. The invasion of Java will be launched the next day, as planned,... but by paratroops brought by long-range Tinas from Camranh Bay to the empty bases (accroding to recon) of Kragen and Madioen. The troop convoys left in the evening Pontaniak towards Soerabaja. The other transport aircraft based in Camranh Bay moved south and will be used to ferry to the newly taken base in Java troops of 35th Bde from Koepang and Balikpapan and a base force from Palembang.

Another change of the plan was due to the fact that the BB TF had finished its move 6 hexes from Soerabaja and can only move 5... It only moved 3 hexes this day ? Anyway the two BB and 2 DD were sent to bombard Batavia instead, while the 2 CA and 3 CL, with 4 DD as AW screen, were sent to Soerabaja to bombard it during the night.

The convoy carrying the 4th Bde left the same evening Macassar toward Bali and will be supported by the surface TF (2 CA and 7 DD) returning from Koepang.

The Japanese submarines deployed west and SW of Java to detect Allied ships. The convoy that had been followed for some days had now vanished, propably toward India, and only one Glen-carrying submarine is still searching it. The CA and 3 DD sent to Sabang to intercept it still sailed SW in case it was seen again.

Burma

In the north, the 33rd Div, 1st Tk Rgt and 81st Naval Guard marched north in the jungle on the 25 to pursue the Allied troops and launched on the 26 a shock attack against the allready defeated Allied units. 75 Hurricane flew this day from Imphal to bomb the 33rd Div but only hit 40 men and 2 guns and the attack was a success (at 5 to 1)The 18th UK Div, 44th and 45th Ind Bde and the HQ Indian II Corps retreated towards Imphal and lost 120 killed and wounded and 1700 prisonners. The Japanese lost 956 men. The 33rd Div and support troops then marched south to the railroad, but will take a full month probably.
Between Lashio and Myitkyina, the 21st Bde bombarded the surrounded Allied troops and hit 21 men in two days. Between Lashio and Mandaly the Sasebo 8th SNLF marching from Lashio contacted the Allied troops on the 26 and will bombard them tomorrow. The same day the 4th Mixed Rgt was ordered to march east from Mandalay. It is excepted to launch a shock attack across the river in 2 days. Tomorrow tanks will follow him and then probably attack the same day.

On the Salween front, the Allied units are still leaving the Chinese frontier and marching to Yunnan. Only one Chinese Corps (the only unit here not yet beaten) remained along the Chinese frontier. If it crosses it, it will provide a retreat path to the surrounded units between Lashio and Myitkyina. But no Japanese troops are available to defend the river, they will rather remain on the railway and react to the crossing.

Some reinforcements arrived. The 4th Eng Rgt is landing in Rangoon and 9 Nates arrived at Taung Gyi to fly LRCAP over surrounded troops, just in case Allied transports are dropping them supplies. Ledo is probably a hub for Allied transports and their op losses are constant (for example 3 Dakota I on the 26) so they should be rather active. For the moment the Nates are resting.

China

The 25 saw thunderstorms and no action but the 26 was clear and used by both sides. 31 Ki-21from Hanoi bombed Kunming and disabled 32 ressource centers (only 164 are still OK here). 19 Betties flew from Wuhan to Chungking to bomb oil. 18 I-16c tried to intercept them but were bounced by 24 Zeroes of the new F2/1st Daitai and 11 Chinese fighters were shot down. They shot down a Zero and the bombs then all missed the target. At the same time in the north a raid by 30 Ki-48 and 32 Ki-43 escorted by 3 Ki-44 against the 1st Chinese Tk Rgt was intercepted by 9 P-40Bs of the 3rd Squadron of the AVG. The American mercenaries once again did good, shooting down 6 Ki-48 and 1 Ki-44 without loss. The Chinese troops were nevertheless bombed and lost 58 men and 3 tanks. The Zeroes of F2/1st were ordered in the evening to fly to Chengting to deal with the AVG pilots.

Japanese artillery fire in Yenen hit 239 men and 6 guns in 2 days. In the evening of the 26 the regiment of the 27th Div marching NW of the town reported that it will close the ring around the city the next day. So an attack was ordered at Yenen. The Japanese troops (HQ Northern China Area and HQ 1st Army, 7 Div, 1 Bde and a half, 2 Eng Rgt, 1 Tk Rgt, 4 ART units) have 3000 assault poinst and the town should fall in some days.

The map of the day: Pago-Pago