My posts are getting shorter and shorter - anyone else miss summer? [>:]
Today's post made out of character!
1/12/42
Another night raid over Kota! They may not be doing much damage to the airfield but they still net a few aircraft every night. I almost wish I had night fighters, but after seeing their performance in a few AARs, I think it might not have made a difference either way..
Other than this raid, Malaya was quiet today. The first of our two divisions heading north to Singora arrived today and should be in position to contribute tomorrow.
Today's main attraction was the Philippines theatre.
For starters, I sent Nagato and Mutsu on a merry trip over from Saigon to Cagayan, which they blasted away at with their 16" guns. In retrospect I should have reconned the base with Babsies beforehand because it was mostly ineffective. Still, that should scare them a little - and hopefully reduce the usefulness of the level 4 airbase. 56th Brigade is moving into position to attack soon - more support troops are already landing at Davao to help out. In fact, one of my transports hit a VH2 mine at Davao this turn, and looks like it might not make it. Sneaky...
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Gotta love those pagoda towers, huh? Nagato at Hashirajima pre-war. Hope she doesn't randomly blow up! Yet![/center]
Over at San Marcelino, I've flown in the Tainan Zero boys to provide CAP for the nascent airbase. 16 of them were in the air to meet the 12 Fortreses sent to attack APDs in the harbour, escorted by 4 P-35s and 6 Warhawks. We took down a couple fighters, but those B-17s are nasty - they shot down two Zeroes and seemed hardly hurt at all! At least they didn't hit anything...
Finally, Homma launched his first deliberate attack at Clark Field. In short it was a failure - Not enough bombardment (from the air or the ground) and not enough time for our troops to recover from their march. I was hoping my numbers would make the difference, hrmph. At least we know how many forts he has.. 3. Interesting.. I have another division moving to land next turn so we will bombard until it is available to support the attack. Another division is standing reserve on Hainan Island - not sure if I should commit it to the PI or Malaya. A large chunk of my AP capacity is currently tied up sending the 33rd Div from Shanghai to Burma...
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0-1 odds, fort level 3, lots o' casualties. Could be better![/center]
Over in the Pacific, submarine USS
Pompano was in position to attempt an attack on CarDiv 5 as it returned to Kwajalein. The American commander penetrated the reduced destroyer screen (only 4 DDs) and launched a full spread of torpedoes at cruiser
Ashitaka, on close escort with
Soryu. All torpedoes were duds! Another two torpedoes were fired at
Soryu. These also scratched our paint and sank apoligetically. Embittered,
Pompano's commander gave up the chase.
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Pompano in happier times.[/center]
Even if the enemy didn't sink our carriers he at least has introduced an element of caution into our planning. No way I'm going to drive over the next sub I see, sorry Charlie. Repairs are going to kill any raiding plans I have for a bit, too. Hrrm.
On a final note - recon reported something like 70 enemy fighters on CAP at Singapore. All of them Hurricanes and Spitfires. It also reported a further 60 fighters on the ground, plus 30 bombers and 100+ auxilliary aircraft, 37,000 troops, and general impressiveness. Fortress Singapore deserves the name...
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OOC comments -
I'm still pleased that my troops are on the ground in Malaya! I didn't lose 6 priceless capital ships this time, either, whoopee
With this in mind IGHQ is looking south towards Borneo and Celebes. Again. The Dutch are keeping Kuching well supressed - their bombing accuracy just keeps getting better which will have bad consequences for me in the long term. I need to run in some supplies and engineers ASAP but I suffer from Stringbagitis! Perhaps it's a job for the KB...
Either way, if I stray to close to Singapore, my ships have a tendency to become Stringbait.
In the meantime I have established a seaplane base at Brunei to keep an eye on the Dutch. A lot of SNLF units and base forces arrived in Tokyo and I'll be sending them out over the next few days to pick up lots of little bases in eastern Borneo, Celebes, the Philippines and New Guinea.
Speaking of Celebes and New Guinea - Manado, Tarakan, Amboina, Rabaul and Kavieng still stand. The reason being a lack of assets on my part - particularly aircraft. 4 CVLs that would have been invaluable here were sunk and I am waryt to bring my my unprotected capital ships and transports into range (I recall heavily damaging and sinking several ships from Rabaul in our other game).
However I should be able to begin moving in these areas again soon. Soryu and Donryu and returning from CENTPAC and can support the drive towards New Britain and the Solomons. The need for protection in Malaya is much lessened now that we have an operational airfield and perhaps Akagi and Kaga can be detached from there as well. Nagato and Mutsu are already on their way to join Tanaka's Fuso and Yamashiro at Palau.
The worst thing I could do is try to fling myself at Manado and get two more battleships sunk under me, perhaps by Hermes and Eagle? That would not be fun. We wait for support.
It should also be noted that HMS Hood arrived today according to our intelligence (I am the scenario designer! I know all! Raah!). I believe that RNN De Zeven Provincien arrives at Middle East today as well. I wonder what the enemy will do with his capital ships... time for gunnery practice at Hashirajima!
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