Combat Report
December 24-25, 1942
The pieces are now taking their places for the Aerial Campaign to begin against Sabang. Georgetown and Alor Star are nearly fully repaired and once that occurs the 1st MASSED SWEEP shall occur.
A Burma Counterstroke is now in the works as well.
North/Central Pacific
Clear
South Pacific
Noumea
The 6th ID is 75% unloaded. Supplies have climbed over 10,000 and everything looks good. Figure two days before we launch the attack to begin the destruction of five Allied units.
KB-2
The CVLs and CVEs meet in the northern Coral Sea and head for Tulagi to fuel. At that point we come south and shall watch developments.
Norfolk Island
Grabbed this earlier when I thought Dan was making his attempt at New Guinea. Did not notice that the AF is Sz-1. Am moving a BF Coy there and shall base some assets their for air search.
Have brought down my first two Chutai of Recon Judy. Am basing one of each at Koumac and Noumea.
Sumatra
Sibolga
The new pair of Inf Div move into the hex NW of Sibolga. Man! The Engineers are really cranking on this base: AF-3 on the 25th.
Nias
Time to attack. The Japanese Inf is now fully ready and the base is hit by BB Fuso on the 24th. It will be hit by Fuso and 100 bombers on the 26th. I hope to take it on the first attack.
KB
The three CV TF depart Padang on the 24th and head away from Sumatra. They will then move up and challenge the Allied Fleet. Figure this development will occur at the same time as the aerial assault on Sabang. This will be timed to cause maximum consternation with Mister ROPER.
45,77
Dan bombards the 2nd and 10th ID here to probably see what has moved into the hex. He has a full strength Inf Reg and four beat-up (forced to retreat from Sibolga) Inf units. When my fresh ID arrive, these four ID shall CRUSH this opposition and then drive on Medan.
Malaya
Singapore
Begin loading the Inf Brig that helped take Alor Star onboard ship for the Sinabang Invasion. The 48th ID will load tomorrow for TJB. It will join the 14th ID on the coast below Medan to attack from that direction.
A powerful STF of BB Yamato and 4 BC and 8 DD depart Singers for TJB. Had planned to send them to link-up with the KB but changed my mind.
Georgetown and Alor Star
Both are clearing their AFs as described above. Each will have enough Base Force to handle nearly 200 planes a piece.
Burma
Supplies flow into all my bases this turn. Bases that were marginally supplied are now at 15-25,000 pending on how important they are. Rangoon sits at 80,000+. Overnight I pick-up 125 new airframes and trade out bombers and fighters for several units. Hosannah!
Prome
The 2nd TK Div picks up 18 AV in one turn! The other Inf Div present gains 11. Am waiting for the 12th ID to arrive and then we move across the Irrawaddy and then enter the southern portion of the Allied Box.
55,48
East of Ramree sees the 21st ID gain an Infantry unit that bumps the AV up 128 points. Should help. Have two Artillery units moving there as well.
Surface Action
My little STF are doing pretty well. On the 24th, a STF of 4 DDs run into a nice convoy and sink AP Duchess of Bedford, 2 AK, and KV.
A 6 DD TF departs Port Blair on the 24th and begins hunting on the 25th.
China
Begin attacks on the last Chinese position holding the RR Line from Changsha to Kweilin and such. Score a 1-2 on the 25th versus one full strength Corps and two beat-up Inf units. IF the two Japanese ID can take this hex this shall be a game-changer in China. Rapid movement along this line would be FANTASTIC.
SS Operations
12-24
Ro-68 SINKS AK Oregonian near Sabang with 2 TT
I-155 SINKS CL Ceres with a pair of Torps near Koggala
12-25
I-30 SINKS AK Barala near Cochin
I-174 SCORES a PAIR of TTs hits on BB Califonia just 3 hexes NW of Sabang. VERY Nice!
Odd and Ends
1. CV Junyo is now halfway across the northern portion of New Guinea. So far--so good.
2. Begin shifting aircraft on the CVLs and CVEs to maximize their firepower.
