Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
12/28 to 1/1/42

As noted above Dan and I really got some turns in yesterday. We did four and one today. Since I work most of the day today I expect we'll get in a second and that will be all.

North Pacific
A supply convoy divides into three smaller ones to provide enough supply for Umnak, Amchitka, and Adak for the next 2 months. Engineers working on these three sites as well as Attu.

Central Pacific
After my SNLF Assault Brigade died at Midway, I sent CarDiv1 to the area and let it get seen by PBYs. Stayed there for three days (moving a few hexes each day) until I wasn't seen. THINK I know the PBY Search Arcs now. Withdraw that CTF and send everyone to Wake to gather up the hammer. As of January 1st, I have CarDiv1 (Akagi--Kaga, 2 CA, 1 CL, 6 DD), the Marshall's Strike Force (3 CL and 6 DD), and the four old CAs used to cover Rabaul. CarDiv5 (Sho-Zui, Zuiho--Shoho), 2 BC, 2 CA, 1 CL, 1 CS, and 8 DD) will arrive in two days. Everyone will drink from the AOs and then depart. The CVs will loop around Midway to the North while the Invasion Force will depart a few days later so it can approach from the 'standard' direction of Wake. There will be plenty of surface assets Covering the Transports. The actual Invasion Force is a large Base Force (AV 30) and a Naval Guard (AV 60).

The Landing will be proceeded by a CA Bombardment as well as a pair of BCs the next day. If I take Midway then that is GREAT. If I don't, I really could care less. It is my profound HOPE to draw out the American CVs. At this point I can plan on Lex, Sara, and Ent. I'll field 4 CVs and 2 CVLs. To bolster the situation I will pull the least experienced Vals off of one of the CVs and the Kates off of a CVL and replace them with 36 Zeros. This addition will give my over 180 Zeros for CAP and Attack.

If NOTHING happens then I have expended a crapload of fuel for nothing...

South Pacific
Capture Rabaul easily on the 27th. Begin building it up.

Lae falls on the 30th.

Philippines
Lovely developments here!

Luzon:
The 48th ID, an Army HQ, and 6 Artillery units bombard Clark.

Iba falls on the 28th. Two Inf Duiv are forced to retreat!

Subic Bay Falls on the 1st and all three units there surrender. NICE! Scratch another Philippine ID from the Allied OOB. The 21st ID moves into Clark from Subic Bay. Will attack Clark at the point of their arrival.

Manila is invested on the 31st. By the 1st, the 2nd ID, 65th Brigade, and 33rd ID are present. Plan a Deliberate Attack for the 2nd.

Mindanao:
Davao falls on the 30th to the 8th TK Reg.

Surigao surrenders on the 1st.

My strategy to bring in the 56th here to make Mindanao go quick succeeds. Resistance here is over. The 56th ID now will spearhead the Central DEI Drive. It will then swing into action in Western Australia.

Eastern DEI
Koepang falls on the 29th giving Japan all of Timor. The 90th Inf Reg is lifted out of Dili to head for Broome while an SNLF Brigade is moved to Koepang and then on to Port Hedlund.

Central DEI
Tarakan is assaulted on the 28th and I don't have enough to take the base. Immediately begin loading the 8th TK Reg to land at that base SW of Tarakan and then advance to finish off the Allies there.

Western DEI
Sambas and Pontianak fall on the 29th.

Sumatra--Java
Sumatra is falling fast! It is a MUST to bring Tanks when one takes Palembang. Statistics:
The hex north of Oosthaven fall on the 28th. Lahat goes the same day.

47,88 (West of Djambi) is taken on the 29th.

The hex east of Benkoelen falls on the 31st.

A Brigade begins landing at Benkoelen on the 1st.

Java looks pretty solid as troops move out of Merak. Buitenzorg falls on the 1st. I have a Brigade and a Regiment present here so cannot get too feisty of the Javanese might try something...

Cocos Area
Several STF are now freely moving about the area preventing anything more from arriving at this target. I know Dan got some troops here. Question is HOW MUCH? Recon shows two units and 5,000 men. Seems fairly consistent but I am slightly worried. My guess is a Brigade, Base Force and some CD. It is my intention to bring a sledgehammer to this fight. The 4th ID loads at Palembang starting the 31st. It is at full strength and prepping (24%). Proceeding the Landing wil be all six BBs bombarding as well as 81 Betty/Nells hitting the troops. CarDiv2 (Hiryu--Soryu--Ryuho) will fling their Kates at the target also. I've been hitting Cocos with 12-18 Betty each day since the 28th. Really want to have the Allied troops heavily disrupted BEFORE the landing! Unlike Midway I really NEED this base.

Australia
The BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA has begun! Land at Broome on the 1st. Port Hedlund will be hit on the 3rd. I truly hope this sends a bit of alarm through Dan and makes him think I am coming here...

Several STF and the CVEs make their presence known between Carnavon and Exmouth Bay. The 30th-1st sees 4 AKL, 1 AP, 2 AVP, 1 TK, 2 AM, and a PC sunk.

Malaya
Just moving on South. All bases north of Johore Bharu are now mine. Should enter Johore Bharu within 3-4 days. We'll see if 3+ Inf Div can take this placde. I doubt it...

Dan is trying to sting and move with his surviving fighters (some AVG, a Buf Squadron, and the Hurricane Squadron. He has some success until I redeploy my Zeros from Merak--Oosthaven--Palembang. Leave plenty to protect shipping but plan to initiate Sweep over Pt Blair, Sabang, Medan, and Singapore tomorrow. Allied resistance will not last long.

Burma
Port Blair is hit everyday and the AF is getting to be in pretty rough shape.

I have a TK Reg, 2 Base Forces, an Army HQ, and 2 Construction units at or about to be at Moulmein. If Dan is bold he can attack this base and have a pretty good shot at kicking me out... Will be moving aircraft there pretty soon.

China
RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!! This is the Chinese Them music.

How Far is the question? I don't know but I'll take all I can get and then figure out what to do.

Bases Taken: 12-28 Nanyang, 87,56, 12-31 Pucheng

SS Ops
12-28 I-5 MISSES Queen Mary near San Fran!
12-28 I-15 sinks DD Mugford at Christmas.
12-29 I-171 MISSES CL Honolulu near French Frigate Shoal

His SS are being terribly effective for this early in the war. Over these days I lose 2 AK, 2 PB, and an E. While I am damaging a bunch of his SS, this activity and success makes me nervous.

Engineering
12-28 Shanghai AF-6
12-29 Eniwetok AF-2
12-30 Jehol AF-6
12-31 Canton AF-5
1-01 Merak AF-2

These are the major developments.

[John 3rd]

Is it a GOOD thing when you attack Manila the first time it FALLS??!! Japan gets a 2-1 and all ELEVEN units SURRENDER. We take in 32,415 PoWs!

BANZAI baby!

[pws1225]

Is it a GOOD thing when you attack Manila the first time it FALLS??!!

It's a very good thing indeed!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 2-3, 1942

Lots of ground and air action but no sea action these two turns.

North Pacific
Umnak and Adak convoys headed for Paramushiro Jima. Attu and Amchitka still need a couple of days and then they are done. Moving an AS to Attu.

Central Pacific
All warships and AKs are at Wake. The AO's arrive tomorrow. Will fuel the KB and sail due north immediately. Will wait a day after that and form-up the Invasion Force, refuel, and begin loading. This should give the KB a total of three days head start before the Invasion Force sails. We'll see if MISTER CanoePaddler wants any of this...

South Pacific
Moving troops and planes to Rabaul.

A follow-on convoy to Lae is attacked by 3 Hudsons from PM each phase. Move a Chutai of Zeros to PM for CAP.

Philippines
With Manila's fall on the 2nd (who can BELIEVE that!??) we move troops towards Clark. Have got to be careful not to overload the hex. I believe the max capacity for the hex is 40,000. We'll go with two ID and a Brigade for starters.

Loading 56th ID for Balikpapan Area.

Western DEI
Staging supplies, Support Ships, and fuel to Koepang.

Broome falls on the 2nd. This should make Dan nervous I hope. Invasion of Port Hedlund in two days.

Central DEI
Troops hang-on at Tarakan. The 8th TK Reg is moving to land at the base next door and then move on to help.

Sumatra--Java
Benkoelen falls to the 21st Brigade on Jan 2nd.

Take hex 46,87 also on the 2nd. All bases below Benkoelen and Djambi are now Japanese.

Cocos
KB-2 refuels and then sinks an AKL south of Cocos. 4th ID is now moving towards its target. A BB Bombardment will occur tomorrow. The target is hit by 27 Betty. Will add two full Daitai more to attack the troops there. Bombardment details a Brigade, 7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment, and Cocos CD Bn present. Will watch for more units with tonight's bombardment.

Malaya
Take Ulan Melintang on the 2nd. Everyone is now positioning for the approach to Johore Bharu.

Land at Mersing with Southern Army, 2 Con Bn, and a BF. The hex is deserted. The TF is attacked by 3 TB and they manage to hit an AK sinking it. Add 18 Zeros to LR CAP here for tomorrow.

My decision to Sweep numerous bases on the 2nd and 3rd pays off as fighters are found over Sabang, Langsa, and Singapore. Looks like the Japanese lose just a single fighter for 12 Allied. NICE!

Burma
Now have an Army HQ, TK Reg, 2 BF and a Con Bn present at Moulmein. Dan APPEARS to be bugging out north. If so, then THAT is a riot! In an act of pure Theatre, I aggressively move the TK Reg forward to strike more fear into the Alliies! [8|]

Fighters move in to Moulmein on the 2nd as well.

China
Take hex 82,55 SE of Changsha acrost the river.

SS Ops
I-24 hits a mine at Midway. Midway is now mined. Nice move by Dan. Won't deter me but I am going to lose a few ships...

Engineering
1-3 Ternate AF-2

Reinforcement
Gain a Kagero-Class DD at Pt Arthur. RA specializes DD Production where the Kagero's come from Pt Arthur and the Moon-Class AA DD from the homeland. Not sure which Port but shall look. This follows Evans and Peattie's work in Kaigun with specialization, dedication and expansion of the yards.

[John 3rd]

War so often revolves around little things. I've watched a tussle going on NW of Seattle where I-9 has been on regular patrol. To date this War Patrol for I-9 has resulted in five attacks sinking an AK and 2 KV. The KV are interesting because they have been attempting to sink the sub while, of course, the SS has been trying to get them. Four attacks on the KVs have netted two sinking--pretty good work. The KVs have dropped depth charges three times and slightly damaged the SS each time. I've recalled her home with the three scalps and a--hopefully--chagrined Canadian navy!

[John 3rd]

I've been asked by two people to share thoughts on the Japanese economy in RA. OK. Lets spend a little time on this.

RA starts with more Japanese infrastructure (two big new Slipways, more armaments, more refineries (Manchuria) and slightly more HI. The cost of these benefits is a massively reduced resource and oil quantity. Japan can do what she wants ONLY if she grabs resources and oil ASAP. I always try to reflect this need by taking out the DEI by Feb 1st.

Navy Minister Yamamoto adds lots of new toys for the Imperial Fleet but they don't start really arriving until late-42/1943. The major addition areas are:

1. 4th Circle Warships--3 Shokaku-Kai CVs that arrive in 1943, 2 Kawachi-Class BC, 2 Tone-Kai CAs, a total of 8 of the improved Agano-Class CLs (3x3 Turrets), and an emphasis on Kagero and Moon-Class DDs. New SS are added to the que as well. It is my intention to build ALL of these ships. Have to juggle the shipyards as well as who is accelerated and who is not. To start with I stop ALL SS construction until Yamato is completed. This allows for all the warships to continue building and somewhat accelerate a few of them. Once Musashi is finished then the load allows for everything to build with all late-war CVs accelerated. Remember that there is no Taiho or Shinano in this Mod.

2. Accelerated 2nd Generation CV Aircraft: Jill and Judy arrive in late-42 and early-43. The Zero is specialized into a Ground-Based Interceptor and a CV-Based Model. No M3a. The Ship-Based goes straight to M5. There is no Jack in this Mod.

3. As mentioned earlier, the SNLF are arranged into Assault Brigades (3 SNLF == 1 Brigade). No new troops here. The addition comes in the form of Atoll Defense Units that possess a nice amount of Infantry and CD. They weigh in at about 4,000 Troops allowing for the placement of a Base Force or two. I believe there are 9 of these added into the game. Most of their Infantry come from Naval Guard units that are no longer in the game. Several small, specialized Naval Engineer Companies are added. This is a DBB Mod so Engineers are vastly curtailed.

Air Research
I really shift the research factories over as quickly as possible. Will name plane and how many factories are researching it: Tony (4), Frank (5), Tojo (5), George (5), A7M2 (4), Frances (3), and Peggy (3). Nearly all of these factories are in the 20-26 range so they shall repair quickly and bring these valuable planes forward.

Talking to Michael on the phone will jump back on in a few...

[John 3rd]

...OK...done talking with Michael for the moment...

As to HI, Naval Shipyards, and Repair Yards I don't do a lot to start with.

1. HI--Once things settle a bit I do like to expand HI a bit in the outer areas (Indochina--Bangkok--China--Manchuria). have always found that these area can keep producing even when the Home Islands are under attack. Don't do a lot maybe 100-150 points or so...

2. RA begins with the Yards already expanded at Shanghai and Pt Arthur mainly. Will grow these by about 50-60 points but that will be about it. Merchant Yards need help and I do some serious expansion there where small Yards exist. Add about 100 for this area.

3. The Home Islands don't need their Repair Yard grown but I do heavily add to the yards at Singapore and Soerabaja. Like to get those big enough to handle a BB each. Costs a lot but having those extra Yards around is a GOOD thing.

[John 3rd]

January 7, 1942

Months ago Japanese planning dedicated the 4th Inf Div to grab Palembang and then immediately launch an Amphib Assault upon Cocos Isle. That landing occurs on the January 7, 1942. Under the boom of BBs Yamashiro and Fuso bombarding the target the troops load into their landing craft. They have watched over 150 planes hit the target throughout the day and now is their moment. Three protective Heavy Cruisers move in close to directly cover the landing force. How can anything survive this weight of steel?

Answer is A LOT OF ALLIES! The landing goes through with little disruption and no Fortifications greet the Japanese arrival. There are, however, a BUNCH of support and some Infantry support on this little island. Most surprisingly the Eastern Fleet Headquarters of present! Why??

The beachhead appears to be secure. Tomorrow SIX Battleships and 5 Heavy Cruisers are scheduled to pound the island as well as nearly 200 planes. Either the 4th infantry will take this 'must have' prize and gain a huge--BONUS--surrender or it will be shattered.

What will happen? Tune is for the next day sports fans...

[John 3rd]

HOW do all these troops fit on an Island allowing for only 15,000?

[ny59giants]

Eastern Flt HQ = extra support troops which does convert over to 'some' AV for combat, helps give the other troops better adjusted AV, and speeds up unloading troops and supplies.

He has part of 18th UK Division here. Looks like he may have tried to ship in extra supplies to be able to hold out like Q-Ball did.

If he doesn't have forts built, it should be a quick conquest. Make sure one of your two sons is sacrificed to the 'dice gods.' [:D]

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 8, 1942

We roll the Hard SIX BABY!

The British--American Garrison at Cocos is plastered all day long by large-caliber naval guns and several hundred land-based and carrier-based aircraft. The Invasion Force continues to unload with 3 Heavy Cruisers responding to any sort of shore fire while in the late hours of the morning BBs Hyuga and Ise throw in their heavy weight naval shells. in the late-afternoon BCs Haruna and Kongo contribute over 600 rounds of 14" shellfire as well. THIS is the telling bombardment because all of it hit the British 54th Brigade's lines.

At dusk the charge order is sounded and 12,000 troops of the 4th Imperial Inf Div rise up from their sand and hastily dug foxholes to plunge into the Allied lines. The Japanese veteran's charge machine guns and throw themselves onto Allied barbed wire heedless of casualties. After only about an hour of spirited fighting, the lines collapse and they quickly surrender!

The allies lose eight units and nearly 8,000 men. Gone is a full Brigade of the 18th Inf Div (plus perhaps another from the sinking of the Wakefield?), an HQ unit, several American Base Forces, two CD units, and an American Artillery Regiment. Not a bad day whatsoever for Japan!

Thank Goodness...

[John 3rd]

Just got another turn in from dan and that will do until the 26th. I am going out to Manhattan, KS for 4 days after that to celebrate my Mother's 70th B-day. There will be no turns during that time.

When I get the chance today I shall do a comprehensive update and detail plans now that Cocos is done.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 4-9, 1942

Since I have detailed the action at Cocos I thought it would be a good idea to simply go around the regions and provide an update. Time to also go into new plans and other thinking.

North Pacific
Have a couple of AK unloading their last supplies at Adak, Amchitka, and Attu. The Allies finally make their presence known on the 8th when a Japanese DD and 2 AKs are attacked off Adak by five old American DDs. Surprisingly the Japanese TF is not destroyed. The Yanagi smacks three of the DDs while taking 6 shells. One AK is moderately damaged and the other is not touched. Good. I have drawn some American ships up here. Question is will Dan bring a bunch of stuff to this region where they can flail around with nothing to go after? Hopefully they serve as a good distraction when Allied ships are needed elsewhere.

Central Pacific
The KB moves steadily North and East moving slowly above Midway's line of hexes. They appear to not be spotted. The two CVTF move only as fast as their AOs allow.

The augmented Invasion Force sets out on the 6th. Close escort looks pretty good with 4 CA, 1 CL, and 5 DD.

Move in an Emily air group (RA has Emily starting production in Dec 41) and they immediately pick-up several TF moving back-and-forth that my 6 SS have not spotted/reported. I KNOW that mines have been laid due to I-24 hitting one and then having to be scuttled on the 7th. Become obvious that Dan has augmented the garrison at Midway. CRAP. I am bringing two units weaker then the SNLF Assault Brigade that failed to take the base originally. Double CRAP!

Admit reality and recall the Invasion Force to Wake on the 8th and then do the same thing with KB on the 9th. Gonna have to think this one over some...discretion is the better part of valor (stupidity) in this case.

South Pacific
No real action. Lae gets some small Infantry units to take Nadzab and elsewhere. Get ready to move on the Solomons. Need to bring forward units left in the Marianas. There are several Base Forces, a couple of Engineering units, two Mortar units, and a couple of small Inf units.

Most importantly the freshly bought out 14th ID arrives at Rabaul on the 9th and begins unloading. Their first job will probably be Port Moresby. Begin their prepping.

Philippines
Mindanao is done and the 56th ID is already involved in the Central DEI.

Luzon looks interesting. Launch two attacks on Clark during these days. The first one (on the 5th) gets a 1-2 and drops Forts down to ZERO. Move the 65th Brigade out of the hex and bring in a new ID. The second attack occurs on the 9th and the 21st ID collapses during the assault. Result is a lousy 1-5 with nearly 3,000 casualties. Pull out the 21st and bring in two fresh ID. Stacking Limit at Clark is 40,000 and this makes a three division attack rather difficult. THINK I can do it by juggling my Artillery and Engineer units.

Begin lifting out the 2nd ID from Naga on the 9th. It shall be used to the south.

Eastern DEI
Everything calm as I move troops forward from Babeldoap and Peleliu to Koepang. Australian Operation in full swing near here.

Central DEI
The 8th TK Reg will land in two days to relieve the troops stuck at Tarakan.

The 8th sees the 56th ID land at Samarinda next to Balikpapan. They easily take the base on the 9th and move towards Balikpapan. This could be a tough landing as I advanced without aircover and very light naval escort. Luckily nothing happens!

Western DEI
Done.

Sumatra
All bases and units driven out of the bottom half of this region. Two TK Reg moving north. Two more will unload at Padang and advance with them.

Loading an Inf Brigade at Benkoelen to leapfrog to the northern tip of Sumatra to cut off retreat and the air bridge to Port Blair.

Malaya
All bases taken as of the 9th. Two Inf Div advancing on Johore Bharu with the 3rd one unloading from Strategic Movement. We'll see how tough it is to take the last two bases down here.

Java
Have Merak and the other little berg SE of there. Move one Brigade to threaten Batavia. Cannot do more then that until the victorious 4th ID is loaded and brought here from Cocos.

Australia
Take Port Hedlund on the 6th. Troops advancing from Broome towards Derby.

The Carnavon Invasion Force picks up an Escort from the Hedlund area and will land at its target within a few days. Really HOPE this draws Dan's attention. Grabbing Cocos and committing soooooooooo much of the Fleet should be a warning that I am coming at Aussieland. Grabbing Carnavon just adds to that thinking. We'll see what impact this has on his thinking and reaction. NOT bringing the US CVs into this area has been a Godsend!

Burma
Looks like I MIGHT get a free pass into southern Burma for no reason! Troops pull out of Pegu and are leaving Rangoon. Alll I have to threaten is a single TK Reg. Move it forward to grab Pegu (will take it on the 10th). If he does ANYTHING here then my troops will be kicked out of Pegu and Moulmein. An Artillery Regiment and Inf Regiment arrive at Pisanaluke and move out for Moulmein. They won't be their until the end of January...

China
Lines are starting to stabilize here as his headlong retreat begins to slow. The Central Plains towns are mine. All of SE China from the hex next to Changsha to Shanghai is now clear of Chinese. Southern China will fall to my troops within 7-10 days and then we shall have to think about our next actions...this Sir Robin here has been of great aide for my thinking here.

SS Ops
1-4 I-6 sinks AK Royal T Frank near San Clemente
1-4 I-9 bags her second KV in sinking KV Wetaskiwin near Victoria
1-5 I-1 sinks AKL Corrimal at the tip of New Zealand
1-6 I-1 scores on another AKL (Canopus) sinking her

During these days Allied SS sinks an AKL, PB, and an AKE.

Engineering
1-5 Hangkow AF-7
1-6 Iwaki AF-3
1-8 Kuantan Pt-2
1-9 Fusan Pt-5, Nagasaki AF-5, and Changchun AF-2


The fall of Cocos brings a close to the immediate planning started on Dec 7th. Getting 8,000 POWs there was a very nice bonus. Am now sure that an entire Brigade of the 18th Brit ID was lost when I sank AP Wakefield. This means he lost 2/3 of a good ID, a HQ, several Base Forces, Engineers, and Artillery/CD. Very NICE! Won't have to deal with them in either Australia OR India. Gotta like that...

[John 3rd]

A Merry Christmas to you and yours this morrow. We have actually gotten a WHITE Christmas in La Salle. It has been frighteningly DRY here. The 2-3" we got last night/this morning is the most we have gotten for the winter. This is Colorado and the last sentence is SCARY!


Overall, I am happy with this game. The state of the campaign--barring the failure at Midway--is right on with expectations. Timetable is spot-on currently so nothing has derailed that. Planning:

1. It is time to shift and deal with Java. A two-week campaign should about do it. As soon as Balikpapan falls, the 56th and 2nd ID shall land in the east and take Soerabaja. At the same time the two Brigades and 4th ID will move on Batavia from the west. Should be fairly simple.
2. ENEMY warships. I have sunk Repulse and some other Allied warships but NOT ENOUGH. Want to make some opportunities for that so Java should provide one and the use of KB-2 will provide the other. The enhanced KB (CarDiv1, CarDiv5, and 2 CVL) will return to Truk and then head south to raid New Zealand and eastern Australia.
3. Will beef-up Lae and Rabaul and start the aerial campaign against Port Moresby. The 14th ID shall land and take that location. For the moment we shall leave New Caledonia and Luganville alone. Let Dan move stuff there so I can kill it in a month or two.
4. Enemy CVs. Dan keeps them together so I can count on meeting 3-4 CVs in the deep South Pacific if he chooses to fight down there. Am thinking of initiating an idea I had earlier and take off the Vals from either CarDiv1 or 5 and re-size the Zero Daitai of those two CVs to twice the normal. Basically go from 27 to 54 Zero with two CVs for a massive adjustment in CV Zeros. Not sure but am giving that some serious thoughts. What do you think?
5. Have got to sell Australia to Dan as my primary target. By the end of January I want to have NW Aust, Carnavon, and be moving southwards from there. Any thoughts on how to make it look like I am throwing everything there but only use the minimum necessary?

[John 3rd]

Look at where my troops are on January 9, 1942. CRAZY! OK. the pink shows my lines of movement and the solid red line is my proposed China line that I already possess 2/3 of...

Will take this area, dig-in, and pull Infantry of other units out to feed the Pacific and Indian Theatres.

[John 3rd]

Current screenshot of this area-of-operations:

[ny59giants]

Enemy CVs. Dan keeps them together so I can count on meeting 3-4 CVs in the deep South Pacific if he chooses to fight down there. Am thinking of initiating an idea I had earlier and take off the Vals from either CarDiv1 or 5 and re-size the Zero Daitai of those two CVs to twice the normal. Basically go from 27 to 54 Zero with two CVs for a massive adjustment in CV Zeros. Not sure but am giving that some serious thoughts. What do you think?

While I have seen this, my personal "rule of thumb" is not to re-size above what is currently available max size for shore based air units. If there is a shore base naval fighter air unit that is size 54, then OK. If the max you have is 36 or 48, then that is the max re-size I would go with.

[ny59giants]

Since I mentioned it on the phone, but wanted to remind you and any other Japanese players of this mod to take advantage of the 4 mobile and non-restricted Command HQs that you have - Southern Army, Combined Fleet, SouthEast Fleet, and NorthEast Fleet. Have each of them team up with the four mobile, non-restricted, Army HQs and prep for the same base to help ensure you have a good chance to get the potential 90% Adjusted AV from the Command HQ. Right now I would have both Singapore and Clark Field being prepped. Two other possibilities would be either Batavia or Soerabaja (which ever you think Dan will choose for his final fortress on Java) and then Perth if you intent to take western Australia. Of course you have the Chinese Command HQ already prepped for an important base. Right?!? [:D]

[John 3rd]

OK. The Cochran Clan is headed out the door for a few days with Grandma.

Got the 1-11 turn done this morning. Am taking my notebook with me in case I have downtime to do an update.

Command HQs:
1. Southern Army at Mersing Prepping for Singapore.
2. SE Fleet at Rabaul Prepping for Townsville.
3. Combined Fleet at Saipan prepping for ???. Need to look.
4. NorthEast Fleet at Paramushiro Jima prepping for Dutch Harbor.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 10-16, 1942

After a break of 4-5 days where I was off trekking across Kansas, Dan and I have returned to our normal ways with getting in a couple turns a day. Things continue to look good and develop about the way I hope for them to. No big surprises currently so we'll jump into the Regional Reports and see if anything catches your attention.

North Pacific
Very Quiet in the Aleutians. Have a FTF moving a Construction unit to Attu. All bases up here have plenty of supply and at least one Construction unit per base. It isn't much but things are started. With it being two months before any real form of action can take place in this area, I feel pretty comfortable with things the way they are.

The same cannot be said around Sakhalin and Hokkaido. My opponent has moved 3-4 US Fleet Boats up here and they are making me pull out what little hair I have left. For supposedly useless TTs, these SS have made some serious attacks against convoys containing at least one Escort each. Considering these are my valuable 3,241T AK--TK Conversions, I have stopped all traffic between the islands and have placed 4 ASW TF into the sealanes while also bringing up some serious ASW Aircraft. Disturbing to be thinking about this right now! Move several Bae Forces to the southern base on Sakhalin to expand the AF so I can base planes there also.

Central Pacific
Nothing to speak of here. Have a Naval Guard and large Base Force at Wake with a smaller Engineering unit on the way from Tokyo.

The KB arrives at Truk on the 12th and goes down for some R&R. They'll move out in a few days but right now they are simply chilling a bit.

Send the four older CAs, two CLs, and 8 DDs to Jaliut. They arrive and the TF is split down the middle to raid Pago Pago and Suva. We'll see if we can get lucky and bag anything. Hopefully, we don't get our you-know-what kicked!

South Pacific
Beginning build-up at Rabaul and moving strongly into New Guinea. The South Seas Force is about to land at Buna. In this version of RA there are the three dot bases next to Buna and so I'll grab those before moving overland to PM. The 14th ID is sitting at Rabaul and it begins loading to land at Buna as well. These two units will be tasked with taking Port Moresby.

Several large Convoys are coming in to augment the Base Forces at Lae, Rabaul, and take Milne Bay.

Spot some shipping along the NE Coast of Aussieland and send two Raiding Forces (1 CL and 4 DD) to the bases north of Townsville.

Philippines
After the easy capture of Manila I got a little cocky. Have made two attacks at Clark and have the Forts at ZERO but cannot get even a 1-1 result. There are over 150 bombers hitting the troops and airfields so this should change with some patience.

The 2nd ID is lifted from Naga on the 12th and heads for Balikpapan to set-up the Eastern Java Landing.

Eastern DEI--Australia
My Carnavon Invasion Force spots a large number of enemy warships. Prince of Wales, several CAs, and a batch of CLs are detected. This IF is covered by the two CVEs. Hosho sends her 6 Kates out at CAs in each phase and MISSES! Taiyo attacks Prince of Wales with 12 Vals and only scores a single hit scratching the paint a little. Delay the assault a bit to augment the STF protecting it and then head on in. The landing goes well and Carnavon quickly falls.

Back at Babeldoap I order the 23rd Air Flotilla to begin prepping for Geraldton and the 16th Army HQ to prep for Perth. WANT HIM to see this through Allied Intelligence. Those two units are lifted and sent to Port Hedlund for the moment.

Derby falls on the 12th.

There are a few ship operating in the Eastern DEI area and I send out several small 2-3 DDs TF to bag them and get rid of the annoyance.

Central DEI
Am still bagged down at Tarakan though I do land a TK Reg and grab Tandjoengselor on the 13th.

The 56th ID takes Balikpapan on the 14th. NO damage to facilities.

Order 5 DMS to leave Singkawang and head for Balikpapan on the 13th. The 15th sees two squadrons of A-24s (operating out of Makassar) attack on of the groups and they manage to sink a single DMS. Make Note of this and plan to nail Makassar with a BB Bombardment in a few days.

Sumatra
Land 3 TK Reg at Padang on the 14th and take the base on the 15th. These tanks now race north to drive everything towards Sabang.

Start loading 21st Army Brigade at Benkoelen for an Amphib Landing at Sabang.

Form-up two Bombardment TF to hit Sabang. A pair of BBs with another grouop of CAs will hit this target. The CAs will then loop around eastern Sumatra and grab an Inf Reg from the west coast of Malaya to land it in south-central Sumatra.

Java
Troop movements here are held-up waiting for the arrival of the 4th ID from Cocos. The successful Veterans of Palembang and Cocos are unloaded by the 15th and so two Brigades and the ID begin moving east towards Batavia and other points. Want to draw troops into this fight as I prepare to land the two IDs from Balikpapan on the eastern side.

Launch a large set of Betty--Nell strikes into Soerabaja and am rewarded by sinking a pair of Dutch SS (KXVII and KXIII) as well as eight small AMc. Later strikes sink a pair of AP and a couple of AKL. The AF gets nailed as well as a bunch of Dutch planes are destroyed.

Malaya
The slow movement down the Malay Peninsula ends on the 14th when Japanese troops (three ID) arrive at Johore Bharu. The attack on the 15th forces ten units to retreat (including three Brigades) to Singapore. Southern Army and 25th Army HQ are about to arrive at JB and then we shall crossover and take this base.

Over 100 bombers hit Singapore every day.

Burma
My one TK Regiment aggressively take advantage of a Sir Robin defense here and grabs Pegu on 10th. Another TK Reigment and an Infantry Reg are on the way over the mountains heading for Moulmein. As soon as they arrive we'll take Rangoon. I am SOOOOOOOO vulnerable here but Dan doesn't want to try and fight whatsoever so OK.

Port Blair is providing a nice amount of small shipping for my airpower. A small number of AKL are sunk trying to run supplies into this base. Looks like he has deposited nearly a Division here. GREAT! I'll land a pair of Inf Div here so I can kill troops I wouldn't normally get a shot at killing PRIOR to my Left Hook.

The destruction of the troops at Cocos as well as here will certainly be a gift that I shall not pass-up. TASTY!

China
Looking good and the Sir Robin is stabilizing. As the screenshot Posted earlier shows, I will have nearly everything I wanted without a fight.

This leaves the conundrum of whether or not to seek battle against the concentrated Chinese Hordes. I believe the answer is YES. We're gonna try to channel some Guderian and try to launch offensives on either side of the central bulge centered at Changsha. Troops shall advance to the edges and then we'll crossover north and west of Changsha to either force a withdrawal or seek a climatic battle there.

For the big picture, the goal is to pull troops out of China for the Australia Offensive. To that end I am about ready to buy the 6th ID. It is beaten-up some (about 60% strength) and shall cost only about 1000 Political Points. Will haul it to Shanghai for R&R and then send it on to Rabaul.

SS OPs
I-9 finishes her battle with the Canadian Navy when she gets 3 DC and suffers decent damage after sinking two KV earlier.

Lose I-24 to mines at Midway on the 15th. She stayed a float for a couple of days but I had to scuttle her.

1-13 Ro-33 sinks AS Janssens at Banjoewangi

1-16 Ro-34 SINKS CL Marblehead with two attacks resulting in 3 TT hits near Soerabaja. NICE!

Allied SS Operations: 5 successful attacks sinking 2 AKs and an AKL, 3 missed attacks, and 11 DUDS.

One ASW Attack resulting in an Allied SS getting damaged.

Engineering
1-10 Shanghai AF-7, San Fernando AF-5
1-12 Ominato AF-3/Pt-6, Merak AF-3
1-14 Kuching AF-3
1-15 Ichang AF-3, Rabaul Pt-4

Reinforcements
1-15 DD Kazegumo at Pt. Arthur