All of this power and their national will seems to be stronger than ours

[SierraJuliet]

3 February 1942

AUSTRALIA

Near Portsea SS I-4 gets some excellent intel on the current location of the Dutch Fleet. She sustains 3 hits for her troubles and heads back to base for some minor repairs.

Allied Ships

CL Tromp
CL De Ruyter
CL Java
DD Evertsen
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer

The final action from my sortie on Darwin plays out in the still night waters near Palm Island.

Japanese Ships

CL Kuma
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta
DD Asakaze
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships

xAP Zealandia, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 92% moonlight: 11,000 yards

Range closes to 10,000 yards...

CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards

Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 10,000 yards

xAP Zealandia sunk by DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards


MALAYA/DEI

Over on the other side of New Guinea my plans to deal with DD Peary come to fruition.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Sidate at 75,102, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships

CL Kinu
DD Yugumo
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships

DD Peary, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


Near Makassar 11 Betty try their luck against PTs TM-10 and 14. Naturally no success.

Medan is bombed – 6 casualties, 3 airbase hits, 4 airbase supply hits and 12 runway hits.

Hudsons return to the fray. 3 Hudson I attempt to bomb CL Yura near Wetar – no luck for them.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 61 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 vehicle lost) to A 71 (4 combat squads destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Koepang and Allies reply.

Japanese deliberate attack at 57,90 near Pontianak achieves 1-1 odds – J 17 (1 combat squad destroyed) to A 12 casualties.

Siaoe is occupied by the Japanese

CHINA

Liuchow is bombed – 4 airbase hit, 2 airbase supply hits and 14 runway hits.

88th Chinese Corps at Pucheng is bombed – 28 casualties.

99th Chinese Corps at Changsha is bombed.

Japanese bombard at Changsha.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang.


Liuchow falls to a deliberate Japanese attack.

Attacking force 14342 troops, 195 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 451

Defending force 15715 troops, 123 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Japanese adjusted assault: 371

Allied adjusted defense: 91

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Liuchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2433 casualties reported
Squads: 299 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 117 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (16 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 9

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:

104th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:

31st Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
35th Group Army
9th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force
4th War Area
9th Chinese Base Force


Japanese bombard Pucheng.

PHILIPPINES

The first deliberate attack against Manila is launched… this is not going to be any easy nut to crack.


Attacking force 72474 troops, 812 guns, 890 vehicles, Assault Value = 2509

Defending force 54483 troops, 771 guns, 692 vehicles, Assault Value = 1940

Japanese adjusted assault: 1223

Allied adjusted defense: 3827

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
9338 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 471 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 201 disabled
Guns lost 81 (3 destroyed, 78 disabled)
Vehicles lost 144 (25 destroyed, 119 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
877 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 259 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 56 (5 destroyed, 51 disabled)

Assaulting units:

56th Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Division
8th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Kure 1st SNLF
16th Division
4th Tank Regiment
1st Engineer Co
65th Brigade
38th Division
4th Engineer Co
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:

1st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
31st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st Infantry Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Division
Manila USAAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps
301st Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
USAFFE
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
I Philippine Corps
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
Asiatic Fleet
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
Cavite USN Base Force
Provisional GMC Grp



Repairs completed on DMS W-10 at Pescadores, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DMS W-11 at Pescadores, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DMS W-12 at Pescadores, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DMS W-19 at Batavia, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DMS W-20 at Batavia, ship returned to service

DD Peary is reported to have been sunk near Sidate on Feb 03, 1942
xAP Zealandia is reported to have been sunk near Palm Island on Feb 03, 1942


The attack at Manila was particularly devastating on 56th Division. AV went from 489 to 46. By end of day only 1 combat squad was in fighting order with 307 combat squads disabled! On the other hand 38th Division has AV of 458 which is only a drop of 22 from starting strength. Total AV in hex has dropped to 1629 from around 2509. 56th Division is going to high tail it back to Clark Field for a good long break. 7th Division is on the way and the next attack will take place when this Division arrives in hex. Until then we shall continue with aerial and land bombardments to sap the strength of the enemy.

Units with engineers also got smacked around a bit and sadly no drop in fort level. 1st Engineer Regiment will soon be in hex and will address the shortfall in engineer numbers.

[SierraJuliet]

4 February 1942

CHINA

2nd Prov Chinese Corps at 74,54 near Liuchow is bombed.

88th Chinese Corps at Pucheng is bombed – 11 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Changsha J 6 to A 7 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang.

Japanese bombard at Pucheng.

MALAYA/DEI

Soerabaja is bombed – 19 Betty and 8 Oscar against 2 B-339D and 1 CW-21D Demon. We trade a Betty for a B-339 and then the port is hit.

Allied Ships

AS Zuiderkruis, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Bantam, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AG Albatros, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Krakatau, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AMc MMS D, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Gedeh, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:

6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 4


BB Kongo withstands the attention of 2 139WH-3 and 3 CW-22 Falcon near Denpasar. In the afternoon 3 Falcons turn up and also fail to score any hits.

Medan is bombed – 1 airbase hit.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 82 (1 combat squad destroyed) to A 29 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualites.

Japanese bombard at Koepang and the allies reply.

Japanese deliberate attack at 57,90 near Pontianak achieves 5-1 odds – A 130 (11 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties. The following units retreat.

Sarawak Force
Singkawang Base Force
Sambas Base Force
106th RN Base Force

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 6 casualties, 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 17 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila - J 1 gun and 3 vehicles lost to A 76 (2 combat squads destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

BURMA

4/8th Gurkha Battalion at Bassein is bombed – 20 casualties + 1 gun lost.



Repairs completed on DD Murakumo at Tokyo, ship returned to service.

80th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo.

[SierraJuliet]

5 February 1942

AUSTRALIA

After an epic voyage dodging Japanese aggression from Manila, through the Dutch East Indies and then across the top end of Australia and down the east coast via Torres Strait xAP Rochambeau runs out of luck charms. Off shore from Newcastle SS I-18 lines her up in the cross hairs and is rewarded with the sight of a torpedo punching into the side of the intrepid vessel. The damage causes Rochambeau to reduce speed to deal with this latest impediment to her flight from the Japanese. Newcastle harbour is such a short distance away and with luck the pumps will hold long enough. The reduction in speed is all the captain of I-18 requires. No need to hurry. Make sure all is in order and launch again. A full spread of 6 torpedoes just to be sure. 2 travel true and hit the target… I-18 slips below the waves and leaves the scene of a dying ship, men fighting to survive and those already lost to this world. Anyone with reason to be awake in the late hours of the night in Newcastle would witness the horizon glowing red. Too many witnesses for the censure to keep a lid on this war which is continuing to intrude into Australia’s isolation. The morning papers would be fuelling the growing mood of hysteria sweeping this great south land.

As for Todd… well he was most disappointed to lose this ship after she had eluded my clutches a number of times on her long voyage.

MALAYA/DEI

Overnight near Mataram Kongo, Takao, Atago, Jintsu, Tama plus 3 destroyers (including the renowned Hibiki) do battle with PT TM-10, 11 and 14. Both task forces end up breaking off with no ill effect.

Daylight and both sides manage to find each other again. It is a long range effort by the IJN at 22 000 yards before Aarsen, R manages to disengage.

The IJN is in no mood to let these 3 flee. They reacquire and at 19 000 yards Kongo’s gunners manage to get a shell to intercept the racing TM-10. One minute a sleek blur on the water… the next obliterated. Aarsen again successfully manoeuvres to disengage.

The combatants will cross swords another 3 times on this morning but no other vessels are fated to die this day. In the end the Japanese expend a mountain of shells and Aarsen and his men have some tall tales to tell.

Soerabaja is bombed – 6 airbase hits and 7 runway hits.

2 139 WH-3 and 3 CW-22 Falcon attempt to bomb any TF they can find at Semarang. 9 Oscar shot down one of the 139s and put paid to the raid.

Medan is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 2 runway hits.

Troops unloading over beach at Ketapang.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 173 (3 combat squads destroyed + 1 vehicle lost) to A 61 (1 engineer squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at Banjoewangi achieves 30-1 odds (fort level 1) and the base is captured – A 219 (29 non-combat squads destroyed + 4 guns lost) casualties. Loemafjang Base Force is eliminated.

Japanese bombard at Koepang and the Allies respond.

Japanese deliberate attack at 57,90 near Pontianak achieves 18-1 odds – A 103 (9 combat squads, 8 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties. Sarawak Force is eliminated.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 3 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits and 11 runway hits.

12 Nell attempt to bomb PT Q-111 from 10000 feet. They miss of course.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J 3 vehicles lost to A 30 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

CHINA

88th Chinese Corps at Pucheng is bombed – 16 casualties.

99th Chinese Corps at Changsha is bombed.

62nd Chinese Corps at 74,54 near Liuchow is bombed.

Japanese deliberate attack at Pucheng achieves 4-1 odds, reduces the forts to level 1 and the base is captured – J 190 (2 combat squads and 1 engineer squad destroyed) to A 1812 (64 combat squads, 69 non-combat squads and 12 engineer squads destroyed + 5 gun lost) casualties. 88th Chinese Corps and 10th Army Group retreat.

Japanese deliberate attack at 84,48 near Ichang achieves 2-1 odds – J 87 to A 1762 (110 combat squads, 59 non-combat squads and 2 engineer squads destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties. 7th and 84th Chinese Corps retreat.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 5 to A 13 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 24 casualties.

BURMA

2nd King Own YLI Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 62 casualties (1 combat squad destroyed).

Taung Gyi is occupied by the Japanese


WO Shibayama N. of 59th Sentai/A is credited with kill number 5 and attains ace status!!

xAP Rochambeau is reported to have been sunk near Newcastle on Feb 05, 1942
AMc Gedeh is reported to have been sunk near Soerabaja on Feb 04, 1942
PT TM-10 is reported to have been sunk near Mataram on Feb 05, 1942
AMc MMS D is reported to have been sunk near Soerabaja on Feb 04, 1942
AMc Bantam is reported to have been sunk near Soerabaja on Feb 04, 1942

[SierraJuliet]

6 February 1942

BURMA

Mine field cleared at Rangoon – 90 mines.

MALAYA/DEI

Near Lautem Nagara, Yura and a couple of destroyers (including my torpedo boat killer Sagiri). They fall upon MTB 10 and make very short work of her. 1 shell from Nagara and gone.

SS O23 is located near Batavia by passing convoy. The escort score 2 hits.

3 Hudson I are on the hunt near Wetar. Carrier Div 5 gets 4 Zeros vectored onto the bombers. 2 of the bombers are claimed as shot down. Later in the day another 3 Hudson turn up. They lose 1 of their number to the Zeros and then drop bombs around SC Ch 14.

Medan is bombed – 7 casualties, 2 airbase hit and 5 runway hits.

SS O21 is sighted near Ambon but she eludes before the escort can obtain a good bearing.

Japanese bombard at Soerbaja – J 73 (2 guns lost) to A 10 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Koepang and the allies respond.

Ketapang is occupied by the Japanese.

PACIFIC

Troops unloading over beach at Salamaua.

CHINA

2nd Prov Chinese Corps at 74,54 near Liuchow is bombed.

88th Chinese Corps at 87,56 near Chuhsien is bombed – 44 casualties.

Nanyang is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 4 airbase supply hits and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – A 8 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 9 airbase hits and 18 runway hits.

Near Jolo 12 Nell bombers waste their time hunting PT Q-111.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J 11 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) to A 57 (2 combat squads + 2 guns lost) casualties.



PO1 Kawakubo N. of Zuikaku-1 is credited with kill number 5 and attains ace status!!

TK Okigawa Maru arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka.
SC CHa-27 arrives at Toyama.
38th JNAF AF Unit arrives at Tokyo.

MTB 10 is reported to have been sunk near Lautem on Feb 06, 1942.

[SierraJuliet]

7 February 1942

CHINA

2nd Prov Chinese Corps at 74,54 near Liuchow is bombed.

Nanyang is bombed - 4 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 21 to A 8 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 10 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at 81,39 near Tienshui achieves 1-1 odds – J 54 to J 321 (2 combat squads destroyed) casualties. 9th Chinese Corps and 10th Chinese Base Force are attempting to vacate the hex. Hopefully they will still be trying to do so tomorrow so they can be further weakened.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 4 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (2 vehicles lost) to A 32 (1 combat squad and 1 non-combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

MALAYA/DEI

Soerabaja is bombed – 20 unescorted Betty go in against 6 B-339D and 1 CW-21B Demon. I knew this would not be pretty and it wasn’t – 4 bombers knocked down by CAP and another lost to CAP. I had rearranged the escorting fighters so something has gone awry here. The bombing managed to obtain 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 5 runway hits.

Medan is bombed – 3 airbase supply hit and 6 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 41 to A 25 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Koepang and the allies do likewise.

Little Andaman is occupied by the Japanese.

BURMA

2nd King Own YLI Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 36 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Prome. I’m not ready to attack here as I only have 36 AV in hex against the 68 AV of the following allied units. Reinforcements will not be far away and then we can attack. The retreating units from Rangoon also need to be factored into the equation.

Railway BAF Battalion
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
4/14th Punjab Battalion
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
103rd RN Base Force

PACIFIC

Japanese bombard at Salamaua.


xAK Shinetsu Maru arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka.
31 Ku T-1 arrives at Tokyo.


xAKL Halldor is reported to have been sunk near Pakhoi on Jan 06, 1942.

[SierraJuliet]

8 February 1942

MALAYA/DEI

SS O23 shoots and misses against DD Shiratsuyu at 53,100 near Semarang. The ASW gets 1 hit in return.

Today sees a sweep of 12 Oscoar over Soerabaja. 11 B-339D are on CAP duty and at the end of the action 3 defenders are reported as destroyed.

Soerabaja is bombed – We lose an escorting Oscar to the single B-339D left on CAP. 1 runway hit. No runway damage here yet and I fear that the fort level is getting high here… this one is going to take some effort to knock over.

Medan is bombed – 2 airbase hit and 6 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 104 (2 combat squads destroyed) to A 23 casualties. As I said this is going to be a hard one. I currently have 21 Division in hex with 2 Division about 36 miles away. 5th Division (fresh from Singapore and near peak form) has just landed at Semarang and will also hot foot it to Soerabaja. Once I have these 3 Divisions + support in place I’ll have a crack at a deliberate attack. For the first time the Dutch forces bombard but no reports of damage to Japanese forces is received.

Japanese bombard at Koepang.

Japanese capture Lahat.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 8 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 24 runway hits. Damage to the AF is 10 so looking good to keep those forts getting no larger than level 4. 7th Division is halfway through unloading at Antimonan and will then make the short run up to Manila before the next attack is launched.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (1 gun and 1 vehicle destroyed) to A 41 (1 combat squad and 1 non-combat squad + 3 guns and 5 vehicles destroyed). AV is currently at Japan – 1837 to Allies – 1765. 7th Division will make a difference but it will not be until that level 4 fort is knocked down a peg or two that I will make decent inroads here. I have plenty of time on my side here so it is steady as she goes.

CHINA

10th Group Army at 86,55 near Kiukiang is bombed – 12 casualties.

Nanyang is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits and 8 runway hits. AF damage is a 7 here and I plan on keeping it that way until I have all the forces I want in place for an assault… that is at least over a week away yet.

Pakhoi is bombed.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 3 runway hits.

Kukong is bombed – 2 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 13 (1 gun lost) to A 5 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at 87,56 near Chuhsien and achieves 31-1 odds – J 576 (1 combat squad destroyed) to A 1541 (24 combat squads, 43 non-combat squads and 1 engineer squad destroyed + 3 guns destroyed) casualties. 88th Chinese Corps retreats.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 20 casualties. AV currently stands at J – 1462 to A – 984. I have considerable more on the way before I launch the first attack.

Japanese deliberate attack at 81,39 near Tienshui. This is a follow up attack from the successful attack the day before. I suspect I forgot to check on supply and should have rested instead. Japanese achieved 1-24 odds – J 160 to A 194 (1 combat squad destroyed). A good result considering the odds and a good thing it was against a weakened Chinese unit.

BURMA

4/8th Gurkha Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 52 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Prome – A 8 casualties.

PACIFIC

Troops unloading over beach at Luganville. The hex is undefended and will fall next turn.

Troops are ashore at Wake Island by the end of the day.

Shock attack by the Japanese at Wake Island. I suspect I was sloppy on my recon here as the base was showing as unoccupied. I knew submarines where visiting and had thought they were taking the combat units off the island. I think now that they were running in supply. KB sits in the wings as protection against a US strike but tomorrow I thing KB will be plastering this island if no other target turns up. All in all I consider myself lucky here and in time should take control of what I thought was a gift.

Attacking force 1521 troops, 18 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Defending force 1107 troops, 15 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Japanese adjusted assault: 10

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), op mode(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:

408 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:

40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:

Maizuru 2nd SNLF

Defending units:

Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion

The Allies bombard here with no reports of Japanese loss.

Japanese deliberate attack at Salamaua achieves 23-1 odds (fort level 0) and the base is captured. J 13 to A 179 (12 combat squads and 7 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties. D Coy/NG Rifles is eliminated.

Long Island is occupied by the Japanese.


2LT Inuzuka O. of 64th Sentai Det is credited with kill number 5 and 6 and attains ace status!!

ACM Teshio Maru lays defensive minefield at Tanegashima

DD Fubuki beginning refit in shipyard at Saigon
DD Usugumo beginning refit in shipyard at Saigon
DD Shirayuki beginning refit in shipyard at Saigon

[SierraJuliet]

9 February 1942

PACIFIC

DDs Sanae, Kuretake and Wakatake break off from the carrier task force and head to Wake Island for an overnight bombardment. They report 1 port hit, 1 port supply hit and 1 runway hit.

The transport TF has been ordered to stay for one more day to offload enough supply for the troops on the ground to see them through for a while. 2 coastal guns fire on them during the overnight phase. During the daylight phase 7 coastal guns (5in CD gun battery) get the range on xAK Aratama Maru and score 3 hits on her. She completes her unload but will have to fight hard if she is to survive. Her damage is 41 02 09 42. Bad fires and I fear they will gobble her up in the next day. Never one to give up on a ship I’ll cut her loose and see what her crew can do.

Troops unload over beach at Buna.

KB launches numerous strikes on Wake Island – 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 10 runway hits. Maizuru 2nd SNLF has 19 disabled combat squads… I want to buy some time for them to repair before launching another assault. Plenty of supply now in place -1447 with 236 required although this is likely to come at the cost of a xAK.

Japanese capture Luganville. I have 10th Special Base Force and 6th JNAF AF Unit in place here so that some air cover can start moving in.

Allies bombard at Wake Island – A 10 casualties.

Lihir is occupied by the Japanese.

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 2 airbase hit, 5 airbase supply hit and 16 runway hits.

88th Chinese Corps at 86,55 near Kiukiang is bombed – 22 casualties.

Nanyang is bombed – 1 airbase hit, 5 airbase supply hits and 13 runway hits.

Pakhoi is bombed – 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 2 runway hits.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 35 to A 16 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 20 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at 86,45 near Nanyang achieves 84-1 odds – A 609 (44 combat squads, 17 non-combat squads and 5 engineer squads destroyed + 33 guns lost) casualties and 48th Chinese Corps retreats.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 11 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 23 runway hits.

Cebu is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 1 runway hit.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (4 vehicles lost) to A 53 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 vehicle lost) casualties.

MALAYA/DEI

3 CW-22 Falcon and 1 B-339D fight an inconclusive battle near Semarang against 4 Oscar. The bombers make it through a surface action TF and fruitlessly drop bombs around DD Namikaze.

During the afternoon 12 Oscar sweep Soerabaja. 1 CW-21B Demon and 2 B-339D are present – no losses reported by either side.

A good thing that sweep went in over Soerbaja. 23 Sally come in unescorted and no CAP is there to meet them. Results over Soerbaja are – 1 139WH-3 destroyed on the ground, 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 4 runway hits.

APD Hagi locates SS O21 near Ambon and subjects the sub to ASW attack. Sadly it is deep water and all the depth charges explode well above O21.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J (1 gun lost) to A 49 (2 combat squads destroyed) casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at Koepang achieves 7-1 odds (fort level 2) and the base is captured – J 179 to A 668 (20 combat squads, 16 non-combat squads and 4 engineer squads destroyed + 4 guns and 2 vehicles lost) casualties. The following units retreat:

Timor Garrison Battalion
Dili Detachment
Koepang Base Force

23rd Air Flotilla is in place here and the waters between Koepang and North West Australia will soon be the playground of torpedo equipped bombers.

BURMA

4/8th Gurkha Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 44 casualties.

Japanese capture a vacated Mandalay.

Japanese bombard at Prome.



PC Take collides with xAK Teisin Maru at 99,53. Well that was unfortunate and Take now has to deal with damage of 01 39 24 00. Lucky she is not too far away from Keijo and she should make that before the flooding does her in… guess I should relieve that captain. Teisin Maru suffered 02 flotation damage from this little adventure.

H6K4 Mavis sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 114,163 near Isle of Pines, speed 10, Moving West. This is an interesting report. I shall reconfigure my Nomeau search and see if there is something in this.

Misawa Ku K-1 arrives at Chiba.

[SierraJuliet]

10 February 1942

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 9 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits and 29 runway hits.

Nanyang is bombed – 1 airbase hit, 4 airbase supply hits and 12 runway hits.

Pakhoi is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 1 runway hit.

88th Chinese Corps at 86,55 near Kiukiang is bombed.

Changsha is bombed – 1 runway hit.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 43 to A 5 casualties. Changsha is currently not a priority for me but Todd appears to using the time to build it up into a major speed bump. Here is how AVs are being reported during the bombardments. My focus has been on Sian and as long as that strategy bears fruit I think I can get away with leaving a big force holed up in Changsha for a while.

Attacking force 13394 troops, 199 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1050
Defending force 90057 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2959

Japanese bombard at Pucheng.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – this is where the real action is at present. I’m awaiting the arrival of a number of units involved in the Loyang victory to force their way through the forest and close off the Sian road and then Nanyang will be assaulted. I could have looked at moving on Sian but I don’t want a Chinese held Nanyang behind my lines. Here is what the bombard is showing at present. So far Todd appears to be prepared to hang onto this base… but we shall see if the reinforcements coming in from behind spook him into a retreat.

Attacking force 39010 troops, 334 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 1474
Defending force 31864 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 998

Japan captures Ningsia.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 13 casualties (1 engineer squad destroyed), 4 airbase hits, 4 airbase supply hits and 32 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila - J 4 (1 non-combat squad destroyed + 3 guns and 3 vehicles lost) to 50 (2 combat squads destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties. 7th Division will move out from Antimonan this turn (92 miles distant) and then the second assault on Manila will commence.

Attacking force 3236 troops, 230 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1911
Defending force 53372 troops, 759 guns, 687 vehicles, Assault Value = 1766

MALAYA/DEI

Medan is bombed – 2 airbase hit and 2 runway hits.

4 CW-22 Falcon are hunting any IJN TF they can find. They run into 4 Zeros from the westward bound Carrier Div 5 near Semarang. The Zeros shot down 1 bomber and the rest high tail it for home.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 49 (2 combat squads destroyed) casualties to A 2 vehicles lost. This one is a concern as I haven’t touched Todd’s ability to build forts. I now have 2nd and 21st Divisions in place with 5th Division ready to move out of Semarang (184 miles distant) this turn. Once 5th Division is in place the attack will commence.

Attacking force 12289 troops, 137 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 998
Defending force 29145 troops, 370 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 695

BURMA

9/11th Sikh Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 37 casualties (1 non-combat squad destroyed).

Japanese bombard at Prome – A 4 casualties. I really need to the big guns of 33rd Division to turn up (51 miles away) before I can deal with Prome and its defenders.

Attacking force 1066 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39
Defending force 2847 troops, 59 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

PACIFIC

Allies bombard at Wake Island – A 7 casualties. Todd has already written his defenders off as lost. That may be so but I want my AV to grow a little more before I commit to another assault.

Attacking force 516 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Defending force 1340 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Buna is occupied by the Japanese.



TF 171 snooped by Allied Float Plane at 103,134 near Deboyne Islands. This report is one that I consider could be a valid report. It has been some time since I have seen the Dutch Fleet near Melbourne. They have had enough time to move northwards and as KB announced itself at Wake Island I would not be surprised to see Todd commit them to action. TF 171 is a surface combat TF so I will have to consider where to place it.

DD Pillsbury is reported to have been sunk near Manila on Dec 07, 1941

39th JNAF AF Unit arrives at Tokyo


As for my damaged ships from last turn.

xAK Aratama Maru is currently 7 hexes out from Eniwetok so I expect her to be 1 or 2 hexes from port at the end of the next turn. Her damage is now 64 02 18 33. Sys dam and engine dam is up but fires have come down by 9 points. That rising sys dam will quite probably be fatal as fire control systems will be failing all over the place. Not prepared to write her off yet…. The next day will tell how well the crew can fight this fire.

PC Take has made port at Keijo and her damage is now 01 34 (30) 34 (20) 00. Enough damage to deal with but she will patch herself up.
Those ships I was hoping for near Isle of Pines… never eventuated.

[SierraJuliet]

Here is the situation playing out around Sian.

1st Raiding Regiment 39 AV is being a shag on a rock at Tienshui. No doubt a foolhardy move sending them here to capture this base. A Chinese unit has moved here and I expected it to attack last turn but nothing… supply may be an issue. In any event when they do attack I expect my parachute men to fight to the last man… or perhaps they escape and I have a remnant to recover. The plan was to take attention and troops away from Lanchow.

26th Division has just captured Tienshui and will continue to press on towards Lanchow. The enemy has had plenty of warning that we are coming so I expect a decent defence. I am wandering about the advantage to be gained by crossing the river into the mountains before attacking Lanchow and that way avoiding an attack on the base over a river.

Sian currently has 10 units present and this will grow. I want Nanyang first before I on the road through the forest… it seems to be the best way of avoiding a river crossing into Sian.

[SierraJuliet]

11 February 1942

PACIFIC

Troops unloading over beach at Efate.

18 Nell roar in for an afternoon strike on Wake Island – 4 casualties, 1 airbase hit, 4 airbase supply hits and 13 runway hits. AF damage stands at 15.

Allies bombard at Wake Island – A 5 casualties.. Maizuru 2nd SNLF has disruption down to 0 and fatigue at 3 with plenty of supply. The unit is about two third strength so I’m inclined to attack and see how things pan out. We have slightly more guns and over twice as many troops with 74 experience and 99 morale.

xAK Aratama Maru is lost. She made it all the way to the hex adjoining Eniwetok. I was spot on with my assessment that the high level of sys dam would allow those fires to flare up and engulf the ship.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 4 casualties, 5 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 28 runway hits. AF damage stands at 10.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J 5 (2 guns and 2 vehicles destroyed) to A 74 (1 combat squad, 1 non-combat squad and 2 engineer squads destroyed) casualties. I get the feeling my bombardments and aerial bombing is starting to make some inroads here. The next assault will give me a better picture of where of I at… especially if can start making a dent in those level 4 forts.

CHINA

10th Group Army at 85,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 17 casualties (1 non-combat squad destroyed).

Nanyang is bombed – 2 airbase supply hits and 2 runway hits. AF damage stands at 2.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 1 runway hit.

Kukong is bombed – 6 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 50 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Pucheng – A 7 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at 86,55 near Kiukiang achieves 37-1 odds – J 63 to A 586 (49 combat squads, 30 non-combat squads and 1 engineer squad destroyed + 5 guns lost) casualties. 88th Chinese Corps has been mauled and retreats.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 14 casualties. J 1818 AV facing C 1001 AV.

MALAYA/DEI

The Dutch attempt to hit a TF but their attack of 2 B-339D and 3 CW-22 Falcon run into 13 Oscar. 1 B-339 is report destroyed and the attack is called off.
Medan is bombed – 2 runway hits.

Soerabaja is bombed. 15 Sally come in unescorted. 2 B-339 are present and shot down 1 bomber after the raid. Flak accounts for another Sally. 1 FK-51 destroyed on the ground + 2 airbase hits and 6 runway hits.

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,77 near Temuloh achieves 1-1 odds. J 30 to A 196 (2 combat squads destroyed) casualties. 5 Allied units here and they are on their last legs… the jungle is the only thing making it difficult to winkle the out.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 38 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) to A 44 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.

After leaving Bandoeng an open city the Dutch recaptured it. Today Sasebo 8th SNLF captured it back after achieving 4-1 odds (for level 0) – J 12 to A 1378 (43 combat squads, 39 non-combat squads + 9 guns and 6 vehicles lost) casualties. Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion surrenders.

Banggi is occupied by the Japanese.

BURMA

Prome is bombed – 1 runway hit.

Japanese bombard at Prome – A 33 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.



DD Mutsuki beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Kisaragi beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Yayoi beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Mochizuki beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Oite beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Hayate beginning refit in shipyard at Tokyo
DD Numakaze beginning refit in shipyard at Saigon
xAP Hokoku Maru beginning refit in shipyard at Saigon

xAK Tai Sang is reported to have been sunk near Malacca on Dec 25, 1941

42nd I.F.Chutai arrives at Sapporo

[SierraJuliet]

12 February 1942

PHILIPPINES

After seeing John 3rd had used naval bombardments as part of his Manila softening up in his current game I decide to test the waters at Manila. AMc Takunan Maru # 3 is sent in to do some minesweeping and see what shore based response is elicited. A mighty big response it turns out and very quickly. She only has time to clear 3 mines before her mine clearing days are brought to an abrupt end by a shell fired from a 155mm M1918 GPF device fired by 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion. I’m still quite the novice at consulting the editor but this sends my scurrying there to do some research. This gun has a range of 16 000 yds. I have Fuso and Yamashiro on hand to do a bombardment run (they have a range of 39 000 yds) so set them to bombard from a minimum of 20 000 yds… just to be sure. I also figure that as the minefield has been located the threat from this source should have been greatly reduced. Moonlight is down to 7% so not too much should be seen from shore until the big guns open up. Finally, just in case of calamity, the TF has been set to return to Batangas (level 3 Port). So that is the plan to help soften things up before 7 Division arrives for the next assault. If all goes well Hyuga and Ise are waiting in the wings to add their share of support. If anyone sees flaws in my thinking let me know as the turn won’t be going until later today.

Manila is bombed – 12 runway hits. Not a good return but the bombers were dealing with heavy rain. AF damage is showing as fully repaired.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (3 vehicles lost) to A 81 1 combat squad and 1 non-combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 9 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 13 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 85,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 29 casualties.

Nanyang is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 16 runway hits. AF damage is 9.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 3 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 77 (1 non-combat squad destroyed + 3 guns lost) to A 10 casualties. This place is starting to look ugly and I know the forts must be growing. Not enough firepower available to start bleeding myself here just yet.

Attacking force 13350 troops, 198 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1045
Defending force 90300 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2970

Japanese bombard at Pucheng.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 53 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties. This place however is looking more to my liking.

Attacking force 48968 troops, 392 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1817
Defending force 31919 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006

MALAYA/DEI

Medan is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 9 runway hits.

Soerabaja is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 1 runway hit. 24 bombers go in and we lose 1 on the way out to the 4 B-339D that are present. Another raid delivered in heavy rain… I so failed to check on weather last game and am falling into the trap of doing so this time around. Something I shall have to work hard on to incorporate into my pre turn deliberations.

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 22 (1 gun lost) to A 51 (2 combat squads destroyed + 2 vehicles lost) casualties.

BURMA

Prome is bombed – 1 runway hit.

Japanese bombard at Prome. 33rd Division has arrived and the attack will launch tomorrow as AV now stands at J – 535 to A – 78.

PACIFIC

Japanese deliberate attack at Wake Island achieves 4-1 odds (fort level 2) and the base is captured. J 107 to A 1063 (38 combat squads, 100 non-combat squads and 20 engineer squads destroyed + 18 guns and 8 vehicles lost) casualties. Apart from forts the defenders had nothing else going for them and supply certainly looks to have helped me here. Glad I left this target on the vine for a while.

Defender: forts(+), op mode(-), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-) experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Wake USN CPNAB and 1st Marine Defense Battalion are eliminated.

Lunga is occupied by the Japanese.



DMS W-5 taken out of commission to begin refit at Rangoon
DMS W-6 taken out of commission to begin refit at Rangoon

[SierraJuliet]

The race is on just down the road from Ankang. 2 Chinese units have are reported to be making a move to cut the road to Ankang and place themselves rather nicely behind the river. 61st Infantry Brigade has been on the road for a number of days and the race is now on the see who gets to the objective hex first. 61st has 31 miles left to go and I’m hoping that the road will give them a big advantage… unless the Chinese has got in under my guard and are almost there.

The Japanese force making a move on the back door to Nanyang can also be seen. 1329 AV is on the way and the lead elements are only 18 miles away from entering this hex. Up until the last turn Todd had a couple of units in the hex but they have retreated to defend Sian. I’m getting the feeling that Todd has left the Nanyang defenders in place as a road block whilst he shores up as many units inside and outside of Sian as he can. 12 units observed in Sian at this time.

[SierraJuliet]

13 February 1942

PHILIPPINES

Everything seems to have gone to plan with the bombardment of Manila. I might leave Hyuga and Ise for a day or two and try to time their run with the assault. 7 Division is now 84 miles march away. 1 of the enemy units in Manila is now in the forested hex to the east. 2200 troops spotted. I’ve been aware of something making a run for the last week. A check of combat reports find that 45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team is the missing unit with an AV of around 50 as Allied AV in the hex has dropped from 1766 to 1707 although I can’t be sure of how much the bombardments and bombings have affected this total. I suspect Todd wants me to bleed off some of my AV to go chasing this fugitive. I can block his movement north by moving in the recuperating 56 Division and possibly split 7 Division. What is more likely to happen will be that I bring in one of the units at Roxas and use that to block a southwards move. Now for the naval bombardment results. AF damage at Manila is now at 22.

Japanese Ships

BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
CL Kitakami

Allied Ships

SS Spearfish, hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Canopus, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Permit, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Si Kiang, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:

238 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1

Manila is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits, 15 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (1 gun lost) to A 31 (1 combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Attacking force 3230 troops, 227 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 1971
Defending force 52043 troops, 737 guns, 684 vehicles, Assault Value = 1707

San Jose is occupied by the Japanese.

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 4 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 13 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 85,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 28 casualties.

Pakhoi is bombed – 1 airbase and 1 runway hit.

Changsha is bombed – 4 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 4 runway hits. AF damage here is 3.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 47 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties.

Attacking force 13339 troops, 195 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1047
Defending force 90451 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2984

Japanese bombard at Pucheng.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 31 casualties.

Attacking force 49077 troops, 392 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1823
Defending force 31908 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1005

BURMA

4/8th Gurkha Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 40 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at Prome achieves 17-1 odds (fort level 0) and the base is captured.

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:

96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:

1141 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 61 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 43 (38 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:

41st Guard Battalion
33rd Division
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:

4th Burma Rifles Battalion
Railway BAF Battalion
9/11th Sikh Battalion
4/14th Punjab Battalion
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
103rd RN Base Force

MALAYA/DEI

Japanese bombard at Soerabaja – J 255 (4 combat squads destroyed) to A 31 casualties.

Attacking force 14182 troops, 198 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 1074
Defending force 29273 troops, 371 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 694

PACIFIC

Japanese capture Efate.


Repairs completed on SS I-162 at Rangoon, ship returned to service

62nd Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo
63rd Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo
64th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo
65th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo
67th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo
13th Naval Construction Battalion arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
12th Base Force arrives at Saigon

[SierraJuliet]

The race continues. 26th Division is about to cross the river moving closer to Lanchow. This may have triggers a reaction as the unit in the mountains 3 hexes south of Lanchow is now moving back towards Lanchow. My unit racing to cross the river on the road to Ankang has 15 miles left to travel. 16 miles covered today so there is a good chance they will make the crossing this turn. The lead elements to closing the back door to Nanyang are now 14 miles from the forest hex behind Nanyang.

[SierraJuliet]

14 February 1942

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 3 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 11 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 84,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 23 casualties.

84th Chinese Corps at 83,49 near Ichang is bombed.

Nanyang is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.

Pakhoi is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 1 runway hit.

Changsha is bombed – 5 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 4 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 99 to A 7 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Pucheng – J 9 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Nanyang.

Attacking force 49114 troops, 392 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1828

Defending force 31871 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1001


Japanese bombard at Kanhsien.


Attacking force 6981 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 338

Defending force 35684 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1279


The unit racing to cross the river on the road to Ankang has 1 miles left to travel. Hopefully they cross the river before the Chinese enter the hex and we avoid a costly shock attack getting across that barrier. The lead elements coming in behind Nanyang now have 10 miles to cover to get to the road leading out of Nanyang to Sian.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 8 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila – A 70 (1 combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost)

Attacking force 3230 troops, 226 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 1989
Defending force 52082 troops, 737 guns, 684 vehicles, Assault Value = 1705

7 Division is 61 miles away from Manila.

MALAYA/DEI

Medan is bombed – 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 2 runway hits.

Deliberate Japanese attack at 50,77 near Temuloh achieves 8-1 odds – A 333 (13 combat squads and 17 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties. 2 units retreat into the jungles and 1 unit gets left behind.

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,101 near Tjilatjap achieves 1-1 odds – A 58 casualties.

BURMA

4/14th Punjab Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 59 casualties.

Shwebo is occupied by the Japanese. The flight from Burma is complete and I have nowhere near enough combat units here to chase the fleeing units into the hills and mountains.


Previous report of sinking of SS S-37 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service.

CVL Ryjuo has made it to the repair shipyard at Hiroshima/Kure. Damage from that torpedo strike is at 04 10(10) 00 00 and estimate is that she will be good to go in 6 days.

BB Haruna has been a Nagasaki repair shipyard for a while now. Damage from the single torpedo strike on her is now at 00 07(07) 16(10) 00 and estimates are at another 57 days before she is back in service.

AMc Wa 1 arrives at Tokyo
xAKL Atsu Maru arrives at Tokyo
Yokohama Ku T-1 Det arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
45th I.F.Chutai arrives at Keijo
91st I.F.Chutai arrives at Tokyo

[SierraJuliet]

Catch up time for the ongoing negotiations between the Soviets and Japanese. This all took place a couple of weeks ago game time. Todd took the liberty of penning this little exchange.

A low level member of the Soviet Embassy staff, attached to trade, invites and has lunch with a Japanese trade official, again low level. During lunch the Russian mentions that both countries would prosper by avoiding a conflict with each other. He went on to mention that it would be wise to pull naval forces back to territorial waters and leave international waters to non-combatant vessels. He went on to say that air assets might be stood down to prevent mistakes that could lead to conflict. After lunch the 2 men said their goodbyes and departed.


The following was relayed to Todd.

Air assets near Soviet territory stood down. No Japanese warships are ordered near Soviet territory. Those 2 low level men might need to lunch again to pass the message along.

It seems to have provoked an unhappy response in Moscow.

Uncle Joe is seething and berated Molotov for undertaking a clandestine operation to avoid a conflict with Japan at this time without consulting Stalin. Molotov manages to persuade Stalin to go along with the plan as it serves the interests of the Rodina.

In an aside we exchange these comments to each other.

Just over 50 turns in and Joe is seething... an excellent result.

Beware of Uncle Joe. He plays by a different set of rules. Just because he waited until the Red Army was in Germany the last time around guarantees nothing this go 'round.

It seems Stalin is a hard man to pacify.

Stalin stares at a map and mutters about Soviet shipping having to pass through confined waters that the Japanese claim. He tells Molotov to inform Tokyo that any and all attacks on neutral Soviet assets, military or otherwise will be considered an act of war.


A day later this report comes out of Moscow.

Stalin stabs the map repeatedly and shouts something to the effect as to how the hell can the CCP's ships reach some of their far flung outposts without transiting waters the Japanese are refusing passage through. He then says that if the Japanese think that he will let one brave Soviet man or woman starve they are sadly mistaken. He ends the meeting by telling Molotov that if the Japanese insist on these unacceptable conditions then they will not have the peace that they desire.

Japanese GHQ has heard that Stalin considers the Japanese conditions to be unacceptable and therefore peace to be unlikely. Tense debates are taking place to determine the best stance towards the bear.

A day later…

Staring at the map Stalin composes the contents of a cable to be sent to Tokyo.

The CCP is neutral as far as Japan is concerned and expects to be treated as such. Therefore the ships of the CCP expect to be able to peacefully transit the following choke points:
Between Hakkaido and Sakhalin Islands
Between Sakhalin Island and the CCP
The waters around Paramushiro Jima and Petropavlovsk

No more than a single merchantman will be sent at any given time unless prior notice is given to the appropriate Japanese authority. When a submarine or warship needs to transit these waters prior notice will be given. If at any time the neutrality of the CCP is violated it will be considered an act of war.


Tokyo to Moscow

Your proposal is acceptable. Soviet warships that enter the waters of Wakkanai, however, will be considered as hostile as there is no requirement for them to enter these waters to transit the passage between Hakkaido and Sakhalin. We wish to have no further Nozima Maru incidents.

From Todd

Having managed to secure navigational rights tensions have eased a bit, but on the borders tensions remain high. Yuri stamps his feet repeatedly on the frozen ground as he clutches his Mosin Nagant rifle wondering if the Japanese will attack tonight.

[SierraJuliet]

15 February 1942

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 3 airbase hits and 19 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 84,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 14 casualties.

Pakhoi is bombed – 4 runway hits.

Changsha is bombed – 1 runway hit.

84th Chinese Corps at 83,49 near Ichang is bombed – 9 casualties.

Nanyang is bombed – 2 airbase supply hits and 5 runway hits. AF Damage is 4.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 25 casualties.

Attacking force 13289 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1042
Defending force 90664 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3008

Japanese bombard at Pucheng – I have enough firepower on hand here now so we shall attack tomorrow.

Attacking force 12726 troops, 143 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1040
Defending force 12447 troops, 68 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 348

Japanese bombard at Nanyang.

Attacking force 49214 troops, 392 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1835
Defending force 31941 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006

Japanese bombard at Kanhsien.
Attacking force 6976 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 338
Defending force 35726 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1283

Allied shock attack at 82,49 near Ichang achieves 1-3 odds as 7th and 84th Chinese Corps force a river crossing into the waiting 34th Division – J 178 to A 817 (108 combat squads destroyed + 2 guns lost) casualties.

Allies bombard at Tienshui. This is one place in China I expect to lose in the near term. 1st Raiding Regiment is present and has been busy building forts. This is the first time they have been subjected to bombardment and I expect that next turn Todd will launch an attack if he has the supply available. Forts are at level 1 and at 82% towards the next level which is a shame as we are so close to getting that next level but I fear too far away to get it before the attack. 1st Raiding is a good unit and we have the advantage of a forest hex so we may get lucky.

On the road to Ankang 61st Infantry Brigade makes the river crossing on the same turn that a lone Chinese unit enters the hex. An unwanted shock attack avoided and now the work on ejecting the Chinese from this road. Over at Nanyang the lead elements are now only 6 miles away from entering the back door road hex to that target.

PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 1 airbase hit and 14 runway hits. AF damage is 29. Port Damage is 25.

Japanese bombard at Manila – A 66 (2 combat squads and 1 non-combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Attacking force 3230 troops, 226 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 1999
Defending force 52124 troops, 736 guns, 684 vehicles, Assault Value = 1708

7 Division is 38 miles from entering Manila.

MALAYA/DEI

Soerabaja is bombed – my Sally again come in unescorted and this today there be 7 B-339D waiting. 2 Sally shot down and 1 lost to flak! For 1 airbase and 1 runway hit.

A second raid on Soerabaja is carried out by another 19 unescorted Sally bombers… plenty of Oscar fighters available but not interested in escorting for the time being. 5 B-339D on CAP and this time only 1 bomber downed and that was by flak for 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 2 runway hits.

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,77 near Temuloh achieves 46-1 odds and 3rd ISF Base Force 205 casualties (19 non-combat squads destroyed) is eliminated.

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,101 near Tjilatjap achieves 2-1 odds – A 48 casualties.

5 Division is 42 miles from entering Soerabaja.

BURMA

103rd RN Base Force at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 40 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) casualties.

Ramree Island is occupied by the Japanese.


CM Kyosai lays defensive minefield at Tanegashima ( 102 , 62) and sets course for Nagasaki/Sasebo.

Repairs completed on DD Sazanami at Hiroshima/Kure, ship returned to service.

Paramushiro-jima expands airfield to size 3.

Singapore Det arrives at Singapore.

[SierraJuliet]

16 February 1942

PHILIPPINES

The Allies still harbour some teeth in the Philippines. The Japanese TF was enroute from Roxas to Batangas to deliver 1st Independent SNLF Coy as a blocking unit at Mauban should the solitary Allied unit east of Manila decide to make a move south. Fortunately the unit was spread over a number of ships so losses not too great but I certainly rode my luck. Luck was also not with the Allies as John D. Ford managed to score 2 torpedo hits but one of them was a dud. Damage to AK-t Sado Maru stands at 19 68(31) 45 (30) 01 and she is 1 hex from Batangas. Touch and go… she may just make it but likely a good transport is about to go under.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lucena at 79,80, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships

DMS W-1
DMS W-4
AK Hirokawa Maru
AK Sado Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Kinka Maru
xAK Aobasan Maru

Allied Ships

DD John D. Ford

Japanese ground losses:

33 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Range increases to 2,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DMS W-4 at 2,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages AK Sado Maru at 2,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages xAK Aobasan Maru at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lucena at 79,80, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships

DMS W-1
AK Sado Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships

DD John D. Ford

Japanese ground losses:

78 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DMS W-1 at 3,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DMS W-1 at 3,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DMS W-1 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DMS W-1 at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


Manila is bombed – 4 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits, 31 runway hits. AF damage – 16. Port damage – 21.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J 12 (1 non-combat squad destroyed + 1 gun lost) casualties to A 47 (2 combat squads destroyed) casualties. 7 Division is 15 miles from entering Manila.

Attacking force 3270 troops, 231 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 2011
Defending force 52183 troops, 736 guns, 684 vehicles, Assault Value = 1713

Japanese deliberate attack at Iloilo achieves 1-1 odds (fort level 2). A very lucky break here as adjusted odds came in at 25 for both sides. The fort level is reduced to level 1. J 66 (1 non-combat squad destroyed) to A 39 casualties.

Assaulting units:

Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:

61st PA Infantry Division
3rd PI Base Force

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 1 airbase hit, 3 airbase supply hits and 18 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 84,55 near Nanchang is bombed – 43 casualties.

Pakhoi is bombed – 2 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 5 runway hits.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 12 runway hits. AF is currently fully repaired.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 33 casualties.

Attacking force 13304 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1043
Defending force 90764 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3015

Japanese deliberate attack at 82,49 near Ichang achieves 74-1 odds – J 11 to A 825 (80 combat squads, 63 non-combat squads and 7 engineer squads destroyed + 20 guns lost) casualties. 34th Division routs 7th and 84th Chinese Corps and throws them back over the river into the swamp hex south of Ichang.

Japanese deliberate attack at Pucheng achieves 7-1 odds and the Chinese are kicked out of the hex. They are sorely wounded but will linger around in my rear area for some time being a nuisance I suspect.

Attacking force 33094 troops, 317 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 1045
Defending force 12465 troops, 68 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Japanese adjusted assault: 784

Allied adjusted defense: 105

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
875 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4897 casualties reported
Squads: 138 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 165 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:

39th Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Division
22nd/B Division
13th Army
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:

28th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
16th Construction Regiment


Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 17 casualties.

Attacking force 49314 troops, 392 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1847
Defending force 31894 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1002

Japanese bombard at 82,43 near Ankang. This is the road to Ankang action. The Chinese force is an Army Group so we shall attack tomorrow. There is another Chinese unit looking to make entry into the hex so we may well catch them in move mode if they enter the hex in the next turn.

Attacking force 5856 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211
Defending force 900 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Assaulting units:

61st Infantry Brigade

Defending units:

24th Group Army


Japanese bombard at Kanhsien.

Attacking force 6981 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 465
Defending force 35699 troops, 263 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1280

Allies bombard at Tienshui. 1 more valuable day as forts are now at 89% on the way to level 2.

Attacking force 6831 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Defending force 913 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Assaulting units:

9th Chinese Corps

Defending units:

1st Raiding Regiment

Over at Nanyang lead elements approaching the road from the rear are now 2 miles away. Tomorrow they shall arrive and then march on the Nanyang.

BURMA

4/14th Punjab Battalion at 54,51 near Bassein is bombed – 36 casualties.

Bassein is occupied by the Japanese.

MALAYA/DEI

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,101 near Tjilatjap achieves 3-1 odds – A 13 casualties.

Japanese bombard at Lautem.

Japanese bombard at Kuantan. Not much left here so an attack will go in tomorrow.

Attacking force 1451 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
Defending force 912 troops, 29 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Assaulting units:

91st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:

3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force



DD Uzuki beginning refit in shipyard at Okayama
DD Yuzuki beginning refit in shipyard at Okayama

[SierraJuliet]

Moscow to Tokyo

Any attacks on any of the following points will be viewed as hostile acts against the USSR.

Ansi

Hami

Kiuchuan

Kungchang

Lanchow

Sining

Urumchi

Wasu

A peaceful, demilitarized frontier is there and any incursion by Japanese forces will be regarded as hostile acts.

Well this is the cat amongst the pigeons. There is heated debate going on in Tokyo on how to respond to this demand. Kunchang and Lanchow are certainly on my list of objectives in this part of the world. Still away to go before 26 Division is at the gates so I may just go along with this and not attack (straight away) but I'm thinking there will be a terse message going back to Moscow telling them to stay out of Japanese Chinese affairs.

[SierraJuliet]

17 February 1942

CHINA

Kukong is bombed – 2 airbase supply hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 4 runway hits.

10th Group Army at 84,55 near Nanchang is bombed.

7th Chinese Corps at 83,49 near Ichang is bombed – 10 casualties.

Changsha is bombed – 1 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Changsha – J 43 casualties (1 gun lost)

Attacking force 13295 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1042
Defending force 90815 troops, 491 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3013

Japanese bombard at Nanyang – A 16 casualties. 32nd and 37th Divisions (863 AV) have entered the road hex to the rear of Nanyang. They now have to traverse the 46 miles to enter Nanyang and then I will have sufficient firepower available to launch an assault here.

Attacking force 48335 troops, 388 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 1850
Defending force 31883 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1001

Japanese deliberate attack at 82,43 near Ankang achieves 8-1 odds and 24th Group Army is forced to retreat. A 422 (47 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties.

Japanese bombard at Kanhsien – A 16 casualties.

Attacking force 13518 troops, 105 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 461
Defending force 35796 troops, 263 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1289

Allied deliberate attack at Tienshui. I was expecting this but never thought that the result would be so tilted in my favour. Fort building is now at 95% so next turn the forts will have reached level 2. As fatigue and supply are issues for the Chinese I think my parachute unit will be able to hold this position for some time now.

Attacking force 6838 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196
Defending force 913 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Allied adjusted assault: 23

Japanese adjusted defense: 139

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Allied ground losses:
169 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment



PHILIPPINES

Manila is bombed – 4 airbase hits and 6 runway hits.

Japanese bombard at Manila – J (2 guns and 1 vehicle lost) to A 39 (2 combat squads destroyed + 2 guns and 2 vehicles lost) casualties. 7th Division has arrived. I shall give them 1 day to remove some of their fatigue and then the second assault will be launched.

Attacking force 3252 troops, 230 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 2473
Defending force 52232 troops, 735 guns, 684 vehicles, Assault Value = 1714

Japanese bombard at Cagayan – J 10 casualties. Far too much allied power here to be launching assaults at this time.

Attacking force 1488 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61
Defending force 10111 troops, 71 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps

MALAYA/DEI

Medan is bombed – 2 airbase hit and 9 runway hits.

Japanese troops unloading over beach at Tandjoengbalai.

Japanese deliberate attack at 50,101 near Tjilatjap achieves 4-1 odds – A 7 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at Lautem achieves 5-1 odds (fort level 1) and the base is captured.

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
C.XI-W: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (15 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Assaulting units:
16th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2nd KNIL AA Battalion
Lautem Base Force


Japanese deliberate attack at Kuantan achieves 1-1 odds (fort level 2). Fort level reduced to 1 – J 23 to A 6 casualties.

Japanese deliberate attack at Ketapang achieves 18-1 odds and Pontianak Base Force is forced to retreat – J 25 to A 44 (6 non-combat squads destroyed) casualties.

No bombarding today at Soerabaja as my land units work on bringing down their fatigue. 5th Division has arrived so one day of rest and then launch the attack. 4th Division and two artillery units have arrived at Semarang from Singapore so plenty more in the wings if we get bogged down at Soerabaja.

PACIFIC

Lakatoro is occupied by the Japanese.

Repairs completed on xAK Kogyoku Maru at Hiroshima/Kure, ship returned to service.