The Battle Under: Japan looks to the South

[SierraJuliet]

28 February 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 8 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align][align=left] [/align]Air: 21 Ann raid Sian and score 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 11 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Land:  The undefended base at Ormoc is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: 77 Nell and 22 Betty raid Port Moresby and report 8 airbase hits, 5 airbase supply hits and 38 runway hits as well as 1 Catalina destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Land:  Troops are ashore at Kiriwina Island and Vella Lavella.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  North of Banjarmasin 12 Nell bomb VII Garrison Battalion and cause 7 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Banjarmasin 3 CW-21B Demon and 3 Martin 139 bomb a transport task force and gain 1 hit on AP Nissen Maru #2 for no reported damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Indian Theatre[align=left] [/align]18 Nell bomb Andaman Island and score 3 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]DD Isonami (all the ships in the task force caught by Enterprise at Wake Island have now sunk)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]British must withdraw 1 battleship and 2 destroyers.  He has so many warships around that I’m sure this shouldn’t be a problem for Todd.  Something tells me Prince of Wales is not the one making the trek back home.

[SierraJuliet]

Screenshot attached of current air and naval situation after almost 3 full months of game play.   

On my side of the ledger AK loses are good but APs have moved on up although on average it works out at about a bit over 1 ship lost each week which doesn’t sound quite so bad.  Cruiser count is good and would have been better if Kumano had not been thrown away.   

Plane loses are mainly down to ops loses (or Maj. O P Loses as promoted by Todd) but against that air to air is ok considering that a lot of the planes were pulled out of harms way.  I have only just started to find the AVG and in China so I think Todd is testing the water to see what reaction he gets.  So far it has been good for me with the AVG group in Homan being mauled.  

[n01487477]

Steve,
Op's losses can be minimised, but in the early stages of the war you'll be moving planes around and this is when loads of losses occur. Try to move during good weather, stand down in bad (I should take my own advice here - but I need them in the fray 24/7), when transfering - try to use smaller hops. Don't overcrowd airbases ... etc.

Looks like some alright stats for this stage though.[;)]

--Damian--  

[SierraJuliet]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Steve,
Op's losses can be minimised, but in the early stages of the war you'll be moving planes around and this is when loads of losses occur. Try to move during good weather, stand down in bad (I should take my own advice here - but I need them in the fray 24/7), when transfering - try to use smaller hops. Don't overcrowd airbases ... etc.

Looks like some alright stats for this stage though.[;)]

--Damian--  

Thanks Damian.


This is good to hear and I like the advice on good and bad weather (yet another aspect of the game to get a handle on). Small hops is good to and I'm guilty of sending them in one large jump.


Overcrowded bases I'm good with as I make a habit of keeping plane numbers within support limits. Mandalay is the only current example where I haven't followed this because I wanted a fighter presence there (paid the price as most planes are now damaged) and an appropriate support unit is making a mad dash there to get these planes back in the air. Their presence seems to have had the desired effect as the bombing of Mandalay has stopped for the time being at least.

[SierraJuliet]

I’ve gone through all the ships that sustained damage during February 1942 (and did not subsequently sink) and listed the initial damage and status of damage at the end of the month.  3 destroyers there with substantial damage and as long as they make it to a repair port they will be back in action.  Fuso will survive and is due for an AA upgrade into port she goes for repair and refit.  Yamashiro is already at the Home Island for her upgrade.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]BB Nagato 00 00 01.  End of Feb at sea on 02 00 00[align=left] [/align]BB Fuso 11 28 16.  End of Feb at sea on 13 16 01[align=left] [/align]CL Katori 18 03 09.  End of Feb at Rabaul on 14 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Wakatake 03 00 00.  End of Feb at Rabaul on 03 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Hatsushima 35 11 05.  End of Feb at sea on 38 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Isokaze 29 10 08.  End of Feb at sea on 33 00 00[align=left] [/align]DD Asakaze 33 63 23.  End of Feb at Balikpapan on 35 47 00[align=left] [/align]SS I-158 23 46 00.  End of Feb at Singapore on 25 00 00[align=left] [/align]SS I-153 05 00 00.  End of Feb at sea on 07 00 00[align=left] [/align]SS I-22 08 00 00.  End of Feb at sea on 08 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Zukai Maru 89 22 18 (3rd time she is hit) then hit a 4th time to be at 96 38 05.  End of Feb at Rabaul on 91 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Aiyo Maru 09 02 10.  End of Feb at sea on 11 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Arabia Maru 24 02 09.  Hit a 2nd time to be 35 00 04.  End of Feb at sea on 35 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Ryuyo Maru 32 17 04.  End of Feb at sea on 27 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Shintoku Maru 24 00 26.  End of Feb at Rabaul on 17 00 00[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Quick snapshot of some of the ships damaged earlier in the war and their current status.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DD Yunagi at worst was 42 52 03 and now at sea returning to Home Islands on 32 00 00[align=left] [/align]CV Hiryu currently at Maizuru on 42 00 00[align=left] [/align]CA Ashigara currently at Kitakyushu on 24 00 00[align=left] [/align]PG Hasidate currently at Kuching on 39 00 00.  At her worst she was on 41 87 00 after stopping 2 torpedoes fired by SS O24 on 24.01.1942 which caused initial damage of 37 64 27.  Hope she does something useful after a heroic rescue effort.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DDs Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Yayoi and Mochizuki have all had their Feb ’42 upgrade.  Mochizuki initially got damaged 54 33 00 at the Wake Island invasion but now spick and span with her upgrade and absolutely no damage and ready to make up the escort for KB.

[Local Yokel]

For me, the total of ops losses is irrelevant in isolation.  I gauge how well I am keeping them down by expressing them as a percentage of sorties flown.
 
When moving aircraft, several small hops may not be better than one big one.  For any given movement, a series of small hops will expose the group being transferred to multiple ops loss checks rather than the single check for the big hop.  I use big hops extensively, but I only do so when the weather favours it, and when the group's fatigue is minimal (preferably 0).  This involves resting the group for several days between each big hop.  Avoidance of small airfields probably also helps.
 
Notwithstanding that my total sorties have again overtaken those of my Allied opponent, these measures appear to have helped in keeping my ops losses lower than his: currently 1687 Allied : 1496 Japanese in March 1943.

[n01487477]

Local Yokel, I'd agree with you in the fatigue and weather stakes, have you also noticed less ops losses if you set them to "stand down" before moving ? I swear it seems better... Also I agree, the size of the airfield seems to improve things. I tend to shuffle units in a type of zone of operations anyway, so I'm never flying too far... I hope.

--Damian--

[SierraJuliet]

Good gracious Local Yokel.  Now you have me thinking.  If I have this right I have up till now (01.03.1942) lost 325 planes from 251 500 sorties which equates to a percentage of .13% planes lost.  That sounds good.  0 fatigue – that is one area I can improve in.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Now for the real cruncher.  I’ve never really kept tabs on total number of Japanese sorties versus Allied sorties.  325 to the Allied 68 lost from ops.  Looks like I’ve got some catching up to do![align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Thanks for the stand down info Damian.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]PS… if the calculations don’t make sense it is my poor maths at school coming back to haunt me.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]

[SierraJuliet]

Progress continues on all fronts.  Below is a list of bases captured during the month of February 1942.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Captured – Johore Bahru, Singapore[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI [align=left] [/align]Captured – Samarinda, Aitape, Torokina, Hollandia, Balikpapan, Siador, Banjarmasin, Biak[align=left] [/align]Occupied – Belitung Island[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China [align=left] [/align]Captured – Kweilin, Hengchow[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines [align=left] [/align]Captured – Clark Field, Naga, Manila, Roxas, Bataan, Ormoc[align=left] [/align]Occupied – Boac[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific [align=left] [/align]Captured – Green Island, Arawe, Woodlark Island, Sarmi, Admiralty Islands, Emirau Island[align=left] [/align]Occupied – Fergusson Island[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Things that could have been done better[align=left] [/align]2nd phase of the Battle of Goodenough Bay.  By allowing my covering cruiser force to sally forth into the Coral Sea I gave up the opportunity for a night action and allowed my transports and light escorts plus cripples from the previous night to be exposed to superior forces.[align=left] [/align]Failing to provide adequate air cover which exposed Kumano and her sister ships to aerial assault and the eventual loss of Kumano.[align=left] [/align]Not getting Wake Island up to speed earlier and leaving it exposed to attack which through bluff never eventuated.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Things that worked[align=left] [/align]Securing Malaya, the important areas of the Philippines and the entrapment and capture of 6 Chinese units at Hengchow.[align=left] [/align]1st phase of the Battle of Goodenough Bay where Mutsu and company, although taking a battering, did their job and protected the transports.  The composition of the task force could have been better which probably contributed to the loss of 2 light cruisers but on the other hand the cruiser HMAS Australia was sunk.

[SierraJuliet]

01 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 14 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 23 Sonia and 16 Sally bomb 23rd Army Group and cause 23 casualties. [align=left] [/align]24 Ann bomb Sian and score 1 airbase supply hit and 14 runway hits.[align=left] [/align]At Kweiyang 23 Zero fly sweep against 5 Warhawk with 3 Zero shot down.[align=left] [/align]At Homan 18 Zero fly sweep against 7 Tomahawk and shot down 1 Tomahawk whilst 2 Zero are destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Iloilo 61st PA Division is bombed by 23 Helen causing 36 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: 72 Nell and 22 Betty bomb Port Moresby and score 3 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit, 25 runway hits and 1 Catalina destroyed for 1 Nell shot down.[align=left] [/align]Land:  The undefended base at Kiriwina Island is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align]The undefended base Vella Lavella is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  In the Java Sea 4 CW-21B Demon and 6 T.IVa attack mini KB.  The CAP of 31 Zero account for 1 Demon and 3 T.IVa destroyed and the attack is broken up.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Things have taken a turn for the worst for my Zeros in China.  FO R. Grant of AVG/B is credited with kill # 3.  While at the Java Sea things are set for an invasion at Soerabaja.  I was initially planning on landing at Batavia but recon has found 8 units at Batavia so Soerabaja it is and the troops will then work their way up to Batavia.  Reinforcements are not far from Taung Gyi so the assault proper will soon recommence there.

[SierraJuliet]

02 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Taung Gyi 14 Betty and 9 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 9 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 51 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align][align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 20 Sonia and 13 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 9 Ann bomb 70th Chinese Corps and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Land:  Troops are ashore at Tacloban.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land:  Munda is occupied by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  North of Banjarmasin 29 Nell bomb Samarinda Garrison Battalion and cause 12 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Near Banjarmasin 2 Martin 139 drop 2 bombs onto MSW Ataka Maru causing 99 80 33 damage.[align=left] [/align]At Java Sea 4 CW-21B Demon, 7 Brewster 339D and 3 T.IVa attack mini KB.  33 Zero make up the CAP and they down 1 Demon, 7 Brewster and 1 T.IVa.[align=left] [/align]Near Banjarmasin 3 Martin 139 locate a surface action task force and land 1 bomb on board Kongo causing 01 00 02 damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Indian Theatre[align=left] [/align]Air: 22 Nell bombs the airfield at Andaman Island and cause 2 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS I-16 locates a task force near Johnston Island.  AP President Hayes is reported amongst the shipping present but it is DD Preston that is reported as taking 2 torpedoes.  The depth charge attack causes 10 00 00 damage to the sub.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Mini KB is doing well in the Java Sea but tomorrow’s action will be all the more difficult.  The invasion convoy approaches and the close proximity of so much shipping to the T.IVa will likely produce some unwanted results.  An overnight bombardment force should hit the target overnight so hopefully that will reduce the effectiveness of strikes against my ships.

[Local Yokel]

ORIGINAL: SierraJuliet

Good gracious Local Yokel.  Now you have me thinking.  If I have this right I have up till now (01.03.1942) lost 325 planes from 251 500 sorties which equates to a percentage of .13% planes lost.  That sounds good.  0 fatigue – that is one area I can improve in.

PS… if the calculations don’t make sense it is my poor maths at school coming back to haunt me.

The calculation looks good to me - the Japanese equivalent in my own game is just over .10%. I certainly agree about standing units down; that's how I arrange for airgroups' recuperation for big hops. Ideally you want to make the last big hop into a base that's not under air threat - that way you can rest up the group and make a final short range transfer into its intended operational destination with minimum fatigue. This should put the group in the best possible condition for operations immediately upon arrival.

I'm not sure how far the version you are playing differs from the CHS NikMod game I'm playing, but I noticed that all three of your IJN base forces at Wake have no assault value. You've probably already anticipated this in your planning, but it looks like these base forces could still be filled out with 40 infantry squads and a brace of 5.5" CD guns. Filling these base forces to maximum establishment/TOE whilst they are still in Japan is another thing I take some pains over. At the same time they can do some engineering work in the Home Islands.

Incidentally, I do like the format for your AAR. The colour coding and the comments help to make it very readable - thanks!

[SierraJuliet]

Thanks Local Yokel.  Focusing on the percentage of ops losses rather than the figure of what has been lost sure puts things into perspective.  I’m starting to get used to the stand down command and am using it now whereas when I started it was one of those commands I wondered what it would do.  I have a better understanding of the importance of and usefulness of this command now.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Thanks for the tip on filling out those IJN base forces.  I’m sure I’ve seen that somewhere (probably more than once) and of course have forgotten that this will improve their value as a fighting force.  Being my first PBEM everything is part of the learning curve.  Consider filling out of forces added to the pile of information I must remember.[:)]
[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]And thanks for the AA compliment.  Much appreciated.

[SierraJuliet]

03 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Taung Gyi 28 Betty and 15 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 25 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 41 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 20 Sonia and 14 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps and cause 18 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Northeast of Homan 13 Sonia bomb 60th Chinese Corps and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 10 Sonia bomb 49th Chinese Corps and cause 3 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Iloilo 61st PA Division is bombed by 20 Helen causing 5 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land:  The undefended base at Tacloban is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: 32 Nell and 22 Betty bomb Port Moresby and cause 2 airbase hits and 12 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air:  North of Banjarmasin 13 Nell bomb Samarinda Garrison Battalion and cause 22 casualties.  At the same location 15 Nell bomb 2nd DAF Base Force and cause 11 casualties.[align=left] [/align]As the invasion task force moves in on Soerabaja a group of 9 Hawk 75A, 3 Demon CW-21B, 6 Brewster 339, 9 T.IVa and 3 Martin 139 sets about attacking the main invasion force.  The CAP of 17 Zero has a mixed bag of results with 4 Zero destroyed against 1 Hawk, 1 Demon, 2 Brewster and 1 T.IVa destroyed.  8 of the T.IVa launch torpedoes with 1 hitting AP Anzan Maru and causing 34 26 20 damage.[align=left] [/align]A further strike by 8 Hawk, 3 Demon, 3 Brewster and 6 T.IVa against a surface action task force loses 1 T.IVa to flak and scores no hits.[align=left] [/align]Sea: Kongo, Takao, Atago and Jintsu are tasked to bombard Soerabaja.  59 Coastal gun shots are fired in defense.  1 Martin 139 is destroyed, PT TM-13 takes 1 shell hit and Allied loses are reported as 83 casualties and 2 guns lost along with 1 airbase hit and 1 runway hit.  CL Jintsu reports 7 hits for 08 19 23 damage and CA Takao reports 7 hits for 00 00 03 damage.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment north of Banjarmasin causes 11 casualties to the remaining Dutch forces in Borneo.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Indian Theatre[align=left] [/align]Air: 27 Nell bomb Andaman Island and achieve 1 airbase hit and 1 runway hit.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]MSW Ataka Maru (hit severely by aerial bombing the day before.  She was reported hit by Dutch scout plane and down she goes)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The invasion of Soerabaja is imminent and I expect the pace to move up a notch or two tomorrow.  The Zeros on mini KB had an off day today with 4 being destroyed.  Attack by PT boats is my main concern – there have been plenty of sightings of them… oh and also how many mines have been dropped around Soerabaja????

[SierraJuliet]

04 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese shock attack at Taung Gyi causes 25 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align][align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 20 Sonia and 15 Sally bomb 23rd Group Army causing 34 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Sian 24 Ann bomb the airfield and cause 1 airbase hit, 2 airbase supply hits and 16 runway hits.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 9 Ann bomb 49th Chinese Corps and cause 11 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Iloilo 61st PA Division is bombed by 23 Helen and 58 casualties and 1 gun lost are reported.[align=left] [/align]Land:  Troops are ashore at Guiuan.[align=left] [/align]Catbalogan is occupied by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: Port Moresby is attacked by 31 Nell and 21 Betty causing 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 19 runway hits.  1 Nell is lost and 1 Hudson is destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: Near Soerabaja a task force of 6 PC do battle with PT TM-5 and score 1 hit on this PT for no damage in return.[align=left] [/align]DDs Tokitsukaze, Yamakaze, Kawakaze, Yugiri and Amagiri locate PT TM-14 and score 32 hits on the PT causing it to sink.[align=left] [/align]At Soerabaja 629 coastal gun shots are fired at the invasion task force as troops are unloading. Results below:[align=left] [/align]Japanese Ships[align=left] [/align]AP Burisuben Maru[align=left] [/align]DD Kuroshio[align=left] [/align]DD Kamikaze[align=left] [/align]DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1  00 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Nojima Maru, Shell hits 3  04 00 00[align=left] [/align]AP Shoho Maru, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage  77 18 15[align=left] [/align]AP Tenzan Maru, Shell hits 11,  on fire,  heavy damage  Damage unknown see entry below for full damage[align=left] [/align]AP Unkai Maru #6, Shell hits 9,  on fire,  heavy damage  99 39 34[align=left] [/align]AP Meikai Maru, Shell hits 5,  on fire  99 64 15[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Japanese ground losses:[align=left] [/align]1033 casualties reported[align=left] [/align]Guns lost 9[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Allied ground losses:[align=left] [/align]7 casualties reported[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Soerabaja 498 coastal gun shots are fired at the invasion task force as troops are unloading. Results below:[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 2,  on fire  37 24 08[align=left] [/align]AP Arizana Maru, Shell hits 9,  on fire,  heavy damage  72 59 49[align=left] [/align]DD Kuroshio[align=left] [/align]AP Tenzan Maru, Shell hits 10,  on fire,  heavy damage  99 90 49[align=left] [/align]AP Tsunushima Maru, Shell hits 10,  on fire  60 20 31[align=left] [/align]AP Meikai Maru, Shell hits 10,  on fire,  heavy damage  99 64 49[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Japanese ground losses:[align=left] [/align]805 casualties reported[align=left] [/align]Guns lost 4[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Allied ground losses:[align=left] [/align]22 casualties reported[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Air: North of Banjarmasin 12 Nell bomb SE Borneo Garrison Battalion and cause 18 casualties.  At the same location 13 Nell bomb VI Garrison Battalion and cause 24 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Near Pamakasan 8 Hawk 75A, 3 CW-21B Demon, 3 Brewster 339D and 2 T.IVa attempt to fight their way through the CAP of 9 Zero.  1 Zero is lost while 2 Hawk and 1 Brewster are destroyed.  No ships are hit.[align=left] [/align]Land: North of Banjarmasin a Japanese shock attack achieves assault odds of 268 to 1.  Instead of surrendering the determined Dutch troops high tail it into the jungle after suffering 63 casualties.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Indian Theatre[align=left] [/align]Air:  20 Nell bomb Andaman Island and score 1 runway hit.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]South of Rabaul SS S-27 scores 7 shell hits on AP Kaedesan Maru causing 47 30 49 damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]PT TM-14[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Well the invasion is on and the reception has been hot.  Although heavy damage on a few of the transports the Imperial Guards are ashore and ready to go.  The PT threat appears to have been nullified, the aerial threat hasn’t made go on the damage achieved by the shore batteries and so far no minefields detected.  Tomorrow will see a shock assault here and the full extent of defensive preparations will be revealed.

[Capt. Harlock]

Well the invasion is on and the reception has been hot.  Although heavy damage on a few of the transports the Imperial Guards are ashore and ready to go.

Hmm -- it's been a long time since I've seen CD fire be that effective. Did your opponent move in any extra guns?

[SierraJuliet]

05 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 24 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 23rd Group Army is bombed by 22 Sonia and 18 Sally with 10 casualties reported.[align=left] [/align]At Sian 24 Ann score 1 airbase hit, 2 airbase supply hits and 8 runway hits.[align=left] [/align]Northeast of Homan 13 Sonia bomb 58th Chinese Corps and cause 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 10 Sonia cause 5 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Land:  The undefended base at Guiuan is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 20 Betty and 27 Nell destroy 1 Catalina and score 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 9 runway hits.[align=left] [/align]Land:  Panggoe is occupied by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: Coastal guns at Soerabaja fire up again.  Today 34 gun shots fired at the invasion fleet and score 4 hits on AP Yoshinogawa Maru causing no damage.[align=left] [/align]A task force containing PCs Kyo Maru #2, Kyo Maru #12, Shona Maru #17, Takunan Maru #5, Ch 13 and Ch 14 locate PT TM-5 and score 8 hits and the PT sinks.[align=left] [/align]A short time later the same task force happens upon PT TM-15 and scores 7 hits sinking this PT as well.  Kyo Maru #2 is hit once by shell hit for no damage.[align=left] [/align]Naval bombardment of Soerabaja by Hyuga, Ise and Sendai causes 67 casualties and 1 gun lost, 1 runway hit, 1 port hit and 1 port supply hit.  21 coastal gun shots are fired in response with 6 hits on CL Sendai causing 23 13 17 damage.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Pamakasan and the landings continue at Soerabaja.[align=left] [/align]Northeast of Banjarmasin 6th Dutch Regiment is bombed by 18 Nell with 6 casualties reported.[align=left] [/align]Japanese shock attack at Soerabaja reduces the forts to level 4 and achieves assault odds of 1 to 1.  Japanese losses reported at 540 casualties and 22 guns lost against 123 Allied casualties and 5 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]In the Java Sea SS O20 puts 1 torpedo into MSW Banshu Maru #8 and is rewarded with 1 sunken vessel.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]PT TM-5, PT TM-15, MSW Banshu Maru #8, AP Tenzan Maru (from shore bombardment at Soerabaja)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The Imperial Guards have achieved at good start at Soerabaja.  The injection of fresh troops will assist here and a day of bombardment will take place before the next push on the day after.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Capt. Harlock.  The 6th Coastal Gun Battalion is in place at Soerabaja and is doing a very good job of lobbing 150mm shells into the invasion fleet.  With the damage caused I expect to loose a few more transports, particularly as they are the 1500 variety and I imagine it would not take too much to bring them undone.  Importantly though they have put the Imperial Guards ashore to do their work.  The amount of fire coming from the Battalion seems to have reduced somewhat… is this a result of having troops ashore causing their fire to be less devastating.  Plenty more troops on the way here so I am hoping for a quick result so I can get those damaged ships into the level 8 port here.

[SierraJuliet]

06 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Taung Gyi causes 13 Allied casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: At Sian 24 Ann score 1 airbase hit and 11 runway hits.  5 Tomahawk turn up as CAP and shoot down 1 Ann.[align=left] [/align]Northeast of Homan 14 Sonia bomb 3rd New Chinese Corps and cause 15 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Iloilo 61st PA Division is bombed by 20 Helen with 19 casualties reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: Kongo puts in some bombardment at Soerabaja and causes 39 casualties and 2 guns lost.  17 Coastal guns shots fired in defence score 2 hits for no damage.[align=left] [/align]Hyuga and Ise also do some bombarding and cause 110 casualties, 1 gun lost and 1 port hit.  17 Coastal guns again respond and score 2 hits on Ise for no damage.[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Soerabaja 7 Nell and 9 Sally bomb 6th Dutch Regiment and cause 26 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment at Soerabaja causes 26 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No reported action.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]AP Meikai Maru, AP Arizana Maru (both succumb to the ravages of the coastal battery at Soerabaja)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]A reasonably quiet day whilst the troops are preparing for the onslaught tomorrow.  The transports have started to sink but this is to be expected considering the damage inflicted by the shore battery at Soerabaja.  On the plus side at Soerabaja there does not appear to be a minefield to deal with at this location and the PT attacks have failed to fire.  The CAP over Sian was long overdue considering the bombers have been paying regular unescorted visits.  I’m a bit surprised that only 1 plane was downed.

[SierraJuliet]

07 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: At Taung Gyi 18 Betty and 14 Helen bomb 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade and cause 52 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese shock attack at Taung Gyi (fort level 0) and achieve assault odds of 13 to 1 and the base is captured.  Japanese losses reported as 1245 casualties, 20 guns and 1 vehicle lost to 234 Allied casualties and 4 guns lost.  The 1st and 2nd Burma Rifles Brigades retreat into the jungle.

[align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northwest of Hanoi 22 Sonia and 15 Sally bomb 50th Chinese Corps and cause 52 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Northeast of Homan 13 Sonia bomb 60th Chinese Corps and cause 13 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Iloilo 61st PA Division is bombed by 19 Helen causing 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: 16 Nell and 6 Betty attack Port Moresby and score 2 airbase supply hits and 4 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: Kongo bombards for no effect and is hit 3 times herself for no effect.[align=left] [/align]During unloading one of the transport task forces PG Seisho Maru is hit 7 times from the shore battery causing 65 52 49 damage.[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Soerabaja 6 Nell and 12 Sally bomb 6th Dutch Regiment and cause 41 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Near Raba 9 Zero locate PT TM-6 and record 4 hits and leave the vessel on fire.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese shock attack at Soerabaja reduces the forts from level 4 to level 0 and achieves assault odds of 4 to 1.  The defenders hold firm with Japanese losses reported at 326 casualties and 8 guns lost to 375 Dutch casualties and 3 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Allied shock attack at Pamakasan achieves assault odds of 0 to 1 and causes 26 Japanese casualties to 106 Dutch casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS O20 is located in the Java Sea by DDs Murasame, Nowaki, Hagikaze, Shirayuki, Murakumo and Uranami and 4 hits are reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]AP Unkai Maru #6 (at Soerabaja) AP Hakusika Maru (at Kuching after battling flooding from torpedo damage for 42 days)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Finally have Taung Gyi secured and now the problem of dealing with those Burma Rifles who have fled to the safety of the jungle.  Soerabaja looks to need one more push for it to fall and the conquest of the Spice Islands can gather pace.

[SierraJuliet]

08 March 1942[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Air: Northeast of Homan 13 Sonia bomb 60th Chinese Corps and cause 3 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]At Ichang 10 Sonia bomb 78th Chinese Corps and cause 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Land:  Troops are ashore at Iloilo.  Allied bombardment causes 9 Japanese casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South Eastern Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Port Moresby 24 Nell and 20 Betty bomb the airfield and cause 17 casualties, 1 gun lost, 2 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 15 runway hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Sea: Coastal guns at Soerabaja are active again and this time MSW W.17 is hit 7 times and she is sunk.  APD APD-33 is also hit 7 times for 99 59 33 damage.  APD APD-32 also runs afoul of the guns and is hit 7 times for 99 62 49 damage.  Each time 37 shots were fired at the vessels.[align=left] [/align]Air:  At Soerabaja 9 Nell and 13 Sally bomb 6th Dutch Regiment and cause 74 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese shock attack at Soerabaja (fort level 0) achieves assault odds of 10 to 1 and the base is captured.  Japanese losses reported as 105 casualties and 4 guns lost.  Dutch losses and surrendered amount to 2654 with 16 guns lost.  The 6th Coastal Gun Battalion surrender while the 6th Dutch Regiment and 2 DAF Aviation retreat.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]A Val from mini KB reports a hit on SS O20[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]MSW W.17, AP Tsunushima Maru (at Soerabaja)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Soerabaja is secure although I paid for it with 5 small transports.  Now is the time to get those damaged ships into port and see what can be saved.  The retreat of the Dutch forces went well as they chose to flee to Malang which means I can deal with them separately and they will not reinforce the units at Batavia.  I now have a size 8 port and size 4 airfield to base by DEI operations out of.  Supplies captured are 3495 and fuel is at 67 920.  Oil stored is 50 799 and resources are at 13 734.  There is no damage at all to the port, airfield or the runway.  Manpower is at (1)x1, resources at (0)x600 and oil at (0)x100 – this is an excellent result.