Act III - DBB-C Uncivil Engineer (J) vs. christopher 1963 (A)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 26, 1942

Nothing much happened. We lost a sub to ASW near Dutch Harbor. Otherwise, quiet.


Apr 27, 1942

A Dutch CL TF attacked a 3 PB supply TF at Ambon, sinking one, then bombarded the base effectively. An air HQ will arrive tomorrow, so hoping he has to resupply his CLs (both Dutch and US) before coming back. I intend to run a CV TF down that way, but Shokaku and Zuikaku are at Singapore for a week's worth of repairs. The other 6 arrive at Truk tomorrow for the same.

Our Nells bombed Chungking causing some airfield damage, but B-17s were not hit.

We're making good progress on Java; 3 divisions should be in Soerabaja within a week. Film at 11.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 28, 1942

Chungking was bombed again, but did little damage at a high cost in Nells. These will stand down for now and await the G3M3 model starting production in 2 days at 50 per month. Ki-44-IIa Tojos just advanced a month, from Jun to May, so production starts in 2 days at 90 per month. Two research sites (at Tokyo and Osaka) have converted to 30(0) Ki-44-IIb.

The air HQ successfully unloaded at Ambon without interference.

Email intel informs high command that the Allies are itching to go on the offensive. We're not quite at the historical date of the Battle of the Coral Sea, so a bit premature in my opinion. Of course, if the offensive is in the Aleutians he'll meet little resistance. As the map below shows, operations on Java are coming to a close. Those 3 divisions (Imperial Guard, 38th, and 56th) will be used to mop up the eastern DEI, along with the 48th at Ambon, before reinforcing Burma.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 29, 1942

A US sub fired 4 torpedoes at BB Ise as it left Yokohama, but missed.

On second thought, the Ki-44s were changed to the Ki-44-IIc, instead of b. They arrive much later, but have armor. The b model does not appear to be much better than the a model. Hopefully, the Ki-44 Tojos and Ki-45 Nicks will be worthwhile replacements for Oscars and Nates.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 30, 1942

CL Boise and TF again bombarded Ambon. He keeps talking about going on the offensive; could he be aiming for Ambon and the 48 Division? Or is it just an easy target. He made no naval effort to stop the invasion of Java; all Japanese shipping came in to Merak (generally from the north) until Batavia was captured.

The Brit CV(s) showed up again in the Andaman Sea, but didn't attack anything. They were attacked by escorted Nells from Victoria point, but no torpedoes found their mark and several Nells were lost.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 1 - 5, 1942

The Allies have been bombarding bases where they know there will be little to no resistance; Umnak, Ambon, and Port Blair. One of these raids sank 3 minelayers at Ambon on the 1st and otherwise keeping the airfields and ports in disarray.

Loemadjang, near Soerabaja, flipped to Japan on the 2nd. A Japanese BB TF ran in to Tulagi and sank 6 PT boats.

CV Junyo arrived on the 3rd.

Repair of HI at Changsha was stopped at 10 on the 4th. A cross river attack FROM Changsha killed a lot of Chinese -

Ground combat at 81,51 (near Changsha)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 56007 troops, 542 guns, 511 vehicles, Assault Value = 1530

Defending force 26905 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 487

Japanese adjusted assault: 1057

Allied adjusted defense: 401

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2208 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 184 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled

Allied ground losses:
12780 casualties reported
Squads: 348 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 286 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 74 (29 destroyed, 45 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
15th Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
51st Recon Regiment
22nd Division
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
21st Division
6th Division
13th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
13th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Division
30th Group Army

Not that I want or need that terrain, but an opportunity to kill Chinese. In addition to the 6:1 loss ratio (Chinese:Japanese), most Chinese casualties were KIA, while most Japanese were disablements. We're overstacked here, so these units will return to Changsha immediately.

Repair of LI at Changsha was stopped at 10 on the 5th.

We learned by email to expect a surprise on the 4th, but it hasn't materialized yet. The transition from defense to offense takes some time!

B-17s have begun operating from Darwin, which is difficult to supply and is probably only a level 4 airfield (I haven't checked). He has had a lot of naval activity in the Torres Strait, probably to protect the supply transports coming north from Sydney. Might to worth a look. Email says Darwin is impregnable.

[RangerJoe]

Nothing is impregnable but maybe he is trying to goad you into an attack . . .

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Nothing is impregnable but maybe he is trying to goad you into an attack . . .

Could be.

BTW, the big surprise that he wanted to do on the 4th finally came about on the 6th - a night bombing of Bangkok with B-17s and Wellingtons. Really? He's been pounding Umnak to dust for ~2 weeks, but has yet to do an amphib assault.

Also, all Japanese carriers (except Kaga, still in repair at Kobe) are headed to the Eastern DEI. Via waypoints, all currently show Moulmein as their destination.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 6 - 9, 1942

B-17s and Wellingtons bombed Bangkok at night and destroyed 3 HI points. This was the big surprise I was warned about 2 turns before it happened.

Salamaua was recaptured by Japan via airdrop from Rabaul.

A Japanese cruiser TF attacked a 6 TM TF at Boela, sinking 5.

Soerabaja was captured and the defenders surrendered on the 7th -

Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28401 troops, 313 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 877

Defending force 8303 troops, 80 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 377

Allied adjusted defense: 73

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 7 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
711 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8788 casualties reported
Squads: 146 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 453 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 109 (109 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 10

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
56th Division
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
16th Army
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
III Landstorm Cdo
II Landstorm Cdo
III KNIL Battalion
Roodenburg Cdo
Soerabaja KM Base Force
ML-KNIL
NI-MLD
Madoeng Defenses
Soerabaja Defenses
XIII KNIL Bn /2

US forces assaulted Chuginadak Is. (a dot base west of Umnak) on the 8th. As it was vacant it was captured the next day.

In the process of clearing the Dutch minefield at Soerabaja, one of the AMc hit a mine and sank.

Nells attacked a British CL TF near Moulmein, but didn't hit anything.

Vals from Adak scored bomb hits on BBs Nevada and Maryland in the Aleutians on the 9th. Damage does not appear to be significant.

Ha-45 engine research advanced from Jun to May '43 and A6M5 Zero research advanced from Oct to Sep '42. A6M5s should begin production in late June or July 1.

[RangerJoe]

I like to use the Ansyu-C PBs for anti-mine work because if they hit one, they can usually disband into port and survive. As long as there is an AM type of vessel where you make the Minesweeping TF, you can have one with just those. You should also be able to disband the AMcs into port and they should help keep the port clear.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 10 - 11, 1942

Nothing of significance happened on the 10th.

On the 11th, in the Banda Sea, the naval forces were arrayed as shown on the chart below -



The day started with the CarDiv 1 TF moving through 2 US subs with no hits, and the carriers not seen. The air battle started with the Japanese 5-carrier TF, with its air arm set at 7 hexes range, striking the US carriers -

Morning Air attack on TF, near Molu at 78,114

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
B5N1 Kate x 6
B5N2 Kate x 29
D3A1 Val x 18

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 7
F4F-3A Wildcat x 26
F4F-3 Wildcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1

The US responded with unescorted SBDs, due to the range, but hit nothing -

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bara at 73,109

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CV Hiryu
CVL Ryujo

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 11, 1942 (continued)

In the afternoon Japan struck again, getting 3 more torpedo hits on the US carriers -

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Molu at 78,114

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 35

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 4
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1
CA Houston

The US response had better luck, but again the SBDs were unescorted -

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 73,109

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CV Soryu
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, on fire

The other Japanese carrier TF struck at several miscellaneous targets to its south, including the Dutch CLs, but achieved nothing.

In addition to this action, the US CA TF bombarded Ambon, doing negligible damage. US B-17s bombed Ambon with some success, and finally the US CVs bombed Ambon with escorted TBDs, since it was in range.

I'm convinced one of the US CVs sank (CV Enterprise is reported sunk) -



Meanwhile, in China, Japanese forces again crossed the river west of Changsha, causing large numbers of Chinese casualties -

Ground combat at Siangtan (81,52)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 99782 troops, 921 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 2565

Defending force 48181 troops, 247 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 641

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1813

Allied adjusted defense: 218

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Siangtan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3553 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 338 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 44 disabled
Vehicles lost 30 (2 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
16473 casualties reported
Squads: 664 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 462 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 95 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 81 (58 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Units retreated 12

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
39th Division
9th Tank Regiment
22nd Division
40th Division
13th Tank Regiment
15th Division
58th Division
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Division
51st Recon Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
60th Division
3rd Division
5th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
13th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
19th Group Army
29th Group Army
Central Reserve
27th Group Army
17th Chinese Base Force

As with the previous river crossing several days ago, the Chinese casualties were KIA while the Japanese were disablements.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 11, 1942 (continued)

Bases captured today: Siangtan (RES 40(0), LI 20(0)) battle stats shown in previous post

The Allies attacked again at Port Moresby, pushing the 16 Division brigades back to Kokoda and Dobodura -

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15662 troops, 330 guns, 336 vehicles, Assault Value = 412

Defending force 7860 troops, 106 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied adjusted assault: 522

Japanese adjusted defense: 145

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2533 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 28 (7 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (6 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units pursuing 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
39th Australian Battalion
19th Australian Brigade
53rd Australian Battalion
132nd Infantry Regiment
49th Australian Battalion
2nd Cav Recce Regiment
Lark Force
6th Cav Recce Regiment
21st Cav Recce Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1
Papuan Inf Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
2/3rd Light AA Regiment
1st Marine Air Wing
13th Fld RAA Regiment
Aus II Corps
3rd RAAF Base Sqdn
808th Aviation Engineer Battalion
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment
260th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
94th Coast AA Regiment
810th Aviation Engineer Battalion
New Guinea Force
131st Field Artillery Battalion
21/22 Field Arty Regiment
Moresby RAN Stn Base Force
II US Fighter Cmnd

Defending units:
16th/A Division
16th/C Division
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Naval Construction Battalion

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 12, 1942

A Japanese cruiser TF lunged forward to attack a suspected British light cruiser TF near Moulmein -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Moulmein at 54,56, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami, Shell hits 3
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsuharu
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1
DD Murakumo
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Satsuki
DD Matsukaze
DD Akikaze
DD Namikaze
DD Kuri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
DD Decoy, Shell hits 2
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 1
DD Griffin, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Inconstant, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 7% moonlight: 8,000 yards

I can't explain the results, other than 7% moonlight (and perhaps better Japanese night skills) or LUCK. Though set at fast approach and retire (9 hexes each way), the Japanese TF only retired 1 hex from the battle. I learned by email intel that Repulse is, in fact, sunk (saw it with my own eyes, too), and several other heavy Brit TFs were nearby, but did not engage! British radar picked up the Japanese TF at 17,000 yards, then again at 7,000 yards, which is where the Japanese opened fire. So, luck!

In the Banda Sea, CVL Zuiho was detached to return to Soerabaja for repair, while the other CVs made feeble attempts at loitering Allied TFs, like this one -

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 57 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
D3A1 Val x 15

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Van Heemskerck

US ships continued pounding the Japanese defenders at Umnak; an amphib assault must be coming soon. Many of the defenders have been airlifted out.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 13, 1942

Bases captured today: Probolinggo (vacant) (RES 20(0))

Bases assaulted today: Banjoewangi

After climbing the mountain SW from Wau, Japanese forces attacked and captured the mountain hex east of Terapo -

Ground combat at 97,127 (near Terapo)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8314 troops, 64 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 248

Defending force 1557 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Japanese adjusted assault: 171

Allied adjusted defense: 31

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 8

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
D Coy/NG Rifles
2/3rd Ind Coy
A Coy/NG Rifles
C Coy/NG Rifles
2/6th Ind Coy
2/4th Ind Coy
2/2nd Ind Coy /1
Aus II Corps /1

May 14, 1942

Bases captured today: Banjoewangi (vacant)

A lone Chinese Corps wandered into Siangtan (intentional or accident?) and was destroyed -

Ground combat at Siangtan (81,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74040 troops, 680 guns, 399 vehicles, Assault Value = 1920

Defending force 3839 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Japanese adjusted assault: 1226

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 1226 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
2035 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 359 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 21 (21 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
15th Division
58th Division
9th Tank Regiment
60th Division
22nd/B Division
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Division
13th Tank Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
40th Division
22nd/A Division
5th Tank Regiment
22nd/C Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
13th Army
4th Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th Chinese Corps

Several days ago Japanese forces crossed a river into a hex due east of Sian. Another 1-1 attack today as the Chinese attempt to leave the hex to the NW -

Ground combat at 84,41 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 51605 troops, 452 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 1374

Defending force 51850 troops, 327 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 926

Japanese adjusted assault: 853

Allied adjusted defense: 797

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1912 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 332 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2417 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 64 (8 destroyed, 56 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Division
41st Division
28th Division
35th Division
9th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
13th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
4th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
8th Group Army

On Java, the remnants of the Dutch Army are surrounded and short of supply -

Ground combat at 53,104 (near Madioen)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8858 troops, 90 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 296

Defending force 5756 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Japanese adjusted assault: 152

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th/A Division
2nd Tank Regiment
38th/B Division
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Tjilitjap Cdo
II KNIL Battalion
I Landstorm Cdo
IX KNIL Battalion
XII KNIL Battalion
Groep Zud
V KNIL Battalion
Tjiitjap KM Base Force
IV Landstorm Cdo
V Landstorm Cdo
HQ II KNIL Division
Andir ML Base Force
VI Landstorm Cdo
Tjilitjap Defenses

CVL Zuiho arrived at Soerabaja, but cannot be repaired in that size 10 RSY, so will have to go to Singapore. The other CVs/CVLs will arrive tomorrow for a quick fix up and refueling (Soerabaja was captured with lots of fuel and resources), before heading north to confront the Brits in and around Rangoon. 56 Div has loaded transports and is headed that way. Imperial Guard Div will follow shortly.

[RangerJoe]

I like to expand the shipyards at Soerabaja and Saigon to at least 15 so they can repair all of the heavy cruisers and thus the CVLs as well.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I like to expand the shipyards at Soerabaja and Saigon to at least 15 so they can repair all of the heavy cruisers and thus the CVLs as well.

I only expanded Soerabaja to 10 (from 8). I think I upped Saigon to 30. Unfortunately, I had to spend a lot of supply to repair Singapore back to 30 (it's 50 normally), as it was totally trashed. Zuiho could be repaired pierside at Soerabaja, but it would be something like 47 days for only 10 float damage. There is not enough supply at Soerabaja now to repair the RSY to 15; it would have to come from Singapore, then 5 days for the fix; seems easier to send Zuiho to Singapore and be done with it.

[RangerJoe]

True, but the game is still early.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 15, 1942

A 5 US BB TF bombarded Adak (his first sortie that far west) -

Night Naval bombardment of Adak Island at 162,52

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-I Topsy: 33 damaged
Ki-57-I Topsy: 4 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB Pennsylvania
BB Oklahoma
BB Nevada
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
982 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 38

OUCH!

Which was followed by an amphibious assault at Umnak (finally), by 1 regiment (?!) -

Amphibious Assault at Umnak Island (169,51)

TF 719 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island, 169,51

Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (0 destroyed, 9 disabled)

13 troops of a USA 41 Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 87th Mountain Rgt /3

May 16, 1942

On Java, repeated attacks on the isolated Dutch army finally showed progress -

Ground combat at 53,104 (near Madioen)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8873 troops, 90 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 298

Defending force 4213 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Japanese adjusted assault: 117

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
3274 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 120 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units surrendered 9

Assaulting units:
38th/A Division
2nd Tank Regiment
38th/B Division
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
XII KNIL Battalion
Tjiitjap KM Base Force
II KNIL Battalion
Tjilitjap Cdo
HQ II KNIL Division
I Landstorm Cdo
V Landstorm Cdo
VI Landstorm Cdo
Andir ML Base Force
Groep Zud
IV Landstorm Cdo
IX KNIL Battalion
V KNIL Battalion
Tjilitjap Defenses

The 5 surviving units will likely surrender tomorrow.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 17, 1942

Bases captured today: Shaoyang (RES 40(0), LI 20(0))

Armies surrendered today: Dutch

Nagasaki airfield reached level 7

He may have expected these units to retreat west, but the closest base is Hengyang, 1 hex away to the SE -

Ground combat at Shaoyang (80,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 62478 troops, 578 guns, 355 vehicles, Assault Value = 1698

Defending force 18445 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 573

Japanese adjusted assault: 1462

Allied adjusted defense: 202

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Shaoyang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1135 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4863 casualties reported
Squads: 146 destroyed, 188 disabled
Non Combat: 155 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 48 (19 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating! SOUTHEAST to Hengyang

Assaulting units:
15th Division
9th Tank Regiment
58th Division
5th Tank Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
40th Division
6th Division
60th Division
4th Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
13th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps
79th Chinese/A Corps
79th Chinese/C Corps

On Java -

Ground combat at 53,104 (near Madioen)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8888 troops, 90 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 301

Defending force 1580 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Japanese adjusted assault: 203

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 203 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
1959 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 146 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units surrendered 5

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
38th/A Division
38th/B Division
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
II KNIL Battalion
IX KNIL Battalion
HQ II KNIL Division
Andir ML Base Force
VI Landstorm Cdo

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 18, 1942

A friendly sub put 2 torpedoes into CV Formidable, 4 hexes west of Rangoon. [;)]

Sub attack near Rangoon at 49,53

Japanese Ships
SS I-32

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Exeter
CL Caledon
DD Panther
DD Encounter
DD Arrow

SS I-32 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Formidable
Fuel storage explosion on CV Formidable

BBs Prince of Wales and Ramilles were sighted by a sub 2 hexes SW of Rangoon; the sub was sunk after the report was sent [:(]

An enemy sub fired at CVL Junyo near Tawi Tawi, but missed. [:)]

Umnak was reinforced by a US Tank Bn. I guess he's sending units to Umnak piecemeal because he has too few, and too small transports available. I would have expected a larger assault force on day 1. Whatever.

A6M5 Zero research advanced to Aug '42.