Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

8 Dec 43

Enemy mines finally swept completely at Bataan.

A good day for the Silent Service. Sub Ray hit I-154 with 2 torpedoes near Iba, sinking the sub. Cisco spotted battleships Kongo and Kirishima east of Babeldaob. 2 torpedoes missed destroyer Suzukaze. Tullibee hit xAKL Tenposan Maru with a torpedo near Guam, sinking the cargo ship. Tullibee was just passing by Guam, moving from Pearl Harbor to Jolo. Submarine Hoe hit E-boat Sarushima with 2 torpedoes near Taihoku, sinking the ship. Today was just a day when the torpedoes hit.

4 US slow battleships again bombarded Manila, and again, got a mediocre result, with just 208 casualties and minor base damage.

21 P-38Hs swept Manila, finding 18 Franks. 6 planes lost on each side. The first Allied attack at Manila is a good one. Having MacArthur's SW Headquarters nearby, and fully prepped for Manila has to help, along with fully prepped Corp HQs.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64282 troops, 1101 guns, 1075 vehicles, Assault Value = 1951

Defending force 30669 troops, 390 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 705

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 2416

Japanese adjusted defense: 539

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1305 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 269 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 87 (1 destroyed, 86 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
918 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 107 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 35 (1 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (2 destroyed, 45 disabled)

Assaulting units:
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
40th Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
18th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
37th Infantry Division
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
33rd Infantry Division
4th USMC Tank Battalion
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
Sixth US Army
I Marine Amphib Corps
226th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps
602nd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
31st Ind.Mixed Brigade
32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
30th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Regiment
62nd Field AA Battalion
20th AA Regiment
12th Mortar Battalion
14th Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th AA Regiment
16th Army
44th Field AA Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Special Base Force

Seeing enemy movement now out of Clark and Bataan. May be the beginning of an enemy retreat to the north.

Legaspi was captured, with a single small enemy unit now isolated there.

My goal was to be on Luzon in 1943, and that was accomplished. Now it looks like US troops will be on Formosa before the end of the year. That would be a nice bonus, getting there before the kamikaze threat begins.

[apbarog]

9 Dec 43

4 slow US battleships bombarded Manila. 631 casualties and moderate base damage. Significant number of destroyed devices, after yesterday's ground attack.

There was a major enemy fighter sweep effort from Clark to Batangas. I had all of my fighters on CAP. The enemy's luck was high, though, with squadron's sweeping in the order of worst to best, and the bombers coming in after almost all of the sweepers. Even so, the defenders did ok.

28 Tojos swept. 46 P-38Hs and 25 P-47s on CAP. Many Tojos destroyed.
42 Oscars swept. Some Oscars destroyed. One or two P-47s.
28 Franks swept. The P-38s got hurt.
29 Tonys swept. About even losses between Tonys and P-38s.
29 Sallys bombed, unescorted. Only 14 fighters left on CAP, and most bombers got through. A few planes destroyed on the ground.
27 Lilys bombed, unescorted. The CAP got to the Lilys, destroying many.
Finally, 28 Georges swept, finding only about a dozen fighters, and downing almost if not all of them.

Total air losses were 24 Tojos, 17 Lilys, 11 Tonys, 9 Oscars and 2 Sallys for the cost of 25 P-38Hs and 10 P-47s.

A huge victory at Manila. The enemy had built Manila into a size 9 port and size 9 airfield.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 63389 troops, 1100 guns, 1073 vehicles, Assault Value = 1832

Defending force 27577 troops, 377 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 471

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 2424

Japanese adjusted defense: 375

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
9628 casualties reported
Squads: 243 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 324 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 139 (130 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 106 (105 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 13

Allied ground losses:
1697 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 32 (3 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (8 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
40th Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
37th Infantry Division
18th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
Sixth US Army
205th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps
I Marine Amphib Corps
225th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
602nd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
31st Ind.Mixed Brigade
32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
30th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Regiment
16th AA Regiment
14th Mortar Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion
44th Field AA Battalion
20th AA Regiment
62nd Field AA Battalion
12th Mortar Battalion
16th Army
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Special Base Force

Malaybalay was once again cleared of the enemy. US troops will now move into Davao from that direction. Legaspi was cleared of enemy troops.

Chinese attack in the woods south of Sian did get decent odds but not great results. I thought there was less than an enemy division there.

Ground combat at 83,43 (near Sian)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31649 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1028

Defending force 10932 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 352

Allied adjusted assault: 787

Japanese adjusted defense: 547

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
701 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1384 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 154 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Assaulting units:
85th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
22nd Group Army

Defending units:
69th Division

Ternate will be invaded, covered only by CVL Hermes and some LRCAP P-47s. The Formosa invasion armada is assembling northeast of Jolo. Troops that just captured Manila begin to prep for Hong Kong, Swatow, Amoy and Chaocow. After Formosa, the next big invasion will be Mersing. China will come after that.

[CaptBeefheart]

I always like picking up ports near the front lines. How big is that Manila repair yard?

Cheers,
CB

[apbarog]

Manila is a size 20 repair yard, and is not damaged.

[CaptBeefheart]

Nice. That'll help. How about Hong Kong and Pescadores?

Cheers,
CB

[apbarog]

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

Nice. That'll help. How about Hong Kong and Pescadores?

Cheers,
CB

Pescadores doesn't have a repair yard, if I remember correctly. Not sure about the size of the one at Hong Kong. I think it's 50, but I'll need to check. Probably have to set up a recon for it next time.

10 Dec 43

ARD Haiphong is spotted running away from Manila. It is intercepted multiple times by YMS task forces clearing mines at Manila and Bataan, but neither side wanted a fight and the ARD made it safely out of Manila to Bataan. An ACM made it one hex further. Many mines were cleared at Manila, and there are still more.

Ternate was invaded. Midget sub Ha-26 was sunk by escorting destroyers. One US division is landing, and will face one enemy regiment. Tanks and artillery are still unloading so no attack today.

Enemy air hit Chinese troops at Wuchow hard. Clear terrain. Not pulling out though.

The only enemy unit still at Manila, the 16th Army HQ, is attacked at 1031 to 1 odds, and wasn't destroyed. It retreated to Clark, and 3 US armor units were set to reserve mode and pursued. There's over 40,000 enemy troops at Clark. They show movement out of Clark, but the enemy could attack the unsupported tanks there.

The mainland of Sumatra is completely in Allied hands now. Medan had been evacuated, for all practical purposes. Another big oil producing base captured, undamaged.

Ground combat at Medan (46,76)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2208 troops, 48 guns, 231 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Defending force 0 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 134

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 134 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Medan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
209th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
29th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
32nd Fld AA Bn /1

And paras dropped on the base south of Medan, which was unoccupied.

Ground combat at Tandjoengbalai (47,78)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 221 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tandjoengbalai !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
50th Indian Para Bde /1

Grunion added another point of SYS damage. It is now SYS 55 and FLOT 94-28, and still has 4 hexes to go to safety. It could go either way.

[BBfanboy]

In stock, Pescadores does have a shipyard but I can't remember the starting size. HK SY is definitely 50 at game start. There are also SYs at Naha and Nago.

[CaptBeefheart]

I think at least one version of Ironman has a size-50 yard at Pescadores. That's a nice one to capture. Also, I think a simple base mouseover will tell you about the size of any yards present (no need for recon).

Cheers,
CB

[apbarog]

This is a DBB-B game. Hong Kong has a 50 shipyard. Pescadores has a 10. Naha and Nago have size 5.

[apbarog]

11 Dec 43

All troops have unloaded at Ternate, and will attack today.

All enemy mines have been cleared at Manila.

The US destroyers that rushed to Batan Island were successful.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batan Island at 85,70, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AG Unkai Maru #1, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAP Teison Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
E Hirashima, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
E Hoko, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
E Takashima, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
E Saishu, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Bradford
DD Bush
DD Chauncey
DD Conner
DD Hazelwood
DD Hoel
DD Sigsbee

They could have had a bigger haul if they'd gone to Takao, but they may have hit mines there. The xAP did not have troops on it. Since the ships had been seen there for at least a couple of days, I can assume that the troops had unloaded already. Nice to get a bunch of E-boats.

In the backwater of the Solomons, a small Allied force invaded unoccupied Terapo, on the coast of New Guinea north of Port Moresby. No real significance here. The troops had been prepped long ago. Just clearing the south coast.

Submarine Cod fillets a battleship.

Sub attack near Peleliu at 90,100

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 2
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo
CL Natori
DD Oite
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
SS Cod

More enemy bombing of the Chinese at Wuchow. Lots of Allied fighters moved to Kweilin and Nanning, north of Wuchow. Most will LRCAP Wuchow today and hope for the best. Second-line fighters being used, still, in China. The A-Team is in the Philippines.

Lots of ships headed to Formosa. They'll move north of Bataan today.

Grunion is now just 3 hexes from safety, but it added 2 SYS damage. It's now SYS 57 and FLOT 94-28. Will she make it home?

[apbarog]

12 Dec 43

The enemy drydock ARD Haiphong had fled Manila and has been at Bataan for a few days, in a task force by itself. It's been a bit comical as US minesweepers have engaged the drydock many times as they go back and forth between Bataan and Manila. Only once was a shell fired at the drydock, and it missed. All other times, both sides declined combat. I wasn't too worried about it getting away. I sent some PT-boats to Manila and they engaged and sank the drydock with a torpedo.

At Batan Island, the US destroyers were set to bombard the island and go home. Before that could happen, an enemy task force appeared. The first fight was short and inconclusive. Remember that the US ships had used some ammo the night before, sinking 4 E-boats, and AG and an xAP at Batan Island.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batan Island at 85,70, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Yura
DD Kamikaze
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
DD Bradford, Shell hits 1
DD Bush
DD Chauncey
DD Conner
DD Hazelwood
DD Hoel
DD Sigsbee

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards

The second fight, during the day, was longer and bloodier.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Batan Island at 85,70, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CL Yura, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Bradford, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Bush
DD Chauncey
DD Conner
DD Hazelwood
DD Hoel, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sigsbee, Shell hits 1, on fire

The Fletcher class destroyers Hoel and Sigsbee sank on the way home. They were hit hard by the cruisers, mostly from Takao. Bradford is SYS 31/FLOT 27-11/ENG 7/FIRE 0, but it will be fine at Manila. Nice to have a size 20 shipyard so close now. One enemy destroyer is in danger of sinking.

Really good luck in the skies over Wuchow. Enemy bombers appeared, but no enemy fighters. Normally there are escorts and lots of sweepers. 27 Nicks ran into 7 P-66s, 7 Spitfires, 13 A-36s, 11 P-40Ks and 13 P-40N5s, all on LRCAP. 8 Nicks were downed, taking 3 P-40Ks, 2 A-36s, 1 P-66 and 1 P-40N with them. Then 33 Sonias appeared, and every one was shot down. Allied planes are then ordered back to Chungking.

US troops attacked at Ternate for the first time. Poor odds but good results. Didn't touch the forts though.

Ground combat at Ternate (78,102)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13232 troops, 256 guns, 297 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

Defending force 7773 troops, 56 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 199

Allied adjusted assault: 159

Japanese adjusted defense: 427

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
414 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
138th Infantry Regiment
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
38th Field Const Co
8th JAAF AF Bn
28th Fld AA Gun Co
11th Port Unit
67th JAAF AF Bn

And the undefended and unimportant base of Terapo, near Port Moresby, was captured.

The Formosa invasion armada will continue towards the island, minus the big carriers who are lagging behind.

The saga of the Grunion continues. So close to safety, and yet so far.

[Lowpe]

This is the kind of pushing battle Japan simply has a difficult time countering, but it seems Japan is not doing itself many favors here.

The critical inner defensive line of Japan seems very poorly defended, or prepared.


Do you have any recon on Ishigaki and neighbors?

[apbarog]

I don't fault OPilot for his defenses. I think he had an impossible task after Timor fell. I could pick multiple directions to go from there, and the Japanese cannot defend everything. OPilot did a good job at Ambon. I landed a Marine division and support long ago, and almost took the island against a weak defense. He used his carriers and brought in a division to help defend. It's been a stalemate there, for many months, since. I chose not to commit my carriers to affect the Ambon battle. I stuck to my offensive plans for the Celebes and Java.

I brought 4 divisions to Mindanao and 5 divisions to Luzon. If Mindanao had more enemy troops, besides the big stack at Davao, I would have bypassed it as originally intended. It's possible that my activity in Thailand drew enemy reinforcements that could have gone to the Philippines. The same can be said for China, with my push towards Canton and Hong Kong.

I have not done recon at Ishigaki and the two nearby islands. I have some interest in those islands, but if I do recon, OPilot notices and sometimes reacts to that. As of today, these islands show no sign of base building.

[Lowpe]

Didn't mean to be critical, but rather disappointed in Japan's situation. I have been were Japan is and far, far worse off.

What Japan desperately needs is 2-3 months lull for them to prepare and they aren't going to get it. You will have heavy bomber capable of reaching Honshu well before any of the fighter squadron resizing, AA upgrades and reinforcements start arriving in 1st qtr 44.

I always wished that more of Japan's reinforcements were tied to trigger events.

Penetrating that Luzon to Guam defensive perimeter should be hard and you are going to jump right past it. You have had a masterful game![:)]

[apbarog]

OPilot did reinforce in places. He did so at Truk. It has been slightly overstacked for more than a year. I was very close to invading it, then I cancelled the operation. With my activity in the Marshalls, he then seriously reinforced the Mariannas. But he didn't know that I had no plans to go there. He has also reinforced Babeldaob, to some extent.

If he reinforced China, as I think he did, then my southern Chinese offensive worked, even though it was a failure in taking Canton and threatening Hong Kong. He's had to keep a strong commitment to Thailand also, in the face of an offensive where I pushed to contact but didn't have the strength to do more.

I'll be very happy to finish the Formosa invasion before January 1944, and before any kamikaze activations.

[apbarog]

No turn today. OPilot said that the replay took a long time and was full of action. I'm a bit nervous, having sent the Formosa invasion task forces into harm's way with just escort carriers covering. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

[Bif1961]

Action Baby, can't wait for the outcome.

[apbarog]

13 Dec 43

Sub Billfish spotted a big xAK convoy near Shanghai and hit PB Chosa Maru with a torpedo, probably sinking the patrol boat. Billfish was hit by 2 depth charges and has serious damage. It will retire to Naga for temporary repairs. It will go east of Luzon instead of west in order to avoid the many sub chasers in the area.

Dutch sub KIX sank ACM Wa 16 north of Kuching.

OPilot said there was lots of action in the replay. There was lots of action in the air over Takao, but not much else. There was a very strong CAP over Takao to begin with. 26 Zeros, 27 Georges and 70 Oscars were up. 18 Corsairs from a CVE swept first, downing many planes but losing many planes also. Then 11 P-38Hs from Manila swept, downing a few planes and losing a few. Then 22 more P-38Hs, which did better, as the enemy was being whittled down. Then 53 B-24s arrived. Some were damaged but they destroyed many planes on the ground, sunk ACM Wa 4, and did light damage to some ground troops. Then 8 more Liberators. Then 20 more P-38Hs, which did very well. Then 7 more B-24s and several small fragment raids of P-38s.

9 TBFs from the CVE task force sank AMc Ogashima at Hengchun, Formosa. 18 Judys went after the lead task forces, covered by only 16 fighters from the CVE task force one hex away. Every Judy was shot down. A bigger strike with some escorts would have done some damage. I think that my move towards Formosa was not expected. Enemy subs were close to the Luzon coast.

2 US divisions crushed 2 airbase support units at Cabanatuan, east of Clark. US bombers hit Clark, and then the US troops attacked. It didn't go very well.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39466 troops, 691 guns, 768 vehicles, Assault Value = 1202

Defending force 23141 troops, 351 guns, 364 vehicles, Assault Value = 404

Allied adjusted assault: 502

Japanese adjusted defense: 526

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (10 destroyed, 37 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1620 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 35 (12 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 92 (6 destroyed, 86 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th USMC Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
18th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
Sixth US Army
226th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps
205th Field Artillery Battalion
602nd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
30th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Regiment
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Air Flotilla
20th AA Regiment
12th Mortar Battalion
5th JAAF AF Bn
4th Air Army
16th Army
31st Special Base Force
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
60th Field AA Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
5th Air Division
16th AA Regiment
9th RF Gun Battalion
21th JNAF AF Unit
1st JNAF AF Unit
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
24th JAAF AF Bn

The enemy still shows movement out of Clark, but that could be non-combat troops. US artillery will attack while the troops regroup. More bombers will support.

Formosa will be invaded.

[apbarog]

14 Dec 43

Sub Pampanito sank patrol boat Chosa Maru near Shanghai. The same patrol boat was hit by Billfish and presumably sunk then.

OPilot surprised me near Kudat, at the northeastern tip of Borneo. I had a big task force of small ships unloading supply there for a couple of days. In the past, I've seen a cruiser task force north of Borneo, within striking range. But when I spotted it, it always disappeared afterwards. This time, I didn't see it coming.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Banggi at 69,85, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Nagara
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
SC-634, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-23, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-24, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-25, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
APc-26, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
APc-27, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-28, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
APc-29, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
APc-33, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
APc-34, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
APc-35, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-36, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-45, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Ugly to watch but not the end of the world. I like the APc's. They were about the size of a tugboat, and carry a bit of supply. They are good for getting into small forward bases. But there is some risk with that. I didn't have many naval bombers in the area. I wish I had, as the enemy stayed at Kudat. It's even within drop tank range of Jolo. I did have a dozen British Vengenace dive bombers at Tarakan. They got one hit on light cruiser Nagara, starting a fire.

Lots of Allied ASW work around Formosa. I-175 was engaged multiple times by task forces, took a depth charge, and still survives.

The enemy tried night naval attacks on the British combat task force and an APA task force. 8 Jills tried to hit Repulse and missed. 4 Bettys went after an APA and missed. A few enemy were downed by flak.

The Repulse task force ran into some small craft apparently fleeing Takao. The enemy lost 2 ACMs and 2 patrol boats.

DMS Perry visited Pescadores and swept a few mines. The Peng Hu Fortress engaged Perry and hit it with a small shell. I'm not invading Pescadores but I will bombard it. There's a bunch of planes there now.

A big mixed nation cruiser force went to Takao to bombard. Destroyer Dyson hit a mine. It will be ok, with FLOT 29 damage. The ships then bombarded Takao, and did well, damaging many planes and destroying 8. They did good work on the airbase and the troops too.

Kagi was invaded by US Marines and a para unit. An enemy Air Force support unit was there. It probably just moved there from Takao. It was eliminated.

US troops at Ternate got bad odds with a 1 to 9 attack and level 4 forts. The forts weren't touched, but the results weren't bad.

Japanese ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
321 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

[EDIT: Sub Grunion still lives. It hasn't taken any additional damage in the past 2 days, but strangely, it hasn't moved a single hex in those 2 days either. It is still 2 hexes from safety. I didn't change any of the settings. I wonder if there is a point where the damage is just so severe that movement is impossible. I didn't think so. Hadn't see this before. Grunion is still SYS 58/FLOT 97-28/ENG 4-0/FIRE 0.

[apbarog]

Here's some information about the APc's:

APc's in WW2