Combat Report
February 12-15, 1942
This period for Japan can be so entertaining yet time-consuming. The last four turns have been filled with planning and execution for major actions/operations in the Aleutians, Port Moresby, Java, and India. Each turn has taken at least an hour to get right and even then things slip through the cracks.
I am still getting used to AE and have a few questions:
1. Do the air units that are supposed to withdraw do so on their own? If not, then is there an easy way to find them and do I simply hit disband?
2. If I wanted to bring back a destroyed Air Unit, how do I do that?
North Pacific
After finding out that Lew WANTS to make this an active theatre. He has a squadron of Marauders, Bolos, and PBY flying from Cold Bay. To counter I bring in some Jakes, Mavis, and Petes.
Knowing that the troops on Cold Bay are doomed, I order my 7 operational DDs to Cold Bay to lift out portions of the two SNLF units I had committed there. As feared, it turns out to be a bloody operation:
12th Americans attack Cold Bay and get a 10-1. DDs move into Dutch Harbor.
13th Attempt to lift troops off but run into a large convoy of APs, AKs, CA Northampton, and 6 DD. Both sides withdraw with no result. The DDs come in again that day and take 182 CD shots (seeing 1 DD heavily damaged), however, they do pick-up nearly 1,000 troops from both units. Allied attacks nets a 138-1 and resistance ends.
14th CA Northampton and friends hit 4 DD on the way back to Dutch Harbor and two are sunk. Three American DD take hits. A Mavis hits AP Etolin with a bomb at Cold Bay.
15th The American TF presses its luck and sweeps into Dutch Harbor sinking two more DDs, however, 2 more US DDs are hit and Northampton takes a Long Lance. I-15 finishes the day by SINKING CA Northampton with two Torpedos as it reaches Cold Bay! Well done to that crew.
SUMMARY: The Japanese save two SNLF fragments, sink another American CA (joining Salt Lake City), and damage 5 DDs in exchange for 4 Older DDs. Don't think this is a good result and am not happy.
Since I cannot resist the American Fleet at this moment with surface forces, I have now moved in 7 I-Boats. These boys are prowling the waters around Cold Bay and I have high hopes to see more sinkings.
STATUS: Unmak is about to be taken so I can develop the AF. Will look at moving the fight closer to Cold Bay--taking pressure off of Dutch Harbor--by grabbing Dora Island.
There are a BUNCH of Base Force moving into the Theatre. A total of 7 BF are deploying at Adak, Unmak, and Dutch Harbor. An Air Flotilla and Air Division have been pulled from the DEI and Philippines to bring Torps and more support to the arena.
A Sentai of Nates in China move to Shanghai and upgrade to Oscar 1c, swith to 5th Fleet HQ, and load aboard an 18 Knot AK for Adak. Two small Val and Kate Chutai (12 Val and 18 Kate) will join this Fighter unit to form the initial aerial contingent up there. In two weeks they will be joined by a Chutai of Mavis, Daitai of Zero, and Daitai of Betty.
My two Chinese Inf Brigades are now moving towards the theatre.
Two groups of CMs, loaded with mines, are moving to Adak where they will sow Minefields at Dutch Harbor and the hex that the American ships are traveling through to hit Dutch Harbor. As Michael suggested 2 ML SS are now moving north to sow 96 mines at Cold Bay.
CV Akagi and CVL Zuiho are at Saipan and headed for Yokosuka for R&R and to await the new forces about to be brought into service. A STF of 3 CA, 3 CL, and 8 DD are also headed there. These warships, coupled to BB Yamato, CV Junyo, CVL Nisshin, CL Yahagi, and 5 new DD will form the Northern Fleet that will kick some US BUTT!
Central Pacific
Jaluit--The Americans are running convoys into Suva and Pago Pago. On the 16th I'll have a force of 2 CL and 9 DD present and they will swing down and see if they can catch one of these TF.
South Pacific
Port Moresby--The PM Invasion Force arrives and lands on the 14th. CD is strong but not bad. I lose one AKL while my 3 Inf Reg land without too much disruption. After the day I pull back the BBs and IF to Milne Bay to await developments. My first attack is slated for the 16th and I expect good things.
Since most of the KB is getting R&R in Rabaul I pull two Daitai of Zero and Kates off them and deploy them to Milne Bay and Lae to bolster the strong force that is already present.
Noumea--a TF is spotted and attacked by one of my Ro-SS to no effect and appear to be headed for Noumea. I form-up some of the KB's surface units (a BC, 1 CL, and 5 DD) to hit this area.
Eastern DEI
Watampone falls on the 12th
Kolaka falls on the 14th
Land at
Koepang on the 15th. Plan to attack there and at the eastern tip of Timor tomorrow (16th)
Java
Merak--The 38th ID moves out and begins to encircle Batavia. There will be no retreat here. A surrender shall occur. The 38th will be reinforced by the 56th ID from Singapore within a week.
Burma
My troops are headed for the town just east of Rangoon. A convoy carrying 5 small units should be spotted by Allied Air Search tomorrow as it heads for Moulmein to APPEAR that I am seriously moving on Burma.
India
With a DEEP BREATH the Left Hook begins with the Chittagong and Diamond Harbor Invasion Forces sailing from Phuket on the 15th. I route them to move just west of Port Blair, head into the central Bay of Bengal, and then split for their respective targets. A STF of 2 BB and 6 DD accompany each Invasion Force.
Chittagong Invasion Force--Imperial Guards, 2nd Air Division, 7 TK Regiments
Diamond Harbor IF--33rd, 4th, 5th ID, 25th Army HQ, 3 TK Reg, 2 Base Force
Floating Reserve--18th ID and 6-7 smaller units
CarDiv2, fully re-stocked with aircraft, moves out to protect them.
Singapore--I finally get the supply situation fixed and upgrade 72 Nate to Oscar 1c as well as two Ida/Mary Chutai to Sally. They will head for Chittagong and Diamond Harbor as soon as they can.
China
Hexes taken: 86,47, 90,56, and 85,43
The Sian Attack Force is now two hexes west of Loyang and advancing on its objective.
Engineering:
Attu AF-1
Malacca AF-2
Milne Bay AF & Port-3
Port Blair AF-2
Dili AF-2
Merak AF-2
Kaigun Additions:
DD Akizuki at Kobe (12th)--I LOVE those Moon-Class AA DD! There are six more added to the Mod and I want ALL of them NOW!
DD Kazegumo at Port Arthur (13th)
