Matrix Games Forums

1/11/42 and 1/12/42
 
KB:  Jap CVs showed up near Pago pago on the 11th.  Kates tore into an ASW TF stationed there, sinking three DDs (another was severely damaged and remains in port, a fifth was undamaged and successfully escaped to the west and is heading for Auckland).  The KB appears to be in two divisions, one to the NE and the other to the SE of PP, with a replenishment convoy just to the west.  I was fortunate in that I had two large transport convoys (one carrying suppies, the other the 40th Division) on the way to PP.  Had John struck three or four days later, I'd have been hurting.  As it is, transport TFs east of PP have been diverted on various courses calculated to keep them out of harm's way.  I hope the KB isn't providing cover for an invasion TF.  I'd like to hold and rapidly build that base.
 
New Caledonia:  My combat TF missed near Koumac again, then - upon sighting another Jap TF closing on Noumea - headed east to that port.  In an email, John disclosed that he had noticed my Walrus recon flights and figured there might be an Allied ambush.  "What the heck," I decided, "I'll give it a shot anyhow."  This time the CA/CL force made the intercept and severely damaged or sunk three or four Japanese transports.  There are no Japanese ships at either Koumac or Noumea; has John withdrawn his ships for now?
 
US CVs:  Two are closing on Sydney; the other two are at Panama City.
 
New Guinea:  John took PM.
 
Timor:  O-20, my hero sub, put a TT in CA Ashigara.  That's two CAs damaged in just a few days.  Good job, guys.
 
Singapore:  Another shock attack on the 12th costs John 662/21/8 to the Allies' 153/0/0.  Keep holding, guys!
 
Phillipines:  The first Jap units arrive at Clark, but haven't attacked yet.  Allied AV there is 1100+.
 
 
 
 
 
 

1/13/42 and 1/14/42
 
SoPac:  The KB continues to slowly move SE from Pago Pago, as though John is playing Marco Polo, knows there's something out there, and is groping around trying to find it.  In an email, he disclosed that he had received sig int that a unit of the 40th Division was loaded on an AP heading for PP.  Yikes!  Had he waited a few more days, the 40th Division would be at the bottom of the sea.  As it is, the ten or so transport TFs that I had E, SE, and S of Pago Pago (most of these were heading to Australia, New Zealand, and Bora Bora) were far enough away that they've easily kept their distances from the KB.  Although I very much wish to reinforce Pago Pago, it sure is nice knowing the KB's exact location, and having it in a place where it really isn't hurting me.
 
New Caledonia:  It seems that John postponed his invasion of New Caledonia after my CA/CL force hit his transports near Noumea.That was a nice little victory.  He'll be back with more support sooner or later, but we bought a little time.  Enterprise and Lexington are at Sydney - both have 11 SYS damage thanks to their sprints across the South Pacific followed by their maneuvers around the Coral Sea.  My CA/CL went to Auckland, which is now out of fuel!  There is very little available fuel in Oz/NZ.
 
DEI/Timor:  A Dutch torpedo plane put a TT in BB Hyuga.  Score one for the Dutch!  Hyuga isn't badly hurt.  John sent a stout combat TF to Darwin and it sank a damaged Dutch PT boat.  Two other Dutch PT's succumbed after a one-sided battle with a strong TF north of Lautem.
 
Phillipines:  A US PT squadron moved south to a Japanese held port in the western Phillipines and put a TT in a damaged AK.  The Battle of Luzon is shaping up and I wonder if John has enough on hand to really threaten Clark Field yet.  He tried a deliberate attack with a bunch of units, but only one division (38th).  It wasn't enough as the Allied AV is 1100+ with 3 forts.  I think John has spread so far so quickly that he decided not to really go after Luzon for awhile.
 
Singapore:  The beleaugered garrison continues to hold.  Actually, the Allied AV continues to slowly rise (near 950 now) and I wonder if the defense can stick it out a little while longer (at least until John sends some reinforcements.  The cut off units 60 miles west of Kota Bharu are hanging tough against the 5th Division and a tank regiment, easily withstanding another attack.  Once John wipes out this pocket, the 5th will probably head to Singapore.
 
Burma:  Quiet - John still only has the one division at Moulmein.  He should take the hex fairly soon.
 
China:  The picture isn't clear here.  I'm not sure where John is going.  A single Chinese corps at Puchow continues to hang tough against a much larger Japanese force.
 
CenPac:  US bombardment TF is heading for Midway just to let the Japanese know the Navy is still around (and because the KB is far to the south).  Pearl Harbor is fully mined, so all US DMs and ML Oglala are making a run to Johnston Island (again, this I wouldn't dare try if I wasn't sure of the KB's whereabouts).
 
West Coast:  The massive influx of AKs and TKs arrived at San Fran on the 13th.  Loading of supply and troop transports immediately commenced.

1/16/42
 
CenPac:  My bombardment force dallied around four hexes from Midway, was sighted by recon aircraft, and hit by a fairly small strike of Betties.  Nevertheless, enough Betties go through to put three TT into BB West Virginia, sinking her.  This is a powerful TF with four CAs, three or four CLs, and DD escorts, yet flak only downed three Betties.   Losing the W.Va. is a black mark on my record and just cause for celebration in John's camp.  Gnash gnahs.
 
SoPac:  The KB has disappeared into the vastness of the ocean east of Pago Pago.  My transports continue to scatter and scurry for map edges.  If I can't send the APs loaded with 40th Div. to PP, where would I divert them?  Auckland?
 
New Caledonia:  Remains quiet.
 
Singapore:  Another shock attack repulsed, this time at 1:1 with the Japs losing 195/3/4 and the Allies 122/0/0.  At least my garrison held out until mid-January!  Go, boys, go!  (Any of you gentle readers read Allistair MacLean's "South by Java Head"?  It a good novel and opens with the fall of Singapore.)
 
Phillipines:  As mentioned, John has a division and alot of support at Clark Field.  I'm toying with the idea of sending both Manila and Bataan garrisons to Clark to join the Allied forces there to attack the Japs.  If John has more troops on the way, though, it might be disastrous.  But if he has only one division committed there right now, the Allies might send the Japs packing and create some mayhem which would require John's attention in a theater he probably wants quiet right now.

Since John admitted to following the same initial game plan for both of us, I believe that he is trying to deny either one of us from building up that corner of ocean (Fiji and Pago Pago). If you feel you cannot get the 40th division in to Pago Pago, I would divert them to either Rarotonga or Bora Bora. He used the 56th Division and South Sea Detachment to take Port Moresby. He may be using KB to keep you (and me) from reinforcing that corner until he can one of them over there.
 
In the PI, he used the 2nd Division and 56 Bde to take Davao. I have seen numerous Tank Rgt on Luzon along with the 4th & 38th Division. He only has 2 or 3 free divisions, at the most. Thus, you should be able to do more damage. Remember he just started a game as the Allies using this mod and thus knows all the changes to it along with Allies strengths and weaknesses. [;)]

Just replayed my Combat Replay since I had the speed of a2a set at the fastest speed (0.1) due to my other PBEM is 2 day turns and slowed this one down to 1.0 delay. I was correct. [:(] I now find 4 CV's and 2 CVE's now 7 hexes NW of Suva. He doesn't seem to have many escorts, while my CV TF have 13 each (have to keep the numbers high until at least the first upgrade in 4/24 to get more AA).
 
I have just sent a second ASW TF to Canton to get rid of the pesky sub that is in that hex (probably a Glen carry one which I hate with a passion...actually, wish I had a few). [:D]  He is just over 2 days away at full speed.

1/17/42
 
Cen- and SoPac:  The KB, which arrived at Pago Pago several days ago and then disappeared into the Pacific to the east, remains unaccounted for.  John as a replenishment convoy tagging along, so there's no telling where the KB will pop up next.  I have a covey of transport convoys far to the south, and another group heading SW from the West Coast, so I'm beginning to worry.  With the sea lanes open between the West Coast and Pearl, most of the ships damaged on December 7 are making their way to repair yards in LA and SF.  Supplies and reinforcements have reached Pearl.  I have a US Army division and a RCT ready to land at PP, but of course have sent the transport convoys out of harms' way.  If the KB doesn't clear out soon, I'll send these convoys to Auckland.
 
New Caledonia:  Remains quiet.
 
Timor:  Lots of Japanese shipping around and north of Koepang.  I still hold Lautem, so I expect a landing any day.  I also fear a landing at Darwin.  Aussie reinforcements are on the way - a tank regiment will take station at Katherine in just a day or two; and Aussie division heading to Darwin should arrive in 7 to 10 days.  Some folks have chimed in to warn about trying to hold Darwin.  I heard the warnings, but want to stiffen Darwin's defenses.  I'll have units stationed at Alice Springs and Katherine, which will prevent John from sending paratroops to seize those towns.  Daly Waters is still ungarrisoned, so I'll give that some thought.
 
Phillipines:  John is bombarding only at Clark right now.  He's seen that the Allied AV is greater than the Japanese, so he's probably rushing reinforcements here.  I'll remain on the defensive for the time being.  The US Army Air Corps pilots gave better than they took on the 17th.
 
Singapore:  John bombards.  My garrison's AV is back up to 950.  My guys are doing well considering.
 
Moulmein:  Two Japanese divisions (33rd and 55th) try a shock attack at 2:1 and 2 forts.  It fails (this time) costing the Japs 1559/63/6 to just 64/5, but forts are reduced to zero.  Behind the river, two infantry units and the Rangoon CD force awaits.
 
China:  John is attacking guerilla units all over the place, but thus far I don't have a feel for the main Japanese objective(s) here.
 
 

01/18/42
 
Cen- and SoPac:  Still no sign of the KB, drat it.  There's an enormous expanse of ocean NE, E, SE, and S of Pago Pago that I've left cleared.  My US Army division, RCT, and a Marine CD unit are all sailing around with nowhere to go (since it isn't safe to head for Pago Pago).  I'm still not sure what to do - if the KB moves out of the way I'll send them on to PP; if the KB remains unaccounted for over the next three or four days, I'll decided whether to send them to Auckland or Bora Bora (or some to each).  A RCT at San Fran and a FA unit at Seattle are heading to Johnston Island (although alot can happen to prevent them from actually going to that destination point).  CVs Yorktown and Saratoga are at Panama City, with Hornet to arrive in 11 days.  That's a nice force, but I don't have enough escorts for them right now.
 
New Caledonia:  Remains quiet.  John had invasion forces heading to Koumac and Noumea last week.  I wonder if he pulled them back temporarily, or if he instead diverted them to other destinations like Suva, Pago Pago, or - perish the thought! - Bora Bora.  Those are nasty, negative thoughts.
 
DEI and Timor:  Johns troops are advancing east from Batavia (which I evacuated).  I have garrisons at Soerabaja and the mountain hex to the SW (I forget the name, Malang maybe).  Lots of Japanese combat and transport TFs are plying the seas all around - including what looks like a bombardment TF heading for Darwin.  The Allies still hold Kendari and Macassar.
 
Philippines:  Japanese deliberate attack at Zamboanga failed at 1:1 with 2 forts.  Japs lose 615/16 to 11. The Japs have 23,000 troops at Clark.  The Allies have 47,000.  I'm sending several infantry and artillery units from Manila to Clark.  If John doesn't reinforce his contingent soon, I'll try to kick the invaders out of Clark.  Jap bombers are no longer hitting any Allied cities, so forts are on the increase at Clark (3, nearly 4) and Manila (half-way to 2).
 
Singapore:  The stout garrison repulses another shock attack, a 0:1 with 3 forts.  Japs lose 4438/46/3 to 836/20.  Allied AV drops from 950 to 937.  I think John will have to reinforce to take Singapore.  I'm crossing my fingers that the garrison can hold for another week (or longer?).  In my other game (against Miller), Singapore held until February 5.  We have a house rule that Jap surface ships can't sail past Singapore until the city falls, so as long as it holds it offers a great deal of "peace of mind" in the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Burma:  The Japanese take Moulmein on a 4:1 shock attack, losing 546/14/2 to 122/4.  Will the 2 Jap divisions try to cross the river now?  The Allies have five units there - a total AV of something like 250.
 
China:  John now has two divisions and plenty of suport at Puchang, but a deliberate attack at 1:1 and 2 forts fails, the Japanese losing 978/35 and the Allies 226/6.  The city should fall shortly.  11 Dutch transports evacuated from the DEI are at Ledo flying supplies to Chengtu.
 
 

1/19/42 and 1/20/42
 
It has been busy, with the Allies experiencing setbacks, losses, and some successes.

Cen- and SoPac:  The KB shows up at the eastern edge of the map on the 19th.  Kates overwhelm a 4 AK TF carrying resources to NZ.  All four go down.  I have perhaps ten other transports nearby, and order them to scatter.  On the 20th, Kates sink one of the refugees, an empty AP.  If I'm lucky, the rest of the ships will get away.  Some are steaming into one of the "channels" leading to Panama City.  My RCT and 40th Division transports were far to the south - well south of Bora Bora.  I may go ahead and send them to Auckland now.  It'll be awhile before the KB vamooses, so Pago Pago and even Bora Bora are off limits.

Aleutians:  A Jap surface combat TF (one CL and plenty of DDs) shows up at Umnak on the 20th and sinks four AKs loaded with supplies.  Once again, I am embarrassed that I permitted such a debacle.  I already had BB Colorado and 3 DDs heading from Anchorage to Kodiak.  I've sent two CAs, a CL, several DDs, and a DMS that way from Pearl.  I don't think John has carriers up there, yet, and neither of his bases have airfields yet.  Would love to get a crack at his ships, but I may be reacting too late.

Timor:  Jap TFs all over the place between Timor and Australia.  As best I can tell, John is moving on Broome.  Wyndham or Darwin could also be second targets.

DEI:  The Batavia garrison arrived at Malang.  Should I also retreat the troops in Soerabaja (about 250 AV) to Malang, or do so when the Japs head toward eastern Java, or leave them at Soerabaja?

Phillipines:  The Allies are victorious in the Battle of Clark Field.  The Allies acchieve 2:1 odds, and the Japanese troops are booted back to Lingayan after suffering 1803/14/4 to the Allies 1392/20/13.  Most of the Allied troops will head to Bagiuio (spelling?) to try another attack there.  The cursor shows 4 Jap units stationed there.  I would like to create some havoc on Luzon, pressuring John to react and commit troops and ships he wanted to use elsewhere.

Singapore: The Japs are resting.  In an email exchange, John mentions he had hoped to take the fortress by January 10.  I told him I had predicted Jan. 15 to 30.  He says it will definately fall before the 30th. 

Rangoon:  A Japanese division crosses the river from Moulmein and is bloodied - losing 973/18/1 to 132.

China:  Pucheng falls on a 13:1 attack on the 19th.  No obvious moves yet on Kanhsien, Changsha, Wuchow, Honan, or Yenan.

Other places falling to the Japs over these two days:  Balikpan, Tjilitjap, Baker Island, and Christmas Island (Indian Ocean).

Opportunity Costs: John scored a victory with the KB sinking five transports, but what is his opportunity cost at having the KB at the edge of the map, using precious fuel, far away from key areas that could use carrier cover, or where John could strike. Also, knowing where the KB is allows me to move more freely elsewhere. Balancing those costs are the disruption in my supply line to NZ and OZ. It's not entirely bad, though, to have the KB over here.

Status:  Other than the loss of 9 merchant ships over two days (grrrr), the Allies are doing okay right now.  We may be able to use the situation in the Phillipines to our advantage.  The Allied combat fleets are in good shape except for the loss of BB West Virginia last week.  John has taken alot of territory very quickly, but that can be turned to the Allies' advantage eventually.

1/21/42 to 1/23/42
 
Philippines:  Following up on their recent success at Clark Field, the Allies launched a shock attack against what was supposed to be lightly held Baguio.  John anticipated the move, however, and had his troops that had retreated from Clark to Lingayan move forward to Baguio.  The results weren't pretty.  The 0:1 attack with 3 forts cost the Allies 5107/93/8 to 543/11/13.  Since John holds both Lingayan and Baguio, I wonder if my troops will have a route to retreat if he attacks and defeats them.  Ugg, the very thought of them being wiped out is too much to bear.  I'm advancing troops from Clark and Bataan to Lingayen (held by a single unit) in hopes that I can rescue the Baguio force, but I may have really hurt myself here.  On the 22nd, two squadrons of the AVG moved from China to Manila, hoping to add a second suprise to the PI defenses, but thus far John hasn't sent his bombers against Manila.  Cagayan fell on the 23rd.
 
Cen- and SoPac:  After sinking those five transports, the KB has disappeared once again.  The transports carrying the 40th Division and a RCT are moving toward Auckland.
 
New Caledonia:  John landed troops at an undefended Noumea on the 23rd.
 
Australia:  John landed in force at a lightly defended Broome.
 
Singapore:  No change.  Allied AV continues to rise (up to about 980 now) and forts just increased to 4.  How much longer can the good guys hold out?
 
Near Rangoon:  John hasn't been able to take the hex across the river from Moulmein yet.  He has two divisions, and they should overwhelm the defenders soon.  An AVG squadron flew long-range CAP over my defenders and took down Japs at the rate of about 6:1.
 
China:  For some reason, supply isn't reaching Kanhsien.  The supply routes from Changsha are open and there is a War Area HQ in Kanhsien, but supplies are down to 100.  This is odd because Kanhsien easily draws supplies in my other game.  John isn't advancing toward the city yet, though.
 
Status:  This was a pretty bad three days for the Allies.  John is everywhere, and my CVs (at Panama City, and at Sydney where there is't any fuel) are not in a position to help.  That may be good in the long run, but the Japs are succeeding everywhere and I'm just not countering effectively.  At least January is nearly over.
 
 

I hadn't mentioned it yet, but the same thing happened to me.
Its worse - its down to 0. [X(]

01/24/42
 
Things are reaching a state of real grief and desperation for me in the Pacific.  It's to the point that it's painful to write about it - or even think about it - and there's that temptation to avoid the game - both writing about it and getting my turns done.  However, I recognize that insidious morale problem and I will not yield to it.  I vow to keep a few things in mind:  (a) Readers undoubtedly enjoy reading about critical situations in games instead of things going smoothly and following historical timelines; (b) A game where you're pushed into a corner and fight back successfully is far more satisfying than one in which you aren't pressured; and (c) It's only January '42, and the last thing I need to do is fan the flames by rushing things, taking bad chances, and digging an even deeper hole.  So, I'll take a deep breath, refuse to panic, try to think clearly, and report what happens no matter how bad it gets.
 
Cen- and SoPac:  The KB showed up in the SE corner of the map, catching up to the rear end of a number of transport convoys carrying suppiles, resources, fuel, oil, and a RCT.  John's Vals and Jakes sighted several different convoys and I think he's split the KB into two elements - one near the southern "channels" to Panama City, the second further to the SW near the corner of the "War in the Pacific" blue-shaded logo.  There's not much near the PC channels, but what is there is either in the channel or about to be.  Nothing critical will happen there.  The other area is far more critical - if John heads due west, he'll catch quite a few important convoys and could reach my RCT transports (he hasn't sighted them yet, and they have a bit of a lead, but if he guesses right the KB can catch those slow ships).  Augh!  The 40th Division transports (faster moving APs) are well to the west and safe from anything but submarines.  These ships should arrive in Wellington in about four or five days.  I could send Saratoga and Yorktown from Panama City, but there's no way they could arrive before the KB retires after doing whatever damage will be done.  So I'll resist the urge to react.  With the KB so far south, I'm going to go ahead and send a reinforcement convoy carrying a RCT to Johnston Island.
 
Noumea:  Taken by the Japanese on 1/24/42.
 
Broome:  Taken by the Japanese also.  No other attacks on NW Australia yet.
 
Philippines:  John didn't attack my units at Baguio.  My forces heading for Lingayen will arrive and attack on the 25th.  John seemingly has but one unit there, and I don't know the strength.  Will he anticipate this move also?  The AVG got a chance to fight over Manila today and performed well.  John lost 16 Zeros and 3 Sallies while the Allies lost 5 P-40 and 8 AVG (most of those on the ground).
 
Singapore:  Withstood a shock attack at 1:1 that lowered forts to 3.  John lost 2001/42/2 to 1508/29.  There are still 20k+ supplies and my AV dropped only about 50, to 935, so I think the Allies can hold out a bit longer.  Go, boys, go!
 
Near Rangoon:  John bombards only.  He may be awaiting the fall of Singapore and the arrival of troops in Rangoon before making his move (we have a house rule that Jap surface ships cannot move past Singapore until it falls).
 
China:  Kanhsien supplies fall to zero.  My supply lines are open, free of enemy zones of control, and I have a War Area HQ there.  So what's the problem?  I dunno.
 
Are there any positives?  Yes, the fact that John hasn't succeeded in winning a carrier battle, so that the US CV fleet is intact, is a plus.  That he isn't aware of the locations of my CVs means they offer some "force in being" benefits.  The disparity in air losses continues to drop - it's now 750 Allied aircraft lost to about 550 Japanese.  On the shipping front, I've lost about ten more ships than John (about 65 to 55), and while the ships lost score is nearly double (Allies have lost about 750 points to the Jap's 350), that's really not bad.  I've lost ten or fifteen transports to combat TFs (at Umnak Island) and in the SE corner (a few turns ago), but the Allies have downed a few Japanese ships through mines, subs, and lingering damage from patrols by bombers in the PI and DEI.
 
 

I PM Brian about the supply situation at Kanshien, which will not be solved until the next update. [:(]
 
Yesterday, I got off on a tangent as I downloaded RHS for a game with 1EyedJack (he was my first PBEM opponent and we had to stop last year due to my computer problems). Now I sent the download instructions to John and it looks like we will be switching over to RHSCVO scenario. That will leave you with him alone as the Allies, but I will be with you in spirit. [;)]  I think I will have to invade Madagascar (Japanese forces are on the island) early in order to allow my reinforcement from England to reach India. There are shipping channels around the outer edge that allows me to ship from WC and New Orleans to Aden (even if NZ is captured). There are major changes in RHS and I will definately be doing an AAR on this game.

1/25/42
 
Cen- and SoPac:  The KB's scout planes only picked up a single convoy today, and that one was covered by clouds.  No attacks were launched.  My ships are dispersing.  Will they get away to fight another day?  There's hope.  My my concern is the RCT.  The KB can still close and strike, but each passing day makes it more unlikely as John is working with 360 degrees of ocean to cover.  But he probably guesses that some of these convoys were making for NZ, so he's not completely blind in this game of bluff.  A Japanese TK convoy is heading SE, nearing Pago Pago, so John may be running low on fuel.  I forgot to cancel the orders issued yesterday for Sara and York to head south from Panama City, so they are now 300 miles south.  I'll continue steaming them towards the entrance of the southern channel just to sniff around and see if any opportunities arise.  Johnston Island has 2500 mines now with a RCT about three days out.
 
NZ:  ASW at Auckland hit I-4 ten times, doing severe damage.  Go down, go down!
 
NW OZ:  The Japs have landed at Derby.  Darwin is held by AV 450.  A tank regiment and infantry division are at Katherine.  A brigade and the Australia HQ are at Alice Springs.
 
DEI:  Allies still hold Lautem, Kendari, Macassar, Soerabaja, and Malang.  Dutch Martins and torpedo planes scored three or four hits on merchant shipping today.
 
Philippines:  To my surprise, John hasn't attacked my beleaugered units at Baguio.  At least some of them should exit the hex tomorrow (they're at 45 miles) unless a zone of control freezes them from leaving.  I have a tank regiment at Lingayen, but the ground pounders are lagging.  I'm launching a deliberate attack against the single Japanese unit there just to see what happens.  There is a chance the Allies may get out of this mess.  I should no more tomorrow.
 
Singapore:  Unintentionally, I'm sure, John left his tanks on shock attack.  The resulting skirmish cost him 70/0/5 to 62.  No Japanese reinforcements have arrived yet.  My garrison may hold until month's end.
 
Near Rangoon:  A Japanese shock attack by two divisions already across the river, and two base forces crossing the river, was handily repulsed, to my surprise.  Japs lose 2285/37 to 88/5.  The Allied "bumps in the road" at Moulmein and now here have worked pretty well.
 
Subs:  Over the past several days, John's subs torpedoed and sank an AK in the Bay of Bengal, and seriously damaged another.  In the Philippines, Truant scored its second hit on merchant shipping this week, hitting AK Matue Maru with one torpedo.
 
SitRep:  Things look better than they did yesterday, but tomorrow may be the key for the current situations in the SE corner of the map and on Luzon.

I'm playing BigB v1.31 as allies in PBEM - now early Dec 42

My opponent went hard for the Central Pacific. I did the usual of building up Canton Is, but in Jan 42 he hit it with 3 Divs + support and KB - it didn't hold. I knew a forward defense was pointless when Pago Pago fell and then 5[X(] Divs landed on Suva. So I built up Bora Bora (can grow to lvl6 AF). If you plan to defend in the SE Pacific then I suggest you concentrate on Bora Bora AND Papaete.

I lost Papaete because I forgot it was an island (no shock attack on landing) and didn't have enough defense - but now 3 Jap divs are trapped and being bombed and bombarded round the clock and WILL be totally eliminated by New Year 43.

As John seems to be taking his time in Burma, you, like me, should be able to hold Mandalay and Lashio. I'll have Rangoon back in Allied control by Christmas 42 [:D]

The 100 PPs a day is a double edged sword - my opponent has released at least 4 Divs and a Mix Bde from HI and Kwantang (most bolstering the defense of Burma and Indo China).

good luck in your game

1/26/42
 
Cen- and SoPac:  The KB hasn't moved much, so it's still crusing not far from the NW tip of the blue Matrix Games box.  The weather cleared enough for Kates to sink a TK, but most of my shipping has cleared the area now.  Unless the KB makes a sudden sprint, or unless there's another division out there on the tail of my shipping, it's beginning to look like I dodged a bullet here.  Far to the north, reinforcements close on Johnston Island.  Tallyho, I hear what you said.  My Johnston garrison will be be much larger than usual if John gives me time to work on it.  For now, I'm giving up on Suva, Pago Pago, and Palmyra.  I will be building Bora Bora when the KB clears out.  A EAB batallion is aboard a convoy that took refuge in the Panama Canal.  Two RCTs from Panama City will follow eventually (if conditions permit landing). 
 
Australia:  John landed a base force at Derby, but the "embedded" infantry wasn't able to wrest the hex from the defending base force.  A temporary bump in the road.
 
Phillipines:  John finally shock attacked at Bagiou and lost 557/13/2 to 462/10. Only two Allied units were left in the hex and they both retreated to Clark.  My tank unit at Lingayen emerged victorious in a 2:1 attack and booted the cadre of defenders back to San Fernando.  So it seems that the Allied troops have been extricated from their most imminent peril and will be able to defend the Philippines until the inevitable end comes.
 
Singapore:  John sent bombers, but his ground troops didn't attack. 
 
Burma and India:  No change - the defense across the river from Moulmein continues.
 
China:  Zero supplies at Kanhsien.  Grrr.  What gives?
 
Aleutians:  John lands at an undefended Adak.

My minimum garrison for Palmyra and Johnston are
1x RCT
1x USMC Def Bn
1x BF
2x VP squadrons
Lvl 9 forts
1k mines

Midway gets extra mines, Cst Arty Regt, another BF and some fighters

That assumes the opponent allows us to build up.....

1/27/42
 
Cen- and SoPac:  The KB got AK Coast Farmer today, but isn't sprinting anywhere.  It's taken a NW course and may be rendezvouing with some TKs nearing Pago Pago.  When all is said and done, lack of fuel may have saved the day for the Allied fleet including a RCT.  Tallyho, I'll probably have a much stiffer garrison at Johnson since John has already taken Midway and since it isn't safe to venture to Pago Pago.  Johnston is far enough from his bases and close enough to Pearl that I want to turn it into a bastion that can't be attacked.  A RCT and FA unit are landing.  Mines are already 2500.  Forts are 2 and buidling.  I have two coastal AA units, a CD, and another RCT on the way.  Assuming John doesn't keep me off balance indefinately, I'll have to be satisfied in the near term with working on Pearl, Johnston, Bora Bora, and Auckland.  At least NZ got a boost with the unexpected arrival of a division and RCT (although both are still a few days from landing, so I'm not counting my chickens yet).
 
Suva:  John landed at Nandi today.
 
DEI:  John landed at Makassar and Kendari.  Dutch planes evacuated, some to Darwin.  Pretty soon I'll have to decide whether to abandon Soerabaja and send its garrison to Malang.  CL Sumatra arrived a few days ago and seems to be safely on its way to Melbourne.
 
Philippines:  A PT convoy put 5 TT (!) into AK Nankai Maru.  Allied forces are back where they belong (except I've left a few Manila-prepped units at Clark Field for the time being.
 
Singapore:  A second Jap engineering unit arrives, prompting a limited shock attack that doesn't accomplish anything.  John has 2 eng. units, 1 tank, and four army divisions here.  I still don't think he can crack the safe until he has more.  North of Singapore, in the mountains west of Kota Bharu, John launched a shock attack against my cut off "Orphan" army.  Despite achieving 4:1 odds, my units held steady.  John lost 479/18/1 to my 84/2.
 
 

1/28/42 to 1/30/42
 
Singapore:  Shock attack on the 28th at 1:1 reduces forts from 3 to 2; John loses 2677/20/4 to 1046/22/1.  A month ago (game time), I estimated Singapore would fall between Jan. 15 and the 31st.  John initially thought it would fall by the 10th, and later "guaranteed" it would fall by the end of the month.  Our pessimistic (me)/optimistic (him) predictions were based on several Allied units getting cut off, so that the fortress wasn't as strongly garrisoned as usual.  The stubborn defense is due, in turn, to John having less - I think - than the usual number of beseiging troops present - four divisions.  Anyhow, tomorrow is the last day of the month.  I think the boys will hold awhile yet.

Cen- and SoPac:  The KB is divided - one division in the very SE corner of the map, the other further north near the exits to the southern "channel" to Panama City.  The Southern Division sinks AP Esperance Bay on the 28th, and that's the last I see of the KB through the 30th.  I'd wager his ships grew short on fuel and no longer had the legs to chase down my fleeing transports.  Hurray.  40th Division is unloading at Auckland.  A RCT will arrive at Wellington in about four days.  The Allied build up of Johnston Island is proceeding apace.  The Japs are landing more troops at Nandi, so Suva's days should be numbered.

NW Australia:  John hasn't taken Derby yet and hasn't landed at Darwin.  A big Jap bombardment force is heading in to the latter tonight.  I moved my aircraft to Daly Waters and Alice Springs to ride out the storm.  Japs landed at Lautem on the 29th.  The only remaining major Allied bases in the DEI are Soerabaja and Malang.

Philippines:  Neither side is moving right now.  John has 20 units at Baguio. I would reinforce the PI if there was a good way to do so.  It's clearly on the Japanese backburner right now.  A large air raid on the 30th results in the Japs losing 11 Zeros, 2 Oscars, and 2 bombers.  The Allies lose 5 AVG and 7 P-40. 

Near Rangoon:  John hasn't attacked the units in the hex across the river from Moulmein recently.

1/31/42 to 2/1/42

Singapore: A Jap shock attack on the 31st fails to wrest Singapore from Allied control. The 1:1 attack drops forts from 2 to 1. Japs lose 1904/17/5 to the Allies 626/19/1. John says the fortress will certainly fall on the next shock attack (probably on the 2nd or 3rd), but I still don't think so. Supplies are 22k, AV is back up to about 940, and the Japs still haven't brought in additional infantry.

Philippines: Japanese bombing raids have nearly closed Manila's airfield and are destroying alot of planes on the ground. So the Allies reluctantly transfer the remaining fighters and B-17s to Kunming. Still the same "20 units" (Japanese) at Baguio, so I don't yet foresee a Japanese push at Luzon in the immediate future.

Cen- and SoPac: The dratted KB division caught up with two TK that were out of fuel and sank the both of them. John is getting awfully close to the AKs carrying my RCT. I've split it into two elements - one AK heading NW toward Auckland, the second ( 4 AKs) heading due west to NZ's south island. Go, boys, go! 40th Division is fully unloaded at Auckland. 120 miles east of Gisborne, NZ, I-15 sank two AKs loaded with resources.

Australia: Japs landed at Wyndham. Darwin remains clear. An Aussie division prepped for Darwin stopped momentarily at Katherine to help build forts. Once we sight a Jap invasion convoy heading for Darwin, I'll move the division that way. That will bring Darwin's AV to about 450-500.

Aleutians: US combat TF raided Amchitka Harbor, sinking AV Kamikawa Maru, but then broke off and left unmolested other Jap merchant shipping.

The score as of January 30, 1942:

2/2/42 and 2/3/42
 
New Zealand:  On the 2nd, a Japanese CA/CL TF hits Auckland harbor and finds a slightly large force of CA/CL waiting - not that I knew anything was coming, mind you.  CAs Australia and Louisville and CLs Leander, Achilles, and Adelaide with DD and PG escorts performed well against CAs Kako and Fururtaka escorted by CLs and DDs.  There were at least four rounds of combat.  In the end, CA Kako went down while the only badly damaged Allied ship is a PG that may make it.  On the 3rd, a stronger Japanese force arrived.  There were two rounds of combat: 
 
Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 62,134
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna
CL Natori, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio, Shell hits 1
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatakaze
DD Hakaze
DD Hokaze
DD Sagi, Shell hits 1,  on fire
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Australia
CL Leander, Shell hits 11
CL Achilles
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 2
DD Litchfield, Shell hits 1
PG Niagara
DMS Dorsey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 62,134
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Haruna
CL Natori, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio, Shell hits 1
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 2,  on fire
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 2,  on fire
DD Hakaze
DD Hokaze
DD Sagi,  on fire
Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Shell hits 2
CA Australia
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 2
DD Litchfield, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PG Niagara, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DMS Dorsey
 
The Allies lost the DD and PG, while the Japs lost a DD.  For the second straight day, the Japanese failed to penetrate to the harbor where vulnerable merchant shipping awaited.  Despite the shell hits, none of the Allied CLs have more than light damaged.  CA Louisville, which took 19/0/0 during the first battle, is the most damaged Allied ship.  To this point, it appears to be an Allied victory.
 
I am concerned though.  A KB division is approaching from the east (the one chasing down, and occasionally sinking, Allied merchant ships).  If a second KB division approaches from the north, my ships would be caught in a vice - trapped between land and Japanese CVs.  However, when last seen the other KB division was near the Panama City "channels."  I doubt it could have made it this far west.
 
A Jap sub at Auckland put two TTs into an AO, which should survive barring further attacks.
 
Cen- and SoPac:  KB could be closing on the merchants carrying the RCT.  In an email, John for some reason said he may call of the "chase" if the KB doesn't find any prey tomorrow.  I don't know why he would reveal this intel - perhaps it's misinformation.  The convoy carrying the RCT have split with an AK heading to Auckland, another to Gisborne, and the rest (5 other AKs) making for the NZ's south island.
 
Australia:  Jap transports appear to be heading from Wyndham to Darwin.  Accordingly, the Aussie division at Katherine has been ordered to move up to the coast.  I'll have an AV of about 500.  The Japs have aircraft at Broome.  Will John try a paratroop assault?  If so, I hope he chooses Katherine (where an armored regiment is sitting) or Alice Springs (where a brigade is sitting).  Dutch torpedo planes hit two Jap APs, sinking one.
 
DEI:  The Dutch still hold Soerabaja and Malang.
 
Singapore:  The garrison holds yet again.  A 1:1 attack reduces forts to zero.  The Japs lose 1249/14 to 532/23.  Jap bombers are only flying missions against ground troops.  Since they aren't hitting the port or airfield, Allied engineers are able to work on forts.  They're at 97%, so the fortress will be a level one fort again tomorrow.  [:D]  How long can the good guys hold?
 
Burma:  Stalemate across the river from Moulmein.  John hasn't done anything in a week or more.  He just began using Zeros to fly CAP over his troops.
 
China:  Nothing happening, but the zero supplies at Kanhsien is a thorn in my flesh.