The Battle Under: Japan looks to the South

[SierraJuliet]

26 December 1941[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Land: The vacant base at Victoria Point is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align]The allied forces at Khota Bharu launch a bombardment attack and lose 17 casualties and 4 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]At Georgetown the Japanese assault continues with the Japanese losing 36 casualties and 3 guns lost while the allies report 57 casualties and 3 guns lost.  Forts again lose a point and are now rated at level 2.[/b][align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Sit back now and review some unexpected lunacy from the Japanese Supreme Commander (Me).  Deciding that recon was an overrated luxury commanders at a number of levels decide that a parachute drop on Johore Bahru would surprise the allies and set up a trap from which a substantial number of allied forces currently at Malacca would be unable to escape from.  Well that was the plan; however, the 1st Parachute Regiment was dropped into a nest of 6 allied units.  Not only that but the flak was astounding and the transport planes started suffering some unexpectedly heavy loses.  Once on the ground, though, the banzai spirit took over and those troops who had managed to safely make landfall regrouped and launched a shock attack on the level 5 fortifications.  163 casualties and 4 guns lost were reported with no noticeable impact on the defenders.  By the end of the day the remnants were reported to be surrounded and no more has been heard from the pawns in this misadventure.  Fortunately the remaining portion of this regiment was scheduled for a drop on the following day.  Suffice it to say that this drop has been cancelled and the regiment is now in rebuilding mode. [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Air: 20 Zero fly sweep over Singapore and take on 6 Buffalo flying CAP.  3 Buffalo are claimed destroyed.  [align=left] [/align]At Khota Bhura FMSV Brigade is attacked by 19 Sally and reports are intercepted indicating 13 casualties.[align=left] [/align]At Johore Bahru 6th Indian Brigade is attacked by 12 Nell and reports 9 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Allied forces put together a strike of 3 Blenheim and 3 Swordfish escorted by 6 Buffalo.  A CAP of 12 Zero turns up to protect the fleet and claims 1 Buffalo and 1 Blenheim destroyed.  No ships are hit.[align=left] [/align]Another allied force of 3 Blenheim escorted by 5 Buffalo take on a transport force off Kuantan.  The CAP of 7 Zero destroys 1 Buffalo but this time the bombers get through and land 1 bomb on AP Ryugi Maru causing 16 08 12 damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Rangoon 1st Burma Brigade is subjected to attack by 9 Sally and reports 25 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: The garrison at Menado keeps up the shelling of the SNLF survivors.  In something of a rebuff the attackers lose 8 casualties and 1 gun lost to 2 casualties and 1 gun lost by the Japanese.  A ship is on the way to rescue the survivors and take this remnant back home for rebuilding.[align=left] [/align]Air: Mini KB has her planes set to AF attack in secondary mode.  8 Vals pay a visit to Menado and for no result lose 1 of their number.

[align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: The bombardment of Changsa continues with the Chinese forces suffering 300 casualties and 7 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]The 62nd Chinese Corps south of Canton is attacked by 21 Sonia and suffers 22 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: The 71st PA Division at Clark Field is subjected bombing from 37 Betty and loses 35 casualties and 3 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Sea East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: The garrison at Rabaul launches a bombardment on the attackers and loses 10 casualties and 2 guns lost in the process.

[align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS I-173 hits MSW Goulburn with 1 torpedo near Port Moresby.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]SS KXVII hits AK Kansai Maru with 1 torpedo causing 54 53 49 damage.[align=left] [/align][align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The Georgetown assault goes well albeit at a slow pace.  My handling of the parachute regiment was demonstrably inept and hopefully I won’t be doing a repeat of this for some time.  Just to show that sometimes the Japanese flyers do make a return this report came up during the turn - LT Ikura B. of T1/25th Chutai bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED – might have lost his plane but he lives to fly another day. [align=center] [/align]

[SierraJuliet]

27 December 1941[align=left] [/align]
[/b] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: 17 Zero fly a sweep of Singapore and down 1 of the 4 Buffalo CAP.[align=left] [/align]At Khota Bharu 8th Indian Brigade loses 40 casualties and 1 gun lost in an attack by 19 Sally.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]An allied attack by 3 Martin 139 meets a CAP of 10 Oscar and lose 1 of their number for no hits on the targeted task force.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Land: The 4th Division which has been ashore at Khota Bharu for several days is ordered to make a deliberate attack.  The forts at level 3 are easily breached and the base is captured.  For the loss of 163 casualties and 2 guns the Japanese capture 11 285 prisoners and 64 guns.  [align=left] [/align]The continuing attack at Georgetown costs the Imperial Guards 100 casualties and 2 guns for 10 allied casualties.  The forts are again reduced by 1 and are now rated at level 1.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Rangoon 1st Burma Brigade is attacked by 12 Sally and loses 3 casualties.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Jesselton.[align=left] [/align]The garrison at Menado launches a deliberate attack and after achieving odds of 20 – 1 on the remnant SNLF unit only manages to inflict 2 casualties.  This unit should be evacuated next turn.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Bombardment at Changsa causes allied loses of 191 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]South of Canton 83rd Chinese Corps loses 46 casualties in an attack by 21 Sonia.[align=left] [/align]The 57th Chinese Corps at Changsa loses 2 casualties and 1 gun lost in an attack by 10 Sonia.  Also a Changsa the 89th Chinese Corps loses 23 casualties in an attack by 8 Ann.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field the 71st PA Division reports 32 casualties after an attack by 13 Betty.  A further attack by 26 Betty on 57th Regimental Combat Team results in 7 casualties and 2 Betty are lost in the attack.[align=left] [/align]AK Compagnia Filipinas is located south of Manila.  13 Nell sent out to deal with her report 4 torpedo hits.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Sea East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: Allied bombardment attack at Rabaul causes 16 Japanese casualties.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS Snapper takes on a 4 PC ASW task force and gets 1 torpedo hit on PC Ch 2 resulting in her loss.  In return 2 hits are recorded on Snapper.[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]PC Ch 2[align=left] [/align]AK Compagnia Filipinas[align=left] [/align] 
[align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The fall of Khota Bharu has released a number of divisions to continue moving down the Malayan peninsula to take the attack to Singapore.  Standing in their way is units at Malacca and Johore Bahru.  I’m expecting Todd to put up resistance in these towns as long as he can.  Georgetown is also not far from falling and this will see the Imperial Guards reunited for the assault.

[SierraJuliet]

28 December 1941[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: Over Mersing 20 Oscar take on 1 Buffalo and destroy it.[align=left] [/align]Over Singapore 20 Zero take on 6 Buffalo and destroy 2 Buffalo.[align=left] [/align]Land: The Imperial Guards keep up the pressure at Georgetown and inflict 141 casualties and 2 guns lost on the defenders whilst losing 95 casualties and 1 gun lost.  The fortifications have now been reduced to 0.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Burma 12 Sally bomb 1st Burma Brigade and cause 47 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Kuching.[align=left] [/align]Jesselton is captured without a fight.[align=left] [/align]Sea: Naval bombardment at Kuching results in 405 casualties, 6 guns and 1 vehicle lost and 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit, 18 runway hits and 1 port hit.  Kongo, Atago and Takao lead this force.  Further day time bombardment causes 139 casualties and 2 guns lost as well as 1 airbase supply hit, 6 runway hits, 3 port hits, 3 port fuel hits and 2 port supply hits.[align=left] [/align]Air: 6 Nell bomb No. 107 RN Base Force at Kuching and cause 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Japanese bombardment of Changsa causes 238 allied casualties and 5 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Japanese bombardment at Nanning results in 5 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]South of Canton 24 Sonia hit 62nd Chinese Corps and cause 49 casualties.  [align=left] [/align]At Changsa 10 Sonia hit 44th Chinese Corps and cause 25 casualties.  Later in the day 6 Sally attack 57th Chinese Corps, also at Changsa, and cause 22 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: Recon suggests there are still ships in harbour at Manila.  38 Betty set out and land 2 bombs on SS Seal as well as causing 74 casualties, 2 guns lost and 1 port hit.[align=left] [/align]13 Nell flying out of Davao locate AK Ethel Edwards near Tawi Tawi and score 2 torpedo hits.[align=left] [/align]Land: Tagbalarin is occupied.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Sea East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: A shock attack by forces invading Rabaul causes 621 Japanese casualties and 17 guns lost to 44 allied casualties and 1 gun lost.  Fortifications are reduced from level 3 to level 0.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]SS KXIV gets amongst the action at Kuching and slots 1 torpedo and 4 shells into AK Tetsuzan Maru for 64 30 29 damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]SS Seal[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Georgetown is close to capture.  The invasion of Kuching is under way.  The assault of Rabaul now looks to be gathering pace.

[SierraJuliet]

29 December 1941[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: A sweep by 2 Oscar over Mersing bags 1 Wirraway out the 1 Wirraway and 7 Buffalo that went up as CAP.[align=left] [/align]After seeing reports of a concentration of aircraft at Singapore I couldn’t resist the temptation to use my Zeros in an airfield strike role….. Silly move I know and the flak made me pay for it.  27 Zero attack and lose 5 of their number for a paltry return of 1 Buffalo and 1 Blenheim destroyed and 1 airbase and 12 runway hits.  20 more Zero drone on in and also lose 5 of their number and in return cause 11 casualties, 2 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit and 7 runway hits…… I know I can hear you thinking it now… What an extravagant waste of good pilots.[align=left] [/align]Land: The final chapter at Georgetown is played out with the Imperial Guards launching another deliberate attack which obtains assault odds of 5 – 1.  The Guards lose 60 casualties and 1 gun and force the surrender of 2712 troops who made up the garrison along with 9 guns.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Rangoon 22 Sally bomb 1st Burma Brigade and cause 23 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: An undefended Moulmein is occupied by the advancing Japanese army.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: The daily bombardment of Changsa results in 108 allied casualties and 4 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]At Nanning the Japanese continue to bombard and again suffer loses.  This time 4 casualties and 2 guns are lost.  It is time to let up for a while and let the Chinese come at the town and batter themselves against the forts which are on the rise.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]South of Canton 24 Sonia hit 63rd Chinese Corps and cause 27 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]At Changsa 9 Sonia hit 51st Chinese Corps and cause 11 casualties.  This time around the Chinese have put up a CAP of 6 I-16c and the escort of 9 Nate claims one I-16c during the raid.  One group of Nate will be upgraded to Oscar next turn so in a few turns they should be able to deal more effectively with any further I-16c interference.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field 37 Betty target 71st PA Division and cause 111 casualties and 5 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Sea: After taking 2 torpedoes last turn AK Ethel Edwards is located still afloat.  6 Nell fly in low and hit her with another torpedo and send her to her doom.[align=left] [/align]Land: An undefended San Marcelino falls to the Japanese.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Sea East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: After the success of the previous day at Rabaul the attacking Japanese forces opt for a deliberate attack and are rebuffed losing 238 casualties and 5 guns to the allied 95 casualties and 1 gun lost.  Stubborn Australians![align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]PCs Ch 3, Ch 1 and Shonan Maru # 1 pound away at SS Snapper without success.  Later in the day MSW s W.20, W.12 and W.11 also have a go at Snapper and are rewarded with 2 hits to go along with the 2 hits she took a couple of days ago.  Later in the day the first three ships in this round are targeted by Snapper but avoid her attack.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]AK Ethel Edwards[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]TK Kyokuyo Maru (Kill to SS O20 which hit this ship on 25 December off Brunei)[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Georgetown has fallen and Imperial Guards can now get back together and can reform for the upcoming assault on Malacca.  Rabaul did not fall as easily as hoped for.  SS Snapper continues to be an irritant off the coast of Batan Island.  Hopes are high that Kuching will fall before the end of the year.

[John 3rd]

SJ--I do like how you are doing your combat reports.  They read well and I like the colorusage.

[SierraJuliet]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

SJ--I do like how you are doing your combat reports.  They read well and I like the colorusage.

Thanks John. Glad you like it. You should give yourself a pat on the back… I have rather shamelessly used your AAR format as the basis of my writing.

Glad you like the colouring. I wanted to do something to make the ships stand out as they and their crews are the stars for me.

Steve

[SierraJuliet]

On board the battleship Nagato tension was mounting.  The fleet anchorage at Kuantan was not far off.  Sunset, too, was not far off and this was the time that the British torpedo bombers usually made their attacks.  In the short time since the beginning of this war Nagato had not ventured this far south and had seen no action at all.  The apprehension of the crew was fueled by the common knowledge around the fleet that this sea way had established a reputation as a bomb and torpedo alley.  Kuantan, with its limited port infrastructure, had nonetheless become the main source of supplies for the troops fighting their way inland.  Come this way the ships of Japan must do.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The CAP of Oscar fighters, whilst comforting, did little to allay the sailor’s anxiety.  With twilight fast approaching a cry went out from the lookout in the topmost structure of the battleship.  Soon all could see the specks on the horizon fast approaching and not long after they were close enough to make out the antiquated biplanes with rather large projectiles slung underneath.  AA fire suddenly lit up the sky and black clouds burst in and around the approaching formation.  The fighters could be seen tangling and soon a British Buffalo fell from the sky.  The attack planes were soon close enough to make out their type – 9 Swordfish and 3 Blenheim.  Nagato had picked up speed and had started evasive manoeuvres to throw off the aim of the bombers which had split up to create the best attacking angles.  The flack was very effective and soon 4 of the Swordfish had been smashed out of the sky.  The rest bore on though and soon torpedoes were in the water.  Nagato was jigging as best a ship of her size could but it was not enough to avoid one arrow straight trail in the water aimed square amidships.  An almighty explosion and a mountain of water which gathered height before collapsing over her port side announced a hit on the hull of the battleship.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The damage reports weren’t long in coming in.  Captain Yano was relieved to hear the report from the senior officer of the damage control party report that no damage had been caused and the ship was in fighting condition.  With the surviving attackers departing the scene Captain Yano took time to reflect on the remarks of the damage control officer….. ‘Just pecking on the surface; that is all the imperialists were able to do to our mighty ship’.

[SierraJuliet]

30 December 1941[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: At Malacca 6 Sally bomb SSVF Brigade causing 3 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Sea: As reported in my previous post the British launched an aerial assault on a surface task force containing 3 battleships.  9 Swordfish and 3 Blenheim escorted by 9 Buffalo meet a CAP of 9 Oscar.  By the end of the fight 4 Swordfish and 1 Buffalo had been destroyed (mainly by flak) and 1 torpedo hit Nagato.  As recounted no damage was caused to Nagato.  When I had a look at her after the round I found she was registering 00 00 00 in damage.  This was a very pleasant surprise as I had already written her off for a few months to undergo repair.  Now she remains available to me and Todd should think he has caused at least some damage to this major combatant.[align=left] [/align]In a follow up raid by on the same task force 3 Blenheim meet 9 Oscar and 1 Blenheim is destroyed.  No damage is caused to the ships of the fleet.[align=left] [/align]Land: Forces continue to move towards Malacca.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: North of Rangoon 9 Sally launch a strike on 1st Burma Brigade causing 20 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: At Changsa bombardment causes 203 casualties and 5 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]At Changsha 15 Sally cause 1 airbase supply hit, 17 runway hits, 9 casualties and destroy 1 I-16c.[align=left] [/align]South of Canton 24 Sonia hit 63rd Chinese Corps and cause 2 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field 38 Betty bomb 71st PA Division causing 27 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Lamon Bay.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: A deliberate attack at Kuching secures the base with the loss of 32 casualties and 1 gun for the Japanese and 1615 casualties allied casualties reported.  Some of the allied units surrender out right and one unit beats a hasty retreat to the south.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]PCs Ch 9, Ch 8 and Ch 7 locate SS Truant and report 1 hit.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]MSW Golburn sinks off shore from Cairns after suffering torpedo damage from I-173 near Port Moresby on 26 December.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Securing Kuching ushers in a new phase of assaults intended to capture the towns on this major island and open up the route to Java.

[SierraJuliet]

I still have the final day of December '41 to write up but in the mean time I thought that some analysis of what I achieved during this month might make for some interesting reading.

Review of my first month of my first PBEM vs tocaff[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]December 1941 is now history in this game.  After much anticipation of sending KB off to raid Pearl Harbour absolutely nothing happened.  KB then fell into a hole and nothing was heard of them until the last week of December when the fleet turned up in the South East Pacific and bagged 2 AK which had steamed quite some distance in a futile attempt to quit the Philippines via a route north of New Guinea.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]My main strategy around the Philippines was to split my destroyers into small surface task forces and cover the choke points and clean up as much shipping coming out of these islands as possible.  The mini KB was employed to cover shipping attempting to flee via the northern route.  Over the course of the month a steady stream of ships kept moving out and in the main were intercepted and sunk.  Here is a break down of what happened to the ships stationed in the Philippines on 7 December 1941.  This doesn’t include major warships such as Houston and Boise.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Manila [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]AK           11            8 sunk[align=left] [/align]TK            2              2 sunk[align=left] [/align]AO           2              2 sunk[align=left] [/align]AP           1              1 sunk[align=left] [/align]AS           3              2 sunk[align=left] [/align]SS           27            4 sunk[align=left] [/align]AV           1              0 sunk[align=left] [/align]AVD        1              0 sunk[align=left] [/align]MSW        6              2 sunk[align=left] [/align]PG           3              2 sunk[align=left] [/align]PT            6              5 sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Naga [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]AK           7              3 sunk[align=left] [/align]TK            1              1 sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Cagayan [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]AK           2              1 sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Davao [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]AK           2              1 sunk[align=left] [/align]AVD        1              0 sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]At Dadjangas [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]AK           2              0 sunk[align=left] [/align]AVD        1              0 sunk[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Of the shipping referred to above 78 vessels commenced the war.  By the end of December 34 had been listed as sunk.  If the elusive submarines are removed from the list the result is 30 vessels sunk out of a total of 51 that started out in the various locations around the Philippines.  AK and TK seemed to suffer the worst with 13 out of 24 AK sunk and 3 out 3 TK sunk.  PTs also faired badly with 5 out the 6 starters being destroyed.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the final analysis I’m happy with the results.  By choosing not to hit Manila with the port attack in the first round I knew that claiming submarines would be nigh on impossible – getting the 4 I did sink was more than I expected.  As for the rest I think the figures speak for themselves.  Manila seemed to be particularly difficult to escape from as 24 out of 35 surface vessels that started in Manila harbour on 7 December did not make it past the end of December.
[align=left]More to follow soon. [/align]

[SierraJuliet]

31 December 1941[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: 20 Zero conduct a sweep over Singapore and destroy 1 Buffalo from the 4 Buffalo sent aloft to defend the city.[align=left] [/align]At Malacca SSVF Brigade is bombed by 14 Nell and loses 25 casualties and 1 gun lost.  Another attack by 12 Nell, also on SSVF Brigade causes 16 casualties and 1 gun lost.  Not to be outdone 12 Sally bore in for the attack at Malacca and also picks out SSVF Brigade which this time loses 10 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Land bombardment of forces at Malacca commences with the allied forces losing 6 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Bombardment attack at Changsa causes allied loses of 205 casualties and 5 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]17 Sally bomb Changsa and cause 2 airbase hits and 3 runway hits.[align=left] [/align]South of Canton 66th Chinese Corps is bombed by 21 Sonia and suffers 26 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field 71st PA Division is bombed by 41 Betty and suffers 31 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Lamon Bay, undefended, is assaulted and captured by Japan.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Rabaul 101 RAAF Base Force is bombed by 21 Nell flying out of Truk and suffers 76 casualties.[align=left] [/align]Land: Tarawa base is stormed and is captured.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]Quite some way north of Pearl Harbour SS I-8 is located by a surface force containing DDs Maury, Conyngham, Phelps, Balch and Flusser along with DMS Hovey.  She sneaks away after suffering 1 hit.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]SS I-3, also to the north of Pearl Harbour, locates an incoming task force and lands one torpedo on AS Fulton.  In return she is absolutely pummelled by the escorts made up of DDs Humphreys, Brooks, Kilty, Crane, Kennison and Crosby.  She sustains 10 hits and is lost to the depths of the Pacific.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Not far away SS I-168 is located by the task force that attacked I-8 and again 1 hit is registered on the submarine before she slips away from her attackers.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]SS I-3

[align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Masses of ships are homing on Pearl Harbour from the north.  I have a number of subs still in this area and they have been ordered to queue up along the mostly likely path of advance and see if I-3 can’t be avenged.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Action at Malacca is about to commence with a couple of days bombardment before any serious attempt is made to dislodge the defenders of this location.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Next turn should also see another attempt to dislodge the forces at Rabaul.  An invasion force is not far off landing troops at Lae.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]1941 is at a close.  The coming year, 1942, (the year of reckoning) beckons for Japan.

Here is a link to a screen shot of the developing sub action north of Pearl Harbour.

http:////i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt26/SierraJulietWhiskey/subattack-1.jpg?t=1241082816

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: SierraJuliet


Here is a link to a screen shot of the developing sub action north of Pearl Harbour.

http:////i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt26/SierraJulietWhiskey/subattack-1.jpg?t=1241082816

Steve, you need to us image tags

Code: Select all

[img]http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt26/SierraJulietWhiskey/subattack-1.jpg[/img]

[SierraJuliet]

Thanks Damian... I was tired last night and just wanted to get it on and forgot about the image tags.

Here is a screen shot of the current situation and proposed route of attack during January 1942.

[SierraJuliet]

Here is the current ship damage situation at the end of December 1941.

[SierraJuliet]

Here are the leading air groups in order of kills up to 31 December 1941.  I'm surprised to find 59th fighter sentai flying Oscar fighters is the leading group and this group also has the leading pilot with 4 kills.

[SierraJuliet]

Review of December 1941 continued[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the Malayan theatre the following bases were successfully assaulted and captured.  Kuantan, Alor Star, Kuala Lumpur, Taiping, Victoria Point, Khota Bharu and Georgetown.  Activity will now focus on the capture of Malacca and creating a beachhead at Mersing to put pressure on the rear of the troops likely to retreat when Malacca falls.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma was an easy run through the country side for my troops with the enemy beating a retreat and leaving everything undefended.  Tavoy and Moulmein both fell and troops are now gathering to force the rivers and begin an assault on Rangoon.  Recon presently shows about 4 to 5 small units in the area.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the DEI Brunei, Jesselton and Kuching have fallen with troops now far from mounting as assault on Miri.  Galeia and Wasile have also been taken.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In China Yenen and Hong Kong both fell.  I have adopted a HR of securing all roads and rail in occupied areas of China so this has curtailed massive efforts here.  Changsa has developed into a war of attrition with daily bombardment attacks on the city.  An early effort was made to take Nanning but the situation here is stabilized.  Canton was also threatened early on but matters here are also in hand.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the Philippines Lingayen, Laoag, Vigan, Aparri, Tuguegarao, Batan Island, Lamon Bay, Davao, Dadjangas and San Marcelino have all fallen.  Mazbate Island and Tagbalarin were occupied.  The beachhead at Naga was lost but not the troops.  This has not been a fast moving theatre but progress continues to be made.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the Central Pacific Wake Island and Guam were seized.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]In the South East Pacific Makin, Kavieng, Naru Island and Tarawa have fallen.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Stuff ups[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The non event called the Pearl Harbour raid… sometimes supreme commanders simply can’t make their subordinates carry out instructions….. Amazingly Nagumo is still in charge of KB.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The Russian adventure was unexpected and has for the time been resolved.  I did manage to unnecessarily lose 5 dive bombers in an unauthorized bombing of a Russian airfield.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The dropping of the parachute regiment on Johore Bahru was an unmitigated disaster with the regiment being mauled and around 10 transport planes also unnecessarily cut from the sky.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The Zero airfield attack on Singapore with another 10 planes being lost for little return.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The attempted landing at Mendado when my 3 AP landing force was caught out my Houston, Boise and company.  Fortunately my tactic of having built in redundancy by putting troops on more ships than necessary was rewarded with 1 AP escaping and able to save the remnants of the SNLF force.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Things that worked[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The blockade of the Philippines…. More than happy with the results here.[align=left] [/align]The early capture of Hong Kong and Yemen.[align=left] [/align]The early (and unplanned) capture of Wake Island without losing any ships.[align=left] [/align]The Burma campaign off to a good start.[align=left] [/align]The Malayan campaign going well although not fast…. I’ll be happy to achieve close to a historical result here.[align=left] [/align]The sub campaign off the coast of California netting a few tankers and causing general mayhem amongst the local population.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]On with the fight.

And finally thanks to all for the interest.  Tocaff has mentioned in his PM the interest that both AAR are generating.  I'm very pleased given it is my first PBEM and first AAR and plenty of interest too.  Many thanks to all the readers out there.

[SierraJuliet]

01 January 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: A sweep of Mersing by 19 Oscar bags the 2 Buffalo sent up as CAP.  A sweep of Singapore by 15 Zero brings down 2 of the 4 Buffalo doing CAP duties.  A further sweep by another 21 Zero finds 2 Buffalo on patrol and claims 1 as destroyed.[align=left] [/align]15 Nell attack Malacca and cause 53 casualties and 2 guns lost to SSVF Brigade.  16 more Nell also target SSVF Brigade and cause a further 37 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Allied troops at Malacca are bombarded and lose 99 casualties and 4 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Land bombardment at Changsa causes 160 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]At Changsa 44th Chinese Corps is hit by 8 Ann and suffers 22 casualties.  3 I-16c defends but causes no damage to the attacking Japanese.[align=left] [/align]Bombardment attack south of Canton results in 9 casualties and 2 guns lost for the Japanese and 111 casualties and 3 guns lost for the Chinese.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field 56 Betty target 71st PA Division and cause 82 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Taytay.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Air: At Rabaul No. 101 RAAF Base Force is targeted by 18 Nell out of Truk which cause 20 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Sea: Bombardment attack at Rabaul by CAs Kako, Furutaka, Kinugasa and Aoba causes 126 casualties, 2 guns lost, 4 airbase hits, 1 airbase supply hit, 7 runway hits, 1 port fuel hit and 2 port supply hits.  The day time bombardment causes 48 casualties, 1 gun lost, 1 runway hit, 1 port hit, 3 port fuel hits and 2 port supply hits.[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are shore at Apamama and the undefended base falls.  [align=left] [/align]At Rabaul Japanese troops execute a shock attack and storm the base.  Rabaul falls for the loss of 140 casualties and 2 guns lost.  The allied forces retreat after suffering 76 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]My plan to wreak havoc on the incoming American shipping at Pearl comes to naught and another loss.  This time SS I-170 is absolutely walloped with 20 hits from DMS Southard and DDs Allen, Ward, Litchfield and Schley.  The message reporting her sinking came as no surprise.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]SS I-4 finds a juicy convoy containing 3 AK, 2 AP, 3 TK and 1 AO, however, runs afoul of the escort containing AVD Williamson and DDs Humphreys, Brooks, Kilty, Crane, Kennison and Crosby.  Without getting a shot in she is hit 5 times then avoids further attack and sneaks off to lick her wounds which stand at 15 01 00.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]SS KXVII locates near Kuantan AK Boston Maru and hits her with 1 shell and 3 fatal torpedoes.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]SS I-170, AK Boston Maru[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]I had hoped for something from all the subs north of Pearl.  Seems to me that 2 lost subs for 1 reported hit is way too high a price to pay.[align=left] [/align] 
The fall of Rabaul will allow me to base fighters and bombers out of this base in the near future.  An invasion force is bound for Lae.  Further forces are enroute to deal with the allied forces that retreated from Rabaul.  Japanese eyes are turning toward the logistics of mounting an attack on Port Moresby.[align=left] [/align]

[SierraJuliet]

02 January 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: A number of attacks without any appreciable damage being inflicted by either side.[align=left] [/align]Land: Bombardment of troops at Malacca causes 51 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: 10 Nell and 19 Sally bombs 1st Burma Brigade north of Rangoon and cause 11 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: A deliberate attack on British forces north of Rangoon see the British forces break and retreat across the river. Japanese forces lose 65 casualties, 1 gun and 1 vehicle against 274 British casualties and 9 guns lost.  The Japanese forces have 1 river to force and then clear the troops from the other side and they will be at the door step of Rangoon.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Air: 16 Martin 139 locate the surface fleet escorting the invasion fleet off shore from Singkawang and score 1 bomb hit on Kongo without causing any damage.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: The siege bombardment at Changsa causes 298 casualties and 10 guns lost to the Chinese defenders.[align=left] [/align]South of Canton the Japanese continue to bombard the Chinese forces and cause 56 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]6 Sally raid Changsa airfield and destroy 1 I-16c and cause 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 3 runway hits. [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: 47 Betty bomb 71st PA Division at Clark Field and cause 212 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Land: Taytay base, undefended, is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Lae.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No action this round.  SS RO-34 sights AK Corregidor leaving Manila Harbour but is unable to score any hits.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The advance continues in Burma.  With only light forces on the scene the prospect of capturing Rangoon without a long struggle looks promising at present.

[SierraJuliet]

  03 January 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: 18 Zero on a sweep over Singapore encounter 3 Buffalo and claim 1 shot down.  Later in the day another sweep by 18 Zero finds 3 more Buffalo on CAP duty and another Buffalo is shot down.[align=left] [/align]Later on in the day to the north of Kuantan 6 Swordfish sneak past the CAP of 7 Oscar and locate an incoming cargo task force.  In a very effective attack 2 ships suffer torpedo hits.  AK Fukoku Maru sustains damage of 18 31 19 and AK Tagonoura Maru received 23 18 16 damage.  Both ships will be docked at Kuantan to clear the flooding before returning to Japan for repair.  Not one of the attacking Swordfish was shot down.[align=left] [/align]Off shore from Khota Bharu 6 Blenheim escorted by 3 Buffalo manage to evade the CAP of 6 Oscar and put 1 bomb on board AP Giyu Maru causing 38 casualties and 35 04 10 damage.  Giyu Maru was part of the fleet tasked to transport 4th Division to Mersing.  She has to pull out and make ready for a return to Japan to repair the damage.[align=left] [/align]Land: At Malacca bombardment there causes 23 British casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: Troops are ashore at Singhawang.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: Bombardment of Changsa results in 94 casualties and 1 gun lost for the Chinese defenders.[align=left] [/align]A bombardment attack by the Japanese at Nanning results in 15 Japanese casualties and 3 guns lost to only 3 Chinese casualties.[align=left] [/align]South of Canton bombardment results in 6 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost against Chinese 88 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]South of Canton 24 Sonia attack 63rd Chinese Corps and cause 23 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: AK Corregidor attempting a run out of Manila Harbour, after dodging RO-34 the day before, is located by 11 Nell and sinks after being hit by 3 torpedoes.  Corregidor had previously been reported as having taken a bomb hit during the air raid on Manila Harbour.  I was wondering how long it would be before she made a run for it.  The placement of Nell bombers at Davao has been very effective.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: Lae is undefended and is captured by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align]Air: 18 Zero make their first appearance over Port Moresby.  There is no CAP reported during this sweep.[align=left] [/align]South of Rabaul NGVR Battalion is bombed by 18 Nell with 48 casualties reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]To the east of Shanghai a bunch of PGs and MLs heading south locate SS Saury and report 1 hit on the sub.[align=left] [/align]North of Kuantan MSW W.3 and PG Chosa Maru locate SS KXVII and claim 3 hits on this sub.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]AK Corregidor[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]Recon reports that 2 of the 7 units at Malacca have moved south towards Singapore.  The Japanese forces based at Malacca have been instructed to attack at dawn tomorrow.  Shipping coming into my Malayan port still faces a serious risk of aerial bombardment.  So far the CAP has usually been breaking up the attacks but today saw a couple of very useful attacks by the British bombers.

[SierraJuliet]

Strategy Time[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Time has come to start thinking very hard on the direction of my naval strategy.  Up until now I have had pretty much a free run in being able to pick where and when to attack.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]I now have something of a dilemma as to what the best course of action should be from here.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The Malayan, Burmese, Philippine and Chinese campaigns will continue in much the same vein and to a large extent won’t be affected by naval issues other than the submarine threat.  It is in the Dutch East Indies and the Central/South Pacific that I have my concerns.  The main concern is the growing strength of Todd’s fleets, British and American.  As Captain Harlock rightly pointed out much earlier in this AAR no major warships have been sunk yet.  In fact there hasn’t even been a destroyer sunk so far.  Submarines have been sunk; however, they will not (apart from lucky shots) cause much worry in regard to the overall picture of what to do regarding potential fleet actions from this point on.  Force Z has gone to ground and whilst the major ships from the Philippines did show up for a bit they have now gone to ground as well.  After the aborted Pearl raid the anchorage was emptied but over the last few days my subs north of Pearl detected a lot of inbound traffic including carriers, battleships and stacks of cruisers.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]The lack of result at Pearl Harbour and Todd’s careful husbanding of his fleets has meant that he now has a substantial force available to meet my future moves.  KB is currently based at Truk and is undergoing a breather to repair some accumulated wear and tear.  I have decided to keep KB together.  My main dilemma revolves around the best use of KB at present.  I am undecided between keeping them around Kwajalein to counter any move by Todd to snatch back an island or two and their use as an offensive tool too force an action against Todd.  I’m not thinking of sending KB to the DEI and apart from Mutsu and 4 older cruisers to support them I don’t really have too much in the area to support KB.  [align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]I’d love to send KB in the direction of Pearl to see what it might run into but my plan at the moment is:[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]

• Bring some other IJN assets over from the DEI to support the KB

[align=left] [/align]

• Leave mini KB and the majority of the IJN in DEI to cover continuing landings and possible threats from Force Z and or Houston/Boise or anything else that Todd might send in from the Pacific

[align=left] [/align]

• Base KB in the area of Kwajalein to counter any early aggressive moves by the USN

[align=left] [/align]

• Use KB to support the operation to take Port Moresby

[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]What do you think of the strengths and weaknesses of this plan?  I hadn’t planned on the Pearl raid being such a flop.  This combined with Todd’s withdrawal of surface ships has given me something to struggle with regarding continuing to move forward and at the same time protecting what I already have.  All suggestions are welcome.

[SierraJuliet]

04 January 1942[align=left] [/align] [/b][align=left] [/align]Malaya[align=left] [/align]Air: Sweep over Mersing by 19 Oscar finds 1 Wirraway and 2 Buffalo and claims 1 Buffalo destroyed.[align=left] [/align]Sweep over Singapore by 21 Zero is met by 3 Buffalo and all 3 are shot from the sky.[align=left] [/align]Land: The morning quiet is swept away with the sound of a barrage of gunfire directed at the troops hunkered down at Malacca.  A short time later a considerable force of Japanese troops supported by tanks and led by the Imperial Guards launches a deliberate attack.  Achieving odds of 7-1 the forts at level 3 are brushed aside and the town is conquered.  Japanese commanders report to Lieutenant General Yamashita that loses were 2147 casualties, 78 guns lost and 1 vehicle lost.  The allied forces, now in retreat, were reported to have lost 604 casualties and 10 guns.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Burma[align=left] [/align]Air: West of Rangoon 12 Nell and 14 Sally hit 13th Indian Brigade and cause 99 casualties and 1 gun lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]DEI[align=left] [/align]Land: At Singkawang the base is captured and the defenders retreat.  Japanese forces lose 17 casualties and 2 guns lost while 1 Martin 139 is destroyed on the ground at the airfield.  Japanese losses were recorded as 36 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]China[align=left] [/align]Land: The daily ritual of bombardment at Changsa causes a reported 96 casualties and 4 guns lost to the Chinese garrison.[align=left] [/align]South of Canton Japanese forces there report their bombardment attack caused 114 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align]Air: [/b]At Changsa 15 Sally bomb the airfield and cause 13 casualties, 2 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 12 runway hits.  10 Sonia target 57th Chinese Corps and cause 13 casualties.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Philippines[align=left] [/align]Air: At Clark Field 7 Betty bomb 105th USAAF Base Force and cause 14 casualties and 2 guns lost.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]South East Pacific[align=left] [/align]Land: Samo is occupied by Japanese forces.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Subs[align=left] [/align]No activity reported.[align=left] [/align] [align=left] [/align]Naval Losses for the Day[align=left] [/align]Nil[align=left] [/align]Comments[align=left] [/align]The capture of Malacca has opened up the road to Singapore with only one obstacle (Johore Bahru) standing in the way.  I’m expecting that the defenders here have busy preparing the forts for a last ditch defense.   A couple of artillery units are on the way down the peninsula to provide support in this operation.  4th Division has just about finished loading at Khota Bharu and should soon be shipping to assault Mersing.