Afraid is spent most of my luck against you Wob, magazine explosions are much rarer now [;)]
2 thus far in this game, the Arizona and an Allied destroyer.
- Invading the PI, Malaya / Burma and DEI is routine - but mess it up and the 2nd expansion stage will be severly disrupted...
Hm, will keep an eye on the effect on speed related to chance to land shell and torp hits Krupp.
Play balance is in general good, but my gut feeling tells me a further slight tweaking is needed.
- Ikea is a cursed Swedish invention, and yes...we got plenty of those labyrinths in Norway

The actually created Ikea with red (Norwegian) color scheme instead of the Swedish yellow knowing that this color definetly wouldn't attract much admiration [;)]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 18, 41
Drama near Menado today were Andy got a small bone!
The twin invasion group for Menado and Ternate both arrived and started unloading during the morning hours.
Supporting the invasion was a close support group of 3 destroyers at Menado and a heavy support group of 2 heavy cruisers and 2 destroyers set to patrol / react between the 2 bases.
After unloading all cargo in the morning hours the Menado group was attacked by the cruisers Marbelhead and Tromp as well as 6 destroyers. The close support group fought a lengthy but non-decisive delaying action against the superior enemy force. - Unfortunately this was not enough to turn away the determined US-Dutch TF which pushed through to Menado and sank the entire convoy of 4 smaller escorts and 5 transports! (AE still got a tendency to eliminate all ships in such encounters). 2 of the enemy destroyers seems to have suffered serious damage and was observed in a separate TF by our search planes.
The good thing is that our troops will attack and capture both Menado and Ternate as planned tomorrow. The loss of the ships is regretful but nothing more.
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 75,99, Range 19,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1
DD Usugumo
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Marblehead
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1
DD Parrott
DD Stewart
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1, on fire
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 75,99, Range 17,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
APD Fuji, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Hiyodori, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AMc Toroshima Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PB Heiei Maru #7, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Syoka Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Rokko Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Igasa Maru, Shell hits 32, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Ryoyu Maru #21, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Sasago Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Marblehead
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Parrott
DD Stewart
DD Van Ghent, heavy fires
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Other news:
We captured Beaufort in northern Borneo today and Manus in the Admirality islands was invaded.
Some Banshee dive bombers from Rabaul attacked the transports near Manus and sank a supply ship.
- Plan is to unload smaller detachments of troops and engineers and start building airfields asap.
