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Day 15: The art of disorganization

Starting to get a handle on things, but I will admit the Allied side is a nightmare as far as getting things in a usable structure

China: AVG 2nd Sqn claims a pair of Ki-27 Nates in air combat over Changsha.

Rangoon: Sweeps by Zero and Oscar fighters intercepted by AVG 1st Sqn

Moulmein: IJA armored unit pushes through to the city, minor skirmishes ensue.

Wake Island: Vindicators successfully attack an amphibious group ~250 nm from Wake, 2 AKs hit and left burning.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 131,103

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 6



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 3 damaged
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Nishimi Maru, Bomb hits 1
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CM Tsugaru

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kiyokawa Maru-1 with F1M2 Pete (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes



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Iba falls

Since there wasn't much to report the last 3 turns, I waited until it was more interesting:

Day 16: Completely uneventful.

Day 17: Some guys have all the luck...mine just happens to be bad.

Noumea: Lexington is hit by a torpedo in the forecastle, minor flooding. Suspected submarine escapes detection.

Day 18: A little more interesting. Christmas Eve, 1941.

Hong Kong: Japanese troops enter the city and knock on the doors with an artillery bombardment.

Johnston Island: Carrier strike from the west, 2 IJN Task forces sighted west of the Island, this may be an invasion.

Borneo: Amphibious landing at Kudat.

Palmyra: Troop Transport task force attacked by multiple submarines, AK Henry Grove and AK Agwimonte sunk with no survivors.

Philippines: Japanese troops attack Clark Field, defenses hold for now. Japanese paratroop attack at Bataan repulsed. (I've withdrawn to Manila for defense instead of Bataan).

China: IJA artillery units bombard Chinese positions south of Ichang. Skirmish near Kweisui results in disorganized retreat of Chinese defenders. Skirmish near Hwainan ends in Chinese defeat.

Tsiaotso falls.

Day 19: All I want for Christmas is 6 new carriers... Dec 25, 1941.

Palmyra: It seems he has a wolf-pack of about 6 subs operating in the area. For now, Palmyra is not going to be a good place for a link in my convoy chain. Kido Butai sighted 300 miles North West of the island.

AK K. I. Luckenbach torpedoed and sunk.
AP Mariposa Torpedoed and sunk.

A total of 6 sub attacks from different subs and 7 hits on the two vessels. All troops and cargo lost with the convoy.

Tjilatjap: Coastal minesweepers clear an enemy minefield from the mouth of the harbor. Obviously a present left for my by one of his minelaying submarines.

Singapore: Under constant air attack. Really eating into my supplies, but trying to resupply with all the air power he has in the area would be suicidal.

China: My opponent seems content to just bombard my units. This suits me fine as the effect is negligible and it ends up training my troops up. Most of my troops have made it to their defensive positions in the thick forests, so the situation is stabilized for the moment.

Clark Field falls, Kudat falls, Manus falls

Day 20: I got heartaches by the dozen...

Sydney: Patrols have spotted at least 3 different submarines operating within 100 miles of the coastline. CV Lexington and escorts are right in the middle of them. Sortied 2 ASW combat TFs to see if I can at least force em deep till the carrier is safely docked in port.

Pago Pago: Convoy comes under attack by 2 submarines, escorts unable to locate.

Palmyra: I've lost track of Kido Butai. All convoys bound for Palmyra have been rerouted until I can get the waters around it some what safer.

Bataan: He tried another paradrop and got the same results. Only static units are left defending Bataan, all other units have made it safely to Manila. Whether or not this was the wise choice will be revealed shortly.

Some thoughts: It seems his offensives against Singapore and Moulmein have completely stalled. Johore Bharu is holding, and he has not even attempted an assulat at Moulmein, despite having more than sufficient troops to take the city (I am 'barely' defending it). I'm thinking he has run low on supply by stretching his supply lines too thin. He took Mersing without first taking the western rail lines in Malaysia, meaning all supply has to be brought in by ship to the assulat force, also Moulmein is being attacked without first securing Victoria Point or Tavoy, again unnecessarily extending his supply lines. Perhaps I am more methodical when I play as Japan, but I pretty much follow the IJA war plan when it comes to Malaysia and Burma.

Defending Burma: After assessing the situation, I have decided not to defend Burma. Our house rules require meeting garrison levels, which leaves me fighting a rear guard delaying action, which isn't such a bad idea anyway, as it slows his advance down and allows me to set up my real defensive position just across the Indian border. The pink line in the illustration below shows where I plan to make my stand. Figure heavy jungle is the best place to defend from, rather than the open field around Mandalay.

So, any suggestions from the more experience Allied players out there? Is my plan for Burma feasible?

Day 21: Here we go again...

Palmyra: Kido Butai is no south of the island, trying to chase down a couple of transport task forces in the area. I've sent them both in opposite directions and perpendicular to KBs projected path, if I'm really lucky, he'll miss both.

Pago Pago: Coastwatchers report multiple underwater explosions near the mouth of the harbor. (According to the combat report, I-174 struck 2 mines at Pago Pago).

Sydney: Lexington arrives safely, multiple sub contacts by destroyers, however no attacks.

Hong Kong: Organized Japanese attack repulsed with heavy enemy casualties, however, defenders forced to fall back to secondary defensive lines.

Patani: 5/14th Punjab Battalion marches into the city, no resistance met.

Patani Captured

*Note: I've been ill the last few days, so this didn't get updated (and turns didn't get played). Today is the catchup for the last few turns played.

Day 22: Rinse Repeat

Sydney: Torpedo wakes spotted in the water heading toward CA Northampton, evasive maneuvers successful, submarine not located.

Pago Pago: Underwater explosions noted off the coast of the island.

China: notable increase in the amount of air power being devoted to this theatre.

Hong Kong: Japanese attack in force repulsed.

Lihir falls

Day 23:

Pago Pago: Underwater explosions off the coast during the early morning hours.

Midway: AO Brazos suffers multiple violent explosions and sinks almost immediately in a fireball. Submarine attack suspected. Escorts unable to locate enemy sub.

Kweiteh: 51st and 69th Chinese Corps surrounded and destroyed by Japanese forces.

Day 24:

Cagayan: IJN Cruiser group bombards the port and airfield, minimal damage and casualties.

Port Blair: Small supply convoy attacked by Betty Torpedo bombers, 1 AK sunk, 2 damaged, 1 AMC severely damaged.

Midway: PG Charleston makes contact with possible enemy submarine, unable to locate, no attack made.

Georgetown falls, Temuloh falls, Tabar Island falls

Day 25:

Pago Pago: DD Worden makes attack on possible submarine, oil slick noted following mulitple DC runs.

Wake Island: Vindicators and Wildcats from Wake Island attack IJN carrier ~160 miles from the island. Positive ID on CVE Hosho. Large transport reported hit and burning, Hosho escapes direct hits.

Central Pacific (near Hilo): Troop transport convoy comes under attack from short range dive and torpedo bombers. Contact lost with group which consisted of 2 x DD, 6 x AP, 4 x AK, and 1 x AO.

San Fernando: 11th PA Inf Division surrounded and destroyed

Cabanatuan falls

Day 26:

Midway: PG Charleston attacks suspected IJN submarine, oil slick noted after attack run.

Johnston Island: DD Cushing torpedoed and capsizes.

Wake Island: Vinmdicator group (down to 1 operational aircraft) withdrawn to Midway to take on replacements. Late in the evening at high tide, large number of IJN ships appear near the shore, amphibious landing begins.

Wake Island falls, Emirau Island falls

Day 27: Happy New Year

Kuantan: Base bombarded by IJN cruiser group.

Changsha: Elements of the AVG intercept multiple IJA bomber raids against the city, numerous Nate fighters and Lily bombers reported shot down.

Bataan: attempted break out of surrounded allied forces fails

Kwangchowan falls