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REPORTS FOR Dec 24 - 25, 1941!

Merry xmas!

Allied submarines:

Our aerial ASW seems to have scared them away - few attack, no successes.

SS Porpoise misses xAK Kuretake Maru near Nakadori-jima at 101,56

SS Shark is forced deep by DD Amagiri near Tanegashima at 101,63


Our submarines:

SS RO-34 detects surfaced submarine at 69, 96 but it immediately dives.

AG Regulus is sighted by SS I-173 near Midway Island but the captain of SS I-173 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target.

SS I-169 does better and attacks AG Kaula near Palmyra - Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage.

SS I-175 escapes an ASW attack by two DDs near Kona at 181,111

SS RO-66 escapes several ASW attacks but then encounters a mine field at Canton Island (153,143), triggers three mines and sinks.

She is followed by SS I-170 which hits a mine at the same location and sinks.

Grr, the subs have reported DMs at Canton last turn but it failed to make "tilt" in the brains of Submarine Command - instead of ordering them away some stupid admiral ordered more submarines to Canton Is.

I-9 tries to extract revenge by attacking DM Tracy near Enderbury Island but misses.


Indochina:

We have found minefields in a coastal hex between Cam Ranh Bay and Saigon and at Kompong Trach. DMS are dealing with them.


Malaya:

Air attacks on Singers continue, no CAP but several bombers are destroyed / damaged on the ground. We lose a Nell to flak.

Buffalo fighter planes bomb the 55th Cavalry Regiment, at 55,58 , near Tavoy - 10 casualties reported. Those cowards - attacking defenseless ground forces instead of flying CAP over Singers!

5th Recon Regiment takes Taiping, 1st Mysore Battalion is retreating. The other units of the 5th Division follow the Recondos which continue south. Elements of the 30th Division will try a flanking movement by sea using landing barges. 25th Army, the Imperial Guard Division and Corps troops will strat move from Alor Star to Taiping.

The enemy units trapped between Singora and Patani are tougher than expected:

Ground combat at 50,73 (near Alor Star)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7764 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 254

Defending force 3163 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Japanese adjusted assault: 139

Allied adjusted defense: 101

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
615 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Ground combat at 50,73 (near Alor Star)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7313 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

Defending force 3050 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 90

Japanese adjusted assault: 85

Allied adjusted defense: 47

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
15th Indian Brigade
109th RAF Adv Base Force

We will send tanks and air support.


China:

Recon bombardements and troop movements continue.

Wenchow is bombarded by sea again - the bombardment group is shuttling between Shanghai and Wenchow.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
DD Yanagi
DD Karii
DD Yukaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Yugumo

Allied ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1


PI:

Manila sweeps by Oscars find nothing.

Butuan is occupied by the 2nd Division advancing from Surigao to Cagayan.

Sibuyan is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps.

Amphibious Assault at Iba (78,75) - a small SNLF Coy will try to snatch the (according to air recon) lightly-defended base, while 14th Army advances on Lingayen.

III/81st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Dumanquilas.

xAKL Dai Lee encounters mine field at Busuanga (77,80) - Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

A small supply convoy near Jolo (2 PB, 2xAKL) runs into five British MTBs - no damage on either side.

Floatplanes find small freighters near Iloilo but miss and naval search has discovered other TFs in the Visayas. A SAG will investigate.


Borneo:

Jakes from Jolo sink HDML P 3 at Tarakan. Invasion forces for Tarakan will start loading at Babeldaop. TFs are spotted at Tarakan - we will split a small SAG from convoy-cover duty to investigate (green arrow).


Babeldaop / Celebes:

Some Dutch bombers attack a SAG at Manado and lose two planes to flak. Invasion forces are being readied. We hope to make some quick hops now. From Manado four SNLF units will attack Kendari, Makassar and Banjarmasin, from Babeldaop two SNLF will attack Ambon and Koepang (red arrows). Both have heavy SAG cover and Mini-KB (orange arrow) in support. Submarines (blue arrows) are ordered to block potential routes of enemy SAGs.



PNG:

Bandasan SNLF stages an Amphibious Assault at Manokwari (85,109)


Rabaul:

Kido Butai attacks ground forces at Rabaul, covering the landing of our invasion force. The ground attack will commence next turn.

REPORT FOR Dec 26-27, 1941

Allied submarines:

SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Junpo Maru near Hakodate at 21,54 and misses.

SS Porpoise is sighted by escort near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 and forced to dive.


Our submarines:

Not much luck, but at least none of my subs sunk or damaged either:

SS I-15 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Selfridge near Enderbury Island at 156,142 but misses.

SS I-26 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Russell near San Diego at 226,81 but misses.

SS I-26 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Sims near San Diego at 225,79 but msises.

SS I-5 hits xAK Susan Luckenbach near Fort Ord at 219,74 with three torpedos, the ship is confirmed sunk.


Home Islands:

I have transferred all Const Eng units from Kwangtung Command to the HI to start building up the airfields at locations with IJNAF and IFAAF base forces to level 8 in order to trigger the "double aviation support" bonus. Also the restricted IDs with engineer assets have moved to these locations to add what little engineering manpower they have. Surely could use some Seabee units on the Japanese OOB! Purpose of the efforts is to get my pilot training program going while moving unrestricted aviation suport to the front - there is never enough...

Kaga and Chiyoda are busy expanding IJNAF air groups to max size. This is PDU off so should not be gamey and the groups are intended for training - and I do not have enough planes to fill them out anyway. Allies can expand Navy and Marines airgroups as well, so no exploit here.

Production factories are repairing but with many air groups flying obsolete planes waiting for pools to upgrade and understrength resized air groups, the demand for air frames far outstrips current production.

Our R&D factories are not repairing despite supply stockpiles at their bases. I have seen only two factories increasing one point each since the start of the war. I'm only allowing repairs for planes coming online in 1942 in order to keep supply reserves up. Other AARs indicate that it is possible to advance A6M8s and such to July 1942, so other players are able to get R&D to repair. Wondering what I am doing wrong...

The first wave of conversions is done and ACMs are spread around to maintain protective minefield being laid:

Task Force 155 lays defensive minefield at Matsuyama ( 105 , 59) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure
Task Force 149 lays defensive minefield at Oita ( 104 , 59) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure


China:

Bomb attacks, recon bombardments and troop movements aimed at surrounding fleeing Chinese troops in the North and the eastern plains - but they run faster than we do...

Wenchow bombarded by Yamashiro and Mutsu again, but only disable some squads - not enough for our lone brigade which has arrived at Wenchow to risk an attack. I will need to be prudent now, US subs may try to ambush the bombardment shuttle. I keep the TF in coastal waters and two DMS have been ordered to join the screen - as we have seen, the Allies seems to be fond of submarine minelaying operations...


Malaya:

Oscar sweeps of Singers found nothing.

About 50 Nells with about 50 Zeros as escort hit the airfields again and destroy one Vildebeest, one Blenheim IV and one Hurricane IIb - now that is a surprise. Why is Ed not putting the Hurries up on CAP?

Sallies pound the 15th Indian Brigade which is moving to undefended Patani. That's ok, nothing to find there but some fuel and the unit will be off the railroad and cornered. This operation is delaying the recombination of the 18th Division, but one Indian Division at Singers will be understrength as well.

Utan Melintang is occupied by a flanking movement with landing barges from Georgetown. From there it is only a short hop to Sumatra.


Borneo:

2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy shock-attacks and takes Jesselton, 108th RN Base Force is retreating down the coast. Overland movements from Miri to Brunei and Kuching to Sambas are advancing slowly.


PI:

Oscar sweeping Manila find nothing. The Allied CAP seems to work on an on/off basis.

Unopposed bombing attacks on Lingayen while 14th Army advances on this base.

1st Sasebo SNLF Coy CAPTURES Iba, 1st PI Base Force is retreating.

A small CL+DD SAG sweeps the Central PIs sinking xAKL Cebu near Lucena and xAKL Isla Filipinas near Tablas. Apparently the Allies are still trying to run supplies into Luzon.

3 Petes attack xAKL Magallanes near Roxas - the ship is left with heavy fires and heavy damage. Two P-40 on CAP at 14k are too high to catch our low-level attack.

Catalina PBYs try night-torpedo attacks against small convoys without success.


Moluccas:

Mini-KB moves into strike range of Ambon and sinks the Dutch AVPs Bellatrix and Reiger.

Our Nells at Manado elect to torpedo-attack some British MTBs at Tarkan. Zero escort becomes separated and the two Dutch Buffalos on CAP over Tarakan destroy one Nell. The MTBs are untouched, of course.

Next day, Nells with Zero escort bomb ground forces at Kendari.

Our invasion TFs at Babeldaop (for Ambon) and Manado (for Kendari) have not finished loading yet but will move out next turn for a left-rigth double punch. This is a risk since the whereabout of Allied surface assets is unknown. Long-range Mavis searches from Manado have sighted nothing, but that does not mean anything...


Rabaul:

Kido Butai pounds ground forces at Rabaul, then our SNLF troops shock attack and CAPTURE Rabaul !!! The enemy forces retreat into the jungle where they will be left to rot.

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
7th Naval Construction Battalion
2nd JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
A Coy/NG Rifles
Lark Battalion
Rabaul Base Force

One Catalina I and two B-17E are destroyed on the ground. Too bad we cannot piece them back together, we could use some more long-range search assets...

After the attacks of Kido Butai the Rabaul airbase is trashed with 80+ runway and service damage. But the port is almost untouched and we have a convoy with lots of base forces, port units and supplies waiting one hex off Rabaul which will unload and deal with the damaged airfield.

Kido Butai is ordered a few hexes south of Rabaul into the Coral Sea to cover the unloading and to investigate Port Moresby. Long-range search with Mavis is already established at Rabaul to sniff for Allied carriers. A small invasion force is heading for Lae. 4th Division still amphib-loading at Ponape - with port size 1 it was an error to go there to avoid overstacking Truk...


PNG:

Manokwari is occupied. The small forces at Hollandia and Aitape have been picked up for another hop down the coast.

REPORT FOR Dec 28-29, 1941

Allied submarines:

SS Porpoise launches 2 torpedoes at PB Takunan Maru near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 and sinks the ship with one hit.

SS Porpoise launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yoshida Maru #3 near Saishu To at 99,56 - no hits.

SS Saury launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Nagato Maru near Hakodate at 118,51 - no hits. Better luck next time!

SS Saury launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Izan Maru near Hirosaki/Aomori at 117,54 - one hit. Yeah, better luck next time... *grrr*

SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kaimei Maru near Kaishu at 100,48 - one hit, one dud. The ship should make port.

SS Searaven launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-20 near Wenchow at 89,59 and misses.

SS KXVIII is attacked near Manado at 76,99 but our ASW efforts fail - rumour has it our depth charges are not reaching deep enough.

SS Seawolf encounters our fleet train (including our only active AKE) near Morotai but is sighted by escorts and forced to dive deep. The fleet train is rebasing from Babeldaop to Kendari in anticipation of the pending occupation of this base.

We find some sub-layed mines at Ponape!


Our submarines:

SS I-2 and SS I-26 suffer several enemy ASW attacks near San Diego again. I-2 receives 51 float damage (35 major) and aborts the mission - she is heading back to Kwajalein. Seems the Allies want to clear the area of my subs - all this ASW activity smells of important enemy movements pending! I will redeploy my West Coast Flotilla (the long-legged boats of the J1 class plus plane-carrier I-26) a few hex offshore from the San Diego - LA area to see if I can intercept something.


Home Islands:

Since US submarines are operating near the Home Islands and even in the Sea of Japan, we try to close some of their access routes (we just do not have enough mines for all...)

Task Force 155 lays defensive minefield at Tsushima ( 103 , 56) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure

Task Force 149 lays defensive minefield at Iki-shima ( 102 , 57) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure

The first AKE conversions are finished and will load-up and move to Truk and Kendari asap.

CS-convoys have been organised to ship ressources from Shanghai, Port Arthur, Chinnampo, Keijo, Fusan, Hakodate, Muroran, Kushiro, Sapporo and Shikuka to ports on Kyushu and Honshu. Each convoy features at least two escorts and are tailored to fit "docked" port sizes.


China:

Marching, bombing, bombarding. We try to encircle some sizeable chunks of the Chinese Army:



Wenchow is bombarded again by BBs:

Allied ground losses:
311 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Manpower hits 1
Heavy Industry hits 2
Fires 79
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 2
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro

DMS W-20 which has been ordered to merge with the bombardment TF has had an encounter with SS Searaven - the bombardment runs are becoming risky. The BBs will stay in port and we will run just some ASW-TF on the same route.

Chinese bombers dare to attack our ground forces at at 85,47 near Sinyang and lose one SB-III to Nates on CAP.


Malaya:

Patani is occupied by the Allies.

Singers is bombed repeatedly during thunderstorms - one Cat,one Blenheim, one Hudson and one Wilvebeest destroyed on ground, four Blenheims, eight Hudsons and three Hurris damaged on the ground for one Sally lost to flak plus several damaged - did not check for ops losses. Some airbase damage should slow fort construction.

Buffalos attack our ground forces near Moulmein again - annoying.

Hudsons attack a convoy at Kota Bharu - no hits.


PI:

Oscars sweeping Manila find opposition:

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 34

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 9
P-40B Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 3 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet


Cabanatuan is occupied by the Japanese 5th column.

14th Army attacks and CAPTURES Lingayen.

Japanese ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1636 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 51 (51 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
48th Division
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
21st Division
7th Tank Regiment
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
37th Const Co
30th Fld AA Gun Co
36th Const Co
31st Fld AA Gun Co
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Const Co
38th Field Const Co
4th Field Construction Battalion
39th Field Const Co
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division RETREATING towards Clark Field
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion SURRENDERS


British MTBs intercept a small supply convoy at Jolo, but the PBs covering the convoy land a shell hit on MTB 11 and the enemy TF breaks off.

Some of our Petes attack xAKL Dos Hermanos near Iloilo at 79,84. Again, P-40s on CAP are too high. The xAKL is hit twice and burns fiercely.

Amphibious TF 120 unloading 15th and 16th Naval Guard Units at Zamboanga. Probably triggered by our succesful FP attacks, US Seagull floatplanes try some naval attacks on their own on our Zamboanga invasion force - but miss.


Moluccas:

We conduct an Amphibious Assault at Kendari (70,106) - 16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense but the CAs embedded in the invasion TF fire effective counter-battery. Only 2 squads and one gun lost during unload.

Ground combat at Kendari (70,106)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 734 troops, 9 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 7507 troops, 75 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Assaulting units:
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Kendari Base Force

Defending units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Sasebo 8th SNLF
Kure 1st SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

The base should be ours next turn.

Another amphib force is one day away from Ambon. At both Kendari and Ambon we have BBs and lots of CAs - just in case PoW and/or Repulse and consorts show up.


Rabaul / PNG:

Troops are pouring into Rabaul - South East Area Fleet HQ, 7th and 8th Base Forces and their corresponding Port Units, 22nd - 24th Special Base Forces and a few Ship Eng Companies. More will follow. We will have the base up and running shortly.

In the meantime, we grab a few more bases in the area:

Amphibious TF 4 unloading at Aitape - Aitape is occupied by the Japanese
Amphibious TF 111 unloading at Wewak
Amphibious TF 6 unloading at Lae

Kido Butai hovering south of Rabaul has spotted several TFs at Port Moresby - reinforcements or evacs? In any case, KB will investigate and is ordered to close PM.

4th Division has finished amphib-loading at Ponape and will head to Rabaul for the next important conquest - Port Moresby. Mental note - next game I will reload at Truk, stacking limits or not.

The Australian ex-Rabaul garrison has movment arrows in direction of Gasmata - we will send an SNLF by sea to that base to keep them cornered.


Australia:

I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-3 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-3 hits a mine and is destroyed at Sydney
I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-4 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-4 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned
I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-5 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-5 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned
I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-6 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-6 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Sydney
I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-7 to attack Sydney -SSX Ha-7 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned

Well, might have been worth a try - been lucky with my midgets in other games before, but not this time...

REPORTS FOR Dec 30-31, 1941

Allied Subs:

SS Sargo launches 2 torpedoes at DD Amagiri near Kochi at 106,63 but misses.

SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Fukuzan Maru near Kaishu at 100,48 but misses.

SS Saury is sighted by escort near Hakodate at 118,51 and forced to dive.

SS Triton is sighted by escort near Ailinglaplap at 133,118 and forced to dive.

SS Pollack launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Daihachikyo Maru near Kavieng at 105,123 but misses.

So far, the policy of escorting all convoys with at least one ASW-capable ship pays off.

However, luck does run out from time to time:

SS Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo near Rabaul at 106,124

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 1
DD Asanagi

Taiyo was providing air cover for the convoys unloading at Rabaul while the airbase is being repaired. The ship has 30 float damage and will slip into Rabaul and disband, provided there is no follow-up attack. As a precaution, the embarked air group has been ordered to Rabaul which is repairing nicely.


Our submarines:

I-26 dodges an ASW attack near near San Diego and SS I-175 escapes near Pearl Harbor - both areas are growing too hot...

AVP Arend is sighted by SS RO-34 near Ambon but Captain of SS RO-34 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target.

SS I-155 has sighted an Allied SAG near Kangean at 59,106, dodges several AW attacks and tries an unsuccessful torpedo attack.

Later, SS-258 near Makassar finds the same SAG at 65,107 and has more luck:

Japanese Ships
SS I-158

Allied Ships
DD Stronghold, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
BC Repulse
CL Mauritius
CL Dragon
DD Tenedos
DD Pope
DD Peary
DD John D. Ford
DD Jupiter
DD Isis
DD Express
DD Encounter

SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stronghold
DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isis fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Encounter fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub

According to naval search results, the SAG has reversed course and is heading west again - seems an attack on Kendari has been nipped in the bud.


China:

We have sent some troops out from Wuchang to clear the surrounding hexes and to provide some entertainment:

Ground combat at 83,51 (near Wuchang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13008 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Defending force 8165 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 171

Japanese adjusted assault: 385

Allied adjusted defense: 29

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4041 casualties reported
Squads: 125 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 171 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Division

Defending units:
20th Chinese Corps


Ground combat at 84,52 (near Wuchang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6551 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Defending force 5522 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Assaulting units:
18th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
58th Chinese Corps


A similar operation has been launched from Nanchang - eventually we want a clear land route from Nanchang to Shanghai.

Ground combat at 86,55 (near Kiukiang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13035 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Defending force 6827 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Japanese adjusted assault: 228

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1222 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2277 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
11th Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
23rd Group Army


In the eastern plains, the battle to encircle a sizeable portion of the Chinese Army rages near Nanyang - we try to hold the Chinese in place while reinforcements move in for the kill.

Ground combat at 86,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12880 troops, 156 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 369

Defending force 27958 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 831

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
85th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army


In the north, the smaller operation to encircle and destroy isolated Chinese units is heating up as well:

Ground combat at 92,36 (near Kweisui)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6502 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 5714 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 198

Japanese adjusted assault: 187

Allied adjusted defense: 79

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
161 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1804 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 56 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Prov Chinese Corps


Burma:
III./143rd Infantry Battalion captures undefended Mergui.

Other elements of the 55th Division have reached Moulmein. Patrols report an enemy garrison of an estimated 6000 men. Recon bombardments have been ordered.


Malaya:
1st Tank Regiment has followed 15th Indian Brigade to Patani and attacks - the enemy surrenders and the base is ours again.

Enemy remnants of a base force are still blocking the road and railroad from Alor Star to Taiping - a tank unit currently at Georgetown will soon clear them out.

5th Recon Regiment attacks the 1st Mysore Battalion at 49,77 (near Utan Melintang) - the enemy surrenders at the road to Kuala Lumpur seems to be open.

25th Army is at Taiping and following 5th Recon Regiment.


Borneo:
I/124th Infantry Battalion reaches and attacks Brunei, the base is taken and the remnants of two Britisch base forces retreat towards Beaufort.

Small cruiser SAGs investigating Tarakan sink an HDML and a MTB.

Tarakan Invasion Force is still loading at Babeldaop.


PI:
Tagbilaran is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps

Baler is occupied by the Japanese 5th column.

Three Seagulls (the SOC, not the bird) try to bomb our invasion force at Zamboanga but hit nothing from 6000 feet.

Zamboanga is captured by 15th and 16th Naval Guard Units, the 4th PI Base Force surrenders.

Manila airfield bombed and 14th Army is advancing on Clark Field.


Celebes:
A handful of B-17Ds attack Manado but meet Zeros on CAP. Two B-17s are destroyed.

Kendari is captured, the base force surrenders and the garrison battalion retreats towards Kolaka. One 139WH-3 and one Do-24K-1 are destroyed on the ground. The base is undamaged and will become a major hub for future operations. The fleet train and AKEs will setup shop immediately to refuel / rearm our TFs for the next jump to Makassar. A convoy with aviation support is ready to unload sp we can provide air defense quickly.


Ambon:
2 SNLF land at Ambon, covered by a cruiser SAG and with BBs Hyuga and Nagato embedded in the amphib TF. One AK and BB Hyuga suffer damage from coastal guns. One B-339D and four B-17E launch an ineffective naval strike.


PNG/Solomons:
Kido Butai finds a small convoy at Port Moresby and sinks xAK Centaur and damages xAK Johanne Justesen and AM Bunbury - both most likely goners as well. A second wave flattens the port facilities - whether coming or going, Allied forces will find it harder! Kido Butai is ordered back to Truk to refuel / rearm.

II/66th Naval Guard Unit captures undefended Wewak.

Undefended Lae is captured as well, Maizuru 2nd SNLF will advance on Wau and 1st JNAF AF Unit investigates a rumor that good airfield sites can be found near Nadzab.

Elements of the Maizuru 1st SNLF have landed at undefended Gasmata in order to trap the Australians of the ex-Rabaul garrison.

GHQ has disovered that some stupid staff officer has ordered part of 4th Division to load on an amphib TF and another part to load on an ordinary transport TF. The staff officer has been ordered to participate in the next midget submarine operation. Both TFs are ordered to Rabaul where reloading will be arranged.

-double post-

REPORTS FOR Jan 01-02, 1942 - due to New Year's party hangover I report only the highlights...

US East Coast:
Long Island is reported occupied by the Japanese [drunk staff officer must have read the map upside down?]


Allied submarines:
SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Sumiyoshi Maru near Kaishu at 101,48 - Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, ship sinks....

SS Trout launches 2 torpedoes at DD Hamakaze near Truk at 111,110 - the ship is part of the screen of Kido Butai.


Our submarines:
Chance encounter! Sub attack near Palmyra at 178,125

Japanese Ships
SS I-172

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CA Portland
DD Mahan
DD Porter
DD Flusser
DD Lamson

SS I-172 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Lexington
I-172 diving deep ....
DD Porter fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Lady Lex escapes *grrr*

I-164 has spotted Repulse & Co near Ruteng at 65,111 with course East - the Allies have turned around again and this time tried the southern passage of the Flores Sea - our subs are there as well. The sighting means trouble at either Kendari or Ambon - see below!


Home Islands:
CVL Shoho arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka


China:
Bombs, bombardments, marching troops - the Chinese retreat faster than we can follow...


Malaya:
Amphibious Assault at Port Swettenham (48,79) - the landing craft flotilla makes another hop down the coast.


Burma:
Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4287 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 4119 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
11th Burma Rifles Battalion
2nd Burma Brigade
107th RAF Base Force
108th RAF Base Force


PI:
Dinagat is occupied by the Japanese.

14th Army arrives at Clark Field and will start bombarding next turn.


Ambon:
Two deliberate ground attacks fail to take the base but fortifications are down to 0 - base should fall next turn.

The enemy SAG reported by I-164 manages to surprise our Ambon invasion forces - apparently our Navy boys have paid more attention to the New Year's celebrations than to the radio logs... Ok, radar and thunderstorms did help the Allies as well. In a very long and confused battle our covering SAG slugs it out with Force Z:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 6,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, Shell hits 9
CA Myoko, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Nachi, Shell hits 24, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsukaze
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Arashi, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
BC Repulse, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
CL Java, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CL Danae, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Dragon, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1
DD Peary, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Pope, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Electra, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Encounter, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Express, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Isis
DD Jupiter, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 6,000 yards
CL Mauritius launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards
BC Repulse launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards
CL Mauritius fires at CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
CL Dragon launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards
CL Dragon launches Torpedoes at CA Takao at 6,000 yards
CL Java fires at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards
DD Jupiter launches Torpedoes at CA Takao at 6,000 yards
CL Java fires at CL Nagara at 6,000 yards
DD Express launches Torpedoes at DD Arashi at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter launches Torpedoes at DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards
DD Electra launches Torpedoes at DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards
DD Electra fires at DD Maikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Express fires at DD Hayashio at 6,000 yards
DD Electra fires at DD Hatsukaze at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter fires at DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Nachi engages BB Prince of Wales at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards
Magazine explodes on CL Mauritius
CL Mauritius sunk by CA Atago at 3,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CL Kinu at 3,000 yards
DD Jupiter sunk by DD Oyashio at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Arashi at 3,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 3,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Amatsukaze at 3,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Encounter at 3,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Maikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Pope at 3,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Pope at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Java at 5,000 yards
BC Repulse engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CL Dragon at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Atago at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Takao at 5,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CL Kinu at 5,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CL Yura at 5,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Encounter at 5,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD John D. Ford at 5,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Takao at 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Java at 7,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Myoko at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Nachi at 7,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Danae at 7,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Isis at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Encounter at 7,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Myoko collides with DD Arashi at 76 , 109
CA Haguro engages BB Prince of Wales at 6,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Dragon at 6,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Haguro at 6,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Java at 6,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Isis at 6,000 yards
DD Express sunk by DD Hayashio at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 6,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Isis at 6,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Pope at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Maikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Tenedos at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Takao at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Java at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Danae at 7,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Hayashio at 7,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD John D. Ford at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 8,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CA Haguro at 8,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 8,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Danae at 8,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Takao at 8,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Arashi at 8,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Danae at 8,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CL Nagara at 8,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Tenedos at 8,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Arashi at 8,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Encounter at 8,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD John D. Ford at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Nachi engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards
CA Haguro engages BC Repulse at 10,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CL Dragon at 10,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 10,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Java at 10,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Hatsukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Java at 10,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Electra at 10,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Maikaze at 10,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Hayashio at 10,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD John D. Ford at 10,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Oyashio at 10,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Pope at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Atago engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages BC Repulse at 9,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CA Myoko at 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Danae at 9,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Takao at 9,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Arashi at 9,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 9,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Pope at 9,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Electra at 9,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Pope at 9,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Kuroshio at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Nachi at 13,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Java at 13,000 yards
CL Danae engages CA Myoko at 13,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 13,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Java at 13,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Isis at 13,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Danae at 13,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Maikaze at 13,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DD Amatsukaze at 13,000 yards
DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 13,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 16,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CA Haguro at 16,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Dragon at 16,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Danae at 16,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Takao at 16,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Isis at 16,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 16,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Dragon at 16,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD John D. Ford at 16,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Maikaze at 16,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Hatsukaze at 16,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD John D. Ford at 16,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages DD Peary at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
DD John D. Ford collides with DD Isis at 76 , 109
BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages BC Repulse at 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 19,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Danae at 19,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 19,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Encounter at 19,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Amatsukaze at 19,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Tenedos at 19,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Pope at 19,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Hatsukaze at 19,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages DD Tenedos at 19,000 yards
Task forces break off...


CA Nachi sinks after the battle is over [:(].

CA Takao has 79 float dmg (39 major) and is down to 3 knots max speed. She is detached and will stay at Ambon, hoping to survive two days until the base can be captured and the ship disbanded in port - fingers crossed.

The rest of the SAG is battered with some ships with 30+ float damage - the ships will merge with the Ambon amphib TF and move at cruise speed to Kendari. Kudos to the SAG - it has done its job and protected the Amphib TF.

As an encore, Nells from Manado fly torpedo attacks against Allied cripples but hit nothing...

Let's hope the Allies are in bad shape as well and leave my retiring ships alone.

The Kendari covering forces will move out to seek revenge.


PNG/Rabaul:
Amphibious Assault at Kavieng (106,122)
Amphibious Assault at Madang (97,123)
Amphibious Assault at Sorong (82,107)

REPORT FOR Jan 03-04, 1942

Allied submarines:
SS Pickerel launches 4 torpedoes at DD Nagatsuki near Laoag at 81,68 and misses.

SS O19 is located by PB Kiso Maru near Kendari at 71,106 - O19 diving deep.
A minelaying sub near Kendari - I don't like that!

SS KXII is sighted by convoy escort near Soc Trang at 58,74 - SS KXII, hits 3.
DC hits on Allied subs - I don't see that often. Could use more Chidori class TBs!


Our submarines:
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard SS I-2 - now 40 float dmg (35 major). The sub is between PH and Los Angeles - a long way from the nearest base...

SS I-122 lays minefield at Pamekasan ( 57 , 105) and sets course for Truk.

SS RO-65 lays minefield at Pago Pago ( 148 , 161) and sets course for Kwajalein Island.


China:
Bombing, bombarding, marching...

We try a DA against a stack of units north of Chengting at 92,38:

Attacking force 20131 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 630

Defending force 14541 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 285

Japanese adjusted assault: 612

Allied adjusted defense: 178

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4926 casualties reported
Squads: 158 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
13th Group Army

Since the retreat path to friendly lines is blocked, the units retreat deeper into Japanese territory. We have units on the march to seal off further retreats.


Malaya:
Almost constant thunderstorms in the area hamper my air attacks. This turn we had a break - well, sort off: just "heavy clouds" and "severe storms". Our flyboys managed to bomb Singapore airfields. No CAP although recon says fighters are present.

Strike #1:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G3M2 Nell x 37
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Strike #2:
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 19

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 5

Strike #3:
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 87
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 42

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 5 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Buffalo I: 2 damaged
Hudson I: 5 damaged
S.19 Singapore III: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 9

Strike #4:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G3M2 Nell x 55
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 8

Strike #5:
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 44
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 39

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 1

I hope the airfield damage will prevent fort construction - shock attacking into forts is something to be avoided. Maybe I should have opted for the Mersing gambit...

109th RAF Adv Base Force - trapped between Alor Star and Taiping and attacked by tanks - SURRENDERS !!! Reinforcements (33rd and 38th Divisions) waiting at Alor Star in strat mode can now rail south to Taiping. Elements of the 5th Division have reached Kuala Lumpur, find it lightly defended and will attack next turn. If all goes well, the reinforcements can rail directly to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. From air recon it appears that there are only speed bumps in front of Singers.

The 41st Infantry Regiment, hoping down the West Coast of Malaya in barges, CAPTURES Port Swettenham !!!


PI:
Manila airbase is bombed:

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 41
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35
Ki-51 Sonia x 36

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Same deal here as for Singers - I hope prevent fort building if possible.


At Clark Field 14th Army launches a recon bombardment:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 43539 troops, 426 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 1565

Defending force 17758 troops, 184 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 593

Japanese ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Division
4th Tank Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
48th Division
56th Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
7th Tank Regiment
30th Fld AA Gun Co
37th Const Co
31st Fld AA Gun Co
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Const Co
39th Field Const Co
36th Const Co
38th Field Const Co
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Field Construction Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
192nd Tank Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
I Philippine Corps
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force

Next turn we will DA. I only now realize the 50% overstacked at Clark... Only 40.000 allowed at Clark, I have 61.000. The Const Engs and AA units will move back to Lingayen - will not help much though. My first real game with stacking limits (apart from playtesting personal mod) - must get used to it!

Burias and Siargao are is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps - I assume they are in the PI, did not bother to check this time...

16th Division captures undefended Atimona, with confusing Combat modifiers - Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) - huh?


After capturing Zamboanga, 15th and 16th Naval Guard units have been loaded again and stage an amphibious assault at Digos (79,92). But - I forgot to check the garrison requirements > low garrison leads to damage and 1 VP loss from partisan attack at Zamboanga (75, 89)! 15th Naval Guard Unit will reload and head back to Zamboanga immediately...


The pesky Seagull SOCs finally draw blood:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Digos at 79,92

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
SOC-1 Seagull x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Igasa Maru, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SOC-1 Seagull bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb


Borneo:
Ground combat at Beaufort (66,87) fails with odds 1 to 2

Assaulting units:
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
107th RN Base Force
108th RN Base Force
100th RN Base Force

The Bn from Brunei is on the way to lend a hand.


Celebes / Ambon:
Force Z has vanished - neither our naval search nor submarines redeploying in a hurry nor SAGs full-speed sweepsnor Mini-KB catch anything. Two enemy TFs are spotted far away - they must have run like hell before our net could close...too bad.



Lacking targets, Nells from Manado attack MTBs at Tarakan - no hits but 1 Nell destroyed by a lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP. Zero assigned as escorts took a day off...

The battered SAG of Ambon fame has reached Kendari and disbands in port to fix some floatation damage before heading for the yards for permanent repairs. Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard CA Haguro and float damage reaches 48 - no sweat.

Temporary flotation repairs are also failing aboard CA Takao at Ambon - float damage up to 82. But the ship can disband into port since Ambon falls:

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3541 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Defending force 1985 troops, 29 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Japanese adjusted assault: 55

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2501 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Molukken Garrison Battalion
Ambon Defenses
Ambon Base Force

So the only loss in the battle of Ambon is poor CA Nachi - against CL Mauritius and two DDs. Could have been worse...

Task Force 12 lays defensive minefield at Kendari - I hope O-19 spotted one hex away will hit a mine if she tries to plant mines at Kendari herself.


PNG/Solomons:
Some quick grabs of undefended bases by light forces:
Maizuru 1st SNLF CAPTURES Gasmata !!!
I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Madang !!!
Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Sorong !!! Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed. Also Combat modifiers Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)
22nd Special Base Force CAPTURES Kavieng !!!

Next targets:
Amphibious Assault at Manus (101,119)
Amphibious Assault at Buna (99,129)

At Buna however, 3 A-24 Banshees from Port Moresby attack AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire. We have violated Rule #1 - You shall not amphib assault without air cover...


Other:
DD Fubuki beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong
DD Usugumo beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong
DD Isonami beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong
DD Shirayuki beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong
DD Uranami beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong

The other Fubuki class DDs are still on their way to shipyards. 15 days delay to get some lousy type 95 depth charges - oh well...

double post

Very interesting start to the war.

Too many AFB are getting aggressive and interrupting the early attacks. JFB will have to think of new lines of attack!!

I really love the maps - can I ask where you got them?

Very interesting opponent you have - not a Sir Robbin at all.

I too have had good luck with the SSX subs. Maybe try Palembang as your next target?

With 2 day turns and the DBB game it looks like your air groups take more damage than usual. Are you planning to increase production or perhaps focus research on aircraft with armor?

DW

Yes, Ed is quite aggressive in his defense - which is fine since a Sir Robin would be rather boring.

It seems JFB "standard moves" are now well known to forumites and AFBs come up with more and more counter-moves.

For me this is a learning game because it is my first AE PBEM, the first time I play 2-day-turns and the first time I play with stacking limits.

I will try to expand within the historical limits - against Ed this will already be a "win".


@durnedwolf:

The map is from Chemkid's superb Topomod map project. He has prepared several versions with different ocean hex styles etc. Can be found here

Hi LST - thank you for the link to the maps.

Can you share what you are doing with your search aircraft? I'm kind of curious to see if you are setting up a search perimeter along with which bases you want to use. I've never used Jolo but instead always choose Manado for search coverage of the Celebes Sea.

@durnedwolf:

I have only a few Jakes and Petes at Jolo to hunt PI blockade runners. The place is still smashed-up and with just one Eng Coy is repairing very slowly - no place for LBA.

Mavis long-range naval search for the Celebes / Flores / Banda Sea areas has been moved from Babeldaop to Manado and now to Kendari.

Torpedo-totting naval strike aircraft are operating from Manado but the Air HQ and planes will move soon to Kendari - this will become my mainbase for operations planned against Java and Northern Australia.

***********************************

REPORTS FOR Jan 05-6, 1942

Allied submarines - not much to report:
SS Saury is hit twice by PB Nichinan Maru near Hakodate at 118,51.
SS KXI sinks xAK Toyama Maru near Kompong Trach at 56,71 with four hits out of four torps, but escorts punish her with three good hits.


Our submarines - not much to report either:
After one month at sea, many short-legged subs are heading back to port for replenishment:
I-173 covering the approaches to Midway collects light damage in an ASW attack.
I-23 escapes an ASW attack near Kona.


China:
Reinforcements have reached the battle hex in the Easter Plains and We launch a DA east of Nanyang:

Ground combat at 86,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35081 troops, 392 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127

Defending force 27421 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 789

Japanese adjusted assault: 845

Allied adjusted defense: 135

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1880 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 124 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11367 casualties reported
Squads: 344 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 224 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 34 (10 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
12th RGC Temp. Division
9th Armored Car Co
13th Tank Regiment
3rd Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
18th RGC Temp. Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army

The enemy stack has retreated into Nanyang and we will try to surround the city before moving in for the siege.

In the north, still marching and maneuvering - progress is slow in the hill country.



Malaya:
Good weather for a change on Day 1 of the turn - partial cloudy! More air attacks on Singers airfields. This time we have dropped from 23k to 18k - and suffer more flak hits than we like. Also note that Army bombers are less effective than the Navy flyboys.

Strike #1
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G3M2 Nell x 55
G4M1 Betty x 22

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 17 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 7 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 37

Strike #2
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 86
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 42

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 9 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

Second day of the turn - heavy rain, strikes arrive fragmented.

Strike #3
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G3M2 Nell x 37
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

Strike #4
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged

Runway hits 3

Strike #5
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 damaged

Runway hits 2

Strike #6
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 3 damaged

Runway hits 2

Strike #7
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 8 damaged

no hits

Strike #8
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1


On the ground, the advance south continues against speedbumps:

Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur (49,79)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4922 troops, 28 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 231

Defending force 283 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 160

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 160 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
5th Recon Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
2nd ISF Base Force


Elements of the 18th Division marching along the Malayan East Coast have reached Kuantan.

Ground combat at Kuantan (51,79)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4944 troops, 42 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 165

Defending force 299 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 95

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 95 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuantan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
424 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
1st ISF Base Force


PI:
Digos is occupied by the Japanese as 16th Naval Guard Unit steps ashore.

Oroquieta is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps.

3 Jakes try to bomb an xAKL blockade runner near Tawi Tawi but a lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP over the ship downs a Jake...

The Allies bomb our convoy rushing garrison forces to Zamboanga and a lone P-40E hits xAK Toyohasi Maru with a bomb.

Time we close-down the enemy airfield at Cagayan once and for all - the units of the 2nd Division have arrived at that base and will recon bombard.


Bombing attacks by 30 Ki-51 and 36 Ki-43-IC support a DA at Clark Field:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50243 troops, 452 guns, 406 vehicles, Assault Value = 1624

Defending force 17735 troops, 184 guns, 206 vehicles, Assault Value = 580

Japanese adjusted assault: 1238

Allied adjusted defense: 331

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
O-47A: 3 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3861 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 231 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 40 disabled
Vehicles lost 30 (12 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8339 casualties reported
Squads: 184 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 302 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 78 (64 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 170 (159 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 9
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
21st Division
56th Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Division
56th Recon Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
4th Field Construction Battalion
30th Fld AA Gun Co
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
31st Fld AA Gun Co
38th Field Const Co
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
37th Const Co
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
36th Const Co
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Const Co
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
192nd Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
I Philippine Corps
Clark Field AAF Base Force

The enemy stack has retreated to Bataan - may they rot there! We will leave a blocking force at Clark and move on to Manila.

At Subic Bay, the 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy gets 1:2 odds against Subic Bay Defenses and the 1st PI Base Force - help is on the way.


Borneo:
The 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy gets 1:1 odds against remnants of three British base forces at Beaufort - help is on the way as well.

The Nells at Manado launch again against small fry at Tarakan and again the Zero escort assigned does not launch and again we lose a Nell against the lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP. Guys, your job is to attack Force Z if spotted!


Celebes:
A heavy SAG looking for Force Z sweeps Makassar and finds a bunch of PT boats - Q-112, TM-10, TM-13 and TM-15 are sunk. Amphib TFs are loading at Kendari for Makassar and Ambon for Koepang.


PNG / Solomons:
II/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Manus !!!
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Buna !!!

The A-24s from Port Moresby can claim a victim:
Pumps having difficulty controlling flooding aboard AMC Kongo Maru
Damage Control Systems failing aboard AMC Kongo Maru, order is given to Abandon Ship
The ship was part of the Buna invasion force sent-out without air cover.

4th Division has finished amphib loading at Rabaul, Kido Butai (except Kaga still in the HI) has replenished at Truk and has moved south again to a rendevous near Rabaul - next stop Port Moresby! Hiei and Kirishima have beed detached from KB and will join the screen of the Amphib TF. This will be a risky operation, as no dedicated SAG cover can be provided. I count on it that Kido Butai will scare away any potential surface threats. One Zero group and two Betty groups at Rabaul are tasked to provide additional cover and softening-up attacks.

******************************

One month into the war, time for some stats:

Japanese Ship losses:

CA Ashigara - Battle of Kuching
CA Nachi - Battle of Ambon
CL Kashii - Battle of Kuching
I-170 - mined at Canton Is.
RO-66 - mined at Canton Is.

1 APD
2 AMC
5 SSX
2 xAP
1 AK
9 xAK
2 xAKL
1 AO
2 CM
2 DMS
1 AG
2 SC
1 PB

Allied ship losses (subject to FOW)

CA Louisville
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius - confirmed
CL Durban
CL De Ruyter
CL Adelaide - confirmed
DD John D. Ford
DD Piet Hein - confirmed
DD Witte de With
DD Banckert
DD Stronghold
DD Express - confirmed
DD Jupiter - confirmed
SS O16
SS KXV
SS KXI
SS Trout
AV Langley - confirmed

3 xAP
13 xAK
19 xAKL
2 TK
2 AM
1 CM
3 AVP
1 AG
17 PC, PT, ML, HDML

Am very busy at work so this time just a short recap of the past two turns (Jan 07-10, 1942):

China:
Bombing and marching (resp. fleeing) in the Eastern plains continues as we try to trap Chinese forces in the Nanyang / Chengchow / Sian area. AVG has ambushed bombing missions near Nanyang AND near Nanchang. I have moved Oscars and the Tojo evaluation unit to Kaifeng and they bag two Flying Tigers.

Burma:
Tavoy and Moulmein have been captured by elements of the 55th Division. The unit will consolidate at Moulmein. I am becoming annoyed by small-scale AVG and Buffalo/Blenheim raids on Moulmein. I have also spotted a fat convoy at Rangoon. Chiang Mai airbase has finally reached size 2 and my transport planes are flying in supplies (the overland route through Rahaeng with supply cap 150 is a bottleneck - Eng units are at work to expand the base and thus supply cap). Two groups of Oscars and a few light bombers have been moved to Chiang Mei and a first sweep netted two Flying Tigers (those guys are everywhere!) and a Buffalo.

Malaya:
Singers airfield bombed - finally some damage starts to show. Johore bombed as well since recon has spotted fighters and bombers at that airbase. Sneaky Brits retaliated by sending bombers to hit Kota Bharu airfield - I did not expect this and had no CAP - I lost at least five Nells and Betties plus a Zero on the ground [:@] Port Dickson has been captured and most of 25th Army is strat-moving / moving to that base to assemble in front of what seems like the first serious attempt of ground defense - recon reports 8000+ troops at Kuklong.

PI:
2nd Division has captured Cagayan, but a handful of SOCs and P-40s are operating from Cotabato and have damaged a few more xAKs. I have moved a 9-plane Claude unit to Jolo to offer some protection - runway is still 20+ damaged and service 60+, but well.
21st and 48th Divisions plus tanks and arty have reached Manila and will bombard, 16th Division is moving up from the south and has one base to capture before linking up. Rebasing of air assets and AV support to Clark is underway.

Borneo:
The landing at Tarakan is imminent, the invasion force is one hex away. I have only two CAs and some DDs embedded, no dedictated SAG because I count on events on Celebes to keep the enemy away.

Celebes:
Kendari and Ambon are bombed by trios of B-17s from Darwin - no damage. Macassar is invaded and captured and Zeros and Jakes are ordered in for CAP and ASW. The invasion force will reload one SNLF and move to Denpassar under cover of a cruiser SAG. An Air HQ is operational at Kendari and Nells with torps are ready just in case.
During the first turn one of our submarines has sighted the Prince of Wales near Darwin with course West. The TF is spotted a day later by Mavis naval search further to the west. Mini-KB (Ryujo, Zuiho, Hosho) spent the first turn replenishing torps at Kendari and on the second turn was ordered to move out full speed into the Indian Ocean to intercept, with the heavy SAG built around Haruna and Kongo ordered from Macassar to follow at best speed. On the second day of the second turn, the enemy SAG is spotted between Java and Australia:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 54,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N1 Kate x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Torpedo hits 1
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Mini-KB has 18 torps left and our SAG will try to close for the kill - question is whether the enemy will run west into the IO, north for Java, south for Perth or east back to Darwin...


PNG / Solomons:
On the second turn, 4th Division lands at Port Moresby. Apart from the initial garrison there are no enemy reinforcements at the base so it should fall next turn. Kido Butai hovering around PM sinks a few xAKs and AMs fleeing from PM,bombs ground forces at PM and fends off feeble strikes by P-40s and A-24s from PM and B-17s from Australia. The invasion convoy is ordered back to Rabaul to fetch garrison and base forces. Kido Butai will replenish again at Truk and then will cover operations in the Solomons. Not sure where 4th Division shall go next - Darwin, Noumea, into reserve?

REPORT FOR Jan 11-12, 1942

Allied Submarines:
Ed is quite aggressive with his subs even though the Mark 14 torps miss or dud most of the time - closest thing to a kill this turn was SS Porpoise landing a dud on xAK Gyoko Maru near Masan at 101,55. Three or four other attacks by US subs have been parried by alert escorts. With subs seemingly everywhere - from the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan to the Gulf of Siam, off the Home Islands, off Indochina, around Truk, Rabaul and Kendari - I try to escort everything, even if it means waiting a few days for escorts to arrive where needed. Requires constant juggling of TFs because even with most Ansyu class xAK and Kiso class xAKL converted to PBs, there are not enough escorts for everything I want to move. For example, supplies at Truk are down to 20k because the Marshalls, Rabaul and now Port Moresby took stocks from Truk but I have only enough escorts left for one Home-Island-Truk supply shuttle run. Priority is in the SRA for the moment. I try to assign a minimum of two PBs per convoy. The PBs are not sinking or even damaging subs, but without them it would be worse.


Our submarines:
Heavy ASW near Pearl Harbor forces a redeployment of our submarine cordon further to the south in the waters between PH and Palmyra / Christman Is. I hope they will sight some of the reinforcements that must be on their way to Australia and the SoPac.

SS I-16 attacks SS Trout at 97,159 near Brisbane and launches 2 torpedoes at 1,000 yards - SS Trout, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage. Trout should be sunk but might as well made Brisbane. If she did, she *may* fall victim to the next SSX attack which is approaching Brisbane and for which I-16 is scouting for.


China:
The net is closing slowly around the isolated units in North China - once all hex sides are closed, the DAs will start. Forces engaged amount to one division, three brigades, a tank regiment bought-out from Kwangtung Army and cavalry units. Once the mopping-up is done, it is planned that they advance on Lanchow.

In the Eastern Plains, both sides are marching stacks of units in the Nanchang-Chengchow-Loyang area and the IJAF continues bombing to slow the Chinese down - no air opposition this time. Chengchow is being evacuated by the Chinese, I have ordered units to advance and take ownership.
With some luck I may trap 10 enemy units at Nanyang (see recon bombardment below), four of the six hexes around Nanyang are ours, the remaining two more will be occupied soon and no movement out of Nanyang has been noticed.

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 39261 troops, 481 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 1086

Defending force 52406 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1187

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
3rd Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
92nd Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
3rd Group Army
5th War Area
22nd Group Army


Burma:
Air battle over Rangoon - one Oscar Ib and one Ki-30 lost for two Flying Tigers down, no hits on a small convoy of one KV and two xAK at Rangoon harbour. Need to get Singers asap to move the Navy flyboys north to blockade Rangoon - the IJAF is useless against shipping target.
Recon indicates that the Allied defenses at the two river crossings south of Pegu seem to be mere speedbumps, but I am waiting for reinforcements after the fall of Singers. I do not want to risk a river crossing with the subdivided 55th Division alone and getting it trashed by bad dice rolls or enemy reinforcement railed in - and I do not want to recombine the division either as I have garrison plans for later for this unit. However, in the meantime I have four Thai divisions marching through the jungles north of Chiang Mei in the direction of Toungoo. I hope they remain undetected and that I can time their arrival at Toungoo with the river crossing attacks south of Pegu so I have a chance to trap the enemy forces defending Rangoon.


Malaya:
Bombing of Singers airfield continues - 38 airfield damage and rising, no CAP, no counter-attacks. Ed seems to run his air forces in Malaya (like in China and Luzon) on a "one turn on, three turns off" schedule and keeps losing planes destroyed on the ground at Singers.
Speaking of the ground, 25th Army continues marching in direction of Malacca - the base is lightly defended and should fall next turn to our advance force. Then they will face the defense line in the jungles of Kluong.
Elements of the 6th Thai Division have eliminated the remnants of the 208th RAF Adv Base Force in the jungles north of Victoria Point.


PI:
My air searches spot some shipping activities around Bataan and Manila, but the IJAF bombers on Luzon are not better than their brethren over Rangoon. I assume Ed is still sending small ships with supplies from the outlying islands to Bataan. After the fall of Manila I will deal with Cebu which is the most likely supply source as it has some light industry.
I have ordered a recon bombardment at Manila. The first attempt to DA is waiting for a) Combat Eng units which took a beating in the Clark Field assault and are replacing losses at Clark, b) for the heavy artillery from Hong Kong currently unloading at Lingayen and c) the 16th Division coming up from the south.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29583 troops, 372 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006

Defending force 17633 troops, 236 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 515

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
21st Division
48th Division
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
Far East USAAF
II Philippine Corps
Cavite USN Base Force

On Mindanao, the 16th Naval Gard takes Dadjangas and retreats the 2nd/101st PA Battalion into the jungle hex to the north-west. Some elements of the 2nd Division are advancing on Cotabato, the balance of the division is moving from Cagayan to Butuan. The enemy stack at Butuan is moving in direction of Davao.

Polillo and Boac are occupied by the Japanese 5th column / Rowboat Corps - never heard of these places and did not bother to look for them, I assume they are island dots in the Visayas.


Borneo:
Three platoons of the 1st Indpt SNLF Coy at Jolo have moved last turn aboard two APDs to capture Tandjoengselor, the base just south of Tarakan, in order to block the retreat of the Tarakan garrison - the base falls this turn.

The invasion of Tarakan has started, our troops are ashore with few losses and will shock attack next turn. The Dutch Coastal Artillery landed a few hits and xAK Tusima Maru sinks later that turn due to fire damage.
One HDML and five British MTBs oppose the landing force and in several rounds of combat the embedded escorts sink the HDML and three MTBs for no damage on our side. But then it is payback time for the remaining two stubborn MTBs:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CM Itsukushima
CL Isuzu
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Tsuta
DD Yomogi
PB Myoken Maru
PB Saiko Maru
PB Kinsyo Maru #2
PB Kinsyo Maru #4
PB Tonon Maru
xAK Sinsei Maru, on fire
xAK Toyooka Maru
xAK Turuga Maru
xAK Tusima Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Yoshino Maru
xAP Mizuho Maru
xAP Kitano Maru
xAP Atsuta Maru
xAP Kanzyu Maru
xAP Montevideo Maru
xAP Teikyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
Japanese ships attempt to get underway
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
MTB 7 engages CS Chitose at 1,000 yards
MTB 8 engages CM Itsukushima at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima screened from combat
- escorted by DD Harusame
CA Chokai engages MTB 8 at 2,000 yards
MTB 7 engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAP Teikyo Maru
MTB 8 engages xAP Teikyo Maru at 2,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to disengage
CS Chitose screened from combat
- escorted by DD Harusame
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru ,
xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru ,
xAP Kitano Maru , xAP Mizuho Maru , xAP Yoshino Maru ,
xAK Tusima Maru , xAK Turuga Maru , xAK Toyooka Maru ,
xAK Sinsei Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Tsuta , DD Yuzuki , DD Fumizuki ,
DD Minazuki , DD Murasame , PB Tonon Maru ,
PB Kinsyo Maru #2
DD Satsuki engages MTB 7 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru ,
xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru ,
xAP Kitano Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Yomogi , DD Yuzuki , DD Fumizuki ,
DD Samidare
DD Satsuki engages MTB 8 at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru ,
xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru ,
xAP Kitano Maru , xAP Mizuho Maru , xAP Yoshino Maru ,
xAK Tusima Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Kikuzuki , DD Samidare , DD Harusame ,
DD Murasame , PB Kinsyo Maru #2
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru ,
xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru screened from combat
- escorted by CL Isuzu , PB Tonon Maru , PB Saiko Maru
Task forces break off...

A very strange encounter - despite CAs, CL and DDs present no defensive fire until the MTBs got within 1000 yards - in broad daylight! My TF commander must have confused the closing enemy with friendly forces - the first symptoms of victory disease? The convoy is ordered to disband in the closest friendly port one hex south (Tandjoengselor) - which at size 1 is not much help. Chitose *may* survive - fingers crossed.


Lesser Sunda Islands area:
Koepang and Denpasar have been invaded with SNLF forces and should fall next turn. The invasion TFs and their light SAG cover are ordered no to stay around - who knows what surface forces the Allies have nearby at Java and Darwin.
Three B-17Es from Darwin bomb our invasion forces at Koepang without effect. Six B-17Ds from Darwin attack Makassar and five Forts are damaged by Zeros on CAP.


PNG / Solomons:
Port Moresby falls as expected and the PM garrison retreats to Kokoda - may they rot and freeze in the Owen Stanleys!

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12940 troops, 98 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 400

Defending force 3086 troops, 37 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 70

Japanese adjusted assault: 370

Allied adjusted defense: 69

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
826 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Assaulting units:
4th Division

Defending units:
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
13th Field Regiment
15th RAN Base Force

I have decided to prep the 4th Division at Port Moresby for Darwin - tentatively as a SIGINT trap, but I may pull off an invasion later when the SRA is secured. My "strategic moat" in the SoPac will remain the PM - Solomons area, with some *possible* speedbump operations in the US-Australia island chain - that will depend on future events ands enemy reactions. I do not want to overextend in a DBB-C game.

Elements of the 66th Naval Guard Unit land simultaneously at Buin, Shortlands and Tulagi. Shortlands as a size 2 island triggers a shock attack and the undefended island is taken.


Last but not least - the Air-Sea Battle off Port Hedland:

After the Kates of Mini-KB did spear the Prince of Wales with two torps between Flores and Port Hedland on January 10, the question was in which direction Force Z would flee. PoW surely must have floatation damage, so I did rule out the route West into the Indian Ocean. Moving to Java would have meant crossing the area where Mini-KB operated, so I ruled that out as well. Back to Darwin would have risked a known submarines presence and air attacks from Kendari. Remainded the southern option towards Australia, so I ordered Mini-KB and the escorting SAG to a position closer to Australia - and BINGO!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 54,119

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B4Y1 Jean x 6
B5N1 Kate x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B4Y1 Jean: 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 3 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3 (+ 2 duds), and is sunk
DD Evertsen
DD Pillsbury
DD Peary

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x B4Y1 Jean launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
Magazine explodes on BB Prince of Wales

There were some follow-on strikes on escorting destroyers with some additional bomb hits. Mini-KB is out of torpedos but has some bomb sorties left and will return to Kendari by the way of Port Hedland where a convoy has been spoted by naval search. The escorting SAG will remain with Mini-KB just in case but it has split off a TF with one CL and two DDs with orders to chase cripples from PoWs screen.

Now, where is Repulse, Houston and the biggest prize of all - Boise?

REPORT FOR Jan 13-14, 1942

Allied submarines:
SS Pollack operates north of Rabaul and encounters BB Kirishima detached from the PM invasion convoy (back at Rabaul to pick-up garrison forces for PM) to replenish at Truk - alert escorts force the sub down.
SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at CM Itsukushima (part of Tarakan invasion force) near Tarakan but misses.
SS O19 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Shiokaze (escorting an AO replenishment convoy) near Kendari but misses.
SS Searaven launches 2 torpedoes at DD Sawakaze (Wenchow bombarment force) near Wenchow but misses and later launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-20 (same force) and misses again and then launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Asuka Maru (different TF - a convoy passing the area) and misses yet again, but is hit once by alert escorts. We admire the enemy's tenacity!


Japanese submarines:
One hex off the northern channel to Soerabaja, SS I-162 has sighted an enemy SAG on the prowl - that bodes ill for Tarakan or Makassar:

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CL Boise
CL De Ruyter
DD Bulmer
DD Van Ghent
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer
DD Vampire

Some other intel gained from that contact: Previous report of sinking of DD Witte de With is incorrect - ship sighted and engaged at 56, 103.

The same TF is picked up later near Balikpapan at 63,100 and SS I-156 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Marblehead:

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Exeter
CL Boise
CL De Ruyter
DD Bulmer
DD Van Ghent
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer
DD Vampire

We will see if this will quench the courage of this SAG. In any case, I have sent my own SAGs in pursuit in the direction of Tarakan and have ordered all shipping away from the assumed target.

SS I-123 lays minefield at Noumea but is slightly damaged by ASW forces, including an AM. Guess the mines have been wasted...


China:
The net around Nanyang keeps closing, the hex to the west is captured and it remains only one exit on the road to Sian.

Ground combat at 84,45 (near Nanyang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 240
Defending force 1945 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61
Japanese adjusted assault: 41
Allied adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Allied ground losses:
1028 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating towards Sian
Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
20th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Defending units:
8th New Chinese Corps

This is the stack we try to encircle:

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 39318 troops, 481 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 1090
Defending force 52392 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1186
Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Division
13th Division
138th Infantry Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
11th Army
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
5th War Area
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army


At the coast, Wenchow is hit again:

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
DD Yanagi
DD Karii
DD Yukaze
DD Sawakaze
E Uji
E Hashidate
DMS W-20
DMS W-19
Allied ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Heavy Industry hits 1
Light Industry hits 2
Manpower hits 1
Fires 54
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 9


Burma:
Oscars sweeping Rangoon encounter AVG and Buffalos, as do the following strike missions with Oscars escorting single-engine bombers on airfield attack. We get some, but we lose significantly more. We will re-evaluate mission planning.


Malaya:
Singers airfields bombed by the JNAF flyboys from Kota Bharu (about 60 Zeros, 80 Netties) - losses from flak mount despite staying above 20k
The defense line at Kluong is bombed in preparation for ground attack by the IJAF flyboys at Alor Star (about 30 Oscars, 80 Sallies).
Once more, the RAF counter-attacks - Kota Bharu is hit by Blenheims at 2k and Hudsons at 6k and suffers a few airbase, runway and supply hits plus 4 Netties destroyed on ground. Our Zeros on CAP at 10k get only one Hudson. Kuantan gets the same treatment but I have no forces there.
25th Army is still closing in on Kluong.
Undefended Temuloh in central Malaya is captured by the 22nd Recon Regiment, 18th Division is ordered south to recombine for the attack on Singers.


PI:
Light air attacks on Manila and arty bombardment continues while 16th Division moves up.
On Mindanao, the elements of the 2nd Division are on the move to chase and destroy the enemy forces retreating to Davao.


Borneo:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Beaufort, the remnants of three RN Base forces surrender. We now have one SNLF Coy and an Army Bn free for other operations. The SNLF Coy will capture undefended dot bases in the area, the Army Bn will ship to Tarakan for future garrison duty.

3 x H6K4 Mavis drop elements of the Yokosuka 1st SNLF to captured Tawau. Enemy forces at Tarakan now have no base nearby to retreat to.

Then the shock attack at Tarakan is launched:

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 6105 troops, 61 guns, 118 vehicles, Assault Value = 208
Defending force 1824 troops, 41 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 33
Japanese adjusted assault: 784
Allied adjusted defense: 19
Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 2 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
538 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 39 (33 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
VII KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Samarinda
Tarakan Base Force RETREATING towards Samarinda
Tarakan Defenses RETREATING towards Samarinda

The forces at Tarakan will now prep for Samarinda and await the garrison Bn from Beaufort before moving out - who knows if the Dutch forces will continue to retreat or try to move back into Tarakan.

The enemy SAG spotted by subs (see above) is apparently heading for Tarakan and was attacked near Balikpapan at 65,99 by torpedo-totting Nells from Kendari. Unfortunately, enemy CAP interferes with their aim and all miss:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G3M2 Nell x 18
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CA Exeter
DD Kortenaer
CA Houston


Sunda Islands area:
Kure 2nd SNLF and Sasebo 2nd SNLF CAPTURE Koepang !!!
Timor Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Dili
Dili Detachment RETREATING towards Dili
1/10th Avn Sup Afd RETREATING towards Dili
One SNLF will load-up again and head for Dili.


Yokosuka 4th SNLF CAPTURES Denpasar !!!
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion SURRENDERS !!!
1/9th Avn Sup Afd SURRENDERS !!!
A construction unit is already busy repairing airfield damage and base forces will be airlifted from Kendari. Soon we will be able to provide CAP and project offensive air power over eastern Java. Now all the remains are significant ground forces for the invasion - they are still tied-up at Luzon and Mindanao...

A few B-17s, Hudsons and Dutch bombers raid Makassar and our SAGs in the area, little damage and several Dutch bombers downed by Zero CAP / flak.


PNG/Solomons:
I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Tulagi.

1st JNAF AF Unit CAPTURES Nadzab and starts building an airfield. More Engs will move in as soon as Truk reaches size 7 port and Rabaul is build-up. My plan for PNG is to build airfields only at Nadzab and Dobadura - they can be raised to high levels but cannot be bombarded by sea and are save from short-range sweeps as long as I can hold the Terauke-PM-Milne area (and of course the bases will help to defend that area). With ample garrisons and forts, the bases should be able to project offensive power for some time, allow concentrated air defenses mid-war and when I'm forced to evacuate the air groups, to be denied to the Allies for as long as possible. The other bases in the area, including PM, will only see fort construction.


Other:
We lose two ships damaged in earlier actions:
xAK Sinsei Maru sinks....
Pumps fail aboard xAP Teikyo Maru, flooding increases, xAP Teikyo Maru sinks....

REPORTS FOR Jan 15-16, 1942

Allied submarines:
SS Sculpin launches 2 torpedoes at DD Oshio near Tarakan at 67,91 and misses. Oshio is part of a SAG sent to search for the enemy SAG reported and attacked last turn near Balikpapan. Persistent, SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at DD Shiratsuyu of the same TF - and collects 5 hits in the ASW counterattack.

SS Nautilus launches 2 torpedoes at PB Sento Maru near Finschhafen at 100,127 - I am surprised to find this potential minelaying / transport sub on frontline duty.


Japanese submarines:
Previous report of sinking of SS O16 incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 59, 107:

Sub vs Sub: SS RO-33 attacking SS O16 at 59,107 - near Sepandjang

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33

Allied Ships
SS O16, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards

I hope this time the sinking will be confirmed for good!


SS I-154 lays minefield at Singkep ( 49 , 87) and sets course for Saigon

Our Midget Sub Corps encounters enemy ASW forces and port defences at Brisbane but achieve one good hit:

I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-11 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-11 runs aground and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-12 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-12 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-14 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-14 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-15 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-15 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-13 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-13 penetrates harbor at Brisbane!!! Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Brisbane!!!
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-13
Allied Ships
AM Matai, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SSX Ha-13 runs aground and is lost attempting to escape from harbor at Brisbane

Other submarine contacts reveal interesting INTEL - more details later in the "regional report"!:
Previous report of sinking of CL Boise incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 57, 103
Previous report of sinking of DD Kortenaer incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 57, 103


China:
Bombing and marching - but now movement arrows indicate the enemy forces at Nanyang are pulling out in direction of Sian through the only hex still open - we have tank units a few miles short...
Three Chinese Corps are investgating the hex north-east of Nanyang which holds 116th Division, 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade plus puppet units and the said tank unit on the move. Seems this is an operation to open a second escape route for the Nanyang garrison just in case.
Grr, we will have to chase the Chinese stacks all the way to Sian...

But well, the bases in the Eastern Plains start to fall - Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!! 39th Group Army RETREATING towards Loyang.

Near Wuchang at 84,52 a minor operation by 6th Division and 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade to clear the surroundings sends the 58th Chinese Corps RETREATING towards Changsha.


Burma:
Instead of sweeps and strikes, we sent reinforced sweeps only to Rangoon - 1 Oscar down for 1 Flying Tiger and 2 Buffalos destroyed. That is better!


Malaya:
Air attacks on Singers encounter CAP and arrive uncoordinated due to weather - we lose 4 Zeros, 7 Nells and 1 Betty for 5 Buffalos and 2 Hurricane IIb Trop down.
Air attacks on ground forces at Kluong reveal the presence of the 22nd Australian Brigade, the 12th Indian Brigade and the 6th Indian Brigade - hawk-eyed Japanese pilots are discerning the tactical symbols on Allied vehicles from 7k up...
Malacca is occupied by the Japanese and 25th Army will assemble in this 95k stacking limit hex before attacking Kluong.


PI:
Siquijor is occupied by the Japanese

CAP is on again over Manila, 5 P-35A down one Ki-51.

16th Division is nearing the gates of Manila:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!
41st PA Infantry/B Division RETREATING towards Mauban
41st PA Infantry/C Division RETREATING towards Mauban
PAF Aviation RETREATING towards Mauban
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-26A: 1 destroyed

On Mindanao, detachments of the 2nd Division CAPTURE Cotabato !!!
3rd/101st PA Battalion RETREATING towards Davao
305th Base Sqdn RETREATING towards Davao

The balance of the 2nd Division CAPTURES Malaybalay !!!
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment RETREATING towards Davao
103rd PA Infantry Regiment RETREATING towards Davao
102nd PA Infantry Division RETREATING towards Davao
Del Monte AAF Base Force RETREATING towards Davao
205th Base Sqdn RETREATING towards Davao


Sunda Islands area:
Counter-attack at Manado! The former Dutch garrison must have observed that most of our forces have moved out (to Kendari/Makassar/Densapar) and deemed it possible to retake the base. It might have been possible - only the II/81st Naval Guard Unit was left to guard at depot of 30k supplies being sent by small convoys to frontline bases - but I have seen the move arrows just in time to fast-transport and airdrop reinforcements:

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1082 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Defending force 919 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 47

Allied assault odds: 1 to 47 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Manado Garrison Battalion

Defending units:
1st Indpt SNLF Coy /3
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /2


A handful of B-17s from Darwin bomb Koepang and score airbase and runway hits.

Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Ternate !!!

Ground combat at 65,105 (near Makassar) - the Kure 1st SNLF is sending the Makassar Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Watampone

The enemy SAG sighted near Balikpapan and assumed to target Tarakan has turned around and paid a visit to Makassar, where a convoy is unloading. Our screen suffers losses but achieves its purpose of deflecting the enemy from the transports:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Makassar at 65,106, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage (and sinks later)
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Oite
DD Hayate
PB Aso Maru #3
PB Busho Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
PB Edo Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AK Sakito Maru
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Kinai Maru
xAK Goyo Maru
xAK Hokuroku Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Tokyo Maru
xAP Baikal Maru

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CA Exeter, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Boise, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Vampire
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Witte de With

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
BB Hyuga engages CA Exeter at 1,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CA Houston at 1,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Boise at 1,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL De Ruyter at 1,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages CL Boise at 1,000 yards
DD Matsukaze engages DD Kortenaer at 1,000 yards
PB Edo Maru sunk by CL Boise at 1,000 yards
PB Busho Maru sunk by CL Boise at 1,000 yards
DD Stewart engages DD Matsukaze at 1,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Kortenaer at 1,000 yards
CL Boise engages AK Sakito Maru at 1,000 yards
DD Stewart engages xAK Hokuroku Maru at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
DD Asakaze engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Hatakaze at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Witte de With at 2,000 yards
DD Harukaze engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Parrott engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Asakaze engages DD Paul Jones at 2,000 yards
DD Stewart engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Barker at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Hokuroku Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Stewart engages xAK Kinai Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Manila Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CA Exeter at 6,000 yards
DD Hayate engages CA Houston at 6,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Kortenaer at 6,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Hatakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 6,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Paul Jones at 6,000 yards
DD Stewart engages DD Hayate at 6,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 6,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru sunk by DD Barker at 6,000 yards
DD Parrott engages xAK Manila Maru at 6,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

In the meantime, our cruiser SAG galopping off to Tarakan in vain extracts a (very) small revenge:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 67,97, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Kuma
CL Tama
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Yugure
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
xAKL Montanes, Shell hits 18, and is sunk


However, payback is handed out by our submarines patrolling off Soerabaja on the enemy SAG returning to base:

Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Houston
DD Stewart
DD Barker
DD Witte de With
DD Vampire
DD Parrott

SS I-159 launches 6 torpedoes at CA Exeter


Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

CL Boise is sighted by SS I-165
SS I-165 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Boise


Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

CL Boise is sighted by SS I-159
SS I-159 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Boise

CL Boise is reported to have been sunk near Soerabaja on Jan 16, 1942.

BANZAI! With Boise gone, my war aims have been achieved! The war is as good as won and only some mopping up needs to be done! [:D] [;)]


Other:
Pumps having difficulty controlling flooding aboard xAK Rokko Maru, xAK Rokko Maru sinks -another victim of inept Japanese damage control...

REPORT FOR Jan 17-18, 1942

Allied Submarines:
SS Sculpin attacks a convoy at Tarakan without success and is hit 3x by alert escorts.
SS Stingray is hit 3x as well by escorts near Chinnampo in the Yellow Sea.
Our SAGs operating in the Balikpapan / Macassar area are luck to escape hits from several S-class boats in the area.
Unfortunately a minelaying mission to Pamekasan encounters S-38 and as a result, CM Kyosai sinks near Makassar at 62,107.
Our Wenchow bombardment TF has bad luck as well - SS Searaven sinks DMS W-19 near Wenchow at 90,59.
Finally, SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Ginyo Maru near Kavieng at 107,120 - two hits and the ship sinks. Have the Allies solved the torpedo problem already???


Our submarines:
O-16 is still alive and trying to reach Soerabaja! Two of our submarines try to sink the cripple near Kangean and Pamekasan but miss...


China:
Bombings at Nanyang are intercepted by Flying Tigers - 1 Oscar and 2 H81-A3 destroyed.

A deliberate attack at Nanyang reveals forts at level 3 and our troops take significant losses - grr! The second day my forces refrain from a second DA and only bombard. I will need the forces doing the flanking movements before trying again.

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41743 troops, 487 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127

Defending force 41755 troops, 151 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1007

Japanese adjusted assault: 618

Allied adjusted defense: 1038

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3866 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 256 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 28 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1584 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 180 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
14th RGC Temp./A Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
1st Mortar Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
5th War Area
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army


The right pincer on the north bank of the Yellow River is progressing well:

Ground combat at 86,41 (near Loyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36374 troops, 298 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1125

Defending force 6988 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Japanese adjusted assault: 606

Allied adjusted defense: 165

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
689 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2734 casualties reported
Squads: 128 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
110th Division
37th Division
41st Division
1st Army
12th Army

Defending units:
43rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps


Burma:
Sweeps over Rangoon continue to exchange airframes and pilots - 3 Oscars for 2 Buffalos and 1 H81-A3. I have sent the grounded bombers back to Bangkok and have ordered two groups of Nates to Chiang Mei - perhaps I can crush them with numbers...

Pilot Miyabe T. is reported as having been found - his plane was damaged over Rangoon and he had to bail out over the jungles on the way back to Chiang Mei.


Malaya:
The RAF launches night bombing attacks against Kota Bharu and destroys a Nell and a Betty on the ground.
A handful of Wirraways attack 25th Army at Malacca and cause some casualties - I admire the offensive spirit of the RAF!
25th Army at Malacca is starting to advance to Kluong.


PI:
Manila bombed and bombarded while 16th Division at Batangas has split - one brigade to close the hex sides into/out of Manila and the other two to capture Mauban and close the eastern hex sides of Manila. But - recon reports that the sneeky US forces at Mauban are trying to move south-west to Lucena in the rear of 16th Division! One brigade is ordered back to Lucena. It also appears that forces from Bataan are moving back to Clark Field. Ed tries every trick to slow me down!

56th Recon Regiment has reinforced the 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy at Subic Bay and together they CAPTURE Subic Bay !!!
Subic Bay Defenses SURRENDERS !!!
1st PI Base Force SURRENDERS !!!

Lubang is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps.

Then something odd - I lose six midget subs in the minefields of Bataan. I have no recollection of having created midgets at Luzon and ordering them into know minefields...? However, I had six MGBs at Mauban - and they are gone.



Borneo:
Two Battalions arrive at Singkawang and launch a DA - forts are reduced to 0 and the base should fall next turn.


Makassar area:
On the way back from the sortie to Tarakan, a cruiser SAG pays a visit to Balikpapan to sink three Dutch MTBs and TK Hai Kwang and to scout minefields - CA Kako hits VH Mk II Mine at Balikpapan and thus she will need some yard time...

On Makassar proper, Japanese forces CAPTURE Kolaka !!!
Kendari Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Palopo


Timor:
B-17s continue to pound an empty airbase - apparently to prevent its use to attack Darwin. I have scheduled a bombardment mission and a visit by Mini-KB to raid Darwin.


PNG/Solomons:
Oro Bay is occupied by the Japanese 5th column.
Maizuru 2nd SNLF CAPTURES Wau !!! The unit is ordered to march overland to Terauke. Other units are advancing from Buna to Dobadura and to Kokoda - where the ex-PM garrison is trying to march to the coast.


CentPac:
Operation Jailbait I - an invasion force has left Jaluit for Ocean Island. I have no idea on the whereabouts of the US carriers, but given Ed's aggressive forward defense, I have placed submarines on likely approaches to Ocean Island and a reinforced KB (all six big boys + Shoho) is loitering near Ontong Java for a flanking movement in case Allied forces assumed to be in the Deep South take the bait.

REPORT FOR Jan 19-20, 1942


Allied submarines:
SS S-35 launches 2 torpedoes at APD Shimakaze near Port Moresby and misses.
SS Perch launches 4 torpedoes at DD Matsukaze near Darwin and misses.
SS Sailfish launches 2 torpedoes at PB Nikki Maru near Torishima and misses.
SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Taihei Maru near Gebe at 80,104 and - xAK Taihei Maru sinks! TF 113 managed to rescue 105 men from Bandasan SNLF. The Amphibious Assault at Lolobato (79,102) is deprived of half the troops assigned...


Our submarines:
SS I-157 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Thanet near Toboali at 50,94 and misses.


China:
Japanese Ships Bombarding Wenchow again:

BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
DD Yanagi
DD Karii
DD Yukaze
DD Sawakaze
E Uji
E Hashidate
DMS W-20

Allied ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2

Nanyang is bombed unopposed, we hope to slow the fleeing stack down so we can close the last open hexside. On the ground, we are still licking wounds and only bombard while the flanking movements are advancing so painfully slow...

The pincer north of the Yellow River at 86,41 (near Loyang) is advancing well - the 34th Chinese Corps is RETREATING towards Yenan.

In northern China, two surrounded Chinese Corps are slowly being reduced.

Small setback at Chuhsien - 24th RGC Temp. Division is RETREATING towards Hangchow. The unit should have waited for reinforcements - shoddy staff work...


Burma:
Rangoon swept but no opposition this time.


Malaya:
Batu Pahat is occupied by the Japanese.
More night strikes by the RAF against Kota Bharu - a small Zero detachment on night CAP prevents damage.
The handful of Wirraways continue their nuisance raids - Oscars on CAP fail to catch them...
Singers bombed by our Navy and Army flyboys - airbase damage is light from 23k up, but the flak losses prevent me from going lower. We lose one Zero, one Sally and one Betty destroyed by flak and Buffalos on CAP. Strange that 34 Zeros vs 10 Buffalos and 19 Oscars vs 5 Buffalos only cause losses to our side. At least we destroy a Swordfish and a Blenheim on the ground.


PI:
Two deliberate attacks at Manila reduced fort levels to 0. We outnumber the defenders 2:1 so the city should fall soon.

On Mindanao, a river crossing shock attack at 78,91 south of Cotabato by the III./4th Infantry Battalion crushes enemy resistance - 3rd/101st PA Battalion and 305th Base Sqdn SURRENDER !!!


Borneo:
II/124th and III/124th Infantry Battalions CAPTURE Singkawang !!!
West Borneo KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Pontianak
Sarawak Force RETREATING towards Pontianak
Singkawang Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak
Pontianak Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak
106th RN Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak


Makassar:
We counter-attack at Manado and force the Manado Garrison Battalion to retreat again towards Sidate.

Kure 1st SNLF shock-attacks and CAPTURES Watampone - Makassar Garrison Battalion SURRENDERS !!!


Solomons:
Vella Lavella is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps.


Australia:
In order to end the nuisance raids by B-17s from Darwin, I have sent a pair of BBs to bombard, with Mini-KB following behind.
A few hexes off Darwin the bombardment force is attacked by a handful of A-24 Banshees and Hudsons. I have included CS Mizuho with a bunch of Petes for CAP and ASW over the bombardment TF - the Pete CAP does not shoot down anything put disrupts the aim of the enemy bombers.
At Darwin the TF encounters a supply convoy:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho, Shell hits 3
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Warrnambool, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
TK Manatawny, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 1
xAK Ping Wo
xAK Taiyuan, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Gorgon, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Then a second round:

Allied Ships
xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Ping Wo, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Taiyuan, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Gorgon, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Then the scheduled bombardment:

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Nagato
CL Kinu
CL Yura
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
xAP Van Swoll, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
AVP Arend, Shell hits 1
xAP Elcano, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Runway hits 4

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Hyuga
Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at Emery Point Fortress
BB Nagato firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Nagato
CL Kinu firing at Darwin
CL Yura firing at Darwin
CL Nagara firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Nagara

And finally, while already retreating, the TF claims a another victim:

Allied Ships
xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

On the second day, Mini-KB strikes Darwin airbase - one P-40 destroyed in the air, 4 airbase hits - but the B-17s seem to have fled...

Somehow DD Sazanami suffered heavy damage during the surface actions and split off into an escort TF - probably during a collision. She is caught by Banshees all alone one hex off Darwin - a hit with a 1000 lb SAP Bomb did not help her... With 58 float damage, she *may* survice if I can prevent further damage. I have ordered Mini-KB to provide air cover.


Near Horn Island, we have an AMC on patrol:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,129, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Bankok Maru

Allied Ships
AM Whyalla
xAK Momba, Shell hits 1, on fire


Other:
A bunch of Fubukis complete 1/42 upgrades at Hong Kong.

REPORT FOR Jan 21-22, 1942

Submarine war:
SS O19 sinks a PB near Kendari.
SS I-162 is hit once by DD Stewart near Soerabaja.
SS I-124 lays minefield at Darwin ( 76 , 124) and sets course for Kendari

Air war:
Flying Tigers destroy 3 Oscars against 1 H81-A3 in China.

Rangoon is hit without CAP and the airbase is damaged - 8 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits, 7 runway hits and 6 H81-A3 damaged plus one destroyed on the ground.

OTOH, losses over Singers mount for little to show - 2 Zeros, 1 Nell, 1 Betty, 3 Oscars and 6 Sally destroyed by flak for 2 runway hits and 2 Buffalos and 1 Hurri destroyed...

RAF night bombers again scored against Kota Bharu despite night CAP and destroy 1 Nell and 1 Betty on the ground.

A new air front has been opened at Java with Zeros sweeping and Nells night-bombing Soerabaja - 1 Zero lost for 6 P-40 and 2 75A-7 Hawk destroyed and the following ships hit:

Allied Ships
AG Gemma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Houston, Bomb hits 1
PG Soerabaja, Bomb hits 1


Ground War:
Since most divisions are still busy in Malaya and the PI, further offensive operations against Java, Sumatra, Burma and perhaps Australia or the South Pacific must wait until some units can be freed.

Small Japanese forces CAPTURE Lolobato (Halmahera) and Dili (Timor).

Dobadura is occupied as a SNLF Coy approaches the village. It seems that the area is well suited for airfield construction.

Calapan is occupied by the Japanese 5th column - did not bother to check but it is probably in the PI.

In China, stalemate at Nanyang. I have 950+ AV, the Allies are at 840+ AV. Bombardment attacks cause even losses for both sides.

I still hope to be able to surround the Chineses defenders of Nanyang with the flanking forces. The last open hex side has been reached by a small advance guard - which fights surprisingly well against a Chinese stack trying to hold the escape/supply path open:

Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8578 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Defending force 180 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 87

Japanese adjusted defense: 55

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
85th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army

Defending units:
9th Armored Car Co

Infantry is rushing to reinforce the hex just in time for the second attack:

Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8538 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Defending force 6924 troops, 38 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 229

Allied adjusted assault: 31

Japanese adjusted defense: 520

Allied assault odds: 1 to 16

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: morale(-)

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
390 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
85th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army

Defending units:
9th Armored Car Co
20th Ind.Mixed Brigade

So, it may still be possible to surround and crush the Chinese stack at Nanyang after all!

In North China, elements of the 26th Division plus sundry Cavalry and Puppet units are slowly picking away at isolated Chinese Corps in good defensive terrain.


In Malaya, first ground attacks at Kluong reduce forts and defenders but our combat engineers suffered since the fort levels are surprisingly high - maybe next time I should dare the "Mersing gambit"...

Japanese Deliberate attack on January 21st:

Attacking force 36218 troops, 487 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1431

Defending force 11945 troops, 156 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 376

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 776

Allied adjusted defense: 399

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
796 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1283 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 168 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 28 (4 destroyed, 24 disabled)


Japanese Deliberate attack on January 22nd:

Attacking force 35472 troops, 487 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1864

Defending force 11040 troops, 157 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 241

Japanese adjusted assault: 519

Allied adjusted defense: 337

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 37 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
556 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
38th Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
20th AA Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th AA Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
25th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
44th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
6th Indian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
1st Hyderabad Battalion
12th Indian Brigade
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
30 Battery/3 HAA
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
5th Field Regiment


In the PI, the sneaky units at Mauban trying to move behind our front are destroyed before they can leave the hex:

Ground combat at Mauban (80,78)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4847 troops, 42 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Defending force 3194 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Japanese adjusted assault: 66

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mauban !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Allied ground losses:
4407 casualties reported
Squads: 153 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 186 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 45 (45 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
16th/B Division

Defending units:
41st PA Infantry Division
PAF Aviation


Best News this turn - Manila falls on January 22nd and 14th Army remains in good shape:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31850 troops, 406 guns, 254 vehicles, Assault Value = 956

Defending force 13153 troops, 202 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Japanese adjusted assault: 727

Allied adjusted defense: 261

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
740 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled

Allied ground losses:
18784 casualties reported
Squads: 649 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1023 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 246 (246 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 10

Assaulting units:
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
21st Division
Sasebo 1st SNLF
48th Division
56th Engineer Regiment
16th/A Division
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps
Far East USAAF
1st USMC AA Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
Cavite USN Base Force

I will shuffle the Luzon units to keep the "Bataan gang" bottled up and to-be-dealt-with-later by 48th Division plus some Arty at Clark Field (fort 2 and building) and 65th Brigade as Manila garrison The 16th, 21st and 56th divisions will prepare for Java and Sumatra - they will load at the size 3 port at Batangas.


Horn Island:
AMC Bankok Maru patrolling the narrows around Horn Island clashes inconclusively with an AM, and then is hit by a Catalina with a 500 lb SAP Bomb. On fire, the AMC is ordered back to base.


Darwin:
Bombarded by a small SAG again and bombed by Mini-KB - 1 Zero, 1 Kate and 2 Jean lost for 2 P-40 shot down and 1 A-24, 1 PBY and 1 Hudson destroyed on the ground. Main purpose of the operations was to cover damaged DD Sazanami limping back to Koepang. However:
Pumps fail aboard DD Sazanami, flooding increases...
Major flooding aboard DD Sazanami
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard DD Sazanami


Operation Jailbait I:
Amphibious Assault at Ocean Island, the base is taken. KB is ordered from Ontong Java to patrol south of the Gilberts to see if the Allies take the bait.


Other:
CL Tromp is reported to have been sunk near Manado on Dec 12, 1941