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13DEC41-20DEC41

Hong Kong is now being subject to daily attacks. It won't be long before they succumb.
Landings continue off Lingayen and Kota Bharu (Maylaya).
China is being slowly overrun, but that was to be expected.

USS ENTERPRISE catches up to LEXINGTON, and together, they continue putting the wood to all shipping east of Ponape, after which they head to Ocean Island. Both carriers have managed to dodge attacks by Nells.

MOGAMI: "At least 40 Nells attacked Enterprise at a range of one hex. 0 hits. However it is these kind of escapes that always lead to future disaster. The fur wears off that rabbits foot eventually. And all for a few Ak."

DADMAN: "Yes. Yes it does."

__________________________________
[font="Courier New"]FROM: COMTF406/11
TO: CINCPAC

PIGEONS SCATTERED. CATS RESTING.[/font]
__________________________________


After a brief layover at Pearl (and a brown trouser alert courtesy of an IJN sub), SARATOGA receives her orders.
__________________________________
[font="Courier New"]TO: COMTF8
FROM: CINCPAC

PROCEED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH 406/11.[/font]
__________________________________

Kido Butai is suspected to now be shaping course to Truk.

The cat did her job.

Alright, I'm in and looking forward to a good fight.

T Rav

21DEC41

Mogami's air forces continue to harry the hapless Chinese on the mainland and pummel the city of Manila.

Subs are still a well-spotted but indecent threat around Hawaii.

Kido Butai is spotted about 700nm west of Johnston Is., headed west, possibly in pursuit of my vandals, while they (LEXINGTON and ENTERPRISE) are sunning themselves at Ocean Is., 240nm WSW of Tarawa.

SARATOGA is stationed at Christmas Island, wait for the tanker train she is to escort to Australia.

So how much distance separates KB from Lexington and Enterprise?

ORIGINAL: witpqs

So how much distance separates KB from Lexington and Enterprise?

Lady Lex and Big E are 900nm SW of Kido Butai. PBY's from Midway had been tracking it, then a squadron out of Johnston Is.

900 NM is not far enough if you linger there he can flank speed close the gap in one day and conduct a strike if he knows or strongly suggests you are there. He is inside his own wheelhouse now and can get fuel from the Marshalls and Truk while your nearest fill up is the East coats of Australia or Auckland. Since he was traveling with tankers his bunkers may be near fuel and ready to chase you knowing you might be half full and needing to not go flank speed to conserve fuel.

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

900 NM is not far enough if you linger there he can flank speed close the gap in one day and conduct a strike if he knows or strongly suggests you are there. He is inside his own wheelhouse now and can get fuel from the Marshalls and Truk while your nearest fill up is the East coats of Australia or Auckland. Since he was traveling with tankers his bunkers may be near fuel and ready to chase you knowing you might be half full and needing to not go flank speed to conserve fuel.

Ahhh my young Padawan, watch and learn...

Must be the superbowl no one is commenting.

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Must be the superbowl no one is commenting.

I just had a super bowl of salad, myself.

22DEC41-25DEC41

Davao has been taken
DD John D. Ford and DD Pillsbury were caught lurking in the area and Pillsbury was sunk by Kates from Ryujo.

I've lost track of Kido Butai...

26DEC41-31DEC41

Manila and Clark Field are besieged.

The tanker train has finally caught up with SARATOGA at Christmas Island, and her group has begun to move west to rendezvous with LEXINGTON and ENTERPRISE at Ocean Island.

A strong landing force has descended upon Rabaul and is attempting to take the base after taking Kavieng. Rabaul's defenders are not giving up easily.

Kido Butai has been spotted lurking in the Bismarck Sea about 200nm NW of Rabaul.

on 28DEC DD John D. Ford intercepts some transports off Jolo and gives them a good scare, putting a couple of shells into them, and taking a few in return.

In the main event, HOUSTON, BOISE, and MARBLEHEAD have moved up through Makassar Strait to intercept 2 light carriers operating in the area. That"s a bold move Cotton, let's see how it works out.

on 29DEC they encounter a cruiser support force:

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CL Sendai
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 2
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1
DD Asagiri
DD Sagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Barker, Shell hits 1
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Stewart


After several failed intercept attempts, early New Year's Eve, they get more than they bargained for when they run smack into a strong covering force of 2BB, 4CA, 2CL, and 5DD. Here is how it played out:

BB Nagato, Shell hits 2
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 7
CA Maya, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2
CL Kuma
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Murasame, Shell hits 2
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Yudachi

CA Houston, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
CL Boise, Shell hits 5
DD Barker
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 2
DD Edsall, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Parrott, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Whipple, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Stewart

Not exactly what was hoped for, but to be expected.

I'm very sorry for the losses, but you tried...

That is one Japanese surface force that has to go and rearm. Maybe you can exploit the situation.

Good thing is that old Boise lives up to her legend of being so damn unsinkable early game. Karma is strong with this one.

1JAN42

HAPPY FREAKIN' NEW YEAR!!!

Amphibious action off Tarakan and the BB's previously encountered provide covering fire.

Kido Butai has moved east to a position 80nm NE of Kavieng, but may be heading toward Truk.

SARATOGA is about 2 days away from joining LEXINGTON and ENTERPRISE, which are still loitering at Ocean Island. The tanker train is a day behind SARATOGA. Everyone is still un-spotted.

2JAN42

Manila and Clark Field continue to be hammered by both air and ground, but are still holding on. Retreat to Bataan is not an option.

COLORADO and WARSPITE have completed repairs and will soon depart for Pearl Harbor.

Kido Butai is no longer within range of my search planes.

3JAN42

Clark Field and Manila still being bombed and bombarded daily.

Central China being harassed from the air.

A slow and steady push heads south along the Maylay Peninsula.

Britain's "Force Z" with PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE still lurks undetected near Batavia, with the Dutch cruiser force near Soerabaja. BOISE and her consorts are retiring to the docks at Columbo/Ceylon

LEXINGTON, SARATOGA, and ENTERPRISE loiter at Ocean Island, waiting for the tanker train to arrive tomorrow. There are auxiliaries at Rabaul that I've got my eye on and Kido Butai was last spotted headed NE, possibly toward Truk to re-fuel...

Hi, I can't wait for what happens next. Wait no I don't want to know. Someone get this demon out of my head. Arggh the rabbits foot the awful evil devil spawn rabbits foot I can feel the static in the air Dadman is rubbing the fur off his rabbits foot.

ORIGINAL: mogami

Hi, I can't wait for what happens next. Wait no I don't want to know. Someone get this demon out of my head. Arggh the rabbits foot the awful evil devil spawn rabbits foot I can feel the static in the air Dadman is rubbing the fur off his rabbits foot.

DadMan rubbin'

Mogami runnin'