Bloody Pacific: Pomphat (Allied) vs Amiral Laurent (Japan)

[AmiralLaurent]

17-19 December 1941

These three days saw little fighting.

Central Pacific

IJN submarines continue to report many TF east of Hawaii during this three days, some fleeing PH, some probably sailing to it and the main combat force of the USN cruising. On the 18, the I-5 was chased by 2 DD and sunk by the King. On the 19 a special effort was made by the USN against IJN subs and 4 were attacked by ASW groups. The I-6 heavily damaged the DD Craven with a torpedo and was hit by a DC, the other escaped unhurt. The same day a Devastator hit the I-2 about 900 miles ENE of PH. Both submarines are returning to Tokyo with FLT 50-60.

The KB sailed on the 18 back towards PH to attack the convoy reported sailing there. It was too slow and was unable to launch. Recon Glens report 5 ships in PH on the 17 and 49-50 the other days so may have been wrong the 17 or the convoy arrived on the 18 and disbanded. Glens and KB Zeroes flying over PH report no CAP. On the 19 the KB sailed back towards Midway, and as usual missed the meeting point with the replenishment TF… sailing this far too fast. Some ships are now in the red.

There were few action around Midway, US submarines laid mines on the 18 and the local MSW swept them. Some Zeros reached the island on the 18.

The reinforcement and supply convoy for Midway will arrive in one week. The division tasked for taking Lahaina in Hawaii Islands is two days behind.

So here is the planning:
Dec 20-21 : KB refuels and receives reinforcements. South Seas Detachment boards ships again in Midway. The Lahaina occupations forces (CB, BF, HQ and so on) leave Japan
Dec 22-24: KB will sweep waters N of PH, chasing ASW groups. South Sea convoy sails towards Johnston Island.
Dec 25-27 : arrival of the second wave convoys around Midway. Capture of Johnston Island, that will be used to base patrol aircrafts. The invasion force of PH leaves Japan
Dec 28-30 : KB returns towards Midway and refuels. The 16th Div convoy left the area towards Hawaii with strong surface escort.
Dec 31-Jan 5 : capture of Lahaina with KB support.
Jan 5 – 20 : use of Lahaina to bomb PH with planes and BB, an Air HQ, 200 IJNAF aircraft, the IJN AR and a Fleet HQ will be based here.
Jan 21-30 : landing in PH. The battle is excepted to last a month.

South Pacific

The area is still very quiet. On the evening of the 19 a NLF boarded 2 DDs in Kwajalein to sail to Makin, the first offensive move of the IJN in the area.

New Guinea

Tinas transport carried on the 17-18 part of a base force to Hollandia and 9 Nells arrive there on the 19.

Luzon

Thunderstorms grounded the Formosa airmen for 2 days. On the 19 43 Zeroes swept Manila skies and shot down 2 of the 13 P-40E they met.

Recons reported repeatly that the north of Luzon is now empty. More recons will be flown and if this is confirmed a small naval infantry force will land in Aparri and seize the airfield.

Borneo-Mindanao

Both Brunei and Jolo were taken on the 17. Brunei oil centers were taken intact. As soon as they were taken, 36 Zeroes flew in. Martin 139 and B-17 from Tarakan, Singkawang and Balikpapan flew raids on the 3 days against Miri. Miri and Brunei Zeroes intercepted them the 3 days and shot down a Brewster on the 17 and 3 Brewster, 3 Martins and a B-17C on the 19. Only one hit was scored on the oilfields on the 19.

Patrols reported that a force of CA with a BB was off Balikpapan on the 17. It was again seen here on the 18 and 19. The mini-KB still left the area and is almost arrived at Palau. It will refuel and continue east towards Hawaii. The BB TF off Brunei sailed to Jolo, where the 15th Av Rgt landed on the 18. The 65th Bde reboarded ships and sailed to Davao under escort of a surface TF.

In the evening of the 19, 27 Zeroes from Brunei, 27 Nells from Davao and 27 Betties from Takao arrive in Jolo. They are ordered to attack Allied cruisers off Balikpapan. On the 19 6 Zeroes swept the skies over Balikpapan and reported only 6 P-40E flying CAP. There was no fight.

The 65th Bde receives new orders on the 19 and will land in Menado before the end of the year.

The main next operation will be a landing in Tarakan. The 35th Bde will board ships in Camranh Bay and will be covered by Kondo’s BB TF, that will probably have the time to support the Menado landing first.

Malaya

After that patrols reported on the 17 that only a Base Force was holding Kuala Lumpur, the four divisions that reached the place (5th, 18th, 55th and Imp) launched a deliberate attack on the 18 and took the place easily. Only 29 of the 600 ressources are damaged. The division with the highest fatigue and disruption was ordered to rest, the 3 other marched south on the 19 towards Malacca.

The Great Sphere of Coprosperity is welcome by the inhabitants of Malaya. On the 19 the citizens of Khota Bharu chased the few policemen and officals that remained behind when the British forces left the area ten days ago and joined Japan’s side.

The British units are still retreating. On the 18 4 British units were reported in Malacca and 3 east of it, coming from Kuantan. The next day, only 3 remain in Malacca, including the BF chased from Kuala, and 1 east of it. It is hoped to hit at least part of them before they retreat.

At sea the only action was a successful attack of a Japanese aircraft against a Dutch submarine on the 18. The second wave convoy is finishing to unload in Songkhia and most of the units (ENG, ART, ARM) are already well advanced in Malaya, the first already in Kuala Lumpur. The first wave convoys are now busy again, one sailing to Camranh Bay to load the 35th Bde for the Tarakan operation, the other almost back in Taan to load the troops remaining there.

Airmen of both sides were often grounded, the only raids were on the 19 when 27 Sallies from Alor Star and 12 Nells from Saigon hit Singapore, both under escort. As usual, no CAP defended the town and the Sallies destroyed 8 Buffaloes, 2 Hudsons and 1 Blenheim.

Raids on Singapore will continue while the 25th Army will continue south and occupy the whole Malaya and then pause before attacking Singapore. No strong resistance is excepted before this point but on the other hand the British forces will be almost intact. Until now the only troops that have been defeated are the 6th Indian Bde (2 retreats) and a BF. On the Japanese side will be 4 Div, 1 Bde, 3 Eng Rgt, 1 Tk Rgt, 5-6 ART units and the HQs of 25th Army and Southern Area, all preparing since day 1 for Singapore.

Burma

The first Japanese defeat of the war took place there on the 17 when the BFF Bde launched a shock attack against the 4th Mixed Rgt NW of Rahaeng and sent it back on the other side of the river. Troops in Rahaeng were bombed by Blenheims the next day and on the 19 another unit was reported on the Allied side of the river. More west the Allied evacuated Moulmein but will probably also defend the river crossing.

In the south the Victoria Point BF was caught south of Tavoy by the 21st Bde and attacked on the 19 but despite being beaten at 115 to 1 didn’t surrender (and lost 165 men for nil Japanese loss). The attack will be repeated tomorrow.

The 33rd Div orders to march to Rahaeng are confirmed. It should arrive there on the 22-23. Then the 21st Bde and 1 Tk Rgt will take Moulmein and threaten the southern flank of the Allied forces. It is hoped that the Allied will retreat and no cross-river assault will be necessary. In the mean-time the 3 Sentais of Ki-21 based in Bangkok will bomb Allied troops.

China

In Yenen, Japanese are still only bombarding the town, which Chinese garrison is now 4 Corps and 1 Div. 2/3 of the 110th Div are now SE of the town and the 10th Bde will arrive tomorrow. Then the force will march west and cut the road between Yenen and the Chinese rear area. The Mongol Cav Div are getting into position in the northern part of China and so liberate a number of units for the Yenen operation.

In the center, a Chinese unit that left Ichang towards Hsyinang marched NE towards Homan on the countryside. On the 19 the 3rd IJA Div marched west from Hsyinang to check the Ichang garrison and reported 5 Chinese units here. The division will come back to the base.

Japan

After the industry change of turn one, another small expansion (10-20 points each) was ordered for the production of Zeroes, armament, Nakajima engines and naval shipyard.

PS :
In the next days I will add screenshots to this AAR

[AmiralLaurent]

This is the plan before the attack on the ships fleeing the PI. The red arrows are planned moves by Japanese surfaces TF that all intercepted transports during the night. Green arrows are the retreat direction after the surface battles.

The blue dot is the position of the mini-KB and the blue line the range of its Kates.

[AmiralLaurent]

20-21 December 1941

Central Pacific

The KB refueled on the 20th, while 6 Nells from Midway raided PH and lost two to AA fire without scoring any hit. 720 miles E of PH the SS I-3 torpedoed a laden TK and last reported it as heavily damaged and burning.

A map of the situation around PH on the evening of the 20 is provided in this post (scroll down). The KB was ordered to sail north of PH to chase US ASW groups.

During the night of the 20-21, the transport TF and the MSW TF returned to Midway and reported 7 minefields off the island but no ship hit one. The TF loaded again the South Seas Detachment in the evening to bring it to Johnston Island.

On the 21st, the KB arrived in the planned area but no more US DDs were in range. I thought I had set all air units to range 4 but one Kate unit still was at 5 and took off for raids ships off PH. Allied fighters flew over PH for once and the morning raid (24 Kates and 40 Zeroes) met 35-40 P-36, P-40B and F4F-4, that shot down 5 Zeroes and 3 Kates but at a cost of 11 P-36, 7 P-40 and 3 Wildcats. The Kates bombed a convoy and heavily damaged 2 AKs. The Japanese airmen reported at least 3 convoys in PH and another raid was launched in the afternoon with 39 Zeroes and 18 Kates. US CAP was again active, with more than 30 fighters, but they were less brillant this time. While losing only 3 Zeroes, Japanese fighter pilots shot down 1 P-36, 21 P-40B and 2 F4F-4 and perfectly protected the Kates, that bombed two DMs but missed. A PBY was also shot down over KB by the CAP.

The KB will retire back to Midway and restaure operationnal capacity with the supplies arriving from Japan. 3 US surface TF are 240 miles E of Lahaina, perhaps on react settings to cover PH. So any surface night raid on PH to hit the transports there is a bad idea. And I don't know if I can send a TF with surface combat orders to PH without being engaged by the CD guns (and they are big here). If someone knew, please post it. I want also to do this off Singapore, to hit single transport TF. My impression is that surface combat TFs won't be engaged by CD guns but I would like to be sure.

As planned the Lahaina occupation troops convoy left Tokyo on the 21. What was not planned was the absence of any Fleet HQ aboard... I have forgotten to pick up the HQ 1st Fleet in Hiroshima and I just sent AP to load them.
Elsewhere in Japan, small AK TFs are loading supplies (or sailing to do it) in every port that has more than 20 000 supplies. This will also be extended to Korean ports and should provide around 100 000 more supplies for Pacific operations.

On the 20 an AP was seen sailing SE of PH towards SE. It is probably an AP (or a convoy) sailing round Hawaii due to Japanese activity here and going to Christmas Island. 3 submarines are sent on the probable path of this convoy. A Glen saw again the AP on the 21 and confirmed its probable destination.

South Pacific

A part of the 6th NLF was landed on the 21 in Makin by two DDs and occupied the undefended island.

Luzon

On the 20 a Val hit the SS S-38 off Formosa. During the night a FT TF landed the 32nd NLF in Aparri and patrols reported the base as empty. During the day, 43 Zeroes and 28 Betties raided Manila. They met no CAP and 5 bombs hit and sank the SS S-37 that limped there after being hit by an ASW aircraft.

Raids on Manila port will be repeated. The NLF in Aparri is ordered to capture it and will then advance to Tugueragao, while the FT TF and transport aircraft will carry one or two more naval units there.

Mindanao

Once more I forgot the river rule. The 56th Bde coming from Davao to Cotabato to chase Allied troops crossed a river on the 20 and the shock attack at 2 to 1 was only able to destroy all forts (level 2) in the town but was not enough to repulse the defenders. The Bde, now at 83 disruption and 60 fatigue will rest several days before attacking again. The Kure SNLF in Cagayan is ordered to join it and will cross the river in the undefended hex NE of Cotabato and then march SW.

Borneo

Clouds covered Balikpapan for the best part of the two days and even if the Allied surface TF is still there the Jolo airmen were unable to attack them. On the other side Allied bombers continued to target Miri oilfields. On the 20, the newly arrived Nates intercepted 3 P-40E and 6 Martin 139 and shot down one of each type without loss. The raid hit nothing. On the 21, 20 Nates intercepted 21 B-17C from Balikpapan and the score was even, each side losing an aircraft in the air battle, so I will call that a Nate victory. But this time oilfields were hit and only 33 remained usable in the evening. The same day 6 Martin 139 from Tarakan missed warships off Jolo.

Tomorrow Zeroes will LRACP Miri from Brunei where another Nate Sentai flies in the evening. The best place to destroy the heavy bombers is the ground and Jolo bombers receive orders to attack the airfield of Balikpapan as secondary target.

The 65th Bde convoy refuels in Davao and sails to Menado with its reinforced surface TF (2 CA, 1 CL, 11 DD). A supply convoy that began to unload supplies in Davao is ordered to sail to Jolo and unload the remaining there as Davao stocks are now full enough for the limited operations planned here.

The Tarakan invasion force (35th Bde, a CBn, 2 naval units) is loading in Camranh Bay.

Malaya

Sallies from Alor Star and Nells from Saigon bombed Singapore airfield both days, destroying 3 Hurricane II, 1 Blenheim IV, 1 Hudson and 1 Buffalo. The Allied airmen flew no CAP and no raid.
Japanese troops reach Malacca on the 20 and launched a shock attack on the 21, hitting the 12th Indian Bde and the 113rd BF before they were able to retreat. These troops retreated and so a second Allied Bde will be disrupted in Singapore. Pursuit will continue while Sallies based in N Malaya will bombard troops to slow them.
A paradrop on Mersing is also considered. Allied planes are based here and will be the main target. Recon planes are ordered to fly low over the base to report if it is well defended.
As said above the 4 CA and escort still in Songkhia may be used for an antioshipping sweep off Singapore but the question is: will they be engaged by the CD guns ?
Also a Ki-30 Sentai is moving from Formosa towards Malaya and will fly antishipping mission in S Malaya.

Burma

Blenheims raided Rahaeng the two days with low results. Bangkok Sallies hit the British troops on the other side of the river on the 20 and so I learned that the 1st Burma Rifle Bde joined the BFF here. On the 21 recon planes reported some Buffaloes flying CAP over Rangoon.

SW of Tavoy the 108th RAF BF resisted one more day at 115 to 1 odds and then surrendered on the 21 after being bombed by 55 Sallies and 21st Bde switchs to shock attack. This brings 1000 more POWs on the bag and opens the road to Tavoy.

9 Zeroes moved to Bangkok and will sweep Rangoon tomorrow. The Japanese troops continue to move north. The main axis of attack will be from Rahaeng with the 33rd Div and the 4th Mixed Rgt.

China

More Japanese shells fell on Yenen, hitting about 200 men each day. The surrounding force is still building SE of the city.

And as promised the map:

All solitary submarines are carrying Glens. Those sailing in lines are not and are "attack subs" moving to intercept the report TF. Some other are outside the map. The two north of PH are returning to Japan after being hit.

[jwilkerson]

And I don't know if I can send a TF with surface combat orders to PH without being engaged by the CD guns (and they are big here). If someone knew, please post it. I want also to do this off Singapore, to hit single transport TF. My impression is that surface combat TFs won't be engaged by CD guns but I would like to be sure.

I don't have definitive answer - would have to do testing - but I will quote from the manual.

"Every time a TF enters an enemy base hex, enemy coast guns in the hex may fire at ships in the TF. "


Doesn't say they will fire, just that they "may" ...

[AmiralLaurent]

Thanks for the reply, jwilkerson. I have not tested this in this game as no more ships have been seen off Singapore, so I had no interest in sending my ships here.

I have been too busy those last days to complete this AAR. Here is an update up to the current turn

22-27 December 1941

Central Pacific

Allied submarines continued to lay mines off Midway. Eight new minefields were discovered and swept during this period at the cost of a MSW sunk on the 23. About 20 more MSW arrived on the 23 and half of them joined the minesweeping effort while the other formed with PC and PG 3 ASW groups to patrol E and SE of the island. Neither them or planes were able to hit any Allied submarine in the area.

KB returned to Midway, refuelling at sea before, and completed ammunition stocks. The F3/Tainan was disbanded to reinforce a depleted Zero unit. The CV sailed again on the 25 towards Johnson Island, following the convoy carrying the South Seas Detachment and the two TF (one of BBs and one of CAs) escorting it, that left on the 23. On the 27, KB airmen reported an AVD off French Frigate Shoals but didn’t attack. Nells from Midway also reported 2 TF (3 ships, only a DD identified) 360 miles ENE of Johnson Island. The KB will sail east tomorrow to intercept them. The KB was seen on the 27 by a Catalina (that was then shot down by the CAP) so the Allied won’t be surprised. The invasion of Johnson island will start in 3 days.

The troop convoy arrived off Midway on the 26 and started unloading an Av Rgt and 4 Const Bns. The latter will expand Midway port. The supply and fuel convoy arrived the next day. Also 27 Zeroes and 18 more Nells arrived in Midway on the 27.

The convoy carrying the 16th Div, that is scheduled to invade Lahaina, is now close of Midway and the invasion will take place in about ten days with the full fleet support. The mini-KB should arrive in time in the area. On the 24 it replaced its Claudes by Zeroes on Saipan and then sailed east.

Japanese submarines continue to cover the waters around Hawaii, especially east of the islands and reported each day between 4 and 10 Allied TFs in the area. Most are convoys or transports but there are also ASW groups and the main Allied fleet is propably cruising about 300-400 miles east of Hilo, where BBs and the CV Lexington (seen by a Glen on the 25) have been reported. Outside the reconnaissance activity (their main duty), IJN submarines were active on the West Coast-PH convoy road. They missed a TK on the 24 and heavily damaged an AK on the 26. The TK hit on the 20 sank on the 22. On the 23 the I-23 was depth charged by 3 DD of a TF of 5 but escaped undamaged and on the 26 I-174 was hit by a B-17E north of PH and sailed to Tokyo with damage 26/43/0. And a Glen was shot down by an Allied fighter (probably from a carrier) on the 25.

In the rear, a base force arrived in Marcus Island, that will be used to ferry short-range aircraft to Wake, Midway and then Hawaii. The first air unit to arrive here on the 27 was the B1/Saeki, which Vals and crews will be used to recomplete KB units.

The Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Hilo to size 2.

South Pacific

The FT TF returned from Makin to Kwajalein. No operation is planned in the area before all US CVs are located.

Luzon

The 32nd NLF occupied Aparri on the 22. A FT TF and transport aircraft carried on the following days two other naval units. The 32nd NLF marched south and occupied the undefended base of Tugueragao on the 25 (20 of the 100 ressources were found damaged). Another NLF was ordered on the 25 to advance to Laoag and Vigan.

Allied units are nowhere to be seen in northern Luzon. On the 23 recon aircraft reported 12 units in Clark Field and 22 in Manila. There are no more Allied aircraft in the area.

Formosa airmen raided Manila on the 22 (71 casualties), 23 (222 casualties), 24 (168 casualties, 1 PT sunk) and 27 (32 casualties). They also hit the SS S-38 east of Formosa on the 24. The AS Canopus was reported to have been scuttled in Manila port. More air units flew south to Borneo during this period.

Mindanao

The 56th Bde bombarded Allied positions at Cotabato during several days while two naval units surrounded it. One marched west from Cagayan, another was loaded into a TF (an AP and 2 DD, all damaged during the Davao operation and repaired in this base) and landed on the 25 in Dadjangas, taking the empty town on the 26. The same day the BB TF returning from Menado bombed Cotabato with little results before returning to Jolo. On the 27 the 56th Bde launched a shock attack and captured the city of Cotabato and 5400 POWs (the 101st PA Div and 3 US Base Forces). There are no more Allied troops on Mindanao.

Two NLF will occupy the bases around (Tawi Tawi, Butuan, Zaombaga (sp?)). Two AP and 6 PG sail from Palau to carry them. Then the same troops will be used to occupy the NE coast of Borneo and Palawan.

Borneo

The main Allied base in the are is Balikpapan. B-17C flying from here attacked Miri on the 22, 23, 24 and 25. Each raid opposed a dozen B-17 to 20-25 Nates and Zeroes. They did no damage, except shooting a Nate on the 24, but suffered no loss.
Jolo airmen were tasked to neutralize Balikpapan and raided the airfield on the 22 with no success, while 4 unescorted Betties met the P-40 CAP and lost one aircraft while searching a TK. More success was met the next day when 24 bombers and 23 Zeroes attacked the Allied ships off the port. The 6 P-40E flying CAP didn’t engage and at a cost of 2 bombers the Japanese airmen sank the CL USS Boise and hit the CA Houston with 2 torpedoes. Another small raid missed a TK at the same time. Allied ships then left the area, except solitary transports. Japanese bombers returned on the 25. The escort shot down a P-40E and two more were destroyed on the ground but AA fire shot down 2 Nells and a Betty. Balikpapan airfield was evacuated by the Allied on the evening of the 25.
The only remaining activity are transports and TK loading in Balikpapan in one-ship TFs. Four submarines are patrolling south of Balikpapan and another N of Darwin but they attacked nothing.

Dutch bombers were active on the 22 and 23 from Tarakan and sent some Martin to attack Japanese ships off Jolo and north of it without success. Another raid was launched on the 24 and met for the first time Zeroes over Jolo. Two of the 3 Martins were shot down by fighters and the last was destroyed by AA fire while attacking warships. All Allied planes left the base in the following days.

The 65th Bde began to land in Menado on the evening of the 23 and took the base on the 24, capturing 3700 POWs (5th DAF BF and Menado Garrison Bn). Two surface TF, including Kondo’s BBs, pounded the base for two days before its capture (destroying one Do24) and it was completely wrecked (damage 80/31/90). A surface TF (2 CA, 1 CL, 11 DD) covered supply unloading the next 3 days, as it was feared that Allied warships might raid the base. But there was no Allied activity at all in this area.

The next operation in this area will be the capture of Tarakan. The 35th Bde is in a convoy currently E of Borneo and will land there in 3 days. The BB TF will cover it. The surface TF that covered Menado operations will sail SE of Tarakan, close enough of Balikpapan to raid it if Allied ships are seen again in the area. The other surface TF (2 CA, 1 CL, 4 DD) sails from Jolo to Brunei to pick up a Const Bn here. It will land in Brunei next to 35th Bde and its engineers will help reduce the damage to the oilfields. Jolo airmen will continue to chase Allied ships but are ordered to bomb Tarakan as secondary target.

The main opposition in the area will be the Allied warships. Only American cruisers and DD were seen and attacked off Balikpapan. The British fleet has lost the Prince of Wales but its cruiser and DD are intact, as is the Dutch Navy.

Malaya

The Japanese Army continued to advance south while Japanese bombers from Alor Star (Saigon is now a rear area base with no operational aircraft and few personnel) bombed Singapore on the 22, 24 and 25 (respectively 8, 6 and 11 aircraft destroyed on the ground, 5 Sallies lost to AA in all). CAP was only met on the 25 and for their first show Hurricanes shot down 4 Oscars for no loss, Oscars shooting down 3 Buffaloes for one more loss.
Starting on the 24 Allied bombers and Hurricanes from Singapore started to attack Japanese troops, flying 30-40 sorties each day, and this continued until the 25th Army took Johore Bharu on the 26, repulsing an Australian Bde and a BF. Allied air attacks were unopposed except on the 25 when some Zeroes covered the troops and shot down 2 bombers.

A naval unit sent from Malacca occupied Kuantan on the 26. In the evening all Allied units were in Singapore. 3 Allied Bdes have suffered a defeat in the campaign, so the army is fairly untouched. The 25th Army (4 Div, 1 Bde, 1 Tk Rgt, 3 ENG Rgts, several ART units) will gather in Johore Bharu, where the HQ Southern Area will join it to support the final assault. Johore Bharu will also become a major base. The first aircraft (Nates and Anns) arrived on the 26 but the airfield was raided the next day by 6 Hurricanes and 37 medium bombers escorted by 6 Buffaloes. 22 Nates defended it and one was shot down by Buffaloes, that lost one of their number. Bombs destroyed 2 Nates and an Ann on the ground. In the evening Zeroes arrive from Bangkok while more transport aircraft bring air support personnel. An Eng Rgt was sent on the 26 towards Mersing and reported the town empty on the 27. It will occupy it tomorrow.

Allied submarines continued to patrol in the Gulf of Siam. A Ki-30 hit the KXVI off Kuantan on the 22. The only Japanese TF is the cruiser TF (4 CA, 6 DD) that covered Songkhia landing and now is cruising N of Kuching, in range of Singapore, since the 25. The SS KXV tried twice to attack it the 25 and missed a CA. I may order this TF to sail past Singapore to the western coast of Malaya.

The 25th Army will prepare the assault of Singapore the next week. It won’t be launched until the troops are at least 50% prepared for it.

Burma

Zeroes flew sweeps over Rangoon on the 23 (one Buffalo shot down) while Blenheims based here bombed Rahaeng this day and the following. On the 24 Rangoon airfield was raided by 61 Sallies and 35 Nells escorted by 9 Zeroes and 30 Oscars and 3 Buffaloes were shot down and 7 Blenheims destroyed on the ground. Allied bombers then left the base. Zeroes sweep over Rangoon again on the 26 (no CAP reported) and the 27 (one Buffalo met and shot down).

The ground offensive restarted on the evening of the 24. The 21st Bde, a Tk Rgt and the HQ 15th Army will advance from Tavoy to Moulmein, that is undefended. They have not reached it yet on the evening of the 27. The main attack was to be launched from Rahaeng by the 33rd Div and a naval Guard unit, with support of Bangkok bombers, while the 4th Mixed Rgt marched back to Bangkok to be rested. Allied troops NW of Rahaeng were bombed by 62 bombers on the 25 (127 cas) and 56 on the 26 (53). The naval Guard unit crossed the river on the 26 and suffered badly (180 casualties against only 2 Allied, high disruption), the 33rd crossed the next day, while bombers where grounded by bad weather and only achieved 0 to 1 ratio, losing 470 men to 150 Allied. Allied troops launched a deliberate attack the same day but lost 75 men for nothing. The 33rd Div has disruption 80 and fatigue 60 and will rest for some days before attacking again.

China

Japanese artillery pounded Yenen daily, hitting between 50 and 250 Chinese each day. The force that will march south of the city to surround it is still gathering SE of the city. It will be formed of 110th Div, 2/3 of 27th Div, 1 Bde and 1 Tk Rgt.

In central China, the truce was broken on the 25 when 60 dive bombers with Nate escort appeared over Changsha and bombed the resource centers. The attack was repeated the next day and both raids damaged 80 of the 600 ressource centers of the town. This is the start of a “strategic” bombing campaign to destroy Chinese supply sources.

In the south, a Chinese unit approached Nanning on the 27. The city has been evacuated by Japanese troops more than two weeks ago.

[AmiralLaurent]

28-29 December 1941

Central Pacific

The KB cruised east of Johnson Island for the two days. On the 28 21 Kates attacked the AVD Hulbert off French Frigate Shoals and scored 6 bomb hits. The ship was not seen the day after and may have been scuttled. A small convoy was hidden by clouds just south of KB and only a patrolling Val managed to hit an AK with a bomb. On the 29 Val and Kates launched by 3 CV (half of KB) sank this AK 120 miles E of Johnston Island and also two troop-laden ships (1 AP and 1 AK) 360 and 420 miles ESE of it. It is probable that this was a convoy sailing to the island that scattered on the evening on the 28. No other ship were seen in the area. A notable success was achieved on the 28 when a Zero flying CAP over the KB shot down a patrolling B-17E Fortress.

I thought Johnson Island would be reached by the invasion convoy on the 30, it arrived during the day phase of the 29. The two surface TF (one of BB and one of CA following it) had not received bombardment orders and so did nothing… except that the DD Sanae hit a Mk 16 mine. I then realized that I had not sent any MSW with the force, while I have 20-25 near Midway. I was lucky that no major warship hit any mine. During the landing an AP hit another Mk 16 mine but there was no coastal gun fire and the South Seas Detachment took the island (that had no forts at all) with a 2 to 1 ratio and captured the 116th USAAF Base Force (1400 POWs). Japanese losses were 325 men (30 when AP hit a mine, 199 during landing and 96 during the assault). Captured documents showed 550 mines around the island so I was really lucky. The base is almost intact but has no supply. So the transport TF will continue unloading despite the mines. Ten MSW are sent from Midway towards the base. Tinas from Midway will bring air support personnel, so some patrol aircraft may arrive here. The DD Sanae (damage 45/45/34) will try to reach Kwajalein but is probably doomed.

Japanese submarines continued to be active south, east and north of Hawaii. On the 28 the AK hit on the 26 sank and the I-21 attacked an ASW group of 5 DD, heavily damaging the Tucker with a torpedo and then escaping unscathed. They continued to report many Allied TF and on the 29 a Devastator was seen ENE of PH, so US CV(s) are still in the area. A second Glen was shot down by a CV fighter on the 29. Both submarines having lost their Glen sail to Midway to replace them. They will be replaced by the two submarines flying Glens W of Hawaii, that are no more needed here now that Japanese aircraft may be based on Johnson Island.

Only one new minefield was discovered off Midway during these two days and it was swept without loss. A second BB TF arrived on the 28 from Japan and refuelled off the island. More planes arrived in Midway (that has now 280 air support squads). Engineers are working all day long here and the port will be size 2 in one week.

On the 28, the main invasion force left Tokyo towards Hawaii. Its objective: Pearl Harbor. It carries around 100 000 men. 55 000 other are already at sea and will land in Lahaina first. 20 000 other are in Midway and Johnson Island. The LBA allocated to the operation was also chosen: 81 Zeroes, 135 Betties/Nells, 16 Mavis for the IJNAF and 36 Sallies, 27 Ki-30 and 27 Ki-48 for the IJAAF (whose fighters have too short a range to fly to Hawaii).

The next step of the operation is the capture of Lahaina. The 16th division convoy is now between Midway and Johnson and all TF covering Johnson island (a BB TF, a CA TF and the KB) will meet it north of Johnson, together with the resplenishment TF, and then sail together towards Hawaii. The BB TF currently at Midway and the mini-KB will join the fleet before the battle, so increasing its strength to 500 aircraft and 8 BBs. Lahaina should be Japanese in a week.

In the middle of December, it seemed to me that my opponent had realized I was coming for PH. The port was apparently evacuated and intense traffic was spotted east of Hawaii but nowhere else. The last days are making me more confident that I will achieve strategic surprise. The transports sunk the last turn were probably trying to reinforce Johnson while other have reached Palmyra and Christmas Island. If my opponent was excepting a major battle for PH, it would reinforce it first. Also the number of ships in PH is increasing again (81 the last days, it was 60 one week ago and 45 on week before) and the repair yard hit on Dec 8 is being repaired.

Philippines

A NLF took Laoag on the 28 (shock attack because a river is between this base and Aparri) and then stopped there for resting. Manila port was raided by 14 Betties and 24 Zeroes on the 29 with bad results (110 cas, 2 port hits). No Allied troops were seen near Japanese lines.

Dutch East Indies

The only activity was on the 28 when 38 IJNAF bombers and 16 Zeroes from Jolo raided Tarakan (26 casualties, 2 hits).

The 35th Bde will land in Tarakan tomorrow, covered by Kondo’s BB, that will pound the base, and by Zeroes from Brunei. The CA TF cruising SE of Tarakan was ordered not to raid Balikpapan, where single ships are loading, as the Allied warships are in an unknown position, and will escort the Tarakan operation. A FT TF arrives in Brunei and loads the Const Bn here to bring it to Tarakan to save the oilfields from sabotage.

After Tarakan, the next target will be Kendari. The 65th Bde (currently in Menado) is preparing for the operation. A BF and 2 Const Bn are loading in Formosa to sail to Menado and will land there then the ships will load the Bde and it will sail to Kendari with the support of LBA and the 3 surface TF available in the area.

Submarine sightings confirmed that Allied transports are bringing resources from DEI to Darwin but their commanders refused to waste torpedoes on merchants…

Malaya

The RAF spent two awful days. On the 28 3 Hurricanes and 25 bombers escorted by 6 Buffaloes attacked Johore Bharu. 20 Nates shot down a bomb-carrying Hurricane and damaged several bombers while 9 Zeroes shot down 4 Buffaloes. The bombs hit 98 Japanese but no aircraft. At the same time 31 Zeroes, 40 Oscars, 55 Sallies and 27 Nells raided Singapore and were opposed by 8 Hurricanes and 8 Buffaloes. Japanese fighters shot down 6 Hurricanes and 7 Buffaloes for no loss and then the bomber destroyed 7 aircraft on the groun while losing 3 to AA fire. The raid was repeated on the 29. The 63 escort met only 2 Hurricanes over Singapore and shot down both while the 78 bombers destroyed 12 medium bombers and 2 fighters on the ground at the cost of one Nell. Johore Bharu was raided again, this time by 14 Martins and 5 Brewster from Palembang. The CAP (13 Nates and 9 Zeroes) was only able to shot down a bomber and the other destroyed 2 Zeroes on the ground. Singapore airfield has probably been evacuated on the evening of the 28.

Remember my question about sending surface TF into hexes defended by CD guns ? I did it on the night of the 28-29, sending 4 CA and 5 DD to Singapore to intercept transports seen heading here. Well the CD guns didn’t open fire but the transports retreated before the IJN ships might engage and the DD Shirakumo hit a Mk 6 mine. She will very probably survive and be repaired in Saigon.

On the 28, the 23rd Eng Rgt occupied Mersing, the last Allied base on the mainland, without opposition. I forgot to check the status of the resources. The airfield of Johore Bharu received more air support personnel and 23 Ki-30s returned to the base to fly naval attack. The CAP will also be reinforced over the base. Alor Star is still the main base and bombers based here will continue to pound Singapore. A BF landed on the 29 in Songkhia from transports diverted from the convoy from Taan to Bangkok, that carried all troops remaining on Hainan Island. A tour of the Malaya bases (including Songkhia) shows that 140 000 supplies are available there so I decide to repair Kuala Lumpur resources (29 of the 600 are damaged) even if the campaign is not over.

Burma

On the two days, about 80 Sallies and Nells from Bangkok bombed the British troops NW of Rahaeng, hitting a total of 181 men. Neither side used artillery fire here. The 33rd Div is still recovering from its failed attack and its disruption dropped from 80 to 37 in two days. A new attack will be launched in probably 4 days.

Along the coast, the 14th Tk Rgt reached the suburbs of Moulmein on the 29. It will wait for the 21st Bde to take the empty town, so engineers will reduce the destruction of the resources. The Burma Army has 50 000 supplies available but 40 000 of them are still in Bangkok.

China

No artillery fire was used in Yenen in the (probably feint) hope that my opponent thinks I am retreating. He hasn’t used artillery either. The surrounding force should be ready to go in 2 days. Confused orders have led to the delay.

In Southern China, the 91st Chinese Corps liberated the empty town of Nanning on the 28. Pakhoi is still empty and under nominal Japanese control but communist partisans rule it in fact. Rather than seing Nationalist troops seize the city they destroyed everything in it (port and airfield damage near 100) and stole or destroyed all fuel and supply left behind by Japanese troops.

The map provided with this post shows the situation in the evening of the 28 and the next moves of IJN ships. The US CV are probably near the position marked US ASW groups ENE of PH.

[AmiralLaurent]

30-31 December 1941

Central Pacific

There was few action in this area. On the 30 KB CAP shot down a PBY while a Jake hit the SS Narwahl off French Frigate Shoals. On the 31 the SS I-173 was chased by 4 DD and then attacked by a SBD E of PH but escaped unhurt while the SS Porpoise was hit by a Val W of French Frigate Shoals.

The landing of men of supplies continues without opposition or mine hits on Johnson Island and the empty convoy sailed back to Midway in the evening of the 31. Transports flew in air support personnel and a Mavis Chutai arrived on the evening of the 31. Off Midway, no new minefield was found while two ML lay a defensive field of 480 mines.

The various Japanese TF in the area sailed to a refuelling point N of Johnson Ild and refuelled there on the 30 and 31. The mini-KB joined the fleet and received the Kaga to reinforce it. On the evening of the 31 a CA TF and the two CV TF sailed together towards Hawaii, while the other TF will escort the 16th Div convoy.

Philippines

Still a very quiet area. On Luzon, the NLF that took Laoag received orders on the 30 to continue to Vigan. On Mindanao, two APs and escort arrived on the 31 at Dadjangas and will load the NLF here to take Tawi Tawi. At sea, a Lily claimed a hit on the 31 on SS S-40 NW of Batan Island.

Dutch East Indies

In the early hours of the 30, the RO-68 missed an AK NW of Darwin. She then sailed towards Kendari to operate against transports in this area.

Tarakan was pounded by 2 BA, 2 CA, 1 CL and 3 DD on the 30 (101 cas, AK Anakan badly hit and scuttled) and the 31 (). The port was also bombarded twice by Jolo airmen but with very bad results (despite several daily recons of the base). On the 30, the invasion convoy landed the 35th Bde, 2 naval units and 1 Const Bn. Unloading was stopped the next day because of bad orders (do not unload) given to the TF and will resume tomorrow. Troops already ashore bombed the garrison and reported only 1300 able men on the Allied side. The FT TF bringing another CB will arrive tomorrow and then the assault will be started.
During the night of 30-31, the CA TF off Tarakan carries a SNLF from the beachhead to Samarinda, to cut the Allied retreat. The landing cost 92 casualties and was unopposed as this base is empty.

Tomorrow the unloading will continue while Samarinda will be seized. And then Tarakan will be taken.

Malaya

On the 30 Alor Star airmen raided again Singapore, destroying 2 fighters and 5 Blenheims on the ground. Three Dutch transports off the island were attacked by 11 Nells from Alor Star (1 torpedo hit) and 14 Anns from Johore Bhary (11 bomb hits). One was heavily damaged and two left on fire. An Allied fighter shot down an Alor Star-based Mavis.

The big news of the day was that I-164 reported Force Z (a BC, a CA, 2 APD) off Toboali. Recons on the 31 reported only a convoy there but that was enough to send 54 Nells and more Zeroes to Johore Bharu with naval attack orders. They should attack tomorrow. The CA TF left Saigon to resume patrols E of Singapore.

All resources in Mersing have been confirmed to be intact.

Burma

After a very quiet day on the 30, 87 Japanese bombers hit the BFF Bde NW of Rahaeng on the 31 (96 casualties). The 21st Bde occupied Moulmein without opposition on the 31 (99 ressources intact). On the evening of the 31 the 33rd Div is at disruption 16 fatigue 52 and will still wait to launch an attack. The coastal force won’t cross the river N of Moulmein before the 33rd Div is there.

On the evening of the 31, new orders stop the use of Nells for pounding ground troops. Only IJAAF bombers will be used in the next days.

China

Japanese artillery opened fire again on the 31 in Yenen, hitting 106 men. The surrounding force (110 Div, 2/3 of 27 Div, 10 Bde, 15 Tk Rgt) started its march on the same day, advancing 3-4 miles in the woods S of Yenen.
Eng troops will be needed for the battle and 2 Eng Rgt left Wuhan on the evening of the 30 towards Northern China. They waer busy building forts here but they are already level 7.

Bad weather delayed the air offensive against Changsha but it will resume tomorrow.

Japan

The CVL Shoho was commissioned on the 31. Two CA, 1 CL and 7 DD that were waiting for her joined her and they sailed towards Midway in the evening.

[AmiralLaurent]

Monthly report December 1941

Japanese score: 4 150 (+ 3 085)
Bases 1 782 (+ 717)
Aircraft 469 (+ 469)
Army 1 136 (+ 1 136)
Ship 708 (+708) 37 ships sunk (2 BB, 1 CA, 2 CL, 1 DD, 3 SS, 2 AS…)
Strategic 38 (+38) bombing of PH repair yard

Allied score: 7 312 (- 747)
Bases 7 036 (- 1 023)
Aircraft 221 (+ 221)
Army 23 (+ 23)
Ship 32 (+ 32) 6 ships sunk (2 SS, 1 AP, 1 PC, 2 MSW)
Strategic 0

Economic situation (stocks rounded to the thousand):
Supply stock: 2 563 000 (- 467 000)
Fuel stock: 3 991 000 (- 509 000)
Ressource centers : 13 119 (+ 999)
Ressource stock: 1 628 000 (- 172 000)
Oil centers : 1083 (+ 333)
Oil stock: 1 614 000 (- 186 000)
Manpower centers : 787 (+ 6)
Manpower pool : 149 000 (+ 49 000)
Heavy industry: 13 255 (+25)
Heavy industry pool: 42 000 (+ 22 000)
Naval shipyard: 1220 (+ 46)
Merchant shipyard: 1000
Repair shipyard: 557 (+ 22)
Armament industry: 568 (+ 67)
Armament stock: 27 000 (+ 7 000)
Vehicles industry: 113 (+ 23)
Vehicles stock: 305 (+ 305)
Aircraft engine factories: 1515 (+ 150)
Aircraft frames factories: 735 (+ 51)
Aircraft research: 37 (+ 36)

Aircraft production:
120 A6M2 Zero (capacity 162), 53 Ki-43-Ib Oscar (62), 39 D3A Val (41), 28 E13A1 Jake (28), 27 Ki-46 Dinah (31), 20 B5N Kate (28), 20 Ki-51 Sonia (45), 19 G4M1 Betty (26), 19 Ki-49 Helen (23), 16 A6M-2 Rufe (14), 15 Ki-21 Sally (20), 13 A5M4 Claude (I forgot this factory…, capacity now 0), 11 L2D2 Tabby (10), 7 Ki-57 Topsy (10), 5 E7K2 Alf (5), 5 H6K4 Mavis (8), 5 MC-21 Sally, 4 G3M1 Nell (20), 4 E14Y1 Glen (4), 4 L3Y Tina (5), 2 C5M Babs (4), 2 H6K2-L Mavis (2)

Total: 438 aircraft (186 fighters, 59 divebombers, 57 level bombers, 37 floatplanes, 29 recon, 29 transport, 20 torpedo bombers, 16 fighter floatplanes, 5 patrol)

Analysis of the strategic situation

The main focus of the Japanese offensive is and will remain in the next months the Central Pacific and more precisely Pearl Harbor. The plan here is evolving, as it is a first time for me. In the middle of the month, I decided to take Johnson as a forward base. The organization of troop and supply convoys is running almost as planned and the schedule of operations should be respected.
The original plan was hoping to catch in PH the ships damaged on the first day but the Kido Butai alone can’t control the seas around PH, especially as air losses were higher than planned, and they probably escaped. On the other hand the submarine swarm E of PH proved very useful, sinking a couple of transports and hitting 1 BB, 1 CA and 2 DD for only 2 losses.
It was feared that the US CVs will slip away from PH area and play havoc in SRA, where I have no CV left. It seems to me that the US fleet remained in PH area, E of the islands. I don’t think my opponent is excepting an attack on PH but in some days it will be obvious I’m going to invade Hawaii islands.

Forces engaged in the Pacific can’t be used in the SRA but the objectives set here have been reached, except in Burma. The LBA has defeated Allied airmen everytime they came to play and has sunk the Prince of Wales (and an US CL), greatly reducing the threat to Japanese ships.
In PI, Mindanao is now under Japanese control, Jolo and Batan Island are active airfields and troops have seized the northern part of Luzon, evacuated by Allied forces.
In DEI, the Tarakan operation is some days late but it will soon be taken. In N Borneo, Brunei is fairly intact but Miri has been destroyed at 2/3 by sabotage and B-17s.
The Japanese Army had taken the whole land part of Malaya without any trouble, almost seizing all resource centers intact. But the British Army escaped almost untouched and the Singapore battle will probably be hard. It is planned to start in mid-January and to last one month. Johore Bharu is already an active airfield and the blocus of Singapore is now effective.
The only theatre where Japanese forces failed is Burma. That was a sideshow from SRA, itself a sideshow from my strategy, but it still hurts. Especially as a part of the limited troops sent here are already so badly disrupted.

In China, I have three goals :
_ hold my positions. I currently build forts in all frontline towns and all road and rail are held by troops.
_ bomb China to the stone age. I started with DBs on Changsha. The rear areas will need long-range fighters and bombers and they won’t be available for a long time.
_ taking Yenen. I will try to surround the town… so Chinese troops will have the choice to retreat or to perish there. Trapping them will be a bonus but the strategy is more to allow them to retreat to take easily the town. The battle will probably last into February anyway.

Overall the plan will be maintained. The objectives for the month of January are :
_ seize Lahaina and take control of the waters around Hawaii. Land in PH and begin to reduce it.
_ advance in Singapore and begin to reduce it.
_ advance in Burma and seize Rangoon.
_ take Tarakan and Kendari in DEI. Build them as advanced bases.

Behind you will find some screen reports of the game after the 31 Dec turn. One thing that please me is the small naval losses. You can see that few of my ships are damaged and except the DD Sanae and the I-4, both trying to reach Kwajalein, none are in danger of sinking (even if you never know with IJN ships...).

[String]

I must give credit to AmiralLaurent, he keeps coming up with interesting strategic ideas.

The first was the "Invade northern australia to block off SRA from USA" idea, which he first used (i think) in the 3vs3 PBEM game, which sadly is dead now. A rather innovative idea but I as an opponent think that it wasn't very good for the japs. The benefits of cutting off SRA weren't that great as one could still move airgroups out by ship or to SEAC, while the invasion tied down several divisions, which otherwise could have been used elsewhere.

If it had been done quicker however, so as to cut off SRA before my B-17 groups reached singapore, it would have been very effective. An interesting strategy nevertheless and a very good game from my opponents, Mogami, Hopolosternum and AmiralLaurent.

(on other note, maybe we can continue it as a singleplayer game? I still have savegames)

Now the PH invasion idea however is much more interesting. Closing off the americans on west coast can have quite interesting results. But this also will tie down quite a lot of your forces in this area, as well in norther pacific, which would be an obvious route for the americans to advance through.

I can also speak from personal experience that the absence of KB from SRA makes the defence much much more easier and if your opponent was a bit more agressive then he could make your life quite difficult there with his warships. The british ships have good night fighting exp and make solid adversaries to IJN ships of same numbers and class. The D class CL's preform especially good considering their age.

But, If you do capture PH then taking the rest of the islands in SoPac and SwPac should be easy, you might even be able to take on NZ, and who knows, maybe even australia.

Btw, will you continue playing after autovictory in 1943? If you do get PH then it shouldn't be very hard to achieve.

[AmiralLaurent]

I must give credit to AmiralLaurent, he keeps coming up with interesting strategic ideas.

The first was the "Invade northern australia to block off SRA from USA" idea, which he first used (i think) in the 3vs3 PBEM game, which sadly is dead now. A rather innovative idea but I as an opponent think that it wasn't very good for the japs. The benefits of cutting off SRA weren't that great as one could still move airgroups out by ship or to SEAC, while the invasion tied down several divisions, which otherwise could have been used elsewhere.

If it had been done quicker however, so as to cut off SRA before my B-17 groups reached singapore, it would have been very effective. An interesting strategy nevertheless and a very good game from my opponents, Mogami, Hopolosternum and AmiralLaurent.

I used it in a 1vs1 PBEM still running and in the 3vs3. In the normal PBEM I was able to use much more power initially and effectively cut Allied supply lines so I am now invading Java with very little opposition. Another idea of the strategy is that Japan can seize N Australia easily in the start of the game and then use the troops elsewhere. Also I love the idea to wait a couteroffensive by the Allied and then land in force in S Australia.

(on other note, maybe we can continue it as a singleplayer game? I still have savegames)

It was a pity this game came to a stop but I have allready replaced it with this PH game and have no time on my agenda for another PBEM. Ask to Mogami, this guy never sleeps.

Now the PH invasion idea however is much more interesting. Closing off the americans on west coast can have quite interesting results. But this also will tie down quite a lot of your forces in this area, as well in norther pacific, which would be an obvious route for the americans to advance through.

I think the KB will be enough to hold the Americans at home. Operations in the Aleutians and even Alaska may be launched after PH fell

I can also speak from personal experience that the absence of KB from SRA makes the defence much much more easier and if your opponent was a bit more agressive then he could make your life quite difficult there with his warships. The british ships have good night fighting exp and make solid adversaries to IJN ships of same numbers and class. The D class CL's preform especially good considering their age.

My advance in SRA is far slower than usual. I know Force Z is good at night, so I stay away from them. I didn't land at Kuantan, Mersing or Kuching but always well inside the range of LBA. And I cover each landing with 3 surface TF, so I probably won't lose a naval battle. Last, I monitored warships in the area and changed bad captains. I discovered that the skipper of Haruna is around 40 in capacity. No wonder that his ship get sunk by the PoW in half my games.

But, If you do capture PH then taking the rest of the islands in SoPac and SwPac should be easy, you might even be able to take on NZ, and who knows, maybe even australia.

After PH, it is planned to conquer the Pacific islands. Then I will hit a big target but I haven't decided wich one.

Btw, will you continue playing after autovictory in 1943? If you do get PH then it shouldn't be very hard to achieve.

1943 is a long way ahead. But playing a game so long, I will probably claim a moral victory and then continue to get pounded to stone age.

[AmiralLaurent]

1-4 January 1942

Central Pacific

The first day of the month was marked by a big raid of 109 B-17E against Johnson Island that hit hard the runways and the supplies. Two bombers were lost to op losses. Japanese admirals were not really confident to know so much heavy bombers were opposing them but the two CV TF nevertheless received orders to sail to 180 miles of PH the next day.
For some reason, they were late and at 300 miles of the island at dawn. They launched first a sweep by 6 Zeroes that reported 66 fighters on CAP and shot down 3 P-40B and 2 F4F-4 without loss. A raid of 56 Zeroes, 69 Vals and 38 Kates (with bombs due to the range) was then launched. But before they attacked, American bombers arrived near the Japanese ships, that were protected by 105 fighters. The first American formation was 7 B-17E and all were shot down without loss. Then arrived 71 B-17E escorted by 10 P-40B and 4 P-40E. The Zeroes shot down all the escort and 27 heavy bombers but lost 10 fighters to the bombers’ gunners. One of the 3 US groups involved turned back when it was reduced to 10 bombers but the two others (34 remaining aircrafts) bombed Japanese CVs and BBs. They scored no hit and lost 2 more bombers to AA fire.
At the same time, the Japanese raid arrived over PH and met 20 F4F-4, 18 P-40B, 15 P-36A and 8 P-40E. The Japanese escort was able to stop all American attempts to reach the bombers and shot down 15 F4F-4, 14 P-36A, 8 P-40E and 2 P-40B (the other fled) while losing 7 of them. The bombers hit a convoy, sinking the PG Tui, heavily damaging 2 other AK, setting in fire 7 and hitting lightly a last one.
In the afternoon, two small US raids targeted the KB but both turned back when the CAP (69 Zeroes) intercepted. These skirmishes saw 3 P-40B, 1 B-17E and 3 Zeroes fall. 17 other B-17E attacked a surface TF west of the KB (escorting the Lahaina convoy) and the DD Nenohi was lightly damaged (17/8/0) by a bomb.
Another Japanese raid (40 Zeroes, 37 Vals, 40 Kates) flew to PH, targeting another convoy. 19 Allied fighters (9 F4F-4, 5 P-40B, 4 P-36A, 1 P-40E) intercepted. 5 F4F-4, 2 P-40B and 1 P-36A were shot down but they destroyed 2 Zeroes, 2 Kates and 1 Val. The raid then bombed four AK, sinking the Exmoor and heavily damaging the 3 other.
At the end of the day, two KB airmen were now aces (6 and 5 kills) but also a Marine Wildcat pilot of VMF-211 (5 kills). KB Zero units had lost more than 20 pilots during the day and 27 Zeroes flew from Midway to reinforce the airgroups of Soryu, Hiryu and Akagi.
During the day Japanese floatplanes flew recon over all Hawaii Island. They reported 27 units, 85 ships, 339 aircraft (46/148/145) in Midway and 1 unit, 2 ships, 5 fighters (but no CAP) and 11 patrol aircraft in Lahaina. Submarines reported an USN naval concentration 420 miles ESE of PH, too far away of the KB. The Japanese CVs retired west to rest aircrews and refuel.
During the night of the 2-3, 8 Nells from Midway bombed PH airfields without success and two were lost operationally. After dawn, some Zeroes and floatplanes returned to PH and reported no CAP but AA shot down a Jake. KB CAP shot down 2 PBYs during the day.
In the evening of the 3, 2 CA and 3 DD detached from the KB to sail to PH and attack ships reported there. A convoy escaped them by retreating at sea but they surprised and sank the ML Oglala without damage.
The KB has also sailed east and was at dawn at 120 miles S of PH. Naval patrols reported 8 DM west of Kona, 5 AK off PH and 3 AK NE of it. Japanese airmen flew 618 sorties during the day without encountering Allied aircraft (except PBY, 3 were shot down by CAP) and hit heavily the DM TF in the morning (6 DM sunk, 1 heavily damaged, the last wasn’t hit), the PH convoy in the afternoon (all 5 AK sunk) and the convoy NE of it in both phases (all 3 AK sunk). The cost of these operations was 6 Kates (2 AA, 4 ops) and 2 Vals (ops).

During these four days, port building continued in Midway, helped by the arrival on the 2 of the convoy bringing 2 Eng Rgt (that will be used for PH assault) and the port reached size 2 on the 4. US submarines continued to lay mines off the island but they were swept without loss or damage. 51 Zeroes and 27 Betties arrive in the island on the 2 and 4. On the 3 the SS S-18 attacked a Japanese ADW group 240 miles SE of the island and sank the PC Shonon Maru 3.

MSWs arrived off Johnson Island on the first hours of the 3 and swept all mines in 2 days without loss. They will join the Lahaina invasion.

The Lahaina convoys have sailed without problems (except the B-17 attack on the 2), first SE before turning east towards Kona and were in the evening of the 4 180 miles SW of Lahaina.

East of Hawaii, the IJN submarines had two rather bad days. On the 3 the I-22 was chased during the night by 4 DDs and hit by a DC thrown by the DD Dale while the I-21 was hit by a SBD in the morning. The next night the damaged I-22 met an USN replenishment TF and was sunk by the DD Humphreys and some hours later the I-3 was damaged by another SBD. The IJN submarines made no attack and few sighting in the period. Despite the losses and hits, still 20 submarines remained in the area and some others are sailing towards it.

The Lahaina landing was planned tomorrow but the great numbers of DM/ML met (and destroyed…) made me think twice to it. Recons revealed few or no troops of Kona, Hilo and Lahaina and the 16th Div is probably able to take all three but I don’t want to blunder into giant minefields with my troop convoys. So PGs are sent to these 3 bases to test the defences while all TFs, including reinforcement MSW being a little late, will gather 120 miles SW of PH (so 120 miles W of Lahaina). KB airmen are mainly ordered to bomb airfield at dawn, only 2/3 of the Kates being given naval attack orders. The number of US aircraft in PH has risen to 455 (58/195/202) and hitting them on the ground should be a good idea. I also suspected my opponent to provide me empty AKs as targets to deplete the KB airpower while his CVs are waiting ENE of PH. A good thing is the small numbers of fighters. On the other hand, I guess some of the bombers and “auxiliary” are SBD and TBF detached from the CVs and they may overwhelm KB CAP by sheer numbers….

Philippines

On Luzon, the 31st NLF marched from Laoag to Vigan and occupied it on the 3. The next day an Allied unit appeared in Lingayen (6400 men, probably a division coming from Clark Field) and the NLF received orders to retire to Laoag. Bombers based on Batan Island will bomb these Allied troops.

In the south the Japanese occupied without opposition Tawi Tawi (on the 3) and Talaud Island (on the 2). The seizure of this little dot S of Davao drew a comment by my opponent, that didn’t understand it. It is just that every time I checked the strategic map, this green spot drew my eyes and I clicked there to check if it was an Allied TF or sub. Now it is a red dot.

Not much is excepted in the area in the next days. The last development is that 4 Allied subs were seen on the 4 south of Manila (in the middle of the islands). Either they are damaged ships leaving the area or operational ships sailing south as the waters N of Luzon are definitely empty of Japanese shipping (and another submarine was hit there in the 2 by an aircraft). In both cases ASW patrols will be reinforced in the area.

Dutch East Indies

The Yokosuka 2nd SNLF took Samarinda on the 1st without meeting any opposition and then Tarakan, that has been bombarded by ships (2 BB, 4 CA, 2 CL, 14 DD) and Jolo Betties and Nells for two days was taken on the 2 by the 35th Bde, a Naval unit and 2 Const Bn (the second was brought there from Brunei by a FT TF and landed on the 1). The Dutch garrison was crushed and retreated SW, except the coastal gun crews that were captured but the base was badly wrecked by all the pounding (86/20/59) and the resources were also badly damaged. Only 270 of the 600 resource and 21 of the 100 oil centers are working.

On the 1 and 2 a dozen of B-17C (probably based in Java) tried to hit IJN ships off Tarakan. On the 2 Zeroes flying LRCAP shot down one. If was feared that these bombers will raid the oil/resource after Tarakan fell and so it was still covered by LRCAP on the 3 and 4. The airfield is now usable again and some fighters arrived on the evening of the 4 to cover the base.

Troops in Samarinda and Tarakan both marched to meet each other and crush between them the Dutch units fleeing Tarakan. Jolo airmen bombed these troops on the 4. They will then seize Balikpapan but will wait that an Eng Rgt arrive to reduce the damage to the oil centers when it will fall.

During the night of the 2-3, two ML laid a defensive minefield off Menado. This base is still waiting for reinforcements (especially a base force) and supplies.

Malaya

Alor Star airmen (2 Sally Sentais) bombed Singapore port on the 1, 2 and 3, hitting 2 allready damaged AK sometimes and a SS once but losing a half-dozen bombers to AA fire. That was enough to make some damaged ships attempt to escape but Johore Bharu grew to a fully active airbase with 2 Daitais of Nells and 1 Sentai of Ki-51 on naval attack and Zeroes, Nates and Oscars for escort and CAP. The MSW Ballarat was sunk on the 2 while trying to sail from Singapore to Palembang, as was the AK Lembatang on the 4.

Recon aircraft and submarines reported during the whole period several TF (including CA at least once) off Toboali but it was never enough to see a raid launched against them. Only success in the are was on the 3 when SS I-158 sank a British MSW SW of the base and then evaded his 3 sisterships. Johore Bharu airmen liked better hitting ships off Palembang on the 3. In the morning 6 Brewster 339 bounced 12 Oscars and shot down one before being attacked by 25 Zeroes, that shot down 3 Dutch fighters. The 6 Nells hit a TK once and left her burning. The Japanese airmen returned in the afternoon, Zeroes shot down 2 more Brewster and 24 Nells sank a British TK.

Dutch airmen from Palembang raided Johore Bharu on the 1 and 2. The first day 20 Nates intercepted 6 Brewster and 12 Martins, shooting down 3 and 1 for no loss, but the bombers destroyed 3 Zeroes on the ground (while losing one more Martin to AA). The next day Zeroes were also flying CAP and 3 more Brewters and 2 Martins were shot down but bombs fell again on the airfield and destroyed a Nell. The whole 25th Army is at Johore Bharu preparing for attacking Singapore and the engineers are expanding the port rather than doing nothing. It is now size 3.

The CA TF cruising N of Kuching saw no target in range and retired to Saigon on the 3, after evading bombs thrown by 3 Martins from Palembang on the 2. It might have hit Toboali but the Allied transports will probably evade while Dutch and British warships may react.

Day after day, more base forces and more air units arrive in Johore Bharu and the air units based here are ruling the seas around Singapore. The only problem is that they refuse to fly to Toboali (where there are TFs of up to 6 transports if I believe my recons…). Bombings of Singapore will now target the airfield, as it is an easier target than the port.

Burma

British forces retreated towards Rangoon, as reported on the 1 Japanese airmen that bombed British troops in the area. On the 2 the 33rd Div launched a shock attack from its bridgehead and discovered only the 1st Burma Bde was facing it. It was easily repulsed. The Div then began to march westwards to pursue while troops in Moulmein will wait that the Div holds the other side of the river north of Moulmein to cross it.

From what are reporting the air recons, British are probably evacuating Rangoon towards Mandalay.

In the north, British engineers are busy expanding Asansol airfield (now size 4 after 2 or 3 expands in a short time), probably to receive heavy bombers.

China

Changsha resources were bombed by around 60 divebombers on the 1, 3 and 4. Around 120 new centers were disabled and now a third of the 600 of the city are out. AA shot down 3 Anns and as the type proved too vulnerable to AA both units there were upgraded to Sonias.

In the north, Japanese artillery continued to pound Yenen while other troops are still slowly advancing in the forest south of it.

In the south, a limited operation was launched on the 2 from Hanoi (21st Div and a naval unit) and Canton (38th and 104th Div, 19th Bde + support units). The goal is to defeat Chinese troops in the Nanning area in a short raid and to give some experience to Japanese troops. The crossroads NW of Canton was occupied without opposition but recons and patrols have yet shown no Chinese unit except one in Nanning and 10 in Wuchow (that won’t be attacked).

[AmiralLaurent]

5-6 January 1942

Central Pacific

On the 5, the 3 PG sent on recon off Lahaina, Hilo and Kona saw no mines and no defending ship. An ASW group chased an US submarine west of Kona with no success. As I excepted the day was full of aerial activity. I was alarmed to see VF pilots shooting down my patrol pilots (1 Val, 2 Daves, 1 Alf and 1 Pete were shot down during the day by US fighters) and thought US CVs, or at least their airgroups, would be involved in the battle. They weren’t, after the turn I saw in the operations report that the victories were scored by VMF pilots, based in PH.
The Kido Butai launched a raid against PH airfields with 61 Zeroes, 111 Vals and 61 Kates. They met 10 F4F-4, 12 P-36A, 7 P-40B and 4 P-40E that were slaughtered by the escort. 1 Zero, 9 F4F-4, 4 P-36A, 4 P-40B and 4 P-40E were shot down in the air battle. The bombers were unattacked before reaching the target but met a tremendous AA that shot down 28 Vals and 2 Kates. I made a mistake, I should have kept Vals on naval attack and sent all my 150 Kates on airfield attack at 20000 feet, where they would have suffered far less losses. Now the IJN has only about 100 Vals in the whole Pacific. The bombing was not a failure anyway and destroyed 41 planes (10 PBY, 9 B-26B, 7 P-40E, 6 F4F-4, 6 LB-30 and 3 B-17E). 577 men were hit and 129 bombs hit the runways or the services.
A CAP of 101 Zeroes was around the CVs. During the day, they shot down 4 Catalinas and an uncommon Coronado. But they also welcomed the attack launched by PH airmen on the morning. Sadly for them Allied airmen were unable to coordinate their attacks and arrived piecemeal. The first were 12 B-25C (all shot down, 1 Zero lost), then came 27 B-26B (14 shot down, survivors turned back, 2 Zeroes lost).
The main raid arrived after them with 7 F4F-4, 6 P-36A, 4 P-40B and 3 P-40E escorting 14 SBD, 16 B-18 Bolo, 5 A-20B and 34 B-17E. Zeroes scored 47 victories (13 SBD, 13 B-18, 7 F4F-4, 4 P-36, 4 A-20B, 4 P-40E, 4 B-17E and 1 P-40B) for 3 losses. Only one SBD crew managed to get through the CAP before turning back and missed the BB Nagato.
Then arrived two lost SBD, that were quickly shot down, then 5 A-20B, that were also all shot down, and in the end an unescorted medium raid of B-18, B-25C, B-17E, B-26B and LB-30 (of 7th BG, a newcomer in the area…). Their crews were aware of what happened to their friends and most turned back under attack. CAP shot down 3 LB-30, 2 B-25C and 1 B-18 while losing one Zero. One B-25C managed to close the BB Fuso and missed her.
Last raid of the morning saw 6 B-17E come close of the CAP and skirmish with it, shooting down one Zero before turning back without loss. Some Allied airmen attacked easier targets in the morning. 6 B-17s hit once the PG sailing around Lahaina to search mines, 3 LB-30s missed a MSW W of Kona and 3 Boloes missed too a PG off Hilo. In the afternoon, clouds covered the KB and only some Japanese aircrafs flew, a Val hitting the SS S-34 W of Hilo. PH launched 51 bombers against the biggest Japanese TF in range, 4 MSW and 2 PC west of Kona, and they sank the MSW Seki Maru 3 and Anishi Maru. I was already short of MSW close of Hawaii….
Kido Butai fighters scored today 114 victories (including those over PH) for only 10 losses (one operational) and count now 9 aces (1x7, 4x6 and 4x5). The total losses today were 160 Allied vs 50 Japanese.
On the evening of the 5, both CV TF, the Lahaina troop convoy, 2 BB TF and a CA TF were all 120 miles SW of Pearl Harbor, 180 miles from Lahaina. The PG have reported no mines or coastal defences and the air threat from PH was reduced to 220 aircraft, mostly PBY (14/87/121), and their morale was probably shaky. I hesitated to split the troop convoy to land in Hilo and/or Kona at the same time of Lahaina, and even created TFs and then ordered all ship back in one TF. I need only one base and it will be hard enough to defend it against B-17. And I want to be sure to seize it quickly.
On the evening of the 5, 9 Vals and 27 Zeroes flew aboard the KB ships from Midway and Johnson. The Val losses have made enough room for more Zeroes, even if it was not planned at all.

So on the 6, the troop convoy arrived off Lahaina, covered by both BB TFs and 30 Zeroes on LRCAP. The old DD Sagi hit a Mk 16 mine and sank. An AP then hit a mine during the landing of 16th Div (total 873 casualties) and another was hit by a patrolling Allied aircraft but both are not heavily damaged. The 16th Div confirmed there is only one Allied BF on the island.
PH and KB launched no raid during the day, only patrols and Japanese CAP flying. Zeroes shot down 6 more PBY while Vals and floatplanes hit hard US submarines that sailed out of PH in force. At least 8 submarines were in the waters 120 miles SW of PH, where KB was the day before. But KB sailed 60 miles E during the night… Two submarines (S-18 and S-34) were sunk by repeated hits off PH and at least 3 other were damaged.

East of Hawai, the Japanese submarines saw only some APs and reported no attack against them on the 5. On the 6 the I-24 attacked in full daylight the AK Barbara Olson on the surface about 600 miles of PH and sank her without damage. And a Glen reported 4 CA and a CL 1200 miles ENE of PH and sailing east. No SBD or TBD was seen since two days so it is probable that USN warships (maybe lacking fuel) are sailing towards the West Coast.

Lahaina should fall tomorrow. More MSW sailed on the evening of the 6 towards this area from Midway and Johnson Island. 1 CA and 4 DD will sweep waters off PH during the night, just in case the 2 ships docked at Lahaina tried to reach it during the night. Recon reported 286 AC (31/114/121) on PH, 66 more than yesterday, but the airfields won’t be attacked. The number of ops of the CVs is at 55-70% and I will only launch naval attacks. The KB will sail to 60 miles SW of PH to evade submarines (that will probably all go to Lahaina) and will continue to LRCAP Lahaina with 2 Daitais of Zeroes.

More aerial reinforcements are on the way. In two ways started towards Hawaii 27 Zeroes from Jolo, 27 Ki-21 from China (14th Sentai) and 9 Vals from Japan (the last ones not aboard CVs).

Southern Pacific

Barges landed hald of a NLF in Wewak, New Guinea, on the 5 and the base was occupied on the 6. Some APs arrived off Woelai and will carry the local BF to Hollandia, and then bring back to Palau the air support personnel brought in Hollandia by transport aircraft.
F3/Chitose converted from Claudes to Zero on the 5. It is planned to send it to…. yes, you bet right, Hawaii.

Philippines

Not the most interesting part of this game. Ki-48s from Batan Island hit both days the 11th PA Div at Lingayen (total 50 casualties).

Dutch East Indies

28 bombers from Jolo hit on the 5 troops retreating from Tarakan. They have not been caught by pursuing Japanese troops yet. More aircraft arrived in Tarakan, where airfield is now fully repaired.
Both convoys carrying reinforcements to Menado will arrive in the next day and Kondo’s BB TF sail to this island to protect them.

Malaya

On the 5 Johore Bharu airmen continued to ignore the Allied transports off Toboali while 39 Sallies from Alor Star bombed Singapore airfields (88 casualties) without loss. They also reported no more ship in the port, so the badly damaged Dutch AK Siberoet was probably scuttled during the night. In the evening, all combat air units of Alor Star moved to Johore Bharu. And all bombers there (112) received orders to bomb with 54 Zeroes flying escort Palembang airfield, where 155 AC (29/30/96) were reported by recons. But bad weather cancelled the raid the next day. Orders were repeated for tomorrow.

The CA TF refuelled in Saigon and then sailed to Johore Bharu, that it will protect against Allied bombardment runs. If Allied torpedo bombers are sent to Singapore to hit them, the CAP should be able to decimate them. On the 6 a Dutch submarine tried to attack the TF but was detected and chased. The TF will arrive tomorrow.

25th Army is still preparing for Singapore. The first units should reach 50% preparation next week.

Burma

On the 5, 46 Sallies from Bangkok bombed Rangoon with bad results. The base is almost empty anyway. 33rd Div occupied the hex north of Moulmein on the 5 and troops waiting S of the river joined it the next day. Only one Allied unit is still in Rangoon (probably the one that can’t move). The town will be seized in the next days but Mandalay will probably be a hard nut to crack. It is good news that my opponent didn’t try to defend the river crossings in the area.

China

Troops still moved slowly around Yenen, that was pounded daily by Japanese artillery.

Changsha was bombarded again on the 6 (by 30 Ki-51). Later reports were somewhat optimistic when they claimed 200 ressources were disabled, as after the last raid (16 hits claimed) only 193 are.

In the south, the 21st Div arrived NW of Nanning, with the naval unit keeping the road to Indochina. Only a Chinese Corps was reported at Nanning and nothing around. 1/3 of the Div will keep the road, the 2/3 will reach Nanning and attack the Chinese Corps.

Japan

I changed much less things as I do usually in Japanese production, especially regarding the aircraft research. And I realized on the last turn that I was producing more supplies, fuel and HI than what I was consuming. I have 170 000 supplies in Osaka, while all Japanese cities are well supplied. And that is despite sending convoys almost every day out. First time I saw this in one of my games, I will not have enough AKs. I should say that most of the AK starting in remote ports didn’t use the first turn “magic move”.
I expanded the Zero (+ 44), armament (+ 24) and naval shipyard (+ 20) production.

[Mike Scholl]

Don't have the exact figures at hand, but as I recall something like a half dozen US fighters managed to get off the ground during the original and histoic Pearl Harbor raid, and they shot down about a half dozen of the raiders with small loss to themselves. That's under the conditions of total suprise and unpreparedness. Doesn't it strike you that the results the game is giving you during your continued assults on the same target are a bit "off"? As in totally absurd and completely one-sided? Just wondering....

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

Don't have the exact figures at hand, but as I recall something like a half dozen US fighters managed to get off the ground during the original and histoic Pearl Harbor raid, and they shot down about a half dozen of the raiders with small loss to themselves. That's under the conditions of total suprise and unpreparedness. Doesn't it strike you that the results the game is giving you during your continued assaults on the same target are a bit "off"? As in totally absurd and completely one-sided? Just wondering....

It seems to me that US claims during PH were inferior to their own losses in the air. And claims are not real Japanese losses, even if Japanese aircraft didn't survive much hits. Also when you launch the historical PH raid in WITP, with only 6 CVs and 2 Zero Daitais attacking airfields rather than flying escort, US fighters usually reached bombers shot down half a-dozen aircraft in most cases.
Right now I have 6 CVs, 2 CVLs and 2 CVEs cruising off PH. I will rather compare results I achieve with what happened in Midway with Allied CAP and LBA. They were decimated until the Japanese CAP was exhausted, dispersed and out of fuel/ammo and the DB arrived. You can have exactly the same thing happen in WITP where CAP is less and less efficient when following raids arrive. In my case, what saves me from damage was the fact that the first raids were destroyed or turned back before all my fighter units were engaged so I still had fresh fighters to stop the last ones.

I was excepting that my opponent will send his CV airgroups to PH and they will fly fron the airfield here. In this case the extra F4F-4, SBD and TBF will probably get trough at least in part and score some hits. As I said the battle we had is like Midway but without US CVs in the area and with twice more aircraft on both sides. On the other hand the battle is not so one-sided, I have allready lost around Hawaii about 60 Zeroes, 60 Vals, 40 Kates and about twenty other aircraft (Nells, Mavis, floatplanes), most of the time with their crews.

[AmiralLaurent]

7-8 January 1942

Central Pacific

The 16th Div continued to land in Lahaina on the 7 under fire by the US defenders that hit slightly (all above SYS 10) 5 APs during the day. 980 men were lost or disabled during the landing while the AP Shozan Maru hit another Mk 16 mine and was badly damaged. The island surrendered in the evening (deliberate attack at 156 to 1, fort 0, no Japanese losses), the 107th USN BF was captured (1700 POWs), the badly damaged CL Detroit and the AVD McFarland were scuttled in the port and one P-26 seized on the airfield. All installations were intact, as the base wasn’t bombed. Captured charts show 430 mines off the island. For some reasons MSW cruising off Lahaina didn’t sweep mines there this day but went to Hilo to sweep another field.

During the night of the 6-7 the small surface TF sent off PH reported some mines that were sunk by rifle fire without damage but met nothing else. Only patrols flew from PH on the 7 and Zeroes shot down 5 PBY and a Coronado. Another Coronada hit SW of Kona the damaged PC Ch 20 and she was scuttled in the evening. 5 Zeroes escorted a Jake on a recon to PH and met no CAP but AA shot down the Jake.

I was excepting attacks by DDs or PTs, or another round of air attack but my opponent only used submarines. 6 were 120 miles SW of PH and 5 S of it but KB was just 60 miles SW of PH, where only the SS Plunger was. She tried 3 times to attack and was every time seen and chased. Japanese aircraft chased submarines all around and sank the Pompano off PH (2 hits) and hit 5 other submarines once.

The badly damaged Shozan Maru was docked in Lahaina in the evening of the 7 while one Jake flew to the airfield for flying naval search (and draw Allied bombers). I was excepting a bombing attack on the island, either at night or at day and LRCAP was maintained over the island, with other units.

The KB moved to 60 miles W of PH during the night. Vals had orders to fly naval attack, Kates naval as primary and bombing airfield at 20000 ft as secondary. No ship was at sea except 15-20 submarines and these were hit very hard. Only one was at the right place and she was unable to attack. Japanese Nells from Midway, Mavis from Johnson, Vals, Kates, Jakes, Petes and Daves of the KB (2 CS sailed with the KB) launched 63 ASW attacks in the morning, scoring 10 hits on seven submarines (7 hits on 5 allready damaged) and performed even better in the afternoon with 73 attacks, 11 hits on 9 submarines (5 allready damaged). The SS Nautilus, Dolphin, Pollack and Grayling sank in the evening. Such successes were scored by about 20 Nells (from Midway), 9 Mavis (from Johnson) and about 20 Vals, 25 Kates and 30 floatplanes from KB, all crew being above 80 exp. Allied submarines were often reported for two days and were almost all in the same 3 hexes so all had a high detection level. I think the fact that the sub patrol TF had no autodisband orders available is the cause of the loss of 3 of the 4 submarines lost this day and probably of the loss of 2 submarines the day before. On the other hand submarines are able to survive high FLT score and to sail up to the West coast (or Japan) without sinking, so I sink that my opponent did a mistake when he sent them to PH.
PH airmen remained on the ground, even PBY didn’t fly at all on the 8 and the daily Zero sweep over PH reported no CAP. Clouds covered the island in the afternoon so KB launched no raid against it. No ship left the port either. During the day two MSW swept some Allied mines off Lahaina.

Recon showed 426 Allied aircraft on PH (48/170/208). Again I think that it is possible SBD and TBD are counted in the auxiliary total. KB will sail 120 miles SW, so will be 3 hexes away from PH and will not be attacked with torpedoes. Orders remain the same: LRCAP Lahaina and attack PH airfield with Kates if no ship is seen.

Japanese submarines saw no more warships of CV aircraft during these two days. Five submarines chased a convoy sailing SE of Hawaii towards San Francisco and will continue in the next days. It is interesting to note that almost only AKs were seen around PH (and they carried no troops when attacked) while S of it or around Johnson Island mostly APs were reported and those sunk were full of troops. So it is thought propable all unit reinforcements were sent to atolls and PH received no more defenders.

The landing in PH was planned around the 20. The convoys are sailing slower than planned and the new date is set as the 30. The main objective is to build Lahaina and then base bombers and BB here to pound PH. Tinas will begin tomorrow to transport Const Bn from Midway to Lahaina. KB will sail in few days to Midway for refuel/rearm/reorganisation of the airgroups and then return to patrol E of PH. CVL Shoho arrived in Midway on the 8 was joined by the CVE Taiyo and sailed E to join the KB. The plan is to have half of the CV going to Midway while the other will patrol N of PH, so stopping any general stampede.

In the rear area, more supply and fuel is loaded in Japanese ports for this theatre. And an AP convoy sailed on the 8 towards Bonin to pick up all troops based here and bring them forward. Two recon units (11 a/c) received orders on the 8 to move to Hawaii and started from Takao and Bangkok the long ferry route.

Southern Pacific

On the 7, a Glen reported an AP off Canton Island and another NW of it. A RO submarine sent to the island reported no contact on the next day.

On the 8, some headhunter tribes joined the Coprosperity Sphere when Dagua surrendered to the NLF occupying the nearby base of Wewak, New Guinea. Allied engineers expanded Port Moresby airfield to size 4 the same day.

Philippines

On Luzon, the NLF of Vigan retreated to Laoag on the 7 and will wait and see there. The 11th PA Div was still in Lingayen on the 8, when 9 Ki-48 from Batan Island bombed it (20 cas).

On Mindanao, a NLF marched on the 8 to Butuan from Cagayan and will occupy it tomorrow.

Dutch East Indies

The “main offensive operation” planned for these two days was a landing in Zaombaga, Mindanao. As a sub was reported there on the 7, the transports were sent to Sandakan and unloaded a NLF here on the 8.

On Borneo, the 35th Bde finally marched out of Tarakan on the 8 and as there is a river shock attacked the fleeing troops of Tarakan, that were slowed by lack of supply and bombing raids. Both Dutch units (VII Garrison Bn and 2nd DAF BF) surrendered and Japanese counted 1000 POWs. The 35th Bde will continue to Samarinda, rest there while the 5th Eng Rgt will arrive by sea under naval escort and then march to Balikpapan.

Patrols reported both days Allied cruisers off Macassar. They are outside escorted range of torpedo bombers. Convoys carrying base forces will arrive in the next day both in Tarakan and Menado and build them to size 4 airfields. I may also send 3 Nell/Betty Daitai and a Zero unit to one of this base and attack the ships with bombs at high altitude. Both sides should suffer few losses.

Malaya

On the 7, 45 Nells, 34 Ki-21 and 22 Ki-48 (with 18 Ki-43 and 19 Zeroes) raided Palembang airfield. They met no CAP and lost only one Ki-21 to AA. 17 Allied aircraft (5 Martin 139, 4 Wirraways, 3 Hurricanes, 2 Lodestars, 1 Vildebeest, 1 Swordfish and 1 Lockeed 212) were destroyed on the ground. This raid should have been repeated the next day but was cancelled by bad weather.

The CA TF arrived off Johore Bharu in the night of 7-8 and will patrol there in the next days.

In the evening of the 8, 36 Ki-21 arrived from Bangkok in Alor Star and will bomb Singapore daily. Johore Bharu received again orders to bomb Palembang.

Burma

The river NE of Rangoon was crossed on the 7 by the 14th Tk Rgt, that was followed the next day by the 33rd Div, the 15th Army HQ and another Tk Rgt. The British troops that seemed to retreat on the 7 marched south (at least one of them) on the 8 and may want to defend the bridges of the Mandalay road, or maybe cut Japanese lines. The latter will not work as the 21st Bde remained behind, N of Moulmein, to protect them.

The 15th Army will defeat the unit 120 miles NE of Rangoon before attacking the town. It will wait for the 21st Bde to be relieved by naval infantry units and join the main body to cross the river together.

China

Yenen continued to be pounded by Japanese guns (379 casualties in 2 days).

In the south, 2/3 of the 21st Div reached Nanning on the 8 and reported only one Chinese Corps there. They will attack it and take back the city with the support of 27 Betties that flew from Takao to Canton on the 8. The original plan was then to leave the area and return to Indochina (and to Canton for troops S of Wuchow) but another possibility will be to hold the area. Except that I will need a lot of small units to hold the whole railway and liberate troops (21st and 38th Div) for Luzon campaign. So it won’t be done now.
Along the coast, the 2nd Mongol Cav Div arrived around Amoy and will relieve the 116th Div that will then march to Canton.

Japan

On the 7 the War Production Ministery ordered to increase four times the production of the Emily. I want to be able to have all Mavis squadrons upgraded before May. Well not exactly, I will keep one Mavis squadron to use the available aircraft.

The map with this post is the situation in Southeast Asia on the evening of the 7.

[AmiralLaurent]

9 January 1942

Central Pacific

The night and morning were very quiet around Hawaii. The daily sweep found no CAP over PH and the naval searches reported no submarine around. It seems they fled east towars the West Coast as some were at least reported east of PH in the afternoon. Two damaged ones (Cachalot and Plunger) only reached Moloaki (or Molokai, what is right, the map or the base name?) and 2 Vals sank the Plunger. She is the 11th American submarine confirmed sunk. American airmen continued to not fly in this area.

The main event of the day was the afternoon raid launched by KB against PH airfield. 46 Zeroes escorted 153 Kates that bombed at 20000 feet and were only opposed by AA fire. As I said some days ago I did a big mistake on the last raid by using Vals for airfield attack. [:-] Only 4 Kates were lost to AA fire and they blasted the airfield. They scored 122 hits on the runways, 30 on the installation, 4 on the supply runs (destroying supply in PH will help for the landing) and hit 375 men and 17 guns (presumably AA). And they hit hard the main target by destroying 75 aircraft on the ground [:D] (15 B-17E, 15 PBY, 8 F4F-4, 7 LB-30, 7 B-26B, 5 P-40B, 5 P-26A, 4 P-36A, 3 B-25C, 2 A-20B, 1 SBD). At the end of the day Japan recon showed 186 aircraft (20/72/94) and airfield damage 27 in PH . And I have a question: are this numbers the total of available aircraft or do they included damaged ones ?

The men in Lahaina still don't believe their luck of not being attacked at all but I will not let them rest. MSWs only work one phase each day, I don't know why, they are on patrol with no refuel orders (they have fuel) and undocked. Their crews are probably busy surfing along the coast. At least the engineers of the 16th Div and 105th IJN BF (landed with it) and those brought by transport aircraft are busy. Lahaina airfield should rise size 4 in 2-3 days [:'(]. The air situation is deemed sure enough to base aircraft here (other than the decoy floatplane) and the first 27 Zeroes arrived from Midway in the evening.

Around 1000 miles WSW of San Fransisco, Glens reported two US TF with CAs (they might be DDs) sailing east. I'm quite sure that the USN has left the vicinity of PH. After several submarines were hit or sunk NE of PH, the cover of this area was light for some days but several submarines carrying Glens (two of them replaced them in Midway after it was shot down) are again in the are and they report no ship in the area.

E of PH, the four submarines chasing an AP convoy since 3 days still didn't attack. The convoy has proven faster than thought, sailing 4 hexes each day rather than 3. These submarines will continue to chase it.

Tonight will start the phase 2 of the Hawaii operation. 2 BB and 2 CL will bombard Hilo, base of 22 PBY, while 2 DD will bring troops of the 16th Div from Lahaina to Kona. Once Kona will fall, the 16th Div will land also in Hilo.
The Kate raid against PH will be repeated. The goal is to chase heavy bombers from PH and to keep the airfield closed, or at least enough damaged to seriously reduce its activity if the Allied airmen decided one day to fly. Also hitting AA guns will reduce the losses. To launch the raid, the KB will sail 120 miles N of PH. So if the Allied commander tries a general stampede thinking the raid was a departure greeting.... boom.

South Pacific

I monitored this area this turn. Submarines confirmed that APs (at least 2) are off Canton but still didn't attack.

Kwajalein suddently went very active after one quiet month. Not knowing where US CVs may be, I will still not advance south but reorganize my forces. Some APs and PGs will pick up the BF of Wotje and bring it to Maloelap. The TK are sent towards Japan, the two fast AS to Saipan (I don't take risks with them) and the Nells to Truk to fly naval search (Truk only had 6 Jakes...).

Philipinnes

A raid by 9 Ki-48s to Lingayen didn't find the target. And Butuan was occupied.

Dutch East Indies

Patrols confirmed that the Allied fleet is off Macassar. Two big cruiser TF are there, with no CAP, and from there are able to react towards both Balikpapan and Kendari.

I have in the area 3 Daitais of naval bombers but no base in torpedo range and size 11 (for Zero escort). These bombers are ordered to bomb Balikpapan airfield tomorrow, to slow the building of forts here (recons reported 10000 Dutch in this base).

Malaya

Bad weather again cancelled the raids from Johore Bharu and Alor Star. A new set of order was issued so they will find something tomorrow. IJAAF bombers in Johore Bharu will raid Palembang (with Zero escort) and SIngapore airfields and Toboali port. The 6 APs are still off Toboali and I hope this raid and increased naval patrols will be enough to send the 54 Nells of Johore on a naval attack mission against them. Sallies based in Alor Star will again try to bomb Singapore. And a Chutai of Nates will LRCAP Singapore, just to be sure no Dutch transport aircraft will fly there.

Burma

Another British unit marched south to defend the river crossing 120 miles NE of Rangoon. And of course if you order an unit NE of Moulmein to go to this hex, if will march first NW and then E, crossing 2 rivers.
I don't want to attempt another opposed river crossing. So I will take Rangoon and then march 120 miles N, cross the river and hope the threat of being surrounded will be enough for the British troops to retreat.

Troops are still getting in position. The 4th Mixed Rgt, well rested in Bangkok, will leave tomorrow towards the Burma front again.

Only offensive operation should be a Sally raid from Bangkok against troops NE of Rangoon.

China

The 21st Div (less the 1/3 that kept the road to Indochina with a naval unit) took back Nanning, chasing the 91st Chinese Corps east towards Wuchow. After examination of the available troops, it is possible to garrison the area and the railway with naval troops allready in the area and the 19th Bde. This will allow the 21st Div to march to Canton.

APs are leaving Formosa and Pescadores with the remaining troops of 14th Army (the HQ, 2 Tk Rgts and some artillery) and will gather in Canton. They will then sail from there with the 38th Div and 21st Div. Depending of how the Singapore battle started in mid-January, these troops will sail to Malaya (if things are really bad), Palembang (if things are not so bad but will take some time) or Luzon (if things are OK and troops assaulting Singapore will be available in the first half of February for Palembang).

The 27 Betties sent to Canton to support the Nanning attack didn't fly. They will try to bomb ressources of Kumming tomorrow and then fly to another theater.

Japanese economy

5 TK left Formosa towards Japan. They will load oil and bring it to Formosa, Hong Kong and China for the local HI.
Several AK TF left Japanese ports and will load fuel in Chinese ports. There are hundred of thousands of tons of fuel available here and very low naval activity. The fuel will be brought to Japan for use by TK and AO.
In Manchuria, I discovered a pile of 60 000 supplies in Mudken, where is located the HQ of 3rd Army. I ordered it to Port Arthur to draw supplies here,so they may be shipped overseas.

Next post will show a map of the Hawaii Islands.

[AmiralLaurent]

Hawaii situation 9 January 1942

Edited: it seems that my original BMP file became blurry when converted to JPEG for uploading. All comments written in red are unreadable.

So here they are:

NE: US surface TF sailing E
E: AP convoy to San Francisco, the subs S of it didn't attacked this turn
E of Hawaii: US subs fleeing
Lahaina : 27 Zeroes based here + 9 from KB on LRCAP
Hilo: 2 BB + 2 CL will bombard
Kona: FT TF from Lahaina will land troops
Pink arrow from west: Midway Betties will bomb PH airfield in daylight
Black arrow to N of PH: KB will sail her and Kates will bomb PH if no ships are seen
Black arrow NW PH pointing W: after the raid KB will sail towards Midway
Black arrow NW PH pointing E: Shoho & Taiyo from Midway to join KB

Will try to do better next time.

[String]

Have you crated any Sonias from china or SRA? They would be quite good in this situation, but if you havent already sent them on their way then there's no use sending them now, they would arrive too late to have any impact imo

[AmiralLaurent]

No, sending DBs against PH will be too bloody. Suppression of the base will be done by Sallies and Helens (first group will be released in Tokyo in 3 days).

But having some Army DB at hand for ground attack during the final battle may be useful. By the way landing in PH is planned in 3 weeks and the battle will probably go on for several weeks... so maybe these DBs may arrive in time. I may send back a CVE to pick them up. That may be an idea.

[AmiralLaurent]

10-13 January 1942

Central Pacific

The main threat remaining in the area was the heavy bombers based in Pearl Harbor and these flew on the morning of the 10. 24 B-17 and LB-30 in 5 groups attacked ships off Lahaina and W of Hawaii in the morning and 10 other in the afternoon. 9 Zeroes flew CAP over Lahaina and shot down 1 LB-30 but lost two to return fire. Most bombs missed but one hit the CL Kitakami (damage 18/9/13). 3 B-17E also attacked the KB in the afternoon but were repulsed by the CAP (109 Zeroes...) and at the same time PH was bombed by 147 Kates (escorted by 46 Zeroes but there was no CAP) and shortly later by 25 Betties from Midway. Two Kates were shot down by AA fire and one lost in an accident but both raids destroyed on the ground 59 aircraft (13 B-26B, 10 PBY, 7 F4F-4, 7 B-18A, 6 P-26A, 4 B-17E, 3 A-20B, 3 P-40B, 2 P-40E, 2 LB-30, 1 P-36 and 1 SBD). 176 men and 6 guns were disabled and 14 hits were scored on the airfields, 114 on teh runways and 3 on the supply dumps. During the day Japanese fighters also shot down 2 PBY.
The original plan was that the KB will retire on the evening of the 10 but it received the orders to remain in range of PH to launch another raid. Clouds cancelled it on the 11, that saw two more PBY being shot donw by the KB and no raid launched from PH. The next day, KB (reinforced by Shoho and Taiyo) sailed closer to PH again and in 2 raids 148 Kates bombed PH airfields again. The result were 68 aircraft destroyed on the ground (13 F4F-4, 9 SBD, 7 LB-30, 6 PBY, 6 P-40E, 5 B-26B, 4 B-17E, 4 B-18A, 4 P-36A, 4 P-26A, 3 A-20B, 3 B-25C), 306 casualties, 13 guns disabled, 2 hits on supplies and 147 on the airfields and runways. But the raid proved costly, AA fire shot down 9 Kates even if they flew at 20000 feet like the former raids. THe PH airfiels were then damaged at 64% and closed... something I had never dreamed to achieve. The KB sailed east on the 13 without launching any more raid and in the evening divived in two TFs. The Shokaku, Zuikaku, Akagi, Shoho and Taiyo will remain in Hawaii area to cover convoys while the other will refuel and resplenish airgroups and bomb dumps in Midway.

Reinforcement arrived by air in Lahaina during these four days and the base now has 3 Ki-15 (that started recon flights over PH on the 13), 27 Zeroes and 27 Nells (for naval search and attack). The convoy carrying enough BF to Lahaina to turn it into a major airbase that will be used to bomb PH will arrive in 3 days. With it will arrive the only IJN AR and the BB will start to bombard PH. Aerial reinforcements continued to fly across the Pacific and are waiting on Johnson Island and Midway to fly the last leg to Lahaina once it will be ready.

Mineswepers continued to sweep mines off Lahaina and around but far more slowly than what was planned. Hilo was bombed twice by BBs and CLs, that hit hard the base (more than 400 cas) but only destroyed one PBY on the ground (on the 10). THis same day, 2 DD unloaded some troops of the 16th Div in Kona but one hit a Mk 16 mine and was docked in Lahaina (should be saved). Kona was occupied the next day without any opposition. Moloaki surrendered on the 12. Hilo will be next target, once MSW will have the mines defending it.
By the way, more than 1000 mines were reported off Kona. The DM TF that was destroyed by the KB 60 miles W of this base on the 4th of January has probably laid them the night before.

The submarines chasing a convoy E of Hawaii tried 3 times to attack it in 2 days but were always chased by the escort (2 NZ PGs) and scattered when the convoy arrived near the West Coast. On the 13 a Glen reported an AP convoy 720 miles SE of Kona, probably sailing to Christmas Island but only one SS was sent to deal with it as the CVs are busy elsewhere.

On the rear an AP convoy arrived in Bonin and began to load the troops here (a NLF and a BF) to bring them to Johnson Island. Midway port was expanded to size 3 on the 13 and the two Eng Rgt here began at once to reboard ships to be used during the PH invasion.

The next days should be quiet. The 5 CVs remaining near Hawaii will cover the convoy and then the real pounding of PH will start... The landing is planned in 2 weeks.

South Pacific

In New Guinea, barges unloade part of a NLF on the 12on Aitape , that was occupied the next day. Engineers expanded the AF of Hollandia to size 2 on the 13.

No more Allid aircraft were based in Rabaul on the 11 and recons were flown by Nells from Truk to this base to check if it has been evacuated. Allied units were seen still in the base.

Philipinnes

On the 11, 12 and 13 Ki-48s from Batan Island bombed the 11th PA Div at Lingayen (70 casualties). Nells bombed and hit twice the SS S-39 off Manila on the 11. A Betty Daitai coming from China bombed Manila on the 12 but scored no hit at all and AA shot down one. They were grounded while more recon were flown to Manila.

The last Allied base on Mindanao Island, Zaombanga, surrendered to Japan on the 13.

Dutch East Indies

On the 10 Balikpapan was bombed by 54 naval bombers from Jolo (no casualty, 39 hits) while the 22nd NLF took the undefended town of Sandankan.

The Allied cruisers were still off Macassar on the 10 and 11 and sailed to Kendari on the 12. A dozen Nells from Jolo attacked them on the 13 (due to wrong orders being issued). They met no CAP, missed 2 Dutch and 1 British CL and returned with only 1 loss.

Menado will be the main airfield on the area (building here is far faster than in Tarakan) but it will be one week before the base will be ready. All Japanese ships left the base on teh evening of the 13 as all Japanese surface TFs of the area will cover two convoys bringing the 5th Eng Rgt and the 4th Mixed Bde (loaded in Brunei) to Samarinda, from where they will join troops that marched from Tarakan and then assault together Balikpapan.

Malaya

The 25th Army is ready for the attack on SIngapore (almost all units have prep over 50). The advance will start on the 15. To prepare the attack Japanese bombers bombed the base on the 10 (25 Ki-21), 11 (25 Ki-48 & 18 Ki-21), 12 (40 Nells) and 13 (73 Ki-21, 27 Ki-48 and 40 Nells). Raids were often failures (only 6 supply hits and 100 casualties in 4 days) but the losses were limited to 2 Sallies and a Lily.
As I thought, Dutch transport aircraft are used to supply Singapore or evacuate troops. Nates tried twice to intercept them without any success so on the 13 I alos used a Sentai of Oscars ro fly LRCAP over SIngapore and they shot down 2 Lockeed 212 and 1 Lodestar.

Johore Bharu airmen were also busy more south. On the 10 14 Nells and 18 Zeroes flew to Toboali and sank a Philipinno AK and hit another with one torpedo. The next day 18 Ki-21 bombed Toboali port but the Allied ships left the area. The same day 18 Ki-21 escorted by 36 Zeroes and 3 Oscars raided Palembang airfield. They were intercepted by 3 Wirraways, 10 Hawks, 7 Demons, 3 Brewsters and 6 Hurricanes. Zeroes shot down 21 Allied fighters but lost 3 of their own number and the raid missed while 2 Ki-21 were shot down by AA fire. The next days no more CAP was reported over Palembang even if the base is still full of aircraft. But the bombers have orders to bomb Singapore only.

On the 11 the SS Truant was hit by a Sally E of Songkhia. The CA TF of Johore Bharu sortied on the evening of the 11 and it was planend to raid Singkawang but only one aircraft was reporetd here by recons and the raid was cancelled on the evening of the 12.

Burma

The four days saw only moves forward. The first troops of the 33rd Div (1/3) reached Rangoon on the 12 and bombed it the next day (only the Rangoon Force is there) while another third arrived with the HQ 15th Army. Rangoon will be attacked (and probably taken) tomorrow.

Some Ki-48s arrived in Tavoy. The main piece of information duing these days was the fact that Japanese recon aircraft at least reporetd the AVG in Mandalay (30-35 P-40B flying CAP every day).

A secondary operation will see the capture of Andaman in some days. The CA TF based in Johore Bharu and a Parachute Rgt (currently in Bangkok) will take part in the operation, that will be supported by Army aircrafts.

China

Japanese troops continued to bombard Yenen in the north and to march around it to surround it. They also organized the land around Nanning in the south anc reoccupied Pakhoi.

The strategic air campain against Chinese ressources has been slowed down by bad weather. The only raid in 4 days was by 20 Betties from Canton against Kumning, that disabled 12 of the 300 ressources of the city, before leaving for Batan Island and PI (see above).