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December 26, 1941

Central Pacific

The KB disappears from view. My troop convoys are steaming hard from the south to Hawaii. I’m beginning to think about sending the battleships back to the West Coast. If I send them, they’ll go in several convoys over multiple routes.

South Pacific

The posturing at Rabaul continues. Both sides conduct bombardment attacks. The Japanese attack kills no one and intelligence estimates that Allied attack caused a whopping eight casualties. Knowing that Rabaul will fall, I’m content to wait while both sides watch each other and the days slip by. The 2nd Marine Division is inching closer to Noumea. I’ve also got one USN Base Force pulled out of the Philippines and transferred to the South Pacific. It’s en route from Darwin to Noumea as well. I’m planning to use it to help build up one of the other bases on the island.

Philippines

A bombardment force and transports arrive off Lamon Bay. Shore installations are shelled and troops begin coming ashore. 10 Zeroes conduct a sweep over Bataan and 11 Betties hit Clark.

Malaya

It’s another busy day off Malaya. Buffaloes his a convoy east of Malaya, planting one bomb on the AP Heiyo Maru. The rest of the planes at Singapre strike the convoy at Kuantan again. Today the Swordfish carry torpedoes, further damaging four more ships. Martins out of Borneo also fly north to Kuantan but fail to score. On shore, bombardment attacks rock Georgetown as CVN continues to soften up the garrison. The Japanese artillery also strikes at Bataan and Clark.

China

The Anns are back, this time at Ichang. Otherwise all quiet in China.

December 27, 1941

Basically a pretty slow day. At least as slow as a day when I no longer know where the KB is can be.

South Pacific

Gritty Australian defenders continue to hold on at Rabaul. A shock attack by three times the defense force suffers seven to one casualties. I’m afraid the end is getting near here.

Philippines

Landings continue at Lamon Bay. A shock attack later in the day captures the base. Japanese transports also begin unloading at Cebu Island. The coastal batteries score a few minor hits on the transports, but nothing significant. Overal Luzon, Zeroes and Nells strike at Bataan and Clark. Kates also strike the ships still in Manila Bay. Fortunately, they’re carrying bombs so there is some hope that the ships will recover to try to make the long, dangerous trek to Australia. At Clark Field the determined defenders beat off another shock attack and maintain their forts. CVN now has 32,000 troops at Clark Field so that attacks to have a bit more mass behind them than the early efforts.

China

A small Japanese strike at Changsha again. My I-16cs try to intercept but don’t have much success. I’m thinking that I may stop trying to fly CAP here and devote my efforts to sweeps against CVNs airfields. I don’t want to bomb too much as I suspect this could be hard on supply. Does anyone have advice on the balance of supplying China and conducting offensive aerial ops?

December 28, 1941

An exceptionally slow day. Still no clues on the KB.

Philippines

Japanese aircraft continue to rule the skies over the Philippines. Zeroes sweep over Naga and the bombers are back at Clark Field. Kates strike at the Lagazpi, scoring one bomb hit. Cebu Island falls to the invader and 3,500 more allied troops are removed from the equation.

Malaya

A small convoy is sighted at Kuantan and Swordfish, Vilebeests and Blenheim attack. Four ships are hit hard. One transport takes four fish and will likely sink soon. CVN has completed some smart moves and trapped several British formations in Georgetown. He shock attacks with 40,000 troops and I defend with 9,000. Forts drop from 5 to 3 which can’t be good.

China

My first effort at a sweep doesn’t go so well. I get 26 fighters over Wuhan against only 9 Nates and lose two aircraft against no Japanese losses.

December 29,1941

China

The Chinese Air Force strikes at Wuhan again. Today’s results are a little better. 14 I-153c and 20 I-16c conduct a fighter sweep, shooting down 6 Nates with three Chinese fighters lost. After two days of sweeps, the Chinese will stand down to see if CVN brings in better fighters.

Central Pacific

SS Plunger sights a Kate on patrol well to the northwest of Pearl Harbor. I’m beginning to hope that this signals the withdrawal of the KB. Overall, I estimate that over a third of the KBs Kates and Vals were shot down. All commands are informed that we expect to lose contact with the KB and hence should increase their precautions against a carrier strike.

South Pacific

Lexington and Enterprise refuel at Aukland and head north. They will proceed north of Noumea in preparation for a strike at Rabaul. Currently, one Japanese CLV with Claudes is conducting ground attacks on the Australian garrison. No Nells or Betties have been reported. If he keeps this up and the garrison holds out, I may try to strike at this target.

Philippines

Clark Field continues to experience heavy air attack. Fighter sweeps also look for any allied fighters. Fortunately, almost all fighters in the Philippines are now based around Davao. In other news, the final group of transports leave Manila bound for Darwin. I am detouring them east away from Jolo and then south to Darwin. Several ships already have high structural damage and Japanese strikes inflict further damage as the ships steam east. I’m hoping half the ships will make it out.

ABDA

Tankers are ordered to converge on Soerbaja. With over 200,000 units of fuel in the port, I’d like to evacuate as much as possible. I also need to pay some attention to getting oil out of Palembang.

Malaya

Today, a Japanese assault took Georgetown and almost 17,000 troops marched into captivity. The way is now open to the southern end of the peninsula. Singapore continues to improve its defenses with the goal of holding out as long as possible.

December 30, 1941

Central Pacific

A small Japanese force arrives at Nauru Island and begins to unload. I have no forces to defend with so this base will quickly change hands.

South Pacific

Pressure continues to mount against Rabaul. Two more transport groups arrive and begin disembarking troops over the beach. CNV follows this up with a bombardment attack. I’ve ordered my carriers in New Zealand to begin heading north at cruise speed to see if there is anything that can be done. I estimate one light carrier is the only air assets I would have to face if it does come to a battle. There has been no evidence of large air assets at Truk. I’m probably a week away from Rabaul so we’ll see if anything comes of this.

Philippines

More air attacks pound Manila. No ships are hit. The forces at Bataan exchange artillery fire, burning supply to no good end.

Malaya

CVN is changing his aerial strategy against Singapore. Today saw heavy attacks against the airfield at Singapore for the first time. Zeroes are escorting the strikes and I have no great desire to put my Brewsters up against the Japanese first team so there is no CAP. I lose a couple of aircraft on the ground and CVN loses to Nells to flak.

I’m concerned that the new attacks against my airfield will begin to limit my ability to interdict shipping heading for Kuantan. CVN has withdrawn all of the transport groups that were within Singapore’s range so I get no strikes off today. Not an encouraging sign.

December 31, 1941

South Pacific

Heavy cruisers pound Rabaul. I’ve identified Furutaka, Kako, Aoba, Kinugasa, Nachi, Haguro and Myoko. Field artillery on shore join the bombardment of my small garrison.

Philippines

CVN is targeting my ships fleeing Manila. Petes and Jakes strike at stragglers, as to Kates of a light carrier lurking east of the Philippines. The Nagato arrives at Naga and begins to bombard my shore positions.

Malaya

Another enemy convoy does come within range of Singapore. Swordfish torpedo a PG and one bomb hits an AK. Not quite the results I had hoped for.

India/Burma

My aircraft at Rangoon fly ground attack missions against the 33rd Division near Bangkok. Once again, a few Japanese die and British pilots get a little better at their craft.

China

With fighter sweeps on hold, I switch to ground attack to continue to season my Chinese pilots. 30 fighters strike the 3rd Division. I lose no aircraft, inflict few casualties, and gain a point or two of experience.

As 1941 comes to a close, I'm going to try to post a few screen shots of the current status. I think I've figured out how this works but may take some trial and error.

Here's the overall situation.

Here's how my pilots are doing. Not a very bloody start. This page does get my wife to show her first serious interest in WITP. Her great-uncle was H.W. Bauer, who is my second leading ace at this point. I suspect this level of interest may not be easy to maintain. I will have to try to keep Major Bauer alive.

Not a lot of capital shps sunk by either side.

The Philippines

And Malaya

January 2, 1942

South Pacific

Bombardments at Rabaul continue. CVN follows up with another shock attack that is dealt a very bloody repulse. I’m thinking CVN must not have enough supply ashore as he’s got four times my forces.

Philippines

I send four PT boats against a Japanese invasion force at San Jose. PT-35 takes two hits and is damaged, but one AK and two PCs are torpedoed. I’m ecstatic with this casualty ratio but suspect I may play the rest of the game without seeing its like again. The PT force does not survive long as Zeroes out of Jolo inflict serious damage on several boats. Further south, the Nagato and her escorts continue to provide fire support for the Japanese Army at Naga. I have two Philippine Army Divisions dug in here and am hoping they can resist for at least a week if not longer. In Mindanao, troops continue to unload at Cagayan. As soon as CVN attacks, I expect the base to fall. B-17s strike at the naval forces at both Cagayan and Naga and expend their ordinance with zero results. CVN closes out the day with a shock attacks at Clark and Bataan. The defenders at Clark hold and inflict double their losses which at Bataan almost 2,000 Japanese fall while 44 Allied soldiers fall.

Malaya

Another TF shows up at Kuantan and Singapore launches against it. One AP is torpedoed and an AK and AP are bombed. Dutch Martins following the RAF and RAAF hit one AK with two more bombs.

China/Burma

The Rangoon Air Force strikes at the 33rd Division again. Very light casualties are inflicted.

January 5, 1942

CVN and I have encountered the sync bug. I’m not quite sure what has gone on since January 2. I believe we saw results similar to the last few days leading up to the bug. My reports indicated that Rabaul fell every day, but it hasn’t yet. CVN started sending me his combat reports starting on January 5, so that’s were I’m going to try to pick back up.

North Pacific

Still very quiet in this theater. I’ve got North Pacific air support assets starting to arrive soon but am going to be using them on the West Coast for now as the units that started on the West Coast were already assigned to other theaters and I’m shipping them out.

Central Pacific

I’m continuing to garrison islands west of Hawaii. I split the 24th Division and sent C Brigade to Midway and am getting B Brigade moved to Johnston. A Brigade will end up at Palmyra as soon as I can arrange the shipping. I also need to get more supply into Pearl as I’m starting to run a little low. Most of my shipping is currently tied up bringing supplies, aircraft, and troops to the South Pacific and Australia. I’m relying on new arrivals at San Francisco to carry supplies to Hawaii. I'm also continuing to build up Lahaina and Hilo. Once they are a little further along and I have the engineers, I'll likely start with a couple more islands. I'd like to wait with them until I'm more confident that I won't be looking at an invasion of any part of Hawaii as I don't yet feel strong enough to hold all the islands, just the ones I'm developing now.

South Pacific

Ironically, after three false reports, today Rabaul actually does fall. The three Australian units there retreat to the west. I imagine they’re going to have a long trek along the path further west. By the time they get where they’re going, I assume CVN will have taken those bases also.

Philippines

CVN continues to unload troops at Naga. My two Philippine Divisions are starting to feel a little lonely. At Butuan, 3 Japanese battleships hit the defenses hard. Then the Nagato and escorts steam into range and hit them again. I think he might be serious about taking the place. Further north, Nells hit Clark and my Brewsters out of Borneo bomb Tawi Tawi. The day closes with a shock attack at Clark Field. Losses for both sides are about equal and the forts are not reduced.

ABDA

The war begins to arrive in this theater. Ocars from Jolo strike against shipping at Tarakan.

Malaya

Japanese Army bombers hammer Victoria Point. This causes little damage as I no longer have any forces there. I have withdrawn all of my forces south of Rangoon as I was concerned about an end run up the railway along the interior of Burma.

China/Burma

My bombers in Rangoon launch again. The Chinese IL-4c bombers crews are starting to learn a bit about their new trade.

January 6, 1942

West Coast

A supply convoy has almost finished loading and will soon sail for Noumea. 64 B-26s are the only combat forces in the convoy. I’ve already sent all the land forces I can and have also dispatched auxiliaries to supply and maintain the naval forces that I expect will soon be needed in the South Pacific. I’m hoping to get AS, AD, and AV ships into Noumea and Suva and operate them as forward bases until such time as I’m ready to move forward. Aukland and Australia will be developed as fleet bases as well in case my selections prove to be too far forward. I know from reading other AARs that Suva and Noumea might be very ambitious, but so far operations seem to be unfolding at a much slowing pace in this game than in a game involving seasoned players. I wonder if the level of experience on both our parts doesn’t lend itself to more historical gameplay?

Central Pacific

South Pacific Headquarters is beginning to load up for transit to Noumea.

Philippines

Troops continue to land at Naga under the cover of several heavy cruisers. Butuan is also bombarded. There are no forces here to it will fall as soon as troops land. Another shock attack at Clark Field takes place. I outnumber the attackers 4:1 so am able to hold my ground with little trouble. Of course, this is burning up supply.

Malaya

Bombers continue to strike the airfield at Singapore. All enemy task forces within range have either completed their mission or been withdrawn. I am starting to lose planes to these attacks and am having a hard time keeping other planes in the air. Air groups are also becoming fatigued. I’m going to pull back the air groups to Palembang to rest and repair for a bit. If transports do come back to Malaya, I can them move back to Singapore.

India/Burma

The troops in Rangoon continue to improve their morale and disabled unites are recovering. I don’t intend to defend Rangoon, but have several infantry forces taking advantage of the non-malarial zone. Every base force I can scrape up, along with a couple of brigades, is currently at Mandalay digging as fast as they can. I’ve got a couple minor forces thrust south of Rangoon as scouts. CVN has one division north of Bangkok but I’ve sighted nothing else. Bombers based at Rangoon are bombing this force. There is no fighter opposition and its good training. I’ve got the IL-4c squadron from China helping with this op as they can use the training in a location that doesn’t drain Chinese supply.

January 7, 1942

Philippines

Bombardments and landings continue at Butuan. Air attacks continue at Clark and my Dutch fighters continue to train over Tawi Tawi. Zeroes find a transport trying to sneak south and put eight bombs into her. I don’t think that ship will reach port. CVN shock attacks at Clark again and loses much more than he gains.

ABDA

Zeroes strafe the AK Sipirok at Tarakan, adding three bombs in the process. I’ve flown a lot of men out of the Philippines to Borneo and am now trying to get them to Australia. CVN had not been venturing very far south with his air assets, but now he’s starting to put more planes on naval attack. This is going to be somewhat of a problem. I’m also being slowed by the path between Tarakan and Balikpapan. I had though it was one step down from rail and one step up from the basic path, but my forces are moving along it even more slowly than they would a path. This confuses me and may end up costing me the entire 4th Marine Regiment as that entire force is now slogging through the jungle.

Malaya

Air attacks on the Singapore airfield continue. Two Beuforts and one Blenheim are lost.

Burma\India

A few bombers in Rangoon launch against the 33rd Division. They don’t score much but at least they’re still flying. The troops in Rangoon are starting to improve their morale. I suppose it’s a forlorn or foolish hope, but I’m hoping to get enough troops in good shape to at least inflict some damage and delay CVN in Burma.

January 8,2007

North Pacific

I’ve still done very little to improve this theater. The Alaskan bases are being improved, but with the base forces assigned to the west coast, there aren’t forces to expand to the west. Fortunately, my opponent has yet to show interest in this area.

Central Pacific

I continue to work on the Midway/Johnston/Palmyra defense line. The RCT destined for Canton is still en route. At present, the defense is largely composed of land forces. I lack the fighter force to adequately protect any of these bases and certainly don’t have the naval forces to contest a major effort involving the KB. I’m hoping these islands can hold against anything but a determined, well supported attack containing at least a full division.

South Pacific

I’ve decided that Noumea, rather than Townsville, will be the main ASW base in the South Pacific area. Noumea is centrally located to cover both the Australian and New Zealand approaches as well as help with convoy work back towards the U.S. I will maintain some ASW in Australia, but the majority will be at Noumea, at least for the moment. I have several unescorted cargo and troop convoys closing in on this area and will be providing them with escorts for the run from Noumea to Australia. After that, some of the escorts will remain permanently with the convoys

Philippines

The coastal batteries at Naga were back in action and inflicted minor damage on a gunboat and destroyer while several transports unloaded additional troops. A shock attack later in the day suffers serious casualties as my forces once again demonstrate how even green troops can fight well when properly fortified. CVN also assaults Butuan, which has not garrison and promptly falls. My opponent seems to be focusing on clearing out all of the Philippines prior to moving south into Dutch territory.

Malaya

Another damaged Beaufort was destroyed on the tarmac at Singapore as CVN hit the airfield again. I’m thinking I may be done with this harbor as all supply convoys seem to be routed further north out of range of almost all of my aircraft. They are certainly out of range of my torpedo bombers. Hudsons and Brewsters could still reach them, but I don’t believe I have the fighter force to properly CAP Singapore against the Zeroes escorting the bombers.

India/Burma

Rangoon is still untouched by CVN’s bombers and continues to launch nuisance raids against the 33rd Division. I’m not sure if CVN is having trouble with ground movement, but the division has moved into a pure jungle hex with no trail. I’m hoping this will cause a fair bit of attrition before he gets the division out of there. Almost all the infantry forces in Burma are currently in Rangoon, resting and replacing equipment. I’ve got most of them planning for Mandalay, but thought they would handle the climate in Rangoon better until such time as they have to move to a malarial zone. CVN is continuing strikes against Victoria Point.

January 9, 1942

Philippines

Shore batteries engage in another small action of Naga. Two more PGs receive light damage but the landings continue. Light air attacks also hit Clark Field, causing minor casualties to the defenders. Further south, Brewsters out of Borneo strike at Tawi Tawi again, causing no damage.

Malaya

The SS KXVII is spotted while on patrol and subject to a fierce ASW attack. 6 hits rapidly dispatch her.

India/Burma

Still very quiet in this theater. Other than my air attack on the 33rd Division and my opponents strikes at Victoria Point, we are experiencing somewhat of a sitzkrieg here. I do have two four engine bomb groups in theater at Calcutta and am preparing them for operations. I have been working to build Rangoon to a level five airfield so that I can get better ground strikes off on CVNs advancing troops. I’m also considering some strategic bombing from Rangoon to see if I can force him to burn some supply that may be needed elsewhere in several months. I’m not real well versed in the strategic bombing part of the game, but assume that if you are going to commence this type of bombing you need to have a very long view of the results.

China

An air attack on Changsha by Anns nets one I-16c against no Japanese losses. I’m starting to try to work a couple of Corps around CVNs northern flank. He is currently advancing in the North with over 80,000 men. I don’t expect three corps to stop him, but would like to try to get into his rear and force him to divert forces back to deal with me. This is intended to buy time while I rush several other corps north to help defend against this thrust. On the Southern flank, I have four or five divisions planning for Nanning, where recon indicates CVN might be a little weak. If I could eliminate that pocket, I could garrison the coast with a corps or two and release the other three for duty elsewhere.

January 10, 1942

All in all a very slow day. At this point, I like slow days so I’ll keep on taking ‘em if they come.

Philippines

CVN’s amphibious assault on Naga continues. The coastal guns have pretty much shot their wad so I’m just waiting for the land assaults. Air strikes at Clark continue to soften up my defenses. The AK Bisayas is spotted running south and is strafed and bombed. Her survival is in serious doubt. Back on land, a bombardment attack at Bataan continues to work over my defenders.

Malaya

Another strike at Singapore nets a single Buffalo. Not much to show for 61 Nells, but I suppose they are improving their pilot training as well.

China/Burma

The IL-4c bombers at Rangoon launch again. Their experience is getting up towards 60. Still not inflicting many casualties, though. Sort of like Singapore in reverse. On the northern end of the Chinese front, a Japanese shock attack suffers over 1,250 casualties while inflicting less than 50. Of course, the Chinese divisions may crumble at the next attack, but this result was encouraging. At Hsingyang, another Japanese shock attack suffers 2 to 1 losses, but pushes my troops out of the hex. China may be heating up a bit. I’m still trying to work around the northern flank and am also concentrating about five corps at Nanning. Air recon suggests this force could have decent odds of taking the place.

January 11, 1942

Philippines

Still more landings at Naga. I’m starting to believe that CVN really wants the place.A shock assault later in the day makes no headway against the defenders and suffers almost 1,000 casualties. Poor old Bisayas takes another nine bomb hits and is strafed against.

Malaya

Another 52 Nells work over the facilities at Singapore. It’s being confirmed to me that I’m likely never going to base aircraft there again.

China/Burma

Another fighter sweep over Wuhan nets me one Nate. The Chinese pilots are slowly starting to improve their abilities in the air. I’m still getting twice the fighters into action as CVN, so this is helping me train up without suffering severe casualties. I’m assuming this will stop soon as a few Zeroes would stop me in a hurry.