Saury duds on an ACM near Ishigaki. We are moving ACMs to pre-war minfields at Takao, Canton, etc. Glen boat recon of Suva shows that yesterday a small convoy dropped a US LCU but little else. Cribtop Intel believes it to be a base force or Marine Defense Bttn. Looks like the enemy is building his fence in this region after all.
4th Fleet
Canton force rests on Tarawa. Resources move back to Truk on a re-supply convoy that headed to Kwaj. Convoys that stop in at Truk will haul resources back to the Home Islands. May as well not sail with empty hulls.
SE Fleet
Salamaua occupied. Our invasion TFs spend the day unloading supply at our new conquests and are ordered to sail for home tomorrow. SE Fleet has landed at Rabaul and torpedo enabled our Bettys there.
KB transits the Torres Strait and shifts to 16th Army AO.
14th Army
We bombard Clark today as the Hong Kong artillery arrived yesterday. CF has mostly PA LCUs at Clark, the Amis must be at Bataan. Interestingly, he has shifted some troops forward as there are now 29 LCUs at Clark and 16 at Bataan. Previously there were roughly 20 LCUs at each base. We suspect the enemy is already beginning to feel the effects of low supply given the amount captured at Manila and the gratifyingly large number of supply dump hits our IJAAF bombers have been getting over the past few weeks. This bombardment has another purpose, namely to "show" four amored units in the stack opposing Clark just before we surreptitiously pull them out for use in Java and Oz.
Guiuan invaded by dot base warriors.
16th Army
5th Air Division will finish unloading at Tarakan tomorrow, and forces have gathered at Jolo for Operation SM. All pre-conditions are in place and the first phase of the Op, a landing at Samarinda followed by overland conquest of Balikpapan, will commence in just a few days. Fleet elements have sortied from Babeldoab to provide distant cover and SCTF protection. KBL has about 50% more planes than at war's start. We are likely to park the CVLs at Jolo and use a few air groups from Tarakan in co-ordination with a Betty Daitai and 1/3 of a Zero Hikotai as an experiment with the dismounted air group doctrine. It's not that we are too "scared" to expose our carriers to Dutch subs in all situations, but in the case of the Makassar Strait's narrow waters with numerous bases, we cannot come up with a good rationale to take the risk instead of using the "unsinkable" airfield at Tarakan.
25th Army
The survivors of Sinkawang, Sambas and Kuching had been marching through the jungle to Pontianak under air attack for weeks. They emerged from the undergrowth yesterday to find the meatball flag flying over their sanctuary. We add insult to injury by a DA today and chase them back into oblivion, casualties 152(19) vs 6(0).
The airfield at Kuala Lumpur, crawling with six construction engineer units and numerous base forces, has quickly been built up to level 3 and will hit level 4 soon. The level 3 field can handle operations by all three Oscar Sentai without overstacking. We are therefore ready to begin sweeping Singapore itself and order the aerial attack to commence tomorrow.
The main army has reached Malacca and will seize it tomorrow. We will be in Johore Bahru soon thereafter and then gather for a day or two before crossing into Singers.
15th Army
No change. We enter the Rangoon hex tomorrow.
China
Cuttlefish's Sian Army (we are tired of calling it the "Loyang" stack as that base is now 150 miles behind the lines), continues to retreat deeper into the forest toward Sian. This is puzzling to us as every hex of defensible rough terrain the enemy cedes without a fight is a battle the IJA doesn't have to expend combat power to win. It also continues to separate his Sian and Nanyang armies, making relief of the latter location more difficult. The IJA 11th Army plans to maintain contact with the Sian force and thus keep them out of the Nanyang fight. These movements create possibilities for us in China unless CF elects to evacuate Nanyang asap. Hmmm... We will post a screenshot to show the developing situation.
1 - Enemy Sian Army continues to retreat to the West (note movement arrow revealed by aerial recon), pursued by 11th Army
2 - Enemy Nanyang Army so far remains in place
3 - Planned moves by 12th Army elements to encircle Nanyang
4 - Key movement to Nanyang's LoC by a division originally part of the Sian advance. Moves in item 3 will wait until the day before this division moves onto the road to Sian. If the enemy retreats from Nanyang, 12th Army offensive will immediately commence.
Attachments
Sian Army .. 26 1942.jpg (258.05 KiB) Viewed 212 times
No combat, but our Glen recon continues at Pago Pago, Fiji and Noumea. Four 8 depth charge carrying SCs have arrived at Takao from Japan. The existing ASW TFs have been recalled to recover SYS damage. After that, each ASW TF will be re-formed with an 8 DC patrol ship as the flag. Intention is to stop keeping the enemy's head down and start taking his head off, so to speak.
4th Fleet
No change.
SE Fleet
Terapo is captured by airborne assault. We will pull the small para unit back tomorrow. This type of attack is known as a "rod and reel op" in Cribtop doctrine. We are turning Rabaul into a major base now, today it hit level 4 airfield and will go on to level 7 to allow in the field upgrades.
14th Army
Our armor units move out for the beach after one more bombardment attack. Cribtop HQ is pleased to note that 2 or 3 enemy squads are destroyed outright in each of these bombardments. Is this evidence the enemy is already low on supply?
Guiuan falls. Seriously, who came up with the spellings of some of these bases? Add a consonant or two just for fun. [;)] Culion invaded.
16th Army
Nettys and Zeroes move into Tarakan. Cribtop HQ issues a warning order that Operation SM will commence prior to the end of January.
Biak invaded by dot base clean up forces.
25th Army
Occasionally your pixeltruppen perform feats of valor that impress you even though they are just binary code. Today our 18 plane Zero Daitai at Sinkawang covers itself in glory! We had ordered the Zeroes and 3 Oscar Sentai from Kuala Lumpur to sweep Singapore itself, expecting heavy opposition as recon showed 49 fighters present. Our intel was spot on as 48 Buffaloes rise to defend the base. However, the Zeroes arrived to find the Oscars a bit delayed. Despite 3.5:1 odds, our brave IJNAF pilots pressed home the attack, accounting for 5:1 losses and actually breaking through the enemy CAP. Banzai! [&o][&o] This action is not really strategically significant (although we continue to get excellent exchange rates in A2A combat), but was so bravely executed we almost wrote up a first person account just to memorialize the victory. The IJAAF arrived next, and, although late to the party, cleaned up another four kills for no losses. Per Tracker, we obtained a total exchange rate of 16:8, but that is deceptive as only 1 of our elite pilots was KIA. This victory leaves a handful of fighters operational at Singers. We will bomb the airfield tomorrow with two full groups of IJAAF bombers (6 Sentai).
Malacca falls to 25th Army today. We engaged in Maskirovka by ordering only 1 Division to attack. This gave the appearance that 1500 AS dropped to 243. In addition, we have two more divisions above the 1500 to commit, probably 2200+ AS in total. Not sure this will mean much to the enemy, but it never hurts to show weakness when you are in fact strong.
15th Army
Tomorrow we bombard Rangoon to determine raw AS and will order sweeps and bombing attacks on both the airfield and port (as numerous enemy merchies are observed in the place by recon). Intention is to sink a few ships, but also to convince AVG to stay put at Toungoo - specifically we are hoping CF will order them to LRCAP Rangoon. 1st Raiding Regt arrives in Chiang Mai tomorrow and will soon attempt a coup de main against the enemy's most powerful fighter formations.
China
No change.
Other
Today is the first day of the war that Tracker shows resources in the blue instead of the red on the industry chart. Excellent. In addition, today the first TK convoy bearing SRA oil to the Home Islands finishes unloading at Nagasaki. Banzai!
The forests to the east are the key to the defense of Sian. Cuttles is making a mistake to give them to you without a fight. He may think he has time to withdraw his Nanyang army to Sian, or perhaps he plans on moving them southwest to Ankang, but that's would only make sense if he had enough AV to fight in each of the forested hexes. It seems like he's not quite sure how to manage the defense of Sian - but defending Sian in Sian is not the way to do it.
Do you have a paratroop unit in China? Sometimes, an Allied player might leave an interior base open...and when the enemy takes that base an entire position is threatened with isolation. If things look promising for the Japanese to make it through the forests with a real shot at Sian, you might want to at least have the capability of a sudden assault on Kienko from the air. If it's lightly held, you suddenly sever the Sian army's path of retreat, which can panic a player (if he's been careless enough to leave Kienko undefended - unlikely, but not impossible).
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Since he is deciding to leave his Buffalos to fight at Singapore, where are all your para units?? A quick grab of Port Blair may cut off any retreat to India for rebuilding. If he leaves them in Singapore, CF may decide to "Withdraw" the units for a few months, but he will miss the valuable training time needed to get his pilot skill up.
Thanks, gents. Nygiants, we actually already seized Port Blair by para assault, so that gate is closed.
Dan, we don't have a paratroop unit in China but your idea is very sound. We'll do some recon to determine whether there's an opening. I already searched Anking and found two LCUs, but other bases may be even more important.
A day of interesting possibilities discussed at a Council of War at Cribtop HQ. How do you have a Council of War with yourself? Err, nothing to see here... move along now. [;)]
Subs
Seadragon duds on a DD escorting a TF full of supplies bound for Operation SM near Jolo and then duds on CVL Shoho as the fleet arrives. Yikes! We will launch an ad hoc ASW TF tomorrow to hunt this sub down. At Formosa, we assemble and launch the first ASW TF containing an SC with 8 depth charge launchers to try to clear the always infested channel.
4th Fleet
No change.
SE Fleet
90% of Operation LPM elements are or will be safe at Rabaul after tomorrow's replay. South Seas Fleet retires towards Truk to re-fuel, re-arm and clear SYS damage. We will invade Noumea soon provided we have a good grip on the location of the enemy's CVs. We have a little bit of clean up to perform in New Guienea, but for the most part our Phase I objectives are secure.
14th Army
DA 1 hex W of Malabalay retreats two LCUs, leaving one LCU in the hex, odds 6:1, casualties 412(40) vs 98(0).
16th Army
All elements of Operation SM are in place. We load as soon as the orders are given.
The last troops needed for Operation DK will begin unloading at Babeldoab tomorrow.
25th Army
Oscars sweep Singapore again, facing 25 Buffaloes and inflicting losses of 9:1. Then the bombers hit the airfield and do good damage, destroying planes on the ground and generally trashing the place with 64 runway hits. Air superiority has been established at Singers. Daily bombings will continue until the end.
Yesterday it was the Kuching Punjab Battalion's turn to stumble out of the forest at Pontianak. A bit sloppy of CF to miss this two days in a row. We DA today and drive them back into the jungle with their Dutch allies, odds 26:1, casualties 23(3) vs nil.
15th Army
We attack Rangoon's airfield and port, but with much less success than at Singapore. First, Oscars fail to sweep despite orders to do so. Fortunately there is no CAP so that doesn't hurt us. The IJAAF bombs the airfield and the IJNAF bombs the port. Thunderstorms in the hex limit hits and in general the results are desultory. We will not try again tomorrow due to the danger CF will put the AVG up on LRCAP from Toungoo.
1st Raiding Regt arrives at Chiang Mai. We are seriously considering a para assault on Toungoo in an effort to destroy the AVG's air groups. Casualties amongst the transports could be horrible if he has a lot of CAP. We could sweep against numbers and accept losses in order to get the transports through. The big question is whether we can deliver enough to seize Toungoo against 4 LCUs in a rough hex. The enemy appears to be strictly base forces, but this could be too tall an order for a single regiment (even a crack outfit with 90 EXP). What do you readers think?
BA Rangoon shows raw AS at 750 vs 539. The enemy is composed of low quality troops, but we need to wait a few days to draw supply into our LCUs and for the arrival of an RTA unit at Pegu, which will release another 138 AS to Rangoon. We are well ahead of the historical schedule in Burma, so this doesn't bother Cribtop HQ.
China
All LCUs in the enemy's Sian Army save 3 retire to to the hex SE of the city, with the rest on the way.
PS - I constantly confuse 11th and 12th Army for some reason. Everything I posted in the screenshot post above referred to 11th Army as 12 Army and vice versa. You'd think we'd get it straight.
Council of War
We convened to consider a variety of operations.
Operation SM. The enemy has gotten great intel of our forces gathering at Jolo. He knows KBL is there. We assume he has some Sigint of LCUs prepping for the Operation SM targets. His carriers were last seen heading West past Darwin and thus could be in a position where he will be tempted to interrupt the operation. Meanwhile, KB has fallen into a "hole in the ocean" being completely unspotted in the Arafura Sea while awaiting a few extra DDs to catch up and provide additional ASW screening. Officers of Combined Fleet propose that this may present an opportunity for a CV battle with LBA support in our favor if KB moves West to the southern end of the Makassar Strait (LBA are fully in place at Tarakan, Kendari and Ambon). Cribtop HQ is of the opinion that the enemy will probably spot KB and stay away, but in the end we choose to authorize the Op. Rationale is that the path of KB stays in relatively open waters and will leave the CVs positioned to support Operation DK once Operation SM is complete. In addition, KBL can transit the Makassar Strait to join up with KB, thus obviating the need for KB to enter restricted and sub-infested waters. Who knows, if the enemy tries to sprint in to intercept the landings at Samarinda or Makassar, we just might get him.
We will begin to load on January 29th in order to synchronize arrival of KB so it is in position just after the invasion of Samarinda.
China
The enemy's actions and the good progress of our LCUs leave us in an excellent position. Cribtop HQ orders the commencement of the main advance of Operation N to begin on January 29th as this will allow for the best timing of arrival of all units around Nanyang. If we are fortunate, the enemy will not recognize his danger until it is too late. If we eliminate the Nanyang stack, Cribtop HQ believes Sian is doomed.
Raiders
Knowledge of the general location of the USN CVs creates opportunities for a deep raid in the Pacific. Specifically, Cribtop HQ believes CVE Taiyo could re-size her training air group, upgrade to Zeroes, then add in a re-sized Val group and possibly a few Kates. Then, with a light escort of a CL and at least 4 DDs, she could move deep into the enemy rear and begin a patrol heading east from a location near Pago Pago. Pursuing a zig zag path using waypoints, we hope to locate and disrupt the enemy's convoy routes. There is some danger as CV Yorktown will be arriving about now and may catch us as she transits to join her sisters, but it seems well worth the risk.
Toungoo
We are of two minds about this as discussed above and would like reader input. Cribtop HQ is willing to risk losses as the reward would be great. Destruction of the entire AVG in a single afternoon would be a blow to the enemy's air power and his morale.
A day of interesting possibilities discussed at a Council of War at Cribtop HQ. How do you have a Council of War with yourself? Err, nothing to see here... move along now. [;)]
If your wife cannot see you for counseling on this due to ethical issues or a conflict of interest, I can squeeze you in later next week.
Seadragon is really starting to piss me off. Today she duds on a DD in a powerful ASW TF created specifically to hunt her down near Jolo. Imagine how mad I'd be if any of her torpedoes had actually exploded. A PB acting as a picket ship for Operation SM tries to hunt K VIII all by itself near Namlea. The other picket ship evades torpedoes launched by K XVIII in the Makassar Strait. The main Operation SM fleet will definitely be set to follow an all DD ASW TF in these dangerous waters.
4th Fleet
No change.
SE Fleet
No change.
14th Army
Catbalogan invaded. Culion falls.
16th Army
Biak falls. Dutch bombers have a go at APDs transferring to Tarakan but miss. The APDs will FT TF 5th Air Division down to Balikpapan once that base falls. KB unites with a new DesDiv in the Arafura Sea. Car Div 1 is up to 9 DDs and 30 ASW, Car Div 2 has 9 DDs and 28 ASW. She will set course for the Banda Sea and then proceed west.
25th Army
Beaufort (finally) falls, 2 enemy base forces retreated, casualties 154(12) vs 6(0).
We sweep and bomb Singapore again. Four more Buffaloes fall out of the handful that still oppose us. The airfield raid gets good hits and destroys a few more planes on the ground.
15th Army
No change.
China
DA against the hapless Lusu War HQ far behind the lines by an NCPC unit forces a retreat and casualties of 90(14). We will chase the HQ across the north China plain until it surrenders.
A Jake flying from Indes Fleet reports a hit on a sub near Jolo. Many of our subs from the West Coast have arrived at Kwaj and are moving to new home bases and hunting grounds, including the east coast of Oz and the Indian Ocean.
4th Fleet
The Canton invasion force re-loads for the run into the target.
SE Fleet
Thousand Ships Bay occupied. All Operation LPM elements have arrived at Rabaul. Recon shows what appears to be the original garrison on Horn Island. We will try to seize this base by airborne assault soon. Today we accumulate enough PPs to buy out 20th Division and load her on 21kt transports for the voyage to Truk. Appalling how few PPs we have now, but they will re-build quickly as we don't need to buy anything else out for quite some time.
14th Army
Catbalogan falls. An Amphib TF sorties from Takao to pick up three armored regiments that are being re-deployed for the eventual invasions of Java and NW Oz.
16th Army
As KB sails NNW of Babo, Car Div 2 is spotted by a Catalina. The "we've spotted enemy carriers" message doesn't play but we must assume our presence has been noted. Further, with Catalinas on search (presumably from Koepang) we expect to be spotted repeatedly. Not exactly a shocker, but it appears an attempt to counterambush the USN CVs is now unlikely.
However, another target has presented itself. Kates on Nav Search provide great intel of Darwin. No enemy fighters and only 14 bombers are spotted, but a large Tanker convoy is at the base and 41 ships are disbanded in port. That is too juicy to pass up, so we will move into range and attack tomorrow, with help from the Ambon Nells just for good measure. We consider the likelihood the USN carriers will double back to attack KB low as we have lots of Mavis and Nells on search between Timor and Darwin and there is no sign of the enemy. We also ponder whether a target of opportunity is distracting us from strategic goals, but believe 7 enemy TKs are well worth a 24-48 hour detour. The A Team is thus issued attack orders, much to the joy of KB's pilots. The next replay could be very interesting.
At Jolo, the Operation SM invasion force has loaded and will sortie in conjunction with KBL, Indes Fleet and an ASW TF.
25th Army
We bomb Singers again. The enemy has left about 11 ships in harbor, so tomorrow we'll try our hand at a port attack. An armored unit arrives in Mersing and will take it tomorrow while the main army is closing in on Johore Bahru.
15th Army
We are leaning in favor of Operation Dying Tiger (the airborne assault on Toungoo). The upside is so substantial that risk of loss of every transport and the regiment seems worth it. Plus, if the assault fails, 21st Brigade could march up the road to bail the surviving paras out.
Just to turn tomorrow into the biggest air attack day since December 7, we will also sweep Rangoon and bomb both the port and airfield again. Cribtop HQ is surprised CF hasn't committed AVG to the battle for the Burmese capital.
China
Lead elements of Operation N jumped off the start line as scheduled yesterday. The enemy has fully consolidated his army 1 hex SE of Sian and we are marching on this hex. The possibilities in northern China over the next several weeks are very interesting for us.
Just as we are loading (slowly) for Canton, a small convoy approaches the island from the SW. 3 ships are spotted, with a PT and an AM reported. We doubt the PT, this is probably a group of small escorts. We vector two subs on intercept course and so far plan to proceed with the invasion.
SE Fleet
Wau occupied. 20th Division is still loading at Keijo. South Seas Fleet arrives at Truk and will clear SYS damage as we contemplate an invasion of Noumea with 90th Regt.
14th Army
Taytay invaded.
16th Army
As the Operation SM fleet approaches Samarinda (D-Day tomorrow), we realize we forgot to include lifeboats. D'oh. [8|] We have lots of LRCAP and LBA in place, along with picket ships watching for any sniff of enemy CVs or surface ships. None so far. Assuming all goes well, phase 2 of the Op, the invasion forces for Makassar and Bandjermasin, will load at Jolo.
The real bad news is at Darwin. KB doesn't launch due to bad weather in the target hex and is most definitely spotted by the enemy. Worse, the brilliant admirals in charge decide that today is a great day to re-fuel at sea, leaving the TFs low on ops points. [:@][:@][:@] Many players have been burned by this feature, but it sure leaves us hanging in the breeze. The BBs are tapped, the CVs have an average of 60% of their ops points left. We have little choice but to sit in place and hope the enemy doesn't get frisky. 11 hexes from a friendly port and plenty of gas in the tank! Arrgghh. Fortunately, tons of nav search, including long range Nell & Mavis, reveals nothing to the West, the last direction of the enemy CVs. We have additional info on the big tanker convoy at Darwin, which apparently contains DDs and AOs! We may have caught CF's fleet Oilers, which would be a lovely target to bag. The turn is away to CF and we await the replay with trepidation. Glory or disaster could be in the offing. We switch orders to "Do Not Refuel" and home port to Ambon to minimize the chances this self-imposed debacle is repeated.
25th Army
We sweep and bomb the port at Singapore, downing a Buffalo and sinking 8 small patrol ships (HDML & ML). Good attack but a bomb strays into the shipyard. Oops. Back to airfield attacks tomorrow, recon shows no more anchor symbol at Singers.
Mersing falls. Johore Bahru next. 2nd Division and Southern Army HQ are on their way by rail for the final act in Malaya.
15th Army
Port attack Rangoon finds no CAP in the air and puts two xAKs and two xAKLs in probable sinking condition. We will avoid raids tomorrow due to an awful weather forecast and the ever-present threat of the so far inactive AVG.
Waiting on the Toungoo Op for 1st Raiding Regt's fatigue to drop a little bit more.
China
We are almost 1 hex from Sian. To the south, Operation N will close the jaws on Nanyang in four days. CF is fast running out of time to run. North China Area army is moving by rail to Sinyang and is prepping for Sian. Big reinforcements arrive in 2 days.
Genda Minoru was anxious, his mood completely at odds with the balmy afternoon weather on the bridge of Carrier Akagi. The late afternoon weather. The glorious strike force of the Imperial Japanese Navy was about to launch possibly the most absurdly mismatched strike package in the brief history of carrier aviation, and it was Genda’s decision to do so. 130 Type 97 attack planes had just finished launching to assault the Australian port of Darwin. They would be accompanied by exactly seven Type 0 fighters, meaning that the strike would suffer extreme losses if the enemy had even a semblance of fighter cover at the base. Unbidden, his mind went over the arguments from earlier in the day again and again…
“We are more than happy to die for the Emperor!” urged Fuchida Mitsuo for at least the tenth time. His voice rose in volume, also for at least the tenth time.
“No one doubts your pilots’ bravery, Mitsuo, but there are strategic considerations at work,” replied Commander Daigo Yoshino, a promising young officer with a gift for diplomacy assigned to Genda shortly before the outbreak of war. “We must launch the strike not later than 1600 hours in order to recover our planes during daylight. We are faced with the choice of launching an incomplete strike immediately or waiting for the fighters to spot and launch well after that.”
“An unescorted attack is foolishness. We will find a way to recover or even ditch near the fleet if necessary.”
“Which will leave Kido Butai helpless in enemy waters, cost us at least an entire month’s production of aircraft, and significantly delay the invasion of Java.”
“This discussion would not be necessary if your destroyers had kept better track of their fuel consumption.” This remark was acidly directed by Fuchida at Lieutenant Torii Sosuke of Des Div 6, part of the screening surface forces for the carriers.
Torii remained stoically silent, as there really was no possible reply. A few days ago, Kido Butai had been ordered to transit the Torres Strait and assist operations in the Southern Resource Area, and Admiral Nagumo had requested additional anti-submarine support given the aggressive actions of the Dutch sub fleet in recent weeks. However, the final decision to transfer into Dutch waters was not made until after the successful amphibious operation at Port Moresby. On the fly, Combined Fleet had allocated an additional Des Div to the escort screen out of the Port Moresby invasion force, increasing available destroyers by 50% for both Carrier Divisions.
However, no one had thought to ask the new vessels their fuel status. As a result, when Kido Butai diverted to the west to attack significant enemy shipping observed in harbor at Darwin, a seemingly innocent request for mid-ocean re-fueling created an unexpected crisis. The poor weather on January 30 prevented both the planned air assault and the re-fueling. Unfortunately, by January 31 the screening force commander was forced to admit that due to insufficient reserves several of his destroyers would be unable to continue normal operations. Worse, delivery of this news was put off until the last moment, forcing the capital ships of the mighty fleet to waste the entire morning and much of the afternoon re-provisioning their small protectors. Despite all efforts at haste, the hours had slipped away, while the valuable targets in Darwin, including tankers, sub tenders and various important support vessels, rested safely at anchor. The southern hemisphere’s long summer days were the only reason a strike of any kind could take off today, despite the relatively short range to Darwin.
Genda broke the deadlock. “Gentlemen, please! We have three choices: Forgo the attack and retire on Ambon, launch the strike late with adequate fighter protection, or launch now without it. The first option would cover us in shame while allowing vital targets to escape; the second ensures the loss of our air groups. Only the third option will allow for success, albeit with risk.”
“But what if the recon reports were wrong? We have only been flying over the port since yesterday, and in poor weather,” exclaimed Fuchida.
All eyes turned to Genda. “True, but three search planes launched from Cruiser Tone and several Type 97s reported no fighters despite circling the harbor several times over the past 30 hours. The enemy’s odd dispositions are in all probability the result of the hasty flight of his shipping from the Southern Resource Area ahead of 16th Army’s advance. Furthermore, I know Tone’s air group commander personally. He would never let the Imperial Navy down.”
With far more conviction in his voice than in his heart, Genda spoke on. “This discussion is concluded. I will recommend to Admiral Nagumo that we launch immediately with what fighter escort can be in the air by 1600 hours.”
Later that day, Genda and Daigo waited nervously by the radio operator’s station on carrier Akagi, when at last the receiver crackled to life with Fuchida’s voice. “Target now in sight. Visibility excellent. Estimate 43 enemy ships of various classes at anchor. No enemy aircraft aloft. Repeat, no enemy aircraft aloft. Commencing attack immediately.”
Yoshino was extremely surprised to receive a most undignified hug from the commander of Kido Butai’s strike aircraft.
A very busy day. Cribtop HQ is deeply relieved at the news from both Darwin and Samarinda.
Subs
The ASW TF leading the Samarinda invasion, and the invasion TF's close escorts, both DC K XVIII, keeping the sub's head down and avoiding an attack on the transports. The enemy TF headed for Canton Island likewise slips by our I-boats.
4th Fleet
No change.
SE Fleet
A base force sails for Wake Island to enable basing of search aircraft there. Rabaul makes level 4 port and will shift to building up the airfield again. The Operation LPM fleet departs Rabaul for Truk. Two paratrooper LCUs finish unloading at Lae and will launch attacks as soon as that base's airfield hits level 2.
14th Army
Taytay falls.
16th Army
The big news of the day is the combined strike on Darwin by KB's Kates along with Nells from Kendari and Ambon. Not sure why so few Zeroes flew in escort, but we assume low ops points had something to do with it. There are sinking sounds after the strike. Here is an excerpt from the combat report:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
TK Semiramis, Bomb hits 1
AVP Reiger, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 6, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Manvantara, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Cairns, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Deneb, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AS Platypus, Bomb hits 1
AGP Aldebaran, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Port hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 11000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AVP Bellatrix, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Angelina, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 130
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Koolama, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Marella, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Aroe, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PG Isabel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 2, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AS Platypus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AD Black Hawk, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Zealandia, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Arend, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Mijer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 5, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Koolinda, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Francol, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAKL Lepus, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK British Sailor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Deloraine, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Strix, Bomb hits 1
TK Manvantara, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Janssens, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Meroendoeng, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Gemma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 3, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL De Klerk, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Halldor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1
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KB will retire ENE and remain in range for a follow up strike tomorrow. The Nells are coming back as well. Lots of good tankers and support ships (particularly the two sub tenders) worth finishing off. Unfortunately the AOs were the dinky Dutch types, but they're still worth sinking. Commander Genda promises Cribtop HQ there will be more fighters on escort tomorrow. [:D]
Samarinda is invaded without major incident, although 6 B-339's are shot down by LRCAPing Zeroes while trying to attack the invasion fleet. There is a moment of terror as the invasion fleet reports being overflown by a dive bomber, but it was not a Dauntless as we feared. Allied BA shows raw AS stands at 225:19. We still have some troops and supply to unload tomorrow, but our pickets report no enemy aircraft, so we will proceed.
25th Army
We sweep Singers and pound the airfield. The bulk of 25th Army reaches Johore Bahru and will take it tomorrow as the enemy has abandoned it. Kuala Lumpur makes level 4 airfield.
15th Army
We accidentally forget to cancel port attack orders for our Nells at Chumphon, so we put more bombs into two damaged xAKs. No CAP at Rangoon, either, thank goodness. During two distinct repair phases before the attack on Darwin we hear sinking sounds, presumably the merchants at Rangoon.
The clock ticks over to February. The beginning of February is a chance for JFBs to think, "no problem, I've got two more months of invasion bonus." Then we remember how short a month February is...
Subs
No contacts.
4th Fleet
The enemy TF at Canton Island contains an xAP and may be unloading or loading troops. Then again, it may just be re-fueling at Canton's generous pre-war stores. We will recon it to determine whether the approaching SNLF is insufficient to take the place.
SE Fleet
No change.
14th Army
No change.
16th Army
Sinking sounds, presumably from Darwin, are heard at each opporturnity throughout the turn. KB is overflown by a B-17 but receives no incoming strikes. Nells and KB's Kates wallop Darwin again, scoring more hits on numerous TKs, xAPs, a Dutch DD and various small craft. The two AS and the AVP are not hit today and thus we presume they sank. Losses are nominal (1 Kate and 1 Nell). The Darwin port intel shows ships in port have dropped from 43 to 25 overnight. This is without a single TF spotted fleeing the place. Ouch. KB will retire to re-fuel and support further offensive operations, but the Nells will return after taking one day off to reduce fatigue.
DA Samarinda captures the base easily, odds 83:1, casualties 307(29) vs 108(2). Oil is captured at 99(1), which is excellent news. The invasion fleet finished dumping supply today and will retire on Tarakan tomorrow to re-fuel. There is something inherently satisfying with literally fueling fresh conquests using captured Dutch gas. [:'(]
25th Army
Johore Bahru falls. We will get organized and cross into Singapore proper asap. 2nd Division has arrived to join the party and Southern Army HQ will lend support as well. Most LCUs are at least 80 prep for Singers. We hope to take the base quickly and move on to Sumatra and Java.
In the air, the daily sweep of Singapore nets two more Buffaloes. Air supremacy has been obtained and Cribtop HQ orders an elite Oscar Sentai (the 1st) pulled out and shifted to the Burma front.
15th Army
21st Brigade begins to march on the Rangoon hex. DA as soon as she arrives.
China
We spot what appears to be two enemy MTBs in Hong. They traipsed in despite mines recently dropped in the hex. Two DDs will chase them out tomorrow if they remain.
I-172 finds an enemy TK convoy just north of Vava'u. She is chased off but gains valuable intel. This sub was on a long north-south patrol just east of Fiji in an effort to find enemy convoy routes. Looks like we hit pay dirt (until CF moves them). Recon efforts in search of the enemy's deep bases continue and show some activity but no clear winner yet. A Jake from KB reports a hit on a Dutch sub near our secret mid-ocean rendezvous with fleet oilers near Boela. KB has once again dropped off the enemy's air search radar, hopefully this action doesn't tip them off as we will be vulnerable while we gas up tomorrow.
4th Fleet
We will send two subs into the Canton Island hex to try to hit the small convoy there. Invasion fleet and a recon plane bearing AMC are nearing the island but may be recalled if reinforcements have arrived.
SE Fleet
We are considering using 20th Division and 90th Regiment for a deep strike on the enemy's supply base (assuming we can ever find one). Reinforcements are arriving in a few days and construction engineers are en route to both SE Fleet and 4th Fleet to begin constructing the perimeter.
14th Army
Lubang occupied. Siargo and Puerto Princesa invaded.
16th Army
KB slips into the hole in the enemy's search patterns near Boela to re-fuel as mentioned above. The Nells take the day off but there are again many sinking sounds during the turn. The port shows only 9 ships left vs 43 before the first attack. Some may have fled but we believe many were destroyed. A successful raid.
Tandjoengselor (Really? What a spelling nightmare!) is shock attacked by an SNLF from Tarakan crossing the river to clean up the former Tarakan garrison. We drop forts to 0, obtain a 1:1, casualties an acceptable 30(1) vs 88(0). We need to rest from the SA and then will finish the enemy off.
Cribtop HQ has taken stock and determined that operational sequencing will proceed as follows: 1) Operation DK (Timor) is loading today and will go in first with distant cover from KB; 2) Phase 2 of Operation SM (Bandjermasin and Makassar) will go next); 3) Denpasar (I think we finally spelled this base correctly) will be last. We will then move on Java and NW Oz, probably during March.
25th Army
Sweep of Singers finds no CAP and validates our belief that air supremacy is obtained. The daily airfield bombings of the past week have destroyed many of the hated stringbags before they ever get a chance to sortie - a nice bonus against one of the few useful weapons in the Allied early war bomber inventory in this region.
15th Army
The enemy launches a small ground attack on our troops at Rangoon, but AVG is still uninvolved. We will LRCAP tomorrow to defend against this.
Cribtop HQ has run the numbers and decided against a drop at Toungoo. With 4 enemy base forces in place, we estimate even with the 1/10 AS for non combat troops that a 2:1 on an SA in a bad terrain hex with 84 fighters potentially shooting down transports is just not a winner. We don't mind risking loss of the crack paratroopers but we put the odds of success at <10%, which is just a waste of a valuable asset even by the rather brutal standards of the IJA. In addition, an unoccupied and useful alternative target has been discovered, namely Akyab.
China
The two IJN DDs detailed to chase off two PTs at Honk Kong perform their mission, but the enemy flees to fight another day. Naturally, this glorious victory is sufficient to merit mention by Tokyo Rose as a great victory. Hilarious. [:D]
Operation N appears to have the enemy off guard. He has only 48 hours to slip out of the Nanyang hex before he is surrounded on all sides and so far there is no movement arrow. We have timed it so a division will appear on the road leading to Sian on Feb 4th. By that time our main armies will be one day's march from crossing into Nanyang itself. Worse, the Chinese have no ready made rescue force as they did at Loyang. This could be the start of something big, we shall see. At this point, Cuttlefish's only viable option is to immediately abandon Nanyang and try to bull through the division in the rough wooded hex behind the city, but if he doesn't start marching pronto he won't be able to get there in time. This is all because he has no eyes in the sky to realize our "anvil" division is doing anything other than guarding the LoC of our Sian Army. Speaking of which, the Sian Army is now 1 hex SE of that city and pinning the enemy's army in the region.
Other
Lots of little Val air groups arrived on the first and will be put to various productive uses (such as shipping out on Taiyo for her raid in the South Pacific and manning small non-torp enabled bases at the front, etc).
It's still early for the Allies to be establishing supply bases on the long route from Hawaii/West Coast to Oz. The Allies are critically short of engineers for months and it doesn't make sense to drop fuel or supplies at itty-bitty bases that can't hold them. There are some bases that are big enough to manage fuel and supplies - Pago Pago and Christmas chiefly - but many Allied players will be leary of PP's forward exposure once Ocean and Nauru (or Baker) fall.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Cribtop HQ welcomes new addition Avery Grace to our family lineup. That makes Mom, Dad, 2 daughters and 3 dogs. Good Lord, I need a bigger house! Especially because Cribtop HQ is determined to add a son to the lineup next!
Subs
DDs escorting KBL back to Jolo chase off O20. No contacts at Canton. Whatever the enemy is doing there he hasn't unloaded a second LCU.
4th Fleet
So far, the invasion of Canton Island is still on (see above). The Baker Island invasion force launches from Kwaj.
SE Fleet
Finschafen occupied. We are shipping AA LCUs to Rabaul, Lae and Shortlands.
14th Army
Lack of resistance for weeks causes Cribtop HQ to declare air supremacy in the PI and move a Nate Sentai back to Takao. From there they will upgrade to Oscars and move out to a new AO, probably Burma.
Siargo falls.
16th Army
Nells fail to raid Darwin today (due to weather?), but we STILL hear sinking sounds throughout the turn. KB and her Oilers RV near Boela. Today the CVs re-fuel at sea and will move 1 hex into a hidey hole. We hope Dutch subs won't follow.
Operation DK fleet leaves Babeldoab for Manado to pick up additional forces.
Operation SM fleet re-fuels at Tarakan.
25th Army
We await 2nd Division's move out of strat mode at Johore B. Flak losses from day 1 of ground and airfield bombing are too high. Tomorrow the ground bombers will increase altitude to reduce casualties.
15th Army
No change.
China
BA by 12th Army 1 hex SE of Sian shows raw AS at 1782 vs 2086. Given the wooded terrain we will await reinforcements. This bombardment was mostly maskirovka designed to convince CF that the main attack just stalled at the gates of Sian.
In fact, the main attack will become apparent tomorrow as a division moves to block the road between Sian and Nanyang 1 hex NW of Nanyang. The enemy will then have 2 or at most 3 days to flee the city before IJA forces enter from all hexsides and force a siege with only one inevitable outcome - the surrender of over 150,000 KMT troops!
DA against Lusu War Area HQ behind our lines results in a retreat with 134(7) vs nil casualties.
Cribtop HQ welcomes new addition Avery Grace to our family lineup. That makes Mom, Dad, 2 daughters and 3 dogs. Good Lord, I need a bigger house! Especially because Cribtop HQ is determined to add a son to the lineup next!
Congratulations! [:)]
Recommend heavy practice of submarine warfare for the next objective.
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