US Naval War College Communications (Allied only)

[herwin]

April 21/22 1942

Mopping up in Java, as sieges of the major cities continue. Bombardment TF heads towards Port Moresby.

[herwin]

April 22/23 1942

Somewhat later than usual. "Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!"

Amphibious attack at Port Moresby, supported at short range by a bombardment group slow battleships and the five fast carriers of the KB. (300 bombing missions counted so far.) Four American CVTFs move to cork the bottle. One of the transports was sunk off Milne Bay, but I don't know how significant the losses were. The invading force is the 19th Division.

[herwin]

April 23/24 1942

The fast part of the KB (KBf) and the old battleships linger off Port Moresby, where landings continue. The US Air Fleet approaches Noumea for resupply before heading north.

The slow part of the KB (KBs) travels west along the south coast of Java, hitting remaining Dutch bases with airstrikes. Submarines deploy in its path. Ideally someone will take a torpedo and then founder at Merak, where the strait is mined.

Japanese float plane snoops a large slow convoy in the Western Bay of Bengal near Trincomalee. An ASW TF and a SAG move to cover.

Japan mops up Burma, capturing Shwebo, Mandalay, and Taung Gyi as the garrisons retreat to Lashio. Eastern Army forces settle in on the Indo-Burmese border.

Japanese deliberate attack at Sian.

Japanese submarine detected operating off Cochin. ASW TFs move to engage.

[herwin]

The KBf continues to linger off Port Moresby, while the old battleships continue using up the last of the ammunition in bombardment. The KBs attacks Jakarta, and the accompanying old battleships bombard the coast defences at Tjilatjap.

The combined USN CVTFs resupply in Noumea and take some aircraft replacements.

Deliberate attack at Batavia stopped.

Shock attack at Jakarta grinds forward.

Deliberate attack at Port Moresby stopped.

Deliberate attack at Wenchow held.

[herwin]

Word from my opponent:

"I have exhausted my operations plan.

"Have to start thinking about my "Victory Disease" operational plan....."

My response:

"First, there are parts of the Eastern DEI with resources.

"Second, you need to be prepared for my counterattack. That means you need to think about how you keep me from bypassing your external bases. In particular, you need to capture the bases in the Philippines and DEI that I still hold and would otherwise make use of.

"Third, you need to think about ways to keep me off-balance--which has been my goal for you during most of the first five months."

My current main defensive line is as follows:

Akyab-Imphal-Myitkina-Lashio-Kunming-Nanning-Pakhoi-Kwangchowan-Wuchow-Kanhsieng-Changsha-Hankow (engaged)-Sinyang(engaged)-Sian (engaged)-Yenan.

I hold Christmas Island (IO), Australia, Eastern DEI except Timor, a few ports on Borneo, the Central Philippines, Port Moresby (engaged), the Southern Solomons, especially Tulagi, and the rest of the historical 1942-43 line. My initial plans are to use Australia as a base to pound his outer airfields and to make another try for the Marshalls. If I can attract his attention to the East, I might use the Eastern Fleet to relieve the Eastern DEI and Southern Philippines.

[herwin]

April 25/26 1942

Port Moresby, Madioen, and Wenchow fall.

USN CVTFs off Koumac, headed north.

[herwin]

April 26/27 1942

I had decided to set up a coastal convoy system in the Bay of Bengal between Vizagapatam and Chittagong. You know, a series of fighter bases along the coast positioned to provide continuous long-range CAP over TFs moving along the coast. Something the Brits could do with their eyes closed. Silly me--the game engine can't deal with it. The first time I try to run a small convoy along the route, 25 Betties show up to sink it--no search aircraft reported--and no fighters covered it. At least they wasted a couple dozen torpedoes.

Ah, there are the Japanese parachutists! They dropped in the jungles of northern Burma to capture an undefended crossroads (Katha). It's a good thing I have the major bases along the border heavily garrisoned.

[herwin]

We who are about to die salute you!

Four USN CVTFs are closing with the five fast carriers of the KB. The biggest worry I have is not all my aircraft will engage. The Betty base at Rabaul is 18 hexes off, so the slightest misstep could be disasterous.

[herwin]

April 27/28 1942

I try to think but nothing happens!

The engagement doesn't come off.

Cagayan and Nairu fall. Batavia holds out.

[herwin]

April 28/29 1942

Time for logistics management.

The KB moves east to airstrike my base at Tulagi. The USN Air Fleet moves in the same direction.

Invasion at Toaboli.

Sian falls. 8(

Milne Bay falls--assaulting force is a full division. How they ever intend to load it back up, I don't know.

Sinyang holds, gutting the Japanese attackers.

By the way, the coastal convoy made it into Chittagong, unmolested this turn. I guess I need to hop from airbase to airbase. 54000 tons of supply to unload. That should keep the 4th Corps supplied for a while.

[herwin]

April 29/30

Japanese landings at Buna.

[herwin]

April 30/may 1 1942

Air battles over Chittagong as Japan commits her Betties, Zeros, Ki-21s and Ki-48s to attacking the xAKs unloading there. Meanwhile, American and British bombers hit the Japanese bases. Score so far, one xAK sunk by Betties, 7 Hurricanes lost in air-to-air combat, 4 A6Ms, 1 Ki-48, 1 Ki-21, and 1 G4M destroyed, 3 Ki-21 and 2 Ki-48 damaged.

B-17s begin daily milk-run attacks on Port Moresby.

Japanese ground losses:
      5 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

[herwin]

May 1/2 1942

My opponent's comment: "Too many planes lost for sinking a couple of merchants..."

That was the purpose of my trap.

Here are the reports:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane I Trop x 2
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
      P-36A Mohawk x 1
      P-38E Lightning x 2
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000
      Raid is overhead
No.146 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Hurricane I Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
51st PG/25th PS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
51st PG/26th PS with P-36A Mohawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 3
      G4M1 Betty x 9
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
      P-36A Mohawk x 1
      P-38E Lightning x 2
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
 
Allied Ships
      DD Paladin
      xAK Indira
      DD Pakenham, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
       3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 15000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
No.146 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
51st PG/25th PS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
51st PG/26th PS with P-36A Mohawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000
      Raid is overhead
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 9
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 4
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      DD Nestor
      xAK La Cordillera, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 
CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000
      Raid is overhead
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 11
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 1
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      DD Nestor
      DD Panther
      xAK Risaldar, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires
      xAK Elmdale
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       8 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 7000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 7000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       6 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 5000 feet *
 
CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Risaldar
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      xAK Jalaganga, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
      DD Napier
      DD Paladin
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 54,41
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      xAK Ozarda
      xAK Stanmore
      DD Nestor
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Afternoon Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 10
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane I Trop x 6
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 13
      P-36A Mohawk x 3
      P-38E Lightning x 2
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
      Raid is overhead
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.146 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Hurricane I Trop (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
      Raid is overhead
51st PG/25th PS with P-38E Lightning (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000
      Raid is overhead
51st PG/26th PS with P-36A Mohawk (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 8
 
No Japanese losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 7
 
No Japanese losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

[herwin]

May 2/3 1942

Japanese capture Batavia. Otherwise mopping up.

[herwin]

May 3/4 1942

Japanese planning for attack on Akyab. (Garrison is four infantry brigades, a tank regiment, and a base force.)

Lae, Merak, Pontianak, Lashio captured by Japan. Sinyang holds.

[herwin]

May 4/5 1942

Uncoordinated daylight bombing of Magwe encounters Japanese CAP--need to run some sweeps through the hex.

[herwin]

May 5/6 1942

Japanese mopping-up operations.

Reinforcement fast transport convoy carrying defence battalion approaches Tulagi. Covered by four CVTFs. The next convoy will be carrying a large base force.

[herwin]

May 6/7 1942

Slow rump of the KB conducts a surprise convoy raid in the Indian Ocean (in the middle of nowhere). Should I close with my cruisers to engage or break off?

Clearly breaking off is the best plan. We both stopped using search arcs, and we've both improved our situational awareness. I guess I need to be more circumspect in the Indian Ocean for the time being.

[herwin]

May 7/8 1942

Japanese finish off the convoy in the IO. Escorts escape.

[herwin]

May 8/9 1942

Japanese tank regiment overruns Myitkyina. Seems like a peculiarly inappropriate place for a tank regiment, but who am I to comment. If that's where he wants to let his tanks rust, fine by me.