AE Historical Game Project. Cantona2 (allied) vs Fletcher (Jap)

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM.Takahashi, I. 3rd Fleet HQ. TAKAO.
TO: ADM. Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ. Kure.
SUBJECT: N.E.I. (Eastern)
DATE: Jan 13rd, 1942.

02 coastal minesweeper have been sunk by enemy air attack this morning. 4 A-24 attacked our Manado Landing Force and sunk Wa-10 and Kyo Maru #1. Air support have been requested to 21st Air Flotilla at Cagayan -Mindanao-. Income message from 21st A.F. annouce air attack to support our landings at Manado and supress enemy air flights from this AF. CRUDIV 8 will bombard enemy positions before landings.

Another 4 enemy bombers (dutch 2 engines) have attack HIJMS Kinugasa (CRUDIV 8 -RADM Goto-), she has not reported any damages with 1 enemy aircraft downed by her flak.

1st Air Fleet will support our landings at Ternate and Manado tomorrow and day after tomorrow. Ambon Island will be smashed by 1st Mobile Force (2nd and 3rd BATDIV). BATDIV 1 will support landings of Ambon Landing Force.

I-153, I-155, and I-166 have been refuelled and reloaded at Cam Ranh Bay and reattached to Davao Submarine Squadron. All of them will departure tomorrow to North Australia Blockade Mission.

HIJMS Tama and DD Fuyo have been realocate to 5th Fleet, and they will departure from Miri to Ominato at cruise. AMC Asaka Maru have been transfered from Formosa Naval Depot to Ominato to patrol Kurile waters. Another 3 DD (TB) will arrive to Ominato in two days to support enemy raider chase in Okhost sea.

Long Live to the Emperor !

END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. Chuichi Nagumo. 1st Air Fleet c-in-c. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI.
TO: VADM. I. Takahashi. 3rd Fleet C-in-C. Takao.
SUBJECT: AIR SUPPORT TO EASTERN D.E.I.
DATE: Jan 13rd, 1942.

My carrier have strike Ambon coastal defense in a second raid with 67 D3A1 and 25 B5N2 escorted by 7 A6M2. Our pilots reporting 1 gun disabled on 4th Coastal Gun Bn.
Tomorrow air planned attacks like following:

CAR DIV 1 : AKAGI Air Group will strike Ambon ground forces to supress enemy CD. KAGA Air Group will be ready for Naval Attack.

CAR DIV 2 : SORYU Air Group will strike Ternate ground forces to support landings. HIRYU Air Group will be ready for Naval Attack.

CAR DIV 5 : SHOKAKU Air Group will strike Manado ground forces to suppor landings. ZUIKAKU Air Group will be ready for Naval Attack.

Recon Float Planes from HIJMS HIEI and HIJMS KIRISHIMA will fly recon missions over Ternate and Manado.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: LGEN Tomoyuki Yamashita, XXV Army Hq. Kuala Lumpur.
TO: GEN. Hisaichi Terauchi. Southern Area Army HQ. Kuala Lumpur.
SUBJECT: MALAYA REPORT
DATE: Jan 13rd, 1942.

HIJMS Tachikaze reported 2 hits or near misses on enemy electric boat near Miri.

Singapore airfield was smashed by 3rd Air Division assets:

1st wave with 43 Ki-43 Hayabusa escorting 24 Ki-48 and 62 Ki-21 reported 1 Buffalo downed by A2A and 2 Buffaloes destroyed at ground. 39 runway hits. Our Losses in raid: 1 Ki-43 downed by fighters and 1 Ki-48 by Flak.

2nd wave with 23 Ki-48 escorted by only 2 Ki-43 reported another 20 runway hits. 2 Ki-48 were downed by enemy Flak. No enemy CAP over singapore skies.

Several enemy ships and submarines have been reported by our recon flights over Singapore. Tomorrow 3rd air div asset will launch a massive strike against enemy port and drydocks.

Kuching enemy raid with 3 B-17 was intercepted by 13 A6M2. Enemy turned back but they came back for a second time in the afternoon, and 1 B-17 was downed by our fighters.

12nd Transport chutai have been transfered to Miri to supply airlift to Kuching. A supply convoy will departure at full from Saigon to Kuching as soon as possible.

Backbone of XXV Army at Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow our advance guard engage enemy 40 miles south Kuala.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN. Shunroku Hata. China Expeditionary Army HQ. Near Wenchow.
TO: GEN. Sugiyama. IGHQ. IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY GENERAL STAFF. Tokyo.
SUBJECT: CHINA REPORT
DATE: Jan 13rd, 1942

40 miles southeast Changsha, 40th Infantry division have unsuccesfully attacked enemy 26th Corps. 332 IJA casualties were reported vs. 247 chinese KIA. Our forces will await outcome of eastern combats in the Nanchang-changsha main road.

39th Div/A det. attacked on Changcha-Nanchang road to 72nd Chinese Corps but enemy only lost 40 troops vs 170 IJA. Our forces hold -on awaiting reinforcements.

8th Armoured Car coy will assault 3rd War Area HQ tomorrow nearby to Nanyang. 22nd Division (-) is running in the Shanghai-Nanyang to reinforce our positions in the last city.

39th Div/C will arrive tomorrow to Nanyang.

In the Yangtze River, at right wing, 11st Army arty have bombardment enemy positions reporting 12 enemy casualties from 94th chinese corps.

116th Infantry Division will assault enemy positions north of Sinyang. Only a weak corps reported there.

At North, at hight mountains, 1st Army reporting 693 chinese KIA with 355 IJA Casualties.

23rd ARmy reporting succesfull attacks on Wenchow. Fortification level downed to 0. Enemy lost 1093 troops vs. 571 IJA Casualties. 23rd Army forces at Wuchow will assault the city tomorrow with heavy air support.

Following Forces have been requested to KWUANTUNG AREA ARMY:

- 45th & 46th Construction coys
- 45th Road Construction Coy

All of them will be gathered at Jehol awaiting to be transfered to China Expeditionary Army.

3rd Daitai resting at Hiroshima and ready to be transfered to Shangai to join to China Theatre to support Nanchang relieve operation (30 Ki-27, 9 Ki-48, 9 Ki-32, 9 Ki-46).

Terror air campaign follow against Liuchow. 22 Ki-21 escorted by 12 Ki-27 strike this enemy city reporting 20 manpower hits and 10282 fires.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

[Fletcher]

LUZON
SIT MAP REPORT
JAN 13rd, 1942

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN. KENJI DOIHARA, INSPECTOR GENERAL OF AVIATION (Army). SUPREME WAR COUNCIL.
TO: GENERAL HAJIME SUGIYAMA, IGHQ, IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY GENERAL STAFF. TOKYO.
SUBJECT: (1) Pilots Training (2) Units upgraded (3) Ki-27b Units (4) Air production policy
DATE: Jan 13rd 1942.

(1)PILOTS TRAINING

204 new pilots have been drawn from training duties into active units.
04 veteran high skill pilots have been drawn from active units to TRACOM.
48 crack pilots have been transfered to Reserve Pilots, awaiting to be transfered to Burma Theatre.

(2) UNITS UPGRADED

64th Sentai Det have been upgraded from Ki-27b to Ki-43Ic (Burma Theatre)
1st Sentai have been upgraded from Ki-27b to Ki-43Ic (Malaya Campaign)
10th I.F.Chutai have been upgraded from Ki-27b to Ki-43Ic (China Theatre)
11st Sentai have been upgraded from Ki-27b to Ki-43Ic (Malaya Campaign)

Imperial Japanese Navy have been upgraded the following air units :

Ryujo-1 Flying Group from A5M4 to A6M2
Zuiho-1 Flying Group from A5M4 to A6M2
Zuiho-2 Flying Group from B5N1 to B5N2
Okamoto Det have been upgraded from A5M4 to A6M2. This group has been transfered to Marshalls Island from Carolines.

(3)Ki-27b units

24th & 50th Sentais under 5th Air division have not been upgraded due absolute air supperiority over Luzon skies. After another Ki-43Ic complete their ranks we will upgrade this units.
2nd Air Division fighter groups with Ki-27b will be at training duties at Manchukuo.
1st Air Division Ki-27b Sentai (3rd) will be transfered to China Theatre to support air supperiority ops in this theatre.

(4) Air Production Policy

Our initial target to build 64 Ki-43Ic have been accomplished. Now we are building 66 units monthly, with 163 Ha-35 engines at pool and 242 built monthly (needed for another IJA-IJN Aircrafts) we are updating our new production target for this IJA fighter model. We will follow expanding 1 more daily in our factory at Maebashi until March 1, 1942 when our monthly production will get 108 units.

By March 1, our nakajima Kotobuki engine pool will be decreased from 192 (now) to 140 about. At this time we will convert our Harbin factory from Ki-27b to Ki-43Ic, and we will preserve our Ki-27b factory at Tokyo till spent all our Kotobuki engines.

The G4M1 and Ki-21-IIa productions has been stopped to be increased, for a while, til the production of Ha-32 will satisfy the requirements for both aircraft models. Ha-32 engine is being produced at two factories: Nagoya (95 Ha-32/monthly) and Tokyo (27 Ha-32/monthly). Both are increasing production at 1 daily till get the needed 200 Ha-32 engines /montly to satisfy our Ki-21IIa and G4M1 production (50 Ki-21 / 50 G4M1). WE need about 37 days to expand our Ha-32 engine factories to get this figures.

Ki-49 R&D factory at Yokohama will be increased from the starting 14 to get about 40. Now at 16. This aircraft model have been requiered by IJN High Command for ASW duties in metropolitan waters.

Long Live to the Emperor !
End //

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM Renzo Tanaka. 1st Mobile Force. ABOARD HIJMS HYUGA. OFF AMBON Is.
TO: ADM. Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ, Kure.
SUBJECT: Ambon strike
DATE: Jan 14th, 1942.

BATDIV 2 (Fuso-Yamashiro) and BATDIV 3 (Ise-Hyuga)have strike enemy coastal defenses at Ambon Island, bombarding 4th Coastal Gun Bn positions. Light Damages on CL Yura (10 System) after hit by 1 155mms hit. Several hits in Battlewagons with very light damages (1-2 system).
Light minesweeper reporting no mines at Ambon Island.

At morning 11 enemy dive bombers (A24 USAAF) have strike 1st Mobile Force, they have focus on HIJMS FUSO. No hits reported. 1 enemy dive bomber was down by FUSO Flak. Enemy pilot was rescued at sea and he has been interrogated aboard until death.
At Afternoon another 4 dive bombers were spotted and attack on HIJMS YAMASHIRO. No hits reported, several enemy aircrafts damages by our Flak.
1st Air Fleet have launched an air attack over Ambon Base Force positions with 26 B5N2 and 17 D3A1 escorted by 8 A6M2.
Tomorrow we will soft enemy coastal defenses before landing force will arrive the day after tomorrow with BATDIV 1 at close support.
HIJMS Kasumi reported enemy submarine shadowing our naval movements in the area. Pinged but not engages.
PC Zenan was sunk by B5N2 from HIJMS Zuiho (Ambon Striking Force) off Sorong.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM Goto, CRUDIV8, Eastern D.E.I. Off Manado, Celebes
TO: ADM. Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ, Kure Naval Yard.
SUBJECT: MANADO LANDINGS
DATE: Jan 14th 1942

HIJMS FURUTAKA, HIJMS KAKO, HIJMS AOBA, HIJMS KINUGASA escorted by 4 DD have bombardment enemy positions at Kinugasa at early morning. 1 dutch bomber destroyed at ground, 106 enemy casualties and 77 runway hits were reported. Our forces landing without enemy resistance. 15th N.G.U will assault enemy positions tomorrow. We hope Manado will be in our hands no later.

AO Shinkoku Maru (1st Air Fleet Replenishment TF) was torpedoed and sunk by enemy submarine. Urgent Income message from HIJMS AKEBONO was receive at Communications Center aboard HIJMS Kako.

1st Air Fleet support our landings launching an air attack with 9 A6M2 escorting 23 B56N2 and 26 D3A1, another dutch bomber was destroyed at ground and another 22 enemy casualties were reported.
22nd Air Flotilla have launched another strike over enemy positions at Manado with 23 G3M2 and 24 G4M1 escorted by 11 A6M2. 18 runway hits and 17 casualties were reported.

Over Ternate, 1st Air Fleet launched another wave with 15 B5N2 and 17 D3A1 escorted by 7 A6M2. Ternate BF was the main target.

In spite of beeing shadowed by enemy submarine, our ASW assets did not report any contact.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

KURILES ISLAND - OKHOST SEA SIT MAP REPORT
JAN 14th 1942.

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN. Shunroku Hata, China Expeditionary Force, Near Wenchow.
TO: GEN. Heime Sugiyama, IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY GENERAL STAFF. IGHT. TOKYO.
SUBJECT: Wuchow Falls !
DATE: Jan 14th, 1942.

23rd Army reports Wuchow Falls in our hands. Enemy have been smashed by our forces. 4.454 enemy casualties were reported at a high price: 630 courageous IJA soldiers. They will be honored at Home in the Yasukuni Temple under cherry trees near Imperial Palace. 23rd Army Have accomplished his first target. This Army serve as an example for all China Expeditionary Army under my command.

Tomorrow this great victory will be celebrate in this HQ with sake to pay homage of our Emperor !.

At High Mountains in the North China Area, 1st Army have maulled enemy forces retreating to Yunan. 3.834 Chinese were killed vs 547 IJA KIA reported.

At Nanchang, enemy follow press on with his offensive. 1.015 IJA fallen vs. 513 chinese. Reinforcements will arrive from Shanghai main road tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

8th Armoured Car Coy have smashed enemy 3rd War Area HQ and this unit is running to reinforce Nanchang defenses. they are only 40 milles southeast our positions there.

3rd Daitai have been transfered from 1st Air Division at Home to Shanghai to support our counterstrike ops at Nanchang Area (30 Ki-27b, 9 Ki-48Ib, 9 Ki-32 and 9 Ki-46-II).

40th Infantry division is bogged by enemy forces. In our attack 1.135 IJA soldiers were lost vs 26th Chinese Corps unespected reinforce by 10th Chinese Corps (probably from Changsha garrison).

In the road to Loyang, 116th Infantry Division have smashed enemy 48th Chinese Corps. 1.334 chinese bandits were killed by 78 IJA casualties. Our forces will awaiting several Mixed Brigades at mopping out duties at Sinyang rearguard.

Special Convoy from Port ARthur with more than 60.000 tons of war supplies is at sea and we hope will arrive tomorrow to Tientsin.

Over Liuchow our air foces have strike city with 25 Ki-21-IIa escorted by 12 Ki-27. 37 Manpower hits were reported with 18.502 fires at city.

We are studying the positibily to use biological or quimichal warfare against enemy population to eradicate the sin roots.

Long Live to The Emperor !!
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM Shimizu, 6th Fleet HQ., Kwajalein Island.
TO: ADM.Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ. Kure.
SUBJECT: SUBWAR report.
DATE. Jan 14th, 1942.

Enemy gunboat HMAS WARREGO was torpedoed this early morning by I-170 near Sale (South Australia). 4 torpedoes were launched and one hit enemy ship, sinking quickly. Two enemy sailors were captured and interrogated aboard. Any of them ask our questions about enemy naval movements in the area and they had been throw to High Sea to be food by sharks.

RO-68 attacked an enemy destroyed but she was heavily damages after direct hit by enemy retaliation depth charge attack. She is returning to nearest Port (Jaluit) to urgent repairs before be transfered to Home for a complete repairs.

Escort HIJMS Kika reported 3 hits or near misses on enemy submarine shadowing Keijo-shimonoseki Convoy near Keijo.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM Shimizu, 6th Fleet C-in-C, Kwajalein islands.
TO: ADM Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ. Kure.
SUBJECT: SUB WAR Report
DATE: Jan 15th, 1942

(1) Sub War Success

XAP KAJANG was torpedoed and sunk after two torpedo hits from I-154 near Batavia.
XAKL HAMAKUA was attacked at surface with gunfire by I-169 at early morning nearby to Coffs Harbour (S.E.Australia), reporting 27 shell hits. Enemy ship listing was torpedoed at morning by the same boat in the same position sinking enemy freighter.

(2) ASW Efforts

CVL Ryujo screen destroyer HIJMS KUROSHIO was unsuccesfully attacked by enemy submarine 40 nm NW MIRI. No hits were reported. Retaliation attack lead by HIJMS HAYASHIO, after hard depth attack reporting 1 hit on enemy sub.

HIJMS FUSO reported enemy torpedo dud hit on her off Ambon Is, no damages. Retaliation attack by our screening destroyers reported 3 hits or near misses over enemy intruder.

HIJMS Sanae pinged another or the same sub at Ambon island waters and launched a depth charge attack reporting 1 hit.

DMS W-7 at minesweeper duties at Ambon report 7 hits/near misses on enemy sub off Ambon. Enemy submarine identified like USS SEARAVEN was reported SUNK!.

01 enemy submarine has been sighted shadowing Special Supply Convoy to China near Tientsin. 1 Escort ship will departure at early morning from Port Arthur to intercept enemy boat and sink her.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. NOBUTAKE KONDO, 2nd FLEET C-IN-C. SAMAH. HAINAN ISLAND.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMAOTO, COMBINED FLEET HQ. KURE NAVAL YARD.
SUBJECT: TARAKAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
DATE: JAN 15th, 1942.

(1) O.O.B.

CARDIV 3 -Tarakan Distant Cover Force-, RADM Takeo Takagi, HIJMS Ryujo (flag), HIJMS Taiyo (two chutais with 9 A6M2 will be provisionally transfered to her from 21st Air Flotilla at Cagayan)
4 Heavy Cruisers and 7 destroyers

CARDIV 3 ASW Cover (Detach): 1 Destroyer

MINELAY DIVISION: 2 DMS

CRUDIV 7 -Tarakan Close Support Force-, RADM Takeo Kurita, 4 Mogamis and 4 DDs.

TARAKAN AMPHIBIOUS GROUP, heading Jolo to pick up 146th Infantry Division (1st Wave) with 1 DD, 1 PC, 2 PB, 1 SC, 1 DMS, 6 XAK and another 2 PB detached for ASW duty.

(2) Estimate Time to Target

TARAKAN AMPH.GROUP will arrive Jan 16th, 1942, and will start to load 146th infantry Regiment at once. Toko Ku S-1 Det B will fly CAP mission to cover our shipping.
CRUDIV 7 with CARDIV 3 will arrive Jan 17th.
I am pretty sure that all 146th I.R. will be aboard amphibious forces at Jan 19th, 1942. All forces will departure under air cover by 21st Air Flotilla (Cagayan-Jolo). Tarakan CD will be supressed by CRUDIV7 gunfire.

(3) Threats

Enemy submarine was spotted from yesterday at Jolo waters with another more at Zamboanga shadowing our transports. Air and Surface assets have been deployed in the area to avoid enemy sub get position to attack our HV units. Tarakan airfield is reported empty from several days ago after recon fligths from 21st Air Flotilla 2E bombers.
From Cagayan 21st Air Flotilla G4M1-G3M2 Daitais will be our anti-ship umbrella in the area, with several aircrafts flying recon missions over Balikpapan and naval search over Borneo straits.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM Shimizu, 6th Fleet C-in-C, Kwajalein
TO: ADM Isoroku Yamamto, Combined Fleet HQ, Kure
SUBJECT: Sub & ASW Warfare
DATE: Jan 16th, 1942.

(1) Submarine War Report

I-8 was attacked with depth charges near Fraser island. 1 near misses was reported with 4 minor system damages. This boat will continue with her war patrol in the Eastern Australian coast.

XAKL SIBEROET was sunk by I-157 by gunfire near Palembang today, at early morning.
XAKL KAHUKU was sunk by I-26 after 3 torpedo hits near San Francisco. Guns and vehicles destroyed.
XAKL SIACE was sunk by I-165 AFTER 1 torpedo hit near Palembang.

(2) ASW Warfare

APD Aoi reported 3 hits on enemy coastal submarine near Saigon when screeningn Kuching Urgent Supply Convoy.
DD Kawakaze depth charged on enemy submarine shadowing BATDIV1 off Ambon. No hits were reported.
HIJMS Oshio reporting 1 hit on enemy submarine near Miri when patrolling these waters.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: LGEN Tomoyuki Yamashita, XXV Army HQ, Kuala Lumpur. Malaya
TO: GEN. Hisahichi Terauchi, Southern Area Army HQ. Kuala Lumpur.
SUBJECT: WAR REPORT
DATE: Jan 16th, 1942

LGEN Sugawara´s 3rd Air Division have smashed enemy airfield at Kuantan. After enemy air activity from Kuantan have been reported from our air recon flights over there, 3rd Air Division have launched a massive air strike to supress this AF. 62 Ki-21 escorted by 15 Ki-43 have bombed enemy facilities and runway repoting 1 blenheim destroyed at ground and 67 runway hits. Aft recon fly reported 15% airfield damages. Tomorrow our dive bombers from Kuala Lumpur have launched another raid against enemy air facilities in this base.

11 Blenheims were intercepted over XV Army advance guard by 3 Ki-43 and 2 Ki-27 from 3rd air Division attached to this Army. 2 Blenheim were downed. After this combat 6 enemy buffaloes appear on the horizont and they downed 1 of our Ki-27s.

One G3M2 from 22nd Air Flotilla have reported one hit on enemy AM over Balikpapan when flying a Naval Search mision in this area.

Our ground forces continue marching south to Singapore...

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: LGEN Shunroku Hata, CHINA EXPEDIITONARY ARMY HQ. Near Wenchow.
TO: GEN. Sugiyama, IGHQ. IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY GENERAL STAFF. Tokyo
SUBJECT: China War Report
DATE: Jan 16th, 1942.

30 Ki-27 with 7 ki-32 and 7 Ki-48 from 3rd Sentai (just arrived from metropoli to this theatre) have take off from Shanghai to attack enemy positions at Wenchow. 100th Chinese corps was attacked.

Enemy offensive over Nanchang end !!...Our pickets reporting enemy is fleeing to SW.

At Hangchow, another brigade from 22nd Division has been releveated by chinese colaborationist troops and will departure to reinforce our forces at Wenchow. The capture of this coastal is city is a priority. Our coastwatcher reported another ship (sub?) have been anchored there.

36th Infantry Division have arrive to Tiaotso and will join with North Army Expeditionary Force in Loyang offensive.

12 Ki-27 escorting 3 Ki-48 and 22 Ki-36 strike Liuchow Airfield (take off from Canton). 2 Hawk 75 were at CAP. 1 enemy fighter was downed. 14 runway hits were reported. In a second wave 12 Ki-27 escorted 9 Ki-48 and strike Liuchow AF facilities reporting another 3 runway hits.

Tomorrow we will follow with our terror campaign against civilian objetives in South China. Liuchow will be our target with air attacks from Haiphong over populations and air raid over Air facilities from Canton.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN Hisaichi Terauchi, Southern Area Army HQ. Kuala Lumpur, Malaya.
TO: GEN Sugiyama, IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY GENERAL STAFF. IGHQ. Tokyo.
SUBJECT: S.R.A. Report
DATE. Jan 16th, 1.942.

(1) AMBON - TERNATE - MANADO (EASTERN D.E.I.)

13 enemy dive bombers A-24 have been intercepted by 2 A6M2 from Zuiho air group. 1 enemy dive bomber was downed and rest attack over BATDIV1 warships. No hits were reported.
PB Kyo Maru #11 was hit by 1 155mm shell from enemy CD defenses. Our ship with 99 floating damages was scuttled to save human lives.

Ternate was raided by 21 B5N2 from 1st Air Fleet reporting 11 enemy casualties. Ground assault captured this base reporting 132 enemy prisioners. All of them will be sent to Manchuria punishment labor units.

Manado was strike by 25 B5N2 from 1st Air Fleet reporting 6 enemy casualties. Ground assault will follow tomorrow after CRUDIV8 close support gunfire.

(2) PHILLIPINES CAMPAIGN

xAK Kotoku Maru was sunk off San Fernando after 2 bomb hits from enemy floatplanes.

At Manila our XIV Army forces have launched the first deliberate attack. 1287 IJA casualties were reported vs. 1048 USAFFE/P.A. men lost. Fortification level downed to 1. Tomorro LGEN Homma will launch a second attack.

(3) WESTERN D.E.I.

7 139w3 dutch bombers were intercepted by 2 A6M2 over Pontianak skies. 2 enemy bombers were downed with the rest turning back.

Sambas was assaulted with 113 IJA casualties. Enemy lost 96 men. Reinforces have been requested to capture this target.

Tomorrow will arrive to Kuching the 1st wave of parachute special unit (1st and 3rd Yokosuka SNLF). Convoy with 1st and 2nd Raiding regiment departure yesterday from Kagoshima and we hope in a week will arrive to Kuching when all preparatives are ready to start with Sumatra Campaign.

Long Live to the Emperor!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. Shimizu, 6th Fleet C-in-C, Kwajalein island.
TO: ADM. Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet Hq, Kure.ç
SUBJECT: SUB WAR
DATE: Jan 17th, 1942

(1) SUBMARINE WAR
I-172 report sighting enemy surface group with 1 CA (USS NORTHAMPTOM) and 5 destroyers. Tried to get good position to engage enemy, our submarine due to crash dive after being pinged by enemy escorts. Enemy depth charged attack over our submarine without damages reported.
XAK ROYAL T. FRANK was sunk by I-16 at 240 nm West of Noumea after engaged at surface (13 shell hits) and torpedoed (3 hits reported).
XAKL SIBOLGA reported engaged by I-165 near Palembang. At early morning 2 shell hits before break contact. In a second engagement enemy freighter was struck by 4 shell hits.

(2) ASW WARFARE

HIJMS YUDACHI reported 2 hits on enemy coastal submarine off Ternate

(3)ENEMY SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES

DMS W-14 torpedoed and sunk off Ambon Island by enemy submarine after 1 torpedo hit her.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. Nobutake Kondo, 2nd Fleet C-in-C. Samah
TO: ADM.Isoroku Yamamoto, Combined Fleet HQ. Kure
SUBJECT: Luzon report
DATE: Jan 17th, 1942.

20 B5N2 and 25 D3A1 escorted by 39 A6M2 have strike Cebu Island. USN Base Force was the main target.

5th Air Division assets have strike Manila in the following waves:

a) 13 Ki-21 and 18 Ki-51 met 5 P-40 at CAP. 3 bombers were downed. 10 casualties reported on USN Cavite BF.
b) 11 unescorted Ki-36 were intercepted by 2 P-40. 1 Ki-36 downed.
c) 19 Ki-27 escorting 21 Ki-30 attack Manila USN Cavite Base Force reporting another 13 casualties

Manila was attacked by XIV Army south force reporting 1.222 IJA casualties vs 533 enemy casualties. Enemy fortification level was downed to 0. Tomorrow we will launch a third attack against isolated enemy with close air support. An Air Det from 5th Air Division have been transfered to Cabanatuan to LRCAP over Manila and ensure air cover for our bombers in spite of 2 daitais with Ki-27b will be ordered to escort our bombers from San Fernando and Aparri.

Long Live to the Emperor!
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET HQ. KURE.
TO: ADM. NAGANO. IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY GENERAL STAFF. IGHQ. TOKYO
SUBJECT: COMBINED FLEET MAIN NAVAL OPS.
DATE: JAN 17th, 1942.

(1) TARAKAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Tarakan Expeditionary Force will departure tomorrow under RADM TAKEO TAKAGI command (flag on HIJMS RYUJO). 9 A6M2 type-0 have been transfered to HIJMS Taiyo to air cover Landings. BATDIV 4 with HIJMS HARUNA (BB Kongo will arrive tomorrow to Shangai Drydock) will be our indirect surface cover and CRUDIV 7 will closely support our landings. 146th IJA Infantry Regiment will capture this strategic base in two or three days.

(2) AMBON LANDINGS

All our IJN - IJA Expeditionary Forces have been unloaded at Ambon and tomorrow will launch a shock attack against enemy defensive positions. Today we lost KYO MARU #2 by 150mms shell hit. HIJMS YAMAGUMO with 20 systema and 24 floating damage after beeing hit by 2 150mms CD hits. Kyo maru #13 moderate damaged (22 system). BAT DIV 1 have strike Ambon positions to supress enemy coastal defenses. 29 enemy casualties and 1 gun disable were reported. HIJMS MUTSU and HIJMS NAGATO were struck by 2 150mms shell hits with no damages reported.

3 enemy dutch 2E bombers were intercepted this morning over Ambon by 7 A6M2 (Zuiho AG). 2 enemy bombers were downed.

(3) MANADO

Enemy stand on their positions. 16th N.G.U. from Ternate will be sent to support 15th N.G.U there.

(4) OTHERS

Enemy air raid over Kuching (3 B-17) were intercepted by 12 A6m2: One 4E bomber downed. Enemy turned back without any damage over our forces.
6 B-17 were intercepted over Hong Kong by 5 A6M2 and 4 Ki-44. Eenmy turned back before attack.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //