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A short lull has occurred after the capture of Canton and Rabaul. As Christmas approaches, the Imperial Navy prepares to demonstrate its full power in staging attacks at Savaii, Luganville, and Port Moresby. Forces involved:

Savaii Invasion---A surprise Parachute drop will occur on Christmas Eve by 9 Mavis Transports from Canton. The hope is to grab the base so the Allies don't know what will land there on Christmas. If they are unsuccessful then the 144th Inf Reg and accompanying Base Force will take care of the defenders.

They are being directly covered by a powerful TF of Yamato and Musashi. These BBs will stay for only the initial day of the landing. Don't want to caught by possible American CVs so they'll scoot leaving several CA/CL/DD to protect the Invasion Force.

KB---The CVs move out from Kwajalein and will be in supporting range of the Savaii attack by Dec 26th. This is a day later then planned but I was concerned about not having enough DDs for escort. Had to wait a day for another small DD group to arrive. I've split KB into two TF of 2 CV and 3 CV. Each has a BC, CA, CLAA, CS, and 5 DD. They are operating together.

Luganville---Three Invasion TF are working their way towards Luganville. There are two SNLF and a Base Force heading for this destination. The first TF will land on the 26th. If Luganville isn't defended then the 2nd TF will grab Efate. There are no warships protecting these units. It is a calculated risk...

Port Moresby---The 4th Infantry (B and C) will arrive at Rabaul tomorrow. I've got 4th Inf-A loading into transports this turn at Rabaul. The Reserve Landing Force here is the Imperial Guards Brigade from Tokyo. It is passing Truk and headed for Rabaul.

These TF will be heavily escorted by 3 BB, cruisers, and DDs. Timing should be about right for the KB to move from the support of the Savaii Landing to then clear the path for Port Moresby. Plan this landing for shortly after the New Year.

Here is the Savaii Area:

The two other Invasion TF are just off the map edge above Lunga. Lunga is rapidly moving towards AF-2 with having an SNLF, 2 Con Bat, and a Base Force.

Here is the Luganville Area:

As I read my way through Coddington's Gettysburg book (THANKS for that recommendation Forum) it occurs to me that this is an 'en eschelon' assault. The landings begin in the SE Pacific, move westward, and culminate at Port Moresby. The goal here is the try and force an engagement with the American CVs. No sign of them since the war began but there at least two of them in the South Pacific.

This screenshot shows 2/3 of the 4th ID moving to Rabaul. To the east of Truk is the Imperial Guards Brigade. Lae is about to go to Sz-2 AF and gain the 2nd Air Division HQ. It currently has 2 SNLF, a Con Bat, and large Base Force for its garrision. Am flying recon over PM, and other nearby bases as well as Naval Search.

Rabaul has 60 Nells and 18 Zeros based out of it with another 27 Zero coming in the reinforce the area in about 2-3 days.

Area:

Dec 23: Japanese ground forces capture an important base in Luzon (or maybe two). [;)]

ASW/Subs:
LCDR Shun Hasegawa is in command of I-160 on patrol off the coast of Makassar looking for any damaged Allied warships that may be trying to get back to Soerabaja for repairs from Kendari. She is able to find the heavily damaged BC Howe and put three torpedoes into her and hear her slid beneath the waves!!
SS Spearfish is 2 hexes NW of Nagasaki on patrol. My SubChasers are unable to hit her.
RO-34 is 2 hexes due west of I-160 and misses an attempt to put a couple of torpedoes in CL Tromp. She does find out that Dutch BC De Zeven Provincien is in the TF.

Carriers:
KB2 is 2 hexes away from Camranh Bay with now 2 Val Daitai operating in Malaya (Alor Star and (Kota Bharu). My Zero need a few days of R&R and a 9 plane Zero Chutai from Malaya will resize over the next few days.
Mini-KB is just north of Ambon and along with a SC TF will oversee a reinforcement effort at Kendari.

Malaya:
Singapore - 11 Zero from Singkawang do not wait for the Betty/Nell and sweep the skies. There are surprised to find NO CAP!! [X(] The afternoon finds no other targets for the Nell/Betty at Singkawang, so they perform their secondary mission. 12 Zero escort in 16 Betty to do light damage to AF - Airbase hits 4, Runway hits 9.

Georgetown - 20 Zero sweep the skies before the waves of bombers are to arrive. They find 7 H81-A3 and 9(1) Buffalo on CAP (probably LRCAP from Sumatra). Since KB2 is headed for replenishment at Camranh Bay, the Val Daitai (27 planes) had flown off the day before to Kota Bahru. They fly over and see that the Zero sweep has gotten rid of most, but not all of the CAP. 19(1) Val find 2 H81-A3 and 1 Buffalo on CAP.

xAP Kota Tjandi, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Poelau Bras, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

The third wave of the morning hits the base. 8 Nate and 21 Oscar escort in 66 Sally and 18 Sonia. They destroy 2 more fighters on the ground - Airbase hits 7, Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 89,
Port hits 4, Port supply hits 1, ground casualties of 198.
The afternoon attacks starts out with some fighters sweeping ahead of the bombers (none were ordered to do so). 35 Nate and 7 Oscar find 6 H81-A3 and 4 Buffalo on CAP/LRCAP. 15 Val are able to evade 2 H81-A3 to ...

xAP Poelau Bras, Bomb hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Prominent, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Taiping - 28th Gurkha Brigade is attacked by 36 Lily.

Borneo: [>:]

China: [>:]

Philippines:
Clark Field - 29 Sally and 25 Lily do not need any escorts to bomb the AF - Airbase hits 2, Runway hits 56. The late afternoon attacks from Takao come in. 9 Zero escort in 32 Betty to hit the AF - Airbase hits 2, Runway hits 19.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22078 troops, 226 guns, 263 vehicles, Assault Value = 786

Defending force 14357 troops, 154 guns, 272 vehicles, Assault Value = 192

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 641

Allied adjusted defense: 310

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
304 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7562 casualties reported
Squads: 117 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1008 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 86 (86 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 247 (232 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
48th Division
7th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
Subic Bay Defenses
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
Cavite USN Base Force
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Far East USAAF
USAFFE
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment

I barely get the required 2:1 odds to push his troops back to Bataan. Since John ran the turn, we talked after about what troops go where. The 65th Bde and a Tank will stay at Clark. A Tank will head due east to Cabantuan. The rest will head for Manila. Meanwhile....

Batangas -

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9633 troops, 87 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 332

Defending force 184 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 227

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 227 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
PAF Aviation

These units will march the final 46 miles to Manila.

SRA (East):
3 Dutch DDs are 5 hexes east of Ambon as 15 Zero escort in 13 Betty. As before, hitting a DD with torpedoes is almost impossible to hit. [:(]

Plans/Notes:
The quick capture of Clark Field is a pleasant surprise. Add in the success so far on the Malaya peninsula and the Japanese high command is happy. [8D] We (me) are still focused on the rapid capture of Singapore and to that ends, the 5th and 33rd Division are ordered across along with 25th Army HQ and 5 artillery units. Most of the 2nd Division is at or will land at Mersing over the next few days while the 38th Division is now one day sailing from Hong Kong.

Hopefully, the screen shots with hexside details will help others see what is going on more clearly.

How about the possibility of having Clark, Manila, AND (slight possibility) Singapore by January 1st!!??  CRAZY!  As said Michael and I chatted for a while and I really pushed grabbing Manila with 2 Inf Div and 3 Tk Reg.  They SHOULD steamroll the 8 units there.  Of course, I could be dead wrong too...
 
Michael--Perhaps with the next turn shift the LBA to Manila for Troops? 
 
BANZAI!
 

LBA seems to very effective versus troops in AE , what is the score on PI , did most of his units go to Bataan ? What's the split ?
 
I think it would be wise to reflect on your opponents strategy, are you successfull in Malaysia/PI because of what you have done or is it a lack of defence by your opponents. Has he evacuated a lot of Singapore by air ? Since he has a lot more resources this mod where will his hammer fall or are your opponents just waiting for a few more peices and for you to grow complacent ?

Complacent is NOT a word in my dictionary.
 
I think they (meaning AJ) screwed up in their defensive planning:
 
PHIL  There are now 9 units in Manila as Michael took Cabanatuan this turn (Dec 24th) and drove a Phil ID back into Manila.  Bataan has 20 units in it.  Doubt if they expected Clark to fold on the first attack.  It certainly shocked us when it happened.  Not sure how the units are divided other then guessing most of the Inf is in Bataan.  Michael will know within a day or two there.
 
MALAY  The Mersing Landing caught them flat-footed.  There is no way to move quickly enough to prevent the Peninsula from being cut if Mersing falls quickly.  Definite mistake not having Infantry there to prevent and/or slow down the landing.  Looks like an evacuation being staged out of Georgetown and we are making them pay for that. 
 
AJ tried to stage an aggressive defense around the eastern DEI and it cost him a Brit BB and BC.  He has been bold and somewhat surprising in an aggressive defense.  This has caught a couple fo Michael's TF in vulnerable situations and we've lost some shipping.  With the present situation (having Singakawang in the west and Ambon in the east, his shipping is in real trouble.  Add to that situation 3 CV, 2 CVL, and a CVE prowling about and it makes the Allied state pretty scary right now.
 
I don't know regarding Ken.  Am trying to be somewhat cautious having the concentrated KB of 5 CV within punching range of my operations.  Figure the next two weeks of game time will reveal how Ken is going to play it out.
 

Splitting troops between Manila and Bataan was a big mistake on their part. Overall, good work!

LBA seems to very effective versus troops in AE

It is when they are out in the open.

Luzon will be decided on what AJ (Fishbed) did in regards to supply movement. Did he crank up the supply requirements for Bataan or are most still in Manila??

How much of the troops are actual infantry and how much assault value can he lose at Manila??

I have the components of 20th Division prepping for Bataan now in Korea. There is an Infantry Group in Japan that is a week out from being bought out for Bataan.

Ground attacks by bombers - I have seen most go for any static units at bases. Right now, I'll focus on the AF at Bataan to prevent fort building and to began destroying supplies there. If required, I will switch over to brief ground attacks at Manila.

Fleet Admiral and General of the Army positions are now handed off to Mr. Benoit.

May the sun continue to shine upon the Empire while the other half of the Alliance travels to Lost Wages and hopes for some LUCK at the Blackjack and Craps tables! He is already lucky that his Bride is saying 'yes' to the marriage question again on Sunday afternoon.

BANZAI!

Dec 24: SOMEONE (me) forgot to set his Vals to Naval Attack when he set them to 20% Naval search last turn. OOPS!!

ASW/Subs:
O19 is 1 hex SE of Camranh Bay and misses her chance to inflict damage on KB2.
Yesterday's hero, I-160, is still off the southern tip Java and misses the 2 DDs. She is down to only her rear tubes and is sent back to Saigon for replenishment.

Carriers:
KB2 arrived at Camranh Bay with 2 Daitai of Vals sent to Alor Star and Kota Bharu.
Mini-KB is ordered to proceed to Kendari next turn to cover reinforcements from Ambon.

Malaya:
Georgetown - 11 Zero sweep in and find the skies empty. The big raid comes in with 10 Oscar and 10 Tojo escorting in 66 Sally and 18 Sonia. 2 fighters are destroyed on the ground and an damaged xAKL is hit in port. Add in base damages - Airbase hits 1, Airbase supply hits 4, Runway hits 55, Port hits 1, Port fuel hits 2, Port supply hits 1.

Singapore - 6 Oscar escort in 20 Lily against no CAP. AF damage is light - Airbase hits 2,
Runway hits 10. The afternoon starts off with sweep of 34 Oscar. Then, 7 Zero are guides for 11 Betty to barely hit the AF - Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 2.

Borneo/Java:
Tjilatjap - From Singakwang comes 8 Zero and 8 Nell which results in both xAK El Madina and xAK E Sang being sunk.

China:[>:]

Philippines:
Bataan - The air attacks begin with 12 Zero needlessly escorting in 5 Mabel to hit the AF - Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 1. This is followed up by 29 Sally and 25 Lily to do minor damage - Airbase hits 1, Runway hits 3. The afternoon has 9 Zero and 16 Betty from Takao get only 1 Airbase hit. Another 16 Betty does slightly better - Airbase hits 1, Runway hits 1.

Cabanatuan - The NE escape route from Manila is now mine.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 675 troops, 0 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 2022 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese adjusted assault: 66

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cabanatuan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1186 casualties reported
Squads: 43 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (19 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division

SRA (East):
Makassar - just off the coast my 17 Zero escort in 13 Betty to miss both DD John D. Edwards and AM Deloraine.

Notes/Plans:
Nothing going on except troops and ships moving to new objectives or destinations.

No turn?  How can a man get ready to renew his Vows without news of a new turn??!!  Got to do something about that...
 

Had a wild one to watch last turn between the AMc Aikoku Maru and CL Achilles/DD Voyager:

I've detailed the action with our little AMc in south Australia so let me hit other relevant points:

Savaii falls to experienced 144th Regiment and large BF. Immediately move recon assets to the base. The AF and Pt is undamaged. Will finish unloading supplies tomorrow so the troops should be good for a couple of weeks.

The KB will move into striking range between Suva and Savaii tomorrow...

Luganville will be hit tomorrow. I've got a large group of AOs following behind the Luganville operation. They will be in position for the KB to top of their fuel tanks prior to the PM Operation.

Rabaul: The 4th ID is now loaded into three TF with each TF carrying a Regiment of the Division. The troops shall sit in Rabaul for 4-5 days and allow for the KB to move over and support the operation. Figure the Invasion Force shall sail on the tide January 1, 1942. IF the Allies are going to respond, it will be HERE.

Dec 25: Pesky Dutch sub hits CA Takao

ASW/Subs:
O20 is parked one hex off Camranh Bay. My ASW TF runs over her, but is unable to damage her.
KXVI is 3 hexes due east of Kendari and hits CA Takao with 1 torpedo [damage: 6-21(12)-0-0]. She is ordered back to Babeldoab with a DD escort.

Carriers:
KB2 is partially disbanded in Camranh Bay to remove damage and used to resize Zero detachments.
Mini-KB is off Kendari, but not finding any targets.

Malaya:
Georgetown - 12 Zero sweep the skies clear of 3(1) Buffalo. Then, 20 Val focus on xAP Kajang, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk. There are also 149 casualties reported. My second Daitai of 19 Val find xAK Bintang, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk. The daily attack on the base comes in with 22 Nate and 10 Oscar escorting 39 Sally and 21 Sonia to destroy 1 H81-A3 on the ground. Damage is Airbase hits 5, Runway hits 20, Port hits 2. Those that couldn't join up with the prior strike come in. 20 Sally are escorted in by 20 Nate and 10 Tojo to add some more damage - Airbase hits 1, Runway hits 15. Finally, 20 Sally add in another Airbase hits 1, Runway hits 13.
The afternoon finds 44 Vals ready and able.

Allied Ships
xAP Mijer, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAP Van Cloon, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Congella, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Toendjoek, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Singapore - 6 Oscar escort in 20(1) Lily to get limited AF damage - Airbase hits 3, Runway hits 5.

Burma:
Pisanuloke - 93rd JAAF AF Bn is targeted by 16 Blenheim, 2 Blenheim IF, and 9 Hudson.

Borneo/Java:
Tjilatjap - 12 Zero escort in 24 Nell and 14 Betty.

Allied Ships
xAK Empire Raja, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Jalavihar
xAK Hunan
xAK Jalarashmi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Ho Kiang, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ekma

Philippines:
Bataan - 7 Zero escort in 5 Mabel to get a single Runway hits. The second strike from San Fernando consist of 3 Sally and 21(1) Lily to get Airbase hits 2, Runway hits 5. The third strike is 24 Sally - Airbase hits 1, Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 9.

SRA (East):
Kendari - Gull Battalion is hit by 17 escorting Zero with 22 Betty to inflict 22 casualties.

Note/Plans:
Not much going on right now except troops marching to their next objective and the last few troops are getting closer to Mersing.

Dec 26: Subs make their way to Hokkaido

ASW/Subs:
RO-33 is patrolling between Darwin and Koepang and misses her shot at AM Warrnambool.
SS Snapper is just off Wakkanai and is able to surface in the mist of an unescorted convoy of transports. She gets 10 shells hits into xAKL Gyoku Maru. She is able to follow the TF and sinks xAK Bandoeng Maru in the afternoon.
S-38 finds a damaged CA Takao heading back to Babeldoab NE of Ambon. She gets the second torpedo hit in two days. Damage increases to 10-44(24)-1-0. She will be out of the war for a few months. [:(]

Carriers:
KB2 is still at Camranh Bay.
Mini-KB is 1 hex Se from Kendari.

Malaya:
Off Georgetown, 12 Zero are able to guide 19 Val through the heavy rain to sink xAK Congella with 7 bomb hits.

Georgetown - 10 Oscar are more than enough of an escort for 21 Sonia and 79 Sally to push aside 1 Buffalo. base damage is limited - Runway hits 10, Port fuel hits 2.

Singapore - 16 Oscar escort in 16(1) Lily - Airbase hits 4, Runway hits 4. More damage is done by 15 Zero, 19(1) Nell, and 13 Betty - Airbase hits 6, Airbase supply hits 3, Runway hits 26. The third strike of 20 Nell - Airbase hits 2, Runway hits 11.

Burma:
Pisanuloke - The 93rd JAAF AF Bn is again subject of attacks from 15 Blenheim, 2 Blenheim IF, and 9 Hudson. 52 casualties are reported.

Philippines:
Troops arrive at Manila. A deliberate attack is ordered.

SRA (East):
Kendari - CL Sakawa hits a mine. Damage is 4-6(3)-1-0. Kimura Det unloads along with supplies. My CL and 3 DDs are able to suppress CDs.
Sparrow Battalion is subject to ground attack by 15 Betty (only 4 casualties reported).

One hex to the east of Kendari, SS KVIII misses Mini-KB.

Japanese Ships
BC Haruna
CA Maya
CS Chiyoda
DD Hatsukaze
DD Sazanami
DD Sagiri
DD Amatsukaze

Notes/Plans:
I now have 878 Assault Value at Manila. I will find out if that is enough.

I have just about 2:1 at Kendari and will attack here tomorrow. Mini-KB will move to 2 hexes due south of Kendari. Its a shallow ocean hex and with all those subs (see screen shot) around, my ASW will work better here.

The 38th Division is one day out of Mersing. The Southern HQ and an Air HQ are unloading there.

21st Division is one day out of Babeldoab (prepped for Darwin).

Admiral Cochran wrote about needing supplies at Truk. He has over 300k in the South Pacific!!. Found out that he keeps loading troops PLUS supplies. More training on game mechanics next turn. [;)]

While running Tracker (done each turn), it gave an alert about a sub not having enough fuel. It got me to look at it and then it triggered an idea to load mines on 2 subs at Saigon to head for Georgetown. Duh![8|]

PB escorts sent to multiple transport TF around Hokkaido. I had one that was left unescorted. in another few weeks, they will each have 2 or 3 PBs.

I have high hopes for the Manila attack.  IF we can get lucky then this would be a HUGE thing to grab the hex before January 42. 
 
All the shipping around Georgetown has driven me nuts.  We've moved in those Vals but weather has helped the Allied cause.  There have been several bad weather days across most of the map.  Mining the Port is an excellent idea.  Should help cause more issues...
 
As Michael mentioned, I am so used to the WitP features that I couldn't understand where the 'only load troops' was.  Was cursing this issue until I spoke with Adm. Benoit yesterday and then went "DUH" when it was semi-patiently explained to me.  Got it figured out and should be OK from this point on.
 

Michael has certain GOOD NEWS he needs to relay from the current turn! 
 

Dec 27: The combination of the 48th Division and most of the 16th Division are enough to capture Manila.

ASW/Subs:
Nothing in my part of the Pacific, but John had some "issues."

Carriers:
KB2 is finished replenishment and repairing minor damages. 1 of 2 Vals on Malaya are flown back aboard. She will head for Sula Sea and then down towards Tarakan and Balikpapan. The rest of the Philippines outside of Luzon has been left alone and may have Allied ships in hiding there.
Mini-KB is still 2 hexes south of Kendari.

Malaya:
Singapore - 6 Oscar find the skies clear of both Allied fighters and clouds. 9 Oscar then escort in 16(1) Lily to get limited damage - Airbase hits 1, Runway hits 3. In the afternoon, 12 Zero shepard in 40 Nell and 12(1) Betty to get Airbase hits 11 and Runway hits 37. Two full division plus some artillery will cross over tomorrow and shock attack. Part of the 2nd Division is at Mersing or in route to Johore Bharu. Transports with 38th Division arrived at Mersing and will unload over the next two days before marching to Singapore.

Georgetown - 10 Oscar and 10 Tojo are the escorts for 59 Sally and 21 Sonia. They find 5(1) Buffalo on LRCAP. The AF damage is Airbase hits 3, Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 15. 20 Sally hit the port - Port hits 1, Port fuel hits 1, Port supply hits 2. The Imperial Guards Division and an Engineer Rgt are half way there (over 500 Assault Value). A Naval Guards, Tank Rgt, and an Infantry Rgt are halfway to Taiping (Over 230 Assault Value).

Borneo:
Singkawang - The base has received all her reinforcements - AA Rgt x 2, AA Co x 5, Road Construction x 2, BFs and Air HQ (212 Aviation Support), and an Infantry Rgt.

Philippines:
Manila - 1st PA Infantry Division is the target of 10 Zero escorting in 5 Mabel. Only 6 casualties are reported. The Manila USAAF Base Force is then targeted by 29 Sally and 23 Lily that result in 33 casualties.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23940 troops, 249 guns, 209 vehicles, Assault Value = 887

Defending force 15627 troops, 235 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 638

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 614

Allied adjusted defense: 269

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
307 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (0 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
33208 casualties reported
Squads: 1573 destroyed, 270 disabled
Non Combat: 1082 destroyed, 224 disabled
Engineers: 54 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 617 (604 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (83 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 9

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
48th Division
9th Infantry Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
51st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
South Luzon Force
Manila USAAF Base Force
PAF Aviation

The "gods of war" have been especially nice when it comes to my ground campaign on Luzon. My attacks at Clark and now Manila have gotten just over 2:1 odds and ended quickly. BANZAI!! I am three days away from buying out an Infantry Group from Japan that is prepping for Bataan. Maybe i won't need it, but it will be there if needed.

Bataan - 18 Zero are more than enough escort for 31 Betty. But it results in only 2 Runway hits.

SRA (East):
Kendari - The Gull Battalion is targeted by 13 Zero with 15 Betty to get only 4 casualties.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5836 troops, 63 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

Defending force 3377 troops, 35 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 103

Allied adjusted defense: 47

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1478 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (22 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Assaulting units:
1st Engineer Co
Kimura Det
Miura Det
4th Engineer Co
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Sparrow Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Gull Battalion
Manado Garrison Battalion
2/4 MG Bn /29
Makassar Garrison Bn /21
Kendari Base Force

I have multiple BFs in route. I will have troops landing tomorrow at Ternate. Troops are leaving Babeldoab for Manado. In the next few days transports will load up for Lautem, Koepang, and Darwin. Most are at the base or in the harbor already loaded.

Notes/Plans:
This part of the war is going as good as can be expected to this point. The Japanese co-commanders are wondering where is the Allied fleet, especially the American CVs.