Good job on taking Singapore. It definitely will free up forces for elsewhere.
How are you coming with taking the island of Mindanao?
Did you divert any forces normally used in the Philippines campaign to start taking Celebes and the other southern islands? I ask this because I seem to be a month or so ahead of your schedule in the conquest of the Philippines and I am thinking that it is because we prioritized what we the sequence that we were hitting some targets differently.
Hello Seydlitz, thank you very much for your comments and post. XXV Army will be split in two forces:
a) Southern Force to be attached to XVI Army in Java landings (mainly 2nd and Guards Division)
b) Burma Force to be attached to XV Army and Southern Area Army.
About Mindanao, this Island is in my hands from middle of January when my forces captured Malaybalay and all allied forces surrender there. My primary target was Cagayan like a main Airfield to transfer my 21st Air Flotilla. Davao like secondary target to capture the port to supply my field ground units. My starting plan like following (Dec 1941):
When Cagayan falls, orders to transfer 21st Air Flotilla from Formosa will be dispatched (with air complements from Kanoya Ku K-1 and Toko Ku-1 Det).
Miura Det (33rd Inf Reg) aboard xAK Kyusyu Maru and 146th Infantry Regiment (xAP Hakone Maru, CM Itsukushima) will head to Davao. Miura will be Davao´s garrison and 146th will advance to Malaybalay.
After Davao falls in our hands, 2nd Base Force will be shipped at Takao to this port.
2nd Kure SNLF will landing at Dadjanjas aboard xAK Teiryu Maru, after it will land at Cotabato, Dumanquillas, Zamboanga and Oroquieta.
Nagara Flotilla covered landings with Ryujo TF like indirect protect.
Now sit map report like you can see with following comments about:
- 9th JNAF Coy was landing at Surgao to deploy there 16th Ku K T-1 to ASW aerial support ops with a ASW Hunter-Killer Group to cover the landings at Cagayan (the main target).
- Landings at Cagayan with XVI Army and Sasebo 2nd SNLF followed in a second wave with labor units (1st Naval Construction Bn from Takao), AA (45th Field AA Bn from Formosa) and Garrison (8th Indpt. SNLF Coy). When secured, 21st Air Flotilla was transfered from Formosa to support antishipping ops from this AF with two G3M2/G4M1 daitais escorted by 1 A6M2 Daitai.
- At Davao my forces landing with 146th Infantry Regiment (after captured, releaved by 2nd Base Force). 146th Infantry Regiment was shipped there to capture Jolo, then Tarakan and lastly Balikpapan. Now ready to be shipped to Samarinda.
All ground forces from Zamboanga (Kure 1st), Dadjanjas (Kure 2nd), Cagayan (I/33rd I.R) and Davao (Miura and Kimura Dets) assembly at Malayabalay to end with enemy resistance. After captured all forces marching to Davao to be shipped for new targets.
I have not diverted any forces from my primary targets on P.I. (Luzon or Mindanao) to capture Celebes. To this task I sent the following forces:
- IJA : Det A from 38th Infantry Division (after Hong Kong captured)
- IJN : Sasebo 3rd and Sasebo 8th SNLF. 23rd Air Flotilla HQ (2nd echelon).
With BATDIV 1 and CARDIV 2 like direct support, Ambon was an easy target and fallen in few days. This operation was coordinated with Koepang landings supported by CARDIV 1 & CARDIV 5 and BATDIV 2 & 3.
I hope this help

Best of wishes and best of lucks in your game
ramón
(1) Screenshot with MINDANAO SIT MAP REPORT Feb 14th, 1942
