Japanese lost over 8,000 troops dead or wounded in a two day period
I made that mistake recently at Manilla in another game. Lost several thousand troops in one attack and was disappointed to see that almost all losses were applied to a single infantry division, which is now down to 26 AV.
jw
DOCUMENT #4561235-AF5: IMPERIAL ARCHIVES, KYOTO JAPAN
Interview of Admiral Tanaka, 23 March 1943
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It was apparent after we took Baker Island and the attack on our Supply Convoy to Baker Island non 19 January that the Americans were going to make a stand at Canton Island. The key things were intelligence from our Submarines of Transports at Canton Island, the presence of American carriers, and B-17 attacks (mostly ineffectual) on Baker Island originating from Canton Island. 4th Fleet Headquarters directed me to attack Canton Island. It took less than a week to assemble the required forces and we sailed undetected to Canton Island. Our air reconnaisance identified roughly 20,000 troops and 100 aircraft on the Island. More importantly, we identified 2 Light Cruisers and 4 Destroyers in the waters around the island. We launched two waves of attacks that day and obliterated the enemy task force. Multiple passes by low-flying Torpedo Bombers indicated that we sank the Light Cruisers St. Louis and Phoenix, and the destroyers Warrington, Benhem, Porter, and Ellet for the loss of ten aircraft.
THE COMPLETE CHRONOLOGY OF THE GREAT PACIFIC WAR - United States Naval Press (1971)
Chapter 14 - Japan Attacks
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The Japanese advance, awesome close to pre-war Japanese bases, was rebuffed at Ambonia when an Allied Cruiser TF (1CA, 3CL, 8DD) attacked the Japanese TF (2CA, 1CL, 5DD) that was bombarding Ambonia. The Japanese TF held the advantage of large guns but the Allied TF closed in the middle of the night and took the Japanese TF by surprise. In a sharp chaotic action, the Japanese lost one DD from the covering force and two patrol craft from the invasion force while inflicting moderate damage on the Allied Destroyers. Most unfortunate for the Japanese were the heavy damage suffered by most of the Japanese Ships. The troops made it ashore at Ambonia but the Japanese navy added several more ships to it's damaged roster.
On the other hand, the Japanese initated Canton Island Campaign entered it's second day with Japanese Battleships bombarding the atoll inflicting heavy damage on American troops and equipment. The Japanese invasion transports were less than a day out and there was no relief force spotted.
