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2/10/42
 
The KB has moved towards Nicobar Island (south of Andaman) and looks to be rendezvouing with the multitude of TF's Miller has moving towards the Bay of Bengal from Singapore.  I still don't know where they are heading. The Allies are working on three operations aimed at annoying Miller:
 
Operation Carya Tomentosa:  Possible invasion of Wake Island.  Invading force may be the 2nd Marine Divsion, currently enroute from San Diego toward Hawaii.  Four US CVs will rendezvous in San Franciso and will deploy to cover the invasion.  I will carry through with this only if I feel sure that the Allies won't bump into anything close to equal numbers of Japanese CVs.
 
Operation Carya Pallida:  The Bataan defenders will are heading for Clark Field to hit the Japanese defenders, hoping that there are few with the vast bulk of the Japanese units involved in the Siege of Manila. 
 
Operation Metasequoia Glyptostroboides I:  The Chinese probe against Canton.  It will take me a week or more to assemble the forces.  I have no idea if Miller has redeployed his Hong Kong invasion force in such  a way as to leave Canton vulnerable.  Probably not, but I want to at least test the waters.
 
Small Craft:  I-25 puts three TTs into the already damaged TK Empire Onyx at Bombay.
 
Elsewhere:  Miller shifts some Zeroes to the Chinese city I've been bombing regularly from Changsha and Chunking.  He also sent alot of big strikes against airfields in Sumatra.

2/11/42 and 2/12/42
 
Bay of Bengal:  I've momentarily lost sight of the KB amidst all the other Japanese ships between Ceylon and Andaman Island, but I'm sure she's there somewhere.  Based upon what I can tell so far, this doesn't appear to be a "humongous" invasion fleet of the type that would invade India, but I could be wrong.  It's too far off the coast to tell.  My hunch remains an end run around my SE Burma defenses - probably aimed at Akyab.  Or Miller may be sailing in circles while he awaits arrival of additional elements of his invasion force.  In the meantime, I've ordered most of my undamaged Indian Ocean combat ships to return from Aden to Karachi.
 
Operation Carya Pallida:  The lead elements of the Bataan garrison will arrive at Clark Field in about two days.  That will be fun if Miller has the field lightly garrisoned.  If he's prepared then it won't be fun. 
 
Operations Carya Tomentosa and Metasequoia Glyptostroboides:  It will be some time (a week to ten days) before all the forces are in place for the probe at Canton and the Wake Island invasion.  Intel hsows the 5th Base Force is located at Wake.
 
Small Craft:  Over two turns, an ASW force in Sydney Harbor hits I-165 sixteen times doing "heavy damage."  I sure hope she sinks so that I can safely resume mine laying operations there.  I-155 sinks an AK with two TT hits in Bombay.   Seawolf torpedoes an AK near Pescatores. 
 
DEI:  5 BB and at least 3 CA bombard Palembang on the 12th.
 
West Coast:  A RCT and an artillery unit board transports in San Francisco, headed for Pearl Harbor. 

2/13/42 and 2/14/42
 
Bay of Bengal:  The Japanese invasion fleet seems to be aimed at Trincomalee although Madras is also a possibility.  All I have at Trincomalee is an engineer unit and, if I'm reading the city's data base correctly, some 60 guns.  Doesn't sound as though I have a chance of stopping Miller.
 
China/India/Burma:  I've ordered some armor and artillery from Karachi to Bangalore.  I've ordered most of the Chinese units assigned to "Southeast Asia" to advance into northern India and Burma - their primary objective will be to help hold Mandalay and Myitkina.  B-17s from Kunming hit Canton.  The resulting photo recon intel indicates the Japs only have about 3,000 men in Canton.  That can't be right, can it?  I'll check it out by going through with Operation Metasequoia Glyptostroboies I.
 
Phillipines:  On the 14th, a surface combat force stumbles within range of Bataan's defenses.  It seems that at least six DDs suffer light to severe damage; one DD sinks and another follows suit when Bataan's three ship PT squadron attacks and puts a TT into DD Hasu.  Operation Carya Pallida units are all 30 to 52 miles outside of Bataan.  The vanguard should arrive in two turns.  It still appears that Miller has 4 units at Clark, but whether that's four mixed infantry brigades or a bunch of engineers remains to be seen.
 
CenPac:  It will be at least ten days before Operation Carya Tomentosa (The 2nd Marine Division invasion of Wake Island) well be ready to approach the target.  This depends on all or most of the KB being tied up in the Bay of Bengal.  I have accounted for six of Miller's 10 BBs - five are bombarding Palembang and the sixth is included in the Bay of Bengal operations.  There are probably more than just Hiei there.  Also, Nagato took a torpedo early in the war and may be in port for repairs.  So it doesn't seem that he could have more than one or two that could interdict the Wake invasion force and I should have at least three U.S. BBs.   
 
Small Craft:  S-36 torpedoes a MSW in the South China Sea; DMS Southard takes a TT from I-173 at Pago Pago.
 
DEI:  Miller invades and takes Kendari with only token opposition offered by the defenders.
 
Solomons:  Miller has two CA/CL forces regularly bombarding Rabaul to little effect thus far.
 
 

2/15/42 - Here they come....

2/16/42
 
Bay of Bengal:  The Japanese begin landing at Trincomalee with the shore defenses damaging about eight enemy merchants and combat vessels (and one CA hitting a mine).  There are already 20,000 troops ashore opposed only be an engineer unit.  I move aircraft from Trin's field to Colombo and Mangalore and disperse the damaged ships in the harbor.  A British mechanized brigade arrives in Aden and part is immediately loaded onto APs destined for Karachi.  An infantry division arrives in less than a month.
 
Phillipines:  All units are in place and ordered to launch a shock attack against Miller's defense at Clark Field.  I didn't hear any exclamations from him (other than his frustration that the KB's aircraft have been socked in by weather for most of the week), so I am expecting a stinging repulse.  Getting those troops back to Bataan may prove difficult.
 
Jap BBs:  In addition to the five hitting Palembang, there are at least four (Hiei, Kirishima, Haruna, and Kong) in the Bay of Bengal which accounts for the ten Jap BBs (the tenth, Nagato, was hit by a torpedo and should be under repair somewhere).  This is important because Operation Carya Tomentosa (the invasion of Wake Island) is predicated on most or all Jap CVs and BBs being far away.
 
Small Craft:   KXVIII puts 2 TT into an AK 60 miles east of Singapore.

2/17/42

Operation Carya Pallida is a stunning success. Miller had three engineer units defending Clark Field, all of which retreated following a shock attack by 4th Marines, a Constalabury unit, and others. Depending upon whether I believe the combat report or the game score sheet, the Japanese lost either 156 or 300+ aircraft! I'm not sure Miller noticed I had infantry units in the hex (it was a bit camouflaged by the hex coloring) or surely he would have evacuated his planes to safer fields. He was quite upset (see note in attachment). Now I have to get my troops out of there and back to Bataan (which only has 3,000 supplies left, so that's not much of a haven).

Bay of Bengal: Miller's invasion force (including the 38th Division) takes Trincomalee. BB Hiei suffers a torp hit when two maniacal Vildebeast sortie out of Colombo. Both survive somehow. Visions of the Bismark danced in the pilots' heads. Sorties from the KB and Mini-KB hit a variety of merchants, including three in Madras, sending a handful to the bottom.

Small Craft: Perth's ASW force hits I-3 with 6 dc.

Elsewhere: Operations Carya Tomentosa and Metasequoia Glyptostroboides are still gathering force.

2/18/42 to 2/20/42
 
Phillipines:  Miller was bummed to lose "200 crack" pilots, plus three Zero squadrons and 2 Betty squadrons, when my Bataan defenders overran Clark Field.  Looking at it from his perspective, I'm sure he feels that the Japs have an overwhelming force now, but also an overwhelming number of objectives to seize so that any bump in the road is a major threat.  I evacuate Clark Field the day after taking it and he reclaims it on 2/20.  My attackers return to Bataan with a little extra supply.  Operation Carya Pallida is now complete.  Elsewhere, 3 PTs tangle with a big TF of tankers and small escorts, sinking two PGs with two torps each.  I lose one of the PTs.
 
DEI:  Miller invades Palembang on the 18th and takes it on the 20th.
 
Ceylon:  Miller has Trincomalee with some 20,000 troops.  Will he move on Colombo immediately?  The KB made a brief sortie to the NW, forcing me to send some more ships scurrying from India's west coast to Aden.  Now the KB has pulled back to Ceylon.
 
Celebes:  Miller has invaded, but not yet taken, Manado.
 
Small Craft:  Subs have been quiet the past three days.  The only action was when I-157 torpedoed AK Louisianan west of Ceylon.
 
China:  The first unit of Operation Metasequoia Glyptostroboides arrived in Canton with the others lagging several days behind.  I hope Miller doesn't notice the unit for another couple of turns.
 
Operation Carya Tomentosa:  The 2nd Marine Division is approaching Pearl Harbor.  I am still planning to invade Wake Island if the KB remains in or near the Bay of Bengal.
 
Operation Eucalyptus:  This is a new operation by the Aussies and Kiwis, involving the reinforcement of Rabaul (an Australian brigade) and the invasion of Tulagi (or another Japanese base in the vicinity - whichever appears lightly defended) by a Kiwi brigade.  I may also try to find a "spare" base force to send to Rabaul, but there don't seem to be any this side of San Francisco.

2/21/42
 
China:  Miller spots the advance unit that showed up in Canton yesterday and orders a deliberate attack.  In the meantime, three Chinese corps show up giving the Allies about 650 AV in the hex.  Miller has two divisions (51st and 104th) and evicts the invaders, although he loses 1119/30/1 to just 134/3 for the Chinese.  I order the remaining units heading into the hex to halt and dig in, so Operation Metasequoia Glyptostroboides comes to an end.  Elsewhere in China, Miller has 14 units on the road to Yenen, still 120 miles out.  I've ordered a few reinforcements to Yenen.  Right now my AV there is just shy of 1000 and the fort level is 5.
 
Bay of Bengal:  Miller has Trincomalee but apparently didn't bring along a base force, because he doesn't have any aircraft there yet.  Brit bombers from Colombo have hit the port facilities a few time striking an AK and an AP.  What I want to hit is BB Hiei.  Surely he'll get the airfield up and running soon.  I don't think the KB and Mini-KB are in the area any longer.  Recon spots Soryu approaching Singapore.  I could order Force Z to strike Trincomalee if the KB is gone and if Miller doesn't have air defense, so I order some ships to gather on the west coast of India.  We'll see what develops.
 
Burma:  Miller has holed up in Moulmein and hasn't made any effort to cross the river, where I have four brigades.  I keep thinking he'll make an end run via an invasion of Akyab, but nothing's happening yet.  Each turn he bombs Rangoon from Bangkok, but all I have is a base force there.  I may pull it out tomorrow.  He's also bombing the field at Mandalay with some success.
 
DEI:  Miller has Palembang but hasn't made a move on Java yet.  Soerbaja is my strongest outpost (AV of about 300 and forts about 5).
 
Borneo/Celebes:  Miller holds most of the east and north cities in Borneo and scattered cities (including Kendari) in the Celebes.  I don't have any defence forces to speak of.  He can take these cities at will.
 
Australia:  Right now Miller doesn't have anything that threatens Darwin or NW Australia, so I'm sending some supply from Perth and a few reinforcements from Melbourne and Adelaide (via rail and truck).  A CA/CL force may also move from SE Australia to Darwin.  I'll reconsider these moves if Miller sends CVs this way, but if his flattops remain committed in the Bay of Bengal or other distant points, I may put up a stiffer fight here than I had originally planned.
 
NG:  I still hold Port Moresby (garrisoned) and Lae/Finchshafen/Salamau/Buna (ungarrisoned). 
 
Solomons:  I still hold Rabaul.  Reinforcements and supplies are headed that way (I've pulled the infantry out of Tasmania).  I'm also going to hit some of the bases Miller seized (Tulagi, Buka, etc) if recon shows them to be lightly held.  I haven't seen any indications that he has reinforced the little units that captured these outposts.  I have a fairly large CA/CL force that will cooperate in these efforts, which I've dubbed Operation Eucalyptus.
 
Cen and SouthPac:  Miller has subs nosing around Canton Island.  Canton, Palmyra and Midway have RCT.  Pago Pago has a division.  Suva has a brigade.  Pearl has lots of stuff, but I'd still have a heart attack if Miller moved that way, but I don't think he's going to any time soon.  I'm still gathering and organizing the forces for Operation Carya Tomentosa (the invasion of Wake Island).  I haven't decided whether to make this a "lightning" raid (get in and get the forces back out) or an effort to take and build up the island's defenses.  If I go with the latter I'll need a base force, mines laid, CD, etc. and that's in the works.  The invasion force will be covered by four CVs and as much of a surface combat force as I can muster.  Based upon Allied assessments of Japanese capabilities, I think the main risks are long-range bombers from Kwajalein and surface combat TFs with alot of CA/CLs.  I think all of Miller's BBs are committed in South China Sea or Bay of Bengal, but there is still sufficient time for the situation to change.
 
Alaska:  I sent a large base force to Anchorage because it was already assigned to the North Pacific.  I don't know if I'll ever need it there.
 
West Coast:  I've employed so many ships on so many misisons that right now I don't have the assets on the West Coast to carry much more to Hawaii.  Lord help me if Miller somehow got the KB in the midst of the shipping I have between the West Coast, Hawaii, and the Line Islands.
 
Overall Situation:  I still feel good about things at the moment.  I'm worried about my ability to defend India, but Miller hasn't launched any blitzkrieg there yet.  He's got Trincomalee but doesn't have anything headed to India proper at the moment; and as long as his BBs and CVs are tied up out there I have opportunities to strike at his periphery elsewhere.  I'm worried about my ability to defend China, but nothing's happening there at the moment except those 14 units that may strike Yenen sometime down the road.  It's late February and I'm not yet on the ropes.

2/22/42 to 2/24/42
 
Phillipines:  One of the unforeseen benefits of the seizure of Clark Field and elimination of so many Japanese aircraft was that it gave Manila a reprieve from constant heavy bombings.  The US fighters have recovered - I'm putting up about 12 every day - and are exacting a toll on Miller's forces.  Over the past three days, the P-40s have downed 7, 5 and 7 Japanese planes while losing only 3 of their own.  As a result, the engineers have been able to work on forts and should raise the level from 2 to 3.

Bay of Bengal:  Miller is evacuating a few of his damaged ships (damaged by Trincom's CDs during his successful invasion of the port).  On the 23rd, I-18 takes a shot at BB Prince of Wales (Force Z) west of Bombay, alerting Miller to Force Z's location.  I-18 takes 7 depth charges for its troubles.  On the 24th, one AK is torpedoed by O-21 60 miles east of Trincom.  Still no Japanese air defense at Trincom and Miller's CVs are nowhere to be seen, which worries me.  I have Force Z (probably four days from hitting Trincom) and the Brit CVs heading toward the southern tip of India from Aden and they are in harm's way if Miller has succeeded in sending an undetected force to the open sea south of India.  This is a worry, but most (not all) Jap CVs were seen in the Malacca Straits on the 23rd.  But did Miller leave behind a rear-guard to cover Ceylon?

Rabaul:  Uh oh, just as I was putting into effect Operation Eucalyptus, the Japanese landed at Rabaul (three SNLF) on the 22nd and seized the city and port on the 24th.  My forces (an Aussie brigade from Tasmania and a Kiwi brigade from NZ) are already at sea as is a combat TF (CAs and CLs) and an air combat TF (Enterprise).  They are far away from the Solomons at the moment and I'm looking at several options (all dependent upon the KB remaining far away, focused on the Bay of Bengal) including invasion of Tulagi/Buka/Shortlands or possibly a relief effort against Rabaul.

Wake Island:  The main elements of Operation Carya Tomentosa are NE of Midway, perhaps five or six days away from landings at Wake Island.  The main force includes a large troop transport convoy, a surface combat TF that will eventually include three BBs, and four separate CV TFs.  Perfect timing for this will be if Miller is still focusing on the Bay of Bengal and the operation catches him with insufficient assets to effectively counter. 

Celebes/Borneo:  Miller lands at Amboina on the 24th, but doesn't take the city, and his paratroops assault Balikpan, but don't take it yet either.

Small Craft:  On the 22nd, KXVI torpedoes BB Kirishima near Singapore.  Zuikaku is spotted in the vicinity and CVE Taiyo near the Nicobars.  I-19 torpedoes TK H.T. Harper north of Pearl causing moderate damage.  I don't like a Jap sub there since my Wake TFs are not too far to the NW. 

2/25/42 and 2/26/42
 
A sense of unease has settled over the Allies.  We have probes or missions aimed at three parts of Miller's periphery - Force Z just arrived at Colombo and should hit Trincomalee tomorrow; Operation Eucalyptus forces are gathering in the Coral Sea and heading toward Tulagi or vicinity; and Operation Carya Tomentosa forces are approaching Midway on their way to Wake Island.  Unfortunately, the KB has disappeared from view and was last seen in and around Singapore three days ago.  If the KB shows up at any of these periphery points it will be painful.  Adding to my discomfort, a Glen spotted my Wake Island TF on the 26th, apparently reporting 5 ships moving west.  Miller has to take note of that.  Will he deploy the KB that way or back towards Ceylon (which reminds me, he has to know just how attractive a target Trincomalee is to me now).  If I don't sight the KB within a day or two, I'll pull back the Wake invasion force towards Pearl Harbor.   I also have a fourth pressure point - CL/DD TF is heading to Darwin.  I haven't been active in that area for a month or more and Miller has transport TFs lumbering around the Celebes.
 
Burma:  An invasion force (undetected!) arrives at an unoccupied Rangoon.  I had already pulled the last unit (a base force) out a few days ago.  With my flank threatened, I pull back the remaining units in the Rangoon vicinity back to Mandalay and other strategic points.
 
Small Craft:  Stingray torpoedoes and sinks an AP near Mindanoa
 
Phillipines:  Over the two days, the US fighters down five aircraft and lose three of their own.  Miller will close down the airfield in a few more days.

2/27/42 and 2/28/42

Bay of Bengal:  Force Z arrives at Trincomalee unmolested and bombards twice on the 28th.  The results are disappointing - a handful of casualties to Japanese personnel, a port hit or two, and no damage to the few damaged Japanese merchants in the harbor.  Force Z is ordered to strike once more and then pull back towards Tivandeum.  While the results of the bombardment were unsatisfactory, I hope it got Miller's attention so that he'll order the KB back to the Bay.  He does have another group of TFs moving up the Straits of Malacca - probably another invasion force or reinforcements for Trincomalee - and this includes at least four CVs.  But is it the KB or the Mini-KB or both?

CenPac:  I'm increasingly nervous about the vulnerability of my copious merchant shipping near Hawaii and the Line Islands, and the Operation Carya Tomentosa TFs nearing Midway.  I have been able to move about unmolested since shortly after December 7 and it will be disasterous if Miller sends a KB force this way.  Accordingly, I'm going to declare a bit of a moratorium on merchant convoys in the area and try to get most of my ships back to safe harbors for a cool down period.  The Carya Tomentosa TF will continue towards Wake (it's moving slowly - not even to Midway yet) another turn or two on the chance that my recon may relocate the KB; if the KB is still unaccounted for by, say, March 2, I'll pull the invasion force back toward Pearl Harbor.

Coral Sea:  Miller has a base force at Rabaul, making an approach toward Buka and Shortlands dangerous.  I think I'll focus on Tulagi for now.  This is meant to annoy Miller, not as a major operation.

KB:  Until I locate the KB, I won't commit any substantial force to an "exposed" operation.  I'm prepared to pull back Force Z, the Coral Sea fleets, and the Wake Island fleets.

Small Craft:  Seawolf sinks an MSW 60 miles south of Pescatores.

I sure hope this is the KB, because if it isn't, and if the KB (or any part thereof) is heading to Wake Island....

My Wake Invasion TF stumbles in to a minefield at Midway and then two of the CV TFs head off on their own (one towards Noumea, of all destinations!). I sure hope the KB isn't heading this way...

The KB made its presence known in loud fashion, so I'm proceeding with Operation Carya Tomentosa (the invasion of Wake Island). Elsewhere, a combat TF got in some nice licks at Rabaul harbor....

3/5/42 and 3/6/42

Java: Miller has assembled a large invasion TF that is moving east of Batavia towards eastern Java. I admire the tight grouping - all of his TFs in a single hex - in marked contrast to my bedraggled and scattered invasion TF making its way towards Wake Island.

Bay of Bengal: Miller has other TFs in the Bay of Bengal, including two approaching Trincomalee. I believe the Mini-KB is here while the KB is part of the Java group.

CenPac: I can't be certain, but I have a growing suspicion that Miller is focused on his own objectives and doesn't consider my recent activity in the Midway area of great concern. I hope so anyhow. The Wake invasion should begin in about two days. The four CV TFs will stand off a few hexes, half of the fighters flying CAP over the CVs and half over Wake Island. The BB TF will escort the transports into the island. The ground force is the 2nd Marine Division and the Marine paratroops battalion and CD unit. Minelayers, supply transports, and additional troops transports carrying a base force are scheduled to arrive a few days later. A fast transport TF will be posted at Midway and available for use. In opposition I expect Miller to send a strong CA/CL surface force and Bettys and/or Nells to sortie from Kwajalein.

Coral Sea: The Tulagi invasion force should arrive in four or five days. I think the Wake operation will have drawn enough attention that this operation should be lightly contested. I have a CA/CL TF and the Enterprise in support. Bombers from Rabaul are a risk.

Phillipines: Miller continues to bomb (aircraft) and bombard (artillery) Manila. The two P-40 squadrons are still getting the best of the aerial combat here.

Small Craft: S-16 torpedoes AK Mansei Maru in the Malacca Straits.

Miller's most recent email:  "I wonder what your ships are doing near wake.....I am guessing they are a diversion for your Tulagi invasion, we shall see."[/align] [/align]3/6/42 to 3/9/42[/align] [/align]As Miller sends a tremendous invasion force into Kragen on Java, the Allied invasion of Tulagi and Wake Island take shape:[/align] [/align]Java:  Five Japanese BBs bombard Batavia.  On the 7th, Miller's invasion fleet arrives at Kragen and 10 TFs begin unloading.  A few Dutch bombers sortie and strike without success.  KXII torpedoes an AK and suffers moderate damage from depth charges.  It's only a matter of time before Miller has Java in hand.  There are at least three divisions ashore - 4th, 56th, and Imperial Guards.[/align] [/align]Tulagi:  Operation Eucalyptus proceeds.  The Allied invasion fleet arrives on the 9th and begins unloading.  The port isn't mined and Miller only has about 600 troops ashore.  I should take the island tomorrow.  Miller sends a strong CA/CL force to interdict my invasion fleet (it may take two days to arrive), but he's not aware that I have a CV present.  I order the Enterprise TF to move toward his approaching surface fleet (but hopefully south of it's course) in hopes my Dauntlesses will strike.  This has the earmarks of a nice surprise attack unless Miller has his own surprises in store.  Rabaul's airfield is only a level 3, so I'm not worried about torpedoes.[/align] [/align]Wake Island:  My invasion fleet is making incredibly slow progress and is still 10 hexes from the island.  I think the "follow TF" orders have caused the slowness so I try to reorganize the ships and get the show on the road again.  On the 7th, Dauntlesses report a sub, alerting Miller that US CVs are present.  I figure he for sure knows what's up, but see his quote at the beginning of this post.  On the 9th, Nells from Wake (still a level 3 airfield) sortie against my surface fleet (3 BBs, a CL, and DDs) - some 35 Nells in the morning followed by 30 in the afternoon - and don't score a single hit.  The TF uses nearly 40% of its AA amunition! For some reason this TF has persistently refused to rendezvous with my invasion fleets, leaving it exposed.  I change its mission to bombard and send it on toward Wake hoping it will damage the airfield and some aircraft.  This operation is taking too long to unfold, but if Miller thinks Tulagi is the main show, perhaps it can still succeed.  Question:  Will Miller try to move the KB from Java to Wake?  How long will that take, a week?  His CVs have been at sea for three months; so how much SYS damage do they have?[/align] [/align]Bay of Bengal:  Miller finally gets the Trincomalee airfield up and running with some Zeros and Sallies. Vildebeast from Colombo put two TT into an AP on the 8th and hit an AK on the 9th.  He has another fleet moving towards Akyab or the Diamond Harbor area. [/align] [/align]Phillipines:  Same ol' same ol' at Manila.  2 PT from Bataan intercept a large troop transport fleet further north and sink an MSW.  Miller has troops at Cagayan now and I have ordered a shock attack.  [/align] [/align]Tomorrow should be an interesting day.[/align]

3/10/42 and 3/11/42

I have recalled the Wake Island invasion force, hoping to avoid the "Another Such Victory" lament.  Here's what's going on:

Wake Island: Miller emailed a turn ago:  "Nice move on Wake.  I don't wish to sound bitter but after viewing this turn I am rather dis-heartened. Its March 42 and your F4Fs and Buffalo's achieve a 3:1 kill ratio over my high exp Zeros. This is a bad omen for the future."  That happened on the 10th.  On the 11th, I sent in my BBs to bombard since the TF persistently refused to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet, which was important since I wanted to reassign a few CAs from the CV fleets to reinforce the combat TF.  The bombardement doesn't accomplish much, but two DDs take severe damage from Wake's CDs (Ralph Talbot at 99 Sys and Dale at 97) and two others take moderate damage.  My main invasion TFs are interdicted by two subs - one is sunk and the other was hit pretty hard. DD Walke takes a single torpedo but will make it to Pearl.

At this point I became convinced that this operation is taking too long and is spread out too much.  I have little doubt I can take Wake, but then what do I do with it?  Also, I think Miller has the KB scooting this way from Java - I haven't sighted any of his big CVs in nearly a week.  So the feeling of unease that had been growing became overwhelming.  I issued orders to most of the fleets to head for Pearl.  A few of the ML TFs are going to drop their loads at Midway and Johnston Island first.  The CV TFs will withdraw more slowly toward the east, providing cover for a day or two before they too flee.  My fast transport TF at Midway will carry the marooned element of the 2nd Marine Division (whose transport was mortally damaged by a mine) to Pearl.

Tulagi:  My trap didn't work!  On the 9th I issued orders for my CV TF to steam west to intercept Miller's surface fleet, but I went too far.  His ships arrived at Tulagi and stayed the day, but Enterprise had gone so far that she never sent out a strike.  A recon Dauntless did hit CA Kinugasa, informing Miller that I had a CV present.  That, I believe, came as a big surprise to him.  So he pulled back that force.  To add to my frustration, my force didn't take this island. So I'm sending in the remainder of the brigade (I had pulled back the transports due to the anticipated arrival of Miller's combat TF).  I'll keep Enterprise there one more day and then order her out of the area.  It wouldn't be a surprise if Miller sent some CVs this way.   I should take Tulagi, but that's really no big deal - just a minor irritation for Miller.

Cagayan:  My shock attack on the 10th succeeds, sends Miller's troops out of the hex, but I take much higher casualties and the effort only delays the inevitable a few days.

Bay of Bengal:  Miller has the Mini-KB escorting a troop transport TF that is moving possibly toward Madras, Diamond Harbor, or a point in between.

Overall Situation:  I'm not sure how Miller will react to the Wake Island and Tulagi operations.  He may shift the KB to CenPac or SoPac, which is not exactly what I want.  Over the past week I have reduced the level of shipping in the area in preparation for something like this.  I doubt I'll have another opportunity to mount offensive operations soon.  I also need to decide where the American CVs go from here.  They're due upgrades in three weeks and my hunch is that Miller is seeing red.

3/12/42 to 3/16/42
 
Wake Island:  After calling off the invasion on the 11th, the Allied TFs begin the long retreat to Pearl Harbor, chased by visions of the KB showing up, which fortunately doesn't happen.  RO-61 intercepted one TF and torpedoed AK Regulus; I-19 torpedoed AK Silverado and AP Ward Burrows.  I scatter the TFs and order all to head for Pearl at flank speed.  By the 16th, two of the CV TFs are back with the other two to follow shortly.  The only TF lagging badly is that carrying the 2nd Marine Division, which is still about 600 miles west of Pearl and looking awfully vulnerable.  The Allies lost two DDs, two APs, and two AKs (to CD guns, mines and subs) during the operation.  The Japanese lost at least one sub and possibily as many as three.  The Allies gave much better than they got in the air, downing many Zeros and Nells.
 
Tulagi:  This has become a mini-fiasco for me.  I have enough troops on the ground (nearly a full brigade) to take the island, but I forgot to bring along enough supplies.  This too was meant to be a lightning raid but has mired down.  I will try to extract my troops by transports, but I'm not optimistic.  I have no doubt that Miller will be attending to Tulagi.
 
Java:  The Japanese are spreading out from Kragen and should have Batavia and Soerabaja before too much longer.  The latter garrison may hold on for a little while, but if I still have a base on Java in two weeks I'll be surprised.  Martins and TIVs get in some licks:  on the 12th, a TIV torpedoes AP Taiyo Maru; on the 15th one torpedoes AP Kashi Maru; on the 16th they put 2 TT into AP Tatibana Maru and single fish into APs Osaha Maru and Somedono Maru.  Martins scored bombs hits on at least ten merchant and troop transports over the five days.
 
Ceylon:  Miller's infantry arrived at Colombo and should easily capture the city tomorrow or shortly therafter.  I only have a base force there now.  He hasn't landed anywhere else in Burma or India yet.  I have a second Brit division arriving soon.  It's coming in at Bombay, although I have mulled over posting both divisions at Karachi to form the strongest point of defense possible.
 
Phillipines:  Same ol' stuff going on.  Miller isn't doing anything but bombing and bombarding Manila.  My supplies are beginning to get low there and at Bataan.  Miller can take the remaining Allied outposts as soon as he wants to and sends sufficient troops to overcome the defenders.
 
Small Craft:  S-36 and Seawolf each sink MSWs.
 
What now:  Where will Miller head when he has Java in hand?  Will he continue his operations against India or will he move against Australia, New Caledonia, the Line Islands, or elsewhere?  With Operations Carya Tomentosa, Cary Pallida, Metasequoia Glyptostroboides, and Eucalyptus complete or winding down, what if anything can I do next to try to throw Miller off balance?  I have given some thought to sending two US CVs to the Indian Ocean to rendezvous with the British CV/CVL force to strike the Mini-KB, but the idea isn't all that appealing. With Ceylon in hand, even if the Mini-KB remains in the Indian Ocean Miller can keep it within support of land based air.

3/17/42 to 3/24/42

After the Allies completed or cancelled various operations, things have quieted down although Miller has taken Colombo (3/20) and Soerabaja (3/21).  Batavia is holding out, but should fall tomorrow (3/25).  Miller noted in an email that he had committed too many units to Java and that he could have used some of them better elsewhere.  So what has he set his eyes on?  Here's the situation from Miller's persective:

India Area:  Miller controls Ceylon.  He has sent repeated strikes against Madras and some scouting towards Tivandrum.  At the moment I don't detect any large invasion forces in the Bay of Bengal.

Burma:  Status quo here.  Miller recons Akyab every day.  I assume this will be targeted for invasion.  I'm sending reinforcements to the brigade and artillery unit there, but it will be a long time before help gets there.

China:  Miller is working on an end run around the far north (I've forgotten the name of the city) and will have a sizeable force at Yenen shortly.  I have reinforcements heading from Chungking to both Yenen and Sian.  Large air strikes are hitting cities further east and south, but no major land maneuvers detected in that area.

Sumatra:  I still have Dutch recon operating from one base, but Miller will hold the island soon.

Java:  Batavia will hold one more day, then Java is entirely his.

Timor/Etc:  He'll get to these islands in short order. 

Borneo/Celebes:  He's got nearly everything here now.  Amboina is the only base of consequence that I hold and that won't be much longer.  On the 22nd, CL Perth and 4 DDs intercept a Japanese transport convoy at Kendari, sinking an AP and an MSW.

Phillipines:  Allies still hold Manila, Bataan, Cagayan, and a scattering of other bases.  Supply is getting critically low.  Sub Saury torpedoes an AK in the South China Sea.  I pulled out the surviving plane of a P-40 squadron and sent it to Changsha.  The Allies aren't capable of putting up air defense in the PI any longer.

New Guinea/Solomons:  Miller holds everything as far as Lae in NG and Tulagi in the Solomons.  I sent in three AK to extract the Aussie brigade, but a Japanese sub sank two of them.  The third carried off a third of the brigade towards Noumea.  I'm sending a FT convoy from Pago Pago to recover the rest.  This is chancey, but I'm giving it a shot.

Australia/NZ:  Nothing going on.

SoPac Island:  Quiet here.  Pago Pago is my main base and currently has a defense of 600+ AV.

CenPac:  Quiet here.  The Wake invasion force has returned to Pearl.  With the addition of the 2nd Marine Division, Pearl has an AV of nearly 2000.  CV Yorktown TF steaming towards San Fran to begin carrier re-fit.  On the 18th, Pollack sinks a ML near Wake; on the 23rd, Trout sinks an APD there.

Alaska/US:  Quiet.

KB:  No sign of it for several weeks now.

3/25/42 to 3/28/42