Matrix Games Forums

I've been enjoying catching up with your AAR. Your main plan of campaign seems to be proceeding according to a good timetable, and it certainly seems to motor along with 2 day turns!

Hi Walker84, thanks for following. [:)] I am just trying to advance within historical limits and timetables, so this will be a rather conservative, boring game. But I'm reading GreyJoys AAR and I'm not willing to get sucked into a supply sink like India!


REPORT FOR Jan 23-24, 1942

Submarine War:
A few contacts with Allied subs in Formosa Strait, Makassar Strait and off the Home Islands, the undersea pirates are forced to dive without attacking by alerts escorts.
SS KVII launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tonan Maru near Patani - hit once, she is struggling back to port and *may* make it.
SS KXIV launches 4 torpedoes at AV Sanyo Maru near Kendari, 2 hits sink this valuable ship *grrr*. She was on her way to Makassar to provide air support to float planes on ASW...
A sub-laid minefield is found at 56,73 ("corner hex" off Indochina on the sea lane from Saigon to Bangkok), 8 mines are being swept but DMS W-1 hits a mine and sinks...
Our subs come up empty...

Air War:
Overall I am utterly and thoroughly disgusted with the results this turn.

Port Moresby is bombed ineffectually by a dozen B-17s. With a base force in place, Zeros will provide CAP next turn.

A handful of B-17s deliver night attacks against Makassar for no results.

A few Catalinas launch attacks on AMC Bangkok Maru retreating from Horn Island and on a convoy near Makassar for no gain. No losses either, 7 Zeros flying CAP at Makassar fail to catch 2 lumbering PBYs...

Zeros at Makassar continue to sweep the skies over Soerabaja, 9 CW-21B Demon destroyed for no losses. The night-bombing Nells hit CA Exeter with three bombs.

In the PI, port attacks on Bataan causes slight damage to port installations and hit an ACM and an xAKL, but two Ki-51 are lost to flak.

Singers is hit again by the Navy flyboys, only minimal results from 23k but at least no losses.

So far the relative good News - now the ugly part:

Attacks on Rangoon become unglued, attack piecemeal and meet reinforced CAP. Furthermore, for some reason my Oscars don't sweep but the strike missions (from same base) take off. Even superior numbers do not help - the bombers with Nate escorts are eaten alive:

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 58
Ki-30 Ann x 5
Ki-32 Mary x 3
Ki-51 Sonia x 10

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
Buffalo I x 15
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6
Ki-30 Ann x 7

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
Buffalo I x 15
Hurricane IIa Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 5 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 3
Ki-32 Mary x 3

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
Buffalo I x 14
Hurricane IIa Trop x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 2 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 62
Ki-30 Ann x 15
Ki-32 Mary x 3
Ki-51 Sonia x 18

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
Buffalo I x 15
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged


Attacks in China meet almost the same fate, despite Oscars and Tojos present:

Attacks near Nanyang

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 12
Ki-30 Ann x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
Ki-51 Sonia x 9

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 5 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8
Ki-30 Ann x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
Ki-44 Tojo x 7
Ki-51 Sonia x 23

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 6

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
Buffalo I x 15
Hurricane IIa Trop x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Score:
10 Nates destroyed
3 Oscars destroyed
25 Bombers destroyed

vs.

1 H81-A3 destroyed

Looks like all it needs to stop the IJAF is a squadron of Flying Tigers here and there. It is not even the losses as such that bug me - the Japanese planes are crappy. It is the one-sidedness. I mean, 60+ very maneuverable Japanese fighters against less than 40 Allied flying bricks should cause at least some losses to the inferior side, no? I am almost done with this ridiculous time vampire of a game! [;)]


China:
Bombardments an Nanyang cause minimal casualties on both sides. A deliberate attack north of Nanyang with 218 AV against 139 AV only gets 1:2 odds but we suffer (and cause) only minimal losses. In the North, an attack with 284 AV against 24 (isolated unit) gets 22:1 odds - and cause minimal casualties.

First reinforcements arrive and will be sent into battle immediately:
52nd Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai
62nd Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai
54th Infantry Brigade arrives at Peiping
4th Air Division arrives at Canton - that is not where an Air HQ is needed...


Malaya:
Kluong falls with 1813 AV against 209 and 5:1 odds and important losses for the Allies:

Japanese ground losses:
1403 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4412 casualties reported
Squads: 130 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 195 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 102 (92 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 8
Units destroyed 1

272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment SURRENDERS, the other Allied units retreat to Johore Baru. Recon says there is a second defensive line in place at Johore Baru. With three Indian and one Australian brigade shattered at Kluong, we hope this line is not as strong.


PI:
21st PA Infantry Division and I Philippine Corps have advanced to Clark Field and attacked with 62 AV against 558 AV and fort level 2 for 1:99 odds - looks like a suicide mission to get rid of some "eaters". We will comply after the reshuffling of forces is complete.

Our recently upgraded Fubukis have been sent to Batangas to escort the Java / Sumatra invasion forces assembling at that port. At Lubang, they encounter TK La Estrella Caltex and YO-42 and indulge in some target practice.


Solomons:
Torokina is occupied by the Japanese - the patrol reports swampy terrain requiring considerable efforts for airfield construction.

Lunga is occupied by the Japanese - just a small hunting party trying to catch some cattle left behind when the plantation owners evacuated the place. The party reports that there is terrain suitable for airfield construction.


Port Moresby:
A Special Base Force has been dropped as garrison and 4th Division is loading up for Java. I want to secure the SRA first before turning to eventual adventures in Australia or the South Pacific.


Darwin:
Since the B-17s have not been caught by the first bombardment, I have sent a new bombardment force. They meet some ineffectual air strikes on the way in and out and destroy one A-24 with flak. The bombardment results are nice:

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 20 damaged
Hudson I: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 17 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-4 Catalina: 9 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Maya
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu

Allied ground losses:
448 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 42

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at Darwin
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Kongo
CA Kumano firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CA Kumano
CA Suzuya firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma firing at Darwin
CA Mogami firing at Darwin
CA Maya firing at Darwin
CL Isuzu firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Isuzu
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Jintsu
CL Jintsu firing at Emery Point Fortress

I hope this will convince Ed that an invasion of Darwin is imminent. If he pulls forces to Darwin, they will lack elsewhere. Furthermore he will have troubles to supply them and I may get a few more licks against convoys. And finally, if I decide to attack Northern Australia in force, there might be an occasion to destroy a significant part of the Australian Army. We will see - SRA and Burma first.

CentPac:
MY naval search and scouting submarines have picked up no trace of any Allied reaction to the Ocean Island invasion.
However, a sub-based Glen covering Noumea has reported several task forces in the harbor and planes present at the airbase - obviously the Allies are pouring reinforcements into New Caledonia.
Therefore, I have decided to cancel Operation Jailbait I.
The Ocean Island invasion force has loaded up again and is will head to Tawara without covering forces. The submarine cordon around the Gilberts will redeploy around Noumea and Fiji. The reinforced KB which has reached the area 8 hexes south of Ocean Island has been ordered to turn around and to investigate Noumea. Probably Allied carriers are covering the unloading convoys at Noumea (that's what I would expect), so this could get interesting!

REPORT FOR Jan 25-26, 1942

Submarine War:
Many contacts with Allied subs but gladly their torpedos miss or fail to explode.
SS I-9 - the float-plane equipped sub covering Noumea - is hits 4x by KV Wetaskiwin and must return to base with moderate damage. That is a long way from home for a Canadian warship!


Air War:
BANZAI! No losses over Nanyang and Rangoon this time! Seems I have found the answer to the AVG - ground all bombers and set all fighters to CAP at range 0...

At Singers, I have dropped bombing altitude to 16 k and finally get some results. Maybe it is also the presence of IJAF planes staging through Kota Bharu (to Kuantan to help with the final assault on Singers) which have inspired my navy flyboys into extra efforts. Several planes are destroyed on the ground and the runways are pockmarked by dozens of hits. My losses are limited to one Nell destroyed by flak and a dozen damaged planes. 5 Hudsons hit back at Kluong, causing damage to an empty airbase.

In the PI, the bombing of Bataan runs into a four-plane CAP - I lose 1 Nate and 3 Sonias to CAP and another Sonia to flak, but the xAKL Corregidor is left with heavy damage and heavy fires - I am sure she will not survive.

Soerabaja is swept by Zeros operating from Densapar - no opposition. Nells from Makassar hit the airbase and destroy 2 139WH-3.


China:
Some good News at last!

Allied forces are pulling out of Nanyang, so I have launched a deliberate attack to speed them up and cause some losses. To my surprise, Nanyang is captured in the second assault and 5 Chinese units surrender.

Attacking force 41992 troops, 516 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 890

Defending force 29200 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 509

Japanese adjusted assault: 915

Allied adjusted defense: 227

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2225 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
26280 casualties reported
Squads: 1560 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1710 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 105 (105 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 5

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
13th Division
18th RGC Temp. Division
14th RGC Temp./C Division
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
14th RGC Temp./A Division

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
5th War Area

So the battle for Nanyang is a half-success - 5 enemy units out of 10 destroyed. Unfortunately my units are in pretty bad shape now, with about 50% of squads disabled. I will move a Command HQ from Kaifeng to Nanyang to help with recovery.

At 85,41 (near Sian), our right-flank pincer shock attack shatters the 61st Chinese Corps and continues to advance in direction of Sian. Recon says that there are several units in each hex south of Sian to Loyang, making river crossings risky. I have changed my planes, accordingly - I will try to cross the river NORTH of Sian and encircle the whole bunch.

In Northern China at 93,34 (near Kweisui), the encircled units 11th Chinese Corps and 17th Group Army have been destroyed as well, with minimal damage to our forces:

Attacking force 9889 troops, 103 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 292

Defending force 3961 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Japanese adjusted assault: 246

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 246 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5703 casualties reported
Squads: 162 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 329 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 35 (35 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
3rd Ching An Tui Brigade
26th Engineer Regiment
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
1st Cavalry Brigade
5th Mongol Cavalry Division
4th Mongol Cavalry Division
26th Recon Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps
17th Group Army

That frees the Cavalry and puppet units for a "reconnaissance in force" in the direction of Lanchow and elements of the 26th Division which will help to destroy the two remaining pockets of enemy resistance in the North and then will be ordered to Yennan.

Here is the current situation and planned moves. Aim is to encircle and compress Allied Forces into the Sian area.



PI:
Small groups of Fubukis patrol the Visayas since naval search indicates that the Allied still use blockade runners toi Bataan. xAKL Latouche is being sunk near Iloilo. The Fubukis also bombard Iloilo and Cebu in preparation of landing operations with good results. There is one PI division at each place.

At Clark Field, a counterattack sent the 21st PA Infantry Division and I Philippine Corps fleeing back into Bataan.


DEI:
In order to avid a similar setback against Allied MTB/PT boats like I suffered at Tarakan, I have sent a few small SAGs out to hunt the sneaky bastards reported by naval search and recon. A group of four DDs sink 5 Dutch and British MBTs at Madjene. Another group of four DDS sink one MTB at Bandjermasin and then spends the remaining ammo in a bombardment with spectacular results:

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Resources hits 3
Manpower hits 5
Fires 228
Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 47
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 7

Some Dutch and Australian bombers fly ineffective strikes against my raiders.

At Sidate (near Manado), local garrison forces chase the remnants of the Dutch Manado garrison into the jungles and capture the dot base.

Kure 1st SNLF CAPTURES Pare Pare (on Celebes) unopposed.


Solomons:
Treasury Islands and Russell Islands are occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. I have moved a Mavis group from Rabaul to Tulagi (2 AVs on the way) to extend naval search into the Noumea area, where KB is one night-movement phase away from reaching striking range for Noumea. Before forced to leave, the Glen-equipeed I-9 reported the enemy TFs are still present. Let's hope for some easy victims!


CentPac:
61st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Tarawa unopposed.


Other:
TF 226 encounters mine field at Agrihan (111,88) - PB Ryusei Maru sinks at sea.
Pilot Makino R. is reported as having been found

Report for the four-day period from Jan 27 - 30, 1942

Submarine war:
SS O20 misses DD Asagumo near Makassar and receives four hits in return.
SS Trusty launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Miike Maru near Kiungshan at 72,63, misses and is punished with one DC hit.
SS KX launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Hokuzan Maru near Miri, obtaining one hit which sinks the ship.
Two days later, SS KX launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Toa Maru - same place, same result. I must be more careful with routing instructions!
SS Cachalot intercepts AMC Bankok Maru near Gasmata - the AMC is limping to Rabaul with bomb damage obtained off Horn Island - and finishes her off with two torpedoes.

SS I-160 sinks xAP Candioa near Singkawang at 54,86 with a torpedo and gunfire.
SS I-4 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Baranof near Sitkinak Island (Aleutians) at 181,46, misses and is hit once by KV Chilliwack - those RCN corvettes are nasty escorts...

China:
The infantry divisions at Nanyang are recovering slowly. I have sent the arty and tank units to the battle hex north of Nanyang to keep up the pressure. In North China the slow erosion of encircled Chinese forces continues - at 91,39 (near Chengting) for example, one unit from a stack containing one Group Army HQ and two Chinese Corps is destroyed.


Malaya:
The RAF night bombers keep hitting Kota Bharu. Although only 12 planes in 4 strikes are involved, they strike with uncanny precision. A total of 3 Zeros, 4 Nells, 2 Bettys are destroyed on the ground, 2 airbase hits, airbase supply hits, 7 runway hits suffered.

My Navy flyboys at Kota Bharu attack Singers port for a change during the first two days:

SS KXI, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
SS S-36, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
MMS-51, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Gemas, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML P 10, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Jerantut, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Rahman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Repair Shipyard hits 1
Port hits 4

For January 29-30, I switched back to Singers airbase, but this time meet enemy CAP plus arrive uncoordinated - and suffer:

#1 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
G3M2 Nell x 28
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 27
Hurricane IIb Trop x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

#2 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4 (due to heavy cloud cover)
G3M2 Nell x 13
G4M1 Betty x 14
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 18
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Runway hits 2

Due to weather, some unescorted follow-on strikes add 1 Betty and 5 Nells to the butcher bill.

I blame the meteorologist at 22nd Air Flotilla HQ for this disaster!


On Jan 27-28, the Army flyboys from Kuala Lumpur hit the Singers airbases with two massive strikes (30 Oscars + 60-70 Sallies) and cause significant damage, the airfield damage levels are above 40 now.
On Jan 29, they are ordered to support the Army attacking Johore Baru with low altitude ground strikes. They do well, losing only one Sally and the Army takes the base in the first attack:

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 60470 troops, 688 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 1763
Defending force 6549 troops, 85 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1282
Allied adjusted defense: 141
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
547 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
3622 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 144 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 48 (39 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 103 (99 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
33rd Division
5th Division
Imperial Guards Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
38th Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
25th Ind Engineer Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
20th AA Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
27th Australian Brigade
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force
III Indian Corps
29 Battery/3 HAA
111th RAF Adv Base Force

25th Army will rest for a turn or two to allow supplies to catch up - and then on to Singers!

But - on the second day of the turn (Jan 30), the IJAAF blunders big time as well! Apparently they did not want to leave all the "glory" to the IJNAF flyboys alone... The bombers at Kuala Lumpur switch target automatically from Johore Bahru ground strikes to Singers ground strikes - at low level into CAP and without escorts, which somehow stayed with escort orders to Johore Bahru. Some stupid staff officer at 3rd Air Division HQ must have forgotten to coordinate the bombers with the fighter jockeys! I lose 15 Sallies to CAP and flak... *ouch*

In the meantime, Mersing is captured by the 22nd Recon Regiment and the defending 1st Malay Battalion is not even a speed-bump.


PI:
Army flyboys from Clark Field hit xAKL Tatung which is left burning heavily.

At Cabanatuan (east of Clark Field), fleeing remnants of the Mauban-Manila battle are hunted down - the Asiatic Fleet HQ is captured.

A PB patrol encounters xAKL Luzon at Lubang but fails to sink this blockade runner.

Tawi Tawi is occupied by elements of the 2nd SNLF Coy.


Borneo:
Samarinda receives a bombardment by 2 CLs which is successful and reveals no ground forces present.:
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 18
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Balikpapan receives a heavier dose of the same treatment:
Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 damaged
B-339D: 1 destroyed on ground
139WH-3: 2 damaged
139WH-3: 2 destroyed on ground
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Nagato
CL Kiso
CL Yura
Allied ground losses:
670 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 53
Port supply hits 1

During this bombardment, DD Yugiri hits a mine at Balikpapan and is escorted back to Makassar by DD Ushio. Just outside Macassar, DD Ushio is torpedoed by SS S-38. Both DDs manage to disband in Macassar port but need a month to fix enough damage to try to reach a repair yard.

Next night, an encore at Balikpapan:
Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CL Tama
DD Hayashio
DD Oyashio
Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Invasion forces from Tarakan have arrived at undefended Samarinda - I prefer to shock attack across the river into Balikpapan than to land against opposition directly at Balikpapan.


Java:
After sweeps from Densapar-based Zeros find no opposition, a Nell group from Makassar bombs Soerabaja airbase and port, causing good damage - here is the most effective of several strikes:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
G3M2 Nell x 20
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
139WH-3: 3 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15

16th and 21st Divisions are loading at Batangas (PI). They will meet at Makassar with 4th Division coming up from Port Moresby. This should be enough for Java. In the meantime, the elements of the 56th Division will recombine at Samarinda for the attack on Balikpapan and then prepare for Palembang - together with what is left in good-enough shape (I hope) after the attack on Singers. I'm not taking chances to get stuck in the DEI! Recon says Palembang is a fortress. I plan to land at Oosthaven with 56th Division and units not needed on Java and para-drop at and air-transport to Djambi the Singers forces and then walk into Palembang from the north-west, avoiding a river crossing. Maybe combined and coordinated with amphib landing and para drop at Palembang - the full nine yards. Hope this will limit damage to the oil wells...


Rest of DEI:
Boela is captured by the 8th Indpt SNLF Coy.
Lautem is captured by the Sasebo 2nd SNLF, the local Dutch garrison surrenders.
Ineffective small strikes by a handful of Dutch bombers against convoys and bombardment TFs operating around Densapar, Makassar and Samarinda.


Darwin:
Mini-KB stages another attack on Darwin airbase but only loses one Zero for nothing in return. The operation is covering a bombardment shuttle:

#1 Bombardment:
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 10 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 3 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 2 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Maya
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu
Allied Ships
TK Angelina, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Taurus, Shell hits 1, on fire
AMc Enggano, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
TK Petronella, Shell hits 1
Allied ground losses:
657 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 15
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1

#2 Bombardment:
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2
BB Mutsu
Allied ground losses:
390 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

I want to keep Darwin suppressed since I have plans for it after the SRA is secured...


Brisbane:
Midget subs try it again in 90+% moonshine - no luck:
I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-16 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-16 hits obstruction and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-18 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-18 unable to penetrate harbor at Brisbane and is abandoned
I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-24 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-24 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-17 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-17 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane
I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-23 to attack Brisbane
SSX Ha-23 hits a mine and is destroyed at Brisbane


Solomons:
Auki (east of Tulagi) is occupied.


PNG:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Salamaua and land at Milne Bay. Two SNLF units are still struggling accross the Owen Stanleys to capture Terauke and Kokoda and to eliminate the exPM garrison in the process.


Noumea:
Bad weather prevented KB from striking on Jan 27th, but on Jan 28th from a position south-east of Noumea our All Star Team launches - and is surprised by carrier fighters on land-based duty:

#1 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 18
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 29
F4F-3 Wildcat x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAK Cagou, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Cap des Palmes
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 18 (11 destroyed, 7 disabled)

#2 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N2 Kate x 18
D3A1 Val x 12
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AMC Cap des Palmes, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAP Katoomba, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Barossa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

A day later, I order more strikes - I have not come that far down from Truk to do half a job!

#3 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
B5N2 Kate x 90
D3A1 Val x 128
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 3 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AM Doomba, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Loyaute, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
YO-14, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Mawata, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Barossa, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 26
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 4

#4 Strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
B5N2 Kate x 90
D3A1 Val x 128
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 9 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

And in between, the detached heavies of KB's screen deliver some more greetings:
Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 8 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 8 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CL Abukuma
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Tanikaze
DD Isokaze
Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Light Industry hits 1
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 4
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Kirishima
BB Kirishima firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
BB Hiei firing at Noumea
CL Abukuma firing at Noumea
DD Kasumi firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DD Kasumi
DD Arare firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Tanikaze firing at Noumea
DD Isokaze firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment

The place got a good drubbing, which should slow the Allied build-up. I already plan a repeat performance after replacing plane losses and ammo at Truk. Ed may think I want to inavde New Caledonia - not planned, it is outside my "strategic moat" line which runs through Guadalcanal.


Other:
CL Java is reported to have been sunk near Ambon on Jan 03, 1942


Here are the air losses suffered on that disastrous Jan 30, 1942:

REPORT FOR Jan 31 - Feb 02, 1942

Allied Submarines:
SS O24 sinks xAK Shinai Maru near Swatow at 80,62.
SS KX sinks TK Mitu Maru near Miri at 64,87.

Our submarines:
Nothing to report.

China:
The AVG seems to be everywhere! They must have a sixth sense because they always seem to know where I strike next- this time I lose 2 Nates and 12 Sonias over Changsha...

Ground attacks continue against isolated Chinese units in the North and near Hwaiyin. At 91,37 (near Kweisui), the 3rd Prov Chinese Corps and at 91,39 (near Chengting) the 13th Group Army SURRENDER.

Burma:
Nothing to report.

Malaya:
After the blunder and heavy losses on January 30th, all groups are grounded while staffers analyze the situation and designate the culprits.

PI:
Blockade-running AG Ban Hong Liong is intercepted near Lubang by four PBs patrolling off Bataan and sunk.

Borneo:
Elements of the 56th Division CAPTURE Samarinda !!!

At 55,89 (near Pontianak), the II/124th Infantry Battalion attacks and West Borneo KNIL Battalion and Sarawak Force are RETREATING towards Pontianak.

At sea, a minesweeping force clearing the mined harbor of Singkawang is surprised by a sortie of the ABDA strike force, probably from Batavia:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-9, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DMS W-12, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
CL Dauntless
CL Caledon, Shell hits 1
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Witte de With
DD Thanet

Java:
Heavy clouds interfere with our air campaign over Soerabaja. Only a third of my Zeroes sweep and meet heavy resistance, barely making a dent:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 22
CW-21B Demon x 2
75A-7 Hawk x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Then Nells attack unescorted into the strong CAP:

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 28

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 16
CW-21B Demon x 1
75A-7 Hawk x 6
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 13 destroyed, 3 damaged

On the second day, we lose another Zero for one Warhawk and two Dutch Buffalos.

Timor:
Ground attacks continue in the jungles east of Koepang.

PNG:
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Milne Bay !!!

15 B-17s strike Port Moresby at 21k and are greeted by elite Zeros patrolling at 20k: B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Solomons:
Emirau Island is occupied by the Japanese
Choiseul Bay is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Talasea !!!


REPORT FOR Feb 02-03, 1942

Allied Submarines:
SS S-41 launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-13 near Balikpapan, 1 hit - DMS W-13 sinks.

Our submarines:
Interesting encounter: ASW attack near Tarawa at 140,129 - a bombardment raid or carrier escorts?

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
DD Tucker
DD Reid
DD Case

Heavy ASW activities off Brisbane - I have three subs loitering in the area and two are attacked and damaged by PG Moresby and AVD William B. Preston.

China:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang - the Chinese garrison has fled.
Lots of troops marching around according to plan.
Near Hwaiyin, the Lusu War Area HQ is being reduced by puppet units.
In North China, isolated pockets should be eliminated soon.
Chinese bombers stage nuisance raids on ground units - not enough to risk LRCAP and encounters with the AVG. In fact, I have grounded all air groups (except recon) in China and put them on training. I currently have two groups of Oscars with experience in the low 50s (after encounters with the AVG) and two groups of Nates which are waiting for Oscars plus the small experimental Tojo unit - I do not want to feed them to the Flying Tigers which seem to be everywhere I dared to fly. I will wait for the Oscar production to catch up and will try again to take the air offensive in China.

Burma:
The Thai units marching through the jungle from Chiang Mei in direction of Toungoo are a few miles short of reaching the hex next to Toungoo. Apparently they have not been spotted yet - soon Ed will discover what is going on.
I am airlifting one Rgt of the 55th Division to Chiang Mei for a flanking movement across the river - should have thought about that sooner.

Malaya:
Singers swept and bombed, no CAP.

PI:
The 21st PI Division and I Philippine Corps are retreated from Clark Field back to Bataan. Sending units to Clark to get mauled is nonsense - I figure Ed simply wants to get rid of troops with the lowest combat value in order to relieve overstacking. Frankly, that is a bit cheesy - no real-life commander would send troops to their deaths so other troops have more to eat...

Bataan airbase bombed, hoping to destroy supplies and preventing fort construction. No CAP but there are still fighters present - wondering when Ed will put them up again to down a few unsuspecting Sonias... I do have a third of a Sentai upgraded to Oscars which are sweeping Bataan and the other two-thirds left with Nates for escort - for what it is worth...

Masbate is occupied by the Japanese.

Sumatra:
The 41st Infantry Regiment has crossed Malacca Strait on landing barges assembled at Georgetown and lands at Langsa. The base is undefended and should fall next turn.

Borneo:
Out of the blue (naval search saw nothing), enemy cruisers arrive at Miri and find a juicy TF in port, loading fuel...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TK Arima Maru #4, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later)
TK Kanze Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TK Nichiei Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
TK Nikkoku Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
TK Shoyo Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage (Sinks later)
PB Hakka Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Kaika Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later)
PB Muroran Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PB Konei Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
CL Dauntless
CL Caledon
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1
DD Witte de With
DD Thanet

After running out of shipping targets, the base is plastered:

Night Naval bombardment of Miri at 64,87
PB Hakka Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires (sinks later)
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3

The intrepid SAG then continues to sweep the coast and finds another victim farther east:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kudat at 70,86, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Chidori, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Manazuru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAP Naminoue Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Caledon
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Witte de With
DD Thanet

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Not enough, a second small DD SAG is following the cruisers for mopping up:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kudat at 70,86, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Chidori, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
TB Manazuru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later)
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Naminoue Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later)

Allied Ships
DD Stewart
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott

Great - 3 good APs, 5 useful small tankers and 2 excellent ASW plattforms lost! (I don't mind the four cheap PBs.)

Belatedly it dawns on me that this is the force that has sunk two DMS at Singkawang last turn, an event I did not pay much attention to because I did the turn in a hurry. Instead of retreating back to Singers or Batavia or where it came from, this SAG continued up the north coast of Borneo and inflicted these painful losses. Nice move, Ed!

To add insult to injury - the SAG then continued around Borneo as if on a pleasure cruise and ended up near Tarakan! Now, this impudence shall be punished - the IJN and IJNAF are out looking with a vengeance! Netties are transferred from Kota Bharu to Makassar and several SAGs are sent sprinting to block every hex across the exit of Makassar Strait. I do have some convoys in the vicinity which are rushed to safety, shedding some escorts to act as pickets and rear guards. One convoy has loaded 16th and 21st Division on fast transports on their way to Java - it has surface escort so is allowed to continue through Makassar Strait (hugging the coast of Celebes) in order to rendevous near Denpasar with 4th Division coming up from Port Moresby.

While all this is going on, light units stage an amphibious Assault at Bandjermasin (60,99).

Celebes:
Small unit action contine at Sidate with 1st Indpt SNLF Coy trading squads with the Manado Garrison Battalion.

Timor:
Kure 2nd SNLF continues to reduce the Dutch ex-Koepang garrison in the jungles east of the base.

PNG/Solomons:
Tassafaronga is occupied by the Japanese

TF 96 encounters a mine field at 107,126 in the channel south of Rabaul:
PB Tsuneshima Maru hits Mk 10 Mine at 107 , 126
PB Tsuneshima Maru sinks....

Another TF following behind fails to get the word:
TF 111 encounters mine field at 107,126
xAKL Tateyama Maru hits Mk 10 Mine at 107 , 126
xAKL Tateyama Maru sinks....
TF 235 rescuing 45 men from 82nd Naval Guard Unit

CentPac:
After the sighting of enemy ships near Tarawa by submarine and naval search, orders for KB near Guadalcanal are changed from "retreat to Truk" to "look-see near Tarawa".

NorPac:
AMC Kiyosumi Maru is patrolling near Ulak Island at 160,56 - and is hit by a prowling PBY with a bomb.


REPORT FOR Feb 04-05, 1942

Allied Submarines:
The ability of the Allied submarines to find the right spots for traffic is uncanny and scary...

Supply convoys on the way from the Home Islands to the Java front run over SS S-39 near Talaud-eilanden at 79,96. First xAK Taito Maru and then xAK Takao Maru suffer one torpedo hit each. xAK Takao Maru sinks. Next day, SS S-39 shifts position and launches 4 torpedoes at TK Eiyo Maru near Gorontalo at 72,96 - two hits sink TK Eiyo Maru. I am sure the skipper will receive a medal!

SS S-18 launches three persistent attacks at AMC Akagi Maru patrolling near Agattu Island (Aleutians), scoring a total of four torpedo hits, sinking AMC Akagi Maru. Not enough, in a fourth attack she hits AMC Kiyosumi Maru of the same TF, scoring one torpedo hit. Another medal...

My ASW forces hit back:

SS Shark is hit by an ASW attack near Subic Bay. Either Ed is running sub ops from Bataan until the last possible moment - or he is using subs to run supplies to Bataan. In any case, I have float planes on ASW at Manila and PBs on ASW on station off Bataan.

MGB G-4 patrolling at Port Moresby hits SS S-37 once - probably not evenenough to send her home.

Our submarines:
SS I-122 lays minefield at Muntok ( 50 , 90) and sets course for Kendari

SS I-172 is damaged off Noumea by enemy surface ASW and returns to Truk for repairs.

China:
35th Chinese Corps SURRENDERS at 91,39 (near Chengting) - the last pocket in North China has been eliminated and 63rd Division, 8th and 9th Ind. Mixed Brigades and the 5th Tank Regiment are free to launch operations against Yenan.

At 85,56 (near Nanchang), the weak 21st Chinese Corps is RETREATING towards Pucheng with heavy losses:

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1497 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Brigade
51st Infantry Brigade
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
21st Chinese Corps

Burma:
Nothing to report.

Malaya:
Air attacks on Singers continue. CAP is up again - 5 Zeros traded for 2 Hurricanes and 2 Buffalos plus 3 bombers lost to flak. A night attack by 3 B-17Ds on Johore Bahru destroys an Oscar on the ground.

25th Army has rested and received attack orders for Singers - Guards, 5th, 18th, 33rd and 38th Divisions, 3 Tank Rgts, 6 Independent Engr Rgts and 10 Arty units should be enough - in any case, I could not bring much more due to stacking limits.

PI:
Tapul is occupied by the Japanese.
A PB ASW patrol encounters a small convoy near Bataan at 77,77 - Ed is really trying hard to run supplies into Bataan! KV Freesia and xAK Bintang are left burning fiercly and are presumed sunk.
CAP is up over Bataan again - one P-35A and one P-40 - but no losses to either side. One Sonia is downed by flak.

Sumatra:
The 41st Infantry Regiment CAPTURES Langsa. SS Truant sinks three landing barges with gunfire.

Java:
4th, 16th and 21st Divisions land at undefended Loemadjang with minimal disruption and casualties. I expect change of base ownership next turn.
Dutch bombers launch weak attacks against the invasion TFs which are beaten off by Zeros on LRCAP fron Denpasar.

Borneo:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF CAPTURES Bandjermasin !!!
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Balikpapan
Bandjermasin Base Force RETREATING towards Balikpapan

Celebes:
The sneaky enemy cruiser SAG near Tarakan has turned around and is heading back along the north coast of Borneo. There are some encounters with rear guard / pickets ships I have left in the area. Two DMS are damaged but will survive, the enemy does not press the issue as he surely is low on ammo and fuel by now. I will rush one SAG to patrol off Singkawang and reposition submarines in the narrows leading to Batavia. Netties rebase from Macassar to Kota Bharu and are set to naval attack.

Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Gorontalo.

Ground combat at 68,104 (near Kolaka) - Sasebo 8th SNLF sends the remnants of the Kendari Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Palopo.

Timor:
The guerilla campaign on Timor ends victorious for the Kure 2nd SNLF:
Timor Garrison Battalion SURRENDERS !!!
Dili Detachment SURRENDERS !!!

PNG:
Finschhafen is occupied by the Japanese.
8th Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Babo and the small oil production undamaged.

CentPac:
KB has swept the Gilberts and is near Baker Island - nothing spotted, course is set to Truk for refueling.

Isn't this date still too early to start drinking fuel from Borneo when the DEI isn't yet completely under your control? I tend not to do anything with my tankers (except, maybe, supplying my big port for the main fleet necessities) until I the threat of the enemy SAGs is neutralized.

Nice match anyway! And intriguing AAR

Hi GreyJoy, thanks for visiting. I am following your (and obvert's) AAR religiously [:)].
I know it is a bit early to send tankers that far forward, but I count on local fuel supplies to operate the IJN in the DEI rather than shipping fuel all the way from the Home Islands to a fuel-producing area (that's like carrying coals to Newcastle). Therefore I have small TKs shuttling fuel from Miri and Tarakan (and Saigon) to my forward bases at Kendari (currently shifting to Makassar). Well, it backfired since I did not expect a SAG raid in waters covered by Netties (which I failed to set to naval attack...). Good move by Ed and another blunder on my side - but hey, it's my first PBEM with AE so I am learning.


[/b]REPORT FOR Feb 06-07, 1942[/b]

Allied Submarines:
Couple of attacks but torpedoes either miss or fail to explode. Guns however, do work - at Babo, SS Sargo shells xAK Shinwa Maru, hitting her six times. Gunners on the xAK hit back twice before their ships sinks - taking the 8th Ind. SNLF Coy with her. Takes but one PP to buy this LCU back, but still...

Our submarines:
SS I-162 intercepts two Dutch destroyers near Soerabaja and hits DD Kortenaer with one torpedo - further results are unobserved since DD Van Ghent launches an ineffective counter-attack.

SS I-157 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stewart near Singkawang and pays the for attacking in shallow waters:

Japanese Ships
SS I-157, hits 10, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Stewart
DD Thanet
DD Witte de With
CL Dauntless

China:
Chinese bombers continue their nuisance raids and disable some squads. This starts to annoy me...

I have decided to sweep hex 85,40 near Sian where my troops are launching a cross-river attack with the Tojo experimental unit, hoping to catch some Flying Tigers who may LRCAP the hex expecting air support for the ground attack - 3 H81-A3 shot down for no losses.

The said cross-river attack is a full success:

Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 29905 troops, 234 guns, 216 vehicles, Assault Value = 985

Defending force 18240 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 441

Japanese adjusted assault: 788

Allied adjusted defense: 153

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
644 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 51 (4 destroyed, 47 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11928 casualties reported
Squads: 220 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 329 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 20 (7 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment
110th Division
5th Armored Car Co
15th Tank Regiment
37th Division
41st/A Division
1st Army
12th Army

Defending units:
16th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps

Two divisions are not enough to attack Sian (where recon has identified 10 units with 60k men). While waiting for reinforcements to come up, I will use part of my troops to clear the east bank of the Yellow River opposite of Sian, and another part to feint in the direction of Yenan.

At 85,58 (near Foochow), 1st RGC Route Brigade on a recon mission finds the 86th Chinese Corps sitting in the hex and is sent back in retreat.

Burma:
The Thai units emerge from the jungles south-east of Toungoo and take the road to close on that base - it appears lightly garrisoned at the moment but Ed may rail-in reinforcements.

Malaya:
Singers swept and bombed - no CAP but 3 bombers lost to flak. 25th Army ends the turns one mile short of Singers. That gives me the opportunity to coordinate the river crossing with a para drop - I hope the paras will create confusion and disruption in the enemy's rear to help with the river crossing attack.

The Navy flyboys at Kota Bharu supposed to hunt the ABDA strike force prefer to attack a small TF right in the port of Singers - luckily no losses, xAP Candesa is torpedoed twice and sinks.

PI:
Bataan bombed, no CAP but 1 Sonia killed by flak. Again, Philippine troops have been sent to Clark Field to get killed [8|].

DEI:
PT-32 hits a mine at at Muntok (50,90 - off Palembang) - finally my submarine minelayers can claim a victim...

At our invasion site at Loemadjang (Java), enemy bombers try day and night attacks. Only the torpedo-totting "stringbags" have success - xAK Taifuku Maru and xAKL Haguro Maru are sunk. Loemadjang is captured.

Yokosuka 4th SNLF lands at Djokjakarta (Java) to cut retreat paths to Batavia.

Kure 1st SNLF captures Madjene (Celebes).

A paradrop by the Yokosuka 1st SNLF captures Melak (Borneo - the inland base near Samarinda/Tarakan).

On the north coast of Borneo, the air, surface and submarine chase for the ABDA strike force has mixed success. It appears the enemy has split into several small SAGs, increasing chances that some get through.

First is the submarine attack near Singkawang at 55,87 in which SS I-157 is sunk.

That hex is also the destination for a heavy SAG with two Kongos which en route encoutner two small SAGs:

The first intercept is a dud - apparently the tired Japanese lookouts failed to spot the enemy:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 54,89, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
DD Oyashio
DD Hayashio
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Barker
DD Parrott
DD Vendetta

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 60% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat

But a short time later, a second force is intercepted:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 55,88, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
DD Oyashio
DD Hayashio
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Stewart
DD Witte de With
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1

Navy flyboys from Kota Bharu intercept one of the TFs near Kuching at 57,87:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M2 Nell x 20

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer
CL Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Paul Jones

Other air strikes are directed against some small fry at Langsa - HDML Pahalwan is torpedoes and sunk.

In the Indian Ocean, the enemy has discovered Mini-KB (Zuiho, Ryujo, Hosho) off Sunda Strait and launches two air attacks, 40 Zeros on CAP down many attackers for no losses and no hits:

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
139WH-3: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-339D: 5 destroyed
Hudson I: 4 damaged

Mini-KB in turn launches a port strike at Batavia - no CAP, one Kate damaged by flak and CMc Pro Patria hit once (probably sunk) and CA Houston hit twice. I play with a very short message delay but saw that at least one hit was a 800kg bomb - I hope on Houston!


PNG:
THe B-17s switch to night attacks - those cowards! 1 Airbase supply hit at Port Moresby. I have a convoy with AA units on the way - for what Japanese flak is worth...

IAJ construction units arrive at Lae and are moved to Nadzab for airfield construction. I plan to anchor my PNG defense on Nadzab (size 6+3 airbase). Lae and Wau will serve as satellite fighter bases for added protection. Hope to make the re-capture of Port Moresby a bloody affair. Unfortunately I found out that Dobadura is actually only size 1 potential and Buna is size 6 (it is the other way round in my mod - last time I played a vanilla DBB dates back some time...), so my plans to expand Dobadura are cancelled. I will not improve Buna or PM since too vulnerable to surface bombardments. Long-term plan is the denial of the best base locations to the Allies as long as possible.

Maizuru 1st SNLF captures Kokoda, of the 13th Field Regiment and 15th RAN Base Force, one unit is destroyed and the other retreats to the coast north of Port Moresby.

Solomons:
Special Base Forces are shifted to Shortlands and Tulagi to start improving the anchorages. I only have some Naval Guard Companies and Independent SNLF Companies in the Solomons but with KB in the area I doubt Ed will try something funny that early.

CentPac:
A couple of submarines terminate their patrols off the West Coast, between the West Coast and Pearl and south of Pearl in order to refuel. Contacts have been very sparse - I must be looking at the wrong spots...

NorPac:
One Glen-equipped sub is conducting recon missions - an unidentified ground unit is spotted on Adak Island.

Other:
Maiana and Basilan are occupied by the Japanese 5th column / Rowboat Corps - did not bother to check but they surely are in the PI / DEI area.

Two months into the war I finally have my first ace:
PO2 Kurauchi, T. of 3rd Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 5
PO2 Kurauchi, T. of 3rd Ku S-1 attains ace status!!

DD Scout is reported to have been sunk near Miri on Dec 11, 1941

Previous report of sinking of CL Marblehead incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 49, 98 (Batavia - apparently she has been spotted in the port raid by Mini-KB).

REPORT FOR Feb 08-09, 1942

Allied Submarines:
SS Triton is hit once by SC Ch 18 near Kaishu.

Our submarines:
nada

China:
Marching, bombing, bombarding.

Burma:
Blenheims attack the Thai units near Toungoo. I will LRCAP them next turn.
P-40Es (re-equipped AVG?) and Buffalos sweep Moulmein but 18 Oscars on CAP down 3 Warhawk and 1 Buffalo for 2 Oscars lost.

Malaya:
Netties sink a couple of MLs, HDMLs, AMcs and xAKL Lyemun at Singers and Medan.

Singers ground forces are being bombed by all IJAF planes in range in preparation of the shock attack accross Johore Strait. Weak CAP and flak cause the loss of a dozen bombers. A handful of British bombers counter-attack my ground forces but Oscars on CAP disrupt their aim.

The shock attack is not the overrun attack I have hoped for, in fact my forces are handled quite roughly. The tank and combat Engr units are trashed, the paratrooper elements of 1st and 2nd Raiding Rgts dropped in the hope of disrupting the defenders are wiped out - twice. The infantry divisions suffered less, but are highly disrupted (80+). The arty is ok and will bombard next turn while the other units rest and rebuild.

1st day:

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 75700 troops, 815 guns, 548 vehicles, Assault Value = 2274

Defending force 44195 troops, 493 guns, 289 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Japanese adjusted assault: 1153

Allied adjusted defense: 729

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
9101 casualties reported
Squads: 46 destroyed, 688 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 118 disabled
Guns lost 76 (4 destroyed, 72 disabled)
Vehicles lost 68 (6 destroyed, 62 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
4326 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 166 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 141 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 84 (18 destroyed, 66 disabled)
Vehicles lost 52 (14 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
5th Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
38th Division
1st Tank Regiment
1st Raiding Rgt /1
33rd Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
25th Ind Engineer Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
8th Indian Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
1st Hyderabad Battalion
22nd Indian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
5/14th Punjab Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
12th Indian Brigade
112th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
113th RAF Adv Base Force
AHQ Far East
Singapore Base Force
Malaya Army
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Fortress
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
109th RN Base Force
137/155th Field Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
5th Field Regiment

2nd day:

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 68882 troops, 814 guns, 547 vehicles, Assault Value = 1659

Defending force 40904 troops, 477 guns, 277 vehicles, Assault Value = 542

Japanese adjusted assault: 1161

Allied adjusted defense: 607

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3414 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 53 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 134 (39 destroyed, 95 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
2831 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 116 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 60 (31 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (8 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
1st Raiding Rgt /1
5th Division
38th Division
14th Tank Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
25th Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
2nd Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Hyderabad Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
12th Indian Brigade
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
SSVF Brigade
112th RAF Adv Base Force
Singapore Base Force
109th RN Base Force
137/155th Field Regiment
Singapore Fortress
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Malaya Army
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
5th Field Regiment

PI:
Two Sonias lost to flak. The enemy units at Clark are destroyed / retreated back to Bataan with heavy losses:

Allied ground losses:
1349 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 76 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

On Mindanao, 2nd/101st PA Battalion is destroyed in the jungles at 78,92 near Dadjangas by the 16th Naval Guard Unit.

Elements of the 2nd Division finally arrive at Davao.

DEI:
Mini-KB attacks Batavia airfield and suffer heavy losses against USAAF P-40s and Dutch Buffalos. 5 Zeroes, 8 Jean, 7 Kate destroyed for 3 Buffalos and 1 Warhawk. The price for keeping the enemy airforce occupied while many SAGs are operating around Batavia without air cover. Dutch level bombers from Batavia attacking my SAGs off Batavia and Sunda Strait but hit nothing.

Many ships spotted at Palembang. Can't get there with BBs and the hex is probably heavily minded, so I will try to put a cork on all possible exits (Netties in Malaya, Mini-KB and SAG off Sunda Strait, SAG at Denpasar).

AG Vyner Brooke is sunk by BB Haruna near Singkawang.

One of my SAgs was busy:

First, DD Paul Jones is sunk by BB Ise near Batavia. DD Bulmer escapes because my ships get in each others way - DD Yayoi collides with DD Mochizuki.

Next, Batavia is bombarded with good results:

Naval bombardment of Batavia at 49,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 34 damaged
139WH-3: 2 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 7 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
B-339D: 1 damaged
Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed on ground

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 2
BB Fuso
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
CL Tama
CL Kinu

Allied ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 16
Port fuel hits 1

However, retreating towards Makassar, Fuso and Ise collect one air-launched torpedo each near Soreabaja despite Zero LRCAP from Denpasar. Ise shrugs it off but Fuso will need yard time.

On the ground, 3 divisions are advancing on Soerabaja. The Yokosuka 4th SNLF at Djokjakarta fails to take the base - reinforcements have arrived and can hold despite op mode penalty:

Ground combat at Djokjakarta (52,103)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1912 troops, 18 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Defending force 4307 troops, 57 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Japanese adjusted assault: 43

Allied adjusted defense: 29

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
3/4th Avn Sup Afd

On Borneo, Japanese forces CAPTURE Pontianak !!!

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
846 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
II/124th Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
Singkawang Base Force
106th RN Base Force
Pontianak Base Force
Sarawak Force

PNG:
Night-bombing by B-17s hitting nothing.

Solomons:
Nothing to report.

CentPac:
Nothing to report.

NorPac:
A SNLF recently arrived as reinforcement will establish an outpost on Attu Is. to provide early warning of any Allied moves in the North.

Due to a change of job I won't have the time anymore to write detailed AARs for each turn as before. I will try to post the highlights though.

The game has advanced four days, we are at February 13th.

In Burma, the attack of the Thai unit on Toungoo fails, reinforcements have railed in which hold despite op mode penalty. Looks like Ed is evacuating, there is only one unit left to contest the river crossing north of Moulmein - 55th Div will advance. Moulmein has been bombarded by a RN cruiser SAG for moderate damage. After this attack, I have moved 45 Zeroes and 72 Nells to Bangkok to catch other bombardment attempts and to attack convoys spotted at and near Rangoon. For some reason the Air HQ airlifted from Kuantan to Bangkok failed to provide torpedoes. During the first attacks against heavy CAP, 5 Zeroes and 3 Nells are lost for 1 Buffalo and one bomb hit on an AK. Finally, on Feb 13th sweeps from the IJAF lend a hand (grounded by weather before), downing more enemies than own planes lost, and the Navy flyboys manage to land a few more bomb hits on xAKs.

I have ordered only bombardment attacks with Arty units at Singers on Feb 11-13 to allow the Inf, Engr and tanks to recover a bit. A new effort with a DA is ordered now - maybe (just maybe) I can capture Singers on Feb 15th [:)].

On Java, Djokjakarta is reinforced with another SNLF unit, less to capture the base but to prevent the first wave from being anihilated. The three IJA divisions are encirceling Soerabaja before moving in for the kill. Remaining enemy surface assets try to flee the DEI. CL Marbelehead is hit by a submarine torp, Houston is missed. Near Pamekasan CL Sumatra plus DD escort sinks two of my dwindling fleet of DMS - their screening SAG has left them alone to sink a fleeing xAKLs and an AG.

Enemy submarines torpedoe two of my CMs, one near Wenchow the other near Kiriwina Is. Three of my submarines are hit by ASW forces but will survive.

In the South, Woodlark and Kiriwina Is. have been occupied by Naval Guard units. KB has rearmed at Truk and heads south again - except Akagi, Kirishima and Chikuma which need to fix some sys dmg.

Low activity at work due to xmas gives me time for an update. Going from memory here, so just a summary without hard facts. We are in March 04 now.

China:
Heavy air losses, AVG springs nasty traps from time to time - they always seem to know where I am planning to hit next. I have two groups of Oscars plus the Tojo experimental unit there, but numerical superiority in Oscars does not help. Alas, with PDU off there are only a bunch of Nate groups to add, which is pointless as they die even faster than the Oscars. I do not want to engage Navy fighters in China, there are not enough Navy fighter units, Zeroes and pilots for China AND the SRA. Waiting for Tojos...

On the ground, the pincer movement against Sian is proceeding slowly. The Chinese units south of Sian are conducting delaying actions, but I am not pressing hard here since the goal is to encircle the enemy forces around Sian. Unfortunately, the left pincer from Nanyang via Anking is actually stalled due to the fact that the main elements - two divisions at Nanyang - are slow to recover. They suffered about 50% disabled squads/devices during the battle for Nanyang and only recover at a rate of 1-2 squads/devices per day - despite presence of China Exp. Army HQ at Nanyang. and 3x the required supplies.
The right pincer following the north bank of the Yellow River resp. Wei River has reached the hex due east (map-wise) of Sian and has cut the road to Yenan. Due to the necessity to leave garrisons behind to keep the corridor open, the tip of the spear has been reduced to two divisions. They will rest while waiting for the Yenan operation to terminate. I have forces marching on Yenan from several directions, but progress is slow in this almost roadless country. Some Chinese units north of Yenan are actually trying to get behind my stacks to cut their LOCs, but I have tank units on the move to check them.

Burma:
The air war above Rangoon was give an take, as in China the Oscars and Nate do not really distinguish themselves. Reluctantly, I have sent some Navy flyboys to help stop the flow of convoys to Rangoon (supplies for China, no doubt).
By the end of February, the Thai units have captured Toungoo and are continuing north, while 55th Division has finally crossed the river obstacles and is marching on Rangoon. It seems that Rangoon, Pegu and the river crossing hexes have been evacuated due to the Toungoo operation. A para drop at undefended Prome has cut off one retreat path, but it appears that except for some speed bumps, the Burma Corps has already escaped north. I will continue operations to secury Burma incl. Akyab, but "plans" (or more precisely dreams about) for India have been shelved due to events described below.


Malaya:
Singers has finally fallen around February 22, after a prolonged and unexpected tough resistance. Although only defended by six brigades (Ed did not combine the units into divisions for some reason) and assorted smaller units - Ed has not thrown any reinforcements away at Singers - my forces needed a month to capture the base. I had assembled five divisions, six Combat Engineer Regiments plus ample tank and arty, almost all fully prepped for Singers. I have bombed Singers for over a month as well. Still, forts were at level 3 and I took very heavy casualties in the river-crossing shock attack - most Eng units got almost wiped out with a handfull of disabled squads / devices left, the tank and infantry units suffered heavy losses and ended up 50%-80% disabled. Only the arty remained intact. Alternating rest periods with bombardment and ground attacks, Singers needed four more ground attacks. 25th Army is in a bad shape - plans for invading India have been scrapped. I am piling supplies at Singers and concentrating my air forces for the attack on Palembang.

DEI:
On Sumatra, an IJA regiment is clearing the northern part of the island, only Sabang remains to be taken.
Having captured Balikpapan, 56th Division is on the way to Palembang via Benkolen, with two of the least damaged divisions from 25th Army following. Some SNLF units are mopping-up on Borneo. On Java, three IJA divisions have captured Soerabaja and are slowly advancing in the direction of Batavia.
The enemy is resisting with with air attacks from Palembang which until the fall of Singers was outside LBA range and from batavia which until the fall of Soerabaja was outside LBA range. Furthermore, an important amount of shipping was accumulating in the Batavia-Palembang area - apparently short-range auxiliaries and damaged combat ships.
To counter the enemy'S air and surface activities, I made the following dispositions:

1. Nayv flyboys from Kota Bharu were tasked to close the Strait of Malacca - they wasted a lot of torpedoes against HDML and ML types, but nothing else. I have sent them to Bangkok, hoping that from there they can cover the northern exit of the Strait of Malacca as well as the approaches to Rangoon.

2. Several SAGs built around old BBs and CAs have been tasked to block Sunda Strait and to bombard Palembang and Batavia on several occasions. Some success, notably by closing Palembang airbase. But despite DMS sniffing for mines before sending SAGs through Sunda Strait, one of them ran afoul into a minefield - three BBs, 2 CAs and several DDs have hit mines, two DDs sank. The rest needs yard time. To add insult to injury, my DMS types seems to be magnets for enemy TFs - I have lost several of these precious ships in chance encounters with fleeing enemy ships.
Enemy air attacks on my SAGs have been shrugged of for the most part, the bombers hit seldom anyway - except some Vildebeests scoring torpedo hits on a BB and a CA, adding two ships to the yard time applicants.

3. Mini-KB (Zuiho, Shoho, Ryujo, Hosho), basing at Makassar, was tasked to keep Sunda Strait and Batavia covered, sometimes split into two TFs for replenishing. Dancing around to avoid subs, Mini-KB has had some success, couple of ships hit, but also heavy losses against CAP over Palembang and Batavia.
However, last turn my luck ran out. As a xmas present for Ed, a Dutch sub has torpedoed both Ryujo (3x) AND Shoho (1x). Both CVLs suffered secondary explosions of fuel/ammo. Ryujo of course sank same turn, Shoho is at 88 float damage and a long way from any friendly port. I hardly ever scuttle ships as long as there is the slightest chance to save it, so she will try to reach a friendly base. She is heading for Buitenzorg, where I have just dropped a fragment of 56th Division from a damaged transport in danger of sinking (mine hit at Merak...). With lots of luck Shoho may survive long enough for the fragment to capture the base and allowing the CVL to disband - not that a level 0 port will help much. Additional DDs have been split from other TFs nearby and are converging to merge with the cripple - to enhance ASW and to pick up Shoho's crew in the likely case that she sinks as well. With the high damage level, the air groups are stuck on board, but I have pulled all pilots. Oh well...

Australia:
I am building up Koepang as a forward fleet base and air base for my campaign against Northern Australia in order to keep long-range bombers out of reach of the SRA. Two SNLF have captured lightly defended Derby as the first stepping stone. A handful of P-40s and A-24s operate from Broome, but LRCAP from Koepang took care of them. Recon indicates that Wyndham and Darwin have been reinforced and last turn I have observed naval activities at Broome - a CL-SAG will investigate, with a BB-SAG to bombard the air base following up. The "big push" will wait for 25th Army units recovering at Singers and the units currently engaged on Java and Sumatra. If Ed select to defend Darwin, shuttle bombarments by BBs (as soon as they are out of the yards...) from Koepang will hurt him, while the flanks are guarded by LBA at Port Moresby and Koepang.

South Pacific:
In late February, KB made a sweep from Truk to Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia - goal was to scare away and thus delay any reinforcement convoys at sea and with luck maybe to sink something. I kept the path and air strike ranges out of reach of Sydney, Auckland and Noumea - don't want my CAGs getting chewed up again by CAP like the last time at Noumea. Well, I got lucky and sank an entire convoy between Australia and New Zealand which must have carried at least a regiment of troops. Off Auckland last turn, a few four-stackers have been added to the list. I plan to establish a forward fleet base at Tulagi in order to repeat the performance more often. KB will be kept in the Pacific to keep the USN honest.

Central Pacific:
I'm taking the numerous dot bases in the southern Gilberts with light naval forces and small SNLF Coys. They will serve as "early warning stations" for any Allied counter-offensives in the area. Dots which can support substantial air bases (size 3) will be defended by at least one NG unit and have priority in the assignement of construction units for fortification building. I will not expand the air base facilities and ports only to level 1 to help with supply storage. "Fortress type" defenses are being constructed at Kusaie and Ponape, the outlying "speed bumps" and KB should by the necessary time. I may counter-counterattack any early moves on the early warning stations, depending on the situation.

North Pacific:
Ed does not ssem to like my outpost at Attu - it is being bombed by 4Es and also suffered a bombardment by 3 old BBs. Damage to the lone SNLF occupying the base was minimal, still I would like to add some forts and air defense - looks like a place for the Rufe units the PDU off is imposing. Am planing to add more mines, some PTs and midget subs as well, for what they are worth. But I do not plan to employ major assets up there.

Ouch....pretty severe losses for Palembang and Singapore...
Gotta recover quickly cause the amphib bonus will end soon!

Best wishes....

Slow week at work due to school holidays allows me to catch up. I have decided to change the format of the AAR, I hope the "telegram style" will allow me to post more often. Time permitting, I will dig through the AAR and combat reports to add the first 44 turns in the same style.

So, what has happended since the last update (March 04-05, 1942):

Turn#045 Mar 06-07, 42:
Broome bombarded and small supply convoy sunk in port; small SAG and AMC patrols sink more small fry west of Broome; AVG ambush over Wenchow again costs many planes - Nates and Oscars are useless against the Flying Tigers!; overland attack reaches Palembang; CVL Shoho succumbs to damage from torpedo and secondary explosions

Turn#046 Mar 08-09, 42:
Naval Actions at Broome - cruiser SAGs engage enemy convoy and cover force > long-lance surprise attacks fails to score, CL Hobarts saves the day: one DD, one AM and one xAP sunk but CA Mogami and CL Tama crippled; Submarine Day - I-3 sinks fat AP off LA, RO-60 sinks SS Sealion off Brisbane, I-171 torpedoes an APD near Noumea; Meitktila occupied

Turn#047 Mar 10-11, 42:
Magwe occupied, 15th Army closes on Mandalay; Broome bombarded again and 3 xAPs sunk; Palembang bombarded and enemy cripples sunk en route (1 CL and 1 DD)

Turn#048 Mar 12-13, 42:
Zero sweep over Darwin met by P-40s and P-39s, trading airframes 5:10; SNLF reaches Broome from Derby to find an Aussie Bde in place - need to send reinforcements

Turn#049 Mar 14-15, 42:
Zero sweep over Darwin again, losing 10 against 12 (!) - where do those Allied elite pilots come from?; CV Saratoga sighted by sub off Auckland; AMC finds troop convoy off Perth but disengages

Turn#050 Mar 16-17, 42:
Naval Guards occupy Luganville and Efate with KB lurking to ambush eventual reaction; Darwin bombarded for good effect by 4 BBs, 4 CA, 4 CL + DDs, sinking two xAKL in port; enemy cruisers bombard Attu

Turn#051 Mar 18-19, 42:
Palembang falls with minimum damage; Wenchow bombardment and sweeps finds and destroys 8 Flying Tigers (Ed said in his email that one of his ace pilots got killed - good!)

Turn#052 Mar 20-21, 42:
Taung Gyi occupied; Dutch bombers raid Palembang oil facilities causing light damage - not unexpected but CAP grounded by weather... (if they can fly why can't we?); Darwin bombarded by cruiser SAG and finding a minefield in the approaches

Turn#053 Mar 22-23, 42:
Darwin bombarded by BBs again for good effect; light SAG blockades and sinks AVD at Broome; Mandalay and Horn Island captured; Magwe oil installations bombed by RAF for 20 oil damage *grrr*

Turn#054 Mar 24-25, 42:
Oosthaven, Roxas, San Jose captured, Naval Guards occuppy Funafuti (again with KB lurking behind ready to ambush); light SAGs blockade Port Hedland, Broome and Wyndham; Magwe oil bombed again at night

Turn#055 Mar 26-27, 42:
Wyndham bombarded and invaded - Darwin will be attacked overland trying to trap the garrison or force them to evacuate without a fight; AVG finally bested over Sian - 12 Flying Tigers downed; but CAP trap over Akyab costs 30+ Zeros and Nells; subs spot enemy naval activities around Noumea - KB on the way

Turn#056 Mar 28-29, 42:
Wyndham (garrison: 2nd Aus Cav Bde and Sparrow Force) falls to 5th and 38th Divisions; naval disaster at Derby - enemy cruiser SAG sinks supply convoy - 2 PB and 9 large xAKs lost

Turn#057 Mar 30-31, 42:
USN BBs bombard Attu - I-28 intercepts but hits nothing and is damaged; RO-33 sinks enemy sub off Ceylon; KB arrives off Noumea to provide LRCAP over detached screen (I'm not sending airstrikes into Noumea CAP for a lowly convoy) - Hei, Kirishima, Chikuma, Tone and six DDs sink a dozen ships and bombard Noumea, destroying a dozen planes and putting the airfield out of business

Turn#058 Apr 01-02, 42:
RN cruiser SAG (3 CL, 6 DD) conduct naval raid at Rangoon! Three Amphib TFs in port and embedded CLs and DDs save the day: one CL and one DD sunk for CL Naka and two AK lost; KB launches a night raid against Noumea airbase - no success but 10 planes lost - an experiment not to be repeated; Bathurst Is. off Darwin occupied by SNLF Coy but lose two xAKL to Darwin-based SBDs

Turn#059 Apr 03-04, 42:
Naval Guards riding Tokyo Express occupy Tanna; Nells sink crippled DD from last turn's Rangoon raid; Darwin-SBDs sink a DD on FT to Bathurst Is.

Turn#060 Apr 05-06, 42:
Submarine Day - I-4 torpedoes CL Raleigh and sinks a DD off Adak, I-155 torpedoes CL Perth near Exmouth; Darwin-SBDs hit CA Furutaka - that airbase needs to be put out of business!; CAP trap over Akyab with 20+ planes lost - that airbase needs to be put out of business!; CVE Hosho escorting a convoy in Java Sea damaged by Batavia-based bombers - that airbase needs to be put out of business!

Turn#061 Apr 07-08, 42:
Tjilatjap captured, Yenan falls with several Chinese units destroyed, Broome taken despite enemy bombardment including BC Repulse (19th Brigade of the 6th AUS Division destroyed!); CL Raleigh torpedoed again by I-4 off Dutch Harbor

Turn#062 Apr 09-10, 42:
Thai Army captures Shwebo, defenders retreat east into the jungle; KB sent to cover invasion of Baker in another "Jailbait" operation; B-17s bomb Broome from Meekatharra (did not even notice that base - bad surprise); Chinese counterattack at Pakhoi, outnumbered Japanese forces retreat towards Kwangchowan

Turn#063 Apr 11-12, 42:
Chuhsien captured; Darwin bombarded but SBDs hit back, damaging 2 DDs; B-17s strike PM against ineffective Zero CAP; a dozen Zeros and Nells lost to CAP trap over convoy near Cox's Bazaar, Broome bombed again by B-17s

Turn#064 Apr 13-14, 42:
Darwin bombarded again; KB discovered by air search and sub near Baker - while USN CVs raid Wake to decimate a supply run (2 xAP sunk); B-17-delivered bombs deny any repairs to Broome

Turn#065 Apr 15-16, 42:
Baker Is. occupied; KB retreats due to sub sightings and USN CVs near Wake being too far away to give chase (fuel considerations); USN cruiser SAG bombards Luganville; usual Japanses bombardment of Darwin and Allied bombing of Broome plus BC Repulse bombarding Derby - I am preparing a surprise for the next run; 2nd Aus Cav Bde and Sparrow Force destroyed defending a river crossing east of Wyndham

Turn#066 Apr 17-18, 42:
Sabang invaded (scheduled unit was delayed due to garrison requirements in Malaya); S-38 spoils the surprise party for BC Repulse by torpedoing CV Junyo off Broome and spying on the covering BB force; I-158 discovers and misses CV Formidable near Port Hedland and is sunk by screening DDs; finally the first carrier battle in history off Port Hedland: Mini-KB (Junyo, Hiyo, Zuiho) trade blows with RN carriers: escorted balanced strike loses a dozen planes to Martlet and Sea Hurricanes on CAP, CV Indomitable receives 3x 250kg bomb hits, CV Formidable 1x 250kg bomb hit - Mini-KB is attacked by unescorted Albacores which are slaughtered for no hits. Mini-KB will remain in the area despite Junyo's torpedo damage (36 float) while the covering SAG splits to chase the RN CVs and the shipping at Port Hedland. Next turn will be interesting!

Situation and plans:

China:
After the fall of Yenan, units regroup. Will try to renew the attack of the "southern pincer" in direction of Anking (after clearing the road to Nanyang for supply flow), while re-assembling the "northern pincer" to encircle Sian from the north. This means a long overland approach march, but I hope air supply will keep the troops in fighting shape and bad China recon abilities will help to achieve surprise. Am pulling out some tank units which are part of the soon-to-be-fomred tank divisions for duty in Australia - the terrain there is better suited for tank ops than the mountains around Sian.

North China


South China


PI:
48th Div and 65th Bde plus arty still blockade the enemy stack at Bataan. The enemy stack is bombarded and bombed daily but enemy loses are lighter than ours and flak indicates they still have supplies. No hurry here, I will get some garrison brigades soon which will be bloodied on Bataan when I finally launch the ground attack.
2nd Division which is split in sub-units has captured Cebu and the other islands in the central PI, but I have problems providing garrison forces tailored to the requirements to free 2nd Div for other duty. Am busy shifting forces but it takes time. 2nd Div will eventually go to Australia.

Burma:
18th, 33rd and 55th Divisions advancing overland in direction of Akyab and Cox. Thai Army tasked to capture Lashio and Myikina and to mop-up remnants in the jungles east of Shwebo.

Burma


DEI:
Mopping-up on Borneo almost finished, one enemy unit remains to be destroyed in the interior. Almost the same on Sumatra, all bases taken, two enemy stacks of weak remnants remaining to be eliminated. Java - Batavia and Merak not attacked yet, 4th, 21st and 56th Divisions are concentrating on "hill fortress" at Bandoeng first. After cleaning Java, the three divisions will help in Australia.

Australia:
5th, 38th and Guards Division + supporting units will try to capture Darwin and the bases to the south, but recon has spotted lots of units at each location, including lots of AVFs. Will build-up Wyndham and Bathurst Island. as airbases while logistical support will be centered at Koepang. 16th Division at Broome will try to capture Port Hedland with help of major portion of Combined Fleet (everything except KB). I will need more units currently engaged on Java, PI and China.

PNG / Solomons / Pacific Ocean Area:
I have grabbed pretty much all bases in the Gilberts and New Hebrides with small SNLF / Naval Guard units, with KB lurking behind the invasion convoys to ambush eventual Allied reactions - no such luck. I do not have any big ground forces in the area yet, even PM is only garrisoned by an SBF (but I bought out the Guards Brigade which is on the way). So KB will remain in the area to discourage early Allied counter-offensives. I have some eng assets in the area digging trenches (but not air bases or ports for the Allies to grab). I will defend to delay in the Central Pacific and the southern Solomons. The MLR will go through Nadzab and Bougainville which will get airbases. No offensive plans for Noumea, Suva, Pagp-Pago etc. - lack of LCUs, shipping and air groups.

North Pacific:
Holding on to Attu as early warning outpost for eventual plans Ed may have in the North. An eng unit is digging trenches, but no base building. I will send some Rufes up there which entered production as well as mines and midget subs to see if they can discourage further bombardements.

Home Islands:
Busy expanding to size 8 air bases to get the AS bonus. Zero and Oscar production 200 each, bomber production remains at start values except for Val/Kate. R&D is botched, never quite understood that aspect. With PDU off I understand I have to research everything, but tried to concentrate on Osacar and ZEro line. But it seems the factories are not repairing or only slowly. Only factory to reach the magic "30" was the Rufe factory - a few days before the model was due to enter production anyway. Don't get it how other players manage to advance future plane models by months and years.

Losses so far:
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CL Natori
CL Naka
A dozen DDs and TBs
A dozen DMS
5 submarines

Sorry for lack of details, I'm not using tracker and largely relying on memory...

I am reading both AARs, so I will be very careful on what I write...

how bad was the damage to the British carriers? any hints like explosion, fire, etc

250KG bombs can't have done too much damaged as they have armored decks...

No secondary explosions, no fires, just some wisps of smoke. I think both CVs are still fully operational. But Albacore losses have been heavy, so Ed may consider a withdrawal.

Have his turn waiting in the inbox, am impatient to leave work...

Replacement rates for British TB are horrible, so you won't see Albacores in a long time

not to mention these 2 ships are scheduled for withdrawal

I know the RN carriers and other ships will withdraw eventually - but I did not bother to check the dates. I try not to profit too much from hindsight / information available trough the editor, tracker etc. in order to "optimise" my gameplay. First of all, with gaming time limited by RL, I do not have the time to spare for searching and keeping track of this kind of information, second I prefer to "role-play" my game - as Japanese admiral, I am not supposed to know that CV Formidable will withdraw on date xy.

Turn#067 Apr 19-20, 42:
Apparently Ed does not want to abandon Northern Oz. The expected Battle off Port Hedland started with Betties attacking a convoy (including BC Repulse) in port, pretty much ignoring the BC and other juicy targets and sinking an AM and a KV instead - for 15 Betties lost to unexpected CAP (fair punishment for ignoring a capital ship - I would have shot the pilots if they had returned to base!). Mini-KB sent the handful of remaining operational bombers for one bomb hit on Repulse, despite Zero escort the strike is decimated by CAP (can't believe P-39s and Shittyhawks are that good - what will happen when P-38, P-47 etc. become available?).
The second night, the surface forces clash off Port Hedland. Ise, Yamashiro, Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya and 6 DD first encounter some light forces - CL Concord, CL Sumatra and 2 DD are sunk for some non-lethal damage spread around my SAG. Next come Repulse, Australia, Canberra, Achilles, Glasgow and 6 DD. Ise is hit twice, the OpForce collects 12 hits but both TF are apparently low on ammo and disengage without serious damage. The TF chasing the RN CVs up to Exmouth escapes a sub attack but finds no CVs. I have three fresh SAGs on the way to Port Hedland for the next turn.
What happened else: Dutch bombers hit Palembang damaging 17 oil despite CAP - guess Oscars were too high and the bombers were hiding in storm clouds; Do-24K-1 sink an xAK right in Palembang harbour - also despite CAP; the mountain stronghold Bandoeng falls in the second assault by three full divisions with 10 enemy units surrendering; Attu bombarded by 4 DD; I-162 sinks an xAP near Exmouth; Darwin is bombarded to keep the airbase suppressed, causing 500 casualties; the Mixed Rgt trying to hold against a Chinese Corps at Kwangchowan gets help by CA bombardment and bomber strikes - the latter are decimated by the usual AVG ambush (Will I ever learn that this is not an AI game?)

Turn#068 Apr 21-22, 42:
Surprise - for once, Mini-KB escapes a sub attack without damage! Snapper misses Zuiho near Roti, the TF will enter Koepang next turn for repairs and replenishment. Junyo needs yard time, I think I will detach Kaga to replace her (best match speed-wise). SS I-173 gets a drubbing from a KV off Ceylon and limps towards the closest port with heavy damage - fingers crossed. I-15 encounters a SAG off Auckland including CA Northampton and a bunch of DDs - not hits on both side, but the enemy seems to be on the prowl. KB is back at Tulagi, preparing another stab at Noumea.
At Prome, a handful of RAF night bombers destroy 3 planes on the ground - in only 51% moonlight. During daytime, the RAF hits a SNLF which has reached one hex east of Akyab - let them have fun as long as they do not spot 33rd and 55th Divisions in the jungle on the way to Cox. In the meantime, our flyboys hit Akyab airbase unopposed to keep it closed. In the DEI, Dutch bombers on Java hit oilfields at Tjepoe for 14 damage - ever aggressive Ed uses every trick in the book to annoy me! Broome, PM and Milne Bay are also attacked by B-17s and B-26s for minimum damage. The IJN at Koepang is licking wounds and replacing Betty losses.
On the ground, Kwangchowan is held against a DA by a reinforced Chinese Corps. I have renewed the attack at Wenchow but got a bloody nose - 3000 against 800 casualties.

Turn#69 Apr 23-24, 42:
Cocos Is. captured by 24th Nav Gsn Unit; Akyab airbase bombed without opposition by 60 Nells covered by 45 Zeros; last enemy unit on Borneo destroyed; SS Searaven hit four times by ASW near Roti; bombardment run to Batavia sinks some small fry (MTB, 3x AMc); bombardment run to of Port Hedland destroys or damages two dozen planes; ground combat near Ankang grinds down 55th Chinese Corps.

Turn#70 Apr 25-26, 42:
Small RAF nuisance raids against LCUs in Burma have been going on for some turns - this time they run into fighter opposition - 5 Hudsons destroyed; 55th Chinese Corps at 83,44 (near Ankang) reduced by air and ground attacks; B-17s attacking Broome intercepted by Derby-based Zeroes - one Zero lost for 17 bombers damaged; SNLF unit fast-transports to Normanton on a recon/diversion/nuisance raid but finds an armoured unit in place

Turn#71 Apr 27-28, 42:
SS Seadragon sinks xAK Brisbane Maru off Koepang; Port Hedland bombarded again, look like enemy figters have been evacuated; Darwin bombarded as well to keep airfield supressed; violent air reaction to the landing at Normanton, the SNLF is burried undere the payloads from three dozen B-26s and B17s; ground combat near Daly Waters at 74,131 between five IJA Tank Regiments and the 3rd Motor Brigade and 754th Tank Battalion - the enemy is fleeing leaving 77 smoldering vehicles behind; not far away at 74,130, the 2/8th Armoured Regiment tries to block two full IJA divisions plus supporting units and dies fighting; 55th Chinese Corps at 83,44 (near Ankang) is destroyed by air and ground attacks; bombardment run against Batavia closes airfield and damages many planes, ground bombardment attack against Batavia shows 10:1 advantage in AV - tomorrow I will DA; Merak is captured by 23rd Nav Gsn Unit to seal off Batavia; with Akyab empty, I send sweeps against Chittagong - losses 9 Zeroes, 2 Oscars vs. 3 Buffalo, 3 Hurris, 6 P-40; KB (actually just CarDivs 2+5) investigates Koumac - there is an "anchor" symbol there which as expected turns out to be an AV (Tangier), she is left on fire - I hope Ed will think that a landing in northern New Caledonia is imminent - I do not need enemy reinforcements in Northern Oz...

Turn#72, Apr 29-30, 42:
With 100% moonlight, I try a few night raids against airfields (Chittagong, Imphal, Cairns) for some slight damage; SS Plunger is hit three times by ASW near Nauru; I-21 is damaged by 2 depth charge hits off Albany and has to return to base; RO-34 is torpedoed by S-40 at Darwin, but does not sink - she will disband at Bathurst Is.; KB adds a few more bomb hits to AV Tangier, leaving her with heavy fires and heavy damage; Batavia falls to the second DA, two dozen planes destroyed on the ground - 4th, 21st and 56th Divisions will be sent to Bataan, then to Wenchow and then to Kwangchowan to help clear these three pockets of resistance within the SRA.