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Dec 21, 1942

I-158 put 2 torpedoes in an xAP at Port Blair and sinking sounds confirmed the kill.

Yamaguchi's CV TF found nothing in the direction of the Solomons (although the TF did not approach too closely). It will strike the new Allied airfield at Buin tomorrow unless naval targets are acquired. Nagumo's CV TF at Soerabaja requires another 6 days to repair all damage (and get the new replacement aircraft ready to fly).

Dec 22, 1942

The Allies landed a small force at Bara (the other end of the island from Namlea), where a company of the Japanese defenders of Namlea crawled after being booted out of Namlea some weeks ago. The 4th Raiding Rgt is at Manado and will drop on the base tomorrow.

Yamaguchi's CVs attacked Buin, although I wouldn't consider it a success -

Afternoon Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 100
B5N2 Kate x 55
D3A1 Val x 16
D4Y1 Judy x 40

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 16
P-400 Airacobra x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 43

The TF will now retire toward Truk.

The first of 2 J1N1-S Irving night fighters R&D reached 30(0).

Dec 23, 1942

The Allies landed more troops at Bara and at the non-base hex east of Koepang. They also assaulted the vacant base at Tockangbesi-eilanden (SE of Kendari).

The Japanese countered with an airborne reinforcement of Bara. Note that since we control the base there was no shock attack. We also landed troops at vacant Biak. We moved transport planes to Ternate where the 3rd Raiding Rgt is located to drop on Tockangbesi-eilanden (perhaps). The Allied need to learn that if they are going on the offensive they need to go hard.

Dec 24, 1942

Tockangbesi-eilanden flipped to the Allies. Bara was reinforced by both sides; the Allies by sea, the Empire by air.

The BB Washington TF destroyed a small evacuation TF at Kendari before it could disband, then bombarded the base.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 70,106, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Shonon Maru #11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Iwaki Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Kinjosan Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Salt Lake City
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Diego
DD Morris
DD Benham
DD Sterett
DD Wilson
DD Lang
DD Worden
DD Edsall
DD Stewart
DD Humphreys
DD Hatfield

---

Night Naval bombardment of Kendari at 70,106

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Salt Lake City
CLAA San Diego
CLAA Atlanta

Japanese ground losses:
264 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 19

Emily float planes later attacked BB Washington at Namlea with torpedoes but had no hits.

BBs Ise and Hiei completed repairs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima. They will both join the BB Nagato TF and head to the DEI.

Dec 25, 1942

Komodo flipped to the Allies.

Betties tried to attack the port at Misool where ships were spotted, but Warhawks downed 9 of the 12 that flew.

Even worse, a Christmas gift to the Allies with an attack near Chihkiang. What was I thinking?

Ground combat at 79,50 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 69338 troops, 529 guns, 439 vehicles, Assault Value = 2263
Defending force 45680 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1051
Japanese adjusted assault: 828
Allied adjusted defense: 1804
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
13222 casualties reported
Squads: 333 destroyed, 496 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 46 disabled
Guns lost 91 (10 destroyed, 81 disabled)
Vehicles lost 46 (21 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
630 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled

Assaulting units:
68th Division (suffered most of the losses)
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
59th Division
28th Division
9th Tank Regiment
39th Division
15th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
29th Ind Engineer Regiment
17th/B Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
25th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
12th Group Army
23rd Group Army
30th Group Army

A small attack in Burma had a good result and will likely be a huge distraction to the Allied offensive to the south where a Thai unit may be quickly overrun by 2 Brit Div (see map below) -

Ground combat at 56,56 (near Moulmein)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15143 troops, 160 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 479
Defending force 12928 troops, 75 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 338
Japanese adjusted assault: 451
Allied adjusted defense: 193
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
228 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4472 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 142 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (14 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating to Moulmein!

Assaulting units:
56th Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
45th Indian Brigade
17th Indian Division
Burma Corps

The second of 2 Frances R&D sites reached 30(0) so this aircraft should advance a couple or three months from its current Aug '43 production start date. With 321 Ha-45 engines in inventory and 210 per month building the 500 engine bonus will be achieved next month further accelerating advancement (as well as the George).

Dec 26, 1942

Japanese shock attacks at Bara and Tockangbesi-eilanden were essentially a draw -

Ground combat at Bara (74,107)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 914 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33
Defending force 196 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7
Japanese adjusted assault: 14
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Regiment
13th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
2/4th Ind Coy

---

Ground combat at Tockangbesi-eilanden (70,109)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 272 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21
Defending force 259 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Japanese adjusted assault: 3
Allied adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
3rd Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
2/8th Ind Coy

Allied ground forces finally reached Koepang after marching through the jungle -

Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7701 troops, 35 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 271
Defending force 5168 troops, 90 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 225

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

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Division (-)
27th Ind Engineer Regiment
38th Division (-)
17th Medium FA Rgt /1
2nd Area Army /4
2nd Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Port Unit /1

Defending units:
28th Australian Battalion
Gull Force
Sparrow Force
6th LH Motor Regiment
16th LH MG Regiment

And the Allies turned offensive minded in Burma/Thailand with several attacks -

Ground combat at 55,58 (near Tavoy)

Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16708 troops, 278 guns, 686 vehicles, Assault Value = 707
Defending force 13189 troops, 143 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 435
Allied adjusted assault: 512
Japanese adjusted defense: 2578
Allied assault odds: 1 to 5

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (4 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
707 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Vehicles lost 62 (6 destroyed, 56 disabled)

Assaulting units:
50th Tank Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
17th Australian Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment (moving)
33rd Division
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

---

Ground combat at 54,58 (near Tavoy)

Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14957 troops, 384 guns, 231 vehicles, Assault Value = 713
Defending force 13836 troops, 172 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 411

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

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
18th British Division
21st Australian Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
Aus I Corps
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

---

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 14496 troops, 317 guns, 243 vehicles, Assault Value = 440
Defending force 5549 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 237
Allied adjusted assault: 202
Japanese adjusted defense: 313
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
369 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division

Defending units:
2nd RTA Division

Reinforcements are enroute but may not get there in time!

George R&D advanced a month.

Dec 27, 1942

Bases captured today: Biak (vacant)

The Allies landed troops directly at Koepang. I think the minefield I put there may have deteriorated.

Dutch light cruisers bombarded Bara and destroyed the 13 JAAF Coy in the process.

CVL Ryujo sortied from Soerabaja alone yesterday to a position just west of Makassar. Her Jills found a target at Ruteng after Tojos and Nells wore down the CAP in the morning-

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ruteng at 64,111
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 9

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Van den Bosch
xAP Stagen, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Another attack at Bara was again unsuccessful after the CL bombardment -

Ground combat at Bara (74,107)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 819 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24
Defending force 162 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Japanese adjusted assault: 24
Allied adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units (fragment) destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Regiment

Defending units:
44th Australian Bn /1
2/7th Ind Coy /1

A6M5c Zero R&D advanced a month.

Dec 28, 1942 (preview)

CVs Hiryu, Soryu, and Junyo sortied from Soerabaja to join CVL Ryujo near Makassar.

CVs Akagi and Zuikaku sortied from Truk yesterday headed south.

Dec 28, 1942

Bases assaulted today: Lingga (vacant)

Japanese cruisers bombarded Ruteng while a British task force bombarded Tavoy -

Night Naval bombardment of Ruteng at 64,111

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 14 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Myoko
CL Tenryu

Allied ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 15

---

Night Naval bombardment of Tavoy at 54,60

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CA Exeter
CL Birmingham
CL Mauritius

Japanese ground losses:
325 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 21
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 2

The Allies appear to have reinforced Bara, but the Allied unit there has disappeared. We'll see tomorrow!

A Japanese sub was sunk by an Allied sub near Georgetown.

The Allies landed troops at the non-base hex south of Tavoy. 112 Rgt currently at Tavoy will investigate.

Yokohama airfield reached level 7.

The 4th of 6 George R&D sites reached 30(0); the aircraft R&D will now advance one month every 25 days with production start expected in March '43. When the 500 engine bonus kicks in next month it may move up to Feb '43.

Dec 29, 1942

Bases captured today: Lingga (vacant) and Tockangbesi-eilanden

Ground combat at Tockangbesi-eilanden (70,109)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 774 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23
Defending force 243 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8
Japanese adjusted assault: 14
Allied adjusted defense: 5
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tockangbesi-eilanden !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

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

Allied ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
3rd Raiding Regiment
3rd Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
2/8th Ind Coy

Now the problem of getting them off the base! We'll need a lot of float planes since there is no airfield.

BB Ramilles bombarded Tavoy (again) while carrier Jills attacked the port at Ruteng hoping to bag an AV there (to no avail) -

Morning Air attack on Ruteng , at 64,111

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 69
B6N1 Jill x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet curious that the port attack flew simultaneous with the sweep
8 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Our advance toward the Burma coast south of Moulmein (see the map a few posts back) was thwarted by Allied units moving into the space. Our attack was intended to be against one unit, but four more Allied units reinforced -

Ground combat at 56,56 (near Moulmein)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15089 troops, 162 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 474
Defending force 11333 troops, 188 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 280
Japanese adjusted assault: 364
Allied adjusted defense: 429
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1065 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
56th Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
7th Cav Recce Regiment
16th Australian Brigade
14th Canadian Brigade
III Indian Corps
6th Medium Regiment

First Canadian unit encountered since Hong Kong!

And the situation at Bara was resolved - the Allies have not departed and it now looks like we may want to -

Ground combat at Bara (74,107)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 792 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20
Defending force 446 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25
Japanese adjusted assault: 6
Allied adjusted defense: 13
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Regiment

Defending units:
2/7th Ind Coy
44th Australian Battalion

Not looking forward to improved sub torpedoes in 2 days.

Dec 30, 1942

RADM Hirata's CA TF sank a PT at Ruteng enroute to Koepang. Allied cruisers bombarded Jaluit.

Bangkok was bombed for the first time -

Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 32
Hurricane IIc Trop x 45
B-24D Liberator x 25
B-25C Mitchell x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 38

The Ki-61-Ib R&D is about to reach 100%, but I don't want all the R&D sites to begin production, so 3 of the 30(0) sites were changed to 3x30(0) Ki-61-Id due to produce in April '44. The 4th site will produce and the current Ki-61-Ia production will change to Ib.

Dec 31, 1942

Nagumo's carriers attacked a PT TF at Alor and ran into heavy CAP, further deteriorating the condition of the air arm. Then they attacked an APD at Roti, doing little to no damage, but sank an AVD at Larantoeka.

The Allies landed part of the 77th LRP Bde at a non-base hex south of Tavoy.

Our evacuation TF arrived at Buna covered by Yamaguchi's carriers.

Jan 1, 1943

Ki-46-III Dinah recon aircraft with 18 hex normal range (up from the 11 hex range of the Dinah II) began production at 30 per month.

Ki-61-I b Tony fighter aircraft began production at 60 per month; 3 of the R&D sites changed to Tony I d model on Dec 30; the one Tony I a production site changed without penalty to I b.

CL Katori ingested a sub torpedo inbound to Koepang with the evacuation TF.

I-11, on the surface, sank an xAK near Port Blair.

BB Prince of Wales bombarded the troops (Imperial Guard Div and artillery) on the Burma coast in a non-base hex doing little damage.

4 Raiding Rgt engineers loaded transports at Manado (what good is a parachute regiment that has components that are NOT air droppable?).

CVs Kaga and Shokaku finished repairs at Truk.

Jan 2, 1943

RADM Hirata's cruisers bombarded Ruteng taking out some search aircraft on the ground (they have eyes on Java).

The Dutch light cruisers bombarded Bara, keeping the 4 Raiding Rgt disrupted and preventing a successful attack.

The evacuation TFs at Koepang and Buna began loading (SLOWLY).

Nells from Babeldoab attacked the port at Namlea, sinking a PT boat and taking heavy casualties.

Nells from Kota Bharu bombed the Car Nicobar airfield and found no Allied CAP.

Bangkok was bombed by the Allies for the first time -

Morning Air attack on Bangkok, at 56,62

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 11
B-24D Liberator x 22
B-25C Mitchell x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AV Kamikawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 53
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

---

Morning Air attack on Bangkok, at 56,62

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 25

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 10 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 10

Judys from Kendari attacked a TF at Bara doing little -

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,107

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Van Neck, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Schley

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Jan 3, 1943

The transports carrying 4 Raiding Rgt engineers departed Manado yesterday escorted by BB Nagato and Ise. Both kept well west of Bara rather than taking the straight line south to Bara from Manado. Both task forces remained undetected.

Today Nagumo's carriers (CVs Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo, and CVL Ryujo) moved from a position south of Koepang to a position ~6 hexes west of Bara (and SE of Kendari) while our 2 BB's and the transports advanced to Bara (independently, but on the same path). Nagato and Ise easily defeated 2 Allied amphib TFs at Bara -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Bara at 74,107, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 1
BB Ise
CA Haguro
CL Tama
CLAA Tatsuta
DD Niizuki
DD Kiyonami
DD Hakaze
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
DD Lang, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Heed
xAP Candioa, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Elcano, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Cremer, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
2154 casualties reported
Squads: 194 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 88 (85 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Reduced sighting due to 10% moonlight

---

Night Time Surface Combat, near Bara at 74,107, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Ise, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro
CL Tama
CLAA Tatsuta
DD Niizuki
DD Kiyonami
DD Hakaze
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
DD Schley, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Speelman, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

These Allied ships have little victory point value.

However, our little amphib TF encountered a much bigger Allied TF led by BB Washington at Bara. Somehow the Washington TF avoided our battleships to attack the more vulnerable ships. Notice all these combats occurred in the same hex -

Day Time Surface Combat, near Bara at 74,107, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LSD Akitsu Maru, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage (later sank)

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 1
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Diego
DD Morris
DD Benham
DD Worden
DD Stewart

Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 7 disabled

The LSD alone is worth 28 victory points.

The few Judys at Kendari attacked the Washington TF with no hits. Nagumo's carriers attacked insignificant TFs at Dili and Namlea encountering heavy CAP and taking heavy losses but ignored the Washington combat group only 6 hexes away!? ADM Nagumo will be replaced.

Jan 4, 1943

Our evacuation TFs departed Koepang and Buna. For the most part they picked up motorized support elements that can not be transported out by air; the main part of the left-behind fragments had already been airlifted out.

Both sides attacked on the Burma coast -

Ground combat at 53,61 (near Tavoy)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4097 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 103
Defending force 605 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44
Japanese adjusted assault: 39
Allied adjusted defense: 39
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
III./143rd Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
77th LRP Bde /2

---

Ground combat at 55,58 (near Tavoy)

Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15978 troops, 278 guns, 681 vehicles, Assault Value = 577
Defending force 12603 troops, 142 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 369
Allied adjusted assault: 303
Japanese adjusted defense: 1204
Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1141 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Australian Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
17th Australian Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
33rd Division
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

R&D on the B6N2 Jill advanced a month to Aug '43.

Jan 5, 1943

Nagumo's carrier TF refueled at Balikpapan and Nagumo was sent on extended leave. RADM Uwano replaced him in command of the carriers.

We pushed the fragment of 77 LRP Bde off the coast into the minimally supplied interior -

Ground combat at 53,61 (near Tavoy)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4028 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 97
Defending force 457 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21
Japanese adjusted assault: 84
Allied adjusted defense: 5
Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
III./143rd Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
77th LRP Bde /2

R&D on the Ki-44-II c Tojo advanced a month to Oct '43

Jan 6, 1943

The BB Washington TF pounded Koepang -

Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Salt Lake City
CLAA San Diego
CLAA Atlanta

Japanese ground losses:
342 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1

Japanese forces attacked the 2nd British Div but the terrain bonus is too great to get a meaningful result -

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 28436 troops, 287 guns, 523 vehicles, Assault Value = 1018
Defending force 14246 troops, 317 guns, 243 vehicles, Assault Value = 411
Japanese adjusted assault: 469
Allied adjusted defense: 1225
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1303 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
386 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Division
14th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Division
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
2nd RTA Division

Defending units:
2nd British Division

Jan 7, 1943

A British CL task force bombarded Mergui.

British (and American?) air assets bombed the refinery and heavy industry at Bangkok having previously put the airfield out of commission. Eight refinery hits reduced capacity to 0(20) and 20 HI hits reduced capacity to 13(27). Neither will be repaired.

Another attack on the 2nd British Div got the same result as yesterday -

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 26975 troops, 287 guns, 449 vehicles, Assault Value = 891
Defending force 13921 troops, 317 guns, 243 vehicles, Assault Value = 370
Japanese adjusted assault: 520
Allied adjusted defense: 1252
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1365 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 12 (6 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
14th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Division
18th Division
2nd RTA Division

Defending units:
2nd British Division

Jan 8, 1943

Eighteen hits on HI at Bangkok reduced HI to 7(33).

The 5th of 6 George R&D sites reached 30(0), so R&D will advance 1 month every 20 days. With R&D currently at 51% production should start in mid-March, perhaps a little earlier once the engine bonus kicks in.

There was no ground combat of any kind.