Lorks-a-lordy, my Empire is on fire! GBL vs 1EyedJacks - Nemo's mod

[goodboyladdie]

The Japs increased the AF at Sandakan to size 1 and Legaspi to size 3. I think Mike is about to lean into the airspace over the DEI to make life more difficult for me.

Singapore was bombed twice - Supplies: 96,339 tons. Singapore is almost out od oil. It's a sahme I did not manage to get more in before, as the extra supplies would have been really handy. Manila was bombed, with the loss of a Lily - Supplies: 42058 tons. Mike also hit Davao airfield and destroyed an Albacore. I have subs carrying fragments of 109th BF heading there and hopefully some elements being flown in from Darwin, so I should be able to get my planes out as long as Mike soes not hit it hard enough to keep the engineers too busy.

My raids on 55th Division at Toungoo only caused one casualty. The Cotabato raid was a disaster with 11 B-17s shot down and 2 more crashing later as a direct result. I have blown my meagre B-17E reserve.

[goodboyladdie]

CVL Hermes took another bomb from Nells and is now heavily damaged - 64/27/8. Indomitable is 32/53/3. The Jap DE Fuyo took a bomb from a Hudson off Brunei, but a B-25 was shot down. Off Singapore the small AK Valentijn was hit with three torpedoes by Nells. She was still (barely) afloat the next day, but I scuttled her. Mike is about to close down my supply line, I think. If he starts sea control operations in this area it will have a big effect on my ability to get oil out of Palembang too. The Jap CVE Unyo has appeared on the sunk ships list. Mike is re-supplying Cotabato, but I can do little about it. The Dutch Striking Force has sailed for Soerabaya to free up space at Kendari for the wounded CVs coming in.

8,000 tons of oil have arrived at Madras.

[goodboyladdie]

3 Nates and 2 I-153c's fell in the battle over Honan. Tomoorow I will try an ambush over Nanchang and Pucheng.

More Japs are across the ferry at Xuwen.

[witpqs]

Good shooting! And you clocked another one that might even be in trouble now if the fires caught hold.

I wonder if he's sortied the main KB to go hunting for damaged carriers? On the plus side (for you) it would eat lots of fuel.

You might want to get them out of Kendari as soon as possible (maybe even with a little flooding left) just in case he shows up with mama bear.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: witpqs




Good shooting! And you clocked another one that might even be in trouble now if the fires caught hold.

I wonder if he's sortied the main KB to go hunting for damaged carriers? On the plus side (for you) it would eat lots of fuel.

You might want to get them out of Kendari as soon as possible (maybe even with a little flooding left) just in case he shows up with mama bear.

I agree. I should have fair warning as I have plenty of Naval Search to the East. I have asked Mike about the state of Chuyo, but do not expect to get any free Intel. Indomitable will head for Aden as soon as possible, while Hermes will spend a few months in sunny Perth. The big South Atlantic shipyards will be full up with damaged USN BBs for the forseeable future...

[goodboyladdie]

07/03/42

SigInt has revealed that there are 39236 men at Palau.

Perth has expanded it's port to size 6.

TK Tarakan Maru was torpedoed at Osaka by USS Greenling, despite the presence of 2 DDs. 2,000 tons of supplies arrived at Christmas Island. The slow repairs are realy causing my PBYs there problems with low morale. Damage is 58/58/29. A "Steel" AK has started conversion to AR at San Francisco. 5 13,000 ton TKs have sailed for San Diego to load fuel.

BB Maryland (43 sys) and BB Arizona (39 sys) have finally disbanded in the South Atlantic to repair their Pearl Harbor damage. 8,500 tons of oil from Perth is unloading at Newcastle.

My rebuilt Dutch squadrons have arrived with Martin 139s (apart from the recon sqn with FK 51s). They are flying North to join in with the defence of the DEI.

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt has revealed the presence of 55th Ind Construction Bn at Johore Bharu.

A Val attacked K XV off Legaspi but did no damage. My raid on Johore Bahru did little damage, but destroyed a Sally. The base is loaded with aircraft (see screenie) and did quite a bit of damage this turn. 3 B-339s were shot down by Zekes at Palembang as they protected TK Soli. A later raid put 2 torpedoes into TK Erling Brovig (67/57/18) and one into TK Empire Celt (22/2/19). They have disbanded while all other TKs divert to other destinations. My raid on Brunei put oil damage up to 117 with a single hit.

[goodboyladdie]

2 Jap raids on Singapore cost Mike a Mary, a Sally and 2 Bettys. The current status of Sinagpore is the subject of the screenie below. He also raided Davao and Manila. Manila has 41343 tons of supplies. Davao is badly damaged, so my aviation support troops may not be able to get my damaged FAA Albacores ready after all. My raids on 55th Div caused 48/2 casualties!

Indomitable has disbanded at Kendari with damage 68/38/5. Rather annoyingly, the fighter units have taken extra planes so the ship will be overloaded whe I get my Albacores back. Luckily, she will not be ready before May, so I will be able to sort it out by changing aircraft to get rid of the extras. Hermes is now 68/38/5 and still some way from safety.

On the plus side, B-25s put 2 bombs into AK Kuramasan Maru off Naga and Hudsons/B-25s put 2 more bombs into DE Fuyo off Brunei. I lost a B-17E to a Zeke off Cotabato when 3 planes went after the shipping there.

K XIV was ready at Colombo and is sailing to Trincomalee to load mines. K XI is ready at Diamond Harbour and will lay mines at Sinkep on her way back to Batavia.

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt has revealed that JAAF 17th Air Sect HQ EAB is planning for an attack on Nanchang.

Over Yenan 4 Claudes were downed by a Chinese Lancer ambush.

Over Nanchang 5 Nates and 5 Lilys fell to 34th FS and AVG/3. 1LT Moorhouse of the 34th got kills 5 and 6 to become the units first Ace. AVG/3 Aces 1LTs Conkling and Peck each got their 8th kills. My units will stand down to see how Mike responds.

Over Honan, Oscars intervened and I lost 1 I-153c and 3 I-16 mod 24s for 1 Nate and 2 Oscars. I have temporarily withdrawn from this battle.

Another Chinese Lancer ambush over Pucheng netted 4 Claudes. This ambush will be attempted again tomorrow, as will another after unescorted Marys over Sinyang. ROCAF 8th Fighter Squadron upgraded from the mod 4 I-16 to the much improved mod 24.

Here is a screenie showing the upcoming 4/42 CV and BB upgrades. If I have the space I will work through all the upgrades over the next few turns...

[goodboyladdie]

08/03/42

Lahaina AF is now size 4. Umnak Island AF is now size 2.

USS Greenling has got all aggressive and switched from minelaying to patrol in Osaka harbour. So far she has led a charmed life, but I will change back to get her out this turn. USS Haddock had a Jap CVL in her sights off Nagasaki, but the torpedo problem ensures that Mizuho merely lost one of her nine lives...

[goodboyladdie]

2,000 tons of supplies arrived at Johnston from Pearl. Christmas Island damage is now 58/58/27. S-23 (sys 14) disbanded at San Diego.

1,000 tons of supplies from Newcastle arrived at Auckland while 10,000 tons from Capetown arrived at Sydney. 10,000 tons of oil from the South Atlantic is unloading at Melbourne.

US 144th FA Rgt arrived to join the defences of Perth after a very long journey from CONUS.

[goodboyladdie]

The small TK Paula, on a final attempt to get more oil into Singapore, was hit by a patrolling Mavis off Muntok and was found by Sallys later, receiving 5 bomb hits in the second raid. Damage is 99/42/49.

K IX missed AK Fukushu Maru off Davao.

My raid on Johore Bharu detroyed a Betty on the ground. The raid on Brunei achieved nothing. The 55th Div at Toungoo was bombed again, but I only caused 9/1 casualties today.

The Japs launched 2 raids on Singapore, losing a Lily, 3 Sallys and a Nell. They also hit Tarakan, so my crack Hudsons flew out to Darwin, while the B-25s moved to Manado. Mike lost 2 Lilys over Manila. Manila supplies: 40961 tons. Singapore supplies: 95479 tons.

17th PS moved fro Darwin to Koepang. Eventually they will get to Batavia. Mike is bound to go for all my Naval ships at Batavia at some point, which is why Force Z will be at Soerabaya. I managed to get an Albacore out of Davao - only 9 to go... Formidable and all the escorts bar another DD, replenished at Kendari and moved off to Soerabaya. Indomitable's damage is 33/45/0. The AR convoy will arrive next turn. Hermes is 71/43/2 and still some way short of safety.

RAF 205 sqn has moved from Batavia to Chittagong. They need a rest and I am short of ASW eyes in the area. Burma Corps HQ arrived at Aden and has loaded onto APs for Bombay.

Mike seems to be up to something off Davao...

[goodboyladdie]

Over Yenan 5 Claudes were downed by my Lancers.

Over Wuchow, 2 Sonias fell to flak.

Over Pucheng Lancers shot down 2 more Claudes. Mike has lost about 1,800 planes in a months and must be desperate if he is risking pilots in Claudes...

3 IL-4Cs attcked and missed CL Nagara in the South China Sea.

Here is the next batch of upgrades due next month.

[goodboyladdie]

09/03/42

ML Oglala with 4 Porter class DDs is sailing to lay mines at Canton Island. I will need to be prepared to run East in case the KB is tempted out. Christmas Island is now 58/58/25. 807th EAB is unloading at Dutch Harbor.

A sub has been spotted in the Bass Strait. The 2 DMS that were heading to the site of the Orca sinking will head back to Sydney. This should keep them on the same track as the sub. A PC/MSW force is ailing from Sydney to work up the track from the opposite direction.

8,000 tons of fuel from Balikpapan has arrived at Darwin. 8th PS flew from Darwin to Koepang on it's way to Batavia. 2nd USMC Division formally switched HQs to SOPAC to tie up a loose end.


Here is the latest batch of upcoming upgrades:

[goodboyladdie]

USS Finback was hit by a Jap patrol plane at 44,57, just after putiing a shell and a torpedo into AK Ungatsu Maru. She has damage of 26/17/0 and will continue on her way to Manila.

My raid on Johore Bharu destroyed a Sally on the ground. Brunei suffered no damage, but 55th Div at Toungoo took 36/1 casualties. The Japs hit Singapore twice, losing 4 Sallys. Tarakan, Davao and Manila were also bombed.

17th PS flew from Koepang to Soerabaya. Another Albacore got out of Davao. Hermes has damage 71/52/0 and is a couple of turns out from Kendari. 4 USN DDs have sailed to escort her. Indomitable is now 33/41/0 and the three Dutch ARs have disbanded.

I am very annoyed about task forces stalling short of their objectives. I really hope it is fixed for AE. HMS Manxman would not sail to Palembang from Batavia, so she will lay mines at Tarakan instead. The Dutch Strike Force has disbanded at Soerabaya. All ships that have 0 damage have reformed a task force while they wait for the other vessels to repair. TK Empire Celt (sys 27) has sailed from Palembang for the South Atlantic. K XIV sailed from Trincomalee to mine Kota Bharu before heading to Batavia

Here are all the Jap ships off the PI.

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt has revealed that 8th Mongol Cav Group is planing for Chita in Siberia.

FO Enlai of ROCAF 7th Fighter Sqn scored kills 4 and 5 over Yenan. He is the first Chinese Ace (to survive to appear on the list). A total of 3 Claudes and a Mary were shot down in the battle.

Over Nanchang 3 Claudes, 11 Lilys and 6 Sallys fell to my US pilots. From the 34th Pursuit Squadron 1LT Moorhouse scored kills 7-9 before being wounded when crashing his damaged plane. 1LT Lindsay scored kills 4 and 5 to become the units 2nd Ace. From AVG/3 1LT Johnson got kills 8-10, FO Vebber got kill 7 and top scorer 1LT Gray got kill number 12. I have stood the units down as Mike must surely react now...

Over Wuchow flak felled a Sonia.

Over Pucheng, a marauding Chinese P-43 Lancer shot down another Claude. Claudes seem to be death traps - I wonder how desperate Mike must be to keep using them?

6,000 tons of oil from Ohka arrived at Vladivostock.

[goodboyladdie]

10/03/42

Next month I start to get Wellingtons. I will hold on to them (30 a month I think) until May so that I always have some in hand.

In preparation for the fact that PH will be too busy with upgrade work in April, I have begun the dispersal of some ships to other less busy yards. 3 Mahan class DDs are sailing to Vancouver, 2 Farraguts and a Mahan to Victoria, 2 DMS to Portland and another Mahan to Tacoma. Seattle is still busy with Colorado and both LA and SF are working on heavily damaged BBs. The Oglala minelaying task force has been switched to Palmyra. I need her back to release her Porter and Somers class escorts for return to CONUS for upgrade. Christmas Island damage: 58/58/23.

5 13,000 ton TKs are loading fuel at San Diego for SOPAC/SWPAC. In about a month the fuel crisis in Australia will be solved. 811th EAB transferred to SWPAC and is loading at San Francisco for Townsville. VP-23 moved from Noumea to Koumac to push my Search coverage further out.

CA Vincennes arrived at Panama. She will wait for the the 4 DDs due tomorrow and the CL due the day after before sailing to San Franciso to escort a new CV when she arrives shortly.

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt revealed IJA 201st Div planing for Manila.

Legaspi port expanded to size 4. AK Hakone Maru struck a mine entering Legaspi, her cargo suffering 25/1 casualties.

My raid on Rangoon vaused no damage. Tomorrow these B-17s will have a go at the port at Taan, which appears to be full of juicy transports. At Johore Bharu my B-17s from Batavia destroyed a Sally and 2 Nells on the ground. My Blenheim raids on 55th Div caused 4 casualties. The Japs lost 2 Lilys, 3 Sallys and 2 Marys in three raids on Singapore. This big effort was followed by an accidental shock attack. Mike had a deliberate attack planned, but a unit crossed the Johore Strait during the same turn. 1517 (1786) assault points faced 1102 (2380) behind level 4 forts. Mike lost 2,953/92/6 casualties to my 569/49. Singapore supplies: 93,441 tons. The Japs also bombed Tarakan, Davao and Manila. Manila supplies: 40,202 tons.

A B-25 was shot down by Zekes as an attack was attempted on CL Natori off Cotabato. 8th PS moved from Koepang to Soerabaya, as 17th PS moved on from Soerabaya to start CAP over Batavia.

HMS Hermes is 71/56/0 and should make Kenadri tomorrow under escort from 1 RN and 1 USN DD. 2 other USN DDs are off after a sub contact (see screenie). HMS Indomitable is now 33/30/0 and another Albacore rejoined from Davao. 831 sqn FAA is now completey away from Davao.

25th PS upgraded to the P-40E at Madras. It took on 12 new pilots, as did 26th PS when they absorbed the 25th's discarded P-40Bs. 26,000 tons of oil arrived at Calcutta from Aden.

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt revealed IJA 14th Ind Infantry Brigade is planning for Nanchang.

Over Yenan 8 Claudes fell in return for 2 I-16 mod 24s. FO Enlai, the only Chinese Ace, got his 7th kill.

My forces at Honan, Wuchow, Pucheng and Sinyang were all bombed. I have stood down all my fighters as I do not want to get too predictable and get my experienced pilots chopped out of the sky by Zeke ambushes. This has happened twice before and I am even running low on I-16 airframes...

Here is the latest batch of upgrades for next month.

[goodboyladdie]

11/03/42

My subs approaching Kwajalein are reporting loads of Kate sightings. S-45 was attacked once, but not hit.

68th PS and VMSB-241 are unloading at Hilo. Christmas Island damage is now 58/58/21. 4 Benson class DDs arrived at Panama. They will sail for San Francisco tomorrow escorting 2 cruisers. They will require their 4/42 upgrade when they get there. 2 10,000 ton AKs are loading supplies for Anchorage at SF. 1,425 tons of supplies arrived at Anchorage. Most ships that call at Anchorage then move on to Kodiak to load resources for the return trip.

I have decided to upgrade RCAF 8 sqn at Victoria to the Wellington as soon as possible next month. The extra range will be very handy for Naval Search, bearing in mind Mike's aggressive use of his subs.

7th PS flew to Koepang from Darwin. RCAF 115 sqn flew directly to Batavia.

I have only bothered listing the AVD upgrades due next month - I am not changing my Q-ships back to AKs and all the subs just change their AA armament slightly.