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Okay, so, Bruno has had another very day day at Midway

so far hes lost 12+ ships at Midway, including at least 10 MSWs, which for him is vital of course. hes also lost the 7th Coastal Gun Regiment, which will make future amphib landings less painful for me, and today he also lost 13 more precious carrier planes.

my aircraft losses are mounting, and now higher than his, however, i can afford them, he cant.

The airfield at Midway is completely useless right now, planes cant even be transferred out, and if Midway falls tomorow, i will be losing 28 planes, but, ill get more. and the planes that got out will have precious combat experience, especially the Marine SBDs, of which about 16 made it out.

PacFlts subs are begginning to converge on the area, and theyre all targeting the carriers. theres about 7 at the moment shadowing KB. Maybe 1 of them will get lucky and get a fish or 2 into the carriers, if they detonate. S-boats are also converging on KB as well, with their much more effective Mark 10 torpedoes

The Marine Def Bns continue to pound Brunos ships, but this cant last forever

unfortunately the mines are almost gone. though Bruno has lost about a dozen minesweepers, theyve doen a decent job of sweeping the inshore waters

Yorktown arrives tomorrow, and shell be sent at flank speed to Pearl to join the rest of the carriers in a new TF

ORIGINAL: dennishe

Watch out! Midway is an atoll. The Japanese troops will do a shock attack as soon as they land. There may not be an opportunity to get your planes out if he takes the base in the first round. I had that at Wake once, when I did not see the invasion fleet coming. Lost quite some planes and good men there......

he lost 400 men in the first wave of attacks [:D]

and at least 1000-2000 in the first landing attempts

lvl 3 forts nearly at 4

Ive tallied the losses for KB, and so far, just at and around Midway, hes lost 29 planes. im not sure how many he lost at Pearl, but its safe to say he lost at least 10

so KB has lost around 40+ planes and pilots perhaps

29 at Midway, and counting...

strategy against KB will be to:

1. wear down CAP with heavy fighter and bomber attacks
2. attrition of fighters and bombers through flak and fighter traps
3. concentrate submarines wherever KB is sighted
4. deploy multiple TFs in any carrier engagement
5. load Task Force 84(my name for all my carriers), with fighters and Marine SBDs in place of the Devastators
6. the Devastators have been off loaded at Pearl, they will train and train and train, and be redeployed aboard after the Avengers arrive

Also, its now safe to report that all my ships at Midway, with the exception of 3 or 4 AKs, escaped destruction at the hands of KB

i sent the least valuable ships north from Midway to Dutch Harbor, and the transports and warships to Pearl

he stayed north and slaughtered some of the Bantha Fodder [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/12/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Midway at 95,61

Japanese Ships
AK China Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 29, heavy damage
PC Ch 24, heavy damage
PC Takunan Maru #10, heavy damage
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Shotoku Maru
PG Shoei Maru
MSW Seki Maru #3, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Cuttlefish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 3

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th New Chinese Corps, at 49,37

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,59


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 16
B-17C Fortress x 6


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Teiryu Maru
AK Momoha Maru, Shell hits 4
AK Kosho Maru
AK Shoko Maru
AK Higari Maru, Shell hits 4
AK Yamamiya Maru
AK Nozima Maru, Shell hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
2 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 7

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amboina at 39,73


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 17
Brewster 339D x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Gotake Maru, Shell hits 8
AK Asakaze Maru
AP Eiko Maru
AK Ehime Maru
AP Astuga Maru
AK Gosyu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
1 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
1 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amboina at 39,73


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 21
Hudson I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Anrugu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Edo Maru
TK Kaijo Maru
AK Dainiti Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Tatekawa Maru
AK Gosyu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,48


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Meiu Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
PG Kozan Maru, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18
Ki-51 Sonia x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 damaged

Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A Val x 111
B5N Kate x 138

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 30 damaged
B5N Kate: 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 4 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 158

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
22 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
19 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
17 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
15 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
19 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
13 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
22 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
22 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
7 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,59


Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daitei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tatsuta Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 7

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 7

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amboina at 39,73


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 17
Brewster 339D x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Ehime Maru, Shell hits 4
AP Africa Maru, Shell hits 4
AP Anrugu Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Asakaze Maru, Shell hits 8
AP Dainiunyo Maru
AP Atsuta Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
1 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amboina at 39,73


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 18
Hudson I x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Africa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Ehime Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wa 10, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Saiko Maru
AK Asakaze Maru
PC Showa Maru #3, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Anrugu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Midway at 95,61

Japanese Ships
AK China Maru, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 29, heavy damage
PC Ch 24, heavy damage
PC Takunan Maru #10, heavy damage
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Shotoku Maru
PG Shoei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Cuttlefish


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khota Bharu

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5297 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Defending force 35304 troops, 361 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 555


Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Midway

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6697 troops, 225 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 14711 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 83


Japanese ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

3 more carrier planes lost fopr bruno, that brings the Midway total to 32, he also had an operational loss, and lost a kate, so hes lost at least 34 planes at Midway

Yorktown has arrived, shes heading for Pearl at flank speed, escorted by 5 destroyers, however the carriers will still not engage the KB

3 submarines that just arrived are alaso heading for Midway at flank speed

8 Imperial ships sank today, including several at Midway






a relief force is preparing to sail for Midway to reinforce the defense, they consist of fighters, engineers, an AA unit, and the 25th Division, as well as supplies

if Brunos carriers withdraw(very big if, not likely) the relief force will be sent

perhaps his pilots have been fatigued and worn down and their morale may be low, that improves my chances a bit





in the face of the swarms of USN boats taking aim at KB, bruno has withdrawn them North about 300 miles...



all boats that can are heading north in pursuit, since of course the torpedoing of a carrier will do more to hurt Bruno than the loss of a few APs or AKs, since of course, he can get more freighters and trannys, but he still needs carriers to cover them


the battle for midway continues, and it almost looks as though i have a chance of winning...

ive tallied IJN carrier losses and they are about

11 Vals
13 Kates
30 Zeroes

54 carrier planes or so total in a little over a month

heh Seki Maru was sunk by an AA gun [:D]

The Japanese Empire as of 13 January 1942

oh, i forgot, he DOES have the northern coast of Borneo, Brunei and Miri

After a rough tally of Brunos ground losses, the figure, ashore and at sea, comes to about 6000 men

6000 men, about 18 ships, 35 or so carrier planes...


all for lil Midway [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/13/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Midway at 95,61

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 29, heavy damage
PC Ch 24, heavy damage
PC Takunan Maru #10, heavy damage
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Shotoku Maru
PG Shoei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Thresher

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 3

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th New Chinese Corps, at 49,37

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 8

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,61


Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Taihei Maru
AK Hakkai Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 46,47


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Meiu Maru, Shell hits 36, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-40E Warhawk attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tuguegarao , at 46,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 78
B5N Kate x 114

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 8 destroyed, 37 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 112

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
19 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
17 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
17 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
10 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
20 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
18 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
11 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,61


Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Chinko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sensan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khota Bharu

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5339 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Defending force 35385 troops, 364 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 556


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Midway

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6778 troops, 226 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 14750 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 83


Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Day Air attack on Midway , at 95,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 78
B5N Kate x 114

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 8 destroyed, 37 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged



Another bad day for his carrier air groups at Midway


updates coming up!!!

at least 6 IJN ships sank today

17 of his carrier planes went down as well

the subs have pushed him away from Midway so hes striking from max ranghe, and today he got an OPs loss

so now hes lost 52+ carrier planes at Midway, almost an entire carrier load

and hes lost at least another 3 or 4 ships as well

Yorktown is about 4 days from Pearl

oo, there are also about 20(!!!) PacFlt boats shadowing KB [:D] including s-boats

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Midway, at 95,61 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

126 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 11
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 12
CL Kinu
CL Yura, Shell hits 4
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 8
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 11
BB Fuso


Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 2

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 24

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khota Bharu

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5379 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 35440 troops, 366 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 556



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Midway

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6818 troops, 226 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Defending force 14872 troops, 121 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 88


Japanese ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

3 IJN ships sank this day, all 3 at Midway

1 MSW
1 AP
1 AK

since the start of the war Brunos naval air arm has lost:

30 Zeroes
21 Vals
21 Kates

Though its possible some of these Zeroes were land based, though i know a good number were carrier based, so some pretty decent carrier plane losses

Bruno has lost 79 ships since the start of the war, including Haruna, 5 heavy cruisers, and about 8 destroyers

my naval losses:



my aircraft losses are also mounting, but im getting good gains from them, as very many of Brunos lost ships have been sunk by aircraft

also hes lost 15 APs and about the same number of AKs, this is a good start

ive always been willing to trade aircraft for ships sunk, and its paying dividends

in addition hes lost 3 tankers, an oiler, 2 submarines, including RO-66 near Wake, along with a DD tender, a seaplane tender, about 15 minesweepers, and 2 PGs and 5 PCs



KB has vanished, no sign of them anywhere, though aerial recon is non existent, and i wont scatter my boats and waste their fuel looking for them, when theres troop ships to deal with at Midway

Yorktown is 2 days from Pearl, upon arriving she and her  current screen will need a day for replenishment, so the soonest she could sail for Midway is the 17th

the AF at Midway is severely damaged, itll probably be days before its usable

i already have a relief force consisting of:

25th Inf Division
4th Marine Def Bn
97th AA Regt

20278 men in 12 transports, ready to sail for Midway. All 3 of PacFlts carriers are also standing by with escorts ready to go

several things here

1. Where is KB?
2. What is KB's status?
3. Is Bruno keeping KB loitering out of detection range of my boats and fueling from tankers?
4. Could it be a trap to lure in ships and men for slaughter?
5. Is KB genuinely worn out and need replenishment and additional planes? supplies?
6. Where are the 3+ battleships he has seperate from his carriers?
7. Where the bloody hell are all his submarines?
8. Could this all have been to create this very situation?

Additionally...

1. Am i just being paranoid? [:D]
2. Does anyone have a pizza and some coca cola?



[:D]

now to be serious again...

These are the ships that would be added to augment Yorktowns screen once she arrives. these ships have been filtered from the other 3 carrier groups





Not seen is DD Hull, i want to make sure they have an overkill of ASW screens as historically Saratoga was torpedoed ywice, and early in 42 was out of the war for at least 3 or 4 months, and of course Wasp was put under by I-26 if i remember correctly, and i intend to do as much possible to avoid any repeats, and prevent any war altering fish-absorbing that ive seen in other AARs, but then i always get an overkill ASW screen if i can

Yorktowns position and current screen:



also, the invasion forces off Mindanao and the carrier group near Amboina have disappeared. ive apparently stretched Brunos carriers thin, or he has the rest off Amboina and or with KB, because i didnt see any in the PI, and recon reported only 1 off Amboina

so wheres the rest? hes got, Hosho, a CVE, what else? been a while since i was in the IJNs command chair for the Grand Campaign

Anyway, i think that any relief attempt of Midfway will have a better chance of succeeding with more intel and with the Yorktowns group, so we shall wait and see how much Midways "Swiss Cheese Field" improves...

29 days until Hornet arrives...

Okay, i was curious as to how many carriers hes got so i looked it up



Add Shoho onto this since its mid January, and add the fact that hes probably cancelled Shinano and put the closest carriers on priority, Junyo and Hiyo IIRC

so as of now hes got

6 Fleet Carriers
3 Light Carriers
2 Escort Carriers

and i will assume to be safe that hes loaded land based fighters onto the CVEs and has them covering amphib ops

so he has 11 carriers to my 4 and 6 fleet carriers to my 4, and if hes operating a light carrier or 2 with KB, as i would, and as recon seems to have reported, then hes got me outnumbered in a major naval engagement by almost 2 to 1

and nearly 3 to 1 in total numbers of carriers

also he has:

1. MUCH better pilots
2. MUCH better torpedo bombers(Kates)
3. Much better fighters(Zeroes)
4. AND he has the Zero bonus until May or so
5. He also has effective battleships to screen his carriers
6. And if hes replaced Nagumo with Yamaguchi, as i do, a VERY dangerous commander and an even more dangerous force
7. And he may very well deploy his boats as scouts and to operate with the carriers in a fleet engagement


Thus, tackling KB, even down the line after the Zero bonus, with the flak upgrades and Hornet, will be no easy task. Fortunately, i can much more easily replace my planes, pilots, and of course to an extent, carriers. While he cannot...

so again the strategy against KB remains:

1. Concentrate carriers in seperate single carrier groups with heavy AA and ASW escort
2. Concentrate my boats wherever KB is sighted and to deploy them in the fleet battle/scouting role
3. If KB comes within range of LBA to focus air attacks on them and cause attrition and fatigue, and try to provoke a carrier engagement after attrition and fatige of pilots
4. Mine major ports where KBs carriers may dock
5. Create fighter and flak traps to increase attrition of Imperial carrier planes

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/15/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 2

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ichang , at 47,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18
Ki-51 Sonia x 9

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lingayen , at 44,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 32
C5M Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 17
Brewster 339D x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Gotake Maru
AP Anrugu Maru, heavy damage
AK Asakaze Maru
AK Ehime Maru, heavy damage
AP Atsuta Maru
AP Astuga Maru, Shell hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Brewster 339D attacking at 100 feet
1 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
4 x CW-21B Demon attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Saigon at 31,46


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
Hudson I x 7


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
DD Kasasagi
CL Kashii

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khota Bharu

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5383 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 35553 troops, 367 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 554


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Midway

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6878 troops, 228 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Defending force 14810 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80


Japanese ground losses:
350 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

at least 6 IJN ships sank today, and at least 3 at or near Midway

KB is still off the radar, as it were, no sign of them

Yorktown will arrive tomorrow

it also seems as though all the transports and freighters are gone too, all that seems to be left is a submarine, maybe laying mines

86 Imperial ships have been sunk since the start of the war, to 14 Allied and USN

SigInt detected radio transmissions near Pearl, all aircraft are going on full alert

as soon as Yorktowns group arrives, the relief force will sail for Midway. also coming along is the 116th Base Force, from the South Pacific


28 days until Hornet arrives...