RHSEBO Test 11E vs PDavis: Allied Air Power Works (When Unopposed)

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: bigred

As a novice allied player I am not sure it is a good Idea to get the russians involved VS the Japs.  Can the IJA push the russians around early?  I ask the readers for their opinions.

OK - RHS is unusual - as a favor to the Allied player - so the Russians can build things - move things - and control air operations (even conduct recon). And the Allies can start the war - it is equal opportunity - not just passively wait for Japan - and if it happens in the wrong place - still be frozen EVEN when Japan attacks.

This turned up the pecuilar fact that the code does not work for the Russians - it will likely be fixed - and RHS had to do a workaround. This is the second time - used to be Russian ships didn't work - and we worked around that (making them French) until code got amended. Anyway - in RHS the Russians are not at war - just active - but players need to control events.

Neither side can afford war in 1941 - and it will hurt if players don't stay out of the war for a while. War is not "legal" until the treaty expires in June 1945 - but of course you can break the rules or with draw with 90 days notice and be "legal." But war might be attractive sooner than that.

Both sides get stronger over time - but the Russians get a lot stronger eventually. The area also has problems of a geographical sort - Russia has a horrible LOC and is paper thin - so it is not entirely wise to start a fight until it has vast superiority. The combined effects of this are that it makes sense for Japan to attack in the early mid phase of the war - and the Russians in the later part of the war - and in between there is a period (like the beginning) where it is not smart for either side. RHS lets there be real deterrence - if the Japanese strip too much - Russia MIGHT attack. If the Russians behave badly - patrol the sea and bomb Jananese merchant ships - an island country must have shipping - maybe Japan will attack.

In this game - the player sent a Russian ship to Hawaii - by mistake - not understanding SMM = Soviet Merchant Marine - and not noticing nationality was Soviet. That creates a problem - if Hawaii is allowed to have supplies - it never falls. A neutral needs to stay out of a war zone - or lose the ships. And that is just the way it really is. But there is still the possibility of getting upset over such an incident. The chance of that ship getting home is nil - there are strong air patrols - and they can not stand down to let convoys in.

[el cid again]

There was a vessel reported as an AK yesterday off Kyushu. I thought it was a mis reported submarine. Today it was identified as DM Tibilsi. It is still in Japanese coastal waters. Shutting down vital sea lanes - and gathering intel - and maybe laying mines - is unacceptable. Why is a Soviet warship - one of the two best in the Far East - hanging around Kyushu?

Gen Togo

[el cid again]

General Tojo, PM Molitov is disappointed with you frivolous acuzations of war mongering.

I will need to announce any combat ship movement from this point forward. The Soviet sub fleet is on a cruise near the tusima strait and should be heading back to the house. There are some minelayers moving about to mine soviet ports. I would like for this to continue. Alot of oilers and ak's are on the move. I was playing w/ my toys and considering a war. I will know if I need to attack if I see no jap units to my front.

[el cid again]

have not withdrawn Japanese merchant ships - which are needed to make the economy work - and the only problem is reports say you have naval search out - which will bomb them (and which is unacceptable - since there are many in home waters).

I have re assigned all search missions in the North - which are usually up but range limited to maximize safe waters for Soviet ships - to ASW missions. Any NON submarine is safe - and I did not know Soviet subs were at sea - but there will not be any bombings of naval or merchant ships in the North - near Soviet coastlines. The ASW missions let me track them too - so I have a sense of where to "clear a path" for them. But it is safer to tell me before the fact.

Subs are MUCH more difficult. If any are at sea air patrols will engage them (rarely). And since US subs are in Japanese waters there must be air patrols. To move subs safely you MUST

a) Tell me BEFORE the fact the EXACT hexes so these can be removed from all patrols

b) NOT permit US subs in waters in range of the same air patrols

Since I see what I think is a US sub South of the Home Islands - I thought there were two but today it is only one - and since there was a US sub off Sakhalin a few days ago (I think) - sub patrols are active and subs need to be

1) In port

2) In the hex next to Vladivostok and Suchan - subs can go between those ports at all times without notice - because I do NOT interfere with such legitimate movements

3) North of the Soviet border on Sakhalin Island - that is - the Sea of Othosk between the Amur, Soviet North Sakhalin and Magadan is entirely safe an not patrolled EVER (if we are at peace)

4) EAST of Petropavlovsk - or in that hex - I don't want to mess with even subs in the Bering Sea - so long as it is not a place being used for US bases - which might change evenutually I suppose. I lack the planes to go there in numbers anyway - and pissing off the Russians seems stupid - so I try this approach to begin with - and let events show it failed - if it fails.

Now there IS a right of non bellegerent passage through the Kurils - but the game thinks we are at war - so I need notice to let you do that - BEFORE the transit is attempted. I see the surface ships - so they are being left alone (meaning no naval attack missions and no naval search missions) - on principle.
Subs are different IF they come into Japanese waters - I will let them pass - but need to know when and where - so long as we are not at war.

Sid

[el cid again]

Christmas Eve 1941 (Hawaii) Christmas Day 1941 (Far East)

The night turn began with a disaster at Davao - JAPNESE minelayers and landing ships got fauled up with each other - and the first casualty was AK Kakyu Maru hit one of the JAPANESE mines. 28 casualties to troop cargo. 45 CD shots were fired - scoring 3 hits on DM Hoki. And beach defenses caused a further 215 casualties. Next DD Murakumo hit another "friendly" mine. Pre dawn landings saw AK Syoryu Maru hitting another mine - 12 casualties and 1 gun lost to troop cargo - 14 more CD shots fired - DD Umikaze taking 1 hit - and 348 more casualties to beach defenses. Then AP Gotake Maru hit yet another friendly mine - 18 more troop cargo casualties. DD Uzuki started clearing the friendly mines. What a mess!

MSW Ichkeit and Scarba detected and missed I-14 at Noumea. Later in the night I-14 torpedoed AP Rangatira - and was unsuccessfully counterattacked in turn by the same Escort unit.

4 DD and a MSW unit detected, attacked, hit and set on fire O-19 one hex outside Saigon. Later in the night the same 5 units scored 3 more hits on poor O-19. She took a bomb hit from patrol aircraft during the day turn as well. Presumably she will try to run for base - or will burn out or flood out - tomorrow.

Ro-44 missed USN DD Edsall at Soerabaja.

Ro-45 missed AP Zealandia at Singapore. PDavis does not fear to run in transports to Oahu or Singapore - unusual for Allied players at this stage of the war.

3 ASW units detected, attacked and missed I-8 near the tip of India. Later in the night I-8 attacked and missed a SC in the same TF - and two SCs counterattacked - and also missed. Presumably sonar conditions were bad.

One hex out of Davao USN sub Pickeral missed DM Ikitsushima. Later Itsukushima in the same hex attaccked and missed Pickeral.

An IJN MSW unit missed Dutch sub KXIII in the Gulf of Thailand.

[el cid again]

The day turn began with 4 Ki-49s escorted by 10 Zeros and in company with 2 Ki-46 recon planes out of Hanoi attacked airfields at Meiktila Burma. 10 Hawk 75s on CAP - 3 destroyed. No hits on the target.
Immediately afterward 47 Bettys escorted by 31 Zeros out of Bangkok followed up. Only 7 CAP now: somehow 11 kills were claimed - and these all in the air. 1 Betty destroyed and 9 damaged by AAA. 16 airbase related hits.

15 B-17s out of Palembang attacked KB - 5 Ki-43s on CAP damaged 1 - 2 port related hits.

6 Ki-51s escorted by 7 Ki-43s with 2 Ki-46 recon planes hit KL - 7 Buffalos on CAP - 1 Buffalo shot down - 14 ground casualties and 4 airbase related hits.

12 B-17s hit Jolo - 6 Zeros on CAP. No hits on anything by anything.

3 Hudsons failed to harm the 56th Independent Infantry Brigade at Davao.

30 Ki-27s caused 19 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Miscelaneous Northern Factions 38th Field Army near Nanking.
27 Ki-51s and 8 Ju-88s caused 75 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Hopei First Cavalry Corps in Northern China.
47 more JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 46 more casualties to the same unit.
53 more JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 41 casualties to the 9th Field Army near Nanking.
70 more JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 97 casualties and 3 guns lost to the same unit.

40 Ki-21s out of Indochina caused 44 casualties and 3 guns lost to the Indian Army 8th Brigade in Malaya.

10 Kates and 6 Zeros as fighter bombers failed to harm K Force (minus) on New Ireland.

4 ROCAF IL-4s failed to harm AP Komeyama Maru off Xuwin Southern China.
18 ROCAF SB-2s failed to harm anything at Ichang Central China.

12 Me-109s scored 12 twenty mm hits on 2 PT units at PH. They missed a third unit.
3 more missed an LCVP SW of Lanai.

27 Ki-43s swept Rangoon - which has aircraft - but met no CAP.

5 PC units, 2 MSW units, 2 DE and 3 DD detected, attacked and missed RN sub Trusty in the Gulf of Thailand.

Troops at Xuwin South China fired 46 CD shots - scoring 4 hits on AP Koshu Maru - 151 casualties to troop cargo or beach defenses.

Japanese ground assault East of Nanking achieved 6:1 odds on two beleagured Field Armies. 75 Japanese casualties and 3 guns lost. 173 Chinese casualties and 6 guns lost. No retreat - which may not be possible.

Japanese ground bombardment at Manila casused 12 casualties and 1 gun lost.

Japanese ground assault at Davao achieved 1:1 odds and reduced fortifications to zero. 71 Japanese casualties and 2 guns lost. 24 Filipino casualties to the 101st Division.

Japanese shock attack on K Force (minus) survivors on New Ireland achieved 134:1 odds - and the unit surrendered. 19 Allied casualties.

Undefended Khoan Koan Thailand fell to ground assault.

Chinese shock attack at Ichang achieved 1:1 odds. Fort level reduced from 3 to 2. 105 Japanese casualties, 4 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost. 141 Chinese casualties and 4 guns lost.

Chinese ground bombardment at Xuwin South China was ineffective.

Allied deliberate attack at Meiktila Burma vs a company of 129 paras acchieved 105:1 odds. The paras retreated into the jungle. 23 Japanese casualties and 3 guns lost.

Allied ground bombardment at Davao was ineffective.

Undefended Prome Burma fell to 261 paras in a brevit battalion assault.

[bigred]

Coastal Guns at Hilo [Hawaii], 116,74, firing at TF 243
TF 243 troops unloading over beach at Hilo [Hawaii], 116,74


123 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
CL Sendai
DD Akatsuki
AK Kazuura Maru
AK Fugi Maru
AK Toho Maru
DE Kasasagi

Japanese ground losses:

[el cid again]

Christmas Day 1941 [Hawaii] 26 Dec [Far East]

The night turn began with landings at Xuwin South China. 21 CD shots fired (no hits). 27 Japanese casualties to beach defenses.

More landings at Davao were next - AP Arizona Maru took a mine hit (from a Japanese mine) - 26 casualties to beach defenses.

Mine clearing continued at HK.

IJN MSW W.5 and W.6 detected, attacked and hit RN sub Truant in the Gulf of Thailand.

5 ASW units detected, attacked and missed Dutch sub O-19 off Saigon.

4 ASW units detected, attacked and missed IJN sub Ro-48 at Kendari.

7 ASW units detected, attacked and hit RN sub Trusty 3 times in the Gulf of Thailand.

BB Fuso and BB Yamashiro led a night bombardment of Hilo - with 2 CL and 1 DD in company. 391 Allied casualties, 9 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost, 15 other hits. Upon returning to base at Lahaina CL Mikuma (she is in her original Brooklyn like configuration with five triple six inch mountings) hit an Allied sub laid mine.

USN sub Perch torpedoed and probably sank AK Kitugawa near Davao. When she tried to attack again later the target was not there any more.

[el cid again]

The day turn began with massive ASW attacks by aircraft - including many hits. One Allied transport sank South of Ceylon.

4 P-40s swept Hankow Wuhan - no opposition.

36 Ki-43s did the same thing at Rangoon.

7 Ki-49s escorted by 10 Zeros and accompalnied by 2 Ki-46 Recon planes out of Hanoi made a disasterous raid on Meitkila Burma. 18 P-40s and 4 Hawk 75s on CAP - obviously including the AVG. 2 Zeros and 3 bombers destroyed, 1 more bomber damaged. 2 P-40s destroyed, 2 damaged. No hits to targets.

21 Zeros of the Yamada DHD swept Mandalay. 16 AVG P-40s on CAP. 1 loss on both sides.

15 B-17s scored 1 port hit at KB. 3 Ki-27s on CAP were ineffective.

16 B-17s scored 1 port hit at Jolo. 7 Zeros on CAP. 1 bomber and 2 fighters damaged.

12 B-10s escorted by 12 Buffalos made an ineffective attack on the 56th Division in Malaya. 1 bomber damaged.

3 Hudsons made an ineffective attack on the Saipan CD Regiment at Davao.

A JAAF raid on the Hopei First Cavalry Corps caused 30 casualties.
Another on the 9th Group Army caused 62 casualties and 2 guns lost.
Still another cost 111 casualties and 2 guns lost to the same unit.

9 Vildebeeste caused 16 casualties to the First Raiding Brigade in Burma.

56 JAAF bombers of 3 types caused 41 casualties to the CW First Malaya Brigade - in Thailand.

6 Me-109 strafed an LCVP unit at PH - 4 hits by 20 mm MG 151s and 2 more by bombs.
Later 25 Me-109s and 12 Ki-44s got 12 more 20 mm hits and 1 more bomb hit on the same unit.

24 ROCAF SB-2s caused 3 airfield related hits at Ichang Central China.

6 B-17s caused 5 casualties, 1 gun lost and 1 port hit at Jolo. 6 Zeros on CAP were ineffective.

Landings at Hilo by much of the 6th Division lost 1066 casualties to beach defenses. 123 CD shots fired - but not hits.

Almost 4000 Japanee attacked just over 3000 Chinese at Xuwin South China. The position - softened by air strikes - yielded 2:1 odds - fort level zero. The Chinese retreated with 54 casualties and 6 guns lost. 123 Japanese casualties and 6 guns lost.

A Chinese Field Army usually on the trail North from the secondary RR crossing between Indochina and China - came out to play. We cannot harm it in the mountains - but in the lowlands it is different. We must wait - however - another came down the RR from Kunming - so we will eat it first - if we can - or drive it back.

14 000 Japanese captured Davao from 3300 Filipinos in the weak 101st Philippine Division. 8:1 odds. 184 Japanese casualties and 9 guns lost. 68 Philippine casualties and 2 guns lost - the enemy retreating as usual.

15 000 Japanese attacked 14 000 Chinese - failed to achieve odds - 219 Japanese casualties and 5 guns lost - 60 Chinese casualties and 7 guns lost. This is on the secondary RR West from Nanking - and another Field Army apeared during the day. Units were demoralized by this development - so the problem remains.

Japanese ground bombardment at Manila caused 15 casualties.

13 000 Chinese attacked the Brigade at Ichang China. 1:1 odds, fort level 2. Fortifications reduced to 1. 139 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost. 116 Chinese casualties and 7 guns lost.

2000 Allies attacked 3000 Japanese at Magwe Burma. We had flown in many during the day. No odds. 26 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost. Only 6 Allied casualties. Very skillful (or lucky) Allied performance.

An attack at Phuket Thailand vs the CW First Burma Brigade revealed 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles. Still - the unit retreated instead of disappering. Not sure what that means? Unless the unit was wiped out by an air strike. It apparently is stragglers from a sinking ship.

Allied bombardment at Hilo was ineffective.

[el cid again]

26 Dec 1941 (Hawaii) 27 Dec (Far East)

The night turn began with USN sub Sargo torpedoing and sinking already damaged AK Kitugawa Maru West of Davao.
Later in the night, in the same area, USN sub Perch torpedoed and sank already damaged AK Iyang Maru.

Next I-175 attacked but missed PG Mindinao (one of four ASW units in a TF at PM). Two of the PGs counterattacked and also missed.
Later I-175 tried again to torpedo PG Mindinao - and missed her again. Only Mindinao counterattacked. The sub bottomed out and detection was lost.

Next 7 IJN ASW units detected, attacked and missed S-39 near Kavieng. For whatever reason - it disappeared from reports thereafter.

I-9 torpedoed and sank AK Don Jose at Singapore. She stopped off to search for possible targets en route to Saigon to repair system damage and rearm - having started the war near Ceylon - and then engaged near Rangoon. This was a successful patrol for I-9 - assuming she makes it home. In EOS I-9 is armed the same as I-8 - it isn't clear that is the case IRL - with a twin 5.5 inch forward. These otherwise are sister ships - and it is possible they both mounted this at one point. Historically many of the seaplane carrying subs also converted to two 5.5 inch later in the war - but these were seperate single mountings fore and aft.

An IJN AS TF of 7 DDs out of Singora detected, attacked and missed RN sub Trusty in the Gulf of Thailand.

I-3 shelled, torpedoed and sank large UK AK Empire Steelhead in the Gulf of Panama.

Comment: The revised submarine armament (guns are treated like surface ships with "shots" of multiple shells instead of one shot per shell as per stock/CHS - torpedoes have been assigned "effective range" vice maximum range where effective is half maximum) and ASW armament is working very well.

[el cid again]

The day turn began with 36 Ki-43s sweeping Rangoon - no CAP encountered.
Next 30 Zeros swept Mandalay - encountered 5 Hawk 75s - and shot 4 of them down.

3 Hudsons failed to harm the Saipan CD Regiment at Davao.

A JAAF attack on the Miscelaneous Northern Factions 38th Field Army in North China failed to cause casualties.
Another failed to harm the Hopei First Cavalry Corps at Yanku in North China.
Yet another caused 12 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.
A unit newly equipped with Ju-88s caused 18 more to the same unit.
A very large combined strike caused only 5 casualties to the same unit (which we plan to attack on this turn).
Another very large combined strike caused 123 casualties and 4 guns lost to the Hopei 49th Field Army SW of Shanghai.
A small strike caused 9 more casualties to the same unit.

4 Ki-49s (pre production models), 10 Ki-51s, 10 Claudes and a Ki-46 recon plane failed to harm the ROC 60th Field Army North of Hanoi.

27 Ki-21s caused 18 casualties and 2 vehicles lost to the Taiping Industry Fortress (supply sink).

6 B-18s, 15 SB2U-2s, 7 SBD-3s and 12 TBDs - esscorted by 16 F4F-3s - raided Molokai engaging a wing of the KB. CV Soryu and CVL Ryujo were both missed by the few penetrators. 33 Zeros, 20 Me-109s and 6 Petes on CAP. 1 Pete shot down, 3 Zeros, 1 Me and 1 Pete damaged. 12 F4Fs, 6 B-18s, 10 SB2Us, 2 SBDs and 7 TBDs shot down - almost all by fighters. 3 more SBDs damaged by AAA.
3 SB2U-2s straggled in late - with 3 Wildcats, 13 P-36s, and 16 P-40s in escort (these escorts would have been better with the first wave - but you know AI). 35 Zeros, 20 Me-109s and 4 Petes on CAP. 1 Zero shot down. 2 F4Fs, 12 P-36s, 15 P-40s but only one bomber shot down. The other two bombers said - lets get outa here!
These two actions took a long time to resolve and constitute the Molokai Turkey Shoot. A major convoy had diverted here to land part of 6th Division and support elements - trying to evade his subs - many of which are at sea SW of the islands. However - he did not send any to Lahaina or Hilo as expected - so the evasion failed and was not required. We see a DD and something else trying to run North - so we will try to get them tomorrow.

I-9 scored again at Singapore - putting 7 shells and 2 fish into AK Zaandam - sinking her.

I-14 detected a PC unit at Noumea and torpedoed PC Miramar.

Japanese ground bombardment of Field Armies on the secondary RR West from Nanking caused 2 casualties and 1 gun lost.

150 000 Japanese at Yanku attacked the Hopei First Cavalry Corps - badly hit by days of air strikes. 10:1 odds. 98 Japanese casualties and 4 guns lost. 489 Chinese casualties and 18 guns lost. The unit went back from whence it came.

Japanese ground bombardment at Manila caused 2 casualties and 1 gun lost.

17 000 Japanese attacked 12 000 Allies at Taiping - a static unit mainly a supply sink. It fell on the first assault - 3443 Allied casualties and 463 vehicles lost. No Japanese casualties at all. But the assault was supported by air strikes.

39 000 Chinese attacked a single brigade of 5500 at Ichang near Wuhan. 2:1 odds Fort Level 1. 185 Japanese casualties, 8 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost. 129 Chinese casualties, 7 guns lost. Fort level reduced to zero.

Allied ground bombardment of Hilo caused 5 casualties and 1 gun lost from 6th Division.

IJA ground assault West of Ningpo - 15 000 men vs 7 000 - achieved 32:1 odds (they have no supplies). They ran. 73 Japanese casualties and 5 guns lost. 241 Chinese casualties and 9 guns lost.

[bigred]

Yes, a disappointing adventure.  F4F-3 causes me concern for the safety of my 5 remaining carriers. 

[el cid again]

28 Dec 1941 (Hawaii) 29 Dec (Far East)

The night turn began with I-4 trying to engage PT boats at PH.
Later in the night I-1 tried to do it as well - and failed.

Next I - 175 attacked PT 42/43/44 at Thursday Island.
Immediately after they tried to attack I-175 - and missed.

Then something really exciting - USN sub Nautilus at Hilo Hawaii got a shot at Zuikaku - and torpedoes failed. 2 DD counterattacked - and missed.

DD Ayanami detected mines at Hilo.

The day turn began with a JAAF attack on the ROC 5th War Area HQ causing 10 casualties.
Another caused 8 resource hits at Pucheng.

Then 14 Allied bombers of 2 types failed to do anything at Magwe - not sure what they tried to do either?

[el cid again]

The featured battle of the day saw a sweep of Mandalay by 23 Zeros of the Yamada HQ Detachment (DHD).
They met 24 AVG P-40Bs on CAP. EIGHT Zeros shot down - NO Allied casualties.
Superb air combat.

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: bigred

Yes, a disappointing adventure.  F4F-3 causes me concern for the safety of my 5 remaining carriers. 

I never engage with F4F-3s. I wait for F4F-4s.

[el cid again]

14 B-17s raided Jolo. 12 Zeros on CAP. 1 shot down, 1 damaged - the old addage "the best fighter in UV is a B-17" seemed to apply here. Not a good day for Japanese in air combat! 1 port fuel hit on the ground.

6 B-17s caused 11 casualties to the 54th Division in Malaya.

A JAAF raid caused 17 casualties to the Misc Northern Factions 38th Field Army.
Another caused 3 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Hopei 49th Field Army.

30 Ki-21s caused 10 casualties to the Indian Army 44th Brigade in Malaya.

3 B-10s failed to harm an element of the First Raiding Brigade in Burma.

6 Dutch T-IVa and 3 Dutch B-10s caused 31 casualties to a RCT of the 33rd Division near Kota Bahru.

24 000 Japanese in a combined arms team (armor, infantry, artillery, HQ and AAA) at Kuantan captured it from 18 000 defenders on the first try. 7 units retreated and 1 surrendered. 171 Japanese casualties, 8 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost. 6792 Allied casualties, 3 guns lost, 833 vehicles lost.

Japanese ground bombardment East of Nanking caused 18 Chinese casualties.

Japanese ground bombardment at Manila caused 8 Allied casualties.

Allied ground bombardment at Hilo was ineffective.

[bigred]

Too bad the SS missed. The allied press needs good news.

[el cid again]

29 Dec 1941 (Hawaii) 30 Dec (Far East)

Believing all is going well - and needing time to move to attack - I upgraded many air units yesterday. Today at half a dozen points units moved into LOC positions broadly across China. So we are committing all forces in position (and not with down aircraft) to an offensive - and moving in many more. Other units are moving to expand conquests in Malaya, Burma and the Philippines. Still others are attacking in Hawaii - we will reduce Hilo next - then Lihue - and finally turn attention to Oahu - which simply must be reduced by starvation and bombardment or it will destroy all that enters the hex.

We had a disaster at Lahaina - a minesweeper TF somehow changed its mission to surface combat - and failed to even contribute to mine clearing. Instead - escorts for transports detected and cleared mines - and DD Hatsukaze hit one in the first impulse.
In the second impulse - more mine clearing - and AP Nichiai Maru also hit a mine.

A naval landing party landed at Aitape New Guinea.

I-175 missed PG Mindinao at PM - and was missed by it in return.

The day turn began with a JAAF raid causing 2 resource hits at Pucheng China.
Another caused 10 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Misc Northern Factions 38th Field Army.
Another caused 39 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Hopei 49th Field Army.
Another caused 38 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Misc Northern Factions 13th Division.
Another failed to harm the ROC 9th Field Army.

12 B-17s caused 12 casualties and 1 gun lost and 18 other hits to air support units at Kuantan Malaya.

10 B-17s attacked Jolo. 13 Zeros on CAP. 3 bombers destroyed, 1 damaged. 1 Zero destroyed, 1 damaged. No hits on target.
42 more B-17s followed up immediately - now only 12 (tired) Zeros on CAP. 2 bombers destroyed, 1 damaged. 1 Zero destroyed, 1 damaged. 1 Nell destroyed on the ground, 13 casualties, 1 gun lost, 24 more hits.

3 B-10s out of India caused 2 casualties to a detachment of the First Airborne Brigade at Magwe, Burma.
Later 3 more failed to harm a detachment of the 33rd Division in Burma.
But 3 more with 6 T-IVa caused 37 casualties to the same unit.

67 JAAF bombers out of Thailand of 3 types caused 70 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Indian Army 46th Brigade in Malaya.
9 Ki-49s out of Hanoi caused 15 more casualties to the same unit.
37 Bettys and Nells out of Saigon caused 14 more casualties and 2 guns lost to the same unit.

Daytime landings occurred by a naval landing party at Wewak New Guinea.

18 000 Japanese attacked 17 000 Allies at Clark. Fort Level 1. No odds. 456 Japanese casualties and 2 guns lost. 152 Allied casualties and 9 guns lost.

14 000 Japanese of 6th Division attacked 6400 Allies at Hilo - they have been reinforced by a RCT of 24th Division. No odds. 100 Japanese casualties, 5 guns lost. 33 Allied casualties, 1 gun lost. Mountain terrain.

Japanese ground bombardment at Manila caused 12 JAPANESE casualties and 2 guns lost (to counterbattery fire???) - but only 2 Allied casualties and 1 gun lost - unusual

Allied ground bombardment at Hilo was ineffective

6200 Japanese attacked a weak Field Army of 4700 Chinese East of Ningpo. No odds. 76 Japanese casualties, 2 guns lost. 17 Chinese casualties, 1 gun lost.

Most of the 4th Independent Mixed Regiment attacked remnants of a brigade and air support element at Toungoo Burma. Only 187 troops and 3 guns had survived previous combat and much air bombardment. 37:1 odds. The enemy retreated toward Mandalay down the main RR LOC. 10 Japanese casualties. 46 Allied casualties and 2 guns lost. This puts the main RR LOC under Japanese control - so the troops defending Magwe now get supplies. Magwe is ours but invested by over 5000 enemy troops which seem to have marched in after we took the place - probably retreating down the rail line we just captured - hmmm - we better make sure there is no enemy ZOC on that line of march.

[el cid again]

30 Dec 1941 (Hawaii) New Year's Eve (Far East)

PG Napa detected mines at Muntok, Banka Island.

USN sub S-39 torpedoed AK Tateyama Maru NW of Rabaul.

Landings at Pakhoi South China suffered 28 casualties. A major landing including a tank brigade is going in to change the situation in this area.
Pre dawn landings suffered 14 more casualties.
35 CD shots fired but no hits.
128 more casualties to beach defenses during the day from one TF and 156 from another. 3 TFs landing.

Other landings occurred at Hilo - 79 CD shots fired - one "hit" on one LCVP unit - but no obvious effect (it might have been a HMG hit).
81 casualties and 4 guns lost to beach defenses.

4 Blenheims caused 1 runway hit at Magwe Burma - an odd thing - since Magwe is an ALLIED base!!!

43 Ki-48s and 12 Ki-30s escorted by 37 Ki-43s out of Pisanalouke raided Rangoon. 1 Ki-48 destroyed, 1 damaged by AAA. No CAP but 1 Buffalo destroyed on the ground. 4 casualties, 1 vehicle lost. 17 runway hits.
39 Ki-21s out of Rangoon followed up immediately, causing 3 casualties, 43 other hits. 1 bomber damaged. 1 more Buffalo destroyed on the ground.

6 B-17s caused 4 runway hits at Jolo. 11 Zeros on CAP damaged one bomber - but one Zero shot down in the action.

2 Ki-30s attacked Borzia - no idea why ???? - 35 Claude escorted them - met 26 I-16s - and shot down 5. No damage to target.

6 B-17s attacked 4th Division causing 2 casualties and 1 gun lost in Malaya.

8 ROC I-153s caused 7 casualties to the 38th Division in China. 4 Hawks escorted. This at Hankow - site of a major offensive - with landings by junk groups.
14 SB-2s of 2 types and 9 IL-4s attacked the same unit - causing 54 casualties, 4 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost.
Two river task forces are sent upriver to mess around at Wuhan.

A JAAF strike caused 50 casualties, 4 guns lost to ROC 62nd Field Army.
Another caused 32 casualties to the Red 15th Guerilla Regiment.
Another caused 18 more to the same unit.
Another caused 6 more to the same unit.
Yet another caused 6 to the Hopei 49th Field Army.
Another caused 21 casualties, 1 gun lost to the ROC 70th Field Army.
Another caused 27 casualties and 1 gun lost to the 9th Field Army.
Another caused 21 casualties to the same unit.
Yet another caused 1 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.

4 Ki-30s caused 18 casualties to the ISF 3rd Base Force in Malaya.
20 Nells caused 11 more to the same unit.
11 JAAF bombers of 2 types caused 22 casualties and 2 guns lost to Indian Army 8th Brigade.

[el cid again]

Analysis of the "air attack" at Borzia indicates NO air strike per se was ordered - but RECON was ordered - and planes set to CAP went along as "escort" - met CAP - and these engaged. Not sure why this happened - or why it does not happen all the time?