That was a nice attack at Merak. Good show! Don't get trapped in Burma. Once in a city with enough supplies the Indian divisions and brigades flesh out nicely.
Thanks khyberbill, it was good to catch of few of his true AKs. With his amphib bonus expiring in a few days, killing the true APs and AKs should help slow him down.
I am having trouble with my Indian divisions. I saved about half of a good brigade from Malaya, and just rebuilding it has sucked my pools dry. I have 2 trashed Gurkha Bdes that will be combat ineffective for quite a while. I am going to go back through all my other Indian formations and start reprioritizing replacements.
Thanks for the reminder about Burma. Right now, he does not have enough combat power in central Burma, but I am going to need both the 1st Burma Div and 17th Indian for the defense of Imphal.
Thanks for the reminder about Burma. Right now, he does not have enough combat power in central Burma, but I am going to need both the 1st Burma Div and 17th Indian for the defense of Imphal.
I got surprised in Burma by the speed of their armor. Before you know it, they are behind you.
"Its a dog eat dog world Sammy and I am wearing Milkbone underwear" -Norm.
Thanks for the reminder about Burma. Right now, he does not have enough combat power in central Burma, but I am going to need both the 1st Burma Div and 17th Indian for the defense of Imphal.
I got surprised in Burma by the speed of their armor. Before you know it, they are behind you.
True enough. I spent the last few months reading Slim's "Defeat into Victory" and Allen's "Burma". What struck me was the key role the 70th Arm Bde played--it saved Burcorps over and over again. I have committed about half the Bde (one sqdrn and one rgt). These two units, with their superior mobility along the good roads in southern Burma, have given him plenty of trouble. Originally, I thought I would lose all of Burma by the end of Feb. Now, I think I can conduct a reasonably organized fighting retreat to Imphal in April. I don't know where is armor is at the moment. I think some of it went down off the coast of Java. He may be massing the rest for India.
Soon you will be getting some more a/c to support your troops there. I find that Hurricanes at 30k do a good job of protecting cities or stacks in the country. Wellingtons are nice too, but you dont get many. I largely do night attacks on stacks and airfields with them and the Beauforts. If he invades India, you will have different problems.
"Its a dog eat dog world Sammy and I am wearing Milkbone underwear" -Norm.
Kido Butai: Sighted off northern Java on 29 Mar; presumed to be pursuing Allied carriers after raid against Merak.
Sumatra: The enemy has taken Oosthaven.
Borneo: no new activity since Balikpapan fell.
Java: 4 enemy division equivalents have invested Batavia ( 4th, 19th, 6th Guards and 9th, 20th and 1st Formosa Rgts along with an Eng Rgt). The 7th, 4th and 2nd Tank Rgts appear to be moving through the mountains to the west to encircle Batavia. A KNIL combined arms team is waiting. What seems likely to be a bombardment TF built around the Nagato is moving south from Singapore presumably to bombard Batavia.
Celebes: The enemy is mopping up around Makassar.
Burma: 25 Mar 42, BURCORPS reports the enemy has conducted a large amphibious action against Akyab. A heavily escorted (3 battleships) invasion TF delivered the entire Imperial Guards Div and combat engineers to Akyab. 48 Gurkha Bde holds Akyab, but for how long? The enemy’s proficiency at amphibious turning movements is again demonstrated (only a few more days before the amphib bonus expires though).
The Imperial Guards drove the valiant 48th Gurkha Bde out of Akyab on 29 Mar after 3 days of intense fighting.
The enemy is currently halted 40 miles south of Meiktila and is stalled against the Chinese at Taung Gyi. He began air attacks on Meiktila on 30 Mar 42; presumably in preparation for an advance by the 33rd and 38th Divisions.
India: All major combat formations not required as garrisons to quell “Free India” uprisings are consolidating in Bengal. US Fighter and tactical bombers are enroute across the Atlantic.
China: The Japanese appear to be moving through the mountains towards Yenan in the North while continuing to bombard and build-up at Chuhsien.
Australia: I Australia Corps has completed its redeployment from the Mideast. The two veteran divisions are tasked as the strategic reserve for Australia Command.
SWPAC: Quiet. The RAAF has established a base on Lord Howe Island, 500 miles east of Sydney, to extend naval search to the Sydney and Noumea approaches.
SOPAC: Quiet. The enemy is presumably building bases in the Solomons.
CENPAC: Quiet. A Marine Defense Bn is enroute to Palmyra. Sub patrols have made no contacts vicinity Kwajalein.
NORPAC: Engineers and an Infantry Bn are enroute to Adak while Dutch Harbor is being fortified and expanded. No enemy activity has been noted in the north.
1. Summary. The enemy 25th Army (the conquerors of Malaya) have detached 2 divisions to reinforce the struggling 15th Army in Burma. Meanwhile the 14th Army (the conquerors of Luzon) have been committed against northern Java and Makassar. Operations against Timor and southern Java appear imminent along with a renewed offense in Central Burma once sufficient forces arrive.
2. Major Enemy Ground Forces Available.
The enemy 25th Army HQ at Singapore (4 division equivalents, 1800 AV) has the following major units: Sumatra
16th Grds (new)
24th Inf Rgt (new)
66th Inf Grp (new)
16th Inf Rgt (new)
146th Inf Rgt (new)
Uncommitted
18th Div
56th Div
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
91st Naval Guard Unit
The enemy 14th Army has been committed from the Philippines to Java and Makassar (5 division equivalents, 2500 AV) has the following major units:
Java
6th Grds Div (new)
5th Div
19th Div (from Korea)
4th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
2nd Tank Rgt
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Makassar
21st Division
Uncommitted
47th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
Mopping up in the Philippines
Tanaka Detachment
Kanno Detachment
The enemy 15th Army in Burma (4 division equivalents, 1800AV) has the following major units:
33rd Division
38th Div (from the 25th Army)
Imperial Guards Div (from the 25th Army)
112st Infantry Regiment
14th Guard Rgt
15th Guard Regiment
ABDA Intel Update, 1 Apr 42 (continued)
3. Probably enemy course of action:
The 14th Army will use 5 division equivalents to take Java while using 1 division to take Kendari—the last objective on Makassar. The uncommitted 47th Inf Rgt and 65th Bde may be used against Timor simultaneously with the attack on Kendari.
Attachments and Detachments: none.
The 25th Army will be responsible for taking the rest of Sumatra.
Attachments and Detachments: The 25th Army may be tasked to provide the 56th Div, 18th Div, 1st and 14th Tank Rgts to the 15th Army’s operations in Burma
The 15th Army will consolidate forces for a drive on Tuang Gyi-Meiktila-Magwe line.
Attachments and Detachments: Two division from the 25th and 2 tank regiments.
Kido Butai: Sighted off northern Java on 29 Mar; no new sightings.
Sumatra: The enemy is in mopping-up the last few remaining bases on the SW coast. The northern most bases remain in Allied hands, but have no supplies.
Borneo: no new activity since Balikpapan fell.
Java: 4 enemy division equivalents continue to lay siege to Batavia ( 4th, 19th, 6th Guards and 9th, 20th and 1st Formosa Rgts along with an Eng Rgt). They are not making much progress.
Celebes: The enemy has landed to the NW of Kendari and appears intent on marching overland to capture the base.
Burma: BURCORPS is still successfully holding the Meiktila-Magwe line in central Burma against the 33rd and 38th Divisions. Along the coast, the Imperial Guards division is advancing slowly from Akyab under very heavy air attacks from the RAF. Over 60 medium bombers have been striking the advancing division each day from bases in Bengal. In 7 days of attacks, the enemy has suffered over 2,000 casualties.
India: All major combat formations not required as garrisons to quell “Free India” uprisings are consolidating in Bengal. US Fighter and tactical bombers are enroute across the Atlantic.
China: No major activity.
Australia: No major activity.
SWPAC: MacArthur is reevaluating the decision not to try and hold Port Moresby. The enemy does not appear to have adequate forces for major operations in the SWPAC AOR until Java falls. He committed all his available forces from the Philippines to Java and the Celebes.
SOPAC: Quiet. The enemy is presumably building bases in the Solomons.
CENPAC: Quiet. Sub patrols have been reduced vicinity Kwajalein after a month of no contacts.
NORPAC: Engineers and an Infantry Bn have arrived at Adak. No enemy activity has been noted in the north.
Sumatra: The enemy is still mopping-up the last few remaining bases.
Borneo: Fully in enemy hands.
Java: The enemy encircled Batavia with multiple armor regiments on 14 Apr 41. 16,000 KNIL defenders surrendered the city on 25 Apr 41 after 6 weeks of intense fighting. The enemy suffered over 10,000 losses during his numerous attempts to enter the city.
The rest of Java will fall in a matter of a couple weeks.
Celebes: Two enemy regiments are on the outskirts of Kendari.
Burma: BURCORPS has retreated in good order across the Irrawaddy after a brief defense of Mandalay. The Corps will now conduct the long retreat to India.
India: A single enemy division (Imperial Guards) is continuing to advance from Akyab. Cox Bazaar fell during the middle of the month. Three divisions are dug-in at Chittagong.
China: No major activity.
Australia: No major activity.
SWPAC: MacArthur has ordered major reinforcements to Port Moresby before the enemy can shift his main effort from Java. He intends to commit 2 divisions. 4 US CVs will escort the convoys.
SOPAC: Quiet. The enemy is presumably building bases in the Solomons.
CENPAC: Quiet. Sub patrols vicinity Tarawa have made contact with a small convoy, presumably resupply.
NORPAC: No enemy activity has been noted in the north.
The US Pacific Fleet is increasingly concerned about the location of the Enemy's carrier TFs. The carriers were last sighted operating off Java at the end of March in an apparent response to the Anglo-American CV strike against enemy shipping unloading on the northern Java coast.
Fleet intelligence believes the enemy has split his fleet carriers and is now operating them with CVLs in two Mobile Stike Forces (Kido Butai or KB). SIGINT over the last month hints that one KB moved east to Babeldaob and then on to Truk while the other is believed to be at Kure (based on the volume of radio traffic that often accompanies flight operations).
Army intelligence disagrees, templating one KB at Singapore, another at Truk, with one or more carriers undergoing refits in the Home Island.
The stakes are high as 4 US carriers are operating as a covering force to MacArthur's build-up of forces at Port Moresby.
ADM Nimitz asked his staff for a plan to deceive the enemy as to the location of the US carriers. Hornet, having just completed a refit at Pearl Harbor is the only available asset, and will be key to an operation initially known as SHOESTRING. Fleet Intelligence was displeased with the naming of the plan that gave too much away about the nature of the operation. They proposed GRABLE. Nimitz was not amused when he more fully understood the naming schema Fleet Intel wished to use for this and future operations.
RADM Marc Mitscher’s TF24 (Hornet) will depart Pearl Harbor on 27 April 1942 to attack enemy shipping vicinity the two northern Japanese islands of Hokkaido and Sakhalin. The purpose of the raid is to destroy enemy shipping, deceive the enemy as to the location of our main carrier forces, and to give the Hornet air group combat experience. AO Brazos is available to support the TF. SS Tambor and Drum are patrolling in the area.
Fleet Intelligence anticipates only light resistance from IJN ASW forces and patrol aircraft. The only known enemy airbase is at Bihoro on the NE coast of Hokkaido.
The Battleship Arizona returned to Mare Island today, the second of the great wounded battlewagons from the Pearl Harbor attack to make it home. Here she will have the remainder of her hull damage repaired and an extensive refit.
Game notes: Arizona spent a mixture of almost six month in the PH shipyard and at pierside getting her float damage down to 49 (all major), engine to 2 and system to 7. She left Pearl, cruising at 9 knots. She made San Fran with float 56, engine 2, sys 8. Her temporary flood control failed 3 days out of San Fran and she went to 58 float; however, with her low sys damage, she was able to control the flooding.
30 Apr 42: COMSUBPAC reports numerous contacts with enemy tranport TFs vicinity Truk. No sign of enemy ASW aircraft of carrier aircraft nor major combat vessels were noted.
**Operation GRABLE as stunning blow to morale of Japan**
In the predawn hours of 6 May 1942, TF24 launched its search aircraft from a position 250 miles off the coast of the Japanese home islands. As the scouting reports came in, RADM Marc Mitscher directed his available strike aircraft from Hornet.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 122,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
Japanese Ships
xAK Heito Maru
xAK Ansyu Maru
xAK Horai Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sapporo at 120,51
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAKL Takunan Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Akasi Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Arabia Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kensyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 6000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Takunan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Akasi Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Arabia Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Kensyo Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ominato at 121,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Operation HAYWORTH: SWPAC reinforcement of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
GEN MacArthur has received support from the Joint Chiefs to attempt to hold Port Moresby as a base of operations for attacks in the fall of 1942 against the enemy on southern New Guinea and follow-on operations against the Bismarks. Army intelligence estimates that the defenses must be able to hold for 2 months against an enemy Corps of approximately 2000AV. The terrain in the vicinity favors the defender (X2).
Forces Available:
7th Australian Division 475 AV, 65 exp (includes Black Force)
1st Motor Bde (its tank Bn is now equipped with Grant/Lee tanks) 160AV, 60 Exp
Port Moresby Bde 89AV, 47 Exp
2 Rgts Med FA
40th US Div (-) 265 AV, 55 Exp
2 Bns AA
2 Bns Eng
2 Bns FA (105 & 155)
Timeline: D-Day is targeted for 6 May 42. All transports are expected to be off-loaded by D+7.
Port Capacity: Port Moresby is a level 1 port with 40 Naval Support squads. Maximum offload capacity per day is 2,500 + 40*10=2900 + 125 per day per ship by lighter.
Deception Plan:
Operation GRABLE is intended to distract the enemy to the build-up
ADM Spruance will not reveal his carriers are in support unless transports carrying key combat forces are threatened outside of the land-based-air umbrella
The airfield and port expansion will not begin until all key combat forces are off-loaded
Radio transmissions detected at Wusih (91,53).
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment is located at Akyab(54,45).
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment is located at Tsiaotso(88,42).
22nd RGC Temp. Division is located at Pengpu(90,50).
22nd JNAF AF Unit is located at Kagi(85,64).
Radio transmissions detected at Buna (99,129).
4/146th Infantry Regiment is located at Cagayan(79,89).
82nd JAAF AF Bn is located at Chiang Mai(58,53).
41st JAAF AF Bn is located at Batavia(49,98).
26th JAAF AF Bn is located at Tarakan(67,91).
12th JNAF AF Unit is located at Tinian(108,94).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Palembang (48,91).
Radio transmissions detected at Roi-Namur (132,114).
9757 men are based at Sapporo (120,51).
39th JAAF AF Bn is located at Mutankiang(111,42).
38th JNAF AF Unit is located at Palembang(48,91).
Soya Fortress is located at Wakkanai(122,48).
7th Manchukuo Cav Brigade is located at Linhsi(100,36).
Sasebo 5th SNLF is located at Nagasaki/Sasebo(102,58).
16th Recon Regiment is located at Roxas(79,83).
94 aircraft are based at Iwaki (116,59).
36934 men are based at Tokyo (114,60). 7/18th Division is planning for an attack on Dacca.
7th/C Division is located at Asahikawa(121,51).
13th Army is located at Shanghai(92,55).
1. Summary. The enemy 25th Army (the conquerors of Malaya) appears to be being reinforced (after detaching 2 divisions to reinforce the struggling 15th Army in Burma during April) and is preparing for an invasion of Bengal. Meanwhile the 14th Army has nearly complete the occupation of Java and has finally taken Kendari . Operations against Timor appear imminent. The 15th Army seems content to hold its position in Central Burma.
2. Major Enemy Ground Forces Available.
The enemy 25th Army HQ at Singapore (4 division equivalents, 1800 AV) has the following major units:
Sumatra
16th Grds
24th Inf Rgt
66th Inf Grp
16th Inf Rgt
146th Inf Rgt
Uncommitted
4th Guards Tank Div (new)
56th Div
18th Div
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
91st Naval Guard Unit
The enemy 14th Army has been committed from the Philippines to Java and Makassar (4 division equivalents, 2000 AV) has the following major units:
Java
6th Grds Div (new)
5th Div
19th Div (from Korea)
4th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
2nd Tank Rgt
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Mopping up in the Philippines
Tanaka Detachment
Kanno Detachment
The enemy 15th Army in Central Burma (3 division equivalents, 1300AV) and Arakan (1 div, 50 AV) has the following major units:
33rd Division
38th Div (from the 25th Army)
Imperial Guards Div (combat ineffective vic Cox Bazaar; detach to 25th Army?)
112st Infantry Regiment
14th Guard Rgt
15th Guard Regiment
3. Probably enemy course of action: The 14th Army will use continue to mop-up on Java while using 2 divisions to take Timor. The Army will begin planning for defensive operations of the DEI, but may also consider an attack against northern Australia.
Attachments and Detachments: none.
The 25th Army will continue organizing for a possible invasion of the Bengal region of India with 4 division equivalents.
Attachments and Detachments: 25th Army will receive reinforcements from other Theaters.
The 15th Army will attempt to secure Northern Burma and withdraw from Akyab the Imperial Guards Division by sea and reconstituted at Rangoon for future operations.
Attachments and Detachments: none.
GEN MacArthur reports the initial phase of Operation HAYWORTH was conducted without the enemy realizing a major operation was underway. The Australian 7th Division was landed along with 30,000 tons of supplies without the enemy's knowledge between 7-14 May.
