Speedy vs Fabertong - time to smack back the Penguin

[Speedysteve]

Malaya -

Japanese forces conitnue to mass at Kota Bharu. No movement down the peninsula. The Allies continue to build up at Malacca with all but a few Bn's evac'd from north Malaya.

Japane airpower is ruling here too now though with Netties and Zeroes at Kota Bharu sinking shipping fleeing the Malacca Strait - including the large AP Dominican Monarch.

Faber's doing a good job of using his Zeroes in sweeps over Singapore too. They're taking down the inexperienced Buffalo's at a rate of 5:1.

Allied LBA tried to keep Faber honest by bombing Kota's airfields destroying a few planes on the ground.

BB Prince of Wales will come out of the Shipyards tomorrow and attempt to flee southwards towards Java and then safety. It will be tough with LBA and submarines lurking.

Allied SC TF's around Kuching have been subject to massed Netty attacks over the past 2 days heavily damaging CL Java, Durban and Danae.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

4 day update.

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A frustrating 4 days to be a submariner. Many a failed/missed attack.

To summarise over the past 4 days:

Missed/failed attacks: 30

Successes:

TB Otori sunk by SS O16 near Miri.

CM Aotaka damaged by SS Stingray.

AKL Tatibana Maru sunk by SS KXII near Kota Bharu.

PB Myoken Maru sunk by SS S-41 near Tawau.

xAK Hakubasan Maru sunk by SS O16 near Jesselton.

xAK Yasuteru Maru heavily damaged by SS Searaven near Calayan.

In return the Japanese have:

Damaged AK Silverbeech by I-157.

Damaged AK Neleus near Merak by I-164.

Sunk CM Krakatau by I-156 near Billiton.

Sunk AVP Poolster by I-153 near Lingga.

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KB is near Wake and has been bombing it for 2 days.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

4 day update.

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Faber evac'd Ichang which the Chinese have re-taken.

The Japanese seem to be gathering for a push through NE of Singyang and NW from Kweiteh for Chinese held Chengchow.

To hopefully counter this I'm digging in forcs around Chengchow and am brining up forces to assault the Japanese in the rear around Wuchang and Nanchang.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

By recent standards today was a quieter day in the war.

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PI -

The Allies continue to entrench at Clark Field.

Zeroes sweep the skies shooting down 13 x P40 and 3 x P36 for the reported loss of 3 Zeroes. No bombing raids mind you. It seems as though Faber is looking to annihilate my fighters before then pounding my men and supplies with his bombers. Makes sense I guess. He's in no rush.

It seems as though the Japanese CVL in the area have returned/are returning to port since no attacks were launched today.

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Malaya -

The bomber raid against Japanese held airfields at Kota Bharu met several 'Nate' type fighters on patrol. They managed to shoot down 3 of my Hudsons and Blenheims. My boys pressed on though and reportedly destroyed 3 enemy bombers on the ground.

BB Prince of Wales is fully crewed again and has left Singapore's 'safety' heading south in the company of 10 accompanying destroyers....she's in the hands of the gods now.......

A Japanese cruiser force bombarded Kuching today causing a few casualties.

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KB bombs Wake again and recon/intel indicates Japanese forces are on their way to Rabaul. I've been evac'ing the place via Catalina's from PM since the war began.

I have a scratch Aus/NZ Cruiser force about a day or 2 out of Rabaul to give them a surprise.....

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3 failed/missed submarine attacks today. The 'highlights' of which were 2 misses by SS Pollack against AMC's 276 miles south of Wake Island.......

[Smeulders]

51 system seems a whole lot. Are you sending here to Java to patch that up or will she try to cross the Indian Ocean with this damage ?

[Speedysteve]

If I can I'll send her to Java and then to Australia for emergency R&R. It all depends how her journey to Java goes though as to whether I keep her in Soerabaya for a couple of weeks.

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

If I can I'll send her to Java and then to Australia for emergency R&R. It all depends how her journey to Java goes though as to whether I keep her in Soerabaya for a couple of weeks.

Australia has no dock suitable for her. You need to go to Colombo or Cape Town if you want to avoid an overstacked dock.

I believe Sydney has 30 repair yards but tonnage is somewhere near 35k. Plus, going to Sydney is probably a similar trip as going to Cape town. Colombo could be raided OTOH.

Do you say overstacked if it's just one vessel? Not a native, just wondering...

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Mistmatz - you are correct Sydney is not big enough to repair her. However I will probably send her to Sydney to repair her SYS damage before she moves off to Capetown for repairing the MJR FLT damage.

In terms of overstacked - I'd probably say she was over sized. Hope that helps[8D]

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PI -

A relatively quiet day wth no air raids over Luzon. The evacuation of Manila continues as does the Build up at Clark Field.

The Cebu BF TF had almost escaped the clutches of the Japanese! Alas most of the remnants were aboard ships refuelling at Sorong when Nells from Palau took them all out! I mean them all........the only survivors of this BF are stranded on the Island of Morotai after a heavily damaged Freigter ditched there. I'm sending a small schooner type to pick them up and try to rescue them to Darwin.

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Borneo -

Faber did to me what I've been doing to him - he sent CA Chokai and DD Yugumo to investigate Balikpapan. They tore into my surprised freighters and a TK loading fuel and supply. 4 x AK, TK British Motorist and PG Isabel were blown to pieces by CA Chokai after DD Yugumo retreated listing and on fire after being hit by one of my recently laid mines.

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Malaya -

A quiet day over the Peninsula as well.

BB Prince of Wales was not spotted by enemy planes or submarines today. Damage control is holding up and she's approaching the Island of Bangka. Fighter support is out of range now.....

A nice little coup occured today when a small AP managed to sneak into Victoria Point and load up the small BF remnant there bound for Port Blair......

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Other news -

CV's should be at San Diego within 4 days.

Wake Island was assaulted today by the Japanese. Last contact was heard at 3.13PM local time.......

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Submarine warfare -

Another frustrating day......

4 more failed/missed torpedo attacks. The worst of which occured off Wake Island when SS Pollack hit BB Yamashiro, at the time pummeling USMC positions on Wake, with a dud torpedo.

Quite unfortunate around Wake - I have 10 submarines operating in the area all of which have managed to miss KB or the Wake invasion/bombardment groups.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

BB Prince of Wales lives on. She's navigating through the narrow straight between Sumatra and Bangka Island heading for Medan.

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PI -
All quiet on the western front. We entrench and the Japanese slowly get ashore and (I assume) move inland.

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Borneo -

CVL Ryujo is spotted off Tarakan and bombed by 139D's...no hits reported and 3 pilots missing.......

Balikpapan is being evac'd of shipping. It's the likely next target.....as well as....

Kuching. SigInt informs me the Miura detachment is on the way. I won't contest this landings with my CL/DD force. Faber will no doubt expect me to since I have every time so far....just to keep him on his toes.

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Malaya -

Locals inform us that a Japanese unit is crossing country approaching the deserted Alor Star.....the rest of the Japs appear to be holed up in Kota Bharu (16 units reported) heading SW.

Unescorted Lillies bomb Kuantan. I have a little surprise awaiting them tomorrow if they try again in the form of Buffalos!

Victoria Point BF reaches Port Blair. It's funny how little escapes like that become overly consuming and enjoyable at this stage of the war[8D]

Supply runs from Palembang to Singapore continue. So far the small freighters have shipped in over 5K of supply.

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Other News -

Hong Kong falls to the Japanese! We will return! Oh sh*t wrong fortress, wrong Island[;)]

Chinese LBA have been dropping a few bombs here and there on Japanese industry in China. Little damage reported other than minor damage to Wuchang's Merchant Shipyards. With the limited replacements you get (i.e. non existant) and the losses I've incurred it's time to stop for now.

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Submarine warfare -

The avalanche of swear words emanating from me must have reached the torpedoes aboard my fleet boats.......

SS Pollack damages (at last) AMC Kongo Maru off Wake Island with a torpedo. Some nearby dropepd DC's do minor damage. Back to PH.

Other boats in the area tracking KB and her re-supply TF 276 miles south of Wake.

Teamwork by SS Sturgeon and Triton in sinking the 8000 tonne freighter Takatiho Maru east of Batan Island. Good to see this baby going down 2 years earlier than in reality (Kingfish got her IRL).

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Convoys -

Thought I'd update you all on what I've got moving about. It may be early war and we don't have much to move anywhere at the mo but we have some stuff.......

20K Fuel/28K Supply unloading at PM.
30K Fuel/26K Supply unloading at Noumea.
88K Fuel/42K Supply en route to Suva from Los Angeles.

Heading to PH for use in CentPac:

73K Fuel
96K Supply
161st Infantry Rgt
34th Infantry Rgt
47th Cons. Rgt
198 FA Bn
3 x PBY Squadrons.

Soon to be heading to SoPac (along with the Suva bound supply convoy above):

8th USMC Rgt
4 x B26 Squadron
4 x P39D Squadron

It's a start..............

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hong Kong falls to the Japanese! We will return! Oh sh*t wrong fortress, wrong Island[;)]

Funny Speedy. [:D]

[Mynok]

Unescorted Lillies bomb Kuantan. I have a little surprise awaiting them tomorrow if they try again in the form of Buffalos!

Ruminants eating flowers....sounds almost natural.......[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Firstly - a request: Is there anything you guys want to see, hear, discuss in particular?

Hi Mynok - LOL. My Buffalo's were very hungry today and ate 12 of the flowers over Kuantan for no loss.....the boys are having a day off tomorrow to get p*ssed and celebrate [;)]

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PI -

The Japanese landed more forces today at Mauban east of Manila. Advance elements also reached within 46 miles east of Clark Field. The siege and battle will begin at Clark within 10 days I would say.

All remaining forces are evac'ing Manila for Clark Field. I'm moving all nearby subs back to Manila to try to top up fuel and load up torpedoes for the final time.

PBY's flew out of Manila for the last time to Darwin.

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Borneo -

Japanese forces are about to invade Samarinda and it appears an enemy CVL group is nearing Kuching probably ahead of the invasion here too.

All naval forces in the area are moving west.

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Malaya -

As mentioned a 'Turkey shoot' occured over Kuantan when 15 Lillies were surprised to find Buffalos on CAP! 12 of 15 of the flimsy planes were downed without any loss[:)]

Japanese forces are at Alor Star and also nearing Taiping.

BB Prince of Wales should reach Merak, Java tomorrow. There are enemy submarines in the area though which make me wary.

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Other areas -

The Japanese are nearng Rabaul! Out of nowhere Japanese carrier planes screamed down on my Aus/NZ Cruiser Force off Rabaul. My boys did well though and downed a Kate and damaged several other planes. The only damage received was relatively 'minor' with a torpedo hitting CL Adelaide and a bomb hitting CL Achilles. My naval forces will withdraw SW at full speed. There looks to be about 2 x CV's in the area.

About 1/2 of the Rabaul LCU force is back at PM. We will evac what we can of the rest.

This logically means that PM will probably come under attack within a month. I don't have the force in the area to stop this attack so if that's the case I have to accept PM will fall.

CV's will reach San Diego tomorrow for R&R.

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Submarine warfare -

DD Nokaze reportedly broke in half after SS O19 hit her with 2 torpedoes off Kota Bharu.

AK Sasako Maru was damaged by SS KIX near Miri.

SS Sealion left AK Tatukami Maru dead in the water 300 miles NW of Puerto Princesa.

Missed/failed attacks included the damaged DD Yugumo and CL Tatsuta.

On the 'other side' SS I-158 blew up CM Rigel outside of Batavia.

[Terminus]

I want to see you get your lazy butt over to The Thread and congratulate Dixie on the birth of his son...[:'(]

[Terminus]

No activity in Burma yet?

[Speedysteve]

I'm still massing around Pegu/Rangoon.
 
SigInt has identified 33rd Division preparing for Rangoon (it was heading to Cam Ranh Bay on transports).
 
55th Eng Rgt is at Rahaeng.
 
Recon has identified the first signs of a Japanese incursion SE of Moulmein headed west.
 
AVG is centered around Rangoon.
 
20K supply has just unloaded there which is a welcome boost.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The trial of Prince of Wales continues. Tomorrow she will enter Batavia harbour for refuelling. The journey has, so far, gone remarkably well and no further damage has been incurred. I'm tempted to risk her travelling across the ocean towards Cape Town......

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PI - The Japanese are advancing rapidly inland now taking Mauban, Cabanatuan, Naga and Lingayen. I've posted below the sit rep and showing the AV I have available at Clark Field.

B17's flew and bombed Atimonan's resources today.

I'm risking flying CAP over Clark tomorrow...........

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Borneo -

Japanese troops storm ashore at both Samarinda and Kuching. No Allied interference occured.

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Malaya -

Japanese troops begin their advance down the peninsula taking Alor Star and pushing the Kota Bharu BF remnants further inland.

My LBA attacked Kota's airfields and the Nate's took a toll shooting down 8 x Hudson's.....

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Other areas -

Sorong invaded. Victoria Point taken.

The first Japanese raid in Burma took place when 22 x Ann's bombed a RAF BF at Moulmein. They clearly weren't expecting any opposition when a couple of H81's took down a reported 6 (!) Ann's...

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Submarine warfare -

DD Yugumo was hopefully put under the waves today when SS S-37 put a fish into her nearing Tarakan.

Other than that the usual misses and duds.........

SS I-26 was brave when blowing up DD Cushing with 2 torpedoes outside of San Francisco.

An Row Boat braved the cold waters and tried sneaking into Dutch Harbour. A Yacht and Minesweeper chased her off. We have 11 submarines up here now, fuel unloading, Port Detachment ashore and 30K Fuel and 30K supply en route with an AS. Then we'll begin a Sub campaign out of Dutch.

CV's at San Diego resting, taking on limited planes and training pilots.

[Terminus]

Shooting down Anns is like kicking puppies: unsporting and cruel...[:'(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi T - well Puppies shouldn't be left unguarded then[:-] [;)]

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PI -

My intuition said that Faber may attack Clark Field for the 1st time today so I had my fighters on CAP....it paid off. 71 x Betties flew in tightly escorted by 26 x Zero. In total I had over 80 fighters on CAP - 59 of which were P40's. Although not as experienced as their Japanese counterparts my boys did well enough shooting down 30 x Betties and 3 x Zeroes for the loss of 6 fighters.

Zeroes also ranged over Luzon on fighter sweeps claiming another 12 x US fighters.

15 submarines have refuelled and re-armed at Manila....back to patrol.

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Borneo -

Samarinda falls.

Kuching landings continue with an AK hitting a mine.

A B-339 fighter sweep claimed a 'Zuiho Zero'[8D]

CL De Ruyter TF will attempt to attack enemy shipping off Sorong tomorrow.

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Malaya -

Quiet day over the Peninsula.

BB Prince of Wales is refuelled and damage is stable. I'm risking moving her from Batavia straight to Cape Town.......

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Other areas -

Japanese troops landed at Rabaul today and also at Shortlands!

11 x Squadrons (B26/P39/P40E) are embarking at San Fran bound for SoPac ultimately.

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Submarine warfare -

SS Seawolf duelled with a large AK on the surface SW of Indochina. Johore Maru apparently sunk after being struck by 3" shells and 2 torpedoes.

CM Kamome was blown up by SS KXV near Miri.

[Terminus]

So if you see an adorable little puppy, you'll kick it if nobody's looking? You bad, bad person![:-]

[khyberbill]

What altitude do you put the P-40s when on CAP?