Matrix Games Forums

Loved the title of Operation 'So Rong'!

Great AAR, I am especially enjoying reading the rationale behind your various moves then finding out how they unfold. I have also mainly played as Japan in recent years and I think it provides a good insight into how you can throw some annoying obstacles in the path of the advancing Japanese juggernaut.

It was unfortunate that Force Z was caught like that but some of your other plays will certainly have impeded your opponent's plans by forcing him to adopt a more cautious approach. Where transports have been sunk, he will also need to reassign scarce assets to secure objectives that he could have been forgiven for thinking were in the bag already.

My take on Kido Butai:
I think my oponent made a mistake on dividing it into 4-CV TF to PH; 2-CV to Malaya. It simply lost the "death start" overpowering/ overkilling capability. PH attack was in particular toothless: No ships sunk; 2 BB will require extensive repair... That is it.
Force Z was caught with the pants down, and still there is a good chance no ships will be lost.

Once I play Japan, I think I will go either full KB or maybe detaching one CV max to Malaya/ DEI.
Afterwards, KB needs to work together; maybe in 2 mutually supporting TFs, that will be fine, but never to far away one from the other

+1. In my current game I detached one CV to Malaya / DEI for an enhanced Mini-KB and found this provided more than enough flexibility to cover my invasions. In fact I have only lost about 3 x AKs to Allied SCTFs having taken Singkawang,Davao, Manado, Ambon and Sorong. Force Z did achieve a night time bombardment of Singkawang that damaged the port and airfield but, now that I am deploying Netties in each location, the Allies will need to use naval forces with more caution, especially in daylight.

ORIGINAL: Richard III

Repulse and POW rack up system damage fast at just Mission Speed. If you need to run them at High Speed they go right into the red and speed falls off and they slow down.

I will follow your advice; change them to "mission speed"; there is no rush and it will be better to fight at daytime anyway

ORIGINAL: Walker84
In my current game I detached one CV to Malaya / DEI for an enhanced Mini-KB and found this provided more than enough flexibility to cover my invasions. In fact I have only lost about 3 x AKs to Allied SCTFs having taken Singkawang,Davao, Manado, Ambon and Sorong. Force Z did achieve a night time bombardment of Singkawang that damaged the port and airfield but, now that I am deploying Netties in each location, the Allies will need to use naval forces with more caution, especially in daylight.

Thanks
Yes, one if enough... some uber aggressive players even do no PH at all; but I am too historically oriented to try that.
As long you keep the mini-KB outside torpedo range, you are fine, Zeroes will mop the floor with anything you throw them, 2 turns ago, I lost 30 Buffalos and 15 Vildebeest, trying to break Mersing's CAP

Sub update

Yesterday's turn didn't have a lot in terms of hits:
he sunk one small *AP; I sunk one *AK

That said, I had a close call with Ryujo:
yesterday I spotted him and tried to set up a trap with 5 submarines (4 Dutch)
KIX caught him, but it didn't work out as the torpedo missed. Still a good scare for PresterJohn



Then he disappeared. he was moving on direction to Balikpapan. thus some important points:
- if he keeps close to Balikpapan, next turn I will have the 2 raiding TFs ready (Dutch/ American).
- Ryujo's spotted escort is light (only CLs) [:)]
- Subs are patrolling nearby, I hope they get him!

If he wisely decides that Balikpapan's water are too risky; then it is still good, as I don't want him there yet.

Final thoughts on operation So Rong

I reviewed again the combat replay, and a search plane "spotted and hit" CA Kako; thus I believe the starting TF "Guam cover force" should be there. If that is the case, it will be an interesting fight; 4 CAs mean trouble; but as long as the "long lances" don't get lucky, Repulse should have no trouble with the 20cm guns

Dangers,in ascending order:
Submarines: low risk, as this is not a typical hunting ground
Zuiho/ Hosho: I don't know their exact location; I think they are near, but I also believe they depleted torpedoes.. we will see tomorrow
Battle itself: I am pitting 1 BC vs potentially 4 CAs; that is going to be a tough fight
Long lance torpedoes: The greatest threat; one lucky hit, and Repulse is done

The main reason I am going forward with this is location; lack of shipyards close to Sorong
Repulse's guns can do a lot of damage, thus any damaged CA will require extensive "AR" time at Babeldao plus a dangerous trip later on to the HI or Pescadores. At the very least, we are talking on missing action for the most critical critical months.

-

Repulse did well for me, hope she does as well for you off Sorong!

Very interesting turn; first of all, operation "This is So Rong" didn't yield anything as the enemy escaped.... My detection level was 8.. hum..[:-]
Force Z, or better to say, the remaining half of Force Z, will withdraw south.

It is safe to say Force Z would had been at great risk had I withdraw it to Makassar as I was planning to do as I would had gotten into mini-KB range

Reason being my opponent did a very bold move. As I mentioned in post #64, Mini KB was spotted NE of Balikpapan; thus I moved Doorman's Dutch TF + the 3 least damaged US DDs to a position just SE of Balikpapan hoping to catch him next turn. However, things turn out completely different; he maintained course SE and both TF encountered at 66,100 : SE of Balikpapan.




Nachi and particularly Haguro rocked; with 2 or 3 deck armor hits on the CL and one particularly nasty penetration hit on Wittr de With; he might end sinking next turn
No hits scored on any Japanese ship [:@]
I guess it could had been worst; Tokyo Rose reported that I lost 2 carriers, one battleship and numerous cruisers and destroyers [8|]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 66,100, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships (Good to know the exact composition of mini-KB)
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CL Tama
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsushima
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp, Shell hits 2
DD Bulmer
DD Whipple
DD Parrott
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Van Ghent

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CVL Zuiho , CVL Ryujo , CVE Hosho screened from combat
- escorted by DD Hatsushima , DD Hatsukaze
CA Haguro engages DD Van Nes at 24,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Witte de With at 24,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Evertsen at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
CVL Zuiho screened from combat
CA Haguro engages DD Witte de With at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Tromp at 27,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Tromp at 27,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Van Nes at 27,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Whipple at 27,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL De Ruyter at 26,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Java at 26,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Van Nes at 26,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Witte de With at 26,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Parrott at 26,000 yards
CVL Zuiho , CVL Ryujo , CVE Hosho screened from combat
- escorted by DD Hatsushima , DD Amatsukaze , DD Oyashio
CA Nachi engages CL Java at 26,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Java at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
CVL Zuiho , CVL Ryujo , CVE Hosho screened from combat
- escorted by DD Wakaba , DD Hatsushima , DD Hatsuharu
CA Haguro engages DD Witte de With at 28,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Tromp at 29,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL De Ruyter at 29,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Van Ghent at 29,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Banckert at 29,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Witte de With at 29,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Evertsen at 29,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Parrott at 29,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Bulmer at 29,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Tromp at 30,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL De Ruyter at 30,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Nachi at 30,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Van Ghent at 30,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Banckert at 30,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Witte de With at 30,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DD Parrott at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

This turn, not only did I find mini KB... [:D] Kaga/ Akagi spotted!



Look how light is the escort of the most critical IJN TF [X(] and my Dutch submarines so close [:'(]
A pitty I can only throw them CLs and DDs next turn... maybe I will get a lucky hit [:'(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Sampit at 54,97, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Akagi
CA Chokai
CL Abukuma
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
xAP Don Esteban

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat





There was little to no naval action last turn, but the air strikes went very well for the Allies... I will expand soon

As said in the previous post; my opponent sent Kaga/Akagi to the Java sea and a full Mini-KB to the Makassar straight. This is a summary of the better than expected air strike's results. [:)]

In summary
Kaga/ Akagi launched 2 naval attacks: one vs. RAN cruisers on Batavia, one vs. a small ASW destroyer patrol
Zeroes didn't launch against Batavia; and Dutch Buffalos had a field day [:D]

Mini KB also launched 2 naval attacks one vs. Doormans Dutch TF; the second one vs. ships on Balikpapan.
Although Zeroes were escorting; Balikpapan's CAP was amazing, managing to down many Kates [:D]

Total loses according to my tally are:
Japan:
Zeroes: 1 destroyed. from mini-KB
Vals: 6 destroyed; 3 damaged
B5N2: 2 destroyed; 5 damaged
B5N1: 5 destroyed; 5 damaged
Lots of elite pilots lost [:)]

Allies:
PG Tulsa and YO-42 [:D] ... these the slowest and last members of the "Manila exodus"... YO-41 survived!!

Combat reports

Morning Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 5
D3A1 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Isis
CL Danae

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
2-VI.G.V with B-339D (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Semarang at 54,98

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Electra
DD Express

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 65,99

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Banckert
DD Van Ghent

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 12

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
PG Tulsa, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
YO-42, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
YO-41

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
1-VI.G.V with B-339D (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

This is the situation before the starting of tomorrow's Operation "Reckless".

It basically means sending all available submarines to the 2 choke points that Mini KB and Kaga/ Akagi can take

I am lucky last turn I sent all my Mersing hunters to Singapore to refuel and rearm; so of the 14 submarines hunting Akagi/ Kaga, 8 are very close and in great conditions

ORIGINAL: Walker84

Loved the title of Operation 'So Rong'!

Great AAR, I am especially enjoying reading the rationale behind your various moves then finding out how they unfold. I have also mainly played as Japan in recent years and I think it provides a good insight into how you can throw some annoying obstacles in the path of the advancing Japanese juggernaut.

It was unfortunate that Force Z was caught like that but some of your other plays will certainly have impeded your opponent's plans by forcing him to adopt a more cautious approach. Where transports have been sunk, he will also need to reassign scarce assets to secure objectives that he could have been forgiven for thinking were in the bag already.

My take on Kido Butai:
I think my oponent made a mistake on dividing it into 4-CV TF to PH; 2-CV to Malaya. It simply lost the "death start" overpowering/ overkilling capability. PH attack was in particular toothless: No ships sunk; 2 BB will require extensive repair... That is it.
Force Z was caught with the pants down, and still there is a good chance no ships will be lost.

Once I play Japan, I think I will go either full KB or maybe detaching one CV max to Malaya/ DEI.
Afterwards, KB needs to work together; maybe in 2 mutually supporting TFs, that will be fine, but never to far away one from the other

+1. In my current game I detached one CV to Malaya / DEI for an enhanced Mini-KB and found this provided more than enough flexibility to cover my invasions. In fact I have only lost about 3 x AKs to Allied SCTFs having taken Singkawang,Davao, Manado, Ambon and Sorong. Force Z did achieve a night time bombardment of Singkawang that damaged the port and airfield but, now that I am deploying Netties in each location, the Allies will need to use naval forces with more caution, especially in daylight.

Look what I found on the book "Kaigun":

a new storm of controversy broke when Yamamoto insisted that the Hawaii operation employ all Japan's fleet carriers then in commision. He based his views on the map exercises aboard the Nagato, which used six carriers; the results with six carriers were judged far more impressive than with only four carriers

Interesting - I guess the analogy is that we all get to be Yamamoto when making this type of decision! I would certainly consider 5 carriers the minimum to go in to PH with or there's not much point. That said, according to the intel I still don't think I managed to sink very much outright in my last outing. I try to play a fairly historical game and its always interesting to gain these types of insights. Good luck with Operation Reckless!

I just got the turn, so more to come soon...
It didn't work the 1st day; Japanese destroyers were very alert, so I had multiple ASW attacks, and attacks. [:(] I will keep pushing; I want to keep pressing those CVs.

Those subs in 41 should be engaged in operation pointless

I hate dud torpedoes!!

Last turn there were 2 very interesting naval actions:

The 1st was a British naval bombardment on Pt Blair; captured by paratroops a couple turns ago; I betted he was not ready in Victoria Point to do anything about it, and the paradrop was a bluff... so far I think it payed off, we will see next turn

Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Caledon
CL Glasgow
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
CL Enterprise

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 19
Runway hits 48
Port hits 21
Port supply hits 5

Then, the Battle of the Makassar strait:
as mentioned before, last turn the Dutch fleet had a brief encounter with mini-KB. Today the cover force came to play and the result were 4 battles that took the entire day... I like how aggresive Doorman can be:

end result:
CL Java lost to torpedoes
CL Tromp and DD Bancjkert heavily damaged

DD Umikaze likely sunk
DD Yukikaze heavy damaged

This is combat summary of the final 4th battle; I have some subs that will do some recon just in case he is lucky and the 2 DDs survive

Day Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 70,96, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CL Nagara
CL Yura
DD Yukikaze, heavy fires
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Bulmer
DD Whipple
DD Parrott, on fire
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Van Nes
DD Van Ghent

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CA Myoko engages DD Van Ghent at 19,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL De Ruyter at 19,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Whipple at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Tokitsukaze at 16,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DD Kawakaze at 16,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Piet Hein at 16,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Whipple at 16,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages DD Tokitsukaze at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CL De Ruyter at 13,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL De Ruyter at 13,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Kawakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Kawakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Kawakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Parrott at 13,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Bulmer at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Van Nes at 11,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Umikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Whipple engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages DD Kawakaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages DD Van Nes at 9,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Umikaze at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DD Kawakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Whipple engages DD Tokitsukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages DD Umikaze at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Tokitsukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Parrott at 9,000 yards
DD Whipple engages DD Umikaze at 9,000 yards
DD Bulmer engages DD Umikaze at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...

This is the status for Malaya:

Singapore is isolated. But all troops, except 3 small LCUs, were able to escape to Singapore

These 3 LCUs will move to railroad hexes to slow down and deny the use of strategic movement

One Australian brigade is in Johore Bahru. it is already 80% prepared, so I decided to keep it there as speed bump

Troops at Mersing/ Kluong are around 1 division max. He is not ready yet to try to assault it

Fort Level is at L2 and 41% to L3... He is not bombing yet, thus I am confident fort level will be at least L3 or even L4 by the time he starts.

Daily unopposed Japanese "sweeps" over Singapore... from time to time I will put everybody in 100% CAP to see if I can catch bombers.

Last turn I bombed Mersing's port; I sunk one previosly damaged *AK and damaged the port a bit. Tomorrow I will send the bombers to Kluong to hit the airport.

Singkawang is resisting!!! [:)] he assaulted it with fewer troop and supplies than required. He failed 3 times in capturing it. But that said, last turn he sent another TF so it won't hold a lot longer.

in the DEI:

he has only captured Sorong and Manado, which I am bombing daily (airport). After an aggresive defense that includes: a couple of nasty, costly ambushes and making the Mini-KB + cover run away in panic, I think he is pacing his offensive a lot more cautious than before!

In the PI:
He chose Aparri instead of Vigan, he is following an eastern PI offensive. he just captured Bayombong last turn. On the western Luzon, I still have Vigan and SFernando.
South: he assaulted both Mauban and Legaspi. I expect him to reach Manila in around 3 days

He also assaulted Palawan and Panay. Nothing yet in Mindanao... and my B-17s appreciate it [;)]


NoPac: He assaulted Amchitka last turn. I don't know yet what level of commitment he is planning there; I will send patrols to check it.
And until I know the exact location of the 4-CV KB, I won't react to it

I just got the combat replay; turn coming back sometime tomorrow.

Overall, a quiet turn, with no real surface combat and little success/ failure in terms of submarines (1 ship torpedoed each side)

Japan keeps its advance unhindered; in this turn they captures Singkawang and landed the 33 division, yes a full division [X(], on Palembang.
thus it will fail quickly tomorrow.

b]Mine warfare[/b]
Both Singkawang and Palembang were heavily mined in the previous turns, but I did not notice any effect or any attempt to minesweep before landings [8|]
I guess mine warfare effectiveness will be one of my first questions to PresterJohn once the game is over.

Moving over to better news; I setup my Singapore Buffalos on CAP; and even though I got heavily punished by Zeroes, Oscars, etc. Still some manage to be in the right place at the right time:

Akagi launched 22 Kates and 22 Vals (no Zeroes [:D] ) to hunt my local minesweeping flotilla at Singapore [:D]

Results were amazing; according to my tally taken at the combat replay:
Kates: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
Vals: 12 destroyed [&o], 7 damaged.

Of course I understand not all damages were to individual planes, and some double counting is in place. Still I would guess at least 2 or 3 additional operation losses.

This is the second time this happen (1st was over Batavia if you remember); thus I think the capabilities of the almighty KB are slowly eroding... these elite pilots are almost impossible to replace




forgot to mention my losses were:
HDML 1063
AMc Klias
AMc Jarak
AMc Rahman
HDML 1062
AMc Gemas
[:D] [:D] [:D][:D]



Morning Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 25
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
HDML 1063, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Klias, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Jarak, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Rahman, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
HDML P 10
HDML 1062, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Gemas, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.27 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Raid is overhead
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMc Jarak

At last some results from the mining campaign:

DD Shirayuki Enemy ship sunk Sunk by M Mk IID Mine at 51,82 near Mersing
so Mersing's minefield yielded some results
Lets wait and see if Palembang and Singkawang got any lucky hit. Minefields certainly didn't stop or slow down the offensive,


This is the (very depressing) list of bases lost.. too many in only 12 turns

Kweiteh Owner changed Lost base Major
Wake Island Owner changed Lost base Major
Tuguegarao Owner changed Lost base Major
Brunei Owner changed Lost base Major
Miri Owner changed Lost base Major
Manus Owner changed Lost base Major
Langkawi Owner changed Lost base Major
Guam Owner changed Lost base Major
Legaspi Owner changed Lost base Major
Calayan Owner changed Lost base Major
San Jose Owner changed Lost base Major
Taytay Owner changed Lost base Major
Victoria Point Owner changed Lost base Major
Kuantan Owner changed Lost base Major
Kuching Owner changed Lost base Major
Port Blair Owner changed Lost base Major
Aitape Owner changed Lost base Major
Manado Owner changed Lost base Major
Hollandia Owner changed Lost base Major
Dumaguete Owner changed Lost base Major
Mersing Owner changed Lost base Major
Hansa Bay Owner changed Lost base Major
Mauban Owner changed Lost base Major
Ocean Island Owner changed Lost base Major
Laoag Owner changed Lost base Major
Naga Owner changed Lost base Major
Boac Owner changed Lost base Major
Kavieng Owner changed Lost base Major
Sorong Owner changed Lost base Major
Sidate Owner changed Lost base Major
Batangas Owner changed Lost base Major
Bayombong Owner changed Lost base Major
Kluong Owner changed Lost base Major
Alor Star Owner changed Lost base Major
Taiping Owner changed Lost base Major
Hong Kong Owner changed Lost base Major
Umboi Island Owner changed Lost base Major
Amchitka Island Owner changed Lost base Major
Babuyan Owner changed Lost base Major
Georgetown Owner changed Lost base Major
Tarawa Owner changed Lost base Major
Singkawang Owner changed Lost base Major

And air losses so far (12 turns)

Turn 7: Mersing landing. Zero pilots (from Akagi/ Kaga) massacred Singapore's Buffalos and Vildebeest. While Nells got slaugtered by AA
Turn 10: Akagi/ Kaga non escorted raid at Batavia
Turn 12: Akagi/ Kaga non escorted raid at Singapore