Matrix Games Forums

Jan 23, 1942

Bases captured today: Calapan and Cebu (RES 14(6), LI 14(6))

As I expected email intel (the best kind when playing Japan) confirmed that it was a battalion lost by the Allies at Victoria Point; it was supposed to land farther north, but he apparently messed up, lol.

The "Lost Battalion" off the Burmese coast was a faux pas.
It was to have been dropped on the coast two hexes south of your advanced position and covered by a surface task force but my staff muddled the orders. LOL

I took a gamble at Dutch Harbor and lost -

Night Naval bombardment of Dutch Harbor at 171,50 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
DD Numakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Amagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Yugure

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 1

BB Haruna firing at Dutch Harbor
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo

Followed by the gamble -

Ground combat at Dutch Harbor (171,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8173 troops, 42 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 241

Defending force 6158 troops, 134 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Japanese adjusted assault: 69

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1586 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 69 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Engineer Regiment
III./4th Infantry Battalion
II./4th Infantry Battalion
24th Infantry Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
Dutch Harbor USN Base Force
2/250th Coastal Artillery Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment

Jan 24, 1942

Bases captured or assaulted today: None

CV Kaga took a torpedo from a US sub near Adak; damage is not too bad. That sort of makes up my mind what to do with this CV TF - Kaga needs repair and the 2 CVLs need to increase the air squadrons on board to the ship maximum AND swap out Claudes for Zeroes - so it's back to Japan to do that. CV Akagi may lurk at Amchitka to attack targets of opportunity in the Aleutians.

Two US heavy cruisers bombarded Dutch Harbor.

More email intel -

Your invasion of Dutch Harbor took me by surprise.
Don't know whether I should abandon it.

Both sides at Dutch Harbor are equal in strength; the US controls the base with level 2 forts; why would he consider abandoning it? Of course, this message was before Kaga took a torpedo; that may change his mind.

Jan 25, 1942

Bases captured today: Kluong

Ground combat at Kluong (50,82)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14446 troops, 132 guns, 220 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

Defending force 5690 troops, 130 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Japanese adjusted assault: 466

Allied adjusted defense: 83

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kluong !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1719 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 173 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 98 (88 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 167 (160 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating to Johore Bharu!

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Cavalry Regiment
27th Australian Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force surrendered
137/155th Field Regiment
5th Field Regiment

A lot of guns and vehicles were lost by the Allies, but there is no way of knowing if the guns were artillery or AA, or if the vehicles were tanks or support. 18 and 56 Divs will be joining the Imperial Guards Div soon.

Bases assaulted today: Samarinda, Sidate, Namatanai, and Manado

A sub put a torpedo in CA San Francisco, which then bombarded Dutch Harbor, followed by bombardment by BB Colorado.

Another attack at Bataan shows progress -

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30557 troops, 364 guns, 301 vehicles, Assault Value = 897

Defending force 22272 troops, 277 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 286

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 931

Allied adjusted defense: 405

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
862 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
789 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Recon Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
16th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
4th/A Division
4th/B Division
4th Tank Regiment
4th/C Division
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Fld AA Gun Co

Defending units:
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
91st PA Infantry Division
301st Construction Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
4th Constabulary Regiment
35th Avn Sup
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
Far East USAAF
Manila Bay Defenses
Subic Bay Defenses
Clark Field AAF Base Force
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
27th Avn Sup
I Corps
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
11th PAAC Avn Sup
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
US Forces Far East
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
Bataan USN Base Force
24th PS FA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

Bataan has shown airfield damage every day for the past week, so forts will not be increasing. More engineers and some infantry regiments are arriving soon.

Jan 26, 1942 Preview

CVL Shoho arrived at Yokohama with 12 Claudes and 9 N1 Kates. The aircraft complement is changed to 21 fighters and 9 torpedo bombers, with the Claudes upgrading to A6M2 Zeroes (90 in inventory), but the Kates staying N1. The total capacity is 30 aircraft and the torpedo load is 18, so with 9 Kates Shoho can launch 2 full strikes with torpedoes.

Our carriers near Amchitka have escaped detection, but a US CV has appeared east of Dutch Harbor. CV Kaga will continue west with only its Vals providing search and ASW support. The Kates have been split with 1/3 going to each of the other 3 carriers, while her Zeroes are now on CV Akagi. We will attempt an ambush.

CV Akagi

Jan 26, 1942

Our CV TF in the Aleutians didn't move far enough to engage any of the Allied TFs, but is still undetected and will continue. Meanwhile, BB Arizona bombarded Dutch Harbor.

Bases captured today: Samarinda (OIL 99(1)), Namatanai, Sidate, and Manado

Bases assaulted today: Buin

Two battleships led an amphibious TF into Port Blair and engaged 2 Allied TFs, sinking an xAKL and TK. The troops will land tomorrow, while the BB TF hovers.

At Bataan forts are reduced to zero -

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30303 troops, 364 guns, 372 vehicles, Assault Value = 972

Defending force 21491 troops, 276 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 584

Allied adjusted defense: 357

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
959 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (1 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
875 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (23 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
49th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
4th Tank Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
40th Field AA Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
31st Fld AA Gun Co

Defending units:
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
301st Construction Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regiment
31st Infantry Regiment
4th Constabulary Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force
Asiatic Fleet
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Bataan USN Base Force
91st PA Infantry Division
35th Avn Sup
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
Subic Bay Defenses
11th PAAC Avn Sup
27th Avn Sup
Far East USAAF
US Forces Far East
Manila Bay Defenses
I Corps
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

The entire 1st Div has yet to arrive, and Bataan is ready to fall before the end of January with only 2 full Japanese divisions on Luzon. This is due to the poor defensive posture of the Allies, which caused individual Philippine Army divisions to be defeated in detail rather than withdraw to Clark Field and it's x3 terrain. See the map in post #36.

Jan 27, 1942 BATAAN CAPTURED - LUZON SECURED

Bases captured today: Buin, Oroquieta (again), and Bataan (along with 17k supply)

Bases assaulted today: Port Blair

As the title says, Bataan was captured -

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35439 troops, 390 guns, 384 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Defending force 20446 troops, 272 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Japanese adjusted assault: 891

Allied adjusted defense: 203

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Beech 18-S: 1 destroyed
Stearman 75M: 6 destroyed
B-10B: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1495 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 42 (27 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
12118 casualties reported
Squads: 223 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1478 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 139 (139 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 61 (61 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 25

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
49th Infantry Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Division
1st Recon Regiment
4th Division
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Fld AA Gun Co

Defending units:
31st Infantry Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
301st Construction Battalion
4th Constabulary Regiment
I Corps
91st PA Infantry Division
24th PS FA Regiment
US Forces Far East
Far East USAAF
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
27th Avn Sup
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
Bataan USN Base Force
11th PAAC Avn Sup
Asiatic Fleet
35th Avn Sup
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Manila Bay Defenses
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

This shows the combat strength of both sides when Bataan fell -

Jan 27, 1942 (continued)

The first carrier vs. carrier battle of this war occurred today near Dutch Harbor. Our TF of CV Akagi and CVLs Ryujo and Zuiho, reinforced with Zeroes and Kates from CV Kaga (retiring to the west) found CV Lexington. The morning exchange of strikes -

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sanak Island at 174,52

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 12
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 32
D3A1 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 22
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1
CA Portland, Bomb hits 1

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dutch Harbor at 173,56

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 5
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 6 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

A pretty feeble counterstrike! Then in the afternoon -

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sanak Island at 174,52

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N1 Kate x 11
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 6

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 15
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mahan

So BB Warspite is sunk (the intel screen shows it as BB Arizona) and CV Lexington is in trouble after 4 bombs and 2 torpedoes.

Jan 27, 1942 (continued)

Finally, some action in China. The Chinese survivors of the earlier battles at Wenchow were attacked and retreated into clear terrain due to hexside control or hex occupation by Japanese units -

Ground combat at 89,57 (near Wenchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13410 troops, 143 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 343

Defending force 8563 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Japanese adjusted assault: 434

Allied adjusted defense: 64

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1793 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (6 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
11th Tank Regiment
51st Recon Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
21st Division
5th RGC Route Brigade
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force

Now, the Betties at Takao that have been suppressing Bataan for the past weeks will turn their attention to 100th Corps.

Nearby, near Pucheng, 70th Chinese Corps has been surrounded since early January and is being beaten into submission -

Ground combat at 86,58 (near Pucheng)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18733 troops, 138 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 581

Defending force 9251 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Japanese adjusted assault: 466

Allied adjusted defense: 61

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
8th Armored Car Co
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps

That was a quick victory against Bataan, which usually holds out till April or May 42.

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

That was a quick victory against Bataan, which usually holds out till April or May 42.

Yes, it was. My opponent's defense of Luzon was terrible. He allowed too many units to be isolated and destroyed at insignificant points away from the best defensive terrain - Clark Field. When captured Bataan still had about 17k supply.

Jan 28, 1942

Bases assaulted today: Ternate and Morotai

The Allies began an offensive in Burma/Thailand a while back, presumably to forestall the coming Japanese offensive into Burma. Elements of the 18th British Division have been moving east toward Rahaeng and south toward Tavoy. Their first successful attack occurred on the coast north of Tavoy -

Ground combat at 54,57 (near Moulmein)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9732 troops, 180 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 354

Defending force 4510 troops, 71 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Allied adjusted assault: 224

Japanese adjusted defense: 77

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
929 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (11 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
246 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Hussars Regiment
53rd British Brigade
54th British Brigade
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Cavalry Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion (did not retreat)

The force that had been moving toward Rahaeng has turned back. There are a lot of Allied ships in the area, among them Prince of Wales and Repulse, and probably a Brit carrier or two.



3 Air Div HQ is moving by rail to Bangkok to enable torpedoes on the Nells currently at Bangkok. Japanese reinforcements are heading to Tavoy as shown on the map above. Four carriers will pass by Singapore on the 29th, showing Georgetown as their destination. If they can remain undetected for 3 more days we'll try to set up another ambush, this time near Tavoy.

In Malaya, the final push to conquer Singapore has begun -



Unless the Allied units at Mersing withdraw to Johore Bharu SOON, they will be lost for the defense of Singapore. That force consists of an Australian brigade and several support units. 56 Div will keep them occupied while 18 Div and the Imperial Guards move to Johore Bharu, cutting the retreat route from Mersing. 6 Tank Rgt is loading transports at Singkawang and will reinforce Mersing as soon as 56 Div gets there. 4 Div, currently at Bataan, is also available to reinforce Mersing, but it will take at least a week to 10 days for them to get there.

Jan 29, 1942

Bases captured today: Port Blair, Ternate, and Morotai

BB Colorado bombarded Dutch Harbor. We have 3 BBs armed and fueled at Adak, 2 of them have a day or 2 of repair, and then we'll try to ambush the Allied ships operating out of Cold Bay. Our carriers have departed for warmer waters, replenishment (all torpedoes were expended by the 3 carriers in our sinking of BB Warspite and damaging of CV Lexington, confirmed by email intel BTW), aircraft upgrade, and some minor repairs.

The Chinese 100th Corps (a survivor of the battles at Wenchow) is now in clear terrain and is in the process of being surrounded and destroyed -

Morning Air attack on 100th Chinese Corps, at 90,56 , near Hangchow

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Also attacking 14th Chinese Base Force ...

-----

Morning Air attack on 100th Chinese Corps, at 90,56 , near Hangchow

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
169 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

-----

Morning Air attack on 14th Chinese Base Force, at 90,56 , near Hangchow

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...

Jan 30, 1942

Bases captured today: Nanyang (RES 15(5))

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58651 troops, 527 guns, 161 vehicles, Assault Value = 1375

Defending force 47423 troops, 210 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1076

Japanese adjusted assault: 745

Allied adjusted defense: 242

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
H81-A3: 5 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2506 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (28 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
8775 casualties reported
Squads: 422 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 580 destroyed, 68 disabled
Engineers: 44 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 40 (32 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Assaulting units:
5th Armored Car Co destroyed
15th RGC Temp. Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
116th/B Division
32nd Division
36th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th/A Division
116th/C Division
40th Const Co
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
92nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
22nd Group Army
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force

Ha-45 engine research (Frank, George, Grace) advanced from September to August 1943.

Umnak (near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians) was partly reinforced, with 3 small naval battles nearby -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Umnak Island at 169,52, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1
AMC Awata Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Balch, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hull
DM Tracy

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Low visibility due to Rain with 96% moonlight

---

Day Time Surface Combat, near Umnak Island at 169,52, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
AMC Awata Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Balch, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hull, Shell hits 2, on fire
DM Tracy, Shell hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Poor visibility due to Rain

---

Day Time Surface Combat, near Umnak Island at 169,52, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo
DD Amagiri, heavy fires
AMC Awata Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Balch, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hull, on fire
DM Tracy, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain

9th JNAF Coy was successfully disembarked at Umnak, but the 4th Shipping Engineer Rgt, on this fast transport TF, was not. The AMC later sank; the DDs are returning to Adak.

BB Fuso hit a mine at Tavoy, but sustained only 2 system and 1 float damage. A CA TF made a high speed run up toward Rangoon (but not into the mined harbor) and sank an Allied AMc. Four carriers passed Singapore and have low detection in the Malacca Strait; they will proceed north. A brigade of 33 Div is unloading at Tavoy; another is loading transports at Alor Star; the third will load when its transports arrive.

Jan 31, 1942

Bases assaulted today: Tawi Tawi, Loewoek, and Gorontalo

Bataan and Tavoy are being swept of mines; Manila has been swept.

ARD Dewey, trying to escape Manila, was sunk by CL Kiso TF.

Allied cruisers sank a PB unloading supplies at Buin; followed by carrier air sinking an xAK delivering engineers to Gasmata. I didn't expect a US carrier to be that far north! Nells are restationed from Roi-Namur to Rabaul to deal with it.

BBs Hyuga and Fuso bombard Moulmein -

Night Naval bombardment of Moulmein at 55,55

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 19 damaged
H81-A3: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 35 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed on ground
Blenheim I: 7 damaged
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 8 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso
CA Chokai
DD Matsukaze
DD Asakaze
DD Asagumo
DD Asashio
DD Nowaki

Allied ground losses:
587 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Manpower hits 4
Fires 4989
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 2

BB Hyuga firing at Moulmein
BB Fuso firing at Moulmein
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Chokai

In China, the 100th Chinese Corps continues to be pounded from the air, and should be surrounded soon.

Feb 1, 1942

Bases captured today: Tawi Tawi, Gorontalo, and Loewoek

Bases assaulted today: Lolobato and Sorong

Bataan has been cleared of mines.

It appears that 2 US CVs are operating just south of Rabaul. SBDs sank a CM at Namatanai and a DD at Gasmata. A heavier strike on the Japanese TFs at Rabaul had several bomb hits, but did little damage -

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 6

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
TBD-1 Devastator x 30 30 TBDs, but no torpedo hits?!

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Nagato
PB Kohuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Ise, Bomb hits 3
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Kasumi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 8
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1

The Japanese CV TF off Burma sank an xAK near Rangoon and 3 HDML at Rangoon.

In China, our attack near Hangchow on the 100th Chinese Corps, had an excellent result -

Ground combat at 90,56 (near Hangchow)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13546 troops, 143 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 358

Defending force 4538 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Japanese adjusted assault: 282

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 282 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), morale(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4134 casualties reported
Squads: 213 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 257 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (24 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3 west into clear terrain
Units destroyed 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
21st Division
11th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
51st Recon Regiment
5th RGC Route Brigade
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/A Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps surrendered
25th Group Army destroyed
14th Chinese Base Force

In Malaya, the first attack at Johore Bharu went in -

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30011 troops, 356 guns, 277 vehicles, Assault Value = 978

Defending force 13942 troops, 216 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 272

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 716

Allied adjusted defense: 241

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
568 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1108 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 26 (7 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Division
1st Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
14th Tank Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
3/16th Punjab Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
29 Battery/3 HAA
111th RAF Adv Base Force
223 Group RAF
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
11 Battery/3 HAA
III Indian Corps
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment
5th Field Regiment

Feb 2, 1942 The Groundhog Day Battle of Dutch Harbor

I was completely surprised!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dutch Harbor at 171,50, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 4, on fire - 31 flotation damage
BB Haruna, Shell hits 32, heavy fires, heavy damage - sank
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage - sank
DD Hakaze

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 11, heavy fires
BB Arizona, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 2
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 11, on fire
CA Portland
CA Chicago
CA Astoria, Shell hits 3
DD Henley
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shaw
DD Reid
DD Porter, Shell hits 1
DD Selfridge
DD MacDonough
DD Chew
DD Kennison, Shell hits 1
DD Gilmer

Low visibility due to Rain with 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 96% moonlight: 6,000 yards
...
Friedell, Wilhelm L crosses the 'T'

Bases captured today: Sorong and Lolobato

Bases assaulted today: Mersing

An afternoon carrier air attack on Rangoon caused some damage to the airfield and Allied aircraft, but the cost in Japanese planes was high.

The attack at Johore Bharu didn't go as planned -

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29511 troops, 356 guns, 277 vehicles, Assault Value = 925

Defending force 13907 troops, 220 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 237

Japanese adjusted assault: 333

Allied adjusted defense: 343

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
420 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
810 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 22 (4 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
18th Division
14th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Argylls Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
223 Group RAF
111th RAF Adv Base Force
29 Battery/3 HAA
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment
30 Battery/3 HAA
III Indian Corps
11 Battery/3 HAA
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
5th Field Regiment

The only good news, insignificant though it may be, is one Rufe research site is getting close to 30(0), which will immediately be changed to A6M5 when it happens.

Feb 3, 1942

Bases captured today: Johore Bharu (RES 1(99) [:(], but 20k supply), Balikpapan (OIL 300(0), REF 400(0) [;)]), and Mersing

Bases assaulted today: Talasea and Kwangchowan

Since a shock attack was planned at Johore Bharu, throwing in a few paratroopers seemed prudent; had not the engineers reduced forts the attack would not have succeeded -

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 29327 troops, 357 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 893

Defending force 12969 troops, 211 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 384

Allied adjusted defense: 165

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
389 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1975 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 326 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 141 (124 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 147 (146 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 13 to Singapore
Units destroyed 3 (a battalion and 2 AA units)

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
18th Division
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
27th Australian Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Argylls Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
137/155th Field Regiment
11 Battery/3 HAA
30 Battery/3 HAA
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
5th Field Regiment

The fight was easier at Balikpapan; crossing the river with a shock attack -

Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12746 troops, 127 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 419

Defending force 2799 troops, 47 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Japanese adjusted assault: 380

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 10 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
756 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 36 (30 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Assaulting units:
38th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
VI KNIL Battalion
I Samarinda Cdo
II Samarinda Cdo
Balikpapan Defenses
Balikpapan MLD Base Force

And at Mersing, with no retreat route available, the defenders had to surrender -

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14486 troops, 105 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 497

Defending force 1977 troops, 22 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 214

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2019 casualties reported
Squads: 85 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 107 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units surrendered 2

Assaulting units:
56th Division
6th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Indian Brigade
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment

In the South Pacific, Nells from Rabaul attacked Allied transports at Tulagi; so we have to assume Tulagi has been occupied (why else would transports be there?).

Feb 4, 1942

Bases captured today: Talasea

A major setback today in the Molucca Sea enroute to the invasion of Namlea. Our light cruiser TF, followed by 2 amphibious TFs, encountered a stronger Allied TF led by CL DeRuyter and CL Marblehead. Our amphibs were demolished in a series of attacks -