Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[ny59giants]

Where is Guderian and his panzers when you need them?? [:D]

[John 3rd]

Panzers? PANZERS??!! We don't need no stinkin' Panzers! The pure ideological superiority of the Japanese fighting man is and shall continue to carry the day.

[John 3rd]

In this shot we see the advancement of the Japanese in this area of Australia. The 4th ID is driving down the road near the coast, a TK Reg moves SSE towards Cunderdin, while Paras hit Albany. There are about 30-40 planes flying out of Perth right now and they got hurt pretty good last turn over Busselton.

[John 3rd]

There are OTHER arenas of war and here we have Burma in its current situation. The 5th ID and 2 TK Reg work to get to Katha. A 3rd TK Reg works to get behind the position to force a retreat off the RR and road. A total of nine units are in the town--strength unknown.

Have an Inf Reg moving East to grab Lashio.

Over at Port Blair we see the Imperial Guards being unloaded.

Have about 200 Army aircraft in theatre with another 54 Naval planes present.

When the new ID arrives from China, we'll seriously look at advancing up the coast a bit and maybe grab Akyab. If nothing else it will serve to occupy Lew's attention while I work to form up a real defensive line and await the reinforcements once Cocos falls.

[John 3rd]

Just take a look at the current VP Screenshot. I circled or marked total game score, ship losses, and base totals:

[John 3rd]

Here are the Allies ship losses down to CA Australia. Saratoga is on this list and I do not know why. Would love to have a 'Mutsu-like' event happen to her but I doubt it.

[John 3rd]

Here is the remaining portion of the screenshot picking up with the first ship after Australia down to a couple of DDs.

STAGGERING!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 10, 1942

Some interesting developments this turn as things continue to play out throughout the map.

North Pacific
Construction units unloaded at Umnak as the base goes to AF-1.

Central Pacific
The reinforced Jaliut Strike Force slips their moorings and head to sea. The TF comprises 2 CA, 2 CL, 6 DD. The purpose of this raid is to hit shipping at Christmas Isle. The attack will occupy Lew's attention, however, the true purpose of the raid is to do aerial recon of every island. This should provide at least a hint of what is present in the Line Islands.

Tabiteau is looking better. Have got two Base Forces, an SNLF Assault Brigade, and two smaller units present. Base construction accelerating.

Just got several new Air Search units as reinforcements at Kwajalein. Am resting them and then upgrading to Emily. They will fly from Tabiteau and do Recon as well as Air Search.

South Pacific
No major developments.

Australia
NW Aust
Looks like one of the Aussie IDs has finally slipped below Tennant Creek heading for Alice Springs.

Western Aust
50,144 (North of Perth) sees 7 B-25 arrive to bomb the ID there and they are met by 12 Zero. Roughly half the bombers are shot down.

I am stunned when Busselton is BOMBARDED by a lone Brit DD and then the modern CL Newcastle and 2 more DDs do the same thing. What the HELL? Why risk these ships? Why Busselton? I have a TF of 2 CL and 6 DD nearby. We'll see if he really wants to play. Shift the Betty's at Geraldton back to Naval Attack--Ground Attack.

My Albany Para drop flops as he flies in (where are the Allied Transports) elements of an Aussie Brigade. The attack comes off at 1-5. Will rest the Paras and then do another drop plus an attack.

Southern Aust
Hex 75,161 (north of Adelaide) is taken in a 26-1 attack that puts us just a hex from the target.

Wagga Wagga has the Japanese attack and gets a 1-1 with the Forts dropping from 2-1. The TK Reg should have the base tomorrow.

The KB arrives at Sydney and gets a weekend pass.

Shipping at Brisbane. Order some Vals and Kates as well as Betty to deal with that.

Eastern Aust
Bowen is re-occupied by the Aussies.

The 144th Inf Reg arrives at the hex where the Aussie Armor retreated. They will force another retreat and then return to Rockhampton.

The former Chinese 13th Inf Div passes Rabaul and will land at Rockhampton then drive north to take that part of the continent.

DEI
CA Myoko stays afloat and will arrive and disband at Oosthaven tomorrow. An AR from Soerabaja has been sent to help with repairs.

Form-up a 2 CA and 4 DD TF to deal with shipping around Christmas.

The final base in Sumatra falls as a TK Reg takes Benkalis.

Have started a major re-organization of my TK and AK for fuel and resources hauling. This will take a while but should serve to streamline my system.

China
With Sian a bust, I am shifting over to driving out Chinese units behind my lines. Hex 84,52 sees a Chinese Corps crushed and riven out in a 5-1 attack. Cas: Japan 1380 for 5053 Chinese.

SS OPs
I-20 puts a Torp into AP Montoro near Stewart Isle (New Zealand)

Engineering
Umnak AF-1

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where is Guderian and his panzers when you need them?? [:D]

Southern Area Panzer Army!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 11-12, 1942

We are now approaching mid-April. I think that I can safely predict that Australia will be wrapped up within 30 days. Figure about 20-30 after THAT happens we shall commence the Cocos and Line Island Operations. To provide a rough guideline, we are setting June 5th for Cocos and June 20th for Line Islands. Operational names shall be chosen pretty soon.

North Pacific
Nothing much happening here. Have significant reinforcements due within 3-10 days and will detail their deployment at that time.

Central Pacific
As mentioned earlier I had formed up the Jaliut Striking Force for a combined attack and Christmas as well as Recon of all bases within the chain. Have decided to recall the TF and sortie my two CVs from Truk to add support. My intention is to use them as distant cover and provide LR CAP over the STF as is hits and then retires from Christmas. Last time we visited this location there was a Squadron of SBDs present. Would love to chew them up some...

South Pacific
Am redeploying the large concentration of I-Boats that were near Australia. About half a dozen are around New Zealand and another 8-10 are infesting the waters around Suva and Pago Pago. Will soon add another 6-8 near the Line Islands.

Australia
NW Area
No major developments except my opponent stages his own form of CAP trap just north of Tennant Creek. About 8-10 P-40 chew into severl Sally raids effectively shooting down nearly a dozen bombers. Nice sting on his part. Shift targets so that won't happen again.

Western Area
Looking for the Newcastle TF I attack Perth with bombers and sink an AMc. Nothing else present. Wonder where those ships came from? Hmmm...

A TK Reg reaches Cumberlin (just east of Perth) and will attack against a single unit tomorrow.

Southern Area
Wagga Wagga falls on the 12th.

Take hex 86,168 (NW of Canberra) also on the 12th.

Sydney now has a major portion of the Kaigun disbanded there so lew tries to hit it with 5 B-17s. They are attacked by nearly 60 fighters and half are shot down. Nice to see a few fall. No damage sustained and three heavy AA Bn unload and will now provide some real AA fire for these planes to deal with.

I redirect the 33rd ID at Wagga Wagga to move north along the secondary roads heading for Brisbane.

Eastern Area.
The 144th Reg drives 3 units out of hex 94,153 (SW of Rockhampton) and heads back towards Rockhampton.

A total of 14 Aussie units are approaching this base. I have 250 AV behind Level 3 Forts. Am not too worried. When the 144th returns the AV will jump to nearly 400. Let the 1st ID and 11th Aust Brig try to take the base back...

Brisbane is now threatened by the approaching 13th ID. Won't be too long now. Spot some shipping at Brisbane and bring Hiryu and Shokaky out a few hexes where they sink DD Mahan and an AK on the 12th. Don't know what they were doing there.

DEI
CA Myoko arrives and disbands at Oosthaven with an AR present. The ship has 57 SYS, 50 Flot, and 5 Eng Dam. Will work it down some and then head for Singapore. This event follows a pattern that has truly emerged in this game of my being able to get heavily damaged warships home for repair. How many CV-CVLs COULD I have lost? Saving this valuable warship is just another example.

Soryu and Shoho will be operation at Hong Kong and Manila within 5 days. Will use them to resize some units and then head for Java.

Burma
Looks like he is trying to run away at Katha. Man---If he pulls out of there without a fight, I shall take this for FREE and head for Myitkyina. Another TK Reg lands raising my total to in this theatre.

China
Calm.

SS Ops
I-20 hits AP Idomeneus with a Torp near Stewart Isle (NZ)

Ro-33 gets pummeled by a couple of Brit DDs near Cocos and runs home for repairs.

Engineering
Paramushiro Jima AF-5
Ominato Pt-7

Major LCU reinforcements arriving over the next 7-10 days and will detail them as they enter the picture.

[John 3rd]

We have chosen the Operational names for the next pair of Offensives:

Operation Maikaze (Whirlwind) shall be the Invasion of Cocos Isle.

Operation Tachikaze (Wind from a Swinging Sword) shall be the Invasion of the Line Islands.

[janh]

Absolutely, a little luck getting the damaged ships back to safety have earned you big time -- without it, your ambitious plans might have failed, but I like it better this way. Lew is going to get enough reinforcements soon, and he has not yet had (lost?) a decisive CV engagement, so a few losses on his side are only going to make the game one of the most exciting that I followed. His CA losses look serious, though -- that must hurt in the long run?

Any reason why you split both ops between June 5 and 20th? Are you planning to use KB to support both?

Also, the Newcastle act looks goofy. Also Cocos does. The night you posted your attack plans with Myoko, I was already wondering what would be luring beyond the dark? Especially in regards to Sara, Hornet and Yorktown? Any idea on their whereabouts? As far as I can judge, and you said, Lew seems also to be an ambitious and daring player, and he doesn't seem to worry about splitting up or risking his CV. Any chance you might stumble into them at the Line Islands? Or at Cocos, soon?

Will you bring some AO support with the LI raid? I probably would, and would split out a fast CA after and have it roam around a bit between Hawaii and CONUSA for a while. A risk, but maybe it will add to Lew's problems and worries?

[John 3rd]

janh: Excellent Post that packs a ton of thoughts and questions in just a few short lines. Let me see...OK:

1. His cruiser losses are devastating. I'd like to get a crack at some of his BBs. They are somewhere. Line Islands may draw them...

2. I separated the Operations simply do to distance and concerns about the US CV Fleet. Cocos will have some Cover with having Christmas Isle operational. Am hoping for the AF to be either 2 or 3. If I can find the American CVs before that then I might do these Operations together. I've pulled a good amount of shipping back towards Japan to get my convoys running more efficiently. I am running serious risks with not having enough AKs in the pipeline. Doing TWO major Operations in far-flung portions of the map will--once again--severely tax my merchant marine.

What of the Japanese CVs? I'm of two minds. My gut tells me that I could support Cocos with just a few CV--CVLs, however, I don't want to get caught doing something half-assed. Operationally I will have everything repaired as well as Hiyo present. CVs:

CarDiv1: Akagi--Kaga--Shoho
CarDiv2: Hiryu--Soryu--Zuiho
CarDiv3: Junyo--Hiyo--Ryujo
CarDiv5: Shokaku--Zuikaku--Nisshin

Initial thoughts are for CarDiv3 to Cover Cocos while the other 3 Divisions take care of Christmas. Not sure. Might use two Division for Cocos and have the other six CV--CVLs resting or Raiding in the SE Pacific.

3. Newcastle? His decision to send what appears to be his only ground strength into a buzzsaw does not make sense to me. Then again Australia has made little sense so far.

I'm worried about a trap near Cocos right now too. There has been shipping present for 3-4 turns and I haven't been able to get at them. What is he doing? Retreat--doubtful. Reinforcement--probable. Won't know without more recon. Am moving another Mavis--Emily unit into the area.

4. Am concentrating my AOs at Truk and will send off a few of the smaller ones to Support Cocos while the vast majority prepare for Line Islands. Need to run more fuel into Truk and then on to the Marshalls. Will use the AOs for several runs to augment my current TK Fleet.

You can bet that I will shoot Raiders into the eastern Pacific as I get Line Islands going!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 13, 1942

Things have been slow with Lew and I this week. Has given me a case of the AE Withdrawals! We had action this day!

North Pacific
Nothing exciting.

Central Pacific
The Jaluit Striking Force will take a swipe at Baker as it passes while returning to Jaluit. Don't know if anything is present so I doubt if anything will happen. Once the TF returns to its base we'll refuel and make for Christmas with some fighter cover brought by Junyo and Nisshin.

South Pacific
Reinforcements now unloading at Efate and Luganville. This line--and Noumea--looks pretty good this point.

Australia
NW Aust
Normal Bombing attacks on the 2nd Aust ID.

Western Australia
Though Lew tries to weaken the 8th TK Reg, it easily takes Cunderlin. Perth is now cutoff from the world. He attacked Cunderlin with 8 B-25/-26 and 8 Wirraway. The 28th Aust Bn retreated the WRONG way towards Perth. NICE!

Have a TF of 1 CL and 5 DD at Busselton. Split it and send the smaller TF to Esperance and Albany.

Paras are ordered to Assault Esperance.

Southern Australia
One hex from Adelaide and Broken Hill.

Eastern Australia
Rockhampton has the 1st Aust ID there now. I bombard doing 70+ Casualties while the 'tender' attentions of Nagato and Mutsu add another 258 Cas. The 144th Reg returns to the base just in time. He would be nuts to attack. I will attack the unit for a day or two and then attack to force a retreat. Doing that shall open the door of conquest for Eastern and NE Australia.

In an attempt at a RUDE surprise, Brisbane launches an attack of 18 F and 23 SBD (from Lex) at my pair of BCs moving up to attack Rockhampton. These DB Squadrons have taken terrible casualties and it shows when all the bombs miss Kongo and Haruna in the morning and only 1 bomb hit Kongo in the afternoon. In exchange for this, 4 F and 8 SBD are shotdown by LRCAP or AA fire. Pretty decent.

Order all bombers to hit Brisbane's AF tomorrow. Have been occasionally smacking it but now I am done.

DEI
Another Naval Battle at Cocos Isle! Cannot even begin to count the number of times we have clashed here. Last time saw CA Dorsetshire punish CA Myoko. This day belongs to Japan. CAs Atago and Maya with 4 DD get the drop of CA Dorsetshire and 3 Brit DDs. Dorsetshire SINKS under a hail of 8 8" Shells and 2 Long Lances from Atago. SCRATCH YET ANOTHER CA! After they drive the DDs away, the TF swings in and sinks two large AKs in the harbor. Good work.

Christmas Ilse IO has Southern Army unloading to join the Base Force and 3 small Con Bn there.

Burma
Looks like he is pulling out of Katha. One unit left the hex this turn. Will watch with interest.

China
Nothing.

SS Ops
I-3 finishes off AP Idomeneus at Invercargill, NZ.

I-165 sinks TK Angelina at Esperance, Aust. This is why I order the STF at Busselton to check both ports in this area.

Engineering
Koepang Pt-4

Reinforcements:
This turn sees 2 Air Flotilla, 1 Mtr Bn, 7 Naval Guard, 4 SNLF Coy, and 2 AA units arrive in Truk, Tokyo, and Manchuria. They are already being loaded where possible.

THIS was a good turn!

[John 3rd]

Here is a delightful screenshot!

[John 3rd]

If you are not keeping count, the loss of Dorsetshire makes THIRTEEN confirmed sunk Allied CAs!

[John 3rd]

Reluctant Admiral 4.0
Racing the Sunrise
SS Sinkings/Damaged

April 13, 1942

The Japanese Sub Arm continues to have excellent success in preying on Allied shipping to this point of the war. As long as the Subs keep getting moved along to differing areas they do pretty well. The best hunting grounds are pretty obvious from the list below. There is an Ro- and an I-Boat that are ACES presently! Ro-33 is the CHAMION of the war right now with 8 successful attacks.

Only 1 Japanese SS has been sunk at that point. Have been lucky to get a number of boats home that were severely damaged but lived to fight another day.

Here are the numbers:

Midgets
AG Antares Pearl Harbor 12-08-41

Ro-Class
Ro-33
AP Bloemfontein (D) Iliolo 12-08-41
ACP Niagara Iliolo 12-08-41
AKL Joan Moller Lucena 12-11-41
AKL Chengtu (D) Lucena 12-11-41
AK Hailzones Cocos 01-22-42
AK Empire Curlew (D) Cocos 02-18-42
AK Mahsud Cocos 04-05-42
CL Colombo Cocos 04-09-42

Ro-34
AP Republic Iliolo 12-08-41
S-41 Balbac 01-02-42
AP Glenapp Sabang 01-16-42
AK Katrina (D) Sabang 01-16-42

R0-61
AK Castor Canton 03-22-42

Ro-65
CL Adelaide Port Moresby 12-09-41

Minelayer SS
I-121
AKL Nam Young Malacca 12-10-41

I-122
AK Steel Worker Horn Isle 01-04-42

I-123
AKL Mangellanes Tawi Tawi 12-09-41

I-124
AO Tan 1 Tandjoenselor 12-08-41
AG Albatross Tandjoenselor 12-08-41
AP Rochussen Tjilitjap 12-23-41

I-Boats
I-2
AK Skagerak Newcastle 01-05-42

I-3
AK Steel Age Newcastle 01-06-42
AP Idomeneus Invercargil 04-13-42

I-4
AP Kota Agoeng Channel Isles 01-22-42

I-5
AP Kota Baroe Channel Isles 01-23-42

I-6
AKL Ngakuta Burnie 03-25-42

I-9
TK Mobilstation (D) Channel Isles 12-17-41

I-10
AK Steel Ranger (D) Pago Pago 12-30-41
AK Salamaua Gau 01-16-42

I-15
TK California Standard Channel Isles 12-16-41
TK Mobilfuel Channel Isles 12-17-41
AM Cessnock Channel Isles 03-29-42

I-16
TK Herborg Port Kembla 12-16-41

I-17
AK Royal T. Frank Pago Pago 02-03-42
AP President Jackson Pago Pago 02-03-42

I-19
AK San Gabriel (D) X-Mas 02-04-42
AK Mormacman X-Mas 02-05-42

I-20
AP Montoro (D) Stewart Isle 04-10-42
AP Idomeneus Stewart Isle 04-12-42

I-23
TK Osthaus Sydney 03-20-42
AP Darvel Canberra 03-23-42
TK Ostlav Newcastle 03-24-42

I-25
AK Mary Livanos Sale 02-21-42
AKL Kailua Mauke 03-26-42

I-28
AK Utahan Dutch Harbor 03-12-42

I-153
DD John Ford Balikpapan 12-10-41
AP Rajula (D) Cocos 01-01-42
AK Gandara Cocos 01-01-42

I-155
AK Demosthenes Oosthaven 12-13-41
AKL Belawan Oosthaven 12-14-41
AK Khandalla (D) Cocos 01-25-42
AK Empire Condor (D) Cocos 02-16-42
AK Empire Peregrine Cocos 02-21-42
AK Adrastus Cocos 03-20-42
CL Colombo (D) Cocos 04-08-42


I-157
AP Australia Star Koggala 12-10-41
TK Peik (D) Albany 01-19-42
AK Gorgon (D) Busselton 03-27-42

I-158
AK Silverteak (D) Koggala 12-30-41
AK Charon Geraldton 01-20-42
AKL Proteus Albany 03-27-42

I-159
CMc Pro Patria Muntok 12-09-41
TK British Judge (D) Oosthaven 12-13-41
AKL Tatung Oosthaven 12-13-41
AP Camphuys Oosthaven 12-14-41

I-160
AK Ellenga Tambelan 12-12-41
AP Doumer Colombo 03-23-42

I-162
AK Empire Raja Trivandrum 01-10-42

I-164
AK El Madina Trivandrum 04-01-42

I-165
TK Angelina Esperance 04-13-42

I-166
CM Willem vd Zoor Toboali 12-10-41

I-168
AP President Coolidge (D) Pago Pago 12-11-41
AP Hugh Scott Pago Pago 12-11-41
CA Louisville (D) Suva 01-11-42
DD Clark Christmas 03-19-42

I-169
AG Bridge Suva 01-14-42
AK Alabaman (D) Suva 01-14-42
AK Steel Trader (D) Suva 01-15-42
AK Santa Rita Suva 02-11-42

I-170
AP Etolin X-Mas 01-06-42
TK H.M. Storey (D) X-Mas 01-06-42
TK Mobilgas X-Mas 01-06-42
AK Lillian Lucken (D) Palmerson 04-05-42
AK Iron Warrior (D) Palmerson 04-05-42

I-173
AK Corinda Sale 03-24-42
TK British Motorist Sale 03-25-42

I-175
AVP Reiger Coff’s Harbor 03-22-42
AP Sarpedonia (D) Newcastle 03-23-42

Japanese Losses
I-166 Mine Batavia 12-14-41



Allied Ships Sunk/Damaged---88 Total
CA Louisville
CL Adelaide, Colombo
DD John Ford, Clark
SS S-41
DM 1
AG 3
ACP 1
AVP 1
CM 1
CMc 1
AO 1
TK 12
AP 18
AK 33
AKL 9


This Posting is always messy but it certainly hammers home the success of the war effort by these boats to this point.

[John 3rd]

Lew and I are really making hash of our playing right now. When I am home he is not and he is home I am not. This has really slowed us down and the rest of June doesn't look much better. I've got two turns to update with and will do so while the boys are at the library in an hour. Here is a lovely screenshot though!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 14-18, 1942

I've sat on these turns for a few days hoping that Lew and I could get a few more in, however, he is now on his Anniversary hiatus so I gave up and decided to catch everyone up on the state of action. Everyday right now sees a major and/or minor city within Australia fall. It is pretty crazy to watch. There is so little resistance that I have broken up 3 Japanese Inf Div into their -A, -B, -C components to speed the process up.

North Pacific
No activity. Engineers are digging and expanding bases but nothing to report.

Central Pacific
My CV TF arrives at Jaliut and refuels. The Jaliut Striking Force departs for Christmas Isle. Junyo and NIsshin will trail it by 4-5 hexes and provide LR CAP. I offload the Vals on Junyo and add a Daitai of Zeros which serves to bring up my Fighter complement nearly 60 Zeros. SHOULD be enough to protect the CVs as well as place a light defense over the STF. This is a Recon Mission in force. I want to recon all of the Line Islands to try and get some form of idea as to what is present here.

Reinforcements continue to load in Toyko and fan out to various Central and Southern Pacific bases to buttress defenses and prepare for the Line Islands Campaign.

South Pacific
There is a BUNCH of Allied aircraft and units at Suva. Got to keep an eye on this. I now have fairly strong garrisons at Luganville, Efate and Noumea.

Australia
NW Australia
My 3 TK Reg and 65th Brigade are now driving south. The 2nd Aust ID continues to be pummeled everyday but nearly 100 bombers.

Lew is using some 2EB and Liberators to try to slow me down. Stage a major ambush on the 17th over my TK Reg with 40+ Zero/Oscars and shot down 4-6 B-25/B-26 and damage nearly everything else. That sting slows things down a little.

Western Australia
My Paras continue to invest Albany and Esperance.

Take hex 50,146 near Perth on the 15th.

Perth FALLS on the 18th! My Inf Div has a 8-1 attack and grabs the intact base on its first attack. How about that??!!

Now it is time to drive on Albany, Esperance, and Kalgoorlie.

Southern Australia
CRAZY! Bases taken:
4-14 Geelong FALLS in a 10-1 attack.
4-15 Adelaide FALLS to a 11-1 assault.
4-17 Ballarat FALLS to a 36-1 assault.

The Two Inf Div at or near Adelaide drive east to crush the units there. Hex 84,167 is taken on the 17th and 76,162 goes on the 18th.

Broken Hill holds off a TK Reg on the 16th bringing about a 1-2 attack.

Eastern Australia
Rockhampton is invested by the 1st Aust ID, 2 Brig, and 5 other units. Don't know why they are simply sitting there but I have 75+ IJA Bombers hitting them everyday and have 3 BB Bombardments hit the location over these days.

BRISBANE FALLS on the 17th!

The Bowen Invasion Force lands the 14th Inf Div on the 17th. A fairly strong Allied counterattack develops and the Japanese Fighters do great work protecting the TF. The Lexington SBD Squadron is destroyed yet once again, P-40s, Hudsons, A-29, and Wirraways attempt to get through the LR CAP and many are shot down. Those that do get through don't do much damage at all and things look pretty good. The ID will attack Bowen on the 19th and then drive North towards Townsville...

KB ATTACKS!
After spotting that TF of APs NE of New Zealand several days earlier, I order two CVs to leave Sydney and try for an intercept in New Zealand. The CVs find the TF unloading at Wellington on the 18th and they truly deliver a masterful punch! In two large Strikes, the large APs Mariposa, Harris, Wharton, and Maui are sunk. The Lurline is probably sunk as well. A DD and 3 AKs get smacked also during the attacks.

Only bad news is an unescorted raid of Kates attacks CL Concord and gets jumped by 5 Fighters. Lose 8 Kates and five pilots for no hits.

The CVs retire back towards Sydeny proving that I just MIGHT BE interested in New Zealand...

DEI
CVL Zuiho is back in action and I spend two days resizing a Val and Kate unit from 9 or 12 to 27. Have got 3 more to do. Soryu shall be completed tomorrow and will sail down to Manila and link-up with Zuiho. PROGRESS at getting the damaged chicks repaired.

Have detailed two Naval Guard units in Tokyo to finish capturing the small bases behind the lines that I haven't taken yet. The units will be in 4 small AKL each and I will then divide them by 2 so I have 4 separate TF grabbing up bases and dots.

Have 2 CA TF making their runs into Cocos tomorrow and we'll see if they bag anything. They are set for Bombardment runs.

Burma
A new TK Reg is unloaded at Rangoon and it begins the march towards Akyab. On the way it smacks a refugee unit at hex 54,51.

My Inf Div and 2 TK units arrive at Katha and attack. The 17th sees a 1-1 attack that drops the Forts to 1. Will attack on the 19th and finish Katha at that point. Guess it is on to Myitkyina at that point...

China
Numerous attacks driving the Chinese units from behind my lines OUT. Take hexes 86,44 (near Nanyang), 84,54, 85,46, and 83,51.

SS Ops
Lose I-4 to damage incurred NE of Christmas Isle. Too bad. It had nearly made it to Jaliut.
4-17 sees I-154 sink AKL De Hoan near Cocos with 2 TT.

Reinforcements
4-14 DD Takinami arrives at Pt. Arthur.
4-14 Numerous Air Reinforcements arrive at Takao, Sapporo, Tokyo, and Ominato.

Engineering:
4-14 Port Blair AF-2
4-14 Exmouth AF-4

Those are the developments. Australia is moving FAST!

[John 3rd]

Here is the Brisbane Screenshot: