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Thanks guys[8D] Honeymon was great. Brilliant to have 4 months away. Been a fun few weeks adapting, sorting stuff out and looking for a job.
 
Game update soon. Forces are almost ready to go from Perth for the next Great Crusade....more soon.

Hi all,

First update upon my return!

Usual antics really with Sitzkreig in CBI and CentPac with my offensive forces gathering in Perth for the next Operation (Operation Reindeer - the occupation of Christmas and the Cocos Islands).

All the necessary forces are now in place and the troops were given their embarkation orders on the 20th September. The offensive forces involved are:

2nd British Division
22nd (East African) Bde
23rd British Bde
29th British Bde

These will be supported with overwhelming naval power:

8 x CV
4 x CVL
6 x Offensive CVE
12 x BB
Oodles of Cruisers and Destroyers.

It will probably take about 3-4 days to get all the equipment on board then we set off.

I have no concrete idea what Faber has for Defence on these Islands but SigInt has detected a Bde or there about's before. The only air threat can come from LBA based on Sumatra/Java as there's no known runways built on any of the invasion islands.

------------------------------

Submarine Warfare:

9 dud/missed attacks.

SS Sunfish reported in blowing up AK Ueizuru Maru off Balikpapan on the 11th.

Also on the 11th, SS Puffer partrolling in the same area, reported heavily damaging AK Terushima Maru.

On the 12th Puffer sank AO Kyokuto Maru.

SS Haddo heavily damaged AK Kokuryu Maru off Tarakan.

SS Bluefish sank TK Omurosan Maru west of Palau.

SS Sunfish was in action again on the 13th locating the damaged AK Terushima Maru finishing her off with 4 torpedoes.

On the 14th SS Haddo had fun again sinking CM Hoko off Tarakan. In the afternoon she sank AK Keisyo Maru from the same convoy.

SS Mingo sank the small freighter Nagano Maru SW of Japan.

On the 17th Haddo's luck came to an end when she heavily damaged AK Peking Maru off Tarakan. E W-25 located her and sank her with the loss of all hands. RIP[&o]

SS Haddock heavily damaged the troop laden AK Yahiko Maru off Okinawa.

NE of Japan SS S-27 hunted the hunter and sank SC CHA-44.

SS Seahorse (also operating off Okinawa) sank APD Tade on the 18th

SS Runner did well in sinking TK Kotai Maru with 3 torpedoes off Dadjangas.

Japanese LBA sank 1 sub and damaged SS Amberjack.

The Good Guys heavily damaged an IJN sub NW of Perth (worrying that at least 2 IJN subs are patrolling down here).

Welcome back. Look at Siboret Island. You will need support there and LSTs to supply it well but it can be built up to a level 9 airbase that is in bombing range of a lot of oil.

Hi crsutton,
 
Thanks. Hadn't planned on going to there but from looking into it you're right it could be a great base to buildup. It will have to wait for a future phase of invasions though as I don't have the spare troops and ships to get 'it on' there at the moment. Operation Reindeer is underway from Perth.

ORIGINAL: Speedy


6 x Offensive CVE

Speedy, you can pretty much say that about all the Allied forces. [:-]

It's great to see you back here haunting these halls. Been missing your AAR. I'd forgotten about your sub fetish too. [:D]

Thanks Mike [:)]

Sub fetish? Me? Don't think I've ever heard that before [;)]

ALERT. COM CENPAC reporting "CV Enterprise hit by 2 torpedoes from an I-Boat near Cocos Islands on 30th September. Significant flooding. Unlikely ship will be saved. Will do our best and all efforts all be made to keep the Big-E afloat"

Grrr. That's 4 CV's Fabertong has tagged with CV's 2 have sunk (Yorktown and Hornet) and a 3rd likely will now.

A little baffled as to how Faber suddenly had over 15 submarines in the Cocos Islands region....anyone would think he has SigInt and me nothing [;)]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ALERT. COM CENPAC reporting "CV Enterprise hit by 2 torpedoes from an I-Boat near Cocos Islands on 30th September. Significant flooding. Unlikely ship will be saved. Will do our best and all efforts all be made to keep the Big-E afloat"

Grrr. That's 4 CV's Fabertong has tagged with CV's 2 have sunk (Yorktown and Hornet) and a 3rd likely will now.

A little baffled as to how Faber suddenly had over 15 submarines in the Cocos Islands region....anyone would think he has SigInt and me nothing [;)]

fun to see subs being your bane... [:D]

Fun is not the word I'd use..... [;)]

Hi all,

Firstly, to the 'main event'.

Operation Reindeer had been going fine. Lots of sun for my men on decks, regular CAP, regular plane searches detecting oodles of submarines on the way to the Cocos Island then on 30th September an I-Boat (a.k.a. sneaky s*d) decided to smack 2 torps into Big E. Needless to say I'm less than impressed with this and the p*ss poor ASW work of the 100 or so destroyers in a 10 mile area! It's pretty likely she'll sink but she'll try to make it back.

The Offensive part is due to begin on 1st October with air raids against the Japanese defenders on the ground. I SHOUDLN'T have to worry about enemy LBA as neither Christmas or Cocos Island have had airfields developed.

With their being more action for now I'll provide more regular updates.

----------------------------

CBI -

A bit of action here for once as Faber decided to oppose a small supply convoy that was at Akyab. It's a maxed out AF from my end containing over 160 Hurricanes (initially). LBA detected it on the 26th and fighter sweeps and attack missions begun on the 27th and 28th. Overall it was a nice bit of fun. I lost 2 x AK with another AK heavily damaged. I also lost approximately 60 fighters (mainly Hurri's but P38's entered the fray as well on the 28th). In return Faber lost about 80 planes (Zero/Betty and Tojo). A good bit of fun for the Commonwealth guys.

I also snuck in some P38's and shot down 10 x Sally which were conducting milk runs over Loyang.

-----------------------------

SoPac -

A small enemy convoy was detected at Espiritu Santu and was despatched on the 21st by a small DD force (IJN lost 2 x AK and 1 x PB).

-----------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

9 dud/missed attacks.

SS Haddock heavily damaged AK Tamon Maru with a torpedo on the 21st SW of Japan.

On the 22nd both SS Herring and SS Perch claimed success sinking PB Atsu Maru and damaging AP Suwa Maru respectively.

SS Runner checked in on the 23rd reportedly sinking AK Taiko Maru with 2 torpedoes south of Mindanao.

SS Greenling had success on the 24th sinking PB Wa 12 off Iwo Jima in the morning and heavily damaging AK Daijo Maru in the PM.

SS Barb finished off the damaged AP Suwa Maru with 2 torpedoes.

On the 27th SS Halibut blew up TK Batopaha Maru north of Okinawa.

On the 28th SS Halibut attacked the same convoy heavily damaging TK Asukasan Maru with a torpedo.

On the 30th SS Muskallunge left TK Ceram Maru heavily damaged with a torpedo hit off Jesselton.

SS Triton destroyed a small AK Kakuzan Maru with shells and torpedoes south of Japan.

On the other side SS I-22 was reported sunk off Geraldton by ASW assets guarding the Reindeer Invasion force.

Hi all,

Not too much to report from this month with my main prepartions being for Operation Reindeer.

On the sea the main reinforcements (other than the oodles of Auxilliary ships and escorts) are CVL Monterey, 2 x CVE (1 British), 4 x SS and the first 2 x AGC's.

In the air the main entrants are the F4U-1A and some Brit variants (Seafire's, Wildcat's etc).

--------------------------

Points:

Allies: +598 points
Japanese: +230 points


Bases:

Allies: -1 (+56 points)
Japanese: +1 (+55 points)


Planes:

Allies: +143 lost
Japanese: +180 lost


Troops:

Allies: +2 Lost
Japanese: +34 Lost


Ships:

Allies: +4 (+30 points. 2 x AK and 2 x SS)
Japanese: +38 (+344 points. All from subs except 3 ships in small convoy off Espiritu Santu)

--------------------------------

Sub Kills:

33 of 57 were successful = 57.89% success.

Dutch Boats:

PB - 4 (1 mine)
AK - 33 (+1)
TK - 6
CM - 3
DD - 5 (+1)
TB - 1
DMS - 2 (-1)
E - 1
APD - 1
ACM - 1
AP - 1

= 58 ships
-------------------------------

British Boats:

DD - 1 (1 mine)
AK - 5 (1 mine) (+1)
SC - 1
PB - 1
TK - 1
AO - 1
SS - 1 (1 mine)

= 11 ships

-------------------------------

Fleet Boats:

AK - 123 (+10)
SC - 8
AP - 4 (+2)
PB - 20 (+2)
TK - 22 (+2)
AKE - 1
CM - 5 (+1)
ACM - 2
E - 1
APD - 2 (+1)
DD - 2
CL - 1 (Oi) (-1)
AO - 3
PC - 1

= 195 ships
--------------------------------

S-Boats:

AK - 20 (+2)
AP - 2
CM - 1
PB - 5
DMS - 1
SC - 4 (+1)
TK - 1

= 34 ships

= 298 ships = 50% of reported sunk ships total.

Hi all,

Operation Reindeer:

The past 3 days has produced quick results.

Cocos Japanese defenders were bombed for 2 days solid and the troops went in on the next. My well trained and prepared men overwhelmed the Japanese Garrison and wiped them out within a day:

Ground combat at Cocos Islands (33,101)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10095 troops, 309 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 569

Defending force 2223 troops, 22 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Allied adjusted assault: 343

Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 171 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Cocos Islands !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1076 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 62 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (16 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (11 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
22nd (East African) Bde /1
2nd British Div /1

Defending units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF

Interestingly on the 2nd October a PBY located a suspected Japanese TF containing a CV heading west to intercept the limping Enterprise. As such I ordered my CV's to head SE to intercept them on the 3rd. This didn't happen as the Japanese scarpered.

Enterprise will now probably head to Cocos for emergency repairs and then Cape Town.

My Christmas Island invasion forces headed east from Cocos. My CV's will (probably) head back to protect them on the 4th as a Japanese Betty raid came from Java on the 3rd. The CVE's did their job and the 70+ CAP saw off the attacker for heavy loss to them (10 claimed enemy for 1 friendly).

-----------------------------

Submarine Warfare:

2 dud/missed attacks.

SS Bluefish heavily damaged AK Yodogawa Maru with a torpedo off Palau.

2 enemy subs have been claimed off Cocos.

Speedy, you are back. Remind us of where you are time wise. You might want to date (war time) your lead ins. Perhaps a summary of the past few months. I was enjoying this one.

Hi crsutton,

I always put the date period in the subject of my posts [:)]

To re-cap the last few months is quite simple. After I re-took Midway and Wake Island between March and May 1943 it's been a period of Phoney War (except by the Submarines). The main reason for this is the need to repair damaged ships (after 2 big CV battles in which Faber lost virtually all of his current CV/CVL's) and the need to shift troops around for the follow up invasions.

Operation 1 is underway - Operation Reindeer. Operations 2 and 3 are summarised below from an earlier post. If there's more specific info you'd like let me know [8D]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Here's an overview of the situation and an idea of upcoming invasions.

Ideal World would be to go straight for the Mariana's bbut I need more CV strength to ensure a safer landing. As such I may as well use the assets I have and land forces to re-conquer other territory until that point.

As such.........

1.) Invasion of Cocos/Christmas Island. These are exposed and not built up that I know off. Substantial land forces and my CV's almost ensure an easy victory. Handy bases for sub depots and as a springboard for Sumatra/Java invasions in the future. ETA = roughly 2 months.

2.) I have oodles of men and planes in Aus, NZ and Fuji so I may as well use them in a land campaign on New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Islands south of Ceram. CV's will support these Ops on their way, back to PH, from Operation 1. ETA 3-4 months.

3.) Simultaneous land campaign in Burma by masses of LCU's air support and invasion of the Mariana's by America's finest. That will be the biggest invasion yet. By this time a further 1 x CV (Intrepid), 4 x CVL and 10 x offensive CVE will be on the scene.

This would put the CV force (barring any losses up till then) at:

CV - 9
CVL - 7
CVE (offensive) - 16

ETA 6 monthsish.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Speedy, you are back. Remind us of where you are time wise. You might want to date (war time) your lead ins. Perhaps a summary of the past few months. I was enjoying this one.

lol, took me probably a year back in the ol´ WITP days to realize speedy always puts the date in the subject. [:D]

Hi all,

I know everyone likes a CV Battle.....so I thought I'd serve up another one. In the end I decided to continue routing my CV's south on the 4th to attempt to locate the enemy TF. It was the right decision looking at it!

Search planes located the enemy TF SW on the dawn of the 4th. Both sides launched air raids, however, the Japanese TF only contained 2 reported CV's (Amagi and Unryu) so I have a much larger force. my PM strike wiped the floor....almost. Here's the snapshot from the CR:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 44,114

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 26
B6N2 Jill x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 17
D4Y3 Judy x 15



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 150


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 8 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Belleau Wood
CV Essex

-----------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 40,119

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 28



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 71
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 106
TBF-1 Avenger x 72


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Unryu, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Amagi, Bomb hits 1
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 1
DD Yukikaze
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1
DD Niizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Sazanami
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Urakaze

------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 40,119

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 16



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 87
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 85
TBF-1 Avenger x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Amagi, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
CA Atago, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sazanami, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 1
DD Urakaze, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Niizuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Takao, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze

Air losses were 54 Allied for 110 Japanese for the day. This was skewed by the Japanese losing 30 planes on the ground (i.e. Unryu). Interestingly I lost more F6F vs Zero (21 vs 14).

I'm staying on station to clean up any stragglers.

--------------------------

Cocos Island -

Further north at Cocos the convoys continue to unload support units, airgroups, supply and fuel. However, Faber conducted a well executed hit and run in the early hours by a small SC TF:


Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 5
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1
DD Murasame
DD Yamakaze
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Detroit, Shell hits 2
DE Barker
DE Edsall
DD Voyager, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Vampire
DD Kortenaer
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Thracian
APD Little
AM Lithgow, Shell hits 1, on fire
AM Strahan
AM Wagga
SC-519
SC-520
SC-521
SC-522
SC-630
SC-638
APA Henry T. Allen
APA George Clymer
xAP St. Mihel
APA Warren
APA Wayne
APA Elmore
APA Fayette
xAP Mount Vernon, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Monterey, Shell hits 1
xAK Steel Mariner
xAK Steel Scientist, Shell hits 3
xAK Makawao
xAK Manulani
xAP Cape Neddick
xAP Arundel Castle
xAP Dunnatar Castle
xAP Empress ' Asia
xAP Devonshire
xAP Dilwara
xAP Santhia
xAP Sarpedonia
xAP Chilka
xAP Egra
xAP Jaladuta
xAP Jacalope
xAP Anglo Canadian
xAP Benrinnes
xAP Clan Macbean
LSI(L) Glenorchy
AMC Chitral, Shell hits 3
xAP Kota Pinang, Shell hits 2, on fire
KV Cyclamen
xAP Rangitiki, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Mataroa
xAP Taroona, and is sunk

---------------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

Both sides had success today.

SS Guardfish claimed TK Mutsuyo Maru south of Takao.

SS O19 broke PB Yahonui Maru in half in the Malacca Strait.

On the other side I-Boats capitalised on the carnage caused by Faber's SC TF. 2 stragglers were sunk by I-Boats - AP Malaita and AK Fultala

Hi all,

Operation Reindeer -

Operation Reindeer has now achieved most of its objectives. Christmas Island fell on the 8th October. The Japanese are still present (Garrison Unit) but have lost control of the majority of the island.

Faber also threw more forces into the fray.....

The 5-7th saw my forces slowly maneuvering towards Christmas Island. A temporary lull in the action except for the presence of Jap subs. CV Enterprise finally slipped beneath the waves on the 5th after being tracked and hit by 2 more torpedoes from SS I-30 [:(]

The 7th sae IJNAF forces attack my ships with Betties, Zeroes and Jacks from Batavia. 90% of enemy planes were destroyed or driven off (90 losses for 10 friendly) and no hits were sustained by my ships.

The 8th was action packed! With 100's of ships anchored off Christmas Island unloading men and material, the 3 x SC TF in the distance providing cover and further still the many CV's providing air cover for the invasion the IJN decided to show up by night and day. A small IJN TF was scared off in the night:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island IO at 45,104, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kasumi
DD Murasame
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 1
CA Louisville
CA Chicago
CA Astoria
CA Quincy
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Tucker
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Porter, Shell hits 1
DD Selfridge
DD Phelps, Shell hits 1
DD Farragut
DD Worden
DD Dale
DD Monaghan
DD Aylwin


The main event came in the day though in the form of BB Fuso:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island IO at 45,104, Range 27,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
CL Natori
DD Akatsuki
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Nevada
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 1
BB Arizona, Shell hits 1
CA Chester, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
CL Helena
CL Mobile
DD Mahan
DD Cummings
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
DD Smith
DD Reid
DD Flusser


The SC TF's did their duty in preventing the IJN from interfering with the transports. The US CV's exacted a terrible price for IJN braveness:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 45,103

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 13



Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 79
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 54


Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 16, heavy fires
DD Usugumo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Natori, Bomb hits 3, on fire

And the coup de grace:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 45,103

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 9



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
FM-1 Wildcat x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 73
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 100
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
SBD-5 Dauntless x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 194


Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
DD Usugumo, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage


I wonder if Faber will attempt anymore air or sea interference in this area now. Certainly he still has a lot of subs around. Intel is also detecting many land units heading for Java. Probably rushing defences in case of an invasion. Once my supply and material is ashore and I have LBA projection I'll retire my ships to Perth with my CV's launching a few raids against Java to say hello.

--------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

3 dud/missed attacks.

SS Guardfish heavily damaged TK Shichiyo Maru on Itbayat Island on the 5th.

SS Growler damaged AK Monji Maru with a torpedo off Saipan.

SS Swordfish blew up TK Jinei Maru with 4 torpedoes north of Kuching.

SS Balao sank TK Kanto Maru off Balikpapan on the 6th.

On the other side DD Voyager was sunk off Cocos Islands by SS I-157.

AK Indiriya was sunk by I-164 off the Cocos Islands.

SS I-32 sank AK Ho Kiang and AK Hunan off Cocos Islands.

In return 3 x IJN subs have been reported sunk off Cocos Islands.

have you asked Faber why he showed up during the day? Or was this a borked naval movement? I hardly could see a reason why a IJ player would send in his ships during the day, let alone when he's aware of a big Allied CV TF sitting in the area.

Faber mentioned that he planned for Fuso to reach there at nighttime but either mis-judged it or aa borked movement.

Hi all,

Operation Reindeer -

Unloading continues at Christmas and Cocos Islands. Cocos has it's first Runway and Christmas will do in a day or 2. Planes are already ashore at both Islands ready to operate (P47FG, TBF, B26 at Christmas and P40N1's, Lib II and Catalina's at Cocos.)

Once the airfield is up and running at Christmas my CV's will depart via a strike at Java. I will then commence Operation Boxing Day. This is an addendum to Reindeer following on from it's success and a suggestion by a helpful reader a while ago. More on that soon.

On land the Japanese fragments were annihilated during the day of the 9th. Over 1000 men perished.

Faber has not attempted to interfere with any more surface threats. The Japanese attempted an air raids on the 11th. 4 x Jack, 11 x Zero and 14 x Betty were claimed for the loss of 9 x Friendlies. No bombers dared venture to attack my ships.

His subs are another matter though.....

Quiet on other fronts.

-----------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

1 dud/missed attack.

SS Lapon missed a freighter off Balikpapan but managed to sink PB Kyo Maru #13 on the 9th.

SS Crevalle heavily damaged the troop laden AK Mexico Maru south of Okinawa on the 10th. Later in the day she blew up troop laden AK Aikura Maru from the same convoy.

SS Lapon made amends for the 9th by claiming AK Unkai Maru #6 sunk off Balikpapan.

SS Crevalle located the stricken AK Mexico Maru on the 11th and put her under. Bon voyage moth*r ******* [;)]

3 of my subs have beeen damaged by Jap LBA off Sakhalin Island.

On the other side....

AK Stanmore and Clan Macilwraith were heavily damaged and limped to port on Christmas Island.

AK Jalaganga, AO Cimarron, AK Tanfield, AK Jalayamuna were all sunk

CV Saratoga was hit by a torpedo but the tough bird only has 7/12/5 damage.

In return my ASW efforts have netted decent results with the following claimed sunk:

I-28
I-178
I-180
I-164
I-176
I-5
I-24