Dec 12.
Penguin makes contact with the xAK transporting the 4th bn 66 nav gd to Wewak in 2 seperate hexes. Neither ship shoots either time. The force unloads.
2 Jap DDs find an allied AK at Sibuyan and dispatch her. The same 2 DDs encounter 3 PTs making a run to Cayagan just NE of the base and sink them all. Then they encounter another AK at Siquijor and sink it as well. They finally encounter Boise with 4 DDs NW of Mindanao and hit her 3 times and put heavy fires on one DD before they are overwhelmed and sunk. This battle proves to be pivotable later in the day.
PG Isabel engages Jap transports unloading at Cayagan and hits 1 3 times. She engages again later in the morning scoring 6 more hits on the same AK. And yet a 3rd time scoring 2 more hits on the same AK. Net result of these 3 engagements is 3 system and 10 flood damage to the transport.
Chokai and her DD engage Dragon and Durban off the north coast of Borneo. Jap ships were likely low on ammo because they got mauled for very minor return damage. Chokai has 56 system damage but more seriously she has 59 flood damage of which only 5 of it is major damage. This means (in simple terms that I can understand) 54% of her hull is letting water in. She will probably only last a turn or 2 at most. Her engines are almost unscathed and can still make 12 kts. She is 360 miles from Brunei and I have a fleet HQ and 3 base forces that will be there before the Chokai arrives (assuming she makes it). Will be a major effort to save her.
146th inf reg (56 div) and an air co land at Ternate. This is a level 3 port between Ambon and Menado. It will be my forward repair base in the upcoming Kendari operation. Naval HQ and base force units are headed in this direction but are still a fair distance away (coming from Formosa).
A Dutch sub torpedoes an AK loaded and heading for northwestern Borneo causing major damage.
6 Dutch PTs engage the Ambon invasion force and lose 2 (plus 1 heavily damaged) for no effect. The remaining PTs engage the Ryujo TF hitting CA Haguro with 1 torp. This hit caused NO system damage and only 3 flood damage but Im sure the allies will feel good about it. 1 of the PTs was sunk in this encounter. CL Nagara and her 7 DDs finished off the remaining 3 PTs later in the day. Kimura detachment of the 33rd inf reg (16 div), 1st Kure SNLF, 2 airfield cos and a naval construction bn land on Ambon. 2 PBs and an AK each take 1 hit from shore fire. Ryujo launches Mabels and Kates to raid the airfield and only score 4 hits on the runway.
9th inf reg, 20th inf reg, 16 recce, and 16 eng reg all of the 16th div land at Atimonan (about half way between Naga and Manila). A US DD shows up, takes 1 shell hit from covering forces and retires.
The Boise shows up at Cayagan with 3 of her DDs in tow and only manages 2 hits on the transports unloading there before they retire. The previous battle with the DDs probably exhausted all their ammo. 65th bde secures Cayagan later in the day forcing the defenders south towards Davao.
Minor air attacks in the nothern areas of Luzon achieve nothing.
51 Lillys raid Kuantan for no effect. Im guessing all operational British aircraft have left. An attack later by Nells destroys a Blenheim on the ground. Likely one that was damaged and couldnt move.
Chinese SB-IIIs attack the 9th armored car co east of Changsha damaging several vehicles.
A few minor attacks on Jap AKs north of Borneo score 1 minor hit.
Rabul Hudsons hit an empty small AK at Manus and sinks her.
Kates from the Zuiho and Hosho (escorting the Rabaul invasion force) launch 2 attacks on AK Governor Wright south of Iwo Jima and hit will 2 torps.
Seawolf is damaged by ASW forces escorting an AK south of Saigon.
Tavoy raided by 5 Anns scoring 5 hits on the airfield.
6th tank reg lands at Butan just east of Cagayan.
1st assault of Hong Kong goes in at 1:1 odds reducing the fort to level 2. 1400 Jap casualties to 930 allied.
The 12th and 18th Chinese divs along with the 1st mxd bde attack Chinese forces that moved into Sinyang and tossed them back with heavy losses at 34:1.
The 9th mxd bde manhandles a Chinese force NE of Taiyuan for 344:1 odds driving them up into the mountains.
32nd div takes Kweiteh, a dot base on the rail line half way between Suchow and Kaifeng. It has 20 light factories and 60 resources. Chinese units are swarming north and west of the city between here and Japanese controlled Kaifeng.
Manado, Guam, Hollandia, Kavieng, Namatanai, and Manus all fall to assaulting forces.
Japanese paratroops fall on Jolo capturing the undefended base.
