Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 14

Malaya

114 Rgt captures Georgetown; the fortress is destroyed and the defending battalion retreats to Taiping. Imperial Guard Div and 14 Tank Rgt, now at Alor Star, begin changing from strat mode to combat for the push down the west coast.

55 Rgt captures the hex east of Temuloh in the center of Malaya.

5 Div(-) advances into Johore Bharu northeast of Singapore. These units will conduct a bombardment to determine the composition of the 9 defending Allied units before attacking.

Luzon

48 Div captures Lingayen; 11 PA Div surrenders, while the other 3 defenders, including a tank battalion, retreat to Clark Field. 48 Div units reform into the division before moving to Clark.

65 Bde lands at Iba and finds 31 PA Div and a base force defending. We'll hold off on a deliberate attack until 48 Div arrives at Clark Field and cuts the retreat route.

16 Div(-) captures Lucena; the balance of the division will arrive tomorrow, so we'll hold off advancing to Batangas until the division can reform.

Manila has but one defender! We'll bombard the place from the air before rashly dropping the SNLF unit now at Tuguegarao. The other SNLF parachute unit dropped on Taytay and captured that empty base.

Sibuyan flipped.

Mindanao

Davao and Dadjangas were captured from the defending battalions. The Davao airfield is now home to 9 Claudes and 9 Betties.

China

Engineers at Hong Kong reduce the forts to 0 and a 2:1 deliberate attack captures the base. During the week-long campaign only 2 Japanese combat squads were killed while 158 suffered disablements.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27264 troops, 359 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 805

Defending force 5321 troops, 123 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 116

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 524

Allied adjusted defense: 197

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5201 casualties reported
Squads: 188 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 451 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 106 (106 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 103 (103 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Assaulting units:
38th Division
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
66th Infantry Regiment
68th Ind.Infantry Battalion
67th Ind.Infantry Battalion
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
20th RGC Division
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
1st Middlesex Battalion
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress

Borneo

91 NG departs Miri on amphib TF following BB TF escort for Singkawang; CarDiv 2&3 provide LRCAP.

Other

CV Lexington has disappeared to the east. I-8 with its Glen will take up position 500 miles east of Wake, while CarDiv 1+ moves to a point about 450 miles WSW of Wake, undetected and waiting for the Wake invasion TFs.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 15

Slow news day all around.

Malaya

Johore Bharu is not as well defended as I had feared. The Allied Indian brigades that start at Alor Star are at Malacca or Singapore, hopefully the former (bombing has not disclosed their true location). 56 Div is still several days out from Mersing; 33 Div will go to Palembang with 4 Div, unless something extraordinary happens in southern Malaya. Heavy cruisers will sortie from Cam Ranh Bay and Miri to cover the Palembang assault. The Mersing airfield is now level 1 and home to 30 Oscars.

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11385 troops, 128 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 7131 troops, 87 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Argylls Battalion
III Indian Corps
29 Battery/3 HAA
30 Battery/3 HAA
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force

Luzon

Catanduanes (near Legaspi) flipped. Troops land at undefended Polillo (near Mauban). Manila is now defended by 4 units, including 1 PA Div and MacArthur. 16 Div reforms at Lucena and will attack at Batangas before moving into Manila. The SNLF working with 16 Div will move to Mauban to engage the 2 Allied units there. Since part of 16 Div is fully prepped for Mauban on Dec 7, he may have gotten intel that led my opponent to move something there. I would be moving everything to Clark Field, along with as much supply as possible into Bataan. 48 Div will advance into Clark on Dec 17.

Mindanao

Elements of 2 Div land at Cagayan and will attack tomorrow.

China

The attacks E and NW of Sinyang went as anticipated, and the pursuit to Nanyang is on. Divisions are maneuvering east of Chengchow to cross the river south of the city and advance into it from the SW (in a few days). In the meantime, its airfield is getting bombed from the air to minimize fortification improvement. 29 Allied fighters have shown up at Wenchow (likely AVG) and Zeroes have been dispatched to Shanghai to sweep. Chinese units in the north are slowly being isolated.

Elsewhere

Victoria Point is captured; Namatanai (on New Ireland due east of Rabaul) is captured unopposed.

CV Lexington is located by Glen search aircraft about 500 miles ESE of Wake heading east. CarDiv 1 is slowly moving east, undetected, while the Wake invasion force finishes loading at Guam.

Minesweepers are at work at Hong Kong. Little damage occurred capturing Hong Kong; only 2 HI points and 2 RSY points, which are being repaired, and some resource and LI, which are not.

Subs have established a loose line SW of Los Angeles in hopes of catching stuff leaving bases in SoCal.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 16

Malaya

5 Div(-) attacked at Johore Bharu, but was too tired to take it. It's organic artillery and engineers are moving in from Mersing, along with 25 Army HQ, but it will be a couple days. Meanwhile, we bombard. 6 Tank Rgt is unloading at Mersing, but will move west to relieve 5 Recon Rgt there so it can join 5 Div. 114 Inf Rgt has reached Taiping and will attack on the 17th; defenders should be the battalion from Georgetown and an AT regiment. Aerial bombing has confirmed the Ghurka Bde, a battalion, and a base force at Malacca, but not the 2 Indian Bdes from Alor Star (that doesn't mean they aren't there); there are now 11 units at Malacca, at least some of them moving SE, and some of them beat up by 5 Recon Regt over the past few days.

Luzon

Cabanatuan was taken as the defenders withdrew to Manila. Boac (off the west coast) flipped. Polillo (off the east coast) was captured unopposed by an SNLF company, which will reload the transports and move to Catbalogan. 2 Tank Rgt advanced into Batangas ahead of 16 Div, and will attack on the 17th as 16 Div moves to join them. The defenders have no tanks, so maybe we'll get a lucky die roll; if not, 16 Div will attack on the 18th. The Manila defenders show a movement arrow to Clark Field, which 48 Div plus a bunch of artillery will reach tomorrow. With Clark occupied the 31 PA Div at Iba will have no retreat, so 65 Bde will attack tomorrow after 2 days of bombardment. Combined Fleet HQ has unloaded at Aparri. It's slightly prepped for Clark Field, but will likely not help much.

Mindanao

Reinforcements for Dadjangas leave Babelbaob. Our attack at Cagayan only achieved 1:2, but the defenders had twice the disablements as the Japanese, so we attack again. Reinforcements are coming, but still several days out.

ASW

The sunk ships screen shows 5 Allied subs have recently been sunk, but I don't believe it.



China

As I surmised, it was some AVG fighters at Wenchow. A sweep by Zeroes downed 3 according to the combat report, but air losses for that day showed 13! I'll stick with the lower number for planning purposes.

The movement arrows for Chinese units around Sinyang have flipped. He's bugging out! A river crossing NE from Sinyang will take several days to materialize due to no road, but other units are on the move to keep the pressure on. 11 Tank Rgt is SE of Chengchow and will attack the 2 beat up Chinese Corps trying to retreat across the river. Several divisions are moving to join. One division east of Chengchow deliberately shows a movement arrow west, across the river into Chengchow, but its a feint.

Ship Damage

CL Kuma took a torpedo on Dec 7 or 8 near Luzon and has arrived at Pescadore shipyard for repairs, but the estimate is 98 days for 48 flotation damage. I plan to move it to Hong Kong as soon as the mines are cleared hoping for a speedier fix. CL Yura cleared a mine at Mersing and has returned to Saigon for repairs - 6 more days and she's ready.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The air losses for Dec 16. The AVG losses are not to be believed.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Meanwhile, over by Wake Island -



144 Inf Rgt has loaded at Guam and will lead the assault on Wake. The TF shows Rabaul as the destination, with Wake as a waypoint. I hope he gets intel on it and defends Rabaul! CarDiv 1 is still undetected and will move SE keeping a close eye (and maybe some Vals and Kates) on the curious Allied TF. I think it's CV Lexington.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 17

Malaya

114 Inf Rgt attacked at Taiping and the defending battalion and AT regiment SURRENDERED. Sallies bombed the British position at Malacca and found the 6 Indian Bde, which subsequently moved SE. At Mersing, Dutch sub KXIII was forced to surface and then sunk by a pair of IJN DDs. Of course, now they are out of ammo and must retire to reload. Two DDs from the passing 33 Div convoy will replace them. The 33 Div convoy will merge with the 4 Div convoy about 150 miles ahead before the run in to Palembang. They will be joined by 2 SCTF led by heavy cruisers. Nagumo will move SW to provide LRCAP, first for the Singkawang landing, then for Palembang.

Luzon

65 Bde attacked 31 PA Div at Iba, and having no retreat route the Philippine division SURRENDERED. The Allied base force previously at Iba retired to Clark Field. Calapan (off the west coast SW of Batangas) flipped. 16 Div joined 2 Tank Rgt at Batangas and will attack tomorrow; success is certain.

China

Hong Kong is clear of mines; the DMS minesweepers will make their way (gradually) to Georgetown. Perhaps with a stopover in Palembang if any mines are found there, other than the ones an IJN sub just laid. The AVG fighters have left Wenchow. The Lusu HQ near Haichow has been bombed into oblivion. 1 Raid Rgt railed from Nanking to Kaifeng, extending their reach into China. Both Sian and Yenan are within range, as well as several other smaller bases. A note on garrisons - I usually try to meet the garrison requirements in all of China (or at least 90% of it), but I decided at the beginning to empty Peking, Tiensin, and Hankow to use those several divisions and tank regiments in the offensive. So partisans have had a field day with the airfields and ports. Only Hankow had operational aircraft, so they have been moved to Nanchang, Sinyang, and Nanking. The bases will be repaired by engineers currently in Manchukuo.

Wake Island



Except for the PG TF at Wake, all other Allied TFs are out of search range of the Nells at Roi-Namur. I can't account for the info on the CV Lexington(?) TF NE of Wake. I'm going to move CarDiv 1 (still undetected) NE to just in range of Wake and hopefully get some hits on the TF at the island, and maybe some others depending on his movements. My invasion force is 3-4 days out.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 18

Malaya

Still looking for bicycles at Taiping to ride down the west coast. 6 Tank Rgt arrives to reinforce the 5 Recon Rgt position west of Mersing JUST IN TIME to thwart an Allied attack by 6 Indian Bde and 3 battalions. It looks like more Allied troops are inbound from Malacca. 56 Div(-) is still 2 days out from Mersing; 10 Tk Rgt 2+ days away; both have been changed to absolute threat tolerance.

Luzon

Batangas was captured easily.

Ground combat at Batangas (79,78)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14123 troops, 116 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 499

Defending force 5127 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Japanese adjusted assault: 421

Allied adjusted defense: 21

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

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

Allied ground losses:
1912 casualties reported
Squads: 129 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 283 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 80 (79 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Division
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
41st PA Infantry Division SURRENDERED
51st PA Infantry Division
PAF Aviation

16 Div will rest a day before moving into Manila; 2 Tank Rgt will move east to mess with the 2 Allied units at Mauban.
Masbate flipped.

Borneo

Japanese troops landed at both ends of the island; 91 NG and a battalion of 124 Inf Rgt at Singkawang, and an SLNF Company and a bunch of aviation support units at Kudat.

Nagumo moved SW of Singkawang to get a better view of the approach to Palembang, and found an unescorted TF of 5 empty Dutch xAP, which were promptly sunk.

China

Still maneuvering around Chengchow, but 3+ divisions will cross the river south of town within days. And today it looks like something is moving SW from Chengchow. To block the river crossing? Or is he bugging out? In any event, these units have been, and will continue to be, bombed by Sallies from Kaifeng and Nells from Nanking.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The Wake Island invasion force is 2 days from a decision point. 144 Inf Rgt is coming east from Guam; Maizuru 2 SNLF is coming north from Tarawa. CarDiv 1 launched no strikes on Dec 18; I have to assume the DL was too low. Now 4 TFs are seen at Wake; one cleared the mines my subs laid a few days ago, but more mines are inbound. CarDiv 1 will move a little closer; and the Nells at Roi-Namur will increase search to 40%, putting Wake within the sector that gets searched AM and PM. CV Lexington is again undetected. I have a JNAF inbound to Marcus, so I'm hoping Lex didn't move in that direction.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Finally some action around Wake, but I was hoping for more. Wish my Betties at Roi-Namur would get off their duff and actually fly a recon mission, which I've been asking for for weeks.

[BBfanboy]

Maybe try asking your Bettys to fly a Naval Search mission instead?

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 19

Malaya

55 Inf Rgt crosses the river and liberates Temuloh without casualty. The Allies again attack my position NW of Johore Bharu and again take big losses:

Ground combat at 50,82 (near Johore Bahru)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4302 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Defending force 2058 troops, 30 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Allied adjusted assault: 45

Japanese adjusted defense: 207

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4

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

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

Allied ground losses:
531 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Argylls Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
5/2nd Punjab Battalion

Defending units:
5th Recon Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

My bombardment at Johore Bharu showed a decreased number of defenders, so a deliberate attack is ordered for tomorrow; his fort level should still be 1.

Luzon

Although he's trying to move units from Manila to Clark Field, at least 4 units have left Clark for Bataan. With probably level 3 forts, a DA won't do much, but we'll try it tomorrow.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14151 troops, 200 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 721

Defending force 10863 troops, 157 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 213

Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
48th Division
4th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
194th Tank Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
1st PI Base Force
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
USAFFE
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Subic Bay Defenses

16 Div has rested at Batangas and will head for Manila tomorrow. 2 Tank Rgt will reach Mauban, also. Tablas flipped.

Mindanao

Cagayan was captured and he lost some unimportant aircraft:

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4421 troops, 21 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 3030 troops, 18 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Japanese adjusted assault: 119

Allied adjusted defense: 23

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-35A: 14 destroyed
P-26A: 1 destroyed
Stearman 75M: 6 destroyed
B-10B: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1278 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (39 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Assaulting units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
I./4th Infantry Battalion
2nd Engineer Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
23rd Air Flotilla
2nd Base Force

Defending units:
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
Mindanao Force Corps

Zeroes from Takao and Betties from Davao restation at Cagayan. Troops land at Zamboanga.

Borneo

Singkawang and Kudat were captured. I have yet to move aviation support to Singkawang, but since he has no air assets at Singapore, it makes no difference. 4 and 33 Div will unload at Palembang tomorrow, with an Air HQ, so Singkawang has become immaterial.

China

Most of my planned attacks hit air, as the Chinese units continue their run to high ground.

Construction

Saigon RSY has been improved to level 20; Hakodate RSY has been improved to level 30.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Maybe try asking your Bettys to fly a Naval Search mission instead?

The Nells are flying naval search, and there are a lot more of them than the 2 Betties. I want to see what's on the ground at Wake, NavSearch won't tell me that. I think it's had some LCU reinforcement, based on the ships departing the area.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Maybe try asking your Bettys to fly a Naval Search mission instead?

The Nells are flying naval search, and there are a lot more of them than the 2 Betties. I want to see what's on the ground at Wake, NavSearch won't tell me that. I think it's had some LCU reinforcement, based on the ships departing the area.

Ok - wanted to confirm you really meant recon. Somewhere in a recent AAR there was a map showing "Recon Range" with a point in the ocean marked - likely using the word Recon in a general sense including search while the game treats them differently and the terms should be used only as the game defines them (to avoid confusing new players).

[Uncivil Engineer]

The CarDiv 1 plan for Dec 20:



I may regret splitting my heavy cruiser covering force from the CVs, but while the CVs move to a position west of Wake to cover the landing force, the CAs will pass through the island and hopefully attack one or both of the TFs there; the mouseover tells me one is 3 PTs, the other a DMS and 2 DDs, then end up at the same location as the CVs. My big concern is what he does with his 6 CA force currently shown moving SE. IMO it's probably not really 6 CAs, but if it is and it also moves to Wake I could have a problem. A big problem. DL on my carriers is 5/5, no DL on my cruisers or the invasion TFs.

The turn's away, so I can't change my mind.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 20

The Battle of Wake Island

The battle opens with an inconsequential sub attack on 2 Allied DMS ships SE of Wake Island followed by engagement of the same DMS TF with 3 IJN heavy cruisers SW of Wake:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island at 135,99, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
DMS Southard, Shell hits 1
DMS Long
DMS Elliot, Shell hits 5, heavy fires

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 3,000 yards
...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Takagi, Takeo crosses the 'T'
CA Nachi engages DMS Elliot at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages DMS Elliot at 3,000 yards
CA Myoko engages DMS Elliot at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DMS Elliot at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
...
Henderson M. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

The ... above is an edit to make the report shorter. Next the IJN TF encounters a small Allied TF at Wake and sinks both ships:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island at 136,98, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Hirondelle, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PC Tiger, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 6,000 yards
...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
CA Nachi engages PC Tiger at 6,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages PC Tiger at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Nachi engages PC Tiger at 5,000 yards
Massive explosion on PC Tiger
DD Amatsukaze engages PC Tiger at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PC Tiger sunk by CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAKL Hirondelle
xAKL Hirondelle sunk by CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
xAKL Hirondelle sunk by CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

After the sun comes up 5 Allied heavy cruisers overtake the retiring IJN TF west of Wake Island:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island at 135,98, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Astoria, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Bagley, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Blue, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Helm
DD Mugford, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 15,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Takagi, Takeo crosses the 'T'
CA Nachi engages CA Astoria at 15,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Myoko at 15,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages CA Astoria at 15,000 yards
CA Astoria engages DD Hayashio at 15,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Mugford at 15,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages DD Mugford at 15,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Amatsukaze at 15,000 yards
DD Bagley engages DD Hatsukaze at 15,000 yards
...
Takagi, Takeo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

Later in the morning an Allied light cruiser is unsuccessfully attacked by aircraft from CarDiv 1, now about 150 miles west of Wake Island:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Taongi at 135,103

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A1 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 4
F4F-3A Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Helena

In the afternoon, a US carrier is spotted and attacked:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 135,102

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N2 Kate x 46
D3A1 Val x 35

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ellet
CL Raleigh
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Craven
CA Northampton, Bomb hits 1
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD McCall
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

...
Ammo storage explosion on CV Enterprise
Ammo storage explosion on CV Enterprise
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Honolulu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Detroit

The US carrier responds:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 133,98

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 11
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo
BB Kirishima
CV Kaga

...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 133,98

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 10
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed

Thus ends the first carrier battle of our war, and leaves the (known) TFs as shown below:



The carrier TF, BB Yamashiro TF, and CA Haguro TF will rendezvous at the point shown. Carrier aircraft have reduced range to 6 (from 7), except the Kates aboard Akagi at range 9 have a secondary mission to recon Wake Island. The damaged cruisers and amphib TF all show Saipan as their destination, but will make for Marcus via waypoints. A damage assessment will follow.

[Uncivil Engineer]

I missed one attack when putting together the above report - 6 Nells from Roi-Namur put 1 torpedo in CA Portland 7 hexes NE of Eniwetok.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The sunk ships report for the Battle of Wake Island (Dec 20):



CA Portland is NOT likely sunk by 1 torpedo; CL Phoenix maybe (2 bombs and a torpedo). With 2 ammo explosions on the carrier, it has either gone down, or will soon. Whether it's the Enterprise or Saratoga is irrelevant to me.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Aircraft losses seem to say a carrier went down. I suppose some of them could have flown to a second carrier (as yet undetected by IJN forces) or to Wake. But, 15 Dauntlesses, 6 Devastators, and 2 Wildcats listed as ground loss tells me something sank.

[Uncivil Engineer]

But, if a US carrier sank what is in that TF south of Wake with 17 fighters, 58 bombers, and 8 aux aircraft? (You can't see the mouse-over). I have to assume it's a second carrier that just arrived on scene. And, thus, the reason the IJN forces are retiring to the NW.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 20

Other Stuff

IJN forces landed at Pakhoi in China and Palembang on Sumatra.

The bases at Zamboanga on Mindanao and Catbalogan on Samar were captured; no damage to resources or light industry at either place.

A deliberate attack at Clark Field reduced the forts to zero. As there is significant damage to the airfield, forts will not increase anytime soon. Even though Allied troops are moving from Manila to Clark, and their arrival could change the outcome of an attack, with 0 forts I've got to take a chance. 16 Div will arrive at Manila tomorrow, so if anything leaves Manila it will make it that much easier for them.

A deliberate attack at Johore Bharu reduced the forts to 1. 5 Div(-) will attack again tomorrow.

In China, a bridgehead has been established across the river south of Chengchow. This will be reinforced over the next several days, then an attack into Chengchow will happen. However, it looks like he's coming out to fight - all the better.