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07 Feb 42

The Japanese are taking advantage of the situation in the Solomons. Additional enemy troops are unloading at Rabaul.

Enemy aircraft attacked Rangoon. They were not in great strength and the defending fighters did well. Palembang was also attacked. Despite sending over sixty aircraft, the enemy did little damage to the airfield. The port at Sinkep was bombed, but again little damage was done.

Hudson bombers hit the airfield at Singapore, catching many enemy aircraft on the ground. B-17s followed up with an attack on industrial targets in the city.

Chinese bombers continued their attacks on enemy troops, as did British Hurricanes. In the northern Malacca Strait a flight of Vildebeests managed a bomb hit on a Japanese battleship, likely one of the two that attacked Rangoon recently.

A handful of Betty bombers with a small escort of Zeroes attacked the Royal Navy ships falling back from Rangoon. Seven of them scored four torpedo hits on the Revenge, causing her to sink shortly afterwards.

Manila was subject to air attack all day. Estimates are that over 100 enemy aircraft participated in at least four waves. Rabaul also suffered under enemy bombs.

Malaya anti-shipping attacks continued at Johore Bahru. A freighter and a transport destroyer were each hit by multiple bombs.

Long range artillery duels continued at Bataan. Fighting continues in what is rapidly becoming the ruins of Manila. The defending forces, almost entirely Philippine, are continueing to make the enemy pay. The hasty fortifications thrown up after the war started are turning out to be a critical factor here. Skirmishing continues outside Rangoon and the Australians resumed patrols and mortar attacks on the Japanese at Rabaul.

More reports to follow.

08 Feb 42

With nothing to bomb at Marcus Island, the Saratoga and Lexington are returning to Pearl Harbor. The Enterprise is continueing south towards the Gilbert Islands while the Yorktown is heading for Brisbane to refuel.

With the Vietnamese division from Luang Prabang holding position north of Hanoi, the enemy appears to have left the base itself either undefended or only weakly held. Chinese forces are swinging east from Hanoi and then north, moving around the VM positions to attack Luang Prabang from the south instead of the east.

The New Zealand 3rd Division is unloading at Lunga. So far their convoy appears to have been unnoticed by the enemy forces.

A convoy to carry the Americal Division is forming up in San Francisco and should be able to begin loading tomorrow. They will head, via Pago Pago, to the Solomons area since this appears to be the new focus of enemy attention. In the meantime another convoy is heading to Wake to pick up the 2nd Marine Division. As it appears that there is no current threat here, we can use them farther south. Either as more reinforcements for the Solomons or, if the Gilberts are weakly held, possibly to spearhead another attack there. I will have to consider that over the next few days.

The second and third tankers to reach Brunei continue to load oil and a fourth is close to arriving. The enemy has still not spotted this transfer of materials as far as we can tell.

More enemy reinforcements unloaded at the beaches near Rabaul. Intelligence reports that an enemy destroyer struck a mine at Singapore. They also confirm the sinking of the battleship Mutsu, damaged in the battle at Rangoon. This is the first enemy capital ship loss that we are certain of.

The Thresher managed to torpedo a heavily escorted tanker south of Formosa.

An enemy sub attacked the Yorktown taskforce, hitting the cruiser Concord with two torpedoes. The escort destroyers were not able to sink the offending submarine. However, to the north, near Gili Gili the minesweeper Bunbury was able to at least severely damage if not sink another enemy sub.

Rangoon came under attack again. The AVG continues to perform well, claiming many of the escorting fighters. But the damage to the airfield is beginning to rise again. With the withdrawal of the convoy and the Royal Navy it is time to start rotating elements of the AVG out.

Allied bombers continued to attack Singapore and Johore Bahru. Hudsons continued to hit the Singapore airfields, destroying a number of enemy aircraft on the ground. B-17s continued to hit the Singapore industries and the pilots are reporting a spreading number of fires in the city. Martins hit an already damaged fast transport and two freighters. Other aircraft carried out unsuccessful attacks on an enemy battleship and cruiser at Johore Bahru. Another attack there scored multiple bomb hits on a troop transport.

Enemy bombers attacked Medan, damaging the airfield there, and Palembang. A number of our own aircraft were caught on the ground at Palembang. We may have to withdraw most of our air units based there if we can not get more fighters in to protect ourselves. We have more bombers than we can possibly use but damn near no means of protecting them. A second attack by a single flight of Bettys hit the tanker Empire Emerald with a bomb. Fortunately the damage was relatively minor and, as she was almost full already, the ship will finish loading oil before pulling out. A large force of Zeroes and Bettys attacked the Chinese city of Wuchow. The Chinese squadron of I-153c based there suffered heavy casualties attempting to oppose the raid. Enemy Bettys also bombed the troops at Rabaul and Manila.

The Australian Wirraways sortied from Rabaul to attack the enemy troops unloading. Unfortunately, the enemy somehow knew they were coming and carrier based Zeroes slaughtered them. The sole surviving aircraft of the squadron has been flown out to Port Moresby.

The Rangoon Hurricanes continued their close air support missions to good effect. The Chinese bombed the enemy forces that had garrisoned Pakhoi.

The shelling at Bataan continued. Fighting continued in Manila. For the first time in several weeks the enemy sought out engagement at Rabaul. No doubt this is due to the recent reinforcement of the invasion force as three new enemy units have been identified there in addition to the four already known. The enemy launched another attack outside Rangoon and again suffered very heavy casualties. And Chinese cavalry and infantry moved into position to attack the enemy forces driven out of Pakhoi.

More reports to follow.

09 Feb 42

The Japanese continue to unload troops at Rabaul. Patrol aircraft have spotted an enemy convoy south of Mindanao. It would appear that the enemy is making another try at Davao. The cruisers Marblehead and Boise are both not too far away, each of them leading a task force of destroyers. They will attempt intercepts.

The Perch evaded enemy ASW forces near Camranh Bay. Later in the night she fired on an enemy tanker but her attack failed because of dud torpedoes. South of Taipei the Thresher hit a troop transport. At the northern waters of the Malacca Strait the Trusty evaded a weakly pressed attack by a single enemy destroyer. Outside Legaspi the Seal strafed a freighter with her machineguns. The S-36 evaded another ASW group in the SCS.

The Chinese 11th Fighter Squadron at Yenen continued to dominate their opponents. They shot down or drove off most of the two dozen plus enemy aircraft attacking today. Chinese bombers continued their attacks on Japanese troops outside Wuhan.

Allied bombers continued to attack shipping at Singapore and Johore Bahru as well as the facilities at Singapore. Blenheims and B-17s made a co-ordinated strike on the industries and port. A freighter was hit at Johore Bahru and two more at Singapore. An attack was made against a destroyer in the South China Sea.

Enemy forces bombed Bankha and Palembang airfields. Dutch Hawk fighters again proved to be an inferior fighter, unable to hold their own against the escorting Oscars over Palembang. Sinkep Island's airfield was also bombed. A small group of Betty bombers attacked Manila.

The Boise succeeded in intercepting the enemy convoy near Davao and in a long range action heavily damaged three of the four enemy ships. I am not sure what to make of the fact that the three freighters and one transport had no escorts of any sort. Would I be reading too much into it if I assumed that the enemy is over-stretching himself? Surely that can't be right.

The enemy attacked at Bataan. While the defenders suffered casualties they inflicted much greater on the attackers. Likewise the Manila defenders continue to bleed the enemy in the city. There was more skirmishing around Rabaul. The enemy is growing in strength here and it is becoming uncertain if the Australians can hold against it. Both sides continued to shell the other and dig in outside Rangoon. The Chinese continue to pursue the fleeing Pakhoi garrison. To be honest, I'm not sure where the enemy is fleeing to. With the Chinese controlling Hanoi and blocking the approaches to Canton the nearest enemy base is Wuhan. In any event, I am informed that the Chinese have assigned the pursuit to a cavalry corp.

More reports to follow.

10 Feb 42

The cruiser Marblehead intercepted the Davao invasion convoy during the night. Her escorting destroyers did most of the fighting and sank two of the freighters as well as damaging the third.

The only submarine activity was a failed attack by the Perch on a tanker outside Camranh Bay.

Hudsons bombed the Singapore airfield. Martins launched a number of raids on Johore Bahru, damaging a freighter. Another attack by Blenheims hit two more freighters and a minesweeper. A flight of Vildebeests made an attack on a Japanese convoy closing on Bankha. It appears the enemy is now moving on northern Sumatra.

The Japanese attacked Medan but did no real damage. They also continued their raids on Wuchow, with more casualties among the Chinese biplanes trying to defend the city. Rabaul was also bombed, but the Bettys were so high up that they had trouble hitting the defenders.

Chinese bombers continued to attack enemy troops outside Wuhan. British Hurricanes made more bombing runs on the IJA forces outside Rangoon.

The Enterprise's airgroup made an attack on Apamama, but there was little there to damage.

The Japs fell back to shelling Bataan. The attack on Manila continued. The enemy launched an attack on Rabaul, obviously emboldened by now outnumbering the defenders four to one. The Australians are holding for now. More skirmishing outside Rangoon. The Chinese took the unoccupied base at Luang Prabang.

More reports to follow.

11 Feb 42

The sub war east of Australia is heating up. A group of patrol boats encountered a sub and tried to attack it overnight. They apparently failed as later in the day one of them was torpedoed and sunk. The Yorktown group had two encounters. The escorts claimed hits on both submarines.

The Japanese bombed Pagan to little effect. Palembang was also attacked, to somewhat more effect. And the enemy is apparently concerned about our potentially using Sinkep Island as they are continued to hit the field there. For the first time in several weeks Cagayan was bombed. The attack was concentrated on the airfield. Wuchow was attacked again. Bettys continued their high altitude bombing of Rabaul. Dive bombers attacked Manila's defenders.

Our attacks on Singapore continued and increased in intensity. Hudsons continued to hammer away at the airfields, catching more enemy aircraft on the ground. Martins continued to go after the shipping in the port, damaging three freighters and a transport. In the afternoon Allied pilots made a large raid with over twenty-five Blenheims and Martins hammering the port. They hit almost half-a-dozen ships, a mixed group of freighters, transports and gunboats.

Chinese bombers began dropping on the Japanese forces defending Haiphong. The Chinese intend to take Haiphong, then shift their emphasis farther east to retake some of their lost territory.

The Enterprise hit Apamama again. I think that's long enough in one area so am ordering them to continue south and west to link up with the Yorktown.

The shelling of Bataan continued. The enemy's attack on Manila began to gain ground. The destruction in the city has destroyed the defenses that were thrown up, depriving the Philippinos of their main advantage. The attack on Rabaul continued with casualties climbing on both sides. Troops on both sides continue to probe and skirmish outside Rangoon.

More reports to follow.

12 Feb 42

A fresh convoy of enemy troops has arrived at Rabaul. Obviously the enemy is determined to take control of this base.

The submarine O23 spotted a freighter in the Malacca Strait. About a hundred miles SE of Amami the Argonaut hit a transport with two torpedoes, leaving the ship on fire and heavily damaged. The Trusty prosecuted a surface attack on a freighter in the far northern parts of the Malacca Strait, hitting it with both torpedoes and her deck gun. Near Saigon the KXIV hit an escorted freighter with a torpedo.

The Yorktown task force was a magnet for enemy subs. They were under almost constant attack, with four separate peaks of activity. The final score was one escorting destroyer damaged and one enemy sub known sunk and a second believed to be either sunk or crippled.

Another raid on Yenen. The Chinese fighter squadron continued to dominate the enemy forces, claiming more kills against the Nate fighters and Sonia bombers. Enemy forces bombed the Bankha airfield as well Sinkep Island. I'm told that the Sinkep's garrison engineers have begun drawing bullseyes in the areas of the empty airfield that they repair. The stress of war does strange things to men's minds.

Palembang was attacked again. And again the Dutch Hawk fighters did little more than provide target practice for the escorting Oscars. A tanker loading in the port was hit by a torpedo during one of the several raids. Betty bombers attacked Rabaul but caused no casualties.

Our attacks on Singapore and Johore Bahru continue. Hudsons continued to bomb the Singapore airfields while B-17s attacked industrial targets. In Singapore's harbor, a gunboat was hit by multiple bombs in one raid. The main raid hit convoy, damaging at least two transports and a gunboat. Although it appears that it may have been the same gunboat damaged earlier. Then another large raid in the afternoon hit the same convoy at Singapore, scoring multiple hits on another transport. Further attacks in the nearby South China Sea damaged two freighters at sea.

Chinese SB-2c bombers continued to attack Haiphong's IJA defenders. Rangoon based Hurricane's continued their attacks on the Japanese troops outside there.

The Boise task force, lingering near Davao, came under heavy air attack. Several waves of enemy bombers scored torpedo hits on two of the destroyers, causing severe damage. One of them may not make it to Menado, where the task force is retiring to to try to control the flooding.

The enemy launched a bloody attack on Bataan. The fighting continued in Manila. The enemy bombarded Rabaul and light fighting continued outside Rangoon. The Chinese cavalry attacked the retreating Japanese garrison from Pakhoi, but was not able to pin them down. I sense a very long pursuit beginning.

A number of units became available today. In San Francisco the 7th Air Force Headquarters and three Engineering Aviation Battalions, the 807th, 810th and 811th, all reported for duty. The New Zealand 5th Brigade formed up in Auckland. And the British 222 RAF Aviation, 222 RAF Base Force, 7th Armored Tank Brigade and the Indian 46th Brigade were released for service in SEASIA from Karachi.

More reports to follow.

13 Feb 42

The Japs continue to unload at Rabaul. The defenders did manage to hit one of the escorting gunboats but it is hard to tell how much damage they did.

The British night fighters were finally able to get into operation. They were never able to find a suitable base to operate from in Malaya or Sumatra but Rangoon seems to work for them. They made what I hope is the first of many attacks on the enemy airfield at Tavoy.

The Saury was pursued by some patrol boats outside Legaspi but was able to avoid them. Near Camranh Bay the Pike was not able to get into position for an attack on a freighter. The O23 had her attack on a freighter in the Malacca Strait interrupted by a heavy escort force. Off the coast of the Home Islands the Cuttlefish strafed a freighter with her AAA machineguns but her followup with torpedoes failed when the warheads turned out to be duds.

Another Australian minesweeper was lost to Jap subs. The other ships in the ASW group report depth charge hits on the enemy in return.

Bad weather socked in Rangoon during the day. The enemy attacked Pagan but did no real damage despite the weak defense by the Buffalo squadron stationed there. Bankha was bombed as was Sinkep Island. I am confused by the enemy's moves around Sumatra. He seems to be bombing empty or nearly empty airfields and the troop convoy spotted headed for Bankha a few days ago has disappeared.

Our bombers continued to hit Singapore heavily. Hudsons are doing significant damage to enemy air forces on the ground. The B-17s are not doing as well against industrial targets and I may have them switch to concentrating on the enemy airfields also.

The Dutch Martin pilots on Borneo seem to be perfecting an almost guerrila style of ship attacks. A squadron will split itself into several flights of three aircraft and then, depending on the situation they will either make attacks on widely scattered enemy ships or a series of small attacks on the same target throughout the day. Either way the high speed of their attacks combined with the small number of aircraft minimizes the amount of AAA fire they have to deal with. While the pilots on Sumatra and Java are becoming better at co-ordinating large strikes. It will be interesting to see which style works out best.

Either way, the combination of the two is becoming quite effective. Enemy shipping in Singapore was hit hard, although it is hard to judge the much damage was done as many of the ships were already damaged when they were hit again. Some possibly damaged earlier in the day, some on previous days, we can't tell. Our best analysis indicates 5 or 6 transports and a freighter hit by one or more raids.

Japanese dive bombers attacked the Philippinos in Manila.

The Marblehead intercepted the enemy convoy moving on Davao. She and her escort destroyers sank the transport and damaged the remaining freighter. In the meantime the first of the freighters picking up stockpiles from unused bases in the area has reached Davao to unload. We are also organizing or have organized attempts to make supply drops at some of the isolated bases in the DEI which are running low.

The enemy continued to shell Bataan and the street fighting continues in Manila. The Australians are beginning to lose ground at Rabaul. Enemy forces launched another attack near Rangoon. Commonwealth forces quickly stopped it, inflicting heavy casualties in the process.

We received a large number of additional air units and ships today. Two squadrons of Blenheim IVs became available in India and the Royal Navy had the battleships Ramilles and Resolution, light cruiser Emerald and seven destroyers arrive in Karachi. The Australians launched a new minesweeper at Sydney. The Kiwis commisioned a new squadron of Hudsons, although they are keeping them for defense of their own islands for now. The 22nd BG (B-26s), 89th BS (A-20s) and 8th BS (Dauntless) all arrived on the West Coast. The carrier Hornet, half-a-dozen fast transports, two destroyers, three subs and a seaplane tender all finished refitting in San Francisco. The cruiser Honolulu has also finished repairing the damage she suffered in the Pearl Harbor attack and the Helena is almost finished her repairs.

We now have five carriers in theatre. While currently scattered across the Pacific, if they can be concentrated and a portion of the enemy's carriers located....

More reports to follow.

14 Feb 42

The sub Pickerel missed a freighter near Camranh Bay. She was then forced to evade an ASW group that responded. Near Singapore the KXI made a surface attack on a freighter, hitting it with machinegun fire and two torpedoes. Near Saigon the Seadragon hit a freighter with her deck gun and machinegun fire, but only one of her torpedoes detonated. Still more duds. The KXVI missed a destroyer in the South China Sea, but the O16 was able to hit one in the Malacca Strait.

A Jap sub torpedoed the patrol boat Moa east of Townsville. The ship is trying to make it to port but is barely afloat and fighting fires. The other two ships in that group spent the rest of the day trying to hunt down the offending enemy ship. The destroyer Stuart, damaged a few days ago defending the Yorktown against subs, was sunk by yet another enemy boat as she was steaming for Brisbane. The battleships New Mexico and Mississippi had reached and refueled at Gili Gili. They were moving to attack the enemy at Rabaul when a Jap sub fired on them. Their escorting destroyers confirmed sinking the enemy submarine but we don't know if it got off a sighting report or not.

The Blenheim night fighters attacked Tavoy again, this time doing better. It appears that they damaged several enemy planes in the raid.

More Nate fighters were shot down over Yenen, although the score was low. The enemy aircraft were not spotted as early as they usually are and the Chinese pilots didn't have as much time as usual to engage.

The B-17s tried to bomb Singapore's industry again. They are going to have to be stood down for a while. The airfield at Batavia is not quite large enough to properly handle them and the base is short of support staff for the aircraft. The Hudsons are doing better anyways, continueing to hammer enemy aircraft on the ground.

Attacks on enemy shipping at Singapore (Johore Bahru appears to be no longer used) scored hits on a destroyer, one or two subchasers, two freighters and five transports. Pilots report a large number of other ships already damaged in the harbor, so once again damage assessment is difficult.

Enemy bombers hit Bankha again. After several days of poor weather, the enemy is attacking Rangoon again. The AVG pilots were rested and many of their aircraft had been repaired and they intially did well, shooting down or driving off the Nates and Oscars. But when the Zeroes joined the fight the Allied air group lost half their aircraft.

Manila was hit by several raids all day long. Casualties among the city's defenders were high.

The Chinese have resumed air operations. They bombed Japanese ground forces at several places. Hurricanes continued their operations against the Japanese near Rangoon.

The Japanese launched another bloody attack on Bataan while the fighting in Manila continues. The defenders at Rabaul continue to be pressed by enemy assaults. And the enemy appears to be once again licking his wounds outside Rangoon, with the fighting reduced to small artillery and mortar attacks.

More reports to follow.

15 Feb 42

Outside Saigon the KXIV missed an enemy freighter. Later during the night she hit a tanker before evading that ship's escorts. Off Formosa the Sturgeon torpedoed an escorted freighter. In the South China Sea the KXVI had an encounter with a Japanese destroyer, but neither ship was damaged. Just east of Malacca the Tarpon wasn't able to hit a freighter. The Seadragon hit one of a pair of freighters near Saigon. Near Songkhia the O20 torpedoed and strafed another freighter, leaving it burning.

Even if we don't dare commit her against the enemy carriers alone, the Yorktown is proving very effective as bait for Japanese subs. Yet another attacked the task force today. The torpedoes missed and the escorts promptly sank it. In any event they are moving to rendevous with the Enterprise near Guadalcanal.

Closer to the Australian coast, the Moa failed to make it to Townsville. Her consorts avenged her by sinking another sub.

Night equipped Blenheims continued to hit Tavoy.

The battleships New Mexico and Mississippi, along with their six escorting destroyers, attacked Rabaul during the night. First they encountered a very large convoy. They sank one of the escorting gunboats and damaged three transports before losing contact. They then moved to bombard the Japanese troops and promptly got shelacked. One of the destroyers was sunk and three more heavily damaged. Even if the IJN didn't listen to that sub's spotting report, the IJA obviously did. The group is falling back to Gili Gili to control fires and flooding on the destroyers.

Chinese pilots continued to litter the countryside around Yenen with the ruins of Japanese aircraft.

The Japanese attacked Rangoon again. Once again the Zeroes got the better of the less maneuverable P-40s, despite the AVG pilots' experience. The AVG contingent pulled out to Diamond Harbor has finished regrouping so we'll rotate them back in and try to pull another squadron out.

The enemy attacked Bankha but did little damage. They also attacked Palembang. With the help of a squadron of Brewsters just moved in, the Hawks managed to at least survive. I wish we could say the same about the Chinese I-153s at Wuchow. The Chinese are pulling that squadron out of there, biplanes just do not do well against Zeroes. The Sonias managed to miss the bullseyes at Sinkep Island. The garrison is drawing more for them.

Hudsons bombed Singapore's airfields, destroying more enemy planes on the ground. Best way to do so. Chinese bombers hit Japanese troops outside Wuhan. The Hurricanes hit the Japanese outside Rangoon.

Allied forces continued to hammer away at Japanese shipping in Singapore. Five transports, a subchaser, a freighter and a gunboat. We think. Once again damage assessment is complicated by the large number of already damaged ships in the port. Talk about an embaressment of riches. Apparently Johore Bahru is not completely abandoned, a flight of Vildebeests hit a transport there. Borneo Martins hit another transport in the SCS east of Singapore.

The Nips shelled Bataan some more. Fighting continued in Manila. The Australians continued to lose ground at Rabaul. More skirmishing and mortar fire outside Rangoon.

More reports to follow.

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading your AAR. I, as of now, do not own this game, but your AAR has put me into the fight. Please keep it up. I know how it helps to know that someone else is enjoying your hard work. I have played Uncommon Valor and loved it, and so I can follow most of what you are discussing. However, it seems that there are several new features to this game. I am very inrtigued with the SIGNET. Is it really acurate and detailed,or is your written word giving it its detail? I hope to have the game in two weeks, and so I look forward to your reports putting me in the action.
Just an observation: It seems that Guadalcanal will soon be the focus of major Japanese activity. Good luck there. I learned in UV that we can not win carrier v. carrier. I sunk the majority of his carriers, instead, with ground based aircraft. It didn't matter if I had two or three carriers together. They would still get plastered by the enemy. Hope that helps.
I am also intrigued with the Chinese effort in the north and the British effort in the west. UV didn't cover that much of the war. I just worry about being able to keep track of evrything. I have always been the type to focus on the tree and not the forest. That could prove costly in this game it seems.

Anyway, thanks again from a big fan. Hopefully in a few weeks, I will be able to give you a worthy AAR.

Of course, my problem now that I reead the whole AAR at once, I can't wait for the next post.

Japanese SigInt is probably not worth effort to read: "Radio transmissions detected from Bataan" while there is a major battle occuring there isn't really worth a lot.

Allied SigInt is better because they are considered to have historically had better code breaking. But even for them 95% of it is not helpful. "Osaka Fortress is located at Osaka". Duh!

But every once in a while the Allies get something like "8th SNLF preparing for an attack on Davao" that turns out to be both useful, accurate AND current. (I've had a few like that where no attack materialized.)

The only problem I see with it is that it is only LCUs that "generate" Signal Interceptions. You don't see anything about ship movements or locations, which seems a little off historically. <shrug>

As for the carriers, note that I said "a portion of the enemy's carriers located". I know better than to try taking on the whole KB this early! [:'(] (And I've lost track of the Jap carriers again, but I don't think they're in the Solomons region anymore.)

16 Feb 42

The first of the supply convoys from the US are unloading in Brisbane, just as the Australians finish moving their own HQ to the city.

Another night attack on Tavoy by Blenheim IFs.

The struggle east of Australia continues. The Australian minesweepers Wollongong and Whyalla spar with a Japanese sub all day, ending with the Whyalla hit by a torpedo and the sub depth charged. Additional ASW assets are enroute to Australia from Pearl and they cannot arrive soon enough.

Allied subs continued their campaign against enemy shipping. The KXI near Singapore hit a freighter. The escorts tried to attack the Dutch sub but were hindered by their own damage and the sub escaped easily. Later in the day the KXI fires on but misses a transport. Near Saigon the Seadragon fired on a lone freighter but her fish were duds. Near New Hanover Island the S-23 was forced to evade a large enemy ASW group. Some hundred miles east of Singapore the O21 hits a freighter with both torpedoes and her 40mm and 88mm deck guns.

The Japanese attacked Yenen again. Of the over twenty-five enemy aircraft, only three Sonias reached their target, the rest being either shot down or driven off by the Chinese. They didn't do as well at Changsha. The Chinese biplane squadron that had been suffering trying to dogfight Zeroes took on a new Japanese fighter. Intelligence is tagging it the "Tojo". Only one of the Chinese planes was lost but that is probably due more to the fact that there were only five or so enemy fighters. Undefended Hengchow was also attacked. Little damage was done to the airfield and at least one Betty was shot down by flak.

The AVG is beginning to lose their rep. They are easily able to handle most of the Japanese fighters but Zeroes, or at least this one particular squadron, are still able to defeat them. Almost half of the AVG planes intercepting the raid on Rangoon were lost.

The enemy bombed Bankha. Palembang was also subject to a raid. The Hawks and Brewsters defending the Dutch base did much better today, avoiding most of the enemy escorts and managed to shot down some of the Lilys without losing any of their own. Almost thirty Bettys bombed the defenders at Rabaul.

Blenheims and Hudsons continued to destroy enemy aircraft on the ground at Singapore. We think more than a dozen planes were destroyed. Chinese bombers continued their attacks on enemy troops as did Rangoon Hurricanes.

Damage assessment of anti-shipping strikes around Singapore is becoming ever more difficult. Today, with the exception of one minesweeper which was sunk, every ship attacked showed damage from earlier attacks. The first attack hit a freighter with six bombs. Then a destroyer was attacked but missed. Then a transport hit. A freighter missed. Another (?) freighter missed, then a destroyer and minesweeper missed. A minesweeper is hit and sunk. The same (?) destroyer is missed.

The Japanese launch another attack on Bataan. Casualties are high on both sides. Manila's defenders did not do as well today and the enemy made some gains, inflicting serious losses. The attack on Rabaul destroyed the last of the pre-prepared defenses. All the Aussies are going to be able to do is drive up the cost to the enemy to take the base. There was effectively no real action outside Rangoon.

More reports to follow.

17 Feb 42

Allied subs were busy and lucky, an excellent combination. The Sturgeon missed a freighter near Formosa. The O21 hit a freighter in the South China Sea with three torpedoes before evading her damaged escorts. Off the coast of Honshu the Grampus put a fish into a minesweeper. The KXVI hit a troop transport with two torpedoes and multiple rounds from her deck guns in the central SCS. Just north of Rabaul the S-18 hit an escorted freighter. Also in the SCS, the S-36 torpedoed a transport. At the northern end of the Malacca Strait the Trusty hit a freighter with a pair of torpedoes. Near Singapore the KXI missed a transport. Near Kwajalein the Nautilus shelled and torpedoed a troop carrying freighter.

The gunboat Kiwi was hit by two torpedoes and sunk in the waters east of the coast between Townsville and Rockhampton. The Whyalla also sank today, as did the destroyer Mustin (part of the New Mexico/Mississippi battlegroup).

Another night raid on the Tavoy airfield was productive, hitting several aircraft on the ground.

A surface group based around the battleships Colorado and Maryland hit Tarawa during the night. Enemy defensive fire was light and only one destroyer suffered minor damage. The task force commander is reporting substantial damage and casualties among the enemy garrison.

The Japanese attacked Changsha again. The raid was small, like the last one, barely more than a dozen planes altogether and damage was minimal. The raid on the Chinese forces at Hengchow did a little more harm, but not much considering it was some fifty Bettys plus fighter escort. Another two dozen Bettys bombed Rabaul.

Singapore and Palembang traded attacks on each other's airfields. I should be worried by the lack of fighter cover over Singapore but the damage that is allowing our pilots to do is too nice to quibble over, some thirty or so enemy planes damaged or destroyed today. The Hawk and Brewster pilots at Palembang did not do well against the escort Oscars, but eventually did break thru to make a few passes at the Lily bombers.

The Japanese expressed their appreciation of the artwork done by the Sinkep Island garrison by bombing it today. I'm just glad they attacked the empty airfield rather than the freighter unloading badly needed supplies.

The airfield at Cebu Island in the Philippines was hit hard. Over seventy enemy aircraft, mostly bombers of various types, caused substantial damage. Also, the garrison here is almost completely out of supplies. Considering the fate of the last convoy that tried to reach the island I don't know what we can do here.

Chinese bomber attacks on Japanese troops continued but were lighter than usual today.

Vildebeests torpedoed a freighter in the Malacca Strait. The Borneo Martins concentrated on the string of enemy ships in the South China Sea, apparently fleeing the devastation being visited upon them at Singapore. Three transports were hit multiple times each and a fourth, already low in the water and burning, was missed. A freighter was also hit.

Shelling continued at Bataan and the Japanese continued to gain ground in the ruins of Manila. The Australians lost Rabaul, unable to continue to hold against 7:1 odds. They will try to fall back to Gasmata, but its anyone's guess how long it will take them to reach it.

More reports to follow.

18 Feb 42

Despite the attack on Cebu yesterday, we seem to be successful so far in defending Mindanao. But the number of troops on the island is low to continue that defense. It seems worthwhile to reinforce the island, so to that end the 13th Australian Brigade is boarding ship at Darwin heading for Davao.

The extraction of resources from northern Borneo is going much better than we could have expected. All the tankers that reached Brunei have loaded and reached at least the south of the Sulu Sea, appearing to be out of immediate danger. Another pair of tankers is approaching the harbor and appears to have also evaded detection so far.

In submarine operations, the Pickerel had to avoid a destroyer outside Camranh Bay which put her out of position to attack a freighter a short time later. The O21 fired on and missed a transport in the SCS. Her bad luck continued when she missed an escorted tanker. The Seadragon tried to attack a freighter near Saigon but instead suffered damage from the escorting MSW's depth charges. Fortunately the damage is minor and she is returning to base for repairs. The KXI tried an attack on a subchaser east of Singapore. She missed but the enemy wasn't able to find her afterwards.

Rangoon's night flyers continued their attacks on Tavoy. Blenheims, Hudsons and B-17s hammered the Japanese airfields around Singapore. Damage Assessment places the toll at almost forty enemy aircraft destroyed and almost thirty more damaged. More B-17s bombed the recently lost base at Rabaul, trying to deny the enemy use of the airfield.

Chinese bombers dropped on the IJA forces outside Wuhan. Hurricanes continued to attack outside Rangoon. The squadrons there have been able to keep over 30 planes almost continously attacking the two IJA divisions blocking the routes to the city.

Martins hit a transport and a freighter in the South China Sea. But they missed a tanker. Vildebeests torpedoed a troop transport in the Malacca Strait.

The enemy launched several attacks on Manila. Davao was attacked. Two small groups of Sallys attacked the freighters unloading there and succeeded in hitting one of them.

The Japs launched another attack on Bataan, leading to bloody fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. But the defenders are still holding. Unfortunately Manila was not able to. After turning much of the city to ruins in defending it, the Philippine forces ran out of supplies, will and room to fight any longer. The enemy took some 16,000 prisoners. IJA forces outside Rangoon tried once again to drive the defending Commonwealth forces back into the city. Once again they were stopped in their tracks with heavy losses.

Much as Gen. MacArthur may not want to admit it, there is no hope of holding Luzon. We do still have a chance at keeping Mindanao but it will depend on at least contesting control of the air. As such I am ordering the few remaining fighters left in the Philippines to Davao where they can try to cover the unloading of the Australian brigade when they arrive. Bataan is going to suffer from the resulting air attacks I am sure but I think it is better than losing all the fighters and any chance at all in the Philippines.

More reports to follow.

dtravel,
A very gutsy move, moving the Aussies up to the Phillipines. I hope it works out. However, even in the end, it will have bought you much needed time. Good luck with that.

I meant no disrespect, with the carrier comment earlier. I just remember being so pissed when my TF of three carriers was reduced to 2 sunk and 1 heavily damaged, in less than 24hrs. After that, I put all my emphasis on a mini-island hopping campaign to build up my land based aircraft. There is something about using the carriers effectively, that I have failed at. It is great to sink ships with land based air power, but I guess I like the mental picture of the carrier air war.

Your reports also make it sound like there is much more in depth use of subs. In UV, it was a bit more of a crap shoot. I am sorry the intel isn't better, but that is probably a very accurate remenant of the War. Keep up the good work.

ORIGINAL: munited18

dtravel,
A very gutsy move, moving the Aussies up to the Phillipines. I hope it works out. However, even in the end, it will have bought you much needed time. Good luck with that.

I meant no disrespect, with the carrier comment earlier. I just remember being so pissed when my TF of three carriers was reduced to 2 sunk and 1 heavily damaged, in less than 24hrs. After that, I put all my emphasis on a mini-island hopping campaign to build up my land based aircraft. There is something about using the carriers effectively, that I have failed at. It is great to sink ships with land based air power, but I guess I like the mental picture of the carrier air war.

Your reports also make it sound like there is much more in depth use of subs. In UV, it was a bit more of a crap shoot. I am sorry the intel isn't better, but that is probably a very accurate remenant of the War. Keep up the good work.

No disrespect inferred. Staff officers are expected to point out potential problems and provide alternatives. [:'(] I'd love to blow the IJN carriers away with LBA. Problem is that 1) I don't have bombers in the right places, 2) I don't have any fighters to protect them against the Zeroes, 3) I don't have any suitable large enough bases to put the bombers at, and 4) I don't have the AV support in place for the bombers.

We'll have to see if the Australian brigade even makes it to Davao. I can just see Bataan falling as the convoy is a day or two out, freeing up all that enemy LBA to blow the <censored> out of them just before they reach port or as they are unloading.

19 Feb 42

Intelligence is getting some confused reports from the South China Sea. It appears that a freighter and a troop transport succumbed to damage and sank. But they are also getting indications of search and rescue efforts in a third location.

The destroyer Lamson sank short of Gili Gili. She was another of the destroyers damaged when the New Mexico/Mississippi group shelled Rabaul.

Japanese subs were active again. The CL Adelaide was torpedoed as she was heading north for Gili Gili. She is diverting to Townsville, the nearest port, for emergency repairs before she returns to the Sydney repair yards. And a destroyer ASW group had a contact a few hundred miles SW of the Louisiade Arch. This group is one of two formed when the Yorktown and Enterprise met up. They had an excess of escorts for a single task force, so two ASW groups were formed from the "left over" destroyers and sent to help deal with the Japanese I-boats east of Australia.

The US sub Grenadier had a brief encounter with a minesweeper near Kagoshima.

Japanese Sonias and Tojos attacked Changsha again. The Chinese pilots used the heavy cloud cover to avoid the fighters and jumped the bombers, shooting two of them down.

We continued to hammer away at the Singapore airfields. More enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and it looks like for once we are damaging an enemy facility faster than it can be repaired.

Which reminds me, with Rangoon being spared the AVG is getting itself back into shape. While still understrength, they are getting their damaged aircraft back into shape and recovering. Replacement aircraft are being funneled in as fast as we can but their losses have outstripped production by a wide margin.

The enemy hit Cagayan with a hundred plane raid. They caught some of the PBY Catalinas on the water and did serious damage to the airfield. The enemy continued to hit Hengchow. Some forty to fifty Bettys bombed the airfield, doing minor damage.

The anti-shipping strikes split their attention between Singapore and Johore Bahru today. A minesweeper was hit by a Blenheim's bomb at Johore Bahru. Two freighters caught Martin delivered bombs at Singapore. Vildebeests bombed a freighter in the Malacca Strait.

Shelling continued at Bataan. There was inconclusive skirmishing outside Rangoon. The Chinese cavalry caught up with the Japanese base troops. They managed to inflict a few casualties but the enemy troops slipped away.

More reports to follow.

Of course, you realize that the Aussie move will make you either the Hero or the Goat. If they make it, they will buy you much needed time. If they are lost in the already floatsom filled waterways, then you may be in a real pickel! So goes the pressure of being the Supreme Commander. Where are they now? How many days out? How goes the Guadacanal landings? What are the plans for Wake? Is it going to become a huge naval base for the central Pacific? Why has pressure eased on Rangoon? Can you keep Singapore subdued?

ORIGINAL: munited18

Of course, you realize that the Aussie move will make you either the Hero or the Goat. If they make it, they will buy you much needed time. If they are lost in the already floatsom filled waterways, then you may be in a real pickel! So goes the pressure of being the Supreme Commander. Where are they now? How many days out? How goes the Guadacanal landings? What are the plans for Wake? Is it going to become a huge naval base for the central Pacific? Why has pressure eased on Rangoon? Can you keep Singapore subdued?

Loading supplies.

Game doesn't give an ETA. They are still in port finishing loading supplies.

Strong garrisons on Shortlands and Lunga, building frantically.

Build it up and start bombing things from it.

Probably not, but is being used as home port for subs.

Don't know.

I hope so.