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Hi Joe .. you must spend hours trying to find those pictures ! [&o]

Nice AAR as i've said before ..

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Hi Joe .. you must spend hours trying to find those pictures ! [&o]

Nice AAR as i've said before ..

Sometimes it does, depends what im looking for, finding pics of certain ships without a big fat caption saying "CV ENTERPRISE OUTSIDE GUADACANAL 1943" when im looking for a pic of her in PH or somthing.

Cheers, ill try and get at least one turn to you tonight, back to school/homework/revision/coursework now [:(]

LJN 9-10th February 1942



Carrier planes sighted north of Pago Pago


The B5N "Kate" Japanese Torpedo bomber



American Submarines converging on Pago Pago, in preparation for the IJN's arrival to support the suspected invasion of the island chain, where attacked today by Carrier aircraft, later confirmed to the be the B5N Kate, the position of the attacks NW of Pago Pago, deny the possiblity of the attacks being carried out by Land based Kates, so it is beleived a Carrier Taskforce is somewhere in the waters north of Pago Pago. Whether this is the main Carrier force of 6 fleet carriers know as the Kido Butai, or a smaller light carrier force as seen breifly near the Philipines remains to be seen, and Catalinas are on high alert.

There is nothing to stop a carrier strike on Pago Pago, or any other kind of strike by the Japanese, and the island is already being counted as lost, but the real danager is that if the taskforce where to head South it could engage some valueable taskforces carriring the 2ND USMC Division due for Fiji, and a squadron of B-18 Bolos in a seperate taskforce headed for India.

If the taskforce where to head West towards Suva, many Mercant ships and Destroyers could be lost, taskforces in the area are being told to stay away from the waters south of Pago Pago, and head deeper into the south Pacific, and head towards New Zealand if need be.

American Carriers remain docked at Pearl, but American intellgence is keen to find out whether this is the "Mini" KB or the Kido Butai itself, it seems unlikely the Japanese would send its weaker more vunerable Carriers so deep into the South Pacific on there own, but if the Japanese have made this mistake, "Our Carriers may be sortied" Nimitz has said today.


Calm before the storm


Other News

Japanese turnt back once again at Clark, Alled defences outnumbered by 3-1.

Jambi falls.

SS Truant sinks AK Kano Maru in Bay of Bengal.

Dutch Martins hit TK Huzisan Maru loading oil at Tarakan

LJN 11-12Th February 1942



British evacuate Mandalay


The Great escape?



The remaining British forces, encirled at Mandalay by Japanese ground forces to the south, and Paratroopers to the North, are unable to fight there way out of the pocket, and with no reinforcements on the way, British command have come up with a inventive and celver way to evacuate the Stranded troops.

By Air.

A squadron of C-47's have flown into Mandalay airfield overnight, and will leave in the early dawn light with 16 planes full of releived men, and return to somewhere on the "right" side of the India/Burma border to bases such as Imphal and Kohima where they will have some well deserved leave away from the front, then be retrained and prepared to fight the Japanese another day, possibly in the defense of India

The C-47 pilots are more than happy to save the stranded men, and seem very confident that the mission will end in success, British forces will be evacuated in the dim light of Late evening and early morning, so not to draw attention to any Japanese recon or fighter planes in the area, which could spell disaster for the unarmed planes.

There is some grumbling almongst Indian units which seem to be bottom of the priority list to be evacuated, and will stay in the rear guard to defend the Airfield till the end, British high command denies and racism in saving there own men, and insists that there choice has been made on how quickly replacements and new equipment can be draw back into the units and on how hard and expertly the Indian forces have fought through Burma over the last 2 months.


Burma Situation



Other news

Hornet arrive in San Francisco, USN Has 5 Carriers.

Jap Air combat tf closing in on Pago.

Hansa and Madang fall to Paras in PNG

13-14th February 1942



Carrier Zuiho sighted!


Zuhio sighted



American Catalina's flying from Pago Pago sighted a Carrier in the large Taskforce persumed to be a Air Combat Taskforce covering the Pago Pago invasion, the Light Cruiser Zuhio was Photographed by the Catalina squadron, and later confirmed by intelligence officiers to be a Light Carrier, and after many hours of debate and comparing the picture to pictures the allies already have of known Japanse Carriers it was confirmed to be the Zuhio.

"It seems strange that the Japanese would commit there "mini" Carriers so deep into enemy Waters, eiether they've underestimated the potentional strength of our Carriers and have gotten cocky, or the Kido Butai is not far behind and this is the bait" A intelligence officier was quote saying today at Pearl Harbour.

The American Navy still has not been sortied, Allied command is very aware of the high losses sustained thus far, and no gambles will be taken with there remaining precious assets.



"First big raid" RAF Claims





While no where on the scale of the Raids by the RAF Bomber Command in Europe for obvious reasons of poor weather and lack of suitable airfields in the far east, and the Allies policy of "Germany first"

The RAF has still managed to pull of a promisingly large raid, in the early days of the war, and gives hope for larger and more damaging raids when the reinforcements and infrastructure in the Burma India area arrive.

33 Belhiem and 6 Wellington bombers released there bombs over Rangoon airfield, causing little damage to the airfield, bombs reportedly falling short and causing more damage to the inhabitants of Rangoons town.

RAF Spokespersons deny this, and are praising the co-ordinate and success of the raid, the Startegic bombing campaign should step up in the coming months, with US Airforce Bombers being sent to the reigion, and the British goverment promising increased reinforcement in the Far East.



Japanese Surface fleet attacks Akyab



The Japanese sent in a large Surface and Bombardment taskforce straight into Akyab and basically "shot up the place" A British Soldier on garrison at the base commented, as they begin to clear the rubble.

One Battleship, eight Cruisers, two Light Cruisers and many more escourting Destroyers steamed in, sunk one already strickened AK in port, and severly damaged several others, before causing the real damage.

They turned thier guns towards the crowded airfield, where planes from the Rangoon raid had just touched down, the bombardment lasted several hours, and soldiers, pilots and civilians alike where sent running for cover away, as a cocktail of ship shells rained down on the town also.

After the carnage had ended, many planes where left destroyed and damaged beyond repair, and even more damaged, its comes as a another blow to the British build up in Asia.


PS: Spent about half a hour looking for a pic of a jap surface fleet firing, and gave up [>:]

Ill post a "Month Overview" eiether later tonite, and most prob tomorrow.

It makes depressing reading im afraid [:(]

February overview




Bit later than usual but here anyway, its my game overview after another Months bitter fighting in and around the Pacific. Bare in mind please that these images are in the "future" March the 1st to be exact, i must get around to updating this more often, i am now on a half term holiday so i will have more time on my hands to update this.



Intelligence


Intelligence screen as of March 1st



As you can see the threat of 4-1 is there, he will reach 3-1 easily and maybe go higher when he takes Manilla and bags the troops trapped in the Philipines, capture of the DEI would nudge him closer to 4-1, i beleive he will reach 4-1 sometime in 1942, but i then have to deal with whittling down his lead, perhaps earlier than i would of liked ensuring he does not keep 4-1 when the clock strikes 12 on December 31st 1942.

Perhaps a Guadacanal style battle of attrition in late 42, would be my ideal scenario, whether he will make this mistake and overextend remains to be seen.




Warships sunk


Warships sunk as of March 1st



Nothing new here, apart from those Cruisers he sunk at Noumea with the Kido Butai and of Course the Revenge sunk south of Borneo, apart from that just some Submarines lost on each side and Merchant ships etc.

Would like to see some more Jap Capital ships sunk over the coming months, my Subs are now firmly in a Warship hunting role, ive moved them all around places like Kwaljalien and Truk, away from Merchant Shipping lanes, north of Luzon and around Japan's major ports, i need to attrition his offensive power 1943-44 when the war has comfortaly turned, will be when i send them looking for Merchants and tankers full of goodies.



Aircraft losses


Top Aircraft losses as of March 1st.



America's first line fighter the P-40B takes the dubious honor of being number 1 in this list, it hurts espically as the P-40B replacement rate is particually low, meaning i have a lot of Half full Squadrons of these planes, i must upgrade as many of this squadrons as quick as possible to the improved P-40E which also has a higher Replacement rate.

Japanese front line figter, the A6M2 Zero, is the no:1 Japanese lost, shot down a fair few in the skies, but most losses are to Operational losses, which ive noticed the Zero suffers from a lot.

Kido Butai bombers shot down over PH are still ranking high...



Top pilots


Top pilots as of March 1st



Philipines


Philipines as of March 1st



Dutch East Indies


Dutch east indies as of March 1st

Fortunately for you, at least in the long term, your opponent is running his airforce into the ground. Does he have some kind of training program going on in China?

Not yet,China is more of a traning ground for his ground forces at the moment.

Most of thse losses are from his two PH strikes, i never really throught he was hurting his Airforce that much :S

LJN 15-16th February 1942



Pago Pago falls


American prisoners rounded up under guard



As has been expected for a number of days, when the Japanese's intentions for America Samoa became apparent to American intelligence the island of Pago Pago has now officially been confirmed as lost.

Radio contact with the island was lost late this afternoon, The island garrison commander reported a large Japanese invasion force landing on the northern beaches of the island late last evening.

They stayed in radio contact with South Pacific command still located at Pearl Harbour, during the day, reporting severe Naval bombardment's from Japanese War ships, hitting there positions with deadly accuracy and inflicting a heavy toll on their men, the garrison commander then whent on to report that his men had driven back a Japanese probing attack, presumably from a smaller recon group and was preparing his men for the reality that they would return in greater numbers and that no help was on the way, and commended the bravery and attitude of his men in the face of definate death or Capture under a enemy that is already reknown for there poor and violent treatment of prisoners.

One final Radio message was received by the Garrison Commander Major Jpegg

"Our Positions are being overun, the Japanese will soon reach our rear lines where many non combantants and island inhabitants are hiding, the sound of Rifle fire and Japanese soldiers cheering is growing closer, my men have fought bravely many are dead or dying , i plan to surrender to stop this mindless bloodshed, we have resisted all we can....."

Pago Pago is yet another island to have fallen in the south pacific to Japanese agression.

"These islands will be amongst the first to be liberated from Japanese control, as they are quite isolated from the Japanese out perimeter." Admiral Nimitz was quoted as saying at Pearl Harbour this week.




Other news

Lae and Finscafen Falls to Japanese Paratroopers

B-17s from Batavia raid Singapore airfield and cause "sufficient" damage to the airfield facilities and planes on runway.

SS Finback hits AK Okita Maru

LJN 17th-18th February 1942




Japanese advance continues


Japanese take Lanchow,China



In an anotherwise quiet day one thing remained the same, the Japanese advanced.

While the bulk of Japanese forces in China continued the march towards the Chinese Capital Chunking and smaller force marched northwards into Communist China heartland, today they look the town of Lanchow without any resistance apart from a few shots fired from local guerilla forces, a China previously split imbeteewn several factions unified to fight the Japanese invasion in 1937 apart from Communist forces who remained a enemy, the Communists are reportedly unable to give much reistance to the Japanese threat, and there will be very little to stop them from driving further North.


Also taken by Japanese forces was the small town and airfield at Kavieng, New Ireland NE of Rabaul, the airfield was secured by Japanese paratroopers early yesterday morning, the town first found by Dutch explorers in the 16th Century, and later owned by Germany as a overseas colony in the 19th did not offer much resistance to the falling paratroopers, but several sabogtage attemps where made to the towns infrastructure and airfield, several craters where created by explosives planted during the nigh, and several bridges where blown.

"Little peices of resistance like these made today will slow the Japanese by a few days, and bring them a few days closer to inevitable defeat by allied forces" Australian Prime Minister John Curtin spoke yesterday in Canerberra.

The Japanese are showing a increased interest in the New Britain/New Guinea area, which puts Australia under threat of attack, A Japanese airfield at places like Guadacanal, Rabaul and Port Moresby could endanger convoys headed to Australia, the latter base is being built up as a major airfield and port in which to resist growing Japanese agression in the Pacific.

Just catching up on reading this joe ,, word of advice though. If your pulling troops back for rest make sure its to a non marial base, the ones you mentioned in Burma / India are still malarial. I think you have to go back further toward India , ( my brain has totally failed to remember any base names right now , and ive just done a PBEM turn , Im getting senile )

also top tip .. Unlike UV both cooktown and cairns are malarial , if you rest troops from PM you have to go back to townsville. I found out the hard way in my other game [:D]

Also what went wrong in china ! yikes .. In our game i assume you did the same but I stopped you (so far) [;)].

Great defence of Clarke ! good going (looks embarrased )

Good luck with stopping the red tide

My reasoning for massing troops on Burma border, not deeper in India's cities, is that a Paratroop attack capturing Ledo, would give him a Japanese base in India on the Railine, if he sent in all his Transport planes to Airlift whole Divisions there, i could have a problem.

The BFF Brigades, and Indian Divisions ive evaced to Eastern India are there to stop that.

Malaria is a small side effect to keep India secure

Chunking will be the Chinese Stalingrad, if i lose this base, i am surrounded in places like Wechow etc etc, and i cant defend in one place, and concentrate my forces, ill have to try and defend them all equally weakly.

Good news is that he has just attacked with 130 000 Japs the Hex NE of Chunking on a road/open hex, and have been HELD by 70,000 Chinese, i am senidng more Chinese Divisons from other areas to Bulk up on numbers, if i dont get encirled i beleive i can hold him here, these forces that have held him are a relatively small percentage of Forces in the area.

Bad news is now Britain has left Burma on the last Dakota flight, it is only a matter of time before the Burma road is cut , i will try to Fly in Supplies with C-47s, but it is no replacement for that road being open..

Tahnks for explaining that, i used a split 'new' div to cover the bases so tired ones could rest up in india. still holding mandalay though. and akyab finally got a garrison

losing the burma road is inevitable i think, its just a matter of time and trying to get ledo up to a level 4 is a priority, really helps with op losses and fatigue.

19-20th February 1942



Kido Butai hits Fiji


A6M2 Takes off from a unnamed Japanese Carrier



The Kido Butai paid another visit to yet another South Pacific island held by the allies, this time it was Fiji's turn to be flattened by the feared carrier group.

"It was like Pearl Harbour all over again, the numbers of Japanese aircraft has to be seen to beleived" Lt Browning top allied ace of the Pacific war so far of the "Elite" 18th FG, who have now done battle with Kido Butai aircraft three times.

The 18th FG was scrambled early this morning and hurried into the air, as Radar facilities at the island sighted a "Massive" Strike force heading towards the base, 26 of the P-40B's made it in the air as the first strike arrived over the islands Port and Airfield, they where greeted by 54 A6M2 Zeros and 138 Vals making a beeline for the bases port, in which The Light Cruiser Honolulu and several escourting Destroyers had just made ancor.

The 18th whent in fighting ripping up several Zero's and Vals before the Japanese could respond, but the pure numbers difference took its toll as Wave after Wave crashed into the island, after the fighting was done, Several Merchant ships lay burning and crippled, the Light Cruiser Honolulu subjected to quiet a lot of attention being the Largest ship in ancor was heavily damaged by several bomb hits, but remains afloat the only ship confirmed sunk was the Destroyer Schley.

The 18th FG lost Every plane in the action, eiether shot down in the air, or destroyed on the ground, the squadron also lost half of there pilots, J Browning remained untouched, his plane was destroyed while refueling this was not the case with other Pearl Harbour veterans, who have tangled with the Elite Naval pilots of the Japanese taskforce for the last time.

However, the raid was not an overwhelming Japanese victory, with only one Destroyer sunk, Nine Zero's and Seven Vals where lost, which will attrition a Japan which can not produce as many Pilots as the allies.

It is now hoped that the Japanese taskforce will not venture further south and endanger important taskforces carrying Men, supplies and fuel for the South Pacific, althought there is very little the Allies could do to deter the Japanese apart from the low chance of a lucky submarine attack.




18th FG rises up to the fight


Other news

SS-28 Spots CVE Taiyo in south pacific

TK Ken'yo Maru sunk by SS Grayback near Pago Pago.

Sian falls as predicited

Carrier organisation


In my game which is in Mid-March now, (yes im behind) i have 5 USN Carriers.

Three Yorktown class

Yorktown
Enterprise
Hornet


Two Lexington class

Lexington
Saratoga



But im left with the question on how to organise these Carriers, ive decided that as the Yorktown are weaker AA wise ill group them together for a AA rating of 1,500 in these Carriers, and the two Lexington Class for a AA rating of 1,600.

But what other ships should these Taskforces consist of?

Obviously no BB's as they are too slow and would slow the taskforce to a 20 Knot speed.

So how many cruisers and destroyers should be in each group?

All suggestions welcome.



Tongatpu island key to South Pacific?






Looking at ways to neutralise the Japanes threat to Allied convoys, i noticed a previously overlooking Tongatapu island Port level 1 and Airfield level 2.

These can be upgraded to a maximum of Port level 2 and more importantly Airfield level 4, big enough for allied medium bombers to be based at and pound the hell out of Pago Pago, with wave after Wave of Medium bomber strikes,

Good idea, or will i simply provoke the Japanese to attack deeper into the South pacific, and kindly take my Level 4 airfield off of me and base there own Betties there?

build up that little island ! . he cant be everywhere at once. keep nipping away and he must have problems getting supplies to pago and canton .. whats your subs doing ? mine have a habit of dying regularly but it keeps him honest and foces the use of dd's which could be employed elsewhere.

Overal try and stretch the jap every where you can !

btw good luck Joe

My Subs have sunk the Hiei, as you probably know.

Came close to hitting a few Cruisers, duds and misses .

But there hurting Convoys coming in and out of Japan and other major ports, they usually hit at least one AK/AP Every Week, which all adds up, and is promising for early 42, this performance will improve dramatically in 1943 no doubt.

Im gonna go do your turn now [:)]

21-22nd February 1942



Palembang crumbles





Japanese forces advancing south along Sumatra are close to evicting Dutch Garrison forces from the important oil fields, rubber plantations, coal mines and large airfield of Palembang.

The capital of Southern Sumatra has been in dutch hands snice the 19th Century, this looks like it is all about to change in the next few days, as the defenders are beginning to surrender in large numbers, and retreat.

The Japanese beleive the town will fall in the next few days as the last defensive positions are being overun, the airfield there will be large enough for Japan to launch Sally and Lilly, Medium bombers to hit airfield in Norhern Java, Java command has already begun dispersing airplanes to other airfields, to lower the amount of aircraft losses when the Japanese come to bomb one of them, most probably Batavia, the principle and largest airfield on the Northern half of the island.

Dutch TIVA's from Batavia continue to attack unescourted Japanese transports moored at Jambi, so the capture of the Town has not been without some loss for the Japanese.




Other news

SS Perch hits AP off Legaspi, Japanese opening second front?

Dutch Sub sunk south of Davao

Emiraru island falls to Japanese, as they begin there Soloman campaign.

23-24th February 1942



B-17's pound Palembang


Damaged B-17 flying over Palembang



A few hours after the Japanese officially declared Palembnag clear, B-17s stationed at Batavia sortied along with Dutch Martins to hit the valueable oil fields and refinerys in and outside the town of Palembang.



The B-17s and Martins report "massive" damage inflicted on the oil fields and infrastructure such as oil pipes and refinery's, second waves of the attack report having to fly through thick Black smoke rising from the town, the raid has been labeled a sucess and has reportedly damaged or destroyed around 20 per cent of the towns Oil facilities.

"This raid has been a massive success, but it may be our last, as Recon photos taken during the attack sight a Massive Japanese build up of Planes fighters and heavy bombers, i fear it is only a matter of time before they come to hit Batavia hard themselves" J Edwards commander in chief of ABDA Airforces of Northern Java.




Other news

Japanese land at Legaspi, second front in the P.I

SS Stingray hits AP yoshino Maru south of Marinas islands

SS KVI Hits Manko Maru outside Palembang

SS KXV hits Meiko Maru off Jambi





PS: Short brief update, but time is short..

25-26th February 1942



Kongo sighted near Sinkep island


Japanese Battlecruiser Kongo circa 1925-28



The Japanese Battlecruiser Kongo was sighted by Dutch TIVA's flying a Naval recon mission from Batavia, the mighty ship was speeding south perhaps into newly captured Palembang harbour or perhaps to flatten Batavia airfield, which has been a nuisance to Japanese intentions in Sumatra and Java itself.

If it where to speed into Batavia overnight and devastate the facilities there would be very little Allied forces would be able to do, the largest Surface ships in the area are Cruisers which Battlecruisers and Battleships would be able to brush aside such ships as the Houston.

If the ship is sighted heading further south ABDA fighters and bombers will be dispersed once again to smaller airfields across Java temporarily.

Also in the area the last small garrison on Sinkep island fell today with little resistance.




2nd USMC unloads at Fiji


The 2nd USMC division today unloaded at the major Fiji port of Suva, after a long and potentially perilous journey through the sub infested waters of the south pacific, and with the ever present chance of a Kido Butai raid destroying the convoy.

But the ships and there cargo are now relatively safe, the Marines arrive to complement the existing base forces and New Zealand Brigade which have already dug in at the island.

"It would take 2-3 Japanese Divisions many days, perhaps Weeks to dislodge as from our position at Suva if they where to come and invade" Captain Pierce spoke to reporters today on the picturesque island.

Further air reinforcements are expected in the form of P-40's in the coming weeks.



The sub war


SS Gato which gained a kill today

The sub war contined and continued to favour the Americans, as SS Gato sunk a PC Boat off Kwajalien today, the vessel was on what appeared to be a ASW Patrol in the sub infested waters around the Japanese forward Naval base of Kwajalien which is where the Kido Butai is beleived to rest up imbeteewn raids.

In darker nes, the SS 016 Succumbed to injuries sustained by Depth Charges fired by Japanese destroyers on ASW near Truk.

The Japanese also lost a Submarine off the west coast, the SS I-19 was confirmed sunk by American scout planes flying from Los angeles.