CHS-IATB New Informations Minister: Muhammad as-Sahhaf

[Historiker]

This is a game me vs. bigbaba playing CHS IATB "South Strike"
As the thread is open to bigbaba, you'll find no informations about strategic planning until the operations happened.

Date:
Actual Operations:
Industry Orders:
Own significant Ship losses today:
Significant Enemy ship losses today:
Ship losses balance:
Plane losses:
Figther Aces:
Highest scored Pilot:


Date: 41-12-07
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD
Industry Orders: Expand AC and engine production, New ships ordered
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: n/a
Ship losses balance: n/a
Plane losses:
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: n/a

Tactical Descicion for the initial strike:
It is most unlikely to coordinate more than two strikes against harbours on day one. To weaken the US Asiatic Fleet, Manila will be a first rate target. The descicion for the second strike was Singapoore. Haveing the KB there will allow fighter cover for the initial landings at Borneo and Sumatra while the powerful British Far East Fleet will hopefully cease to exist.

Operation CLAW SHORTENING:
Attack on Singapoore Harbour with the attack planes from 4 of the 6 KB carriers while the other two groups together with the dive bombers hunt enemy shipping at sea. The strike is supported by G3N from Saigon.
Heavy own forces composing of two divisions and several tank-, artillery and engineer units land in Singora to avoid enemy shore artillery.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
To gain air supremacy within the DEI waters, Kuching, Palembang, Kendari, Amboina and Timor are invaded on day one. Additional landings or paradrops are undertake to cut the enemy's way of retreat. Other paradrops are done to capture enemy ships or force the enemy to scuttle them.

Operation IRON CHANCELLOR:
A significant force is ordered to invade Rabaul. Moreover, a huge convoy filled with engineers is ordered to steam south into the Bismarck Sea to reinforce Rabaul immediately after it's captured. This should enlarge the airfield ASAP to allow operations by landbases Torpedo Bombers of the types G3N and G4M.

Operation BACKYARD:
To whipe out the US Forces in our spere of influence, Manila harbour is attacked by significant forces. For the initial strike, the landbased bombers on Formosa are reinforced by airgroups throughout the empire, from Manchuria to Kwajalein. In addition, Floatplanes from our AVs and carrier bomber from the lighter carriers will join the bombing of Manila.
Several Brigades and Divisions are shipped to northern Luzon while the invasion force at Legaspi is assisted by an amphib operation of the 16th Division at Naga. The 17th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment is also ordered for southern Luzon to assist the Infantry. Mindanao Guam, and Wake will also be inveded by significant forces. Most landing sites are attacked by previous paradrops to reduce losses.


Industry orders:
To equip the airforce with cheap training bombers, the production of Ki-47 (B5N) bombers is ordered. The wartime naval expansion program led to the beginning of construction of several capital ships:
The BCs Kii and Tosa, the CVs Tango, Sagami, Hizen, Iwami, Satsuma, Settsu, Kawachi. In addition, several huge AKs and APs are ordered immediately to the docks to convert them into CVL and CVEs.

[Historiker]

I'm too lazy to write this diary entrys for all the days that have passed since our game has begun. So a short summary:

The Initial strikes were very effective. 22 Subs were sunk in Manila and both PoW and Repulse together with one CL at sea and in Singapoore. CV-1, the Langley was also sunk in Manila. This is important as in IATB, it is reconverted into a CV for 24 AC.
In two surface actions, Boise and Durban met some of our BBs and were shot into pieces.

China:
He is shortening his lines and has withdrawn from Wenchow which was later captured. He also withdraws his guerilla forces. I haven't taken any action apart from captureing Wenchow as I am reorganizing my troops.

Malaya:
He tried to resist at Alor Star but failed to defend the eastern half of the peninsula. Consequently, I managed to cut off 16 units that are at Kuala Lumpur now and will be wiped out soon. Singapoore has not been entered, but the remaining 16 units there will be quickly overrun with my 4 Divisions, 1 Brd, 5 NFLs, 4 Tank Regiments and 7 Artillery Regiments/Batallions.

Hung Kong:
Still resistsing despide overwhelming forces. Its fortification is now at 0, but my forces had suffered a lot in fatigue and disruption.

PI:
Mindanao captured except Davao and Cagayan. Cagayan will be assaulted by superior forces within the next days and shall fall within a week.
Luzon: Landing an additional Division in the south gave me the opportunity to enter both Manila and Clarck field hex at the same time. This has splitted his defensive forces and shall allow me to destroy them quite fast, especially as both hexes are permanetly bombed to permit the construction of fortifications and to eat up supplies.
He recaptured Lamon Bay, previously captuered by paras, to have a hex to retreat, I think. I sent to Brigedes inteded for Mindanao there and recaptured the hex again. His garrison, a US RCT surrendered after the first assault.

DEI:
Kendari, Timor and Ceram are take and have significant fighter and G3N/G4M forces. They made an attack on Darvin sinking another two subs and damagin another heavily.

New Guniea:
Except PM and Lae, everything significant is captuered. Rabaul already has an Airfield of size 5 and it's harbour is short before having that size, too.

Southern Area:
Efate and Luganville are captured and reinforced. Both have AF size 1 and growing. The same with Tarawa.

Aleutians:
Attu is caputered and has an AF size 1 as well as a strong garrison.


In General:
He avoids most airbattles, so that the losses on both sides are quite small. As I do continious bombing, I loose a lot of planes to ops and Flak, which means that I already have lost more planes than him!
His ship losses are extraordinary in numbers. Haveing the KB in the Java sea and the Mini-KB in the Sulu-Sea allowed me to hunt down his shipping.
So far, he has lost:
1 CV (Langley, no CV yet)
1 BB
1 BC
1 CA Soerabaja
4 CL Sumatra, Danae, Durban, Boise
3 CLs Soema, Asheville, Tulsa (PGs rated CL to allow them aggressive offensive actions and shore bombardement)
11 DDs
1 DM
7 AVDs
27 SSs
7 ML
6 MSW
1 SC
28 PTs
12 PGs/PCs
5 AOs
4 AS
3 AR
2 AGP
2 AD
20 TK
15 APs
+ around 150 AKs

In total: 261 ships

I've lost
3 APs
2 AKs

That's all!

One AP and one AK are damaged so severe that they may sink in harbour, one sub with floatation still has a long way home, but that's it!
Wake fought hard and managed to give a CL 90 sysdamage (after the floatation was stopped) but all warships have survived there.

Total air losses so far are: 392(J):336(A).

The He-100 had no fight, yet, so there's no record of it's power in combat so far.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-02
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: Production of Ki-48 ended, turned to Ju-88A-4
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1 PT, 1 AS
Ship losses balance: 263:5
Plane losses: 339:400
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.


Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
One more enemy PT sunk by our Fighters.

Operation CLAW SHORTENING:
Finally, Hong Kong has fallen. 20.000 men walk into prison camps. Also Kuala Lumpur has fallen and 49.000 enemy men will never cross our way again. The surrendering forces also consisted of 8 enemy Brigades! Singapoore's days are numbered.

Operation IRON CHANCELLOR:
Rabaul harbour has reached size 5.

Operation BACKYARD:
Nothing changed in the PIs.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
Gathering forces.

[bigbaba]

historiker is realy a master of the "blitzkrieg" and hunting down the allied merchant fleet between PH and DEI. its always a pleasure to play against such a good opponent. the allied AK/AP loses were heavy but at least, the capital ships are still intact (except POW and repulse which were sunk in singapur in turn 1 by betty and nells). also, manila harbor was bombed to the stone age. KB plus several hundert LBA attacked the port in turn 1 and sunk most of the precious SS there instantly.

allied victories are rare in this dark days. the only ones i remember were 16 kates shot down by the CAP over singapur 2 weeks ago and some attacks with PT- boats which caused some minor damage to his transport capacity. also, india, N-burma and some important pacific islands were succesfully reinforced without any intervention of the empire.

one of my aussie pilots has (like the leading japanese fighter pilot) 4 kills so far. it will be intresting to see who gets the first ace of the war.[;)]

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-03
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: Production of H6K4 ended, turned to H8K
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: none
Ship losses balance: 263:5
Plane losses: 341:418
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation IRON CHANCELLOR:
The enemy surprised us with a naval bombardement of Efate. Our losses are moderate while the CD guns scored several hits.
Koumac (New Caledonia) captured.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-04
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: none
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xAO
Ship losses balance: 264:5
Plane losses: 359:4123
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
Sea- and landborne fighters attacked the enemy CAP over Darvin. 17 enemy fighters were downed without own losses.

Operation CLAW SHORTENING:
The troop concentration in Johore Baru reaches a significant size.

Operation IRON CHANCELLOR:
Paras continue to occupy undefended bases in the solomons and New Guinea.

Operation BACKYARD:
Enemy forces recaptured Dadjangas on Mindanao.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
Preparations continue.

Further News:
Luzangprabang Airfield has reached size 3. The most perfect location of that base will make it very usefull for operations in Burma and northeast China.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-05
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: Ki-51 production ended, now Ki-47 are produced instead
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xDD 1xMSW 1xAK
Ship losses balance: 267:5
Plane losses: 372:436
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE
Our Planes down 10 enemy fighters over Darvin without loss but enemy attacks on Koepang on Timor cost us one Zero destroyed by defensive fire and several destroyed planes on the grund.
The Carriers launch strikes on enemy shipping in and around Darvin Harbour, sinking one DD, one MSW and one AK with some more ships heavy damaged.

[bigbaba]

the 28 hudsons and 15 B-17 did a good job and penetrated the light japanese CAP (6 zeros) over koepang destroying 4 AC on the ground.

this attacks are only preformed to reduce the japanese pressure on darwin. hopefully historiker will let more fighters flying CAP instead of sending them to darwin to kill my CAP there.

here the fighter doctrine of the allied pilots:

[Historiker]

Ah! A Version of the Dicta Boelcke
Let's see how good my Heinkels perform, they should make their first fight in the next turn.
This plane is somehow strange...
It's climb rate and maximum altitude make it an ideal interceptor as it can even reach the highest flying 4es.
On the other hand, both armament and durability (also lacking armour) seem to make it suicidal to let them fly into enemy 4e formations as a good burst of a cal. .50 will set it ablaze. Maybe they are my air superiority fighter... We'll see

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-06
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: Ki-51 production ended, now Ki-47 are produced instead
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xSS 1xMSW 1xAK
Ship losses balance: 270:5
Plane losses: 400:455
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Central China:
The He-100D made its first appearence on the battlefield against obsolete chinese planes downing 18 of 22 without any losses. Ki-43s destroy another 3 I-16s.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
Another day of attacks on Darwin harbour sink another MSW, one AK and a dutch sub!

[bigbaba]

this He-100 is a real killer..at least for chinese I-16 with their 30 XP pilots. hopefully it will be a different story against the AVG and hurricane fighters over burma.

at least the heavy FLAK over darwin managed to shoot down at least 8 kates. something my fighters are unable to do at the moment. 

allied fighter pilots at the west coast train up for the clash with japanese experts:



[:D]

[Historiker]

[:D]

Date: 42-01-07
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: urgent shortage in Aichi-engines
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xMSW
Ship losses balance: 271:5
Plane losses: 400:462
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.[/quote]

Operation BACKYARD:
The forces at Clarck Field recieved their attack order, today. They conquering of Luzon island now reaches its climax.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-08
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: urgent shortage in Aichi-engines
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 3xMSW 1xAP
Ship losses balance: 275:5
Plane losses: 402:477
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation BACKYARD:
A first attack on Clark Field reduced the enemy fortifications but didn't achieve a breakthroug.
The enemy recaptured the undefended Cotabato on MIndanao, oviously to break the siege ring on Cagayan.

Operation HAMMER BLOW started:
Our carrier launched two strikes on Suva harbour that oviously surprise the enemy:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A2 Val x 21
B5N2 Kate x 83

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Bingera, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 3, on fire
PC Eridanus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 1
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1
AVD Hulbert, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1
CL Perth, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1

Day Air attack on Suva , at 83,117

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
D3A2 Val x 126
B5N2 Kate x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 3
MSW Whyalla, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Leander, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Long, Bomb hits 1
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Balch, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Perth, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD John D. Edwards, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Induna Star, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Hulbert, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Thornton, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Edsall, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Elliot, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Whipple, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 1, on fire

[Historiker]

I really hate to have missed to see your face reading this, Mehrdad [:D]

[bigbaba]

i am not happy...thats for sure.[:D]

i had several hudsons and catalinas flying naval search but because of the bad weather (thunderstorm) they failed to locate your carriers...although your carriers had no problems to preform coordinated strikes despite the weather.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-09
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: urgent shortage in Aichi-engines
Own significant Ship losses today: n/a
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xCL (Tromp) 1x DD 1xMSW 2xAK
Ship losses balance: 280:5
Plane losses: 422:519
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
Once more, his B-17 attacked Koepang from Darvin. The 31 Zeke flying CAP shot down 5 and damaged another 5. Short time after that, 18 Hudsons attacked loosing 11.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
Only a few strike because of the bad weather, but several ships at sea are hit:
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Worden
DD Phelps
DD Porter, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD MacDonough
DD Hull
DD Voyager, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Whipple, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Alden, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Dale

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 3
CL Achilles
CA Australia, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Farragut
CA Minneapolis
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
TK D. L. Kruithof, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DMS Elliot, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Madrono, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Bungaree, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AD Whitney, Torpedo hits 1
AK Lauralaba, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Aussi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Balus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-09
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: CVE Heian Maru's trail runs end today. She'll be commisioned tomorrow.
Own significant Ship losses today: 1xAP
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 1xCL (Adeleide) 2x DD 2xMSW 1xAK 1xAO
Ship losses balance: 287:6
Plane losses: 434:537
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
Landings at Makassar and Singkawang.

Operation CLAW SHORTENING:
Operation CLAW SHORTENING reaches its end. Today, our forces have entered Singapoore achieving a 2:1 in the initial shock attack. The fortification was reduced to 3. Singapoore is expected to fall within 5 to 7 days.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
Bad weather is still a major obstacle. While two of our Battleships engaged enemy ships off Suva, only one airstrike was launched and faced enemy P-40B. The US pilots did a relatively good job downing 2 Zeke, 2 D3A, 2 B5N2 and 1 C3N.
After haveing split the KB, it will be recombined tomorrow.

[Historiker]

Explanations for the Operations done in December 1941:

Why Singapoore, not Pearl Harbour?
Its always a gamble whether a BB sinks in PH or not. I've seen two sink but I also saw none going down. The rest of the battleships reenter the war in mid 42 to end 42.
All this ships are powerful and will be usefull in shore bombardements, but they are all slow. They can't be used as escorts for the fleet carriers except he accepts the carriers not to move faster than 3 to 4 hex.
The PoW and the Repulse instead are fast enough for hit and run missions as well as fast enough to escort carriers. This makes them a much more attractive target.
Also, haveing the KB in Java sea allowed me to hinder every significant surface attack (especially as the two most powerful ships were already gone) on my landings and allowed me to hunt his fleeing ships.
It doesn't matter that he has lost 150 AKs. Many of them were only small 300-400t coastal AKs and I doubt that more than 5-10 of them were able to run 15kt or more (which makes them important for me). APs are not as numerous in the game but the smaller number sunk equals this. Fast APs are only rarely sunk as they are out of reach almoust immediately.
Still, I managed to sink several very usefull and rare (in the beginning) ships, the AGPs, ARs, AS, AOs and ADs. I can't recall it, but its possible that he now doesn't have any AS at OZ to support his subs from anywhere except the southeastern coast. This helps a lot as it makes many subs useless because of insufficiant range and give the others a shorter time in the operation area. Sinking all AS in the beginning has the same effect as sinking several subs for the first month.
The only big disadvantege is the missed chance to bomb Pearl Harbour Airfield. Invading Hawaii is IMO only possible if the airfield gets closed on turn one. Should the KB show up now, there'll be at least 400 fighters over Pearl, I bet. Not even to mention the possible retaliation strike from LBA on the KB... Haveing missed the chance to bomb PH airfield has closed the door to an invasion on Hawaii which was a nice option.

Operation CHEESE NIBBLE:
The first goal was to capture airfields around DEI with a size of 4 to allow my Bettys and Nells to interdict any shipping around the islands. This helps to isolate central DEI and is a usefull preparation for the coming invasions.
By conquering Kuching, Palembang, Koepang, Ambonia, Java and Kendari, this was achieved successfully.

Operation CLAW SHORTENING:
While Hong Kong survived quite long, I had luck by achieving to cut off most of Malayas defensive forces from their retreat to Singapoore. This will mean the end to the Gibraltar of Asia within a week and free a lot of troops for DEI. Consequently Operation CLAW SHORTENING is about to end.

Operation BACKYARD:
Cleaning out the Backyard was done as much as its possible so far. Mindanao will be conquered within one or two weeks and on Luzon, I managed to split the enemy forces again. Clark Field shall fall within a few days. As its garrison has no way retreat, it'll force the troops to surrender. Takeing the forces that are already in Manila and the then freed forces from Clark Field will end the siege of Manila within a few days as well. This means the three bastions that often hould out even into march will be conquered by mid- to end January.

Operation IRON CHANCELLOR:
Rabaul fell quite soon this time and the huge number of engineer forces allowed me to expand both harbour and airfield within only a few days. The airfield has already reached size 5 and is still growing to operate a huge airfleet. Most of northern New Guinea was secured by paradrops, Lae is still holding out but shall fall tomorrow.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
I guessed the cruisers that had bombed efate may be at Fiji or Pago Pago to be ready to operate against any amphibious forces in the Southern Pacific.
Unfortunately, I had bad luck with the weather (and heaven't looked at it [:@]) which reduced the efficiancy of HAMMER BLOW significantly. Haveing best weather, I wouldn't expect a single allied cruiser still swimming. In fact, looking at the names and numbers, most of the allied cruisers available at all have to be at Fiji atm.
If the weather continues to be that bad, most will be pulled of action for some month but not to many more sinks can be expected as I have to withdraw tomorrow.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-10
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: CVE Heian Maru entered service
Own significant Ship losses today: none
Significant Enemy ship losses today: 2xCA(Salt Lake City, Minneapolis) 1xCL(Achilles) 1xDD 2xPG 2xAK 2xAP
Ship losses balance: 298:6
Plane losses: 461:561
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation HAMMER BLOW:
One strike found a TF consisting of two CA, one CL and several escorts. The cruisers went down.

[Historiker]

Date: 42-01-11
Actual Operations: CHEESE NIBBLE, CLAW SHORTENING, IRON CHANCELLOR, BACKYARD, HAMMER BLOW
Industry Orders/News: critical shortage of Aichi-Engines
Own significant Ship losses today: none
Significant Enemy ship losses today: none
Ship losses balance: 298:6
Plane losses: 464:569
Figther Aces: n/a
Highest scored Pilot: WO C. Higashiyama of the F1/3rd Datai atm flying a A6M2 Zeke with 4 Kills.

Operation BACKYARD:
The Attack on Clark Field was repelled.