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My Grand Campaign versus ggraven finally started today. Mines in the Pacific because we multiplied the replacement rate of all mines by 10. Thus minelayers should not be the most useless ships in the fleet in this game...

I'm the Allies.

Dud torpedoes on.
Historical first turn off.
Surprise on.
Allies cant give orders to disbanded ships in turn 1.
PDUs on.
No paradropping unit fragments, the whole unit has to go over.

Orders are limited in turn 1 for obvious reasons. The main thing is putting almost all the LCUs onto rest orders, and much of the airforce into training. The ABDA Martin bombers in particular are all set for low level naval bombing training, so hopefully when the Java invasion comes they can do something useful.

PoW/Repulse have their home set to Batavia, retreat and loiter in the NE corner of the Java Sea.

3 x DD at Hong Kong are given orders to sow mines in the PI.

Marbleheads DD group given orders to set sail for the PI.

Houston/Boise stay put for now.

One of the US CVs (Lexington I think) ordered to head for Wake Island - not necessarily to do damage but I want to rescue the Wildcat squadron. Squee, risks on turn 1. The other CV is ordered to Palmyra.

CA Pensacola is split off from the convoy it begins escorting and ordered to Tarawa.

The Aus/NZ navies are ordered to converge on Rabaul.

I seem to be cursed, ggraven had to quit as something came up RL. However, his other opponent Steve came to rescue so now I'm playing him.

No mines in the pacific, stock scenario unfortunately.

I likely won't update this AAR so much as theres just too much going on to do so, but for what its worth, here it begins.

So, Steve, no peeking! [:-]

We're up to December 17th.

Malaya has progressed pretty much as per usual. I got a supply convoy in without loss, and some Vildebeest made their presence felt on the IJN, but the Japs are winning very good here.

The Allied surface forces havn't covered themselves with glory here, driven off as they were by IJN surface forces. The submarines have scored 1 hit in all this time. Big difference when compared to the AI, Steve tells me all his convoys are escorted which really matters.

Off the map to the SW, there was a surface battle at Jolo between 2 British 'D' cruisers, CL Marblehead and a bunch of Allied DDs vs a Japanese heavy cruiser SAG. The Allies were spanked badly, losing 2 DDs and the whole TF being badly shot up for no real damage to the enemy. They fought well but were outgunned and outarmoured. So Jolo is in Japanese hands.

Elsewhere...

CENTPAC sees surface battles between CA Pensacola and Japs at Tarawa and Makin Atoll. The Japs are spanked quite badly but the atolls are now part of the Empire.

KB hung around Pearl for several days and badly shot up the entire USN BB force, however no BBs actually sank. 3/4 of them are so crippled that they'll be out until the end of 1942, though. CV Lexington extracted the Wildcat squadron from Wake Island (still in Allied possession) but didn't linger.

BB Prince of Wales is lurking in the Java Sea, but came under submarine attack which means he knows its there, so I'm tempted to move it elsewhere.

Burma is being reinforced. [;)]

A lot of the A2A kills are the AVG in China shooting up Nates. However the PI forces and even the Pearl Harbor fighters on day 2 onwards did pretty well. I think the kill ratio is around 2:1 in his favour in fighters.

However the PI is down to less than a dozen serviceable P40s...

Turns were a bit slow for a while but we're picking up progress.

December 22nd 1941

Malaya
Georgetown has fallen, he's just begun landing at Mersing right by Singapore. 300 AV are ashore so far, we don't want him cutting off the entire peninsula. Vildebeest raid but score few hits. I got a couple of small SAGs nearby, they are going in.
I've ordered a general retreat north of Mersing but thats fine, was going to do that anyway.

DEI
There's been some surface action in the straits east of Balikpapan. (First off Marblehead and some American flush deckers get surprised and punished - the cruisers are shot up but not sunk, several DDs are sunk, barely even a hit on the Japs. *oops mentioned this already *) A few days later PoW/Repulse showed up with most of the Dutch navy, vs a Jap CL + 4 DD. One Jap DD survived, revenge be mine. PoW was impressive, scoring a dozen 14" hits on small targets. The Brits are out of ammo and thus pulling back, the Dutch barely engaged and are going to buzz Jolo where I believe there is a lot of unloading going on.

PI
Air defence is almost broken, and I've ordered a general retreat to Bataan.

Australia
CL Adelaide proves how useless she is, she gets into a tussle with two Jap DDs near Rabaul and is blown to bits by torpedoes despite crossing the T. Australia and Canberra are based at Rabaul but are raiding around.
Enterprise and Lexington are at Suva headed for Brisbane. I actually want to deploy these babies in the Java Sea for now.

CENTPAC
First wave of supply ships has unloaded at Pearl, they're being uncrated and dispatched onwards. All Pacific Fleet HQ stuff. Fairly unremarkable logistics, baseforces moving around - of import is the order of moving marine defence regiment + USAAF baseforce to Efate. Originally set for Ndeni in the starting OOB, Efate strikes me as more useful as it can exert control over New Caledonia if need be. Plus it starts slightly more developed.
I also form up two cruiser forces, one is en route to Suva, the other en route to Canton Island - each 2 x CA, 1 x CL, 4 x DD. Their job is to spank outreaching Japanese hands if they get any ideas regarding atolls.

Wake Island fell today.

Oh dear god. The Royal Navy in the guise of CL Mauritius and 3 DDs laid waste to the Japs at Mersing, who were surprised at anchor. RN torpedoes blew the hell out of the escort, and then they proceeded to shoot the crap out of the convoy. They even managed to return to Singapore and rearm and refuel by end of day, so they are bright eyed and bushy tailed for some more. In something of a laugh PG Soerabaya ended up patrolling Mersing all day withotu being attacked. No Jap ships around though.

Even the pre-dreadnoughts are being brought out here.

There was also a knuckle bitingly vicious night action in SOPAC between the Aussie navy and vastly superior Japanese forces. CA Canberra was sunk, but she put up one hell of a fight!


Situation in China is bad. Resource bombing is clearly insane. Tiny numbers of bombers can score 10-15 resource hits in a single day. Yenan is getting it - I'm forced to move the AVG up there. On the ground the Chinese are getting spanked, Nanning is holding on by a finger, Ichang has a million Japs headed up the road. Wuchow has a tiny garrison and is threatened by vastly superior forces. I'm desperately trying to consolidate the Chinese so they can fight back. I've already completely withdrawn from what I call 'the southeast pocket' around Wenchow, which IMO is just a deathtrap.

In general though a fine day for the Allies! Reproduced in full.

(PS got a day out, last report was Dec 21)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 22, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Mersing
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
SC Ch 23
SC Ch 22
SC Ch 21



CL Kinu firing at 30 Battery/3 HAA ...
SC Ch 23 firing at enemy troops...
SC Ch 22 firing at enemy troops...
SC Ch 21 firing at enemy troops...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
ML No. 311, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PG Herald, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
HDML 1062
HDML 1063, Shell hits 1



Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 14% moonlight: 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
Range closes to 2,000 yards......
Range closes to 1,000 yards......
DD Asagiri engages PG Herald at 1,000 yards...
DD Asagiri engages ML No. 311 at 1,000 yards...
Range increases to 2,000 yards...
DD Asagiri engages PG Herald at 2,000 yards...
ML No. 311 sunk by DD Murakumo at 2,000 yards...
Fisher V. orders Allied TF to disengage...
Higashi, Hideo orders Japanese TF to disengage...
Range increases to 3,000 yards...
PG Herald sunk by DD Asagiri at 3,000 yards...
DD Murakumo engages HDML 1063 at 3,000 yards...
Range increases to 9,000 yards...
DD Asagiri engages HDML 1063 at 9,000 yards...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SC Ch 21, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
SC Ch 22, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
SC Ch 23, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Keisyo Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires
xAK Koto Maru
xAK Toba Maru, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Holland Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Kotohira Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Yamabuki Maru, heavy damage
xAK Nihonka Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Jokuja Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kaisho Maru
xAKL Bokuei Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Chosen Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAKL Kokuei Maru

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1
DD Encounter
DD Isis



Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 14% moonlight: 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
Range closes to 2,000 yards......
Range closes to 1,000 yards......
CL Mauritius engages CL Kinu at 1,000 yards...
SC Ch 23 sunk by CL Mauritius at 1,000 yards...
SC Ch 21 sunk by CL Mauritius at 1,000 yards...
Range increases to 2,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages CL Kinu at 2,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages SC Ch 22 at 2,000 yards...
CL Kinu sunk by DD Encounter at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 3,000 yards...
xAKL Bokuei Maru collides with xAK Manyo Maru at 51 , 82 ...
CL Mauritius engages SC Ch 22 at 3,000 yards...
DD Isis engages xAKL Chosen Maru at 3,000 yards...
SC Ch 22 sunk by DD Encounter at 3,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages xAK Kotohira Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAK Toba Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAKL Bokuei Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAKL Jokuja Maru at 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages xAK Toba Maru at 2,000 yards...
DD Isis engages xAK Toba Maru at 2,000 yards...
DD Stronghold engages xAK Toba Maru at 2,000 yards...
xAK Toba Maru sunk by DD Isis at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 3,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages xAK Nihonka Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Stronghold engages xAK Kotohira Maru at 3,000 yards...
xAK Nihonka Maru sunk by DD Stronghold at 3,000 yards...
DD Isis engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAK Kotohira Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Stronghold engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Stronghold engages xAK Koto Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Isis engages xAK Yamabuki Maru at 3,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages xAK Kotohira Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Encounter engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
DD Stronghold engages xAK Keisyo Maru at 3,000 yards...
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Manus at 101,119, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Kako, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Perth, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Voyager, Shell hits 2



Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 14% moonlight: 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards......
Range closes to 4,000 yards......
Range closes to 1,000 yards......
Getting, F.E. crosses the 'T'...
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 1,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 1,000 yards...
DD Yuzuki engages DD Voyager at 1,000 yards...
DD Voyager engages DD Kikuzuki at 1,000 yards...
Range increases to 2,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards...
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards...
DD Oboro engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards...
CA Furutaka sunk by CL Perth at 2,000 yards...
DD Voyager engages DD Kikuzuki at 2,000 yards...
DD Yuzuki engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards...
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards...
DD Uzuki engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 2,000 yards...
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards...
DD Voyager engages DD Oboro at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 6,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 6,000 yards...
DD Uzuki engages DD Voyager at 6,000 yards...
DD Voyager engages DD Yuzuki at 6,000 yards...
Range increases to 9,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 9,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards...
CA Canberra engages CA Aoba at 9,000 yards...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 19


No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
HDML 1100, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
HDML 1101, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet....
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20


Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet....
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Wuchow , at 76,57

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 15
Ki-51 Sonia x 9


Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet....
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 7


No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet....
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Manus at 101,119, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
DD Oboro
DD Kikuzuki, on fire
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
DD Voyager, Shell hits 1



Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards......
Range closes to 10,000 yards......
Range closes to 9,000 yards......
Range closes to 8,000 yards......
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
Range closes to 6,000 yards......
Range closes to 5,000 yards......
Range closes to 4,000 yards......
Range closes to 3,000 yards......
Range closes to 2,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards...
DD Oboro engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 3,000 yards...
Range increases to 5,000 yards...
CA Kinugasa engages DD Voyager at 5,000 yards...
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Noumea at 112,162

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
xAK Zvir, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Herborg
xAP Diomed
xAK Illisos
xAK Period
xAK Iron King
xAK Corio
xAK Tai Yin
xAK Oakbank
PG Warrego



SS I-7 launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Zvir...
I-7 diving deep .......
PG Warrego fails to find sub, continues to search......
PG Warrego fails to find sub, continues to search......
PG Warrego fails to find sub, continues to search......
PG Warrego fails to find sub, continues to search......
PG Warrego fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Sambas

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome



DD Shinonome firing at Sambas Base Force...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Sambas

TF 19 troops unloading over beach at Sambas, 57,88



15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 41st Guard Bn...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Vigan at 80,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi
xAK Goyo Maru
xAK Hitati Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Terukawa Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK Yuri Maru
xAK Kiyo Maru
xAK Zuisyo Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAKL Sakae Maru
xAP Asama Maru
xAP Buenos Aires Maru
xAP Huzi Maru
PB Kinsyo Maru #2
PB Teibo Maru #2

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!...
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 18,000 yards...
Range increases to 20,000 yards......
Both Task Forces evade combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Ki-27b Nate x 17



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 22000 feet
15 x Ki-27b Nate sweeping at 16000 feet

CAP engaged:
24th PG/17th PS with P-40E Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 53 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 22000 feet

CAP engaged:
35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th Chinese Base Force, at 87,56

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 5



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 24000 feet

CAP engaged:
35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Yenan , at 88,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 28
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 6



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 6 damaged




Resources hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/27th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 77th Chinese Corps, at 84,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-30 Ann x 9



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2nd Group Army ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Yenan , at 88,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 8



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 2


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Resources hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/27th FS CAF with I-15-III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Yenan , at 88,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 7



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 1


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Resources hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/27th FS CAF with I-15-III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 98th Chinese Corps, at 88,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 28



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 22nd Australian Brigade, at 51,82 (Mersing)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 16
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 19



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 30 Battery/3 HAA ......
Also attacking 22nd Australian Brigade ......
Also attacking 30 Battery/3 HAA ......
Also attacking 22nd Australian Brigade ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 31st Chinese Corps, at 72,55 (Nanning)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 12



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 52nd Chinese Corps ......
Also attacking 31st Chinese Corps ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Yenan , at 88,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 19



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 1


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Resources hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/27th FS CAF with I-15-III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 35th Chinese Corps, at 92,38

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 15



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 13th Group Army ......
Also attacking 35th Chinese Corps ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 9th Chinese Base Force, at 72,55 (Nanning)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 31st Chinese Corps ......
Also attacking 9th Chinese Base Force ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nanchang , at 85,54

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6



Allied aircraft
A-29A Hudson x 6
DB-3M x 5
H81-A3 x 12
SB-III x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 damaged



Resources hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x DB-3M bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 5 x 100 kg GP Bomb
6 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x DB-3M bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 5 x 100 kg GP Bomb
5 x SB-III bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb
2 x SB-III bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai Det A with Ki-27b Nate (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
Buffalo I x 13
Hudson I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Bokuei Maru, heavy fires
xAKL Chosen Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Blenheim IV attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 56th Infantry Regiment, at 52,78

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6



Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 6
Hudson I x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
4 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 23000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Terempa at 54,81

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wirraway bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vigan , at 80,73

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-27b Nate x 7



Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed




CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Raid is overhead
50th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 9th Infantry Regiment, at 79,78 (Batangas)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-35A x 6


Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 damaged

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



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-35A attacking from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 178,109

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 1

Allied Ships
xAK Examiner
DD Allen



DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Allen attacking submerged sub .......
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Niihau at 172,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-171

Allied Ships
AR Vestal, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Litchfield
AG Aries
AG Antares
DD Ward
DD Schley



SS I-171 launches 4 torpedoes at AR Vestal...
DD Ward fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Schley attacking submerged sub .......
DD Ward fails to find sub and abandons search...
DD Schley fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Sambas

Japanese Ships
AK Sagami Maru
AK Tosan Maru
DD Shirakumo


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


AK Sagami Maru firing at enemy troops...
AK Tosan Maru firing at enemy troops...
DD Shirakumo firing at enemy troops...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 84,47

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3063 troops, 140 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 597

Defending force 11985 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 338

Japanese adjusted assault: 57

Allied adjusted defense: 77

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 13 (0 destroyed, 13 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1344 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
9th Armored Car Co ...
13th Division...
13th Tank Regiment...
58th Infantry Regiment...
1st Mortar Battalion...
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
11th Army...
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion...
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
55th Chinese Corps...
77th Chinese Corps...
2nd Group Army...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 83,52

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14284 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 15571 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 327

Japanese adjusted assault: 267

Allied adjusted defense: 243

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
722 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
663 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:...
3rd Division...
...
Defending units:...
20th Chinese Corps...
37th Chinese Corps...
58th Chinese Corps...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 86,49

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6674 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 203

Defending force 13736 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 362


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


Assaulting units:...
20th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
...
Defending units:...
7th Chinese Corps...
84th Chinese Corps...
21st Group Army...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7428 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 223

Defending force 10645 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 258

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



Assaulting units:...
16th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade...
...
Defending units:...
27th Chinese Corps...
5th New Chinese Corps...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Nanning (72,55)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7576 troops, 72 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 11372 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Japanese adjusted assault: 62

Allied adjusted defense: 95

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:...
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade...
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
31st Chinese Corps...
52nd Chinese Corps...
35th Group Army...
9th Chinese Base Force...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10365 troops, 71 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 318

Defending force 3168 troops, 28 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 98

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 259

Allied adjusted defense: 41

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
970 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
148th Infantry Rgt /1...
113th Infantry Regiment...
56th Engineer Regiment...
56th Recon Rgt /3...
56th Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
22nd Australian Brigade...
30 Battery/3 HAA ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 88,50

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4242 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 5348 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:...
Ankei SNLF...
138th Infantry Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
48th Chinese Corps...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 92,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4026 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 5488 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:...
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
3rd Prov Chinese Corps...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Wewak (96,119)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 385 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wewak !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)



Assaulting units:...
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy ...

MALAYA/DEI/PI
Still lots of naval activity around Singapore, PG Soerabaja and her DD escort attempted to make for Kota Baru for a daylight action, but she ran into a Jap DD flotilla at night. The action was indecisive and the predreadnought didn't even engage (her night experience is terrible, hence why I was aiming for a daytime engagement).

Jap troops have made it west of Mersing and cut Singapore off from the rest of Malaya. Argh! I always screw up Malaya by not retreating, every game I ever played tells me just to Sir Robin to Singers immediately on day 1, and I never do. [:(] That said, Singapore still has an airfarce and I'm not giving up yet, as I got plenty of shipping in the area which so far has had a lot of luck working under the Jap nose. So I'm planning on a naval extraction.

AMCs Manoora and Kanimbla have been pushed into front line warship duty temporarily. Along with the Mauritius SAG, they saw indecisive action around NW Borneo, where the Japs have landed.

The majority of the Dutch fleet is holed up in Balikpapan now, I pondered more raidings on Jolo but in the end have decided to cede initiative in the straits. Let him come to me, now his airforce is probably up and running. Prince of Wales/Repulse are bumming around the Java Sea area, not sure what to do with them next.

CVL Ryujo torpedoed with a sub dud near Amboina. No sign of Big KB tho.

Japs are at the gates of Manila and are advancing on Clark Field. I ordered a general retreat to Corregidor a few days ago, and am confident nobody will be cut off. I did get a 17k supply convoy into Manila right under the Jap nose, but unless the AI gets its finger out and transfers it to Bataan as ordered a lot of that might be lost.

I have to say that Miss Betty is not exerting much influence in this campaign so far. There have been attacks on shipping from new Jap bases in northern Borneo but with bombs and all ineffectual. His bombers in Saigon are mostly concentrating on night bombing Singapore - night bombing seems more effective than in WITP to me, but is a tool of long term attrition. The Malaya campaign isn't going to be long term, so I think this is a mistake on his part.

SOPAC/AUS
The Aussie navy, operating so far from resupply, may have harmed the IJN but have had to retreat to rearm, which puts them out of the action zone for a week or two due to the extreme distance. The IJN meanwhile now have the Bismarck Sea area as their personal lake, therefore. IJN ships are parked by Rabaul, no landings yet. A Coy of Aussie troops kicked into the jungles have been extracted.
I spent some time reorganising the Aussie command structure. Australian I Corps has been assigned the job of defending Port Moresby, and so has been transferred to SWPAC and ordered to rail to Townsville. What competent, spare units the Aussies have - a couple of Coys, not like the Allies are rocking the divisions this early! - have been transferred to the now unrestricted I Corps and will be moved to Port Moresby, meaning it will have a Bde level garrison. This early in the war it might be enough.

Fuel is already looking sparse in Australia. About 100k of fuel is incoming from Java, but the fuel pipeline from the US is pretty negligible at the moment. I'm pondering ordering some British TKs from Abadan to ship to Aus but thats a hell of a long way.

CHINA
Yenen has been bombed flat, no resources left, by daily raids of half a dozen Sallies. Nanning is under siege and may well fall, there are almost no reinforcements available nearby. Ichang fell to the Nationalist Chinese in a battle which inflicted 7000 casualties on both sides, however I can't see how Ichang can be defended. I'm hard pressed everywhere except in the centre, with a determined but small Japanese drive out of Vietnam towards Nanning, a huge drive at Wuchow which will undoubtably succeed in taking Wuchow, and some pressure south of Sian and more severe pressure east and south of Yenen. I suspect Sian is his main objective.

BURMA/INDIA
Jap paras are fighting at Tavoy, but the defenders have thus far seen them off. I think a Burma invasion cannot be far away. Fortifications are being dug at Pegu, Mandalay and Shwebo - foolishly I suspect I actually intend to commit to Burma and fight at Pegu. Wary of end arounds, I already moved the Malayan Swordfish squadron to Rangoon, and have RN cruisers at Diamond Harbor ready to move in.

Port Blair has not been reinforced. I find it very difficult to resupply once the SE Asian coast is in Jap hands. It is also too far to fly fighter aircraft in from Colombo. Therefore, I consider it indefensible in anything other than the short term.

CENTPAC
Quiet except for subs.

CL Mauritius and her DD escort encountered a superior Jap SAG based around CA Maya off Singakawang. The RN achieved surprised and torpedoed the crap out of Maya (5 hits!). Mauritius took a single 8" shell but damage is light. The DDs suffered a bit and 2 out of 3 are going to need dock time. Mauritius however is up for more in what is so far an extraordinary war for her!

Japs are landing at Ambon, Rabaul, and a host of minor bases all over the map.

Hero of the hour...

The 26th was a bad day for the Allies. PG Soerabaja was torpedoed off Singapore, one hit, but she's out. She's limping back to Batavia and after being pumped dry, will head probably for Cape Town for repairs. Not that she's exactly the baddest ship in the fleet. There were crushing Jap air attacks on Manila and Singapore. The boys at Manila put up a fight, the Buffaloes of Singapore did not. Singapore's air defence is pretty much broken.

On the 27th things improved. He's had a transport TF at Jolo for days on end, it tempted me just too much, and despite my better judgment I sortied the Dutch cruiser force, which is covering the Makassar area. They found 5 AKs and a PB, sank the lot, and escaped. Wow. Score. In addition to that he attacked Kweilin predictably, as he's been methodically working on resources across the map, and got bounced hard by 18 planes of the AVG. 20 Japs shot down. Nice.

He has 50+ bombers stationed in Malayan bases, no Netties yet though. What ability I have to operate ships around Singapore is fast running out. Manila has been abandoned without a fight, the entire PI military practically is now at Clark, and pulling back to Bataan, where 50k supply has been stockpiled. I hope for a long siege, but we'll see. Singapore is going to fall very quickly I think.

Jap BBs are operating near Ambon/Timor. Mini KB seems to be south of the PI still in its usual spot. Jap CVs, I think KB or possibly a detachment thereof, were spotted some distance east of Rabaul? I'm not quite sure what his next moves will be - early invasions in the empty Solomons perhaps?

I'm pondering the next few moves myself. Past experience suggests that Java is fairly safe until Zeroes can freely range over it, which requires a base on western Borneo. Accordingly, all those bases have been mined. When Singapore falls though the Java Sea will become a Japanese lake, so at that point I plan on moving the ABDA fleets southwards, to the Soerabaja-Timor area. In CENTPAC I now have a bunch of units at Pearl and am pondering where to send them. Extra CD guns and naval support for Christmas Island was an easy choice, so thats been done. I have a couple more spare units, though, question is where to put em? Efate and Pago Pago already have reinforcements en route. I'm thinking Fiji or Noumea could handle some major reinforcement, but I don't like sending Pacific Fleet land units too far to the southwest.

Ouch, there was a surface clash at Mersing as I sent in everything. BB PoW and BC Repulse led the charge.

Mauritius and several flush deck DDs were sunk, however about 8 Japanese cargo ships and two SCs were sunk (mostly by 14" from PoW), and a couple of DDs damage. a CL took two 14" heavy shells, I imagine its dock time for her.

The fight dragged on and on though and PoW took a torpedo. At daybreak PoW had only made two hexes, and Repulse only three - then the Netties pounced and sent Repulse to the bottom. Next day PoW should be out of there assuming no submarine issues. I've not been impressed by Repulses gunnery, she's been in a couple of actions now, emptied her magazines twice and hit nothing at all. "The penalty for incompetence in war is death", and Repulse is now dead.

PoW is on 30 major flot damage due to that torp, so she's out. I think the Allied navy has been doing excellent work in the DEI (Steve seems to think so, he's happy with progress but did mention 'relatively heavy transport losses' in his last email) but the main Allied warships are all either sunk or badly damaged and needing dock time now. The only cruisers left in the area are the Dutch ones, which are mostly pretty substandard. The DD force is now mainly US flush deckers, which are useless in surface battles, and Dutch designs which seem to be rather more capable but have almost no range.

Singapore is down to 2 fighters. I'm flying the bombers out. Vildebeest to Java, longer legged frames to Burma. the PI is in the same boat. All over but the sieging.

Japanese subs have turned up off the West Coast and are all over me, three TKs sunk in two days. [X(] The sole units I got in the area are three useless YPs, though I did order the Canucks, who have some Flower corvettes, down to the high traffic San Diego/SF area. They aren't in position yet.

Never a dull moment, eh? [:D]

ORIGINAL: Mynok
Never a dull moment, eh? [:D]

Had surface combat almost every day for a while now. [:D]

29th December

MALAYA/DEI/BURMA
The Japs have control of the waters near Singapore now, total air superiority is theirs. PoW has escaped and is almost at Batavia. Japs are landing at Kuching now finally, which will make matters even worse.
Japs have been hitting transports shipping units from Malacca to Sumatra, these guys I've deemed expendable, sucks to be them, any troops I extricate from Malacca are a good thing.
ABDACOMS Dutch cruisers are the only significant force remaining to me now in this area. I've ordered them to Timor.
His paras at Tavoy are in trouble as the Victoria Point garrison Bn arrived today, and Blenheims formerly of the Malaya campaign have been bombing them out of Rangoon.

CHINA
Pressure still intense on Nanning but the Chinese seem to be holding by the skin of their teeth, with the help of CAF bombers. Pressure continues to build in the NE, with a huge Jap stack headed for Sian and Yenen being heavily bombed again. The AVG are dishing out a lot of pain though to his aircraft whenever they show up.

SOPAC
KB made an unwelcome appearance east of Port Moresby, and launched an extreme range airstrike on the Aussies who are unloading there. Several Aussie and NZ cruisers were damaged. None sunk but the Aussie navy is pretty much gone now. Banshees at Port Moresby meanwhile launched strikes on Jap shipping at Finschafen and despite abysmal experience managed to score a few hits, sinking one AK and damaging two more.

CENTPAC
All quiet, a logistical frenzy is going on though as the NZ transport fleet arrived at Pearl today and has promptly been ordered to distribute various forces from Pearl elsewhere. My main buildups are at Christmas Island and Pago Pago so far. I'm seriously considering a garrison at Fanning Island as well. It's too early to really make stands though, there's no airforce to distribute to these bases even after I've garrisonned and supplied them...

Dutch Harbor has been reinforced and provided with an AS in NORPAC but I'm not envisaging anything happening up here.

CV Saratoga left Balboa today headed for Cape Town. Not sure if she'll arrive in time to influence any Java campaigns. The other USN CVs are between Sydney and Melbourne, headed for Perth - they at least will be in range.

Here's the situation at the beginning of 1942...

Something of a lull except around Malaya where my expendable Dutch are giving up their lives to rescue a handful of Indian battalions.

Most of the action is in China, where the Nationalist Chinese are just melting at an absolutely staggering pace. Up around Paotow and Yenen the Japanese just wear the Chinese down by shock attacking until there's just a skeleton left. Kill ratios of 20 or 30 to 1 in the Japanese favour don't seem unusual in these shock attacks, even when the odds are 1:1. [X(] I have a number of corps there reduced to an AV of 30-50 as a result. Large Jap forces are headed for Sian too. This is his main area of effort.

Chengchow is on the verge of being completely encircled, I'm considering its evacuation even though it's an important, resource rich city. Loyang right next to it isn't in quite so much danger though, so so far the thought is being entertained, not acted upon.

Seems fairly quiet around Changsha in the centre, though Wuchang is heavily garrisoned by Japs. I'm moving some Chinese up regardless as otherwise Yenen and Sian are toast.

In the south the Japs seem happy halting at Wuchow. Kansienh is mine and not threatened, there are in fact too many Chinese corps there, having been evacuated from the Wenchow pocket - I'm redeploying them to the southwest...

...where the Japs evidently want Nanning. I'm rushing reinforcements there but will Nanning be able to hold the month plus required? It's not looking good.

7th January

MALAYA/DEI/PI
He's not crossed over to Singapore yet but the entirety of Malaya bar Singapore is now in Japanese hands. All British units not evacuated or in Singers have now surrendered. Two Punjabi battalions were extricated, thats about it though.

18th British Division landed in Java by mistake. [X(] Where did they come from? Beats me! [:D] I'm reloading them but am wondering where to put them. A whole division! Juicy. Part of me wants to send them to Darwin or even Timor but I suspect cool will return and I'll pack them off to India eventually.

He's started invading southern Borneo finally. I tried to move the ABDACOM cruisers to the Makassar area to intervene but it was over before they were in position. Two AMCs, Manoora and Kanimbla, were used as makeshift cruisers, they were in the area - they met a Japanese SAG though and were sunk, a single 6 inch hit on a Jap CL didn't make up for it. I didn't expect much from the AMCs. However I think its good news in a sense, as he knows that if he makes a landing I will attack any beachheads if I possibly can. Having to cover all his beachheads will hopefully slow him down. The Dutch fleet has since refuelled in Soerabaja and is now going to settle down somewhere halfway between Borneo and Timor, attempting to cover both sides. We'll have to see how that goes. I've got some fuel issues, I'm trying to spread it around to what Allied bases remain in the area to keep the short legged Dutch fleet mobile and flexible.

Bataan is now under siege by Japanese infantry, 1000 AV worth. However he handled his armour badly this last week, it kept rushing forward ahead of the rest of his units and I kept attacking it. He's done likewise in China this week too - end result is that 300 tanks have been destroyed outright in the last week, and 150 or so disabled. So some good news.

BURMA/INDIA
7th Armoured is en route for Burma but a logn way out, not even on the map yet. 3 AA LCUs arrived in Colombo this last week, one is off to Calcutta, one is staying in Colombo, and one is off to Rangoon. There's been a lot of Allied shipping in Rangoon lately as I bring in supply, Burma isn't exactly brimming with it but its not bad. Pegu is up to fort 3, and has about 600 AV - when 7th Armoured arrives I think thats it for Burma.

Rangoon has about 100 points of aircraft. Heavy on the fighters, including the AVG. I'm trying to concentrate torpedo bombers there as I anticipate a naval landing in Burma, and I really want to throw the kitchen sink at it if it happens. That said we're talking about 5 Swordfish and an equal number of Vildebeest, it's Faith Hope and Charity all over again. [8|]

SOPAC/CENTPAC
The smashed up Aussie navy is back in Sydney finally. ETA on it being fixes is surprisingly low - CL Perth is the most badly damaged, at 28 days fix time. The rest are about a week. CA Australia also is now in play. So, soon as possible (wont be waiting for Perth) I'll be amassing another SAG to smack outreaching greedy Japanese hands in the South Pacific. This is together with the US Navy SAG at Noumea.
On PNG the Japs are hoovering up the bases on the north coast. At Finschafen he's marching on Lae, I'm trying to bring whatever Aussies I have got there behind the river at Lae, fairly futile. A Japanese regiment is chasing Aussies away from Rabaul towards Gasmata. Port Moresby has about 80 AV so I think is safe-ish for now. Noumea has not yet been reinforced, Efate is about to be reinforced with engineers and a marine CD detachment though.

Christmas Island and Pago Pago have been reinforced, those will be the main linchpins of the Allied defence in the Central Pacific.





The Allied CVs will be moving into the DEI within a week or two. I think a strike as a demonstration and then their withdrawal is the plan.

Regarding that British 18th Div - I forget which ones but there are some other units that enter the game on ships and seemed to just pop up in the danger zone without my realizing it ahead of time. Be careful to check the Ops report for arriving units and check any TF's on the border of 'safe' areas to avoid nasty surprises!

Good luck. Great fun watching your game.

Well, its good to know people are reading it at least. [:D]