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Why do we always wake that giant again and again? Do we like smashing our head against a wall? Is that fun? Because it's not a question of if. It's a matter of when. But enough metaphysical talk...onto the game.

Back at it after years of being away. We are playing RA Beyond the Storm (55). Have no idea if anyone is going to read this, but maybe it will cathartic for me, like a daily journal. Dear AAR, 3 of my carriers got torched today and that makes me feel really bad.....

This scenario is interesting. I think they did a great job of "what if" Japan had the foresight to focus on carrier production rather than the army/navy bickering and focus on fairly limited use battleships.

This scenario is a combo of both RA and DBB. So, reduced transport capabilities. Japan has 3 more starting CVL due to adjustments in the London Naval Treaty (US has 2 more starting CVL and CW 1 or 2 additional CVL, not sure). The Kaga is gone (not sure why) and replaced with the Amagi (same class as Akagi). Japanese have more carriers in the production cycle. BBs have been converted to fast/escort Battlecruisers.

The starting economy is roughly scenario 1 level or lower. Pilot training is at scenario 1 or lower level. Airplane pools are almost non-existent at start. The trade-off for increased carrier production.

Japan has a more forward deployment at start of war. The 21st division starts in Cam Ranh, the 4th div in Samah. KB is broken into 3 carrier groups, each with 2 CV and 1 CVL. 2 carrier groups start in their normal location, but the 3rd (also a magic TF) starts in Babeldaob. Japan also has 5 new naval assault divisions, 3 in Saipan, 1 in Babeldaob and 1 in Japan. These are really brigades (about equal to 3 naval guard units). They have 1 additional para "division" (also brigade strength) starting in Babeldaob. So though better deployed for war, the air pools/pilots/economy are not.

Standard house rules are in play...PDU is off. Realistic R&D is on. JP TFs no more than 15 away from Japanese controlled hex (no Mersing gambit first turn). Plus the following:

No 4E nav bombing below 10k
Pay Full PP to cross borders.
No Strat Bombing into or out of China.

I know nothing about Bill and he about me. That's probably a good thing. But if he figures me out, I hope he'll let me know.

Here we go!

The initial focus is on securing the SRA because of the pitiful economy and reduced transport capability. With the economy in the shape it is in, there's really no choice. I haven't entirely figured out my long range plans yet. I'm 51 and I can say the same thing about my life, but I digress...

I'm leaning towards taking Obvert's recommendations and take SoPac down to New Caledonia, possibly Fiji/Samoan Islands, or stop at New Caledonia and build up. Conserve fuel and supply. Form interlocking bases and quick reaction forces. I think Northern OZ is a must, just to deny him building up those bases. India is for Indians. Gilberts in CenPac...Burma is a must until it gets overrun by ungodly hoards of tanks and planes and the Japanese are either shouting Banzai to their deaths or running for their lives. Is that an oxymoron?

For most long time WITP players, initial planning is a walk in the park (or sea or atoll), but for me, I had to list in a spreadsheet all of the Infantry forces I have at my disposal and make a PLAN. Does this feel like work? I won't comment on that, but I digress again. So I laid out my phase 1 of phase ??? to conquer the world or at least one small part of the world and hope my ally Germany conquers the rest, but we all know that isn't going to happen, so I am back to digressing again....

Here is my initial plan. It's a bit on the risky side, but I HATE getting into long term slug fests in level 27 forts and 13x terrain. There will more of these types of plans coming. I'm still working through the details. BTW, did I mention what a logistical nightmare this game is. My plans just show infantry, air HQ and surface/air group deployment. Doesn't include engineers, supply, fuel, ball bearings, paper clips.....

So long story short, 2 CV and 1 CVL supported by 3 CVL (mini-KB for you NON RA folks) will support 4 invasions at Singkawang, Palembang, Mersing, Kuching simultaneously. This puts the CVs in position of getting hit from LBA or Surface. Going into the lions den. All invasion fleets will magic TF (gotta love magic TF...it's like....magic) right in the middle of the axis between Singapore and Singkawang (do you know how many times I've had to look up these names to make sure I'm spelling them right....are they foreign and I'm from America and they are durn furrinurs). At the same time, there will be multiple invasions around Babeldaob (say that 3 times fast). Cagayen, Manado (paradrop), Ternate, Kendari and Denpasar. Using McArthur's own tactics or island hopping against him, but he hasn't developed them yet, so I will call it Island Hopping. So 2 CVs, 4 CVLs will support Singapore area and 4 CV, 2 CVL will support Babeldaob area. I'm hoping to have the carriers out of Singapore area within 1 week of hostilities and the rest out within 2-3 weeks.

There will be no Pearl Harbor (blasphemy). Port striking Manila because I HATE subs. Hate, hate, hate them.

Phase 2 is coming. So is Christmas. Turn is away. We'll see the carnage to follow.

December 8th, 1941

Major General Suzaki is at his desk, covered with piles of papers. He’s looking at the current disposition of merchant ships and escorts. An attendant comes in with a large stack of papers.

“More supply requests sir” and leaves them on the already covered desk. Suzaki sighs.

Lieutenant Kurazowa has been seated quietly, facing the General. With trembling hands, General Suzaki reaches for a cigarette. Unable to light it himself, Kurazowa reaches across the desk and lights it for him.

Suzaki blurts out, “Did you see the currently layout of the merchant fleet? Nothing is where is should be. Our Troops transports in the home islands are scattered. We have a good deal of escorts sitting in Western China for no apparent reason. Our short range cargo ships are where the long range should be. Our long range are where the short range should be. We have local minesweepers in droves at the home islands with nothing to sweep. Our fleet is scattered across 50+ ports. This is going to take weeks to sort out! “

Suzaki pulls a bottle of Sake from his desk. “How many ports have been mined?”

“Around 35,” Kurazowa replies.

Suzaki’s cigarette has burnt down to the point where it’s getting perilously close to his fingers. “And how many mine tenders to we have?”

“Maybe 15, probably less”

“And why did we mine all these ports without sufficient tenders? How did we start a war like this? “

Kurazowa points up at the sky to some invisible deity, “it’s like that in all the scenarios. The ancestors of WITP were drinking too much Sake when they created us”

Seeing Suzaki’s disapproving glare, Kurazowa simply shrugs and reaches for the Sake.

“What can we do to fix this?”

Kurazowa thinks for a bit. “About 300-400 clicks of the mouse and wait. More Sake?”

First Blood around southern Java

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Piet Hein
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With

3rd Air Division is suppressing the airfields at Georgetown, Kuantan (had to look that one up again) and Aloe Star (did sunburn medicine originate in this city? I think so). I won't bore you with the details.

Now onto the fun and why carrier/air power rule the day and why this mod is a very good "what if". Poor Japanese, if they had only focused on Carriers...they would have never won but would have only lost is 1946 instead of 1945. Multiple strikes on Manila from Netties (150 of them) and Akagi, Amagi and Ruyukaku (CVL).

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 81
G3M2 Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 81

Allied Ships
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Seal, Bomb hits 1
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AV Ely, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK American Leader, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Cape Fairweather, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 1
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 1
AS Otus, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 4
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 1
AV Ely, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
SS S-38, Bomb hits 1
TK La Estrella Caltex, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Palawan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Searaven, Bomb hits 2
PG Isabel, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS S-37, Bomb hits 2
SS S-40, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
xAK Yu Sang, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SS S-41, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 4
xAK American Leader, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AS Canopus, Bomb hits 1
xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2
xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 2
xAK Cape Fairweather, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Snapper, Bomb hits 3
xAP Don Esteban, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Hai Kwang, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 1
PT Q-113, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP President Madison, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 2
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
B5N2 Kate x 67
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied Ships
xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Ely, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AS Canopus, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK American Leader, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS Seadragon, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAP President Madison, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAKL Dona Nati, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 1
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Paz, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS S-41, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS S-37, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Saury, Bomb hits 1
SS S-38, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 2
xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AO Pecos, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Isabel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Tulsa, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 1
YO-42, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Colonel Harrison, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT-35, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Yu Sang, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
PG Asheville, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Seal, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Hai Kwang, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Snapper, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Searaven, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

So, threat is minimized. Hate subs. Hate them hate them hate them. CV fun....

Singapore Area...Force Z is reduced to (Force Y?...where do you go from force Z?)

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4

And those pesky CLs from Palembang

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Durban

And the allied counter attack

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
Buffalo I x 22
B-339D x 3
Hudson I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 7 destroyed
B-339D: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 4 destroyed

And the Japanese retort

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 5, heavy damage
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express

And the Babeldaob region

All those Allied surface fleets that cause so many problems

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tandjoengselor at 68,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A1 Val x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Paul Jones, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Barker
DD Stewart

And Another

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 73,91

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 43
D3A1 Val x 21

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD Stockton, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Trippe
CL Dallas, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Mayrant, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Good luck! [8D]

Thanks!

ORIGINAL: vicberg
Singapore Area...Force Z is reduced to (Force Y?...where do you go from force Z?)

I would guess Force a (little a)
Love the humor. Please keep up your AAR.
Good luck and Banzai!!!

I was actually thinking Force Z Minus? Thoughts?

Here's first of Phase 2 planning. Remember this is Phase 2 of Phase ??? in order to conquer the world.

This is DEI planning. I'm hoping on LBA in order to keep my TFs in order. But I'm thinking mini-KB (3 CVL) are needed. Hopefully not as I have plans for them elsewhere. Muahahaha. Hate operating in Java Sea. Too small, too easy for Allied (hated) subs to focus and kill. Ugly.

Plan is to cutoff Java in two and then eat it in parts.

Good luck! [:)]

ORIGINAL: vicberg

December 8th, 1941

Major General Suzaki is at his desk, covered with piles of papers. He’s looking at the current disposition of merchant ships and escorts. An attendant comes in with a large stack of papers.

“More supply requests sir” and leaves them on the already covered desk. Suzaki sighs.

Lieutenant Kurazowa has been seated quietly, facing the General. With trembling hands, General Suzaki reaches for a cigarette. Unable to light it himself, Kurazowa reaches across the desk and lights it for him.

Suzaki blurts out, “Did you see the currently layout of the merchant fleet? Nothing is where is should be. Our Troops transports in the home islands are scattered. We have a good deal of escorts sitting in Western China for no apparent reason. Our short range cargo ships are where the long range should be. Our long range are where the short range should be. We have local minesweepers in droves at the home islands with nothing to sweep. Our fleet is scattered across 50+ ports. This is going to take weeks to sort out! “

Suzaki pulls a bottle of Sake from his desk. “How many ports have been mined?”

“Around 35,” Kurazowa replies.

Suzaki’s cigarette has burnt down to the point where it’s getting perilously close to his fingers. “And how many mine tenders to we have?”

“Maybe 15, probably less”

“And why did we mine all these ports without sufficient tenders? How did we start a war like this? “

Kurazowa points up at the sky to some invisible deity, “it’s like that in all the scenarios. The ancestors of WITP were drinking too much Sake when they created us”

Seeing Suzaki’s disapproving glare, Kurazowa simply shrugs and reaches for the Sake.

“What can we do to fix this?”

Kurazowa thinks for a bit. “About 300-400 clicks of the mouse and wait. More Sake?”

Very funny and surreal [:D]

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

ORIGINAL: vicberg

December 8th, 1941

Major General Suzaki is at his desk, covered with piles of papers. He’s looking at the current disposition of merchant ships and escorts. An attendant comes in with a large stack of papers.

“More supply requests sir” and leaves them on the already covered desk. Suzaki sighs.

Lieutenant Kurazowa has been seated quietly, facing the General. With trembling hands, General Suzaki reaches for a cigarette. Unable to light it himself, Kurazowa reaches across the desk and lights it for him.

Suzaki blurts out, “Did you see the currently layout of the merchant fleet? Nothing is where is should be. Our Troops transports in the home islands are scattered. We have a good deal of escorts sitting in Western China for no apparent reason. Our short range cargo ships are where the long range should be. Our long range are where the short range should be. We have local minesweepers in droves at the home islands with nothing to sweep. Our fleet is scattered across 50+ ports. This is going to take weeks to sort out! “

Suzaki pulls a bottle of Sake from his desk. “How many ports have been mined?”

“Around 35,” Kurazowa replies.

Suzaki’s cigarette has burnt down to the point where it’s getting perilously close to his fingers. “And how many mine tenders to we have?”

“Maybe 15, probably less”

“And why did we mine all these ports without sufficient tenders? How did we start a war like this? “

Kurazowa points up at the sky to some invisible deity, “it’s like that in all the scenarios. The ancestors of WITP were drinking too much Sake when they created us”

Seeing Suzaki’s disapproving glare, Kurazowa simply shrugs and reaches for the Sake.

“What can we do to fix this?”

Kurazowa thinks for a bit. “About 300-400 clicks of the mouse and wait. More Sake?”

Very funny and surreal [:D]

+1

Like the meta view.

Good job on Force Z-

Since I'm playing Allies in two new BTS Lite games, so I hate to state anything. But from an Allied point of view the longer I can use the size 7 port at Soerabaja (only clear terrain for defense too), the better. Why?? Quick repair of subs and this key point...ability to replenish all my warships ammo!! IMO, a quick invasion of Denpasar and location of an Air HQ there will shut off this valuable asset to the Allies. I do agree with a landing at Semarang and then cutting Java in half. I would do a more reaching out to perimeter with KB and Co. and then back filling/conquest. Thus, Air HQs at Palembang or Oosthaven, Denpasar, and Koepang to seal off the DEI.

OK, back to my cheap seat. [:D]

Thanks. That's the plan. 21st air flotilla will be landing with the 4th in Palembang in 2 days and the 11th air division will be going with the Bandasan SNLF. Both covered by long range cap from Carriers and CVLs. Another thing I hate is losses. Most Japanese players don't care about a few ship losses in the beginning of the game. My feeling is "you sunk my battleship (AKL)."

Once Denpasar is taken (3rd time I've had to look THAT name up for spelling), I can switch over to pure LBA and I can high tail the carriers out of the Java Sea. I'm figuring about 2 weeks in the area before the carriers shift to the east.

Turn is away. Should be coming back tonight.

In the mean time, I'm going to make more graphics so I can pretend to myself that I know what I'm doing, much like the large consulting company I have to partner with does with our client.

December 9th, 1941

Rear Admiral Eiji Goto, in command of 24th Air Flotilla located at Roi Namur in the Central Pacific, is reviewing a document. He’s covered in sweat, which is falling off his face and onto the document he’s reviewing. He calls in his attendant.

“Did you send my request for more planes?”

“Yes sir”, says the attendant. “One week ago.” Sweat is dripping off the attendant as well.

“And?”

“No response yet sir. The request was routed through Truk to Saipan to Yokohama to Amami Oshima and finally to the 11th Air Division in Takao. Our HQ is located 2000 miles away. Our radios went out at Amami Oshima, so the final leg had to be delivered by carrier pigeon.”

"Was the message received?”

“Yes sir. Takao receive the request, but the pigeon died. However, the 11th Air Division is in route to Babeldaob and eventually Denpasar. So no response.”

“Did you contact General Namura, head of Aircraft production? We need to go above the chain of command.”

“Yes I did sir. There are 0 zeroes and 5 Betties and they’ve been reserved for more active operating groups.” The attendant starts moving around uncomfortably. “General Namura says they are breaking down Claudes and Idas and trying to use them to build more Zeroes and Betties, but they’ve run out of glue and paper clips. He’s expanded glue production at the Nagoya plant. He wanted to expand paper clips as well, but mentioned something about the HI cost being too much.”

“We do have 76 Nells available!” the attendant says enthusiastically.

Rear Admiral Goto scowls at his attendant. “We don’t have any Nells assigned to us. We had Nells but I requested Betties instead, remember? They are being repaired out there as we speak.” General Goto’s eye starts twitching involuntarily. “So let me get this straight. We have no reserve Zeroes or Betties. There are no available Zeroes or Betties for replenishment. There’s two American Carriers, possibly Light Carriers to the east of us. Our HQ is 2000 miles away and unreachable. But we do have 76 Nells available but I switched our detachment of Nells over to Betties. Does this about sum it up?”

The attendant looks at his feet, kicking some imaginary dirt. “Umm, yes sir.”

“The next time I start requesting changes before I get Tracker up and running, please stop me. And get me some that glue from the yard. It’s a bad week to stop sniffing glue.”

Enjoying the read already. Strategic insights, great graphics, campaign stories being told through the experiences of some of the protagonists, what's not to like?

Good luck and Banzai!!!

ORIGINAL: vicberg

There are 0 zeroes

Hard to argue with that. [:)] Good luck!

December 9th is in...

Land
Kota Bharu and Bataan both fall. Landings at Mersing, Singkawang and Kuching.

Subs
Lots of sub activity. I guess he doesn't like my subs around Pearl. Many attempts and no hits. My subs bag the following around Java and Manilla:

xAP Hong Peng, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AM Lark, Mine hits 1, heavy damage ( Ya I know. The mine did it, but I'm giving credit to the sub anyway)
AO Trinity, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVP Orion, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Don Jose, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

And the Japanese end the day with this at Kota Bharu

SS KXII, hits 5

Surface
In a night time surface combat around Palembang, the remaining pesky CL comes out to play:

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Niyodo, Shell hits 1
CL Ishikari
DD Oshio
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
CL Durban, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

But the DD Scout and Thanet from Hong Kong cause some mayhem by somehow evading the multiple surface fleets I had covering the invasions.

Japanese Ships
TB Chidori
TB Manazuru
TB Hatsukari
TB Tomozuru
TB Kiji
TB Kamo

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Shell hits 1
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1

Japanese Ships
PB Bisan Maru #3, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PB Choun Maru #18, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Sydney Maru
xAK Anyo Maru
xAK Kumagawa Maru
xAK Tatukami Maru
xAK Okiyu Maru
xAK Kosei Maru
xAK Kotoku Maru
xAK Keisho Maru
xAK Hokuan Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Takaoka Maru
xAK Atlas Maru
xAK Kamoi Maru, heavy damage
xAK Shinyubari Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Shirogane Maru
xAK Tenzan Maru
xAK Yamadori Maru
xAK Karachi Maru
xAK Pacific Maru
xAK Kuwayama Maru
xAK Siraha Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Chuko Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet

So yes, I have lost my first 2 battleships (PBs). 2 AKs are in terrible shape and trying to make it to Bataan. I'll be taking Xanax if they don't make it. I HATE losses.

And some MTBs don't do any damage, but cause the invasion fleet to run away at Laoag (can you have 3 vowels in a row?). The net of all this is that ALL my invasion fleets turned back to home. After chopping off a couple of heads and reminding everyone about Bushido, they are all heading in the right direction again.

Still no sighting of either Houston or Chicago. That's worrisome.

Bill sends a suicide ship I guess to see what's in the hex. This too evades my surface fleet covering the carriers:

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
BC Kongo
BC Haruna
CVL Tokachi
CL Teshio
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
AVD William B. Preston, Shell hits 1

And finally, the Babeldaob covering force finds pay dirt in the form of two VERY important AKLs. I'm betting this will win me the war.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Talaud-eilanden at 79,96, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara
DD Mutsuki
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
xAKL Mauban, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAKL Montanes, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Air
3rd Div switched from air suppression to ground suppression. I'm hoping to pin his units while I move to cut off the rest of Malaya from Mersing.

Naval Air attacks from Bangkok, Takao and Babeldaob and Shokaku/Zuikaku find some money

AMC Kanimlba, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
AMC Manoora, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
ML No. 310, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Persee, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CM Willem v d Zaan, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
CMc Pro Patria, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
TK Iris, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TK Strix, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
TK Semiramis, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Scout, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk (Yay...these two DDs are becoming a major pain)
AV Langley, Bomb hits 4, on fire
AS Holland, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAKL Surigao, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk (another VERY important AKL
TK Pleiodon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Turn is away.

December 10th, 1941

Airman Matsuo is being held down by the flight crew on the deck of the Shokaku, sailing at the northern tip of the Java Sea. He's shouting about incoming bombers and trying desperately to get to his plane. The flight crew looks around, but there’s nothing in the sky.

Lieutenant Tadashi Kanenko, squadron commander of the Shokaku’s Zero Sentai, explains. “It’s his 4th day straight with no sleep. Admiral Yamaguchi has had us on 40% long range cap, 40% cap plus escort for 4 days straight now. His last mission he shot up a flock of seagulls, saying they were Allied Buffaloes. The mission before that he shot some water buffaloes saying they were Allied Vildabeast. I’m just thankful we aren’t close to Alaska or he’d probably shoot some Walruses.”

“It’s the Allies fault for the way the name their planes. Take Matsuo down to his cabin and bring up a replacement.”

Airman Benko Imamura walks up to his commanding officer in full flight gear. He salutes. “Imamura reporting for duty sir.”

Kanenko looks at his new replacement. “We will be flying long range cap over Palembang today. We expect enemy resistance to be light. You aren’t going to shoot any water buffaloes or seagulls, right?”

Imamura looks at him strangely, “No Sir.”

Kanenko starts walking to his plane, but turns back, “One last thing, here’s some mosquito repellent. It helps keep the bats away in the cockpit.”