Spirits of Tsushima - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Encircled (A)

[DesertWolf101]

It's time to embark on yet another adventure as Japan. I will be facing off against Encircled, a worthy opponent who recently completed his game against Rader. My match against Wirraway where I play the Allies is also chugging along nicely, but I couldn't resist trying my hand as Japan once more. I don't consider myself as an AFB or JFB as I love playing both, but given my love of Japanese history playing as the Empire is on the whole a bit of an extra treat.

We are already a few turns into the campaign so I will give a short summary to bring us to where things stand. We are playing Scenario 1 with stacking limits and fairly routine HRs (PPs, first turn rules, no strat bombing China, etc.). Encircled kindly offered me the option of playing Scenario 2 by I dislike the idea of playing with an ahistorical OOB and I pretty much draw the line at PDU ON.

Central Pacific

For December 7, I opted for a classic Pearl Harbor opening with all my CVs. I got a decent number of torpedo hits but on the whole was a bit disappointed that only one battleship sank. I decided to go for a day 2 strike as the KB withdrew from the area which achieved a few more penetrating 800KG bomb hits but at the cost of 30 aircraft in the face of fierce American resistance. Another battleship may have succumbed to its wounds with the day 2 strike but I'm not counting on it.

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB California, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Torpedo hits 1
DD Case, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hull, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG Argonne, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1

Besides Pearl Harbor, I decided to do something similar to what I did in my latest Japanese campaign and I invaded Wake and Midway on the first day and took them both. I also sent forces towards the South Pacific and Aleutians.

SRA

Our HRs precluded any first day landings on or near Allied ports of size 4+, so no Mersing gambit for me. Instead I most concentrated my landings on Manado, Kuching, Thailand, and Kota Bharu. I also hit Singapore and Manila with my bombers, inflicting a good deal of damage on the first but getting a rather paltry result with the latter with only 4 submarines sunk during the day (with another ten or so heavily damaged). In both my previous campaigns my Manila strikes were significantly better. Overall air losses for the first day are as follows:

Air Losses.jpg (100.4 KiB) Viewed 3303 times

[DesertWolf101]

I already covered December 8 events in the Central Pacific in the first post. In the SRA, I opted for concentrated long distance sweeps against the Philippines and Singapore. Japanese Zero sweeps did very well, knocking out more than a hundred Allied fighters for the day as can be seen in the image below.

Air Losses.jpg (99.92 KiB) Viewed 3300 times

[DesertWolf101]

The last two days of action where all about the SRA. First in the Philippines I took advantage of the now severely degraded American fighter defense to send my bombers to wreck all the damaged submarines in Manila, knocking out another 9 sunk for a total of 13. Hong Kong was also attacked for the first time with decent results, knocking down forts a level.

Observing my attempt to advance very rapidly across the region, Wirraway threw his warships and aircraft into the attack to slow me down. Around Manado my heavy cruisers tangled with Dutch and American warships, sinking CL Boise and and DD Whipple for no loss (although Dutch subs and Australian Hudsons did knock out some merchant ships).

Meanwhile near Malaya I had moved a convoy of troops towards Mersing and this again attracted the full wrath of the Allies. On December 9th a Nell bomber put a torpedo into the engine compartment of the battleship Prince of Wales which proved critical on December 10th when the Allies struck out without Force Z. Over the two days, two Dutch and three British light cruisers were sunk. On the Japanese side, I did lose Kashii, an old and slow Katori class light cruiser, to a Dutch submarine.

That was the naval battle. In terms of the air battle the Japanese CAP did its job and effectively blunted the Allied onslaught. Losses for the day:

Air Losses.jpg (100.57 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

Here is the picture of where things stand in this crucial sector, with Force Z a mere two hexes away from my fleet (covered by white hexagon):

Battle for Singapore.jpg (276 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

Last but not least in China things are really heating up. The Japanese took Chengchow by storm and have landed significant forces at Wenchow to seize the coastal city. Some key battles are set to take place as the Chinese arrive at Ichang and Japanese forces advance elsewhere.

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

Japanese forces land on and capture Umnak Island and Dutch Harbor (destroying the US Base force and artillery unit on the latter). A JAAF AF Bn was also landed on Cold Bay but was stymied by Encircled's air transport of troops to the island from Kodiak.

South Pacific

Japanese forces are landing and taking islands all over the place. Both Rabaul and Tulagi are already captured by Imperial forces.

SRA

Japanese forces came ashore at Mersing without further incident as the Allies retreated with Force Z and kept their aircraft home after taking a beating on the 10th. Japanese forces kept up the pressure further east, landing troops at both Ambon and Kendari. Australian Hudson and Dutch Martin bombers attempted to interfere but were stopped by Zeros on LRCAP - love the legs on those fighters!

Submarines of both sides were very active in the theatre. IJN submarines had feasted on numerous cargo, tanker, and transport ships over the past few days (This game, I am keeping a tally of type of ship/tonnage sunk by each Japanese submarine). Allied submariners are also earning their keep however, sinking a Toho class cargo ship and a damaged Fubuki(I) class destroyer on the 12th.

China

The Chinese 8th Corps shock attacked into Ichang. It demolished itself against the Japanese defenses but created an opening for the rest of the Chinese army to start retreating westwards across the river. Both Wenchow and Hong Kong have lost all their forts but they continue to resist. I aim to capture both objectives in (hopefully) a matter of days in order to free up troops for deployment elsewhere.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

Japanese forces capture Shortlands and land on Ndeni.

SRA

Both Kendari and Ambon are captured by Japanese forces. The Allies continue to ferociously attempt to slow the Imperial advance, and tonight they sent three surface task forces to interfere with the Kendari landings whose main covering force is the four Aoba/Furutaka class heavy cruisers. During the battles, two Japanese DMS vessels are lost and various other Imperial ships suffer minor to moderate damage (CL Marblehead did especially well!) but the Allies in turn lose CA Houston and the CL De Ruyter suffered considerable damage.

China

Wenchow continues to resist but its defenses are slowly eroding. If I am lucky I should have it in a few days. Meanwhile further north Japanese forces are at the gates of Nanyang and Loyang, with the Chinese forces rapidly retreating into the rough terrain. Nevertheless, numerous Chinese Corps are about to be cut off, 6 of them sizable ones.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

Ndeni is captured by Japanese forces, but two Ansyu class patrol boats used for fast transport are lost to roving Allied cruisers.

SRA

Allied destroyers and CL Marblehead shell Kendari and Blenheim IV aircraft follow up with bombing raids. I imagine Encircled is aiming to keep the airbase closed for business. Japanese destroyers and light cruisers continue to sink various fleeing Allied ships, particularly from the Philippines. A Clemson class US destroyer charges my ships near Sinkawang but is caught and sunk by a heavy cruiser force.

Hong Kong is captured by Japanese forces but some 60% of the industry/shipyards there is trashed.

[DesertWolf101]

Burma

It appears that Encircled is reinforcing Burma, so I am attempting to interfere. He has two AVG and one Buffalo squadrons on CAP over Rangoon, where a bunch of xAKs and xAPs are dropping troops/supplies. I sent in Zero and Oscar sweeps to clear the way for Nettie strikes but was disappointed to trade approximately even numbers in fighters lost. I lost 17 Zero/Oscars (including Saburo Sakai!) and in return shot down 16 H-81s/Buffalos. Of course, I am not at all happy with this trade - I damaged many more Allied fighters but their tough structure allows them to land back at their base in a damaged state instead of being destroyed. I also lost 7 Lily's who went in early before the sweeps - the Netties did not fly.

China

Big day in China today. Wenchow, Nanyang, and Loyang were all conquered by Japanese forces. My streak of rotten luck with industry continues unabated with Wenchow also totally trashed. This is the fourth base where the industry was totally trashed thus far, the other big one being Hong Kong. In any case, the other notable success in China today is a Japanese breakthrough in the mountains north of Tsiaotso (this is where I held back the Japanese for a couple months in my other ongoing Allied game against Wirraway).

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

The Americans are reinforcing Cold Bay and they have brought CV Saratoga in support. SBD-3s from the ship went after some of my destroyers in the area but missed.

South Pacific

I sent a Naval Guard unit on a dangerous mission to seize Canton by coup de main. The Naval Guard succeeded in landing and taking the base, destroying 9 Catalinas in the process. They did however lose their transports to counterattacking American destroyers during the day phase. Four of the five transports were 1-2 points xAKLs but one of them was also a valuable Yusen A cargo ship. A price well worth paying for the conquest however!

SRA

Over the past two days, Japanese forces successfully landed on and took Sinkawang, Zamboanga in Mindanao, and Lautem in East Timor. Disabled Allied aircraft were found at all locations and were torched.

On the 17th, Encircled sent in a couple of Buffalo squadrons to his surrounded base at Alor Star and swept over Kota Bharu knocking out 6 Nates for the cost of a Buffalo. The Nates damaged a significant number of Buffalos though so he might have some trouble getting them back to Singapore. The Allies also lost a Blenheim IV and a B-17E in follow up raids on Kota Bharu.

Encircled is carrying out plenty of B-17 raids all over the theatre, but thus far I have avoided any significant losses beyond a few small PBs and coastal minesweepers that he caught in port.

Burma

It has been three days that my Netties have refused to fly from Bangkok to strike at the Allied ships unloading at Rangoon. All my sweeps and even airfield strike missions are going in but my Netties are refusing to do so. I have highly aggressive commanders and the units are fully rested.

Fighter sweeps are mostly keeping the AVG suppressed, but I did lose 9 Sallies on the 17th who unfortunately went in too early before the sweeps.

China

All naval mines have been swept at Hong Kong and victorious Japanese troops are being loaded into transports at both Hong Kong and Wenchow.

A nice attack by Japanese tanks who caught up with and battered three fleeing Chinese Corps near Nanyang. The Japanese press on all over the area, and now at least 9 sizable Chinese Corps have been caught/encircled, not counting the many smaller ones.

China.jpg (65.63 KiB) Viewed 3129 times

[DesertWolf101]

SRA

Palembang's airfields were bombed for the first time today. Two Vildebeests were destroyed and numerous other aircraft damaged. Meanwhile on Malaya Japanese troops landed on Kuantan and are only a few days away from clearing the rail lines from Taiping all the way down to Johore Bahru.

Japanese troops landed at Davao and will try to take the base next turn. Nell bombers hit Cagayan airfield from Manado, damaging some P-40Es and B-17Ds on the ground.

Burma

The Netties finally flew! Zero fighters kept the defending Allied fighters at bay while the IJN bombers put torpedos and bombs into almost ten enemy cargo/transport ships. Unfortunately, none of them were carrying troops anymore.

China

IJAAF bombers struck Changsha airfield, destroying several Chinese aircraft that had just moved in to stage an attack on my forces.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

Fiji invasion force, supported by the KB, is on final approach. I wonder if the Allies are going to respond in some way?

SRA

Japanese troops capture Kuantan. On the western side of the Malay peninsula Japanese armor is tangling with two Indian Brigades that have been cut off by the Mersing landings. In total, 5 of the 6 Indian brigades have been prevented from reaching Singapore. The core of the fortress's defense will therefore be composed of the two Australian brigades and the remaining Indian brigade (plus various auxiliaries/battalions of course).

Japanese forces take Davao in Mindanao. To their surprise, they find two Blenheim IV bombers on the ground there.

Burma

Japanese strike aircraft faced severe weather on both the 19th and the 20th, preventing any further attacks on the enemy shipping near Rangoon. Forward Japanese elements are now on the outskirts of Moulmein, where the Allies appear to be preparing to stand their ground.

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

Carrier battle!

I moved to intercept CV Saratoga with a force of Japanese CVL/CVEs and as a result Encircled and I got the first carrier battle of the war. No hits were scored by either side however. I certainly was not expecting him to have three fighter squadrons on board and to put all three on CAP. While he went full defense, I instead went full offense and left only one smallish Zero squadron on CAP. The Japanese strike went first and the Zero escort shot down many Wildcats but unfortunately there were too many American Navy fighters in the sky and the Kates got annihilated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 168,49

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B5N1 Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
F4F-3A Wildcat x 16
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 7 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (9 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-221 with F2A-3 Buffalo (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 1000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers


The allied response meanwhile was completely unescorted, and SBD-3s in turn were all shot down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Chuginadak Island at 167,54

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1/B with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

South Pacific

Japanese forces land on Fiji in force. I should have the island under the Empire's control in several days.

Burma

Sent in Zero sweeps to clear the air over Rangoon and they did very well, shooting down some 20 H-81/Buffalo fighters for the loss of two Zeros.

China

Japanese armies are pushing on. Another 400 enemy combat squads wiped out this turn as numerous Chinese Corps are pushed back on both the dirt road to Sian as well as the road to Ankang.

China.jpg (317.1 KiB) Viewed 3061 times

[DesertWolf101]

An action packed turn!

North Pacific

With CV Saratoga carrying three fighter squadrons and one of its SBD-3 squadrons annihilated, that left it with only one dive or torpedo bomber squadron. I bet Encircled dropped off his Devastator TBD squadron and kept the second SBD-3. A single SBD-3 squadron is not enough to deter me so I ordered a few warships to escort the carriers/troopships and sent the rest of the IJN surface forces to press ahead and engage the enemy.

The Japanese surface combat task forces did not find any heavy enemy ships but they did encounter two groups of three USN destroyers. An IJN task force of two Ise class battleships tangled with one of these and sank three of the long-legged Bagley class destroyers.

The best to come was when the screen of IJN submarines met with success when the retreating CV Saratoga came into the sights of I-159. The submarine launched six torpedoes and one of them struck Saratoga's engine compartment. The big ship is at no risk of sinking but she did get engine damage which is always good to see.

South Pacific

Japanese troops take Nadi and press on towards Suva.

SRA

There was some good and bad news from this theatre. My attempt at landing the Imperial Guards division directly at Mersing was frustrated by a force of British motor torpedo boats who made it past screening warships to find the convoy and sink a medium sized AMC and sending some Guards swimming. The convoy leader promptly turned around and headed back north.

Further east I had previously noted BC Repulse sulking around the west Flores islands and surmised that Encircled was preparing to spring an ambush on any Japanese attempt to land on Koepang. I thought this was a good opportunity to spring a trap of my own and sent a convoy of small xAKs forwards which I loaded with part of a Naval Guard unit (I didn't want Encircled to back away if a Dutch submarine sinks one of them and finds it empty). The last turn I ordered the valuable escorting warships to peel off and sent the small convoy forward with only two Minekaze class destroyers as escorts.

Sure enough, the Allies came charging in with BC Repulse in one task force and three other powerful British cruisers in the other and tangled with the hapless convoy, sinking all four of the xAKs but leaving the escorting destroyers unscathed. This placed the enemy warships well within range of two big groups of Nettie bombers armed with torpedos, but a series of events conspired to weaken the result. Half of the bombers lost their way and the Zero escort failed to coordinate (my fault), and the Netties that did find the target then had to tangle with Buffalos. The end result of the strike was a torpedo hit on Repulse for the loss of 8 Nells and 4 Betties. Not bad, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for more. A squadron of SBU-3 dive-bombers also showed up and went after a light cruiser that I had ordered back the previous turn, moderately damaging it with one bomb (26 System, 10 flotation, and 10 engine damage).

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

IJN battlegroups have driven the USN into full retreat around the Aleutians, but the Allies are likely reforming and I wouldn't be surprised if they soon come back again.

Encircled's efforts to reinforce Cold Bay suffer a blow when Japanese warships sink an xAK and its cargo of some 70 vehicles, likely a significant part of an armored battalion he has been attempting to land there before my attack.

South Pacific

While the Japanese prepare to attack Suva, another Imperial force disembarks at Noumea and captures the town. New Caledonia is claimed for the Empire, and so is Luganville. DD Hokaze hits a mine at Noumea but is still afloat.

SRA

Kuala Lumpur is taken in Malaya and a rail line is now open all the way down to Johore Bahru. Commonwealth forces that have not made it back to Singapore have been driven towards Alor Star in the north and Temuloh in the center.

A Japanese surface action group of heavy cruisers and destroyers wanders too far away from my intended route when they chase after some British motor torpedo boats and end up close to Singapore. When tangling with the MTBs, DD Yugure crashes into CA Mogami and takes heavy damage. The crippled destroyer is then sunk by air attack from Singapore during the day phase as the rest of the Japanese ships pull out of range.

Burma

Another day of dogfighting over Rangoon. I lose 10 Zeros/Oscars for 18 enemy H-81s/Buffalos. Nowhere near the 10-1 victory/loss ratio I achieved on the 21st of December over Rangoon.

China

The experimental Tojo squadron intercepts Chinese bombers that were attempting to slow down the Japanese drive on Ankang and shoots down half a dozen SB-IIIs.

The Japanese continue to rapidly advance. Chuhsien and Kwangchowan are captured, Wuchow is about to be taken, Japanese forces have surrounded Tsiaotso and are about to start attacking the two Chinese Corps there, and Imperial forces are now one hex away from Ankang. Hundreds of Chinese squads are currently being destroyed every day.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

The Allies strike back by sending two light cruisers (Phoenix and Helena) to bombard Nadi where I had disbanded a bunch of ships. The enemy cruisers did a good job, sinking two APDs and damaging some cargo ships, but almost suffered a defeat when CL Phoenix ran over IJN sub I-10 who launched six torpedos but missed.

The KB meanwhile had gone ahead towards the Australian coast where the first Japanese raid against Allied industry failed to hit anything thanks to severe storms.

SRA

The big development of the day is the arrival of massed Japanese convoys near Java, which instantly attracted a hive of enemy activity. Allied warships are scrambling to get into position to strike (which is another reason I dangled the bait near Koepang, as I wanted to clear some powerful Allied warships from Java's immediate waters just as the IJN convoys were going to come into view). In the air, Encircled did not wait for me to get any closer and already sent in a big attack this turn, losing almost 70 aircraft and scoring no hits.

Air losses.jpg (98.45 KiB) Viewed 2971 times

The next turn is very likely going to be packed with action.

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

Core elements of the Japanese 48th Division come ashore at Cold Bay where the Americans are attempting to entrench themselves. The remainder of the 193rd Tank Battalion are located here in addition to parts of the 201st (Sep) Infantry Regiment and the 107th USN Base Force.

South Pacific

Japanese troops are slowly grinding away at the Kiwi garrison at Suva with consecutive 1 to 1 odds battles. Forts however have been knocked down to zero today.

The KB goes after Newcastle's industry and thankfully we are rewarded with excellent weather and results. 390 VP points were accumulated in the strike.

SRA

Big sigh of relief as the Japanese invasion convoys successfully reach and disembark the 38th Division, the 21st Independent Mixed Brigade, the 4th Independent Mixed Regiment, the 23rd Air Flotilla HQ, and a few other base force/air support units on Java at Kalidjati. The Allies did not attempt to interfere from the air after the mauling they received yesterday and their naval forces are still out of position. I expect Encircled will attempt to interfere but with substantial forces already on the ground the hard part is done.

Four Japanese divisions are now located at Johore Bahru. I can either wait on the Imperial Guards who are a few days behind or I can order the divisions already in place to advance into Singapore once they finish unpacking. I think it may be worth waiting the extra two days for the Guards to catch up but I would of course like to cross as soon as possible.

The Japanese 146th Infantry Regiment also successfully comes ashore at Koepang but finds the local Dutch garrison reinforced by the Australian Gull Battalion. The Allied air forces also attempt to intervene but lose 9 bombers to Zeros on LRCAP from East Timor.

China

Japanese forces advance further and capture Wuchow and Pucheng. Imperial forces have also arrived at Ankang and advance elements of another army are also located three hexes to the east of Sian where they have just driven back a large Chinese army. In total, more than a 1,500 Chinese squads/devices were reported as destroyed today.

[DesertWolf101]

North Pacific

Despite the intervention of B-17 bombers, the Japanese 48th Division successfully captures Cold Bay and eliminates the American forces there.

South Pacific

The KB gets a couple more decent strikes on Australian industry. The strategic victory points total is now up to 780.

New Caledonia is completely cleared, but the Kiwis in Fiji continue to give a good fight. The Japanese got 2 to 1 odds today but the forts were up a level again and so Suva was not taken.

SRA

I got a bit of a scare on the 28th of December when CVL Ryujo takes a dud torpedo from SS KXI. The waters off Java are getting a bit more dicey as the Allies infest them with submarines. Nevertheless, the invasion continues - the 21st Japanese Division successfully disembarks on the island, and the Dutch appear to be pulling back all their forces towards Soerabaja. Betty bombers went after shipping there today but missed all the cruisers and only hit a bunch of transports.

Some frustration in Malaya. Temuloh is cleared but a base force that retreats into the rail line further blocks the Imperial Guards Division's movement. Oh well, I guess I will have to go ahead with the four divisions in position for the Singapore assault. The Guards will join up as soon as they can.

Burma

The Commonwealth appears determined to hold my forces at Moulmein. As previously noted they have brought in reinforcements and on the 28th the Japanese found out these consisted of the 254th Armored Brigade from India as well as the various Indian Brigades that start the war on transports. Hopefully nothing I can't handle with the forces allocated for the early Burma push with the 33rd Infantry Division as the core.

China

Tsiaotso is taken by Japanese forces on the 27th while partisan clearing activities continue. Japanese forces have reached Ankang in force and will attempt to take it tomorrow.

[DesertWolf101]

SRA

I-155 is lost to effective depth charging by DD Encounter north of Java. This is actually the second submarine the IJN lose thus far. The first was lost a few days ago when it blundered into a minefield at Banjoewangi when it was returning home to refuel.

A series of Betty strikes failed to score hits on half a dozen retreating allied cruisers near Denpasar although they did sink a more nimble Dutch destroyer. This came at a cost however, as 9 Betties were lost to a well planned enemy CAP trap.

The first Japanese force, the bulk of the 16th Division, lands on Luzon today.

Burma

First deliberate assault against the Allied blocking position in Moulmein does well:

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33248 troops, 458 guns, 236 vehicles, Assault Value = 1404

Defending force 15540 troops, 96 guns, 193 vehicles, Assault Value = 552

Japanese adjusted assault: 542

Allied adjusted defense: 203

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
797 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
832 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (1 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
1st RTA Division
33rd Division
14th Tank Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
2nd RTA Division
56th Engineer Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
7th RTA Division
26th Fld AA Gun Co
35th Fld AA Gun Co
5th Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
33rd Road Const Co
34th Road Const Co
47th Const Co
31st Field AA Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
8th Field AF Construction Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
43rd Const Co
21st Fld AA Gun Co
15th Const Co
3rd Mortar Battalion
12th JAAF Base Force

Defending units:
46th Indian Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
6th Burma Rifles Battalion
45th Indian Brigade
1st Burma Division
Burma Command
108th RAF Base Force

China

Japanese forces successfully capture Ankang, pushing back the four defending Chinese Corps into the mountains with heavy losses.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

The dance with the Kiwis continues. I have reduced the NZ brigade to a mere dozen or so squads but exhausted my troops in the process and therefore can't seem to muster the odds to actually take the base. I will order some rest for the troops before continuing. Reinforcements will be sent in if needed, but unless the Allies themselves soon reinforce the troops at hand should suffice.

SRA

Soerabaja port is hard hit by Japanese naval bombers and two enemy destroyers are very heavily damaged (and likely sunk) and two of the pesky Dutch submarines are sunk (confirmed) as a result.

Bandoeng on Java and Dadjanagas on Mindanao are taken.

Burma

I ordered a shock attack at Moulmein while realizing it was likely overkill. I just did not want to risk failing to drive the Allies back though so it was worth the price in extra disabled squads.

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 39083 troops, 520 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 1438

Defending force 14736 troops, 92 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 424

Japanese adjusted assault: 1262

Allied adjusted defense: 245

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1442 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Units pursuing 2

Allied ground losses:
5462 casualties reported
Squads: 177 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 291 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 53 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 46 (44 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 189 (189 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

China

The Chinese are once more driven back with heavy losses east of Sian as the Japanese get closer to the city.

[DesertWolf101]

South Pacific

Got lucky with some great weather days over the past few turns near Australia. The latest KB strike takes the overall accumulated strategic points to 1,424. The KB will now pull back, just in time as enemy fighters were detected on the ground at Brisbane following the latest strike.

SRA

CVL Ryujo sends a couple of dozen Kates to pummel enemy shipping off Soerabaja, sinking half a dozen cargo ships as a result.

Four Japanese divisions shock attack across the causeway into Singapore. The result is somewhat disappointing, particularly since I fail to drop the forts since I somehow got a really bad adjusted AV score. Actual disabled Japanese combat squads are actually about 600, but disruption/fatigue are still very high across the force.

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 53502 troops, 478 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 1837

Defending force 30851 troops, 405 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 665

Japanese adjusted assault: 584

Allied adjusted defense: 1097

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3378 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 718 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 68 disabled
Guns lost 64 (1 destroyed, 63 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2455 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 96 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 38 disabled
Guns lost 71 (9 destroyed, 62 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Division
4th Division
5th Division
2nd Division
25th Army

Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Manchester Battalion
12th Indian Brigade
Singapore Base Force
2nd ISF Base Force
111th RAF Base Force
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
224 Group RAF
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malaya Army
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
110th RAF Base Force
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
223 Group RAF
Singapore Fortress
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
109th RN Base Force
III Indian Corps
5th Field Regiment

Burma

Oscars tangle with the AVG and Commonwealth squadrons over Rangoon. Both sides lose approximately ten fighters.

The 1st Raiding Regiment paradrops on Port Blair and almost takes the base (gets 2 to 1 odds but the single fort level stops the conquest). Encircled had reinforced the garrison with the 1st Gloucestershire Battalion which made the drop more difficult but which would still have been no problem had poor weather not grounded my supporting bombers.

[DesertWolf101]

This is the overall score on the eve of a new year. Despite a couple of frustrations, I am generally happy with the result thus far.

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In terms of lost warships, the IJN has suffered very little, although I am sure that won't last. The Allies in turn have lost at least 1 battleship at Pearl, 9 cruisers (7 light and 2 heavy), and an estimated 15 destroyers or so.

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I am generally maintaining a 2 to 1 advantage in aircraft kills thus far, although obviously some days are much better than others. Not terribly surprising as good Japanese players should maintain a significant advantage in the air for at least the first 6 months of the war.

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