IN HARM'S WAY: Tophat(J) vs Spruance(A)

[racndoc]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way"

Commodore John Paul Jones
11/16/1778


This will be a standard map scenario 15 with Tophat as Tojo and myself as General Marshall. The cool thing about this PBEM is that we are both veteran players and know every trick in the book but we will attempt to keep this a historically plausible simulation as much as possible(from a strategic standpoint.....tactical strategies are obviously based on the game design). My last 4 PBEM campaign games as the Allies all ended with Japanese capitulation by February 1942. Every game saw crazy Japanese first turns with literally dozens of landings all across the Pacific on December 7th. Every game Japan attempted to conquer the PI, Malaya and Burma simultaneously with the net result of neither Manila or Singapore being captured. Tophat takes a slower more methodical approach but uses overwhelming force. We will see if I can adapt.

The other issue here is our exploration of the myth of A6M2 early war invinceability. I just had another AAR entitled "Operation Pacific" end where the Japanese had lost over 275 A6M2s in the first 2 months of the war. Many forum readers couldnt understand how Dutch fighters and RAF Buffaloes could _almost_ hold their own in the first couple months of the war. Neither could I, but here with a veteran Japanese player we will see if the A6M2 sweeps all before it.

Settings:

Non historic first turn
December 7th surprise on
FoW on
Allied damage control on
Japnese sub doctrine on
Advanced weather on
Variable reinforcements +/- 15 days
ASW 5 ship TFs or less
No 4Es in CBI until 1943
1 port attack turn 1

Let the games begin............

[racndoc]

" Air raid Pearl Harbor. This is no drill."

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-8-41


CHINA:

Tophat appears to be massing Japanese troops in the vicinity of Changsha and Yenen.

IJA troops capture Nanchang.

The Chinese invest Canton to pin down the IJA troops there and keep the Hong Kong assault at low odds.

4 Chinese Corps mass at Nanning and a shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.


MALAYA:

Japanese are landing 2 divisions at Khota Bharu.

Japanese heavy bombers based in Indochina are bombing RAF aerodromes at Singapore and Khota Bharu.


PI:


Japan captures Batan, Aparri, Legaspi and Vigan. It appears that the main Japanese assault in Luzon is in progress at Naga.

Allies evacuate aircraft from Clark and Manila to the southern PI.


CENTRAL PACIFIC:

Japan captures Guam and Wake Island.

All 8 USN BBs are damaged.....2 seriously. The US battlefleet will be out of action for awhile.

KB withdraws from Pearl Harbor to the NW to refuel. Hmmm....I wonder if KB or a part of it will loop around to the east of Hawaii to interdict the shipping lanes.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-8-41


MALAYA:

Japanese bombers from Indochina continue to suppress RAF aerodromes at Georgetown and Kuala Lampur. The largest Japanese air strike is targeted for Singapore, but this time the AVG is waiting and the largest air battle of the war ensues:
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 80

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13
P-40B Tomahawk x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed
G3M Nell: 11 destroyed, 32 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 destroyed, 14 damaged


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12

Japan loses 11 A6M2s and 21 Nells in the engagement. Allied losses are 4 Buffaloes and 4 P-40Bs.


CENTRAL PACIFIC:

CA Pensacola takes a torpedo from an RO class sub at Makin.

KB continues to withdraw from Pearl Harbor to the NW and is almost out of search plane range.


CHINA:

Chinese troops liberate Nanning and force the Japanese back towards Pakhoi:

Ground combat at Nanning

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 30845 troops, 218 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12338 troops, 145 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nanning base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Guns lost 25


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Japanese forces being pinned at Canton launch a counterattack to dislodge the Chinese but suffer heavy casualties:

Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28476 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 32661 troops, 209 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1813 casualties reported
Guns lost 40

Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Japan attacks again at Hong Kong but is repulsed with heavy losses.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-12-41


MALAYA:

RAF torpedo bombers mass at Georgetown and strike the IJN battlefleet at Khota Bharu. BB Kongo takes 2 torpedoes but the cost is high for the RAF:

Day Air attack on TF, near Khota Bharu at 24,45

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Buffalo I x 19
Vildebeest IV x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Buffalo I: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 2
BB Haruna

Khota Bharu continues to hold out against the IJA 5th and 18th Divisions.


CHINA:

Hong Kong stands fast if the face of repeated shock attacks:

Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 21669 troops, 225 guns, 12 vehicles

Defending force 13217 troops, 111 guns, 4 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


The Japanese attempted to storm Yenen 2 days ago but were thrown back with heavy losses. Now Chinese reinforcements are arriving almost every day.


PI:

Naga continues to hold out. Japan continues to land troops at Cayagan.


CENTRAL PACIFC:

Cat and mouse game of ASW/SS occurring all across the central Pacific,

KB continues to manuever 1200 miles NW of Oahu after refueling. Im sure that 2-3 CVs have made a run to the NE of the Hawaiian Islands and are hoping to spring a surprise shipping attack.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-20-41


THE AIR WAR

Tophat is proceeding cautiously but when he brings it he brings it big time. The AVG lost 20 P-40Bs compared to 2 A6M2s in a large air battle over Taiping. The RAF and the AVG have been suffering unsustainable losses and now with the massive airfield at Khota Bharu fully operational virtually all aircraft have been withdrawn from Malaya.

Japan launches its biggest air attack on Singapore in an attempt to completely neutralize it:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
G3M Nell x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 21 damaged


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25

Most of the RAF heavy bombers have been withdrawn to India for reinforcements and training. Obsolete Buffalo and Hudson squadrons are being converted to Hurricane and Beaufort V-IXs as rapidly as possible.

The Allies have been doing hit and run ground attacks with their air force in China to help build experience but on a daily basis the Japanese air force flies unopposed in the sky over China.

RAF and Dutch torpedo bombers re-deployed to the southern PI and launched an effective attack on an IJN surface TF at Cayagan:

Day Air attack on TF, near Cagayan at 42,59


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5
Vildebeest IV x 5
T.IVa x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 11


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 3 damaged
T.IVa: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1
CA Aoba

Day Air attack on TF, near Cagayan at 42,59


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 7


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka

Day Air attack on TF, near Cagayan at 42,59


Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Vildebeest IV x 9
T.IVa x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
T.IVa: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 1
DD Kikuzuki
CA Aoba
CA Kako


THE ASW/SUB WAR

USN subs have sunk 3 IJN transports so far even with their defective torpedoes.

Allied ASW on the other hand has been extraordinarily ineffective as 25+ ASW attacks by 5 DD TFs(house rule limite ASW TFs to 5 ships) have done little more than "rattle" the cages of a few I-boat skippers. Todays action was pretty typical although the hunters became the hunted:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/20/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 109,73

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Selfridge
DD Downes
DD Tucker
DD Reid

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 111,82

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 109,73

Japanese Ships
SS I-175

Allied Ships
DD Cassin, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Selfridge
DD Tucker
DD Reid

DD Cassin sinks and after 25+ ASW attacks not 1 IJN sub has been sunk.


MALAYA:

After 3 heavy bombing attacks on Alor Star today the Japanese launch a massive assault by 45,000 troops and capture the base:

Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 45609 troops, 533 guns, 23 vehicles

Defending force 7905 troops, 64 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Alor Star base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
604 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

As usual, the defeated Allied LCUs at Alor Star retreat into Georgetown will they will be cut off and destroyed in detail.

The rest of the Allied ground units in Malaya are retreating in good order towards fortress Singapore.


CHINA/BURMA/INDIA(CBI)

After several days of bombardments Japan launches its 2nd heavy assault of the war on Yenen only to be repulsed with heavy casualties:

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 138401 troops, 1642 guns, 152 vehicles

Defending force 67103 troops, 450 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
4559 casualties reported
Guns lost 118
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
854 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Tavoy falls today.

CENTRAL PACIFIC:

KB had gone onto hiding north of Midway a couple of days ago but at least a portion of KB reappears 600 miles NW of Midway to sink an Allied transport:

Day Air attack on TF at 91,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Taurus, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

I still think that Tophat has sent at least a portion of KB to the NE of Hawaii in an attempt to interdict shipping lanes from the west coast. Im currently crisscrossing the dead area(where search planes cant reach) with subs and a couple of AKs to flush him out.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-28-41 BATTLE FOR DAVAO

After a preliminary bombardment by an IJN surface TF with 6 CAs, Japanese troops began landing at Davao today. The RN Force Z reached Menado today and is ordered to head to Davao tomorrow at full speed to engage the IJN CAs and break up the invasion. Force Z will be covered by 60 P-40s flying LRCAP out of Cotabato. 50 B-17s at Jolo are ordered to suppress the A6M2s and Nells based at Cayagan.

After a bombardment with 5 BBs an all out Japanese shock attack at Naga is repulsed with heavy casualties:

Ground combat at Naga

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 94401 troops, 1071 guns, 26 vehicles

Defending force 19922 troops, 148 guns, 105 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
2964 casualties reported
Guns lost 69
Vehicles lost 11

Allied ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 6


MALAYA:

Japan has captured Georgetown, Kuantan and Taiping but fortunately the Allies were able to withdraw all their brigades from Georgetown and Alor Star and are retreating in good order towards Singapore.

Kuala Lampur just barely holds out in a shock attack today but its fall looks imminent for tomorrow.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-29-41 THE BATTLE OF DAVAO

The B-17s based at Jolo hit the Japanese airfield at Davao but do not totally suppress it:

Day Air attack on Cagayan , at 42,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7
B-17C Fortress x 18
B-17E Fortress x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged


Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 15


Force Z races in to engage the IJN CAs and bombard Davao but instead runs into another IJN transport force 60 mi south of Davao:

Night Time Surface Combat at 42,62

Japanese Ships
MSW Hakata Maru #7, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MSW Himejima Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
MSW Kyo Maru #1, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
MSW Kyo Maru #3, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AP Aiyo Maru
AK Hankow Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tatuwa Maru, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Revenge
BC Repulse
CA Houston
CA Cornwall
CA Exeter
CL Danae
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Alden
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Whipple
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express

Japanese ground losses:
1195 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

4 MSWs and 3 APs are sunk and most of a base force is destroyed, but Force Z TURNS around and heads back to base. Not only doesnt Force Z engage the IJN CAs at Davao, not only doesnt Force Z bombard the IJA assault troops at Davao, not only isnt Force Z comfortably protected by 60 P-40 LRCAP over Davao but Force Z is now floating aimlessly out in the middle of the Celebes Sea out of range of most of their LRCAP and at extended range for the rest. Force Z is now a sitting duck for the unsuppressed A6M2s and Nells at Cayagan. Only 13 of the 60 P-40 LRCAP actually make it over Force Z and they are butchered by the A6M2s for flying at long range LRCAP:

Day Air attack on TF at 41,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
G3M Nell x 6

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Revenge
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

BC Repulse takes 2 torpedoes and now 50+ Zeroes and 30 Nells/Bettys are staged into Cayagan to try to finish her off tomorrow.


MALAYA:

Japan captures Kuala Lampur today as the noose tightens around Singapore. Here is a current screen shot of the situation in Malaya:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-2-42


PI:

Due to the friction of war, Force Z had attacked the wrong IJN transport TF off Davao and the main assault force got through. Davao is captured and the IJN CVLs finish off BC Repulse. Heroic sacrifice by the RN for little gain.

In an audacious move, Japanese paratroopers are landed at Jolo in an attempt to take out the B-17 base. The US base force at Jolo holds out for 2 days though and virtually all B-17s are evacuated. The naval bombardment of Jolo and the airdrop of a 2nd SNLF unit overwhelms the valiant defenders today:

Ground combat at Jolo

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 200 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 320 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Jolo base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
1134 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Naga continues to hold out against the main IJA effort on Luzon as today's attack is repulsed with heavy Japanese casualties:

Ground combat at Naga

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 98785 troops, 1024 guns, 163 vehicles

Defending force 26999 troops, 259 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
2905 casualties reported
Guns lost 58
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
752 casualties reported
Guns lost 15


The Allies continue in their attempt to resupply Manila by sea but the wary Japanese have sunk 2 out of 3 AKs.


MALAYA:

The Japanese aerial blitz here has slowed up somewhat due to almost a week of monsoons.

The ground advance continues however as IJA troops capture Malacca.


CHINA:

Stalemate in China as Japan switches over from frontal assaults at Yenen and Changsha to daily bombardments....the net effect here is an improvement in experience for almost 250,000 entrenched Chinese troops.

Supply in China seems good so far. Most Chinese air units have been staged to India/Burma for additional training and reinforcements so Japan is uncontested in the sky here.

Here is a screenshot of the current situation in the PI:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-4-42


MALAYA:

The weather clears for the first time in almost a week. 58 Beaufort V-IX and Vildebeest torpedo bombers with escorts are staged into Johore Bharu and Mersing for an attack on IJN surface ships at Kuantan.

Only 27 of the torpedo bombers and none of the escort take off to intercept the IJN surface TFs:

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,47


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 15


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Kumano

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Kumano

Not one torpedo hit is scored however and all the AC must be withdrawn immediately for the the aerial retribution that will surely strike tomorrow.

The hunters again become the hunted as an Allied ASW TF ordered to run down an IJN sub off Palembang allows the sub to get off the first shot:

Sub attack at 21,57

Japanese Ships
SS I-158

Allied Ships
DD Parrott, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bulmer
DD Barker
DD Stewart
DD Paul Jones

We will see if DD Parrott can make it back to Batavia port. With Japanese sub doctrine on, Japan has sunk 4 ASW ships against the loss of only 2 subs. In every case of Allied ASW loss the IJN sub fired first and there was no ASW response and 3 of these occured in shallow water. All occured after several turns of sub tracking by Allied ASW AC.


PI:

Japan goes back to bombardment attacks at Naga. A large IJN bombardment TF with 5 BBs has been making the run from Aparri to Naga every 4 days.


Allies have given up on surface resupply of Manila and will start sending supply by sub and heavy bomber.


CENTRAL /SOUTH PACIFIC

No action off New Guinea, Rabaul or the Solomons yet.

Tophat infromed me that his Christmas surprise for me didnt come off as planned...I assume that was the KB in my sealanes between Pearl Harbor and the US west coast. US convoys have been taking some very interesting "southerly" routes to avoid interception by the KB and now supplies, fuel, and reinforcements are just arriving at Pearl Harbor, Palmyra, Canton and New Caledonia.

The IJN CVLs have been operating in the PI and are based in Palau but KB has not been seen in 2 weeks. Could pop up anywhere. The USN is still patrolling the "dead spot" to the NE of Pearl Harbor with subs and solitary AKs. The forward line of USN AVs and AVDs providing search is now Rabaul/Tulagi/Nanomea/Baker/Johnson/Midway/Dutch Harbor.

7 of the USN BBs damaged at Pearl Harbor have made it safely back to the west coast ports and are now undergoing repairs.

CV Saratoga, CV Lexington and CV Enterprise have been providing escort along the convoy routes from the US west coast to Australia.


CHINA:

Japan launches a massive shock attack at Yenen only to suffer horrific casualties:

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 186406 troops, 2120 guns, 150 vehicles

Defending force 105257 troops, 693 guns, 70 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
10639 casualties reported
Guns lost 238
Vehicles lost 21

Allied ground losses:
1092 casualties reported
Guns lost 24

At Changsha the daily bombardments continue but the Chinese plan to withdraw about 50,000 of their 150,000 troops there. The experience levels have now all been brought up to the 50's and 60's and its time to conserve a bit on the supply expenditures.

Here is a screen shot of the China/Burma situation:

[racndoc]

SITUATI0N REPORT: 1-9-42

CBI:

The RAF stages into Rangoon and launches its largest raid of the war against Bangkok:

Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 12
Blenheim IF x 12
Blenheim I x 23
Blenheim IV x 30
Hudson I x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

Japan continues its daily bombardments at Yenen and Changsha.


MALAYA:

The 2 Australian brigades withdraw safely from Johore Bharu into fortress Singapore. The supply situation is good at Singapore....23,000 and rising with more supply and oil on the way.

The AVG stages into Singapore and ambushes a Japanese bombing raid:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 16
Ki-15 Babs x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged

Japan launches a fighter sweep over Singapore with A6M2s and gives the AVG a bloody nose:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged


CENTRAL/SOUTH PACIFIC:

All quiet here with no sign of the Japanese at Rabaul or the Solomons yet. KB has not been seen in over 3 weeks.

A massive buildup continues in New Caledonia as it will become the largest Allied base in the south Pacific.

The first aircraft from the US west coast arrive in Australia.


PI:

Allies continue to hold out at Naga. Japan invades at San Marcelino in an attempt to outflank the river line defenses at Clark Field. Supply situation is becoming more acute at Manila. Only 1 AK has made it through the Japanese air net around Luzon. Several US subs have been pressed into supply transport here but are hardly making a dent as Manila supply drops below 10,000 for the first time.

Cotabato holds out as the last Allied bastion in Mindanao but it will capitualate any day now.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-11-42


MALAYA:

The monsoons return and the Allies try to take advantage of the weather with a major resupply effort at Singapore. The entire AVG is flown into Singapore to cover the operation.

The Japanese are able to launch a major aerial assault on Singapore even with the inclement weather:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 80
G3M Nell x 60

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 28 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 38

In the largest A2A battle of the war, the AVG suffers a bloody nose and 2 black eyes as 25 P-40Bs are lost in the air and another 5 P-40Bs on the ground vs Japanese losses of 17 A6M2s and 7 Nells. The airfields at Singapore receive some damage and the AVG is withdrawn to rebuild under cover of the continued monsoons.

More importantly however, the resupply effort at Singapore was a total success with more than 30,000 supply and 14,000 oil currently stockpiled.


PI:

Cotabato falls and Mindanao is now completely under Japananese control. The IJA continues to land at San Marcelino and a major assault is expected any day now.


ASW/SS WAR:

SS I-174 finally sinks east of Kwajalein following a depth charge attack in the Hawaiian Sea Frontier over a week ago. The count now is 5 sunken Allied ASW ships vs 3 IJN subs, however SS I-164 was pounded today by Allied ASW off Palembang and and is not likely to survive.

Here is a screen shot of the current situation around Fortress Singapore:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-14-42


CBI:

The RAF stages a large force to Rangoon to bomb IJA ground units at Moulmein:

Day Air attack on 4th Mixed Regiment, at 29,35


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 4
Mohawk IV x 6
Buffalo I x 16
Blenheim I x 21
Blenheim IV x 21
Hudson I x 10
SB-2c x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

The IJA assault at Moulmein proceeds successfully however and SEAC is forced to withdraw across the Salween River:

Ground combat at Moulmein

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9154 troops, 62 guns, 191 vehicles

Defending force 3941 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Japan is again repulsed with heavy casualties at Yenen:

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 225431 troops, 2436 guns, 148 vehicles

Defending force 105531 troops, 709 guns, 72 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
5248 casualties reported
Guns lost 112
Vehicles lost 9

Allied ground losses:
2370 casualties reported
Guns lost 34
Vehicles lost 1


MALAYA:

SEAC continues to offload supply at Fortress Singapore and the emptied transports begin to withdraw elite units starting with the 27th Australian Brigade. One of the troop laden transports runs into SS I-121 however on its way south to Palembang:

Sub attack at 22,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-121

Allied Ships
AK Beatrice, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


DEI:

All quiet throughout the DEI.


CENTRAL/SOUTH PACIFIC:

Nothing going on beside Allied transport convoys and scattered sub actions. No sign of KB for awhile. The massive US buildup at New Caledonia continues unchecked.


PI:

Japan hits San Marcelino with a heavy bombardment:

Naval bombardment of San Marcelino, at 43,50

Japanese Ships
DD Sanae
DD Wakatake
DD Yakaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Mikazuki
CL Oi
CL Kitakami
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
553 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 38
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 7

The Japanese ground assault at San Marcelino is barely fought off as the fortess is completely reduced:

Ground combat at San Marcelino

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17875 troops, 202 guns, 93 vehicles

Defending force 7047 troops, 76 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
1447 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied troops are ordered to withdraw to Clark Field but it may be too late to avoid heavy casualties.

Japan finally captures Naga after a 5 week siege:

Ground combat at Naga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 102719 troops, 988 guns, 167 vehicles

Defending force 29562 troops, 211 guns, 87 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Naga base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1435 casualties reported
Guns lost 25
Vehicles lost 5


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Supply situation is becoming critical at Manila as the sub transports cant keep uo with demand.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-15-41 THE AIR WAR AND LOGISTICS


With all of the Allied airfields in the southern PI captured and with Clark/Manila out of action, the bulk of the air war is currently being fought in the sky over Malaya and Burma.

The AVG has been staged out of SE Asia into the DEI to give the Allies a chance to engage the A6M2s on a more even basis. Currently there are no A6M2s in the CBI so the RAF has been conducting air operations over Burma. RAF bombers based in Rangoon hit Bangkok today and blew through the Oscar CAP to destroy 4 Oscars and Nells on the ground with no losses to themselves.

In China, Japan has been flying bombing missions to Yenen, Changsha and Wuchow with minimal escorts...only occasional escort provided by 5 Tojos in the south and maybe 25 Nates in the center of China. The Allies have deployed 3 Hurricane squadrons, 2 Mohawk squadrons and 1 P-40E squadron to China to create "CAP Traps"( along with 2 beefed up I-16 squadrons) over the usual Japanese bomber targets but so far the wily Japanese have escaped the traps.

After the drubbing suffered by the AVG a few days ago in Singapore, all of the Allied air has been withdrawn from the area except for a squadron of Buffaloes in Sinkep providing LRCAP to AKs involved in the Singapore resupply/troop evacuation operations. Today the troopships didnt clear Singapore harbor by daybreak as expected and an A6M2 fighter sweep decimated the Buffaloes killing 9 out of 16 AC.

All is quiet now in the air over the DEI as the Japanese build-up for their assault on Borneo and Sulawesi but the Dutch fighters and the Martins have been feverishly training
so hopefully they will be ready when the inevitable tsunami hits.

So far, the Allies have lost 546 AC to 353 Japanese AC....subtract out the 200 AC destroyed on December 7th and the losses have been pretty even. Japan has lost a total of 58 A6M2s...about 10 per week so their losses are easily sustainable. Allies A2A losses include 73 P-40Bs...about 15 were killed on December 7th so make it about 58 P-40Bs vs 38 A6M2s killed in A2A....about one and a half to one...not bad but certainly not what I had been hoping for. The AVG losses ARE unsustainable with a P-40 replacement rate of 10 per month and 1/3 of the AVG will be converted to P-40Es as soon as I get 24 in the pool.

From my other AARs Tophat knows my early war modus operandi. Generally my Japanese opponent builds a huge airbase in Kuantan/Alor Star/Khota Bharu with hundreds of AC and then I stage 100+ B-17s and another 100+ RAF bombers into Singapore with Buffalo escort and take the bases out.

Here, Tophat has his major base 600 miles away in Saigon and can sweep/bomb with 80 A6M2s and 80 Nells with impunity. At Khota Bharu and Alor Star Tophat has much smaller concentrations of Oscars and Sallys that hit Singapore on a daily basis and at Songkhia there are A6M2s doing daily fighter sweeps.

If I stage 100 heavies into Singapore to hit Saigon they would go in without fighter escort and possibly fail their morale checks to stay on the ground....and then get destroyed on the ground by the Sallys. After flying some airfield suppression missions on Cayagan earlier this month the B-17s have been relagated to flying supply transport missions into Singapore. I may try to hit Saigon later when I have 2 LB-30 Bomber Groups operational
weather and Singapore base damage permitting.

In the DEI my engineers have been busy expanding the airfields for future B-17 use. Batavia and Soerabaja are currently 70% of the way to level 5 and should be able to support major offensive bomber operations when Japan eventually attempts to fly out of Kuching, Balikpapan and Singkawang. The smaller airfields are also being enlarged ...especially the level 1 airfields so they can support the torpedo bombers. My engineers at Tarakan have only made 11% progress in enlarging the airfield there to level 5 so I may just switch them over to building forts as the airstrip will never be completed in time.

LOGISTICS:

With the slow, measured Japanese expansion I have been able to radically change my normal early war resupply patterns. I have been sending a lot of supply into Java and Singapore at the expense of NE India but my resupply efforts at Manila have been discouraging.

Current supply levels are about 40,000 at Singapore(13,000 oil also), 50,000 supply at Batavia and 30,000 supply at Soerabaja with another 200,000 supply on the way.

Current supply at Manila unfortunately has just dropped below 5000 as my sub transport just cant keep up. I am trying to build up the airfield at Wuchow to allow the Il-4c to fly supply in from there but it will probably be a case of too little too late.

Ive been able to pull 54,000 oil out of the DEI to Australia so far so the supply.fuel situation is doing just fine there until the convoys from the US west coast arrive.

Noumea currently has 75,000 supply and 100,000 fuel so it can function as my major supply depot in the south Pacific. Canton , Palmyra , Suva and Pago Pago have all been loaded up with fuel to support Allied ASW efforts. Groups of oilers have been dispersed throughout the south Pacific to support future fleet operations.

Here is a screen shot of the air war over Malaya:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-19-42

THE AIR WAR:

Japan hit Singapore today with 2 large airstrikes but the British flak guns are up to the challenge:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 6

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 83
G3M Nell x 69

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 31 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 68

Japan loses 14 bombers with another 40 damaged. These bombers will be sitting on the tarmac tomorrow at Saigon and Khota Bharu. The USAAF stages 120 heavies into Singapore to hit Saigon tomorrow while the RAF stages 70 medium bombers into Singapore to hit Khota Bharu. Its all up to the weather gods now.

Meanwhile, supply at Singapore is now 43,000 and rising and the Allies continue to evacuate the precious base forces.


PI: OPERATION SHOESTRING

Manila supply seems to be holding just above 5000 with over 20 USN subs dedicated to supply transport. 2 AKs from the US west coast are now just entering Philippine waters...lets see if they can make it through the Japanese air net. Its almost comical as the first AK is rounding the corner at Legaspi next to 2 IJN surface TFs with 15 CAs.

Tophat has now switched over targeting from Clark to Manila as he knows that I will attempt to make my final stand here. His port attacks are unbelieveable as around 80 Bettys have caused 2500 casualties in their last 2 attacks. I have never achieved that level of destruction even with 1000 B-24s. Ive moved my AA units back to Clark to rebuild/reorganize. Relacements have been virtually shut off here due to the low supply situation with the exception of the 194th Tank Battalion which was mauled in the defense of Naga. With 100,000 IJA troops south of Manila and only 30,000 north of Clark the Allies may end up making their final stand in Clark.


CHINA:

Stalemate across the entire country. The Japanese assault at Changsha appears to be a diversion as Tophat has made no effort to outnumber my 150,000 defenders with his 140,000 assault troops. The main Japanese effort seems to be at Yenen where Tophat has massed 250,000 troops. I have 115,000 defenders there(11 corps) with 4 corps in reserve. Another 4 corps are in transit there.Tophat has suffered 15,000 casualties in his last 2 assaults there vs 2000 Chinese casualties. Yenen and Changsha are bombarded on a daily basis so all of my corps are high 50s and 60s experience and all I need to do is rotate my HQs periodically. The Chinese do not return the bombardments as I need to accumulate as much supply as possible. Supply is good throughout the entire country with over 20,000 supply in Yenen, Changsha and Chungking. Chinese air units are training in India in an effort to conserve supplies. I think Tophat is waiting until his LCUs planning points hit 100 before his offensive becomes serious. Thats ok with me as Im almost at level 6 fortification at both Yenen and Changsha.

Here is a screenshot of the current situation in the PI and Operation Shoestring:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-20-42 THE AIR WAR

The Allies have had horrible luck so far in this war. Force Z sorties to destroy an IJN cruiser force only to fall short of its destination and get hit by Bettys only to lose BC Repulse. 60 Torpedo bombers are staged into Singapore only to have 19 sortie with no hits on an IJN surface TF.

Today the fortunes of war change dramatically. The USAAF in Singapore hits Saigon in spite of monsoons and passes the morale die roll even without escorts:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/20/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Saigon , at 31,46

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 71
LB-30 Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 16 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed
G3M Nell: 12 destroyed
MC-21 Sally: 2 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 4

4 A6M2s are lost in A2A combat vs 1 LB-30 and 2 B-17Es. 25 A6M2s and 24 Nells are destroyed on the ground.

The RAF airstrike hits Khota Bharu and there is no Japanese CAP:

Day Air attack on Khota Bharu , at 24,45

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Blenheim I x 26
Blenheim IV x 22
Hudson I x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

13 Sallys and 5 Oscars are destroyed. Altogether, Japan looses 82 AC today vs 10 Allied.
For the entire war Japan has lost 484 AC vs 515 Allied. 3 A6M2 Daitais and 3 Nell Daitais have been ravaged in Saigon and it will be at least a week before they recover morale and replace their losses. The Allies stage the AVG into Singapore to cover the withdrawal of their heavy bombers. The P-40Es are also staged into Singapore to cover the inevitable Japanese retribution from their Oscars...this is the first time in the war that the P-40Es have been put in harm's way.


PI:

Operation Shoestring is a complete failure as Japanes naval bombers sink AK Coast Trader and AK Idaho:

Day Air attack on TF at 45,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Idaho, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF, near Boac at 43,54

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Coast Trader, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Further resupply of Luzon will come only from sub transports or heavy bombers.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-24-42


MALAYA:

The Japanese air force is too battered to launch a return strike on Singapore and the entire force of Allied bombers and fighters is safely evacuated. Singapore supply holds comfortably above 45,000 as the IJA appears to be resting and building up preparation points just across the causeway in Johore Bharu.

Japanese Nells catch one of the many Allied TKs extracting oil from the DEI:

Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
TK Mindanao, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Pieter de Bitter

The Allies consider this to be an acceptable risk as over 100,000 oil points have been extricated so far.


PI:

Japanese Bettys from Formosa are hitting Manila on a daily basis and generally cause unbelieveable casualties like this:

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
1199 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 2

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3

I cant cause that many casualties in my other games even with 1000+ B-24s.

The AA units and many of the LCUs damaged at Naga have been sent back to Clark to recover from their disorganization.

Manila supply is holding above 3000 due to the resupply effort of the many sub transports and the USAAF heavy bombers.

The IJA launches its first major attack on Manila only to be thrown back with with heavy losses:

Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 103145 troops, 975 guns, 166 vehicles

Defending force 45404 troops, 401 guns, 113 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
4744 casualties reported
Guns lost 110
Vehicles lost 11

Allied ground losses:
947 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Tophat informs me that " the PI is going to need a little more work".

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-29-42


PI:

The Japanese have been sending everything but the kitchen sink at Manila and Clark to wear them down:

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
287 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Port hits 4
Port supply hits 2

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 78

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
359 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 21
Ki-30 Ann x 30
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 9
Ki-48 Lily x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 13

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 10

However when its time for Japan to assault Manila the results look familiar:

Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 98327 troops, 839 guns, 159 vehicles

Defending force 51850 troops, 424 guns, 109 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
3218 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1049 casualties reported
Guns lost 31
Vehicles lost 1

Tophat made comments about the end being near in the PI but Im not so sure. Supply is holding above 2000 at both Clark and Manila although almost all of the units at Manila have turned red. A tank battalion that had been rebuilding at Clark is ordered to reinforce Manila.


SOUTH CHINA SEA:

Japan has sent 3 transports TFs to sail slowly west across the South China Sea towards Malaya. The Allies staged Martins into the northern airfields on Borneo and Beaufort V-IXs into Singapore to intercept. Yesterday a Martin landed a bomb on a DD so today Tophat covered all 3 TFs with A6M2 LRCAP and Allied naval air attacks were ineffectual.

SS KXVIII however put 2 torpedoes in AK Heiei Maru sinking her. A heavy AA battalion was last seen swimming towards the Malayan coast. Not sure about the reason or the destination for these IJN transports unless Tophat is just providing some bait to draw all my torpedo bombers into Singapore to get killed. Maybe he is just trying to land aviation personel at Johore Bharu or Mersing to make the airfield operational.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 1-31-42 SOUTH CHINA SEA

Bad weather grounds the A6M2s on LRCAP(Tophat said he had 60 assigned to that mission just to attrition Dutch AC) and Allied bombers rain havoc on the IJN transports:

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Kashi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PC Kyo Maru #13, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 26,49


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hayabusa, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Otori, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 24,49


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Tosho Maru
PG Unkai Maru #1
MSW W.18, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Day Air attack on TF at 26,49


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Otori, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


DD Otori sinks immediately.

Japan obviously staged these transport missions to both ambush my bombers and make Mersing functional to help reduce Singapore.

The interesting aspect to this is that by trying to bring my airbase(Singapore) into his range he is going to bring his airforce into my range...Batavia just enlarged to level 5 today and I have 100 B-17s waiting to dump full bomb loads(with escorts) onto his new airfield.

Her is a screenshot of the action:

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 2-1-42

We finally reach the beginning of February and the Zero bonus is now only 3. Things are going very well for the Allies on all fronts. The early war torpedo plane attacks and the Force Z sortie have made Tophat very cautious and methodical in his moves. Thats ok for me because all my commands are building supply and fortifications at the key bases while the LCUs are filling out to their TOE in most places and the air groups are all undergoing extensive training. I thought that Id give a current update for all regions of the PTO.


SOUTH CHINA SEA:

The B-17s celebrate the opening of the level 5 airfield at Batavia by launching an attack on the IJN transports at Mersing. The B-17s blow right through the A6M2 LRCAP and pummel the transports:

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Nojima Maru
MSW W.18, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Unkai Maru #1, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shoho Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Allied subs also continue to attrition the IJN ships at Mersing:

Sub attack near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese Ships
PG Unkai Maru #1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PC Kyo Maru #11
PG Tosho Maru
MSW W.18, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXV

Most of the units at Singapore have filled out to max TOE and the levels of disruption are minimal. Supply is about 55,000 and climbing. SEAC continues to withdraw the valuable base forces from Singapore.

Another 54,000 oil is pulled out of Palembang.


CHINA:

Things are looking very good here. Tophats bombardment training program has increased the experience levels of most of my front line Chinese corps to the 60s at Yenen and Changsha. The HQs at both cities are being rotated in and out whenever the support levels drop dramatically. Yenen and Changsha are both halfway to fort level 7.

China has a normal force complement of 73 corps, 14 divisions, an armored regiment and then the HQs and base forces. Virtuallyall of my LCUs have filled out to max TOE with rifle squads. The LCUs vehicles, artillery and support should fill out soon. Once all LCUs have reached their max TOE my supply requirements will be around 69,000 per month plus those expended in combat. The Chinese air force has mostly been withdrawn for training to India along with the 9 SEAC divisions so this should help reduce the supply consumption. China is now receiving 149,000 supply per month from all sources so I should be able to bank about 80,000 supply per month once all units reach max TOE.

Supply levels are all over 25,000 at Yenen, Chungking and Changsha.

The airfield at Wuchow was just enlarged to level 4 today and the Il-4c bombers have been staged in to help with the resupply of Manila(house rules prohibit me from basing US heavy bombers in the CBI until 1943).


PI:

Supply holding at 2000 at both Clark and Manila. About 20 subs and 100 heavy bombers are working overtime to keep the supply fairly stable here. The longer Tophat sits out in the jungle besieiging both Clark and Manila the worse his morale becomes from malaria. Even after Luzon falls it will take a while for IJA units to recover morale.


AUSTRALIA:

Cooktown, Cairns and Rockhampton have all been reinforced with a brigade or better.

A division and a tank regiment have arrived at Darwin and the air bases on the northern coast are being enlarged to support operations in the southern DEI.

A decision needs to be made here whether to massively reinforce Timor. This will depend on the rate of Japanese expansion and if implemented reinforcement will occur towards the end of March.


CENTRAL/SOUTH PACIFIC:

All quiet here as Allied convoys continue to build up the SLOC from the US to OZ.

Hawaii has been beefed up with an RCT at Lahaina and Pearl and the Americal Division is currently en route to Oahu. Once the threat to Hawaii has subsided the Americal Division will be released to the south Pacific.

Canton has been reinforced with an RCT and a CD unit. Palmyra, Suva, Johnson and the rest of the small bases are considered expendable and have not been reinforced with LCUs.

Noumea now has 3 divisions, 3 CD units and 150 AC with another 72 fighters arriving in 2 days. Several large aviation engineer units are also on the way. The engineers have enlarged the airfield to level 4 and once it hits level 5 they will start work on new airstrips at Koumac and La Foa. B-26s and B-25s continue to route through here on their way to Australia. New Caledonia is rapidly building up into the major Allied fortress in the south Pacific.

Port Moresby has been reinforced with an Aussie Brigade and an HQ. A decision will be made towards the end of March as to whether or not SWPAC will make a major effort to further build up the defenses here. It all depends on the rate of Japanese expansion and CINC does not want to put Noumea at risk by siphoning strength off to Port Moresby. Port Moresby is one of the best places to really fight the attrition war with the Japanese air force once the Zero bonus goes away.

Here is a screen shot of Noumea: