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I couldnt thank Belphegor enough for hanging in there over the last 12 months to help me finish "THEY WERE EXPENDABLE". He took over as Japan in February 1943 and finished out the final 23 months of the war even against hopeless odds.

Now that v1.8 is out I thought that I would thank Belphegor by starting a new game where he could declare war as Japan and have fun kicking some Allied butt at the start.

Here are the settings for our new game:

v1.8
Scenario 15
Non historic 1st turn
Dec. 7th surprise on
FoW on
Advanced weather on
Allied damage control on
Allied sub doctrine off
Japanese sub doctrine off
PDUs on
One port attack Dec. 7th
ASW TFs 6 ship max
Reinforcements normal

SITUATION REPORT: 12-7-42

Belphegor decided to do a historical 1st turn so Japan invaded at all the usual places.

Batan Island was captured but the determined Marines at Wake held out against the Japanese invaders giving better than they got.

Japanese aircraft work over airfields at Pearl Harbor, Clark and Singapore. Altogether the Allies lost 237 AC with 204 destroyed on the ground vs Japanese losses of 31 AC.

KB launched its big strike at Pearl Harbor but did more damage to the air groups there than the BBs. Only 4 torpedoes found their mark and the USN escaped with amazingly low damage. Most of the damaged BBs are ordered to make port at Lahaina while undamaged BB California and BB Oklahoma are ordered to make a run for it in the open ocean in case KB hangs around to hit Pearl Harbor again tomorrow. Here is a screenshot of the damaged ships at Battleship Row:

SITUATION REPORT: 12-8-41


CENTRAL PACIFIC:


Japanese naval troops capture Guam but are repulsed with heavy casualties again at Wake by the valiant Marines:

Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1583 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1861 troops, 41 guns, 2 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
250 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

KB sails off to the west so evidently Pearl Harbor is safe for the moment. KB takes target practice on American shipping as it retires:

Day Air attack on TF at 109,70

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 20
B5N Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PC Reliance, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PC Tiger, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 110,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Antares, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Vireo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



CHINA:

IJA troops capture Nanchang in a shock attack.

Hong Kong continues to hold out and several Chinese corps advance to Canton to pin down 40,000 Japanese and prevent from them from reinforcing the Hong Kong attack.

Japanese troops appear to be in a general advance from Hong Kong in the south to Yenen in the north.

Chinese troops are ordered to advance into Nanning and liberate it.


MALAYA:

Japnese bombers based in Indochina continue to pummel the RAF aerodrome at Singapore:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 87

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 11

The A6M2s cut through the hapless Buffalo CAP but one Buffalo manages a lucky shot and scores a kill on the invinceable Zero. The AVG begins to stage down to Singapore from Mandalay to help beef up SEAC air defenses.

The RAF stages medium bombers and Vildebeest and Swordfish torpedo bombers into Georgetown in an attempt to break up the Japanese landings at Khota Bharu:

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


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 13


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CL Jintsu
BB Haruna

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


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 7
Vildebeest IV x 10


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1

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


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1

Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 13


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
CL Sendai
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo

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


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Sasako Maru

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


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
Hudson I x 2


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

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna

Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami
CL Sendai
DD Amagiri

Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
Vildebeest IV x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Shinonome


Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 7
Vildebeest IV x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sado Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

BB Kongo should be out of action for awhile.



PI:

The Japanese air forces again pounded Clark Field and flew a 53 plane A6M2 sweep over Manila together with a massive port attack. Fortunately, Admiral Hart had ordered the entire US Asiatic Fleet out of Manila to rally at their pre-planned destinations in the DEI. Baby KB in the form of CVL Ryujo showed up off the southern coast of Luzon in an attempt to interdict the flight of the Asiatic Fleet. CVL Ryujo had her choice of targets but settled on the largest surface combat TF in the area:

Day Air attack on TF at 39,55

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
B5N Kate x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Tanager
MSW Lark
MSW Quail, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Whippoorwill

CVL Ryujo used up 2 of her 9 lives however as she ran into a mid-ocean intercept by a USN PT boat squadron:

Day Time Surface Combat at 43,55

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-31
PT PT-32
PT PT-33
PT PT-34
PT PT-35
PT PT-41, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

One PT boat was lost in the engagement but as the title states: "They Were Expendable".

Next a squadron of B-17s from Cayagan showed up but their aim was poor:

Day Air attack on TF at 43,55

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CVL Ryujo

Japanese troops capture Vigan and Legaspi.

Here is a screenshot of the action in the PI. Curiously, CVL Ryujo doesnt show up even though she was attacked by PT boats and B-17s:

SITUATION REPORT: 12-10-41


CENTRAL PACIFIC:

The heroic Marines at Wake continue to hold out against repeated Japanese amphibious assaults:

Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1304 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 21

Defending force 1941 troops, 45 guns, 2 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 19

Japanese max assault: 40 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 18 - adjusted defense: 13

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


Japanese ground losses:
224 casualties reported


PI:

Japan captures Lingayen and Butuan.


CHINA:

40,000 IJA are pinned by the Chinese at Canton forcing a stalemate at Hong Kong.

Several Chinese corps launch a counterattack at Nanning and reduce the fortifications there:

Ground combat at Nanning

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 30998 troops, 218 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 978

Defending force 12513 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 257

Allied max assault: 2096 - adjusted assault: 1397

Japanese max defense: 276 - adjusted defense: 557

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1361 casualties reported
Guns lost 34


MALAYA:

The AVG stages down to Mersing and Johore Bharu. With thunderstorms across the area today they are stood down to recover some of their fatigue. With good weather forcasted for tomorrow they will all fly LRCAP over Singapore.

The Japanese assault at Khota Bharu is repulsed with heavy IJA casualties:

Ground combat at Khota Bharu

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19513 troops, 252 guns, 12 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 448

Defending force 7388 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 133

Japanese max assault: 920 - adjusted assault: 41

Allied max defense: 131 - adjusted defense: 111

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


Japanese ground losses:
1017 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

SITUATION REPORT: 12-11-42


Today was a continuous series of disasters for the Japanese Imperial forces on land, at sea and in the air.


PI:

The Allies stage B-17s and Martin 139s to Cayagan and launch an attack on CVL Ryujo covered by an escort of 40 P-40Es:

Day Air attack on TF at 43,62

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 40
B-17C Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 6 damaged
B-17C Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1
CA Nachi

8 Claudes are shot down and a 500 lb bomb penetrates the flight deck of CVL Ryujo....she will need to return to Japan to repair her damage and replace her "Claude Squad" with A6M2s.

Aparri is overrun by the Japanese...their only good news on an otherwise terrible day.


MALAYA:

Japan launches a 100 plane raid on Singapore but the Dutch, the RAF and the rested AVG are waiting for them:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 74

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 6
Buffalo I x 12
P-40B Tomahawk x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed
G3M Nell: 13 destroyed, 28 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 6 destroyed
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7

15 A6M2s and 16 Nells are shot down vs Allied losses of 8 P-40Bs, 6 Brewsters and 7 Buffaloes.

Altogether today, Japan loses 48 AC vs Allied losses of of 26 AC.


DEI:

An IJN invasion force approaches Kuching. Dutch Martin 139s based at Singkawang, Kuching and Brunei work over the transports:

Day Air attack on TF at 28,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hakusika Maru, Bomb hits 2
AP Meiu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Day Air attack on TF at 28,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 1


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Mexico Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Day Air attack on TF at 28,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Hakubasan Maru, Bomb hits 2

2 RN "D " Class CLs are ordered to attack the transports at Kuching tomorrow.


CENTRAL PACIFIC:

The Japanese give up on Wake and evacuate their troops. A bombardment TF hits Wake in an attempt to cover the evacuation but the Marine gunners are up to the task:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/11/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 82,63 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

77 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oboro, Shell hits 9, on fire
CA Kako, Shell hits 4
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 7
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port supply hits 1


CHINA:

Lots of action here today. First, the Chinese liberate Nanning from the Japanese:

Ground combat at Nanning

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 29315 troops, 173 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 842

Defending force 12391 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 254

Allied max assault: 1570 - adjusted assault: 1280

Japanese max defense: 230 - adjusted defense: 173

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nanning base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The IJA had invested Ichang yesterday so China Command issued a shock attack order:

Ground combat at Ichang

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37008 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1125

Defending force 13631 troops, 178 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 273

Allied max assault: 2436 - adjusted assault: 2037

Japanese max defense: 288 - adjusted defense: 293

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

Allied ground losses:
1496 casualties reported
Guns lost 51


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The IJA troops are again sent packing.

Farther north, Japan launches a disasterous attack on Homan:

Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 26683 troops, 315 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 556

Defending force 33767 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 818

Japanese max assault: 662 - adjusted assault: 25

Allied max defense: 891 - adjusted defense: 1523

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
2918 casualties reported
Guns lost 69

And finally, the 40,000 IJA troops pinned at Canton attempt to unpin themselves but suffer even more casualties:

Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 34477 troops, 337 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 486

Defending force 40834 troops, 266 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1180

Japanese max assault: 1060 - adjusted assault: 131

Allied max defense: 1232 - adjusted defense: 1309

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3039 casualties reported
Guns lost 63

Allied ground losses:
309 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The Chinese are ordered to shock attack the Japanese invaders at Homan tomorrow.

Here is a screenshot of Borneo and the PI:

SITUATION REPORT: 12-12-41


CHINA:

The IJA forces again shock attack Homan only to suffer heavy losses:

Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7025 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 385

Defending force 33868 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 819

Japanese max assault: 150 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 890 - adjusted defense: 893

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
1975 casualties reported
Guns lost 33

That afternoon, Chinese forces returned the favor by shock attacking the Japanese at Homan:

Ground combat at Homan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 26988 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 819

Defending force 25270 troops, 228 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 253

Allied max assault: 1770 - adjusted assault: 2436

Japanese max defense: 154 - adjusted defense: 36

Allied assault odds: 67 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
376 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Allied ground losses:
394 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The defeated IJA troops must retreat back towards their supply source.

I dont really understand the Japanese low odds attacks the last couple of days at Homan and Ichang. I can only guess that Belphegor is trying to create a diversion or pin my troops so he can mass overwhelming odds at Yenen.


DEI:

Japanese troops storm ashore today at Kuching:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/12/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching, 28,56, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Kuching, 28,56


89 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 3, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
590 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching, 28,56, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Kuching, 28,56


77 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 3, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakka Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Sunten Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
400 casualties reported

Dutch Martin 139s attempt to hit the transports but are largely ineffective. The RAF Swordfish and medium bombers manage to get in a couple of licks though:

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 28,56


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Midori Maru
AP Hakka Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 28,56


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged

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

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 28,56


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
Hudson I x 9


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Meiten Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Hakusika Maru
AP Hakka Maru, on fire
AK Hakonesan Maru

CL Dragon races over from Palembang to intercept the invasion force at Kuching. CL Dragon works over a Japanese escort TF but evidently got there too late in the day to hit the transports:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 28,56

Japanese Ships
DD Kamo, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
PC Shonan Maru #7, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 28,56

Japanese Ships
DD Kamo, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PC Shonan Maru #7, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Dragon

BB Haruna and some friends are close by so CL Dragon is ordered to retire at high speed. Despite the efforts of the Allied air forces and the Royal Navy over 11,000 IJA troops landed at Kuching today. Its capture tomorrow is imminent.

SITUATION REPORT: 12-13-41


DEI:

Sub O-19 sails into Kuching to attack IJN transports but is hit by an ASW TF torpedo:

ASW attack near Kuching at 28,56

Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
CA Atago

Allied Ships
SS O19, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Hmmm...never seen that before....perhaps the Japanese had perfected ASROC.

The IJN sends 2 bombardment TFs with 6 BBs to reduce Kuching.

IJN naval troops storm ashore at Miri.


MALAYA:

Khota Bharu continues to hold out.

The Japanese appear to be massing AC at Songkhia to suppress Singapore.

Japanese troops invest Victoria Point and Tavoy.



PI:

Japan invades at Lamon Bay and captures Lingayen.

USN subs begin massive resupply effort at Manila.


CHINA:

IJA troops launch a deliberate attack on Changsha:

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 69077 troops, 749 guns, 143 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1490

Defending force 68492 troops, 397 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1678

Japanese max assault: 1535 - adjusted assault: 736

Allied max defense: 1824 - adjusted defense: 1062

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
1368 casualties reported
Guns lost 51
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
1903 casualties reported
Guns lost 27

I know that Changsha is clear terrain but I still dont like the casualty exchange rate. Reinforcements will be needed here.

hi, glad to see both of you are back in action....

I didn't noticed Jap part of AAR so i assume that is for Allied eyes only ?

it seems that your opponenet just did not bring enough forces for crucial bases....

Pauk....thanks for the comments. This thread is not strictly offlimits to Belphegor so I cant get too detailed about future plans. Belphegor has transported more than enough force to capture the bases he is attacking in the SRA. But you are exactly correct about Japanese dispositions in China...he is spread too thin to make a decisive move anywhere.


SITUATION REPORT: 12-14-41

The red tide sweeps all before it as the Allies suffer through their worst day of the war.


PI:

Japanese forces capture Lamon Bay and invest Naga.



CENTRAL PACIFIC:

IJN troops overrun Makin.


MALAYA:

IJA troops capture Tavoy and Victoria Point.


CHINA:

The only bright spot of the day for the Allies. Chinese reinforcements reach Yenen just in time to repel a Japanese assault and inflict heavy casualties:

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 52087 troops, 587 guns, 7 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1051

Defending force 59947 troops, 397 guns, 0 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 1640

Japanese max assault: 1083 - adjusted assault: 218

Allied max defense: 1763 - adjusted defense: 2239

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


Japanese ground losses:
3430 casualties reported
Guns lost 108
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Hong Kong finally capitulates:

Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 22608 troops, 254 guns, 14 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 489

Defending force 13325 troops, 122 guns, 4 vehicles, Beginning Assault Value = 237

Japanese max assault: 1048 - adjusted assault: 1800

Allied max defense: 253 - adjusted defense: 279

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
7748 casualties reported
Guns lost 80
Vehicles lost 1

The Chinese corps pinning the IJA troops at Canton will now withdraw towards Wuchow.


DEI:

Japanese troops capture Kuching and Miri. The IJN BB TF retires to Saigon to reload so a RN CL is ordered to sail to Kuching at full speed to break up the IJN transport fleets.