Logistics in the Pacific - USSAmerica (A), Mike (J)

[DesertWolf101]

You should think bigger. You have an excellent start here, you have an opportunity to go for an Indian or Australian invasion.

[hpalmer]

Been ages since anyone has taken the Hawaiian Islands... Make history!

[Mike Solli]

Concerning other invasions...

I have pretty much always invaded northern Australia, mainly to delay any bombing of the southern oil fields in the SRA. I'm sure Mike is aware of that and is planning for that eventuality. That's part of the reason why I'm headed to Ceylon. Last turn I sent CarDiv 2 (Soryu and Hiryu) toward CRB. They were in Truk with the rest of KB (minus Kaga, currently in CRB). The carriers that will support the Ceylon excursion will be Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Ryujo, Zuiho, Hosho and Shoho (if she shows up in time). That's >300 planes. The rest of KB (Akagi, Shokaku, Zuikaku) will remain in Truk guarding the Pacific and SE Fleet AO.

Yeah, I was really pleased with Singapore. Mike and I talked about it a bit. Apparently, almost half of the troops he planned on sending to help defend Singapore never got there. Many of them were the cats I'm still herding around Malaya. He said the biggest issue was that he couldn't get much supply into Singapore. I hadn't thought of that issue occurring. I captured only ~10k supply there. He told me the Mersing gambit was wildly successful. I didn't think it was very successful given the Keystone Cops events I went through to get the troops assembled in Johore Bahru. I was surprised.

After I withdraw the 4 divisions (and other units supporting them) from Ceylon, I'll probably invade Darwin with some of them. Darwin is up to a level 4 airfield already. But, that's further down the road. A lot can happen between now and then.

Hawaii? Not me. That's craziness. I do like to read about other crazies trying it, but I know there are at least 3 US carriers there. I wouldn't try it unless I trashed the US carrier fleet first. Mike's too smart to let that happen this early.

India? No. If I go there, I won't leave. It would be interesting invading around Diamond Harbor and taking Burma from both sides. Something to think about. IF I did that, there would be no invasion of Australia. My one question is, where is the 18 British Division? It's a pretty good division and it can be anywhere between Perth and Burma by now. I'd love to catch it in Ceylon and destroy it there. See, now you have me dreaming.

Anyway, Mike was delayed with work. I got the turn this morning and got it back to him just a few minutes ago. Look for notes about it tomorrow.

[Lowpe]

You guys are nuts.

This is a scenario 1 game with really decent PP cost structure to transfer ground units....there won't be much adventuresome Imperial Japanese moves here I think.

Pearl Harbor has to be the goal from Dec 7th.

India and Oz and Ceylon?

How about take Magwe, Lashio and China? Lashio can be absolutely horrible to take.... Maybe Ledo if it is undefended? Ceylon is maybe doable especially as a lure to get the American Fleet Carriers into an ambush in the Pacific. Taking Ceylon won't slow down the Allied push into Burma by much and you need to capture the fuel there (which a good AFB won't let you).

Even if Japan were to destroy the American fleet carriers I would recommend no uber adventures unless playing for auto-victory. Generally speaking, I favor an aggressive defensive war with a less than historical expansion everywhere but China/possibly Ceylon with a constant appreciation of oil/fuel/supplies.

[Mike Solli]

I totally agree with you, Lowpe. I'm not one for too much expansion. I rarely go beyond the historical, other than northern Australia. And that's just temporary. The goal there is 4-6 months. My goal for Ceylon is to destroy units and make Mike look over his shoulder. If he pulls anything out of Burma in order to reinforce India, I consider that a victory. I really want him to pull fighters back to India so I can bash what is left in Burma. That can put him at a disadvantage for a long time. I love killing fighters.

Aren't all JFBs nuts?

[Lowpe]

I took Ceylon once in a scenario 1 game that did go on to Japan Autovictory in late January 1943. My original intention was to simply destroy the great AA units that spawn there...I abandoned it shortly thereafter but managed an emergency reinforcement and naval battle there in Dec of 42 helping me to achieve autovictory.

If AV didn't loom, I was perfectly prepared to give it back with very minimal losses in ground troops at anytime. I didn't start the game going for AV, it just evolved that way from a great counterattack against America's own counter attack far too early in the Gilberts. From their the pieces just fell into place.

[Mike Solli]

7 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Troops landed at Amchitka Island and will take it tomorrow. I’ll build it up to a level 2 airfield with level 4 forts.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Nothing to report. I am continuing to capture dot bases and build airfields and forts.

SRA

Philippines: Clark Field’s defending raw AV dropped from 82 to 74 in today’s bombardment. The reinforcing SNLF battalion looks to be a few days march away still.

Mindanao: Nothing to report.

Borneo: The 16 Naval Guard finally marched through the jungle and made it to the Pontianak Base Force (former Pontianak garrison) and destroyed it. Now, they’re on their way to Kuching to reinforce the infantry battalion there so they can root out the defenders.

The Balikpapan invasion force (an infantry regiment (56 Division) and 2x independent engineer regiments) is 6 hexes out by sea. They are escorted by a cover force of 2 BB, 1 CA, 4 DD. The invaders will move adjacent to Balikpapan tomorrow and the cover force will enter Balikpapan to clear out the small craft there. I see 2 enemy TFs, each of 3 probable PTs. The invasion will go in the day after.

Java: The Hawk at Soerabaja was damaged yet again, but the pilot reported it crashed on the way home. We’ll see…

A B339 was in the air over Batavia and only damaged. What’s going on with all those amazing Zero pilots? They can’t hit anything anymore!

The Dutch bombers were active again today. They hit nothing and one was taken out by flak.

A bombardment force led by Kongo and Haruna bombarded Batavia:

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 5 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged

19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Haguro
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Kiso
CL Sendai

Allied ground losses:
383 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Light Industry hits 1
Resources hits 1
Manpower hits 2
Fires 205
Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 38
Port hits 16
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

I’ll take it.

Current intel on the Dutch Air Force:

Batavia: 0/20/5
Soerabaja: 0/24/4
Balikpapan: I estimate 2 Hudsons (Aussie) and 3x 139WH-3s. They sortie occasionally.

Sumatra: All 3 roads leading into Palembang are covered by Japanese forces. In a few days, when the primary attack forces reach the NW road, I’ll enter Palembang. There are 3 enemy units there; the original 2 garrison units and the Benkoelen garrison. The 48 Division and 2 independent engineer regiments will easily take them.

Malaya: Cleared 229 mines with 5x DMS. I suspect the remainder will be cleared tomorrow.

One damn Buffalo evaded the Nate sweep at Georgetown and shot down a Lily later in the day.

I’m still holding off attacking Georgetown because of the cats I’m herding. The newest one is the former Victoria Point garrison, now sitting on the rail line 2 hexes NE of Victoria Point. I have an infantry regiment (who was going to lead the Georgetown attack) that is detraining a hex south and will clear the riff raff out. Then they’ll head back to Georgetown to clear it out.

There are still 6 cats scattered around Malaya. They are bombed regularly. The largest pile, 4 units SW of Kota Bharu on the rail line, will be attacked by 124 Regiment tomorrow. I really hope they are destroyed finally and that I don’t have to chase them in the jungle. Keeping fingers crossed here.

Other Places: Nothing much.

Burma

The 15 Army was hit by 6 Blenheim Is escorted by a squadron of the AVG. Four Oscars were flying CAP in the area (only 4?) and one managed to get shot down by the AVG. The pilot escaped WIA. Fortunately, those light bombers didn’t do any damage.

A regiment of the 4 RTA Division liberated Mergui. The entire coast is now under Japanese control with RTA garrisons in every base. They’ll build the fort levels to 4 at those bases.

Toungoo is progressing nicely.

China

1 Army: They crossed the river into the hex just east of Sian to shock attack 3 beat up Chinese Corps. The Chinese were trashed and pushed into Sian. The 1 Army is moving SW to cut the road from Sian to Loyang and Nanyang.

Other Stuff

You may have noticed that my minimum fort level (when I have decided to build forts somewhere) is 4, not 3. Three, 6 and 9 are the “important” levels, where doubling occurs. I like level 4 instead of 3 because when you lose a level, you still get the doubling. Does it matter? Not sure, but that’s the way I like to do it.

Engine update:

R&D: All 11 factories are at 30(0) (or 80(0) and 40(0) in the case of the Ha-5 factories) and are humming along.

Ha-34: I want to get 500 in the pool as soon as possible to accelerate the Tojo and Helen research. There currently are 55 in the pool and the two factories are at 42(18) and 32(28). When repaired completely, that’ll be 120 a month. Before the first one finishes repairing completely, I’ll increase it by another 30. I anticipate reaching 500 engines in the pool in early April 42 (9 April statistically). That will be after the Helen R&D factory is fully repaired (at 24(6) currently) and before any of the Tojo factories are repaired (currently at 4(26), 3(27), 3(27), 2(28), 2(28), 1(29)).

Ha-35: I currently use 7.5 engines a day and my factories are at 210(0), 32(28), 24(36). When repaired, they’ll produce 11 a day, for a surplus of 3.5 per day.

A6M2: 3 per day
B5N: 0.5
Ki-43-Ic: 3
Ki-56: 1

So, there are 210 in the pool now. Here’s the problem. I have 5 factories working on the Rufe and 3 on the Oscar. I’m going to let one Rufe become operational, leaving 7 R&D factories. Here’s the issue. I’m going to need 7 engines per day for R&D and 7.5 per day for operational plane production for a total of 14.5, with only 11 produced per day. Let’s do some math…

Without using any engines to accelerate R&D, it’ll take until 4/9/42 to reach 500 engines in the pool (which is the same date as the Ha-34 – how weird is that?!). So, I have to increase the factories in order to cover for the production. I really don’t want to increase Ha-35 factories, but I must.

Here’s something else that will help. I intend on converting 9 factories each to the Ki-115 and Toka late war. So, that’s 540 engines needed per month late war. (That’s where a lot of the Ha-35 pool will end up going.) So let’s say I bite the bullet and increase Ha-35 to 540. That’s an additional 210. (it’s currently set at 330.) That’ll cost 231k supply. OUCH. Let’s do the math to see how that works out.

If I do that, then the pool breaks 500 on 3/12/42, even before the three factories are fully repaired. The last factory will be fully repaired on 4/13/42. At that time, the gross daily production will be 18. Subtract 7.5 for operational needs, and you get 10.5. There will be 7 R&D factories sucking engines, so there will still be a surplus of 3.5 engines a day. I don’t think I need 540 because if I let it go through the end of 1942, there would be about 1500 in the pool.

That 3.5 surplus per day equates to a size 105 factory (3.5*30 days = 105). Let’s reduce it by 60 to 480. That reduces the supply cost for the increase from 231k to 165k, a savings of 66k supply. Better, but still ouchie. There would be a surplus of only 1.5 per day, or about 900 in the pool by the end of 1942. That would allow R&D acceleration to begin around 3/12/42. I think that is what I am going to do. So, here’s what is going to have to happen:

Factory 1: Currently at 210(0). Increase by 30 tomorrow and another 30 in 30 days. Final is 270.
Factory 2: Currently at 32(28). Increase by 30 in 28 days and another 30 in 58 days. Final is 120.
Factory 3: Currently at 24(36). Increase by 30 in 36 days. Final is 90.

I really hate spending that much supply on upgrades, but I really need it if I want to get to the A6M3c as soon as possible, which is my goal. I hate the Oscar, but its range is necessary. My goal there is the Ki-43-III. I suspect at some point I’ll be able to shut these factories off for good. I just need them front loaded for Zero and Oscar R&D acceleration.

[Mike Solli]

How about take Magwe, Lashio and China? Lashio can be absolutely horrible to take.... Maybe Ledo if it is undefended? Ceylon is maybe doable especially as a lure to get the American Fleet Carriers into an ambush in the Pacific. Taking Ceylon won't slow down the Allied push into Burma by much and you need to capture the fuel there (which a good AFB won't let you).

Even if Japan were to destroy the American fleet carriers I would recommend no uber adventures unless playing for auto-victory. Generally speaking, I favor an aggressive defensive war with a less than historical expansion everywhere but China/possibly Ceylon with a constant appreciation of oil/fuel/supplies.

I totally agree with everything you say here, Lowpe. I'd love to take Ledo. What I'll probably try is to take one of the bases to along the rail line to the west and then march there. Unless, of course, Ledo is undefended. I doubt that will be the case though. I've never had a problem taking Lashio in the past. We'll see. Magwe, absolutely. Whatever oil I get from there I consider a gift.

Mike is being pretty aggressive in China. I think that will be his undoing. We'll see there. I do like trying to take China. There is a lot of stuff to steal that helps the war effort in other regions.

[Mike Solli]

I took Ceylon once in a scenario 1 game that did go on to Japan Autovictory in late January 1943. My original intention was to simply destroy the great AA units that spawn there...I abandoned it shortly thereafter but managed an emergency reinforcement and naval battle there in Dec of 42 helping me to achieve autovictory.

If AV didn't loom, I was perfectly prepared to give it back with very minimal losses in ground troops at anytime. I didn't start the game going for AV, it just evolved that way from a great counterattack against America's own counter attack far too early in the Gilberts. From their the pieces just fell into place.

Very interesting. I really don't expect Mike to risk his carriers early. That little excursion he sent to the Aleutians only happened because he knew where all of my carriers were. Now, he doesn't know where any of my carriers are. That concerns him. At least that's what he told me.

My goal with Ceylon is pretty much the same as yours was. Destroy a bunch of enemy units at little cost and take what fuel I can get on the way out. If something good presents itself, then we'll see.

Also, my goal with my carriers there is to show MKB but keep the 3 CVs hidden, only to present themselves if something juicy shows up.

[Xargun]

27 Dec 41


Assaulting units:

21st PA Infantry Division – AV reduced from 38 to 25
26th PS Cavalry Regiment – AV reduced from 38 to 0
192nd Tank Battalion – AV reduced from 38 to 9
194th Tank Battalion – AV reduced from 46 to 30
Cavite USN Base Force – AV 0
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion – AV 0
Subic Bay Defenses – AV 0

How are you seeing the enemy AV ?

Xargun

[DesertWolf101]

I totally agree with you, Lowpe. I'm not one for too much expansion. I rarely go beyond the historical, other than northern Australia. And that's just temporary. The goal there is 4-6 months. My goal for Ceylon is to destroy units and make Mike look over his shoulder. If he pulls anything out of Burma in order to reinforce India, I consider that a victory. I really want him to pull fighters back to India so I can bash what is left in Burma. That can put him at a disadvantage for a long time. I love killing fighters.

Aren't all JFBs nuts?

We all have our risk appetites and play styles of course. No harm in going for less risky (and more realistic) strategic objectives. Let's be clear though - invading chunks of India or Australia in a Scenario 1 game is very much possible and has often been successfully done. I am sure we all of know of dozens of games where it happened and I have done it myself. The key in successfully doing so to be able to read how the campaign is going and to be prepared to quickly withdraw once things start becoming to dangerous.

[Mike Solli]

27 Dec 41


Assaulting units:

21st PA Infantry Division – AV reduced from 38 to 25
26th PS Cavalry Regiment – AV reduced from 38 to 0
192nd Tank Battalion – AV reduced from 38 to 9
194th Tank Battalion – AV reduced from 46 to 30
Cavite USN Base Force – AV 0
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion – AV 0
Subic Bay Defenses – AV 0

How are you seeing the enemy AV ?

Xargun

Hi Xargun! I take a screen shot of the bombardment/deliberate assault/shock at the beginning and track reduction throughout. So, It's not perfect but it is a nice generalization of reduction of combat power. It's not very easy to do when there are a lot of units involved, but in this case it's pretty easy. The numbers almost always increase by the next turn due to repair of disabled squads. I look at the trend. If it's going down (which it is at Clark Field), then life is good.

[LongLance93]

I strongly dislike those PBs, but that's the only thing available and so we have to do with what we have.

Generally, I leave 11knts PBs to long-range escort. 12knts PBs to short-range escort. 14knts PBs for either long range escort of 14-knts convoys or fast transport (1,000 capacity is actually quite good). Beware that these PBs are very fuel intensive after all and so over time the cost of having them sailing around is quite high.

10 knts SCs are for the Gozan class, which, in my games, operate in Hokkaido and Fusan area mostly. Faster SC classes provide proper ASW patrols. I don't care too much of water depth since I mostly try to make enemy sub waste torpedoes, rather than trying to sink them directly.

F.ex. there are various hexes between Onshu and Bonins and between Bonins and Marianas which must have ASW patrols all the time and I like to employ SCs for the duty. Their small range is not a problem, given the abundance of fuel at nearby bases.

I would like to try Kiso PBs leading ASW TFs with the SCs.

[Mike Solli]

I strongly dislike those PBs, but that's the only thing available and so we have to do with what we have.

Generally, I leave 11knts PBs to long-range escort. 12knts PBs to short-range escort. 14knts PBs for either long range escort of 14-knts convoys or fast transport (1,000 capacity is actually quite good). Beware that these PBs are very fuel intensive after all and so over time the cost of having them sailing around is quite high.

10 knts SCs are for the Gozan class, which, in my games, operate in Hokkaido and Fusan area mostly. Faster SC classes provide proper ASW patrols. I don't care too much of water depth since I mostly try to make enemy sub waste torpedoes, rather than trying to sink them directly.

F.ex. there are various hexes between Onshu and Bonins and between Bonins and Marianas which must have ASW patrols all the time and I like to employ SCs for the duty. Their small range is not a problem, given the abundance of fuel at nearby bases.

I would like to try Kiso PBs leading ASW TFs with the SCs.

The problem with them (as with most Japanese escorts early in the war) is that they carry the Type 95 DC. Allied subs can dive deeper than the DCs can go. Not sure how much good they do. That's after the sub attack. They do, on occasion, spot the sub before the attack can occur though. *shrug*

Edit: Japanese PBs are torpedo magnets. Better they absorb the torpedoes than the valuable merchant ships.

[Mike Solli]

8 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing exciting to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing exciting to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing exciting to report.

SE Fleet

Nothing exciting to report.

SRA

Philippines: The bombardment at Clark Field was ok, nothing spectacular. The raw AV ended up increasing from 74 to 77 from the day before. Crappy die rolling apparently. There’s plenty of supply.

Mindanao: Still 4 enemy units in the jungle split in 2 groups. I’ll attack one of them tomorrow.

Borneo: Nothing exciting to report.

Java: A BB TF bombarded Batavia, but not before the DD Ayanami and CL Jintsu each hit a mine. They limped away to try and make port. The remaining ships did moderate damage:

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CA Haguro
DD Shikinami
DD Hatsukaze
DD Oyashio

Resources hits 1
Light Industry hits 1
Heavy Industry hits 1
Fires 75
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Only 1 bomber was damaged.

I think the Dutch Air Force lost its last fighter, that Hawk. We’ll see.

The Jintsu and Ayanami had limped to Kalidjati and attracted a number of Dutch bombers, without any fighter cover. Between fighters and flak, 6 enemy bombers were lost.

Sumatra: Japanese troops continue to move north.

Malaya: Half a dozen minesweepers cleared all but 1 mine. That final mine was cleared by the hull of DMS W-4. Down she went.

I saw 3 Buffalos rise over Georgetown. The horrible Nates (with really good pilots) didn’t manage to shoot any of them down.

There are still 6 cats roaming around Malaya that I am trying to herd. I hit the big stack of 4 in the jungle SW of Kota Bharu with the 124 Regiment. Three of them retreated to the east but one remained. I’ll hit it tomorrow.

Other Places: My Balikpapan invasion attempted to reach its destination, but was a hex short and dumped its troops in the clear hex just to the SW of Balikpapan. I believe we had a house rule prohibiting invasions in non-base hexes, so I set the invasion to reload the troops who were scratching their collective heads because the terrain looked nothing like their maps. The support force of 2 BB, a CA and 4 DD did go into the hex and ran into 6 Dutch PT boats. They sank 3 and managed to push the other 3 into the “invasion” hex. Lovely. Then the bombardment force caught and sank 3 AMcs. To top it all off, DD Kawakaze hit a mine and limped off into the sunset. Did they ever bombard? No. They’re still sitting in Balikpapan wondering where the invasion TF is. We’re talking Keystone Cops here folks.

Burma

The remnants of the 10 Burma Rifles moved back into Toungoo. I’ll attack them with the paratroopers and hopefully kill them off.

I see 7 units each in Rangoon and Pegu. Some or all of the troops in Rangoon are moving east to Pegu. Interesting…

China

The road between Sinyang and Chengchow was finally cleared. But, there are 4 Chinese units in Sinyang just sitting there. (I own that base.) I don’t have the strength there to oust them. Yet.

I’m attempting to surround Loyang with 12 Army. Intel says there’s about 50k Chinese troops (7 units) in the city.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

9 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

A Japanese infantry battalion landed at Atka Island and will take it tomorrow.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I/66 Naval Guard landed at Salamaua and will attack the Aussie company there tomorrow.

SRA

Philippines: The daily bombardment of Clark Field was pitiful today. The final raw AV increased from the day before from 77 to 84. The Sasebo 1 SNLF will arrive tomorrow and the attack will go in the day after. I hope the constant bombardment has disrupted them big time.

Mindanao: The Kure 1 SNLF attacked and destroyed 1 & 2/101 PA Regiment. That leaves the old Zamboanga garrison (4/101 PA Regiment and a base force, I believe) languishing in the jungle just north of that base. They’re bomber targets and will eventually waste away. This operation is over.

Borneo: The BB TF moved from Balikpapan a hex SW to protect the invasion fleet (which picked up the Japanese troops there) and engaged the 3 surviving Dutch PT boats. Just a waste of ammunition. *Sigh*

The Dutch PT boats attacked the invasion fleet, which was loading up troops. Talk about being caught with your pants down! Anyway, the escort of 2 DD and 5 PB stepped up and sank all 3 Dutch PT boats for no loss or damage! Amazing!

Java: No enemy fighters flew against the daily Zero sweeps of Batavia and Soerabaja. Maybe the Dutch fighters really are all destroyed.

Sumatra: Japanese forces continue to flow north.

Malaya: I replaced the Nates (soon to be upgraded to the Oscar Ic) with a sentai of Oscar Ib. They ran into a single Buffalo which they couldn’t shoot down either. The IJAAF planes suck!

The Yokosuka 3 SNLF attacked the 8 Indian Brigade, trashing them and pushing them into Kuantan (still British controlled). They’ll advance and hopefully kill them off soon.

The unit that didn’t retreat, the 1 ISF Base Force, was destroyed in place today. Now we’re down to 5 cats wandering around Malaya.

Other Places: Nothing to report.

Burma

The 1 Raiding Regiment attacked the 10 Burma Rifles Battalion thoroughly trashing them but not quite killing them. They retreated down the rail line toward Pegu.

Troops are still moving from Rangoon toward Pegu. I wonder if the supply route to China is cut preventing the 500 supply per day from moving there?

China

Loyang is almost entirely surrounded. The only open hex is the forest to the NW. I’ll have troops in there in 2-3 days. I have 36 division to the west. It will attack the lone Chinese unit there tomorrow. I see movement coming out of Loyang to the west. This should prove interesting. They’re almost surrounded, but they may be trying to break out. They have 50k troops in Loyang. The 36 Division has 13.4k troops and there are an additional 18.2k Japanese troops moving into the base from other hexes.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[madflava13]

Hoping it's just normal real life stuff slowing this AAR down!

[btd64]

Hoping it's just normal real life stuff slowing this AAR down!

Usually is....GP

[Mike Solli]

Hi all,

Yes, we're both fine. Just RL. This time it was me. I have a few turns to post. I finally got the turn back to Mike yesterday. So, here goes...

[Mike Solli]

10 Jan 42

Sub War

I heard sinking sounds, and it wasn’t mine. Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I have some DDs patrolling the hex row to the SW of Truk. Mike has several subs along that route (which I avoid). The DDs only have Type 95 DCs, but they got lucky today and actually hit the Plunger. I’m sure she’s not in danger of sinking, but hopefully she’ll have to head home for repairs.

An SNLF lands at Terapo, the base 3 hexes NW of Pt. Moresby. That will be liberated tomorrow.

Salamaua was taken from an Aussie company today.

Expansion and airfield building continues.

SRA

Philippines: Today’s bombardment of Clark field reduced their raw AV from 84 yesterday to 74 today. The SNLF arrived today so I’ll try a deliberate attack tomorrow.

Mindanao: There is now only 1 enemy unit left. It’s one of the two former Zomboanga garrison. One evaporated, possibly from bombing and possibly from malnutrition.

Borneo: 146 Regiment and two independent engineer regiments land at Balikpapan. They will attack tomorrow.

Java: Troops land at Pamekasan, the base 2 hexes SE of Soerabaja and will be liberated tomorrow. In addition to this base, only Soerabaja, Batavia and Banjoewangi (far southern tip of Java) remain in enemy hands. (Loemadjang was liberated today.) The 4 Division, currently loading at Ambon will land at Banjoewangi. They will also be the main portion of the Java garrison, where they will rebuild.

Bombing runs on Soerabaja destroyed 2x L-212s and damaged half a dozen more.

Elements of 2 and 56 Divisions are in Soerabaja. I’ll attack as soon as I’m confident I have enough strength to defeat them, probably in a few days. Right now I have 3 infantry regiments, an engineer regiment and two artillery regiments. Today’s bombardment revealed the enemy raw AV at 182. My raw AV is 432.

Zeros shot down a fighter over Soerabaja and Batavia, the only two fighters that rose against them.

The Dutch bombers are still active. There were 20 sorties today. The caused no damage and 2 were shot down by some Zeros who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Flak damaged 5 more.

Sumatra: Expansion continues.

Malaya: Still herding cats.

Other Places: Manado was finally liberated today, destroying the Dutch garrision. The two SNLF battalions and Bandasan SNLF company will depart for other objectives in the SRA.

Burma

Still slowly invading. I see 15 CW units in and around Rangoon. I’d love to surround and destroy them. We’ll see.

China

The 36 Division attacked the 9 Chinese Corps a hex west of Loyang with the intent of surrounding the 50k troops in Loyang. The Chinese Corps was a biggun and they didn’t quite get 2:1 odds to push them out. They will try again tomorrow.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.