Alien Invasion: Oh, the Humanity!

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]12/29/41[/font]
[font="times new roman"]My last 2 PT’s at Mersing were eliminated before they could pull back to Singapore overnight by the CL/DD TF.  More troops came ashore at Mersing.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Another sweep today at Singapore, by 28 Oscar’s.  My boys performed a little better today, bagging 4, but still lost 7 on our side.   Each day that Mynok rests his bombers is another day my forts creep up.  I’ll report the progress with them tomorrow.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I lost another small AK, hauling resources, to I-155, 1 hex NW of Batavia today.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Widespread thunderstorms forecast for the region prompted me to give my 4E’s a day of rest at Batavia.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Mynok continues to bombard my boys at Nanchang on a daily basis.  There continues to be almost no effect, other than my units gaining experience.  He did launch a Deliberate attack on my blocking forces outside Hangchow.  He has reinforced since his Shock attack 5 days ago blew up in his face, but still cannot match my AV there.  0 to 1 result with 1341 casualties and 20 guns lost to my 185 and 3 guns lost.  Keep coming, Baby!  [8D][/font][font="times new roman"]  My Chinese Corps NW of Hangchow is making progress to the SW to join this stack, and then I’ll start withdrawing them back to Nanchang.  I don’t want to wait too long and have Mynok strongly reinforce at Nanchang, or he may be able to cut me off.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The Aliens easily captured Mersing with 9000 troops.  The bigger blow came at Malacca, where my surrounded defenders of Kuala Lumpur gave up the fight.  Not unexpected, but it still hurts to see 17,305 casualties reported.  That will be a nice bump to Mynok’s victory point total.  [/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]12/30/41[/font]
[font="times new roman"]There are now a bunch of Alien ground units in the city of Manila.  They have not yet attempted to attack my dug in forces, other than some minor bombardments.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I managed to get 5 hits on I-155 NE of Batavia today as payback for sinking my AK yesterday.  On the return path from Kuching, I hit an AP with a torpedo, but my Dutch sub took 2 DC hits in return.  Minimal damage sustained.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The bombers came with the Alien Oscar’s today to visit Singapore.  50 Oscar’s, 70 Sallys, and 33 Lily’s were met by 9 Buffs and ‘Canes.  I bagged 3 Oscar’s and 2 Sally’s, while damaging 16 more Sally’s and 15 Lily’s.  In the air, and on the ground, I lost 6 fighters and 4 bombers.  The 14 runway hits were easily repaired overnight and progress continued on the fortifications.  They are up to 5 + 48%, with a supply stockpile of 65.7K.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I then returned the favor by hitting Kuching.  57 attackers ran into 22 Zeros on CAP.  24 4E’s reported damaged and 1 LB-30 lost for 2 Zero’s destroyed and 6 damaged.  I also caught 2 Nell’s and 1 Babs on the ground and destroyed them.  22 more runway hits were scored.  The mouse intel reports Runway damage of 41, even after no attacks yesterday.  If I can sustain the offensive a few more days, I can get the damage up to 70% and shut down all offensive ops from the airfield.  I am staying ahead of his engineers repair efforts.  Batavia's AF is still only 30% of the way to level 5.  [8|][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]An air raid on Manila by 22 Sonia’s saw 1 downed and 20 damaged for only 8 base hits.  My AA there must be doing a good job.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]At the end of the day, I-155 showed she still has some teeth, sinking another small AK with 2 torpedo hits.  [:(][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I have spotted a couple of subs in the Hawaii area in the last few days.  I have 2 ASW groups that are going to try to hit them.  There is also a suspected Glen carrying sub a few hexes to the East of Pago Pago.  Unfortunately, I have no ASW assets in the area.  I have to work on getting a few DD’s here.  First, I need about 50 more DD’s.  [:D]  At least most of my Clemson and Wickes class DD’s are in shipyard ports, ready to upgrade their ASW values to 8 starting tomorrow.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"][/font] 
[font="times new roman"]Happy New Year to all my readers!  [8D][/font]

[Yava]

Auch, that must have hurt... situation in Malaya is getting worse I see... what are you going to do with the planes from Singapore? Move them N or S to reinforce later DEI defensive operations? 

[Capt. Harlock]

Happy New Year to all my readers!

The game New Year or this New Year?

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Yava

Auch, that must have hurt... situation in Malaya is getting worse I see... what are you going to do with the planes from Singapore? Move them N or S to reinforce later DEI defensive operations? 

Any Allied player has to expect lots of point losses for troops in Malaya. Other than a rear guard to slow the advance a bit and a bunch of engineers that were left in Kuala Lumpur, I pulled a classic "Brave Sir Robin" and ran away to Singapore. I have 737 AV sitting behind 5 levels of forts that are growing, and 65K supplies in my war chest. I expect to be able to hold out for a good while here.

The alternative, of course, is to evacuate as many troops from Malaya as possible. This may save a few victory points, but allows the Japanese player to capture Singapore much earlier, and then threaten the rest of the DEI and India sooner. As the Allied defender of Humanity, I feel that I'll have all the LCU's I need, and I can make up lost victory points. What I really need is time. I feel I need to delay Mynok as much as possible, and holding out in a long siege is just the ticket. [8D]

As for the Malaya air forces, almost all will go North to Burma and India. I have US airgroups on their way to Oz in a steady stream that will soon become a flood. I'll use some of them, if I need them, to help defend Java.

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Happy New Year to all my readers!

The game New Year or this New Year?

In the game. [;)][:D]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]12/31/41[/font]
[font="times new roman"]OK.  Another slack period of AAR updates is over.  I’m waiting on the resolution of the 1/4/42 turn.  After 4 turns, 1 trip to grandmother’s house, and a hockey trip to Pittsburgh where our kids brought home the championship banner, here’s what has happened:[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Lily and Oscar visited Singapore.  11 of my fighters were traded for 5 Oscars, 5 Lilys, and 1 Babs, along with another 34 Lilys damaged out of 54.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]17 AF hits by my 4E’s at Kuching.  2 Zeros and a Nell destroyed for 1 B17E.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Swordfish from Singapore hit 2 AP’s at Mersing, with a total of 3 fish.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]On the ground, there were daily bombardments by the Aliens at Nanchang and Manila, and the invaders captured the undefended base across the causeway at Johore Bahru.  Also, since Mynok pulled out of Ichang, 2 of my guerilla units marched in and ran up the Chinese national flag.  [/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/1/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]New Year's Day.  A great U2 song.  [8D][/font]
[font="times new roman"][/font] 
[font="times new roman"]We saw a bit of sub action today.  I-122 took down MSW Maryborough with 2 torps 1 hex SW of Singapore.  A hodge podge ASW TF of MSW’S and SC’s scored 2 hits in 2 separate attacks on I-122 later, leaving her burning.  In between the two attacks, 2 Nells found my valiant hunters and sank a SC.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]1 hex NE of Batavia, my Brit DD’s added 3 more DC hits on I-155 to the 5 scored two days ago.  She was also left heavily damaged and on fire.  Intel has since confirmed her as our second sub sunk in the war.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today, the Sallys came calling at Singapore while the Lilys licked their wounds from yesterday.  They were a bit more effective than yesterday’s attack.  64 Sallys with 35 Oscars were met by 19 fighters.  1 Oscar and 2 Sallys destroyed, along with 17 damaged was not enough in my book to make up for the 12 fighters lost in the air and on the ground.  29 runway hits suffered as well.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]60 4E’s mustered for today’s attack on Kuching.  Of 15 Zeros on CAP, 3 were destroyed and 10 damaged, along with a Babs and a Nell destroyed on the ground.  My butcher's bill was 2 B17D’s lost and a total of 8 more bombers damaged.  16 runway hits scored today. [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]A Blenheim IV managed to put a bomb onto a PG and sink it 4 hexes NE of Singapore.  It was part of a TF heading back from Mersing to Indochina.  Then, the fun started.  [;)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I got a good Naval Strike into the air to hit the shipping at Mersing.  The 8 Claudes on CAP were brushed aside easily by my equal number of Hurricanes and Buffalos.  The 3 Swordfish all missed, but the 27 Hudsons and Blenheims scored.  1 bomb hit each on two different AP’s, leaving both on fire, and 3 bomb hits on CVE Taiyo.  Small bombs for sure, but enough to leave her burning and slowed.  [8D][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]3 Blenheim I’s put two bombs onto another AP that was heading away from Mersing in the afternoon, while the 12 that went after the burning Taiyo came away empty handed.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]On the ground, the usual ineffective bombardments at Nanchang and Manila took place.  Then I made a dumb move.  [8|]  My “mouse intel” indicated only around 4000 troops and 100 guns in the hex with my boys at Manila.  I tried to take advantage of this without the benefit of recon.  It seems the OTHER 55,000 troops, 320 guns, and 250 tanks were hoping for just such a move on my part.  My shock attack was a catastrophe.  1000 troops, 17 guns, and a tank lost by the Aliens for my losses of 7500 troops, 120 guns, and 22 tanks.  Lesson learned.  [:-][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In the “oh by the way” category, the Aliens moved into and captured the vacated Cotabato.  [/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/2/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Another day, another Dutch sub hits a target.  In this case, it was AP Zuiho Maru eating 2 torpedoes from O16, 1 hex east of Mersing.  The valiant crew of O16 was not done, however.  They put two more fish into AP Teikei Maru as the sun was setting.  A good day’s work!  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The Americans got in on the fun as well today.  S-38 found and hit a MSW 1 hex NW of Palau.  I have 4 S boats patrolling around Palau and toward Sorong, anticipating a move into the Southern DEI.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]2 large raids on Manila today, one each by the Alien Army and Alien Navy bombers.  The AF damage is starting to add up so that I won’t get any more fortification work done.  My supply stockpile will start to drop pretty quickly now.  Time to take my lumps here.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]7 Dutch T.IVa’s went after some shipping at Mersing from Palembang, but the range is too far to carry torpedoes.  No matter the odds, one of them managed to bounce a bomb off of CL Sendai from 19360 feet.  [:D][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Daily bombardment at Nanchang, and then a surprise at Manilla.  After my abortion of a Shock attack yesterday, and the two heavy air attacks today, Mynok tries a Deliberate attack.  Let’s just say I made up a little bit of ground from my pointless losses yesterday.  He managed an adjusted assault value of 418 against my level 1 forts, which combined with the urban terrain gave me 1037 defense value.  4470/34/2 Alien losses against my 2500/29/14.  A bit of a bloody nose for Mynok, but I took a good shot on the chin as well.  Still plenty of fight in my boys here.  [;)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Knowing they are doomed, no matter how well or how long they hold out, I have 16 US fleet subs standing 3 hexes off Bataan to evacuate fragments once the cost to reassign them has been beaten down by the Aliens.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]All of my Clemson and Wickes DD’s that were in shipyards upgraded today.  Most of the ports are cleared out so they can repair the upgrade damage and get out hunting subs as quickly as possible. [:)][/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/3/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today started off well and finished that way.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
Sub attack at 25,49
 
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
SS KXIII
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]She had been trying to make it back to Saigon after the bombs of 2 days ago. [:'(] [/font]
[font="times new roman"][/font] 
[font="times new roman"]The skipper of S-38 showed some balls at Palau, hitting an AP with 4 shells and setting her on fire, with CA’s known to be in the hex.  It turns out, she was out of torpedoes.  [8|]  She is now heading to Darwin to rendezvous with an AS.  Back at Mersing, the Brits got into the act with SS Rover planting a torpedo into the hull of AP Ryujo Maru.  38 casualties reported.  [/font][:)]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Alien troops have started landing on Northern New Guinea.  A transport TF spit some of them ashore at Aitape.  As long as they brought along a few Alien flags, they will capture any of the bases in the area, as none of them are defended.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Just a fighter sweep by 26 Oscars at Singapore today.  It was an effective one, as Mynok traded 2 Oscars for 6 of my fighters destroyed and 3 damaged.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Another good 4E raid on Kuching today from Batavia.  66 bombers sortied and scored 17 runway hits, along with a few casualties on the ground.  15 Zeros intercepted and destroyed 2 bombers while damaging 18, for a loss of 2 Zeros and 8 damaged.  My losses are very slowly adding up in this bombing campaign, but I’m fairly close to closing Kuching’s AF, with mouse intel reporting 57 runway damage.  If I can get it closed down, I might try to run one more supply convoy into Singapore.  Also, Soerabaja’s AF is 86% and growing toward level 5.  In a few more days, I’ll transfer all of my heavies there, which happens to still be within their normal range (10 hexes away) from Kuching.  Mr. Mouse also reports 24 fighters, 14 bombers, and 44 aux planes at the field.  I’d love to trap them all there and crush them on the ground!  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Side note:  I see so many things when writing my AAR that I would normally miss.  As I was just writing I asked myself, “Why does Mynok need 44 patrol planes at Kuching?”  The answer, of course, is that he doesn’t.  He could fly Naval Search over the Java Sea from Tokyo.  [:D]  My suspicion is that a bunch of them are transports, and he’s getting ready to make his first paradrop of the war.  There are lots of juicy targets on Borneo, or he could drop somewhere on Sumatra.  Anywhere he could drop on Java would be overwhelmed pretty quickly.  Interesting.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Back to the war.  A handful of Blenheims and Swordfish carrying bombs at extended range found the crippled Taiyo 120 miles east of Kuantan and put her out of her misery with 7 bomb hits.  A small prize, but the first real prize bagged by either side in the war.  [8D][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The brave Dutch T.IVa’s attacked shipping at Mersing again from Palembang.  Since I realized they would be too far to carry torpedoes, I dropped their attack altitude to 2000 feet.  2 were damaged by flak and CAP, but they hit an AK and a PG with a bomb each.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]As if to remind me that I have not yet shut down the AF at Kuching, 2 flights of 3 Nells put two torpedoes into a TK carrying oil from Palembang toward Perth, and one torpedo into DD Encounter, just NE of Batavia.  Encounter should make port at Batavia with 40/33/22 damage, but the TK went to Davy Jones’ Locker.  At least it took a bunch of oil with it instead of leaving it for the Aliens.  [:'(][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Then, it seemed like it was my turn to remind Mynok that the Singapore AF was fully operational.  A handful of Blenheims and Hudsons put 1 bomb onto an AP and 2 bombs onto an AK as they steamed for Saigon, 4 hexes NE of Singapore.  DD Shikinami then felt the fury of the Vildebeest as one of them hit her with a torpedo, just east of Mersing.  [:D][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Mr. Mouse reports that Mynok is reinforcing his troops at Nanchang.  He’s up to about 87k troops, with 350 guns and 40 tanks.  I am close to that strength in the hex with 80k troops and 370 guns.  My 6 Chinese corps outside Hangchow are on the move, marching to Nanchang.  I am pretty sure I can hold out until they make it to Nanchang, which is a 180 mile road march.  My troops are well supplied, have level 3 “field forts”, and are gaining experience.  If I get the Hangchow corps there in time, I then will have succeeded in the main goal of this southern China operation.  At that point I can either pull back all of the troops from Nanchang to Changsha, or I can sit at Nanchang and remain a thorn in Mynok’s side.  That would be an additional 1100 AV to add to the 1500 in Nanchang already.  Interesting options…..if I hold out long enough.  To boost my odds a bit, I’ve flown one of the Lysander recon air groups from India to Changsha to increase the detection level of the Alien troops at Nanchang.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today, there was just another boring bombardment that is doing almost nothing other than building the experience of my troops.  80k Chinese troops in the hex, and the bombardment caused 76 casualties.  [8|][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Mynok decided to go back to bombardments at Manila for a while after his failed deliberate attack yesterday.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Darn, I can really ramble on!  Sorry I took so long, Yava.  [:)][/font]

[Yava]

Good job with your subs Mike, keep it up and you'll become Prien of the allies[;)]

I also like the Taiyo where it belongs. You're doing quite nice when it comes to sinking the Alien shipping!

Cheers![:)]

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: USS America

A handful of Blenheims and Swordfish carrying bombs at extended range found the crippled Taiyo 120 miles east of Kuantan and put her out of her misery with 7 bomb hits.  A small prize, but the first real prize bagged by either side in the war. 

Congratulations! It looks like Mynok is taking the slow approach to establishing the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. How long do you think Manila and Singapore can hold out?

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

ORIGINAL: USS America

A handful of Blenheims and Swordfish carrying bombs at extended range found the crippled Taiyo 120 miles east of Kuantan and put her out of her misery with 7 bomb hits.  A small prize, but the first real prize bagged by either side in the war. 

Congratulations! It looks like Mynok is taking the slow approach to establishing the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. How long do you think Manila and Singapore can hold out?

Capt., I'm not really sure how long my two fortresses will hold out. Singapore is much stronger than Manila. As of 1/6/42, Manila has 665 AV, 19k supply, and level 1 forts that won't ever make it to level 2 because of AF damage. Singapore has 771 AV, which is slowly increasing as units recover some disablements, 62,300 supply, and level 5 forts, 68% to level 6. My engineers are working furiously to build up the forts, making around 5% progress each day, but the Aliens have just moved a massive group of bombers into Johore Bahru. My fighters have held their own to this point against Sally and Lily visits from Kota Bharu, but I think repeated attacks from both enemy bases will be able to break my fighters and force me to pull all my planes out. At that point, the fort progress will cease. [8|] I'd say my chances to getting the forts to level 6 are 50/50.

I expect Manila won't hold out much longer than 2 - 3 weeks. I have a BUNCH of subs a couple hexes outside the city waiting to swoop in and pick up some fragments after Mynok puts their PP cost on clearance. [:D]

I would love to see Singapore hold out for a month or even two. There are not yet any Alien troops in the Singapore hex. I think 6 weeks (Feb 15 or so) is a reasonable hope. We'll see. [8D]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/4/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Several subs on both sides missed their targets today.  The last attack of the afternoon saw SS Rover put 3 torpedoes into AP Fusemi Maru 1 hex east of Mersing.  It went under immediately, but didn’t take any Alien troops down with it, so it must have been returning from Mersing.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I’ve recently spotted a couple of AP’s at Mynok’s recently captured base at Sorong.  I brought my ABDA CA/CL/DD task force down from Balikpapan to Amboina, and tried to catch something at Sorong today.  I found no ships there, but I got in a small bombardment on the troops trying to expand the size 0 airfield there.  I got out of there just in time, as the PM movement saw a CV force move into the Sorong area from Palau.  There are transports being escorted by these guys.  They could be heading for Amboina or Kendari, but Amboina is closer, so my ships are all ordered to bug out of that base for Darwin.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My daily visit to Kuching saw 55 4E’s met by 15 Zeros.  One destroyed on each side and 5 damaged for him, while I saw 15 damaged.  12 more AF hits, and I bagged a Babs on the ground.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Mynok brought the noise at Manila, with Sonias joining in with Sally and Lily in the attack.  My AA is doing it’s job there, as he had 16 bombers reported damaged out of 87.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]9 Blenheims and Hudsons hit 2 AP’s 60 miles east of Mersing with 1 bomb on each.  Heavy damage reported on both, and one was left burning.  A second attack on shipping in the same hex saw 12 TB’s combine with 11 bombers to hit two more AP’s.  One bomb hit, and one torp hit.  A small flight of 4 Blenheims put a bomb on an AK 4 hexes along the path back to Saigon from Mersing.  A couple more small naval attacks on each side, including 3 Nell attacks all came up empty.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]24 Oscars swept the skies over Singapore and tangled with 18 assorted Allied fighters.  2 Oscars were downed for 3 Allied fighters.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The PM air phase ended with an interesting attack.  22 Petes hit my ABDA SC TF at Amboina, with 1 bomb hit for 9 sys damage on CL De Ruyter.  Looks like the CV TF also has brought a few CS’s along to play.  [:)][/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/5/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today, we had some sub action to make up for yesterday.  First up, after I pulled my ASW TF back to Batavia to replenish, I-154 showed her teeth again, 2 hexes NE of Batavia and sunk a Dutch AK from Palembang with 3 fish.  I guess the word of this was passed to the Dutch subs, as KXIV used 3 of her own torps to sink AP Genoa Maru off of Mersing, and KXIII continued her hot streak, hitting and sinking AP Ryujo Maru with only 1 torpedo in the same hex where she hit CVE Taiyo 2 days before.   Ryujo Maru had been hit by an aerial torpedo yesterday.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Again, only Oscars visited Singapore.  This time, 19 of my fighters met the 19 attackers.  1 Oscar was downed and 2 damaged for 4 of mine damaged.  A good sign.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The daily Kuching raid saw 51 bombers met by only 10 Zeros.  I lost 1 B17E and a total of 10 bombers damaged, but destroyed 4 Zeros and 2 Nells, and damaged 3 Zeros.  The best part was scoring 28 runway hits.  [8D][/font][font="times new roman"]  The “mouse intel” is now reporting 75 airfield damage, and Soerabaja is at 94% progress to level 5.  I’m going to actually be able to close down Kuching and keep it closed for a while. [:D] Singapore will still be cut off, and Palembang is too dangerous to try to pull out more oil, now that Mynok has a BUNCH of bombers at Jahore Bahru.  Keeping Kuching closed will at least allow me to sail through the Java Sea for a while longer.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]6 Hudsons from Amboina went after the transports near Sorong.  34 Zeros and 8 Claudes were on CAP in the hex.  3 Hudsons didn’t return, but they destroyed 1 of the Zeros and put 2 bombs on an MSW, which later sank.  A few more naval attack sorties were flown, but only one more hit was scored on either side.  A Nell at long range hit one of my AK’s near Batavia with a bomb.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Mynok’s transports and CV’s moved due West today, still in the direction of Amboina, but I suspect he’s really heading for Kendari.  Putting AV Support troops and planes there would really shut down my shipping in the DEI.  I’ve ordered all of the shipping at Kendari to clear out since his CV’s could easily be in range to attack tomorrow.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Ineffective bombardments at Nanchang and Manila ended the day’s festivities.  Mynok is up to 100k troops at Nanchang, while my Chinese corps are inching their way closer and closer.  I am still at 80k troops there.[/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/6/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]A good handful of torpedoes and depth charges were expended by both sides today, with no hits recorded.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Alien troops landed at Kuantan.  This is the only Allied base left on the mainland of Malaya, and it’s been abandoned for almost a month.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today’s Oscar sweep of 16 planes at Singapore was met with 19 CAP fighters.  2 Oscars claimed destroyed for 1 Wirraway damaged.  His pilots must be quite fatigued.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Speaking of fatigue, my 4E pilots are tired!  I only got 40 of them in the air over Kuching today, where they scored 11 more runway hits.  7 Zeros on CAP lost 3 and had 2 damaged, along with losing a Sonia on the ground.  My cost was 1 LB-30 lost, and 3 more bombers damaged.  There were no flights from the AF at Kuching today, except the Zero CAP.  Soerabaja is at 98% progress to level 5 AF and will finish tomorrow.  I’m giving my 4E guys a break from bombing today, transferring them all down to Soerabaja and standing them down.  I may give them two days off to rest up a bit.  Then, it’s back to Kuching to drive the AF damage to 100.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Over 100 bombers and 45 fighters hit Manila again today.  No news here.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I guessed wrong on the target of Mynok’s transports in the southern DEI.  They are moving on Amboina, so the sub I had on the path to Kendari will have to move.  The CV’s stayed on station 3 hexes NE of Amboina to cover.  5 brave Hudson crews went after them unescorted in the  face of 33 Zeros on CAP.  2 didn’t come home, and the rest were forced to return to base.  The naval search at Amboina did find a couple of AP’s at Sorong this morning, and 3 Hudsons went after them as well.  Despite 5 Claudes, probably LRCAP from the CV’s, I took no losses, and put one bomb on AP Kashiwa Maru.  17 casualties were also reported.  I’m ordering my planes at Amboina back to Darwin today, as the Alien troops may be able to start coming ashore tomorrow.  I have to look closely at the situation here to see if my SC TF that's heading (running away) to Darwin to refuel might be able to stage a hit and run on the transport TF at Amboina and get far enough away to be out of CV attack range by daylight.  They are really the only forces I have in the area that might be able to make the Aliens pay a little bit in exchange for Amboina.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My Dutch TB’s and a few escorts from Palembang flew 2 naval strikes on shipping at Mersing, putting 2 bombs onto DD Hatsuyuki and leaving her burning.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]A good sized naval strike also hit the ships at Mersing from Singapore.  15 TBs, 24 LBs, and 7 escorts tangled with a CAP of 15 Nates.  My escorts got the better of the Nates, even with 1-2 odds, destroying 3 for 3 Hurricanes damaged.  I lost 1 Beest to flak, but scored a total of 2 bomb hits on another DD.  This time it was Fubuki’s turn to be left burning.  All of the TB’s missed.  I hope one of my subs can pick off these damaged DD’s on their way home.  [;)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Alien bombardments again at Nanchang and Manila.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The normal ship reinforcement schedule has a massive arrival of AKs and TKs around 1/12/42.  With our Very Variable Reinforcements turned ON, they are scattered across many weeks, but I’m starting to se several arrive at the West Coast ports each day now.  I’m slowly getting my plans written up to allocate them for transporting the arriving LCU reinforcements.  One of the first priorities will be getting one of the big Aviation Regiments with 270 AV and 270 Support squads to Brisbane.  I have started a large scale shift of  AP’s and some AK’s from India to the West Coast via Oz.  I looked at the ground reinforcement schedule for the next several months, and I will really need the AP capacity to move troops from the West Coast.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I have also finalized a plan to cover for the “lost” 18th UK Infantry Division that was eaten by the Variable Reinforcements bug.  They were penciled in for Colombo, so I’m now going to ship the 1 & 2 Burma Bdes, and the Rangoon Force from Rangoon to Colombo.  The 1 & 2 Burma Rifles Bdes are about a weeks trail march from reaching the rail line.  They will garrison Rangoon until Mynok advances on it.  When he gets close with any amount of strength, I’ll order them back toward Mandalay.  I will not let them get trapped in Rangoon and destroyed.  They will eventually form part of the defensive line along the Indian border, once they are forced to leave Mandalay.  [/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/7/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]The only sub action where anything was hit took place a few hexes NE of Suva.  SS I-10 got in front of 2 TKs hauling oil and hit Connecticut with 1 torp.  Connecticut will put into Suva to get the flooding and fires taken care of.  The 2 escorting DD’s managed 4 CD hits on I-10.  I have a small ASW TF heading here from NZ, but I’ll send an upgraded 4 stacker TF here to hunt, once I get 6 of them completely repaired from the upgrades.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I moved a group of PT’s down to Amboina from Manado.  They caught the Alien invasion TF 1 hex NW of Amboina, but 2 hexes sailing distance from the base.  The 6 APs and 4 AKs were being escorted by 5 MSWs and a PG.  I didn’t get in any torpedo hits, but did score 2 shell hits on an AP, 2 on a MSW, and 9 shell hits on another MSW.  The escorts hit one of my PT’s with a shell.  The invasion TF turned around and ended up 1 hex NE of this battle location, where they have linked up with a SC TF containing at least BB Fuso.  The PT’s will refuel at Amboina, while my ABDA CA/DD force will remain on station 240 miles SW of Amboina.  The Alien CV supporting TF remains 3 hexes NE of Amboina.  I don’t want my SC TF tangling with BBs, so I’ll have to watch closely.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In the Malaya region, Mynok again only sent Oscars to sweep at Singapore.  12 attackers against 22 defenders resulted in 1 destroyed on each side.  This break from bombing is giving my engineers a chance to make good progress on the forts.  I’m up to 78% progress to level 6, with 63k supplies, and an AV of 777 at Singapore.  Around 7 or 8 attacks on scattered Alien shipping from Singapore resulted in 4 ships hit.  1 bomb hit DD Shirayuki, and 2 hit DD Hatsuyuki, which gave up the fight and went under.  An AP and an AK were hit in another TF with 2 and 1 bombs landing on target, respectively.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My 4E’s recovered some fatigue and morale, while repairing planes at Soerabaja.  The AF did expand to level 5 today, and I switched the engineers over to fortification construction.  I am going to need more supply here, as the level is not quite 2x supply required, but I have a convoy from Aden 1 hex out, set to deliver 25k supplies starting tomorrow.  Thunderstorms are forecast in the region for tomorrow, so a second day of rest is ordered.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Today saw a shock attack at Manila by the Aliens.  AV of 1650 against my 764 was adjusted by the puny level 1 forts and the urban terrain to 644 vs. 2065.  3863/47/9 casualties for the Aliens to my 912/52/10.  I’ll take that.  [:)][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Elsewhere, Dadjangas in the PI, Kuantan, and Aitape saw the Alien flag raised over the bases.  [/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/8/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]I-154 still had some torpedoes left and used 2 to sink a small AK, still 2 hexes NE of Batavia.  One of my ASW TF’s, made up of 2 MSW’s, 2 SC’s, and a PG made I-154 pay with 7 DC hits and left her burning.  Later in the day, DD’s Jupiter and Express scored 3 more DC hits and sent her to the bottom.  I left KXVIII in the same place too long, just outside Saigon, and she ate 2 DC’s because of it.  Light damage, and she’s heading back to port to reload her torpedoes.  S-23 ran into some bad company on patrol 1 hex SE of Kwajalein who pounded her with 7 DC hits.  She became the 4th sub I’ve lost in the first month of the war.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]One of my Aussie Hudsons tried to hit the SC escorting TF near Amboina.  It attacked BB Yamashiro, but missed.  It did tell me that there are at least 2 BB’s in this group, since I attacked BB Fuso in this group yesterday.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]There was some surface naval action during the night, as my ABDA CA TF reacted to 1 hex SE of Amboina.  This was followed up by no combat, so I can’t find a record anywhere of what happened.  I can only guess that an enemy transport TF was heading to Amboina again and retreated.  The transport TF that my PT’s hit yesterday is now 5 hexes north of the base, which is where my Hudson tried to hit Yamashiro later in the day.  I don’t think this transport TF could move that far, so maybe there was another one that I haven’t spotted.  Either way, I’m glad my CA TF didn’t react to the Alien BB TF!  The Alien CV TF has also moved a few hexes to the north.  It seems that Amboina will remain in Human hands for another day or two.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I had SS KXVII pumping out her remaining flooding damage in port at Singapore before heading to Colombo for system repairs.  She was down to under 10 flooding damage, so only a day or two from departing.  75 Sallys and 31 Lilys on port attack let some more water into her hull, and she now rests comfortably on the bottom of Singapore harbor.  The bombers were unescorted, and my 17 plane CAP bagged 10 of them, and damaged 19 more.  Still sucks.  [8|][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]7 Blenheim I’s flew 360 miles to put 4 bombs onto DD Shirayuki and sink her as she was heading back to Saigon.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Alien troops landed at Hollandia today, and will capture the place tomorrow.  Only bombardment attacks by the Aliens at Nanchang and Manila today.[/font]

[USSAmerica]

[font="times new roman"]1/9/42[/font]
[font="times new roman"]KXVI has been hunting TK’s trying to haul oil from Brunei, and slipped into Jesselton to refuel, since it’s still mine.  Conveniently, AP Tsunushima Maru and a PC came along while my sub was there.  She went down after 3 torpedo hits and took 96 troops and 2 guns with her.  [;)]  More troops came ashore at Jesselton later, and a large, CA let bombardment TF did their thing, but I again managed to make it cost Mynok.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Separate sweep and bombing attacks were made on Singapore today.  The 23 Oscars on sweep were met by 16 CAP fighters and each side lost 3 planes.  Then, an unescorted bombing run was made by 40 Nells   The 13 fighters still on CAP did some good work, downing 3 and damaging 21 of the attackers.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Some Nells are again flying from Kuching, thunderstorms and all.  3 of them, escorted by 5 Zeros, visited Palembang and fought their way past my 6 plane CAP to put a torp into an AK.  My better rested, better supplied, and fully loaded 4E’s will fly from Soerabaja’s level 5 AF starting tomorrow to keep this from happening again.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]OK, some answers about the loaded Alien transports in the southern DEI were provided today.  They landed troops at Manado today, supported by an airstrike from the CV’s.  6 Zeros, 27 Kates, and 27 Petes.  I don’t know if the move to Amboina was a feint, or if Mynok decided to hit Manado, after his transports retreated from Amboina.  Of course, Manado is where my PT’s were stationed before moving to Amboina, but they got in a couple of good licks there, so I can’t complain.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Alien bombardment attacks again at Nanchang and Manila were then followed up by 113k troops, 564 guns, and 183 tanks crossing the causeway into Singapore.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The resulting Shock attack:[/font]
Ground combat at Singapore
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 113369 troops, 564 guns, 183 vehicles, Assault Value = 2358
 
Defending force 63927 troops, 449 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 822
 
Japanese max assault: 2364 - adjusted assault: 765
 
Allied max defense: 868 - adjusted defense: 1470
 
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
4838 casualties reported
Guns lost 84
Vehicles lost 14
 
Allied ground losses:
3768 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My guys did pretty well, but I could have hoped for more Alien losses.  There are no spotted enemy ships within 6 or 8 hexes of Singapore, so all of my bombers are set to ground attack to blunt the edge of the Alien attackers.  [/font]

[Yava]

So the siege of Singapore has begun! Let's see how long the Commonwealth troops shall make a stand in the place... I give them 2 months at best![:)]