RHS Test 13A: 30 December Report

[el cid again]

Chicken of the Sea has worked up a Japanese turn for EBO - and then taken it back - because something was not done.
Soon we will have the turn to process.

This means I must make an Allied reply.

We should determine an Allied policy and strategy - and if I can get Allied political advisors - I won't commit major units of any sort without an agreement to do so.

I think the Allies have a problem in the vast Pacific in the beginning - not enough long range aviation to win.
So we should combine long and short range aviation together in a place where there are bases - and the combination may be harder to
deal with. If we also put heavy surface units and carriers in that area - we may have something powerful. If we make Japan fight hard for the SRA - it gets less far - it attrits more - and we have bases as far forward as possible to do a counteroffensive from. Further - committing US assets to the defense of Allied territories ought to be popular with Allies.

[el cid again]

I propose an offensive-defensive for the SRA - with a view toward withdrawall onto Australia and India - committing major US units forward early - at the expense of defending US territories like Alaska, Hawaii and the US West Coast. Because these forces are en route - I will ask RN/RAN and other Allied forces to reinforce forward - since US assets will be replacing them for the defense of India and Australia. For defense of Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and the US West Coast we will rely on distance to reduce the power of enemy forces - and in due course on the problems securing the vital SRA to cause forces directed East to turn to the SRA. This area will be defended by submarines, minelayers, short range aircraft and patrol forces - backed up by repairing heavy units and reinforcements in an emergency.

Hawaii itself will be defended by local forces - in particular by land units moved to the mountainous islands needed as forward bases to reduce Oahu - by mines and submarines. Standing up to engage a concentrated IJN with fleet units in 1941 is a losing proposition anyway - and the long range air forces are too few to be decisive. But combining with medium range air power - and Allied naval units - in the SRA should mean more effective power early.

[el cid again]

The Japanese first turn will be redone with eratta corrections - since Shark found some. So it will be a current file set test.
The time to post thoughts about Allied strategy is now.

[el cid again]

The Allied turn is working up. I detected a few things that can be improved and took notes. The Allies are a VERY logistical oriented side to play.

We will send copies of the replay (which generates reports) to any interested person.

Chicken of the Sea is a somewhat realistic player - so it may be interesting. The first turn of EBO is almost always dramatic.

[el cid again]

Since the arms race has been going on for nine years - since 31 Dec 1932 to be presise - it is (in this fictional world) even more obvious there is going to be a problem at the end of 1941 than IRL. The common danger faced by the Allies in the Far East has led to slightly better communication and cooperation. Thus - when (as really happened) a British Navy coding section (its Aussie head has written a book on the subject - published by his wife posthumously) determined that the war "would start on or after 7 Dec 1941" because "all Japanese merchant ships will be in home waters by that date." This information was denied the US administration - although the Aussie Captain says he personally sent word to Adm Tommy Hart against explicit orders from Churchill not to do so. Well - in this game world - the word WAS sent and appreciated at ALL levels - right up to FDR. SO - they pretty much know the war is going to happen - just not exactly when? The problem is - the word was only a few days ahead of events - and decision cycle time is a problem. SO - the decision to implement Allied planning was taken only slightly before the actual war starts. Rationalizing how code permits only one impulse of Allied movement - I assume the operational orders are only about 12 hours ahead of initiation of hostilities. Further - I assume that no one knows they don't still have several days or even a week or two - so the orders are cut as if we are still at peace - and we are just redeploying forces to get ready for the impending war.

Decision One: A division of battleships from the Atlantic Fleet - all the new ships added for EBO because of the naval arms race - all of them starting at "New Orleans" which represents the Gulf of Mexico entry area from the Atlantic - is sent directly to the South Pacific. These are Washngton Class BB Ohio and Maine, together with Wichita class CA Albany, Brooklyn class CLs Wilmington. Biffalo and Portsmith. They are intended to reinforce the functional part of the United States Fleet based at Hawaii.

Decision Two: Two divisions of battleships (that is, 6 BB) in good shape are sent with 8 DD (of long range) to the South Pacific as well. This force will probably be about 12 hours sailing from Oahu when the war erupts. Only BB Pennsylvania and BB California will not go with this force - under command of the best USN Vice Admiral available - Adm Lockwood - and only because they cannot keep up. Instead they will cover the fast convoy leaving Oahu with support ships (AV, AVD, tenders of various kinds, transports - and an embarked AA regiment and Marine Defense Battalion) - also headed to the South Pacific (to secure the SLOC). Another, slower force will head toward Tahiti - with a different AA regiment and Marine Defense Battalion. A few slower ships - and one high speed transport at sea - will head back to the US West Coast. The Fleet is leaving Hawaii - it was there as a deterrent force - and to place it halfway across the ocean in time of need. The time has come - and the fleet is going to war. The Army will remain - with submarines, PT boats and a few other naval units in support.

Decision Three: The carriers are unfit to stand up to KB - as always - never mind KB reinforced by a force of CVLs - which wether or not they have combined is going to be in the Central Pacific area. They are also dispersed - in three different places (counting the one at San Diego) - and they still have TBDs embarked (instead of useful planes). Further - with the battlefleet headed SW - there is a need for something to cover North America. Movement to assemble the three carriers - probably also joined by a fourth in due course - conspires with a need to stay out of the main SLOC of the massive enemy forces entering the Central Pacific area - to imply the two carriers near Hawaii should run NE - while the one at San Diego should sail NW to join them - as shoould tankers. A significant force of modern destroyers and two nice cruisers will also sail from Oahu to join up with them. AFTER this force assembles - in a contingency position in the NE Pacific - it can sail to the South Seas - particularly after some semblence of a defense is assembled along the North American West Coast.

Decision Four: The ABDA force will assemble a major contingency forces at Kendari and Palembang. RN is sending two forces - Force Z and the Exeter Force - to meet Adm "fighting Tommy" Hart as he evacuates the Asiatic Fleet HQ and a naval base force, in a run for Palembang. Meanwhile the dispersed Asiatic Fleet surface units will assemble at Jolo - and the Air base force from Cebu will join up with it there. A battalion of Philippine Scouts will attempt to do the same - all the way from Manila. Only one B-17 squadron was retained as such - brought up to strength (12 machines) at Cagayan. We will try to engage with fighters and light bombers from lesser bases - ultimately including Baguio City, Olongapo City, Manila, Clark and Jolo - all but Clark too small for full B-17 effectiveness - and Clark is likely to be hit when the war begins. Mac is taking USAFFE HQ up to Baguio via Balinta Pass - in the hope that non-malarial rice country with mountains can work out better than Bataan. An entire regiment of Philippine Army infantry is screening northern Luzon (in three packages) and Philippine Scouts and Philippine Air Force units will join him there. The main defenses will concentrate on San Fernando/Linguyan and Lucena/Maubon Bay - to keep Manila, Clark, and Olongapo productive as long as possible. The entire theater will fight well forward - falling back on Soerabaja and Timor - and ultimately on Darwin - to the South - with the Western wing falling back on NE India. Indian forces will assemble to block the "gap" with the defense based on Calcutta/Asanol and nearby locations.

Policy: US and Canadian air groups which cannot be fed enough aircraft will disband and combine up. Initial aircraft in squadrons will to some extent be shuffeled - which is possible as a pre game move - by dumping them into pools and sucking them back out (a tactic I won't do at a forward base after the game starts - becuase how the planes get there needs to be accounted for). But we can rationalize that some planning occurred in the run up period - so for example - some P-40s and good bombers are obtained from distant points by converting air units to older types - these then being in pools that can be used to expand or even convert to by forward air units.

[el cid again]

7 December 1941 (Hawaii Time) 8 December 1941 (Tokyo Time)

The night turn began with I-158 detecting a destroyer in an ASW TF sent to Jolo to meet the cruisers of the Asiatic Fleet at their assembly point. It missed. All five DD counterattacked - missing as well. Still - I feel it was wise to have sent them (from Tarakan) - to provide ASW support for the cruisers.

Next - Ro-34 - in ambush at the entrance of Manila Bay (Olongapo/Bataan hex) - spotted USS Isabel - probably the least valuable of many targets engaged in sortee that night. She also missed. Isabel had no ASW weapons to counter with - but AI "decided" her skipper panacked (I guess) - she went BACK to Manila!!!

DMS Evertson detected mines at Merak/Serang on Banka Island - but didn't hit any.

Old IJN Ro-28 torpedoed AE Poyang just North of Banka Island. She may yet make Palembang - unless she hits a mine en route or is attacked by long range bombers. She broke the trend of missing - and put Japan on the scoreboard.

Ro-34 - a prototype for a pre war medium type not built in numbers (but built in numbers for this scenario) torpedoed and sank tiny river tanker Mei An - somewhat restoring her tarnished honor (for missing USS Isabel above). USS Isabal is the only one of three gunboads ordered to try to start WWII early (direcly by FDR in secret orders via Adm Hart) to have actually made a patrol in honor of those orders - but failed to find an enemy to have an incident with. She also was a former Presidential Yacht and, before that, a WWI minesweeper.

[el cid again]

The morning day turn began with a small air raid on Hong Kong by a dozen Ki-48s and two Ki-51s (recon). 5 Ki-48s and 1 Ki-51 damaged. 1 runway hit scored.

20 Ki-47s (Army B5M1s in this scenario - similar to Kates without torpedoes) bombed Victoria Point, Burma - causing 2 port fuel hits. He was trying to hit two ships in port. They had left - one embarking the forward air station there en route to the Andaman Islands where we will assemble a forward air base. In anticipation of this - a flying boat element has already moved there - discovered a submarine - and is running ASW patrols (in spite of no air support elements yet).

42 more Ki-47s raided Kota Bahru - this the first in a series of attacks on what (yesterday) were British air bases in Northern Malaya. None had any aircraft present today (all moved to Kuala Lumpur for concentration of force and because it is the focal point of the defense of Malaya). 4 runway hits scored. No air casualties.
20 Ki-21s came in next - causing 5 casualties, 1 vehicle lost, 18 other airbase related hits. No casualties to the raiders.
37 more hit Alor Star - causing 9 casualties and 30 airbase related hits. No air casualties either. Planes present would likely have been hurt.
28 more hit Georgetwon. These were not so lucky - air support units headed South to KL unlimbered their AAA and got one. 44 casualties, 1 gun lost, 21 other airbase related hits. We sent some unusual Swordfish (no torpedoes - a radar calibration unit) and some Wirraways here for tomorrow - to make a surface skimming raid on ships offloading at Singora - using these same air support units (which are neither stationed here nor going to stay here).

78 Bettys and Nells - unescorted - hit Singapore. 8 Buffalo's on CAP. 1 Nell destroyed (by fighters), 7 damaged (6 by AAA). 6 Buffalos and 1 Wirriway destroyed on the ground. 13 airbase related hits.

50 Bettys and Nells out of Formosa hit Manila - escorted by 85 Zeros. Manila is one of the bases we are going to use for air strikes - along with Olongapo and Baguio City - so this had air units (while Clark was evacuated - and won't be used unless and until it repairs back up - the Far East Air Force moved to Baguio for the duration - already). All the fighters were on LRCAP over Clark - so none on CAP here. 1 P-40 and 1 P-400 were destroyed on the ground. Dewey Dry Dock took a hit - and sank from it - possibly an 800 kg bomb. 15 casualties, 1 gun lost, 14 airbase related hits. [I consider it unethical to move the dock - since it has no power - and it - and one damaged sub - were all that remained in Manila. However - USS Isabel returned there after being scared by a submarine during the night.]
49 Bettys and Nells hit Clark - also escorted by 85 Zeros - and 4 Ki-46 recon planes were in company. 8 P-40s on CAP (AI does not allow much CAP on this day). A dozen P-40s destroyed - some on the ground. No Japanese air losses. 46 casualties, 2 vehicles lost, 129 runway hits, 14 airbase hits, 7 airbase supply hits. This field is shut down hard. Although no planes are based here - some damaged ones remained and became targets. All B-17s were evacuated - two units combined up at Cagayan - two others are working up with two engine bombers so they can use smaller fields - and none remained to be targets. Only the remaining (but full strength) B-17 unit at Cagayan could attack today.
25 more Bettys followed up. 15 casualties, 1 vehicle lost. 86 more runway hits, 9 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits.

The Kiddo Butai launched a morning strike on Pearl Harbor. 69 Kates and 56 Vals came in escorted by 18 Zeros and in company with 2 recon Kates (C3N2s). 1 P-36 and 5 P-40s on CAP (again due to AI restrictions on turn 1). 6 Vals lost and 5 damaged, 5 Kates lost and 1 damaged. Both fighters and AA got some - but AA is partly disabled on this morning turn. 30 fighters of 2 types, 7 B-18s and 3 PBYs destroyed on the ground. 115 runway hits, 42 airbase hits, 3 airbase supply hits, 3 port hits, 1 port fuel hit. The lack of damage to ships in port created the impression none were in port - but in fact a CA and a squadron of DMS were there - just apparently not detected. However - as stated above - the entire fleet as a body had sorteed - about 12 hours before - not due to intel about the attack - but due to orders to relocate to Australia. This meant the force was substantially at sea - not far from Japanese task forces - most of which assembled under cover of KB just SE of the Big Island of Hawaii. NO invasion forces hit ANY beaches on any island - but a defensive minefield was successfully laid at Kona - another was not laid at Molokai - and still another not laid at Kauai. [Maybe AI does not like ML operations on turn one for the Allies???] They will lay tomorrow night however.

The Ni Butai (Two Force) of 5 CVLs South of Johnston Island sent 10 Kates (of a type that cannot carry torpedoes) covered by 6 Me-109s against the base force there. Only 1 F4F-3 on CAP (in spite of a whole squadron present). It was ineffective. 17 casualties, 1 gun lost. No Allied aircraft damage.

28 Ki-33s (the real Army designation for Claude) caused 8 casualties to the ROC 50th Guerilla Regiment on the Indochina border.

9 Ki-30s escorted by a dozen Ki-27s caused 2 casualties to the ROC 39th Field Army at Wuchang in Central China.
8 Ki-48s did much better - causing 44 casualties and 2 guns lost to the same unit.

28 Ki-36 caused 32 casualties to the Szechuan 20th Field Army in Eastern China.
14 Ki-32s caused 44 casualties to the Hopei Militia Regiment - a static unit on the rice lowlands of Eastern China.

10 Ju-88s caused 25 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Jittra Brigade (+ light artillery battery) in Malaya.
21 Ki-21s caused 31 casualties to the Indian Army 15th Brigade also in Malaya.

10 Kates and 5 Jakes flying out of Saipan caused 22 casualties and 2 vehicles lost to the Guam Insular Force.

The Ni Butai (5 CVLs) sent 48 Kates and 11 Me-109s against a division of DMS at Johnston Island.
DMS Hopkins took a torpedo and two 250 kg bombs. She was scuttled.
DMS Ellet took a torpedo. She was scuttled.
DMS Dorsey took 3 torpedoes and sank outright.
Two other DMS were missed entirely.
[Not all Japanese light carriers carry torpedoes so their Kates always carry bombs]

15 Ki-30s out of Shanghai put 8 small bombs into already damaged river gunboat Peteral - running up the Yangtze River toward Chunking. This set her on fire and she was eventually lost, burned out or flooded out.

AK Alcano and AK Parcity were bombed and torpedoed at the NE tip of Mindinao - by the Ni Butai (Three Force = CVE force). Both had to be scuttled.

16 Ki-51s out of Canton put 7 small bombs into gunboat Cicala South of Hong Kong. She eventually sank.
11 Ki-48s tried to hit her again - but could not find her any more.

KB sent 39 Vals and 47 Kates against Admiral Lockwoods Main Body of the United States Fleet. 16 Zeros escorted them - but Lockwood had no air cover (none is available far at sea at this stage of the war - and I assumed the Allies didn't know KB was in immediate proxcimity). These scored 10 torpedo hits on 4 BB and 19 bomb hits on 3 BB - all six 20 and 21 knot BB being present and all being engaged. USS Tennessee sank before the end of the turn - done in by 3 torpedo hits. Only Maryland - Lockwoods flagship - remains in full speed condition. The force was destroyed as a tactical unit by this single attack. Lockwood decided that to engage a major carrier force without air cover is suicide - so the force split into ships unable to continue and those that will return to PH - doing what damage they can on the way back. Only half the BB (Maryland, Arizona and Oklahoma) will try for Canton Island - either to escape on original orders - or to draw KB away from Hawaii - and leave the invasion forces uncovered. Meanwhile the carriers and a cruiser destroyer flotilla will link up North of Oahu - in spite of orders to run for Kodiak. IF KB goes hunting BB to the SW - the USN carriers will go hunting invasion transports - and might save Hawaii. 10 Kates destroyed, 11 damaged. 4 Vals damaged.

USN BB Oklahoma and Nevada - too slow to keep up with Lockwood - were covering a force of fairly fast transports en route to the South Pacific. KB sent 17 Vals after them - putting 2 bombs in Oklahoma and 3 in Nevada. 2 Vals lost, 9 damaged.
22 Kates came in next - putting 2 fish into Nevada which was heavily damaged. 1 Kate lost, 8 damaged.
They missed Maryland and DD Ralph Talbot.

[el cid again]

The afternoon air turn began with a strike on gunboat Moth - also on the Yangtze headed upriver. 22 Ki-47 Army type Kates (both B5M and B5N had the same code name - so much alike did they look) put 11 bombs into her. She survived - badly harmed - and was not scuttled to attract more bomber sortees. She is almost worthless to begin with - weak - damaged - and so is used only to draw off enemy air sortees that otherwise might do something that matters.

22 Ki-27s escorted 3 Ki-48 recon planes over Wenchow on the China Coast.

3 Ki-48s scored an impressive 4 runway hits at Hong Kong. 2 damaged by AA fire.

6 Bettys failed to damage anything at Georgetown, Malaya.

7 B-17s hit the enemy invasion force at Cagayan, Mindinao (their own base). 5 were damaged and the unit demoralized. They did put a bomb into BB Nagato - and missed a DD at the same time. Being only a 250 pound bomb - Nagato sluffed it off.

17 Marine SBDs at Johnston Island attacked the invasion TF there - putting a more meaningful 1000 pound bomb into BC Amagi. 9 Navy F4F-3s escorted them and protected them from 7 Me-109s and 1 Pete on CAP. The Me's were good - 4 F4Fs shot down. The Amagi also killed an SBD and damaged 10 more. It didn't matter much - as we will see - all the planes were doomed to be lost anyway.

13 Philippine Air Force P-43s tried to attack unidentified ships East of Luzon - 3 were lost - and no hits scored. The unit was demoralized by the effort.

30 Kates from Ni Butai South of Johnston came in on three surviving DMS - but met 6 F4F-3s on CAP. There were 22 Me-109s in escort - and these managed to shoot down one F4F. None of the bombers scored. It appears the Ni Butai air units are exhausted and/or demoralized by the unexpected opposition.

18 Vals attacked AV Curtiss and AV Wright West of the Big Island - damaging both significantly with a total of 6 bomb hits. Neither can go on to the South Pacific. Both have slight seaplanes embarked.

7 Kates put 4 bombs into gunboat Peterel South of Hong Kong. These may be Army Kates that don't have a torpedo capability.

9 Kates from Ni Butai missed AK Yochow near Catarman, Samar. They too seem exhausted and/or demoralized.

18 Ki-51s and 4 Ki-48s put 10 small bombs into tiny river tanker Mei Hsia - South of Hong Kong. She sank in due course.
2 Ki-51s and 3 Ki-48s missed the Hong Kong barge group in the same area.

KB - which had conditional air tasking orders (naval attack OR port attack) - went after more ships at sea. 14 Kates came in on a slower transport group - putting 1 torpedo into AK Antares, another into AR Medusa, and 2 more into AVD Swan. The latter sank - of course. 34 casualties to troop cargo.
12 more Kates went after CA San Francisco and CA New Orleans (neither in good ship but sorteed anyway) - one torpedo in the fomer and missing the latter. SF is going to try to return to Pearl. New Orleans changed tasks and will escort some transports which now will attempt to reinforce Hilo instead of going to the South Pacific.
9 Vals put 2 bombs into DM Preble - also in the area West of the Big Island.
52 Kates and 42 Vals - escorted by 50 Zeros - did the afternoon port strike - but on Lahaina instead of PH. A cruiser destroyer flotilla was delivering a regiment of infantry to reinforce the island - and they were still embarked when the strike cam in. But 7 P-40s and 1 P-36 were also on CAP to contest the strike. They did better than might be expected: only 3 P-40s were shot down (partly due to having an altitude advantage). 4 Kates and 1 Val were lost, 12 more Kates damaged by both fighter and AAA opposition. CL Raleigh and Honolulu took one torpedo each. 15 bombs hit 5 ships (4 CL and DMS Zane) - and CL Detroit and DMS Perry were both missed entirely. [Still other ships were not even engaged] 221 casualties, 5 guns and 3 vehicles lost to troop cargo. This TF - most of which is undamged - should be able to offload during the next night.

14 Vals came in on BB Pennsylvania and California - scoring 8 hits but causing no significant damage or fires. These ships remain substantially servicable.

4 Ki-48s missed ML Redstart South of Hong Kong.

8 Kates put 4 bombs into AK Sarangami near Legaspi. She will try to make Davao - not because she will succeed - but to draw more air strikes from Ni Butai which otherwise likely would harm undamaged ships.

[el cid again]

At the end of the day I-153 was met at the gap between Celebes and Borneo by 4 USN WWI era four pipers. These inflicted 3 hits on her - none very serious - but cumulatively hits make a sub very vulnerable in future engagements - so she should withdraw or she will never make port again. Her mistake was to be at a predictable location.

BB Yamato led Mutsu and Negato and a supporting flotilla bombarding Cagayan (a mistake - this means he will get a damaged airfield when it is captured). 2 PBYs destroyed, 113 casualties, 3 guns lost, 42 other hits. We flew out the surviving PBYs and 6 undamaged B-17s - 6 damaged ones remain but some may repair up enough to leave before the assault comes in - which may be in two days time. The B-17s did get in one strike and were badly demoralized anyway - so they transferred all the way to Melbourne to work back up.

CA Chokai and Maya - with "15 gun light" Kumano and Suzuya (these ships remain as built - not converted to 8 inch form) - led 6 DD in bombarding Rabaul. 129 casualties, 3 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost, 27 other hits. We withdrew the 4 Ansons to PM. PM is building up as a recon/ASW and bomber strike base - with Hudsons, PBYs and Ansons already.

Unopposed landings at Tarawa involved 238 casualties = a large force landed.

Wake Island fired 376 CD shots scoring 21 hits on 3 ships - missed 4 other ships - but no serious damage to any - although PC CH 19 took 10 hits. [Some may be HMG hits] 272 casualties, 1 gun lost to landing Japanese units. 54 Allied casualties, 3 guns lost, 3 vehicles lost.

Landings at Kavieng cost 78 casualties.

65th Brigade landed at Aparri - 443 casualties. No landings at Laoag, Vigan, San Fernando or Linguyan - so we are moving forward troops that already went North to Baguio City -- hoping to slow him down in the Ilagan Valley. Looks like we can fight forward on Luzon as well as in Malaya - and we face no invasion at all in Burma yet. A battalion remains at Aparri - so he must fight instead of marching - and we will have time to get to Ilagan.

Landings at Legaspi cost 180 casualties - likely one division. No opposition here - but defenders are marching in that direction to engage at Lucena or maybe farther East.

Landings at Guam cost 79 casualties.

Landings at Hollandia cost 124 casualties.

Rabaul fired 39 CD shots at landing ships for 5 hits on 2 DE. 238 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost in landing operations.

Landings at Miri (near Brunei) cost 61 casualties. Force Z - and the Exeter force - and yet another RN surface force are all in range - because they were sailing out to cover Admiral Hart with the slow tenders and transports from Manila. They will converge on Miri - and hopefully that will end that invasion - for now.

1585 Japanese captured Wake Island from a composite unit including part of a Marine Defense Battalion, an air support element for fighters, another for PanAm flying boats, and a civil construction unit (stood to - illegally without uniforms as militia). The 1791 defenders surrendered to the first assault. 28 : 1 odds (impressive) - 6 F4F-3s destroyed on the ground. 1787 Allied casualties (note the discrepency from 1791) and 42 guns lost. 44 Japanese casualties, 3 guns lost.

Japanese ground bombardment at Wuchang/Wuhan caused 39 Chinese casualties.
Japanese ground bombardment at Sinyang caused 4 Chinese casualties. This was a mistake. Only on this day could he have captured Sinyang - driving its defenders out by ground assault. By tomorrow more Chinese troops will have invested the place. This is the first battle of a general battle for China. The Chinese are going to engage essentially all the LOC and isolated points possible - but it takes time to move into position.

36000 Japanese attacked 14000 Allies at Hong Kong. Fort Level 5. No odds. 397 Japanese casualties, 13 guns lost. 33 Allied casualties, 4 guns lost.

Allied ground bombardment at Rabaul was ineffective.

2122 Japanese captured Johnston Island from 643 support troops at Johnston Island. 36:1 odds, 23 aircraft of 4 types destroyed on the ground. 1134 Allied casualties, 4 guns lost (note again the discrepency in Allied numbers). 25 Japanese casualties.

[el cid again]

From turn three Mifune will joint me in an Allied Tag Team - details being worked out. Also - we have a British/CW policy advisor who negotiates when required so we have an Imperial perspective. We are using old Dutch policy advice from Crazy Dutch (originally for a different game). And we might get a Russian advisor at some point - when it is more germane.

[el cid again]

The night turn began with landings at Aparri (296 casualties), Hollandia (0 casualties), and Tarawa (10 casualties).
Landings at Rabaul were opposed by 5 CD shots. 38 casualties.

A Dutch MSW TF cleared mines at Merak, twice. Three units in the TF.

S-39 attacked and missed AK Shinano Maru at Legaspi. DE Shiokae and CLAA Kashima counterattacked, scored one hit, but it was a bad one, setting S-39 on fire.

A gigantic SAG led by BB Yamato (in her twelve 16 inch gun form), Nagato and Mutsu encountered AK Van Dieman - and sank her by gunfire and one Long Lance torpedo hit.

3 RN PT units raided Takao - but were surprised by a medium SAG led by CA Ashigawa and Nachi. It sank the 2nd PT Division with 23 shell hits.

3 USN and Philippine Army PT units raided Aparri. PC unit CH 13 & 14 was sunk by torpedo. PC unit 15 & 16 and MSW unit W 15 & 16 were hit by 50 cal MG at grand total of 7 times.

IJN sub Ro-33 missed AK Gertrude Kellog in the South China Sea.

A SAG led by CA Chokai and Maya bombarded Rabaul. 79 casualties, 3 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost. 35 other hits.

IJN sub I-171 put two fish into AV Curtiss at Lanai, causing fires and heavy damage. [She made port at PH and was able to disembark the aviation unit - but the aircraft were lost]

Pre dawn landings occurred at Tarawa (13 casualties) and Hollandia (19 casualties).
Landings at Rabaul were opposed by 8 CD shots - but all missed. 37 casualties.

IJN sub I-154 missed ML Gouden Leeuw in the Java Sea.

6 USN DMS cleared mines at Palembang.

IJN sub I-126 missed AO Ramapo - and was counterattackd by AVD Avocet and PC Reliance and Tiger. No hits on the sub either.

The Dutch MSW TF continued mineclearing at Merak, Serang.

IJN sub Ro-30 missed AK Meroendoeng at Pontianak.

[el cid again]

The day turn began with 6 Dutch Martin 139 (B-10) causing 5 casualties to the IJA 39th Division at Singora Thailand. [The battle for Malaya has begun with a British invasion of Thailand. Japanese landings are entirely confined to Southern Thailand - so far.] Two more brigades and an artillery unit began the approach to combat to day - and another will join them tomorrow. As long as we are fighting forward - might as well make it a fight. This buys time to build fortifications farther back - and for air units to stand up and air support units to cure disabled squads.

12 ROCAF IL-4s and 19 SB-2 caused 6 casualties and 1 gun lost to the IJA 39th Division at Sinyang, Central China.
A JAAF attack failed to harm the ROC 35th Field Army.
Another casused 61 casualties to the ROC 88th Field Army.
Another casused 10 more to the ROC 94th Field Army.
Another caused 54 casualties and 2 guns lost to the ROC 62nd Field Army.
Yet another failed to harm the Misc Northern Factions 13th Field Army.
Another caused 3 casualties and 1 gun lost to the ROC 68th Field Army.
Another caused 29 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.
Still another caused 31 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.
Another caused 3 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Hopei Militia regiment.

17 Ki-51s caused 33 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Indian Army 15th Brigade at Singora, Thailand.
26 Ki-48s caused 34 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.

10 Kates and 7 Jakes failed to harm the Guam Insular Force.

3 Vildebeeste attacked and missed CA Furutaka at Singora. 1 was lost and 1 damaged. 4 Pete's were on CAP.

10 P-40s out of Molokai attacked KB itself - SW of the islands - but 6 were shot down by 50 Zeros and 6 Petes on CAP.
Later 13 tried again - and 5 more were shot down.

3 Blenheims missed CLAA Yubari at Singora. 1 was shot down. 4 Petes still on CAP.
4 Whirraways missed CA Nagara Maru at Singora. No damage to either side. Still 4 Petes on CAP.
3 Blenheim I, 8 Blenheim 8, 9 Hudson and 25 Vildebeeste - all out of Kuala Lumpur - came in on 7 ships at Singora.
CL Kuma and AK Sasako Maru were torpedoed. 15 casualties and 1 gun lost to troop cargo.
2 Vildebeeste lost, 4 damaged to CAP and AA fire. Still 4 Petes on CAP. 1 Pete was damaged in air combat.

5 Ki-48s put 7 small bombs into the Wenchow Transport Group in the South China Sea.

5 Kates from the CVE force (Ni Butai) missed DMS Isabel at Manila.

22 Kates hit gunboat Cicala 7 times.

18 Bettys and Nells failed to damage any targets at Hong Kong.

7 Ki-27s failed to hit a USN PT unit at Aparri.
3 more missed an RN PT unit at Loaog.

8 Kates scored 2 hits on PG Wake near Shanghai.

5 Bettys missed PG Tutuila at San Fernando.

The CVL force (Ni Butai) sent 60 Kates to attack BB Oklahoma. 4 torpedo hits - 11 bomb hits. 5 were lost, 2 damaged by AA fire.

KB sent 50 Kates and 60 Vals "downtown" to Pearl Harbor. 50 Zeros were met by a total of 5 Allied fighters of 2 types - 4 of these were shot down. 2 Vals damaged, 1 Kate lost. 8 ships attacked, DD Cassin was the only one missed entirely. 23 bomb hits, 7 torpedo hits on CL Detroit 4 DD and 2 DMS.
11 Kates and 26 Vals followed up - engaging 4 ships in the same force. 1 Val lost, 2 Kates damaged. 7 torpedo hits (at least one on each ship) and 5 bomb htis on AD Whitney, AV Wright, AD Dobbin and AR Pyro. All of them made it to port.




The Ni Butai put 4 fish into ML Redstart near Luzon - sinking her.
3 Ki-48s put a bomb into DD Scout - and missed DM Tracian and DD Thanet - in the same area.
9 Kates from Ni Butai put 4 bombs into AK Sarangami near Samar.

18 Kates from KB put 1 fish into AD Dobbin and 2 more into AD Whitney near the Big Island. DD Patterson was missed altogether. 5 were lost, 1 damaged.
13 Vals then put a bomb into AD Whitney - and missed DD Jarvis. 1 lost. 4 damaged.

[el cid again]

7 Bettys escorted by 17 Zeros raided Singapore. 9 Buffalos on CAP. 1 bomber lost, 1 damaged, no damage to any targets.

9 P-40s attacked KB again - 4 were shot down by the 49 Zeros and 6 Petes on CAP.
3 B-17s followed up - and actually penetrated the CAP to miss CL Oi. Amazingly 12 Zeros were damaged - but only 1 B-17.
We used to say (in UV days) 'the best fighter is a B-17'.

4 Whirraways missed CLAA Katori at Singora. 4 Petes on CAP. No damage to either side.

10 Blenheim I, 5 Blenheim IV, 8 Hudsons and 16 Vildebeeste came in on 7 ships at Singora. DE Shumushu took two torpedo hits - and presumably will sink when she floods out. 4 Vildebeeste shot down, 2 damaged.

2 A-20Bs out of Olongapo missed MSW unit W9 & W10.
5 more put 2 bombs into Amaho Maru - and missed a DD - near Luzon.

18 Kates missed CA Minneqpolis and DMS Boggs at PH. 3 P-36 on CAP. 6 Kates destroyed, 3 damaged.
10 Kates put a fish into AK St Miheil at Hilo. 10 P-40s on CAP. 31 casualties to troop cargo. Troops have landed at Hilo, Molokai and Lahaina - so taking these mountainous bases is going to be hard.
9 Vals put 4 bombs into AO Sapulga near the Western end of the lower islands.
9 Vals put 2 bombs into CA New Orleans at Pearl Harbor itself. Only 1 P-36 still on CAP.
6 Vals put 3 bombs into DM Sicard in the same place - still 1 P-36 on CAP.
12 Kates put a torpedo into DM Breeze - and missed DM Montgomery - near Hawaii.
16 Vals put 4 bombs into BB California on her run toward Canton Island. 2 lost, 5 damaged.
14 Vals put 13 bombs into BB West Virginia in the same hex. 1 lost to AA fire.
Adm Lockwood has aborted all the main units - they are either sunk, running for PH - or (in the two cases that started out damaged) - running North to Kodiak. However - most of the lesser ships have escaped - or returned to PH. The carriers - undetected - have assembled North of the Islands. Saratoga is running - with 2 tankers - to meet them. We won't engage in fleet battle - but will hit targets of opportunity.

26 Bettys and Nells, 25 Kates and 11 Ki-48s attacked DD Scout and Thanet and DM Tracian near Luzon. 11 bomb hits - only DD Thanet escaped.
8 Ki-48s followed up - but could no longer find DD Thanet (which was already sunk).

Late in the day 11 Kates put 2 more fish into tough, old BB Oklahoma.
13 more put another into BB Nevada.
Then 47 Kates and 18 Vals put 2 torpedoes and 16 bombs into BB Maryland and BB Arizona.
He put KB near the CVL force in a position due West of the Big Island. From there it could hit most Allied TFs - regardless of direction they were sailing.

6 IJN DD attacked and missed USN sub S-39 near Legaspi.

Dutch sub KXV put two fish into AK Taibun at Miri.

IJN sub I-158 put 2 torpedos and a shell into into AK Ravnaas in the Southern South China Sea.

The Yamato SAG fought a surface action with transport force at Jolo. 7 hits on Japanese ships. 3 DD on fire.
111 gun hits and 3 torpedo hits on 9 Allied ships. 5 PG sunk outright. AS Holland and TK Gertrude Kelly badly damaqged.
AP President Madison on fire. TK Alfred Kleg hit but not badly damaged.

Landings at Jolo caused 509 Allied casualties.

Undefended Legaspi captured by IJA units. 76:1 odds.
Jolo captured. 248 : 1 odds. 6 B-17s lost on the ground. 35 casualties, 2 guns lost for Japan. 264 casualties, 3 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost
Rabaul captured: 207 Japanese casualties, 4 guns lost. 1142 Allied casualties, 5 guns lost, 44 vehicles lost.

Japanese ground bombardment at Wuchang China was ineffective.
Japanese ground assault at Wuchang achieved only 1:1 odds. 1123 Japanese casualties, 26 guns lost, 2 vehicles lost. 107 Allied casualties, 5 guns lost.

Japanese shock attack captured Guam. 34 Japanese casualties, 1 gun lost, 1 vehicle lost. 1466 Allied casualties, 4 guns lost, 132 vehicles lost.

Japanese ground assault at HK failed to achieve odds. 66 Japanese casualties, 5 guns lost. NO Japanese casualties.

Kavieng captured. 45 Allied casualties, 1 gun lost.

Undefended Miri, Tarawa and Hollandia were captured.

Allied ground assault at Singora Thailand failed to achieve odds. 22 Japanese casualties. 298 Allied casulties, 14 guns lost.

Lightly defended Aparri was captured. 31 Allied casualties, 1 gun lost.

[el cid again]

Finished pre-Christmas obligations so now I can get back to the important stuff.

Your aggressive defense does an excellent job of throwing off Japanese plans and time tables.

[el cid again]

10 December 1942 (Hawaii) 11 December (Far East) Both (near Midway and Johnston Island)

The night turn began with 3 IJN DD detecting mines at Aparri - but failing to hit any.

AP Yasukawa Maru wasn't so lucky - both detecting and hitting a mine at Legaspi.

9 Blenheim Night Fighters in Intuder mode made an attack on Singora - but failed to do any damage. Had we recon of the location - they might have had a better chance.
For some reason - they repeated this - exactly - two more times. I have not seen this before - a TRIPLE attack by night intruders.

CA Maya and Chokai - in company with CL Suzuya (she is in 15 gun six inch form as built in this scenario) and 6 DD - shelled Kavieng.
101 Allied casualties and 2 guns lost. 4 Port hits, 4 port supply hits.

CA Nachi detected - and hit - a mine at Takao (Formosa). 10 ground troop casualties indicate she was loaded in fast transport mode.

Ro-24 detected and torpedoed AVD Poolster at Bandjermassin.

The Philippine Army PT boat unit (Q111/ Q112 and Q113) hit a mine at Aparri. This appears to be an Allied mine - and it is realistic - but not common.

[el cid again]

The day air turn began with 33 Ki-21s attacking Georgetown. 4 Buffalos on CAP. 1 Ki-21 destroyed, 2 damaged. 28 airbase related hits.

18 Ki-27s attacked the ROC Army 12th Field Army - without effect.
29 Ki-48s did better - causing 45 casualties and 2 guns lost.

8 Ki-21s caused 8 casualties to the ROC Army 35th Field Army.

42 Ki-41s and 9 Ki-48s caused 171 casualties and 5 guns lost to the Manchu 52nd Field Army.
18 Ki-27s struck next - but did no damage.

9 Ki-21s failed to harm the ROC 81st Field Army.

18 Ki-48s and 27 Ki-36s caused 63 casualties and 1 gun lost to the Scechuan 20th Field Army.
11 Ki-48s and 8 Ki-30s caused 14 casualties and 1 gun lost to the same unit.

10 Ki-48s and 3 Ki-51s caused 64 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Hopei Militia Regiment (a guerilla unit in RHS - normally static the combination of actions today made it mobile).
18 Ki-30s caused 67 casualties and 3 guns lost to the same unit.

[Many of these attacks because Chinese units are moving onto Chinese LOC - or even into Chinese cities - so the Japanese are reacting.
The Chinese strategy is to render operations deep in China impractical - causing in particular Wuhan - with vast supplies and resources - to switch sides.]

18 Ki-51s and 13 Ki-43 Is caused 41 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Indian Army 8th Brigade in Northern Malaya.

3 Hudsons out of Port Moresby missed AP Akagi Maru near Kavieng.

8 Nells out of Indochina put a torpedo into CA Exeter - and missed CL Danae - in the center of the South China Sea.
2 were lost and 4 more damaged by AA fire.
3 more missed BC Repulse later in the morning. All were damaged.
Then 22 Nells came in on the transport force of the Asiatic Fleet being escorted by Force Z:
AK Churucca and Don Jose were missed
AK Fortuna, Governor Wright and Otus EACH took two fish and were sunk.
DD Peary was missed.
86 immediate troop casualties - possibly more when the ships sank - the Asiatic Fleet HQ is embarked substantially on ships of this TF. Its attempt to escape may not be working out!
3 Nells then put a fish into AK Anshun, setting her on fire.

14 Ki-48s and 45 Zeros put 5 small bombs into AK ROC Wenchow transport group at Loaog (Luzon). This naturally casused fires and heavy damage. 3 P-40s were on CAP - and the Japanese claimed 4 victories over them - which is realistic - but strange behavior for a game. Presumably only 3 were actually lost

10 Kates from the CVE force (Ni Buatai) put 2 bonbs each into TK Gertrude Kellog and AP President Madison, setting both on fire.
43 troops casualties.

Ro-24 torpedoed AVD Poolster - again - at Bandjermassin - and from the cumulative effect - the ship sank soon thereafter.

I-7 missed CL Glasgow in the Bay of Bengal.

[el cid again]

48 000 Japanese attacked 13 000 Chinese which had invested Hangchow China (near Shanghai). 18:1 odds - the Chinese being driven from the hex. 685 Japanese casualties, 29 guns lost. 580 Chinese casualties, 27 guns lost, 1 vehicle lost. This exchange rate is acceptable to me - and the rail LOC remains cut. More troops are inbound to back up this attack - and we plan to reengage - over and over - creating a situation that prevents force from being used in the interior. Eventually - we may even take Hangchow - at which point we will start a similar process at Shanghai - killing its industrial production.

682 Japanse took Kavieng from the 76 Aussies at Kavieng. 15:1 odds. 14 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost, 25 Allied casualties. This position held yesterday - and the aggregate loss rate is also accetable. But I admit we were lucky it didn't fall to the first assault. One - or in this case two - assaults - this time also involving naval gunfire support - makes the logistic cost of opposing a less than company size unit excessive - and in this case we also bought two days. Not bad for a delaying action.

6000 Japanese attacked the 1200 Chinese of the Hopei Militia Regiment in East China. Casualties from air strikes had made the unit lose its static squad - so it was able to retreat. Which is great - we will use it to move along RR LOC - both it and its LOC blocking supply movements.
This is simply the first of a series of such actions - two more static guerilla units are nearby - and if we are lucky one or both will also be cut loose. [If the Japanese are skilled or lucky - they will force them to surrender. Even in that case - the units will reform at Chunking - in only 30 days. There is little to lose putting them in harms way - and even a tiny unit blocks supply flows - or can stop production in a defined location.]

[el cid again]

When he sent his turn - I discovered there were no longer ships in sight in the Central Pacific - so some damaged ships left PH - some planes (B-17s) flew in - three ships with supplies reversed course for Hilo, Molokai and Lahaina - and PBYs began flying infantry to Hilo - with a view to expelling the SNLF at Kona in due course - if he doesn't come back. Other ships dropped to cruising speed en route to US West Coast - and the carrier/tanker forces continues to assemble as planned NE of Hawaii - as a contingency force. Most damaged ships will go to Seattle or San Francisco.

[el cid again]

11 December 1941 (Hawaii) 12 December (Far East)

The really big news is - the Kiddo Butai - the Ni Butai (CVL Force) - the Main Body (4 Fujimoto class BB) - and the Advance Invasion TF (with Imperial Guards Brigade embarked) - have disappeared from the Central Pacific for the second day in a row. We moved in B-17s to search - and still didn't see them. Moving supplies and troops in the Hawaiian Islands was a good idea - and prospects for holding them are getting better. On the other hand - this force is very dangerous anywhere it goes - and there are no meaningful defenses in the South Pacific yet.

The night turn began I-123 missed AK Van der Bosch South of Sinkawang (Borneo) with torpedoes, but scored a shell hit.

I-9 missed AK Indian Agra altogether at Port Blair (Andaman Islands). The Allies are lucky.

Ro-30 detected the main body of transports and auxiliaries of the Asiatic Fleet North of the NE tip of Borneo - but its attacks failed to score.
Later in the night escorts of this TF - RN DD Electra and Express and USN Pope - detected, engaged and hit Ro-30, setting her on fire. The Allies are very lucky.

USN MSW Robin reached Canton Island and detected mines, and started clearing operations. This is why she went there - and other minesweeping ships are en route to assist. This is an invonvenient point for a minefield - and so exposed anything here may be hit by air strikes from the now missing KB or its baby brother - the Ni Butai (with CVLs).

[el cid again]

11 December Morning Air Turn

The day turn began with 18 Ki-27s attacking the ROC 18th War Area HQ in South China - without effect.

12 Zeros swept Georgetown Malaya - a base that had hurt the enemy badly with naval strikes - but the demoralized aircraft have left and there never were any fighters here - so no CAP - so no fight.

10 Ki-48s caused 23 casualties and 1 gun lost to the ROC 23rd Field Army. 3 Ki-36 planes flew recon missions.
21 Ki-27s caused 6 casualties to the ROC 12th Field Army.
9 Ki-48s did better - causing 41 casualties and 2 guns lost to the same unit.
18 Ki-30s and 12 Ki-51s caused 43 casualties and 1 gun lost to the ROC 92nd Field Army. 1 Ki-51 lost, 1 damaged.
12 Ki-48s and 37 Ki-51s caused 16 casualties and 2 guns lost to the ROC 62nd Field Army.
31 Ki-27s caused 9 casualties and 1 gun lost to the ROC 81st Field Army.
7 Ki-32s failed to harm the same unit.
10 Ki-32s failed to harm the 52nd Guerilla Regiment in East China.
11 more caused 8 casualties to the Hopei Militia Regiment in the same hex. This unit was forced to retreat yesterday.

All these air strikes (and more later) in China because the Chinese army has closed to contact and/or LOC positions vital to the enemy. Further - these all consume supplies which in many cases harm the ground combat performance of IJA units - often critically short of supplies in China. If supplies run in on ships - they cannot be used in other theaters (neither the supplies nor the ships). So it is relatively good to see this activity aimed at rapidly regenerated Chinese formations (they reappear in 30 days if wiped out - and they regenerate if they have supply sources almost immediately).

21 Ki-27s caused 12 casualties and 2 guns lost to the Indian Army 8th Brigade in Malaya.

4 Nells put 3 torpedoes into AK Princess of Negros near Great Natuna Island in the Western South China Sea. The ship later sank due to flooding out. It was not loaded and is one of the least useful Allied ships. It was the principle loss of the day - and far better than virtually any other target in the fleeing Asiatic Fleet auxiliary force. It now appears we may make it almost as planned. One reason for the lack of air strikes is air cover out of Kuching and Brunei protected a majority of the ships. Low morale P-40s are useful for deflecting bomber strikes.