The valor of ignorance: CharlieVane (A) vs. Bristolduke (J). RHS scen 123

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Fri Jun 02, 2017 11:33 pm

Welcome to the AAR of my very first PBEM. I've had this game for a little more than half a year now.
I was content to duel with the computer at first, but reading through the many fascinating AARs on this forum slowly moved me in the direction of true social contact.
One of the reasons for this: I like mods, irrespective of the game. Most of the mods here require a human opponent to be truly engaging. Rather than start with an Alternate history mod, I wanted to start out in RHS, because I liked the emphasis on realism and adding in a lot of obscure minutiae.
So far, I started out one AAR in scen 2 as allies, messed around as Japan in one or two games that didn't make it past December, and most recently, tried RHS scenario 122. It's been quite the comedy of errors.
My opponent, Bristolduke, has played a few PBEMs as Japan with mods such as RA. He was willing to try RHS.
Our settings are:
Fog of war on,

Advanced weather on,

Allied DC on,

PDU on,

Historical first turn off,

December 7th surprise on,

Reliable torpedoes off,

No units withdrawals on.

Fixed Reinforcements
The house rules we agreed upon:* Player must pay PP to move restricted units across borders. exceptions:

- US-Canada and Manchuria-Korea borders can be ignored
- Thai troops can move to Burma and Malaya
- Restricted Chinese troops that historically operated in Burma/ India can cross borders without paying PP

In addition, for turn one, I am restricted to only issuing new orders in China.
Hunting the allied carriers on the first two turns is not allowed.
No attacking Manila and PH on turn one.
Japanese 1st turn invasions will not feature any out of left field landings on areas besides Malaya and Luzon. All bases there are fair game.
I'm currently working out the details for China and will send email my turn soon.
After the first turn, I'll try to include some narrative bits to spice things up. I make no promises on limiting out of place references.
Enjoy!

Anachro · Post by **Anachro** » Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:21 am

Good luck with your AAR. I don't post much on the forums anymore, but I will follow silently as best I can and comment where possible. Interested in seeing a RHS PBEM as I too am interested in exploring other historical mod possibilities (not interested in alternate history). Want to learn more about this one, but am considering B-Mod for my next game.

Bif1961 · Post by **Bif1961** » Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:29 pm

Good luck and have fun.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Sun Jun 04, 2017 3:16 am

"What do you mean 'it shuddered?"

"That's what MacGuire said, sir. Felt like something smacked the California."

"That's all? Something shakes more than usual and her reports it?"

"With respect, Admiral, we've all been on edge ever since the-
Oh no."
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel felt his stomach turn as the USS Arizona jolted visibly upwards and a gout of water emerged from just below the Number 1 turret. As a nearby coast guard cutter began dropping depth charges in its immediate vicinity, the men in the Admiral's office barely had time to observe how low Arizona's bow fell in the water when a more violent explosion shook the battleship Tennessee amidships.
Another small craft moved towards the likely vector of the assailant, but kept did not start frantically dropping charges.
Alarms rang out through the harbor. Men moved to their battle stations and kept one eye skyward. As the minutes passed, Kimmel was not mollified at all by the lack of news. It was nigh-ridiculous to think that multiple submarines could sneak in and out with the military on high alert. It was also unsettling that no signs of a second stage had been reported. Disabling the Pacific fleet's battleships in the harbor would prevent a swift sortie and make them all vulnerable to an air attack. If American planners could think it up and simulate a carrier attack on the harbor, Japanese planners could've done it too.
Suddenly, the door to his office burst open as a gaggle of men carrying messages burst in and started fighting for attention.
"-Coup in Siam-"
"-a whole horde of transports-"
"-Peiping's gone-"
"-cutting off Singapore-"
"-battleships lost-"
The rest of the day was a haze. No Japanese planes swarmed over Hawaii, and the two damaged battleships wouldn't be in any danger, but if what had occurred by the end of the day was any sign, the "mature ladies" of the pacific fleet would be most helpful staying in port.
The following is a transcript of Franklin Roosevelt's speech to congress on December 8th, 1941
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour before Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Manila, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message...

The attack yesterday on the Philippine Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and air forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported sunk on the seas near China.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Mersing. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Thailand...Last night the Japanese attacked Singapore...

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation..."
---
Captain Gilmour was not known for his military wit. That was the main reason he found himself captain of the minelayer Finch, which was for more obscure reasons assigned to patrol off the coast of Formosa of all places. Gilmour did not want to question the logic of sailing foreign waters in a mine laying vessel. Such was the mundane nature of these patrols that her rarely questioned anything. He'd spend the minimal time keeping a clean ship while scribbling down the manuscript for a murder mystery story set on an anonymous minelayer in the Asiatic fleet (he believed in the saying "write what you know, after all). Thus, he wasn't pleased about being disturbed in the sanctuary of his cabin one morning when the crew began getting uneasy after spotting a large convoy of indeterminate size about a dozen miles in the distance.
"We're near Japanese territory, of course we'd come close to one of their convoys."
He didn't really care about the eagle-eyed lookouts who'd spotted a lot of military vessels in this particular fleet, even if there was no risk of them being attacked by the nonexistent Chinese Navy.
Suitably self-convinced, Gilmour returned to his cabin, only to be roused shortly before noon.
On the way back to Manila, they'd come within 12 miles or so of another Japanese convoy. It was none other than the same one as before.
Gilmour couldn't deny that seeing the same fleet twice on what seemed to be a parallel course to their own was odd, but he couldn't be bothered to care that much.
"If they start shooting at us, give me a call. On second thought, don't. Assume I'll figure out what's happening and you don't need to bother me." He deadpanned.
All was quiet until the late afternoon. Gilmour was yet again informed that they'd crossed paths with a Japanese fleet. It was noted that this one consisted mainly of transports and two smaller escort vessels. Gilmour was unfazed. In a borderline impudent speech, he outlined some "basic facts" about naval warfare that he, as a captain, was privy to, which disproved any lurid ideas the crew may have been getting. Namely, the fact that they had only spotted a total of 2 dozen ships or so, the fact that half of those were destroyers, the fact that the amount of transports in these convoys could not have carried nearly enough soldiers and supplies combined to overrun the Philipines, the fact that they were also close to Japanese-controlled Indochina and Thailand which was a more likely destination, and the fact that the Japanese had not fired on them.
"Surely you men saw how quickly they turned away from our ship! It was like they were more unnerved than we were."
---
Douglas Macarthur wasn't one to focus on the negatives.
For example, Manila harbor may have been turned into a burning hellscape, but the Japanese carriers planes responsible had surely exhausted most of their ordinance in the process.
Japan had opened hostilities with the United states in a rather innocuous manner. First, contact was lost with an American gunboat operating out of the Shanghai international settlement.
That morning, an American sub on patrol off Iba had taken a shot at a Japanese convoy that was moving too close for comfort to the Coast. almost immediately after that, a Japanese bomber attack had devastated Clark field. Any planes that could still fly would be unable to make use of the ruined runway.
Reports of a similar attack in Singapore were distressing, but the second wave of bombers hitting Clark field had been downright infuriating.
Over a hundred Japanese Zero planes launched strafing attacks on the airfield with impunity. Just behind them came a hoard of two-engine bombers that flew in at the same general altitude, bombing the airfield and strafing with their machine guns. At least 43 bombers had been destroyed and another 16 were damaged. Another 3 dozen fighters were destroyed or damaged alongside several recon planes. It was quite the disaster, but they still could deflect any potential invasion with the Asiatic fleet's Submarine force and disrupt Japan's shipping.
Too bad Japan knew that danger as well.
From the east of Luzon came an attack force of over 300 planes. It was a dastardly attack. Fighters had strafed the airfield while the bombers attacked the real prize.
21 subs, an oiler, several cargo ships, 4 destroyers, and a few other vessels were now resting in Manila harbor. In later attacks A few American and Pilipino pilots managed to get into the air and were quickly shot down. The 5 subs still afloat would need time in the repair yards that the Japanese weren't going to spare. Already, they'd landed at Legaspi. A float plane unit based out of Puerto Princessa had reported a substantial invasion force there before feeling to Manado.
Their new allies in Britain were reeling from a similar disaster. Japanese troops were already advancing on Hong Kong. Singapore's airfield was a mess after getting hit by several dozen bombers. Smaller bases in Malaya were the victims of similar attacks.
The main prong of the Japanese invasion of Malaya had been at Mersing. The British army would undoubtedly be cut in two.
The British had foreseen this possibility and brazenly sent out a task force centered around two battleships that didn't even make use of all the warships in Singapore. They'd been ambushed by a second carrier task force and worn down by a mix of carrier and land based bombers, leaving only their destroyer escorts to make a "charge of the light brigade" at Mersing today.
Embarrassingly of all for Britain, if reports were correct, one of the first torpedo planes to score a hit on the now-sunk battleship Prince of wales had been a Biplane torpedo bomber!
The last base to be caught unawares was Rangoon, though the lost ships there were mainly short range river craft.
Macarthur observed the burning Harbor in Manila and tried to focus on the positives. Anti-Japanese forces in Thailand were opposing landings in the areas north of Manila. British planes had caught an unescorted attack on the Force Z destroyers and shot down a few planes. Captain Riker on the Cruiser Houston was going to link up with the cruiser Boise and any other nearby ships to attack the Japanese on Palawan. Pearl Harbor had been untouched as far as he knew. Most importantly, the current positions of the Japanese carriers meant that the gateway to Japan's forward bases was wide open...

That took longer than expected. It's my own fault. This game leaves a lot open for the active imagination. Good night for now.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Sun Jun 04, 2017 8:37 pm

A wise man once said "Two out of three ain't bad." Of course, he was talking about love, not midget submarines. In that case, 2 out of 3 is a miracle. It was simply shocking to see three subs enter the port and make successful attacks. Arizona is at 5 sys and 37 flt while Tennessee is 14 sys and 22 flt. They'll be out in 127 and 53 days.
I've converted AG-31 Utah in PH to her battleship configuration for bombardment purposes. The 4 12-plane Catalina squads are each searching their own quadrant, the other two are training pilots. The p36 and p26 squads will also be trainer units.
PH subs will head home for redeployment to Australia or another forward base.
The Philippine islands situation is going to be annoying. The 5 subs that didn't sink are in terrible condition, the 3 submarine tenders are fire fighting, and the Manila repair yards are all but gone. The amount of major damage is quite low, so assuming no second strike gets launched, they might be able to limp away. I'll be consolidating positions around Clark and Manila. The subs already on patrol will move towards potential landing sites, and I doubt they'll be able to catch the KB. I must say, the attack on Clark field was more surprising than anything. I'd never consider using the G4M's in strafing attacks, but it certainly worked. I'll be sure to reciprocate posthaste. The only untouched fighter wing is at Iba.
Malaya presents a quandary. First a swarm of Nells wrecked the Singapore airfield, then Force Z gets attacked by planes...from the Mini KB. Even Houshou's B4y1s took part in the attack, that old bat! Prince of Wales was sunk by 5 torpedoes, than a wing of Betties flew through a meager force of 2 Buffaloes and sank Repulse with 5 of their own. Naval attacks on the invasion force of Mersing were ineffective, as usual. The only consolation prize was taking out 9 unescorted Vals and Jeans, and a Buffalo sweep over Singora that shot down 4 F1Ms.
I have to ask for some insight: in a "Mersing gambit", how many turns do I have to rail British units to Singapore before it is cut off?

The only other item of note is a two ship task force sighted off the coast of Shortland island.
With Pearl harbor surrounded by subs, I've decided to send the Big E and the Sexy Lexi task forces into the Marshalls. Intel shows 28 ships disbanded at Kwajalein. I'd say that's fair game.
As for forward bases in the Pacific, I've earmarked one place for early development: Howland island. It starts with a Level 5 airfield. It could make for a good forward base.

I'd welcome any advice before going further.
*EDIT* Well darn, I got tracker working and it turns out there's a 10-ship task force off the Santa Cruz islands. Trying to swipe New Caledonia or Luganville early? We'll see about that!

Bif1961 · Post by **Bif1961** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:22 pm

Be careful about combining them into one carrier TF, as they may not coordinate or eve launch an offensive strike as they exceed the Allied carier strike total of 120 for 41-42. I sat off of Kwajalein for 3 days and never launched a single strike against his ships even though i had them set for both naval and port attack. That was a worse case outcome, but blame for the worse and hope for the best. Keep one following the other in separate TFs and if you don't want one to react away from the other set react to ZERO.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:27 am

I'm short on time. Here's the summary:
Sub attack off Naga hit an xAP with two torpedoes.
Dutch sub off Singora made 4 attacks, hit an xAK carrying fuel cargo with three torpedoes on the third.
Mersing was bombarded, total of 39 Japanese casualties reported on landing.
The Surface action went as well as you expect.
Moonlight was good enough to let both task forces spot eachother at 12,000 yards. Admiral Phillips and his 4 Destroyers had their T crossed by The Hyuuga and Fuso sisters, Kitakami, Jintsuu, and 6 destroyers. They got to 6000 yards before getting hit. Hyuuga hit Express, the flagship, with at least 12 14 inch shells. She sank shortly after. Phillips then ordered a retreat. It was annoying that after several failed torpedo attacks by both sides, DD Hibiki hits Tenedoes with a torpedo and several shells as the squadron withdrew, sinking her. Electra was hit 3 times, including a 14 inch hit. Two destroyers and three battleships were hit
Vampire was unscathed. Electra managed to destroy one of Kitikami's Torpedo tubes and damage her engines with a well-placed shot. They're both heading to Soerbaja.
Miri, Kuching, and Jesselton were all invaded.
A schooner at Kavieng ran into the invasion duo. Adelaide will bombard them while Hudsons from Rabaul bomb them too.
Iba saw 4 battles.
First 21 G4M's were hit by 12 Warhawks. 3 got through, one hit the airfield, the other two were shot down on the way back.
A horde of Zeroes strafed the airfield and shot down 2 P40s next, followed by another 100 foot beG4M/A6M attack.
Finally, some nells bombed at 9000 feet.
18 G4Ms and 2 Nells, along with 7 zeroes, were shot down. 8 P40s were lost, with 4 from Air combat compared to 6 zeroes. We now have a 6-kill and 7-kill veteran at Iba.
Blenheims and Hudsons attacked Patani at 1000 feet.
4 Blenhiems strafed the Singora invasion fleet and hit two tranports.
Another 7 attacked Nakhwan. They hit 3 transports, sank a minelayer escort, and caused 250 casualties in total.
The Hong Kong DD's were attacked by Anns. Thracian is in bad shape from two hits, Scout lost her AA cannon from one. They're heading two Manila, where repaired shipyards are now open for the 4 remaining subs.
I forgot about the B10 squad that is set to Naval attack at 15000 feet. It tried to attack Natori, 200 miles off Vigan. Somehow, two planes were shot down by flak. Whoops!
Khota Bharu was damaged by bombers.
The French planes at Tonkin were sent to Ragoon and Mandalay.
Indian and British units bound for Singapore are heading to Burma.
Most airgroups are now training.
Mersing held! A Six to one AV advantage was cut down by terrain and forts. I'll get whatever units I can into Singapore. The rest will hold Kuala Lumpur.
Hong Kong air groups were sent to China and Tarakan. The small shipping went up river to Liuchow.
A few more ships perished in Manila. The sub tenders might make it.
Palawan was captured. I'll hit the airfield with the B17's at Davao.
Most cargo ships in India were sent to off map ports.
The Timor relief force is going to Australia.

Major Shane · Post by **Major Shane** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:35 am

ORIGINAL: CharlieVane

"What do you mean 'it shuddered?"

"That's what MacGuire said, sir. Felt like something smacked the California."

"That's all? Something shakes more than usual and her reports it?"

"With respect, Admiral, we've all been on edge ever since the-
Oh no."
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel felt his stomach turn as the USS Arizona jolted visibly upwards and a gout of water emerged from just below the Number 1 turret. As a nearby coast guard cutter began dropping depth charges in its immediate vicinity, the men in the Admiral's office barely had time to observe how low Arizona's bow fell in the water when a more violent explosion shook the battleship Tennessee amidships.
Another small craft moved towards the likely vector of the assailant, but kept did not start frantically dropping charges.
Alarms rang out through the harbor. Men moved to their battle stations and kept one eye skyward. As the minutes passed, Kimmel was not mollified at all by the lack of news. It was nigh-ridiculous to think that multiple submarines could sneak in and out with the military on high alert. It was also unsettling that no signs of a second stage had been reported. Disabling the Pacific fleet's battleships in the harbor would prevent a swift sortie and make them all vulnerable to an air attack. If American planners could think it up and simulate a carrier attack on the harbor, Japanese planners could've done it too.
Suddenly, the door to his office burst open as a gaggle of men carrying messages burst in and started fighting for attention.
"-Coup in Siam-"
"-a whole horde of transports-"
"-Peiping's gone-"
"-cutting off Singapore-"
"-battleships lost-"
The rest of the day was a haze. No Japanese planes swarmed over Hawaii, and the two damaged battleships wouldn't be in any danger, but if what had occurred by the end of the day was any sign, the "mature ladies" of the pacific fleet would be most helpful staying in port.
The following is a transcript of Franklin Roosevelt's speech to congress on December 8th, 1941
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour before Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Manila, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message...

The attack yesterday on the Philippine Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and air forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported sunk on the seas near China.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Mersing. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Thailand...Last night the Japanese attacked Singapore...

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation..."
---
Captain Gilmour was not known for his military wit. That was the main reason he found himself captain of the minelayer Finch, which was for more obscure reasons assigned to patrol off the coast of Formosa of all places. Gilmour did not want to question the logic of sailing foreign waters in a mine laying vessel. Such was the mundane nature of these patrols that her rarely questioned anything. He'd spend the minimal time keeping a clean ship while scribbling down the manuscript for a murder mystery story set on an anonymous minelayer in the Asiatic fleet (he believed in the saying "write what you know, after all). Thus, he wasn't pleased about being disturbed in the sanctuary of his cabin one morning when the crew began getting uneasy after spotting a large convoy of indeterminate size about a dozen miles in the distance.
"We're near Japanese territory, of course we'd come close to one of their convoys."
He didn't really care about the eagle-eyed lookouts who'd spotted a lot of military vessels in this particular fleet, even if there was no risk of them being attacked by the nonexistent Chinese Navy.
Suitably self-convinced, Gilmour returned to his cabin, only to be roused shortly before noon.
On the way back to Manila, they'd come within 12 miles or so of another Japanese convoy. It was none other than the same one as before.
Gilmour couldn't deny that seeing the same fleet twice on what seemed to be a parallel course to their own was odd, but he couldn't be bothered to care that much.
"If they start shooting at us, give me a call. On second thought, don't. Assume I'll figure out what's happening and you don't need to bother me." He deadpanned.
All was quiet until the late afternoon. Gilmour was yet again informed that they'd crossed paths with a Japanese fleet. It was noted that this one consisted mainly of transports and two smaller escort vessels. Gilmour was unfazed. In a borderline impudent speech, he outlined some "basic facts" about naval warfare that he, as a captain, was privy to, which disproved any lurid ideas the crew may have been getting. Namely, the fact that they had only spotted a total of 2 dozen ships or so, the fact that half of those were destroyers, the fact that the amount of transports in these convoys could not have carried nearly enough soldiers and supplies combined to overrun the Philipines, the fact that they were also close to Japanese-controlled Indochina and Thailand which was a more likely destination, and the fact that the Japanese had not fired on them.
"Surely you men saw how quickly they turned away from our ship! It was like they were more unnerved than we were."
---
Douglas Macarthur wasn't one to focus on the negatives.
For example, Manila harbor may have been turned into a burning hellscape, but the Japanese carriers planes responsible had surely exhausted most of their ordinance in the process.
Japan had opened hostilities with the United states in a rather innocuous manner. First, contact was lost with an American gunboat operating out of the Shanghai international settlement.
That morning, an American sub on patrol off Iba had taken a shot at a Japanese convoy that was moving too close for comfort to the Coast. almost immediately after that, a Japanese bomber attack had devastated Clark field. Any planes that could still fly would be unable to make use of the ruined runway.
Reports of a similar attack in Singapore were distressing, but the second wave of bombers hitting Clark field had been downright infuriating.
Over a hundred Japanese Zero planes launched strafing attacks on the airfield with impunity. Just behind them came a hoard of two-engine bombers that flew in at the same general altitude, bombing the airfield and strafing with their machine guns. At least 43 bombers had been destroyed and another 16 were damaged. Another 3 dozen fighters were destroyed or damaged alongside several recon planes. It was quite the disaster, but they still could deflect any potential invasion with the Asiatic fleet's Submarine force and disrupt Japan's shipping.
Too bad Japan knew that danger as well.
From the east of Luzon came an attack force of over 300 planes. It was a dastardly attack. Fighters had strafed the airfield while the bombers attacked the real prize.
21 subs, an oiler, several cargo ships, 4 destroyers, and a few other vessels were now resting in Manila harbor. In later attacks A few American and Pilipino pilots managed to get into the air and were quickly shot down. The 5 subs still afloat would need time in the repair yards that the Japanese weren't going to spare. Already, they'd landed at Legaspi. A float plane unit based out of Puerto Princessa had reported a substantial invasion force there before feeling to Manado.
Their new allies in Britain were reeling from a similar disaster. Japanese troops were already advancing on Hong Kong. Singapore's airfield was a mess after getting hit by several dozen bombers. Smaller bases in Malaya were the victims of similar attacks.
The main prong of the Japanese invasion of Malaya had been at Mersing. The British army would undoubtedly be cut in two.
The British had foreseen this possibility and brazenly sent out a task force centered around two battleships that didn't even make use of all the warships in Singapore. They'd been ambushed by a second carrier task force and worn down by a mix of carrier and land based bombers, leaving only their destroyer escorts to make a "charge of the light brigade" at Mersing today.
Embarrassingly of all for Britain, if reports were correct, one of the first torpedo planes to score a hit on the now-sunk battleship Prince of wales had been a Biplane torpedo bomber!
The last base to be caught unawares was Rangoon, though the lost ships there were mainly short range river craft.
Macarthur observed the burning Harbor in Manila and tried to focus on the positives. Anti-Japanese forces in Thailand were opposing landings in the areas north of Manila. British planes had caught an unescorted attack on the Force Z destroyers and shot down a few planes. Captain Riker on the Cruiser Houston was going to link up with the cruiser Boise and any other nearby ships to attack the Japanese on Palawan. Pearl Harbor had been untouched as far as he knew. Most importantly, the current positions of the Japanese carriers meant that the gateway to Japan's forward bases was wide open...

That took longer than expected. It's my own fault. This game leaves a lot open for the active imagination. Good night for now.

Great opening. Subscribed! [:)]

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 7:54 am

ORIGINAL: CharlieVane
As for forward bases in the Pacific, I've earmarked one place for early development: Howland island. It starts with a Level 5 airfield. It could make for a good forward base.

El Cid has invested a lot of time and effort into the RHS mod. He has made some interesting changes and additions, and with his kind permission I have borrowed a few elements for my Bottlenecks mod.

However, there are also some design decisions which are surprising, and the level 5 airbase on Howland Island is among the oddest (the size 8 at Alice Springs is another). Howland Island is less than 1.7 mi long and at most 3000 feet wide - I don't see how a level 5 airbase would fit in - and in 1941 it had NO airbase facilities whatsoever (the unpaved landing strip prepared for Amelia Earhart surely wasn't a level 5 base, and it had fallen into disrepair by 1941). I have discussed this with El Cid via PM, up to him to decide if he wants to make changes.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:09 am

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

ORIGINAL: CharlieVane
As for forward bases in the Pacific, I've earmarked one place for early development: Howland island. It starts with a Level 5 airfield. It could make for a good forward base.

El Cid has invested a lot of time and effort into the RHS mod. He has made some interesting changes and additions, and with his kind permission I have borrowed a few elements for my Bottlenecks mod.

However, there are also some design decisions which are surprising, and the level 5 airbase on Howland Island is among the oddest (the size 8 at Alice Springs is another). Howland Island is less than 1.7 mi long and at most 3000 feet wide - I don't see how a level 5 airbase would fit in - and in 1941 it had NO airbase facilities whatsoever (the unpaved landing strip prepared for Amelia Earhart surely wasn't a level 5 base, and it had fallen into disrepair by 1941). I have discussed this with El Cid via PM, up to him to decide if he wants to make changes.

A discussion some time back pointed out that such air bases were often air base complexes, with several small islands in close proximity all built with interconnecting facilities (tower control, maintenance, etc. pooled). The discussion at the time was about Tinian having separate runways on different parts of the atoll. In a 40 NM hex there could be other unnamed islands that are part of the developers consideration for SPS level.

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:10 pm

The geographer in me must object. A casual glance at a map or at Google Earth shows that Howland Island is an isolated single small coral island of 1.7 sq mi with nothing else around. The nearest other land area is the very similar Baker Island 42 miles away, in a different hex in AE. Both islands are hardly locations for entire airbase complexes.

Tinian is a relatively large island with 39 sq mi. It is not an atoll, and the nearest neighbor is the even larger Saipan, 5 miles away (but in a different ehx as well in AE). Both islands have enough space to house several separate runways i.e. an airbase complex. Tinian was virtually covered by the six runways, taxiways and installations of the "West Field" and the "North Field". It is a level 4 airbase in stock and DBB.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:15 pm

Not much to turn into a written story today. Besides, time is against me again. I'm just glad to be back.
Invasions continue at Mersing.

Invasion Support action off Mersing [Malaya] (51,82)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AM W-6
AM W-5
AM W-1
xAK Kyokko Maru

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Nakhwan is invaded.

Invasion Support action off Nakhwan [S Thai] (51,70)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DMS Shimushu
AP Miike Maru

DMS Shimushu fired at enemy troops

As is Borneo.

Invasion Support action off Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK India Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Saigon Maru

6" Mk V/VII CD Gun Battery engaging xAK India Maru at 8,000 yards

---------------------------------------------

Invasion Support action off Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AMC Saigon Maru
TB Hakaze

6" Mk V/VII CD Gun battery firing at AMC Saigon Maru

---------------------------------------------

Invasion Support action off Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Sinsei Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
TB Hakaze

6" Mk V/VII CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Sinsei Maru at 5,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Sinsei Maru at 5,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Sinsei Maru at 5,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII CD Gun battery firing at AMC Saigon Maru

---------------------------------------------

Invasion Support action off Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
TB Hakaze
AMC Saigon Maru, on fire

TB Hakaze fired at enemy guns

The belated Khota Bharu attack catches my forces on the rails. They're all loaded up, so they should still move out.

Pre-Invasion action off Kota Bharu [Malaya] (51,75)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokko Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Huso Maru
AKL Kisogawa Maru

Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

xAK Hokko Maru firing at IA 8th Brigade
xAK Hokko Maru fired at enemy troops
xAP Koan Maru fired at enemy troops
xAP Huso Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu [Malaya] (51,75)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokko Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Huso Maru
AKL Kisogawa Maru

Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

xAK Hokko Maru firing at IA 8th Brigade
xAK Hokko Maru fired at enemy troops
xAP Koan Maru fired at enemy troops
xAP Huso Maru fired at enemy troops
xAK Hokko Maru fired at enemy troops

Here's the strangest invasion. An attack on Ocean island featuring escorts from the Wake TF and the Maizuru SNLF. It seems Wake may be left untouched for now. I'll try to evac the Wildcats and the Marines if such is the case. A larger invasion may be on the way later!

Pre-Invasion action off Banaba/Ocean Island (130,130)

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
DD Hayate
DD Oite
DD Mochizuki
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
CM Kaiun Maru
CM Kaikei Maru

Allied ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

CL Yubari firing at CMF Heron Force
CL Tatsuta firing at CMF Heron Force
CL Tenryu firing at CMF Heron Force
DD Hayate firing at CMF Heron Force
DD Oite firing at CMF Heron Force
DD Mochizuki firing at CMF Heron Force
DD Yayoi firing at CMF Heron Force
DD Kisaragi firing at CMF Heron Force
CM Kaiun Maru firing at CMF Heron Force
CM Kaikei Maru firing at CMF Heron Force

Mines were swept in Bataan.

Naka-chan led an excessive bombardment of Jesselton.

Night Naval bombardment of Jesselton [BNoBNEO] at 68,86

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Natsugumo

Resource Mine/Stn hits 1
Manpower Center hits 1
Fires 32
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 15
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 5

CL Naka firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Samidare firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Yudachi firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Harusame firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Murasame firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Asagumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Minegumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Natsugumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]

---------------------------------------------

Naval bombardment of Jesselton [BNoBNEO] at 68,86

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Natsugumo

CL Naka firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Samidare firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Yudachi firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Harusame firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Murasame firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Asagumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Minegumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]
DD Natsugumo firing at Jesselton [BNoBNEO]

A rare case of a dud Japanese Torpedo.

Submarine attack near San Jose [Mindoro] at 78,82

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
xAKL PC Elcano

xAKL PC Elcano is sighted by SS I-17
SS I-17 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL PC Elcano

Mine, on the other hand, worked.

Submarine attack near Legaspi [Luzon] at 81,81

Japanese Ships
xAKL Bichu Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-39

xAKL Bichu Maru is sighted by SS S-39
SS S-39 attacking xAKL Bichu Maru on the surface
SS S-39 low on gun ammo, Easton G. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

---------------------------------------------

Submarine attack near Legaspi [Luzon] at 81,81

Japanese Ships
xAK Tosei Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-39

xAK Tosei Maru is sighted by SS S-39
SS S-39 launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Tosei Maru

Off Hawaii:

Submarine attack near Lahaina [Maui] at 183,106

Japanese Ships
SS I-2

Allied Ships
xAPc Cynthia Olson, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAPc Cynthia Olson is sighted by SS I-2
SS I-2 attacking on the surface

The gunboats at Honk Kong were intercepted.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Woody I [Paracel] at 76,68, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
PG RN Cicala RGB, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PG RN Moth RGB, Shell hits 20, and is sunk

Day Time Surface Combat, near Nishizawa/Pratas I at 78,68, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
MTB RN MTB 7
MTB RN MTB 8
MTB RN MTB 9
MTB RN MTB 10
MTB RN MTB 11
MTB RN MTB 12
MTB RN MTB 26
MTB RN MTB 27

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat

ASW attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 51,82

Japanese Ships
DM Isonami
AKL Awajisan Maru
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
SC Ch 9

Allied Ships
SS RNN O19, hits 1

SS RNN O19 is sighted by escort
DD Ayanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Ayanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami attacking submerged sub ....
SS RNN O19 eludes ASW attack from DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 51,82

Japanese Ships
xAK Nako Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CM Hatsutaka
AK Sado Maru
xAK Kinugawa Maru
xAK Kansai Maru
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS RNN KXIII

SS RNN KXIII launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Nako Maru
RNN KXIII bottoming out ....
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Nothing much to say here. O19 is in good shape. 4SYS 2 FLT.

In the air pahse, we lost sighting of the Japanese carriers moving north of Malaya, and all but one sub near PH despite having 48 PBYs on search.

I learned why Puerto Princessa makes for a good forward base:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Zamboanga [Rubber] at 75,88

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty TB x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAPc PC Prncesa Asturias
xAPc PC Cebu Ferry 2, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Don Esteban USAT
xAKL Vizcaya USAT, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G4M1 Betty TB bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Vizcaya USAT

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarakan [Oil/Bor] at 67,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty TB x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK UK British Sailor
PC NEI Formalhaut

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G4M1 Betty TB bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

These task forces will stop loading and flee.

Morning Air attack on Hong Kong & HKVDC Fortress, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2m21 Zero x 48
Ki-48 Ib Lily x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Ib Lily : 3 damaged
Ki-48 Ib Lily : 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-48 Ib Lily bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 4x15 kg GP GSptPkg

Morning Air attack on NRA 93rd Corps, at 87,43 (Loyang [Yellow R])

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann DB x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann DB: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-30 Ann DB releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 2 x 4x50 kg GP GSptPkg
1 x Ki-30 Ann DB releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 2 x 4x50 kg GP GSptPkg

Intel shows 2 Ki-30's killed by flak.

Possibly the biggest disaster for sheer percentage of forces lost was at Kavieng. 3 Hudsons went in at 1000 feet to attack the Naval guard detachment, and the animations shows all 3 as being destroyed by flak! Admittedly, editor shows that this unit has more Machine guns and DP guns, so it shouldn't be that much of a shock. Odlly, back at Rabaul the unit has 1 active Hudson and 3 that are maintained, alongside 3 KIA pilots.

Morning Air attack on 66th/III Naval Guard Unit, at 106,122 (Kavieng [N Ireland])

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
RAAF Hudson I GP x 3

Allied aircraft losses
RAAF Hudson I GP: 2 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x RAAF Hudson I GP bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 4x100 kg GP GSptPkg

Not sure if I'll still send Adelaide to bombard. This unit has at least 6 CD guns and4 DP. No need to risk a magazine detonation!

Malaya was the usual mess in the air. Yesterday's naval strikes were our freebies.

Afternoon Air attack on 42nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team, at 51,73 (Patani Prov [Thai])

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2m21 Zero x 23
Ki-43 Ib Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
RAF Blenheim I GP x 3
RAAF Hudson I GP x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
RAF Blenheim I GP: 1 destroyed

Afternoon Air attack on Kota Bharu [Malaya] , at 51,75

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Ib Lily x 25

Allied aircraft
RAF Blenheim IF NF x 3
RAF Buffalo I x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Ib Lily : 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu [Malaya] at 51,75

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2m21 Zero x 12
Ki-43 Ia Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
RAF Blenheim I GP x 6
RAF Buffalo I x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
RAF Blenheim I GP: 1 destroyed
RAF Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
59th Ftr Sentai with Ki-43 Ia Oscar (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Yamada S1 Hikotai with A6M2m21 Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu [Malaya] at 51,75

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43 Ia Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
RAF Blenheim I GP x 4
RAF Buffalo I x 1

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
59th Ftr Sentai with Ki-43 Ia Oscar (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(23 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
I've pulled fragments of the Air units at Khota Bharu out to Calcutta and Sumatra.

Only one other strike in China.

Afternoon Air attack on NRA 88th Corps, at 90,56 (Shiaoshan [E China])

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 4x60 kg GP GSptPkg

The B17's caught Puerto Princessa unguarded. The first combat animation reported "2 Japanese medium bombers damged". There's 29 bombers and 23 support planes reported there.

Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress GP x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17C Fortress GP bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 600 lb GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress GP x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17C Fortress GP bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 600 lb GP Bomb

I may have a few more days of freedom to attack here. Possibly even against Naval forces. If the carriers are away the B17's can handle the Float fighters they might face.

On the ground, Mersing was captured. The retreating units are off to Singapore. I'm guessing I'll have a few more days while the Japanese move through the Jungle to cut Singpore off.

round combat at Mersing [Malaya] (51,82)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20735 troops, 235 guns, 421 vehicles, Assault Value = 707

Defending force 4218 troops, 79 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Japanese adjusted assault: 350

Allied adjusted defense: 97

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing [Malaya] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1462 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 50 (50 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 44 (44 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
JAAF 84th AF Bn
56th Pack A Inf Regimental Combat Team
11th Infantry Regimental Combat Team
1st Tank "Rgt" Battalion
12th (18 Div) Engineer Regiment
41st Draft B Inf Regiment
5th Motorized Engineer Regiment
JAAF 5th AF Co
25th Army

Defending units:
AIF 22nd Brigade
BA 30 Battery/3 HAA
RAF 113th Light Base Force

The Hong Kong attack was no problem. For some reason a few units were still on move.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23492 troops, 439 guns, 263 vehicles, Assault Value = 833

Defending force 8533 troops, 146 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 218

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 377

Allied adjusted defense: 633

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-)

Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Assault Engineer Regiment
38th Pack B Division
2nd 4cm RpdFire Gun Battalion
66th Draft B Inf Regimental Combat Team
20th Assault Engineer Regiment
5th 4cm RpdFire Gun Battalion
2nd 8cm Pack Mtr Battalion
2nd Mobile "15cm" Field Artillery Battalion
1st Mobile "24cm" Field Artillery Regiment
10th Draft Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mobile "28cm" Field Artillery Battalion
20th Draft Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Cda Winnipeg Grndrs Battalion
IA Kumaon Rifles Battalion
Hong Kong & HKVDC Fortress
RN 102nd Base Force
BA 2nd Royal Scots Battalion
Cda 1 Middlesex MG Battalion
Cda Rifles ofCanada Battalion
CNAC Hong Kong Base Force

---------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7774 troops, 146 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

Defending force 23262 troops, 439 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 798

The Cavalry in North China was routed. They'll cross the river and defend the route to Feng Yang.

Ground combat at P'eng Yao [NEChina] (90,40)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33233 troops, 408 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 1226

Defending force 5503 troops, 2 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 151

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 453

Allied adjusted defense: 67

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE P'eng Yao [NEChina] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1638 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
37th Draft B Division
41st Pack B Division
4th China Pack C Brigade
6th Draft "15cm" Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Warlord 4th Cav Cps Division

At Jesselton, the Bombardment didn't phase the British. They caused some damage before retreating.

Ground combat at Jesselton [BNoBNEO] (68,86)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1364 troops, 27 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 794 troops, 3 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Japanese adjusted assault: 44

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Jesselton [BNoBNEO] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
275 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Kanno (of 2 Fmsa) Battalion

Defending units:
RN 108th+BNB Cstb Base Force

Legaspi was captured, but the invasions up in Northern Luzon have yet to arrive.

Ground combat at Legaspi [Luzon] (81,81)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9279 troops, 153 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 377

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 253

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 253 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Legaspi [Luzon] !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
9th Pack B Inf Regimental Combat Team
16th Recon Regiment
20th Pack B Inf Regimental Combat Team
16th Pack Engineer Regiment

Miri fell. Now for the Futile last stand of Brunei.

Ground combat at Miri [Sarawak] (64,87)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1368 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Defending force 411 troops, 4 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Japanese adjusted assault: 76

Allied adjusted defense: 13

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Miri [Sarawak] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
I./124th Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
RN 100th Base Force

At Kuching came a Shmeful dispray in the form of a mild Shock attack. Sadly, the forts are gone.

Ground combat at Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3783 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Defending force 1753 troops, 14 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 103

Allied adjusted defense: 61

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
161 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
I./4th Infantry Battalion
2nd Draft Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
RN 106th Base Force
CW Sarawak Force
IA 2/15 Punjab Battalion

Talk about overkill.

Ground combat at Banaba/Ocean Island (130,130)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2174 troops, 20 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 68

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 68 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Banaba/Ocean Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

Kavieng held, but I'll need to get more transports their way.

Ground combat at Kavieng [N Ireland] (106,122)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 704 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 246 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Japanese adjusted assault: 4

Allied adjusted defense: 19

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
66th/III Naval Guard Unit

No attacks in Thailand. The disparity in AV isn't very high.

In China, Ichang is on the way to being encircled. The base south of it was captured in a Shock attack over the river.

Ground combat at Sa Shih [Yangtze] (83,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11561 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Defending force 5755 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Allied adjusted assault: 285

Japanese adjusted defense: 44

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sa Shih [Yangtze] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
880 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
349 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
NRA 87th Corps

Defending units:
RGC 13th Temp Division

I've replaced the general who led the attack with MGEN Lin-mao tuan. He's got skills in the 60's while the previous guy was in the 40's, which was worse than the RGC general judging by the lack of a leaders(-) modifier. Good leaders will be needed to ensure Ichang is captured.

Signal intelligence revealed one important gem:
2/6th Tank "Rgt" (-) Battalion is loaded on a Yusen A Cargo class xAK moving to Palembang [S Smtra].
Palembang is going to be attacked very soon. I've got a task force ready to take the Cheribon CD unit to Oosthaven and get it to Palembang to add some teeth to the defense. Same with the Bandjermasin units. I'd try to evac Riouw, but the risk of air attack is too high. I may be able to use PB's to slowly get the troops to Batavia.
The 3 AA units in Capetown are off to India.
The damaged ships from Singapore are under repair in Batavia.
AS Holland sank in Manila.
Guam and Burma were not attacked.
An 8-ship TF with "CA CA CA BB" is in port at Babeldaop.
Pompano is off to Kwajalein.
Overall, this turn was a lot more mundane than the last two. There was the usual losses for us, and the modest sub successes. Certain major moves have yet to be made that will determine my own plans.
Big L has already been detected near the Marshalls, but Bristolduke can't do much about that yet.
The transport/CA tf headed to San Francisco is very close to ocean island. I've detached CA Louis-ville to try and intercept the invasion TF. They might just move south while my Carriers close in to Kwajalein.
Advise is welcome.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:15 pm

Sulu Sea.
First Lieutenant Jan Ellard couldn't see a thing in the clouds. The fact that this meant his squadron was nearing the target was not mollifying. Nor was the simplicity of their orders. Being the de facto commander of a wing of B17's didn't help either.
"Attack Puerto Princesa airfield until circumstances dictate alternative course of action." What circumstances could he look forward to? Would canceling strikes be an acceptable course? Yesterday's strikes had been a massive stroke of luck. They were merely hoping to wreck the airfield, but the Japanese had been maddeningly quick in getting planes flying from there. They'd been launching raids even as the 19th Bomber group took off to attack. With clear skies on their side, the B17s managed to hit the airfield, the runway, and blow up a few bombers. MacArthur himself had ordered them to continue the attacks, eager to exploit the apparent hole in the Empire's plans.
Ellard was feeling cautiously optimistic about their role in the war. On one hand, their target was "in the nude" with regards to flak, and the island of Mindano was still untouched by Japanese troops or bombs. On the other hand, the attacks they launched came in two separate groups of six bombers each, making them vulnerable to a concentrated attack. Their plane of choice was not quite a "flying fortress". The B17c had one .30 caliber machine gun in the front and no turret facing directly behind it.
Meanwhile, Ellard had been haunted by reports of the Japanese Zero fighter, which was capable of flying several hundred miles from Formosa to hit Clark field, mounted multiple autocannons, and could outmaneuver anything it went up against. Puerto Princesa was far from any other hostile airfields, but those carriers that sank the British fleet didn't need to be close by to impede their progress.
"How far to the target?" He asked his navigator, trying not to consider what awaited them.
"Another half hour, sir." Rodney replied.
"Looks like the fog isn't going to lift...like before." The copilot stuttered out. He'd been jumpy the last time, and now fear of retribution was making him even more scared than Ellard.
"We got contact!" The gunner on the left-hand machine gun howled. "High on our five!"
Ellard refrained from executing any maneuvers. They'd been told in training that the gunners would have a better chance of hitting any target if the plane remained on course. Machine gun fire could be heard, but not from their plane. Ellard just caught the fighter as it vanished in the clouds to their left.
"What happened?"
"He dove down on no-one in particular. Got nicked by the top gunner on the guy to our left, releaized we weren't just some Chinese bi-planes, kept right on diving."
It was another tense half-hour, but no more planes were spotted.
The overcast became less intense as they neared the target, but there were only a few openings to see below.
"Where are we, Rod?"
"If we're following the same course we did yesterday, we should be over the airfield in a minute or so."
"Good enough for me." He raised the other pilots on the radio.
"Alrighty gentlemen, we drop our payload in one minute. Remember, if we learn the strike failed, just blame the weather and enemy fighters for disrupting our attack." A chorus of laughs answered him, though some seemed more forced than others.
When the bombs were dropped, Ellard listened closely for the sound of secondary detonations or fuel explosions, but there was nothing more than the usual thud of the bombs this time. The planes turned back to Cagayan.
Ellard found that the lighter weight of the now-empty B17 had in some way transferred itself into him. They had merely accomplished one mission in prolonged campaign, but it was as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The overcast went from a frustrating impediment to a welcoming sight. Inside the clouds, they were protected from the chaos around them. The B17s moved with unencumbered grace through the grey backdrop. The sound of their engines was almost hypnotic. They were all around him, especially above...him...
Lieutenant Hall spoke up first.
"Guys, I think we're not the only ones flying here."
Halfway through his sentence, Two Japanese fighter dove out of the clouds in front of them. Multiple front gunners zeroed in on the lead plane, and it turned away as quickly as it had appeared, sporting multiple hits, while the other moved away much sooner. Then the radio screeched to life as a swarm of fighters dove down onto the formation. Ellard's gunners shouted out attack vectors at first, then settled for just "All around us!"
"Looked like we kicked the Hornet's nest this time!" A pilot named Evans groaned. In the background, they heard his Gunners cheer as a burning fighter flew over their plane.
"Ain't possible!" Shouted Howards, another pilot.
"Why not?"
"If we hit the airfield nice and good, they couldn't be sendin' planes at us!"
Ellard was too concerned with the two planes heading right towards his bomber to pay much attention to this conversation. But Eskola, their top turret gunner, was already facing that way. He sent the lead fighter diving down into the clouds, but his buddy attacked them from below and managed to land a good burst before he too was hit.
Ellard managed to break his tunnel vision long enough to wonder what was happening to the other planes.
"All planes, sound off. Anyone hit?"
A quintet of positive reports answered him.
Ellard slowly started to relax. All the bombers were in formation, and they were reporting a bevy of confirmed hits on their foes.
This made him wonder what fighters they were dealing with. It certainly wasn't a wing of zeroes shooting at them. They were armed with cannons, but these planes were firing twin machine guns. They couldn't have been more than .30's. Their appearance gave a lot away too. Ellard noticed that these planes sported retractable landing gear, a designed feature of older planes.
The realization that these planes couldn't do much to harm them added a layer of banality to the battle. They would always dive down on the B17s, and if they weren't driven off by quick shooting, they'd invariably quit the fight after suffering even the slightest hit. It went on for several minutes, and the swarm slowly thinned during this time. Only towards the end did things get really tense. Ellard was roused from his meditative disinterest when Eskola shouted that a fighter was closing in behind them fast. Bullets whizzed down the length of the B17 and pierced the top turret. Eskola yelped, but kept firing. Seconds later the fighter flew over them-upside down and on fire. Ellard and the Japanese pilot caught each others' eyes, and Ellard was shocked to see him smirking. A second later he flew overhead. The fighter righted itself as it flew away, and the pilot dove out.
"I got him in my sights!" Cackled their bottom turret gunner. He'd been unable to fire at anything during the fight.
Ellard sighed. "No, leave him be. They didn't do much to us anyway. Right guys?" He asked over the radio.
"Yeah, were all still here. And it looks like they've had enough." The last handful of fighters formed up and ascended into the clouds.

Somewhere in the South Pacific.
"Are those-"
"Yes, bombers. Least they're staying high."
Vice Admirals Wilson Brown and Fred Sherman observed the clusters of twin-engine bombers flying at three miles in the air with great. annoyance. First they learn that Manila Harbor is destroyed by Japanese carrier planes in a massive strike, then come reports that the British sailed an entire fleet to destruction. Then, Admiral Kimmel orders the Lexington and Enterprise task forces to team up and "attack the Marshal islands", because Hawaii was blockaded by Japanese Submarines. Submarines which apparently carried smaller submarines that snuck into Pearl Harbor and severely damaged the Flagship of the Pacific fleet. No word on how to "attack", or how long they were supposed to linger in enemy waters until they could return. The operation was just starting on the 8th when signal intelligence reported that aircraft had spotted Enterprise all the way off Johnston island. And finally, their paltry attempt to remain stealthy and ensure all pilots were in their best shape was to have all air groups except the dedicated scout squadrons stand down.
The effect of this was that no planes were in the air to intercept the Japanese welcoming committee.
Brown felt all but pleased as the planes flew by his task force and went towards Halsey's. He was the highest ranking officer in charge of this operation. If things went poorly, he would be at risk to take the blame before Kimmel. Not that this attack was likely to cause anyone on their end to take the blame.
Brown watched through Binoculars as a torrent of bombs rained down around the Enterprise. Her AA guns fired into the air, leaving 2 smoking. At the very least, Enterprise could shoot back. Lexington still had 8-inch cruiser guns. By the time the attack ended, Brown and the men on the bridge put the total planes in the attack at 38, two of which were shot down.
Any future attacks would grow in size as they neared their target, but this time they'd be prepared. With their target in range, the fighters would be launched to provide escort the next morning.
The Japanese may have left the Western Pacific in shambles, but Allied retribution was already on the way.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Thu Jun 15, 2017 1:43 am

This was an entertaining turn. The B17 battle was just one part of it.
It started off with invasions in the Siamese gulf and AM Tanager hitting a mine in Bataan. It'll make it to Manila.
At Mersing...
Submarine attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 52,82

Japanese Ships
xAK Nako Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS RNN KXIII

xAK Nako Maru is sighted by SS RNN KXIII
SS RNN KXIII launches 4 torpedoes

ASW attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 52,82

Japanese Ships
CM Hatsutaka
AK Sado Maru
xAK Atutasan Maru
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS RNN O19

ASW attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 51,82

Japanese Ships
CM Tatsumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM W-3
AK Sasako Maru
AKL Awajisan Maru
DD Ayanami
SC Ch 9

Allied Ships
SS RNN O16, hits 3

O16 has minimal damage.

I thought the attack on my carriers would steal the show. It was a lot of sound and fury. I'm glad they went for the Enterprise because she has the guns that can reach up to 15000 feet. One humorous bit of the attack was the animation showed the messages "G3M attacking an Illustrious class/Lexington class/Indomitable class CV." I'd set my fighters on 100 rest, a move I now realize was unnecessary. In addition, Intel from floatplanes reported multiple task forces around Jaluit. This has convinced me to shift my priorities. The carriers will head south, try to hit these ships and whatever troops they may be gathering, then attack Kwajalein.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailuk [Marshall Is] at 138,113

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 53 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2/G3M2-K Nell TB x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2/G3M2-K Nell TB: 2 damaged
G3M2/G3M2-K Nell TB: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise CV-6

Aircraft Attacking:
38 x G3M2/G3M2-K Nell TB bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

There were two mild attacks on Singapore. They contributed to the 22 G3m2 losses for today.

The air battle of Puerto Princesa was the main event.
First came a raid of 6 B17 from the 19bg/14th squad. The preview screen reported 31 Ki-27s in the air. At that point I was expecting the worse for this little attack. The bombers ran into a single Ki-27 and damaged it, then moved over the airfield and bombed it, hitting 4 planes. On the return trip, they ran into the rest of the patrol. Again, I thought things would end badly, but in hindsight, I overestimated how much damaged 2 7.7mm machine guns could do to a B17. Watching the first few Ki-27s dive down and get driven off or sent spinning away, I realized the bombers could handle this attack. My story had a slight level of artistic liscence, but two things are for sure:
1. I may have skipped through the animation, but the sped up version did show 1 Nate as destroyed.
2. J. Ellard of the 19Thbg/14thBS is shown as having one kill.

Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27a/b Nate x 31

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress GP x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27a/b Nate: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty TB: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17C Fortress GP bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 600 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
50th Ftr Sentai with Ki-27a/b Nate (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 30 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

I've not familiarized myself with the details of air battle reports, but I'm guessing the estimated time of target of 6 minutes compared to the 35 minute interception made a big difference.
The best part? 1 Ki-27 may be listed as destroyed, but the plane losses page shows 32 Nates lost to ops.
We also destroyed 9 Betties on the grounds too.
The outrageous losses are supported by the disparity in opposition in the next raid:

Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27a/b Nate x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress GP x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty TB: 3 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17C Fortress GP bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 600 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
50th Ftr Sentai with Ki-27a/b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 101 minutes

After the Air phase came this:

ASW attack near Ailuk [Marshall Is] at 138,113

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60

Allied Ships
DD Mahan
CA Portland CA-33
DD Porter
DD Flusser

SS RO-60 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Mahan
DD Porter attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-60 eludes ASW attack from DD Porter
SS RO-60 eludes ASW attack from DD Porter
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Porter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I think that might be one of the Phantom subs.

On the ground, there was a second bland Hong Kong attack.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23283 troops, 439 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 799

Defending force 8430 troops, 146 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 202

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 226

Allied adjusted defense: 545

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
270 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 23 (1 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Thailand is a mixed bag.

Ground combat at Chumphon [S Thai] (52,66)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1772 troops, 18 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Defending force 1696 troops, 7 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 70

Japanese adjusted assault: 81

Allied adjusted defense: 43

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
JAAF 7th Field AF Construction Battalion
I./143rd Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
RTA 6th Div/38th Battalion
Sisophon Admy 52 TU
RAF 108th/2 Base Force
Chomphon ProvPolice

Ground combat at Nakhwan [S Thai] (51,70)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 815 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 1093 troops, 15 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Japanese adjusted assault: 25

Allied adjusted defense: 15

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
32nd Draft Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
RTA 6th DHQ+39th Battalion
Surat Prov Police
RTA 6th Div/15th Field Artillery Battalion

This wasn't a surprise. Nor were the overrunning of the Thai holdouts at Singora and Patani. All but one unit made it out, the rest are off to Alor star.

Khota Bharu was a rude awakening.

Ground combat at Kota Bharu [Malaya] (51,75)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8489 troops, 158 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 291

Defending force 4301 troops, 43 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Japanese adjusted assault: 219

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu [Malaya] !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
RAAF Hudson I GP: 3 destroyed
RAF Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2486 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 36 (36 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
21st Infantry Regimental Combat Team
53rd Const Co
54th Const Co
JAAF 18th Base Force
55th Const Co
JAAF 21st AF Bn

Defending units:
CW 3rd ISF Base Force
CW FMSV Brigade
IA 8th Brigade

I thought my units would still move on the rails. They didn't. Not much else to say.

Kuching fell with no fanfare.

Ground combat at Kuching [Sarawak] (58,88)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3639 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Defending force 1562 troops, 14 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Japanese adjusted assault: 105

Allied adjusted defense: 35

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuching [Sarawak] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1000 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Kavieng has proven to be the most steadfast Allied base.

Ground combat at Kavieng [N Ireland] (106,122)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 704 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 246 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 7

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

The Hainan guerilla seized an unsecure base in the north. Troops from Samah could be on their way any day now.

Ground combat at Kiungshan [Hainan] (71,61)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 946 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 237 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 54

Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 27 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kiungshan [Hainan] !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Hainan Ind Column Battalion

Defending units:
JAAF 12th AF Co

The 19bg/14th bomber squad has 3 planes damaged and no pilots lost. I will let them rest and repair. The 19th BG 93rd bomber squad is training in the relative safety of Darwin. With the air strikes on Luzon, I want to keep my remaining B17s relatively intact.
The Blenheim night fighter squad in Malaya is miraculously intact, so I moved it to Rangoon.
Intel shows fragments of two Naval guard units loaded to attack Manado. On my end, I've shifted the Ternate base force there. Manado can be a real quagmire for the Japanese. I have this malformed plan of sending Marblehead and destroyers from Balikpapan to attack the invasion force.
Riouw is being evacuated by air with 6 DO24s.
Luzon remains unmolested except for Legaspi. The 3 Hong Kong DDs are repairing in Manila.
Importantly, an 11-ship task force with a CLs, APs, and PGs was spotted 3 hexes from Samar moving southeast. This could be the Carriers.
in China, two corps of 812 total AV entered Hsin Yang. Another 1200+ and an HQ are headed there as well. I'm also preparing for an advance along the southern coast (Amoy, etc). I want to try and knock out the disassembled 51st division there. There are also Corps moving to surround Ichang.
My daring plan to intercept the Ocean island task force with USS Lou-uh-vull failed. I moved her a few hexes above it, but the TF was still unloading! She shall head straight to the hex.
Guam hasn't been touched, but intel says the 144RGT is heading their way.
I had to shuffle forces around on the west coast. There's some unrestricted base forces further inland that I'd like to take just in case, but they're on hexes with garrison values. I've used the restricted units to meet the requirements. (And turned off their upgrades, too).
Barely any air combat in China, except for a strike from Shanghai and a ground attack from the Vals at the Pescadores. I guess Bristolduke doesn't want to deal with the AVG just yet.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Thu Jun 15, 2017 11:18 pm

Excerpts from American newspaper articles dated December 12th (Note: misspellings of locations are intentional).
AMERICAN CRUISER VANISHES, CONFIRMED SUNK.

The United States navy has issued an ominous statement confirming the sinking of the Heavy cruiser Louisville yesterday. The exact circumstances were not included...The Louisville was the 3rd of the Northampton type cruisers, launched 1930. At the time of the Manila harbor bombing, she was escorting troop transports Hugh Scott and President Coolidge back to the west coast...the captains of both passenger ships were informed that she would be detached from the group and head west, coincidentally the same day that the skeleton garrison on the island of Banaba went dark...Japanese propaganda has not mentioned any engagements in the Gilbert islands area, but enough can be inferred by what is known.
-
GUAM INVADED.

After a few days of blissed inaction, the Territorial governor of Guam telegrammed the Pacific fleet reporting that the island has come under attack by a large amphibious force. When news of the war with Japan reached Guam, the marine garrison planned for the worse...the Minelayer Penguin and the oiler Barnes took the liberty of setting sail for Australia before the anticipated invasion...Not a single plane was sighted over the island in the first 3 days of the war.
-
CHINESE ON THE ATTACK.

A myriad of sources are reporting that the National Revolutionary Army is launching mediated counterattacks while Japan advances into Asia...the Chinese are taking advantage of this conflict to try and throw Japan and its Chinese cohorts off guard. The cities of Ishang, Pao-to, and the occupied Sothern coast are in Chinese crosshairs. Other offenses seem aimed at attacking less important areas where Japan lacks any troops and then withdrawing...Chinese resistance groups are working to disrupt logistics with renewed vigor...Hong Kong, meanwhile, is on its own, holding steadfast for the 3rd day of sustained siege.
-
WHERE ARE OUR CARRIERS? (Editorial article)

Uncertainty during this new phase in the world war in to be expected. We have clearly underestimated the Empire of Japan, and now we are seeing the results of such melancholy...The public must be permitted some vague news of positive developments to ensure confidence in the war. Thus, we must have some news from the Navy about the Aircraft carriers in the Pacific fleet. Japan has demonstrated that a new age of naval combat is afoot with their demolishing of Manila. Meanwhile, our own carriers are skulking in the Pacific because a few submarines and a few more whales and schools of fish were sighted in Hawaiian waters. It can be guessed that all of Japan's carriers are moving around the Philippines and Singapore, and the Navy can surely concur with this statement. Wherever our carriers are, the Japanese could know more than our own citizens...There is no need to leave it as a surprise...The nation has had enough surprises for one week.
-
SINGAPORE CUT OFF.

Japanese propaganda outlets are trumpeting the news of their advance into Jahore Baru. With this movement, They have cut off the Fortress city of Singapore. Their is no word on any resistance they might be facing in the area. They may have cut off the city, but they must still capture it...half their army is only just starting to advance into Malaya from the North...it could take more than a month to wrest control of the city, just as British planners have hoped...

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:01 pm

"There's the fleet. Let them have it!"
James Flatley wasn't sure who shouted the message out over the radio, but he couldn't be too displeased. The pilots had flown through a maze of clouds to attack a target that could've fled the area by the time they arrived, with the specter of a bloodthirsty Admiral hanging in the air. Someone was just trying to let off steam. Admiral Halsey was extremely displeased at the lack of strikes on the 11th despite sighting of at least one Japanese fleet by recon planes. The man had even ordered the pilots on both carriers to assemble on their flight decks and listen to his spontaneous rousing speech before they flew off.
"I know what you men are thinking," He'd said after the task forces stopped less than 80 miles off Jaluit. "You're saying to yourselves, 'We can't stop here. This is Jap country.' But that's the point! While there dancing around in the Philippines, we're going to hit them in their own ill-gotten backyards! Did you men know these islands used to be German? We should've let them keep it after the first war..."
His speech went on for several minutes as he jumped from explaining the utter stupidity of send carriers to attack Manila harbor of all places, to how bombing some atolls thousands of miles from Japan would be a strategic victory, to how much easier it would've been to let the Germans have these worthless islands, and a few other subjects. It had left the pilots more rattled than anything. Flatley didn't think it would be wise to leave men ruminating on the deeper meanings of a speech just before they flew off to battle, but here they were.
Flying through the clouds, Flatley could see that this Japanese convoy would be little trouble. It was made of several transports, at least two destroyers that looked about as intimidating as their own four stackers, and some kind of sleek gunboat with a plane catapult. Against this fleet the carriers had launched a strike of over 60 dive bombers and 12 Devastator torpedo bombers of VT-2. Flatley led another 2 Buffaloes alongside 3 Wildcats on escort. Not much protection, but the risk of fighters was minimal. The closest they'd gotten to fighter combat had been shooting down 3 recon planes over the past 3 days. There wasn't much for the fighters to do but circle over the show.
The dive bombers began forming up into groups based on their respective squadrons and dividing up the platter before them via radio. With an extra 2 100 pound bombs in addition to their main payload, the pilots were sure to cause some form of damage. The first ship to get hit was a medium sized armed transport. A single Dauntless dove down and landed all three bombs on it from 2000 feet. Other dive bombers coordinated their strikes on the smaller transports. Flatley noticed that most of the dive bomber pilots were releasing their payloads at similar altitudes when they could easily dive far closer to their target. It wasn't as though they were running a gauntlet. The Japanese flak was spotty and inaccurate. It was likely that their heavier guns couldn't turn high enough to hit the planes as they dove down. The transports seemed to have more AA machine guns than the destroyers! Not that it mattered, as their high maneuverability let them flit through geysers of water unscathed. They would not find much solace in that, Flatley observed as one of the small cargo ships capsized even as 4 more SBDs dove on it. Another quartet managed to get 3 1000LB bomb hits on the gunboat, starting fires, but it weathered the assault quite well.
While the dive bombers tore into the convoy with wolfish ferocity, the poor TBDs behaved more like scavengers. The pilots failed to effectively lead their targets, and their torpedoes left white trails in the water that clearly marked their inaccuracy for the pilots. Flatley watched 4 TBDs swoop in on the first transport that had been damaged in the battle. They maintained formation admirably, but the target still managed to move faster than they guessed. Not that they came away entirely humiliated. Another 4 TBDs moved in on the same transport after it had been pulverized by another few bombs hits, and two of them managed to land hits. Simultaneously, one of the destroyers was finally hit, but it looked to be from a 100LB bomb judging by the size of the explosion.
With that final series of detonations, all the planes had exhausted their ordinance and moved returned to their carriers.
Flatley found the end results of the attack disappointing. Only 3 ships were confirmed sunk and another 4 damaged. That would not be the end, however. When he returned to the Lexington, Flatley learned that Halsey was taking the fleets north to attack another convoy off Kwajalein. The carriers had enough ordinance to launch at least 5 strikes like the previous one. Intel had also reported that the Japanese had at least 6000 troops in Jaluit that were likely awaiting transport somewhere from that very convoy. They might just harass the Japanese in the Marshalls, but they had clearly left some holes in their overseas frontiers. If Admiral Halsey had anything to say about it, that was going to make or break their war effort.

MakeeLearn · Post by **MakeeLearn** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:43 pm

The Blenheim night fighter squad in Malaya is miraculously intact, so I moved it to Rangoon.

If that is in the stock game, I did not know that there was a Blenheim night fighter squadron at the start. Or is it part of the RHS mod?

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 2:44 am

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

The Blenheim night fighter squad in Malaya is miraculously intact, so I moved it to Rangoon.

If that is in the stock game, I did not know that there was a Blenheim night fighter squadron at the start. Or is it part of the RHS mod?

They're based at Georgetown in RHS and the default scenario.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:37 pm

Here's the summary from before I left. The latest turn will come soon.
Kimmel groaned. He knew Halsey's Marshall islands adventure would run into obstacles sooner or later, but nothing quite so dismal as what he was now reading. Destroying half a convoy gave the men in charge of the task force the belief they could attack more valuable targets. Targets that could shoot back. The carriers had moved North to Kwajalein, with the dual goals of attacking ships and airfields. Japanese bombers struck first, but this time there were fighters in the air to stop them. At least 40 Japanese bombers and several float fighters on escort were lost in fruitless attacks. It should've been quite obvious by then that there wouldn't be much on the airfields themselves to destroy.
But Halsey was clearly seeing red, and with no naval forces in sight, he had ordered a large strike on Kwajalein. The telegram describing the attack went into great detail about how the 3 escorting Wildcats fended off twice that number of fighters, while dancing around the loss of 20 dive bombers, only one of which made it back to the carriers to be written off.
Kimmel could read between the lines here. The island of Kwajalein was obviously a major staging ground for Japan. Hence, it was likely that an above average concentration of troops was even now preparing for future invasions there. If the horror stories about a certain fruitless Australian attack in the Solomons were true, these troops brought extra AA guns along with them. They couldn't have much of an effect on high level bombers, but the SBDs must've followed their normal pattern of attack; diving right into the storm of fire.
Losses being kept in mind, Japan was on the losing end, but both Enterprise and Lexington were tactically inhibited. Wisely, they were now turning south to try and avenge the loss of the Louisville, but if they found that the fleet was already in port, the operation would be all but over.
As if to punctuate the negative atmosphere in the Marshalls, a Japanese submarine had almost hit Lexington with a spread of 4 torpedoes.
News from the rest of the war was not relieving. The Malaysian island of Penang was being turned into an inferno. Hong Kong lacked any fortifications after almost a week of battle. Japanese carriers were moving towards the Makassar strait. Up in north China, the NRA was launching a clumsy counterattack in some place called Paotow. The closest thing to good news was the lack of reports of submarines lurking around Hawaii. Searches had even found what looked like a pack of subs moving to the southwest by Johnston.

FlyByKnight · Post by **FlyByKnight** » Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:26 pm

"You're heading to Port Moresby...I don't care if you've finished unloading at Oosthaven, by the time you get there...they'll have the invasion force unloaded and withdraw the transports! Get your guns loaded back up! That's an order!"
Lieutenant General Van Den Heuvel slammed the phone down. Of all the men to lead the coastal gun task force they'd been trying to get to Palembang, it had to be one of the most impertinent men in the East Indies army. And he was growing contentious over orders to be pulled away from a doomed defense! Utter madness. But so was the fact that they were at war with the Japanese empire. With this came increased incorporation into the allied command structure, and one result of that was a reshuffling of leadership. For all General Poorten talked about dying on one's feet in his radio address to the colony, he would not be the one commanding those who would die. On the eve of the war, the man leading the ground troops of the East Indies was Ludolph van Oyen. he could spur men to action with firey bluster, but it was no secret that found more interest in the workings of planes than infantry, and was no expert in the training and organizing of anything. Someone in the new ABDA structure had judged Van Den Heuvel more suitable for the task, despite his more blunt style of leadership that was shining brightly this past week. He found himself coordinating with the tepid Rear Admiral Pieter Koenraad to shift men from the far flung reaches of the empire into certain bastions where resistance would crystalize, a task made all the more stressful by the proximity of around 10 Japanese carriers in multiple fleets. They'd been more focused on the Americans and the British to bother the Dutch, allowing for key garrisons to be shifted to Manado, Ambon, Timor, Kendari, and Makassar; a skeleton force of recon planes and support ships remained to scout for hostile ships. Certain division-sized KNIL formations that existed on paper were being sewn back together from the scattered units on Java.
It was on Sumatra that the Dutch faced a dilemma. The defenses there were substantial, but cut into 3 separate groups by terrain and poor infrastructure. After some deliberation, a basic plan was hammered out, which was being carried out in the form of the oddest part of the defense of the East Indies. North Sumatra was being abandoned to the Japanese, with the garrison forces being sent to Burma of all places. An attempt was made to reinforce the key Oil center of Palembang. This had resulted in the odd decision to send 6 patrol planes to the island of Riouw and transport the smaller of the two garrison units there to Palembang over the course of the past few days. The larger group was in the process of being evacuated with the help of the British at Singapore, but they would be cutting things extremely close. Already the Japanese had landed a force of 6000 troops to the South of Manado, and another fleet was just off the coast of Singkawang. Another small fleet was unloading at Mersing, forcing the Patrol plane group there to leave a damaged plane behind as they withdrew. In the early hours of the 14th, their own KXVIII had taken a shot at a destroyer-escorting what could only by the Palembang invasion group. This was the reason he'd found himself sparring with the colonel of the Cheribon coastal defense Battalion. The plan was to move them by ship to Oosthaven, and by rail to Palembang. Alas, the Japanese fleet was now less than 80 kilometers from Palembang, leaving no time for dastardly troop movements.
Whoever had thought up the idea of sending extra artillery to Palembang was likely trying to show continued strategic initiative by having them moved to Port Moresby. Indeed, the Australians were likely anemic about the idea of sending any similar formation away from the mainland with 7000 of their men now trapped in Singapore.
Consolation could be found in how viciously their pilots fought in the air, however. The initial strikes on Singapore had ruined the airbase and left many planes destroyed, but the Japanese could not replicate the same success. The British having wised up about the usefulness of the bombers in Malaya, destroying the planes in the air was also an unappealing prospect. Singapore would only be prostrate to the Japanese advance if the airspace was firmly in their hands. If the day's events were any indication, that would not occur soon. The morning highlights included a pitched battle in the skies over Singapore. The Japanese started the battle with numbers on their side, but the British, Australian, and New Zealanders wound up putting a greater total of planes in the air.
British propaganda reported a victory, but Van Heuvel was privy to more accurate reports. A dozen Zeroes were confirmed shot down with more likely lost, while the British lost 11 Buffaloes in the air and 4 more wrecked after the battle. Only 3 pilots were killed. Still, total losses were about equal, a surprising feat of arms considering the planes involved. America's Brewster Buffalo flew with the grace of the namesake animal and not much of the potential lethality of the same. The KNIL Air arm also had the Buffalo as its main fighter, but the chances of them building up a core of experienced pilots like the men now fighting over Singapore were low.
The battle still served the Japanese purpose of thinning out the planes over Singapore, but the subsequent raid still met some resistance (British propaganda claimed the entire raid was shot down, in reality only one plane was destroyed by the fighters, another from AA, and several more might've crashed from damage).
The Riouw evacuation fleet was also harassed by two attacks, but the British had enough planes left over to harass both. If they did run the gauntlet between Sumatra and Borneo, they would be a welcome addition to the defenders of Batavia.

The valor of ignorance: CharlieVane (A) vs. Bristolduke (J). RHS scen 123

The valor of ignorance: CharlieVane (A) vs. Bristolduke (J). RHS scen 123

RE: The valor of ignorance: CharlieVane (A) vs. Bristolduke (J). RHS scen 123

RE: The valor of ignorance: CharlieVane (A) vs. Bristolduke (J). RHS scen 123

Dec 7: Climb Mount...Apo?

The plan/summary

RE: The plan/summary

December 8th!

RE: Dec 7: Climb Mount...Apo?

RE: Dec 7: Climb Mount...Apo?

RE: Dec 7: Climb Mount...Apo?

RE: Dec 7: Climb Mount...Apo?

December 9h: we're back.

December 10th.

The Crunch.

December 11th.

December 12th: the hammer falls.

RE: December 12th: the hammer falls.

RE: December 12th: the hammer falls.

December 13th.

December 14th.