OK, my turn to play the Japanese.
Stock game, I did consider Babes but I dont like what they've done to bombs vs shipping, and thats pretty key given its the Allies sole antishipping weapon that really works until 1944.
We'll be going for the Duration hopefully, or at least close to it, so I'm thinking long term here and the Japanese strategy will be fundamentally defensive even when in the offensive phase. Not gunning for autovictories or for taking as much map as possible necessarily.
Still working up a plan, the first turn is killer. Ideally I want the Japanese to advance as far as the Pago Pago - Fiji - Noumea - Tabiteaua line in CENTPAC/SOPAC, up to the Indian border in Burma, and priority will be given to China as soon as the initial expansion wave dies down.
My vague plan is to create 'dead zones' of semi developed bases which the Allies will have to take, and expose them to as much hostile fire as possible from bases further back when taking them, with the main bases behind the tripwire front line out of 4E range so Netties and such can be massed. This means I will be selective about which bases airfields are developed, ideally I dont want any front line base exposed regularly to hostile Allied bombers bigger than an airfield 3. Having spent a lot of time recently as the Jolly Green Giant in the late war, I've been thinking more about what to do about that as Japan than what to do in the early game.
We shall see. There will be no illusions though. I have seen what 120 Superforts do. [:D]
Tojo goes bananas
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Tojo goes bananas
Well, the first turn is over thank god. House rules wise it's the same as my last game - one port attack on turn 1, no Allied orders issued to docked TFs.
The Dutch started the war, as it happens. Well, sorta. [:D]
As I'm clueless at Japan, broadly speaking it's a historical opening. There are a few changes : the division at Shanghai is being moved to Aparri. The Tarawa invasion is temporarily cancelled and the SNLF that head there are on their way to Wake instead. A division from the Home Islands is already being packed up and is en route for the South Pacific.
Malaya is entirely unchanged pretty much, though I do have three SNLF from Samah loading up ready for a Mersing Gambit. The Imperial Guard and chums are already doing a Singora Sling. Priorities here are to put Burma under aerial interdiction so no resupply of China can happen and get Sallies flying from Kota Baru asap so we can shut down Singapore asap.
First turn is a bit hit and miss, nothing sunk at Pearl Harbor, but 80 Allied a/c were lost on the runways in turn 1 which isnt so bad.
Industry wise I've done very little. I've stopped all Nate production and swapped production over to the Oscar 2, and the Nate engine has been similarly cancelled. I've decided on the Ann as the light bomber of choice, so the Sonia production has been swapped for them. Heavy industry has been expanded by a couple of hundred points. Kate production has been upped a little. I'll post something more in depth on how industry is looking at the end of December, as by then we can see some trends maybe.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Soc Trang at 56,74
Japanese Ships
DMS W-3
DD Uranami
xAK Asakasan Maru
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
PB Tatsumiya Maru
Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 11, and is sunk
SS KXII launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-3
DD Ayanami attacking submerged sub ....
SS KXII forced to surface!
DD Ayanami firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shikinami firing on surfaced sub ....
PB Tatsumiya Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Ayanami firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Patani at 54,73
Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXVII
SS KXVII launches 2 torpedoes at DD Shirakumo
KXVII bottoming out ....
Escort abandons search for sub
The Netherlands starts the War in the Pacific!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Patani at 54,73
Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXVII
DD Shirakumo is sighted by SS KXVII
SS KXVII launches 2 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
B5N2 Kate x 72
D3A1 Val x 135
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 19 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-18A Bolo: 39 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 6 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 162 damaged [:)]
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 31 damaged [:)]
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 22 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 25 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 30 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 86 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 8 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 15 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 3 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 3 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 13 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
C-33: 2 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 6 damaged
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
AV Wright
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DM Pruitt
BB Oklahoma, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1
xAKL Hirondelle
xAP St. Mihel
CM Oglala
AVP Swan, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB California, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AV Tangier
DM Tracy
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
PT-42, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 47
Runway hits 108 [:)]
Port hits 10
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
21 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Nothing sunk, but major damage to the airfield and every battleship left in a bad way. Given the airfield damage, I'm happy to have a day 2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet *
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 17
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-27b Nate sweeping at 10000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 17 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 26
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M2 Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed, 28 damaged
P-35A: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 35 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 97 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 19 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 94
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
27 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Training flight from 35th PG/34th PS has been caught up in attack
Heavy damage done at Clark Field which is nice, recon reports the airfield on 65 damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 5 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36
Aircraft Attacking:
29 x Ki-27b Nate bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
[X(] Nates can do something after all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
DD Scout
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 1,200 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 48
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Alor Star , at 49,73
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 55
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 17 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 79
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
30 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Alor Star , at 49,73
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 4,200 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 5 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 13
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 16th Construction Regiment, at 88,56 (Chuhsien)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8
Ki-51 Sonia x 12
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 27
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 10 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
S.19 Singapore III: 1 destroyed on ground
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF Det with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Wanted to hit Singapore as best I could in the surprise day, unfortunately only the Netties are in range.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 91 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G3M2 Nell x 9
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 14 damaged
P-35A: 5 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 10
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 22 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-35A: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 6
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 25
Ki-30 Ann x 31
No Japanese losses
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-36 Ida x 27
Ki-44 Tojo x 6
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 85,70
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
APD Nadakaze
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-4 Catalina bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 53,77
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 5
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1
CA Mikuma
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Swordfish I bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
Bit of a bad luck there, these cruisers are off to Kuching to cover the invasion there. Northern Borneo has a whole bunch of invasion forces incoming but Kuching is the big one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 53,77
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Kumano
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson I bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio firing at Midway Island
DD Sazanami firing at Midway Island
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Ayanami
DD Uranami
PB Tatsumiya Maru
SC Ch 9
SC Ch 7
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
CL Sendai firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Ayanami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Uranami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
DD Ayanami fired at enemy troops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Kota Bharu (51,75)
TF 85 troops unloading over beach at Kota Bharu, 51,75
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 56th Infantry Rgt
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost overboard during unload of 12th Engr Rgt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Batan Island (85,70)
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Batan Island, 85,70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Batan Island (85,70)
TF 96 troops unloading over beach at Batan Island, 85,70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Batan Island (85,70)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1474 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 69
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 29
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Batan Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)
Assaulting units:
Sasebo 1st SNLF
24th JAAF AF Bn
The Dutch started the war, as it happens. Well, sorta. [:D]
As I'm clueless at Japan, broadly speaking it's a historical opening. There are a few changes : the division at Shanghai is being moved to Aparri. The Tarawa invasion is temporarily cancelled and the SNLF that head there are on their way to Wake instead. A division from the Home Islands is already being packed up and is en route for the South Pacific.
Malaya is entirely unchanged pretty much, though I do have three SNLF from Samah loading up ready for a Mersing Gambit. The Imperial Guard and chums are already doing a Singora Sling. Priorities here are to put Burma under aerial interdiction so no resupply of China can happen and get Sallies flying from Kota Baru asap so we can shut down Singapore asap.
First turn is a bit hit and miss, nothing sunk at Pearl Harbor, but 80 Allied a/c were lost on the runways in turn 1 which isnt so bad.
Industry wise I've done very little. I've stopped all Nate production and swapped production over to the Oscar 2, and the Nate engine has been similarly cancelled. I've decided on the Ann as the light bomber of choice, so the Sonia production has been swapped for them. Heavy industry has been expanded by a couple of hundred points. Kate production has been upped a little. I'll post something more in depth on how industry is looking at the end of December, as by then we can see some trends maybe.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Soc Trang at 56,74
Japanese Ships
DMS W-3
DD Uranami
xAK Asakasan Maru
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
PB Tatsumiya Maru
Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 11, and is sunk
SS KXII launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-3
DD Ayanami attacking submerged sub ....
SS KXII forced to surface!
DD Ayanami firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shikinami firing on surfaced sub ....
PB Tatsumiya Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Ayanami firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Patani at 54,73
Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXVII
SS KXVII launches 2 torpedoes at DD Shirakumo
KXVII bottoming out ....
Escort abandons search for sub
The Netherlands starts the War in the Pacific!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Patani at 54,73
Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXVII
DD Shirakumo is sighted by SS KXVII
SS KXVII launches 2 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
B5N2 Kate x 72
D3A1 Val x 135
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 19 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-18A Bolo: 39 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 6 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 162 damaged [:)]
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 31 damaged [:)]
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 22 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 25 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 30 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 86 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 8 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 15 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 3 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 3 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 13 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
C-33: 2 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 6 damaged
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
AV Wright
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DM Pruitt
BB Oklahoma, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1
xAKL Hirondelle
xAP St. Mihel
CM Oglala
AVP Swan, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB California, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AV Tangier
DM Tracy
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
PT-42, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 47
Runway hits 108 [:)]
Port hits 10
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
21 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Nothing sunk, but major damage to the airfield and every battleship left in a bad way. Given the airfield damage, I'm happy to have a day 2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet *
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 17
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-27b Nate sweeping at 10000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 17 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 26
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M2 Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 27
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed, 28 damaged
P-35A: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 35 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 97 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 19 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 94
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
27 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Training flight from 35th PG/34th PS has been caught up in attack
Heavy damage done at Clark Field which is nice, recon reports the airfield on 65 damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 5 damaged
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36
Aircraft Attacking:
29 x Ki-27b Nate bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
[X(] Nates can do something after all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
DD Scout
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 1,200 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 48
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Alor Star , at 49,73
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 55
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 17 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 79
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
30 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Alor Star , at 49,73
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 4,200 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 5 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 13
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1200 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 16th Construction Regiment, at 88,56 (Chuhsien)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8
Ki-51 Sonia x 12
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 27
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 10 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
S.19 Singapore III: 1 destroyed on ground
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF Det with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Wanted to hit Singapore as best I could in the surprise day, unfortunately only the Netties are in range.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 91 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G3M2 Nell x 9
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 14 damaged
P-35A: 5 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 10
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 22 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-35A: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 6
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 25
Ki-30 Ann x 31
No Japanese losses
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-36 Ida x 27
Ki-44 Tojo x 6
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 85,70
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
APD Nadakaze
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-4 Catalina bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 53,77
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 5
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1
CA Mikuma
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Swordfish I bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
Bit of a bad luck there, these cruisers are off to Kuching to cover the invasion there. Northern Borneo has a whole bunch of invasion forces incoming but Kuching is the big one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 53,77
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Kumano
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson I bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio firing at Midway Island
DD Sazanami firing at Midway Island
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Ayanami
DD Uranami
PB Tatsumiya Maru
SC Ch 9
SC Ch 7
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
CL Sendai firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Ayanami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Uranami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
DD Ayanami fired at enemy troops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Kota Bharu (51,75)
TF 85 troops unloading over beach at Kota Bharu, 51,75
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 56th Infantry Rgt
18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost overboard during unload of 12th Engr Rgt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Batan Island (85,70)
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Batan Island, 85,70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Batan Island (85,70)
TF 96 troops unloading over beach at Batan Island, 85,70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Batan Island (85,70)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1474 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 69
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 29
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Batan Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)
Assaulting units:
Sasebo 1st SNLF
24th JAAF AF Bn
RE: Tojo goes bananas
December 18th, 1941.
I've not been all that good at updating partly as I know Erik is posting all the combat reports in his counter AAR.
The defining feature of this game so far is how suicidally crazy Erik is with his ships! He's had destroyers ranging up to the Thai coast, nosing around Samah, welded to the north coast of Borneo... the IJN and IJAAF have only now somewhat tenuously achieved sea control over these areas.
Not feeling like I'm doing all that well, but its early days yet.
MALAYA
Progress has been OK but nothing special. Georgetown, Kota Baru and Alor Star are now in IJ hands and we're pressing on south towards Singapore. I did have a Mersing Gambit planned but it was simply impossible due to heavy Allied warship activity near Singapore. As it happened the only sorties north of Singapore in this area were by CL Mauritius, who ran into Kongo/Haruna and was sunk, and by some DDs who didnt encounter anything despite a lot of IJ traffic in the area, but there were always plenty of Allied warships around Mersing which kept me away. I wasn't prepared to risk important ships in range of Swordfish.
So no Mersing Gambit, it'll be a traditional advance.
Took me a while to work out that the IJ are averse to flying on airfield attack without fighter escort, I'm used to the Allies with their robust bombers - their pilots dont care if you launch without escort. Once I worked that out, some Oscars dedicated to escort fixed things, and now Singapore is being heavily bombed by about 80 Sallies/Lilies.
BORNEO
The invasions of Borneo have been repeatedly called off due to heavy activity by just about every Allied warship in the area along the north coast. Boise, Force Z, everybody has made an appearance here. There was a cruiser battle at Kuching, as I moved the cruisers from Kota Baru to Kuching to support an early invasion there, however Force Z intervened in daylight and sank two CAs, driving the rest off with various states of damage. CL Boise sank or drove off all the invasions headed for the northeast corner of Borneo - Miri, Jesselton et al.
That forced me to slow down, as the Kongos were the only other powerful SAG in the area and they were busy covering Kota Baru. Once the Kota Baru landings were done, I moved them to Kuching, and at one point had them patrolling the coast. They sank Boise, and then also CLs Dragon and Durban who were also up to no good in the region, and are currently back to guarding Kuching, which should fall with todays turn. I'm just about to order invasions of Miri/Jesselton again, as the north coast of Borneo is now pretty safe.
Not impressed with the Netties, not a single launch from Saigon in all the Borneo battles, and there were Allied ships roaming around with complete impunity in daylight.
PHILIPPINES
I think my invasions of the Philippines are a bit light due to me sending troops elsewhere, so thats a slight worry in this area.
From the look of it he's abandoning all of Luzon and converging on Manila with everything. The IJ havnt been able to really interdict this, so it looks like theres gonna be a huge siege at Manila beginnig in the next couple of weeks. The air battles on Luzon have been about 50/50, but in keeping with his extremely aggressive play there are a lot of P40 sweeps over Aparri and Vigan, so I've just hung back and CAPped, which has had the result that while losses are probably almost 1:1 in the air almost all of my pilots live to fight in another Zero. I've got about 1800 AV on Luzon, not sure if thats enough, but we'll see.
The Davao landings were delayed by, again, extremely vigorous Allied activity from turn 1 onwards. In fact I was so busy trying to protect landings at Legaspi, Jolo and Davao that I was unable to form up mini KB, so mini KB was been split in half with one half broadly hanging around Legaspi and the other half south of Davao. In the end I got ashore at Davao and Jolo with few losses, but it took a while. I've got an air HQ at Jolo now and Netties so thats good, but there are only 200 AV on Mindanao which I suspect is not nearly enough.
CA Houston was Long Lanced painlessly (well, for the Japanese
) off Legaspi when she tried to intervene there.
TIMOR/SRA
Bit of a disaster today as a planned Ambon/Timor wave of invasions was slaughtered by four RN destroyers near Ambon. I was a bit narked by this, as while he's waxed a number of convoys this one was heavily escorted - two SAGs of CLs and DDs and a fairly heavy intrinsic escort as well of APDs and PBs. In any case it was blown out of the water and 60 AV of tanks aint coming back. There are invasions of Manado planned too, but despite mini KB and a fair few IJN light ships in the area I'm half expecting another slaughter. Still, banzai!
The DDs concerned looked like the Force Z DDs - Isis, Encounter, etc, which is interesting.
SOPAC
Manus, Shortlands, Kavieng and a bunch of bases on PNG have been taken without opposition. I have a mixed brigade headed for Rabaul, its a few days out, and should be adequate to capture that. Port Moresby will be assaulted ASAP after Rabaul is secured.
CL Adelaide was torpedoed by a submarine approaching Rabaul, she tried to pull out south after that but IJN destroyers at Shortlands, escorting the invasion convoy, and Adelaide got Long Lanced just south of Rabaul. I know she was old and semi useful at best, but Adelaide could wreck a convoy no problem so thats quite good.
Mavises at Wewak pick up no Allied ships to a range of a few hexes south of Port Moresby.
CENTPAC
I reinforced the Wake invasion and so Wake fell without much incident; along with an indecisive naval battle off Wake when the Allies charged and ran into CL/DD escort. Guam fell easily, as it always does.
KB lingered at Pearl for two days, and then pulled away west, being pursued by maddened USN cruisers who clearly had the kamikaze spirit. Several light and heavy cruisers were bombed heavily in the vicinity of Palmyra and Pearl, intell is reporting that Raleigh, San Francisco, Indianapolis, St Louis and Honolulu were sunk in the region, and given the number of bomb hits I believe those reports. The only BB believed sunk at Pearl is California but heavy damage was done to all of them so I think they'll choke dockyards throughout 1942 and maybe into 1943.
While Pearl was doing that though, her AOs, who were lingering to the north and moving Tokyowards, got found by four USN DDs, who harried them across several encounters, sinking the lot along with their escort, which smarts quite bad. I have few spares, who are converging on Truk now.
KB has now headed off southwest, and is now level with Canton Island. Which is nice, as invasion fleets will arrive at Canton and Baker in 1-2 days. Then she will proceed to Fiji. An IJ division with CL/DD escort is just past Truk, headed towards Fiji - once Fiji is secured, we'll move on with that division to Noumea. Hopefully then KB will be free to return to the SRA in time to begin reducing Java.
I've not been all that good at updating partly as I know Erik is posting all the combat reports in his counter AAR.
The defining feature of this game so far is how suicidally crazy Erik is with his ships! He's had destroyers ranging up to the Thai coast, nosing around Samah, welded to the north coast of Borneo... the IJN and IJAAF have only now somewhat tenuously achieved sea control over these areas.
Not feeling like I'm doing all that well, but its early days yet.
MALAYA
Progress has been OK but nothing special. Georgetown, Kota Baru and Alor Star are now in IJ hands and we're pressing on south towards Singapore. I did have a Mersing Gambit planned but it was simply impossible due to heavy Allied warship activity near Singapore. As it happened the only sorties north of Singapore in this area were by CL Mauritius, who ran into Kongo/Haruna and was sunk, and by some DDs who didnt encounter anything despite a lot of IJ traffic in the area, but there were always plenty of Allied warships around Mersing which kept me away. I wasn't prepared to risk important ships in range of Swordfish.
So no Mersing Gambit, it'll be a traditional advance.
Took me a while to work out that the IJ are averse to flying on airfield attack without fighter escort, I'm used to the Allies with their robust bombers - their pilots dont care if you launch without escort. Once I worked that out, some Oscars dedicated to escort fixed things, and now Singapore is being heavily bombed by about 80 Sallies/Lilies.
BORNEO
The invasions of Borneo have been repeatedly called off due to heavy activity by just about every Allied warship in the area along the north coast. Boise, Force Z, everybody has made an appearance here. There was a cruiser battle at Kuching, as I moved the cruisers from Kota Baru to Kuching to support an early invasion there, however Force Z intervened in daylight and sank two CAs, driving the rest off with various states of damage. CL Boise sank or drove off all the invasions headed for the northeast corner of Borneo - Miri, Jesselton et al.
That forced me to slow down, as the Kongos were the only other powerful SAG in the area and they were busy covering Kota Baru. Once the Kota Baru landings were done, I moved them to Kuching, and at one point had them patrolling the coast. They sank Boise, and then also CLs Dragon and Durban who were also up to no good in the region, and are currently back to guarding Kuching, which should fall with todays turn. I'm just about to order invasions of Miri/Jesselton again, as the north coast of Borneo is now pretty safe.
Not impressed with the Netties, not a single launch from Saigon in all the Borneo battles, and there were Allied ships roaming around with complete impunity in daylight.
PHILIPPINES
I think my invasions of the Philippines are a bit light due to me sending troops elsewhere, so thats a slight worry in this area.
From the look of it he's abandoning all of Luzon and converging on Manila with everything. The IJ havnt been able to really interdict this, so it looks like theres gonna be a huge siege at Manila beginnig in the next couple of weeks. The air battles on Luzon have been about 50/50, but in keeping with his extremely aggressive play there are a lot of P40 sweeps over Aparri and Vigan, so I've just hung back and CAPped, which has had the result that while losses are probably almost 1:1 in the air almost all of my pilots live to fight in another Zero. I've got about 1800 AV on Luzon, not sure if thats enough, but we'll see.
The Davao landings were delayed by, again, extremely vigorous Allied activity from turn 1 onwards. In fact I was so busy trying to protect landings at Legaspi, Jolo and Davao that I was unable to form up mini KB, so mini KB was been split in half with one half broadly hanging around Legaspi and the other half south of Davao. In the end I got ashore at Davao and Jolo with few losses, but it took a while. I've got an air HQ at Jolo now and Netties so thats good, but there are only 200 AV on Mindanao which I suspect is not nearly enough.
CA Houston was Long Lanced painlessly (well, for the Japanese
) off Legaspi when she tried to intervene there.TIMOR/SRA
Bit of a disaster today as a planned Ambon/Timor wave of invasions was slaughtered by four RN destroyers near Ambon. I was a bit narked by this, as while he's waxed a number of convoys this one was heavily escorted - two SAGs of CLs and DDs and a fairly heavy intrinsic escort as well of APDs and PBs. In any case it was blown out of the water and 60 AV of tanks aint coming back. There are invasions of Manado planned too, but despite mini KB and a fair few IJN light ships in the area I'm half expecting another slaughter. Still, banzai!
The DDs concerned looked like the Force Z DDs - Isis, Encounter, etc, which is interesting.
SOPAC
Manus, Shortlands, Kavieng and a bunch of bases on PNG have been taken without opposition. I have a mixed brigade headed for Rabaul, its a few days out, and should be adequate to capture that. Port Moresby will be assaulted ASAP after Rabaul is secured.
CL Adelaide was torpedoed by a submarine approaching Rabaul, she tried to pull out south after that but IJN destroyers at Shortlands, escorting the invasion convoy, and Adelaide got Long Lanced just south of Rabaul. I know she was old and semi useful at best, but Adelaide could wreck a convoy no problem so thats quite good.
Mavises at Wewak pick up no Allied ships to a range of a few hexes south of Port Moresby.
CENTPAC
I reinforced the Wake invasion and so Wake fell without much incident; along with an indecisive naval battle off Wake when the Allies charged and ran into CL/DD escort. Guam fell easily, as it always does.
KB lingered at Pearl for two days, and then pulled away west, being pursued by maddened USN cruisers who clearly had the kamikaze spirit. Several light and heavy cruisers were bombed heavily in the vicinity of Palmyra and Pearl, intell is reporting that Raleigh, San Francisco, Indianapolis, St Louis and Honolulu were sunk in the region, and given the number of bomb hits I believe those reports. The only BB believed sunk at Pearl is California but heavy damage was done to all of them so I think they'll choke dockyards throughout 1942 and maybe into 1943.
While Pearl was doing that though, her AOs, who were lingering to the north and moving Tokyowards, got found by four USN DDs, who harried them across several encounters, sinking the lot along with their escort, which smarts quite bad. I have few spares, who are converging on Truk now.
KB has now headed off southwest, and is now level with Canton Island. Which is nice, as invasion fleets will arrive at Canton and Baker in 1-2 days. Then she will proceed to Fiji. An IJ division with CL/DD escort is just past Truk, headed towards Fiji - once Fiji is secured, we'll move on with that division to Noumea. Hopefully then KB will be free to return to the SRA in time to begin reducing Java.
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RE: Tojo goes bananas
December 19th 1941
MALAYA
Taiping falls, more heavy bombing of Singapore trashes ~15 aircraft on the field.
BORNEO
Invasions launched from Camh Ranh Bah at Miri, Jesselton and Brunei, I'm confident that these ones will actually not have to be aborted. There are still Allied units - suspected old DDs - between Samah and Hong Kong but they have no base and maybe even no ammo. a CA/CL/DD/DD SAG is on patrol in the area.
PHILIPPINES
Not much to report, closing in on the bases he has chosen to defend. Catalinas being used aggressively by the Allies, several shot down, 1 torpedo hit on an xAK at Aparri carrying some tanks, didnt sink it though so some tanks should be able to unload.
SRA
Ternate falls. Heavy naval fighting at Ambon,a Japanese CL+6DD SAG raided and bumped into CL Marblehead + 4 DD and the four British DDs. Marblehead took some long lances and two US DDs were raked with fire, later in the day Kates from mini KB sank two of the British DDs. Manado is assaulted but resists, despite there being 240 AV of Japs, I might need to reinforce!
Betties settled in at Jolo now with torpedoes but looks like they were too late, the targets have moved on.
Timor invasion force just left Japan with a mixed brigade aboard.
SOPAC
Invasions of Rabaul and Medang will happen tomorrow, seems quiet according to Mavis recon but it doesnt reach far south enough for my tastes so there is some risk here.
CENTPAC
Baker and Canton Islands are now in my grasp. The SNLF at Baker are promptly being picked up and will now capture the Tabiteau atoll. The SNLF at Canton will remain as I plan on holding Canton in some force.
SNLF + KB en route to Pago Pago as planned. KB can then support Fiji but it'll be shoestring stuff, she's low on fuel, but all I need to do is get that division ashore and then I can have a slight pause for KB to refuel.
The location of the Allied CVs is a bit of a worry, I took KB SW from Pearl in a deliberate hope to possibly catch one, but no. That suggests that they possibly headed SW immediately after the Pearl attack, so they could well be in the Fiji/Noumea/SOPAC vicinity.
MALAYA
Taiping falls, more heavy bombing of Singapore trashes ~15 aircraft on the field.
BORNEO
Invasions launched from Camh Ranh Bah at Miri, Jesselton and Brunei, I'm confident that these ones will actually not have to be aborted. There are still Allied units - suspected old DDs - between Samah and Hong Kong but they have no base and maybe even no ammo. a CA/CL/DD/DD SAG is on patrol in the area.
PHILIPPINES
Not much to report, closing in on the bases he has chosen to defend. Catalinas being used aggressively by the Allies, several shot down, 1 torpedo hit on an xAK at Aparri carrying some tanks, didnt sink it though so some tanks should be able to unload.
SRA
Ternate falls. Heavy naval fighting at Ambon,a Japanese CL+6DD SAG raided and bumped into CL Marblehead + 4 DD and the four British DDs. Marblehead took some long lances and two US DDs were raked with fire, later in the day Kates from mini KB sank two of the British DDs. Manado is assaulted but resists, despite there being 240 AV of Japs, I might need to reinforce!
Betties settled in at Jolo now with torpedoes but looks like they were too late, the targets have moved on.
Timor invasion force just left Japan with a mixed brigade aboard.
SOPAC
Invasions of Rabaul and Medang will happen tomorrow, seems quiet according to Mavis recon but it doesnt reach far south enough for my tastes so there is some risk here.
CENTPAC
Baker and Canton Islands are now in my grasp. The SNLF at Baker are promptly being picked up and will now capture the Tabiteau atoll. The SNLF at Canton will remain as I plan on holding Canton in some force.
SNLF + KB en route to Pago Pago as planned. KB can then support Fiji but it'll be shoestring stuff, she's low on fuel, but all I need to do is get that division ashore and then I can have a slight pause for KB to refuel.
The location of the Allied CVs is a bit of a worry, I took KB SW from Pearl in a deliberate hope to possibly catch one, but no. That suggests that they possibly headed SW immediately after the Pearl attack, so they could well be in the Fiji/Noumea/SOPAC vicinity.
RE: Tojo goes bananas
20th December 1941
BORNEO/PI/MALAYA
Invasions hit the north coast of Borneo without a hitch. I sealifted my troops at Kuching to Singkawang, Dutch AF intervened but no bomb hits scored. A Babs squadron has been moved to Kuching giving me recon over the Java Sea and Palembang.
In the PI it looks like a British old DD hit a mine at Lubang, I laid those in the few first turns (one hex from Bataan).
Singapore heavily bombed by the IJAAF again. Allied sea activity spotted aroudn Rangoon, I moved up some Sallies and Zeroes to Bangkok, hopefully to do something about that. A single IJA division just left Bangkok headed for Burma as well, not enough to conquer the entire country but we can get moving at least.
SRA
IJN DDs raid Sorong, sink a PC. Recon reported rather more, looks like the merchants headed out.
BB Fuso was torpedoed at Jolo by a Catalina! grrr. 18 floatation damage was it, and she's not really in danger of sinking (I hope), but annoying. Betties at Jolo torpedoed CL De Ruyter near Tarakan though, so I had my revenge. Jolo seems to have attracted his B17s as well but damage was minimal.
SOPAC
The IJA hits the beach at Rabaul, a full mixed brigade. There are enough transports that the whole brigade is unloaded in one day. Which is good. Mavises pick up a 4 ship Allied SAG incoming, presumably this is the Aussie Navy? I order the merchants out, the cruiser escort however will remain... 1941 is not the time to decline battle, especially when you got more firepower.
CENTPAC
KB arrives at Pago Pago but the invasion force is still a few days out, she will loiter in the area. Gives me time to bring up an AO with 8000 fuel, which will help a little bit. The division planned for the Fiji invasion is at Truk now but I checked their stats and they are on 55 fatigue having come all the way from Japan, so I'm going to unload them at Truk and give them a few days R&R before re-embarking.
At Fiji an IJN submarine attacked what looks like a 4 DD flotilla, so theres definitely USN activity in the area. I got an AMC currently on patrol between Fiji and Noumea, a couple of RO submarines off Fiji itself, and a Glen equipped SS between Pago Pago and Fiji. That Glen-boat I just ordered further west, with KB near Pago Pago its not needed there anymore.
BORNEO/PI/MALAYA
Invasions hit the north coast of Borneo without a hitch. I sealifted my troops at Kuching to Singkawang, Dutch AF intervened but no bomb hits scored. A Babs squadron has been moved to Kuching giving me recon over the Java Sea and Palembang.
In the PI it looks like a British old DD hit a mine at Lubang, I laid those in the few first turns (one hex from Bataan).
Singapore heavily bombed by the IJAAF again. Allied sea activity spotted aroudn Rangoon, I moved up some Sallies and Zeroes to Bangkok, hopefully to do something about that. A single IJA division just left Bangkok headed for Burma as well, not enough to conquer the entire country but we can get moving at least.
SRA
IJN DDs raid Sorong, sink a PC. Recon reported rather more, looks like the merchants headed out.
BB Fuso was torpedoed at Jolo by a Catalina! grrr. 18 floatation damage was it, and she's not really in danger of sinking (I hope), but annoying. Betties at Jolo torpedoed CL De Ruyter near Tarakan though, so I had my revenge. Jolo seems to have attracted his B17s as well but damage was minimal.
SOPAC
The IJA hits the beach at Rabaul, a full mixed brigade. There are enough transports that the whole brigade is unloaded in one day. Which is good. Mavises pick up a 4 ship Allied SAG incoming, presumably this is the Aussie Navy? I order the merchants out, the cruiser escort however will remain... 1941 is not the time to decline battle, especially when you got more firepower.
CENTPAC
KB arrives at Pago Pago but the invasion force is still a few days out, she will loiter in the area. Gives me time to bring up an AO with 8000 fuel, which will help a little bit. The division planned for the Fiji invasion is at Truk now but I checked their stats and they are on 55 fatigue having come all the way from Japan, so I'm going to unload them at Truk and give them a few days R&R before re-embarking.
At Fiji an IJN submarine attacked what looks like a 4 DD flotilla, so theres definitely USN activity in the area. I got an AMC currently on patrol between Fiji and Noumea, a couple of RO submarines off Fiji itself, and a Glen equipped SS between Pago Pago and Fiji. That Glen-boat I just ordered further west, with KB near Pago Pago its not needed there anymore.
RE: Tojo goes bananas
21st December 1941
A whole bunch of bases fell today - Miri, Jesselton, Madang, Singkawang, Rabaul, and Chengchow.
BORNEO
A whole bunch of bases on the north coast fell today. Singkawang is the important one, it'll be a few more days before I can get a/c there. An air HQ is en route but it'll be a while in arriving. No Japanese casualties of note.
CVL Ryujo, topped up to 48 planes on board (24 Zeroes, 24 Kates) is en route to Jolo to meet up with the rest of mini KB.
Mutsu/Yamashiro are en route to Singkawang, they will be my IJN naval presence in the area.
MALAYA
Decided to move the air flotilla at Kota Baru to Bangkok. Theres no naval traffic in the area, and I'm concerned about supply getting into Burma and thence, China. Sallies/Lilies continue to trash Singapore, whose air defences are broken, they'll stay in theatre.
PI/SRA
Air sweep over Manila today by Zeroes nets 21 Allied fighters for 3 Zeroes, nice. They wont be able to take much more of that. I dont have any bombers on target though in the area, I'm gonna wait for the fighters to clear the skies before I send in the Ronsons.
Manado still in Allied hands but not for long. The rest of mini-KB is one hex from Babeldaob and rearming. Looking for the push towards Timor to resume ASAP.
All free IJN battleships (ie not the two attached to KB) are converging on Jolo, mini KB will be based from Jolo for a little while as well.
SOPAC
Rabaul and Madang fall. The Allies dont attack Rabaul, instead they head past Lae up to the northern PNG coast - typical of Erik, just full on attack. Theres nothing up there to attack though beyond a few empty merchants.
Allied shipping reported at Port Moresby is of more interest, the cruiser SAG at Rabaul is ordered in. Only gonna catch em if they are very tardy, though.
Small invasion force headed for Tulagi.
CENTPAC
KB ensconced at Pago Pago, invasion force 2 days out I'd guess. Tabiteaua invasion in about 3 days. FijiForce still resting at Truk, they will load up in 1-2 days I think and resume towards Fiji.
A lot of AVs are en route to CENTPAC but theres only 1 in the area right now (headed for Wake), base forces are at a premium, none of my forward bases have aircraft yet and they wont for days if not weeks at this rate which isnt good.
Naval losses for the Allies are ginormous. Current tally is
11 x CL
3 x CA
1 x BC (lies, Repulse is merely out for a while, she took 1 torp)
1 x BB (California)
13 x DD
Japanese losses are fairly light given the intensity of combat
2 x CA (ouch, that hurts)
1 x TB
3 x DD
BB Fuso torpedoed, several CAs lightly to moderately damaged, longest fix time is Chokai with 30 odd days to go.
Japanese merchant losses have been considerable though.
A whole bunch of bases fell today - Miri, Jesselton, Madang, Singkawang, Rabaul, and Chengchow.
BORNEO
A whole bunch of bases on the north coast fell today. Singkawang is the important one, it'll be a few more days before I can get a/c there. An air HQ is en route but it'll be a while in arriving. No Japanese casualties of note.
CVL Ryujo, topped up to 48 planes on board (24 Zeroes, 24 Kates) is en route to Jolo to meet up with the rest of mini KB.
Mutsu/Yamashiro are en route to Singkawang, they will be my IJN naval presence in the area.
MALAYA
Decided to move the air flotilla at Kota Baru to Bangkok. Theres no naval traffic in the area, and I'm concerned about supply getting into Burma and thence, China. Sallies/Lilies continue to trash Singapore, whose air defences are broken, they'll stay in theatre.
PI/SRA
Air sweep over Manila today by Zeroes nets 21 Allied fighters for 3 Zeroes, nice. They wont be able to take much more of that. I dont have any bombers on target though in the area, I'm gonna wait for the fighters to clear the skies before I send in the Ronsons.
Manado still in Allied hands but not for long. The rest of mini-KB is one hex from Babeldaob and rearming. Looking for the push towards Timor to resume ASAP.
All free IJN battleships (ie not the two attached to KB) are converging on Jolo, mini KB will be based from Jolo for a little while as well.
SOPAC
Rabaul and Madang fall. The Allies dont attack Rabaul, instead they head past Lae up to the northern PNG coast - typical of Erik, just full on attack. Theres nothing up there to attack though beyond a few empty merchants.
Allied shipping reported at Port Moresby is of more interest, the cruiser SAG at Rabaul is ordered in. Only gonna catch em if they are very tardy, though.
Small invasion force headed for Tulagi.
CENTPAC
KB ensconced at Pago Pago, invasion force 2 days out I'd guess. Tabiteaua invasion in about 3 days. FijiForce still resting at Truk, they will load up in 1-2 days I think and resume towards Fiji.
A lot of AVs are en route to CENTPAC but theres only 1 in the area right now (headed for Wake), base forces are at a premium, none of my forward bases have aircraft yet and they wont for days if not weeks at this rate which isnt good.
Naval losses for the Allies are ginormous. Current tally is
11 x CL
3 x CA
1 x BC (lies, Repulse is merely out for a while, she took 1 torp)
1 x BB (California)
13 x DD
Japanese losses are fairly light given the intensity of combat
2 x CA (ouch, that hurts)
1 x TB
3 x DD
BB Fuso torpedoed, several CAs lightly to moderately damaged, longest fix time is Chokai with 30 odd days to go.
Japanese merchant losses have been considerable though.
RE: Tojo goes bananas
22nd December 1941
BURMA
CL Dauntless seen at Burma with a large convoy. Sallies and Nells launch (no torpedoes) from Bangkok, no hits are scored. This reinforces my desire to move an air HQ up here.
MALAYA
Not much new. Moving the Netties at Kota Baru to Bangkok. Japanese troops inch forward slowly towards Singapore, he's Sir Robinned back to Singers though and already abandoned all of Malaya.
BORNEO
Brunei falls. Vals are now based at Singkawang, still shifting around engineers.
CL De Ruyter wasn't sunk after all, she was by Tarakan still, presumably dead in the water. Betties from Jolo flew again, she's definitely sunk now, along with DD Witte de With.
BB Fuso's battleship group ranged as far as the straits south of Borneo to catch any fleeing Allied ships, nothing detected though, they are withdrawing to Jolo.
Jolo is being bombed by B17s, but their morale has apparently been shattered, the Zeroes there fended off two attacks, Jolo loosk safe for now.
SRA/AMBON
Not much, gathering up the troops at Manado ready to hit Ambon, I'd estimate there to be 60 AV at Ambon which should be easily steamrollered by my 240. Then its on to Kendari, and then the road to Timor is clear.
Recon is up and running at Ternate and Manado, no Allied ships in the area, I think they've fled south.
CVLs are at Babeldaob rearming, CVL Ryujo is nearing Jolo now.
SOPAC
The cruiser force ran into CL Tromp off Milne Bay and two US DDs, Tromp was sunk outright by 20cm gunfire and one DD set well ablaze, I think she'll sink too. One of my CAs took about 15 sys damage though so she needs a little yard time.
Baseforce just arrived at Rabaul and Wewak, so now Mavises at Wewak can range as far south as Townsville, and I prompted moved some Nells to Rabaul. No torpedoes yet but it means I got eyes in the sky all over SOPAC now.
Tulagi invasion in a couple of days.
CENTPAC
Midget subs have been dispatched to Pearl Harbor, we'll have another go!
Invasion of Pago Pago ETA is 2 days. KB sank an AM headed east from Fiji so he knows where KB is now, my AMC patrolling west of Fiji encountered a small convoy but failed to engage. Pretty sure he knew where KB was anyway so the plans all stand.
CHINA
The major planned axis of advance in China is upon Sian. I'm not sure if he appreciates the danger here, as in my experience as the Chinese, Sian is absolutely critical if you want to keep the war machine rolling and supplied. I'm amassing about 3000 AV, I think it'll take a month or so before we can start driving up the forest road towards Sian.
Also planning on clearing out the SE corner around Wenchow, got a division and a brigade busy doing that.
22 Allied fighters shot down today for 3 Zeroes. Half of them were Buffaloes over Rangoon, the other half were assorted airframes over Manila.
BURMA
CL Dauntless seen at Burma with a large convoy. Sallies and Nells launch (no torpedoes) from Bangkok, no hits are scored. This reinforces my desire to move an air HQ up here.
MALAYA
Not much new. Moving the Netties at Kota Baru to Bangkok. Japanese troops inch forward slowly towards Singapore, he's Sir Robinned back to Singers though and already abandoned all of Malaya.
BORNEO
Brunei falls. Vals are now based at Singkawang, still shifting around engineers.
CL De Ruyter wasn't sunk after all, she was by Tarakan still, presumably dead in the water. Betties from Jolo flew again, she's definitely sunk now, along with DD Witte de With.
BB Fuso's battleship group ranged as far as the straits south of Borneo to catch any fleeing Allied ships, nothing detected though, they are withdrawing to Jolo.
Jolo is being bombed by B17s, but their morale has apparently been shattered, the Zeroes there fended off two attacks, Jolo loosk safe for now.
SRA/AMBON
Not much, gathering up the troops at Manado ready to hit Ambon, I'd estimate there to be 60 AV at Ambon which should be easily steamrollered by my 240. Then its on to Kendari, and then the road to Timor is clear.
Recon is up and running at Ternate and Manado, no Allied ships in the area, I think they've fled south.
CVLs are at Babeldaob rearming, CVL Ryujo is nearing Jolo now.
SOPAC
The cruiser force ran into CL Tromp off Milne Bay and two US DDs, Tromp was sunk outright by 20cm gunfire and one DD set well ablaze, I think she'll sink too. One of my CAs took about 15 sys damage though so she needs a little yard time.
Baseforce just arrived at Rabaul and Wewak, so now Mavises at Wewak can range as far south as Townsville, and I prompted moved some Nells to Rabaul. No torpedoes yet but it means I got eyes in the sky all over SOPAC now.
Tulagi invasion in a couple of days.
CENTPAC
Midget subs have been dispatched to Pearl Harbor, we'll have another go!
Invasion of Pago Pago ETA is 2 days. KB sank an AM headed east from Fiji so he knows where KB is now, my AMC patrolling west of Fiji encountered a small convoy but failed to engage. Pretty sure he knew where KB was anyway so the plans all stand.
CHINA
The major planned axis of advance in China is upon Sian. I'm not sure if he appreciates the danger here, as in my experience as the Chinese, Sian is absolutely critical if you want to keep the war machine rolling and supplied. I'm amassing about 3000 AV, I think it'll take a month or so before we can start driving up the forest road towards Sian.
Also planning on clearing out the SE corner around Wenchow, got a division and a brigade busy doing that.
22 Allied fighters shot down today for 3 Zeroes. Half of them were Buffaloes over Rangoon, the other half were assorted airframes over Manila.
RE: Tojo goes bananas
23rd December 1941
Quiet day. in 1941 thats bad, need to stir things up!
BURMA
Ineffective bombing of the Allied convoy at Rangoon. A KV was hit by a couple of 60kg bombs.
SRA/PI/MALAYA
Pretty quiet today, no sign of Allied shipping. Moving some baseforces from Kuching to Singkawang, theres no Allies around. Troops slowly inching towards targets.
An invasion of Ambon has been ordered, ~200 odd AV launched from Ternate. 120 AV of SNLF at Babeldaob have been ordered to assault Kendari. IJN presence will be mini KB, and four Fuso class BBs in a SAG.
SOPAC
Allied activity at Port Moresby, torpedoless Nells bomb ineffectivly. Looks like a brigade has been landed at PM, not good, cant do anything about it though, the Dutch used up my ammo for my SAG which is leaving Rabaul today for Truk and rearmament. DD La Triomphant believed hit by a bomb near Shortlands.
CENTPAC
Pago Pago has 60 AV of Marines, so my 60 AV SNLF isnt gonna be enough probably. I order the Vals of KB to ground attack while another 60 AV naval guard unit currently at Tabiteau is ordered to invade. Castor Troy would be pissed. [;)]
Quiet day. in 1941 thats bad, need to stir things up!
BURMA
Ineffective bombing of the Allied convoy at Rangoon. A KV was hit by a couple of 60kg bombs.
SRA/PI/MALAYA
Pretty quiet today, no sign of Allied shipping. Moving some baseforces from Kuching to Singkawang, theres no Allies around. Troops slowly inching towards targets.
An invasion of Ambon has been ordered, ~200 odd AV launched from Ternate. 120 AV of SNLF at Babeldaob have been ordered to assault Kendari. IJN presence will be mini KB, and four Fuso class BBs in a SAG.
SOPAC
Allied activity at Port Moresby, torpedoless Nells bomb ineffectivly. Looks like a brigade has been landed at PM, not good, cant do anything about it though, the Dutch used up my ammo for my SAG which is leaving Rabaul today for Truk and rearmament. DD La Triomphant believed hit by a bomb near Shortlands.
CENTPAC
Pago Pago has 60 AV of Marines, so my 60 AV SNLF isnt gonna be enough probably. I order the Vals of KB to ground attack while another 60 AV naval guard unit currently at Tabiteau is ordered to invade. Castor Troy would be pissed. [;)]
RE: Tojo goes bananas
Well, Christmas '41 sucked for the Allies and no mistake.
It's now December 28th 1941.
BURMA
Allied convoy activity continues, the Japanese bomb from Bangkok ineffectively. A Jap air HQ arrives at Bangkok on the 27th but by then the Allies have gone. 40,000 troops reported at Rangoon now so we're talking 2 divisions there I think, so that rules out any snap invasions, Singapore will have to fall first.
MALAYA
Nothing new, IJ forces are almost at Kuala Lumpur.
BORNEO
Air HQ at Singkawang now, plus some Nells and Oscars. Pontiniak/Sambas/Kuching/Singkawang all mine now. Recon suggests Tarakan and Balikpapan have not been reinforced, so I plan on invading these in a couple of weeks or so.
SRA
An SNLF lands at Boela and will take it. Sorong was captured. A couple of SNLF are en route to Kendari covered by mini KB, and about a brigades worth of SNLF are en route to Ambon which looks like a local fortress, I cant see any resisting. Jolo still holds my air HQ in this area.
PI
Not much to report, he's down to the Holy Trinity in Luzon. 200 AV is besieging Cagayan which is not nearly enough, and I botched a landing at Panay, about 30 AV vs 90, so they'll need support. But these are low priority compared to my SRA hoovering.
SOPAC
Quiet after the Allied fleets were smashed.
However... there was a carrier battle near Pago Pago! He actually attacked me, thats how aggressive he is. [:-][X(]. KB didnt suffer any damage, CV Saratoga got torpedoed and bombed to crap. CV Enterprise took about a dozen 250kg bombs but she's a tough old bird. Several cruisers got hit hard too, and CA Astoria at least was torpedoed by a submarine while limping away.
I dearly wanted to press the advantage and did for a day, but KB is almost completely out of fuel. They literally have just enough fuel to make it back to Truk. [:D].
Still, reported sunk are CV Saratoga, CAs Portland, Minneapolis, Pensacola, New Orleans and Astoria, and 8 DDs. I suspect several of the above are not sunk, I will have Glen boats recon Auckland, Sydney and Noumea I think and if I find damaged ships KB might have to follow up.
CENTPAC
Mostly quiet, some convoy action towards Canton Island. AVs are getting set up, Wake has one now, and Baker will have one. Mavises are a precious resource so they'll probably use Jakes for now.
It's now December 28th 1941.
BURMA
Allied convoy activity continues, the Japanese bomb from Bangkok ineffectively. A Jap air HQ arrives at Bangkok on the 27th but by then the Allies have gone. 40,000 troops reported at Rangoon now so we're talking 2 divisions there I think, so that rules out any snap invasions, Singapore will have to fall first.
MALAYA
Nothing new, IJ forces are almost at Kuala Lumpur.
BORNEO
Air HQ at Singkawang now, plus some Nells and Oscars. Pontiniak/Sambas/Kuching/Singkawang all mine now. Recon suggests Tarakan and Balikpapan have not been reinforced, so I plan on invading these in a couple of weeks or so.
SRA
An SNLF lands at Boela and will take it. Sorong was captured. A couple of SNLF are en route to Kendari covered by mini KB, and about a brigades worth of SNLF are en route to Ambon which looks like a local fortress, I cant see any resisting. Jolo still holds my air HQ in this area.
PI
Not much to report, he's down to the Holy Trinity in Luzon. 200 AV is besieging Cagayan which is not nearly enough, and I botched a landing at Panay, about 30 AV vs 90, so they'll need support. But these are low priority compared to my SRA hoovering.
SOPAC
Quiet after the Allied fleets were smashed.
However... there was a carrier battle near Pago Pago! He actually attacked me, thats how aggressive he is. [:-][X(]. KB didnt suffer any damage, CV Saratoga got torpedoed and bombed to crap. CV Enterprise took about a dozen 250kg bombs but she's a tough old bird. Several cruisers got hit hard too, and CA Astoria at least was torpedoed by a submarine while limping away.
I dearly wanted to press the advantage and did for a day, but KB is almost completely out of fuel. They literally have just enough fuel to make it back to Truk. [:D].
Still, reported sunk are CV Saratoga, CAs Portland, Minneapolis, Pensacola, New Orleans and Astoria, and 8 DDs. I suspect several of the above are not sunk, I will have Glen boats recon Auckland, Sydney and Noumea I think and if I find damaged ships KB might have to follow up.
CENTPAC
Mostly quiet, some convoy action towards Canton Island. AVs are getting set up, Wake has one now, and Baker will have one. Mavises are a precious resource so they'll probably use Jakes for now.
RE: Tojo goes bananas
29th December
Kendari, Kuala Lumpur, Nanyang and Kudat all fall today.
MALAYA
Kuala Lumpur falls, Singapore is helplessly bombed, thats about it.
PI
Stalemate in three places, Luzon, Cagayan and Cebu. I'm a little concerned, but so long as Singapore falls on time it's not the end of the world. I wanna be in Java by the end of January at the latest.
BURMA
Quiet, but my division that just crossed the border to Burma is slinking back to Bangkok.
SRA
Kendari falls, Ambon will fall tomorrow, these invasions have gone off without a hitch. Timor is the next step, 60 AV are headed there now with a brigade to follow, mini KB in support.
SOPAC
Catalinas bomb the Japs at Rabaul, clearly I need fighter cover here asap.
Down around Pago Pago disaster happens, even after a routing Erik never quits. 4 US destroyers got into my reinforcement convoy and sent 3/4 of it to the bottom. Then they tangled with the 4 IJ destroyers supposedly escorting it and to add insult to injury sent one of them to the bottom as well. Also I think the CV air are at Pago Pago now, as I saw reports of Dauntlesses over the convoy. So... this is all gonna be on hold until I can bring up CV support again.
I think I'm gonna split the KB (oh noes!) given the trashing of the US fleet around Fiji. I'm gonna send two CV to bolster mini-KB's antics in the SRA.
CHINA
My drive on Sian is developing, the 1000 AV of Chinese at Nanyang are routed with heavy casualties by 2000 AV of Japs.
Kendari, Kuala Lumpur, Nanyang and Kudat all fall today.
MALAYA
Kuala Lumpur falls, Singapore is helplessly bombed, thats about it.
PI
Stalemate in three places, Luzon, Cagayan and Cebu. I'm a little concerned, but so long as Singapore falls on time it's not the end of the world. I wanna be in Java by the end of January at the latest.
BURMA
Quiet, but my division that just crossed the border to Burma is slinking back to Bangkok.
SRA
Kendari falls, Ambon will fall tomorrow, these invasions have gone off without a hitch. Timor is the next step, 60 AV are headed there now with a brigade to follow, mini KB in support.
SOPAC
Catalinas bomb the Japs at Rabaul, clearly I need fighter cover here asap.
Down around Pago Pago disaster happens, even after a routing Erik never quits. 4 US destroyers got into my reinforcement convoy and sent 3/4 of it to the bottom. Then they tangled with the 4 IJ destroyers supposedly escorting it and to add insult to injury sent one of them to the bottom as well. Also I think the CV air are at Pago Pago now, as I saw reports of Dauntlesses over the convoy. So... this is all gonna be on hold until I can bring up CV support again.
I think I'm gonna split the KB (oh noes!) given the trashing of the US fleet around Fiji. I'm gonna send two CV to bolster mini-KB's antics in the SRA.
CHINA
My drive on Sian is developing, the 1000 AV of Chinese at Nanyang are routed with heavy casualties by 2000 AV of Japs.