Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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2/2/42 and 2/3/42 New Zealand: On the 2nd, a Japanese CA/CL TF hits Auckland harbor and finds a slightly large force of CA/CL waiting - not that I knew anything was coming, mind you. CAs Australia and Louisville and CLs Leander, Achilles, and Adelaide with DD and PG escorts performed well against CAs Kako and Fururtaka escorted by CLs and DDs. There were at least four rounds of combat. In the end, CA Kako went down while the only badly damaged Allied ship is a PG that may make it. On the 3rd, a stronger Japanese force arrived. There were two rounds of combat: Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 62,134 Japanese Ships BB Kongo, Shell hits 1 BB Haruna CL Natori, Shell hits 1 DD Oshio, Shell hits 1 DD Shirakumo DD Isonami, Shell hits 2 DD Shirayuki DD Hatakaze DD Hakaze DD Hokaze DD Sagi, Shell hits 1, on fire Allied Ships CA Louisville CA Australia CL Leander, Shell hits 11 CL Achilles CL Adelaide, Shell hits 2 DD Litchfield, Shell hits 1 PG Niagara DMS Dorsey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 62,134 Japanese Ships BB Kongo, Shell hits 2 BB Haruna CL Natori, Shell hits 1 DD Oshio, Shell hits 1 DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1, and is sunk DD Isonami DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Hakaze DD Hokaze DD Sagi, on fire Allied Ships CA Louisville, Shell hits 2 CA Australia CL Leander CL Achilles, Shell hits 1 CL Adelaide, Shell hits 2 DD Litchfield, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk PG Niagara, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk DMS Dorsey The Allies lost the DD and PG, while the Japs lost a DD. For the second straight day, the Japanese failed to penetrate to the harbor where vulnerable merchant shipping awaited. Despite the shell hits, none of the Allied CLs have more than light damaged. CA Louisville, which took 19/0/0 during the first battle, is the most damaged Allied ship. To this point, it appears to be an Allied victory. I am concerned though. A KB division is approaching from the east (the one chasing down, and occasionally sinking, Allied merchant ships). If a second KB division approaches from the north, my ships would be caught in a vice - trapped between land and Japanese CVs. However, when last seen the other KB division was near the Panama City "channels." I doubt it could have made it this far west. A Jap sub at Auckland put two TTs into an AO, which should survive barring further attacks. Cen- and SoPac: KB could be closing on the merchants carrying the RCT. In an email, John for some reason said he may call of the "chase" if the KB doesn't find any prey tomorrow. I don't know why he would reveal this intel - perhaps it's misinformation. The convoy carrying the RCT have split with an AK heading to Auckland, another to Gisborne, and the rest (5 other AKs) making for the NZ's south island. Australia: Jap transports appear to be heading from Wyndham to Darwin. Accordingly, the Aussie division at Katherine has been ordered to move up to the coast. I'll have an AV of about 500. The Japs have aircraft at Broome. Will John try a paratroop assault? If so, I hope he chooses Katherine (where an armored regiment is sitting) or Alice Springs (where a brigade is sitting). Dutch torpedo planes hit two Jap APs, sinking one. DEI: The Dutch still hold Soerabaja and Malang. Singapore: The garrison holds yet again. A 1:1 attack reduces forts to zero. The Japs lose 1249/14 to 532/23. Jap bombers are only flying missions against ground troops. Since they aren't hitting the port or airfield, Allied engineers are able to work on forts. They're at 97%, so the fortress will be a level one fort again tomorrow. How long can the good guys hold? Burma: Stalemate across the river from Moulmein. John hasn't done anything in a week or more. He just began using Zeros to fly CAP over his troops. China: Nothing happening, but the zero supplies at Kanhsien is a thorn in my flesh.
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