John 3rd -> February 16-21, 1942 (4/11/2012 5:03:32 PM)
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Combat Report February 16-21, 1942 Busy days as everything begins moving towards the ultimate Aussie showdown. Lew continues to counter-punch (somewhat effectively) at cost to his naval forces. Nothing too crazy but things a re certainly interesting! North Pacific Reasonably quiet up here for the moment. I've moved a pair of AOs to PJ so I can take care of my Carrier TF once it is ready to leave the Home Islands. Have decided to use a couple of AKLs as a lure to draw Lew out with Saratoga. These TF will move into recon range and begin unloading at Adak, Amchitka, etc... They will be protected by small STF so is APPEARS that the area is still playing 3rd fiddle to the rest of the Pacific. As that happens, I will use Junyo, Nisshin, Yamato to swing around BEHIND the Allies and try to nail that CV. Plan to lose some ships here but the cost SHOULD be worth the price... Central Pacific On the 20th my little STF of a CL and 5 DD runs into a strong American TF of CA San Francisco, CL Phoenix, and 6 DD. The range OPENS at 2,000 yards and my DDs land crippling hits on the CL and 1 DD, however, I lose DD Urakaze for the fight. The remaining ships disengage and head for home. Hmmm...I guess it could have been worse... South Pacific CRAZY action here. The 16th-20th sees Lew throw CA Australia, CLs Leander, Trenton, and Concord in single ship STF at anything in the waters around New Caledonia. His recon had picked up all those troops convoys moving from Rabaul to this Island. The result of these moves is CHAOS as I try to sink yet more of his cruiser force AND keep my convoys out of harm's way. The end result is OK. My light forces damage every cruiser and then the BIG BOYS (Hyuga--Ise) arrive and crush the Trenton. Have never seen my Betty more ineffective as in this period of days. They fly from Noumea each day and night and didn't score a SINGLE hit. Pretty wild. His cruisers do score one victory during this as CA Australia gets into a Convoy carrying 3 Art units and 18,000 supply. She sinks 9 AK and a 1 PB destroying two units and putting 13,000 supply down about 15,000Ft of water. This craziness has me bring the KB out a few days earlier then planned. Every CV is now at a SYS 8 Damage or less as they depart. The CVs arrive between New Caledonia and eastern Australia on the 21st and look for shipping. I move them slightly NW towards Townsville as I have been seeing shipping there for the last few days. I swing an Invasion Force past PM and grab Terapo on the 19th. Lew sends a couple of DDs here on the 20th and CA Kinugasa hits DD Voyager and sinks DD Benham. The IF then picks up the two Naval Guards and lands them at Horn Island on the 21st. I get a terrible Invasion roll of the dice and my Nvl Guard are badly demoralized when they come ashore. He has a strong enough presence there that I immediately lift them up again and head for Maruake. Will try for Horn again in a bit. STATUS 1. It appears that Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands are EMPTY. Begin loading an SNLF Assault Brigade to grab both. If I can get Lord Howe then it will become a springboard for my operations in south Aussieland. 2. The 9th Air Fleet is fully deployed at Rabaul and this mass of BF and HQ REALLY pump up construction on the AF and Port! Rabaul is maxed out for troops that can be there presently. 3. The Cairns IF will sortie from Lunga in about a week. It will consist of Imperial Guards Brigade, 144th Inf Reg and the Chinese 13th ID. The 3rd Chinese ID will arrive there from China. 4. Lew has reinforced PM up to 11 units and that is GREAT! It shall serve as a fine prisoner-of-war camp. 5. Two Inf Div shall make there camps at Koumac with another pair at Noumea while they fill out and get ready for the big jump. Will send two more Inf Div from Java as soon as they are available. Philippines Land at Dumaguete, take it, and the 65th Brigade arrives at Bacolad on the 21st. Order and attack for tomorrow. Java Take Djokartarta on the 16th. Troops continue west. 21st Brigade moves along the north shore and two Inf Div advance along the southern side. Figure end of the month and Java is complete. Shipping is waiting for these troops for an immediate move to New Caledonia. Order an SNLF Brigade to hit Christmas Isle and then attempt Cocos. Cocos: my SS have good hunting down here and my STF bombard the island regularly. DEI Continuing the reduction of the last units on Sumatra. Tarakan FINALLY falls on the 20th when the 90th Inf Reg enters the fray. No DAMAGE to oil facilities at all. This final oil center becomes Japanese and ends a brilliant streak of where NOT ONE major oil producing hex sustained any major form of damage. How about that??!! Malaya A bit of frustration here. I attack Singapore twice and get 1-1 each time lowering the Forts to 0 but cannot get the 2-1. The 21st ID arrives and crosses over nearly gaining a 2-1 on the 21st. We'll rest a couple of days and try again. Burma Holy CRAP! With next to nothing committed to this campaign it appears I am given everything from Mandalay south. How about that??!! Merry Christmas to the Japanese. Australia CHAOS. Lew is trying to fight for the Darwin--Katherine area. He has 13 identified units in combat here. I have only 3 TK Reg, an SNLF Brigade, and an Army HQ. This is perfect. Let there be chaos. I want that. Perhaps Lew will be emboldened to throw more into the fray. It can only serve to help situation for later landings. Schedule a Para Landing for the 22nd to try and cut his supply lines. Port Hedlund and Corunna Downs are expanding quite nicely and will serve as my direct support area for the Perth Assault. China The Chinese have suddenly grow a spine. My assault towards Sian has been stymied by blocking force along each road. Hex limits hurts here as well and so we'll keep right on knocking and see what happens. Wenchow (on the coast) is doing the same thing. I have three ID trying to take it and the best they can sustain is 1-1. Hmmm... Bases Captured: 16th: Munda, Wau, Palopo (Celebes), Djokjakarta, JV 17th: Meiktila, Burma, Rambutyo 18th: Panggoe, Biak, Terapo 19th: 43,71 (Sumatra), 1,000 Ship's Bay, Prome, Burma 20th: Rekata Bay, Great Sitkin, Noemfoor, Talasea, Tarakan 21st: Taung Gyi, Burma SS Operations: 16th: I-155 hits AK Empire Condor with 1 TT at Cocos 18th: Ro-33 hits AK Empire Curlew at the same location 21st: I-155 sinks AK Empire Peregrine at Cocos with a pair of TTs and I-25 sinks AK Mary Livanos near Sale, Australia Need to Post the current SS Totals prior to the start of the Aussie Campaign. Engineering: 16th: Samah AF-5, Lunga AF-2, Oosthaven AK-4 17th: Paramushiro Jima Pt-3 18th: Adak AF-1 19th: Wakkanai AF-2 21st: Pisanlouke AF-2, Rabaul AF-6, Ternate AF-2, Noumea AF-3, Buitenzorg AF-2 Carriers: 1. Zuiho arrives at Manila on the 18th and goes right into drydock. 2. Soryu departs Batavia on the 16th heading for Hong Kong. She shall reach that location on the 23rd. 3. Shoho will depart Batavia tomorrow for Soerabaja These damaged CVs were HUGELY vulnerable for over a month. I am truly grateful that my aggressive opponent didn't try something spectacular here! That is the state-of-the-state. Comments? [image]local://upfiles/18041/95CDF33F67A64C598F4912A7E5A7C7CD.jpg[/image]
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