undercovergeek
Posts: 1526
Joined: 11/21/2006 From: UK Status: offline
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Pacific 8 more mines are cleared at Pearl as the bombardment force comes in again - the DD Yamagumo hits a mine this time but will survive the day and returns to Lahaina for a patch up. Only 12 casulaties are inflicted this time but its not about numbers, its about increasing the fatigue and disruption here - the Fuso is hit by a shell that pings off into the night. At Lahaina its the beginning of a very bad turn of events for SS Cachalot, she takes 5 hits from an ASW force during the night, 2 more hits from the returning bombardment force, and 3 more hits from an ASW force in the afternoon - this forces her to rise to the surface where she exchanges fire with the surface group - 16 hits later she disappears below the waves - this concentrated attack on 1 sub makes me think shes the only one here, we'll see. The 9th and 20th arrive back at Kona, ships will be dispatched from Lahaina to collect them. In the air the mini KB lends a hand to providing CAP and sweep over Pearl - 90 Zeros escort 33 bombers on port attack - 2 Allied fighters on CAP are destroyed, 5 bombers are destroyed and 24 damaged - more if not most of the naval bombers are resting for a turn or 2 now. 138 Zeros sweep Pearl but find no opposition and then the Sallys come in on ground attack. 3 B17s attack the uncappaed mini KB(!!) but all are damaged and return home with their loads - 15 Zeros are put on cap above the valuable force. 88 Zeros escort 112 Sallys at 4k feet - 5 bombers are lost and 85 damaged, the units attacked are the 25th Inf Div, a number of regiments and harbour artillery forces - there is nothing in this list that makes me think Pearl can withstand 5 divisions and their support forces landing here - the Pearl Invasion fleet leaves Midway!!!!! Across the SoPac, garrisons arrive and bolster the defense of the islands, engineers are dispatched to Tabiteau - the airfield is at 40% here, built as the 6th base force gets off the ships. Construction engineers leave Badelbaob to help here and then will be sent to the islands to build forts. At home the KB is steadily filling with aircraft and 2 of the 6 carriers at back to their original standing, 2 more are not far from full, only the pool of Kates is holding me back now - once this is done the KB is heading to the DEI. Phillipines/Formosa/South China Sea/Borneo At Soerbaja the I-156 spots a sizeable surface force of 2 cruisers and 5 destroyers but misses one of the DDs with 6 torpedoes. Off Mindanao the S-38 misses a passing xAK heading to Manado to assist with the attack on Kendari. More evil mini cruiser force activities occur north of Borneo - 3 1250 ton tankers at Miri are found and sunk - their escort was en route but not quick enough, a 3 ship TF of xAKs is then found and sunk. The SS Permit is found by a passing surface TF escorting the 65th brigade to Manado but no attack can be carried out. A few of the exhausted Oscar pilots still take off for Manilla - 20 fighters sweep Manilla and the exchange is even as a fighter is lost on either side - all Oscars are now found and rested. Makassar falls to the 124th regiment and both the BF and garrison battallion surrender - the ships for the regiment fled east after seeing the Allied CVs out here so they will wait for the ships return before prepping for Timor and surrounding islands. Ternate falls to the 90th regiment and the 81 man(!) base force surrenders, their ships are still here and they reload and prepare for Ambon. The 65th and its support troops approach Manado but will wait and see where the Allied CVs are going before heading to Kendari. The guards brigade are rounding the north of the Celebes. At Balikpapan the construction engineers arrive and start expanding the airfield, after working here they will head to Kendari and Ambon to provide the same service. Malaya & Burma Force B and the Imp Guards are united with the 5th Division and head towards Kuantan where 9 units are waiting. At Burma the troop transports finally take off and drop the 1st Yokosuka troops on Prome and they capture the base. China At the soon to be beseiged Sinyang the Allies attack first - after adjustments i have double the AV of the Allies and 3755 casualties are inflicted on the Allies while the IJA suffer 121. I have a choice now of shock attacking back and seeing the results or waiting for the 3 divisions that are 100 miles away marching towards the base from the south - i will wait. Transports arrive to collect the 66th infantry regiment from Canton- this will head to the DEI and assist in Timor and Northern New Guinea.
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