Slitherine

quote:

Axe1999: ARD Dewey runs into Japanese merchant convoy and gets detected, not sure of its faith anymore.

CBI Theater


• Attack at Hong Kong. Still holding but this looks like beginning of the end.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 19713 troops, 357 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 655
  
  Defending force 10757 troops, 143 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 218
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 1153
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 961
  
  Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
  
  Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
  Attacker: shock(+)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  1113 casualties reported
  Squads: 52 destroyed, 35 disabled
  Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
  Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
  Guns lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)
  
  Allied ground losses:
  445 casualties reported
  Squads: 4 destroyed, 56 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
  Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
  Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
  
  Assaulting units:
  67th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  19th Ind Engineer Regiment
  1st Ind.Inf.Group
  104th Division
  51ID 66th Infantry Regiment
  68th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  20th Ind Engineer Regiment
  5th RF Gun Battalion
  2nd RF Gun Battalion
  21st Mortar Battalion
  10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
  2nd Mortar Battalion
  23rd Army
  1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
  3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
  
  Defending units:
  Kowloon Brigade
  Hong Kong Brigade
  102nd RN Base Force
  Hong Kong Fortress
  

  
  
  
• ROC Army crosses into Canton and it is up to one IJA Division to dislodge it from good defensive terrain. Also LI doesnt produce for the time being.
  
  
• Japanese moves towards Wenchow.
  
  
• Flying Tigers en route to Changsha to deal with repeated bombings. Bombings remain regular at Hong Kong as well, AA is doing some nice damage there.
  
  Philippines
  
  
• IJA slowly captures empty bases around Luzon. Still no major clashes. Manila sits at 750AV, Clark with 1100AV.
  
  
• Regular bombings of Clark Field, this one ineffective.
  
  
  Malaya/DEI
  
  
• Singapore progresses towards lvl 4 forts. Will probably stop there due to supply.
  
  
• Night bombings of Singapore followed by devastating daylight Zero sweep. It accounts for 31 Buffalo shot down... I need just one more day of fighter cover to buy out 27th Australian Brigade, and air that can will be evacuated.
  
  
• BB SAG bombarding Mersing.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Naval bombardment of Mersing at 51,82
  
  Japanese Ships
  BB Haruna
  BB Kongo
  CA Chokai
  CA Atago
  CA Takao
  CL Kinu
  DD Hibiki
  DD Akatsuki
  DD Nowaki
  DD Maikaze
  
  Resources hits 2
  Port hits 12
  Port fuel hits 3
  Port supply hits 1
  

  
  
  
• DM Thraican on the way to its patrol station in Sout China Sea, hoping to catch some unescorted shipping.
  
  
• About 30 torpedo runs on Haruna and Kongo by Swordfish and Vildebees, no hits unfortunately. AA claims one aircraft.
  
  CentPac/CONUS
  
  
• CV Yorktown arrives at Panama. Quick stop at San Diego to pick up some extra USMC Wildcats and off to Hawaii. TF8 under Halsey progresses south towards Tonga Islands, despite Kido Butai threat in Coral Sea.
  
  
• Regular ASW near Hawaii, still no hits.
  
  
• ACM bound for Midway torpedoed and sunk en route. Plans for Midway as a submarine base, but I dont feel it's safe enough till I can get some air defenses up there and reinforce garrison.
  
  SoPac/Australia
  
  
• Japanese carriers around Goodenough Island. Looks like bigger part of Kido Butai. I was expecting them in DEI but they snuck through air searches down south. Luckily most of the ships were unloaded but at this time loss of every bigger xAK still hurts. Survivors are ordered to scatter and flee for their lives in every possible direction, in hope Kates and Vals go for xAKLs and not more valuable ships.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hood Point at 98,136
  
  Weather in hex: Moderate rain
  
  Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  A6M2 Zero-Reisen x 11
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh x 27
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh: 1 damaged
  
  Allied Ships
  xAK Colac, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
  xAK Allara, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
  xAK Corio
  xAK Andrea Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  xAK Dilga
  xAK Mary Livanos
  xAK Echunga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  xAK Peshawur, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
  xAK Dundula, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  27 x B5N2 Kate-Kankoh launching torpedoes at 200 feet
  Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  orning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
  
  Weather in hex: Partial cloud
  
  Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  A6M2 Zero-Reisen x 33
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh x 13
  D3A1 Val-Kanbaku x 9
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh: 1 damaged
  
  Allied Ships
  xAK Mangola, Bomb hits 1
  xAK Dardanus
  xAK Koomilya, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
  xAK Nisqually, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
  xAK Mobile City, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  9 x D3A1 Val-Kanbaku bombing from 17000 feet *
  Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
  13 x B5N2 Kate-Kankoh launching torpedoes at 200 feet
  Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Morning Air attack on TF, near Bona-Bona at 99,135
  
  Weather in hex: Severe storms
  
  Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh x 9
  
  No Japanese losses
  
  Allied Ships
  xAKL Melinga
  xAK Orne, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
  
  Allied ground losses:
  Guns lost 32 (23 destroyed, 9 disabled)
  Vehicles lost 45 (17 destroyed, 28 disabled)
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  9 x B5N2 Kate-Kankoh launching torpedoes at 200 feet
  Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
  
  

  
  
  
• I dont know what laodouts IJN CVLs carry, do they have only Fs + TBs? If so, by the looks of it, with many Kates and not a lot of Vals TF could be composed of CVLs? Or is he holding them back for ASW/search duties? Anyways, half a dozen subs are coming on station south of Truk to hopefully catch them on the way back.
  
  
• IJN 21st Division still in transit to Truk, Aussies may arrive to reinforce in time, if carriers dont stick around. Larger combatants and tankers at Darwin are ordered to scatter as well.
  
  
• Switching main build effort from Townsville to Charter Towers. Better (inland) location for airfield.
  
  
• Australia has nothing that resembles fighter defense yet, so if carriers decide to swing south to Sydney, we're in trouble. Moving some extra patrols to cover approaches from north a bit better.
  

quote:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Deboyne Islands at 102,135, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
xAKL Iboki

• Hong Kong still holds. Supply still good.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 18335 troops, 349 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 596
  
  Defending force 10324 troops, 142 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 163
  
  Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 525
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 425
  
  Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
  
  Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
  Attacker: shock(+)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  555 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
  Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 23 disabled
  Engineers: 19 destroyed, 5 disabled
  Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
  
  Allied ground losses:
  238 casualties reported
  Squads: 13 destroyed, 25 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
  Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
  
  Assaulting units:
  19th Ind Engineer Regiment
  1st Ind.Inf.Group
  51ID 66th Infantry Regiment
  104th Division
  68th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  20th Ind Engineer Regiment
  23rd Army
  5th RF Gun Battalion
  21st Mortar Battalion
  2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
  10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
  2nd Mortar Battalion
  3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  67th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  2nd RF Gun Battalion
  20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
  
  Defending units:
  Kowloon Brigade
  Hong Kong Brigade
  102nd RN Base Force
  Hong Kong Fortress
  

  
  
  
• Regular bombings of Changsha.
  
  
• About 50-60k supply on the move towards Rangoon from Cape Town.
  

• Pincer movement on Luzon, from north and south. SigInt picks up several heavy artillery regiments prepping for Clark Field.
  
  
• President Quezon evacuated by submarine to Australia. USAFE HQa is being air transfered to Java.
  
  
• Bataan forts are lvl 3 + 7%.
  
  

• All defenses in place, 27th Brigade evacuated and currently at Palembang. All major shipping evacuated. Now we can just wait.
  
  
• Pretty heavy bombing of airfield, with many disabled planes.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
  
  Weather in hex: Partial cloud
  
  Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  A6M2 Zero-Reisen x 9
  Ki-21-IIa Sally x 60
  Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 19
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  Ki-21-IIa Sally: 12 damaged
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  Hudson I: 2 damaged
  Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
  B-17D Fortress: 3 damaged
  Blenheim I: 3 damaged
  Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
  Vildebeest III: 1 damaged
  Vildebeest III: 3 destroyed on ground
  Buffalo I: 1 damaged
  Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
  Catalina I: 1 damaged
  Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
  Blenheim IV: 10 damaged
  Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
  
  Airbase hits 3
  Runway hits 16
  

  
  
  
• PG pickets in South China Sea sunk by IJN DD squadron.
  
  
• Thracian engages 4 DMSs, sinks one and damages another. Engaging tanker TF after, hitting one and sinking escorting PB.
  

• Regular ASW near Hawaii, still no hits.
  
  
• An odd AV spotted about 15 hexes SW of Midway moving towards it. CA SAG dispatched to investigate. Could CVL possibly be mistaken for AV? Guess we'll find out.
  
  
• xAKs finally finishing installing AA systems. Current priority is aircraft ferry to SWPAC.
  

• Kido Butai in Coral Sea hitting stray shipping. Fortunately mostly 1VP xAKLs and only 2 bigger xAKs. On its way towards Darwin so shipping from there is evacuated to Port Heland, especially valuable Dutch tankers and troop transports carrying 22nd Brigade.
  
  
• B-17s from Philippines reached Townsville. Rabaul is out of range but they will be useful if Port Moresby falls.
  
  
• Sub pickets south of Truk sent, to intercept returning Kido Butai or southbound troop transports. Currently four subs on station with one more on the way from Hawaii.
  
  
• Fiji, Samoa and Noumea reinforcements are gonna be a while, 12kn over almost entire Pacific is not fun... Fighters for Australia should be a bit sooner.
  
  
  

• Another attack fought back. Forts rebuild to lvl 1 at the end of the turn.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 17674 troops, 349 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 575
  
  Defending force 9919 troops, 141 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 455
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 405
  
  Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
  
  Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
  Attacker: shock(+)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  421 casualties reported
  Squads: 2 destroyed, 73 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
  Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
  
  Allied ground losses:
  360 casualties reported
  Squads: 26 destroyed, 6 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
  Engineers: 7 destroyed, 2 disabled
  Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
  
  Assaulting units:
  1st Ind.Inf.Group
  104th Division
  68th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  51ID 66th Infantry Regiment
  20th Ind Engineer Regiment
  5th RF Gun Battalion
  21st Mortar Battalion
  2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  2nd Mortar Battalion
  19th Ind Engineer Regiment
  23rd Army
  2nd RF Gun Battalion
  1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
  10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
  67th Ind.Infantry Battalion
  3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
  20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
  
  Defending units:
  Kowloon Brigade
  Hong Kong Brigade
  102nd RN Base Force
  Hong Kong Fortress
  

  
  
  
• Chinese army ejected from Canton. If it wasnt evident already, land warfare is not my thing...
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Canton (77,59)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 9071 troops, 107 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 377
  
  Defending force 5048 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 515
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 37
  
  Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
  preparation(-), experience(-)
  Attacker: shock(+)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  186 casualties reported
  Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
  
  Allied ground losses:
  1739 casualties reported
  Squads: 61 destroyed, 0 disabled
  Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 0 disabled
  Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
  Units retreated 1
  
  Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
  
  Assaulting units:
  7/2 Field Kempeitai
  38th Division
  20th RGC/A Division
  20th RGC/B Division
  1st JAAF AF Coy
  47th JAAF AF Bn
  Canton Special Base Force
  2nd JAAF AF Coy
  
  Defending units:
  54th Chinese Army
  

  
  
  
• Calcutta has some 400AV, next reinforcements available head to Ceylon and Chittagong, and from there on Imphal - Kohima - Dimapur - Ledo line. Also will leave at least some mobile troops down south acting as QRF.
  

• Bombing and sweeps over Manila and Clark Field.
  
  
• Mindanao slowly falling. Last pocket of resistance remains at Cagayan.
  
  

• Betty raids on YMS around Singapore, no damage. No bombing or sweeps today.
  
  
• Bombardment of Soerebaja by heavy IJN SAG:
  

  quote:
  
  
  Naval bombardment of Soerabaja at 56,104
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  Do-24K-1: 3 damaged
  Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed on ground
  CW-21B Demon: 2 damaged
  CW-21B Demon: 2 destroyed on ground
  L-212: 4 damaged
  L-212: 1 destroyed on ground
  139WH-3: 4 damaged
  139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground
  T.IVa: 2 damaged
  
  Japanese Ships
  BB Ise
  BB Yamashiro
  
  Allied Ships
  CL Mauritius~, Shell hits 1, on fire
  CMc Bangkalen, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
  PC Formalhaut, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
  CL Danae~, Shell hits 1, on fire
  
  Allied ground losses:
  141 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  
  Repair Shipyard hits 1
  Airbase supply hits 1
  Runway hits 10
  Port hits 6
  

  
  
  
• The Empire paid for not having embedded minesweeping ships. SAG present at port will charge to try to finish off damaged IJN ships.
  

  quote:
  
  
  TF 120 encounters mine field at Soerabaja (56,104)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DD Wakaba
  BB Yamashiro, Mine hits 1
  CL Sendai, Mine hits 1
  DD Sanae, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  DD Kuretake, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  
  2 mines cleared
  

  
  
  
• Before bombardment Yamashiro and DDs got four groups of four MTBs and PT Boats.
  

• Regular ASW near Hawaii, still no hits.
  
  
• CA group one day out of point of intercept SW of Midway.
  
  
• Canton Island reinforcements unloading, but it will be a while, and its still missing 298th Regiment.
  

• Kido Butai swings west toward Darwin and keeps hitting stray shipping. Fortunately nothing important is on its path of destruction.
  
  
• Still need about a week worth of PPs to buy out 8th Marine Regiment, and then ship it to Pago Pago.
  
  
• SAG spotted in Solomon Sea. Possibly BBs.
  
  
• Single submarine one hex south of Suva. Two Kiwi minesweepers on the move towards Fiji to deal with it, along with an AG to rearm depth charges.
  
  
  

• No attack on Hong Kong today. Not even bombardment.
  
  
• Changsha bombed with medium effect.
  

• Bombing and sweeps over Manila and Clark Field.
  
  
• Two subs at Manila rearmed, repaired and sent back to its assigned patrol lines.
  
  

• No raids on Singapore. All that heavy flak there must have done some damage.
  
  
• My SAG suicide-runs into Yamashiro TF, hoping that mine hit last turn did some damage.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Night Time Surface Combat, near Soerabaja at 56,103, Range 10,000 Yards
  
  Japanese Ships
  BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6
  BB Ise, Shell hits 10, on fire
  CL Sendai, Shell hits 6, on fire
  DD Hatsuharu
  DD Nenohi
  DD Hatsushimo, Shell hits 1
  DD Wakaba, Shell hits 2, on fire
  DD Isonami
  DD Uranami
  DD Shikinami
  DD Akebono
  DD Kuretake
  
  Allied Ships
  CL Mauritius~, Shell hits 2
  DD Witte de With
  DD Van Nes
  DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1
  DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2
  

  
  
  
• The Empire paid for not having embedded minesweeping ships. SAG present at port will charge to try to finish off damaged IJN ships.
  

  quote:
  
  
  TF 120 encounters mine field at Soerabaja (56,104)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DD Wakaba
  BB Yamashiro, Mine hits 1
  CL Sendai, Mine hits 1
  DD Sanae, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  DD Kuretake, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  
  2 mines cleared
  

  
  
  
• After that ran into his second TF. Damn you Long Lance.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Night Time Surface Combat, near Soerabaja at 57,103, Range 9,000 Yards
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  Walrus II: 1 destroyed
  
  Japanese Ships
  CA Mogami
  CA Mikuma
  CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
  CA Kumano
  DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
  DD Hagikaze
  DD Fubuki
  DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1
  DD Hatsuyuki
  
  Allied Ships
  CL Mauritius~, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
  DD Witte de With
  DD Van Nes
  DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
  DD Tenedos, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
  

  
  

• Supply convoys unloading at Pearl Harbor and Johnston Island.
  
  
• CAs caught up to the intruders south of Midway, and as it turns out those were a pair of AMCs that were raiding north of Baker about a week ago.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Day Time Surface Combat, near Midway at 155,97, Range 24,000 Yards
  
  Japanese aircraft
  no flights
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
  
  Japanese Ships
  AMC Aikoku Maru^, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
  AMC Hokoku Maru^, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
  
  Allied Ships
  CA Louisville
  CA Chicago
  CL Honolulu
  CL Phoenix~
  DMS Zane
  DMS Boggs
  DMS Lamberton
  DMS Dorsey
  DMS Long
  DMS Trever
  DMS Hopkins
  

  
  
  
• Hawaii based SS Pompano torpedoes large Japanese xAK just south of Tokyo. Didnt have a submarine hit in a while, let alone explode.
  

• Kido Butai swung back SE, no targets out on the open sea this turn so it hits Port Moresby. Presumably on its way to Truk, its sorties must be low.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
  
  Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
  
  Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  A6M2 Zero-Reisen x 10
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh x 85
  D3A1 Val-Kanbaku x 84
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh: 3 damaged
  
  Allied Ships
  xAK Dardanus, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
  ACM #Kangaroo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
  xAK Iron Knob, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
  ACM #Kookaburra, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
  
  Allied ground losses:
  23 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  
  Port hits 12
  Port supply hits 2
  

  
  
  
• Mini Kido Butai spotted rounding western end of New Guinea, probably from Palaus. Not sure if he intended this, but it was pretty smart 'hammer and anvil' attack, pushing my shipping further west then ambushing it with another TF. Nav Search suggests TF consists of CVLs and CVEs. Kaga still unaccounted for.
  
  
• Multiple merchant TFs spotted in Rabaul harbor.
  
  
• Larger xAKs and xAPs move from Sydney to West Coast to deal with the lack of shipping there. Shorter range ones are enough for the area supplied by Sydney.
  
  
  

• CA Houston back from repairs at Colombo. Will probably join USN SAG based in New Caledonia.
  
  
• British AT Regiment on the move to Rangoon.
  
  
• Combat in Chinese countryside, no units nearby ready to reinforce.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Kweisui (92,35)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 9308 troops, 82 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 295
  
  Defending force 5145 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 187
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 386
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 502
  
  Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
  Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  486 casualties reported
  Squads: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  
  Allied ground losses:
  511 casualties reported
  Squads: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
  
  Assaulting units:
  4th Cavalry Brigade
  2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
  1st Cavalry Brigade
  1st Ching An Tui Battalion
  
  Defending units:
  5th Chinese Cavalry
  

  
  
  
• Strategic bombing of Wuchow by Sonias and Idas. Moderate damage to manpower.
  
  
• No attack at Hong Kong today either, but an attempt of minesweeping. At least one DMS tried the old fashioned way...
  

  quote:
  
  
  TF 86 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DMS W-14, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  DMS W-13
  
  45 mines cleared
  
  
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  TF 86 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DMS W-14, on fire, heavy damage
  DMS W-13
  
  3 mines cleared
  
  
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  TF 86 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DMS W-13
  
  28 mines cleared
  
  
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  TF 86 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (77,61)
  
  Japanese Ships
  DMS W-13
  
  1 mine cleared
  

  
  

• Air raids over Luzon intensify, fortunately there is not much left to hit.
  
  
• Clark Field fortifications built to level 3.
  
  

• CM torpedoed in Makassar Strait.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Sub attack near Donggala at 69,96
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS RO-33
  
  Allied Ships
  CM Prins van Oranje, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
  

  
  
  
• Balikpapan invaded.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)
  
  Allied Bombardment attack
  
  Attacking force 1364 troops, 32 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
  
  Defending force 2670 troops, 28 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 112
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  15 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  
  Assaulting units:
  VI KNIL Battalion
  Samarinda Cdo
  Balikpapan Defenses
  Samarinda Base Force
  Balikpapan Base Force
  Dutch Civilians
  
  Defending units:
  Sasebo 3rd SNLF
  81st Naval Guard Unit
  

  
  
  
• Minesweeping while being sniped from the coast is no fun...
  

  quote:
  
  
  TF 146 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
  
  26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
  
  Japanese Ships
  DMS W-19, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
  DMS W-16, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
  DMS W-15, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
  
  Allied ground losses:
  6 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  

  
  
  

• Repairs adjusted at Pearl Harbor. Most of the sips heavily damaged on Dec 7 are on pierside mode to repair sys damage before we tackle major damage.
  
  
• Good day for mine warfare.
  

  quote:
  
  
  TF 31 encounters mine field at Victoria (209,51)
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS I-16_, Mine hits 1
  SSX Ha-5, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  

  
  
  
• 153rd Infantry Regiments components on its way toward Dutch Harbor.
  

• Kido Butai now north of Milne Bay, on its way to Rabaul/Truk. One last strike at Port Moresby. Flak losses/damaged planes are always nice to see.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
  
  Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
  
  Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  A6M2 Zero-Reisen x 54
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh x 111
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh: 6 damaged
  B5N2 Kate-Kankoh: 1 destroyed by flak
  
  Airbase hits 5
  Airbase supply hits 2
  Runway hits 24
  

  
  
  
• Mini Kido Butai still on the move, no attacks yet.
  
  
• CA based TF that hung near New Hebrides during carrier rampage now moves a bit north in a better position to intercept any possible troop transports. Should get carrier support in a couple days, once AO TF RVs with carriers and tops off their tanks. Having only few 18kn AOs really hurts early war.
  
  
• Two short range S-boats near Brisbane, will patrol southern approaches to Rabaul once settled in and once AS arrives.
  
  
  

• Some shipping arriving at Abadan and Aden.
  
  
• Heavy AA Rgt on the move from Africa towards Colombo, Light AA Rgt to Chittagong.
  
  
• Looks like Chengchow might be next big Japanese push in China based on units converging towards it.
  
  
• Ineffective CAS at Kweisui on 5th Cavalry.
  
  
• Wuchow strategic bombing again.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Afternoon Air attack on Wuchow , at 76,57
  
  Weather in hex: Overcast
  
  Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  Ki-27b Nate-Setsu x 8
  Ki-36 Ida x 15
  Ki-44 Tojo x 9
  Ki-51a Sonia_ x 6
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  Ki-51a Sonia_: 2 damaged
  
  Manpower hits 10
  Fires 1122
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  6 x Ki-51a Sonia_ releasing from 1000'
  City Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
  15 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 11000 feet
  City Attack: 5 x 2x15 kg GP Bomb
  

  
  

• No air raids today.
  
  
• ARD Dewey has been sighted south of Iwo Jima.
  
  

• Balikpapan falls.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Naval bombardment of Balikpapan at 64,97
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  139WH-3: 1 damaged
  
  Japanese Ships
  CA Kumano
  CA Suzuya
  CA Mikuma
  CA Mogami
  DD Hatsuyuki
  DD Shirayuki
  DD Fubuki
  DD Arashi
  
  Allied ground losses:
  165 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
  Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 29 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
  Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
  
  Refinery hits 1
  Airbase hits 7
  Airbase supply hits 6
  Runway hits 36
  Port hits 5
  Port fuel hits 1
  
  ----------------------------------------------------
  
  Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)
  
  Japanese Shock attack
  
  Attacking force 2710 troops, 31 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 116
  
  Defending force 2469 troops, 43 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 50
  
  Japanese adjusted assault: 93
  
  Allied adjusted defense: 4
  
  Japanese assault odds: 23 to 1 (fort level 2)
  
  Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan !!!
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  139WH-3: 2 destroyed
  CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed
  
  Combat modifiers
  Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
  Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
  
  Japanese ground losses:
  20 casualties reported
  Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
  Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
  Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  
  Allied ground losses:
  1589 casualties reported
  Squads: 47 destroyed, 2 disabled
  Non Combat: 135 destroyed, 2 disabled
  Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
  Guns lost 45 (45 destroyed, 0 disabled)
  Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
  Units retreated 4
  Units destroyed 2
  
  Assaulting units:
  Sasebo 3rd SNLF
  81st Naval Guard Unit
  
  Defending units:
  VI KNIL Battalion
  Samarinda Cdo
  Samarinda Base Force
  Balikpapan Base Force
  Balikpapan Defenses
  Dutch Civilians
  

  
  
  
• AMc torpedoed at Palembang by infiltrated Thai submarine.
  
  
• Submarines at Sunda Strait.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Submarine attack near Merak at 48,97
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS I-155
  
  Allied Ships
  xAK Neleus, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
  
  xAK Neleus is sighted by SS I-155
  SS I-155 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Neleus
  
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  Submarine attack near Merak at 48,97
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS I-155
  
  Allied Ships
  xAK Tai Sang, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
  
  xAK Tai Sang is sighted by SS I-155
  SS I-155 attacking xAK Tai Sang on the surface
  

  
  
  

• Wounded CL Detroit is about 5 days out of Hawaii, if subs dont intercept he is in no danger of going under.
  
  
• Despite two subs sank at Victoria by mines, they are still hunting Seattle approaches.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Sub attack near Victoria at 206,51
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS I-7^
  
  Allied Ships
  xAKL Kentuckian, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  
  SS I-7^ launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Kentuckian
  

  
  
  
• 150k supply on the move towards Pearl Harbor.
  
  
• Three much needed xAKs arrive at Panama.
  

• Kido Butai out of air search range, one CA SAG on the move south. Presumably to bombard Port Moresby.
  
  
• Mini Kido Butai swung north in Java sea, Darwin appears to be safe for now.
  
  
• Carriers day out of Tongatapu.
  
  
• Air HQ and engineer unit about 5 days out of Port Moresby, 27th Aus Bgd two days out. For now still holding them back till bombardment passes.
  
  
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If you are not aware, both Aden and Abadan will need fuel shipped to them to be able to refuel ships going back on map. The British have lots of large tankers going to Abadan so I send a few of the biggest ones (empty) to CT with "do not refuel set" and when they arrive I send them on to Eastern USA. When they arrive there I refuel them and load with fuel, make EUSA their home port, send the to CT and change them to a CS convoy by clicking on the "Player Control" text. It will take nearly 8 weeks into the game before the tankers begin delivery to CT. CT has enough fuel to get by for that long, but Reinforcement convoys that arrive there do not bring enough for the large number of ships transiting the port.

From Abadan, I just send a couple of the bigger tankers as CS fuel convoys directly to Aden. If you are using the extended map, you will not be able to set up a CS convoy from Abadan to Aden and will have to manage the on-map leg of the journey. That might mean longer routing to avoid Japanese subs.

I use the biggest tankers off map initially because Japanese subs are interdicting the big ports and I don't have the ASW forces to beat them back in the early game. And the big tankers cannot dock at the smaller ports so it would take forever to unload them.

• Sian expands fort to lvl 3.
  
  
• Shipping arriving at Cape Town, convoys begin to form towards Rangoon, Bombay, Perth.
  
  
• Ineffective CAS at Kweisui on 5th Cavalry continues.
  
  
• No bombing of Wuchow, but Changsha is hit pretty hard.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
  
  Weather in hex: Light cloud
  
  Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  Ki-27b Nate-Setsu x 22
  Ki-30 Ann x 12
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  No Japanese losses
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  A-29A Hudson: 1 damaged
  SB-III: 1 damaged
  
  Airbase hits 1
  Airbase supply hits 1
  Runway hits 10
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  12 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 11000 feet
  Airfield Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb
  
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  Afternoon Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
  
  Weather in hex: Severe storms
  
  Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
  Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
  
  Japanese aircraft
  Ki-51a Sonia_ x 7
  
  Allied aircraft
  no flights
  
  Japanese aircraft losses
  Ki-51a Sonia_: 2 damaged
  
  Allied aircraft losses
  SB-III: 1 damaged
  
  Runway hits 15
  
  Aircraft Attacking:
  3 x Ki-51a Sonia_ releasing from 3000'
  Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
  4 x Ki-51a Sonia_ releasing from 2000'
  Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
  
  

  
  
  
• River gunboats clash again
  

  quote:
  
  
  Day Time Surface Combat at 76,45, Range 6,000 Yards
  
  Japanese Ships
  PG Hai Hsing', Shell hits 1
  PG Fushimi
  PG Sumida
  PG Atami, Shell hits 1, on fire
  PG Futami
  PG Ataka, Shell hits 2
  PG Seta
  PG Katata, Shell hits 1
  PG Hira
  
  Allied Ships
  PG Ying Shan, Shell hits 1
  PG Ying Teh, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
  PG Ying Hao, Shell hits 1, on fire
  PG Mei Yuan, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
  PG Yung Sui, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
  

  
  

• All quiet today.
  
  

• Nighttime ambush at CV TF, unfortunately DD was all I had available, this would have went much better if I had any cruisers available.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Night Time Surface Combat, near Bandjermasin at 60,102, Range 9,000 Yards
  
  Japanese Ships
  CVL Zuiho
  CVE Hosho, Shell hits 1
  BB Fuso
  CL Oi
  DD Harukaze
  DD Hatakaze
  DD Asagao
  DD Karii
  DD Yanagi
  
  Allied Ships
  DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
  

  
  
  
• Advance south down the Malayan peninsula continues, with Ipoh falling without resistance.
  

• One ASW DD lost to torpedo.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Sub attack near Kona at 179,111
  
  Japanese Ships
  SS I-171
  
  Allied Ships
  DD Dunlap, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
  DD Fanning
  

  
  
  
• Support units at Canton Island finished unloading. 6 AVP/AVD arrive at Canton as well and will fan out to various dot bases to support naval search.
  

• DD incursion to Port Moresby. PT Boats get the worst of it.
  

  quote:
  
  
  Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 13,000 Yards
  
  Japanese Ships
  DD Shiratsuyu
  DD Shigure
  DD Yugure
  DD Ariake
  
  Allied Ships
  PT-29, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
  PT-36
  PT-37, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
  PT-38
  PT-42
  PT-43, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
  PT-44, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
  PT-45
  PT-46, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
  PT-47, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
  

  
  
  
• Mutsu and Nagato sinking picket ML.
  
  
• Carriers arrive at Tonga, AOs are three days behind.
  
  
• Suva expands airfield to 3. B-17s from CONUS and Hawaii transit Suva towards its permanent base at Charter Towers.
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: Axe1999

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If you are not aware, both Aden and Abadan will need fuel shipped to them to be able to refuel ships going back on map. The British have lots of large tankers going to Abadan so I send a few of the biggest ones (empty) to CT with "do not refuel set" and when they arrive I send them on to Eastern USA. When they arrive there I refuel them and load with fuel, make EUSA their home port, send the to CT and change them to a CS convoy by clicking on the "Player Control" text. It will take nearly 8 weeks into the game before the tankers begin delivery to CT. CT has enough fuel to get by for that long, but Reinforcement convoys that arrive there do not bring enough for the large number of ships transiting the port.

From Abadan, I just send a couple of the bigger tankers as CS fuel convoys directly to Aden. If you are using the extended map, you will not be able to set up a CS convoy from Abadan to Aden and will have to manage the on-map leg of the journey. That might mean longer routing to avoid Japanese subs.

I use the biggest tankers off map initially because Japanese subs are interdicting the big ports and I don't have the ASW forces to beat them back in the early game. And the big tankers cannot dock at the smaller ports so it would take forever to unload them.

Why should Abadan get shipments? I assume you meant Cape Town?

Im planning on diverting a couple TKs to run EC - CT, and Aden so far in my campaigns I mostly managed with occasional run from Abadan, I didnt have the need for continuous fuel shipments. Guess we'll see how busy it becomes.

• Flying Tigers in China and are intercepting raids on Wenchow and Changsha, with decent success.
  
  
• Due to lack of escorts on West Coast, I opted to run single mega convoy of troops, aircraft, fuel and supply to SoPac, instead of individual convoys. I know this may tip off SigInt and is vulnerable but for now subs are bigger threat than SAGs or carriers. In Pearl convoy will get air cover by Yorktown and surface cover by few cruisers. Once it reaches Samoa it will fan out to its respective destinations (Noumea, Auckland, Suva, Pago Pago, Melbourne). 10 air groups, Marine Regiment, Air HQ, and several base forces and engineer units are on the move. Next big move is 1st USMC Div in about a week when I get enough PPs.
  
  
• Started developing Addu as alternate anchorage to Colombo and Triconomalee, mostly as it is a bit safer harbor since air search in Bay of Bengal isnt too good.
  
  
• Looks like Port Moresby invasion has rounded eastern tip of New Guinea, with Banshees attempting a run at few transports and a battleship. Invasion seems to have full Kido Butai support. Port Moresby sits at 38k supply, about 230AV and lvl 2 forts. Dont think it will hold.
  
  
• 34VP fast xAP ran out of fuel unloading last heavy guns of 22nd Brigade and will probably meet its fate off of Port Moresby. Hope it was worth getting those extra troops in.
  
  
• Noumea garrison began unloading today, when some AV support is in place it will get a squadron of P-40Es that are near Brisbane crated in xAKs.
  
  
• Troops in contact at Manila. Empire has 1400AV there, to 800AV of the Allies behind lvl 3 forts.
  
  
• Fought off an attack at Wenchow, 2000 Japanese casualties to only 125 Allied ones.
  
  
• Merchant shipping is still in very short supply at CONUS, most xAKs are ferrying aircraft to Australia.
  
  
  

• Fighting in Manila. In two consecutive attacks Japs get 2:1 and 1:1. Forts are at lvl 1 and Im doing a fighting retreat towards Clark Field.
  
  
• Fighting at Port Moresby as well. Shock attack held but Japs have two entire divisions ashore and its only a question of time. All planes that can fly are evacuated. Invasion has been heavily supported by cruisers and almost full Kido Butai. Fortunately no important targets for air strikes around.
  
  
• Large troop and aircraft convoy bound for Melbourne just arrived at Hawaii and will get Yorktown TF as escort.
  
  
• Empire reaches Kuala Lumpur in Malaya and works on clearing out Borneo.
  
  
• Couple of torpedo hits by both submarines south of Honshu and Manila based Catalinas. All on Marus.
  

• Manila falls after two more deliberate attacks. Subs have been permanently rebased to Soerebaja, and from there will go to Darwin, Freemantle and Port Hedland.
  
  
• Port Moresby falls after one deliberate and one shock attack. 22nd and 30th Brigades were no match for two full Empire divisions and Kido Butai support. B-17s in Charter Towers and Townsville immediately strike port facilities to slow down unloading of second wave.
  
  
• Supply convoy bound for Suva carrying 60k supply from San Diego. AO Guadalupe torpedoed and sank entering map from Panama.
  
  
• Kido Butai puts fear into the bones of every skipper south of Townsville as it skirts Great Barrier Reef, sinking 8 medium sized xAKs. Aircraft transports have been diverted to Melbourne and Australia finally got 75 fighter airframes. Lost sight of Kido Butai as last sighting had it heading east. Maybe Fiji/Samoa strike is in order? Three USN carriers are at Suva and naval search is strengthened, with carriers topped off from an AO and ready to flee. There are also troops unloading at both Suva and Pago Pago.
  
  
• Heavy fighting at Chengchow. Supply is low, but Chinese weathered shock attack and another deliberate attack, causing 8-9k thousand casualties to Japanese, even though enemy AV was 2700:1600. Wenchow still holds and has about 900:350 AV.
  
  
• Lone Dutch DD ambushes CVE Hosho TF in Makassar Strait and a single 12 cm hit causes ammo explosion. Could it be enough to go under?
  
  
• Multiple divisions planning for Pearl Harbor, Hilo and Lihue. Should I be worried?