27 April 1942
4th Division ashore at Nadi, Fiji; enemy takes heavy losses in attack on KB, IJN subs getting the job done
SOPAC
The 4th Division landed overnight with minimal resistance, just a failed submarine attack and a little bit of fire from enemy troops. The landing, of course, drew an airstrike with everything they had. Relying more on LRCAP from the KB instead of nearby bases, we managed to get better cover over the phibs than the prior bombardment, but it still proved inadequate. In first raid, we had 9 Zeroes against 26 fighters escorting 11 SBDs. We lost the air battle 3 to 4 with all the bombers getting through, resulting on lethal damage to an AMC with a second AMC and the cruiser Kingugasa also taking hits. A second raid of 11 Banshees walked in without resistance, dealing lethal damage to a troop transport and hitting Kinugasa again, forcing it to flood a magazine to prevent a detonation. By this time, though, my troops had already disembarked.
In the afternoon, the enemy turned their attention to the KB instead of the 'phibs, which worked to my advantage. A strike of 11 SBDs escorted by 9 fighters, and a second wave of 7 Banshees escorted by 8 P-39s, took on the CAP of 37 Zeroes. We downed 3 P-40s, 10 P-39s, 9 SBDs (1 by flak), and 7 Banshees.
A raid of B-17s still went after the 'phibs, resulting in 1 Zero downed with the enemy losing 1 P-40 and 1 P-39 that were escorting the bombers. The bombers missed their target (an APD).
Off the southeast coast of Australia, the I-18 torpedoed a PC, reducing it to matchsticks.
CENTPAC
Back at Pago Pago, the I-16 crept into the harbor and put 2 torpedoes into the battleship Colorado. She's not in danger of sinking, just some lengthy time in the yard.
Then southwest of Pearl, the I-22 torpedoed the oiler Neches, turning it into an inferno.
China
Sian is starting to smoke when bombed now. Maybe they're breaking, finally.
Burma
I've resumed bombing Rangoon--trying to prevent any further fortification building.
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