FEB 1942

[Dave Hansen]

RFB/RSRDC...Second patrol...completed first two objectives in the North and Central Makassar Strait off east coast of Borneo.

HQ told me to stay in this area in vicinity of the Borneo port of Balikpappan as long as I have adequate supplies (no objective specifically given)...just stay on station.

I assume HQ expects the Japs to proceed with their southerly expansion to take Borneo/Jawa,etc. and this strait would be the route they use.

With RSRDC is this assumption correct...does HQ usually have good intel as two where I should patrol?

Or should I try my luck father north around the Philippine Islands?

[Capt. Morgan]

If It was me, I'd stick around Balikpappan.

RSRD is all about historical accuracy so the intel will be roughly as good as it was back then. If the US was getting bad intel, so will you, but when it got great intel (like ULTRA and PURPLE) you'll benefit too.

Regardless of the quality of the intel, Balikpappan was the location of one Asia's largest oil refineries, and it was a crucial resource to the Japanese war effort. Balikpappan's oil was probably the main reason why Japan attacked Borneo. Japan had to take it, and from my own experiences with RSRD - once they did - Balikpappan is tanker city.

[Dave Hansen]

CM-TXS.