War in the Pacific AAR Thread - ML vs JFranzen

[Molon Labe]

11 December 1943
Supply situation in China improving due to Rangoon reopening for shipments; US subs sink 4 ships in Japanese waters

Japan
Near Iwo Jima, USS Sand Lance attacked an enemy tanker (4670 tons) from the surface, hitting it with 4 torpedoes and gunfire, sending it straight to the bottom.

USS Sailfish torpedoed and sank an artillery-carrying light cargo ship (875 tons), also near Iwo Jima. Sailfish then surfaced to attack another cargo ship (2375 tons), sinking it with 2 torpedoes and gunfire.

A very large convoy (15 cargo ships, 5 escorts) was spotted by USS Crevalle. She scored a single hit one one 2900-ton cargo ship, which is believed to have been sunk.


Philippine Sea
USS Plunger tried to attack on an ASW group near Legaspi, but missed and ended up taking some depth charge damage.


DEI
Battleships New Mexico and Arizona, which had been busy as part of the amphibious task force landing at Ambon, are now back to making bombardment runs of Ambon. I don't expect the enemy to hold out much longer.

Air raids:
Surabaya(sweep): 21 P-38s: no joy
Surabaya (port attack): 30 B-24:
AV Nippo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sado Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kurohime Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
1 port hit
Ambon (airbase, ground forces): 2 hits, 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 9 hits
Makassa (ground forces): 0 hits

Land combat:
Ambon: Japanese bombardment attack - 6 japanese casualties from counter-battery


Truk
Trying to take advantage of the enemy seemingly running out of supplies--not even firing at our aircraft anymore--I sent an amphibious task force in to land a few support units but mostly to land supplies to keep our troops fighting. The enemy found some ammo for us:
CL Mobile, Shell hits 6
CL Trenton, Shell hits 4
CL Achilles, Shell hits 3
DD Radford, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 4, on fire

Air attack on port and ground forces: 9 hits, 16 casualties
Allied deliberate attack: fortifications reduced to 0, casualties 315(J) to 55(A).


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 14 casualties
Anking (ground forces): 10 casualties


I've noticed that the supplies in the central China area bases have been surging. It's taken awhile, but the recapture of Rangoon is leading to supplies flowing. (I've been sending convoys to Rangoon full of supplies ever since we took control). The situation still isn't great, bases along the front in the north and along the coast near Shanghai have severe shortages, so much that fighters have been grounded for months without being repaired. But maybe in a week or two these will start coming up too.



Burma
Air raids:
Near Rangoon (ground forces): 8 vehicles lost
Port Blair (port attack): Failed intercept attempt by 17 Zeroes, 13 Georges. Bombers scored no hits.
Raheng (sweep): 3 P-40Ks vs 6 Georges then 21 P-40Ks vs 5 Georges--4 Georges and 2 P-40s shot down
Uttaradit (ground forces): Failed intercept attempt by 4 Georges against 2 separate raids. 8 casualties

7 B-25Gs attacked the evacuation task force at Port Blair with 17 Zeroes and 12 Georges intercepting. They bounced the bombers but only just barely before the reached the ships; only 1 was shot down.
xAK Hokko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
155 troop casualties reported


Papua New Guinnea
Deliberate attack at Hollandia: forts reduced to level 1, casualties 81(J) to 14(A)


Reinforcements
CV Intrepid arrives at Balboa
DD Knapp arrives at Balboa
DD Picking arrives at Balboa
LSI(L) Brisbane Star arrives at Aden
PF Ogden arrives at Mare Island
494th BG/864th BS arrives at Wendover Field

[Molon Labe]

12 December 1943
Port Blair convoy gets away


Truk
Enemy artillery continues to ravage the ships dropping off supplies:
xAK Goulburn, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage (sunk)
AKA Arcturus, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Koomilya, Shell hits 3, on fire
--xAK Koomilya, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA American Legion, Shell hits 3
APA Fuller, Shell hits 9, on fire

USS Argonaut, our only submarine-transport, hit a mine trying to drop off supplies. The damage is significant but survivable.

Bombing ground forces and port: 22 casualties, 9 port hits


DEI
Air raids:
Ambon (airbase and ground forces): 5 hits
Makassar (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 17 hits
Surabaya (sweep): 21 P-38s vs 14 Georges and 13 Tonies--3 P-38s shot down, enemy losses 4 Tonies and 5 Georges.
Surabaya (port attack): 9 Corsairs escorting 28 B-24s vs 3 Georges and 4 Tonies. 1 Tony and 1 George shot down, 1 Corsair shot down.
AV Nippo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Hinko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Wa 101, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
2 port hits

Surabaya port attack 2nd wave: 8 B-24s vs 2 Georges and 1 Tony. 1 B-24 was shot down.
AG Hinko Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
1 port hit
And Wave 3: 6 B-24s vs 2 Georges. No losses.
ACM Seki Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
2 port hits
Wave 4: 4 B-24s vs 2 Georges; no losses, 4 port hits

Land combat:
Ambon: deliberate attack - forts reduced to Level 1, casualties 300(J) to 57(A). Next attack might do it.


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 19 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 40 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Raheng (ground forces): 0 casualties
Uttaradit (ground forces): 0 casualties
Port Blair (port attack): 1 hit (no ships hit--none present?)
--sweep: 17 P-38s, no joy

Looks like the convoy is gone, just in time to avoid the CVBG. Not worth chasing them south. I know Port Blair doesn't have Betties, but Sumatra might.


Papua New Guinea
We've finally taken Hollandia. Casualties 364(J) to 4(A), enemy units running off into the jungle.


Reinforcements
BB Queen Elizabeth arrives at Aden
DE Bangust arrives at Los Angeles
VMF(N)-531 Det 2 arrives at Eastern USA
417th BG/674th BS arrives at Eastern USA
25th Marine Regiment arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

13 December 1943
Truk captured


Philippine Sea and Philippines
USS Scorpion torpedoed and likely sank a troop-carrying Toho-class cargo ship (3525 tons) west of the Mariannas.

4 B-25s raided the seas outside Iloilo inside the Philippines, targeting a replenishment group. 3 Nicks attempted to defend them but no aircraft were lost. We got no bomb hits and lightly strafed 2 oilers.

6 more B-25s hit Leyte Gulf, finding an ASW group there:
PB Hirota Maru, Bomb hits 1
SC CHa-41
SC CHa-60, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
That's easily the largest ship disabled by strafing so far. Not that it's big, but so far it's only been landing craft, maybe a PT boat.


South China Sea
Just north of Palawan Island, USS Cisco torpedoed a troop-carrying Aden-class cargo ship (4875 tons). Intel thinks it survived.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase attack): 7 Corsairs escorting 23 B-24s vs 3 Tonies and 37 Georges. Several straggler B-24s arriving unescorted. We lost 2 Corsairs and 4 B-24s, shooting down 1 George. 27 airbase hits, 1 port hit. Not worth it! Especially not without getting a bunch of Georges on the ground as I'd hoped.
Makassar (ground forces) 27 casualties
Ambon (airbase and ground forces): 9 hits
Surabaya (sweep): 12 P-38s vs 5 Georges, 1 P-38 and 2 Georges shot down


Burma
Air Raids:
Rahaeng (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Rangoon (ground forces) 11 vehicles lost
Port Blair (airbase): 1 George destroyed on the ground, 50 airbase hits (by just 6 B-24s, super accurate!)

Land combat:
near Rangoon: allied shock attack, 32 vehicles lost (J), 6 casualties (A)


Truk
Air raid (ground forces): 29 casualties

Ground combat: Allied deliberate attack: BASE CAPTURED, 752(J) to 138(A) casualties. Enemy troops still present in space but no longer control the base.


China
Air raids:
Kiukiang (ground forces): 15 casualties


Reinforcements:
DD Lewis Hancock arrives at Balboa
DD Johnston arrives at Seattle
DD Stephen Potter arrives at San Francisco
DD Young arrives at Eastern USA
No.19 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Christchurch

[Molon Labe]

14 December 1943
Ambon captured


Philippine Sea
USS Archerfish attacked an escorted 6400-ton cargo ship twice near the Mariannas. The first--one hit--severely damaged it, allowing it to set up a second attack to get two more hits and send it to the bottom. An escorting destroyer caused some minor damage to the Archerfish after the 2nd attack.

East of Leyte, USS Barb put a torpedo into the light cruiser Katori. She'll survive this, yet again. This is now at least the third time the Katori has been damaged in battle, the second time seriously.


DEI
Arizona and New Mexico made another bombardment run at Ambon--108 casualties reported. What a difference bringing down the forts makes!

I meant to cancel my Surabaya bombing attacks, but left at least one squadron with attack orders...
Surabaya (port): 4 B-24s escorted by 3 Corsairs vs 27 Tonies and 15 Georges--2 Corsairs and 3 B-24s shot down for us, 1 Tony and 1 George shot down for them. No damage on the ground.
Ambon (airbase, ground forces): 3 hits
Surabaya (sweep): 13 P-38s vs 20 Tonies and 13 Georges - 1 Tony and 3 Georges down, no losses
Makassar (ground forces): 22 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 2 hits

Land combat:
Ambon (allied deliberate attack): casualties 758(J) to 68(A), BASE CAPTURED. Enemy units remain in hex but do not control the base.

Some fine revenge after these enemy troops were responsible for defeating about a division of Marines months ago. Upon reflection, Ambon was this war's Guadalcanal. Their efforts to hold on here were responsible for losses to the KB that degraded it's potential beneath that of the US carrier fleet and they ended up with thousands of irreplaceable soldiers trapped here.


Marshall Islands
Destroyers Mahan and Cushing found an AKL trying to make a supply run near Eniwetok and sank it with gunfire.


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 51 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 43 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Rahaeng (ground forces): 0 casualties
Uttaradit (ground forces): 7 casualties
near Bassein (retreating further from Rangoon - ground forces): 6 vehicles lost
Port Blair (airbase): 26 hits

I've begun drawing down transport flights from India to Burma/China, as the sea based deliveries are far more efficient and these flights were wearing down airframes. My next step will be to move aviation support into central Burma where the railroad from Rangoon ends and airlift supplies from there as deep into China as I can, as the roads from that point forward won't support all that much supply flow.


Truk
Allied deliberate attack: 858(J) to 139 (A) casualties


West Coast
Two minesweepers collided outside of Los Angeles, damaging one severely. Good thing LA has a shipyard.


Reinforcements
DD Colahan arrives at Balboa
VMF-112 arrives at San Diego
24th CMS arrives at Aden
1st Manchester Battalion arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

15 December 1943
Silent Service's reign of terror continues


Japan
USS Tuna torpedoed a Lima-class cargo ship (6475 tons) near Torishima, severely damaging it and likely sinking it. Tuna later re-engaged the same convoy, hitting another cargo ship (Aden class, 4875 tons) and causing serious damage while the first one was still burning.

Close by, USS Tambor hit an AG (957 tons) with two torpedoes and sent it straight to the bottom.


Burma
Air raids:
Rahaeng (ground forces): 8 casualties
Uttaradit (ground forces): 16 casualties
near Basein (ground forces): 7 vehicles lost
Port Blair (airbase): 1 George destroyed on the ground, 41 base hits


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 9 casualties
Sinyang (ground forces): 24 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 37 casualties


Truk
Bombing ground forces: 40 casualties
Land combat (allied deliberate attack): 889(J) to 17(A) casualties

With the conquest of Truk complete, I'm moving in base forces that have been standing by at Wake since forever, and the damaged carriers Yorktown and Princeton are headed to Pearl for long overdue repairs--along with a refit for Yorktown.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 17 casualties
Ambon (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 8 hits
Makassar (ground forces): 5 vehicles lost

I've begun loading 'phibs up for an attack on Mindanao.


Reinforcements
DD Quiberon arrives at Aden
232nd USN Base Force arrives at San Francisco
21st Marine Regiment arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

16 December 1943

China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 15 casualties
Anking (ground forces): 26 casualties
Kuikiang (ground forces): 11 casualties


Burma
Air Raids:
Rahaeng (ground forces) 0 casualties
Uttaradit (ground forces): 0 casualties
Port Blair (airbase) 4 hits


DEI
Air Raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Makassar (ground forces) 23 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airfiield) 16 casualties, 21 airbase hits


Reinforcements
CL Biloxi arrives at Balboa
DD Mullany arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

17 December 1943

Truk
Busy day--two minesweepers cleared 135 enemy mines here at Truk.


Philippine Sea
USS Barb torpedoed a Yusen-N class cargo ship (6400 tons) well east of Legaspi, leaving it severely damaged and burning. The ship was carrying troops. Intel thinks the ship survived, and its big enough that it might have, but I think it's too far away from port to survive.


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 31 casualties
Anking (ground forces): 23 casualties
Kuikiang (ground forces): 6 casualties


Burma
Air Raids:
Uttaradit (ground forces): 0 casualties (near intercept by CAP of 41 George fighters)
Port Blair (airbase) 5 hits, 1 George destroyed on the ground


DEI
Air Raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 19 casualties
Makassar (ground forces) 13 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airfiield) 0 casualties, 3 airbase hits


Reinforcements
DE Brackett arrives at Seattle
SS Bluegill arrives at Balboa
SS Bang arrives at Eastern USA
353rd Construction Regiment arrives at San Francisco
162nd USA Base Force arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

18 December 1943

Truk
Despite the high number of mines swept yesterday, they're still going today.

Land combat: 1235 casualties (J) to 28 (A)

South China Sea
An enemy ammunition ship hit a mine at Jesselton, suffering severe damage.

DEI
New Mexico and Arizona shelled Koepang, causing 272 casualties

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Makassar (ground forces): 93 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 5 hits

Land combat:
Ambon: 1647 casualties (J) to 7 (A)


Philippine Sea
KX torpedoed and sank a light cargo ship east of Leyte. The ship was carrying artillery.


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 93 casualties
Sinyang (ground forces): 5 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 0 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (airbase): 23 hits


Reinforcements
CVE Kalinin Bay arrives at Portland
SS Golet arrives at Balboa
VMB-423 arrives at Eastern USA
No.549 Sqn RAF arrives at Brisbane
7th Marine Regiment arrives at San Francisco
IV Corps Engineer Battalion arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

19 December 1943

South China Sea
A Japanese minesweeper is hard at work clearing our sub-laid mine at Jesselton

DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Makassar (ground forces): 11 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 3 hits, 0 casualties

An enemy Betty raid (16) targeted supply ships at Salajar; we opposed it with 13 P-47s and 3 Corsairs. We shot down 6 of the Betties... on the way out. All 16 attacked a pair of cargo ships and a subchaser escort with bombs... no hits.


Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (airbase): 31 hits
Rahaeng (ground forces): 0 casualties


Truk
We finally cleared out the enemy troops holding out.


Reinforcements
BB Valiant arrives at Aden
DD William Porter arrives at Eastern USA
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Karachi

[Molon Labe]

20 December 1943

Sulu Sea
USS Silversides found an unescorted 6600-ton cargo ship off the Philippine coast and put 2 torpedoes into it, sending it to the bottom. The cargo ship was carrying troops.

USS Robalo found a light cargo ship nearby and attacked from the surface, striking with gunfire and one torpedo hit, sinking it. This ship was carrying artillery.


South China Sea
SS Hake hit a PB with a torpedo near Jesselton. The PB looks like it will survive.


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 16 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 31 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces): 0 casualties
Rahaeng (ground forces): 6 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 9 hits, 0 casualties

Mindanao (southern Philippines) is the next target. We're loading up at Darwin. The carriers at Truk are moving out to support the operation, plus there will be CVEs and land based air providing cover. The exceptions are the torpedo-damaged Yorktown and Princeton, which are headed to Pearl for repairs.


Reinforcements
DE Sederstrom arrives at Mare Island
VF(N)-75 Det 11 arrives at Eastern USA
47th Aviation Base Force arrives at San Francisco
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment arrives at Karachi

[Molon Labe]

21 December 1943

DEI
New Mexico and Arizona shelled Koepang again, this time for 96 casualties

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 10 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 0 hits, 0 casualties; 1 B-25 shot down by flak


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 40 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 22 casualties
Sinyang (ground forces): 10 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces and airbase): 12 casualties, 8 base hits
Rahaeng (ground forces): 6 casualties


Philippines
6 B-25Gs attacked an ASW group near Samar island. The missed with all their bombs, but beat up a kaibokan a bit with strafing runs.


Reinforcements
BC Renown arrives at Aden
DD Pathfinder arrives at Aden
DE Lovering arrives at Seattle
PF Van Buren arrives at Mare Island
805/1878th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

22 December 1943

CENTPAC
USS Dragonet reported a large cargo ship convoy near Marcus. This is mostly out of range of scoutplanes so it's going to be hard to intercept, but I'm sending some destroyers from Wake to poke around and see if we can find them.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 4 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 2 hits, 0 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces and airbase): 4 casualties, 1 base hits


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 10 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 13 casualties


Reinforcements
SS Guavina arrives at Eastern USA
No.67 Sqn RAF arrives at Aden
767th Tank Battalion arrives at San Francisco
2nd Indian Field Regiment arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

23 December 1943
Heavy bomber raid on Miri, Borneo hammers ASW vessels
Port Blair invasion underway

Japan
USS Blackfish torpedoed and sank a kaibokan near Torishima.

China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 53 casualties

I had 3 corps make an opposed river crossing near Anking, trying to see if we can move the frontlines a bit. Casualties 4961 to 904 favoring the enemy, despite the heavy bombing leading up to this. That essentially leaves me with 2 corps. The enemy is quickly moving reinforcements, so this isn't going to work. But maybe something else opens up.

DEI
I had quietly rebased a bunch of B-25s in Manado for a raid on the ports along the northern coast of Borneo. Recon confirmed no enemy fighter presence, so the B-24s went unescorted.

Wave 1:
SC CHa-32, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AKE Malta Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Syozui Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
E Naryu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirakami, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Wave 2:
AS Chogei, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AR Asosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AR Arizona Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC CHa-15, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
E Shirakami, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

other Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 12 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 3 hits, 7 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces and airbase): casualties, base hits
Rahaeng (ground forces): 0 casualties

We had a raid of Beaufighters and B-25s attack a task force pulling into Bangkok, which was a really bad idea. There were 100 enemy fighters on CAP. We ended up losing 4 Beaufighters and 10 B-25s while shooting down 2 Georges. The bombers that got through hit a cargo ship twice for moderate damage.

We are also now invading Port Blair. Resistance is expected to be light due to the prior evacuation.


Reinforcements
DD Quilliam arrives at Aden
PF Albuquerque arrives at Mare Island
20th TRS arrives at Aden
2/13th Field Regiment arrives at Sydney

[Molon Labe]

24 December 1943
Port Blair captured as Marines land on Ponape


Philippine Sea
USS Barb put 2 torpedoes into a troop carrying cargo ship (6400 tons) east of Leyte. That's a kill.


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 90 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 18 hits, 0 casualties


Burma
Amphibious landings remain in progress at Port Blair at the beginning of the turn. Supporting airstrikes caused 14 enemy casualties. An enemy airstrike of 4 Helen bombers attacked the landing area, someone one even made it to an LST to make a bombing attempt (it missed). The other 3 were shot down by fighters from the British CVBG. Our troops then captured Port Blair with a deliberate attack, casualties 278 to 11 favoring us. There really wasn't a whole lot left there.


Other air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 68 casualties


CENTPAC
I moved some troops off Truk to invade nearby Ponape. Once again, this base had substantial shore defenses:
CA Boston, Shell hits 26
CL Achilles, Shell hits 36, on fire
DD Hull, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bell, Shell hits 7, on fire
APD Little, Shell hits 1

The armor on the cruisers was enough to prevent them from taking serious damage. The Hull is headed back to Pearl for repairs though.


Reinforcements
DD Haggard arrives at Seattle
DD The Sullivans arrives at San Francisco (a bit of a weird name since the Juneau hasn't been sunk in this timeline)
AR Vulcan arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

25 December 1943
Ponape and Tavoy captured - Bangkok and the Philippines up next!


Japan
The cargo ship convoy spotted near Marcus days ago reappeared in Japanese home waters, northeast of Tokyo. USS Tautog took a shot at one of them and missed.


Philippine Sea
USS Snapper hit a 3675-ton cargo ship with 2 torpedoes off Legaspi for a confirmed kill.


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 37 casualties


Mariannas and CENTPAC
I sent a B-24 raid in from the freshly-repaired airbases at Truk. Today's target was Tinian, we sank 2 mine tenders.

Other B-24s hit Ponape in support of the landings in progress, causing 44 enemy casualties. The marines then captured the base with a shock attack, casualties 266 (J) to 54 (A).


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 37 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 2 hits, 0 casualties

A bit of an error on my part--as the Yankee Butai passed south of the Palaus to rendevous with the amphibious task forces headed for Mindanao, SBD-5s made it far enough north to observe the Palaus and at least 4 of the scoutplanes attacked a minesweeper there. So the enemy probably knows that the YB has moved into the vicinity of the Celebes Sea, hurting my chances at ambushing any enemy forces that try to prevent the landings.



Burma
Air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 74 casualties
Rahaeng (ground forces) 19 casualties

British ground forces advancing south along the Burmese coast have reached Tavoy and captured it without resistance. In another week or two we should have Bangkok under seige, but within a few days I'll be fighting an air campaign above Bangkok to clear its skies for our heavy bombers.


Reinforcements
DD Ingersoll arrives at Balboa
DD Quickmatch arrives at Aden
DE Eisele arrives at Mare Island
AS Apollo arrives at Balboa
AGC Mount Olympus arrives at Balboa
VII US Amphib Force arrives at Pearl Harbor
23rd Marine Regiment arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

26 December 1943

DEI
New Mexico and Arizona completed another lap of shelling Koepang and rearming; 9 casualties reported this time. Part of the reason I'm doing this is to make it appear that Koepang is my next target after Ambon, but I'm actually pretty satisfied with how little resistance there was to building my airbase right next to Makassar, so Makassar's where I'm going next. Should catch him by surprise with that. Makassar will bring Surabaya within non-extended range of Corsairs and within extended range (500-lb bomb instead of 1000-lb) for SBDs and SB2Cs. Although at this point I think the B-24 raids on Surabaya have deterred the enemy from using the port any further.

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 19 casualties
Babo (ground forces) 17 casualties (the raid caused by an enemy unit getting wiped out, probably at Ambon, so the AI chose this squadron's next target. This is a minor oil-generating port so far behind my lines there's no need to bomb it or even retake it)


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 19 casualties

ground combat:
near Anking: Enemy reinforcements had already arrived, I'm outnumbered 19,261 to 27,900. Our deliberate attack resulted 176 to 908 casualties favoring the enemy. Time to pull back.

I am noticing that the enemy has moved a lot of troops to Sinyang, and my flanking force further north hasn't been needed to block enemy troops for awhile... I'd much rather fight the enemy at my base in Sinyang than trying to kill them in a well-defended bastion.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 131 casualties
Rahaeng (ground forces) 21 casualties

B-24s that had been assigned to bomb Port Blair were assigned by the AI to hit Bangkok since I didn't manually give them new orders. The raid of 7 planes ran into 81 enemy fighters on CAP. None of them made it home. We got 1 Tony and 2 Georges.


Reinforcements
DD Healy arrives at Eastern USA
DD Petard arrives at Aden
SS Gabilan arrives at Balboa
VB-136 arrives at Oak Harbor
443rd TCG/315th TCS arrives at Ledo
Merrills Marauders Regiment arrives at Aden
38th Infantry Division arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

27 December 1943
P-38s massacre Nicks on CAP in the Palaus

Burma
Air raids:
Pisanuloke (sweep): 19 P-40K vs 15 Georges; each side lost 5 planes
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 15 B-25s attacked after the sweep; there were still 5 Georges left on CAP, which shot down 3 B-25s. 116 enemy casualties on the ground.
Rahaeng (ground forces): 9 casualties


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 34 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 6 hits


Philippine Sea
24 P-38s swept the Palau islands, shooting down 18 of 26 Nick fighter-bombers on CAP there. One P-38 was lost on the way home due to damage sustained in the fight.


Pearl and West Coast
Princeton and Yorktown have arrived at Pearl for repairs; Princeton will be ready in a couple weeks but Yorktown's repair estimate is about 75 days. I'm sending it to San Francisco to take advantage of the bigger shipyards.


Reinforcements
ARD AFDB-3 arrives at Seattle
708th Amphib Tank Battalion arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

28 December 1943

Burma
Air raids:
Pisanuloke (sweep): 22 P-51 vs 18 Georges; we got spanked, losses were 10 to 4 favoring the enemy.
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 168 casualties. George fighters attempted to intercept but failed.
Rahaeng (ground forces): 64 casualties


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 99 casualties; 1 B-24 lost to flak


DEI
Air raids:
Kendari (airbase and ground forces): 2 hits, 0 casualties


After the success of yesterday's sweep at Palau, I followed that up with a B-24 raid today, which hit a general tender and likely sank a destroyer tender.


Reinforcements
426th NFS arrives at Fresno
443rd TCG/27th TCS arrives at Aden
51st Marine Defense Battalion arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

29 December 1943
Lackluster OCA vs Bangkok
Invasion of Mindanao underway


Philippine Sea/Philippines
East of Legaspi, USS Harder hit a 7350-ton troop transport with a torpedo, severely damaging it and setting it on fire. USS Seadragon encounted the same ship limping back to base in the afternoon and put 2 more fish into it, sinking it.

An amphibious task force hit the beaches at Dadjangas, Mindanao. No resistance here. We also have a landing coming up at Cotabo on the west coast of Mindanao. The southern team will establish an airbase at Davao while the northern team moves on Cagayan, were the enemy is expected to try to hold out.


Burma
I attempted a major OCA against Bangkok with at least 3 fighter squadrons sweeping followed by 2 B-24 squadrons attacking the airbase. The sweeps resulted in 5 Georges, 10 Zeroes, and 6 Tonies shot down with just 2 Spitfires and 2 Hurricanes lost. Not bad--good enough to clear the skies in advance of the bombers. But I had been hoping for more from the bombers, thinking they'd catch a lot of enemy planes on the ground as they were rearming or repairing. We reportedly had 27 bomb hits on the base but just 1 Tony reported destroyed on the ground.

The enemy attempted an airborne assault on Tavoy but only ended up with 6 transport aircraft shot down and 286 paratroopers killed as soon as they landed.


China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 25 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 6 casualties
Kendari (airbase and ground forces): 0 hits, 0 casualties


Reinforcements
LSI(L) Empire Mace arrives at Aden
PF Orange arrives at Mare Island
VMSB-234 arrives at San Diego
9th PG/28th PRS arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

30 December 1943
HMS Trusty lost to enemy bombers


China
12 Zeroes intercepted our daily raids on the forces outside Anking. Our raid was 11 Chinese B-25s and 10 British Wellingtons escorted by 5 P-66 Vanguards and 6 P-40Ks. Our escorts shot down 2 Zeroes while losing one P-40 and P-66 each. The bombers reached the target ground forces and caused 10 reported casualties. A second raid of 5 B-24s was intercepted by a pair of Zeroes but fought them off; 30 more enemy casualties reported in that raid.

I attempted a ground attack on enemy forces (1/3 division strength) outside Wuchang. Casualties 316 to 670 favoring the enemy. I'm going to try to bring in more troops from the Shanghai area.


Philippines
17 B-24s hit Cotabo in advance of the landings. 132 casualties reported.
4 Avengers took off from a CVE escorting the Cotabo landing force to strike an enemy ASW group off Iloilo in the central Philippines. 4 Nicks and 4 Tonies went against 9 Hellcats escorting the Avengers, shooting down 1 Tony and keeping them all off the bombers. One Avenger scored a torpedo hit on a kaibokan, sinking it.

East of Leyte, 10 B-25Gs attacked a convoy of cargo ships and transports:
xAK Kasuga Maru #2, Bomb hits 1
xAP Baikal Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Hakonesan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Lima Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Maebasi Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Monji Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Hakubasan Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Syoka Maru
xAP Palau Maru

Not great results there. 14 Beaufighters followed that up and did a bit better:
xAP Palau Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAP Baikal Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tokuhei Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Tarayasu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires

The landings in Cotabo then began. Resistance is light.

A Dauntless and an Avenger both reported hits on a transport submarine in the Celebes Sea.

https://i.ibb.co/ChyG3DQ/1943-Dec-30-Phil.png


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 19 casualties
Kendari (airbase and ground forces): 6 hits, 0 casualties


Burma
Air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 10 casualties


Andaman Sea
With no need to patrol Port Blair, British subs have been moving south towards the Strait of Malacca. Enemy ASW air patrols are quite heavy there, as we learned HMS Trusty and HMS Stonehenge both suffered hits from bombers. In Trusty's case, the damage was lethal.

Trusty was credited with a kill on a 4875-ton cargo ship and a 5935-ton cargo ship that was carrying troops at the time it was sunk. It might have been the most successful British sub up until this point.


Reinforcements
CVE Fanshaw Bay arrives at Portland
DD Penn arrives at Aden
12th RAAF M/W Sqn arrives at Sydney
3rd TAF Base Force arrives at Madras
14th Army Engineer Battalion arrives at Madras
28th (East African) Brigade arrives at Mombasa

[Molon Labe]

31 December 1943
KB appears in Andaman Sea, attacks troop transport convoy between Port Blair and Rangoon

DEI
New Mexico and Arizona completed another run at Koepang, 392 casualties this time.


Air Raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 18 casualties
Kendari (airbase and ground forces): 4 hits, 0 casualties


Philippines and surrounding seas

The O19 torpedoed a 6475-ton cargo ship off Leyte. Just in case the damage wasn't fatal, USS Burrfish came along and put 2 more into her.


B-24s attacked the Palaus, destroying at least 2 Judies on the ground.


B-25Gs attacked Iolio, sinking a PB there.


7 Georges and 3 Tonies attempted to establish a CAP over Cotabo, but the Yankee Butai was nearby and was able to contribute 42 Hellcats to a B-24 raid that was already escorted by 17 USMC Corsairs. 4 Georges and 1 Tony were shot down without Allied losses.


Cotabo has been captured with nominal Allied troop losses. A naval guard unit was displaced and is retreating towards Cagayan. There's a small airbase here ready to go, I'm moving in two fighter squadrons and one dive bomber squadron.



Burma and Andaman Sea
Scoutplanes detected an enemy task force south of Port Blair. I was immediately worried these were carriers as anything else would have trouble surviving here now. I'm in the process of moving infantry off Port Blair and replacing them with base forces. The British CVBG is providing cover for the operation to protect them from bombers from Bangkok, but they're no match for the KB. Also, I have to wonder if the reason 2 subs got bombed yesterday was because these carriers were there rather than land-based ASW patrols.



The enemy kicked off an attack with Georges sweeping Port Blair--a good idea, but the infantry-carrying task force that was being escorted by my carriers had already left for Rangoon.


Meanwhile we ourselves swept Bangkok, with 18 P-51s going up against 19 Tonies; resulting in 2 P-51s downed and one Tony.


Bangkok was then able to locate and strike at the transport convoy headed for Rangoon, sending 11 Betties escorted by 27 Zeroes. The carriers Hermes and Battler put up a total of 11 Hurricanes and 2 Seafires. They got 8 Zeroes without losses, but never reached the Betties. And the Betties did remarkably well, getting 4 hits on an APA and 2 on an LST with just 11 torpedoes launched. Both ships sank, with 1718 troop casualties reported.


The KB then located a smaller transport convoy moving base forces to Port Blair. It was hit with a raid of 79 Judies, 6 Jills, and 11 Kates... this convoy had no air cover, and was wiped out.

xAK Testbank, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAP Doumer, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Godavari, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Bhima, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
DE Narbada, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Malda, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
227 (troop) casualties reported.


A pair of Helens tried to attack the first convoy again but were easily splashed.


All remaining ships are hauling ass to Rangoon to get the most possible benefit of land-based air cover.



China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 96 casualties, 1 B-25 lost to flak


land combat:
Enemy shock attack at Sinyang, 50k of their troops against 32k of ours. Casualties 6295 to 1290 favoring us, forts reduced to Level 2. So the enemy pretty much wiped out their gains from sinking our transports and then some.

[Ostfriese]

1943 is in the books, and 1944 should bring you masses of material. What's the overall strategic situation and outlook?

[Molon Labe]

1943 is in the books, and 1944 should bring you masses of material. What's the overall strategic situation and outlook?


Taking the Philippines from him is going to be a knife at his throat in terms of supplies and oil. It's already been hazardous to get tankers through for a long time and he's lost a lot of tankers trying.


The KB is becoming strategically irrelevant, and it's appearance in the Andaman Sea really highlights that. Port Blair is done for and whether we press on to Bangkok isn't all that important if the Philippines fall. The Philippines are strategically vital, but the KB isn't there...because my opponent doesn't think they're strong enough to make a difference.


After the Philippines, I'll gradually roll through Java and Sumatra but there won't be any rush because no traffic will be getting through from there to Japan. So I'll make a second attempt on the Marianas and push on to the Chinese Pacific coast to bring the home islands under heavy bomber threat.

[Molon Labe]

1 January 1944
Kamikaze and torpedo bomber attacks hit British CVBG; HMS Battler sunk, Hermes and Royal Sovereign left burning hulks.

Philippines and surrounding seas
A B-24 raid on Peleliu destroyed a pair of Judies on the ground

26 Georges and 4 Tonies swept our landing site at Cotabo, opposed by 14 P-40s and 30 Hellcats. We splashed 10 Georges while losing 4 P-40s and 4 Hellcats.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 9 base hits, 5 casualties


Andaman Sea and Burma
The first raid was an attempted strike by the British CVBG against the KB, but this was not a good matchup... 9 Swordfish escorted by 2 Seafires and 2 Wildcats up against a CAP of 49 fighters. 8 of the Swordfish were splashed along with 1 Wildcat and 1 enemy George. The one Swordfish that got through launched a torpedo at IJN Chuyo (CVE) and missed.

Up next was a flight of dive bombers headed out of Tavoy; 14 Vengeances escorted by 10 Hurricnes and 20 Spitfires, up against a CAP of 42 enemy fighters. All 14 bombers were shot down along with 1 Hurricane, 10 Zeroes, 2 Rufes, and an Irving. One bomber made it to the enemy ships before it was shot down, attacking IJN Kaiyo (CVE) and missing.

Then it was the enemy's turn to attack our ships. They put 76 Judies, 6 Jills, and 15 Kates with 37 Zero escorts up against a hodgepodge of sea-based and land-based fighters, totalling 65. Nearly outnumbering their fighters 2-to-1 was good enough to make the losses pitched, but not enough to keep the bombers off our ships. One P-47 was lost on our side, compared to 9 Zeroes, 17 Judies, 1 Jill, and 3 Kates. The Kates in particular were deadly... the only bomb hit was one on the cruiser Sussex, but Battler was hit by 3 torpedoes, causing onboard ammo to cook off and sinking her before the enemy planes had even left. Hermes also took a hit, while the battleship Royal Sovereign took 5.

In the afternoon, what was left of our land-based bombers squadrons tried again, getting 4 more Swordfish, 2 Vengeances, 2 Spitfires, and 3 Hurricanes shot down. They took 2 Georges, a Zero, and a Rufe with them.

The enemy's afternoon followup raids first targeting the retreating transports with 9 unescorted Kates. We failed to intercept them with any of our numerous fighters somehow. Fortunately they were flying at long range, or maybe just from a CVE that didn't carry torpedoes, because they just delivered bombs; 1 hit on an LST and 1 hit on an LSI(L). I also saw a message in the reports I've never seen before: "Banzai! - Takagi L. in a B5N2 Kate is willing to die for the Emperor" The enemy ended up losing 2 of these planes to flak and two more to fighters on the way out. I'm assuming one of the flak kills was this war's first attempted kamikaze attack.

12 more Kates attacked the CVBG, and they too evaded most of the fighters... just 2 shot down before they reached the ships. 2 more were brought down by flak. And another new message: "Chiyoshima A. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CVL Hermes" Hermes also took 6 bomb hits, and like Battler, suffered an ammunition explosion.

Hermes and Royal Sovereign finished the day burning with little hope of survival. They're too big to get up the river delta to Rangoon, and the nearest available port isn't going to be able to put out those fires.

Other raids:
Pisanouke (ground forces): 29 casualties


China
Another ill-advised enemy shock attack at Sinyang. Casualties 4932 to 737 favoring us, forts holding at Level 2.


Reinforcements
VP-202 arrives at Eastern USA
No.20 Sqn RNZAF arrives at Auckland
3rd Eng Amph Bde arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

2 January 1944
USS Skipjack lost in attack on enemy convoy; HMS Hermes succumbs to yesterday's attack to become first ship sunk by a kamikaze

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Skipjack successfully engaged a convoy west of Luzon, striking a 4875-ton cargo ship and likely sinking it. Afterwards it was prosecuted by a pair of PBs and a kaibokan. The kaibokan had deep reaching depth charges and of course she was the one that found the Skipjack, and proceeded to hit our boat with at least 3 solid pattern hits along with several damaging near misses. Skipjack was forced to surface and was summarily gunned down.

Skipjack recorded a kill on a mine tender (830 tons) in addition to the suspected kill in the attack she was lost in.

B-24s hit the main enemy base on Mindanao, Cagayan, causing 91 casualties.

Our advancing troops caught up with the retreating forces and dealt them another 248 casualties as they ran towards Cagayan.



Andaman Sea and Burma
Hermes went down overnight.

The enemy opened the day's festivities with 23 Georges from Bangkok sweeping Rangoon. We mustered 36 fighters to oppose them; losses were 10 Georges and 1 P-51. Not bad at all. And proof the altitude isn't everything... the George was the highest flying fighter in the fight.

That was followed up by 11 Betties escorted by 15 Zeroes attacking the transport convoy. They lost 3 Zeroes and 10 of the Betties. The surviving Betty launched a torpedo at a cargo ship but missed.

Next was a single Judy with 8 Zeroes escorting; the Judy was splashed. Then three Zeroes with 1 Jill; we got all 4 of them. And yet another raid of 1 Kate and 4 Zeroes, the Kate was shot down with 1 of the Zeroes. And finally, a less-piecemeal raid of 7 Frances torpedo bombers escorted by 4 Zeroes and 7 Georges. We got 2 of the Frances; the rest attacked minesweepers near Rangoon and missed.

3 B-25Gs then attacked the KB... that went exactly how you'd expect.

Other raids:
Pisanouke (ground forces): 43 casualties




China
Air Raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 10 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 9 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 5 base hits, 4 casualties

[Molon Labe]

3 January 1944
HMS Royal Sovereign sinks, KB fights off land based air attacks

Strait of Malacca
I'm pulling a rather risky move with my subs. The KB has to come back to the Pacific at some time, right? And I've avoided shallow water so far, like the Strait and the area around Singapore. So, if I tried to use subs to blockade the Strait, he might not see it coming.

I have 3 British subs already there or at the doorstep and a bunch of US subs relocating there from the Borneo coast. One of those subs, HMS Tally Ho, was spotted near Singapore and depth charged for moderate damage. At the northwest end of the Strait, HMS Clyde was spotted by a replenishment group and depth charged for minor damage. So... not bad, but 2 sightings may be enough of a pattern that he'll start to sanitize the area.


DEI
I switched New Mexico and Arizona's target to Kendari for this run. 167 casualties and an Irving destroyed on the ground.

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase and ground forces): 1 hit, 0 casualties

We captured Bima (west of Timor) with an airborne assault, no resistance.


Andaman Sea and Burma
A frustrating day for us as many attack aircraft raided the KB but many fighter squadrons assigned to escort duty took the day off. First was 10 Beaufort torpedo bombers and 11 Avengers flying out of Rangoon with just 12 Hurricanes on escort. The KB's CAP was 61 fighters, and we got slaughtered. 5 Hurricanes, 10 Avengers, and 4 Beauforts shot down. Amazingly we did get 6 Beauforts and 1 Avenger to the task force, attacking the CVE Shinyo and CV Zuikaku... but the enemy dodged all the torpedoes.

That was followed up by 16 Beaufighters with 14 P-51s flying out of Pegu. The enemy CAP was down to 48 thanks to the earlier raid, but still enough to deal with us. We shot down only 1 Zero, while 5 P-51s and 11 Beaufighters bit it. Another Beaufighter was lost to flak. 3 Beaufighters managed to make attack runs on the CVE Chuyo and BB Kongo but missed.

Next up was an entire squadron of 16 Vengeance dive bombers with no escort. They suffered 11 losses; the surviving aircraft withdrew. A second squadron with 14 aircraft came in next, also with no escort. They also lost 11 aircraft, but managed to attack with three. One of those was shot down by flak. They attacked CVE Kaiyo and CV Hiyo... and missed. These two attacks would likely have been devastating if they had fighter escorts!

The enemy raids were next, oddly targeting ASW patrols near Rangoon instead of the limping Royal Sovereign. 34 Zeroes escorted 3 Kates and 6 Judies while we put up a CAP of 12 Hurricanes, 7 P-40s, and 6 P-47s. We splashed 12 Zeroes with no losses, but the bombers got through and sank a minesweeper. Pappy Boyington (who I tried to retire from the Army and move to the Marines to command VMF-214) finally got his 5th kill in this fight.

We had some piecemeal raids after that, costing us 2 Hurricanes, 4 Vengeances, and 3 Beauforts with nothing to show for it. The KB made a followup raid on Rangoon with 18 Kates and 20 Zeroes; we got 10 Zeroes and 3 Kates without loss, but lost another minesweeper and our airbase took a pair of bomb hits.

Other air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces) 72 casualties


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 27 casualties


Philippines
Air raids:
Cagayan (ground forces): 188 casualties

In the Strait of Luzon, Beaufighters attacked a tanker convoy, but did so with just 2 aircraft. "Due to range or weather" the full flight of 12 failed to find the target, so they apparently split up and these 2 got lucky. We managed to get 2 bomb hits on a large tanker, setting it on fire. It did not appear to be oil/fuel cargo burning, so this is an outbound convoy.


Reinforcements
BB Iowa arrives at Eastern USA
SS Guitarro arrives at Balboa
265th Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Pearl Harbor
Seventh USAAF Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco
5th USMC Tank Battalion arrives at San Diego
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment arrives at Karachi

[Molon Labe]

4 January 1944
CVE Kaiyo damaged as enemy CVBG's air cover degraded


DEI
An enemy submarine fired 6 torpedoes at USS Barnes, a CVE in an amphibious task force headed back to Darwin from Mindanao. All 6 torpedoes missed, and 3 destroyers then took turns depth charging the sub.. one of them to the point it ran out of depth charges. The sub took heavy damage but survived.

Another enemy sub found one of my minesweepers tranferring bases near Ambon and hit it with a torpedo for a kill.

Air raids:
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 3 hits, 0 casualties
Koepang (ground forces): 15 casualties


Burma and Andaman Sea
The destroyer HMS Rotheram got caught between Rangoon and an enemy bombardment task force in the river deltas. She eventually slipped out (a storm was hampering visibility), but not before taking several shell hits, leaving her badly damaged. She managed to hit the Mogami twice in the exchanges. The bombardment task force eventually made it to Rangoon where it hit an LST in port, caused 94 casualties, and caused light airbase damage.

We raided Mergui (coastal base south of Tavoy) as it appeared enemy ships might have been docking there to reinforce/evacuate enemy troops. We didn't find any transports there, but the enemy CVBG (I'm not sure it's actually the KB anymore due to how many new CVEs are in it) was nearby trying to get extra air cover from Bangkok. So we ended up with 30 B-24s against 46 Zeroes and 2 Rufes. Zeroes suck against heavy bombers... We lost 2 B-24s but the enemy lost 6 Zeroes and both Rufes. The bombers hit nothing of value on the ground. But it did weaken the CAP significantly for raids to come.

6 Beauforts attacked the task force unescorted, and the enemy mustered only 3 Zeroes to intercept, and none of them made it down in time. They attacked the Kongo, losing one to flak before they fired their torpedoes, and the Kongo was then able to evade the 5 torps fired at it.

Finally the enemy's good fortune ran out, a little. 21 Vengeances attacked escorted by 18 Spitfires. The enemy intercepted with just 25 Zeroes. The Spitfires seemed nearly invincible, shooting down 6 Zeroes while only losing 1, but they failed to keep the Zeroes off the dive bombers, resulting in a loss of 12. 9 of the bombers made attack attempts, split between theh CVEs Kaiyo, Chuyo, and Shinyo. Kaiyo was hit twice and Shinyo once (and that one bomb was just a little 250-pounder). Both ships were set on fire, Kaiyo rather badly. One additional bomber was shot down by flak.

At the end of the day, our ground forces had captured Mergui, the only enemy forces there being a fragment of a paratrooper unit.

Other raids:
Pisanoulke (ground forces): 47 casualties



Japan Home Waters
USS Redfin torpedoed and sank a PB near Iwo Jima.
USS Blackfish and USS Dragonet both attacked a cargo ship convoy near Torishima, but both missed. And both took light damage from a kaibokan afterwards.


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces) 28 casualties


Philippines
Air raids:
Cagayan (ground forces) 229 casualties


Reinforcements
DE Reynolds arrives at Seattle
VMF-322 arrives at Eastern USA
VP-61 arrives at Oak Harbor

[Molon Labe]

5 January 1944
Enemy air strike targeting amphibious task force at Cotabo wiped out

Japanese Home Waters
USS Blackfish torpedoed and sank a Lima class cargo ship (6475 tons) near Torishima.


Strait of Malacca and Singapore area
USS Salmon, patrolling slightly east of Singapore, attempted to attack a large cargo ship convoy but missed. We got lucky and got away from the destroyers afterwards--this is a shallow water area and we have nowhere to hide from the depth charges.

We now have 3 British subs in the Strait itself plus at least a half dozen US boats waiting on the east side. Yesterday's semi-successful airstrike off Mergui probably means the enemy CVBG will be coming through here in another day or two.


Burma and Thailand
I ordered a sweep of Bangkok; 15 P-47s vs 13 Irvings, 34 Georges, and 16 Tonies. Shot down 8 Georges, 2 Irvings, 1 Tony, with a loss of just 2 P-47s.

other raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces) 64 casualties



Philippines
Our B-24 raids on Cagayan caused 375 enemy casualties.

The enemy sent a raid of 28 Betties escorted by 19 Zeroes to Cotabo, where an amphibious task force is delivering engineers needed to build up Cagayan into a suitable heavy bomber base. We had 57 Hellcats and 8 P-40N5s on patrol. Presumably they're from Manila/Clark. The Betties were completely wiped out along with 17 of the Zeroes, with only 1 P-40 shot down. Of the Betties, 4 did make it to our ships. One of those was shot down by flak before it could attack, the remaining 3 made attacks on the CVE Santee and CL Adelaide (missing), then got splashed by fighters before they could get away.

At Cagayan, we attacked the weak enemy forces there with a tank battalion and an artillery battalion. It wasn't enough to capture the base, but we did cause another 102 casualties without taking losses of our own. And we have an infantry division about to arrive.

Our landing site at Dadjangas, Mindanao, now has a small functioning airstrip. Enough for a local CAP.

Scout/ASW patrols claimed a lot of hits today.
Subs:8
minesweepers: 3


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces) 31 casualties.

Land combat:
Near Wuchang, allied deliberate attack, casualties 368 (J) to 121 (A)

Allied reinforcements have arrived at Sinyang, let's see if I can break the enemy line.


DEI
Air Raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 1 base hit, 19 casualties


Reinforcements and repairs
USS Yorktown II is now under repair & refit in Alameda. It's going to take 50 days... better than the 75 days it was going to take at Pearl but still a long time.
DD Remey arrives at Eastern USA
LSV Catskill arrives at Eastern USA
364th(Sep) Infantry Regiment arrives at Seattle
9th RAN Base Force arrives at Sydney
36th Div Engineer Battalion arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

6 January 1944
US Marines land on Jolo (Sulu Sea); Davao captured


DEI
Arizona and New Mexico hit Koepang again. I'm kind of surprised we haven't run into subs or mines yet given how many times I've done this. 80 casualties.

Air raids:
Kendari (ground forces and port): 1 B-25 shot down by flak, 1 port hit
Babeldaob (Palaus, airbase): 1 B-24 shot down by flak, 10 airbase hits


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 25 casualties

Land combat:
Sinyang: allied deliberate attack, casualties 1104 to 4088 favoring the enemy. Our assault power is about 4 times theirs but I think the defensive bonus combined with the enemy having a lot of tanks/me not having at AT made the difference here.
near Wuchang: allied deliberate attack, casualties 1685 to 227 favoring us, enemy retreating. This was a 1/3 division strength enemy unit that sallied out of Wuchang for some reason.


Philippines
We've landed marines and army aircraft support onto Jolo island in the Sulu Sea. This will make a good airbase for scoutplanes and bombers...we'll have observation of nearly all the South China Sea from here and the oil-producing bases in northern Borneo will be under direct threat.

We took Davao with minimal resistance, destroying an IJN marine company.


Reinforcements
DD Marshall arrives at Balboa
KV Shediac arrives at Balboa
AR Artifex arrives at Aden
VMF(N)-532 arrives at Eastern USA
5318th PAU/BS arrives at Karachi

[Molon Labe]

7 January 1944
Battle for Bangkok's airspace tilts in our favor
Jolo and Cagayan captured


Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Maskallunge was spotted by a Kaibokan off the east coast of Luzon and hit with one depth charge pattern before it escaped.

Air raids:
Cagayan (ground forces): 182 casualties

Jolo was captured, we destroyed 2 Tonies and 2 Dinahs on the ground in the process. Cagayan as well fell to our advancing ground forces, so that will soon be my main airbase on Mindanao.

I've noticed Manila is home to a lot of tankers. Seems like a bad place to leave them, so I'll be happy to take them off his hands. Recon of Manila and Clark airbase shows a substantial enemy fighter and bomber presence in Manila only, but not more than the Yankee Butai can handle, especially with help from land-based fighters in Jolo and Cotabo. One slight problem, though, there are 2 subs hanging out near Jolo that the CVBG would have to move past to get in range. So I'm going to hold off attacking Manila for at least a day while assigning 2 DD from the Yankee Butai to detach and prosecute those subs.


Burma and Thailand
With the enemy CVBG gone, my air campaign against Bangkok resumed. I sent three sweeps over Bangkok, one squadron each of P-51s, P-47s, and P-38s. We shot down 9 Tonies and 15 Georges while losing 3 P-51s, 2 P-47s and 3 P-38s. Not bad. Those losses are heavy enough to significantly degrade Bangkok as a fighter base.

Air raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces) 45 casualties

We captured Rahaeng with an opposed river crossing. Casualties 3520 to 257 favoring us.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 34 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and port): no hits, 1 B-25 shot down by flak
Babdeldoab (airbase): 2 hits


Reinforcements
BB New Jersey arrives at Balboa
DE Spangler arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

8 January 1944
Beaufighters from China strike troop convoy moving through Strait of Luzon

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Sargo hit an ammunition ship (3675 tons) twice in the Strait of Luzon, sending it to the bottom.


Also in the Strait, a troop convoy of at least 10 ships is approaching from the east and was engaged by 10 Beaufighters flying out of Amoy:
xAK Enzyu Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Achou Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Denmark Maru, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 2, on fire
So that's very likely one ship sinking, and those fires on the other two are going to cause DOT-like casualties to the troops aboard. That they're moving such vulnerable convoys through here really shows how badly the noose has tightened.



Near Jolo, the two DDs I detached from the carriers found both enemy subs. One was severely damaged an almost certainly sank shortly after the engagement. The other was moderately damaged and escaped, but based on Avengers' claims later it appears this sub was retreating and getting bombed along the way. In any case, our CVBG can enter the Sulu Sea now.


But, recon of Manila shows that instead of an air force balanced between fighters and bombers, it's just fighters now. 100 of them. I don't know where the bombers went. My concern now is that a strike on Manila might set up a riposte--they have enough fighters to chew up my airstrike, and then my weakened CVBG might face a powerful retaliatory attack, perhaps from the KB. So for now I'm going to give Manila a pass and hit Legaspi instead. There is troop movement in that area so maybe I'll catch some transports. More likely an ASW group. And, I might be able to get a portion of Manila's fighters if they have a long-range CAP over them--better than taking on all 100 at once.


DEI
Air strikes:
Babeldaob (airbase): 7 hits (possible destruction of Jake on the ground)
Koepang (ground forces): 10 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and port): 2 port hits, no casualties



Burma and Thailand
Air strikes:
Bangkok (airbase and sweeps): 9 hits; No joy on the sweeps

Pisanuloke (ground forces): 11 B-25s escorted by 6 Hurricanes and 17 P-40Ks intercepted by 18 Georges. 2 Georges shot down, 3 P-40s and 3 Hurricanes lost. Bombers completed mission, 168 casualties on the ground.


https://i.ibb.co/VtpCRsQ/1944-Jan-9.png





Reinforcements and Repairs
USS Princeton has been repaired from the torpedo damage sustained in the Truk operation. I'm giving her a screening force and sending her to Wake for now. May link up with the big fleet later.
DE James E. Craig arrives at Eastern USA
SS Surf arrives at Aden
No.1833 Sqn FAA arrives at Colombo
VMF(N)-532 arrives at Los Angeles
VP-18 arrives at Eastern USA
VB-151 arrives at Oak Harbor

[Ostfriese]

What are the green dots in the middle of Australia?

[Molon Labe]

What are the green dots in the middle of Australia?


Alice Springs (with the 11th RAAF Base Force).

[Molon Labe]

9 January 1944

Japanese Home Waters

USS Haddock was depth charged for moderate damage after a failed attack on a troop transport convoy near Aogashima.


Philippines and surrounding seas
West of Luzon, USS Seawolf scored a torpedo hit on a repair tender--possibly evacuating from Manila. It was severely damaged, but probably survived.

I attempted a P-38 sweep of Manila; 21 P-38s vs 24 Georges, 4 Nicks, and 1 Zero. Did not go well...6 P-38s shot down while only taking out 1 Nick and 3 Georges.


Strait of Malacca
HMS Templar was seriously damaged in an attack by subchasers led by a kaibokan. She's been doing a pretty good job dewatering her compartments, so she'll be OK.

HMS Tactician was bombed by enemy aircraft


Thailand and Burma
P-38 and P-51 sweep of Bangkok; 1 Tony shot down.
P-40 sweep of Pisanuloke; 2 Georges and 1 P-40 shot down
Bangkok (airbase): 4 casualties, 21 hits, 1 George destroyed on ground
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 1 P-40 shot down by Georges on CAP, 40 casualties on the ground


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 25 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and port): 1 hits, 5 casualties
Babeldaob: (airbase) 4 hits


Reinforcements
AO Cahaba arrives at Balboa
APA Knox arrives at Balboa
APA Leon arrives at Cristobal
AKA Alshain arrives at Eastern USA
TK W.H. Berg arrives at Portland

[Ostfriese]

9 December 1944


I didn't notice earlier, but December doesn't seem right.

[Molon Labe]

I didn't notice earlier, but December doesn't seem right.
:haha: Fixed. Thanks!


10 January 1944
Allied troops land on Makassar
US CVBGs retiring from Philippines due to enemy airpower concentration in Luzon


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces) 47 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 9 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and port): ineffective

US troops are now landing on Makassar. Resistance is light.


Burma and Thailand
P-40s and Georges faced off above Pisanuloke, with 5 Georges and 2 P-40s shot down. B-25s being escorted by the P-40s caused 28 casualties on the ground. Nearby at Raheng, we lost another P-40 and a P-47 fighting George fighters, shooting down 1 of them.

24 B-24s hit Bangkok's airbase, getting only 9 hits, with 1 George destroyed on the ground.


Luzon Strait
10 Beaufightes went after some ships we spotted but were routed by Zeroes and Nicks flying CAP. We lost 4 Beaufighters and took one Zero with us.

2 Beaufighters went after a different target, which turned out to be unprotected--a troop carrying cargo ship. They hit with one bomb, leaving it on fire and seriously damaged (I think this ship had been hit previously).

USS Sargo hit an AO with a torpedo near Laoag. The oiler will survive this hit.


Philippines
54 SBD-5s from captured airbases in Mindanao hit Legaspi's port, sinking 5 mine tenders.

Manila and Clark Field are becoming hornets' nests of enemy aircraft--over 200. A carrier-launched strike on the ships sheltering in Manila is no longer feasible as it's likely they'll be able to get bombers through against us, and it's been awhile since my CVBGs have received any routine maintenance anyways, so I'm having them all retire to Darwin.



Reinforcements
CVE Kitkun Bay arrives at Portland
CVE Kasaan Bay arrives at Portland
DD Rocket arrives at Aden
AV Currituck arrives at Eastern USA
ARD AFDB-4 arrives at Mare Island

[Molon Labe]

11 January 1944
USS Thresher crippled near Singapore; operation to try to catch enemy carriers in Stait of Malacca called off


Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Amberjack torpedoed and sank a troop-carrying cargo shp in the Luzon Strait, while USS Finback torpedoed and sank minesweeper that was escorting the already-burning repair tender previously torpedoed west of Luzon.

Just outside Manila, USS Devilfish hit the submarine IJN I-26 with 2 of 4 torpedoes fired, sinking it. I-26 was the sub previously severely damaged and believed sunk by the 2 DD detachment at Jolo on 8 January.

Sarmi has been captured.


South China Sea
USS Cabrilla torpedoed and a 6840-ton cargo ship slightly east of Singapore. The damage was probably already lethal, but HMS Truant came by later and put 2 more fish into her to be sure.

USS Thresher tried to attack an ASW group east of Singapore, which was a horrible idea. It missed and then was caught in shallow water for a depth charge attack. It was severely damaged and is now limping back to base for repairs.

We've been exposing ourselves in shallow water in and near the Strait for too long trying to catch the enemy carriers that were operating off Burma. I'm not sure where they went, but we're just going to lose subs if we stay here.


China
Air Raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 48 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Bangkok (airbase): 22 hits
Ayuthia (near Bangkok; ground forces) 31 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): ineffective
Kendari (ground forces and port): 0 casualties, 1 port hit
Tarakan (airbase): 15 B-24s opposed by 7 Tony fighters; 1 B-24 shot down. Raid ineffective.

Makassar has been captured.
2 LSTs ripped their bottoms open during the amphibious landings and are sheltering in nearby harbors until we can get a repair tender out here. No rush, we have a lot of LSTs now.

[Molon Labe]

12 January 1944

China
The enemy attempted a night raid on Amoy (the Beaufighter base) with 6 Sallies. We had 4 Vanguard fighters on night patrol. No shootdowns, no damage on the ground.

Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 6 casualties


Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Seawolf torpedoed and sank a PB just outside Manila.

Land combat:
Butuan, allied deliberate attack: 276 enemy casualties, 0 Allied, forts reduced to level 0.


DEI
Air raids:
Tarakan (airbase): 6 hits, 4 casualties
Koepang (ground forces) 16 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 6 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces): 117 casualties


Reinforcements
CVE White Plains arrives at Portland
DE Manning arrives at Eastern USA
DE Fair arrives at Mare Island

[Molon Labe]

13 January 1944

China
6 Helen bombers made a night attack on Hong Kong's airbase, causing minor damage.


Other Allied raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 21 casualties


DEI
Allied raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 5 casualties
Kendari (ground forces: 11 casualties



Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces): 45 casualties
"road to Bangkok" (ground forces): 9 casualties


Philippines
We've retaken Butuan.


Reinforcements
DD Hopewell arrives at Los Angeles
AO Kennebago arrives at Eastern USA
KV Sudbury arrives at Balboa
5th FG/26th FS CACW arrives at Karachi
5th FG/27th FS CACW arrives at Karachi
5th FG/29th FS CACW arrives at Karachi
VMSB-332 arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

14 January 1944
Ace sub HMS Truant finished off in Java Sea


Strait of Malacca
USS Permit was withdrawing from the area after laying mines near Singapore when it was spotted and depth charged. It retreated with moderate damage. Apparently I hadn't yet given Cabrilla the orders to fall back; it too was spotted near Singapore and depth charged for severe damage.


Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Flounder torpedoed and sank a light cargo ship in the Luzon Strait. It attempted a second attack on the same convoy but ended up missing and getting damaged by depth charges from a PB.

8 Beaufighters attacked a tanker convoy in the Luzon Strait and was intercepted by 4 Nicks. They shot down 1 Nick without taking any losses and proceeded with the mission, striking a tanker and a PB with one bomb each and setting both ships on fire.

Advancing US armor engaged retreating enemy forces in Butuan and caused 114 enemy casualties.


Java Sea
HMS Truant, transiting the Java Sea after withdrawing from the Singapore area, was bombed by enemy aircraft, then approached an enemy surface combat task force that included IJN Ise and Mushashi. She was spotted by escorts, prosecuted, and sunk.

HMS Truant had an accomplished combat record, sinking 7 enemy ships totaling 22,466 tons.


China
Allied raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 39 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Allied Raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 9 casualties
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 251 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces): 61 casualties


DEI
Allied raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 29 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties

Allied armor is advancing on Celebes, inflicting 157 enemy casualties outside Makassar.


Reinforcements
DD Gatling arrives at Balboa
DE Sanders arrives at Seattle
AKA Andromeda arrives at Eastern USA
PF Eugene arrives at Mare Island
VMF-124 arrives at Mojave
163rd USA Base Force arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

15 January 1944

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Tinosa attempted to attack an already-burning tanker in the Strait of Luzon but missed and ended up taking some depth charge damage. On the west side of Luzon, USS Finback was more successful, putting 2 fish into a 4875 ton cargo ship with troops aboard for a confirmed kill.

Air raids:
Babeldoab (ground forces): 0 casualties
Butuan (ground forces): 5 casualties

Ground combat:
Butuan - Allied Shock Attack - 474 enemy casualties/no losses.



China
9 Helens made a night raid on Amoy's airbase, the only damage was 1 Helen shot down by flak and another shot down by a P-40 on night CAP.

other raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 16 casualties



Strait of Malacca and South China Sea
HMS Clyde was detected transiting the Strait and was damaged by a kaibokan.

HMS Truant is losing control of its flooding, but isn't gone yet.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 0 casualties
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 412 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces): 80 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 7 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


Reinforcements
DE Loeser arrives at Eastern USA
DE Manlove arrives at Mare Island
AP Joseph T. Dickman arrives at San Francisco
DE Cauvery arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

16 January 1944

Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 16 casualties
Pisanuloke (ground forces):69 casualties
Bangkok (ground forces): 12 casualties; 1 P-40 shot down by Tonies on CAP
Bangkok (sweep): 10 P-47s vs 5 Tonies; we shot down 1 Tony with no losses.


DEI
Air Raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Balikpapan (airbase): Didn't think this one through. Thought I'd be catching unprotected bombers on the ground with a raid of unescorted B-24s. Ended up running into 30 fighters on CAP. We lost 7 B-24s while shooting down one Zero. The raid was ineffective.


Land combat:
Watampone, Celebes: Deliberate attack on enemy units retreating from the base in Makassar by the 192nd Tank Battalion. 198 enemy casualties, no losses.


China
Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 16 casualties

Land combat:
I tried a deliberate attack in Sinyang, which I recently added reinforcements to. Casualties were 1595 to 4536 favoring the enemy, BUT the number of squads destroyed instead of disabled was the same, so this isn't as bad as it might look.


Philippines and surrounding seas
Air raids:
Butuan (ground forces): 10 casualties

Land combat:
Butuan, Mindanao: Allied deliberate attack against enemy forces retreating from Cagayan. 215 enemy casualties; wiping out the 89th Nav Gd and capturing the base/hex.


Reinforcements
DE Neuendorf arrives at Eastern USA
VMF-323 arrives at Eastern USA
48th Aviation Base Force arrives at Los Angeles

[Molon Labe]

17 January 1944


China
Air Raids
-Ineffective enemy night raid on Amoy by Helens
Hangkow (ground forces): 24 casualties
I've shifted targets from Sinyang to Hangkow as it looks like (corrected) its twin across the river, Wuchang, has very little garrison troops due to how much he's moved to Sinyang and I want to make sure he's not just moving troops between the two bases to make Wuchang look undefended. I'll gladly take either of these from him even if he ends up taking Sinyang. Sinyang has far less strategic value and he's going to take a mountain of casualties in the process.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 0 casualties
Pisanuloke: 5 casualties


DEI
Koepang (ground forces): 22 casualties


Philippines and surrounding seas
Air raids:
Ilolio (ground forces): 1 SBD-5 lost to flak, 53 casualties. This is an invasion target I'm softening up. Still at least a week away, need to capture Cebu first.


Reinforcements
DD Capps arrives at Balboa
DD Halligan arrives at Balboa
SS Storm arrives at Aden
KV Moncton arrives at Balboa
VMF-312 arrives at Eastern USA
738th Coast AA Regiment arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

18 January 1944

China
Another ineffective night attack on Amoy, Sallies this time, plus the Helens.

Hangkow (ground forces): 0 casualties


Philippines and surrounding seas
air raids:
Ilolio (airbase): 18 hits, 2 Topsy transport destroyed (B-24s this time instead of SBDs)


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 55 casualties
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 6 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 18 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 6 casualties


Reinforcements
AKA Artemis arrives at Eastern USA
AP Gen. O.H.Ernst arrives at San Francisco
PF Gascoyne arrives at Sydney
Eighth US Army arrives at Pearl Harbor

[Molon Labe]

19 January 1944
USS Seawolf lost off west coast of Luzon
Japan cedes Wuchang back to China


Philippines and surrounding seas
It seems the days of our subs easily picking off their pursuers may be at an end. In another case of "maybe pick a different target", USS Seawolf fired at an ASW task force, missed, and was successfully prosecuted. Seawolf had been in the Asiatic fleet since the beginning of the campaign and ended up with surprisingly few confirmed sinkings, perhaps due to how much time she spent under repair from close calls. 3 ships total, 16335 tons.

USS Swordfish did choose a better target, putting two fish into a 4875-ton cargo ship off the northern tip of Luzon for a kill.

Air raids:
Ilolio (airbase): 10 casualties, 23 base hits, 1 Judy destroyed on the ground


China
-Another night raid on Amoy, no damage
Allied air raids:
Wuchang (ground forces): 42 casualties


Land combat:
Allied Shock Attack in Wuchang: Base captured, casualties 1031 to 247 favoring us. There was essentially no resistance, just 1000 troops defending a major base. I asked my opponent about this and he said he just didn't think it was worth holding onto, so he moved out.


Burma and Thailand
A P-47 sweep over Bangkok shot down 3 Tonies. 45 B-24s followed that up by bombing the airbase, destroying 1 more Tony on the ground along with scoring 47 airbase hits. Bangkok's airbase is effectively neutralized at this point.

Other raids:
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 74 casualties


Java Sea
USS Hake was spotted and depth charged while transiting away from the Malacca Strait area. Moderate damage.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 14 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


Reinforcements
DE Foreman arrives at San Francisco
PF Everett arrives at Mare Island
VMB-433 arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

20 January 1944

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Swordfish is a sniper. After going 2 for 2 yesterday on a cargo ship, she fired another 2 Mk14s at a tanker and got 2 hits. It was just a little one though, 2100 tons.

Air raids:
Ilolio (airbase): 4 hits, 7 casualties


China
Air raids:
Hangkow (ground forces): 32 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 80 casualties
Bangkok (airbase): 35 hits, 5 casualties. That no aircraft are being destroyed more or less confirms he's abandoned Bangkok as an airbase.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 18 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


Reinforcements
CV Illustrious arrives at Aden
--It's going to take awhile to get her into action. She's long overdue for a refit and will need to report to Columbo to get the work done.
DD Hall arrives at Eastern USA
DD David Taylor arrives at Eastern USA
SS Pintado arrives at Balboa
AO Saugatuck arrives at Eastern USA
5201st Eng Con Bde arrives at San Francisco
233rd USN Base Force arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

21 January 1944
Enemy carriers spotted in Java Sea as air campaign against Luzon begins


China
-Another Helen night raid on Amoy, this time they actually hit the runway once. Nothing we can't repair by morning. 8 Sallies attacked Hong Kong's airbase as well but didn't hit anything.

Other raids:
Hankow (ground forces): 45 casualties


Papua New Guinea
We're landing troops to take Manokwari, on the west side, northern coast. No resistance is expected.


South China Sea
HMS Truculent was depth charged while vacating the Singapore area. Light damage.


Philippines
Trying to wear down Manila a bit so I can eventually bomb it with B-24s. 40 P-38s swept and were opposed by 12 Nicks, 8 Irvings, and 5 Georges. I expected more, they have over 100 fighters based here--must all be on reserve to use as bomber escorts. We ended up getting 6 Nicks, 3 Georges, and 1 Irving while losing 2 P-38s. Not too bad.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Road to Bangkokk (ground forces): 45 casualties
Bangkok (airbase): 1 B-24 shot down by flak, 41 base hits, 17 casualties. One Tony managed to get airborne and shot down 2 B-24s in a formation of 25! Nice flying, I hope we kill that pilot soon!
Pisanuloke (ground forces): 25 casualties


DEI
Scoutplanes reported enemy carriers near Surabaya, 2 of them.

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 26 casualties



Reinforcements
DMS Forrest arrives at Eastern USA
AO Winooski arrives at Balboa
VB-117 arrives at San Diego
No.356 Sqn RAF arrives at Howrah

[Molon Labe]

22 January 1944
Pisanuloke captured

South China Sea
USS Jack torpedoed and sank a 215-ton PB just north of Miri.


China
Enemy night raids:
Wenchow (airbase): 2 hits
Hong Kong (airbase): 0 hits
Of course they skipped Amoy now that we have night fighters there.

Allied daylight raids:
near Hankow (ground forces): 33 casualties
--these troops are moving in the open from Hankow to Sinyang, I'm interdicting them so they're beat up when they arrive at the front.


Philippines
I ordered another sweep of Manila. 32 P-38s vs 5 Zeroes, 10 Irvings, 7 Georges, and 8 Franks. We lost 4 planes but got 3 Franks, 6 Irvings, and 2 Georges. Will need to rest these P-38s for repairs now.

Other raids:
Ilolio (airbase): 13 hits, 5 casualties. Doesn't look like there are any aircraft left here to kill.


Burma and Thailand...and Sumatra
I rebased some B-24s at the recently captured Port Blair and used them to attack Sabang, the base at the tip of Sumatra that was the launching point for their Burma operation awhile ago. Recon reported a cruiser and tanker in port and lots of bombers in the airbase. Lackluster results; with 25 B-24s we only got 8 airbase hits and 1 port hit, with 1 Sally destroyed on the ground.

Other raids:
Road to Bangkok (ground forces): 62 casualties
Pisanuloke (ground forces) 30 casualties

Ground combat:
Our army group finally made it to Pisanuloke, where it took an enemy bombardment. We took 13 casualties there but counterbattery fire caused 647 enemy casualties (we outnumber them 51k to 18k and they've been getting bombed for awhile). We then hit them with a shock attack, capturing the base while causing 6604 casualties while taking just 440. Bangkok's next!


DEI
Trying to catch the carriers maybe docking at Surabaya, I hit it with 24 B-24s. We didn't get the carriers but the results weren't bad. 1 Helen destroyed on the ground, a submarine hit in port, 35 airbase hits, 3 port hits, 9 casualties.

Scoutplanes ended up reporting the carriers moved off a bit to the west. Not sure what they're doing there, but they look like nice targets. I have 2 fleet carriers offline for upgrades in Darwin right now, but that still leaves me 2 fleet carriers and 6 CVLs. I've organized them into two CVBGs and I'm sending them south of Java for the time being.

other raids:
Kendari (ground forces): 19 casualties

ground combat: We've captured Pare Pare in Celebes. 103 enemy casualties, 0 Allied.


Reinforcements
DD Porterfield arrives at Los Angeles
VP-19 arrives at Alameda
9th TCS arrives at Eastern USA
767th Tank Battalion arrives at San Francisco
207th Coast AA Regiment arrives at San Francisco
103rd RN Base Force arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

23 January 1944

China
Enemy night raids:
Wenchow (airbase): no damage

Allied raids:
near Hankow (ground forces): 36 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 1 Helen destroyed on the ground; we hit the submarine a second time, probably fatally this time as there was a large secondary explosion. 4 casualties, 24 airbase hits, 3 port hits.
Koepang (ground forces): 7 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Well there are two "roads to Bangkok" now, one east and one west. On the east road, I'm bombing retreating enemy units to slow them down so our ground forces can tear them up. In the west, there is a blocking force that I'm wearing down before our troops arrive.

Eastern road (ground forces): 124 casualties

Reinforcements
VP-19 arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

24 January 1944
Makassar shelled overnight--airbase in ruins; Kido Butai transiting Makassar Strait?

DEI
An enemy heavy task force centered around the battleships Kongo and Haruna (2 BB, 1 CA, 4 CL, 8 DD) laid waste to the airbase at Makassar. We tried to fight back with PT boats but just ended up with 2 sunk and no hits on the enemy. 33 aircraft were destroyed on the ground, most of the rest are disabled, and the base itself is at nearly 100% damage.

We did some shelling of our own; Arizona and New Mexico are back at it in Kendari, causing 100 casualties.

Aircraft from Salajar got airborne to try to strike the enemy ships, and did locate an enemy task force in the Makassar Strait... which was probably the KB. There were 134 Zeroes on CAP along 47 Georges (maybe from Balikpapan?), against just one USMC squadron of Corsairs and SBDs. We were lucky to get by with just one Corsair shot down along with one Zero, but the SBDs (18 of them) were wiped out.


So... this looks like the bombardment group kicked the door open and the KB walked through. We have hundreds of aircraft based around the Celebes Sea, though, and he's not going to be able to shell them all. I don't see the point of sending carriers right up with middle like this...


Other raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 1 B-24 shot down by flak, 8 airbase hits
Kendari (ground forces): 4 casualties


China
Enemy night raids:
Wenchow: 1 airbase hit
Hong Kong: 1 Sally shot down by defending Beaufighters (night fighter variants). No damage.

Allied raids:
near Hankow (ground forces): 84 casualties


Philippines
9 Beaufighters from Amoy tried to attack an ASW group in the Luzon Strait. They were intercepted by 3 Zeroes, but the Zeroes got the worst of it with one shot down and the rest routed. However, the Beaufighters failed to score any hits; their accuracy apparently compromised by thunderstorms.

other Air raids
Iloilo (airbase): 1 B-24 shot down by flak; 5 airbase hits


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
"eastern road" (ground forces): 77 casualties


Reinforcements
AO Broomdale arrives at Aden
2nd USMC Amphb Tank Battalion arrives at San Diego
853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Calcutta

[Molon Labe]

25 January 1944
Kido Butai vanishes yet again, at least 2 more enemy battleships operating in eastern Java Sea


Philippines
We have an amphibious landing underway at Cebu (central Philippines).


DEI
Another enemy surface task force (Ise, Haruna, 2CA, 2CL, 5DD) approached Makassar and encountered PT boats. We got within 2000 yards but weren't able to hit anything. We lost 5 PT boats. The subsequent shelling of the airbase destroyed at least 10 more aircraft. The base is already incapacitated and will stay that way for several days.

Three enemy destroyers returned to Makassar and sank 3 more PT boats.

Other raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 17 airbase hits, 1 port hit, 1 Sally destroyed on the ground
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 31 casualties

We've captured Madjene, Celebes.

Our CVBGs should be in position to strike any enemy naval forces remaining in the eastern Java Sea tomorrow. We'll have extra support from at least 2 land bases.

The KB, meanwhile, has disappeared. Which almost certainly means she did a 180 and did not transit up the Makassar Strait. So probably in the Java Sea somewhere.


China
Enemy night raid at Wenchow, no damage.


Burma and Thailand
Raids:
near Pisanuloke (retreating ground forces): 120 casualties


Reinforcements
DD Owen arrives at San Francisco
AKA Algol arrives at Portland
6th PG/20th CMS arrives at Eastern USA
124th RAF Base Force arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

26 January 1944
The Naval Battle of Salajar

Well, it's been a slow several weeks. And they say war is weeks on end of boredom interrupted by moments of absolute terror...


Philippines
USS Pargo torpedoed and cripped a 4875-ton troop-carrying cargo ship in a convoy off the Luzon Strait. The kaibokan escorting the convoy retaliated and hit Pargo badly enough to cause major flooding and a fire. Pargo is limping back to base, crippled.

At about the same time, another convoy reached a freshly-laid minefield at Aparri. A troop-carrying cargo ship in that convoy hit one of the mines, and it too is likely to sink.

USS Guardfish then attacked the same convoy hit by Pargo, putting 2 torpedoes into a 3675-ton troop-carrying cargo ship; almost certainly a kill. The kaibokan escort failed to find Guardfish after the attack. But, Guardfish attempted another attack later in the day, this time getting spotted and ending up with light damage. Not finished, late in the afternoon, Guardfish found the cargo ship that Pargo crippled and finished her off with a torpedo hit.

Our troops attacked the enemy base at Cebu, eliminating all fortifications. Casualties were 133 to 15 favoring us. Clearly, we'll get this quickly.


South China Sea
USS Puffer got in on the Silent Service's slaughter today, sinking a PB (830 tons) off Miri, Borneo.


Japanese Home Waters
You guessed it... another sub action... USS Corvina with a kill on a PB off Iwo Jima.


DEI: The Naval Battle of Salajar
https://i.ibb.co/68MkDTq/1944-Jan-27-Java.png

As big a splash as the US sub fleet made today, it was far outshadowed by the carrier v carrier action in the east Java Sea.


Before sunrise, just off Salajar island, one of the two enemy heavy surface groups was blundered into by one of our AGPs and a destroyer headed to Makassar to replenish the surviving PT boats. Both task forces declined to engage, but I did confirm this group's composition: CS Chiyoda, BB Ise, BB Hyuga, 2 CA, 4 CL, and 6 DD. The dis-engagement may have cost this task force the chance to bombard Salajar before sunrise.

This task force would then be the target of the first of many air raids today. The airbase at Salajar launched a (very disorganized) strike: 13 Beauforts, 65 SBDs, and 18 Avengers escorted by only 16 P-47s and 7 Corsairs. We didn't know it yet, but the KB was with this task force, and gave it a CAP of 132 Zeroes (it appears that no enemy fighters were held in reserve for bomber escort duty, the KB was in a purely defensive role today, as it's been in the past when operating near my airbases). As you might imagine, this became a bit of a slaughter; we lost 1 Corsair, 1 P-47, 30 SBDs, 3 Beauforts, and 14 Avengers. In exchange we got 6 Zeroes. But, 19 of the SBDs, 6 Avengers, and 8 Beauforts managed to make it to the targets, and the Hyuga and Ise each took a torpedo hit from the Beauforts, and an SBD hit Ise with a bomb. Akagi, Shokaku, and Zuikaku, Unryu, and Kongo were also attacked.

The Yankee Butai was up next, having transited into the east Java sea from the south near Bima. This strike was 108 Hellcats escorting 27 SB2Cs, 27 SBDs, and 62 TBFs; plus 6 P-47s that jumped in from Salajar. The enemy CAP was down to 68 Zeroes. This should have been a slaughter, but as things seem to go, we weren't able to keep them off our bombers, despite the massive number of Hellcats. Only 5 Zeroes went down in the air battle, while on our side 1 Hellcat, 4 SBDs, 5 SB2Cs, and 7 Avengers bought it. And our accuracy was horrible. Ise was hit by one torpedo, while Hyuga ate 2 and was severely damaged. Unryu was hit by a single bomb, while Akagi was hit by two bombs, one of which caused a secondary fuel explosion. A destroyer was also hit by a bomb and engulfed in flames.

Salajar launched another attack in the afternoon, this time with just 8 SBDs and 3 Beauforts, a mere 2 P-47s escorting. We lost 7 of the SBDs and 2 Beauforts while shooting down 1 Zero. The SBDs actually all made it to the ships, attacking Zuikaku and Musashi, but they all missed.

The Yankee Butai's strike was next; 104 Hellcats with 18 SB2Cs, 20 SBDs, and 42 Avengers (and another 4 P-47s from Salajar to help out). The enemy CAP was now down to 66 Zeroes. And the enemy reached the bombers once again, shooting down 7 SBDs, 6 SB2Cs, 11 TBFs, and 6 Hellcats. We got 10 Zeroes. And once again, despite how many planes got through to attack, we only managed two hits; one on Akagi and one on Shokaku.

6 Beauforts with 8 P-47s came in next, we got one Zero but lost all 6 Beauforts. 1 torpedo was fired at Kongo--a miss.

In an action the enemy probably wishes would have come sooner, 2 CA and 2 CLs shelled Salajar airbase, damaging most of its remaining aircraft.


So, at the end of the day, it appears that we've knocked out the Akagi--hopefully for good this time--and damaged a pair of battleships pretty significantly, at a huge cost of aircraft and pilots. We had a slight desynch, so my observed air losses cited above won't match the official totals... but officially overall air losses today were 131 to 34 favoring Japan (and 49 pilots wounded, 47 killed). I won't bother trying to chase them to re-engage as it would be fairly easy for them to get fighter cover from Surabaya or elsewhere in Java if they retreat.


Other raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 12 casualties
Kendari (ground forces) 37 casualties



Burma and Thailand
Air strikes:
eastern road (ground forces): 48 casualties
western road (ground forces: 6 casualties




China
Air raids:
Hankow (ground forces) 17 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 40 casualties

Land combat:
The Japanese made another ill-advised attack on Sinyang, despite having just 43k troops to my 75k, while dealing with level 3 forts and a defensive terrain bonus. They managed to knock the forts down to Level 2, but casualties were 8303 to 947 favoring me. I'll be counterattacking tomorrow.


Reinforcements
CM Ariadne arrives at Balboa

[Molon Labe]

27 January 1944
Coup de grace administered to Akagi and Hyuga as Japanese fleet retreats from Salajar; Cebu and Hankow captured by Allied forces


DEI
Our PT tender once again ran into the enemy near Salajar, this time the KB itself. Again, no engagement, just a composition report: Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiyo, Unryu, Chiyoda, Kongo, Haruna, Mushashi, 2 CA, 3 CL, 19 DD. 2 PTs tried to take a shot at them near Makassar, too, but they were screened off by the destroyers.

3 PV-1N Ventura night fighters attempted an attack on the crippled Hyuga near Salajar but missed. The KVIII then approached it, hitting it with 3 torpedoes to finish her off.

4 Jills--not sure where they flew from, then attempted a kamizake attack on a pair of destroyers escorting troop transports to Bima. There were Hellcats in the area but none of them made it in time. Fortunately, between flak and manuevering, the kamikazes were not able to impact the destroyers.

The same destroyers were attacked again, this time by 5 Frances bombers escorted by 26 Georges. This time they were close enough to Bima to get air cover; 5 P-40s and 5 P-47s. We shot down 2 Georges, lost 2 P-40s and 1 P-47, and the bombers missed.

Well north of the major battle area, the enemy attacked Manado, first with a sweep of 19 Georges, then a naval strike of 6 Betties with 13 George escorts. The base/ships were defended by 12 Spitfires, 7 P-40s, and 6 Hellcats, enough to take down 16 Georges and 5 of the Betties. We lost only 1 P-40. The surviving Betty fired a torpedo at a cargo ship and missed.

Halfway back to Surabaya, the Ise was spotted and engaged by 12 SBDs from Salajar. Ise was hit twice--the damage does not appear to be lethal. Nearby, the Akagi was also found and attacked by 3 Beauforts. 2 of them hit Akagi with torpedoes, which immediately rolled over and went down. It's good to know she's gone for sure this time.

Other raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 13 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 4 base hits, 1 Jake destroyed on the ground

Ground combat:
1st Naval Construction Battalion and 41st JAAF AF Bn have been eliminated in Celebes.


China
Air raids:
Hankow (ground forces): 12 casualties

Land combat:
Sinyang: Allied deliberate attack, 1919 (J) to 1445 (A) casualties, and once again there were far more destroyed vs disabled units on the enemy's side.
Hankow: Allied shock attack, base captured, casualties 1006 (J) to 370 (A). This was effectively ceded the same way Wenchow was. I think this was a serious mistake as these bases should have forced me to take disproportionate casualties to capture (and my attempt to encircle them with a river crossing a few weeks ago failed).

It appears he is now withdrawing from Sinyang... that's a good move, it's just been a meat grinder for his troops.



Burma, Thailand, and northwestern Sumatra
Air raids:
Sabang (airbase and port): Mine tender bombed and severely damaged, 42 airbase hits, 2 port hits


Philippines
9 Judies attempted an attack on PT boats on the northwestern coast of Mindanao and missed. A single Hellcat intervened and managed to shoot down 4 of them.

Over the Luzon Strait, a flight of 7 Beaufiighters was jumped by 17 Nicks and 5 Franks--5 of the Beaufighters were shot down. With this amount of fighter presence over the Strait, it's time to admit the party is over for the Beaufighters. I'm pulling what's left of the squadron back to receive a transition to Spitfires, and the Hudsons acting as their spotters will be upgraded to Venturas. Neither have the Beaufighter's range, but the Spitfire can maneuver with Japanese fighters down low, so they can either fulfill the fighter-bomber role down low or be escorts for the Venturas.

Cebu has been captured. 272 enemy casualties to our 26.

[Molon Labe]

28 January 1944

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Bashaw took some depth charge hits off the west coast of Luzon from a kaibokan.


An attack on enemy troops on Cebu caused 211 (J) to 6 (A) casualties.



South China Sea
USS Cisco destroyed an enemy subchaser on patrol near Miri, Borneo. It took some damage from its sister ship before escaping.



China
Night-fighter Beaufighers shot down 2 Sally bombers over Hong Kong. The enemy attacks caused no damage.


Air raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 16 casualties



DEI
At Makassar, 8 Jill torpedo bombers escorted by a pair of Zeroes attacked the AGP that had kept running into the enemy fleets over the last few days and sank it with a pair of torpedo hits. 11 P-47s tried to defend it but only managed to shoot down 1 Zero.


Later, 9 Georges swept the base; 11 P-47s again defended. 7 Georges were shot down with no Allied losses.



other raids:
Keopang (ground forces) 5 casualties



Burma, Thailand, and western Sumatra

Raids:
east road (ground forces): 41 casualties
west road (ground forces): 8 casualties
Sabang (port and airbase): 34 B-24s opposed by 7 Irvings. No air-to-air losses. 15 airbase hits, 7 port hits, 4 ACMs bombed in port (3 confirmed sunk, the fourth probably didn't survive either)


Reinforcements
DD Haraden arrives at Eastern USA
No.15 Sqn RAAF arrives at Sydney
23rd FG/76th FS arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

29 January 1944
Enemy fighter presence over Strait of Luzon here to stay, for now


South China Sea
USS Puffer was detected and depth charged by an ASW group near Miri, Borneo and severely damaged. She's limping back to base for repairs. USS Salmon was also in this area and torpedoed a PB (2780 tons). A SC accompanying the PB found the Salmon and depth charged it causing minor damage.


DEI
New Mexico and Arizona bombarded Koepang, causing 45 casualties.

4 B-25D1 Mitchells attacked a cargo ship convoy near Surabaya from low altitude:

xAK Syunko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryuzin Maru, Shell hits 10, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
93 troop casualties were reported.

other Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 4 casualties
Kendari (ground forces: 12 casualties


Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Tambor was spotted by an ASW group in the Strait of Luzon and depth charged for moderate damage.

Our ground forces attacked the remaining enemy troops at Cebu, inflicting 121 casualties while taking 7. This eliminates the last enemy troops at Cebu.


Japanese Home Waters
USS Bang torpedoed a PB (2780 tons) near Naha.


China
I attempted a sweep of Takao, Taiwain to try to deal with the enemy fighter presence that's interfering with my ASUW interdictions. 12 Chinese P-40Es faced off against 12 Nicks and 6 Franks... We lost 7 of the P-40s while killing just 1 Nick.

Other raids:
Sinyang (ground forces): 25 casualties
near Hankow (ground forces): 17 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 17 casualties



Burma, Thailand, and northwestern Sumatra
Air raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces) 14 casualties
Sabang (airbase and port: Opposed by 2 Irvings; no air-to-air losses, 7 casualties, 14 airbase hits, 6 port hits
West road (ground forces): 11 casualties
East road (ground forces): 17 casualties

Ground combat:
Allied shock attack on enemy troops on eastern road, 47k vs 6.7k. Casualties 7887 (J) to 110 (A).


Reinforcements
CVE Tulagi arrives at Portland
CVE Ranee arrives at San Francisco
PF Corpus Christi arrives at Mare Island
CA Canberra II arrives at San Francisco
VMF(CVS)-123 arrives at Mojave
VMJ-953 arrives at San Diego
23rd FG/76th FS arrives at Los Angeles
93rd Infantry Division arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

30 January 1944

Thailand and Burma

Air raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces): 83 casualties
western road (ground forces): 94 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 4 casualties


China
Land combat:
Allied deliberate attack at Sinyang: 71k vs 2055 troops, casualties 1028 (J) to 27 (A). This was supposed to be an organized retreat but we managed to attack the tip of the daschund's tail and turn that much into a rout.


Reinforcements
CVL Unicorn arrives at Aden
Z' Force arrives at Kunming
858th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

31 January 1944

Philippines and surrounding seas
USS Golet torpedoed and cripped a 4875-ton cargo ship off the western coast of Luzon. USS Sargo torpedoed and likely sank another 4875-ton (Aden class) cargo ship in the Luzon Strait. Late in the day, USS Permit found the ship damaged by Golet and finished it off with 2 more torpedoes.


East China Sea
USS Sunfish was spotted by a kaibokan in the straits between Okinawa and Japan and depth charged for light damage.


South China Sea
USS Sawfish scored a torpedo hit on a 9975-ton tanker near Singapore, causing severe damage and heavy fires. Very likely a kill due to the fire.


Japanese Home Waters
USS Bluefish torpedoed and sank a 215-ton PB near Torishima.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces): 87 casualties
eastern road (ground forces): 93 casualties


DEI
In the Java Sea near Semarang, Java, 10 B-25D1s attacked a support convoy including a seaplane tender and an ammunition ship:
AKE Hikosan Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC Ch 5, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC Ch 1
AV Sanuki Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SC Ch 12, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SC Ch 21, Shell hits 1
One of the B-25s was shot down by flak.

Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 5 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


Reinforcements
Port Blair RN Det arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

1 February 1944

Mariannas
USS Billfish torpedoed and sank a light cargo ship (1650 tons) north of the Mariannas chain. Dutch sub KIX surfaced to engage another one but was driven off by gunfire. USS Raton then showed the KIX how it's done, raking the escaping AKL (1650 tons) with gunfire and finally putting it down with a torpedo.


China
Kanshien airbase was raided at night by 5 Sallies and 12 Helens, scoring 3 hits. I don't consider this airbase important enough to assign night fighters to counter this.

7 Tojos swept Amoy, which is an important base, but due to my recent fighter losses I had no CAP in place to play with them.

other allied air raids:
near Chengchow (ground forces) 42 casualties
near Hankow (ground forces) 126 casualties


Burma and Thailand
east road (ground forces): 134 casualties
west road (ground forces) 11 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties


Reinforcements
CVE Nehenta Bay arrives at Portland
23rd FG/118th TRS arrives at Aden
81st FG/91st FS arrives at Aden
2nd New Chinese Corps arrives at Hami

[Molon Labe]

2 February 1944
Heavy bomber raid on Manila's port

DEI
New Mexico and Arizona bombarded Koepang, 59 casualties.

Troops are landing on Sorong, Papua-New Guinea.
Other land combat:
Palopo, Celebes: Allied shock attack, 3253 vs 485 troops, enemy lost 15 vehicles.

Air raids:
Koepang (airbase and ground forces): 2 hits, 17 casualties
Kendari (ground attack): 6 casualties


China
Air raids:
near Sinyang (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 30 casualties
near Hankow (ground forces): 79 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
east road (ground forces) 192 casualties
west road (ground forces): 67 casualties


Philippines
We raided Manila with 57 B-24J Liberators based in Cagayan, escorted by 21 Corsairs and 16 P-38s. The raid was opposed by only 8 Zeroes and 5 Nicks--shockingly low after the base was defended by 100+ fighters about a week ago. 1 Zero and 1 Nick were shot down. Damage at the base was significant:
AO Kyokuto Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Yura, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Kanseishi Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kyuei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Suez Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Gyokurei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Bushu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Ronsan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Kinrei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Kinmo Maru, Bomb hits 1 (2nd wave: TK Kinmo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage)
TK Batopaha Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS I-29, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage


All said and done that's probably 2 tankers sunk, and maybe the Yura and the submarine too.



Reinforcements
APA Cavalier arrives at Alameda
VB-135 arrives at Oak Harbor
11th PAVO Regiment arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

3 February 1944

China
-Enemy night raid on Kanhsien again; 9 Sallies and 6 Helens, no damage
-Enemy sweep of Amoy with 7 Tojos: Our CAP was 5 P-40s, 1 Tojo shot down.

Allied raids:
near Hwainan (ground forces): 40 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 6 casualties
near Hankow (ground forces): 68 casualties


Philippines
-Enemy night raid on Cagayan by 3 Frances bombers; 2 shot down by flak, no damage.

USS Golet torpedoed a PB (2780 tons) in the Strait of Luzon. We're not sure whether this ship made it.

We attacked Manila again, 20 Corsairs and 15 P-38s escorting 48 B-24s; enemy CAP this time was 42 Georges, 13 Franks, 3 Zeroes and a Nick. Despite being outnumbered fighter-wise the losses were pretty even, 4 Corsairs lost (well... plus 3 more that crashed on the way back to base, and another scrapped after it landed) while 3 Georges, 1 Frank and 1 Zero went down. Looks like the port was mostly evacuated this time:
CL Yura, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-29, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AO Kyokuto Maru, Bomb hits 1

The Yura and I-29 were "heavy damage"'d last time so getting hit again probably means they're done.


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
east road (ground forces): 209 casualties
west road (ground forces): 32 casualties

Ground combat:
west road; Allied Deliberate attack, 18k troops vs 3.2k troops, 1647(J) to 90(A) casualties, enemy units retreating.


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 18 casualties

Ground combat:
22nd Australian Brigade has eliminated remaining enemy units in Palopo, Celebes.


Reinforcements
DE Donaldson arrives at Seattle
APA James O'Hara arrives at Balboa
AP Gen. H.W.Butner arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

4 February 1944
O21 lost attacking tanker convoy


Philippines
Trying out some night attacks of my own...
Attacked Manila's airbase with 12 B-24s at night... 1 base hit. Which is basically nothing.

Switching from port raids to OCA, I hit Manila with a sweep of 37 P-38s, opposed by 25 Georges, 4 Franks, 2 Zeroes, and a Nick. We lost 3 Lightnings while downing 6 Georges, 2 Franks, and 2 Zeroes.

USS Devilfish was seriously damaged in a depth charge attack off the west coast of Luzon.

We've captured San Jose and Roxas with paratroopers, two bases adjacent to the enemy airbase at Ilolio, central Philippines.


South China Sea
Dutch sub O21 attacked a large tanker convoy near Singapore. It missed with its torpedo salvo and was then sunk by kaibokan and PB escorts.


DEI
Enemy Nicks swept Palopo, but we did not have a CAP there to play with them.

Allied air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 15 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 9 casualties


China
6 Tojos swept Amoy, met by 6 P-40s.. 1 P-40 shot down.

Allied air raids:
near Hwainan (ground forces) 10 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 19 casualties


Thailand and Burma
east road (ground forces): 100 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces): 49 casualties

ground combat:
east road, Allied deliberate attack, 20.6k troops vs 5.6k troops, 291(J) to 295(A) casualties. Our lackluster result appears to be the result of low supply. Moving too quickly I guess.


Reinforcements
DE Samuel S. Miles arrives at Eastern USA
PF Hutchinson arrives at Mare Island
No.230 Sqn RAF arrives at Koggala

[Molon Labe]

5 February 1944

China
-Enemy night raid on Kanhshien again, 13 Sallies, 6 Helens, 1 hit. I don't understand why he keeps bombing an empty airbase.

Allied air raids:
near Taiuyan (ground forces) 64 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 41 casualties
near Hankow (ground forces): 0 casualties

ground combat:
near Chengchow, Allied deliberate attack, 12k troops to 5k, casualties 294(J) to 188(A).

Another question for myself. When I played as Japan against the AI, I noticed that I had a lot more "spare" aircraft and pilots for the army than the navy. We had plenty of squadrons in China and Korea sitting around without much to do besides train. So, why is it that I've been bombing targets with impunity in China for weeks/months like this? Nearly all the fighter squadrons I've been up against in the Mariannas and my march through the DEI and now Philippines have been navy squadrons.


Philippines
I did another night raid on Manila's airbase; 15 B-24s, no hits.
I'm mostly building up my new base at Cebu right now, while moving massive amounts of supplies, troops, and equipment from Darwin to Cagayan for further expansion northward.



DEI
New Mexico and Arizona shelled Kendari, 120 casualties.

4 Nicks swept Makassar, running into 24 P-47s on CAP. Only one made it home.

I've decided it's time to take down Koepang. I've got troops that I'd allocated for this at 3 different locations in the DEI, so I'm sending ships to pick them up and consolidate around Dili.


Allied air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 6 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


Thailand and Burma
Air raids:
east road (ground forces) 62 casualties

ground combat:
east road, Allied deliberate attack, 48k to 1k troops, casualties 936(J) to 6(A), enemy survivors retreating.

Ayuthia (ground forces): 86 casualties


Reinforcements
DD Wilkes arrives at Balboa
APD Daniel T. Griffin arrives at Balboa
VP-54 arrives at San Diego
427th NFS arrives at Fresno
Tenth USAAF Eng Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Aden
188th USAAF Base Force arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

6 February 1944

China
Yep, he attacked Kanhsien overnight again. No damage.

Allied raids:
near Yaiyuan (ground forces): 256 casualties


Burma and Thailand
We've been sweeping Bangkok daily for awhile now with no joy. Today there were 20 Georges on patrol, meeting my 10 P-47s. We shot down 7 of the Georges, then a B-24 raid following that shot down another George. The B-24s caused 6 casualties and scored 15 airbase hits.

Other raids:
east road (ground forces): 73 casualties


DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces and airbase): 3 airbase hits, 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties

There's so much naval activity at Darwin that the base ran out of fuel, and without realizing it my CVBG replenishment group has been servicing all the ships coming through. I'm bringing in another replenishment group from Rabaul while also diverting tanker convoys headed to Sydney.


Reinforcements
CVE Hoggatt Bay arrives at Portland
DMS Hobson arrives at Eastern USA
47th Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Pearl Harbor

[Molon Labe]

7 February 1944
Daylight bombing run on Manila, enemy resistance increasing


China
-enemy night raid on Kanshein, 1 base hit

Allied air raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 42 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 152 casualties


DEI
One of our troop transport convoys bound for Makassar was attacked by a Japanese sub in the Banda Sea. Australian destroyer Nizam hunted it down and killed it.

Allied air raids:
Koepang (ground forces) 12 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 22 casualties


Burma and Thailand
We swept Bangkok with just 9 P-47s, meeting a CAP of 23 Georges. Despite being outnumbered, we came out ahead 7 to 1. Japanese pilot attrition must be awful.

Allied raids:
east road (ground forces): 90 casualties; Georges attempting to intercept but not arriving in time for most of the raids, except for one. 11 Georges vs 15 P-47s; 1 P-47 shot down. We got a bit lucky, the next raid after this was was 8 unescorted Blenheims with experienced pilots. Time to give them better planes!



Philippines
3 Nicks tried to attack the amphibious ships landing at Cebu. There were plenty of P-47s, Corsairs, and Hellcats providing cover. 1 Nick was shot down, the rest bolted.

Replacing the Beaufighter-strike and Hudson-patrol combo flying out of Ambon to try to interdict shipping in the Luzon Strait, PV-1 Venturas are now flying out of Amoy with Spitfire escorts. For today the PV-1s are doing both search and bombing duty with the Spitfires escorting. 4 Venturas tried to bomb a subchaser but missed.

Heavy bomber raid on Manila's airbase; 42 Liberators with 12 P-38s and 13 Corsair escorts. We lost 3 Corsairs, 1 P-38, and 2 B-24s to the 32 enemy fighters on CAP, while shooting down 3 Georges. We destroyed at least 2 aircraft on the ground while scoring 46 base hits. 1 B-24 was downed by flak.

A sweep by P-38s followed the bombing raid; 20 P-38s vs the remaining CAP of 9 Georges and 2 Franks; 1 P-38 lost while shooting down 2 Franks and 3 Georges.

In the Strait of Luzon, USS Grunion put 2 Mk14s into a 2900-ton tanker, sinking it.


Reinforcements
SS Pipefish arrives at Eastern USA
APA Herald of Morning arrives at Alameda
PF Pocatello arrives at Mare Island
PF Bisbee arrives at Mare Island

[Molon Labe]

8 February 1944
USS Darter lost in Japanese home waters

Japanese Home Waters
USS Darter was patrolling off Miyako-jima when it was spotted by an ASW group. They were as accurate as they needed to be with their depth charges.


China
-Another night raid on Kanshien, no damage

Allied raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 50 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces: 53 casualties

ground combat:
near Hankow, Allied Deliberate Attack, 37k troops vs 4k troops, 2639(J) to 141 (A) casualties, enemy units retreating. This is a mop-up attack.


DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 3 base hit, 1 Tony destroyed on the ground
Surabaya (sweep): 2 Corsairs lost, 3 Georges and 2 Tonies shot down
Koepang (ground forces and airbase): 17 casualties, 5 base hits
Kendari (ground forces) 12 casualties


Sumatra
A British heavy cruiser detachment approached Sabang to try to intercept a replenishment task force we'd spotted at harbor there. We failed to find the target, so they shelled the base instead. 195 casualties reported with an Irving destroyed in the airbase.


Burma and Thailand
A major B-24 raid on Bangkok was opposed by 16 Franks. So they're suddenly defending it now? 1 B-24 went down, but we still hit the base pretty hard, 32 hits plus a George destroyed on the ground. A sweep by 12 P-47s later shot down 5 Franks with no losses, so their resistance should collapse.

Other raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces) 307 casualties. I'm softening these guys up to minimize my casualties when my armies cross the river under fire.


Philippines
A second bombing attempt by the new Venturas based in Amoy failed to hit an AKL off Batan Island.

A B-24 raid on Manila resulted in 5 B-24s shot down by fighters and another by flak. Just 1 Frank and 2 Georges were tallied for our side, and just light damage on the ground, including a Frank and a George blown up on the ground. Gotta give the W to Japan over Manila today.

I moved the Yankee Butai to within range of Manila to try to get some airstrikes on the ASW patrols around Luzon. The carriers arrived, but they didn't launch any strikes. Apparently these little PBs and SCs don't register as important enough targets for SBDs and TBFs. One SC was bombed by a scout bomber, though.


Reinforcements
DD Tingey arrives at San Francisco
DD Ingraham arrives at Balboa
DE Coolbaugh arrives at Eastern USA
DE Wesson arrives at Eastern USA
DE Mitchell arrives at Seattle
Fifth USAAF Eng Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco
6th Ceylon Heavy AA Regiment arrives at Colombo





9 February 1944
Major attack against Yankee Butai mostly parried, USS Cabot hit by torpedo and disabled; US subs wreaking havoc in Strait of Luzon

Philippines
USS Archerfish put 2 fish into a laden 6400-ton tanker in the Strait of Luzon for a kill. The same convoy was then attacked by USS Gunard, which put 3 fish into a 9975-ton tanker, sending it to the bottom as well.

An enemy airstrike targeted the Yankee Butai (now withdrawing), probably mostly from Clark airbase, and it's the first time we've seen the Frances torpedo bomber used in large numbers. The first wave was 12 Frances following behind a wall of 41 Zeroes, 7 Georges and 3 Franks. Our CAP was supported by land based air, with 147 Hellcats, 3 Corsairs, 4 P-40s, 3 P-38s, and a single P-47. The massive furball resulted in 11 Zeroes, 2 Georges, 1 Frank, and 8 of the Frances going down, with a loss of just 5 Hellcats. But 4 Frances got through to attack the Intrepid and Langley--pretty frustrating given how badly we outnumber the enemy. These 4 bombers missed, and 2 were shot down by flak.

Probably as a result of bad coordination, a second package of 25 Frances escorted by only 2 Zeroes came in next, which were able to avoid much of the CAP. We got 10 of these before they got to the carriers. The 15 that got through attacked the light carrier Cabot along with the Lexington II, light cruiser Juneau and destroyer Charrette. Cabot took the only hit, but it was a nasty one, cooking off some of the ship's torpedo stores. She'll survive, but she's now limping at 6 knots back to Darwin. Flak took care of 3 more bombers after they dropped, and then fighters ran down the rest, scoring another 8 kills. So overall only 4 of these bombers survived. Since later attacks involved Betties, I don't think he has a lot of these planes.

A secondary airstrike then hit a CVE-led amphibious task force near Cagayan. This was just 9 Betties with 7 Georges; CAP strength was 40 fighters, mostly Hellcats. Only 3 of the Georges survived, the rest were shot down.

This task force also drew two more airstrike later afternoon, the first 12 Betties backed by 4 Zeroes and 3 Georges. Again, they were no match for the CAP, which was now up to 45 fighters. This group managed to shoot down 2 Hellcats, but they lost 2 Zeroes and all 12 Betties. The second was 9 more Betties with 5 Zeroes--once again the Betties were wiped out, with 1 Zero going with them.

Taking advantage of the massive number of fighters no longer protecting the ships near Luzon, 13 Helldivers (probably from Jolo) attacked an ASW group near Bataan and sank a pair of PBs. 2 Nicks tried to intervene but failed to arrive in time. Shortly after 18 Beaufighters from Jolo attacked another ASW group, sinking 2 more PBs and 2 SCs. A follow up raid by Beaufighters in the afternoon was less lucky, getting intercepted by 11 Nicks and 2 Tojos; 1 Nick and 1 Beaufighter were lost. Only 1 Beaufighter was able to score a hit on a ship, crippling and likely sinking an SC near Manila. 4 Beaufighers were dispatched against another group, these ran into no resistance and sank a kaibokan of Bataan with 3 500-lb bomb hits. (I'm fairly sure I remember that ship as a sub-killer--good riddance!)

Also off Bataan, USS Gudgeon torpedoed and crippled a PB. My guess is we'll end up finishing this one off in Manila's shipyard.

The B-24 raids on Manila continued in spite of this chaos. 30 fighters were still defending Manila, which wasn't enough to cause losses to the bombers. 1 Nick and 1 Tojo were shot down. Base damage was light, between pressure from the fighters and severe storms, accuracy was poor. We did get a Betty on the ground, though.

We had also ordered air strikes on Iloilo to soften them up for the paratroopers we landed around them. That cost us an land-based SBD to flak. 61 casualties on the ground. The paratroopers attacked but failed to take the base, 242(J) to 13(A) casualties.

We had 7 new USN and USMC aces today.


South China Sea
HMS Templar spotted the new CVE Shinyo in the southwestern South China Sea and missed her with a spread of 4 torpedoes. Templar sustained moderate damage from her escorts afterwards.


DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 2 hits
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties




China
Allied raids:
Taiyuan (ground forces): 58 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 70 casualties

ground combat:
Near Sinyang, Allied deliberate attack, 26k troops vs 972 troops. Enemy unit wiped out.
https://i.ibb.co/H40Z1Ks/1944-Feb-9-China.png
Once I finish off those units north of Sinyang, I'll be looking to make a push in the direction of Shanghai. I'm hoping I've controlled Rangoon for long enough that the supplies coming in are making a big difference. I still have shortages in a few key areas, but the central area is doing pretty well.





Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
near Raheng (ground forces): 6 casualties
Bangkok (airbase): raid opposed by 5 Irvings and 2 Tonies, 1 Irving shot down. 3 casualties on ground, 37 base hits.
Ayuthia (ground forces) 124 casualties
east road (ground forces): 50 casualties


Reinforcements
DD Norman Scott arrives at Eastern USA
DD Uhlmann arrives at Balboa
DD Roe arrives at Balboa
81st FG/92nd FS arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

10 February 1944
Bangkok defenders sallying to engage our armies in the open


Japanese Home Waters
USS Trigger hit an AKL (1650 tons) with 2 torpedoes near Miyako-jima, plenty of overkill for that little boat.

USS Amberjack hit a tanker south of Okinawa, setting its fuel cargo alight. The torpedo damage appeared moderate but good chance the fire kills it. I thought this was the same convoy hit twice yesterday while playing, but now as I write the report it appears to be a different convoy.

USS Crevalle torpedoed and sank a PC (785 tons) near Amami Oshima.


Philippines
USS Scorpion finished off the PB (2780 tons) Gudgeon hit yesterday.
USS Guardfish torpedoed and sank another PB (2780 tons) near Batan Island. A kaibokan in the task force engaged Guardfish afterwards and lightly damaged it.

The Venturas flying from Amoy had their first success, hitting a PB with a bomb and setting it on fire. Zeroes and Nicks tried to intercept but were too late.

Allied raids:
Iloilo (airbase and ground forces): 74 casualties, 7 base hits; 1 Helldiver shot down by flak
Manila (airbase) -- NO CAP -- 1 George, 1 Judy destroyed on the ground, 11 base hits

The paratroopers on Iloilo attacked the enemy base but failed to overrun it. Casualties 63 (J) to 71 (A). Maybe I need more troops.


China
The enemy spread its night raids out tonight:
Amoy: 1 Sally shot down by nightfighters, no damage

Allied raids:
Taiyuan (ground forces) 37 casualties

Ground combat:
Taiyuan, Allied Deliberate attack, 20k troops vs 5k, 185 (J) to 1086 (A) casualties.
Ouch! This is an enemy unit that somehow slipped past our frontline and they're sitting in a mountain pass on the road supplying Taiyuan. It doesn't look like we can dislodge them, and reinforcements are a long way off. On the other hand, by going behind my lines, the enemy has also cut themselves off from supply, so this blocking force should be unsustainable.


South China Sea
USS Peto shelled and sank a landing barge near Cam Rahn Bay. It appears to have been empty.

An enemy CVBG (probably the KB) was spotted near Cam Rahn Bay.


DEI
New Mexico and Arizona bombarded Koepang, no apparent damage.


Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 1 hit
Surabaya (day, airbase): 23 hits, Judy-C destroyed on ground. 1 B-24 shot down by CAP.
Koepang (ground forces) 6 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
Bangkok (airbase): Only 1 Irving tried to protect the base and the B-24 gunners shot it down. 21 base hits.
Ayuthia (ground forces) 169 casualties

In a move that leaves me wondering, 28,000 enemy troops left Bangkok on the "west road" to engage our army. We had ordered an attack here against a token-sized unit but instead got this. The enemy was just arriving, however, so they were arrayed for movement rather than combat when we hit them. Casualties 1883 (J) to 1937 (A). Our bombers are going to have a field day with this. Meanwhile we're about to cross into Ayuthia on the "east road". We'd be facing a lot more casualties if we had to cross into Bangkok to fight these guys, and they're going to take a lot more losses from our bombers in the open than they would inside their fortified base.


Sumatra
Well, we missed the replenishment group, but found a supply convoy. Barracuda II dive bombers made their combat debut flying from HMS Illustrious near Port Blair, sinking 3 AKLs at Sabang.


Reinforcements
DD Callaghan arrives at Los Angeles
DE George arrives at Eastern USA
APD Goldsborough arrives at Balboa
No.9 Sqn IAF arrives at Lahore
33rd FG/59th FS arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

11 February 1944

Philippines
USS Gudgeon torpedoed a PB near Batan Island in the Luzon strait, causing severe damage.

USS Harder was slightly damaged in a depth charge attack off the southern tip of Taiwan.

B-24 raid on Manila, escorted by Corsairs, netted 1 enemy Nick shot down, plus a Zero and two transports blown up on the ground and moderate airbase damage.

Dive bomber raids on Iloilo continue, moderate damage on the ground, 30 casualties


China
1 Helen was shot down in a night raid over Amoy, no damage to the base. A Sally was shot down by night fighters over Hong Kong.

Allied raids:
Taiyuan (ground forces): 68 casualties
near Chengchow: 49 casualties


DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 1 hit
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 18 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
near Rahaeng (ground forces): 6 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces): 173 casualties
near Bangkok (west road, ground forces): 136 casualties


Reinforcements
CVE Kadashan Bay arrives at Portland
DD Twining arrives at San Francisco
DE Eichenberger arrives at Eastern USA
SS Hammerhead arrives at Balboa
SS Tantalus arrives at Aden
AKA Athene arrives at Eastern USA
LSD Oak Hill arrives at Los Angeles

[Molon Labe]

12 February 1944
Heavy bomber losses over Manila as B-24 flight loses P-38 escort

Philippines
USS Bang suffered a direct ASW mortar hit from a kaibokan east of Taiwan, but damage was light. Lancetfish was also damaged by depth charges near Batan Island.

With severe storms present, today's B-24 raid on Manila went without the P-38s assigned to escort, and without the Corsairs that hadn't really been assigned to be escorts but were often going anyway. The enemy CAP had balooned to 69 fighters, 42 of which were Georges (very good interceptors). We ended up losing 7 of the B-24s to the fighters, one more to flak, while shooting down just 2 Zeroes. 3 more B-24s succumbed to damage on the way home and 3 either crashed while landing or were scrapped afterwards, total loss of 14 bombers. Damage on the ground was light. The losses gave the enemy their first victory point gain on me for 16 turns.

other US raids:
Iloilo (airbase and ground forces): 93 casualties, 5 base hits


DEI
The amphibious task force that's been raising the flag along the coast of Papua-New Guinea arrived at the minor oil base of Babo, where it is encountering resistance, looks like 1 Naval Guard (marine) unit. I'll be looking for additional troops to bring in as it seems unlikely the small number of troops can do this on their own. Maybe some bombing support will be enough. At least 90 Allied casualties so far.

The amphibious task force for Koepang is 2/3 ready.

Allied raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 6 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 36 casualties


China
-No enemy night raids today!
Allied raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 70 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 31 casualties

ground combat:
near Hankow, Allied deliberate attack, 10k vs 4k, casualties 412 (J) to 87 (A).


Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
west road (ground forces): 160 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces) 98 casualties


Reinforcements
APD Belknap arrives at Balboa
SS Pomfret arrives at Eastern USA
VMB-443 arrives at Eastern USA
33rd FG/60th FS arrives at Aden


Intel
Previous report of sinking of CV Kaga incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service

[Molon Labe]

13 February 1944

DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 4 hits (not bad for just 5 B-25s that managed to find the target)
Kendari (ground forces): 4 casualties

Landings continue at Babo.


China
Allied raids:
Taiyuan (ground forces): 31 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 85 casualties

ground combat:
near Hankow, Allied deliberate attack, 10k troops vs 4k troops, casualties 76(J) to 69(A).

I'm shifting supply transport flights to Taiyuan directly instead of trying to supply it through the road to its west due to it being cut off. This is suboptimal as the only transports I can get this far are B-24 variants and the airbase is basically stamped down grass--so I assume the supplies are being parachuted in.


Burma and Thailand
There is no longer any enemy CAP over Bangkok
The enemy units that sallied out of Bangkok are now trying to retreat to Ayuthia.

Allied raids:
west road (ground forces): 238 casualties
Ayuthia (ground forces) 460 casualties
https://i.ibb.co/JzvyPZr/1944-Feb-13-Burma.png

Philippines
Allied raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 32 casualties


Reinforcements
APD Barr arrives at Eastern USA
SS Lionfish arrives at Eastern USA
DE Kistna arrives at Aden
VB-102 arrives at San Diego
189th USAAF Base Force arrives at March Field

[Molon Labe]

14 February 1944

DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 1 hit
Surabaya (airbase): 25 hits
Koepang (airbase and ground forces): 10 base hits
Kendari (ground forces): 9 casualties

Surabaya appears to have been evacuated of aircraft.


Philippines
Enemy PBs are clearing a minefield I left for them at Aparri


China
Allied raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces) 76 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces) 49 casualties

ground combat:
near Chengchow, Allied Deliberate Attack, 12k troops vs 4.5k. Casualties 1252 (J) to 274 (A), enemy units retreating
near Hankow, Allied Shock Attack. A rematch of yesterday except I changed from deliberate to shock. 10k vs 4k; casualties 1326 (J) to 239(A), enemy units retreating


Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
west road (ground forces): 568 casualties

I attempted a deliberate attack against the road-blocking force outside Bangkok which did not go well, 527 casualties to 1958 favoring the enemy. A little surprising given how hard the bombers are hitting these guys.

This group is trying to break contact with us to shore up Ayuthia, which is about to be overrun by my much stronger "east road" force, but there's little chance they'll make it in time while they're moving under fire and off-road vs my troops moving unopposed on a major road. The defense of Bangkok is shaping up to be a disaster for Japan, as the river crossing is their best chance to cause losses on me, but by moving this force onto the other side of the river, they've mostly gotten out of my way. Then the enemy will have to cross the river under fire by me to get back into the fight, or else just stay out here in the open getting bombed for ~500 casualties per day.


Reinforcements
SS Taurus arrives at Aden
VMF-221 arrives at Santa Barbara
VP-20 arrives at Alameda
No.10 Sqn IAF arrives at Lahore
50th Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

15 February 1944
Payback for recent bomber losses over Manila
Ayuthia captured


Marianas
USS Nautilus stalked an enemy cargo ship convoy north of the Mariannas before getting spotted and driven off. It's at least 7 cargo ships with 1 escort. In response, I'm pushing recon assets to Truk to try to ascertain enemy air strength remaining here. I have a CVL hanging out at Wake, and I'd consider sending one of my main CVBGs (Halsey, Spruance) over here to intercept. Maybe it depends on whether this is just a resupply mission or a troop evacuation. The best way to tell will probably be to bomb them with B-24s while they're in port and see if casualties are reported.


Philippines
I swept Manila with P-38s from Cagayan and Corsairs from Cebu. The enemy was patrolling at high altitude, which mitigated some dive attacks from me, but left them squandering their maneuvering advantage they would have had if they'd forced my planes to come down to a lower altitude. It was a slaughter.
Enemy CAP: A6M3a Zero x 5, A6M5 Zero x 19, N1K1-J George x 66, Ki-84a Frank x 9

Wave 1: 13 Corsairs; Losses: 4 Zeroes, 3 Georges
Wave 2: 23 P-38s; Losses: 1 P-38, 3 Franks, 1 Zero, 6 Georges
Wave 3: 15 Corsairs; Losses: 1 Zero, 4 Georges
Wave 4: 13 P-38s; Losses: 4 Zeroes, 4 Georges
My actual losses were 6 P-38s, with 3 crashing on the way home and 2 being scrapped at base.


Other raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 54 casualties


We're about to land tanks on Iloilo to break the stalemate there.



China
Recon is showing that the Shanghai area is lightly defended. I'm preparing an offensive against this area as well as Nanking. Taking the Shanghai area would give us a huge industry boost and would put enemy shipping under air threat throughout the East China Sea all the way to Nagasaki. Nanking is sort of a stretch goal, mostly I just want to keep him busy across the entire theatre to make it harder for him to pick an optimal place to defend.

https://i.ibb.co/qRRPqML/1944-Feb-15-China.png



Allied raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 13 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 51 casualties



DEI
Koepang operation is go. Task forces headed for rendezvous to rally before proceeding to target.


Allied raids:
Surabaya (airbase): 14 hits
Koepang (ground forces): 6 casualties



Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
Ayuthia (ground forces): 424 casualties
west road (ground forces): 346 casualties


Our east road force crossed the bridges into Ayuthia and went right into a shock attack. 48k troops vs 14k, they had no fortifications and folded like a cheap card table. Casualties 6177 (J) to 723(A) in spite of crossing the river under fire. Surviving enemy troops retreated to Bangkok.


We also attacked a small unit in the jungles near Mergui, wiping it out. I'll confirm that Mergui is vacant with recon flights, if it is I'll airdrop some troops in to cut off the rail lines from Bangkok down through the Malay peninsula. (It'll take weeks to get the troops through these jungles overland).


Reinforcements
DE Lovelace arrives at Eastern USA
AGP Orestes arrives at Cristobal
DMS Ellyson arrives at Eastern USA
SS Tilefish arrives at Mare Island

[Molon Labe]

16 February 1944

DEI
Allied raids:
Surabaya (night, airbase): 1 hit
Surabaya (airbase): 35 hits, 9 casualties


Philippines
USS Capelin torpedoed and sank a PB in the Strait of Luzon. Slightly east, USS Rock attempted an attack on a cargo ship convoy but ended up missing and sustaining moderate depth charge damage.

We are now landing tanks at Iloilo.

I cancelled the F4U sweeps of Manila but left the P-38 sweeps on by accident. Badly outnumbered, we lost 4 P-38s while shooting down 2 Georges and 3 Franks. I was going to say that's unsustainable, but P-38 production is now high enough that that's actually not so bad.

other raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 54 casualties

Land combat:
Japanese bombardment attack at Iloilo, 54 Allied casualties, 8 Japanese casualties


China
Allied raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 11 casualties. This enemy unit is now attempting to retreat into the mountains.


Burma and Thailand
Allied raids:
Bangkok (ground forces): 0 casualties
west road (ground forces): 286

Prachuap Khiri Khan, the small base on the rail line from Bangkok down the Malay penninsula, reverted back to Allied control. So, it's empty, and I'm clear to send airborne troops.


Reinforcements

SS Barbel arrives at Balboa

[Molon Labe]

17 February 1944
Enemy convoy bombed in port at Saipan


DEI
Amphibious reinforcements to Babo are proceeding--landing 1 army regiment. Enemy artillery bombardment of the beachhead caused 24 Allied casualties.

Air raids:
Surabaya (night): no damage
Surabaya (airbase): 36 hits
Koepang (ground forces): 6 casualties


China
Air raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 32 casualties
near Chengchow: 17 casualties


Land combat
Allied bombardment attack near Taiyuan -- 20 allied casualties, 0 enemy


Burma and Thailand
Raids:
West road (ground forces):691 casualties


Philippines
Raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 80 casualties, 1 SBD-5 lost to flak

Our troops attacked at Iloilo. Casualties 323 to 89 favoring us, but we have not yet taken the base.


Marianas
Recon flights confirmed the enemy convoys arrived in Saipan, so I tasked B-24s from Truk to hit them. We got 18 B-24s to target with P-38 escorts, scoring hits on 2 cargo ships with 81 enemy casualties reported.


Reinforcements
CVE Gambier Bay arrives at Portland
SS Manta arrives at Balboa
SS Piranha arrives at Balboa
VMF(CVS)-451 arrives at Mojave
VMF(CVS)-452 arrives at Mojave

[Molon Labe]

18 February 1944
Avengers sink two at Saipan


Strait of Malacca
HMS Clyde torpedoed and sank a minesweeper while transiting the Strait headed for Hong Kong.


DEI
We've commenced our landings at Koepang. Resistance is minimal--short range guns firing at landing craft, but nothing big enough to threaten any ships.

Raids:
Surabaya (night): no damage
Surabaya (airbase): 15 hits, 13 casualties
Koepang (ground forces): 25 casualties
Kendari (ground forces) 20 casualties

Our reinforced troops at Babo attacked, reducing enemy forts to 0, casualties 196(J) to 6 (A). We now outnumber them nearly 4 to 1.


China
Raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 49 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 15 casualties


Philippines
I've switched my attacks on Iloilo from dive bombers to heavy bombers. Hopefully this will push my troops over the top while my P-38 squadrons are recuperating. 304 enemy casualties today.


Marianas
The enemy moved fighters back to the Marianas to protect their convoy. Our first raid of 12 B-24s and 17 P-38s encountered 1 Zero, 4 Georges, and 1 Tony at Saipan. Due to being at lower altitude, the P-38 was at a disadvantage and we lost 4 aircraft with no kills. But the bombers still dot through, scoring three hits on two cargo ships, setting both on fire.

The B-24 raid was followed up by the USS Princeton, sprinting here from its patrol area near Wake. Princeton sent 9 Avengers with 11 Hellcats to Saipan. With a loss of 1 Hellcat, we again got the bombers through, scoring 2 torpedo hits (plus one dud impact) each on two ships (one of which was previously damaged by the B-24s). Both sank. There are at least 4 more ships in this convoy.


Burma and Thailand
The enemy put a CAP of 5 Franks over Bangkok, resulting in a fight with my P-47 sweep (15 aircraft). We shot down 3 with no losses.

Other raids:
West road (ground forces): 73 casualties

Land combat:
West road, Allied bombardment attack, casualties 166 (J) to 29 (A).



Reinforcements
No.7 Sqn IAF arrives at Gwalior
234th USN Base Force arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

19 February 1944
Reinvigorated air defense of Bangkok, Koepang captured


DEI
Amphibious landings continue in Koepang and Babo.

Our troops attacked in Koepang and easily overwhelmed the starving and bombed-out defenders. Casualties 2586 to 298. Enemy troops are still present in the hex and standing by to be mopped up in the coming days. The defenders included a nominal division and a third, plus a construction battalion that would typically include vehicles, but the enemy forces we fought included 0 artillery pieces and 0 vehicles--bombing and shelling had apparently eliminated all of these already.

We shock attacked Babo but still haven't taken it. Forts are back down to level 0. Casualties 153 (J) to 14 (A).

Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase): 13 hits, 5 casualties
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 9 casualties


Japanese Home Waters
USS Steelhead hit an unescorted troop transport with a dud near Chichi-jima. I don't usually include these but this was frustrating because of how high-value it was and that it was unprotected.


China
Air raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 102 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 41 casualties


Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
west road (ground forces): 688 casualties
Bangkok (sweep): 14 P-47s intercepted by 20 Georges, 9 Tonies, 1 Frank. Lost 2 P-47s but shot down 3 Tonies and 6 Georges.

Land combat:
Allied bombardment attack on west road to Bangkok, 172 enemy casualties, no counterbattery casualties.


Japan used paratroopers to retake Ayuthia. This will slightly disrupt supply flows to my "east road" armies which have moved into to Bangkok's hex.



Philippines
Air raids:
Iloilo (ground forces) 169 casualties

We attempted a deliberate attack on Iloilo, reducing forts to 0 but failing to take the base. Casualties 141 to 0--the enemy is severely disrupted from the B-24 raids.


Marianas
Looks like weather kept the B-24s on the ground today. I also pulled back the Princeton as they could easily move bombers in here too.



Reinforcements
DD Wadleigh arrives at Balboa
DE Whitehurst arrives at San Francisco
33rd FG/58th FS arrives at Aden

[Molon Labe]

20 February 1944
P-40 escorts bounced as Japanese air forces attempt to protect troops outside Bangkok from relentless bombing


Japanese Home Waters
Let another unescorted enemy transport escaped a US sub while taking a dud torpedo impact near Chichi-jima. This time the unlucky sub was USS Skate. The Skate then engaged yet another transport and missed completely.


DEI
Arizona and New Mexico shelled Koepang again, this time hitting displaced enemy troops as the base had been captured before they arrived.

Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase): 18 hits
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 0 casualties, 4 airbase hits

Land combat: Mop-up attacks inflicted 1330 enemy casualties at Koepang, while we sustained only 9.
Babo has been recaptured, 478 (J) to 22 (A) casualties in our attack.


Philippines
After being detected by float planes flying out of Jolo, an enemy sub was prosecuted in the Sulu Sea by a pair of US destroyers. The sub sustained heavy damage and was last seen limping back towards Manila.

Raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 121 casualties

Land combat:
Deliberate attack at Iloilo, forts reduced to 0, casualties 56 to 0, but we still haven't overrun the enemy base.



Burma and Thailand
A P-47 sweep over Bangkok shot down 4 Georges.

But, most of the CAP put up by Bangkok wasn't protecting Bangkok itself, but the "west road" where an enemy troop concentration has been getting bombed by US and British aircraft. Our raids faced 10 Georges, 9 Tojos, and 1 Tony, which regretfully got the drop on the P-40Ks escorting the bombers. We ended up losing 11 P-40s and 4 Wellington medium bombers, without shooting any enemy aircraft down. Our bombers did still get through, causing 273 enemy casualties on the ground.

18 of my B-24s attacked enemy troops in Bangkok itself, causing 37 casualties with 1 B-24 shot down by flak.

Land combat:
Artillery exchanges in Bangkok and on the west road, light casualties on both sides.
The enemy has retaken Pisanuloke with a token paratrooper force. Again, this could disrupt my supply lines slightly but not much else. I have local forces available to wipe them out.


China
Air raids:
Near Taiyuan (ground forces): 164 casualties

Land combat:
near Sinyang: We defeated a 9k strong force with a 26k strong force, casualties 3488 to 826
near Hankow: This was 54k to 3k in our favor, casualties 1248 to 276 as this enemy force was also routed.


Marianas
The enemy convoy is still there. Two, actually. We attacked Tinian with 15 B-24Ds, scoring a pair of hits on an enemy cargo ship, setting it on fire. Saipan was attacked with 6 B-24s, which scored no hits. There were 13 enemy fighters on CAP at Tinian, and another 30 at Saipan, which were able to shoot down 5 bombers. The bombers got 1 Zero.


Reinforcements
DE Swearer arrives at Eastern USA
SS Bream arrives at Balboa
APA Storm King arrives at Alameda
AP Gen. W.M.Mitchell arrives at Cristobal
81st FG/93rd FS arrives at Aden
164th USA Base Force arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

21 February 1944
Enemy carriers supporting Bangkok


Thailand and Burma
The battleships Haruna and Kongo shelled Allied forces in Bangkok from the Gulf of Siam-16 casualties.

Enemy carriers, including Zuikaku, Shokaku, Unryu, and Hiyo were providing CAP over Bangkok. This led to a flight of 15 Blenheims and 10 B-24s getting jumped by Zeroes shortly while our fighter sweeps were focused on the western road approach. We lost 7 Blenhiems and as many as 9 B-24s, with the B-24s shooting down 1 Zero.

The bombers hitting the west road did not encounter resistance. 379 enemy casualties.

There were several attempted attacks on the enemy carrier and battleship task forces, but they were not more than the enemy CAP could handle. We ended up losing 21 Vengeance bombers, 98Beaufighter TFX torpedo bombers, 7 Beaufighter fighter-bombers, and 1 Spitfire. The mostly-Spitfire escorts for these flights managed to get 8 Zeroes. In one of the last raids, 8 of the Vengeance bombers managed to get through the CAP, attacking Hiyo, Unryu, and Zuikaku, scoring 1 hit on Hiyo and starting a fire. 2 of those bombers were shot down by flak.

We crushed the paratroopers in Ayuthia, restoring partial supply lines on the "east road."


Philippines
After a lot of arguing back and forth, I agreed to a rule change with my opponent--fighter aircraft can only operate as high as their 2nd best maneuver band. I implemented that rule for this turn... my opponent did not. (Maybe this was my fault because he'd already done his orders prior to the agreement)

At Manila, we lost 15 Corsairs in sweep missions over Manila, mostly to Georges flying in their 3rd-best manuever band (>32,000 ft). We shot down only 3 Georges in return.

Other raids:
Iloilo (ground forces): 111 casualties



Marianas
P-38 sweeps of Saipan got 3 Zeros and a George, 1 P-38 was shot down.

USS Princeton came back for another Avenger attack on the convoy at Tinian. They encountered no resistance, but all 9 Avengers missed the 3 cargo ships they launched torpedoes at.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase): 12 hits
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (airbase): 25 hits, 4 casualties


China
https://i.ibb.co/1MYh6qQ/1944-Feb-21-China.png
My offensive against Shanghai and Nanking is well underway, as you can see here.

Air raids:
near Chengchow (ground forces): 55 casualties

land combat:
near Changchow, allied deliberate attack, 12k vs 3600; the enemy held their position, casualties 57 (J) to 261(A). Let's see how long they can hold out against such a superior force.

[Molon Labe]

22 February 1944

Burma and Thailand
Mushashi, Haruna, and Kongo along with several other warships bombarded our troops in Bangkok again, this time pulling out after and heading south towards the South China Sea. 82 casualties.

They're also landing troops at Prachuap Khiri Khan, apparently unhappy that I cut off the rail link between Bangkok and Singapore.

I moved additional Vengeance squadrons to Tavoy to try to pressure the enemy task forces at Bangkok. One of them got lost and never found any targets, the other got split up. We ended up attacking the heavy surface group in one wave of 8 Spitfires with 2 Vengeances, and 6 Spitfires with 14 Vengeances. CAP strength was 54 Zeroes. We lost 1 Spitfire and 10 Vengeances while shooting down just one Zero. Another Vengeance was lost to flak while attacking Haruna and Mushashi. Mushashi was hit twice, but I'm sure it wasn't seriously hurt.

Other raids:
Bangkok (ground forces, port, and airbase): 8 port hits, 2 airbase hits, 12 casualties


South China Sea
USS Narwhal torpedoed and sank a PB in a tanker convoy off the Vietnamese coast.


Marianas
USS Pampanito damaged a large cargo ship with a torpedo north of the Marianas. Presumably this is the convoy departing.


China
I swept Takao with 12 Spitfires out of Amoy, they went up against a whopping 59 fighters. We ended up losing 2 while shooting down 1 George and 4 Zeroes. One of the George squadrons was flying in the 5th altitude band, in violation of the new house rule.

Other raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 23 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 140 casualties

Land combat:
We routed the enemy in our rematch against the shattered 34th Divsion near Chengchow, casualties 1032 to 35, enemy units retreating back to their side of the river.

Our southernmost prong in our advance eastward has captured Shaohing. There were only reported 1073 defenders, and enemy casualties were reported as 1533 (and allied 78). Yes, I know that should be impossible.


DEI
Raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 8 airbase hits, 1 port hit, 5 casualties
Kendari (ground forces) 17 casualties

Land combat:
The last of the enemy troops at Koepang have been eliminated. 1643 enemy casualties.
We've seized the empty island Mataram with paratroopers. This should be the last airbase we need to build before returning to Java.


Philippines
The heavy bombers returned to Manila. We faced 19 Georges and 10 Nicks on CAP. Due to poor coordination, some B-24s arrived without escort and got pounced. 5 B-24s lost to enemy aircraft, another to flak, and 2 F4U escorts were also shot down. The escorts got one George and one Nick, and a followup sweep by Hellcats got another Nick. The raid managed 21 airbase hits, a hit on the disabled cruiser Yura in port, and a Judy reportedly destroyed on the ground.

USS Scorpion was moderately damaged in a depth charge attack in the Luzon Strait and is headed to Hong Kong for repairs.

Iloilo's defenders held off another attack while sustaining 197 casualties. Pretty impressive.


Reinforcements
DE Riddle arrives at Eastern USA
DE Waterman arrives at Los Angeles
SS Sterlet arrives at Balboa

[Molon Labe]

23 February 1944

Japanese Home Waters
USS Balao was depth charged for minor damage after a failed attack on a tanker convoy near Daito Shoto


Philippines
Southwest of Manila, the KXIV made a torpedo attack on a severely damaged enemy submarine on the surface, but missed.

USS Flounder torpedoed and sank a PB in the Strait of Luzon.
Just off the shore of Clark Airfield, USS Apogon made a surface gun and torpedo attack on an unescorted oiler, hitting it with four torpedoes for a confirmed kill. This oiler may have been evacuating Manila due to the B-24 strikes.

Hellcats swept Manila, shooting down 3 of 8 Georges on patrol with no losses. That was followed by a bombing raid of B-24s with Corsair escorts, which hit a patrol boat tender along with scoring 4 port hits, 27 airbase hits, and 12 casualties. 1 B-24 was shot down by Georges on CAP.

Iloilo held out against yet another attack from my tanks. 273 (J) to 28 (A) casualties.



DEI
I shelled Kendari with the Arizona and New Mexico, 299 casualties reported.

Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 6 airbase hits, 2 port hits
Kendari (ground forces): 34 casualties
Palopo (ground forces): 46 casualties

Land combat: Allied deliberate attack at Palopo, Celebes. Casualties 890 (J) to 17 (A), enemy unit retreating into the jungle.

The reinforcements that finished off Babo are now headed for Celebes to take care of Kendari and drive any remaining Japanese into the jungles.


Marianas
We swept Saipan with 13 P-38s with 38 enemy fighters on patrol. We got 7 Georges with a loss of just 2 P-38s.


China
Air raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 36 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 54 casualties

Land combat near Kiukang, Allied bombardment attack, casualties 23 (J) to 41 (A). This is an enemy unit camped in the woods along the road from Hankow to Nanking. The ground is 29k strong vs my 54k, but with the defensive bonus from the woods they can probably hold this position. Which is fine, then they're tied up here while I'm advancing elsewhere. We may get Shanghai. In the meantime I have a few more troops that can arrive here, and they're a sensible bombing target, so maybe I'll dislodge them later.


Burma and Thailand
Surprisingly quiet here after the last few days.
We attacked the small enemy force at Prachuap Khiri Khan, casualties 58 (J) to 8 (A).


Reinforcements
CVE Marcus Island arrives at Portland

[Molon Labe]

24 February 1944
USS Princeton's Avengers wiped out over Tinian


China
Air raids:
near Sinyang (ground forces): 93 casualties
near Kuikiang (ground forces): 28 casualties

Land combat:
near Sinyang, Allied deliberate attack, 37k vs 5k, casualties 4361(J) to 62(A), enemy units retreating east.
near Kuikiang, Allied bombardment attack, casualties 75(J) to 25(A).
near Kuukiang (just south of above),Allied deliberate attack, 25k vs 4k, casualties 2741(J) to 469(A), enemy units retreating


DEI
Air Raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 3 port hits, 12 airbase hits
Kendari (ground forces): 20 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces): 40 casualties


Thailand and Burma
Air raids:
Bangkok (ground forces, port): 0 casualties, 2 port hits

Enemy paratroopers attempted an asault on Moulmein, which was too well protected. 71 enemy casualties, attackers wiped out.

other land combat:
Prachuap Khiri Khan, allied deliberate attack, 1440 vs 276, casualties 77 to 6


Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (airbase and port): 5 casualties, CL Yura hit, 1 port hit, 29 airbase hits. 1 F4U shot down by Georges on patrol. Enemy CAP strength was just 9 aircraft.
Manila (sweep): 30 Hellcats vs 5 Georges; 4 Georges and 1 Hellcat shot down


Marinanas
We finally got got here. Princeton's Avengers got jumped by a CAP of 5 Zeroes, 14 Georges, and 2 Tonies, too much for the 11 Hellcat escorts to handle. We shot down 2 Zeroes and a George but lost 1 Hellcat and all 9 Avengers.

7 P-38s swept Saipan, shooting down 2 Georges with no losses (total CAP strength 20 aircraft)


Reinforcements
AS Euryale arrives at Cristobal
DMS Emmons arrives at Eastern USA

[Molon Labe]

25 February 1944
Hangchow liberated. Shanghai next?


Philippines
Just 1 Nick on CAP over Manila today. A sweep of 30 Hellcats came by and shot it down. B-24s came in after to bomb the airbase and port, hitting an AGP for moderate damage, plus 2 port hits and 29 airbase hits.


Burma and Thailand
Sweep of Bangkok by 15 P-47s met 25 A6M5 Zeroes, presumably from the nearby carriers. We got 8 of them with no losses. A great example of the new house rule limiting altitudes not really addressing the tactical issue, which is that there isn't any point getting into an altitude race against an enemy that has a higher ceiling than you and also loses less performance at altitude than you.

Shortly after, a raid on enemy ground forces just outside Bangkok caused 124 casualties, with 6 Zeroes attempting to intercept but arriving too late.

In the afternoon, a large raid of 19 B-24s with 17 P-47 escorts arrived over Bangkok, with the enemy CAP partially re-established with 16 Zeroes. The resulting combat saw 1 P-47 go down along with 2 Zeroes. 1 B-24 was lost to flak. The raid reportedly only caused 14 casualties on the ground.

3 cruisers and 21 destroyers then shelled Allied positions around Bangkok, causing 4 casualties. Not exactly the right ships for the job.

We've retaken Pisanuloke from the enemy paratroopers. Casualties 289 to 12. Supply lines are now fully restored on both roads to Bangkok.

The enemy attempted a paratrooper attack on Mergui, which was adequately garrisoned. 10 enemy casualties.

We've caused another 61 enemy casualties at Prachuap Khiri Khan, which I didn't think would be enough, but the commanders are reporting that the enemy unit was wiped out.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase): 11 airbase hits, 8 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 5 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces): 0 casualties

We've used paratroopers to capture Roti, next to Koepang. It was empty.


China
Air raids:
Kuikiang (ground forces): 19 casualties

Moving north along the east coastline, our advancing armies have taken Hangchow with minimal resistance (just 8712 troops defending against our army of 100k; casualties 3548(J) to 2045(A)). I'm not sure of enemy troop strength at Shanghai, but this was encouraging.

other land combat:
near Kiukang, bombardment attack, 14 (J) to 32(A) casualties


Marianas
I forgot to turn the P-38 sweeps off. Just 5 P-38s swept Saipan, meeting 16 enemy fighters. We got away with it, shooting down 1 Zero and 3 Georges while losing just 1 P-38.


Reinforcements
DD Halsey Powell arrives at Eastern USA
AP Gen. R.L.Howze arrives at San Francisco
547th NFS arrives at Fresno

[Molon Labe]

26 February 1944
Bangkok defenders turn British away, heavy casualties on both sides


Philippines
USS Sargo hit a cargo ship with a Mk14 and nearly sank it. Good chance it still goes down before it gets to Manila or Cam Rhan Bay.

Finally, additional troops are landing on Iloilo. This should be over with tomorrow. The landings caused damage to an LCI and an LST, and another LST got absolutely shredded on the bottom and had to be scuttled.

The now-daily raid on Manila lost a B-24 to flak. 24 Airbase hits, 4 port hits.


Burma and Thailand
That 3 cruiser 21 destroyer task force shelled my troops at Bangkok again, 6 casualties. I really wish I could get an airstrike on these guys.

I decided to make a push for Bangkok since the troops weren't being subjected to any serious disruption from the light bombardment. This was 80k troops vs 50k, which didn't go well thanks to the enemy defending a fortified position. Casualties 3269 to 5395 favoring Japan, with forts being reduced to Level 3 (still pretty serious). We may have to resort to a long siege to pull this off.

Japan also made another airdrop on Mergui, a bit bigger than the last so it looks like enemy troops were able to survive the initial assault. It's going to take more than this to take it back from me, though.

Air raids:
east of Bangkok (ground forces): 171 casualties
Bangkok (ground forces): 33 casualties


Marianas
USS Grampus torpedoed and crippled a troop transport (7470 tons) northwest of the Marianas. And just when it looked like this ship might survive too, Grampus decided to "be more aggressive" and re-attacked, finishing the Maru off.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 1 port hit, 10 airbase hits
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties


China
Land combat:
near Kiukiang, bombardment attack, casualties 54(J) to 14 (A)

[Molon Labe]

27 February 1944
RAF loses another air battle against the Kido Butai


Philippines
USS Sargo managed to find the cargo ship (3675 tons) it damaged yesterday and put her out of her misery with 2 more Mk14 hits.

The daily B-24 raid hit the cruiser Yura with another bomb, I swear that ship is going to stay alive for the whole war at this rate. 29 airbase hits with 2 Judies destroyed on the ground, 5 port hits.

Despite the extra troops landed on Iloilo, we failed to take the base today. Casualties 330(J) to 45(A).

I'm not waiting for Iloilo to fall. The first units intended to take Luzon are now en route to Legaspi, the southernmost point of Luzon.


China
Air raids:
near Hwainan (ground forces): 67 casualties

Land combat:
near Hwainan, Allied deliberate attack, 37k vs 2255 troops, casualties 1914(J) to 21(A), enemy survivors retreating
Hangchow, Allied deliberate attack, 108k vs 4k, casualties 4074(J) vs 172(A). This unit just arrived and was probably intended to reinforce the enemy we defeated 2 days ago. Looks like my opponent forgot to turn them around after Hangchow fell. On the negative side, the supplies expended from this additional fight need to be replenished, so we need to pause our advance to Shanghai.
near Kiukang, Allied bombardment attack, casualties 35(J) to 64(A).


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase): ACM hit and sunk, 4 casualties, 11 airbase hits, 2 port hits
Kendari (ground forces): 5 casualties


Burma and Thailand
The KB appeared along the eastern Malay coast, close enough to Tavoy to pull an airstrike. Coordination was a problem and we ended up attacking in 4 separate waves instead of en masse, which made the problem easier for the enemy to solve:
Wave 1: 10 Spitfires and 16 Vengeances vs 17 Zeroes. All 16 Vengeances shot down along with 2 Zeroes and 3 Spitfires. 2 bombers made attacks, 1 on Shinyo, 1 on Zuikaku, both missed.
Wave 2: 8 Spitfires and 13 Vengeances vs 15 Zeroes. 3 Zeroes and 10 Vengeances shot down, plus an 11th lost to flak. 3 bombers made attacks on Zuikaku, all missed.
Wave 3: 10 Spitfires with 16 Vengeances vs 1 Zero. Only one shootdown-a Vengeance by flak. Bombers attacked Hiyo, Kaiyo, Unryu, and Shokaku (and also heavy cruiser Maya). The only hit was on the Kaiyo, which appeared only moderately damaged.
Wave 4: 13 Spitfires and 9 Vengeances vs 16 Zeroes. 8 Vengeances shot down, the last one made a run for it.
It's interesting that despite the massive number of carriers present, the CAP was so weak. Were fighters being held in reserve for a long-range CAP, or for an airstrike?


Other air strikes:
Southeast of Bangkok (ground forces): 142 casualties


Reinforcements
PF Rockford arrives at Mare Island
RAF 231 Group Base Force arrives at Aden

Forgot to mention this "yesterday"--USS Yorktown CV-10 has completed its torpedo damage repairs at Alameda and is headed back to Pearl under heavy escort.

[Molon Labe]

28 February 1944

Burma and Thailand
The Haruna and Kongo provided covering fire for enemy reinforcements landing at Prachuap Khiri Khan. I'd love to send another wave of dive bombers at these guys, but we haven't replenished our losses yet. A few more days.

13 P-47s swept Bangkok, opposed by 7 Georges and 5 Franks. With no losses, we bagged 5 Georges and 3 Franks. Not bad at all! 15 P-51s followed that up, but there were no enemy fighters left to play with.

B-24 raids caused 226 casualties outside Bangkok.

We've eliminated the remaining paratroopers at Mergui, 25 enemy casualties.


South China Sea
HMS Storm got caught transiting past Singapore towards Hong Kong and took moderate depth charge damage.


Japanese Home Waters
USS Sealion took light depth charge damaged after it got caught approaching an escorted cargo ship near Iwo Jima. Nearby, USS Sand Lance torpedoed a 3280-ton troop transport, very likely sinking it.


China
Air raids:
near Hwainan (ground forces): 70 casualties

Land combat:
near Kiukang, Allied deliberate attack, 77k vs. 29k troops, casualties 3742(J) to 2950(A). Lots more destroyed vs disabled units on our side though, so I'd call that a loss.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase): 1 port hit, 14 airbase hits, 5 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 4 casualties


Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (port and airbase): 1 port hit, 1 hit on CL Yura, 17 airbase hits

Land combat:
We finally captured Iloilo. Casualties 485 to 50 favoring us. The enemy is still present but they no longer control the base.


Mariannas
I send the Yankee Butai to the seas northwest of the Mariannas, trying to time it to catch the convoys leaving and headed back towards Japan. As a plan B, I ordered a few squadrons to hit the ports in the Mariannas, hoping to catch a few stragglers or auxiliaries. We missed the convoys--they're gone. The port raids on Saipan and Tinian cost one SBD each and hit nothing of consequence. Avengers hit Guam, with a loss of one Avenger and slight damage to the port.

[Molon Labe]

29 February 1944

Philippines
USS Sea Rover was engaged by an ASW group in the Strait of Luzon but got away with only light damage. USS Bowfin found an unescorted AKL in the Strait and put her down with a Mk14.

Air raids:
Manila (airbase, port): 41 airbase hits, 4 port hits, 2 hits on CL Yura.

Land combat:
Iloilo: 319 casualties to 20 as mop up operations proceed.


Japanese Home Waters
Near Chichi-jima, USS Dragonet put two fish into a 7450-ton troop transport ship, leaving it burning at it limped away. Dragonet then took at shot at another unescorted transport but missed. USS Tambor found yet another transport (7470 tons) and hit it with 3 Mk14s for another kill. Dragonet then tracked down the transport it wounded earlier and put 4 more torpedoes into it, sending it down with plenty of overkill.


Burma and Thailand
We swept Bangkok with 16 P-47s, which were met by 8 Georges and 8 Franks, shooting down 4 Franks and 2 of the Georges with no losses.

I also bombed the beachead at Prachuap Khiri Khan knowing that the KB would be providing cover there and I'd be able to wear it down a bit. The raid was 15 P-38s with 24 B-24s, and we were opposed by 74 Zeroes, 2 Georges, and 2 Franks. We lost 3 P-38s and 3 B-24s while shooting down 6 Zeroes and 1 George. 11 enemy casualties were reported on the ground.

I attacked Bangkok's airbase with 22 B-24s, scoring 15 hits and destroying a George on the ground.

The enemy troops attempted a shock attack at Prachuap Khiri Khan, suffering 432 casualties to our 82. They are highly disrupted from landing under fire and bombing and weren't organized enough for an effective attack.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase): 2 port hits, 11 airbase hits
Kendari (ground forces) 55 casualties


Reinforcements
SS Plaice arrives at Balboa
VP-21 arrives at Eastern USA
VP-23 arrives at San Diego
I/14th Army RIASC Base Force arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

1 March 1944

Burma and Thailand
Light cruisers and destroyers attempted to shell our troops in Bangkok; it was ineffective.

Enemy troops and/or equipment is still being landed at Prachuap Khiri Khan

Our sweep of Bangkok was less effective today; 16 P-47s took on 5 Georges and 3 Franks, we lost 1 P-47s while shooting down just 2 Georges. A port attack by Wellington bombers followed; there were still 3 enemy fighters on CAP, which managed to shoot down 1 Wellington. The bombers failed to do any damage.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (port and airbase): 1 port hit, 8 airbase hits
Kendari (ground forces): 4 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces) 43 casualties.

We have troops landing in Kolaka, which is nearby Kendari. Our troops have too many disabled units to appear all that combat effective though, so I'm waiting to bring some extra troops from the east side of Celebes before proceeding.


Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (airbase and port): 29 airbase hits, 1 hit on CL Yura.

Ground combat:
Iloilo mop-up deliberate attack; 156 (J) to 6(A) casualties


China
near Hwainan (ground forces) 10 casualties
near Kiukang (ground forces): 10 casualties--1 Wellington lost to flak

ground combat:
near Hwaianan, allied deliberate attack, 37k vs 455 troops, 371(J) to 26(A) casualties, enemy survivors retreating


Reinforcements
DE Weaver arrives at Los Angeles
AR Resource arrives at Aden
VB-137 arrives at Alameda
Thirteenth USAAF Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at San Francisco
XIV Corps Artillery arrives at Pearl Harbor

[Molon Labe]

2 March 1944
Failed air raids in Bangkok, but KB being worn down again

Japanese Home Waters
USS Amberjack missed a great opportunity for glory near Naha, coming across IJN Katori and two cargo ships. She fired 4 torpedoes at Katori and missed. The presence of Katori I assume deterred a surface attack.

Meanwhile near Torishima, USS Golet was able to make a night surface attack on a cargo ship (6840 tons), hitting it with a torpedo as well as gunfire and sinking it.


Thailand and Burma
The sweep of Bangkok that's becoming routine was done by 15 P-47s, this time facing 55 Zeroes from the KB as well as 8 native Georges. One P-47 was lost, while we scored 5 Zeroes and a George. A sweep of 17 P-51s followed that, getting one George with a loss of 3 aircraft.

Prachuap Khiri Khan was attacked by 32 Sallies, causing 22 Allied casualties and disrupting us in the face of the enemy landings. We hit the beachhead with 17 B-24s with 5 reported casualties.

This was followed by an attempted low-level attack on the battleships Kongo and Haruna at Bangkok harbor by 16 Beaufighters. The KB contributed 40 Zeroes to that fight, although they had problems responding in time. Only 1 Zero and 1 Beaufighter went down in the air-to-air fight. Another Beau was lost to flak while attacking, but probably due to the intensity of the flak none of the other planes were able to score any hits. 12 B-25D1s arrived next for a skipbombing run, with 15 P-47 escorts that probably should have been with B-24s, but it worked out. We traded 1 P-47 and 1 B-25 for 2 Zeroes. Once again, the flak made it hard for the bombers to hit anything, but one of the B-25s managed to hit a cargo ship in the formation, setting it on fire.

The B-24s arrived next, 27 of them with 7 P-47s escorting. The KBs Zeroes plus 2 Georges were able to take down 2 P-47s and a B-24 while taking just one loss. But the bombers still caused significant damage, with 20 base hits and 1 George blown up on the ground.

The Beaufighter squadron attempted a second sortie with just 6 aircraft... a bad idea. 5 were lost, with nothing to show for it.

Overall, this was a very good turn for us around Bangkok. Our Vengeance dive bombers are ready to fly again tomorrow, and the ability of the KB to maintain a CAP, for both itself and the landing area, is being pressured by the constant raids. Their losses should be adding up and a lot of planes are going to be down for repairs.



China
Air raids:
Hwainan (ground forces): 42 casualties

Land combat:
near Kiukang: allied bombardment attack, casualties 88(J) to 39(A). It appears that the enemy here has been ordered to fall back to the east, presumably to protect Nanking.


DEI
Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 2 port hits, 27 airbase hits, 5 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces): 36 casualties


Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (port and airbase): 34 airbase hits, 1 port hit, 1 hit on CL Yura, 1 hit on an AGP--likely sunk.

Ground combat:
Iloilo - Allied deliberate attack, 130 enemy casualties, 0 losses. Mop up continues...


Reinforcments
CL Gambia arrives at Auckland
VMSB-454 arrives at Santa Ana

[Molon Labe]

3 March 1944
USS Devilfish on eternal patrol; two enemy carriers disabled off Bangkok at the Kido Butai's fighters get overwhelmed by multiple attacks


Japanese Home Waters
USS Devilfish engaged a troop convoy passing between Okinawa and Daito Shoto, hitting a cargo ship with a single torpedo. The ship was badly damaged but looks like it will survive. After the attack, the convoy escorts managed to detect Devilfish. After connecting solidly with three depth charge patterns, Devilfish surfaced and ended up in a gun battle, during which it scored the first hit on a kaibokan. But eventually the escorts got dialed in and finished off Devilfish.

Devilfish's only confirmed kill during its career was the enemy submarine I-26, a sub previously damaged by US destroyers.


DEI
New Mexico and Arizona shelled Kendari, causing 58 casualties.
Air strikes:
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Palopo (ground forces): 31 casualties


Strait of Malacca
HMS Clyde sustained moderate damage in a depth charge attack trying to transit back into the Indian Ocean.


Burma and Thailand
The enemy opened up today's air battles with a Sally raid on Prachuap Khiri Khan. We had 4 P-47s on CAP but they were overwhelmed by Zeroes that were also trying to secure that airspace. We took 46 casualties on the ground.

We hit Bangkok's troops with 16 Wellingtons next, which was unopposed but did no real damage. Next was a flight of 16 B-24s into Prachuap Khiri Khan with 4 P-47s escorting. 47 Zeroes were on patrol, and we lost 3 B-24s in the furball. 20 more B-24s then hit Bangkok's airbase, scoring 15 hits. Again, this was unopposed--the KB was only protecting Prachuap Khiri Khan at this point, where they were still landing troops.

And it was the KB that drew the next strikes. Coordination once again was an issue, with all 33 available Spitfire escorts from Tavoy escorting a single Vengeance squadron, and 2 other squadrons proceeding unescorted. Better than the other way around, I guess. Those 33 Spitfires took on 37 Zeroes and came out ahead, losing just 1 aircraft while shooting down 6 Zeroes. The bombers added a 7th. We suffered 6 bombers lost to the Zeroes with a 7th lost to flak. 10 bombers total made attacks split between Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiyo, and Shinyo. The only hit was a smaller 250-pounder hitting Shinyo.
For the second wave, 17 Vengeances were met by 16 Zeroes. 6 of the bombers lost their nerve and turned around. The other 11 were splashed.
The third wave was 15 Vengeances facing 9 Zeroes. This raid suffered only 1 loss to the Zeroes and another lost to flak. But again, several gave up when they saw the Zeroes without friendly fighters around. Only 6 made attacks, and all missed.
The KBs luck at this point had run out. The next attack would come from 7 B-25Hs flying down from Moulmien making a low level attack. There were still 6 Zeroes left on patrol but they weren't in position to intercept this raid in time. Zuikaku took one hit, enough to start a fire. Shinyo took two, also starting fires and causing serious damage. And Hiyo took four, ending up severely damaged and becoming an inferno. Hiyo is almost certainly down. Shinyo is probably clinging to life.
https://i.ibb.co/SJ5BW7S/1944-March-5-Hiyo.png


Philippines
Air raids:
Manila (airbase and port): 4 port hits, 18 airbase hits, 1 Judy destroyed on the ground.


China
Land combat:
I sent a detachment of my Shanghai-bound armies to deal with troops on the road to Shanghai. That battle was 46k vs 7k, and we caused 3287 casualties vs 1138 taken... not great. Some, but not all, of the enemy retreated back to Shanghai.

near Kiukiang; allied bombardment attack, casualties 41(J) to 101(A)


Reinforcements
CV Hornet II arrives at Balboa
PF Barcoo arrives at Sydney
31st Infantry Division arrives at Eastern USA
XI Corps Artillery arrives at San Francisco

[Molon Labe]

4 March 1944

DEI
Helens from Java made a low altitude attack on our recently-captured base at Denspar. We aren't building here yet so this is of no concern. At worst we'll have to repair the airbase here when we do move in.

Allied raids:
Surabaya (airbase and port): 25 airbase hits with 1 Helen destroyed, 1 port hit
near Palopo: 15 casualties


Philippines
In the Luzon Strait, USS Flounder put a pair of Mk14s into a large tanker. Despite 1 torpedo being enough in most cases, this one got away.

An enemy PT squadron intercepted an amphibous task force headed for Legaspi, but was driven off by the escorts before they could fire any torpedoes. Several transports collided in the resulting chaos, though. One AKA is in need of serious repairs, and an LST had to be scuttled due to severe damage.

The landings at Legaspi proceeded thereafter with no enemy ground forces resisting.


Burma and Thailand
32 Sallies attacked our troops at Prachuap Khiri Khan. We only had 4 P-47s nearby and they all failed to intercept. 15 casualties. We followed that up with B-24 raids of our own; no casualties reported.

Other raids:
Bangkok (airbase): 35 hits

Land combat:
The enemy troops at Prachuap Khiri Khan attacked; casualties 265(J) to 150(A). Surprised we're holding out, we're outnumbered about 2 to 1 and have no engineers to build fortifications with.
Allied bombardment attack, Bangkok, casualties 140(J) to 71(A).


China
Air raids:
near Kiukiang (ground forces): 23 casualties
Takao (sweep): 9 Spitfires from Amoy took on a CAP of a whopping 60 fighters. We lost 3, shooting down 1 Nick and 1 George.

Land combat: We've captured Hwainan. Casualties 1566(J) to 8(A). This is part of a flanking and encirclement of the enemy forces adjacent to Kiukiang, or they could go straight to Nanking. Encircling will likel make more sense.

We've forced the last of the enemy units on the road to Shanghai to retreat. Casualties 477 to 31.

Allied Bombardment attack near Kiukang, casualties 32(J) to 45(A).


Reinforcements
CVE Savo Island arrives at Portland
DD Yarnall arrives at San Francisco
APA John Land arrives at Alameda
12th BG/82nd BS arrives at Aden
Lushai Brigade arrives at Madras

[Molon Labe]

5 March 1944
Kamikazes destroy CVE in massive air counteroffensive at Legaspi

Philippines
I had a surface combat task force of 1 CA and 9 DD patrolling between Cebu and Legaspi trying to prevent what happened yesterday. This morning, they spotted the enemy PTs before they could do any harm. 11 enemy boats were sunk with no damage to the US fleet.

PTs weren't the only small-ticket defense active around Legaspi. 4 enemy minisubs also approached the area, but all were spotted by destroyers screening the landing ships (or the surface combat task force) and easily sunk.

USS Rock was heavily damaged in a depth charge attack in the Luzon Strait and is headed to Hong Kong for repairs.

The major threat ended up being enemy air forces, which came as a little bit of a surprise because I had 2 of the 3 large airbases on Luzon under constant surveillance, and never detected an increase in present numbers of aircraft (and the day after this that 3rd one was also empty). Still, I wasn't caught completely unprepared, as the 'phibs had CVEs in company and land-based aircraft were providing additional cover. Altogether I had 78 Hellcats providing cover over the landing site when the first enemy raid hit us. It ended up being a turkey shoot, but we were eventually overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. It looks like altitude was a factor--none of the fighter squadrons that I had assigned to lower altitudes were covering the landing site.

Raid 1: High altitude, 8 Zeroes, 18 Georges, 14 Kates, 6 Jills. Losses: 7 Zeroes, 16 Georges, 14 Kates, 6 Jills; 0 Hellcats.

Raid 2: Low Altitude approach, 12 Zeroes, 8 Kates. Losses: 7 Zeroes, 8 Kates (2 to flak, the rest were kamikazes). All the Kates made it past the fighters. 1 Kate slammed into HMAS Canberra, and 2 more into the CVE USS Santee--triggering ammunition explosions and dooming the ship.

Raid 3: Low Altitude approach, 6 Kates. These planes slipped past the CAP. 1 was lost to flak, the rest made torpedo attacks against Canberra and Santee, putting two fish into Santee just to make absolutely sure it was going down.

Raid 4: Low Altitude approach, 9 Kates. 7 shot down by CAP, 2 attempted Kamikaze attacks on the CVE USS Corregidor but missed. How do you miss a ship that big? Probably due to flak damage sustained on the way, I'd guess.

Raid 5: High altitude, 9 Zeroes, 41 Georges, 5 Franks, 11 Frances. Losses: 2 Zeroes, 16 Georges, 3 Franks, and the first F6F Hellcat loss of the day (with the possible exception of any destroyed on the Santee's deck). All 11 Frances got through to make torpedo attacks, scoring a single hit on an LST, sinking it. 1 Frances was downed by flak after it released its torpedo.

Raid 6: High altitude, 19 Franks and 5 Judies. The CAP only shot down 3 Franks, while losing another 2 Hellcats. These Judies were kamizakes and tried to attack CVE Prince William and a transport, none hit.

Raid 7: 37 Judies, medium altitude. Our CAP should have torn these up, but we only had 19 planes in the air and they were all busy. 4 were shot down by flak. CVE Corregidor took 2 hits (enough to disable air ops) and an LSD took another.

Raid 8: 33 Georges with 12 Judies. Losses: 8 Georges, 3 F6Fs. 1 Judy lost to flak. Corregidor took another hit, and a cargo ship took two--enough to sink it.

Raid 9: 3 Kates, low altitude. Completely snuck in and fired 3 torpedoes at the burning Corregidor, but missed.

In the Sulu Sea, the Yankee Butai was spotted and drew some attention as well. 11 Zeroes and 7 Frances took on the CAP of 154 Hellcats. Only 2 Zeroes made it out of that fight, no Allied losses.




Other raids:
Manila (airbase): 11 Tojos and 3 Franks intercepted, but no air-to-air losses. 1 B-24 shot down by flak, 15 airbase hits with 1 George destroyed.

Land Combat:
Legaspi is officially in our hands. The enemy flew in a few troops but the resistance was token.



DEI
There was another Helen raid at Denpasar; 3 base hits.
Allied raids:
Kendari (ground forces): 0 casualties
near Palopo: 26 casualties
near Denpasar: 24 P-40N5s strafed a motor torpedo boat, causing moderate damage.


Burma and Thailand
Enemy raid on Prachuap Khiri Khan: 12 casualties. CAP again failed to intervene.
Allied raids
Prachuap Khiri Khan (ground forces): 6 casualties, 1 Tony shot down by B-24s.


Land combat:
Bangkok (ground forces) 7 casualties
Bangkok (airbase): 23 hits, 6 casualties



China
Air raids:
near Kiukiang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Land combat:
near Kiukiang, allied bombardment attack, casualties 24(J) to 72(A).

Land combat:
Prachuap Khiri Khan- Japanese deliberate attack, 4000 vs 2000 troops, casualties 114(J) vs 131(A).
Bangkok, allied bombardment attack, casualties 95(J) to 85(A)


Reinforcements
DE Darby arrives at Eastern USA
SS Queenfish arrives at Balboa
AO Nantahala arrives at Eastern USA
12th BG/81st BS arrives at Aden
462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion arrives at San Francisco
II/14th Army RIASC Base Force arrives at Calcutta
10th IAF Advanced Base Force arrives at Calcutta

[Molon Labe]

6 March 1944
Turkey shoot over Legaspi--is this is last of the counterattack?


I'm going to back off from some reporting all the "regular" bombing raids I've been doing for the last couple game months, I'm falling behind of the reports and I don't think they're adding much.


Philippines
The enemy continues to try to interdict my landings at Legaspi. Wave 1 was 18 Judies and 9 Frances escorted by 5 Georges and 18 Franks, going up against a CAP of 37 Hellcats and 8 Corsairs. 10 Judies and 8 Frances made it through to make attacks, but none hit. Losses were 16 Franks, 4 Georges, 1 Frances, and 6 Judies (plus one more Judy to flak). No US losses. I can only assume results like this mean he's completely depleted his pool of competent pilots. Georges and Franks are not ****ty aircraft. Additional waves throughout the day saw a few US losses--5 Hellcats total, but another 8 Georges, 26 Judies, 2 Betties and 2 Jills. All that for failed attacks on my surface covering forces. The last attack was a wave of 24 Kate kamikazes. Our CAP was completely spent by this point, but none of the Kates managed to hit home. None were "officially" killed by flak, but I can only assume the reason they missed was because they got shot up too badly to steer.

I absolutely battered the hell out of the airbase at San Fernando with 33 B-24s, thinking that it had to be were most of the enemy bombers were coming from for these Legaspi raids. But it was empty. Must be Clark and Manila after all.

Japan attempted to repel our troops at Legaspi with a paratroop raid, but we wiped them out rather easily. We've already got about 20,000 troops ashore.



Burma and Thailand
An enemy raid of 22 Tonies and 22 Sallies hit Prachuap Khiri Khan. Our meager 4 - P-47 CAP shot down 2 Tonies. Our ground forces took 20 casualties.

4 Tonies got airborne to meet an air raid of ours vs Singapore we had Spitfires escorting Wellintongs. 3 Tonies and 1 Spitfire were lost. 3 more Tonies got splashed by P-47s and P-51s sweeping.


South China Sea
HMS Tantalus hit a small tanker (1120 tons) with a torpedo hear Hong Kong. Doubtful it could survive.

[Molon Labe]

7 March 1944

South China Sea
USS Muskalunge hit a PB off the Vietnam coast, but the ship was not mortally damaged. So USS Thresher followed that up, hitting it twice for a confirmed kill (2780 tons).

USS Seadragon attacked a 2900 ton tanker on the surface, sinking it with gunfire and 2 Mk14 hits.


Burma and Thailand
A heavy surface task force including Musashi, Kongo, and Haruna shelled our forces at Prachuap Khiri Khan for 239 casualties. That was all their ground forces needed to prevail. We took another 744 casualties in the land battle while dishing out only 211. This doesn't quite reconnect Bangkok to the Malaya rail line because we control the hexside the railroad enters Bangkok at. But if they ever push our army out of Bangkok, it'll reconnect.

One more Tony was removed over Bangkok by fighter sweeps.


Philippines
The surface covering force near Legaspi found another three midget subs and sank them.

P-38 sweep of Manila shot down 2 Tojos with 1 P-38 lost.
12 Avengers recently transferred to Legaspi attacked enemy shipping off San Fernando. No enemy CAP intervening. The Avengers sank a PB and two small tankers without losses.

B-24 raids on Clark destroyed at least 8 aircraft on the ground.

Beaufighters went after a cluster of landing barges near Manila. 6 Tojos were left on CAP after the P-38s' poor sweep performance. Forturnately there were no air-to-air losses. One Beau was lost to flak. They managed to sink 8 landing barges.

We've killed the last enemy holdouts on Iloilo.


China
We've captured Pengpu, which cuts off enemy rail lines from Nanking to the northeasternmost parts of China. I've essentially isolated everything from Nanking south from the broader supply system. They can still resupply this area with cargo ships docking in Shanghai, though. In time I should be able to interdict those ships.

[Molon Labe]

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mDao1oty9Kg/maxresdefault.jpg


16 March 1944 - Japan Surrenders

As you could probably tell, I'd gotten a bit behind on mission reports, but there isn't too much to say about the last couple weeks of the war. What was left of the KB was sheltering in Cam Rahn Bay, not really able to go anywhere with my carriers in the Sulu Sea, and with my troops continuing to move into southern Luzon. My opponent felt so paralyzed that it was pointless to continue. As part of the surrender agreement, my opponent gave me his password...


My submarine campaign was far more effective than I ever realized. If the KB went back to Japan, it would have a hard time finding someplace to fully refuel. The Japanese economy was crashing. Fuel shortages were preventing the Heavy Industry plants from running. The lack of Heavy Industry points was causing random shutdowns of military production across the country... airplane factories, vehicle factories, shipyards. Supply (which is used for just about everything other than refueling ships...maintaining land units, rearming ships, airplane fuel, etc.) was fine in Japan but was very short in China, and from Singapore all the way up to Bangkok. It was so bad he stood down 5 squadrons in Malaya to save supply to rail to Bangkok.

On the more tactical side, he had a fighter shortage that kept him from replenishing the Zeroes on the KB. Cam Rahn Bay was out of fuel, and there was a replenishment group being emptied into the port to try to sustain the ships there. At Takao, Taiwan, the base was completely empty of fuel and the ASW ships were being kept in service by draining merchant ships that were sitting in port with nowhere to go. Those ASW ships were getting picked off one by one by Avengers flying out of Legaspi, anyway.

His pilot corps was a mess. A lot of frontline squadrons had complete rookies in the cockpit, or had off-trained pilots (bomber/ASW trained pilots in fighters, for example). His top-scoring ace had 23 kills and was still alive, flying Georges out of Takao.

Oddly enough, among Allied pilots, no one ever topped New Zealander J.R. MacKenzie with 37 kills. He hasn't seen action since Singapore fell. The US Navy's top ace was with VF-3 at 14 kills. Real life USN pilots in game included O'Hare with just 3 kills (survived the war). The USAAC's top ace had 24 kills--Boyington only managed 6 (and also survived). USMC's top was 12. Overall pilots killed were about 3000 to 5000 in our favor.


----------
We're already getting to work on switching sides for another campaign. Interest in the campaign seemed to wane a bit here, so I might not start a thread on that. I'm considering starting a gaming channel on YT to post the reports instead. Although I must say it was a huge help having my reports here where I could search them if I needed to check something. So maybe that's worth doing regardless, or at least keeping some sort of searchable journal.
:Kaleun_Salute:

[Ostfriese]

Congratulations on your win, and thanks for all the reports. I really enjoyed them whenever they came.

Should you start another campaign I'd gladly follow another series of reports.

[Molon Labe]

Congratulations on your win, and thanks for all the reports. I really enjoyed them whenever they came.

Should you start another campaign I'd gladly follow another series of reports.
Thanks!


The next campaign is about to get underway. I've completed my opening orders and my opponent is now working on his. I expect the first two turns to be especially slow due to the volume of decisions that need to be made.


As a quick preview, for the opening I'm going to be treating the Asiatic Fleet submarines as equal in importance to the battleships at Pearl Harbor. I'll also be looking to accelerate my conquest of Malaya as much as possible, although how that happens may depend on how conservative my opponent is. I'm taking some extra risk in increasing the number of landing sites to either cut off a general retreat to Singapore, or force him to make that retreat so quickly that I can besiege Singapore right from the beginning. I'd like to be wrapped up in Malaya before the end of December and have Palembang in hand by about the same time.

[Molon Labe]

The new campaign is underway. I've started a YT channel (playlist here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFW6_A2C9g38dQnllMZ0MqR5pZi3uRQ0h)) to do the AARs. It may take some time to get "good" at it, as I'm clearly still trying to get the suck to come off.


We're about a week in. I'm dominating him in the air, but progress on land is slow, and I'm taking a lot of unnecessary losses at sea. "Stopping the bleeding" has been the theme of a lot of the more recent videos.

[Skybird]

Congratulations for completing this long time task! I did not comment, did not know what to say, but red quite some of it all. Such long-time games can be rewarding, and coming back to them time and again is like meeting an old friend (no matter whether the opponent is human or AI). One connects to it, gets immersed.

[Molon Labe]

Congratulations for completing this long time task! I did not comment, did not know what to say, but red quite some of it all. Such long-time games can be rewarding, and coming back to them time and again is like meeting an old friend (no matter whether the opponent is human or AI). One connects to it, gets immersed.


I can relate to that, being someone that read WITP AARs long before I bought the game. Thank you.

[Ostfriese]

The new campaign is underway. I've started a YT channel (playlist here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFW6_A2C9g38dQnllMZ0MqR5pZi3uRQ0h)) to do the AARs. It may take some time to get "good" at it, as I'm clearly still trying to get the suck to come off.


We're about a week in. I'm dominating him in the air, but progress on land is slow, and I'm taking a lot of unnecessary losses at sea. "Stopping the bleeding" has been the theme of a lot of the more recent videos.


I'm already watching :)

[Ostfriese]

So, I basically binge-watched what you have put up on youtube so far. Interesting way of showing things, shows way more about how the game works.

One thing I noticed: You wondered about the capability of Japanese light cruisers in one of the videos. In short: they were awful, mostly old and seriously underarmed and underprotected.
Most Japanese light cruisers at the start of the war were 5,500-ton standard displacement ships (very light even for light cruisers) and designed to be destroyer leaders. They were armed with 5.5in guns and had only a small number torpedo tubes, which means that they were much lighter armed than the destroyers they led into battle. They also had only a very limited armor (less than 5% of their total weight).

To be precise: the Japanese light cruisers at the start of the war

Tenryu Class (Tenryu, Tatsuta), completed 1919
5,500 tons
Four 5.5in guns (in single mounts), two triple torpedo launchers (21in, so they could not fire the 24in Type 93 aka "Long Lance")

Kuma Class (Kuma, Tama, Kiso, Oi, Kitakami), completed 1920 -1921
Nagara Class (Nagara, Isuzu, Natori, Yura, Kinu, Abukama), complefted 1922 - 1923 (Abukama 1925)
Sendai Class (Sendai, Jintsu, Naka), completed 1924-1925

These were all 5,500 ton ships, originally armed with seven 5.5in guns (all in single mounts, in most cases reduced at some point during the war to make room for more AA guns) and four twin torpedo launchers (21in for the Kuma class, 24 in for Nagara class and Sendai class). The 24in launchers were too short for the Long Lance, though.

Oi and Kitakama were converted to torpedo cruisers in 1941, with Oi carrying ten quad launchers early in the war, later reduced to six quad launchers in 1942.
Abukama, Jintsu and Naka were refitted with two quad launchers capable of firing the Long Lance in May 1941.

Yubari
2,900 ton standard displacement (later increased to about 3,500)
Six 5.5in guns (two twin, two single), two twin torpedo launchers (24in, short)
A small, experimental ship.

None of these ships was anywhere near being a match for an Allied light cruiser, not even their contemporaries (British Emerald or E-class cruiser, American Omaha class cruisers or Dutch Java class cruisers), let alone the treaty cruisers.


Katori Class (Katori, Kashima, Kashii), completed 1940 - 1941
6,000 tons
Four 5.5in guns, two twin torpedo launchers
These ships were designed and built as training ships and despite being "modern" were very lightly armed and slow (18 knots).


All in all: in the one battle against the CL Java you might have been numerically superior, but you were considerably outgunned.

The CMs (mine laying cruiser) are mine layers the size of a (very) light cruiser, about 4,000 tons, and they have an even worse armament.

[Ostfriese]

So, losing Enterprise and (probably) Lexington barely two weeks into the war, and this by having them out of fuel deep in (more or less) enemy territory is a major blunder.

I support your decision to not allow a Mulligan on the Dec 18th turn, not after your opponent wrought havoc with that force for days (including sinking Mutsu and Yamashiro) rather than watching out for his own logistics.
I understand why this victory feels a bit stale, but at the end of the day your opponent provoked it and fell into his own trap.

[Molon Labe]

So, losing Enterprise and (probably) Lexington barely two weeks into the war, and this by having them out of fuel deep in (more or less) enemy territory is a major blunder.

I support your decision to not allow a Mulligan on the Dec 18th turn, not after your opponent wrought havoc with that force for days (including sinking Mutsu and Yamashiro) rather than watching out for his own logistics.
I understand why this victory feels a bit stale, but at the end of the day your opponent provoked it and fell into his own trap.


Well, we ended up doing those two turns over anyway. It looked like he had the space to get away, but the turn I just ran shows that it's very likely they didn't go nearly as far away as I thought they would. We might have them sandwiched between CARDIV 1 and 2 right now.

[Ostfriese]

I just watched the video about the revives turn 17. I must say you are very generous with your opponent. Threatening you with what the younger ones would call a “rage quit” is somewhat childish, and yet you were generous.

Well then, have a good hunt :)

[Molon Labe]

I just watched the video about the revives turn 17. I must say you are very generous with your opponent. Threatening you with what the younger ones would call a “rage quit” is somewhat childish, and yet you were generous.

Well then, have a good hunt :)


I have to admit, I was really tempted to call his bluff and if he did ragequit on me, oh well, I'll just get to start over with a new opponent and a clean slate. I'd get to fix some of my embarrassing mistakes so far! It absolutely blows my mind that he passed on my offer to fix 12/17 and then ended up demanding we go back to 12/17 after we completed 12/18. And the fix ended up being as simple as a task force speed adjustment. There's no reason he couldn't have tried that before we moved on.

[Ostfriese]

Aren‘t you worried about your opponent watching your videos as well?

[Molon Labe]

Aren‘t you worried about your opponent watching your videos as well?


Yeah. My solution to that for now is to lag the rollout of the videos by 2 weeks worth of game time. I'm running at -6 days so far (we've finished 12/25).

[Ostfriese]

OK, that makes sense.

[Ostfriese]

Still watching your videos.


Over the past couple of videos I've noticed that your voice has become rather quiet, and I have to increase the volume to properly understand you. Today's video seems to be especially quiet. Would it be possible to increase the volume (micropohne?) a bit?

[Molon Labe]

Still watching your videos.


Over the past couple of videos I've noticed that your voice has become rather quiet, and I have to increase the volume to properly understand you. Today's video seems to be especially quiet. Would it be possible to increase the volume (micropohne?) a bit?


Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into fixing the levels. It'll be a few videos before you notice the difference.


I'll give you a spoiler: my opponent has already ragequit, for real this time. 10 January is the last turn. I just finished 7 December with a new guy that's hopefully much more mature.

[Ostfriese]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into fixing the levels. It'll be a few videos before you notice the difference.


I'll give you a spoiler: my opponent has already ragequit, for real this time. 10 January is the last turn. I just finished 7 December with a new guy that's hopefully much more mature.


Yikes, that must have been the shortest World War II ever :DWhat did you do, sink Hornet and Saratoga as well?

[Molon Labe]

Yikes, that must have been the shortest World War II ever :DWhat did you do, sink Hornet and Saratoga as well?


Hornet isn't in theatre yet.
:Kaleun_Cheers:

[Ostfriese]

So, that game is in the bags, and I'll be patient and wait for the next one.


One question, though: in both games both you and your opponent accumulated far higher ship losses in the early stages than in reality. Is that typical for WiTP?

[Molon Labe]

So, that game is in the bags, and I'll be patient and wait for the next one.


One question, though: in both games both you and your opponent accumulated far higher ship losses in the early stages than in reality. Is that typical for WiTP?


Hmmmm. I'm not sure. Playing against the AI, yes. Playing against a human, I'd say it probably depends on how aggressive the Allied player is. I'm very much on the aggressive side, and my opponent surprised me a bit by being more aggressive than I thought he'd be, so I'm guessing our early attrition in both games was above average.

[Molon Labe]

So, that game is in the bags, and I'll be patient and wait for the next one.


One question, though: in both games both you and your opponent accumulated far higher ship losses in the early stages than in reality. Is that typical for WiTP?


Revisiting this question.
I just compared 12/12 between both campaigns. 12/12 is significant in the new campaign because I just lost my first ship (excluding the minisubs at Pearl). In the last one I lost 11 ships on 12/12 alone and had lost at least that many prior to that.

[Ostfriese]

Seems you have taken a break :)

[Molon Labe]

Seems you have taken a break :)


Yeah, the pace we're playing the game at is just exceeding what I can also do videos on. I'm starting to think managing an AAR thread here was the right way to go. I fell behind a little on that from time to time but it wasn't so bad. And it's searchable!

[Ostfriese]

SO, can wie expect a return to the written AARs? I'm looking forward to updates on your game :)