[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.