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Molon Labe · 09-04-21, 01:30 PM

3 April 1942
Tjilapjap falls

Java
The BB Haruna and 3 CA's bombarded my troops at Tjepoe. It looks like he's got a chainsaw system set up where one BB is heading back to port to rearm while the other is advancing. Presumably, that port is Balikpapan but I haven't confirmed that yet. But, my troops have recovered enough that I'm willing to attempt another attack. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.

Scouts report a convoy of 7 ships, mostly tankers, in the eastern Java Sea. I'm going to call those oilers instead of tankers--that's the KB's replenishment group. I've diverted a sub from it's patrol area to try to intercept them if they try to go south of Java to meet up with the KB.

Enemy air activity was relatively low, there were a few sweeps over Tjilatjap and my bombers hit Tjepoe mostly unopposed. We lost 2 fighters over Tjilatjap while splashing one Zero, and got three unescorted Sallies over Tjepoe while trading an Oscar for a P-40 in another sortie there. Falcon bombers flew two sorties against enemy ships but again failed to hit anything, one was shot down by AA.

In spite of the forts holding at Tjilapjap, the enemy armies broke through and took the base. We had two fighter squadrons and a recon squadron based there when it was taken.

Also captured was Merak, which is the base along the western channel into the Indian Ocean.

Hawaii/CENTPAC
He's actually laid off of Pearl/Hickam that I had 4 planes in the air on CAP today and splashed a few bombers. I'm also about to commence an operation against Christmas Island and Palmyra. I've been reconning both islands aggressively to try to find enemy forces there, but haven't. Not wanting a repeat of Luganville, I'm also sending a surface TF in to bombard as sort of a recon-in-force. Hopefully this will draw some heat off of Pearl, but if he allows me to take these unopposed, at least it opens up my sea lanes significantly.

New Hebrides
He's attacking our marines on the beach again, I'm a little surprised they haven't surrendered at this point. Apparently they want to fight to the last man. We lost two P-39s trying to stop their bombers from hitting our troops at Luganville. The carriers are still there, they're actually hanging out at the small atoll I've been flying Catalina's out of, supported by two tenders. I'm pulling the Catalinas back to Efate, the tenders will stay put for now, no sense putting them out at sea where they'll be spotted and sunk easily.

China
We fought and routed the 104th Division near Nanchang once again (5000 enemy casualties to 660 ROC). I'm going to chase it one more time, but it's more of a feint now, I just want to move this offensive army further east.

Most of my deployments in China have been to try to meet an offensive surge and stall it, but no such offensive ever really materialized. So it may be time to emulate the success of Kinky Boots and do something like that here. I've been training my bomber pilots to do recon long enough for them to have proficiency, so I'm going to lay off bombing raids for a few days and focus on figuring out his force levels in a few areas where I might have enough troops to go on the offensive.

09-04-21, 01:30 PM	#175
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	3 April 1942 Tjilapjap falls Java The BB Haruna and 3 CA's bombarded my troops at Tjepoe. It looks like he's got a chainsaw system set up where one BB is heading back to port to rearm while the other is advancing. Presumably, that port is Balikpapan but I haven't confirmed that yet. But, my troops have recovered enough that I'm willing to attempt another attack. We'll see how that goes tomorrow. Scouts report a convoy of 7 ships, mostly tankers, in the eastern Java Sea. I'm going to call those oilers instead of tankers--that's the KB's replenishment group. I've diverted a sub from it's patrol area to try to intercept them if they try to go south of Java to meet up with the KB. Enemy air activity was relatively low, there were a few sweeps over Tjilatjap and my bombers hit Tjepoe mostly unopposed. We lost 2 fighters over Tjilatjap while splashing one Zero, and got three unescorted Sallies over Tjepoe while trading an Oscar for a P-40 in another sortie there. Falcon bombers flew two sorties against enemy ships but again failed to hit anything, one was shot down by AA. In spite of the forts holding at Tjilapjap, the enemy armies broke through and took the base. We had two fighter squadrons and a recon squadron based there when it was taken. Also captured was Merak, which is the base along the western channel into the Indian Ocean. Hawaii/CENTPAC He's actually laid off of Pearl/Hickam that I had 4 planes in the air on CAP today and splashed a few bombers. I'm also about to commence an operation against Christmas Island and Palmyra. I've been reconning both islands aggressively to try to find enemy forces there, but haven't. Not wanting a repeat of Luganville, I'm also sending a surface TF in to bombard as sort of a recon-in-force. Hopefully this will draw some heat off of Pearl, but if he allows me to take these unopposed, at least it opens up my sea lanes significantly. New Hebrides He's attacking our marines on the beach again, I'm a little surprised they haven't surrendered at this point. Apparently they want to fight to the last man. We lost two P-39s trying to stop their bombers from hitting our troops at Luganville. The carriers are still there, they're actually hanging out at the small atoll I've been flying Catalina's out of, supported by two tenders. I'm pulling the Catalinas back to Efate, the tenders will stay put for now, no sense putting them out at sea where they'll be spotted and sunk easily. China We fought and routed the 104th Division near Nanchang once again (5000 enemy casualties to 660 ROC). I'm going to chase it one more time, but it's more of a feint now, I just want to move this offensive army further east. Most of my deployments in China have been to try to meet an offensive surge and stall it, but no such offensive ever really materialized. So it may be time to emulate the success of Kinky Boots and do something like that here. I've been training my bomber pilots to do recon long enough for them to have proficiency, so I'm going to lay off bombing raids for a few days and focus on figuring out his force levels in a few areas where I might have enough troops to go on the offensive. __________________ Last edited by Molon Labe; 09-04-21 at 01:40 PM.