28 November 1942
Enemy heavy surface task force spotted near Ambon; raid on Guadalcanal ordered
Banda Sea
The KX spotted a large task force overnight and made a contact report before it was chased away by escorts: 2 BB, 3 CA, 9 DD, right next to Ambon. My scoutplanes failed to acquire this task force in daylight, which is concerning. I've suspended all amphibious operations at Banda and ordered those task forces to withdraw--even my cruiser-heavy covering forces can't handle a pair of battleships. It's a bit of a shame I don't have the Lex and Sara still here--but then again, for all we know, this task force is being backed up by the KB. (I would.)
Yesterday I said a surge might be coming--this might be it.
Burma and Thailand
Prome has been captured as enemy armor continues to pursue our retreating Bangkok base forces. We lost 5 Blenheims and 1 Hudson thanks to poor coordination with fighters in the Mandalay area, with Oscars now trying to protect the troops in the open there. We still hit them hard, mostly with American B-25s, in spite of the coverage.
Raheng's CAP helped out over Moulmain when an Oscar sweep arrived there--6 Oscars and 3 P-40s down in that exchange.
Solomons
A VT-3 Avenger bombed an enemy sub near Rossel Island.
Today's recon and sweeps over Guadalcanal confirmed what was reported yesterday--the 100+ fighters that were there are gone, only about a dozen left behind. The P-38s reduced that by 5.
He's clearly up to something, and with planes being moved out of here and major surface forces showing up near Ambon, I'd say the move is going to be there rather than here. So, I'm greenlighting a raid on Guadalcanal. The P-38s will fly the sweep again, with that to be followed by a B-17 raid on the airbase, and Lexington & Saratoga to hit the port and any nearby ships after that. Recon is reporting plenty of ships here--mostly small stuff but they did report at least one cruiser. Maybe I'll get lucky and get some loaded transports.
Reinforcements
LST-446 arrives at Portland
VD-1 arrives at San Diego (8/8 recon Wildcats, can transition to Liberator MPAs)
44th Indian Brigade arrives at Karachi (reformed unit, empty)
AM Glenelg arrives at Burnie