18 July 1942
USS Saratoga returns to service
New Hebrides
I had 2 heavy cruisers shell Luganville. On the way back they were attacked by a sub, their destroyers failed to prosecute it. The shelling didn't appear to cause any damage, so clearly shelling this base isn't worth the risk to do again.
Malaya
Lots of bombers getting through and hitting Singapore this turn, but surprisingly, there still isn't a whole lot of airbase damage. We did lose 2 Albacores on the ground, though. HMS Repulse was hit again by a pair of small bombs and one 800kg whopper that actually did do serious damage. More hits like that and they may actually finish her off. We managed to only lose one Hurricane, he lost 5 Zeroes to the CAP, and two bombers to flak. Most of the bombing was from 15,000 instead of yesterday's 20,000. Estimated bomber sorties on Singapore today: 120
Solomons
B-17s from Milne flew to Tulagi for a second day, hitting the AKE two more times. It's not confirmed sunk, but I'd imagine 3 500-pounders is more than enough.
N. Australia
Our B-17s from Darwin tried to get some enemy merchant shipping at Koepang and were intercepted by Nicks. 1 B-17 was shot down; their gunners took down 3 Nicks. We missed the cargo ships.
China
The massive enemy army at Chengchow attacked, reducing my forts to level 4. Casualties were 26000 to 10000 favoring us.
Sumatra
The 16th Division has arrived at Palembang and has begun attacking with artillery.
Hawaii
We continue to eliminate the invaders on Oahu. Casualties 1165 to 19. Too bad they don't just surrender. Divisions are sometimes broken up into thirds; the "B" fragment of the 21st Division was wiped out. The other 2/3rds of the 21st are reported to be on Oahu, along with a formally-undivided 2nd Division and the 14th Army headquarters unit.
Our paratrooper recon of Lahaina doesn't appear to have reported a fortification level. Maybe that's because there aren't any. But we did get a list of units present:
4th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
11th Air Defense AA Battalion
2nd JAAF AF Bn
35th JNAF AF Unit
56th Const Co
13th JAAF AF Bn
2nd Div /1 (a fragment apparently brought over on those landing barges)
Total assault value: 410
Reinforcements/refits
USS Saratoga has completed repairs from the torpedo damage it took in the Naval Battle of Oahu, along with a refit that upgraded its radar and removed some AA mounts for a smaller number of higher quality.
DD Ward taken out of commission to begin refit at Sydney
DD Crane beginning refit in shipyard at Sydney
AO Neosho taken out of commission to begin refit at Sydney
AO Platte taken out of commission to begin refit at Sydney
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