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[Hanzoku]

Matsuyama, H. please.

[thobal]

PO1 Kasai N.

[USEC_OFFICER]

I'd like PO2 Kasai E.

[Zrk2]

Kotani, M works for me.

[Erkki]

08.12.1943 (sorry about the date format but thats what we use here [])

Some things went according to plan... And others not.

China: only minor troop movements yet from either side. Bombers flew against the easiest targets that I could find and, predictably, didnt achieve much. The action should start in a week or two.

Hong Kong & China Sea: troops reached Hong Kong while IJAAF units from Canton bombed the port in hopes of catching any ships that Roger may have forgotten there. It was empty, but at least we are now preventing fort levels from building up. 2 IJN light destroyer TBs found a convoy escaping in the direction of Singapore and mauled it pretty badly, but the other TB was also damaged by the escorting destroyer, Thracian. I give it 50-50% to make it. Another smaller convoy was trying to escape towards Formosa but was caught by patrol vessels, but they escaped with just a couple of hits.

Burma: nothing, but tomorrow IJAAF bombers will go after the retreating troops.

Malaysia: Another day with a lot of action. RAF bombers that attacked Japanese shipping at Kota Bharu took casualties. For some reason, 2 Allied task forces sailed up the peninsula and almost reached Kota Bharu's latitude, though they are off the coast: 2 AMC merchant raiders that were attacked and by Saigon's torpedo bombers received 2 and 4 torpedo hits. Behind them are 4 destroyers, probably the same ones that usually escort Prince of Wales and Repulse: bombers sorties against them but scored no hits. A Dutch submarine hit a Japanese merchant that was carrying an aviation support battalion, and though the damage isnt hopeless, its likely to sink in 24 hours I dont think it will reach a port before it sinks. 1 G3M2 was shot down, and its crew is lost. A G3M unit was redeployed to Kota Bharu that now also has an air HQ - its task will be to attack the Allied shipping that is fleeing in mass to the Indian Ocean though the Strait of Malacca.

Philippines: Things went mostly according to plan. Most of the fleeing shipping was hit(sunk today were at least 1 TK, 3 xAP, about 5 xAK and 10-ish xAKL). Also DD Pope received a torpedo hit from Ryujo's B5N1s and was sunk. Also AVD Childs and an AVP were destroyed, and a number of smaller vessels... The submarine laid minefield at Bataan hit something too. Unfortunately the last DD, Peary, made it through the blockade despite meeting a japanese cruiser squadron with a CA and 2 DD. A6M2s sweeped Clark Field and did pretty well. Tomorrow the IJN conntinues the chase - theres still a lot of shipping in Manila!

Kido Butai: hit Allied shipping near Mindanao and East of Luzon. Near Mindanao KB's Zeros had a brief skirmish with P-26s. Guess the winner. KB will now head to Wake while Ryujo checks out the South Philippines Sea and supprts the landings at Manado in a week or so.

CVL Zuiho and CVE Hosho: near Okinawa, heading SW.

[Erkki]

Also 6 more submarines have been reported sunk... Thoigh I think I can be happy if 2 of those reports are real and not just FOW/Jvirtual apanese HQ guesstimating.

[Sheb]

I'll take Petty Officer first class Nashiguchi Y.

[Korbac]

Kubota P. for me, Erkki!

[Erkki]

Okay... And we have our heroes in fire already!



December 9 1942


CVL Zuiho

Zuiho, Hosho and their escorts are to the East of Formosa today. Ahead of them, 2 Royal Navy destroyers attempt to either hit IJN shipping behind the lines or escape to the Pacific, but they clashed with 2 IJN patrol vessels in the night and sunk them both. Also the TB they damaged yesterday had to be scuttled, as the fires were out of control and damage was very heavy. Zuiho and Hosho's B5Ns sortied to attack these 2 destroyers and achieved 0 hits - neither side hit the other. And now Hosho is out of torpedoes and Zuiho has 10 left. 2 D3As from Pescadores also sortied and scored a 250kg bomb hit on DD Scout(or thats what it was ID'd), heavy damage and heavy fires were observed. IJN surface units + Zuiho & Hosho will attempt to take these 2 pests out tomorrow. Theres a possibility of a surface engagement between the Zuiho TF and these 2 RN DDs, but at least the other DD should be damaged, possibly crippled and sinking, and they should be low on ammo.

China: not much going on.

Malaya: attacking Blenheims were slaughtered, submarine I-154 sinks the AMC Manoora, Saigon's G3Ms and G4Ms hit Allied shipping near Georgetown and sink about 10 civilian ships, mainly smaller ones but still. IJN surface units will start to move towards Borneo in preparation of landings at Singkawang. BB Haruna and BB Kongo included to counter the threat of the Force Z.

Philippines: AS Otus is caught by Japanese cruiser squadron and is sunk. Japanese troops are ashore! IJNAF attacks Clark Field, shoots down dozen-ish P-40s for 2 Zeros and 3 G3Ms.

Celebes Sea: IJN surface raiders, still undetected, advance... A USN cruiser force is detected near Tarakan, IJN is in pursuit and one force will try block its escape. CVL Ryujo is supporting from a distance.

Kido Butai: will now disappear!

Pacific: Japanese Marines take Tarawa and Nauru!

[Erkki]

Zuiho-1 aboard CVL Zuiho


Hanzoku: Matsuyama, H
Thobal: PO1 Kasai N.
USEC: PO2 Kasai E.
Zrk2: Kotani, M
Sheb: Nashiguchi Y.
Korbac: Kubota P.

[timferius]

Posting to watch! Love watching your WITPAE games!
Also, I'll sign up for the squadron, give me Fujita R. I guess.

[Jerick]

I'll take PO2 Hori D.

[Erkki]

December 10 1942

Zuiho-1

Zuiho is now in the South China Sea. The British destroyer was sighted in the night but it did not attempt to attack. Zuiho-2 decided to go after some merchantmen and tankers still in Manila, and I thought that was OK as Zeros from Formosa had just shot down over 10 P-40s and cleared the skies, but the B5Ns met more P-40s and 7 were lost, with their crews.

Tomorrow: Zuiho & Hosho will sail SW and are tomorrow just as close to Manila. Zuiho-1 and Hosho-1 are ordered to not fly cap but to use every fighter on board to sweep Manila! Range to target will be 200nm and drop tanks arent needed(but are used any way). If the weather is fine and no surprises come, there should be 21 Zeros making this attempt to reduce the numbers of P-40s... Opposition is estimated to be of roughly equal in numbers, but less trained/skilled, flying (slightly) inferior aircraft and they should be less rested/have higher fatigue.

Should we keep AAR reports limited to Zuiho only?

[Erkki]

What I've planned to do with Zuiho after tomorrow:

- IJN is gathering in the open sea in the south. There is no air cover but the mass of G4Ms and G3Ms at Saigon should keep the enemy from attempting anything.
- 2 days from now another Zero squadron will fly to Zuiho while Zuiho-2 flies out
- Zuiho and Hosho will then be used to protect the landings at Singkawang and Kavieng(NW tip of Borneo) together with the Big Girls BBs Kongo, Haruna, Nagato and Mutsu and some heavy cruisers and 30-ish destroyers.
- After today's air attacks of CA Suzya TF and sighting 30+ Allied ships at Singkawang and 50+ at Singapore, we are expecting heavy resistance

[Sheb]

No, we want to know what's going on in the whole fleet.