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[Erkki]

June 30

Burma:

Allied cap trap is tested. 50 Ki-44 and 30 A6M3s fought over 80 Allied fighters, a mixture of Hurricanes and P-40s, over Chittacong today. Unfortunately the not that stellar A6M3s went in first and suffered against the radar guided CAP. Losses are

10 A6M3 with 8 pilot KIA or MIA (2 ops)
4 Ki-44s with 3 pilots KIA or MIA (1 ops)

Enemy losses are estimated 14 Hurricanes and 7 P-40s. 11 Hurricanes and 5 P-40s were confirmed. That means the day went approximately 14-20. Not well enough, but at least the Ki-44s did fairly well. Depending on how well Smeulders thinks the day went to him(and how much he fears my Ki-21s) he might keep his CAP up tomorrow. We'll try again, but this time without the Zeros.

DEI: Kendarli falls, Ambon invasion force sets sail at Makassar. ETA 2 days.

Submarines: IJN sub force makes contact with the enemy near Fiji(Kicior's RO-61) and near Pearl, but both attacks on the escorting DDs miss and the subs are driven away. An Allied submarine is sighted near Timor, probably reacting to our Kendari operation?

Also kickingbottom's Takenaka V. Ki-44 pilot took part to today's action over Chittacong, joining it after the main brawl between 84th IFS and the Navy's Zeros was already over. One of the fighters from his squadron was shot down by Hurricanes, but his CO also claimed a Hurricane.

[Erkki]

A quick update.

The date is now July 1st


Ambon invaded in the DEI. Invasion force is just some destroyers, minesweeper-destroyers, an old CL and the transports unloading a single regiment. Ambon defenders are outnumbered roughly 2:1 but the jungle and fortifications should delay the base's fall by a week or so.

In the Philippines, a regiment is unloading on Panay(I think, the island right in the middle with 3 bases). At Malaybalay(on Mindanao), the reinforced Japanese forces attack and achieve 1:1 odds against the fortified mountain, dropping forts to 0. Casualties are 1:1. We should have these last 3 bases still in Allied control secured in 10 days!

Allied CVs have been reported at Los Angeles. At least 2 of them are there, with their massive escorts. A submarine sighted their escorts but was attacked and has to get itself repaired at Tokyo for the 2nd time. The CVs probably came from AUS via Fiji or Xmas/Canton, as they would have probably been sighted near Hawaii. Their current location leaves me with opportunity to hit northern Australia with an invasion force or 2. Troops are nearly ready, we'll just need some more ships and fuel, and especially more supplies! I have some 80,000 tons on its way and half of that unloading at Batavia, but we'll need more. I estimate the operation to begin in 6 days.

[thobal]

Oh man, this is gonna be awesome.

[Korbac]

Erkki's going to win if things keep up like this! 

[timferius]

Does this operation have a name yet?

[Fishbreath]

According to Google Translate, ワラビー (Warabi) is Japanese for 'Wallaby'.

>.>

[Erkki]

According to Google Translate, ワラビー (Warabi) is Japanese for 'Wallaby'.

>.>

Lol. 

Remember people, this is supposed to be a limited invasion where I'll simply see if I can bloody their noses a bit. And take a hold of some important bases for half a year or so. Knowing how careful Smeulders is I doubt he'd try to invade the East Indies directly any way, but I'm rather safe(even with a couple of ships, planes and troops more lost) than sorry. The very worst than can happen is losing a couple of divisions' worth of troops + support units, some ships and planes. And losing some troops wont become an issue.

I of course will use CVs to support the landings and later to keep the logistics secured. CV Kaga, CV Junyo, CVL Ryujo, CVE Shoho and CVE Hosho are at Singapore. CV Zuikaku and her sister Shokaku are less than a week from being ready to sail(with new air search radars and a battery more of AAA guns installed) at Kobe. The other CVs are in their hideout. The 5 or 6 battleships I'm going to use to support the landings are ready near Singapore.

I'll post a screenshot or 2 tomorrow.

[Hanzoku]

It'll be hard not to overextend if Smeulders remains as passive as he has so far. On a somewhat related note, if you 'let' him see a screen of subs blockading his CVs in Los Angeles, do you think he'll keep them in port rather then risk a lucky torpedo strike or two?

[Erkki]

It'll be hard not to overextend if Smeulders remains as passive as he has so far. On a somewhat related note, if you 'let' him see a screen of subs blockading his CVs in Los Angeles, do you think he'll keep them in port rather then risk a lucky torpedo strike or two?

Nah, there was just that single sub, and its heading home already. Even if I had a screen there the chances are the subs wouldnt get through the escorts, possibly they wouldnt even see the CVBG that was sailing through the screen. If he knew there was a sub screen he could also just go around it, and/or use pickets, dedicated ASW TFs and AASW to suppress it too.

[Anvilfolk]

Aw man, an invasion of Australia! I am definitely looking forward to that. How much of a base of operations is Australia, really? I understand the north of it is very low-key stuff, correct? I recall you saying that even if you take certain things up north, they really won't do much damage.

Still, I recall stationing some fairly heavy bombers at in north-eastern bases at some point, and using that against targets near Port Moresby. Having a presence there should deter him from doing it.

Also, think of all the kangaroo meat? Start stocking for the fire-bombing of Japan... perhaps there'll be less famine!

[Erkki]

Aw man, an invasion of Australia! I am definitely looking forward to that. How much of a base of operations is Australia, really? I understand the north of it is very low-key stuff, correct? I recall you saying that even if you take certain things up north, they really won't do much damage.

Not much of, but places like Darwin are well within bomber range to Timor and some of the islands East to it... So not good. Allies can move in supplies only very slow via the dirt roads from Tennate Creek, and all fuel would have to be shipped in. But that place is still a threat.

Still, I recall stationing some fairly heavy bombers at in north-eastern bases at some point, and using that against targets near Port Moresby. Having a presence there should deter him from doing it.

Also, think of all the kangaroo meat? Start stocking for the fire-bombing of Japan... perhaps there'll be less famine!

Aye but those are across the Gulf of Carpenteria from Darwin area, and along the rail line that goes all the way to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and even Perth. So they're not easy at all to invade.


June 3

Not much happens. At Ambon, Japanese troops attack and casualties are much higher to the Allies than they are to us. Next attack is in 2 days.

At Singapore, Japanese battleships Nagato, Fuso and Ise are prepared and given an escort of CAs Maya, Ashigara, a couple of CLs and 9 destroyers. Their destination is Soerebaja, where they will refuel before heading to bombard Broome and Derby in preparation of the invasions.

Below, a quickly edited screenshot.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Sheb]

Nice. That ought to get him to move. Does the ceasefire on the Chinese front also apply to Soviet troops after 1944? If not, you actually have a huge amount of troops doing no good, right? Couldn't you launch a massive invasion of Australia using those?

[Erkki]

Nice. That ought to get him to move. Does the ceasefire on the Chinese front also apply to Soviet troops after 1944? If not, you actually have a huge amount of troops doing no good, right? Couldn't you launch a massive invasion of Australia using those?

Nope, it doesnt apply to Soviets. Theres a certain number of (offensive) assault value(= number of actual combat troops and AFVs) Japan must keep in Korea and Manchuria to prevent the Soviet Union from "intervening". Once below that limit theres a daily dice roll(afaik the probability of the war is related to how many troops are there missing from the required number) for Soviets starting the war. Before the Soviets join the war, the Soviet units and move or do anything but training or build fortifications, IIRC. Also the other Allied powers cant use Soviet airfields or ports.

The surplus combat units are being transported out. I just bought out one Infantry Division(used political points to attach it from Manchu Army to Southern Army) and on its way to Shanghai on a train. Those boys are probably going to Burma, first stop being Singapore.

[Anvilfolk]

Oh boy, oh boy, I am so looking forward to more of this!

[Erkki]

The date is now July 5th


Philippines: Malaybalay and Iloilo fall! The last base in the Philippines still in Allied hands is San Jose. The 10th Garrison Regiment will conquer it in 3 days.

DEI: Ambon repels another attack. The 16th Regiment is getting tired so I'm letting the boys rest a week or so.


Everywhere else its quiet. SigInt has reported radio and heavy volume radio transmissions all across the South Pacific for the last week. The Allies might or might not be up to something. I'm pretty sure the USN CVs are in Los Angeles or nearby, so the radio activity might mean there are plenty of fat targets sailing about... But Japanese submarines keep seeing nothing, and I dont want to commit KB after ghosts, especially as it'd probably get sighted early again, and at best probably only get a couple of transports any way.