Japanese renew offensive in Malaya and Burma!

ACTION SUMMARY: Japanese landings continued today at Rabaul where the two battalions of Australian infantry offered ineffectual resistance. The Japanese also began marching up Ambon Island toward the Dutch base at the north end of the island. Transports were also sighted approaching Ambon from the north. No carrier activity today, though the SS Perch on patrol off Truk Island was attacked by carrier aircraft. The Kido Butai could be heading back to port at Truk.

The Japanese also renewed their advance against Georgetown by attacking Alor Starr just east of the port. There, the Japanese 5th Division crumpled the flanks of the two Commonwealth brigades dug into the jungle. British forces were forced to fall back to their final lines of defense, though it is expected that the Japanese will make their breakthrough tomorrow in a follow-up attack. After that, they will march on Georgetown, the last Allied stronghold in Malaya before Singapore/Jahore.

The Japanese also began to beat against the last remnants of the 1st Burma Brigade holding tenuously to their pocket of resistance in Tavoy, south of Rangoon. They are not expected to last another day or two before surrendering hopelessly. With all Fullback operations cancelled (save for a transport run to Akyab), there is no hope of rescue for any cut-off British forces in Burma or Malaya.

Jap Betty bombers attempted to attack Cagayan today. They were unescorted and were jumped by the mish-mash collection of American fighters gathered there. Meanwhile, B-17's made their daily run against Jolo. And I've ordered various British bomber units to begin striking strategic targets throughout Indochina, including a raid scheduled for tomorrow over lately captured Rangoon.

No warroom today.

Ten thousand troops surrender at Rangoon! Japanese land at Rabaul!

ACTION SUMMARY: Nearly 10,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers surrendered at Rangoon today in a humiliating ceremony at the Government House. The defenders of Rangoon were immediately marched into the jungle to work on the railways. This is a critical moment for the Burma campaign as British forces continue to march slowly to Akyab and British forces at Mandalay continue to dig in. Andaman Island now comes under threat from Japanese aircraft soon to be based at Rangoon. The British Imperial General Staff is rushing new orders of Hurricane fighters to the front to deal with the new threat. The threat of the 80,000+ soldiers at Singapore being completely cut off from the rest of the Commonwealth is growing more near.

In Rabaul, the Empire of Japan broadened its offensive by landing at the Admiraly Islands and Kavieng near New Britain. A handful of Japanese Naval Landing forces landed at the outskirts of Rabaul supported by the Kido Butai's air contingent, which was spotted off New Britain at dawn still looming NE of Rabaul. More infantry is expected to follow on at Rabaul where capitulation is certain.



The Allied command continues to rapidly adjust forces by concentrating remaining surface units off New Zealand for Operation Bogus, including two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and a handful of destroyers. Bogus has already suffered immensely by the loss of two light cruisers at Rabaul. The operation continues to be hampered by the slow mobilization of Australian and New Zealand ground units. Meanwhile, Congo surface units continue to shift to Pago Pago to allow for the parallel movement of action groups in case the Japanese continue to advance towards the Southern Pacific lifeline.

The Luchenbach sank today, destroying all 20 Wildcat fighters aboard. ASW units are scowering the area searching for Jap subs. The U.S. Pacific command has also deployed six squadrons of Catalinas seaplanes abroad to the Aleutians, Midway, Wake Island and Canton Island to improve recon coverage.

No other activity today. No warroom.

Japanese land near Ambon and New Britain! Rangoon nearing capitulation!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese landed light garrison forces at Biak off New Guinea and Bulla at the southern part of Ambon Island. They have also landed at Emirau Island just north of New Britain. Only a battalion of infantry is holding Ambon, just forty miles from where the Japanese have landed. A light carrier group continues to hover off Ambon where Hudson bombers have failed to hit the light carrier Zuiho.



Off Rabaul, the Kido Butai launched a massive airstrike again today against the colonial capital of New Britain destroying several aircraft on the ground. This was in support of their landings at Emirau Island just north of Rabaul. With the Rabaul airfields in smoking ruins, the Kido Butai slipped off into open sea where contact was lost. It was last seen headed east for the Marshalls. The United States South Pacific Command has been placed on high alert. It is possible the KB could now be headed towards the Congo Theatre to neutralize U.S. installations there where it is known that U.S. surface forces have been operating.



On the heels of these alarming reports, the U.S. Pacific Command has ordered up to steam the U.S.S. Lexington to sail for a position east of Canton Island. The several cruisers and destroyers (plus the BB Colorado) are ordered to sail south for Pago Pago. B-17's and Catalina forces at Canton are ordered on dense recon flights, and transports bound for Canton have been ordered to give wide berth to the islands. The Kido Butai is like a hurricane sweeping across the Pacific.

The Pacific Fleet also underwent a major command change as Admiral Nimitz was placed in command of the Central Pacific Fleet Command, relieving Admiral Kimmel for staff duties. Rear Admiral Sherman relieved Admiral Brown as commander of Lexington's TF 1005, and Admiral Spruance was hand-picked to command TF 1147 as it sailed from Pearl Harbor with two cruisers and multiple cruisers and destroyers as it departed for Palmyra Atoll in anticipation of the Congo Theatre further heating up with the arrival of major Japanese surface units. Admiral Freeman also replaced Admiral Ghormley as South Pacific Fleet commander.



Meanwhile, off the West Coast, a Congo convoy was attacked by a Japanese sub, which managed to torpedo the SS Luckenbach, laden with 20 Wildcat fighters. The sub was lying just beyond my ASW flight patrols and destroyer net. The Luckenbach is limping back to Los Angeles where destroyers are speeding west to intercept any further sub contacts. My poverty of destroyers along the West Coast is being acutely felt as a Japanese sub may have destroyed a whole fighter squadron!



Operation Ivy moves forward with a regimental combat team and engineer's batallion headed for the remote Aleutian Island of Kiska where they will set up a sub anchorage and small airfield. Expansion of the airfield could allow it to support aircraft with the range to strike Japan's northern Kurile bases.

In Burma today, the Japanese Imperial Guards Division broke through the thin defenses thrown up by the 2nd Burma Rifles Brigade. The city is expected to fall tomorrow. There were also airstrikes against the trapped Phillipino forces in the central highlands of Luzon.

Here's the warroom:

Commonwealth cruisers sunk at Rabaul! Royal Navy suspends all Fullback operations!

ACTION SUMMARY: A large Japanese carrier force was spotted 200 miles north of New Britain as Allied intelligence became more certain of a new Japanese thrust southwards towards Australia. Four massive air strikes of over 80+ planes each struck Rabaul harbor where the Commonwealth cruisers Leander and Achilles were docked. Both light cruisers were ravaged from the air along with three transports trapped within the harbor. The airfield at Rabaul was also bombed, and only a few ancient Wirraway fighters were able to scramble to the defense of the colonial capital.

Japanese carrier forces of Ambon continued to hover menacingly, though no transports have advanced towards the eastern gateway to the Java Sea. The light carrier Hosho and battleship Hyuka were also spotted with the Japanese fleet menacing Ambon.




After a day of Japanese bombers formations ranging across the East Bengal Sea, the Royal Navy has suspended all Fullback operations until further notice. Six transports were struck off Moulmein, Georgetown and Rangoon as Betty bombers were positioned off the Malay Coast to tighten the noose on the fortress of Singapore.



Elsewhere, Japanese Betty bombers based at Clark AFB made their first airstrike against Borneo as 38 bombers arrived over the oil fields and harbor at dawn to strike the airfield just outside the city. The damage was minimal due to poor weather. The position is swiftly becoming untenable as Cagayan had for my B-17's. As such, I have transferred several Dutch torpedo bombers to the ADBA command interior.

An airstrike by my B-17's produced little results over both Jolo and the Japanese fleet off Ambon. Hudson bombers based at Ambon also posted negligible results.

Here's the warroom:

Japanese invading Dutch East Indies! Heavy air raids against Fullback convoys today!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Empire of Japan continued its relentless advance today towards the Dutch East Indies as three groups of warships were sighted just north of Ambon, between Celebes and New Guinea. Ambon is the easternmost outpost of Dutch colonial forces where a battalion of infantry, base personnel and a company of light coastal artillery are preparing to resist the upcoming Japanese landings.

The enemy fleet was sighted in the early morning hours by Dornier boats flying from Ambon. The battleship Fuso and Nagato were positively identified along with the light carrier Zuiho, which launched an airstrike against the Ambon airfield toward noon. The enemy invasion fleet is expected off Ambon tomorrow where it is certain a preliminary bombardment by battleships will smash the islands light coastal defenses.

ADBA has been placed on alert and B-17's are slated for operations against the invasion fleet in the morning. This move will effectively cut off not only the Keystone convoy operations, but pinch off the sea conduit between the British and American theares of operation, with Northern Australia and the DEI hanging precariously beneath the hammer. The Allied command is not prepared to risk the ADBA cruiser forces at this time to repel an invasion that is approaching from the open sea and supported by carrier-based planes.



In China, the Japanese Kwantung Army is staging for a renewal of their Manchuria offensive against Yenen. Sketchy intelligence shows several divisions massing along a broad front that has the potential to cut off the nine Chinese corps defending the city. Elsewhere, the uneasy stalemate continues near Changsha, and the daily attrition drags on at Wuchow. At Hanoi, however, the 50th and 27th Chinese Corps along with the regional HQ are now completely sealed off from escape back to Hunan Province. It is only a matter of time before they surrender and are forced into slave labor in the Japanese jungle camps.



Forward Japanese airbases in the Malayas launched a several strikes today against the Commonwealth's Fullback convoys off Andaman and Nicobar Island. The anti-aircraft cruiser Capetown was torpedoed in three seperate massed airstrikes and was sunk with heavy loss in life. She was sheparding two supply-laden transports who escaped unharmed into the night, but dawn will still see the transports within range of the Betty bombers based in Malaya. Off Andaman, a transport was also sunk by streams of Sally and Betty bombers. More painfully, the AK Empire was sunk off Rangoon, the only transport evacuating personnel from Rangoon. In the end, all Commonwealth personnel and soldiers in Rangoon will soon be working on the Burma railway.



Operation Ivy is expanding to include the landing of a U.S. Army regimental combat team on Kiska Island in the Western Aleutians. Once landed, they will begin building a forward operating base for Operation Ivy submarines, and which in the future can accept squadrons of the newer long-range bombers now under development that can reach the Japanese-held Kuriles directly.

In the Phillipines, the Japanese continued to occupy Palawan Island by marching into Puerto Princessa unopposed. With Palawan within Japanese hands, it is only a matter of time before Japanese transports ready to disgorge their troops onto the oil-rich coast of Borneo.

Intelligence also reports that two Japanese transports sank off Tarawa, indicating that the damage inflicted by my destroyers yesterday were fatal. The second sinking indicated that my submarine that had torpedoed a Jap transport off the Marshalls finally can chalk up her kill.

Here is the warroom:

American destroyers thwart attempted landing at Baker Island! 1st Burma Brigade cut off in south Burma!

ACTION SUMMARY: Four American destroyers intercepted a Japanese fast-attack transport attempting to make a landing at Baker Island. The destroyers opened fire on the transport at night, holing her at least 8 times with 5 inch shells and slamming a torpedo into her amidships. The transport limped away as the U.S. destroyers approached the Japanese air umbrella at Tarawa Island and turned around. This marks a significant feat in Operation Congo. This is the second Japanese advance against the Pacific Fleet that has been stopped, the first being Wake Island during the first week of war.

Though it had been thought that the Japanese transports approaching Baker had turned around, it was certainly not case as the enemy was unaware of the presence of surface units in the vicinity. This demonstrates gaps in Japanese intelligence resulting from a lack of forward recon bases. The Lexington has been ordered to replenish at Palmyra and prepare to move in aide of Baker Island should the Japanese return.



In the Phillipines, the Japanese launched their first air raid over Mindanao from their newly captured base at Clark Air Force Base. Bad weather mitigated the accuracy of the bombing raid, but several allied aircraft were shot down or damaged.



As a result, the United States Pacific Fleet ordered the transfer of command of the B-17 groups based at Mindanao to airbases at Celebes where they are now under the ADBA command. This transfer was not before the B-17's launched their air raid against Naga in Southern Luzon where stiff Japanese Army Air Force umbrella saw the downing of six Allied aircraft in return for three Japanese Oscars destroyed on the ground.

The Japanese also made a landing at Taytay on Palawan Island in the western Phillipines. There was no troops there to resist them. In Burma, the 1st Burma Brigade was cut off from all Allied forces when a flying column of Japanese jungle infantry captured Tavoy in Southern Burma. The Taytay operation marks a new change in the axis of advance for Japanese forces, as Taytay directly threatens the Dutch and British possessions on Borneo. ADBA is on alert.

Japanese air forces flying from forward bases in Malaya also struck airfields at Pematang, Sumatra where several British bombers are based. A 30+ plane raid of JAAF Sally bombers destroyed nine Blenheim bombers on the ground. These planes, slated for transfer to Andaman Island anyway, were flown out to their new bases later the day.

Elsewhere, Nationalist Chinese air forces made their daily bombing raids against Japanese positions outside of Wuchow and Changsha. The Japanese also launched a deliberate attack against Chinese forces trapped at Hanoi. Two divisions of Japanese-allied Viet Minh troops struck the 17,000 men of the two Chinese corps dug into the mountains and suffered terrible casualties, losing almost 8% of their attack strength for just a handful of Chinese casualties and no ground gained.

Another air raid over Bataan resulted in poor results for Japanese bombers flying from Formosa.

No warroom.

Japanese cancel Baker Island landings. Rangoon under assault!

ACTION SUMMARY: CINCPAC has ordered two battlegroups, including the U.S.S. Lexington battlegroup, to stand down from their movements in defense of Baker Island. U.S. recon planes reported that the Japanese transports approaching Baker Island have turned around. At dawn, the U.S. Southern Destroyer force that had sailed at high speed to Baker Island hove into sight of the atoll to await the arrival of enemy ships that never arrived. CINCPAC has ordered for the destroyer force to remain on station for another day before returning to Canton Island. The Lexington will return to station at Palmyra Atoll where a replenishment group is based.

The Japanese opened their ground offensive against Rangoon where the 2nd Burma Rifles is entrenched. It has been reported that there is heavy fighting in the Rangoon outskirts as the 18,000 men of the 5th Imperial Guards Division is advancing on the Burmese colonial capital. At this very moment, the transport Briton Star has arrived off the city to take on the base personnel trapped in the city. A squadron of Buffalo fighters then based at Rangoon have since transferred to Andaman Island, the critical fulcrum of Operation Fullback.

The Japanese are preparing to renew their full-scaled offensive down the Malay Peninsula as Allied intelligence reported Japanese Army Air Force squadrons have moved into forward airbases.

Elsewhere, Chinese forces are unable to extricate themselves from their positions at Hanoi where heavy Japanese artillery has pinned down their retrograde movement back to the Chinese border. Meanwhile, Japanese reinforcements from Siam are approaching to completely cut off the two corps at Hanoi.



The Chinese Nationalist Army renewed its offensive in Wuchow after three days of rest and regrouping. Today's attack was costly with 2,500 Chinese casualties against well-entrenched Japanese troops.

No other action today. The Phillipines front remains quiet, though Japanese troops continue to stage just outside of Manila's outskirts in preparation of their final assault against the two Phillipino Divisions trapped there.

No warroom today.

CINCPAC's Log: A Line in the Sand

I've been pondering over the increasingly precarious situation in the South Pacific where a Japanese invasion fleet has been spotted approaching Baker Island. The enemy must know that I have aircraft based there. He could or could not know that I have Catalina seaplanes based there, most of them since evacuating to Canton Island to the SE.

He knows that I've actively deployed assets to that theatre, including submarines (which torpedoed one of his transports off Kwajeilen) and a carrier (the Enterprise's strike last week against Molealap). Yet he has proceeded to advance on an island he knows I've expressed interest in, and coincidentally (or not) that I've drawn a tenuous line in the sand.

My attack strength includes three battlegroups: one carrier with two heavy cruisers and six destroyers, a cruiser group of two heavy cruisers and five destroyers, and a southern group sailing from Canton with four destroyers. All have gotten up steam and are moving to intercept the Japanese fleet. Unfortunately, none of these assets will make contact before the Japanese have been put ashore.

What perturbs me is what I don't see, and what I don't know. No Japanese carriers have been seen in strength in over three weeks. One carrier, though never spotted, had launched a strike of bombers against Wake Island nine days ago. It has since disappeared. Three weeks is plenty of time for the Kido Butai, a monstrous force of six fleet carriers, to have returned to Japan to refuel and return to the eastern theatres. If not the full concentration of carriers, then certainly even one Japanese carrier off the Marshalls is enough to spark a serious battle over Baker Island.

The fact that I've deployed submarines west of the Marshalls is in fear of this possibility: that Japanese carriers have been transferred to the eastern theatre. As such, they have seen none. Catalina flights from Canton Island have seen nothing, but it would not be hard for a Jap carrier force to lurk just beyond the distance of my spotter planes and still sprint to the aide of their Baker Island operations.

Should I concentrate my forces in Congo now moving toward Baker Island? That would delay my time of contact by one day, but I would be better prepared for a surprise. Even if there are no Japanese capital ships in the area, will my reaction prompt my opponent to converge his forces in this theatre in hopes of bringing my entire carrier force to battle? If so, then I am already in trouble, because I am not prepared for that decisive battle with only three carriers available. The Yorktown will not arrive at Pearl for another two or three weeks. The enemy can certainly bring me to decisive battle at Canton or Palmyra. Canton is the more likely possibility.

These are my operational and strategic dilemmas as they stand. We shall see within the next three days what will transpire.

Jap invasion fleet moving toward Baker Island. Pacific fleet moving to give battle.

ACTION SUMMARY: The Pacific Fleet ordered up three seperate battlegroups in the Congo theatre up to steam as a Japanese invasion fleet was spotted moving toward Baker Island. CINCPAC, concerned that his lifeline to Australia is in danger, evacuated the Catalinas recently deployed at Baker. The U.S.S. Lexington, on station off Palmyra Atoll, was ordered in to intercept the enemy fleet. The battleship Colorado group, 100 miles north of Palmyra, was also ordered to move in to support the Lexington. The battleship Colorado, however, will continue to proceed to Canton Island with only a destroyer as escort. Her accompanying heavy cruisers and five destroyers will follow 100 miles behind the Lexington. A southern force of four destroyers based at Canton Island are also ordered to get up steam and move in to give contact to the enemy.

There is serious danger here as no Japanese carriers have been sighted in days, and not in strength since December 10th. Is it possible the KB is lurking off the Marshalls? As such, the carriers Saratoga and Enterprise were made ready to sail at a moment's notice from Pearl Harbor. It is possible that a decisive engagement is in the offing.

The United States Pacific Fleet is in no condition to fight a full-fledges carrier battle. The Yorktown will be leaving drydock in nine days. The Wasp is another 150 days out, still on station in the Atlantic theatre. I do have the advantage of recon aircraft based at Canton. I'll know where his carriers are before he sees mine. What I can hope for is that I sink his transports and withdraw before Japanese reinforcements arrive.



Meanwhile, five regiments recently disembarked at West Coast ports are loading aboard eight different transport groups, all bound for Congo. It looks like the United States Navy and Army are getting ready for action on this side of the Pacific.

Elsewhere, Japanese bombardment of Chinese positions at Hanoi have pinned my troops down. It is possible two corps may become trapped there as Japanese forces are also moving in from Siam. Fighting continued today at Alor Starr outside of Georgetown, and at Yenen where Chinese reinforcements of three corp arrived to aide in the city's defense.

Two major Japanese air raids on Bataan were met with a stiff curtain of flak that damaged 20+ bombers. Allied airstrikes included Chinese bombers striking Japanese positions outside of Changsha and Wuchow. The B-17's at Mindanao struck the Jolo airfield again today.

Japanese troops at Rangoon outskirts!

ACTION SUMMARY: No new developments today beside a brigade of Japanese infantry was spotted in the outskirts of Rangoon. Contact is expected tomorrow. Ground fighting was only seen in Hanoi where the Japanese continued yesterday's bombardment. A flight of 20 Jap Army dive bombers dove into action over Yenen to bomb Chinese positions in the Manchurian city. As it were, both sides appear to be resting after a full two weeks of offensive in China as no fighting was reported near Wuchow, Changsha or Yenen.

Jap Kate bombers attempted to torpedo the De Witt again today. Tomorrow, I've ordered another B-17 raid over Jolo. Also, there is increased Japanese submarine activity within the Java Sea where the ADBA surface units are operating. I've dispatched a destroyer to each reported contact. All else quiet today as it appears horrible weather had set in across the west Pacific.

No war room today either.

Rangoon surrounded! Japanese counter-attack at Hanoi!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese increased the pressure today in Burma by advancing a detachment in brigade strength northwest of Rangoon from their main force at Moulmein. Effectively cutting off the 2nd Burma Brigade at Rangoon, Operation Fullback is preparing for the evacuation of the surrounded British forces there. This development was anticipated as a full evacuation of Rangoon would have left no British force on Japan's open flank as they continued their advance against Mandalay and the Burma Road. Even so, once Rangoon is evacuated, the Fullback buildup on Andaman Island will continue to provide the lurking threat to Japanese designs in Burma.

Elsewhere, the Japanese opened their counter-attack against the Chinese 23rd Group Army dug in outside of Hanoi. There, the 50th and 21st Chinese Corps began to withdraw their positions to cross back into China before they are cutoff by Japanese reinforcements marching from Siam. Blenheim bombers based at Mandalay are now flying in direct support of the 23rd Group Army's withdrawal from French Indochina, striking Japanese infantry positions across their front with nominal results.



Meanwhile, Kates from Jolo attacked the Dutch destroyer DeWitt on submarine patrol just north of Celebes. Thankfully, she avoided the torpedoes and fled back to harbor. It is amazing what a small airfield with a small contingent of aircraft can accomplish in restricted seas. No greater thorn rests in my side than the handful of Japanese Zeroes and Kates based at Jolo, because they completely prevent the joining of ADBA assets with those of the U.S. Asiatic command in the Phillipines. Any vessel venturing close to Jolo is subject to attack. I can only hope Andaman Island can pay off the same dividends, though the British have no torpedo bomber that compares to the Kate... not to mention Japanese "Long Lance" torpedoes are the best in the world.

Meanwhile, the heavily damaged H.M.S. Thracian, one of the few refugees from Hong Kong, sank today off Singapore. Having fled the Phillipines a week before, the destroyer succumbed to her flooding bulkheads after an airstrike five days ago from
Japanese bombers flying from Camh Ranh Bay.

In the Phillipines, the 71st Phillipino Division has been cut off from the Bataan Redoubt. Having made the long march from northern Luzon where she was nearly surrounded by Japanese beachheads, her week-long arduous trek across the central mountains ended in the face of a Japanese attack across her front near Clark Airfield. Some 6,000 Phillipino soldiers instead fled towards the shelter of Manila and the Cavite forts where the 51st Phillipino Division is entrenching.

Two major air raids by Japanese bombers of 30-50 planes each carpet bombed the jungles of Bataan again. Few were damaged by flak this time around. Casualties were thankfully few.

Elsewhere, the 34th Engineer Aviation Battallion began disembarking at Canton Island. This begins the true ground buildup that is part of Operation Congo.

No warroom today.

British Admiralty withdraws assets from Far East. Jap bombers arrive to a rude welcome over Bataan!

ACTION SUMMARY: It is now January 1, 1942. Only three weeks have transpired since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The principle Allied concentrations in the Western Pacific are all in danger of being overrun. The Japanese have landed in force in both the Phillipines and in Malaya, threatening both Manila and Singapore with almost 100,000 men against each stronghold where scant Allied resistance is arrayed against an unstoppable Japanese war machine.

In the Phillipines, all U.S. force in Luzon have withdrawn to the Bataan redoubt where 16,000 infantry and 50,000 second-line troops and other assorted personnel are digging in for inevitable siege. Japanese forces continue to creep southwards down Luzon island to seal the fate of my forces there.

In Malaya, the Japanese are advancing slowly, mopping British forces as they move towards Jahore and "impregnable" Singapore. Beyond the British colonial citadel lies the riches of the Dutch East Indies, rich in those resources needed to fuel Japanese imperial ambitions. There, only a scratch force of light cruisers and destroyers gathered from four seperate nations (the ADBA command) stand watch with little of hope of reinforcements.

In Burma, British forces have withdrawn to a defensive line guarding both the approaches to India (crown jewel of the British Empire) and the lifeline to China. But uncertainty in the European theatre, and vacillation on behalf of the British Imperial General Staff prevents mass reinforcements from being sent to the aide of Singapore, much less Burma.

In China, the Nationalist Chinese Army of Chiang Kai-Shek face an uncertain future in the face of a massive Japanese offensive spanning over a 1000 miles from Yenen to Wuchow. Though outnumbering the Japanese invaders, the Chinese army is impaired by a corrupt command structure, outdated Soviet equipment, and an almost complete lack of armor and recon.

The South Pacific is thankfully quiet. Few forces stand guard over New Guinea and the South Pacific Islands, mandates of the Australian and New Zealand governments. Slowly the Australians are mobilizing with an intent to dig into the islands that shield the continent to the northeast.

In the Central Pacific, the United States Navy has lost eight battleships, the fists of the fleet. With only three fleet carriers against six Japanese flattops, the U.S. Navy is in no condition to bring the enemy to decisive battle. Instead, three operations are in motion to bring a parity of force to the imbalance of power in the Pacific. Operation Bolo is in the process of reinforcing Wake and Midway Islands. Operation Ivy, the only truly offensive operation currently underway by the Navy, is deploying subs to the Japanese Home Islands, and Operation Congo is reinforcing the curtain of defenses guarding the precious convoy routes to Australia.

That's the situation as of January 1, 1942.

As for action today, my B-17's from Mindanao made their first strategic bombing strike against the raw material installations at San Marcelano in Luzon, so recently abandoned by Allied forces in Operation Redoubt. By doing so, I had to lift the daily strikes against Jolo Airfield. To my dismay, Jolo airfield is not neutralized. Instead, three Kate torpedo bombers sortied from the island to strike an ASW patrol from the ADBA command I had dispatched north of Celebes. A British destroyer was torpedoed. She is limping back to Balikpapan.

Ground fighting opened again at Alor Star, just thirty miles from Georgetown. The 6th and 15th Indian Brigades came under air attack at Betty bombers carpet bombed the jungles prepatory to the renewed Japanese advance. The line continues to hold.

Elsewhere, the British Imperial General Staff saw it fit to withdraw one light cruiser and two destroyers based at Ceylon to the European Theatre. The condition of the British war effort in the Far East dictates the necessity of keeping forces there, and so it is that an operational order from the Admiralty can eliminate a three warships from my roster just as well as a flight of Betty torpedo bombers.

No other significant activity today. The Japanese launched their first major air raid against Bataan itself with an intent to carpet bomb my nearly 70,000 troops dug into the jungle slopes. With three AA batallions concentrated throughout the fortress, the Japanese took a severe blow. Thirty Betty bombers were damaged, which means they are out of action for at least a week. And who says flak batteries are ineffectual?



No warroom today.

Japs creep down the Gilbert Islands. Takes Tarawa.

ACTION SUMMARY: Aside from continued fighting at Yenen and Wuchow, the only major event today was a Japanese landing at Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Situation some 120 miles from the Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands, the atoll (if built up with airfield installations) could pose a serious threat to my lifeline to Australia. Despite the fact that the Enterprise was operating off the Marshalls just a week ago, launching a strike against Maleolap, the Imperial General Staff still went ahead with these landings. It leads me to believe that he backed these landings up with sufficient forces to cover them from my marauding carrier task forces. Could he have concentrated at least some of his carriers in this area? I do not know.

My subs have been operating off the Marshalls along the convoy sea lanes to the west leading back to the Japanese home islands. They have reported no activity except for the Narwal scoring a torpedo hit on a Jap transport operating off Kwajeilin. Because my lifeline to Australia is so important, I continue to improvise the shifting of forces to the Congo Theatre. This is especially so now since this is the first Jap offensive activity I've seen in that theatre since December 7th, and now there is reason to believe he is putting some force behind it. As it were, I need more eyes there, and more to the point, I need more air power there.

I deployed a squadron of 14 B-17's to Canton Island, part of a large a bombing group I've kept in Hawaii since the war began. The rest of the B-17's will follow when sufficient base personnel have arrived. Congo convoys are enroute to deliver them. These B-17's will be used to cover a less mundane operation on Baker Atoll, which could get exciting.

Baker Atoll. Used extensively in the nuclear tests during the 1950's, only an abandoned Pacific Clipper station is there for my Catalinas to operate from. The island is just 180 miles west of Tarawa. If I were the Imperial General Staff, I'd want to dislodge any Allied forces from Baker, which is 250 miles from the nearest Allied station in the South Pacific. I've cut my recon flights in half, and given them reach over the Marshalls to discern Japanese intentions in this critical piece of saltwater real estate. As it were, it is my intention to reinforce Baker with an engineering battalion now loading at Pearl. I've also ordered the Lexington to replenish at Palmyra Atoll at hold its position there. If trouble erupts off Midway or Wake Island (and it may if old intelligence still holds), she can sail for Pearl Harbor quickly. But she will stay off Palmyra as two more Congo convoys depart for Canton Island, including 30+ B-17's and 25+ Tomahawk fighters boxed up in the holds of my transports. There is also the convoy loading for Baker, and an additional engineer battalion also departing for Canton.

It is possible that my efforts to effect even a minimal presence on Baker Atoll could provoke a fierce enemy reaction. It will be at least another week or two to find out what he really will do, but I'm not taking chances. The Congo Theatre is being ratcheted up to a priority theatre over Bolo... especially since I need to keep up offensive operations to retain some initiative. If I reinforce Baker (particularly with bombers), then it really would be foolish for the enemy to continue through an operation against Wake or Midway... because I threaten the Marshalls while losing Wake or Midway will gain the enemy very little.

At any rate, the U.S.S. Yorktown will be coming coming out of drydock at San Diego in two weeks. I will have four powerful aircraft carriers available for operations in the South and Central Pacific.

As for the other theatres, no special events except for the fighting at Wuchow and Yenen. The Chinese continue to resist pretty well in Yenen despite being heavily outnumbered. I suppose the only real special event was the fact that there was a notable lack of Japanese air activity over China today. This gave me great pleasure knowing that my opponent had to cancel every operational order for his bomber groups in China because he has seen in excess of 40+ of his bombers shot down at the hands of the Flying Tigers.

Here's the warroom, with an emphasis on Congo, and locations of the major Japanese bases throughout the theatre.

Flying Tigers in action again today over Ichang. Japs attack in Manchuria!

ACTION SUMMARY: The "Flying Tiger" corps was in action again today flying long range CAP protection above Ichang where 8 Tomahawk fighters pounced a Jap bomber flight of over fifty planes. Diving through the escort cover, the outnumbered Tomahawks shot down over half the Japanese flight as Chinese troops within the trenches of Ichang cheered them on. The display proved that the Japanese Army pilots in their Oscar fighters lack the dogfighting skills of their Imperial Navy counterparts as not one Flying Tiger machine was lost to enemy action.



Frustration is undoubtedly mounting in the Japanese Imperial Staff over the presence of the 50+ planes of the Flying Tigers, whose American-piloted long range fighters are able to strike beyond the front lines from deep within Nationalist Chinese territory.

The Royal Air Force is also displaying impressive skill in their level bombing as the daily sorties from Singapore managed to bomb two transports off Khota Bharu again today. That's seven transports in three days. But the Japanese also decided to demonstrate their own skill at making low-level runs against anchored transports, as they have done so well in Manila Bay. During the morning, three massive flights of Japanese Army bombers swooped in low from the jungle-twisted mountains of Malaya to smash up a Fullback convoy off Georgetown, sinking three transports and wounding every other vessel of the five-ship convoy. The Imperial Japanese Staff is beginning to realize that the dispositions of British forces in Burma and Malaya are not as they were on December 7th, and that a concentrated effort on my part is being to made to adjust the parity of force in the Burma Theatre. In response to this movement of forces that Fullback is intended to effect, the Japanese 104th Division swiftly occupied Victoria in Burmese Malaya, so recently abandoned by the rattled 1st Burma Brigade.

Meanwhile, fighting in China broadened northward just as Chinese forces continued in their Wuchow counter-offensive. Five Japanese divisions with corps artillery, a regiment of tanks and independent brigades finally struck Yenen after three days of deliberate preparations. Nearly 73,000 men of the Japanese Kwantung Army struck at dawn against stiff Chinese opposition, resulting 3,000+ casualties against the enemy. Three more corps of Chinese troops are marching southward to assist in the defense of the city and hopefully crumple the flanks of the massive Japanese effort, but the situation remains highly uncertain for the outnumbered defenders of Yenen. In Wuchow, the counter-offensive continued with heavy casualties on both sides with the Chinese losing much artillery during today's exchanges.



Elsewhere, Operation Congo saw the torpedoeing of a Japanese supply ship off the Marhsall Islands as I've currently deployed four submarines from Pearl Harbor to prowl the waters there. The sole purpose of Congo is to prevent the enemy from believing I am vulnerable in the region between the Central and Southern Pacific, and to begin building up forces there that can permit me to rapidly shift forces from one theatre to another in response to any major Japanese offensive in either. These submarines will keep the Imperial Navy concerned for her Marshall Islands defenses if I continue to express interest in upsetting their peace.



Elsewhere in the Phillipines, the Japanese Army moved in to occupy Clark AFB, abandoned three days before as Allied forces retreated to the Bataan Peninsula. The move cutoff three Phillipine divisions in the Luzon interior and in Manila who will now have to fight along surrounded. Thus begins the siege of Manila, the length of which is uncertain. The viscous Japanese continued to bomb Manila today despite the city being scantly occupied by one Phillipino division and the handful of Catalina seaplanes at Cavite City, who continue to provide invaluable information on Imperial Navy movements off Luzon and still make daily supply runs to Bataan.

No other activity today besides the daily B-17 raids over Jolo Island. The Japanese airfield appears to be completely neutralized as no more sorties are being flown from there. Massed B-17 formations are showing the worth that I had hoped they would, but only too late to repel the Japanese offensive from Luzon.

Here's the warroom:

Flying Tigers thwart massive air raid on Hengchow! Chinese withdraw from short-lived offensive near Hanoi!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese carrier force that had attempted to bomb Wake Island two days ago has disappeared into the expanse of the central Pacific. The danger of an offensive in the Bolo Theatre increased, however, as Catalina planes flying from Bataan noted Japanese capital ships withdrawing NE towards the Japanese Home Islands, probably in preparation of a major operation.

Meanwhile, yesterday's successes in China could not be repeated as the third day of the Chinese offensive in Wuchow ground to a halt in the face of galling fire from entrenched Japanese forces. In Hanoi, the 50th Army began to withdraw after only day of fighting in the northern outskirts as the Japanese reinforced Hanoi with a division. In the air, however, the Major General Chennault's famous "Flying Tiger" corps of American-piloted Chinese Tomahawk fighters intercepted an unescorted flight of Jap bombers heading toward the Hengchow Airfield. Out of 23 bombers, 11 were shot down before the enemy flight was driven away.



Elsewhere, B-17's struck the Jolo airfield again, and RAF bombers from Singapore pounded a stranded Jap transport in the S. China Sea. The Japanese Army also continued its slow advance in Luzon against stranded American base personnel at Laoag at the very north of Luzon. The American personnel fled into the mountains of the central Phillipines in scant hope of reaching the safety of the Bataan Redoubt. No other significant activity today.

No warroom.

Japs advance near Rangoon! Chinese 50th Army attacks Hanoi!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Chinese Army advanced on two fronts today as fighting opened around Hanoi, and a furious fighting continued around Wuchow. The 50th Chinese Army with one corps of 10,000 men crossed the French Indochinese border rapidly, descending from the mountains to attack the 9,400 Japanese soldiers dug in around Hanoi. Three more Chinese Corps are expected to reinforce the effort at Chaing Kai-Shek's southern offensive heats up. A furious attack ordered from Chungking flooded over the trenches near Wuchow as 60,000 Nationalist soldiers smashed against Japanese front-line forces, killing > 500 men. Supporting the attack were the Hengchow Nationalist bombers that struck the Japanese artillery positions from low altitude.

Successes on the ground in China, however, was met with setback in Burma as the 1st Burma Brigade, on the march from Moulmein to intercept a Japanese probe from Cambodia, was struck by the advancing Japanese first. The brigade was driven into the jungles towards Georgetown as the Japanese occupied defenceless Moulmein, giving the Empire its first foothold on the Indian Ocean and Burma.

Off Malaya, the Japanese began offering its transports land-based aircover as RAF bombers flying from Singapore grew more accurate in their sorties. Despite flying against Japanese Oscar fighters, the RAF managed to bomb three transports off Khota Bharu with only three losses in the air. Slipping their anchors, the Japanese concentration off Khota Bharu set sail for the Southeast. Uncertainty reigns in the Allied command as to whether these transports are empty or not. If no, it is possible the enemy is making his move towards Borneo.



Activity was quiet elsewhere. In the Phillipines, Japanese forces advanced from Northern Luzon to occupy defeneseless San Marcelino on the west coast. A tremendous air raid on Manila Bay did little to hurt the few Allied defeders still there as most of the Phillipino and American forces have since withdrawn to the Bataan Peninsula.

Here's the warroom:

Japanese carriers strike Wake Island on Christmas Day! Japanese attack from Manchuria!

ACTION SUMMARY: Japanese carrier forces, which have been strangely absent from the Japanese spearheads of conquest since their Dec. 7 attack on PH, made there appearance today in unknown strength off Wake Island. Twelve Marine Corps Wildcat fighters scrambled from the airfield to attack a flight of 17 unescorted Kate bombers. Eight were shot down, and only one managed to hit the airfield with her bombload.



Shortly thereafter, Catalina seaplanes flying from Midway spotted an enemy fleet 150 miles west of Wake Island. Two CA's (heavy cruisers), one CL (light cruiser) and 2 DD's were spotted... though there must be a carrier out there somewhere. This group has been designated FORCE-E. Though there is initial reason to believe it was merely a raid similiar to the Enterprise's Congo raid three days ago, Catalinas flying from beleagured Manila spotted a strong force of 7 CA's and 1 DD just off NE Luzon heading east. Though these reports are highly inaccurate as to the composition of the group, it is no doubt a strong force. Designated FORCE-W, this fleet can be headed nowhere but towards the Central Pacific... straight into the Bolo Defensive Zone.

Luckily, Operation Bolo succeeded in transferring one brigade of the 25th Infantry to Wake Island along with supplies. Still, fuel and aviation support personnel are lacking on the island, which could be the centerpoint of a new Japanese offensive. If it is in fact the centerpoint of a new offensive, the Japanese General Staff is ordering his forces westward in piecemeal, because Force W is at least six days west of Wake Island.

Still, immediate precautions were taken. ASW groups around the Hawaiin Islands were disbanded in favor of strengthening the two carrier groups I have at Pearl (the Saratoga, and the just now returning Enterprise). The Lexington is being recalled northward to Canton Island from her anchorage in the Samoas. While the Congo convoys will proceed as scheduled, Lexington is being re-transferred to the Bolo Defensive Theatre. In six days, I will have concentrated three carriers of my own.

Could this be THE Japanese offensive designed to break the back of the U.S. Pacific Fleet?

Could a half-hearted demonstration against Wake be designed to draw my carrier force west from Pearl, only to be smashed by the KB? The Kido Butai is still out there... six Jap carriers. We shall see.

Meanwhile, nearly 80,000 troops have pulled back into Bataan Peninsula within one day. At least 15,000 more are yet to follow within three days if they are not cut off by Japanese landings at Lamon Bay, 60 miles east of Manila. Only one Phillipino division remains to hold Manila. As for the Sendai Force which had ravaged Manila Bay on Christmas Eve, the enemy fleet attempted to slip out of Manila Bay unscathed only to be shelled by the Corregidor Forts once again. The Japanese destroyer Uranami was destroyed.

The Christmas Eve raid into Manila Bay was a foolish move in CINCPAC's (me) opinion. Four enemy destroyers were sunk, and four more damaged for minimal, if not pointless, gain. Still, it did prompt the early withdrawal to the Bataan Redoubt. Meanwhile, B-17's at Mindanao struck the Jolo Airfields today in full strength.

Two other major events occurred on the ground where in China, the Japanese Kwantung Army widened the battle for the mainland to Manchuria. There, Japanese forces disembarked from their railheads near Yenen to advance on the city. Three Chinese Corps just outside the city are expected to make contact tomorrow.



And in Burma, Japanese forces were spotted probing towards Rangoon where two Indian brigades are prepared to meet an enemy of unknown strength. Fullback preparations in Burma are nearly complete. In Malaysia, no fighting on the ground was reported. Three seperate RAF airstrikes from Singapore managed to hit two Jap transports off Khota Bharu.



Here's the warroom:

Japanese force Manila Bay on Christmas Eve! MacArthur orders full withdrawal to Bataan redoubt!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese Navy forced Manila during the night as American and Phillipino soldiers were celebrating Christmas Eve. A strong force of thirteen destroyers led by the light cruiser Sendai blasted through the Corregidor forts strung across Manila Bay. Six of their destroyers struck mines or were shelled by coastal batteries. One of them was sunk by the 8 inch batteries of Fort Drum, the famous "Concrete Battleship," before the forts were bypassed and the Japanese fleet rampaged the bay, sinking the oiler Trinity and transport Ethel Edwards.



Five American PT boats rushed to attack the invaders, slamming torpedoes into the Shirayuki and sinking her with heavy losses. After losing two boats, the American boats broke off.



As dawn broke, the Sendai force pounced two more AK's and the destroyer Pillsbury, which did not stand a chance against the overwhelming firepower. While conflicting reports flew from around Luzon of new enemy landings, MacArthur and Admiral Hart could plainly see from the Government House in Manila the Japanese fleet shelling the wharfs and anchored ships in every direction.



A lull in the afternoon saw the Japanese fleet split off her damaged units, four destroyers forced their way out of the bay only to have the Fubuki sunk by the Corregidor forts. The submarines Sculpin and Snapper took the opportunity to attempt torpedo runs on the Sendai Force, only to be depth charged and destroyed. The remaining PT boats of the Asiatic Fleet made one final and desperate attack on the enemy squadron at dusk. The IJN destroyer Shinome was torpedoed and sunk before two more PT boats were destroyed.



By evening, Manila Bay was ablaze with burning hulks, and the Sendai Force began to shell the Bataan Peninsula. MacArthur, realizing that no more supplies could hope to reach the depots at Bataan ordered a full withdrawal of all Phillipino and American forces to the Bataan Redoubt. Nearly 40,000 men from four divisions and numerous regiments began to pull back by evening just as Japanese forces moved in capture undefended Tuguegarao and Lamon Bay from the sea. The only highpoint of the day in the Phillipines was a successful B-17 raid on the Jolo airfield, destroying several Zeroes on the ground. Daily raids against the insurgent airfield in the southern islands appears to have neutralized the installation for the time being. Aside from that, the final battle of the Phillipines is at hand.



Elsewhere, General Chiang Kai-Shek cancelled his northern offensive in China as intelligence reported that Japanese forces were on the move there. Instead, Chinese forces in Wuchow were ordered to prepare for a counter-offensive the next day where the Japanese appeared half-hearted in their effort to advance on the Cantonese city. In addition, the Chinese 23rd and 27th Group Armys in Hunan Province were ordered on the march towards Hanoi in an invasion of Japanese-held Indochina. It is hoped that these southern offensives will draw off pressure from the hard-pressed Chinese army just west of Changsha.



Other action today included the daily bomber sorties from Singapore. Three seperate raids managed to hit two transports off Khota Bharu.

No war room today.

Nationalist forces beat a retreat west of Changsha!

ACTION SUMMARY: Christmas Eve saw Nationalist forces withdrawing across a broad front west of Changsha as the Kwantung Army prompted a hasty retreat by weary Chinese soldiers. Nearly 80,000 Chinese troops fled in the face of heavy assaults that overwhelmed the rearguard. Meanwhile, heavy airstrikes pounded Chinese airfields across the China front in the face of mixed resistance.



Elsewhere, the war was quiet with little activity. A dozen transports and escorts departed Pearl Harbor today as Operation Congo saw the transfer of the 5th Bombing Group and 50th Fighter Squadron of 16 B-17 bombers and 24 Tomahawk fighters to Canton Island in the Central Pacific. Once in place, the B-17 bombers will be in place to raid Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, an old Pacific Clipper base captured by a Japanese SNLF unit in the second day of the war.

Here's the warroom:

Japanese occupy Changsha!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese General Staff expressed widespread dismay today despite his successes. Two Japanese divisions marched through empty streets today where the Kwantung Army was expecting a tough fight for Changsha. Fighting, however continued both NW and SE of the city as Nationalist forces fought rearguard actions to cover their withdrawal. Meanwhile, Imperial Chief of Staff Sir Alan Brooke approved the transfer of the already legendary "Flying Tiger" corps of 60+ Warhawk fighters flying under Nationalist Chinese colors. Stationed in Burma where they were earning no kills, they were transferred to Chungking and are ready to bring the fight back to the Japanese Army Air Forces. Already the air war in China is heating up at Japanese Army bombers struck the Chinese airfield at Hengchow just as Chinese bombers sortied against the enemy's marching columns.



In the Phillipines, the frustrated Japanese navy deployed almost a dozen destroyers on an ASW sweep of the coastal waters. The already famous Dutch submarine KXIV, who in two days sank three Jap transports off southern Luzon, was depth charged and lost with all hands. The Japanese Navy's successes were not shared by the Imperial Army as the 56th Phillipino Division, which was almost cut off from Manila, slipped through the Japanese vise in Southern Luzon to arrive in Manila. The division will continue its long march to the Redoubt theatre at Bataan. As it were, the supply flow into Bataan is nearly shut as two massive airstrikes by Betty and Kate torpedo bombers sank three more transports. Only Catalina seaplanes continue to ferry supplies to Bataan. Meanwhile, intelligence reports that the Japanese Army is finally on the move in Northern and Southern Luzon. Nearly 80,000 Phillipino and Americans are dug into plains around Clark AFB to meet the assault.



Operation Fullback suffered a major setback when a Japanese wave of almost 40 bombers swept over the Malay jungles at 3,000 feet to slam torpedoes into the transports anchored offshore. Two AK's were sunk, two seriously damaged. They are limping to Java with what cargo they have aboard, which includes several Bleinhem bombers. The Japanese General Staff is becoming increasingly aware of my strategy, which is to concentrate my forces at various strongpoints rather than leave them scattered as they were December 7th. Up to now has his caution (particularly in Luzon) allowed me to concentrate as much forces as I have already in addition to evacuating immense stores of supplies (via Keystone). But now I am seeing Japanese bombers striking transports thought to be engaged in these "strongpoint" operations.

No other activity today. Japanese planes from Indochina struck a British destroyer off Borneo, a refugee of the British China Squadron that was stationed off Hong Kong before transferring to the Phillipines. The Central Pacific is quiet. The Enterprise slipped away unscathed following her Congo raid against the Marshalls.

Here's the warroom... today it shows the limits of the Japanese advance, the pressure points of his advance, and the defensive "strongpoints" I am hardening.

The Enterprise strikes in the Marshalls!

ACTION SUMMARY: The battles at Chansha and Wuchow gathered steam today. As 5 Chinese corps finished their evacuation of Changsha, Gen. Kai-Shek declared it an open city. Japanese forces were reported advancing through the streets tonight. Meanwhile, nearly ten corps, almost 120,000 men are concentrating west of Changsha at the important crossroads leading to Chungking. NW of Changsha, Japanese and Chinese forces clashed in attack and counter-attack with severe losses falling upon the Nationalist army as it fought to hold the door open for forces evacuating from Changsha.

Southwards, fighting continued around Wuchow as the Japanese forces of 19,000 began to probe Chinese entrenchments where nearly 70,000 men are dug in. Nationalist Chinese aircraft struck the infantry columns NW of Changsha, and Japanese Army Sonia bombers attacked the 16th Chinese Corps near Henen.



In Malaya, the Japanese renewed their attack against the 15th Indian Brigade at Alor Star with the intention of capturing Georgetown where currently Fullback convoys are working to evacuate HQ staff and base personnel. RAF air attacks from Singapore managed to score hits on two Jap transports.

In the Phillipines, the enemy has transferred Kate bombers directly onto Luzon where they are no more than 90 miles from my troop concentrations around Bataan and Clark. I have transferred more repaired fighters to Bataan and Mindanao, but today these Kate bombers got through to torpedo two transports off Bataan. Meanwhile, the 51st Phillipino division is attempting to slip up from Southern Luzon where it is almost cut off from the Redoubt concentration points by a Japanese landing.

The biggest event of the day was the Operation Congo raid against the Marshall Islands by the U.S.S. Enteprise. Though her 35+ Dauntless divebombers and dozen+ escorts scored plenty of hits on the airfield at Maloelap, it was thought that the immense concentration of Jap bombers at Kwajeilin would launch a dangerous attack against the Enteprise. After one airstrike, she began to return to report.

Though the materiel effect of the Congo raid was little, my opponent was indeed surprised in his communications. His only message in the game email was "American Carriers?" From this alone am I satisfied by today's air raids. I have the let the enemy know that the U.S. Pacific Fleet will not stand idly by. This could force an invite of the KB's return to the Central Pacific... or at least two or three Jap carriers if not the whole KB.



Elsewhere, a Dutch sub operating off the Phillipines managed to torpedo two AK (transports) off Luzon! This is in addition to one she had shelled yesterday with her deckgun.

Here's the warroom:

Battle of Wuchow opens with Japanese bombardment!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Kwantung Army opened the Battle of Wuchow with a heavy bombardment of Nationalist Chinese forces digging in south of the beleagured Cantonese city. The Japanese 104th division moved into their jumping off positions under cover of artillery. With the reinforcement of four more Chinese corps overnight having marched from north, nearly 80,000 Chinese are prepared to meet the enemy advance of over 18,000 well equipped troops. Intelligence expects the 104th to be reinforced by the nearly 30,00 Japanese troops now in Hong Kong following their victory there.



North of Wuchow around the besieged city of Changsha, the five Chinese Corps were evacuated from Changsha to a concentration point NW of the city. There, four Chinese corps (including two of the American trained "New" Chinese Corps) of 18,000 men are fighting a delaying action to cover the withdrawal of almost 50,000 men from the city. Only one corps remains in the city. In a sudden attack against the marching Japanese columns, four Nationalist army corps struck the vanguard of the Japanese Kwantung Army with few results and heavy losses. Chinese aircraft went into action for the first time today as the ancient Soviet-built I-16 biplanes and Il-12 bombers sortied against the Japanese infantry columns at 3,000 feet.



Elsewhere, the enemy is unusually cautious in both Malaya and the Phillipines. No major advances have been made in the previous five days. Japanese troops continue to grow fat on their north Luzon beaches while my forces continue to draw back into the Bataan fortress for Operation Redoubt. Air activity was heavy across Manila Bay where five strikes totalling 250+ planes swept over the bay to torpedo and bomb three transports and one destroyer. The enemy lost 15+ bombers in action over the Bay. With the threat of being unable to evacuate the Manila depots, Catalina seaplanes were diverted from naval reconnaissance to supply transport in order to speed up the Redoubt preparations. And with the transports off Manila Bay garnering so much attention, Clark AFB has remained unscathed in the past three days. Newly repaired aircraft were ferried to Calagayan in Mindinao, and a handful of fighters were transferred to the dirt strip in Bataan.

In Malaya, only air activity was seen today beginning with a 100+ aircraft strike against the Singapore airfields. Betty's flying at 1,000 feet were vulnerable even to the plumpy little Buffalo fighters, and nine were shot down. RAF sorties against the Japanese transports still lying off Eastern Malay were ineffectual as usual, but a 30+ RAF raid on Songhai in Thailand managed to crater the airfields there. Dutch and American bomber sorties against Jolo off the Phillipines were quite ineffectual, though American Warhawk fighters scored unusually impressive kill figures against the defending Zeros. Still, Kate torpedo bombers flying from Jolo managed to torpedo a transport off Iloilo Island in the central Phillipines.

No naval activity. A Dutch sub surfaced during the night to shell a lone Japanese transport lying off eastern Luzon.



Fullback has evacuated the RAF force at Victoria, Malaya and is withdrawing the force to the new base being built at Andaman off the Burmese Coast. The Australian Command launched Operation Bogus, the reinforcement of the Southern Pacific sector, particularly the Hebrides, Solomons and New Guinea. The Enterprise is poised to make the first carrier strike of the war against Japanese installations in the Marshall Islands. She is moving in at high speed. Little real damage is expected to be inflicted, but I am interested in only showing aggressiveness from the East in order to draw off pressure from the enemy's diversions in China, Malaya and the Phillipines.

Here's the warroom: