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: