19 February 1944
Reinvigorated air defense of Bangkok, Koepang captured
DEI
Amphibious landings continue in Koepang and Babo.
Our troops attacked in Koepang and easily overwhelmed the starving and bombed-out defenders. Casualties 2586 to 298. Enemy troops are still present in the hex and standing by to be mopped up in the coming days. The defenders included a nominal division and a third, plus a construction battalion that would typically include vehicles, but the enemy forces we fought included 0 artillery pieces and 0 vehicles--bombing and shelling had apparently eliminated all of these already.
We shock attacked Babo but still haven't taken it. Forts are back down to level 0. Casualties 153 (J) to 14 (A).
Air raids:
Surabaya (airbase): 13 hits, 5 casualties
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces): 9 casualties
Japanese Home Waters
USS Steelhead hit an unescorted troop transport with a dud near Chichi-jima. I don't usually include these but this was frustrating because of how high-value it was and that it was unprotected.
China
Air raids:
near Taiyuan (ground forces): 102 casualties
near Chengchow (ground forces): 41 casualties
Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
west road (ground forces): 688 casualties
Bangkok (sweep): 14 P-47s intercepted by 20 Georges, 9 Tonies, 1 Frank. Lost 2 P-47s but shot down 3 Tonies and 6 Georges.
Land combat:
Allied bombardment attack on west road to Bangkok, 172 enemy casualties, no counterbattery casualties.
Japan used paratroopers to retake Ayuthia. This will slightly disrupt supply flows to my "east road" armies which have moved into to Bangkok's hex.
Philippines
Air raids:
Iloilo (ground forces) 169 casualties
We attempted a deliberate attack on Iloilo, reducing forts to 0 but failing to take the base. Casualties 141 to 0--the enemy is severely disrupted from the B-24 raids.
Marianas
Looks like weather kept the B-24s on the ground today. I also pulled back the Princeton as they could easily move bombers in here too.
Reinforcements
DD Wadleigh arrives at Balboa
DE Whitehurst arrives at San Francisco
33rd FG/58th FS arrives at Aden
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