29 July 1942
IJN Ise torpedoed transiting the Celebes Sea without escorts
Celebes Sea
The KXVIII spotted the battleship Ise entering the Celebes Sea unescorted near Tarakan. It hit it with 3 of 6 torpedoes, leaving it crippled and burning. I'm a bit annoyed with the AI, because there's just no reason not to administer a submerged coup de grace here, but the sub just slipped away without ever being spotted. I think it's likely we've seen the last of the Ise, though--the closest shipyard that can handle her is probably Hong Kong, and I doubt she'd survive the trip. So she'll probably end up sheltering at Tarakan and spend the rest of the war there.
As for why a capital ship with no ASW capability is passing through a choke point that my submarines have been patrolling continuously for months? Your guess is as good as mine.
Sumatra and Malaya
Raids on Singapore are getting no one to play with as I'm saving supply by not putting a CAP up. The enemy bombers just aren't doing that much anyway--and a lot of them are headed to Bangkok now. At Palembang, we lost 2 Mohawks and a P-40 in exchange for 2 Betties and 5 Sallies.
Thailand
My armies are still being hit by enemy bombers near Bangkok as my fighters have insufficient loiter time that far from base. We lost one Hurricane trying to protect them, and the enemy lost 2 Nicks to AA.
Hawaii
The KB intercepted another flight of bombers hitting Lahaina. We lost 6 Wildcats, with the bombers getting through. The KB then hit Pearl with a small airstrike, targeting ships in port. We lost one more Wildcat there, while shooting down a Zero, 4 Vals, and 4 Kates--that was all the attack aircraft sent. Once again, 5 of these kills were all one by one guy (MAJ Smith, J.L. of VMF-223), so we've had a new Ace-in-a-Day on two consecutive days.
Both of these new aces are still flying Buffalos. These were the guys strafing the landing barges before the KB appeared, they're now flying CAP at a lower altitude than the Wildcats. So I think the reason they're getting these kills is they're slipping in underneath the furball and getting to the Kates.
My bombers are getting shot up pretty badly, so I'm going to rest them for a bit.
Reinforcements and withdrawals
507th Coast AA Regiment arrives at Los Angeles (unrestricted, about half strength)
HMS Indomitable has withdrawn from this theatre to participate in the war in the European theatre.
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