23 December 1943
Heavy bomber raid on Miri, Borneo hammers ASW vessels
Port Blair invasion underway
Japan
USS Blackfish torpedoed and sank a kaibokan near Torishima.
China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 53 casualties
I had 3 corps make an opposed river crossing near Anking, trying to see if we can move the frontlines a bit. Casualties 4961 to 904 favoring the enemy, despite the heavy bombing leading up to this. That essentially leaves me with 2 corps. The enemy is quickly moving reinforcements, so this isn't going to work. But maybe something else opens up.
DEI
I had quietly rebased a bunch of B-25s in Manado for a raid on the ports along the northern coast of Borneo. Recon confirmed no enemy fighter presence, so the B-24s went unescorted.
Wave 1:
SC CHa-32, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AKE Malta Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Syozui Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
E Naryu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirakami, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Wave 2:
AS Chogei, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AR Asosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AR Arizona Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC CHa-15, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
E Shirakami, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
other Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 12 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 3 hits, 7 casualties
Burma and Thailand
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces and airbase): casualties, base hits
Rahaeng (ground forces): 0 casualties
We had a raid of Beaufighters and B-25s attack a task force pulling into Bangkok, which was a really bad idea. There were 100 enemy fighters on CAP. We ended up losing 4 Beaufighters and 10 B-25s while shooting down 2 Georges. The bombers that got through hit a cargo ship twice for moderate damage.
We are also now invading Port Blair. Resistance is expected to be light due to the prior evacuation.
Reinforcements
DD Quilliam arrives at Aden
PF Albuquerque arrives at Mare Island
20th TRS arrives at Aden
2/13th Field Regiment arrives at Sydney
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