10 February 1942
Stage set for possible carrier battle in New Caledonia
SouthPAC
A PB escorting the garrison delivery convoy spotted and swept a mine. They're leaving soon anyway and I won't have any immediate need to return, so these mines are going to get to sit here for awhile.
At Luganville, the S-34 picked off one of my DMSs. Which are some of my better ASW platforms right now.
Zeroes from Luganville swept Efate, shooting down 1 P-40.
Then B-17s tried to hit Luganville, but failed to score any hits as they were being attacked by Zeroes. A pair of B-26s snuck in and scored a single runway hit.
Finally, the Banshee dive bombers got their turn. Our Zeroes were somewhat depleted from dealing with the B-17s, so we only got 2 of them (of 9). But they also failed to score any hits.
Mavises flying long range patrols out of Ndeni spotted two task forces, including two ships reported as CVEs and with aircraft numbers implying 1-2 carriers. Based on prior activity in this area, I believe these are actually the Lexington and Enterprise, and the 2nd task force is Force Z. They are sitting in a good position to advance slightly to defend Efate or New Caledonia from an invasion attempt. Which is great news for me because the KB is here ready to tear them apart. The amphibious task forces have been spotted. The KB is officially "undetected" but its Kates generated at least 7 submarine spotting reports for me. So how many times did his subs spot my Kates?
One slight problem is that I detoured the KB slightly west to avoid some subs last turn, so I'm slightly out of position to defend the amphibious task forces this turn. I am in fact quite lucky that I was not attacked this turn. But it does limit my options this turn. I have two divisions loaded up on those task forces, so I can't/won't pull a Halsey and leave them flapping in the breeze while I go off chasing the carriers. Which means if the enemy figured out I have carriers here and chooses to avoid battle, he can. I also have to contend with the possibility that Force Z will charge the expected landing area. My transports are slow enough that he can beat me there. (Recall the January appearance of the Lex/Enterprise/Force Z; Force Z rushed Luganville while the carriers supported with raids) Which means just rushing the beach is probably not the best move for me. So I'll be standing off for a turn, with my heavy covering force ready to intercept any night rush, and my carriers repositioning to bring the amphibs under its umbrella where they belong. If the enemy tries to intervene in the landings, we should be able to launch a devastating strike during daylight.
Hawaii
The I-23 was hit a few times by a destroyer outside Pearl. The damage wasn't serious, but it was enough that I chose to send her home for repairs rather than be at greater risk of a more serious hit.
Java and Banda Sea
Zeroes from Makassar swept Madioen at extended range, splashing 1 Demon and 4 Buffalos with no losses.
Betties flew from Palembang with torpedoes this time, sinking a pair of minesweepers at Merak.
Babar was attacked by Hudsons from Darwin, we shot down 2. No damage on the ground. There Hudson attacks are also consistently targeting Saumlaki just to the east of Babar, but I'm not using that as a base so other than now I'm not mentioning it.
A Dutch sub torpedoed and sank one of my cargo ships at Babar. I believe it had just dropped off construction engineers.
Sumatra
139WH-3 bombers flying from Java attacked my troops outside Oosthaven; Oscars shot down 1 of them. The bombing was ineffective.
Using the 21st Ind. Mixed Brigade landed at Medan to work on the northern areas, we again fought the enemy we beat at Medan but they might have been reinforced as this time they got the better of us, 48 squads disabled/destroyed vs just 2. I have some idle heavies staging at Singapore, and these guys are on the coast, so I think I know how to break through here.
Burma
Blenheim raid on my advancing troops intercepted by Oscars, they turned around and ran, no losses.
Port strikes on Rangoon continued, with Betties scoring a single hit on a cargo ship.
China
We fought one of the few remaining stray Chinese units behind our lines near Chengting in the northwestern mountains. We got the worst of hit due to the terrain benefitting the defender, 28 squads disabled/destroyed to 11. But we'll be working them over with bombers and they'll be desperate for supplies. We'll get 'em.
Reinforcements
52nd Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai