THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-12-44 FIREBOMBING OF TOKYO


The weather finally clears over Tokyo and the B-29s and Liberators deliver their heaviest blows of the war:

Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 18
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 22
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3
Ki-102a Randy x 7

Allied aircraft
Mosquito PR.IX x 4
P-38J Lightning x 50
PB4Y Liberator x 53
B-24J Liberator x 78

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 17 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-102a Randy: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 9 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged

Manpower hits 235

Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 8
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2
Ki-102a Randy x 5

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 239

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 damaged
Ki-102a Randy: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 1 destroyed, 35 damaged

Manpower hits 307

Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 4
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-102a Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Manpower hits 67

Over 600 manpower hits are scored on Tokyo and a level 33,000 firestorm is started.


CENTPAC: INVASION OF OKINAWA

Over 220,000 Allied troops are ashore by day 3 of the Okinawa invasion:

Ground combat at Naha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21616 troops, 179 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 223453 troops, 2463 guns, 133 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported

Waves of kamikaze aircraft are launched at the invasion fleet but not a single one makes it through.

[Alikchi2]

My God. The fact that you have all this power, even after the huge battles of 42, is.. just stunning.

[racndoc]

Alikchi...

Well you are correct about the huge battles of July/August 1942 determining the outcome of the war but it was Japan that could not keep up with the battle of attrition. Sure the Allies lost something like 9 BBs, 8 CAs and 40 or so DDs in the Gilberts Campaign but Japan lost about 60 DDs and hundreds of irreplaceable pilots. The Allies still have 19 BBs (after losing 13 BBs in 1942) but all the sunk CAs/CLs have been upgraded while being replaced and I think that I have 50-60 DDs sitting around in ports that I have no use for. In regards to carriers, the Allies have lost a total of 1 CVE...all their original 20 CVs and 10 CVLs are still operational. In regards to ground forces, the Allies havent lost even as much as a brigade since the fall of Java in April 1942.

But all of the destroyed naval, air and land assets, the worst loss that Japan suffered in 1942 was the loss of initiative.


SITUATION REPORT: 12-13-44 CENTPAC....INVASION OF OKINAWA

After 3 days of unloading on the beaches an all out shock attack is ordered at Okinawa. The day begins with a massive bombardment by a multinational surface group with USN, RN and French BBs:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/13/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Naha, at 54,46

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 13 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 2 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CL Marblehead
CL Perth
CA Pittsburgh
CA Baltimore
CA San Francisco
CA Louisville
CA Houston
BB Richelieu
BB Howe
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa
BB South Dakota

Japanese ground losses:
1471 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 126
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 3

The shock attack goes off as planned but the results are less than impressive:

Ground combat at Naha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21052 troops, 163 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 224353 troops, 2490 guns, 134 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Naha

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 202190 troops, 2490 guns, 54 vehicles

Defending force 23146 troops, 163 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
1280 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
2053 casualties reported
Guns lost 58
Vehicles lost 1

It looks like another drawn out island campaign is in store for the Allies.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-15-44 CENTPAC...INVASION OF OKINAWA

The Allies capture Naha in a massive shock attack:

Ground combat at Naha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20315 troops, 152 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 234987 troops, 2419 guns, 140 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Naha

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 212908 troops, 2417 guns, 86 vehicles

Defending force 22029 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Naha base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1361 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Allied ground losses:
2133 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
Vehicles lost 2



PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN

SWPAC and CENTPAC troops close the vise on the remaining Nips on Luzon.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-16-44 PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN

SWPAC troops clear out San Marcelino in a shock attack. The Japanese flee north across the river and the remnants of the once powerful 150,000 Japanese army in Luzon in now trapped in Lingayen and Vigan.


OKINAWA:

CENTPAC troops in Naha begin their march to Kadina. The Allied BBs are refueling at Iwo and should be back to lend ground support within the week.


Allied autovictory in 2 weeks ....here is a screen shot of the current point totals:

[saj42]

I find the differences in aircraft losses most interesting - Allied 'Op losses' and Jap 'destroyed on field'. It says a lot about the way the air campaign has been fought.

[racndoc]

Tallyho...if this game would continue for a couple more months you would find Allied losses from operations surpassing those from enemy A2A. I find it interesting that Allied pilots would need to fear mechanical/navigational/pilot error more than enemy fighters.


SITUATION REPORT: 12-19-44 STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND....BOMBS OVER TOKYO


Three successive waves of Allied heavy bombers hit Tokyo in the largest firebomb attack on Japan of the entire war:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 6
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
Mosquito PR.IX x 4
P-38J Lightning x 31
PB4Y Liberator x 58
B-24J Liberator x 78

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 5 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
PB4Y Liberator: 10 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 12 damaged

Manpower hits 167

Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 1
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 209

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 28 damaged

Manpower hits 228


Day Air attack on Tokyo , at 66,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 110

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 23 damaged

Manpower hits 146


The 541 manpower hits start a level 42,000 firestorm. Tokyo is becoming a very dangerous place to go to work.


CENTPAC:

Allied troops continue their march across the island of Okinawa but are still a couple of weeks out of Kadina.


SWPAC:

Allied troops continue to envelop Japanese positions in Lingayen.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-22-44


The Allies sent 12 BBs to bombard Nagasaki...the first naval bombardment of a Japanese homeland city in the entire war:

Naval bombardment of Nagasaki, at 58,42

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
J2M Jack: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AG AG-355, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2081, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Concord
CA New Orleans
CL Glasgow
CL Achilles
CA Australia
CA Boston
CA Wichita
BB Resolution
BB Revenge
BB Alabama
BB Pennsylvania

Japanese ground losses:
777 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 60
Port hits 2

Naval bombardment of Nagasaki, at 58,42 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

83 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AG AG-5033, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CLAA Van Heemskerck
CL Mauritius
CL Tromp
CA Exeter
CA Quincy, Shell hits 16
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
BC Repulse
BB Valiant
BB Warspite, Shell hits 14
BB Washington
BB Colorado

Japanese ground losses:
613 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 63
Port hits 1

Naval bombardment of Nagasaki, at 58,42 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AG AG-5067, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5071, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Hobart
CA Hawkins
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Sussex, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA Shropshire
BC Renown
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Prince of Wales
BB Indiana

Japanese ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44


The results of the bombardment were less than impressive and CA Sussex and CA Salt Lake City were heavily damaged by the Nagasaki CD guns.


PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN:

SWPAC launches its first assault on Lingayen and reduces the fortifications there to level 8:

Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 152065 troops, 987 guns, 3186 vehicles

Defending force 90553 troops, 536 guns, 1 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
5626 casualties reported
Guns lost 42
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2877 casualties reported
Guns lost 90
Vehicles lost 67


Another shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.

[Capt. Harlock]

Japanese ground losses:
5626 casualties reported
Guns lost 42
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2877 casualties reported
Guns lost 90
Vehicles lost 67


Another shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.

Wouldn't this be the time for deliberate attacks, or are they less effective at reducing fortification levels?

[racndoc]

Capt.Harlock....

The shock attack is more effective in reducing fortification levels. For shock attacks, a 2:1 reduces forts by one, a 3:1 reduces forts by 2, a 4:1 reduces forts by 3 etc. etc.

Check out the result of the shock attack at Lingayen for this next turn.


SITUATION REPORT: 12-24-44 PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN....BATTLE FOR LINGAYEN

SWPAC launches another shock attack at Lingayen and reduces the fortification level to two:

Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 180677 troops, 1109 guns, 3027 vehicles

Defending force 77472 troops, 389 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
1941 casualties reported
Guns lost 31

Allied ground losses:
4087 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Vehicles lost 36


Lingayen should fall in a shock attack tomorrow.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-29-44


SWPAC captures Vigan today in a rushed shock attack. The IJA Army of Luzon is cornered in its final position.Ground combat at Vigan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 57418 troops, 43 guns, 3001 vehicles

Defending force 45950 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied forces CAPTURE Vigan base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Japanese ground losses:
1453 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
464 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 51

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-31-44 JAPAN SURRENDERS


SWPAC launchesb a final assault on Vigan:

Ground combat at Vigan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 162158 troops, 969 guns, 2813 vehicles

Defending force 41746 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 49 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
4343 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
1834 casualties reported
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 44


STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

General Curtis LeMay launches his final firebombing attack on Japan:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/31/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nagasaki , at 58,42


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 31
PB4Y Liberator x 57
B-24J Liberator x 56


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 7 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 55

Day Air attack on Nagasaki , at 58,42


Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 117


Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 7 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 78

Japan surrenders. After 17 months real time game play Japan offers unconditional surrender. Kudos to Bison Frontier, Freeboy and Belphegor for directing the Japanese side even after the situation became hopeless. I hope that all the forum readers have enjoyed this thread. I will start a new thread with an end game analysis. Here is a screen shot with the final score:

[Rysyonok]

Wow.

Congrats!

[aztez]

Congratulations [:)]

[06 Maestro]

Very impressive ealy ending. The rate of play is also notable. I assume that there were many turns of little activity allowing for your 2.4 turns per day.
Congratulations.

I'm looking forward to your summary.

[Capt. Harlock]

SWPAC launchesb a final assault on Vigan:

Ground combat at Vigan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 162158 troops, 969 guns, 2813 vehicles

Defending force 41746 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 49 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
4343 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
1834 casualties reported
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 44

49 to 1 odds with only a 4:1 edge in men -- there's the value of tanks and artillery!

[racndoc]

Thanks all for your comments.

Maestro....when the game was started with Bison Frontier we made it through 14 months of game time in slightly over 3 months real life....an average of 4 turns per day. When Freeboy subbed we made in through 1 month of gametime in about 1 month of real life. Belphegor and I made it through the final 22 months of the game in about 12 months real life so almost 2 turns per day.

I will try to get a summary posted here over the next 24 hours.