Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma is becoming fluid at last after years of Japanese yoke. Allied troops stormed into Mandalay today with only a few AA/ART elements ebing quickly swept back towards Rangoon.

Some allied troops marched across the Irriwadei towards Rangoon. They were stopped the Japanese that had retreated over the past 2 days and 2 fresh IJA Divisions including IGD.

Having said that Allied LBA had taken over 1000 casualties from IGD alone today.

It looks like Faber will withdraw to either Rahaeng or Bangkok area IMO.

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In SRA recon detected 40,000 IJA men in 8 units at Balikpapan. Avout 10-15,000 more than I expected. It will be a tough fight here. My men are 50 miles away.

Pontianak created a 2nd airfield today so a TBM squadron flew in to interdict any nearby shipping.

Other than that all quiet from the Japanese with no land, sea or air attacks today.

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The first planes and fuel are ashore at Saipan today as the fierce battling of the Japanese continues:

Ground combat at Saipan

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 259999 troops, 2523 guns, 1275 vehicles, Assault Value = 5619

Defending force 26992 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 314

Allied max assault: 5303 - adjusted assault: 7290

Japanese max defense: 178 - adjusted defense: 580

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1930 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1350 casualties reported
Guns lost 51
Vehicles lost 13

3 more ships sank at Saipan port today.

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SS I-12 was attacked by several convoy escorts 480 miles wst of Wake receiving 15 x DC hits leaving her heavily damaged.

Air sightings = 4
Air attacks = 2
Air hits = 1 - SS Dragonet by a Sally 120 miles SE of Leyte - 33/19/0. Returning to Darwin.

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2 x AK, an LCI, LST, DD and 2 x DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More of the same in Burma with the Japanese in retreat harassed by Allied LBA.

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In SRA my recently arrived TBM's at Pontianak found a small enemy convoy at Toboali. 2 attacks were made during the day which sank PG Kongosan Maru and MSW Hanata Maru #6 and damaged AK Kiyosumi Maru with a torpedo. No enemy aircraft were present.

Allied land forces are 30 miles away from Singkawang and 40 miles from Balikpapan.

Balikpapan could be tougher than I thought with a reported 55,000 enemy troops present there.

B29's will hit Balikpapan's airfields and supply tomorrow all being well.

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At Saipan the unloading continues and a special BG arrives during the day.....the firts B29 BG to land at Saipan. They will rest for a few days before another joins them and then we start a night bombing campaign against Japanese cities.

My CV's will remain at Saipan until they have taken on board fuel, planes and pilots. Then we go hunting again...............

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SS Golet missed DD Sazanami with 4 torpedoes 240 miles ENE of Lamon Bay.

SS I-12 sank today.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 0

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CVE Cape Esperance, a DD and an AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Alled forces pushed across the Irriwadi from Mandlay todsay. They ran into rear guard IJA elements and routed them causing 600 enemy casualties. Pagan is also being abandoned and Allied untis will assault there tomorrow.

Allied soldiers north of Ranggon are coming under increasing pressure from IJA elements retreating from Mandalay.

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A fairly quiet day in the SRA. The enemy convoy surprisingly stayed at Toboali and TBM's damaged DD Murakumo with a torpedo and heavily damaged AK Hague Maru with a torpedo.

B29's caused moderate damage to Balikpapan. Now a reported 70,000 IJA men there.

The Japanese are certainly not short of sons to sacrifice. Will not be an easy victory here.

Damaged ships are moving past Timor to Darwin.

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Substantial fuel, planes and pilots arrived at Saipan today allowing all CV TF's to replenish. They will move out soon enough to go hunting for a bit.

The Japanese are still putting up stiff resistance in their caves. 6 Shermans were damaged today alone:

Ground combat at Saipan

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 264349 troops, 2566 guns, 1328 vehicles, Assault Value = 5667

Defending force 22676 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 232

Allied max assault: 5393 - adjusted assault: 7241

Japanese max defense: 127 - adjusted defense: 451

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
945 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 6

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As you have noticed their are fewer submarine attacks nowadys with the reduction of Japanese sea lanes. As such 10 x fleet boat have arrived in South China Sea anmd the Fleet boats around the Mariana's have moved further NW to the Iwo Jima/Okinawa region.

Air sightings = 15
Air attacks = 1

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SS Strongbow, an AK and AP arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Pagan fell in Burma today. The Japanese evacutaed throughout the night. The weary Allied men there will march directly SW to try and cut off some Japanese moving down the rail.

Allied are hot on the heels of the Japanese everywhere. A fraction of my 'Mandalay force' will march on Tuang Gyi which is defended by a reported 2 x enemy LCU's.

The Japanese have already abandoned Rangoon. As such some battered Indian troops and lots of ARM will embark at Chandpur tomorrow to take the place. 250,000 tonnes of supply are already en route.

Massive air bombing by the Allies throughout the day.

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Fairly quiet in the SRA as Allied men march on Singkawang and Balikpapan.

B29's hit 53rd Ind. Mixed Bde positions at Balikpapan.

Bomb armed Corsairs and TBM's finished off the damaged AK Hague Maru with 5 bombs and a torpedo 120 miles NE of Toboali today.

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At Saipan my men need a rest and as such only the artillery units will shell remaining enemy strongpoints tomorrow.

My CV's have refuelled, taken on board new planes and pilots. They will move out for some hunting of Japanese naval assets towards Luzon and Okinawa (2 x CF TF's each). If they find none then enemy airfields will be pounded.

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SS Runner heavily damaged AK Penang Maru (I swear I remember hitting her before) with a torpedo 240 miles NW of Lingayen.

SS Spadefish blew up AK Toyu Maru with 4 shells and 2 torpedoes 60 miles NE of Jesselton.

Air sightings = 9
Air attacks = 1

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3 x LST, an LCI, AK, TK and an SS arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More of the usual in Burma and in SRA. 2nd USMC Para's airdopped and took Makale on Sulawesi.

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In CentPac my CV's have moved out rapidly to the west and NW of the Mariana's. I've attached a screenshot clearly showing this. The 2 x CV forces will hopefully trap any enemy TF's in a 'pincer' but also allow me to attack enemy airfields and consolidate/retreat when I choose to. This operation will hopefully sink Japanese ships, destroy their planes but also sow seeds of doubt in Faber's mind as to where I may invade next...........

After resting for a day on Saipan my Divisions will attack the enemy strongpoints again.

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No submarine attacks today.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 0

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CA Cumberland, 2 x DD, an AK, AP and LST arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The Allied advance continues in Burma with the Spearhead routing a Japanese Divisions and Bde + ART, ENG into Taung Gyi. The main Japanese force is approaching my forces north of Rangoon. Happy to divide and destroy him though. Allied armour, spearheaded by 7th Armoured Division, raced on the heels of the Japanese and will attack Taung Gyi tomorrow.

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Fairly quiet in the SRA. Strange to see no further Japanee naval or air attacks. He would have little chance of breaking either Pontianak or Singkawang now anyway.

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My CV raid found enemy shipping today 1/2 way between Iwo Jima and Okinawa. 2 x enemy Transport TF were heavily attacked by Helldiver and Avenger aircraft:

Day Air attack on TF at 58,50


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 148
SB2C Helldiver x 93
TBM Avenger x 36


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 4 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arashio, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sanko Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Jinshu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Suzukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Teiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Higashiyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taibun Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Arabia Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,50


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 17
SB2C Helldiver x 31
TBM Avenger x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Higashiyama Maru, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hokoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arashio, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isokaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,50


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 54


Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AV Akitsushima, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #2
AP Toko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba
AP Meisho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Fumi Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,50


Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 31
TBM Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AV Akitsushima, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Minowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Wakaba
AP Oigawa Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,50


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 155
SB2C Helldiver x 127
TBM Avenger x 84


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Teiyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Higashiyama Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arashio, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Taibun Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hokoku Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sanko Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,50


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Minowa Maru, on fire
AV Akitsushima, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

CL Jintsu, AV Akitsushima, DD Arashio, DD Isokaze, PC Fumi Maru #3 + 2 x AP were confirmed sunk. I expect others to follow.

A P1Y raid was launched from Iwo Jima. All 30 attackers (JAcks escorting) were shot down by the 112 x HEllcat.

All in all the Japanese lost 30 planes to my 21 today (10 x losses due to naval attacks).

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SS Spadefish finished her successful patrol by sinking AK Nissyo Maru with 1 x shell and 3 torpeodes 60 miles NE of Jesselton.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 0

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An AK and AP arrive in theatre tomororw as do a P63A and Corsair squadron.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Taung Gyi, Burma was liberated today. Allied armoured untis routed IJA troops from a Division, Bde, AA Bn, 2 x Art Rgt, 2 x Construction Eng down a teai ltowards Rahaeng. 254th Indian Tk Bde will pursue whilst the main armoured units move westwards to catch the main Allied force approaching the Irriwadi NE of Rangoon.

The Japanese attemtped a desparate attack on the weary and battered Allied units holding the rail north of Rangoon:

Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 65717 troops, 255 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 1337

Defending force 56591 troops, 174 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 690

Japanese max assault: 1074 - adjusted assault: 317

Allied max defense: 698 - adjusted defense: 2326

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
4670 casualties reported
Guns lost 69
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
240 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

The main Japanese force of 30 units is 60 miles east of this position with 15 x Allied units hot on their heels a further 60 miles NE.

Rangoon should be taken tomororw. If I can hold the position north of Rangoon i'm hoping to bag a lot of Japanese. With it Malaya will surely go in time.

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TBM's attacked an enemy convoy NE of Palembang. Enemy Tojo's shot down a Corsair and 4 x TBM but MSW Tama Maru #3 was sunk with 2 bombs and AK Tien Lee was damaged by a bomb.

P47D's patrolled over Singkawang today as it was suspected the Japanese were ferrying in additional troops/supplies. I was right and 8 x Tina were shot down today.

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Bad weather throughout the Phillipine Sea prevented any CV ops today. CV group 1 will reach a point 240 miles east of Legaspi tomorrow. CV group 2 after nearing Okinawa will head east to attack suspected enemy shipping around Iwo Jima.

2 x AP sank due to air attack damage sustained yesterday.

A 2nd B29BG flew into Saipan overnight. Bad weather means they will rest tomorrow but them 96 x B29 will begin night attacks on Japan itself! In time a further 2 x B29BG will fly in and join the offensive.

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A fantastic day for my submarines today.

During the night:

SS Gabilan sank the troop laden AP Shoto Maru with 2 torpeodes deepo in the South China Sea. She was carrying elements of 15th Division.

SS Through sank AK Arimasan Maru with 2 torpedoes 180 miles ENE of Palembang.

During the day:

SS Pampanito missed ML Aotaka with 4 torpedoes 180 miles north of Iwo Jima[:-]

SS Hake sank AK Sansho Maru with 3 torpedoes 60 miles NE of Taytay.

SS Bluefish sank the CV damaged AP Toko Maru with a torpedo 420 miles NNE of Iwo Jima.

SS Cabrilla sank AK Tamishima Maru with 6 shells and 2 torpedoes 120 miles north of Iwo Jima.

SS Tilefish sank MSW W.21 with a torpedo 60 miles east of Camranh Bay.

Air sightings = 6
Air attacks = 1
Air hits = 1 - SS Spiteful by a Lilly bomb 60 miles SW of Kuala Lumpuir - 21/32/0. Returning to Columbo.

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2 x LST, an AK and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[DuckofTindalos]

Damn! Good day for the Silent Service...[X(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The Japanese attempted their 'final' attempt to smash through the Allied lines north of Rangoon today. It failed. Faber will probably try to march towards friendly forces to the SE. I will try to keep him in position whilst the Allied juggernaut closes in from the NE.

Rangoon will fall tomorrow.

Faber pulled a good move by sending some Tonies on CAP over his troops. They shot down 7 x Liberator but lost 6 of their own number in the process.

Other than 80,000 IJA north of Moulmein these are the last mass of battered remnants that failed to dislodge my minor battered force north of Rangoon:

Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 218025 troops, 565 guns, 595 vehicles, Assault Value = 5339

Defending force 56475 troops, 176 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 696

Japanese max assault: 3388 - adjusted assault: 2592

Allied max defense: 707 - adjusted defense: 2197

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
5837 casualties reported
Guns lost 64
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1816 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Vehicles lost 1

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Allied forces have reached Balikpapan and a predicted 80,000 enemy troops. Kudos to Faber for getting so many men there so quickly. I doubt i'll take ths place easily if at all.

Both Pomala and Tomini were taken by 2nd USMC Paras.

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My CV's found enemy shipping between Iwo Jima and Japan and at Legaspi.

About 30 enemy ships were hit today (all DD/AP/AK) with DD Ushio, DD Yugumo, 5 x AP and 6 x AK confirmed sunk.

In return 43 x Zeke Kamikazi screamed from the heavens (PZB Maximum Altitude method) towards CV Essex & Co near Iwo Jima. Only 1 managed to hit a ship - CVL Langley - Belt Armour - 8/0/0.

CV group 1 will move inbetween Iwo Jima and Tori Shima before moving south and attacking the airfields.

CV group 2 will move north towards Aparri before retiring to Saipan.

Tomorrow night 96 x B29 will hopefully bomb Osaka's Manpower.....the first attack on the Japanese mainland by B29's.

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SS Flounder heavily damaged the oil laden TK Funakawa Maru with a torpedo 240 miles NE of Camranh Bay.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

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2 x LST arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Allies advance closer to the Japanese over the Irriwadi in Burma. Within 2 days the majority of my Burma force will be 60 miles east of his position.

Rangoon is taken intact.

The Tony's providing CAP over his troops received a welcome today in the form of P47D's. 9 of the enemy were shot down for no friendly loss.

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In SRA an enemy convoy was attacked by TBM's at Kuching. No hits were achieved though.

As predicted our forces are fairly even at Balikpapan. The Japanese has 2 x Division + 2 x Bde there. I do have slightly more AV in total though:

Ground combat at Balikpapan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 59921 troops, 622 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 1740

Defending force 78343 troops, 841 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 1459


Japanese ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

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My CV groups had a disappointing day. Only 3 more enemy ships were hit and sank near Japan. In return 43 x A6M5c Kamikazi screamed from the heavens 4 of which heavily damaged CV Intrepid (58/11/20) near Tori Shima. This is frustrating since there is NOTHING I can do to defend against it. It is 'fair' IMO though due to other game skews. Provided no more hits are sustained she will make Saipan under guard from my 4 other CV's.

In retaliation CV group 1 will hit both Iwo Jima and Bonin's airfield/port tomorrow.

CV group 2 will move towards Takao and hit her airfielfds/port before retiring to Saipan.

The first B29 raid took place against Japan today as 38 B29's achieved 15 Manpower hits at Osaka (65 fires). Very little damage I know. But a start. 1 x B29 was shot down by AA.

QUESTION - Do 1000's of fires damage other industry?

In total the enemy lost 92 planes to my 13 today.

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SS Capelin missed AP Miyako Maru at Kuching. In return the escorts landed 1 x DC near miss - 4/0/0.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

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SS Spikefish and 2 x AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

In Buma the Japanese have started to pull out from NE of Rangoon heading SE towards Moulmein. As such my main force will march westwards to try and stop this. I doubt I will and then we will try to force the river north of Moulmein. The Allied air power is harassing him all of the time.

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Pretty quiet in SRA with land bombardments at Balikpapan.

Allied forces are between 15 and 25 miles from Singkawang.

The enemy convoy unloaded a unit at Kuching and made away with only a bomb hit on AP Miyako Maru to show for it[:-]

I am thinking of getting more LCU's into this region.

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Bad weather across the Pacific meant no CV raids were launched or any raids against my CV's.

CV group 2 will head towards Okinawa before heading back to Saipan.

CV group 1 is still protecting CV Intrepid heading past Iwo Jima.

The Japanese are weakening at Saipan with 3700 enemy soldiers either being killed or surrendered today.

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SS Hake sank TK Kokuei Maru with 2 torpedoes 60 miles NE of Taytay.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

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An SS, LCI, LST and an AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Ok today was a today of annoyance for me....I will come on to that in a bit.

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The Japanese retreat continues in Burma with 1/2 the Japanese force moving towards Rahaeng. Fine by me. The question is how do I proceed from here? Do I mass against Rahaeng? Try against Tavoy? Perform a sea invasion against Victoria Point for example? 1/2 of my units could do with a good rest at Rangoon to recover losses but I have to keep up the pressure.

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A further IJA Bde has arrived at Balikpapan making our forces even.

I have decided to empty Australia in time. As such 4 x Division, 1 x Cav Bde, 1 x Bde will march to Darwin and overtime I will free them with PP's.

Usual air attacks against Bali, Macassar, Kendari and Balikpapan.

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NOW ON THE ANNOYANCE.

CV Intrepid was pummelled today by about 15 Kamikazi. Naturally she sank. Off Okinawa CV Lexington and CV Wasp both took a Kamikazi hit (minor damage). Of Iwo Jima CV Franklin took a Kamikazi (19/4/11). Annoyances:

1.) CV group 1 was told to stay with CV Intrepid with Patrol/do not retire orders BUT they sailed south on their own leaving CV Intrepid to her fate[:@][:@][:@][:@]

2.) Over the course of a week i've lost a CV (never happened to USN after 42) and had 3 x CV, 1 x CVL hit by Kamikazi. All for the loss of 400 aircraft. I understand why Faber is doing the High Alt Zeke Kamikazi since Uber CAP means he has no choice but in all seriousness if I stayed off Iwo Jima or Okinawa for a month I could theoretically lose all of my CV to this method[8|][:@] Note I have no qualm with Faber here.

As such I have no choice but to retire my CV's until they are used at Iwo Jima. I will have to go back to the tried and tested method of smashing everything with 4E..........first in line is Japan.

The only good CV news today was that an enemy convoy of 5 x AK, 2 x MSW and 1 x PG was smashed by CV group 1 near Okinawa.

42 x B29 bombed Hamamatsu's HI during the night causing no damage[8|] an enemy Irving NF was shot down.

Elements of 11BG B29's have begun to arrive in Saipan. Twining's Air HQ is boarding at San Francisco to co-ordinate air operations at Saipan.

Tomorrow night's target is Shimuzu's Mitsubishi's engine factories.

The fight of the enemy on Saipan is virtually extinguished today. The last enemy formation is surrounded in the mountains and 14,5000 Japanese soldiers died/captured today vs 288 American.

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No submarine attacks today.

Air sightings = 10
Air attacks = 0

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CV Hancock, 2 x LST and a DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[DuckofTindalos]

Faber must be jumping up and down as high as his stubby penguin legs can lift him...[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi T - needless to say I wasn't[:'(]

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In Burma the Allied juggernaut will move towards Japanese positions NE of Moulmein. He has 10 units and 106,500 men there. I have about 30 units crossing the river. My men are tired but I need to keep up the pressure.

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In SRA Faber had 10 fighters on LRCAP over Balikpapan to meet my B29's. He lost 2 x Tojo for 2 of my B29's. They will rest tomorrow and IF Faber keeps his fighters on CAP they will find P38J's sweeping from Banja.

An enemy convoy was attacked by TBM's near Singkep Island. MSW Takasago Maru was sunk with 2 bombs and AK Kisogawa Maru damaged by a bomb.

An Allied AK sank due to previous damage at Pontianak.

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The last enemy remnants were extinguished at Saipan today with a further 10,000 Japanese casualties. They have netted me 600 VP's over the past 2 days.

Annoyingly my B29's bombed Shimuzu's Engine factories but AGAIN caused no damage. WTF? In the process they lost 3 planes to 2 x Nick NF. I will rest tomorrow.

CV group 2 should reach Saipan tomorrow.

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SS Tantalus evaded convoy escorts 120 miles NE of Palembang.

SS Through sank AK Fukuei Maru with 5 torpedoes over 2 attacks. In return she received 1 x DC near miss - 4/0/0. Out of torpedoes so back to Columbo.

Air sightings = 14
Air attacks = 0

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An AK and 2 x LST arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a B29BG.

[DuckofTindalos]

Start flying some recon over the HI if you aren't already.

[Speedysteve]

Can't reach it from where I am.
 
Would that affect my night bombing accuracy?

[DuckofTindalos]

Use your B-29's for recce. All successful recce should increase bombing accuracy.

[Speedysteve]

Danke

[VSWG]

Check out the 2 threads about strategic bombardment in section II.D of the "Must read" list:

tm.asp?m=1274014

I'm very interested in the results as well. Good luck!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi VBSWG - great stuff. Many thanks. We'll see how this goes. I too am looking forward to this part of the war but I must say my experience of Night Bombing leads me to beluieve it won't be decisive. Tomorrow all Saipan B29's and Mossie's from Chungking will recon Japan before attacking one of these targets the next night.

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A pretty quiet day overall with the Japanese retreat to Rahaeng continuing and the Allied preparing to cross the river to north of Moulmein within 2 days.

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Also quiet in SRA.

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In Centpac CV group 2 reached Saipan safely today and refuelled. CV Franklin (23 SYS) will return to PH for repair.

The next stage is to decide when to attack Iwo Jima and whetehr to go for Tinian for example to give me more airfields for B29's..........

Also to plan is to take the South Pacific bases and the isolated Japanese remnants in the Marshalls if at all...........

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SS Tantalus sank AP Kirishima Maru with 2 torpeodes 120 miles NE of Palembang.

SS Saury damaged AP Hokuriku Maru with a torpedo 120 miles SE of Palembang.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 0

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2 x AK, an LCI(G), LST and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a B29 BG and a PB4Y Squadron.