Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]22 - 23 December 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] His subs are getting into some deep areas. The Bonefish took out an Aden xAK near Ishigaki. There is a lot of air ASW here plus a few ASW TFs nearby. I usually move the ASW to the hex where the attack was with a one day hold on that position, as I'm pretty sure the sub won't change patrol after a success. It's worked so far.

For our side the I-38 took out an SC near the Australian coast.

No luck with bigger ships around Milne Bay. I lost the RO-62 after it was forced to surface and gunned down.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] The invasion comes in as predicted. It would have been tough to stop unless I wanted to commit lots of BBs and waves of strike planes. Still I might not have been able to do anything, and the risks are too high for the potential gains here. When there is a bit more ocean between his level 9 base and the invasion, that is when I will throw the kitchen sink in.

Looks like we're facing two divisions, two combat engineers and a tank unit here. Good composition, and I'm worried I won't even get him into a 1:2 if he is careful and really prepares. At Port Moresby he was impatient and went right away. If he waits and continues to bombard, we'll fold after a few days. Disruption is slowly growing even in the bigger garrison units.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The force moving from Alice Springs is confirmed as having 55k+ troops and a number of guns and AFVs. He's coming overland. He'll get what he wants as long as supply lasts. I will only hold with forces currently in OZ, which is not much.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Stasis still. no troop movements including no forays from Magwe to other bases in the area. Odd, but welcome. Most troops from Katha and Myitkyina are nearing Lashio now. They will hold the flank road to secure Taung Gyi. I'm not concerned about Lashio itself, but the road from it and one hex South are trouble if the Allies go that way.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 22, 43
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Sub attack near Bundaberg at 97,153

Japanese Ships
SS I-38

Allied Ships
SC PC-580, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC PC-581

SS I-38 launches 2 torpedoes at SC PC-580
I-38 diving deep ....
SC PC-581 attacking submerged sub ....
SC PC-581 is out of ASW ammo
SC PC-581 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Ishigaki at 89,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Havre Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Taibun Maru
xAK Tensyo Maru
xAK Karachi Maru
PB Toko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Bonefish

SS Bonefish launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Havre Maru
PB Toko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on 8th Garrison Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 15
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 21
B-24D1 Liberator x 63
B-24J Liberator x 26
B-25C Mitchell x 40
B-25D1 Mitchell x 79
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 17


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 23, 43
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Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Monssen
BB Prince of Wales
BB Indiana
DD Gillespie
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Meade
DD Hobby

SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Monssen
RO-33 diving deep ....
DD Doyle fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hobby attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-33 forced to surface!
DD Hobby firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Carmick firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

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ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, hits 3

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Cleveland
DD Nicholas
DD Strong
DD Stanly
DD O'Bannon

SS RO-62 is sighted by escort
DD Strong fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD O'Bannon attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Milne Bay at 99,135

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 8

Allied Ships
DD Dale
DD Nepal
DD Arrow

SS I-10 is located by DD Dale
DD Nepal fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Arrow attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-10 eludes DD Arrow by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub

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Amphibious Assault at Milne Bay (101,133)

TF 235 troops unloading over beach at Milne Bay, 101,133


Allied ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (1 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 131st Combat Engr Rgt
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 43 lost in surf during unload of 24th Infantry Div /4
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 32nd Infantry Div /5

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Invasion Support action off Milne Bay (101,133)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

139 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Helena
CL St. Louis
SC PC-782
SC PC-780
SC PC-779
SC PC-777
APA Arthur Middleton
SC PC-1077

Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CL Helena firing at 8th Garrison Unit
SC PC-782 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

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Sub attack near Bataan at 75,77

Japanese Ships
TK Kyokuho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
TK Ayayuki Maru
PB Seikai Maru

Allied Ships
SS Halibut

SS Halibut launches 4 torpedoes at TK Kyokuho Maru
Halibut diving deep ....
PB Seikai Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11531 troops, 67 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 465

Defending force 22765 troops, 427 guns, 595 vehicles, Assault Value = 956

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
26th Air Defense AA Regiment
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
20th Fld AA Machinecannon Company
37th Const Co
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd Base Force

Defending units:
32nd Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Bn /2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]
Low garrison leads to damage and 1 VP loss from partisan attack at Mandalay (59, 46)!

Reinforcements: A destroyed and bought out AA unit arrives in Tokyo.

[font="Trebuchet MS"] MTB G-165 arrives at Kobe
31st Fld AA Gun Co arrives at Tokyo

Aircraft Ki-43-IV Oscar advances R&D
Aircraft J2M5 Jack advances R&D[/font]

Losses: Losing a lot of subs here lately. I need to pull these back to Truk and re-organize.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS RO-33 on Dec 23, 1943 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: I knew the St. Louis wasn't gone after a TT hit a while back.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SC PC-580 is reported to have been sunk near Bundaberg on Dec 22, 1943
Previous report of sinking of CL St. Louis incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 101, 133
Previous report of sinking of SS Haddo incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The J2M3 is now entering service. At service level 2 I think this fighter could be really useful. It's not good up high though, and with our second best maneuver band setting, it will be at 15k most of the time. I just noticed though that it has a much better range than the previous model, out to 11 hexes with drop tanks. Also the cruise (219) is closer to the D4Y3 and the B6N2 (207) than the A6M5b (230).

I'm thinking of pumping up production to 80-100 a month and getting this into all LBA escort groups instead of zeros and then it's at least somewhat useful in a defensive role as well. Plus I feel with the armor, greater speed and durability and better armament, it will have a chance to punch more strikes through a tough CAP than any zero model. The next George model that is also service 2 has the same range and is nearly identical other than a faster cruise speed.

Any thoughts? [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[jeffk3510]

I am not expert. Especially on the Japanese.

I would agree with your reasoning behind using them as LBA escorts. The cruise speed should help in escorting the said bombers. They also have more armor. If their second best manuevor rating is only 15k, that shouldn't handcuff you at all on escorting bombers...I rarely have mine that high.

[GreyJoy]

Erik, the J2M3 is surely better than a zero. Hands down.
It's better in every role you put it: CAP, Anti-4E, escort...whatever.
 
However i do think that by this time of the war roles should slightly go changing. The only thing you really need for escort role is armour (and maybe some mvr doesn't hurt either). The IJNAF is much smaller than the IJAF, so why waste precious IJN fighter groups on escort roles and some precious Jacks too (both can do a good job defending your important bases) and leave the whole escort thing to IJAAF with their Oscars IIb and IIIa? They have armour and you have enough IJAAF sentais around and so many pilots you cannot even count them.
 
While i'm always short on good IJN pilots, i swim in IJA ones... so i believe for you it's the same.
 
Agree on the Tabby...i wish i had done it before[:(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Erik, the J2M3 is surely better than a zero. Hands down.
It's better in every role you put it: CAP, Anti-4E, escort...whatever.

However i do think that by this time of the war roles should slightly go changing. The only thing you really need for escort role is armour (and maybe some mvr doesn't hurt either). The IJNAF is much smaller than the IJAF, so why waste precious IJN fighter groups on escort roles and some precious Jacks too (both can do a good job defending your important bases) and leave the whole escort thing to IJAAF with their Oscars IIb and IIIa? They have armour and you have enough IJAAF sentais around and so many pilots you cannot even count them.

While i'm always short on good IJN pilots, i swim in IJA ones... so i believe for you it's the same.

Agree on the Tabby...i wish i had done it before[:(]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

I am not expert. Especially on the Japanese.

I would agree with your reasoning behind using them as LBA escorts. The cruise speed should help in escorting the said bombers. They also have more armor. If their second best manuevor rating is only 15k, that shouldn't handcuff you at all on escorting bombers...I rarely have mine that high.

Thanks for the feedback. It just dawned on me that I could phase out the zero for all but CV ops and I got a bit happy. [:D]

Definitely the Oscars are the main escorts, and the IJAAF pilots are plentiful, but I have found them fickle in terms of flying with an IJN strike package. Not sure if there are any tricks here, but during my last try I had three groups (100+ Oscar IIb) that didn't fly when the other IJN zeros, Georges, and Jacks did. I threw all on as I knew there would be intense CAP. If the Oscars had flown I would have lost them but the Allies would have lost a few DDs in that CAP trap. Maybe I need an IJAAF HQ in range, not just the IJN one?

So, if I just turn off some of the A6M5 factories and convert one to J2M3 I waste 50k or so supply, but end up with a much better plane all around. That would give me 85 a month to start out. Not enough but getting ramped up slowly. I could put the raw trained pilots into the J2M3 groups to use both as CAP and escort, and as they improved over 60 exp, then switch them to a George unit. Using the on CAP I can leave only a small percentage on and the rest will come up quickly due to the climb rate as well. Even though many pilots will die, the strikes getting through is most important. Though it may not matter as much as it should, the quality does seem to get them through better (as seen with the early KB pilots with 80 exp, and US groups switching to Hellcats in 43).

[SqzMyLemon]

It would be nice if bombing missions would act in the same way as defending fighter units set to training do. If training units can cherry pick incoming raids to avoid (sweeps) or interdict (unescorted bombers), it seems it should be possible for naval air strikes to recognize a CAP trap (a couple of low value ships) and abort rather than simply fly on and get massacred trying to sink an AMc or such.

[Dora09]

ORIGINAL: obvert




Definitely the Oscars are the main escorts, and the IJAAF pilots are plentiful, but I have found them fickle in terms of flying with an IJN strike package.

I have experienced this too. I have a few Ki43 groups as dedicated escorts and it seems about 1/3rd of the times that they coordinate with IJN bombers. Unfortunately I don't know the trick.

[Dora09]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

It would be nice if bombing missions would act in the same way as defending fighter units set to training do. If training units can cherry pick incoming raids to avoid (sweeps) or interdict (unescorted bombers), it seems it should be possible for naval air strikes to recognize a CAP trap (a couple of low value ships) and abort rather than simply fly on and get massacred trying to sink an AMc or such.

Agreed. I always wondered if having bombing group leaders with low aggression stats would do this. I have thought of trying but never do because then I am afraid that they won't fly when I need them. Have you or anyone experimented with low aggression group leaders or HQ leaders?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

It would be nice if bombing missions would act in the same way as defending fighter units set to training do. If training units can cherry pick incoming raids to avoid (sweeps) or interdict (unescorted bombers), it seems it should be possible for naval air strikes to recognize a CAP trap (a couple of low value ships) and abort rather than simply fly on and get massacred trying to sink an AMc or such.

Especially the same group that flew inthe morning already!

I've decided I just won't be able to contest everything. It's sad, but maybe this will make him a bit jumpy and he won't know when it's coming and when it s not. It will give a respite to build pools. I'm okay but any more strikes like the last one and I wouldn't be for long.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Dora09

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

It would be nice if bombing missions would act in the same way as defending fighter units set to training do. If training units can cherry pick incoming raids to avoid (sweeps) or interdict (unescorted bombers), it seems it should be possible for naval air strikes to recognize a CAP trap (a couple of low value ships) and abort rather than simply fly on and get massacred trying to sink an AMc or such.

Agreed. I always wondered if having bombing group leaders with low aggression stats would do this. I have thought of trying but never do because then I am afraid that they won't fly when I need them. Have you or anyone experimented with low aggression group leaders or HQ leaders?

I'm afraid to try this now in game, but i might try it soon if I have any time in a test. Might not be for a while though.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Dora09

Agreed. I always wondered if having bombing group leaders with low aggression stats would do this. I have thought of trying but never do because then I am afraid that they won't fly when I need them. Have you or anyone experimented with low aggression group leaders or HQ leaders?

I'm afraid to try this now in game, but i might try it soon if I have any time in a test. Might not be for a while though.

I'd be worried they wouldn't fly at all. I don't think having a low aggression leader is the answer unless your intention is to never attack the enemy in the first place. [:D]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]24 - 25 December 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] I'm getting on a first name basis with a few more Allied subs. The Escolar and Bonefish are operating near the Chinese coast. Most big convoys go this way, so it's in good hunting ground and dangerous territory, as both the air and sea ASW is extensive here. The Halibut is working the approaches to Manila. I've got two ASW teams hunting this sub. Hatsuhara gave the crew a Christmas present on the 25th, but nothing too damaging.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Air and sea forces continue to bombard Milne Bay while the ground troops gave a bombardment of their own. We're only about half of their strength, so this could be a quick affair.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] Troops advancing still between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Helens attacked one day too many over Magwe and I lost about 20 today vs Lightnings.

A big strike hits Taung Gyi, but the fields only end up about 50% damaged. There are a lot of engineers and some good AA here. No new troops movements.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Some activity near Baker Island. Could he go for another one out here? Subs are on stand-by.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 24, 43
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Night Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 5 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Indiana
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Meade
DD Hobby
DD Gillespie
DD Farenholt
DD Monssen
DD Gwin

Japanese ground losses:
395 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 45
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

BB Prince of Wales firing at Milne Bay
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Alabama

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Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD McKee
DD Eaton
DD DeHaven
DD Cony
DD Conway
DD Bradford
DD Bache
DD Fletcher

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 2

DD Fletcher firing at Milne Bay

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Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Cleveland
DD Strong
DD Stanly
DD O'Bannon
DD Nicholas
DD LaVallette
DD Jenkins

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
Port hits 25
Port supply hits 3

CL Montpelier firing at Milne Bay

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Morning Air attack on 45th Indian Brigade, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19



Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 14 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
5318th PAU/FS with P-38H Lightning (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead

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Morning Air attack on 18th Garrison Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-24D Liberator x 32
B-24D1 Liberator x 113
B-24J Liberator x 31
B-25C Mitchell x 31
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 29

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 59,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes


Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
Liberator GR.III x 12
Wellington Ic x 16
Wellington B.X x 16
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 51
B-24J Liberator x 67
B-25C Mitchell x 49

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 66

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 25, 43
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ASW attack near Bataan at 75,77

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS Halibut, hits 2

SS Halibut is located by DD Hatsuharu
Halibut diving deep ....
DD Hatsuharu attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Hong Kong at 76,63

Japanese Ships
TK Kuroshio Maru
E Manju
AV Sagara Maru
AO Shinkoku Maru
TK Teiyo Maru
TK San Ramon Maru
TK Otowasan Maru
DD Akikaze
E Sokuten

Allied Ships
SS Bonefish

SS Bonefish launches 2 torpedoes at TK Kuroshio Maru
Bonefish bottoming out ....
DD Akikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
E Sokuten fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Afternoon Air attack on Det. 3rd Special Base Force, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-24D Liberator x 16
B-24D1 Liberator x 66
B-24J Liberator x 29
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19653 troops, 422 guns, 323 vehicles, Assault Value = 980

Defending force 15357 troops, 181 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 449

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Bn /2

Defending units:
8th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
37th Const Co
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
20th Fld AA Machinecannon Company
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
26th Air Defense AA Regiment
3rd Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Anotehr destryed and bought out unit returns. These AA might go to Truk.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]30th Fld AA Gun Co arrives at Tokyo[/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk: none.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of SS S-39 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of SS S-45 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
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___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Allies have still not moved to take over either Mandalay or Meiktila, but instead are sitting at Magwe. I'm trying to think of a reason for this, but the only thing I can think is that they have no supply. The longer things take, the more chance they will not have achieved anything before the monsoon, which could make things tougher. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]26 - 27 December 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Tang is working the North side of Borneo, another new one. Several of our subs get punted around Milne Bay. Two sink. All others will pull back now that the base has fallen.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Milne Bay falls! This did not take as long as I'd hoped, but I think Jocke has figured out that a lot of prep will work against these entrenched targets, and I will now have to equal his strength to hold for longer. I may consider how to spring something of a surprise in the Salamua area. I have a lot of troops gathering from the lower Solomons now in Rabaul. I have to garrison Gasmata, Cape Gloucester and get more to Umboi. The hard part is not knowing where he will strike amphibiously. The closer to Rabaul the more risky it is though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] More transports are getting units out up here and moving back to the Kuriles. The fighters have reverted to training units, and I released 100+ experienced pilots to the fighter pool, which was much needed. Urrupa-Jima and Paramushio-Jima will have HQs. I'm getting more troops allocated to the area, so that by the swing this will be a tough place to mess with. He will likely need to go through a few of the Aleutians at least before even considering it. I have some pickets out making sure nothing sneaky happens.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] Looks like in about late January early February the Katherine-Darwin area will be under siege. It won't be long. I will push back at the point troops arrive. By then I should have good garrisons and new air units ready to defend. Then I'll need to start on the next line.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Still no movements here. More bombing, this time of Lashio. The more he hits this area the happier I am.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Still seeing some stuff happening near Baker.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 26, 43
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Morning Air attack on 8th Garrison Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 17
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-24D Liberator x 27
B-24D1 Liberator x 93
B-24J Liberator x 38
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 27

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 3rd Base Force, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 61
B-25D1 Mitchell x 93
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lashio , at 62,46

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
Liberator B.III x 14
Liberator GR.III x 12
Wellington Ic x 16
Wellington B.X x 16
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 49
B-24J Liberator x 85

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 56
Airbase supply hits 24
Runway hits 146

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at 100,133

TF 44 troops unloading over beach at 100,133 Presumably another HQ landing so they don't split during a contested landing at Milne Bay.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 27, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
DD Trathen
DD Taylor
DD Spence
DD Schroeder

SS RO-60 is sighted by escort
DD Trathen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Taylor fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Spence attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,133

Japanese Ships
SS RO-65, hits 13, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Alabama
DD Gwin
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Meade
DD Hobby

SS RO-65 is sighted by escort
DD Doyle fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Carmick fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Doyle attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Indiana
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Meade
DD Hobby
DD Gillespie
DD Farenholt
DD Monssen
DD Gwin

Japanese ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 42
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 4

BB Prince of Wales firing at Milne Bay
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Alabama

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-179, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Ringgold
DD Renshaw
DD Trathen
DD Taylor

SS I-179 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Ringgold
DD Trathen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Taylor attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Orchid Island at 86,68

Japanese Ships
PB Kohuku Maru
PB Kyo Maru #3
PB Kaiyo Maru #1
PB Banshu Maru #18
TK Manshu Maru
TK Namba Maru
TK Tsukuba Maru
TK Toyohi Maru
PC Take
PB Takunan Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Dorado

SS Dorado launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kohuku Maru
Dorado diving deep ....
PC Take fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Kohuku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takunan Maru #3 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Kohuku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ningpo at 93,58

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-58
SC CHa-44

Allied Ships
SS Escolar, hits 2

Captain of SS Escolar elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Escolar bottoming out ....
SC CHa-58 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-58 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-58 is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Garrison Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 29
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 30
B-24D1 Liberator x 96
B-24J Liberator x 39
B-25C Mitchell x 28
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 29

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23074 troops, 427 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 995

Defending force 15033 troops, 177 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 440

Allied adjusted assault: 767

Japanese adjusted defense: 291

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1958 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 156 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 87 (16 destroyed, 71 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1118 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 26 disabled


Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Bn /2

Defending units:
8th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
37th Const Co
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
20th Fld AA Machinecannon Company
26th Air Defense AA Regiment
3rd Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Interested to see what the Ki-100 will do later. Getting closer now as the last of the inline Tonys pushes forward. It's likely I won't build this because of the higher service rating.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]ML G-201 arrives at Hiroshima/Kure

Aircraft Ki-61-II KAI Tony advances R&D[/font]

Losses: No luck near Milne.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS I-179 on Dec 27, 1943 is admitted
Loss of SS RO-60 on Dec 27, 1943 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: None.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]even though these RO subs are fragile and easily sunk, they have provided some good hits on important naval ships during the game. I am continuing to build some, but I have mostly concentrated on subs with planes for the future building program to use as early warning of Allied moves. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]28 - 29 December 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Lapon hits a small TK and sinks it.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] More bombing of Milne Bay and even some DB units from Port Moresby got into it. Some 4Es and some DBs were hit and downed by flak. Nice to see this working. I'm surprised he doesn't go ahead at Milne Bay, but he certainly is going to make sure after the first setbacks at Port Moresby.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] Trying to get in and out quickly up in the North to avoid any streaking DDs.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Jocke hits Prome today. A few Dinah lost on the ground, and I'll pull those back. No sense having them exposed out here. Earlier it gave me good depth into India, but that's not needed anymore.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 28, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Laoag at 80,72

Japanese Ships
TK Shichiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kyo Maru #3
PB Kaiyo Maru #1
TK Manshu Maru
TK Namba Maru
TK Tsukuba Maru
TK Toyohi Maru
PC Take
PB Kohuku Maru
PB Takunan Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Lapon

SS Lapon launches 4 torpedoes at TK Shichiyo Maru
Lapon diving deep ....
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kohuku Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Takunan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Victoria Point at 49,62

Japanese Ships
E Mikura
E Natsushima
E Kamome

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

SS Trusty is located by E Mikura
Trusty diving deep ....
E Natsushima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Kamome fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamome attacking submerged sub ....
E Kamome fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
Liberator B.III x 13
Liberator GR.III x 11
Wellington Ic x 16
Wellington B.X x 16
B-17F Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 47
B-24J Liberator x 83

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 84

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Base Force, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 28
B-25C Mitchell x 61
B-25D1 Mitchell x 75
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 29, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 3rd Base Force, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-24D Liberator x 31
B-24D1 Liberator x 96
B-24J Liberator x 29
B-25C Mitchell x 45
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 27

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 29th Field AA Machinecannon Company, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 28
B-25D1 Mitchell x 76
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Only one more CL coming. These are decent ships, but like most Japanese stuff, won't stand up to new Allied versions.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CL Yahagi arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo[/font]

Losses: None.

Ships Sunk: None.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CL Yahagi[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]30 - 31 December 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Halibut gets the business near Luzon. After several days of searching both ASW TFs found it and the Es dropped a good amount of ordnance on her. That should be it.

On the 31st the RO-104 gets a shot at the Essex. No hits from four TT. So close again. Jocke's not happy my subs are getting inside the screen and all of the way to the CVs, but these are night attacks, so I could see how it could happen. Also, for someone who's had subs hit CVs about 6 times in game so far, he shouldn't be too upset about this! [;)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] After two shore bombardments and two massive air raids, the US infantry sends us packing at Milne Bay. It's a long walk to Buna. This was not much of a speed bump. Buna will likely not be much better as the Allies control the skies and there is little remaining supply there. I'll hold as long as I can there though. The next line should be at Salamua, but that is assuming he will move overland. I have to prepare more garrison at Gasmata, Umboi and Cape Gloucester as well as Lae and Finchafen. If I don't see a move overland I may pull back to the choke point around Umboi and try to hold there, which is much closer to air support as well.

Virtually all units and pieces of units that can be airlifted from Deboyne Island, Fergussen Island, Kirawina and Woodlark have been removed. I'm now working on Rossel and getting more troops up from the lower Solomons. The Coastal Gun unit that's been at Ndeni is mostly lifted. Only the 20cm guns remain, and I'll send in a very small one transport TF to try for that.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Troops at last made it across the river and the main Allied army is now sitting in the woods one hex from our stack and across from Toungoo. I've got units moving to that hex from Toungoo, the hex to the North of that where our line is set, and now from the main stack. I'll attempt to invest the hex from those three sides in order to block any further forward movement once those sides are closed. Our main stack will al move in apart from the tank divisions that I want to be available for reserve and support. So two will stay in hex next to Prome and one will sit one hex North of Toungoo. Still no movement from the Allies in Magwe.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Here we go. Bombardment of Baker has begun. This has level 6 forts, but it doesn't take the first blows well. Subs have been vectored in now that we know where the CVs are again. Also good to know as the Essex confirms this is the main fleet, so they won't be running any snap invasions elsewhere fr at least another 1-2 months. That will give plenty of time to bring in the last frontline defenders to Sumatra and Java and fill in some behind them.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 30, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Naval bombardment of Baker Island at 149,136

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
CA Boston
CA Vincennes
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis

Japanese ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 18
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 4

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Mississippi
BB Mississippi firing at 82nd Naval Guard Unit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB Indiana
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Meade
DD Hobby
DD Gillespie
DD Farenholt
DD Monssen
DD Gwin

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 13
Port hits 1

BB Prince of Wales firing at 8th Garrison Unit
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Alabama

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CA Wichita
DD Trathen
DD Taylor
DD Spence
DD Schroeder
DD Ringgold
DD Renshaw
DD Philip
DD Brownson

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 17
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 1

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Baltimore
CA Baltimore firing at Milne Bay

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bataan at 75,77

Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS Halibut

SS Halibut launches 4 torpedoes at DD Wakaba
Halibut diving deep ....
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bataan at 75,77

Japanese Ships
E Wakamiya

Allied Ships
SS Halibut, hits 18, heavy damage

SS Halibut is sighted by escort
E Wakamiya fails to find sub, continues to search...
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Garrison Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 10
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 22
B-24D1 Liberator x 98
B-24J Liberator x 32
B-25C Mitchell x 46
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 27

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Base Force, at 101,133 (Milne Bay)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 17
B-25D1 Mitchell x 111
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 5 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 61st Naval Guard Unit, at 149,136 (Baker Island)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 120
SBD-5 Dauntless x 27
TBF-1 Avenger x 71

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22287 troops, 427 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 888

Defending force 13253 troops, 170 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 282

Allied adjusted assault: 1871

Japanese adjusted defense: 107

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4327 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 111 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 78 (65 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 11

Allied ground losses:
502 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
24th Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
18th Garrison Unit
8th Garrison Unit
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
26th Air Defense AA Regiment
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
20th Fld AA Machinecannon Company
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
37th Const Co
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Det. 3rd Special Base Force Wiped Out at Milne Bay by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 31, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Baker Island at 155,136

Japanese Ships
SS RO-104, hits 5

Allied Ships
CV Essex
CLAA Oakland
DD The Sullivans
DD Aylwin
DD Lang
DD Ellet
DD Benham

SS RO-104 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Essex
RO-104 diving deep ....
DD Aylwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kure 7th SNLF, at 99,129 (Buna)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 18
B-17E Fortress x 18
B-24D Liberator x 23
B-24D1 Liberator x 101
B-24J Liberator x 40
B-25C Mitchell x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 25

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Garrison Unit , at 99,129 (Buna)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 10
B-25C Mitchell x 52
B-25D1 Mitchell x 78
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Mitchell II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Much needed base forces for Malaya and Sumatra. Lots of new fighter groups for the IJN. All will train first and then some will move to the frontline. One of the last xAKs being built arrives. The merchant building now will be TKs and LSTs for the most part.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]19th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Nagoya
31st JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo
MTB G-538 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
31st Army arrives at Truk
343 Ku S-1 arrives at Matsuyama
343 Ku S-2 arrives at Matsuyama
345 Ku S-1 arrives at Takamatsu
345 Ku S-2 arrives at Takamatsu
453 Ku S-1 arrives at Matsuyama
1021 Ku U-1 arrives at Chiba
1021 Ku U-2 arrives at Chiba
ML G-202 arrives at Shimonoseki
SC CHa-73 arrives at Niigata
xAK Hoten Maru arrives at Maizuru

Aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy advances R&D (8/44)[/font]

Losses: None.

Ships Sunk: I'm pretty sure the Halibut went under for good.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of SS Devilfish incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
SS Halibut[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]By current estimates the Peggy (T) should arrive in 6-7/44. That will be interesting, as I'll need to train up a bunch of TT capable IJAAF pilots. Also, it will give another option for MB units that really can't do much on land or at sea currently, other than the ASW role. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[GreyJoy]

Yup, the torpedo variant of the Peggy is a MUST have. Now, in retrospect, i think it's more important to R&D the Peggy-T rather than any Shinden/Tony/whatever.... Japan has lots of IJAF bomber sentais that, when 1943 rolls in, are almost useless everywhere except China.
Peggy-T is faster than any Betty/Nells and i just as good as the Frances...defenetly an important asset.
 
You should call yourself lucky that Joc is concentrating on PNG...and Baker...it's a loooooong way to Tokyo from down there[;)]

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ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Yup, the torpedo variant of the Peggy is a MUST have. Now, in retrospect, i think it's more important to R&D the Peggy-T rather than any Shinden/Tony/whatever.... Japan has lots of IJAF bomber sentais that, when 1943 rolls in, are almost useless everywhere except China.
Peggy-T is faster than any Betty/Nells and i just as good as the Frances...defenetly an important asset.

You should call yourself lucky that Joc is concentrating on PNG...and Baker...it's a loooooong way to Tokyo from down there[;)]

I am quite lucky in how things have gone. He has been hampered because of two things.

1. The loss of all US CVs in two successive battles in (if I remember correctly) late 42 meant that he could no longer entertain ideas of deep ocean moves past the Gilberts/Marshalls, into the Kuriles or against the stronger areas of the DEI that are not completely supportable by LBA.

2. The possession of Western Australia down to Carnarvon and across to Daly Waters. This combined with a lack of CVs has meant that either he undertakes a land campaign to gain access to these areas (which was unsuccessful at Exmouth, as I could supply more easily than he could) or he simply has to wait to get closer to the DEI until the CVs have arrived to take these bases amphibiously. Its meant he has only one direct access to the DEI; Burma.

He put a lot of forces into Burma, but so did I eventually. I'm not sure why things are so slow over there, but it probably had to do with supply early and maybe other factors now. He could be preparing to make a jump behind me as well.

He has concentrated on area like PNG to move under LBA and in strength. It has worked, but it's slow, as you say. It probably hasn't helped to keep getting valuable BBs and CVs hit by subs as he's trying to build up those forces to the levels the IJN has currently.

The Canton and Baker Island invasions have admittedly been tune-ups for Jocke. He's worked out some good tactics for taking atolls now, and that has also helped him in places like PM and Milne Bay, where the same bombardments combined with air strikes for days have left the defenders unable to stand up to superior Allied firepower in spite of good forts, prep and balance of forces.

Now the pieces are coming together for him. Although it's a long way to Tokyo, I know how fast things can crumble under the weight of Allied quality and numbers. He's moving on West OZ, he's rounding the corner of PNG, Burma is in flux but he's certainly poised to push forward there, and his 4Es used en masse followed by 4-6 sweeps of P-47s and Corsairs are unstoppable so far. The Aleutians are unsustainable as Japanese outposts once Spring arrives, and he'll soon have enough fleet CVs, CVLs and CVEs to challenge the KB anywhere. I know 44 will be a year for him to at last move. My job will be to cling as long as I can everywhere, to slow anything I can, and pick my spots to fight.

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[font="Times New Roman"]1 January 1944[/font]
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We made it to 44!! Amazing.

I will over the next posts both keep up on the action and give some background to the economy, R n D, losses and other data. I'll also go back to the ships and units I began the game following. Amazingly all but the AMC are still in the game and playing active roles.

Here is the main info screen. As you can see our air losses are getting bad. I'm worried about this, as I know it pushes Allied pilot quality up and becomes a feedback loop making it harder and harder to compete. I have to come up with some new solutions and tactics, but in the meantime I'm pulling most things back and getting groups sorted out, pilots rested and planes upgraded and repaired.

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[font="Times New Roman"]1 - 2 January 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Subs come through again as RO-40 nails CVL Cowpens. The ship was listed with 'heavy damage' after the attack, but I doubt there is a chance it sunk. I did hear sinking sounds later, but several subs were also hit during the turn. The Escolar, hit 12 times near Saisho To, was probably the one sinking. Another CV in the yard is not bad though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Lots of prep for Buna here, bombing away. My main focus is just moving troops back and getting out of the Solomons. Port Moresby has 600+ fighters and 350+ bombers now! I'm getting a high DL on places like Truk, which makes me nervous. I'll move support ships out to Babeldaob and Guam. I've moved fighters in as well, just in case. The game is certainly changing!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] N movement, but the Allies chose to bomb Bhamo. That's interesting. It may mean he is considering a campaign up into China. If not, he could just be working to get around my right flank and into the Taung Gyi area. Troops from Toungoo and the hex up the road from it have just now moved to the main stack and closed those hex-sides for the Allies. If he wants to do anything from this hex he'll have to force a retreat first.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] More prep for the coming Baker assault. The Guard units are withering now. I'm pulling pieces and getting them back to be ready to rebuild on Kusai, Nauru and Ponape. I've set Bettys on night attack at range 17. Lets see if I can get lucky.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR January 1, 44
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Morning Air attack on 61st Naval Guard Unit, at 149,136 (Baker Island)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 118
SBD-5 Dauntless x 25
TBF-1 Avenger x 69


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
Liberator GR.III x 12
Wellington Ic x 16
Wellington B.X x 16
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 51
B-24J Liberator x 71

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 94

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.III x 16
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7


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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR January 2, 44
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Sub attack near Canton Island at 154,138

Japanese Ships
SS RO-40, hits 6, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CVL Cowpens, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland
DD Warrington
DD Stevens
DD Aylwin
DD Lang
DD Ellet
DD Benham

SS RO-40 launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Cowpens
DD Aylwin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Hong Kong at 76,63

Japanese Ships
xAP Yoshino Maru
DD Shigure
E W-26

Allied Ships
SS Bonefish, hits 4

SS Bonefish is sighted by escort
Bonefish bottoming out ....
DD Shigure attacking sub me

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Sub attack near Saishu To at 98,57

Japanese Ships
E Matsuwa
E Shimushu
E W-12

Allied Ships
SS Escolar, hits 12, heavy damage

SS Escolar launches 2 torpedoes at E Matsuwa
Escolar diving deep ....
E W-12 fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
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Morning Air attack on Yokosuka 6th SNLF, at 149,136 (Baker Island)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 132
SBD-5 Dauntless x 108
TBF-1 Avenger x 95

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 149,136 (Baker Island)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 53 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9
SBD-5 Dauntless x 25
TBF-1 Avenger x 23

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Kure 7th SNLF, at 99,129 (Buna)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes


Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 18
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 20
B-24D1 Liberator x 98
B-24J Liberator x 30
B-25C Mitchell x 47
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 34


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 13
Liberator B.III x 15
Liberator GR.III x 11
Wellington Ic x 15
Wellington B.X x 16
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 27
B-24J Liberator x 57
B-25C Mitchell x 44

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 52
Airbase supply hits 18
Runway hits 210

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Reinforcements: Some more new fighter groups. Also the George N1K2-J with level 2 service rating is coming soon. That and the J2M3 will be the mainstays of IJN LBA for a long time until the Sam and Shinden come online in 45. I've converted the George R n D factories to the Shinden, the Ki-83 and the Karyu. I'm not worried about when I get the last version as all of those other late planes will be better. The closest Sam factory is at 28(2) and the best Ki-83 is at 25(5).

[font="Trebuchet MS"]343 Ku S-1 arrives at Takamatsu
343 Ku S-2 arrives at Takamatsu
453 Ku S-1 arrives at Takamatsu

Aircraft N1K2-J George advances R&D (3/44)[/font]

Losses: None.

Ships Sunk: None.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]CVL Cowpens is not a major loss, especially since she likely just needs yard time, but if CVs keep getting hit it will be hard for the Allies plan the next stages soon. [/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]Economy: 1 January 1944[/font]
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Here is a shot of the Industry from tracker. I've just gotten fuel use down to an acceptable range in the past few days. I was hovering around 20k a day for ships for a while. Now that I've gotten the surplus oil and fuel out of the DEI I can low the convoys down. I have now abut 30 tankers just sitting in port.

The HI is going fairly well. I made my goal of 2 million for the end of 43, plus a bit. I've turned off most new merchant shipping, but there are quite a few TKs still building and now the LSTs have come online, which I could really use right now. Similarly with naval building, until the 3 last CVs are built in the next two months I'll be at maximum, then I'll shut it way down.

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[font="Times New Roman"]Global Fuel and Oil: 1 January, 1944[/font]

This should give an idea of where the Japanese economy is in terms of necessary resources. A herculean effort has been made in the past 6 months to get fuel surpluses back to the Home Islands, and that project is now complete. Over 2 million fuel is now there, enough for about half a year of use. I've just in the past two weeks cut most small resource CS convoys to small ports, streamlined fuel convoys and put about half of the tankers into port to repair, upgrade and conserve fuel. I'll concentrate now on getting a good rhythm for oil movement to the HI using 2-3 big convoys, trying to find a balance between sending enough to keep refineries in Japan working and the production in the SRA.

Most of the fleet will be in port unless it's absolutely necessary to have it sailing. I feel confident that with these austerity measures and increased ability soon to fight off the incursions of Allied subs, the Empire's economy can run well through 45. Most of this depends of course on how long the oil can be accessed and extracted, so the KB will be kept in the SRA protecting that area exclusively for now.
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