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

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Erik, what kind of pilots do u put on those Graces? Crack ones trained both on Nav-T and Nav-B? Or simply Naval-B trained pilots?
I find almost impossible to have crack pilots trained at 70 in both skills, especially on LBA groups....

I have a few different groups for different things. A few have pilots trained in both as they are the TB pilots I've always used and they have a good amount of naval bombing training. When not active I usually continue to train this up. Most are around 55 exp with 60-65 nav bomb and 65-70 torp training. All have about 60-70 naval search as well.

This group in the Cent Pac is simply a DB group, and they are around 55 exp with 60-65 naval bombing skill and 60 naval search. Jakes and Myrts are supplementing search to find the TFs out there, but the Graces see most everything anyway.

As I go further into '45 I see the chances of having pilots trained in both to be slim so I've been concentrating on getting 70 skill in either TT or nav bombing for all new pilots and they will add additional in group if there is time. Usually search training to bring up exp. When used the Graces work well if some are bombing and some dropping TT anyway, as the chance of a DB bomb hit with the two bombs goes up dramatically and this can slow ships to get a better chance for the TT to hit.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Erik, what kind of pilots do u put on those Graces? Crack ones trained both on Nav-T and Nav-B? Or simply Naval-B trained pilots?
I find almost impossible to have crack pilots trained at 70 in both skills, especially on LBA groups....

I have a few different groups for different things. A few have pilots trained in both as they are the TB pilots I've always used and they have a good amount of naval bombing training. When not active I usually continue to train this up. Most are around 55 exp with 60-65 nav bomb and 65-70 torp training. All have about 60-70 naval search as well.

This group in the Cent Pac is simply a DB group, and they are around 55 exp with 60-65 naval bombing skill and 60 naval search. Jakes and Myrts are supplementing search to find the TFs out there, but the Graces see most everything anyway.

As I go further into '45 I see the chances of having pilots trained in both to be slim so I've been concentrating on getting 70 skill in either TT or nav bombing for all new pilots and they will add additional in group if there is time. Usually search training to bring up exp. When used the Graces work well if some are bombing and some dropping TT anyway, as the chance of a DB bomb hit with the two bombs goes up dramatically and this can slow ships to get a better chance for the TT to hit.

Rgr there! Thanks....seems like a wise set up!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]23 November 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Well, we're a few days from knowing the fate of the IJA Burma Army. They're still moving ahead and there was no Allied bombing today. That more than anything makes me worried. There also has been no B-29 bombing for over a week if I remember correctly. Hmmmmmm.

I think tomorrow will prove to be massive. A huge strike on Bangkok is expected. All LR CAP is cancelled in the area, all CAP is stepped up and set to range 0, and we have only a few sweeping groups over Allied troops tomorrow. The good thing is that quite a few Allied groups took big hits during the past week. He could rotate them out, but it just means most likely not as many to strike with if tomorrow is the day. I have Frank 'r' at 35k, J2M5 at 31k, and a lot of Frank 'a' at 31k layered with Georges at 20k, Jacks at 15k, Oscars, Nicks, Tojos and Randys and 10-12k. It's a smorgasbord of IJ fighters here. Only one group of Oscars will completely commit to escorting the Peggys, and if I'm wrong and he puts 200 fighters over the troops I'll lose a bunch of planes there. Well, got to protect if I can and still attempt to strike, so there is no alternative.

If my calculations are correct, it should be another 2-3 days for troops to reach the clear. I've begun to move some units to spring open a hex side. Hopefully they will survive the river crossing. If I was a betting man I'd put a lot of money on the Allies here. Anyone giving odds?[;)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Jocke left the Sea Robin hanging around Iba for two days, and the ASW TF sent to knock it out only managed two hits when the E attacking ran out of DCs. The Moray is also hit hard in the middle of the South China Sea.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] The evac is still moving ahead nicely. Oil and fuel are still moving up toward the HI. Soerabaja is still an air hub and Lomblen is nearing a shut down date once I can get a few more things out of the area. A few brigades from down here are now being sent to Hainan.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA/INDOCHINA: [/font] Air HQs are moving around to blanket the area with possible launch pads for waves of kamis and other strikes should anything less than a full Allied CV fleet assault group move in. A large reserve army of about 2k AV is moving down from Tuyun to add to the 1k AV at Hong Kong and the 2k AV at Canton.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] There are still a lot of ships hovering around the Marianas. I turned search back on full to get a good look, lost some Jakes and see a lot of ships and not many fighters on CAP. I'm getting escorts and sweepers ready and in about a week I might be able to strike something hard here if things remain the same.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font] It's a big wait here. The Allies look to be securing more distant and 'safer' bases to bring in more troops at Naga and Legaspi. I'll most likely allow this unless something looks vulnerable. The 3k AV in Manila is prepped and forts are at 7. Supply is topped up. I have about 1400 AS here, so I can bring in even more than is here now easily.

At rear bases I've placed some full divisions either as reserve or to protect against any other moves around the island. Jocke's move on the clear hex at Cotabato was a great move, and I'd liked to keep that from being easy at least this time. The KB will be back in action soon. Only a few more to upgrade to Sams and the Hiryu is out of repair yards at a Nagasaki in two days. Hiyo will come out in 9 days. Kaga is released in 25 days and Akagi will be ready in 31 days. I will of course only use this force if I can really get to something important, like troops on ships. It's too valuable a deterrent to run it all around now and I just won't have the fuel anyway. I think we're out of sight for now. Fingers crossed.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 23, 44
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ASW attack near Iba at 76,70

Japanese Ships
E Manju
E Shonan
E Iki

Allied Ships
SS Moray, hits 10 Two direct critical hits.

SS Moray is located by E Manju
E Shonan fails to find sub and abandons search
E Iki attacking submerged sub ....
E Iki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Iba at 78,75

Japanese Ships
E No.10
E No.46
E No.34

Allied Ships
SS Sea Robin, hits 2 [8|] This sub has been sitting at Iba for a few turns. Not sure if he forgot it or if this is some kind of a recon/test mission, either to my response or of the base. Or maybe now that he's got bases close he wants to draw my ASW in to hit them? I've got some Jacks at Iba in case. Sent in another TF as well for tomorrow.

SS Sea Robin is sighted by escort
Sea Robin bottoming out ....
E No.34 fails to find sub and abandons search
E No.46 attacking submerged sub ....
E No.46 is out of ASW ammo
E No.46 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Afternoon Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 18

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x A7M2 Sam sweeping at 31000 feet

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Afternoon Air attack on 41st Infantry Division, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 35000 feet

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Afternoon Air attack on 18th Cavalry Regiment, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 39
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 9
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 59

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
14 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 41st Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 77th Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 18th Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 41st Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 77th Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 18th Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 41st Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 77th Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking 18th Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 41st Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 77th Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...

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Afternoon Air attack on 2nd British Division, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 77th Chindit Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 564 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Defending force 4204 troops, 133 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

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

Assaulting units:
455th Ind.Infantry Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co
134th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
112th Cavalry Regiment
131st Field Artillery Battalion
109th Tank Attack Regiment
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /5

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

Reinforcements: none.

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

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

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]This is it. A few more days an we'll find out who wins the race. No matter what happens I'll lose some units here. Some of the AA especially just won't be able to keep up and will get wiped out once the main force moves on, if indeed it can. Again, I'm not betting on it. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]24 November 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Well, happily I was wrong. No obliteration of Bangkok yet, and it may have to wait a few days as the Allies hit a wall of flak over our main force and they sent everything in. On the day it looks like about 30+ 4E lost and a number of 2E as well. Unfortunately I did meet a mass of LR CAP over the Allied forces and lost a good number of Peggy (T). I have a pool of these now, and while they're expensive, this isn't crippling. The pilots are all older experienced ground bombing pilots from the early days, not the recently trained TT pilots, so that is good as well. On the day 68 go down.

The air totals for the day aren't too bad considering all of those 4Es are lost: 58/123. A few Oscars also go down but our Tojo escorts are somehow completely by-passed and don't suffer a loss. That sucks, as 49 Tojo with mediocre pilots were there and were meant to be getting bombers through.

Our sweeps (as I mentioned in the last post) were small today and they didn't do well. The Sams were crushed, the Ki-100 fared even worse and the Frank 'r' got 1:1 so saved a bit of respectability, but none took out or wore down enough CAP to make a difference for the bombers. Tomorrow will be quiet, with everything on CAP and recovery, and the next day I'll likely try bombing again. The Allied bomber fleets should be worn down for tomorrow so I don't expect any big moves.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A good day for ASW as one sub is hit hard by DDs and another is sunk by an E escoting our LSTs in the South DEI.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Tarakan falls, not surprisingly. This should give a local source of fuel for the Allies. I forgot to check if any is damaged, but he didn't shock this time so I think it's probably not.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S PI: [/font] The Allies land as expected at Legaspi. I don't send anything for tomorrow. Our strike planes are not in position and his Cap is too strong and close here anyway. I want to save up a bit right now for any move around the other side of the PI or into the South China Sea.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 24, 44
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Sub attack near Bandjermasin at 62,101

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
SS Hawkbill, hits 7

SS Hawkbill launches 2 torpedoes at DD Kuroshio
Hawkbill bottoming out ....
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Kangean at 59,106

Japanese Ships
LST T-133
E No.2
APD T-7
APD T-3

Allied Ships
SS Redfin, hits 19, and is sunk

SS Redfin launches 2 torpedoes at LST T-133
E No.2 attacking submerged sub ....
E No.2 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Redfin forced to surface!
APD T-3 firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

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Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 55,59 , near Tavoy

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Wellington B.X x 13
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 5
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 71
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 16
B-25H Mitchell x 47
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 13

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington B.X: 6 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 23 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 28 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 3 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 134th JAAF AF Bn , at 67,91 (Tarakan)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-102a Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 55,59 , near Tavoy

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 17
B-24J Liberator x 8
B-24J Liberator x 10
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 19
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 11

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 5 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 9 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 18
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 50
P-51D Mustang x 27
F4U-1A Corsair x 38
F6F-5 Hellcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-8 with F6F-5 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 21 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 37000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.1834 Sqn FAA with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VMF-115 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VMF-322 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Raid is overhead
VMF-323 with F4U-1A Corsair (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Raid is overhead
No.17 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.30 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.67 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.81 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.113 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.134 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1st ACG/5th FS (C) with P-51D Mustang (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Raid is overhead
1st ACG/6th FS (C) with P-51D Mustang (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 13 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-51D Mustang (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 16

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 41
P-51D Mustang x 23
F4U-1A Corsair x 34
F6F-5 Hellcat x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 8 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on 254th Armoured Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-84r Frank x 21

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 34
P-51D Mustang x 23
F4U-1A Corsair x 32
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on 18th Cavalry Regiment, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 33
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 30

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 30
P-51D Mustang x 22
F4U-1A Corsair x 30
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 12 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
2 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 255th Indian Tank Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 49
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 9
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 29

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 29
P-51D Mustang x 22
F4U-1A Corsair x 20
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 255th Indian Tank Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 29
P-51D Mustang x 22
F4U-1A Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 50th Tank Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 29
P-51D Mustang x 21
F4U-1A Corsair x 6
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

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Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 606 troops, 51 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1469

Defending force 10712 troops, 74 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 301

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

Assaulting units:
1st Army Tank Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
2/5th Armoured Regiment
7th Australian Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
3rd Australian Division
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
I Australian Corps
134th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
72nd Infantry Brigade
124th Infantry Regiment
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
3rd Raiding Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
35th JNAF AF Unit
4th Tank Regiment
43rd Engineer Regiment
65th JNAF AF Unit

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Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4251 troops, 135 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Defending force 1307 troops, 24 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Allied adjusted assault: 54

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
535 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (8 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

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

Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Sakura arrives at Kobe
E No.72 arrives at Tokyo
10th Ind.Mixed Regiment arrives at Tokyo[/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of DD Bryant incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
SS Redfin is reported to have been sunk near Kangean on Nov 24, 1944
SS Becuna is reported to have been sunk near Cam Ranh Bay on Oct 26, 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]The P-51D showed up today, and these guys will likely change things a bit. He gets a lot of them, and they will be in addition to the P-47, Corsairs and Spits. Yuck. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, but the "D" model doesn't have the range of the "H" model ... and your Franks match up with it ok ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, but the "D" model doesn't have the range of the "H" model ... and your Franks match up with it ok ...

Good to hear! I need some encouragement about these things right now. There is a lot of stuff that looks very tough on paper but of course it's all in how you use it I guess.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]25 November 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] As expected a quiet day with no Allied bombing and continued troop movement. My nerves are shot now. This is taking a LONG time to sort out and I still fear the worst. Some Allied units have moved into the hex outside of Bangkok across the river. I'm assuming it's a division and tank unit, but I'm reconning and bombing with some DBs tomorrow. So far he hasn't split his LR CAP over all of these units, but maybe he will now considering how good I've been at predicting things lately. [;)]

I'm trying something new here this time. I'll explain after I see the results.

Some more supply is unloading and another small dose siphoned off of Miri is the last to arrive for another week. Should top things up nicely for now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] Supply is also landing at Lingayen and topping up the big bases. Hard to keep everything in the full zone with the planes here and a lot the ground units filling out still.

Allied ships are still unloading at Legaspi. He must be landing a lot there, as the Allies usually only need one day. I'll lend a little tester out there tomorrow to see if anything is still around.

The last arty unit needed to complete a division at Apparri wil be bought out in a few days and shipped in. That'll complete the preparation for this siege. About 5k AV total on the island and a lot of engineers and support. If we get steamrolled here I won't be taking this stuff off in a hurry, if at all. It's a bit of a last stand.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Lost an E to the SS Spot today near Samah. Only a few hits on the sub.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Interesting. Even more has been moved into Dili. A DA gets a 1:1 and this will be a matter of days now. The brigade is nearly out of Rota and Koepang is also being vacated by air at a slow rate. Lomblen will be evacuated once Dili falls.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA/INDOCHINA: [/font] Went through the myriad of units and fragments at Saigon today and feel sightly better about the scattered nature of things now. I've allocated base forces and other units to the Chinese coast and some others to get more into the islands around Formosa and onto the smaller bases there. A lot is moving through Haiphong to use the rail and the shallow Chinese coast.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 25, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Samah at 72,64

Japanese Ships
E No.22, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E No.24

Allied Ships
SS Spot, hits 2

SS Spot launches 2 torpedoes at E No.22
Spot diving deep ....
E No.24 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.24 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36335 troops, 533 guns, 809 vehicles, Assault Value = 1476

Defending force 10701 troops, 74 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 301

Allied adjusted assault: 935

Japanese adjusted defense: 659

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1434 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 19 (4 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
7th Australian Division
3rd Australian Division
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
I Australian Corps
134th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
124th Infantry Regiment
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
3rd Raiding Regiment
72nd Infantry Brigade
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
4th Tank Regiment
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
43rd Engineer Regiment
35th JNAF AF Unit
65th JNAF AF Unit

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

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 48838 troops, 757 guns, 551 vehicles, Assault Value = 2157

Defending force 201566 troops, 2590 guns, 3059 vehicles, Assault Value = 6445

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

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

Ground combat at 68,100 (near Donggala)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4484 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 1231 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Allied adjusted assault: 42

Japanese adjusted defense: 31

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne Division

Defending units:
4th Naval Construction Battalion
41st JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Repairs completed on CV Hiryu at Nagasaki/Sasebo, ship returned to service [:)]
42nd Recon Regiment arrives at Tokyo
120th Division arrives at Heijo
19th RF Gun Battalion arrives at Tokyo
MTB G-1013 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
DD Nara arrives at Maizuru[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of E No.22 on Nov 25, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

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

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is the mess. Just in case troops do make it through I'll hedge my bets and try to open the hex from two sides, one across the river and the other through the hex next to Bangkok. The troops near Bangkok are two units of unknown strength, but I have three divisions and a brigade in motion to cross. Of course if these break through and supply goes to the big stack I could even consider an attack there. I can't think like that yet though. It makes me a bit sick. I expect a major defeat here after not breaking out. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]LUZON[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here is the state of things. The large Allied fleets have likely finished unloading after this turn, but I'm not completely sure as the base shows 'only' 31k+ troops. If there are more I could surprise a bit this turn. I decided to experiment with what I could do having one level 8 and one level 9 base next to each other with an accumulated 2100 AS in Clark/Manila. If a force is still here something big may happen. I've got about 8 sweeps going including Frank 'r' at max (for the first time) and a bunch of Frank 'a' and Georges. Lots of escorts and a few kami unit to supplement DBs and TBs.

The Allied LR CAP could be tired if it's day 3 here but it is only 4 hexes distant. It'll be a bit until a CAP in base is viable as this is a level 1 field, but Naga I think is level 3-4 so that will provide one soon.

In case this is a fiasco I've moved a few fresh fighter groups into range to cover Manila for a bit, but I also have about 500 engineers there, so it could bounce back quickly if struck.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]26 November 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RETREAT CUT OFF!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] This was a hard turn for one reason only; the Burmy Army is blocked by an Alied unit transiting the hex side one day before ours made it through. It sucks but i'm learning a lot and I'm still looking to see if there are positives in this situation. Currently this huge army will aim to move to another adjacent hex that is still open. I first tried the one with the single Allied unit in it, but I'm now going to try the empty hex to the NE. This is also jungle rough so it will be a slow transfer and there is little hope of getting supply in or finding a route out of the encirclement. I'll write more about the station in a full post dedicated to how it happened and some of the things I've discovered through the process.

In the air sweeps did well and got the Cap worn down enough to allow ground strikes which unfortunately couldn't keep the Allies back for another day. Good to know that offensive missions are still possible though. Some of the units to the sides of the main blocking army were hits as well while sitting in the clear.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A few hits on the Blower near Iba.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Dili is heading downhill fast, and Lomblen is now emptied of fighters. The base forces are being pulled back by air to Soearabaja. Won't likely get the radar units which is too bad. Roving Fletchers are around.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] Sweeps do very well at Legaspi and completely remove a massive Allied CAP from the air getting almost 1:1 on the day. The Frank 'r' get about 2:1 against all comers. Only about 1/3 of the air strikes go today which is really frustrating considering all of the support is there and escorts were abundant. No Peggy (T) fly out of about 150 at Manila, only about half of the Grace and Judy groups go and luckily the Frances save the day with two hits on the Prince of Wales in the morning, then another sinking the ship outright in the afternoon. [&o]

This could have been a devastation but only one other hit is scored on a CA. Maybe the culprit was supply at Manila being in the yellow flag area, even though there is 37k there. Still one of the Clark groups didn't go either, and a Frances group went without escort while a few escort groups sat back at base. One of these days if everything goes, and especially after we get all groups filled with Frank 'r' and Sam, we could do something big around here. The one caveat is that Jocke doesn't know about what didn't fly and may assume this is all I was willing to commit. The loss of a fast BB hurts, but man, we could have gotten ALL of them if the Peggy (T) flew in the afternoon when the CAP was exhausted.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 26, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Iba at 75,71

Japanese Ships
E Iki
E Shonan

Allied Ships
SS Blower, hits 7

SS Blower is located by E Iki
Blower diving deep ....
E Shonan fails to find sub and abandons search
E Iki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Iki attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 43,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 28
P-38L Lightning x 13
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 65
F6F-3 Hellcat x 17
F6F-5 Hellcat x 55

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 8 destroyed [:)]

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 17 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VF-6 with F6F-5 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-18 with F6F-5 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VF-71 with F6F-5 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 17 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-38J Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 15 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
18th FG/78th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
81st FG/91st FS with P-38J Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
81st FG/93rd FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
58th FG/311th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
311th FG/530th FS with P-38L Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 13 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th British Division, at 55,61 , near Bangkok

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-40N5 Warhawk x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
45 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 24
P-38L Lightning x 13
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 41
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 43

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 44
P-51B Mustang x 76
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 39

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 31
P-51B Mustang x 75
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Southeast Asia , at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 49

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 24
P-51B Mustang x 65
F6F-5 Hellcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 36
N1K1-J George x 30
N1K2-J George x 15
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 14
P-38L Lightning x 12
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 36
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13
F6F-5 Hellcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 7 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 10 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
P1Y2 Frances: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2
CA Vincennes
APA Dauphin

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x N1K2-J George sweeping at 5000 feet
10 x J2M3 Jack sweeping at 10000 feet *
10 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 5000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 9
P-38L Lightning x 7
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5
F6F-5 Hellcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 13 destroyed [:(]

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 36th British Division, at 55,61 , near Bangkok

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 45
J2M5 Jack x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 800 kg GP Bomb
7 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 800 kg GP Bomb
21 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 800 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 24
N1K2-J George x 51

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 7
P-38L Lightning x 7
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5
F6F-5 Hellcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 10 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 4 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Chester
DD Brush
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
DD Fletcher

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 150th RAC Regiment, at 57,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 35
N1K2-J George x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B7A2 Grace releasing from 1000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 150th RAC Regiment, at 57,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 255th Indian Tank Brigade, at 56,60 , near Ayuthia

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 36

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 20
P-51B Mustang x 52
F6F-5 Hellcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 19
P-38L Lightning x 7
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 50
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13
F6F-5 Hellcat x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 42,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 6
P-38L Lightning x 1
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 28
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9
F6F-5 Hellcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 3 destroyed
P-38L Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38270 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 48

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 1
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
F6F-5 Hellcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Legaspi , at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 49

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
45 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 15
J2M3 Jack x 10
N1K1-J George x 36
P1Y2 Frances x 13

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 2 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 4 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 5000 feet
6 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 9
N1K2-J George x 24
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 10 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Columbia
DD Kimberly
CL Mjollner
CL Biloxi

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y3 Judy x 16
J2M3 Jack x 35
J2M5 Jack x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 5 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1
CA Minneapolis

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

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Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35867 troops, 531 guns, 810 vehicles, Assault Value = 1417

Defending force 9327 troops, 70 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 188

Allied adjusted assault: 733

Japanese adjusted defense: 243

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2522 casualties reported
Squads: 53 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 15 (4 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

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Reinforcements: Now I see how fruitless this research project was. The Patsy arriving in early 45 instead would have been very well used.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Aircraft Ki-95 advances R&D[/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk: At last. This ship took 3 TT in the DEI in early 42 and got away, so I'm glad I was able to get confirmation this time around. That's two BB sunk or damaged enough to be out of the war for the remainder just this month. We still have all of the IJN BB including Yamato and Musashi which are repairing damage.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]BB Prince of Wales is reported to have been sunk near Legaspi on Nov 26, 1944
DD Rowe is reported to have been sunk near Umnak Island on Oct 23, 1944[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]What a gorgeous ship. Another BB gone for the Allies is great, and each strike like this limits what happens next. I'm sure the perception is that there are plenty to go around, but with all IJN BBs still remaining and areas to use them around the next targets close to home there should be some interesting upcoming battles. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]SE ASIA[/font]
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I guess I can't really keep calling this Burma anymore.

So here is a little summary of how the fiasco happened with this big army being encircled. I made numerous mistakes here and there is little reason for this to have happened. I'm upset with my play but clear in my understanding, so at least I've learned a few things from this.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]September 26, 1944: [/font] In the first map the Allied armies are held at bay near Moulmein and the withdrawal is gradually progressing. A lot of arty and some brigades head back and I prepare to send the entire army within weeks.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]October 7, 1944: [/font] The Allies land at Tavoy and this signals the moment to really move back the whole bunch. Unfortunately I start a few days late and head the wrong direction with my large stack. I was confident in being able to hold the road to Bangkok and getting these troops through. I should have sent all through Raheng and there would have been no danger.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]October 28, 1944: [/font] The tanks leading the retreat back started literally one day too late to reach the troops in the blocking hex before the Allied army from Tavoy attacked. I anticipated a quicker transit by the tanks but I did learn a lot on the way. As these troops were being bombed daily their movement in 'move' mode was slowed as they went into 'combat' mode. At some point I put one in reserve mode to decrease disruption and fatigue from the bombing and it amazingly kept moving at 'move' mode pace. I knew this but didn't know it wouldn't be knocked out back to 'combat' mode with the daily bombings. If I had had them in reserve the entire journey they would have made it with several days to spare.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]November 11, 1944: [/font] The Allies gain the road and we run for the only opening available with the big stack; straight ahead. These troops are put in reserve and I also learn they still shoot at attacking air strikes, knocking down hundreds of Allied bombers over these weeks, and they never have to leave reserve. Only at the end when the Allied troops enter the same hex do they get knocked into 'combat' mode after the movement resolution, and I can just switch them back for the next day. They miss getting through the hex side by one day again! [:(]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]November 28, 1944: [/font] Well, we'll keep on slogging through jungles and see if the Allies follow. No other option I see, unless I simply sit on the road and wait as this Allied stack keeps us in a +3 terrain prison without even needing to attack. I might rather bring all of this mess to the NE and try to at least Banzai shock across a river or something. Let me know if you have other thoughts.

[HansBolter]

I think that units in reserve mode getting a free pass on being able to continue moving in move mode by avoiding getting knocked into combat mode by bombing is a bug that should be reported so it can be fixed.

Not quite as sure about the AA abilities of units in reserve though, it seems to me that reserve status shouldn't be a hindrance to that so what you were seeing there seems reasonable to me. Reserve shouldn't mean they have unmanned and packed their AA guns away like strategic mode should.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I think that units in reserve mode getting a free pass on being able to continue moving in move mode by avoiding getting knocked into combat mode by bombing is a bug that should be reported so it can be fixed.

Not quite as sure about the AA abilities of units in reserve though, it seems to me that reserve status shouldn't be a hindrance to that so what you were seeing there seems reasonable to me. Reserve shouldn't mean they have unmanned and packed their AA guns away like strategic mode should.

It's not a free pass really. In fact according to the manual reserve mode can have some severe drawbacks if other units are in the hex. You don't want to leave all units in reserve if there is the likelihood of an attack on the ground.

I'm not at all sure what should or shouldn't be available to units in a reserve mode. Seems like they should have quick movement, and I can't really see why they should be popped into combat mode simply because they were attacked from the air.

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I think that units in reserve mode getting a free pass on being able to continue moving in move mode by avoiding getting knocked into combat mode by bombing is a bug that should be reported so it can be fixed.

Not quite as sure about the AA abilities of units in reserve though, it seems to me that reserve status shouldn't be a hindrance to that so what you were seeing there seems reasonable to me. Reserve shouldn't mean they have unmanned and packed their AA guns away like strategic mode should.

It's not a free pass really. In fact according to the manual reserve mode can have some severe drawbacks if other units are in the hex. You don't want to leave all units in reserve if there is the likelihood of an attack on the ground.

I'm not at all sure what should or shouldn't be available to units in a reserve mode. Seems like they should have quick movement, and I can't really see why they should be popped into combat mode simply because they were attacked from the air.

In Reserve to me means ready and waiting to deploy into combat (at this scale) with a one hour alert and in position after 4 hours.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: bigred

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I think that units in reserve mode getting a free pass on being able to continue moving in move mode by avoiding getting knocked into combat mode by bombing is a bug that should be reported so it can be fixed.

Not quite as sure about the AA abilities of units in reserve though, it seems to me that reserve status shouldn't be a hindrance to that so what you were seeing there seems reasonable to me. Reserve shouldn't mean they have unmanned and packed their AA guns away like strategic mode should.

It's not a free pass really. In fact according to the manual reserve mode can have some severe drawbacks if other units are in the hex. You don't want to leave all units in reserve if there is the likelihood of an attack on the ground.

I'm not at all sure what should or shouldn't be available to units in a reserve mode. Seems like they should have quick movement, and I can't really see why they should be popped into combat mode simply because they were attacked from the air.

In Reserve to me means ready and waiting to deploy into combat (at this scale) with a one hour alert and in position after 4 hours.

Which does imply quick movement, therefore similar to Move mode... I'm on the fence about it. It seems like it was maybe an oversight. Because as it is, you're basically in Move+ mode: never get knocked into Combat unless there's an attack with odds > 2:1; immune to ground bombard; recover fatigue/disruption faster than if you were in Move; but still get knocked into Combat from aerial bombardment and still suffer a penalty if attacked... Idunno, I'd have to sandbox it with all possibilities to see if there were different degrees of penalty in Move vs. Reserve.

[obvert]

Well, either way it didn't really work out for me! [;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]DISAPPEARING Ki-84 FRANK 'b' RESEARCH FACTORIES[/font]
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Okay. I have been a bit preoccupied in game lately, but I just did my check on R n D at 12-1-44 and I found something odd. I had two factories researching the Frank 'b' which can be seen from the only screenshot I could find recently, from August, 44. There is one in Osaka and one in Tsu. Suddenly I have none.

Is it possible that they upgraded to the 'r' even though they were not finished researching, and went into production? If that is true, not cool a all. That would mean I basically can't make this plane as I won't be spending 60k supplies to change two factories over.

Am I missing something? Has anyone seen something like this before?

The top part is from August 44. The next part is now. The final piece shows that Frank 'b' research is not fully complete and still a month away from production.

[Lokasenna]

I would guess that they did, as you had "upgrade" to Yes for them. And because their upgrade was in production....it upgraded?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I would guess that they did, as you had "upgrade" to Yes for them. And because their upgrade was in production....it upgraded?

If that is true, that sucks.

[PaxMondo]

Honestly do not know, but it sure looks like that. I'm real OCD with my research. I check it every turn, even when nothing will happen. I have a plan all drawn out for each game ... yadi yadi yadi da ... yeah. complete OCD. [:D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Honestly do not know, but it sure looks like that. I'm real OCD with my research. I check it every turn, even when nothing will happen. I have a plan all drawn out for each game ... yadi yadi yadi da ... yeah. complete OCD. [:D]

I've been checking maniacally, but in the last month it had been more sporadic due to other things in game needing lots of detail. I just never imagined that a research factory would 'upgrade' out of research into production.

I wanted to try out all of these, but this one may have to be scrapped as the Frank 'r' is more advantageous in this game anyway with our rules and it's higher speed. Too bad though.

At least now I realize why my Ha-45 engines are so maxed out!