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

[SqzMyLemon]

I was looking at the Randy Ki-102c as my main late war night fighter. I think I'm going to concentrate on a few night fighters to increase the amount I can bring to bear as I believe Jocke will use bombing at night exclusively to keep his losses down. It's too bad it arrives so late. I may try and accelerate it but I'm investing in a lot of two engine airframes it seems and it's going to be expensive in terms of HI.

Have a 1944 night fighter you are impressed with?

[Lokasenna]

I think he's been using the J1N1-S?

As for the Icefish combat, I had one of those happen where one of my RO-class was forced to surface at Midway. It got away somehow "Contact lost with sub" and I was afraid it had sunk, but I didn't get the message...next turn, there it was - heavily damaged but still afloat. She must have managed to escape. Sad for you, but I'd bet the Icefish is going to be OK or at least has a shot at making port.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I was looking at the Randy Ki-102c as my main late war night fighter. I think I'm going to concentrate on a few night fighters to increase the amount I can bring to bear as I believe Jocke will use bombing at night exclusively to keep his losses down. It's too bad it arrives so late. I may try and accelerate it but I'm investing in a lot of two engine airframes it seems and it's going to be expensive in terms of HI.

Have a 1944 night fighter you are impressed with?

So you have to think first of the IJN, as those night fighter groups arrive way earlier and you get more of them. The Irving without radar is pretty crap, but with radar in the J1N1-Sa version and it's not bad at all.

I've also made some of the A6M5d-S just because I have the engines in abundance and even though their durability is crap, numbers kill bombers. They also have a much higher speed than the Irving, decent guns and an infinitely better climb rate. Jocke has so far only bombed at 9k with the beasts at night, so I think soon he'll realize I'm onto him (by seeing that all of my NFs are set at 8-10k) and either go up or down.

For the IJAAF the Nick KAI looks as useless as the first Irving. Slow, no radar and uses an engine I don't make for anything else, the Ha-31.

The Dinah III KAI is quick and has decent guns, decent durability, but no radar. The Randy looks to be the best by a long shot, but it's way down the line. I have gotten the Sam already which comes around the same date, so you could push it quite far with some engine bonus and about 3 x 30 factories started right away. It uses the Ha-33, as do a lot of other important late war planes, and in my next game I would build bigger pools of that engine much earlier.

I'm about to start actively researching the Denko, the very late IJN night fighter, and it looks really good too, but it might only arrive in late 45. A bit past the sell-by date for the Japanese economy I fear.

So to sum up, I'd invest in the Irving early to move toward the Sa version with radar ASAP. I'd also much more heavily invest in the Randy 'c' and try to get it by late 44 or very early 45.

One more very important thing. Several recon units can convert to NF for the IJAAF. It's very easy to overlook. Make sure you know which do that and don't lose them or get them split all over the place and not able to recombine when you need it. I think that added another 30-40 NF to the picture.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I think he's been using the J1N1-S?

As for the Icefish combat, I had one of those happen where one of my RO-class was forced to surface at Midway. It got away somehow "Contact lost with sub" and I was afraid it had sunk, but I didn't get the message...next turn, there it was - heavily damaged but still afloat. She must have managed to escape. Sad for you, but I'd bet the Icefish is going to be OK or at least has a shot at making port.

There's an ASW TF with three E steaming fast from Hainan and it'll catch anything leftover most likely if the air umbrella doesn't get to it first. i see it a lot where the surface elements will damage a sub to where it's limping a few hexes a day, and the air ASW knocks it out.

[SqzMyLemon]

Thanks for an in depth post Erik. I'm tweaking some R&D as I think I have a few airframes I'll simply wait to get upon historic arrival dates instead. That frees up 3-4 R&D factories for night fighter development. I may not be pushing Jocke hard offensively, but I sure hope to cause him fits in the air war.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: obvert

...A bit past the sell-by date for the Japanese economy I fear. ...

Way too funny!!!

[Captain Cruft]

I had some Denkos in Downfall. They were not stunningly effective except during the day against unescorted bombers.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Thanks for an in depth post Erik. I'm tweaking some R&D as I think I have a few airframes I'll simply wait to get upon historic arrival dates instead. That frees up 3-4 R&D factories for night fighter development. I may not be pushing Jocke hard offensively, but I sure hope to cause him fits in the air war.

The most important plane arrivals (at the time they arrived) in game for me have been, in order of appearance. Those in red I would invest in more to get them sooner next time (if possible).

Airframe Arrivals

Ki-44 IIa (8/42)

A6M5 (12/42)

D4Y1 (12/42)

Ki-46 III (1/43)

Ki-43 IIb (3/43)

N1K1 (7/43)

P1Y1 (8/43)

Ki-44 IIc (9/43)

L2D2 (9/43)

Ki-84a (11/43)

J2M3 (12/43)

D4Y3 (12/43)

Ki-67-Ia (T) (7/44)

B7A2 (7/44)

Ki-43 IV (8/44)

J1N1-Sa (10/44)

A7M2 (11/44)

Ki-84r (11/44)

Future Arrivals

Ki-83 (1/45)

J7W1 (6/45)

Ki-102c (7/45)

Ki-74-I (8/45)

S1A1 (9/45)

Ki-94-II (10/45)

J8M1 (10/45)

Ki-201 (12/45)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I had some Denkos in Downfall. They were not stunningly effective except during the day against unescorted bombers.

Did you have enough to mass them or was it just a trickle?

Any other night fighter info you've figured out from that game?

[Captain Cruft]

I had one Sentai with the Denko.

Neither of my opponents did a lot of night bombing, hence using night fighters in the day time.

[sanch]

ORIGINAL: obvert
...
In an interesting combat the Icefish also tries for a convoy near Saigon and is forced to the surface where it guns down two small To'su PBs! They sink, contact is lost with the sub, and who knows if it's still going.
...

One of my convoys had a nasty encounter with a Japanese sub that was forced to the surface a while back. And the sub lived. See http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3280415

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: sanch

ORIGINAL: obvert
...
In an interesting combat the Icefish also tries for a convoy near Saigon and is forced to the surface where it guns down two small To'su PBs! They sink, contact is lost with the sub, and who knows if it's still going.
...

One of my convoys had a nasty encounter with a Japanese sub that was forced to the surface a while back. And the sub lived. See http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3280415

Yeah, I remember that one. Crazy.

But makes sense in my case, as those PBs are like fishing trawlers, inexperienced and fragile, and the sub has a fully trained and experienced military crew, so I like when the game models that stuff well.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]20 - 21 December 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Spikefish hits TK Nitiei Maru loaded with oil, but the ship miraculously survives and makes it to Cam Rahn bay with only 48 floatation damage. After a day or two to clear the subs I'll try a coastal routing to Haiphong, then to Hong Kong. Our other tankers speed on, perhaps the final oil delivery of the game to the HI. At least the last I'm confident will make it through.

The Chub sinks an E near Chichi-Jima.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]THAILAND: [/font] The Allies move units back into the area with my trapped troops and the bombardment is stronger. Not sure yet if here will stay or if they are just passing through. The Allies take back Ayuthia.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] The Allies take Maccassar. I'll keep moving stuff back and see what happens around here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]STRAT BOMBING:[/font] The Allies hit Takao again, only a few days after the first trip here, and again start big fires. Again, not much damage accumulates to the LI. Strange. But I'll take it. I can't really afford NF here, so I'll have to keep taking the hits.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA/INDOCHINA: [/font] Many units are now moving back by rail to China and overland to other destinations.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] The Filipinos are having some real trouble taking Satawal from our naval guard there. They've been installed on the island for maybe 4-5 months and are still going. They got the forts lowered but lost a lot of troops disabled during these attacks. It highlights how hard it is to take fortified bases without the 4E ground pounding.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 20, 44
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Night Air attack on Takao , at 84,65

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 20
Fires 8585

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Takao , at 84,65

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 12
Fires 130178 Again massive fires here but not as much damage to the LI. Interesting.

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 66,72

Japanese Ships
TK Nitiei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 53
AV Sagara Maru
TK Asashio Maru
TK Hidaka Maru
TK San Ramon Maru
E Hatsutaka
E Niizaki

Allied Ships
SS Spikefish

SS Spikefish launches 2 torpedoes at TK Nitiei Maru
E Hatsutaka fails to find sub and abandons search
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 111,71

Japanese Ships
E No.29, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E No.23
E No.31

Allied Ships
SS Chub

SS Chub launches 2 torpedoes at E No.29
Chub diving deep ....
E No.31 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Ground combat at Satawal (105,105)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3162 troops, 42 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Defending force 1861 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Allied adjusted assault: 39

Japanese adjusted defense: 31

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
726 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (2 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Filipino Inf Regiment

Defending units:
91st Naval Guard Unit
53rd Construction Battalion
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Ground combat at Akutan Island (171,49)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1242 troops, 13 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Defending force 673 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Allied adjusted assault: 8

Japanese adjusted defense: 28

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 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:
Rocky Mountain Rger Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Nav Gd /2

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Ground combat at Makassar (65,106)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8253 troops, 143 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 326

Defending force 75 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 283

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 283 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Makassar !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1 (Flown out, so not really)

Assaulting units:
82nd (West African) Division

Defending units:
1st JNAF Coy

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 21, 44
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Ground combat at Satawal (105,105)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2567 troops, 41 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 1675 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Allied adjusted assault: 12

Japanese adjusted defense: 55

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

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

Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Filipino Inf Regiment

Defending units:
91st Naval Guard Unit
53rd Construction Battalion

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Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5547 troops, 348 guns, 384 vehicles, Assault Value = 3927

Defending force 165074 troops, 1952 guns, 2846 vehicles, Assault Value = 3526

Japanese ground losses:
411 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

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Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]62nd Air Flotilla arrives at Tokyo
57th Infantry Regiment arrives at Tokyo
LST T-158 arrives at Maizuru
S-812 Hikotai arrives at Tsu
E No.40 arrives at Tokyo
ML G-435 arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
Ashigara-2 arrives at Haiphong[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of E No.29 on Dec 20, 1944 is admitted
Loss of E Sagi on Sep 17, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of SS KXV incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Looking for pictures of the Nitiei Maru I found a great site showing plans of a bunch of Japanese Merchants. A full rendition of the 'Japanese Ship Recognition Manual.'

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/id/oni208j-japan-merchant-ships/index.htm
[/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]STRATEGIC CONCERNS[/font]
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The current goals are to really make the inner defenses tough and nasty while getting most units back from the outer perimeter of the Empire, as well as getting as much oil/fuel and resources to the Home Islands as possible. The HI pool goals of 3 million in the bank were reached in late November, so everything else now is icing. Supply everywhere is a concern. More on that later.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]THE EMPIRE: [/font]

Currently there are only a few far flung major infantry and logistical concentrations.

BANGKOK: This base is still a fortified post with 550+ fighters and 1850 AV behind 6 forts. Three good divisions are here. It will not be taken easily. I wonder still if I should allow these units to simply sit here until liquidated or move out soon. I can lift by sea but it'll be tricky. So far I've taken out two wrecked brigades to recover elsewhere, many construction and base force units and two HQs including the Southern HQ command. The Southern is still in range though. I'm sending in more supply from Palembang and Medan, and I hope to keep it going for another few weeks before final decisions are made.

SINGAPORE: There are few combat troops here, but there are a lot of base forces from around Malaya that have all moved back and are being shipped to Saigon to rail back. The Air Flotilla will also move back and all other HQ units will be sent as well. The only purpose of the base now is the distribution of oil/fuel out so the Southern Fleet HQ will stay put. Fleet HQs are not as critical these days, and a few might be sacrificed down here, left in place to speed loading.

SOERABAJA: A few troops are left here, including a lot of bases forces and a few HQ. Most of these will move to Batavia for shipping out and there will be a shell of defense, enough to battle a bit in the air, but not much on the ground.

ROTA: This base has not been invested by the Allies, but it is surrounded. I may try for some troops here, as there are a few good brigades I could pull, but it's a long flight and that will have to wait until Pagan and other more Northern Marianas bases are cleared out. Still, I hate to see 1000AV go to waste, so there will be a moment where I make an effort if the planes are able and there is still a base in range to pull.

MANILA/LUZON: This base is massively defended, and has now been invested by some 25+ Allied units. I don't know yet their composition, but I'm sure it's the works. I've decided to send some of the arty units I have defending at Lingayen over here, but to keep a division there in reserve and send it over only if the attacks begin to bring defenses to the brink. Maybe I should bring it earlier? I just also want to protect the back-door. There are another 1500AV in Southern Luzon and about 800AV at Aparri.

Manila is still receiving troops from Babeldaop on flying boats. Most of these are AA, engineer units and other support troops that will be moved back to other bases for rebuilding. I also successfully pulled two big brigades out of Ternate and Peleliu. A huge shipment of supply just arrived so this area should be topped up for the next few weeks at least. Another division is in Aparri and that will remain there to ensure that area has some lasting power if invaded as well. With 3200 AV, five divisions and several tank divisions, a bunch of support and level 7 forts, Manila should be hard to crack even with late war Allied troops. If the first DA can get a good result for the defenders I think we will hold for a good while, or at least force another route to develop, landing on the back side maybe which should provide more opportunities to hit troopships.

SAIGON/INDOCHINA: Saigon is lightly defended most of the time, but this is the rail yard sending on thousands of troops coming from all over the DEI continually. Another 9k troops just arrived and are going into strat mode. Most will walk into China, some will go to Haiphong and be picked up to move on. There is 750 AV including a good division at Cam Rahn Bay, and a few brigades down the coast. A small blockade of about 450-500AV is sitting on the big road river crossing from the Thai plains near Vihn. The Allies look to be moving down from the Bangkok area and aiming for Saigon. Half of the troops here are now moving into strat mode. The rest will do so at the last moment. Depending on the Bangkok situation I may leave some to fight in the good terrain here, but its easy to bypass as well, so that might not happen.
[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]
ECONOMY:[/font]

A further concern is continued viability of the economy and production. Supply is a major factor both for use in the field and for getting repairs done to factories at home. The destruction of HI/LI centers in Tokyo recently highlighted how difficult it will be to plan for the future, so all supply shipments will be curtailed to the most necessary to keep critical areas in good shape. Most supply that leaves the HI now will go to Luzon, Formosa, the Bonins and Okinawa. China seems to still be getting sufficient supply from local centers and from Manchurian surplus. I will occasionally need to top this up though as the Allies begin to push into this area. I've been able to keep the DEI and Thailand functionally supplied from the DEI but this will end soon and the entire DEI will be evacuated.

As stated above I'm not concerned with HI levels. It's still on the rise and will be for a short period longer at least.

Airframe and engine factories are a concern. I will not be able to make all that I want to make. I just discovered that three FB groups can upgrade to the Nick Id NF version, which if filled out would be another 100+ NF. I'm now kicking myself for not having any pool of Ha-31 engines left, but I'm trying to make obsolete all planes using this engine and letting their engines go back into the pools. If this happens as I expect I could have enough to make 40-50 planes to begin during the next few months, so I've changed over a small factory and built it to size 15. These groups can also use the Randy Ic when it arrives, so it would be good to get them going, then transition when that plane is available. This would allow me to have a level of cover for some important bases I can't now protect at all.

Right now engines are covering needs but I simply can't add more, so as factories are burned up there will be a shortage. The pool for Ha-45 is really small at about 70, and the Ha-33 is only around 250 as well. Fun times!
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]RED: Current lines of the Empire.
WHITE: Future defensive line.
YELLOW: Retreat paths and evacuation routes.
ORANGE: Reinforcements by land, sea and air.

Notice that Luzon is not included in the white area. This will be defended vigorously, and once defeated I'll try to pull what I can, but this operation is mostly a stalling attempt and doesn't really constitute a strategic area of defense necessarily. Keeping the Allies away from fighter sweep range and normal 4E bombing range of the HI is the highest level of concern and is the reason for the white mark being where it is. He could use bases here for B-29s, but it wouldn't change much from what is possible now from lower Luzon bases and from the Marianas. [/font]
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[jonreb31]

It's quite exciting to see the rush of movement as you prepare for your final defense. By no means does this war look over yet.

Darken the sky with Kamikazes, and fight under the shade!

[Lokasenna]

I think it is important to stall on Luzon to enable your yellow-line retreats.

I would be concerned about the clear hexes in southern China, and defending there. If he isn't threatening you by land in these places, such as through Indochina, then make sure you mine them... If he has run through Indochina to get there, wouldn't it be smarter to defend in the rougher terrain?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JonReb

It's quite exciting to see the rush of movement as you prepare for your final defense. By no means does this war look over yet.

Darken the sky with Kamikazes, and fight under the shade!

That's the plan!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I think it is important to stall on Luzon to enable your yellow-line retreats.

I would be concerned about the clear hexes in southern China, and defending there. If he isn't threatening you by land in these places, such as through Indochina, then make sure you mine them... If he has run through Indochina to get there, wouldn't it be smarter to defend in the rougher terrain?

This is also the plan. Luzon is meant to hold for a good while. Whether it does depends on how much the Allies have decided to allocate here and how they go for it.

About the Chinese coast, it's pretty worrisome. The Allies though can take mostly what they want at any given point right now, so I can only slow things down. There are cities with garrisons there but the main defenses are in the major bases of Hong Kong and Canton. There will be some roadblock in gun its in the forests of SE China within the next week just on the edge of the Chinese border. I've got about 4-5 divisions heading that way already.

Mines are mostly useless. A sub has been in the Bataaan hex the past four turns and hasn't hit any of the 140 mines there! Silly. They've hardly made an impact for either side during the war, but I still use them I just pick my spots. The spots now will be Luzon and Formosa.

[LoBaron]

Do not underestimate mines.

Their effectiveness depends a lot on the type of TF, the ammount of ships within the TF, the size of ships, and what it is doing exactly. Also 140 is not so many, for an effective defense I would double that number. Mines can be swept easily when the minefield is known - for example when doing amphib ops - but minesweeping TFs assigned to that job will suffer in the face of coastal defenses.

Concentrated in an area where you expect naval bombardement runs can keep the opponent on his toes. You got em, what do you lose by using them even if you do not expect much of an impact? A minefield is something that has to be dealt with if the hex is important, so it binds ressources.

A way to force an opponent into mistakes is to increase the number of problems he has to deal with to reach his goals. Mines add to the complexity of a situation. IMHO this is enough to justify their use.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Do not underestimate mines.

Their effectiveness depends a lot on the type of TF, the ammount of ships within the TF, the size of ships, and what it is doing exactly. Also 140 is not so many, for an effective defense I would double that number. Mines can be swept easily when the minefield is known - for example when doing amphib ops - but minesweeping TFs assigned to that job will suffer in the face of coastal defenses.

Concentrated in an area where you expect naval bombardement runs can keep the opponent on his toes. You got em, what do you lose by using them even if you do not expect much of an impact? A minefield is something that has to be dealt with if the hex is important, so it binds ressources.

A way to force an opponent into mistakes is to increase the number of problems he has to deal with to reach his goals. Mines add to the complexity of a situation. IMHO this is enough to justify their use.

Great points and I agree completely. These are the exact reasons I'm going to limit the locations to those with the potential for multiple threats; surface ships, , MTBS, subs, CD guns, mines and air strikes. That would be Luzon, Formosa, Okinawa and certain locations on the Chinese coast. I can't spread too thin or I get just what you're pointing out; not enough to make a difference.

I have about 180 at Manila, 140 at Bataan (that took out some destroyers recently, so I'm topping them up slowly to make sure it's a 'new' field and the DL is not high. I think this is why he's leaving the sub there though, to see if the mines are 'known.')

I have several of the CM turned E at Manila and I'll keep adding. These are mainly to prevent bombardments coming through to Manila.

I'll have a good number at Takao, Hong Kong, Canton and Taihoku. Then I'll see which other bases I can get to. There will be CD guns at all of the big Chinese bases, Okinawa bases and Formosa bases as so many of the big base forces have them now in the upgraded TOE, so nothing will be a gimme.