Still no opposition anywhere. I´ll probably have time to secure everything in mainland Sumatra before the game is up. One more landing planned on Borneo. Erik has bunched up about 100.000 troops at Singapore. I still havn´t taken out the HI there. I´ll do it when I find the time.
I doubt I´ll bother with Singers. Forts are probably 9 by now and I doubt its worth the effort although the VPs would be nice..
KB is still out of sight. I don´t know if Erik has pulled it back or its just my search acting up. I see two TFs there but they list only DDs and AKs. I put another CAT squadron on the search.
We also cleared out some ships disbanded on Formosa. No opposition.
Morning Air attack on Taihoku , at 87,63
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 80
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships TK Kozui Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AG Noshima, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
ACM Tsukikawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Moji Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
ACM Higashiyama Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
I moved some SCTFs forward to be ready for the first strike at all the shipping outside Kyushu. Going to wait until the moon is lower though.
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China
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Ah, Erik finally decided to move out a big chuck of troops from the HK/Canton fortress. Its too late though. The 4Es will hit tomorrow slowing the stack down and I can get 2 IDs into a blocking position before Erik can get there and he can´t dislodge that in x3 terrain.
Since you have the spare time now [;)], how about you start to prep your Soviet troops for future targets. That way they will be 100% prepped when you unleash them. I would go through the Soviets to ensure things are ready.
Since you have the spare time now [;)], how about you start to prep your Soviet troops for future targets. That way they will be 100% prepped when you unleash them. I would go through the Soviets to ensure things are ready.
When do they activate??
You know what. I have no idea! [:D] Had to look it up. 1st of August!
[font="Verdana"]2nd of May -45[/font]
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Meh.
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Okinawa
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Nothing to report. Still no sign of KB. Might have withdrawn into the sea of Japan.
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China
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Here is the "Meh" part. The 4Es rained in or something. No bombers took off. The fighters did though and found a surprise!
Afternoon Air attack on North China Area Army, at 78,59 , near Canton
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
There are more sweeps following that including 2x P51 sweeps. Eriks pilots must be really good because we barely get a 1:1 today and some of the pilots in my squadrons are stellar. Luckily I only lose a double ace. The British will have a go tomorrow. I doubt we will find any Ki83 tomorrow though. With the high SR most will be grounded but he could have other planes on CAP. The 4Es better fly tomorrow...[:@]
[font="Verdana"]3nd of May -45[/font]
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Interesting intel from China...
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Okinawa
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I was lazy and sent an AVD from Luzon without LRCAP. It was hit by Jakes and later sank. Bad weather is making Naval search problematic. Still no fix on the KB and I lost track on one of the BB TFs. As a precaution I increased search directly the the East of Okinawa and positioned some subs there. I can´t rule out Erik has sailed around Japan and will try to strike at me from the SE.
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China
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The bombers finally took off. No CAP but Flak was BRUTAL! [X(]
Morning Air attack on 27th Division, at 78,59 , near Canton
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Allied aircraft B-24J Liberator x 10
B-24J Liberator x 78
B-25D1 Mitchell x 20
B-25G Mitchell x 3
B-25H Mitchell x 18
B-25J1 Mitchell x 39
B-25J11 Mitchell x 61
P-38L Lightning x 13
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 16
PBJ-1H Mitchell x 10
PBJ-1J Mitchell x 3
Japanese ground losses: 834 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 96 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 33 (1 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Also attacking 68th Division ...
Also attacking 110th Division ...
Also attacking 36th Division ...
Also attacking 69th Division ...
Also attacking 132nd Division ...
Also attacking 130th Division ...
Also attacking 92nd Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 61st Infantry Brigade ... Also attacking 27th Division ...
That is bloody 7 divisions. [X(] Probably 2500-3000 AV and judging by the flak they have supply as well. This makes me nervous. I hadn´t imagined Erik had so much in Canton/HK...I´m not entirely confident but I should be able to hold at the x3 terrain. I will have the two motorized IDs + a 900 AV 60 EXP Chinese Corps. I should be able to bomb for 2 more days. While the stack will leave the clear hex next turn the flak should burn supplies.
My main army is too far away to help out but if I can pin Erik down I would be in a position to defeat his stack. I´m starting to regret sending the armor North...to late to dwell on now though. If I find the time today I´ll try and dig up some info on the Japanese IDs. With some luck some of them are newly arrived crap...fingers crossed!
I lose some 30 bombers to flak and OPS. Ouch.
At Tsyung the 3 Indian IDs take a a beating against the forts. This will be slow going I fear.
Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 45307 troops, 873 guns, 539 vehicles, Assault Value = 1205
Defending force 22096 troops, 311 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 467
AA Ranges - You will get hit by medium and heavy flak when you go in below 10k. The ceiling for medium flak is around 9k (I thing some is 9600), so for your bombers set them at 10k unless you know there isn't any large flak units there.
Kweiyang - If you get lucky here, I would think about getting that supply line open to the Chinese. If you are able to get enough supplies shipped into Vietnam to feed that massive army in China, just let them head east to cause Erik headaches. Just their shear numbers can cause chaos.
AA Ranges - You will get hit by medium and heavy flak when you go in below 10k. The ceiling for medium flak is around 9k (I thing some is 9600), so for your bombers set them at 10k unless you know there isn't any large flak units there.
Kweiyang - If you get lucky here, I would think about getting that supply line open to the Chinese. If you are able to get enough supplies shipped into Vietnam to feed that massive army in China, just let them head east to cause Erik headaches. Just their shear numbers can cause chaos.
Yeah, I just upped them to 10k after losing 20 more bombers! Love how AA actually work in the BETA. [:)]
I´ll try to get the Chinese moving. I chickened out from the attack so I still don´t really know what between them and freedom. As soon as this business around Kukong is finished I´ll send the bombers to have a peak!
[font="Verdana"]4th of May -45[/font]
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More odd happenings in China
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Okinawa
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The Bon Homme Richard arrives at Naha together with BB California, CB Guam, CA Quincy and 4 British CVEs. CV Illustrious, CVL Cabot and 6 more CVEs will arrive in 6 or 7 days. This will trigger a major reorganization of the Allied CV forces. My Fast CVs already is already set up around 3 TFs with 600 planes in each. I´m probably going to create a 4th Fast TF and another CVE TF. That will make it 4 CVE TFs with 400 planes each.
Looks like Erik has shifted his TFs a bit north. Not sure as Nav Search is really sketchy in the area due to weather and the fact that my search planes has to avoid 1500 fighters on CAP in the area. Loosing 2-4 CAT per turn right now. Ouch!
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China
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I did not see this one coming...Erik pulled out from Kukong heading straight East. I went back and double checked and I never saw a movement indicator. I guess he knows he cannot hold Kukong against the main army and is likely looking for better terrain to defend in.
This move left me with little choice but to abandon Kanhsien turning that whole endeavor into a complete fiasco. Basically I trashed a Para Division for nothing. I have only the trashed Para ID and a Chindit BDE there and they won´t stand a chance against the 2000 AV that left Kukong. I also cancelled the armor moving up behind the prior evicted defenders of Kanhsien. Confusing enough? [:D] (map attached)
I am pretty glad about being given Kukong though. And Eriks main stack is in dire peril. But if he can punch through my roadblock I´ll be in big trouble and likely lose 3 IDs + 1 Chinese Corp in the process...Good news is though that the Chinese Corps will reach the roadblock in time tomorrow. That will bring the AV up to 1600. I know from Experience that x3 terrain is a killer. So fingers crossed I can hold until the main army can get there. I´ll reach Kukong in 3 days. Another 2 days to the roadblock...tense times! Fun though! [:)]
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Strat bombing
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Another go at the HI. B24 have still to make a single hit of any kind. B29Bs hit CAP and severe storms and hit nothing. On the plus side the storms sheltered the B29s and only 2 were lost. "1s" and "25s" rain in.
What's recon show still is left at Canton and Hong Kong?? Getting that Repair Shipyard might help you out.
Its pretty empty so I´m going to grab it once things calm down around Kukong. Unless Erik retreats back that is. He might try to "open" the hex side from behind and slip through the roadblock though...
[font="Verdana"]5th-6th of May -45[/font]
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Not the best of days...
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Okinawa
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I lose another AVD when LRCAP from Naha fail to show up. Nothing else to report.
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China
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Eriks intention are now clear. He will bypass my roadblock by opening the hexside from behind using the troops evacuated from Kukong. I can´t stop that but I hope to get one or two attacks in by my main army on the stack fleeing Canton. Its a race against time.
Speaking of the troops from Kukong Erik made a nice move...He bombed my troops fleing Kahnsien knocking them out of move mode. This made them unable to flee the hex in time.
Ground combat at Kanhsien (81,57)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 79463 troops, 772 guns, 273 vehicles, Assault Value = 2800
Defending force 7276 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Japanese ground losses: 1621 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Allied ground losses: 5353 casualties reported
Squads: 450 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 194 destroyed, 153 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 152 (152 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Biggest allied defeat since Bataan fell! Ouch! [X(]
I´m going to shift my bombing efforts to the Kukong troops. I need to slow them down. I should get one hit in clear terrain. My main stack is 3 days from the roadblock. In move mode Erik will need 4 days so I need to slow him down.
Hats off to Erik. He has played this one very well. [&o]
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Strat bombing
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Another interesting night on the 5th. 300 B29s take off and again not a single hit as NFs are plentiful even over low priority targets. I fear another B29 slaughter but am pretty amazed when I open the turn and see only 5 B29s are lost to 30 NFs.
I think what is happening is that Erik having realized he can´t cover everything has set his NFs to CAP with a range of 3-4 perhaps. This is enough to throw my bombers off aim but the fatigue is taking its toll on his NFs. Its working though. IF he can keep up with losses. I´ve ordered an all out recon effort to try and figure out just how many NFs per month he is making.
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DEI
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Jakes hit a TF without LRCAP that strayed too close to Singers. I lost 4 LCTs.
[font="Verdana"]7th of May -45[/font]
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I forgot to copy the text before posting and of course it F****d up. [:@] Very short recap...
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Okinawa
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Ambushed transports flying Nagasaki-Formosa shooting down 50 of them. OPS losses and troop movement on Formosa gave them away. Nice feeling. I hate how easy it is to lift stuff.
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China
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Main army reached Kukong. Got some good hits in on the smaller stack. Big stack still has good supply and I lose 10 2Es. Got to keep it up to burn supply and slow movement.
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Next invasion
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Slowly getting there. Loads of stuff to move around. 3000 planes and 500.000 men is just cumbersome to do stuff with. ETA probably mid June.
I put down my TFs in a document to keep track of them. I have to at this point or I would forget half of it. I put down what ships are in what TF and what I named it (I chose an easy naming scheme). Also TF number, where it is and where I intend to send it. This is absolutely essential or things would get lost. I made it into early 45 before I had to start putting things down "externally". Its just impossible otherwise.
Now that most of it is gathering for the next battle I thought I share it with you. I might shift some ships around but this is pretty much how it will stay for the next battle.
Here is a screen of the IJN losses. Don´t have the energy to try and make a list of whats still floating. But all the BBs (I don´t think the Nagato sunk) are intact and I would assume the KB is around 800-900 planes still.