The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

x

+1 [:D]

[;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 9, 1944[/font]

---

Turns have been one every 2-3 days lately as Dan is obviously a bit occupied finishing up the other game. No worries for me, since I'm also busy. I did get another turn yesterday, but little happened in the way of combat.

One small victory occurred as two Ansyu PBs snuck into dangerous waters around New Britain and picked up the remnants of two IJN base forces, getting two more radar sets on the way back to the HI. The Allies did keep bombing Cape Gloucester and swept Long Island. Maybe a strike package was set but didn't fly? At any rate, since this worked I might try another in a few days trying to pick up some AA units even closer to Rabaul.

Floods of units are now arriving in the Home Islands, and I'll sift through the fragments, put them back together, and reallocate them. Most will stay home, but some might end up heading back out to nearby islands. Eventually I'll rebuild a defence the stretches from the upper Marianas to the Bonins, over to Daito and Okinawa, and down to Babeldaob and Luzon. That is it though. I won't have enough to defend the DEI other than small naval guards and other minor units.

Five big new base forces wth 12cm and 8 cm DP guns, and those will mostly head to big industrial centres on the coastlines, with a few destined for Hokkaido.
I also did get four new IJN fighter groups and one NF group, plus some recon and one 2E group. Still not enough to go around, but it helps.

---

These Ansyu-C class small cargo ships can be converted for Japan, and although they're gabs guzzlers, jump to 10 VP/ship and only have 2 x Type 95 DC, they are incredibly useful and especially indispensable as fast transports, carrying 1k cargo (or about half that in personnel).

Tyuwu Maru, listed below, is one of the ships on this pickup mission. [:)]

---

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 10, 1944[/font]

---

No combat again, and yet I spent over two hours on the turn. The logistics are fun right now, the balancing act of getting it all in the right place for the big battles to come and beginning to anticipate the ones that haven't yet been launched. Troops back and a few troops out again to new locations.

About ten base forces with good radar sets back in the HI and a few AA units and brigades as well. The Allies are quiet again, sitting back, and building up I'm sure. The fields at Shikuka show an increase in bomber numbers, up to 250+ with 800+ fighters.

A shot of the fast transport getting way with the goods. [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 11-13, 1944[/font]

---

Now that Dan's other epic game has finished this might have a bit more consistent pace. It's been interesting lately. I think I'm getting my ducks in a row, but hen a turn like the last one happens ...

Nothing going on on the 11th, but on the 12th the beasts fly together in the day and hit Chinnampo, a medium sized industrial center on Korea near Heijo. It is pretty well crushed, but the addition of some low level AA seems to make a bit of a difference here. I also had Tony Ki-100 next door on a 1 hex bleed, and they did get to the monsters a bit, but didn't knock a lot down outright. Many were damaged, and I hope didn't make it home.

The info report shows on ly a handful downed, but I bet there are more lost. I know this kind of raid will slow the pace at least, and nothing came on the 13th.

Lots of new base forces to arrive in the HI tomorrow, and construction units. I'm thinking of just maxing everything out. Get forts at all coastal hexes to huge levels, make sure every important base has enough infrastructure for balloons to be used against low altitude bombing, and make the Kuriles virtually impregnable. Already they're getting close. [:)]

Since this is scenario 1, the supply generation from the DEI oil refineries and the extra from industry can supply anything there and in Burma from now on. China is somewhat self-sufficient and since no bombing is allowed there, will remain so. So the HI can focus on things close to home, and the supply I've saved up should be put to good use soon.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 12, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Chinnampo , at 102,47

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 32

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 destroyed, 29 damaged

Resources hits 129
Heavy Industry hits 37

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chinnampo , at 102,47

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 12

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 10 damaged

Resources hits 65

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chinnampo , at 102,47

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged

Resources hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chinnampo , at 102,47

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Resources hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 14, 1944[/font]

---

The bombing resumes on the 14th. A variety of B-24s strike Hirosaki/Aomori at night, trying to hit manpower. Luckily it seems none or very little damage will result. On the down side we didn't actually hit any of them either. The radar is o it's way here, as is an AA unit, but until then it's a hope and a prayer.

On New Britain several AA unit bits and a base force fragment finally surrender, meaning the rest of he units can rebuild in the HI and upgrade. Great timing. I've got very few stranded units now in far flung areas. Even Kusai and Ponape are in process of evacuation, with everything moving back to True, then to the Marianas. I'll leave a few units in Truk, but not much.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 14, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 2
Fires 1430

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 3575

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 5720

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 5

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 7865

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 2
Fires 9295

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

41st Air Defense AA Regiment Wiped Out at Gasmata by attrition!!!

61st Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Gasmata by attrition!!!

13th JAAF Base Force Wiped Out at Gasmata by attrition!!!

Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Gasmata by attrition!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[mind_messing]

Expending B-29 raids on small targets is great news for you.

I hope you had the foresight to build up as many HI centers in the Home Islands with forts to take advantage of the barrage balloon rules? I think it feels a bit weak against 4E's, especially at night, but hopefully it does something to make the 2000ft raids a bit more troublesome.

At the end of the day, 30 damaged B-29's is the operational loss of one and a half squadrons for at least a week. It might not be anywhere as good as destroying them outright, but it's '44 and you're playing Japan.

My thinking on the 4E war is that "damaged" is the new "destroyed" for the strategic bombing game...

The first Ki-102 Randys will roll off the assembly line soon, and groups will fill out over the next months for rear area CAP. This is a decent upgrade and can handle a bit of a beating from the 4Es.

The Randy holds up very well in front line CAP also. I've became fond of both the F and FB versions to stiffen up front line CAP as the Randy doesn't seem as phased by damage as other IJ planes.

Floods of units are now arriving in the Home Islands, and I'll sift through the fragments, put them back together, and reallocate them. Most will stay home, but some might end up heading back out to nearby islands. Eventually I'll rebuild a defence the stretches from the upper Marianas to the Bonins, over to Daito and Okinawa, and down to Babeldaob and Luzon. That is it though. I won't have enough to defend the DEI other than small naval guards and other minor units.

I'd scrub Babeldaob off that list and focus on Minadano instead. Babeldoab is a single invasion for the Allies: they can bombard, land, take the island and redeploy the troops very quickly, giving you less scope to inflict losses.

With Minadano it's an extended campaign, and will take more time and effort, and so give you more chance to play the attrition game.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Expending B-29 raids on small targets is great news for you.

I hope you had the foresight to build up as many HI centers in the Home Islands with forts to take advantage of the barrage balloon rules? I think it feels a bit weak against 4E's, especially at night, but hopefully it does something to make the 2000ft raids a bit more troublesome.

At the end of the day, 30 damaged B-29's is the operational loss of one and a half squadrons for at least a week. It might not be anywhere as good as destroying them outright, but it's '44 and you're playing Japan.

My thinking on the 4E war is that "damaged" is the new "destroyed" for the strategic bombing game...

It's good news in the long run to see high numbers of B-29s lost for minimal impact on the Japanese economy. What is tough is seeing this happen with virtually no losses as in the first week of his strat campaign before the 20mm and 25mm AA were upgraded on base forces. He also chose very soft targets where he knew the likelyhood of CAP was light. I was used to my CAP reacting (as my other late game Strat bombing defence came later in the war and I'd had time to get a lot of radar spread around) but with the low altitude and lack of radar sets, this didn't happen, even one hex away!

I've built up forts all through the HI, but aren't balloons present due to a combined airfield/port size of 7? Does it also relate to forts levels? I have been searching the manual but can't find the reference to balloons and it's not in the index. [:@]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Expending B-29 raids on small targets is great news for you.

I hope you had the foresight to build up as many HI centers in the Home Islands with forts to take advantage of the barrage balloon rules? I think it feels a bit weak against 4E's, especially at night, but hopefully it does something to make the 2000ft raids a bit more troublesome.

At the end of the day, 30 damaged B-29's is the operational loss of one and a half squadrons for at least a week. It might not be anywhere as good as destroying them outright, but it's '44 and you're playing Japan.

My thinking on the 4E war is that "damaged" is the new "destroyed" for the strategic bombing game...

The first Ki-102 Randys will roll off the assembly line soon, and groups will fill out over the next months for rear area CAP. This is a decent upgrade and can handle a bit of a beating from the 4Es.

The Randy holds up very well in front line CAP also. I've became fond of both the F and FB versions to stiffen up front line CAP as the Randy doesn't seem as phased by damage as other IJ planes.

[/quote]

Good to hear they're good up in front too. I'll mostly have extras FB units on big bases like Tokyo and Osaka to improve CAP durability in the face of large strikes. Before new LR Allied escorts arrive these will have to be naked strikes by the bombers, and I doubt he'll risk daylight strikes, but you never know.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

I'd scrub Babeldaob off that list and focus on Minadano instead. Babeldoab is a single invasion for the Allies: they can bombard, land, take the island and redeploy the troops very quickly, giving you less scope to inflict losses.

With Minadano it's an extended campaign, and will take more time and effort, and so give you more chance to play the attrition game.

When I say 'defences' in this context I mean an independent regiment and a small base force unit. That's it! [:)]

Just something so that if he wants to take it he'll have to commit something, but the level 6 forts will have a say in how long it takes to acquire.

I won't do much on Mindanao because there are so many bases, and A) I won't have/want to commit the troops to cover them effectively and B) Dan is the king of the bypassed base. Babeldaob at least is a prominent position that allows me some interdiction possibilities if he does go around. It's not close to other bases so strikes could be sent out with little risk other than from escort CVEs. It also has good forts and infrastructure in place.

[ny59giants]

I've built up forts all through the HI, but aren't balloons present due to a combined airfield/port size of 7? Does it also relate to forts levels? I have been searching the manual but can't find the reference to balloons and it's not in the index. [:@]

I would like an answer to this question. Doing the same thing.

[Lowpe]

In China, at one of the ports is a SNLF unit with the June 45 40mm Bofors gun...which is the best AA gun Japan has. They only have 2 I think, but I think they are worth buying out and putting them where you expect the 2000 foot bombing runs. It is not that many points, and they are good.

It could as easily be 10 planes damaged three times, of 6 planes damaged 5 times, as 30 planes damaged one time.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

I've built up forts all through the HI, but aren't balloons present due to a combined airfield/port size of 7? Does it also relate to forts levels? I have been searching the manual but can't find the reference to balloons and it's not in the index. [:@]

I would like an answer to this question. Doing the same thing.

I am fairly confident the answer is no. I remember threads about this with m-m and Alfred and others. There is a multiplier against 4E though.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 15, 1944[/font]

---

Today massive strikes arrived all over Northern Honshu in the night phase, and then also in the day phase. Not many of the night bombers were hit by flak and none by NF, which are mostly covering Tokyo/Osaka/etc.

Of the night strikes those at Sendai by B-29s took the most damage per bomber, as there are better guns there. Interesting to see the difference between Hirosaki/Aomori and Sendai. Of the 25 bomber hitting Sendai, 8 were damaged. Only 2 were damaged out of 27 at Hirosaki. An AA regiment moved in the turn after this strike. [:D]

In the day strikes, the B-29s flying over sendai were hit hard. I'm not sure if this was a missed setting for some groups or intended, but only 15 of 23 planes involved made it to bombing runs, and some were damaged or destroyed after the runs as well. Again, a good showing by CAP when they have the chance to intercept. The Franks did very well. [:)]

There are several radar sets at Sendai now, but this shows how difficult it is to intercept at 2k. Still, it's now a risky proposition to fly at these altitudes due to increased low level flak. The damage to the base is more extensive than from the night strikes, but not catastrophic.

NIGHT

Sendai

B-29-1 Superfort x 19
B-24J Liberator x 6
8 damaged


Manpower hits 23
Fires 7800

Akita

PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15
1 damaged
1 destroyed by flak


Manpower hits 3
Fires 1605

Hachinohe

Liberator GR.III x 7
B-24J Liberator x 3

Hirosaki/Aomori

B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-24J Liberator x 9
2 damaged

Manpower hits 26
Fires 15531

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 15, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 3
Fires 1605

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hachinohe , at 118,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator GR.III x 7
B-24J Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 8
Fires 3225

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Liberator GR.III bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 2
Fires 1592

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 7000 feet *
City Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 3276

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged

Manpower hits 3
Fires 1170

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 1
Fires 2372

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 22
Fires 15531

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 5
Fires 4515

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

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

Manpower hits 2
Fires 3510

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

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

Manpower hits 2
Fires 4290

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

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

Manpower hits 10
Fires 7410

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 4

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

Manpower hits 1
Fires 7800

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sendai , at 117,58

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 15
Ki-84a Frank x 22

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 98
Fires 51460

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shokaku-1 with A6M8 Zero (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 2000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 37100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (7 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes [This is a great interception time, and even though the A6M8 were on 2k they had a longer time to intercept]

Dohibara E. in a Ki-84a Frank makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation

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

The B-29s took a hit, with 12 reported lost, while 4 other 4E were reported destroyed.

[obvert]

On the day damage is light. I'll take this for the loss of 12 B-29s and several more 4Es. Our pilots did well too with none lost on the day in A to A.

Akita had most of this damage form an early strike, but this is the first against Sendai. About 32 points lost so far with light fires still going.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In China, at one of the ports is a SNLF unit with the June 45 40mm Bofors gun...which is the best AA gun Japan has. They only have 2 I think, but I think they are worth buying out and putting them where you expect the 2000 foot bombing runs. It is not that many points, and they are good.

It could as easily be 10 planes damaged three times, of 6 planes damaged 5 times, as 30 planes damaged one time.

I spotted this unit a while back and wondered about those guns. I'll have a good look for them again.

The 20m and 25mm are doing surprisingly well where they're numerous. I think in the next coming weeks his 2k strikes will be much more difficult as radar becomes more effective and draws more fighters/NF to the battles, and as bases increase sizes to get balloons, etc.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

I've built up forts all through the HI, but aren't balloons present due to a combined airfield/port size of 7? Does it also relate to forts levels? I have been searching the manual but can't find the reference to balloons and it's not in the index. [:@]

I would like an answer to this question. Doing the same thing.

I am fairly confident the answer is no. I remember threads about this with m-m and Alfred and others. There is a multiplier against 4E though.

Do you mean, "No, fort levels do not impact balloons, and it is size 7 combined airfield/port size?"

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

I've built up forts all through the HI, but aren't balloons present due to a combined airfield/port size of 7? Does it also relate to forts levels? I have been searching the manual but can't find the reference to balloons and it's not in the index. [:@]

I would like an answer to this question. Doing the same thing.

I am fairly confident the answer is no. I remember threads about this with m-m and Alfred and others. There is a multiplier against 4E though.

Yes, more forts = more balloons.

But the minimum base size is also 7. Going higher than that on base size doesn't raise the number of balloons like forts does.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum



I would like an answer to this question. Doing the same thing.

I am fairly confident the answer is no. I remember threads about this with m-m and Alfred and others. There is a multiplier against 4E though.

Yes, more forts = more balloons.

But the minimum base size is also 7. Going higher than that on base size doesn't raise the number of balloons like forts does.

Perfect. That does it then. Michaelm is the source, so this is the way it is:

Size 7 combined ports/airfields have balloons present.

Balloon # = forts level and affect planes under 6k feet

If 2E or 4E planes are striking a base with balloons the base automatically has 4 extra balloons.

So Sendai should have 6 balloons against 1E planes and 10 balloons against 2E/4E. Not sure how much each balloon affects the attacking planes, but that sounds pretty good.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 17, 1944[/font]

---

The 17th started much the same as previous turns. Then changed. A lot.

Scattered night bombing of strategic targets hit Northern Honshu, and then one little strike of 3 x B-29 against Ominato. This was the foreshadowing of things to come.

Two 4E strikes, not so many planes really, but enough, hit Ominato fields. This is a level 9 field with 1,000 planes sitting on it. Although CAP did well with the sweeps, they couldn't get to a lot of bombers, and unexpectedly flak was almost non-existent. Carnage ensued.

This was partially my fault, with a lot of planes staging here but not needed right now, but I am also concerned at the performance of flak here. The strikes were at 7k and he lost only 1 out of 68 4E to flak. This is a base with several large naval base force and CD units with a massive concentration of very good DP guns. I had to count them up myself because I feel like something is really wrong. I've had numerous attacks be shredded, even in this game, when strikes arrived lower than 10k against a lot of flak.

This is in Ominato now:

2 x 12.7mm 3YT DP gun
37 x 12cm 10YT DP gun
29 x 8cm 41YT DP gun
16 x 25mm T96 AA gun

Radars:

3 x Type 3 Radar

The commanders are average, but not terrible. I can see the two base forces show disruption now, so must have been involved, but the Count doesn't look like it did anything, and it does have the largest concentration of guns. Did it not fire?

This worries me a lot. If I can't rely on AA to at least disrupt this little strike, and in severe weather as well, what can I do when they attack Yokohama or Hiroshima/Kure? Will those DP guns fire?

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 17, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hachinohe , at 118,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

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

Manpower hits 26
Fires 35617

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 40,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 66
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 47
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 33
Ki-84a Frank x 47

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F4U-1A Corsair sweeping at 36900 feet

CAP engaged:
Aso-1 with A6M8 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
Ikoma-1 with A6M8 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(17 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
S-311 Hikotai with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 12 on standby, 15 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 37100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
17th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (3 airborne, 13 on standby, 28 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 13 scrambling)
20 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 35200.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
52nd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (3 airborne, 22 on standby, 14 scrambling)
25 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 34440.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes

Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 40,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 54
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 38
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 31
Ki-84a Frank x 33

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 34
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 28
Ki-84a Frank x 31

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 38
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 31
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 23
Ki-84a Frank x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P-38J Lightning sweeping at 44000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 31
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 22
Ki-84a Frank x 19

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 11
B-29-1 Superfort x 12
P-51B Mustang x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 11 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 11 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 8 destroyed on ground
Ki-56 Thalia: 1 destroyed on ground
P1Y2 Frances: 2 destroyed on ground
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed on ground
D4Y1 Judy: 9 destroyed on ground
D4Y4 Judy: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 29
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 20
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19
Ki-84a Frank x 15

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 11
B-24J Liberator x 23
B-29-1 Superfort x 12
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 24 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 17 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 17 destroyed on ground
P1Y2 Frances: 10 destroyed on ground
D4Y1 Judy: 21 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 16 destroyed on ground
D4Y4 Judy: 10 destroyed on ground
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 10 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 6 destroyed on ground
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-56 Thalia: 1 destroyed on ground
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 7 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 6 damaged
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 66

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ominato , at 119,54

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 40,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 17
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x F4U-1A Corsair sweeping at 36900 feet

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

Ground combat at 66,44 (near Paoshan)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16698 troops, 133 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 483

Defending force 24421 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 882

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

Assaulting units:
15th Division
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
55th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

On the day 460 airframes lost, which sucks. Luckily most of these have very large pools. Plenty of Judys, Helens, Peggys and Dinahs.

Very few pilots were KIA.

The fields were cleared and all large concentrations of planes moved around. Tokyo still has a huge amount of airframes, but also, lots of CAP and even more flak. This strike puts me on notice for sure, but it's not the end. Just the beginning. I have to figure out if the DP guns will defend a base though.