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

[obvert]

A lot of DEs and a good number of Allied (and especially USN) DDs sunk on the day.

The Allied cruisers managed to outrun about 4-5 different TFs to avoid combat, which sucks, since Tone and company here had 100% ammo, just no torpedoes. Bad luck and good commanders in those TFs.
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Toyohara at 126,46, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Yasoshima
E Sado
E Chiburi

Allied Ships
DE Austin, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Canfield, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Crouter
DE Edward C. Daly, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Range closes to 15,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 125,45, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CL Isuzu
CL Natori
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CL Santa Fe
DD Abbot
DD Stembel
DD Strong
DD David Taylor

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 28,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat

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[obvert]

As daylight broke the sweeps started. A healthy CAP up of about 260 fighters up. Not much reduced really. We did fare pretty well, maybe 1:1.5 in the end, and reduced the CAP enough that some strikes did make it through. A lot of ships made it under the Shikuka umbrella though by daylight and most DB/TB and the KB were set to one hex out of Shikuka.

About half of the Bettys go through and landed one 800kg bomb on an AE. That was it for the port strikes though.

A DD also took a Judy 500kg bomb, but at the price of about 30 Judys. CA Boston has nine lives. It's used about 8 of them.
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Morning Air attack on Shikuka , at 126,43

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 39,440 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 30

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 13
Spitfire VIII x 15
F4U-1D Corsair x 8
P-38J Lightning x 5
P-38L Lightning x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-39N1 Airacobra x 3
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 42
P-51B Mustang x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
F4U-1A Corsair x 107
F6F-3 Hellcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-38L Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 34440 feet *

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Morning Air attack on Shikuka , at 126,43

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 35
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 7
Ki-84a Frank x 6

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 13
Spitfire VIII x 13
F4U-1D Corsair x 7
P-38J Lightning x 4
P-38L Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-39N1 Airacobra x 3
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 40
P-51B Mustang x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 103
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 12 destroyed, 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AKE Admiral Gove, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 127,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 12 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 8 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Boston
DD Halford
DD Newcomb, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Newcomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 127,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 10 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Boston
DD McGowan
DD Chauncey
DD Mullany

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

By the time the Helens arrived the CAP wasn't reduced enough. A lot lost in the air, a lot lost to flak, but they did some damage on the ground too. Hopefully Allied pilots were lost there as well, which does happen. Best place to get an ace KIA.

Trenton took some Judy bombs to add to its damage.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 127,43

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 11
B6N2 Jill x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Hunt
DD Hutchins
DD Irwin, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Trenton, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Trenton

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Morning Air attack on Shikuka , at 126,43

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 60
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 91
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 57
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 5
Ki-84a Frank x 24

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 13
Spitfire VIII x 12
F4U-1D Corsair x 7
P-38J Lightning x 3
P-38L Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-39N1 Airacobra x 3
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 37
P-51B Mustang x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 90
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 10 destroyed, 30 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 5 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 6 destroyed by flak
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
P-38J Lightning: 1 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1A Corsair: 5 damaged
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
PBM-3D Mariner: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-3N Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
F-5A Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Shikuka , at 126,43

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 61
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 47
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 54
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 20

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 13
Spitfire VIII x 12
F4U-1D Corsair x 6
P-38J Lightning x 3
P-38L Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-39N1 Airacobra x 3
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 36
P-51B Mustang x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 81
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 8 destroyed, 13 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 6 destroyed by flak
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 2 damaged
P-38L Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 2 damaged
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 damaged
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 destroyed on ground
PBM-3D Mariner: 1 destroyed on ground
Liberator B.VI: 1 destroyed on ground
P-61A Black Widow: 2 destroyed on ground
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
PB4Y-1P Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-3N Hellcat: 3 destroyed on ground
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed on ground
F-5E Lightning: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
AE Mount Hood, Bomb hits 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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[obvert]

The Frances struck again, hitting Astoria with one torpedo. Damn, just can't close the deal on some of these ships.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 126,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 17 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 1
DD David Taylor

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

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[obvert]

In the end a lot of planes were lost, but some ships sunk that the Japanese don't usually fare well against at this point in the war. In fact the tally goes to the IJN in todays running battles, although the BBs and some CAs are still out there, running low on ammo and needing to get back through the miasma of PT boats.

Here are the air totals.

[Lowpe]

Do you have the Franks and Georges to keep sweeping?

Did your rail line troops get detroyed?

Sub threat didn't materialize?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Do you have the Franks and Georges to keep sweeping?

Did your rail line troops get detroyed?

Sub threat didn't materialize?

The fighter groups are still in tact and will keep it up tomorrow, definitely.

The rail troops got wiped out by what turned out to be a USA regiment there. He'd thought of this already, I'm guessing. (I think that the air groups would not be able to transfer through that hex until the next day, even though the troops were eliminated, right?)

There were a good number of subs, but they mostly picked on cripples, and the BBs (so far) have gotten away without a scratch. Still have to move them through the mess, though.

[Lowpe]

Any way you can target all those pt boats that are at sea from the air?

I don't think he could transfer the air units by rail until the line is clear. He could load them into ships and then disband the ships back to port...very risky that.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Any way you can target all those pt boats that are at sea from the air?

I don't think he could transfer the air units by rail until the line is clear. He could load them into ships and then disband the ships back to port...very risky that.

I could probably target with low level strafing, F and FB. Speaking of risky! If I do that I'm essentially giving up half of whatever I send, and if they hit a DD TF or one with a CL in it, that would be bad. I think in one strike of 36 DB against the Boston TF (after Baltimore had already been sunk) I lost 14 DBs to flak and scored no hits.

Randys would do this well, probably, or Nicks. I'll see if opportunities present themselves after the big bad boys leave the area. I'd like to count up the DDs, DEs and especially PT boats sunk here. It's a lot!

[crsutton]

Nicely done. I really think the Japanese player in any campaign just has to choose a time and go "all-in." Many Japanese players just can't bring themselves to do this. But if you wait too long vs the growing Allied strength, it just becomes a matter of time. Would you list out your total ship losses during the few days of battle?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Nicely done. I really think the Japanese player in any campaign just has to choose a time and go "all-in." Many Japanese players just can't bring themselves to do this. But if you wait too long vs the growing Allied strength, it just becomes a matter of time. Would you list out your total ship losses during the few days of battle?

I have been hoping to do this, but the battle rages on and I though it'd be best to wait a few to get a better tally.

It's a hard thing to do when you've seen the game conserving forces, but also seeing that battles you used to win are going downhill fast. This one too weeks of preparation, and I never really knew what I'd be facing there, so it was a bit of a shot in the dark too.

Even if I lose equal forces in the this one it's a win for the IJN at this point in the war.

[Drakanel]

I read both AARs. Last few turns have been extremely entertaining [8D]

I think you did pretty well all things considered. And the cost to you, for now, is rather low all things considered. I was actually expecting something like this, because you had no sightings of the Ally carriers for so long and Shikuka is rather close. So I thought you might go for it.

Really looking forward to the next turns, to see what you decide to do (stay for more or call it a day) and how it goes. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

I read both AARs. Last few turns have been extremely entertaining [8D]

I think you did pretty well all things considered. And the cost to you, for now, is rather low all things considered. I was actually expecting something like this, because you had no sightings of the Ally carriers for so long and Shikuka is rather close. So I thought you might go for it.

Really looking forward to the next turns, to see what you decide to do (stay for more or call it a day) and how it goes. [:)]

I worry the amount of info I give on these is a bit excessive, but it's fun to share the feeling of watching through it. I hope to show the scope of what is actually happening, as late war it gets a bit epic.

I'm mostly trying to extricate after this turn. The only fresh units I'm sending in are to clear pathways for retreat. I'll also stand down most bombing groups and naval strikes, and restrict ranges for all that are on.

It's been a very successful op in my opinion. The bombardments are the only strategic goal here. All of the rest is tactical, and essentially unimportant. The last turn though at least more Allied ships here were sunk and damaged, so any further runs at Shikuka should be a lot easier than the first.

Dan has some choices now. Does he use the CVs to bring in fresh ships and top up supply, fly in more fighter groups, send more subs and activate more PTs?

Or does he shift and threaten the oil and trapping the Burma Army? Or does he go deep alla Big Tent from the game with JIII? A lot to decide, and it all depends on how comfortable he is with leaving Shikuka on its own.

[Bearcat2]

Thanks for the AAR, especially with all the detail.


A bit of bad luck with the airfield not being closed; based on his AAR with John, it is evident that he sticks to a plan, isn't prone to opportunity attacks if it means changes to his plan and is meticulous in his planning.

I did have one question concerning your offensive, what was the purpose of sending your subs into the minefield, isn't that the purview of the midgets subs?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Bearcat2

Thanks for the AAR, especially with all the detail.


A bit of bad luck with the airfield not being closed; based on his AAR with John, it is evident that he sticks to a plan, isn't prone to opportunity attacks if it means changes to his plan and is meticulous in his planning.

I did have one question concerning your offensive, what was the purpose of sending your subs into the minefield, isn't that the purview of the midgets subs?

About the subs, later I'll have longer ranged midgets but for now they don't reach. I think I have maybe one of the midget carrier subs still avaialble.

For this op I needed the minefields to be detected, even a few mines swept (by the sacrificial DMS which I'm shocked actually did make and did sweep some 50 or so mines before being shot up by the CD guns). I sent in about 20 subs. They were not meant to hit mines necessarily, but I knew if they did that would increase the DL on the fields and make it less likely the BBs would hit mines. They were really there to hit crippled USN ships, but they by chance moved out of the Shikuka hex. So next time I know to place some in surrounding hexes as well.

All of the Es, PBs and MTBs were also expendable. To get 120+ B-29s destroyed (plus 100+ other 4Es and 200+ top shelf fighters, hopefulIy with a lot of aces KIA too) I was willing to give up a lot. I just hoped I'd actually get to bombardments, and with some luck it worked out.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 3, 1944[/font]

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This one was all about the cripples and detritous of battle flailing around against each other just outside the Shikuka hex. The Japanese have an early success, taking out a few more Fletchers for no losses. I also counted about 15 confirmed PT boat sinkings to add to teh totals. I'd like to find the grand total for these turns. It has to be 70-80.

CL Kitakami met her end at the far end of two USN sub strikes. Four hits, down she went.

Later though, after sweeps struggled against the Allied CAP, they wore them down enough for Judys to get through and land two 800kg bombs on CA Boston. Her luck finally running out. I'm sure she didn't sink, but she won't be any use for a long while either, which is important here. The RO-104 also landed one TT on CL Santa Fe. Nice.

In Burma the Allies lost a lot of 4E against CAP with no sweeps or escorts at Moulmein. Keep em coming!

Most TFs are at or nearing port to replenish. A few stragglers have not made it through the PTs, and I'm worried about one BB TF and one CA TF getting back okay. Lots to wade through there. Overall though, it's again a mostly positive turn, and trading shots with the Allies now is just fine. I'll post some ship losses soon, along with suspected losses not showing up yet on the lists (Repulse). One thing to note, the Allies have lost 15 BBs so far. That's a lot. They've not lost many cruisers though, so damaging some even here is great.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 3, 1944
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,45, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CL Isuzu
CL Natori
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hale, Shell hits 2
DD Hopewell, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD McKee
DD Miller, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,45, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 1
CL Natori
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
PT-155
PT-156
PT-157
PT-158
PT-159, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-160, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,44, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hale, Shell hits 5
DD McKee, Shell hits 1
DD Miller, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...

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Sub attack near Shikuka at 126,45

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
SS Hawkbill

SS Hawkbill launches 6 torpedoes at CL Kitakami
Hawkbill diving deep ....

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Morning Air attack on Shikuka , at 126,43

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 38,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 32

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 10
Spitfire VIII x 13
F4U-1D Corsair x 5
P-38J Lightning x 1
P-38L Lightning x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 31
P-51B Mustang x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
F4U-1A Corsair x 80
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x N1K2-J George sweeping at 35300 feet

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 126,43

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 26
Ki-102b Randy x 2

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 7
Spitfire VIII x 9
F4U-1D Corsair x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 1
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 21
P-51B Mustang x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
F4U-1A Corsair x 41
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 7 destroyed, 6 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Boston, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Abbot
CL Santa Fe

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 16
N1K2-J George x 13
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 50
Ki-84a Frank x 22

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 12
N1K2-J George x 13
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 43
Ki-84a Frank x 22

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8
B-24J Liberator x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Sub attack near Shikuka at 126,43

Japanese Ships
SS RO-104, hits 12

Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe, Torpedo hits 1
DD David Taylor
DD Strong

SS RO-104 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Santa Fe
RO-104 bottoming out ....
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 4, 1944[/font]

---

This was a bit of a frustrating turn, but that's bound to happen with all of the moving pieces involved lately. I set everything to head home, but some just couldn't get through, and paid the price.

The Takao/Maya TF was swarmed by fresh PTs and lost a good DD, the Yumagumo. Ikaguchi then did find the Fletchers and conclusively sunk DD Fletcher, and put a lot of extra damage on DD Hale. More PTs hit the Takao/Maya TF and then put a single TT into Maya. She was in good shape before this, and there were no messages of extra damage, but this was all it took apparently. After several more inconclusive battles she went under before I could do anything.

The Oi TF also lost a DD and a few PBs and Es were sent under. The IJN MTBs also got their shots in, taking out two more DEs. Takao made it out just fine and to safety. So the cost of the op went up a little, but still not enough to worry, and on the day I count another 19 PTs sunk as well. I know these are almost endless for the Allies, so that probably doesn't mean much.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 4, 1944
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,44, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Maya
CL Oi
DD Suzunami
DD Yamagumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hibiki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Sugi

Allied Ships
PT-283
PT-284
PT-285
PT-286
PT-287
PT-288
PT-295
PT-296
PT-297, Shell hits 1, on fire
PT-298, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-299, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-300, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 125,45, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Hale, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
DD McKee
DD Miller

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,44, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Maya, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Oi
DD Suzunami
DD Hibiki
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Sugi

Allied Ships
PT-164
PT-361
PT-362
PT-363
PT-365, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-366

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,44, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
DD Suzunami, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hibiki
DD Usugumo

Allied Ships
PT-455
PT-456
PT-457
PT-458
PT-459, Shell hits 1
PT-460, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 127,44, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-541, Shell hits 2
MTB G-552
MGB G-876
MTB G-883, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DE Dempsey
DE Emery
DE Martin, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE William C. Miller, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shikuka at 126,44, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CA Maya, and is sunk
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1
DD Sugi

Allied Ships
DM Ramsay
DM Breese

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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This is the scene now. More Allied fighters reappearing every day. Are these replacements? Or recovered from the rail lines after being shuttled around?

Tomorrow I'll try to make use of the infantry on the rail lines by sweeping to catch any planes on a multi-hex CAP.

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[font="Times New Roman"]IJN Losses: Shikuka Bombardments[/font]

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Here is a list of the major ship losses for the recent op. I'll post the USN after, but for the whole campaign.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Allied Ship Losses: CV/BB/CVE [/font]

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The Allies haven't lost too many CVs, and hardly any CVEs. They have lost a lot of BBs though.

The Repulse will be on this list as well.

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[font="Times New Roman"]Allied Cruiser/DD/DE Losses[/font]

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These don't include some of the recent losses. Baltimore will definitely appear and possibly another CL.