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

[obvert]

The Allied unloading gets some attention from the 8cm DP guns, which do just enough to disrupt some of the troops on ships, and I bet contribute to fatigue and disruption before the next shock today. It looks like a different Marine regiment here, the 1st Marine C regiment, plus some arty. They also land another tank battalion, which suffers heavy losses as well. The Aussie engineers are completely wiped out.

It looks like the Marine 1st A regiment was completely reloaded and moved out. Curious to see how long this will go on? Is the B regiment next?

Send more Marines! [:D]
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Invasion Support action off Marcus Island (123,85)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-632, Shell hits 5
LST-633, Shell hits 2
LST-630, Shell hits 2
LST-640
LST-641
LST-644
LST-638
LST-631

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-632 at 5,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-633 at 5,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-630 at 5,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-632 at 5,000 yards
LST-640 fired at enemy troops

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Marcus Island (123,85)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

142 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AKA Alshain, Shell hits 3
DD Blue
AM Gladiator
AKA Arneb, Shell hits 1
AKA Aquarius, Shell hits 1
APD Walsh
APD Bunch
APD Crosley
APD Blessman
APD Bull
APA Laurens

Allied ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging AKA Alshain at 11,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Marcus Island (123,85)

TF 695 troops unloading over beach at Marcus Island, 123,85

Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Marcus Island (123,85)

131 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LSM-14
PF Muskogee
LCI(G)-373
LSM-16, Shell hits 2
LSM-15
LSM-17

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LSM-14 at 11,000 yards
LCI(G)-373 firing to suppress enemy battery at 11,000 yards
8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LSM-16 at 11,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Marcus Island (123,85)

TF 696 troops unloading over beach at Marcus Island, 123,85

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)

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

Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4558 troops, 97 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 156

Defending force 6505 troops, 72 guns, 267 vehicles, Assault Value = 293

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

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

Assaulting units:
2nd South Seas Gsn /2
Sasebo 7th SNLF
Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
Iwo-jima Nav Gd /1
Kwajalein Base Force

Defending units:
1st Marine/C Div /1
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /5
44th Tank Battalion
775th Tank Bn /6
9th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

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

Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6437 troops, 72 guns, 267 vehicles, Assault Value = 289

Defending force 5184 troops, 103 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 143

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 86

Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
896 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 27 (10 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
947 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 27 (10 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 52 (18 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Marine/C Div /1
44th Tank Battalion
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /5
775th Tank Bn /6
9th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
Sasebo 7th SNLF
Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
2nd South Seas Gsn /2
Iwo-jima Nav Gd /1
Kwajalein Base Force
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[obvert]

The air losses on the day are again heavy. Dan is going balls out to hit anything he can find, and my job now is to try and even out the score on these days by piling on in certain locations to get a good ratio, and still be over a Japanese base.

Can't help the flak losses obviously. Any strike planes at this stage will lose a lot of their number hitting Allied flak.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Next up are two DEs. This, surprisingly, is the fateful trying point of the night. As in the war, the USN just has better equipment at this stage of the game. The battle starts in close at 5k yards, close enough that the DEs launch torpedoes and immediately get a hit on Ashigara. This is the decisive hit in the series of battles that come next, even though both DEs are sunk and the cruisers continue on in.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 123,85, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
DD Ikazuchi
DD Minazuki

Allied Ships
DE Tabberer, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE Walter C. Wann, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 5,000 yards

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

A DE launching a successful torpedo attack is a dream. It is like watching your little sister beat up a big noisy drunk in a bar fight....[;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

Next up are two DEs. This, surprisingly, is the fateful trying point of the night. As in the war, the USN just has better equipment at this stage of the game. The battle starts in close at 5k yards, close enough that the DEs launch torpedoes and immediately get a hit on Ashigara. This is the decisive hit in the series of battles that come next, even though both DEs are sunk and the cruisers continue on in.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 123,85, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
DD Ikazuchi
DD Minazuki

Allied Ships
DE Tabberer, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE Walter C. Wann, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 5,000 yards

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

A DE launching a successful torpedo attack is a dream. It is like watching your little sister beat up a big noisy drunk in a bar fight....[;)]

And the Allies have a lot of tough little sisters.

[obvert]

Well, as I'd feared, the Allies sent another cruiser TF in during the night cleaned up. Ashigara took a beating and went under. The good news is that Tone was unsighted and hasn't yet been hit by an Allied sub. Fingers crossed.

[obvert]

The Japanese also did some cleaning up. The Allies left about 10 LSTs at Marcus to pick something up. The Judys and Frances did some work here, and the nice part is there were troops on board. [:)]

[obvert]

Jakes took out some YMS, but also went for the cruisers with no luck. I'll keep them on for tomorrow.

[obvert]

On the day not much else happened, but the Allied fleets move down close to the Kuriles. There is so much there I can't tell what from the search rollovers. Lots of search and ASW shot down though. Is he coming in for a landing? Or just sending some ships home?

Tomorrow will tell, maybe.

[obvert]

One good thing is that Shimushiri-Jima had a reprieve of several days and managed to finish the last point on her level 6 forts! [&o]

[obvert]

Air losses for the day. Lots of 2E lost to flak in Burma.

[PaxMondo]

Allied flak in '44. yuck. I've never come up with a counter for it really. Going high enough to mitigate it means basically no hits, so useless mission. Can't get enough bombers (actually total bombs) to get the hit% to work. This is where a 4E with a 10xbomb bombload would really show up. The IJ 2E 4x250 just can't generate enough bombs to get any hits … So, you have to go in lower and the losses are really high ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Allied flak in '44. yuck. I've never come up with a counter for it really. Going high enough to mitigate it means basically no hits, so useless mission. Can't get enough bombers (actually total bombs) to get the hit% to work. This is where a 4E with a 10xbomb bombload would really show up. The IJ 2E 4x250 just can't generate enough bombs to get any hits … So, you have to go in lower and the losses are really high ...

Yes. I gave up bombing Shikuka after a few tries. It is impossible to get any return on even a big mission with 300 2E when I lose 10-15% to flak and get 2-3 hits.

That said. If I don't bomb anything, but let the Allies hit the Japanese best flak guns often, they take some heavy losses too with all of the AA improvements. I've recently moved another regiment into Toungoo that has 12cm flak guns, and voila, 3-4 more losses per turn from Allied bombing runs. [:)]

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Allied flak in '44. yuck. I've never come up with a counter for it really. Going high enough to mitigate it means basically no hits, so useless mission. Can't get enough bombers (actually total bombs) to get the hit% to work. This is where a 4E with a 10xbomb bombload would really show up. The IJ 2E 4x250 just can't generate enough bombs to get any hits … So, you have to go in lower and the losses are really high ...

Relatively speaking, there is an altitude "sweet spot" where the overall ROI on air-ground is improved. Whether it is then a satisfactory ROI is a different question. Air-ship is a nastier situation for the bombers as there is no equivalent "sweet spot". As this is relative finding the "sweet spot" does not necessarily result in fewer aircraft losses in aggregate but rather that the ratio of losses to hits achieved is better. Trying to fly above the flak ceiling (remember there is some fuzziness to flak ceiling anyway) will not find the "sweet spot".

Much is dependent on the model AA gun and the aircraft types used. Where the flak defence is comprised of multiple, layered ceiling model AA guns, there may in fact be no "sweet spot" at all. Mixing various different bomber models in the same raid also makes it harder to find the "sweet spot".

In very general terms you should bear the following in mind:

1. An AA gun has 3 ceiling effectiveness bands; the bottom third is usually it's least effective ceiling band.

2. The flak gap of classical WITP was not completely removed in AE. In AE you can encounter flak within the entire ceiling range (plus the fuzziness factor) but it may not be as intense around the old flak gap area.

3. The important factors to consider when choosing the bombers include (but not limited only to)

(a) having armour - sending a bomber which lacks armour against an Allied location bristling with flak is not advisable

(b) maneouver rating - single engine bombers will generally have a much better rating than 2 engine bombers

(c) DB and TB types should only be used in a level bombing capacity as this reduces their exposure to flak

Alfred

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Allied flak in '44. yuck. I've never come up with a counter for it really. Going high enough to mitigate it means basically no hits, so useless mission. Can't get enough bombers (actually total bombs) to get the hit% to work. This is where a 4E with a 10xbomb bombload would really show up. The IJ 2E 4x250 just can't generate enough bombs to get any hits … So, you have to go in lower and the losses are really high ...

Relatively speaking, there is an altitude "sweet spot" where the overall ROI on air-ground is improved. Whether it is then a satisfactory ROI is a different question. Air-ship is a nastier situation for the bombers as there is no equivalent "sweet spot". As this is relative finding the "sweet spot" does not necessarily result in fewer aircraft losses in aggregate but rather that the ratio of losses to hits achieved is better. Trying to fly above the flak ceiling (remember there is some fuzziness to flak ceiling anyway) will not find the "sweet spot".

Much is dependent on the model AA gun and the aircraft types used. Where the flak defence is comprised of multiple, layered ceiling model AA guns, there may in fact be no "sweet spot" at all. Mixing various different bomber models in the same raid also makes it harder to find the "sweet spot".

In very general terms you should bear the following in mind:

1. An AA gun has 3 ceiling effectiveness bands; the bottom third is usually it's least effective ceiling band.

2. The flak gap of classical WITP was not completely removed in AE. In AE you can encounter flak within the entire ceiling range (plus the fuzziness factor) but it may not be as intense around the old flak gap area.

3. The important factors to consider when choosing the bombers include (but not limited only to)

(a) having armour - sending a bomber which lacks armour against an Allied location bristling with flak is not advisable

(b) maneouver rating - single engine bombers will generally have a much better rating than 2 engine bombers

(c) DB and TB types should only be used in a level bombing capacity as this reduces their exposure to flak

Alfred

Yeah, all of that. The gaps I see are only for Allied planes hitting me! Not gaps really just spots where it seems the payoff in hits merits their losses. My good 12cm DP guns tend to cause only damage (lots of it) but only get kills when they come really low or CAP is also present to add to the damage/possbily knock planes out of formation.

Durability (and lack of armor) seems to limit the 1E planes hitting heavily concentrated areas of flak. I see 2Es being very succeptible to losses rather than damage, as 4Es hitting the same positions can often ride out the damage and get home.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Oct 13, 1944[/font]

---

Here are some of the combat reports. A nice haul of LSTs and troops (loading?) destroyed. Looks like he's tried to evacuate everything but there is still a bit left on the island.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 13, 1944
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 121,81, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Bagley
DD Allen
DD Thanet
DD Quadrant, Shell hits 1, on fire

Reduced sighting due to 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 10% moonlight: 6,000 yards

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 123,85

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LST-630, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LST-634, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-641, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
LST-639, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
LST-632, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LST-644, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
LST-633, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 27 (11 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 123,85

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
LST-640, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LST-634, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-641, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-631, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 123,85

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 11 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LST-637, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LST-633, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 1 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Massive explosion on LST-637

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 124,83

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
YMS BYMS-2059, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 123,85

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LST-631, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 123,85

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
LST-632, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 1 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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[obvert]

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

---

Invasion Ketoi-Jima!!

The Allies pick the most vulnerable of the Kuriles bases for their first invasion. It's the one I started last and worked on least. It has 5 forts with 60% toward level 6, but now will not likely make it there. The only hope here is that it's also the only Kuriles base with a stacking limit, even in a non-stacking limit game. It can hold only 60k troops without a penalty. I've got about 46k there now, but the Allies have landed much more. In raw numbers about 85k, and that in stacking terms will be well over the limits.

That said they have four good divisions, including a whole lot of Marines. This is meant to be a quick and dirty grab. The chance the Japanese have is if the troops have extensive disruption caused by the contested landings, with lots of support troops shown as disabled by CD gun fire, and due to be well above the SL, they can't recover fatigue and disruption, and go through a lot of supply quickly. I saw a lot of engineers listed as destroyed and disrupted, so hopefully that massive engineer regiment will need some time to recover.

If he tries a DA with disruption high, this could snowball as it did when Torsten tried to land on Marcus and overstack it.

The Japanese will also attempt to air lift another division onto the base to round out the stacking limit to just about 60k. I've got 100+ transports now ready to go, and if not interdicted, they could get something there quickly.

This will be dicey, and I would put my money on the Allies with such a massive landing of the best troops available, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that the devs figured out how to inhibit these kinds of excessive moves with SL penalties.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 14, 1944
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Night Air attack on Yokohama/Yokosuka , at 113,61

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 19
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-Sa Irving: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese Ships
xAK Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Port Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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TF 207 encounters mine field at Ketoi-jima (134,50) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hobson, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Laffey II, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

1st Base Force firing at DMS Hobson
DMS Hobson firing at 1st Base Force
1 mine cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 746 encounters mine field at Ketoi-jima (134,50)

Allied Ships
PT-485, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 48 encounters mine field at Ketoi-jima (134,50) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hambleton, Shell hits 2
AM Triumph, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
APA Zeilin, Mine hits 1

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

1st Base Force firing at DMS Hambleton
DMS Hambleton firing at 1st Base Force
AM Triumph firing at 1st Base Force
1st Base Force firing at AM Triumph
11 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 256 encounters mine field at Ketoi-jima (134,50) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Long, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS Dorsey, Shell hits 6, on fire
DMS Southard, Shell hits 8

DMS Long firing at 1st Base Force
1st Base Force firing at DMS Long

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 126,87

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E15K1 Norm x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LST-633, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E15K1 Norm bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 128,88

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
LST-638, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 27 (12 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Massive explosion on LST-638

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Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

620 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
AK Bedford Victory, Shell hits 6
DD Warrington
APA Neville

Japanese ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Idaho firing at 71st Division
12cm 10YT DP Gun Battery engaging AK Bedford Victory at 13,000 yards

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Amphibious Assault at Ketoi-jima (134,50)

TF 48 troops unloading over beach at Ketoi-jima, 134,50

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)

105mm M2 Howitzer damaged beyond repair during unload of 4th Marine Div /4

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Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

561 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Australia
DD Sampson
APA President Polk

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

Allied ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

CA Australia firing at 49th Mountain Gun Regiment
DD Sampson firing at 71st Division

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Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

563 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Henley
APA Frederick Funston
DE Richard W. Suesens

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled

DD Henley firing at 71st Division
DD Henley fired at enemy troops

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Ketoi-jima (134,50)

TF 439 troops unloading over beach at Ketoi-jima, 134,50

Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (0 destroyed, 34 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

553 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
AK Lesuth, Shell hits 1
DE Shelton
APA Winged Arrow

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

DD Drayton firing at 71st Division

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Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

585 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-26, Shell hits 3
PF Bisbee
PC Reliance
LST-21, Shell hits 4
LST-27, Shell hits 6
LST-20, Shell hits 7
AM Herald

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-26 at 5,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

556 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-119, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Revenge
PC Kimball
LST-120, Shell hits 1
LST-167
LST-121
LST-123
LST-124

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-119 at 4,000 yards

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Amphibious Assault at Ketoi-jima (134,50)

TF 492 troops unloading over beach at Ketoi-jima, 134,50

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (0 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Pre-Invasion action off Ketoi-jima (134,50)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

115 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LST-274, Shell hits 14, on fire
PC Travis
AM Zeal
LST-277, Shell hits 10, on fire
LST-356, Shell hits 6, on fire
LST-355, Shell hits 2
LST-391

8cm T88 DP Gun Battery engaging LST-274 at 5,000 yards

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Ground combat at Ketoi-jima (134,50)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20767 troops, 243 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 1113

Defending force 76827 troops, 828 guns, 1473 vehicles, Assault Value = 2251

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

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
85th Naval Guard Unit
36th Ind.Mixed Brigade
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
71st Division
11th Ind.Mixed Regiment
3rd FF Const Unit
1st Base Force
5th RF Gun Battalion
34th Const Co
49th Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Special Base Force
11th RF Gun Bn /1

Defending units:
1st Army Tank Regiment
5th USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Div /1
706th Tank Battalion
XI Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
8th Australian Div /1
1st Regiment
4th Marine Division
5th Australian Div /6
237th USN Base Force
Provisional GMC Grp

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Of course as the DS moves in and my ASW and search planes suffer a bit, but I also did have them reduced slightly. The Allies continue to lose a lot of bombers to flak and ops losses.

[ny59giants]

Disruption - Which side can manage this the best may win the battle here. I would also double check your leaders to insure they can help. Any HQs nearby that can offer support to this effort?

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Here is a look at what the Allies have floating around. I'm not going near all of that!

Also below are the Japanese unit now in place. As mentioned, I'll see what else I can get onto the island quickly.

This is a chance to see how SL work and do some tests on reducing fatigue/disruption, using sub laid mines against bombardments, and any other kind of disruptive elements I can get there, like midgets and MTBs. That big engineer unit should drop forts with every attack unfortunately.

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ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Disruption - Which side can manage this the best may win the battle here. I would also double check your leaders to insure they can help. Any HQs nearby that can offer support to this effort?

There are Army HQs in range, yes. I don't have anything planning for Ketoi specifically though. I've got them planning for Onneketon, Uruppa, Para and Etorofu, I think.

I should probably move General Defence HQ from Tokyo up to Ominato for these battles. I have the Northern Fleets Command HQ there, but not sure that'll impact ground combat at all. All unit leaders have been chosen for high inspiration, land skill, and leadership.