Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

Two more.

[John B.]

Last one.

[John B.]

and my boys held out! I won't hold the island, but, each turn I live is another turn anything he's unloading has to face the Naval fortress. It's very disrupted but all of its guns are still firing. I also snuck some Betties in at very low altitude and sank an LST along with 17 vehicles. Scott did an airborne landing but it did not make me retreat. All in all Truk is going better than expected. The more damage I inflict, the longer it will take him to get ready for the next one.

[John B.]

Here is the current battle force on Truk. Scott has two full strength divisions so it's really only a matter of time. He reduced the forts from 5 to 4 so best guess is three more days.

But, the landing craft attrition continues to take it's toll. I counted 11 LSTs and 2 AKs that had heavy fires and heavy damage after this turns landings. I also just activated four HAX subs. I'm not a big fan of them being worth 4 VP each (a total switch from my position as an allied player. ) But, with Scott not having many destroyers around I wonder it they'll get in a couple of hits before they get sunk.

It was also a good day for the IJN regular sub force. They put two torpedos into a Dutch CL and one into an Australian CA. I heard sinking sounds and 2 there were dead float planes in the aircraft report. The Kongo, which took a torpedo hit yesterday, was only lightly damaged and shelled Manakowri.

[John B.]

Truk day 3. Scott limited himself to bombardments and lost 11 planes to flak plus another LST. My HAXs were a bust but my naval fortress did lay 44 hits on the Indiana! It's not going to sink from shore batteries since they won't penetrate it's armor but its systems are going to be all messed up. Two more AKs took heavy fire from the shore batteries. One of my regular subs took heavy damage after it sank the LST.

[Bif1961]

From his AV it looks like he was highly prepped to land there probably 80+ on most units, so he has been planning to land here for awhile. That will make the end come sooner unfortunately. It also looks like he didn't embed old BBs in his amphibious TFs, to soak up some of the punishment your forts are dishing out. I hope this wasn't one of your inner ring defensive positions?

[John B.]

He's been bombing Truk for a few months so I suspect this invasion was a long time coming. Given the weakness of my troops I really doubt if the defense will make it a week. But, I have done nothing to reinforce Truk and it is not a key position. Now, the Marianas are a different story. Given their VP value they have been heavily reinforced. The Imperial Guards division is on Guam with level 7 forts and Saipan and Tinian will each have a division as well in addition to level 6 forts or better (they're already at level 6 the question is will I have enough time to get them to level 7. Saipan maybe, Tinian no). Each of these islands also has a LOT of artillery and anti-aircraft.

My basic strategy for now is to fortify the Marianas and Manila since those are the VP bastions. And, use the IJN to keep him out of the DEI for as long as possible. The Manakowri push Scott has been making appears blunted for now.

[John B.]

Truk day 4. Things look grim. Scott did a shock attack that brought the fort level down to 3 and got a 1-1 result. I lost a unit and 60 squads and he lost 6 squads or so. Maybe Truk holds out 2 more days or maybe the next attack carries the day. He stopped landing stuff so no shots from my shore artillery which is too bad. But, it's got to be grim losing ships that way.

There is a major reinforcement convoy heading to Saipan with an ID on board plus heavy artillery. I'm glad Scott is being tied up at Truk!

Better news from the Manakowri front. I caught a resupply convoy and managed to shell the airfield as well.

In the sad news department a sub got a torpedo hit on a British CV and . . . it was a dud.

[John B.]

Truk day 5. More dead Japanese a few dead Americans and forts reduced another level. Scott still only got a 1-1 (I'm not sure how that works out) so my boys held another day but if they last two more it will be a miracle. I did catch an AK and a PC with Betties and bombarded Manakowri to not much effect.

The big reinforcement convoy is approaching Saipan!

[John B.]

Truk day 6. We're still here! But, I think it's only going to be one more day. Scott got the fort down to level 1 and most of my fighting troops are dead. But, they have hung tough for the emperor. One of my mini subs sank an AM [&o] and then I figured out how to send them back to the mini sub pool.

Savage air battles over Darwin. The animation did not show me shooting down anyone but the air losses report had me losing 6 Tojo IIbs and Scott losing 8 heavy bombers. That's a win on any day! But, I see that Scott has two units at Darwin. I'm going to bombard them to see what they are.

Scotts sea pirates sank an AKL near Balikpapan and my paladins of the waves sank an AK near Pearl.

[John B.]

Truk day 7! They actually lasted another day and this time the casualty ratio was only about 2-1 (35 dead US squads). There are no more forts so my boys are out in the open. Scott has also continued his heavy air bombardment of Darwin. He has three armor units there so I wonder if he's planning an attack. If he's figured out how to keep in supply more power to him. I may move the KB down there with the Yamato & Musashi BBs to bombard those units and counter attack them.

[John B.]

Truk turn 8. they actually held out. Only killed 4 squads but a VP is a VP. Scott is definitely making a push towards Darwin. I'll have to see what I can do about that!

[John B.]

Truk day 13. Against all the odds the garrison has held out. Scott has attacked several times and never gotten more than a 1-1. He's not taking any loses, but it's nice to see him held up a bit here. Of course, my engineers are dutifully fixing the runway and port but we Japanese are just polite like that. [:D]

Alas, the fortunes of war have not been smiling on the Empire of Japan these past couple of turns. The past turn my CAP decided not to fly so Scott killed 32 planes on the ground at Kunming.

And, this turn...

[John B.]

2 outta 3 ain't bad but 5 outta 6 is really annoying. I'm not sure how many box cars his sub had to roll but he put 5 torpedoes into the Yamato out of a 6 torpedo spread. And, then the Yamato failed three damage rolls and now teeters on the brink of sinking. I have an outside shot of making it to a port that is one hex away and, if it disbands it may survive but with it at 90+ flotation I'll have to have lady luck back on my side.

In other news, Scott has gotten friskier in Burma and there continues to be no stopping his heavy bombers. My Tojo IIbs were very good for about a month but now they don't do any damage anymore.

But, I'm sure it gets better for Japan in 1944.

[John B.]

Well, the good news is that the Yamato made it to a level 1 port. the bad news is that the fire level went from 9 to 18. I have a naval HQ on the way with 240 naval squads that I hope will help put out the fires but it's couple of days away. Any tips on how to put out the fires?

Truk held another turn while Scott merely bombarded it. But, he sent in a huge wave of carrier aircraft with very limited escort. So, I'm taking a chance and I've just moved in a massive Zero squadron. I might be able to shoot down scads of American carrier planes. Of course, I might also lose the zero squadron if Truk falls. We'll just have to see what happens.

[John B.]

Fire levels have increased on Yamato. And, my aerial ambush on Truk did not work, but the island held out yet another day so I was able to bring the zeros home!

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: John B.
Well, the good news is that the Yamato made it to a level 1 port. the bad news is that the fire level went from 9 to 18. I have a naval HQ on the way with 240 naval squads that I hope will help put out the fires but it's couple of days away. Any tips on how to put out the fires?

AR and naval support, that is it. And prayers

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: John B.
Well, the good news is that the Yamato made it to a level 1 port. the bad news is that the fire level went from 9 to 18. I have a naval HQ on the way with 240 naval squads that I hope will help put out the fires but it's couple of days away. Any tips on how to put out the fires?

AR and naval support, that is it. And prayers

I think submerging the ship will work too ...

[John B.]

Alas, it looks like sinking is going to be what it takes to quench the flames. It's up to level 54 fire. I have 280 naval squads in the port but all of the numbers (except fire) are in the 90s. In other sad naval news, a sub took a shot at the Essex,and missed.

In other news, Truk continues to hold out. It's made it three more days! In fact, because Scott stopped bombing the airfield it just increased its fort level back up to 1. I did kill 7 tanks last turn but really, it's not netting me more VP, just delaying Scott.

[John B.]

Oh they built the ship Yamato
To sail the ocean blue
And they thought they had a ship
That the water wouldn't go through
But the good Lord raised His hand
Said "that ship will never land"
it was sad when the great ship went down!

Sigh. The fire level got up to 78% so I figured I might as well scuttle it and save myself the 30 or so VP points. I just want to know who was the genius who thought it would be a good idea to send it out to bombard the Aussies at Darwin.

In other sad news, Truck finally fell. Scott sent in another shore bombardment force and every plane that could carry a bomb and he still only got a 3-1 on my boys there. I wonder where he'll go next.