[font="Times New Roman"]April 27, 1945[/font]
Some interesting developments. The passage of the mass of ships continues slowly West. It's not heading South, but is right next to the Bonins. Will these be target number one?
The only action today were a few small naval strikes. The Jills up North fell victim to a CAP trap around Kushiro.
Some Norms from Marcus sortied at about 12 hexes and sank two small landing craft. I'll keep pecking for now, but won't try anything big yet. No night strikes flew.
The most interesting part of the turn took place in the recon phase. A lot of targets were suddenly lit up. They ranged from the Indochinese coastline to the middle and Northern Chinese coasts, down the Western Korea coast and some spots on Formosa. A few islands South of Tokyo were also reconned.
I now am leaning to a landing in China and or Korea. I will act as if this is happening until I know otherwise. I'll also continue to add troops to the Ryukyus and Amami Oshima as long as I can, since these are always useful for the Allies late. Right now the Naha/Naga Okinawa bases have about 1,600AV. Amami has about 600AV. Each of the little islands off of the coast of Kyushu has a naval guard or regiment and some forts, but I'll aim to add some more units there as well. The trouble is, whatever he wants he can have if he has dedicated troops as if I would defend well. So I can only hoe he's gone cheap and assumed I wouldn't have it all covered. (I don't, and can't, but need to get a bit lucky about where the first landings are here). [;)]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 27, 1945
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,48
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 26
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LCT-320
LCT-180
LCT-322
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B6N2a Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chichi-jima at 118,73
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
E15K1 Norm x 5
Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 52
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LCI(M)-802, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LSM-132, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x E15K1 Norm bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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There are so many bases with little chance of defence along the Korean Western coastline. Fewer, but just as hard on the opposite Chinese coast. I think the DS will drive through the East China Sea and hit both sides up here. Time to get ready.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill