Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

A bad day to fly a P-38L. [:D] Scott flew several squadrons of them over Nagasaki but no other sweeps so my fighters got off lightly and ate into one of the fighters that I don't think he gets too many of. It's really the Corsair series that provide him with limitless planes until the war in Europe ends in a few months.

Carrier planes hit my AKs at Shanghai and sank each of them. Too bad (42 VP) but they're dead anyway and they did deliver another 1,000 fuel to Shanghai which will keep its factories humming for a little while longer. Supply shortages are starting to appear in China.

Otherwise, another shock attack near Kienshien (with his tanks) where he got a 1-5 and not too much else. He also has a carrier group bombing me at Marcus Island. My boys there are getting resupply by Emily (long flight from Yokahama) and SST so they're still in the fight.

[John B.]

In the grand scheme of things this was not a bad turn for the Empire of Japan. As you can see, Scott had a large number of flak losses and most of those were the two VP HB type of planes. Even better, these were lost bombing the empty airfield at Nagasaki and he did very little damage to that base.

[John B.]

The airlosses as reported. The only damage to the base was 5 points to the service. So, poor bombing and excellent AA fire.

[John B.]

Scott also tried a DD raid around the northern HI and they were found by all my naval air training squadrons up there. Looks like Scott lost 4 DDs there.

[John B.]

There was a huge naval/air/land battle at Fukue-Jima just off the coast of Nagasaki this turn. Scott moved in last turn and I sent everything I could after it. Lots of air losses. More on the Japanese than on the Americans.

[John B.]

Scott used his CV planes to put CAP over the hex and he paid the price in F6s. A lot of my losses were from the Kamikazes that went in. This time, the timing worked out pretty well with most of the Kamikazes flying in the morning after the fighter sweeps cleared the way. The afternoon kamikazes clearly had not studied earlier strikes where the afternoon attacks meet the reformed CAP. [8|]

[John B.]

But first there was a series of naval battles. My torpedo boats did not do much. But my DD TFs managed to get close. They put two torpedoes into the New Mexico and one into the Tennessee. The New Mexico did not show up in later battles so it must have been hurt pretty bad, but not bad enough to sink. Still, with that type of flotation damage it is likely out for the war.

[John B.]

Here is the battle report against the Tennessee. Other small caliber hits on the other battleships.

[John B.]

Then the Kamikazes came. As you can see, in this one there were numerous hits and the Tennessee was reported to be somking heavily.

[John B.]

I think in sum the Tennessee and the Valient each took 5 Kami hits and the other battle ships also suffered hits. I also put heavy damage on a CL from a Kamikaze attack. I don't know if this is enough to take the Tennessee down (lots of Kamikaze hits bounce off of the battleship deck armor) but heavy fires are never good. Like the New Mexico, even if it lives the Tennessee is likely done for the war.

[John B.]

Finally, at the end of the day, there was also the Japanese airborne assault on the island. It did not go as well as planned, but they are still there and this turn I'm flying in reinforcements. We shall see what day 2 holds.

All in all, I'm glad I'm not a pixel on the Tennessee!

[John B.]

We've got a couple more turns under our belt. I had a brilliant plan to fly LRCAP over Fukue-jima thus avoid Scott's fighter sweeps and catching his bomber force without escorts. It really was a brilliant plan as Scott did not sweep the island. But, my fighters ignored orders and flew CAP over Nagasaki so no ambush. Sigh. I won't get him off that island now.

In better news, it appears that the Kami's pounded his BBs badly enough that he got out of dodge.

fighter sweeps over Hiroshima and Scott sank a bunch of AKLs that were at zero fuel in Fukokua harbor.

[John B.]

A couple of days have passed with not much going on. Scott has been strat bombing Kagoashima without opposition (there is not much there so I don't care). He's using his medium bombers which do not seem to have the same impact as the heavy boys.

[John B.]

But, I did get lucky in the position in the middle of the Chinese front. I had a fresh division on the march into the hex and it managed to show up after the bombing and just in time to deal with a shock attack by a Marine and and Aussie division.

[John B.]

The result was a grim butchers bill and two divisions that are probably not in great shape right now.

[RangerJoe]

Counterattack? Can you risk bombing there?

[John B.]

I can't counter attack, I think that the odds of success are too low and it might ruin my defense of the hex. I have one fresh division and one battered division in the hex. His infantry is likely in bad shape but he has several tank battalions and a whole lot of artillery. Plus, the relentless air assault he has launched on the hex. But, he has left my three armored divisions alone in the rough hex just west of Kenshien (sp?) for more than a week so they're in pretty good shape. I may go across the river and try my luck in a few turns.

[John B.]

Another turn and some additional small victories for the Empire of Japan. Scott has been sending his medium bombers over my force next to Wenchow for about a week battering at them (and now it looks like he's headed in for a counter attack). So, I put fighters into Shanghai and put them on LRCAP.

[John B.]

And, there are not as many medium bombers as there was. [:D] And, I'm sure that Hitler's ongoing offensive in Western Europe will soon divert the allied war effort especially after he take Antwerp.

[John B.]

Finally, I just love my MTBs. They can come screaming out of my naval bases at Kyushu and, especially in bad weather on a moonless night they can cause some havoc, run home, and get disbanded. Scott's PT boats were a pain in 42-43, and my MTBs have been a real pain to him. I just wish I could build more of them and less of the MLs.