Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

The other major story of the day is that Scott invaded Tsushima! I have a fort there which was basically unhurt by his shore bombardment and I have some big guns there (one of the is 40 cm) so one of the BBs took five hits and may have suffered some amount of damage. The fort then took a toll of Scott's landing ships. T

[John B.]

Here is the next wave. Note that the entire 1st Marine division landed disabled. They must not have been prepared for this assault and perhaps the gunfire really screwed them up.

[John B.]

The same thing happened with the next unit that landed. It was entirely disrupted and some serious damage on another merchant ship.

[John B.]

Both and APA and an AKA were plastered with this wave. It's hard to see how they can stay afloat for too long.

[John B.]

I got in a few more licks in the afternoon unloading stage.

So, for today the KB is heading home but going East first to try to avoid any surface combat from ships Scott has at Tangashima. The American KB has been off of the west coast of Korea for more than a week (and is still there) so it is unlikely to be able to intervene before I can get back to port. My DD TFs will head north to see if they can pick off anyone and hope that they don't get caught by his aircraft or heavy surface units.

At Tsushima, I'm flying as much of a brigade in as I can and hope that it takes his marines a little while to recover from their disruption.

But, for January 1945 these results from the IJN made the Emperor smile. [&o]

[RangerJoe]

I think that you had a very good turn, even with those air losses. Those CVLs out of the war is a good thing.

If you have a few bombers in range, maybe some night bombing of Daito Shoto and any port where those damaged invasion ships can go.

Kamakazis coming in at 100 feet might be able to elude his CAP.

[John B.]

That's a good point about Daito Shoto. I'll see if I can squeeze anyone in there. That's also a good idea about coming in at 100 feet. I wonder if that interferes with US radar detection of incoming raids?

[RangerJoe]

I don't know if radar was modeled that way. But I have had float Jakes come in at 1,000 feet under P-40 CAP where the CAP did not even shoot at the float planes.

You might even try a small LRCAP over subs to down search and ASW aircraft. An annoyance but it might be worth a few points.

Maybe next time you send out your carriers, use a couple of small freighters in a cargo TF carrying a few supplies to lead the way . . .
Of course, the carriers will break of later while the small, cheap freighter break up onto 1 ship TFs to head towards neglected bases.

[John B.]

@Ranger Joe. I think our house rules would prevent me from using the AKs that way. Besides the KB was in full sprint mode and the AKs would have been left far behind.

But, here is the next turn. Almost no action in the air. On the ground, Scott is moping up in Indochina and arranging his positions in Korea. The 1st Marine division attacked at Tsushima and reduced the fort level from 6 to 5 which is always very sad. I did get part of the regiment into there and there will be more this turn, but Tsushima may not hold out too long. Again, my mistake. I thought I had garrisoned it and, clearly, I had not.

[John B.]

But, in the interim, I got to use my MTBs which I think are my favorite of all the Japanese ships. This one boat sank one ship and damaged the other.

[John B.]

The next wave of four boats did even better costing some very high value ships. These little guys really are perfect for invasion defense. I could not build then in Tsushima so they came from Fukokua

[John B.]

The last group ran into Scott's anti-ship patrol but I only lost one MTB for several 20+ VP landing ships. A very nice tradeoff. Just before the MTBs showed up the Tsushima fortress hit another AKA a few times so it may go down as well.

[John B.]

As you recall, I had two DD groups out hunting for AK TFs. The first group actually ran into a US CV TF and put a hit on the Bennington. Does not seem to have done any damage at all, but hey, a shot of saki for that crew.

[John B.]

One of my subs then put a torpedo into the Bennington. Again, no reports of significant damage, but it certainly didn't help that ship out and if Scott has to send it back to the yards to fix the flood damage this ship is basically out of it for the war.

[John B.]

The DD group that ran into the Bennington then ran into the Missouri. They crossed the T and got in close but no torpedo hits. This group was also struck by US carrier planes and it looks like only one of them will make it home.

[John B.]

The other DD group pulled off the ambush I was looking for! After this battle there were numerous sinking sounds so a number of these ships may have gone down. This group is now out of ammo, low on fuel and very far from home! Fingers crossed it can make it back but I think there is a US CV between it and the HI.

[John B.]

Here is the current battle map. The KB slowed down to refuel (on its own initiative) and, if it moves at full speed should just about make it into Tokyo. The US has a very large fleet and Scott may send his surface ships on a sprint to see if he can catch the KB before it gets into port. I'm sure Scott is also flooding the area with subs.

[RangerJoe]

I would have that destroyer group scatter.

I meant that the AKs would then go to an isolated base with supplies. Or at least try to. If spotted early, then can return or keep going based on what the Allies have in the area. Your carrier TF would provide some cover to the AKs initially, then go attack somewhere.

Good job with the DDs and MTBs. Can you make some minisubs as well?

How about minefields? Can you lay some new ones at Tsushima? Maybe a sub laid one at Daito Shoto? Also those four bases south of Yokohama would be a nice place for minefields, at least for a shield for your fleet movements.

[John B.]

Good idea on the minefield south of Yokahama. I've tried mine fields at his other bases but he has permanent minesweeping going on and it tends to get my subs clobbered. I see what you mean about the AKs to tell you the truth, I don't have any distant bases that are OOS. My transports subs are taking care of them pretty well. The only two big garrisons I have are Guam and Saipan. Saipan has 105k supply and Guam is at about 59K. I have not had any real trouble getting some resupply convoys to them.

Do you get much use of of minisubs? They are high VP and, in my experience sink fast and don't seem to do much good. The advantage of MTBs is they get created and go on their run thus their DL level is very low. Then they run home and disband.

I probably should have scattered the DD group. If they live through this next turn I'll do that.

[John B.]

I just noticed that I posted the wrong VP screen for the 24th. Here is the correct one.