Gensui jdsrae (J) vs SolInvictus (A). IJ War Council room

[jdsrae]

This is the worm on 1 Aug 44, with the points also showing that July was a fairly quiet month for both sides.
August should be anything but quiet with amphibious assaults about to hit Sumatra and a large overland push just identified towards Imphal.
The remaining question is where are the USN CVs, which would create a third front.

440801 Worm.jpg (169.7 KiB) Viewed 1604 times

[jdsrae]

This is the current situation in Sumatra/Malaya.

Sumatra is relatively lightly defended, but there are reserves in Malaya that the pre-war plan had pencilled in to defend Sumatra.
Those units haven’t been bought out yet, and it now might be too late to buy them out and move them.
The pre-war plan is shown with the dashed lines.
HQ 13th Air Fleet is about to leave Bangkok on the train to Singapore.
HQ 9th Air Division left Chiang Mai on the train to Singapore yesterday, then might be ordered to Palembang via fast transport.
Both Air HQs are a few days away from being able to contribute to this campaign.

While not a Command HQ, ADM Toyoda has overall command of this theatre from Singapore.
HQ Southern Expeditionary Army (SEA) is about to land at Bangkok after spending a few days at Miri inspecting oil wells and upgrading TOEs.

Batavia is also reasonably well defended, with HQ 16th Army and a Division also at Soerabaja, with various IMBs, engineers and base forces also there.

440802 Sumatra.jpg (405.96 KiB) Viewed 1571 times

[jdsrae]

Severe storms and balloons.
I’ve read about balloons but don’t think I’ve ever seen this message in a game before.
Next attack 1x B29 was destroyed by flak.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 02, 44
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. – radar in the 29th JNAFU does the job.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 16
B-29-1 Superfort: 7 damaged – no reports of balloons in the combat report, so you need to watch the animation to see that message.
Runway hits 1
B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 5
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 5
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 damaged
Runway hits 1
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 6000 feet *
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 5
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Night Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
Runway hits 1
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Amphibious Assault at Siberoet (42,85)
TF 66 troops unloading over beach at Siberoet, 42,85
Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)
8 Aviation Support troops lost overboard during unload of 34th Aviation Base Force
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Amphibious Assault at Siberoet (42,85)
TF 286 troops unloading over beach at Siberoet, 42,85
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 172 Wing
8 Aviation Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 113th RN Base Force
12 troops of a Ind Inf Section 44 accidentally lost during unload of 39th Indian Div
12 troops of a Ind Inf Section 44 lost from landing craft during unload of 39th Indian Div

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Aug 02, 44
Repairs completed on CVE Shinyo at Yokohama/Yokosuka, ship returned to service
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
CMc Washizaki detects Allied Carrier Aircraft at 50,84 near Singapore
TK Kyoko Maru observes Allied Carrier Aircraft at 48,82 near Bengkalis
TF 97 shadowed by TBM-1C Avenger at 48,82 near Bengkalis
TF 108 snooped by Allied Carrier Aircraft at 50,84 near Singapore
1LT Miyajima R. of 87th Sentai is credited with kill number 13
F-5E Lightning sighted over Rahaeng
F-5E Lightning sighted over Pisanuloke
P1Y2 Frances from K-406 Hikotai attacking a KXIV Class class SS at 125,54, an Allied SS is reported HIT
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (40,83)
AMc Toshi Maru #8 snooped by Allied Aircraft at 50,84 near Singapore – lots of reports of Allied carrier aircraft on naval search, but no strikes launched today
19 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
19 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
7 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st INA Subhas Regiment to Bangkok
24 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 41st Division from Port Moresby
1 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 3rd South Seas Gsn from Kusaie Island
Ketoi-jima expands port to size 2 – stopped
Aircraft Ki-94-II advances R&D – to 9/45 with 2x30 researching with 4 more repairing. Currently 28, 25, 18, 15.
Ace pilot Ban C. of 11th Sentai is promoted to 1LT
Ace pilot Taniguchi K. of 31st Sentai is promoted to 1LT
Ace pilot Goto R. of 47th Sentai is promoted to 2LT
I.8-1 on BB Hyuga converting to size 24 from 1 – these air units were recently kicked off their submarines when the submarines upgraded to receive radars.
I.9-1 on BB Hyuga converting to size 24 from 1
114th AA Regiment's TOE was upgraded to IJA 12cm AA Regiment at Prome

[jdsrae]

Minor heart attacks in NEAF when all the USN subs popped up during the night movement phase.
KB Judy and Jill units at Iwaki will move to various bases on Hokkaido to flood the area with NavS and ASW patrols to try and damage these subs from the air. KB A6M8 units will also spread out as this indicates that the Allies are scouting the area in force, with all IJ callsigns placed on high alert for trouble while Sumatra operations are underway.

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[jdsrae]

Two pings with heavy volume of radio traffic in the selected hex today.
This SigInt contact has been tracked moving steadily west from either Seattle or Prince George over the last few weeks.
Bettys flying NavS from Paramushiro-jima may spot what this contact is tomorrow. This might be where the USN CVs are.
The CO of E Aotaka has requested permission to withdraw, which has been granted.
I-43 and I-47 will patrol just NW of Bering Island.

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[jdsrae]

Big Night CAP, but it was good to see the Peggys fight back, inflicting some damage on the fighters and driving most of the others off.
No hits from about 150-200 Peggys over multiple raids overnight, which is disappointing as they were bombing from 1000' and all of these pilots have 70 LowN skill.
Waste of supply.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 03, 44
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Submarine attack near Karachi at 38,6
SS I-54
Allied Ships
TK Buccinum, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage – fuel cargo burning!
TK Buccinum is sighted by SS I-54
SS I-54 launches 2 torpedoes at TK Buccinum
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 41,88
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 5 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APA Henderson
DE Coolbaugh
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb – only 1x bomb per plane which is unexpected, as they are flying within normal radius from Singapore. Default load is 3 with reduced load 2, so maybe night load is half or something?
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Night Air attack on TF, near Siberoet at 42,85
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 15
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
LST 239
LST 208
LST-477
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged – this turned out a lot better than expected, but also interesting to note so many Allied aircraft on night CAP. I assume there are about 10x more on day CAP, so I haven’t spotted their CVs yet!
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 28
No Allied losses – the animation showed plenty damaged or driven off by defensive fire from the Peggys, but there were no Peggy pilots credited with a kill.
Allied Ships
xAP Jalagopal
xAP Koolinda
CAP engaged: I could look up the ships that these air groups are from, but it looks to be about 4x USN CVL and 1x RN CVs. Based on this contact along, the Int Staff assess that the Allied force in the Indian Ocean is based on the RN with the USN in support, eg: USN CVL and CVEs.
VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 4000.
Raid is overhead
No.898 Sqn FAA with Corsair II (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 6000.
Raid is overhead
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
VC(F)-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Raid is overhead
VC(F)-5 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 9000.
Raid is overhead
VC(F)-10 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead
VMF-321 with F4U-1A Corsair (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Weather in hex: Severe storms – weather didn’t help with bombing, but may have helped with defence.
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 16
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 7 damaged
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 3
F4U-1A Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23
Allied Ships – some juicy targets, all missed.
AK Charlevoix
LST-177
xAP Malda
xAP Centaur
xAP Ormiston
CAP engaged:
VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
No.898 Sqn FAA with Corsair II (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
VC(F)-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
VC(F)-5 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
VC(F)-10 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
VMF-321 with F4U-1A Corsair (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 41,88
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 2 destroyed by flak – Allied CL flak is no joke!
Allied Ships
CL Newfoundland
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Weather in hex: Severe storms
G4M1 Betty x 6
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 3
F4U-1A Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
Allied Ships
xAP Clan Macneil
LST-223
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
Allied Ships
LST-177
xAP Pundit
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 41,88
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 7
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 8 damaged - one damaged twice
Allied Ships
LST 9
DD Queensborough
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 5
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Allied Ships
AK Chatham
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 6 damaged
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Allied Ships
DE Decoy
xAP Pasha
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Night Air attack on TF, near Pagai-eilanden at 43,88
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Allied Ships
xAP Malda
DE Arrow
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ASW attack near Ominato at 121,54
DD Matsu – this is the first of the 3 ships Matsu class DD ASW Divisions. It has plenty of targets near Ominato at the moment.
DD Take
Allied Ships
SS Blackfin, hits 1
SS Blackfin is located by DD Matsu
Blackfin diving deep ....
DD Take attacking submerged sub ....
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Sub attack near Enggano at 44,93
ACM Kembu Maru – withdrawing from Benkolen
Captain of SS Crevalle elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
ACM Kembu Maru attacking submerged sub ....
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Amphibious Assault at Pagai-eilanden (43,88)
TF 201 troops unloading over beach at Pagai-eilanden, 43,88
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 10 Group RAAF
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Sub attack near Enggano at 44,93
ACM Kembu Maru
SS Thresher launches 2 torpedoes
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Sub attack near Enggano at 45,94
ACM Kembu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage – luck ran out…
SS Ray launches 2 torpedoes
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Amphibious Assault at Sipora (43,86)
TF 198 troops unloading over beach at Sipora, 43,86
Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 44 lost overboard during unload of 156th USA Base Force
8 Aviation Support troops lost in surf during unload of XV Corps RIASC Base Force
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of XV Corps RIASC Base Force /2

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Aug 03, 44
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP
Search H8K2 Emily destroyed by CAP at (43,88)
B7A2 Grace from Shokaku-3 attacking a Gato class SS at 124,50 a Gato class SS is reported HIT – lots of contacts on the USN subs in NEAF, only the reported hits shown here, of which only a fraction will be genuine.
B7A2 Grace from Shokaku-3 attacking an Allied SS at 125,55 a Triton class SS is reported HIT
B7A2 Grace from Shokaku-3 attacking a Grampus class SS at 124,48 an Allied SS is reported HIT
B7A2 Grace from Shokaku-3 attacking a Triton class SS at 124,51 an Allied SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from K-102 Hikotai attacking a Balao class SS at 124,48 an Allied SS is reported HIT
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP at (149,42)
Search H8K2 Emily destroyed by CAP
D4Y4 Judy from Zuikaku-2 attacking a Triton class SS at 120,53 a Balao class SS is reported HIT
F-7A Liberator sighted over Port Blair
F-5A Lightning sighted over Chiang Mai
19 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
17 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
7 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st INA Subhas Regiment to Bangkok
24 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 41st Division from Port Moresby
2 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 3rd South Seas Gsn from Kusaie Island
Repairs completed on CLAA Kinu at Sapporo, ship returned to service – minor repairs while waiting for the USN to arrive
Repairs completed on DD Naganami at Sapporo, ship returned to service
Shemya Island expands airfield to size 1
Aircraft Ki-83 advances R&D – now 7/45 with only 1x size 30 factory on it with engine bonus. By rough calc it should start production in April 1945. Stats look good. 438mph is fast with 20mm and 30mm centreline cannons. The aim is to equip a few specialist Sentai with them.
Previous report of sinking of SS Capelin incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
452 Ku S-1 on BB Hyuga converting to size 24 from 18– I didn’t think some of the Rufe units could upsize, but placing them on the BB hybrids gave me the option so I have increased them to be 110% of the 22 capacity of the ships.
801 Ku S-1 on BB Ise converting to size 24 from 18
958 Ku T-1 on BB Fuso converting to size 24 from 22
958 Ku T-2 on BB Yamashiro converting to size 24 from 22
Ryujo-1 on CVL Ryujo converting to size 52 from 54 – then reduced the upsized CVL/CVE units to be 110% of the ship capacity rather than 115%.
Hosho-1 on CVE Hosho converting to size 19 from 20
Loss of xAK Ayo Maru on Feb 08, 1944 is admitted
Loss of ACM Kembu Maru on Aug 03, 1944 is admitted
PT-43 is reported to have been sunk near Wotje on Mar 29, 1944
MTB G-351 arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
TK Buccinum is reported to have been sunk near Karachi on Aug 03, 1944

[jdsrae]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 04, 44
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ASW attack near Donggala at 69,96
TK Kikusui Maru
E Nomi
E Awaji
Allied Ships
SS Skipjack, hits 23 – I fast forwarded the animation and only saw near misses
SS Skipjack is sighted by escort
E Awaji attacking submerged sub ....
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TF 189 encounters mine field at Merak (48,97) – thought about setting a short range Judy DB unit but was concerned it would fly into CAP. In hindsight I should have done it as this MSW task force is still at Merak at dawn. Perhaps an indication that a landing on Java is next. The situation could unravel quickly for the Empire in the DEI.
DMS Boggs
DMS Hopkins
9 mines cleared
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Sub vs Sub: SS I-34 attacking SS Tuna at 47,135 - near Carnarvon
SS I-34 – on the way back to Soerabaja to replenish before patrolling the Sumatran West Coast.
Allied Ships
SS Tuna, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SS I-34 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards
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Morning Air attack on Onnekotan-jima , at 136,48
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
A6M8 Zero x 33
No Japanese losses – not quite true, with more than half the CAP damaged by defensive fire.
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 48
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 destroyed, 22 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 66
B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 23 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
Kawabata N. in a A6M8 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation

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Morning Air attack on Onnekotan-jima , at 136,48
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
A6M8 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 damaged
Runway hits 1

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Morning Air attack on Paramushiro-jima , at 137,47
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
A6M8 Zero x 33
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 3 destroyed on ground – has been taking photos of Attu Island which has a fighter sqn and auxiliaries, assumed to be heavy long range recon.
G4M2 Betty: 9 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 69
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 23
Runway hits 117 – smashed, but they paid a price for it.
CAP engaged: Nearly all 80+ experience pilots in the KB air units, which seems to have made a big difference in the amount of damage they did and very few pilot casualties were taken in return.
Hiyo-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 23 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
Kaneko U. in a A6M8 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation

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Morning Air attack on Shimushiri-jima , at 132,51
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
N1K5-J George x 18
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 14
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged: All 70-79 experience pilots in this unit
S-316 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
Matsuo P. in a N1K5-J George makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation

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Ground combat at Sipora (43,86)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4851 troops, 94 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 118
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Allied adjusted assault: 24
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 24 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Sipora !!!
Assaulting units:
2/7 Cavalry Cdo Battalion
9th RAAF Base Force /1
10th RAAF M/W Sqn
222nd USN Base Force /12
10 RAAF Av Rgt
7th RAAF M/W Sqn
11th Marine Defense Battalion
156th USA Base Force /1
276th Cst Art Bn /2
18th RAAF Base Force /1
XV Corps RIASC Base Force /1
22nd USN Naval Const Rgt /10

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Aug 04, 44
SS I-43 reports having been sighted by the enemy at 145 , 43 – spotted by USN CV based air
SS I-47 reports having been sighted by the enemy at 145 , 44
SS I-56 reports having been sighted by the enemy at 42 , 86 – spotted by USN/RN CV based air
SS RO-38 reports having been sighted by the enemy at 42 , 86
Repairs completed on CLAA Tenryu at Sapporo, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on SS I-180 at Manus, ship returned to service
CS Convoy TF 270 begins loading Oil at Palembang for delivery to Singapore – Palembang is still being kept drained of fuel and oil, but this convoy route won’t be open much longer.
P1Y2 Frances from K-406 Hikotai attacking an Allied SS at 123,55 a KXI Class class SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from Kaga-2 attacking an Allied SS at 119,58 an Allied SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from Kaga-2 attacking an Allied SS at 125,54 an Allied SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from Soryu-2 attacking a 'T' 1940 Programme class SS at 124,56 an Allied SS is reported HIT
B7A2 Grace from Shokaku-3 attacking a Balao class SS at 125,54 a 'T' 1941 and 1942 class SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from Hiyo-2 attacking an Allied SS at 124,56 a 'T' 1940 Programme class SS is reported HIT
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E14Y1 Glen destroyed by CAP
SS I-56 sights Allied Aircraft at 37,87 near Siberoet
SS I-47 is reported HIT – heavily damaged by USN CV air from a 500lb bomb hit
TF 297 followed by Catalina I at 50,84 near Singapore – Catalinas must have moved forward to Siberoet already. I didn’t notice this until reading this report…
TF 162 sights Catalina I at 50,85 near Tandjoengpinang
F-7A Liberator sighted over Alor Star
PO2 Ikeda U. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 3 – these are all B29s that must have crashed on the way home.
PO2 Matsuki P. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Fujiwara N. of Hiyo-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Shiga E. of Hiyo-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO2 Okano, H. of Hiyo-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Katagi U. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Ohara H. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Handa U. of is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Katagi U. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Matsuki K. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Oki, Y. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Fujiwara N. of Hiyo-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Imamura E. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Nakasawa K. of Shoho-1 is credited with kill number 5
PO1 Nakasawa K. of Shoho-1 attains ace status!!
D4Y4 Judy from K-102 Hikotai attacking a Tambor class SS at 125,45 a Triton class SS is reported HIT
B7A2 Grace from Soryu-3 attacking a Triton class SS at 122,54 a Grampus class SS is reported HIT
F-5A Lightning sighted over Mandalay
Mosquito PR.XVI sighted over Kalemyo
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Ketoi-jima
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Etorofu
Spitfire PR.XI sighted over Myitkyina
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Paramushiro-jima
19 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
19 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 69th Ind.Mixed Brigade to Toyohara
7 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st INA Subhas Regiment to Bangkok
24 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 47th Division from Milne Bay
2 x H8K2-L Emily transporting 3rd South Seas Gsn from Kusaie Island
Allied forces CAPTURE Sipora !!!
Ishigaki expands fortifications to size 5 - stopped
Aircraft A7M2 Sam advances R&D – production started, with 5 built on the first day! 10/day will be built from here, so KB air units will upgrade as quickly as possible. A7M2 Sams will make their combat debut within days in the skies over NEAF.
APD T-7 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo
SS Gar is reported to have been sunk near Truk on Mar 29, 1944

[jdsrae]

Combat animations are the best intelligence I can get.
Lots of base forces will build Sipora airfield up quickly.
Little in the way of defensive combat power, but Japan won’t be counter-invading here.

440804 Sipora.jpg (153.46 KiB) Viewed 1455 times

[jdsrae]

Allied landings continued offshore of Sumatra, taking the three bases.

[jdsrae]

Then the USN showed up in the Kuriles, with more B29s shot down by A6M8s.

The Allies also landed at Padang on the Sumatran mainland with a UN Corps.

[Nomad]

Then the USN showed up in the Kuriles, with more B29s shot down by A6M8s.

The Allies also landed at Padang on the Sumatran mainland with a UN Corps.

The United Nations is landing troops? Time warp?

[jdsrae]

The US Army landed at Paramushiro-jima and Omnekotan-jima with a Division + each.
More amphibs are moving past the Kuriles towards Sakhalin.

Japan invaded! Counter invasion forces released.
Guards Depot Division arrives at Tokyo
2nd Depot Division arrives at Sendai
3rd Depot Division arrives at Nagoya
4th Depot Division arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
5th Depot Division arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
6th Depot Division arrives at Kumamoto
51st Depot Division arrives at Utsonomiya
55th Depot Division arrives at Takamatsu
56th Depot Division arrives at Kurume
57th Depot Division arrives at Hirosaki/Aomori


Padang fell and the IMB was pushed back into the hills.

[jdsrae]

Then the USN showed up in the Kuriles, with more B29s shot down by A6M8s.

The Allies also landed at Padang on the Sumatran mainland with a UN Corps.

The United Nations is landing troops? Time warp?

It was a mixed bag of randoms, but they did the business...

[jdsrae]

Excrement has made physical contact with an electric powered oscillating air distribution device.
Specifically in NEAF.

Omnekotan-jima fell first to an assault based around a US Army Div.
Paramushiro-jima is holding out, but won't last long against 2x US Army Divs + supporting arms.

Shikuka fell to a Corps+ assault with HQ 3rd and 5th Fleets in the stack, 6th Us Army, XXIV US Corps, 1st and 2nd Marine Divs, 77th and 93rd US Army Divs, plus XX US Bomber Command. No prize for guessing what will be based here within days!

Toyohara defenders are holding out against the 8th US Army, XI US Corps, 3rd and 4th USMC Divs, 6th US Army Div.
The Allied attack today got a 1:3 against level 5 forts and failed to drop forts, but IJA casualties were 2099 to 714.
Allied firepower will win this battle relatively quickly.

Frank/George/A6M8 have done quite well against B29s, and are holding their own against Hellcats.
IJA/IJN land based strikes have been largely ineffective , but the escorting and LRCAP fighters have been making the USN fighters pay a price. Peggy and friends have scored a few bomb hits on ships, but nowhere near enough.
USS Blue Ridge was the most notable, but unlikely to sink.

Nearly all IJAAF/IJNAF training courses have been cancelled with CAP and night CAP set over key homeland industrial areas.
Every available merchant was sent south a few days ago to collect the 40s Divs from SEAF, to bring back to defend Japan.
They might arrive too late to save Hokkaido, but they will make a fight of it on Honshu if the Allies move quickly.

Action on Sumatra continues, but compared to the threat posed by the Allied force in NEAF is much lower priority.

I have taken a lot more screenshots than I will ever have time to post, but am barely finding time to run the turns.
I probably won't have time for day by day reports from here, but will try to throw the odd image up to show just how badly things are going from now on!

CVs Unryu and Amagi have just arrived, so I will try to keep them afloat for a few weeks.

[jdsrae]

GEN Tojo has resigned as the Prime Minister at the Emperor's request. He is currently on gardening leave.
This shows the current situation in NEAF where ADM Hasegawa is doing as best he can with available land and air units.
Combined Fleet remains under command of ADM Yamamoto who has moved his HQ back to Kure Naval Base.

440827 NEAF.jpg (146 KiB) Viewed 1243 times

The second image shows the situation in SWAF where ADM Toyoda also has limited resources.

440827 SWAF.jpg (166.02 KiB) Viewed 1243 times

[jdsrae]

5 Aug 44 report
SWAF: DMS Boggs and Hopkins clear some mines at Merak before 2x IJN MTB Divisions arrive to disrupt them. Only one hit scored on MTB G-349.
NEAF: B29s plaster Onnekotan-jima and Paramushiro-jima airfields and ports, destroying some planes on the ground and sinking ACM Ichiyo Maru.
Ops report:
CV Unryu arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion arrives at Tokyo
104th AA Regiment arrives at Tokyo

6 Aug 44 report
Pre-Invasion action off Padang (44,85)
109 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CL Gambia
DD Isherwood
APD McKean
DD Saufley
1st, 2nd and 8th Aus Divs are spotted along with 24th US Infantry Div.
--------
Pre-Invasion action off Padang (44,85)
89 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA London
DD Pathfinder
DD Jupiter
AP Gen. O.H.Ernst
DD Nizam
DD Paladin
HQ IV Indian Corps, 268th Motorised Bde, 11th NZ Bde and 31st US Infantry Regt spotted along with lots of engineers and aviation support units.
----------------------------
Sub attack near Ketoi-jima at 134,50
Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #51
Allied Ships
SS Pomfret, hits 1 – don’t see an AMc get a depth charge hit very often
--------
B29s target Ketoi-jima airfield but the defending A6M8s from Zuiho-1 get some good kills. They are still mostly 81+ experience pilots which seems to make a huge difference.
Sugiyama T. in a A6M8 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation
Kawasaki S. in a A6M8 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation
---------------------------------
Ground combat at Padang (44,85)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4170 troops, 68 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 139
Defending force 36449 troops, 922 guns, 863 vehicles, Assault Value = 1789
Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units: this shows the Allied landing force which is a Corps plus.
Guides Cavalry Rgt /1
763rd Tank Bn /1
268th Motorised Bde /1
8th Australian Div /5
2nd Australian Div /5
Lushai Bde /1
637th TD Bn /1
24th Infantry Div /8
14th Army Engr Bn /1
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /1
1st Australian Div /6
11th NZ Brigade
34th Combat Engr Rgt /1
31st Infantry Rgt /1
44th (Support) Bn /1
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
114th RN Base Force /1
1st Indian Medium Rgt /1
166 Wing
104th RAF Base Force /1
37th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Medium Rgt /1
RAF 225 Group Base Force /5
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
226th Field Artillery Battalion
124th RAF Base Force /1
II Australian /2
882th EAB /1
33rd Medium Regiment
1st RAA Jungle Regiment
Fourteenth USAAF /1
221 Group RAF
15th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
94th Cst AA Rgt /2
111th USN Base Force /4
167 Wing
57th Cst Art Rgt /1
Tenth USAAF Eng EAB /1
IV Indian Corps /1
IV Corps RIASC Base Force /2
822/828 EAB /1
28th USN Naval Const Rgt /2
8th Medium Regiment
8th Mahratta AT Rgt /1
116th RAF Base Force /1
16th Indian Heavy AA Rgt /1
3rd TAF Base Force /2
109th Tank Attack Rgt /1
XV Corps Engr Bn /1
2nd RAA Jungle Regiment
48th USN SeaBees /1

Ops report:
Lots of ASW around Hokkaido with many USN subs reported hit
Major flooding aboard SS I-43, Surviving Damage Control Parties abandon SS I-43
AG Ryua Maru sinks at sea
SS Seawolf determined to have been sunk on or about Apr, 27, 1944
Muroran expands airfield to size 7
Tsingtao expands fortifications to size 6
Siberoet expands airfield to size 2
Shemya Island expands airfield to size 2
Sipora expands airfield to size 1
Cabanatuan expands airfield to size 3 – airfield construction on Luzon will be halted now as the Allies are likely to go straight for Hokkaido then Honshu after that.
Ace pilot Nakajima W. of Taiho-1 is promoted to CPO
Ace pilot Koga H. of 1st Sentai is promoted to 1LT
E Daito arrives at Tokyo – small ships will continue to be built. One thing that is a little unrealistic is that the B29s can’t target partially built ships in the yards, but the growing number of USN CVs will limit their time afloat anyway.
LST T-139 arrives at Hirosaki/Aomori
Loss of AMc Banshu Maru #51 on Aug 06, 1944 is admitted
Loss of AGP Nissen Maru #2 on Aug 06, 1944 is admitted
Loss of AD Sugiyama Maru on Aug 06, 1944 is admitted


7 Aug 44 reports
TF 335 encounters mine field at Paramushiro-jima (137,47)
Allied Ships
DE Dennis
DE Loeser
SC PC-1077
SC PC-780, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
SC PC-597
SC PC-596
DE Neuendorf
DE Lovelace
SC PC-1080
SC PC-786
APA Warren, Mine hits 1
AKA Mercury, Mine hits 1
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
18 mines cleared
Pre-Invasion action off Paramushiro-jima (137,47) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

154 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
CA Canberra II
CA Minneapolis
CL Houston II
CL Biloxi
DD Pringle
DD Halsey Powell
DD Stephen Potter
DD O'Bannon
DD Newcomb
SC PC-1080
SC PC-1077
SC PC-786
SC PC-597
SC PC-596
LCI(G)-77
LCI-67
LCI-66
LCI-65
LCI-64
LCI-61
LCI-584
LCI-585
LCI-586
LST-342
DD Remey

Japanese ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses: 38th US Infantry Div spotted
30 casualties reported
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Onnekotan-jima (136,48) – Americal Div spotted
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
130 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Louisville
CL Montpelier
DD Bennett
SC PC-789
SC PC-788
SC Engage
SC Effective
LCI(G)-372
LCI(G)-366
LCI(G)-365
LCI(G)-220
LCI(G)-82
LCI(G)-81
LCI-626
LCI-628
LCI-627
DD Boyd
Japanese ground losses:
242 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2307 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 256
Defending force 16234 troops, 205 guns, 610 vehicles, Assault Value = 533
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
Maizuru 4th SNLF
4th Amphibious Brigade
54th Naval Guard Unit
36th Const Co
54th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Div /1
V US Bomber Cmnd /1
842nd EAB /1
224th USN Base Force /2
23rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
4th RNZAF Base Force /2
45th USN Naval Construction Battalion
42nd USN SeaBees /3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Paramushiro-jima (137,47)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2842 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 315
Defending force 30254 troops, 453 guns, 776 vehicles, Assault Value = 904
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Maizuru 3rd SNLF
3rd Amphibious Brigade
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Kitachishima Fortress
31st Road Const Co
53rd JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
38th Infantry Division
31st Infantry Division
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
55th Coastal Artillery Battalion
235th USN Base Force
4th Eng Amph Bde
41st Aviation Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Padang (44,85)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27337 troops, 741 guns, 511 vehicles, Assault Value = 1797
Defending force 4114 troops, 68 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 133
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Allied adjusted assault: 2454
Japanese adjusted defense: 55
Allied assault odds: 44 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Padang !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1164 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 48 (44 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Allied ground losses:
503 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Ops report
Allied forces CAPTURE Padang !!!
Calapan expands airfield to size 1
Taung Gyi expands airfield to size 4
Paoshan expands fortifications to size 4
Pagai-eilanden expands airfield to size 1
Ace pilot Igarashi M. of 26th Sentai is promoted to MAJ
Ace pilot Takenaka A. of 64th Sentai is promoted to 1LT
SS RO-37 beginning refit in shipyard at Manila – Manila and Shanghai are now the home ports for the remaining IJN subs that need repairs and upgrades.
Hiyo-1 converting to A7M2 Sam
Japan invaded! Counter invasion forces released.
E No.29 arrives at Tokyo
MTB G-352 arrives at Kobe
Guards Depot Division arrives at Tokyo
2nd Depot Division arrives at Sendai
3rd Depot Division arrives at Nagoya
4th Depot Division arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
5th Depot Division arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
6th Depot Division arrives at Kumamoto
51st Depot Division arrives at Utsonomiya
55th Depot Division arrives at Takamatsu
56th Depot Division arrives at Kurume
57th Depot Division arrives at Hirosaki/Aomori


8 Aug 44 reports
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Toyohara at 125,46, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-57, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
SC CHa-58, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
SC CHa-59, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Sigourney
DD Sigsbee
DD Stevens
DD Taylor
DD David Taylor
DD Terry
DD Thatcher
DD The Sullivans
DD Twiggs
-------------------------
I-56 misses with torps fired at an Allied AE task force in SWAF.
Lots of attempts at flying night time torpedo strikes hit nothing despite highly skilled pilots (repeated over the next few weeks regardless of weather, so I won’t keep saying it)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 91 encounters mine field at Shikuka (126,43)
DD Conyngham, Mine hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 320 encounters mine field at Shikuka (126,43)
DE Carlson, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 361 encounters mine field at Shikuka (126,43)
DE Brackett, Mine hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This USN ASW Div got too close to Hokkaido
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,46
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
A6M8 Zero x 25
D4Y4 Judy x 16
Ki-84r Frank x 29
D4Y4 Judy: 5 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD David Taylor, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Thatcher
DD Sigourney
DD The Sullivans
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
8 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Shikuka (126,43)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7128 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 268
Defending force 71445 troops, 956 guns, 1512 vehicles, Assault Value = 1872
Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
301st Ind.Infantry Battalion
302nd Ind.Infantry Battalion
68th Brigade
303rd Ind.Infantry Battalion
38th Const Co
39th Const Co
83rd JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
2nd Marine Div /15
93rd Infantry Div /4
1st Marine Div /12
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
I Corps Cmbt Engr Rgt /2
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
77th Infantry Div /13
Fifth US Fleet /3
16th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
Thirteenth USAAF /1
182nd USAAF Base Force /1
Third US Fleet /3
863rd EAB /1
2nd USN Naval Const Rgt /3
47th Cst Art Rgt /2
1881th EAB /1
189th USAAF Base Force /1
2nd Eng Amph Bde /5
XX US Bomber Cmnd
40th USN Naval Construction Battalion
5201st Eng Con Bde /3
610th Cst AA Rgt /2
234th USN Base Force /2
34th USN Naval Construction Battalion
XXIV US Corps /1
36th Aviation Base Force /1
233rd USN Base Force /2
27th USN Naval Const Rgt /3
50th Cst Art Rgt /1
43rd Aviation Base Force /2
47th Aviation Base Force /2
3rd Eng Amph Bde /5
37th Aviation Base Force /1
---------------------------------------------------
Ops report
E Yasoshima taken out of commission to begin refit at Hakodate – these were all mistakes caused by having upgrade toggled on, as the ships are now stuck in pierside mode within range of B29s based at Shikuka…
E Ioshima taken out of commission to begin refit at Hakodate
SS I-11 beginning refit while under repair in shipyard at Yokohama/Yokosuka
SS I-121 beginning refit in shipyard at Yokohama/Yokosuka


9 Aug 44
Night Air attack on TF, near Shikuka at 128,44 – night strikes are proving to be a 0% play
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 5
P1Y2 Frances: 2 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 2 destroyed by flak
4 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Allied aircraft
F6F-3N Hellcat x 4
Allied Ships
CV Bunker Hill
CV Saratoga
CAP engaged:
VMF(N)-534 with F6F-3N Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Some CAP have air radar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 523 encounters mine field at Hakodate (119,53)
SS Shark II, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multiple reasonably well escorted strikes against shipping at Toyohara flew into lots of USN CV based LRCAP with very little to show for their efforts.
Allied Ships
LCI(G)-78, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DM Preble
CM Weehawken, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
APA Du Page
APA Custer
DD Terry
DD Sims
DE Mitchell, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Caelum
AK Phobos
DD Thatcher
DD Harding
DE Wyman
AK Menkar, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Stevens
DD Baldwin
AGC Blue Ridge, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DE Wyman, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Toyohara (124,46) – Toyohara landing via multiple waves
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 24238 troops, 189 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 901
Defending force 30955 troops, 642 guns, 610 vehicles, Assault Value = 1400
Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
89th/B Division
65th Brigade
Karafuto Mixed Brigade
89th/A Division
89th/C Division
177th JAAF AF Bn
27th JAAF Base Force
178th JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
6th Infantry Div /6
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
670th Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd Marine Div /14
4th Marine Div /15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16207 troops, 293 guns, 593 vehicles, Assault Value = 518
Defending force 7371 troops, 103 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Allied adjusted assault: 330
Japanese adjusted defense: 73
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied forces CAPTURE Onnekotan-jima !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1637 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 50 (24 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (13 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Assaulting units:
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
23rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
45th USN Naval Construction Battalion
224th USN Base Force
42nd USN Naval Construction Battalion
842nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
42nd Aviation Base Force
4th RNZAF Base Force
462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
V US Bomber Cmnd
Defending units:
4th Amphibious Brigade
Maizuru 4th SNLF
54th Naval Guard Unit
36th Const Co
54th JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Shikuka (126,43)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 43218 troops, 734 guns, 928 vehicles, Assault Value = 2272
Defending force 8091 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 215
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4
Allied adjusted assault: 1108
Japanese adjusted defense: 97
Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied forces CAPTURE Shikuka !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
3400 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 155 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 55 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 56 (42 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
661 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sawahloento (45,85)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5041 troops, 167 guns, 404 vehicles, Assault Value = 681
Defending force 2567 troops, 37 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 43
Allied adjusted assault: 132
Japanese adjusted defense: 49
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Sawahloento !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
714 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 33 (29 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
24th Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
Guides Cavalry Regiment
33rd Medium Regiment
109th Tank Attack Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Ops report
Allied forces CAPTURE Onnekotan-jima !!!
Allied forces CAPTURE Shikuka !!!
Allied forces CAPTURE Sawahloento !!!
Chiang Mai expands fortifications to size 5
Bacolod expands fortifications to size 2
Lashio expands fortifications to size 5
Ace pilot Kaguyama G. of 1st Sentai is promoted to 1LT
DD Maki arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo
E No.38 arrives at Tokyo
352 Ku S-1 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo – new fighter units arrive at Sasebo Naval Airfield, just in time!
352 Ku S-2 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo
352 Ku S-3 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo

[jdsrae]

See SI's new AAR thread for an update on what has happened over the last 4-6 weeks of game time.
The Allies have taken Sakhalin and most of the Kuriles so the game has been turned on its head.
The heroic defenders of Toyohara held out for over a month against the 2x US Army and 2x USMC Divs, but were finally destroyed after the Allies landed reinforcements.

This is an example of some of the "fun" I am having now!

440918 Wakkanai.jpg (156.22 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

Overall situation update, from left to right.

Burma Area Army
The Empire still holds Burma but has successfully withdrawn from the border with India. Many highly experienced Infantry Divisions are now back near Moulmein with some withdrawn back into Thailand, while others are at Lashio withdrawing back into China and the long march back to Manchukuo/Korea.
1st Tank Div just arrived back at Fukuoka after being bought out and leaving Bangkok by ship, 2nd Tank Div is moving overland into Thailand and 3rd Tank Div just emerged from jungle tracks having withdrawn successfully from the Imphal sector. All Tank Divs will concentrate back on Honshu ready to counter attack any 1944 landing on the main island.

7th Area Army
The Allies have a solid hold on Sumatra but Palembang could be a stalemate for weeks yet, with defenders based around 25th Army, 1x Division and 3x IM Bdes. The Allies have 1st and 2nd Aus Divs plus 24th US Div and assorted supporting units. The Allies are concentrating on bombing Palembang airfield (I assume to try and destroy supply). The odd Tanker still sneaks in to load fuel under LRCAP cover from Singapore, but the Allies have air superiority over Sumatra now. No Allied moves detected against Malaya or Java yet.

2nd Area Army
HQ 2nd Area Army and 2nd Army have just arrived at Port Arthur. The 12th, 16th and 18th Divisions have also been withdrawn from Java. With the Allies landing multiple Corps and seemingly concentrating their main attack on the northern route, the military value of holding Java is low, so a few IM Bdes have been left behind with minor supporting base forces to act as speed bumps. I doubt the Allies will waste time on Java now that they have established bases on Sumatra. Malaya should be the next step for them in the SW Areas.

14th Area Army
The 100s Divs had previously been withdrawn from the Marianas to Luzon, but have since been moved back to Japan.
Defence of the Philippines has been left to the 50s IM Bdes which have concentrated on Luzon and the 40s IM Bdes are being withdrawn from around the Celebes/Timor to Mindanao. All of the 4th Air Army with 5th, 6th and 7th Air Divs is back on Luzon, but most air units are back in Japan with only a few left in the Philippines to run pilot training courses.

8th Area Army and SEAF
HQ 8th Area Army has recently arrived at Cam Ranh Bay and 18th Army at Saigon, with 40s Divisions all withdrawn and sent back to Japan. 2x 40s Divs have moved by barge to Hakodate while the other 40s Divs are defending major bases on Honshu, mostly staying in Strat Move mode so they can rail anywhere within days to counter any Allied landing on the main islands. With most IJN repair yards now within range of B29s, HQ 8th Fleet has been withdrawn to Shanghai and HQ 9th Fleet is on the way to Takao. HQ SEAF will withdraw to Iwo Jima.

4th Fleet
Similarly to SEAF, most combat forces have been withdrawn from 4th Fleet.
Military value of holding the Marianas is now low as the Allies can just bypass it on the way to the Philippines or Okinawa, so IM Bdes have been left behind while all Divisions have withdrawn to Japan. Several of the 1s Divisions are now back in Japan at their "home" base in Strat Move mode, ready to react to any Allied invasion.

NE Area Fleet / Northern Army
With Sakhalin gone and most of the Kuriles, the Allies can flatten any airfield or naval base in the Home Islands. They have also taken out decent chunks of the most "modern" aircraft and engine factories, but have not completely shut down industry yet. Osaka and Tokyo have been set on fire a few times doing moderate damage to Light and Heavy industry plus other random bits and pieces that catch fire as a result.
ADM Yamamoto arrived back at Kure with HQ Combined Fleet just in time to witness the destruction of 5x CVs mid upgrade, which they had been allowed to start only about 10 days prior to the Allies landing at Para-jima. "Luckily" the air groups were already ashore, so apart from the points, decent skippers and inherent aviation support that was lost, it hasn't really changed the game all that much. If they had of been afloat and thrown at the invasion, they probably would have just gotten themselves sunk with the aircrews lost anyway.

So, the war goes on, but whether it can get to 1945 without an Allied invasion of Honshu is the big question.

[Evoken]

Big fan of your detailed AAR Jdsrae , thank you for the effort!

[jdsrae]

Big fan of your detailed AAR Jdsrae , thank you for the effort!

Thanks, I am fighting on to gather data for a possible next game one day.
Having got this far into 1944 I want to see what the art of the possible is from here, and still hope to get into 1945.

I am finding that there is no stopping Allied bomber concentrations.
I just have to make them pay a price and accept that airfields will be routinely destroyed, lots of aircraft will be destroyed on the ground.
One thing that plays into IJ favour is that there are just too many targets for the Allies to hit every turn!
But if they want to hit something and concentrate on it, it stays hit.

As the Allies, night time bombing seems to be reasonably effective even against "decent" IJ night fighters with 70+ skill and experience pilots. Also less costly for them compared to daylight bombing, but slower at shutting down airfields.
It must be tempting for the Allies to speed things up by switching to daylight raids to score more hits, but the price seems to be a bit higher. I expect that they have no problems with pilots but have no idea if losses are having any impact on replacement rates for aircraft.

I am only paying attention to Air-Air kills now on the Int Screen, and am trying to ignore the numbers of IJ aircraft destroyed on the ground.
On that basis, the newspapers report another big victory for the Home team today, about 90-50 in A2A kills over Sapporo. The Allies lost lots of F6F3 Hellcats in early sweeps so they seem to be using "older" models as cannon fodder.
Hundreds of P47s and Lightnings swept empty skies after the bombing raids finished. If the sweepers went first the score may have been reversed.

From Soryu-1, CPO Sakai survived unhurt without adding to his tally, but ENS Isozaki was KIA. His war finished on 10 kills...

The Allied bombers focussed on Sapporo Airfield and trashed it.
Reports just in that the brewery was not damaged, so morale remains high!

[awaw]

Thanks, I am fighting on to gather data for a possible next game one day.
Having got this far into 1944 I want to see what the art of the possible is from here, and still hope to get into 1945.

My takeaway from this (and Greyjoy's) is to hold Kuriles/Sakhalin/Hokkaido in relative strength regardless of overseas situation.