Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

Japan does a good job coming in high and low and medium....

Morning Air attack on TF, near Wenchow at 89,59

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 10
Ki-46-II Dinah x 16

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 103

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

[Lowpe]

An afternoon attack of sky high kamikazes gets thru our bleeding low level LRCAP in the hex...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wenchow at 90,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 32,480 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 9
D4Y1-C Judy x 5

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 7
P-40N5 Warhawk x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y1-C Judy: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Ammen, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Beale, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bush, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D4Y1-C Judy flying as kamikaze

[Lowpe]

This twin engine Sally comes in with a nice afternoon attack at Ningpo....but with half loads!

Afternoon Air attack on Ningpo , at 92,56

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 17
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 40
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 2
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 19
Ki-84r Frank x 44

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Lowpe]

The final attack of the day....is of course a sweep. Schadenfreude, baby! Is it too early to have the huge 100 plane squadron? Or did 2-3 squadrons sweep cooperatively?

Ningpo is now a level two runway.

Afternoon Air attack on Ningpo , at 92,56

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 1
Ki-84r Frank x 88

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38000 feet

[Lowpe]

We pick up a few bases, one in the SRA and the other an island off Luzon. Our sweeps clear Canton, and Hong Kong, and Nanning, and Chuisen in China.

In Chuisen I swept with Spitfires at 20k and Jugs at 40k, into a Frank R/Oscar IV stacked CAP and the Jugs get chewed up! But the Spitfires does well....

here is hoping the Mikuma goes down....no sighting of the Nagato or the Chikuma so far.

More recon over Honshu...setting up for our next offensive...

I think Japan lost 6 destroyers, and maybe the Mikuma...while the Shropshire and CVE and a destroyer go down for us. Plus some misc small IJN ships go down too....Probably shouldn't have sent those two out....but I was hoping for an earlier appearance of Baltimore and company.

[Lowpe]

At the beginning of January the Japanese controlled Foochow....now at the end of the month, the Allies are in Division strength from Foochow to Ningpo with armor, artillery and AAA in support.

The stubborn IJA Guards Tank Division dug in in x3 terrain NW of Canton, will be bypassed today or tomorrow...

Chinese soldiers are marching out of Chungking to ultimately threaten the Changsha plains...most likely by either overwhelming the IJA defenders or by surrounding and infilitration. They really will only attack engineering units....as they lack any heavy guns. Still, it is more pressure, and another front, and chaos!

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[Lowpe]

I double checked our shore bombardments and air bombing and didn't see float planes destroyed there...so the Isuzu might have gone down along with the Mikumo?

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[Lowpe]

Can you have two different float plane groups on a cruiser? Don't know, never tried it....

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[Lowpe]

I knew it was a mistake to send Shropshire and Corregidor....out of Ningpo. Oh well, it cost Japan more destroyers, and very nice 10 point ones that probably should be with the KB.

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[Lowpe]

More targets, and great news on Sam....it looks like Japan isn't making a serious effort to get Sam, which is either first or second most important plane for Japan to get.

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[Lowpe]

The weather change, and increasing moonlight, means the Allies will start using heavy cruisers in SAGs as we move forward at reducing the IJN warships.

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[Lowpe]

The last IJN heavy cruiser, in the area that hasn't taken a torpedo is the Tone at Shanghai with some damaged IJN destroyers. Dollars to donuts Japan will attempt a bombardment of Ningpo tonight which is simply defended by a few PT Boats and Destroyers. So, I think the USN will show up hopefully catching a ammo reduced Tone and destroyers in the minefields of Ningpo harbor....

Plus, the KB might show up to bring more air pain to Ningpo....bring it on Japan!

I think I am a day or two away from launching our next phase of attacks....but I am somewhat limited by a shortage of APAs...Foochow and Tsinkiang should advance to level 8 runways on the morrow.

[Lowpe]

Here is Witchita, she got most of her damage on the flank speed run back to Foochow....despite being hit by a kamikaze or two.

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[Lowpe]

20cm IJN guns pack a punch...but I think Mikuma went down. I believe the 8" Mk 9 gun is better though.

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[Lowpe]

I sent Batlimore up to Ningpo, to clash with Tone....

[Lowpe]

Jan 29, 1944

Japan isn't making any attempts on Ningpo....at least with their Navy. Look at all the subs spotted. Japan has even pressed AMcs' into the ASW role too.

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[Lowpe]

I don't think this destroyer can make it...could be wrong however.

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[Lowpe]

Hibiki goes down to prowling destroyers....

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[Lowpe]

I would really like to clean up all these damaged destroyers....I guess Baltimore is in Ningpo harbor...hope she survives the daytime bombing runs. Kamikazes?

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[Lowpe]

Japan is doing much better in the dogfighting area...

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