No Wind Sunshine - forecast: need more beer - Strawb vs. LST AAR

[LargeSlowTarget]

Fighter pools are fine - 1000+ A6M2, 500 Ki-43, a few Ki-45 to flesh out a some night-fighter groups on training. Sorry, no screenshots - 'Print Screen' does work in UV but not in PacWar?!? And too much info for my vict.. err, my opponent.

Re CFS2 - only Pacific Ocean Area, including Solomons, PNG, Central Pacific (1 & 3 deal with Europe, I think). Campaigns for Japanese and Allies (two careers per side IIRC) with linear missions. Includes a storyline for the character (i.e. pilot) you play - medals, recommendations, promotions, occasional diary entries. Unfortunately missions and storyline are somewhat unglued - for example you may fight over Gudalcanal in Sept. 42 and your character scribbles something in his diary about the upcoming battle near the Midway Islands -
I must admit I'm a really lousy pilot - crash on landings at a land base 4 out of 5 times , only once made it aboard a carrier in one piece (despite wave-off by the LSO :p ), try to dogfight against Zeros while fying a F4F :rolleyes: and on ground attack missions I often suffer from target fixation and slam my plane into the ground . Nevertheless, it's fun to fly and watch the scenery.

[deVada]

have You kept all Your fighters in Japan so far ??

my looses are not very spectacular, and I have no idea where to get more zeros from ...

last two weeks were very good for the Empire. 4 allied battleships sunk (total 8 claimed totally), one allied carrier as well, 5 or 7 enemy battleships on cozy fire, all 4 other allied cvs also on cozy fire. A price was Yamato, Ise and that shitty Hiryu (sunk as usual after one hit). All that in two battles in Green Island area.

Now I have free hand in Solomons. But it is december of 1942 so P38's and Corsairs are making me nervous ... :p

[LargeSlowTarget]

No, I keep my fighters busy at the front, but try not to waste them in penny-packet attacks or on unimportant targets. Keep them concentrated at a few bases so the will overwhelm the enemy CAP for a good exchange ratio.
Have you monitored your resources pool? Once I had used too many freighters to move supplies up front and apparently not enough resources were shipped to Japan by the few ships left for routine convoys - so when the resource stockpiles were almost exhausted the production of planes came to screeching halt.

[deVada]

I have withdrawn most of my fighter squadrons back to Japan.
Now they're mastering Ki-27 and A5M pilotage

When level of Ki-44 and A6M2 will rise I'll switch them back.
Until that - no fighters on the frontline.

My resources are well over 300000. So it is a cause of high looses I see.

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
10/18/42
Our troops at Tenimbar Is. continue to hunt down Aussie Guerillas. Air attacks have hit enemy troops and installations at Kohima&Imphal, Tenimbar and Hengyang, the enemy attacked Akyab, Wake and Rangoon. A massive ground attack by six Chineses divisions at Hengyang was stopped cold by our two divisions - the enemy lost 1910 men and 34 Arty pieces, our losses were just 50 men. Our Navy has started a raid against Midway Is. to catch enemy stragglers retreating from the Minami Tori Shima debacle. A bombardment killed 50 men and destroyed 16 planes on the ground, weak enemy counterattacks against our carrier force were annihilated by strong CAP. Air losses this turn are 5:47. No submarine attacks were recorded.

Emperor LST hopes that Operation M will find many enemy ships waiting to be sunk.

*****
10/25/42
Ground combat at Tenimbar Is. continues, the Aussies seem to be very elusive. Air attacks started with an ill-planned raid by 60 Hamaki bombers without fighter cover from Wake against Midway. They were met by 37 Grummans and lost 25 bombers for 9 Grummans destroyed on the ground. Our usual air attack from Rangoon against Imphal has met unexpected strong CAP - 60 fighters covering 30 bombers were met by no less than 100 Hurricane and P-40 fighters. We lost 29 fighters, 24 bombers and shot down 32 enemy planes. The Burma theater starts to be a serious drain on our resources. That in can work the other way round was proven at Port Moresby, were Allied heavy bombers conducted a massive 72-plane raid staged from Cairns. They were met by 96 of our elite Army fighter pilots who shot down 49 enemy planes at the cost of 2 fighters destroyed in air-to-air combat and 24 more on the ground.
The Navy mourns the loss of a submarine off Cairns, but the main action this week was fought near Midway. A IJN task force of three BBs (Musashi, Fuso, Yamashiro), five CAs, four CLs and twelve DDs under Adm. Nishimura has met two enemy TFs. The first consisted of three BBs, one BC, two CAs, two CLs, two CLAAs and four DDs (one each of the North Carolina, Repulse, Pennsylvania, Ramilles, New Orleans and Dorsetshire classes, two Brooklyns, two Atlantas). Nishimura was surprised, but managed to break from the ambush by sacrificing a Mogami class CA. While retreating, our force ran smack into the second pincer of the enemy's trap, consisting of another three BBs, three CAs, two CLs, one CLAA and eight DDs (South Dakota, North Carolina, Ramilles, 2x New Orleans, Kent, Brooklyn, Danae, Atlanta, 4x Bristol, 4x Mahan classes). This time a Kuma class CL was sacrificed as rearguard, but Nishimura managed to even the score by sinking the Kent class and Danae class vessels as well as one Bristol class DD. When daylight broke, our carrier planes were launched to hunt enemy cripples retreating from Midway and managed several hits on two BBs and a CLAA, unfortunately none of them lethal. This battle is a draw and both sides are lucky not to have lost more ships. Shipyards will be very busy.

Emperor LST had hoped that Operation M will find many enemy ships - but not THAT many...

*****
11/01/42
The usual air attacks in the CBI and against Tenimbar continue. No enemy bombers hit PM this week, but our long-range bombers at Rabaul payed a nightly visit at Cairns.
On the Nay side, we must report the loss of another submarine, this time off PH. Operation M continues with carriers alone, our planes again obtained several hits on a BC and a CA, causing moderate damage. A second strike found two APs escorted by four old four-stacker DDs - there wer no survivors. Repeated aerial counterattacks by enemy planes from Midway were met by strong CAP which left few survivors, but one SBD managed to get through and dropped a 1000-pounder on one of our CVs. Luckily, the bomb did no damage.
Air score this week is even 71:73, enemy subs sank three freighters south of Japan.

Emperor LST thanks the gods of war that this time his CV didn't blow up from a single hit.

*****
11/08/42
A quite week in the PTO: ground attacks at Tenimbar continue, air raids have hit Hengyang and Tenimbar, we bombed Cairns at night, the enemy has hit Rangoon at night - that's it. Air losses are 4:0, no sub activity.

Emperor LST embarks on a good-will tour through the various shipyards of the Empire to encourage the workers to do their utmost and has promised more beer as an incentive.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Okay, in the part lost to the hacker attack the Empire captured Port Moresby. Strawb counterattacked at Marcus Is., and after initial success has been beaten back. The same happened to his attack against Timor. Strawb has lost several ground units of division and regimental size in the process. Now he has shifted operations to the North, attacking the Kurile Is.. Furthermore, he has started bombing the Home Islands and coastal cities in China with China-based B-24 bombers.

*****
5/9/1943

The ususal air attacks against enemy ground forces at Mandalay and various bases in China continue. Groups of 60 enemy heavy bombers attacked Tientsin and Shanghai, causing moderate damage to depots. Enemy subs have sunk a precious AO near Rangoon. One Ki-86 patrol plane sank an enemy submarine in the South China Sea. In the North, the opposing battlelines missed each other as the enemy bombarded Paramushiro and our Navy bombarded Attu in return. Many planes have been destroyed at Attu. Air losses form all causes totalled 2:93. Four freighters in routine convoys fell victim to enemy subs.

Emperor LST is shocked about the hacker attack and needs a drink or two to help the realization sinking in...

*****
5/16/1943

Apart from standard attack missions in the CBI, three air attacks stood out. First, enemy heavy bombers from Kunming attacked Tsingtao in two waves, but where met by Ki-48 heavy fighters. A total of 22 B-24s has been shot down, for seven interceptors lost. Second, a night bombing raid against Rangoon by 50 medium bobmers has caused moderate damage to the important oil facilities [:@]. And third, an air attack from Darwin against a transport TF near Tenimbar Is. has sunk one of our large APs. Enemy forces in the Aleutian area seems to have withdrawn. Enemy subs sank one DD and one MCS.

Emperor LST is growing about this hacker attack and has offered a reward from his Imperial Special Beer Reserve. He has also decreed that if caught, the offender shall be hung by his testicles...

*****
5/23/1943

Again, this week is almost exclusively concentrating on the air war in the CBI. Allied attacks of 75 Spitfires and Hurricanes escorting 24 medium bombers against Mandalay clashed with our CAP of 69 new Shoki fighters. 16 enemy fighters and 17 bombers where shot down, we lost 19 Shokis. A second, weaker attack yielded similar results. Rangoon was hit again by night bombardment, this time twice by medium bombers from Dacca and once by heavy bombers from Calcutta. Damage at Rangoon depots has been moderate. 60 B-24s based at Canton raided Makin Is. in the Gilberts. This may indicate a new enemy offensive in this area. Near Tenimbar, 48 Corsairs and 60 medium bombers again hit our transport TF and sank three more APs. Nevertheless, our transports manage to drop off the 56th Rgt Grp as the new garrison. The former garrison troops - the ill-fated 4th division which has been unable to destroy the enemy forces on Tenimbar - had been withdrawn weeks earlier to help recapture Timor. Fortunately, the enemy didn't realize this evacuation and failed to occupy the undefended base facilities. [:D] Air losses this week totalled 89:156. Enemy submarines sank one CD, one freighter and one tanker in home waters.

Emperor LST smells something fishy going on at PH. He has ordered his advance HQ and his Imperial Beer Supply units to prepare for redeployment to the South.

*****
5/30/1943
Sure enough, the enemy was up to something. The standard air attacks in the CBI against Mandalay and Rangoon paled in comparison to B-24s and carrier air strikes against Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Is, followed by a heavy bombardment force of five BBs and several cruisers, and the entire 1st Marine Division. Our weak Maloelap SBF resisted to the last man, but in the end base commander Adm Izaki commited seppuko. The enemy instantly deployed Corsair and Lightning planes to the newly-won base and started attacking neighboring Jaluit, while the 45 B-24s at Johnston Is. targeted Wotje Atoll.
Our forces redeploying to the South following the Emperor's orders wer unable to reach the threatened area in time, but will continue to converge upon the Marshall Is. Unfortunately, one of our CV forces hurrying south suffered a submarine attack near Paramushiro which crippled a precious fleet carrier of the Junyo class. Other submarines sank a DD and a freighter in home waters.

Emperor LST is wondering why his enemy insists on conducting landing operations in areas which have no strategic value for beer production.

*****
6/6/1943

The enemy operation in the Marshall Is. has led to a hasty redeployment of all available IJNAF assets, resulting in fierce air battles between land-based Zeros, Bettys, Vals and Kates based at Eniwetok, Kwajalain, Wotje and Jaluit and enemy Corsairs and Lightnings on Maloelap and carrier-based fighters and bombers. The enemy carrier force consists of four CV (including Lexington, Saratoga and Wasp), two CL, two CLAA and eight DDs.
Attacks started with enemy raids from Maloelap against Jaluit, B-24s from Johnston Is. attacked Wotje, and the enemy carriers milling around Maloelap attacked Jaluit, too. Many of our planes were destroyed in air battles and on the ground. The remnants counter-attacked the enemy CVs - hiding under the cover of both their own and land-based CAP and protected by a tremendous amount of AA - valiantly and repeatedly, but score only a single hit. In the meantime, the enemy bombarded Jaluit and sent a second invasion force. Our LBA switched attacks to the transports and managed to sink three freighters and two APA troops transports. Nevertheless, the 2nd Marine Division landed and wiped out the Jaluit SBF in short order. All in all, we lost 543 planes in largely futile attacks, the enemy lost 286 planes. Nevertheless, counterattacks will be continued, pending arrival of major fleet components.

Emperor LST offers life-long free beer supply for the pilots who manage to blow up an enemy CV.

*****
6/13/1943
Operations in the Marshall Islands overshadow actions in all other theaters. The pattern of Allied LBA and carrier air attacks - now augmented by enemy fighters and medium bombers operating from Jaluit - against our remaining bases in the area, and counterstrikes by our LBA (all set on NI) against enemy carriers and surface TFs continue. Our land-based planes again suffered heavy losses (in part caused by enemy battleships bombarding Wotje) but managed to score torpedo hits on two different BBs of the bombardment TF. Bettys from Eniwetok then managed to put a second torpedo into one of them, causing a violent explosion. The enemy force retreated promptly, but more Bettys from Wake added another bomb hit. Our submarines have been ordered to finish off the crippled ship.

The main damage to both sides was caused by the clash of carrier forces near Maloelap. The enemy CVs had been busy trading blows with our planes at Wotje when our carrier group (Adm. Onishi) built around Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, Zuiho, Shoho and Ryujo reached launching positions. 60 Reisen and 63 assorted D3A, D4Y and B5N bombers attacked through a heavy 81-plane CAP consisting of a mixed bag of familiar Wildcat fighters and a new, larger and powerful carrier-based fighter. 42 of our fighters and 26 bombers weres hot down by CAP and AA, the enemy lost 45 fighters. One enemy carrier (believed to be the Wasp) received several bomb and torpedo hits, she was last seen burning fiercly and listing heavily. The enemy counterstrike of 40 fighters and 63 bombers met a reception comitee of 51 Reisen fighters, which shot down 17 enemy fighters and 25 bombers, losing 28 of their number in the process. The enemy managed to hit Kaga and Soryu with one bomb apiece, causing superficial amage, but planted one 1000-pounder each on Shoho and Ryujo causing heavy damage on both ships. Enemy medium bombers from Jaluit followed suit and added another bomb hit on Soryu.
In the meantime, our battleline under Adm. Nishimura charged Maloelap in search for the enemy carriers, but only found four DDs in the process of picking up swimmers in the water - presumably survivors of the Wasp. Showing no mercy, our battlehips and cruisers blasted the four DDs to bits and the proceeded to shell enemy positions on Maloelap itself. Explosions and fires indicated that our bombardment wrought havoc on the enemy's airbase.
The carrier forces continued to trade blows. 20 enemy fighters and 34 bombers broke through our 24-plane CAP - both sides losing half their number - obtaining two more bomb hits causing heavy damage on Soryu. Our ounterstrike of no less than 108 bombers, escorted by 20 Reisen, brushed aside a weak CAP of only 13 planes, and gave the enemy TF a severe work-over. We lost 4 Reisen and 30 bombers - mostly due to heavy AA, but one CV received five, the other two three hits apiece, all three bursting into flames. A CL of the screen was also hit.

But alas, the sweet taste of victory wasn't to last long. Out of nowhere, a second enemy CV force jumped our depleted and exhausted carriers [reaction move from Johnston Is.] One new fleet carrier, two light carriers and one CV of British origin, escorted by three CL, one CLAA and six DDs, launched repeated attacks against our force, which managed to get off a counterstrike but had neither time nor resources left to launch a CAP. In two waves of 90+ enemy fighters and 80+ bombers each obtained a total of 15 bomb and torpedo hits on several of our carriers. Soryu, already damaged, succumbed to a torpedo hit, and Shoho, also damaged earlier, blew up when a bomb touched off the avgas storage. Ryujo, Zuiho and Kaga also received heavy damage and are currently limping back to base - their survival is in doubt. Only Akagi escaped intact. Our counterstrike of 12 Reisen and 41 bombers encountered a CAP of 68 of those new carrier fighters. 10 of these were shot down, but what survived from our force was slaughtered by AA - not a single one of our planes returned.


This desaster was partly revenged by another surface raid against Maloelap, this time by our heavy cruiser force. Attracted by a bright blaze below the horizon, Adm. Tanaka found a burning Lexington class CV with four DDs standing by, and sank three DDs and the carrier. The last DD fell victim to Adm. Takasu's scouting force of light cruisers. Both cruiser forces expended their remaining ammo against ground facilities on Maloelap.
The remainder of the week saw air attacks by weak and disrupted units of both sides against the various TFs afloat. Bobmers from Jaluit added some damage to Zuiho and hit one BB and one CL retreating from Maloelap. Our Bettys at Eniwetok obtained four hits on three different enemy CV/CVLs, but failed to do significant damage. Air losses have been quite even this turn - 466:464. Enemy subs sank three freighters.

Emperor LST mourns the loss of so many brave pilots and aircrewmen (while being somewhat relieved that thus the Emperor can keep the life-long beer supply for himself... ).

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
06/20/1943

The campaign in the Central Pacific continues. Allied fighter sweeps against from Jaluit and Maloelap attacked Kwajalein and Wotje and destroyed several Reisen fighters, B-24s from Johnston Is. pounded Wotje and destroyed 37 planes on the ground. Our fighters strafed enemy transports and freighters unloading at Makin in return. A rearguard action of the exhausted carrier groups followed, with Akagi taking on two CVs and a CVL. The remaining five Reisen and twelve bombers launched from Akagi met eight enemy fighters on CAP, lost two Reisen and four bombers and inflicted no losses or damage to the enemy, but at least it kept the enemy too occupied to launch a strike of his own and Akagi managed to escape unhurt.
In the the meantime, two enemy invasion forces landed unopposed on Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert Is. - the weak IJN garrisons had been secretly evacuated the week before since they would have achieved nothing anyway. Hamaki bombers from Eniwetok attacked enemy transports off Makin, sinking one freighter. Our forces concentrated on the more important target of Maloelap Atoll. Our main surface force of six BBs, 4 CAs, one CL and 10 DDs as well as another TF made up of more cruisers, gave the enemy base a severe pounding, destroying more than 70 planes on the ground and causing heavy disruption to the ground forces (Americal Div) - but not before dispatching an enemy TF of one Cleveland class CL and two Atlanta class CLAAs found guarding the lagoon. All three enemy ships were sunk in short order. Repeated enemy air attacks by dive-bombers and medium bombers from Jaluit and Maloelap against our retiring ships managed to maul several BBs, cruisers and sank three DDs, but two dozen enemy planes were shot down by AAA. Hamaki bombers from Wake attacked a convoy near Maloelap and sank a freighter and a destroyer, the same force also attacked enemy battleships retiring to the east but failed to score.
On a sideline, the CBI theater saw a heavy night bombing attack by 96 planes against Rangoon, causing moderate damage to suppply depots, and a daylight fighter sweep against Rangoon with a new, fat and ugly-looking single-seat fighter observed for the first time. On the ground, the Chineses city of Changsha has been captured in a surprise attack and the Chineses 73rd Army has been overrrun.
All in all, we lost 151 and the enemy 164 aircraft this week. Enemy submarines made no hits, apparently they have left the convoy routes and concentrated in the Central Pacific in support of the operations there.

Emperor LST has ordered an all-out effort to recapture the lost ground in the Central Pacific.

*****
06/27/1943

The CBI suffered the usual air attacks against Rangoon and Mandalay, where our Shoki fighters manage to hold their own. In the Central Pacific, the counter-offensive got underway, despite enemy air attacks against Eniwetok and Wotje. Because of its hasty and improvised nature, this operation did not proceed as planned. The preparatory bombardment of Maloelap to supress enemy LBA wasn't carried out, the bombardment of Jaluit, the first objective, fell short of expectations. So enemy planes from those islands repeatedly attacked our invasion forces at sea. Five APs were sunk, several APs and two CAs were damaged, but the enemy lost several planes to AAA. Nevertheless, our forces continued their course and landed troops on Jaluit. First to come ashore was the crack IJA 2nd Division, but they were met by one of the best the US Army had to offer - the 7th Division. Suffering heavy losses, our troops had to be reinforced by the IJA 4th Division and finally by the 3rd SBF before the enemy on Jaluit surrendered. 91 aircraft were destroyed on the ground in this fight.
In the meantime, our LBA at Wake, Eniwetok, Kwajalein and Wotje attacked cargo, surface and CV TFs at or near Maloelap, sinking three APs, severly damaging an AV, damaging two CLs and planting a 800kg bomb on a BB, which started fierce fires. These attacks kept the enemy from helping his forces on Jaluit, but our planes payed a heavy price to enemy AAA. 202 of our planes were lost, against 300 destroyed enemy aircraft. Enemy submarines regrouped again and sank four Marus and one tanker, one enemy sub was sunk off Nagoya. Oddly enough, one of our ships reported being hit by a type 89 torpedo - is the enemy using captured equipment?

Emperor LST urges to continue the counter-offensive despite heavy losses.

*****
07/04/1943

Obeying the Emperor's orders, the counter-offensice continues. Enemy air attacks from Maloelap and Johnston Is. against Wotje did cost us about 30 planes destroyed. Our surviving carriers and reinforcements from the home islands - now merged into a single TF - were sent out again to cover the invasion of Maloelap. First encountering LBA from that atoll, the first wave consisting of 30 enemy fighters escorting 36 dive-bombers, the second of 13 Corsairs and 18 bombers. We had 54 and 46 planes on CAP respectively and the enemy lost a total of 30 fighters and 29 bombers to our 48 fighters - not the best exchange ratio. Akagi was (luckily) only slightly damaged by three bomb hits, but CVE Unyo received heavy damage and CVE Hosho exploded and sank. Even worse, the enemy carrier force of two CV and a CVL reacted and sent a strike of 66 fighters covering 33 bombers. We had only 33 fighters left on CAP, but these and AAA downed 17 enemy planes in each category for 19 of our planes lost. Akagai suffered another bomb hit, one of our CVLs received a minor torpedo hit. Our counter-strike of 20 Reisen, 12 D3A, 24 D4Y and 30 B5N was intercepted by 34 enemy fighters, lost 12 Reisen and 31 bombers for 16 enemies downed, and obtained one bomb hit on each enemy carrier, unfortunately none of them being particulary effective. Having ventured into LBA range, the enemy carriers were then repeatedly attacked by Reisen/Hamaki teams from Jaluit, Wotje, Kwajalein and Eniwetok. Losses to CAP and AAA again were heavy, and of around 150 bomber sorties, only seven hits were obtained, one of the causing a violent explosion aboard a CLAA, the other spread between the CVs and CVL. Nevertheless, this air actions kept the enemy too busy to help their garrison on Maloelap, which in the meantime was attacked by the IJA 5th Division. After a short but sharp fight, the Americal Division under General H. Schmidt surrendered. The Marshall Islands have been liberated again!
Air losses from all causes (including the usual air attacks in the CBI against Mandalay and Rangoon) totaled 307:254. Enemy submarines sank two DEs, one CD, two Marus and one tanker. One sub was sunk by escorts in return, and two more subs fell victim to air attacks near Osaka respectively Eniwetok.

Emperor LST has ordered to breweries to create a special 'Liberator' beer brand in order to commemorate the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Marshall Is. campaign.

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
07/11/1943

With the Marshalls secured and the enemy fleet scared away by LBA, our forces have shifted their attention to the Gilbert Islands. Tarawa has been bombarded by our cruiser force, Makin received the attention of the battle force. 50+ aircraft have been destroyed on the ground and each island seems to be occupied by an US Army division and construction troops. Our air force is undergoing reorganisation and will join the bombardment of the enemy's outposts soon. Harbinger of things to come have been two air raids against a convoy near Tarawa by planes from Maloelap and Nauru, sinking three freighters. In the CBI, the air campaign at Mandala and Rangoon continues. Air losses this week - 73:86.

Emperor LST hopes that the recapture of the Gilbert Islands will be as swift and successfull as the Marshall operation, since this would allow him to order more beer of the new tasty 'Liberator' brand...

*****
07/18/1943

In the CBI, the air war is heating up - in addition to Mandalay and Rangoon (oil facilities hit by 100+ bombers at night), Akyab has been bombed and more than a hundred B-24s from Chunking have bombed Tientsin, causing moderate damage to depots. In the North, P-38s from Attu found a break in the fog and clouds to strafe Paramushiro, doing negligible damage.

The main show yet again was the Central Pacific. In order to defend the Gilbert Islands, the enemy had reorganised his carrier force into one TF of two CVs (one from the RN), three or four CVLs, three CLs and eight DDs. Cruising near Tarawa, this force was attacked thrice by planes from Maloelap. With CAP outnumbering the attacking planes, our losses were very heavy, but our brave pilots managed to hit one CVL with two torpedos (with little effect) and another CVL with one torpedo, which caused fierce fires on bord. The enemy force made contact with one of our convoys en route to Tarawa, but 108 fighters covering 54 bombers only managed to sink three APs. This invasion force turned back, but the enemy carriers didn't pursue and stayed close to Tarawa - big mistake. Apparently the enemy search planes failed to locate our battle force, which charged towards Tarawa and managed to engage the enemy carriers in a night surface battle. [EDIT: Bad choice of words here, makes it sound like this was a reaction move of a surface TF against a carrier TF - this doesn't happen in PW. Strawb had sent his CVs to Tawara and I had sent a surface TF on a bombardment run, so it was a meeting engagement. Apparently neither of us expected the other side to be there.] With no capital ship as protection, the enemy force was easy meat - both CVs, three CVLs, one Cleveland class and two Brooklyn class CLs and five of the eight Fletcher class DDs were sunk. Our force received only superficial damage. When our carriers arrived on the scene the next day, they had nothing left to do but shooting down feable air attacks from Tarawa.
In the meantime, the two other invasion forces eluded enemy patrol planes and proceeded to land their troops on Tarawa, but since the main element of the invasion force had been turned back, the 1st and 2nd Amphibious Brigades were unable to capture the island and had to be evacuated after taking heavy casualties. This setback was soon forgotten when the enemy battle line of four new and two old BBs, six CAs, three CLs and a bunch of DDs was sighted later that day a little east of the Gilberts and being promptly attacked by LBA from Maloelap, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and Nauru. AAA took a heavy toll, but our pilots scored a dozen hits on BBs and CAs. One lucky torpedo hit on a South Dakota class BB must have touched off a magazine, since the mighty ship disintegrated in a voilent secondary explosion.
.
Air losses 179:90, two Marus sunk by subs.

Emperor LST is elated that his 'beer for victories'-program yield such positive results.

*****
07/25/1943

With naval forces retiring in the Central Pacific, the air force starts its bombing campaign against the Gilbert Islands from bases at Jaluit, Wotje, Maloelap and Kwajalein. Weak CAP was encountered over the targets and only a few planes were found on the ground and promptly destroyed. Each side got a shot at the retiring battleships, our bombers from Maloelap torpedoed a BB, enemy planes from Tarawa obtained a few bomb hits on two of our BBs.
In the CBI, Mandalay was attacked by 110 fighters and 36 bombers. Unfortunately our CAP of 73 Shoki fighters was caught in a bad tactical position and lost 61 planes for only 23 enemy fighters and two bombers shot down. Akyab has been visited by 42 fighters and 90 bombers from Dacca, and Tsingtao was bombed twice by 80-90 B-24s based at Chunking - oil facilities and depots were moderately damaged. A night attack against Rangoon by 120 bombers was met by CAP of 36+ night-fighters, which managed to shoot down three bombers but lost four of their numbers themselves. A counterattack against the dangerous B-24s at Chunking was launched from Nanchang, with 60 Toryus leading 50 Donryus against a 26-plane CAP. In two waves, 18 Ki-45 and 15 Ki-49 were lost, but 12 fighters were destroyed in the air and 24 planes on the ground, including some B-24s. In the North, P-38s from Attu attacked a convoy at Paramushiro and sank one small AP. Patrol planes have sunk one enemy sub off Tokyo Bay, but we have also lost contact with one of our submarines patrolling off Pearl Harbor. Air losses have been 189:172 this week, and enemy submarines sank five Marus off Minami Tori Shima and three more near Tokyo.

Emperor LST has authorized another special beer brand called 'Anti-Liberator' which will exclusively be served to pilots who destroyed a B-24.

*****
08/01/1943

This week saw another rare ground action in China, with four enemy Armies attacking at Canton. The 104th IJA Division managed to stop the enemy, but GHQ worries about the situation there because possible reinforcements are stuck in Central China. Enemy air attacks against Mandalay, Akyab and Tsingtao continued. Our planes were directed once more against the B-24 bases near Chunking, but our losses are out of proportion to the results achieved, since our Ki-45s do not stand a chance against the enemy CAP of those new fighters called 'Jug' by Allied pilots.
In the North, a small bombardment TF of one old CL and six DDs payed a visit to Attu to wipe out some P-38s - 31 planes were destroyed on the ground, also including medium bombers of several types. Bad weather prevented the enemy air force to retaliate.
In the Central Pacific, the bombing camapign against Tarawa and Makin continues, with some IJN air groups now flying the new J2M Raiden fighter. Both islands were bombarded by surface ships again, which returned to port unscathed.
Air score this week was 102:142. Enemy submarines sank two Marus and one tanker, as well as one Yugumo class DD off Tokyo Bay.

Emperor LST impatiently awaits the reorganisation of ground forces to be completed in order to continue with the recapture of the Gilbert Islands before the enemy shipyards have replaced the recent losses.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Test - wrote a post and it got blocked for some reason

[Capt. Harlock]

Amazing achievements for the Japanese in summer 1943 -- usually the American juggernaught has begun to roll by then. What are the victory point totals? Is there a chance of Japanese victory in January when the kill point multiplier kicks in?

[LargeSlowTarget]

Only possible because Strawb counter-attacked too early and with too little. But he doesn't seem to run out of fresh ships, while I have to press half-repaired cripples into service...

VP totals are 86545 for me and 80782 for the Allies - not a big lead, so a Jap victory is not likely. My production score is curtailed (3022*) because I'm lacking oil. Strawb has sunk 25 tankers already and I have 33 left...

Interesting how games can proceed in totally different directions. In my game against Dan he has evacuated as much as possible from the SRA and sat back until early 1943, avoiding battles if possible and refraining from early counter-attacks. He allowed me to capture almost everything, but stopped me short of the important bases, i.e. Calcutta and Melbourne (didn't try the Midway/PH option). Now he has all prewar ships and the new construction as well as new planew types at his disposal, and starts steamrolling in the South Pacific. The big decisive battle is looming...

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
08/08/1943

Little action this week, our air force kept pounding the Gilbert Is. from bases in the Marshalls and Nauru, augmented by bombardments by heavy surface forces. In the CBI, Mandalay and Akyab received their ususal dose of enemy air attacks. 60 B-24s from Chungking have hit Tsingtao again causing moderate supply damage. Our Toryu and Donryu pilots at Nanchang attacked the airfields at Chungking in return and destroyed a dozen B-24s on the ground. Air losses total 128:117. Enemy submarines sank only one CD off Osaka.

Emperor LST is pleased with the performance of the new Raiden fighters and has ordered an increase in production.

*****
08/15/1943

A near-repeat of last week's actions, spiced up with a bombardment of Attu (30+ a/c destroyed) by a light surface force and a heavy night bombing attack against Rangoon with no less than 167 B-24s, which caused considerable damage to the oil facilities there. Air losses in our favor 139:214. Enemy subs sank five Marus and three tankers, one enemy sub fell victim to a patrol plane.

Emperor LST wonders why his precious tankers are not better protected - the HQ running routine convoys seems to assign no or very few escorts to tankers, although a number of fleet destroyers have been detached to escort duty.

*****
08/22/1943

Again, only the ususal air operations to report, although our strikes against Chungking found no enemy planes this time - the B-24s have been withdrawn. It should also be mentioned that Akyab was hit by 90 new and deadly twin-engined fighter-bombers - our CAP of 59 Shoki fighters lost 20 planes but shot down only 11 enemies. A captured pilot has told us that the new plane is called Beaufighter. All in all, we lost 159 and the enemy 236 planes this week, including quite a few destroyed by naval bombardment of the Gilberts. Enemy submarines sank two more precious tankers as well as one DE this week.

Emperor LST is really concerned about the fuel situation. He has asked his scientists to develop a/c engines that run on more abundant liquids, for example high-grade beer.

*****
08/29/1943

The start of the week promised just another exchange of routine missions - air attacks were launched against the Gilbert Is. by us and against Mandalay and Rangoon by the enemy - when one of our submarines patrolling between Makin and Canton Is. broadcasted an urgent sighting report of five BBs, two CAs, three CLs and 12 DDs steaming towards the Gilberts. Other submarines in the area managed to gain attack positions and sank a heavy cruiser of the New Orleans class and torpedoed a second one.
Our alert air force in the Marshalls scrambled several dozen Hamaki bombers at Jaluit, which bored in in two waves against heavy AAA to plant a total of five torpedos into four different battleships. One North Carolina class BB blew up in a spectacular explosion, an older BB was heavily damaged.
Another urgent radio message from a submarine reported the presence of a second enemy TF consisting of two escort carriers, five AVs, ten DDs and at least 13 APDs. The sub skipper also reported having obtained a torpedo hit on one of the CVEs and that this ship was last seen burning brightly before he was forced to dive deep by escorts. We have ordered all submarines in the area to concentrate near Makin Is., but two submarines have failed to confirm this order. It must be expected that they fell victim to enemy ASW assets.
Finally, our patrol planes discovered an enemy carrier TF with two CVs, one CVL, six CLs, one CLAA and eight DDs cruising two hundred miles South-East of Makin. Although outside range of escorting fighters, the brave Hamaki crews attacked against heavy CAP and AAA. From 28 planes launched from Jaluit nothing was heard ever again, from 30 planes of the Kwajalein group only two returned, and the 112 sorties flown from Maloelap lost 82 planes - and all they managed was one torpedo hit on a CV and another on the CVL. The few surviving pilots reported the CVL in flames. The remants of our air force continued to attack the enemy BBs and CVEs which had reached Tarawa in the meantime, losing more planes but adding damaging hits to the wounded CVE, which is believed sunk. Not surprisingly, air losses have been high on both sides - we lost 333 planes, 377 enemies were claimed by our side. Enemy subs sank four Marus this week.
The only other action worth noting has been a small surface battle off Attu. Eleven enemy DDs intercepted our Attu bombardment force of one old and slow CL and six DDs. The enemy acted slow and unaggressive, and one enemy DD was moderately damaged by superior gunnery by our CL, before the forces lost sight of each other in bad weather. Undaunted, our brave flottila carried out their bombardment task and destroyed 22 a/c at Attu.

Emperor LST is happy that his ships are not the only ones who succumb to single fatal hits, and he urges his submarine and air crews to keep up the good work.

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
09/05/1943

Business as usual - our air force attacked Tarawa and Makin, targets in China and the Burma area. Mandalay saw a dogfight between 110 Shokis and 35 P-47s - 19 Shokis lost for 33 T-Bolts destroyed. An attack from Akyab against Imphal by 120 Shoki fighters led to an air battle against 19 Spitfires and 52 T-Bolts, with 28 of our fighters lost against 63 enemies shot down. So far, our new fighter dominates the skies in the CBI. Unfortunately there are too few of them to guard everything, so a bomber raid by 138 unescorted B-24s from Calcutta against Rangoon managed to heavily damage our supply depots. Air losses totaled 150:276.
On the Navy side, bombardment forces have repeatedly hit Makin and destroyed 50+ aircraft on the ground. Enemy submarines are very active, one of our battleships narrowly avoided being torpedoed near Makin. No less than eleven Marus plus two DEs and one tanker were sunk this week by subs. One enemy sub was sunk near Osaka by a H6K patrol plane.

Emperor LST uses the lull in major operation for a visit to his future residence in Paris.

*****
09/12/1943

Air operations in the CBI continue. The enemy awaited a nasty surprise at Rangoon when his 150 unescorted B-24s were intercepted by more than 60 Toryu heavy fighters. In two large air battles, 41 enemy bombers have been shot down, but we lost 45 of our fighters in the process. It seems our pilots need some training on two-engined fighters.
In the Central Pacific, our naval air and surface forces pounded Tarawa in preparation of the amphibious assault by the IJA 54th division. The dazed, weak and undernourrished enemy troops surrendered more or less at once and the US 37th division as well as a Marine CB unit have been destroyed.
Air losses totaled 176:145. Enemy subs have sunk nine Marus and one tanker. One sub has been sunk by a H8K patrol plane near Tokyo.

Emperor LST prepares to celebrate the restoration of his reign in the Central Pacific.

*****
09/19/1943

Air attacks continue throughout the CBI. Rangoon was visited again by unescorted B-24s, with 30 bombers shot down for 32 Toryus lost. The oil facilities at Rangoon suffered heavy damage nevertheless. Our bombers on Timor paid a nightly visit to Darwinwith unobserved results.
In the Central Pacific, our forces turned their attention to Makin, the last Allied outpost in Micronesia.
Air losses totaled 131:144. Enemy subs have sunk five Marus and one precious tanker, one sub has been sunk by air near Sapporo.

Emperor LST has authorized the production of a special beer (rich in alcohol) to be called Tarawamakin in anticipation of the victory in the Gilbert Is.

*****
09/26/1943

This week has been a near-repeat of the last one. At Rangoon, the enemy bombers encountered a reinforced CAP of no less than 106 Toryus. After the two attack waves, a total of exactly 111 smoldering wrecks of B-24s littered the landscape around Rangoon. 56 of our fighters were shot down or crash-landed.
After some quiet time down in the South, the enemy attacked Guadalcanal with 45 P-38s and 120 B-24s. They were met by 60 Raiden fighters and heavy AAA, which shot down 26 P-38s and 19 bombers. We lost 36 fighters in air-to-air combat, and 42 more planes were destroyed on Hondasen airbase by carpet bombing.
Air losses reached 192:277. Only one Maru has been sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST has stockpiled enough beer for a party and impatiently awaits the recapture of Makin.

*****
10/03/1943

Since it has been recognized now that the IJA air force is unsuited for ASW, some reshuffling of air assets has led to a stepped-up bombing campaign in China. IJA bombers based at Hong Kong, Hainan and Formosa will now help to discourage further Chineses attacks against Canton by bombing enemy ground forces and interdicting supply lines in the region. The enemy keeps attacking Rangoon with unescorted bombers and has suffered the loss of 60 B-24s this week against 47 Toryus.
At Guadalcanal, P-38s and B-24s again tangled with our Raiden CAP, losing 33 fighters and 83 bombers for 61 Raiden destroyed in dogfights and 39 more catched on the ground. While enemy bomber losses are heavy, they also take a heavy toll on our fighters. A better plane with more armor and more punch is needed.
In the Central Pacific, the atoll of Makin has been recaptured after a heavy air and naval bombardment by the IJA 5th division. The defenders of the US 25th division and another Marine CB unit also showed signs of shell-shock and lack of supplies.
With the defensive perimeter restored once again, we will improve defenses and ready our forces for the next inevitable attack.
Air losses this week counted a score of 200:269. Enemy submarines again wrought havoc with our routine convoys, with one tanker and 17 Marus sunk. Something has to be done against this pest. The fall of Makin has freed a number of G4M long-range bombers which will be based along the convoy routes.

Emperor LST is angry since a substantial part of his Tarawamakin beer has been sunk en route to the victory party in the Gilberts by enemy subs [:@].

[edit for sp]

[Wuotan]

Salute, gentlemen.


I can´t resist any longer to declare that reading your reports is a GREAT
fun! Wow, it´s like reading alternative history. A pleasure! Damn, i´ve
downloaded WITP some time ago, but never had the time/engergy to give it a real try. A very, very big theater... however, it can´t be THAT difficult, i am a WIR-veteran. Should try it again!


Greetings!

[Capt. Harlock]

The AAR's are indeed interesting to read--but I've noticed nothing doing for nearly three weeks now. Has Strawb finally thrown in the towel? A pity if we never see the Kill Point Multiplier kick in...

BTW, Wuotan, the WITP game is the one Matrix is still working on. The one LST and Strawb are playing (and I assume what you've downloaded) is Pacific War: The Matrix Edition. As far as I know, nobody calls it PWTME, but PacWar instead.

[Wuotan]

Got it!



Greetings!

[LargeSlowTarget]

Sorry fans, real-life commitments...

*****
10/10/1943

Operations have settled into an almost fixed pattern. Our air force concentrates on bombing and strafing missions in the CBI, hot spots are enemy troops at Canton and Mandalay. Enemy air ops are routinely directed against Mandalay, Akyab, Rangoon, Flores, Tenimbar Is., and Port Moresby. Rangoon has been hit by 150 heavy bombers. Our 80+ fighters have downed 50 heavies, but lost the same number in the process. The oil facilities were moderately damaged. Air score overall 60:62. Five freighters were sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST cannot devote much time to write AARs since he must also fight several very different wars at the home front...

*****
10/17/1943

The usual air attacks with some variation. 14 P-38s from Espiritu Santo attacked a cargo TF off Guadalcanal, scoring no hits. The heavy bombers raiding Rangoon from Calcutta were escorted for the first time by a few long-range fighters. Ten enemy fighters and 41 bombers were shot down for 57 of our fighter lost. These mounting fighter losses cause some concern at GHQ. Since Rangoon air base cannot be improved any further, it is impossible to concentrate overwhelming numerical fighter strength in order to stop the enemy. If the pressure is kept up, our planes might be withdrawn once the oil facilities are destroyed. Air score totals 69:72. Another five Marus succumbed to sub-launched torpedoes.

Emperor LST impatiently awaits the arrival of ground reinforcements to shore up defenses in the Central Pacific.

*****
10/24/1943

Again nothing extraordinary to report. The air battle of Rangoon has cost the enemy 16 fighters and 44 heavy bombers, we lost 58 fighters. The oil industry received only slight damage. Port Moresby has been hit by no less than 200 fighters, scoring heavy damage to depots. Air losses are mounting, 86:107. Three freighters were sunk by subs, but one enemy sub fell victim to one of our patrol planes off Aomori.

Emperor LST searches the Imperial Palace for beer – why do the enemy subs always sink the ships assigned to beer runs? The enemy must be reading our most secret code!

*****
10/31/1943

Our fighters at Rangoon seem to extract an unacceptable price on enemy heavy bombers – the enemy raided Rangoon air base from Dacca with 70+ Beaufighters on low-level strafing runs in order to weaken our CAP. 28 enemy planes were shot down, we lost 47 planes in the air and on the ground. This was followed by the usual heavy bomber attack from Calcutta, which cost us 43 more fighters and the enemy 7 fighters and 30 bombers. A night attack by heavy bombers from New Caledonia has hit Guadalcanal, causing slight damage to supply depots. IJN heavy surface units operating near Cairns were repeatedly attacked by LBA, shooting down 64 enemy planes and suffering only a few superficial hits. With surprise lost, the bombardment run was aborted. In the vicinity of Flores, enemy fighter-bombers from Broome managed to sink an AP and two Marus on a supply run. One of our subs in Hawaiian waters has failed to report as scheduled. Air losses have risen again: 282:306.

Emperor LST is worried about the growing enemy strength in Burma. Just holding this front consumes a sizable part of our total forces.

*****
11/14/1943

The air war is growing further in intensity. The enemy B-24s at Chungking were visited by 60 Toryu fighters and 50 Donryu bombers. Met by 23 P-51s, they lost eight resp. four of their numbers for five P-51s downed and 25 planes destroyed on the ground. A second wave repeated the performance with somewhat less favorable results. The enemy retaliated with 78 B-24s from Kweilen hitting airfields at Keelung, destroying 41 Hamaki bombers on the ground. No attacks against Rangoon this week!
Port Moresby was visited twice by planes operating from Cairns. 64 enemy fighters and 37 bombers where shot down, but the action has cost us 108 (!) Shoki fighters in the air and 19 more destroyed on the ground. Our air groups have received orders to withdraw for R&R, followed by more training. Taluga Is. and Guadalcanal were also visited by the enemy. Air losses were balanced by successful bombardment missions against Darwin, where almost a hundred planes were destroyed on the ground. Weak aerial counter-attacks failed to score. Aircraft losses stood at 232:286. One enemy sub was sunk in the South China Sea, six of our freighters didn’t reach port.

Emperor LST has ordered more bombardment missions against exposed enemy air bases in order to ease the pressure on our airmen.

*****
11/21/1943

Enemy air attacks all over the place – Rennell Is., Tagula Is., Guadalcanal (120 B-24s), Port Moresby, Tenimbar Is., Akyab (200+ planes) and - after a break - Tientsin. Supply depots suffered most of the damage. We hit back at Kweilen air base and, as always, troop concentrations near Canton. Our Navy visited Darwin again, this time with carrier support. The repeated bombardments by a BB and a CA force has destroyed 66 planes on the ground. More enemy planes were destroyed by carrier CAP. Aircraft losses total 55:132. Two Marus were exchanged for one enemy sub sunk.

Emperor LST wonders how much more pounding his men at Akyab can take.

*****
11/28/1943

A near-repeat of last week’s operations, with New Georgia bombed instead of Guadalcanal. Tientsin was hit twice from Chungking and Kunming, suffering heavy damage to supply stockpiles. A new type of heavy bomber has been spotted in this attack, being even larger than the B-24. Aircraft score 51:151. Three Marus sunk.

Emperor LST has the dire premonition that the new bomber might spell the end of the Empire one day.

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
12/05/1943

Our air forces in Burma and the PNG area have been withdrawn due to heavy losses and low priority for air defense - our ground forces will have to weather the storm. Air attacks in China continue with all fury. The enemy cannot be allowed to cut the land communications along the coast or to base his heavy bombers at inland bases within range of the home islands.
The Allies continued their aerial onslaught with attacks against New Georgia, Rennell Is., Akyab, Rangoon, Tientsin, Flores Is., Port Moresby and Taluga Is. Our Navy has bombarded the enemy air base at Darwin once again, destroying 77 planes on the ground. A counter-attack by 27 Hellcat fighters and 24 Helldiver bombers was intercepted by 87 Reisen fighters from our carriers - 18 resp. 19 enemies shot down by CAP and AAA for 33 interceptors lost. Our ships received no damage.
Air score this week a nice lopsided 38:170. Enemy subs failed to score.

Emperor LST celebrated the second anniversary of the successful Pearl Harbor attack by throwing a pool party for the Navy Staff. Later that night, the Emperor reenacted the attack by tossing empty beer bottles at the seven or eight intoxicated Admirals struggling to keep their heads above water in the pool. Observers note that the Emperor aimed especially for those responsible for the loss of Zuikaku, Shokaku, Hiryu and Hiei, announcing that he is curious whether the culprits will succumb to single hits, too. However, since the Emperor insisted on emptying the bottles himself before throwing them, his aim was too impaired to produce little more than near-misses. Whether or not this will prove lucky for the future war effort is up to speculation.

*****
12/12/1943

This week opened with the usual air attacks against the usual targets - nothing special here. Darwin has been bombed and bombarded by our Navy again, destroying +/-100 planes on the ground and in air combat over Darwin proper and our CVs. Then, out of the blue Central Pacific, enemy carriers and surface units raided Wotje and Maloelap Atolls in the Marshalls. The report of these attacks caused a collective groan in the GHQ - 'Oh no, here we go again...'. The attack came as a strategic surprise, since we didn't expect a new offensive so soon after the last spanking we gave the Allies in this very area. The enemies' warmaking capacity must be inexhaustible. Our forces have been alerted for redeployment to meet this renewed threat.
Air losses this week have been 81:174. Again, enemy subs failed to score. They are probably being redeployed to support the enemy operation in the Marshall Is.

Emperor LST suffers from a severe hangover but insists that all the rumors about his behavior at the pool party are enemy propaganda.

*****
12/19/1943

While the standard pattern of air attacks in the CBI and Australia/PNG/Solomons area continues, the main action has shifted once again to the Central Pacific. With no naval or air forces within reach to oppose the enemy, he bombed and bombarded Maloelap and Wotje at will with BBs, CVs and B-24s flying up from Johnston Is. This softening-up caused horrible casualties with our only recently installed and not fully entrenched garrison forces. When the crack 3rd Marine Div stormed ashore at Maloelap and the veterans of the 1st Marine Division invaded Wotje, our shell-shocked defenders had no chance. Thus GHQ takes pain to announce that two IJA Amphibious Brigades and two IJN SBFs have been annihilated. Admirals Kajioka and Kimura shared the fate of their men. The only bright news this week are the very light air losses for our side - 3:45 and the absence of enemy subs on our convoy lanes - only a single patrol craft has been sunk by subs this week

Emperor LST wishes that he had either payed more attention to the war himself or that he had actually hit and 'sunk' one of his inept Admirals at the party two weeks ago. He also suspects that the light air losses reported to him do not indicate the air war is going well, but rather that our air forces are hiding from the enemy.

*****
12/26/1943

Heavy air attacks continued to hit the familiar targets. In the Central Pacific, enemy LBA conducted operations from Canton and Maloelap against Tarawa and from Wotje against Wake Is. The latter attack met some resistance by more than a hundred newly-arrived Raiden fighters. Although surprised, we shot down 18 out of 30 enemy planes, but lost 27 planes in the air and three on the ground. At Tarawa, enemy fighter-bombers sank one AP on a supply run. Enemy carriers repeatedly attacked Kwajalein Atoll with hundreds of sorties, and two bombardment forces totalling nine BBs, one BC, four CAs, seven CLs and 32 DDs pounded the defenders into dust. The 2nd Marine Division had no problems in overwhelming the remnants of one SNLF and one SBF. Air losses totalled 36:83. Enemy subs are back in force and sank three DDs and half a dozen Marus.

Emperor LST has ordered the Navy to stop the enemy at all costs. He must not be allowed to establish bomber bases in range of the vital Mariana and Caroline Islands.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Sorry, real-life commitments have forced a slow-down...

*****
01/02/1944

Standard attacks continued in the CBI, DIE, PNG and Solomons areas. The outpost Wake Is. suffered repeated air attacks from Wotje, our CAP downed 40 enemy planes, but lost almost 90 fighters themselves. Our forces there have been ordered to withdraw for rebuilding and training. The enemy continued his conquest of the Marshall Islands with the capture of Jaluit. Supported by LBA, carrier aircraft and surface forces, the 2nd Marine Division assaulted the positions of the IJA 3rd Amphib Brigade and the IJN 3rd SBF. The brave defenders managed to hold off several attack waves, but were overwhelmed when the US 6th Army division reinforced the Marines. Our airforce at Eniwetok attacked a convoy consisting of one CVE, one CL, eight DDs, 15 troop ships and 13 freighters. 91 fighters covering 30 bombers met 34 interceptors – we lost 25 fighters and nine bombers, the enemy 25 fighters. Three hits were obtained on the CVE and one on the CL, with unobserved results. One of our submarines later encountered a CVE in the same general area and sank it with a single torpedo hit. Air score this week 152:160. Three freighters were sunk in routine convoys.

Emperor LST watches in agony as his Empire starts to crumple.


*****
01/09/1944

This week started with a nasty surprise – the usual milk runs by our bombers on Formosa, Okinawa and the Philippines against undefended targets in China have been rudely interrupted by massive enemy CAP suddenly appearing in the theater. Virtually hundreds of G4M, Ki-32 and Ki-49 bombers have been shot down by enemy P-47s around Suichan. Our ususal fighter sweep against the same target suffered the same fate, since our Toryu fighters are hopelessly outmatched by the modern enemy planes. A similar fate befell our squadrons on Eniwetok – attacked by modern USN planes, they lost 52 out of 70 planes. Payback time came over Medan – unescorted B-24s lost 59 bombers to our CAP.
In the Central Pacific, carriers have been on the prowl. A small convoy attempting to evacuate units from Tarawa was suprised by Allied carriers and all nine APs were sunk. A survivor picked up by one of our submarines has confirmed that the Allies have started arming their fighters with air-to-ground rockets. Our carriers had orders to retire from the area, but were intercepted between Wake and Eniwetok by another Allied carrier task force. 156 enemy fighters covering 80 bombers swept aside our 103-plane CAP – 48 enemy fighters and 28 bombers fell victim to dogfights and AA, but we lost 90 fighters in the process. This left our CAP seriously weakened against follow-on strikes from carrier-based as well as long-range land-based airstrikes. In the end we suffered the loss of Hiyo and of Nisshin and damage to our remaining flattops. Our counterattacks had no chance to penetrate enemy CAP, but weakened them enough to allow our land-based naval airforce from Eniwetok to punch trough and put one torpedo into an Essex class CV which started to burn, and another torpedo into a Yorktown class CV, which blew up in a spectacular explosion. A second attack from Eniwetok found a troop ship convoy and sank one DD. Finally, one of our submarines managed to put a fish into a CVL, causing fires and putting the vessel out of the war for months.
Air losses total a lopsided 940:381 due to the China surprise and one-sided carrier duels. Three freighters on routine convoy duty have been sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST mourns the loss of so many brave pilots and irreplaceable material.


*****
01/16/1944

Apart from the usual air attacks against Mandalay, Rangoon (where the cumulative damage to oil facilities renders them useless), Port Moresby, Guadalcanal etc., the enemies’ air activities concentrated on softening up the atoll of Eniwetok. This was followed by carrier raids, surface bombardments by six BBs, and finally by the 3rd Marine Division splashing ashore. The 8th SNLF and battalion-strength remnants of an Engineer unit and another SNLF had no chance against this onslaught. How much difference all this gunfire and air support made was demonstrated at Tarawa, where at the same time the 1st Marine Division tried to land totally unsupported, but was flung back by the Sasebo SNLF and the 14th SBF.
Two more actions have been noteworty – the unfortunate loss of two submarines to patrolling PBY and another to an escort vessel in the Marshall islands, and the sinking of a tanker and damage to a BB by IJA bombers operating out of Palembang against India-Australia convoys. Air losses totaled 289:219 this week, only two freighters went down due to enemy submarines.

Emperor LST sips his beer in silent memory of the brave men on Tarawa atoll.


*****
01/23/1944

This week’s highlights have been the first air attacks against the main fleet base at Truk and the outpost at Ponape. The enemy wastes no time to put his newly-won bases in the Marshalls to use. A daylight fighter sweep from Kwajalein by 48 Lightnings was met by 48 Raiden fighters – each side lost 10 planes in dogfights, but we lost two more destroyed on the ground. A night-bombing attack by 80 B-24s from Wotje was unopposed except for AA, depots at Truk suffered slight damage.
On the naval side, our gallant forces at Tarawa were belatedly subjected to a fierce surface bombardment. A H8K patrol plane sank a submarine lurking near Truk, and our carrier forces had to fight off enemy fighters and a submarine before retiring to safety. Air losses totaled 191:89, three freighters were sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST hopes that Truk and ist ‘guard dog’ Ponape can be held, otherwise the entire PNG and Solomons area would be cut off, and the enemy would gain a valuable staging area close to the vital Marianas.


*****
01/30/1944

While heavy air raids continue elsewhere, the Schwerpunkt of the enemy offensive is definitely aimed at Ponape and Truk. B-24s from Wotje raided Truk but were met by heavy CAP – 68 bombers have been destroyed at a cost of 25 fighters lost in the air and 38 more on the ground. A fighter sweep from Kwajalein brought additional, almost equal losses for both sides – our fighter units at Truk are the best the IIJN can muster at this stage of the war.
Near Ponape, the carrier forces clashed again. In the first engagement, two CV and four CVL on our side met a force of half that strength. Unfortunately the US carriers were accompanied by a modern BB as well as two CL, one CLAA and eight DDs – the volume of AA thrown up by these escorts was fearsome. Our planes obtained but one ineffective bomb hit on an Essex class CV - the counterstrike disabled brand-new CV Taiho and CVLs Chitose and Chiyoda. Retiring towards Truk, our carriers had to fend off additional attacks including P-38s and P-51s from Kwajalein. Rushing to the rescue, our combined CVE force fought a rear-guard action and sacrificed themselves in order to save the fleet carriers – Kaiyo, Shinyo and Chuyo sank. The enemy still had force to spent to launch an air attack against Ponape, while at the same time surface units again pounded Tarawa. Revenge came swift – a submarine managed to sink a Casablanca class CVE off Wotje and damaged another so heavily it must have sunk, too.
Air losses this week 432:389, six freighters lost to enemy subs.

Emperor LST fears that with the failure of his carrier fleet, the fate of Truk is sealed.


*****
02/06/1944

Heavy enemy air attacks were directed against Ponape at the beginning of this week, causing heavy losses on our side from dogfights and planes caught on the ground. But soon it became evident that this only served to as a diversion – enemy carriers struck at Truk! Two CVs, four CVLs, two modern BBs, two CLs, two CLAAs and eight DDs sneaked past Ponape and almost 250 planes descended on the airstrips and harbor at Truk. The enemy lost about a hundred planes, but our forces twice as much – the elite IJN fighter units were ripped to shreds. Furthermore, one AP, one MCS and damaged CVL Ryuho docked at Truk received lethal damage. And the enemy had enough forces to spare to bombard both Ponape and Tarawa and to land the 33rd Army Division on the latter. This time our shell-shocked defenders were overrun. Lastly, the retiring enemy carriers found one of our cargo TFs bringing supplies into Truk and sank one DD. Air losses in the entire war zone totaled 442:258. Enemy submarines failed to score this time.

Emperor LST listens with horror to the tales of the few surviving pilots about the superiority of the Allied planes.


*****
02/13/1944

The bombing campaign continues – Rennell, Guadalcanal, Nauru, Ponape, Truk, Makin, Mandalay, Rangoon, Tsingtao, Flores, Tenimbar, Port Moresby received their fair share of attention. Opposition from our forces was offered at Truk and Ponape, which has cost the enemy amongst others 32 B-24s and a dozen B-25s. Our BB force waiting for the enemy at Ponape escaped damage, but failed to react to the enemy bombardment and invasion of nearby Nauru. The 1st Cav Division quickly overwhelmed the weak Nauru SBF. A hit-and-run raid by enemy carriers catched CL Kitikami near Ponape and sunk her. This was partly revenged by an escort vessel sinking a submarine off Tokyo Bay. Air losses for once favored our side - 159:248. Enemy subs sank one freighter and one tanker.

Emperor LST decides it is time to increase the daily beer ration in order to stand the strain of bad news.


*****
02/20/1944

Heavy air attacks against Ponape from Jaluit, Wotje, Kwajalein as well as a surface bombardment. Our battleline and the remaining carriers tried to deflect the blows, but the enemy carriers struck first. 250 planes overwhelmed our 80-plane CAP and sank Akagi and Ruyjo. Our counterstrike didn’t even got near the enemy carriers. The enemy then attacked our surface units and damaged several battleships. We managed to slip in a Tokyo Express of CLs and DDs to deliver much-needed supplies. The contest for the island started in earnest when the enemy landed the 1st Cav Division on Ponape. Our garrison – several assorted SNLF and SBF units and the elite South Sea Detachment – proved too tough, but the Allies will bring in reinforcements soon while our troops cannot expect help. Our once-mighty base at Truk came under attack by carrier and surface forces once again, three BBs, one BC, four CAs, three CLs and 16 DDs pounded the island and destroyed almost a hundred planes on the ground. Our BBs wisely retreated out of LBA range, being attacked by planes from Nauru, Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In the far North, planes from Attu visited Paramushiro – 48 medium bombers caused heavy damage to supply depots.
Air losses reached 494:379, and eight freighters succumbed to submarine torpedos.

Emperor LST expects the fall of Ponape within the next week.


*****
02/27/1944

Some good news at last!!! What was intended as a last glorious Banzai charge has turned out into a nice victory for our troops on Ponape. Facing thousands of determined men surging forward wielding bayonets and swords, the terrified troops of the 1st Cav Division fled in panic and were killed or - like Gen Rupertus - captured. Heavy attacks by LBA, carrier planes and surface bombardment continued, and the 33rd US Division was hastily but belatedly thrown at Ponape in order to salvage the situation, but our troops stood their ground once more.
The naval war saw the sinking of a submarine by a H8K patrol plane near Saipan, and the sinking of another CVE by one of our gallant submarines near Ponape. Enemy subs sank one oiler near Iwo Jima and several troop ships near Tokyo, as well as five freighters on routine convoy duty. Air losses have been low – 23:73.

Emperor LST is very happy and has ordered a load of beer shipped to the garrison of Ponape via transport submarine.


*****
03/06/1944

The battle for Ponape continued with heavy air attacks by LBA from Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands, as well as carrier strikes and surface bombardments. The enemy landed the 1st 2nd, 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions as well as the 24th Army Division and the 112th Cav Rgt in order to reinforce the foothold of the 33rd Army division, and with sheer mass managed to push back our exhausted and shell-shocked troops and to capture the base facilities. Our men hold out in isolated pockets of resistance.

On the Navy side, we have to admit the loss of three submarines to PBYs in the target-rich but heavily patrolled waters of the Marshall Islands. One enemy sub was sunk in return by a H6K patrol plane near Saipan.
In the other areas, the standard bombing campaign continues. Air losses totaled 57:60. Enemy subs sank two small escort vessels, four freighters and one tanker.

Emperor LST is angry that the beer run to Ponape arrived just in time to have the beer captured by the Allied forces.


*****
03/13/1944

The battle for Ponape came to an end after repeated air attacks, surface bombardments and ground attacks – the South Sea Detachment, the 12th Independent Rgt, the 4th SBF and diverse Engineer units and remnants of SNFL units have been eliminated. The enemy immediately threw his forces to the next objective – Truk. 120 B-24s from Kwajalein pounded storage areas, CVs sank four freighters and two APs in Truk lagoon. For want of opposition, air losses in the entire war zone were light this week – 19:67. Three freighters and one tanker were sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST hopes the next defensive barrier will hold out longer.

[LargeSlowTarget]

****
03/20/1944

With Ponape captured, the enemy immediately switched his forces to Truk. Repeatedly hit by LBA, CVs and surface bombardments, our ground units suffered heavy casualties. Enemy carrier planes also catched several convoys bringing urgently needed supplies to Truk and sank a total of 18 freighters. One more freighter fell victim to a submarine. It was probably the same sub that was later sunk by a patrolling H8K. Radio reports indicate that one of our submarines penetrated the screen of an enemy convoy near Ponape and sank one AP, but nothing has been heard of the said submarine ever since. 60 enemy heavy bombers operating from Kunming have conducted two daylight attacks against Tsingtao, losing a total of 24 bombers for 16 of our Toryu interceptors downed in the defense. The depots at Tsingtao suffered heavy damage. Air losses total 29:87, seven freighters and one tanker have been sunk by enemy subs.

Emperor LST fears the worst for his once-proud island bastion of Truk.

*****
03/27/1944

The heavy attacks against Truk continue, again badly mauling our defenders. At Guadalcanal, carrier planes and ships have bombarded our weak defenses, too. Enemy heavy bombers from Kunming again bombed Tsingtao twice, losing 26 bombers but downing 13 defenders and moderately damaging depots. Other attacks by 60 enemy heavy bombers, including new B-29s, have been conducted against Nagasaki - 3000 civilians died and the heavy industry suffered considerable damage. Air losses totaled 18:65, four freighters and one tanker succumbed to torpedo hits from enemy subs.

Emperor LST has ordered all surviving beer supplies at Nagasaki to be evacuated to his palace for better protection.

*****
04/03/1944

Air attacks against Nagasaki continued, but this time encountered strong defenses. 62 heavy bombers were greeted by 98 Toryu interceptors, which lost 22 of their numbers, but shot down 46 bombers. Enemy bombs killed 2000 civilians and lightly damaged the local shipyard. Another group of enemy heavy hombers operating from Kunming attacked Hainan, but suffered an almost similar fate - met by 94 interceptors, the enemy lost 32 bombers against our 16 planes destroyed in dogfights and 12 more on the ground by bomb hits.
In the Central Pacific, the enemy offensive against Truk continued with heavy bombing attacks by LBA and carrier planes as well as bombardments by surface ships. This time we had CAP on station. 120 heavy bombers from Kwajalein were met by 166 Shoki fighters, which lost 33 of their number but shot down 93 heavies. Next came 108 P-38 and P-51 fighters against 128 Shokis - the enemy lost 60 planes, we lost 81. Then the enemy launched a carrier raid by 168 fighters covering 52 bombers. Engaged by 72 remaining Shokis, the enemy lost 39 fighters and six bombers, but our force was nearly wiped out. The remaining planes were destroyed when four BBs, two BCs, three CA, two CL and 16 DDs pounded the defenses of Truk. Finally, the enemy landed an invasion force consisting of the 1st, 3rd and 4th Marine divisions, the 6th US Army Division and the 112th Cav Rgt. The brave defenders of the 1st Guard Division, the 38th Division and the 1st SBF were unable to prevent the enemy from capturing the important base facilities.
In the South Pacific, the enemy attacked and invaded Guadalcanal with three Australian divisions. Our weak garrison was forced to retreat into the jungle but will continue to conduct a guerilla campaign in order to tie down enemy forces.
Air losses soared to 572:385. Enemy submarines extracted a heavy toll from routine convoys: one DD, one DE, one CD, two freighters and three tankers have been sunk.

Emperor LST mourns the loss of so many brave pilots and starts to have toasts on each of them.

*****
04/10/1944
Operations at Truk and Guadalcanal against the remnants of our forces continue with heavy air and naval support. Enemy heavy bombers attacked targets at Saipan, Hainan and Kagoshima, suffered a total of 56 bombers lost and caused only slight damage to supply depots. The enemy also attacked targets on Emirau, Bougainville, Woleai, Wake and Makin, as well as the usual strikes against Mandalay, Flores, Tenimbar and Port Moresby. Air losses dropped back to 61:104, four freighters have been sunk by subs.

Emperor LST is completely wasted after only 40 toasts to fallen comrades, so he decides to postpone the other 532 until the end of the war.

*****
04/17/1944

Due to heavy losses suffered by naval bombardments respectively air attacks, our troops at Akyab and Mandalay had been ordered last week to withdraw to Rangoon. The enemy occupied the bases this week against no resistance. The fighting on Truk] continued with our troops holding out hidden in caves and dugouts, but fresh enemy troops aided by air and naval support finaly overwhelmed our last defenders. Enemy carriers and naval units pounded Bougainville. Without preparation, the enemy landed the 38th US Army Division on Woleai, but our 35th Brigade offered tough resistance which was only overwhelmed by reinforcements from the 2nd Marine Division which captured the atoll. In the Solomons, three Australian brigades landed unopposed on Rennell Island. Air losses have been lopsided - 91:13. Enemy subs sank six freighters.

Emperor LST wonders where the next blow will fall.