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This bring us up to date to the point where Damian wants some time to consider a strategic plan etc. I'm going to give some thoughts as to what he should do.

1. Offensive actions.

I once read a fascinating book on the history of the sword and swordfighting through the ages. It seems that many of the swordfighting techniques of the epee and foil centre around slowly but surely using a series of attacks and defences to lead your opponent's sword out of alignment before going in for a 1 thrust kill against his now defenceless torso. The other great tactic seems to be defending and inviting attack after attack until such time as the enemy's balance is such that they are fully committe to yet another thrust and thus cannot defend when you counter-attack.

As such it would seem that Damian should counter-attack at this stage on the basis that any counter-attack would catch me with so much of my weight thrust into the Aleutians and Thailand that I must be weak elsewhere and thus could be dislocated and unbalanced rather easily. I've gone to some lengths to make it appear that there's very little in India, Australia or the Pacific but, really, an attack in any of these areas would be nothing short of suicidal for Damian. he would need to bring a minimum of 10 divisions to make any headway in either India or Australia and, in the Pacific, my forces are sufficiently well dug-in on anything important that he could only capture relatively meaningless areas without suffering great loss.


2. Defensive actions.

Aleutians:
It looks as though he is moving back from Atka ( the correct choice as trying to hold me there would simply allow me to attrit his navy at an unsustainable rate ) toward Petropavlovsk. This is the obvious next point at which to hold me BUT attempting to hold me there is a serious error. it looks very reasonable when examined operationally BUT Damian just hasn't developed the Kuriles enough to permit him to support his SLOCs to Petropavlovsk with Kurile-based LBA. Without that LBA his SLOCs simply aren't secure enough to support a base at Petropavlovsk.

Right now his best bet is to move his garrisons from Atka and Petropavlovsk to the Kuriles and create infantry-only bases there ( by this I mean bases which feature lots of infantry, AAA and CD units but no airplanes or significant airfields ). let me bomb those bases and try and wear them down. While those troops die and attrit my bombers with their AAA and ops losses his air force can be rebuilt and he can pour MASSIVE reinforcements ( infantry and engineers ) into the Sakhalin Islands and Northern Japan.

In short while he CAN defend at Petropavlovsk it is NOT the best option when looking at the front-line trace 6 months from now. Holding me at Petropavlovsk will result in a short-term delay to my forces but in the longer term my advance will actually be quicker than if he held at the Kuriles with ground-only committments and used the time to rebuild his air force and repair his navy.


2. Thailand.
The Hirohito Tank Division has been committed to the trails near Tavoy. This is an error. Such a powerful and mobile force is waste in those trails. It should be heading up to Pisanoluke IMO. In any case the battle for Bangkok is soon to begin and that's going to decide things in that theatre. The jungle paths have slowed my advancing force so much that many reinforcements have made it to Thailan/Bangkok. I am now worried the enemy may be able to hold me at Bangkok.

But, I do get a parachute unit in about 10 days and if I am held at Bangkok it will only be because massive numbers of enemy troops have been sucked forward, denuding the rear areas and opening up the option of a quick paraborne strike +/- seaborne invasion to open up the entire Malaysian peninsula.


3. Manchuria - He just needs to keep me tied down ---- which is pretty much all I need too [:D]

In short, Damian needs to think " defence in depth" and " 6 months forward". If he does then the correct answers will become fairly obvious.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Umnak Island [AK] at 101,37

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 2
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
CA Chikuma
CA Chokai
CA Mikuma

Allied Ships
DD Schley, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Crane, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Humphreys, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sands, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatfield, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kane, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD SN Redki

*sigh* These DD losses hurt but for some reason my BB TF failed to meet the enemy BBs today at all. Ah well, best to just keep setting things up and trusting that the chips will fall right one of these days.

You still have BB's left??

Aye, I have 3 BBs in combat-capable condition ( between 10 and 25 sys damage ) and 2 BBs with less than 10 sys damage on the way. In addition I have another 2 or 3 BBs which are in the 10s to 20s of system damage. Interestingly I've only lost a single CA ( that I can see ) in my battles in the Aleutians. No BBs have been lost although a huge number of DDs and CLs have been lost.

Essentially the IJN battleline was at least 1.5 times as strong as me when the battle began ( they had 7 BBs vs 4 Allied BBs in the area and a superiority in CAs which more than compensated for their relative weakness in light numbers ) but at this point in time they can put fewer BBs and fewer CAs into action in this area than I can. So, even without air power I've won this attritional fight. When you add in air power then the IJN can't even afford to come within 6 hexes of me ( B-26s and Beauforts are nice to have but I'll always prefer the swamping that is possible with 150+ Avengers ).
 
In essence his relative advantage in surface combat in the area has been eroded... at massive cost it is true but in this case the ends DO justify the means ( thousands of dead DD crew ). Why is this cost worth it? Well, what is sunk and damaged now won't be in a position to crush the next series of landings I will be making. While it was certainly nice that the Aleutian invasions succeeded I could afford partial failure in these invasions without suffering crippling losses - it was only because I could see the attrition working in my favour that I kept pushing - BUT the next set of invasions HAS to succeed as, if they fail, I won't have the option of accepting a partial failure and still being able to work with that towards success. The next set of invasions either succeeds well or fails totally.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/14/42

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ASW attack near Umnak Island [AK] at 101,37

Japanese Ships
SS I-153, hits 1

Allied Ships
SC New Westminster
SC Quesnel
AP Chaumont
AP Rangatira
AP Wahine
AK Autolycus
AP Wharton
SC Dundas
PG Haida
DE William C. Cole
APD Gregory
APD Little
AP Warwick Castle
AK Maine

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Sub attack near Umnak Island [AK] at 101,37

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
MSW Mirimichi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Courtenay
MSW Oriole
MSW Turkey
MSW Tern
MSW Grebe
MSW Bobolink
MSW Seagull
MSW Outarde
MSW Quatsino

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Day Air attack on Kan Hsien [C China] , at 45,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 17

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on Kan Hsien [C China] , at 45,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 12

No Japanese losses

Resources hits 1

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Day Air attack on Kan Hsien [C China] , at 45,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 46

No Japanese losses

Resources hits 5

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Day Air attack on Kweilin [S China] , at 42,37

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-I Lily x 28

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 10
Spitfire VB x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 3 damaged

These raids in China are a little bothersome but, to be honest, I'm happy enough to see them as while they will have a long-term impact on my ability to prosecute a war in this theatre they don't actually focus on the key areas right here and now. In short, they don't help free up the 2,000 AV of Allied troops at Manilla and without those troops Damian is going to be hard-pressed to create a mobile reserve.

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Day Air attack on Pisanuloke [THAI] , at 31,37


Allied aircraft
Wellington IC x 24


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington IC: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24

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Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 20
Ki-48-I Lily x 37
Ki-48-II Lily x 35
Ki-21-II Sally x 46
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 100

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 42
Ki-27 Nate x 79
Ki-32 Mary x 57
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-48-II Lily x 46
Ki-21-II Sally x 34
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B4Y1 Jean: 1 destroyed
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 210

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Day Air attack on IJA 3rd Tank Brigade, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 34
Beaufort VII x 24
Spitfire VB x 7
I-16 Type 24 x 8
IL-4C x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Red 22nd Group Army , at 51,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 10
Ki-48-II Lily x 9

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on TF at 108,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AGP Poolster

*chuckle* I've been telling Damian that I've been testing his defences in the South Pacific over the past few weeks and have been surprised at how many of my ships have been able to sail past his bases without being spotted. He finally spotted one just 60 miles from Palmyra. I'm sure it will be sunk before too much longer ( as it is pretty much out of fuel and just limping along ) but it will have to ake him wonder about how vulnerable the South Pacific is.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 19
D3A2 Val x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged

Runway hits 16

Dive-bombers are a bad idea over Manilla.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 35,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54014 troops, 788 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1506

Defending force 46165 troops, 637 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 2324



Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 181566 troops, 2248 guns, 1172 vehicles, Assault Value = 4271

Defending force 73522 troops, 1073 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 2066



Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 73974 troops, 807 guns, 792 vehicles, Assault Value = 1975

Defending force 56565 troops, 1191 guns, 371 vehicles, Assault Value = 2172



Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Tavoy [Burma]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9480 troops, 155 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 292

Defending force 13414 troops, 173 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 267

Japanese max assault: 258 - adjusted assault: 20

Allied max defense: 268 - adjusted defense: 481

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
1350 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported

Ah, good, the Japanese attackers have exhausted themselves with a foolish attack. Tomorrow every bomber I have in-theatre will hit these troops in order to prepare the way for my own ground attack. This should force these troops out of Tavoy and then we'll see whether or not Damian is willing to push the Hirohito Tank Division deeper into the jungle in pursuit of a counter-offensive or whether he is willing to accept his riposte of several of my tank brigades as being sufficient in and of itself.

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Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21073 troops, 329 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 955

Defending force 43161 troops, 640 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2208



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 56959 troops, 820 guns, 558 vehicles, Assault Value = 1448

Defending force 56027 troops, 954 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3532 troops, 36 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Defending force 4534 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 159



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25360 troops, 320 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 971

Defending force 26150 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1366



Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14264 troops, 88 guns, 479 vehicles, Assault Value = 453

Defending force 8310 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 327



Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30750 troops, 500 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1555

Defending force 35174 troops, 527 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 889


Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng [Thailand]

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14764 troops, 165 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 761

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 696 - adjusted assault: 350

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 350 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Rahaeng [Thailand] base !!!

With Rahaeng's capture the remainder of my troops on the way to Rahaeng can draw supply from Rahaeng itself and thus their pace will pick up. With a little time to rest and recover once they reach Rahaeng things should look good for an advance onto Pisanoluke before the end of the month... and from there to Bangkok.

In the Pacific 3 more Allied BBs are dispatched to the Aleutians. These ( and their escorting cruisers and DDs ) were held back to defend Hawaii from a Japanese counter-thrust. My assessment was that an amphibious invasion of Johnston and then Hawaii would have been an excellent counter-thrust to my invasion of the Aleutians. It wouldn't have been strategically decisive as capturing Hawaii would merely have forced me back into using the shipping channels exclusively BUT if tied in with a plan to invade Panama ( or even threaten its invasion ) then I would have been in serious trouble as I'd have had no way to shift forces from CONUSA to the rest of the world ( or vice versa ) anymore.

So, to guard against this the majority of my submarine fleet and a large portion of my surface fleet was deployed around Hawaii for the past month. Now that I have freed up the PP to buy the necessary infantry garrisons for Hawaii I am free to redeploy the fleet northward. What about Panama? Well, Panama is relatively strongly held ( it would take 5 divisions or so to capture it right now ) and even if it did fall so long as I held Hawaii I'd still be able to run forces from CONUSA to Oz etc by running south equidistant from Palmyra and Panama where only his CVs could hit me.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/15/42

Hmm, it seems he thinks he can hold me in the Aleutians. Normally I'd let him get stuck in just like the tar baby before showing him the error of his ways but I'm feeling generous. So, tomorrow the final phase of "Q The Winged Serpent" will commence tomorrow - more details of that anon.

Basically Damian is trying to fight me for the Aleutians by seeking to retake Attu Island. I doubt he'll manage to retake it but even if he does it isn't exactly the most essential piece of real estate in the world.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Attu Island [AK], at 91,35

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
CL Tatsuta
CL Isuzu
CL Saigon Maru
CA Furutaka
CA Suzuya
CA Kinugasa


Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Attu Island [AK], at 91,35

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

So, 1 BB and 4 CAs. Given that I will, soon, have 5 combat-ready BBs in the area and an equivalent number of CAs my surface fleet should now be sufficient to hold him.

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Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 87
TF 87 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 87
TF 87 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


112 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Hie Maru

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
Ki-48-I Lily x 45
Ki-48-II Lily x 27
Ki-21-II Sally x 52
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 131

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 41
Ki-27 Nate x 68
Ki-32 Mary x 54
Ki-48-I Lily x 51
Ki-48-II Lily x 46
Ki-21-II Sally x 34
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 160
Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 77
Ki-21-II Sally x 46

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 58

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Day Air attack on Adak Island [AK] , at 97,38

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 42
B-17E Fortress x 131

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed
Ki-57 Topsy: 5 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed
G5N2-L Liz: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

Not a lot of damage one but tomorrow I'll hit this base properly with significant numbers of dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 35th Ind Inf Brigade, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 46
Beaufort VII x 33
Spitfire VB x 7
I-16 Type 24 x 8
IL-4C x 26


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 35th Ind Inf Brigade, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 43
SB-2M x 152


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 35th Ind Inf Brigade, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 35th Ind Inf Brigade, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 10
Hudson IV x 22
Wellington IC x 46


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 35th Ind Inf Brigade, at 28,37

LOTS of softening up going on here.


Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 60
Wellington IC x 24


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on IJN Southern AA Regiment, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
Buffalo/F2A x 107

RAF pilot experience is slowly climbing here. Soon enough I'll be ready to swap my Buffalos for Spiftires and send the 70+ Exp pilots back into combat.


No Allied losses

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Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 12
Ki-32 Mary x 9

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA Imperial Guards Division, at 35,32


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 70


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 109,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AGP Poolster, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 35,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54053 troops, 790 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 1508

Defending force 46136 troops, 640 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 2321



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 179225 troops, 2240 guns, 1165 vehicles, Assault Value = 4255

Defending force 73584 troops, 1076 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 2066



Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 74597 troops, 823 guns, 793 vehicles, Assault Value = 2002

Defending force 56374 troops, 1189 guns, 367 vehicles, Assault Value = 2168



Allied ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Sinyang [Cent China]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 71271 troops, 994 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 1806

Defending force 55 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese max assault: 1969 - adjusted assault: 5991

Allied max defense: 2 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 5991 to 1

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21076 troops, 329 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 954

Defending force 43228 troops, 644 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2210



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57426 troops, 828 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1467

Defending force 56085 troops, 962 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3601 troops, 37 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 4542 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25452 troops, 321 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 975

Defending force 26155 troops, 265 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1366



Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31308 troops, 458 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 887

Defending force 32633 troops, 500 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1559



Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14349 troops, 90 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Defending force 8335 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 327



Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30569 troops, 490 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1549

Defending force 35130 troops, 526 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 887



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy [Burma]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6007 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 265

Defending force 7042 troops, 85 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Allied max assault: 510 - adjusted assault: 672

Japanese max defense: 121 - adjusted defense: 77

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
416 casualties reported
Guns lost 30

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

2 enemy Brigades are pushed out of Tavoy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Attu Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3493 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Defending force 838 troops, 6 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 35



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Padang [Sumatra]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 654 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 799 troops, 15 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Japanese max assault: 42 - adjusted assault: 8

Allied max defense: 8 - adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

This is an attempted Japanese paraborne assault. It doesn't have the numbers to succeed yet though.




In the main news of the day I've decided to give Damian a nudge in the right direction by launching the next phase of operations before he gets too stuck in the Aleutians to ever react. With this in mind the 1st USMC Para Bn is going to drop onto 5 unoccupied ( well, they were at last check anyways ) little islets running from Petropavlovsk to the Home Islands ---- these landings are purely for annoyance sake and to help cause Damian to come up with an inappropriate response --- while the 2nd USMC Para Bn is going to drop on the Sakhalin islands. I've identified a base there at Ohka which the enemy doesn't seem to have garrisoned at all ( I haven't reconned it openly but I have kept a sub or two on station there without ever spotting any shipping coming or going or any ground units and I've had some floatplanes basing out of nearby bases which have also failed to spot any signs of life ) and so I'm going to try to capture it. If I can take it then I can fly in engineers and troops, build it up and really begin bombing Manchuria and the extreme northern portions of the Home Islands.

In the longer term with Petropavlovsk neutered by bombing raids and the Kurile islands housing floatplane squadrons which can gie me warning of an IJN naval sally I ought to be able to bring in enough supplies and reinforcements to threaten to take the whole of the Sakhalin Islands in short order.

Obviously it would be better to do this only once Damian was fully committed to a wasteful battle in the Western Aleutians but I think he deserves a bit of a hint at this stage. He really needs to cut and run at this stage or he's going to find his entire position dislocated by a vertical envelopment.

In short, they don't help free up the 2,000 AV of Allied troops at Manilla and without those troops Damian is going to be hard-pressed to create a mobile reserve.

I take it you mean 2,000 AV of IJA troops. (Someone may be playing the Allies, but my guess is his heart's in Tokyo . . .[;)])

Harlock,

LOL! Guilty as charged [:D]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/16/42

The Japs have a good day today but that was expected when giving the orders. I also F'ed up pretty badly in my orders and, in my rush, broke a rule I'd forgotten about. I thought we had ruled that so long as each airdrop was supported by a squadron then it was OK but Damian feels that it was 1 ground unit per target. That's one reason I hate rules, I always forget the bloody things.

Anyways, the landing on Ohka is OK but the splitting of one of the USMC Para Bns between 5 different islands ( each portion being carried by a different squadron ) isn't kosher. So, I've offered to hold off all future paraborne landings for 3 days as that would be the same time it would take 2 Para Bns to hit 6 targets. Hopefully that's OK with Damian.

I hate finicky rules though, I always forget the damned things... I might actually print out a rules list and pin it up beside the computer, that would solve the problem. So, hopefully Damian is understanding about this. It is, after all, just a few paradrops on unoccupied islands when push comes to shove.

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Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 23
TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


Japanese ground losses:
218 casualties reported

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Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 87
TF 87 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

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Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


359 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Mitsu Maru #3
AP Heizan Maru, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
977 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Attu Island [AK], at 91,35

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamashiro
CA Chikuma
CA Mikuma
CA Tone


Allied ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 23
TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


46 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Oridono Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi [Tonkin] , at 36,37

This predictable east-west drift of bombing raids continues. It wasn't aided by the fact that I could see a big red plane icon in his west-most airbase just 4 hexes from Hanoi. Since I'm shifting planes eastward in order to provide CAP for Ohka anyway I decided to try to hit this raid en masse. It didn't go brilliantly but it wasn't too bad either.

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 32
Ki-32 Mary x 90

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 10
Kittyhawk I x 30
Lancer x 7
Spitfire VB x 7
LaGG-3 x 15
MiG-3 x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44IIa Tojo: 8 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 31 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
Spitfire VB: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
LaGG-3: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
MiG-3: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Resources hits 27

The Tojos did excellently shooting down twice what they lost while the Ki-32s got butchered. Many resources were hit but that's not really all that much of an issue at this stage given that by the time these resource losses bite the Allies will have opened a land route to India via Vietnam and Thailand.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 20
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
Ki-48-I Lily x 43
Ki-48-II Lily x 37
Ki-21-II Sally x 52
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 114

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 40
Ki-27 Nate x 50
Ki-32 Mary x 57
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-48-II Lily x 45
Ki-21-II Sally x 34
Ki-49 -I Helen x 6
Ki-15II Babs x 6
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 215
Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 86
Ki-21-II Sally x 48

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 136

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on San Jose [Mindoro] , at 42,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 27

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adak Island [AK] , at 97,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 132

Ouch, a MUCH stronger CAP than I had expected. This is going to hurt me as I was budgeting for running into 60 to 80 Zeroes and I don't think my escorts have the punch to fight through more than that. My bombers are about to get mauled.... not the B-17s though, they are going to be just fine [8D]

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 41
B-17E Fortress x 123

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
G5N2-L Liz: 1 destroyed
Ki-57 Topsy: 4 destroyed
H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 2nd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 34
Beaufort VII x 27
IL-4C x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 2nd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 28
SB-2M x 82


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJN Southern AA Regiment, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
Buffalo/F2A x 106


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA Hirohito Tank Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 12
SB-2M x 44


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on RTA 3rd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 14
Beaufort VII x 7
IL-4C x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on RTA 4th Division, at 35,32


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 69


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adak Island [AK] , at 97,38

122 Zeroes rise to oppose 115 Allied fighters and 362 bombers. My rule of thumb is that if I want the bombers to be untouched I need to send in twice as many escorts as there are defending fighters. This math would allow about 60 fighters into my bomber streams and that is going to be a massacre.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 122

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 61
A-24 Dauntless x 12
F-4 Lightning x 1
P-38G Lightning x 17
P-43A Lancer x 24
Mosquito NF x 4
Kittyhawk I x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 243
TBM-1 Avenger x 107

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 59 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-57 Topsy: 15 destroyed
H8K2 Emily: 2 destroyed
G5N2-L Liz: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 56 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 9 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 22 destroyed
Mosquito NF: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 8 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 78 destroyed, 10 damaged
TBM-1 Avenger: 33 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 115

Hmm, it wasn't that bad actually. I lost 98 out of 115 fighters and 114 out of 326 bombers and managed to hit the airbase pretty hard. Will it close it tomorrow? I doubt it but it won't be able to take more than another 2 days of such strikes and I have enough planes and pilots to make those 2 days of strikes ( JUST ).

Why do I need to close Adak so badly? Well, I want to be able to dash past it to launch a surprise raid on another Japanese holding in the Aleutians which I've not hit yet but which will open up the entire region. A lot will depend on his fleet movements as I don't want to lose dozens of DDs to no gain but if the opening shows itself I'll take it. The troops are already loaded after all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 35,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54116 troops, 793 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1508

Defending force 46261 troops, 644 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 2334



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 180918 troops, 2274 guns, 1171 vehicles, Assault Value = 4251

Defending force 73730 troops, 1085 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 2068



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 76045 troops, 840 guns, 826 vehicles, Assault Value = 2024

Defending force 56139 troops, 1189 guns, 365 vehicles, Assault Value = 2157

Japanese max assault: 1910 - adjusted assault: 2793

Allied max defense: 2114 - adjusted defense: 5241

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
4958 casualties reported
Guns lost 68
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Guns lost 22


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21094 troops, 331 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 954

Defending force 43259 troops, 645 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2214



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57640 troops, 830 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1481

Defending force 56049 troops, 961 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2759



Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3630 troops, 39 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Defending force 4573 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25520 troops, 325 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 975

Defending force 26213 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1371



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31326 troops, 460 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 888

Defending force 32340 troops, 491 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1543



Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Guns lost 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14375 troops, 90 guns, 483 vehicles, Assault Value = 459

Defending force 8273 troops, 121 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 325



Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hailar [Manchukuo]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8734 troops, 113 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Defending force 133575 troops, 1989 guns, 487 vehicles, Assault Value = 3379

Allied max assault: 156 - adjusted assault: 0

Japanese max defense: 3421 - adjusted defense: 15949

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)



Allied ground losses:
1865 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 1

I didn't order this attack. This is weird.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30348 troops, 479 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1539

Defending force 35162 troops, 530 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 888



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Attu Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3166 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Defending force 9246 troops, 101 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 266



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Okha [Sakhalin I]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 286 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 14 - adjusted assault: 3

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Okha [Sakhalin I] base !!!

15 AV is 1/3rd of a Bn and as much as 6 squadrons of Catalinas could transport. With it I've captured my first foothold in the Sakhalin Islands and now have a distinctly threatening Level 2 airfield from which to threaten Northern Japan.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Etorofu [Japan]

The first of the annoyance paradrops - only one of which was legal according to the rules, damn, damn, damn. Must print out rules !!! [:(]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 79 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 1917 troops, 17 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied max assault: 6 - adjusted assault: 1

Japanese max defense: 4 - adjusted defense: 16

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Uruppu Jima [JP]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 79 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 12 - adjusted assault: 3

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Uruppu Jima [JP] base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Shimushiri Jima [JP]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 86 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 10 - adjusted assault: 3

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Shimushiri Jima [JP] base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ketoi Jima [Japan]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 31 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Defending force 3395 troops, 24 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Allied max assault: 4 - adjusted assault: 0

Japanese max defense: 21 - adjusted defense: 31

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)



Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


So, 3 illegal paradrops occurred. So a 2 day halt to further paraborne drops seems fair to me. Hopefully Damian sees it that way.

In the air I've lost 100 planes more than him but I think I've pretty well plastered Adak. I won't have closed it for CAP but I should have limited its ability to project power through the basing of strikegroups ( which was my aim all along ). So, mission accomplished, I think .


Now let's look at his situation... He can either continue trying to fight for the Aleutians in the knowledge that every day he is fighting and bleeding in the Aleutians is another day in which my forces will be flying reinforcements into Ohka by air and securing it against his eventual counter-attack OR he can leave the Aleutians, gather as many troops as he can and re-invade Ohka ASAP.

Either really suits me as whichever he chooses to do it is likely that I can still eke out a victory in both but , more importantly, whichever he chooses gives me a nice, easy, cheap victory in one of these areas. If he crushes Ohka ASAP then the Aleutians will be denuded and should fall quickly. If he fights in the Aleutians then it is unlikely he'll ever be able to take Ohka.

The first of the annoyance paradrops - only one of which was legal according to the rules, damn, damn, damn. Must print out rules !!!

"The palest ink is better than the best memory."

-- Chinese proverb

There appear to be some very large air battles. Do you two opponents have any stacking limits for a/c at airfields?

Harlock, true, very true. Is that a real quotation? If so it is very apt.


Khyberbill,
Well you have to remember that oftentimes you are seeing raids from multiple airbases going in together. So you may have 600 planes over the enemy field but they might be from 2 x Level 5 airfield.

BUT no we have no rules banning over-stacking. In all but the absolutely most crucial situations ( when protecting a newly captured base ) I take extreme pains not to over-stack. E.g. Not a single one of my Indian/Burmese etc bases is over-stacked... EXCEPT when the only choice is between over-stacking and not mounting enough CAP.

My view is that overstacking is already penalised with a smaller and smaller % of planes flying the more you overstack such that a small amount of over-stacking is good but massive over-stacking is actually counter-productive --- except in one VERY sneaky situation.

Let's say you are flying raids against a base which is strongly defended... e.g. Adak. If you send all your planes in on Day 1 you can be fairly sure that the enemy fighters will butcher them BUT if you can hold back a good % of planes from Day 1 and only launch them on Day 2 then you can have fresh planes going in on Day 2 which are unfatigued and have good morale. In this situation overstacking works for you in keeping a significant % of planes grounded on Day 1 such that over the course of 2 days the over-stacking results in a smaller number of bombs on Day 1 but a LARGER aggregate of bombs over the 2 days.

Sneaky but effective. The number of planes shot down isn't the determinant but the preservation of morale through grounding is.


One other thing I should state is that I consider it unfair to have stacking agreements for land bases but then have none for sea hexes. All that accomplishes is a situation in which KB is unchallengeable for 12 months and then 12 months after that the USN is untouchable.

So, stacking limits for land AND sea or stacking limits for none. Either is acceptable to me but stacking limits for the ground but not the sea isn't.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/17/42

Now that the enemy reserves have been drawn into a battle for a Level 1 airfield ( Attu Island ) it is time to strike at the real centre of gravity in the Western Aleutians ( at this phase ) and attack the Level FOUR airfield ( which can be built to Level EIGHT ) at Amchitka. By capturing it I will be able to base my B-26s, Beauforts etc there from Day 1 and create a 480 mile zone into which it would not be sensible for the Japanese to venture.

With Ohka being threatened the enemy reserves will have to run there with the effect that:
a) my capture of Amchitka will be contested only with LRCAP ( Damian will assume I'm flying reinforcements in but my plan is actually somewhat different )
b) Attu Island can easily be bombed back into the stone age and recaptured at my leisure in order to provide a base for LRCAP of convoys to Petropavlovsk,
c) Adak Island is now a deathtrap. Whatever Japanese forces remain there can only be removed by barge now --- and that's why we invented the P-39 [8D]


Will I lose Ohka? Possibly but with deep reserves of Dakotas and over 100 being available to fly troops into Sovyetskaya Gavan and then onto Ohka I would expect to find a division of Soviet troops on Ohka in the not too distant future and that ought to prevent anything but a properly prepared invasion from succeeding --- and I doubt any knee-jerk invasion with free forces from the Aleutians will be properly prepared.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 23
TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Amchitka Island [AK], 94,37, firing at TF 1025
TF 1025 troops unloading over beach at Amchitka Island [AK], 94,37


343 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Balch, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Henley
DD Maury, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Preston, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tucker, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Phelps, Shell hits 3, heavy damage
DD Nizam
DD Mugford, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Gridley, Shell hits 2
DD Sterett, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
838 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Attu Island [AK], 91,35, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Attu Island [AK], 91,35


27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 81

In 2 days they will meet Soviet fighters over Ohka. Until then my forces must persevere

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kan Hsien [C China] , at 45,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 17

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Victoria Point [BMA] , at 25,39


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 48
SB-2M x 172


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 132

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
Ki-48-I Lily x 52
Ki-48-II Lily x 42
Ki-21-II Sally x 52
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 2 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 destroyed

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 122

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 41
Ki-27 Nate x 46
Ki-32 Mary x 53
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-48-II Lily x 34
Ki-21-II Sally x 34
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 219

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on San Jose [Mindoro] , at 42,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 28

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adak Island [AK] , at 97,38


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 81
F-4 Lightning x 3
P-43A Lancer x 34
Mosquito NF x 8
Blenheim IV x 6
Kittyhawk I x 10


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adak Island [AK] , at 97,38


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 44
B-17E Fortress x 122

Tomorrow these forces will move to Umnak - which is now a Level 5 airfield - and begin the reduction of Petropavlovsk. At this point in time the Aleutians have been pretyt much dismembered and can no longer provide even a slight LBA threat to my forces.... Excellent training opportunities for newly-arrived USAAF squadrons await.


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amchitka Island [AK] , at 94,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 5

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Gees, outnumberd 4 to 1 and they still shoot down a P-38. Those are some lucky Zero pilots.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Attu Island [AK] , at 91,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 5
D3A2 Val x 11
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 3

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Attu Island [AK] , at 91,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 13

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 2nd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 128
IL-2M Shturmovik x 54


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 2nd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 34
Beaufort VII x 16
IL-4C x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJN Southern AA Regiment, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
Buffalo/F2A x 108


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on RTA 3rd Division, at 29,37


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 16
Beaufort VII x 14
IL-4C x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 12
Ki-32 Mary x 9

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 32

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 12

No Japanese losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 81st Field Army , at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 6

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 95,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 39
B5N2 Kate x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Maury, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hughes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mugford, on fire
DD Shaw
DD Preston, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sterett, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Wilson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Perkins, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Helm
DD Mahan
DD Tucker, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 95,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 20
B5N2 Kate x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Mugford, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Benham
DD Nizam
DD Tucker, on fire, heavy damage
DD Balch
DD Sterett, on fire, heavy damage
DD Downes
DD Ralph Talbot, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fanning, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Perkins, on fire, heavy damage

KB was closer than I had expected. So the plan to get in and out without any loss is scuppered but, still, getting in and out with a half-dozen DDs sunk and another half-dozen damaged isn't too shabby at all given what I'm just about to capture.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Etorofu [Japan]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1887 troops, 16 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 59 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Japanese max assault: 4 - adjusted assault: 6

Allied max defense: 2 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 35,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54161 troops, 790 guns, 261 vehicles, Assault Value = 1510

Defending force 46240 troops, 645 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 2330



Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 182312 troops, 2312 guns, 1173 vehicles, Assault Value = 4302

Defending force 67951 troops, 1087 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 2070



Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 68517 troops, 748 guns, 757 vehicles, Assault Value = 1757

Defending force 55422 troops, 1165 guns, 364 vehicles, Assault Value = 2133



Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21082 troops, 329 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 954

Defending force 43261 troops, 642 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2213



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57906 troops, 838 guns, 565 vehicles, Assault Value = 1488

Defending force 56008 troops, 961 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2756



Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3675 troops, 40 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Defending force 4576 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25555 troops, 326 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 976

Defending force 26266 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1371



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31343 troops, 460 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 889

Defending force 32237 troops, 478 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1543



Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14331 troops, 90 guns, 481 vehicles, Assault Value = 729

Defending force 8249 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Attu Island [AK]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9969 troops, 127 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 277

Defending force 4010 troops, 69 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Japanese max assault: 416 - adjusted assault: 215

Allied max defense: 67 - adjusted defense: 37

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Attu Island [AK] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
4975 casualties reported
Guns lost 72

The 15th Canadian Bde is sacrificed to the strategic imperative of misdirection. Its loss saves multiple divisions from being wrecked in an opposed landing at Amchitka so it serves an extremely useful purpose. I'll spare everyone from banging on about the need to suborn the tactical and operational levels to the strategic and, occasionally, accept what seem to be significant defeats on the tactical level in order to win a strategic victory... One example of this would be the 250 planes I lost over Adak a couple of turns ago... Sure those losses hurt me BUT they closed the airfield the day before my DDs took up position 60 miles north of it in order to sprint into Amchitka. The tactical cost was well worth the operational and strategic advantage. Anyways, more of that anon.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Amchitka Island [AK]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 898 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 2830 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 76

Well, there's no way they can hold out against these odds.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30197 troops, 469 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1531

Defending force 35144 troops, 528 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 889


Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Soon you will be able to start the strategic bombing of northern Japan and his shortage of fighters will become even more pronounced.  Does he defend his HI/Oil/Resources from B-24/B-19 or does he try to keep his forward bases CAP?? He is getting into trouble quickly up north. [:D] 

Aye, and don't forget the timeline either.... This operation has been designed around the date of 1st September ( which is when the enemy ability to counter-invade will collapse due to the "cold weather" rule ). I will be in good positions by 1st September and his ability to counter-invade will be almost nil for about 6 months. In those 6 months the game will be decided.

I'm considering giving him a couple of weeks to recover etc. He gave me a 10 day ceasefire when I started and it might do him good to give him 10 days to re-evaluate, plan etc....  I know someone whom I think would be able to give a very good strategic grasp of things but I'm not sure if he'd feel comfortable giving Damian a strategic viewpoint. I hope he is though. I think Damian is playing well tactically and operationally now but strategically his situation is poor and he needs to just prioritise things perfectly - right now his strategic moves really aren't bad BUT I don't think he is prioritising things properly and thus I'm able to continually misdirect him and hit him where he isn't expecting. There isn't really a margin for error anymore ( as there is in most games ) as I have created a few weaknesses and amn't about to stop hitting those weaknesses now.

What have you been doing with those 120 subs I left you??

What have you done with the Russian Navy?? This is one of the few games that they are active this early. Their DDs have short legs, but seem to have some good equipment on them.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

In those 6 months the game will be decided.

You mean it isn't decided already?[;)]

Concerning the quotation: it is an actual Chinese proverb, but no one really knows who said it first. (Some credit it to Confucius, but there is no real evidence.)

Well, to be honest I think this one could play out for another 6 months given the current situation but the end-point is pretty much assured.
 
That's why I have offered a ceasefire till 2nd August to Damian. My proposal is as follows:
 
1. Ceasefire till 2nd August ( meaning we can give combat orders on the 1st August orders phase ).
 
2. Sub minelaying missions, sub patrol, recon and naval search missions can continue ( these can continue because they don't run the risk of major losses to either side.
 
3. Movement of troops by land, sea and air can continue. Does this mean I can fly small units of troops into Sovyetskaya and Ohka? Yes but it also means that Damian will be able to shift thousands of AV from Pacific bases or Manilla or whatever to elsewhere. E.g. He only needs 800 AV to hold me at Manilla. So, he could free 1200 AV right there. If he did the same in a couple of other places he could quickly gather 3,000 AV and consider a conventional amphibious assault on Ohka whilst leaving enough to garrison the Kuriles etc. He would also be allowed to evacuate his garrisons from the Aleutian islands I've already cut off. I'm not sure but I think I have trapped about 500 AV of troops in those islands also.
 
4. Ships and plane groups could also be moved to where they can be of best use.
 
5. What this would also allow is Damian to build up a significant pool of planes and PP. He gets PP 125 per day so 12 days or so would get him about 1400 PP on top of what he already has. that's an IJA division OR a LOT of engineer and CD and BF units for the Kuriles...  I think he's making about 500 fighters per month ( 200 Zeroes and about 150 Tojos and Mikes ) and so he should be able to build up a pool of about 250 fighters and maybe 200 bombers. That'll help him replenish his airgroups. It'll also allow him to finish off some pilot training ( which he has going on in China etc ) and "graduate" those pilots. In addition he'll get 180 pilots from his off-map pilot replacement programme.
 
I'm certain that with such a clear objective as Ohka to aim at and 450 to 500 new first-rate planes and trained/graduated pilots to aim at it with PLUS the chance to organise and repair his fleet and transport units PLUS the chance to get some useful advice from forum members ( I think Alfred might be willing to give him some advice and I can see AndyMac and pat.casey are also doing so on occasion ) that Damian could do a lot of useful work in the next 2 weeks.
 
Would he be facing a strengthened Ohka? Yes but he can't land there in force within the week and within the week Ohka will be strong enough to stand alone in any case. If he wants it he needs to prepare for that invasion by marshalling his fleet, his CVs and troops and that'll take the 10 days in any case so, really, he isn't losing anything. Do I think he'll take the ceasefire? Hmm, he should and I'm sure that's the advice he'll be given but I think Damian is pugnacious and will try to fight on as is.
 
I hope he takes the ceasefire though as it'll give him a chance to recover, really gain some perspective, get some strategic advice ( he could even send the game file out to people ), strengthen his position and settle in for a defensive fight --- which would bleed and slow me down tremendously allowing him to make a serious challenge of things again... and I only play to either test the mod or be challenged.
 
 
Hmm, OR, and I've just thought of this now, if I got a 12 day ceasefire we could swap sides and I could play on as Japan [:D]. Hmm, I might make him that offer.

Well, no news back from Damian. Currently he has two offers on the table:
1. A 12 day ceasefire - which will allow him to get lots of PP to buy troops from Manchuria, evacuate close to 2 divisions worth of trapped troops and redeploy his troops both to fortify the Kuriles ( which are exposed right now ), and recapture Manilla ( which he badly needs to do in order to free up an additional 2,000 AV ). I find it absolutely baffling that he isn't jumping at this chance. He's going to gain a LOT more from a 12 day ceasefire than I will but I'm not sure if he realises this.
 
2. I've offered to take over as Japan and swap sides but ONLY if there's a 12 day ceasefire. His position is currently pretty crap and he really needs those 12 days to create something viable.
 
Hell, even the fact that I'm insisting on those 12 days as Japan should give him a strong hint that he really, really needs to accept the ceasefire. Ah well, if he insists on turning down a quite generous offer then it isn't my place to correct him. Maybe he does see the benefits but just feels he should play it out? To be honest that's about the only reasonable explanation I can come up with.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/18/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island [AK] at 97,38

Surface raiding commences on the day that several PT TFs are formed and begin moving forward to provide anti-bombardment coer for forward bases.

Japanese Ships
AP Nati Maru
AP Nishiki Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AP Ryohu Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Sumire Maru, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Louisville
CA Chicago
CA New Orleans
CA Vincennes
CL Trenton
DD Dewey
DD Hull

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Padang [Sumatra], 18,51, firing at TF 75
TF 75 troops unloading over beach at Padang [Sumatra], 18,51

Clearance of bases I could use to leap forward from continues. This is a good thing but too late.


552 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 31, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nihonkai Maru
PC Ch 29, Shell hits 3
APD Akikaze
AP Kikuryu Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Kidokawa Maru, Shell hits 1
PC Ch 27
AP Anrugu Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Niitaka Maru, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
1189 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
AK Tarushima Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
AK Kumagawa Maru

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus, hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

My Pe-2s didn't fly but his fombers had no such problem. Damn !!!

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 5 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 6
Ki-27 Nate x 30
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 83

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 60

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kan Hsien [C China] , at 45,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 17

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pisanuloke [THAI] , at 31,37


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 47
SB-2M x 173


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 119

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
Ki-48-I Lily x 51
Ki-48-II Lily x 42
Ki-21-II Sally x 45
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 155

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 41
Ki-27 Nate x 38
Ki-32 Mary x 57
Ki-48-I Lily x 53
Ki-48-II Lily x 37
Ki-21-II Sally x 34
Ki-49 -I Helen x 11
Ki-15II Babs x 6
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 202
Port hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 72
Ki-21-II Sally x 48

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 98

Hmm, it looks like he really wants Manilla. Bettys and front-line twin-engined bombers are now being committed in numbers to reducing Manilla. I think though that this is an error. Right now, and until the situation stabilises, he should realise that he can prevent me breaking out from Manilla with just 500 AV ( thanks to the urban combat modifier ) and this would allow him to INSTANTLY find 1,500 AV.

With that 1500 AV he could massively increase the number of troops I am facing along the Northern axis.... At present I think there are about 300 AV trapped at Adak, 200 AV just having recaptured the island eat of Petropavlovsk and 100 AV or so at Petropavlovsk. So, he has 300 AV with which to resist me right now ( although I am sure he is flying troops into Petropavlovsk from Adak ) but could, within a fortnight, and WITHOUT EXPENDING A SINGLE PP increase that to 1800 AV, a sextupling of his effective strength.

But I think that Damian isn't as focussed on efficiency as I am. At several points of contact I have managed to get him to commit far in excess of the minimum force required to hold my troops in place and each instance of this inefficiency has robbed him of AV with which to resist my speartip. I know he talks about being short of PP but a very rough count shows me that the following forces assigned to Southern Area Army could be redeployed from where they currently are without, in any way, risking the front.

1. 200 AV from Manchuria = He has deployed his Parachute Division here and absolutely doesn't need it here anymore. Two days after I landed at Ohka he should have, no matter the cost, conducted a divisional drop onto Ohka. Why two days? Day 1 to transport a regiment from the division to a coastal hex and Day 2 for seaplanes to transport it from the coastal hex ( and land transports, G5Ns and Ki-264 Ls to transport it from the land base ) to Ohka.

2. 1500 AV is wasted at Manilla. He should have either 3,500 AV at Manilla or 500 AV. 3,500 would allow him to capture it, 500 is sufficient to threaten it. Any number in between is too little to take it and far in excess of what is required to pin me. Highly inefficient.

3. Canton. He needs 500 AV there, he has just under 1,000 AV

4. Bangkok. He has deployed 400 AV inefficiently in a manner which allows me to cut it off and run it out of its blocking position without ever having to fight it. So that 400 AV might as well not be there.

So, I've IDed 2,600 AV which is DEFINITELY assigned to the SRA which he could have in his reserves and on board ship on their way to either the northern axis or some diversionary offensive somewhere. If I can ID 2,600 AV which I KNOW are assigned to SRA due to their locations ( or the fact that they arrived in China by ship ) then you can bet that there will be several hundred AV more out there which are also assigned to SRA but aren't necessary to hold the front.

So, I think he has the potential to create reserves but isn't identifying those potential reserves. As a player I always, ALWAYS look at every point of contact and ask myself if I'm attacking or defending. If I'm defending then I calculate the minimum force required to continue holding, apply a slight fudge factor just to be on the safe side ( the more crucial that I hold the greater the margin of safety I apply ) and then pull out any troops in excess of this minimum. If you do that at 5 points of contact and at each one you can pull back 2 divisions then by the end of the day you've got 10 divisions ( or about 3,000 AV ) which can be concentrated somewhere and win you a great victory.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on San Jose [Mindoro] , at 42,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 27

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 20th Ind Engineer Regiment, at 31,37


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 126
IL-2M Shturmovik x 52


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 36th Division, at 51,29


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 46
LaGG-3 x 12


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 3rd Tank Brigade, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 6
Buffalo/F2A x 106
Vildebeest IV x 15
TBM-1 Avenger x 6

Training. A few of my Buffalo pilots are now in the 70 Exp range and will, soon, begin transitioning to Spitfires. Then, for the first time ever, I'll have multiple Spitfire squadrons with 70 Exp pilots going into action. I think that should prove pretty difficult to beat.


Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo/F2A: 1 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Red 22nd Group Army , at 51,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 10
Ki-48-II Lily x 4

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 3

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 32

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 81st Field Army , at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 2
Ki-32 Mary x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 35,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54263 troops, 795 guns, 260 vehicles, Assault Value = 1512

Defending force 46357 troops, 649 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 2333



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 183782 troops, 2357 guns, 1176 vehicles, Assault Value = 4349

Not nearly enough to take Skorovodino but 2,000 AV more than he needs to defend against a surprise attack from me. I'm sure that at least some of the troops here are assigned to the SRA and so could withdraw and ship out to the front.

Defending force 66823 troops, 1085 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 2071

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 69546 troops, 764 guns, 759 vehicles, Assault Value = 1805

Defending force 55364 troops, 1168 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 2135



Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21083 troops, 329 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 954

Defending force 43283 troops, 643 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2218



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 58197 troops, 848 guns, 566 vehicles, Assault Value = 1499

Defending force 55996 troops, 960 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 2761



Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3715 troops, 39 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 124

Defending force 4628 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25648 troops, 329 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 978

Defending force 26267 troops, 267 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1370



Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31290 troops, 457 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 888

Defending force 32056 troops, 473 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1534



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14351 troops, 89 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 735

Defending force 8219 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 325



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Amchitka Island [AK]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 905 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 2866 troops, 115 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30201 troops, 472 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1533

Defending force 35111 troops, 526 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 888



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Amchitka Island [AK]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2855 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Defending force 2022 troops, 30 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied max assault: 118 - adjusted assault: 91

Japanese max defense: 2 - adjusted defense: 8

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Amchitka Island [AK] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

This is the end of the Aleutians. Next stop Petropavlovsk.

With my Avengers and Dauntlesses now forward-deployed to Amchitka preventing sea evacuation of Addak and my B-17s operating at full capacity from Umnak it is only a short matter of time before Petropavlovsk is utterly closed to the enemy and the march down the Kuriles or into Sakhalin really gathers pace.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Padang [Sumatra]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 755 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 5942 troops, 77 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/19/42

Happy Birthday to ME !!!! [:D] [:D] Well, a few decades early but the date is right. In the war things went fairly well actually today.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Padang [Sumatra], 18,51, firing at TF 75
TF 75 troops unloading over beach at Padang [Sumatra], 18,51


138 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
APD Akikaze
AP Miyako Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Kyuden Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Michiyu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Bacolod/Iloilo [PH], 43,56, firing at TF 58
TF 58 troops unloading over beach at Bacolod/Iloilo [PH], 43,56


6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Bacolod/Iloilo [PH], 43,56, firing at TF 58
TF 58 troops unloading over beach at Bacolod/Iloilo [PH], 43,56


Japanese Ships
AK Maebasi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 60
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
P-39Q Airacobra x 24
LaGG-3 x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39Q Airacobra: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 14 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 8

So, losses heavy on both sides but the Soviet forces have major reserves building up. Why not commit them entirely now and crush 1 raid? Simple, if I do that the enemy will decide not to face me and over the course of the next fortnight the total number of Japanese pilots and planes killed and destroyed will be lower than if I accept a lower RATE of loss per diem.

It should also be noted that most of my pilots survived while his 21 pilots almost certainly didn't.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
P-39Q Airacobra x 21
LaGG-3 x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39Q Airacobra: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10

Allied aircraft
P-39Q Airacobra x 20
LaGG-3 x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39Q Airacobra: 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 1

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 31
Ki-264 Angel x 21

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 44

I don't want to put fighters into Okha right now as that airfield is just too fragile and I don't have enough troops on the ground to secure it or repair it.

Magadan, on the other hand, a Siberian base about 10 hexes north-east of Okha provides a wonderful place for my B-25s, A-20s, Avengers and F4F4s to base out of and harry the inevitable IJN counter-invasion attempt.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pisanuloke [THAI] , at 31,37


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 46
SB-2M x 164


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 1 damaged
SB-2M: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 103

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang [Timor] , at 29,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 21
Ki-48-I Lily x 49
Ki-48-II Lily x 38
Ki-21-II Sally x 42
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 92

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 41
Ki-27 Nate x 61
Ki-32 Mary x 57
Ki-48-I Lily x 53
Ki-48-II Lily x 37
Ki-21-II Sally x 35
Ki-49 -I Helen x 12
Ki-15II Babs x 6
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 159
Port hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on San Jose [Mindoro] , at 42,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 28

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJN Southern AA Regiment, at 32,33


Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 5
Buffalo/F2A x 113
Vildebeest IV x 12
TBM-1 Avenger x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo/F2A: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 35th Field Army , at 54,25

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 31

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC Manchuria Adv Corps, at 55,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 17

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA Imperial Guards Division, at 35,32


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 37
B-25D Mitchell x 56


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Soon these B-25s will be shifted to the Soviet Union to base out of Magadan, Sovyetskaya Gavan and Okha from which they will try to gain aerial superiority over the Sakhalins and begin creeping an aerial offensive southward over Japan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 184809 troops, 2394 guns, 1175 vehicles, Assault Value = 4375

Defending force 65597 troops, 1063 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 2076



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 70416 troops, 773 guns, 759 vehicles, Assault Value = 1850

Defending force 55168 troops, 1160 guns, 357 vehicles, Assault Value = 2132



Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21152 troops, 330 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 957

Defending force 43264 troops, 639 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 2220



Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at 46,37

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 58528 troops, 858 guns, 568 vehicles, Assault Value = 1505

Defending force 55991 troops, 961 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 2763



Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 48,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3727 troops, 41 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 124

Defending force 4622 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163



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Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25709 troops, 329 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 983

Defending force 26232 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1367


Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31263 troops, 455 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 890

Defending force 32044 troops, 475 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1530



Allied ground losses:
370 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 2


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Ground combat at Arshaan [Manchukuo]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30298 troops, 150 guns, 1073 vehicles, Assault Value = 734

Defending force 8208 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 323

Japanese max assault: 762 - adjusted assault: 685

Allied max defense: 337 - adjusted defense: 107

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
716 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
373 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Good, this frees up IJA troops. now, where will he use them?

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Ground combat at Padang [Sumatra]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5907 troops, 75 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 747 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese max assault: 193 - adjusted assault: 104

Allied max defense: 6 - adjusted defense: 25

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Padang [Sumatra] base !!!

Allied ground losses:
776 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Padang falls but it is also, at this point, almost an irrelevance.

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Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29665 troops, 457 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1494

Defending force 35084 troops, 524 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 890


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Bacolod/Iloilo [PH]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Defending force 919 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 47


Tomorrow I'm going to show him with long-range bombers do to shipping. It is time to make him begin thinking of LRCAPing convoys.... and then when he starts doing that those self-same long range bombers will begin hitting his OIL --- which he should ignore as OIL hits won't be vital in the timeframe left in this game... But I expect he'll defend his OIL and then I'll go after the real fulcrum of his economy --- and, no, I won't be telling you what those targets are as there are only a few of them and I shouldn't need more than 3 or 4 days of attacks to cripple him.... but not right now... Now is the time to begin forcing him to over-extend again and setting him up for a rather critical blow.


In other news Damian has decided to play on and not accept the ceasefire which is a very honourable decision albeit that I think the ceasefire would have benefitted him more than I. He has also shown a willingness to "come back" once the game finishes and have me take over as Japan... I'm thinking that 1st July would be a good time to take over as it would allow me to fight back before the situation became truly hopeless. Any comments on this or suggestions for other start dates etc?