[font="Times New Roman"]June 25-26, 1944[/font]
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SUBS: [/font] Subs are moving into the Arakan coastline. Lets see if this changes the balance there.
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SW PAC: [/font] The Allies try a new sweep tactic at Hollandia. It works. A massive LR CAP over the base supports one sweeping mission. One of the keys to this working is the small sweep total means fighters are not scrambled, so the numbers game goes to the Allies.
Altogether the Allies got about 3:1 and reduced the repair gains we'd made in the past few days. Groups can replenish after 2-3 turns, but then will have to repair all of those planes too. An endless game within the game at this stage. I remember it well. Some things I will not do this game though include staying in base and putting CAP up when there is no real hope of defending the airspace. With good AA in hex, I'll take losses for a few days and then bug out to ensure groups can recover, let the bombers battle the AA for a few days.
I have a test response to this LR CAP single sweep mission though as well. Our HR (leftover from Torsten suggesting it) allows CAP to be set over 31k, but sweeps limited to 31k. This gives an obvious advantage to the defender. I use it rarely because I find the Low CAP to be so effective, but I knew it was an Ace in the hole for those moments I needed a respite and the Allies had figured out something new. So I set CAP for all fighters to 33k and the LR CAP plus sweep was much less effective. Some additional Georges at 31k set from Sarmi also tangled with a sweep by Thunderbolt I over Aitape and got even results. Very nice!
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BURMA: [/font] Brigades begin landing at Rangoon and a SCTF with two CAs is here to protect. It's lit up by search, but under heavy CAP, so we'll see if the Allies try anything. These brigades combine with three others in Burma to form mediocre divisions, but will be a good reserve to push into contested hexes once the Allies commit. Others are landing at Champion and railing to Chang Mai to counter the new threat of Chindits walking through the jungle.
A P-47 and Mustang sweep against Pisanoluke is surprisingly challenged by Oscars and Nicks on CAP there. They get about 1.5:1 but that's great for these defenders at this stage in the game. Our pilots are also floating down softly over friendly territory whereas the Allies are most likely not so lucky.
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CHINA: [/font] The Allies bomb Paoshan. The base had no damage after the turn though, so it was pretty ineffective. It's building toward level 6 first, and is a level 5 plus 78% now. If we can get to level 6 this will be tough to conquer with two divisions plus arty here. As long as supply continues to flow the mountains will not be an easy route for the hordes of Chinese to return home.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 25, 44
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Morning Air attack on Hollandia , at 93,116
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 41
J2M3 Jack x 22
N1K2-J George x 27
Ki-84a Frank x 22
Ki-100-I Tony x 72
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 22
P-38J Lightning x 91
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 23
F4U-1A Corsair x 48
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet *
CAP engaged:
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 11 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
221 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
S-316 Hikotai with J2M3 Jack (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
331 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 9 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
18th Sentai with Ki-100-I Tony (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36090.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
55th Sentai with Ki-100-I Tony (0 airborne, 20 on standby, 20 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
87th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 34440.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 26, 44
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Morning Air attack on Aitape , at 95,118
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 9
Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 2 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Thunderbolt I sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
Yokosuka Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
S-306 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Hollandia , at 93,116
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 20
J2M3 Jack x 20
N1K2-J George x 22
Ki-84a Frank x 29
Ki-100-I Tony x 58
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 19
P-38J Lightning x 66
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 59
F4U-1A Corsair x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
221 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
S-316 Hikotai with J2M3 Jack (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
18th Sentai with Ki-100-I Tony (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 36090.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
55th Sentai with Ki-100-I Tony (0 airborne, 19 on standby, 12 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
87th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 9 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 34440.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Pisanuloke , at 58,57
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 49
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 27
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 23
P-51A Mustang x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed
P-51A Mustang: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
31st Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 20 on standby, 20 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
45th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]As this shows CAP performed well on the 26th. A low losses even day right now is great. [/font]
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
