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ORIGINAL: House Stark

That's some carnage right there. Lesson learned for playing as Allies: If your going to make 100 ship TFs, don't put too many important ships in them. It seems that not only can these surface ships not fight right, but when there's so many ships that Japanese TFs can't miss. Also, did Tanaka survive the sinking of his flagship?

Beyond that, don't send in invasion TFs without one or more good Surface Combat TFs there to protect them.

Escort ships in AE are the same as fighters escorting bombers in AE - cannon fodder. (Whether things should be that way or not is a discussion for another venue...)

He had SC TFs covering them.... That's one reason so many of my TFs are so small. Small = stealthy and sneaky, which Japan needs to be in order to survive at this stage of the war.


Night Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,67, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Suruyate, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
DD Tadeyate
DD Hiyatori, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Howe, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB King George V, Shell hits 8
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA New Orleans
CL Achilles
CL Bermuda
CL Newfoundland
DD Leutze
DD Marshall
DD McCord
DD McDermut
DD McGowan
DD McKee
DD McNair
DD Melvin
DD Mertz
DD Murray
DD Newcomb
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon
DD Owen
DD Philip
DD Picking

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Naha at 95,66, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shii
DD Sumire
DD Enoki
DD Odake
DD Kaba
DD Yaezakura
DD Tochi
DD Kuzu
DD Hishi
DD Tawa
DD Hanekimo

Allied Ships
PT-137, Shell hits 2, on fire
PT-138, Shell hits 1
PT-143
PT-148
PT-151

This TF is a bombardment TF. I really, really needed to keep Naha closed come the morning and so I commited excessive force, just to be safe.

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Sub attack near Nago at 96,64

Japanese Ships
xAKL Nitiyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC CHa-64
SC CHa-59
SC CHa-53
SC CHa-48
xAKL Tohuku Maru
xAKL Tihuku Maru
xAKL Tainichi Maru
xAKL Nitian Maru
xAKL Nissyo Maru
SC CHa-72
SC CHa-71
SC CHa-70
SC CHa-69

Allied Ships
SS Haddo

My ASW efforts paid off today. Only 2 of the ships making for Naga were torpedoed. That's pretty good going for a committment of over 200 transports all of which have arrived at Naha today.

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Night Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 3,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 30



Allied aircraft
P-61C Black Widow x 2
F6F-5N Hellcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-61C Black Widow: 2 damaged
P-61C Black Widow: 1 destroyed on ground
Spitfire F.XIV: 1 destroyed on ground
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
SS Queenfish

Runway hits 2


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Night Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

More attacks designed to keep Naha closed and destroy all of the planes on the ground there. I really, really want to destroy those squadrons when I take Naha. Destroying those squadrons will really limit his ability to deploy all the fighters he gets, especially as I'm conducting deep battle missions aimed at Manilla, Guam/Saipan and PH while the front line battles are still ongoing.

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 49
G4M2a Betty x 54
G4M3a Betty x 19



Allied aircraft
P-61C Black Widow x 1
F6F-5N Hellcat x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 39 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 4 destroyed by flak
G4M2a Betty: 23 damaged
G4M2a Betty: 5 destroyed by flak
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-61C Black Widow: 1 damaged
P-61C Black Widow: 2 destroyed on ground
F6F-5N Hellcat: 8 damaged
F6F-5N Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-5 Hellcat: 15 destroyed on ground
Spitfire F.XIV: 2 destroyed on ground
TBM-3 Avenger: 1 destroyed on ground
F8F-1 Bearcat: 6 destroyed on ground
P-51H Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-4 Corsair: 4 destroyed on ground
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 4 destroyed on ground
P-47N Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed on ground
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
F-6D Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
F-5E Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
AGP Callisto
AGP Portunus
AG Aries
AVP Pelican
AG Vega
SS Hawkbill, heavy damage
SS Queenfish


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 67

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Night Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 4,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M3a Betty x 20



Allied aircraft
P-61C Black Widow x 1
F6F-5N Hellcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

No more Allied planes at Naha [8D] [8D] [8D] [8D] [8D]

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Night Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 4



Allied aircraft
P-61C Black Widow x 1
F6F-5N Hellcat x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5N Hellcat: 1 destroyed


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Sub attack near Nago at 95,63

Japanese Ships
E No.200
E No.87
E No.61
E Susuki
E No.223
E No.221
E No.204
E No.202

Allied Ships
SS Bergall, hits 2

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Frankford
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 1
DD Mustin
DD Russell, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Roe
DD Wainwright
DD Bagley
DD Helm
DD Mugford
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford
APA Eastland
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA Marathon, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
APA Renville
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Carter Hall
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455
LCI(G)-467
LCI(R)-73
LCI(R)-74

The attrition continues. Now that the covering force has been removed from the fray the enemy APAs/AKAs are all becoming more vulnerable.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinyo, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Frankford
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson
DD Anderson
DD Mustin
DD Roe, Shell hits 3
DD Wainwright
DD Bagley
DD Helm
DD Mugford
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford
APA Eastland
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA Renville
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Carter Hall
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455
LCI(G)-467
LCI(R)-73
LCI(R)-74
LCI(R)-224
LCI(R)-225
LCI(R)-226


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Naha at 95,66

Japanese Ships
DD Hanekimo
DD Tawa
DD Hishi
DD Kuzu
DD Tochi
DD Yaezakura
DD Kaba
DD Odake
DD Enoki
DD Sumire
DD Shii



DD Hanekimo firing at Naha
DD Tawa firing at Naha
DD Hishi firing at Naha
DD Kuzu firing at Naha
DD Tochi firing at 97th Infantry Division
DD Yaezakura firing at Naha
DD Kaba firing at 93rd Infantry Division
DD Odake firing at Naha
DD Enoki firing at Naha
DD Sumire firing at Naha
DD Shii firing at 93rd Infantry Division

The key point here is this confirms that there aren't any more planes here. Brilliant !!!!

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Invasion Support action off Ishigaki (90,66)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LSD Carter Hall, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mustin
APA Mellette



Shin'yo Battery engaging LSD Carter Hall at 18,000 yards
DD Mustin firing to suppress enemy battery at 18,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinyo, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shinyo

Allied Ships
DD Frankford, Shell hits 4
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson
DD Anderson
DD Mustin
DD Roe
DD Wainwright
DD Bagley, Shell hits 2
DD Helm
DD Mugford
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford
APA Eastland, and is sunk
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA Renville
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Carter Hall, and is sunk
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455
LCI(G)-467
LCI(R)-73
LCI(R)-74
LCI(R)-224
LCI(R)-225

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Frankford, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson, Shell hits 3
DD Anderson
DD Mustin
DD Roe
DD Wainwright
DD Bagley, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Helm, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Mugford, Shell hits 4
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford, Shell hits 4
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA Renville
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove, Shell hits 9, on fire
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455
LCI(G)-467, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LCI(R)-73, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCI(R)-74, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
LCI(R)-224
LCI(R)-225
LCI(R)-226, Shell hits 2
LCI(R)-230, Shell hits 11, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,68, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tadeyate, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CVE Altamaha
CVE Copahee, Shell hits 1
CA Tuscaloosa
CL Phoenix
CL Nashville
DD Lang
DD Stack
DD Wilson
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Cummings
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
LSD Shadwell
LSD Cabildo
LSD Comstock
LSD San Marcos
LSD Tortuga
LCI(R)-71
LCI(R)-72
LCI(R)-231
xAK Mormacwave
xAK Sea Flasher
xAK Overseas Lena
xAK Appleton Victory
xAK Bartlesville Victory
xAK Berea Victory
xAK Bowdoin Victory
xAK Bozeman Victory
xAK Brigham Victory
AP Gen. A.E.Anderson
AP Gen. W.A.Mann
AP Gen. W.M.Mitchell
AP Gen. G.M.Randall
AP Gen. M.C.Meigs
AP Gen. W.H.Gordon
AP Gen. W.P.Richardson
AP Gen. J.Breckinridge
AP Adm. W.L.Capps
AP Gen. G.O.Squier
AP Gen. T.H.Bliss
AP Gen. J.R.Brooke
AP Gen. O.H.Ernst
AP Gen. R.L.Howze
AP Gen. W.M.Black
AP Gen. H.L.Scott
AP Gen. A.W.Greely
AP Gen. M.B.Steward
AP Gen. C.H.Muir


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 89,68, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tadeyate

New definition: Tadeyate: To be crushingly outnumbered yet escape without a scratch.


Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Howe
BB King George V
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA New Orleans
CL Achilles
CL Bermuda
CL Newfoundland
DD Leutze
DD Marshall
DD McCord
DD McDermut
DD McGowan
DD McKee
DD McNair
DD Melvin
DD Mertz
DD Murray
DD Newcomb
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon
DD Owen
DD Philip
DD Picking


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Miyako-jima at 91,66, Range 2,000 Yards

Tanaka is now flying his flag from the Hibiki. Not content with his activities of the night before he now goes hunting CVEs, BBs and CAs. Just in case anyone wonders, Tanaka survived the day and will be ready to return in 3 days time with fully refuelled and reprovisioned ships.

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yakaze
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Murakaze, Shell hits 2

Ah, a pretty good result here.

Allied Ships
CVE Prince William, Shell hits 39, and is sunk
CVE Casablanca, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
BB Arkansas, Shell hits 56, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Portland, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CA Wichita, Shell hits 2
CA Boston, Shell hits 1
DD Ellet, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Case, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AGC Mount McKinley, Shell hits 39, and is sunk
AP Adm. W.S.Benson, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Gen. C.G.Morton, Shell hits 52, and is sunk
AP Gen. R.E.Callan, Shell hits 31, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 1,000 yards

I gambled that the thunderstorms would last and reduce visibility during the daytime. My gamble paid off very, very nicely indeed today. I was a bit lucky too though of course.

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
LB-1329
LB-1330
LB-1331
LB-1332
LB-1333
LB-1334
LB-1335, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-5151
LB-5152
LB-5153
LB-5154
LB-5155, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson
DD Anderson
DD Mustin
DD Roe
DD Bagley, on fire
DD Helm, on fire
DD Mugford
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove, on fire
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Damn, I was bringing a Regiment in from a neighbouring island but, unfortunately, the enemy DDs got in the way and my barges retreated. More aggressive leaders are on the way. Losses are immaterial here.

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Ishigaki at 90,66, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
LB-1329
LB-1330
LB-1331
LB-1332
LB-1333
LB-1334
LB-5151
LB-5152
LB-5153
LB-5154
LB-5155, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Benson
DD Niblack
DD Sampson
DD Anderson
DD Mustin
DD Roe
DD Bagley, on fire
DD Helm, on fire
DD Mugford
APA Wharton
APA Harris
APA Zeilin
APA Henry T. Allen
APA J. Franklin Bell
APA W.A. Holbrook
APA Leonard Wood
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APA Catron
APA Cleburne
APA Dawson
APA Fallon
APA Crenshaw
APA Elkheart
APA Pitt
APA Drew
APA Oxford
APA Telfair
APA Mountrail
APA Montrose
APA Marvin McIntyre
APA Menifee
APA Oconto
APA Laurens
APA McCracken
APA New Kent
APA Pickens
APA Sibley
APA Navarro
APA Effingham
APA Hendry
APA Mellette
LSD Belle Grove, on fire
LSD Casa Grande
LSD Epping Forest
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-455
LCI(R)-224

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Miyako-jima at 91,66, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Take
DD Maki
DD Kiri
DD Sugi
DD Kashi
DD Kaya
DD Kaede
DD Nara
DD Tsubaki
DD Keyaki
DD Yanagi
DD Nire
DD Hagi

Allied Ships
BB Arkansas, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Portland, on fire, heavy damage
CA Wichita
CA Boston
AP Adm. W.S.Benson, heavy fires, heavy damage

The Americans escape again. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

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Sub attack near Ishigaki at 90,68

Japanese Ships
SS I-204, hits 37, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CV Franklin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Washington
CL Oklahoma City
CL Pasadena
DD James C. Owens
DD Borie
DD Lyman K. Swenson
DD Stormes
DD Charles S. Sperry
DD Purdy

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,66

And now for the air attacks. Unfortunately a lot of my air force staid on the ground today. The thunderstorms really hurt me and at least 300 strike planes took off but couldn't find their targets due to the weather. Still, those who got through did reasonably well... and tomorrow the weather should be better.

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M5 Zero x 14
A6M5b Zero x 34
A6M5c Zero x 12
A6M8 Zero x 55
Ohka Model 11 x 8
Ki-84a Frank x 12
Ki-84r Frank x 11



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 4
F4U-4 Corsair x 3
F6F-5 Hellcat x 10
F8F-1 Bearcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 4 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APA Laurens
DD Bagley, on fire
APA Menifee
DD Roe
APA Mellette
APA Leonard Wood
LSD Casa Grande

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment, at 90,66 (Ishigaki)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 1,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
A6M5b Zero x 20
A6M5c Zero x 12
A6M8 Zero x 42
G3M3 Nell x 31
Ki-84a Frank x 9
Ki-84r Frank x 11



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 28
F4U-4 Corsair x 11
F6F-5 Hellcat x 68
F8F-1 Bearcat x 29


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment, at 90,66 (Ishigaki)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 5,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 22
A6M5b Zero x 17
A6M5c Zero x 13
A6M8 Zero x 40
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 25
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 21
Ki-67-Ib Peggy x 20
Ki-84a Frank x 13
Ki-84r Frank x 3



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 24
F4U-4 Corsair x 11
F6F-5 Hellcat x 67
F8F-1 Bearcat x 29


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 10 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-67-Ib Peggy: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-67-Ib Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

I knew I'd take heavy losses but my pilots are all 40 to 50 Skill and even 30 or 40 Exp so they aren't much of a loss and right now I need Ishigaki to hold until such time as I can bring a few Brigades of reinforcements in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sixth Army Combat Engineer Regiment, at 90,66 (Ishigaki)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 4,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
A6M5b Zero x 16
A6M5c Zero x 8
A6M8 Zero x 40
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
Ki-84a Frank x 17
Ki-84r Frank x 6



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 40
F4U-4 Corsair x 14
F6F-5 Hellcat x 74
F8F-1 Bearcat x 54


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 206 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 64 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 9
Ki-84b Frank x 7
Ki-84r Frank x 33
Ki-94-II x 8
Ki-100-II Tony x 5
Ki-201 Karyu x 4



Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 110

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Banzai! - Miyauchi G. in a Ki-84r Frank rams a B-29-25 Superfort for the Emperor


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 178 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 55 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 13
Ki-94-II x 7
Ki-100-II Tony x 1
Ki-201 Karyu x 2



Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 482

I'd expected this so the vast majority of my planes had been evacuated. He only got one on the ground.


Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 17 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Okinoerabushima , at 96,65

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J7W1 Shinden x 61
Ki-94-II x 20

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 190

Japanese aircraft losses
J7W1 Shinden: 6 damaged
J7W1 Shinden: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nago , at 95,65

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 181 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 62 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 15
A6M8 Zero x 76
A7M2 Sam x 26
J7W1 Shinden x 24
J7W2 Kai x 5
N1K5-J George x 16
Ki-84a Frank x 22
Ki-84b Frank x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 9
Ki-94-II x 12



Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 138
F4U-1D Corsair x 23
F4U-4 Corsair x 14
F6F-5 Hellcat x 17
F8F-1 Bearcat x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M8 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed on ground
J7W1 Shinden: 2 damaged
J7W1 Shinden: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K5-J George: 4 damaged
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-94-II: 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed
F4U-4 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14

Bombers, unstoppable again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kume-jima , at 94,65

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4
A6M8 Zero x 42
A7M2 Sam x 14
J7W1 Shinden x 38
J7W2 Kai x 3
N1K5-J George x 14
Ki-84a Frank x 10
Ki-84b Frank x 2
Ki-84r Frank x 4
Ki-94-II x 10

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Banzai! - Kawasaki R. in a N1K5-J George rams a B-24J Liberator for the Emperor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kume-jima , at 94,65

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4
A6M8 Zero x 32
A7M2 Sam x 14
J7W1 Shinden x 36
J7W2 Kai x 3
N1K5-J George x 12
Ki-84a Frank x 10
Ki-84b Frank x 2
Ki-84r Frank x 4
Ki-94-II x 10



Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 126


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 5 damaged


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nago at 95,65

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M8 Zero x 22
A7M2 Sam x 8
J7W1 Shinden x 15
N1K5-J George x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 11
Ki-84b Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 1
Ki-94-II x 9



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 51
F4U-4 Corsair x 11
F6F-5 Hellcat x 143
F8F-1 Bearcat x 30
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 16
SB2C-5 Helldiver x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 4 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Sangetsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Taganoura Maru
xAK Zinzan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nissyo Maru
PB Takunan Maru #2
xAKL Tainichi Maru
xAK Nansin Maru

Too late, the xAKs had already unloaded.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tokunoshima , at 97,65

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J7W1 Shinden x 24
N1K1-J George x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 2



Allied aircraft
B-32 Dominator x 27


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-32 Dominator: 1 damaged


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-32 Dominator x 7


Allied aircraft losses
B-32 Dominator: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 89,67

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 4,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G9M Marlin x 16



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 21
F6F-5 Hellcat x 80


Japanese aircraft losses
G9M Marlin: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
G9M Marlin: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CV Hornet
CVL San Jacinto, Kamikaze hits 1

Banzai! - Makino H. in a G9M Marlin is willing to die for the Emperor
Banzai! - Mitsumoto B. in a G9M Marlin is willing to die for the Emperor
Mitsumoto B. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CVL San Jacinto

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 89,67

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 5,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G9M Marlin x 18



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 9
F6F-5 Hellcat x 21


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
A6M5b Zero x 16
A6M5c Zero x 10
A6M8 Zero x 46
Ohka Model 11 x 7
Ki-84a Frank x 6
Ki-84r Frank x 10



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 30
F4U-4 Corsair x 14
F6F-5 Hellcat x 47
F8F-1 Bearcat x 32


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Mustin
APA Renville
APA Effingham

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 1
A6M5c Zero x 3
Ohka Model 11 x 8



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 12
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19
F8F-1 Bearcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 4 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CA Boston
BB Arkansas, and is sunk

One BB down.


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ohka Model 11 flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 1 x Ohka Bomb


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taihoku at 87,63

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 20
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 39
F8F-1 Bearcat x 9
SB2C-5 Helldiver x 2


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shinyo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 4,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M5b Zero x 16
A6M5c Zero x 7
A6M8 Zero x 36
B6N2 Jill x 9
Ki-84a Frank x 7
Ki-84r Frank x 8



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 33
F4U-4 Corsair x 18
F6F-5 Hellcat x 36
F8F-1 Bearcat x 40


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B6N2 Jill flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 87,72

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 137 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 7

Allied aircraft
F4U-4 Corsair x 7


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Ticonderoga, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y4 Judy bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

Well, 3 x 800 Kg bombs will ruin your entire day. The Ticonderoga also suffered Fuel Storage Explosions.

He had SC TFs covering them.... That's one reason so many of my TFs are so small. Small = stealthy and sneaky, which Japan needs to be in order to survive at this stage of the war.

Ah, big, clumsy, and slow. He should have had cruisers and DDs in multiple TFs and the BBs with the transports. Oh well, it's not my game. Never-the-less, my comments about escorts in TFs still hold.

Thanks for the clarification.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 87,70

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 6,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 23

Allied aircraft
F8F-1 Bearcat x 4

The Bearcats killed 9 Jills and the FlaK killed 4 more. The remaining 10 Jills managed to get 2 torpedo hits. The sad thing is this was only because it was my best single-engined torpedo-bomber squadron. Ah well, about half of them survived. They'll attack again tomorrow.


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB King George V, Torpedo hits 1
BB Howe, Torpedo hits 1
CA Salt Lake City

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Banzai! - Nakasawa D. in a B6N1 Jill is willing to die for the Emperor
Banzai! - Hirata M. in a B6N1 Jill is willing to die for the Emperor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 87,72

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 139 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 26

Allied aircraft
F4U-4 Corsair x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Shangri-La, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Ticonderoga, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D4Y4 Judy bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
8 x D4Y4 Judy bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,67

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 4,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ohka Model 11 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ohka Model 11: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
APA Noble, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

Never saw this message before. It is nice to see I'm messing with his LRCAP.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6
A6M5b Zero x 6
A6M5c Zero x 9
A6M8 Zero x 42
Ohka Model 11 x 20
Ki-84a Frank x 9
Ki-84r Frank x 7



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 32
F4U-4 Corsair x 18
F6F-5 Hellcat x 35
F8F-1 Bearcat x 38


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 9 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, heavy damage
CL Swiftsure, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
APA Rawlins, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batan Island at 87,72

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
F4U-4 Corsair x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 8 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Shangri-La, on fire, heavy damage
DD Taussig
DD Zellars
CV Ticonderoga, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

The hit didn't do much good, the Ki-43 just bounced off the belt armour.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ohka Model 11 x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 12
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 19
F8F-1 Bearcat x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ohka Model 11: 3 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Boston
CA Wichita

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ohka Model 11 x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 2



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 10
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 18
F8F-1 Bearcat x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ohka Model 11: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Wichita, heavy damage
CA Boston

I have no idea how the Wichita got damaged in between the last raid and this one.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taihoku at 87,63

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 139 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 24
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 39
F8F-1 Bearcat x 31
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 17


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD T-16, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD T-12, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD T-11, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD T-6, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD T-13, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
355 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

My APDs are caught with troops still on board. I've lost almost half but what remains will go back to Ishigaki tomorrow night to try to land the remaining troops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Karenko at 87,64

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 95 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes


Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 7
F4U-1D Corsair x 16
F4U-4 Corsair x 13
F6F-5 Hellcat x 12
F8F-1 Bearcat x 7
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 4
SB2C-5 Helldiver x 2
TBM-3 Avenger x 26


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 2 damaged
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 1 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Doryu
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo
DD Shinyo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nago at 95,65

Hmm, too few defenders, I have 500+ fighters here. There should be more in the air.

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 126 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 54 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
A6M8 Zero x 58
A7M2 Sam x 19
J7W1 Shinden x 18
J7W2 Kai x 3
N1K5-J George x 11
Ki-84a Frank x 14
Ki-84b Frank x 4
Ki-84r Frank x 6
Ki-94-II x 11



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 32
F6F-5 Hellcat x 119
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 7
SB2C-5 Helldiver x 4
SBD-6 Dauntless x 17
TBM-3 Avenger x 73


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J7W2 Kai: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 8 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 2 destroyed
SBD-6 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 13 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAKL Toshi Maru #2
xAK Izumo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kaba
LSD Kumano Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Achou Maru
xAK Taiko Maru
xAK Singapore Maru, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Tatuwa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DMS W-7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Sasago Maru
SC CHa-101
DD Sumire
AMC Nosiro Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Josho Maru
xAKL Seki Maru
DD Enoki
xAP Teifu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yamakisan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Santos Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Karachi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAK Keisyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAKL Uragami Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Tainichi Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SC CHa-104
DD Yaezakura

Japanese ground losses:
3347 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 112 (105 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (7 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Hmm, thats a Brigade out of action. Fortunately I was bringing about 5 divisions of troops so this is less than 10% of what I am bringing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nago at 95,65

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 137 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 59 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M8 Zero x 42
A7M2 Sam x 16
J7W1 Shinden x 15
J7W2 Kai x 2
N1K5-J George x 9
Ki-84a Frank x 12
Ki-84b Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 5
Ki-94-II x 7



Allied aircraft
SB2C-5 Helldiver x 17
TBM-3 Avenger x 14


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-5 Helldiver: 11 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
A6M5b Zero x 12
A6M5c Zero x 9
A6M8 Zero x 30
Ohka Model 11 x 12
Ki-84a Frank x 7
Ki-84r Frank x 5



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 30
F4U-4 Corsair x 18
F6F-5 Hellcat x 34
F8F-1 Bearcat x 38


Japanese aircraft losses
Ohka Model 11: 7 destroyed
Ohka Model 11: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APA Laurens
DD Niblack
APA Effingham, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Oxford
DD Mugford
APA Hendry
DD Bagley
LCI(R)-225
DD Benson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ohka Model 11 x 6



Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 10
F4U-4 Corsair x 7
F6F-5 Hellcat x 18
F8F-1 Bearcat x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ohka Model 11: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Boston

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Japanese Ships
SS Ha-216

Allied Ships
CA Wichita, heavy damage

CA Wichita is sighted by SS Ha-216
SS Ha-216 launches 2 torpedoes at CA Wichita

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ishigaki at 89,67

Japanese Ships
SS I-53, hits 4

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Massachusetts
CL Santa Fe
DD Caperton
DD Boyd
DD Beale
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Black
DD Bennett

SS I-53 launches 10 torpedoes at CV Lexington
I-53 diving deep ...

10 torpedoes for a single hit? Damn, I was hoping for more. Still, that's the 3rd or 4th CV I've turned into wreckage today in addition to 5 CVEs and a CVL. I can't really complain about this bit of bad luck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Japanese Ships
SS Ha-210

Allied Ships
AP Adm. W.S.Benson, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

AP Adm. W.S.Benson is sighted by SS Ha-210
SS Ha-210 launches 2 torpedoes at AP Adm. W.S.Benson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Ishigaki (90,66)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16627 troops, 212 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 463

Defending force 28062 troops, 455 guns, 794 vehicles, Assault Value = 1099

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
75th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
Ishigaki Brigade
57th Infantry Bde /2
4th Depot Div /1
Funauke Fortress
58th Infantry Brigade
216th Div /2
4th Mortar Bn /1

Defending units:
1st Cavalry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Sixth Army Combat Engineer Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
40th Infantry Division
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
XI Corps Artillery


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Naha (95,66)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 361 troops, 49 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 5424

Defending force 79175 troops, 593 guns, 1827 vehicles, Assault Value = 1419

My forces are recovering nicely. I believe some judicious ground attack missions could help the current forces crack Naha.

The quetion for tomorrow is whether or not I should divert 500 AV from Naha to Ishigaki. It could be there and almost unloaded in two days which would help stalemate the Americans there. I think that's what I might do as 3 stalemates serve me better than a win and 2 losses.


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
26th Tank Regiment
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
4th Tank Division
126th Ind.Mixed Brigade
66th Ind.Mixed Brigade
303rd Division
11th Tank Regiment
10th Div Remnants
107th Ind.Mixed Brigade
212th Div /1
1st SP Gun Battalion
6th Shipping Regiment
3rd Guards Division
30th Ind. Engineer Regiment
107th Division
70th Infantry Brigade
72nd Infantry Brigade
2nd Amphibious Brigade
6th Ind.Infantry Brigade
56th Infantry Brigade
5th Ind.Tank Brigade
77th Division
102nd Division
29th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Ind.Tank Brigade
312th Division
8th SP Gun Battalion
355th Division
109th Ind.Mixed Brigade
103rd Division
Hirohito Armored Division
Kamikaze Armored Division
96th Ind.Mixed Brigade
156th Division
46th Division
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
231st Division
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
71st Infantry Bde /1
40th Army
17th Hvy.Artillery Regiment
56th Army
16th Area Army
54th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Tenth Army Combat Engineer Regiment
97th Infantry Division
541st Parachute Regiment
296th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
28th Airborne Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
93rd Infantry Division
36th USN Naval Construction Regiment
212th Coast AA Regiment
Southwest Pacific
Tenth US Army
14th Marine AA Battalion
6th USMC Air Wing Base Force
36th Aviation Base Force
232nd USN Base Force
148th USA Base Force
33rd Aviation Base Force
229th USN Base Force
177th USAAF Base Force
II US Corps
151st USA Base Force
Tenth Army Engineer Aviation Battalion
35th USN Naval Construction Regiment
46th Construction Regiment
178th USAAF Base Force
54th TC Wing
Fifth USAAF Eng Engineer Aviation Battalion
230th USN Base Force
77th Coast AA Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion


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Ground combat at Miyako-jima (91,66)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16607 troops, 186 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 479

Defending force 18627 troops, 231 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
Miyako-jima Brigade
105th Div /1
70th Div /1

Defending units:
43rd Infantry Division
112th Cavalry Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
XI Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
Soviet Far East Cmd
Soviet Pacific Fleet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Naha (95,66)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 34263 troops, 397 guns, 867 vehicles, Assault Value = 1418

Defending force 169434 troops, 1478 guns, 2465 vehicles, Assault Value = 5424

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
Tenth Army Combat Engineer Regiment
541st Parachute Regiment
28th Airborne Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
296th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
97th Infantry Division
93rd Infantry Division
6th USMC Air Wing Base Force
230th USN Base Force
35th USN Naval Construction Regiment
54th TC Wing
14th Marine AA Battalion
36th Aviation Base Force
212th Coast AA Regiment
36th USN Naval Construction Regiment
Tenth US Army
177th USAAF Base Force
229th USN Base Force
Fifth USAAF Eng Engineer Aviation Battalion
II US Corps
Southwest Pacific
77th Coast AA Regiment
33rd Aviation Base Force
232nd USN Base Force
178th USAAF Base Force
148th USA Base Force
151st USA Base Force
165th Field Artillery Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
Tenth Army Engineer Aviation Battalion
462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
103rd Division
8th SP Gun Battalion
312th Division
26th Tank Regiment
6th Ind.Infantry Brigade
109th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Kamikaze Armored Division
156th Division
77th Division
1st SP Gun Battalion
2nd Amphibious Brigade
231st Division
102nd Division
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Tank Brigade
29th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Division
107th Ind.Mixed Brigade
72nd Infantry Brigade
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
56th Infantry Brigade
96th Ind.Mixed Brigade
355th Division
126th Ind.Mixed Brigade
66th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Shipping Regiment
46th Division
5th Ind.Tank Brigade
30th Ind. Engineer Regiment
303rd Division
107th Division
11th Tank Regiment
212th Div /1
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Hirohito Armored Division
10th Div Remnants
70th Infantry Brigade
3rd Guards Division
71st Infantry Bde /1
56th Army
16th Area Army
17th Hvy.Artillery Regiment
40th Army
54th Medium Field Artillery Regiment


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Ground combat at Ishigaki (90,66)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28062 troops, 455 guns, 794 vehicles, Assault Value = 1099

Defending force 17094 troops, 216 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 461

Allied adjusted assault: 621

Japanese adjusted defense: 537

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

The good news is the IJA adjusted AV increased by about 100 AV.

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1456 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
496 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 121 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 51 (3 destroyed, 48 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Sixth Army Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
1st Cavalry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
XI Corps Artillery

Defending units:
Ishigaki Brigade
57th Infantry Bde /2
75th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
Funauke Fortress
4th Depot Div /1
58th Infantry Brigade
216th Div /2
4th Mortar Bn /1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Miyako-jima (91,66)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16095 troops, 231 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Defending force 16558 troops, 186 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 476

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 463

Japanese adjusted defense: 511

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1101 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled

Allied ground losses:
414 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled


Assaulting units:
112th Cavalry Regiment
43rd Infantry Division
XI Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
Soviet Far East Cmd
Soviet Pacific Fleet

Defending units:
105th Div /1
Miyako-jima Brigade
70th Div /1

So, things are looking pretty good at Miyako but Ishigaki could do with another 400 AV immediately. I'll have to move my forces rapidly in order to get additional troops there. The good news is that with the loss of 10 CVEs, 4 CVs and 3 to 4 BBs over the past two days the Allied ability to project power into the Ishigaki region will be significantly reduced for the next week.

But the thousand+ Allied 4-engined bombers are, as always, almost unstoppable. I'm succeeding in drawing them into the tactical fight most of the time. Sometimes they hit operational targets but rarely do they do anything truly strategic. Still, they are more than capable of closing Ishigaki airfield and preventing me protecting the shipping I send there. I may have to commit my CVs to cover this operation - and I really, really don't want to do that as I want to use them to raid in the Northern Pacific next.

Total losses today:

1 USN CV sank and another was heavily on fire and heavily damaged having taken multiple 800 Kg hits. 2 more USN CVs had eaten submarine torpedoes.
5 CVEs were sunk and a CVL damaged.
2 USN BBs are confirmed sunk today.
4 CAs and 3 or 4 CLs also sank.
Another 14 or 15 DDs also sank.
I got 2 AGCs, 3 LSDs and about 5 or 6 APAs.

I also destroyed about 450 Allied planes.

Total Japanese aerial losses including kamikazes came to about 300 planes.
In terms of the navy I lost a DMS and about 6 xAKs/xAKLs at Naga.
My navy lost the CL Sakawa and 4 DDs as well as 4 Shinyo MTB Flotillas.

Best of all it scattered the USN fleet across the seas between Okinawa and the Phillipines. I held back from commiting my bombers to the fray today - which was probably a mistake, I could have finished off several CVs and BBs if I'd had another 300 or so torpedo bombers on naval attack missions. Tomorrow I need to juggle my forces between keeping Naha airfield suppressed, suppressing the ground troops on Ishigaki and Miyako Jima AND striking and sinking as many retreating USN ships as I can. I don't really have enough for all those tasks but that's the challenge of the game. Doing what you can with insufficient force.

I thought this was supposed to be the death ride of the IJN? [&o][X(]

Nemo- Still following, just haven't commented. Enjoying watching you wreck the US CVs so far. Nice work.

Cribtop,

Well the IJN did rather well. I was expecting to lose more heavily and inflict lesser losses during the night-time naval combat but the composition of the enemy amphibious TFs, which made them so effective in holding off my aerial attacks ( because of the organic CVEs ) and in bombarding and suppressing my ground troops ( because of all the BBs and CAs ) served to cause them trouble once my SC TFs went in. With that said those BBs, CAs and CVEs meant that a lot of torpedoes which could have been slamming into APAs and AKAs were, instead, targeted on the BBs, CAs etc.

Still, I have 1 BB, 2 CAs, 2 CLs and about 35 DDs. I lost 1 CL and 4 DDs. In total that makes a bit over 10% of my naval forces lost yesterday night. The USN lost 2 BBs, about 4 CAs, 4 CLs, about 15 DDs, 5 CVEs and 1 to 2 CVs. This represents significantly less than 5% of their force. So, overall, the USN can sustain about 20 nights like last night while I can, even if I maintain my fairly amazing exchange ratio, sustain no more than 10. In short, after a few more victories like this the IJN will cease to be and the USN will be unchallenged on the high seas. With that said I am happy about the amount of damage done and the paucity of my own losses.

However one bad night will ruin the IJN completely, the Americans can afford 10 to 15 bad nights and still manage to properly support an invasion of mainland Japan. Of course, with that said, I plan to give them those 10 to 15 bad nights if at all possible. I will consider a morale failure on the part of my opponent to be akin to acceptance of the need to negotiate a conditional surrender for Japan - which at this point of the war would be quite a victory. I think my opponent will be relatively difficult to force into morale failure though. He seems quite centred, quiet and yet not too serious --- well-balanced.

True, the USN is far from spent, but this result is already a good trade for the IJN and will keep the enemy guessing, slow him down and buy you time. Further, if he changes TF composition next time, you can change attack configuration to be more aerial to take advantage. Plus, while your opponent won't panic, he no doubt has that "Nemo did it again" feeling in his stomach, which never hurts.

The Kamikazes are deadly to say the least, and coordianted attacks I see are very devastating. I might suggest that in this situation [Downfall/ Late Campaign Game] that for the Allies, the LB's have to allocate supression on *ALL* airfields around limited objectives? I am proposing that objective scope has to be what can be supressed effectvely. I probably do not understand, but I do not see the time for the bombing of "strategic" targets [HI, Manpower, Port Supply] to take effect vs. the airfields within range of USN forces that have immediate strategic consequinces. I would think this becomes the #1 Strategic/Operatonal target. They have to be bombed like voting in Chicago I think ... early and often [;)].

Nice lesson Nemo in what can be done with the paired down "crippled" IJ forces.

You may have explained this already, but as I'm quite busy as of late I'm starting from now and working my way back, so I'm wondering what your strategy is for the altitude of various naval attacks. Seems like they're coming in all over the map.

Or is that the strategy on its own? [:)]

Nice work. I agree that these kinds of victories will destroy your remaining IJN forces quickly, but as he gets in closer, won't you still have a ton of subs, minis, and MTBs to throw into the mix?

Crackaces,

Well, the issue with that is that if the Allies use their strategic bomber force to do tactical and operational work then it cannot be doing strategic work - bombing my HI and crippling my strategic depth. One of my missions in this game was to try to lure the Allies into not using their bombers strategically. Right now they are being used operationally and tactically more than 75% of the time. This suits me perfectly as it draw the region of the fight away from the skies over Kobe and Tokyo and over the islands on the approach to Japan.

Overall my offensive into Okinawa has served its strategic purpose rather well. I am in the process of pushing the Allies back from bases from which they can use P-51s to sweep Japan and am luring them into focusing on the tactical/operational fight around Okinawa. It has also allowed me to harm their fleets when they brought those fleets into action.

He'll attack in the north soon and that's a bit weaker than the south. With that said though for October 1945 this is going rather well.

Of course sometimes it might be worth devoting them to operational and tactical targets in order to ensure a key victory but I don't think this is what is happening here. At best the strategic bomber committment over the next 3 days will be designed to limit the size of the Allied defeat. Don't forget that the Allies need to get their 100+ APAs/AKAs out of the area. That'll take two days and will mean them having to choose between committing CVs to their defence ( which could butcher my planes or result in more sunk or damaged CVs depending on luck ) or abandoning them and just trying to run as rapidly as they can.


Obvert,
They are almost all low altitude attacks of either 100 feet or 1,000 feet designed to avoid radar. This is why so many of my attacks are spotted at 6 to 16 minutes instead of 56 minutes and why so many of them get through USN CAP relatively unscathed. Some go in higher too obviously, mostly the Ki-43 IIIas, as I want to split the CAP between high and low elements such that the high elements have almost no chance of getting into range of my low-level attackers before they are in attack range.

So, basically I'm splitting CAP and avoiding radar as much as possible. I find taking pains to minimise the impact of radar really acts as a force divider for American lethality.

As re: minisubs, MTBs etc. Yes but those are all only attritional. They can't actually turn back an invasion TF as the committment of the CL + about 20 DDs of the IJN did around Ishigaki.

Cribtop,

Aye, to every change in composition there is a counter. That's one reason I waited to let him land... I wanted my CD defences to show me his force composition so I could optimise my compositions to take advantage. The small SC TFs were designed to get in close and unleash torpedoes with the maximum chance of escaping. In total about 25 Shinyo flotillas were committed and only 2 sunk with two more heavily damaged. That's a pretty good exchange rate overall though.

October 15th...

USN forces began to egress the area as rapidly as possible. Only a single CV TF stayed behind and this TF only appears to have mustered 2 CVs and about 6 or 7 CVLs. Unfortunately my G9Ms had shattered morale after the heroics of the previous two days and so many of them aborted their attacks - I am investigating the possibility of choosing high inspiration leaders to increase their ability to stay in the battle day after day at the expense of their aggression. Currently I am prioritising aggression and naval skill in their leaders.

Anyways, almost my entire kamikaze force failed to fly against the fleeing USN ships due to weather closing all but three bases between Takaoi and Japan proper but the raid which was, in some ways, the most important raid of the day flew. I sortied a full strike of 3 kamikaze squadrons of Ki-43 IIIas against Manilla. 78 of the Ki-43 IIIas broke through enemy CAP over Manilla - which, as expected, had been significantly weakened in order to provide LRCAP of retreating USN ships. Unfortunately only 5 kamikazes hit the enemy shipping ( the FlAK was truly murderous ) and 3 of them concentrated on the CB Alaska. On the other hand 2 USN CVs ( Bunker Hill and Kearsarge ) were hit and their flight decks penetrated setting off serious fires. They will, of course, be rapidly repaired but at the cost of 150 Ki-43IIIs ( I have a pool of over 1600 dedicated JUST to kamikaze missions with another 250 building per month ( again, just for kamikaze missions ) I've shown my willingness and ability to strike right at the heart of his greatest logistical hub in reasonable proximity to the front. What this means is that from now on whenever he is forming ships up at Manilla ( which should be an almost permanent thing ) he will have to expect kamikaze attacks on them. This diverts a lot of airpower away from the front since to protect his shipping he'll need at least 300 fighters there.

In other news of the fleeing enemy CV TFs the TF containing the USN Essex ran into one of my mini-subs ( SSX Ha-D-115 ) and took a 45cm torpedo under the waterline which caused a fuel explosion. This is in addition to other damage previously sustained and every little bit helps. I think I'll maintain the effort to sink this CV over the next day or two as it limps away. The CV TF containing the Lexington got attacked by G9Ms. Most aborted their attacks but some pushed on through and while fatigue caused many hits they hit Lexington with a single 18 inch torpedo and one of the G9Ms kamikazed into the innards of the CV following battle damage.

In the afternoon the inevitable 4-engined strikes appeared with over 50 B-32s, 600 B-29s, 150 B-24s and about 150 B-17s being committed to attacks on my airfields throughout the operational depth. I managed to set up two significant CAP traps and downed 35 B-29s and 19 B-24s but the bombers still got through and destroyed many of the twin-engined night-bombers. On the other hand 54 four-engined bombers in a day isn't to be sniffed at. My fighter groups are upgrading and getting more heavily armed fighters more capable of taking on the bombers. I will never turn a 500 bomber raid away but I do expect, in another month, to be able to savage 100 to 150 bomber raids.


The landings at Naga are almost completed. Only an additional 600 troops need to get ashore. In total the IJN has landed an additional 101,400 troops over the past 2 days at a cost of 11 ships in the amphibious TFs. This brings my AV at Naga from about 1200 to 3,400 AV. I will be commiting the additional 2,000 AV to combat at Naha and, at that point, will have 7,400+ AV at Naha facing 1400 US AV. At that point in time a couple of good deliberate attacks should break the perimeter and yield me the garrison as POWs. I will then be able to spread the forces at Okinawa out around these islands and use them to create such strong garrisons that further amphibious invasions will need to be of at least 6+ divisions -a level which will require huge preparation and give me ample opportunity for counter-thrusts.

The garrison at Ishigaki benefit by the landing of elements of 2 additional Bdes by Fast Transport overnight AND the airtransport of portions of other units by Mavis and Emily flying boat. Their AV was pushed from about 450 to 714 by the reinforcements brought in by FT TFs and, today, the adjusted Allied AV was 478 vs 575. For the first time my forces achieved adjusted AV superiority. I still lost more troops than the Allies - 1631 vs 1009 but, bottom line, barring anything unforseen Ishigaki is now stalemated and I can fly more forces in at my leisure to bring the defending garrison up to the level where it can counter-attack and threaten to drive the Allies into the sea. That's an additional 2 Infantry Division, 1 Infantry Regiment, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment ( 250 AV ) and 2 Tank Bns stymied and now acting as lures to further USN action.

At Miyako Jima my forces are reinforced by elements of two divisions and their adjusted AV rises to 495 vs the 350 AV of the attacking Americans. My guys here are a bit more successful and suffer 681 casualties vs 1658 American casualties ( including 27 destroyed and 129 disabled combat squads ). I'll FT the rest of those two divisions in and then begin counter-attacking. Miyako Jima should also hold. That's the Americal and 43rd Infantry Divisions, XIth Combat Engineer Regiment and the 112th Cavalry Regiment stymied.

So, over the course of the past three days USN losses were as follows ( I'm pretty sure of each of these hits and should actually have sunk several more as I've heard many, many sinkings sounds over the course of the day which haven't yet resulted in ships being reported as sunk ):
3 CVs ( 4 more confirmed damaged), 8 CVEs ( 2 more confirmed damaged ), 0 CVLs ( 2 confirmed torpedoed ), 3 BBs ( 3 more have been damaged ), 5 CAs, 2 CL, 15 DD, 5 AP, 6 APA, 2 AGC, 2 LSD, 2 LSV, 2 LCI(R).

In return the IJN has lost 1 CL, 5 DD, 4 Shinyo flotillas, 3 APD, 1 xAP, 4 xAK, 4 xAKL ( 800 ton tiny ships which are obliterated by any hit at all ), 1 DMs, 1 LSD.


IJAAF and IJNAF losses comprise 2200 planes at least 900 of which were kamikazes with another 200 or so being low experience pilots in low quality planes ( A6M2s, A6M3s, A6M5s ) flying in the escort role to let more kamis through. I've lost several hundred twin-engined bombers in the effort to close Naha and, particularly, due to US B-29s conducting pinpoint airfield strikes against the bomber airfields.

I'll continue to try for the USN Essex and the USN Lexington with minimal forces but I will mostly pull back my forces and rebuild them - which will take a week. I'm also in the process of transitioning from twin-engined bombers to single-engined bombers for the low level night bombing mission over Naha. I have no need for the single-engined planes as kamis or for deep strike missions so this is the best place to expend them. Some have armour and should actually have moderate survivability.


In other news, in the next week to 10 days I'll begin conducting raids against US strategic assets trying to attrit and tie down his forces even farther back from the battlefield. It'll depend on how quickly my shipping and Netties can repair, take on replacements and redeploy.

I think I just learned more reading your last few posts than I did in several months of playing the AI.

Oh, how so, if you don't mind me asking?

I can say I have learned 3 things from this AAR:

1. TF composition is critical. Having large, mixed forces in speed and range provides real advantages... to the enemy .... In these conditions a couple of DD's can cause havoc.

2. I am thinking that in this environment posting DD screens 80 miles out is critical for the Allies. Not just for the RADAR . but to bounce suicidal light forces from pentrating into the main body and causing havoc.

3. Kamikazies are deadly. Though Allies posses a plithora of stuff ....they have to be selective in objectives where they can supress airfields .. or the IJ air force will rain hell on earth. Just a couple of deadly raids and the Allies do not have as much stuff to dominate ... Simply reducing airfields is not enough because just a couple of Kami's leaking through and its a CVE or CVL for sure, and maybe a couple of APA's full of troops ...

It does look like Japan has the resources to continue to trade stuff for time until 1946, and victory.

What Nemo has done is bring these three [and many more I do not have a clue] together to make the "Downfall" a challange for the AFB player ...

Such are my thoughts ..

Nemo, about the B-17s as kamikazes and il2. Wont work if you give the CVs proper escorts and dont limit the AAA fire. The AAA fire a CV and even 8-10 escorts DDs can project on a single incoming aircraft is just nuts. The incoming planes will have to fly over multiple ships, DDs and CAs, and then fly head-on the AAA of the CV itself. Theres 0% chance a slow bomber would make it, there should be many many bombers to spread the AAA fire enough to allow even 1 plane to get through.

Problem for the attackers is that they are approaching low and pretty slow, and will have to fly over and next to multiple ships that create a crossfire and barrages with the time-fuzed shells. The attackers have better chance to get through by flying straight than by making evasions that would make them even slower.

Of course the attackers could come higher too, but if we're back to real life, the bombers all had relatively speaking very low Ne speeds and were next to unmaneuverable in high speed dives and had poor G tolerances. Even if the dive was perfectly aligned, just 1 near-hit(especially if 40mm Bofors or even higher cal) could throw it off and the pilot might not ever be able to pull up the plane let alone re-align on the target...

My computer can handle the full AAA from a dozen capital warships if you want a demonstration attack in youtube. [8D]