Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 20-21, 1942[/font]

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The milk run bombardments are keeping the Marine ID at Hangchow disrupted enough that I don't want to attack just yet. The tanks are untouched and repairing though, which is good. So since these are becoming predictable I decided to see if anything would change if I showed my CVs and fleet within range of a long flank run strike.

I put the CVs off Luzon near Lingayen, and unless he just didn't see them, it seems not to have changed plans for those BBs. I'll move up one more day into a 16 hex range for a strike that also would miss the heavy CAP presence at Takao. If all looks good, I'll take a shot. Sara has rejoined the fleet and I have Illustrious for another week before she has to bust a move back to Columbo to withdraw. A replenishment TF will be with the fleet until they warp, and a new port along the Chinese coastline to base them for the return at Chachow. [:)]

Some P-38s sweep and easy target at Keijo to kill off the CAP there in case I want to target the Manpower there, which is third biggest after Tokyo and Osaka. No P-38 losses.

Ground troops finished off at San Fernando, Miri, Cagayan and Wusih. Also hit the Nanking airfields hard to eliminate that as a possible CAP base.

To follow up on the Manpower bombing at Osaka, fires indeed did some damage the following turn. A few still burning in fact. [8D]

I'll update the recon and totals after this post.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 20, 1942
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Night Naval bombardment of Hangchow at 90,55

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hiei
CA Myoko
CL Jintsu
DD Murakumo
DD Shigure
DD Arare
DD Amatsukaze
DD Oyashio

Allied ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

BB Yamashiro firing at 73rd Chinese Corps
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hiei

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Morning Air attack on Liaoyuan , at 105,40

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
IL-2 x 111

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 81

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x IL-2 bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 21, 1942
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Night Naval bombardment of Hangchow at 90,55

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hiei
CA Myoko
CL Jintsu
DD Murakumo
DD Shigure
DD Arare
DD Amatsukaze
DD Oyashio

Allied ground losses:
381 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Yamashiro firing at 3rd Marine Division
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hiei

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Ground combat at 94,38 (near Tatung)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26510 troops, 161 guns, 559 vehicles, Assault Value = 996

Defending force 13770 troops, 122 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 371

Allied adjusted assault: 851

Japanese adjusted defense: 1117

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
814 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (4 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
574 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
30th Motorcycle Regiment
15th Chinese Corps
171st Tank Brigade
8th Route Army
203rd Tank Brigade
76th Chinese Corps
117th/428th OM Gun Battalion

Defending units:
26th/A Division
17th Tank Regiment
26th/B Division
24th/B Division
North China Area Army
1st Cavalry Brigade
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Here is a look at the problem I'm posing for Lowpe. Now, it could also be a problem for me, but I'll prepare for meeting the KB regardless of what happens. I don't think he'd try for an engagement right now, but I've been wrong before.

[obvert]

Here is a look at fires and damage in Osaka. Amazing one a few littles fires can do once they get going here! [&o]

So far we're at almost 900VP from this attack. Well worth the 14 DBM-3T lost in the strike. Lowpe has added CAP now of 50+ fighters. The more he has to draw down fighters from the front the more opportunities I'll have there to isolate bases and work on troops with bombing runs. Hitting a big base like this may also force him to protect the best industrial centres more heavily, leaving some smaller spots vulnerable.

The HI took a pretty big hit, but no damage to the LI yet. A few fires still burning though!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 22, 1942[/font]

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Interesting turn. The IJN moves in to around Vigan and connects with a CL TF I'd put forward there to shield the CVs .The TF barely engages though it outguns the Allied ships, so I think he was running fast transports to bring back troops from PI bases.

The TF composition strikes me as odd too. Akizuki and Terazuki are here, which are the best CV escorts due to their 10cm DP guns, good range and ASW. So does that mean the KB is in port repairing? I haven't found it in any of the big repair yards in range, but Yokohama is beyond my recon now.

In other news Shanghai port and airfields are hit hard, both because they were vulnerable and as this would make the base less of a refuge for any BBs in the area should they hang out there. And, it looks like they have. So ...

I'll flank in with the CVs!!
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 22, 1942
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Vigan at 80,72, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Makinami
DD Kagero
DD Harusame
DD Yugure
DD Ariake
DD Ikazuchi
DD Yuzuki
DD Okikaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CL Ceres
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
CL Caradoc
DD Bagley
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 3
DD Van Galen
DD Isis

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Naval bombardment of Hangchow at 90,55

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hiei
CA Myoko
CL Jintsu
DD Murakumo
DD Shigure
DD Arare
DD Amatsukaze
DD Oyashio

Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

BB Yamashiro firing at 1st KNIL Regiment

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Morning Air attack on Vladivostok , at 112,46

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 24

Allied aircraft
I-153 x 6
I-16m24 x 13
MiG-3 x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 2 destroyed
I-16m24: 3 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 39,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
P-38E Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 34550 feet

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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Liberator II x 9
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Asama Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM Seki Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Choun Maru #21, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Shawa Maru #10, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Rokko Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Okuyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Uchide Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

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

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Musashi Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Banshu Maru #56, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Asama Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Uchide Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Changchun , at 106,41

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
IL-2 x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2: 11 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x IL-2 bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

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[BBfanboy]

In another thread about SCTF composition and tactics, Lowpe said he sets his SCTFs on Low Threat tolerance. I queried it and he said it was because he prefers to swarm a target with multiple small TFs and have them fight just long enough to fire their torps and use up a little of the enemy ammo. His first TFs are usually DDs/TBs which are fragile so he doesn't want a slugfest from them.
The composition of that TF suggests he might have been planning to break it into several DD TFs with the CA coming in last to clean up whatever the DDs & CL could do with their torps.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

In another thread about SCTF composition and tactics, Lowpe said he sets his SCTFs on Low Threat tolerance. I queried it and he said it was because he prefers to swarm a target with multiple small TFs and have them fight just long enough to fire their torps and use up a little of the enemy ammo. His first TFs are usually DDs/TBs which are fragile so he doesn't want a slugfest from them.
The composition of that TF suggests he might have been planning to break it into several DD TFs with the CA coming in last to clean up whatever the DDs & CL could do with their torps.

At this point in this game the use of many small TFs would probably be counterproductive since the IJN has lost a lot of DDs and other fast escorts.

I'm starting to get some Fletchers now too, which is great!

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

In another thread about SCTF composition and tactics, Lowpe said he sets his SCTFs on Low Threat tolerance. I queried it and he said it was because he prefers to swarm a target with multiple small TFs and have them fight just long enough to fire their torps and use up a little of the enemy ammo. His first TFs are usually DDs/TBs which are fragile so he doesn't want a slugfest from them.
The composition of that TF suggests he might have been planning to break it into several DD TFs with the CA coming in last to clean up whatever the DDs & CL could do with their torps.

At this point in this game the use of many small TFs would probably be counterproductive since the IJN has lost a lot of DDs and other fast escorts.

I'm starting to get some Fletchers now too, which is great!

In general this is true, but Lowpe chooses his time and place to swarm the defences. Having Threat Tolerance set to LOW is designed to keep his DDs from engaging too long and getting beat up/sunk. He says they will engage weak forces long enough to sink them but will shy away from greater combat ship numbers or firepower.

He seems to be looking for permanent kill points to add to the denominator of his total to ward off auto-vic. If he can find a bunch of poorly protected transports in a backwater area he can rack up a lot of points even if he loses a few DDs.

[obvert]

The CVs flanked in with solid surface escorts around them. I began to see sighting messages all over the lower Yangtze area and toward Hangchow. I had sent PTs down from Hankow toward Shanghai and they began to tangle with a CA led IJN TF. In a running battle the PTs dodged and weaved, some expending their torps and retiring, others surviving serval contacts, and then ...

[obvert]

... getting good hit on an IJN DD. Shigure is a Shiratsuya class DD, a very good surface combatant, and a nice trade for five PT boats lost. It doesn't appear the Allied ships are seen by night patrols, and that is all good. The less DL the better.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tungchow at 92,53, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CL Jintsu
DD Arare
DD Shigure, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
PT-156
PT-157, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-158
PT-159, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-160, Shell hits 1
PT-161
PT-162

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 100% moonlight: 5,000 yards
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[obvert]

More good news as Yamashiro and company continue with their bombardments. They should be in range during the day. [:)]
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Night Naval bombardment of Hangchow at 90,55

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hiei

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

BB Yamashiro firing at 3rd Marine Division
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hiei
BB Hiei firing at 2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
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[obvert]

During morning search Japanese patrols find the Allied CVs. The Allied search gets a lot of nearby hits, but one stands out ...

[obvert]

... and suddenly the CVs have shot forward and the klaxons are blaring. The CAP is scrambled as a large Japanese strike is spotted coming from the North. Interesting it looks to be coming from a base hex, at Hangchow, which would put the IJN on the back foot with reduced numbers.

This first strike comes in unescorted, but it's clear it's from CVs as Hangchow has only a size 1 airfield.

[obvert]

The CAP has no problem repelling the strike with no attacks made against any ship. A very good start. Almost 20 Vals shot down as more than half of the strike turns tail.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Wenchow at 91,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 62

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 28
Martlet II x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 13 destroyed

No Allied losses

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[obvert]

It was all looking very promising until the first Allied strike showed and had only 13 escorts out of the over 60 set to fly with them. [&:]

The IJN CAP did it's job, she down over half of the strike, but 14 Avengers and 21 SBD still made it through. Harried and harassed, they didn't hit much, but ...

[obvert]

... they did make the hits pay off. Two penetrating 1000lb strikes crippled CVL Zuiho ...

[obvert]

Then two another hit CV Hiryu and penetrated the flight deck. A second bomb rocked the ship, and although she is shown only with fires burning, I'm guessing by the end of the day she'll be out of action and limping. The smaller CV Hiyo also took one big bomb, but none reported secondary explosions.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hangchow at 90,55

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 77

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 43
TBF-1 Avenger x 28

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 16 destroyed, 4 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 1
CV Soryu
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Zuikaku
CVE Hosho
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2
CVE Taiyo
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[obvert]

I then expected the worst. The Allied CVs do have a stronger percentage of fighters than the standard allocation, but this close to Japan any hit on a CV could be terminal. Thankfully, another large strike came in without escorts and again no bombers made it through to strike runs. [&o]

This time the bulk of bombers stayed, and IJN strike groups were decimated.

A few more smaller 3-5 plane packages also arrived and were despatched.
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 47
D3A1 Val x 55

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 28
Martlet II x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 78

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 20 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 26 destroyed

No Allied losses
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[obvert]

The second Allied strike started out well, with a much larger escort as all assigned groups flew. The Wildcats cut through the CAP effectively and got more than half of the bombers to the targets, but they all missed.Then the CAP killed off more after the bombing runs. Not much left for a second day here. [:(]

Interesting to note no fires listed on Hiryu and no Kaga or Akagi present in either strike.
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hangchow at 90,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 71

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 53
SBD-3 Dauntless x 25
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Hiyo
CV Shokaku
CVE Hosho
CV Soryu
CV Zuikaku
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[obvert]

After the turn it is clear the Allied CVs reacted an additional two hexes away from their surface cover. Another three SCTFs are three hexes behind, so another SCTF will have to be created utilising CA Quincy and a few Fletchers to protect the CVs until more can arrive. The IJN has ships sprawled out everywhere, and although the CV his were positive (while incurring no losses to Allied ships), a chance was missed to cripple several BB and CA/CL nearby.

Killing off 100+ IJN strike planes at this stage, with probably a collection of the mot expert pilots, will be valuable moving forward, but next turn is still a concern.

[obvert]

The next turn opens with some ominous movements toward the Allied CVs by the IJN. First the Quincy TF formed from the CV group is engaged by Yamashiro and Hiei. The Allies lose DD Buchanon to a single 36cm shot. The Yamashiro takes some good punches from Quincy's 8inch guns, and Quincy gets some back, but nothing decisive either way.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Shaohing at 92,58, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6
DD Oyashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
CA Quincy, Shell hits 7
DD Nicholas
DD Waller
DD Aaron Ward, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Buchanan, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 96% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Moore, S. crosses the 'T'
BB Yamashiro engages CA Quincy at 2,000 yards

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[obvert]

The big cruiser led TF seen off of Luzon moves away from Takao toward the Ryukyus and runs into some APDs I'd just sent racing to provide ASW near Shanghai. I lose one APD but the rest escape. This is good, as I have some forces now assembling to invade Formosa! [;)]