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I think you will find that he will lose a lot of carriers. He just won't get them home before Japanese damage control will pull some under. I rate the fight about even if you can save your damaged ships.

Yet again have had busy times at work. The future is looking now much brighter since I'am shifting jobs inside the company within next month or so.

Thanks for the comments everyone and we will continue to fight on...

cookie monster: Welcome to thread. I hope your eyes did not hurt too much since this battle of ww2 is getting kind big. (in terms of pages written)[:D]

As for the luck we could definately use some soon.

Commander Cody: Thanks. I'am still 50/50 about the amount of FOW involved.

No additional japanese capital ships nor carriers reported sunk.

That is the exact experience I'am having also. If these bases would be other than Atolls than no problems but now... well still a mess to be honest. I'am working around it as we speak but should really have seized these two bases in the initial wave.

That is a plunder on my part as well so you are not alone with that experience.

crsutton: I sincerely hope you are correct but as said above no additional enemy carriers are reported sunk.

I know that Truk has heavy volumes of traffic in terms of radio messages.

We shall see what he has left soon enough.

Burma (february 7th -18th 1944)


The push continues here. Allied forces have now seized the Schwebo and Mandalay in central burma.

We are about to enter Meiktia and Magwe as well. There are 3 diffrent formations moving ahead.

The current intel indicates 10 units at Meikhtia. In terms of infantry I have no idea.

We should find soon though since spearhead is just 20 miles north of these bases.

I have total air supremacy in this region at the moment and most likely this will remain so.

Dave did withdraw from Mandalay mostly but we did decimate an japanese naval guard unit defending the base.

More battles to report here soon...

Marshall Islands (february 7th - 18th 1944)


As said earlier nomore IJN ships have popped up in the sunken ship list.

Last turn we ambushed several xAKL's and AMC's at Ponape with our carriers.

We should see more fireworks next turn since he has substantial LBA powers here as you can see from the pic.

I have supressed the airfields at Tarawa and Kusaie here so that is definately good news.

The allied carrier production is hitting high gear as well and we have several CVE's. CVL
s in active duty. Also 3 CV's are about to enter the game as well.

Maloelap and Wotje are still an mess. As Commander cody stated these bases should not be taken lightly.

I'am actually forced to pull out troops in order to deal with higher supply consumption. These bases really should not be taken lightly.

In overall sense the past two weeks have been licking wounds type of actions.

This will end soon as possible though since I have further offensives scheduled to begin shortly.

Do not expect me to invade home islands on this one though (at least not yet) since my opponent is very very very tough nut to crack.

Marshall Islands (february 19th - 24th 1944)


Allied signit indicated on the 24th that CVL Shoho was sunk near Ponape. That would be the 2nd CVL lost during latest carrier clash.

As said I moved my carriers a bit further up in the north and this provoked large LBA raids from Kusaie Island and Ponape...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 124,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 7
FM-2 Wildcat x 21
F4U-1A Corsair x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 216


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire IIC: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 124,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 46 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 9
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 27
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 38



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 6
FM-2 Wildcat x 17
F4U-1A Corsair x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 197


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed



... in return we launched single strike againts enemy airfield and ships gathered at Ponape.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
N1K1-J George x 18
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36



Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 11
F4U-1A Corsair x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 109
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 62
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34
SBD-5 Dauntless x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 7 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 17 destroyed, 19 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 6 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-35
SC CHa-48, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

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



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 13


I think KB is in Truk at the moment but that is just well educated guess on my part.

We have dealt with the overstacking dilemma at Maloelap and Wotje and these bases should fall soon.

Stay tuned for more...

Burma (february 19th - 24th 1944)


The commonwealth offensive at Burma is gathering wind.

Last turn we seized Meikhtia and Magwe. Thus meaning the oil flows from Burma are now over for good.

His defenders that were routed at Meikhtia retreated into Taung Gyi. That is welcomed news and will rout them even more there soon.

We are also approaching Lashio as well as Paoshan.

The Paoshan offensive would mean that the our ceasefire will be terminated since any chinese offensive will be declaration of war there.

That is something I will think a turn or two before decieding upon it.

Great carrier battle. Great move on the part of Erstad to engage the Allied carrtiers before being totally overwhelmed by the arrival of the Essex Class carriers.Certainly the die roll gods were not with you. Still, I would score this as a tactical Japanese victory and a strategic Allied victory. The CVE losses are irrelevant, The US Navy has nearly 40 CVEs by mid 1944 and nearly 60 CVEs by 1/1/45.

So losing 2 CVs and 3 CVLs for the Allies is definately worth 1 CV and 2 CVLs for Japan. By the time CV Akagi is fully repaired and back in action you will have a half dozen more Essex Class CVs.

Great AAR!

AdmSpruance: It's definately was an nice battle and very fun to watch also. There are plenty of new CV's, CVL's and CVE's arriving in 1944.

I think I can triple the carrier power available by the end of 1944. Also I feel same about engaging my carriers with KB.

He actually still has nice amount of carrier strike force left.

Thanks.. This advance is not the pace you most likely are used to.

Yes, I have reading your AAR's since the classic witp. [:)]

Burma (february 25th - march 7th 1944)


We have made solid progress here.

Last turn allied troops finally captured the Taung Gyi base...


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

Ground combat at Taung Gyi (59,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17179 troops, 308 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 787

Defending force 4425 troops, 98 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Allied adjusted assault: 109

Japanese adjusted defense: 97

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
726 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Assaulting units:
19th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
Provisionl Tank Brigade
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
23rd Chindit Brigade

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
15th JAAF AF Bn
51st Field AA Battalion
30th JNAF AF Unit /1
25th JAAF AF Bn
36th Field AA Battalion
47th Field AA Battalion
36th JAAF AF Bn /1


This was just in time as well since as you can see from the map those japanese troops "defeated" at Myithkina were just 40 miles west of the base.

It also seems enemy has brought in some bombers here.

Thus meaning I will soon be deploying my reserves in terms of air units. I have kept quite a few of them training on rear areas.

I have gathered another Army group outside of Akyab. These troops will march south asap. This does not mean that I don't have troops ready at Diamond Harbour to amphibitious land in the rear if needed.

Things are looking good for time being here....

Marshall Islands (february 25th - march 7th 1945)


We have started the invasion of Kusaie Island.

There are now some 25 000 there and next turn the 1st offensive is scheduled. In terms of av this means around 900av points.

Dave has some SNFL units and Tank regiment defending the base. The estimated 400-450av value of troops.

This operation is naturally carrier supported. Dave has launched few large airstrikes from Ponape. In past 4 days he has lost maybe 200-300 aircraft.

Our losses have been very moderate and none of the carriers nor capital ships are hit.

My recon also indicates Dave is pulling out units from Solomons. This intel in my estimate is around 85% accurate.

There has been no sightings of enemy carriers nor battleships near Kusaie Island.

This base quite important since once it falls we can supress any enemy LBA presence at Ponape... and the road widens up quite a lot after that.

Marshall Island (march 8th - april 4th 1944)


Allied forces have finally conquered the important base at Kusaie Island.

It took almost 3 weeks to get it done but I feel this is definately worth the effort.

This base has level 4 port and most importantly it is an island without any stacking limits.

I have already moved in some LBA fighters and started sweep missions againts Ponape. It seems japanese have some 150 fighters defending it.

Maloelap and Wotje still remain in japanese hand. This is now an stalemate in these atolls and I will deal with them once I get the real important stuff done.

We had goog predictions on the IJN losses on our carrier clash. Well, it seem couple of more IJN ships have now appeared on then sunken list.

How accurate that is anyones guess though.

I'am preparing for next objectives so the gun smoke shall continue across the pacific.

Burma (march 7th - april 4th 1944)


The commonwealth forces are making progress here.

We have now seized Lashio so basically I can open the burma road if needed. This however will mean that the ceasefire in china will end.

Undecieded on this issue and will think it through a bit later.

The main goal is to get an coastal base in burma in order to get supply convoys in. I can manage with the airlifts but that is much steadier income of supplies.

We shall see what Dave has in Toungoo.

My initial recon indicates that at least IJA division is defending this base.

The intelligence screen...

The IJN losses...

The Pacific map...

Marshall Islands (april 5th - 14th 1944)


Last turn japanese lba fighters took off from Ponape and Truk.

There were several heavy air to air battles...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,115

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 32
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 11
FM-2 Wildcat x 20
F4U-1A Corsair x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 281


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

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,115

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 10
FM-2 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1A Corsair x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 237


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,115

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 15
Ki-84a Frank x 12



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 10
FM-2 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1A Corsair x 16
F6F-3 Hellcat x 214


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 43
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 18
Ki-84a Frank x 14



Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 12
Martlet II x 3
FM-2 Wildcat x 27
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 258


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 8 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 5



Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 12
Martlet II x 3
F-7A Liberator x 1
FM-2 Wildcat x 27
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 172


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 12
Martlet II x 3
FM-2 Wildcat x 26
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 189
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 23
TBM-1C Avenger x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed


Japanese Ships
xAK Hiyama Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Malacca Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Teisen Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC CHa-14, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-4, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 5
FM-2 Wildcat x 10
F4U-1A Corsair x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 274


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 4



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 5
FM-2 Wildcat x 7
F4U-1A Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 255


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 22
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 8



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 3



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 31


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed


That is some 100-150 aircraft downed in 2 days. Not bad results at all here.

The main dilemma is now the next offensive target. I have +70 0000 men ready for Ponape.

The downside is that recon indicates 21 units present at Ponape. What is that in terms of av value... don't know.

Truk & Rabaul have 3 units garrisoning the base. The bad thing is that troops prep points are for Ponape.

..so bit of an dilemma currently.

Burma (april 5th - 14th 1944)


The push towards Rangoon continues.

Allied forces have now seized Toungoo which is vital base in central burma.

Japanese forces withdrew from the base after few rounds of ground combats.

There are 2 IJA divisions withdrawing south and hopefully I can catch them before they are in "safety".

Commonwealth forces are also nearing the base at Prome.

The 1st B29 bomber raid is scheduled for the next turn. We will target refinery facilities at Bangkok.

Nice to see these monsters entering the theatre.

Nice to see you are posting again.

I would think you absolutely would want the truce to end in China. Many of the pro-Japan issues in China were patched out and you definitely want to be fighting the Japanese there. It does not matter that you won't make much progress. The problem is the truce might actually be helping your oppoennt more than you. If he does not have to fight in China, then the drain on his resources and troops is very low. This allows him more to use in other theaters. Your Chinese units must be pretty well rebuilt by now. By all means open up the supply route to China and then start moving some air units there and building up airbases. You should have plenty of air resources to use by now. Start moving some bombers to China and look to start hammering his industry. This will force him to move air unit there to defend.

In my game of scen #2 there was no truce and I thought for sure I was going to lose China. Well, I lost a lot but Japanese forces have been bleeding and sucking up supplies in China from day one. China is still isolated and fighting for her life, but I don't think there is any risk of total defeat there-what with the fixes that they have done.

As Crsutton says +1 .. and Truk 3 units 21 ponape ? forget ponape , invade truk NOW ! .. one must be the CD guns and iirc theres a BF there that cannot be moved so thats at most one combat unit. And i serioulsly doubt its a full Div .. invade and pound ponape as target practise from now till 45.

but thats just me being over agressive [;)]

as ever good fortune

crsutton: We still got 2 years of battles ahead of us [:)]

Just been very busy lately (again).

Hmmm, point taken regarding his pools. The downside is that my chinese troops are quite an bad shape at the moment so offensive actions are somewhat out of the picture.

First I need to deploy my units there better since if I lift the ceasefire than he will come in guns blazing. That organization will take couple of weeks in gametime.

Now the dilemma's are in the southern pacific.

Rob: I kind of knew it you would be flagging in total warfare in china.. win or lose... point taken mate! [:D]

The Truk intel is a bit vague already... the amount of units there is gone. Ponape definately has those 21 units.... and you know me I cannot bypass that place. Dave is looking for an fight and we shall bring it to him there.

I mean those 21 units destroyed means well.. 21 units less to worry to about. I know one of the unit is IJA 10th division other than that... no idea.. except some nasty CD guns for sure.

I'am going to land initially some 100 000 men there... and we shall see how that one goes. Once we have Kusaie and Ponape the road towards Tokyo is open and Truk loses it's importance.

We might need that fortune with this Ponape thing very soon! [:D] ...the landings will begin within an week or so.