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Unfortunately Fuso and company also run into the detached Wichita, and of course take advantage.

A few more task forces arriving after this could mean serious trouble. Where the rest of the Allied surface fleets?

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
DD Tachikaze
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
CA Wichita, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
DD Saufley

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 2,000 yards

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Here comes the help! This is the best Allied TF, led by Ching Lee, with four modern CLs and seven Fletchers. With a lot of pre-battle radar contacts the Allies open fire when still out of sight range and surprise the IJN. The battle is not decisive but one DD is sunk and damage added to BB Kongo and two CLs. The smoke below tells the story.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Kuma, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kazegumo
DD Onami, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 4
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 2
CL Santa Fe
CL Columbia, Shell hits 3
DD Fletcher
DD Chevalier
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1
DD Eaton
DD Stanly, Shell hits 3
DD Strong
DD Taylor

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 4,000 yards
CL Columbia fires at BB Kongo at 4,000 yards
CL Santa Fe fires at BB Kongo at 4,000 yards
CL Montpelier fires at BB Kongo at 4,000 yards
CL Columbia fires at CL Kuma at 4,000 yards
DD Taylor launches Torpedoes at BB Kongo at 4,000 yards
DD Taylor fires at DD Onami at 4,000 yards
DD Stanly launches Torpedoes at DD Onami at 4,000 yards
DD Chevalier launches Torpedoes at DD Onami at 4,000 yards
DD Fletcher launches Torpedoes at DD Onami at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Columbia at 2,000 yards
DD Onami sunk by DD DeHaven at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Columbia at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Columbia at 9,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Chevalier at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Next up is a TF led by a Soviet commander in CA Kalinin. He and the older USN CLs engage BB Fuso and get some payback. Fuso still puts up a fight though, and CA Kalinin takes a number of big shells. She limps away on fire and hurting. Fuso eventually takes 37 shells and three torpedoes and looks like her war is over.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 37, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
DD Tachikaze
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Richmond, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Trenton, Shell hits 3
DD Meredith
DD Monssen
DD Laffey
DD Lansdowne
DD Hammann
CA Kalinin, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Frystak J. crosses the 'T'
BB Fuso engages CA Kalinin at 1,000 yards

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Then the decisive battle. The Kongo TF finds the RN, who also find them with their radar. The Japanese commander crosses the T but the IJN are spent and the British CAs take advantage. All of the IJN are sunk except Kongo which is left reeling with heavy fires and heavy damage.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 34, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
CL Tama, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ariake, Shell hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 6
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 6
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
DD Nestor, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Nizam, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Norman, Shell hits 1
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Van Galen

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Hirata, Noboru crosses the 'T'
CA Cornwall engages CL Tama at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards

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The RN also runs into Fuso, which is amazingly still shooting, and gets Nizam in trouble before taking another beating.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 16, on fire
DD Yugao, Shell hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Canberra, on fire
CA Cornwall
DD Nepal
DD Nestor, on fire
DD Nizam, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Norman, Shell hits 1
DD Tjerk Hiddes, heavy fires
DD Van Galen

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 1,000 yards
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Sturgeon adds to the misery of Fuso, pushing the total torpedoes to five now she's taken.
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Submarine attack near Kumamoto at 102,59

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

BB Fuso is sighted by SS Sturgeon
SS Sturgeon launches 4 torpedoes at BB Fuso
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Yet another cruiser TF joins the fray for the Allies, finding Kirishima and three DDs, sinking one, damaging another and putting Kirishima into a sinking position after more shells and a torpedo.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Uzuki
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Mauritius
DD Farenholt
DD Bailey
DD Bancroft, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mahan
DD Preston

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The last to arrive led by two CA and two CL finds Fuso, out of ammunition and barely moving, and sinks her and her escort. Finally!
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kumamoto at 102,59, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Yugao, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher
CL Perth
CL Hobart
DD Gansevoort, Shell hits 1
DD Gillespie
DD Kalk
DD Meade
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 85% moonlight: 2,000 yards

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ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Almost like a walk down memory lane for me.

I also got ashore first at Kummomoto. What's different is that my invasion occurred 20 months later than yours, the Russians were still long way from having cleared Korea and I scooped up all of the barrier islands before landing on Kyushu.

In may game the AI left Matsuyama (adjacent to Hiroshima) empty so I took it by air landing getting a quick foothold on Honshu.

Both Uleungdo and Oki Shoto could possibly be taken by air assault.

I've gone for a few in that area, but not the islands. Matsue is a para target here as is Karume. More soon.

I always like hitting Kanoya since nothing can reinforce in time. I'm guessing garrison levels are a lot lower in April 1943 so that's less of a factor.

Well played. Very interesting naval scuffle. It was almost like the Battle off Samar: The CVE and some escorts get hammered, but the APs live to fight another day.

Cheers,
CB

Late in the night phase after the big battles the Nashville and five DDs first bombarded Shimonoseki effectively, then blundered into Tsushima Island defences somehow. Not sure how that retreat path was chosen, but I'll aim to steer well clear in future. The Helena took five 30cm hits and sank fairly quickly, while DDs took a few smaller caliber hits and also hit Maines. Yuck.

In all the Allies lost three DDs and the CL here.

The next stage in the daylight was the air phase, which was full of Allied sweeps from Korea hitting various fields and bombers following to try and disrupt any airstrikes being launched from Kyushu. This was largely successful, or at least no large LBA strikes did hit the Allied forces, but the KB did launch.

The strike was large and cohesive, but the Allied CAP performed well. Some bombers got through, and although the main fleet CVs were targeted there were no hits. One set of brand new Judys did make it through to the CVEs and two took hits, with the Nassau getting a pasting from four 500kg bombs. She sank almost immediately. Another took on torpedo hit but will stay with the fleet and continue ops.

The IJN strikes were again hit on the way out and suffered significant losses.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kumamoto at 102,59

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 68 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 112
A6M3a Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 66
D3A1 Val x 69
D4Y1 Judy x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1
Sea Hurricane Ib x 26
Martlet II x 28
Martlet IV x 13
Hurricane IIc Trop x 2
Kittyhawk I x 2
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 230
F6F-3 Hellcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 28 destroyed, 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 35 destroyed, 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CLAA Juneau
CV Wasp
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Nassau, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Sangamon, Bomb hits 1
CV Hornet
CVL Hermes
CV Victorious
CVE Chenango

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
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Since the fields are closed I sent in air strikes to hit the ports at Nagasaki. Some transports were spotted earlier evacuating to the inland sea, but the strikes caught two CLs and a number of subs, plus some repair ships still in port. Looks like Agano and Jintsu are goners, several subs are sunk and others crippled, and the repair ships severely damaged as well.
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Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 17
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 32

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Agano, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SS I-121, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS I-1, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Repair Shipyard hits 6
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Mitchell II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 23

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS I-121, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Agano, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AR Toei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS I-21, Bomb hits 1
ARD Haiphong ARD, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 11

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-8, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Runway hits 1
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 11 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
AR Kikukawa Maru
SS RO-62, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
SS RO-60, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS I-8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Agano, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS I-21, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AR Mexico Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD Haiphong ARD, heavy fires, heavy damage

Repair Shipyard hits 8
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
City Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Ground combat went much better than expected, as the Japanese defences here were extremely light.
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Ground combat at Kumamoto (102,59)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 44469 troops, 724 guns, 1083 vehicles, Assault Value = 2000

Defending force 11839 troops, 177 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 288

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 4652

Japanese adjusted defense: 46

Allied assault odds: 101 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kumamoto !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
7808 casualties reported
Squads: 161 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 65 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 161 (131 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
45th Indian Brigade
13th Armoured Rgt /1
50th Tank Brigade
13th Australian Brigade
255th Armoured Brigade
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd Tank Battalion
44th Indian Bde /1
17th Indian Division
22nd Marine Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
766th Tank Bn /1
Aus I Corps /1
2/9th Fld RAA Rgt /1
1st USMC FA Bn /1
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Rgt /1
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
KNI Leger /1
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment
I US Corps
134th Field Artillery Battalion
76th Cst AA Rgt /2
1st Port Advn Base Force /1
77th Cst AA Rgt /1
1st RM Heavy AA Rgt /1
308th Base Group
209th FA Bn /1

Defending units:
5th Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Depot Division
34th Ind Engineer Regiment
17th Garrison Unit /3
70th JAAF AF Bn
47th Field Const Co
24th Special Base Force
Tachibana-wan Fortress
Waifu JAAF Base Force
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ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

I always like hitting Kanoya since nothing can reinforce in time. I'm guessing garrison levels are a lot lower in April 1943 so that's less of a factor.

Well played. Very interesting naval scuffle. It was almost like the Battle off Samar: The CVE and some escorts get hammered, but the APs live to fight another day.

Cheers,
CB

I had prep for about 6-7 bases on the Home Islands, and would have liked more in one shot, but my CV/LBA air cover could only handle this one realistically. Kanoya and Kagoshima were intended but I decided that if unreinforced, Kummamoto along with surrounding islands would be better and throw the rest in behind in case the troops were disrupted and fatigued.

As it turned out they're now available for throwing in to Kummamoto to allow multiple paths for the next push.

The naval battles went pretty well for what I had available, and now the BBs can take part tomorrow and into the future. I've got AKEs already here and ready to disband into Kummamoto as well. [8D]

Here is the situation now after taking Kummamoto. The troops will quickly move to Karume one hex NE, to try and support the failed para-landing there. About 30 AV are still in fighting condition but it looks like almost 20k IJA troops in hex, so probably a well supported ID. I should be able to get all of the armour there for the 23rd, including a strong 200AV armoured Brigade and numerous US battalions. If the Allied IDs follow in two turns I'm hoping to take this base in the clear and have the choice of moving on to Fukuoka or Nagasaki from there.

The fields are undamaged, but only size 2. I flew in my only good NF group plus some Spits and P-40K to add to the CV air in hex now.

I count three ARs and an ARD in the combat reports at Nagasaki. Seems strange to have such valuable ships there, especially since the base has a shipyard. He did seem to be using it as his major repair base. Perhaps those ARs and ARD had ships assigned and could not easily bug out?

Whatever the reason - nice haul! The ARD has to be especially rare for Japan. Your decisions are solid, and often brilliant - as usual! [&o]

Tsushima is a PITA. I've had TFs stumble there with similar results. If it hasn't been reinforced with infantry, you should be able to take it fairly easily with paras (maybe 2/3 to 1 division?) once they aren't doing more important things.

Well done on the invasion. This should be quite interesting to the peanut gallery.

Cheers,
CB

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

Tsushima is a PITA. I've had TFs stumble there with similar results. If it hasn't been reinforced with infantry, you should be able to take it fairly easily with paras (maybe 2/3 to 1 division?) once they aren't doing more important things.

Well done on the invasion. This should be quite interesting to the peanut gallery.

Cheers,
CB

I took it with a single USMC Para Bn with 30 AV, but after the fort had been bombed silly first.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I count three ARs and an ARD in the combat reports at Nagasaki. Seems strange to have such valuable ships there, especially since the base has a shipyard. He did seem to be using it as his major repair base. Perhaps those ARs and ARD had ships assigned and could not easily bug out?

Whatever the reason - nice haul! The ARD has to be especially rare for Japan. Your decisions are solid, and often brilliant - as usual! [&o]

He definitely scaled back on the number of ships there over the past weeks as the Allies approached, but I'm guessing he had some that were still repairing and couldn't get them out as quickly. Probably upgrades. Maybe unintended upgrades, which are a PITA when you're disbanding and forget to check the do not upgrade switch.

As I've found in the endgame, there just aren't any safe places left to put ships once the Allies are in range. Each port has to be defended or you have to leave them in TFs burning fuel as CAP traps and hope for the best. I think he may not have much fuel left for the second option.