[font="Times New Roman"]Oct 3, 1944[/font]
We're cranking turns all of a sudden. I get the feeling Dan is jazzed to get something done here. Virtually no communication though, as I also sense this is a bit of a smackdown moment for him after a few frustrating months. He is a great opponent and a good guy to chat with when we do. Playing him is really interesting after years of following the AARs. I can already now see how his mind works much more.
He is all about attrition, often to the detriment of his own forces, it seems. He's very persistent. Not completely easy to read on a turn by turn basis, though. He does change it up, and he does respond to opportunities very well. My style has evolved as I play him in this game, and I know I have to be almost chaotic in my planning in order to frustrate his structured approach. Even mistakes are possibilities if I use them to led to a later tactic that builds on or is slightly altered from the first.
One thing is consistent with what I've learned through the AARs; he doesn't stop the plan for any loss. Ships, planes, troops and all devices mean very little as long as the plan is seen to be making progress. This lack of aversion to losses is something the Japanese can build on in the endgame, because it's really about points. The VP changes over the past two months are interesting, and (so far) very positive for my side at this stage. I'll post those next.
On the 3rd the IJN retreated, for the most part. The air strikes continued and as predicted, Unryu is sunk. The DS also reappears and sinks a few resupply TFs in the Kuriles and parts of a base force landing at Onneketon Jima. Th guns all made it and this was just a few support and SNLF forces, so easily replaced, which is good. This means the both Para and Onneketon have 20cm guns in place.
Yamashiro makes good time and escapes the air strikes. She will most likely make port for a long repair, but may not be available again in game for much. She has 55 float damage. Soryu is one hex from Wakkanai, but fires are still going. Ahh, the IJN damage control. Grrrr.
So here we go again, the DS in the house. I'm so curious to see next steps. What are the Allies planning?
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 3, 1944
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Morning Air attack on Chiang Mai , at 58,53
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 44
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 27
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 11
Ki-100-I Tony x 16
Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 5 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 2
J2M3 Jack x 15
J2M5 Jack x 17
N1K2-J George x 10
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 42
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5
Ki-84a Frank x 54
Ki-84b Frank x 34
Ki-102b Randy x 9
Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 4
F6F-5 Hellcat x 53
TBM-1C Avenger x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 3 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 20 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 5 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
J2M3 Jack x 11
J2M5 Jack x 17
N1K2-J George x 8
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 28
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 33
Ki-84b Frank x 28
Ki-102b Randy x 9
Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
F6F-5 Hellcat x 10
TBM-1C Avenger x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 7 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 2 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
J2M3 Jack x 7
J2M5 Jack x 15
N1K2-J George x 8
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 16
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 25
Ki-84b Frank x 24
Ki-102b Randy x 7
Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 20
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 3
SBD-5 Dauntless x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 7 destroyed
SB2C-3 Helldiver: 1 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
J2M3 Jack x 5
J2M5 Jack x 9
N1K2-J George x 4
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-84a Frank x 18
Ki-84b Frank x 18
Ki-102b Randy x 7
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13
F6F-5 Hellcat x 30
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Yoizuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Unryu, Bomb hits 12, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
J2M3 Jack x 1
J2M5 Jack x 3
N1K2-J George x 1
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 6
Ki-84b Frank x 8
Ki-102b Randy x 1
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 11
TBM-1C Avenger x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Toyohara at 124,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
J2M3 Jack x 1
J2M5 Jack x 3
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 5
Ki-84b Frank x 8
Ki-102b Randy x 1
Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 18
TBM-1C Avenger x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 2 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Wakkanai at 122,47
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 2
A6M8 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu,
on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Chiang Mai , at 58,53
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 17
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 5
Ki-84a Frank x 4
Ki-100-I Tony x 4
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 23
Wellington B.X x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 17 damaged
N1K5-J George: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 8 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground[
Ki-84a Frank: 4 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 4 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-56 Thalia: 3 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 4 destroyed
Wellington B.X: 7 damaged
Wellington B.X: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Wellington B.X bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Paramushiro-jima , at 137,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 87
Japanese aircraft losses
H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 18 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Onnekotan-jima at 136,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 134
F6F-5 Hellcat x 78
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 29
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 61
TBM-1C Avenger x 18
Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAKL Shinnan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
SC Ch 8, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Mitsu Maru #3, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
CM Itsukushima, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CM Tokiwa, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
SC Ch 12, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirataka, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
E Natsushima, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
3873 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 157 destroyed, 208 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Uruppu-jima at 130,53
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 45
F6F-5 Hellcat x 36
TBM-1C Avenger x 47
Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
LST T-104, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
LST T-111, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
LST T-109, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST T-105, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST T-110, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
LST T-107, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST T-101, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST T-140, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST T-108, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST T-106, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
LST T-102, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x TBM-1C Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x TBM-1C Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
20 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Uruppu-jima at 130,53
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBM-1C Avenger x 17
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
LST T-105, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
LST T-107, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
LST T-109, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST T-101, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
E Kume, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
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Air losses help a bit for the loss of Unryu, but the losses on the ground are high in Burma. A very oddly successful Wellington strike after the CAP had minced a bunch of sweepers.
