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Things aint looking good for the paratroopers of the 188th !!!

may get wiped out before I can take Madras....

Attack goes in tomorrow

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/23/45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ishieak , at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
C6N1-S Myrt x 26

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
9 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
5 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
6 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ishieak , at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
C6N1-S Myrt x 13

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 65,45

Japanese Ships
AP Mikage Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Carbonero

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taichu , at 49,43


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 8
F-5C Lightning x 3
A-26B Invader x 43


Allied aircraft losses
A-26B Invader: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 67

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
12 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
6 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
2 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
2 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Takao , at 48,45


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 2


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 2
A6M5c Zeke x 3

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x A6M5c Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 25
B7A Grace x 32

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet
14 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
21 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet
9 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 9
Ki-100 Tony x 11

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 8 destroyed
Ki-100 Tony: 5 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 5
Ki-100 Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 6
Beaufighter VIF x 19
P-38J Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufighter VIF: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
5 x TBM Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 3
Ki-100 Tony x 2

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 28
Liberator VI x 30
B-29 Superfortress x 67

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-100 Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Liberator VI: 1 damaged
B-29 Superfortress: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 148

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
25 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
23 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pisanuloke , at 32,38


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Brunei , at 32,57


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 11
B-24J Liberator x 11


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
6 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 9


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 17000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 17000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 49,79


Allied aircraft
F6F-5N Hellcat x 17
TBM Avenger x 6
Kittyhawk III x 7


No Allied losses

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
17 x F6F-5N Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao , at 41,61


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 3


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

Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cagayan , at 42,59


Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 9
B-24J Liberator x 4


No Allied losses

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cagayan , at 42,59


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 18
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-24J Liberator x 14


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Legaspi , at 44,55


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
A-26B Invader x 22


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x A-26B Invader bombing at 10000 feet
7 x A-26B Invader bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Naga , at 44,54


Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 2
F6F-5N Hellcat x 14


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Naga , at 44,54


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-24J Liberator x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo , at 38,59


Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 22
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 13


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo , at 38,59


Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 19
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-24J Liberator x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 7

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x F6F Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 133rd IJNAF Base Force, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 7

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 36
F6F Hellcat x 13
SB2C Helldiver x 11
TBM Avenger x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 2 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM Avenger: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
10 x TBM Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
7 x TBM Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
13 x F6F Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
17 x FM-2 Wildcat bombing at 2000 feet
17 x FM-2 Wildcat bombing at 2000 feet
5 x TBM Avenger bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 133rd IJNAF Base Force, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 11
PB4Y Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 16000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 16000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 133rd IJNAF Base Force, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 1

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 7
Liberator VI x 26
Mosquito FB.VI x 40
A-26B Invader x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
9 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
11 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
5 x A-26B Invader bombing at 16000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
1 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 16000 feet
2 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 16000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 133rd IJNAF Base Force, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 13
Mosquito FB.VI x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Beaufighter VIC bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th USMC Para Battalion, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 12

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
6 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 17,19

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 12

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th/C Division, at 23,20


Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 10
P-38J Lightning x 3


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madras

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 82596 troops, 805 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 2480

Defending force 15436 troops, 159 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 314


Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7106 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 145

Defending force 2020 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Japanese max assault: 149 - adjusted assault: 163

Allied max defense: 28 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 163 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported

Andy
However the game ends you are a warrior at heart. An honorary Samurai!

The issue I will face is his reserves and how to stop them interfering. If he gets any whiff of where I am going its game over.
 
So thats going to limit my supporting bomber raids.
 
I need to think about it and hit several plausible target sites and try to split his attention. Not easy he knows how I think now
 
In AE what I am trying to do i.e. landing multiple armies to isolate a single base would not be possible because of the new ZOC rules.
 
On the other hand its unlikely that every base will have lvl 9 forts (6 is the new defacto max for fort levels without extreme effort) and the superfast interior railway reinforcement would not be possible to move 1,000's of AV in a couple of days. i.e. to move through an enemy hex say from Sasebo to Nagasaki would be possible but it would be moving at 7 or 8 miles per day tactical or 15 - 20 miles per day but taking huge casualties in move mode.
 
Basically taking railways out of normal move modes and making it special is going to change a lot of game aspects.
 
However that doesnt help me my margin of error is not huge so I need to think how I am going to do this and whether or not to bring back the paratroopers of the 11th Airborne Div.
 
It is just about possible to get them back in time and to use them in Bde sized units to try and cut the railline - its a suicide mission ergo more than a tad gamey so I probably wont do it but I do need to think how I am going to cut that rail line.
 
I dont mind isolating bases with 3000 AV per base because thats a sizable chunk of troops 300 or even 100 is just gaming the system so I need to think of another way to make PZB think I am going elsewhere.
 
For the record If I pick up huge unit count rises in my target hexes I WILL switch targets and take the disruption hit on landing no choice attacking an enemy with the interior lines I am facing means I need to remain flexible so at least 1 Division from each of the follow on Corps has a different beach prepped for (further along the coast) if forced to a switch I will land elsewhere.....I hope it does not come to that
 
Andy

Hi Andy,

if you cannot guarantee total air superiority over the invasion hexes your invasion will result in a total desaster. You'll have to put the Japanese airforce out of action if you want to succeed. And even then it will be a close thing at best if PzB manages to reinforce his beach defenses.

IMHO it would be better to attack Formosa (even Okinawa would be too risky currently). This will still be a bloody affair but manageable - and give you the neccessary bases to suppress Japan.

Elsewhere: Madras looks promising, ten day of bombardments and air attacks and a shock attack could succeed.

K

You are right K tactically its a challenge and may well be a disaster in the offing I certainly encoutered that against pauk.
 
So I dont discount the risk and I am constantly rechecking my core assumptions. Timing is less of an issue now I have until March 46 so I have time to do a Formosa op its just resources lost there are lost I dont get more ships or LCU's now so anything I divert is lost - period.
 
Formosa is on the cards and if I could do it cheaply I would but I suspect I will lose more ships and more men that will not be available for the HI.
 
I guess what I am saying is I am never as strong as I am now.
 
I will look again at Formosa you never know he may have weakened it.
 
Certainly I am waiting on Isheak getting to level 2 to allow me to pbase 100 Mustangs there to escort heavy B29 raids into the HI and LRCAP my invasio beaches (lvl 4 would be even better I would put some Black Widows and P51's there).
 
I am most certainly not going in without any land based cover.
 
I don't for a second discount that this is a potential disaster but I feel I need to try having came this far the HI is th eprize and I will need to try and take it.
 
To get the draw on points by hovering up PI or Borneo or other isolated bases is not what the allies would have done they would have went for it...
 
(With 20 more Divs and 2,000 more Mustangs and Midways etc etc ;) but they would have went for it !!!)
 
Madras is looking very good
 
 
Andy

Any op I do now is about getting fighter fields in range of the HI nothing else really matters.
 
I have more lvl 7 AF's in the PI than I can use so B29 bases are not the issue.
 
Getting a base inside 12 hexes of most HI bases so Mustangs can escort strikes or 11 so P38J's can is the target.
 
(6 for Thuds would be perfect)
 
I will recheck all the possibilities multiple times before I commit I am not insane I know how big a risk this is..
 
To be honest if the computer did not screw up allied reinforcements I would probably have diverted 5,000 AV to recapture India. Unfortunately even if I do I dont get the RN Carriers or Surface Ships which would be so usefull. In stock the date of arrival of the RN Ships stops when Karachi is taken so unlike the LCU's they are not all sitting at 1 day waiting to arrive.
 
If they were I would 100% have attacked Formosa in a limited operation to clear the way to the HI and sent a reinforced Amry to India to retake karachi.
 
But thats not the way the game works so those ships are not waiting on me and that drives my strategy.
 
Andy

As I said just to be clear the pre requisite for the invasion is getting Isheak to lvl 2 minimum on recalculating building speed it wont be there sufficiently in advance of the 21st November for fighters based there to attrit PZB's fighter pilots therefore I am going to delay the operation by 2 weeks new date 4th December 1945.
 
The extra time will allow forces currently operating off Madras to participate as well.
 
The plan is to use P38J's based at Isheak to sweep various Japanese HI bases supporting B29 strikes.
 
My Mustangs will be held back for use when the invasion begins so I will be aiming to rotate P38's into Isheak and then use them up and rotate them out.
 
Only after my P38 groups have done their job will I commit Mustangs and the fleet.
 
So sorry guys DDay is put back 2 weeks

From Isheak P38's can suppress AF's as far as Hiroshima and Matsuyama and this is neccessary to the invasion.

The other alternative and it is still viable is to just hit Anamani or Okinawa with 15,000 AV PZB would be unlikely to commit to stop me and it should still leave time for HI in Feb 46.
 
Andy

Wouldnt an attack on Okinawa just tell him that you are coming for the HI, and make him withdraw everything he has got back to Japan? Surely there is an element of surprise at play here aswell. He is most likely not expecting an invasion directly into Japan..

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Wouldnt an attack on Okinawa just tell him that you are coming for the HI, and make him withdraw everything he has got back to Japan? Surely there is an element of surprise at play here aswell. He is most likely not expecting an invasion directly into Japan..

Doesn't really matter what PzB expects or does not expect (but why should he not expect an invasion in Japan?). There will be enough Japanese 'militia' division in Japan by now to adequately cover every base in Japan. The key for any landing in Japan is the availability of enough (fighter) airfields in range of the Home Islands. Carrier aircraft alone will not be sufficient. Even Okinawa is probably one step too far in this game. Formosa should be doable if Andy manages to suppress the bases in the vicinity (China, Okinawa). Even if Andy has not much time left - this is not the time for any 'bold' moves.

The problem is K that Formosa doesnt get me AF's in range of the HI either.
 
Remember this is non PDU so I have 5 Sqns of P51's
 
Formosa does not actually get me anything that Luzon has not already provided.
 
Thats why its a red herring.
 
 

There is one other option that I am still considering and its the southern option onto the isolated island.
 
It gets me fighter bases in range of all HI bases on a flat open piece of terrain.
 
I am immune to attack from bases in the north in Manchuria and it is a good AF to base Thuds and it will be in range of Isheak based P51's.
 
It just means two major battles between now and March and I dont know if the training command will allow that level pilot regeneration even at 90% training.
 
Hmmmmmmm I am going to give this some more thought.
 
The problem is that dammed railway.
 
If I attack in the North at Kit - Nagasaki I am going to have almost no pre attack air bombardment because if I do he rails in troops and stops me cold.
 
At least in the south I would have a shot.
 
I could just attack one base with 15,000 AV take it have an AF and then follow up with assaults on the mainland. I could reorganise use 1 Army with a Corps of 3 Marine Divs, a second of 3 Inf Divs and a 3rd of 2 Armoured Divs plus all my Arnmoured Bns should be enough to take one base in the clear.
 
Say 1500 AV for him x 4 so to ensure success I would need to take 4 Corps it would allow my cripples to stay out of the fight and repair a little sys damage.
 
Hmmmmm it has possibilities.
 
To get my Prep up > 50 on landing I need to make a decision within 2 days.
 
I will re assess tonight.
 
Ngasaki, Sasebo and Kit without local air superiority is perhaps a little too insane.
 
I am going to sped some time thinking about it.
 
 
 
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

The problem is K that Formosa doesnt get me AF's in range of the HI either.

Remember this is non PDU so I have 5 Sqns of P51's

Formosa does not actually get me anything that Luzon has not already provided.

Thats why its a red herring.

Seems that my proposal was not clear, I was arguing for the following route:

Formosa > Okinawa > Home Islands

Batan Island instead of Formosa would be an even better route - but it is an atoll and you would probably have taken it already instead of Ishieak if it were only lightly defended.

Taipei on Formosa is within six hexes of Okinawa.

Okinawa is within six hexes of some bases on Kyushu.

Six hexes is Thunderbolt range and the use of Thunderbolts will allow you to give your P-51's other tasks (escorting heavy hitters or sweeps).

Ah ok the issue with that route is time.
 
I only have 5 months until game end so ships lost cannot be repaired and troops cannot recover or build enough preparation points.
 
Isheak is already inside 6 hexses of Okinawa so no point in Batan or Formosa.
 
What this boils down to is wait 3 weeks for Isheak to finish building to lvl 2 then attack Okinawa.
 
Its a viable strategy and I will look at it again.
 
I am going to do a comprehensive review tonight but I think it comes down to three options.
 
1. PLAN A 4 Army Assault on North Japan - tactically risky, logistically fine as only invasion I will need to launch but it is likely to be a bloodbath and I am not 100% certain it will work because of the railway and the need to telegraph my target.
 
2. PLAN B 4 Army Assault on Okinawa followed by HI or Anananmi and HI. - The issue is it will wreck my entire Army and although I will win it will be along hard slog in mountain country but it is doable.
 
3. PLAN C 1 or 2 Army Assault on the clear island south of HI - Outside of friendly aircover BUT
a. Its clear terrain so no matter how much force PZB brings I can take it quickly.
b. It does not wreck my whole army group allowing me to preserve troops for future ops AND I can get away with JUST using Amphibs so really fast unloading.
c. Immediate AF's in range of whole HI.
d. Difficult to reinforce
 
4. PLAN D Go Deep and Hit Sackalin or far side.
 
For me now where I sit its Plan A all the way BUT I am going to sleep on Plan C - Plan B isnt a goer for me because the game ends in 5 months and a mountain slogging campaign on Okinawa will exhaust my ground troops - its taken 3 months to get the PI invasion force back up to scratch I dont have that kind of time.
 
If the end date was 12/46 and I was getting new construction maybe but not now.
 
Andy

Don’t post too much on the forums, but, I have followed your AAR for a long time now.

I think that extra consideration you’re giving to Plan C is good. I think the invasion of the southern island, Shikoku, is the best bet.

By taking Shikoku, you are now positioned right ‘under the belly’ of Japan. This forces PzB to spread out a little more in the home islands. Your troops are probably not as damaged as they would be from another operation and well rested for a follow on operation. I think in general, this operation opens up a lot of ‘doors’ to invade other islands/bases in Japan. You also have the ability to probe in and out of bases from Shikoku – for example – you can invade in one night across the Inland Sea to a half dozen bases to test defenses, etc. If you get stuck, you can pull right back to Shikoku and land somewhere else very quickly.

Immediate Tactical Reasons:
1) the terrain is good
2) it is difficult for PzB to reinforce
3) you can actually bring your invasion forces in from straight south and stay out of range of the Okinawa, Formosa, South Korea - air bases.
4) you have about 15,000 AV available, that should crush most resistance quickly which is important for preserving your troops
5) if you can capture one base quickly, you can bring in land based fighters to protect the mop up operations of the island

Other Strategic Reasons
1) you gain two good airbases to deploy P47s and medium bombers at, perhaps even some land based dive bombers and torpedo planes; this allows you to use your 5 squadrons of P51s to escort your heavy bombers on other strikes and to preserve your carrier air

2) you gain two good logistics support bases – they can be built up quickly and you can dump a lot of supplies and fuel there

Shikoku is about gaining real options quickly. Lots of real threats forces PzB to spread out – which has been something you that has been hard to do. Seize the base, you have the option of truly feigning at one location to draw his troops in, lock them in place, and then pulling out and invading somewhere else in mere days.

I figure if you can capture Shikoku in 45-60 days, you have 15-30 days to rest, regroup and then a further 45-60 days to go for another operation.

Shikoku op should be
1) Large landing force on one base, small one on the other to prevent reinforcement (the small invasion could even go in a day earlier).
2) LRCAP over the main target base from Navy CVs offshore or P51s.
3) I would think your CVs 3-4 hexes off base with Helldivers, Avengers on naval attack/airfield and some set to naval attack at 100 feet to bust barges.
4) BBs hitting the main target.
Just my two cents.

Yeah the more I look at it the more I think its a goer I am going to sleep on it tonight - the clear terrain is a big deal lvl 9 forts on clear terrain is doable withut killing my entire Army.
 
Also Isheak is only 37% to lvl 2 its only raising at 1 or 2 % per day so thats another reason to think it through
 
Madras is going better than I could ever have dreamed I am sending everything in if I can take it tomorrow PZB may get a nasty surprise....
 
Andy
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/24/45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madras, at 18,21
 
Allied Ships
DD Spence
DD Picking
DD Black
DD Charles Badger
DD Taussig
CL Santa Fe
CL Montpelier
CL Gambia
BB Colorado
 
Japanese ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taichu , at 49,43
 
 
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 7
F-5C Lightning x 3
A-26B Invader x 37
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 37
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 6 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 9 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 6 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 4 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Takao , at 48,45
 
 
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 3
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 5
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
 
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 14
A6M5c Zeke x 27
 
No Japanese losses
 
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13
 
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M5c Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
12 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
 2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
 3 x A6M5c Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
 
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 16
B7A Grace x 8
 
No Japanese losses
 
Runway hits 17
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 8 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet
14 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
 2 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21
 
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 8
 
Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 6
B-29 Superfortress x 25
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-29 Superfortress: 3 damaged
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65
 
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
 5 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
12 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
 2 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Brunei , at 32,57
 
 
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
PB4Y Liberator x 10
B-24J Liberator x 11
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 20
 
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 5 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73
 
 
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 7
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 17000 feet
 4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 17000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao , at 41,61
 
 
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-24J Liberator x 6
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 2 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cagayan , at 42,59
 
 
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 11
B-24J Liberator x 7
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 11
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cagayan , at 42,59
 
 
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 17
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-24J Liberator x 11
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 5 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Legaspi , at 44,55
 
 
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
A-26B Invader x 28
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 48
 
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x A-26B Invader bombing at 10000 feet
 6 x A-26B Invader bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Naga , at 44,54
 
 
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 2
F6F-5N Hellcat x 15
 
 
No Allied losses
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Naga , at 44,54
 
 
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-24J Liberator x 17
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 16
 
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 2 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo , at 38,59
 
 
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 22
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 13
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 41
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
 2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo , at 38,59
 
 
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 14
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-24J Liberator x 12
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 20
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
 6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
 
 
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
F4U-1D Corsair x 21
F6F-5N Hellcat x 17
TBM Avenger x 6
Kittyhawk III x 7
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Runway hits 6
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 6 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
17 x F6F-5N Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Aus Army Tank Battalion, at 18,20
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 7
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 7 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th USMC Para Battalion, at 18,19
 
Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 24
 
No Japanese losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 17,19
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 12
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mannargudi at 16,23
 
Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 12
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 5 damaged
 
Allied Ships
AK Logan Victory
AK Mt. Holyoke Victory, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21
 
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 7
 
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 1 destroyed
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madras, at 18,21
 
Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
DD Marshall
DD Evans
DD Heywood Edwards
DD Eaton
CA Shropshire
 
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madras
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 95185 troops, 824 guns, 590 vehicles, Assault Value = 2786
 
Defending force 15408 troops, 161 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 317
 
Allied max assault: 4728 - adjusted assault: 3024
 
Japanese max defense: 244 - adjusted defense: 1477
 
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 9)
 
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
1558 casualties reported
Guns lost 33
Vehicles lost 44
 
Allied ground losses:
1713 casualties reported
Guns lost 67
Vehicles lost 1
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bangalore
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 7112 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 145
 
Defending force 1630 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20
 
Japanese max assault: 154 - adjusted assault: 79
 
Allied max defense: 11 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 79 to 1
 
 
 
Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 18,19
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 5309 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
 
Japanese max assault: 106 - adjusted assault: 55
 
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 55 to 1
 
 
 
Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
 

 
 

Hmmmm still thinking...
 
I hate to admit this but if you asked what do I actually WANT to do I would want to send 3,000 AV to India to reconquer it just because thats what I want to do...not becuase its what I should do in game !!!
 
I am veering towards a mixture.
 
Plan C the more limited southernb strategy with 5 or 6,000 AV keep 5 or 6,000 in reserve and send the 1,000 ish to reinforce the Australian Army in India i.e. sending the Army reserve (i.e. NZ Cavalry and the Aus Indpdt Bdes about 2 reinforced Divs worth) to India to try and retake Karachi...
 
But I am still mulling
 
Andy

Half-measures result in less than stellar results.... Obviously they also avoid complete catastrophe. I don't want to sway you too much one way or the other as I have posted in PzB's AAR but I do feel it necessary to point out that if you do go for a half-measure then we're not going to finish on a bang.
 
Historically that may be the best way to go though...

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Hmmmm still thinking...

I hate to admit this but if you asked what do I actually WANT to do I would want to send 3,000 AV to India to reconquer it just because thats what I want to do...not becuase its what I should do in game !!!

I am veering towards a mixture.

Plan C the more limited southernb strategy with 5 or 6,000 AV keep 5 or 6,000 in reserve and send the 1,000 ish to reinforce the Australian Army in India i.e. sending the Army reserve (i.e. NZ Cavalry and the Aus Indpdt Bdes about 2 reinforced Divs worth) to India to try and retake Karachi...

But I am still mulling

Andy

Mulling is good.

Like many others I assume, I'm very interested to see an all-out HI invasion between two very good, prepared players. But it depends on your POV, whether this is a game, or a simulation of history.

In RL, India would have been in allied hands. In RL, there was no hard-coded end-of-war date. In RL, the Allies would have had a lot more pilots and troops in the hopper.

In the game, if you go to India you probably get vps and a better, more probable game score outcome. But which would be more fun?

I've read your AARs and you are an excellent player, far better than me. But you sometimes talk yourself out of the best move. Picture how you'll feel with a half-done HI invasion, Karachi in your hands, time running out, and no way to finish the job in Japan. I think you'd rather throw the dice. Listen to that inner voice, Grasshopper.[:)]