The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 19-20, 1945[/font]

---

the 19th had little action apart from the steady bombing runs on Onneketon-Jima, likely preceding an invasion there. A few are lost to flak daily, but supplies are running low.

On the 20th I tried a risky bombardment of Port Blair. Over 200 fighters were based here the day previous, and although detection was limited on the CA TF en route, Dan must have got enough of a whiff to take precautions and moved it all out. It's still sending a warning though, and possibly forcing more commitment to this area. Dan sent a note saying something about "what's going on when in March 45 the IJN is running unopposed around the IO?" [:D]
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 19, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Mergui , at 53,62

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 87 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 36

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
F-5A Lightning: 2 damaged
F-5E Lightning: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 19, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire PR.XI: 12 damaged
B-25J11 Mitchell: 3 damaged
F-7A Liberator: 34 damaged
F-7A Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 13 damaged
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
Mosquito PR.XVI: 11 damaged
A-20G Havoc: 6 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 3 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
P-38L Lightning: 22 damaged
Wellington B.X: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Nachi
CA Myoko
CA Atago

Allied ground losses:
1038 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 203 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 49 (2 destroyed, 47 disabled)

Airbase hits 45
Airbase supply hits 20
Runway hits 132
Port hits 1

CA Kumano firing at Port Blair
CA Mikuma firing at Port Blair
CA Nachi firing at Port Blair
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Myoko
CA Myoko firing at 268th Motorised Brigade
CA Atago firing at Port Blair
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 21, 1945[/font]

---

Massive sweeps hit Sapporo on the 21st, with moderate sweeps and later 4E strikes at Niigata. The Sapporo defenses get almost 1:1, which is great, and at Niigata the CAP is still around to harass the bombers, limiting the effectiveness of the strikes and bagged a few B-24s for good measure. I didn't save the air losses screen unfortunately, but on the day I think it was about 1:1.5.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 21, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
DD Niizuki
DD Fuyuzuki
DD Makinami
DD Ikazuchi
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
YMS BYMS-2205, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
YMS BYMS-2217, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 43,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 40
J2M5 Jack x 17
N1K5-J George x 98
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 13
Ki-100-II Tony x 18

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 2 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 6 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 39300 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 39,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 35
J2M5 Jack x 11
N1K5-J George x 80
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 8
Ki-100-II Tony x 13

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F4U-1A Corsair sweeping at 36900 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 43,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 26
J2M5 Jack x 10
N1K5-J George x 63
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 6
Ki-100-II Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 4 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 7 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 39300 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 19
J2M5 Jack x 9
N1K5-J George x 46
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 6
Ki-100-II Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 14
J2M5 Jack x 4
N1K5-J George x 31
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-100-II Tony x 2

Allied aircraft
F-6D Mustang x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-6D Mustang: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 48
A7M2 Sam x 21
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 20
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 64
Ki-102b Randy x 10

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 11
J2M5 Jack x 3
N1K5-J George x 22
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 2
Ki-100-II Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 45
A7M2 Sam x 15
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 46
Ki-102b Randy x 9

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 8
J2M5 Jack x 1
N1K5-J George x 12
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x P-51D Mustang sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 40
A7M2 Sam x 12
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 9
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 31
Ki-102b Randy x 5

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 29
P-51D Mustang x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Resources hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 20
A7M2 Sam x 8
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 19
Ki-102b Randy x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 18 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Refinery hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 9
A7M2 Sam x 5
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11
Ki-102b Randy x 2

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Niigata , at 114,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 6
A7M2 Sam x 1
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6
Ki-102b Randy x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 9
P-38L Lightning x 22

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

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 6 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kushiro at 124,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36
D4Y4 Judy x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
APD Raymond W. Herndon, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 22-23, 1945[/font]

---

The Allies keep on coming. There is rarely a day without sweeps and bombing strikes. It makes for a quick pace, but in the end I'm not convinced that pace is helping Allied progress in the air. The Japanese are still hitting back and the Allies can't simply strike at will.

On the 22nd Akita is the target, and Chunpon airfield in the South. The Allies do okay, but again the 4Es are hit and the Champion fields are still open.

More action there ends up about the same on the 23rd. The IJAAF however launches a surprise set of sweeps at Rangoon. The three Ki-83 groups recently shifted into theatre absolutely decimate the 2nd gen CAP over Rangoon. It's about 8:1 there at the end of the day, which more than balances out other locations.

The Allied army in the South is now one hex out of Moulmein and moving to flank that base and avoid a river shock. Good idea. It'll take time though, and I'll wait until they shift, see how much he's moved, and then decide which way to move back to the rail line. I'll most likely split my force of 6.7kAV on both roads and set up in the x3 terrain to wait. I've got some units digging there with AA already. There are now several divisions and other reserve units along the Singers-Bangkok rail as well as some holding down Tavoy since the Allied landing at Mergui.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 22, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36
N1K5-J George x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 24

Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 42,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 34
N1K5-J George x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 44,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 27
N1K5-J George x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 43,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 26
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 19
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 48

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 24
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 40

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 9
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 44,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 18
N1K5-J George x 8
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 5 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 16
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 27

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 23, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 48,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 21
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 40
Ki-84a Frank x 30

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 43,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 40
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 36
Ki-84a Frank x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chumphon , at 52,66

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 19
Ki-84a Frank x 17

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 19

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 25
Wildcat V x 21
P-40N5 Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 4 destroyed
Wildcat V: 4 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 41,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 48

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 15
Wildcat V x 7
P-40N5 Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 5 destroyed
Wildcat V: 2 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
43 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 21

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 2
Wildcat V x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 1 destroyed
Wildcat V: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Sinabang (42,76)

TF 780 troops unloading over beach at Sinabang, 42,76

Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

Here are air losses for the 23rd. Pretty good.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 24-25, 1945[/font]

---

On the 24th I keep one sweep on at Rangoon, which still gets a 3:1. Up North massive night strikes hit Sapporo, and the NF and flak do exceptionally well. The NF even get to some B-29s for a change! [;)]

The Allies do land at Onnetekon-Jima and will take the base in a bit. No supply left out here which is too bad. The Allies also try an odd daytime unescorted strike at Sapporo, with no sweeps ahead to it. It gets slaughtered, but does get some airframes on the ground too.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 24, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 21

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 7
Spitfire VIII x 8
Thunderbolt II x 1
P-38L Lightning x 2
P-51D Mustang x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 20th Indian Division, at 42,76 (Sinabang)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21
P1Y2 Frances x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 13
J2M5 Jack x 16
N1K5-J George x 39
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Ki-100-II Tony x 14

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Liberator B.VI: 2 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator B.VI bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 12
J2M5 Jack x 11
N1K5-J George x 29
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-100-II Tony x 12

Allied aircraft
Liberator GR.VI x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator GR.VI: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Liberator GR.VI: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator GR.VI bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 8
J2M5 Jack x 7
N1K5-J George x 19
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 6
Ki-100-II Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K5-J George: 3 damaged
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed
J1N1-Sa Irving: 1 destroyed on ground
H8K2 Emily: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
Liberator B.VI: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Liberator B.VI bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 25, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 54 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 21
P1Y2-S Frances x 7
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 28

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y-2 Privateer bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 21
P1Y2-S Frances x 5
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 28

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 4
B-29-1 Superfort x 11
B-29-25 Superfort x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 6 damaged

Manpower hits 4
Fires 2560

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 19
P1Y2-S Frances x 5
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 21

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-Sa Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 4 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 16
P1Y2-S Frances x 4
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 22

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 13
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 18

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PB4Y-2 Privateer bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 13
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 19

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y-2 Privateer bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 12
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-Sa Irving: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 11
P1Y2-S Frances x 1
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 10

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 11
P1Y2-S Frances x 1
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 8

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 14000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Field AA Battalion, at 56,56 , near Moulmein

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 47

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter TF.X: 25 damaged
Beaufighter TF.X: 3 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Beaufighter TF.X bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5692 troops, 135 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 246

Defending force 14605 troops, 218 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 434

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
86th Naval Guard Unit
50th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
38th Division
47th Ind.Mixed Bde /2
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Special Base Force /2
6th Air Division
1st Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Rocket Gun Battalion
5th Base Force
5th JNAF AF Unit
20th RF Gun Battalion
18th RF Gun Battalion
33rd Army
23rd Field AF Const Bn /1

Defending units:
1st Marine Division
165th Field Artillery Battalion
X Corps Artillery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 26, 1945[/font]

---

Sweeps on Bangkok on the 26th. I'm still just astounded he keeps coming like this, getting about 1:1 overall in sweeps against these bases. Day after day. The number of Allied pilots KIA/MIA must be getting hard to bear, while ours are gaining experience and suffering only 25-30% losses for every plane shot down.

The first attack at Onneketon lowers forts. It won't be long.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 26, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 43,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Ki-83 x 57
Ki-84a Frank x 5

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 3 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 43,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-83 x 57
Ki-84a Frank x 4

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-83 x 55
Ki-84a Frank x 4

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 47,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-83 x 45
Ki-84a Frank x 4

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 10
P-51D Mustang x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 6
Ki-83 x 38
Ki-84a Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38L Lightning: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kaimana at 83,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
APD Bulmer, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14675 troops, 220 guns, 174 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Defending force 15712 troops, 190 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 371

Japanese adjusted defense: 229

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (10 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
165th Field Artillery Battalion
X Corps Artillery

Defending units:
50th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
38th Division
86th Naval Guard Unit
47th Ind.Mixed Bde /2
3rd Special Base Force /2
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
5th Base Force
1st Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
20th RF Gun Battalion
5th JNAF AF Unit
3rd Rocket Gun Battalion
6th Air Division
33rd Army
18th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Field AF Const Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[modrow]

Thanks for the massive updates ! [&o]

As usual, sterling work, especially in the air war !

Hartwig

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 27, 1945[/font]

---

More strikes. More carnage. Our sweeps at Rangoon get about 3:2. The Allies go for Sapporo, doing okay with sweeps but not reducing the CAP enough to keep them away from strikes. The B-29s take a lot of damage and some are downed to ops, but they get decent strat hits on the resources. Overall about 150 planes lost for each side on the day.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 27, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 41,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 23

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 12
Spitfire VIII x 20
Thunderbolt I x 22
P-38L Lightning x 8
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
P-51D Mustang x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 2 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 3 destroyed
Thunderbolt I: 2 destroyed
P-38L Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 20

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 5
Spitfire VIII x 15
Thunderbolt I x 19
P-38L Lightning x 5
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
P-51D Mustang x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 37

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 5
Spitfire VIII x 14
Thunderbolt I x 16
P-38L Lightning x 5
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
P-51D Mustang x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
Thunderbolt I: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 42,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 31
A7M2 Sam x 14
J2M5 Jack x 58
N1K5-J George x 124
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 54
Ki-84b Frank x 14
Ki-100-II Tony x 48

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 2 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 7 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x F4U-1D Corsair sweeping at 39300 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 31
A7M2 Sam x 12
J2M5 Jack x 47
N1K5-J George x 109
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 47
Ki-84b Frank x 10
Ki-100-II Tony x 40

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 41,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 28
A7M2 Sam x 10
J2M5 Jack x 40
N1K5-J George x 85
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 41
Ki-84b Frank x 8
Ki-100-II Tony x 33

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 42,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 23
A7M2 Sam x 9
J2M5 Jack x 36
N1K5-J George x 68
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 31
Ki-84b Frank x 8
Ki-100-II Tony x 23

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 45,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 17
A7M2 Sam x 9
J2M5 Jack x 30
N1K5-J George x 56
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 24
Ki-84b Frank x 8
Ki-100-II Tony x 19

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 41,300 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 15
A7M2 Sam x 7
J2M5 Jack x 28
N1K5-J George x 46
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 21
Ki-84b Frank x 7
Ki-100-II Tony x 15

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 12
A7M2 Sam x 7
J2M5 Jack x 26
N1K5-J George x 39
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 16
Ki-84b Frank x 6
Ki-100-II Tony x 12

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 11
A7M2 Sam x 5
J2M5 Jack x 17
N1K5-J George x 32
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Ki-84b Frank x 4
Ki-100-II Tony x 8

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-47N Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 3
A7M2 Sam x 4
J2M5 Jack x 12
N1K5-J George x 15
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-84b Frank x 2
Ki-100-II Tony x 2

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 4
J2M5 Jack x 3
N1K5-J George x 9
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-84b Frank x 2
Ki-100-II Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 44
B-29-1 Superfort x 19
B-29-25 Superfort x 22
F-6D Mustang x 16
P-51D Mustang x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 13 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 10 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 11 damaged
F-6D Mustang: 4 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Resources hits 116
Fires 59

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 3
J2M5 Jack x 2
N1K5-J George x 7
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-84b Frank x 2

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6
B-29-25 Superfort x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 18 damaged

Resources hits 44
Fires 71

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 3
J2M5 Jack x 1
N1K5-J George x 3
Ki-84b Frank x 1

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 3 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Fires 76

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Sinabang (42,76)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 272 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Defending force 469 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sinabang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-)
preparation(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
567 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
20th Indian Div /4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: modrow

Thanks for the massive updates ! [&o]

As usual, sterling work, especially in the air war !

Hartwig

So much of the endgame for Japan is loading up and making the Allies wary of moving forward. Dan is undaunted, and totally unfazed by losses though. So I've been piling on everything I have to keep up the huge fur balls, and it just keeps going. One day I'd like to build up some pools and get more groups converted to late war airframes, but right now I'm treading water even though losses are about equal and I'm outproducing the Allies about 2:1 for top fighters.

I'm racing ahead to try to catch up to the turn sitting in my box. I've got two days to update but think I'll have to run the turn now! [;)]

[modrow]

ORIGINAL: obvert

So much of the endgame for Japan is loading up and making the Allies wary of moving forward. Dan is undaunted, and totally unfazed by losses though. So I've been piling on everything I have to keep up the huge fur balls, and it just keeps going. One day I'd like to build up some pools and get more groups converted to late war airframes, but right now I'm treading water even though losses are about equal and I'm outproducing the Allies about 2:1 for top fighters.

Well, personally I think - and believe that others probably feel that way - that Dan's avatar really should wear a blue General's uniform and be chewing on a big cigar. He surely has no history of showing pity with his pixel soldiers. But he is quite aware of VPs IMO, and my impression is that you still manage to throw a big spanner into the wheels of his strat bombing VP machine.

Hartwig

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 28, 1945[/font]

---

The Allies turn off the sweeps for a day and set the bombers to hit less dangerous milk-run targets. Still, there are a good number of flak losses involved, and these are arguably not making the battle for targets like Onneketon-jima or Truk quicker (if Truk is still under threat of invasion). Other targets seem to be silly harassment (like Raheng in Burma) and the losses there are not accomplishing anything that I can see.

I'm only going through this because it was a boring turn with nothing much happening on the surface. A lot is happening behind the scenes for Japan though. Supply has dipped to 3.5 million globally and I've got to soon begin turning off fort building and other big users of supply to conserve for the next months ahead. Oil and fuel are still moving freely, but that won't last forever. Industrial generation from LI/HI in the big centres is also steady, with only a few minor producers like Sapporo significantly reduced.

With the move out of Burma, and reduced supply costs there, the SRA can supply most of the needs for the resistance here after a few big dumps just went in to fill up Malaya airfields and other bases on the rail from Singers to Bangkok. China needs are diminishing as few forts are actively building there, and most of the new troops have just about fleshed out now. The biggest cost now is in Manchuria and the HI to fill out the many, many divisions arriving as well as maintaining and upgrading air groups.

After few days (when a couole critically endangered bases near Hokkaido and in clear hexes finish their level 8 forts) I will turn off all new building and see how much the supply jumps up for a few days, then gradually turn things back on so I can keep a surplus growing for a bit, hopefully.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 28, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Paramushiro-jima (137,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20418 troops, 396 guns, 416 vehicles, Assault Value = 351

Defending force 10740 troops, 152 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Allied adjusted assault: 245

Japanese adjusted defense: 847

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 7)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (5 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
Kitachishima Fortress
56th Div /1
1st Amphibious Bde /1
7th Area Army
19th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th JNAF AF Unit
2nd Air Fleet /2
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
Wake Cst Gun Bn /1
14th Base Force /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

A look at top pilots. Although a lot lost yesterday, it's still less than a third of the airframes shot down. I imagine the Allies lost double this many sweeping exclusively over enemy territory that turn. It'l be fun if I can build a core of aces over 20 kills each, which for me would be a new accomplishment for Japan in the late game.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Mar 29-31, 1945[/font]

---

Well, just as I'd thought the sweeps would never end of rate Allies, for the past four days, they have. If Dan is taking a break it now becomes important to be aggressive and continue making it hard for him to build pools and retain good pilots. I managed to get a few bleeding CAP hit sweeping Kushiro, which was nice, and got about 8:1 on those, with about 20+ DS CAP planes shot down.

Dan finally CAPed Para, meaning on one turn I lost about 50 Emilys, so all supply and troop movements to the Kuriles have been suspended for good. These bases, prepared and built up over the months after the invasion of Shikuka, have served their purpose of delay. He's now invaded them all, and although I've lost troop points there, he's lost good bombers, fighters, pilots and some ships. The overall VP count would probably favour the Allies, but I've gained months of time. It's now turning April 45, and the Allies are apparently not moving farther into the Hokkaido interior, and have only sporadically still strat-bombed the big bases of Honshu.

So this begs the question: what is next?

I've begun shifting troops nd will start to back fill some locations as it's time to think broadly about the next phase for the Allies. He knows he can move anywhere, and he's shown in previous games he will take the DS and attendant "herds" (as he's called the transports and amphibs in past games) deep behind the lines.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 29, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikotan at 126,54

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 17

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 14
Corsair IV x 14
Hellcat I x 5
Hellcat F.II x 13
Seafire IIC x 10
Seafire L.III x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 86
F4U-1D Corsair x 269
F6F-3 Hellcat x 348
F6F-5 Hellcat x 459

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ominato at 119,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 35
J2M5 Jack x 18
N1K2-J George x 11
N1K5-J George x 23
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 46
Ki-83 x 20
Ki-84r Frank x 20
Ki-102a Randy x 12

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 5
TBM-3 Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 3 destroyed
TBM-3 Avenger: 1 destroyed

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

Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14638 troops, 221 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 410

Defending force 13276 troops, 166 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 162

Japanese adjusted defense: 45

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
530 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (9 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
165th Field Artillery Battalion
X Corps Artillery

Defending units:
38th Division
47th Ind.Mixed Bde /2
18th RF Gun Battalion
6th Air Division
3rd Rocket Gun Battalion
1st Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
20th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Army
5th Base Force
5th JNAF AF Unit
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
86th Naval Guard Unit
50th Ind.Mixed Bde /1

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 30, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kushiro , at 123,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 40,370 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 45

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 7
F4U-1D Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 4 destroyed
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
34 x N1K5-J George sweeping at 39370 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kushiro , at 123,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 43,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 44

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 3
F4U-1D Corsair x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 2 destroyed
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
39 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

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

Ground combat at Onnekotan-jima (136,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 14539 troops, 220 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 384

Defending force 12131 troops, 137 guns, 206 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Allied adjusted assault: 216

Japanese adjusted defense: 31

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Onnekotan-jima !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
564 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 95 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 39 (37 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 158 (158 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
165th Field Artillery Battalion
X Corps Artillery

Defending units:
38th Division
47th Ind.Mixed Bde /2
20th RF Gun Battalion
1st Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
18th RF Gun Battalion
5th JNAF AF Unit
3rd Rocket Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Army
5th Base Force
86th Naval Guard Unit
6th Air Division
50th Ind.Mixed Bde /1

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 31, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hakodate at 119,53, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Saishu, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAK Havre Maru, Shell hits 36, and is sunk
xAK Yamayuri Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tosei Maru, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
xAK Muroran Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis II
DD Monssen II
DD Benham II, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]April 1, 1945[/font]

---

On April 1 the sweeps return and aim for Bangkok in the South. The defence does well, and the RAF pools in particular take a big hit. The Allies lose 40+ top fighters and their pilots. Up North one small strike aims for seemingly vacant Asahikawa, but encounters bleeding CAP and is chewed up pretty good there.

The DS retreats from around Shikotan, which was just captured, and is now in the shadows again.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 1, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 11
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 18
Ki-83 x 72

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 44,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16
Ki-83 x 69

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 42,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16
Ki-83 x 61

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11
Ki-83 x 58

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 41,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 5
Ki-83 x 51

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 2
P-51D Mustang x 3

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

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Asahikawa , at 121,51

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 4
J2M5 Jack x 7
N1K5-J George x 9
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 4
Ki-84r Frank x 5
Ki-100-II Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 18
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 45,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 3
Ki-83 x 44

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

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

Ground combat at Paramushiro-jima (137,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20938 troops, 397 guns, 419 vehicles, Assault Value = 361

Defending force 10067 troops, 143 guns, 272 vehicles, Assault Value = 222

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 275

Japanese adjusted defense: 263

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
6th Infantry Division
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
Kitachishima Fortress
56th Div /1
1st Amphibious Bde /1
2nd Air Fleet /2
6th JNAF AF Unit
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
19th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th Area Army /1
Wake Cst Gun Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[Wuffer]

Well, what a surprising development - if remembering the less than expected results at the very beginning back in 41. It's April 45 now and you are supposed to be hiding in a cave...

While you have covered the most interesting aspects of your defence very well, there is still some room for a curious question: What about your tanks? I could easily imagine a nasty shock for the Allies in a single hex or two?
The famous photo on type 3 production (which I hesitate to include here) shows no real effort though, maybe it's just tea time?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Wuffer

Well, what a surprising development - if remembering the less than expected results at the very beginning back in 41. It's April 45 now and you are supposed to be hiding in a cave...

While you have covered the most interesting aspects of your defence very well, there is still some room for a curious question: What about your tanks? I could easily imagine a nasty shock for the Allies in a single hex or two?
The famous photo on type 3 production (which I hesitate to include here) shows no real effort though, maybe it's just tea time?

Vehicle production and Type 3 tanks are going full tilt in this one. I've got plenty of points to fill out the now many arriving tank units in the Home Islands, and the three divisions are positioned to cause some difficulty. One is holding the Chinese back in the Himalayas and was never bought out from China. Another is sitting on the Singers to Bangkok rail line anticipating a move behind the lines.

The third is on Honshu ready to move should the Allies land there or nearby.

There is also a mini-division, more like a tank brigade, on Hokkaido.

The Type 3 is good, but it's still not going to cause much of a shock to the Allies with the firepower of late war Allied squads and other devices. Forts, terrain and big tube arty are the best defensive factors now. There may be a time when I actually try some all out air strikes too, and that will be interesting.

[mind_messing]

If you are still able to, I'd start pulling supply from the DEI as well. Gut your stockpiles. You don't need it down there, you will need it in Japan and Manchuria.

Supply production from the DEI refineries can sustain your local units going forward, but that theatre is a sideshow now that you're getting to the end-game.

Even send it on the long-legged ships with no refuelling orders so you don't end up burning fuel from Japan and let the ships refuel back in the DEI.

I'd also think that you can discount much in the way of amphibious action in the western half of the Empire. The Allied carriers have been firmly positioned in NorPac for the past while. It might be worth thinking about a wholesale evacuation of support units and non-essential combat units from every other theatre. Beyond your current frontlines positions in Thailand, Northern Sumatra and Malaya, I'd start pulling units back to Japan from everywhere else. With the date nearly being 4/45, there's not much value of units in the DEI.

You say Dan likes to go deep, do you really want to risk Formosa or Luzon being the next target and cutting off all the units in the DEI?

Also minor point but what's the garrison of Tsushima? I'd plank a division there (if there's not one already) ASAP - the fortress guns are amazing strategic assets for restricting Allied naval movements, but they're prone to falling to an organized Allied air assault.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]April 2-3, 1945[/font]

---

Not a lot happening. Just the reduction of Paramushiro and the Allied flanking of Moulmein. I've now begun to move units back from there along both routes, and will establish a new block on the x3 terrain to see what the Allies will do.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 2, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Paramushiro-jima (137,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20649 troops, 397 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 334

Defending force 9262 troops, 139 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied adjusted assault: 99

Japanese adjusted defense: 45

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (3 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
56th Div /1
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
2nd Air Fleet /2
7th Area Army /1
1st Amphibious Bde /1
6th JNAF AF Unit
Kitachishima Fortress
19th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Wake Cst Gun Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

If you are still able to, I'd start pulling supply from the DEI as well. Gut your stockpiles. You don't need it down there, you will need it in Japan and Manchuria.

Supply production from the DEI refineries can sustain your local units going forward, but that theatre is a sideshow now that you're getting to the end-game.

Even send it on the long-legged ships with no refuelling orders so you don't end up burning fuel from Japan and let the ships refuel back in the DEI.

I'd also think that you can discount much in the way of amphibious action in the western half of the Empire. The Allied carriers have been firmly positioned in NorPac for the past while. It might be worth thinking about a wholesale evacuation of support units and non-essential combat units from every other theatre. Beyond your current frontlines positions in Thailand, Northern Sumatra and Malaya, I'd start pulling units back to Japan from everywhere else. With the date nearly being 4/45, there's not much value of units in the DEI.

You say Dan likes to go deep, do you really want to risk Formosa or Luzon being the next target and cutting off all the units in the DEI?

Also minor point but what's the garrison of Tsushima? I'd plank a division there (if there's not one already) ASAP - the fortress guns are amazing strategic assets for restricting Allied naval movements, but they're prone to falling to an organized Allied air assault.

The DEI has been virtually self-sufficient for a good while now. I've just sent supplies to the Singers Bangkok rail line to ensure the Burma withdrawal and holding rear retreat positions goes well.

Most areas have had the majority of troops removed. Bases like Palembang and Balikpapan have a naval guard. I have a quick response reserve of 5-6 naval guard units for the little APD and sub incursions the Allies have been sending.

I do need more troops on Formosa, but I'll have to take them from Honshu to do that, which is risky too. There are, as you know, just too many places to cover effectively. Daito and the little islands to the North could be easily taken, and those would provide close-in fighter support for strat bombing as well as limiting any further transport to the Home Islands. I'm flooding units to North Honshu and to Kysushu to get a mobile reserve ready close to anything. I'll move something to every pile of rock around, but I can't put a division everywhere just yet.

Tsushima is a massive fort, but I'd not even though of it as a target. I can drop a brigade there and fly in more quickly if he moves that way.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: obvert


...I do need more troops on Formosa, but I'll have to take them from Honshu to do that, which is risky too. There are, as you know, just too many places to cover effectively. Daito and the little islands to the North could be easily taken, and those would provide close-in fighter support for strat bombing as well as limiting any further transport to the Home Islands. I'm flooding units to North Honshu and to Kysushu to get a mobile reserve ready close to anything. I'll move something to every pile of rock around, but I can't put a division everywhere just yet.

Tsushima is a massive fort, but I'd not even though of it as a target. I can drop a brigade there and fly in more quickly if he moves that way.

Do not weaken the Home Islands defences. Japan remains well on track to achieving a significant game victory. The Allies have less than 5 months to get to a 2:1 auto victory ratio. Their only hope of getting anywhere near that is by capturing Home Island bases combined with strategic bombing.

Based on developments to date in this game I very much doubt the Allies will even achieve a 1.26:1 ratio by the end of August 1945. That only places them in marginal Allied victory territory which is of course very far short of the historical outcome which in keeping with the game design victory conditions means crowing rights to Japan.

Unless that Allied auto victory is gained by 31 August 1945, the end game auto victory level adjustment mechanism will see the worst outcome for Japan being a draw, with a Japanese marginal victory being the most likely adjusted outcome.

Alfred

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: obvert


...I do need more troops on Formosa, but I'll have to take them from Honshu to do that, which is risky too. There are, as you know, just too many places to cover effectively. Daito and the little islands to the North could be easily taken, and those would provide close-in fighter support for strat bombing as well as limiting any further transport to the Home Islands. I'm flooding units to North Honshu and to Kyushu to get a mobile reserve ready close to anything. I'll move something to every pile of rock around, but I can't put a division everywhere just yet.

Tsushima is a massive fort, but I'd not even though of it as a target. I can drop a brigade there and fly in more quickly if he moves that way.

Do not weaken the Home Islands defences. Japan remains well on track to achieving a significant game victory. The Allies have less than 5 months to get to a 2:1 auto victory ratio. Their only hope of getting anywhere near that is by capturing Home Island bases combined with strategic bombing.

Based on developments to date in this game I very much doubt the Allies will even achieve a 1.26:1 ratio by the end of August 1945. That only places them in marginal Allied victory territory which is of course very far short of the historical outcome which in keeping with the game design victory conditions means crowing rights to Japan.

Unless that Allied auto victory is gained by 31 August 1945, the end game auto victory level adjustment mechanism will see the worst outcome for Japan being a draw, with a Japanese marginal victory being the most likely adjusted outcome.

Alfred

I'm trying to keep this in mind, and really do want to focus on VP ratio in all of my choices right now. This is also why I'm playing too conservatively regarding all-out naval strikes and kamis.

With the influx of new China, Manchurian and Home Island restricted units I can probably afford a few units moving from China and Manchuria to the inner islands around Kyushu and down to Daito, and some of the smaller infantry units from naval guard to regiment size installing in those spots. For Formosa I'll bring a few from farther South to add in, and at least cover all of the bases plus have noe stack that might hold for a bit.

The Allies have shown they can move a mass of troops quickly and have them drop in a day, ready to strike. I can't let any base be hit in this way without immediate response, so the forts have all been building beyond level 6 in any clear hex and often to level 8. Non-clear hexes are 6-7 for the most part now, with some Western Honshu and Kyushu bases still catching up.

I am moving some units from Hokkaido back to Honshu as well since he's pulling units from Kushiro and Wakkanai for whatever the next op will be.