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Destination Okinawa - Day Six[/font]
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Is mentioned in the previous note the KB + Battle line surged forward and took position just east of Formosa (See screen). This had the fortunate effect that they ran in to the gaggle of subs returning to Manila! [:D] I contemplated sending the subs due south and then around the southern tip of Luzon but ruled it out since I didn´t want to set up waypoints for 70 something subs! Sometime its good to be lazy! [:D]
We get loads of attacks in including two tries on the Hiyo but misses. We do have some luck though!
Sub attack near Taihoku at 89,63
Japanese Ships
CV Unryu, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kongo
CLAA Natori
DD Shimozuki
DD Hamanami
DD Okinami
DD Makinami
DD Akigumo
Allied Ships
SS Razorback, hits 3
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Sub attack near Iriomote at 89,64
Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Torpedo hits 2
BB Mutsu
DD Kiyoshimo
DD Asashimo
Allied Ships
SS Sealion II, hits 2, heavy damage
Eriks ASW TFs do wreck havoc on my subs whom many where already damaged. 3 subs are sunk outright and about 5-8 more are in sinking condition.
My two stricken DDs are also picked off and sink right away. Erik also sent some DDs in most likely to hit the LCI TF that strayed too close to Formosa. A appallingly small and unsuccessful Allied strike goes after them.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 91,71
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 67
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 55
Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Hokaze, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sawakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
The main event of the day is of course the attack on Naha.
Ground combat at Naha (95,66)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 122885 troops, 2122 guns, 3063 vehicles, Assault Value = 5078
Defending force 20942 troops, 584 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 331
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5
Allied adjusted assault: 5460
Japanese adjusted defense: 213
Allied assault odds: 25 to 1 (fort level 5)
Allied forces CAPTURE Naha !!! [&o][&o][&o]
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 8 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 14 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed
B6N2a Jill: 3 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
4571 casualties reported
Squads: 151 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 462 destroyed, 286 disabled
Engineers: 127 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 281 (165 destroyed, 116 disabled)
Vehicles lost 135 (129 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 20
Allied ground losses:
1080 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 40 (2 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 75 (16 destroyed, 59 disabled)
Something worrying is revealed when I open the turn though. Supply is in the RED?! [X(] When I check the base only 23.000 supply is listed in the base. Before the attack I have 69.800! This is the second time this happens! Is this a bug that I should report to michealm?
With 23.000 supply but the actual base in red will I be able to fly CAP? [&:]
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Day Seven - Tomorrow
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I havn´t started on the turn yet and needs to decide on a course of action. I narrowed it down to two option.
Option One
I ignore the forward dash completely. Of course I would have to make contingencies if this really is a hail Mary all out attack. This means I use my CVs defensively and just get on with the job. The job being to get the BFs and more supply to Naha while covering the amphibs to safety.
Option Two
I react to the IJN. If so the only thing that makes sense would be to try and initiate battle with the KB. In all honestly I´m a bit reluctant to do this. Not because of fear of the IJN but rather because
it would give the IJN a significance it no longer have. Do I allow myself to start reacting on what Erik does all of the sudden?
The thought of finally dealing a death blow to the KB is enticing. But do I have any reason at all to seek battle? And on Eriks terms? My brain says "no".
But there an interesting detail here. When talking about the sleepless night last night Erik responded in an email by saying this something like "covered by 2000 planes". Someone has failed to do his homework. The actual number is 3000. Could this faulty knowledge be influencing him in his moves.
What do you guys think?
