Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[jeffk3510]

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Lack of training has been my undoing. I have to sort that out or it will only get worse. I was pretty fit before Ida arrived but stopped training. A stupid choice. [:(]

Its hard with a baby. Its even harder with 2...

Make the time, its in their interests as well as your own.

Very good point.

I miss my college football days pre kids/job. I was in the best shape of my life.. now I feel pathetic.

Need.To.Find.The.Time!

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Lack of training has been my undoing. I have to sort that out or it will only get worse. I was pretty fit before Ida arrived but stopped training. A stupid choice. [:(]

I havent been here long enough so when you said Ida... I was wondering if it was a bomber in game

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Ships sunk[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Here is a list of ships sunk. As can be seen here I had two CV battles in 42. One ended in a draw with 3 CVs sunk on both sides while the second was a Japanese 8 hex strike sinking the remaining 3 Allied CVs. I have no love for the 8 hex strike the devs decided to put in.

[Bullwinkle58]

They could have put in a 13-hex strike . . .

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

They could have put in a 13-hex strike . . .

I would have no love for that either! [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Okinawa[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Here is the situation on the 14th. It might be that the BB fleet has retired. On the 15th they were gone but it might be that the search failed to find them. I should know the next turn.

AFs are building quickly and I expect to have B24s flying before the month is up. Manila is going to act as the main airfield and B24 will be rotated between Manila and the Okinawas. I hope to be able to fly missions every night once I get started. The B29s will continue to fly from bases on Luzon. With their SR4 rotating will be useless.

------------------------
The Fleet (SW of Naha)
------------------------
-3100 CV Planes
-8 Fast BBs
-12 Slow BBs
-15 CAs
-14 Modern CLs
-300 DDs

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

------------------------
The Fleet (SW of Naha)
------------------------
-3100 CV Planes
-8 Fast BBs
-12 Slow BBs
-15 CAs
-14 Modern CLs
-300 DDs

[X(]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

------------------------
The Fleet (SW of Naha)
------------------------
-3100 CV Planes
-8 Fast BBs
-12 Slow BBs
-15 CAs
-14 Modern CLs
-300 DDs

[X(]

Thats not even all of it! Have another 2 CVs, 1 CVL and 3 BBs moving towards Luzon! [:)] Most of the RN is with the fleet now. I have no need for them in the IO.

Late war as the allies you get a LOT of toys. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]15th-16th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Some good some bad.

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------

Amami Oshima is finally secured on the 16th with heavy Japanese losses.

Ground combat at Amami Oshima (98,64)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23181 troops, 432 guns, 810 vehicles, Assault Value = 927

Defending force 4925 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 465

Japanese adjusted defense: 70

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Amami Oshima !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1b Jake: 4 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1211 casualties reported
Squads: 153 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 36 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 57 (54 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

SeaBees and BFs started loading for delivery. I decided to place a lot of CD guns if Erik decides to try something. I will also lay a minefield but I have only 42 mines in the inventory so it will be meager protection. The usual PT boats will of course be in position.

For fun we also bombarded the northern most base on Formosa. A lot of damaged planes but only 30 or so destroyed.

Night Naval bombardment of Taihoku at 87,63

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 14 damaged
J2M5 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground
A7M2 Sam: 22 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 50 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed on ground
B5N2 Kate: 16 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 11 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
C6N1 Myrt: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Astoria

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 50

Looks like Erik pulled out the planes after that. Erik is getting very frisky with a "E" TF and I have tried to intercept it twice now but failed to connect. Another try tomorrow.

------------------------
Stratbombing
------------------------
350 B29s take off for targets in Korea and the HI. Despite decent weather we only achieve 11 HI hits and 4 LI hits. Luckily only 3 B29s are lost. Not a good outcome.

------------------------
China
------------------------
A bit of a frustration here as the 3 Japanese IDs in the mountains continue to resist.

Ground combat at 67,44 (near Paoshan)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45712 troops, 872 guns, 539 vehicles, Assault Value = 1287

Defending force 24993 troops, 344 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 397

Allied adjusted assault: 551

Japanese adjusted defense: 547

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
642 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
768 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
7th Indian Division
25th Indian Division
8th New Chinese Corps
117th RAF Base Force
3rd West African AA Regiment
23rd AA Bde
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
56th Heavy Regiment
2nd West African AA Regiment
4th West African AA Regiment
88th Medium Regiment
104th RAF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
40th Division
104th Division
91st Infantry Brigade
37th Division
1st Army

The Japanese IDs are really beat up now though and the 4Es continue to pound them day after day. Next turn is the last one for the 4Es though. I have other targets for them and they have been at this for far too long.

As expected the CMA won´t be able to do anything about the troops at Kukong.

Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 28556 troops, 533 guns, 1185 vehicles, Assault Value = 1553

Defending force 70277 troops, 640 guns, 644 vehicles, Assault Value = 1707

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
19th Motorised Division
Provisionl Tank Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
11th PAVO Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
17th Motorised Division

Defending units:
71st Engineer Regiment
15th Naval Guard Unit
26th Engineer Regiment
5th Ind.Infantry Bde /1
54th Infantry Brigade
1st Ind.Infantry Brigade
20th Engineer Regiment
62nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Division
22nd Division
2nd South Seas Det. /1
38th Army
Maraisha JNAF Base Force
12th Base Force
4th Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
9th Base Force
Southern Army
12th RF Gun Battalion
18th Field AF Construction Battalion
12th Army
14th Air Fleet
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Rocket Gun Battalion
25th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
38th Ind. Engineer Regiment
6th Area Army
3rd RF Gun Battalion
16th JAAF Base Force

I have this itch to keep them going though. Looking at options here. I want to continue to take advantage of their speed. Supply is no longer an issue as I was able to draw 150.000 supply to Wuchow in a single turn... [8|] Admittedly I´m unloading 500.000 supply at Pakhoi right now and much have likely flowed directly to Wuchow.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
Erik should have left more then he did at Palembang. Then again I would just have bypassed it then. Look at the forts!

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13465 troops, 132 guns, 447 vehicles, Assault Value = 618

Defending force 6028 troops, 23 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied adjusted assault: 468

Japanese adjusted defense: 235

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 9)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 8 [X(][X(][X(]

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

Japanese ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Army Tank Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
5th Australian Division

Defending units:
24th Nav Gsn Unit
22nd Port Unit
2nd Fleet
5th Naval Construction Battalion
26th JAAF AF Bn /3

Running low on supply but I think I have enough for another attack tomorrow.

[jeffk3510]

Late ware Allied bomber pools make me nervous in 42 with some of my recent losses...[X(]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Late ware Allied bomber pools make me nervous in 42 with some of my recent losses...[X(]

You have to watch them very carefully. Admittedly I have been using my 4Es almost daily for 3 years. But never careless and never outside fighter range.

Pilots are almost as problematic. I started using fighters to train GRND way too late. So now I have 2000 Fighter pilots and 20 bomber pilots in the pools... [:(]

[JocMeister]

No turn from Erik tonight.

For fun I tried a rough and dirty loading of the forces slated for the next invasion. Was a bit worried I couldn´t fit the first wave aboard the Amphibs but 125 APAs and 70 AKAs was sufficient. [:)] The BFs will have to be loaded aboard AP/AKs though. But if everything goes to plan I should have almost 1000 NavSupport landed in the first wave and unloading should be very quick after that. First wave will be around 4500 AV. Mostly USMC divisions and armor. They will have to hold the beach for at least 2 weeks until the second and third wave of 8.000 more AV can land. I´m still looking at June/July for this landing. Prior to that I will do a secondary landing in China. Erik hasn´t covered the coast properly and its too tempting to let it be. It will be a small landing with only 2-3000 AV but armor heavy. I wan´t speed more then firepower. I´m pretty certain China is all but empty east of the (broken?) MLR.

After these two landings there will be no more. Kind of odd feeling. I usually have landings planned a year in advance but now there are only two more. Odd, very odd.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]17th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

An incident outside Okinawa

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------
One of my DD TFs set to hunt for Eriks "Es" end up in no mans land. They were set to full speed, had a full load of OPS and only 4 hexes to move. Despite that they failed to return to port and came within range of the KB. Luckily the DDs are fast and nimble and only a small portion of the KBs strike planes flew. Six or seven strikes flew against the DDs. This is the first.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tokara Retto at 99,62

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 96
B7A2 Grace x 9
D4Y4 Judy x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y4 Judy: 15 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Stevens
DD Smalley
DD Morrison
DD Saufley
DD John Rodgers
DD Trathen
DD John W. Weeks, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hank, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Charles S. Sperry, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

2 DDs are sunk outright by 800lbs bombs but the rest should make it. The price for the two DDs were 60 Japanese planes. I have no doubt Erik is happy with the exchange.

I´m itching to act here but I have to have patience. There is no need for me to act. Soon enough Erik will have to come to me. Patience, patience...

------------------------
China
------------------------
The Japanese in the mountains continue to deny me. But they are certainly being worn down. All 3 Jap IDs showed under 50 AV in replay.

Ground combat at 67,44 (near Paoshan)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45427 troops, 873 guns, 539 vehicles, Assault Value = 1243

Defending force 22577 troops, 339 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 263

Allied adjusted assault: 467

Japanese adjusted defense: 550

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
982 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
433 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

I have to divert the lions share of the 4Es now though. The ones flying from India will remain to suppress the troops for now. But the ones at Hanoi will now shift to strike at targets in China and some will rebase to Manila in preparation of the HI campaign.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
Supply is actually critical on Java and the TF carrying more is still more then a week away. I had to stand down most flights. Stupid mistake.

At Palembang things are looking good.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13412 troops, 132 guns, 447 vehicles, Assault Value = 617

Defending force 5796 troops, 23 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Allied adjusted assault: 168

Japanese adjusted defense: 160

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7

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

Japanese ground losses:
401 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Orders for the 18th[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Going against my own advice I shifted the fleet to a more offensive position. Erik has kept his BB TF in place for too long now and I simply cannot leave it in peace. Depending on what happens tomorrow this might be the prelude to driving the IJN into the Sea of Japan.

If everything goes bonkers I will loose a large amount of planes and pilots for nothing. These CAN be replaced though. Although I might get short on Hellcats for while. DBs and TBs I have in the thousands... The deciding factor will be weather or not I can punch through the CAP. Guess its down to how the engine decides to play it. I really hope it doesn´t send a massive strike against the MTBs at Kagoshima. Usually BBs are bomb magnets though...fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]18th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

As usual things doesn´t turn out as expected.

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------
Not much happened as I had intended. First of all the fleet only move 3 hexes. They did end up within range of some good targets but it fizzled probably due to weather and the engines ability to send too small strikes.

Here is the first and biggest strike...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Nagasaki/Sasebo at 101,59

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 52
N1K2-J George x 17
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 24
Ki-83 x 35
Ki-84r Frank x 3
Ki-100-I Tony x 37
Ki-102b Randy x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 83
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 27 [8|]
TBM-3 Avenger x 17 [8|]

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 13 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 14 destroyed
TBM-3 Avenger: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo

The day ended in slaughter with 260 allied aircraft lost. Mostly Hellcats. We did manage to get some hits in though.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koshiki-jima Retto at 101,60

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 33
N1K2-J George x 9
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 15
Ki-83 x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 9
Ki-100-I Tony x 3
Ki-102b Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 65
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 27 [8|]
TBM-3 Avenger x 16 [8|]

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 23 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Yunagi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Okikaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite
DD Hayate

Two other DDs are hit but most likely not sunk. So I´m thinking we sunk one DD and damaged 3 for the price of 260 planes and 120 pilots. Not worth it. Ah well I kind of expected this.

On a more happy note the P47N did its combat debut today.

Morning Air attack on Koshiki-jima Retto , at 101,60

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 16
A7M2 Sam x 22
N1K2-J George x 1
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-61-Id Tony x 6
Ki-84r Frank x 3
Ki-100-I Tony x 3
Ki-102a Randy x 3
Ki-102b Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 6 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

Can´t really complain about that. But Eriks CAP was down low so I got the dive on them. And the pilots in the P47 are the best I have. Still its a good result. [:)]

Luckily for me Erik sent out a bunch of strikes as well that ended badly for him so the day wasn´t a complete disaster loss ratio wise.

------------------------
China
------------------------
Nothing to report.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
Nothing to report.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]18th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

A pretty good turn. Almost 400 VPs up!

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------
The fleet replenishes aircraft and pilots. Hellcat 5 pool is now empty and having to press "right click + yes" 125 times to replace pilots didn´t make me happier...

Erik sent in a Ki83 sweep hitting thin air. He had some good success with them yesterday when they hit some leaky CAP and knocked down 16 Hellcats (10k ALT) for 4 Ki83.

Looks like Erik pulled the KB back somewhere in the Sea of Japan. I´ll know for sure tomorrow.

------------------------
China
------------------------
Some good news here! First of all I managed to catch 4 Japanese IDs in a clear hex and probably in strat/move mode at Liuchow.

Morning Air attack on 58th Division, at 74,55 (Liuchow)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 118
B-25D1 Mitchell x 21
B-25G Mitchell x 12
B-25H Mitchell x 24
B-25J1 Mitchell x 84
B-25J11 Mitchell x 72
P-38J Lightning x 13
P-38L Lightning x 64
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 35
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 26

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
B-25J1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25J11 Mitchell: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
3043 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 168 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 161 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 45 (3 destroyed, 42 disabled)

Also attacking 51st Division ...
Also attacking 32nd Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Division ...

All in all some 4000 casualties inflicted. Probably took some of the edge off those IDs and they will need a week or two to rest up.

I finally dislodged the defenders in the mountains NW of Paoshan! [&o] The 3 Japanese IDs are completely shattered now and all showed 0 AV. Strike 3 IDs from the game!

Ground combat at 67,44 (near Paoshan)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45228 troops, 873 guns, 539 vehicles, Assault Value = 1207

Defending force 21391 troops, 337 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 212

Allied adjusted assault: 969

Japanese adjusted defense: 349

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
7045 casualties reported
Squads: 492 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 345 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 36 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 57 (52 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (36 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
254 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

------------------------
Strat bombing
------------------------
A good day actually. The B29B visited Port Arthur again during the night and the LI is almost completely knocked out. In a more interesting news the B29-25s hit the engine factory at Matsuyama getting some solid hits. Sadly this is a HA-32 factory and I doubt that engine is used for something useful.

Night Air attack on Matsuyama , at 105,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 19

No Allied losses

Mitsubishi Ha-32 hits 4

But this shows it might be possible to hit the engine factories at night. That is just as good as hitting the aircraft factories...I´ll try somewhere else in a couple of nights when the B29s have recovered.

For the first time ever NO B29s were lost during the night. A good day! [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Frontline 18th April 1945[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]19th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Very little to report.

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------
7 smaller barge/LCTs to are in position to dump BFs on Amami Oshima (easternmost island). They are covered by the fleet but will move in under a LRCAP/CAP. If Erik tries for them in an all out attack it could end nasty for me. But most things will unload during the night phase. I have some 150 planes on CAP (P47Ns/Spit VIIs) and about 200 CV planes on LRCAP. Further LRCAP is provided from the other Islands.

------------------------
China
------------------------
At Liuchow the troops take another hit from the 4Es. But this time they are in combat mode and losses are about a fifth of yesterday.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
Somehow some supply found the troops at Palembang and I ordered another attack for tomorrow.

------------------------
Thailand
------------------------
I ordered an bombardment of Erik first "Superstack" to see whats left. I might start reducing whats left depending on whats there now. I only a have 700 AV Chinese corps in place and that might not be enough. We will see tomorrow.

Sorry for the lack of screens lately but there isn´t much to show as the situation is pretty static. Let me know if there is anything you want to see.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]20th April -45[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

A small tussle over Amami.

------------------------
Okinawa
------------------------
Erik did indeed strike out at my barges/LCT unloading. Not many bombers but an impressive escort help them through.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Amami Oshima at 98,64

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 156 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 46 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 316 [X(]
B7A2 Grace x 9
D4Y4 Judy x 49

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 71
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 35
P-47N Thunderbolt x 43
F4U-1A Corsair x 20
F4U-1D Corsair x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 15 destroyed
B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 24 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AM Competent, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LST-78, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
LCI-628
CL Mobile
DE England
LST-797
LST-713, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

AM Competent and LST-78 sink but LST-713 should make it. No troops lost and everything but a few motorized support is unloaded. We shoot down 110 enemy planes for 4 own. A good haul. [:)]

Erik has turned Kyushu into a fortress with over 1000 fighters in place backed up by the BB fleet and the KB. After the landing in China I´m going to turn my attention to this. Its time to put all those combat ships to use.

------------------------
China
------------------------
I shift target (unintentionally) and manage to maul the 17th ID in the open.

Morning Air attack on 17th Division, at 74,54 , near Liuchow

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 6
B-24J Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 52
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
B-25H Mitchell x 15
B-25J1 Mitchell x 34
B-25J11 Mitchell x 38
P-38J Lightning x 19
P-38L Lightning x 63
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 19
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 27

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
1959 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 109 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Its like 42 in reverse. But with more punch!

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
The attack at Palembang goes well.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13462 troops, 132 guns, 447 vehicles, Assault Value = 615

Defending force 5245 troops, 20 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 176

Japanese adjusted defense: 127

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
401 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Fortress Kyushu[/font]
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No turn from Erik in the inbox this morning but here is a screen of Kyushu. Sorry for the clutter. Its really crowded in the area!