Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

Basically speaking a week of travel time. 26 hexes from the assembly point to Naha. Stopping one hex short means 25 plus a day. 25 hexes from the assembly point to the hex just short of Nago, which then entails a jog through another island base hex to get to Nago. The slowest are the LST, which I did use for some troops as noted earlier and many of which are loaded only with supply. They steam at 4 hexes per day, maybe sometimes 5, so they will be the limiting factor. I've tried to keep short range ships out so they don't slow down convoys by refueling.

There are so many subs ahead they just must be noticed. Will that trigger any alarm? I plan to order the B-29 strikes on the airfields to commence 3 - or probably 4 - days ahead of arrival so that the airfields are shut down before the fleet is within bomber range. The B-29 raids will raise the alarm but I'm figuring that naval search will have found the fleet by then. Amazingly, no known sightings thus far!

[witpqs]

1944 October 10

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Madioen
Tjepoe

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Tjepoe

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs spent the day racing to their Okinawa operation stations.

All of our armour plus a corps HQ are in attack position north of Singora, but no infantry made it. The armour will attack tomorrow.

More zombies blasted!

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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7057 troops, 225 guns, 314 vehicles, Assault Value = 267

Defending force 533 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 127

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 127 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
639 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
11th PAVO Regiment
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
11th Airborne/C Division
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade


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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6073 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Defending force 2139 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade



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On to the adjacent hex. The divisions advancing on Pakhoi are indeed moving fast now! Lead elements up to 32 miles covered.

Tjepoe is ours.

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Ground combat at Tjepoe (54,103)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2227 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

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

Allied adjusted assault: 40

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tjepoe !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment


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The proximity of our forces on three sides also flipped Madioen, so we have cut Soerabaja from the rest of Java.

Our dive bombers from Puerto Princesa got feisty and paid for it.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Bataan at 78,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 14

Allied aircraft
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/C with Ki-84a Frank (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead



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Ranges have been adjusted.

The Okinawa invasion fleet has been polished and is underway. Although none of the invasion fleet has been spotted so far as I know, the two large support convoys heading to Iwo Jima have been spotted. Very likely they are sufficient warning that we are on the move. Due to those convoys heading to Iwo Jima, there is the possibility that the other Bonins will be thought the targets. But more realistically, Okinawa is a super-obvious target, so the fact that those support convoys have been sighted must be regarded as the curtains rising on Act I. The B-29 groups are being ordered to hit their targets starting tomorrow. Groups at Saipan will strike the airfield at Nago, those at Tinian will strike Naha, and those at Guam will strike Amami Oshima. That gives us normal range to both bases on Okinawa, and extended range to Amami Oshima.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

South China Sea. This convoy at Bataan Peninsula is what had our USN DB pilots so eager.

[witpqs]

1944 October 11

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Pamekasan

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs had more fun doing nothing than our B-29 crews had doing something.

We'll try an exploratory attack tomorrow in China, just SW of Kunming. Imperial troops there are withdrawing and we want to help them load the moving trucks.

The preparatory attack north of Singora.

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Ground combat at 50,71 (near Singora)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14703 troops, 111 guns, 1397 vehicles, Assault Value = 2043

Defending force 14904 troops, 145 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 317

Allied adjusted assault: 382

Japanese adjusted defense: 345

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
965 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (4 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
1036 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 13 (5 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (7 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
20th Indian Division
50th Tank Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
18th Cavalry Regiment
255th Indian Tank Brigade
26th Indian Division
5th Indian Division
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
3rd INA Azad Regiment
63rd Inf Group Brigade
11th/A Division
112th Infantry Regiment
4th Raiding Regiment
11th/C Division
2nd INA Gandhi Regiment
104th/C Division
13th Field Construction Battalion
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
15th Army
29th Army
18th Field Construction Battalion


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Two of the armoured units will rest while the others attack along side the three infantry divisions. Hopefully the enemy troops will still be in hex for the thrashing.

Zombies on borrowed time.

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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6093 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2117 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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All units at Lang Son have reduced disruption, only one unit above 10%. A few are now on reserve to help boost morale. Chinese Army units at Hanoi are now all ready and will begin moving. call it four days moving with an attack on the 5th day from now.

Meanwhile, our divisions bearing down on Pakhoi are moving fast indeed, with the lead two at 40 miles and the others at 36 and 32 miles. At least two divisions should be there tomorrow and will attack the 1,600 troops at Pakhoi the following day.

Attacking future zombies west of Soerabaja.

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Ground combat at 55,104 (near Soerabaja)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 822 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 3204 troops, 41 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Allied adjusted assault: 13

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
2/9 Commando Battalion

Defending units:
13th Garrison Unit
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment


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The 2/9 will continue attacking, but these Imperial units will almost certainly retire into Soerabaja before more Allied firepower arrives. The ground truth revealed in this attack shows the devastating claims made by our striking air groups were not exaggerated.

Our P-47D25 group at Taytay more than made up for the dive bomber debacle yesterday. But the Empire was ready for our B-29 strikes.

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Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 14

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/C with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Nago , at 95,65

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged

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

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Nago , at 95,65

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

No Japanese losses

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

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 18
Ki-84a Frank x 12

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
254 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

Goto A. in a Ki-84a Frank makes head on attack ... forces B-29-1 Superfort out of formation


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Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 10
Ki-84a Frank x 11

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 10 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
254 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 9
Ki-84a Frank x 9

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
254 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Amami Oshima , at 98,64

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 4 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
246th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (9 airborne, 20 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Amami Oshima , at 98,64

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 28

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
246th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (6 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Nago , at 95,65

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 6

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
254 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



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Air losses (below) count 37 of the sky beasts turned into aluminum trash cans. Crikey! As discovered in other PBMs, in the game even B-29s really need escorts or sweeps. Size 2 Amami Oshima shows 3% damage + 21 fighters, Size 3 Nago shows 28% + 0 fighters, and size 4 Naha shows 15% + 9 fighters. 40 bombers at Naha and 27 bombers at Nago, none at Amami Oshima. Tomorrow all B-29 groups will concentrate on Naha. The 29 and 20 auxiliary types at Naha and Nago are presumed not to be kamikaze. Or is that wrong?

The subs are mostly in their patrol zones now for the Okinawa operation and several of them have been spotted. The convoys moved slightly better than expected with all convoys keeping pace, now 21 hexes from Naha. Kweilin has about 70 fewer fighters than yesterday and I presume they are repositioning to support Imperial forces on Okinawa.

Indochina. Notice that just SW of Kunming the Imperial units are beginning to withdraw.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

Air Losses.

[witpqs]

Overview. I'm not sure if those are subs or downed B-29s. The Okinawa invasion fleet can be plainly seen heading NW.

[Rio Bravo]

This is going to be damn interesting when the invasion fleet reaches Okinawa!

Good luck!

Best Regards,

-Terry

[witpqs]

Thanks!

I am on edge that it might be "interesting" in the "interesting times" sense! [:D]

[Drakanel]

May you live in interesting times [:D]

But seriously, good luck. Can't wait for the entertaining carnage [8D]

You can more or less assume though that he knows now you're coming. What remains to be seen is whether or not he can move additional assets to defend those islands.

[Lowpe]

what is the latest raw intel data of spotted troops at Okinawa?

My guess is the attack will be anti-climatic and go off well. But it is only a guess. The ground combat may take quite a while...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

what is the latest raw intel data of spotted troops at Okinawa?

My guess is the attack will be anti-climatic and go off well. But it is only a guess. The ground combat may take quite a while...

This

Naha: 17 units; 54,160 troops; 511 guns; 179 AFV
Nago: 11 units; 32,280 troops; 205 guns; 151 AFV
Daito Shoto: 16 units; 27,740 troops; 306 guns; 199 AFV

I think is is still good enough. The guns might be a couple of dozen higher, but these figures float even with the best DL for several turns.

I think that Walter sees Okinawa as a prime target and it got a respectable chunk of the Empire's scarce engineers a long time ago. I figure minimum 7 fortification level at both bases. I will be slightly pleased if Nago is only level 6 and not really surprised, but I expect 7 there and at least 7 at Naha. How practical is 8 or 9 for the Empire? That's where I really expect fortifications at Naha.

So that will put the defense far above the offense when you consider terrain and the way AE slices attackers' AV until they start to overcome the defenders guns/artillery and so on.

Daito Shoto should be different. I expect lower fortifications, although level 6 would not surprise me. The required shock attack will also start things rolling, although that will be ugly. That's why I have the power of 3 USMC divisions (one in regiments form) plus the other stuff. I expect that to take at least a few days, maybe a couple of weeks. But then I can get PacAO onto Daito Shoto where I hope it will influence events on Okinawa.

Lots of AKE, fuel, and supply at Iwo Jima now to reload bombardment ships. The distance to Okinawa is a problem, but Daito Shoto will get priority until it falls and we can move AKE there.

It would be great to have those RN battleships in the Pacific right now!

[Lowpe]

Naha: 1805 AV
Nago: 1076 AV
Daito: 924 AV

Pretty impressive Japanese strength devoted there. Auto shock at Daito eh?[X(] Here is hoping their TOE is good and not air mobile.

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Naha: 1805 AV
Nago: 1076 AV
Daito: 924 AV

Pretty impressive Japanese strength devoted there. Auto shock at Daito eh?[X(] Here is hoping their TOE is good and not air mobile.

Lowpe-

Your AV numbers don't match with what witpqs posted, right? Or am I missing something here.

If your numbers are right, sheesh i would have to agree that the Japanese look damn strong on Okinawa!

Interested in having this clarified for me so I can understand in better detail what force witpqs will be facing!

Best Regards,

-Terry

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Naha: 1805 AV
Nago: 1076 AV
Daito: 924 AV

Pretty impressive Japanese strength devoted there. Auto shock at Daito eh?[X(] Here is hoping their TOE is good and not air mobile.

Lowpe-

Your AV numbers don't match with what witpqs posted, right? Or am I missing something here.

If your numbers are right, sheesh i would have to agree that the Japanese look damn strong on Okinawa!

Interested in having this clarified for me so I can understand in better detail what force witpqs will be facing!

Best Regards,

-Terry

I didn't post AV numbers - I don't have them. I think he is estimating based on number of troops using a 30 to 1 rule of thumb.

Yeah, I think they are real strong! It will be a tough slog. [8D]

[HansBolter]

Curious about the 30:1 estimation.

Usually when I see stacks with 15-17 LCUs or more a large percentage turn out to be base forces and engineers and such that contribute little to the overall AV in the hex.

Given the sizes of those stacks I presume you are not using stacking limits.

How, pray tell, does one go about taking down a level 6 fort with 1800 AV?

Seems you would need two weeks of daily naval bombardment to disable 50% or more of the squads before you could even consider hitting the beach.

Otherwise you would need about 5.5k AV to hit it with any chance of success.

And that's just one of the three targets.

[Rio Bravo]

witpqs and Hans-

Ok, my mistake. I read AFV, but thought AV. Hey, what is AFV?

But, yeah, from what Hans is saying, if there is that much AV there, Okinawa is going to be tough! Bloody!

Can't wait!

Best Regards,

-Terry