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Sorry if this isn´t as detailed as some of you may wish. But to write a detailed account of every individual combat during the last 2 turns would take me hours and hours. So you will have to do with a summery.
Really not sure what happened. But for some reason (as can be seen in the map) my 3 CVE TFs decided that they shouldnt do as ordered and go together with the SCTF fleet up to Moppo.
I have never seen something even remotely close to this happening. All are set to "Absolute" and "direct" They were all set to go to Moppo and ended up as indicated.
This led to the loss of 6 CVEs previously damaged that was sent to Moppo to take cover under the CVE Fleet. They were now left without cover together with the Amphibs. Very annoying! [:@]
Bunker Hill didn´t make it to Moppo but was sunk by some CLs outside Saisho Tu. Had hoped she would make it but I guess she would have been out of the war anyway.
Due to the SCTF fleet going south instead of going to Moppo as ordered they ended up without aircover and took a beating. Nevada and Maryland will be out for the rest of the war. CA Chester might not make it with 82 FLT. Other then that the British CAs will need some time in the yard 10-20 SYS.
While yesterday was a bit of a sour grape I will admit this turn was hard to swallow. Had the CVEs and SCTFs moved to Moppo as ordered things would have looked very differently. Anyone have an idea what happened? They are all moving towards their home ports. The "follow TF" commands have been wiped clean from all of them as have the destination. I don´t get it. [:(]
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Moppo
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On the more good news side the troops are in excellent position. Everything is unloaded together with 120.000 supply. [&o] Disruption and FAT is minimal and I can attack straight away. The infantry will attack while the armor will be set to pursuit.
I will do as Bullwinkle suggest and head East for Fusan. Erik can never defend Gunzan anyway so I can grab that later. I have around 2000 "armored AV". All Shermans, Flame tanks and Jacksons that will power on ahead from the main army! I know from experience the Japanese simply lack the AT capabilities to deal with this.
Korea will be extremely hard to defend for Erik. Clear hexes just won´t do it. The most sensible thing for him would be to set up a MLR anchored at Keijo. Not sure he will do the sensible thing though. As koniu says having the Allies in Korea is a Japanese disaster and Erik will most likely throw as much as he dares in the way.He has already lost that battle though. He can never throw 5500 Allied AV back into the sea. Even if he does manage to pin me at Moppo that can still be built up to a level 9 AF. I´ve already landed with everything I need at Moppo for now (BFs, ENGs, Radar, AA, CD Guns) so we will be fine for a couple of weeks.
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The Fleet
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Even though some of you reading this AAR seem to think the Fleet have been struck a mortal blow that is not the case. I still have 2500 CV planes ready and 90% of the surface fleet intact. The job description have changed though. This was the last major Amphibious OP. The fleet now only have one assignment and that is to make sure Korea stays supplied.
First we will have to pull back to Okinawa and replenish fuel and planes.
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Victory Points
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Despite the losses over the last two days the final VP count lands at -702 VPs. Erik lost another 900 planes last turn bringing the total air losses up to 2600 planes. If I can avoid further losses that will take 3 days or so to nullify.
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China
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North of Nanning we now have troops in position to clear the road north to the Chinese.
In the south Erik has again "Superstacked". Now its 220.000 men just SW of Kanhsien. Perfect! [:)] While he sits there 2000 AV is heading North towards the CMA and Changsha. Soon I´ll swing the CMA south and slip them in behind Eriks new Superstack. Another 2000 AV is heading back to secure Canton/HK. They got all the combat engineers and 30% of the artillery with them.
While they do that we are going to use Eriks Superstack against him to burn supplies. 3000 AV with most of the artillery will engage the Superstack with bombardment. At least for now. Its only a x2 terrain hex. He would have been better off staying in the x3 hex where he was. [&:]
Here is a screen of the crazy naval movement of the CVEs and Surface Fleet. Anyone seen something like this before? Any idea what might have caused it?
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