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

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

What's your evaluation of the situation at Shanghai? Will the IJA be able to exact a good price before the end?

The siege, air strikes and bombardments have been going on for many months. I was optimistic at first as supply held on for a good long while. I'm now seeing 5-6 BB bombardments a night, massed air strikes of hundreds of 4E and 2E bombers, and he has 3:1 AV advantage after adding a lot more troops in.

As an opportunity cost, it's allowed me to LR CAP the air strikes a dozen times, sometimes with good success, it's kept about 10k AV in the area over a long period of time, and he was virtually stagnant in the rest of China for most of the siege. So if I'm able to hold in other areas it's likely due to this battle dragging so long. He's now added Soviets which means they're not trying to break through the Korean blockades as well.

He has waited long enough now that there is no hope to exact a good VP price for the troops, but if he ends up not getting Chungking, that will be well worth it.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 9, 1945[/font]

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Some big sweeps at Fusan. These are training units that I've mostly converted to kami so that they can fly CAP, but the pilots are 50-60exp with 60-65 air and 50-60 defense. This really highlights the effect of pilot quality. Allied sweeps that have been getting about 1:1 over other bases are getting 3:1 here. Still, I'll keep these groups going until wiped out as I can't transfer them to the Home Islands. He is still losing some good pilots here while over our base even the shot down guys have a chance to fight again.

At Hangchow the Allies punish the remnants of the LR CAP from last turn. Got a few on the ground, but lost some to flak too.

Things are getting into place for some more kami strikes and I have a little trial surprise for other wandering TFs. It's tiny stuff but could be fun. Allied flak is murderous at this stage though, even on merchants and tankers.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 9, 1945
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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 18
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 20
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 45
Ki-84a Frank x 5
Ki-84b Frank x 11
Ki-84r Frank x 30
Ki-100-I Tony x 34
Ki-100-II Tony x 6
Ki-102b Randy x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-4 Corsair x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-4 Corsair: 4 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 17
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 13
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 42
Ki-84a Frank x 5
Ki-84b Frank x 10
Ki-84r Frank x 25
Ki-100-I Tony x 24
Ki-100-II Tony x 3
Ki-102b Randy x 6

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 16
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 12
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 40
Ki-84a Frank x 4
Ki-84b Frank x 7
Ki-84r Frank x 20
Ki-100-I Tony x 21
Ki-100-II Tony x 1
Ki-102b Randy x 5

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Hangchow , at 90,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Mosquito FB.VI x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 8 damaged
Mosquito FB.VI: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Hangchow , at 90,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 4
B-24J Liberator x 22
A-26B Invader x 22
A-26C Invader x 28
B-24J Liberator x 14
B-32 Dominator x 3
DB-3M x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84b Frank: 3 destroyed on ground
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-83: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 13 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
A-26B Invader: 9 damaged
A-26C Invader: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

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

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97

Weather in hex: Severe storms

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

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 10
A-26B Invader x 6
B-25J1 Mitchell x 12
B-25J11 Mitchell x 9
P-38L Lightning x 10
P-40N5 Warhawk x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 2 damaged
A-26B Invader: 1 damaged
B-25J1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25J11 Mitchell: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Mitchell II bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 6
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 24
Ki-84a Frank x 2
Ki-84b Frank x 2
Ki-84r Frank x 12
Ki-100-I Tony x 7
Ki-100-II Tony x 1
Ki-102b Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 4 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

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

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 10, 1945[/font]

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One reason I don't like flying day fighters at night is that they see to be much more vulnerable to defensive fire and are often shot down in droves. This makes the VP equation much less attractive. Over Hiroshima this tuen the B-17Gs did a number on my Ki-102b FB groups flying night CAP but were much less effective agains the NF, including the Ki-102c NF with almost the same specifications.

There are two other Strat targets this turn in Kumamoto and Utsonomiya. These do moderate damage, but the flak and NF take a toll everywhere as usual.

The Allies move to the centre of china with a leading armoured force and will take Pingsiang next turn. Changsha is fortified but low on supply, and the x3 hexes on river crossings farther West are well defended, but I won't add anything to the bases in the clear.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 10, 1945
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Night Air attack on Hiroshima/Kure , at 106,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 6
P1Y2-S Frances x 9
Ki-102b Randy x 35
Ki-102c Randy x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2-S Frances: 1 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 14 damaged
B-17G Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 4
Fires 1170

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17G Fortress bombing from 11000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Hiroshima/Kure , at 106,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 9
P1Y2-S Frances x 4
Ki-102b Randy x 19
Ki-102c Randy x 12

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 37
B-29-25 Superfort x 6
B-29B Superfort x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 17 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak
B-29B Superfort: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 35
Fires 11310

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Hiroshima/Kure , at 106,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 9
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-102b Randy x 14
Ki-102c Randy x 12

Allied aircraft
Mosquito B.35 x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito B.35: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

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Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 1
Ki-102c Randy x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Manpower hits 3
Fires 2300

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Utsonomiya , at 115,60

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 7
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 2
Ki-102b Randy x 6
Ki-102c Randy x 20

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 6

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4284 troops, 0 guns, 285 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Defending force 1394 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Allied adjusted assault: 141

Japanese adjusted defense: 35

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade

Defending units:
30th RGC Division

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What China looks like. A lot of current and future defensive lines in white, and Allied movement or directions in light blue. When Shanghai falls a huge additional army will be released. We'll see where hell go, but in general he's been very slow to cross rivers into x2-3 territory, preferring to wait for weeks to months using air strikes to degrade the defensive troops and deplete supply.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 11, 1945[/font]

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Again a lot of sweeps at Fusan. Similar results; about 3:1 for the Allies. I got some back at Amoy to bring the total to around 2:1 today which is nice. The Ki-83 handles any 2nd gen fighters pretty well! [;)]

The Allies take Shanghai to level 4 forts. It's not going to be long now.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 11, 1945
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Morning Air attack on Amoy , at 83,61

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 59

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 2
Seafire L.III x 12
Beaufighter TF.X x 4
Thunderbolt I x 4
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed
Seafire L.III: 2 destroyed
Beaufighter TF.X: 1 destroyed
Thunderbolt I: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 2 destroyed

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

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 26
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 17
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 69
Ki-84a Frank x 3
Ki-84b Frank x 21
Ki-84r Frank x 39
Ki-100-I Tony x 25
Ki-100-II Tony x 26
Ki-102b Randy x 14

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 5 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 23
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 15
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 9
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 60
Ki-84a Frank x 3
Ki-84b Frank x 20
Ki-84r Frank x 33
Ki-100-I Tony x 23
Ki-100-II Tony x 20
Ki-102b Randy x 12

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 5 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 20
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 13
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 51
Ki-84a Frank x 3
Ki-84b Frank x 17
Ki-84r Frank x 28
Ki-100-I Tony x 17
Ki-100-II Tony x 12
Ki-102b Randy x 10

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P-51D Mustang sweeping at 21000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Amoy , at 83,61

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 3

Allied aircraft
Seafire L.III x 5
P-40N5 Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire L.III: 3 destroyed

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

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Ground combat at Shanghai (92,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 243585 troops, 3351 guns, 6443 vehicles, Assault Value = 6333

Defending force 81109 troops, 762 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 1685

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 4526

Japanese adjusted defense: 3605

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
5483 casualties reported
Squads: 123 destroyed, 385 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 49 disabled
Guns lost 104 (25 destroyed, 79 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4042 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 382 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 157 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 134 disabled
Guns lost 139 (6 destroyed, 133 disabled)
Vehicles lost 137 (20 destroyed, 117 disabled)

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Still some offensive possibilities with this one.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 12, 1945[/font]

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This was fun, If not game changing. I had a few E and an AMC at Hong Kong, and I sent them to Pecadores to threaten the unloading happening at Amoy. they went in today and managed to hit some troop carrying xAKs, sinking one and putting some damage on two others. Makes me think I should send out more raiders. Hmm.

The Sam and Randy 'b' factories took some hits, but very little compared tot eh amount force applied. A few NF stuck info the duration harassing the bombers.

Shanghai gets another amour only attack. Nanchang falls without much resistance and the Allies are stuck at Kukong for now.

I sent out some more surprises. We'll see if I can get them into good positions or not.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 12, 1945
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Amoy at 83,61, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Kunashiri
E Oki
AMC Asaka Maru

Allied Ships
xAK Floyd B. Olson, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Frederick Bouchard, Shell hits 2
xAK Jacob A. Westervelt, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK James A. Drain, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 57% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Air attack on Maebashi , at 113,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 13
P1Y2-S Frances x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 3
Ki-102c Randy x 21

Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 32
B-29-25 Superfort x 7
B-29B Superfort x 7
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 18 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 damaged
B-29B Superfort: 2 damaged
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-2 Privateer bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Maebashi , at 113,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 12
P1Y2-S Frances x 12
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 3
Ki-102c Randy x 23

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 28
B-29-1 Superfort x 3
B-29-25 Superfort x 23
B-29B Superfort x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 11 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 8 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29B Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 36 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Maebashi , at 113,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 5
P1Y2-S Frances x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 1
Ki-102c Randy x 11

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-102c Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

A7M2 Sam factory hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Shanghai (92,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 243948 troops, 3604 guns, 6549 vehicles, Assault Value = 5836

Defending force 75649 troops, 733 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 1356

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 302

Japanese adjusted defense: 5201

Allied assault odds: 1 to 17 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2332 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 16 (5 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 114 (9 destroyed, 105 disabled)

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Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7091 troops, 85 guns, 565 vehicles, Assault Value = 341

Defending force 19364 troops, 142 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 439

Allied adjusted assault: 95

Japanese adjusted defense: 605

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
263 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
1st Regt de Cheval Regiment
1st Guards Airborne Div /3
4th Armoured Bde /8
88th Medium Regiment
55th Heavy Regiment

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
26th RGC Temp. Division
94th Division
8th Area Army

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I've got a few of these poised and ready to fly.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 13, 1945[/font]

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I set kakis hoping to find long distance strikes against large supply convoys or troop transports. It turns out the Allies decided to land with APDs and LSTs at Balikpapan this turn. That meant there was CAP up from nearby Samarinda, and my LR CAP couldn't quite keep the defending CAP away.

Happily, the kamis that did strike got to ships with troops onboard. They are low value targets, but with between the mines, the kamis, the CD guns and the LR CAP getting to the daily milk runs here, it's a productive haul of VPs that make up for lost airframes.

In Nov 45 this is the kind of strike I can hope for. Not much else. He is too careful, but care takes time, and my hoe is it takes too much time. [;)]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 13, 1945
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TF 470 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97)

Allied Ships
DD Laffey II, Mine hits 1, on fire
APD Schmidt, Mine hits 1, on fire
APD Cook, Mine hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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Pre-Invasion action off Balikpapan (64,97)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

219 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
APD Humphreys
DD Laffey II
APD Schmidt
APD Walter S. Gorka
APD Rogers Blood
APD Myers
APD Kleinsmith
APD Julius A. Raven
APD Hunter Marshall
APD Hayter
APD Harry L. Corl
APD Donald W. Wolf
APD Carpellotti
APD Bray
APD Balduck
APD Yokes
APD Wantuck
APD Ringness
APD Reynour
APD Odum
APD Laning
APD Horace A. Bass
APD Haines
APD Barber

Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

APD Walter S. Gorka fired at enemy troops

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 22
Ki-83 x 49

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 11
P-38L Lightning x 7
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 11 destroyed
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Walter S. Gorka
APD Reynour
APD Ringness
APD Schmidt
APD Cook

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P1Y2 Frances flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y2-C Judy x 14
Ki-83 x 43

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 2
P-38L Lightning x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y2-C Judy: 7 destroyed
D4Y2-C Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
LST-449, Kamikaze hits 1
APD Myers, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LST-803
LST-796, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AM Malwa
LST-270, Kamikaze hits 1
LST-804, Kamikaze hits 1

Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D4Y2-C Judy flying as kamikaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 12th Base Force, at 64,97 (Balikpapan)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 31

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 30
P-40N5 Warhawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 3
Ki-83 x 9

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
P-38L Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Cook

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P1Y2 Frances flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-74-I Patsy x 17
Ki-83 x 4

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 6
P-38L Lightning x 5
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-74-I Patsy: 9 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LST-804
LST-449, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-74-I Patsy x 9
Ki-83 x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38L Lightning x 1
P-40N5 Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-74-I Patsy: 5 destroyed
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LST-804
LST-803, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
LST-449, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST-270, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LST-739, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
AM Malwa, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1042 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-74-I Patsy flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 14, 1945[/font]

---

More Strat bombing. Maebashi takes the brunt on the 14th.

After months of constant airstrikes, naval bombardments and ground attacks, Shanghai falls today. This occupied he allies for a long time after the Sumer landings along the Yangtze, so it seems worth it. Anything that delays advances is good at this stage. Supply is so low now though that I don't even think good terrain and river crossings will delay as much as I need to in China.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 14, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Maebashi , at 113,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 11
P1Y2-S Frances x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 10
Ki-102c Randy x 25

Allied aircraft
Lancaster B.1 FE x 4
B-24J Liberator x 20
B-29-25 Superfort x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Lancaster B.1 FE: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Lancaster B.1 FE bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 4000 lb GP Bomb, 6 x 1000 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Maebashi , at 113,59

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 11
P1Y2-S Frances x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 4
Ki-102c Randy x 23

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-Sa Irving: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAId Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-102c Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Fusan , at 103,55

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K5-J George x 21
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 26
Ki-84b Frank x 13
Ki-84r Frank x 31
Ki-100-I Tony x 15
Ki-100-II Tony x 21
Ki-102b Randy x 10

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 12

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

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed

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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 24
Ki-84r Frank x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LST-87, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-81, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-84, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Shanghai (92,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 273593 troops, 4149 guns, 7954 vehicles, Assault Value = 6656

Defending force 69361 troops, 680 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 1101

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 3911

Japanese adjusted defense: 593

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Shanghai !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
7368 casualties reported
Squads: 298 destroyed, 370 disabled
Non Combat: 84 destroyed, 144 disabled
Engineers: 154 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 267 (200 destroyed, 67 disabled)
Vehicles lost 97 (97 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
1805 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 97 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Guns lost 63 (2 destroyed, 61 disabled)
Vehicles lost 97 (7 destroyed, 90 disabled)


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

Allied sweeps again get about 2:1 at Fusan, but now I'll begin standing down groups as there isn't enough left to make it worth putting up a CAP.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 15-16, 1945[/font]

---

This part of the game can be tedious. Not much going on other than escaping the 73 small night bombing packages hitting Okayama and Kofu. Lots of millruns in the day on Allied troops in China. The reduction of Shanghai and Balikpapan.

Tried to spice things up a bit with a strike on the seemingly full port at Cam Ran Bay, but my Ki-83 sweep was thwarted at long range by a lowly P-40N group of 8 planes. We have sunk to new lows in the late game.

A few sweeps at Nagasaki. Like about 800.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 15, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Shanghai (92,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 231697 troops, 3677 guns, 6601 vehicles, Assault Value = 6436

Defending force 60406 troops, 492 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 609

Allied adjusted assault: 3397

Japanese adjusted defense: 345

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5333 casualties reported
Squads: 146 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 108 (96 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (8 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1506 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 231 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)

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

Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 34438 troops, 365 guns, 860 vehicles, Assault Value = 1204

Defending force 13893 troops, 198 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 401

Allied adjusted assault: 670

Japanese adjusted defense: 288

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
3163 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 49 (22 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
724 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 66 disabled

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 16, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Okayama , at 108,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 35
P1Y2-S Frances x 8
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 6
Ki-102c Randy x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2-S Frances: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 13 damaged
B-17G Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 1
Fires 740

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17G Fortress bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Okayama , at 108,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 25
P1Y2-S Frances x 4
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 3
Ki-102c Randy x 9

Allied aircraft
B-29B Superfort x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29B Superfort: 11 damaged
B-29B Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

A7M2 Sam factory hits 4
Fires 380

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29B Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 36 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cam Ranh Bay , at 64,72

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 42,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 12

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 35
J2M5 Jack x 3
J7W1 Shinden x 3
N1K5-J George x 45
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 3
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2
Ki-84b Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 12
Ki-100-II Tony x 9
Ki-102b Randy x 7

Allied aircraft
P-47N Thunderbolt x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-102b Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47N Thunderbolt: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 30
J2M5 Jack x 3
J7W1 Shinden x 3
N1K5-J George x 38
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 3
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
Ki-84b Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 12
Ki-100-II Tony x 9
Ki-102b Randy x 3

Allied aircraft
P-51H Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 4 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51H Mustang: 5 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P-51H Mustang sweeping at 16000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 15
J2M5 Jack x 3
J7W1 Shinden x 2
N1K5-J George x 25
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 1
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
Ki-84b Frank x 3
Ki-84r Frank x 12
Ki-100-II Tony x 7
Ki-102b Randy x 1

Allied aircraft
P-51H Mustang x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-84b Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51H Mustang: 5 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x P-51H Mustang sweeping at 16000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Nagasaki/Sasebo , at 102,58

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 9
J2M5 Jack x 3
J7W1 Shinden x 2
N1K5-J George x 16
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
Ki-84r Frank x 11
Ki-100-II Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed
Ki-100-II Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 5 destroyed

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

Air battles keeping me in it. The sweeps completely exhausted the CAP, but no bombers took advantage. A few runs on the airfields and all defensive capability would be over in certain areas of Kyushu, especially. Shhhh.

[obvert]

Most morning I wake up excited to play a turn. This morning, like several others lately, I've not had a a file waiting to run or play. With three games going, you'd think this wouldn't happen often.

Lowpe has been dealing with some family health issues so hasn't been able to keep up the usual turn a day lately. Dan has been much more sporadic as his other game has hit the Allied turning point and he's driving forward, which of course I completely understand.

Hartwig Modrow is playing about two turns a week, which is slightly more frequent than Loka during the later stages of his involvement. Hope we can get it to three a week soon so I can remember what I was doing in the previous one.

This game has been very unfulfilling for a while now, and I'm just rushing as much as possible to the end. It's no fun to escape literally 100+ night bombing packages (while having to watch some since Dan still wants the combat animations on) obliterating the Home Islands every turn, then the same during the day wiping away all supply and hope of holding g China. It's really the inability to do anything though that makes the game less interesting. I'm just holding on, and setting CAP, and filling depleted CAP groups with airframes and pilots. Ho hum.

The late game should be interesting at least from a curiosity standpoint, but it seems Dan has settled into a bombing-only strategy. I don't think he'll try to invade the Home Islands if he hasn't already, which is too bad. Would have been fun to see what the remaining IJN and air forces could do close in. As it is I can't really hit him at his big nest of secure bases on the Yangtze and after the last debacle for him when I hit the unCAPed Kushiro, destroying 250+ 4E, everything now has defences.

So ... I'll keep going through the motions. Trying little kami strikes in the South and East. sending in some single ship TFs. Gaining 10 VPs here and 5 there. Watching things burn.

[JohnDillworth]

Other players mileage may vary but if I were the judge I would say you “won” this game. There is no shame in seeking and honorable and quick death If it’s not making you happy move along

[Alfred]

Obvert should aim for a Japanese marginal victory and not be satisfied with a marginal Allied victory which is the absolute best his opponent can achieve.  If he keeps his head and just doesn't throw it away he stands an excellent chance (better than 50:50) of getting a Draw and a realistic chance of getting that marginal Japanese victory.
 
Alfred

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Most morning I wake up excited to play a turn. This morning, like several others lately, I've not had a a file waiting to run or play. With three games going, you'd think this wouldn't happen often.

Lowpe has been dealing with some family health issues so hasn't been able to keep up the usual turn a day lately. Dan has been much more sporadic as his other game has hit the Allied turning point and he's driving forward, which of course I completely understand.

Hartwig Modrow is playing about two turns a week, which is slightly more frequent than Loka during the later stages of his involvement. Hope we can get it to three a week soon so I can remember what I was doing in the previous one.

This game has been very unfulfilling for a while now, and I'm just rushing as much as possible to the end. It's no fun to escape literally 100+ night bombing packages (while having to watch some since Dan still wants the combat animations on) obliterating the Home Islands every turn, then the same during the day wiping away all supply and hope of holding g China. It's really the inability to do anything though that makes the game less interesting. I'm just holding on, and setting CAP, and filling depleted CAP groups with airframes and pilots. Ho hum.

The late game should be interesting at least from a curiosity standpoint, but it seems Dan has settled into a bombing-only strategy. I don't think he'll try to invade the Home Islands if he hasn't already, which is too bad. Would have been fun to see what the remaining IJN and air forces could do close in. As it is I can't really hit him at his big nest of secure bases on the Yangtze and after the last debacle for him when I hit the unCAPed Kushiro, destroying 250+ 4E, everything now has defences.

So ... I'll keep going through the motions. Trying little kami strikes in the South and East. sending in some single ship TFs. Gaining 10 VPs here and 5 there. Watching things burn.

Even invading the home islands gets boring in the long run. I am at Feb. 27th in a game that ends on March 31st. Every base on Honshu is taken or invested. I really, really want to finish at least one game by playing it to the bitter end, but the drudge of watching my combat engineer forces get decimated with each new round at fortified, heavily defended bases is taking the fun out of it. My daily land bombardments at Tokyo are destroying 2/3's of a division, with air bombing destroying another 1/3 of a division, but I still haven't gotten up the gumption to try a deliberate attack with my 8k AV against the AIs 22k AV defense. I have at least another 8k available to push into the city, but have prioritized artillery over more divisions to avoid overstacking. I haven't played a turn in four days now and have to push myself to want to play each new turn.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: obvert

Most morning I wake up excited to play a turn. This morning, like several others lately, I've not had a a file waiting to run or play. With three games going, you'd think this wouldn't happen often.

Lowpe has been dealing with some family health issues so hasn't been able to keep up the usual turn a day lately. Dan has been much more sporadic as his other game has hit the Allied turning point and he's driving forward, which of course I completely understand.

Hartwig Modrow is playing about two turns a week, which is slightly more frequent than Loka during the later stages of his involvement. Hope we can get it to three a week soon so I can remember what I was doing in the previous one.

This game has been very unfulfilling for a while now, and I'm just rushing as much as possible to the end. It's no fun to escape literally 100+ night bombing packages (while having to watch some since Dan still wants the combat animations on) obliterating the Home Islands every turn, then the same during the day wiping away all supply and hope of holding g China. It's really the inability to do anything though that makes the game less interesting. I'm just holding on, and setting CAP, and filling depleted CAP groups with airframes and pilots. Ho hum.

The late game should be interesting at least from a curiosity standpoint, but it seems Dan has settled into a bombing-only strategy. I don't think he'll try to invade the Home Islands if he hasn't already, which is too bad. Would have been fun to see what the remaining IJN and air forces could do close in. As it is I can't really hit him at his big nest of secure bases on the Yangtze and after the last debacle for him when I hit the unCAPed Kushiro, destroying 250+ 4E, everything now has defences.

So ... I'll keep going through the motions. Trying little kami strikes in the South and East. sending in some single ship TFs. Gaining 10 VPs here and 5 there. Watching things burn.

Even invading the home islands gets boring in the long run. I am at Feb. 27th in a game that ends on March 31st. Every base on Honshu is taken or invested. I really, really want to finish at least one game by playing it to the bitter end, but the drudge of watching my combat engineer forces get decimated with each new round at fortified, heavily defended bases is taking the fun out of it. My daily land bombardments at Tokyo are destroying 2/3's of a division, with air bombing destroying another 1/3 of a division, but I still haven't gotten up the gumption to try a deliberate attack with my 8k AV against the AIs 22k AV defense. I have at least another 8k available to push into the city, but have prioritized artillery over more divisions to avoid overstacking. I haven't played a turn in four days now and have to push myself to want to play each new turn.

Ah, but obvert is in a different psychological position to you. You have already achieved an Auto Victory so you really have no reason to play on other than a self imposed reason of just reaching the end time. That makes each turn fairly tedious as nothing rests on it. Obvert still has a result to achieve so each turn still has an impact on shaping what the final result will be.

Alfred

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]November 17, 1945[/font]

---

Balikpapan falls. Yamagata is hit by 4Es, for some reason. Probably it is in range for a full bomb load. Nothing else really to report.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 17, 1945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Yamagata , at 116,57

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 56

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 6 damaged


Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17G Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Okayama , at 108,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-Sa Irving x 2
Ki-45 KAId Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

No Japanese losses

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

Fires 24950

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Yamagata , at 116,57

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17G Fortress x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17G Fortress: 1 damaged

Resources hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17G Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Hangchow at 90,55 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K5-J George: 6 damaged
N1K5-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84b Frank: 12 damaged
Ki-84b Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-83: 3 damaged
Ki-83: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-102a Randy: 8 damaged
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed on ground

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
CA Quincy
CL Santa Fe
DD Young
DD Wren
DD Wedderburn
DD Walker
DD Wadsworth
DD Thatcher
DD Prichett
DD Newcomb

Japanese ground losses:
226 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Manpower hits 4
Fires 777
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 5

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
BB Tennessee firing at Hangchow

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

Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35055 troops, 400 guns, 862 vehicles, Assault Value = 1142

Defending force 10791 troops, 184 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 217

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 407

Japanese adjusted defense: 59

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Balikpapan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6619 casualties reported
Squads: 228 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 155 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 92 (85 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Allied ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
785th Tank Battalion
4th Australian/A Division
779th Tank Battalion
268th Motorised Brigade
26th Indian Division
X Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
16th Chindit Bde /4
198th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
27th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
1st Glider Inf. Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
2nd Amphibious Brigade
4th Raiding Regiment
29th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
21st Ind.Mixed Bde /2
1st Fleet
12th Base Force
24th JAAF AF Bn

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[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Obvert should aim for a Japanese marginal victory and not be satisfied with a marginal Allied victory which is the absolute best his opponent can achieve.  If he keeps his head and just doesn't throw it away he stands an excellent chance (better than 50:50) of getting a Draw and a realistic chance of getting that marginal Japanese victory.

Alfred

Trying!! It's scratching and clawing a few points here and there, but soon supply concerns may make any possible choice impossible.

There are so many 4Es now that I can't make a dent in spite of knocking down 20-50 per strike, every few days. If he never bring anything closer that I can hit for more points, or commits large armies to deadly x3-4 defensive terrain, Ican't really gain anything. He's cautious, which is why we're here now, but that also means he'll most likely eek out the marginal V.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Obvert should aim for a Japanese marginal victory and not be satisfied with a marginal Allied victory which is the absolute best his opponent can achieve.  If he keeps his head and just doesn't throw it away he stands an excellent chance (better than 50:50) of getting a Draw and a realistic chance of getting that marginal Japanese victory.

Alfred

Trying!! It's scratching and clawing a few points here and there, but soon supply concerns may make any possible choice impossible.

There are so many 4Es now that I can't make a dent in spite of knocking down 20-50 per strike, every few days. If he never bring anything closer that I can hit for more points, or commits large armies to deadly x3-4 defensive terrain, Ican't really gain anything. He's cautious, which is why we're here now, but that also means he'll most likely eek out the marginal V.

Just to get an Allied marginal victory requires getting to 2:1 in VPs before the end of the scenario. Without that result the best the Allies can achieve is a Draw.

1. Reach the end of the scenario with the Allies at only 1.99:1, it is a Draw.

2. Same as (1) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it becomes a Marginal Japanese victory.

3. Allies get to 2:1 before the end of the scenario (and that will be quite a feat from where they currently stand), it is only a Marginal Allied victory.

4. Same as (3) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it is a Draw.

5. Reach the end of the scenario with the Allies at only 1.74:1, it is a Japanese Marginal victory.

6. Same as (5) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it is a Decisive Japanese Victory.


The odds slightly favour the Allies getting to above 1.75:1 by the end of the scenario. But that is not a locked in certainty. There is a diminishing return effect on strategic bombing at this point in time. The remaining big strategic points to be harvested involve great risk to the Allies who will have to fly into the teeth of the main Japanese flak and CAP defences. Where is the evidence that the risk will be taken by the Allies. Then there is an invasion of Honshu which can harvest many VPs for the Allies but again there is great risk to the Allies. Faced with the risk, how tempting to a cautious Allied player do you think dropping a 3rd (or 4th too) Atomic bomb to reap strategic points "on the cheap", will be. Pray that a 3rd Atomic Bomb is dropped because then, no matter how many VPs are gained by the Allies, at the absolute best they get only a Draw.

The fact is that the Japanese VP denominator is not going to drop that much, if at all. An Allied "steady as she goes" does not guarantee getting to 2:1. I said as such months ago and I still see no evidence that the Allies will romp to 2:1.

Alfred

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Obvert should aim for a Japanese marginal victory and not be satisfied with a marginal Allied victory which is the absolute best his opponent can achieve.  If he keeps his head and just doesn't throw it away he stands an excellent chance (better than 50:50) of getting a Draw and a realistic chance of getting that marginal Japanese victory.

Alfred

Trying!! It's scratching and clawing a few points here and there, but soon supply concerns may make any possible choice impossible.

There are so many 4Es now that I can't make a dent in spite of knocking down 20-50 per strike, every few days. If he never bring anything closer that I can hit for more points, or commits large armies to deadly x3-4 defensive terrain, Ican't really gain anything. He's cautious, which is why we're here now, but that also means he'll most likely eek out the marginal V.

Just to get an Allied marginal victory requires getting to 2:1 in VPs before the end of the scenario. Without that result the best the Allies can achieve is a Draw.

1. Reach the end of the scenario with the Allies at only 1.99:1, it is a Draw.

2. Same as (1) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it becomes a Marginal Japanese victory.

3. Allies get to 2:1 before the end of the scenario (and that will be quite a feat from where they currently stand), it is only a Marginal Allied victory.

4. Same as (3) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it is a Draw.

5. Reach the end of the scenario with the Allies at only 1.74:1, it is a Japanese Marginal victory.

6. Same as (5) above but with 3 Atomic bombs dropped, it is a Decisive Japanese Victory.


The odds slightly favour the Allies getting to above 1.75:1 by the end of the scenario. But that is not a locked in certainty. There is a diminishing return effect on strategic bombing at this point in time. The remaining big strategic points to be harvested involve great risk to the Allies who will have to fly into the teeth of the main Japanese flak and CAP defences. Where is the evidence that the risk will be taken by the Allies. Then there is an invasion of Honshu which can harvest many VPs for the Allies but again there is great risk to the Allies. Faced with the risk, how tempting to a cautious Allied player do you think dropping a 3rd (or 4th too) Atomic bomb to reap strategic points "on the cheap", will be. Pray that a 3rd Atomic Bomb is dropped because then, no matter how many VPs are gained by the Allies, at the absolute best they get only a Draw.

The fact is that the Japanese VP denominator is not going to drop that much, if at all. An Allied "steady as she goes" does not guarantee getting to 2:1. I said as such months ago and I still see no evidence that the Allies will romp to 2:1.

Alfred

Right. Thanks for laying it all out. It does seem possible at least and I'm definitely interested in battling to the end.

He'll get a lot and drop some of mine, (more critical probably) if he takes Chungking and Chengtu. I'm playing to defend those at all costs, but the supply situation is making it tough.

The one thing that will help is if he continues to play with his daylight bombing and give me ether occasional 300-400 point haul of 4E and fighter VPs. He still hasn't really touched Tokyo, other than with atomics, so maybe that could yield some VPs too.

[Capt. Harlock]

He still hasn't really touched Tokyo, other than with atomics, so maybe that could yield some VPs too.

Is anybody else bothered by the fact that after receiving TWO atomic bombs, Tokyo still has targets undestroyed? [&:]

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

He still hasn't really touched Tokyo, other than with atomics, so maybe that could yield some VPs too.

Is anybody else bothered by the fact that after receiving TWO atomic bombs, Tokyo still has targets undestroyed? [&:]

The atomic bombs are near worthless in this game. Known fact for some time.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

He still hasn't really touched Tokyo, other than with atomics, so maybe that could yield some VPs too.

Is anybody else bothered by the fact that after receiving TWO atomic bombs, Tokyo still has targets undestroyed? [&:]

Its is an odd feature. The damage done is extensive in terms of VPs. I imagine the way this works is tied to the system of victory conditions using VPs. Imagine if all industry at Tokyo was destroyed. That would be sufficient VPs to end any game. So it's not surprising the devs decided to make the game have more than this route to victory for the Allies.

In reality would the bomb dropped on Tokyo have ended the war? Well, the two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki did, so probably yes. Maybe it depends on how the Japanese were doing at the time. The one thing the game doesn't factor in is future possible damage, and the was certainly a factor in the war ending. How many would the Allies have dropped (and the Japanese had no idea how many were available).