Defeating the Devil !!! ( aka Damian )

[1EyedJacks]

Hi Nemo,

Are you basing PBYs out of Morseby? Damain was showing you've taken a beating with your subs - what do you have left on the table? What are you doing with your subs?

What do you have for fighters with leg enough to support your LB from Amboina? Have you moved HQ units up to support your air assets?

TTFN,

Mike

[Nemo121]

Mike,
 
In terms of subs I'd say I have about 150 in play. To be honest with you I'm just using most of them to run supplies to bases around the Phillipines or the chain of bases in between Kwajalein and Papua New Guinea. Basically I have taken a few Level 0 bases there to form my air bridge from Kwajalein to Amboina but until they become Level 1 bases I can't really base the necessary fighter squadrons at them to provide cover for shipping dropping supplies off. TO become level 1 bases I need supplies. My solution to this is to create 4 or 5 sub groups of 25 subs each. Each group is able to carry anywhere from 500 to 1,000 tons of supplies and this allows me to begin building the bases I need.
 
As to why my sub losses were high... Well, I used subs to picket KB's movements when I threatened engagement around the Aleutians and around Kwajalein. When Damian realised I wasn't going to attack him with my CVs he began putting naval bombers on ASW. 400 or 500 high Exp naval bombers can sink 5 or 6 subs a day easily given this game's search routines.
 
I have quite a few minelaying subs around too ( Soviet L Class, the Dutch O Boats ) and some of the excellent Soviet 5-series subs ( radar, great torps, tough etc ) and I'm using those subs aggressively. In one day this week I got mine hits on a CLAA and 2 DDs.
 
HQ support - Always, without the HQ 25% of the planes don't fly and since I have fewer quality fighters, less experienced pilots and fewer fighter replacements ( He gets about 450 to 500 Ki44 IIIs per month from what I can see... I get 30 P-51s, 100 top-line Soviet fighters and 170 Corsairs. Sure I get Hellcats but those are on my CVs and not really committable to the front lines at this time. ) I really have to maximise my efficiency.
 
At the moment, and for the past week, I've been hitting his airfields in Formosa and today I started hitting Nanchang. If he can replace about 15 Ki-44 IIIs a day I have, recently, been destroying about 40 Ki-44 IIIs per day. This has to have cut into his reserves a lot and he has, effectively, abandoned the skies over FOrmosa, preferring to concentrate his fighters at Nanchang. I am currently in the process of destroying the 500 HI and about 800 resources at Formosa and will let his forces in Formosa starve. This will force Damian to begin withdrawing them by air and once they are almost all withdrawn I'll land and take Formosa on the cheap. It is an indirect approach but much, much more efficient than trying to subdue Formosa by force of arms.
 
He has made a foray towards PM- which he telegraphed by unnecessary bomber raids on PM - with his CVs. I have given them a day or two to tool around and now ( given that I believe he is in the process of withdrawing ) I have sent my own CVs out with orders to lurk just within recon range and tempt the Japanese into another sprint south-eastward seeking decisive battle. I have about 350 fighters over the fleet and expect that the Japanese can overwhelm this force but in so doing they will suffer even more grievous Ki-44 III losses and will either have to accept that KB is rendered utterly toothless or have to give priority to replacing the Ki-44 IIIs and pilots in the fleet --- which, indirectly, weakens his Ki-44 IIIs over China and wins me the aerial battle over China once and for all.
 
So, in short, I've put strain on his fighters by fighting over Formosa, will hurt his morale by hitting Nanchang with B-17s and Pe-2s at high altitude ( he is excessively effected by this sort of raid ) and then break his CV-based Ki-44 squadrons near PM. The end result will be that to re-strengthen his CVs he will have to cede China.
 
Of course he may just run away from my CVs but even that will be worthwhile as it will be another blow to his morale... and Damian truly is looking for a decisive battle at the moment and given that I can muster a sum total of 4 x CV, 1 x CVL and 1 x CVE to his dozen+ CVs and another dozen or so CVLs he looks to be in great position to win such a battle.
 
ANd to be clear. I expect to lose CVs if he attacks--- even though I have a sneaky plan to fake him into a worthless attack which I can attrit instead. The point though is that his critical strength IS his CVs but his critical weakness IS his fighters and HI. Thus I can lose CVs so long as I kill sufficient fighters. It is oxymoronic to most thinking but it is also correct in this situation.

[Capt. Harlock]

I get 30 P-51s, 100 top-line Soviet fighters and 170 Corsairs. Sure I get Hellcats but those are on my CVs and not really committable to the front lines at this time. )

What is your P-38 production up to at this point? (Granted, not truly a match for the Ki-44 III but better than throwing Wildcats or P-40's at them.)

[Nemo121]

No, in this mod I've modded twin-engined fighters so they perform more realistically. Their manoeuvrability isn't amazing although their speed and climb can, largely, make up for this.
 
The P-38 isn't a first-class fighter when facing the Ki-44 III. Yes it certainly is when facing Ki-109s or A6M2s ( as was historically accurate ) but the Ki-44 III is just in a different class than those planes. I get about 40 P-38s per month but, honestly, I could lose 40 in a single day if I sent them in against enemy Ki-44 IIIs in a sweep. I still do that but that is only as part of a lo-hi quality mix.

[Nemo121]

I'm continuing to attrit his fighter over Nanchang. About 50 Ki-44IIIs are being downed every day and Ki-43 losses are almost total ( in other words every Ki-43 committed tends to die ). Corsairs, La5Ns, MiG-3s, Spitfire VIIIs and P-51s are all fully engaged. I only have about 50 P-51s still on the map ( as I said, losses on the Allied side have been high ) but the Soviet, British and Australian squadrons have slowly been filtered into the line over the past fortnight and are now taking their share of the losses.
 
Around PM the Japanese carriers declined combat and are hurriedly retreating towards the Phillipines... Undoubtedly he wishes to prevent my gaining a foothold in the Phillipines. I've fed this paranoia by talking about the need for land bases etc but, really, the Phillipines will fall into my hands once I threaten Japan. Just like Formosa there's very little need to actually invade it and take it in hand to hand fighting.
 
 
In other news the Japanese forces in CHina are being inexorably drawn into Nanchang by the presence of 11,000 + AV of Chinese forces... For some reason the amount of supplies available has fallen and so my forces are now just in the red --- by about 10 or 20 tons each. *Sigh, you'd think the AI would realise it should give full supplies to 90% of the armies and only let 10% starve instead of slightly starving the whole 100%.* Anyways, I'm trying a few tricks to get supplies to flow again but overall I'm going to look at maybe changing the Nanchang thrust into a feint and making the fallback plan of a sea invasion the actual primary plan.  It'll be a pity if the plan falls apart cause of the rather silly supply modelling BUT if it happens it happens. I'll just adapt and overcome.

[ny59giants]

I imagine that you have at least one Army HQ at Nanchang, but sending a Command HQ there should dramatically help your supply situation.

[Capt. Harlock]

*Sigh, you'd think the AI would realise it should give full supplies to 90% of the armies and only let 10% starve instead of slightly starving the whole 100%.*

Apparently, China has gone communist already.[:D]

[Nemo121]

Mike, I have 9 HQs committed to this thrust. That ought to be enough to draw any amount of supplies. For some reason though, despite the presence of abtou 160,000 tons of supplies things are tight in China with a lot of supplies trapped in rear areas where there is a surplus and not very much being sent forward.

I could probably shift it by flying out my heavy bombers and before the next assault that's precisely what I'm thinking of doing.


And now to give you some graphics about upcoming plans as I think that it is about time that I let people in on the basic concept....

Underlying precepts:
1. Current operational tempo has drawn down the enemy Ki-44 III stock to such a point that they are currently in the red with too few Ki-44 IIIs to bring their front-line squadrons up to full strength.

2. I've seen some enemy CV-based Ki-44 III units in action over China and have successfully drawn them down. I am interpreting this as
a) a bit of desperation and
b) Damian committing fighter units to action while the CVs they come from are docked being repaired --- I've had his CVs running around after mine for a couple of months now and most of my CVs have at least 15 sys damage. His must be at least as bad. I don't need my CVs much for the next couple of phases of action but he needs his so that helps me tremendously.

End result: His CVs have "one good battle" in them. Once that's done his CVs will need to be withdrawn to replenish their fighter groups and this will take so long that it will give me a significant period of freedom of action.



So, below you see a picture of the Amboina/Davao/Palau region. Basically I have my main CV force ( CVs, a CVL and a CVE ) at Amboina ready to sprint out and create havoc at the airfields Kendari, Menado, Davao and Palau. I expect the enemy CVs to be based either at Davao or Palau and my moves on those bases to cause significant aerial combat and an attempt by the IJN to destroy my small fleet.

I will also use this time to resupply and reinforce Morotai with a view to being able to base bombers etc there to really suppress Palau and Menado ( and completing my air bridge to China ).

Once the time is right I'll use the CVs, CVEs and warships to force their way through the Phillipines and towards Hong Kong --- at which time all of China and Korea will be threatened.

[Nemo121]

This next picture takes a bit of explaining.

At present about 12,000 Chinese AV are at Nanchang fighting with some 3,200 AV of Japanese defenders. Pretty much the entire Japanese reserve in China has been drawn into this battle. It is a close battle which I might edge with a lot of disastrous and costly fighting but which I'd rather win a bit more skillfully.

Accordingly the 2nd arrow originating from Changsha north towards the Japanese and Chinese troops south of Hankow shows the direction of movement of the 4,500 AV of British and Indian troops which I will unleash once the fighting at Nanchang reaches a crescendo and really has all of Damian's attention focussed on it.

I will combine this thrust south of Hankow with a thrust south from Honan. The Japanese have some 2,000 or so AV at Kaifeng and another 1,000 or so at Sinyang. The forces at Hankow look to be a fair bit weaker as at least 2 divisions of troops which were guarding Hankow were sent to Nanchang. I have 6,000 AV of Chinese troops at Honan and will send about 4,000 AV south toward Sinyang. I don't expect to be able to break through but I do expect to continue to pin the 2,000 AV at Kaifeng, pin the 1,000 or so at Sinyang and prevent him doing much with the guys at Hankow beyond hunkering down and digging in.

With the Japanese in the north pinned in place my concept is to use the bulk of the British and Indian troops to push eastward toward Nanking. I don't expect this thrust to get very far. At best it will end up stalled at Nanking ( given the x 4 urban terrain multiplier ). However in being stopped by the Japanese it will, definitely, draw in the last reserves available from Shanghai.

So far each of these thrusts looks like a major attempt at a breakthrough as the forces involved are so massive. What they really are are just preparatory attacks to draw the Japanese reserves in and set the stage for a much smaller but utterly decisive attack at Ningpo. This is guarded by only a single enemy unit and should be easily overwhelmed so long as enemy reserves cannot be sent there ( the 3 phases above are all designed to draw those reserves in ).

Once Ningpo falls Damian will realise that the 3,200 troops at Nangchang and the 500 or so at Wengchow are all in a huge pocket which can ONLY be escaped by evacuating through Shanghai. He will withdraw, my troops will follow and I'll gain all of south-eastern China at an absolutely minimal cost in terms of fighting.

I would imagine that the new front line will stabilise along the river line running from Haichow to Kaifeng. If Damian tries to hold a line running from Shanghai through Nanking through Sinyang and Kaifeng he'll find my armoured units ( I have about 700 AV or so of armour ) motoring through the countryside cutting him off willy-nilly.

Obviously once the front stabilises a little I will try to push on north-eastward toward Peking. I wouldn't expect to break through unless Damian has wasted troops in the forward battle by not withdrawing them once it became clear that this was necessary but it will serve to pin down large Japanese forces.

Coincident with this thrust I plan to exploit eastward and take Cheju Island ( a great P-47, P-51 base allowing me to rid the bases west of Okayama of their CAP ) whilst also landing British and Indian troops in Korea proper. My goal then is to move north and force the Japanese into a choice:

1. Continue feeding troops into Mongolia via Vladivostok with a view to stabilising the situation there and trusting that I can't mobilise enough of a reserve to break through somewhere or, heaven forbid, make a landing on mainland Japan while 3/4 of its remaining army is trapped in Mongolia, Formosa, the Phillipines or places like Truk and Palau which looked important at the beginning of April but are now backwaters just two months down the line.


2. Pulling back into mainland Japan proper with the understanding that:
a) Japanese forces will pay in blood for such a withdrawal and
b) that doing so will unleash the full might of the Soviet land forces into the war - It is only another 6,000 AV but combined with the 5,000 or so British and Indian AV, the 3,000 Aussia and NZ AV and about 2,000 US AV it gives a potent 16,000 AV of high-quality troops to back up and stiffen the 20,000 AV or so of low-quality Chinese troops.

Obviously were I to invade mainland China and have 36,000 AV available you might see 6,000 AV of Chinese troops kept in reserve to ward off surprise re-invasions of Korea or the Soviet Union etc but you should expect to see 30,000 AV of troops landing at various strategic points in Japan with a view to overwhelming the defenders utterly through sheer weight of numbers.

[Nemo121]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/29/43

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TF 19 encounters mine field at Truk [Nanyo] (66,78)

Japanese Ships
DD Hayabusa
DD Akatsuki
AK Tama Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

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TF 41 encounters mine field at Shanghai [E China] (52,39)

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1412N, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

My minefields continue to claim victims at a slow but steady rate. It isn't huge attrition but it is cheap and relatively reliable.

These are all sub-laid mines as aerial mining is banned by our house rules.

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Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27


Allied aircraft
IL-2M Shturmovik x 32
MiG-3 x 43
Pe-2 x 28


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2M Shturmovik: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
MiG-3: 1 damaged
Pe-2: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 67

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Day Air attack on Yangku [Cent China] , at 51,29


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 60
A-20G Havoc x 48
B-17E Fortress x 54
B-24D Liberator x 28
B-25D Mitchell x 103
B-19A x 22
Wellington IC x 89


Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 damaged
A-20G Havoc: 1 damaged
B-25D Mitchell: 2 damaged
Wellington IC: 3 damaged

Resources hits 191

Now that the enemy are being drawn into southern China I can no longer allow them over 1,000 tons of supplies per day being generated at Yangku. Accordingly I plan 3 days worth of raids here to destroy its productive capacity.



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Day Air attack on Nanchang [C China] , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-115 Sabre x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 38
P-51B Mustang XP x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 13
SB-2M x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-115 Sabre: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 37

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Day Air attack on Honan [Cent China] , at 49,31

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Japanese fighter training continues, albeit at a much, much lower rate than before. My raids on the Home Islands appear to have tied down significant fighter strength - just as planned.

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Day Air attack on Ichang [C China] , at 47,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 22

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 4

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Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 82

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 56


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Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14

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Day Air attack on Manado [Celebes] , at 39,67

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 1
Ki-44III Tojo x 18
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 7
Ki-109E Mike x 29

Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 228

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 1 destroyed
Ki-44III Tojo: 18 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 7 destroyed
Ki-109E Mike: 29 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 31 destroyed

The real news of the day. While some 90 Corsairs and 50 Seafires guard the skies over my CVs the Hellcats go into action to begin drawing down the Japanese fighter defences in the DEI, continuing the attrition begun in China and, VERY IMPORTANTLY, drawing the Japanese CVs out in an unco-ordinated fashion. I am guessing that most of his CVs are based at Davao with, probably, a smaller force based at Saipan. I am also sure that some of his CVs will be on their way back to Japan for repair as their system damage must be in the high teens by now. In any case I feel there's a possibility of mounting a series of quick thrusts to draw strikes from the Davao-based CVs before they can link up with the Saipan-based CVs.

If I'm wrong I'll draw a massive strike from ALL of his CVs - he SHOULD have kept them together but I don't think he's had enough time to get all the CVs from Rabaul to Davao by now as my route was a little shorter and my fuel situation was better so I was probably able to sprint more than him - which I should still be able to weather. If I draw a strike from only a portion of his CVs then my CAP ought to be able to splash the entire strike force as I have numbers and experience on my side.

So, over the next 3 days if things go to plan you should see:
Day 1: A clash with the Japanese CVs moving down from Davao in which I impale his strike groups from the CVs, Menado and G9Ms/Bettys etc from Davao on my CAP.
Day 2: Surface raids on Morotai ( designed to catch and kill barges ) as well as a surface strike into either Menado or Davao itself by fast raiders ( CLs, DDs etc ).
Day 3. Another day of strikes on my CVs ( and the surface raider group from Davao ) by the Palau-based CVs.

Days 4 and 5 should see a retreat back to Amboina just in time to link up with the last of the stragglers of the US invasion fleet. I'll then re-organise and configure the forces I wish to drop off at Morotai to fully develop that base before deciding on one of three courses of action:

a) a cruise towards China ( covering the transports ) via the DEI,
b) a cruise towards China ( covering the transports ) via the gap between the DEI and the Phillipines
c) a cruise towards China (covering the transports ) via the seas east of the Phillipines.

The latter would put the biggest crimp in Japanese shipping plans as his shipping would have to scatter to the winds to avoid my SBDs etc but is, obviously, the riskiest of the possibilities. Going via the DEI proper is the least risky. Which I choose depends on how my CVs and fighters make out in the coming few days.

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Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
B5N2Q x 2
Ki-44III Tojo x 20
D3A2 Val x 14
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 7

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2Q: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

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Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 52
Ki-21-II Sally x 9
Ki-264 Angel x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 32

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Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-49 -I Helen bombing at 9000 feet
7 x Ki-49 -I Helen bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on Jolo [Jolo] , at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 12
Ki-21-II Sally x 38
Ki-49 -I Helen x 26
Ki-46III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 82

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Day Air attack on Jolo [Jolo] , at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7
Ki-48-II Lily x 22

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16


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Day Air attack on Ulithi [Nanyo] , at 57,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 30
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3
D3A2 Val x 14
B4Y1 Jean x 34
B5N2 Kate x 34
Ki-27 Nate x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

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Day Air attack on Ulithi [Nanyo] , at 57,68

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

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Day Air attack on Majuro [Nanyo] , at 84,88


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 88
P-40B Tomahawk x 21


No Allied losses

Port supply hits 1

Training raids. I'm getting P-38 groups but their experience is only in the 40s and they can't survive in the front lines. Trained up to 70+ Exp they begin to have a chance.

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Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

At this stage Wake island must be damned short of supplies and I'm beginning to think seriously about trying to sneak a two-division landing there one day. It would certainly give Damian another thing to worry about. I'll have to recon it a bit more surreptitiously before I can give this plan a go though. I have about a dozen LSTs at Kwajalein which would make such a raid infinitely more feasible. The only problem is I'd have no air cover whatsoever.

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Day Air attack on IJA 22nd Division, at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-115 Sabre x 2

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2
IL-2 Shturmovik x 128
IL-2M Shturmovik x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-115 Sabre: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 16 destroyed, 10 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Costly raids but I have about 700 of them in reserve so what of it?

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Day Air attack on IJA Imperial Guards Division, at 32,36


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 24
Blenheim IV x 10
Hudson IV x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on ROC 1st Group Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 17

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on ROC 1st Group Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 67

Angels on ground attack. He must really feel threatened.

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-264 Angel: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

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Day Air attack on ROC 25th Field Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 15

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on ROC 95th Field Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 9

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on ROC 95th Field Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 34

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on ROC 77th Field Army , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 16

No Japanese losses

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ASW attack near Naha [Okinawa] at 54,46

Japanese Ships
DD Hitachi
DD Yamakaze
DD Hato
DD Tomozuru
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-39, hits 1, heavy damage


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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25836 troops, 545 guns, 493 vehicles, Assault Value = 977

Defending force 119695 troops, 1821 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 3287



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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 81856 troops, 1519 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3287

Defending force 65597 troops, 833 guns, 760 vehicles, Assault Value = 977


Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4981 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 6182 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 160



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Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3633 troops, 173 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 978 troops, 0 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 4


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

[Nemo121]

Day 1: Day 1 has gone well albeit that my losses in attacking the enemy fleet were a little higher than I would have liked. I am considering pulling back in order to reprovision a little earlier - I'll have to wait to see just how badly shot up my fighter groups are before I decide... Damian still has the turn so I'll have to wait another day before I can make a decision...

Here's the edited CR...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/30/43

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Day Air attack on Ichang [C China] , at 47,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 21

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
P-51B Mustang XP x 34
P-40E Warhawk x 6
Lancer x 4
Spitfire VIII x 8
MiG-3 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang XP: 1 destroyed
MiG-3: 1 destroyed

Killing some student pilots...

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Day Air attack on Singapore [UK] , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 111

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 21
Beaufighter VIF-NF x 9
Hurricane IIc x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-264 Angel: 29 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Beaufighter VIF-NF: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign, Bomb hits 6
BB Anson, Bomb hits 6
CA Frobisher, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Manowai, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 7

These hits tripped a lot of AAA from my BBs but did little real damage. I don't know why Damian doesn't just send in Ki-264 Bs. Their radio-guided bombs are designed for this sort of mission. If he'd mingled 30 or 40 within this raid I'd be 2 BBs down today.

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Day Air attack on TF at 41,64

My forces attack first. A grand total of 6 SBDs roars into action. Yeah, I know, I laughed too...


Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 5
Ki-44III Tojo x 35

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 2
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 10
F6F-5 Hellcat x 23
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 5 destroyed
Ki-44III Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire II: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 8 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 15 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1

Well, what do you know, the 6 SBDs managed to plant a 1,000 lb GP bomb through the flight deck of Kaga. That's one flat top out of action for a few months. Not bad.

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Day Air attack on TF at 40,67

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 26

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 41
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 75
F6F-5 Hellcat x 172

Japanese aircraft losses
B4Y1 Jean: 26 destroyed

Scratch one daitai from Menado.


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Day Air attack on TF at 40,67

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 10
B5N2 Kate x 58

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 41
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 75
F6F-5 Hellcat x 169

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 10 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 58 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged

Well, it looks like this CV group has just lost its strike group. Its a small strike group. I wonder of Damian was standing down fighters and strike groups? There's too few here, maybe he thought I'd run? It makes no sense and this more than anything today has me puzzled and a little wary.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ningpo [SE China] at 52,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 7
Ki-43-II Oscar x 45

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk X x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-II Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk X: 9 destroyed

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1407N, Shell hits 4, on fire

Oops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 1
Ki-44III Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 2
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 10
F6F-5 Hellcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire II: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Chiyoda

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 40,67

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 3
B4Y1 Jean x 3
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 38
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 65
F6F-5 Hellcat x 144

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 3 destroyed
B4Y1 Jean: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 damaged


Well there you have it. Day 1 is definitely in favour of the Allies. Losses are slightly in my favour but, on the plus side, another IJN CV is going to have to be docked in order to repair the damage from that bomb.

I've had a thought, maybe the forces at Davao are just very weak and he was hoping to link up with the CVs from Palau at Menado. Hmm, I might be able to dash east and draw the teeth of this 2nd group of CV. Sounds promising and worth delaying the rest of the plan for a few days.

Not bad for a carrier arm which currently comprises only 4 CVs, a CVL and a few CVEs... I estimate that Damian must have at least triple that force available if he'd concentrate it ---- of course much of the last few months was designed to use up the fuel and inflict system damage to prevent such a force being moved en masse.

[Capt. Harlock]

Well, what do you know, the 6 SBDs managed to plant a 1,000 lb GP bomb through the flight deck of Kaga. That's one flat top out of action for a few months. Not bad.

Maybe making up for the poor performance of the Hellcat escorts against the CAP. did you deliberately choose GP instead of AP ordnance? Or was this another case of the program randomness?

[Nemo121]

No, most definitely not by choice....
 
As to Day 2... I decided to hedge my bets and move just 60 miles north-east of Morotai in the hopes of catching some enemy CVs from Palau whilst avoiding all of the Tojos flying out of Davao - I am placing myself 6 hexes from Davao while the Tojos have a maximum range of 5 hexes.
 
If I only have CVs to contend with I am hopeful of shooting down quite a few strike planes and escorting fighters... I'll probably have to withdraw to replenish my airgroups at that point in time though.

[1EyedJacks]

Not bad for a carrier arm which currently comprises only 4 CVs, a CVL and a few CVEs...

Just curious - are these carriers running a normal loadout or have you modified the normal breakdown of fighters/DB/TB?

Also - I'm kind of curious as to why you don't just move loads of LB and fighters to China and pound him into the stone age. It looks like you have the resources for it - or am I missing something?

TTFN,

Mike

[Nemo121]

1EyedJacks,
 
1. Yes I've fiddled with the loadout on my CVs. Currently they are set up as CAP traps. Once I've pulled the teeth of his CVs I plan to take the USMC fighter groups off, send them to the beach and upgrade them all to non-CV Corsairs - adding to my ability to take on Demons mano a mano. I'm undecided as to whether to fill the gaps with SBDs or Avengers. I'll see how the mood takes me.
 
 
2. Fighters and bombers eh?
Well, while I've certainly done what I can to convey to Damian a limitless well of fighters from which entire fighter groups spring forth fully formed the reality is rather different.
 
This whole game has been one big game of misdirection and misrepresentation....
 
E.g. I bring in a Pe-2 group, use it till it is decimated, withdraw it and downgrade it to Il-2s. I then use the Pe-2s to upgrade another group to Pe-2s and send it into action when it is only still 1/4 or 1/3rd repaired. I risk 10 Pe-2s but give the view that the full group is available. In addition to this Damian assumes there are two Pe-2 groups and I'm rotating them as one gets worn down. In reality though I risk 10 planes to make it look like I have 80.
 
The situation with fighters is even worse...
I have a sum total of 46 P-51Xs on-map at present and 30 P-38s ready for combat. I have one group of La-5Ns and another of Yak 3s in action. In addition I have 17 Spitfire VIIIs in action. I have another 72 MiG-3s available for action in China. I have 32 Corsairs being flown by Australians.
 
Spitfire Vs are very much second rate nowadays and I only have 32 of them left anyways . P-40Es, P-39s, Boomerangs, Beaufighters and Hurricane IIs are very much third rate. I have lots of these planes ( 180 Hurri IIs alone ) and I'm using them outside of enemy fighter range to protect my rear bases but they can't stand toe to toe with the enemy... Necessity means I have to use P-40s liberally in the front lines but every time I do they get slaughtered. Still, by losing 50 P-40Es I probably saved 5 P-51s and right now that's worth it.
 
So, in total, I have 250 front-line planes available in total. I'm sure that's a damned sight less than Damian believes I have available but that's just part of my maskirovka. Sending in planes even when my reserves are utterly absent has helped convince Damian that those reserves are still present at full strength. Several times recently I've been down to 50 or so first rate fighters and within a day or, at most, two of having to pull back from the air war entirely but I've made up the numbers with hordes of P-40Es, Hurricane IIs and Spitfire Vs and Damian's nerve has broken before mine... and he's pulled back.
 
In the end though I'm utterly certain that Damian has more Tojo IIIs in China than I have first-rate fighters and more Tojo IIIs on-map than I have fighters on-map. He could utterly wipe the floor with me if he concentrated his forces but much of my maskirovka has been designed to have him split his forces disastrously. E.g. I have many of his fighters trapped in Northern Japan waiting on the Soviet air force, I have yet more trapped at Truk and Rabaul and many more stuck in the Phillipines. The minority of his strength is in China and even still it is more than a match for me. I cannot sweep Shanghai or other major bases as I simply don't have the fighter strength or quality to do so and I will not gain this strength for another 2 months.
 
On the other hand my maskirovka is enabling me to still advance and ignore these deficiencies as I tackle them somewhat asynchronously through manoeuvre and strategic positioning.
 
 
So, are you surprised at just how weak my fighter forces are? [8D]
 
 
Its the same story with the CVs... I have 4 CVs, 1 CVL ( Hermes ) and 1 CVE running around the southern Phillipines. That's the same force which screened my move past Rabaul, covered the landings at Noumea and attrited the enemy at Truk. Ask Damian how much he has in the Phillipines area. By my count he could muster at least 4 to 6 CVEs, 8 CVLs ( possibly up to 10 ) and at least 10 CVs. Yet I'm fairly confident that I'm going to be able to dodge in, draw a reaction and then run away before he can rebuild his shattered strike groups. I don't have anything close to the strength to beat him in a stand up fight ( except in a daylight surface gun battle ) but manoeuvre and playing for draws allows me to frustrate and mislead him enough to lead him into inferior strategic and operational choices.
 
What he should do, of course, is ignore my dancing around, identify a critical weakness and take it. If I were in his shoes I would re-invade Hawaii and then move on to take Panama. That would utterly cut off the forces in the southern and western Pacific from CONUSA and force the US to backtrack and recapture what had been lost. This would cause a MINIMUM of 6 months delay ( and I think I could eke it out more ) to their plans and would allow me ( as Japan ) to trade land-based air power for CVs and BBs ( always a good proposition ). It would also yield excellent opportunities for KB to either hit the main invasion or to raid follow-on echelons.
 
 
In addition I would withdraw to a defensible line in China ( along the river running from Kaifeng to Soochow ) and then gather the reserves thus freed up into an invasion force which would seek to retake Borneo and Java. By doing this I would prevent the Allies from being able to ship supplies into China and as China doesn't produce enough to feed itself this would remove the threat of a bomber offensive from China. It would also allow me to create a defensive bastion which the enemy would HAVE to attack through in order to relieve his trapped forces in China.
 
I would probably mix these operations with furthe freeing of reserves and their amphibious landing along that lovely, huge coastline running from Hong Kong all the way to Singapore. There would be excellent opportunities to land IJA forces in two separate locations before sweeping inward and destroying all enemy forces trapped on the coastal road in between those two lodgements. 3 or 4 such efforts would have the effect of utterly crushing the support echelons and the British etc are weak in that respect.

Fighter superiority would be all that would be required for these operations and fighter superiority is, essentially, assured once sufficient courage is found to strip the Home Islands and mass the fighters for offensive use.

[Nemo121]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/31/43

A big day for our CVs today. Lots of action, lots of losses and a few hits on the Allied fleet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Zamboanga [Mndno] at 40,59

Japanese Ships
AK Osaka Maru
DE Kuretake
DE Hasu
DE Kuri

Allied Ships
SS SC-702

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 85 encounters mine field at Truk [Nanyo] (66,78)

Japanese Ships
AK Shoyu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi [Solomons] at 67,100

Japanese Ships
AK Syozin Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Rakuto Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CL Phoenix
CL Nashville
DD Bache
DD Eaton
DM Preble

These newly repaired Allied ships are making their way to the DEI but I spotted a small IJN convoy on the way and took the opportunity to get a few hits in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 50 encounters mine field at Truk [Nanyo] (66,78)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.22
MSW W.20
MSW W.15
MSW W.13
MSW W.12
MSW W.10
MSW W.9
MSW W.4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27


Allied aircraft
IL-2M Shturmovik x 30
MiG-3 x 42
Pe-2 x 27


Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 52

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yenan [Cent China] , at 50,28

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 6
Ki-32 Mary x 21

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yenan [Cent China] , at 50,28

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 17
Ki-46III Dinah x 2

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yangku [Cent China] , at 51,29


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 62
A-20G Havoc x 51
B-24D Liberator x 46
B-25D Mitchell x 122
B-19A x 24
Wellington IC x 91


Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 damaged
A-20G Havoc: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
B-25D Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-19A: 1 damaged
Wellington IC: 1 damaged

Resources hits 202

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanchang [C China] , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-115 Sabre x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 35
P-51B Mustang XP x 13
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 9
SB-2M x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-115 Sabre: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB-2M: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 69

Closing the airfield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian [Central China] , at 47,29

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Honan [Cent China] , at 49,31

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 30
Ki-49 -I Helen x 9
Ki-46III Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft
P-39Q Airacobra x 9
LaGG-3 x 19
La-5FN x 19
MiG-3 x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 -I Helen: 6 destroyed

A cheap ambush at a training target.

Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 113

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 47

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao [Mndno] , at 43,61

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 29
Ki-43-II Oscar x 6
Ki-109E Mike x 7

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-II Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Just trying to get a few cheap kills on an overcrowded airfield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 18
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 72
Ki-21-II Sally x 9

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 63

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 36

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo [Jolo] , at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7
Ki-48-II Lily x 15

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ulithi [Nanyo] , at 57,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 30
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3
D3A2 Val x 13
B4Y1 Jean x 34
B5N2 Kate x 34
Ki-27 Nate x 24

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 36

Lots and lots of training missions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 36


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA Imperial Guards Division, at 32,36


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 21
Blenheim IV x 9
Hudson IV x 9
Hurricane IIc x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Red 15th Guerilla Regiment, at 52,30

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 14
Ki-46III Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 1
Ki-44III Tojo x 53
Ki-115 Sabre x 12

Allied aircraft
SOC Seagull x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SOC Seagull: 4 destroyed

4 Seagulls somehow decided that now would be the perfect time to commit suicide.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

The first attack on my CVs... It is well-escorted and will prove troublesome.

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 81
D3A2 Val x 37
B5N2 Kate x 76
Ki-115 Sabre x 31

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 43
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 74
F6F-5 Hellcat x 165

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 78 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 34 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 69 destroyed
Ki-115 Sabre: 23 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Seafire II: 8 destroyed
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 21 destroyed, 1 damaged
F6F-5 Hellcat: 48 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied fighters suffer heavily to the combination of Demons and rear-gunners.

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 1
CV Enterprise
CVE Sangamon
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Wasp's torpedo hit does major damage leaving it with 30+ sys damage and 30+ flooding. It'll survive but will require a dockyard for repair.

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x Ki-115 Sabre bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 7
D3A2 Val x 22
B5N2 Kate x 17

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 19
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 26
F6F-5 Hellcat x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 6 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 21 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire II: 4 destroyed
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, on fire
CV Enterprise

Despite being weakly escorted this raid still generates leakers who dive on Wasp and Enterprise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 2
B5N2 Kate x 9

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 19
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 28
F6F-5 Hellcat x 73

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire II: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

Japanese aircraft
G9M1 Marlina x 3

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 29
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 51
F6F-5 Hellcat x 109

Japanese aircraft losses
G9M1 Marlina: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

Japanese aircraft
G9M1 Marlina x 3

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 29
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 49
F6F-5 Hellcat x 107

Japanese aircraft losses
G9M1 Marlina: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wenchow [S China] at 50,41


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk X x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LSM SS 4, Shell hits 4, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,67

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 35
Ki-115 Sabre x 13

Allied aircraft
Seafire II x 21
F4U-1 CV Corsair x 34
F6F-5 Hellcat x 73

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 35 destroyed
Ki-115 Sabre: 13 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 CV Corsair: 5 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 8 destroyed

Japanese losses remain heavy but the attrition of my CAP is reaching serious levels with only just over 100 planes left in the CAP ( which began this sortie with over 300 fighters ).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Naha [Okinawa] at 54,46

Japanese Ships
DD Hato
DD Hitachi
DD Yamakaze
DD Tomozuru
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS O20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Naha [Okinawa] at 54,46

Japanese Ships
DD Tomozuru
DD Hitachi
DD Yamakaze
DD Hato
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS O20


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25827 troops, 550 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 977

Defending force 119662 troops, 1821 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 3284



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 81810 troops, 1519 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3284

Defending force 65587 troops, 834 guns, 764 vehicles, Assault Value = 977


Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4981 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 6173 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 159



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3635 troops, 175 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 956 troops, 0 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 4


Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Well the enemy strike groups have been well and truly annihilated and over 100 of their Demon pilots have been killed in the air. It is time to accept this victory and return to port for replenishment. I may have to bolster my force by adding in CVEs equipped with USMC fighter squadrons. As I said, losses have been very heavy. Overall though this was a good day for the Allies.

[Nemo121]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/01/43

MAJOR bomber raids today... Allied CVs retire to Amboina and will replenish CV groups and begin re-organising tomorrow. I also plan another ground attack at Nangchang tomorrow. Let's see if we can't bring down those forts another level.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 50 encounters mine field at Truk [Nanyo] (66,78)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.22
MSW W.20
MSW W.15
MSW W.13
MSW W.12
MSW W.10
MSW W.9
MSW W.4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,69

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Piet Hein
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Henley
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
DD Hammann
DD Anderson
DD Hughes
DD Sims

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Naha [Okinawa] at 54,46

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
DD Sazanami
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS SHCH111

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 36 encounters mine field at Truk [Nanyo] (66,78)

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Naha [Okinawa] at 54,46

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
DD Hitachi
DD Yamakaze
DD Hato
DD Tomozuru

Allied Ships
SS SHCH111

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanchang [C China] , at 48,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-115 Sabre x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 30
P-51B Mustang XP x 13
P-38G Lightning x 3
IL-2 Shturmovik x 268
IL-2M Shturmovik x 118
SB-2M x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-115 Sabre: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
IL-2 Shturmovik: 9 destroyed, 13 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 170

I'll attack tomorrow so today I'm ensuring the airfield is closed. Tomorrow will see a lot of CAS and ground attacks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanchang [C China] , at 48,38


Allied aircraft
B-19A x 28
Beaufort VII x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-19A: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Honan [Cent China] , at 49,31

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 23

Allied aircraft
P-39Q Airacobra x 9
LaGG-3 x 15
La-5FN x 15
MiG-3 x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 114

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 40

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina [Ambon] , at 40,74

Well, it had to happen. My base in the southern Phillipines was a ripe target. Fortunately I have managed to keep reasonable numbers of fighters in the air and they do their job reasonably well. Some bombers still break through but the majority turn back.

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 145

Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 3
P-38G Lightning x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 34
Boomerang II x 11
Kittyhawk I x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-264 Angel: 49 destroyed, 29 damaged

That's about a half month's worth of production destroyed in one fell swoop. Not bad at all.

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 11 destroyed, 12 damaged
Boomerang II: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 damaged
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao [Mndno] , at 43,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 1
Ki-44III Tojo x 51
Ki-115 Sabre x 3
Ki-43-II Oscar x 14
Ki-109E Mike x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-II Oscar: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 9 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 73
Ki-21-II Sally x 9

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 57


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 34

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ulithi [Nanyo] , at 57,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3
Ki-27 Nate x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-115 Sabre: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Majuro [Nanyo] , at 84,88


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 23
P-39D Airacobra x 83
P-40B Tomahawk x 24


No Allied losses

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1

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Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 34


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 45

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Day Air attack on IJA Imperial Guards Division, at 32,36


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 19
Blenheim IV x 9
Hudson IV x 9
Hurricane IIc x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25806 troops, 550 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 978

Defending force 119665 troops, 1819 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 3285



Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 81798 troops, 1517 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3285

Defending force 65576 troops, 835 guns, 764 vehicles, Assault Value = 978


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4965 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 6197 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 160


Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3631 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 946 troops, 0 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 4


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

[Capt. Harlock]

The situation with fighters is even worse...
I have a sum total of 46 P-51Xs on-map at present and 30 P-38s ready for combat. I have one group of La-5Ns and another of Yak 3s in action. In addition I have 17 Spitfire VIIIs in action. I have another 72 MiG-3s available for action in China. I have 32 Corsairs being flown by Australians.

Spitfire Vs are very much second rate nowadays and I only have 32 of them left anyways . P-40Es, P-39s, Boomerangs, Beaufighters and Hurricane IIs are very much third rate. I have lots of these planes ( 180 Hurri IIs alone ) and I'm using them outside of enemy fighter range to protect my rear bases but they can't stand toe to toe with the enemy... Necessity means I have to use P-40s liberally in the front lines but every time I do they get slaughtered. Still, by losing 50 P-40Es I probably saved 5 P-51s and right now that's worth it.

So, in total, I have 250 front-line planes available in total. I'm sure that's a damned sight less than Damian believes I have available but that's just part of my maskirovka. Sending in planes even when my reserves are utterly absent has helped convince Damian that those reserves are still present at full strength. Several times recently I've been down to 50 or so first rate fighters and within a day or, at most, two of having to pull back from the air war entirely but I've made up the numbers with hordes of P-40Es, Hurricane IIs and Spitfire Vs and Damian's nerve has broken before mine... and he's pulled back.

Once again, my compliments. You can play a head game like nobody else. I'm a bit interested that P-40E's are now third-rate instead of second-rate--I assume that means the P-40N will be only second-rate when it appears? And how long before the P-47's show up in this mod?

[Nemo121]

Beginning in April 1943 I get the following new planes ( rates in brackets ):

April 43
P-40N ( 75 per month)
B-25J -75mm gun in nose ( 51 per month )
B-25H (MGs in nose) ( 21 per month )
Ventura V (10 per month)


May 43
P-47C ( 25 per month )
Corsair I (29 - for British CVs )
Hellcat IIs ( 51 - for British CVs )
Yak-9D ( 78 per month )
B-26G (12 per month )

June 43
P-51B ( 47 )
Hurricane IV ( miserable, worthless plane with lots of rockets for ground attack but no ability to shoot anything down - 30 per month )
Mosquito Night Fighter ( will use them for day combat/LRCAP ) ( 25 per month)


July 43
Kittyhawk III ( 50)
TBM3 ( 93 )

September 43
P-47D ( 45 per month )
P-38 J ( 133 per month )
F6F-5N (night fighter ) ( 31 per month )
B-24J ( 51 )
B-17G ( 6 )

November 43
Helldiver ( 200 per month )


December 43
Mosquito Fighter Bomber ( 50 per month )
Mosquito Bomber ( 50 per month) Carries 4,000lb bomb.


So, as you can see, by year's end I have enough fighters to really wear the enemy down but until then I have to dance around landing punches where and when I can whilst trying to appear more dangerous than I really am.

May 1943 - I get an additional 175 first-rate fighters per month which should significantly help.

By September the P-51s, P-47Ds and Hellcat-Ns make another 120 or so first-rate fighters. The P-38s will be helpful but, really, against Ki-44s they don't tend to do that well. Currently I am thinking of just using their altitude ( 35,200 feet ) to allow them to fly over the tops of enemy CAP and drop their 500lb bomb as extempore divebombers.


The other BIG NEWS month is December 1943. In that month I get 50 Mosquito Bombers per month. These carry a 4,000lb bomb to a range of 23 hexes at a maximum altitude of up to 36,000 feet. Just the sort of plane I need to launch incessant port attacks all over Japan [:D]


So, that's really the state of play. Hold on until May 1943 at which point in time I'm hoping to achieve some sort of parity in terms of fighter replacements. In September seek to attrit him such that I gain a superiority in fighter numbers due to a superior ability to replace losses and then come the end of the year use all my bombers and hordes of long-range fighters ( P-51s, P-38Js, Mosquitos ) and high altitude bombers and fighter-bombers ( B-17s, P-38Js, P-47Cs, P-47Ds, Spitfire, P-51, Mosquitoes, P-40Ns and Kittyhawk IIIs ) to range in and launch attacks on the full range of targets at all ranges ( P-40Ns, Kittyhawk IIIs and suchlike for short-range targets ), P-47s, P-38s and P-51s at medium range and B-17s at long range.

[Nemo121]

I thought I'd have a quick look around my fighter types to show numbers in the pool.

P-40B - 9 ( I still have two squadrons flying these bad boys in the front lines )
P-40E - 0 (no replacements left, everything left is going into front-line units which are below strength )
P-39D- 6 )
P-38 - 0
P51 - 24 ( necessary to allow me to bring new squadrons in at full strength... essentially these 24 airframes are unusable unless I want to lose the reinforcement groups - which I don't )
Spitfire VIIIs - 3
Hurricane IIs - about 60 ( but they are only good for anti-bomber defence out of range of enemy fighters )
F4F4s - Over 110 (I am back to using them in USMC squadrons again )
Corsairs- 120 ( unfortunately only my USMC pilots and some RAAF and RNZAF units can use them and I need the USMC guys aboard my CVs right now )
Hellcats - 13
Corsair CV-capable - 0
La5N- 12
P-39Q - 0
Yak3- 13

Well, that's it... Corsair numbers are pretty healthy but that's only because I can't get them into action. With a little luck if I can establish Morotai, take Menado and then begin moving along the Jolo/Taytay axis I might be able to change that but, for right now, the Corsairs are pretty much out of action.

I've recently had a chat with Damian in which I threw out that he was making 500 to 600 Ki-44 IIIs a month and he didn't deny it ( this is based on some B-24 based city attack recon) So, not counting Corsairs I have 52 front-line planes in reserve. Counting Corsairs it is 170. He could break me with just 10 days worth of production (assuming a 1:1 exchange ratio ). OUCH!!!

This campaign really is running on propaganda and misdirection alone at this stage.