The Accidental War Obvert vs Lowpe

[Lowpe]

Misc Notes:

Light Industry has been shutting down sporadically due to shortage of raw materials on Honshu.

An idle Nick B factory decided to start up to make some for night escort duty only. There is one chutai already doing that.

I wish there was an automatic switch to set all task forces created to automatically not refuel.

Endo Detachment (2 Irving NF) arrived and sent to Sapporo to try and down the less armored Soviet night bombers.

Hong Kong had their first attack today:

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55459 troops, 415 guns, 348 vehicles, Assault Value = 1592

Defending force 31042 troops, 244 guns, 310 vehicles, Assault Value = 717

Allied adjusted assault: 1756

Japanese adjusted defense: 5117

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
608 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (1 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
2776 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 339 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 50 (9 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
28th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
129th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
7th Cav Recce Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
21st Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps

Defending units:
4th Tank Regiment
74th Infantry Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
17th/A Division
51st Recon Regiment
17th/B Division
Hong Kong Def Force
41st Guard Battalion
17th/C Division
24th Port Unit
6th Air Defense AA Regiment
Hong Kong Special Base Force
26th Air Flotilla
304th Ship Eng Coy
12th Port Unit
52nd Field AA Battalion
3rd Air Army
2nd Army
18th JAAF AF Bn
54th JNAF AF Unit /3
----------------------

Canton Attack:

Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 122754 troops, 788 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 3376

Defending force 51525 troops, 442 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 1259

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 3359

Japanese adjusted defense: 1505

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2252 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 167 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 41 (2 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4492 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 580 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 40 disabled
Guns lost 25 (6 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 65 (52 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
86th Chinese Corps
Mobiele Battalion
25th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
6th Chinese Corps
57th AT Gun Regiment
16th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
20th Artillery Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
56th AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
51st Engineer Regiment
104th/B Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
22nd/B Division
20th RGC Division
104th/A Division
1st Ind.Inf.Group
104th/C Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
22nd/C Division
32nd JNAF AF Unit
47th JAAF AF Bn
Canton Special Base Force
23rd Army
22nd Ind.Mtn Gun Battalion
4th Air Div /1
21st Mortar Battalion
2nd Raiding Rgt /5

[Lowpe]

Jan 16, 1943

First Jacks roll off the production line. 3 Days to fill a Sentai of 45.

This is what happens when you move a fighter squadron mistakenly. [;)]

Morning Air attack on Kagoshima , at 102,60

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 39
B-24D Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K1 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Turusima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Nissen Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Kamishima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
ACM Mejima Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Keizan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Santos Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Boko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Miiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kaisyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Bichu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Totai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Iwashiro Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ACM Kyo Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Nichiryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Assam Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 45
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

[Lowpe]

Shanghai Attack.

Ground combat at Shanghai (92,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 155688 troops, 1210 guns, 897 vehicles, Assault Value = 4563

Defending force 40328 troops, 321 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 1121

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 3917

Japanese adjusted defense: 3577

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2109 casualties reported
Squads: 90 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 36 (16 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8476 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 842 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 71 disabled
Guns lost 141 (7 destroyed, 134 disabled)
Vehicles lost 65 (3 destroyed, 62 disabled)

[Lowpe]

Save the 2nd Tank Division...day 3.

Soviets Attack...and are repulsed.[:)] I would attack, but not into that massed artillery.[X(]

Ground combat at Chinchow (101,41)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17505 troops, 301 guns, 402 vehicles, Assault Value = 1027

Defending force 38066 troops, 368 guns, 543 vehicles, Assault Value = 1170

Allied adjusted assault: 178

Japanese adjusted defense: 1079

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
574 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1936 casualties reported
Squads: 99 destroyed, 246 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 39 (8 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
56th NKVD Regiment
77th Tank Brigade
21st Rifle Brigade
206th Tank Brigade
41st Rifle Brigade
61st Tank Division
26th NKVD Regiment
8th/A Cavalry Division
629th Cannon Regiment
1120th Cannon Regiment
624th Cannon Regiment
263rd Howitzer Regiment
390th Cannon Regiment
283rd Engineer Battalion
1128th Howitzer Regiment
93rd VVS Base Force

Defending units:
58th Division
7th Manchukuo Cav Brigade
Maizuru 3rd SNLF
77th Infantry Regiment
8th Manchukuo Inf Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
2nd Tank Division
29th Ind Engineer Regiment
49th Const Co
51st Const Co
52nd Const Co
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
48th Field Const Co
14th JNAF AF Unit
5th Air Defense AA Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
51st JAAF AF Bn

[Lowpe]

Formosa keeps falling, and two islands east of Formosa are dropped on by parachute units.

So, not much good news.[;)]

[HansBolter]

I'm guessing from your AV total that the 2nd Tank Division is not as beefed up as the version in scenario 40.

I was quite shocked to discover three Japanese Tank Divisions in Mukden, each with over 900 AV.

I was quite impressed with the Soviet Mech Corps with over 700 AV and was rather deflated by the discovery of these Japanese monsters.

Thankfully, the AI foolishly decided to attack the massive Soviet stack that entered Mukden, cutting the Tank Divisions down to 350AV, 500AV and 800AV before I started my attrition efforts.

[Lowpe]

Best armored unit I have:

[HansBolter]

I was mistaken. They are Tank Armies with over 900 AV, not Divisions.

Apparently they are equivalent to three of the divisions you have.

Typical of the beefed up units the AI gets in Ironman Nasty scenarios.

[Lowpe]

In a normal game, the 1st and 2nd Tank Division usually form up and put the nail into the coffin of China....go to Burma and counter the Commonwealth and then by 1945 end up facing the Soviets if the game lasts that long. Scenario One games don't see much expansion into India or Oz.

In this game they have been holding lines against the Soviets, and doing ok but having no real impact. I massed them once for a counter attack on the Soviets but was blunted by Soviet strength especially artillery.

Like most games, once Japan loses initiative it is all downhill, I don't think I ever managed to gain the initiative in this game.

I think the Type 1 and especially the Type 3 Medium Tanks are overpowered for Japan, but hard to see doing will without them.

[Lowpe]

Mid Jan 1943

Two Sentais' are converted to Jack and working to repair..

Canton falls...Shanghai holds but not for much longer.

It is a bleak picture...Soviets and Chinese and Americans and Commonwealth and British working hand in glove to destroy the Empire adn where, oh where is Japan's Allies? Manchuko pretty much over run...holding at Mudken line.

In good news the 2nd Tank Division has rejoined the Japanese line in fighting order...

[Lowpe]

Jan 23, 1943

Night bombing of Nagasaki for the first time.

Night Air attack on Muroran , at 120,52

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
TB-3 x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TB-3 bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Spc.Attck.Unit with Ki-45 KAIb Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Raid is overhead



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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
75th Sentai/B with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes



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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
75th Sentai/B with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes



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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
75th Sentai/B with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes



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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
75th Sentai/B with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

[jwolf]

No nukes -- yet -- on Nagasaki, so all is well. [:'(]

[Lowpe]

Jan 24, 1943


More probing smallish scale night bombings. Allies bounce it around, but every now and then launch a full scale raid.

Lots of Allied subs working to cut resource flows from Sakhalin, but for now no air attacks on that shipping.

Shanghai and Hong Kong still hold but not for long.

Night Air attack on Kurume , at 103,58

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 429

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kirin , at 108,42

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
IL-2 x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x IL-2 bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
45th I.F.Chutai/B with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Raid is overhead



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Night Air attack on Kurume , at 103,58

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 858

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kurume , at 103,58

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 1287

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kurume , at 103,58

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 1716

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kurume , at 103,58

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

No nukes -- yet -- on Nagasaki, so all is well. [:'(]

The silver lining![:D]

[Lowpe]

Jan 26, 1943

Setting records here! Shanghai falls.

[Lowpe]

This early, I can't get night fighters to bleed one hex when the attacks come in low. Luckily he bombs manpower and its rating is only 4 so no real damage done yet. Perhaps the fires will torch something tomorrow. Allies would have been better off targeting the industry/resources directly.

Low altitude strategic bombing this early will hasten the end. One big raid on Osaka and Nagasaki. Ouch.[:(]

Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 16
Fires 5715

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 24
Fires 14097

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 18
Fires 20193

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 4
Fires 21717

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Lowpe]

Jan 27, 1943

Some big combats and one really ominous one.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Another Soviet breakthru...not much Japan can do to stem the tide, but we shall try!


Ground combat at Tsingtao (95,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36868 troops, 180 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1012

Defending force 20772 troops, 115 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 509

Allied adjusted assault: 510

Japanese adjusted defense: 1141

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2236 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 262 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
55th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
34th Separate Brigade

Defending units:
14th RGC Temp. Division
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Division
1st NCPC Route Brigade
Ching Tao Special Base Force
23rd JNAF AF Unit

Ground combat at Peiping (95,39)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 153747 troops, 753 guns, 868 vehicles, Assault Value = 3648

Defending force 46450 troops, 394 guns, 164 vehicles, Assault Value = 1169

Allied adjusted assault: 2289

Japanese adjusted defense: 4269

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2408 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3196 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 691 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 78 (3 destroyed, 75 disabled)
Vehicles lost 51 (7 destroyed, 44 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Route Army
74th Chinese Corps
9th Armored Car Brigade
52nd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
171st Tank Brigade
76th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
203rd Tank Brigade
91st Chinese Corps
117th/428th OM Gun Battalion
178th Mortar Regiment

Defending units:
79th Garrison Battalion
105th NCPC Route Brigade
8th NCPC Infantry Brigade
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
24th/B Division
26th/A Division
26th/C Division
5th NCPC Infantry Brigade
26th/B Division
68th Division
59th Division
15th Garrison Unit
4th NCPC Infantry Brigade
17th Tank Regiment
24th/C Division
North China Area Army
45th Const Co
53rd JAAF AF Bn
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Cavalry Brigade
56th JAAF AF Bn
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
24th JAAF AF Bn
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
69th JAAF AF Coy

[Lowpe]

The second day of night raids, shows some Oscars switched over to night cap and they do wonders, but of course I lose 4. Oscars are the worst for night CAP, but I had to switch fighters present to get any CAP to fly at all.

So this is why some people sour on night bombing. Yesterday a punishing manpower attack at 2000 feet with many hits but no points scored.

And today's attack frustrated, in part due to night cap and also bad weather. Moonlight was 60%.

Now, it would have been a different story if the bombers would have targeted industry directly.

In other news, we down 7 four engine beasts attacking the port at Okinawa.

Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



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Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 3278

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



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Night Air attack on Kumamoto , at 102,59

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai/A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead

[Lowpe]

Jan 28, 1943

The Soviet armored thrust is heading east...

The IJA will move west and hope to cut off the loc.