Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[JocMeister]

Nothing so grand I´m afraid! With 8000 AV in Korea I don´t have much to spare! [:)]

[Lowpe]

How can you play this long and not invade the Home Islands??

[princep01]

Lowpe, perhaps it is coming yet, but maybe he hasn't invaded because, like the real thing, the Allies won without invading the HI. And, my friend, that was a good thing for both Japan and the Allies, particularly the USA. The slaughter and human suffering would have been immense.

[paullus99]

certainly would have been worse for Japan, in the short term (and probably long term). Pretty much would guarantee a level of damage at least a magnitude higher than they endured historically, plus I'm sure that Hirohito would have been hung as well, as a war criminal - with all of those implications to post-war Japanese life.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How can you play this long and not invade the Home Islands??

It was either Korea or the HI. Where doesn´t really matter as long as there is a level 9 AF within normal B17/24 range of the HI. If I could do it again I would probably have landed on the HI instead. Didn´t realize Erik could rail the entire Manchuria garrison to Korea. I bet there are fewer IDs on the HI then Manchuria...

Live and learn. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]28th-29th June -45 [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

The 29th of June 1945 will be known as the day of the last Allied Amphibious landing of the war...

------------------------
Korea
------------------------
I don´t know but bombardments here seems to cause wildly fluctuating results. One day I´m causing 200-300 casualties only to have results like this the day after:

Morning Air attack on Gunzan , at 102,52

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms [X(]

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 12
B-24J Liberator x 167
P-38J Lightning x 2
P-38L Lightning x 71
F6F-5 Hellcat x 33
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12
PB4Y-2 Privateer x 46

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 6 damaged
PB4Y-2 Privateer: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
1320 casualties reported [X(]
Squads: 4 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (8 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 40

Not sure whats causing these fluctuations. I can´t imagine Erik letting troops go into the hex on move mode.

Bombardments on the ground are showing some really nice results too.

Ground combat at Gunzan (102,52)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 109018 troops, 2032 guns, 3371 vehicles, Assault Value = 5046

Defending force 208376 troops, 2602 guns, 971 vehicles, Assault Value = 7096

Japanese ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 40 (6 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (7 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Despite all the damage I´m causing Eriks troops are still hovering around 7k. So I´m barely keeping up with recovery. Its just so much troops even casualties like this are not dangerous. Hopefully his DIS is starting to rise though.

I also have a small surprise planned in three or four days... [8D]

------------------------
China
------------------------
So, nothing too exotic in our last Amphib OPS. We are landing at Ningpo (see map). There is good reason for that which can also been seen in the map. Resistance is already wiped out by 4Es flying from Naha and the naval bombardment. The 3rd RGC Division must have been almost completely wiped out earlier because after this attack and two other causing two digit losses it was completely wiped off the map.

Base will be secured tomorrow by the 8th Indian ID and the 3rd OZ ID. D+2 will see a full Army land. These are the troops that earlier cleared HK and Canton.

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd RGC Division, at 92,56 (Ningpo)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 6
B-24J Liberator x 7
B-24J Liberator x 31
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)

We continue mop up operations all over China. Only thing holding us back right now is supply. Two 500k convoys are due to arrive within 14 days and a smaller 200k convoy will arrive in just 4 days. That convoy has been running at flank speed for over a week now and I had to dispatch oilers to refuel it.

------------------------
Strategic Bombing
------------------------
On the 28th we tried to hit another NF factory at Nagoya. This was a costly mission as over 20 B29s were lost for only 4 points of damage to the factories. [:(] This was the last B29 raid from Luzon. B29s will now rebase to Moppo. Its a bit of a risk but I´m willing to take it if I can get the B29 losses down even the slightest.

------------------------
Air War
------------------------
Erik has completely withdrawn from Korea, China and Singapore. Fighters have concentrated in Tokyo (1400) and Hiroshima (600).

------------------------
Allied Fleet
------------------------
Reinforcements continue to trickle in. Antietam, Cowpens and 4 CVEs rejoin the fleet.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]1st July -45 [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

We are now in position for my little surprise in Korea...

------------------------
Korea
------------------------
Well, Erik is not the only one who can pile on stuff. Bringing in every available reserve I have including pulling some IDs from China and the DEI I have now managed to sneak in 3000 more AV at Gunzan. This means that the next DA I will actually have a 1000 AV advantage rather then a 2000 disadvantage. I hope that will tip the balance in favor or my troops. I will also launch some heavy naval bombardments from 9 slow BBs.

Interestingly enough Erik has inched his SCTFs closer to Korea. Earlier he has made sure he is at least 8 hexes out from possible allied CV strikes. He has now moved closer and is only 7 hexes from Moppo That can only mean he will try to hit Moppo again. If he does he will find a very unpleasant surprise there... [:'(]

The entire allied SCTF fleet (minus the CV protection) is currently at Moppo. Most of the heavy guns will bombard Gunzan but 2 Iowas, 5 modern CAs and 12 Clevelands and over 200 DDs are on station to guard against just such a thing. There are also some 600 mines, 200 PT boats and about 100 subs patrolling the waters. And if he ends up within 3 hexes of Moppo at daybreak 400 TBs and 200 DBs are ready to attack.

If Erik comes he will come with everything including the KB + LBA. So I´m going to stand down some of the sweeps and make sure I have a solid CAP up. I´m also going to fly in the P47Ns that have been resting at Naha.

Whatever happens tomorrow it will be a really interesting turn! [:)]

------------------------
China
------------------------
Looks like Erik is keeping most of the superstack at the CMAs location. Only 3 IDs are moving towards Shanghai. They were hit pretty heavy from the air this turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 60th Division, at 88,55 , near Chuhsien

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 12
Liberator GR.VI x 5
B-24J Liberator x 20
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 101
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
1612 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 98 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled


Also attacking 133rd Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 161st Division ...
Also attacking 20th Army ...
Also attacking Southern Army ...
Also attacking 54th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 71st Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 84th Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 26th Engineer Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 2nd Ind.Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 88th Infantry Brigade ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 4th Air Army ...
Also attacking 35th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 72nd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 33rd Army ...
Also attacking 20th Engineer Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking Kure 2nd SNLF ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 15th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 161st Division ...
Also attacking 133rd Division ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 133rd Division ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 133rd Division ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 133rd Division ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking 60th Division ...
Also attacking 161st Division ...
Also attacking 26th Engineer Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking 10th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking Kure 2nd SNLF ...

These guys won´t be able to hold Hangchow against us. Nowhere close to. The landing troops have started to move inland while the 2nd wave will land tomorrow. I havn´t counted the exact number of AV but its around 3000.

------------------------
Strategic Bombing
------------------------
B24s hit Keijo at day taking out a large chunk of HI/LI.

[morejeffs]

Wow...Time for some ultra violence!

[JocMeister]

Indeed, having looked more closely at the actual turn file I´m pretty convinced Erik will try something in the coming days. Perhaps even next turn. He has moved a big chunk of his AF forward too. Hopefully he will go through with it. The sheer number of TFs protects Moppo with numbers alone. He will either run out of ammo or OPS long before he can reach the AF. And if he runs out of OPS which is likely he will lose whatever he sent in in the morning.

I moved the CV fleet closer to Moppo. This will leave the Amphibs at Ningpo exposed but the will unload the troops during the night and after that I don´t have more need of them anyway if Erik sinks a few. I can´t fly much from Shanghai. Probably because supply is bad. I havn´t even bothered with closing the AF.

[paullus99]

Perhaps the decisive turn of the war coming up......

[JocMeister]

It was! Stay tuned for an update! [X(]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Death of the IJN! - Night at Moppo [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Sadly it was the AI that ended the IJN and not the superior ships of the Allied Navy. While the outcome was pretty much given I would much rather have seen a naval battle then this.

It is risky business trying to do things under enemy air power as I found out when I lost 2 of the Iowas a couple of weeks back. Now it was Eriks turn to get hit with the AI stick.

During the night some smaller TFs entered Moppo. They were swiftly dealt with by the defenders. The biggest ships was 3 CLs that clashed with a DD TF. The battle was inconclusive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Moppo at 100,54, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo
CL Yahagi, Shell hits 1
CL Sakawa
CL Kiso
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Minazuki
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Ammen
DD Anthony
DD Bell, Shell hits 1
DD Bennion
DD Bullard
DD Bush
DD Cogswell
DD Converse
DD Daly
DD Heywood Edwards
DD Erben

Another CL was sunk by a 5 Ship Baltimore TF.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Moppo at 100,54, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
E No.10, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
E No.18, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Boston
CA Pittsburgh
CA St. Paul
DD Brush
DD Hyman
DD Maddox
DD Mansfield
DD Moale
DD Samuel Moore
DD Lyman K. Swenson
DD Taussig
DD Hazelwood
CA Canberra II
CA Quincy II, Shell hits 1

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Death of the IJN! - Daybreak [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Disaster strike the IJN Battleships as they found themselves within Allied air power when the sun comes up. First a small LBA strike from Moppo attacks. Strangely even this small TF manages to penetrate the LRCAP.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 24
A7M2 Sam x 9
J2M5 Jack x 7
N1K1 Rex x 12
N1K2-J George x 68
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 8
Ki-84a Frank x 8
Ki-84r Frank x 14
Ki-100-I Tony x 18
Ki-102a Randy x 2

Allied aircraft
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 28
TBM-3 Avenger x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 12 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 2 destroyed by flak
TBM-3 Avenger: 17 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu
BB Musashi, Torpedo hits 2
BB Fuso
BB Ise

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Death of the IJN! - Daybreak [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

After the small LBA strike the a full Allied CV strike takes off. This is the beginning of the end for the Japanese behemoths.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 17
A7M2 Sam x 4
J2M5 Jack x 3
N1K1 Rex x 1
N1K2-J George x 32
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 4
Ki-84a Frank x 6
Ki-84r Frank x 8
Ki-100-I Tony x 13
Ki-102a Randy x 1

Allied aircraft
Hellcat I x 36
Hellcat F.II x 20
F6F-5 Hellcat x 417
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 175
TBM-3 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 2 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-102a Randy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hellcat I: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 8 destroyed
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 3 destroyed by flak
TBM-3 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires
BB Ise, Bomb hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires
DD Tsubaki, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kaba, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yanagi
DD Hinoki
DD Nara, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

While this strike didn´t sink any ships it made the BBs use up most of their AA ammo as well as knocking out a lot of radars and AA guns. With fires raging on most of the ships it opened up for the LBA.

The next strike saw almost no LRCAP for cover and AA fire was sporadic. The Ise goes down as the first Japanese BB after 4 British Avengers score 4 hits!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 3
N1K2-J George x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 1
Ki-100-I Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 20
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 28
SBD-5 Dauntless x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Hyuga, heavy fires
DD Keyaki
DD Kaya
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Death of the IJN! - Daybreak [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

After this many smaller LBA stikes come in. All achieving better and better as the BBs are slowed down with each hit and AA almost ceases from the BBs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 1
N1K2-J George x 2

Allied aircraft
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 21
TBM-3 Avenger x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
TBM-3 Avenger: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
BB Mutsu, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Then comes the most ineffectual Allied strike of the day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 1

Allied aircraft
SB2C-4 Helldiver x 28
TBM-3 Avenger x 44

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-4 Helldiver: 3 damaged
TBM-3 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kashi
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hinoki
BB Yamato, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yanagi
DD Keyaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Tsubaki, heavy fires, heavy damage

That is followed up but an astonishing British (again) performance.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Fuso, and is sunk
DD Kaya

Another big LBA strike comes in. By now pilots are regularly targeting the small DDs instead of the BBs. Probably due to the smoke.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 15
TBM-1C Avenger x 42

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 3 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Kashi
DD Yanagi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tsubaki, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hinoki, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Odake
DD Keyaki, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Amazingly the Yamatos and the Hyuga is still afloat. Then comes the death blow...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
TBM-3 Avenger x 67

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-3 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Odake
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Kashi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kaya, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Kaba, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nara, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Yanagi, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

The last DDs are hunted down and sunk.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 102,55

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBM-3 Avenger x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Odake, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kashi, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Another 200 strike planes fly from the CVs and Moppo but find only debris. The Imperial Japanese Fleet is no more...

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Korea - Decisive Battle for Gunzan [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

The BB bombardments turns out to be a big disappointment. The LCI bombardment...not so! [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Gunzan at 102,52

Allied Ships
BB Nelson
BB Howe
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Colorado
DD Rocket
DD Redoubt
DD Rapid
DD Racehorse
DD Quilliam
DD Queensborough
DD Quadrant
DD Porterfield
DD Metcalfe

Japanese ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Manpower hits 4
Fires 4006
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Gunzan at 102,52

Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Valiant
BB King George V
BC Renown
DD Tyrian
DD Tuscan
DD Tumult
DD Troubridge
DD Terpsichore
DD Termagant
DD Tenacious
DD Teazer

Japanese ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 2
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Less then spectacular results to say the least... But then comes the Rocket, Gun and Mortar LCIs...and BOOOM!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Gunzan (102,52)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

255 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCI(G)-470
LCI(G)-469
LCI(G)-468
LCI(G)-454
LCI(G)-453
LCI(G)-452
LCI(G)-451
LCI(G)-450
LCI(G)-449
LCI(G)-442
LCI(G)-441
LCI(G)-440
LCI(G)-439
LCI(G)-438
LCI(G)-437
LCI(G)-408
LCI(G)-407
LCI(G)-406
LCI(G)-405
LCI(G)-404
LCI(G)-403
LCI(G)-401
LCI(G)-398
LCI(M)-805
LCI(M)-804
LCI(M)-802
LCI(M)-801
LCI(M)-674
LCI(M)-673
LCI(M)-670
LCI(M)-669
LCI(M)-664
LCI(M)-660
LCI(M)-659
LCI(M)-658
LCI(M)-633
LCI(M)-632
LCI(M)-631
LCI(R)-648
LCI(R)-647
LCI(R)-646
LCI(R)-645
LCI(R)-644
LCI(R)-643
LCI(R)-642
LCI(R)-342
LCI(R)-341
LCI(R)-340
LCI(R)-339
LCI(R)-338
LCI(R)-337
LCI(R)-230
LCI(R)-226
LCI(R)-225
LCI(R)-224
LCI(R)-74
LCI(R)-73
LCI(R)-72
LSM(R)-199
LSM(R)-198
LSM(R)-197
LSM(R)-196
LSM(R)-195
LSM(R)-194
LSM(R)-193
LSM(R)-192
LSM(R)-191
LSM(R)-190
LSM(R)-189
LSM(R)-188
LSM-417, Shell hits 1
LSM-413
LSM-415, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST-911
LST-912
LST-915
LST-914

Japanese ground losses:
3268 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 241 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 348 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 101 (1 destroyed, 100 disabled)

Sadly the bombers rain in for the first time in two weeks. Go figure... [8|] Still, we get the decisive win we wanted.

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

Ground combat at Gunzan (102,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 195607 troops, 3482 guns, 7113 vehicles, Assault Value = 8208

Defending force 221319 troops, 2830 guns, 987 vehicles, Assault Value = 7369

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 2929

Japanese adjusted defense: 1272

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
24080 casualties reported
Squads: 378 destroyed, 1195 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 241 disabled
Engineers: 88 destroyed, 148 disabled
Guns lost 334 (92 destroyed, 242 disabled)
Vehicles lost 206 (56 destroyed, 150 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
9775 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 1225 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 510 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 182 disabled
Guns lost 329 (45 destroyed, 284 disabled)
Vehicles lost 900 (110 destroyed, 790 disabled)

In a couple of days Gunzan will be secured and with it Japanese resistance in Korea is doomed. Erik gambled with an aggressive move here and it failed. Had he managed to seal off Korea it could have worked. But with an open allied LOC it was doomed.

Looks like this was the last turn of the war. Peace talks are ongoing right now!

[aztez]

Nice ambush and those were some stubborn IJN battleships! [:D]

If that was the last turn at least you went in with an bang... well played.

[princep01]

My, oh my! After a beatdown like that, it is not surprising to see the Emperor take mercy on his subjects and demand that the government initiate peace talks. Those IJN BBs are hard cases, but the hornet's nest of LB and CV aircraft was just overwhelming. Nice tactical surprise and a well played hand, admiral.

Say, do Swedish admirals ever come to the US War College to give us poor Yanks lessons in naval strategy? Maybe they should:). Again, well done!

[JocMeister]

Thanks guys! [:)]

Not too surprised by the result. But I´m a bit disappointed his BBs didn´t make it to Moppo for some old fashion naval battle. The outcome would have been the same in the end though as Erik would never have had enough OPS to make it back to safety. Would have loved to see what the Fast BBs would have done to the Japanese BBs though.

Can´t say I blame Erik for his lack of motivation. It just feels like we are waiting for the inevitable right now.
China - Last Japanese stack about to get cut off by 3500 Allied AV at Ningpo.
Korea - Gunzan about to crack and with that the end of Korea and Manchuria.
HI - Much of the prime fighter factories are knocked out. Shindens and Ki-83 factories are gone. Only 100 Frank factories gone.

I need 13k more VPs for AV. Shanghai will give me almost 3k. Korean/Manchurian LCU losses will probably make up the rest and if needed I can always just bomb the HI for more VPs. With Moppo now completely secure I can have 1500 4Es and 600 2Es flying within normal range starting tomorrow.

Its basically just a waiting game. This is the first time Erik has asked me if its time to call quits. He will play on if I ask him no doubt about it. But I also respect him far too much to ask him to do that. If he feels he is done I´ll respect that without any hard feelings. In all honestly I feel pretty much done with this game too. Its like those last 50 turns of CIV. You already know you have won but you have to get through the turns to finish the spaceship/mop up the last CIV

[Encircled]

Well done mate!

Going to have to find another AAR to bother

Well played to both of you!