Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

Sorry for the delay. Been off at work and so has Scott,

The focus right now is on Manakowri. Despite my constant attempts at shore bombardment Scott has it at a Level 2 airbase which means I'm losing the battle here if he can keep that up and get to the point of basing bombers there. But, I do have a BB group on the way so we can hope that it can put a more serious hurt on the airfields. He manages to keep just enough fighters to keep me leery of sending in unescorted bombers so I may move zeros down there to at least give me a chance.

Lots of back and forth surface action as he keeps ships there to interfere with the bombardments. He even got PT boats up there. Not sure how that happened with a level one port unless they came up the coast

[John B.]

Special shout out to the CA Maya. Although already damaged into the orange zone it fought its way through three surface action to put some shells onto the field. I have two new CAs coming so the Maya should be able to take a rest. But, Scott was too crafty with the last CA group that reinforced so it may not work out as I hope.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: John B.
He even got PT boats up there. Not sure how that happened with a level one port unless they came up the coast

Manual 6.2.16 states you can creat PTs from Transport TF or from any port 1 with 10k+ supply

[John B.]

Ah, well, he can't rearm them with torpedoes so they're sort of a one shot weapon.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: John B.
Ah, well, he can't rearm them with torpedoes so they're sort of a one shot weapon.

He can bring a suitable tender ship though

[John B.]

Always the negative waves GetAssista. Always the negative waves!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AEj3LA2vSo

[John B.]

Today's butcher's bill was two IJN DDs for an allied CL (Nashville) and an allied DD. I also damaged a couple of allied DDs. A VP point win for me this turn as we continue to grind it out. This time we have the ever faithful Maya TF and a BB TF with the Hiei heading in for their run at the airfield. Scott has been keeping me away, let's hope I get in this time as the KB is just two turns sail away from the outpost.

[John B.]

It is a brutal knock down drag out fight at Manakowri! The Maya TF was intercepted by two allied DD's (arleigh burke in command because when you care you send the very best). It took a few hits and went back to Ternate.

But, the BB TF ran into the same group. Here's the first fight.

[John B.]

The second fight. Bye bye allied DD (let's hope Arliegh was on board!)

[John B.]

There was a brief encounter with the Conway which ran away. And the Hiei TF ran into the allied PT TF. This time they all went down (GetAssista, kidding aside, I don't think he has a replenishment ship there since I've had the port under constant recon and so far no reports of ships at anchor).

[John B.]

Finally, having waded through three surface combats the Hiei and CA's got in shelling on the airfield and a pretty good result.

[John B.]

But, the day was not over for our heroes. The Allied CL TF showed up. It looks like my ship commanders had been wise and not shot off all of their ammo. Given that it was day time for this combat allied fire control radar would not help them as much since there is basically no moon right now.

I have reason to believe that the Helena CL went down. It took a battering here.

[John B.]

My ships are all afloat but it's like wading through molasses just to get ships into position to bombard the airfield. So far Scott has been taking more losses but I have lots and lots of ships damaged. Even here the Hiei will have to head back and the two CAs are barely in the green zone. I also wound up with three DD's heavily damaged.

Regarding the Helena the report was heavy fires and heavy damage. After the battle I heard sinking sounds and 5 Kingfishers were reported lost on the ground which is what those CLs carry. But, the Helena is not listed in the lost ship list yet. If it went down, the score this day was no losses to the IJN and one CL and one DD for the allies.
And, a good smacking for the airfield.

But, lots of damage to my ships.

In the plus column, the KB is just about two days sail away with the Yamato and Mushashi in two. If they can get in a shore bombardment it will be curtains for that airfield.

In the minus column, Scott is building up the Port in Hollandia that will allow him to rearm his ships much closer to the action and take away the advantage that Ternate gives to me.

[John B.]

Everybody basically took the day off for the most recent turn. But, I was happy to see that the Hiei was able to reload at Ternate. And, the KB is one day closer.

In other news on other fronts, I'm sending in a shock attack at Chungking in the next turn. Scott's fort level is zero and he's been out of supply there for months (even with what his light industry can the 600+ bonus supply can get) so hopefully the shock will put me over 2-1 and really reduce his units there. I've got my armored regiments in reserve and they'll attack next turn to keep the pressure on.

[John B.]

Question: How do you engineer a 6,000+ VP swing in one turn?

Answer: Destroy the Chinese army at Chungking! Holy Guacamole Batman, the 36,000 squads and devices destroyed give me 3,000 VP.

[John B.]

Plus 2,400 VP for the city and Scott goes down 1,200 and the net result is north of 6,000 VP or way more than the entire IJN carrier fleet. [X(][X(]

[John B.]

As you can see, I have a very nice VP advantage now and I'm close to 3-1. I don't think I can get over that hurdle. But, an interesting idea is to go and attack the Soviet Union. I have 38 infantry divisions with nothing to do and a bomber force with outstanding pilots but who really can't fly against the western allies.

In a couple of months I'd be in a position to cut the transiberian at several locations and isolate Vladivostok which should eventually fall to an overwhelming assault.

But, of course, I'd have to pay a lot of political points to move the restricted troops into Manchuria (nice problem to have, I realize) and I only have enough saved up to put three over right now which would probably give me 10 or so new divisions.

Also, can the western allies base in the soviet union? Would I just be giving them free naval bases next to the HI?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: John B.

As you can see, I have a very nice VP advantage now and I'm close to 3-1. I don't think I can get over that hurdle. But, an interesting idea is to go and attack the Soviet Union. I have 38 infantry divisions with nothing to do and a bomber force with outstanding pilots but who really can't fly against the western allies.

In a couple of months I'd be in a position to cut the transiberian at several locations and isolate Vladivostok which should eventually fall to an overwhelming assault.

But, of course, I'd have to pay a lot of political points to move the restricted troops into Manchuria (nice problem to have, I realize) and I only have enough saved up to put three over right now which would probably give me 10 or so new divisions.

Also, can the western allies base in the soviet union? Would I just be giving them free naval bases next to the HI?

Congratulations on bagging CK! Always a feat for Japan

I'm not sure if you have time left for the Soviet adventure. It is very demanding for material and time because you will be pushing against fortified positions with massed infantry and great arty. Vladivostok region cannot be stormed directly with so many troops in it and great defensive terrain, only starved out. And it is already May 43, Allied push in Burma is about to happen and Essexes start arriving. You would need those free divisions to man battlestations in your Burma/DEI/Kuriles/Pacific lines soon.
Allies cannot base aviation in Soviet bases or reload ships, and their LCUs cannot march on Soviet soil. But they can unload supply and employ those sub hordes.

Yeah, yeah, negative waves I know [:D] Such is war. Still rooting for Japan signing a peace treaty on favourable terms eventually

[John B.]

Dawn breaks over Manakowri and offshore lurks the KB!

[John B.]

In the am strike, the CL St. Louis takes one bomb hit to a magazine and the St. Louis is no more! [X(] Lot's of other damage handed out but nothing too terrible. Take a look at CL Pheonix. 6 bomb hits and 1 torpedo.