Rising Sun over the Rockies - F.K. vs OSO - Wake captured by US

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As you can see - even with the heavy losses at the end of November, we still managed about 1:1 overall on the air units for the month. That is largely due to the easy kills in China. Our top ace with 12 kills did get shot down over Laysan though, so that is disappointing.

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December brings us two new planes:


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Ki-45 KAIb - The first production type [the Ki-45 KAIa] was armed with two 12.7 mm gun in the nose, a single 20 mm in the belly, and a movable 7.92 in the rear cabin, and this was followed with the Otsu with the lower 20 mm cannon replaced by a 37 mm tank gun, to counter B-17 bombers. While the firepower was devastating, manual reloading meant that only two rounds could be fired per minute. The next type (Hei) restored the 20 mm cannon, and this time placed an automatic 37 mm gun in the nose. A later addition was twin obliquely-firing 20 mm cannon behind the cockpit and removal of the underside 20 mm guns.
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Kawanishi N1K Kyofu (Rex)
This was a seaplane fighter, which the N1K1-J Shinden was developed. The Kyofu (Powerful Wind) was fast, and powerfully armed. By the time this plane made it to the field in 1943, Japans offensive capabilities turned to defense and only 97 were built. The Japanese Navy initiated a seaplane project, out of which came the A6M2 Reisen seaplane and the N1K1, which first flew in May of 1942. It was a mid-wing monoplane with large floats, powered by a 1460 hp Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 radial engine driving a pair of counter-rotating two-bladed propellers. The production version started in spring of 1943 and ceased production in March of 1944. A Mitsubishi MK4E Kasei 15, 14-cylinder radial air-cooled engine, creating 1530 h.p, powered it.. Max speed 304 mph at 18,700 ft., ceiling 34,645 ft., range 1,036 miles. Armament was 2 20-mm cannon, 2 machine guns and up to 132 lbs. of bombs.

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December 2nd, 1942
The mines at Palmyra are fruitful again, today the SS Pompano hits a mine, although it isn't immediately sunk.

AP Westralia and AP Mormacwren are reported sunk after being hit near Laysan. Our aircraft begin pounding the enemy troops on the small island. Today they hit the 9th Marine Def Bn, causing 350 casualties and knocking out 5 guns.
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Ground attack begins[/center]


Farther north, 6 B-25C Mitchells attack a supply convoy unloading at Kiska. Two of our AK's were hit. One may not make it home.

Our army attack at Chengtu making solid progress. The base will likely fall tomorrow. (5 to 1, forts 9 -> 7)

The airfields at Biak and Koumac both expanded today. (sz 2 and 4)

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December 3rd, 1942
Today's attacks at Laysan inflicted 290 cas/6 gun/2 Veh on the 113th USAAF Base Force and 153 cas/4 gun on the 115th USAAF BF.

Just south of the French Frigate Shoal, RO-64 was loitering in case a crippled ship came by. Enemy subchasers got her though and the sub was lost. AP Mormacdove was reported sunk today.

Chengtu was attack and easily captured. Another 29,000 POW's taken. The base is worth 800 points and pushed the ratio back up to 4.22:1.
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Only one base left in China now[/center]

Bora Bora airfield was expanded today. (sz 4)

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December 4th, 1942
Not much today. AK Castor was reported sunk. Nice to see so many of the ships we hit at Laysan have sunk.

Onnekotan Jima finished its airfield. (sz 4)

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December 5th, 1942
Liz and Betty bombers continue to hit the enemy soldiers at Laysan, inflicting about 250 casualties today.

In China, our troops are gathering north of Chungking as they prepare to attempt to lay siege to the city.

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December 6th, 1942
No action today.

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December 7th, 1942
RO-60, near French Frigate Shoal, was hit by a B-24 today.

In China, a cut off unit, the 16th Air Base Force was forced to surrender northwest of Kweiyang. The only remaining pockets are one near Sian with 5 units and two units that are on the mountain trail between Chengtu and Tsuyung. Once those have been captured, China will be completely clear except for Chungking.

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December 8th, 1942
Liz and Helen bombers, escorted by Oscar II's, bombed Laysan today.

Hollandia airfield expanded. (sz 3)

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December 9th, 1942
One of the AK's hit at Kiska the other day was scrapped at Attu since the facilities there were not sufficient to save the ship.

The port at Auckland was expanded today. (sz 7 and giving us more points)

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December 10th, 1942
Today our strike at Laysan included almost all available aircraft at Midway. The Army is now in charge of the air operations there, with Navy Liz bombers adding some strength to the attacks.

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Mostly Army planes now[/center]

SS Saury was hit by Lily II near Bali. Many enemy submarines have been spotted entering the DEI. Our 8 APD's are in two groups of 4 each and will cruiser the DEI attempting to make contact and destroy enemy submarines.

I-16, in the shipping lanes between the US West Coast and Alaska, was hit by subchasers today and will attempt to return to Tokyo.

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December 11th, 1942
Bombers continue to pound Laysan around the clock.

Today one of the A6M2 units that was depleted at Midway flew a sweep mission over Chungking with some experienced Tonys. The goal is to fight some Chinese planes and gain flight experience. Most of the pilots in the units are around 50-55 experience. Today they met 4 P-43 Lancers and got some good practice in.

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December 12th, 1942
Today our Zero and Tonys took some Sally bombers with them to Chungking. No enemy fighters met us.

Near Singapore, O19 was hit twice and O20 hit once by Sally bombers on ASW patrol.

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December 13th, 1942
Over the last couple days, our Lily IIs in China have rebased to Kweiyang. Today they attack Chungking in force. A later wave of Sallys came from Changsha and attacked as well.

Tomorrow the Lily's will fly with a light escort as we will expect a retaliatory attack by enemy heavys against Kweiyang.

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Attack against Chungking[/center]

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December 14th, 1942
Bad day in China today. Weather grounded our attack from Kweiyang. Since the Tonys at Changsha had gone to Kweiyang to protect from bomber attack, our Zeros at Changsha flew sweep on their own to Chungking. Normally that would be okay, but the Allies had a little ambush for us as the AVG was in the skies over Chungking and they knocked out 10 of our rookie Zero pilots. We took down only one of the AVG P-40Es.

At Midway, one of our bigger minelayers, ML Okinoshima struck an enemy sub laid mine while laying its own defensive mines. A minesweeper has been order up from Kwajelein to clear the enemy mines.

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December 15th, 1942
Another rough day in China. First, enemy heavies attacked Kweiyang as expected. This time, we have about 5 or 6 AA units to help with defense. We had 4 o the Nick fighters up with the 37mm cannon, but none of them scored any kills. We did have a good CAP though and 10 B-24s and 4 Liberator III's were brought down.
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The expected attack at Kweiyang[/center]

However, since the CAP was mostly at Kweiyang, our Lily's attacked with a light escort at Chungking, and not only was the 1st AVG Squadron there, but the 2nd AVG Squad was there also! Our Tojos on escort were not in a good tactical position and got creamed by the large number of P-40E's. They also brought down several Lily IIs. Altogether 22 Lily II and 11 Tojo's were shot down.

In Burma, 29 B-25C Mitchells attacked Myitkina destroying a Dinah recon plane on the ground. In the afternoon, 8 Hurricanes flew sweep over the base, but this time 8 Tonys were on station. One of the Hurricanes was shot down and the rest managed to get away.

Our planes will retreat back to Changsha and regroup before dealing with the AVG at Chungking again.

[thegreatwent]

While China seems rough it is good to see the Army take over the Laysan operations. What is your build rate on the Liz?

[FeurerKrieg]

Liz is built at 32 a month, about 1 per day. As of the stats posted above, there were 147 in the Pool. Currently there are just the two Sentais. The Bettys are too useful to convert many more. However, in the future as the front shrinks, I may convert another Sentai or two when we are no longer patrolling these vast stretches of ocean.

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December 16th, 1942
Our APD's encounter SS Sealion and SS Seawolf in the South China Sea, but no hits are scored. Perhaps the ships need better captains.

16 B-17's bombed Rangoon from 38,000 feet - higher than even our Nick's can fly. A 500 lb bomb hit an MSW in port. In March we will have the J2M Jack which has a higher ceiling than all Allied bombers.

At Myitkyina, 11 Hurricanes flew sweep but did not engage with the 8 Tonys on CAP there. Then, 36 Hurricanes came in and did tangle, 2 Hurricanes and 4 Tonys went down. Finally, a bombing run came in escorted by P-66 Vanguards. Our remaining 4 Tonys shot down 2 P-66, 1 Wellington III and 1 Blenheim IV. Damage to the airfield was light.

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Air attacks in Burma[/center]

We also bombed Laysan today.