PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

Speed alone isn't enough - need to vary altitude settings and send in several waves to wear down the CAP.
Today a large number of kami Reppus were shot down by the CAP. Those who got through still rammed another transport
and a Zeke got a tanker at Ishieak.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/12/45

Day Air attack on TF at 63,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zeke x 2
A7M2 Reppu x 35

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 55

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zeke: 2 destroyed
A7M2 Reppu: 35 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Foam
AK Thomas Crawford, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Tulagi

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ishieak at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 4

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 3
P-47D Thunderbolt x 16
P-51D Mustang x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
TK Missionary Ridge, Kamikaze hits 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[sadja]

My signature show a GG game I played on an apple. One of the ways I defeated the cap on Malta was to send a small bomber force with lots of escorts. The killed alot of the cap and then the island was open for bomber attack.
 
Try to set up a big airfield like you have been doing but put only 1 bomber group on naval attack and many fighters on escort. See if your fighters go.
 
just a thought love the AR keep it up. Lost my game with a hard drive crash and haven't had time to reinstall. But reading your AR and Cuttlefis's make me want to find the time.

[tekk]

I think this is all a complete waste (when it doesn't have to be) and it truly isn't gonna get you anywhere regardless of anything, the cost to you will always outweigh the cost to him at least 10x and you really can't afford that at all. Personally i would just save everything, mass up fighters and wait for him to hit Japan, i'd use all fighters as CAP. I think if anything has been shown it's that your fighters can perform against his. I would try to win that air battle then counter-attack, and I would produce more fighters if I could. I think you could give yourself an advantage this way as well, because right now his carrier pilots will be set to CAP and escort but you wouldn't give him anything to shoot down, then in the mean time you can train your pilots.

35 precious Reppu's isn't worth sacrificing, forget kamis all together, save everything for the invasion of Japan. I think there you have a real chance, because it can be your entire homeland airforce against his carriers.

Well this is based on what i've read here, I don't really know the whole situation, but I think this current strategy you have is really totally pointless and wasteful and won't produce so much as a sliver in any case, I also think you will be able to mass much better once he hits Japan, if you just hold out till then. Then you can maybe either push him back or counter-attack his fleet quickly. Seems like the only real chance you have...

[PzB74]

Nice to hear from you Sadja!
It is tempting to start over, isn't it [;)]
I know we can sweep away some enemy fighters, but that will cost us dearly since our best interceptors have
such short range. Oscars are only cannon fodder and the Franks are in demand all over the Empire. Unfortunately we
cannot upgrade our Oscars to Franks...a shame since we got 860 Franks in the pools.

Greetings Tekk, good to see new posters!
I know that many find my tactics 'wasteful' but as I've explained before, I'm playing this game in Samurai spirit.
We're not defeated (at least we don't know this! [:D]) and we will fight the enemy all the way to Karachi and back to Tokyo.
(I would also be so bored that I'm not sure I would be able to finish this game if I only sat back and waited..!-)

Simply sitting back would also allow Andy way to much room to maneuver. As it is we force him to deploy heavy protection for his convoys and keep on wearing down his frontline strength. I'm convinced that if you let the Allies take all the initiative and build their mighty war machine to 100% strength before attacking, nothing can be done to stop them.

As it is I'm only 'wasting' aircraft that can be replaced, attached a screen of pools.
Since we don't play with PDU on I'm no longer allowed to produce A6M5 'kamikaze' planes - factories auto upgrade to the Reppu.
(Am producing some Zeke FBs for kami purpose though). All the Zeke units that were converted to kamikaze units can therefore only be used for 1 purpose - upgrade to the Reppu and be committed as kamis.

As todays air battles shows, only our Shindens can really hope to match the best enemy fighters, it will be really interesting
when I gather hundreds of these for the final stand [:)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/13/45

ASW Attacks

Hunting subs near the Inland Sea: no results

ASW attack at 58,40

Japanese Ships
PG Akitsu Maru
MSW W.38
MSW Wa 107
MSW Wa 106
MSW Wa 104
PC PC-79
PC Mokuto

Allied Ships
SS Lizardfish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Andy got tired of our effective LR CAP over Taichu today and sent 73 Mustangs to sweep it!
We met the onslaught with mostly green Franks, some half trained George's and 16 rather experienced Shindens.
In a hard fought battle we lost 42 fighters, but only 10 Shindens while claiming 30 Mustangs [8D]

Mustangs can't afford this attrition rate, no so many of them!

Day Air attack on Taichu , at 49,43

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 8
J7W Shinden x 16
Ki-84-Ic Frank x 13

Allied aircraft
P-51D Mustang x 73

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed
J7W Shinden: 10 destroyed
Ki-84-Ic Frank: 25 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 30 destroyed, 5 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bombers that followed were low on morale and our exhausted CAP actually turned most
of them around. Only 9 out of 45 dropped bombs!

Day Air attack on Taichu , at 49,43

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 2
J7W Shinden x 6
Ki-84-Ic Frank x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 13
F-5C Lightning x 2
A-26B Invader x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 damaged
J7W Shinden: 4 destroyed
Ki-84-Ic Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
A-26B Invader: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-26B Invader bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 small strikes from Bonins - dispersed and most Oscars stayed home so little results
even though some kamis got through.

Day Air attack on TF at 61,55

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 14
A6M5c Zeke x 2

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 14 destroyed
A6M5c Zeke: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Lahaina
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 61,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zeke x 3
A7M2 Reppu x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zeke: 3 destroyed
A7M2 Reppu: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Santa Isabel
AK Donald McKay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A blokade runner is hit - dang, those SBDs came a long way - US spotting is really good!

Day Air attack on TF, near Brunei at 32,57

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 13

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Nisshin Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Boac at 43,54

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 2
Kittyhawk III x 2
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK H. H. Raymond, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------

Mustang Hunters

[tekk]

well in that case...BANZAI!!...I didn't realize you had a good resource pool, didn't think you really could in this late stage of the game, good job

doesnt seem like your spirits are broken..and they shouldnt be! banzai!!

[PzB74]

The enemy will soon be defeated, rest assured! [8D]

Wife just gone on vacation to visit her mother, so there'll be plenty of time for the war
over the next couple of weeks! [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/14/45

Night Air Attacks

Another startling success for our night bombers - another T-bolt destroyed!-)

Night Air attack on Ishieak , at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 6
C6N1-S Myrt x 37

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Again we manage to hit a couple of cargo ships - supply haulers this time?

Day Air attack on TF at 65,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zeke x 3
A7M2 Reppu x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zeke: 3 destroyed
A7M2 Reppu: 9 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Charles N. Cole
AK Steelmaker, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alfred L. Baxley, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

More of the same...
Some progress in the repair yards. Should have most of the fleet fixed 100% soon.
Replacing LBA losses and training them as good as we can.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/15/45

ASW Attacks

Another sub goes in and again becomes the hunted...

ASW attack at 58,40

Japanese Ships
PG Akitsu Maru
MSW W.38
MSW Wa 107
MSW Wa 106
MSW Wa 104
PC PC-79
PC Mokuto

Allied Ships
SS Lizardfish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ishieak , at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 6
C6N1-S Myrt x 33

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x J1N1-S Irving bombing at 2000 feet
9 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
9 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
10 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
5 x C6N1-S Myrt bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mannargudi at 16,23

Japanese Ships
SS RO-35, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
AK Edgar Luckenbach
LCI(G) LCI(G)-80
LCI(G) LCI(G)-77
LCI(G) LCI-70
DMS Chandler
DE Stadtfeld
DE Rall
DE Martin
DE LeHardy
DE Lake
DE Fleming
DE Donaldson
DD O'Bannon
DD Mullany
DD Marshall
DD Evans
DD Heywood Edwards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on TF at 48,56

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AK John Drake Sloat

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zeke x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zeke: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Steelmaker, on fire, heavy damage
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[tekk]

Those BB's sure will be handy when he lands on Japan.

The fortress will never be taken...

[tekk]

.

[PzB74]

Nothing special to report today - the barges I was missing have re-spawned - just took longer than I thought.
I've noticed that barges and MSWs that re-spawn keep their experience ratings. Pretty sure this is a bug.
Anyone noticed it before, or is it a new 'find'?

Unfortunately, battleships are best at showing the flag, escorting carriers and performing bombardment missions Tekk.
In the last major naval engagement our fast cruisers ran in circles around the newest US super dreadnoughts and didn't take
a single hit. It's much the same every time I send our big guys in. Veery disappointing results.

But, we will have to use what we have. Attached a list over our capital ships, and as you can see we have
1 cv, 5 bb (3 operational) and 7 cruisers (6 operational - but the last one should be ready in 2 months).
Not many destroyers left, should have 5-6 operational soon.

The question is how to deploy them:

*) The Taiho and a destroyer will deploy as a raiding force.

*) Would like to gather 5 cruisers and 3 destroyers in a fast striking force. Will consider to replace a CL with the Kirishima
which really is a fast battle cruiser.

*) This would leave the Yamato, Fuso, 2 cruisers a few destroyers - could be useful for bombardment duties.

Very limited what we can achieve with such a small force, have to deploy them carefully and try to avoid being caught by
enemy naval ac.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/16/45

Capital ship 10/45

[PzB74]

Enemy is moving troops into the tiny base he captured north of Ceylon and sending small
tank units around the map. Moving a regiment to deal with them. Assume an assault will move towards
Madras soon, it's a city hex so we'll have good defenses there with 9 forts. Not sure how many troops
to send though, Karachi and Bombay must be left well defended.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/17/45

ASW Attacks

Enemy subs stay too long in single hexes and detection levels go up.
Our ASW managed to land a direct hit today and later on a Sonia did the same.
Lizardfish is in trouble.

One of the great improvements in AE will be the ability to set patrol zones - way points.

ASW attack at 58,40

Japanese Ships
PG Akitsu Maru
MSW W.38
MSW Wa 107
MSW Wa 106
MSW Wa 104
PC PC-79
PC Mokuto

Allied Ships
SS Lizardfish, hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Running supplies between Tarakan and Mindanao and other minor PI islands. Dangerous task.

Day Air attack on TF at 40,62

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Shirahama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Defense of the Home Islands

Managed to loose the screen I took.
Been working on the defenses of the Home Islands and divided it into zones.

1. In the west we have Formosa as a separate defensive zone. Andy can capture it if he dedicates enough resources
to it, but does he have time and motivation to? I'm looking for an Area Army to move to Formosa.

2. The Okinawas has an Area Army HQ and consists of Naha, Kadina and Amami.
Their capture is again possible, but costly.

3. The Home Islands themselves is divided into 4 zones;

a) Central Zone around Tokyo. Building up a reserve at Tokyo, currently at 1400 assault points. These and
troops from rear bases can reinforce the coastal bases quickly if invaded and provide at least 2000 AV.
Osaka has been assigned the Southern Area Army HQ and is a hub of its own. Slowly trickling troops into this base
as well. Can easily be reinforced from the Central and Western Zones. Some 5k AV at present.
b.) Shikoku is an island on its own without road connections to the Home Islands. Very annoying and difficult to defend.
Have diverted 2k AV of troops to defend the 2 bases and is moving in more supplies. Reinforcement is easy by air and sea though.
Should be able to move in another 1000-1500 AV if invaded.
c) Western Zone with the 2nd Area Army bases in Nagasaki. Strongly defended bases all over Kyushu. Not worried about
invasion here. Some 10k AV here.
d) Northern Zone under the Northern Area HQ in Hokkaido area stretching to include Omami. Strongly defended and I've reinforced
Omami. Not worried about invasion here either, but enemy has potential of cutting of Hokkaido from the mainland.
Some 10k AV in this area.

4. The Bonins is a well tested defensive zone. I have reduced number of troops here, but Iwo and Bonin Jima
are still well defended and supplied. Another all out effort will capture them though. Some 2500 AV here.

5. In the North East there is Sakhalin with its 3 bases. Defenses here are moderately strong.
The plan is to reinforce them by air and transports if an enemy invasion force is seen lumbering towards it.
We should get some warning. Some 1500 AV here.

The Marianas/Palaus has become a secondary theater now and I have reduced the garrisons to roughly 1 division
worth of troops. Can be captured, but still requires a major effort which I doubt Andy will divert.
When we get to 1946 I will most likely move half of the garrisons to other more threatened areas.
Some 1800 AV here.

[PzB74]

We look at the situation in India today!

Replaced captains aboard our remaining surface ships and assigned the best and most aggressive
captains remaining.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/18/45

Air Combat

The enemy units parked next to our bases turned out to be airborne troops
that have been dropped onto the railroad:

Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly 2 convoys appeared near Trivandrum and 13 Bettys attacked them.
70 avg exp wasn't enough to score hits.

Day Air attack on TF at 13,22

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Johnson
DD Mullany
DE Martin
-------------------------------------------------------------------

India

[PzB74]

Silence before the storm?
Never is this quiet, no B-29s, no nothing. So I think our time of peace and quiet is nearing the end.

Enemy ships moving north from Colombo - no idea were they're heading, Panay maybe.
A size 1 and quite useless base. I'm awaiting the situation.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/19/45

Air Combat

We ambushed the invaders over Taichu again and prevented them from dropping any bombs!
Lots of green Franks on LRCAP - they need ca 50 exp to become good.

Day Air attack on Taichu , at 49,43

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Reppu x 7
N1K1-J George x 8
J7W Shinden x 22
Ki-84-Ic Frank x 30

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 11
F-5C Lightning x 3
A-26B Invader x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Reppu: 2 damaged
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
J7W Shinden: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-84-Ic Frank: 17 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 9 destroyed
A-26B Invader: 12 destroyed, 11 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th USMC Para Battalion, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Home Islands Defensive Zones

Here is my thoughts for possible Allied invasion of the Home Island Perimeter.
I'm having some difficulties in how to distribute troops. Key bases need at least 1000 AP
while secondary bases that are not directly threatened can have less while I need a central
reserve that is distributed along 2-3 central locations from were it can quickly reinforce any
invasion.

I'm almost hoping Andy will go directly for the Home Islands - it's highly unrealistic based on
the lack of nearby enemy bases, but there is only time for one more major showdown before the game ends.
My conclusion is that one of these defensive zones will most likely be invaded:

1. Okinawas
2. Kyushu
3. Shikoku

If Okinawas are bypassed, then it is Kyushu or Shikoku.

The problem is that the fall of any Home Island base will provide a painful amount of enemy LBA fighters and
bombers and it is impossible to re-capture anything from Allied LCU in late war. On the other hand, any enemy invasion
will quickly be cut of and isolated and our Shindens will come to max use and I will be able to gather them for a major battle against enemy naval and 4E units. I will have to remove CAP from defense of industry, but enemy 4Es will also be busy me thinks.

I will also ready thousands of ac for kamikaze missions and move fighters and bombers from other theaters.
This will be the strategic reserve. I'm planning to hold back our best naval bombers for last. When everything
breaks down into utter chaos, I will release them and create havoc upon damaged and unprotected ships. This is when the remains
of the Combined fleet and our subs should sortie as well.

Comments? This is when I need good advice [;)]

[pauk]

I think he will invade:

#1. Okinawa or
#2. Shikoku

Doubt that he will go for Kyushu. He is experienced and he will bypass your strong garnisons there and he does not like invade wooded or mountainous hexes. Also, he needs a good foot step in HI and that leaves Shikoku as most likely target (isolated island).

[tekk]

I also think he'll invade Shikoku...immediatly...he is a bypasser and he doesn't need to invade Okinawa, by now he'll simply have to many transport ships to mass that he just won't have to invade Okinawa, it would only be a waste of time really, and obviously he's just been spending weeks and weeks conjuring strength for a gigantic thrust. I agree about Kyushu and he'd have to be mad to land directly on the central zone. But that's good cause now you can channel him more effectively. So it'll be Shikoku or Hokkaido next, guarantee ya.

I strongly suggest just taking that Amami garrison and using it on the mainland, in any case Amami would be immediatly overwhelmed and over-run, those troops would be of MUCH better use stacked with the HI units.

Hell, I would almost just abandon Okinawa and use all those island garrisons on the mainland, as any remote outpost will by now just be utterly defeated in a matter of days. Whereas if you use them on the mainland all you're doing reinforcing the one place where you could have a real chance of defeating the Allies. You'd turn a very strong fortress even stronger, instead of putting cracks units on hopeless islands where they will certainly be wasted and destroyed right away. You could add strength to the dragon on HI, and you should do that instead. Whichever islands he wants to hit are already lost and won't do anything except give you a few needless days before the HI invasion, he can take whatever he wants.

BTW how many CD units do you have on the mainland?

[PzB74]

The problem Tekk/Pauk, is that Shikoku us another island outside the Home Island [8|]
It's difficult to reinforce it properly without tying up more troops.

So what I've done is to place some 1000 AV on the 3 islands just outside the Home Islands.
Then we have Naha and Kadina which also have 1200 AV each, but with mountain terrain they can rip
any assaulting army apart.

IF Andy bypass them they will have a lot of supplies and I will be able to launch interdiction
attacks on enemy supply lines.

You may be right about Amami, it's a bloody clear terrain hex, and an enemy assault here can only be
repulsed by tremendous sacrifice. There is currently 2500 AV here, and I also think it's a bit much.
I will consider moving, let's say 1500 AV back to the Home Islands and create a strong reserve including
the Imperial Guards Division. I have now released some China Area Army cavalry units, I will place them
in the Hiroshima area. From here they can either be air or sea lifter to Shikoku or moved quickly to either
Kyushu or to any other part of the Home Islands.

Currently I'm unloading a full Army regiment at Osaka, just brought in from Marianas and through enemy sub and carrier
blokade. A CD unit is also approaching the Home Islands in another TF. I'm considering to send it to Shikoku. No CD units there,
but I have a lot of base units with 5.5" guns.

Most of the major Jap Home Island bases are well defended by static coastal defense units. But certain major bases,
like Sasebo, 10/10, has non. So I'm also considering to send it here - alternatively I must strip Bonins of their
CD units to cover more ground. It's not possible to defend everything in strength, so a difficult decision may
have to be made soon. I can not let a size 9 or 10 base to fall into enemy hands, so these have to be well defended.

Also have this nagging fear of concentration too many troops on the Western part of the Home Islands,
so I'm moving some reinforcements to the Hokkaido/Tokyo area. No matter what I do it's like I'm robbing Peter
in order to pay Paul [:D]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/20/45

Air Combat

There is a litter of small enemy units all around, what a mess!

Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Naskra]

Shikoku seems an unlikely target for AMac at this late a point in the war.  There is just not much time for him to reap the benefits of a foothold there.  The prize on Shikoku is Takamatsu, a base nearly surrounded by your strongpoints.  If you can still suppress an Allied airfield at this date, it will be Takamatsu.  I would expect something more climactic (and crowd-pleasing) as a last thrust. 
The Hokkaido zone I would also regard as secure.  Principally because any attack there would re-open the Manchurian truce issue, further muddying the game and the effort both of you have put into it.   Secondarily
because I doubt he can sufficiently project his strength that far.

[PzB74]

This is also true Naskra. When I think about it any invasion against the Home Islands right now would be a folly.
Japan has not been suppressed enough yet. Before I would have invaded I would have made sure that factories and convoys
were bombed to pieces and secured Bonins/Okinawas as staging areas for bombers and ships.

Another issue; Andy will not be able to bombard the target area for more than a few turns before landing in order not
to show me were he's landing - because that would be game over.

I also doubt all of the Home Islands can be captured in a few months, and the Allies will have to overdo themselves to
achieve a draw. Loosing large number of casualties will not help towards this objective. So the only reason for invading
would be to invade just for the sake of invading.

Knowing Andy I'm still pretty certain he will commit, and it will become a bloody mess, one way or another [:'(]

I've moved the super heavy 240mm artillery brigade to Osaka. A nice reinforcement.
Also started moving some troops from Amami back to the Home Islands, starting with the Imp division.
This is our best formation and it would be a shame to see it stuck on an island...
In real life it sat out the war somewhere in Sumatra me thinks. No such luck this time [:D]

The armored division in Nagasaki is also rebuilding nicely, over 100 tanks so far.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/21/45

Nigh Air Attacks

Not a lot of things that needs tweaking 'up' in stock, but night air attack is one example.
50 crack night fighter bombers and not a single hit...

Night Air attack on Ishieak , at 52,46

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 6
C6N1-S Myrt x 44

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Enemy has moved into Madras and parked small LCUs all over the place to cut it of from
supplies and reinforcements. It's a city hex, so he'll have to struggle a bit anyhow.
Looks like the enemy convoy heading north from Colombo has disappeared? Another decoy?
I consider India as a secondary theater and is mostly in the process of moving air units
towards the Home Islands. Have 48 Shindens left that can do better work back home.

Of all 600+ Shindens the best unit has 77 exp while the least experienced is the one in India
with 44. All the rest lies between 50 and 75 - not bad, and now we have more than 1000 reserve
ac in the pools.

Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 7
Beaufighter VIF x 19
P-38J Lightning x 4

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Madras , at 18,21

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 37
Liberator VI x 32

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Liberator VI: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 14
Runway hits 66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 188th USA Glider Regiment, at 18,19

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Attack

Thought I was attacking a strong battalion or regiment of enemy glider troops.
Was a bit disappointed when it was 70 men.... I have dropped paras in non base hexes before,
but then I drop as many men as I can or whole units. Everything I do Andy has a tendency of sending back 10 fold [8|]

Ground combat at 19,19

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5346 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 111

Defending force 70 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Japanese max assault: 108 - adjusted assault: 108

Allied max defense: 6 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 108 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Naskra]

PzB, you and AndyMac have played an epic game thus far.  My hunch is that Andy will not disappoint the fans by doing anything cautious.  He will push to the limits.  Your defence line on the Home Islands can be cut at various
points, Maizuru, Hiroshima. etc.    The cordon from Nagasaki to Tokyo is where he will be looking.  Okiniwa, Amami, he can surely take, but he lacks time;  the points do matter, he will go for Home Island cities.  You
have many AV, but your experience value is low; he will come en masse and desperate.
 

[tekk]

efore I would have invaded I would have made sure that factories and convoys
were bombed to pieces and secured Bonins/Okinawas as staging areas for bombers and ships.

Unless he just has one massive strike force and captures and holds a mainland base immediatly, which he could easily do and use that as a port then capture another base quickly.

http://home.att.net/~sallyann4/invasion3.html good read for anyone interested in the japanese plans of HI defense.