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Closer to home, here are the Bonins and the "stepping stone" islands leading to Yokohama.

Iwo Jima

The amphib TF you can see in the map above is landing a whole division to make the garrison more or less complete.

LCUs

I may add more eng and arty if there is space.

Fortress Hainan

I have decided to seriously reinforce the two bases on Hainan and to equip them for serious air ops. Somehow I doubt that he will be planning to land on the island since there is a clear land route from Rangoon to anywhere between Singapore and Shanghai.

The IJNAF will base itself at Samah and the IJAAF at Kiungchan. Both can be built to size 9 airfields. There is a clear evac route to either Hong Kong/Canton or Pescadores/Formosa.

Strategically speaking, I might have to re-define the Hive area as purely consisting of the island string that starts at Hainan and ends in the Kuriles. There is no way I can hold onto anything in mainland Asia once the Soviets arrive, so I might as well start assuming it out of the equation.

The New Hive would look something like this.

Ooh!

A surprising result from my Downfall sandbox

There were actually 108 planes destroyed on the ground, and I lost around 30 Ki-83s.

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Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 144

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 66 damaged
Ki-83: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-29B Superfort: 188 damaged
B-29B Superfort: 18 destroyed on ground
B-32 Dominator: 85 damaged
B-32 Dominator: 8 destroyed on ground
B-29-25 Superfort: 143 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 15 destroyed on ground
F6F-5 Hellcat: 21 damaged
F6F-5 Hellcat: 5 destroyed on ground
F-13 Superfortress: 20 damaged
F4U-4 Corsair: 11 damaged
F4U-4 Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground
P-61C Black Widow: 15 damaged
P-61C Black Widow: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-5N Hellcat: 7 damaged
F6F-5N Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-3N Hellcat: 5 damaged
F6F-3N Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 68
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 86

Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-83 bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-83 bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
46 x Ki-83 bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
41 x Ki-83 bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-83 bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Ooh!

A surprising result from my Downfall sandbox

There were actually 108 planes destroyed on the ground, and I lost around 30 Ki-83s.

That is very surprising. How about Franks though with 2x250kg if you're going to use the better fighters? Is it the speed and durability that you're going for with these to stay on through damage and get to the mark, or just out of curiosity to try everything? Is this better than other planes in the same situation?

I do really love all of the testing and unique game you're playing. It really informs what is possible in different situations for all of the IJ players. So thanks! [:)]

The point is the Ki-83 can do this at 13 hexes ...

Note: There was no CAP and no dedicated AA units, just base forces.

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

The point is the Ki-83 can do this at 13 hexes ...

Note: There was no CAP and no dedicated AA units, just base forces.

Range. Right. I hadn't realized it could hit so far off. Very nice. I always discount the small 50-60kg extended range booms. Maybe I should re-think that.

Here is a similar test with Zeros flying into a much higher flak concentration at 11 hexes range. The Oscars are just doing Escort to get them to take off.

For the whole turn I lost 166 Zeros to flak but destroyed 88 planes on the ground and damaged hundreds more.

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Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 98
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 29 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 54 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J11 Mitchell: 13 damaged
B-25J11 Mitchell: 3 destroyed on ground
B-24J Liberator: 129 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 5 destroyed on ground
P-38L Lightning: 27 damaged
P-38L Lightning: 6 destroyed on ground
C-47 Skytrain: 10 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed on ground
B-29-25 Superfort: 23 damaged
B-29-25 Superfort: 2 destroyed on ground
A-26C Invader: 28 damaged
A-26C Invader: 5 destroyed on ground
P-61C Black Widow: 9 damaged
P-61C Black Widow: 1 destroyed on ground
F-7A Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1A Corsair: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 84

Aircraft Attacking:
30 x A6M3a Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
35 x A6M3a Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

8 Sep 1943

Back to the game ...

He has now landed at Kwajalein and to my surprise the first assault fails. The garrison is unlikely to last more than another day but it is nice to give the Americans a bloody nose. A taste of things to come

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Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10367 troops, 199 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 505

Defending force 2298 troops, 20 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Allied adjusted assault: 74

Japanese adjusted defense: 27

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1021 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
1970 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 105 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 23 (15 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 49 (32 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
27th Infantry Div /16
I US Corps

Defending units:
5th Indpt SNLF Coy
4th Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Naval Construction Battalion
Nimur Naval Fortress
Kwajalein Base Force

9 Sep 1943

As expected Kwaj falls at the second attempt.

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Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8224 troops, 185 guns, 225 vehicles, Assault Value = 370

Defending force 1629 troops, 25 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Allied adjusted assault: 13

Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kwajalein Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1059 casualties reported
Squads: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 188 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 33 (33 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Allied ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 40 (13 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
I US Corps

Defending units:
4th Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th Indpt SNLF Coy
Nimur Naval Fortress
6th Naval Construction Battalion
Kwajalein Base Force

Now, a question ...

Where will he go next? Eniwetok or Kusaie Island? Neither is defended in strength.

I actually reckon that it will be the former, following the historical route to the Marianas. The disastrous 4E air raids on Truk and Ponape some time ago may have convinced him to avoid tackling these bases, and he has been flying recon over Eniwetok for some time now while never once visiting Kusaie.

Or maybe he will now halt in the Pacific and turn his attention elsewhere, like the mostly undefended DEI. I have no idea what his plans are, but I do relish the fight wherever it occurs. Now the Marshalls is a done deal we are at the point where things get real

Ponape

Here is what Ponape looks like.

Here is the house air.

Note the high exp Jack units. These can assuredly deal with any unescorted bombers that he sends from Roi-Namur but will likely fail to deal with any Sweeps out of Eniwetok or Kusaie.

One of the two dedicated AA units at Ponape.

The 12cm gun is about the only effective flak gun in Japan's arsenal.

All the LCUs at Ponape.

The 1st South Seas Gsn is in the process of being air-lifted from Kusaie Island, which base I am now unable to supply adequately (using only subs and aircraft). I will not commit actual surface ships in the face of Allied naval LBA.

15 Sep 1943

A day of minor pleasures in the Marshalls. The two Rex groups now have 21 kills between them.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 15, 43
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TF 48 encounters mine field at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Ships
DMS Trevor

26 mines cleared

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Night Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 14

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 damaged
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 7 damaged
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 7000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 7000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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TF 48 encounters mine field at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Ships
DMS Zane, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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Submarine attack near Jaluit at 133,120

Japanese Ships
SS I-170

Allied Ships
AKA Mercury, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

AKA Mercury is sighted by SS I-170
SS I-170 launches 2 torpedoes at AKA Mercury

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Morning Air attack on 7th JNAF Coy , at 131,114 (Ebadon)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
SBD-5 Dauntless x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
452 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 9th JNAF Coy ...
Also attacking 7th JNAF Coy ...

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Sub attack near Jaluit at 133,120

Japanese Ships
SS I-170

Allied Ships
AKA Mercury, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

SS I-170 launches 2 torpedoes

Meanwhile over in Burma stacks have appeared adjacent to both Rangoon and Pegu. The one in the clear hex next to Pegu looks particularly ferocious. I tried bombing it with some Nicks but lost 48 planes for little result.

16 Sep 1943

The stack starts to move towards Pegu ...

This is what awaits the BrIndians, all 100% prepped. Forts are at level 5.