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ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

What I need is a victory without a lot of cost on points for the Allies. Am WORKING on that...

OR.... make his victories VERY expensive.

That is a good point! [:'(]

April 17-18, 1945

Japan's meager remaining resources enter into the Yellow Sea on the 16th and are not attacked though the American 1.0x10^6 was only six hexes away. The 4 CA and 6 DDs are ordered to attack and the game is on:

Up the Korean Coast go 2 CA and 2 DDs. They encounter a CA, CL, CLAA, and 8 DDs. A fierce fight ensues with both sides shooting bunches and practically no one hitting. Both Japanese CA stake 2-3 hits to no great effect while landing 2-4 hits on the CA, CL, and CLAA. The Japanese disengage and head back towards Fusan.

The heavier force of 2 CA and 4 DDs move on Shanghai. They encounter spirited resistance. The TF first encounters CL Ceylon escorted by 4 DD. The fight lasts seven gunnery rounds with DD Van Galen sinking and the Ceylon left as a wreck. DD Hitonozi is sunk by an Allied TT. As the TF attemps to disengage, it encounters a stout TF of CA's Cumberland, London, a CL, and 6 DDs. Another gunnery match ensues where the Japanese CAs plaster both Brit CAs with 3-5 hits each. The Japanese emerge unscathed in this fight but are nearly out of ammunition. They head for Okinawa.

The suns rises and both TFs see escorting Fighters appear overhead. Though search planes find them, they are not attacked whatsoever. They do encounter several Allied SS who shoot but don't hit. SS Cod, Sea Devil, and Besugo all take 5-6 DC for their efforts.

On the 18th, the TFs combine and head around Kyushu making for Yokohoma. Losses for the raid sit at one DD in exchange for an old Allied DD and strong damage to 2 CAs, 2 CLs, and several DDs. Disappointing results but it could have been FAR worse!

The 17th sees sweeps over Ternate, Shimonoseki, Naha with bombers hitting Naha, Akita, and Sapporo.

The 18th sees sweeps over Shimonoseki, Fusan, and Fukuoka with a CRAP TON of bombers plastering anything and everything at Fukuoka. Probably 4-500 -24, -29, and -25 involved here.

SS Action
I-155 sinks AK Shahzada near Mangalore. It took two attacks but a sinking is a sinking.
I-400 is nailed by an escort near the West Coast and is now limping home.

CVs
1. The IO Raiding Force refuels from its AOs on the 18th and begins its move towards Ceylon and Western India.

2. Amazingly enough, a TF of nine smaller AOs arrive at Saipan carrying 75,000 fuel. Hmmm... The AOs get orders to sail towards the Aleutians. Up north, six of the eleven lonely queens sitting in harbor get orders to fire their boilers and form-up with the 4 DDs left there as escorts. They are to go to Ominato and embark aircraft. They will be joined by a CL and two more DDs. They are getting a mission assigned to them.

April 20, 1945

The Japanese Carrier TF is spotted SW of Ceylon this day. Shipping looks to be plentiful and we hope it can be attacked before it all disbands into Ports. Nearly 300 aircraft pack these CVs are we shall attack!

Nagasaki is the target of the day. It is hit by hundreds of -24s, -25s, and -29s.

SS Ops:
I-202 is sunk near Columbo.
I-19 sinks AK Kingswood near Trivandrum

Six of Japan's CVs enter Ominato's spacious port and refuel. Tomorrow they load near 400 planes and shall depart for the east. AOs carrying 75,000 Fuel pass west of Marcus moving NE.

SCORE
Japan 77,255 +35
Allies 146,534 +543

My HI stockpile is still doing quite well at 435,000.

Shouldn you use your I 400s only for air strikes against unescorted convoys-merchantmen?

Meaning say, not for torpedo attacks.

That should force the Rebel to allocate some CVEs for escort purposes...

Based on the history of this game, the I-400's would not cause Dan to change his deployments at all. He is more than willing to sacrifice some transports to stay focused on his strategic goals. The only chance to divert CVE's on escort would be if he had nothing else to do with them anyways, and I still doubt he would do it.

Mike

Completely agree Panther Bait.

We'll see if he decides to fight my CVs near Ceylon. He had a TF of 5-6 CVEs supporting his Nicobar landings...

April 21, 1945
Columbo, Ceylon

The carriers haven't launched an offensive strike in ages. They do this day. The Japanese approach this backwater base to find buckets of shipping present. Evidently it isn't backwater as 236 Fighters defend it. What the He**? OK. A strike of 60 Sams, 43 DB, and 51 TB fight their way through and assault warships present.

CVE Fencer takes a Torp and a Kami along with two Ammo Storage Explosions.
CLAA Phoebe takes an 800 Kg Bomb.
ADE is blasted by a similar sized bomb.

No Allied counter-attacks in the morning.

An afternoon strike is crushed.

The Allies then send in three Avenger Squadrons with no escort (since the 236 Fighters are at 100% CAP) and are slaughtered.

With few strike aircraft left, the Japanese retire...

Nice shootin', Tex. How many of the pudgy little TBF bastards did you gut?

About 35-40 of them.

I wrote Dan when I sent the turn today that I really appreciated the Allied CAP at 100% because if he had even set it at 70-80% some would have gotten through and any ship hit would have been left behind for a nice VP grab. He crushed my strike (though we did pummel a CVE) but the ships live to fight again.

We're two days past this and I've already cycled the aircraft from the CVs to Singers and now they load-up and head back.

He is about to cross the Johore to assault Singers. I have 21,000+ Supply, Forts--6, and AV of 800. There are 200 fighters on CAP (both day and night). SHOULD be pretty fun to watch an Allied player make this assault that all JFB do in January--February 1942!

April 24, 1945

VP SCORE
Japan 77,533
Allies 148,073

Post analisys, he had the warning through air recon of the movement of your strking force and direction, and as consequence redirected any shipping at sea and reinforced his main port hub...what kind of fighters have you found?

For next occasion, maybe, a previus day of sweeping with beefed up fighter squadrons prior to strike.

But tell me please, not targets at sea shuttling from -to Rangoon, or Malay, or around the Nicobars?

This came in from Dan today. Made me laugh:

Marshall Petain has been in touch. He wishes to bestow upon you the Order of the Iron Gonads. This signifies that you have endured above and beyond the call of humanity in a way that emulates the best of masculine manhood not afraid to get in touch with his emotions and to weep vaingloriously at the first notes of a sentimental song."

I respectfully declined the honor of pinning the "gaily colored medallion, adorned with splendid frillery and delicate floral designs covering the strategic anatomical portions of a buff male." I wasn't sure what he meant by that and didn't like the sound of it.

Nevertheless, I acknowledge on behalf of Mr. Petain your dogged perseverance and forbearance from placing your fist through sheetrock and your boot against the bottom of the nearest human or pet.

There is no remuneration for hanging in there and making the "dog-eared opponent" earn victory, but I'm grateful for you hanging in there and letting us finish this five-year odyssey of pain, challenges and fun.

Singapore - That 800 AV is probably very misleading. The true numbers are what the Allies now have in Anti-Soft and Anti-Armor values. If he some decent tanks, what doe you have to stop them there? His Indian divisions have come a long way from what they were in Dec '41.

April 26, 1945

The Japanese Merchant Marine and Tanker Fleet remains in remarkably good shape for this late in the war.

As stated earlier, I brought down six CVs from their northern anchorage, gave them some serious teeth, and sent them east. They were to rendezvous with an AO TF for refueling. Well...CV Renkaku took two TTs on the 25th and I ordered everyone back towards the Home Islands. My refueling TF did not get the chance. Though moving west in the vast, open ocean of the north Pacific they are caught by a STF of 2 CL and 5 DDs. Their are a few survivors who continue moving west hoping to draw the Americans into a trap with the five remaining CVs making a full speed run to the area.

Normally the loss of this many ships would make me want to shake my fist to the Heavens, however, in late-April 1945 it is just a normal run-of-the-mill disaster that unfolds every turn...

On the OTHER hand, the Allies take it on the chin in yet another good aerial turn. Take a look at Allied air casualties. They are now well over 30,000 planes.

Is that good? Average?? Sucky???

April 26, 1945
VP Score

Japan 77,814 +142
Allies 149,722 +762

April 26, 1945
Korea--Manchuria

Am beginning to truly channel my inner Hudson from one of my all-time favorite films:

"Game Over man! GAME OVER!! What ARE we gonna DO?"

Burge: "Lets build a fire. Sing a couple of songs"

Just awful to watch as the Chinese steamroller occurs in the west and the Allied steamroller finally punches through Japanese defenses in Korea. There is nothing to do but "Stand TALL ye boys of Japan!"

We're going to get to May 1945 before surrender. Just barely I think...

Just sent the turn to Dan and wrote:

Damn. I feel like Rocky in the 15th Round against Apollo Creed…except that there is NO HOPE of a knockout from my side…

Wearily raising gloves…Japan staggers out of the corner, wanting more, and YELLS “Come on!”