AE TOURNAMENT REDUX: ERSTAD(J) VS ADM SPRUANCE(A)

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:54 pm

SAC

The B-29s have clear weather over Nagoya in another night manpower attack. This time the B-29s inflict another 550 strategic point loss for a total of 7314 strategic points. Nagoya has a level 92,500 firestorm and is left with an 8500 fire at the end of the turn. We lose an astounding 23 B-29s this turn.... mostly to ops.... for a total of 38 B-29s in 2 turns.... nearly 1 month worth of replacements. I am definitely shutting down the B-29s now so they can due to the high fatigue and accelerated losses.

REORGANIZATION OF ALLIED GROUND FORCES

Ive decided to postpone the planned invasions of Naha and Nago on Okinawa and also that of Amami Oshima. The risk of catastrophic losses to Allied carrier forces is too great due to the near proximity of numerous large interlocking Japanese AFs. I think that my carrier CAP would be easily overwhelmed by massed attacks of Japanese land based naval bombers. Off Iwo Jima...Allied CAP of over 1850 fighters couldnt stop a 450 plane Japanese naval airstrike. I shudder to think of what a 500 or 600 plane Japanese naval airstrike could do to the Allied carriers.

So most of the Allied LCUs in the Pacific are now being prepped for less ambitious targets.... either backing and filling in some areas where we already have control or in other arears where we will advance maybe 2 or 3 hexes at a time under our own land based air..... similar to our Solomons Island campaign. It takes 3 months to prep troops for an invasion so things will be quiet in this game for some time. The break in amphibious assaults will also give Allied carriers and surface ships time to effect repairs, maintenance and upgrades after being at sea nearly continuously for virtually all of 1944.

Laoag in northern Luzon is enlarged to a level 8 AF and our less ambitious plans will include tightening the economic noose around the SRA.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed May 28, 2014 10:42 pm

12/29-12/30/44

SAC

The B-29s are rested this turn and we now have 300 available for duty in the Marianas. Four new groups of B-29-25s just arrived at Rabaul port this turn where they will unload next turn. I will let the B-29s in the Marianas rest again this turn to reduce fatigue in the airframes and crews and then reinforce them with the new groups on rabaul the following turn.

The fires are still burning in Nagoya and Japan has now suffered a loss of 7566 strategic points. Next turn.... B-24s and medium bombers staged into the newly opened level 7 AF at Tuguegarao will city bomb targets on Formosa.

ISOLATION OF THE SRA

An Allied sub crossed paths with a large IJN convoy near Pescadores:

ASW attack near Pescadores at 85,62

Japanese Ships
PB Akagane Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Chitose Maru #2
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
AK Yodogawa Maru
AK Toa Maru
TK Oei Maru
TK Nichinan Maru
TK Butsu Maru
TK Medan Maru
TK Nisshin Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK Toyooka Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Nissyu Maru
xAK Kazuura Maru
E Yurijima
E Hirashima

Allied Ships
SS Bang, hits 2

SS Bang launches 2 torpedoes at PB Akagane Maru
E Yurijima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima attacking submerged sub ....
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

This IJN convoy disappeared off my naval search screen by the end of the turn despite a half dozen PBY groups crisscrossing the area.

Dave's normal tactic in the South China Sea is to sail a couple of small value ships withing range of my naval bombers and then have a 100 plus LRCAP chew up my naval bombers and their escorts. This turn.... SBDs and B-25 attack bombers based in both China and Luzon strike relatively high value IJN convoys:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 68,57

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 20
SBD-5 Dauntless x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 4 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Hamburg Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Ichiyo Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
19th Sentai/B with Ki-84a Frank (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
22nd Sentai/B with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hamburg Maru

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tsinkiang at 84,61

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 16

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt II x 8
B-25H Mitchell x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Yokohama Maru
xAK Maya Maru, Shell hits 4
xAK Kazuura Maru, Shell hits 11
xAK Yamazuki Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru, Shell hits 3
AK Toa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25H Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-25H Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
70th Sentai/C with Ki-84a Frank (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 68,57

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16
Thunderbolt II x 16
SBD-5 Dauntless x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 1 destroyed
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
PB Ichiyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
SC CHa-29, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
19th Sentai/B with Ki-84a Frank (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
22nd Sentai/B with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Ichiyo Maru

This turn we are activating the new level 8 AF at Laoag in northern Luzon and staging in TBMs so this will create an even more dangerous gauntlet for the Japanese to run.

In addition.... supplies are once again flowing from Rangoon to Mandalay and then into China. We have been able to re-open the naval bomber base at Liuchow and should be able to re-open the AF at Kukong in a couple of turns. Supplies are now once again pouring into Chungking and Changsha. And there are over 1.3 million supplies stockpiled in port at Rangoon.

ALLIED CARRIER REORGANIZATION

Virtually all of Fifth Fleet is now back in port undergoing repairs, maintenance and long delayed upgrades. Pearl Harbor has CV Lex, CV Sara and 8 CVLs undergoing their 1944 upgrades. There are also 4 CVEs repairing torpedo damage suffered in the Bonins in addition to completing their upgrades with 2 more CVEs that were torpedoed in the Bonins on their way.

Rabaul is our main anchorage in the Pacific. There are now over 900 AC and 1000 ships there including 30 CVEs, 25 BBs and 18 CVs. CV Yorktown is about to complete repair of her torpedo damage suffered in the Bonins in an ARD as is another CVE torpedoed in the Bonins.

Four CVEs are still repairing their torpedo damage from the Bonins at various ports in the Marianas while another 2 have repaired enough damage to start to transfer to Rabaul. Three CVEs are repairing their torpedo damage at Sydney and Brisbane as is a CVL.

Finally.....two of the CVEs torpedoed off Luzon in summer 1944 are repairing in ARDs at Menado. This includes CVE Shah....which survived a near death experience with over 95 FLT and should be able to rejoin the fleet by 2/45.

Brand new CV Randolph left Balboa today to join the rest of the fleet at Rabaul. Another 4 new CVEs are in transit to the war zones from both the US west coast and Aden.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat May 31, 2014 1:25 am

12/31-1/1/45

SUBS

In last turn's post I copied the combat results of SS Bang's attack on a large IJN convoy near Pescadores. This turn.... that same large IJN convoy sailed south along the Chinese coast from Pescadores past Swatow and Hong Kong. This same IJN convoy was attacked in succession by 5 USN subs:

Sub attack near Pescadores at 82,63

Japanese Ships
TK Oei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
AK Yodogawa Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Komei Maru
TK Tenshin Maru
TK Medan Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Senyo Maru
xAK Wales Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Yamazuki Maru
E Yurijima
E Hirashima

Allied Ships
SS Pintado, hits 2

SS Pintado launches 2 torpedoes at TK Oei Maru
Pintado bottoming out ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hirashima attacking submerged sub ....
E Hirashima is out of ASW ammo
E Hirashima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Pescadores at 82,63

Japanese Ships
TK Nisshin Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1
PB Chitose Maru #2
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Kyokuho Maru
TK Tenshin Maru
TK Medan Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Tachi Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Hakubasan Maru
xAK Asuka Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Tenyo Maru
xAK Kumagawa Maru
E Yurijima
PB Hakkaisan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Barbel, hits 4

SS Barbel launches 4 torpedoes at TK Nisshin Maru #2
Barbel bottoming out ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Hakkaisan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Hakkaisan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Hakkaisan Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Hakkaisan Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Hakkaisan Maru is out of ASW ammo
PB Hakkaisan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Swatow at 80,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Tenyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Komei Maru
TK Tenshin Maru
TK Medan Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Senyo Maru
xAK Wales Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Yamazuki Maru
E Yurijima

Allied Ships
SS Atule

SS Atule launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tenyo Maru
Atule bottoming out ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Swatow at 79,63

Japanese Ships
TK Nichinan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Butsu Maru
TK Nisshin Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK Toyooka Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Nissyu Maru
xAK Kazuura Maru
E Yurijima

Allied Ships
SS Picuda

SS Picuda launches 4 torpedoes at TK Nichinan Maru
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima attacking submerged sub ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima attacking submerged sub ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 01, 45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hong Kong at 76,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamahuku Maru
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Komei Maru
TK Tenshin Maru
xAK Yozan Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Senyo Maru
xAK Wales Maru
xAK Maya Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Yamazuki Maru
E Yurijima

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

SS Seawolf launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Yamahuku Maru
Seawolf bottoming out ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hong Kong at 76,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Yozan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Akagane Maru
AK Johore Maru
AK Nagara Maru
TK Hida Maru
TK Komei Maru
TK Tenshin Maru
xAK Imaji Maru
xAK Santos Maru
xAK Senyo Maru
xAK Wales Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Yamazuki Maru
E Yurijima

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yozan Maru
Seawolf bottoming out ....
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Yurijima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Surprisingly.... not one Allied naval bomber based in China sortied against this large IJN convoy. At least the IJN convoy was outbound so it was empty. I need to make sure that I have a warm reception waiting for it when it returns.

JAPANESE SECRET WEAPONS!

Throughout the war.... Dave has used his subs mostly in a historical fashion.... ie the subs have mainly targeted Allied combatant ships.....mostly carriers.... at the expense of letting virtually all Allied convoys on the map sail without incident. Consequently I have about 100 convoy escorts sitting in port on the US west coast. Most of my supply convoys leaving the US west coast fro the war zones are accompanied by 1 or 2 escorts.

This turn a new Japanese secret weapon appeared just off San Francisco... a short ranged IJN float plane torpedo bomber designated M6A1 Seiran that ravaged an Allied convoy that had just left port from SF:

Morning Air attack on TF, near San Francisco at 211,75

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
M6A1 Seiran x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Edgar Allan Poe, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near San Francisco at 211,75

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
M6A1 Seiran x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
M6A1 Seiran: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Oliver Kelley, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near San Francisco at 211,75

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
M6A1 Seiran x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK City of Dalhart
xAK Percy E. Foxworth, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Three large xAKs are sunk at a cost of 39 points. This M6A1 Seiran only has a range of 4 or 5 hexes. Ive played many games of WitP and this is my 2nd AE campaign game and Ive never encountered this aircraft before. I think it has a range of 4 or 5 hexes. I loaded up a new game of AE as the Japanese and I checked out several subs and CLs and I didnt see any ship or boat that had a floatplane that could be upgraded to the M6Ai Seiran. I got hit by 5 of these critters in a single attack last turn so Dave must have had a wolfpack of subs all launching torpedo bombers at the same time.

Imagine if Japan was really able to field a weapon like this in RL WWII.

With the absence of Japanese sub activity off the US west coast until now.... I only have a few blimp squadrons and a couple of bomber squadrons available for naval search and ASW. Im upgrading all the blimp squadrons to PBYs next turn and sending a newly arrived TBM squadrom with 14 hex range to the coast of California. Ive got 60-70 AMs/SCs/DEs crisscrossing the coastal waters of California now and all convoy activity will be halted until we casn cope with this new menace.

USAAF IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

China based heavy bombers have closed the 2 Japanese AFs on Hainan and next turn will work over the AF at Hong Kong. These AFs have been critically important in LRCAPing IJN convoys traversing the South China Sea by hugging the Chinese coast.

Medium and heavy bombers based in northern Luzon city bombed targets on Formosa last turn.... oil and LI at Taihoku and LI at Takao. P-51Ds swept Taihoku and had a dogfight with over 40 Franks. Recon shows 50 fighters and 40 bombers at Taihoku so next turn we will launch a massive sweep over the base while medium bombers hit the AF there. More medium bombers will city bomb LI at Takao while heavy bombers will target the Japanese AF at Nago.

obvert · Post by **obvert** » Sat May 31, 2014 5:47 am

The I-400 class have 3 x Seiran. I didn't realize they could launch TT from subs though. They were planning a mission to hit the canal zone with one sub during the last days of the war.

The Seiran is essentially a Judy floatplane. I can't remember exactly now, but I think it's 5/6 range. A decent plane but a bit fragile, also. used the way your opponent is using them, a right pain though! [;)]

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:21 am

The game was paused for a couple of weeks while I traveled in Europe to London and Paris and then Normandy for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Presidents Hollande and Obama were both at the D-Day ceremony at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach and it was a very moving experience.

obvert.... thanx for the info on the Seiran. Dave had massed 5 Seirans for an attack plus he had additional naval search planes so he must have had 2-4 of the I-400 subs massed off SF. I flooded the waters off California with 70-80 ASW vessels and re-routed all my convoys leaving/returning to the US west coast to the south of San Diego. Dave responded by moving his Seiran subs farther out to sea to escape PBY search and has also moved them to the waters off southern California where they made contact with our ASW TFs this turn.

1/2-1/5/45

SUBS

SS Angler sinks xAK Tenyo Maru off Samah.

SS Esacolar sinks E No.3 near Hachijo-jima.

SS Thornback sinks APD T-8 by Chichi-jima.

SAC

The B-29s go back into action on 1/4/45 after resting for nearly a week. With reinforcements squadrons.... we are able to launch nearly 350 B-29s in a night manpower attack on Tokyo. A level 13,000 fire is started on the first day of the turn and it becomes a level 26,000 fire on the 2nd day of the turn. Tokyo is left with a level 3600 fire at the end of the turn and suffers another 500 strategic point loss for a total of over 8000 strategic loss points.

Dave wondered in his email if I now had more B-29 "aces" than fighter "aces". The B-29s shot down over 140 night fighters including 13 D4Y2-3 Judys, 19 Ki-45KA1 Nicks, 36 Ki-61-1c Tonys, 68 Ki-61-II Kai Tonys and 12 J2M3 Jacks. I started the turn with 2 "ace" B-29 crews and now we have 9 "ace" B-29 crews. Still.... I lost 18 B-29s last turn and with a replacement rate of 40 B-29s/mo these losses are clearly unsustainable.

The weather is still decent over Tokyo so the B-29s will night bomb it again next turn.

ISOLATION OF THE SRA

B-29s and SBDs based in China sink TK Oei and xAK Iburi Maru near Hong Kong.

B-25s also sink 2 xAKs in port at Hong Kong.

USAAF IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

Medium bombers based on northern Luzon continue to city bomb Takao and Taihoku on Formosa.

B-24s hit the Japanese AFs on Okinawa.

CENTRAL PACIFIC

Medium and heavy bombers based in the Marianas continue to pound Japanese AFs in the Bonins. An IJN AMc is sunk in port at Iwo Jima.

Tac and medium bombers suppress Japanese bases in the Marianas at Tinian, Rota and Agrihan.

JAPANESE SECRET WEAPONS

Sub launched Seirans unsuccessfully attack an USN ASW TF off southern California:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near San Francisco at 208,86

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
M6A1 Seiran x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AM Hazard

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x M6A1 Seiran launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Eambar · Post by **Eambar** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:48 am

AdmSpruance,

I've just spent the last couple of days catching up on this great AAR. A real masterclass on Allied ops - I learnt alot from your early Solomons/NG campaign in particular, and you still haven't lost a CV! It will be interesting to see how '45 plays out, with the setback at Iwo Jima clearly impacting on your plans.

Cheers,

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 1:13 pm

Doggie3..... thanks for your comments. The debacle at Iwo Jima has definitely changed my game ending strategies. I havent yet written off Iwo Jima though.

1/6-1/9/45

SAC

With inclement weather the B-029s only fly one mission in a 4 day period. This time they night bomb manpower at Osaka and create a level 15,000 firestorm. The Japanese night fighter force is much smaller at Osaka and with the thunderstorms only 2 B-29s are lost. However, 4 days after firebombing Tokyo the fires are still burning there and with the latest damage in Osaka...... Japan has now suffered strategic losses of 9141 points.

Thunderstorms are forecast again next turn at Osaka but we will continue to target that city due to the minimal B-29 losses we suffered last turn.

Medium bombers based in northern Luzon continue to city bomb Takao and Taihoku on Formosa.

USN CARRIER REORGANIZATION

The USN carriers reorganized their air groups on 1/1/45. The VB groups were reduced in size from 34 to 15. The VF groups were also reduced in size from 42 to 12-18 and new 36 plane VBF groups were formed. I think that historically the USN was more worried about kamikaze attacks than IJN carriers by 1/45 but in my game the IJN carrier forces are completely intact and I dont feel comfortable engaging them with only 15 Avengers and 15 SBDs per carrier. I will use the VBF groups as fighters on most of the USN carriers but they will cross train for high naval bombing. I will stock up the VBF groups on 4 carriers with former SBD pilots.... I have a ton of highly trained ex-DB pilots now.... and will cross train them for A2A combat. Im not sure how to use the VBF F4U-1Ds as naval bombers however.... I dont know if they glide bomb or dive bomb and Im not sure at what altitudes they will conduct horizontal bombing missions.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:18 pm

I use fighters carrying bombs in Naval Attack at 1000', so they both bomb and strafe. Bombs as small as 100 lbs. are devastating to DDs and smaller, and merchant vessels.
The 500 pounders can mess up a CA if you get three or more deck hits.
Strafing normally does not do much but on occasion it knocks out an AA gun or causes a minor explosion. It also seems to help experience gains.

KenchiSulla · Post by **KenchiSulla** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:53 pm

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I use fighters carrying bombs in Naval Attack at 1000', so they both bomb and strafe. Bombs as small as 100 lbs. are devastating to DDs and smaller, and merchant vessels.
The 500 pounders can mess up a CA if you get three or more deck hits.
Strafing normally does not do much but on occasion it knocks out an AA gun or causes a minor explosion. It also seems to help experience gains.

Doesn't strafing have a chance of suppressing AA?

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:07 pm

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I use fighters carrying bombs in Naval Attack at 1000', so they both bomb and strafe. Bombs as small as 100 lbs. are devastating to DDs and smaller, and merchant vessels.
The 500 pounders can mess up a CA if you get three or more deck hits.
Strafing normally does not do much but on occasion it knocks out an AA gun or causes a minor explosion. It also seems to help experience gains.

Doesn't strafing have a chance of suppressing AA?

I think you are right about that Cf. I had forgotten that effect.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:23 pm

BBfanboy..... when you strafe shipping with attack bombers such as the B-25D1s with all the nose guns you get reports of AA gun suppression on ships quite frequently during the 001 file cbt replays.

1/10-1/13/45

SUBS

SS I-166 torpedoes empty TK Cathwood near Taongi.

I havent had a merchant ship under sub launched torpedo attack in many, many months(if not years). This sub must have been on Allied CV scouting duty north of the Marshalls.

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

Saipan based B-29s hit Osaka during 3 of the 4 nights of the last 2 turns. The B-29s didnt sortie on the 10th but then struck Osaka in heavy rain on the 11th. Only 4 B-29s were lost and a level 13,500 fire was ignited. Japan was left with 9656 points of strategic damage.

The B-29s hit Osaka again on the 12th and 13th in clear weather. A level 56,100 fire was ignited and Osaka was left with a level 7388 fire at the end of the turn. Japan was left with 10,390 points of strategic damage.

Dave responded by night bombing our B-29 airfield on Saipan with Bettys. I wasnt expecting this as I had shut down all the airfields in the Bonins...... but these Bettys flew from Truk. Truk has been cut off from the Home Islands for the better part of a year and the sea lanes between Truk and Japan are heavily patrolled by PBYs based in the Marianas, Marshalls, Bismarcks, Carolines and Wake. All I can say is that Dave must have a ton of long ranged transport AC as he first has to feed 50,000 troops isolated on Truk before he can fly offensive air missions. I have _EVERY_ transport aircraft in the game.... not based in the CBI...... currently flying in supplies from the Marianas to my 650 AV of troops stranded on the beaches of Iwo Jima and I cant make even a minor dent in their supply situation.

I staged 140 B-24s into Mussau Is. this turn and they will hit the AF at Truk next turn combined with TBM-3 Avengers based at Guam. I have 3 squadrons of night fighters now LRCAPing Saipan. The Japanese Betty attack only destroyed 1 B-29 on the ground at Saipan and I lost a total of 6 B-29s over the last 2 days of the turn.... but probably 40-50 B-29s were damaged on the ground so I will only be able to fly maybe 280 B-29s next turn.

The target next turn will again be a night manpower attack on Osaka.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 6:43 pm

I wonder if he is using his sub fleet to supply Truk, at least for that one air strike.
You have observed that he is not targeting your merchant convoys and he has not been that effective in finding your
naval TFs with subs. That leaves minelaying and transport.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:27 pm

BBfanboy.... Id have to agree with you that Dave is using his subs to supply Rabaul. I look at my 3 SSTs and realize that there is no way that they could provide meaningful supply to a isolated base with 50,000 troops..... so Dave must be using a lot of subs(or the IJN has lots of SSTs) to keep Rabaul supplied. He is probably runnning supplies to Truk from Marcus Is..... that is the closest Japanese held island to Truk that has not been isolated by the Allies(I will need to do something about that) and in fact the previous turn when I-166 torpedoed TK Cathwood north of the the Marshalls the IJN sub may have been on a supply transport mission.

1/14-1/15/45

SUBS

SS Thrasher strikes a mine and sinks near Singapore.

SS Trout is sunk by an IJN ASW TF off Koshiki-jima Retto.

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

Thunderstorms ground the B-29s at Saipan and also all the nightfighters on 1/14/45 but the Bettys from rabaul still sortie and night bomb the AF. B-24s and Avengers hit the Japanese AF at Rabaul during the day and destroy 37 Bettys and Myrts on the ground.

The B-29s hit Osaka on the 2nd night of the turn and ignite a level 15,100 fire. The Allies lose 5 B-29s and Osaka is left with a level 3252 fire. Japan has now suffered strategic losses of 11,164 points.

The B-29s will again night bomb manpower st Osaka next turn.

SE ASIA

Ive attached a screenshot of the current situation in SE Asia. The front line runs from Moulmein on the coast to Uttaradit in the interior jungle. We have been stalemated here since 1943 when I lost 5000 AV in 2 attacks on Moulmein. Most of the SEAC troops have been sent to China with the exception of 2500 AV still at Moulmein and 1250 AV across the river from Uttaradit.

The Japanese air forces have completely abandoned SE Asia as we have bombed every AF within 20 hexes of Rangoon. The B-29s and B-24s bombed out every resource/LI/HI/fuel/refinery point in SE Asia. The B-24s of Tenth Air Force have relocated to Luzon and the RAF heavy bombers are now based in China.

I had over 1000 AC in southern Burma covering Rangoon and the Allied TFs bringing in supplies but now that we have over 1.3 million supplies in Rangoon the convoys have been redirected to Calcutta and the majority of the air forces have been withdrawn to India and China. Many of the BFs that had been in and around Rangoon are now being sent to China to support the air war there.

Eambar · Post by **Eambar** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:18 am

That's a nice sub picket line between Tourane and Pakhoi. Do you have intelligence that something is coming in/out of Hue, Vinh or Haipong? Or is it just a general precaution to keep what is in Indochina bottled up?

A real stalemate in the trenches at Moulmein!

Cheers,

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:54 am

Doggie3.....I have numerous large, well supplied airfields on the eastern side of the South China Sea...... throughout virtually the entire Philippine archipelago.... so Dave has tried to sneak his convoys from the SRA back to the Home Islands along the Indochinese and Chinese coastlines. The subs in that last screen shot are merely the southern portion of the Allied wolfpacks positioned to interdict IJN oil/resource convoys.

1/16-1/17/44

SUBS

SS Picuda sinks DD Yuzuki in Cam Ranh Bay.... that one was for Doggie3.

SAC

The B-29s night bomb manpower at Osaka. A level 57,000 fire is started in Osaka. Japan is left with 11,900 points of strategic damage and a level 7500 fire in Osaka at the end of the turn. Five B-29s are lost.

B-24s based at Mussau continue to work over the Japanese AF at Truk. another 20 Bettys/Myrts are destroyed on the ground.

FIFTH FLEET

Brand new CV Randolph reaches the main Allied anchorage at Rabaul. Brand new CV Shangri-La leaves the Panama Canal for the war zones.

Im trying to reorganize the USN CV air groups as the new VBF groups are wreaking havoc on USN air forces. I dont have enough expert pilots or F4U-1Ds so Im trying to offload some of them so that I can bring more VB and VT groups aboard but the VBF groups are leaving the main fragment of the unit aboard the carriers. On other CVs.... Im downsizing the VBF groups from 36 to 12-15 planes so that I can make the VB and VT groups larger. No 2 carriers have the same sized air groups. I was in the process of launching a massive resupply mission to Iwo Jima but they cant sail from Rabaul until the CV air group issues have been resolved.

CHINA

Ive attached a screenshot of China..... the front lines are little changed since 1943. Dave has launched limited offensives either to exhaust Allied supply in China or use up Chinese reinforcments. This worked for a few months in mid 1944 as I wasnt able to draw supplies from Burma into China for awhile but now the supplies are flowing nicely to the rail/road termini at Chungking and Changsha.

As in SE Asia.... there are no Japanese air forces within 20 hexes(B-24 range) of our forward large AFs at Chungking, Hengchow and Changsha as Dave has pulled back the vast majority of his air forces for defense of the Home Islands. We have, however, been able to reopen our main naval bomber AFs at Kukong and Liuchow as the supplies have started to flow again and this along with massed sub wolf packs has really curtailed IJN convoys through the South China Sea.

Assuming that we can continue to draw supplies from Burma into Chungking and Changsha....and assuming that we are still fighting this war by August 1945..... I will probably launch an offensive with 12,000-15,000 SEAC and Chinese troops somewhere in central China to coincide with the Russian juggernaut into Manchuria.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:51 am

1/18-1/19/45

SUBS

SS Haddo sinks PB Mikaga Maru near Chichi-jima.

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

The B-29s once again bomb hapless Osaka igniting a level 42,000 fire on the first night and a level 17,000 fire on the 2nd night of the turn. Osaka is left burning with a 2270 level fire. Seven B-29s are lost.... 6 to ops.... and they shoot down another 25 Japanese night fighters. Japan now has suffered a loss of 12,334 strategic points.

The B-29s will be reorganized next turn. For the first time in the war.... the B-29s will conduct daylight bombing missions over the Home Islands..... and they will be going in without any fighter escorts. The shorter ranged B-29-1s are staged from Saipan to northern Luzon and they will target oil at Shimanoshenki..... a range of 31 hexes. The longer ranged B-29-25s will remain at Saipan and they will target Japanese largest oil field at Akita....flying at their max range of 38 hexes. Im hoping that my continuous repetitive night bombing attacks at Osaka and Tokyo have lulled Dave to sleep but we will see.

The B-24s at Mussau Island have inflicted 100% AF damage at Rabaul and will now work over the port there to exhaust Japanese supplies and cover the movement of Fifth Fleet as it sails from Rabaul to resupply Iwo Jima.

FIFTH FLEET

Eight USN CVLs complete their repairs and upgrades at Pearl Harbor.... as do 2 CVEs... and they leave Oahu to rejoin Fifth Fleet in the war zones. Im continuing to struggle with the VFB air groups on USN CVs at Rabaul and Ive put the resupply operation to Iwo Jima on hold until I can resize all the carrier air groups.

SWPAC AND THE SOUTHWESTERN APPROACHES TO THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS

Ive attached a screenshot of SWPAC's most forward position in northern Luzon and the southwestern approaches to Japan from the East China Sea. We now have three level 9 AFs and a level 8 AF on the northern tip of Luzon and the 1600 plus Allied aircraft based there have been hammering everything within the 20 hex range of the B-24s and the 19 hex range of the P-51Ds. Formosa has been turned into a vast wasteland.... all the city strategic targets there have been damaged and the AFs at Takao and Taihoku have been closed. Now there is only a smattering of Japanese aux aircraft between northern Luzon and Kyushu. As in both SE Asia and China.... there just arent any Japanese naval or army strike aircraft as everything has been withdrawn to the Home Islands.

Next turn the B-24s on Luzon will again turn their attention to the critically important level 8 Japanee AF on Daito Shoto. It has been closed repeatedly in the past and now has been largely abandoned by the Japanese air forces.... but I want to ensure Dave cant base Bettys there to interfere with our upcoming massive resupply effort at Iwo Jima.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:31 pm

1/20-1/21/45

SUBS

I normally just list sub actions when something is hit but this turn I posted all the contacts as I wanted to show the level of activity off the coast of China.

SS Golet sinks xAK Ujigawa Maru near Cam Ranh Bay.

SS Golet sinks TK Shimotsu Maru near Cam Ranh Bay.

SS Skate sinks AMC Wa7 by Chichi-jima.

SS Becuna fires 2 torpedoes that miss DD Harukaze near Cam Ranh Bay.

SS Grayback misses TK Akatsuki with 2 torpedoes by Quinhon.

SS Barbel misses TK Tatekuma with 2 torpedoes near Swatow. Thats ok because Marine SBD pilots use her for target practice later in the day.

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND

Surprise is complete over Akita as the B-29-25s go in unopposed to hit the largest oilfield in the Home Islands:

Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 142

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 damaged

Oil hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Morning Air attack on Akita , at 117,55

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 138

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-25 Superfort: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

31 of the 33 points of oil fields at Akita are knocked out at a cost of 2 B-29-25s.

The B-29-1s hit the oil fields at Shimonsheki. They are met by Oscars that resort to using kamikaze tactics to shoot them down:

Morning Air attack on Shimonoseki , at 104,57

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 67

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 104

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 28 damaged

Oil hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
20th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 31 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
56th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

Banzai! - Iwashita M. in a Ki-43-IIb Oscar rams a B-29-1 Superfort for the Emperor
Banzai! - Higashiyama H. in a Ki-43-IIb Oscar rams a B-29-1 Superfort for the Emperor
Banzai! - Inokuchi C. in a Ki-43-IIb Oscar rams a B-29-1 Superfort for the Emperor

Morning Air attack on Shimonoseki , at 104,57

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 59

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 38 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Oil hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
20th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 12 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
56th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 26 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Banzai! - Oba S. in a Ki-43-IIb Oscar rams a B-29-1 Superfort for the Emperor

11 of 17 oil points are knocked out at Shimonseki at a cost of 18 B-29-1s. If my math is correct I believe that Japan has only 25 points of oil fields remaining in the Home Islands.

The B-29s will be rested for at least the next turn.

ISOLATION OF THE SRA

Marine SBDs based in China sinks TK Tatekuma Maru after sub attack missed earlier in the turn:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 81,62

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M5b Zero x 14
N1K1-J George x 17

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16
Thunderbolt II x 16
SBD-5 Dauntless x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 2 destroyed
Thunderbolt II: 2 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Tatekawa Maru, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Oki, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Thunderbolt I sweeping at 16000 feet
9 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
16 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Thunderbolt II sweeping at 16000 feet

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with N1K1-J George (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead
S-304 Hikotai with A6M2 Zero (34 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
34 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
332 Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 14 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TK Tatekawa Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring E Oki

A LRCAP of 65 fighters is quite a bit for a single TK...... it makes me wonder how critical the Japanese fuel situation is if they are trying to get one TK at a time back to the Home Islands. Dave has resorted to attempting to sneak very small 2 ship convoys through the South China Sea. Earlier in the turn SS Golet sank TK Shimatsu Maru and SS Grayback missed TK Akatsuki in what were 2 ship convoys in the South China Sea.

JAPANESE AIR FORCES IN THE HOME ISLANDS

Ive attached a screenshot that shows the distribution of Japanese air forces in the Home Islands.

No mystery about where KB might be hiding any more.... KB has been parked off Tokyo for over 2 weeks. I think that Dave is just waiting for me to try to reinforce at Iwo Jima.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:43 am

1/22-1/25/45

SUBS

SS Charr sinks CM Katsuriki off Chichi-jima.

This minelayer was headed to lay a minefield at Iwo Jima and we got her just before she reached her destination. Dave had just finished clearing the Allied minefield at Iwo Jima last turn and we had our own mine layers lay new minefields at Iwo Jima this turn just before the fireworks began.

SS Bumper sinks AP Yoizuki Maru near Chichi-jima.

SST I-363 strikes one of the newly laid Allied mines at Iwo Jima and is sunk with all hands.

SS KVII sinks PB Heiei Maru #7 by Sepandjang.

APD T-10 strikes one of the newly laid mines at Iwo Jima and sinks immediately.

SS Sea Poacher launches 4 torpedoes at TK Nisshin Maru off Cam Ranh Bay but misses.

Sub launched float torpedo planes are spotted from my back yard near San Clemente Island.

SS Paddle is sunk by an IJN ASW TF by Chichi-jima.

THE AIR WAR

Japanese fighters sweep our rear area AF at Darwin while P-51Ds sweep Daito Shoto. Japan loses 48 AC in A2A combat vs 39 Allied AC.

Luzon based Allied bombers pound Japanese AFs at Daito Shoto and AFs in the East China Sea at Taihoku, Iriomote and Itbayat.

Marianas based Allied bombers work over Japanese AFs in the Bonins at Iwo Jima, Chichi-jima and Haha-jima.

Bismarck based Allied bombers leave Truk with 100% AF and 85% port damage. Truk will not be able to recon or threaten the massive Allied re-supply operation headed for Iwo Jima.

Marine SBD-5 pilots based at Liuchow once again annihilate an IJN convoy in the South China Sea after Thunderbolt escorts cut thru the Japanese LRCAP like a hot knife thru butter:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 68,57

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 42

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 16
Thunderbolt II x 32
SBD-5 Dauntless x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Thunderbolt I: 1 destroyed
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Kasui Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
SC CHa-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-62, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-302 Kokutai with A6M5b Zero (42 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
42 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Kasui Maru

I know that a lot of people on the boards have posted about how escort fighters die like flies under attack by CAP and LRCAP but this makes 2 turns where the RAF Thunderbolts have sliced thru Japanese LRCAP with minimal losses. This shows what a combination of 80 exp and 75 fighter skill pilots in advanced airframes(Thunderbolt IIs)can accomplish. Im thinking now about putting these highly trained RAF land based pilots in carrier squadrons to pilot Corsairs.

Ive attached a screenshot of the South China Sea and the main Allied naval bomber bases at Liuchow and Kukong.

FIFTH FLEET

Fifth Fleet was ordered to leave Rabaul this turn to initiate the resupply op to Iwo Jima but for some reason they didnt sail.....over 2000 ships have been assigned to this op and maybe there are just too many TFs following TFs for them to execute this movement. I rechecked all the movement orders and we will see if they sail next turn. Additional CV/CVL/CVEs complete repairs at Pearl Harbor this turn and they head to the war zones. The USN CV air groups are still screwed up due to the arrival of the VFB squadrons but I hope to sort this all out during the resupply missions to Iwo Jima.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 5:47 pm

Looking at the losses of P-51s at Daito Shoto vs the T-bolt success off China suggests he has concentrated his best pilots and
aircraft to defend the homeland and is using the dregs to defend the China theatre. I'm not discounting the benefit of using
very skilled pilots in your efforts, but the skill level and equipment of the enemy is a big factor in the air combat calculation.

Bravo on the minefield coup. [:)] Nice to see mines that actually sink ships, unlike some of those available to the Allies in the early war.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:33 pm

BBfanboy.... I think that you are correct about how Dave has distributed his pilots with the best ones reserved for defense of the Home Islands. Even Japan's nightfighters are getting better as the B-29s took excessive losses last turn.

1/26-1/29/45

STRATGIC AIR COMMAND

The B-29s hit Kobe on the nights of 1/26-1/27 and ignite a level 9200 fire storm at a cost of 5 bombers..... there was literally no night fighter presence over the target.

The B-29s then strike Tokyo on 1/28 but fail to sortie on 1/29. The bombers ignite a level 14,500 fire but the Japanese night fighters are waiting for them and we lose 15 B-29s in a single night. With a replacement rate of 40/mo these losses are clearly unsustainable. I will target Tokyo again next turn as the weather forecast is good but if these losses continue I may need to give up on further night bombing of Tokyo and instead hit much lower value targets.

The Allies have now scored 13,058 strategic bombing points but the points become much harder to amass after heavy damage at Tokyo and Osaka. The game score now favors the Allies by 90,409 to 59,729. This is considered a "minor" victory. I believe that the next level of victory requires a 2:1 margin and I dont see myself getting another 30,000 points in 1945.

CENTPAC

The cat and mouse game continues in the Bonins. Every turn I send in DMs and CMs to lay new minefields at Iwo Jima, Chici-jima and Haha-jima along with DMS's to sweep enemy minefields. Dave is also sending in mine layers and mine sweepers every turn so we are getting into steadily escalating surface combats:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 26, 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 30 encounters mine field at Iwo-jima (108,77)

Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #8

5 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Iwo-jima at 108,77

Japanese Ships
PB Sensan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Thornback, hits 2

SS Thornback is sighted by escort
Thornback bottoming out ....
PB Sensan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sensan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sensan Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Sensan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sensan Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 27, 45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 30 encounters mine field at Iwo-jima (108,77)

Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #8

11 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 30 encounters mine field at Iwo-jima (108,77)

Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #8

13 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 108 encounters mine field at Chichi-jima (111,74)

Japanese Ships
AMc Tosho Maru

15 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 201 encounters mine field at Chichi-jima (111,74)

Japanese Ships
AMc Wa 16

5 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 30 encounters mine field at Iwo-jima (108,77)

Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #8

7 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Iwo-jima at 108,77, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMc Banshu Maru #8, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DMS Perry
DMS Palmer
DMS Hogan
DMS Gherardi

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
AMc Banshu Maru #8 engages DMS Palmer at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 11,000 yards
DMS Perry engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 8,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 8,000 yards
DMS Perry engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 7,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 7,000 yards
DMS Perry engages AMc Banshu Maru #8 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Iwo-jima at 108,77, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Myoken Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DMS Perry
DMS Palmer
DMS Hogan
DMS Gherardi

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Dunsmore U. crosses the 'T'
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 12,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 10,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Hogan at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 5,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 6,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 6,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 7,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Perry at 7,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Palmer at 7,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Myoken Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Palmer at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 10,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 10,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Myoken Maru at 10,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Myoken Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
PB Myoken Maru engages DMS Palmer at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 8,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Myoken Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Myoken Maru at 9,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Myoken Maru at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DMS Hogan engages PB Myoken Maru at 15,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Myoken Maru at 15,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Myoken Maru at 15,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Iwo-jima at 108,77, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Sensan Maru, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DMS Perry
DMS Palmer
DMS Hogan
DMS Gherardi

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Sensan Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 10,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Palmer at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 4,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Hogan at 4,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Sensan Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 3,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Hogan at 3,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Sensan Maru at 3,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Perry at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Sensan Maru at 4,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Sensan Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Gherardi at 5,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Sensan Maru at 5,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Sensan Maru at 5,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Sensan Maru at 5,000 yards
Dunsmore U. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 6,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Perry at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Hogan at 10,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Sensan Maru at 10,000 yards
DMS Perry engages PB Sensan Maru at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DMS Gherardi engages PB Sensan Maru at 13,000 yards
DMS Palmer engages PB Sensan Maru at 13,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Perry at 13,000 yards
PB Sensan Maru engages DMS Perry at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 111,71

Japanese Ships
LB-123, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Cabezon

SS Cabezon attacking LB-123 on the surface

Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 111,73

Japanese Ships
E Chikubu
E No.55
E No.40

Allied Ships
SS Loggerhead, hits 19, heavy damage

Captain of SS Loggerhead elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
E No.55 attacking submerged sub ....
E No.40 fails to find sub and abandons search
E No.55 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.55 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.55 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.55 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 201 encounters mine field at Iwo-jima (108,77)

Japanese Ships
AMc Wa 16

15 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Koshiki-jima Retto at 100,59

Japanese Ships
E Hayabusa

Allied Ships
SS Baya

SS Baya launches 2 torpedoes at E Hayabusa
Baya diving deep ....
E Hayabusa fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hayabusa fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hayabusa fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hayabusa fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hayabusa attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 111,73, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 1
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Momo, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Boggs, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS Dorsey
DMS Long
DMS Jeffers

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Burke, Arleigh A. crosses the 'T'
DD Sagiri engages DMS Jeffers at 18,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DMS Dorsey at 18,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Boggs at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Dorsey at 12,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Momo at 10,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Jeffers at 10,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 10,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DMS Dorsey at 10,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Boggs at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Momo at 7,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Sagiri at 7,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 7,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Dorsey at 7,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Sagiri at 10,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Jeffers at 10,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 10,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DMS Dorsey at 10,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Momo at 11,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Sagiri at 11,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Long at 11,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Dorsey at 11,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Momo at 13,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Lang at 13,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 13,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Dorsey at 13,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Lang at 15,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DMS Jeffers at 15,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Long at 15,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Dorsey at 15,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Boggs at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Momo at 16,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Lang at 16,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Shiratsuyu at 16,000 yards
DD Momo engages DMS Boggs at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Lang at 17,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Sagiri at 17,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 17,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Dorsey at 17,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Boggs at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DMS Jeffers at 20,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Long at 20,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Dorsey at 20,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DMS Boggs at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 111,74, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
ML G-317
ML G-426, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
ML G-436

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Boggs, on fire
DMS Dorsey
DMS Long
DMS Jeffers

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Burke, Arleigh A. crosses the 'T'
DMS Jeffers engages ML G-426 at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DMS Jeffers engages ML G-436 at 13,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DMS Boggs engages ML G-436 at 10,000 yards
ML G-426 sunk by DMS Jeffers at 10,000 yards
DMS Long engages ML G-436 at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DMS Long engages ML G-436 at 8,000 yards
DMS Boggs engages ML G-436 at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DMS Jeffers engages ML G-436 at 13,000 yards
DMS Long engages ML G-436 at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 15,000 yards
DMS Boggs engages ML G-436 at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
DD Lang engages ML G-436 at 17,000 yards
DMS Jeffers engages ML G-317 at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Chichi-jima at 111,74

Japanese Ships
LB-121, Shell hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Skate

LB-121 is sighted by SS Skate
SS Skate attacking LB-121 on the surface

Day Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 111,74, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
LB-103
LB-104
LB-106
LB-113
LB-115
LB-116
LB-117
LB-119
LB-120

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Dorsey
DMS Long
DMS Jeffers

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 29,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Japanese Barge TF evades combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 29, 45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 111,74, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
ML G-317, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
ML G-436, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Dorsey
DMS Long
DMS Jeffers

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 96% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
ML G-436 engages DMS Jeffers at 12,000 yards
DMS Long engages ML G-436 at 12,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Lang engages ML G-436 at 2,000 yards
ML G-436 engages DMS Long at 2,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
ML G-436 engages DMS Dorsey at 4,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-436 at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Lang engages ML G-317 at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DMS Long engages ML G-317 at 7,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages ML G-317 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
ML G-317 sunk by DD Lang at 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 111,74, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD T-16

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Dorsey
DMS Long
DMS Jeffers

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 96% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Lang engages APD T-16 at 9,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Long at 9,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Dorsey at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Lang engages APD T-16 at 7,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Dorsey at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DMS Dorsey engages APD T-16 at 4,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Dorsey at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Lang engages APD T-16 at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Long at 11,000 yards
Burke, Arleigh A. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 13,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Long at 13,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Long at 13,000 yards
APD T-16 engages DMS Long at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Iwo-jima at 108,77, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Teruzuki
DD Takanami
DD Onami
DD Akishimo
DD Shiranui
DD Akebono, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DM Preble
DM Tolman
DM Henry A. Wiley
DM Shea
DM Shannon, Shell hits 2, on fire

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 96% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Shannon at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Shea at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DM Tolman at 12,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Shea at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shea at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Shannon at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shea at 6,000 yards
DD Akishimo engages DM Shannon at 6,000 yards
DD Onami engages DM Shannon at 6,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Preble at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shannon at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Akishimo engages DM Shannon at 5,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DM Shannon at 5,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Henry A. Wiley at 5,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Tolman at 5,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Shannon at 5,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shannon at 5,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Shannon at 5,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DM Shea at 5,000 yards
DD Akishimo engages DM Tolman at 5,000 yards
DD Onami engages DM Tolman at 5,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Preble at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Shannon at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DM Tolman at 9,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Henry A. Wiley at 9,000 yards
DD Onami engages DM Tolman at 9,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DM Shannon at 9,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shannon at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Shea at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DM Shea at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DM Henry A. Wiley at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Tolman at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shannon at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DM Henry A. Wiley at 14,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DM Shea at 14,000 yards
DD Akishimo engages DM Henry A. Wiley at 14,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Tolman at 14,000 yards
DD Akishimo engages DM Preble at 14,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DM Shannon at 14,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Iwo-jima at 108,77 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
DD Umikaze
DD Asagumo
DD Susuzuki

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CL Agano firing at 37th Infantry Division
DD Umikaze firing at 4th Marine Division
4th Marine Division firing at DD Umikaze
DD Asagumo firing at 4th Marine Division
DD Susuzuki firing at 37th Infantry Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Chichi-jima at 111,74

Japanese Ships
LB-104

Allied Ships
SS Skate

LB-104 is sighted by SS Skate
SS Skate cannot acquire firing solution on enemy LB

Dave finally commits a CL to the ongoing sea battles in the Bonins. I want to respond in kind but I am concerned about the presence of long range Japanese naval bombers flying in from the Home Islands:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chichi-jima at 111,74

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 32
P1Y1 Frances x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Lang
DMS Dorsey
DMS Jeffers

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
18 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Banzai! - Nomura R. in a P1Y1 Frances is willing to die for the Emperor

Ive shut down Japanese AFs at Iwo Jima, Chichi-jima and Haha-jima in additon to closing down the level 8 AF at Daito Shoto, These IJN bombers flew from the islands just off the coast of Yokohama and this turn the Japanese AF at Miyake-jima enlarged to level 3. Soon it will be a level 4 AF and able to base Bettys within range of Iwo Jima. This will counteract our closure of Daito Shoto.

Im pretty sure Dave is expecting me to reinforce at Iwo Jima and continue the battle and that is why KB stands close by in port at Tokyo bay. The massive CENTPAC re-supply effort to Iwo Jima finally left Rabaul last turn. It was stuck in port for a couple of turns as one of my replenishment TFs set to "follow" was still loading fuel. The amphibious transports will rendezvous with the fast carriers of TG 58 and all the CVEs in the Marinas before heading out to the Bonins.

AE TOURNAMENT REDUX: ERSTAD(J) VS ADM SPRUANCE(A)

SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC

RE: SITZKRIEG IN THE PACIFIC