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Allies bombing everywhere in western Honshu, the western coast of China.

The Empire's fighters grabbing what rest and repair they can between Korea and eastern Honshu.

VP ratio 2.086 to 1. I think I have enough to retreat back and still fight. But that means abandoning Nagasaki (and all those ship builds). Ouch.

But realistically what chance do I have of holding in open terrain and the Allies in control of the skies and can bombard at will?

I have decided to retreat and give up Nagasaki, Kanoya, Kagoshima, etc.[X(]

Mainly what has decided it for me is the terrain, and the fact that the Marines didn't land. So that is 4 primo Divisions that could land behind me and Hiroshima. But it will allow me to concentrate my forces better, while the Allies will most likely have to garrison.

Don't like that thought at all.[:(]

Really struggled with this decision, as part of me says just make a hell for leather decision and try to stop the invasion on the beach, but I don't think that is the best answer given my goal of trying to last to Jan 1.

Also, I have come to the conclusion that key areas should have more than one CD gun unit. They have been basically ineffective against invasions, but score points on defending minefields and denying ships passing thru.

It is this second area, where an extra CD unit might open fire where one wouldn't that makes doubling up a decent idea. I think.

Right now I have stocked Nagoya with 4 CD units, since he has been bombarding with DE and the CD units seem to do well against them as opposed to more agile destroyers. But the Allies are now bombarding to the west...

Will finish the turn tomorrow morning, real life and a lot of clicks getting in the way.

Got another large CD unit at Fusan to add to the forts already there. I am hoping that extra CD units will increase the odds of them firing each day/night as the Allies wander (or are lured) into the hex.

I wish I had put another CD unit here and at Tsushima. Although the static forts are very impressive, they don't always fire.

I wish I had put another CD unit here and at Tsushima. Although the static forts are very impressive, they don't always fire.

Is that same hexside but random .. or certain hexsides just do not initiate a response?

I am not sure which direction they are moving...I think east to west.

But several times they don't fire & there are a lot of CD guns present that would leave a mark.

Supply is good. No disruption or fatigue or disabled devices.

Leaders seem good.

Night naval search is up and running heavily.

Last turn...

Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Task Force 89 has merged with TF 369 at 65 , 98
Naval Gun Fire at Tsushima


But no actual combat takes place.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I am not sure which direction they are moving...I think east to west.

But several times they don't fire & there are a lot of CD guns present that would leave a mark.

Supply is good. No disruption or fatigue or disabled devices.

Leaders seem good.

Night naval search is up and running heavily.

Last turn...

Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Task Force 89 has merged with TF 369 at 65 , 98
Naval Gun Fire at Tsushima


But no actual combat takes place.

They aren't always recorded in the combat report, although I think that might mean that there are no shots that hit (so maybe none fired). I've seen that message several times in one of my games, on the receiving end, and noticed nothing, although there were no dedicated CD units in the strait I was passing through. Kind of a reverse Bataan in 1945.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I am not sure which direction they are moving...I think east to west.

But several times they don't fire & there are a lot of CD guns present that would leave a mark.

Supply is good. No disruption or fatigue or disabled devices.

Leaders seem good.

Night naval search is up and running heavily.

Last turn...

Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Naval Gun Fire at Iki-shima
Task Force 89 has merged with TF 369 at 65 , 98
Naval Gun Fire at Tsushima


But no actual combat takes place.

They aren't always recorded in the combat report, although I think that might mean that there are no shots that hit (so maybe none fired). I've seen that message several times in one of my games, on the receiving end, and noticed nothing, although there were no dedicated CD units in the strait I was passing through. Kind of a reverse Bataan in 1945.

Units with DP guns can also fire against shipping. The lack of a combat report means they did not hit anything. They rarely do unless the TF is landing troops at the island. When I was sending ships into the Sea of Japan both Fusan and Iki Shima had plentiful mines but Tsushima did not, so I used it as a waypoint to make sure my ships were safe!

Finally got the turn done.

Stopped all ship builds at Nagasaki and Kagoshima. Might get a SC.....

I am continuing trying to lure the Allied shipping in the coastal guns.

Will try to stop the Allies west of Shimoneski. Not sure about trying to hold Oita. I see the importance, but don't see how to hold it just yet. We shall see, perhaps a three hex line.

September 7, 1944

Night...the action starts near IkiShima....

An Iboat, fresh of the docks at Nagasaki, loads with Type 88 mines and heads for IkiShima...but she is promptly sunk by DEs'just outside of Nagasaki.

Then, at IkiShima, a lone MTB blunders into an Allied task force. They are as thick as thieves...

The MTB slices thru the water and launches...the torpedo strikes home!



Flares explode over the Allied task force, as the MTB moves away. Flares from IkiShima![X(]

Alerted to the enemy task force, the IkiShima naval fortress illuminates the Allied Task Force and brings her big guns to bear.

Responding to the several calls of distress, a destroyer squadron heads into the guns of the Iki Fortress...

And, then, another Allied Task Force shows up at IkiShima. Were they reacting to IJN MTB boats out on the hunt, or distress calls coming from the waters around IkiShima? Or perhaps was it a poorly planned invasion?

The guns of IkiShima fire!

The skies over IkiShima are bright tonight!

More Allied shipping responds for call to rescue seaman clinging to wrecks...

and the Iki fortress is there and responds.

The Nara, a Matsu class destroyer, fresh off the docks, in fact on her trial run, a desperate full speed sprint from Honshu to the north and safety.

That was the plan.

But instead, contact. Spruance and another CVE task force.

Banzai!

All this CD and MTB goodness is warming the bottom of my cold, dead heart.

A lone Allied destroyer seeks retribution...her squadron mates are likely sunk, but there is a radar spotting at Tsushima...in fact a MTB, or perhaps a LST made the run to Tsushima.

But the illumination from the burning ships at Iki Shima are enough for the Tsushima Fortress to find the range and open fire.

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

All this CD and MTB goodness is warming the bottom of my cold, dead heart.

It is giving me flashbacks... I may need counseling ;]