1945: It Sux 2 B Japan - Roger Neilson as the Allies

[John B.]

The allies get ungodly amounts of 4E bombers, and, just to cheer you up, it gets even worse once the war in Europe is over and all those bombers from Bomber Command, the 8th Airforce and the 15th airforce have nothing to do.

[durnedwolf]

I'm no 1275psi but I like his writing and the story he tells during his game. This scene probably won't last long but I wanted to give that writing style a try.

4 MAY 1945
TF Commander: Captain Kokura, N.
Tanker TF19 - Silent Prayer
○ DDs Onami, Kishinarri, Suzukaze, & Hatsuharu
○ AO Roho Maru
○ TKs Hoyo Maru, Ryuei Maru, Seihin Maru, & Mirii Maru
Location: West of Satawal (105,105) by 92 nm.

Captain Kokura looked stoically ahead at blue seas and calm skies. They were slipping past the Caroline Islands and now approaching their closest point to known allied territory, Satawal Isle, a miserably little island with a deep lagoon that made for a good port. The allies had captured it sometime in mid-1944.

Liquid gold was what Kokura was after, fuel for their warships, that they might push forth for one last great engagement with devil-giant before all was lost. The fuel was what was demanded for the Emperor's Honor. To fight valiantly to the end while grasping and cherishing every moment of life until there was life no more. It was bushido. It was the way. The round-eyes would never understand such honor; it was beyond their upbringing.

For Captain Kokura, his honor was all he had left.

[durnedwolf]

6 MAY 1945
TF Commander: Captain Kokura, N.
Tanker TF19 - Silent Prayer
○ DDs Onami, Kishinarri, Suzukaze, & Hatsuharu
○ AO Roho Maru
○ TKs Hoyo Maru, Ryuei Maru, Seihin Maru, & Mirii Maru
Location: East of Bismarck Archipelago

The weather had been rough the last two days but things were clearing up. Noburu Kokura was once again on the bridge. During the initial breakout from Tokyo, the crew of the Hoyo Maru had been expecting death from the allied planes above or the enemy subs below. That they had made it this far without incident seemed to be breathing new life into them.

It was good to see men acting like men again. It was good to feel purpose.

[durnedwolf]

Lots of Coastwatchers watching the coast...
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Miyako-jima
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Nago
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Naha
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Tokunoshima is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Gunzan is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Seishin is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Orchid Island
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Yingkow
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Antung
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Canton
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Wuchang
Coastwatcher Report: 7 ships in port at Cam Ranh Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tourane
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Kompong Trach
Coastwatcher sighting: 5 Allied ships at 103,56 near Tsushima , Speed 9 , Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Allied ships at 103,55 near Fusan , Speed 13 , Moving Northwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Allied ships at 95,66 near Naha , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Allied ship at 103,50 near Keijo , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 10 Allied ships at 102,57 near Fukuoka , Speed 14 , Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 3 Allied ships at 95,65 near Nago , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Allied ship at 95,65 near Nago , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 3 Allied ships at 98,64 near Amami Oshima , Speed 3 , Moving Northeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Allied ship at 102,52 near Gunzan , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 9 Allied ships at 92,55 near Shanghai , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Allied ships at 102,55 near Fusan , Speed 14 , Moving West
Coastwatcher sighting: 4 Allied ships at 103,56 near Tsushima , Speed 15 , Moving West
Coastwatcher sighting: 5 Allied ships at 103,55 near Fusan , Speed 11 , Moving West
Coastwatcher sighting: 9 Allied ships at 102,55 near Fusan , Speed 16 , Moving Northeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Allied ships at 103,55 near Fusan , Moving East
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Allied ship at 92,57 near Ningpo , Speed 13 , Moving Southwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Allied ships at 95,65 near Nago , Speed 7 , Moving Southwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Allied ship at 92,57 near Ningpo , Speed 13 , Moving Northeast

Loss of TK Itukusima Maru on Jun 14, 1944 is admitted
AGP Brontes is reported to have been sunk near Moppo on May 06, 1945
xAK Cape Archway is reported to have been sunk near Loewoek on Aug 11, 1944
Matsushima Ku K-1 arrives at Ominato
Okazaki Ku K-4 arrives at Tokyo
Okazaki Ku K-1 arrives at Tokyo
Okazaki Ku K-2 arrives at Tokyo
Okazaki Ku K-3 arrives at Tokyo
Mineyama Ku K-1 arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
85th Sentai arrives at Ominato

Allied forces CAPTURE Chihfeng !!!
107th/A Division RETREATING towards Liaoyuan
Allied forces CAPTURE Taonan !!!
Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Kotou

I converted a couple of FP groups to kamikaze. They seem to be more effective against Roger's small TFs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Moppo at 100,54

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 6 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
AGP Brontes, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk
AGP Silenus, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x E7K2 Alf flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gunzan at 102,52

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 5 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAK Doryssa
AK Provo Victory, Kamikaze hits 1
AK Navajo Victory, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x E7K2 Alf flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[durnedwolf]

So I've had pretty good results with FP and the older fighters, which are all slow-flying aircraft. I wonder if the reduced speed increases the effectiveness of my kamikaze units. Most of my kamikazes have very low experience but "attack accuracy" might be increased as kamikazes have more time to line up their targets?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shikotan at 125,53

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 20 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LCI-984, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(M)-756
LCI(M)-1055, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-982, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(M)-952
LSM-319, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(R)-785, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(M)-1012, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(R)-769
LCI-799, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-983, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(M)-1057, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-989, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
LCI(R)-339
LCI(M)-1056, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI(M)-755

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
39 x Ki-27b Nate flying as kamikaze *

Here Roger is mining Hirosaki…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 12

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator laying Mk 13 Mine from 8000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hirosaki/Aomori , at 118,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 12

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator laying Mk 13 Mine from 8000 feet

Allied forces CAPTURE Shikotan !!!

Loss of CVE Taiyo on Apr 21, 1945 is admitted
Loss of CA Chikuma on Apr 22, 1945 is admitted
LSM-319 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI(M)-1012 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI(M)-1055 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI(M)-1056 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI(M)-1057 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI(R)-785 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI-799 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI-982 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI-983 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI-984 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
LCI-989 is reported to have been sunk near Shikotan on May 08, 1945
Isahaya Ku K-1 arrives at Tokyo
Isahaya Ku K-2 arrives at Tokyo
Isahaya Ku K-3 arrives at Tokyo
Isahaya Ku K-4 arrives at Tokyo
Iwakuni Ku K-3 arrives at Tokyo
27th Sentai arrives at Tokyo
107th Sentai arrives at Tokyo
95th Sentai arrives at Tokyo

My tanker TF is one hex away from the Tulagi honeypot. I still need to figure out how to get it back to Tokyo. Roger is becoming more aggressive. I think he's beginning to realize that the teeth of Japan are old and brittle.

One takeaway from playing the endgame with Roger is the use of FP as kamikaze. No requirement of an airfield is a plus. The payload of a FP (for Japan the best looks to be 4x60kg GP) is probably too light for larger warships but against Landing, Auxillary, and Merchant shipping, FP work just fine.

I wish I had more Anne or Mary light bombers as I'd like to test those out as kamikaze. They, at least, have a 250kg bomb.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

One takeaway from playing the endgame with Roger is the use of FP as kamikaze. No requirement of an airfield is a plus. The payload of a FP (for Japan the best looks to be 4x60kg GP) is probably too light for larger warships but against Landing, Auxillary, and Merchant shipping, FP work just fine.

I wish I had more Anne or Mary light bombers as I'd like to test those out as kamikaze. They, at least, have a 250kg bomb.

Cool beans, durnedwolf. [8D]

Some time ago, Bullwinkle talked about his experiences in a late-war game. Don't recall if that was PBEM, a scenario or vs. the AI. Anyways, he talked up the impact (literally and figuratively) of 2E IJAAF bombers from the Allied perspective. He thought they were terribly effective as kamikazes. When they hit, they hit very hard and really made a mess of things.

What are your pools of Sally-Ic, IIa and Helens looking like?

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

One takeaway from playing the endgame with Roger is the use of FP as kamikaze. No requirement of an airfield is a plus. The payload of a FP (for Japan the best looks to be 4x60kg GP) is probably too light for larger warships but against Landing, Auxillary, and Merchant shipping, FP work just fine.

I wish I had more Anne or Mary light bombers as I'd like to test those out as kamikaze. They, at least, have a 250kg bomb.

Cool beans, durnedwolf. [8D]

Some time ago, Bullwinkle talked about his experiences in a late-war game. Don't recall if that was PBEM, a scenario or vs. the AI. Anyways, he talked up the impact (literally and figuratively) of 2E IJAAF bombers from the Allied perspective. He thought they were terribly effective as kamikazes. When they hit, they hit very hard and really made a mess of things.

What are your pools of Sally-Ic, IIa and Helens looking like?

I've set up a single group of Betty, Frances, Sally, and Helen. Early on in my take-over as Japan, the Betty group got in a kamikaze attack. Since then, none of my 2E kamikaze groups have come out to play. Part of that, though, is the whack-a-mole game Roger and I are playing. I find an airfield that I can fly out of and move my 2E to it. They have an opportunity to fly but regardless, within a turn or two, Roger brings over a few hundred bombers to take out the airstrip. It's not much fun to be Japan right now. I really have to focus on the minor victories. [:D][:D]

[durnedwolf]

So the past couple of days, Roger has been pasting Sapporo. I had a bunch of merchies there (emphasis on the word had). But they were all at or around 0 on fuel. And all of my bases in the home islands have 0 fuel, so it is what it is.

I haven't really posted much as it's been the same stuff - just different days. We play wack-a-mole on the airfields that I try to fly out of, and for land combat, Roger takes a hex or base from my ground troops that, apparently one can count ribs on each of the troops, and every now and then Roger finishes things off with a good naval bombardment or two.

Operation Go-Juice is on the return phase, trying to sneak back to Tokyo with their precious cargo of fuel. From my perspective, it's all about the DL dice rolls now. TF19 is still out in the boonies but as it draws nearer to Japan I expect the chances of detection to increase. If Operation Go-Juice is successful, it would give my carriers one last charge against the allied forces before the mighty warships ships of Japan slip beneath the waves.

If those that are dues-paying Threadsters would offer up a prayer for TF19 to the Thread, I'm sure Commander Terajima would greatly appreciate it. Please be careful of OpSec but, if Roger monitors the Thread, it'd be funny to see him asking what TF19 is - lol.

[durnedwolf]

Operation Go-Juice is still in play.

In 3 days I get the CV Katsuragi.

I'm still receiving ships that I can milk for fuel - it's just that decent aircraft have been few and far to come by. Over the next 10 days, I'll pick up an additional 30 Tony plus some Franks and A6M5c. Roger is becoming bolder with some of his bombardment TFs. I'm hoping that in the next few turns I'll be able to field a good Carrier TF that can slip out and give him a good spank. [;)]

[durnedwolf]

17MAY42

Mighty Japanese forces invade Russia, capturing a strategic enemy base. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!! And I get some baby-cruisers. Gawd I love this game! [:)]

Yugodzyr is occupied by the Japanese

Air units - kamikaze, search, and Naval attack are my primary missions
Hakata Ku K-4 arrives at Fukuoka
Hakata Ku K-4 sub-groups COMBINING at Fukuoka
Okazaki Ku K-3 arrives at Kanazawa
Okazaki Ku K-3 sub-groups COMBINING at Kanazawa
Tsingtao Ku K-3 arrives at Tokyo
Fusan Ku K-4 arrives at Kagoshima
Fusan Ku K-4 sub-groups COMBINING at Kagoshima
54th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tokyo
70th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tokyo

Roger brings in Bombardment TFs…
Allied Ships Bombarding Bihoro
Allied Ships Bombarding Sapporo
Allied Ships Bombarding Fukue-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Sadogashima
Allied Ships Bombarding Wakkanai
Allied Ships Bombarding Hirosaki/Aomori
Allied Ships Bombarding Fukue-jima

So…..
Night Naval bombardment of Sadogashima at 114,56

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E8N2 Dave: 17 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Biloxi
CL Phoenix
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Resources hits 1
Manpower hits 3
Light Industry hits 2
Fires 489
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 44
Port hits 8

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CL Biloxi
CL Biloxi firing at Sadogashima
CL Phoenix firing at Sadogashima
CL Marblehead firing at Sadogashima
CL Richmond firing at Sadogashima

------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ulleungdo at 109,52

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Richmond, Kamikaze hits 1
CL Biloxi
DD Sigourney
DD Melvin
CL Marblehead
CL Phoenix

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val flying as kamikaze *
Kamikaze: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ulleungdo at 109,52

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
P1Y1 Frances x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
DD Sigsbee
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
CL Biloxi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

Kanzaki V. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CL Phoenix

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ulleungdo at 109,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
P1Y1 Frances x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Biloxi, heavy damage
CL Richmond
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 2, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

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

Matsumura R. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CL Phoenix

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ulleungdo at 109,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 6 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Biloxi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CL Phoenix is reported to have been sunk near Ulleungdo on May 17, 1945

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: John B.

The allies get ungodly amounts of 4E bombers, and, just to cheer you up, it gets even worse once the war in Europe is over and all those bombers from Bomber Command, the 8th Airforce and the 15th airforce have nothing to do.

In early '46 I'm fielding the following:

B29s: 1,200

B24s: 1,200

B17s: 900

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: John B.

The allies get ungodly amounts of 4E bombers, and, just to cheer you up, it gets even worse once the war in Europe is over and all those bombers from Bomber Command, the 8th Airforce and the 15th airforce have nothing to do.

In early '46 I'm fielding the following:

B29s: 1,200

B24s: 1,200

B17s: 900

Groan! You two are such a comfort. I guess I only need to shoot down about 3,300 of those big 4E brutes.

[PaxMondo]

well, the allies get ~250 more each month … but who's counting? [;)]

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: John B.

The allies get ungodly amounts of 4E bombers, and, just to cheer you up, it gets even worse once the war in Europe is over and all those bombers from Bomber Command, the 8th Airforce and the 15th airforce have nothing to do.

In early '46 I'm fielding the following:

B29s: 1,200

B24s: 1,200

B17s: 900

Groan! You two are such a comfort. I guess I only need to shoot down about 3,300 of those big 4E brutes.

Nah, you just have to survive till 1 September 1945. The big ramp up of Allied 4E occurs after then anyway.

Alfred

[John B.]

Alfred had a post awhile ago detailing how if Japan holds out until Sept. 1, 1945 they win (despite the manual seeming to say that it has to hold out until Jan. 1, 1946) that I have really tried to find but been unable to do so. So if that's the target date, and I hope it is as I'm in mid-January 1945 in my game, you avoid most of the European stuff.

As for better news on the 4e planes, each one is worth two VP to you which means that when your flak shoots one down or damages it enough that it becomes an ops loss that's just points in the bank for you. In fact, I'm becoming more of a flak fan. If you can mass it on airbases in cities that still has industry he needs to bomb, he'll take VP losses trying to shut you down and strat bombing you. Is it enough to help? Who knows, but you feel better when you see the red flash underneath a B-24 while it's bombing you.

[durnedwolf]

19 May 1945

Darned rocks…
SSX Ha-7 hits uncharted rock at 132 , 115
SSX Ha-7 abandoned due to heavy damage

From the frying pan and into the fire…
PB Choan Maru #2 moved away from piers at Guam due to fires
And then…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95

Japanese Ships
PB Choan Maru #2, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Oklahoma City
CL Topeka
CL Duluth

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

CL Oklahoma City firing at Guam
CL Topeka firing at 10th Ind.Mixed Regiment
CL Duluth firing at Guam


I don't mind this at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 323 encounters mine field at Guam (106,95)

Allied Ships
DD Benson, Mine hits 1


Honors in defense of the homeland!
PO2 Tokuda I. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 8
CDR Matsuki W. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 14
CDR Matsuki W. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 15

Fighters work well VS DDs. Everything else I thow at them seems to miss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Zenith
DD Zebra
DD Zambesi, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Zealous

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 19 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Zebra
DD Zephyr, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Zealous
DD Zest, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Zodiac, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Myngs
DD Zenith, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
DD Zambesi, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
34 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 21 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Zodiac, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk
DD Zenith, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Zealous
DD Zest, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Myngs, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Zebra

Aircraft Attacking:
38 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Zest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 10 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Zebra
DD Myngs, on fire, heavy damage
DD Zambesi, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Zest, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Myngs
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Zest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DD Myngs is reported to have been sunk near Hirosaki/Aomori on May 19, 1945
DD Zambesi is reported to have been sunk near Hirosaki/Aomori on May 19, 1945
DD Zealous is reported to have been sunk near Hirosaki/Aomori on May 19, 1945
DD Zephyr is reported to have been sunk near Hirosaki/Aomori on May 19, 1945
DD Zodiac is reported to have been sunk near Hirosaki/Aomori on May 19, 1945
SS Grenadier is reported to have been sunk near Torishima on Mar 13, 1945

In with the new and out with the old…
26th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tokyo
Planes and pilots of Usa Ku K-2 withdrawing
Planes and pilots of T-709 Hikotai withdrawing
Planes and pilots of 67th Sentai withdrawing
Planes and pilots of S-602 Hikotai withdrawing
Planes and pilots of 31st Sentai withdrawing
Planes and pilots of 73rd Sentai withdrawing

And for those wondering about Operation Go Juice

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Alfred had a post awhile ago detailing how if Japan holds out until Sept. 1, 1945 they win (despite the manual seeming to say that it has to hold out until Jan. 1, 1946) that I have really tried to find but been unable to do so. So if that's the target date, and I hope it is as I'm in mid-January 1945 in my game, you avoid most of the European stuff.

As for better news on the 4e planes, each one is worth two VP to you which means that when your flak shoots one down or damages it enough that it becomes an ops loss that's just points in the bank for you. In fact, I'm becoming more of a flak fan. If you can mass it on airbases in cities that still has industry he needs to bomb, he'll take VP losses trying to shut you down and strat bombing you. Is it enough to help? Who knows, but you feel better when you see the red flash underneath a B-24 while it's bombing you.

Well Here's hoping Alfred is right! [:)]

I'm already sporting a minor victory but that was in place with Roger's prior opponent - I can really take no credit there.

What I'm getting out of this end game tho, are some important ideas/thoughts/observations of how I want to prepare for any future games I play.

- Float Planes are really pretty good as kamikaze. And you don't need an airfield.
- Try to bring my big AA units to Japan as I withdraw to the home isles.
- Fuel, HI, supplies - stockpile!!!!
- It's OK to have a large pool of the older Oscar and Claudes - fighters as kamikaze work well VS DD.
- For CAP, spreading my fighters over several airfields and several altitude bands really seems to help against the sweeps.
- Whack-a-mole with airfields is a challenging dance...

I'm still trying to find something that's more effective VS the allied 4E bombers. Most of my fighters left to me in this game are a few generations behind, and my pilot pool sucks. There's probably not a lot I can do while wearing those two lead boots...

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

well, the allies get ~250 more each month … but who's counting? [;)]

lol. I am!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

ORIGINAL: John B.

Alfred had a post awhile ago detailing how if Japan holds out until Sept. 1, 1945 they win (despite the manual seeming to say that it has to hold out until Jan. 1, 1946) that I have really tried to find but been unable to do so. So if that's the target date, and I hope it is as I'm in mid-January 1945 in my game, you avoid most of the European stuff.

As for better news on the 4e planes, each one is worth two VP to you which means that when your flak shoots one down or damages it enough that it becomes an ops loss that's just points in the bank for you. In fact, I'm becoming more of a flak fan. If you can mass it on airbases in cities that still has industry he needs to bomb, he'll take VP losses trying to shut you down and strat bombing you. Is it enough to help? Who knows, but you feel better when you see the red flash underneath a B-24 while it's bombing you.

Well Here's hoping Alfred is right! [:)]

I'm already sporting a minor victory but that was in place with Roger's prior opponent - I can really take no credit there.

What I'm getting out of this end game tho, are some important ideas/thoughts/observations of how I want to prepare for any future games I play.

- Float Planes are really pretty good as kamikaze. And you don't need an airfield.
- Try to bring my big AA units to Japan as I withdraw to the home isles.
- Fuel, HI, supplies - stockpile!!!!
- It's OK to have a large pool of the older Oscar and Claudes - fighters as kamikaze work well VS DD.
- For CAP, spreading my fighters over several airfields and several altitude bands really seems to help against the sweeps.
- Whack-a-mole with airfields is a challenging dance...

I'm still trying to find something that's more effective VS the allied 4E bombers. Most of my fighters left to me in this game are a few generations behind, and my pilot pool sucks. There's probably not a lot I can do while wearing those two lead boots...

FP's are good as kami's when there is little to no CAP …
Economy is a BIG deal.
Again, older airframes work as kami's as long as there is no CAP … you may wish though that you had saved those HI and used them on Frank -r instead … a much better fighter and much better kami if you so choose.
Once the allies get within B17 range of any base, it is toast if they choose.
When they are still at B29 range, you have a chance; still difficult, but you have a chance.

[RangerJoe]

Pax, this is a pick up game so he has to fight with what he has. But yes, better to save the HI and pilots for the better air frames. Then the situation may not have gotten this bad. A good lesson for all.