Gensui jdsrae (J) vs SolInvictus (A). IJ War Council room

[jdsrae]

The USN moved slightly WNW and attack the Marianas!

Reports of lots of search aircraft of all types shot down by CAP.
Area CAP scrambles and the George-5s make first contact, starting to shoot down Hellcats!

It looks like the Combined Fleet should be safe to replenish at Manus Island tomorrow.

A6M8s also got some Hellcat kills which was a good sign.
The CAP then got stuck into the dive bombers, shooting down about 50 despite the report showing 34.

Wave 2 had 18 Avengers which were all shot down. SC CHa-47 dodged 500lb bombs dropped from 5000 feet.
Some escorting Hellcats got the dive on the defending CAP so there must be a mess of scrambling CAP cloud all over the place, as indicated by the red blob.
The mission to wear down the Allied strike force seems to be working, but there are hundreds more bombers where these ones came from…

[jdsrae]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 20, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gebe at 79,105
TK Azuchisan Maru
PB Banshu Maru #56
Allied Ships
SS Picuda
SS Picuda launches 2 torpedoes at TK Azuchisan Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94 – the USN move West towards the Marianas!
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft – the scratch CAP from multiple bases came together quite well to counter this big raid.
A6M8 Zero x 98
N1K1 Rex x 13
N1K2-J George x 74
N1K5-J George x 78
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 226 – that’s a lot of escorting Hellcats!
SBD-5 Dauntless x 72
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed – these were probably <50 experience pilots
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 15 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 34 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships – this was not a bait task force, it had an AA unit loaded at Saipan yesterday with Tinian the intended destination. The best chance for the unit to survive was to move it to Tinian and drop it, then cross the fingers that the ships survive.
I had the Allied CVs moving SW as more likely, but had prepared the Marianas for air attack just in case this happened.
xAK Fusemi Maru
SC CHa-41
xAK Dainiti Maru
xAK Gozan Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage – sunk . Lead ship of the xAK Gozan Cargo class which I have been using in forward areas due to their 4 point value. With 2310 cargo capacity that is a “luxurious” amount of supply to drop at a forward base so the Gozans have been handy at shuffling troops and cargo around the edges of the Empire without risking big point losses if they run into trouble.
CAP engaged: 16x fighter units in total at Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan
801 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
256 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
S-316 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(25 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
S-601 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(25 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
302 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(25 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
S-603 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(25 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
331 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
341 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(19 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
341 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
343 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(23 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
343 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
345 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
345 Ku S-2 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
S-602 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
S-407 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,93
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 14
N1K1 Rex x 2
N1K2-J George x 21
N1K5-J George x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
TBM-1C Avenger x 18
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
5 x TBM-1C Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-47 – LEUT D. Nagano and crew earn a mention in despatches for dodging 500lb bombs.
CAP engaged: 12x fighter units mentioned here, with the fighter controllers diverting less fighters to counter this smaller raid than the last one. A busy morning for the radar operators and the “fighter sector” HQ staff.
256 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
302 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-603 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
331 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
341 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
341 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
343 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
343 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-602 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (2 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-407 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
801 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment, at 57,42 , near Chittagong
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Ki-84r Frank x 39
35 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 20000 feet
Allied aircraft
P-40N26 Warhawk x 9
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 2
P-40N26 Warhawk: 4 destroyed – these sweeps of off-base hexes look to be worth it to keep the pressure on.
CAP engaged:
20th TRS with P-40N26 Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
33rd FG/58th FS with P-47D25 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
23rd FG/118th TRS with P-40N26 Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
Japanese aircraft – another big area CAP comes together over Tinian
A6M8 Zero x 94
N1K1 Rex x 13
N1K2-J George x 70
N1K5-J George x 78
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 165
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27
SBD-5 Dauntless x 21
TBM-1C Avenger x 18
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 13 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 14 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 12 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Awajisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Fusemi Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Dainiti Maru
xAK Banshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CAP engaged: 16x fighter units involved here
801 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
256 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-316 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-601 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
302 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-603 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
331 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
341 Ku S-1 with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
341 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
343 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
343 Ku S-2 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
345 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
345 Ku S-2 with N1K2-J George (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-602 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
S-407 Hikotai with N1K5-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94
A6M8 Zero x 80
N1K1 Rex x 9
N1K2-J George x 50
N1K5-J George x 53
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 29
SBD-5 Dauntless x 6
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 9 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,93
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
A6M8 Zero x 4
N1K2-J George x 18
N1K5-J George x 15
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 7
TBM-1C Avenger x 2
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-49 – LEUT F. Kawato and crew earn themselves a MID
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 57,42 (near Chittagong)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 22088 troops, 262 guns, 808 vehicles, Assault Value = 888
Defending force 4459 troops, 107 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 162
Japanese adjusted assault: 751
Allied adjusted defense: 298
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
645 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 57 disabled – a little expensive so the IJA force will rest for a day or two. Allied reinforcements are still shown moving to this hex, so it could be a bit risky to attack again because they might face anything from 1 to 5x Divisions next attack!
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Allied ground losses:
977 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 27 (12 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Assaulting units:
14th Division
2nd Tank Division
1st Army
Defending units:
16th Chindit Brigade – pushed backwards with heavy losses
23rd Chindit Brigade
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Apr 20, 44
SS I-183 detects enemy submarine on surface at 93, 142 but can not position to attack
SS RO-33 terminates patrol and enters Soerabaja for repairs
Search H8K2 Emily destroyed by CAP
G3M2 Nell from Yokosuka Ku K-1 attacking an Allied SS at 109,67
an Allied SS is reported HIT
G3M2 Nell from Yokosuka Ku K-1 attacking SS Tautog at 108,67
SS Tautog is reported HIT
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP – not a good day to be a search pilot in the Marianas.
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91) – it’s a bit like moths to a flame
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP
E13A1 Jake from 902 Ku T-2 attacking a 'T' War Emergency class SS at 108,96
a KXIV Class class SS is reported HIT
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search D4Y1 Judy destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
D4Y1 Judy from 932 Ku T-2 attacking an Allied SS at 110,96
an Allied SS is reported HIT
Search D4Y1 Judy destroyed by CAP
Search D4Y1 Judy destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search G4M1 Betty destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search G4M1 Betty destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
P1Y2 Frances from K-405 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 117,61
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
Search G3M3 Nell destroyed by CAP
G4M2 Betty from 762 Ku K-1 attacking SS Scamp at 110,74
SS Scamp is reported HIT
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP
Search G4M2 Betty destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
G4M2 Betty from 762 Ku K-1 attacking an Allied SS at 109,73
an Allied SS is reported HIT
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Kusaie Island
F-5A Lightning sighted over Buna
F-5A Lightning sighted over Katha
F-5A Lightning sighted over Myitkyina
PO2 Hirusawa M. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2 – some of these pilots have <50 experience, with the kills spread across the pilots. Seeing some 40s experience pilots with a kill or 2 is interesting. Those pilots will be hard work for their instructors when they return to their training courses!
PO2 Katsuma R. of S-603 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Matsuo C. of 343 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Doikawa V. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Imamura E. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Imamura E. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Okano C. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Imamura V. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Shibata O. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 6
PO1 Asada S. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Asada S. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Ikura J. of 343 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Nojima G. of 331 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Okano C. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Oda U. of S-603 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Magara, K. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Matsumura R. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Imamura V. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Kurihara D. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Magara, K. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Abe S. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Matsunaga A. of 343 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kanzaki H. of 345 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kaneko G. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
CDR Higashiyama, I. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Ikura E. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Shiga J. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Katsuma L. of S-602 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Okano I. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Minobe I. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
F-10 Mitchell sighted over Magwe
WO Itaya K. of 47th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
1LT Renzo T. of 64th Sentai is credited with kill number 10
2LT Hiramoto D. of 64th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
2LT Ishimori A. of 87th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
2LT Igarashi R. of 87th Sentai is credited with kill number 6
Pilot killed in landing accident of N1K5-J George from 254 Ku S-1 – this might have been the only George-5 lost today to an ops reason… unlucky pilot.
Search H8K2 Emily destroyed by CAP
Search H8K2 Emily destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
G3M2 Nell from Yokosuka Ku K-1 attacking a 'T' 1941 and 1942 class SS at 109,73
a KXIV Class class SS is reported HIT
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search E13A1 Jake destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search B6N2 Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
D4Y1 Judy destroyed by flak
Search D4Y1 Judy destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP
Search B6N2a Jill destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
Search G4M1 Betty destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
P1Y2 Frances from K-405 Hikotai attacking SS Rock at 114,66
SS Rock is reported HIT
P1Y2 Frances from K-406 Hikotai attacking a Grampus class SS at 112,67
a 'T' War Emergency class SS is reported HIT
Search G3M3 Nell destroyed by CAP at (113,91)
E13A1 Jake from Suzuya-2 attacking a 'T' War Emergency class SS at 61,105
a KXI Class class SS is reported HIT
F-5A Lightning sighted over 15th Army
PV-1 Ventura sighted over Amchitka Island – more recon in NORPAC, the PV-1 are a new one
F-7A Liberator sighted over Prome
F-7A Liberator sighted over Taung Gyi
F-5A Lightning sighted over Katha
PO2 Chiyoshima B. of 302 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Katagi R. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Nakasawa R. of 302 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Katsuma S. of 302 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Kawakami A. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Obayashi R. of S-601 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Ichimura R. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Nikaido I. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Handa B. of S-603 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kamisaka V. of S-603 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Nishiura P. of 343 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Ichimura R. of S-407 Hikotai is credited with kill number 5
PO1 Ichimura R. of S-407 Hikotai attains ace status!!
PO2 Nakasawa I. of S-601 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Murakami W. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Nikaido I. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Kawato B. of 331 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Banno S. of 345 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Murakami W. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Hirata T. of 801 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Katsuma S. of 302 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Wajima, Y. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 9
PO1 Nikaido I. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 4
PO2 Imamura L. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Katsuma S. of 343 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Ichimura W. of Hosho-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Obuchi G. of S-601 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Matsumura R. of 343 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Kojima L. of 345 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kojima L. of 345 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Nakasawa I. of S-601 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Nagashima R. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Kawamura T. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Kawamura T. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Doigawa C. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Maki J. of 341 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Hori T. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Tokuda U. of 341 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Doigawa C. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Nikaido M. of 331 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Chiyoshima U. of 345 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Handa B. of S-603 Hikotai is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Okano C. of S-602 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kawakami O. of 801 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Hirata J. of S-602 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Minobe K. of S-602 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Matsumoto A. of S-316 Hikotai is credited with kill number 2
3 x H6K4-L Mavis transporting 42nd Naval Guard Unit from Mili
3 x H6K4-L Mavis transporting 65th Naval Guard Unit from Mili
6 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st Raiding Force from Kalemyo
Tillamook expands airfield to size 9
Guam expands fortifications to size 7 – stopped
Aircraft A7M2 Sam advances R&D – now 6/45 +6/day from 3x factories with engine boost. The next closest factories are 26, 25, 19, 19, 16, 13, 12 to make 10x factories once they are all repaired.
Previous report of sinking of DD McCalla incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of SS Dorado incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Loss of xAK Awajisan Maru on Apr 20, 1944 is admitted
Loss of xAK Banshu Maru on Apr 20, 1944 is admitted
Loss of xAK Fusemi Maru on Apr 20, 1944 is admitted
LST T-115 arrives at Nagoya
LSI(L) Empire Star is reported to have been sunk near Horn Island on Sep 22, 1943 – that was a long time ago
MTB G-843 arrives at Nagoya
6th Ku S-1/C arrives at Tokyo – this is the return of a CVE unit. It returns with 27x pilots with average experience of 77, possibly the pilots that went down with the ship. Well worth the PP to resurrect units to get the trained pilots back.&#8195;

[jdsrae]

There are still 478 USN fighters spotted in the 2x CV task forces, so they “only” lost about 1/6th of their Hellcats today.
There are still 384 USN bombers spotted.

Only 1x George-5 was lost to an ops reason, crashing on return to base.
George-5 look like they are well worth the investment.

More than 40 IJN search aircraft were lost. Lesson learnt there, stand down most air units from search so that those aircraft are available for strike missions.
Tomorrow it will just be the Jakes that fly search missions as there are plenty of them in the reserve pool and their pilots are only trained in NavS and ASW.
Losing Betty/Jill and Judy pilots on search missions is a bit of a waste, but a lot less pilots were casualties compared to plane losses.
IJNAF casualties today were 15x KIA and 24xWIA with none missing.

[RangerJoe]

Even with your search plane losses, you still had a good day!

[BBfanboy]

You are doing well in the air for April 1944. Usually the Allied side has downed more IJ planes by that time but you are a little ahead there. He seems to fly into CAP traps too much.

I am curious why you post things like the tally of pilot kills from the Ops report. I can't think of anything it would teach me or any reason to find it interesting. I know it is easy to just copy the Ops report and include it in the post but it just makes clutter that hides the stuff that may be useful/interesting, IMO. Comments?

[jdsrae]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I am curious why you post things like the tally of pilot kills from the Ops report. I can't think of anything it would teach me or any reason to find it interesting. I know it is easy to just copy the Ops report and include it in the post but it just makes clutter that hides the stuff that may be useful/interesting, IMO. Comments?

I just post what I keep as my notes from each turn.
The process of editing the combat and ops reports usually takes me about 10mins or so per turn, so it helps prompt things I need to do when entering orders.
I mostly keep the record of pilot kills because I am interested to see if new aces are created and how the top aces are going against each other.
I usually also take more than one screenshot each turn but tend to only upload what I think is the most interesting one.

I have been holding fighter pilots in training units until they have 70/70 experience/air skill until this battle, as the Marianas based units were being used for various stages of training and I wanted to see how the pilots went in their various states of readiness.
I found it interesting that even some of the pilots with experience in the 40s still got a kill or two.

For the IJN fighter pilots in this game, if a new ace is created in a land based unit that usually indicates the pilot has made it to 81+ experience so it prompts me to check and transfer that pilot to CV duty.
There is plenty from the ops report that I do delete, like the dozens of ASW aircraft contacts that don't result in a reported hit.

---------
This rookie unit did well with 18 kills between them today and no casualties.
P02 Nakasawa got a hat-trick!

[BBfanboy]

Thanks for the explanation. Hadn't thought of the connection between aces and TRACOM moves.

[awaw]

Another question Jim: Do you have a "airbridge" from Honshu southwards.
Aka, small Air Support within 1 aircraft transfer range, to move new air units around the map.
If yes, would you mind sharing their locations?
That is the next little step I am going to take/plan. Always good to have something to compare to!

[jdsrae]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 21, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Marcus Island at 123,85 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
E13A1 Jake: 42 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 4 destroyed on ground
18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
AV Africa Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
AD Sakido Maru, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships – all ships named here bombarded, escorts included.
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB California
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
DD Bailey
DD Welles
DD Lansdowne
DD Buchanan
DD Hoel
DD Heermann
DD Healy
DMS Ellyson
DMS Hobson
Japanese ground losses:
400 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 48
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 2
BB Idaho firing at Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB California
BB California firing at 13th Ind.Mixed Regiment
5th Armd Car Coy is still unidentified, but it’s no war winner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Marcus Island at 123,85 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
E13A1 Jake: 12 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K4-L Mavis: 1 damaged
2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
AV Africa Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
AG Hokuan Maru, Shell hits 1
ACM Katsuragisan Maru, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships – all ships here bombarded too
BB Mississippi
BB Oklahoma
BB Nevada
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
DD Benham II
DD Thompson
DD Kalk
DD Caldwell
DD Aaron Ward
DD Cassin Young
DD Young
DD Yarnall
DMS Long
DMS Trevor
Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 18
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 3
BB Mississippi firing at Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Oklahoma
DD Thompson firing at 13th Ind.Mixed Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hengchun at 85,68
TK Kyokuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire – one torpedo was enough to send the 2nd Tonan to the bottom. Then there were three.
E Hasu
AMC Akagi Maru
TK Tonan Maru #3
TK Nisshin Maru #2
TK Nisshin Maru
E Susuki
E Tsuga
Allied Ships
SS Seawolf
SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes at TK Kyokuyo Maru
Seawolf diving deep ....
E Susuki attacking submerged sub ....
E Tsuga attacking submerged sub ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98 – Wake Island is a wasteland now.
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
TBM-1C Avenger x 9
9 x TBM-1C Avenger bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Apr 21, 44
Repairs completed on SS I-9 at Yokohama/Yokosuka, ship returned to service
SS RO-35 terminates patrol and enters Soerabaja for repairs
SS I-184 terminates patrol and enters Rabaul for repairs
E13A1 Jake from Ominato Ku T-2 attacking SS Bowfin at 119,55
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
G4M1 Betty from K-705 Hikotai has spotted a Lake Cargo class xAKL at 91,132
an Allied xAKL is reported HIT
P1Y2 Frances from K-405 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 119,55
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
P1Y2 Frances from K-406 Hikotai attacking an Allied SS at 109,67
a Grampus class SS is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from K-102 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 119,55
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from K-102 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 119,55
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
E13A1 Jake from 958 Ku T-7 attacking a 'T' 1940 Programme class SS at 94,132
an Allied SS is reported HIT
Search E14Y1 Glen destroyed by CAP
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Munda
Mosquito PR.XVI sighted over Shwebo
F-7A Liberator sighted over Rangoon
G4M1 Betty from K-704 Hikotai has spotted SC-751 at 114,138
SC-751 is reported HIT
G3M2 Nell from Yokosuka Ku K-1 attacking SS Rock at 114,66
SS Rock is reported HIT
P1Y2 Frances from K-406 Hikotai attacking SS Rock at 114,66
SS Rock is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from K-3 Hikotai attacking an Allied SS at 114,77
a Triton class SS is reported HIT
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 62nd Sentai attacking SS Taurus at 52,49
SS Taurus is reported HIT
PB4Y-1P Liberator sighted over Shortlands
F-10 Mitchell sighted over Magwe
9 x H6K4-L Mavis transporting 42nd Naval Guard Unit from Mili
6 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st Raiding Force from Kalemyo
Repairs completed on SS RO-33 at Soerabaja, ship returned to service
Sining expands airfield to size 5
PB Okuyo Maru beginning refit in shipyard at Manila
PB Shinko Maru beginning refit in shipyard at Manila
Pilot Kawahara T. is reported as to have escaped capture&#8195;

--------
RADM Miwa has a bit more paperwork to complete when he reports to HQ Grand Escort Fleet at Fukuoka.

[jdsrae]

ORIGINAL: awaw

Another question Jim: Do you have a "airbridge" from Honshu southwards.
Aka, small Air Support within 1 aircraft transfer range, to move new air units around the map.
If yes, would you mind sharing their locations?
That is the next little step I am going to take/plan. Always good to have something to compare to!

I'm a card carrying member of the No AKV Club.
I sometimes use drop tanks for the aircraft with shorter legs.
I try to check weather at each base and avoid flying into heavy rain or thunderstorms as that seems to be a high chance at an ops loss.

Yokosuka - Iwo Jima - Marianas - Truk - Rabaul is my main ferry route.
I developed Ponape and Kusaie as the air bridge to the Marshalls but the far bank of that bridge has been blown now.

I've read about IJAAF units losing large numbers of rookie pilots on ferry flights in SEAF but the most I've lost is one plane/pilot per ferry hop. I just read this a few days ago about 615 Sqn, RAF. Imagine if this happened in the game:

It returned to operations on the Burma front in November but was recalled to India again, for defensive duties in August 1944. The transfer, from Palel to Biagachi, near Calcutta was scheduled for 10 August. Despite a favourable weather forecast, the squadron encountered a violent monsoon storm en route. Eight of the 16 aircraft, including that of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC, were lost.

[jdsrae]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 22, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118 – a small task force with 1x SC and 1x Gozan arrived to drop some supply. The 2x George units just moved back from Truk today so the Allies may not have expected defensive CAP.
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
N1K2-J George x 26
Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18
SBD-5 Dauntless: 13 destroyed - actually all 18
CAP engaged:
265 Ku S-1 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
265 Ku S-2 with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Apr 22, 44
Repairs completed on DD Minekaze at Manila, ship returned to service. 13x DD Minekaze now have Type 2 depth charges and surface search radars. With only 2500 endurance these DDs are going to join Combined Fleet in the Pacific for ASW duty. They also have 75/75 troop/supply capacity so will
G3M2 Nell from Yokosuka Ku K-1 attacking SS Bowfin at 119,57
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
B6N2 Jill from 932 Ku T-1 attacking an Allied SS at 109,96
an Allied SS is reported HIT
P1Y2 Frances from K-405 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 119,57
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
D4Y4 Judy from K-102 Hikotai attacking SS Bowfin at 119,57
SS Bowfin is reported HIT
G3M3 Nell from 901 Ku T-3 attacking a Thames class SS at 104,67
a Seadragon class SS is reported HIT
TF 281 sights PB4Y-1 Liberator at 125,118 near Kusaie Island
F-5A Lightning sighted over Katha
F-5A Lightning sighted over 15th Army
F-5A Lightning sighted over Akyab
PO1 Sakai H. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Sakai H. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 5 – no relation to Saburo, 4x pilots qualified for CV duty from this action. These pilots are all 70+ experience and competing with each other to join CV units.
PO1 Sakai H. of 265 Ku S-1 attains ace status!!
PO2 Kaneko T. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Kaneko T. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Hirusawa O. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Hori A. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 6
PO1 Ikura K. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 4
PO1 Ikura K. of 265 Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 5
PO1 Ikura K. of 265 Ku S-1 attains ace status!!
PO1 Ogawa M. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Kumagaya E. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Kumagaya E. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Minegishi L. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Ogawa M. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 3
PO1 Ogawa M. of 265 Ku S-2 is credited with kill number 4
G4M1 Betty from K-704 Hikotai has spotted an Allied SC at 115,138
a PC-461 173' SC class SC is reported HIT
G4M1 Betty from K-704 Hikotai has spotted a SC-453 110' SC class SC at 115,138
an Allied SC is reported HIT
G3M3 Nell from 901 Ku T-3 attacking an Allied SS at 104,67
a Grampus class SS is reported HIT
E13A1 Jake from Ashigara-2 attacking an Allied SS at 84,66
a Gato class SS is reported HIT
Mosquito PR.XVI sighted over Mandalay
PV-1 Ventura sighted over Amchitka Island
F-5A Lightning sighted over Milne Bay
F-10 Mitchell sighted over Magwe
Spitfire PR.XI sighted over Jorhat
8 x H6K4-L Mavis transporting 42nd Naval Guard Unit from Mili
7 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 1st Raiding Force from Kalemyo
Vientiane expands fortifications to size 2
Cold Bay expands airfield to size 2
Chittagong expands airfield to size 9
Ace pilot Kizuka N. of 11th Sentai is promoted to 2LT
Ace pilot Oba K. of 77th Sentai Det B is promoted to 1LT
Ace pilot Ginowa A. of 48th I.F.Chutai is promoted to 2LT
PB Shirogane Maru beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore
PB Kinsyo Maru #4 beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore
SS I-8 available for service in damaged state at Truk – moderately damaged subs need to risk moving back to Yokosuka before Allied air strikes finish them in port.
SS I-44 available for service in damaged state at Truk
SS I-159 available for service in damaged state at Truk
MGB G-235 arrives at Shimonoseki&#8195;

[awaw]

Yokosuka - Iwo Jima - Marianas - Truk - Rabaul is my main ferry route.
I developed Ponape and Kusaie as the air bridge to the Marshalls but the far bank of that bridge has been blown now.

Thanks for the information. Interesting, my initial plan involves going down (after hitchhiking some of the static base forces along the SE China coast) Indochina/Luzon. I just cannot decide on the exact bases. Yours certainly look very different.

This rookie unit did well with 18 kills between them today and no casualties.

Good Job! Certainly a significant victory in the air at this stage of the war.
In my test runs on pilot training, I find the "golden period" of training to be when their XP<50. During this period, skill (Air/Def) increases are much faster than when their XP is >50. Perhaps to optimize similar training opportunities in the future, in the absence of fully ready pilots, you could consider using those doing CAP in 2nd tier bases (with XP>50, but already have 70 Air).

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

It returned to operations on the Burma front in November but was recalled to India again, for defensive duties in August 1944. The transfer, from Palel to Biagachi, near Calcutta was scheduled for 10 August. Despite a favourable weather forecast, the squadron encountered a violent monsoon storm en route. Eight of the 16 aircraft, including that of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC, were lost.

This type of thing happened for both sides....in-game it makes sense to just stage aircraft all the time and I agree AKVs are not that useful as a result, but that's why the AKVs existed IRL, and why the IJN CVE's were used almost exclusively for transporting aircraft IRL

One area that the game doesn't match RL, but that's probably OK

[RangerJoe]

Ssshhhhh . . . iiiittttt happens.

Marine Fighting Squadron 422 (VMF-422) was a Vought F4U Corsair squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Buccaneers", fought in World War II but is perhaps best known for its role in the worst accident in naval aviation history when 22 of the squadron's 23 aircraft were lost flying through a typhoon on January 25, 1944. After being reconstituted, the squadron participated in the Battle of Okinawa. VMF-422 was decommissioned on April 7, 1947. Since that date, no other Marine Corps squadron has carried the lineage and honors of VMF-422.[2]
.
.
.
On April 26, 1945, VMF-422 departed the Central Pacific bound for Okinawa. The ground crew arrived at Ie Shima on May 7 with the aircraft in trace by an additional couple of weeks.[22] During its first combat flights over Okinawa on May 25, the squadron was credited with shooting down five Japanese aircraft.[22][2] On June 29, Capt DeBlanc led a large formation of Corsairs from multiple squadrons against targets on Ishigaki Island. En route to the target four of the formation's Corsairs exploded in the sky because bomb safety wires had worked loose, thus arming the bombs in flight.[22] The squadron lost ten aircraft during the Battle of Okinawa.[22] During the entirety of the Okinawa Campaign the squadron was credited with 15 Japanese planes shot down.[24]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMF-422

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

It returned to operations on the Burma front in November but was recalled to India again, for defensive duties in August 1944. The transfer, from Palel to Biagachi, near Calcutta was scheduled for 10 August. Despite a favourable weather forecast, the squadron encountered a violent monsoon storm en route. Eight of the 16 aircraft, including that of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC, were lost.

This type of thing happened for both sides....in-game it makes sense to just stage aircraft all the time and I agree AKVs are not that useful as a result, but that's why the AKVs existed IRL, and why the IJN CVE's were used almost exclusively for transporting aircraft IRL

One area that the game doesn't match RL, but that's probably OK

I set some limits on staging my aircraft:
They must be of a type that I have adequate replacements for so that Ops losses while staging can be replaced.

The weather at the landing end of the leg must be fairly good - no worse than light rain or overcast.


Weather at the departure AF must not be "severe storms" or "thunderstorms".

And the distance to be flown on each leg must be no more than 75% of the transfer range of the aircraft unless the transfer is an emergency (like putting TBs in range of enemy BBs or CVs).

I also consider the aircraft and pilot fatigue if the transfer involves multiple legs. Weather usually makes sure they get enough time on the ground to recover and repair.

I do make use of AKVs and xAKs to transfer aircraft long distances if the enemy is unlikely to intercept the ships. But I do not convert any xAKs to AKVs on the Allied side.

[jdsrae]

An emissary has arrived on behalf of the Chairman of the Combined Allied Chiefs of Staff.
Due to changed circumstances, nothing sinister, the Allies won't be able to return regular turns for the foreseeable future.
Despite the Allies now having the initiative, the current Allied CIC would be more comfortable conceding the game.

CrackSabbath and I have done what must have been close to a turn a day on average.
He's been a great opponent for me in my first PBEM, spinning regular turns, rolling with the punches and keeping me guessing (often incorrectly).
I've really enjoyed it and appreciate the time and effort he's put in to making the game a big challenge.
Some weeks we've managed to get about 10 turns done by doing a morning and evening turn each on weekends, with the timezone difference helping with that. This is despite neither of us thinking we'd be able to do a turn a day when this game first started.
I've gotten into the habit of doing "tactical" orders to keep the turn rate up during the week, with weekend turns used to check a few things in more detail, but not worrying about checking everything every turn.

I could end the game here, and avoid the increasing pain of 1944+ as Japan, or if a substitute Allied CIC can be found they could take over from CrackSabbath with the Allies in a fairly strong position going into mid-1944.
It would be great to find someone who wants to take over as the Allied Chief, as I want to see how I can go at causing delay and conducting defensive operations. The turns should also get quicker for me as the perimeter shrinks, and I'd be happy to provide an opportunity for someone to roll the Soviet Tank Armies forward in 1945.
If anyone is interested in conducting some due diligence on the current Allied situation you could ping me a message, or send a message to CrackSabbath directly.

This image provides the current strategic overview.
The Allies have recently liberated Chittagong so are close to holding all bases in India.
They also hold all bases in Australia apart from a few dots along the NW Australian coast.
There is increasing Allied activity in all of SOPAC, CENPAC and NORPAC.
The "arsenal of democracy" should be kicking in by now and the Allies are broadly on schedule as per the historical advance through CENPAC, threatening the Marianas already.

Just a reminder that this has been a game with no house rules, which has resulted in huge Armies facing each other in India.
I'd be happy to discuss details for anyone that wants to take the Allied side on, eg: I still use Glens on submarines.
I am not going to demand any house rules on the Allies like 4E bombing heights or limits on night bombing.

If the game does go into an indefinite pause I will need to think seriously about what I want for my next game.
I am keen to play as Allies one day, but am also thinking about another IJ game with "PP to move outside of theatre" and player defined upgrades OFF. That would be a completely different game to this one.

[rustysi]

Gozan

Is that Gozan the destroyer?[:D]

[rustysi]

This type of thing happened for both sides....in-game it makes sense to just stage aircraft all the time and I agree AKVs are not that useful as a result, but that's why the AKVs existed IRL, and why the IJN CVE's were used almost exclusively for transporting aircraft IRL

One area that the game doesn't match RL, but that's probably OK

Such things could be difficult to manage in the game.

IRL air forces lost more pilots to op losses than combat. IIRC I read somewhere they called it 'wasteage'. Kinda cold.

[rustysi]

Despite the Allies now having the initiative, the current Allied CIC would be more comfortable conceding the game.

Sad, it was a good read, and game. Thanks.

Should it continue I'll follow.

[awaw]

Sorry to see this game ending. Been quite a spectate, even though I hardly post, I do read (when time permits on my side).

Good game!