Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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Well, I've finished the combat replay now. Here are a few other bits of information and comments: 1. CV Hiryu took at least four 2,000 pounders and at something like seven 500 pounders. She suffered an "ammo storage" explosion and many "critical hits." I think she's toast. CVE Unyo took three 500 pounders with "critical hit" reports, so she's out for awhile. I think the solo hit on Soryu was a 500 pounder of not much consequence. 2. The Jap CVs were on the way back down the east coast of Japan, probably to Tokyo or Osaka. I need to get some PBY Liberators back to Iwo to pound those ports (well, that won't happen because John has plenty of good fighters). 3. In the surface combat action at Wakkani, the Allied TF featured a few CAs and CLs with DDs; the Japs had three BBs (Nagato, Hyuga, Mutsu) and some DDs. The Allies finished off the DDs (at least five of them) and did some paint-scraping damage to the BBs. CA Astoria went down and several DDs suffered minor/moderate damage, but the rest of the fleet is in good shape. John has lost alot of DDs the past two days - the KB's surface combat problems, this action, and John lost six or seven yesterday in surface combat up at Shikoku. 4. My carriers arrived at Shikoku, which now has 13,000 supplies with alot more to unload. I can't replenish air squadrons yet, but I should be able to tomorrow. 5. I'll leave the big bomber squadrons at Sapporo and Toyohara one more day in hopes of getting in another blow, then I'll evacuate whatever can still fly (it won't be much). 6. A big aviation regiment is about to unload at Shikoku. I hope to send part of that to Toyahara and air transport some to Sapporo (mainly to try to get some of those planes that will be out of commission operational again so that they can be flown out; then I'll see if I can use the base offensively again). 7. The Allies took Onnekota Jima (just south of Paramushiro Jima), but it is a level zero airbase at the moment (it can be built up to a 4). But that gives John another thing to do. The Allies also took Kiska, which is a zero airbase too. An aviation regiment, seabees, and an EAB unit are landing at Atka, which is currently a level one airfield. Even though it's winter, my engineers should get it to level two in a month or less. This base can handle the maximum number of planes. 8. The Japs already have three divisions and a mixed brigade unloaded at Hakodate, joining 7th Division there. So the Jap counter-offensive will soon begin. 9. 3rd Marines are marching east from Sapporo to take Ashigara and then to take a stab at taking Wakkanai. A much smaller unit is marching a hex south toward Hakodate to try to open the line of retreat for the units there. That's a critical mission. If my Hakodate units can pull out in good order, the combined Allied army at Sapporo will be something like 900 AV, which will require some time and attention from the Japs. That time buys me time to straighten things out elsewhere - get my carriers replenished and then probably work on getting some of the damaged ships (like CV Hancock) back to safety. 10. Down in the Anadaman Sea between Sabang and Port Blair, the Royal Navy CVs applied the coup-de-gras to CL Kiso and another Jap DD. This was a very successful cruise for the British carriers. Sinking Musashi was a major victory. 11. I think John's demoralization is temporary. The sinking of Hiryu is not a game-changing event, so I expect he'll recover morale quickly. Besides, I think his concerns were based upon his overall worry about the Allies have bases up on Sakhalin Island. 12. NYGiants, you're probably right. This week has been intense for me. The game has rendered me sleepless and has taken way too much attention at work. I am exhausted. I suppose John is too. I told him late last week that it would be an act of mercy if he beat me so badly that I had no choice but to concede.
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