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May 28, 1944

 
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May 28, 1944 - 1/7/2009 5:58:38 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		The screenshot says everything with its notes.

I will add the formulation of a new possible plan. As noted if Dan drops off his CV support after he passes Wake then I will use my faster CV TF to hit those AK/AP with a massed punch. If the CV/CVE stay attached as Cover (which I expect) then I will fallback and wait for another chance.

Seeing these carrier forces arrive means that I could actually move north and try to catch something in the Aleutians...






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Post #: 1321
RE: May 28, 1944 - 1/7/2009 8:19:43 PM   
FOW

 

Posts: 499
Joined: 11/6/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		So that ASW TF between Midway and Wake was just the advance force for something much bigger - that was a close call - you could have been caught between two US Fleets.

(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 1322
RE: May 28, 1944 - 1/7/2009 9:17:58 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		I would have had the ability to escape but that would have been AFTER we had it out that day.  Any cripples and even damaged ships would have certainly been crushed by the two forces together. 

Just sent back the May 31st turn.

I plan to do a large update and industrial report after the next turn.


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Post #: 1323
Western DEI June 1st - 1/8/2009 1:09:30 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		1st Situation Map:






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Post #: 1324
Eastern DEI June 1st - 1/8/2009 1:12:34 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		2nd Situation Map:






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Post #: 1325
Inner Perimeter - 1/8/2009 1:16:07 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		3rd Situation Map





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Post #: 1326
The Arena... - 1/8/2009 1:22:11 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
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From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		4th Situational Map:






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Post #: 1327
June 1944 Production and VP Report - 1/8/2009 2:27:06 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		June 1, 1944
Victory Points and Economic Summary

Victory Points:
 
Score
Japan    53,709  (Up 737 Points)
Allies   50,252  (Up 3,092 Points)
 
Strategic Losses  4,652 (Up 1,504)

For the third month in a row I GAIN victory points.  It seems a small victory to me.  Fully 50% of Dan’s point gain comes in the area of strategic losses.
 
Main features of the month were the continued attritional slugfest in Malaya—Sumatra—Indochina.  I think I pulled nearly 20 bang-up units from this area for another 100,000 troops saved.  This total is now nearly 200,000 troops in two months.   The capture of Ponape, Attu, Singora, and Alor Star were the main areas of ground action.
 
Ships Sunk
Japan   850—8,720 VP (up 126)—I lost only 17 ships during May.  Considering the heavy fighting in Malaya and my withdrawal from Saigon/Singapore, I continue to expect this to be far worse..  These were my losses:  4 AP, 4 AK, 2 TK, 1 DD, 1 APD, 3 MSW, 1 PG and 1 SS. 
 
Major Japanese Vessels Sunk to Date---CV Junyo, Hiyo, Hiryu, and Katsuragi, BB Fuso, Yamashiro, Mutsu, Nagato, Musashi, and Yamato, BC Kirishima, Haruna, and Kongo, 6 CA , 14 CL, 106 DD, and 45 SS.
 
Allies    1,246---14,087 VP (up 45)---Dan also lost ONLY 9 ships for the month of May.  Exact Losses are:  4 AK, 3 LCI, 1 PT, and SS Gar.  Not much of a haul…

Major Allied Vessels Sunk---CVs Enterprise, Lexington, Hornet, Wasp and Intrepid, CVL Langley, 5 CVE, BBs Colorado, West Virginia, Idaho, Tennessee, Arizona, Prince of Wales, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Mississippi, BC Renown, 15 CA, 9 CL, 98 DD, and 58 SS.  

ASW Attacks for May:
ASW Task Force:  14
ASW Land-Based Air:  8  

These are attacks that scored damage on an Allied SS.
 
Manchukuo Garrison---8,622---Up 384---(8,000 Needed)
Political Points---2,577
 
Units Transferred: 
32nd Infantry Division picked up at Shanghai and taken to Amboina (Southern Area Army)
 
Industrial Report
Supply              1,555,859--Down 73,810
Fuel                  1,353,117—UP 138,410
Manpower       748 (1,339,523)—Down 6,400
Heavy Industry 14,452 (283,347)—HI Down 85 and surplus DOWN 45,044
Resources        15,065 (1,848,117)—Lost 570 Resources from Strategic Bombing…
Oil                    2,324 (325,143)—Gained 5 Oil Centers and surplus down 255,000

Mixed bag considering the Strategic Bombing.  Fuel looks lots better then where it was just short while ago.  Oil is way down because I have been using TRACKER to find it and load it for the Home Islands.  Dan is creaming my Resources but my surplus is this area only fell 4,000 over the previous month.   

I am losing about 2,000 HI a day right now off my surplus.  Naval Shipyards, Merchant Shipyards, and Repair Yards were partially closed starting June 1st.  I seek to find a balance in my HI and needs…
 
Shipyards
Naval               1,306 (9,490)—HUGE increase in stockpiled points.
Merchant          981 (2,195)—Good increase in stockpile.
Repair              1,520

ALL merchant shipping except anything with less then 100 days to go has been stopped.  I have left ASW Forces on to be completed and they are coming out at pretty good speed.  

Carriers           
Kasagi (112 Days--Accel)
Aso (185 Days--Accel)
Ikoma (224 Days)  
Ibuki (143 Days--Accel)
 
CL Sakawa            (123 Days—Accel)

Weapons
Armament        752 (4,457)-Nice increase of 45 to the industry and stockpile is growing.
Vehicles           179 (15,952)

I have redeemed my armaments industry and it is humming along now.  Am increasing Armament Industry in Manchuria.  Vehicles are in great shape and I will shut down some of my vehicle plants to conserve HI.
 
Aircraft
Engines             2,228
Assembly        1,747+(430-Rd)

My engines dropped a few points due to bombing.   Assembly fell nearly 80 as I shifted production in a number of areas.  Mainly this came from shifting Tony to Tojo and shifting other minor lines to Army Fighters.  COME ON FRANKS!
 
Engine Production
Mitsubishi         634(66)—Need 692—944 in Pool
Nakajima         1,277(54)—Need 1,184---1,298 in Pool
Kawasaki         237(23)---Need 258---147 in Pool
Aichi                80---Need 98---150 in Pool
 
Need more Mitsubishi but they are slowly building.  Like watching the Nakajima climb.  Will need all of them from Franks.
 
Plane Production
Fighters            Planes/Month (in Pool)
A6M2              0 (138)
A6M3              0 (0)
A6M3a            0 (183)
Oscar               0 (0)
Oscar IIa          0 (53)
Tojo                 165 (25)
Tony                0 (14)
Jack                 185 (158)
A6M5c            31 (173)
A6M5              256 (415)
Oscar III          53 (18)
Ki-61 Tony      258 (19)
N1K1 George  72 (120)
Frank 1a          263-Rd (08/44)
Frank 1c          0-Rd (12/44)
A6M8              19-Rd (06/45)
 
Naval fighters are in pretty good shape because I am producing three main models that dropped some as I shifted to more Army Fighters:  Jacks (down 20), A6M5 (down 49), and George (down15).  I will convert some Zero to George to help with the altitude issue concerning the B-29.  

The Army side continues to be the major problem.  I am bringing Tojo back online (up 56), expanding Oscar III (up 8) and keeping Ki-61 Tony steady while the research into Frank continues to expand at an excellent clip (up 53).  WISH I could have advanced the Frank a month!  August is a long way aways…
 
 
Bombers
Betty                0 (172)
Betty 2             40 (223)
Frances            101 (153)
Sally                 0 (17)
Helen               90 (254)
Lily                  40 (49)
Nick-a             0 (18)
Nick-b             0 (0)
Val                   0 (385)
Kate                 0 (161)
Judy                 98 (158)
Jill                    125 (180)
Grace               2 (0)                Just started production!  
Randy              0-Rd (07/44)
Peggy               113-Rd (7/44)        Advanced another month!  Now 3 months early.
Betty 2e           35-Rd (10/44)

My Bombers look excellent and I should be able to shut off some models for a while to save HI.   Grace will be an excellent addition since I still have a CV Force.  Peggy moving forward for a THIRD month is huge.  Think of all those Army Torps…  

I will shutdown Lily for Randy to come in.

Recon/Float
Emily                23 (0)
Alf                    16 (24)
Pete                             0  (97)
Pete A              0  (7)
Rufe                 11 (91)
Glen                 0 (31)
Dinah               0 (0)
Irving-R             24 (72)
Irving-S             23 (32)
Jake                 12 (4)
Babs                0 (0)
Dinah-3             52 (25)
C6N Myrt             24 (80)

I restarted Alf and Jake production.  Emily expanding slowly to help with numerous losses.  Myrts are coming in and that helps too…
 
Transports
Tina                  11 (4)
Sally                 0 (0)
Topsy               28 (21)
Mavis-L             0 (0)
Tabby             0 (19)

Transports did not get heavy losses this month so I have been refilling the units as quickly as I can.  
 
 

< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/8/2009 2:32:17 AM >

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Post #: 1328
RE: June 1944 Production and VP Report - 1/8/2009 3:23:53 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		I just posted an aircraft upgrade question onto the War Room regarding new aircraft starting or getting ready to start production.



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Post #: 1329
Target: WAKE - 1/8/2009 5:47:57 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		It certainly SEEMS like an invasion is about to occur! I make moves to exploit things if possible:






This is my 2,500th Post! Wow...


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Post #: 1330
Target: WAKE - 1/8/2009 5:55:58 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		Here are the atoll specifics:






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Post #: 1331
RE: Target: WAKE - 1/8/2009 8:45:49 AM   
Nemo121


Posts: 5821
Joined: 2/6/2004
Status: offline 		A couple of points:

1. Why are you splitting your CVs? It seems to me that you are temporising again in the hope of winning a small victory here ( covering both options of retreat ) but are, as a result, running a much larger risk of being defeated piecemeal.

2. Why the sole focus on retreating transports? Might it not be possible ( if you combine your CVEs, CVLs and CVs ) to tempt canoerebel into LRCAPing Wake ( I think flying more troops in by flying boat would do the trick ), reducing his CAP over his CVs and then racing in in order to provide either a CAP trap or actually get some good strikes in on his CVs.

3. Tied to the above.... If 800 AV is good wouldn't 1,000 AV be better? :-). Emily transport might be used to good effect here, no?

4. Sure you would take losses to bombardments ( but you would lose mostly airframes which are eminently replaceable ) but would it make much sense to place 200 army fighters on CAP of Wake in order to whittle down the enemy carrier-based LRCAP and strikegroups? At the very least it represents another opportunity to kill more of his pilots on terms which maximise the chance of your pilots surviving.

After Day 1 ( in which most of the 200 committed would be destroyed ) you could fly out the main units from Day 1 ( leaving only fragments behind ), fly in new units until you reach 200 planes on Wake, disband the fragments into the new units ( which would allow you to reconstitute the main bodies from Day 1 as pure training squadrons ) and have another day in which the enemy CV groups face 200 IJA fighter on the most favourable terms to Japan possible.

Remember, this invasion fails in 3 ways:
1. You have too many ground troops for him to take Wake.
2. He has too few fighters to defend his CVs from your CVs or
3. He has too few strike groups left to meaningfully attrit the defenders at Wake/threaten your CVs if they approach.

1 and 2 are the really prime reasons why it might fail and I think flooding Wake with IJA fighters to engage in favourable attrition of an isolated arm of the enemy aerial services is, at this time, quite a viable policy. Sure you'd lose some group to training for a few months as a result but they might actually achieve something worthwhile.

(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 1332
RE: Inner Perimeter - 1/8/2009 1:46:54 PM   
FOW

 

Posts: 499
Joined: 11/6/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Re 3rd situation map.

NO Garrison on Ulithi

That is giving the Allies an easier opportunity to get land based fighters in place to support any attacks on the other occupied bases, relieving pressure on CV CAP.

(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 1333
June 2nd - 1/8/2009 4:39:31 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		OK. Lets see if this provokes anything...






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Post #: 1334
June 3rd - 1/8/2009 9:43:06 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		My, my, my, I have a big choice to make while making and having lunch. I explain in the screenshot. Any armchair Admirals out there right now?

The BOLD and highly dangerous move is to strike SE at Flank Speed.

or

The SAFER move would be to fly in LR CAP to Wake and attack there.

Fuel state is serious but not yet critical...






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Post #: 1335
50,000 Hits! - 1/8/2009 9:44:19 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		Not to the American CVs!  We've climbed over the 50,000 view mark for the AAR.  Thank you guys.  I appreciate all the commentary, support, and interest.



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Post #: 1336
RE: 50,000 Hits! - 1/8/2009 10:00:28 PM   
Q-Ball


Posts: 7336
Joined: 6/25/2002
From: Chicago, Illinois
Status: offline 		Dan might be closing the gap in VPs, but you are 11K ahead in hits, and counting.

This is a great AAR John!



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Post #: 1337
RE: 50,000 Hits! - 1/8/2009 10:25:52 PM   
ny59giants


Posts: 9869
Joined: 1/10/2005
Status: offline 		Option A

If you wait till they all form up at Wake, you might not be able to deal with all those TF. You know how the AI can sometimes send planes off to attack transports or your surface ships and leave the carriers alone. You are in the hit and run mode. Better to inflict damage now and live to fight another day.

(in reply to Q-Ball)
Post #: 1338
RE: 50,000 Hits! - 1/8/2009 10:43:24 PM   
Nemo121


Posts: 5821
Joined: 2/6/2004
Status: offline 		Strike the transports, kill a load and then run. Better to maintain a fleet in being and drown a few thousand soldiers now and then than to go out in a blaze of glory and die once.

I would though definitely try to fly more troops into Wake by flying boat. You might as well try to make sure it stays a Japanese holding.

(in reply to ny59giants)
Post #: 1339
June 4, 1944 - 1/8/2009 10:43:44 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		Without seeing Michael's comments I find myself in total accord. The order is for Option A.

Dan CANNOT move farther away from Wake with his CVs. To entice him the OTHER way I move two Chutai of Zeros and two smaller Daitai of Jills to Wake. The little 'AF Occupied' flag will appear and he SHOULD swing at the base or up his CAP. Those planes will be sacrificed to make him look to the west.

If it works...

If he stays where he is then I am 7 hexes away and he will have to react 2 hexes to come within strike range. My React is set to ZERO and no refueling is the order.

I cannot describe how nervous I am. Staying in the war rides on this action...









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Post #: 1340
RE: June 4, 1944 - 1/8/2009 10:50:54 PM   
Nemo121


Posts: 5821
Joined: 2/6/2004
Status: offline 		Do you mind me asking why you sent your CVs so "deep"? By making them sprint so much you minimise the ops points available for launching strikes etc.

Would moing just 6 to 8 hexes not have been sufficient to "get in amongst the chickens" as it were?

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Post #: 1341
RE: June 4, 1944 - 1/8/2009 11:20:22 PM   
castor troy


Posts: 14330
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From: Austria
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Do you mind me asking why you sent your CVs so "deep"? By making them sprint so much you minimise the ops points available for launching strikes etc.

Would moing just 6 to 8 hexes not have been sufficient to "get in amongst the chickens" as it were?



exactly what I´m thinking too! Going 6 hexes and then running North the turn after would be my choice. If you really end up where you want to, then the Allied CVs can chase you and they are faster and can hold more fuel then yours. You of course will have a 50/50 chance when you run then, either he goes the wrong direction or he gets you (if he even will try to which could be doubted as he has to defend his remaining transports).

Still, I wouldn´t go that deep.

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June 5, 1944 BANZAI! - 1/9/2009 12:27:17 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		Wow! It actually worked---now--RUN AWAY!

Would love to give full descriptions but I am almost late for treatment tonight. This should be enough of a teaser to get everyone clucking:





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Post #: 1343
RE: June 5, 1944 BANZAI! - 1/9/2009 12:30:58 AM   
2ndACR


Posts: 5665
Joined: 8/31/2003
From: Irving,Tx
Status: offline 		GREAT!!!!!!! Been waiting for this. Hurry back and post the report.......must be nice.

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Post #: 1344
Operation Artic Wind - 1/9/2009 6:55:50 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		Combat Report
June 4, 1944
Kaigun

After Vice-Admiral Nagumo's order to set course 135* at Flank Speed, a number of Destroyer Captains signal that they need fuel NOW if they are to maintain pace with the heavy ships of the Fleet.  Reluctantly Nagumo gives his approval for a very FAST refueling of the DDs.  This decision cuts the Japanese move off by about 120 miles placing them NW of his original plotted course.  That this happened coudn't be avoided and only the dawn will provide answers.

Morning Weather
Sunrise is spectacular.  To the east is clear skies but towards Wake is heavy clouds and a storm front.  This storm front will be important for the strikes of the day.

0200 
At Wotje 3 full Chutai of Emily (27 planes) take to the skies flying search vectors ranging from 320--045*

0400 
Surrounded by nearly 100 warships, Wake launches 12 Jakes and Alfs ranging from 0-135* for 300 miles.

0500 
The Fleet heavy cruisers launch their 16 Floatplanes flying from 0-135* for 300 miles.

By 0530 hours the Japanese have 55 search planes in the air looking for the American TF spotted on the previous days.  Adm Nagumo, at the behest of Adm Yamaguchi, has full decks of armed planes WAITING for the contact messages to start.

0600 
Wake Radio reports being under heavy bombardment by a French Battleship, 3 CA, 1 CLAA, and 13 DD.  This force had been with the American Carriers previously and Nagumo sees it as potential good news that the Americans have seen the 50 planes that flew into Wake from Marcus the previous evening.

0615-0645 
Numerous contacts are made with two east-bound American convoys.  Within minutes of these reports, Nagumo turns his Fleet into the wind and the carriers launch their first attacks.  Many of these men are still veterans of Pearl Harbor and none can remember the sight of 13 CVs launching at the same time.  It is quite a sight.  Commander Fuchida, as he has done hundreds of times before, forms his Daitai up and moves out to the east.

0730-0745 
The full remaining attack strength of the Kaigun is brought up on the carrier's decks and launched as a second wave.

0800-0820 
Fuchida looks down upon the American TF and sighs.  The Large TF he sees is riding high in the water.  It is empty.  Targets are targets and so he orders an immediate attack by TF Order.  The American TF numbers at least 30 ships ranging in size from large AP to small LCI. 

The massive Japanese Attack Force numbers 135 Zeros, 140 Judy, and 126 Jill.  Put simply...they massacre the American shipping.  Fuchida tries to count the hits and sinking and has great diffictuly in doing so.  Only later will the tallies come out to 4 DE, 5 AP, 10 LCI, 8 LST, and a MSW hit.  American AA does not show much skill from these support ships.  One Judy and 2 Jills fall to AA.

As the Attack Force makes course to rendezvous with Nagumo's Fleet, Fuchida has his pilot fly 60 miles NE to a second spotted convoy.  Sadly it too is made up of empty ships.  Using his radio he guides the 2nd Wave to its targets.

0850-0945
Flying to the targets in three smaller groups, these planes fall upon a pair of eastbound convoys.  A total of 13 Zero, 58 Judy, and 69 Jills smash another 2 DE, 2 LST, 1 LCI, and 12 AK.  AA is about the same as two more Jills are shot down.

0930-1130
Recovery of both strikes waves with immediate re-arming occurs at a feverish pace. 

At 1130 the question arises as to where the next strike will fly.

Afternoon Weather
The skies clear to the west.  Reports rapidly come in that the American CV have held their position and are too far away to interfere. 

More importantly another large convoy is spotted 180 miles to the west...

1200-1245
In one MASSIVE wave the Japanese put every flyable plane into the air.

1400-1435
Commander Fuchida smiles this time from his specially rigged Jill.  Four lines of 5 heavily loaded AK steam beneath him and his Aerial Armada.  HERE is what he has wanted to see since the weeks leading up to the invasion of Iwo Jima 9 months ago.  Terribly vulnerable, fully loaded American merchantmen.  Very carefully coordinating his Air Groups (137 Zero, 183 Judy, and 146 Jills), Fuchida watches the American TF be wiped out.  He knows that thousands of soldiers are dying as his planes mercilessly hit the shipping and then fly low to strafe the survivors in the water.  It is a slaughter.

1600-1700
All Japanese planes land and quick tallies reveal only a single Jill missing from the afternoon strike.  At least 18 of 20 merchantmen were hit and left in sinking condition.

1730
Knowing that the Americans will most likely come after him with everything they have, Nagumo orders his Fleet to turn NW and boost speed to Flank.  IF they can move a full 600 miles before dawn then the Japanese have a very good chance of having achieved a solid victory against the Americans.  While the Fleet is boisterous at the course of events this day, Nagumo is wise enough to know that he needs to repeat this same day 8-10 more times before Japan has a serious chance of turning the tide; however, he doesn't dampen the enthusiasm of his staff, crew, or cocky pilots.

He thinks to himself "let them have this night to celebrate.  Who knows what fate might bring with tomorrow's dawn..."    


< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/9/2009 7:30:45 AM >

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(in reply to 2ndACR)
Post #: 1345
Operation Artic Wind--Summary - 1/9/2009 7:05:23 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		How about that??!!

Nemo and Castor were right about concerns in moving too far into enemy country.  For some reason the stupid game decided to refuel my DDs even though I had expressly clicked 'do not refuel' on every TF.  Instead of moving 10 hexes SE the Fleet moves 8 and is perfectly positioned to strike.

Confirmed Sinkings:  13 AK, 2 DE, 1 LCT, 10 LCI, 1 AP, and 3 LST.  Fully an equal number of ships were damaged and SHOULD sink tomorrow.

The fully loaded TF hit in the Afternoon carried the 511th Parachute Regiment and 188th Glider Regiment.  They were decimated.  There were 20 AK in the Fleet and my flyers hit all but ONE of them!  Safe to say that there is one American Division (is that the 11th Airborne??) that will not fight until mid-1945.

The day could not have gone any better from my perspective. 

I order into the mess nearly 10 Japanese SS and expect sinkings from them.

As long as no one decides to refuel without orders again, Nagumo should be far enough away that the American Fleet cannot hit him.  Midway might but not the American CV.  I doubt if Dan will make a bold move anyway since he is tied to Wake and its Invasion Forces.  With the CAP ordered to 60% that should mean nearly 200 Zero in the air.



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Post #: 1346
Gumma--Round Three - 1/9/2009 7:21:07 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		June 2, 1944
Gumma, Japan

(this event is two days BEFORE Nagumo's surprise attack)

Many of the pilots sitting around Gumma's AF have not participated in the two big battles over the aircraft factories in the preceding weeks.  Lessons have been learned about fighting the new American tactics.  There is an even mix of Tony, Jacks, Tojo, and George's present as this day dawns.   This translates to 2 Daitai (Jack and George) and 2 Sentai (Tojo and Tony) present for the battle.

As is becoming the normal American Attack a 4EB Strike with Escort comes in first from Iwo Jima.  The attack consists of 24 P-38 and 131 B-17 and Liberators.  They are met by 96 Fighters at altitude.  The Fighters duke it out in aerial chaos and then the Japanese suddenly overwelm the P-38 and concentrate on the Liberators (as usual).  Of the 130+ 4EB only 73 actually drop their bombs on target.  Happily the Japanese see that the target is actually the AF themselves.  Only 200 men are killed or wounded and there are just 11 American bombs that hit the concrete AF.  The raid cannot be judged as successful from the American point-of-view.  Losses end up at 16 Japanese Fighters (8 pilots) in exchange for 14 P-38, 3 B-17, and 9 Liberators.  Not too bad of result...

The B-29 strike arrives about 90 minutes later and 92 of the monstrous machines line-up to attack the factories.  The Tony stay down for this phase of the attack and, thus, only 58 Fighter challenge the massive bombers.  4 Fighters fall (3 pilots) in exchange for 7 Superfortress shot down and 17 more damaged.  Most (85) successfully drop their bombs but at 33,000 Feet they fall mainly wide of the mark.  The Peggy Factory takes 14 hits and that is it.

Gumma:  Round Three Totals---20 Fighters (11 pilots killed) for 14 P-38, 3 B-17, 9 Liberators, and 7 B-29.  Light damage to AF and Factories.  In a split decision of 3-2 the Judges award this round to Japan.

What will Round Four bring????  I don't even want to know!



< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/9/2009 7:34:18 AM >

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(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 1347
RE: Gumma--Round Three - 1/9/2009 7:31:40 AM   
FeurerKrieg


Posts: 3397
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline 		Nice attack - always good to catch enemy troops at sea.

Will be interesting to see if Dan chases your CVs. If I were him I think I would. If he kills your CVs he can come back to Wake with another wave and not have anything to worry about.

Seems like a good time to put a bunch of DBs and TBs on Wake though. If he does give chase with his carriers, you could have a field day on his big ships there.

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(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 1348
Arctic Wind Options - 1/9/2009 7:38:44 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline 		I have thought of that.  If he moves away then I will attack with my CVEs and Truk bombers as well as from Wake itself.  His bombardment did pretty decent damage to Wake with 12 planes destroyed, 102 Cas, and the AF took 101 hits.  He still had nearly 60 Hellkitties over the atoll during the 4th.  We'll see what he decides to do...


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Post #: 1349
RE: Arctic Wind Options - 1/9/2009 8:18:03 AM   
castor troy


Posts: 14330
Joined: 8/23/2004
From: Austria
Status: offline 		And what does this whole story tells us? Never move your invasion troops without a heavy CV escort into the invasion area...

well done!

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Post #: 1350
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