obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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31 March - 5 April 1945 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Couldn't bear to split this up so forgive the massive update. STRATEGIC SITUATION: Well, in some ways this is playing out just as I predicted. Fuel is about to run out in April 45. I had forecasted this would happen, and already a few industry centers in the Home Islands wear the red X. This is bad timing as quite a few divisions and other late arriving units still need to be fleshed out. I've got most of them either in Ominato or Tokyo, but some are in situ where they arrived and thus take longer. The Allied foothold in range of the HI is expanding quickly as landing ships unload small forces all over the islands surrounding Okinawa. Soon there will be a bunch of islands with maxed airfields here. It's a bit sad I don't feel I can do more here. I'm not saving the fleet for anything specific, but I don't just want to send it to it's sure destruction without something to try for either. I'll keep waiting, making sure they're in position and ready. DEI: Well, Singers at least is swimming in supply and fuel! STRAT BOMBING: Hong Kong is finished off. No fuel here anyway, so it's nice that a few B-29 are shot down for the mission. NAVAL SEARCH: The game doesn't do well with this late. All kinds of planes from all over the HI seem magnetized to the Allied fleet, no matter what distance they're flying from, and if turned on I'll lose 20 planes a day. They're not on random vectors, obviously. This really affects what we're able to go for non the area. Firstly I can only occasionally see if the Allies have the whole fleet or a partial fleet of CVs. Second, due to the odd limitation of search that never lists more than 10 ships in a TF I can't tell whether something moving is 10 LSTs, 50 LSTs, 25 xAKs, or 50-70 APA/AKA with escorts. That is a problem, and it really seems strange that this would be limited. Not too hard to tell a massed invasion fleet from a few supply ships from 6-10k, but the game treats them the same. Even coast watcher sightings seem to be limited to under ten ships per sighting. CHINA: The troops near Paoshan continue to hold. They are fortified to level 2, so it will take a 3:1 to move them. All kinds of attention from the air continues to weaken the units, increase disruption and bring down morale. In the center the Allies go for Wuchow on the small roads. I let them pass and then move a tank regiment behind to cut supply. That lasted a day before 500+ bombers vaporized the unit in the wooded hex. Literally gone. That of course highlights why I have only a small infantry garrison at Wuchow; it is a clear hex. No hope of defending there, so I've moved some units to block the yellow road to Kukong. At least a division and a brigade will get in before the Allies arrive, so we'll own the hex. More is railing to Kukong. The Allies seem to be moving the large 58 unit stack up the yellow road. Again this will force me to make a large grouping of units on the river crossing near Liuchow this time. I don't think I could hold this one, but it will put some doubt in Jocke's mind. Is it 2k AV, or 3k AV? Have to cross to find out. All support units including most base forces and Air HQs are retreating to the HI. Many units are leaving HK and Canton to rail from Kukong. About 1500 AV and a ton of arty will be in Canton, while 2k AV will be in HK. If he commits the entire army to either perhaps I'll move some to add defense if it seems like there's a chance to hold. If these are by-passed it's all about guerrilla movements cutting LOC. HOME ISLANDS: Yuck. Can I please have the 15k supply on Kweijalen in Nagasaki now? I saw a TF heading NE near Okinawa and sent in a few DDs. I contemplated a bigger move and wish I would have sent them. What search saw as a small invasion force of 10 ships with LST and AK turns into several massive TFs including one with ~25 APA/AK escorted by 10 combat ships. We got a few hits and some collisions at least. I'll send the big guns tomorrow, but my feeling is this TF will be long gone and about 40 Fletchers will be there instead. We'll see. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR March 31, 45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Allied aircraft B-29-25 Superfort x 12 Allied aircraft losses B-29-25 Superfort: 2 damaged Heavy Industry hits 5 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 1, 45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Kume-jima (94,65) Allied Ships CL Ceylon CL Hobart DD Aylwin DD Dale DD Dewey DD Perkins LCI(G)-450 LCI(G)-449 LCI(G)-442 LCI(G)-441 LCI(G)-440 LCI(G)-438 LCI(G)-437 LCI(G)-408 LCI(G)-407 LCI(G)-406 LCI(G)-405 LCI(G)-404 LCI(G)-403 LCI(G)-401 LCI(G)-398 LSM(R)-199 LSM(R)-198 LSM(R)-197 LSM(R)-196 LSM(R)-195 LSM(R)-194 LSM(R)-193 LSM(R)-192 APA St. Mary's Japanese ground losses: 2307 casualties reported Squads: 40 destroyed, 90 disabled Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 88 disabled Engineers: 29 destroyed, 25 disabled Guns lost 55 (20 destroyed, 35 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) WOW!!! CL Ceylon firing at 10th Ind.Mixed Regiment CL Hobart firing at 10th Ind.Mixed Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 2, 45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 17th JAAF AF Bn , at 76,57 (Wuchow) Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft B-24J Liberator x 11 B-24J Liberator x 97 B-25G Mitchell x 15 B-25H Mitchell x 8 B-25J1 Mitchell x 51 B-25J11 Mitchell x 82 P-38J Lightning x 11 P-38L Lightning x 27 PBJ-1D Mitchell x 14 PBJ-1H Mitchell x 15 PBJ-1J Mitchell x 15 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 1607 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 50 disabled Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 137 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled About 3-4k troops lost here from one day of bombings. It would take a few days to render an entire division useless even with level 4 forts in the clear hex. Aircraft Attacking: 14 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 5, 45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Amami Oshima at 98,64, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Tachibana, Shell hits 1 DD Tsuta, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kaki, Shell hits 3, on fire Allied Ships CA Chester CA Chicago, Shell hits 2 DD Satterlee DD Baldwin DD Carmick DD Shubrick DD Sampson DD Sims DD Hammann DD Russell DD O'Brien DD Henley DMS Boggs DMS Long APA Wharton APA Harris APA Henry T. Allen APA J. Franklin Bell APA W.A. Holbrook APA Leonard Wood APA American Legion APA Fuller APA Harry Lee APA U.S. Grant APA Barnett APA President Adams APA President Polk APA Thomas Jefferson APA Charles Carroll APA Arthur Middleton APA Henrico APA Lamar AKA Hydrus AKA Caswell AKA Devosa AKA Circe AKA Andromeda AKA Cepheus AKA Procyon AKA Lycoming LCI(M)-803 LCI(M)-804 LCI(R)-72 LCI(R)-73 LCI(R)-74 LCI(R)-224 LCI(R)-225 LCI(R)-226 LCI(R)-230 LCI(R)-337 LCI(R)-338 LCI(R)-339 Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 27,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 27,000 yards Allied ships attempt to get underway Range closes to 24,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards Range closes to 21,000 yards... LCI(M)-803 collides with APA American Legion at 98 , 64 DD Henley collides with APA Leonard Wood at 98 , 64 CA Chester engages DD Kaki at 4,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Amami Oshima at 98,64, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Ikazuchi DD Isonami, Shell hits 2 DD Ayanami, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships CA Chester CA Chicago, Shell hits 5, on fire DD Satterlee DD Baldwin DD Carmick DD Shubrick DD Sampson DD Sims DD Hammann DD Russell DD O'Brien DD Henley, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DMS Boggs DMS Long APA Wharton APA Harris APA Henry T. Allen APA J. Franklin Bell APA W.A. Holbrook, Torpedo hits 1 APA Leonard Wood APA American Legion APA Fuller APA Harry Lee, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage APA U.S. Grant APA Barnett APA President Adams APA President Polk APA Thomas Jefferson APA Charles Carroll APA Arthur Middleton APA Henrico APA Lamar, Shell hits 1, on fire AKA Hydrus AKA Caswell AKA Devosa AKA Circe AKA Andromeda AKA Cepheus AKA Procyon AKA Lycoming LCI(M)-803 LCI(M)-804 LCI(R)-72 LCI(R)-73 LCI(R)-74 LCI(R)-224 LCI(R)-225 LCI(R)-226 LCI(R)-230 LCI(R)-337 LCI(R)-338 LCI(R)-339 Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 36 (16 destroyed, 20 disabled) CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 12,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Sampson at 12,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards DD Ayanami engages APA Harry Lee at 2,000 yards DD Sampson engages DD Isonami at 2,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Henley at 2,000 yards DD Sims collides with APA Leonard Wood at 98 , 64 DD Satterlee engages DD Ikazuchi at 15,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 8th Tank Regiment, at 73,57 , near Pakhoi Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft Thunderbolt I x 37 B-24J Liberator x 12 B-24J Liberator x 149 B-25D1 Mitchell x 9 B-25G Mitchell x 15 B-25H Mitchell x 33 B-25J1 Mitchell x 70 B-25J11 Mitchell x 39 P-38J Lightning x 24 P-38L Lightning x 39 PB4Y-1 Liberator x 17 PBJ-1D Mitchell x 16 PBJ-1H Mitchell x 3 PBJ-1J Mitchell x 14 PV-1 Ventura x 12 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: Vehicles lost 230 (82 destroyed, 148 disabled) A bunch more arrive and eventually, no more tanks. Aircraft Attacking: 13 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Amami Oshima (98,64) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 6995 troops, 102 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 253 Defending force 23105 troops, 434 guns, 803 vehicles, Assault Value = 958 Japanese ground losses: 37 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: Oshima Naval Guard Unit 70th Ind.Mixed Brigade Amami Oshima Fortress 34th Const Co 189th JAAF AF Bn Defending units: 754th Tank Battalion 3rd USMC Tank Battalion 6th Infantry Division 25th Infantry Division 5th USMC Tank Battalion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Wuchow (76,57) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 33508 troops, 524 guns, 1851 vehicles, Assault Value = 1743 Defending force 540 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Allied adjusted assault: 1337 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 1337 to 1 (fort level 2) Allied forces CAPTURE Wuchow !!! Combat modifiers Defender: Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 739 casualties reported Squads: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 3 Assaulting units: 11th PAVO Regiment 18th Cavalry Regiment Provisionl Tank Brigade Guides Cavalry Regiment 3rd Cavalry Regiment 50th Tank Brigade 255th Indian Tank Brigade 19th Motorised Division Gardner's Horse Regiment 254th Armoured Brigade 17th Motorised Division Defending units: 68th Ind.Infantry Battalion 60th Construction Battalion 32nd JAAF AF Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reinforcements: Yokosuka Ku T-1 arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo 1006 Ku U-1/B arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo 76th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 78th Shinbu-tai arrives at Utsonomiya 79th Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 80th Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 81st Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 82nd Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 83rd Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 84th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 85th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tokyo 86th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 87th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 88th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 89th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 90th Shinbu-tai arrives at Osaka/Kyoto 52nd Road Const Co arrives at Tokyo 30th Special Base Force arrives at Tokyo 74th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 187th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 205th Division arrives at Kochi 209th Division arrives at Kanazawa 206th Division arrives at Kumamoto 212th Division arrives at Kumamoto 216th Division arrives at Osaka/Kyoto 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment arrives at Tokyo 202nd Division arrives at Sendai 40th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 85th Field AA Battalion arrives at Tokyo 175th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 148th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 76th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 78th Shinbu-tai arrives at Utsonomiya 79th Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 80th Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 81st Shinbu-tai arrives at Iwaki 82nd Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 83rd Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 84th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 85th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tokyo 86th Shinbu-tai arrives at Oita 87th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 88th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 89th Shinbu-tai arrives at Chiba 90th Shinbu-tai arrives at Osaka/Kyoto 52nd Road Const Co arrives at Tokyo 30th Special Base Force arrives at Tokyo 74th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 65th Sentai arrives at Fusan 47th I.F.Chutai arrives at Fusan 26th Air Flotilla arrives at Tokyo Maizuru 1st SNLF arrives at Tokyo 51st Base Force arrives at Tokyo 27th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 180th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 102nd Shinbu-tai arrives at Harbin 103rd Shinbu-tai arrives at Harbin 104th Shinbu-tai arrives at Harbin 105th Shinbu-tai arrives at Maebashi 106th Shinbu-tai arrives at Kiamusze 107th Shinbu-tai arrives at Maebashi 108th Shinbu-tai arrives at Maebashi 109th Shinbu-tai arrives at Tsitsihar 45th Tank Regiment arrives at Takamatsu 47th Tank Regiment arrives at Kochi 46th Tank Regiment arrives at Fukuoka 48th Tank Regiment arrives at Chiba 44th Tank Regiment arrives at Sendai 57th Field AA Battalion arrives at Tokyo 88th Field AA Battalion arrives at Tokyo 77th Field AA Battalion arrives at Tokyo 41st Tank Regiment arrives at Chiba 31st Tank Battalion arrives at Asahikawa 16th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo 49th Tank Battalion arrives at Singapore 28th JNAF AF Unit arrives at Tokyo 22nd Tank Regiment arrives at Tokyo 52nd Construction Battalion arrives at Tokyo 62nd JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 91st JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo 248th JAAF AF Bn arrives at Tokyo Aircraft J7W1 Shinden advances R&D 7/45 Losses: Loss of ML G-322 on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of ML G-427 on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of ML G-429 on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of MTB G-463 on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of PB Toko Maru on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of PB Tomitu Maru on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Loss of PB Toko Maru #4 on Apr 02, 1945 is admitted Ships Sunk: AM Constant is reported to have been sunk near Manila on Jan 26, 1945 SS Seadragon is reported to have been sunk near Fukuoka on Feb 04, 1945 SS Thorough is reported to have been sunk near Tioman Island on Jan 05, 1945 SS Besugo is reported to have been sunk near Hong Kong on Nov 10, 1944 AKA Electra is reported to have been sunk near Cotabato on Aug 19, 1944 PT-355 is reported to have been sunk near Bataan on Jan 13, 1945 DD Henley is reported to have been sunk near Amami Oshima on Apr 05, 1945 Loss of DD Kiri on Mar 22, 1945 is admitted Loss of DD Tsuta on Apr 05, 1945 is admitted Loss of E No.60 on Apr 05, 1945 is admitted Loss of E No.72 on Apr 05, 1945 is admitted ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nice to see some ships battling. Allied escorts did well screening in the first battle but some IJN shots got through in the second. This one got to 2k so I was hoping for more than just 1 TT hit. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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< Message edited by obvert -- 12/15/2013 5:59:16 PM >
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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