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John 3rd -> The War On AGAIN! (6/6/2008 1:20:22 AM)
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Combat Report
September 22-24, 1943
The Redo
Dan and I have played out the turns from the 20th-24th and are now back at it. Action has occurred everywhere else but we froze the Fleets at Iwo Jima and Saipan. Those restrictions are now off and we get ready for unrestricted warfare again.
The Bonins
Chichi Jima/Tori Shima I have 50-60 bombers hitting the troops on these bases everyday. Tori Shima gets a Sentai of Nicks hitting the Port as well. I want to keep the units there occupied and prevent dan from Fortifying Tori Shima. IF I do counterattack, this will be essential. Tori Shima has an RCT, Eng Unit, and AA Unit (about 10,000 men) on it. Chichi Jima has just a Marine Raider Btn and very small Con unit (1200 men). Dan does nothing to protect these bases so my units will keep hitting them until I decide otherwise or Dan changes his tactics.
Iwo Jima The Battle Fleet is located here but Dan has sortied a number of his previously damaged vessels east towards Midway. Not to sure of numbers but it makes for a good target to go after. Will explain later.
He appears to have about 48 F6F and 24 Corsair based here with a similar number of B-24 and PBY. The AF is Sz-4 so 200 is maximum.
Pagan and the Marianas
Pagan I still have my 180 Army Fighters here as well as two dozen Kate flying ASW.
Saipan The mechanics of the Fleet and Ground Forces have been shifting out and exchanging planes as fast as possible. As of the 24th, they were only 50% completed within their tasking. The earliest the Kido Butai can sail will be the 29th. I have--literally--had to change 200 Jacks over for 200 A6M3a/A6M5 and it is taking time.
With this depressing realization, I decide to send a CTF after Dan's eastward moving TF. I selected my least experienced carriers. CV's Unryu and Amagi, CVL Zuiho, BC Haruna, CAs Nachi and Ashigara, 1 CL, and 7 DD depart on a sprint run NE past Marcus. They depart on the 24th at full speed (6/6) and should be able to strike on the 26th. I re-embark their DB and TB and hope they can get some experience while sinking some of the ships I have damaged. I am sure that Adm Ozawa is up for the task. Plane complement for this expedition is 62 Zero (A3a)--48 Val--44 Kate. The experience for these guys is all in the low-60s. They will be far enough away to note a move by Dan so they can run if needed.
ASW Results
Dan has discovered the same thing I did when I sent my SS into the waters around Iwo Jima. Bunches of planes set on ASW will destroy ANY SS group! During these days my DB/TB get SEVEN LBA hits on American SS. The Dragonet and Dorado are sunk with 2 more damaged. Dan seems to want these guys to stay in the area so I expect to see more hits and sinkings! YEA...
The Home Islands
Shipyards My BB-Hybrids will be done at the end of the month (8-9 Days). There are 9 DD in Tokyo Bay so Hyuga and Ise will have a decent escort when they are complete. Just have to figure out a use for them...
Convoys There are a whole host of convoys carrying resources and oil ranging to the western side of Japan. dan's move in grabbing Iwo has sure changed out shipping lanes! HI and production is HUMMING along thanks to my various Economic Ministers! You guys ROCK! Will cover that when we get to the end of the month.
ASW Action I've formed about 5 ASW TF each containing 7 warships. I try to get their ASW number up to about 30-35 and send them on their way. This has just gotten underway and my truly good ASW ships are just now coming down the slipways. They will help a lot as they are finished. There are also a number of aircraft doing ASW work. All have their experience at 70-80, fly @ 1,000 Ft, and have their range set at 50% (if normally 8 then it is set to 4). There are American SS moving around along the southern/eastern edge of the Home Islands and I expect to start seeing them take hits as well.
Okinawa Though not part of the Home Islands officially, I have been rapidly increasing the garrision on this base. Losing it would be catastrophic so I have Engineers, Con Btn, and Inf heading here as quickly as possible.
China
Northern Area Dan still does nothing to stop my training up in this region. I have 4-600 planes flying missions and gaining experience. He keeps his fighters down in the southern area so I avoid that.
I have troops moving on the northern Chinese city of Paotow. Once I capture that (there are only 4 units in it), then I can threaen the enture northern perimeter of China. I hope that it will force Dan to move more troops north.
Indochina/Burma
This area has turned into one big front with Chinese and Allied forces threatening the right (Hanoi), center (Pisanoluke), and left (Moulmein) of the Japanese position. Let us hit on each area:
Hanoi/Haiphong Dan looks like he may be coming back for more action. There are 25 units directly east of Hanoi and maybe more coming. I am not too concerned. Hanoi is well supplied, Forts @ 9, and has a defense strength of about 1,600.
Pisanoluke I have been driving those 3 Chinese Corps northwards for the last couple of weeks. Originally they were stopped one hex NE of the city but the work of the 3rd TK Division, 7th Armored Regiment, and 2 Infantry Divisions have driven them back to the primitive trails 4 hexes above Pisanoluke. This mission is accomplished so I pull the Armored and Infantry Divisions back to Bangkok to reform and prepare to deal with the next threat. They are the Theatre Reserve right now.
Moulmein No sign of attack brewing here yet. There are a BUNCH of troops in Rangoon (refitting probably) but nothing has moved across the river yet. Moulmein is the same as Hanoi; however, its defense strength is closer to 2,500.
Elsewhere I have troops at all the smaller bases going into Malaya and towards Saigon. Don't want another Parachute drop to interfere with movement and resources. Construction units are increasing the Forts at various chokepoints for eventual usage.
The Jack Crisis
1. Thanks for everyone's help with the chaos over the last few days. You guys were great!
2. Once Dan understood the situation and how stupid I had been he was cool with things.
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