BBfanboy -> RE: Notes from a Small Island (4/26/2018 1:42:11 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel 9/1/44 Naval Battle of Sikhalin Island: Truly an epic naval/air battle at Shikuka. Eric first flooded the port with subs, many of which hit mines, but a few scored hits, including one on CA Baltimore and one on BB New Mexico. Then, Eric sent in every kind of ship he had: CA, CL, DD, DMS, E, AMC, SC. There were a zillion of them. These battles were hard fought and mostly went in favor of the Allies. But, as you'd guess, it emptied ammo bunkers and spread the Allied TFs around, out from under friendly CAP. Then came LBA and carrier air. Allied fighters handled this, downing hundreds of enemy planes (mostly Peggys and Zero 8s) at low cost. But at the end, a some carrier strikes and one Frances strike got through, enough to finish off ships, damage others, and sink BBs New Mexico and Mississippi and BC Renown. By then, CAs Minneapolis and Baltimore had also gone under, along with a few CLs and some DDs. In return, Eric lost six or more CLs and a bunch of modern DDs, a host of smaller stuff, and some heavy damage to his CA fleet. But three big BB TFs made it in unscathed to bombard, brushing aside PT TF opposition and absorbing a few mine hits by DDs. The bombardments were nuclear, destroying nearly 600 aircraft on the ground, including nearly 100 B-29s. Damage to the airfield is severe - 100% service and 78% runway. I lost plenty of fighters to the bombardments but can put up a decent number if Eric doesn't have fresh TFs available. Usually, bombardments on Day 2 are weak, so I'll have to see. Erik even landed a ground unit in a forest hex between Shikuka and Toyohara. I have one RCT in each of those hexes, so I hold the important hexsides. I suppose he did this to prevent rail transport of squadrons that enhances the rebuild rate. I lost a sizeable chunk of my covering combat force....and most of the remaining good stuff is a hex or two from Shikuka and very low on ammo. They're ordered to return to port and may get savaged if any of Eric's combat TFs have ammo. I don't know how this will go. It's key though. If I lose my remaining CAs, yikes. At Shikuka, I was able to replenish one good DD TF, one TF of moderately damaged CA/DDs. I created a host of additional PT TFs and even some DE combat TFs (one DE TF yesterday finished off two enemy CLs low on ammo with torps). All of the subs in port, including the moderately damaged ones, have been formed into patrolling TFs. The timeing of this was made worse by 50 USN CVEs going into the yards for upgrades that will take three weeks. I have available for duty 11 CV, 10 CVL, and 8 CVE. In three weeks, I'll have three more CVs and those 50 CVEs. Whether I send what I have now depends alot on what happens tomorrow. If my remaining combat ships at Shikuka get savaged, I may have to at least post a Death Star east of the Kuriles to try to get Eric's attention a bit. Going forward, in about 25-30 days, Death Star and many stout combat TFs will be ready for action. The enemy to be faced will have been attrited meaningfully - especially subs, CLs and DDs. Yikes - that sounds like an anxiety elevating turn to watch! The big question is whether he has more to throw at you before DS can return, especially troops. If your airfields have been neutered he can bring huge numbers of troops over the next month. Can you grab Onnekotan Jima while he is focused on your Sakhalin bases?
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