Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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12/14/43
Near Shikaku: The Allied CVs left port set to follow a surface combat TF led by BB Massachusetts and CL Denver; they were to take post just south of the "Cold Zone Line" and try to pick off Jap combat ships. However, the combat TF encountered a powerful Jap combat TF including BBs Nagato, Mutsu, and Hyuga and CA Atago, and two rounds of combat ensued. This time the Allies scored a decisive victory as BB Nagato took at leat 10 16" shells from Massachusetts and went under; Mutsu and Hyuga took smaller shots from 6" and 5" guns from the escorts, and CA Atago took at least one torpedo. In addition to Nagato, the Japs lost five DDs. The Allies lost a single DD, and Massachusetts once again emerged unscathed.
Japanese Battleships: The Jap battleships are really taking it on the chin now. John has lost six (Kirishima, Yamashiro, Fuso, Musashi, Haruna, and Nagato). Yamato took a TT down near Port Blair, and Ise had taken at least one TT down near Iwo, and took to more today from Sub Tullabe near Tokyo. Mutsu is "on fire" and Hyuga was seen "smoking" heavily during the combat. Kongo got clobbered yesterday at Shikaku and is either crippled or will go down. Hiei suffered heavy damage at Iwo and I had thought she might go under at the time. That's most (or all?) of the Jap battleships accounted for, and the Allies now have a decided advantage in the BB department.
Other Jap combat ships: CL Nagara hit a mine at Sapporo and later took a TT from Sub Capelin; Then, up in the Kuriles, the Allied CVE TF making for Shikuka launched a strike force of Avengers which put two TT into CA Chokai, part of a Jap combat TF that is patroling northern waters looking for crippled Allied ships.
Combat and Carrier Ship Comparison: The Allies still have enough undamaged combat ships to make one or two powerful TFs, and BB Massachusetts seems to rule the seas at the moment. The Japs should still have plenty of CAs and CLs, but this part of the battle has really trended in favor of the Allies in a way I hadn't expected. In terms of carriers, the Allies thus far have lost several CVEs; CVL Bataan has moderate damage; and CV Benjamin Franklin has fairly heavy damage (62 SYS, 42 FLT at the moment). But that still leaves the Allies with a strong carrier presence (6 fleet CVs, 7 CVLs, and four or five CVEs with two more about to arrive). All carrier air squadrons are now fully stocked. The Japs have lost CV Hiryu with CV Taiyo taking a TT, and CVE Unyo in a bad way; severl more Jap CVs took some damage, mainly light damage during the surface combat encounter several days ago. I don't know how experienced Jap replacement pilots will be.
Hokkaido: 3rd Marines took Ashigara and may now move on Wakkanai (the base at the northern tip of the island). Two smaller detachments took control of the hex between Sapporo and Hakodate, so I'll see now if my troops at the southern tip can withdraw toward Sapporo. Jap reinforcements are pouring into Hakodate and I doubt the Allies will be able to hold any of the bases on the island for very long. If I can seize Wakkanai, though, that could become a fortress since it is so close to Toyohara, where I expect the Allies to have a powerful base.
Sikhalin Island: Allies supplies at Shikoku are up to 72,000 with transports still unloading. That's a pretty good number considering that the carriers have already replenished. The three base forces that unloaded here are badly disorganized. Base forces on the island can only handle about 100 aircraft at the moment. I hope they'll recover strength quickly given the favorable supply situation. I don't have any base forces at Toyohara at the moment and will work on getting one there by land.
Shokaku/Zuikaku: I think these CVs showed up in the sea lanes just as predicted. Judys and Jills in moderate numbers hits a number of transports. Nothing I can do about this, but I have so many ships scattered all over the place that I doubt these two carriers have enough mission sorties to accomplish anything major. CVE Anzio, which took heavy damage a week back, is getting fairly close to LRCAP from Midway and there is a chance she'll survive.
Aleutians: For some reason, P-38s aren't doing well on CAP duty up here, so Bettys are scoring at will against merchant ships. On the flip side, the Seabees and EAB at Adak Island already have that base 43% to a level 2 airfield, making much faster progress than at first anticipated. That base can be built to a level 6, and the Allies have enough base force personnel to handle 250 aircraft. As that base grows larger, the Allies may be able to seize control of the air and begin to contemplate offensive action against nearby Jap bases. As long as the Japs are focused on Hokkaido and Sikhalin, I am hoping that they won't be able to strike here. If the Allies can seize control of the Aleutians, it will make getting supplies and fuel to Shikoku alot easier, and allow damaged ships to retreat from there more safely.
Situation as a Whole: Five days ago, I thought the invasion of Hokkaido was an absolute disaster on the ground, on the seas, and in the air. My carriers were neutered (all strike aicraft gone, down to just 50 Hellcats), I had lost far more ships than the Japs, and there was no way to protect the troops on the ground. I am still concerned that I could lose my troops on Hokkaido, but as long as the US carriers survive, such a loss would be acceptable. The devastation suffered by Jap battleships and other combat fleets, to Jap naval pilots and aircraft, and to a lesser extent Jap CVs, have truly altered the balance of power. The only thing that could swing the pendulum back in favor of the Japs would be a decisive carrier victory. So my primary concern now is protecting my carriers.
AnZac: Elements of 40th US Army Division seized an unoccupied Norfolk Island, which has a level one airbase. Eventually the Allies will move on either Noumea, Efate, or Suva (possibly awaiting arrival of CVs Hornet and Wasp which should be enough to handle any Jap carriers in the area). The Allies are pulling back from Broken Hill temporarily, to await arrival of several divisions before besieging that post.
CBI: It will be another two weeks or so before the ground units that chased the Japs east from Moulmein make it back to Rangoon to rest and refit. I've been busy shuffling other troops from Port Blair to Rangoon so that they two can replenish. Further offensive operations should commence in about three weeks.
Points: Japs 47,097; Allies 31,083.
< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 7/28/2008 5:36:35 PM >
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RE: Allies Offer Armistice - 
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