Mike Solli
Posts: 15792
Joined: 10/18/2000 From: the flight deck of the Zuikaku Status: offline
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22 May 43 Sub War No attacks by either side today. I did spot the US carriers withdrawing from Munda and put a sub in their path. The sub has only 4 torpedoes (2 shots) remaining but maybe she’ll get lucky (and not be sunk). 5 Fleet I realized today that Ted is flying supply into Adak with transports. The only way I figured it out was this way. There were no enemy air attacks on Adak but I saw that one of the pilots in the Oscar sentai stationed there shot a plane down. I also noted that Ted had a transport shot down with a few more op losses. The Oscar sentai there is flying CAP. Is there any way to cause more losses to the transports? They’re coming in without any fighter support. They should be sitting ducks. I do know they’re coming from Unmak Island. There’s no other airfield in range. My BB bombardment fleet will reach Adak the day after tomorrow. I have a few options to deal with these transports. First option – I can use the bombardment fleet to hit Unmak and try to kill some transports on the ground. I don’t like this option because it puts my ships at unnecessary risk. On the plus side, they’d hit at night so the transports would all be on the ground. Second option – I can use KB to pound the airfield (and possibly any shipping in the area too). Akagi and Kaga will merge with MKB tomorrow making a nice fleet (Akagi, Kaga, Junyo, Hiyo, Shoho, Zuiho & Hosho) totaling 90x A6M3a, 84x A6M5, 36x D3A1, 36x D4Y1, 35x B5N1 & 45x B5N2. Third option – Use both. If I use the BB TF to hit Unmak, that means I’m not using them to hit the US troops marooned at Adak. I think the priority is Adak. The destruction they cause there will more than offset the supply the transports are bringing in. At least I think so. On the other hand, they can potentially damage a lot of transports on the ground at night that KB can then destroy during the day. I am definitely going to use KB. I looked up aircraft ranges and launching 6 hexes from Unmak is optimal. It’s normal range for the Val and Judy so they carry 250 and 500kg bombs respectively. Also, the P40E and P400 both can only fly 6 hexes at extended range using drop tanks. That’s unlikely. That tells me that if anything flies against KB, it’ll be unescorted. I like that. My thought is to have 36x A6M5s sweep from 20k ft. (Akagi’s very elite group). Then the other 48x M5 and 36x M3a escort everyone. That leaves 54x M3a for fleet defense. The question is how to set the attack orders of the bombers. My thought is the following: 36x Vals on airfield attack only at 6 hexes 36x Judys on naval primary/airfield secondary at 7 hexes 35x Kate N1s on airfield attack at 7 hexes 36x Kate N2x on naval primary/airfield secondary at 8 hexes So, tell me what you guys think. I do know that there are several small TFs out there (primarily ASW). I did see a group of cargo ships headed there a few days ago, so it should be close. I’d love to smack it around. Or, should I just focus on the airfield? My concern for putting 72 bombers on naval attack is that they’ll go after the small ships (DD & smaller). That’s a lot of power that can paste transports and the airfield. On the other hand, I’d hate to pass up on some juicy troop filled ships. What do you guys think? Adak’s supply increased to >21.2k and the fort is up to 5.15. 4 Fleet Nothing to report. SE Fleet Well, I put a sentai of shiny new Tojo IIc fighters at Rabaul and no bombers came to play. Ah well, I reinforced with 15 Nicks (9 still damaged at Rabaul) so if his bombers do come to play tomorrow, I may cull the herd a bit. Damage at Rabaul decreased from 0-87-27 to 0-77-0. Nice! He focused on Gasmata. He sent 49x 4E bombers escorted by 15x Corsairs. The Corsairs held off my fighters (we each lost 2 – 2 pilots KIA) and his bombers did a bit more damage. Gasmata’s damage increased a bit from 0-28-23 to 0-35-29. His carriers are slowly sailing SW from Munda and hit Lunga with 80 SBDs and 42 Avengers doing next to no damage (I love jungle!) for a few op losses. Hopefully, the sub I put in their path will cause some damage. SRA Nothing to report. Burma The monsoon has pretty much stopped ground operations. I’m moving stuff around to form a defensive line with reserves and moving the 55 Division and 1 & 2 Tank Divisions back to Rangoon to get replacements. The only offensive mission was a final sweep of Akyab where I shot down 2 Hurricanes. I moved a Tojo IIa sentai (my most experienced) from the front to Rangoon and replaced them with the Tojo IIc today. It’ll take a few days to repair them. Can’t wait for them to go back to the front line! China Well, the 13th Army finally made it to Chengtu and will deliberate attack tomorrow. It’s composed of 4 infantry divisions, 1 independent mixed brigade (future Chengtu garrison), 1 mortar battalion, about 2050 AV. I have in reserve (set to pursue) the 3 Tank Division and a tank regiment (an additional 400 AV). The defenders have 3 units, a Chinese Corps, a BF and one other unit (probably another Corps). They have about 20k troops in total. I have 37k infantry alone. I expect to take it tomorrow. We’ll see what the fort level is though. Chengtu has 14 manpower, 180 resources, 160 HI and 180 LI. I’ll take it! Obviously, I won’t repair anything that is damaged. Assuming 50% damage, that will net me 250 supply per day at a cost of 160 fuel a day. Other Stuff I changed the 5x30 factories from the A7M3-J to the A7M2 and increased them back to 30 (obviously). The 6x30 Ki-100-II R&D factories will complete about 12 Jul 43. Three will become operational and the other 3 will convert to A7M2, bringing the A7M2 to 8x30 R&D. In December 43, an additional 9 factories will become available, 6 from the A6M5/8 line and 3 from the Jill line. Yeah, late I know, but it’s about the best I can do.
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