Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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10/10/43 Flying Trapeze: Japanese subs in wolfpack concentrations effectively attack the Allied fleet, inflicting damage that will warm John's heart deep into the weekend. The day opens with a sub sinking a DE at Wake Island. Another sub puts one TT into CVE Casablance (the sub is then sunk by ASW). Then another subs puts two more fish into the CVE, sending her under. Then subs put a total of four TTs into Wasp, sinking her. There are many ASW attacks during this fray, but only the one that was sunk suffered serious damage. As a result of these attacks, the Allies also lose 100 aircraft aboard ship. (This is a signal day - the first fleet carrier I've lost in many years. John has done a good job vectoring in his subs - and I bet they have very good commanders, darn it.) SigInt was correct that a Japanese CA was inbound to Wake, though it turned out to be CL Sendai and some DDs bringing in troops. This TF is turned away by CL Phoenix TF, which damages Sendai, slowing her so that Helldivers hit her in the afternoon, apparently sinking her. Another strike claims a Japanese DD. As best I can tell, Wake wasn't reinforced (Sendai showed additional troop losses when she was sunk while retiring). The Allied invasion TFs end up a hex south of Wake, so that D-Day 2.0 will take place tomorrow. The invasion will feature at least three bombardments. Another slow BB will be embedded with the assault ships. The landings will be combat engineers and Sherman tanks. The Canadian brigade already ashore has recovered from disruption and will deliberate attack. (I left the American RCT ashore because it's recovering rapidly and has a great deal of supply; I've set it to reserve and hope this prevents it from attacking; if not, the disabled troops will be killed, leading to high losses.) I hope that Helldivers set to alternate ground attack will also help disrupt the enemy garrison. I am not confident about this attack. The six forts and the immense disruption during original D-Day were sobering, even though the enemy AV was adjusted to just 45. My expereince with follow-on invasions and bombardments is that the adjusted AV doesn't seem to drop nearly as much. On the other hand, I don't think John's been able to reinforce and supply might be an issue. If the landings experience any success (such as reducing forts), it'll probably be because of the bombardments and bombings. If I don't get forts to drop, though, I may just pull out my troops. Because if this fresh attack doesn't drop forts, I don't have time to replenish and try again. I think. I'll weigh all options in a few days. Further sub encounters and exactly how D-Day 2.0 goes will determine what's next. Death Star will move west, towards Eniwetok, hoping that John will be thinking "Wake" or "east of Wake." So, on the day, I lose CV Wasp and CVE Casablance. John loses CL Sendai, a DD and a sub. Confirmation also comes in that CVL Chiyoda went down during the late September naval battle (bringing the confirmed total to 2 CV, 2 CVL, and 8 CVE). I think there's one additional CVL confirmation yet to come and there is some hope that another fleet carrier or two might have gone down. Tough fighting! War. In. The. Pacific. Reluctant Admiral's Edition.
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