Defeating the Devil !!! ( aka Damian )

[ny59giants]

In other news:
1. I've identified a significant gap in the enemy defences. Sooner rather than later another pin-**** raid far behind enemy lines can be expected in order to take a position which critically threatens enemy SLOCs. Damian will just bomb it back into the stone age but, again, whenever he has to do this to a base that's another 200 bombers which aren't bombing my front line formations and delaying them. So, it all complicates his strategic position and helps me out.

2. Once Shanghai is taken I am undecided as to how to proceed. I am torn between:
a) landing in southern Korea and securing bases within P47 range of mainland Japan.
b) landing just east of Peking and rupturing the entire Northern China/Manchuria position with a view to bringing the Soviets into the war in a major way or
c) just island hopping from Formosa to Kyushu.

The island hopping campaign is the least risky but also least rewarding. What it will do though is cut the enemy SLOCs to his southern and Phillipine possessions and that's something I'm rather eager to do.

I think I have been a good student in Nemo's "Art of War" class and will choose Option B. I don't like "C" as that would require some possible CV usage and right now if you can rest and rebuild the fighter forces, they can be a mobile reserve. Nemo's "Young Guards" to use once the battle is almost decided to demoralize the enemy. They cannot be called the "Old Guards" as they have suffered too many casualties along the way across the Pacific. I like the idea of giving Damian more areas of concern to worry about. [:D]

[Nemo121]

B would also require CV usage...
 
Pros:
I could deploy under my own land-based air umbrella.
 

Cons:
The IJN could deploy under IJA fighter cover.
In an inland sea there's nowhere to run. I won't be able to dance around him when the first day or two of strikes wipes out my fighters.
 
 
So, B could be a path to destruction IF his CVs come in. Obviously though if I can keep his CVs distracted a little then B would be much less risky.
 
Keeping his CVs occupied is good strategy in any case and so various operations are prepping in order to be in position at the right time to give his CVs many options of where to be. Hopefully Damian will pick the wrong option ( or more likely, split his forces into 2 or 3 groups to try and do too much at the same time ).
 
 
Overall though, yeah, I'm leaning more towards B with a hint of C as flank cover to protect my CVs from an IJN foray from Tokyo and past Okinawa into the inland sea. If I have control of some of the islands around Okinawa then this IJN move would be much, much more complicated.

[Nemo121]

All of my USN shipping replenished at Hong Kong and is, currently, making its way along the Chinese coast. I have captured all of the coastal bases along the Chinese coast from Hong Kong to Shanghai - SHanghai excepted. Shanghai and Nanking are surrounded with roughly 1500 AV of IJA troops in each base... a nice little haul.

I have based fighters at Wenchow, Ningpo and Hangchow for local defence. In addition some 300 fighters from Wenchow (a level 7 airfield ) are tasked with LRCAPing the slower portions of my fleet. This movement has led to the battles I'll outline today... but first I'll talk a little about my plans for the next fortnight...

1. I've taken Suchow and have some 7,000 AV there ( half Chinese, half British and Commonwealth ). These are moving on Tsinan with a view to closing on Tsientsin and Chengting respectively. Some 2,500 IJA AV are at Yangku and another 4,000 or so is at Kaifeng. I want to threaten to cut these forces off with the drive at Chengting and either cut them off in the Chinese hinterland or force them to pull back into Peking.

2. Subsidiary forces have been sent to Haichow and Tsingtao in order to capture them. That will give me the remaining two coastal bases north of Shanghai and really allow me to threaten an amphibious invasion of Korea proper.

3. APDs and other fast surface combatants will combine with my 2 parachute battalions to perform lightning raids on the island chain running from Formosa to Japan. I'm also considering taking Okinawa itself as that would allow me to take Osumi Island and Osumi island will allow my P-51s to sweep all the way to Sendai. It would also allow me to prevent the IJN CV fleet moving in on my right flank as I manoeuvre against Korea or the Soviet Union.


Onto the combat report...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Takao [Formosa] , at 47,45

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk X x 7
Beaufort VII x 3
Pe-2R x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Shanghai [E China] , at 52,39


Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 30
F-4 Lightning x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40N Warhawk x 5
Hurricane IIc x 6
TBM-1 Avenger x 16


Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM-1 Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanking [East China] , at 51,37


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 197
IL-2M Shturmovik x 197


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 570

Just trying to burn through the supplies at Shanghai and Nanking before the main attack.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1-C Judy x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1-C Judy: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 47
Ki-21-II Sally x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 7

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo [Jolo] , at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 15
Ki-43-II Oscar x 7
Ki-21-II Sally x 38
Ki-46III Dinah x 4

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Naha [Okinawa] , at 54,46

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 81

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 134

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 -I Helen: 19 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 98

Damian complained about the Pe-2s again after this... Unfortunately I think he hasn't thought this through. Here's my view:
1. I only get 45 a month.
2. They HAVE to operate from nearby bases which he has proven he can attack with Angels.
3. They get shot down as easily by AAA as any other divebomber.
4. He acts as though they have no counterpart in the Japanese armoury. This is simply wrong. As a matter of fact the IJA has a plane which is actually superior to the Pe-2. Damian just has never used it as I think he should.

So, in short, I don't give his views on the Pe-2 a lot of credit as I think he is complaining about the lack of ability to intercept with fighters but is ignoring the very simple counters he has IF he considers things a little asymetrically. Also he's ignoring the fact that he CAN intercept if he co-bases Ki-44IIIs and Ki-43IIs. The Ki-44 IIIs are there to kill my fighter sweeps while his Ki-43 IIs will intercept the Pe-2s. In fact given the long range of the Ki-43IIs there's NO reason why he can't LRCAP his fleet all the way to Hong Kong with them if he simply organised things properly.

Also, as to his counterparts.... My carriers have no plane with a ceiling of more than 30,000 feet. Damian has 7 fighters which have ceilings higher than that. All but one of those fighters is capable of carrying bombs and 2 carry 250Kg bombs while the A6M5 ( which he is producing ) carries 2 x 100Kg AP bombs.

One of the planes which carries 250Kg bombs is the Ki-43 II Oscar. My Pe-2 has a normal range of 4 and extended range of 6. At a range of 6 it carries 500lb GP bombs ( 2 of them ). The Oscar II can carry a single 250Kg AP bomb out to 7 hexes and a smaller bomb out to a range of 10 hexes.

So, really, at a range of less than 4 hexes my Pe-2 will do a lot more damage but if my CVs are within 10 hexes of a Japanese airbase he can send Ki-43 IIs in at maximum altitude and watch them dive-bomb my shipping into oblivion. Sure their experience is probably fairly low and they aren't dedicated dive-bombers BUT with the survivability bonus attendant to this low risk operational profile they'll quickly build experience and become fairly deadly in quick order. Their 250 Kg AP bombs will go through the deck armour of anything I have except a BB.

A cursory look at his production via the city bombing screen shows he is making somewhere between 100 to 150 Ki-43 IIs. So, he has roughly triple my ability to produce planes which can fly above CV CAP and his planes can fly about 2/3rds farther than mine with a lethal bombload.

In this mod EVERYTHING has a counter. Much of the time that counter is assymetric as I don't believe in rewarding lazy play. If you put the thought in you might find the counter ( or maybe not ) but it is there.

I think that Damian is caught in a reactive mode so much ( a la Boyd ) that he simply hasn't had the free time or mental energy to consider things from scratch and thus he just isn't seeing some of the options which are open to him. This is mostly by design though as I am keeping a tempo of operations which is designed to give him more to worry about than he can possibly cope with and I'm just overloading his ability to think through the myriad problems sensibly. As such I bet you if someone asked him right now ( which, obviously no-one should do ) had he ever thought of which of his planes had the same relative characteristics as the Pe-2 he would answer that he'd never even thought about it. If he did he'd realise that he can EASILY out-Pe2-me .


It should be said though that while I do find his over-focus on the Pe-2 to be frustrating at times I do very much enjoy chatting and playing him and he's improved hugely since we started. Most of the time he gets most of his forces out of dodge before the jaws of my traps close and even when he doesn't it is usually just because he's decided to be ueber-aggressive .

I think that if I gave him a month of sitzkrieg then he'd have the time and energy to examine his situation from scratch and he'd stop me cold when I began my next offensive. As it is he's been no more than a day or two away from stopping me on a couple of occasions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on JAAF 4th Construction Battalion, at 31,64


Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 4
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 22
Beaufort VII x 9
Blenheim IV x 20


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
9 x Beaufort VII bombing at 3000 feet
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
2 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 58th Garrison Division, at 31,64


Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 39
Beaufort VII x 6
Blenheim IV x 26


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
2 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing at 3000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 1st Motorized Brigade, at 50,41


Allied aircraft
A-24 Dauntless x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 261
SBD-5 Dauntless x 18


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
29 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
21 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
18 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 1st Motorized Brigade, at 50,41


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 11
Beaufort VII x 3
IL-4C x 3


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4C bombing at 8000 feet
4 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
4 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 48th Guerilla Regiment, at 50,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 9
A6M5 Zeke x 6
Ki-27 Nate x 16

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
6 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Red 15th Guerilla Regiment, at 52,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 7
Ki-115 Sabre x 27
Ki-27 Nate x 25

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-115 Sabre bombing at 2000 feet
25 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 206th Division, at 50,41


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 18
Beaufort VII x 6
IL-4C x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x IL-4C bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x IL-4C bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x B-26A Marauder bombing at 8000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,41


Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1453A, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,44


Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1416N, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nogo [Okinawa] at 55,46


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 14
TBM-1 Avenger x 12


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DE Uji, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hofuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DE Nanyo [Job 867], Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Karukaya
AP Fukko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM-1 Avenger bombing at 1000 feet
4 x TBM-1 Avenger bombing at 1000 feet
1 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM-1 Avenger bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Takao [Formosa] at 47,45

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LCM AG-1704A, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 2
A6M5 Zeke x 2
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2
Ki-264 Angel x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
F4U-1 Corsair x 19
P-51B Mustang XP x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 11
P-40N Warhawk x 19
P-47C Thunderbolt x 14
Corsair I x 5
Hurricane IIc x 4
Kittyhawk I x 8
Spitfire VB x 5
Spitfire VIII x 23
La-5FN x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang XP: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 1 damaged
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 12
Ki-115 Sabre x 43
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 34

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
F4U-1 Corsair x 19
P-51B Mustang XP x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 11
P-40N Warhawk x 17
P-47C Thunderbolt x 14
Corsair I x 5
Hurricane IIc x 4
Kittyhawk I x 8
Spitfire VB x 5
Spitfire VIII x 23
La-5FN x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 12 destroyed
Ki-115 Sabre: 21 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 28 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 9 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 7 destroyed
Corsair I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
La-5FN: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 3
Ki-264 Behemoth x 12
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 10
Ki-49 -I Helen x 3
Ki-264 Angel x 20
G9M1 Marlina x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
P-51B Mustang XP x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 5
P-47C Thunderbolt x 3
Corsair I x 2
Hurricane IIc x 2
Kittyhawk I x 3
Spitfire VB x 2
Spitfire VIII x 8
La-5FN x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed
Ki-264 Behemoth: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 10 destroyed
Ki-49 -I Helen: 1 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 15 destroyed
G9M1 Marlina: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-51B Mustang XP: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Corsair I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 2 damaged
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
La-5FN: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
P-51B Mustang XP x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 4
P-47C Thunderbolt x 3
Corsair I x 2
Hurricane IIc x 2
Kittyhawk I x 3
Spitfire VB x 2
Spitfire VIII x 8
La-5FN x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 24
G4M1 Betty x 7
Ki-264 Behemoth x 18
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 8
Ki-49 -I Helen x 36
Ki-264 Angel x 58
G9M1 Marlina x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
P-51B Mustang XP x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 4
P-47C Thunderbolt x 3
Corsair I x 2
Hurricane IIc x 2
Kittyhawk I x 3
Spitfire VB x 2
Spitfire VIII x 8
La-5FN x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 24 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
Ki-264 Behemoth: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 8 destroyed
Ki-49 -I Helen: 20 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 14 destroyed, 13 damaged
G9M1 Marlina: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-51B Mustang XP: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Corsair I: 2 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
La-5FN: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Kilty, Bomb hits 1
ML Oglala
DMS Chandler
DMS Long, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD Litchfield, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Rhona
AK Masaya
APD Gregory


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
1 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-264 Behemoth bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Ki-49 -I Helen bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-264 Behemoth bombing at 10000 feet
2 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
1 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 12

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 12

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Nogo [Okinawa] at 55,46

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 4
TBM-1 Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1 Avenger: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Fukko Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hofuku Maru, on fire
DE Nanyo [Job 867], on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBM-1 Avenger bombing at 1000 feet
4 x TBM-1 Avenger bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,46


Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 22


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LCM AG-1733A, Shell hits 32, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1737A, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1731A, Shell hits 32, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1707A, Shell hits 8, on fire
LCM AG-1322N, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP AG-1414N, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25H Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
2 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
1 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
3 x B-25H Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
A6M5 Zeke x 13
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 16
Ki-264 Angel x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
F4U-1 Corsair x 20
P-51B Mustang XP x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 11
P-40N Warhawk x 16
P-47C Thunderbolt x 14
Corsair I x 4
Hurricane IIc x 4
Kittyhawk I x 9
Spitfire VB x 5
Spitfire VIII x 21
La-5FN x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 23 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 11 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 16 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 6
G4M1 Betty x 77
Ki-43-II Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
F4U-1 Corsair x 20
P-51B Mustang XP x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 10
P-40N Warhawk x 13
P-47C Thunderbolt x 14
Corsair I x 4
Hurricane IIc x 4
Kittyhawk I x 9
Spitfire VB x 5
Spitfire VIII x 21
La-5FN x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 73 destroyed
Ki-43-II Oscar: 22 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 damaged
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 6 damaged
La-5FN: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Canopus

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 6
Ki-115 Sabre x 24
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 8

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
F4U-1 Corsair x 20
P-51B Mustang XP x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 9
P-40N Warhawk x 12
P-47C Thunderbolt x 13
Corsair I x 4
Hurricane IIc x 4
Kittyhawk I x 9
Spitfire VB x 4
Spitfire VIII x 21
La-5FN x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44III Tojo: 6 destroyed
Ki-115 Sabre: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 5 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed
La-5FN: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 11
A6M5 Zeke x 17
G4M1 Betty x 27
Ki-264 Behemoth x 19
Ki-43-II Oscar x 39
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 9
Ki-264 Angel x 52

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-40N Warhawk x 4
P-47C Thunderbolt x 4
Corsair I x 2
Hurricane IIc x 2
Kittyhawk I x 4
Spitfire VB x 2
Spitfire VIII x 9
La-5FN x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 11 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 15 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 13 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-264 Behemoth: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-43-II Oscar: 36 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 9 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 15 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 7 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 7 destroyed
Corsair I: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
La-5FN: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Gregory
AK Santhia
AK Kansan, Torpedo hits 1
APD King
APD John D. Ford
DMS Lamberton
DMS Boggs
AK Shinai
AP Largs Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW SN BTShch-6


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-264 Behemoth bombing at 10000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
1 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-264 Behemoth bombing at 10000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x Ki-264 Angel bombing at 7000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 50,44

Allied Ships
SS S-33


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25614 troops, 540 guns, 490 vehicles, Assault Value = 1283

Defending force 120000 troops, 1819 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 3287



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yangku [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31439 troops, 458 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 2706

Defending force 32037 troops, 370 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1585



Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nanking [East China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6396 troops, 40 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1728

Defending force 33815 troops, 419 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1880



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 81838 troops, 1517 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3287

Defending force 76844 troops, 948 guns, 771 vehicles, Assault Value = 1283


Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soochow [SE China]

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27867 troops, 344 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1477

Defending force 1322 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied max assault: 1411 - adjusted assault: 1436

Japanese max defense: 6 - adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 287 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2061 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 50,37

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15251 troops, 157 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 831

Defending force 1257 troops, 1 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied max assault: 857 - adjusted assault: 467

Japanese max defense: 6 - adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 155 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3009 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 21

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4981 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 6119 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 160



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3635 troops, 175 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 352 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

[Nemo121]

Excerpts from our email discussion today:

Damian:

I've spent the last 2 hours looking for your big hint, going through each airframe has proved futile, so I'll do the turn and then go through each manually in game cause I think I'm missing the point... I like puzzles and I'll be annoyed at myself if I can't unlock this one. Turn back later as I'm home resting, sorry for my frustration today, guess I'm a bull in a china shop sometimes without using the ol' noggin.

Me:

No worries. I WILL say that there's more than 1 airframe there that symmetrically won't defeat the pe-2 but asymetrically they MORE than make up for the Pe-2. I've posted a detailed breakdown of this in my thread.

I think you are probably over-complicating things. The counters are simple albeit all the counters aren't in one airframe. The counter is an interlocking system of airframes. Each more than defeats the Pe-2 in one or two areas and together they utterly kick its ass.

I think that when we finish the game and read our threads we should have a discussion in one of them and chat about how we saw things going at various stages. I think the amount of headgames and close calls ( on both sides from what I can see ) would make that really, really interesting.

[Capt. Harlock]

Remarkably few Ki-44III's in combat for the turn -- except in Okinawa, where they weren't useful. And the airframe losses for the turn were seriously lopsided in favor of the Allies. Damian may have improved, but it looks much like you've still got his number.

How long until the Ki-264's get missiles?

[Nemo121]

The Ki-264Bs already have their missiles IIRC. Unfortunately for Damian a PGM ( Plane Guided Missile ) which is what these things are according to the code ( same device type as Ohka - so it acts like an air-launched kamikaze really ) uses as its experience the experience of the launching bomber crew. Since his Ki-264s have taken serious losses recently his experience which might have been in the 80s 6 months ago is probably in the 60s now. With that level of experience they aren't going to hit much of anything.
 
 
Ki-44 IIIs. Well, he is producing about 500 to 600 per month but my attrition of his Ki-44 IIIs meant that recently I was seeing a few CV-based airgroups bolstering the land-based Ki-44 IIIs at Shanghai and over Tarakan. I interpret that to mean his land-based Ki-44 III pilot experience was falling. I took HUGE losses to kill those naval Ki-44 IIIs but I managed to do so. I think that right now Damian's best Ki-44 III pilots are on his CVs which seem to be making for Saipan - awaiting an invasion of Marcus Island by the US Pacific Fleet - while the Home Islands are defended by a bunch of lower-experienced Ki-44 IIIs ( probably 60 Exp or so recent graduates of the training academy ) and lots of Ki-115s and A6M5s.
 
Also, my transports were within Ki-44 III range of only a single enemy base so the Ki-44 IIIs you saw were all in a single base. If I ventured closer to Japan I'm sure I'd run into 400 or 500 of them... Not too experienced but with such good airframes you don't need great pilots.
 
 
In other news:
Developments are proceeding apace. I've taken Suchow, Wenchow, Soochow and Haichow and am about 1 day away from taking Tsingtao. The Japanese army has gathered 8,000 AV and pushed me out of Yangka and Kaifeng but those are bases he can't advance from as any advance just exposes a longer flank to my attacks. As such he kills quite a few Chinese troops but gains nothing.
 
American troops are unloading at Hangchow and with some 2,000 engineers on-base this will be a level 6 airfield in roughly 4 days.
 
I'm gettin my APDs and Dakotas into place and will begin raiding the islands around Okinawa in coming days. In the meantime I'll push into Tsinan and push the American troops into Shanghai with a view to battering its defences down over the next week. Once that's done the Chinese troops will push north, taking the last Japanese holdout in southern CHina and forming up around Peking with the rest of the Chinese army while the British, Commonwealth and US Armies are available for major amphibious operations.
 
Once I lure the IJN CVs back from Saipan I'll look into actually attacking Marcus or Truk . No need to attack yet while the CVs are there, much better to yo-yo them around burning MUCH precious fuel and phase my attacks to occur when they're at the other end of the IJN perimeter.
 
In the fulness of time when I have to attack Saipan and nearby islands I would aim to have run the IJN completely out of fuel such that it won't be able to steam at sufficient speed to intervene in time to save those islands. That has been my long-term plan anyways, defeating them without decisively engaging them but with each crisis destroying their logistics just that little bit more until their own logistics and size destroys them. Interestingly the more IJN ships I sank the more I helped them. That's one reason I wasn't bothered with sinking them for the past few months. If I let them survive and sail they'd keep burning more and more fuel and hastening the day that they ran out.

[Nemo121]

Today a single division/Field Army launched an attack on Shanghai. The same situation was repeated at Nanking. Damian wrote to me that he was concerned about the situation at these two bases until he saw these failed attacks which revealed adjusted AV of 17,000 defending Shanghai and 13,000 defending Nanking.


I've hinted at my true purpose by telling him that what I was doing was akin to Cetshwayo at Rorke's Drift. It was essential for Cethswayo to determine the defensive power of the defenders so he ordered one impi to advance per side of the fortifications and beat time on their shields. The British soldiers opened fire on these impis and killed many of the Zulu soldiers as they stood unmoving in full view well within weapons range. After a set number of beats had passed the impis retreated.

Simple mathematics allowed Cethswayo to calculate the number of beats per minute and compare the number of his dead soldiers to the time span of their exposure. This then yielded an expected loss rate per minute.

Another relatively simple sum gave him the time it took his impis to cover the last 300 metres of open ground ( the killing zone of the defences ) and allowed him to determine ( using the above data ) his expected losses for any impi he sent to cross that killing ground. He then sent his impis in against the areas which he felt were weakest.

In the long run such mathematics was designed to keep his overall losses much lower albeit at an initially higher cost. Unfortunately for the sacrifice of his warriors Cethswayo got his maths wrong.


The attacks at SHanghai and Nanking give me perfect intelligence as to the strength of the defenders and allow me to see when they run out of supplies - the perfect time for the rest of my force to attack en masse.

It costs me the 200 AV or so of my two weakest field armies but gives me the perfect intelligence which saves many multiples of this number of squads from pointless mass assaults which get beaten back. That's the definition of a bargain.

'Tis a bit gamey but since there's no ability to order probing attacks this is the next best way to simulate them.

[ny59giants]

I think it was the American F-4 Phantom that was developed in the 50s & 60s that came out without a machine gun. The Americans had come to rely so much on their early missile technology, that they thought the MG was now outdated. [X(] He may be missing what is obvious to the designer. [;)]

Damian is experiencing what I have gone through numerous times when playing chess. I was on my high school team and went to many tournaments. It was often easy to see moves as long as you were not at the table actually playing the game (I know a lot of counselors that can help others have better relationships, but cannot see what is wrong with their choices). He is looking for checkmate with just his King and Queen. It was a real challenge to do so with two Bishops or two Knights vs. the Queen.

[Nemo121]

Well, I can't believe it has been almost a month since I updated.... Basically Shanghai is proving an extremely tough nut to crack. I can see from the ground combat model in AE that it would have fallen by now in AE. In WiTP so long as there are supplies it will hold. I attack every 3 or 4 days, take 12,000 casualties vs about 3,000 of his and burn his supplies. He must have had huge stockpiles to survive until now but I must be wearing them down, once his adjusted AV falls I will wait and shock attack and it should be mine. I really need Shanghai to act as a more forward airbase for the assault on Japan. Right now I almost have Hanghcow up to a Level 9 port but I need Shanghai as it is a Level 9 airfield and a crucial 60 miles closer to Japan.

In other news I've transported about 100,000 tons of supplies and 20,000 engineers along the coast to build up an airbase just south of Peking. I don't really intend to use this base but it was good opportunity to draw enemy fighters and bombers into action over my territory and kill pilots and planes. Losses have been heavy on both sides but I've been able to replace mine ( mostly ) while Damian should have difficulty replacing his.

Damian's fleet has been lurking in between Korea and Japan and yesterday I sent my own CVs to Tsushima in an effort to get them to launch and destroy themselves vs my CAP. Unfortunately they didn't. I think Damian must be weighing the benefits of launching a surface bombardment on Shanghai. If he times it right he could send his BBs and CAs in, bombard the field and end up back under cover of his CV fighters and land-based LRCAP the next day. If he is lucky most of his fleet would survive. If he is unlucky and ends up outside of his CV and LRCAP then the fleet would die. I've been bombing some of his Ki-44 III factories and I think that has made him a bit desperate so, overall, I think he's going to come in to Shanghai. That's good as my one major fear is that I will land in Japan and then, suddenly, he'll hit me with his 8 or so remaining BBs, CAs, CLs and DDs and get a lucky die roll and get into the amphibious TFs. If he did he could halt the unloading for a day or two and give himself time to redeploy and prevent me from establishing a foothold. Such a turn of events would be devastating and must not be allowed to occur. So, if it is a bombardment he wants he'll find 12 to 15 BBs, 16 CAs, 24 CLs and 90+ DDs... as well as as many PT boats as I can find ... waiting for him at Hangchow. I've also been taking the precaution of mining Shanghai and Hangchow and have about 4,000 defensive mines there. If he comes in he should find his surface fleet badly battered and then, the next day, sunk by my dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers.

Of course he'll hurt my battleline and that's probably his aim. He probably feels that if he can hit my battleline hard enough and put most of it out of commission for a few months he'll delay the invasion of Japan. Unfortunately for Damian I really don't have any intention of invading Japan proper for at least 3 months or so... plenty of time to repair all but the worst battle damage.... No my next invasion is going to be into the soft underbelly of his defences.

Still, if he commits the battleline it'll be pretty glorious and not at all a bad move... I just think he might have waited a bit too long to commit it. Shanghai is a tough nut with massive defensive minefields, a surface fleet which outnumbers his own and, literally, over a thousand strike planes carrying torpedoes or dive-bombs ready to immolate his shipping. Hell, I even have 150 Pe-2s just waiting for him to miscalculate and come into range of their bombs with his CVs.

[Capt. Harlock]

That's good as my one major fear is that I will land in Japan and then, suddenly, he'll hit me with his 8 or so remaining BBs, CAs, CLs and DDs and get a lucky die roll and get into the amphibious TFs. If he did he could halt the unloading for a day or two and give himself time to redeploy and prevent me from establishing a foothold. Such a turn of events would be devastating and must not be allowed to occur. So, if it is a bombardment he wants he'll find 12 to 15 BBs, 16 CAs, 24 CLs and 90+ DDs... as well as as many PT boats as I can find ... waiting for him at Hangchow. I've also been taking the precaution of mining Shanghai and Hangchow and have about 4,000 defensive mines there. If he comes in he should find his surface fleet badly battered and then, the next day, sunk by my dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers.

Of course he'll hurt my battleline and that's probably his aim. He probably feels that if he can hit my battleline hard enough and put most of it out of commission for a few months he'll delay the invasion of Japan. Unfortunately for Damian I really don't have any intention of invading Japan proper for at least 3 months or so... plenty of time to repair all but the worst battle damage

Such a surface battle would indeed be glorious -- but it seems to me your major fear is unjustified. Three months from now you can expect to have air superiority over the East China Sea. I don't see his fleets able to operate around Kyushu or even the Western tip of Honshu. It is said that it shows the greatest skill to win without battle -- but I confess I'm hoping for a knock-down BB brawl!

[Nemo121]

Well, I think that I've shown enough skill in avoiding any decisive CV battles for the past year. We've clashed multiple times and he's had many times my number of airplanes and CVs but all he's ever done is damage a CV here or there. Nothing decisive.

Also I think that once I amphibiously invade he can and will send his BBs in ( they can be based at Hiroshima and reach a landing zone within a day ) and I'll be in a less advantageous position than if I meet them head to head at Shanghai now.

The other thing which now argues in favour of a BB battle is that yesterday he managed to launch a major CV strike on my CVs. My CAP did much worse than normal and while it downed about 150 fighters it also lost 150 and let some DBs and TBs in amongst the CVs. a CVE took two bombs and will likely go down while two of my CVs ( one RN and one US ) took a bomb each. They are all going to have to run for Shanghai. Damian will know this and will not pass up the option of bombarding the port with BBs and, hopefully, landing a few 16 inch shells onto my docked CVs.

If he makes for Shanghai on a death ride then there's nothing I can do to prevent this as I can't intercept him in mid-ocean a la AE. So, it suits me to have this battle and I think it suits Damian --- especially as his fuel reserves must be almost nothing by now. I doubt he has more than 500,000 tons left by now. My strangulation policy for fuel coupled with having him keep his CVs and BBs at sea for long periods following mine all over the map has worked very well indeed according to his emails. So, for him it is better to use the ships while they still have fuel to sortie and, for me, I need to protect Shanghai and I like the idea of having the fight in my own backyard where I can dock my cripples and hunt his as opposed to the other way round.

It should actually be a pretty even fight if it occurs today as the next wave of upgraded BBs isn't due to arrive in Shanghai for another two days. I will have roughly a 33% advantage in BBs tonight whereas in two days time that would have been a 100% advantage. My real advantage though lies in being able to dock my cripples and kill his cripples with my air...