I am posting a synopsis of the next Friday night SquadOp here as the new SquadOp Admin site is under construction.
Operation ICHIGO
Toward the last of May and early June, 1944, the Japanese again began to flex their muscles in eastern China. Was this the usual spring rice-harvest campaign, or the beginning of something larger? From all the Chinese reports, it was going to be much larger and more powerful than just a normal rice-run. There were armoured elements as well as large cavalry units reported off-loading at points along the Yangtze River at night. The Japanese were certainly trying to keep these movements under cover. This led most analysts to believe something really big was being prepared.
On June 5, 1944, the US 74th Fighter Squadron was rushed to Hengyang to give relief to the 75th Fighter Squadron. The Japanese were on the move south with over 100,000 troops. Also a drive had started north from Canton. It was the beginning of the ICHIGO campaign that would crush American bomber bases before they could bring in B-17s that could hit the Japanese mainland.
This SquadOp will pit the Japanese Army Air Force and Japanese Army against the US 14th Air Force. The Japanese intent is a land-grab to remove as many of the American bases as possible, the Americans intend a very aggressive “forward defence”.
Terrain: Trinity
American Forces:P40E Warhawk – fighter-bomber
P51B Mustang – fighter
P-47D-11 Thunderbolt – fighter-bomber
B26 Marauder – medium bomber
A20 Havoc – attack bomber
Japanese Forces:A6M5 Zero-Sen “Zeke” - fighter
D3A “Val” – dive-bomber
Mitsubishi Ki.67 Hiryu “Peggy” – medium bomber
Kawasaki Ki.61 Hien “Tony” – fighter-bomber
Vehicles
- M8 tank
- M3 – troop transport
- M16 – AA vehicle
In an attempt to stretch the SquadOp to the full two hours both sides will have to find each other and develop attacks from what they learn of the enemy. Reconnaissance will be more important than in previous SquadOps. Only strategic aims of each frame will be provided to the Frame COs, from these they will develop offensive and defensive operations. Unlike previous SquadOps, there is no guarantee of action, but if each side operates aggressively, it will happen.
The Japanese can take bases by two methods:
1. Base capture with men (bases must be captured from their associated towns).
2. Destruction of 70% of the structures at a front-line base.
The Americans must fend off as many of the base captures as possible. They have 19 bases (12 airports, 6 Vehicle bases and 1 Port) operational.
