In late October 1944, 2 years and 7 months after leaving the Philippines, troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on the island of Leyte, beginning the liberation of the islands. Three days later, the largest naval battle of World War II took place in the Gulf of Leyte. The intense fighting lasts for three days before the Japanese naval forces under the command of Admiral Kurita retreat northward. The IJN lost a total of 26 ships, including the carrier Zuikaku, to both airstrikes and naval bombardment, while managing only to sink 6 of the US Navy ships. Hellcats and Avengers from the American carriers claim several ships during the retreat.
Four days after MacArthur's landing at Leyte, The 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons of the 49th Fighter Group arrive at the island, and begin preparations to operate out of Tacloban, Leyte. The P-38s and P-47s of the 49th begin to escort bombers leaving from Morotai in the south, as well as attacking Japanese naval forces and land forces on the islands of Mindanao.
The Japanese in response to the attacks prior to the Oct. 20th landing, bring in several squadrons of N1K's to the island of Luzon to help with defense. Several wings of A6M's, B5Ns and B6Ns remain in the carrier arm, but not anywhere near the strength at the height of Japanese Naval Air power. G4M Bettys are employed to strike at the advancing Allied ground forces on Leyte, as well as utilized as torpedo bombers against the American naval vessels. The 18th Hiko Sentai, with approximately 30 Ki-61s, was ordered to move to Bacolod on Negros Island in the Central Philippines to commence attacks on Allied airfields on Leyte and on invasion shipping in Leyte Gulf. The decisive three-day battle of Leyte Gulf begins. The Japanese lose four carriers, three battleships, six heavy and four light cruisers, 11 destroyers, one submarine and some 500 planes, with approximately 10,000 sailors killed. The first organised use of Kamikaze's by the Japanese are reported.
Allied Aircraft
F4U-1D (C41)
F6F-5 (C37, C41)
P-38L (A4)
P-47D-25 (A4)
TBM-3 (C37, C41)
Axis Aircraft
A6M5b (A5, C25)
Ki-61-I-KAIc (A1, A7)
N1K1 (N1K2-j subbing in) (A7, A10)
G4M (KI-67 subbing in) (A7, A10)
B6N (TBM-3 subbing in) (C25)
We will be using Jihads Philippines terrain. This TOD will feature a moving front, so if the allies do well they could own Mindiao by Frame 3, and if they do badly they could be swimming home
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Let me know you side preferances people, assuming everything goes as planned we will be starting this on 26 May.
