@Erocco:
Let�s say Japan attacks a US fleet that is in a SZ adjacent to a Japanese Pacific island. Japan attacks with an AC and two fighters and US defends with a cruiser and a destroyer. First roll Japan gets one hit and US gets two hits. Can Japan decide to lose the AC and a fighter and withdraw the other fighter to the adjacent island? Or does Japan have no choice and has to keep attacking?
A few points to note here:
1. The attacker can keep attacking, regardless of casualties, until such time as winning or deciding to retreat or having no units left.
2. If the attacker retreats leaving the defender with too many fighters for any remaining ACs, then those DEFENDING fighters have 1 move to land - i.e. in a territory that is adjacent to the sz (such as an island within the sz) or to an adjacent sz with AC capacity available.
3. The attacker, whether he wins or retreats, can complete each remaining ATTACKING fighters 4 moves to wherever they wish to land in the normal way.