CapAndGown
Posts: 3206
Joined: 3/6/2001
From: Virginia, USA
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Sept. 13, 1943
Two important developments this turn. First, the KB makes good on its retirement. Second, Maleolap was captured.
The SS Paddle intercepted the KB before it could make good its retirement, but accomplished nothing other than to be depth charged, one hit being listed at severe. Other than that, our retirement to the north was successful and most ships of the KB were able to refuel. One TF still needs some fuel but we are now well out of any danger.
The allies conducted shock attacks of both Maleolap and Wotje. Suprisingly, Wotje, which is less well defended held out, though the forts are now down to 0, but Maleolap fell, giving the allies a bridgehead in the Marshalls.
The allies also bombarded Milli and Ailinglaplap:
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Night Naval bombardment of Mili at 136,121 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CA Wichita
CA Minneapolis
CA Chester
CA Northampton
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Night Naval bombardment of Mili at 136,121 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Chicago, Shell hits 6
CA Louisville, Shell hits 6
CA Portland, Shell hits 1
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Night Naval bombardment of Ailinglaplap at 133,117
Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Indianapolis
So now I have to make plans for the future.
I am in a quandary as to what to do next. At least one thing I know I want to do is reinforce Truk with a division currently at Rabaul. I am also accumulating PPs to buy another division out of the Home Islands to further increase my garrison of the Marianas. I figure after the Marshalls are captured or neutralized, the allies will go after Kusaie and Ponape. I am also expecting an attack on Wake. From there the allies are likely to want to keep heading west. I would guess that they would prefer to bypass the Solomons, seeing that it is very strongly held, and instead aim first for Truk and then the Marianas. I wish to make Truk impregnable, at least as far as any landing is concerned (although keeping the airfield open will likely be difficult). I would prefer that they head straight to the Mariana's. It is my hope that the Mariana's can be the base for a massive defense by LBA. The Marshalls were less than ideal in this regard because the bases were limited in size and capability. (Also, I did not plan on the need for sacrificial ships to draw off allied CV AC. If I had had in place sacrificial ships to draw off allied CV AC when the KB struck, the CAP we faced would have been much less as those fighters were diverted from CAP duties to escorting a strike.)
These are my longer term plans. It is in the intermediate term where I am somewhat puzzled as to how to proceed. The allies now have a bridgehead in the Marshalls. I would expect that in addition to Maleolap, they should be able to capture Wotje within a few days. This will leave me with three size 4 bases: Milli, Ailinglaplap, and Roi-Namur; and some size 1 bases: Kwajalein and Jailut. I would guess that the allies may have enough troops already embarked and in position to attack Ailinglaplap. But I have to wonder how much longer his CVs can stick around. His fleet must be burning up prodigious amounts of fuel. A number of his ships also need to rearm. To do that where he is at would require AKEs/AEs, some port service units to disembark on Maleolap, and some fuel to deposit on Maleolap so that the "replenish from port" button can be used. I wonder if he has all the necessary prerequisites in place to get Maleolap up and running as a fleet base right away? Even if he does, I can't see the CVs sticking around that much longer.
Meanwhile, the KB really does need to restock. I would also like to fix up some of the accumulated sys and engine damage. I was thinking about instead using the KB to hunt down his fleet train, which I believe he has between PH and the Marshalls, but I have decided the need to restock on planes is more pressing.
So now I am in a quandry. The KB is 4-5 days sailing time from the Home Islands. I need to get back to the Home Islands since several of my squadrons are going to require downgrading from more advanced planes, of which I have few, to more plentiful current models, and to do that, we need a size 7 airfield. Other than Rabaul, there are no other size 7 airfields until you get to the DEI/Philipines. To get back to the Marshalls area would take 6-7 days. Also, it seems to me if we are going to go back to the Home Islands, we should probably use that time to fix up some of the accumulated damage. Thus, I believe we should not count on the KB going into battle again for a while.
So what to do in the meantime about the Marshalls? I don't really care that much about these Islands, but I would like to take advantage of opportunities to slow the allies down, as long as it does not cost me a whole lot.
As to the above comments, especially by FatR, I would agree. I have not shown any above average strategic thinking here. I have benefited by my opponent choosing to take the route he has. On his behalf, however, I would argue that in starting with Somoa/Fiji, it was probably his intention to reopen his supply lines to Australia. And in going for the Marshalls rather than the Gilberts, he was probably influenced by the fact that they are closer to Pearl Harbor and are a more direct route into the vitals of the empire than the Gilberts. Also, we can be sure that he was unable to foresee just what a sever penalty there was for overstacking on such little atolls. Tactically, however, I believe my opponent needs to consider how he loads his invasion forces so that they are not tied to one hex for such a long time. He needs to come up with much more shallow load outs so that his ships can get in and out and one turn.
As to strategy, I would give myself a B, or maybe a B- since I have too much of Montgomery's desire for orderliness.
As to economics, I would give myself an A-. I am flush with engines, ships, planes and have a decent stock pile of fuel, oil, resources, and HI points.
As to tactics, I would say a B+: I am probably a little overly concerned with taking losses.
< Message edited by cap_and_gown -- 8/30/2010 10:45:05 PM >
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RE: The butcher's bill - 
I can't wait for the 4E bombers too show up! 
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