Cribtop
Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008 From: Lone Star Nation Status: offline
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I may be able to add some data here. I accidentally discovered what I humbly refer to as the "Cribtop Lifeboat Doctrine" in my game with Cuttlefish. Basically I had 1/3rd of an IJA Division loaded on transports bound for Kendari in early '42 on an Amphibious mission. Several xAKs had no troops but were loaded about 80% with supplies. A Dutch sub torpedoed and sank the xAK transporting an element of the Division. The "supply only" xAKs rescued the majority of the troops that should have been lost on the torpedoed xAK. IIRC, the unit landed a day or so later and overwhelmed the Dutch defenders. The unit had higher than expected disrupton and fatigue, but was still more than enough to take Kendari. Thus, my unintentional experiment shows, IMHO, that picked up survivors will suffer DIS and FAT but will definitely live to fight another day. Note that it appears that all surviving squads were disabled. It didn't matter in my case, but in an atoll invasion in '44 that could make a big difference. Time lapse between sinking/rescue and invasion was 1 day in this case, so whether the squads would've recovered en route is an open question, although my money is on slow recovery, if any. Here is the post from page 6 of my AAR that discusses this incident: Here is the situation of 21st/A Division on board ship on Jan 10th (actually points out a failure in my loading routine as I meant to have them spread over 4 or 5 ships, not 3 ): - Anzan Maru (1/3 of unit, led by 36 IJA Infantry sqds, this is the parent) - Kinkai Maru (1/3 of unit, led by 36 IJA Infantry sqds) - Ume Maru (1/3 of unit, led by 36 IJA Infantry sqds) - Nittai Maru is one of two "supply only" xAKs, 81% full and a big mother And the situation on Jan 11, after the "unfortunate incident:" - Anzan Maru - SUNK - Kinkai Maru (1/3 of unit, led by 36 IJA Infantry sqds) - Ume Maru (1/3 of unit, led by 36 IJA Infantry sqds) - Nittai Maru (1/3 of unit, all disabled, 20 IJA Infantry sqds, 8 IJA HMG sqds, 14 support), Nittai Maru now 100% full Total Status of 21st/A Div on 1/10/42: 103/103 Total Status of 21st/A Div on 1/11/42: 61/78 Thus, instead of losing an agonizing 33% of the unit, we lose 22%, with a very significant force stuffing itself into the Nittai Maru "lifeboat."
< Message edited by Cribtop -- 10/22/2011 6:45:30 AM >
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