Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
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Requested Assistance
from
The War College
Operation Sea Shark
As many of The War College members are no doubt aware, the Allies plan to invade the four Southern Marianas Islands (Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam) during the month of June of 1943.
The Invasion Force intends to leave the Hawaiian Islands on June 1, 1943 and arrive one hex East of Rota on June 13, 1943.
Amphibious Assaults are intended to occur on June 14, 1943.
Requested Assistance
The following consists of detailed plans regarding the orchestration of Operation Sea Shark.
Considering that I may not be the best Conductor of the Symphony, I humbly request your assistance.
Please speak freely.
I prefer harsh criticism to wholesale slaughter.
The Route to the Marianas Islands
The Invasion Task Forces will travel in one group.
Each Task Force will only consist of ships with a speed of 12 or greater.
The Invasion Task Forces will take a direct route from Pearl Harbor to one hex due East of Rota, thereby passing 4 hexes South of Midway and 3 hexes North of Wake. The total distance is 78 hexes.
On June 7, 1943, a distance of 42 hexes from Pearl Harbor, the Invasion Task Forces will arrive at hex 144,95. AOs will replenish the Task Forces and then return to Pearl Harbor.
Ground Forces
The Order of Battle for ground force amphibious landings may be reviewed by objective at the following posts herein this AAR:
Saipan (Post 1319)
Tinian (Post 1320)
Rota (Post 1321)
Guam (Post 1322)
The total ground force Assault Value allocated to each objective is as follows:
Saipan (1,943)
Tinian (766)
Rota (569)
Guam (3,103)
Loading Amphibious Task Forces
Considering the Allies will not be using ships with a speed less than 12, LSTs will not be part of the Amphibious Task Forces.
Considering the Allies lack of AKs, AKAs, APDs, APA, APs, etc., at this date of the war, I am aware that the bulk of the ground forces will be loaded on xAPs and xAKs.
I am concerned about troop fatigue and disruption.
Each infantry ground unit specified within the Orders of Battle will be loaded on its own separate Task Force with enough supply to hopefully last that individual unit for a period of three to four months. Other Task Forces will no doubt contain multiple ground units, but again with enough supply to last each ground unit three to four months..
No single Amphibious Task Force shall contain more than 25 ships.
Each separate Amphibious Task Force will contain a minimum of either a Minesweeper, a Destroyer Escort, or a Destroyer.
In order to have all ground forces loaded by June 1, 1943, on what date do I need to begin loading the Amphibious Task Forces?
Approximately what will be the troop fatigue and disruption levels after 14 days at sea?
Have I made mistakes regarding the plans for Amphibious Task Forces and the loading thereof?
Capital Ships
With the exception of non-Fletcher Destroyers, the Order of Battle for Capital Ships is set forth in Post 1352 herein this AAR.
Allied Carrier Aircraft
I fully expect to receive some extremely harsh criticism regarding the aircraft the Allies intend to have onboard the Aircraft Carriers. No doubt, well deserved criticism too.
The Allies will have 20 Aircraft Carriers with a total aircraft capacity of 975.
In reference to Operation Sea Shark only, sinking or damaging Japanese Aircraft Carriers with Allied aircraft is NOT a priority.
Operation Sea Shark Aircraft priorities are as follows:
Protect the Amphibious Assaults at Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.
Protect Allied Aircraft Carriers and other ships from loss or significant damage.
Kill as many Japanese pilots as possible; especially Japanese Carrier Aircraft pilots.
Accordingly, Allied Carriers will be loaded with approximately 820 fighters (the vast majority being Wildcats) and 155 Avenger Torpedo Bombers.
Allied Aircraft Carriers will sit in hex 108,95; the hex due East of Rota.
Avengers will be set as follows:
Search (20%)
Naval (80%)
Fighters will be set as follows:
CAP over hex 108,95 (50%)
LRCAP over each objective (25%)
LRCAP (25%)
Configuration of Allied Carrier Task Forces
Four separate Carrier Task Forces.
Three Carrier Task Forces to consist of the following ships:
2 CV
3 CVE
2 CLAA
4 CL
4 CA
4 DD (Fletchers)
The fourth Carrier Task Force will consist of the following ships:
2 CV
2 CVE
1 CVL
1 CLAA
6 CL
5 CA
4 DD (Fletchers)
Bombardment Task Forces
Four Task Forces, one Task Force per objective, each Task Force consisting of the following ships:
5 BB
2 CA
2 CL
3 DD (Fletchers)
A fifth Task Force will consist of 12 Fletcher Destroyers, on standby in hex 108,95 to react to any enemy Combat Surface Fleets.
After the conclusion of bombardments, the Bombardment Task Forces will return to sit in the same hex as the Aircraft Carriers (i.e., one hex East of Rota, hex 108,95).
Amphibious Assaults
All Amphibious HQ, Infantry, Tank, Anti-Tank, and Combat Engineer Amphibious Assault Task Forces will hit the beaches at their individual objective on June 14, 1943.
I am considering the prospect of landing all Amphibious Task Forces on June 14, 1943.
However, might it be better to land HQ, Anti-Aircraft, Support, Port-building, Airbase-building, Fort-building, and other Engineer units on June 15th or June 16th?
Upon completion of each Amphibious Task Force unloading troops and supply, the Amphibious Task Forces will return to sit in the same hex as the Aircraft Carriers (i.e., hex).
Any idea how many days it might take to fully unload all Amphibious Task Forces?
I would like to head all ships back to Pearl Harbor as soon as possible.
The Route Back to Pearl Harbor
The entire Invasion Force, all Task Forces (with the exception of ships disbanded from any given Task Force due to damage that would slow the Invasion Force down), will move in one group and take the most direct route back to Pearl Harbor.
Captain Haggard’s Operations in Support of Operation Sea Shark
Captain Haggard will make his own post providing a brief synopsis regarding his planned operations in support of Operation Sea Shark.
Captain Haggard has some sneaky plans to ambush the Japanese Combat Ships should they decide to try to chase the Allied ships home.
End Notes
Please advise whether I have left out something of importance.
Please criticize me where need be.
Please provide recommendations as you deem appropriate or necessary.
Some of you may have varying or differing opinions. Please state and argue your points, but always be cordial towards those that may sail a different sea.
As always, your input will be greatly appreciated no matter how much you hammer me!
Best Regards,
-Terry
 Attachment (1)
< Message edited by Rio Bravo -- 2/9/2017 3:11:15 PM >
_____________________________
"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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