Allies take Paramushiro Jima (Full Version)

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Canoerebel -> Allies take Paramushiro Jima (12/27/2008 2:48:33 PM)

NoPac:  Paramushiro Jima fell to the Allies on the 28th.  The collapse of resistance was unexpected, since the previous attack had come off at 1:1.  This time it came in at 8:1, the difference being one more RCT plus a few more nightly bombardments by the four-BB TF.  It will take weeks to wipe out the remaining 35,000 Japanese troops, but this makes my supply line from Alaska to Shikuka more secure.  200+ 4EB from Shikuka (including 90 B-29s) hit various targets in Hakodate including resources, Kawasaki engines, shipyard, and heavy industry.  This target was chosen because I had hit Sapporo so many times in succession that I feared I was too predictable.

CenPac:  The Ponape troops left Midway on the 28th under cover of CV Wasp and escorts.  They will be met near Wake Island by several TFs from Eniwetok covered by eight CVEs.  The CVEs will escort the Ponape troops back to Eniwetok while several empty transport TFs continue back to Wake Island.  I have 6th Marine Division and an Army division at San Fran prepping for Wake, and it may be two weeks or longer before I can get them to Midway.

Australia:  The Aussies reclaimed Broome on April 26.  A tank unit will recapture Wyndam in less than a week.  A Jap carrier TF showed up near Derby and sank the lone AK that was handling the amphibious operations at Broome and Derby.

Malaya:   The Japs suddenly evacuated Ban Don, so the Allies took this base on the 26th.  I'm not sure why John gave it up since I couldn't have taken it for weeks.  Perhaps he has his own supply problems or sees the situation differntly than I do.  Ban Don has some resources and my troops are suddenly fully supplied, so I'm hoping to hold this base until reinforcements arrive.  They will come most likely from the troops at Rangoon who shall be ferried to Georgetown and then march on Alor Star.  I've been hitting Bangkok daily with a mismash of aircraft from Rangoon.  On the 29th, John orchestrated an ambush by 80 Jack, George and Tony.  In came a few bombers escorted by British Thunderbolt IIs and American P-47s.  The Japs lost 33 aircraft and the Allies 7.

Points:  Japs 52,945; Allies 46,990.  The spread is below 6,000 for the first time.  Strategic bombing points now 3,148.

Liberator IIIs:  Yes, FOW, I too have found the Liberator IIIs more fragile than B-24s.



Canoerebel -> Operation Aurora (12/29/2008 3:12:54 PM)

4/30/44 to 5/3/44
 
CenPac:  The empty Allied transports from Eniwetok escorted by eight CVEs headed north to rendezvous with the transports loaded for Ponape escorted by CV Wasp heading south from Midway.  Jap bombers sortied in large numbers from Wake on May 1, with none scoring hits.  The Japs lost 115 aircraft to 15 for the Allies.  John expressed utter frustration and promplty withdrew all aircraft from Wake, allowing the two Allied TFs to rendezvous, with empty transports then heading NE toward Midway and the combined CVE/CV Wasp TFs escorting the Ponape-loaded transports back toward Eniwetok.  The Japanese attacks brought back ugly memories of my game vs. Miller in which he used Iwo Jima to hammer a number of Allied convoys, sinking many, many CVEs.  This increased my desire to take Wake in order to protect my line of supply, but recon shows that atoll held by 40,000 troops.  I don't think I want it that bad.  Instead of seizing Wake, I might be better moving south from Eniwetok and Ponape (assuming I take the latter) toward the Solomons to open a supply line with Australia.

NoPac/Carriers:  Three CVs and three CVLs left Shikuka on the 3rd, heading for the Aleutians and then for CenPac.  Assuming no losses anywhere in the meantime, this will give me four CVs, three CVLs, and 15 CVEs in CenPac, with more CVs and CVEs scheduled to arrive at Panama City in eleven days.  This will be a big enough force to handle operations in CenPac/SoPac/SwPac for the foreeseeable future.  I have something like four CVs, four CVLs, and eight CVEs in NoPac, which I think is sufficient to hold Sikhalin against any conceivable attack now that the Allies also have decent airfields at Onnekotan and Paramushiro to compliment the big fields on Sikhalin Island.

Australia:  The Aussies are in ready to go as soon as the Allies can lend them the ships to get somewhere.   Depending on what decisions are made with respect to Wake/Ponape/Solomons, that day may not be too far off.

Malaya/Sumatra:  The first wave of reinforcements from Rangoon are on the way to Georgetown, with more to follow over the next ten days.  I'll probably leave about 750 AV in Rangoon as a reserve.  

Philippines:  38 B-29s from China hit the port of Manila, damaging 2 AP, 1 AK, 1 AR, and 1 PG.  This was the first Allied offensive activity in the PI since early in the war.

Edited to add: Operation Aurora is the invasion of Wake Island, although I don't know if I'll ever go through with it.




ny59giants -> RE: Operation Aurora (12/29/2008 3:46:52 PM)

quote:

Operation Aurora is the invasion of Wake Island, although I don't know if I'll ever go through with it.


I would take Wake and then Marcus Island. This will make the North Pacific your lake and free up the need for any escorts to and from Sikhalin Island. Once this is done, all your carriers could be used for a more aggressive strike and/or invasion somewhere else.



Canoerebel -> RE: Operation Aurora (12/29/2008 4:39:38 PM)

NYGiants, I have the benefit of a great deal more information about disposition of enemy troops on the map that factors into my decisions.  John suddenly has a big base (Eniwetok) threatening his SoPac/SwPac positions.  He had apparently built up the obvious targets like Wake (and presumably Marcus and Kwajalein).  Rather than get bogged down in big battles there, thus allowing him to reposition elsewhere, I think I'll bypass those targets and try for softer targets deeper into Jap territory.  It makes sense strategically because it allows me to link up with Australia more quickly.  That's my thinking.



Canoerebel -> RE: Operation Aurora (12/29/2008 11:02:01 PM)

5/4/44 to 5/6/44
 
CenPac:  The Ponape invasion TFs made it to Eniwetok without encountering the enemy.  The CVEs have made good the few aircraft lost during the cruise.  I was set to send the force on toward Ponape, but noticed the Japs may have carriers at Kwajalein.  I've ordered recon to fly over that island to see what's up.  Ponape looks vacant although I haven't flown recon there yet (I'll do so the day the invasion TFs leave Eniwetok; then, if the island looks occupied, I can recall the ships.  The Japs have 13 units 41,800 strong at Wake.  I have three divisions (one Marine, two Army), two RCT, and alot of armored units prepping for Wake.   It is still possible that I'll invade there, but I'll continue to gather information and weigh options while awaiting arrival of the rest of the units still at San Francisco.  4EB from Iwo Jima hit Matsuyama on back-to-back days, doing light damge to resources and Kawasaki Engines facilities there.

NoPac:  Allied 4EB hit Ominato on back to back days; the first focusing on the airfield, the second divided between that target and the port.  The Japs lost a heck of alot of aircraft on the ground (67 the first day, 62 the next, and anoterh 30 or 40 in the air).  On the second day the bombers scored mutliple hits on 4 AK and an AR.  Allied losses were minimal.  But the Allies are having trouble wiping out the defenders at Paramushiro.

SwPac:  SigInt indicates 7th Indpendent Brigade at Noumea and 47th Naval Guards at Luganville.

Sumatra/Malaya:  The first reinforcements have arrived at Georgetown from Rangoon.  To the north, a small detachment took a weekly guarded Pisanuloke (held only by a base force).



Grotius -> RE: Operation Aurora (12/30/2008 4:27:21 PM)

Hi Canoerebel,

I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of praise for your AAR. I've been reading it for the past several days and have finally caught up with you. Great comeback! I haven't gotten around to reading your opponent's AAR yet; just reading yours took oodles of time. I can't imagine how much time has been involved in writing it.

I've played a few shorter PBEMs (short scenarios like Rising Sun and Coral Sea), and a couple aborted longer PBEMs, so I can certainly relate to your descriptions of the intensity of the experience. It's kind of reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one who gets entirely sucked in. I'd find myself debating strategy all the way to work in my car. It's fun but all-consuming! If and when I do another PBEM, I'm hoping I can approach it the way Cap Mandrake does, with a lightness of heart -- but that's easier said than done.



Canoerebel -> RE: Operation Aurora (1/2/2009 4:23:06 AM)

5/7/44 to 5/10/44

CenPac: The Ponape invasion TFs have been steaming in circles south of Eniwetok while trying to sort through sightings of Japanese combat ships and carriers. The reports of greatest concern were of about eight CAs moving NE from Truk and the airfield at Wake suddenly full of fighters and bombers. I was worried John might be slipping in a carrier force. There was no sign of this TF on the 10th, and I wonder whether John might be sending the carriers on a raid toward Midway or even the Aleutians. It's all guesswork now, but I think the Allies are in good shape. Recon shows just two small units at Ponape and one of these is Ponape Base Force according to recent SigInt. So I'm going forward with the invasion. D-Day will be May 12.

Jap Carriers: I had not fully considered the temptation CV Wasp and eight CVEs would be to John. It would be no great surprise that he would jump at the chance to take on a fleet carrier under reasonably good odds. So he may well throw as much power as he can toward Eniwetok in hopes of picking off a few American carriers.

NoPac: The Allies have invaded Attu Island in the Aleutians. A single transport TF arrived on the 9th and unloaded a detachment roughly equal to the Jap garrison. John reacted by ordering a shock attack, thinking that the odds wouldn't be too bad, but overnight three more transport TFs arrived. So his shock attack failed miserably, the Japs losing more than 700 men to less than 100 for the Allies. I won't attack for a few more days because my guys are short on supplies. 4EB from Shikuka hit Sapporo on the 9th, destroying 75 resources.

Australia/New Guinea: A B-29 squadron flew from Midway to Darwin, which has a level six airfield 86% to level seven. This outfit will hit Soerabaja as soon as the airfield increases to seven. A small force landed at Merauke on the south coast of New Guinea on the 10th. I think this base is vacant. Portland Roads airfield and port just went to level one. It won't be too much longer before the Allies go on the offensive in the NG/Solomons/New Caledonia area.

Malaya/Sumatra: Sufficient troops have landed at Georgetown to make a stab at taking Alor Star. These troops should arrive at Alor tomorrow or the following day.

China: I get the feeling that John is up to something in China. Not sure what or where. But I sure don't want to let China turn into a cauldron, so the troops prepping for Camranh Bay at Lungchow will probably move north to the Changsha area to serve as a reserve.

Grotius: Thanks for the comments. I have put alot of time into this AAR. WitP takes so long to play, and requires so much time, that I wanted to create a record of the game that I could enjoy (hopefully) long after the game ended. It has been a wild game. John really throttled me at the outset, due to his aggression and familiarity with the game and my relative inexperience. I really feared a Jap auto-victory in early '43. To have come back from the brink of overwhelming defeat has been most satisfying. I've come up with some good ideas, but mainly the Allied comeback is due to the overwhelming strength of the Allied forces in WitP by late '43 and forward.



Canoerebel -> Operation Halo (1/2/2009 2:55:06 PM)

5/11/44
 
CenPac:  Tomorrow is D-Day for the Ponape invasion (Operation Halo).  I have some misgivings about this invasion because there were Jap carriers in the area recently and I don't know their current location, and because the invason force is a hodge-podge of troops.  The go-ahead was given because it looks like Ponape is lightly held.  I also think there's a 50-50 chance the Jap carriers were headed north to the sea lanes between Midway and Iwo or Midway and the Aleutians.

NoPac:  Troops continue to land at Attu Island but I won't attack for three or four days so that I can bring in more supplies.  Paramushiro has been tough.  I took the base awhile ago, but the remnant Jap army refuses to give up.  Nightly bombardments by a BB TF plus daily attacks by the ground troops are slowly reducing the defender's AV toward zero.

Australia/New Guinea:  The Aussie unit to Merauke on New Guinea's southern coast.  If (BIG if) the Ponape invasion force goes well, the Allies will then have a decision: Use the Wake Island-prepped troops to invade Wake, or avoid that tough nut and instead move south toward the Solomons and New Guinea.

Malaya:  The Alor Star-prepped troops made 22 miles yesterday, so it should take three days for them to advance on that base from Georgetown.

Points:  Japs 53,044 to Allies 48,050.  The spread drops below 5k for the first time.



Canoerebel -> RE: Operation Halo (1/2/2009 6:11:36 PM)

5/12/44
 
CenPac:  The invasion of Ponape commenced and is going well.  The Allied forces didn't find any mines and the Japanese navy and airforce did not make an appearance.  The defense consists of just the Ponape base force and coastal gun unit.  The invaders consist of combat engineers, Marine CD, and a tank unit.  The auto-shock attack came off at 4:1 and reduced forts from four to zero.  A handful of LSTs and DEs were badly damaged by shore guns.  Barring something completely unexpected, the Allies should take the base tomorrow.   I've ordered my combat TF, CV Wasp TF, and two CVE TFs to move closer to Eniwetok.  Two P-38J squadrons are providing LRCAP.  My carriers should return to Eniwetok by the 14th.  Meanwhile, I'm still wondering whether the Jap carriers are moving north from Truk into the waters between Midway and Iwo Jima.  

Australia: The Allies reclaimed Wyndham.  The only remaining Jap base in Australia is Derby.  It's vacant and will fall in about a week.  An infantry unit is enroute from Broome.

Malaya:  The first troops arrived at Alor Star, with a number to follow over the next few days. I'll try a probing bombardment tomorrow.

Points:  The Allies just overtook the Japanese in points for bases.  This score is Allies 7,697; Japs 7,608.  The Japs hold 272 bases to 227 for the Allies.



Canoerebel -> No Boogeyman (1/3/2009 7:02:10 PM)

5/12/44 to 5/15/44
 
CenPac:  Operation Halo is a success as Ponape falls to the Allies on May 13, 1944.  The Allies lost two LCIs to shore guns and that's it.  Squadrons of Corsairs and PBMs are based at the island.  The carrier TFs and combat TF has already returned to Eniwetok.  So now the Allies have a major decision to make - secure the line of supply by taking Wake Island (a major operation that will take alot of troops and time) or head south into what seems to be a lightly-defended Solomons/New Guinea/New Britain region and link up with the Aussie troops moving north.  I'm not sure which way to go yet.  No sign of Jap carriers or combat ships in CenPac during this interval.

NoPac:  Attu Island falls to the Allies on May 14.  The Japs have just three bases left in the Aleutians and the Allies will take them one by one over the next few months.  4EBs from Shikuka hit Hakodate on the 13th.

Australia:   Darwin's airfield went to level seven.  The Allies already had a B-29 squadron there, so a strike went for Soerabaja on the 15th on the hunch that the Japs would have "hidden" some ships in this backwater area.  Sure enough, capital ships were present.  The B-29s put 12 500 pounders in BB Hyuga and one more in CA Chikuma.  The damage done to Hyuga is probably slight, but the ability of the Allies to hit this base will force John to provide CAP or abandon the base.  The Allies claimed a vacant Derby on the 15th.  The continent is finally back in Allied hands after a very difficult campaign that lasted two years.

Malaya:  The Japs appear to be in retreat, having abandoned Singora while retreating south along the east shore of the peninsula.  Allied troops continue to advance from Georgetown to Alor Star, with the first concerted attack just a few days away.  With the Japs in retreat, I'm not sure where they stop.  There isn't any logical line of defense except perhaps a Mersing/Johore Bharu/Singapore redoubt.  The Japs have plenty of troops and could hold off the Allies for a long time, but Allied air superiority and the mere "threat" of losing an army is forcing John's hand here.  On the 15th, 39 P-38Js did a figher sweep over Singapore and tangled with 93 Tonys, 39 Georges, and 30 Jacks.  The Allies lost 19 P-38s and the Japs lost 9 Georges, 10 Jacks, and 19 Tonys.

Strategic Situation:  With the Japs apparently in retreat in Malaya, and the Allies advancing in CenPac and the Aleutians, the collapse of the Japanese empire seems imminent.  But this reminds me of the sitaution just before the Battle of the Bulge.  John still has a big army, navy, and airforce and can overwhelm the Allies at one or more points of his choosing.  I'm not worried about Jap forays into areas with protected by a large number of carriers and LBA - so NoPac seems safe along with Hawaii and probably India.  Australia is safe because of the numbers of Allied troops dispersed throught the continent.  I am somewhat concerned about a Japanese "end run" around Sumatra/Malaya - perhaps a major invasion of Port Blair or perhaps even Ceylon.  No likely, but either of these would be troublesome for the Allies.  I think the most likely vector of attack would be a large-scale Japanese carrier supported invaison in CenPac or SwPac.  Targets like Eniwetok and Ponape make sense.  Midway and Iwo doesn't make sense.  Barring a Japanese offensive, the next most likely scenario would be a very spirited defense of someplace deemed by John critical or "safe to commit forces to."  Noumea, Luganville, Port Moresby, and perhaps Suva and Pago Pago fall into this category.  I do expect increased Japanese activity in China.

The Allies won't be mounting any major operations in CBI or the vicinity of the Jap "heartland" in the near future. The only amphibious operations any time soon will be in NoPac (Aleutians) and CenPac (Wake) or SWPac (Solomons/New Guinea/New Britain).



ny59giants -> RE: No Boogeyman (1/3/2009 8:45:55 PM)

quote:

With the Japs in retreat, I'm not sure where they stop. There isn't any logical line of defense except perhaps a Mersing/Johore Bharu/Singapore redoubt.


A possible line will be Kuala Lumpur on the west coast and holding up in the hex due east of it. It is a mtn hex and the x4 bonus might help him.



castor troy -> RE: No Boogeyman (1/3/2009 9:22:12 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

quote:

With the Japs in retreat, I'm not sure where they stop. There isn't any logical line of defense except perhaps a Mersing/Johore Bharu/Singapore redoubt.


A possible line will be Kuala Lumpur on the west coast and holding up in the hex due east of it. It is a mtn hex and the x4 bonus might help him.



isn´t mountaineous terrain x3 and only urban x4? would have to look it up...



Heeward -> RE: Steamroller (1/4/2009 3:02:24 AM)

Steamroller in Malaya / Indochina?
You seem to wait two to four weeks before advancing in your SE Asia land campaign. This allows IJA units to rest / rebuild / prep and build additional fortifications before your next assault. What most likely hurts your more is the increased fortification levels and disruption recovery.

How throughly do you recon / prepare for the next base down the line prior to your current objective falling? Generally you have thrashed your opponents units equal to or more than yours. Based on the combat reports you should be able to estimate his combat effectiveness of the shattered units vs your pursing ones. Do you maintain a reserve of fresher units to pursue?

Or do you believe that waiting gives you a greater advantage?





Canoerebel -> RE: Steamroller (1/4/2009 2:03:45 PM)

It's difficult to give readers a complete picture of all the factors that go into decision-making in this massive game.  The game is just too massive.

NYGiants:  I don't know if John will choose that line only because he has an Allied army to the rear, besieging Malacca.  There's alot of factors in play here - both from my end and his.  On his side, supplies and a reasonable fear of being cut off may be influencing his decisions.  He's abandoned Singora and I think I'll take Alor Star in a few days, so he'll be withdrawing down the coast, I just don't know yet how far.  The Allied objective remains the same:  apply pressure and keep Malaya/Sumatra an attrition zone.  But John seems to have withdrawn his navy and alot of his airforce.

Heeward:  Way back when Rangoon fell I elected to go with amphibious assaults in Malaya/Sumatra rather than to advance overland toward Bangkok.  I had well over 7,000 AV in Rangoon - most of them began prepping for Sabang and Victoria Point.  A handful prepped for other locations (many of which were lightly garrisoned at the time) like Kuala, Kuala Lumpur, and Padang).  The Allies proceeded with the invasion of Sabang.  Then other opportunities arose so that I never invaded Victoria Point.   I had about 2,000 AV 100% prepped for that target for months, and just switched them over to Alor Star a few weeks ago.  Sometimes the Allies are very careful in advancing. For example, when I took Georgetown I stayed there for weeks.  This was partly because I didn't have troops prepped to advance out of the beachhead and threaten adjacent bases, and partly because I was surrounded by heavily garrisoned Jap bases and didn't want to risk losing Georgetown.  On other occasions I have taken chances to strike quickly at lightly held bases - for instance Padang (successful) and Johore Bahru (unsuccessful, but created great pressure on John that had many benefits).  But my primary objective has always been to apply pressure in this theater and to attrition the Japs, while avoiding any major losses.   That has influenced how I've conducted this campaign, which has succeeded beyond my expectations to this point. Not only have the Allies gained ground, but Malaya/Sumatra has also been a dying field for ships, planes and men of both sides. It was here that the Japs lost BBs Yamato and Musashi, a serious blow to the Japanese given the other BBs lost elsewhere. The Allies no longer fear being outgunned by combat ships anywhere the Allies have BBs.



Canoerebel -> Operation Aurora (1/5/2009 6:13:21 PM)

5/16/44 to 5/18/44
 
CenPac:  I have been torn between the option of heading south to invade what appears to be a lightly held Solomons/New Britain/New Guinea region or back-filling to take what will be a stoutly defended Wake Island, I finally chose the latter; thus the rebirth of Operation Aurora.  I am still awaiting arrival at Midway of the balance of 6th Marine Division, but all troops should be ready to embark on transports within a week.  The defense seesm to be 40,000 troops in about 13 units (a division plus mixed brigade, or perhaps two mixed brigades?)  The invasion force will consist of:  6th Marine Division; 31st Army Division; 98th Army Division; two RCT; 11th Combat Engineers; three Tank Destroyer units; two Tank units; two Marine Amphibious armor units; III Marine Artillery; 15th Marine CD; two Amphibious Force HQ units; and XI Corps HQ.  The transport and supply ships will be escorted by three carrier TFs (each with a fleet carrier and CVL); CV Wasp's TF; several escort carrier TFs totalling 15 CVEs; and a stout bombardment TF probably to include BBs Massachusetts and Richelieu.  The plan is to station the CVEs, bombardment TF, and MSW at Wake several days in advance of the invasion to reduce the defenses, clear mines, and in general to gauge the intensity of the Japanese response.  If things look too hot, I may divert south and hit the Solomons region instead.

NoPac/CenPac:  On the 16th, the Allies tried a coordinated strike against the aircraft factories at Gumma with poor results.  John has three good Tony squadrons flying CAP.  They turned back the B-24s and B-17s from Iwo with little trouble, and then did the same with B-29s from Shikuka (and that surprised me, but I had them set too low - 25,000 feet).  I lost 48 aircraft in the raids.  Other 4EBs from Shikuka hit an undefended Aomori, destroying 50 resource points, so the day wasn't a total waste.  John's email to me said simply:  "Come on back and visit..."  Okay, bub, I will...  Meanwhile, the efforts to wipe out the isolated defenders at Attu Island and Paramushiro continue; the going is frustratingly slow, but the odds are increasing (both islands were 26:1 attacks yesterday).

Australia:  A recon squadorn transferred from Kiska to Eniwetok to Coen, Australia, over two days, rested a few days, and is now flying recon over Port Moresby.  I think it will be tough for John to commit ships to defend this region/New Caledonia/the Socieities/Fiji/Pago Pago/Canton/Kwajalein etc. simply because the Japs "sea lane" is now very narrow, what with the Allies having bases at Ponape and Eniwetok to the north, and Australia to the south.  John can send ships between Ponape and New Guinea, but even there he risks a raid by American carriers.  It will be interesting to see what he does.  The Allies can pick up alot of points at places like Noumea, Port Moresby, Suva, and Pago Pago.

Malaya:  On May 17, the Allies took a vacant Singora and a lightly defended Alor Star.  The Allies now hold most of the northern half of the Malay Peninsula.  John has a strong line across the peninsula with stout garrisons at Taiping (west side) and Khota Bharu (east side).  I'm not sure which I'll hit, or whether I'll reinforce the beachead at Malacca, or both.  Georgetown airfield is a level five about 80% to level six.  As soon as it reaches level seven, I'll move B-29s in and commence a strategic bombing campaign.

The Map:  Over the past few days, especially following the fall of Eniwetok and Ponape, I've reflected on the overall situation and realized I am very satisfied with the Allied position.  The Allies can bomb Japan, are safely advancing in Malaya (by safe I mean it's not a risky operation with a big threat to Allied carriers), and can backfill in CenPac/SWPac/SoPac without too much danger.  In fact, the Allies don't anticipate any more high risk invasions in the game.  Those were done in the second half of 1943 (Midway, Iwo Jima, Hokkaido, Port Blair, Sabang).  The Japanese high water mark was just about a year ago, and had I been able to foresee where the Allies would be as we approach June 1944, I would have been most pleased.




Canoerebel -> Operation "Come on back and visit..." (1/5/2009 10:55:46 PM)

5/19/44 to 5/22/44
 
Strategic Bombing:  The Allies accepted John's kind invitation to "come on back and visit" issued after his fighters thrashed a 4EB raid over Gumma on the 16th.  The Allies transferred two squadrons of P-38Js to Iwo Jima, replenished squadrons low on aircraft, and gave everybody a good rest.  On the 22nd, the Allies sent in bombers from four bases as follows:   (1) 67 P-38s, 96 B-24s, and 22 B-17s from Iwo Jima targeting the George factories at Gumma; this flight tackled with 62 Tonys.  The Japs lost 17 fighters and the Allies 17 P-38s and 3 B-24s.  The Allies scored seven hits; (2) 67 B-29s targeted the Jack factories at Gumma and faced 45 Tonys, which couldn't intercept at that altitude; the Allies scored 13 hits; (3) 33 B-29s from Changsha came in, five were downed (I forgot to set them at max elevation) and scored five more hits on Jack production.  Then 14 B-24s from Shikuka hit Hakodate (scoring three Heavy Industry hits), and 49 B-17s and 66 PBY Liberators from Shikuka knocked out 62  resources at Aomori; and, finally, 39 B-25s from Toyohara scored 25 resource hits at Sapporo.  On the day, the Allies eliminated 6 George points, 43 Jack points, and a few Frances points.  The total strategic bombing points for the day was about 500, the biggest raid of the war to date, and a satisfying way to respond to John's comment.

CenPac:  Troops continue to arrive at Midway; embarkation for Operation Aurora is still about four days away.

Malaya:  The RN bombarded Malacca, but two DDs were damaged by mines while returning to port at Bankha.  The Allies have finished designating prep for the next targets on the Malay Peninsula, but it will be awhile before units move out.

Points: Japs 52,884 to Allies 49,312.  The spread has fallen below 4,000 for the first time.



Canoerebel -> Tokyo Raid (1/6/2009 11:01:02 PM)

5/23/44 to 5/26/44
 
Tokyo:  Allied 4EB and long-range fighters rested after the recent Gumma raid, and then the Air Corps HQ came up with the idea of hitting the airfield at Tokyo since recon showed CAP in excess of 100 fighters over that base.  The raid took place on the 26th with well over 100 B-24s and B-17s from Iwo Jima escorted by 66 P-38s, followed by about 90 unescorted B-29s from Shikuka.  The P-38s squared off against 45 Tony and 54 George in a long-lasting dogfight that saw 34 Tony, 12 George, and 9 P-38s go down.  The bombers made it through in good shape and destroyed 37 aircraft (Tony, George, Lilly, and Helen).  Other bombers from Toyohara and Shikuka hit resources at Aomori (destroying 56) and ship repair facilities at Hakodate.

Manila: 38 unescorted B-29s from Changsha took this chance for a second strike at the port facilities at Manila and put four 500 pounders in BB Ise (barely a scratch and confirming that Ise seems to have avoided the threat of sinking following the four torpedoes she took in the Straits of Malacca).

NoPac:  The Allies have eliminated all but one unit at Paramushiro Jima and all resistance at Attu Island.  The carrier and combat TFs supporting the Paramushiro operation have headed back to Shikuka.  As soon as the final enemy unit is wiped out (probably tomorrow), I'll redirect the prep for these units.  All but one of the Attu Island units are now prepping for the next Jap-held base in the Aleutians.  There are three left.

CenPac:  Operation Aurora is underway.  The southern component left Eniwetok on the 24th - two LST TFs carrying two RCTs, two CVE TFs, CV Wasp TF, and a combat TF.  These ships took station about 240 miles north of Eniwetok to await the approach of the norhtern component before actually closing on Wake Island.  The northern component transports are still loading troops at Midway.  But the three CV/CVL TFs, CVE TF, combat TF, replenishment TFs, and minesweeper TF left Midway on the 26th.  Recon shows Jap ships at Wake Island and two more units.  John seems to be reinforcing the base, so I think he's decided to fight as hard as he can.  I'm still not sure I'll invade Wake - I want to gauge the level of resistance and hopefully clear mines first.   If things don't appear auspicious, I can divert the ships south toward easier targets.

Malaya:  A transport convoy is unloading reinforcements at Malacca.  No resistance yet from the Japanese army or navy.  Georgetown's airfield just increased to level six - so in another ten days to two weeks it will reach seven and can then serve as a base for B-29s.



Canoerebel -> The Free French Hit Wake Island (1/8/2009 6:58:36 PM)

5/27/44 to 6/2/44
 
Wake Island:   The two segments of the Allied force rendezvoued just west of Wake Island on May 30 - the Southern Component from Eniwetok including two RCTs loaded in LSTs, two CVE TF, CV Wasp TF, and combat TF with two CAs; the Norther Component from Midway including three CV/CVL TFs, one CVE TF, small bombardment TF including Free French BB Richelieu, several replenishment TFs (including AEs), and MSW TF.  Meanwhile, the bulk of the transport TFs at Midway finally finished loading and followed behind.  To my surprise and relief John pulled all his aircraft out of Wake - understandable from his standpoint as he feared a bombardment, but a huge plus for the Allies because it eliminates the risk of massed LBA strikes (Wake is a level four airfield).  Eleven Frances bombers raided from Marcus, but all went down.  A bombardment TF flagged by BB Richelieu bombarded Wake on June 1, doing moderate damage, clearing some mines, and encountered only minimial shore gun resistance; on the same day a MSW TF arrived at Wake and began clearing mines.  These two TFs are covered by two CVE TFs; the remaining TFs have taken station just north of Wake awaiting arrival of the Midway transports and the green light to proceed with the invasion.  As the carrier TFs approached Wake they found some Jap shipping unloading reinforcements, and TBM Avengers sank two MSW, and AP, and a PG.  The Jap garrison increased from 41,000 to 47,000.  A sub far to the NW of Wake sighted a Jap DD on the 2nd (in the Central Pacific waters between Midway and Marcus).  This could be a carrier force heading for Wake, so I ordered the ships that were a hex north of Wake to move a bit to the east to give me some space and time to evaluate the situation tomorrow.  The Midway transports are still three or four days away from Wake.  (From a historic standpoint, this invasion is the most true to history since the Allies are "softening" Wake prior to landing troops; heretofore I've just "gone straight in" at places like Midway and Iwo Jima).

NoPac/CenPac:  The last resistance at Paramushiro Jima ended on the 27th.  The Japs now have but three lonely, cut-off bases in the Northern Pacific - Amchitka Island, Dutch Harbor, and Cold Bay.  These will fall one by one over the next sixty days.  Massed Allied 4EB from Iwo Jima, Toyohara, and Shikuka hit Gumma and Sendai on the 2nd, suffering light losses to bombers but 10 P-38s and doing light damage to the Jack factory and resources. 

Superfortresses:   The Allies recently converted one B-17E squadron to B-29s and now have Superforts as follows:  Three groups (48 planes each) Shikuka; one group at Darwin; one group at Changsha; two groups at Rangoon.

Malaya:  The landing of reinforcements and supplies at Malacca is complete.  Jap subs have damaged some ships at Malacca and Georgetown.  The airfield at Georgetown is 20% to level seven.  The Allies will move on Taiping in a week or so.

Jap "Inner Circle" Defenses:  John is heavily reinforcing places like Bali, Amboina, Guam, Saipan, etc. and he recently made an AAR post titled "Inner Circle Defenses."  The problem is that his "Inner Circle" has already been breached at Iwo and Sikhalin Island.  The Allies probably won't ever try to take heavily defended places like Saipan.  Many of them are now irrelevant.

Points:  On May 29 the point spread fell below 3,000 for the first time:  Japs 53,041 to Allies 50,091.

One Year Ago:  The Jap high water mark was exactly one year ago.  On June 1, 1943 the Japs held all of Australia except Sydney and Melbourne, still held Rangoon and all of Vietnam; had Iwo, Midway, Baker, Pago Pago, Fiji, the Societies, and all of the Aleutians up to Cold Bay; the Japs hadn't lost a carrier and the surface fleet was essentially intact except for two inferior BBs lost near Melbourne.  But early that month John sent a Mini-KB into the Bay of Bengal and ended up losing CVs Hiyo and Junyo and it was shortly thereafter that the Allies invaded Midway, the beginning of the offensives that have put the Allies in excellent position to finish the war.




Canoerebel -> Just One Question... (1/9/2009 1:57:31 PM)

The KB slipped close to Hawaii and absolutely savaged two large and empty transport TFs heading to Pearl Harbor.  More about this devious attack later, but as I prepare to run the turn - to this point I've only seen the actual combat report because I don't have the game loaded on my home computer - I really only have one question:  Will John shift the KB south to attack or threaten my carriers near Wake Island?  I'll check two things first when I open the file:  Has John loaded up Wake with aircraft?  Is the KB on a course or in position to hit me in just a day or two?  If so, I'm going to have alot of heart burn; if not, little heart burn.



Canoerebel -> RE: Just One Question... (1/9/2009 3:01:37 PM)

I'll make a longer post later, but an update now that I've run the turn:

1.  The KB not only tangled with two large and empty transport convoys, but also one carrying reserve troops to Wake Island (it had fallen behind the main TFs with carrier protection).   So several new airborn regiments are toast. 
2.  The loss of the empty transports and even the reserve troops means nothing from a strategic standpoint - I have plenty of ships and more than enough men to do the job; it does mean two things:  First, points for John and I don't want to make him gifts of points; and (2) it emboldens John to strike again.
3.  It does NOT appear that John intends to tangle with the main fleet, thank goodness.  The thought of my carriers being caught between defending transports on the one hand and an island full of LBA plus a stout KB air arm was sickening.  The Allies bombarded Wake again, destroying 16 Jills, 4 Zekes, and 4 Alfs, and the airfield is 60% out of commission.  Recon shows that John pulled out his aircraft, which is a tremendous relief.
4.  I'm proceeding with the invasion.  My transports are just three hexes from Wake and I want to get my troops on shore so to eliminate the risk that they might be lost in a massive air/sea engagement.
5.  Great move by my always bold opponent.  He slipped the KB into my back bedroom through a (carelessly) unlocked door and ravaged some of the occupants of the house.  But my main concerns remain the health and safety of my carriers and the main invasion fleet, which is huge.  If John disengages, I can live with the bloody nose that he gave me.



Canoerebel -> RE: Just One Question... (1/9/2009 7:19:14 PM)

I'm updating in dribs and drabs but will eventually resume my normal format...

Zoiks, Scoob!  This has been a tough week for the Allies (although it might have been worse).

The KB has pulled off to the NNW and it doesn't seem that John will force a major carrier clash.  That's good news.

The Allies commenced landing at Wake and survived the auto-shock attack, but it's going to take alot of time and effort to take this island.  So be it, but I have surrendered my mobility.  My transports, troops, combat ships, and carriers will be tied down with this operation for a long time.  A pox on a loss of mobility!



JeffroK -> RE: Just One Question... (1/9/2009 10:23:30 PM)

It will also work as a magnet to attract the japanese.

Is this the place to concentrate your CV, the north seems solid, especially with KB away.

If you can get a concentration of your forces here, it could see losses that japan cannot afford.

If John ignores you, you get another base and the confidence he isnt willing to fight your CV.





Canoerebel -> RE: Just One Question... (1/9/2009 11:18:46 PM)

Yeah, I'm wondering about sending more CVs from NoPac; at the moment I'm leaning against it because NoPac is the key to the war and I don't want to take even the slightest chance that John could pose a threat there.  With the CVs and battleships currently in port at Shikuka I can sleep peacefully.   Meanwhile, the American carrier force continues to grow.  The turn John attacked I had five new CVEs that had just arrived at Midway (but they weren't ready to fight because all of them had that very turn swapped out FM-Wildcats for Hellcats).  In CenPac now I have four CVs, three CVLs, and something like twenty CVEs.  That's probably sufficient to handle the region while I try to stabalize the situation and then regain momentum.

The real problem is that my ground troops were badly disrupted by back to back shock attacks.  They'll need time to rest. It's going to be a LONG time before Wake falls.



JeffroK -> RE: Just One Question... (1/10/2009 12:54:49 AM)

You were lucky then than KB didnt hit Midway, could see those "jeeps" providing homes for fishes.



Canoerebel -> RE: Just One Question... (1/10/2009 1:51:09 AM)

John wouldn't chance going up against a big island airbase loaded with Hellcats, Corsairs, and P-38s.



Canoerebel -> Wake wake! (1/10/2009 2:33:38 AM)

6/3/44 to 6/8/44
 
Wake Island:  As stated, this operation got off to a bad start when John slipped the KB between Wake and Midway and decimated two empty transport convoys and a convoy carrying several regiments of airborne troops freshly arrived from San Fran and designated as reserves for the invasion of Wake.  I was fortunate that John didn't come after my carriers, because I feel fairly certain that the combo of his carriers and LBA from Wake would have overwhelmed my defenses.  I hope that apprehension on his part continues.   Meanwhile, my troops came ashore but suffered miserably in back-to-back shock attacks on June 6 and June 7.  I outnumber John two to one, but it's going to take a good ten days for my troops to recover from massive disruption.  My overall AV fell from well over 1200 to about 350 two days ago - 6th Marine Divison currently has an AV of less than 100 despite only slight losses.  Zoiks, Scoob!   So I need time to rest my troops. I'll also have to prepare some more troops in the event I have to supplement the invasion.  I have several division at Eniwetok and more available in NoPac.  I'll also have to send my ships back to Midway or to Eniwetok to refuel and replenish, but I'll wait a few more days to make sure the Wake troops get a breather.

Strategic Impact:  I've lost my precious mobility and have gotten bogged down in a late-war Guadalcanal.  I wish I hadn't, but I have, so now I want to avoid exacerbating my woes.  That means I don't want to lose a big carrier battle.  So I need to be cautious.  John will be invigorated and hungry for more blood.  He may raid into NoPac or between Hawaii and the West Coast.  Getting supplies to Iwo will be hazardous.  So for awhile I must move carefully.  While the KB is in CenPac I may have a little more freedom of movement elsewhere, but that's small consolation for losing my mobility here.  But the overall situation is little changed as long as I don't reinforce defeat: Sikhalin Island is safe and will continue regular strategic bombing of Japan; the Allies should be able to control the sea lanes between Eniwetok/Ponape/Wake and Hawaii as long as my carriers are in good shape; and the British will continue to press in Malaya/Sumatra.  The war will be won by strategic bombing and with P-38s I'm able to handle Jap CAP for now; but my P-38 stockpile is getting low.  I'm ready for P-51s to become available!

Australia:  The Aussies have a large number of troops ready to go to war, but are wondering when America will lend transports, combat ships, and carriers.  Good question.

Malaya:  Just for the heck of it, the Brits tried a deliberate attack at Malacca on the 4th and it turned out badly.  No chance of budging the Japs  there for now.  The Brits will move overland from Georgetown to Taiping in a few days and should be able to give the Japs some trouble or worries there.  If and when Taiping falls into British hands, the Jap position in the middle peninsula becomes pretty tenuous.



JeffroK -> RE: Wake wake! (1/10/2009 10:39:38 PM)

Re The Austalian Army,

I have found (In CHS 155) it is very hard to keep up the supplies for a push into Timor & Ambon, let alone any deeper into the DEI.

The, by now well experienced troops, might give you a reserve for a further push into Malaya or Sumatra, or a force to get into the Solomons Rabaul areas.

Using a bit of slieght of hand, you might be able to keep up the pretence of a stong force in Darwin at the same time. Heavy Bombers can project an image that action is being planned for this area by hitting ports & airfields as well as Resouces & Oil.  (Can you pick up the islands in the Aru Sea to build on this image?



Canoerebel -> RE: Wake wake! (1/11/2009 2:14:58 AM)

Some thoughts regarding the Wake invasion and transport massacre:

1.  I was lucky in one regard.  Had John sent his KB after the carriers I had at Eniwetok (ten CVEs and CV Wasp) he would have destroyed them.  He probably didn't hit them there out of respect for Eniwetok's LBA.  He bided his time until my carriers moved north, but by then I had more carriers coming south from Midway and he didn't want to take on the combination.  I think he could have won that battle too, had he the benefit of Wake's LBA, but that would have been more of a tossup.  But I'm glad a carrier battle didn't come off. 

2. Since the battle, five more Allied CVEs have arrived in CenPac and have fresh Hellcats.  I'll feel better when I can consolidate all my CenPac carriers.  For now, though, my main carrier fleet will head to Eniwetok to refuel and replace lost aircraft.  That puts them in a good place to protect Wake Island should John elect to reinforce or fight.

3.  As stated previously, I regret now chosing to invade Wake.  I have given up my mobility in CenPac for the time being.  I'm tied to Wake until I can make sure all those ground troops are safe.  I think this was my biggest strategic blunder of the game (with honorable mention going to my ill-fated Wotje invasion way back when, and also my effort to sneak two carriers from Australia to Panama Canal way in early '42).

3.  Hat's off to John, my clever and worthy opponent for a well-thought-out attack.

4.  This is why I was so happy having the KB down in Malaya/Sumatra. 

5.  The Allies are now recovering equilibrium and I know where I'm going from here; it'll just take awhile to get there.

6.  Strategic bombing of Japan remains the preeminent Allied weapon, so protecting Sikhalin Island is Job One.  That job is much easier now that I've take (and have big airbases on) Paramushiro Jima, Onnekotan Jima, Attu Island, and the other Western Aleutians.  That gives me level 9 and 7 fields on Sikhalin, 4 each on the Jimas, and big fields at Attu, Kiska etc.  The Allies have a ton of LBA in that region, so at some point it might be safe to withdraw my carriers - certainly I can do so when winter conditions prevail again, if not sooner.

7.  The KB ambush of my transports cost me 500 points.  That's roughly the number in ships lost, and also reflects in the current score, with John ahead by 2,500 points.  I had been closing the gap by 1,000 ever ten days (3,000 per month), but only managed 500 in the first ten days of June.

8.  How much worse it would be if I came out on the short end of a big carrier battle?  How would I protect Eniwetok, Ponape, and even Iwo Jima (NoPac I believe is secure no matter what due to interlocking air cover from numerous air bases).  So I'm counting my blessings and continuously reminding myself to protect those carriers.



vettim89 -> RE: Wake wake! (1/11/2009 3:50:56 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


8.  How much worse it would be if I came out on the short end of a big carrier battle?  How would I protect Eniwetok, Ponape, and even Iwo Jima (NoPac I believe is secure no matter what due to interlocking air cover from numerous air bases).  So I'm counting my blessings and continuously reminding myself to protect those carriers.


So you take a two liter pop/soda bottle and put a pile of small balls of aluminum foil in the bottom. Now is the tricky part. You add a decent sized swig of Draino into the bottle and put the lid on very quickly. Oh and now would be a good time to run. The two reagents react in the bottle producing gas. This will expand the bottle to what can sometimes can be an incredible size until BOOM. Trick is if you aren't far enough away, you get convered with balls of lye soaked aluminum.

Pleae refer to my post a few weeks ago if this doesn't make sense to you.



JeffroK -> RE: Wake wake! (1/11/2009 5:09:39 AM)

IMHO,

A major problme is that you hit a major target without commiting the majority of your forces.

It sounds to me that your northern bases are strong enough to stand up by themselves and you could have diverted your CV's to provide cover to the Wake invasion.

I also think you need to throw the kitchen sink at every invasion from now, take control of those bases ASAP or face drawn out sieges with your supply line at the mercy of KB.



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