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Energisteron -> RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians (8/8/2017 11:40:52 AM)
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Day 01 - Apr 15
Realistic Objectives
Well, in theory I've been asked to hold Attu and Kiska 'to the last man', but at the same time we are supposed to inflict serious damage to enemy units and draw others to this theatre when they could be better used elsewhere.
So, looking at the base values (in game points), just 40 points apiece for Attu and Kiska, it becomes apparent that this is very much a secondary theatre of operations since the sinking of just 3 Freighters would likely net us 42 points or thereabouts. Whereas, fighting till our garrison units on Attu and Kiska are overwhelmed or destroyed would cost in the region of 150 points.
Therefore, my strategy will be to attempt to delay or repulse any invasions at great cost to the enemy and yet be prepared to withdraw the garrisons if needs be to avoid unnecessary losses.
Reading between the lines of my orders, I'm fairly convinced that strategy was implied.
Strategic Assessment
In game 1 I made an assessment from the Allied side (see post #23) http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4300585&mpage=1&key=
Of course, now the roles are reversed!
We have an excellent base to the rear at Paramushiro-jima. Then 680 miles (17 hexes) away we have Attu Island and then a further 200 miles away (5 hexes) lies Kiska Island. Neither of the island bases have been particularly well developed, and supplies and fuel stocks are fairly low too. At least Attu and Kiska are close enough to be mutually supporting whereas the Allies have just one forward base on Adak Island, a further 200 miles (5 hexes) beyond Kiska. Adak is marginally better developed with a slightly superior air capacity. To their rear, the Allies have their primary base, Dutch Harbor, which is about equivalent to Paramushiro-jima in capacity, and it lies 400 miles (10 hexes) from Kiska.
If the Allies were to attempt to invade either Attu or Kiska, which is what we are expecting, then these islands are respectively 400 and 200 miles (10 and 5 hexes) from Adak and 720 and 560 miles (18 and 14 hexes) from Dutch Harbor. Consequently, the Allies can use heavy bombers from Dutch Harbor to hit Kiska easily, but Attu would be at their most extreme range if not beyond it. So Adak will be very important to them as a forward airfield from which to provide fighter escorts as far as Kiska, and for basing medium bombers to reach either Kiska or Attu.
For the moment we have no bombers. Some Emilys (Recon) and Bettys (level bomber) are promised in about 2 weeks and these will operate from Paramushiro-jima which puts us in a very similar position to the Allies because Bettys would be capable of reaching Attu but not Kiska (except as a base transfer). We do have fighters (Oscars and Zeros) which could be transferred to Attu in a single hop from P-jima. Attu has no aircraft while Kiska has Jakes and Rufes which could be got back to P-jima only via Attu. Being float fighters means that Rufes will not clog up the airstrip so maybe we can reinforce the air element on Kiska.
Port facilities at Adak are poor so any invasion force is likely to come directly from Dutch Harbor, as are supplies and fuel.
All three bases have an adequate garrison, and we are told to expect a good quality independent Brigade as reinforcement in 2 weeks.
From the naval point of view, most of our units are back at P-jima. These include 2x CL, 3x DD, and 4x APD (transport destroyers), 11x Freighters/Transports of various types, 1x Oiler, and 10x SS plus a few small vessels. There's nothing at Attu but there are 6x SSX (midget subs) at Kiska. These do not even have the range to transfer back to Attu or reach Adak and so have a purely defensive role. BUT, we can piggy-back them on some of our larger subs so maybe we can risk an enemy base infiltration!
We do accrue additional naval units including 2x CA and 1x DD within 2 weeks, and after about 4 weeks another 1x CA, 2x DD and 2x SS. After 5-6 weeks we can expect a major reinforcement but by then will it be too late? These would include 4x CA, 1x BB, 1x CVL and 2x CV! That's big stuff!
So, to summarise, we have two bases in the contested zone to the enemy's one, none of which are well developed. Differences in distance, and therefore the possibilities for air intervention, are hardly significant for both combatants. We are short of supply, especially at our forward bases. We can expect considerable naval reinforcements to attempt a response to any attack.
[image]local://upfiles/57059/8BFA85DC0D90419EAED881E2E43562E4.jpg[/image]
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