RE: Allied: February 11th 1945

RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (Full Version)

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Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (8/26/2021 11:18:37 PM)
Mindanao The 3rd Marine Division leaves Davao to support operation Causeway. The 11th Corps pulls back from the Surigao Strait returning to Davao. A-20 Havocs of the 7th Bomber group arrive at the port and will protect against naval intrusion and support ground attacks in Palau or Leyte. The occupation of the southern Philippines will expand once units are freed up from other operations. Palau Coast watchers on Palau relay medium level intelligence on enemy shipping in the area. The 16th light cruiser and destroyer squadron are attempting to break the blockade to resupply both Palau and Yap. The Uproar fails to locate the destroyers but the pack of the Unruly and the Canadian attack sub engage the enemy failing to sink a ship. The Unruly is damaged and must return to Rabaul for repairs. Undaunted, the Canadian sub continues to attack and sinks the enemy fleet. The blockade remains in place! Task Force 58 containing the US carriers patrol the body of water between Palau and Yap islands. They will aid the blockade and will defend against enemy resupply attempts. (Set to Fleet mode to trigger interdiction.) Enemy CVs may be sent to this area which could be a problem based on the lower effectiveness of the US carriers. The hit and run tactics of the IJN is dangerous as their ships are recovering effectiveness each turn. This in turn nullifies the advantage of friendly oilers since our carriers weaken each turn they face combat. Which explains why enemy CVLs with high experience and effectiveness are clobbering my Fleet Carriers. [image]local://upfiles/80250/415E8B21DDF547F3BED84E37A6B3D00E.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (8/26/2021 11:22:24 PM)
Formosa Operation Causeway is launched. The invasion of Formosa starts off with a rough start. Two carrier taskforces of the British Pacific Fleet arrive off the north coast of the island. Both groups are targeted by bombers from Luzon. Neither takes damage but lose 3 air SPs a piece. The enemy loses a total of 6 SPs of bombers. Believing air superiority has been achieved the US 1sth Corp begins to land on the western plains. Additional bombers from Luzon contest the landing tearing up the 1st Corps. After taking six hits the chewed-up corps moves off the beach and takes another hit moving into to the mountains of the Chungyang Shanmo. While this cuts the island in half, the unit is wearing out with efficiency being greatly reduced. The US 6th Corps lands behind its sister corps and wheels left to attack the key port at Taihoku. Supported by naval bombardment and carrier ground support both units attack the Japanese 47th division doing a total of six SPs in damage. The enemy is beat up but still holds the port. With the failure of the initial landings, marines held in reserve are committed to the battle. The 3rd Marine Division hits the beach east of the city to engage the enemy. Eventually the 47th Division breaks and surrenders. The 1st Marine Division lands in time to mop up any remaining stragglers and secures the port. The VP city of Taihoku has fallen to the allies! In the end, two large corps and two marine divisions are landed on the island. The VP city of Taihoku has been captured and troops are poised to clear the rest of the island. Air units will be brought in as soon as possible to pound the north end of Luzon. With the troops onshore, the BPF awaits the inevitable air and naval attacks to come. In game terms the invasion was half the size (160,0000) of the 400,000* ground troops that were targeted for use in the initial plan. Regardless, this operation felt like a rushed mess using way too many Landing Craft. And it will take multiple turns to sort out this hairball before the marine units can be used again. Not my best work. *Robert B. Sheeks, Major, USMCR Retired. (US Marine intelligence officer- WWII Veteran) [image]local://upfiles/80250/1C8D6CC19AB54422B3FD9D4CB0F00CE7.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (8/26/2021 11:26:05 PM)
Builds UK: 2 Landing ships. India: No builds. USA: 12 Landing ships. Convoys Stopped all convoys. [image]local://upfiles/80250/2A396CC69DF2421C94E4DD62B76FCFF6.png[/image]

John B. -> RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (8/27/2021 8:25:47 PM)
Nice Island hopping! Now the Japanese need to worry about you bypassing all the forces they've poured in the the Philippines and the allies instead heading for the inner VP hexes (the loss of the unit in indochina feeds that worry!).

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 11th 1945 (8/28/2021 10:51:13 PM)
Agreed. The capture of Formosa has opened up a lot of options for the Allies.

Remington700 -> Japan: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 10:54:45 PM)
Japan: February 25th 1945 China Five enemy carriers and two battleships remain off the coast of Haiphong and interdict all supply to the port. This causes units along the You River and south towards the Hong to be unsupplied. G4Ms from Haikou attack the fleet doing little damage while taking a 7 SP hit to strength. This is too costly to fly an additional sortie. The 64th infantry division evacuates from Tainan before being cutoff and overrun by allied troops. The unit safely arrives in Hiroshima and awaits redeployment. Formosa has been conceded and the arrival of enemy bombers may cause multiple problems in the future. [image]local://upfiles/80250/A38F6A83EA4F49819C14DC6300C039A0.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:02:30 PM)
Philippines G4Ms Bettys form Aparri and Manila fly four airstrikes against the British fleet off the east shore of Formosa. One carrier is damaged and eight enemy SPs are shot down. However, the G4Ms take serious damage losing at total of 15 SPs between the two units. This is disappointing but mirrors the performance of land-based air in the Philippines late in the war. To the southeast enemy carriers have stopped supply to Palau and Yap. The Combined Fleet mobilizes and leaves Manila on another hit and run mission. A hundred miles northwest of Palau aircraft are launched before the fleet is jumped by a massive wave of bombers and fighters from the American carriers. Zeros give as good as they get in air-to-air combat. Enemy bombers slip through the air screen but are unable to penetrate the flak to get to the carriers. The BBs Fuso and Ise take multiple hits and the CA Tone is lightly damaged. Despite their carriers being in good shape, the Combined Fleet will return to Manila as soon as they can land their returning aircraft. Somewhere between Palau and Yap Japanese torpedo and dive-bombers locate the US carriers and prepare to strike before the enemy can respond. Amazingly enough the bombers face little CAP and light flak. The battleship Missouri pounds away at the incoming bombers until she is hit by multiple torpedoes, eventually catching fire and sinking. The US carriers are now sitting ducks as bombs and torpedoes damage the Wasp and sink the Enterprise! Returning to their carriers, the fleet lands the aircraft and moves at flank speed to the safety of the Philippine Islands. News of the victory is broadcast throughout Japan and there is celebration in the streets. The news also makes its way to American where it is received with alarm. Clearly the war is not over. [image]local://upfiles/80250/2F68C10C1DD544D69BF79F8E39FC3E83.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:03:23 PM)
Builds Japan: 1 Infantry Army unit. Replacements remain at 200. [image]local://upfiles/80250/84D66BEA4C144DFB9AD270DF28DB4B23.png[/image]

Remington700 -> Allied: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:04:38 PM)
Allied: February 25th 1945 Indochina With the fall of Indochina, Anglo-Indian troops begin to pull back towards main supply along the Irrawaddy River. Air units and a small covering force will remain in place to protect the area. This should eventually help stabilize supply in the region. [image]local://upfiles/80250/6214F7898A30471D9926FC5DFA39D357.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:07:20 PM)
Haiphong After seven straight days of Anglo-Indian bombing with close to 2,000 aircraft, the British Pacific Fleet begins a massive shore bombardment on positions around Haiphong. The Japanese 2nd Army is dug-in and weathers the storm. The Chinese 14th, 16th and 23rd armies launch their assault. The first wave is immediately driven back, which is soon followed by a second attack yielding the same results. A third attack is launched as Chinese forces show noticeable fatigue. However, the enemy is also worn down to nothing. A fourth and final attack dislodges the 2nd Army from Haiphong. The Chinese 6th Army advances into the city and takes control of the port. The VP city is now under Allied control! Convoy Attacks Not a lot of convoy activity in the East China Sea. However, the Wahoo spots and sinks a freighter getting her eighth kill. The Skipjack splits from the pack and joins the returning Finback and Tang a hundred miles to the east. The subs will continue to hunt in large packs to aid with their defense. [image]local://upfiles/80250/4C75280845A449288CF8A6E2A60FFB2C.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:16:05 PM)
Palau Islands True to history the appropriately named Operation Stalemate (invasion of the Palau Islands) causes heavy loss which arguably could have been avoided. Moral on the Homefront drops as word of the loss of the CV Enterprise and BB Missouri has the general population showing signs of war weariness. President Roosevelt is conspicuously absent from the media and rumors are running wild. Perhaps a peace agreement is in the making. The loss of a carrier is bad, but the loss of the �Mighty Mo� hurts even more. With the sinking of this symbol of �Victory in the Pacific� I continue to regret not researching Large Warships and wonder what the heck I am doing in this area. Task Force 58 containing the fast attack US carriers steams to Rabaul for repairs effectiveness recovery. They may be in port for a couple of turns. Task Force 57 containing British carriers arrive from Formosa to protect the islands from enemy carrier attack. Despite naval losses the Marines continue to do the job. The 5th Division lands on Peleliu meeting token resistance. The unsupplied Japanese 17th Division cannot stand up to the heavy naval and air bombardment and soon surrenders, losing 8 strength points. The Australian 11th Division lands to clean up around the port facilities. Airfields are repaired and should be able to receive planes in a couple of weeks. [image]local://upfiles/80250/FC575A3E219045DFA0CBBDEDED1FE131.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:17:33 PM)
Philippines Gen MacArthur arrives in Davao to take direct command in Mindanao. Transports fall under enemy air attack while Mac calmly walks ashore. True to nature the general turns his arrival into a photo op which is greatly needed to buck up morale on the Homefront. Despite some recent setbacks there is still great resolve to see this thing through to the end. [image]local://upfiles/80250/9A6FC2980D154CC883A6E451E5D9C073.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: February 25th 1945 (8/28/2021 11:19:41 PM)
Builds UK: 2 Oilers India: No builds. Canada: 1 Landing ship. Red China: 1 Supply unit. USA: 10 Landing ships. 5 Supply units. Convoys No Convoys. [image]local://upfiles/80250/22713F934C1E4D2C9252268DD81F8954.png[/image]

Remington700 -> Japan: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:28:43 PM)
Japan: March 11th 1945 South China With the fall of Haiphong, the unsupplied 22nd begins their withdrawal to the east. The ragtag 21st Division plays the role of �Tail-end Charlie� taking a rear-guard position east of the Hong River. There is great danger the unit will be cutoff and destroyed. The chewed-up 3rd Division is scheduled to depart Hong Kong as soon as transport can be arranged. If the withdrawal can be handled correctly the beat-up 2nd Army and a couple of divisions may be saved to help with the defense of the home islands. [image]local://upfiles/80250/971D6954A20E49B089A544AE397D50C3.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:31:03 PM)
Manchukuo The Soviet Union has long had their eyes on Manchukuo. It is the buffer between China and Japan. If the Anglo-Indian allies were to land and push toward Harbin the Red Menace might join them in war with Japan. This would put Japanese interests in Korea in danger and with the lack of war materials the enemy could not be stopped. The Yellow Sea and Korea Bay must remain under Japanese control. Key ports need to be strongly garrisoned to avoid giving the enemy a foothold. However there is time to strengthen the area as cold weather will stop all invasions until May. With the fall of Formosa, the Allies can look for soft areas to capture key VP locations. And triggering the early entry of the USSR is a good way to help in this endeavor. Currently Manchukuo is garrisoned at the minimum required SPs of 160. A hard push to Harbin may drive total SPs below the threshold and trigger Soviet involvement. [image]local://upfiles/80250/5ABEE53F38454C55B26909686C45E7E0.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:31:48 PM)
Palau Islands On Peleliu intelligence agents hiding in caves along Bloody Nose Ridge provided excellent detail on the British CV force. The Combined Fleet detaches the 1st Air Fleet on another hit and run mission to strike the enemy carriers. Achieving surprise, carrier-based planes breakthrough enemy CAP and target the carriers. The CV Leviathan is hit by multiple bombs and torpedoes and immediately begins to sink. The CV Implacable is hit by dive-bombers but remains underpower. The battleship Howe puts up heavy flak which continues after taking hits from two torpedoes. Japanese air losses were negligible with most of the aircraft returning to their carriers. British aircraft manage to find the Imperial fleet but are unable to penetrate the screening CAP over the carriers. Four enemy SPs are shot down and two more are splashed by AAA fire. Naval losses are minimal with a couple of light cruisers from the 6th Squadron receiving heavy damage but are still under steam. The Air Fleet returns to the safety of Manila for repairs and return of effectiveness. The hit and run attacks continue to work so I will stick with it until Allied forces can find a way to put a stop to the tactic. [image]local://upfiles/80250/7C6A173DFE6A4805BFEAED516990C8A5.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:33:41 PM)
Builds Japan: 1 Infantry Army. Replacements remain at 200. COMINT: 1 Intelligence unit. [image]local://upfiles/80250/7D9196C876604CA5AF1F95FE75B5BAA4.png[/image]

Remington700 -> Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:35:02 PM)
Allied: March 11th 1945 China Snow continues to lower effectiveness for all units north of the You and Yong rivers. To the south bombers pound the positions of the rear-guard 21st Division. With no time to dig-in the enemy is vulnerable so the Chinese 6th, 7th and 14th armies rush a frontal assault but fail to dislodge the division. A second attack is launched causing additional casualties but the enemy holds. For underestimating the tenacity of the 21st Division, General Chu-tung Ku will be replaced by General Chang from the central China front. [image]local://upfiles/80250/F07C6D5DA61F4C49A2B24D9C1B95C853.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:39:27 PM)
South China Sea F4U Corsairs arrive in Quang Ngai to commence operations over Luzon and China. I think I might have solved my fighter-bomber range problem. I have simulated the use of drop tanks by switching a ground attack plane to the strategic bombing specialty. The range is 12 hexes in 1944 and bumps up to 18 in 1945. The damage is a bit high in my opinion which is offset by weak air to air combat. While not perfect it does seem to fill the void for long range ground support. Playing the Allies, I have done a poor job with the US advancements. I researched both escort and fighter-bomber (I had to try the FBs) techs which worked well in the early game but ultimately slowed down the overall research rates. And the FBs have little value late game. The extra line of research may be the cause for the US being way behind other countries with technology. Having four Japanese CVLs tear up six fleet carriers each turn is maddening. However, I think this is driven by poor play on my part rather than a game imbalance. Before my next game I will do some testing to determine how to defend against hit and run tactics and to better understand advancement research. I realize this is not a simulation so the Allies should not be automatically superior, however I want to know why they are so inferior in my current game. Formosa The 7th and 13th bomber groups fly into Formosa. They consist mainly of A-20 Havocs with the Naval Air specialty. Their range of ten hexes allows them to target Okinawa and Manila. They are also within range of Japanese convoys in the East China Sea which should help to starve out the enemy. Convoy Attacks In the East China Sea, Baker force consisting of the subs Bonefish, Devilfish and Wahoo patrol a 50-mile area looking for targets. Hunting is good with each sub sinking a freighter without taking damage and the Bonefish sinking a second before taking hits from depth-charges. A hundred miles to the east, Able force consisting of the Finback, Skipjack and Tang are not as fortunate. Both Skipjack and Tang sink a freighter without being located by escorting destroyers. However, the Finback is caught and after taking minor damage must return to Rabaul for repairs. [image]local://upfiles/80250/670B9CA00A094EAE9C348D8A561196A1.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:44:36 PM)
Philippines On Mindanao A-20s from the 7th Bomber Group are replaced by refitted B-24s with the Naval Air specialty. The have a range of 14 hexes which allows them to target ships in Manila. Four days of airstrikes (4 attacks) target Baybay in Leyte. These will continue to weaken the enemy in advance of an invasion and/or an assault across the strait of Surigao. Palau Islands The 5th Marine Division remains on Peleliu and the 2nd Marine Division in Yap. Both units will receive replacements and recover effectiveness while they await orders for their next assignment. B-24 Strategic Bombers are flown to the airbases and begin to fly sorties over Leyte. [image]local://upfiles/80250/406324793AA24DA1BA452A7391525E45.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/29/2021 10:45:41 PM)
Builds UK: 2 Supply units. India: No builds. China: 1 Infantry Army USSR: 10 Supply units. 3 Oilers. USA: 2 Large Infantry Corps. Convoys No Convoys. COMINT UK: 1 Intelligence unit. USA: 2 Intelligence units. [image]local://upfiles/80250/1B0C5D809FB04C43BD7D500BBEAAC8E3.png[/image]

John B. -> RE: Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/30/2021 8:07:17 PM)
Maybe the US can offer to sell Japan some of its oil in exchange a couple of those CVLs. :) Seriously, I'm surprised that Japan is able to move anything at all! I don't know if this would make a difference but I've seen on other threads that you want to keep your carriers in raider mode all of the time to avoid ambushes.

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 11th 1945 (8/30/2021 10:53:50 PM)
Definitely wisdom in that. At times I have been intentionally leaving them out of raider mode to invite the attack. Thinking the odds were in the Allies favor. Other times I just leave them in Fleet mode after combat rather than sending a destroyer to join the fleet in "raider" mode to change the status. Either way, I have learned a valuable lesson about CV effectiveness - it seems to matter a lot.

Remington700 -> Japan: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:21:42 PM)
Japan: March 25th 1945 China Oil stockpile is very low with enough for another month. Once the supply is gone, air and sea movement will not be allowed. Units at sea can continue operations however they will lose six percent effectiveness per turn. Oilers do not return effectiveness. This means the fleet can be combat effective for another four months at best. The Combined Fleet relocates to Nagoya on the island of Honshu to avoid being trapped in Manila. Medium bombers with Naval Air spec leave Legaspi to relocate in Iwo Jima. Dive-bombers in the Bonin and Mariana islands return to the home islands for better defense and are replaced with medium bombers. This is a final adjustment as soon there will not be enough oil to adjust force dispositions. [image]local://upfiles/80250/60012E2CD20A42EA845A91DB5AC944C2.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:25:50 PM)
Philippines The 37th Division leaves Cebu and arrives at Incheon to bolster the defense on the Korean peninsula. The beat-up 3rd Division embarks transports and manages to slip undetected in Puson. If all goes well the 2nd Army and the 34th Division will be evacuated from South China in the next two weeks. If my math is correct, there will be at least one more turn to move units. Maybe two depending upon how stockpile affects embarkation. [image]local://upfiles/80250/10EDCD7332AB4989AE7482A3D70B08C5.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Japan: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:26:41 PM)
Builds Japan: No builds. Replacements reduced to 150. [image]local://upfiles/80250/7F4BAC2C594F4DAA8830032567D171AC.png[/image]

Remington700 -> Allied: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:29:22 PM)
Allied: March 25th 1945 China The 4th Red Army and the Red Guard Army attack the entrenched 16th Division south of Taiuan. After taking a hit, the enemy retreats east to defend the rail line. The Red Guard advances to the outskirts of the town. To the north the 8th Alpine army moves the northwest of Taiuan. The Japanese 26th Division may well be cutoff soon. To the south, one hundred miles east of Kaifeng the 19th, 20th and 24th armies launch a probing attack against the dug-in Japanese 25th Division doing minor damage. The enemy holds, and with the rain starting to increase all future attacks are cancelled. Convoy Attacks Able force is skunked - they fail to locate and sink a freighter. However, the Skipjack takes heavy damage from patrolling destroyers and must return to Rabaul for repairs. A hundred miles to the west, Baker force consisting of the Bonefish and Wahoo spot a convoy and move into firing position. The Wahoo launches a successful spread of torpedoes sinking a Merchant Marine, while the Bonefish comes up empty. Both boats are damaged and must return to port. With three damaged subs and only one freighter sunk, this patrol ends in the favor of Japan. [image]local://upfiles/80250/D539AB4F5BDC4FBD8137F3F856CF638A.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:31:18 PM)
Philippines In preparation for landings on Luzon, five days of continuous airstrikes pound air units in Manila. Damage estimates are not available however effectiveness should have been negatively impacted. Marines and Infantry Corps move around the map in preparation for the coming assault. However, the date of the invasion keeps getting pushed out. Gen MacArthur is livid. Okinawa British submarines move to blockade the port at Naha. They arrive unseen and will cut off all supply to the island. Okinawa is strategically located to launch long range bomber attacks against northern Luzon or southern Japan. Medium bombers on Formosa recover effectiveness and prepare to raid the port next turn. [image]local://upfiles/80250/F74582556A3E4FEAAB33F71801D4393F.png[/image]

Remington700 -> RE: Allied: March 25th 1945 (9/1/2021 11:32:19 PM)
Builds UK: 1 Supply unit. India: 1 Supply unit. USA: 10 Supply units. Convoys No Convoys. [image]local://upfiles/80250/85E8FE4DD0AB4494AFE768B3CDB067BD.png[/image]

Remington700 -> Japan: April 8th 1945 (9/3/2021 11:06:57 PM)
Japan: April 8th 1945 East China The evacuation from China continues. General Yamashita returns to Japan to take command of the Imperial Japanese Army. The 2nd Army embarks and steams to Sapporo where the unit will dig in and protect this key northern port. The 37th Division loads up in the last available transports and is returned to the Port of Fukuoka in Kyushu. There will be no more evacuations as Japan is out virtually out of oil. Snow continues across most of China which will put a stop to enemy advancement. To the south in the Gulf of Tonkin the enemy�s advance has ground to a halt. Gen Sadamu has now taken command of the entire Japanese Army in China and Manchukuo. He will begin to work his way north to Peking. Victory Point cities are highlighted in yellow hexes, and all appear adequately defended. [image]local://upfiles/80250/0A22714BDC6044A49F2D4CE37D38156F.png[/image]

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