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RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island

 
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RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:24:32 AM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Cont. - Afternoon Phase

Now aware of enemy carriers in the area and spotting them with recon, the mini-KB launches its own strike first which, despite the bloodbath in A/C the day previous, is of decent strength. Only four bombers make their way through to strike at CVL Chateau Thierry, with none getting any hits in.

In return, we launch are own strikes that seem to suffer disproportionately given the large disparity in escorts versus John's CAP. Nonetheless, enough hits are recorded to significantly damage or sink ships of the mini-KB. CVL Ryuho takes 2 bomb hits and 1 torpedo hit, CV Junyo 2 hits, and CV Hiyo a bomb and a torpedo. 1 CVE is sunk outright with 3 more in dire straights - the total should probably go up. One of our subs puts a nice 2 torpedoes into a CVE. Additionally, we launch small attackes against CB Aino again with some hits, she's shown with heavy damage and heavy fires.

Nonetheless, we did damage, we should have causes decimation.



< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 3:25:05 AM >

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1921
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:38:12 AM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Cont. - Victory by both Land and Sea

I was most worried about the situation at Horn Island itself, because the previous day's attacks had been terrible and were STILL showing level 6 forts for Japan. I was very worried: it had 6 forts, the landings and attacks had devastated our assault units, and John's attack on the 4th had thrown my plans into chaos and disrupted potential reinforcements. Here was the combat from the 4th.

quote:

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 17367 troops, 518 guns, 396 vehicles, Assault Value = 906

Defending force 22089 troops, 278 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 706

Allied adjusted assault: 144

Japanese adjusted defense: 431

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1651 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 40 (4 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3822 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 210 disabled
Non Combat: 89 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 73 (9 destroyed, 64 disabled)
Vehicles lost 164 (70 destroyed, 94 disabled)
Units destroyed 2


But here's the fun part. In desperation, on the 5th we launched numerous bombardments in the night as well as large-scale bombing runs in the day. This apparently had some sort of effect, much more than I was expecting. In the shock attack of the day (someone explain atolls to me cuz I'm not setting them to shock, in what conditions is this automated beyond the initial landings?) somehow, someway the forts were down to 0 and in a very nice shock attack we took the base outright. That was a quick 3-day victory for an atoll with a 28k garrison and 700+AV.

This was my favorite part of the turn, far more enjoyable than the carrier air battle.





< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 3:47:18 AM >

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1922
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:45:47 AM   
witpqs


Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline 		Upon landing, a unit must shock attack if landing on:

- Any size atoll.
- Island size 1 or 2.

If a unit is ashore, and additional part(s) of the unit land, the unit must shock attack.

Perhaps remnants of the unit landed on the subsequent turn?

_____________________________

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(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1923
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:47:03 AM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		I'll give my final tally tomorrow and update on the "interesting situation" as to my thoughts. Below you can have a sneak peak at the situation as well as the a/c losses for the day. For the days events, we know a CVE has sunk, I suspect at least 2 more CVEs will, in addition to potentially a CV or CVL. A CB and other surface vessels might be included in that. The damage we can inflict tomorrow if we pursue might potentially be great. But should we?

We can discuss tomorrow. Sneak peak here and you can probably guess my thoughts.



Current A/C Stength of Carrier Task Forces, there is a replenishment CVE at Townsville, 2 Yorktown-class CVs are 3 days from repair at Brisbane.





< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 3:50:19 AM >

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1924
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:51:16 AM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Upon landing, a unit must shock attack if landing on:

- Any size atoll.
- Island size 1 or 2.

If a unit is ashore, and additional part(s) of the unit land, the unit must shock attack.

Perhaps remnants of the unit landed on the subsequent turn?


This is very much the case and I didn't realize they'd keep shocking. Very useful info. Pretty much makes is a necessity that all troops be on an AKA/APA/LS for an atoll landing.

(in reply to witpqs)
Post #: 1925
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 4:42:36 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Upon landing, a unit must shock attack if landing on:

- Any size atoll.
- Island size 1 or 2.

If a unit is ashore, and additional part(s) of the unit land, the unit must shock attack.

Perhaps remnants of the unit landed on the subsequent turn?


This is very much the case and I didn't realize they'd keep shocking. Very useful info. Pretty much makes is a necessity that all troops be on an AKA/APA/LS for an atoll landing.

My understanding is that only the Atoll and islands with 6000 stacking limit triggers the SA. I have not tested this since I changed to the newest official patch from the older .1124 . I know I landed on some non-atoll islands without shock attacking lately but I didn't note the island size and some of the islands were unoccupied by enemy troops so a SA was not invoked.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1926
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 6:13:15 AM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		I would suggest that if all of the unit does not land and there are only small parts left to land, forget unloading the rest. Use lots of transports, especially if you don't have the APAs/AKAs yet, to maximize the number of troops unloaded. APDs are useful to unload some supplies but also consider some transports dedicated to just supplies. One turn to unload and then leave.



_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1927
Tactical Sit. - 3/14/2020 12:45:57 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Tactical Situation

Looks like the entire Kaigun is on its way, converging on the area of action around Horn Island. Or, at least, it was until the sudden appearance of my carriers. Who knows how yesterday's actions might change John's calculus. Looking at it, an aggressive commander might still see a good opportunity and push forward. First, there was mini-KB coming from the west until it was hit by my carriers. Second, there now seems to be some sort of counterlanding force escorted by strong BB SCTFs (no doubt including the BB Yamato/Musashi) coming down south towards Lae from Aitape/Hollandia. Finally, the main KB made an appearance east of the Solomons from its suspected location heading southwest towards the Coral Sea. I suspect John thought my carriers had left and was thinking he could trap a large portion of my navy by surrounding it from all sides and destroy it.

He might very well still try this as his strong surface forces outclass mine in the local area (I have 1 operational fast BB, as well as numerous CAs/CLs/DDs versus probably a lot of BBs). Moreover, if KB is all his remaining fleet carriers, then he could have ~720 A/C, not including CVs I don't think are operational yet (versus ~715 A/C on my carriers currently thanks to yesterday's air losses, adding my CVEs augments my fighter numbers by ~100). I could definitely foresee him continuing east and trying to trap my forces against Portland Roads or my carriers if they go west past Horn Island. In my favor, if he comes my way, he faces the danger of strong LBA CAP augmenting my carriers. Portland Roads and Port Moresby are both level 9 airfields and I have hundreds of fighters I can deploy. I COULD destroy mini-KB, but it carriers big risks if his carriers charge west; the more prudent course might be to move back to Portland Roads and replenish my aircraft while also sending my replenishment CVE north from Townsville.

My heart says pursue, but my head says no. Decisions.



< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 12:47:15 PM >

(in reply to RangerJoe)
Post #: 1928
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 1:25:38 PM   
witpqs


Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Upon landing, a unit must shock attack if landing on:

- Any size atoll.
- Island size 1 or 2.

If a unit is ashore, and additional part(s) of the unit land, the unit must shock attack.

Perhaps remnants of the unit landed on the subsequent turn?


This is very much the case and I didn't realize they'd keep shocking. Very useful info. Pretty much makes is a necessity that all troops be on an AKA/APA/LS for an atoll landing.

My understanding is that only the Atoll and islands with 6000 stacking limit triggers the SA.

Absolutely wrong. This one is solid. Trust me.

You will notice on mouse-over that bases show such if they are atolls or island size 1 or island size 2. They don't show this line if they are larger islands. They put that change in specifically to help players know when a landing shock attack was mandatory.

_____________________________

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(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1929
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 1:27:42 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		That said, I'm surprised by how well the landing turned out despite the ill-effects of the landings/shocks. Did my bombardments reduce the forts from 6 to 0 in one turn? How do you explain that?

(in reply to witpqs)
Post #: 1930
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 1:49:09 PM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		Disruption and fatigue.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1931
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 1:57:46 PM   
alimentary

 

Posts: 142
Joined: 3/22/2010
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
That said, I'm surprised by how well the landing turned out despite the ill-effects of the landings/shocks. Did my bombardments reduce the forts from 6 to 0 in one turn? How do you explain that?

Your shock attack obtained 6 to 1 odds. Shock attacks reduce fort value by one for every odds level.

It is in the manual. Somewhere.

< Message edited by alimentary -- 3/14/2020 1:59:10 PM >

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1932
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:05:34 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: alimentary

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
That said, I'm surprised by how well the landing turned out despite the ill-effects of the landings/shocks. Did my bombardments reduce the forts from 6 to 0 in one turn? How do you explain that?

Your shock attack obtained 6 to 1 odds. Shock attacks reduce fort value by one for every odds level.

It is in the manual. Somewhere.

Normally the Combat Report would have a line saying "Allied assault reduces forts to 0" in that case. The one he showed did not say that.

It could be what RJ suggests - that the bombardments eliminated all enemy AV so that forts were irrelevant and treated as 0.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to alimentary)
Post #: 1933
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:47:37 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Well, no advice here, so I'll have to do the scariest thing and take my own. Here's what it says:

1. Reposition subs to pickup as many damaged ships as possible around the Gove area.
2. Send various small SCTFs (CL and DDs) at flank speed from Portland Roads towards Gove to try for some sort of intercept.
3. Send carriers to Portland Roads to replenish air wings in case John decided to move in force towards me with his Northern and Eastern Fleets.
Analysis: The main danger is to the north and east. If John backs off, we can always send our carriers west a day later.

What do you think? Or we can go 6 hexes west now and then retire to Portland Roads on the 7th.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1934
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 4:24:33 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Well, no advice here, so I'll have to do the scariest thing and take my own. Here's what it says:

1. Reposition subs to pickup as many damaged ships as possible around the Gove area.
2. Send various small SCTFs (CL and DDs) at flank speed from Portland Roads towards Gove to try for some sort of intercept.
3. Send carriers to Portland Roads to replenish air wings in case John decided to move in force towards me with his Northern and Eastern Fleets.
Analysis: The main danger is to the north and east. If John backs off, we can always send our carriers west a day later.

What do you think? Or we can go 6 hexes west now and then retire to Portland Roads on the 7th.

If he has not yet packed the straits around Horn Island with subs, it might be best to transit them now. If he does use flank speed to bring in KB you want to be able to escape without the risk of having a torpedoed carrier or two to slow you down.
OTOH, if your LBA is really strong and you think you could take on KB near one of your land bases, that could be a good strategy too. But John will have subs hunting for your carriers and your dive/torpedo bomber losses are a handicap for getting back at him.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1935
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 4:46:33 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If he has not yet packed the straits around Horn Island with subs, it might be best to transit them now. If he does use flank speed to bring in KB you want to be able to escape without the risk of having a torpedoed carrier or two to slow you down.
OTOH, if your LBA is really strong and you think you could take on KB near one of your land bases, that could be a good strategy too. But John will have subs hunting for your carriers and your dive/torpedo bomber losses are a handicap for getting back at him.


As far as we can tell, there are no subs in the area yet. As for the strength of our LBA, Townsville, Portland Roads, and Port Moresby are all level 9 airfields. Between those three bases and Milne Bay, I have 521 land-based fighters that can help with CAP. My bigger worry is the amount of capital ships in his northern surface fleets and how they can simply overwhelm the ability of my bomber aircraft to inflict damage through saturation, even more so when combined with his KB. That is to say, I'm not worried at all about his carriers attacking me, the greater danger is his BBs, BCs, and CBs getting into surface action range.


< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 4:47:45 PM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1936
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 7:36:29 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If he has not yet packed the straits around Horn Island with subs, it might be best to transit them now. If he does use flank speed to bring in KB you want to be able to escape without the risk of having a torpedoed carrier or two to slow you down.
OTOH, if your LBA is really strong and you think you could take on KB near one of your land bases, that could be a good strategy too. But John will have subs hunting for your carriers and your dive/torpedo bomber losses are a handicap for getting back at him.


As far as we can tell, there are no subs in the area yet. As for the strength of our LBA, Townsville, Portland Roads, and Port Moresby are all level 9 airfields. Between those three bases and Milne Bay, I have 521 land-based fighters that can help with CAP. My bigger worry is the amount of capital ships in his northern surface fleets and how they can simply overwhelm the ability of my bomber aircraft to inflict damage through saturation, even more so when combined with his KB. That is to say, I'm not worried at all about his carriers attacking me, the greater danger is his BBs, BCs, and CBs getting into surface action range.


Then go through the strait and mine the heck out of it! Maybe your carriers can pick off a CA or two.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1937
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 8:53:22 PM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		Not to mention mines and destroyers . . .



_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1938
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 9:00:18 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		I have a lot of DMs and no mines in stock to use them with. We've sent our carriers a little west to see what we can catch, while making it an easy trip back to Portland Roads next turn. In addition, many subs will try to pick off damaged (and undamaged) ships, 2 CL/DD SCTFs, 1 DD SCTF, and a PT squadron will also try their luck. We'll see.

(in reply to RangerJoe)
Post #: 1939
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/15/2020 3:46:35 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

I have a lot of DMs and no mines in stock to use them with. We've sent our carriers a little west to see what we can catch, while making it an easy trip back to Portland Roads next turn. In addition, many subs will try to pick off damaged (and undamaged) ships, 2 CL/DD SCTFs, 1 DD SCTF, and a PT squadron will also try their luck. We'll see.

Sounds like it's popcorn time!






Attachment (1)

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1940
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/15/2020 3:38:50 PM   
Cheesesteak


Posts: 301
Joined: 11/8/2010
From: Richmond, VA
Status: offline 		yessss. do itttt

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(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1941
Dec 6th, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/15/2020 4:43:41 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Dec 6th, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island

Not a super exciting turn, but nonetheless good enough. Our surface forces surprisingly run into nothing and as expected, John flank speeds away with what forces he can. Nonetheless, our subs torpedo CVL Ryuho and an AO tanker, though 2 seperate subs both miss the heavily burning CVE Tatsuta heading for Gove. However, the next morning our bombers find Gove surprisingly without any CAP and managed to put a number of bombs into CV Hiyo and CVE Tastuta. Given that Ryuho wasn't in port, we believe she has sunk (and we get reports to that effect). This brings the total carriers sunk (including those we think will sink) in our estimation for the past two days to: CV Hiyo, CVL Ryuho, CVE Tatsuta, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hie Maru, CVE Kamakura, and CB Aino (confirmed). So 1 CV (heh), 1 CVL, 4 CVEs, and 1 CB. Not too bad. I could have pursued more aggressively, but I had to be cognizant of the other threats to me.

For bad news, CA Minneapolis sinks either in port at Portland Roads or just outside of it; I didn't realize it was in danger and might have forgot to disband it in port.



Anyways, I won't pursue further; I need to head back to Portland Roads to refuel from AOs and replenish my aircraft. Not to mention, I there is the threat from KB still heading southwest towards the Coral Sea, as well as John's many surface vessels at Madang (where I think John tried to perform some sort of CAP trap).

Overall, I think the Horn Island action has been successful: the island is secure and the way is open to Northern Oz and to bypass some key places, and the invasion certainly drew John in. While the risk and my mistakes with defensive CAP caused some unnecessary losses (BB North Carolina and CA Minneapolis), I think the carrier losses to mini-KB is an overall strategic gain that significantly hampers John's ability to cover multiple places with some form of a carrier task force. This could change depending on what John does over the next few days and the outcome, I suppose.



< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/15/2020 5:17:19 PM >

(in reply to Cheesesteak)
Post #: 1942
RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/16/2020 11:53:02 AM   
Bearcat2

 

Posts: 577
Joined: 2/14/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: alimentary

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
That said, I'm surprised by how well the landing turned out despite the ill-effects of the landings/shocks. Did my bombardments reduce the forts from 6 to 0 in one turn? How do you explain that?

Your shock attack obtained 6 to 1 odds. Shock attacks reduce fort value by one for every odds level.

It is in the manual. Somewhere.



8.4.2.2
---------------
"Fortifications can be reduced in level by enemy ground attacks; the Fortification Level of a hex drops by one if the combat odds are 1 to 1 or greater. Each Attack Odds level will reduce the Fortification Level by 1 if all attacking units are using Shock Attack or Bombardment Attack (i.e. 4 to 1 odds would reduce the Fortification Level by 4). Also, combat engineers participating in attacks against bases can reduce fortifications by up to one level per day, making it easier to take the base."


_____________________________

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(in reply to alimentary)
Post #: 1943
Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 3:57:52 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Dec 7th, 1943

The next day is a pretty good one for me, as my subs do great work and my bombers once again find Gove devoid of CAP. During the night, SS Finback plants two torps into an AO while SS Cabrilla, the lonely sub that was in position to potentially harm John's fleeing, damaged cruisers, finds CA Chikuma and puts her down for good with two torpedoes (confirmed sunk by float planes destroyed on the ground). The next day, our bombers put numerous more bombs into Hiyo and while they aren't too penetrating, the enhanced fired cause her to burn up and she is seen going down in port by Liberator pilots. A couple Mitchells then plant another bomb on the CVE Tatsuta, and the port is last seen devoid of any ships; we believe both the CV and CVE have sunk.

Meanwhile, John does a bombardment of Manus, but I don't think it useful. Numerous surface forces are at Madang, but I think they might be covering some sort of extraction, though I suppose I could launch a strike against it while augmenting Port Moresby's fighter strength to help cover my carriers from the threat of the KB. Speaking of the KB, it continues its meandering route southwest towards me, but I seriously doubt John will attack. My LBA strength gives me a great local advantage if he moves forward for a carrier battle, my carriers have somewhat replenished (and replenished their full torpedo armament complements), and even if he brought his surface forces down, they would quickly run out of ammo whereas my own SCTFs can fully re-arm from Portland Roads. I think the situation is a positive one. What do you think I should do here?



Battle of Horn Island Tally
Japanese Losses: CV Hiyo, CVL Ryuho, 4 CVEs, 1 CB, 1 CA, 1-2 DDs, 2 AOs
Allied Losses: BB North Carolina, CA Minneapolis, 1 DE, 1 DMS, 7 LSTs, 3 xAPs,
Horn Island gained with 24k still trapped on the island.

(in reply to Bearcat2)
Post #: 1944
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 4:06:49 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Also, this is interesting in my mind: I have been told in the past John likes to try using his emails for psy ops and he made it seem as if the CV Taikaku (which had taken 5-6 torpedoes) was sunk, but based on my most recent intelligence estimate, a certain CV Shokaku was believed sunk in port at Eniwetok on December 7th, 1943. Based on my knowledge of the game, I think this means a very damaged CV Taikaku is not sunk, but in port at Eniwetok. I think it's time to pay a visit again.



I have carriers nearby, but I might want to bring some fast BBs/BCs in from Pearl as well to check things out.


(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1945
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 5:38:41 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Congratulations for your continued progress and success against this souped up Japanese OOB. Are you to the point where you can try to set up 2 ops -- one in the South Pacific, and one toward the DEI -- with the idea that the KB has to choose which side of New Guineau and can only defend against one of them?

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1946
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 6:06:48 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		There is now essentially only 1 KB force, at least for the moment. Mini-KB is somewhat eliminated as a threat. I already have troops prepped at 100% for operations across all theaters and currently its just a matter of logistics to get them to the invasion beaches. In the Indian Ocean, I was worried about mini-KB as it had pretty much been sticking around in the area of the Bay of Bengal, last seen trying to hit me at Diego Garcia. That threat has been eliminated, and I know where KB is, so I can probably proceed with landings soon. I also know that KB is not up by the Aleutians, etc. Regarding the SoPac/DEI, the way is open into the DEI as John for the most part has appeared to be prepping for a route up Guinea's eastern flank. Planning for ops into the DEI itself are early, but landings for stuff in eastern Guinea are more developed.

One nice thing, however, its certainly more possible now to move up by land to Darwin to take it. Previously, I'd suffered from his 4E bombers hitting me at long-range with no ability to provide CAP protection. I can now have CTFs suppress airfields in the local area to make this possible.


< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/16/2020 6:25:49 PM >

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 1947
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 6:28:15 PM   
Canoerebel


Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline 		The loss of those carriers might disrupt play for awhile, unless John manages a morale-restoring strike with KB. He's really gonna be glum about those sunk carriers, especially given the issue he had earlier ("when he wasn't paying attention," so called).

(in reply to Anachro)
Post #: 1948
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 7:33:29 PM   
Q-Ball


Posts: 7336
Joined: 6/25/2002
From: Chicago, Illinois
Status: offline 		Really well played sequence, and love the AAR! I wish I could read your other one!

John shouldn't be too discouraged, he still has a credible defensive CV deterrent, and a crapload of LBA and land forces vs. stock. It's 1944, so Allies should be making noise; if he's prepared adequately, he can make you pay in blood to advance into the Empire.

_____________________________


(in reply to Canoerebel)
Post #: 1949
RE: Dec 7th, 1943 - 3/16/2020 7:36:52 PM   
paullus99


Posts: 1985
Joined: 1/23/2002
Status: offline 		He really loves to split his forces, doesn't he?

Yet another instance where he put an inferior carrier force within easy striking distance of a superior Allied Force.

_____________________________

Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...

(in reply to Canoerebel)
Post #: 1950
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