Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Japan: July 29th 1945

Honshu Island
The Tsugaru Strait has fallen. The enemy 7th Corps supported by heavy artillery force the crossing and now have a beachhead on Honshu. The 34th Army is entrenched around Aomori and await the enemy’s attack. Their orders are to hold until the end. There will be no suicidal banzai attacks – the unit has emplaced guns and will let the enemy bleed strength points on their doorstep, not the other way around. Air units will not yet be set to support against ground attacks. There is still hope that a battleship can be sunk, which right now is the most important unit on the board.

The BB’s surface combat factor is very high compared to cruisers and destroyers, which greatly improves land combat odds (bombardment) when next to the enemy. I do not know the math behind carriers (their planes) providing support to ground attack odds however they do seem to add less than the battleships. This makes me wonder if the “tactician” specialty would be smart to take as it would increase surface combat by 10% on the BBs - something to think about.

[Remington700]

Mariana Islands
Guam and Saipan remain unsupplied. They have taken 60% casualties and are down to 40% effectiveness or less. The 29th Army on Guam awaits the enemy invasion which surprisingly has yet to come. A6m3 Zeros on Saipan are too low in strength points (4 of 20) to fly CAP so enemy air raids will probably go uncontested.

[Remington700]

Production
Japan: No builds.
Increased replacements from 150 to 350.

Convoys
Leaving the convoys running. Even though they got cut down to 18 Merchant Marine, the convoys returned an additional 37 Production Points. They will run while they can.

[Remington700]

Allied: July 29th 1945

Honshu
F4U Corsairs from Kushiro pound the 34th Army in Aomori doing a SP in damage to the unit. Enemy Zeros jump the fighter bombers shooting down four SPs while losing one.

In support of the upcoming offensive at Aomori the 7th Marine Division lands on the east coast and pushes towards the port. The 5th Marine Division lands on the west coast and likewise pushes towards the port in a pincher movement. To the south the 2nd Marines land and push inland attacking the beat-up Japanese 66th Division which is easily pushed out of the way. The Marines set up a blocking position to trap the enemy 34th Army in Aomori.

Additional airstrikes from F4Us hit the enemy positions lowering effectiveness. The cost was high with another six SPs shot down while the Zeros only lost two.

The imbalance of ultra heavy tactical capabilities coupled with weak aerial combat skill is a result of using a ground attack plane with the Strategic Bombing advancement. Not my desired outcome but the only way I can find to simulate drop tanks. If I knew how to changes things in the editor, I would just bump up the range of the fighter bomber advancement and stop screwing around with the non-realistic combinations. If it is even possible. I need to find a different solution.

In coordinated attacks the 5th and 7th Marine divisions assault the positions of the 34th Army around Aomori. The 7th infantry corps was late in joining the attack causing the assault to fail, however the enemy does lose four SPs. (Miss-click. Somehow I failed to select the 7th Corps to join in the attack.) A second assault is launched, this time lead by the 7th Corps. The enemy holds but loses an additional 7 SPs. A third and final attack by 7th Corps route the 34th Army causing them to surrender in mass.
Advancing into the city the American unit secures the area. Aomori is now firmly in allied control.

Convoy Attacks
In the Sea of Japan two carrier groups continue their convoy attacks. Thirteen freighters are sunk which must be hurting enemy production. However at this stage of the game both sides have more PPs than they can use.

[Remington700]

Bonin Islands
The US 6th Marine Division replaces the 2nd Marines in Chichi Jima in preparation for a landing on Honshu. They will be joined by the US 3rd Corps based in Iwo Jima. The operation is set to launch in a week or two targeting beaches east of Tokyo. The landing will be timed to link up with approaching troops from the north.

[Remington700]

Caroline Islands
The US 12th Corps prepares for the invasion of Guam. They are fully supplied and await transports to take them to their objective. The 6th bomber group arrives with specially fitted twin engine bombers to make long range bombing runs. A small amount of tactical value is lost for the gain in range. This will allow them to support offensive actions in the Marianas. (This is simulated by using the Strategic Bombing advancement on medium bombers. Well worth doing since their range increases by 4 hexes at the cost of 1 tactical value.)

The British 10th Corps arrives in Ponape to stop over before heading out to their assigned location in the Marianas. The unit is specially equipped with advanced targeting communication to improve the effectiveness of bombardment. (Simulated by the Heavy Artillery specialty that reduces entrenchment from 2 to 1.)

[Remington700]

Production
UK: No builds.
India: No builds.
USA: No builds.

Convoys
No Convoys

[Remington700]

Japan: August 12th 1945

Honshu
After the fall of Aomori the beat-up 66th Division moves into position fifty miles north of the 10th Division dug-in at Sendai. The 64th Division garrisons the port at Niigata, one hundred miles to the west. They are divided by the Ou Mountains which should slow down an enemy advance. Both ports will need to be captured to protect the allied supply lines as they push toward Tokyo. There is thought of moving an army from the south to help with the defense however this may be just a feint to weaken other areas for invasion.

[Remington700]

Manchukuo
Loyal spies in the Soviet Union speak of plans for the Russians to enter the war against Japan. What treachery – the hungry bear wants to grab their share of the spoils at our expense. The defense in Manchukuo is finalized as all units are put on red alert. However, the massive amounts of armor and mechanized units on the border is daunting.

[Remington700]

Production
Japan: No builds. Replacements remain at 350.

Convoys
Convoys continue from Manchukuo and will remain in place until destroyed.

[Remington700]

Allied: August 12th 1945

Manchuria
War! The Red Army launches a three-prong attack to encircle and crush the enemy. Two air armies hammer the positions of the Japanese 31st Army destroying a strength point. This is followed by a mobile attack with two fresh mechanized armies crossing the border outside of Kuibyshevka. The enemy suffers three hits and executes a fighting withdrawal to the south. The 13th Mechanized hits them again doing an additional 5 SPs in damage forcing the continued retreat. There is no let up as the enemy is hit again losing another SP before they can escape to the woods along the Songhua River.

To the east two Tank armies and two Mechanized units cross the border outside out Vladivostok. Penetrating deep into enemy territory the armor units push to within 150 miles of Harbin, with only two infantry divisions between them and the capital city. The enemy has nothing to stop the breakthrough.

To the west, three infantry armies cross the Argun River and easily advance through Hairbar reaching the mountains to the east. They will continue to push towards the Songhua River and link up with the other two prongs of the attack.

[Remington700]

Little Boy and Fat Man
Aerial photos show the large buildup of Japanese forces in the southern part of Japan. A single push from the north will take too long and cause too many casualties. A decision is made to use a new type of weapon in order to bring about a quicker end to the war.

The Manhattan Project successfully completed the Trinity test, detonating the first nuclear weapon. The magnitude of force is unbelievable. Two types of bombs have been developed and will be deployed more to demonstrate capabilities rather than destruction of military targets.

The first bomb “Little Boy” containing enriched uranium is dropped on Hiroshima to devastating effect. Three days later “Fat Man” containing plutonium is dropped on Nagasaki. Creating even more destruction. Plans are made to increase the production and use of nuclear materials, thus ushering in the “Atomic Age”.

[Remington700]

Convoy Attacks
Two allied carrier groups patrol the sea lanes across the Sea of Japan. A total of five freighters are sunk during the period. After leaving the convoy zone Task Force 57 and 58 are now offshore of Niigata and Toyama. They have set up a blockade and are prepared to fly combat support of ground operations.

Honshu Island
The invasion to capture Tokyo begins! The US 3rd Corps hits the beach fifty miles to the east of the enemy’s capital city. On their right flank the 6th Marine Division lands and prepares to assault the positions of the fortified 30th Division. However, the pillboxes are built with green concrete due to a lack of Sulphur in the cement. The fourteen-inch guns of the British battleships easily crush the fortifications in support of the ground attack. Supported by carrier-based planes the 6th Marine and 3rd Corps launch their attack. The enemy takes 80% casualties (losing 8 SPs) and routes to the west. The marines advance to the outskirts of Tokyo. (I am not sure why the coastal defense buff did not kick in – but its absence made a noticeable difference.)

To the north, the US 7th Corps is resupplied and attacks the remnants of the Japanese 66th Division. The unit is easily pushed aside routing to the west coast. Multiple airstrikes hit the enemy 10th Division in positions around the port of Sendai causing the loss of a strength point. However, the cost is remains high with the loss of eight bomber SPs shot down by defending Zeros. Following the airstrikes, supported by naval bombardment the 7th Corps continues their advance assaulting the positions of the enemy division. The disrupted 10th Division takes a hit and retreats to the south.

The US 2nd Marine Division advancing behind the 7th Corps attacks the 66th Division retreating to the west. The enemy takes another hit but continues to slip out of the area. The advance is going well, and the expectation is the northern force will link up with the Tokyo invasion force within a week.

[Remington700]

Mariana Islands
Operation Forger is launched! The invasion of Saipan and Guam begins. The British 10th Corp with their special communication equipment hit the beach and call-in specific targets systematically destroying each enemy position. The Japanese 4th SNLF is destroyed.

The US 12th Corps lands on Guam meeting light resistance. The enemy has very little left and immediately surrenders. The Marianas will soon be mopped up and under allied control!

[Remington700]

Production
UK: No builds.
India: No builds.
USA: No builds.

Convoys
No Convoys

[Remington700]

Japan: August 26th 1945

Manchukuo
A lot has changed in the last couple of weeks. The Soviet Union officially declares war on Japan and crosses the border pushing towards Harbin from three directions. The massive armor columns are unstoppable and push to within a hundred miles of the Manchukuo capitol. The question now becomes who is more worried about a communist occupation of Korea – Japan or the western powers. Perhaps a peace agreement can be reached if hardliners in the government can get onboard with the idea.

[Remington700]

Honshu
Disaster. Wonder weapons consume two major cities. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are destroyed by atomic bombs. The government is collapsing as allied forces land offshore of Tokyo. Sendai has fallen in the north and the American army continues its push to link up with recent invasion. The end is near.

[Remington700]

Production
Japan: No builds. Replacements remain at 350.

Convoys
With nine Merchant Marine still functioning the convoys continue from the north.

[Remington700]

Allied: August 26th 1945

Manchuria
The great bear continues their attack. Two days of airstrikes hit positions of the Japanese 4th Division fifty miles south of Harbin. The 1st and 3rd Guards Tank armies steamroll the weakened division destroying the unit. Continuing to fight their way forward the armored units hit the 35th Army in Harbin. The enemy cannot hold and is soon pushed from the city. The 1st Tank Guards advance into Harbin securing the capitol. Mop up of weakened Japanese units continues as the noose tightens around the remaining infantry. The battle for Manchuria is all but over with the Red Army firmly in control of the country.

[Remington700]

Convoy Attacks
The British carriers of TF 57 spotted convoys entering and leaving the port of Toyama. Four freighters (MM) caught with no room to escape are soon sent to the bottom of the sea.

Honshu Island
The 2nd Marine Division advances to the outskirts of Niigata and wheels left to support the attack of the US 7th Corps. After a heavy naval bombardment both units hit the weakened positions of the Japanese 10th Division doing seven SPs in damage and forcing a retreat. Pushing forward the 7th Corps runs headlong into the beat-up 66th doing six SPs in damage and destroying the unit. While continuing to advance forward, elements of the 7th Corps wheel right and overrun positions of the 10th division in the mountains south of Niigata. There are no enemy survivors.

The tired but functional 1st Marine Division hits the beach on the west coast northeast of Toyama. They overrun an unused airfield and prepare to join the attack on the dug-in positions of the beat-up Japanese 30th Division. After seven straight days of airstrikes from land and carrier-based bombers (7 ground strikes and 2 carrier strikes) US troops prepare for an assault to further surround Tokyo. The 1st and 6th Marine Divisions supported by the 7th Corps assault the 30th Division. The enemy takes a SP hit and routes a hundred miles to the south. The 5th Marine Division exploits the breach and advances to the outskirts of the enemy capitol. A full-on assault of Tokyo should be possible within a week.