Andy Mac v PZB ....The Allies Fight Back

[Andy Mac]

p.s to further the confusion 3rd USMC Div is heading for North Borneo trying to sow some seeds of doubt in PZB's mind.

Unfortunately most of the rest of the Inf Divs in Singapore need at least 4 weeks rest before I can commit to operatrions

[String]

AE reloads only up to 5" at sea for US after 45. AE reloads all ammo for guns while docked and sufficient supplies are present.

[Andy Mac]

Which means I need a base closer to the front I need Wake and Marcus ASAP if possible

[Andy Mac]

X Corps is now about 360 miles from marcus and was spotted this turn

XXIV Corps is on a long right hook and as far as I am aware is still unspotted.

This is payback for PH this time the allies are exploiting the empty North Pacific wastes !!!

PZB has to honour the threat so after I land at Marcus I need to interdict the Bonins

My 1st reserve carrier TF left Midway to join the fleet I want to keep 4 carrier TF's on station at all times this is not going to be another Marianas I have learned my lesson.

the 2nd reserve TF is at Midway fueled and ready to go it will sail in 4 days to relieve one of the TF's at sea

(I Have 6 strong TF's 4 at Marcus/ Wake 1 leaving Midway the last docked at Midway)

Andy

[ny59giants]

X Corps is now about 360 miles from marcus and was spotted this turn

XXIV Corps is on a long right hook and as far as I am aware is still unspotted.

This is payback for PH this time the allies are exploiting the empty North Pacific wastes !!!

PZB has to honour the threat so after I land at Marcus I need to interdict the Bonins

My 1st reserve carrier TF left Midway to join the fleet I want to keep 4 carrier TF's on station at all times this is not going to be another Marianas I have learned my lesson.

the 2nd reserve TF is at Midway fueled and ready to go it will sail in 4 days to relieve one of the TF's at sea

(I Have 6 strong TF's 4 at Marcus/ Wake 1 leaving Midway the last docked at Midway)

Andy

How have you divided up your carrier assets to cover these various invasions??
Do you have a separate group assigned to intervene against KB??
I would think that PzB will send it out or at least have it out looking for someplace to hit you where you don't have carriers near by.[:-]

[frank1970]

How large can KB be?
3 to 5 CV and 4CVL?
Maybe it might be wise to have some heavy naval attack option, only in case!
Additionally there are how many Japanese BBs?

That´s the way PzB might do it:

Send SC TF to Wake, LRcap it by KB´s Zekes. Inflicht damage to Andy´s Hellcats. After reducing CAP of Andy´s carriers rush in with KB and sink and damage the carriers protecting the landing. After that use BBs to scrap the invasion fleet. Andy´s BBs might be out of ammo at that point.

So Andy how are your options searching for KB? Could you use some B29 to do longrange naval search?
Additionally land at least one division in the DEI, just to make PzB unsure.

[Andy Mac]

3rd USMC Div and Armour lands at the base between Brunei and Kuching in 3 days time !!!
 
KB can have 3 or 4 Carriers I think depending on repairs.
 
At sea I have a total of 10 Air TF's
 
3 Replenishment TF's with Wildcats and TBM's dedicated to CAP and Ground support 1 assigned for each of my 3 Invasion Task Groups each has 5 CVE's
 
A 4th CVE Group is at Midway in reserve and will move to assist the attack on Wake with CAS (CVE op counts are low and I want to ensure I can keep pressure on the Japs so rotation is the key)
 
4 Fleet CV's are roaming in the area between Wake and Marcus each one is probably a match for the Japanese carrier threat and I am keeping them well seperated to catch any reinforcement convoys.
 
It is a real issue I face that I don't actualy have that many bombers left on my carriers 42 Hellcats (50% CAP Escort) and 36 F4U1D's (20% CAP rest CAS) on about half of my USN CV's does not leave a lot of room for naval strike aircraft the others have 42 Hellcats.
 
BUT several of my carriers have F6F-N Sqns just in case as I need to honour the threat.
 
So I dont actually have that many bombers I am keeping the CVL Sqn TBM's on naval attack with port secondary and 1 Sqn of Divebombers per TF on naval with AF secondary but the rest are on CAS.
 
The real threat is LBA and the Battleships and the need to re arm my fast Battleships at Midway is a real issue as ever in this game it is the shortage of surface warships that is the issue and if PZB waits and bides his time and tries to hit me at Iwo and not at Marcus or Wake I could have some issues.
 
In reality I doubt I will be able to commit my Iowa class BB's to bombardment duty at Iwo as they will be required to operate as Close Escort for the invasion convoys as they close in.
 
Iwo is going to be bloody !!!

Andy
 
 

[Andy Mac]

p.s. PZB would be a fool to intervene at Wake he 'may' risk it at Marcus but I woudlnt neither of these can really hurt him at Iwo I will be more vulnerable with lengthy LOC to finish cripples.
 
If I was him I would let me take Marcus and Wake and then hit me with everything he had when I made my next move which we know will be Iwo - I would throw everything into the fight for Iwo and I need to plan accordingly and be ready for a real scrap
 
(Hopefully he still thinks this is a diversion and although I need to honour the threat a niggle at the back of my head makes me wonder if my deception plan has worked does he think this is a diversion - are his BB's in Manila harbour waiting to strike !!!!)

[Andy Mac]

No mines !!!!
 
Did the deception plan work or is he luring me in - hmmmm Marcus may have some but if not this is going to be interesting

[Andy Mac]

Guys you have made me stop and think my 3rd Invasion Task Group on the long right hook is covered only by CVE's at present.
 
This is probably a bit of a risk when KB could be out there.
 
Accordingly I will move my 6th Fleet Carrier TF (Bennnington, Antietim and Ticonderoga) to cover them on their long journey
 
Its not the optimum use of their strength BUT I dont think I have a choice KB could get in amongst my TF's and that would cause mayhem.
 
Andy

[ny59giants]

I guess that part of me says that doing both Wake and Marcus at the same time is OK, but I would wait to invade the Bonins until I had all my CV's available as he will have to send everything he's got against it.
He cannot allow you to succeed there!!

[frank1970]

And he has the advantage of nearby AF, which he will use to kill your CAP before he goes in with KB and whatever.

Now, take Markus and Wake, build them up, put lots of searchplanes there and have a look.
Afterwards you can go and get him.

[duckenf]

ORIGINAL: Frank

And he has the advantage of nearby AF, which he will use to kill your CAP before he goes in with KB and whatever.

Now, take Markus and Wake, build them up, put lots of searchplanes there and have a look.
Afterwards you can go and get him.

I'd agree with that. You've noted how he'll have to oppose an invasion of the Bonins with whatever surface fleet he has left, and it's good ground for him with lots of LBA support. You can make an educated guess at what he'll throw at you -- you know the Japanese order of battle, just subtract the CVs and BBs on the sunk ship list and you'll have an idea of the max he can throw at you. With your resources, that's what you should prepare for -- left-over KB and the LBA (and just the LBA caused your trouble last time). You have to respect the fleet in being until you sink it. I'd add that setting up a bunch of sub pickets would also be useful as you make your next moves; and whatever bomber force you can assemble of your own on Wake and marcus.

Now that you have Singapore, you've effectively closed the Indian Ocean to his fleet. Your CVEs might get some activity there supporting landings in Burma or India or Ceylon or wherever. Indeed, since you have so many LBA that you can't get to the front, you could use India and Burma as training ground.

[frank1970]

But the DEI is still very dangerous. Andy closed some of the AF there, but I am afraid, there are much more of them. Andy lost about 15 or so CVE in the DEI and around Singers, so it would be time for a payback, but Andy shouldn´t be so audacious and risk his CVEs for no gain.

[Przemcio231]

yach right... well try to lure him out or something Andy[:D] or let's say do such trick move your forces close to some base to lure his forces in and then bombard the hell out of them or something[:D] im totaly amazed PzB's ability to inflict such heavy losses...

[Andy Mac]

PZB is clearly a good player no question his ability to cause damage is great.

I think he was to aggressive with KB what Pauk is doing to me by keeping it in being is far harder to deal with.

His ability to take risks with surface ships is enough to cause convulsions

Re Iwo I will re concentrate to some extent before going near but I am not willing to wait remember the operational concept behind Yellow is that I hit him before he concentrates by taking each of the three islands on the run as fast as I can if I wait I lose - PZB could easily transfer 100,000 men to Iwo and Bonin and I come to a crashing halt.

So I won't wait I will go as fast as I can !!!

I will have 6 BB's and about 6 x 8 ship Fletcher class DD Flotillas for close protection plus my carriers there may be a surface battle and it may hurt but I WILL get my men ashore - losses are to be expected I cannot afford to waste any more time on offensives that don't work.

If I have to send a second Corps to Iwo that will delay Okinawa/Formosa/HI

Andy

[saj42]

Here's my thoughts for what they're worth.....
Capture Wake and Marcus and build them up. hold back bonins invasion temporarily.
After Marcus do your Borneo invasion with 3rd USMC and make a big show down there. He'll think the East attack was a diversion for the Borneo landing and hopefully keep forces out west thinking more will follow. THEN go for Bonins. Perhaps PzB won't realise you have the assets to launch three very closely consecutive invasions in the CENTPAC.

[Andy Mac]

I know what you are saying tallyho but the cat is out of the bag

He now knows and has seen at least 60% of my total carrier assets are in the East I will sow a little doubt but I believe if I delay after marcus he will make the Bonins invincible so I need to go straight in it may be lunacy but I have planned for it my troops are in position and I am going in hard (Iwo force is only about 12 days steaming away anyway)

He also has to be aware that the bulk of my LST's are in the East - delay is just not worth it I need to risk big now they go in !!!!

24th Corps and 6th Marines will get the job done

If neccessary I will send in 4th Marines to back em but I would rather keep em fresh for my next operation

Andy

[saj42]

You're the only one who can make the final decision based on the tactical and strategic situation as you know it (we your loyal followers will never have all the intel). Gung-Ho it is then [:D]

[Andy Mac]

The only good thing in losing so many ships is those surface assets I have are good !!!

Lots of Baltimore's, Clevelands and my BB's are mostly modern

I just recieved Arkansas and I get Texas and Alaska soon so my surface combat TF's are getting stronger all the time !!!!