Hyper-War: ny59giants (A) vs. n01487477 (J)

[Nemo121]

I'm not so sure that's a great deal. Sure you'll get more penetrations but you won't kill too much with those 250Kg bombs.
 
Anyways I'm quite old-fashioned and I believe dive-bombers are great for damaging guns and racking up a little system damage but what sinks ships is letting water in through ruddy great big holes beneath their waterlines. In other words torpedo bombers sink heavy ships ( CAs, BBs and CVs ) while dive-bombers only damage those ( but can sink anything else --- and the 1000 lbers are FAR better vs small ships than the 250 Kg bombs ).
 
The Allies are unusually powerful in terms torpedo bombers in this mod... There are Avengers from January 42, B-26s from Day 1, Il-4s from Day 1, Beauforts from Day 1 etc. From memory the Allies get roughly 120 torpedo bombers per month as replacements PLUS quite a few more as reinforcements which should put them on a par with the Japanese throughout 1942.
 
If I wre you I'd try to hit his heavy ships with my torpedo bombers and everything else with those dive-bombers ( unless of course he comes within 4 hexes of your base in which case let loose those Pe-2s [:D] )

[ny59giants]

I have 3 out of 4 American CVs upgraded to F4F-4 Wildcats and Avengers (the last will be done when they pull into Pearl briefly and get the additional fighter squadrons added). The B-26s will be leaving American shortly after my fighters. I have loaded and sent those going to Australia and New Zealand first (3 x Av Rgt, 1 large BF, fighters). I 've upgraded all but one 8 plane Hudson squadron to Beauforts. If I wasn't a Boise fan boy, I would put me down for those Beauforts. [:D]  It is nice to have through this mod the ability of the Allies to strike back after a bombardment run by the fast CA/BB (speed over 30). I can reach out and take a shot at him vs. the stock way of being able to do nothing. [:@]

Its just my frustrations as an Allied player of having those 500lb GP doing almost no damage to the Japanese CA/BB. Now, I have a shot of doing some (which is all I realy want, regardless if I actually hit anything). I want to move away from the tail on the "Bell Curve" and find a home around the median.

[Nemo121]

Hmm, you are shipping them to the DEI. That will take forever. What I just do is switch whatever USAAF bomber squadrons I want in the DEI to B-17s and fly them to Oz. Then I transfer them back to the shorter-ranged B-26s and B-25s and send them into battle. It wouldn't have been possible in real life but neither is magically creating 50 Zeroes at a newly captured base out of spare parts so I think its quite fair game.

Maybe you are already doing this but I thought I'd say it since it helps get units into action in 1 week instead of 2 months.

[ny59giants]

25 Jan 42

Japanese Super-ASW TF of 2 DMS & 8DDs first get a direct hit on S-39 (24/63) at Teloekbetoeng at night and then during the day phase gets 2 hits on S-40 (35/82) at Merak/Serang. Both those bases are mine, so I'm still a little puzzled how he could choreograph this to happen. [&:] [&:]

Damian writes that he was trying to guess where I had moved my bombers and guessed wrong. He launched air strikes at Tjilitjip and Kendari while my move to the damaged AF at Palembang doesn't pan out. [:(]

I lose 10 Australian pilots, which I cannot afford to lose until I can get my American LBA over there to take up some of the battle, for only one torpedo hit from multiple attacks.

Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 8

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 12
Hudson IV x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete-FF: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Hudson IV: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Yamamiya Maru
CL Naka
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
AV Sanuki Maru
AV Sanyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Hudson IV bombing at 9000 feet
2 x Hudson IV bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Hudson IV bombing at 9000 feet
4 x Beaufort VII launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Ichang: Another shock attack goes off at 112:1. What must I do to get this division to die?!?

Benkolen (Sumatra): He transports in the 1 Raiding Bde and takes this base. He seems to be trying to prevent any retreat from Palembang by capturing the surrounding bases.

Makassar: Mini-KB moves to only one hex due west. He has landed with the 56 Bde (which has done most of the heavy lifting in this part of the SRA) and a SNLF.

Screen shot of forces at Baguio/Balinta Pass on Luzon. I have Forts 4 in a mtn hex with half the troops prepping for this base (the other half for Manila).

[ny59giants]

26 Jan 42

Searaven is attacked by 4 APDs 2 hexes NE of Davao. She suffers no damage. I have been evac part of a Philippine division at Cebu and the 5th BF by subs to Darwin. He has been slowly increasing his ASW attacks by LBA. I have already switched over my large American fleet subs to take 1 out of 2 large Aviaion Rgt on Java back to Perth.

Teloekbetoeng: He lands part of a NGF by barges and 2 are sunk by coastal guns.

Batavia: I get 48 Zekes, 27 Nell, 47 Betty, and 35 Sally form Kuching. This is the only air attacks in the SRA this turn (which is fine by me!).

He finally attacks at Port Moresby (intel reports the Yokosuka SNGF is loading for Milne Bay)

Ground combat at Port Moresby [NG]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8919 troops, 162 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

Defending force 2304 troops, 24 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Japanese max assault: 180 - adjusted assault: 206

Allied max defense: 65 - adjusted defense: 89

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Japanese ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

He is not waiting and captures Palembang. I don't think he wants any more possible LBA attacking out of here.

Ground combat at Palembang [Sumatra]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11219 troops, 178 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Defending force 3429 troops, 55 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Japanese max assault: 393 - adjusted assault: 353

Allied max defense: 45 - adjusted defense: 58

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palembang [Sumatra] base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
191 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Allied ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Ichang: I get 226:1 odds. I hope this division dies soon. [:(]

Pinrang: Landings are taking place.

[ny59giants]

27 Jan 42

Landings continue at - Makassar, Teloekbetoeng

Heiho - My MIG-3s have now reached the low 60s in experience. Hopefully, this will come in handy somewhere.

Batavia - Another 120 bombers hit the AF.

Kendari - Another 150 bombers hit the AF.

Rangoon - My Spitfires hit the 4th RTA Division on the other side of Moulmein. Their experience is now over 60 and rising. I have a large 48 plane squadron (which I cannot divide) and have about 33 planes for it (another non-British Buffalo squadron has upgraded to them). I get one plane per day and want to slowly build up to 36 to 40 planes and then focus on getting a reserve for his eventual push into Burma/India.

Port Moresby - A deliberate attacks brings the forts down to 1. He will probably revert back to bombardment attacks only until he can capture the surrounding bases and thus prevent any retreat into the jungles.

Ichang -

Allied max assault: 2228 - adjusted assault: 2118

Japanese max defense: 56 - adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 235 to 1

The 33rd Division is sent back from its heading towards Malaya and lands just in time.

Ground combat at San Fernando [PH]

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3285 troops, 95 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 10418 troops, 138 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 342

Allied max assault: 149 - adjusted assault: 101

Japanese max defense: 283 - adjusted defense: 135

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

[ny59giants]

28 Jan 42- I had intel tell me of two separate ships/subs in between the middle of Midway and Dutch Harbor on the 26th. I thought incorrectly that they were his subs returning from San Fran and Seattle area. [:-]

Landings at Milne Bay (to cut off any retreat path for my troops at Port Moresby)

Clark - Gets hit by 45 bombers from Formosa.

Luzon - I had moved in Lancer fighters along with VC-2 Corsairs, SB-2, and Vildebeest from China to Manila last turn. Today, 8 naval attacks are launched around the Luzon area and only the Vildebeest are able to put 2 torpedoes into an AK at Legaspi. The morale of the story is even though my tactics were sound, the poor experience levels of the Chinese planes results in no hits. [:(]

CVLs - A lone American AK (7 hexes SE of Kodiak Island) gets hit (1 torpedo) by 26 Zekes escorting 9 Kates and then missed by 6 Zekes escorting 6 Kates. The "raiders" are identified as CVL Shoho and CVL Mizuho. Damian writes its only a "fishing trip" with poor results.

Petropavlosk - Another attacks lowers the forts to 2.

Ichang - Another 248:1 attack.

Comments:
To any other Allied players out there, a word or two of caution. Pay attention to those intel reports. I always load Bodhi's Utility and look at things here first before running the combat replay in case there is a sync issue. I even take notes. [&:] It would help if I acted on them. [:D]

[ny59giants]

29 Jan 42 - Intel reports a ship/sub just off Thursday Island.

Ops show 10 ships, speed 10, 7 hexes SE of Kodiak Island.
Ops shows 3 ships, speed 9, 3 hexes SE of Kodiak Island.
The first TF are the CVLs, but the second TF is???

He has sent 2 subs towards Pearl. One is probably a Glen carrying as 1 of 4 CV TF are spotted. Damian writes that he wonders if I will keep my CVs either here or at San Fran until '43. They came here to pick up the another Wildcat squadron.

Landings at Jesselton

Balikpapan - An AK hits a Russian mine. Damian wonders why they are still there after he had swept the base. Does he think I'm out of subs?? I have 116!!

Batavia - 80 Zekes escort over 110 bombers. Some are assigned to hit the port and the damaged S-40 get 3 x 800kg AP bombs and sinks.

Lone damaged AK is attacked by 8 Kates escorted by 13 Zekes from the 2 CVLs and avoids any further hits. She will be close enough to the West Coast next turn that he may not want to get close enough to my B-17s (range 18/24), A-20B Bostons (range 12/16), B-25D Mitchells (range 15/21), or B-19 (range 33/44) that he knows I will move up to the Pacific NW.

Petrovlosk - more trouble in the great white north.

Ground combat at Petropavlovsk [KAM]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4931 troops, 51 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 138

Defending force 2730 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Japanese max assault: 25 - adjusted assault: 11

Allied max defense: 61 - adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Jesselton - Captured by 2 x Engineers.

San Fernando - I cannot run away fast enough (odds 250:7). I retreat with too much disruption to be combat effective for some time. The regiment will head for Manila.

Milne Bay captured!

Ichang - odds 228:1

Comments:
I had told Damian that most players are not as aggressive as Nemo. He might have taken offense as he is up to something in Alaska. He has a sub 2 hexes due north of Pearl and my 4 super-ASW DD are sent out. Another 8 of the Clemson/Wilkes Class DDs have left LA after upgrade and sys damaged repaired.
Nemo - Is this a tease?? I get 2 Fletcher DDs at Panama, but no more for 6 months. [X(]

[ny59giants]

30 Jan 42 - I had moved a PBY squadron to Kodiak last turn. At least I got a clearer picture of whats here.

Ops show: 2 ships & 9 ships at Kodiak, 4 ships 1 hex SE, and 2 ships 2 hexes SE. "IF" I ever can get a handle on the naval search do's and don'ts, I'll be a happy player. [8|]

Singapore - Only 2 KI-264 Angels hit the base. The runway damage is repaired and the service is coming down as I have too many engineers here. I might need to send in some LBA again. [:D]

Manila - 26 bombers hit the base, but my Chinese planes have gone home again.

Clark - 58 bombers hit here. I had moved my TB to Bataan from Manila. [;)]

Canton Island - a Russian sub sinks an AP with 2 torpedoes, 2 hexes west of the base. I have another sub off the base, besides some mine laying coming and going.

Dobodura - Landings here to complete the encirclement of Port Moresby.

Not a good day for Japanese troopp in Russia.
Exhibit #1

Ground combat at Petropavlovsk [KAM]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5050 troops, 52 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Defending force 2728 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Japanese max assault: 110 - adjusted assault: 82

Allied max defense: 62 - adjusted defense: 137

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Exhibit #2 - the troubles with attacking across a river.

Ground combat at Khabarovsk [AMUR]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 217676 troops, 3147 guns, 1478 vehicles, Assault Value = 5159

Defending force 57149 troops, 950 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1882

Japanese max assault: 5332 - adjusted assault: 984

Allied max defense: 1952 - adjusted defense: 8461 [X(]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
14099 casualties reported [:D]
Guns lost 357
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
889 casualties reported
Guns lost 37

Teloekbetoeng - Captured!! The CD surrenders.

Ichang - 193:1

Landing at Kodiak were 2 x RpU Rgt (a little less than 100 AV each) and 2 x EAB (maybe 30 AV each). I'm in a mtn hex with 2 x Inf Rgt (about 100 AV combined) and 98% prep, but forts at 0.
What are my chances?? [&:]

Ground combat at Kodiak [Alaska]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4880 troops, 210 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 117

Defending force 2317 troops, 13 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Comments:
After the initial, WTF??? It will be either a brilliant move or a disaster. If he can hold it, then he will be able to back fill all the Aleutian Islands. However, he still hasn't captured any of them nor the Russian base. I have not gotten the game file yet, but looking at last turn, I see I can easily send in about 20 subs with the farthest from Pearl. I have one at each of the Aleutian bases, so they will stop off at Dutch Harbor before heading over (I have an AS there already). I had moved all my LCUs for the Alaskan theater to Vancouver awaiting AK/AP. I will give more details after this next turn on my countermeasures.

[Nemo121]

ny59giants,
 
A tease? Would I do something mean like that? [:D]
 
No my thinking is that as the Japanese are stronger in this mod the Allies should also be stronger. I made the Japanese stronger by giving them new plane type to play with but pretty much made the Allies stronger by giving them ( mostly ) the same plane types as before but just giving them those planes earlier and in a more flexible manner.
 
One of my core beliefs is that one of the ways in which the Allies would have reacted to a strengthened Japan would have been to rush prototypes of their late 42, early 43 planes and ships to the Pacific ASAP - hence you get the P-51 X in action a full year earlier that it otherwise would have been, you get night-fighting Mosquitoes a year before they properly enter production and you get a few DDs, CAs, CLs etc a bit earlier too. You also get an additional 4 Essex class CVs and begin getting Essex class CVs 6 months earlier than was historically the case.

[ny59giants]

31 Jan 42
A few more TFs unload at Kodiak. He now has 5 x RpU regiments, 2 x EAB, 1 x BF, 1 x Hvy AA. Two BBs are present along with CLAA Nemo-san. I will say what I'm doing in response at the bottom of this post.

Canton Island: He clears some mines. His ASW ships miss Russian sub 108. Third time is a charm when my sub puts a torpedo in a DD. [:D] Total: my two Russian subs have an AP sunk and probably a DD. Both are meeting at this base for more action.

Air Attacks: Me over Heiho with my Russian MIGs; 4 Zeke and 55 bombers at Batavia; 3 Zeke and 57 bombers at Soerabaja result in 3 Martins on the ground destroyed; 31 Zeke and 61 bombers at Clark. As a side note, he has ignored Singapore again and all damage is repaired along with forts being built up. Will he do it again and allow a hit and run from this base for a third time??

Nanchang: I have a Chinese Field Army trying to get from the east side back to the west side of this base and is attacked by 3 divisions at 34:1 odds. I seem to have 2 HQ and this Field Army on the wrong side. I might just retreat into the jungle and have a larger than normal guerrilla force in SE China.

Moulmein captured! My two brigades retreat. From Rangoon, I move the 2 BF towards Mandalay in response and send the planes further north. A benefit of my stay here was both BF have between 50 to 75% of there TO&E filled out. There was a brigade moved to the crossroads last turn to allow a orderly retreat.

Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10692 troops, 173 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 368

Defending force 3122 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Japanese max assault: 328 - adjusted assault: 420

Allied max defense: 123 - adjusted defense: 61

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein [Burma] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Dobodora (New Guinea) captured by a small SNLF. The ring of bases around Port Moresby are now in Japanese hands. PM should fall soon.

Ichang: Daily shock attack at 195:1 odds. I have got to think their days are numbered.

Comments:
Alaskan situation is dire. I have nothing close by this early in the war. I had moved LCUs from various points in North America to Vancouver (11 AF HQ, 110 BF, 113 BF, 42 Eng, Can 13 Bde, 14 Can Bde, Can AA, 111 Av Rgt, 111 BF). Shipping was headed that way as one lone AK was hit to let the cat out of the bag. I had planned to reinforce Umnak Island, Dutch Harbor, and Cold Bay during February with these forces.

Anchorage has just a BF, CD, 3 x AA, and HQ (AF is only level 3 and will not support my B-26A Marauders that carry torpedoes out 6 hexes). Nearby, Seward has just a CD. I do have over 55k in supply. I had moved the Inf Rgt further south.

Umnak Island has an EAB and Inf Rgt. Dutch Harbor has just a BF (an AS is disbanded). Cold Bay has a BF and Inf Rgt. In this mod, the AV of an American Rgt is below 100 even with a full TO&E, which none of them have at this time.

Plan: I have loaded 110 BF and 42 Eng at Vancouver. They will go full speed to Skagway. This will form the middle of an air bridge to the Anchorage area. LBA and ships are headed to Vancouver and will move further north when able. The 4 CVs had left Pearl the day before (2 days ago) and will head back to San Fran to await further orders (which I don't know exactly what they are [8|]). I had 3 Russian subs at Dutch Harbor. They left last turn at full speed and will be there in 2 days. Three more are coming from the western Aleutian Islands. Subs will flood the area over the next week (about 20 total). Its a nice perk of having the Russians active.
I am soliciting any advice on whether a counter landing is advisable at this time (or in the next few months.

[Nemo121]

One word. Coronados. They have good range and EXCELLENT load.
 
If I were you I would consider the following ( assuming you can't fly directly to Kodiak but have to fly to a base mid-way to Kodiak first and then onto Kodiak in a second leg ).
 
1. Day 1. Fly a few troops from a Base Force to Skagway using 8 PBYs. Fly in loads and loads of combat infantry from some Infantry Regiment.
 
2. Day 2. Base ALL your Coronados at Skagway and use them to fly all the infantry you have there to Kodiak. Continue flying the infantry in using your Catalinas.
 
3. Day 4 or 5 - Land, by sea, that base force and the infantry regiment you were talking about.
 
This way you get the maximum number of troops possible to Kodiak ASAP. ( and don't forget to fly cadres of the two US Regiments out )
 
 
Looking at what he has landed I don't think he has enough to take Kodiak. I personally think Kodiak is a 3 Division + supporting Engineers kind of landing and what he has landed here is only about 400 AV and VERY poorly experienced. Also he has landed them during the wintertime so they will have taken triple or quadruple losses on landing - he will be lucky if those units are even 50% effective.
 
If you reinforce aggressively I think you can hold Kodiak.

[ny59giants]

I have a small BF and the Eng on board ship and they are two days away from Skagway. Following close behind is the large BF (90 aviation support).

I only have one Coronado squadron, but have 11 planes in the pool. Both are at Vancouver. I will shift PBYs around and get this started. I have one of the Russian PBY squadrons already in Canada.

I was moving planes up to get them to Anchorage and Seward. I have 2 SBD from my CV that will fly in next turn. I hope he thinks my CVs are close (actually they were at Pearl when this started), but are approaching San Fran.

The flight distance from Vancouver to Kodiak is one hex too far for my B-17s. However, 3 x 12 plane squadrons of B-19s can reach and a fourth squadron just was upgraded to them.

Thanks for the tips. [&o]

[John 3rd]

Landing in the Aleutians this early in the campaign is right out of my playbook!  I would move units to protect Anchorage.  It is the logical and final target for the Japanese.  In grabbing it they can use it as their forward base and build-up DH, Kodiak, and Unmak into very tough bases. 
 
Logically you wouldn't tolerate Japanese on American soil so he forces you to allocate resources to fight there.  He has a long supply line but can hold that area with a decent aerial commitment that doesn't draw too much from his other goals.
 
If you can hold Anchorage then you can more easily reverse his offensive by turning IT into a massive base for your useless HORDES of 4EB...
 
My .02

[Nemo121]

Kodiak is the fulcrum around which the Northern Campaign ( a crucial one ) hinges. But, obviously, the crucial question is whether you seek to own the fulcrum or just use it as a point around which to manipulate your enemy.
 
There's a lot more to a campaign than owning the crucial ground. With that said he is seeking to own the crucial ground so the most natural choice is to deny it to him - not always the best choice but certainly the most natural one.

[ny59giants]

2 Feb 42 - This is the second day of the dreaded "sync bug." [:@] It doesn't help to see some events that only show up on during the animations (actual direct hits of ASW attacks). However, I learned a few things that I wouldn't know if it had gone as scheduled.

Landings continue from TF 13 only for both phases at Kodiak. There is now a 6th regiment present. The CVLs have moved 4 hexes due south of Kodiak.

Canton Island: A Russian sub gets enough sys damage from misses by the ASW attacks that she will need to head back to Pearl. In the "alternative" time line, both subs got hit by DC.

Goodenough Island: Damian seems to be using a SNLF to land and capture these unoccupied bases and then load it up for the next base.

Soerabaja: 2 hexes off the coast, RO-63 sinks a small Dutch SC with a single torpedo. 2 Zeke escort 75 bombers to hit the AF.

Singapore: 55 bombers from Saigon hit the AF.

Djokjakarta (Java): 4 Zekes escort 86 bombers and 3 Martins are destroyed. I don't have enough fighters on Java except at Malang. Thus, I use PP to get the Martins switch to SW Pacific and they are sent to Exmouth.

Clark: 36 Zeke escort 67 bombers.

Ground combat at Makassar [Celebes]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3545 troops, 37 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Defending force 1226 troops, 13 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Japanese max assault: 80 - adjusted assault: 61

Allied max defense: 29 - adjusted defense: 10

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Makassar [Celebes] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1857 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 1

Ichang: Daily shock attack goes off at 552:1. A few banzai charges are seen.

Kodiak: The AV seems low for the amount of troops he has. After viewing the post by Nemo, next turn I will use PBYs from Cold Bay to transport in part of an American Rgt and looking at my back up file, I have enough PPs to change the command of a Canadian Bde at Prince Rupert. The Coronados and PBYs will begin to move them over. I still have 20 Aviation Support on Kodiak and a fighter squadron will move over to provide CAP. My CVs are still close enough to Pearl for SBDs to fly in. They will be off loaded and/or fly of to Anchorage area after a brief stop over at Seattle for fuel (3 days). SBDs from Prince Rupert will transfer into Anchorage area next turn along with some of my longer legged fighters. For each AV point I can bring in, he has to counter with 4 AV due to my mtn hex bonus. I've gone from a more cautious approach to more active defense. Stay tuned!!

Ground combat at Kodiak [Alaska]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4817 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Defending force 10195 troops, 115 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 277

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

[ny59giants]

2 Feb 42The good news is the sync bug went away. [&o] Damian had to postpone doing his turn due to a night on the town with the "boys." Maybe that was the reason the "sync bug" went away. [;)]

Sub Warfare: Russian sub 127 (25/49) get a direct hit at Kodiak and will head to Seattle for repairs. Two more subs are there and more will flood the area in the next few days. I-8 gets one direct hit out of 20 near misses 6 hexes north of Pearl by 4 DDs. I have another 6 DDs on the way. I warn Damian that sending subs to Hawaii and/or the West coast may not be healthy. I'll see how many I need to sink before he takes my advice.

Djoklakarta (Java): The AF gets hit by 45 Zekes and 89 bombers. I had moved out my Dutch Martins last turn as in the "alternative" time line (sync bug) this base was hit. [;)]

Kodiak: I send in the B-19s (from Vancouver) and B-18A Bolos (from Anchorage) in 4 separate attacks. I lose 8 x B-19s and 5 x Bolo, but hit three separate regiments. He loses 3 Zekes. Round 1 to Japan. I have moved in fighter, A-20 Bostons, SBD Dauntless to Alaska to increase the pressure for the next turn. Patrol planes at Cold Bay and at Prince Rupert will transport in infantry next turn. A squadron of P-40E are sent to Kodiak to provide CAP/escort. The AV increased by 6 to 105 (unmodified).

Ground combat at Kodiak [Alaska]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9365 troops, 106 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 355

Defending force 5425 troops, 213 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Adak Island: Two separate TF unload on this base. It is only a level 1, but he will be able to use it to stage in more planes to Kodiak "IF" he takes the base.

Lucena: Troops land behind my 3 divisions in southern Luzon. Troops have been sent to deal with this as only a BF is based here. I don't know how many he has here, but I will try to deal with it asap. Vildebeest have moved into southern China and may head over next turn.

Russia: The monthly allotment of Vodka was distributed to the troops with positive results.

Ground combat at Petropavlovsk [KAM]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4991 troops, 48 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 134

Defending force 2678 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Japanese max assault: 100 - adjusted assault: 39

Allied max defense: 62 - adjusted defense: 241

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
499 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khabarovsk [AMUR]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 195461 troops, 2641 guns, 1448 vehicles, Assault Value = 4622

Defending force 55947 troops, 907 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1847

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 3772 - adjusted assault: 1161

Allied max defense: 1875 - adjusted defense: 7217 [&o]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
8741 casualties reported
Guns lost 139
Vehicles lost 15

Allied ground losses:
686 casualties reported
Guns lost 37

Ichang: Daily shock attack goes off at 193:1

Wau (New Guinea): Another small force lands and takes this base.

Comments:
I hold my breathe every turn to see if he has launched a shock attack on Kodiak and the base has been captured. Every day it holds, I feel my chances will increase in being able to hold it as troops will be flown in and daily air attacks aid the defenders. Again, I hope I made the right sacrifice to the "dice gods" when the attack does come. I just thought to check the leaders of the troops next turn and make sure they are OK. Ships continue to move at full speed for the Pacific NW and will be headed for Kodiak in the next few days (I would say it will be about 1 week before they actually arrive at Kodiak).

[John 3rd]

It is strange that Damian didn't land at Adak and Cold Harbor at the same time as his assault on Kodiak.  This is an error.  He needs that air bridge right now to help his assault.  You may be right about holding onto Kodiak.  Keep moving troops in and continue hitting his Regiments.  Regardless of the result, they will be bloodied and need to time to refit.  You can move planes and troops while that is happening.
 
Protect that triangle of Allied bases to the NE.  If I grabbed Kodiak, I would certainly be planning to attack Anchorage.
 

[ny59giants]

John,
Just got back to my desk at work after printing out the Civil War manual.[;)]

I have the 4 American CVs heading towards Kodiak. So I give him 4 days to take the base or it will become very difficult for him (CVs should arrive in 3 days - they have the John/Nemo modification of dropping off a DB squadron and add a fighter squadron). I will drop off the 2 slow BBs from the CV TF and have them meet the 2 BB, 2 CL, and 10 plus DDs that will for a bombardment TF near the Pacific NW. The 2 extra SBD squadrons will land at Portland and rotate in as needed to Anchorage area. I have a small BF landing next turn at Skagway with a large BF two days behind. The Aviation Rgt is loaded at Vancouver and will head there. By the time it gets to Skagway, the Patrol PBY/Coronados will be done their air lift (either I have lost Kodiak or my CVs and BBs have damaged his troops enough that I will hold the base) and can airlift the Aviation Rgt to Anchorage. I get 3 EAB in 10 days and they will all head for Alaska. I have a couple of divisions prepping for this area for possible counter assault.

[John 3rd]

That is a lot of firepower.  Do you know where his CVs are?  Where and when were they last seen?
 
IF you can hold Kodiak, fly those SBD into the AF let them get in a some serious work OR put them into Dutch Harbor for the same?  What are your AF sizes in this area?