War in the Pacific: My First Campaign

[TheOx]

***My First Campaign, Please No Spoilers in Your Posts! I Want It All To Be a Surprise!***

Part 1: “A Day That Will Live in Infamy…”

“Admiral, sir, this dispatch just arrived via Teletype.”

Admiral Husband Kimmel, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), watched with quiet anguish at the thick, oily smoke emanating from the burning hulks in what 30 minutes ago was the US Navy’s mightiest naval base. His fists clenched, he turned back towards the conference table and his operations staff, their faces ashen with shock and fear. These would likely be his final dispatches; his failure to defend Pearl Harbor would certainly not go unpunished. And so they should carry the weight and authority of such an occasion. He motioned for his Operations adjutants, Cmdrs. St. Onge and J.D. Grant, over to the enormous map of his former theater…


Losses at Pearl. Many Damaged, No Sinkings Yet.

Intelligence



Japanese forces have attacked on multiple fronts, making significant headway in achieving several objections. A list of US invasion sites and current situation is listed here:

Wake Island (Battle in progress)
Guam (overrun)
Northern Philippines, Luzon (overrun)
Southern Philippines, Luzon (overrun)
Batan Island (not Bataan) (overrun)
Pearl Harbor (naval strike)

Several British bases have also been placed under siege. Singapore, Hong Kong and Indian assets are threatened. Please refer to British liaison officer Leftenant BD Gregg for additional information.

Ops Orders
December 8, 1941

FROM: CINCPAC
TO: PACIFIC FLEET

Execute Unrestricted Warfare against all Japanese assets.

END

Strategic Ops Overview

1.Submarine patrols are to commence immediately with the immediate aim of destroying Japanese shipping.

a.Ops orders issued to 35 submarines.

2.Supplies and support vessels tasked to Aleutian Island chain to prepare submarine operations against Northern Japanese assets.

a.Ops orders issued to 20 submarines and support vessels to rebase in Dutch Harbor.

3.All Philippine defense forces are hereby ordered to take positions at the “Manila Line” to prevent the overrun of Luzon.

a.Ops orders issued to 6 Philippine divisions to withdraw and reform at Clark Field and Manila with Bataan as a withdrawal point.

4.All non-submersible vessels currently based in the Philippines are ordered to rebase in Australia

a.Ops order issued to 45 transports and other surface combatants to rebase in Darwin, Australia.

5.All submarines based in Manila not tasked with current patrol orders are to rebase in Australia.

a.Ops orders issued for 15 submarines to rebase in Darwin, Australia.

6.CVs Lexington and Enterprise are ordered to make port ASAP as to avoid contact with Japanese forces.

a.Ops orders issued to CV TFs to proceed to Johnson Island

7.All non-essential forces will be evacuated from Wake Island

a.F4 Wildcat squadron rebased at Midway.



Pacific Ops, showing Philippine Withdrawal, Submarine Tasking, and CV Movement

[n01487477]

Nice look to the AAR...

[*]looks like some of those BB's are in trouble, your opponent got some good Torpedo strikes there.
[*]I'm not an allied player but be careful evacuating ships out of the Philippines, my current opponent had a pretty good strategy of making individual single ship Tf's, and running the larger ones at full speed when you get the chance.
[*]Oh he also divides some of his LCU's and brings fragments out for later rebuilding ... especially by SS

Anyway batten down the hatches and pray for fair winds...

[edit] what mod is this ?
---Damian---

[TheOx]

No mods at all, just vanilla 1.804. What seems like a mod? Good call on the PI evac, Japs are hurting me good, but I'll be happy if I can get 50% out.

[ny59giants]

Before you go too far, go read some of the post in the "Must Read Thread" section. Lots of nice feedback to help you along.

Allied subs - The large American fleet subs are good only for evac of a fragment of a LCU for rebuilding later. Their torpedo dud rate is very high until 1/43. American S-Class and other Allied subs are your hunters. The Dutch O19 & O20 are good minelayers. 

USS Boise - she has a nasty rep of causing destruction by herself. Most Japanese players have been on the recieivng end of this one ship wreching crew. I like to use her alone.

You are short of avaition support for some time and you will need to try to save the large Aviation Rgt in the SRA. You can rebuild them later.

ENJOY and kiss your social life goodbye. [:D]

[scott64]

Remember. USS Boise is your friend. [:'(][:'(][X(][:D][:)][:-]

[TheOx]

Part 2: Opening Moves

"Fox Squadron, Fox 1, tally-ho! Zeros 3 o'clock low and close, break right!"

Fox 1, better known by his callsign, "Satchmo", reefed his F4F-3 Wildcat into a tight right spiral, boring in on the attacking Zeros. This was the test. Pilots escaped from the Philippines and Wake had come back with horror stories about the new Japanese fighter. It was too advanced, could climb too quickly, could turn too tightly, that the Wildcat ws outmatched. So far, only a few had been felled by an American pilot. Satchmo's flight changed all that in a matter of seconds. His element bolted through the Zeros like lightning, his crackling guns returning flames from the "tail end Charlie" of the enemy formation. In a flash he was through, his Wildcat screaming so close to his opponent he could read the pilot's name off the side. Kori Hitokiri.

Intelligence



Philippines

***Japanese forces have invaded in multiple locations, 90% of bases overrun. Manila Line continues to hold, but supplies are running out. Only Clark Field, Manila and Bataan remain in Allied hands. Aircraft evac of Clark field complete***

Wake Island

***Japanese invasion defeated. Night operations by fast transports to evac forces to Midway complete.***

Dutch East Indies

***Japanese invasions reported in Borneo, Rabual and several other outposts. Rabual expected to fall within the month.***

Ops De-Brief

Operation Backlash

Target:Kwalajein
Obj: Disrupt Japanese Operations in Southwest Pacific

Outcome: SUCCESS Several vessels destroyed (CLs, DDs, AKs) several dozen Japanese aircraft destroyed. Minimal losses.



Ops Orders

Operation Timepiece

Target:Kwajalein/Truk
Obj: Disrupt Japanese Operations in Southwest Pacific

***Report to OPERATIONS RM 231 for Briefing***

Cmdr St. Onge

[cantona2]

Is it a PBEM or vs AI game?

[TheOx]

Noob (me) vs. AI 
 
 

[TheOx]

Part 3: I Shall Return...

Jan-Mar 1942

“Sir, if you’ll step aboard, its time to leave.”

General Douglas MacArthur took a deep breath of the humid Philippine night air and wondered for a moment if he’d miss it. Not just the air. The dirt, the grime, the weeks of half-rations, the endless bombardment by the Japanese, all of it. Yes, he decided. I’ll certainly miss it, if only for the lack of the company of these men.
War Plan Orange, that relic of World War I, had failed in its entirety. The Japanese advance had swallowed the Southwestern Pacific whole, as if consumed by a gluttonous dragon. No respite would be given to the “Bastards of Bataan”; no tanks, no planes, no escape. And yet their sacrifice had purpose. Their 4 month long struggle was tying down over 70,000 Japanese troops. Troops that could be wrecking havoc elsewhere in the Pacific, rather than impaling themselves against the bulwarks of Bataan.

Intelligence



Philippines

The Manila Line is holding, with Clark AF, the city of Manila, and Bataan holding firm against the Japanese onslaught. Estimate perhaps 1-2 months of supplies remain. Re-supply mission impossible due to threat of Japanese air attack.

Coral Sea

Guadalcanal and Port Moresby have been transformed into a major airfields, checking the Japanese advance into the Solomons and providing a counterbalance to Rabaul. Enemy air attacks have been sporadic, with heavy losses by the Japanese. Daylight attacks by B17s on Rabaul have proven costly and largely ineffective. Japanese landings continue on the northern coast, but no efforts have been made (or are deemed likely) to march the Kokoda Trail to Port Moresby. Japanese shipping losses have been heavy. Intelligence estimates 60% of Japanese shipping in the area has been destroyed or rendered unseaworthy. A stalemate exits in this theater.
Operation Timepiece
Debrief: Several Japanese vessels destroyed, believed to be light cruisers and destroyers. TF retired after CV Saratoga received a torpedo strike from enemy counter air attack.
Future Operations:

Operation Wildfire
Obj: Neutralize Kwajalein
-Gain Initiative
-Protect US-AUS Convoy Route
Projected Date: May 15, 1942

Method:
1) Invade targets Maloelap and Wotje. Debate continues on the use of airborne troops or standard amphibious invasion.
2) Establish CAP
3) Base Bomber Formations
4) Begin neutralization of Kwajalein airfield
5) Main invasion force arrives after Kwajalein airfield neutralized.
6) Invasion of Kwajalein with 5 US Marine and Army Divisions supported by Carrier Air Group and Surface Battle Group.

[TheOx]

Part 4: The Best Laid Plans…

April-August 1942

“RESISTANCE MUCH HEAVIER THAN ANTICIPATED AT PRIMARY 1 AND 2. ISSUE IN DOUBT.”

Admiral Nimitz, running his first operation as CINCPAC, crushed the radio transcript in his hand and tossed it in the wastebasket at the end of the operations room, keenly aware that the eyes of the room were upon him. A decision must be made, and quickly. Failure here would mean the shifting of priority to that bastard MacArthur, screaming his head off in Australia to begin his “pet” offensive on Rabaul and New Guinea. No, this operation cannot fail. His decision made, Nimitz strode quickly to the expectant radioman.

“Send this, sailor: ‘Proceed to Alternates 1 and 2. We are not, repeat not, retiring until successful invasion has taken place.’”


Intelligence

The last several months have been dominated by Operation Wildfire. A synopsis of actions follows.

Pre-Invasion

Invasion date of May 15th postponed upon sudden Japanese appearance at Wake Island. Moderate invasion force escorted by two heavy surface action groups entered the theater one week before K-Day. Carrier Air Group (CAG) deployed, resulting in 2nd Battle of Wake Island. Japanese fleet and invasion force smashed to little gain. Minimal Allied loss.

Japanese Losses

BB Mutsu
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga
CA Suzuya
CL Sendai
10-15 smaller craft/transports

Allied Losses

None

Operation Wildfire

Debrief:

Forces transited without issue. Landings on Maloelap and Wotje met with heavier than anticipated resistance due to poor intelligence as to enemy order of battle. Main invasion of Kwajalein postponed. Invasion fleet diverted to Alternates 1 and 2, Eniwetok and Rongelap. Invasions of Alternates 1 and 2 successful, with work beginning on airfield and port expansion beginning immediately.

Both bases fell under heavy surface and air attack, prompting additional Allied forces to be dispatched from CENTPAC. After two weeks of heavy engagement, Allied forces retired after eliminating air resistance at Kwajalein.

Four days after Allied forces retired, several enemy carriers arrived in theater and began daily bombardment of Eniwetok and Rongelap by surface groups and aircraft. Allied CAGs were recalled from SOUTHPAC and CENTPAC to defeat enemy carrier forces, resulting in the Battle of Kwajalein, pitting six Allied carriers against six Japanese heavy and two light carriers, combined with land based aircraft from Kwajalein and Eniwetok.





Allied Losses

CV Lexington
CV Wasp
CV Hornet
CV Saratoga
BB West Virginia
5-10 smaller vessels, mainly transports

Allied Damaged

CV Yorktown (2-3 months)

Japanese Losses

CV Hiryu
CV Akagi
CV Kaga
CV Soryu
CV Junyo
CV Hiyo
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
15-20 smaller vessels

Japanese Damaged

CV Shokaku (3-4 months)


From July to August 1942 the Kwajalein Campaign devoured ships, men, and aircraft at an alarming rate for both Allied and Japanese forces. TF 1088, comprising of CVs Enterprise and Yorktown (despite moderate damage), swept the skies of Japanese aircraft over Eniwetok for 3 weeks as Navy SeaBees worked around the clock to complete the airstrip. TF 1088 departed for Pearl Harbor on August 1, leaving the skies to the US land based fighters.

Post-Invasion

CAP and Anti-ship operations underway with minimal losses. Japanese air garrison has been drastically reduced by Allied strikes. Japanese shipping in and around Kwajalein under constant attack by land based bombers. Reports indicate Japanese garrison is fortifying, and awaits invasion.

[Flying Tiger]

interesting style Ox. What happened next?? Or did real life finally catch up with you?

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

interesting style Ox. What happened next?? Or did real life finally catch up with you?

lol, last post of this AAR nearly a year ago...

[Flying Tiger]

yeah. i went to the last page of the AARs just for some fun. Found this one, started reading....
 
I often wonder what happens to these guys. Are they still playing? Or like i said, did real life catch up??
 
Strangely depressing thought somehow....

[stuman]

I bet more often than not the realization of what a big undertaking writing a detailed AAR covering 4 years of the War is just gets too much, and RL takes over [:)]

[Flying Tiger]

This was hardly a detailed AAR though... More like a brief overview, with months (game time) between each post - the sort of AAR i could do!!
 
Wonder if Ox is still playing the game though?