The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[House Stark]

Greyjoy, well done! You've definitely lived up to your name. And unlike your namesake, I think you actually brought enough men to hold your conquests. That 4E raid on Rabaul really complemented this attack well. I'm sure 1000 aircraft is only a few days production for him, but it's going to take a little time to reorganize his air force and get it in position. Time that he doesn't have, from the looks of it. What sort of engineering forces do you have going ashore, and air units ready to stage in? Did he leave you any nice airfields as gifts?

[Crackaces]

Wow I am counting bases in range and I am thinking you can keep the kama's supressed. They have to have bases to fly from, and you have sort of isolated away points to launch from. This is not like Oki... where a single point can be attacked from multiple bases I count 9 bases in range, and you can march to Sapparo to project more power rather than risk Naval forces .. this is absolutely brillant! and I was thinking small lauching strikes from UJ into the heart of Japan .. Sapporo exposes the entire military complex .. P51's and P47's sweeping from Sapporo in 1944! [&o]

I have to think that since Rader sank so many AP's that you did not have the logistics to pull this off ...clearly despite all the losses you suffered the US is quite capable of launching such a daring strike into the heart of the homelands ...

I am in awe watching this unfold ..[8D]

[princep01]

Hummmmm, his chin rests on his hand and he mutters quietly while drumming his fingers on the large conference table. Hummmmm he mutters again. Whatever has Reek done with himself. He has become a veritable sea kraken and lain a heavy stroke on those LYBs. Nice, nice and all, but, I think I'll await the dropping of the other shoe before joining fully in the hozzanas and requests for interviews.

However, I must grudgingly admit, that was quite a well done organizational task and a nice (depending on one's point of view) surprise.

Carry on, Sea Kraken. Let's sea what the LYBs do for a response. No diddling about.

princep Bolton

[jrcar]

Nice, very nice!

An approach I'm always tempted to take, looking forward to seeing the results...

Cheers

Rob

[CaptBeefheart]

A guy stays away from an AAR for 24 hours and look what happens! Well played, maestro! Let the games begin.

If I could only offer one humble suggestion which you have probably already though of: You might want to bring more LCUs to the party on Hokkaido sooner rather than later.

Cheers,
CC

[LoBaron]

Most interesting thing happening here for ages. Good job!

[JeffroK]

Well done, but you have only made 1st base, long way to go.

be ready on other fronts, a few cracks might open up to advance in other areas.

Meta-Gamer, is that like being Metro-Sexual, I suppose if no one knows what it means it sounds cool and sophisticated.

[GreyJoy]

Mar 26, 27 1944

Landings went smoothly. Japan didn't react, nor at sea, nor in the air.
It seems that Rader is reorganizing his fleet near Ominato ...BBs and DDs spotted there...

Shimushri, Uruppu and Etorofu fell in allied hands

At Kunashiri we landed a full amphibious corp composed of 2 reinforced divisions.
At Shukotan we landed on a empty dot-base.
At Bihoro already 4500 AVs are ashore (used a mix of xAPs and APA, AKA and xAKs with empty LCIs and LST...with an ACG with a Amphib HQ)

So far so good.

The first fighter units are being transfered in these days from Aleutinas and now we're ready to unload our Air Army.

Our DDs covering the exit route from Etorofu bumbed and sunk a convoy of Aux ships trying to escape...

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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 117,71

Japanese Ships
E Miyake, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E Manju

Allied Ships
SS Plunger, hits 4



SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes at E Miyake
Plunger diving deep ....
E Manju fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Manju attacking submerged sub ....
E Manju fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Manju fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Manju attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Shikotan at 125,54, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
ACM Mejima Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
ACM Tamo Maru #7, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
ACM Tokuho Maru #5, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
ACM Yachiyo Maru, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Shuko Maru #5, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG Irako, Shell hits 8, on fire
AR Yamabiko Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AKE Wales Maru, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
AD Gyoko Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
PB Takunan Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Stephen Potter
DD Halsey Powell



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Ground combat at Shimushiri-jima (132,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50876 troops, 868 guns, 1402 vehicles, Assault Value = 2168

Defending force 6340 troops, 54 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 1258

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 139 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Shimushiri-jima !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-I Topsy: 3 destroyed
J1N1-S Irving: 4 destroyed
Ki-56 Thalia: 4 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 6 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6031 casualties reported
Squads: 123 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 296 disabled
Engineers: 63 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 56 (47 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
310 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
766th Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Division
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
XXI Corps Engineer Battalion
228th USN Base Force /5
134th Field Artillery Battalion
114th RN Base Force
154th FA Bn
183rd USAAF Base Force
C Det USN Port Svc
249th Field Artillery Battalion
11th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
198th Coast AA Regiment
A Det USN Port Svc
15th Marine Defense Battalion
RAF 225 Group Base Force /2
98th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
XIV US Corps
229th USN Base Force /5

Defending units:
74th Infantry Regiment
12th Naval Construction Battalion
Western Army
37th JNAF AF Unit


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Ground combat at Uruppu-jima (130,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32628 troops, 766 guns, 835 vehicles, Assault Value = 1479

Defending force 2893 troops, 39 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 474

Japanese adjusted defense: 79

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Uruppu-jima !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1125 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 56 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 23 (11 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
364th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
14th Canadian Brigade
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
2nd Marine Division
28th (East African) Brigade
1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion
163rd USA Base Force
21st USN Naval Construction Regiment
12th Marine Defense Battalion
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
184th USAAF Base Force /3
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
159th USA Base Force
Sixth US Army /2
131st Field Artillery Battalion
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
28th USN Naval Construction Regiment
860/865th Engineer Aviation Battalion
177 Wing
109th Tank Attack Regiment
Thirteenth USAAF
158th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /4

Defending units:
Karafuto Mixed Bde /1
56th JNAF AF Unit
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1
67th JAAF AF Bn
21st Field AF Construction Battalion
Maizuru 4th SNLF /1


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Ground combat at Etorofu (128,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 47672 troops, 922 guns, 1180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1580

Defending force 1488 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 2279

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2279 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Etorofu !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2127 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 160 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
33rd Infantry Division
4th Marine Division
3rd Marine Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
B Det USN Port Svc
608th Coast AA Regiment
64th Coast AA Regiment
USN AirSoPac
184th USAAF Base Force
Third US Fleet
18th Marine Defense Battalion
3rd Eng Amph Bde
27th USN Naval Construction Regiment
165 Wing
7th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
82nd Mortar Battalion
233rd USN Base Force
119th RAF Base Force
259th Coastal Artillery Battalion
232nd USN Base Force
95th Coast AA Regiment
225th Field Artillery Battalion
185th USAAF Base Force
198th Field Artillery Battalion
XI US Corps
180th USAAF Base Force
1883rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

Defending units:
42nd JNAF AF Unit
51st Air Div /1


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Ground combat at Kunashiri (125,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 932 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Defending force 10779 troops, 177 guns, 228 vehicles, Assault Value = 438



Assaulting units:
81st Div /1

Defending units:
6th Infantry Div /4
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Div /1
118th RAF Base Force /1
114th USAAF Base Force /1
158th USA Base Force /1
57th Cst Art Rgt /1
112th RN Base Force /1
11th USN SeaBees /1
231st USN Base Force /1
V US Amphib Corps
F Det USN Port Svc /1
251st Cst AA Rgt /1
23rd USN Naval Const Rgt /1
610th Cst AA Rgt /1


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Submarine attack near Kushiro at 124,54

Japanese Ships
AG Irako, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Lapon



AG Irako is sighted by SS Lapon
SS Lapon launches 2 torpedoes at AG Irako


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Submarine attack near Kushiro at 124,54

Japanese Ships
AD Gyoko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Redfin



AD Gyoko Maru is sighted by SS Redfin
SS Redfin launches 4 torpedoes at AD Gyoko Maru


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Submarine attack near Kushiro at 123,54

Japanese Ships
AG Irako, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Stonehenge



AG Irako is sighted by SS Stonehenge
SS Stonehenge launches 6 torpedoes

[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

situation

[cantona2]

A great move GJ

Now give us AFB's some Joy for the pain inflicted earlier in the game by the LYB's. Cram enough fighters to cover yoru bases and start fragging Japan's industry with your 4e's. He'll need to bring back fighters from the frontlines to cover his cities or move KB north exposing himself in the south. Hope it pays off and great foresight in staging this operation

[jrcar]

Ugly, very Ugly, Andrew look away now, this is not the way to invade Japan... it really isn't!

Do you think he will listen?

Nice use of sledghammers to crush the offshore islands.

Cheers

Rob

[SBD]

Great job GJ. That day that you used to copy & paste all those sigint files was apparently time well spent. Good luck in the ensuing battles!

[GreyJoy]

Yes, tomorrow our AKVs will unload 4 squadrons of Spitfires Mk VIII with TOP GUN pilots at Uruppu, while more 50 fighter squadrons will be unloading from Air transport cargos at Shimushiri, Uruppu and Etorofu.
At Etorofu (port level 3) i'm disbanding 6 AKEs (big enough to replenish my BBs), 2 ASs, 2 ADs and 2 ARs.
Same goes of Uruppu.
Several Seabees regiments are already at Work to fortify and expand the three conquested bases.
Several DD Divisions will move close to Hakkodake (south of Bihoro) in order to prevent a coup de main by his BBs, while more DDs will be sent up north, closing the straights with Shaklain peninsula.
 
Tomorrow we'll conquer Bihoro, Shukotan and Kunashiri, while an invasion will take place at Shikuka (northern part of Shakalin).
 
Several big units are massing at SF, prepping and getting ready for the next phase of the invasion.
 
Soon Rader will reply with his usual hammer...he's not fighting us now...he's organizing his forces...and i see many barges moving up and down from Ominato to Okkaido...clearly reinforcing the region.
 
We'll try to speed up the expanding process and tomorrow attack at Bihoro will be a shock one, with my tanks in reserve -pursuit mode.
 
Very pleased, so far, about the firsy days of SUDDENLY HAIRY....everything went perfect.
We haven't lost a single ship so far...and our troops, despite the loooooong journey aboard non-invasion ships are in a very good shape

[SoliInvictus202]

a VERY important hex to move DDs into (and if possible PTs if in range) is Hakodate))

it has a strong naval fortress - but if you just move into the hex - and not move through it into the sea of Japan then these guns won't attack!

it is a 2 hex move from Ominato - he will use massive barge transports (that's what my opponent did) to move reinforcements to Hokkaido

if you move a few DDs there - set to react 0 hexes - and he forgets to escort his barges - then you might get a few nice kills! (I killed about 4 Divisions worth on the one day I was able to get through his escorts - I lost 10 DDs or so with these moves - but 4 DIvs are worth it!)

next possible option is Mauban (or whatever) - also in range for japanese barges departing Ominato!

[SoliInvictus202]

if I may - you should also have SS patrol the approaches to Sapporo - he may try to move large convoys onto Sapporo, which is probably his larges port on Hokkaido.... - you really don't want him to reinforce Hokkaido too much... - he can still do so via air and barges... but if he starts using xAPs - then even your 10 Divs might be in trouble....

[obvert]

while an invasion will take place at Shikuka (northern part of Shakalin).

I was going to ask about this one since you obviously have enough up there to get it. But of course it's already in the plan. Not that he can use the oil and resources with you sitting in Hokkaido, but it makes a good rear base as well for your ops in the future. It will definitely make the other Kuriles irrelevant as well.

Why am I playing Japan again? This looks like a lot of fun! To sit and watch those ships for months inching closer, and finally to have it all on the ground successfully must be immensely satisfying.

With the amount of supply you brought you should have PTs available soon right? These would be perfect for Hakodate.

[GreyJoy]

Here's what we have unloaded so far at Bihoro.