Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[Saros]

Watch out the raiding rgt is a para troop so it might decide to shock attack. I'm not sure as I have never flown a paratroop into a base with enemies there. Let me know what happens as I have a similar situation in my game.

[John 3rd]

I had not even thought about that! Thanks for raising my stress level Saros...

Had a very long day at work and want simply to go to bed but am going to try and run the turn. Would REALLY like Dan to back away from this but don't think he will. He is relentless. I remember in our epic first campaign where I sank over 300 ships of his when invading Hokkaido and Skhalin and---he---still---kept---coming...

[John 3rd]

June 17, 1942

A feeling of despondency is beginning to creep into the Japanese High Command. The dice continue to come up craps it seems. Hope for a withdrawal or a reset from the Americans is fading fast.

Carnavon will fall fairly quickly as he diverts troops that were to land at Exmouth to this base. The 45 Fighters and 54 Bettys at this base don't fly a single sortie though you can see the transports in the harbor unloading troops. Pull all but a Chutai of Zeros and a Daitai of Nells from the base. The aerial reinforcement ordered last turn doesn't happen. No troops are flown in from the 50+ Transports set to carry 2nd Raiders to this place. They are desperately needed but appear unable to arrive at the base. Anyone know why? The range is only nine, flying to a friendly AF, and I don't see why it didn't happen.

Another Amphib TF arrives at Exmouth and unloads a tiny American Inf Bn. No real difference here but just shows no lessoning of resolve. A pair of CAs (Minneapolis and Indianapolis) bombard Exmouth and inflict 621 Cas. Nice work! My pairs of BBs cannot brake over 200 when they bombard a base.

Five good DDs refueled and ready at Port Hedlund. Order them to make a FULL Speed run to Exmouth.

The four US CVs move slightly NNE of Exmouth and draw a Nell--Betty attack at range nine. 29 Fighters and just 10 Nells try to penetrate a CAP of 99 Wildkitties. Two Nells, suprisingly, get through and one gets blown apart by Enterprise's guns and last one drops its fish but misses. Should note that the fighters do very well shooting down almost 20 F4Fs. A second strike of 11 Zero and 10 Nells is crushed by the CAP. Over 80 Nells and 27 more Fighters simply sit on the field at Corunna Downs doing nothing.

Pull the Japanese CVs back to Koepang for fuel and hope from an opening. Do decide to keep the pressure on the Americans so I fly off the 56 Zeros on both Junyo and Hiyo to Corunna to bolster fighter strength.

Ro-33 sinks AP Ormiston with troops on board.


CarDiv2 moves north and passes Wake heading to the FAR north of the Aleutians.

Am thinking of moving the remaining KB CVs south to do some hunting and try to draw pressure away. A force of four CVs and two CVLs would certainly pack a punch. On the other hand I may keep them where they are pounding on the troops of Tarawa. Will think on that and ponder life.


Have a very long pair of work days coming up so we'll get a single turn in each day and that should be about it. Need something POSITIVE to happen. Maybe I should rub Buddha's Belly for some luck or something...

[witpqs]

The two possibilities that spring to mind are 1) weather at either sending or receiving base, and 2) enemy fighters over the receiving base. I suppose also a combination of the two.

[obvert]

Carnavon will fall fairly quickly as he diverts troops that were to land at Exmouth to this base. The 45 Fighters and 54 Bettys at this base don't fly a single sortie though you can see the transports in the harbor unloading troops. Pull all but a Chutai of Zeros and a Daitai of Nells from the base. The aerial reinforcement ordered last turn doesn't happen. No troops are flown in from the 50+ Transports set to carry 2nd Raiders to this place. They are desperately needed but appear unable to arrive at the base. Anyone know why? The range is only nine, flying to a friendly AF, and I don't see why it didn't happen.

I've had transport not fly due to damage at the base, especially the destination base. Could be a reason your Bettys didn't go either.

Keep your head up! It's a long war. [;)]

[Prydwen]

Hi John,

I'm getting settled in at my deployed location and I've gotten all caught up. Good luck and go get him!

Joe

[John 3rd]

Thanks Guys.

I've had two TERRIBLY long days working at the store and have not been able to get a turn in. We did play one after my despondent Posting above and it was definitely better. Not great but better.

Carnavon is damaged fairly heavily (about 50%). Perhaps that IS the reason why nothing is flying into the base. Maybe I move a Daitai of Topsy to Canravon and then have them PICK-UP troops? Might be worth a try.

[John 3rd]

Got June 19th in and done. Had one very brief happy moment:

[John 3rd]

Unfortunately the DDs land only 1 hit on Yorktown and a few on a couple of DDs. Toooooooo bad. I bet Dan was having kittens for a few moments!

Carnavon hangs on and it appears the Allied troops at Exmouth have been abandoned. Order an attack buy my troops there and we'll hope for the best.

Mini-KB is moving back in after getting some fuel. We'll see if something exciting can happen in a couple of days...

[John 3rd]

June 20, 1942

The Japanese High Command is given a gift. The production of Tojo has been a top priority within the Empire since Day One of the war. ON this day we find that they shall be available on August 1st---not September 1st. There are even whispered discussion of that date moving up to July if the supplies are plentiful enough.

The Chinese have been pushed back and handed a credible defeat in Central China.
The Allies gather and threaten in Burma but don't act as Japanese reinforcements arrive.
The Allies threaten Exmouth and the Japanese Position in Australia but have abandoned their troops at Exmouth.
The Americans have abandoned their troops on three tiny atolls in the Gilberts.

The war has relied upon the various Zero Airframes available (M2, M3, M3a) but the Army will finally get a true fighter to USE! All Oscar Sentai are ordered to keep a lower profile and train for the not to distant day of Tojo's arrival. Production goal is nearly 250 a month at start.. They have GREAT USE coming...

[John 3rd]

Just sent the June 22nd turn back to Dan. Got two days off now and will get some Posting done catching everyone up on the action and planning.

We (Dan and I) are both enjoying Easter today with our families and wish all the readers a Happy Easter as well.

[John 3rd]

Won't have time to do a detailed update until later tonight but thought I would show the current screenshot.

Here is June 22nd:
1. The American CVs move southwards away from the fight and we REALLY like this!
2. Juggling aircraft, resting some, bringing others, and preparing to renew the fight.
3. Exmouth's troops have been abandoned by the Americans. They are soon to be dead.
4. Major reinforcements are now here: 65th Brigade is going to Exmouth, I shall lift out the Inf Regiment and pull out an SNLF Assault Brigade back to Port Hedlund. This should put AV at Exmouth at over 500. There are several more Engineering units going in as well to help.
5. Nearly 75,000 in supply is on the way.
6. I have 15,000 fuel unloading at Exmouth and 65,000 unloading at Koepang. Koepang is the fallback and safe anchorage.
7. Mini-KB is moving slightly away but close enough for Cover if needed.

[John 3rd]

June 24, 1942

All the pieces shall be in place for a major operation in the Aleutians. The screenshot details the highlights. All LCU are 100% prepped for their targets. The goal shall be to take Dutch Harbor, Akutan, and Cold Bay. The plans are simply to kill troops and then pull back the major LCU. We'll probably leave just enough to make a combat landing needed to reclaim them...these landings will then free-up all the Fleet assets in this region.

The CV's Mission is to remain hidden and HOPE for an Allied response. We're going to try and be SNEAKY because we are hunting WABBITS...I really mean USS Wasp...this is the only US CV not seen in the last month...

[John 3rd]

July 1, 1942

The month is ushered in with a very nice gift from the Allies. The Japanese land with a pair of SNLF Assault Brigades on the 30th and find none other then a major HQ unit based at Dutch Harbor: North Pacific. The surrender that follows brings in over 7,000 POWs. NICE!

In taking time with this operation we hope to draw the Americans North. The 7th ID and friends begins loading for Akutan. Maybe this will add a bit of help for Dan making a move.

This is said due to FAR to the SE a TF of Hiryu, Soryu, and 2 CVLs slowly move due north towards Anchorage. This TF is on total EMCON and is relying on the Emily's flying from Adak to spot targets. If nothing happen within two days then we shall spring a surprise and see what slips into the bear trap...

[John 3rd]

Sorry about not doing much with the AAR over the last week. The week has been BUSY!

[John 3rd]

July 2, 1942
Summary for the Battle of Exmouth Bay
June 15-23, 1942

Since I have been able to get a lot written, I thought perhaps some summary might work best in describing the action over the last several weeks. We'll start with the Battle of Exmouth.

This fight occurred when Dan decided to go after Exmouth and Carnavon and I had decided to withdraw the major ground units used to threaten Geraldton. Dan brought the kitchen sink (4 US CVs and LOTS of escorts) while I had begun moving troops, had brought in SS and LBA, and had the little KB lurking in the shadows near the fight.

Over the course of roughly ten days we slugged away at each and both of us might just proclaim it a victory. The Japanese managed to withdraw their major combat units as planned, as well as reposition them and others, and seriously blood the Allies. Japan loses Carnavon but that was part of the plan to begin with so no big loss there. The Allies could call it a victory because they inflicted damage to a number of Japanese ships and captured 50% of their objective. Definitely a toss-up when one looks at the results.

This is the first time I have gone back through my notes so lets see just what the losses turned out to be:

Japanese Ship Losses:
10 DD (7 Old--3 New), 3 SC, 3 AP, 3 AK

Aerial losses were fairly light considering I was flying into the teeth of 4 US CV's airpower. Roughly 80 planes were lost during the entire fight. These have been made up for with replacement pilots and aircraft at little expense to the Pool.

Allied Ship Losses
BB New Mexico, CA Astoria, 7 DD, 4 AP, 10 AK
Several American CAs, CLs, and DDs were seriously damaged.

Japanese SS did QUITE well with the following results. Some of these ships were sunk and others just damaged:
6-15 I-158 AK Alchiba (Exmouth)
6-16 I-153 AK Tweedbank (Exmouth), I-153 AK Testbank and AP Ormiston (Exmouth)
6-17 Ro-33 AP Ormiston--SUNK (Carnavon)
6-18 I-157 AK Trieste and AK Arctusus (Carnavon)
6-20 I-157 CA Astoria (Exmouth)

The loss of 10 DDs hurts but the majority were older so (I guess) that helps some. His losses were serious but inconsequential.

The real determination as to the results of this battle shall be in Dan's moves coming up. If there is little action in this arena for the next couple of months then we did well. If he tries to follow-up the attack then things are up in the air.

[John 3rd]

The Burma Theatre is bound to explode in action ASAP. The Japanese are trying to get the punch in first.

[John 3rd]

The capture of Dutch Harbor on the 1st was a good thing with bringing in 7,000 prisoners. Next on the list is Akutan where the 7th Marines sit ready to be taken down. This has been a drawn out Offensive built around the premise of drawing in Allied Forces. Warships has been spotted at Kodiak and the trap is about to be sprung. CarDiv2 sits slowly approaching from due south. The force consists of CVs Hiryu and Soryu with CVLs Zuiho and Shoho, 3 CA, 1 CL, and 8 DD. The air complement is 124 Zero, 45 Val, and 45 Kate.

It is my profound HOPE that CV Wasp is up here. We'll see what is located up in this arena of action. At worst we'll have a bunch of surrenders and destroyed units. Once we have taken Akutan and, possibly, Cold Bay then 7th ID and two SNLF Assault Brigades will be pulled back to the MLR.

[John 3rd]

Northern Lights

The Japanese CV TF may or may not have been spotted this turn. No actual air search hit it but the TF did appear on the map board. There was no call of 'enemy carriers' so we're hopeful that things might still work out in a positive manner with this short raid. The screenshot details the move for tomorrow. The CVs are prepped: CAP 60% (7--15--18--21 K Feet), Vals set on Naval Attack, and Kates on Naval Attack--Port Attack (Kodiak). The 10 Jakes fly air search while one recons Anchorage and two get at Kodiak.

The 7th ID and an SNLF Assault Brigade are loaded at Adak and headed for Akutan. Nagato, Mutsu, and Yamato sail to cover. Yamato will embed in the Invasion TF while the other two bombard. No AA has been fired the last couple of days so I have hopes of the enemy being out of supply.

Dan tried to bring supply into Cold Bay today and a DD as well as AK were hit by my Vals.

We'll see what the morrow may bring...

[John 3rd]

July 3, 1942

The KB has kept up a high profile around the Gilberts and now a sweep into the Allied territory. This force (CarDiv1, CarDiv5, and two CVLs) make presence known and move between Suva as well as Pago Pago. The CVs sink two AKLs and are SEEN. Now that the Aleutian CVs (CarDiv2) are being revealed, there is no reason for my KB to be risked or use up any more fuel. They are ordered back to Jaliut.

Good news comes in that Tabiteuea goes the AF-3 this day. Order in a Daitai of Zeros and add another 12 Emily to the base complement. There shall be no surprise appearances of the American Fleet this time! Another group of 12 Emily fly out of Koumac on New Caledonia. A final group of 12 fly from Ndeni. To say that the area is saturated with LR Air Search is a bit of an understatement.

Now have two ID at 100% prep for landing at Luganville. Time to get those boys loaded and into action. Luganville has two Brigades of Infantry and a pair of BF keeping it Allied for the moment. Been bombarding it every 2-3 days as well as hitting it with Bettys everyday. Looks like it is out of supply as well. Be nicve to wipe out those units if possible and secure the only real headache behind my lines.

Speaking of headaches, Tarawa is also hit by Betty everyday (and Makin) and regular bombardments nail the atolls. No AA fire here as well. The Allied troops here haven't been given a single day to build Forts so we should be OK when the Assault landings occur here in about 12-14 days. We'll do Luganville first and then move on to Tarawa.

We've the four old BBs working from Tulagi hitting Luganville and then the 4 BCs as well as 6 CAs hitting the Gilberts from Jaliut.