The Marianas Islands newbie style

[BBfanboy]

Rather than cancel unloading completely, it is sometimes best to for a new TF with the ships that are totally empty and send them back, but continue unloading the remainder. It depends if you want to have your fleet maintain cover for a day or two more at the landing site.

If some of the ships return to port with supply taking up space in their holds, it may interfere with loading troops on them and you will have to unload the supply first before loading troops and more supply.

I haven't seen anything saying you are using your long range bombers at Roi-Namur and Eniwetok to hit the Japanese. At the very least you should raid Truk and Ponape once in a while. Be aware that the Japanese can stage in some of those Betties and Nells to Truk and Ponape. From there they can raid a long way out and torpedo your ships without CAP.

[Mike McCreery]

June 14, 1944

Ok, time to get offensive...

Diverting a CVE TF to cover the retreating Amphibious assault forces.

Separating my main air combat TF from the retreat. Hooking the forces south and then west toward Woleai.

End of Turn

Clarence Bronson takes out a Japanese sub near Tinian... *You talking to me???*

APD waters takes 2 torpedoes near ailinglaplap but manages to get 2 hits in before sinking.

A Japanese sub tried to take on a Surface combat fleet near rota and took 16 hits and was sunk.

I hit a number of "E" class Japanese ships near Guam but they didnt rise to the level of a carrier attack.

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Japanese bombardment of Tinian

no losses

======================================================

Allied attack at Rota

27-1

Japanese lose 263 of 753, no allied losses.

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1/10th inf bn wiped out at Rota

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June 15th, 1944

Screwed up on the main Air Taskforce routing so I need a day to sort it out.

End of Turn.

SS seahorse puts 1 torp into the side of the Shokaku and lights it on fire. He takes 1 hit for the priviledge. This is near Babeldaob.

The Torp caused an Ammo storage explosion.

The bonefish managed to torp another xAK along with 1 shell hit taking 2 hits itself near Yap.

The darter put another 2 torpedoes into a Japanese xAK near Yap.

Land based air attack on the 3rd MDB on Rota with 10 casualties.

Land based air attack on the 2nd USMC Tank Bn on Rota with 10 casualties.

Score 1939 to 674

[Mike McCreery]

June 16, 1944

Moving northwest with my main air TF's to north of Woleai. Looking for some targets of opportunity.

End of Turn.

It is ON!!!

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1st Japanese air assault from the islands

4/10 zero's & 3 betty's vs 315 hellcats

1/6 zero's destroyed, 2 bettys destroyed

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2nd Japanese air assault from the islands

3 Judy & 3 Betty aircraft vs 298 hellcats

1 judy & 1 betty destroyed

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Inbound from Japanese Carriers

26 A6M5 Zero's, 44 B6N1 Jill, 2 A6M2 Sen Baku, 60 D4Y1 Judy vs 241 Hellcats...

1 Sen Baku destroyed, 6 A6M5 zero's destroyed, 29 Jill's destroyed, 26 Judy's destroyed, 6 planes damaged.

4 hellcats destroyed.

They managed to get a torpedo hit on the CV bunker hill and it is on fire.

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Allied Counter attack

69 A6M5 Zero's 27 & Sen Baku VS 154 Hellcats, 22 TBF avengers, 40 SB2C3 Helldivers, 69 SB2C-1C Helldivers, 18 Dauntless, 104 TBM-1C Avengers....

It was not a good day to be Japanese....

Japanese aircraft losses Sen Baku 3, A6M5 Zero 7

Allied Aircraft Losses Hellcat 1, Helldiver 4, Dauntless 2, Avenger 6 w 34 damaged

Japanese Ships....

CV Taiho, BH 4, on fire
CV Shokaku BH 4, TH 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, BH 4, Heavy fires, Heavy Damage
BB Haruna... Escaped the mayhem
CV Zuikaku BH 8, Heavy fires, Heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, BH 7, Heavy Fires, Heavy damage
BB Musashi BH 6, TH 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kumano TH 1
CA Mogami BH 4, on fire
BB Yamato BH 9, on fire
CV Hiyo BH 8, TH2, Heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Kongo BH 3, on fire
CA Chikuma BH 2, TH 1, on fire
DD Hibiki BH 2, on fire
CL Noshiro, TH 1
CA Tone
DD Naganami
CA Suzuya BH 2

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Some judy's stopped by... we killed them....

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Allied PM Assault on the BT


137 Hellcats, 19 avengers, 32 SB2C-3 Helldivers, 58 SB2C-1C helldivers, 15 SBD-5 Dauntless, 75 TBM-1C avengers

VS 11 Zero's

You know how this is going to turn out... Right??

Japanese losses 8 zero's destroyed. Allied losses 1 Avenger destroyed, 24 damaged.

CV Junyo BH 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Ryuho is sunk
BB Kongo BH 11, heavy fires
BB Haruna BH 4, TH 3 on fire
CA Chikuma BH 2, TH 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Taiho, BH 1
CV Shokaku, BH 1, on fire, heavy damage

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Japanese Bombardment of Tinian

AV 292 to AV 295 - no losses

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I am going to be really tired tomorrow but right now I am wide awake with Adrenilin...

Japanese Score 2043
Allied Score 2165

BaZING!!!

[Mike McCreery]

RE the supply's... It was like 468 supply on one ship and I didnt want to wait a day or two. I agree I could have separated it and finished it off.

June 17,1944

Ok, what the Japanese are willing to admit to...

In an effort to promote green practices the Japanese decided to create several artificial reefs off of the coast of Ulithi...

They are known as the CV Shokaku, Hiyo, Taiho, The CVL Ryuho, Chiyoda, the BB Musashi, the CA's Chikuma & Kumano, and the CL Noshiro.

That will cut down on their carbon footprint considerably... [:D]

Cutting down the bomber searches to 20%. I know where his TF is and can use the extra bombers to finish the job.

I am going to sit right where I am because I am 2 squares away from him and he will be crossing just above me if he continues on course.

Now that the carrier thread is eliminated I am moving the cargo, EAB and HQ task forces to Rota along with an amphibious tank Bn supported by 6CVE's

Loaded the 24th & 25th Marine Regiments up for transport to Eniwetok and then on to the Marianas islands.

Sending alot of Landing Ships to load the allied Division at Makin for transport to the islands as well.

Moving Some BF's up to Eniwetok to allow for fighters.

End of Turn

SS Bluefish puts another torp into the Shokaku near Guam... Takes 3 hits for the priviledge.

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Japanese Island attack

27 Zero's & 10 Sen Baku vs 208 Hellcats

5 zero's & 4 Sen baku destroyed

1 hellcat destroyed

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Allied carrier attack

137 Hellcats, 24 TBF-1 Avenger, 40 SB2C-3 Helldiver, 74 SB2C-1C helldiver, 20 SBD-5 dauntless, 114 TBM-1C Avenger

22 A6M5 Zero's & 6 A6M2 Sen Baku

Japanese losses 10 Zero's & 4 Sen Baku

Allied Losses 5 destroyed, 28 damaged

CV Taiho BH 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Musashi BH 1, TH 3 and is sunk
BB Kongo, BH 11, on fire
CV Hiyo, BH 5, TH 2 and is sunk
DD Yamagumo BH1
DD Akishimo BH 2, heavy fires
BB Haruna, BH 6, on fire
DD Hayanami, BH 1, on fire


PEARL HARBOR SAYS HI!!!!!

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The Bluefish just tagged a heavy cruiser with 2 torps and took 4 damage. If that captain lives it is free drinks and BJ's for life...

Score Japanese 2060, Allies 2871

[Mike McCreery]

Ok, it is past 1 am and I have to be up by 6 so....

To be continued...

[Mike McCreery]

June 18, 1944

Loading Mucho troops enroute to the Marianas islands...

Moving my air TF's NW a few spots positioning to hit what is left of his navy again.

End of Turn

1st Japanese Assault

2 Sen Baku, 13 Zero's, 5 Bettys vs 211 hellcats

1 baku destroyed, 2 zero's destroyed, 3 betty's destroyed.

No allied losses

---------------------------------------------

2nd assault

1/7 Zero's, 3 judy's, 3 Bettys vs 195 hellcats

1/2 zero's destroyed, 1 judy & 1 betty destroyed

1 hellcat destroyed

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3rd Japanese assault

2 baku, 1 zero, 12 bettys

1 baku destroyed, 1 zero destroyed, 2 betty's destroyed

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1st Allied assault

95 hellcats, 17 helldivers, 29 helldivers, 14 avengers

vs 1 zero, 4 baku, 16 zero's

1 zero destroyed, 1 baku destroyed, 5 zero's destroyed

2 hellcats destroyed, 9 planes damaged

CV Taiho, BH 2 heavy fires, heavy damage

CV Shokaku BH 4, and is sunk

CA Maya BH 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

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2nd allied assault

44 Hellcat, 20 helldiver, 19 dauntless, 12 avenger, 14 avenger

No CAP

1 helldiver destroyed, 11 planes damaged

BB Kongo BH 5, on fire

BB Haruna BH4

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Score Japanese 2090, Allies 3415

[BBfanboy]

Most excellent results on the Carrier Battle!


Continue sinking cripples, you will have only LBA to oppose you. But first, check the torpedo inventory on each of your carriers and if you are out, switch the TBFs/TBMs to bombs and adjust their altitude. Also look at total sorties left to ensure you can get a good strike in.

EDIT: PS - there must be some FOW at work - after hitting Shokaku with a torpedo and getting an ammo storage explosion it should not have taken that much damage from multiple strikes. I suspect you also got Zuikaku and the FOW combat report said it was Shokaku. The cripples will head back toward Babeldaob so that is where you should go if you have some strikes left aboard.

[Mike McCreery]

June 19, 1944

The air combat TF is beat up, sending them all back to eniwetok.

End of Turn

SS Pogy takes 6 hits from a japanese destroyer

Minor air attacks.

June 20, 1944

Air TF south of the Marianas islands moving east.

Troops 2 days out from reinforcing the assault on Tinian and developing Rota

End of turn

Japanese sub hist 14 times, on fire, heavy damage near saipan

Some minor air attacks against the troops headed for Tinian, nothing got through.

June 21, 1944

Moved LB's to Eniwetok & Roi-Namur.
Finalazed assault and support of the marianas
Loading the 32? division in preparation for large assault.

End of Turn

One of my surface fleets destroyed 3 LB's at Tinian

Bombardment of Tinian Ground losses 517 casualties, Airbase hits 6, supply hits 3, runway hits 25, port hits 3

The minor air attacks from the land based bombers nearly got through my CVE CAP. Raising escort to 60%

Directing 2nd surface fleet to bombard Tinian while doing a shock attack with the available troops.

AGC is out of control and needs to be sent back to Tinian to unload. I need to check my instructions better.

Sending surface fleet to Guam to see if I can get into a battle with his remaining BB's or other ships.

End of Turn

BB Iowa hit a mine at Guam...

Allied bombardment of Tinian

Japanese ground losses 805

Minor air attacks with no effect.

Surface TF killed 2 mini-subs at guam.

Cleared some mines & a DD hit a mine at guam.

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Japanese bombardment at Tinian 5934 troops 50 guns 0 vehicles AV 271
Allies 8132 troops, 80 guns, 523 vehicles AV 406

Japanese losses 22

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Allied Shock attack at Tinian

Attacking 6528 troops 74 guns 376 vehicles AV 406

Defending 10769 troops 118 guns 0 vehicles AV 269

Adjusted 307/213

Allied assault 1-1 fort lvl 3

Reduced fort lvl to 2

Japanese ground losses 2249 casualties 50/100,0/28,1/8,8/11

Allied ground losses 396 casualties 0/17,0/8,3/42,1/4,1/12

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Score Japan 1881, Allies 3545

[BBfanboy]

Another big jump in score - some more of the KB must have sunk. [:D]

[Cribtop]

Fun to read this. Nice job and a good way to learn how to conduct amphibious ops.

In a PBEM context, I wonder what the best Japanese strategy is? It would seem to be that the key is to have your LBA and CV air go alpha strike on the same day against the USN Fast Carriers. However, the delay in the Mobile Fleet's arrival tends to allow the destruction of LBA followed by an engagement between the CV fleets, which happened historically. Perhaps the best bet is to pull everything off the Marianas except nav search, then pulse the LBA back to whatever airbase is uncratered. Time this with the arrival of CVs, perhaps from the SW so that Truk could be used as another LBA base? Interesting, but you still probably lose as Japan given the Allied superiority - better planes and better pilots.

[Mike McCreery]

June 22 - July 2nd was just a bunch of repair and repositioning.

I created a 100 TF ampibious assault and landed it on Tinian this turn.

Amphibious assault Japanese losses 99 allied losses 64

Lost 2208 troops... OUCH!!

Japanese Bombardment of Tinian

Attacking force 2945 troops 31 guns 0 vehicles AV 121
Defending 39553 troops 923 guns 1042 vehicles AV 1153

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July 3, 1944

Set all troops on Tinian for deliberate attack.

Airfield at Rota is now size 3 and growing.

End of Turn.

Allied deliberate attack on Tinian

Attacking force 38935 troops 924 guns 1048 vehicles AV 1210
Defending 8398 troops 7 guns 0 vehicles AV 117

Adjusted 912/167

Allied assault odds 5-1 fort level 2

Japanese Losses 2942 casualties 78/7,26/41,27/0,15/23

Allied Losses 422 casualties 2/28, 0/10,11/8,1/8

Happy Independence Day!!

Score Japanese 1916, Allies 3945

[Mike McCreery]

July 4, 1944

Moved some bombers to Tinian. Hopefully they are able to fly quickly.

7th division showed up at pearl and I have about 250 AV in troops to move from Tarawa up to Tinian for the final invasion(s)

going to go after guam first as it does not have the brutal naval fortress.

End of Turn.

Saipan and Guam just put up a combined air attack against Tinian. It was 5 planes..

Allied attack on Tinian 8-1

Japanese losses 1084 out of 6613.

Allied losses 401.

Tinian airfield damage down to 37.

Score Japan 1928 Allies 3970

[Mike McCreery]

My guess the best Japanese strategy would be to interdict the allied shipping and naval forces whenever there is an advantage and try to keep alive otherwise.

All the Japanese player has to do in this scenario is deny the Allies victory.

[Mike McCreery]

July 5, 1944

Going searching for more fun stuff to break...

Lots of troops heading in toward Tinian. Troop transports headed for Eniwetok to split from there to pick up remaining troops.

I am going to base everything off of Tinian for the final assaults.

End of Turn.

Another Japanese sub sunk near Guam.

Allied Attack on Tinian

Odds 14 to 1

Japanese lose 1415 of 5891

Allies lose 161

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Score Japanese 1950 Allies 4005

[Mike McCreery]

July 6, 1944

Going to make a port attack on Peleliu.

ground attack continuing at Tinian.

End of Turn

Japanese sub sunk near Saipan w 43 hits

Allied deliberate attack on Tinian 26 to 1

Japanese lost 372 of 4774 and 1 unit was destroyed.

Allies lost 88 troops.

Japanese units wiped out at Tinian due to Attrition

I was attacked numerous times by land based planes but nothing got through. Did not do the port attack likely due to bad weather.

Score Japanese 1969 Allies 4162

[Mike McCreery]

July 7, 1944

Clearing mines at Guam

Killing SSX's at Guam

Allied ship bombardment of Guam @ 13 Km

44 Irvings damages 1 Irving & 1 betty destroyed on the ground.

Japanese losses 292 0/1,11/32,0/1,4/11

Airbase 8, Airbase supply 7, Runway 22, Port Hits 15, Port Fuel Hits 13, Port Supply hits 4

End of Turn

July 7, 1944

Air attack on allied carrier fleets near Babeldaob

26/39 Zero's & 30 Betty's VS 191 Hellcats

Japanese Losses 4/8 Zero's & 11 Betty's. 3 of the Betty's got through the CAP but did no damage.

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2nd Japanese Assault

12/18 Zero's, 29 Sen Baku, & 12 Betty's vs 146 hellcats

Japanese Losses 2/5 Zero's Destroyed, 11 Sen Baku Destroyed, 2 betty's destroyed.

12 Sen Baku got through but were destroyed by flak.

2 Hellcat Destroyed

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3rd air assault 3 Zero's & 3 Judy's

4th air assault 5 Zero's, 3 Jill's, & 5 Jill's

There were about 8 more little attacks from every CVL he had.

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Allied attack on the port of Peleliu

Japanese 20 sen Baku, 6 Zero, 8 Zero

Allies 151 Hellcats, 30 Avengers, 64 Helldivers, 65 Helldivers, 32 Dauntless, 117 Avenger.

This is like hitting fish in a barrel or Americans in a Pearl Harbor...

13 japanese planes destroyed, 3 allied planes destroyed and 33 damaged

BB Nagato BH 27 heavy fires
CL Yahagi BH 6 HF/HD
CA Atago BH 11 OF
CVL Chiyoda BH 19 HF/HD
CA Takao BH 4 HF/HD
CL Oi BH 6 HF/HD
CL Oyodo BH 14 HF
DD Shimozuki BH 2 HF/HD
DD Shigure BH 1
CA Haguro BH 10 OF
DD ISokaze BH 1 OF
CA Myoko BH 15 HF/HD
CL Agano BH 5 OF/HD
CA Chokai BH 15 OF
CA Tone BH 11 HF
AV Kiyokawa Maru BH 2 HF
DD Yamagumo BH 2, HF/HD
DD Hatsuzuki BH 2 HF/HD
DD Wakazuki BH 2 HF/HD
AMC Aska Maru BH 1 OF
xAK Azuchisan Maru BH 1 OF
DD Michishio BH 1
DD Asagumo BH 2 HF/HD
DD Nowaki BH 1 HF

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Allied Attack on Tinian

Assault Odds 233 to 1 Japanese losses 3479 of 2383 - 2 units destroyed

Allied losses 81 troops

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Japanese Score 1880 Allied Score 4926

According to the ships sunk table the BB Yamato bit it last turn along with the CL oyodo & DD Shimozuki. There must have been more as my score jumped by 800 points.

[Mike McCreery]

July 8, 1944

Allied attack on Peleliu harbor..

japanese airraft 29/43 Zero's & 12 Sen Baku

Allied aircraft 122 Hellcats 60 helldivers, 64 helldivers, 29 Dauntless, 29 Avengers, 116 Avengers

Japanese lost 7 aircraft Allies lost 16 with 43 damaged.

AV Akitsushima BH 9 HF/HD
CA Haguro BH 35 HF/HD
DD Satsuki BH 3 HF/HD
DD Shimakaze BH3 HF/HD
DD Wakazuki BH 1 HF/HD
AMc Toroshima Maru BH 1 - Sunk
DD Michishio BH 3 HF/HD
DD Shifure BH 4 HF/HD
AD Koshu Maru BH 3 HF/HD
DD Yukikaze BH 6 HF/HD
CL Agano BH 2 - Sunk
AM Wa 101 BH 1 - Sunk
DD Hatsushima BH 2 HF/HD
AMc Toshi Maru BH 1 - Sunk
DD Samidare BH 4 HF/HD
DD Okinami BH4 HF/HD
DD Shiratsuyu BH 5 HF/HD
CA Myoko BH 11 HF/HD
AMC Aska Maru BH 6 HF/HD
xAK Kohoku Maru BH 5 HF/HD
DD Yunagi BH 4 HF/HD
xAKL Kenzui Maru BH 1 HF/HD
SC Ch 8 BH 1 - Sunk
AMc Wa 22, BH 1 - Sunk
SC Ch 7 BH 1 - Sunk
AMc Toshi Maru #8 BH 1 - Sunk

Japanese Score 1931 Allied Score 5250

[Mike McCreery]

July 12, 1944

Well, I lost a few days posted because the computer timed out...

There was a long paragraph about how it was not supposed to happen, blah blah blah...

Not much was missed however.

I sailed east from pelieu and am conducting ground attacks at Guam although the attacks are pretty ineffective.

Finally got some AE's to Tinian so we shall see about bombardment.

Sending shipping from Enewitok to pick up a division and 2 regiments for Tinian.

End of turn.

Nuttin honey...

I dont think the Japanese have enough supply at Guam and Saipan to offer up much more air resistance.

July 13, 1944

End of Turn.

Ok, I do an airfield attack with my large AF task force and manage to incidentally kill 25 troops.

I send 21 liberator, 27 mitchell, 11 corsair and 9 PB4y Liberator on a ground attack at guam and only manage to kill 9 japanese troops.

Do I just suck or am I doing something wrong???

Then I send in 23 mitchell's at 10K feet on the same location and kill 52 troops.

July 14, 1944

bombarding Saipan

End of Turn

Ships didnt bombard for some reason...

No japanese resistance.

Score 1722/5314

[BBfanboy]

If fort levels are high [4+] it is not uncommon for large air raids to get little results in troops killed. In those cases it is best to go for the airfield and port to kill supply, crippling the troops ability to fight.
You are probably getting some disruption on the troops there too, but there is no report for that. You would need to keep doing it to turn disruption into disablement and then destruction. Meanwhile, the clock ticks toward scenario end.

[Schlemiel]

Nice job destroying the Japanese fleet though. That's solid work.