Decline and Fall The Long Way Round

[AllenK]

Okay, a bit of a pause as I had to redo the impulse from naval movement. On the original phase I had trouble getting transports to load and got a couple of MadEx's. I thought I'd worked through them okay but when I got to the invasion phase, 2 US Trans with no US Marines [:@]. A CW Trans was also missing its Arm load. One very helpful, perhaps underrated, aspect of this game's design is the auto-saving of games at every phase. It does make it so much easier to retrace steps when things go wrong. It also helped having written up the subsequent phases as this AAR. So I think I have got it pretty well back to where the plot left off but apologies if a couple of units now don't quite match up to the previous postings.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Allies 2: Invasion

The US Admiral has a tactical decision to make. The original plan was to take Eniwetok only. The two Mar corps and two Mar divs plus gunfire and air support would make this pretty sure (+20 ish). If the Japs committed the Ginga at Truk and it got through the P-38 screen, the odds would reduce but still be healthy. However, that leaves the three potent Navs at Majuro untouched and just gunning for a crack at the US fleet from the 4-box, supported by the IJN fleet arriving from Truk (probably 2-box). The US CVP A2A values are not much different to the Ginga at Majuro, so it would initially be a pretty even fight. If the IJN arrives in time (makes the search roll) it could get tricky as their fighters outclass whatever the USN can put up.

The alternative is to invade both Eniwetok and Majuro, forcing the Japs to commit at least two of the Navs in defence. The odds start at around 5:1 but would come down to 3:1 if the Jap bombers get through. The US is way behind schedule and the chance to get two objectives in one go, rather than waiting another turn for Manjuro, is very tempting. If there is a naval disaster, the opportunity could disappear for quite some time. On the other hand, if the invasions go badly, the US will be set back months. Each invasion would have a Mar Div to absorb the first loss, which would help mitigate the calamity risk.

[AllenK]

The debate continues on. The point that settles the matter is when the Admiral realises that if he doesn't go for both now, by the time he is ready to make a later attempt, the Japanese could have substantially reinforced it. The orders go out. III Mar with 2nd Mar Div attached to invade Majuro. V Mar with 1st Mar Div attached to invade Eniwetok. Fleet to provide gunfire and air-support.

Elsewhere, the Nationalists risk a low odds attack on Hangchow as they have an Inf Div to take any initial casualties. The ChiComms attack Gen Hata. Gunfire erupts along the entire Russian front as five attacks are launched.

[AllenK]

BB's Idaho and Tennessee close to provide shore bombardment at Majuro. The New Mexico, Maryland and CA Houston fire on Eniwetok.

In the south of Russia, Guderian provides defensive support. Gen Chiang supports his troops' attack.

The Soviets commit a Lnd plus escort to their southern attack and a Lnd to the most northerly. The US send a B-24, escorted by P-38's to Eniwetok. 3 CVP's fly as bombers, with one covering as a fighter, to Majuro. The Germans send a Stuka plus escort to the southern combat. Their AR 234B goes to the combat near Smolensk and a Stuka plus escort go to the northern one. The Japanese commit aircraft to all the attacks against them. Finally, the Soviets intercept three of the German attacks.

[AllenK]

First up, the air combat in northern Russia. It's an even match however, the Bf-109's are late arriving. By the time they get to the scene, the Soviet bombers have unloaded their cargo and the burnt out wrecks of the Stukas are testimony to their fate. Job done, the Soviet pilots head home.

[AllenK]

Near Smolensk, the Soviet fighters do enough to stop the bomber getting through.

[AllenK]

In southern Russia, it's slight advantage to the Russians due to the second fighter present. The Soviet bomber avoids the 109s but the Soviet fighters are unable to score. Both sides stay around for another go. While one group of fighters occupies the 109's until low ammo forces them home, the other decimates the Stukas.

[AllenK]

Events shift to the Pacific and Eniwetok. With no opposition, the B-24 steadies on its bomb-run. The Ginga proves to be a tough nut to crack when it blasts through the P-38s and does likewise. The first worry lines appear on the US admiral's face.

[AllenK]

Action shifts to Majuro. With no opposition the 3 CVP bombers sweep through to target. An inconsequential dog-fight ensues between the US fighter and Jap Navs. The admiral's worry lines deepen as his fighters run out of ammo and head back to the fleet without doing any damage to the Japs.

[AllenK]

Once all the factors are calculated, the attacks look something like this.

[AllenK]

First the most risky attack for the Soviets at Dnepropetrovsk. The Soviets are pleased to exchange a Mot Div for a Mtn.

[AllenK]

Near Smolensk, the Blitz attack shatters the defenders, which is converted to retreat as the Allies don't want these units back in Germany but a price is paid.

[AllenK]

At Nikolayev, the Soviets get a bridgehead across the river as the Blitz shatters the defence, who are forced to retreat instead. It too comes at a price.

[AllenK]

The assault at the southern end of the Pripet Marshes doesn't start well (fractional not made) but the Allies are happy to exchange an Inf Div for an Inf Corps.

[AllenK]

The northern attack goes like clockwork when it Blitz's the defence.

[AllenK]

In China, the Japs choose a Blitz in an attempt to keep Gen Hata alive. The attack leaves him shattered but not destroyed. It costs the ChiComms a Mot.

[AllenK]

The Nationalist gamble at Hangchow doesn't pay off.

[AllenK]

Meanwhile, the US admiral has been anxiously awaiting the first combat reports from the invasion beaches. The report comes in from Eniwetok. The first wave got ashore okay (fractional made) but became pinned down as it moved inland. A log jam was created on the beach as the follow-up waves, with nowhere to go, piled into each other causing chaos and easy targets for Japanese gunners. As US casualties mount and fighting coherence dissolves, the radio contact with the beach is lost as they report a Banzai charge by the remaining defenders. The Japanese fight the Marines to the last man and all perish. The invasion fails.

[AllenK]

At Majuro, the US marines barely make it off the landing craft before being wiped out by their Japanese counterparts.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Allies 2: Air rebase

The US move 2 fighters on the US-Greenland-Iceland-UK shuttle and the UK 1. The US sends a P-61 to Pearl. A C-47 joins the Paras in Spain.

The 2 other ATR's plus a US and Brit HQ reorganise much of the 8th Air Force plus a P-51 for an escort. Soviet HQ's reorganise the best of the units disorganised in their attacks.