Decline and Fall The Long Way Round

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 3

On a roll of 5, the weather packs in just about everywhere.

No DoW

Germany Land, others combined.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 3: Naval Movement

While the Japanese press go to town over the recent victories against the much vaunted Yankee marines, quietly and without ceremony the naval base at Truk empties of all vessels except 2 old slow cruisers. The fleet heads to the Marshalls. Vastly outnumbered in terms of surface combatants, it's only with CV's do the IJN approach parity with the USN. 6 CV's plus 3 CVL's will take on 7 of the larger US CV's. With further to steam they will be at a tactical disadvantage compared to the US operating in virtually its own back yard (2-box to 4-box). Its a massive gamble but Japanese intelligence reports an American public growing increasingly weary of the continuing defeats and an ever strengthening anti-war movement. Could one more decisive blow, coming so soon on top of the latest disasters, be the straw, or in this case, sledgehammer, that breaks the camels back?

Elsewhere a loaded Trans sails to the Marianas with a replacement garrison to debark at Eniwetok.

An Italian sub begins patrol in the Arabian Sea.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 2: Naval Combat

The Axis decline combat in the Italian Coast, Bismarck Sea and Marianas.

The sub in the Arabian Sea goes searching for the CW convoy but is unable to find the sea zone, let alone any ships in it (10). Fortunately, in their blundering about, they don't stumble into the CW (6).

Attention switches to the Marshalls as the Japanese launch their search planes (initiate combat) and add two fighters to the area (3 and 2 box). With spies reporting the empty anchorage at Truk, the US increase their air patrols with Corsairs (2-box) and P-61 (3-box).

It isn't long before the sighting reports come streaming in and IJN attention focuses on the main body containing the US CV's. The strike is launched and all the while the US ships steam on unaware of the gathering storm.

[AllenK]

The blast of klaxons sounding General Quarters sends crewmen rushing to action stations as radar picks up multiple incoming hostiles. US planes scramble aloft, finding themselves at a disadvantage.

[AllenK]

An A6M2, unusually flying as a bomber, is through the US fighter screen before they can react. Meanwhile, the leading US bomber wing is chewed to pieces by the Japanese escorts as it forms up (US 9 AC, Jap 4, AX).

As another Jap bomber clears through the US fighters, the second US bomber wing is forced to ditch bombs to survive and heads back to the CV's (US 12 AC, Jap 7 AA).

It starts to look like a procession as another Jap bomber penetrates the fighter screen while another US bomber is sent crashing into the drink (US 13 AC, Jap 17 DX PX).

Then, a faint glimmer for the US as the leading Jap fighters are forced to break off and return to their CV low on fuel and ammo. The temporary gap created allows one of the US bombers to sneak through and head for the Jap fleet (US 15 DA, Jap 11 DC).

Another Jap fighter is forced to return to CV but not before the final US bomber wing has to jettison bombs and flee back to its CV (US 14 DA, Jap 7 AA).

The departure of the leading Jap fighter wings, evens up the fight. It proves to be temporary as the leading US fighters run out of ammo and break off for CV (US 9 AC, Jap 8 DA).

The US fighters finally get some success as a Jap bomber perishes (US 17 DX PX, Jap 12 AC). Before it too is chopped down allowing the rest of the Jap bombers through (US 11 DC, Jap 18 AX PX).

[AllenK]

The A6M2's draw the fire of the US AA gunners. They perish in doing so but allow the rest of the strike through (2 surprise points used to reduce AA to highest of 4, which was a 5). Japanese AA forces 1/3 of the US bomber wing to drop short (2 point reduction). The remaining surprise points are used to increase damage.

The Japanese strike is devastating, sinking 3 CV's and a BB, while damaging another.

[AllenK]

The US strike does as well as it could, sinking the Akagi which was chosen for the planes on deck.

[AllenK]

With only one CV left with an air wing, the USN retires to Pearl to lick its wounds. The USN is down to 3 functioning CV's, although spare CVP's on the West Coast and reinforcements will re-equip the other 3. That, however, will take time. It'll be November before they are back at Pearl ready for action.

No strategic or carpet bombing.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 3 Ground Strikes

The Japanese and Germans don't fly. The Italians send two against the OOS Spanish 1 Arm. Despite the rain, the Spanish tanks in open terrain are located accurately dealt with.

[AllenK]

The Germans and Italians make a rail move each.

The Japs re-establish supply to Gen Terauchi.

[AllenK]

In the east, the Germans give some ground to maintain defensive cohesion.

[AllenK]

The Germans and Italians make a combined attack on the Spanish 1 Arm. The Japanese attack the Nationalist 2nd Cav.

Nobody adds any air support.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 3: Land combat

The 2nd Cav put up a staunch resistance, selling their lives dearly.

[AllenK]

The German/Italian effort does its best to botch things up (6 rolled) but starving troops with little ammunition and disabled vehicles are no match. The 1st Arm is destroyed for no loss.

A couple of minor air rebases.

Yamamoto reorganises 3 CP's. Manstein reorganises a Ftr, a Lnd and a Mot. Cavallero reorgs a Ftr.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Allied 5

No DoW.

All choose Land, although the weather being what it is, there won't be much happening.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Allied 5

The Russians close up to the retreating Germans. The ChiComms put some of the Japs OOS in China.

A couple of attacks are briefly contemplated but the weather bringing the odds to no better than +5 soon abandons those ideas.

An uneventful impulse ends.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 7

On a roll of 5, the weather eases back a bit.

No DoW

Germany & Italy, Land. Japan, Air.

[AllenK]

M/A 1945 Axis 7: Port Attack

At Pearl, Nimitz is fuming. Having reorganised 2 CV's to get them out of Dodge, he is incandescent when he discovers them still at anchor in the harbour. Apparently, the army diverted all resources to land ops, leaving the USN short changed. Why, given the weather and lack of opportunity for anything meaningful, was priority given to land and not naval or at least combined?

As accusations and counter-accusations fly across the airwaves, the IJN recon reports flat-tops at anchor and a lack of fighter activity over the island.

Not quite believing what they are seeing and fearing a trap, the Japanese load every plane they have with bombs and launch them towards Pearl.

With attention diverted to the in-fighting between the services, everybody forgets about the close proximity of the IJN fleet.

Surprise is total (1 vs 10). US AA gunners do what they can, downing one CVP (highest 2 of 2 was a 4 & 1), before the Japanese strike homes in on it's targets (7 surprise points increase damage to 6X, 3D, 3A). The results are pretty devastating for the USN. 2 CV's destroyed, 1 bottomed and 1 damaged. 1 BB sunk and 2 damaged. It was 3 years later than planned but the Japanese strike at Pearl Harbour delivers big time.

[AllenK]

I've completely lost the plot with the US [&:]. I reorganised the two CVP equipped CV's so I could move them to safety with a naval or combined move, then forgot all about it and went for land. I only remembered what I had planned to do when the game skipped merrily through naval movement without pausing to allow said movements. I think that just about wraps it up for the US in the Pacific!

[composer99]

Sounds like the US will be making its Pacific comeback... in 1947 when it gets the shiny 1944 and 1945 CVs on the board.

Too late for this game, of course.