They sacrificed hundreds, just to draw us out in the open. And then they came, and they came. We drained four of our phasers, and they still came. We killed thousands and they still came.
Ok, maybe it was not as dramatic as The Omega Glory but there was a swarming naval battle at Espiritu Santo last turn. Scott has landed his counter invasion there and was busy unloading what appears to be elements of two divisions a tank regiment and support troops. the transports a surface fleet and a CV task force were staying in the hex. I have just about the entire US navy at Suva. So, I formed up six surface TFs basically composed of 3 CA, or CLs as the case may be (plus one with 4 DDs) and we went in swinging. Because I control the base at Espiritu Santo I was pretty confident that the surface action would take place in the daytime. This was a major help as the IJN launched its torpedoes at long range and only scored two hits out of about 100 fired. The first CA group ran into his BB TF and got the worst of it. I scored a few hits but two CAs were lost. However, the rest of the groups got through to the transports and sank some large APs and a whole bunch of PBs. I did get one shot at his carriers but all of the shells fired at them missed. In the end, I think this counts as a minor US victory. I lost a CL, three CAs, and about 6 DDs. He lost a number of transports and PBs plus at least one CL and a DD. While I lost more combat ships (his total may well rise but I don't know given FOW) we were at least equal in lost VP and it stopped his counter invasion cold. A sub did put a torpedo into the Hiryu but there was not reports of fires or any extensive damage.
The lesson remains, never leave your carriers in a place where the other side can make a pretty good guess as to where they will be the next day. It just leads to a surface attack.
It's now like Guadalcanal. The first marine division is stuck there and it is very hard for me to resupply. I have about 40 heavy bombers in Suva flying in supplies and, unless Scott wants to stick carriers in the Espiritu hex he can't intercept them. But, Scott can run his BBs down from Rabaul to set up a chain of bombardments. In the meantime, he can run supplies in and get out and I can't really intercept him. I'm setting up a sub resupply chain and hope to be able to run some fast transport missions. My CVs went into refit after the invasion but they're now coming back on line. And, Scott needs to keep his CVs near Espiritu to prevent me from undertaking any significant resupply. The longer I hold out the better as we're moving into US strength as the days pass by.
In the meantime, Scott appears to be reinforcing India. I have him down to about 3 hexes and two british divisions plus two tank battalions are driving on Vizagapatnam. I've smacked around an IJA division and eliminated at least two armored regiments. The key is that Scott has only one airbase and I have been able to overwhelm his CAP with P-38s and Hurricanes thus letting the bombers get through to put hits on the airfield. He did catch my bombers yesterday and shot down 30(!) Blenhiems and Wellingtons. Ouch. More US reinforcements are on the way from the East Coast. After this fight is over, I'll likely leave the troops there and use them to advance into Burma. But, first things first.
In China, he broke through and will take Sian this turn. My hope is to hold the river line with the very large chinese army I have retreating out of Sian. I'm not sure he would want to take the loss that would come with crossing the river and doing the shock attack that would be required. He did not in the last game, we'll have to see this time.
