Avoiding the Turkeyshoot – Marianas Scen Justus2 (J) vs nardiajn (A)

[Justus2]

23 JULY
My big BBs bombard Tinian, with disappointing results. I had hoped for more disablements to slow his assaults. They do attract some attention the following morning, but only two hits on Yamato, neither penetrates the deck armor. [8D]

I did get a couple transports into Tinian, and they are unloading supplies, taking it out of the ‘yellow’ status. Engineers build forts 20% back toward level 3 in one day. Al takes it easy today, with bombarments only at both Pagan and Tinian.

[Justus2]

CA Atago has been sailing SE of Wake, searching for shipping, trying to spot/raid his reinforcing wave. Unfortunately, one of his CVs found me first. [X(] 26 hits, she sank later that turn. Hate to lose her, she has been a great raider. Not sure if this was a lone CV sent back for repairs, trying to get back into the fight, or a covering force for a reinforcement convoy. The mouseover only shows 3 ships.

[Justus2]

So here’s the map at the end of the turn. The BB TF was headed for Ulithi to disband, enroute back to Babel. However, his CVTFs are approaching from SE of Guam (usually he has always been further north). This could mean he plans to raid my bases, as Chickenboy mentioned, or that the next assault is coming at Guam. Still no sign of actual transport TFs.

Either way, I think this area could be too hot for the next few turns, so I am leaning toward running the BBs NW instead. You can see, Yamato was barely scratched by the 2 bomb hits (even the 4 engine damage isn’t major). I can run them north and hide at Iwo. Their main gun ammo is shot, and I can’t reload (outside of Truk, which isn’t feasible).

To the north, I still have a SCTF (2CA/3DD) that was looking to pounce on any TFs he sent toward Pagan, but they have been spotted by a sub, so I need to move them as well. KB is further north (just off the map edge), undetected. If his CVs do raid my southern bases, the KB may have an opportunity to strike any reinforcement TFs coming in behind.

Al is out of town until tomorrow, so I have some time to consider my next move. So, I’m open to suggestions, I won’t finalize the turn until tomorrow.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Justus2
So, I’m open to suggestions, I won’t finalize the turn until tomorrow.

Clear the BBs to the NW. Same with the CATF. If KB is undetected, I like the idea of circling back around for any reinforcing TFs coming towards Pagan from the East. Be prepared for them to flee as well.

How would Peleliu, Babeldaob, Ulithi and Yap be positioned if he swings through there to administer a plasterization to their airfields and / or ports? If you think that's possible, it may be time to vacate the ports with anything that will float and go 'hang out' in the NW corner of the map. Can you transfer planes from those islands over to Saipan or Guam beforehand?

[Cap Mandrake]

Group your surface forces by ship type and speed with an excellent, aggressive TF CO (don't slow down a fast BB with a slower sister). Set their home base to someplace out of harm's way and try to position them to the NW but within night striking range of probable landing sites. A mid-ocean intercept of his CV's is a long shot. Much easier to get in among the transports at night (or even during the day on a one-way mission). When you go to intercept his invasion convoys you want to gang the SCTF's, preferably with a light SCTF arriving first to engage the defending SCTF's and deplete their ammo. While you are loitering, you can set your SCTF to low threat tolerance so they haave a better chance of evading if his carriers pursue. When you attack, you set to high or absolute. You can even set one of the lighter SCTF's (DD's) to absolute and remain on station at the landing hex.

Given that you are now East of the targets, you could detach some DD's and carefully custom plot a course to try to get a night intercept and disrupt his forces before they land..but save the big lads for the landing.

Pay attention to the air HQ assignement of the squadrons so you get coordinated strikes from your LBA. You can also try to chop the range down so they dont go after a CV death star and get intercepted by 150 Corsairs

[Cap Mandrake]

Also, don't put your LBA in a base where they will get crushed on the ground. [:D] This may be somewhat difficult to accomplish.

[Cap Mandrake]

If one of your mini subs actually hits something you must jump up, whooping and hollering like a mental patient because you will neve experience it again in your lifetime.

[Cap Mandrake]

Eg....Musashi and Yamato...good pairing...Nagato no.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

If one of your mini subs actually hits something you must jump up, whooping and hollering like a mental patient because you will neve experience it again in your lifetime.

You must just be tuning in, herr Cap. Justus2 has already had several successful mini-sub torpedo attacks in this game. [8D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

If one of your mini subs actually hits something you must jump up, whooping and hollering like a mental patient because you will neve experience it again in your lifetime.

You must just be tuning in, herr Cap. Justus2 has already had several successful mini-sub torpedo attacks in this game. [8D]

Then he should immediately stop wasting his time on silly computer games and put his life saving in the Mega Lotto

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

If one of your mini subs actually hits something you must jump up, whooping and hollering like a mental patient because you will neve experience it again in your lifetime.

You must just be tuning in, herr Cap. Justus2 has already had several successful mini-sub torpedo attacks in this game. [8D]

Then he should immediately stop wasting his time on silly computer games and put his life saving in the Mega Lotto

Dude. He's already won the lotto. Twice. That's what I'm sayin'. Forget about a third win-that's just silly talk.

[Justus2]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy




You must just be tuning in, herr Cap. Justus2 has already had several successful mini-sub torpedo attacks in this game. [8D]

Then he should immediately stop wasting his time on silly computer games and put his life saving in the Mega Lotto

Dude. He's already won the lotto. Twice. That's what I'm sayin'. Forget about a third win-that's just silly talk.

I wish I had that kind of luck with money! Then I could quit my job and stay home, and actually have time for a full campaign! [;)] But I have had good luck w/mini-subs this game, I've sank several LSTs and hit an APA that later sank. It seems I have better luck using them defensively, the few times I've sent them on patrol they usually sink.

[Justus2]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Justus2
So, I’m open to suggestions, I won’t finalize the turn until tomorrow.

Clear the BBs to the NW. Same with the CATF. If KB is undetected, I like the idea of circling back around for any reinforcing TFs coming towards Pagan from the East. Be prepared for them to flee as well.

How would Peleliu, Babeldaob, Ulithi and Yap be positioned if he swings through there to administer a plasterization to their airfields and / or ports? If you think that's possible, it may be time to vacate the ports with anything that will float and go 'hang out' in the NW corner of the map. Can you transfer planes from those islands over to Saipan or Guam beforehand?

Yap and Ulithi just have some search planes, a few floats at Ulithi and a dozen Betties at Yap, I can move those to Guam. Babel and Pelilieu have some assorted remnants (1-3 aircraft each) and a couple Betty search squadrons, I can shift those north for a couple days as well.

Ships will be a little trickier. I pulled SHOKAKU, TONE, and a couple subs back to readiness a few turns ago, so they are mobile, but JUNYO and CHIKUMA are still in pierside. I could probably pull CHIKUMA out, JUNYO has 47 float so it may be riskier to try to move her anyway.

[Justus2]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Group your surface forces by ship type and speed with an excellent, aggressive TF CO (don't slow down a fast BB with a slower sister). Set their home base to someplace out of harm's way and try to position them to the NW but within night striking range of probable landing sites. A mid-ocean intercept of his CV's is a long shot. Much easier to get in among the transports at night (or even during the day on a one-way mission). When you go to intercept his invasion convoys you want to gang the SCTF's, preferably with a light SCTF arriving first to engage the defending SCTF's and deplete their ammo. While you are loitering, you can set your SCTF to low threat tolerance so they haave a better chance of evading if his carriers pursue. When you attack, you set to high or absolute. You can even set one of the lighter SCTF's (DD's) to absolute and remain on station at the landing hex.

Given that you are now East of the targets, you could detach some DD's and carefully custom plot a course to try to get a night intercept and disrupt his forces before they land..but save the big lads for the landing.

Pay attention to the air HQ assignement of the squadrons so you get coordinated strikes from your LBA. You can also try to chop the range down so they dont go after a CV death star and get intercepted by 150 Corsairs

Thanks for the tips Cap! Your AAR, and Chickenboy's, were my 'prerequisites' before playing this scenario. I had good luck earlier with using a BBTF against his landing force. I just used the last of the ammo from the big slow ones on a shore bombardment (which didn't do much), but I am getting them out of they way. I still have the two fast BBs (Kongo and Haruna) hidden at Iwo, I have been saving them for a last-gasp night run if I spot his big invasion fleet. Since I can't reload, I know they are one-shot wonders. I haven't tried sending in DDTFs in advance, I will try that next time.

[Justus2]

Well, I'm pulling the BB's back to the NW, and shifted most of my air squadrons off the vulnerable islands. I left a few float planes for search/ASW. I feel like the scene from Battlestar Galactica, as the SHOKAKU grabs a DD and TONE and heads north, to be followed by a ragtag group of freighters next turn (need some ASW escorts). Shokaku also took a few small squadrons with her, some Sen Bakus and a half-dozen Vals on ASW.

I have an AV at Ulithi that also needs an escort, subs are thick around there, so I'll have to take my chances for a turn. I've got two xAKs unloading at Tinian, I'm going to risk it and leave them to unload - 4,000 supply is worth more than a couple transports now.

Here's my search picture, I had to reset a bunch of arcs after moving all the squadrons around. I wish I had more solid coverage, but I have lots of 'scrap' squadrons with 3-6 planes. I disbanded a couple to consolidate them, but different types at different bases just leaves a mishmash. Who is running IJN logistics, anyway!! [;)]

Turn is away, we will buckle up and hang on!

[Justus2]

24 JULY
Looks like the western bases are spared, at least for now, as the action focuses on Tinian. Al’s carrier planes hit my unloading supply transports, I shot a few down, and dodged best I could, but he gets one hit on each. I’m pulling the escorts out, since they were unscathed, the transports will remain to unload what they can. Will they continue to unload while they are on fire?[&:] I mean, I would think getting the ammo overboard would be prudent to reduce the fire hazard... [;)]

My other ships are moving as planned, just in case. SHOKAKU picks up another DD escort and continues north toward Iwo. I have a handful of attack planes left on the islands (9 Judys, 4 Kates, a couple Jills), remnants of other squadrons. I shift them to Saipan and set range 1, so they will attack at Tinian only. No major invasion fleet spotted yet, but one TF has a couple AKAs and an LST, so maybe I can get lucky if they continue in.

I had a sub get hit hard near Eniwetok, but otherwise a quiet turn below the surface.

[Justus2]

Al resumes the deliberate attacks at both islands. Tinian results in heavy casualties on both sides, hate to see 27 squads destroyed, but at least he lost 25, and more disablements. Forts are at 39% back to level 3.

I’ve been saying Pagan is on it’s last legs for several days, but it’s got to be any day now. Al finally achieves 1-1 odds, and forts drop to 1, so this is probably it. [:(]
We are under 2 weeks remaining now, so I think he is going to focus on the two islands he’s already landed on, and may not risk a new landing. We’ll have to see how it plays out.

[Justus2]

25 JULY

Quick update, I’m out of town tonight. I ran the turn on my laptop, but didn’t have time to grab screenshots. My ‘Motley Crue’ of assorted planes from Saipan (set to range 1) intercepts a small TF and puts a torp in an AKA. [8D] Not sure I’d want to sail on a ship named Titania, sounds too close to another big ship… [X(]

Al’s CVs finished off the two transports burning from last turn, but it looks like they unloaded some more supplies, Tinian is over 7700 supply now. Forts at 59%. Pagan dropped forts to zero, I think it will finally fall tomorrow. [:(]

The transport TF ended just east of Saipan, not sure if they are headed for Tinian and were a hex row north or if he’s shifting to Saipan. His CVs remain SE of Tinian, so I am edging KB just barely in range of Saipan from the N, if he lands I should get a shot at the transports unloading. I also spotted a REP TF skirting the edge of Truk, about 7 hexes out. I set some Betties to Naval Attack, but range 6, I don’t want to tangle with any CVTFs, but if he cuts the corner and comes any closer, I wouldn’t mind surprising some AOs.[:D]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 109,93
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 2
D4Y1 Judy x 8
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
AKA Titania, Torpedo hits 1
LST-354
LSD Lindenwald
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Justus2]

Maybe I should buy that Lotto ticket?!? [8D]

Mini-subs got plenty of action this turn - including sinking an LSD and an LST (heard the sinking sound after each attack). The Bellatrix got lucky with two misses (she would NOT be lucky the rest of the day), and Ha-29 decided not to take the easy shot at the LCI, then stumbles into a bigger TF and gets spotted... [:'(]

Late night tonight, so I will post the rest tomorrow, but plenty of action all around. KB got a couple strikes in and disrupted another major landing at Tinian, but HIYO took a torp from a sub. And somehow, Pagan continues to hold... [&o]

[Justus2]

26 JULY

As mentioned HIYO got hit with a torp by a sub, as KB was shifting west. Luckily, HIYO wasn’t crippled, and didn’t slow KB down too much. In fact, it still took part in flight ops later in the day. I should be able to get her back to Iwo safely, and shift most of her planes to the SHOKAKU coming up from Babel.