Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[savelius2]

Good luck John. Hopefully some interesting naval action soon!

[Anachro]

What are your plans for the Aleutians? Do you mean to simply destroy what you can of his ships or will you try to contest the actual islands? Any LCU's incoming?

[John 3rd]

Bringing two Infantry Divisions and a Brigade. Will land them on good guy bases and set them to prep for Adak. A counter-landing--pending developments-- would be pretty fun.

[John 3rd]

June 6, 1943

Aleutians
The Kido Butai arrives on scene after much of the action has finished but it still is able to go to work with a will! The carriers launch six strikes during the morning and three massed strikes in the afternoon. The results harken back to the 'good ole days' of Dec 1941 and early-1942. Most of the strikes go to Dutch Harbor where there is a concentration of shipping. For the paltry loss of 4 Zero, 6 Judy, and 3 Jill, the Allies lose--at a minimum--18 AK, 11 LST, 8 LCI, and 2 AM. At least another dozen or so ships are hit and damaged. It is delightful to watch! Largest Strikes were 157 Zero--68 Judy--56 Jill and 184 Zero--89 Judy--78 Jill.

Plan to pass through the Aleutians and move north of their line tomorrow and move slightly away to the NW. There is an enormous amount of Support Ships disbanded at Dutch Harbor. I WANT THEM! All Jill are assigned a massed Port Strike for that location. Judy are set to Naval Attack. To keep everything calm at Umnak, we detach the new Command Cruiser Kawachi, 3 CA, and 5 DD to bombard the base.

After this set of strikes tomorrow we'll retire towards Attu and refuel. We'll see what Dan intends at that point...

Sabang
There is a relief Task Force of AKs (Supplies?) trying to get into Sabang. It is smacked by three strikes: 13 Nell, 24 Zero--39 Judy, and 21 George--41 Jills. About a dozen AKs are hit and several are sunk. My bombing and Torps is TERRIBLE! They shall do better tomorrow if given a chance. Perahps he is finally running low on supply? Man--that would be awesome!

The 4 BC bombard Sabang while the BBs and CAs sit as STF at Sabang. The BCs deliver their deadly cargo and inflict 497 Cas, 22 Guns, 30 Vehicles, and hit the Runway 79 times.

The Battleships will unload on Sabang tomorrow while the CAs move out to intercept the Allied TF and, hopefully, crush the remaining shipping. The CAs retire to Sinabang afterwards to meet up with the AKEs there.

Summary
At least 40 Allied ships are sunk this turn. The number may be as high as near 60. Excellent work done.

If the Port Strike goes well at Dutch Harbor then I shall consider the situation stable in the Aleutians. If there isn't much resistance again tomorrow then I'll REALLY be happy with the Operation.

Sabang: WHY try to relief TF now? Does Dan think I've pulled all the airpower away? NOT! We want total victory at this location...

[buutsy]

Banzai !
Great story to read.
Thanks so much for all your incredible work on the mods and especially for your AAR´s,being a wonderful source of knowledge and sophisticated
gameplay!
Reading both sides, so not much comments. Good luck for the forthcoming battles - may the force be with ya [:D]

[obvert]

So. Good to get some VPs from those ships fairly easily. Still, you have a reputation for smash and bang tactics, and that can be effective in the early stages of the war when the Allies are weak.

The Allies are not weak now.

What are your strategic goals in this OP? How dangerous is an Allied force in the Aleutians? How important is it to hit a few xAK (which the Allies make at a level they can't even begin to use them all)? What possibilities are open for the Allies to either counter or use knowledge of the position and use of the KB in this way?

[John 3rd]

I'll strike again next turn and then retire to the west.

You are correct that we're now at a stage of twisting the tail of a tiger. There was a good number of CVs protecting this operation and I kept track of them until last turn. They have moved east out of search range. It has crossed my mind regarding is this IT? For major LCUs I have seen only three big Infantry Divisions so far. Could this be a massive diversion? YES! This is why I have not overcommited moving aircraft up here. It is being reinforced but not to the exclusion of all other areas.

Dan is conservative with his CVs. My plans are to cover the western Aleutians for a couple of days to ensure that the reinforcements arrive and then move KB back down to a central position. This is my current thinking that might change immediately based on situation.

Air Search continues in all other arenas so we'll know if something is coming elsewhere. I do hate having KB at one extreme edge of the empire...

[John 3rd]

We're in the middle of a short blizzard presently with 40 MPH winds and 4-10" of snow predicted. Don't know about power. It has been on and off. Doubt if we'll get a turn in until later tonight.

FYI: No turns from Sat--Wed this week. We're going up in the mountains for some family R&R.

[Lowpe]

Well done.[&o]

But I bet you are out of torpedoes now.[:(] Plus pilots and planes are tired.

[John 3rd]

I only used TTs on 1/3 of my CVs last turn. I rotate my usage so I have at least 3-4 days worth when entering into heavy combat.

Pilots are in great spirits presently since they didn't have much to fight off. Next turn will probably see a decline in morale.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I only used TTs on 1/3 of my CVs last turn. I rotate my usage so I have at least 3-4 days worth when entering into heavy combat.

Neat, but how did you know to limit the torpedo strikes yesterday?

[crsutton]

A nice haul of ships. I think Dan is a little too casual about losing ships but he seems to know what he is doing and what he will need in the future. Only thing that matters is the LSTs.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I only used TTs on 1/3 of my CVs last turn. I rotate my usage so I have at least 3-4 days worth when entering into heavy combat.

Neat, but how did you know to limit the torpedo strikes yesterday?

As I said earlier, Dan is very cautious with his CVs. As soon as Kido Butai was spotted he started moving slowly eastwards withdrawing from the combat area. Simple deduction to know he would not initially give battle before gaining insight into my firepower. I've played this man for nearly 10 years. There is something to be said for that...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

A nice haul of ships. I think Dan is a little too casual about losing ships but he seems to know what he is doing and what he will need in the future. Only thing that matters is the LSTs.

I concur. We are nearly at 1,000 Allied ships sunk. That is a HUGE number. Does it make a difference? Not really but it sure is something. As to LSTs, we did bag 11 of them. Not bad at all.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I only used TTs on 1/3 of my CVs last turn. I rotate my usage so I have at least 3-4 days worth when entering into heavy combat.

Neat, but how did you know to limit the torpedo strikes yesterday?

As I said earlier, Dan is very cautious with his CVs. As soon as Kido Butai was spotted he started moving slowly eastwards withdrawing from the combat area. Simple deduction to know he would not initially give battle before gaining insight into my firepower. I've played this man for nearly 10 years. There is something to be said for that...

You do pull off the most amazing wins at sea.[&o]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Ok, I was double checking your plane r&d,and I read the table more closely - especially plane available dates and what plane upgrades.

I think you should punch the panic button on two air frames and radically increase r&d of them.

Frank A: You need it now; with an arrival date of 3/44 but more importantly an upgrade to the B model there is no excuse for you not to double the r&d. You will need immediate production, but also r&d on the B and then R model. I am assuming the B model upgrades to the R.

You are in the enviable position of fielding the B model thanks to the upgrade path.

Sam: lets face it, right now you have pitiful r&d allocated to it, and yet it will start production amazingly early in 44. Rush it now, and get the Sam J very early too! I think your carriers will have tough time countering Allied fighters in early 44...you could easily be flying Sams in early 44 too and Sam Js in late 44. Wow! Just wow.[:)]

I am not sure about the CV capable George and how well it compares to Sam, but you might want to think about r&d the CV George instead of the Sam if it is in the regular George upgrade path since you can convert existing plane builds back to r&d. Something to think about.

You need to doublecheck and see when you get the engine for the Sam...

[John 3rd]

Lowpe: I have questions but won't be able to thoughtfully ask until tomorrow night. Appreciate your help and suggestions.

[John 3rd]

June 8, 1943

Aleutians
The weather clears over Dutch Harbor and the Kido Butai throws every Jill it has at the anchorage. The TB are set for 11,000 Ft Bombing. Three successive waves attack: 181 Zero--96 Jill, 13 Zero--83 Jill, and 14 Zero--37 Jill. They find an anchorage crowded with shipping AND CRAPLOADS of Flak Guns. Recon showed 4 units present here and they all appear to be heavy flak units. Jill after Jill is blasted. It is terrible to watch the cherry blossoms fall. Nearly SIXTY planes are blown out of the sky. Luckily only 35 pilots die. This is bad but not horrible.

Even as the planes fall, their bombs find targets throughout the anchorage. A summary of 12 AK, 5 LST, and 3 AP are hit. Two of the LSTs sink and several others will probably join them.

Stung by the unexpected resistance--and badly in need of fuel--KB retires towards Attu and the tender ministrations of 8 AOs.

Thoughts:
1. OUCH!
2. OUCH!!
3. I have stewed all day over the question of should KB stay here? The answer is no. We've slowed/stopped the expansion in time for reinforcements to arrive. The remaining bases are safe and LBA can deny Dan further trouble.

After fueling, Kido Butai will head back to Saipan. There they shall get some R&R, train, and wait. Several CVs need their upgrades and just might pull them out to do this.

Sumatra
The CA TF I formed a while back races out from Sabang and sink several AKs.

The 5th Infantry Division arrives at Sabang. These ID and 4 Engineer Reg will launch teir first attack in two days. The 4 Kongos and 3 BB will bombard the night before their united assault. Time to see how long this seige will have to take.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

June 8, 1943

Aleutians
The weather clears over Dutch Harbor and the Kido Butai throws every Jill it has at the anchorage. The TB are set for 11,000 Ft Bombing. Three successive waves attack: 181 Zero--96 Jill, 13 Zero--83 Jill, and 14 Zero--37 Jill. They find an anchorage crowded with shipping AND CRAPLOADS of Flak Guns. Recon showed 4 units present here and they all appear to be heavy flak units. Jill after Jill is blasted. It is terrible to watch the cherry blossoms fall. Nearly SIXTY planes are blown out of the sky. Luckily only 35 pilots die. This is bad but not horrible.

Even as the planes fall, their bombs find targets throughout the anchorage. A summary of 12 AK, 5 LST, and 3 AP are hit. Two of the LSTs sink and several others will probably join them.

Stung by the unexpected resistance--and badly in need of fuel--KB retires towards Attu and the tender ministrations of 8 AOs.

Thoughts:
1. OUCH!
2. OUCH!!
3. I have stewed all day over the question of should KB stay here? The answer is no. We've slowed/stopped the expansion in time for reinforcements to arrive. The remaining bases are safe and LBA can deny Dan further trouble.

After fueling, Kido Butai will head back to Saipan. There they shall get some R&R, train, and wait. Several CVs need their upgrades and just might pull them out to do this.

I'm not an endgame guru, but there are people here who have played that part of the game successfully. They can help you get ready for it. I can just warn you about some of the mistakes I made going toward 45 and how they screwed me up in the endgame.

This is the kind of thing that I think fits into an early war, non-strategic tactical move in your use of the KB which at this stage becomes a more serious mistake. Sorry to be harsh, but I'd for one like to see this game go to the end, and for you to be successful in getting Japan there your use of the KB and other assets will have to alter sightly. Your thoughts about defending rather than attacking, or re-invading, will have to develop. You have to be willing to give non-essential territory and hope to take a tithe for it every time.

The less he knows about what you're doing and what you have and where it all is the longer his prep takes, the more chances you'll have to fight him on your turf, and the more chances you'll have to thwart the next invasion.

So ports strikes should be seriously off limits in this mod with the DBB flak against the Allies. You not only lost all of the pilots, but lost an opportunity to make him have to consider a fully stocked and ready KB was there and able to thwart any next efforts. You also lost a portion of the VPs you harvested the day before.

[John 3rd]

Good truth in that statement. I have been playing that vanilla stock game against Herbie and flak is NOTHING like this. It is something I have issues with on the DBB Mods. All of ours are based off of DBB and so it is uniform pain.

I will not make the same mistake again. Luckily it didn't cost me that many good pilots.

The KB will refuel this turn and move south.