The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

The main objective up north is to keep John busy. That's why the combat TF remained at Adak, right under his nose and within reach of his carriers and combat TFs. That's part of why merchants have been busy steaming back and forth. And that's why bombers and fighters are focusing on Amchitka. I want John to see a lot of activity so that he'll conclude that something's about to happen here. What's actually happening up here (repositioning troops, fighting in the air, and fighting at sea) is secondary, though favorable results are welcome.

Right now John has a lot (most?) of his Pacific power up here: this is where he's concentrating subs (lots of them, and none showing around West Coast, Hawaii, or CenPac). Half KB is up here. And most of his combat ships are up here (what aren't in Sumatra). He has some other power (carriers and combat ships) but they may be at Tokyo, though I'm watching to see if they might be in CenPac or heading that way.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The main objective up north is to keep John busy. That's why the combat TF remained at Adak, right under his nose and within reach of his carriers and combat TFs. That's part of why merchants have been busy steaming back and forth. And that's why bombers and fighters are focusing on Amchitka. I want John to see a lot of activity so that he'll conclude that something's about to happen here. What's actually happening up here (repositioning troops, fighting in the air, and fighting at sea) is secondary, though favorable results are welcome.

Right now John has a lot (most?) of his Pacific power up here: this is where he's concentrating subs (lots of them, and none showing around West Coast, Hawaii, or CenPac). Half KB is up here. And most of his combat ships are up here (what aren't in Sumatra). He has some other power (carriers and combat ships) but they may be at Tokyo, though I'm watching to see if they might be in CenPac or heading that way.

Interesting that. No subs as Intel pickets? It's part of their utility.

[Lowpe]

Intel pickets don't go !

This is John we are talking about.[:D]

[ny59giants]

Dan is involved in his own 'psych ops' with John. [;)] He is showing John what John would hope to see up north. Dan is then hoping that John draws the conclusion about future ops occurring here in the near future. John has seen and engaged a few SC TF and from John's perspective, he has come out ahead. John has seen more transports and has sunk a few. John continues to see TFs in motion, thus reinforcing his thoughts that more action will or still is to occur up north. John hasn't seen Dan's CV and fast BBs, but is probably looking at Kodiak, Prince Rupert, etc. with Glens to find them. Dan has played John more than I have, but both of us have learned to use John's aggressiveness against him.

KUDOS to Dan!! [&o]

[Capt. Harlock]

I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

[JeffroK]

Sometimes you have to go with what you got.

But I would agree with sending in just the DD's.

[Canoerebel]

6/21/43

Battle of Sumatra: Yamato and Two Brothers bombard Sabang. Supply remains at 19k. Enemy bombers focus on the base, which is a rarity, but bombardment disruption is limiting the effectiveness of AA. It's about time for John to try another attack.

Operation Circus: Half KB returns to Attu Island. I managed to get part of a base force ashore at Ulak, which now supports a PBY squadron. P47s and P38Gs sweep Amchitka, brushing aside weak opposition. Then 2EB and 4EB from Umnak hit the base uncontested. Mouseover shows 85% damage. John expresses frustration at the effectiveness of the P47s. He'll have to try something different if he wants to protect Amchitka. I'm going to stick to the same pattern to give him something to shoot for. 1st Cav. arrives at San Fran, begins prep for Attu, and will move to north. Dutch Harbor garrison is down from 81k to 58k, meaning halfway to the stacking limit. At Cold Bay, the Allies wiped out the remnant of Kure Assault Div., the last IJ unit remaining above Amchitka.

Operation Roller Coaster: A few amphibious TFs have already departed with many others to leave tonight. I think the Allies will target eight enemy bases (after adjusting expectations to match the amphibs and ground troops available). Ships are still straggling in. One CVL might not make it in time. But the final lineup of carriers will be: eight fleet, one CVL, and nine CVEs. These - especially the CVEs - are weighted heavily to defense (meaning I expect the main threat to be from LBA rather than carriers, though I'll watch carefully for any signs of the latter).

[T Rav]

I just want to say that I enjoy your AAR. It's well written and well thought out. Many thanks.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL. and they are expendable.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL. and they are expendable.

Omaha class.

[Capt. Harlock]

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL

Maybe not in this game, if John 3rd has built more Oyodo's.

[Canoerebel]

6/22/43

Operation Circus: As hoped, John used his carriers to provide LRCAP over Amchitka. This resulted in 100+ IJN fighters (mainly Zeroes augmented by LBA) vs. P49 and P38G sweepers followed by Mitchells and Liberators. John got what he wanted - downing 15 Mitchells and a handful of Liberators. Damage done to the airfield was modest. But I got what I wanted. John lost roughly 30 carrier fighters and (hopefully) will continue to view this as a challenge. Tomorrow a new squadron of P49s will sweep. Most importantly, KB is still here - a few hexes SE of Attu.

Operation Roller Coaster: Ships are on the move. As mentioned yesterday, there are eight primary targets with two secondary (and highly unlikely). The two divisions prepping for those two are also serving as theater reserve. Some of these eight islands targets may be stiffly garrisoned, so I'm not expecting 100% success here. But if the Allies have time to land and to bombard without KB breathing down their necks, then the Allies should come away with enough bases to matter. I think at least two of the islands are lightly held, and the operation will begin with one of them.

Australia: Japanese fighters knocked down some bombers here (some of those 15 probably came from here, now that I think about it), but an Australian brigade shock attacks, destroys 53 vehicles, and boots two IJA tank regiments from the hex.

Battle of Sumatra: Two IJA divisions attack on the west road at 1:2 odds. They take a licking. The third IJA division (2nd Tank) is moving across island to join the battle at Sabang. The campaign might be over (or at least winding down) by the time she arrives. Lots of enemy air hitting Sabang now. Two Kongos and Three Sisters bombard today. Supply is at 17k.

[Canoerebel]

6/23/43

Operation Circus: More encounters between American sweeps and enemy carrier fighters over Amchitka. Details show the following carriers contributing: Renkaku, Tiakuku, Raikaku, Nishin, Hiyo. I'll need to check the OOB to see which ships those are, but since Half KB is still showing roughly 390 aircraft, I think this is part of a powerful carrier group. Half KB posted SE of Attu. The Allies do very well in the aerial skirmishing, downing 33 Zeroes and 64 aircraft total on the day. The Allies lose 18, including 6 P47s. I "think" John may be moving a supply or reinforcement TF to Amchitka, so I'm switching my routine. Most fighters now on 0% CAP and 100% escort with about four SBD squadrons and one TBF squadron (bomb only) set at four hexes. John's lost some carrier fighters. That's good attrition for me no matter what the ratio is (but the ratios have been quite nice anyhow).

Operation Roller Coaster: No signs of detection (and there shouldn't be for another four days or so. The main group is 20% of the way to the beachheads. I'm worried about the "Real" KB - Zuikaku, Shokaku, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, etc. My best guess (and no more than that) is that they might be upgrading at Tokyo (that's a nice thought) or posted at some midway point (perhaps even Truk). I'll be as careful as possible with pickets and the like to try to get advance notice.

Battle of Sumatra: No bombardments or ground attacks today, but enemy air focuses heavily on Sabang. More IJA troops inbound and close. The end of the month seems about right for the end of the Battle of Sabang.

[Canoerebel]

A quick peek at what's going on up north.

The key question that I need an answer for: what is this carrier group? Is it the Half KB (if so, makeup and aircraft numbers are very different than what I've been seeing). Has John swapped out this KB (with 250 aircraft) for the Half KB (390 aircraft) to sprint south? That's a key question. But I do have picket ships between the Aluetians and CenPac. Heck, I've had picket ships right off Marcus and Wake for weeks with no detection.

[Canoerebel]

I did a bit more sleuthing on that carrier composition. Info the day before showed the IJN carrier TF with 380 aircraft (consistent with what I've been calling "Half KB" for weeks). And the sweeps that occurred yesterday reported fighter groups from the same carriers: Nishin, Hiyo, Taikaku, Renkaku, etc. So, I don't think John has pulled a switcheroo here (my concern being that he withdrew a powerful Half KB with 390 aircraft, sent it south, and replaced it with a 250-aircraft Mini KB, all so that he could combine his major carriers in preparation for a carrier clash). So, at the moment, I feel somewhat confident that John hasn't sniffed out what's coming.

[witpqs]

The TF is only "Spotted" instead of having a good DL. Such information is notoriously unreliable.

[Canoerebel]

Those three carriers with "unusual names" (Taikatsu, Renkaku, Raikaku, or something like that) are three Shokaku Class that I think are specific to Reluctant Admiral. Anyhow, their capacity is 81 aircraft (9 more than the actual Shokaku).

That's good information. I would think John would want those puppies involved in any major carrier clash and would deploy them anywhere he thought there might be a carrier clash. So this information is helpful, I think, in evaluating John's current mindset.

[Canoerebel]

You know, I bet I've had the precise location of at least a Half KB for 60% to 70% of the turns since around December 1. First John had Half KB deployed around Sabang, in easy sight of Allied patrols. So for about four straight months I had pinpoint info nearly every day. Then there was a gap of a month or more. Now, for most of the month of June, I've again known every day the precise location of KB or Half KB. It's easier to make plans when that information is readily at hand.

[Canoerebel]

If the combat report for a clash between my LBA fighters and enemy LRCAP from carriers includes information identifying the enemy fighters as squadrons from Nishin, Renkaku, etc., can I count on that information or is the reporting based on the original carrier the squadron was assigned to? I think it's the former, but it's worth asking.

IE, if Zero Squadron A starts the game on Zuikaku but later is reassigned to Renkaku, and then from that ships participates in LRCAP combat, will the combat report indicate Zero Squadron A is from Renkaku (which I think is the case) or from the original Zuikaku?

I'm asking to make sure I understand this correctly. If I do, then I know which carriers are up north contributing to John's LRCAP. But if I'm wrong - if it's the original carrier that is always reported - then John could be working a switcheroo to confuse me here.

[Canoerebel]

6/24/43

Operation Circus: Half KB (aka Seeming KB) pulls back to Attu Island (readers, see question in previous post; if you know definitively, please chime in). I'm still a bit puzzled about what's going on. The Allies have lots of NavSearch forward in the Aleuts and have been getting very consistent reports for weeks; now, suddenly, the reports are a different, smaller consistent. Something's going on, but I'm not sure what. John didn't put up CAP over Amchitka today. A few Allied B25s hit largely unprotected Attu port, scoring single hits on two subs and a couple of other ships. An IJN sub picks off a damaged xAK near Kodiak. The Allies continue moving troops around apace. One APD operating under the shadow of KB has been busy retrieving cadres of 4th Raiders that took dot hex bases at the opening of the campaign. One cadre left to retrieve. Most of 4th Raiders now at Atka.

Operation Roller Coaster: Ships moving apace. D-Day should be before the end of the month. Two APD TFs are carrying small forces meant to take islands (if lightly occupied, as hoped) or to feel out defenses (if more strongly defended, as probable). TFs still strung out all over the place. The last carrier TF will move forward tomorrow after the lagging CVL arrives. Peanut 4 arrived at the main base of embarkation today. And Cotton Candy 1 arrived at East Coast after the long journey from Aden. After more than five months, all the troop shifting is complete. The weight of the Allied army is in the Pacific.

Battle of Sumatra: No bombardments or ground attacks today. Enemy bombers focus on Sabang. 16k supply. 1st Marines will pull back to Sabang after roughing up the two IJA divisions that attacked on the west road. The Marines will arrive at Sabang in three days; whether they have that long is the big question.