Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[pws1225]

I agree with Obvert. I think the urge to raise some hell might be a temptation best resisted. You are in a good position to establish a stout defense and prepare for the end game. Make CR come to you were you are prepared and let him crash against the rocks. Just my two cents.

[John 3rd]

I am willing to listen to ideas and thoughts here. Does anyone have specific ideas or proposals? I'll gladly entertain some armchair general/admiral advice presently...

[Cap Mandrake]

Santa Maria! Or, as they say in Honshu, "That-ah rot of Arried-mens"

FDR have hard time get re-erceted in 1944.

[John 3rd]

July 9, 1943

We continue a slow but steady bloodletting of the Allied Force in the Marshalls/Gilberts:

Air: 18 Zero and 21 Judy easily punch through the CAP of a TF just east of Tarawa. Results are excellent with multiple hits scored on 3 LSI(L), 1 AK, and an APA. There are 121 Casualties reported and several sinking sounds are heard later.

WHAT is an LSI(L)?

Subs:
I-154 sinks AK Stephen White at Mili
I-26 sinks AK Trolus at Tarawa

AND
I-183 plants a big, fat TT into BB Revenge near Tarawa. NICE! This is third BB hit by my Subs. Would LOVE to land two or more hits but these do help...

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Marshalls/Gilberts

The day of July 10, 1943 starts in the early morning hours when four Japanese Greyhounds (DDs) come a callin' at the Allied Base of Miri. Four different Allied TF are encountered and old, veteran DD crews make short work of nearly all they face. First to go down are two new DEs on ASW Patrol. The second TF encountered are some 'old friends' from the DEI--Philippines APDs Ford, Ward (Pearl Harbor), and Edsall. They are set as a Fast TF so they clear the area with hardly firing a shot. The real damage is done next when a SC, 2 AP, and 3 AK are crushed. ALL go down! Lastly as the DDs are nearly out of shells and torps, a rich, plump target of two AOs (fully laden) are run into. The DDs get REAL CLOSE use their 25MM and anything else that shots to sink these two targets. As dawn breaks they run for Kwajalein having sunk and/or damaged a dozen ships. More amazingly they are not even touched ONCE. WELL DONE!

The day sees massed strikes by Japanese air attacking from the south at Tabitueau and from the AFs of Rio Namur and Kwajalein. These strikes find all sorts of targets and while they work to impale themselves from time-to-time attacking hugely CAP defended areas (Mili and the CVs east of Tarawa) the strikes find many ships and do excellent work. For the lose of nearly 150 planes (50 Zero, 50 Judy, and then a split of Kates--Betty), the Japanese manage to sink 3 fully laden AP and 3 AK as well as damage another 8-10 ships. Some of them sink as well.

Adding to the assault is I-26 sinking AP Boschfontein at Jaliut

Numerous Allied units are damaged by these sinkings. Here are a few examples:
1. (at Mili) 210 Cas, 144 Guns, and 66 Vehicles
2. (at Jaliut) 458 Cas and 24 Guns
3. (East of Tarawa) 88 Guns and 168 Vehicles
4. (at Tarawa) 877 Cas (all Engineering Squads)

Realistic Sinking totals for the day: 2 DE, 1 SC, 6 AP, 6 AK, 2 AO with solid damage to another 10-12 vessels.

Not a bad day. I truly hate how the game manages to fling unescorted bombers at targets with heavy CAP after 1-2 strikes have already ascertained that there is a CRAPLOAD of CAP HERE! Can't change anything there but it is a constant source of frustration for both sides.

[CaptBeefheart]

Well done in Sabang. An LSI(L) is the Brit equivalent of an APA.

Cheers,
CC

[John 3rd]

I had no idea. Thanks Cody. Much appreciated.

[kjnoel]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

At Tokyo they shall refit and draw winter clothes for a probably assault landing at Ulak and Adak.

But why? You are in an incredibly strong position now, what possible value can you get from fighting on the extreme of your empire where there is no advantage to be gained and everything to be lost?

The Allies have so many engineers by now those bases will be fort 6 long before you get there and you won't be able to do it without KB. While KB is in the grim north the Allies can choose to go play elsewhere or possibly force a CV battle. While you love the big battles you will get far more value in having KB as a force in being than a CV battle which will probably be a pyrric victory but will almost certainly be a strategic defeat. Bleeding a few more contested landings and crushing the Allies wherever Deathstar isn't will be far more effective....

[savelius2]

With the fall of Sabang you've got a bunch of troops and ships freed for new operations. That doesn't mean you need to immediately do a predictable counterattack to the recent landings, however. Your opponent must expect it and be preparing for it. On the other hand you've now got 7 battleship and battle cruisers freed for operations plus some experienced, hardened divisions that need rest but could be put to good use somewhere.

If you don't counterinvade the Aleutians, what can you do with this force to make the next invasions your opponent had to do harder? I speak from a point of near total ignorance about the feasibility of things, but can you prepare a standing reaction force for countering the next landings with troops, bombardment forces, and have a realistic chance of eliminating his landings? Because with Sabang down, you've achieved something rarely done in games to this point: taking out a substantial number of allied troops in '43. His naval forces are only going to get stronger, but if you can keep pressure on the troops can you exceed the replenishment rate and slow the pace of his invasions?

[Lowpe]

What is the fuel/supply/oil levels?

Those are the critical questions.

[John 3rd]

Lowpe: They are not as good as I would care for. Seemingly have TK running everywhere and hauling it to the Home Isle but my levels are not going up that fast. I've had to use soooo many AK to move troops around (at this late stage of the game) that that has served to cause a few issues as well. I've decided to get the redeployment done and then move as many of those AKs as possible to Soerabaja and Singers to created some 250,000+ Resource convoys and get a BUNCH home ASAP.

All four BC and Ise are now upgrading at Singers. Yamato is headed home where she will rejoin her sister who is almost repaired at Nagasaki. They will link-up with the two CB and bombard eht eHell out of the Aleuts. There is no doubt that Dan will come back there before winter arrives. Mark THIS. I will hurt the Allies in the Aleutians before summer is done.

Pull the other half of KB from Attu so it 'disappears.' Let Dan worry about that for a while.

Three of my newly available ID will move to the Marianas and finish stocking them to the gills. Moving a good number of troops (mainly support) to Babeldoap and Mindanao to begin serious defensive work.

Dan has gone back to his (what a TRULY LOVE) one and two ship TF north of Marcus. I will KILL them with three Moon-Class DDs.

[Bif1961]

Congrats on Sabang bagging, ultimately 60,000-70,000 allied troops. It would be nice if there were some announcements in the game when a debacle of this scale happens. Good thing Dan is Supreme Commander or head would have rolled for losing so many combat units in reality. Thi game lacks the political decision which colored real operations during WWII.

[crsutton]

Always felt that VPs should be flexible. Allies should lose three times the amount of VPs for losing a carrier in 1944-45 where the Japanese should lose virtually nothing. Then the reverse happens in 1942 where the Japanese should lose three times for a carrier and the Allies very little. Simply that in the normal context of things it is expected that Japanese warships are going to get hammered late in the war, and they really do not help as much. And, for the Allies to lose five CVs in late 44-well there would be some heads rolling....

[John 3rd]

I like that idea Mr. Sutton. Makes a bunch of sense.

Looks like my Noble Allied Opponent is quitting the Marshalls and Gilberts to get ready for his next lunge. Anyone wanna bet on the rest of the Aleutians? That is where my chips are going.

We have been going back-and-forth about our ages. I turn the ripe old age of 50 pretty soon. With him moving out of the fighting area, I taunted him with my last email. The message said:

My B-Day is on Cinco de Mayo except we call it Cinco de Johno! I’ve had this birthday for nearly as long as Cinco de Mayo and they still haven’t asked me to be the parade GRAND MARSHALL. Quite rude...

My engineers as well as pilots wish to thank the Allied engineers for the tremendous AF they have built for Japan at Sabang.

Additionally, it LOOKS like you’re leaving the party in the Marshalls and Gilberts. That is too bad. It was just really getting fun. You are now an APP. That would be an ALLIED PARTY POOPER!

Hope you laughed. Work from now til 3pm.

[HansBolter]

Seriously John?

You're ballyhooing this great success in a scenario you designed to allow for that very thing?

Seems more than a bit immodest.

[pws1225]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Seriously John?

You're ballyhooing this great success in a scenario you designed to allow for that very thing?

Seems more than a bit immodest.

I must respectfully disagree. As any JFB knows, when you start a game, either a stock scenario or a mod like this one, you know from the outset you are probably going to lose. Similarly, as any AFB know, you know you are probably going to win. The only question is whether the Allies will win sooner or later than historical. The enhanced Japanese OOB in this mod at best forestalls the inevitable perhaps 6 months or so, but does not change the systemic imbalance between the two sides. The only way the Japanese player can hope to win is by decisively crippling the Allied OOB which John may have done here (only time will tell). In that perspective, I think John deserves a hearty well done. He may not have won the war at Sabang, but he has certainly increased his chances.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Seriously John?

You're ballyhooing this great success in a scenario you designed to allow for that very thing?

Seems more than a bit immodest.

I must respectfully disagree. As any JFB knows, when you start a game, either a stock scenario or a mod like this one, you know from the outset you are probably going to lose. Similarly, as any AFB know, you know you are probably going to win. The only question is whether the Allies will win sooner or later than historical. The enhanced Japanese OOB in this mod at best forestalls the inevitable perhaps 6 months or so, but does not change the systemic imbalance between the two sides. The only way the Japanese player can hope to win is by decisively crippling the Allied OOB which John may have done here (only time will tell). In that perspective, I think John deserves a hearty well done. He may not have won the war at Sabang, but he has certainly increased his chances.

+1

He was patient and persistent in a very difficult situation. A little ribbing doesn't hurt if you're tight with the other player, and when you know for sure it'll be coming the other way at some point. [;)]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Seriously John?

You're ballyhooing this great success in a scenario you designed to allow for that very thing?

Seems more than a bit immodest.

I believe that I was JOKING with him. As Obvert points out, our relationship now spans better then a decade of time. We have spoken many times on the phone and he has been there for me in a horrific situation. It is absolutely safe to do so because he'll fire it right back to me in a while.


Would ALSO point out to you that this Mod is predominantly a NAVAL Mod. The war at sea is where that impact is. I beat Dan in Burma AND Sumatra using the Scenario ONE Imperial Japanese Army...to me that is cause for some serious partying.

Considering my greatest weaknesses are in the Ground War AND patience this victory in Sumatra really means a lot. My greatest strength AND weakness is always wanting to quickly attack or counter-punch. Witness the very conversation over the last 12-15 Posts. Sumatra was tough, tough test of patience, details, and organization. To destroy this massive a number of units and troops in mid-43 is pretty unheard of to my knowledge.

Serious Question: Does anyone know of another Japanese Player who had something similar to this occur at this stage of the war? Better yet--lots of JFB read this AAR so how about you sound off on what YOU consider to be your best moment in a campaign. Sound off and take some pride in accomplishment. Let us hear it!

[pws1225]

Sound off and take some pride in accomplishment. Let us hear it!

Don't mind if I do.

In my last PBEM, I managed to catch my opponent loading of his amphibs in the New Hebrides for his first offensive in mid-43. I think KB destroyed around two to three IDs, multiple other LCU, not to mention all the available Allied APs, AKs. In truth, it was blind dumb luck on my part, but I chalked up my first win and simply enjoyed the hell out of it. [:)]

[SierraJuliet]

Late war in the old WITP and I managed to get 3 Kongos to stalk and then pounce on a USN fast carrier TF at night. If memory serves me correctly they accounted for BB Iowa and 2 Essex class carriers before hightailing it. A very sweet result. It was cartwheel time during the bleak days seeing out the end of the war.

I'm sure Todd remembers well and will be looking to stymie any efforts I make in our current game to pull off further blue water intercepts.