1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

[Energisteron]

Hi BBfanboy

Disaster! Yes, definitely!

All offensive air ops have been cancelled pending refit and further training.

All the raids were intended to go in at between 10-15k ft, although one lot of Liberators did fly at 16k ft.

EDIT* : I admit I made the error of not putting Lightnings high because (as mentioned in reply to Aurorus) I was worried enemy CAP might go high then pounce on bombers from above. Thanks especially for the tip about watching the finer details of the combat reports and how they could indicate at what altitude the CAP starts. I've a feeling there's very little CAP in the air as we approach but then the aircraft on the ground are efficiently scrambled to intercept. That's why in my first playthrough I once sent in fighters at 2k ft hoping to catch enemy fighters on the ground or taking off. You will recall enemy flak thrashed me!

The only good news is that defensive AAA is quite ineffective at 10k ft plus.

So it's up to the Navy now, for a while anyway. Adak is really struggling as a forward base but I intend to try reloading the bombardment TFs there to increase turnaround. Also, I am going to make small bombardment TFs of just 2xCA/CL so that Kiska can be bombarded every night.

[Energisteron]

Day 13 - Apr 27

The expanded bombardment TF goes in on Kiska overnight and causes significant damage.

The 2 newly arrived subs given their longer range are sent to patrol well west of Attu to intercept supplies to either Kiska or Attu.

The 2xDD low on depth charges find they cannot re-arm at Adak and proceed to Dutch Harbor.

Supply and fuel requirements of Adak as it expands are beginning to put a strain on supplies and operations at Dutch Harbor.

[Energisteron]

Day 14 - Apr 28

No contacts of any significance on land, sea or in the air.

[Will_L]

Enjoying your AAR, its well done. Wondering if you have your subs and ASW TFs in a patrol zone with a reaction range
or if they were given a destination hex with remain on station orders.

[Energisteron]

Thank you, WRLertola

I am enjoying reporting on my current demise also.

Day 15 - Apr 29

All Subs have a patrol zone as indicated, and all, except that at Kiska, have a reaction range set at 1 hex (it cannot be set higher). The S-41, a small 650-tonner, at Kiska is just snooping around in coastal waters and is set not to react outside its zone.

[Energisteron]

Day 15 - Apr 29

Surface Operations

The two ASW patrols are tight around Adak and Kiska and are set to react just 1 hex. I don't want them chasing 'wild geese' while an enemy sub or transport sneaks in! I feel very vulnerable at Adak as unloading takes forever and my freighters are juicy targets!

The bombardment TF, with two missions under its belt this campaign, is at Dutch Harbor repairing minor operational damage and re-arming. However, my plan is to split this TF into pairs of big ships (CA/CL) so that as near as possible I can bombard Kiska every night. That should really weary the defenders and may even elicit a naval reaction! If I can sink a couple of Japanese ships all the better as it will help 'even the score' after a disastrous opening to the air-war.

There are 2xCL still 100% effective (even the brass must still be sparkly!) so they're being sent straight back to Kiska today with just 1xDD escort. They'll be moving fast so I'm not too concerned about subs.

Additional, badly needed, aviation support in the form of 3xAVD is dispatched to Adak. The whole aviation support side of things needs a thorough review.

Unloading proceeds at Adak at a snail's pace. Having made great improvements to the airstrip there, the Engineers will be switched to improve the dockside. Loading at Dutch Harbor with the next convoy of fuel and supplies is complete and providing we have enough escorts (I cannot afford to lose fuel!) they will set out for Adak today also.

[Energisteron]

Day 15 - Apr 29

Another Infantry Regiment arrived at Dutch Harbor overnight. Plus lots more Naval muscle!

[Energisteron]

Day 16 - Apr 30

The newly arrived BBs are sent straight to Kiska. Another CA bombardment TF is also dispatched there. We have to improvise due to the shortage of escorts and the AVDs intended for Adak act as escorts until true DDs join from Adak.

All missions proceed as planned without enemy interference except for Recon. Our bombardment TFs have not yet been detected. Should come as a nice surprise!

[Energisteron]

Day 17 - May 01

Three bombardment TF are proceeding to Kiska and another is formed today to follow them.

Let's look at Ground Combat Units:-

In addition to the units listed below there are 2x Engineer units currently on Adak working very hard at expanding the port capacity. These will join the invading forces as and when necessary.

I am unconvinced that a single infantry regiment can take Kiska and must consider substituting additional force from the units slated for Attu.

[Energisteron]

Day 17 - May 01

The lead bombardment TF (2xCA 3xDD) bombards Kiska without loss. Again results determined by subsequent Recon look good, although strangely no aircraft were observed as damaged or destroyed. Have they left home?

Tomorrow night 3xBB will repeat the destruction. In consequence, the CL bombardment TF will have a first crack at Attu itself.

Air resources are recovering so weather permitting we may resume offensive air operations against Kiska.

[Energisteron]

Day 18 - May 02

BB bombardment TF expected to hit Kiska tonight. CL TF en route for Attu. Another CL TF formed at Dutch Harbor.

Air Ops will be started again cautiously. 2xGps Liberators, one from Adak and one from Dutch Harbor, will raid Kiska unescorted while 1xGp Lightnings from Adak will sweep over Kiska at 22k ft. The weather is expected to be overcast but that's about as good as it gets around here!

[Energisteron]

Day 18 - May 02

At last our aircraft losses are much reduced, but air-to-air we're still not downing enemy aircraft. The Zeros seem to have disappeared (for the moment?)

The BB bombardment provides results beyond all expectations. Hip Hip Hooray! We may actually be getting somewhere at last!

[Energisteron]

Day 19 - May 03

A maximum effort of offensive air-strikes against Kiska had been planned but very severe storms prevented all air operations, even Recon.

No contacts at sea.

Day 20 - May 04

The air-strike plan against Kiska will be conducted today weather permitting. This will include Venturas operating from Dutch Harbor with drop-tanks.

CL TFs expected to approach both Attu and Kiska tonight.

The weather is just about good enough to fly our intended raids against Kiska. We appear to have air superiority and results are much more encouraging. We lose just one Liberator to flak.

Both bombardments are satisfactory and attained without loss.

At last, we get several APAs. Now we can start loading up for the invasion!

[Disco Duck]

I didn't notice in your notes. Did you change out the commander of your P-38's? He is pretty bad. First thing I do in this scenario is change him out and put the squadron at 100% training at zero range. They don't fatigue at that setting. It is awhile before I am ready to use them anyway.

[Energisteron]

Hi Disco Duck

Yes, I took the advice I'd found here and replaced as many air commanders as could afford. I've kept up to this as I acquired a couple of new air groups. I've replaced naval commanders too.

If I change Army commanders will I find their unit's preparation for invasion falls?

[Energisteron]

Day 21 - May 05

Another day of air raids on Kiska which meet no opposition in the air. Bombardment TF now switching to target Attu. Troops begin loading up for invasion of Attu.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Energisteron

If I change Army commanders will I find their unit's preparation for invasion falls?

No, it will not affect your preparation.

The air-war is one of the most difficult aspects of the game to fully comprehend and manage. It is also the key to victory for either side. The results of the air-war determine the outcome of the game. So, this scenario is serving as a good primer and testing ground for you.

There are several tactics that can produce good results in the air. You want to experiment and be capable of applying these different tactics as needed. Most human opponents will adjust if you repeat the same procedure indefinitely.

One thing to try is to stand down your bombers and sweep the dot base 2 hexes away from Kiska. The AI will most likely automatically anticipate your sweep and send its fighters over the dot base to intercept. You will encounter fewer fighters there and achieve numerical superiority.

This is also a good tactic to use from time to time against a human opponent. Players (especially new players or veterans who overlook their CAP settings) often will set a unit on CAP with a range of 4,5,7, or 9. The result is that some CAP will bleed over into surrounding hexes. A sweep of these hexes often will result in a small number of CAP fighters getting overwhelmed by the sweep.

[Energisteron]

Fascinating, Aurorus

Another bit of advice cut and pasted.

But which dot base? I cannot locate one.

[tarkalak]

ORIGINAL: Energisteron

Fascinating, Aurorus

Another bit of advice cut and pasted.

But which dot base? I cannot locate one.

There are no dot bases in "1000 miles war". I think he refers to the full campaigns.

I am not sure if you can sweep an empty hex, but you can try.

[Energisteron]

Thanks for the clarification, tarkalak.

I'm fairly sure I've set CV aircraft to sweep 'blank' hexes previously, but I'd have to check that out.

*EDIT* I've just tried and indeed it seems it is not possible

I'll give thought to 'sweeping outside the box' as a tactic. I can see how it could work.