Notes from a Small Island

[Bearcat2]

Are you flying any searches at night? Any night naval attacks?

[Canoerebel]

Several PBYs are flying night searches, as are a number of BB/CA/CL floatplane squadrons. I'm getting good nav search reports during the nighttime phase.

I don't have any strike squadrons set to naval strike at night, mainly because I didn't think of it (I do have some Brit B-24s flying night missions against Onnekotan's airfield).

I have high detection on KB and Kaigun and riff-raff, so hopefully my guys will coordinate well and choose good targets. I think there's a 50/50 change Erik won't retire this turn, which means there's an equal chance he will, of course.

[crsutton]

My focus as the Allied player is to sink Japanese DDs. Without sufficient DDs, the Japanese Navy becomes very easy to kill. You have sunk a heck of a lot of DDs.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

My focus as the Allied player is to sink Japanese DDs. Without sufficient DDs, the Japanese Navy becomes very easy to kill. You have sunk a heck of a lot of DDs.

I'm curious about this and similar comments above. Speaking from near total ignorance of the Japanese side, I know they have some control over ship building. Can the Japanese player, if he chooses, build more destroyers instead of some of the more glamorous CV and BB types? And if so, would that be a better investment for the Japanese player?

[T Rav]

I love the phrase "Brutal Math." More people should know it.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

The new turn is in. I haven't run the replay; I've only seen the Combat Report.

It is brutal.

I'm going to post the same way that I did yesterday's turn. It'll take hours, which in turn will be interrupted by dinner, family time, etc., so it may be awhile before I get started and after midnight when I finish. But keep these three keys in mind:

1. Has Erik succeeded in overwhelming the remaining Allied defenses at Shikuka, so that it's a defenseless, open target.
2. What cost has he paid?
3. Will this materially impact what's about to happen?

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: The night phase opens with this little clash, which tells me two things - at least some of Erik's BBs are on the move towards Shikuka....and, just to the west, his carriers are still in place.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: Riff-raff is coming. This PT TF is ineffective in thwarting the PB TF.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: The big boys are on the way.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: A second group of big boys inbound.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: There are a number of "dry encounters" early, some involving PT TFs, some involving subs. Here's just one example. My hope is that these will slow the enemy, perhaps expend op points or ammo, and eventually allow some assets to get good shots.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: USN APDs configured in combat TFs specifically to target enemy riff-raff TFs.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: There are scores of these messages during the course of the night phase (as there were yesterday).

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: I still have about a dozen subs in theater, nearly all of them moderately damaged.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: Several Allied PT TFs are cut-off, with various small clashes taking place near Toyohara and, like here, SE of Shikuka.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: This big TF includes Yamato. I think this is the third IJN BB TF inbound to Shikuka.

[Canoerebel]

10/02/44

Shikuka: The first serious clash. This is about all the Allies have left to offer. No huge damage done to either side, but the Fletchers outperform the enemy and undoubtedly soak off some movement points and ammo. At this point I'm beginning to think, "Hey, my strike aircraft may get a shot at these guys in the morning!"

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: THis was a brutal altercation. Astoria TF was cut off, a hex from Shikuka, at the end of yesterday's turn, with 27% ammo and no torps. The must have returned to Shikuka and replenished. It's very tough to lose these two capital ships - the last two that weren't heavily damaged. They exacted a heavy toll from the enemy. A victory today but one at a cost I probably can't afford to pay.

[FlyByKnight]

Looks like Nasty Asty went down in a blaze of glory, at least.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/44

Shikuka: Enemy BB TF faces my only remaining combat TF - six Fletchers. My TF is fully replenished, so I'm not sure why the two forces didn't engage.