Notes from a Small Island

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: 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?

Some of the mods and scen 2 give them more destroyers but in a stock game the faucet turns off and only a few replacements are available. The Japanese produce a lot of newer type DDs in 1945 but they are slow and under gunned. They are not fleet DDs and easy to sink.

[crsutton]

I figure you have killed more DDs than you think. Basically, if a Japanese DD hits a mine 80% of the time it will sink-especially if they are six to eight VP ships in size. I give the edge to you in that last battle and in the overall battle. The losses to each side are fatal to him if he does not meet his objective. I would say the KB probably has little or no AA ammo left either.

[Chickenboy]

For the IJN to be providing significant 'pucker factor' to the Allied navies in October 1944 is a testament to Obvert's gameplay.

[Canoerebel]

He's an exceptional player.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: The new turn in from Erik begins auspiciously.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: A quick look at the map shows that KB is split up and not making flank speed. Good.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Moosbrugger's Fletcher TF sorties from Shikuka, sinks a few MTBs, then dispatches these two Es.

PT TFs also tangle with MTBs, sinking a few.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Allied minesweepers sortie from Shikuka to aid in the "forcing" of the gaps between the Kurile Islands.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Night bombers score two hits on an ACM at Paramushiro. Each of the Kuriles are strongly garrisoned and probably have shore guns and mines.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Longstreet comes down the hill and approaches the strongly entrenched and fortified enemy MLR.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: My night bombers at Toyohara didn't sortie vs. KB, but daytime bombers at Shikuka, set to range three, find a target or more three hexes south. This must be a cripple.

Lots of CAP, including the Randy.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Four or five strike packages get chewed up without attacking, but this one gets through and scores 12 hits on Unryu and two on the escorting DD. Unryu is confirmed sunk.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Two or three more strikes come, this one likely finishes off the damaged DD.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: The Liberators miss, but Soryu doesn't seem to be making good speed.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: A lot of B-29s employed in airfield suppression. This isn't optimal use but is important and shouldn't last long.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Death Star launches the first of what will be three or four strikes vs. enemy shipping in the Kuriles. All the targets are LSTs, SCs, and the like. Some are carrying troops.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: The largest and most effective strike sinks troop transports. SigInt three or four days ago reported a Rocket Gun unit inbound to Onnekotan - perhaps this unit.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: As one phase of this campaign winds down, another appears imminent.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/44

Shikuka: Somehow Boston makes it back to Shikuka. She and her Rourke's Drift hospital-bound buddies are disbanded in port. The size-9 port and heavy naval support give them a chance.

[Canoerebel]

On the day, Erik lost a CV, CL, DD, and a variety of riff-raff.

I think I lost one or two PTs and a crippled APD. That was it.

But digging out Unryu cost a lot of aircraft. Was it worth it?