Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

Erik left for vacation a day early, so we'll stand down for a good ten days or more.

[anarchyintheuk]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Erik left for vacation a day early, so we'll stand down for a good ten days or more.

So now you can resume your version of John III's AAR? Good reading!

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Erik left for vacation a day early, so we'll stand down for a good ten days or more.

So much for celebrating the 4th with a U.S.N. victory . . .

[Canoerebel]

11/20/44

The chess match going on in the game is rich and challenging and fun, but right now it's mostly about planning and logistics and prep and getting ready for the next round of heavier action. No great sea battles or land envelopments are taking place, so I don't think it makes for great reading for Ye Peanut Gallery. So I've been loathe to post of late. I don't think things will change up here in the near future, unless Erik sallies forth, which is possible.

NoPac: I really, really like the Allies position, logistics and planning in NoPac, but what do I know?

[Canoerebel]

11/20/44

SEAC: A robust war down here, but mainly below the surface. There's a stalemate at the front with lots of aerial moves and countermoves, but basically it's West Front 1918 for awhile on the surface. But, under the surface, much fun ongoing.

[Mark VII]

Port Blair and Car Nicobar building up should give him pause about that long exposed flank and the loc of the IJA Army committed in Burma.

[RangerJoe]

Yes, maybe a surprise invasion of Sabang and/or Victoria Point. Then a paradrop on Chumphon to cut off the Malay peninsula.

Depending upon the Kuriles and his reactions, you might be able to redeploy the Death Star and get another avenue of approach going.

[Canoerebel]

All of those options are under consideration....and Erik has pondered and planned for them as thoroughly as I have (or more so). If an Allied invasion showed up at Georgetown tomorrow, or if there was a para-assault at Nikkon St. Ignatius, he'd have the places well defended or he'd be leaving it weakly defended for a reason. I think he's counting on either carriers or LBA to deal with a threat in the Andaman Sea region. But I'm probing the area just to tickle his musings.

[RangerJoe]

As Patton II said "Hold them by the nose and kick them in the . . . "

As Patton IV said "Find the B*****ds and pile on!"

Both were excellent Cavalry officers.

[Canoerebel]

That's an apt description of the Sikhalin Island and Kuriles campaigns!

[Canoerebel]

11/22/44

Delayed Gratification: Soryu confirmed sunk. I thought it was a possibility since she made such a slow getaway from the Seige of Shikuka, but from where I sit it didn't seem like she'd been hit that hard in the battle.

The Siege of Shikuka cost the IJN CVs Unryu and Soryu with Katsuragi taking one hit. I think one CVL took heavy damage. CV Fuso was sunk and Yamashiro heavily damaged. But the number of DDs, CLs and SS sunk was probably the most important outcome of the battle.

On this same date, my Mom turned 15. At the time, I think she lived in Miami, where her parents had moved during the Great Depression to find work - paying jobs in Georgia were scarce but Miami was a young boomtown. Mom's 88 and doing pretty well.

[RangerJoe]

Confirmation of nice work. But I think that you are correct with the destruction of the CLs and DDs since they seem to do the bulk of the work.

The SS are like the Scouts at sea - hopefully silent, unseen but reporting on the enemy dispositions - then striking hard no matter the size of their target.

[Canoerebel]

I went back to the battle (Oct. 2) to check against my memory, which is often "vague and fuzzy."

Katsuragi wasn't damaged, but Akagi took two torps. Kasagi and Shokaku took single bomb hits that've probably been repaired. Akagi might be out for awhile yet.

[Canoerebel]

11/23/44

Uruppu Jima: Going back through this AAR yesterday to review the hits on Japanese carriers during the Siege of Shikuka reminded me how helpful the information can be. I took a detour, noticing how slowly the reduction of the enemy garrison at Ketoi Jima started. But when the garrison began to crack, the collapse was pretty swift.

With that in mind, I'm going to try to post regularly about the Siege of Uruppu Jima. I think it will be harder than Ketoi and will take longer, so I'm handling it differently.

Most days begin with a BB TF bombarding Uruppu (though today didn't). These bombardments have helped shut down the airfield and exact a small toll on supplies but have had negligible effect on the enemy garrison. This suggests that forts are high, augmented by the 3x terrain (compared to 2x at Ketoi), because the early bombardments on Ketoi were more effective using the same TFs with the same settings.

Weather permitting, each day includes large-scale bombing by the air force - most bombers target ground troops to almost no effect, similar to the ship bombardments. Some of the 2EB target the airfield, helping keep it closed and occasionally destroying a supply point or two.

Nearly every day, a small amphibious landing takes place - sometimes more than one, as today. The LCI(Gs) are having little effect, again reflecting the level of forts and the terrain. But these bombardments trigger automatic enemy counterbombardments that are always self-destructive to the Japanese. Today is a good example. See image below. Thus far, this has been by far the best means of dampening enemy AV a bit.

The 3x terrain makes Uruppi a real challenge, so the Allies haven't attacked yet. Two combat engineer units are schedule to withdraw in a week. I want to use them once in hopes of driving down forts a notch. Losses will likely be high and I am doubtful forts will be effected, but I'm going to try.

I have three divisions prepping for Uruppu, all in the 30s or low 40s. I'll consider bringing them in (probably one at a time) when they are at or above 50.

This is a complex and difficult "assignment," but really it's a mathematical equation. Right now, Erik can't really reinforce or resupply (I think) efficiently. If that continues, the math says the Allies will eventually achieve the results necessary to reduce the garrison and take the island. That might take a month or two.

[HansBolter]

I see you have two combat engineer regiments.
I suggest you use them one at a time so one can rest while the other is attacking.

Recall that I recounted how I used three engineer units in rotation with divisions to reduce Tinian.

Setting up a rotation will greatly speed up the process of fort reduction.

However, I learned recently that having independent combat engineers present isn't a guarantee as I had no fort reductions in a recent attack on Hong Kong that achieved 1-2 odds. I had three American combat engineer battalions embedded with the attacking Chinese army. Was greatly disappointed. Not sure if it would have worked if the three battalions were regiments.

[Canoerebel]

I recall your previous recommendations, but there isn't time in this case. These two units withdraw in seven days. My units will need more than that to rest and recover following the first attack. Too, the real objective is to drop forts a notch, not to make any headway against the infantry. So I think a combined attack is better than a divided attack.

A big combat engineer unit is prepping and will arrive in about two weeks.

[RangerJoe]

It doesn't look like he has much anti-tank capability other than what is embedded in his units. I personally haven't played this deep into a game but early on I have had good luck with pure armor against the Japanese. Maybe a combined armor and combat engineer attack the day before the units disappear would do something good for you.

[Canoerebel]

I might try that, Ranger Joe. I'm going to monitor the Japanese AV carefully for the next four or five days. If it's dropping steadily in increments of 25 to 50 points per day, I may decide not to order a general attack, instead trying a limited attack along the lines you mention. If AV isn't dropping, though, a general attack might push things a little. I'll make that decision in about five days.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

However, I learned recently that having independent combat engineers present isn't a guarantee as I had no fort reductions in a recent attack on Hong Kong that achieved 1-2 odds. I had three American combat engineer battalions embedded with the attacking Chinese army. Was greatly disappointed. Not sure if it would have worked if the three battalions were regiments.

Are you sure, that those units contain actual Combat Engineers? I haven't noticed it on Allies side, but I have recently discovered, that some IJA Independent Engineers in Korea, have only normal Engineers in TOE. They have the same icon, as other Combat Engineer units, they have the same name (Independent Engineer Regiment), but somehow have only normal Engineers as squads.