Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

12/29/44

Uruppu-Jima: The end.

[Canoerebel]

12/29/44

Wakkanai: Allied deliberate attack (and some armor shock-attacking) drops forts to 3 and does more damage to the enemy...but odds are low (which is odd, since the first two attacks were at 2:1 and 3:1).

7th Div. will remain in the hex to join the next attack. 2nd Marine Div. will head out to the woods hex to serve as the anchor there (the other division there, 25th Infantry, has '43 squads, and a fair number of those were disabled in the landing).

[Canoerebel]

12/29/44

2nd Marine Div.: Only 35% preparation but comes ashore in great shape. I keep crediting the Amphib Force HQ, but possible it could also be the fact that it's landing where other units have landed previously? Perhaps, but I think the HQ is the main factor.

[Anachro]

I've found that even in the absence of an HQ helping with landings, troops will land at Hexes already occupied in a much better state than they would otherwise if troops hadn't landed there previously.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I've found that even in the absence of an HQ helping with landings, troops will land at Hexes already occupied in a much better state than they would otherwise if troops hadn't landed there previously.

Several others have mentioned the same phenomenon, so I'll check that out. In fact, I think a TF is bringing in a tank destroyer unit without the benefit of the Amphib Force HQ next turn. I'll see how it compares to the units that came ashore today with the HQ present.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: A new days begins with lots of enemy search aircraft working the Ketoi area, where the ingressers began arriving yesterday.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Wakkanai: Again, a modest bombardment.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Wakkanai: A tank destroyer battalion begins unloading. The primary objective is to trigger another Japanese bombardment. The unit will also be helpful given the enemy armored units moving to the wooded hex.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: The Aussie and Kiwi fighters from Ketoi respond with a willingness, but there are two issues: (1) the Allied TF is too close to Ketoi - the intent was to get everything to Shikuka vicinity or, if they weren't close enough, to have them "hole up" at Ketoi; I apparently overlooked at least one; and (2) the Allied fighters are giving it there all here; there won't be many reserves to call on for further engagements.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: This trailing TF takes station at Ketoi. The Aussies and Kiwis put up a decent amount of CAP but the enemy strike penetrates and hits good ships.

(This trailing TF carried support units - artillery, engineers - from Pearl Harbor. The core of the ingressing reinforcements - armor, artillery and 1st Marine Division - should be at or close to Shikuka and therefore unlikely to be targeted).

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: Supply TF targeted. The ingressors are bringing 750k supplies and about 250k fuel.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: The Jills are carrying torpedoes, so the risk level just went up a notch.

The two ingressing CVs are carrying about 110 fighters. They provided close CAP until this turn. I elected to detach the TF and send it at mission speed to Shikuka. I don't like leaving good merchantmen without adequate cover but felt more concern about the possibility an all-out IJ attack might overwhelm the carrier fighters.

Two turns back, I considered detaching Death Star to cover the ingressing herd, but chose to keep it station near Wakkanai to handle any effort by Erik to reinforce by sea and to provide cover for the bombarding TFs.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: Enemy strikes are coming from at least three airfields.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi:

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: I hate to lose this ship. The Dutch DDs have been extremely useful - providing some protection at relatively low risk in dangerous waters.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Wakkanai: The enemy airfield is the primary target, after recon yesterday indicated that enemy engineers were making some progress in repairing the field.

This is the first, largest and most effective of the Allied air raids at Wakkanai. I won't show others, unless there's something noteworthy.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi: These little ships play an important role, in this instance patrolling "gaps" between islands to check for enemy mines (as the ingressors mainly passed through this gap).

There will be at least one other sortie against YMS TF, sinking more of them.

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Ketoi

[Canoerebel]

12/30/44

Wakkanai: The morning phase ends and the afternoon phases opens with multiple enemy sweeps of the wooded hex. I don't have CAP up, to speak of, nor any shipping there, at the moment.

Erik is preparing for the looming land battle. I don't think he has a prayer of saving Wakkanai unless he brings in reinforcements by sea, which will be challenging and/or costly for him.

To this point, he seems to be focused on a land campaign. I think the Allied army in the wooded hex will be strong enough to withstand his force. There is one concern: If he does manage a win in the wooded hex, my guys won't have a valid retreat path (Wakkanai won't be clear of enemy units for weeks after it falls to the Allies). So I can't afford to let my guys lose.

As for the action around Ketoi during the AM phase, Erik sank (so far) an APA, two xAK and a bunch of smaller stuff, with other good ships damaged (DD Tjerk Heddes is still afloat, I think). I'm just hoping there isn't an afternoon phase of air attacks....