Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

Do you think Erik would devote his cruisers to protecting a crippled BB?

He was probably counting on the stout cruiser force beneath 800 fighters for CAP to be formidable enough to dissuade me from attacking - and if that allowed Yamato to pump out some water, all the better.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Do you think Erik would devote his cruisers to protecting a crippled BB?

He was probably counting on the stout cruiser force beneath 800 fighters for CAP to be formidable enough to dissuade me from attacking - and if that allowed Yamato to pump out some water, all the better.

It looked to me that Eric was just hoping for more from his mines and mini-subs to cripple your combat ships and have them finished off by his cruiser TFs. He likely expected a bombardment TF instead of SCTFs. I guess from his point of view it looks like you have lost a lot of cruisers so using CAs against you would be a good gamble.

[jwolf]

I am stunned that the Yamato is still alive. [X(] Even so, it must be out of action for the rest of the war.

[JohnDillworth]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I am stunned that the Yamato is still alive. [X(] Even so, it must be out of action for the rest of the war.

I guess you could port bomb and try and sink her if a few hundred points would make a difference. Still, if she didn't sink with 7 torpedoes I'm not sure what 500lb bombs are going to do. She is not going anywhere. If she gets pumped out how fast can she sail? Better to leave her where she is and have a few hundred fighters dedicated to protecting her. At this point protecting her is more of a liability

[Capt. Harlock]

Do you think Erik would devote his cruisers to protecting a crippled BB?

What better way to lose them, than in protecting one of the highest-VP ships in the game? (Not to mention the airfield, troops, and other items of value at Sapporo.)

[Canoerebel]

The VPs don't really matter, at this early point. Far more important is the Japanese navy's waning ability to pose a threat to the Allied navy. At least, that's the way I think Erik is looking at it. He probably values the cruisers far more than he does Yamato's worth in its present condition. Mind you, this is my subjective, biased viewpoint - that the loss of the two IJN cruisers (if the second sank) should be a significant blow to the Kaigun.

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

NoPac: As a new turn commences, I'm looking mainly at two things: (1) Did Erik expect an all-out port strike against Sapporo, aimed at Yamato (I think so), and (2) Death Star and the Herd are shifting radically from west to east in preparation for the next amphibious assault (if things go properly this turn, L-Day could be tomorrow).

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

Sapporo: This is the only Allied air mission over this base today, done solely to gauge the CAP: 200 fighters are up, which is what Erik likes to use. He probably did anticipate a major Allied effort to finish off Yamato, but that is a low priority target at the moment. I'd rather not fight an all-out air battle over a ship unable to fight.

In addition to this sweep, PT TFs and one combat TF are checking out the port and report no enemy shipping here. Death Star and friends will be away for a week or two, but Erik probably won't be able to reliably count on Sapporo again - at least not when DS is in the vicinity.

[Mike Solli]

So you'll do a tiny sweep just to get a nose count on enemy fighters?

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

Shimishura: Many 4EB squadrons from Shikuka target this airfield today. The field still shows residual 75% damage from the last raid, at least ten days ago. Erik has used this base offensively on occasion, so closing it is a high priority, given pending action in this vicinity.

I won't show the other raids, but overall the damage done is satisfactory.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
So you'll do a tiny sweep just to get a nose count on enemy fighters?

Sure. Yesterday two Corsair squadrons swept for the same purpose.

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

Looks like the sync bug bit this turn good, so I'll post from the reliable Combat Report mostly.

Etorofu: Massed 2EB raids from Toyohara hit this base, for the same reason the 4EB are targeting Shimishura - to shut down an airfield Erik likes to use.

From what I've seen thus far it seems that Death Star and the Herd only made three hexes today, probably meaning L-Day will be postponed until the day after tomorrow.

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

Wakkanai: This is the only Japanese offensive mission of the day.

From what I've seen thus far, the Ki-83 is effective but not some kind of uber-weapon. Even in sweeps, Allied fighters handle it at an acceptable ratio.

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

Wakkanai: Mop-up operations continue. The end should come in a week or less.

[Canoerebel]

1/10/45

NoPac: Force disposition on the eve of L-Day.

Mouseover indicates 100% airfield damage at Shimishura; 51% at Etorofu.

[BBfanboy]

Do your ingressing ships include some DD and cruisers to replace the losses you have had recently? I keep thinking of the 6 or so BBs that Eric still has and how he might roll the dice with them if he thinks you don't see them coming. Having cruisers and DDs to clear away the riff-raff for your own BBs to engage would be good. DS cannot be everywhere so there will be openings for more surface action.

[Canoerebel]

The ingressing TFs will include 1 CL and a couple of DDs.

Allied cruiser losses in the game have been fairly light, thanks mainly to Historiker and SqzMyLemon: 10 CA and 22 CL. The number of combat TFs with Death Star is very large.

[BillBrown]

Are you sure about Etorofu triggering Kamikazes? I count it as being 21 sea hexes from Tokyo.

[Canoerebel]

I'm not certain, actually. There's not much in the game I'm certain of, except that ships can withdraw at Pearl Harbor, that Cold Zone effects begin on December 1, and that there are plenty of 57mm AT weapons, so go ahead and upgrade 1st Marine Div./A and /B but not /C, 'cause it won't matter later.

[Canoerebel]

1/11/45

NoPac: This image shows how Erik has been evacuating his Kuriles garrisons the past three months. The upper-Kuriles bases show similar trends, especially Paramushiro.

Erik is saving troops that have become somewhat isolated by events. Now he doesn't have to try to ram supply in. The disadvantage for him is that I can shift alot of units to prepare other targets, as taking the Kuriles is going to be considerably easier. Taking the Kuriles will greatly reduce the threat to my LOC>

As this next turn begins, two things are of particularly interest: (1) With the Allies shifting over to the Kuriles, will Erik attack Wakkanai and/or Toyohara? To prepare, all 1EB were moved from the latter to Shikuka; and (2) Will the Allied amphibiious troops come ashore in decent shape? Most are prepped in the 30s or 40s, which is too low, but I'm proceeding on a long-held hypotheis that this is "okay" if the Amphib Force HQ is highly prepped (in this case, it's at 100%).