AleW (J) vs Kaleun (A) Guadalcanal

[AlessandroW]

Start small but one step forward everyday...my mantra in WitP.

Guadalcanal scenario, stock, last beta patch.
Edit: forgot to add, no HRs.

Surely Kaleun was looking for something more challenging but unfortunately he found the opposite: a little more than newbie playing a small scenario, the life is hard [:D]


In this scenario there is everything but production and map space, perfect to learn without being overwhelmed.


Kaleun, please don't read any further.

[BBfanboy]

The scenario may be small but the constraints are many and you have to walk a fine line between being too aggressive and too passive. There is not enough supply or reinforcements to make up for bad decisions.

[AlessandroW]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

The scenario may be small but the constraints are many and you have to walk a fine line between being too aggressive and too passive. There is not enough supply or reinforcements to make up for bad decisions.

Yes and this is the reason why I like Guadalcanal scenario so much, lot of decisions in few hexes.

[AlessandroW]

Starting position:

08/06/1942

Victory Points
Japanese: 6213
Allied: 4647

This is going to change in 2-3 days therefore the Japanese has to stop the Allied offensive and then to be aggressive.

Only four bases are worthy in VPs:
Port Moresby: 8000 (J) 2000 (A), take this base is enough to win
Lunga: 4800 (J) 1200 (A), big price as well
Milne Bay: 1600 (J) 400 (A), side price
Tulagi: 1200 (J) 300 (A), the least important


Map
PM: Jungle (2x defense value), surely will be mined and reinforced asap, with an AF 4 can be tough to suppress.
Moreover is difficult to use naval bombardment without being spotted. Under B-17 umbrella.

Milne Bay: Jungle (2x defense value), easy target for naval and air attacks, if not reinforced SNLF units can be enough for an invasion. Under B-17 umbrella.

Lunga: Jungle (2x defense value), AF and Port at 2, difficult for both to keep it operating. Under B-17 umbrella.

Tulagi: Jungle + Rough (3x defense value), paired with Lunga, if one base fall the other follow. Under B-17 umbrella.

Truk and Rabaul are the main bases, especially the former.
Kavieng airfield will be maximized. Buin fortified.

Logistic
Japanese is in shortage of fuel and supply, Allied not so much.
Anyhow there are few vessels to move all stuff around for both, losing too many can stop any offensive plan.
Truk: 1500 supply and 2000 fuel per day, that's all.

Force
Air
Japanese air units are few but pretty good, the replacements rate is very low.
Pilot reserve is impressive, 200+ elite pilots for fighters and bombers.

Navy
Capital ships will join the battle later leaving total supremacy to the enemy for a while (12 days).
After that there are enough ships to carry out offensive plans.
Trasport convoy safety will be paramount.
Needless to say that CVs are the best asset for this war.

Ground
Big ground units will enter the map in different time, about one division equivalent every 25-60 days.
Short on ENG units and no AA formations at all.
Replacements rate very low.
Horii group is my best land asset at the moment, around 200 AV, but is difficult to supply and pretty exposed to air attacks.

Of course, for almost all of you these things are pretty obvious [:)]

[AlessandroW]

Japan
My plan is........waiting [:D]

At the moment I cannot react to his invasion fleet but I can try to disloge the Australian Bde holding the Horii group, I'm not sure if an enemy unit give free intel and they can be bombed with more efficacy.

Why waiting? Because I don't need all four bases to win, and I will try to hit the more exposed ones and this depends where he will send his reinforcements.

PM: it would be nice to have this airfield out of business but I don't want to start an attriction air war, anyway I have the edge in quality and I can try to take advantage of it.

Milne Bay: can be a good diversion even if I won't go for PM, maybe can be taken without CVs.


Allied
After Tulagi and Lunga what can I do?
Take the rest of the Solomon Islands is doable but LBA at Rabaul is a problem, a 4E bombing campaign can be a solution, then Rabaul itself.
Anyhow is enough to hold the position for a victory.
Lot of PPs are needed to free up the necessary troops.

[AlessandroW]

So, following my plan I used my assets to attack the 30th Australian Brigade, air bombardment and ground assault were launched.

Not quite a good move, odds 1:2 on shock attack for 600+ causalties against 200+ for the Aussies, too early.

Sorry Tanaka but I don't want to intercept the enemy amphibious fleet with only CA even if they are good.
I thought to use them on naval bombardment but the risk to lose one for some disrupted/destroyed squads is not worth especially because I don't have any DD on escort yet.

Trasport ships are heading to Truk.


Reinforcements:
CS Chitose arrives at Truk
DD Yayoi arrives at Truk
E Oite arrives at Truk
E Asanagi arrives at Truk
xAKL Noshiro Maru #2 arrives at Truk
SS I-10 arrives at Truk
SS I-11 arrives at Truk
SS I-16 arrives at Truk
SS I-21 arrives at Truk
SS I-162 arrives at Truk
SS I-168 arrives at Truk
SS I-169 arrives at Truk
SS I-171 arrives at Truk
SS I-174 arrives at Truk
SS RO-67 arrives at Truk
SS RO-68 arrives at Truk
35th/124th Infantry Regiment arrives at Tassafaronga
35th/2nd(Kitao) Battalion arrives at Tassafaronga

[AlessandroW]

Zero in sweep mission over the Horii Group skies, around 10 enemy planes shot down so far, no losses for us.

All my SS are sailing to Guadacanal hoping to catch the big fish.

Lunga and Tulagi have been hit by CV air raids and the first American troops invaded the beaches.


Reinforcements:
CL Katori arrives at Truk

[AlessandroW]

Lunga has fallen, Tulagi still hold!

This time my opponent has reinforced the PM air cover and we reported our first aircraft losses.

SS TF layed 80 mines at Lunga and DD Selfridge and DD Mugford have been hit with heavy damages but the FOW reported sunk others DD [:D]

Ship conversion:
Given that I have very few ship I'm converting several ones in a more efficient troops transports:

AP x4
AK-t x9
xAK x2

Moreover:
AGP x1
AG x1
AKE x2
PB x4
AO x2
AS x1 (not sure if will be useful)

[AlessandroW]

Bloody days!

Horii group tried a deliberate attack but went badly, 200 Japanese casualties for 100 Australians, the final AV for the defender was 650! (Jungle+Rough and forts 2 I guess).
Tough position to crack and now the B-17 are starting to bombard my guys.

Tulagi is lost but not before three enemy assaults, brave soldiers!


SS Warfare
Here amazing news!!!!

Two SS has been damaged but we have two victims:
AVD Ballard - Torpedo hits 1
CV Enterprise - Torpedo hits 3 in two attacks, we got a critical, magazine and fuel explosions! All my luck in a single target [:D]
Surely she is sunk because there are a/c losses.
A strategic victory indeed.


Reinforcements:
E Hakaze arrives at Truk
APD-36 arrives at Truk
AV Kamikawa Maru arrives at Truk

Spent 2 PPs to rebuild the ENG units lost.

[Bif1961]

Reminds me of the Wasp which was torpedoed and sunk south of the canal. in that attack the BB NC was damaged and a DD sunk, 5 hits with 6 torps.

[AlessandroW]

Bif961, all these hits in a single attack? [X(]

As usual Horii troops receive almost every day visitors with tons of gifts!

I have started an air battle over PM, my goal is to close the enemy airfield to avoid LB attacks over my base (except B17 of course). Losses are fine but until Rabaul will have 20K+ supply I cannot replace the aircrafts lost, in few days I should be able to fix this issue.

There is moviment around Lunga, I guess support troops are coming to build up the base.


Reinforcements
Misawa Ku K-1 arrives at Truk
AR Akashi arrives at Truk
SS I-175 arrives at Truk
Yokosuka 5th SNLF arrives at Truk
CV Shokaku arrives at Truk
CV Zuikaku arrives at Truk
CVL Ryujo arrives at Truk
CVE Unyo arrives at Truk
BB Hiei arrives at Truk
BB Kirishima arrives at Truk
BB Mutsu arrives at Truk
AV Akitsushima arrives at Truk
CA Tone arrives at Truk
CA Chikuma arrives at Truk
CA Takao arrives at Truk
CA Atago arrives at Truk
CA Maya arrives at Truk
CA Myoko arrives at Truk
CA Haguro arrives at Truk
CA Suzuya arrives at Truk
CA Kumano arrives at Truk
CL Jintsu arrives at Truk
CL Nagara arrives at Truk
CL Yura arrives at Truk
DD Akizuki arrives at Truk
DD Akigumo arrives at Truk
DD Kazegumo arrives at Truk
DD Makigumo arrives at Truk
DD Kagero arrives at Truk
DD Oyashio arrives at Truk
DD Hatsukaze arrives at Truk
DD Maikaze arrives at Truk
DD Isokaze arrives at Truk
DD Tokitsukaze arrives at Truk
DD Hamakaze arrives at Truk
DD Nowaki arrives at Truk
DD Arashi arrives at Truk
DD Hagikaze arrives at Truk
DD Tanikaze arrives at Truk
DD Natsugumo arrives at Truk
DD Minegumo arrives at Truk
DD Asagumo arrives at Truk
DD Murasame arrives at Truk
DD Harusame arrives at Truk
DD Samidare arrives at Truk
DD Kawakaze arrives at Truk
DD Umikaze arrives at Truk
DD Suzukaze arrives at Truk
DD Uranami arrives at Truk
DD Shikinami arrives at Truk
DD Ayanami arrives at Truk
DD Asagiri arrives at Truk
DD Yugiri arrives at Truk
DD Amagiri arrives at Truk
DD Akebono arrives at Truk
DD Sazanami arrives at Truk
DD Ushio arrives at Truk
DD Mutsuki arrives at Truk
DD Uzuki arrives at Truk
E Matsukaze arrives at Truk
APD-1 arrives at Truk
APD-2 arrives at Truk
APD-34 arrives at Truk
APD-35 arrives at Truk
AMc Wa 1 arrives at Truk
AMc Wa 2 arrives at Truk
AMc Fumi Maru #2 arrives at Truk
xAKL Hagoromo Maru arrives at Truk
xAKL Rokko Maru arrives at Truk
AMc Seki Maru #3 arrives at Truk
ACM Tama Maru arrives at Truk
AMc Toshi Maru #1 arrives at Truk
ACM Heijo Maru arrives at Truk
xAKL Kantori Maru arrives at Truk
PB Kenkon Maru arrives at Truk
xAKL Koei Maru arrives at Truk
PB Shonon Maru #15 arrives at Truk
PC Ch 22 arrives at Rabaul
PC Ch 24 arrives at Truk
AO Iro arrives at Truk
AO Naruto arrives at Truk
AO Tsurumi arrives at Truk
SS I-1 arrives at Truk
SS I-2 arrives at Truk
SS I-4 arrives at Truk
SS I-7 arrives at Truk
SS I-9 arrives at Truk
SS I-15 arrives at Truk
SS I-17 arrives at Truk
xAK Kano Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Keiyo Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Yodogawa Maru arrives at Truk
AMC Nosiro Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Nissyu Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Kamikaze Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Yamahagi Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Kasuga Maru #2 arrives at Truk
xAK Sansei Maru arrives at Truk
xAK Nittai Maru arrives at Truk

Finally I can be more aggressive on my operations.

[Bif1961]

September 15, 1942 (Tuesday):
Near Guadalcanal the Japanese submarine I-19 fired one of the most effective torpedo salvos of the war, sinking the American aircraft carrier USS Wasp and destroyer O'Brien as well as damaging the battleship North Carolina. The destroyer Lansdowne was dispatched to rescue 447 crew of the Hornet and then scuttled the carrier. I-19 launched 6 torpedoes at USS Wasp achieving 5 hits, 3 against the Wasp, 1 against the O'Brien and 1 damaging the BB USS North Carolina.

[AlessandroW]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

September 15, 1942 (Tuesday):
Near Guadalcanal the Japanese submarine I-19 fired one of the most effective torpedo salvos of the war, sinking the American aircraft carrier USS Wasp and destroyer O'Brien as well as damaging the battleship North Carolina. The destroyer Lansdowne was dispatched to rescue 447 crew of the Hornet and then scuttled the carrier. I-19 launched 6 torpedoes at USS Wasp achieving 5 hits, 3 against the Wasp, 1 against the O'Brien and 1 damaging the BB USS North Carolina.

I misunderstood, I thought it was a in game event [:'(]

[Bif1961]

Fact is often stranger than fiction.

[AlessandroW]

Buna is the new B17 target, no real damages so far.

PM has been heavily reinforced with fighters, I have to wait to replace the Zero losses before to attack again.

Lunga
Here we made the main offensive operations, the base has been bombarded and few transport TF attacked, two important AP have been sunk with around 300 casualties.
Also some SC sunk that are somehow important because the enemy ASW TF are doing a good job, I have 4-5 SS damaged so far.

My losses have been around 12-15 Val/Kate shot down.

SS Warfare
CLAA Atlanta and AP Wharton torpedoed and later sunk by aircrafts, CA Portland sunk by SS I-16.

1xAKL sunk by enemy sub.

Mistakes
I forgot that Kaleun can mine the bases as well, CA Maya with 20 flood damages and all mayor that cannot be repaired (she will run bombardment mission though), DD Akebono with several damages and DD Uranami out of business even if she still is afloat.

I lost 2 APD and 1 xAKL by air naval attacks, wrong paths or carelessness.


Reinforcements
17th Army arrives at Truk
E Akikaze arrives at Truk
SS I-19 arrives at Truk
3rd Ku T-1 arrives at Truk
DD Hayashio arrives at Truk
AO Sata arrives at Truk
Kisarazu Ku K-1 arrives at Truk
DD Shiratsuyu arrives at Truk

Here the Allied naval losses:

[BBfanboy]

It is a mistake to continue to use Maya. She will be slowed by the flood damage and will be unable to bombard and get out of range of allied aircraft before daylight. In fact Maya will cause all the ships in the bombardment TF to be in range of Allied aircraft. She is also an easy target for enemy subs. Your risk losing a lot of Victory Points (65?) for not much to gain.

[AlessandroW]

Thanks for the advice!

Quick question, if I send her to Osaka am I giving away VPs? Because she will never come back in time.

I have a SS with mayor damages as well, can I use her on laying mines?

[BBfanboy]

You only lose VPs if the ship is sunk (or sometimes if it is a major unit like a CV, if it is heavily damaged.
If the scenario runs longer than the estimated repair time + travel time at Osaka I think the ship returns.
The sub could be used for minelaying but the damage will make her easier to detect and attack. If you think it is worth the VP she is worth, go ahead with your idea.

[tarkalak]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You only lose VPs if the ship is sunk (or sometimes if it is a major unit like a CV, if it is heavily damaged.
If the scenario runs longer than the estimated repair time + travel time at Osaka I think the ship returns.
The sub could be used for minelaying but the damage will make her easier to detect and attack. If you think it is worth the VP she is worth, go ahead with your idea.

As far as I remember the scenario text explicitly says if you get VPs for damaged ships. I am not sure if this is active for Guadalcanal.

[AlessandroW]

BBfanboy, given that I don't have mines in the pool my choice has been easy [:D]

2nd division is ready at Truk, prepping for Lunga, AP and AK-t almost all ready.

Buna
Every day B-17 bombard this base, troops are fine but lot of supply lost.

PM
My fighters are doing a good job against the P-39D Airacobra and Kittyhawk IA, losses ratio in A2A is 3:1 for the Japanese.


SS Warfare
Kaleun is doing a great job hitting my subs, 5-6 of them are out of business for mayor damages (not possible to repair them in this scenario) but none is sunk at least.
Surely I'm too predictable.

Anyhow my SS are still able to hit the enemy ships:
DD Gregory and AKA Bellatrix sunk.


Reinforcements
R-Area Air Force arrives at Shortlands
R-Area fwd det. arrives at Rekata Bay
BB Yamato arrives at Truk
CL Sendai arrives at Truk
35th/Kuma Battalion arrives at Truk
DD Yudachi arrives at Truk
DD Hatsuyuki arrives at Truk
DD Murakumo arrives at Truk
SS RO-61 arrives at Truk
SS RO-62 arrives at Truk
SS RO-63 arrives at Truk
SS RO-64 arrives at Truk
6th Ku S-1 - Det arrives at Truk
18th Army arrives at Truk
2nd/4th Inf Regiment arrives at Truk
2nd/16th Inf Regiment arrives at Truk
2nd/29th Inf Regiment arrives at Truk
2nd/2nd Arty Regiment arrives at Truk
2nd/2nd Engineer Regiment arrives at Truk
DD Fubuki arrives at Truk
DD Shirayuki arrives at Truk
E Tachikaze arrives at Truk
Chitose Ku K-1 -Det arrives at Truk
Toko Ku T-1 arrives at Truk
SS I-157 arrives at Truk

Intelligence report