Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: CrackingShow

How much convoy raiding have you been doing?

Very little with the US. The subs were not effective early on. I am hoping they will do better now after the first torpedo upgrade. I stacked the subs so that might have worked against me - not sure.

The Japanese Air Fleet is getting much better results than their subs, so I plan to increase the use of a fleet in the Indian Ocean. I may well do the same in the South Pacific now that the Coral Sea is under control.

[Remington700]

Japan August 16th

India
Heavy rain on the Dacca front. No attacks this turn however there is troop movement. The Imperial Guard slowly moves north towards Ledo hampered by the poor weather. The 10th Division rails in from Rangoon to secure Myitkyina. A Thailand division rails into Rangoon to defend the port. The 1st Army slogs along the central road, but progress is slow due to mud.

[Remington700]

South China
Japanese ground strikes hit along a broad front. The 13th tactical air hit the Chinese 12th army and the 1st tactical air targets the Reserve army. After softening up the positions the 12th IJA with the 4th brigade, supported by the 1st Air hammer the Chinese 12th army to the south. The attack is repulsed so a second wave hits them again, supported by the 13th Air. This time the attack is too much for the Chinese 12th which retreats towards the Kweiyang railway. The 16th and 13th armies attack to the north pushing back the Reserve Army. The 11th army exploits the breakthrough and reaches the Yuan River.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
Land-based air units followed by a carrier strike find and sink the Grayling. The last lifeline to the island is severed. Airstrikes from neighboring islands continue to pound the remaining defenders in Noumea. The SNLF attacks twice destroying 3 SPs but somehow the allied unit holds.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
The blockade of Canton Island may or may not be working. Intelligence is probably very low so the I-170 and RO-67 patrol around the island looking for an enemy sub in the area. Able to locate but not target the hidden enemy the Japanese subs return to port in Wotje. If an intelligence unit was available, it could have been used in Canton Island. This would have made the sub visible and vulnerable to attack.

I have learned a few things. I can easily resupply my islands if the enemy blockades them and the intelligence is very low. This works well for the small one hex islands in the central Pacific with no enemy land in proximity. It does not work in the Coral Sea as intelligence is higher in that area.

I also learned it is hard to know if the island I am blockading has supply cutoff or not. It appears I can either use an intelligence unit or patrol the coast looking for hidden subs/vessels to determine if the blockade is nullified.

[Remington700]

Builds
Thailand: Supply truck and Airfield.
Japan: Infantry Army

[Remington700]

Allied August 16th

HYPO cracks the Japanese code again so intelligence should return better results. I have one unit waiting to be used when needed and I will put another one in the queue.

[Remington700]

India
The Burma Corps is created and trained in assault tactics. They have greater firepower but less anti-tank guns so will be used to spearhead an offensive. The Corps will board trains in Bombay and travel east.

Heavy rain so no change on the Dacca front.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Prince of Wales and a small taskforce spot and sink a Japanese MTB along the coast of Ceylon. Planes from the Hermes took part in the attack but could not score a hit. After the battle the 13th brigade arrives safely in Colombo to reinforce the island.

At 12% proficiency the planes are worthless. I replaced the 5 air losses from an earlier naval battle thinking it would improve their skill. No change. Since we cannot skuttle ships I need to find a use for the Hermes. I guess I can use it in the opposite role of a Q-boat; drawing fire to reduce the chance of a battleship being hit rather than baiting a sub into a surface engagement.

[Remington700]

South China
The 9th and 16th armies pull back 50 miles along the Hongshui River to avoid being caught in a pocket. They are only 50 miles from the important Kweiyang railway. If we cannot hold the rail, we may have to pull back to the Jinsha River due to supply problems. The situation is getting critical.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Around Canton Island the SS-193 Swordfish is replaced by SS-173 Pike and heads to Midway for refuel and patrol duty. The Pike will continue to patrol to keep Canton Island free of blockade.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
The island is all but lost. I cannot provide resupply. The 9th Corps lands on Fiji and will dig in, holding at all costs. The BB South Dakota steams to the port of Sydney. It will soon be joined by the US CV strike force.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: Signals Asset. Maximum replacements to repair navy.
US: Transport. LR Submarine. Naval Air close support.

[CrackingShow]

Oh did you pull the flak out of Changsha before it fell? They are useful if the Axis are doing strat bombing.

[John B.]

Thanks for this AAR. I just had a chance to get caught up and it's very exciting!

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: CrackingShow

Oh did you pull the flak out of Changsha before it fell? They are useful if the Axis are doing strat bombing.

I wish I had thought of that! However it fell faster than I thought so I probably would have been caught off guard anyway. I will remember this for the future - Thank you.

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Thanks for this AAR. I just had a chance to get caught up and it's very exciting!

Thank you for the support!

[Remington700]

Japan August 30th

India
Rain continues along the Dacca line. Bombers hit the Indian 4th Corps followed by an ill-advised frontal attack from the 25th and Indian National armies, losing 4 SPs. The 23rd brigade crosses the Brahmaputra River to flank the Indian 3rd Corps. The Imperial Guards division moves northwest through Ledo to the river valley.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Southern Air Fleet leaves Singapore steaming to the Ceylon coast. Upon arriving they spot British warships in the area but it is too late in the day to launch an air strike. Unable to pursue the enemy fleet the Japanese CV force will continue with their orders to raid the Indian convoy lane.

[Remington700]

South China
After a prelim air bombardment, the 11th army supported by 4th brigade and the 13th tactical air group attack the positions of the Chinese 33rd army group along the Kweiyang railway. The attack is repulsed so another attack by the 11th and 16th armies hit the line again. The Chinese force is overwhelmed losing 6 SPs in total and retreats to the west. The Japanese 34th division exploits the breakthrough pocketing the Chinese 16th army.