Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

South Pacific
G4M “Bettys” from the 3rd and 5th Air Divisions pound the Noumea defense force once again. Following a Naval bombardment, the SNLF attacks breaking the enemy’s lines and overrunning the 3rd US tactical bomber group. Following the surrender of scattered US troops, New Caledonia falls to the Japanese. The Coral Sea ring of islands are now firmly under Imperial control. And with the capture of the Noumea airfield the US convoy lanes can now be attacked by air.

[Remington700]

Builds
2 Supply Trucks. Oiler. 1 Division.

[Remington700]

Allied August 30th

With the fall of New Caledonia, I lost the Coral Sea ring of islands. I think Fiji is secure for now. Without the reach of land-based air it will be harder for the Japanese to continue their expansion. I worry now they will focus on my shipping lanes, and I am not sure if I can put a stop to it. I don’t receive another carrier until December so I am not sure I can do much before 1943. Other than just be a nuisance with hit and run tactics. US technology is picking up speed researching 1943 escort fighters and 1942 LR Subs. I need more Air units.

[Remington700]

India
P-38s from Hawaii arrive in Bombay. They have been renamed the India Fighter Group. They will head to the front in a couple of weeks. After sighting an enemy CV force off Ceylon, the Burma Corps will linger a turn or two in Bombay. They may be needed in Ceylon. I need more fighters and dive bombers in this theater of operations. Allied forces are content to sit in the Dacca line while their forces grow.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
A large Japanese CV strike force is just offshore of Ceylon heading whereabouts unknown. With the proximity of the enemy fleet, the Prince of Wales taskforce joined by the Hermes steam back to Bombay. The Colombo garrison combines with the 13th brigade to form the XIII Corps to defend Ceylon. I am wondering about sending the US CVs back to this area as I am sure the Japanese fleet will once again begin operations against my convoys. I await the arrival of naval air from the UW due in a month.

[Remington700]

South China
Success! The Chinese counterattack the Imperial 34th division causing a 2 SP loss and driving it back from the Kweiyang railway. The flying tigers return to their glory, the first time since being joined with the USAAF and renamed to the 23rd Fighter Group. Shooting down 3 fighter and 3 bomber SPs at a 1:2 loss ratio in their favor.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Intelligence has improved since the code breaking. I can see the type of ground and air units on Tarawa. The twin engine bomber is probably naval air so poses a threat to my carriers. I want to take Kwajalein but must get control of the air first.

The SS-193 Swordfish finishes their patrol around Midway and heads to the Canton Island area. I plan to keep one sub patrolling my small islands in the Central Pacific and Fiji. I doubt they will be blockaded again but I will keep a unit close to counter another such attempt.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
The SS-184 Skipjack leaves Pago Pago heading for Japanese shipping lanes in the South China Sea. They are armed with the modified Mark 14 torpedoes and a full load of toilet paper after winning their famous battle with the naval supply yard on Mare Island. The SS-173 Pike leaves Canton Island following the Skipjack, stopping for resupply in Fiji. (I want them to upgrade to 1942 tech). If these raids are successful, I will focus more on shipping lanes. If not, I will go back to rear area actions waiting for improved torpedoes.

The US CV task force joins the South Dakota BB in Sydney for resupply. Their destination is unknown.

West Coast
The 3rd Tactical Air leaves San Diego heading towards Australia to a destination in the Tonga isles. They will replace the Beaufort torpedo bombers that will return home to defend New Zealand. The 77th division leaves Los Angeles heading for Australia. The 1st Corps arrives from the east coast and should be ready to ship out next turn.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No builds - maximum replacements to complete naval repair.
India: No builds – stockpiling for a heavy infantry Corps.
US: No builds – stockpiling PPs for a medium bomber next turn.

[Remington700]

Japan September 13th

India
Japanese Bettys from the 3rd Air division bombard the 4th Indian Corps causing 2 SP damage. There was no CAP in the area. The 10th infantry division moves into Myitkyina to secure supply lines. I don’t think this will help the Imperial Guards unit which in basic supply only. I believe this is caused by the partisan attack in Indochina messing with the supply net.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Southern Air Fleet goes convoy hunting along supply lanes. Joined by the Hiyo taskforce the fleet consists of a CV, 5 CVLs, 5 BBs and 2 CAs. This group will cause a lot of havoc in the area.

[Remington700]

South China
Following prelim air strikes and the ensuing dogfight, the 11th and 16th armies attack the Chinese Reserve army with 5 to 1 odds. Air loses are in Japan’s favor shooting down 3-SPs while losing 1-SP. The Chinese hold the line. A follow-on attack is successful causing a 2-SP loss and forcing the Reserve army to retreat southwest along the railway. This leaves the 16th army in a pocket.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
An unidentified sub is sighted off the Australian coast, probably heading to attack the main Japanese supply convoys. A bomber from Port Moresby fails to locate the sub. The 3rd Naval Air flies to Noumea to raid shipping on the South Pacific convoy lane.

Central Pacific
No action in this area. Submarines are moved to Tarawa for staging.

[Remington700]

Builds
No builds this turn. Replacements are bumped up to 295 to repair navy, air and ground units.
Oil stockpile is strong at 32% and slowly increasing.

[Remington700]

Allied September 13th

India
“Washing Machine Charlie” attacks begin to reduce the effectiveness of the Indian 4th Corps. While this is meant to be a nuisance it could be a concern over time. I am hoping the P-38s of the newly arrived US fighter group can put a stop to the raids. The Burma Corps, including the remnants of the “Burma Rifles” rail to the Himalayan foothills to prepare for an offensive on the left of the Dacca line. The leaves Bombay unprotected for a couple of weeks as the 14th Indian division is not due to arrive next turn.

The De Ruter leaves Bombay to patrol the Indian convoy lanes. My intent is to test the recon level in this area for a possible CV ambush with the US carrier fleet.

[Remington700]

South China
The line remains strong north of Changsha along Dongting lake. Dug in behind the Yuan River this will be a hard nut to crack. Farther south the 16th Chinese army retreats to the Kweiyang railway before they can be cutoff. Three armies dig in along the river road to the south. We are slowly being pushed back but our defense has not fallen apart. However, from an attrition standpoint the Japanese war machine seems unaffected.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
The US CV fleet leaves Sydney and steams around the south coast of Australia in search of the Japanese convoy raiders. I am nervous about committing my carriers and will be cautious about their use. Orders are to “avoid contact unless the risk is worth the reward.”

The 14th Destroyer group patrols convoy lanes under attack of bombers from Noumea. I want to see if I can get a bonus defense advantage to convoy escorts – not quite sure how this works.

The Tonga garrison boards transports and head to Diego Garcia to support the airbase. They are replaced by the US 77th Division. The US 4th bomber group arrives replacing the NZ naval air group that relocated to their home country.

I rotate my destroyers patrolling the South Pacific convoy lanes to keep them supplied. The SS-193 Swordfish arrives in Figi for resupply in route to convoy raiding. I will replace their patrol of one hex islands with a destroyer.

West Coast
The US 1st Corps ship out to NZ to prop up the defense. This should stop further Japanese aggression in this direction.

A group of SBD dive-bombers with their built-in Wildcat escorts arrive in San Diego. They will begin their long journey to Ceylon next turn.

[Remington700]

Convoys
I stop convoys going through the Indian Ocean to reduce MM loses. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. I believe it will stop PP shipments from India to the UW. I know it will from the US to India. I worry about creating a lack of supply to Diego Garcia as I want to stage a naval bomber there for convoy protection.

If my math is correct India will stop sending 20 PPs to the UK, but in return they will not receive the 5 Oil Points (OP) and will no longer receive 40 PPs from the US. This will be a good test to better understand the convoy system.

[Remington700]

Advancements
I second guess my decision to research close support instead of fighter bombers and immediately cut my losses to make a change. How can I succeed without F4Us and Jugs? While their bombing will be less effective, they are much stronger in air combat and should be able to cut through enemy CAP. This will open the way for follow on raids by medium bombers. I think the versatility of fighter bombers will pay off in the South Pacific.

[Remington700]

Builds
USSR: 3 groups of supply trucks
Communist China: Infantry army
UK and India: No builds or replacements. I want to see the effect of stopping the Indian convoys.
US: Fighter Bomber