Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

New Hebrides Campaign
The Japanese campaign to save New Caledonia and destroy the US carrier fleets has come to an end. The sea battle could not move from the New Hebrides Islands. Strategically this is a win for the Allies. Tactically the Japanese have sunk more capital ships, although the US can replace their carrier losses. It is the loss in battleships that is disturbing as the US carriers will have less screening from air attacks. The campaign is a tactical win for Japanese. (See losses below)

However the US has more carriers on the way. And New Caledonia is still cutoff without an air unit to resupply the infantry. While it is possible the enemy carriers will return to fight another sea battle, it will probably be too late to save the VP city.

I learned another lesson the hard way. I used my fleet carriers to support the invasion of New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo. I should have used the CVLs. I underestimated the difference in combat values of the fleet carriers and wasted planes in a support role rather than as defense against the Kido Butai. Starting the battle at less than full strength probably cost the US two carriers. Going forward I will micromanage my carrier-based planes a little better.

[Remington700]

Sunk Ships
Fleet carrier losses are even plus the Japanese have lost a CVL too. The Allies have lost too many Battleships, ten compared to two for the Japanese. While not the key unit, they “soak off” attacks much better than smaller ships and have a higher anti-air factor downing more enemy planes.

The Japanese have three fleet and six light carriers. This is a total of nine until December when two new CVLs arrive. The Allies have six fleet and five light carriers, receiving an additional fleet carrier in August. Plus they have the Hermes which may yet prove to be valuable. Both sides are numerically similar however the Allies have the greater strength.

Victory Points
I feel the Allies are a little behind. However this is my first playthrough so I am not sure how quickly things will change in 1944 and 1945. I have done some math and worked with the impact of changing control of Victory Point cities. If the Allies can take three VP cities by the end of 1943, they should be on track for victory. That will leave nine more VP cities to pick up in a year and a half.

[John B.]

Battle 2 really saved the allies! They have a long time to go in this war.

[Remington700]

Agreed. The Japanese loss of the second fleet carrier made the losses much closer. It was also when I first realized the value in hit and run tactics. The moving of one leg to cause a naval interdiction and then retreating after.

[John B.]

Even though the allies are not sinking as many BBs the naval repairs must be sucking up Japanese production quite a bit. And, I wonder if Japanese planes start with better experience/effectiveness (to reflect high quality pilots) that goes down as the initial cadre is eliminated in these various battles.

[Remington700]

The WPP engine seems to increase plane experience with use, following that of ground and land-based air units. A couple of these battle hardened carriers now have a very high air experience.

IMO the game does a great job of tactically capturing the problem of plane loss during carrier battles. However, on a strategic level, it cannot simulate the historical disadvantage Japan faced with their "pilots are expendable" doctrine. A difference in the level of tech could help however the Japanese seem to be out "teching" the Allies during this game. It will be interesting to see how veteran pilots and an abundance of oil stands up in '44. So far I really like the feel of the feel of the game.

[John B.]

Thanks!

[Remington700]

Japan: July 18th 1943

Burma
The monsoon continues in Burma. Not much happening other than the 12th Army splitting into two units to cover more ground along the Irrawaddy. This is temporary as troops will probably be siphoned off from the north to make the line stronger in the south.

[Remington700]

South China
G3Ms continue to pound the Chinese 10th Army at Kweiyang. Followed by two ground assaults that do damage but fail to dislodge the enemy. The attacks will continue with armies being rotated out as necessary. Kweiyang may well be the linchpin for the whole Chinese line.

The Chinese Reserve Army is at the point of a bulge southeast of Kweiyang. Currently they have no retreat option and make an interesting target. However I chose to stay on track to cut the Chinese army in half.

South China Sea
No action here. All allied subs appear to be involved with the conflict in the New Hebrides Islands and New Caledonia. The Japanese still have 32 unused Merchant Marine so having Allied subs elsewhere is a bonus and should keep oil flowing to the mainland that much longer in to ‘44 and ‘45.

[Remington700]

New Hebrides Islands Campaign
The Kido Butai and the 2nd Air Fleet return to Rabaul for repairs and replacements. While weakened, the Japanese still field a strong carrier strike force. They just need to be careful about their use. A fresh group of Bettys fly to Espiritu Santo and a destroyer sits offshore to keep supply lanes open. Port Vila is under blockade and will be lost if something is not done. The special forces holding Noumea are cutoff and out of supply. They may not hold out much longer. The IJN will have to move fast to save these islands.

However this may not be the best use of assets. Focus will soon shift to the VP cities in New Guinea and Rabaul. And Japanese naval doctrine is beginning to change. The use of “One Leg” sorties to trigger interdiction has proven to be very effective. Carriers based in Rabaul, Truk or Manila could take advantage of Allied mistakes while reducing the risk of entering a slugfest. This approach to naval warfare is gaining support.

[Remington700]

Reports
Japan: No Builds. Replacements remain at 300.

[Remington700]

Allied: July 18th 1943

Burma
The British Main Fleet returns to port at Calcutta for repairs and replacements. SBD and Fairey dive-bombers attack the positions of the 121st Japanese infantry division. A6m3s attempt to intercept but are ran off by P-38s shooting down 3 SPs. After multiple air strikes the 3rd and 4th US Corps assault the position. The enemy is finally forced from the field. The important river crossing is now in Allied hands.

General Patch takes over the US China Burma India Command (CBIC) to find the chain of command in the theater to be convoluted. British troops are in the far north of the line but have no approved access to enter China limiting their offensive potential. US forces are tied up fighting down the coast road leaving their amphibious capabilities unused. SEAC changes things up a bit. British forces will be pulled from the north line and relocated to the south. The larger Indian Army will shift to the north filling the gap. US forces will be gradually pulled from the line to support Operation Dracula, the amphibious invasion of Rangoon.

[Remington700]

South China
The Chinese 12th Army pulls back north of the Kunming-Kweiyang Road. P-40 Warhawks fly CAP over Kweiyang. Hopefully their new model replacements will improve their performance. (China finally gets the 1942 interceptor upgrade.) The Chinese will have to improve their defense as the weather will be clear until October.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
The US 9th Corp supported by naval bombardment and carrier strikes assault the enemy positions at Noumea. Two attacks at low odds cause a loss of five SPs vs one but continues to weaken the effectiveness of the defenders. The US 5th Corp comes ashore to relieve the battered 9th Corps and soon goes on the offensive. Their first attack does two SPs in damage while losing none. The naval bombardments and carrier ground support continues to wear down the enemy. The fourth and final attack is too much and the Japanese infantry surrenders. Noumea will soon be occupied, liberating New Caledonia

[Remington700]

Coral Sea
Operation Earthquake continues. Port Moresby is once again pounded by multiple bombers from the north coast of Australia. B-17 strike the port at Rabaul sinking the BC Hiei.

A squadron of P-47 fighter bombers leave the Coral Sea and head to India. SS-306 Tang heads on towards Darwin for resupply along their way to the South China Sea. A group of P-47s fly from the north coast of Australia to the Port of Rock Hampton. They will embark transports and head to Noumea.

West Coast
B-25 Mitchells arrive and are transported to Australia. The 3rd Marine Division arrives in San Diego and will soon ship out to Australia.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No Builds.
India: No Builds.
NZ: 1 Infantry Division.
US: 1 Signal Intel unit. 3 Supply units. 3 Oilers. 4 Landing ships.

Convoys
US: 50 OPs to UK. 100 PPs to New Zealand.

[Remington700]

Japan: August 1st 1943

Burma
Heavy rain stops all operations. The monsoon continues to help with the defense. There is some movement up north on the line as the 1st Army splits off a detachment to cover more territory. This will free up the 15th Army and their special engineering group to move south along the Irrawaddy River basin.

[Remington700]

South China
G3Ms strike Kweiyang softening up the enemy. P-40s from Kunming attempt to break up the formations but are shot to pieces. A total of 9 Warhawk SPs are destroyed with a loss of just 2 Zero SPs. Two assaults by the 13th and 20th armies destroy 7 SPs but the enemy holds. The Japanese armies are rotated out but further attacks are not possible. (I miscalculated the amount of operational point cost to units moving into the front line.) To escape the monsoon weather conditions Nell bombers based in Haiphong move to an airbase on the Changsha rail line.

[Remington700]

New Hebrides Islands
G4M Bettys relocate to Henderson Field to help protect the approaches to Lae and Rabaul. The 1st SNLF attacks the 2nd Marine Division dug-in just off the beach. No damage is done but the efficiency loss must be stacking up. They cannot hold out much longer. The defense of the outer perimeter islands will not be supported. A new line will be held at Guadalcanal to New Guinea.

[Remington700]

Solomon Sea
The air strike on Rabaul that sank the BB Hiei is unacceptable. The tore-up Bettys relocate to Buin to await replacements. And A6m3s fly to Rabaul to provide air cover. Additional fighters will be relocated from the mainland to a port in the Bismarck Sea awaiting the construction of an airfield on New Britain. The heavy rain will put a stop to the air raids this turn, and a massive amount of CAP should make the Allies reconsider the idea going forward.