Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Kwajalein
Airstrikes from Tarawa and Wotje pound the Kwajalein garrison to soften the enemy up for an invasion. The 5th Marine Division hits the beach and fights their way inland. With one big push, supported by naval bombardment and RNZAF Boston bombers the marines crush the defenders forcing the remnants to surrender. Kwajalein will soon be occupied by the Allies! This is a big gain as it is a Victory Point location and with it under US control, Hawaii cannot be used as a supply source for Japanese invaders. Not that it is likely to happen.

[Remington700]

Second Naval Battle of Singapore

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: 3 Oilers.
India: No builds.
Australia: 1 Marine Division.
USA: 1 Transport. 3 Oilers. 3 Supply units.

Convoys
USA: 10 OPs to India
USA: 25 OPs to UK
UK: 20 PPs to USA

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: Remington700

ORIGINAL: John B.

It seems that Japan has been trading blows with the USN rather than getting in a knockout and that spells bad news for the Empire of Japan! Do you think you can win with the allies if you never head north from Borneo?

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IMO the US is not winning fast enough although they are slightly ahead of schedule. They have a large Victory Point deficit to overcome. Depending upon timing, the US needs to capture Kwajalein, Singapore, Truk, Guam, Iwo Jima, Saigon, Haiphong, Manila, Taihiku and possibly Shanghai. This is a lot to capture however the British Pacific Fleet joins the fray in late November 1944. They receive 10 carriers and two battleships on November 21st and 22nd. This will give full naval control to the Allies. Islands like Turk, Guam and Iwo will fall quickly, regardless of weather. Manila is a tough nut to crack but once it falls, Formosa goes down easily. Supply has made a hash of Indochina and the Malayan Peninsula. I am hoping once Singapore falls supply will flow freely once again.

Playing Japan, their biggest problem is the loss in Production Points. China is falling apart and that may open a VP city or two to capture. The delaying action in Malaya is going very well, although not by masterful play, but by limited Allied supply. I thought hard about pulling the IJN back to Manila after sinking the supply taskforce, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sneak a destroyer in to supply all ground forces. So, I forced the CV battle which has started off well. However the Japanese carriers are now sitting ducks for allied air units.

****I removed the rest of my response as it applies to an outcome that has yet to be written up. Moving to fast I posted the turn in the incorrect order and had to correct as mentioned above. Sorry for the confusion - I do much better when I post as I go.****

****Removed from the earlier post****

I forced the CV battle which turned sour for Japan. However strategically I think it was a win as the ground troops are resupplied in Malaya. And with basic supply it will take time to destroy them. (Frustrating the heck out of me playing the Allies.)

With Japan, I wanted six carriers to defend Manila until November. Then it I don’t think it really matters as the IJN will be overwhelmed. However, being down to five carriers with a large repair bill does present a bit of a challenge. Still, if the Philippines can hold to the end of the year, it will be hard for the Allies to catch up. I think the wildcard is China and Haiphong. Guess we will see how it turns out.

[John B.]

I think the IJN chose the proper strategy. The is no sense waiting around for the tidal wave, they might as well expend themselves while they can do some good and the strategic goal of resupplying Singapore makes a lot of sense! For the allies, I think they want to push the ball as much as they can, even in the rainy season. If China can capture Haiphong I wonder if the US can start directly sending them PP to supplement the Burma Road.

[Remington700]

Due to the lack of cooperation between the western forces and China the only way to send PPs is through the Burma Road and flying across the Hump. So far this has created good balance and keeps the allies from running all over China. It has been a war of attrition which seems correct to me.

While the rain is a problem, the lack of full supply makes things much worse. The entire Thailand and Malayan fronts are in Basic Supply meaning effectiveness only recovers by 3% per turn and you can easily expend 4 times that much with an attack. Plus, replacements cannot arrive meaning losses cannot be replaced. The answer may be as I have read elsewhere - to keep a lot of fresh units handy and keep rotating them in and out. And have a very large amount of Supply Trucks handy and spam them in the warzone. I agree with you, the Allies must keep pushing.

[Remington700]

Japan: July 30th 1944

Indochina
Rain continues to fall which should keep allied forces at bay in the north. The Saigon defense zone continues to dig in. The large number of air units will remain in the area for a few more months. Once ground combat resumes, they will probably be moved out of the area. Oil is becoming an issue so air and naval operations will be limited going forward.

[Remington700]

East China
The weather remains clear and the enemy continues to push south along the Yellow River. They must be reaching the end of their rope as the bulge continues to grow. It does not appear there are enough Chinese forces in the area to continue the drive to the sea. We will continue to stretch the line as much as possible.

[Remington700]

Malaya
The beat-up Combined Fleet does not have enough planes to launch an airstrike so they head back to Manila before they can be caught in the open again. (All carrier-based planes were destroyed). Once in port the fleet will receive repairs and replacement aircraft. Naval operations in the South China Sea will be limited to hit and run attacks with good odds for success. The remaining carriers must be saved for the defense of the Philippines.

Light cruisers and destroyers continue to run supply into Malaya. With the clear weather allied air units will probably shutdown the “Tokyo Express” stopping naval supply. (If there was a Japanese controlled port within 6 hexes of the landing zone, I could do night moves and probably not get caught during the resupply operation.) With the move of the British taskforce to the open sea Singapore can once again receive supply. Sadly 100% of the supply was interdicted which holds effectiveness recovery to a standard 3% for Basic Supply. The naval resupply adds another 7% to bring the units back up to the 50% range. This will extend their ability to hold.

[Remington700]

Philippines
The Combined Fleet arrives in Manila and goes under extensive repairs. Replacement planes will be added to the carriers to be flown by many veteran pilots that were recovered at sea. Improvements made in Imperial flight training has improved the quality of replacements flowing into Combined Fleet. (This change from history is represented by the 80+ experience of the air units on three carriers.)

The defense of the Philippines continues to grow. Coastal defenses are started and will continue through the rest of the year. The line is drawn, and the goal is to hold until 1945. The area will continue to receive as much support as possible as once the Philippines fall there will be nothing between allied forces and the Japanese mainland.

[Remington700]

Reports
Japan: 1 Coastal Defense. Replacements increased to 300 for naval repairs.

The South China convoy is permanently shut down.

Oil is becoming a problem. At the current rate of consumption there is barely enough for a year at best. However, by 1945 oil consumption should drop dramatically due to naval losses driven by the enemy’s large superiority of carriers in the theater. Japan will continue to mount a measured defense looking for chances to aggressively strike and then slip away before taking heavy losses.

[Remington700]

Allied: July 30th 1944

China
Taking advantage of the good weather the 19th Army pushes forward crossing the Yellow River. They hit the line of the Japanese 1st Brigade with a probing attack. The enemy retreats to the north however the 19th receives orders to hold their ground to keep the integrity of the advance in place.

The ultimate objective is to capture Peking or to force a large Japanese troop buildup to keep it from happening. More armies will be taken from the line along the Jinsha River to help with this push, although that will leave the south open to enemy counterattack.

Indochina
With the continuing rain and the limitation of basic supply the allied front remains stagnate. When Singapore falls there is hope supply will improve. If not, we will have to take a different approach. Possibly creating a massive buildup of supply units and rotating fresh units back and forth to a concentrated area.

Convoy Attacks
In the South China Sea air units sink a lone Merchant Marine 250 miles north of the Riau Islands. This is probably the last of the convoys in this area. To the north in the East China Sea SS-292 Devilfish targets and sinks an oil tanker, slipping away before the enemy can respond. In the Sea of Japan, the Bonefish mixes it up with freighters and destroyers sinking a Merchant Marine but taking two hits of damage in the process. The sub dives deep and sneaks away to the south, starting the long slow journey to Rabaul. To the north, the Skipjack fails to find a target so they will continue their war patrol in the Sea of Japan.

[Remington700]

Malaya
The US 3rd and 4th Corps resume their attack on the Imperial 13th Army with relentless attacks. Following airstrikes and naval bombardment both corps pound away at the enemy line doing 7 SPs in damage before the 13th Army shatters and ceases to be a fighting force. The 3rd Corps moves south to occupy the enemy position just outside Singapore. Things are looking up in this area.

A fresh wing of Indian Fighters relocates to Kuala Lumpur to aid with air superiority over the area. The remnants of the north taskforce of the US 5th Fleet combine with the British taskforce to restart the blockade of Singapore. After sinking an enemy light cruiser the net is tightened. Carrier-based F6F Hellcats fly heavy CAP to interdict any additional supply attempts from Japanese destroyers.

[Remington700]

Dutch East Indies
A small taskforce of three US carriers with a battleship and heavy cruisers slip through the Sunda Strait and take up station to the northwest of Batavia. Undercover of massive airstrikes from B-24 heavy bombers the US 5th Corps from Dili hits the beach east of Batavia. Once ashore the group wheels right and hit the weakened defenders of the city. They are joined by the Australian 10th Division and combined with Naval Bombardment and air support from carrier and land-based bombers, the Japanese 18th Division takes three hits and retreats south to the bauxite mines. Hit again by the US and Australian troops supported by A-20 Havocs the enemy continues their route east through the deep jungle. Rather than pursue the Australian 10th occupies Batavia. For all intents and purposes the DEI has been liberated from enemy occupation. Airbases will soon be repaired and resupplied to fly sorties against enemy positions in Malaya.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
The 5th Marine Division mops up and occupies the Kwajalein atoll. The important Victory Point location will shift to the US next turn. Operation Catchpole begins with little fuss. The US 25 Division loads into Landing Ships and leaves Wotje headed for Enewetak and hit the beach facing little opposition. The atoll is under control and will soon be used to base B-24 Bombers to strike Ponape in the opening round of the upcoming Operation Hailstone – the neutralization of Truk.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No builds.
India: 1 Large Corps.
Red China: 2 Supply units.
USA: 1 Large Corps. 2 Supply units. 2 Oilers.

Convoys
UK: 21 PPs to India
USA: 10 OPs to India
USA: 25 OPs to UK

[Remington700]

Japan: August 13th 1944

East China
Clear weather continues as expected. The Chinese advance is slowing, and they will need more troops to keep up the advance. This may provide opportunities to the south if the enemy line is thinned. In fact, along the Jinsha River and the road to Changsha two armies seem to be reduced in strength. This suggests the enemy has no plans for offensive action in this area. Reports of troops moving north from Chungking do not provide detail of strength other than the existence of large formations.

Indochina
Heavy rain hits the landmass. This is excellent news as it will push back allied timetables by at least two weeks. We are still two months away from finishing the coastal forts in the Mekong Delta and then the defense of Saigon will be complete. Air units will continue to fly CAP when the weather permits. At some point they may be moved to help with the defense of the Philippines.

[Remington700]

Malayan Peninsula
The heavy rain helps with the defense. Undercover of the weather destroyers continue to drop supplies off the coast of Malaya. While unloading they are hidden from enemy air units and should be able to escape before being caught in the open. Even with the resupply the 15th Army cannot cover all approaches to Singapore. They are pinned down north of the city by the US 3rd Corps and cannot disengage. This means the Malayan HQ unit will have to defend themselves. To the south in the DEI the beat-up 18th Division moves deeper into the jungle to keep rail supply from flowing between Batavia and Surabaya.

[Remington700]

Deployment Screen
Fortunately, since the British taskforce moved away from Singapore to stay out of the range of Naval Air spec’d Dive-bombers it opened the port to once again become a supply source. When forced to retreat the 13th Army was shattered for lack of a retreat route to a supply source. Had the port been blockaded the 13th Army would not have had a supply source and therefor would have surrendered. This difference is big because the 13th Army returns to the deployment screen and can be brought back into play in a month with 17 SP (pre-shatter value) strength.

I am not sure the using the garrison unit status to increase guns by a +2 (anti-tank) bonus was worth it. The loss in mobility trapped the HQ unit in Singapore. A garrison unit in the zone of control of an enemy unit is not able to switch hexes with another unit, regardless of the unit having yet to move. (Due to a lack of movement points I guess.) However, this does not violate the rule that a unit can always move one hex. In the above example, with a garrison unit, you can move one unit away and move the garrison unit into the vacated hex even while in a ZOC of the enemy. But you cannot directly switch the two units. I am not sure if this is working as intended.

[Remington700]

Reports
Japan: No builds.

Replacements reduced from 300 to 200.