Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[InHarmsWay]

Things may be getting more interesting up in Alaska! The most recent ground attack went in at Agattu, after a bombardment, KB ground strike, and land 2E striks from Attu. Looks like the IJA got a bad roll, but still took no casualties! The prior KB grounds strike resulted in 24 squads disabled, so I think the Americans are on the ropes.
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Ground combat at Agattu Island (154,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10915 troops, 156 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 210

Defending force 7170 troops, 28 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Japanese adjusted assault: 35

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
52nd Division
3rd Infantry Regiment
22nd Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 5th SNLF

Defending units:
197th Infantry Battalion
13th USN Naval Construction Battalion
137th USA Base Force
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
139th USA Base Force
821st Engineer Aviation Battalion
15th USN Naval Construction Battalion
12th USN Naval Construction Battalion
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One interesting note is the sighting of an Avenger to the east. Maybe the Allies are coming to reinforce Adak? KB is moving to intercept, and will be tasked with Naval attack only. KB is also escorting a large number of AKs that need to drop supplies at Amchitka, which is running low (overstacked there with 2 divisions). Once Agattu falls, LBA will start softening up Amchitka further. Adak invasion force is off of HI now.

March 04 1943 status in the Aleutians.jpg (312.83 KiB) Viewed 163 times

[InHarmsWay]

The Captain rushed into the central plotting room from the nearby radio center, "Admiral Harmasaki, good news to report! Agattu has fallen. Another glorious win for the Imperial Army and Navy Sir!" With that report, the Captain waited for cheers from the room, but was disappointed, as the good Admiral merely shook his head and and said, "about time..., we are well beyond the current schedule and need to wrap up this counterattack before the allies strike further, elsewhere. The KB should not be playing nursemaid, but should be a sword to slay our foes. But nevermind, let me see the final combat report."

March 05, 1943
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Ground combat at Agattu Island (154,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11019 troops, 156 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Defending force 7135 troops, 28 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Japanese adjusted assault: 244

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Agattu Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6302 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 477 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 244 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 154 (154 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 8

Assaulting units:
22nd Tank Regiment
52nd Division
3rd Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 5th SNLF

Defending units:
197th Infantry Battalion
13th USN Naval Construction Battalion
821st Engineer Aviation Battalion
15th USN Naval Construction Battalion
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
137th USA Base Force
139th USA Base Force
12th USN Naval Construction Battalion

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The 52nd Division will be withdrawn, and several airbases landed, along with a Naval HQ and port units to help supply ships. It would be very helpful to resupply DD's due to the constant PT boat menace in the Alaskan waters. I do not know the allied OB, and purposely do not look or try to count units. I expect the allies get about three million base forces, but do think losing the number of engineers he just lost will at least cause a bit of inconvenience.
A bombardment was laid into amchitka from a BB TF, and aerial attacks will now commence every day. Also another direct attack was ordered. Likely will be bloody but need to really begin to whittle away at Amchitka as that stupid coastal defense unit is chewing up AK that are trying to land supplies. Current count is ~12 AKs sunk.... good grief!

[InHarmsWay]

Quick update before a more comprehensive one in a bit. Over the last two days, I have had back to back deliberate attacks on Amchitka, the first one was right after a BB led bombardment with Sallys hitting the ground units in the day. I got a 1-1 result, so was feeling a bit saucy and ordered another attack the next day. The following attack, also preceded by air attacks (but not a bombardment), ended up with a 1-2 result. Here is the second attack.

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March 7, 1943

Ground combat at Amchitka Island (158,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18937 troops, 221 guns, 204 vehicles, Assault Value = 554

Defending force 7334 troops, 211 guns, 187 vehicles, Assault Value = 114

Japanese adjusted assault: 228

Allied adjusted defense: 370

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1358 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 41 (31 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
54th Division
8th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
53rd Division
56th Recon Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
82nd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
4th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
151st Combat Engr Rgt /1
154th FA Bn
112th USA Base Force
95th Coast AA Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
808th Engineer Aviation Battalion
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Lesson here, is to wait until I can hit him with another BB led bombardment, then will shock attack. In the meantime, keep up the aerial attacks to increase disruption and attrition on his single Infantry Regiment.

[BBfanboy]

I seems the IJA forgot to bring their winter gear ...

[InHarmsWay]

No Kidding! And the quartermaster forgot to pack it on the follow on transports! But all is not lost, at least not yet.... The invasion of Adak will land in a couple days. Currently I have 2 BB bombardment TFs that will support, and both KB and Mini KB are in the area. Initial recon has the allies with only a couple base forces and a single rgmt of infantry at the base. Stay tuned gentle readers...

[InHarmsWay]

Once again, Admiral Wa is getting frisky! I think at least 3 CVs are in the area east of Alaska. Only got a small sighting from a Glen, but two separate strike from torpedo wielding Avengers were sent against my CL/DD TF that has been hunting LCT and PT boats. Each strike was three sets of either 7 or 8 planes, totaling 24 and 22 in each strike. My guess is he forgot to put the off Naval Strike as he was sneaking up on me. Thank goodness for small mistakes as KB and Mini KB had been softening up Adak for the landing tomorrow. I would not be surprised if he brought everything, and I only see the one TF. The IJA will just have to wade ashore without Naval plane support, as there are bigger prizes out there!

March 12 1943 status in the Aleutians.jpg (390.87 KiB) Viewed 35 times

I expect his Subs will head east to catch KB if I head towards him (which was tempting). I think discretion is the better part of valor here as I want to combing KB with Mini KB first. In our previous game, he caught mini KB by itself in late '42 and squished it. Trying not to make the same mistakes twice!! Hopefully I will transit the subs without eating a fish.

[PaxMondo]

Hopefully I will transit the subs without eating a fish.

Have DD's in the CVTF, but also at least 1 group of 3DD in an ASW TF. Set the ASW TF to follow the CVTF, and have some of the Bombers on ASW/NavSearch. Not perfect, but increases your chances ... if you have a CS, put that to follow the CVTF and at least 50% of the Jakes on ASW ... the rest on NavSearch.

[InHarmsWay]

PaxMondo, good advice! Turn just processed, and no nasty subs were around. No Allied CVs showed up, and the seas seemed to be clear except for the perpetual PT boats. That is the good news, bad news is I forgot to set the invasion force to unload! Yes, I have had a long talk with the staff officer in charge of that, and that mistake will not be made again. Adm Wa did send in more PT boats and I lost a AK overnight, in exchange for 5 PT boats sunk. So no fireworks in the Bering Sea yet...

Over in China, things have moved slowly but there may be some progress in the next week. I got a 1-1 result in Tsuyung, and dropped the forts to 1. Will continue to ground attack them with Sallys, and will put in a shock attack in 2 days. By then my unit in Kumning will have moved back out. I had moved him in, to give Adm Wa something to think about and have him think I was going to attack both cities at once, but I really want to herd as much Chinese units to Kumning if I can.

March 13 1943 status in Burma.jpg (858.23 KiB) Viewed 7 times

Here is the ground attack result in Tsuyung, as well as the almost end of the IJA vacation to Ceylon... I have pulled out cadres from both the 4th Guards Div and 14th Guards rgmt already. They will rebuild in Singapore.
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Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15809 troops, 153 guns, 404 vehicles, Assault Value = 634

Defending force 26082 troops, 87 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 614

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 979

Allied adjusted defense: 865

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 88 (2 destroyed, 86 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1243 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
13th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
12th Army
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
27th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
7th Chinese Base Force
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment


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Ground combat at Trincomalee (31,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 46057 troops, 698 guns, 1212 vehicles, Assault Value = 1661

Defending force 14126 troops, 119 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 276

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 850

Japanese adjusted defense: 407

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1119 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 143 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 40 (12 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
111th Chindit Brigade
7th Australian Division
6th Australian Division
Americal Infantry Division
77th Chindit Brigade
198th Field Artillery Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
4th Guards Division
14th Guards Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
4th JAAF Base Force