Another option is to divert some of Andys carriers and then hit the remaining units around Kwajalein with a strong LBA group.
Well yes I must be expressing myself not that well but that was the point of my proposal [:D]
Getting a part of Andy's carriers running after a ghost (a decoy force able to stand for the KB a turn or two on Andy's screen, buzzing subs all over the place and made of several light tf of so-called "CVCVBBBB" mix recon look [:D] ) while you're striking at Kwajalein with your LBAs and KB's main body
Here is a modification of your previous pic to make it clear
I draw the top line there only because it was more convinient, but if the decoy can pass some 5 or 6 hex northwards, it's even better - the more distance, the bigger the fire window, the longer your time to react and get to a safe place
[;)] That is a good plan and I'll attempt to carry it out. Unfortunately I only got 2 subs (that doesn't carry search planes) and only 1 of these two are
enroute to the Marshalls. I consider my spy subs too valuable to be wasted in regular sub suicide attacks. There you see how much faith I have in them... [8|]
In 3-4 months 25 RO type coastal subs will arrive - another element in my plan for a great battle in 1944.
How about this: I send two of my 34kt carriers in 2 TFs escorted by 4 cruisers and 12 destroyers towards the Marshalls and make sure they're spotted by enemy
search planes from the Solomons. (Should place 140 fighters aboard on 90% CAP to protect them against long range enemy LBA) If the Allied carriers reach I'll turn them around and launch my LBA.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
How about this: I send two of my 34kt carriers in 2 TFs escorted by 4 cruisers and 12 destroyers towards the Marshalls and make sure they're spotted by enemy search planes from the Solomons. (Should place 140 fighters aboard on 90% CAP to protect them against long range enemy LBA) If the Allied carriers reach I'll turn them around and launch my LBA.
Where do you want to send them in the Marshalls? [&:] You want to get the carriers running after you till the Carolines? Or are you talking of the same kind of decoy plan, but passing South instead of North? [:)]
What I liked with the northern way was that there is really room there, but the problem as you say is that you don't get long range recon over there right?
If the southern corridor is not too tight for you, then go for it so [:)]
Im with Timtom: better wear it down the sooner the better
The problem is that Andy doesn't spot ships further than 6-7 hexes from Kwajalein: Had some cargo ships at Eniwetok and they unloaded peacefully
before departing [:'(] CVEs are notoriously slow and would be destroyed if spotted, so I think the use of 2 fast carriers approaching from Ponape would
be better.
It's much easier to defend in the Marianas Timtom: The Combined Fleet can 'lurk' in the Philippines before launching a surprise attack.
There would be lots of friendly bases to dock my ships in an even more bases to launch LBA strikes from.
The game doesn't handle this problem very well: size doesn't matter in other words [;)] So we just have to assume that there is room for the troops.
I'm not going to limit my deployment of troops in the Palaus since Andy obviously is capable of landing 1-200k troops on any atoll in a single day.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
That's clear boss thanks [:)] Well you're the boss PzB san, you choose! And by the way, if the worst had to happen, you know you're sort of Isoroku pal to us, we'll be always blindly following you even in the defeat [:D][;)]
i would send decoy fleet too - if nothing else, Andy have think about that and maybe he would slow down his operations at Marshalls - and you will gain more time.
of course, do not risk your CV(L)s in this feint action....
Timtom, nice to see you again - how was in Croatia?
Hi Pauk - We had a great time in Croatia, thanks. I'd recommend it to anyone. The only problem was that a 10-day wasn't enough to do/see/experience all the things we would've liked. Guess we'll have to come back [:)]
PzB: You've got a far better feel of your own game of course, but you say you can cram another 400-500 aircraft into the combat zone. I think this is as good a shot at his CV's as you're going to get from now on. If he hits the Marianas 5-6 game months from now, he'll bring - wot? - 400 additional carrier aircraft to the party, and he'll KNOW that you'll fight tooth and nail for the place, and act accordingly.
Anyway, the spirit of Tordenskjold is clearly alive and well in Norway (even though I'm with Andy as I think you've done your fair share of behind-kicking in this game [;)])
If he hits the Marianas 5-6 game months from now, he'll bring - wot? - 400 additional carrier aircraft to the party, and he'll KNOW that you'll fight tooth and nail for the place, and act accordingly.
I can't say I agree with this.
Even if there's 400 more CV based ac around Marianas when the time comes it's not a proble. Why? Because there's no LBA around. Any other allied operation can count on 100s of high quality ac to back it. The Marianas operation can't. Also, I would never go for Marianas in with a single death star. You have to have at least 2 (all that considering KB is alive an well). If he goes with everything he'll never take the islands because sooner or later CVs will run out of ops points. Also, later on allied CVs will have the same ac composition (Hellcat, Helldiver, Avenger) whereas Japs get some new LBA types.
My advice: keep the KB safe. You'll need it more in the future. Fishbed's plan is great but I fear for the worst.
A horrendous air and sea bombardments caused severe casualties on Kwajalein today
but the defenders repulsed another attack by the enemy army! Can perhaps hold for
another week to 10 days at most.
I'm still hesitant about sending my fleet into harms way: despite the reinforcements the
Allies will receive over the next 6 months our defenses will also grow stronger.
Morale remains strong despite the brutal attacks by the barbarians!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/15/43
Bombardments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 79,79
Allied Ships
CL Helena
CL Concord
CL Emerald
BB Alabama
BB South Dakota
BB North Carolina
Japanese ground losses:
1696 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 45
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Combat
Andy's carriers delivered a very heavy attack today!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79
Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 14
P-40N Warhawk x 12
P-38J Lightning x 21
F-5C Lightning x 7
P-47D Thunderbolt x 14
F-6A Mustang x 7
B-25J Mitchell x 37
PB4Y Liberator x 54
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79
Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 52
B-24J Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein Base Force, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 9
Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 65
SB2C Helldiver x 99
TBM Avenger x 34
Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 2
P-47C Thunderbolt x 17
F-6A Mustang x 2
B-24D Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 50
Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 20
F-5C Lightning x 1
F-6A Mustang x 1
B-24D Liberator x 11
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 7th SNLF, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 23
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 87th Naval Guard Unit, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 47
TBM Avenger x 41
Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 88th Naval Guard Unit, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 46
TBM Avenger x 102
Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 88th Naval Guard Unit, at 79,79
Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 1
P-47C Thunderbolt x 25
F-6A Mustang x 1
B-24D Liberator x 3
Thx Sneer, I always forget to turn of my bombardments....
With cunning timing Andy suddenly launches a vicious air and sea bombardment
of Eniwetok and torches 70 ac - that were transfered in yesterday [:(]*searches HQ for bugs*
The remaining damaged ac will most likely be torched in the following days but I managed to move
units of each group back to the Marianas. Was trying to build a LBA striking force and had to rest
them first.
Quite a few barges were in the port together with 2 cargo ships: fortunately a bigger convoy left
just days ago with parts of a Naval HQ.
If the KB had been in the vicinity by Andy would have received a spanking cause he left 1 carrier and 1 surface
combat TF in the Eniwetok base hex. The LBA there should have been put on naval attack with very short range,
then we could have achieved something... Well, no use to cry over spilt milk. Better start over again!
Moving 2 Daitais with highly experienced Sally level bombers from China. With an average exp of 80+ they should
be able to hit enemy ships when put on naval search.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/16/43
Sub/ASW Attacks
Sub attack at 24,60
Japanese Ships
AK Shun Yuan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
PG Koei Maru
Allied Ships
SS Spearfish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ships
AK Ina Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire
AK Eiji Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2097, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2061, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5162, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-368, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2067, Shell hits 1, on fire
AG AG-5188, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-116, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2526, Shell hits 1
AG AG-5029, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5164, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Helena
CL Concord
CL Emerald
BB Alabama
BB South Dakota
BB North Carolina
Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Combat
In addition to the numerous strikes against Kwajaleil Eniwetok was also hit today!
Day Air attack on Eniwetok , at 76,74
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 52
B-24D Liberator x 20
Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy is LRCAP'ing most of his TF's in the Marshalls - another great advantage of LBA support.
So most our strike are diverted.
Day Air attack on TF at 81,83
Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 9
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
P-40N Warhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-47D Thunderbolt x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
As expected another heavy raid on Eniwetok torched the remainder of damaged ac there!
Well, most of them were Oscars and I'm getting the pilots out so except from the points no serious harm was done.
Disruption levels on Kwajalein are pretty high but the units are well supplied and hopefully it will take another
5-6 deliberate attacks to capture the place. After this Andy will most likely turn his attention to the surrounding
atolls. They're pretty well fortified so it will require some effort as well.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/43
Bombardments
Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 79,79
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Canberra
CA Wichita
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Colorado
Japanese ground losses:
1586 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 77
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Combat
Day Air attack on Eniwetok , at 76,74
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 55
B-24D Liberator x 18
If you stick to the decoy idea, as long as you are running quicker than him and can get to safe position before he cuts your way, that's just about depleting his oil and op points while resting a little the units on Kwajalein protecting them from CAG bombardement. Nothing that bad, the 34knots raid just to get him a little worried is worth a try if you stay away from the bad boys
As expected another heavy raid on Eniwetok torched the remainder of damaged ac there!
Well, most of them were Oscars and I'm getting the pilots out so except from the points no serious harm was done.
How do you get the pilots out without aircraft? I find that I can't move air units without aircraft. That happens on carriers. A damaged carier with partial air groups with pilots and few/no planes who go down with the ship. Idiots!
I'm keeping my eyes open Fishbed, let's see what materializes!
It's usually enough to get 1 or more ac out - then Andy's heavies smashes up the rest and releases the pilots [:'(]
If ALL ac are destroyed I create a fragment and move it into the hex and withdraw it into the mother unit and moves it out.
Withdrawing the mother unit into a fragment will reform the air group and all its pilots within a month? or so. Last option.
This time options 1 & 2 sufficed.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Loosing a lot of barges but they've all but evacuated an aviation regiment from Kwajalein by now!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/43
Sub/ASW Attacks
The Oboro was part of an escort TF that follows my largest tanker convoy to
and from Palembang - so it did a good job. Fortunatey it should make it into Borneo (port size 4)
with sys dam 21 flood 71.
Sub attack at 35,54
Japanese Ships
DD Oboro, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Fumi Maru #3
PG Shinko Maru #3
PG Nikkai Maru
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chosa Maru
Allied Ships
SS Robalo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 80,78 - well, at least I-176 attacked the CL Australia before being sunk [8|]
Remember my rather low expectations.....
Japanese Ships
SS I-176, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Canberra
CA Wichita
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
BB Idaho
BB California
BB Colorado
Japanese ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 79,79
Allied Ships
CL Helena
CL Concord
CL Emerald
BB Alabama
BB South Dakota
BB North Carolina
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Combat
Another COSTLY attack by the US divisions - you have no idea how I enjoy to see them
wearing themselves down [:D] The forts won't budge - told you Andy should have brought independent
engineers, his only mistake. This can't continue for long but the enemy has already taken more
than 12k casualties!
Ground combat at Kwajalein
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 62453 troops, 421 guns, 381 vehicles
Defending force 21716 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)
Japanese ground losses:
2963 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Allied ground losses:
2369 casualties reported
Guns lost 65
Vehicles lost 8
----------------------------------------------------------------
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
