1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[Energisteron]

Thanks for advice and comments.

Ok, let's continue with orders for Day 14 - 28 Apr:-

Naval: no change: 4 subs on station (3 near Kiska and Attu, 1 near Japanese rear base, Paramushiro-jima) and 2 moving to reserve position south-west of Attu. Cargo still unloading at Adak (it seems it'll take another week to unload!). Surface bombardment group returning to Dutch Harbor (DH). Oiler docks at DH and TF disbanded.

Army: no change: newly arrived infantry Rgt already allocated for assault on Attu, as are 2 others now nearing '100%' preparation. The fourth Rgt is for Kiska. In addition 1 Engineer Rgt assigned to Attu and 1 Engineer Btn to Kiska.

Air: The Liberators that made yesterday's raid are stood down. Training tweaked for all other groups, especially Lightnings. It's time to see what the air groups on Adak can do. Their morale and experience is good, so the Venturas will raid Kiska with Warhawks (using drop-tanks) in support.

And so, what happened? A surprise and a disappointment!

During the night, the 2xDD ASW TF near Kiska has a narrow escape when attacked by yet another(?) midget sub! It seems likely this sub is heavily damaged or even destroyed in the subsequent depth-charge counterattack.

The air strike from Adak achieves little other than to demonstrate that the Japanese air assets on Kiska are quite formidable (36xZero and 7xRufe intercepted). We knock down 3xZero for the loss of 2xWarhawks and 3xVentura medium bombers. The raid is entirely ineffective against the enemy airstrip. We did take out a Jake on recon at Adak but that's no real compensation for another failed raid.

The latest recon reports suggest Kiska holds 6800 troops, 140 guns and some AFVs, plus of course considerable numbers of fighters (50+). Reports for Attu seem absurdly low in comparison.

A new plan needed tomorrow!

[Energisteron]

Day 15 - 29 Apr

Ok, this aerial prodding has proved only a sledgehammer blow will work.

So, the surface bombardment group, now docked at Dutch Harbor, will replenish and repeat its mission against Kiska.

The Venturas on Adak will be withdrawn to Dutch Harbor and replaced with 2 Groups of Mitchell B-25. When ready day 16, weather permitting, 2 groups of Liberators will strike Kiska supported by Lightnings, and 2 groups of Mitchell B-25 supported by 2 groups of Warhawks (with drop-tanks) will follow-up.

That done, the only action is another midget sub encounter with the ASW TF at Kiska (2xDD). Neither side suffers any damage in severely stormy weather.

[BBfanboy]

Mini subs usually spawn in groups of four (supply levels permitting). You got 3 sitting in port. He put the fourth one to work. You put it out of work - seems fair![:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

Do you have AKE's or AE's in this scenario?

If so push them forward and cut down on your travel time. Your might double or triple you naval bombardments.

[Energisteron]

Thanks, BBfanboy - well, let's hope that's the last of the SSX coming out of Kiska! Actually, with 3 SSX seemingly killed in port and 1 at sea, we've just seen another. So although I could be dealing with misinformation I have to plan for there still being 4xSSX at Kiska!

Thanks, Cap Mandrake - I had 2 civilian Transports and 1 Cargo vessel at start, but received 3 more transport capable ships during the course of today (1 civilian Transport, 1 civilian Cargo, and even a transport DD of puny capacity (180). In fact I got my principal naval reinforcement including 3xBBs and a CVE!

I'm not sure my forward base on Adak is up to the task. Its port and airstrip are poor (both level 2 and only at 20% expansion). There's 4.7k supplies (I'm assuming supplies include ammo?) and 8.1k fuel, with 3.2k supplies still to unload (extremely slowly!!), and a splash of fuel (0.4k). Although moving the surface bombardment TF forward to replenish there would certainly cut transit time, how long would it take to restock? I have an additional problem in that aviation support available is only 55 when its aviation support requirement is 85. Not sure where I can get units to improve this?

Just to reiterate for any new readers, I am a veteran wargamer but a total novice at this game.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Energisteron
I'm not sure my forward base on Adak is up to the task. Its port and airstrip are poor (both level 2 and only at 20% expansion). There's 4.7k supplies (I'm assuming supplies include ammo?) and 8.1k fuel, with 3.2k supplies still to unload (extremely slowly!!), and a splash of fuel (0.4k). Although moving the surface bombardment TF forward to replenish there would certainly cut transit time, how long would it take to restock? I have an additional problem in that aviation support available is only 55 when its aviation support requirement is 85. Not sure where I can get units to improve this?

Aadak has small port initially, so TFs can unload slowly. You better load supplies into Amphibious TF type at first. Those will unload on the beaches and would be much faster than Transport/Cargo. Fuel will remain slow business, but can be supplied from TK/AO disbanded in port. You can look up if you have naval base force in your roster, with ample naval support in TOE. Navsupport greatly helps with port operations.
Adak is the best place on the map for loaded AE/AKE, until you have Kiska that is.
Look through land units you have and see if you can transport some of them to Adak. Aviation support is usually in ENG or HQa type units.

[Energisteron]

Planning Day 16 - 30 Apr

New bombardment TF (3xBB and 2xDD) sent against Kiska with LRCAP from fighters at Dutch Harbor and then from Adak. Additional escorts (2xDD) detached from Cargo TF unloading at Adak to meet bombardment group en route. Longer range subs (2xSS) sent out to P-jima.
Air Recon of Kiska continues despite severe storms at target. Air naval search area unchanged. All Air groups being trained and positioned for maximum effort strike on Kiska when weather permits to be ready within 48hrs.
Infantry continue specified preparations for assaults on Kiska and Attu.

I was unable to identify any units possessing air support ability which could help out at Adak.

[GetAssista]

You don't need LRCAP for that bombardment, cause they would be in at night and back at Adak at day. CAP over Adak will protect TF just fine. LRCAP setting will only needlessly tire your pilots, seem to exhaust themselves more even at range zero compared to simple CAP setting. Also there is a risk at some point in future you will forget to reset them to CAP and they would accompany your TF retiring back to Dutch.

Forgetting to change settings happens all the time in those games, so it is a good practice to stick to less risky options

[Energisteron]

Day 16 - 30 Apr

Relatively quiet day. No further sign of '9 enemy ships' near Dutch Harbor, nor of '1 enemy ship' near Kiska. BB bombardment TF gets the 2 extra DD from Adak. The DD ASW TF at Kiska again detects a SSX and almost certainly destroys it (huge oil slick). We lose a Catalina on landing but otherwise no other contacts or interceptions.

Day 17 - 01 May

Additional Bombardment TF (2xCA, 2xCL, 4xDD) heads for Kiska at 34 knots.
A fifth Infantry Rgt arrives at Dutch Harbor already prepared for attack on Attu. However, their commander is immediately told their target will in fact be Kiska!

Severe weather, especially over Kiska, restricts air operations. No contacts. All missions proceed without interruption.

Day 18 - 02 May

Additional Catalina Group arrives at Dutch Harbor (another aircraft was lost to operational attrition today). DD ASW TF at Kiska identifies yet another SSX but fails to make a telling attack. Marginal improvement in weather. No significant sightings or interceptions. Two bombardment TF proceeding to Kiska seemingly undetected.

[Energisteron]

Thanks, GetAssista : The LRCAP was to deter enemy submarines more than anything else. There's been a few tenuous reports of enemy subs in the Dutch Harbor area.

[GetAssista]

LRCAP is fighters, it only deals with air threats nothing else.
To deter subs you need to increase the detection level of particular sub TFs. ASW or Search over those hexes can do it, as well as dedicated ASW TFs in the hexes. The latter is too risky to operate close to enemy base in this case

[Energisteron]

Day 19 - 03 May

Bad weather cloaks the approach of both bombardment TFs but another pesky SSX penetrates the 4xDD screen around the BB Pennsylvania and puts a fish in her side. The sub is almost certainly put out of action by the escorts and all 3xBB including Pennsylvania proceed to inflict significant damage during their bombardment. The CA TF follows-up immediately and scores good hits on the airfield. Over 50 aircraft are damaged and the runway is torn up.

[Energisteron]

Day 20 - 04 May

It would seem like a good time for the Infantry to load-up and hit the beach. One and a half Infantry Rgt and an Engineer Btn will be loaded on 5x Transports (APs and AK) ready to sail in 48hrs.

Despite continued poor weather (generally overcast at target) a maximum effort must be made to consolidate the damage done at Kiska overnight.

Mitchells from Adak supported by Warhawks with drop tanks will attack Kiska airfield and port.

Liberators from Dutch Harbour will strike at ground forces, the airfield and the port on Kiska. Lightnings with drop tanks will sweep above all other groups which will bomb between 8000-15000 ft.

The two bombardment TFs will refuel and repeat their mission as soon as possible. The smaller first bombardment group (2xCA, 2xCL, and 4xDD) now replenished and fully repaired will repeat their mission immediately.

The damaged BB is detached from the BB TF, given a 1xDD escort and ordered to limp back to Dutch Harbor.

[Energisteron]

Outcome Day 20 - 04 May

No hindrance or actions at sea.

In all, 5 raids reach Kiska. The weather is heavy cloud throughout which seriously hinders bombing accuracy and raid coordination, but neither the weather nor previously inflicted damage seem to deter the Japanese garrison from putting up a spirited air defence!

Raid 1: 8x Liberators at 12k ft heading for Kiska airfield are intercepted by a CAP of 12x Zeros and 6x Rufes, which rapidly swells to 30x Zeros and 16x Rufes! No significant damage to airfield results. We lose 2x Liberators and 4x others are damaged. One single Zero goes down!

Raid 2: 19x Liberators at 15k ft target ground units and the airfield but again a CAP of 4x Zeros and 2x Rufes intervene. Again the CAP is enhanced quickly reaching as many as 26x Zeros and 14x Rufes. One Zero is destroyed, but 5x Liberators are damaged. There's virtually no damage to the base.

Raid 3: 7x Mitchells at 8k ft fail to get through a CAP of 18x Zeros and 11x Rufes (at least enemy CAP strength is declining!)losing 2x aircraft, with 1x damaged. There are no enemy losses.

Raid 4: 5x Mitchells at 6k ft attack the port installations without success, meeting a CAP of 15x Zero and 9x Rufe. 2x Mitchells are lost. Again no enemy fighters are lost.

Raid 5: A sweep by 18x Lightnings at 12k ft meets a CAP of 10x Zeros and 8x Rufes. We lose 2x Lightnings. The enemy lose just 1x Zero.

So, quite chastening!

Virtually no damage to target; sorties (destroyed /damaged) for each aircraft as follows; Liberators 27 (2/9); Mitchells 12 (4/1); Lightnings 18 (2/0). Despite their drop-tanks the Warhawks from Adak didn't make it as far as the target.

Figures for the defenders; Zeros 99 (3/0), Rufes 58 (0/0). This would seem to be consistent with a fighter force of 50+ aircraft.

Recon photos indicate 7x other fighters (possibly under repair), but no bombers on Kiska. Meanwhile, in port, there seems to be 2x SSX and 1x MGB. Troop estimates remain unchanged.

[Energisteron]

Day 21 - 05 May

A very quiet day.

Severe weather virtually precludes all air operations. Fighter sweeps over Kiska are all cancelled.

A welcome reinforcement of 4x XAP and 5x APA arrives at Dutch Harbor just as the Kiska Amphibious TF leaves Dutch Harbor.

Day 22 - 06 May

Another quiet day. No air activity in bad weather.

All TF progress unhindered, and Kiska is bombarded again without opposition. Results not spectacular.

Kiska assault TF will unload over the beach tonight.

[GetAssista]

Atleast you are hitting the beaches against some enemy presence. Not like it was in real life with Canadians and Americans shooting at each other for lack of real enemy

[Energisteron]

Hi, GetAssista. Yes, too true!

Day 23 - 07 May

D-Day! Assault Infantry to begin landing operation overnight at Kiska. Extensive air operations in support, with surface bombardment and fighter CAP following-up.

(Sorry about the typo; alomost! LOL!)

[Energisteron]

Day 24 - 08 May 00:05

D-Day Assessment Meeting and Planning for D+1

A fuller assessment will be available later, but for now, suffice to say, the assault went in during the night with few casualties but defensive fire increased in violence and accuracy during daylight hours. Naval gunfire replied by bombarding enemy positions on land. Our vigorous air attacks successfully prevented any air strikes on the amphibious force, but again the defenders had the better of the exchanges. In late afternoon the defenders made a shock attack against our beachhead which was repulsed at some cost to the enemy. Our casualties were sustainable. The weather commenced with light rain but worsened throughout the day such that only a single Lightning made it all the way to Kiska and in a heroic display which defied ridiculous odds, the pilot shot down one Zero before returning to Dutch Harbor unscathed. Citation duly dispatched.

Decision - unloading will continue, while those ashore maintain a defensive perimeter. Naval and air support missions will continue as planned.

Details of beach assault below (see diagram).

There were 3 Air Strikes in support but the weather had deteriorated to Heavy Rain:-

Raid 1 : 12x Liberators at 12k ft and 26x Warhawks intercepted by 12x Zeros and 14x Rufes. We lost 4x Liberators (inc 1 to flak) with 7 damaged, and lost 7x Warhawks operating with drop-tanks. The defenders lost 1x Zero and 1x Rufe. Airstrip and Ground units attacked. Results unknown.

Raid 2 : 10x Mitchells at 8k ft with an escort of just 2x Warhawks (who thought that one up?) were intercepted by 11x Zeros and 9x Rufes. We lost 1x Mitchell (flak) with 1 damaged, and lost 1x Warhawk while the enemy lost none. The raid went on to attack port installations and ground units with little effect.

Raid 3 : A lone Lightning reached the target and took on 8x Zeros and 7x Rufes, destroying 1x Zero before returning safely to base at Dutch Harbor.

[Energisteron]

Situation Day 24 - 08 May (D+1)