Shattered Vow

[Cap Mandrake]

Madre de Dios! How do you guys move so fast?

[Canoerebel]

We have played at a frantic pace. This is how:

1) Two-day turns (makes the game speed along)
2) I haven't watched a combat replay in something like ten months. This allows me to flip a turn back to my opponent in as short as 20 minutes. (combat replays for two-day turns can take forever!)
3) THe Allied system is pretty much on auto-pilot now. There's not much going on except in China.

[Canoerebel]

3/15/45 and 3/16/45
 
A massive air/sea battle did take place in and around the Hong Kong to Formosa corridor.  The Allies inflicted a beating on the Japanese, but the extent of the beating was, in my opinion, in line with the relative capabilities of the two sides at this point in the game.  IE, considering all of the disadvantages Japan suffers by early '45, their forces performed fairly respectably.  But they still took a licking. Does that make sense?
 
Sea Battles:  First, a series of Allied combat TFs engaged what seemed to be two strong IJ CA/CL/DD TFs.  The first was anchored by CA Takao and some CLAAs; the second by CAs Kumano and Mogami.  The Allied TFs included one anchored by BC Renown, one by BB Wisconsin, one by BB New Jersey, and some smaller forces.  The end result was that Mogami went under, Takao is crippled, at least eight DDs went under, and other ships were beat up badly.  A few Allied DDs took it on the chin, and at least one BB took a torpedo, but that was about it.  The IJ ships did prevent the Allied ships from getting amongst the transports.
 
Air Battles:  A series of strikes by Allied naval strike aircraft encountered massive Japanese CAP and really got chewed up.  It still amazes me that Japanese fighters are so very, very robust this late in the game.  Nevertheless, enough strike aircraft got through to do some heavy damage to the Japanese DD force and probably 20 to 30 good transports, including AKA and the like.
 
Overall Impact:  Long-term, this battle further eroded Japan's rapidly declining naval power.  I don't think Miller had more than three or four CAs left, and he just lost at least one and maybe two.  This battle may also seal the fate of the isolated Japanese garrisons at Hong Kong and Canton.  Yet the strong showing by Japanese fighters indicates that the Allies are still in for a rough time whenever the airforces come into play.  I still have to be careful about exposing my carriers and transports to massed Japanese air.

[JohnDillworth]

I'm surprised and disappointed that 3 BB/BC based task forces could not brush aside a few CA's and get at his transports. In 1945 this should have been carnage. I know the Japanese CA's are good, but they are not super-human. Miller certainly got the best out his CA's. They did their job right to the end.
I wonder how effective his fighters will be intercepting big bombers once you get going on strategic bombing. If you are going o get close to the home islands you have to figure a way to grind down his fighter strength.

[Canoerebel]

Well, to be honest my task forces were fairly small.  I sacrificed concentration of power hoping that sheer numbers of task forces would be able to pierce the enemy shield and get into the transports.  When I issued the orders, I didn't really know what I was facing.  But here's a good example of the surface action:
 
Night Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 77,61, Range 5,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Mogami, Shell hits 7,  on fire,  heavy damage
      CA Kumano, Shell hits 4
      DD Asashimo
      DD Kiyoshimo
      DD Hayashimo
      DD Yanagi, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
      DD Tachibana, Shell hits 3,  on fire
      DD Nire, Shell hits 6,  heavy fires
      DD Tsuta, Shell hits 1
      DD Hagi, Shell hits 5,  on fire
      DD Kaki, Shell hits 2
      DD Shii, Shell hits 9,  heavy fires
      DD Nashi, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
      DD Sumire, Shell hits 5,  heavy fires
      DD Enoki, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      BB Wisconsin, Shell hits 12,  on fire
      CL Pasadena, Shell hits 2,  on fire
      DD Allen M. Sumner, Shell hits 2
      DD Cooper, Shell hits 1
      DD English, Shell hits 1,  heavy fires
      DD Moale, Shell hits 1
      DD Taussig, Shell hits 1
      DMS Jeffers

[Chickenboy]

Canoerebel,

Does Miller have any reasonably sized AF bases within 12 hexes of Hong Kong and / or Canton? If so, can you LRCAP a few of them to interdict some of his transport a/c? I'd be air transporting everything I possibly could out of HK to Formosa. Formosa to Kyushu.

[Canoerebel]

3/17/45 to 3/22/45
 
Canton/Hong Kong:  The Japanese vacated Canton, which the Allies took on the 21st.  Next is Hong Kong with a stack of about 59 units.  I think it's worth devoting an Allied stack of 4,000 AV or so, and then bombing and bombarding the hex until supplies are gone and the Japanese units are a wreck.
 
Eastern China:  As noted previously, the Allies have all coastal bases from Ningpo to Swatow.  Base building continues apace.  There are four or five stacks of isolated Japanese units in the interior.  I'm trying to corral and destroy them, but it's harder than it sounds.
 
Northern China:  With the Japanese establishing firm roadblocks at Hangchow, Shanghai and Nanking, the Allies have turner northwest and have taken several smaller bases.  It looks like the Allies may be able to totally cut off the Japanese units at Changsha, Chentah, and nearby bases.  Thus far Miller doesn't seem inclined to withdraw from these precarious positions.  Over in the Sian/Loyang area, the Chinese bypassed and isolated a large Japanese stack, but Miller is having some success in extricating them, and the Chinese units in the area aren't strong enough to finish off decent Japanese units in good terrain.
 
Carriers:  The CVE TFs retired to Samah, replaced downed aircraft, and moved to a point south of Hong Kong.  The main carrier TFs then went to Samah.  Most aircraft have been replaced, but I'll leave them in place two more days.  Fuel is a factor.  I want to send the combined carrier fleets into the East China Sea, but I may have to retire to Balikpan to refuel.  Not sure yet.
 
Malaya:  An artillery unit is going to "recon" Singapore by committing suicide.  This base has 29 Japanese units, but I have no idea how strong they are.

[CaptBeefheart]

This might be considered gamey, but how about dropping a para fragment on Sing? You could put a C-47 unit on 90% rest and drop a a squad or two on the base.

Cheers,
CC

[Canoerebel]

3/23/45 to 4/1/45

Received this message from Miller:

"Sir,

The Emperor has instructed me to request an unconditional surrender to spare the brave Japanese civilian and military forces any further harm. I trust you are willing to accept this offer, in the hope that our glorious nation can rebuild again in peace.

Yours,

The overall commander of the military forces of the Japanese empire."

My reply:

"Of course I'm glad to defer to your wishes in the matter. You always amaze me in your faithfullness to continue with the game far beyond the point most players would concede. It's been a tough game, but the "fun factor" must be pretty low at this point for you. Thanks for the good and challenging and frustrating and eventful game. Not only was I challenged; not only did I have fun; but I learned a heck of alot that I think will help me in the future.

What will you do next?

P.S. My password is [redacted] if you want to take a look at my force disposition. My general plan for the future:

1. I wasn't going to invade Japan unless I reached the point where I had nothing better to do with 10,000 AV.
2. I was going to try to bomb Japan unmercifully from Ningpo and nearby airfields.
3. I wasn't sure whether I was going to devote the Allied army in China to a campaign in northern China, or whether I would use them against Formosa or possibly Korea. I didn't want to make that decision until Hong Kong was dealt with.
4. I was gathering forces at Pearl and Attu Island (the latter still had troops left from the Kuriles campaign) to invade Marcus. That probably would have taken place in about six weeks."

A few notes about highlights of the game since the last posting:

1. An Allied army crossed the causeway into Singapore, but was roughed up. This seige was going to take awhile and plenty of reinforcements, which were on the way.
2. An Allied army of 8,000 AV was about to arrive at Hong Kong. I think this siege would have been successful and wouldn't have taken too long.
3. The Allied carriers and reinforcement transports made their first foray into the East China Sea and were landing troops at Ningpo and Wenchow. Miller sent in all his combat ships, including Yamato and Musashi, and they savaged an Allied CL/DD force and some transports. Allied carriers had strike aircraft mostly stood down (I didn't want my planes flying off against small craft in these crowded waters, as had been happening so frequently), but the few squadonrs that didn't get orders did some damage to the BBs.
4. The game ends with the Alies ahead by about 2,000 points, but it was going to take a LONG time to reach auto-victory. Without a doubt Miller could have held out until the end of '45 if he was having fun doing so. But he held out far, far longer than most people would, a faithful opponent to the end.

[Walloc]

Gratz on ur victory and kudos to Miller for keeping the game alive.

Kind regards,

Rasmus

[pws1225]

Many thanks to both you and Q-Ball for a very entertaining and educational AAR.  As a newbie and a follower of this AAR for several months, I have learned much from your willingness to share your thoughts.

[JohnDillworth]

Well played by both. I am sure I speak for many when I say how much we enjoyed this AAR and how much we will miss it. I look forward to your analysis of Millers disposition, and Millers comments on the game and AAR. Thank You!

[anarchyintheuk]

Congratulations to you and Miller. Great game and aar.

[Chickenboy]

Bummer. Sorry to see this AAR come to a close. I have been enjoying your game vicariously through your well-written AAR. Miller did well to hold out for so long and kudos to both of you for sticking through until the writing was clearly on the wall.

Thanks for your AAR efforts, Canoerebel. It has been an educational experience for myself and, I'm sure, many other players that have lurked on this thread. Best wishes for your other game(s).

[&o]

[Canoerebel]

Thanks, Gents.

Here's a summary from Miller:

"I was just about down to the bare bones. My surface fleet consisted of basically everything you saw in the last turn, 2 BB, 1 CA, 2 CL and about 40 DDs.....everything else was on the bottom. I did have a CV and CVL sitting between PH and the WC for a few weeks but they did not find anything to attack.

My air force was still a threat but there was no way they would be able to get through your CV CAP, unless you went near the HI, which you said you would not do anyway. I had enough supplies left to get me through another 3 or 4 months at most.

Your invasion of China was the game winning move, just a shame I wasted the KB near Singapore a month or so before that. As always it has been an honor to play you, we had a few disagreements but worked them out."

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

Many thanks to both you and Q-Ball for a very entertaining and educational AAR.  As a newbie and a follower of this AAR for several months, I have learned much from your willingness to share your thoughts.

Ditto from this newbie as well. I was hoping to see Miller use more kamikazes to get a sense for how this affects the Allies late in the game, especially with the leaky CAP in AE. However, I certainly understand that your opponent would not find committing suicide much fun, even if he did score some points from time to time. Kudos on your effective use of every type of power you could wield! [&o]

PS - you may want to do something about that Mao guy before you bring the boys home from China ...

[Smeulders]

Nice game, congratulations to you and Miller and thanks for the AAR

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ditto from this newbie as well. I was hoping to see Miller use more kamikazes to get a sense for how this affects the Allies late in the game, especially with the leaky CAP in AE. However, I certainly understand that your opponent would not find committing suicide much fun, even if he did score some points from time to time. Kudos on your effective use of every type of power you could wield! [&o]

I was determined not to put my carriers in a position where massed kamikazees could hit them - at least at close range from mutliple bases. Kamikazees never sortied in massive numbers against my carrier TFs, but I'm not sure if that was due to (1) Miller not ordering the strikes, (2) him ordering the strikes but the game not cooperating due probably to distance, or (3) pure luck.

Miller had real problems getting his bombers to coordinate with escort. He'd have 200 escorts accompany 15 bombers, then 75 bombers come in unescorted. This happened all the time except at very close range. It drove him to distraction. From my perspective it seemed reasonable. By '44 and '45, it should be very hard for the Japanese to get coordinated massive and effective air strikes against good enemy carrier TFs. Since my CAP and flak were pretty ineffective, the results would have been catastrophic had he been able to get everybody to coordinate.

[Q-Ball]

Well done AAR and game, I really enjoyed this one

I guess that will put pressure on me to get turns back to you Dan a little more consistently......Miller beats me in this regard, work is too up and down.

Maybe you should try a game as the Empire for a change.....

[Canoerebel]

Miller and I have pretty compatible schedules since he's five hours ahead most of the year. He could play when he got off work (or before he went) while I can play at work. With that kind of schedule and two-day turns, we blew through the game pretty fast. I think we started last October?

I've considered playing as Japan, but I don't think it's well-suited to my personality. I can be patient while waiting for the Allies to wax strong, but I don't think I would do well with the "clock is ticking" aspect of playing Japan.

Anyhow, one game at a time is enough for me.