1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

[Energisteron]

Day 48 - Jun 01

A busy day! Redeployments well underway. We restart air attacks against Kiska. The enemy attempt an air strike at Attu.

[Energisteron]

Day 48 -Jun 01

KISKA IS INVADED!

Casualties are light.

[miv792]

Energisteron

Hi, tell me please what kind of program you use to process the screenshots ?

[Energisteron]

Hi miv79

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1, so I am able to simply use the PrintScreen button on my keyboard. This is quite an old game although I am new to it, so I am not surprised that works.

From my recollection games from about 2012 prevented routine sceeenshots that way and I've had to use FRAPS. The freeware version is adequate for screenshots.

So my illustrations are usually made by making a screenshot of the situation at the beginning of the turn. As the turn progresses I take other screenshots as I please then simply cut and paste them using good old PAINT (Yes, really!).

I hope that helps

[Energisteron]

Day 49 - Jun 02

On the basis that the IJN may be attempting a counterattack, CVE Nassau continues to withdraw east well north of Kiska. A 2xCA 2xDD Surface Combat TF is sent out that way to meet up. There are insufficient escorts at Dutch Harbor to escort the BBs due to the demands of protecting supply convoys to Attu and the invasion of Kiska.

The Subs and the 2xCL 1xDD TF continue on station west of Attu, and just 1x xAK continues to unload at Attu. Repairs are progressing well and the ship is able to dock. Fortifications are ongoing too (level 1). For the moment no attempt is made to improve the airstrip or port on Attu (except for repairs).

The enemy send Bettys against Attu once more, and this time they are opposed only by our newly installed flak. Air operations against the Kiska garrison are unopposed. Aircraft losses are light. On Kiska unloading continues over the beach and we take more casualties. We bombard the enemy positions, but first must undergo a bombardment ourselves. Fortunately casualties are light.

[miv792]

Energisteron

Thank you very much, AAR is beautifully decorated.

[Energisteron]

Thank you for your appreciation, miv79

[Energisteron]

Day 50 - Jun 03

We have 30 Catalinas operating from Adak covering just a 90 degree arc centred on approximately vector 280, yet we have seen next to nothing. Outside this extensive zone a Catalina (presumably off course or ambling about for no reason) reports 2x Japanese ships (type undefined) 200 NM NNE of Adak travelling SE at 17 knots. Our own 2xCA 2xDD TF will pass very close to that position and their spotter planes are flying so we can expect some form of contact if the report is genuine.

In any case if they are going to Dutch Harbor then there's 3xBB waiting for them! Adak is protected by its aircraft and a host of small escort vessels and about 3xDD. But, the report seems unlikely to be accurate.

So, reporting from west to east: Attu attains fort level 2, and 18x US Warhawks are transferred to the very primitive airfield there, although with fuel stocks so low they'll act as interceptors only and will not be flying CAP. As it happens, no Bettys attack today. The Engineers will continue building defences a while longer but we'll send a few barrels of fuel over (there's a small amount (400 tones) on the xAK currently unloading there).

On Kiska, our air strikes continue unopposed, but the enemy are able to fire flak, although ur losses are light. Unloading continues over the beach and again we have casualties. The enemy are definitely not short of shells. Perhaps they did get a convoy in there last month? The Japanese garrison bombard our beachhead again but we emerge virtually unscathed. In turn, we make a first deliberate attack with some success, although we do sustain casualties but the enemy's are far higher. The plan is not simply to attrite the enemy though. We want to beat them off their base!

Adak is fully functional now as a forward base. All Recon Catalinas are based there, some Mitchells and plenty of fighters. An Engineer Battalion there will be transferred to Kiska as soon as feasible.

Dutch Harbor still operates as our rear base, with naval operational support gradually going to Adak. We maintain a small CAP and Naval and ASW Search with Venturas.

[BBfanboy]

You are doing fine! Those casualties during landing appear to be mostly people who got wet and will recover quickly. Only one squad destroyed if very good! I think this indicates the enemy is getting heavily disrupted by your bombing campaign and cannot shoot well.

About fuel - in the game "Fuel" means ONLY heavy fuel oil for ships and Heavy Industry. It does not go to aircraft or vehicles. Their fuel comes out of "Supply", which abstracts this type of fuel as "Fuel in drums". So if you have plenty of supply at Attu the P-40s are good to fly, weather permitting.

[Energisteron]

That's good to know. Thanks, BBf.

So aircraft cannot benefit from 'Fuel' at all? OK.

[Energisteron]

Day 51 - Jun 04

This will be the fifth day since we were alerted to the possibility of an imminent Japanese counterattack. Yet nothing has happened! The Bettys raid Attu Island approximately every alternate day, but except for seemingly spurious sighting reports, as noted yesterday, we've seen nothing to deter our efforts or to reinforce our suspicion of a major enemy effort.

Our 2xCA TF, on its way to link with CVE Nassau, went right by the suspected enemy TF of yesterday and saw nothing. So we will assume that confirms there's nothing there.

However, two sighting reports today would seem to add credence to each other: a Seagull from CL Richmond reported 8 unidentified enemy ships moving west at 20 knots, and a Catalina made a report narby of six ships also moving west at 11 knots. Despite being authorised to do so, the CL TF Commander made no efforts to intercept the sighting.

We make a series of air raids against Kiska with good results. We lose 2 Mitchells damaged.

The enemy Bettys attempt to attack Attu but are intercepted by Warhawks based at the tiny airstrip there as well as Lightnings providing LRCAP from Adak.

At Kiska we split the invasion TF so that empty APAs can return to Adak for reuse. Meanwhile one xAK continues unloading.

[Energisteron]

Day 51 - Jun 04

Ground operations on Kiska : Unloading of the Canadian 13th Infantry Brigade continues across the beach, and the enemy hurl shells all day, 250 shells altogether, causing 140 casualties. Neither the Freighter nor the two escorts are hit.

The Japanese defenders bombard our beachhead again to some effect, and then we make another deliberate attack. We make progress but again it costs blood.

[BBfanboy]

Reports of 6 or 8 enemy ships where none are found usually indicate a sub. I don't know how any naval search crewman could mistake a sub for a number of ships - but maybe the killer whales follow the killer sharks around!

[Energisteron]

Hi BBf

My thoughts exactly!

However, this time there was something there, as you will shortly discover!

[Energisteron]

Day 52 - Jun 05

A very eventful day!

Bad weather prohibits any further air raids against Kiska, but further west our friends, the Bettys, make an appearance attacking Attu. Our CAP and LRCAP from Adak repulses them successfully.

Reinforcements for Kiska begin loading: Combat Engineers at Adak and the 1st Special Service Force at Dutch Harbor. The 2xCA TF takes up station just 40NM SE of CVE Nassau, and the 2xBB TF leaves Dutch Harbor to take up position a 80NM SE of our only Carrier.

On the basis that the correlated sightings of enemy ships south of Attu were genuine, 2xDD near Kiska are sent on a sweep of the area, while 2xCL 1xDD remain in position with their Scouts out where the 2xDD will join up. A nearby Sub is also ordered to the same sector.

And we get a result! We intercept a lone Japanese Freighter which proves easy meat. She sinks. We take no hits.

On Kiska, unloading continues but now casualties are light (just 45 troops injured despite nearly 200 shells being fired in defence) and our beachhead experiences another bombardment but we continue our offensive. The enemy are greatly degraded and unable to prevent us taking Kiska base. The rag-tag remnants of the defending force does not disintegrate however and remains a threat.

[BBfanboy]

Great work! You must have a Major Victory result on the Intel screen now!

Looks like the AI has been paralysed by your early conquest of Attu and sinking of the merchant ships it needed to conduct amphib and supply operations. I don't think it has a good raiding script for the IJN forces at PJ or you should have seen them by now.

Eight days left?

[Energisteron]

Thanks, BBf.

Indeed it is showing as a Major Victory - for the moment! In game terms the margin is small. If I lose one Freighter or worse a Capital Ship then it would tip the balance back to a Minor Victory.

I would agree that the AI seems to have aborted or at least cut-back its operation, if in fact there ever was one ongoing! However, the lone Freighter that we have just sunk could have been supported by bigger units at some point. They could still be around because the weather has not been good for detection.

Whether the Freighter had run supplies in to Kiska earlier, or whether it gave up on its attempt, I just don't know.

Yes, 8 days left to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

[Energisteron]

Day 53 - Jun 06

A quiet night sees unloading at Kiska continue unopposed at last! Even during daylight our approach to the beach is ignored and we have no casualties even from accidents.

Our aerial pounding of the Kiska defenders continues relentlessly. We make 45 Bomber sorties in a rainstorm causing significant casualties to the enemy while having 2xMitchells and 4xVenturas damaged by flak (raid altitude 11-14k ft).

The Bettys make another attempt to raid Attu but are repulsed by Warhawks and Lightnings (CAP and LRCAP from Adak). We claim just 1 kill from seven Bettys.

Naval operations continue on a cautious approach; the CVE and two Battlegroups remain handy NE of Kiska, exposure of Freighters and Transports is minimised by basing these ships in relative security at Adak. Kiska reinforcements continue to load up at Adak and Dutch Harbor. The 2xCL 4xDD TF will remain on station patrolling west of Attu both as a bait and a screen.

[Energisteron]

Day 53 - Jun 06

Ground Operations on Kiska.

Despite that our ground forces being significantly fatigued we make another deliberate attack on the basis that the original garrison must be on their last legs. The enemy are so low on supplies that there is not even a counterbombardment.

The attack goes well, our losses are insignificant and we destroy 3 enemy units leaving what must be very battered remnants of just 2 more units to continue what opposition they can tomorrow.

[BBfanboy]

You already know that you get VPs for increasing base development. Because there are so few days left, now is the time to assess what you can finish in the remaining time and what will never make the next level. You don't need any more forts. Turn off any port or AF building that is never going to increase to next level. Concentrate every engineer on finishing what you can with preference for AFs which score twice as many points as a port increase.

That should increase your VP margin a bit.