1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

[Energisteron]

Day 05 - Apr 19

Outcome:-

Naval operations continue uninterrupted. The weather prevents all air operations.

Our bombardment TF (2xCL 1xDD) successfully attacks Adak Island and avoids the newly laid 'friendly' minefield. However, a small Allied escort (PG Charleston) is seen to have hit a mine and limp into port.

[Energisteron]

Day 06 - Apr 20

Defensive CAP set over Attu and Kiska, and Recon scheduled for Adak.

Piggy-back midget sub operation instigated from Kiska with target Dutch Harbor.

4xAPD will move alongside the Kiska supply convoy as escort. Otherwise plans continue unchanged.

In the event, all goes as planned. Both Supply Convoys reach their target and that at Kiska is joined by the 4xAPD as Escort.

There's heavy Recon of Kiska by Allied planes and lots of radio traffic at Dutch Harbor but no air raids. However, the Freighter is spotted as it docks at Kiska. It seems likely we'll have visitors tomorrow.

[Energisteron]

Day 07 - Apr 21

As a precaution against suspected air attack, the Freighter is undocked to permit greater tactical manoeuvrability but continues to unload at Kiska. The 18xRufes are ordered to provide CAP over Kiska and over the Freighter.

The weather improves and as expected the enemy make a series of air attacks at Kiska. However, these are aimed at shipping rather than the base. Our CAP intercepts three waves of Mitchells which target not the Freighter but the four Destroyers (4xAPD) recently joined as escort. Our ships are not hit while 6xMitchells are destroyed outright and 3 damaged. The Rufes suffer no casualties.

At Attu, the Freighter unloads dockside with a CAP of Zeros but there is no interference from the enemy. A Catalina does spot her however.

The midget sub piggy-back operation ends in disaster when while attempting to infiltrate Dutch Harbor the SSX hits an underwater obstruction and is lost. The carrier sub is undamaged however, and will return to Kiska to pick-up the last reserve SSX which will be transferred to Attu for deployment there

[Energisteron]

Day 08 - Apr 22

A quiet and routine day. No air attacks. Unloading continues unmolested at Attu and Kiska.

Our Recon finds 2xTK unloading at Adak. So, it seems likely the enemy intend using Adak as a forward refuelling base for Naval Bombardment TFs. Our 3xSS just north of Adak will patrol the expected return route of these tankers.

Enemy Recon increases over Kiska and Attu, both Freighters have been detected, and most operational TF east of Kiska (Subs) have been spotted at some point.

The CLs and minelaying SS reach P-jima to replenish.

[Energisteron]

Day 09 - Apr 23

Another air raid by Mitchells escorted this time by Lightnings heads for Kiska port but damage is minimal. We lose one Rufe for one Mitchell. The Rufes were assisted by LRCAP of Zeros from Attu.

The carrier sub delivers the SSX to Attu. Unloading continues slowly at both bases. The Freighter at Attu is reinforced with a DD detached from the Kiska convoy which will be protected on the return leg by the 4xAPD.

The sub screen around Adak closes in with the objective of intercepting the 2xTK TF as it leaves for Dutch Harbor.

Two small escort vessels arrive at P-jima.

[Energisteron]

Day 10 - Apr 24

A surprisingly quiet day. No air raids. In fact no action except Recon to report. The enemy Tankers still appear to be unloading at Adak.

An enemy 'float plane' is reported to have flown over Attu. If it was a Catalina there's no cause for concern, but could it be a smaller type launched from a Cruiser?

Day 11 - Apr 25

P-jima: Supply stocks are slowly building up. A 2xSS minelaying TF is sent to Adak to strengthen our minefield there. The 2xCL 1xDD TF, replenished and serviced, is dispatched to Adak also on a bombardment mission. However, as a precaution against the possibility of surface ships being NE of Attu or Kiska it will take a northerly route before dropping into Adak.

Attu: Supplies continue to be unloaded from 1x xAK (with 2xDD escort) under aerial observation by the enemy but as yet there's been no attempt to interfere. The SSX is set to patrol the coast around Attu. The SS that carried it there is set to patrol NE of Attu covering any approach from Dutch Harbor or Adak. Fortifications are building up towards level 3. Zeros provide a CAP.

Kiska: The xAK is re-docked to increase its unloading rate. 4xAPD patrol up to 80 NM off-shore. 4xSSX watch for any approach from the east. Rufes and Zeros (from Attu) provide a CAP over the base and the discharging cargo.

Further east we have 4xSS attempting to intercept shipping into or out of Adak, and another 1xSS watching any NW exit from Dutch Harbor. Weather continues very unsettled with rain and thunderstorms.

[Energisteron]

Day 11 - Apr 25

Enemy Air Attacks!

A night air raid gets through to Kiska but causes little damage.

Our 4xAPD TF NW of Kiska undergo a level bombing attack by Mitchells escorted by Lightnings which is intercepted by Zeros from Attu. The strike gets through despite the loss of 1xLightning but our ships are unscathed.

[Energisteron]

Day 12 - Apr 26

Enemy air strikes today concentrate on our base at Kiska. Two raids by Mitchells are repulsed without loss by our CAP of Rufes. The bombers do not even penetrate far enough to make a bombing run. The Zeros from Attu have had to cut-back their sorties due to increasing fatigue. We will consider rotating in a fresh formation of Zeros from P-jima.

Elsewhere all continues as planned but enemy Recon is increasing and the majority of our TFs have been located. Only the 2xCL 1xDD bombardment TF heading for Adak is as yet undetected. Our Recon of Adak would seem to indicate the presence of an enemy Cruiser as well as Tankers and Escorts. There's no sign of the damaged gunboat Charleston.

Back at Paramushiro-jima we receive a newly arrived Independent Infantry Brigade which will be nominally slated for reinforcement of Attu Island.

[Energisteron]

Day 13 - Apr 27

A hectic night is followed by a quiet day!

The bombardment TF (2xCL 1xDD) meets an enemy Supply Convoy on its run-in to Adak, but in the dark and perhaps with its bombardment mission in mind, our TF fails to engage the enemy TF effectively. We do spot the aforementioned PG Charleston, however, which seems to be operating in a damaged state (after the mine hit earlier in the week).

The bombardment of Adak then proceeds without further interference but is relatively ineffective. We are given a boost when 2xCA arrive at P-jima during the course of the day. Any future bombardments will have greater clout! Our Recon spots presumably the same Supply Convoy heading through coastal waters 80 NM east of Adak. It would be possible for our CLs to catch it but is it worth the risk since the ships will doubtless be empty.

[Energisteron]

Day 14 - Apr 28

There's a night air raid on Kiska by 8xLiberators which comes in unopposed (we have no CAP at night) but no significant damage results.

Perhaps more importantly, the 2xSS minelaying TF adds an additional 20+ mines to our offensive minefield around Adak. Also, the bombardment TF gets well away unmolested, so all seems good just now!

We choose to retire the 2xCL 1xDD TF instead of taking risks seeking the enemy supply convoy destined presumably back to Dutch Harbor.

Weather continues poor so there's not much to be gained from Recon.

[Energisteron]

Day 15 - Apr 29

Another daylight air raid on Kiska is intercepted but the bombers get through although damage is minimal.

Nothing significant occurs at sea.

[Energisteron]

Day 16 - Apr 30

A repeat of yesterday. A single air attack on Kiska results in another Mitchell being destroyed without loss. The runway takes a minor hit.

Unloading has completed at both Kiska and Attu and the Freighters meet up to be escorted back to P-jima.

Radio silence continues from the Allied side. Something afoot?

[Energisteron]

Day 17 - May 01

Atrocious weather prevents all air operations except for a couple of Recon sorties over Adak which reveal nothing. We cannot even confirm the presence of any enemy ships. We assume the Freighters/Tankers have long since departed. Was there an enemy Cruiser present? Is it still there?

This weather is certainly an ally against Allied aerial power but could so easily cloak any aggressive naval movements. Our Recon resources are minimal except for between Paramushiro-jima and Attu and so we rely heavily on reports from our Subs and their Glen float plane spotters (when they can fly which is about twice a week!).

Here is the operational situation as far as we can estimate:-

[Energisteron]

Day 18 - May 02

8xLiberators make a night attack, and 7xMitchells a daylight raid on Kiska. Results are inconsequential with no losses on either side.

Our subs around Adak are redeployed to intervene in the shallows along the island chain east of Adak. This seems to be the enemy convoy route. We see no Freighters but we do identify an enemy TF (1xCA 1xDD 1xPG) apparently sheltering 80 NM east of Adak perhaps waiting to intervene should we attempt another bombardment?

We dispatch another minelaying (2xSS) TF for Adak, a supply sub run (2xSST) to Kiska, and form up a Battlegroup (2xCA 2xCL 2xDD) for intervention near Kiska. The 4xAPD also load up again. Zeros are rotated between P-jima and Attu to keep the pilots fresh. The 4xJake Recon is switched to Naval Search east of Adak. This produces the definite contact on the enemy CA TF.

[Energisteron]

Day 19 - May 03

No air action today.

Our redeployed subs provide an immediate response to the enemy's use of the coastal waters for routing to Adak when SS I-31 makes contact with the suspected small surface combat TF east of Adak. Twice I-31 launches 6 torpedoes at this target. The first time results in only a persistent depth charge attack which causes considerable damage. Despite this, I-31 makes a second attack, launching another 6 torpedoes and scoring 1 hit which badly damages DD Meade. I-31 will attempt to limp home while another sub nearby takes over the attack. It is possible there is now an unescorted Cruiser or at least with an escort that is damaged (PG Charleston is known to have been damaged earlier).

By the end of the day, a Jake spots 2xCA nearby. We may have to rethink our third bombardment attack (2xCA 2xCL 2xDD) on Adak currently heading that way.

[Energisteron]

Day 20 - May 04

SS I-31 extricates itself from the clutches of the enemy east of Adak and heads SW homeward bound for Paramushiro-jima. Let's hope she makes it. Her patrol zone is immediately reallocated to another sub but no contact results.

There's just one Allied air attack on Kiska on a fairly stormy day but little damage results. We destroy one Mitchell confirmed.

There's some interesting developments east of Adak where it seems there's at least one enemy Cruiser and some Tankers. Even further east one of our spotter planes observes DD Meade sinking while heading towards Dutch Harbor.

Our 2xCA 2xCL 2xDD TF is held back just north of Kiska pending more information about the enemy naval dispositions east of Adak. If there's 2xTK there and just 1xCA what a target! However, is it just bait? Is a superior surface combat group nearby?

Still radio silence from the Allies.

[Energisteron]

Day 21 - May 05

A very quiet day.

There's a half-hearted air raid by Venturas from Adak during the night but there's no damage and all the attacking aircraft turn for home without damage.

The enemy ships east of Adak seem to be hanging back. Could they be waiting for mine clearance? It seems there's 1xCA and 2xTK.

Here's the situation:-

[Energisteron]

Day 22 - May 06

At last we get the Group of Bettys at Paramushiro-jima. Immediately 6xBettys are transferred to Kiska to create the possibility of an attack on the enemy Tankers east of Adak. Meanwhile 6xRufes will make a sweep over the Tankers as well as Jakes on Recon.

The Supply Convoy will make for Attu first, half unload then progress to Kiska. The 4xAPD have discharged their cargo already and are on the return leg to P-jima. The 2xSST continue to unload at Kiska.

[Energisteron]

Day 22 - May 06

The outcome:-

Bad weather prevents our Rufes sweeping east of Adak, but the Bettys do succeed in transferring to Kiska.

The Allies make an air attack against our ground forces on Kiska but losses are insignificant.

However, by the end of the day there are increasingly convincing reports of enemy TFs heading due west directly towards Attu!

[Energisteron]

Day 23 - May 07

This looks like D-day!

The latest Intelligence Reports indicate at least 3 Enemy TF are heading for Attu. They could, of course, divert to Kiska, but Attu seems the most likely target.

Consequently, we must respond, and we choose to respond aggressively. All surface ships with a full ammunition stock will attempt to intercept the column of enemy Transports either en route or at Attu Island. Submarines capable of reaching the expected invasion route and with sufficient torpedoes will take up station and lay in wait for the enemy.

The 4xSS currently patrolling near Adak will move towards the seemingly static enemy TF 80 NM east of Adak.

The newly installed Bettys on Kiska will be given every opportunity to attack enemy shipping if firm enough contacts are made.

The Supply Convoy due at Attu today will attempt to evade enemy action by moving southwards to a position from which it could be diverted to Kiska.