Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Coral Sea
Multiple air raids were focused on the enemy air unit at Port Moresby in attempt to drive it off. The P-47 “Jug” makes its first appearance over Japanese held territory destroying a bomber SP while taking a hit. This is a good start for the unit.

I am growing tired of losing merchant marine to land based bombers. The losses are not heavy but are starting to stack up. It may be time to do something about New Caledonia. The US Navy has been asked to do something about this.

General Geiger takes command of the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) and moves his HQ to Cairns to take charge of Operation Earthquake – the bombing of Port Moresby. Plans continue to be drawn together for Operation Fault Line – the invasion of southeast New Guinea. However, the navy has other plans in the area so the fight for resources begins.

The damaged SS-215 Growler makes port in Cairns as a brief stop on the way to Sydney.

Solomon Sea
B-17 bombers from Cairns strike Rabaul damaging the CV Junyo and destroying planes. This catches the enemy unaware and may change the nature of this theater. It is time to start thinking about building long range bombers and upping research on strategic bombing.

Central Pacific
Taskforce 25 leaves Hawaii and steams to Australia.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No builds. Will build a heavy corps next turn.
India: Close Support medium bomber
Canada: 3 Supply units
US: 3 Supply units

Convoys
US: 50 OPs to Canada. 50 PPs and 30 OPs to India

[Remington700]

Japan May 9th

Burma
The Japanese 21st Army lands in Rangoon arriving from China. This was a bold move as the port is within range of SBD dive-bombers which sortied looking for the transports. However a timely rain squall made the attack ineffective. Actually I miscounted the hexes, so I need to pay more attention.

The rear guard continues their retreat through the wet jungle and will soon pass through the main line. I may get out of this mess yet. So far, all that has been lost is a division, a victory point city and a small PP supply line opened for the Chinese Army. If I can take Kunming then all is moot.

South China
Heavy rain continues grounding all offensive operations. Some minor adjustments on the line but no material movement.

[Remington700]

Coral Sea
The Kido Butai remains in Rabaul and will endure the occasional air raid. The A6m2 Zeros at Rabaul receive the upgraded A6m3s as replacements. (This is represented by the increase in technology to 1943 Escort fighter). The newly reinforced Zeros fly CAP over Rabaul in anticipation of further air raids. They will also fly cover for the GM4 Bettys that rebased to Lae to avoid the damage at Port Moresby.

Patrols in strength continue across the Owen Stanley mountains in New Guinea and up and down Malaita Island. Not much else can be done to subdue the pesky Coastwatchers. There is still the problem on New Ireland but that can be dealt with next turn.

I really need another Naval Air bomber in this area, but the only air reinforcements scheduled are fighters due in a month. So G4 Bettys fly from China to the Philippines on their way to Rabaul.

[Remington700]

Reports
Japan: No builds.

[Remington700]

Allied May 9th

Burma
Fairey Barracudas strike the Japanese 23rd Brigade to the west of the Irrawaddy River. Followed by a coordinated assault by two US and an Indian Corps supported by SBD dive-bombers. D3A Vals fly combat support for the 23rd Brigade but 4SPs are soon shot down by Hurricanes from the IAF. After taking a SP loss and unable to cross the river, the enemy retreats south through the lines of the 28 Division.

Fairey dive-bombers pound the Japanese 4th Brigade causing disruption and a SP loss. The 2nd Corps and 1st Marine attack in the mud and rain. The assault breaks down before it can even begin, and the enemy holds the line. The 1st Marines are pulled from the line and replaced by the slightly rested 3rd Corps.

The HMS Hermes battle group steams down the Burma coast and launches an air strike at the 4th Brigade. Arriving late the attack does little other than provide much needed experience for the carrier pilots. The hope is this action will keep the Japanese 2nd Air Fleet in the area to protect the ports at Rangoon and Moulmein.

South China
The heavy rain stops all movement and air operations.

[Remington700]

China Sea
SS-173 Pike and SS-193 Swordfish hunt in a team in the in the South China Sea. The Pike has minor damage but is rushed back into action as fast as possible. Both subs are armed with the modified Mark 14 torpedoes with improved firing pins so the expectation of good hunting is high.

Farther north in the East China Sea the SkipJack and Finback hunt as a team. They too are loaded with the improved Mark 14 torpedoes

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
The US CV Taskforce 25 arrives offshore of New Caledonia and is immediately intercepted by G4Ms from Noumea. Wildcats flying CAP jump the Bettys shooting down 3SPs but the well disciplined Japanese pilots do not break formation. The Wasp II is hit multiple times and set ablaze. Damage control teams battle fire and water while the carrier breaks from the formation and heads to Fiji for repair.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
The main US CV fleet, Taskforce 21 is spotted south of Noumea, while local enemy air units are attacking Taskforce 25 to the north. However Bettys from Espiritu Santo arrive to find carrier forces on both sides of New Caledonia. Chaos reigns as the enemy bombers hesitate before going into their bombing run. Wildcats jump the attackers shooting down two SPs and breaking up the formation which returns to base unsuccessful.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
Invasion force Alpha from Fiji escorted by the cruiser USS Houston with a full destroyer group arrive. G4Ms returning from their attack on taskforce 25 are turned around at Noumea air base as fast as possible with a new complement of bombs. However during the resupply transports carrying elements of 9th Corps reach the security of the flak net put up by screening battleships and cruisers. By the time the Bettys can break through the confusion they have overflown the transports and fail to hit any targets.

[Remington700]

New Caledonia
The 9th Corps hits the beach meeting little resistance, losing 1 SP. The invasion force was loaded up with supply before boarding landing ships, and by avoiding interception they maintain a level of 73% effectiveness.

[Remington700]

Espiritu Santo
250 miles north, just off Espiritu Santo Task force 21 arrives in the New Hebrides archipelago. The G4Ms that recently returned from a failed bombing run are still in a state of confusion. Not realizing they were followed back by the US carriers, the Bettys are late to respond to this new threat. Once in the air they are met with heavy flak and Wildcats. Losing 1 SP their formation is once again broken up and forced to return to base without damaging a ship.

[Remington700]

Espiritu Santo
While the enemy air units are tied up with flak and CAP, the 2nd Marine Division lands on a friendly beach unopposed. However, the nearby port is well guarded and will be hard to take. As the perfectly coordinated invasions land troops on both islands, they are protected by the total control of air and sea for miles around.

Australia
Heavy Rain. No air operations.

West Coast
The SS-212 Gato heads to Australia. Followed by the CV Bunker Hill.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No builds.
India: No builds.
Red China: 1 Supply unit.
US: B-17 Naval Air.

Convoys
US: No Change. 50 OPs to Canada. 50 PPs and 30 OPs to India.

[John B.]

I think it was Johhny Horton (of Sink the Bismark fame) who sang The Battle of New Orleans where "they ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em"

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: John B.

I think it was Johhny Horton (of Sink the Bismark fame) who sang The Battle of New Orleans where "they ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em"

It was. I used to listen to it as a little kid and still do every now and then. Drives my wife nuts.

[kennonlightfoot]

I was looking back at the beginning of your AAR and noticed that the India front had four Corps size units on it by Mar 15th. I was wondering how you were able to put together such strong units on the amount of production India has even with UK help? India starts with only one Corps which is a division strength plus 7 understrength divisions scattered about.

Did you have enough production points to create three new divisions to combine with existing to make Corps or produce three new Corps in addition to the existing forces? And, if so did you have to turn off repair/reinforcements to do it?

[Remington700]

At the start of the 1941 scenario you get 10 Indian divisions. Plus the a reinforcement division at the first of March and one in April. The 4 corps I had in play during March are a bit deceptive as three of them are small corps not completely filled out.

For replacements, the UK sent max PPs to India. The US stopped sending PPs to Australia and NZ after a few turns (I did keep 2 oil a piece flowing to them). The remaining 37ish US PPs then went to India providing 50+ PPs per turn. India did not build anything. All PPs were set to fill in units as fast as possible. I prioritized key units and set the HQ to upgrade off. The air unit did not fill out as all PPs were used up before hitting the air upgrade segment of the turn.

[kennonlightfoot]

That means you combined six divisions into three. The fourth one looks like the full strength, 30, unit. There is also at least one HQ near by. That leaves only Bombay probably garrisoned and two undefended ports in your rear. Is that correct? Can't the Japanese take these and drop some armies into the Indian rear? Also, Bombay might be vulnerable to invasion with only a single division garrison.

[Remington700]

Yes you are spot on. Bombay is lightly garrisoned. Madras and Mangalore are undefended.

TBH when I started this game I never even thought of invading Bombay. I assumed it would not work. Once I realized it would I chose not to do so as I wanted to play a game of Pacific warfare rather than a battle for India. Still do. So I guess in a haphazard way I started with a house rule: No invasion of Bombay as long as it is garrisoned. As for Madras and Mangalore being left undefended, that is a calculated risk. I didn't think 100 supply points would sustain much of an invasion, and still don't. Calcutta is a different story. IMO I left it to lightly defended.

I have learned a lot as I go, and will do quite a few things different in my next game. But a couple of things stand out. I am not happy with the damage that a full CV/BB naval group can do to convoys. It made a mess and forced me to do something "gamey" that I am still regretting. I moved US troops to India so they could take replacements without the use of convoys. This has made the battle for Burma interesting but just does not feel right to me. Although I do believe if Bombay had been invaded in 1942 the UK would have had second thoughts about US support in the Pacific Theater. I think the US would have gone to India rather than North Africa or Italy - the loss of India being totally unacceptable. Just my opinion.