The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[John 3rd]

August 4, 1943
New Guinea
D-1 Manus

The Manus TFs make their final approach. The landing will commence tomorrow at dawn.

Just as the day before, over 125 Bombers nail the Manus AF. It is more important the Supply destroyed then the AF hits. The Manus Sz-1 AF is 80% damaged but we do very well today scoring 12 supply hits. The bombers will continue their strikes tomorrow adding two more Sentai of Army Helens to the attack.

The two TF protecting the Landing Force will not bombard tomorrow. We will rely on the BBs and 12 DDs to do their work to get the troops ashore. One TF each day after that shall add their steel to the disruption of the enemy force. We'll see how far along the 32nd ID has repaired itself since the landing two months ago. It was at an AV of 180 last time I saw it.

The add to the uptick in activity, PM will be swept by four Fighter Groups (2 Jacks and 2 George) from Finschhaven and Lae. Lae's AF just went back to fully operational: NICE! The enemy has brought in three supply convoys and two massed strike groups will hit that shipping from Madang and Rabaul. We have 48 Judy at Madang and 36 Nells at Rabaul. They SHOULD have plenty of escorts to help them in. Figure the Sweeps and the Naval Attacks will really get Sean's attention.

We are throwing the dice. Let us see what they turn up for the landing tomorrow!

[John 3rd]

August 5, 1943
Manus Landing

Japan conducts an Amphibious Landing in August 1943! Under the cover of 4 BB and 12 DD, about 60-70% of three ID land. They take casualties but land in GOOD SHAPE! Roughly 25,000 come ashore with another 8,000 to get in tomorrow. Figure final AV to be around 850-950. Enemy has an AV of 230. Supply is plentiful so its looks pretty good.

The enemy bombards and we now have an excellent idea of their strength.

All through the day Japanese Fighters and Bombers engage with a small amount of American Fighters (19 Corsairs) and drop their loads on the Airfield and troops. Flak is AWFUL! Ten Liz fall to enemy AA alone. OUCH! Raise Altitude back up to 10,000 Ft.

Need to figure out how many Forts the enemy has dug. I figure Fort-3 at this point. Got to raise disruption. Order 4 CA, 2 CL, and 10 DD to bombard tomorrow.

Here is what is fighting at the base and are, hopefully, about to become Prisoners-of-War:

[John 3rd]

August 5, 1943
Other News

I need about 10 days of time to take this base down. Do you think the Allies will provide it??

The Carrier Fleet has been licking its wounds and getting repairs done. In about 14 days we'll be ready for a serious fight. Got a new CV about to enter service tomorrow so I'll Post a screnshot of her with the next turn.

Fierce ATA this turn over PM. 245 Japanese Fighters come in over five waves and encounter 105 Allied Fighters (50% P-38). Shot down 2-1 in this arena of the fight.

Over Tagula, two Allied TFs drop anchor and start unloading supplies and fuel. They have 15 Fighters providing CAP. The Fighters are quickly overwhelmed by 30 M5 Zeros escorting 43 Vals. ALL the Vals get through and plaster the French CL Jean de Vienne with 3 250 Kg Bombs, sink DD Le Hardi with 4 hits, and smack an AK with 2 more bombs.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

August 5, 1943
Manus Landing

Japan conducts an Amphibious Landing in August 1943! Under the cover of 4 BB and 12 DD, about 60-70% of three ID land. They take casualties but land in GOOD SHAPE! Roughly 25,000 come ashore with another 8,000 to get in tomorrow. Figure final AV to be around 850-950. Enemy has an AV of 230. Supply is plentiful so its looks pretty good.

The enemy bombards and we now have an excellent idea of their strength.

All through the day Japanese Fighters and Bombers engage with a small amount of American Fighters (19 Corsairs) and drop their loads on the Airfield and troops. Flak is AWFUL! Ten Liz fall to enemy AA alone. OUCH! Raise Altitude back up to 10,000 Ft.

Need to figure out how many Forts the enemy has dug. I figure Fort-3 at this point. Got to raise disruption. Order 4 CA, 2 CL, and 10 DD to bombard tomorrow.

Here is what is fighting at the base and are, hopefully, about to become Prisoners-of-War:

John,

This will be a tough fight for you. Even without forts, I'm looking at-especially with disruption and fatigue of your landed troops-even odds. 1:2 if you get a bad die roll.

9th ID nominal AV strength is something like 400, isn't it? What's the cause of the seriously understrength OOB? What you're showing on your screenshot is scarcely brigade strength.

[John 3rd]

Hey Sir.

Still have over 8,000 troops to unload. We'll see numbers at that point. My bet is that they will be around 300 or so for each division. The troops have all been used in the recent campaign re-taking Hansa Bay and Lae.

[Canoerebel]

Most of the fighting power comes ashore on day one, especially if the landings begin early. Those last 8k troops are mostly support, arty, etc. So you probably won't see much of a assault value bump.

This line up is pretty typical of what I've seen in our matches. I think you should always try to bring a bit of armor and definitely arty and, if possible, combat engineers and HQ. It's usually impossible to do things that precisely, especially when it's a rapid reaction operation, but usually you can throw in some of those things. Naked infantry is considerably weaker.

I don't think Sean will react unless your opening attack is a real dud, so that he perceives that things might drag out. In that case, he may decide there's a chance - an opportunity - to fight.

[John 3rd]

Hey Mister Dan. Welcome from a very snowy cold Colorado!

I don't intend to attack for a day or two to make sure disruption is good. We'll hit with Naval Bombardments for the next two turns and keep up the aerial side. Have no idea if he'll respond or not. Should know in 3-4 days.

[John 3rd]

August 6, 1943

This LOVELY lady joins the Fleet today. She meets up with a Command Cruiser, two CLs and 4 DD to head for Saipan. Once there, she will join 2 CV and 1 CVL and proceed south to rendezvous with the TF detailed below.

At Saipan 3 CV and 5 CVL form-up, take on aircraft, gain their escorts and head due south towards Manus.

It would appear that the Allies take exception to the Japanese counter-landing at Manus. Two CV TF and two STF are spotted 12-13 hexes SW of Tagula and they are coming north...

[John 3rd]

August 6, 1943

Here is the screenshot of the in-bound enemy:

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

August 6, 1943

Here is the screenshot of the in-bound enemy:

Looks tasty! [8D]

Ndeni, Shortlands, Munda, Tulagi and GC need supply dude. [:'(]

[John 3rd]

Every IMPORTANT base has enough. Have to have priorities at this point--RIGHT??

[John 3rd]

Forgot to mention that we got all troops unloaded at Manus and AV shot up about 200 or so points. That is a GOOD thing!

[John 3rd]

August 7, 1943
Manus

The Allied Fleet holds steady and does not advance.

Japan delivers its first Deliberate Attack at Manus. The three divisions attack and score a 1-2 result. Numbers look pretty good:

1. Forts are only 2.
2. Adjusted score was 466-603.
3. Casualties were 1,193 for Japan (8 lost--111 disabled squads) to 573 Cas, 3 G, and 9 Vehicles for Allies.

Will sit, let the disabled numbers clear a bit and then hit again in conjunction with several Naval Bombardments.

[John 3rd]

Got a turn sitting in my in box and want to talk some new tactics before I see/run the turn.

We have had three CV Engagements so far. Each time has seen the Japanese absolutely ravage the Allied DB and TB but still have some get through to cause a bit of damage. Conversely, the Japanese have paid a similar steep, horrific price for their Attack Planes to get through.

Lessons can be learned.

1. I have off-loaded several of my CV's DB and TB and replaced them with nothing but ZEROS. This will have the dual effect of increasing CAP as well as adding to Strike Escorts.

2. Have increased the number of CVs operating in each TF. There will be eight CVs/CVLs in each TF, coupled with 2-3 Capital Ships, CAs, CLs, and Moon-Class AA DDs. Hope to see better co-ordination and strength here.

3. Am taking a page from the Japanese Tactics of Guadalcanal. Really need to knock down the Allied CAP. Only way to do that is to seriously fight it and not lose TB/DB. At Madang, Rabaul, and Kavieng, I am setting up small strike units of 9-12 bombers with two or more large Fighter units to create strikes of 100 Fighters and 9 Bombers to soak off and destroy the Allied Wildcats/Hellcats. These strikes will be, in fact, be weak Fighter Sweeps. Japan used that tactic in September--October 1942 and it seems like a good idea. I have good qualitative advantage in doing this since I will be using JACKS and GEORGES instead of the M5.

4. Purposefully leave small AK TF at each of these bases hoping to draw an Allied Strike where a much more effective CAP can punish the Allied attacks.

OK. Those are the essential notes.

Ideas? Comments? Useful Thoughts?


I really, REALLY want to hold off on a massed battle right now as I will see MISTER FRANK enter service within 30 days and am two months away from MISTER GEORGE being available for carrier decks.

The goal will be to continue to CRIT his CV-Based air and keep the CV's intact until the GEORGE enters operation.

[John 3rd]

August 8, 1943

The enemy advances close to Umboi Isle.

The Japanese, practicing hit them where they AIN'T, flies a strike against shipping at Tagula and sinks 3 AK for the loss of 12 Vals.

Most importantly...BOTH MISTER FRANK and MISTER GEORGE advance this turn. FRANK is due within 10-12 days: BANZAI! GEORGE comes forward a month to Feb 1944. This plane is advancing 2-3 months to every month of game time. Got 150 fully repaired factories bringing GEORGE forward ASAP.

Prepare a CAP Trap over Madang and a Bomber Sweep from Rabaul.

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Got a turn sitting in my in box and want to talk some new tactics before I see/run the turn.

We have had three CV Engagements so far. Each time has seen the Japanese absolutely ravage the Allied DB and TB but still have some get through to cause a bit of damage. Conversely, the Japanese have paid a similar steep, horrific price for their Attack Planes to get through.

Lessons can be learned.

1. I have off-loaded several of my CV's DB and TB and replaced them with nothing but ZEROS. This will have the dual effect of increasing CAP as well as adding to Strike Escorts.

2. Have increased the number of CVs operating in each TF. There will be eight CVs/CVLs in each TF, coupled with 2-3 Capital Ships, CAs, CLs, and Moon-Class AA DDs. Hope to see better co-ordination and strength here.

3. Am taking a page from the Japanese Tactics of Guadalcanal. Really need to knock down the Allied CAP. Only way to do that is to seriously fight it and not lose TB/DB. At Madang, Rabaul, and Kavieng, I am setting up small strike units of 9-12 bombers with two or more large Fighter units to create strikes of 100 Fighters and 9 Bombers to soak off and destroy the Allied Wildcats/Hellcats. These strikes will be, in fact, be weak Fighter Sweeps. Japan used that tactic in September--October 1942 and it seems like a good idea. I have good qualitative advantage in doing this since I will be using JACKS and GEORGES instead of the M5.

4. Purposefully leave small AK TF at each of these bases hoping to draw an Allied Strike where a much more effective CAP can punish the Allied attacks.

OK. Those are the essential notes.

Ideas? Comments? Useful Thoughts?


I really, REALLY want to hold off on a massed battle right now as I will see MISTER FRANK enter service within 30 days and am two months away from MISTER GEORGE being available for carrier decks.

The goal will be to continue to CRIT his CV-Based air and keep the CV's intact until the GEORGE enters operation.

Regarding coordination of carrier air strikes: Are the penalties only for allied carriers? If so - is this an attempt to level the playing field as the allies will receive so many more carriers than Japan? I'm wondering if it might not be better to form two Japanese Death Stars...

The coordination of air strikes is affected by how many Carrier aircraft are based in
the TF launching a strike. The chance of uncoordination is doubled under the following
circumstances:
»» Allied TF in 1942 and the number of aircraft in the
TF is greater than 100 + rnd (100).
»» Allied TF in 1943 and the number of aircraft in the
TF is greater than 150 + rnd (150).
»» Allied TF in 1944 or later or a Japanese TF at any time and the
number of aircraft in the TF is greater than 200 + rnd (200).

[HansBolter]

The coordination penalty is almost non-existent.

The percentage chances of it happening under any of the stated circumstances must be almost nil.

I have played tens of thousands of turns to base this on.

From '44 on I have had 6 primary American fleet carrier TFs operating together in the same hex as a Death Star.
They each carry anywhere from 450-550 air craft.

Every strike I have launched has been a coordinated strike sending in 250-300 DBs and 450+ TBs.

Every one of those TFs exceeds the potential max of 400 aircraft for an Allied TF post '43 before invoking the penalty.

I have not incurred the penalty once.

So, yes, concentration is key, but not with everything in one TF. It would be too large and unwieldy.
IIRC there is also a 25 ship limit on Air Combat TFs.

[John 3rd]

Thanks for the notes and observations guys.

[John 3rd]

August 9, 1943

The enemy moves north of New Britain and we begin to BLEED the Allied airpower through a 'Bomber' Sweep and drawing an Allied air strike against shipping at Madang.

THe 'Bomber' Sweep featured 91 Fighters escorting 6 DB vs. 412 Allied Fighters. Here is a screenshot:

[John 3rd]

...so you see that, now the air raids that come into Madang are UNESCORTED! Three waves of 49 Avengers, 17 Fulmar, and 14 Avengers run into nearly 100 Fighters flying CAP over the base.

YUMMY!!!

Here are losses, by Tracker, for the day: