Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Allied: August 13th 1944

China
The push in northern China continues. The Chinese 19th, 27th and 34th Armies attack the positions of the Japanese 17th Army doing minor damage but not moving the dug-in enemy. The 17th and 23rd Imperial armies are a problem and may have to be flanked to get them out of their positions.

There are three turns of good weather left so the original plan is altered to reflect the upcoming constraints. The map below shows the planned defensive line going into winter. Flanking and moving back the Japanese 17th and 23rd armies is the key to reaching the objective by October.

Indochina
The heavy rain continues and the front remains quiet. With receiving only a basic amount of supply the units stay in place rather than expend resources unnecessarily. Even if Singapore falls the supply situation will not improve. The key to this area is Bangkok so that is the nut to crack once the weather improves. As previously mentioned, an overwhelming concentration of air and ground units along with an abundance of supply trucks will be the only way to budge the enemy.

[Remington700]

Convoy Attacks
US submarines hunting convoys in the East China Sea find targets. SS-173 Pike finds a Merchant Marine and immediately sinks it. Escorting destroyers are ineffective and the Pike easily escapes without taking any damage. To the north the Skipjack successfully targets a freighter and immediately sets her afire. An escorting destroyer heads straight at the sub with depth charges at the ready. The experienced crew of the Skipjack calmly launches a spread of torpedoes sticking one down the throat of the destroyer, blowing the bow off the ship causing it to immediately sink. As the burning freighter sinks the Skipjack slinks away without taking any damage during the conflict.

[Remington700]

Malaya
The BB Arizona and multiple supporting heavy cruisers shutdown the Tokyo Express. The IJN 12th destroyer squadron is destroyed. However, if the heavy rains continue the enemy may resume their efforts to send supplies to Malaya.

The weakened US 3rd Corps assaults Singapore but is pushed back. A second attack fails, and the unit is pulled out of the line. They head north to the Pahang River. The 4th Corps moves into the outskirts of Singapore and prepare for a major assault to capture the city. If we can keep the Tokyo Express at bay Singapore should fall next turn.

Dutch East Indies
The US 5th Corps continues to chase the routed 18th Division through the jungle. The enemy loses another 2 SPs and must be close to being totally wiped-out. Receiving new orders, 5th Corps halts offensive operations and returns to Batavia. The Australian 9th Division closes off the enemy’s escape route and after two assaults the Japanese 18th Division is destroyed. All organized resistance on Java and Sumatra has been eliminated. Patrols will continue to round up enemy stragglers and air units will continue to arrive in the area to support the final push on Malaya.

West Coast
The 7th Fighter group arrives with the new P-51 Mustangs (simulated by the 1944 Escort Tech) with drop tanks which extends their range of combat greatly. They are headed to the recently liberated island of Nauru by the US 43rd Division. The Mustangs will be able to provide air superiority over Ponape. The CV Bennington arrives off the west coast and escorts the Mustangs and the 6th and 7th Marine Divisions heading toward Wotje and Enewetak. All in preparation for Operation Hailstone – the neutralization of Truk.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No builds.
India: No builds.
USA: 1 Large Corps

Convoys
USA: 25 OPs to UK
UK: 21 PPs to India

COMINT
USA successfully deciphers a part of the Japanese code.
UK codebreaking attempts are unsuccessful.

[Remington700]

Japan: August 27th 1944

East China
Due to the Allied advance in the north and crossing of the Wei River the line is pulled back 50 miles to free up a division to plug the hole at the point of the spear. The withdrawal from the town of Sinyang hurts but is necessary to shut down the advance. Two divisions have been railed in from Manchukuo to shore up the south shoulder and a division disembarks in Tianjin to help in the north. A wet fall would go a long way to help with the defense.

Indochina
Heavy rain continues in Thailand, Indochina and down through Malaya. Clear weather should arrive in a couple of weeks so this may be the last reprieve before the allies go back on the offensive. The line is strong and backed by air units. Saigon is strongly defended plus coastal defenses should be complete within a month.

I am looking at using either the anti-tank or elite specialties in this area. Fortunately, I cannot see under the hood so I will not be min/maxing the choices and will pick whichever sounds like more fun. (I enjoy the game more when I put down the calculator and do what seems right for the historical situation.) On defense I have had good luck with the anti-tank option added to infantry even when not attacked by armor. Three additional guns on defense reduce the chance of retreat by 18% and fire in round two of combat which mitigates the additional firearms added with the Assault Advancement which fires last.

[Remington700]

Malaya
The 7th MTB group takes advantage of the heavy rain and makes multiple supply runs along the Malayan coast. Singapore may survive another turn. To the south, the DEI are lost. There are no organized Japanese units left on the island. The weather is due to clear and this area will become much harder to hold.

[Remington700]

Reports
Japan: 1 Supply unit. 1 Coastal defense. Replacements are reduced from 200 to 150.

Thailand: 1 Supply unit.

[Remington700]

Allied: August 27th 1944

China
The Red Guard and the 2nd Army hammer the Japanese 24th Division. Dug in the woods, the enemy takes three hits and holds. A follow-on attack does another four SPs in damage pushing the 24th Division back to the main rail line supplying the area. A final assault by the 2nd Red Army overruns the 24th division on the rail embankment destroying the enemy formation. The wore out 2nd Army remains in the woods overlooking the rail line. They are within a 100 miles Tsinan and the important iron mines. The late arriving Chinese 3rd Army shows up in the rear of the Red Army. This has caused great concern for all involved and the 3rd Army will soon move to the south.

North of the Wei and Yellow River convergence the Chinese 19th, 27th and 34th armies continue their push to the sea. Wheeling north they hit the Japanese 17th Army from three directions. Entrenched in the open plains the enemy cannot hold and retreats after losing three SPs. The 20th Army exploits the fifty-mile breach and falls upon the left flank of the 23rd Japanese army holding the key rail junction east of the Yellow River. Joined by the 30th and 27th armies plus the Red Guard they converge on the enemy from all sides. The infantry holds. Two more attempts and the enemy still stubbornly stand their ground. Spent, the Chinese armies stand down to regroup and resupply. Caught in a pocket similar to the historical “fortified goose egg” the 23rd Army may pull out next turn.

Indochina
Heavy rain continues to fall in what may be the season ending storm. Expectations are for dry weather in the coming weeks. All troops in this area stand on alert as an enemy offensive may be coming soon.

Convoy Attacks
With six submarines in the area only four are in active convoy lanes. The Tang and the Wahoo adjust to new locations that should provide better targets. (I had put the subs on unused legs of the East China and Sea of Japan convoy routes). In the East China Sea the Finback has great success sinking two Merchant Marine. However the Devilfish is hit by “ashcans” and returns to Rabaul for repairs. To the north the Skipjack continues to excel sinking another Merchant Marine.

[Remington700]

Malaya
The heavy rain allows the enemy to continually resupply. This will end soon as the weather should clear up over the next few weeks. Following intel from coast watchers the British taskforce moves up the coast to once again shut down the enemy supply lanes. The 7th MTB squadron is caught in the open but slips away without taking heavy damage. (The recon value was medium, so I burnt a COMINT unit to improve my chances of destroying the enemy resupply group. Even with the very high recon level generated by the coast watchers the MTBs still managed to survive my naval bombardment.)

US forces supplied by destroyers renew their assault on Singapore, battling both the mud and the enemy. Supported by heavy naval bombardment as all aircraft are grounded, the 4th Corps breaks through the line and overruns General Adachi's headquarters in Singapore. The city and port are finally in allied hands. The hope is to have the dry docks up and running within a couple of weeks. Just north of the city the surrounded Japanese 15th Army continues to receive supply and remains dug in with emplaced guns. They will not go down without a fight.

Central Pacific
Preparations for Operation Hailstone, the neutralization of Truk , continue with the 7th Marine Division arriving in Enewetak and the 6th Marine Division disembarking in Tarawa. The CV Bennington makes port in Enewetak to rendezvous with the BB Missouri. Additional naval support will be needed before the operation can be launched.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: 6 Oilers.
India: No builds.
USA: 4 Landing ships. 3 Supply units. 3 Oilers.

Convoys
USA: 25 OPs to India.
USA: 25 OPs to UK.
UK: 21 PPs to India.

[John B.]

Taking Singapore with a year left to go is a big win for the Allies. Now you have a major port just a few days' sail away from Manila.

Any plans to start strat bombing the HI anytime in the near future?

[Remington700]

Japan: September 10th 1944

East China
The Red Chinese Army is showing signs of weakening however Nationalist Chinese armies seem to be endless. The 52nd Division remains dug-in on the Yellow River at the major rail junction to the south. They have orders to hold until relieved as the bridge cannot be lost. To the north the 17th Army pulls out of the important rail junction at Kaifeng. This will cede a supply route to south for the enemy however it is necessary to plug the gap and stop the Chinese advance. The 20th Division pulls back to the woods to dig-in along the Taiuan railroad.

Indochina
The heavy rains have begun to slow. The Thailand line is strong and well supplied. Infantry are dug-in and await the enemy’s attack. To the south, the air wings in the Saigon warzone are flying multiple sorties and taking heavy losses.

[Remington700]

Malaya
With the fall of Singapore, the fate of the 15th Army has been sealed. Patrol boats continue to run supply under cover of rain squalls so the infantry can hold out for as long as possible. Recon is high offshore and multiple Allied carriers are spotted. Repeated sorties are flown by Judy and Betty bombers from Saigon seeking high value targets. Losses are very high losing a total of 22 SPs in the operation, but the results are well worth the price. Late in the day the CV Saratoga II is caught without sufficient CAP allowing Bettys to slip through the screen and hit her multiple times with aerial torpedoes. The carrier erupts in flame and eventually rolls over and sinks into the ocean.

Responding to the known location of the US carriers the Combined Fleet sends Task Force 15 on a hit and run mission to strike the enemy while they are busy fighting off the attacks of land-based planes. All five carriers and battleships steam at full speed through the South China Sea toward the enemy. The task force is intercepted by Mitchell bombers a hundred miles from the US carriers. Air causalities are light on both sides, however with the loss of surprise the task force changes course and returns to Manila.

[Remington700]

Reports

Japan: No builds. Replacements are increased from 150 to 250.

[Remington700]

Allied: September 10th 1944

Thailand
A plan is drawn up for the capture of Bangkok which should eliminate the supply problem in this theater. Once captured, plans can be made to push south towards Saigon or northeast to Haiphong. Operation Springboard – the invasion from the Gulf of Thailand is drawn up and awaits final approval. It will require two US Marine divisions and two Infantry Corps and will be supported by two rotating CV taskforces. In addition to the coordinated attacks from the Anglo-Indian Army along the Ping River. This is a complicated plan requiring a large commitment of force. The US Navy is against the plan favoring a hard push across the Central Pacific capturing Truk, Guam and Iwo Jima to cut off the Japanese mainland from their Pacific holdings.

[Remington700]

Indochina
A separate plan is drawn up for the Invasion of Indochina to capture Cam Ranh. Operation Shoestring will land two Marine divisions to capture and secure the port at Cam Ranh. Supply will be weak, but strong enough to hold the area, allow patrols to cut rail supply from the north coast and to act as a kickoff point for a future invasion of the Mekong Delta. Once again, the US Navy is against the plan as it will require a CV taskforce to maintain control of the South China Sea. With talk of the British Pacific Fleet arriving in full force by the end of the year both operations may be postponed until their arrival.

[Remington700]

Formosa
Commander of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral King strongly supports the invasion of Formosa as a prelude to more direct support of the Chinese Army. - Ian Toll, Pacific War Trilogy. This is an interesting approach but much like history, a strong enemy air presence in the Philippines can cause supply issues. However, it does work both ways and occupation of Formosa would weaken and help to isolate the Japanese buildup in Luzon.

[Remington700]

East China
With winter weather approaching time is running out to gain strategic position going into the wet and cold season. The Chinese 30th Army in a joint attack with the 2nd Red Army hit the positions of the Japanese 23rd Army along the railroad embankment. The ground is open and the enemy is not dug in. However after two failed assaults the attack is called off with little to no gain.

Farther south the 1st, 19th and 34th armies hit the Japanese 52nd Division holding the key rail junction on the Yellow River. The enemy stubbornly holds their ground repelling attack after attack. The 20th, 27th and 33rd armies rotate in replacing the beat-up units to keep the attack moving. Taking a 70% loss in SPs the 52nd is finally forced to retreat east into the marsh. The mobile 1st long range penetration group exploits the breakthrough and captures the rail junction.

[Remington700]

South China
Units along the Jinsha River are stretched out to hold twice as much ground, freeing up armies to help in the north. Even with poor weather on the horizon, the small armies may dig in the heavy immobile guns supplied to garrisoning units. However, with a river to their front and bad weather on the way I am not sure it is worth the loss in mobility.

Borrowing from Kennon’s playbook (see his AAR vs stjeand) the inactive Chinese Air Force is disbanded. They have been a drain on the economy and have not held up against the Japanese air units. I should have done this much earlier. The disbandment provides 125 production points which equates to half a new 1943 army or 34 Strength Points in replacements to existing units.

Convoy Attacks
Moving the Tang and Wahoo to a different convoy lane has returned them to the hunt. The enemy increased their sub hunting efforts as four of the five subs on war patrol take damage. Fortunately, none are sunk but all must return to port for repairs. The Wahoo stays on station searching for prey. The subs Bonefish and Devilfish return to war patrol from the drydock at Rabaul.

[Remington700]

Malaya
A-20 Havocs from Sarawak destroy what's left of the Tokyo Express. This opens the way for heavy aerial bombardment of the final Japanese positions. The 2nd and 4th US Corps supported by naval bombardment and B-25 Mitchells hammer away at the cutoff Japanese 15th Army until they finally surrender. Malaya has now been completely liberated! It will take a month (two turns) to sort out the allied units to equalize supply in the area. Malaya, Borneo and the DEI will all be used for basing key units in the fight for Thailand and Indochina.