Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Intelligence units gather minimal intel in the Caroline Islands. This identifies enemy shipping in the area but does not raise local recon levels above low. This could cause a targeting problem before the battle is over. B-24s from Kavieng spot the enemy fleet and target the biggest carrier of the group. The Shinano is hit multiple times and soon breaks up and sinks offshore of Truk. Enemy air losses are high at 4 SPs plus the loss of 8 on the carrier. (The Shinano is an oversized CV with 4 SPs instead of 3 and carries 8 planes instead of six.)

[Remington700]

Task Force 58
The six carriers of Task Force 58 turn into the wind and launch a full load of bombers to seek out the enemy ships. Unable to spot the Japanese carriers TBF Avengers and Helldivers target screening battleships. The BB Hyuga takes multiple hits and is set afire. The ship loses power and becomes a sitting duck slowly taking on water. It will sink later in the day. The BC Kongo is hit with a perfectly executed anvil attack by TBFs which punch holes in her hull causing her to immediately sink. With two battleships sunk the US bombers return to their ships. They arrive to find the light carrier Monterey heavily damaged but still under power. The CV Hornet does not fare as well. She has taken multiple hits and is sinking. Planes are redirected to the remaining carriers however many have to ditch causing additional aerial losses.

As the CV Monterey slips back to Rabaul for repairs the remaining four US carriers launch bombers and escorts to take one last stab at the enemy carriers. The BB Fuso is spotted and hit multiple times. However, remaining underpower the battleship escapes leaving a light trail of oil. During this action a small group of Japanese bombers power through heavy flak losing 3 SPs but manage to drop a bomb on the Enterprise. Damage is light and the carrier will still be able to land her planes.

[Remington700]

Task Force 57
Task Force 57 leaves station off Ponape and seeks out the enemy fleet. South of Truk scout planes spot the smoke of a battleship so planes are launched to attack the enemy. Not long after, Japanese Judys and Jills target the CV Bennington doing severe damage. The BB Valiant puts up heavy screening Akk-Akk fire knocking down 3 SPs before taking a single hit from a bomb. Damage is light and the ship remains under power and continues with the screen. One hundred-fifty miles away British and American bombers spot the enemy fleet and target their carriers. The CVL Hosho is hit once by a torpedo but most of the attackers cannot penetrate the AAA screen. The Haruna is putting a mighty wall of fire but draws the attention of multiple dive-bombers. Helldivers swarm the battleship hitting her time and again. Finally, the abandon ship order is given, and enemy sailors hit the sea to avoid the uncontrollable fires. The ship slowly rolls and sinks bow first. The loss of air units is high on both sides with the allies losing seven SPs while the enemy loses five.

Turning back into the wind Task Force 57 launches another strike before the enemy can return. Japanese planes are spotted on the horizon and F6F Hellcats respond shooting down 2 SPs but losing 1 in a furball. D4Y Judy dive-bombers slip through the screen and hit the British carriers. The Formidable takes a hit and the Illustrious is severely damaged in the attack. The BB Ramillies is targeted and takes a hit before putting up enough flak to keep the enemy planes at bay. Off Truk the enemy fleet somehow remains hidden. Late in the day a Helldiver flying a scout mission locates the BB Yamahiro and successfully hits her with a bomb. Damage is light and the plane leaves the area before being jumped by enemy fighters.

[Remington700]

Ponape
Task Force 47 with the CA Salt Lake City and light cruisers Boise and Helena leaves port at Enewetak and steams to Ponape. Their mission is to sink the enemy ships off the island and then set up a blockade. British subs will help with the encirclement. Upon arrival the taskforce is attacked by local Betty bombers. P-51 Mustangs flying long range CAP from Nauru drop tanks and jump the bombers. Four SPs are shot down and the fifth and final SP is dropped by AA fire on the Boise. The enemy air units are destroyed! However, the Japanese ships are hard to find. The taskforce fails to locate them as do three air strikes from surrounding islands.

Tactically the US are winning the naval battle but have lost the strategic advantage as Japan has successfully resupplied both Ponape and Truk. The landings will be delayed; however Operation Hailstone will continue. The naval base in Truk is desperately needed, not only as a VP location, but as a key naval base to support attacks in the Marianas and Philippines. Now all that remains is to see if the enemy carriers will strike again or leave the area.

West Coast
The Battleship Wisconsin arrives at Treasure Island to resupply before heading on their way. They will escort the 11th Corps and a HQ unit to Australia. The 13th Corps arrives and will await orders on deployment.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: 1 Supply truck. 1 Oiler.
Canada: 1 Supply truck.
India: No builds.
China: 1 Infantry Army.
USA: 2 Marine divisions. 3 Supply units. 2 Oilers. 3 Landing ships.

Convoys
UK: 24 PPs to India
USA: 125 PPs to India
USA: 25 OPs to India
USA: 10 OPs to UK

Advancements
The US Long Range Submarines finally hit the 1944 tech level. This gives then an added surface attack point which should improve damage. Strategic bombing is still 71 days from 1943 tech. I may have made a mistake not researching this early enough to get to the 1945 level and the plus “10” to range.

[Remington700]

ORIGINAL: John B.

I think that in general you are way ahead of schedule. You've already liberated Singapore, Rangoon, and the DEI plus New Guinea and in China you're forging ahead plus you're next to Bangkok. As for the IJN, given that they don't have any DEI oil to bring home anymore, do you really need to sacrifice the navy to defend the Philippines? Or does it make sense to just make it a land based fortress that makes the allies slog through it to liberate it and use the navy in the north for sporadic supply runs to Manila or the ports in the north?

I keep saying it because it keeps being true, but this is a great AAR. Thanks!

Thank you for reading the AAR! It is great to get feedback from a different perspective. And to your point I think the fleet needs to base out of Nagasaki to have more of a presence in the north. There is plenty of ground and land based air to defend the Luzon. I have been worrying about landings combined with a blockade that would shut down supply. Looking closely at the map, playing Japan I should be worrying more about Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The allies can bypass the Marianas and put heavy bombers within range of the home islands. And then attack down to Formosa effectively cutting off the Philippines. And possibly Shanghai. I think Japan needs the naval defense in this area.

[Remington700]

Japan: November 5th 1944

Indochina
The 15th Army splits to form the 33rd Army. Together, these small armies will control 100 miles of the line in the north around the Mekong River. This frees up a full-strength army that can replace the beat-up 18th Army along the Ping River. This also allows the 2nd Division to move farther south along the coast railroad towards Battambang. This will widen the defense against an invasion to cut supply to Bangkok.

East China
The rain changes to snow. Unit effectiveness remains strong but will slowly decrease during the snow months. (Snow reduces effectiveness by 10% per turn.) Supply units will only be used in extreme circumstances as they are needed for combat recovery.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
The carriers of the Combined Fleet take one last crack at sinking a US capital ship. After an early morning attack that does minor damage to the CV Wasp, the fleet steams to Guam to hide from the enemy. They will then make their way back to Manila to help with the defense of the area.

The naval battle in the Caroline Islands is over. This is a strategic win for Japan as the islands are resupplied and the allied 5th Fleet will have to withdraw for repairs and replacements. Tactically Japan got the worst of it losing three battleships and a supersized fleet carrier. The allies lose two battleships and a fleet carrier. (In game terms a plus for Japan will be the reduction of oil upkeep due to the loss of capital ships.)
- Japan: CV Shinano. BB Hyuga. BC Kongo. BC Haruna.
- US: CV Hornet. BB Maryland. BB Arizona.

[Remington700]

Builds
Japan: 3 Supply units. Replacements remain at 150.

Oil is becoming a problem. At the current rate there is only enough to last until mid-March of 1945. The allies are behind the curve with VP locations so there will be some big battles to come. Naval movement will be restricted, and planes will be transported by ship or rail to help reduce oil spent on upkeep.

[Remington700]

Allied: November 5th 1944

Indochina
With main supply reaching air units in Burma they recover a large amount of effectiveness. Fourteen air strikes are launched against the recently arrived 21st Army. The enemy unit is crushed under the weight of the intense bombing. A coordinated attack between British and Indian corps supported by Fairey Barracuda dive-bombers pushes the 21st Army from their positions along the river. The British 11th Corp exploits the gap and moves to the river separating them from Bangkok. They will hold this ground at all costs.

This made me think a bit. I was prepared to launch multiple attacks before causing an enemy retreat. At first, I thought it was the loss in effectiveness, but it could be I forget to set the Japanese units to “Hold”. If so, that was bad play on my part.

I left the supply overlay up to show how the capture of Bangkok will dramatically help allied supply in the area. Once under control I believe the rail line will repair along the Ping River all the way to Chiang Mai. That should increase the supply levels in the north part of the line and may present opportunities to push to the coast at Vinh.

[Remington700]

China
Supply in South China is stretched thin. With the loss of the railroad from Kweiyang to Hongshui supply cannot reach much farther. And without the supply flowing along the rail line it is all but impossible to push on to Changsha. Come spring, troops may be pulled from this area to aid in the north.

Playing Japan, I was thinking I gained nothing by capturing Kweiyang. It turned to be a huge defensive move to protect South China. The lack of allied supply in this area will aid in keeping the road from Haiphong to Zhanjiang open. This in turn will help to keep supply flowing down into Indochina.

Convoy Attacks
The Tang and Bonefish hunting as a pack spot and sink three Merchant Marine. Enemy escorts are quick to respond causing major damage to the Tang and Bonefish. Both boats will return to Rabaul for repairs. To the east the Devilfish and Skipjack are hunting in a pack and manage to sink two more merchant marine. Neither sub took damage from escorts, and both boats just received the 1944 tech. I am not sure if that made a difference, but with the success of the packs, the arriving Pike, Finback and Wahoo will join the group and hunt together.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Operation hailstone is off to a rugged start. The 5th Fleet has been shot up and both Truk and Ponape have been resupplied. Not quite back to ground zero, but close. Another intelligence asset is dropped on Ponape to provide improved intel. Recon in the surrounding is “very low” which makes targets extremely hard to hit. The intel unit provides a +3-bonus raising the recon level to “low”. This is disappointing. Targeting enemy destroyers, two attacks by B-24s of the 9th bomber group “fail to find the enemy”. So, the allies do this the old fashion way. The 5th Marine Division hits the beach at Ponape taking a hit in the process. They attack, supported by naval bombardment, taking three hits inflicting one. This causes the intel level to raise to +4 pushing the recon level to medium. B-24s of the 11th bomber group strike at the Japanese naval units supplying the island. The first attack fails to find the enemy, but the second successfully destroys the Japanese 5th destroyer squadron. The blockade resumes! A second attack by the 5th Marines cause the defending 67th division to surrender. (Removing the enemy supply line caused the unit to surrender which means it is permanently destroyed. If the unit was still in supply, it would have shattered and returned to play in a few turns.)

Bismarck Sea
B-24s of the US 10th Bomber Group relocate from Manus Island to Rabaul where they are still within range of Truk. P-51s of the 7th Fighter Group fly into Manus to fly escort with the B-24s.

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: 1 Supply truck. 1 Oiler.
India: 1 Infantry Army
Red China: 1 Supply unit.
USA: No builds. Saving PPs for naval repairs.

Convoys
UK: 24 PPs to India
USA: 100 PPs to India
USA: 25 OPs to India
USA: 10 OPs to UK

[John B.]

I was surprised at how poorly the American fleet air arm performed in the battle. If the allies had not been lucky and landbased level bombers had not sunk the Japanese CV (and a heavy one at that) it would be been a very bad outing for the US.

[Remington700]

Japan: November 19th 1944

Indochina
The Royal Army in Bangkok digs in anti-tank guns along the banks of the river. The fixed positions will reduce mobility but there is no intention to retreat. The unit will hold at all costs. There was great discussion about launching a counter offensive to push the British 11th Corps back across the Ping River. However the odds of success (2:1) are not strong enough to succeed, even with air support. The Judy dive-bombers in the Mekong Delta are placed on alert and will support the defense of Bangkok. Nearby A6m3 Zeros receive extra supply and will fly escort with the bombers. One hundred miles to the east the 2nd Division finishes the coastal defenses outside of Battambang. Their mission is to keep the railroad to Saigon open.

This was a hard call to remain on defense. Last turn I made a big mistake and forgot to set the 21st Army on hold at all costs which put us in this pickle. I don’t want to make another mistake acting impulsively and attacking at low odds. I just worry the Thailand unit will not hold up under sustained attack.

East China
The snow has turned to rain allowing effectiveness to rise. Supply is fine all along the line. Nothing much will happen here until the weather clears in May.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
The Combined Fleet receives large amounts of replacement planes so they take another shot at the enemy 5th Fleet. (You must be in a level 5 port to repair naval damage, but it seems you can be in a supplied port and receive air replacements. I did to realize this until now.) The carrier force steams from Guam to within striking range of the enemy fleet. Either the allied area intel is so bad the movement does not trigger an interdiction, or the enemy taskforce is set to raider mode. Regardless, combat does not take place. The Combined Fleet returns to Guam and will leave the area next turn. Unless another hit and run opportunity comes up.

[Remington700]

Builds
Japan: 1 Supply unit. 1 Division. Replacements remain 150.

COMINT: 1 intelligence asset. Rework encryption codes. (Attempting to keep allied recon low.)

[Remington700]

Allied: November 19th 1944

Thailand
Eight airstrikes are launched against the Royal Army in Bangkok. A6m3 Zeros challenge these raids losing 11 SPs while shooting down 4 SPs in multiple furballs. The enemy is weakened. In support of a coming amphibious operation B-24s on Borneo fly two airstrikes on Saigon targeting enemy planes. Three SPs are lost and it is doubtful there was much impact to the enemy planes.

The 4th Marine Division lands one hundred miles south of Bangkok to push towards Battambang. Their landing ships are unescorted and are hit hard by Judy dive-bombers from the Mekong Delta. The Marines take a six-step loss or 40% causalities but manage to get ashore. Unfortunately, they are in no condition to get far from the beach. The US 5th Corps begins to land directly south of Bangkok. They are attacked by Judy dive-bombers but suffer no damage. The enemy bombers are shot up badly by P-38s taking a 4 SP loss while the fighters take no hits. The 5th Corp hits the beach and prepares for the assault on the city. Directly to the east the US 4th Corps lands taking heavy fire. They lose 3 SPs coming ashore but are still functional and prepare for the assault on Bangkok.

At H-Hour, after three airstrikes pound Bangkok, the British 10th Corps with attached siege artillery and the Indian 3rd Corp launch their assault of the city. They are joined by the US corps leaving the beach and pushing inland. Supported by Fairey dive-bombers all four corps hit the enemy at once in a well-coordinated attack. The enemy takes 7 hits but holds their ground. Allied losses are light with 3 SPs spread across four corps. A second push breaks the enemy lines and force a surrender. The British 12th Corps advances into Bangkok to surround the Grand Palace and demand an unconditional surrender from Prime Minister Phibun. The 11th Destroyer group arrives offshore to resupply local forces and to demonstrate a show of naval force in the area.

[Remington700]

China
Chinese forces in Indochina attack south of Haiphong taking a 3-step loss while inflicting one. North of Haiphong three armies launch an assault with each side taking a two SP loss. No ground is gained but the attacks should draw some enemy troops in this direction. The 7th Army is pulled from the line around the agricultural facilities and moves south towards the You River. The Japanese army is weak in this area and the weather is good, so the minor attacks will continue until the enemy puts a stop to it.

Convoy Attacks
The pack of five subs successfully sink two Merchant Marine with only the Finback taking minor damage. However, it is enough for the boat to head back to Rabaul for repairs. The pack is joined by the Bonefish returning to war patrol.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
With Operation Hailstone still underway the 5th Marine division pushes inland and secures Ponape. It will soon be used as an airbase for B-25 Mitchells to bomb Truk. The 5th Fleet leaves the area returning to Rabaul for repairs and replacements. Two British submarine groups remain offshore to secure the area from blockade. The plan is to resume the offensive against Truk next turn. Time is running out for the Allies.

B-24s from the 9th and 10th Bomber Groups attack the airfield at Truk. A6m3s flying CAP are jumped by P-51s from Manus which shoot down 9 SPs while losing 5 during the dustup. Damage at the airfield appears to be minimal but the loss in enemy fighters will further strain the Japanese ability to replace loses.

West Coast
The BB Massachusetts arrives on the west coast and will escort jeep carriers transporting a B-24 Bomber Group to Australia.