Shattered Vow

[Grotius]

Exciting game you have going, Canoerebel! And it's cool to see these later-war CVs in action. I'm looking forward to the tussle at Tarawa.

[Canoerebel]

Some of my Navy and Marine squadrons are on frontline duty at the big bases ringing the northern periphery of Oz.  Those that aren't on the frontlines are training at 70% (fighters set to escort, bombers for naval strike).  I have no idea how to set training for Nav B and Nav C and Nav Q and UnNav L and SemiNavT and QuasiNav V and InnyNav S and OutyNav H etc. etc. etc. I really don't want to know.  I find the micromanagement of pilots tedious and a distraction/detraction from the strategic nature of the game [I understand that most players disagree].
 
Yes, Japan's loss of 500+ pilots creates a window of opportunity.  The Allies have already capitalized by pulling the trigger on the invasion of Babo (190 AV landed with lots of engineers and base force personnel).  Prior to the big air battle the date to implement this operation hadn't been set.  The second move will be to proceed with the invasion of Tarawa.  Assuming this turns out well it will help the Allies by knocking out the most forward Japanese bases that were supporting subs and threatening my supply line.  One the Tarawa invasion is complete, the transports and some troops will join the newly arrived carriers in moving to the DEI.  At that point I think the Allies will press pretty hard in the DEI.  But that's probably a good six weeks off and who knows how much strength the KB will have regained by then - probably alot.
 
Are you thinking, "Hmm, you need to strike faster!"  I can't move in the DEI until my carriers are in place and that would be at least four weeks anyhow.  Too, I need some time to build up the new base of Babo.  The main determinant on the speed of the Allied advance in the DEI is taking new bases and building them up before moving to the next base.  I've got Babo and once it's at about level three it'll be time to move on Boela or Sorong.
 
P-47s have just arrived at Adelaide - three squadrons.  Experience is low - in the 40s - so it'll take a few weeks to train them up and put them into the front lines.
 
Saumlaki's airfield just went to level six.  I transferred four B-24D1 squadrons there (the other two slots are held by fighters).  The Liberators will fly the first strike against Makassar.  So the "danger zone" for Japanese shipping just got pushed a bit further into the DEI.

[Chickenboy]

Canoerebel, et. al.,

I was wondering if your Paramushiro / Oniwhatever invasions that triggered the Imperial homeguard reinforcements will serve to trigger Kamikazes on January 1, 1944? Does the early activation of Kamis only factor in where your forces are on January 1 or where they have been? Anyone know?

[Canoerebel]

The situation in the eastern DEI as we near the end of July 1943.

The Allies have just taken Babo, a base on the western tip of New Guinea. It can be built up to level four port/level five airfield. Once improved to permit basing of 100 or 150 aircraft the Allies can move forward to either Boela or Sorong.

The other bases contained in the blue-lined perimter are shaping up nicely - especially Suamlaki (level six airfield on the way to eight) and Babar (level five on the way to seven).

Once the Allied carriers arrive in theater en masse it should be possible for the Allies to expedite the advance. The carriers will operate under an umbrella of protection provided by these air bases. It should be pretty difficult for the Japanese to penetrate the combined land/carrier CAP, yet Miller will be pretty desperate to impede/stop/contest what should be an inexorable, steady Allied advance. That's the game plan in a nutshell.

The main Allied air bases are at Ambon (this one is too close to the Allied air bases so Miller only uses it occasionally), Kendari, and Makassar.

Manikawari and Beola are lightly garrisoned. Sorong has four units but the airbase is still a zero.

[Canoerebel]

Here's the map for Operation Griswoldville - the invasion of Tarawa.

Most of the troops transports just left Pago Pago. They've made just seven hexes and it's a pretty fair journey from PP to Tarawa, so D-Day may be a good week off. This group is carrying three Marine regiments, two Army regiments, artillery, engineers and base forces.

To the north, a TF carrying a Marine regiment is nearing the rendezvous point between Canton and Baker islands.

Further to the north, a TF carrying an Army division is well south of Pearl Harbor and should arrive at the rendezvous point on time.

Recon shows five units 25k strong at Tarawa. That's no pushover. But surely one division, four Marine regiments, and two Army regiments are sufficient. The Marines are mostly 100% prepped. The Army units will range from 50% to 80%.

Support will be provided by at least three fast BBs, one slow BB, and seven CVEs. Two CVLs are in the area if needed.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Canoerebel, et. al.,

I was wondering if your Paramushiro / Oniwhatever invasions that triggered the Imperial homeguard reinforcements will serve to trigger Kamikazes on January 1, 1944? Does the early activation of Kamis only factor in where your forces are on January 1 or where they have been? Anyone know?

Good question. I don't know the answer.

[morleron1225]

Being a newbie to WiTP-AE (or the earlier WiTP for that matter) I'll definitely be hanging out here looking for hints on how to play the Allies. I'm currently playing against the Japanese AI in Scenario #2. This is my sixth try at it as I was using earlier attempts just to get the mechanics of this game down. Good luck!

[John 3rd]

I believe the Kamikazes do come in due to that landing.  Will try to find it in my handbook.
 

[LoBaron]

Canorebel however fast you move, now you have your war of attrition situation that the Allies need
to bring the Japanese to the brink of collapse.
 
Miller has no option to move back, hes probably right now setting a frantic perimeter defense at the
Timor - Kendari - Ambon triangle and he has to defend it with what he got.
 
I like the idea of a move to Sorong because it would give you another base to put pressure on the
DEI perimeter and could develop to a staging area in the direction of the Philipines.
Cutting off the DEI is probably as effective as conquering them so thats another new threat axis that
he would have to react to.
 
Wonder if it is an option to go straight for the Philipines and simply bypass the strongpoints Miller is right now
building up to protect his oilfields.

[Canoerebel]

Before the Allied invasion of the Kuriles, the Allies had moved into the eastern DEI.  The Japanese reaction was violent and frantic.  It seemed to me that the Allies had caught the Japanese unawares down here.  Miller began a desperate effort to reinforce his major bases, especially on Timor and Kendari.  We also had some major clashes over the islands and he recaptured Taberfane and Aru Island.  SigInt showed he had 4th Division prepping for Saumlaki, but he never attempted a landing there.  4th Division ended up at Lautem.

The Allied invasion of the Kuriles threw Miller into another panic mode.  He righfully judged that the crisis there took precedence, so for three months all of his attention was focused in NoPac.  During that interval the Allies built up Saumlaki, recaptured Taberfane and Aru, and likewise took and built up Bathurst, Babar, Kai-eilenden and Kaimana.

Once Miller recaptured the Kuriles, he shifted his full attention to the DEI. The recent decisively bloody naval air attack on Darwin gave the Allies the chance to move forward and take Babo.

I think we have a situation in which Miller is perceiving a threat according to his evaluation of vulnerabilities, and has moved to garrison and protect according to his view.  That is - he thought Timor was the big threat, so he's really concentrated his defenses there.  Kendari, Ambon, and probably Macassar received similar treatment.  He's reacting to the threat of a direct move west toward Java - a reaction that is both understandable and prudent.

However, the Allies have no intention of moving against strong, well-fortified bases.  In a campaign similar in philosophy to the Allied island-hopping campaign in the war, the Allies intend to bypass strongpoints whenever there are attractive, lightly guarded alternatives.  In this case, the Allies can move on Sorong, Morotai, and a multitude of other small bases or dot hexes that can be "built large."

Rather than moving west from Darwin through Timor towards Java, the Allies will move across the northern Moluccas and Celebes.  From there they'll either hit Borneo or the Philippines.  I have a game plan from there, too, but I won't get into that now.

The Allies already have the troops parked at Darwin needed to sustain the drive forward at least through Borneo or the southern Philippines.  I'll have the combat ships and carriers in a month or two.  That's when the Allies begin to apply steady pressure.

The game will probably begin to resemble the "stand off" in the game between Q-Ball and Cuttlefish.  Both sides will have a large number of carriers plus many airfields.  Both sides will want to attack enemy carriers from the safety of haavy CAP provided by LBA.  Consequently, both sides will be dancing about looking for an advantage.

The wild card in the mix is Japanese subs.  They infest the DEI waters and have been brutal throughout the game.  I can just imagine losing several carriers in the confined DEI waters.  That could seriously affect the Allied position.

While the main focus of power will be the DEI, I intend to keep a "Mini-KB" force of CVEs in SoPac or CenPac.  At some point the Allies will move on bases like Wake Island and Marcus.

That's the grand Allied strategy for the remainder of 1943 and probably into early '44.

[Chickenboy]

I like your thinking, Canoerebel-'strike emptiness with fullness'. Looking forward to the next year of your AAR.

[Canoerebel]

Quick question gents [filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler/filler]:
 
The Allies are approaching D-Day for the invaison of Tarawa.  I'm not anticipating heavy opposition from ships or aircraft.   I want this to be quick, but I'm having some doubts:
 
1)  The Japanese have 27,000 troops ashore.  I'm guessing the equivalent of a division.  The Allies have four Marine regiments, an Army division, and two Army regiments.  The doesn't sound like an overwhelming force to me.  What do you think?
 
2)  If there's a realistic prospect of getting bogged down, I may divert to some of the nearby islands - in effect bypassing Tarawa in favor of less tough objectives that could, in partnership with the Allied base at Tabiteaeu, isolate and nullify Tarawa.
 
Any thoughts?
 
P.S.  I don't want to get bogged down in a protracted campaign for Tarawa.  I have more important uses for my ships in the coming weeks.

[Canoerebel]

I think I've just answered my question.  I just scrolled through the TF carrying the Army division to Tarawa and made the unpleasant discovery that I loaded this as a transport rather than as an amphibious TF.  No way I would make a dumb mistake like that...but I did.  So I think I'll concentrate on Makin and perhaps another island and then move on.

[Canoerebel]

7/24/43 to 7/29/43
 
CenPac:  I was already leaning heavily toward re-directing the Tarawa invasion when I found out my infantry division is transport-loaded rather than combat-loaded.  That made the decision easy.  I'm not sure I'm making the right decision - sudden changes made in haste are often recipes for disaster - but so be it.  My transports spent the past two days a single hex from Tarawa; my three-BB TF bombarded; and my CVEs took station a few hexes west.  But it's all a "juke" - in actuality three Marine regiments and one Army regiment plus some arty are going to hit nearby Makin.  I'm pretty sure it's lightly held - the port is still a level zero.  I had better be guessing right because my troops are prepped for Tarawa.  Another Army regiment is heading to vacant (and still Allied "owned") Abemama just south of Tarawa.  If things go well this will give the Allies three potential bases around Tarawa.  In reserve I'll have a Marine Regiment, Army division, and the base forces and engineers that will land once the coasts are clear.
 
SWPac:  I orchestrated a mock invasion TF targeting Lautem hoping that might be just a little extra incentive for Miller to stick here rather than going hunting at Tarawa.  Royal Sovereign TF hit the base as did bombers.  Miller is hastily reinforcing Sorong.  So be it -not anything I can do about it yet.  If he makes it too strong I'll bypass it.  The next target is Boela, which is lightly garrisoned - less than 10k troops.  It is close to Babo, Kaimana, and Kai-eilenden, so if Miller tries to reinforce I'll dispute his efforts.
 
Allied carriers: All reinforcements have arrived and are steaming toward SoPac.  Rendezvous point will probably be Auckland, where there is alot of fuel.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Some of my Navy and Marine squadrons are on frontline duty at the big bases ringing the northern periphery of Oz.  Those that aren't on the P-47s have just arrived at Adelaide - three squadrons.  Experience is low - in the 40s - so it'll take a few weeks to train them up and put them into the front lines.

Saumlaki's airfield just went to level six.  I transferred four B-24D1 squadrons there (the other two slots are held by fighters).  The Liberators will fly the first strike against Makassar.  So the "danger zone" for Japanese shipping just got pushed a bit further into the DEI.

With a service rating of 1, great speed, armament, durability and a tremendous bomb load, I get the feeling that the P47 is going to be the AFB plane of choice. Better loved than the corsair.

I am anxious to see how the work for you.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The situation in the eastern DEI as we near the end of July 1943.

The Allies have just taken Babo, a base on the western tip of New Guinea. It can be built up to level four port/level five airfield. Once improved to permit basing of 100 or 150 aircraft the Allies can move forward to either Boela or Sorong.

The other bases contained in the blue-lined perimter are shaping up nicely - especially Suamlaki (level six airfield on the way to eight) and Babar (level five on the way to seven).

Once the Allied carriers arrive in theater en masse it should be possible for the Allies to expedite the advance. The carriers will operate under an umbrella of protection provided by these air bases. It should be pretty difficult for the Japanese to penetrate the combined land/carrier CAP, yet Miller will be pretty desperate to impede/stop/contest what should be an inexorable, steady Allied advance. That's the game plan in a nutshell.

The main Allied air bases are at Ambon (this one is too close to the Allied air bases so Miller only uses it occasionally), Kendari, and Makassar.

Manikawari and Beola are lightly garrisoned. Sorong has four units but the airbase is still a zero.

The question is, is it better to go for Java or to continue to head for the Phillipines? In my long WITP campaign I went for the PI. After taking it, Java did not matter so much.

[Canoerebel]

crsutton, in my WitP game with Miller I did the same - went from Timor to Moluccas to Celebes to Philippines to Formosa to Okinawa.
 
My observation that decisions on the fly are recipes for unhappiness was right on.  Things have gone a bit off track and I'm now trying to decide what exactly what I want to do.  The skinny:
 
1)  Troops landed at unoccupied Abemama (sp?) near Tarawa without incident.  This can be built to 4 port/5 airfield.  I'm going to land engineers and base force tomorrow.  This was good.
 
2)  An pre-landing bombardment caused some damage to the troops at Makin.  The amphibous landings encountered no shore guns (well, no ships were hit but there were the usual troop casualites).  The garrison is two Naval Guard units.  The Allies got badly disprupted in the landings and because of the auto-shock attacks.  The Japanese appear just as bad off.
 
3)  The covering CVEs got separated - one group of three moved to the south (don't know why, but I must've set something wrong).  The remainder put up a weak and ineffective CAP.  Japanese LBA sortied in moderate numbers (I think from Majuro).  Three CVEs took light to moderate damage.  I'm going to withdraw all CVEs and the bombardment TF (which will make another run at Tarawa on the way out to hopefully suppress LBA).  I'll cross my fingers and hope that my CVEs get away.
 
4)  I don't want auto-shock attacks tomorrow with troops already ashore badly disrupted.  So I'll withdraw the invasion fleet.  Once the troops ashore recover from disruption they may be strong enough to take the island.  There are plenty of supplies ashore.
 
5)  I'm sending the reserve Marine regiment and Army division on to Pago Pago.  From there they'll join the carriers making for Auckland and thence Darwin.  The sideshow here is over.  I'll build up Abemama (and Makin, if taken).  That with Tabiteaeu should be strong enough to neutralize Tarawa.
 
6)  It's time to move the carriers, combat ships, alot of transports, and a good number of troops to the DEI.

[Canoerebel]

Here's a message that I sent to Miller that I hope accurately summarizes my views on the game to date.  I've been focusing so much on some of the problems that I probably haven't given adequate credit to him:
[font=arial] [/font]
[font=arial]"This operation won't win me many prizes.  It's my Baker Island invasion on a larger scale.[/font][/align] [/align]"The best operation I've put together thus far - Paramushiro/Onnekotan - didn't turn out well.[/align] [/align]"You've played a big part in the woes I've experienced.  You've played very well and have been particuarly adept at anticipating my moves. [/align] [/align]"Part of my woes have also been due to certain glitches in the game, but none of them (except China) have been bad enough to stop the Allies.  You're the one that's stopping the Allies.[/align] [/align]"But the Allies will keep coming!"[/align] [/align]Indeed, despite Miller's good play and the various woes that have plagued me (China and the incredible number of ships lost to subs primarily), I'm still fairly satisfied with the Allied position in the game.  I believe the Allies are poised to move forward, though it's going to be tough and bloody.[/align] [/align]The biggest worry on my mind is the retreat from Makin.  I'm crossing my fingers in hopes the three damaged CVEs can make it.  They're still good for 12 mph.  They'll make the protection of Tabiteaeu in a day and a half if they don't get clobbered in the meantime.  If they make it that far they should be fine as LBA and four CVEs already at Tabiteaeu should provide sufficient CAP.  My main concern is Miller loading up Tarawa (aifield a level 3) with bombers.  It's already been hit and my bombardment TF will hit it again tonight in an effort to suppress Japanese LBA.[/align] [/align]The bombardment TF and the CVL Princeton/Independence TF are moving on to Pago Pago along with most of the transport TFs.  Once I disengage fully from Makin/Tarawa, the bulk of the Allied forces will move toward the DEI.[/align] [/align]DEI Objectives:[/align] [/align]1)  Boela:  Defended by three units some 6k strong.  This base is so close to Allied bases that it will be tough or impossible for Miller to reinforce.  The Allies have 700 AV prepping for the base, so I don't expect much question about this campaign.[/align] [/align]2)  Sorong:  Miller is reinforcing - current defense shows four units 10k strong.  The Allies have about 700 AV prepping and I may add more.[/align] [/align]3)  Manikawari (on the north coast of New Guinea):  Lightly defended by one unit 1k strong.  I have three paratroop units prepping (2 USMC and one Aussie).  I may try to nab this by para assault.[/align] [/align]4)  Morotai:  I've already begun prepping support troops, but haven't started with the ground units yet.  I think I'll devote the units pulling back from Makin/Tarawa (one Marine regiment, one Army division, plus others) to Morotai.  I won't move on this base until Boela and Sorong have been taken.[/align] [/align]Carriers to be committed to the DEI:  CVs Bunker Hill, Constitution, Constellation, Essex, Wasp, Saratoga and Victorious (the latter is scheduled for withdrawal in two months). CVLs Belleau Wood, Independence, and Princeton.  This is a powerful force, but is still outnumbered by the KB.  I'll have to operate within my LBA cover.  I'm also very, very concerned about Japanese subs.[/align] [/align]CVEs:  Because of the sub threat I am keeping the more fragile CVEs out in the Pacific.  The three damaged at Makin will need time in a shipyard assuming I extract them successfully.  I'll have six others in the short term, with reinforcements coming periodically.  [/align]

[vettim89]

I think this AAR and Q-Ball's AAR show that the Japanese must make a priority to defend the DEI. A sturdy defense in the CentPac and SoPac is obviously necessary but the Japanese can afford to trade land for time in those areas. They cannot do this in the DEI. THey have to protect this region or its game over. If I ever play the Japanese side I think I would follow the RL model of ignoring CHina. I would pull every unit I could out of there and Manchuko and send them south. A stout defense of Timor and points east is critical for Japanese long term survival

[Canoerebel]

I agree with you Vettim.  There's lots of space in the Pacific, so the Japanese can afford to give ground.  Especially in late '42 and early '43 the Allies have to be cautious due to carrier disparity, so the Allies usually aren't going to hit a home run in the vast waters of the Pacific.
 
But the DEI is a different matter.  There are a vast number of bases and potential bases making it difficult for the Japanese to defend.  If he defends Lautem and Koepang and Ambon the Allied player can bypass those and build up equal or bigger bases nearby.  And to make things worse the DEI is the very vitals of Japan.  If Japan loses Baker Island, Tarawa, and even Kwajalein by early '43, big deal.  The Allies still have a long way to go to reach the vitals.  But if the Japanese lose Timor or Ceram by '43....OUCH!
 
If the Japanese player locks down the DEI, the Allied player can try New Guinea or the Solomons, because they too have alot of potential bases.  But they are much further from the Japanese vitals.
 
The Kuriles and Sikhalin Island are also critical due to proximity to the Home Islands, so they have to be adequately defended.
 
There's alot on the Japanese player's plate, but don't neglect the DEI or Kuriles while focusing on Tarawa, Kwajalein, Lunga and Port Moresby.